Minkyll

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘ᰔ ༓ ᰔ∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ 𓏲࣪  𝒔𝒉𝒆/𝒉𝒊𝒎 ᜊ︐ 𝑝𝑜𝑝 𝐼𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒 ✩✭✩ ⁺ ⑅ ꫂ ၴႅၴ 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚𝑠, 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 & 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑐. ✰ ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘ᰔ ༓ ᰔ∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

[lovyminky]

᭕𓏲 〰︎〰︎〰︎ ✧.٭˙𝐻𝐸𝐿𝐿𝑂˙٭.✧ 〰︎〰︎〰︎ ᭕𓏲

۵ 𝓜𝓲𝓶𝔂 ๛ 𝟏8𝒚 ೃ࿔₊• 𝑠ℎ𝑒/ℎ𝑖𝑚

↣ 𝐵𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 「𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑒」 「𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑐」 「𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑠」 「𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑐」 「𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎」 「𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠」 「𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠」 「𝑇𝑉 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠」 「𝐴𝑁𝐷 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒」

𝖬𝖸 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖥𝖨𝖫𝖤𝖲 - 𝖲𝟤

*𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 - LoveMynki

*𝑆𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑦 - Mimmy'✩

*𝐿𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑥𝑑 - Minkyll

*𝑇𝑤𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 - LoveyMinky

*𝑇𝑖𝑘𝑇𝑜𝑘 - llgh_t

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

[lovyminky]

X-MEN:

DARK PHOENIX 2/5★

~ 2019

So, I went into Dark Phoenix with absolutely zero excitement and honestly? It wasn't THAT awful, but it also wasn't some Endgame-level sendoff for an era either.

First of all: the Jean casting throughout this entire era was actually really good. Kid Jean, Apocalypse Jean, and Dark Phoenix Jean genuinely feel like the same person at different stages of her life, and I appreciated that a lot because sometimes these movies act like puberty completely changes your entire bone structure.

Also, I need to say this: Charles being bald still catches me off guard every single time. I KNOW that's what he's supposed to look like. I AM AWARE OF THAT. But come on, we've spent what? Four? Five movies? Watching this specific actor running around with that L'Oréal Paris shampoo commercial hair. Every time he shows up bald my brain still needs a second to process it.

Another important topic:

Mystique looked SO GOOD in this movie.

"but-" no. Shut up.

She did.

That shade of blue mixed with the red hair worked so much better for me. My problem was never the blue skin, it was that bright orange slicked-back hair that always looked like someone dumped an entire bottle of hair gel on her head.

The hair? Gorgeous.

The makeup? Gorgeous.

The details? Gorgeous.

After years of that weird wet-looking hairstyle, they finally gave her a design I actually loved.

Which is EXACTLY why this movie decided to personally attack me.

Because HOW THE HELL DOES SHE DIE???

IT'S MYSTIQUE.

MYSTIQUE.

I DON'T ACCEPT THIS.

And what was that death???

Not even near the finale???

Like yeah yeah I know they needed Magneto and Beast to go on their "let's hunt Jean" mission, BUT I DIDN'T FINISH LOOKING AT HER YET.

cough cough

returns to professional reviewer mode

One thing I genuinely liked was how much the movie focused on the characters and their emotions instead of throwing action scenes at my face every five minutes. The arguments between Raven and Charles were surprisingly interesting because they both had valid points and I kept switching sides every conversation.

Like yes Raven, why ARE mutants constantly risking their lives for people who barely tolerate them?

But also yes Charles, I understand why you still believe things can get better, please stop making sense. I need to pick a side.

(Actually never mind. Wherever Emma Frost is, that's my side.)

And also:

"Maybe we should change the name to X-Women because the women are always saving the men." THANK YOU RAVEN. SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT.

THE WOMEN CARRY THIS FRANCHISE ON THEIR BACKS AND I'M NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT JUST X-MEN.

