Narumi Fujishima may seem like a normal high school student at first glance, but in reality he is a pessimistic outsider. Due to his father's work, he had to constantly transfer schools, and thus he has never managed to become a part of society. When he is forced to join the gardening club by his cheerful classmate Ayaka Shinozaki, Narumi encounters the genius hacker Alice, who lives in isolation above Hanamaru, the ramen shop where Ayaka works part-time. He then discovers that Alice is running a special private detective agency, and that all her professional associates refer to themselves as "NEET"s: Not in Education, Employment, or Training.
Joining the NEET detective agency due to his personal connection with a criminal case, Narumi finds himself entangled in a world of dangerous investigations conducted by the ill-assorted group of detectives, all the while trying to track down the crime syndicate which seems to have mysterious ties to Alice.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Nenhum episódio encontrado.
Comentários
Archaeon
One of the most annoying things about the anime industry is the seemingly ingrained belief that bandwagons, when jumped upon, have the mystical ability to carry studios into money. It's a sad fact that every season will undoubtedly see the release of one or more shows that clearly attempt to piggyback on the success of something that has gone before. Thankfully following trends isn't necessarily a bad thing, and every so often a series comes along that can be considered a superior example of its genre. Unfortunately that also means that the majority of titles that do jump on the bandwagon are mediocre at best. Originally alight novel series by Sugii Hikaru, Kamisama no Memochou (God's Memo Pad), tells the story of a socially awkward high school student, Fujishima Narumi, and his exploits with the NEET Investigation Firm (apparently "It's The Only NEET Thing To Do"). The story begins with a series of text messages that lead to a seemingly unrelated scene in a love hotel involving a school girl, a businessman, a delinquent of some sort, and an attempt at blackmail that ends with an ashtray to the head. Narumi, having recently moved to Tokyo, finds himself geographically challenged to the point where he's in a perfect position to see that same girl jump out of a window.
After that things get a bit random.
One of the major problems with Kamisama no Memochou is that the plot doesn't really have any particular goal or objective. The story is told in a series of short arcs that often have very little direct relation to each other, and while this does tie in to the idea of individual cases at an investigation firm, the lack of any real focus causes the narrative to meander before any conclusion can be reached. In addition to this there's a surprising degree of contrivance apparent in the development of the plot, and while it's true that certain events are necessary to implement the growth of particular characters, it's much more preferable to have such things implied, inferred or even insinuated.
That said, there are some interesting threads woven into the plot that lay a good foundation upon which the story can be told, and if one is able to ignore the obvious prefabrication in the narrative then there is a degree of entertainment to be found.
Which brings up the issue of the company that Alice runs.
NEET simply means "Not in Employment, Education or Training", which is a roundabout way of saying that a person is not just unemployed, but also has no real intention of finding a job. Given this fact, how can a NEET Investigation Firm exist when the simple act of working means that a person is no longer a NEET? To many folks it may seem like nothing more than splitting hairs, but in actuality it's the most prominent example of the mentality behind the series (more on this in a bit).
Because Kamisama no Memochou is set in the "real" world, there's a degree of mundanity to the artwork that is surprisingly well suited to the series. There's also little in the way of flamboyance where the characters are concerned, but while the design principle seems focused on normality, the series suffers from a certain tired old saw involving beauty and people who aren't very nice. On the plus side, the animation is pretty decent for the majority of the show, and is only really let down by some poorly incorporated CG or the odd repetition of particular sequences (there's one in the first episode - see if you can spot it).
The series opens with a rather straightforward introduction to the main members of the cast, all to the tune of "Kawaru Mirai" by Choucho. On the other hand the main ending theme, "Asunaro" by Suzumura Kenichi, is set to a montage that focuses on Alice and Narumi, and features lots of tumbling negative words and rapid fire photos. In addition to this the first episode concludes with a a rather dizzying series of photographs and images against the backdrop of "Colorado Bulldog" by Mr. Big (and if you want to know who they are, google it or ask your older siblings or parents). As for the background music, while the tracks on offer are varied and atmospheric that doesn't mean that they're always necessary, and in truth several scenes would be better without any sort of accompaniment.
When it comes to storytelling it's often the case that a relatively weak plot will be masked by philosophical or psychological discussions, and that's pretty much what happens here. The script has a tendency to get bogged down in semantics and there seems to be an almost desperate need to expound upon the reasons for every action taken. Thankfully the voice actors are a pretty decent bunch, and while there are occasions where the performances are a little too excitable or overbearing, for the most part each role is handled fairly well.
One of the more interesting aspects of Kamisama no Memochou is the manner in which the characters interact with each other, especially the contrast between the established relationships and the manner in which Narumi's connections to everyone evolve over the course of the series. Now while this suggests some very good character development, sadly that's not the case as the story follows the old idea that drama leads to growth.
As the main lead much of the focus tends to fall on Narumi, but aside from certain events that force him to take charge he doesn't actually change very much until the last few episodes. One could argue that his introspective monologues are symptomatic of his evolution, but in truth the conclusions he reaches aren't reflected by any substantial changes in his personality. Right up to the end of the series he remains a figure who seems ill at ease with his role, and this seems like a wasted opportunity to explore what could have been a very interesting character.
The downside to this is the lack of attention given the rest of the cast, and there are a number of points that remain unanswered come the end of the show. Who is Alice? Why did she start a detective agency? How did the rest of the team gather? Not once does Kamisama no Memochou attempt to address these questions, and worse still, Narumi doesn't even ask them. Apparently his character is content to remain ignorant of things that anyone in his situation would naturally want to know.
Which neatly brings us back to the mentality behind the series.
Intelligence is a difficult thing to gauge when it comes to stories, and one of the common assumptions is that the reader or audience will be unable to understand the choices, motivations and actions of this or that person. Writers make an effort to counter this, and the usual response is to load the dialogue with lots of big words, philosophy, psychology, psuedo-science, and other highbrow musings. The problem is that they often become so enamoured with their own intelligence that they begin to lose sight of what's important, and elements begin to creep that really don't belong or should have been thought out properly.
In the case of Kamisama no Memochou this manifests itself not just in the name of the company. One has to question the basic premise of a girl of indeterminate age (but probably around 12 or13 years old), with a mild Dokupe addiction living alone surrounded by high tech equipment. In addition to that one has to wonder why a show about detectives and mysteries would need an episode dedicated to fanservice or baseball.
This series has the potential to good, if not great, but there are far too many occasions where it takes its cues from titles like Gosick, not the least of which is the inclusion of an eccentric loli detective and her well meaning, yet slightly bumbling "assistant". As with many other tales of mystery, there's an element of entertainment that stems mainly from the viewer trying to figure out who, what, why and how, but that's where the magic stops. Although there are occasions where the show is interesting, and sometimes a little charming, these are always overshadowed by one question - who is Alice?. The lack of any explanations about her places a burden on the narrative that remains throughout the series, and while the show tries to mysticise her character from time to time, this is nothing more than an attempt to stop the viewer asking unwanted questions ("it's magic so it doesn't need an explanation").
