TNT: Cut and Paste Chapters 1-20 by Sakuya

Hey all I’m back with the first set of chapters in a Web Novel for this week’s Translation Necessary Thursday. It’s Cut and Paste Chapters 1-20 by Sakuya!

Plot: This is a lighthearted Fantasy story that deals with an incredibly overpowered protagonist who isn’t a giant dick. It’s very stereotypical and honestly if it weren’t for it being a “Fluffy” sort of story I probably would never have bothered reading it in the first place. That being said the story isn’t too bad, but it’s nothing amazing either. Sadly the Author passed away this January so the series will never be fully completed. So do take that into consideration if you hate unfinished stories as much as me.

Characters: Our main protagonist is Myne and he’s an okay main character. He is however pretty bland, and overly humble in this first set of chapters. Aisha is one of our female leads in this story, although we don’t really get to see any of the rest yet. The rest of the cast is okay, but still pretty bland.

Overall: A skippable story, but if you want a light hearted Fantasy story than you could do worse than reading this one.

For those who like: Fantasy, Slice of Life, Overpowered Protagonists.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

 

Anime Sunday: Houseki no Kuni Episode 01 Impressions

This week for Anime Sunday I’m covering another series from the Fall 2017 season of Anime. It’s my Houseki no Kuni Episode 01 Impressions!

Plot Synopsis: In a place inhabited by jewels that take the form of people, Phosphophyllite (Phos) is weak (with one of the lowest hardnesses) and considered useless by her peers. Phos asks her aloof but wise colleague Cinnabar for help after they receive an assignment to create a natural history encyclopedia, thus beginning their friendship and personal growth. Meanwhile, the “jewel people” have to keep defending themselves against the Lunarians who want to take advantage of their luxury value.

Plot: The plot is interesting, although sort of lacking in tension, which isn’t a bad thing necessarily. Frankly I enjoyed that aspect of it. That being said it’s not going to hold your attention like a Fate series will. The art probably doesn’t help with that…

Characters: But before we get into the art, let’s talk about the Characters. We get introduced to a good number of Jewel people in this episode, although I’m more than a bit confused as to what or who this Master Kongo is as he isn’t a gem that I know of.

Art: Here’s my main gripe with the series, and that’s it using the all too frequently used CG approach to Anime. I hate this art style. It looks out of place and awkward compared to something like Fate/Apocrypha or any ufotable production. It’s not terrible, but it’s too blatant a use of CG for me.

Music: The music is okay, although it’s not super memorable either.

Overall: Skippable depending on whether you can stomach the art style.

For those who like: Oddball Series, Good Plot, Interesting Cast of Characters.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above, or the too blatant use of CG.

Sensate Saturday: Sachiiro no One Room by Hakuri

Hey all this week for Sensate Saturday I’m covering a series I just started reading! It’s Sachiiro no One Room by Hakuri!

Plot Synopsis: One day, a girl was kidnapped. However, that girl started to desire a life living with her captor, and swears that she will marry him. In return, her captor provides her with happiness that she had always longed for…

Plot: This is not exactly a happy tale, it has it’s heartwarming moments, but it also has some really dark ones as well. That being said I really enjoyed the two chapters I was able to read. Hopefully this series continues as I’m rooting for the characters.

Characters: Our two leads don’t have a name in the first chapter, so I’m not really able to comment much more than say that there is a lot of backstory we don’t get to learn yet, hopefully later chapters get into the story. However I did enjoy them quite a bit.

Art: The art is great, if I didn’t know better I’d say this was published by Shueisha, but it’s not.

Overall: A great read, if a bit dark.

For those who like: Romance, Slice of Life, Drama, Great Plot, Fantastic Lead Characters, Awesome Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Manga Monday: King’s Viking by Fukami Makoto

This week for Manga Monday I’ve got another Quick Review. It’s King’s Viking by Fukami Makoto!

Plot Synopsis: 18-year-old Koreeda Kazuki is a genius hacker whose only real skill lies with computers. Into his aimless life steps Sakai Daisuke, a wealthy man who makes him a proposition he finds impossible to refuse: that he will become Koreeda’s investor on the condition that Koreeda use his abilities to help him “conquer the world.”

Plot: The above synopsis makes the plot sound a bit more dramatic than it really is, but this first chapter was still pretty darn interesting. Frankly I’ll probably end up reading this series once a big stock of chapters is accumulated.

Characters: We are really only introduced to Daisuke and Kazuki in this first chapter, although we’ll probably see more people who weren’t really introduced in this first chapter later on. That being said Kazuki and Daisuke are pretty interesting, Daisuke is a seriously driven person and Kazuki even though he’s essentially penniless is still an incredibly smart kid. I like them as leads quite a bit.

Art: The art of this first chapter is pretty great, not quite Shueisha level quality, but darn close.

Overall: This looks to be a pretty interesting series so I’m going to continue reading it, eventually.

For those who like: Seinen, Psychological, Mystery, Drama, Interesting Plot, Awesome Lead Characters, Fantastic Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Sensate Saturday: Made in Abyss by Tsukushi Akihito

This week for Sensate Saturday I’ve got another Quick Review. It’s Made in Abyss by Tsukushi Akihito!

Plot Synopsis: The enormous cave system, known as the Abyss, is the last unexplored place in the world. Nobody knows how deep down goes this titanic pit, inhabited by strange and wondrous creatures and full of mysterious ancient relics which purpose in unknown to modern man. Generations of bold adventurers have been drawn by the cryptic depths of the Abyss. In course of time those brave enough to explore the dangerous pit came to be known as “Cave Raiders.” In Oosu, the town at the edge of the Abyss, there lives a little orphan named Rico, who dreams of becoming as great a cave raider as her mother was and solving the great mystery of the pit…

Plot: This seems to be pretty interesting, although so many flags were raised in this first chapter I’m actually a little apprehensive about later chapters.  I might throw this onto my read in the future pile, but thus far, with just this first chapter I’m not interested enough in continuing to read it right now.

Characters: Rico is a ball of curiosity wrapped in an orphan. I’m intrigued in her fervent desire to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but I don’t find it completely believable. If you were orphaned because your mother died when you were so young you can’t remember her, I just don’t think you’d be that eager to follow in her footsteps at such a young age.

Art: The art is interesting, but it’s not super amazing either. It reminds me of the old GBA game Sword of Manga a bit though so I was intrigued by that nostalgic feeling. Just not enough to put a priority on reading further into the series.

Overall: This might be interesting, especially for those exploration lovers out there, but personally it just wasn’t interesting enough to make me want to continue reading immediately.

For those who like: Exploration, Adventure, Mystery, Drama, Interesting Premise, Good Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.