And can we talk about Storm for a second? Because I love her. I really do. She looked amazing, she was cool, she had presence, but why does she feel like a background character in half of her scenes? 😭 They kinda throw her next to Scott and then she's just... there. Existing. Looking beautiful. Being Storm. And somehow still getting less dialogue than people who matter significantly less.

Then Crystal showed up out of nowhere and I genuinely had to pause for a second because THAT was not on my bingo card.

Like hello???

You're here???

Okay then.

But my biggest issue was probably the Phoenix itself. I liked Jean, I liked the emotional side of the story, I liked seeing everyone react to what was happening to her, but for a movie called Dark Phoenix, I still feel like I know surprisingly little about... you know... THE PHOENIX.

Where did it come from? Why Jean specifically? What the hell even is this cosmic force? Who are these aliens? Like okay, I know it destroyed their planet and whatever, but WHO ARE THEY???

Honestly, I don't even need a full history lesson on the aliens. I just want someone to explain WHAT THE HELL SHE ABSORBED. They keep calling it the power of creation and I'm sitting there like okay cool but that means absolutely nothing to me. Context please.

I'm not asking for a three-hour documentary narrated by Charles Xavier. I just wanted a little more information.

Overall, I don't really have a strong opinion on whether it's good or bad, It's just... there existing.

It's one of those movies you put on during a random afternoon while eating something and doing something else at the same time. You pay attention for a bit, get distracted, look back at the screen, and somehow still understand what's happening.

And of course it ends with Charles and Magneto playing chess together again because apparently my divorced parents are physically incapable of staying away from each other for more than five business days.

So that's why it's only one star. If you're curious for more in-depth details about my opinion of the film, check it out on Letterboxd.

[lovyminky]

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. - 3,5/5★

~ 2016

Went into this movie fully prepared to complain for two hours.

Shockingly... I didn't.

After First Class and especially Origins, I was expecting another movie packed with interesting characters and not enough time to properly develop any of them. Somehow, Apocalypse ended up being the first movie in this marathon where I felt like the cast was actually allowed to breathe.

Scott gets attention. Jean gets attention. Pietro gets attention. Even characters who don't get as much focus still feel like they belong in the story instead of randomly appearing because the script remembered they existed.

The opening set in Ancient Egypt was probably my favorite in the franchise so far. The atmosphere, the costumes, the music... they had me immediately. And while I still have some issues with certain comic book relationships and details being ignored (seriously, the Mystique and Nightcrawler situation will never stop bothering me), this was the first X-Men movie in a while that didn't leave me constantly frustrated with the writing.

Also, Kurt is a baby.

This is a very important part of my analysis.

Is Apocalypse an amazing movie? Not really.

But it is the first movie in this marathon that made me spend more time enjoying the story than thinking about everything that was missing from it.

And honestly? That's already an improvement.

So that's why it's only one star. If you're curious for more in-depth details about my opinion of the film, check it out on Letterboxd.

[lovyminky]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS - 5/5★

~ 2025

Rewatched Fantastic Four: First Steps and I've come to the conclusion that at least 50% of my personality while watching this movie is just defending Sue Storm.

Because not only is she one of the most powerful people on the team, she also has to sit there while people call her selfish for not wanting to sacrifice a BABY.

A BABY.

A FEW MONTHS OLD BABY.

And I'm supposed to be on whose side exactly?

Because honestly, if that was my kid, I'd grab him, get on the nearest spaceship and disappear into the cosmos.

But I think that's exactly why I love this movie so much. At its core, it never feels like it's trying to prove who's the strongest or who gets the final hit. It's about family, love, fear, responsibility, and how far people are willing to go to protect the ones they care about.

And that doesn't just apply to Sue. I actually liked Shalla-Bal even more on a rewatch. Her story fits so naturally into the themes of the film that it's hard for me to imagine the movie without her.

Also, can we talk about how gorgeous this movie is?

The retrofuturistic aesthetic, the costumes, the sets, the colors... everything feels so carefully crafted. Every scene looks like it belongs in some old sci-fi magazine from an alternate universe and I mean that as the highest compliment possible.