Kamisama no Memochou is, at best, an interesting mystery anime, but like so many other shows that are the product of jumping on the bandwagon, it relies too much on the success of titles like Gosick, and too little on what it could have been.
blaZofgold
Mod Edit: Review may contain spoilers. ------------- Kamisama no Memochou is more than just a detective anime featuring not-really-NEETs and a loli mastermind. It's an anime that really takes the time and effort to create a realistic yet fantastic world and populate it with some of the most endearing characters in all of anime. The plots of each mystery is engrossing and exciting; the characters are not at all static, growing and changing as the anime moves forward. When it comes to good detective animes, this is about as close to perfection as you'll get. Story (9/10) Art (8/10) Sound (9/10)Character (8/10)
Enjoyment (9/10)
The story of KamiMemo is both cliche as well as original. The first episode starts off pretty predictably: ordinary high school boy accidentally encounters strange people/event, gets curious and ends up being involved in some way shape or form. Don't let this banal opening discourage you! The rest of the anime picks up the slack and really shows off the depth of this series. The Angel Fix case is truly a climax and arguably one of the most well-done story arcs in anime history.
Even the filler episode is done with a planned beginning, middle, and end, as well as a key plot element that both initiates and resolves the conflict. If that's not good writing, then I don't know what is.
The anime demonstrates an exceptional grasp of the concept "detective anime". "Detective" implies that the plot must contain a great deal of mystery, of assumption and deduction that should engage the audience, while "anime" means that this is, above all else, a show meant to entertain and impart something valuable to us viewers. KamiMemo balances between these two aspects by focusing more on the "how" of the mystery rather than the who, what, when, or where. While the actual truth may not be all that surprising, the process and methods that Alice and her gang employ to uncover the truth gives the anime the atmosphere of being "on the case", which makes the anime that much more enjoyable.
KamiMemo doesn't have the best art I've seen, but then again I'm probably being spoiled by Oreimo. The art is very similar in style to TMoSH, which further deepens the similarity between the two anime (explanation in Characters section). Good artwork all around, no derpy, awkward angles, and characters are portrayed both distinctly and realistically. Emotions are very easy to read, and mood is well-portrayed through the colors.
I originally found this anime because Kakenukeru Anison Medley I ended with an extremely long excerpt of Kawaru Mirai. Which happens to be an amazing OP; Choucho sings some of the best OPs out there, along with Kawada and Lia. The rest of the OST is filled with solid music overall. Notable mentions include Teddy, the haunting song played whenever Alice explains the harsh truth.
I don't understand what the emphasis on NEETs where - Alice makes tons of cash from taking her cases. NEET detective is quite the awkward irony. Besides that point, the characters in KamiMemo are very well done - they immediately and easily reach beyond their given roles in the story. For example, Ayaka is supposed to be just a schoolfriend, but ultimately becomes such an integral part of the NEET squad that her tragic fall in the final arc really makes an impact on both the viewers and the characters.
One of the unique points of the anime is that the protagonist, Narumi, is given the Kyon effect. The Kyon effect is given to a high school boy, either in their first or second year, who is perfectly normal yet manages to attract around him an array of weird and bizarre characters, many of whom are quite gifted or have surreal abilities. Through these people around him, the Kyon-effected boy is given a chance to break out of his normalcy and become something more than what he was before by the merits of his character and the power of his will.
While it may sound overused (and it only does because Haruhi is ridiculously overreaching), the Kyon effect is in fact not commonly used because of its delicate nature and the mixed reactions that the community usually gives in return. Narumi plays the role perfectly, becoming a hero in his own right through the course of the anime. Instead of a pathetic character who only knows how to voice snark comments and play the tsukkomi, Narumi pushes himself to his own limits and does everything in his power to protect those he truly cares for.
tl;dr KamiMemo does some seriously incredible things with its characters. I won't even begin to mention just how perfectly amazing Alice is as a beautiful balance between a tsundere 12 year old and a calculated professional detective.
KamiMemo was one of those "love at first episode" animes for me. It immediately gained a spot on my Top-10 anime list, and Alice became my 5th favorite character in all of anime. I was honestly impressed by the dynamic nature of basically every character. Even Alice grows and matures through the course of the anime, though remaining true to her detective creed and ideals. Watching the anime was simply a blast.
Overall (9/10)
The first season of KamiMemo covers volumes 1-4 of the light novel series. With 4 more volumes still untouched, I sincerely hope that somewhere on Heaven's Memo Pad is an entry for a season 2.
8thSin
The word "NEET" is used almost interchangeably with "bum" and "hikikomori" in Japan. KamiMemo is about NEET detective Alice and her so-called assistant Narumi solving various cases in Tokyo with the help of three other NEETs and a Yakuza group. While the premise and the main characters are strikingly similar to that of Gosick, they are very different shows in that KamiMemo is more about the drama than mystery. The story is arc-based with at most two characters for every case. This ensured great character development for the featured characters, which is the driving force behind this series. Unlike your typical detective show, the cases areoften simple. They're often very much solvable thanks to the abundance of hints planted throughout each arc. KamiMemo was far more engaging than Gosick to me as I found myself thinking about each incident with the characters rather than just watching a detective story presented to me. The downside of simple cases is that the story seems dull at times, though it makes up for it by adding drama and inspiration to the story.
Despite being a detective anime, KamiMemo is filled with themes typically found in shounen (especially battle or sports) anime such as friendship, determination, justice/morality, belonging, search for a purpose in life, and love. There's also quite a bit of action, and like in the real life, many things are settled by brute force in the end rather than intelligence alone.
The characters are rather stereotypical, but the anime spends a significant amount of time developing each person involved with each crime. Though Alice, Major, Hiro, and Tetsu were underdeveloped and functions almost exclusively as case solvers to advance the plot. The focus is on Narumi's growth as a person and clients of the NEET Investigation Firm. Their past, hopes, and desires are carefully presented to build up for the climaxes. While it can difficult to accept the corniness of Alice's speech and the convenience of the buildups at times, you are always rewarded with touching drama and inspiration by the end of each episode.
The art and animation quality is absurdly high for a series of this type. Characters designs are very generic, but everything is detailed and maintains extraordinary consistency (even in a baseball filler episode). There are some sloppiness when characters are shown from distance, but this is only noticeable because of the amount of detail and fluidity in regular scenes. Overall, the visuals are far above par.
OP/ED are very addictive songs that fit the show perfectly (I didn't even skip them!). Voicing is a perfect match for every character, and BGMs were decent.
Episode 1 (double-length) was an original story specifically written for anime by the author of the novel, and in my opinion it was by far the best, most well thought out arc. I think this shows J.C. Staff's inability to properly pace and adapt novels. Everything was summarized pretty well in the final episode despite it being volume 1 out of 7 in the novels though. There were many instances where I felt the anime was saved by the inherent strength of its source material, but I found it to be very enjoyable overall.
Asfaria
Kamisama no Memochou (God's Notebook) is one of the slightly darker "high school mystery" anime I have watched. It may not seem like it at first, but this anime is not as lighthearted as something like Hyouka. Hyouka doesn't have anything like suicide attempts, money stolen from the yakuza, or mind-altering drugs. Story - 7/10 The only real problem with the story of Kamisama no Memochou is it's slow and cliche start. The first four episodes are really nothing special, but after that, the latter two slightly longer arcs that make up the remaining 8 episodes are almost as good of mystery arcs as some of theDeath Note arcs.
The story follows Fujishima Narumi. At the beginning, Narumi's nothing more than your usual male protagonist who is somewhat forced into an uncomfortable situation (he seems and looks a lot like Ryugamine Mikado from Durarara at first). Narumi's father works abroad for all but around 5 days out of the year, so he lives with his older sister who works to support both of them. Because of this, he is forced to move around often, has changed schools many times over the years, and has become used to moving and avoids making many friends. One day, he is up on the roof of his current school in Tokyo when a girl named Ayaka sees him. She is the single member of the Gardening Club and is growing plants on the roof.
After forcing Narumi to join the Gardening Club, she takes him to a ramen shop which is where she works occasionally and where a group of NEETs (people who are not employed, in education, or training) meet. Narumi is welcomed into the group despite stating that he is not a NEET and has no intention of becoming one. The three NEETs are all there because they are working for the NEET detective, Alice, who lives in a room above the ramen shop (which is her main supply of food as well).
Alice is an introverted detective with incredible hacking and computer skills who loves stuffed animals and a soda called Dokupe (which is clearly not advertising for Dr. Pepper).
From there, the group is involved in several cases (as I mentioned, the first few are a little boring). Eventually Narumi gets more involved with the group and becomes more of a leader who has the respect of the other NEETs and a gang who is closely tied to the group of NEETs.
Trust me, if you don't completely hate the beginning of the show, don't give up on it before Episode 5. The story really picks up then and Narumi starts becoming a much more interesting character.
Art - 7/10
Alice's room looks really great with the computer lighting and stuffed animals and the very final scene of the show looks spectacular, but other than that, the art is mostly average. It's set in a city, which is drawn well, but I think Durarara and Death Note (which have similar settings) have much better art.
The character designs are also similar to other characters (I mentioned before Narumi looks like a copy of Mikado with brown hair instead of black). Alice is your typical "loli with long hair" female lead as far as looks go. About the only design that stands out is Hirasaka Renji's due to his odd, dyed blond bangs which make him look more like a Yugioh character than someone fitting in with the rest of these more normal looking characters. I actually really liked his design since it was so unique and interesting.
Sound - 5/10
There's no problems with the Japanese voice acting, but the soundtrack is a little strange. It's usually not even noticeable (with the OP and ED [I don't include them in the score] overshadowing almost everything). There are a few good tracks, but there is also one weird "song" which sounds like a woman saying some words in English with long pauses in between each word. There's not much other than that that I remember.
Character - 8/10
I thought the characters at first were just a bunch of bland copy characters from other shows, but they really had some good development that changed my mind completely around 7 or 8 episodes in. I didn't think Alice ever really developed much, but she was interesting from the beginning so that's not really a problem.
Narumi is definitely the most developed character in this show. Despite his whole reason for getting involved in this story being pretty cliche, he really does a good job and actually turns into a good leader. Several characters mention that he should become a con man, which I could see happening in his future if he wasn't so nice (though he has a nice breakdown later on).
Hinamura Souichirou (Hina) is also an interesting character. He doesn't necessarily develop, but he has a really good role in the first "good" arc. Hina is a gang leader with an extremely loyal group of followers. He can be very intimidating and strong when he wants to, but he is also kindhearted and has a very interesting backstory. He works with Alice and the other NEETs a lot and forms a strange bond with Narumi.
The other NEETs who help Alice are Tetsuo, who is skilled at boxing, Hitoshi, a skilled hacker who looks like an elementary school kid, and Hiroaki, a gigolo who uses his female connections as a wide source of information around the city. Along with them is Ayaka, who is only occasionally involved in the cases (the last one has a lot to do with her) and mostly just helps by working at the ramen shop and making sure Alice bathes.
Enjoyment - 7/10
While this anime gets off to a very slow start, it really picks up around Episode 5 and becomes a good, fairly dark mystery anime. The characters become much better after that point and just the overall arcs and story becomes much more unique. While there isn't really any overarching plot aside from Narumi's development, it's just interesting to watch as the story progresses. Kamisama no Memochou does a good job of pulling you into the NEET detective world it sets up in Tokyo and connects you to the characters slowly throughout the 12 episodes. Some similar shows would be the more lighthearted Hyouka while Durarara and Death Note have similar settings and some similar characters (Alice and L are kind of similar detectives who spend most of their time inside). Shindere Shoujo to Kodoku na Shinigami is a manga with a similar balance of comedy, drama, and somewhat dark mystery.
I would recommend this manga if you like mystery anime at all. It may start out slow, but it's rewarding to stick it out until it starts becoming more unique around halfway through.
The_TEKnician
Kami-sama no Memochou (God's notebook) is a must-see series. Bottom line. Like any series, it is hard to be hooked in right from the start, but there are dozens, literally, HUNDREDS of animes that start off that way but are now beloved by millions. This short 12-episode series is among them. As the story progresses, it keeps throwing you cliffhangers that make you want to see another episode and another and another and then BOOM! PLOT TWIST!!!!! TRAGEDIES!!! CONSPIRACIES!!! DRUGS!!! GANG WARS!!! EVERYTHING IS MOVING SO FAST!!! The writing for this show got really intense midway through. And eventhough it's done...
...I still want more
AlphXcalibyr
First of all, I don't write reviews. I just watch the anime, take note of it, put a score on it, and remember it if was good. The fact that I'm writing this is quite important. Now I gave this a 10. Story: 10 I had just finished watching "The Mentalist", a television show about crime and mystery, with comedy in between. So landing on Kamisama no Memochou was great for me. I was able to enjoy the story because, like "The Mentalist" the story was well thought out. The story starts and follows the general mystery solving format that makes it good. First, recognition ofthe crime, planning, first scouting, planning, first action, and then the reveal. Or something like that. I really appreciate that the series takes ~40 minutes to start and end a mystery. This shows that Alice and the detective squad are really well at what they do. Now of course there were stories that took longer than 2 episodes. These stories...omg they were awesome. Each scene exists for a purpose in the development of the detective skills. Each scene progresses the MC and the viewer ahead and also allows us to find the personalities of the characters involved. For a story that is deep, proper, and meticulous in the way the mysteries are solved I really liked it.
Art: 9
I'm too picky about the art style since I understand each studio follows their own way of drawing. So every now and then I pause the episode to notice the detail in a frame. The art was well, nothing lazy. Sure, a few frames had simple drawing but nothing that would remove from the show a lot. Everything that needed focus had detail and that's all that mattered.
Sound: 8
Again, sound is great if it matters and if it doesn't then it's just another thing for the acoustic value in a scene. I like anime such as Kill La Kill and Katanagatari in the way they use a special song or tune for a certain type of situation or character (s/o to Blumenkranz for Ragyo). I noticed that in this anime there are a few empty scenes with no BGM. Otherwise there is something to fill the airwaves. And then there are a few reoccuring songs to match a situation, and I really liked that. I.e. when Alice explains something, a really cool female vocalization song starts in the background and adds a special intensity.
Character: 8
Never get your characters wrong. I really liked how the characters in each crime were explained in a nice and detailed way. Sure, some of them were regular characters that already existed in our knowledge before they make their "request" but still...characters that stay for a short time or have importance for a short time still get enough presentation to show themselves to the viewers. Characters with longer importance are slowly revealed to the viewers. And I liked that. The pacing of revealing the backstories of characters was great. There were a few episodes just to reveal the backstories of two characters, and another single episode to reveal the story of another. Each was very well presented. The NEETs are highlighted for their abilities, and they're "powers" are constant, no deus ex machina here. I really like the MC because he isn't the dense type and he is smart in his own way. His pairing with Alice is great too and in that way the viewers get the inside scoop on what she is thinking because, as they point out in the anime a lot, the MC is talker and not a thinker. The reason why I think the characters aren't super awesome is because, well the author uses concepts so out of the norm that it becomes unique...and that hurts it a little. Near the end I saw the MC become a little different and succumb to the generic MC style where "he is weak and confused but now he is strong, but isn't always strong...just when he wants to be" and that was annoying to me because I really hoped the anime wouldn't end like that.
Enjoyment: 10
Like I said, I just finished watching 7 season of "The Mentalist" in which I thoroughly enjoyed. Coming to this only helped extend the enjoyment I had in that show and so seeing the pacing of this anime and how there was a smart character who didn't do much, and a not as smart character who ran around a lot helped me relate back to "The Mentalist". For anyone who hasn't seen the show I'm talking about...well if you like to think a little in an anime and like a bit of problem solving and connecting the dots...I think you'll like this too.
br0kenphantasy
Overall [9/10] This was.... amazing. Throw away the typical geniuses (although the characters are in their own way) and place people who decide to find something better in the world in a different ways. Plot [8/10] The plot may seem a bit of a lackluster at first but before you know it, you're stuck in their loop, unable to tear your eyes away from the screen. Watch the protagonist go from someone who barely interacted with anyone and threw around fake smiles to one of immeasurable power and find his own worth, neither exaggerated nor underestimated. Narumi was heartbreakingly human. Character [9/10] Alice; the speaker of the dead. While uncovering,she shoulders the burden that she could have done something had she been earlier, but she always reaches one scene too late.
Renji, Hiro and Master; seeing the world with different eyes through connections and technology, usually indirect than direct.
Sou... the anti-hero in the story. Doing things that people in full view of the public cannot, bring justice his own way even if its outlawed.
Narumi... the high school student that wanted to find the bigger picture, something bigger than life and found it in words he spoke and wrote.
The main cast were beautiful and flawed in their own ways, so I loved them all, even the supposed villains who were also trying to find their own place.
In general, I love this anime ;)
EmmyBomb
Kami-sama no Memo-chou is not a typical mystery anime when the "detective character" seems to be a little like Sherlock. This anime is about "NEETS" or school drop outs that take requests from clients who need help in finding someone or figuring out why someone did something. Each of the characters in this anime have distinct personalities. There are some typical anime tropes where characters represent a certain stereotype. One example is Alice; typical Gothic loli who is a bit of a tsundere - She is quite similar to the girl in Gosick. The anime is short but has a great storyline. Ireally got into it. I love the art and how the characters developed over the 12 episodes. It also makes you think of events that can take place in real life that we usually don't think about.
I tend to be vague with my reeviews because I don't want to spoil anything. All I can say is I liked it enough to write a review reccommending it so give it a try.
4unox3
Kamisama no Memochou is an amazing anime that shows how a little girl can solve different cases. Age does no really matter in being a detective. You just need good observation skills and the wits. ;) The main character really has a high pride about herself.. She is not just a detective... She is a NEET detective. ^^ I really liked this anime and the characters.. :D
Rei-chii
I am a fan of detective-like stories. And being a NEET myself, I can somehow relate here to Alice. And just as she said "I have been gazing through windows across the internet to see the world. A grossly limited and twisted world, isn't it?" Anyway, I just finished seeing this anime. Knowing it's been completed quite a while back, I've only got the time to watch it recently. And I'm glad to have watched this series. It got me really satisfied with all the turn of events. This was another series that got me really hooked up from the very first episode up to the last. ifonly I could watch it continuously without stopping, I might have.
Story: Great stories. There are some episodes that kinda throw me off a bit. Like I would have thought to myself "seriously, this is just a stupid kind of case. you just wasted an episode!" But after sometime, things began to get interesting once more. Yeah, the story was just your typical detective story there is. But it has something that not all detective stories have. It has a great plot. Something that's continuously progressing until you reach the very conclusion of it. every episode has deeper meanings than just seeing it. It's like you don't have to watch it with your own eyes and just enjoy the episode or get bored by it. You have to watch it very seriously, carefully, chewing every words, digesting every information and let the conclusion not just stir your brains but your very emotions as well.
Art is Good. typical art. Not very catchy but at least it doesn't hurt the eyes.
Characters are quite great. they have really different characters being portrayed. Not everyone is similar. Really unique individuals that found each other and formed a bond. Well, that's how things are but then there was not an annoying character ever in the whole series.
Enjoyment, well yeahh I actually enjoyed the whole series. Like I said, I am a fan of detective type stories.
Over all: This is just a great anime. Totally love everything about it. And the ending is beautifully written and portrayed. A bit sad, yeahh but the kind of sadness that doesn't really hurt. Two thumbs up.
This might be below the belt/crossing the line but those who rated this anime low might have watched this only with their eyes. They didn't savor every moment and maybe didn't really get the true meaning behind the story.
But then, every people has their own opinions, so I'm not one to talk.
Enjoy!
Jeffrey-sama
Imagine a riding a rollercoaster. It starts off by building up your excitement as you are slowly ascending the tracks while, at the same time, speeding up. The rest of the ride then consists of ups and downs, loops and turns, and random spins, before ending with a final surge of exhilarating speed. That is how I felt when watching Kami-sama no Memo-chou. The first episode made the series seem promising but it eventually failed to deliver, despite having a decent ending. Let's see how it fared in the usual four categories of art, character, sound and story. Art (7/10) Animation quality usually takes a backseatto the characters and the story when I watch anime. However, when those two categories end up being bland and uninteresting, I am forced to focus on other aspects of the episode just to prevent myself from being bored out of my mind. The artwork in Kami-sama no Memo-chou isn't outstanding, but it isn't horrible either - just your typical run-of-the-mill quality. Nothing more to say here so let's move on.
Characters (6/10)
Maybe a 6 is a bit generous for this category because, at the end of it all, I couldn't really say that there was a character that I "liked", unlike in most anime that I watched. Yes, there was some character development, but there wasn't enough for my liking. My image of the main protagonist, Fujishima Narumi, didn't change at all throughout the whole show; he was still a plain and boring character to me, for the most part. On top of this, I slightly disliked Alice and her personality. The previous sentences are, however, just my opinion so you may not necessarily agree. However, I do believe that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Non-memorable side characters make this category suffer even more. To sum it all up, the characters in Kami-sama no Memo-chou are nothing to be happy about, so don't expect a lot if you are someone who pays a lot of attention to character development.
Sound (7/10)
Once again another generous mark is given, this time to the sound category (it may seem like I'm starting to pity the anime and that's probably the case). Aside from the OP, everything was just "decent." The ED, BGM and voice acting were, at best, average. With that being said, I admit all my expectations were lowered drastically midway through so this category should technically receive a lower score than what it currently has. Anyhow, I found the OP to be the lone bright spot in terms of sound. Kawaru Mirai only took a few episodes to get me like it. It is upbeat and catchy with surprisingly good vocals to go along with it. You can say that half of my motivation to download and watch each episode was because of the OP.
Story (7/10)
One may choose to say that, if the story is able to overshadow everything, bad art, characters and sounds can be excused. However, this is unfortunately not the case for Kami-sama no Memo-chou as the story is just as bad as the other categories. Maybe it won't seem that way after the first episode, but as the series went on, the story definitely didn't live up to the expectations of many viewers. There were some parts which were surprisingly interesting while others were absolutely horrid. Looking at the big picture, I personally didn't feel that the plot advanced far enough. For a 12-episode season, the story moved way too slowly with barely anything important happening. It is only during the last few episodes that the plot was developed the most. Overall, a disappointing story.
Overall (7/10)
Kami-sama no Memo-chou is a good example of a light novel adaption gone wrong. Average artwork, boring characters, unimpressive sounds and a disappointing story just screams "don't waste your time!" While I don't want to scare people away from watching it, I would just like to give a word of warning to those who are not sure if they should watch it for not. By all means, go try it if you have nothing better to do or like "mystery" anime. Whether you agree or disagree with me at the end of it all is totally up to you. All I will say is this: while it is supposedly a "mystery" anime, Kami-sama no Memo-chou is undoubtedly unable to reach the level of success that big titles such as Detective Conan have. Don't expect too much.
Forgotten_Memo
Kamisama No Memochou (Heaven’s Memo Pad) = Minimal Spoilers: There will be some references to traits of the story/plot and characteristics of characters in the anime, but no details that would spoil the enjoyment of the anime will be included. = //There are only two professions in the whole world that give meaning to those who have died and what have been lost... They're writers and detectives. Writers are the only ones able to revive what was lost through their visions. Detectives are the only ones able to dig up the grave and bring back lost information. But the information us detectives dig up is nothingmore than the truth as recorded in Heaven's Memo Pad.// - Alice
If I were to pick a word to describe my feelings towards Kamisama No Memochou, it would probably be ‘ambivalence’- I love it and hate it at the same time.
So what exactly is Kamisama No Memochou:It’s the Only NEET Thing to Do or Heaven’s Memo Pad (HMP) all about? To summarise, it is a mystery anime that follows a male protagonist and a group of self-proclaimed NEETS and their loli leader, Alice, as they solve a series of interlinked mysteries that happen in their city-each mystery, varying in implication and scale. Despite all the sarcasm that this plot has generated, I found myself intrigued with what an anime which amalgamates NEETs and Mystery would be like and how the producers would intertwine and portray these elements.
HMP’s mysteries can be described as focusing on revealing the background stories of individuals-who are unable or unwilling to share their perspective. Instead of relying on plot twists, complicated foreshadowing and epic cliff hangers, HMP decides to throw all those away and present less convoluted stories that feel more ‘realistic and plausible’. Oddly enough, I found myself enjoying the refreshingly (relatively) relaxed pace of the mysteries. For once, I could actually focus on the stories, rather than divide my attention between watching and theorising at the same time. While the mysteries can be a bit inconsistent at times, with the second last arc feeling like a filler, they are mostly enjoyable, especially the last mystery which timely speeds up the pace for a climax to emerge. While these mysteries aren’t masterpieces, they were great and really interesting to follow.
Unfortunately though, there were several downfalls in the anime that made these mysteries less enjoyable. The first would be that the anime relies on coincidences, which seem out of place, far too often. Moreover, while the mysteries themselves were great, the linkages between them were weak. More often than not, HMP relies on one of the mentioned coincidences to transition from one mystery to the next. The transition is about as smooth as a transition from a discussion about a serious mystery to one about cookies based on the coincidence that someone found a cookie. More infuriatingly, the anime seems to have a habit of forgetting mysteries after the transition has been made. Hardly will it ever reference past events in the anime, and even when it does, the reference is in the form of the superficial return of a few side characters. It truly would have been nice for something gleaned from one of the earlier mysteries to have had an impact on one of the later ones.
Transition aside, one of the biggest issues with the anime in my opinion is that the role of the theme of NEETs in this anime is superficial and feels as though it was lacquered on in a desperate bid to make the anime stand out from other mystery anime such as Gosick. (which also coincidentally has a loli detective and aired the season before) Had it not been for the characters’ consistent self-proclamation that they were ‘NEETs’ and Alice’s contentious declaration that she was not just any ordinary detective, but a ‘NEET detective’ almost every episode, the aspect of NEETs would be completely unidentifiable in this anime. This is especially so since the detectives who call themselves NEETs seem to be defying the very definition of the term, “Not in Education, Employment, or Training,” by actively engaging in detective work and in Major’s case, attending university. Whether this actually counts as misnomering or not is up to you to decide, but that the anime failed to provide a meaningful perspective on the life of NEETs in spite of it promoting itself as having NEET themes is truly disappointing and annoying. At the end of anime, little or nothing has been revealed about what motivated the characters to become NEETs in the first place or their plans for the future-some aspects that I expected to be addressed from an anime with ‘NEET’ in its subtitle.
A similar disappointment was felt towards Alice, the poster girl of the anime. While having a character with unique traits is often welcomed as creativity, having the traits added in a slipshod manner only leaves a sour taste that should never have existed in the first place. In the case of Alice, her quirk is that she is an extremely precocious, bratty, easily embarrassed, loli, NEET detective cum hacker who loves soft toys and Dr Pepper. (that’s a mouthful) Unfortunately for her and us though, she doesn’t have much going for her apart from these superficial features. Moreover to the viewers misfortune, the way that these traits are portrayed is jarring and blatant. Imagine our loli detective talking about a mystery one second and then asking for a Dr Pepper the next, before proceeding to do some hacking and then arrogantly correcting the main character for calling her a detective instead of a NEET detective- this is how the producers decided to remind us of Alice’s ‘unique’ character over and over again. Charming isn’t it? You can’t really get less subtle than that. These forced characteristics genuinely made Alice really unnatural, shallow and unlikable as a character to me. Even without them though, Alice’s character like her stature suffers from a lack of development throughout the anime.
Apart from Alice, the other NEETs in the anime don’t really have any development or depth either. Almost nothing about about these characters-why they chose to become NEETs and how they met each other-was shared. While I wasn’t as bothered by their shallowness as I was with Alice’s since they are side characters after all, I feel that some of the time spent on the dr pepper dialogues could have at least been reallocated to character development for these guys. Moving onto the other side of the spectrum of uniqueness, we have Narumi, our generic male lead who in spite of getting some development was rather forgettable. Some more time could have also been spent on his background to make it as good as those of the characters which the mysteries focused on.
