Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Crowelicious
This show could be really great, but unfortunately it didn't deliver on it's potential. It is not a bad show and many people can enjoy it, but like some other reviews pointed out, it's more like a toned down Durarara, or a crime thriller with low stakes.
First, let's talk about that synopsis.. when I read that I thought that it would be a drama focused on building a plot, tension between gangs and friends turning to enemies, but it ended up being an episodic show that did slowly build to something greater, but very poorly. Each episode Makoto is faced with a request, some silly, others a bit more serious, but it is one of those shows where all ends well, with some naive philosophy.
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but I was quite disappointed and felt misled by the synopsis, since it made m…
Read at the sourcePetrospit
I was thinking whether i should watch this or not in the end i gave it a go. First of all the synopsis for this series isnt quite reflected on the episodes. Only 4 or 5 episodes are about the struggle between the local gangs the other are about the so called middle man Makoto doing choirs for local residents or immigrants. There is not the drama implied in the description. Also action is limited and the episodes arent well connected with each other. In the end the anime isnt horrible but dont have high expectations for it. It could have been much much better.
Read at the sourceOkamii_JA
Sometimes you don't have to check review or rates to dig into something , and this anime provide the right example about a good show with low rate , I know everyone has a taste but let's be honest sometimes animes aren't just for fun sometimes can be for relaxing and chilling and this one really made relax it's enjoyable it's interesting and perhaps the story not that deep but it has really good moments , the anime can be a god damn emotions sometimes
if you looking for some action or shounen bullshit this anime definitely not for you and I'm not gonna suggest this like watch it when you bored , I'll say watch it if you interested in it . and yeah its episodic and everyone one kinda has a story
additionally I liked the opening and ending song so much , and lemme tell you rap isn't my ta…
Read at the sourceJim--anime
I watched this all today and I really hope for a season 2 Makoto is one of the most interesting characters I've had the pleasure of watching and when joined by Takashi you know that you're in for a great experience I absolutely loved every episode excluding number 5. The art style is pretty standard but appealing to witness while the main interest in the series at least for me is the relationship between the characters and how that reflects Ikebukuro in general.
The story was a unique spin on the gangsta trope.
The art style fit the story perfectly.
All the characters were pretty well rounded excluding some of the more minor characters which the series didn't take the time to develop. They were relatively grounded.
I'd rec this to anyone looking for a fun action series if they like thi…
Read at the sourceCannonS
One main reason for all bad reviews is a lot of people went into this wanting an experience IWGP wasn't made to provide. Does that mean the show is bad? of course not. IWGP is very consistent in its overall tone, theme, and pacing. It is essentially more a-kin to Slice-of-Life then a hardcore gritty crime drama with its more light-hearted approach and easy going style. Yet it still takes itself serious enough to contain multiple climaxes, Interwoven mysteries, payoffs, and a satisfying ending. Yes its not trying to replicate the emotional weight of something on the scale of AoT, and that's fine not every story needs to be like AoT to be good.
So overall the anime is very good I had a great time with it and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Read at the sourceEliPhantom19
I went into this anime thinking it was about criminals gangs and violence. While still being about that, it also included very real and current issues humanity faces. It has a great story and switches it up every episode, while each smaller story still relates to the whole. It shows how gangs are not always violent, and how they do care about the place they occupy. If you want an anime with good feels, this is it. It has been portrayed as a hard core violence however, it is a well thought out show with twist and turns and a very good show
Read at the sourceFlikxxy
Look, I know this isn't one of the most well liked animes out there and maybe its just me but I really enjoyed the limited storyline and quick story that Ikebukuro West Gate Park provided us with.
Yes, I do admit there is a lot, and I mean a LOT of 'filler' episodes for this 12 episode anime but I think that we the community are looking at this anime through a wrong scope. Instead of judging it based on our conventional, 'is this good bc of the storyline/art/enjoyment/sound...' we should be looking at it like how we look at classical art:
What does the director want us to see in this?
Personally, I feel that if you looks at this anime through a more artsy lens and try to find and theorise deeper meanings of this anime, we can come back with a different (and hopefully) more positive rev…
Read at the sourceJoey_Love
DISCLAIMER: I'm not a manga reader so I always come absolutely blind to every anime I watch (that applies to any source material not just manga), so take into account that I judge only what's presented in the animation and/or season story-wise.