At the end of the day, I think what makes this movie work for me is that it understands something a lot of Fantastic Four adaptations tend to forget.

They're not just a superhero team.

They're a family.

Anyway. I desperately need more movies with this cast.

(And yes, I also desperately need more Sue Storm, but I feel like that part was already obvious.)

So that's why it's only one star. If you're curious for more in-depth details about my opinion of the film, check it out on Letterboxd.

[lovyminky]

"When you're felling sad, you make up for it by buying things."

[lovyminky]

THE

NATIONAL ATHEM

We all already know that Lana Del Rey’s National Anthem music video is an absolute visual masterpiece. But what I find the most interesting, incredible, and honestly, kind of dark, is the tragic history behind it and how Lana was literally flawless in this portrayal.

​The song was released back in 2012 on the Born to Die album—Lizzie’s first studio album under the Lana Del Rey moniker. That was the moment she introduced the world to the aesthetic that still shapes me to this day: melancholic luxury. In the video, she portrays this elite lifestyle full of money, parties, children, friends, and travel; basically everything that would theoretically be the "perfect American Dream". Lana’s love interest is played by A$AP Rocky, representing a version of President John F. Kennedy, while she takes on the role of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

​On the surface, everything looks perfect, because what we see until the very end of the video is a life of wealth and opulence—even if the lyrics hint at the opposite if you’re actually paying attention. While he seems totally comfortable in that life, living without questioning a thing, she looks out of place the entire time. It’s not something loud or obvious, but it’s there: a sense of discomfort, a doubt, as if she doesn’t 100% believe in that perfection herself.

“Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron…” “You said to be cool, but I'm already coolest…”

​She knows things aren’t as perfect as they seem and she talks about that reality, but he doesn't seem to care much. In the end, everything gets muffled by the luxury since, as she says, Money is the reason we exist, everybody knows it, it’s a fact. But even with all that power, you can see she still feels exhausted and lonely.

​“We’re on a quick sick rampage Wining and dining Drinking and driving Excessive buying Overdose and dying

​On our drugs and our love And our dreams and our rage Blurring the lines between real and the fake Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me”

​I might not be some rich mogul, but I relate to this part so much. My family, even though we call ourselves "simple," is basically middle class, and part of it is upper middle class (though I only really have contact with a few of them). We still have this significant history in certain religious social circles and even some relatives tied to politics. This might not affect my daily life directly, but it shows how much your image is treated as something fundamental, even if you’re dying on the inside. No matter how much I want gifts and treats, nothing replaces a hug, a "it’s going to be okay," or a sincere apology. Sometimes, it feels like your biggest crime is simply not being the "perfect person" everyone expects you to be.

​BUT ANYWAY, back to the video, we get to the end, which is where my whole reflection started: the assassination of John F. Kennedy. On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Kennedy was assassinated during a motorcade where three shots were fired: the first hit a bystander, the second hit the governor, and the third was the fatal shot to the President’s head. Lana recreated that exact desperate scene where Jacqueline, on impulse, climbs onto the back of the convertible in tears. It’s honestly wild how the whole video feels like a story of romance and wealth, BUT THEN the ending hits.

​They say that in the moment, she was screaming: "They’ve killed my husband. I have his brains in my hands" (this line could easily be from a dark horror or psychological thriller, which I would totally watch). Jacqueline herself said later that at the hospital, she stayed there holding his head together, trying to keep everything in place.

National Anthem is, quite literally, my favorite music video and song. The aesthetic, the visuals, the vibe, the lyrics, the instrumental, and the history... everything just clicks perfectly.

[lovyminky]

[lovyminky]

⏤͟͟͞͞Artificial Intelligence in Aesthetic Credibility ┆✯

I ended up going down a Pinterest rabbit hole the other day, organizing a moodboard of fashion and aesthetic references. At some point, I was looking for a specific lolita-style dress from a 2010 collection, just to figure out who designed it and learn more about it.