Apart from these character weaknesses, the characters in HMP also generally suffer from poor dialogues, which feel forced and unnatural at times.
However, while Alice and the majority of her gang were really disappointing, there were some unexpected gems in the character aspect of this anime. The first would be Ayaka, who in spite of her short screen time did manage to bring some emotion to the otherwise phlegmatic anime with her interesting story and role in the anime. The second gem, or group of gems rather, would be the gang members, who added a touch of humour to the anime. The last in my opinion would be Souichirou, Hinamura, the avuncular yet brute leader of the yakuza who really stole the spotlight. Not only does he admittedly get a better background story than our main characters, but also unlike them, has a unique and likeable personality which is not blatant. In all honesty, I think he deserves that spot on the poster picture more than Alice. Then again though, sales for the anime would have dropped if it had a middle aged yakuza on the cover rather than a loli detective.
Production-wise. The animation is for the most part attractive, albeit but generic. However, there are moments when I felt the animation does seem clumsy or overly dramatic though (particularly the last scene of the op when the camera zooms towards Alice’s eyes and the very last scene of the anime). The music of the anime, however, is only decent. The OST gets it’s job done, but isn’t really anything worth noting. By the end, I probably skipped the OP and ED at least 50% of the time.
Overall, while HMP does have some great story elements and background stories, it also has a number of glaring flaws, which detracted from my enjoyment of the anime. Had the anime been less superficial in its a slipshod attempt to present itself as different, I believe I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I would still give this anime a recommendation, but only to those who are new to mysteries or those who want to try a slightly less intense and less confusing mystery anime. Those who like this anime may also like Hyouka, which is even more casual paced and even more beautiful than HMP, and Gosick, which also has a loli detective, but follows a different plot structure of having several small arcs which piece together in a grand scheme.
- Forgotten_Memo
kaizersaber
Kamisama no Memouchou (God's Memo Pad) is a story about a boy who meets a girl, and in turn meets a group of NEETs led by Alice, the ultimate NEET detective who solves multiple crimes and mysteries in the city with little more than just her set of computers in front of her. It is short, so the maximum score that I can give this anime is 8 points, 8 points being the perfect 13-episode anime (such as Angel Beats!). 2 points are automatically deducted from both/either story and/or character respectively, since it is virtually impossible to produce a complete story and comprehensive character developmentin such a short number of episodes.
But on to review proper.
TL;DR
Story: 5/10
Art: 8/10
Sound: 10/10
Character: 7/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Overall: 6/10
Good points:
-Very interesting characters
-Strong male and female protagonist(s)
-Exciting start, and touching finish
-Some funny interactions between characters
-Good art and sound, pretty solid OP and ED themes
Bad points:
-No central conflict, just main, separate arcs
-Gets boring towards the middle, and less insightful or amazing
-Lack of character development/back story for many supporting cast
-Insignificant conflict exaggerated by the whole detective idea leading to mediocre middle arc
-There includes 1 filler episode
Concluding remarks:
This will be a disappointment if you are looking for:
-Good romance
-Good and suspenseful mysteries
-Action-packed sequences
This will be enjoyable if you like:
-Good humour
-Cute things such as loli detectives
-Unconventional things, creativity
Plot: 5/10
The anime starts off like the usual - introduction of a kid in school called Narumi, who is quickly thrust into this NEET worlds, which becomes very interesting in the subsequent few episodes when they managed to solve the case of a murder. That's all fine and good. They also manage to solve a crime regarding misappropriation of funds, okay, that's the end of the first part, aka introduction to the life of Alice and her group of NEETs.
The second main arc describes the ongoing conflict between Sou and his long-lost friend, Renji, who fell out a long time ago due to a misunderstanding over a fatal incident. This particular arc I had alot of problems with. First of all, the relationship between Narumi and Renji was kind of boring. All they did was talk a bit here and there, meet up here and there, and poof they are sworn brothers. But not really, they still don't really know each other very well.
The other problem was that the entire conflict seemed too insignificant to invest a good 4 episodes into it. Two rivals who were once friends, fight in the midst a Feketerigo concert that is backed by the shadowy underground Hirasaka group, just because of a misunderstanding that they probably could have cleared up if they just talked. Nice twist at the end about the true fate of Hison after the stabbing, though. Still, it makes hardly any sense for two rivals to nearly try to kill each other over something that Souchirou obviously knows is a misunderstanding. They honestly are not taking this friendship thing too seriously.
Jump to the third main arc about the Angel Fix, and I must say, it was a pretty gripping plotline, albeit with tons of plotholes. Wait, so the police couldn't find out exactly where this drug was coming from and had to leave it to the NEET detectives to solve it? What the heck are the police doing anyway, they didnt even show up in the anime - oh wait, I believe Hirasaka group was standing in for the police. Ah that explains it.... Anyway, the other main problem was when they dramatically HAD NO CHOICE but to make Narumi take the Angel Fix drug, potentially risking death, in order to find the bad guy's hideout (and by the way, he even issued a challenge, so confident that it would not be found).
Hang on a second, it's all really touching but couldn't they have just trailed ANOTHER angel fix user? I mean, it's widespread right, there's absolutely got to be a chance to get hold of AT LEAST ONE OTHER angel fix user around the ENTIRE town! Oh well, even Alice didn't think of that. And the next thing, So Angel Fix users follow their "illusions" and this illusion somehow leads them to black alleys. I know hallucinations and drugs come hand in hand, but it's not technically possible to use a hallucination as a GPS/navigation system, especially since it's not possible to control exactly WHEN or WHERE the user takes it, and hallucinations often differ from person to person.
It started off well, was shaky in the middle, but ultimately managed to get off some flawed but at least touching story at the end. On the whole, the story was mediocre. There was also no main overarching story throughout, it was more like many separate events, with only two main big ones. I gave 2 points for the last arc and 1 point for the second arc, 2 points for the first introductory arc.
Art: 8/10
Art was definitely top-notch. I loved the OP and ED scenes, they were all so beautifully designed. Character designs were pretty neat too, they were all unique and there weren't two characters that were visually alike in every way.
Sound: 10/10
One of the best music tracks I've heard in a while. The OP and ED track were both absolutely amazing, and completely drew me to love the anime. Also, background music a suitable and was tense at the right moments.
Character: 7/10
Here we go again. Another random kid who wants to do his best. It's the typical shounen character who meets the typical tsundere. Oh wait, no, actually they are not THAT typical.
Narumi may look like the same old clueless dude that seems to be what all main characters sound like in all school-related animes, but he really isn't. He doesn't whine or be useless as often, and most of the time his determination and strength allows him to find out things that other characters miss. Hence, he is more than just a guy who receives growth from the other characters, he contributes to the team as well, and even early on.
