Deadjournal

All these years of learning English, and I still sometimes struggle with it, especially when watching anime with English subtitles. It gets particularly challenging when the subtitles change too quickly or when the translators overuse informal idiomatic expressions and jargon instead of plain English (e.g. "to betray" -> "throw someone under the bus", "to chat" -> "chew the fat", and other nonsense).

That's why I created a plugin for MPV that translates subtitles on-the-fly using a free Google Translate endpoint. You just press a key, and the translation appears on the OSD. The script is incredibly simple, but it works perfectly.

I’m not sure how long this endpoint will keep working, but for now, it’s running smoothly. Feel free to check it out!

https://git.bernd32.xyz/bernd32/SubTranslate

This is probably the most unusual josei anime I’ve ever seen, no romance, no relationships, but instead, a vocational school, delinquents, and street brawls. That originality really worked for me. It’s not every day you get to see a different side of Japanese society in anime, especially the lives of troublemaker students, street thugs, and even the yakuza, all wrapped up in a josei package.

What I didn't like:

• Cheap animation and simple art style. While the character designs are decent, the overall quality feels very basic.


• Ambiguous ending and short length. These two issues are likely interconnected. It feels like the anime was initially planned for at least two seasons but ended up with just one, leaving the story unfinished. I’ll probably check out the manga soon to get the full picture.


• Unrealistic moments and the over-the-top "coolness" of the protagonist. One of the most ridiculous scenes involves a group of burly, seasoned gangsters backing down after a single angry glare from the protagonist, a fragile-looking young woman with glasses.

Despite these flaws, the show stands out for its unique setting and themes, offering a fresh take on school life by focusing on underperforming hooligans and their world. It’s also entertaining to watch the main character balance her roles as a teacher and heir to a yakuza clan.

Apart from the protagonist, most characters feel somewhat bland and blend into the background. Only three stand

The protagonist: Her dual life and charisma are the backbone of the series.
Kuma (the big guy): He adds some comic relief and heart to the story.
Shin-chan: A classic bishounen with all the usual josei tropes—good looks, respect from the neighborhood gang, “mysterious” vibes, and rich parents.

Honestly, he feels out of place in such a gritty setting, but his inclusion seems obligatory for the genre. Without him, it might not have been “canonical” josei.

All in all, Gokusen is a worthy spiritual successor to Great Teacher Onizuka. While it has its flaws, the unique setting and themes make it a fascinating watch. Fans of school drama with a twist of yakuza flair will find it enjoyable, though the ending may leave them wanting more.

Rating: 7/10.

A great anime with a beautiful storyline and a pleasant art style. While it might look childish, I personally enjoy this kind of drawing style. The plot isn’t the most groundbreaking and does have a few flaws, but I still think it’s excellent, especially compared to what I’ve seen recently. It strikes a harmonious balance between romance, detective, and mystery, which are my favorite genres.

I was also quite shocked to hear Russian in the ending song. At first, I didn’t even recognize my native language in it! And yes, the ending song was fantastic in both the Russian and Japanese versions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epmzDxsS4kc
https://youtu.be/Vd7X-o0MjoE

I finally got around to watching this anime, which I’ve heard about for many years. I can confidently say I wasn’t disappointed, I really enjoyed it, especially the ending. A pleasant bonus was that I watched the remastered version in 720p with a smooth 30fps framerate. That’s pretty decent quality for a 2003 anime.

Speaking of the smoothness, why don’t all anime look this fluid? It doesn’t require drawing more frames, as you can easily boost the fps from 23 to 30 with software. Anyway, for anyone interested in increasing framerate, I recommend using SVP4.

Now, about the visuals. The art style is pretty basic, even for 2003 standards. What saves it are the smooth motion and high resolution. As for the character designs, they didn’t appeal to me at all, especially Brandon after his "necrolyzed" transformation. A towering, three-meter-tall mass of muscle with a disproportionately small head? It just doesn’t look good.

The characters are probably the anime’s strongest aspect. Each one is well-developed, with their own philosophy, worldview, and unique perspective on the events. The one I disliked the most was Big Daddy. How could such a kind-hearted, saintly figure lead a massive criminal organization? That part of the story didn’t fully click for me.

The entire plot feels like it was built solely to set up the final episode, which is the culmination of everything. It’s in that last episode where themes of friendship and betrayal, love and forgiveness, fully come to life. I don’t understand why so many people hate the ending, I personally thought it was the highlight of the entire series.
Final Thoughts

Mika deserves a mention, she’s the one character who suffered the most throughout the story. By the final episode, it was no surprise that she was already showing signs of losing her sanity.

Off-topic: I think I’ll stop writing detailed thoughts on anime I watch. The more anime I watch (and at this point, I’ve seen over 800 titles), the more everything starts feeling formulaic. Writing about it just doesn’t seem as worthwhile anymore. At most, I’ll stick to leaving short comments on MAL.

Final Rating:

While Gungrave has its flaws, it’s an emotionally powerful experience, with its ending being the crown jewel. Highly recommended for those who value character-driven narratives.

I honestly think this is a great anime with clever humor and a unique visual style, but as an average gaijin pleb, I probably miss a lot of the references and nuances happening on screen. I wouldn’t call myself an expert on Japanese culture, but I’m not a complete novice either, and yet I only understood maybe 50–60% of the gags in the show. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to fully enjoy the experience. Even the jokes I did get didn’t feel strong enough to rate the anime higher than a 6/10. If I remember correctly, the previous seasons weren’t as dense with references and were easier to follow. Another issue with the third season is the repetitive structure of the episodes: each one starts with an event that sets up the theme for the jokes, followed by a series of gags based on that theme. It gets pretty monotonous after 3–4 episodes.