That’s when I came across something completely different: a butterfly-wing inspired dress by Bibian Blue.

My first impression was honestly amazing. The design is stunning, highly detailed, with a delicate butterfly aesthetic that feels almost ethereal. I started looking deeper into her work, found her Instagram, and almost created a whole subfolder just for her designs.

But then something stood out.

A large part of the images used to promote her pieces seem to be generated by artificial intelligence.

And that made me pause.

Because we’re not talking about someone without a real body of work. Bibian Blue has had pieces shown in runway shows, worked with celebrities, Oscar-related projects, magazine covers. The clothing itself is genuinely well-made, detailed, and visually strong. This is not a case of “no real work exists behind it”.

But then the question becomes:

If the work exists in real life, why is its presentation so dependent on AI-generated imagery?

In a time where independent artists already struggle so much for visibility, this feels like a strange choice. She has followers, she has a portfolio, she has real pieces that could be photographed. Even simple, self-made photos — even without showing her face — would still carry more authenticity than fully AI-generated promotional images.

And this isn’t just about aesthetics.

Using AI in promotion changes the way people perceive credibility. Not because it automatically “deceives”, but because it creates a layer between the audience and the actual product. People start losing the ability to clearly distinguish what is physically real and what is digitally constructed, and that affects trust.

I’m not saying AI can’t be used at all. As a tool, it can be useful — for concepts, lighting studies, visual exploration. That already exists in many creative fields.

But when it fully replaces the real presentation of the work, especially in fashion, something important gets lost.

Fashion is not just an idea. It’s fabric, texture, movement, bodies, presence.

And in a moment where so many real artists are being overshadowed by AI-generated imagery, it’s hard not to question it.

Just to make this clear, this isn’t meant as hate toward Bibian Blue as an artist. Not all of her images use AI, only part of her more recent promotional visuals do. Her actual work is genuinely beautiful, highly detailed, and impressive.

But she kind of became the starting point for a broader reflection for me — about how some creators, whether their work is strong or not, choose to hide or filter real craftsmanship behind AI-generated imagery. And in that process, something important gets blurred: the connection between the real object and the way it’s presented to the world.

She's an amazing artist, her works captivated me, I would recommend her and own some of her pieces, but what makes me question the use of AI for promotional purposes.

[lovyminky]

X-MEN ORIGENS:

WOLVERINE - 1/5 ★

- 2009 film -

I’m currently watching the X-Men movies in chronological order within the universe, so after X-Men: First Class I went straight into X-Men Origins: Wolverine… and yeah, a movie that was supposed to explore the origin of one of the most important characters in the franchise ended up feeling way more shallow than it should.

The idea is great: Logan’s past, his relationship with Victor, the whole Weapon X project… but everything moves so fast that it feels like the movie is constantly skipping steps. Important moments just happen and then get left behind without any real development.

And that really affects the experience, because you can feel the potential there — it just wasn’t handled with enough care. Even the connections with First Class feel a bit off when you watch it this way, especially with certain characters that seem to completely ignore what was previously established.

I won’t lie, the action scenes do carry some of it — there are some solid fights and cool moments — but when the story starts relying only on that, everything else ends up feeling empty.

Overall, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the kind of movie that had everything to be much better, but ends up feeling like a rushed summary of something bigger.

So that's why it's only one star. If you're curious for more in-depth details about my opinion of the film, check it out on Letterboxd.

[lovyminky]

Nothing New ~ Taylor Swift

They tell you while you're young Girls, go out and have your fun Then they hunt and slay the ones Who actually do it Criticize the way you fly When you're soaring through the sky Shoot you down and then they sigh and say She looks like she's been through it Lord, what will become of me Once I've lost my novelty?

[...]

How can a person know everything at 18?

Today I turn 18, but...am I still the new thing everyone loves?

[lovyminky]

𝟏 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉 >.<

[lovyminky]

~⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ~ ⋆⋅★⋅⋆ ~

ꨄ Film Notes...

ʚ 𝐀 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦.

ʚ 𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

ʚ 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

ʚ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐱𝐝 {𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓴𝔂𝓵𝓵}

𝓣 · · ─── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ─── · · 𝓓

Once a week, I watch a movie from a very, very, very long list... so I thought it would be fun to start writing little reviews for them and posting them here, whether it’s to criticize them or recommend them :)

And if anyone has movie recommendations and wants to help make the list even longer, feel free to leave a comment.

[lovyminky]

ꨄ Current Dream Life...

♥︎ 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Cluj-Napoca - Roménia.

♥︎ 𝐎𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Fashion Stylist & Socialite.

♥︎ 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, burgundy with beige leather seats.

♥︎ 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Winona Ryder, Vivienne Westwood.

♥︎ 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝: Sony Ericsson White with Pink; Sony Mp4 Pink; McBook Pink; Digital Camera.

♥︎ 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬: Shopping, skincare, drawing, watching old romantic comedies, sunbathing by the pool, driving with the wind in my hair, music, fashion, designing, sewing my own clothes, money.

♥︎ 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 47kg

Credits for the Inspiration Post:

@havfuninflorida

[lovyminky]

✰「The Beginner’s Guide: 5 Animes to Start Your Obsession」✰

𝐀𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐬

ᴱⁿᵍˡᶦˢʰ ᶦˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵐʸ ⁿᵃᵗᶦᵛᵉ ˡᵃⁿᵍᵘᵃᵍᵉ, ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵉˣᶜᵘˢᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ᵐᶦˢᵗᵃᵏᵉˢ.

ꨄ Do you want to get into the anime world? Or are you just looking for something fun to watch and unwind without having to deal with a thousand episodes? ꨄ

ꨄ Then this post is for you. Whenever people ask for first anime recommendations, the answers are always Naruto, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Pokémon, Sailor Moon, or Saint Seiya, which are all great anime, honestly. I personally started with Studio Ghibli and Pokémon, but not everyone who’s just getting into anime wants to start with something that has over 200 episodes, a bunch of filler, movies, and OVAs. Sometimes we just want something lighter that can still keep us hooked, so here’s a list of 5 anime you can watch to start this journey. ꨄ

1. SPY x FAMILY (2023) ɓƴ Tatsuya Endo.

ঞ Have you ever imagined being the best spy in the world? Well, Twilight already is, and his most important mission depends on one “simple” thing: he needs a wife and a child to infiltrate an elite school in just 7 days and help keep world peace intact. Sounds easy, right? Well… that’s where the problem starts. He ends up adopting little Anya, an adorable pink-haired girl who happens to be hiding a secret: she’s a telepath who can read everyone’s thoughts!

On top of that, now under the alias Loid Forger, he ends up entering a fake marriage with Yor Briar, who seems to be nothing more than a sweet and gentle young government worker... except for the tiny detail that she’s actually the country’s deadliest trained assassin, the Thorn Princess. Loid has no idea who Yor really is, Yor knows absolutely nothing about Loid, but Anya knows everything and loves every second of it, especially with her partner Bond, a huge, fluffy, ridiculously calm dog who just so happens to be able to see into the near future!

On top of its gorgeous retro aesthetic, which feels straight out of a 1960s James Bond movie, the anime is the perfect mix of flawless action scenes and moments that are so cute they’ll absolutely destroy you. It’s the kind of story that warms your heart, makes you laugh out loud at Anya’s expressions and little antics, and of course, keeps you curious about all the secrets each character is hiding.

11. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023) ɓƴ Tomohiro Suzuki.

ঞ If you weren’t born for the spy life, that’s okay... maybe your vibe is something a little more mystical and grand. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

You know that classic cliché about a group of heroes spending ten years on a journey to defeat the Demon King and save the world? Yeah... this anime starts exactly where all the others usually end: at the victory celebration.

