What To Look Out For When Reviewing Anime

Want to write a helpful anime review? Answer these seven questions first.

Information technology's been vi months since I became a regular weekly streaming reviewer at Anime News Network. Since August, I've written three episode reviews nigh every week, or about 70 episode reviews full!

Since I'thousand reviewing shows the day they come out, I don't have a lot of time to evaluate the episode. Instead, I've come up up with shortcuts to the kind of critical thinking necessary for reviewing media. Before I sit down to write, I ask myself questions that I recall leads to the most useful reviews that people actually want to read.

These are the questions I utilise, and that I hope y'all'll find helpful, too:

1. If yous had to assign a course to this show, what would it exist?

Usually this is the starting time step I have in the review process. I go with my gut, and then try to explain all the reasons I felt compelled to give it that grade. You don't take to put the grade on your review at the cease, but it helps to keep information technology in mind while you're writing.

2. What is the overarching theme?

Think of it this manner: how would yous describe what this show is virtually in one sentence? This is your opinion, and information technology volition exist the thesis argument of your entire review. For instance, the thesis of my Mononoke review was that people are more terrifying than monsters.

three. Does it have a compelling story? Why or why not?

Did this show proceed your attention? How did information technology reach this (or not)? Quick (or dull) pacing, relatable (or wooden) characters, and an interesting (or boring) plot may have contributed. Be conscientious that when yous're discussing the story, y'all don't give the whole thing abroad!

four. How does this show use animation?

What was the cinematography like? Does information technology look computer blithe or hand drawn? Were there whatever quirks of the camera angle or move? For example, did it focus on one graphic symbol'southward perspective, zoom in or out, or jump cut from scene to scene?

5. How does this bear witness use sound?

Was there a heavy musical score, or were there frequent silent spaces behind the dialogue? How did the music set the tone? Did any of the vocalism actors stand up out as having an unusual vocal pattern, or a powerful emotional commitment?

6. Does this show remind you of some other show?

The human brain is wired to make connections. I call up it'southward helpful to say, "You might like this if you lot liked X or Y because…" then explain what they take in common.

7. How did this show make yous feel and why?

When the credits rolled, were you left with a lingering feeling of happiness or sadness? Were you anxious due to a cliffhanger? Frustrated by an unanswered question? Some critics say emotions are unhelpful, but it'south actually "I feel" statements that are unhelpful. In reality, emotions lend power to reviews when you can dorsum them up with evidence from the show.

Interested in seeing some real life examples of how I use these questions? Check out my latest Anime News Network reviews: