Day: October 2, 2020

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Autumn 2020 First Impressions – HypnosisMic: Division Rap Battle – Rhyme Anima

The spoken word is mightier than the sword.

Streaming: Funimation

Episodes: TBA

Source: Mixed-media franchise

Summary: After the devastation of World War III, the Party of Words takes over the world government and mandates that all traditional weapons be destroyed. In their place are the Hypnosis Microphones, powerful weapons that do not inflict direct physical harm, but instead attack others using the power of rap lyrics.

Some three years later, various factions have begun to crop up across Tokyo, each with the ability to sling devastating words at one-another. As the different groups vie for dominance, certain terrorist groups begin to appear that reject this new world order in favor of the violence-based domination reminiscent of the old system. As these groups duke it out, the leaders of the Party of Words observe from on high. While the different factions are busy fighting one-another, the world government is able to exist comfortably above the fray.

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First Impressions Reviews

Autumn 2020 First Impressions – I’m Standing on a Million Lives

Can a loner learn to work as part of a team?

Streaming: Crunchyroll

Episodes: 12

Source: Manga

Summary: Yosuke Yotsuya is a bit of a loner. He lives in Tokyo, one of the most populous cities in the world, and yet his desire to spend his time on his own and play video games has become almost a compulsion at this point. One day after school, he notices two of his female classmates, Shindou and Hakozaki, waiting around and casting glances in his direction. Suddenly the girls disappear and the blackboard Yosuke is cleaning becomes filled with mysterious imagery.

Yosuke finds himself drawn into a mysterious void with Shindou and Hakozaki, where he faces a strange being with half a face who provides him with some difficult-to-parse information about the situation in which he’s now involved. He’s become part of a game – one that echoes the fantasy RPGs that Yosuke likes to play. But his class roll is dismal – Farmer – and his other party members are almost as pathetic in their lack of ability. Their quest to destroy some goblins goes as poorly as it possibly could, and a chance encounter with a giant troll leaves Shindou dead and Hakozaki missing a hand. Unfortunately, the other part of their team’s assignment is to fulfill a quest for the local villagers, and that quest is to destroy the very troll that nearly obliterated the party the previous night. It’s then that Yosuke takes it upon himself to “level up” on his own. If his own playing style is any indication, doing things without others’ help is the way to go.

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First Impressions Reviews

Autumn 2020 First Impressions – Assault Lily Bouquet

Girls battle against an alien threat and become partners destined for one-another.

Streaming: Funimation

Episodes: TBA

Source: Original (part of a mixed-media franchise based on a line of figurines)

Summary: Half a century ago, Earth was attacked by terrible monsters called the “Huge.” Humanity’s only defense were the powerful Lilies, young women able to fight using weaponry called CHARMS, fusions of magic and Science. Riri Hitotsuyanagi was rescued by a Lily during an evacuation two years ago, and was inspired to become the very thing that she idolized. Unfortunately, her untrained skills meant that her entrance into Yurigaoka Girls’ School, a “garden” that raises future Lilies, was anything but assured. Luckily, she managed to make it off the waitlist and begin onto the path toward achieving her dream.

As Riri makes her way to the campus entrance ceremony, the politics of Lily life become apparent. The girls vie for partnerships with their powerful peers, while also-rans like Riri sit on the sidelines. Soon news of an escaped Huge specimen makes its way to the new students, and those with battle experience are called upon to help. Riri finds herself swept into the action with Kaede and Yuyu – the very girl who came to Riri’s rescue two years ago. Though Riri is inexperienced, her natural talents prove to be valuable and the threat is vanquished. Kaede is suddenly smitten with Riri, while Yuyu is left to ponder some complicated emotions.

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