A Review of Flip Flappers

I couldn't wait any longer! I have been urging to talk about this show so I will!!! Flip Flappers was my favorite show of the Fall 2016 season and for plenty of good reasons. This entire show is just a big slob of artistic genius! I'm not the biggest fan of magical girl shows buut this one has captivated my heart and was one of the biggest surprise of the year for me. I am GiraffePants and today I will be doing a review of Flip Flappers!

*NOTE* There will be spoilers

SYNOPSIS

Our story starts off with an average normal teenager by the name of Cocona. One day Cocona has a fateful encounter with an eccentric girl named Papika and asks her to join her and organization known as Flip Flip. Flip Flap is an organization focused on adventuring to the parallel world known as Pure Illusion and collect crystal fragments that will grant a wish if they're all collected. Cocona soon discover's that her childhood friend, Yayaka also seeks the fragments but for a rival organization bent on conquering the world. As Cocona and Papika collide with Yayaka, Cocona will learn more about Pure Illusion and the secret it holds.

STORY

This is a wonderful story about new and old friendships just with OP magical girls and a sick ass parallel world. Friendships are every important in this show, and the show chooses to focus on three relationships; The relationship between Cocona-Papika, Cocona-Yayaka, and (Major Spoiler) Soruto-Mimi. Each relationship goes on a set of twists and turns that challenge the relationship (This is prominent in the case of Cocona, Papika, and Yayaka). The show drives the fact that relationships are important for emotional support and overcoming challenges. For example, towards the end of the show, Cocona is forced to face her mother Mimi in her dark transformation but she can't do it alone! She needed the support and help from Papika in order to defeat Mimi and the best way for the pair to grow strong was by realizing how important their relationship with one another is. These relationships definitely have their downs but all the challenges the show's relationships go through are important to strengthening the bonds between characters. I absolutely love that this was the focus of the show! It adds a nice deep level for character development that pulls through nicely might I add. We see many characters go through stages of maturation and if there's something I love, it's development. 

Although, overall I enjoyed the story, I had trouble following what was going on in the beginning. This is the only negative I had with this show. In the beginning they throw the viewer into the world of pure illusion and developments happen quite fast in the first episode. Because of this, you can feel a bit confused after the first episode. Then in the third episode, Cocona and Papika are in a completely different situation than where we left off and it can come off as chaotic! The show does this because it wants the cover the concept that pure illusion is a world with differentiating environments and that the world itself doesn't follow the exact same rules as earth but when Cocona is suddenly the bad guy in a apocalyptic wasteland and we don't know why, it can make us tune out. It took me some time to process what was going on and understand the situation. That isn't the last time it does something like this so I can see where people may be turned off at some point. Besides that, this story was great all around and I enjoyed it immensely. 

CHARACTERS

As I've said, the focus of this show is on relationships and in order to illustrate that effectively, the characters have to be good and Flip Flappers does just that! The best characters of the show just happen to be Cocona, Papika, Yayaka, Soruto, and Mimi; The same set of characters whose relationships were focused on in the show. This isn't a coincidence. Each one of these characters shows a strong personality one way or another. Papika is care-free and generally happy while Cocona is cautious and shy. That isn't to say that this is how they are all the time; just like in real life people show a wide arrange of emotions aside from our most dominant common ones. For example, as the show progresses, Cocona learns to be more joyful as she continues to explore through Pure Illusion along with Papika. 

I LOOOOOOOOOOVE the characters' design. The girls are very slender and nimble and have very large colorful eyes. Their designs are crafted to represent a sense of adventure, curiosity, and innocence. And then there's Cocona's and Papika's Flip Flap transformation! Oh My god, I can't begin to explain how much I love their magical girl design. Their clothes are tasteful; I think the revealing back design and lack of clothes covering their shoulders is awesome cause it makes them look fucking majestic! I especially love their legs; one being completely covered by a white stocking with a short boot and the other just being a long fading boot. Lastly, I love that their hair grows practically twice in size, and both the hair and eyes changes color! Take note magical girl shows cause this is good design!

MUSIC

The music for Flip Flappers is definitely enjoyable. I like both the OP and ED; Actually I love the OP and ED! The OP titled "Serendipity" by ZAQ is great to listen to. While listening, it pumps me up for the episode I'm about to see (Which is good since that is the OP's job). The ED "FLIP FLAP FLIP FLAP" by TO-MAS feat.Chima is also great. It's a very quiet song, with a simple rhythm and  some fantastic singing. That song gives me a great feeling; It's kinda like a satisfying feel you get after seeing a great movie. It also feels very "Alice in wonderland-ish." The music within the show is pretty damn good. There's a wide range of genres the show uses to portray whatever feel they're trying to go for. When things are intense or action packed, they'll use Electronic music that's very fast paced and complex or when there's a need for a sense of wonder, the show will use orchestra music or other more traditional music that's more moderately paced. That's just a small taste of the music Flip Flappers that you can expect.

ANIMATION

OH! OH! Where the hell do I even begin here! Flip Flappers has the best animation out of all the shows that aired in 2016! They definitely deserve it for the masterpiece they've given us. First thing! the design of Flip Flappers is amazing! The regular world is full of beautiful European architecture and Patchy green lands. Then there's the world of Pure Illusion. Pure illusion uses many environments that range from snowy wonderlands to Tron like metropolises! It's practically orgasmic to witness just how much thought they put into the world alone.

Another great thing about this show is the color. Color plays a huge role in the animation and storytelling of Flip Flappers. Whether you're in the outside world or in Pure Illusion, the show is always colorful (except for that scary school episode). The world they go into in the second episode is especially good and my favorite! Colors are very bright and sometimes play an important role in showing character feelings. In the second episode you can see that Cocona's and Papika's Hair and eyes change color according to how they feel. Don't believe me, check that episode again and you'll see it.

The world and color of Flip Flappers is great but the movement of the animation itself is what drives this show in. The fluidity of scenes and the unorthodox angles for those scenes makes a hard impact on the viewer's eyes and delivers unique story telling you wish you could get everyday. From epic fight scenes to more subtle moments, Flip Flappers is carefully calculated and animated to give you a work of art that can only be described as "Breathtaking."

FINAL VERDICT

Tchnical Score- 9 out of 10 (A)

If you can't tell, I think that Flip Flappers is beautifully constructed and the thought that went into this work has payed off well. Jaw dropping visuals and a fantasy story that explores relationships and the obstacles that come with relationships is what really makes this show great. Combine that with a fantastic cast of characters and well-composed music and you have one of the best shows of the year!

Personal Score- 8.6 out of 10 (B)

The reason why my personal score is lower is because I did have that initial confusion at the beginning. I wasn't able to process what was going on for a bit but If I watched this again I believe that this score wold be higher. In the end, I highly Recommend that people watch this show because it is a true piece of art that will astound your eyes and heart.

As always, I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I did my best to explain things out and show why I love Flip Flappers so much. If there's anything you guys want to comment, then feel free to write down below! If you like what I do, then consider checking out my YouTube Channel, GiraffePants Anime for more content and I'll hopefully see you all for another post! PEACE!!!

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Top 10 Blonde/Yellow Haired Anime Girls

Blondes...the hair color of beauty over here in the western hemisphere. It's not the most creative hair color in anime but it's still just as beautiful! Yellow and blonde tend to represent confidence, happiness, naivete, and stubbornness. My list of cute blondes may not reflect that but I do love them all. Here are my top 10 blonde ladies of the anime world.

NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS

10. VORONA

To start off this list, at number 10 is Varona from Durarara. I couldn't make this list without adding this feisty Russian to the lineup. Now, I didn't put her here just because she's Russian; there are many other aspects to like about. I like women that can kick my ass and Vorona can definitely kick my ass! Her combat skills are pretty top notch; they have to be since she's an assassin otherwise that would be embarrassing! I think the biggest reason I like her is her character design. Her slender build, eyes, outfit, and hair design are awesome. I don't like the hair over the eye look in real life but in anime, that's some good stuff (That's why I like Rem from ReZero so much). The last reason (most useless reason) why I like her so much is because she rides a motorcycle! I like girls that can ride motorcycles and look good doing it!

9. IRINA JELAVIC

At number 9 on the list is...wait...oh my god, another Russian!!! You should know at this point I like Russians. Yes, at number 9 is Irina Jelavic aka Bitch-Sensei from Assassination Classroom. Other than being Russian, I'm going to continue with the sexy assassin angle I did with Vorona. If you can be beautiful and deadly with a gun, that's a plus in my book. She's more of the classic assassin; infiltrating and fooling men to their own graves. SO HOT. She's also...um...very well endowed and what can I say, I'm only human. But besides those superficial reasons, I also like that Irina has another side to her that makes you love her. Irina can be clumsy and childish due to her disconnection from regular society. She even has insecurities like everyone else which I like. I like someone I can relate to somewhat which puts her above Vorona. 

8. CHITOGE KIRISAKI

Next on the list is Chitoge Kirisaki from Nisekoi. I love all the girls from Nisekoi but Chitoge is pretty cool (she's still number 2 on the show though). I like Chitoge because she's a person I would actually be romantically interested in. Irina and Vorona are cool and everything but I'm not gonna meet someone like them in real life. Chitoge is a person you could meet in real life cause she has normal great qualities. She is intelligent given by the fact the she speaks two languages fluently and has valedictorian level grades. She is athletic and very talkative (unlike my antisocial ass). She cares abot people she associates with and goes the extra mile for them if need be. On top of that, she has a nice figure and awesome hair (The pink ombre at the end is amazing). I tend to not like tsnderes but she's on my list of Tsunderes I actually like (along with Taiga Aisaka and others).

7. MIO KUSAKAI

Next girl up on the list is Mio Kusakai from Keijo. I've put Mio on this list for a couple reasons. One, which is the obvious reason; she is smokin! Now that I think of it, she reminds me (design wise) of Rias Gremory with yellow hair and a swimsuit. Besides her gifted proportions, she is quite the fighter. She's considered to be a keijo prodigy and she definitely shows that. I don't think she even gets hurt during the entire show! She's fast, agile, and has some real power tucked into her.........weapons. Her ability to hypnotize competitors with her breasts is something to behold but in all honesty, she doesn't have to do anything to hypnotize me! Sorry, that was demeaning. Personality wise, I like how forward she is. Anime characters don't tend to be forward people but Mio doesn't give no shits! She hits on girls out the wazoo! I think she just does that for fun but none the less, I like people who aren't afraid to say things that could be seen as questionable.

6. LUCY HEARTFILIA

Number six on my top 10 list is Lucy Heartfilia from Fairy Tail. Lucy is a celestial mage working for the Fairy Tail guild. Her celestial spirit magic is pretty cool and unique. I had never seen magic like that before I watched the series so seeing her do that was pretty awesome to witness. She's also pretty funny; she often plays the role of comic relief but I do laugh whenever she has something to say, so that's alright with me. Her design is so good! The show's always changing her hair style and wardrobe and she always looks good. I don't like it when characters have like 2 outfits because it just seems lazy to me but Lucy always has something new going on. Lastly, I respect her love for her friends. If you've watched Fairy Tail, you know Lucy gets emotional and at times makes big sacrifices for her comrades and I respect that. As a famous person once said, "Put some respek on it!"