OVERALL:
This one knew it wasn't special and exploited that in an inteligent execution!
This anime feels like Durarara!! if it was stripped off the supernatural elements it has and that's actually smart. Being settled in one of the most rough neighborhoods in Tokio it may come up as unoriginal when covering the "gang" concept. It has nothing that stands out, but it was smart about that too. If the story was being focused on the main characters and their stories it would probably be really boring, but it doesn't. IWGP adds an slice of life format w…
Read at the sourceOneFaintingRobin
This is one of those shows I gave a try on a whim, just to give something a try. I wasn't sure what I'd make of it. Turns out, the answer to that is quite a lot.
Conceptually, this is pretty simple. It's a show about gangs in Ikebukuro, a guy working as a troubleshooter doing his best to keep the peace, and solving the various problems that get pointed at him on a regular basis. There's plenty of fun to be had with this premise. Think 'Durarara!!' without any of the fantastical aspects. And those parts are well done. Ikebukuro feels like a well-fleshed out setting, with the titular park being a great central location, and the other recurring settings feeling lived-in and distinct. The two main gangs we see both feel like they have some substance to them, we get to know a handful of member…
Read at the sourceAddyMe
*This is my first review of any anime so please be kind:)
First of all I would say that I loved this show. The reason might be because it is easy going(slow pace). The show somewhat highlights the problems faced by very highly developed cities/country. The Fight scene are dynamic too. I loved the "Smoking Kills" T-shirt of Makoto (which was funny). There is not any romantic moments at all, so those who are looking for some romance this might not be for you. Its the must watch if you love slow anime. My favourite character will Majima Makoto(obviously). Makoto Does not any special fighting skills but he has the ability to make friends very quickly. That's what i liked about him.
Thank You! (*^▽^*)
Read at the sourceyukihaneda
This anime was brilliant
kadokawa never disappoints us, it gives out blockbuster anime one after other
this anime is based off of an old manga where it initially starts with makotos girlfriend getting killed in a gang war and then he quits and becomes the makoto that we see in the anime. so anime skipped that part and i suppose in future seasons we might get insight on makotos past which is heartbreaking by the way, he is such a nice person he just deserves so much better.
i loved the artstyle, the animation and the city vibes, its all too good and makes me want to visit ikebukuro someday. also the red angels are so pretty like they look like angels in reality their hairstyles and clothing its all so pretty
i loved takashis character too, i want to know more about takashi and makotos histo…
Read at the sourceohkaekay
Okay so this was the first anime that I actually read the reviews for before watching, and based off of the reviews I was debating on whether I should even give it the time of day. But I hadn't watched anime in about a month, so I thought let me just give it a chance.
And honestly this series has its pros and cons. I saw some reviews saying this anime was the worst thing ever made, some saying the exact opposite and some in the middle.
I would say it's kind of in the middle for me. I say that just because the storyline was a little shaky in the begging, but it came together pretty decent in the last two episodes. I wouldn't recommend this anime to someone whos looking for a very consistent and coherent storyline. However I do think this anime would be a great one to watch in between a m…
Read at the sourceTheNerdGaming
This anime is a solid 8 and definitely worth a watch!
The story is great in my opinion. Until the final act the series consists of a bunch of smaller stories from each episode woven into each other and connecting with re-occurring characters etc.
Some of the stories also tackle underlying problems in society (main focus on Japan ofc) and humans. Of course it’s also made to be enjoyable to watch but the underlying themes are still there.
The art itself is a stylistic view on gangs with bright colors and exaggerated leaders. The leader of the G-Boys walks around in a dress all the time while the leader of the Red Angels dances ballet in his free time.
But it still manages to hit that sweet spot between stylistic but not over the top unrealistic costumes/ gang attire.