Then we come to Alice, who yes, is kind of stereotypical, but actually she's kind of cute. I love it when she blushes and I love how she calls all of her soft toys names (lol what kind of name is Moggadeet?). And as an avid lover of computers, it's a wonder she doesn't need to wear spectacles when she sits 30 cm away from 6 computer screens and just stares at them the entire day. She's abit useless though - I cant' really imagine someone not being able to open a drink can, yet being able to swing a bat (yep that's inconsistency right there).
The other characters, besides maybe Ayaka (main character in arc 3) and Sou/Renji/Yoshiki (main characters in arc 2), unfortunately, are sadly sidelined despite their awesomeness. You have Major, who is the genius inventor from college whom you unfortunately, after watching till the end of the show, have no idea where he comes from or whether he actually has a family. Next, you have Tetsu, whom you pretty much also don't know anything about. Then you have Hiro, the playboy whose promiscuity makes you wonder why he doesn't have aids yet.
Actually, if you think harder about it, you don't really know where Alice comes from either - how did she get so smart? How old is she even? Let's look at Ayaka - sure her dark past is intertwined with her brothers' but what about her interactions with other friends? Couldn't she at least have confided with some of her classmates, she must have some OTHER relationship other than that with Narumi. Her past? Umm... I don't really know. Other family members maybe? Only Sou/Yoshiki, I felt had any real substantial back story to them, but Yoshiki herself, had some lack in her story, since she wasn't a main character.
So in the end, while there is character growth, this is shown ONLY in Narumi, everyone else seems the same start to end, with a little growth in Sou/Alice regarding how useful Narumi is. Character background and development is greatly lacking in most characters, as most of them have linear/monofaceted personalities.
Minus 1 point in growth, 2 points for lack of characterization. But the interactions between the characters are generally good, enjoyable, funny, touching, emotional and genuine. So at least, I applaud for that. The ending part was quite touching, Ayaka x Narumi is quite the destined pair.
Enjoyment: 6/10
I didn't rate this very high on the enjoyment scale, because I had to bring myself to watch through the middle segment of the show, rather than be so hooked that I HAD to watch it. I would have been fine with dropping the series halfway because it started to get slightly uninteresting. But, pretty distinct, strong personalities with interesting quirks and interactions, made the series quite enjoyable overall.
Overall: 6/10
This is actually not too bad. It's two points off full marks. While it didn't fail to deliver a complete and satisfying resolution, it failed to properly fit into any real genre I could think of. I have a feeling it was going for this "Mystery" thing, but honestly, it llacked a lot of suspense.
Joby05
I can't reiterate this enough: WATCH THIS ANIME. No matter who you are or what kind of anime you like, you should like this anime. Summary: This is my new second favorite anime (nothing it going to top Mia-Hime I think). After finishing an anime I like to read the top reviews to see if there was anything I missed based on the reviews and to confirm how I felt was in line with the general consensus. ON this one I couldn't find a single highly rated review that did it justice. This isn't just some anime about a NEET detective who is a loli, thisis deep on so many levels and has characters that are unforgettable and a perfect ending. That being said, this is the first anime I have ever seen that has a perfect ending but made me want more because it was just so good that I could have watched another season at a minimum. I want more from this universe!
Story: 10/10
One of the best stories I've ever seen. The story builds up from the MC being a new student in the school to him joining and participating in the NEET detective agency. What's interesting is that the detective stuff isn't really what this anime is about. Several of the lead characters have emotional journeys and are helped by Alice to solve a case pertinent to their own lives. Each one drives major changes in the lead characters lives and pushes the story forward. Several of the cases are heartfelt or funny but the last case is an emotional roller coaster that cemented my love for each of the characters. This is also the first anime where it was ambiguous if the source material continued on for what could have been more seasons or if the anime shared an ending with the LN. Said another way, the ending was so perfect it felt like a proper series finale even though I could have imagined another season.
Art: 9/10
The art is gorgeous. It looks VERY good and I like each of the character models. It is bright when it needs to be and dark when it needs to be.
Sound: 8/10
When I heard what I consider Alice's teme song "teddy"" I was reminded of Peacock Blue Eyes from Katanagatari. Turns out, the same person did the soundtracks for both. I will add this is another classic from him. I rarely do this but I got the OST.
Character: 10/10
I loved every lead character in this anime. A lot of excellent voice actors from anime I've seen in the past came together to make this masterpiece. Each character that is of importance is given a fair amount of development and you feel like you get to know them. I think there could have been the pitfall of going into the NEET background of the 3 people who work with Alice or Alice herself. I think focusing on the MC and the other leads who were the main focus of the cases made more sense and leaving their backgrounds a mystery was the right approach for a single season anime.
Enjoyment: 10/10
I loved it. I haven't binged an anime in ages but this one I wrapped up in a single weekend.
Overall: 10/10
With amazing art and a solid sound track all of the aesthetics are there. Add in a character driven narrative with tons of emotional highs (and a few lows) and you have a great story that will end perfectly but leave you wanting more.
Vella9
Don't be fooled!This is a very unsuspecting anime series. Seems simple enough at first(first few minutes at least),but the drama really starts right in the first episode!It draws you in and before you know it, 2 hours have passed and you're on episode 5 (well at least that's what happened to me). two days later it's all over! Some of you may think i'm over-hyping but allow me my happy rant! The storyline of between the Fourth and Renji was especially amazing to me.The execution was flawless and my shock and suprise,a welcome boost to my hopes of originality in story writing for anime series.I'm sodelighted with this series I can't sufficiently express it! The build ups and follow throughs are well worth the stress and anxiety i went through,agonizing over the evidence. I fancy myself to be a novice detective,always trying to pick up clues in character dialogue,relationships and writing in all manner of shows/movies i watch,not only anime.And to be fair my detective skills helped me stay on the same page as the characters in the series but I didn't get them all,there were still substantial suprises for me to enjoy. I felt like i had a dialogue with the characters,in that i felt a level of involvement i don't think i've experienced yet with anime mystery series. It was like i was part of the crew solving the mysteries with them in real-time!
The character development of Narumi and Alice are great, especially Narumi. His development is wonderful to watch,he litterally blossoms like a butterfly,no punn intended.His transformation throughout the series is obvious and portrayed beautifully. Alice is also great.At first glance you may be fooled into believing she's the typical doe-eyed,fragile female lead,so commonly found in anime,but alas she is not!Feisty, self assured in her skill, yet burdened with unlimiting empathy for those that suffer in the world,she is strong and refreshing break from the typical.
I highly recommend this anime,if you want mystery,with more of a twist than usual.
Again I'd say DO NOT underestimate this anime!It delves into serious social issues,that may not affect all of us directly,but we all know exist today.
Ethan_07
" I'm not a detective. I'm a NEET detective. Speaker of the dead. " - Alice The story is not that great, the art is fine as well but the characters are the things that stole my heart. Different from other detective-style anime where the side characters are not the main attraction, this anime defined the side characters quite well, from a mafia boss that looks tough but has a soft side, an agile ex-boxer who represents the strength, a university student known as 'major' specializing in surveillance system, a playboy with extensive roots with the girls, to our lead characters. Alice is the center of theteam, being the expert loli hacker and the master of deduction, collecting info from all sort of Internet-related technology to deploying strategies to solve the cases requested, while taking care of her stuffed bears and drinking soda which her refrigerator is stocked with. Narumi, unlike other lead male character is not that smart at all, but rather, an average guy with no special skills or anything. However, he does has his perspectives on things and his own principles when dealing with certain things. After joining NEETs, he learnt more about himself and the extent of what he will do given the circumstances involving his friends in danger, which will change his way of life forever.