The story follows Frieren, an elven mage who was part of that legendary group. The thing is, because she’s an elf, she lives for thousands of years. So those ten years of adventure, which meant a lifetime of dreams, memories, and achievements for her human friends, felt like nothing more than the blink of an eye to her. The anime shows her moving forward after her friends grow old and pass away, while she slowly tries to understand time, human emotions, and all the feelings she ignored for so long, feelings that, sometimes, just like us, she doesn’t fully understand either.

If you love a flawless aesthetic, this anime is absolutely for you. The animation is on another level, every flower field, every spell, and even the sunsets look like paintings I’d genuinely hang on my wall. It’s a calmer, more thoughtful anime that really makes you reflect on life, but without ever feeling boring. It’s that kind of epic adventure with a softness and sensitivity you don’t come across very often.

III. Haykiu!! (2014) ɓƴ Haruichi Furudate.

ঞ But like... if you think sports anime just isn’t for you, Haikyuu!! will probably be the anime that changes your mind.

The story follows Hinata Shoyo, a short, hyperactive boy who is completely obsessed with volleyball. After getting absolutely humbled in his very first tournament, this poor boy starts at Karasuno High determined to finally make a name for himself on the court... only to find out he’ll have to play on the same team as his biggest rival: Kageyama Tobio, a genius setter who’s arrogant, annoyingly talented... and, for us, ridiculously charismatic.

Haikyuu!! is the longest anime on our list, with 85 episodes, but unlike those giant 200+ episode anime, this one is actually super easy to finish in a week or two without suffering too much. And trust me: it doesn’t just hook you because of the intense matches, but also because the characters have an insane amount of charm. It’s fun, emotional, and ridiculously addictive.

IV. Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2019) ɓƴ Yasuhiro Nakanishi.

ঞ If you want a romance anime but can’t stand those cliché stories with a painfully bland main character, Kaguya-sama: Love is War might just be the perfect anime for you.

The story revolves around Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, two brilliant students who are extremely proud and very obviously in love with each other... but there’s one tiny problem: neither of them wants to be the first to admit it. So instead of confessing like normal people, they turn every conversation, every glance, and every little situation into a full-blown psychological war just to make the other one give in first.

And that’s exactly what makes this anime so fun. Kaguya-sama takes a high school romance and turns it into a chaotic, over-the-top, ridiculously addictive comedy where even asking for someone’s number can feel like a life-or-death battle. But in the middle of all the nonsense, it also knows how to be sweet, charming, and even surprisingly sincere when it wants to be.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War has three seasons with around 12 to 13 episodes each, plus two specials, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to follow a really good story without spending months trapped in the endless dragging that some romantic comedies love to do.

V. The Apothecary Diaries (2023) ɓƴ Natsu Hyūga.

ঞ We’ve already talked about comedy, romance, sports, and magic... so now it’s finally time for mystery.

The Apothecary Diaries is the anime that even got my grandma wanting to watch more, and honestly... that says a lot.

We follow Maomao, a young girl who’s incredibly observant, sarcastic, and completely fascinated by poisons and medicine, who ends up in the imperial palace after being sold into servitude. What she expected to be just another quiet life inside the court changes completely when she starts noticing that some very strange things are happening around the emperor’s concubines and heirs.

And since she very clearly does not know how to mind her own business, Maomao keeps getting dragged deeper and deeper into the palace’s mysteries after solving things that no one else can seem to figure out. On top of that, she also catches the attention of Jinshi, a mysterious palace official who is handsome to an almost annoying degree and who keeps pulling her into more and more bizarre cases, secrets, and situations inside the court. And just when you think it was only “one more case,” some new detail shows up and throws everything into chaos all over again... which gave us 42 episodes, yes, but 42 really good and addictive episodes... unlike certain anime that somehow manage to have 60 episodes and waste 40 of them on filler.

ꨄ— And that’s it for our little anime list! Now tell me, what were the first anime you guys ever watched? Is there any anime you’d want to see me talk about here on the blog someday? —ꨄ