The characters are…
Read at the sourcenate_iskm
Story: The anime is an adaptation from a novel which is a adaptation of a TV Series, so it's kinda like that we have an original work here because of this whibbly wobbly adaptation stuff. But beyond that, we have an unique storytelling using little individual arcs that grow into a climax at the end. It's a resource very used on tv dramas and well applied over here, but it fall down when it comes to major story at the climax, being one of the most easiest clichés ever. (7/10)
Art: The art isn't bad, but it clearly doesn't fit into a action/drama anime, the opposite what happened when this studio animate Yesterday wo Uttate which fits perfectly in the way that the story goes. Besides that, it's still a good art for the scenes where it needed but always keep the watcher wondering about "the…
Read at the sourcemushimk
A walk in the park :
Ikebukuro West Gate Park is your typical hard-to-rate anime. You won't easily find much to say about its execution, which might lacks a bit, ... but not that much either. There are not that many flaws in that show, despite a lot of targeted critiscisms. To me, it raises the question whether this anime is a potential victim to the expectations it seemingly pushed on its viewers. So when these expecations are not met, this anime suffers.
Truth to be told, it's a bit unfair to the whole story of the show. It's entertaining, in its own way, and without exactly relying in a deluge of blood splatters for a change.
It might come a bit weak (around the corners) for the mystery genre, but I still think it was able to provide some interesting interlaced links between all episod…
Read at the sourceDollParanoid
What should we know before watching this anime? First, there is no mystery here at all. Secondly, although it is indeed a crime drama, there's not much thriller here. It is a crime detective in which a troubleshooter Majima Makoto, who is a friend of the leaders of local gangs, investigates different criminal incidents to resolve conflicts and to save tranquility in Ikebukuro.
So, let's disassemble this anime point by point.
1. Plot. How I told before, main character Majima Makoto is the troubleshooter, who acts as an intermediary between various semi-criminal gangs and the police. At first sight, the conflicts he resolves are not connected. The first 10 episodes can be viewed as separate, unrelated. Only at the end of the series the plot become integral, separate episodes add up to a si…
Read at the sourceDeliriousBadger
Ikebukuro West Gate Park is surprisingly enjoyable. The art style is nothing special and the characters are cliche. The sound design is pretty good and the OP and ED really convey the overall vibe of the show. What I liked most about the show is its simplicity in basic emotions. There were numerous moments were the show really gripped me. The show gets pretty cringy at times, but I still enjoy it. The strong emotional moments highlight what life is really about: connections with other peopel. The comradery and family bonds are touching. The show relies on cheap emotions, but I don't mind that at all. For anyone longing for a justice bone and some feels, I recommend it!
Read at the sourceMissBluebelles
I really liked this serie. Having a main character helping out delinquents and the like despite not being a part of a gang himself was super-intriguing.
The layout of the eipsodes was nice where one person got help each episode. And they still mangaed to tie the episodes together for a wholesome storyline that made sense. Many people we got to see again and it was nice to see they hadn't been discarded immediately as supportive characters when they had fulfilled their purpose in one episode.
They went back and forth with different issues and morals and showed how thoughtless actions can have (very) severe consequences.
The characters felt realistic despite the fact that they exist in a different world, in the sense that they are mostly a violent bunch of delinquents. They weren't "ju…
Read at the sourceRisitha
*spolier free*
This anime isn't for your run of the mill gang violence media lovers. Imho it offers some insight on how everything works in japan
Most of the negative stuff I see is "muh where r the guns" or why are they peaceful but gang violence in Japan is almost never as violent as it is in the west and that can be seen in this anime as well.
The characters could use some more development imho, there was so much left unsaid but I'm assuming we're going to get more in the future.
From the technical side(art sound and animation) everything is up to par with what you would expect in a modern anime
Read at the sourceConan3dogawa
While the anime is about two gangs in Ikebukuro, you could be very mislead if you think that the"gangs" in the anime are gangs of criminals or actual Yakuza. The term gang definitely has a negative connotation, but in this series a gang is merely a group of people, that protect each other and can be hired for certain services. It actually shows that a gang can also be a good thing. Even though the gangs in the series become agressive very quickly, which is definitely a flaw that they still have, their main intentions are to make their district a better place and provide security for thir members.
I think this concept was very interesting, but the thing that definitely carried the show the most was its Main Character. The outside perspective that he has on these gangs gives the perfect an…
Read at the source