5. TSUGUMI KOTOBUKI

At number 5 on the list is Tsugumi Kotobuki (Mugi) from K-On. Ah, the K-On girls are definitely a group to be adored and it wouldn't be the same without Mugi. Besides being super moe, I love the fact that Mugi is just so darn nice. I like girls (and people in general) that are nice. She's a gentle spirit who does her best to be considerate. I hate girls who attract drama cause I ain't about that life; nice girls who everybody likes are way better. I also like how sometimes she's not in tune with common sense. I find her quirkiness to be adorable and it makes me want to hug her!!! Lastly, I love that fact that she loves food! I am a man who loves food and I like girls that aren't afraid to eat a big old slab of ribs drenched in sauce and the only way you could ever eat it is like a wild animal. Mugi loves to eat cake and snacks and I love her for it. Also cute eyebrows...

4. CHARLOTTE DUNOIS

Next on the list is Charlotte Dunois from Infinite Stratos. I tend not to choose too many girls from harems because they tend to be one dimensional but I really like Charlotte. I enjoy her mature personality; Everyone else on the show is somewhat tsundere but Charlotte is very kind and polite (Kind I say, not a coincidence the farther we go down this list the nicer these girls get). Although she is mature, she does have impulses of childishness which I love cause I'm a big kid inside. When I saw her in her one-piece cat pajamas, I thought to myself "She's the one!" Cuteness overload over here! Also, she's just straight out cute! Her long hair, purple eyes, angelic smile; she just makes my heart flutter! Move out Miss Universe 2017 (who happens to be french),  Charlotte beats you by a mile! 

3. MITO IKUMI

Number three on my list is Mito Ikmi from Shokugeki no Soma. Women who can cook are pretty awesome. I can't cook for shit so when I see someone make a fantastic dish with ease, you know I'm gonna respect that! Not only that, she got the looks to go with those skills. She has a much more western body; more curvy, darker skin, more endowed. That appeals to me being an American and I especially like the fact the she has darker skin. There aren't enough dark skin girls in anime so seeing her is awesome! I enjoy her fiery personality and confidence in her skills. She isn't afraid to get into a cooking brawl and show what she can do with thick meat (that sounded sexual)! Women with confidence and passion in their eyes always seem cool to me!

2. KAORI MIYAZANO

At number two on this list is Kaori Miyazano from Your Lie in April. Where do I even begin. One thing I love about Kaori is her ability with the violin. I've never said this to anyone but... I think women who can play violin are hoooooot! I love the sound of violins so seeing a women who can rock it gets mad thumbs ups from me! I also love the way Kaori lives life. Always trying her best to live in the moment and giving it all she's got to leave an impact on people. We could all learn from that kind of living and for that Kaori gets all the way up here in the 2nd spot. Kaori is super cute and I love her big innocent looking eyes. Her overall design is lovely which is a plus and her long Rapunzel like hair is captivating. Lastly, If you've finished this show and know what happens, you can't help but fall in love with Kaori and her efforts to live life. Her desire to live a life she could be proud of is heart warming and makes her a pretty cool lady!

1. SABER

We've finally come to the number one blonde (in my opinion) on the list and it's none other than Saber from Fate. If there ever was a blonde that was the embodiment of awesome it would be the king of England herself. She wields her holy phantasm, Excalibur, which cuts wind and armor with ease. That might be the greatest sword in anime so major props for her on that. Her fighting skills are just as impressive being a master swordsman and winning the holy grail twice (I think). That screams epic to me! Aside from her combat skills, she is a loyal knight all the way through. She's a woman who fights for her ideals and what she believes in; a symbol of justice for everyone to admire in awe. Let's not forget that saber is a very beautiful woman. Everything about her is lovely from her emerald green eyes, pale skin, and lovely blonde hair tied with a ribbon. Whether she's wearing armor or a dress, this girl always looks top class! These reasons make Saber the best blonde lady in anime!!!

I hope you guys all enjoyed this post! Leave comments down below about what you thought about my list. Is there another girl who should have been on this list? Make your argument not that I care! If you like what I do, follow the blog or check out my YouTube Channel, GiraffePants Anime, for more great content! That's all for now, hope you guys had fun reading and I'll see you for the next post.