The focus of this anime is not on the cases, but rather about the complexity of emotions, the portrayal and the true meaning of different kind of relationship as well as the hidden truth to be discovered. Overall, if you're looking for an anime that is emotionally-satisfying with a bit of drama and mystery included with a loli hacker and an ordinary assistant with well-defined side characters, you're in luck.
ggultra2764
Considering I personally own this within my collection, I chose to resume watch of this since I had dropped it nearly two years earlier. While I find the premise on a detective agency of NEETs to be somewhat absurd, I do admit that Heaven's Memo Pad has its high points. The series features the mentioned NEET detective agency tackling different cases involving some touchy areas of Japanese society like compensated dating, the yakuza and a drug trafficking ring. For the most part, the storylines for the cases are handled quite seriously with Alice, her assistants and other contacts investigating them and the show exploring theramifications concerning those caught up in the questionable activity. Some of the cases, in particular, involve some of the major characters on a personal level as they explore the backgrounds of said characters, like Yondaime and Ayaka. Male lead Narumi serves as "straight man" to the eccentricities of the NEET detectives and quite often finds himself assisting in their cases, being quite capable of helping them land leads for cases in surprising and believable ways.
The series does have its issues though. Alice and her assistants are quite limited in depth and development for their characters, the former especially an issue as much of the progression with cases in this series stem from Alice's expertise and knowledge with computers and human behavior. Heaven's Memo Pad also seems to make big efforts in trying to glorify being a NEET through Alice and her cohorts and dabbling into moe pandering with Alice's character, both being detractors because of their clear gearing towards the otaku crowd. A couple cases also slip in their quality as they're mostly used as reprieve from a case arc by incorporating more comedy than usual, though these efforts came across as quite flat for me.
Visually, Heaven's Memo Pad is solid in the designs of characters and scenery sporting vivid colors and a good amount of detail with the various city landscapes, insides of buildings and even the inside of Alice's apartment with its various computers and stuffed animals. Animation is implemented where needed in dramatic and tense moments during cases which can look decent in motion, though the series usually resorts to still shots in mundane scenes.
Overall, Heaven's Memo Pad is solid in telling engaging and tense stories with many of the cases that Alice and her detective agency tackle, exploring some of the show's prominent characters and delving into some touchy social issues. The show has its shortcomings in a couple episodes, the lack of depth on Alice and her assistants and trying to appeal too hard to the otaku fanbase with its glorification of being a NEET and exploiting Alice as moe bait at points. Still if you can look past the issues, this is still a solid series worth looking into.
Dr_Peace
Heaven's Memo Pad may seem like a noteworthy anime at first glance. I mean, the concept is a fairly interesting one. A bunch of NEET's spending their days solving mysteries? I for one, found this to be an intriguing premise, and as several fans of the show compared it to the excellent Durarara!! and the somewhat disappointing but still decent Eden of the East, I pre-ordered this show and couldn't wait to watch it. Imagine then my disappointment when I finished the last episode, only to feel cheated, angry, and somewhat sad as just how much of a missed opportunity this show turned out tobe.
I could go into depth about each and every single character, but I really don't see any point to it, as not a single one of them has anything noteworthy about their personalities or designs that make them stand out in the slightest from your stereotypical slice-of-life anime, not at all helped by how overly sexualized every single female character is in this show. The main protagonist Narumi Fujishima may be the most whiny, self-righteous hypocrite I have ever seen in an anime. This is made ten times worse by the fact that every single character in the show seems to worship the ground he walks on. Not that the rest of the cast is any better. Yes, even the much revered Alice, the heroine of the show, fails to be memorable in the slightest. This isn't entirely because the character herself is bad per say, as I'll admit she is at least somewhat better than the rest of the awful cast this show has. It's rather because the show prefers to show her being a stereotypical tsundere crying because her teddybear got dirty than ever actually showing her intellect, which we are told about at least thrice every episode, but never get to witness first-hand. She's supposed to be an ace-detective and master hacker, yet we never ONCE see her actually conduct any research or get to see her thought-process when solving a crime. Rather, she just tells us how the crime was done, and then it's back to showing her getting scared because the lights went out.
Now, this wouldn't be such a big problem if it wasn't for how seriously the show takes itself. More than once I found myself surprised at just how deeply the show wanted me to care for a character I had just been introduced to. Or other times, it would show just how "close" Narumi was with a person he had met twice, and hardly even gotten along with at first, before suddenly having no qualms about sacrificing his own life for that person. This is only made worse by how poorly told most of the "mysteries" are, which range from being mediocre to flat-out offensive, but I'll get to that in a second.
The "mysteries" themselves are often not even mysteries at all, and instead of actually giving the viewer the necessary clues to solving the crime on their own, the show rather purposefully HIDES information from the viewer until the last second where they will quickly explain the mystery in a way that makes it seem like even the writers of the show have lost interest and just want to explain it quickly and be done with it. Each episode often ends with an incredibly cliched and boring "philosophical" (and I'm using this term loosely) monologue which only serves to hammer in the point the episode very obviously is trying to get across. Most of these points are either incredibly obvious, or just downright stupid, but it wouldn't be such a problem if the show didn't constantly shove this point down your throat just to make absolutely sure that you get it.
There are plenty of other problems with the show as well, like the mediocre voice-acting, the forgettable soundtrack or the cliche script. But by far the biggest problem the show has, is just how UNINSPIRED it feels. This show claims to be about NEET's, showing the society that scorns them just how much they are capable of, yet it's hardly ever brought up, much less focused on. Alice is the only NEET in the entire show with any importance whatsoever, and even then it's not as if the show actually discusses this matter at all. Not a single character ever looks down upon or even seems to care that she is a NEET, nor does it add anything to the story. The writers or the show could have easily cut out the fact that she and some of her friends are NEET's, and the story would not be altered in the slightest.
The other topics the show focuses on, like prostitution, drug-addiction and gang wars are all horribly presented, and obviously written by people who have no knowledge or understanding of any of these topics. The gang war is portrayed in such a black and white manner it borders on being comical, and the shows portrayal of drug-addicts is so biased and ignorant it is bordering on being offensive. The show portrays drug-addicts as literal scum, people with no sympathetic traits whatsoever, only looking to hurt others and get high, because as we all know, drug-addicts are all evil and hate everything good in the world. Having known several people whom have struggled with drug-abuse, I can't say how distasteful this show portrays drug-addiction and it's victims. The entire moral of the "drug-arc" seems to be that all people who do drugs are evil, and they should be scorned rather than helped. Honestly, as if the show didn't do enough wrong already, it will now try to force a very ignorant message on it's viewers when it's crystal clear the writers of this show have no knowledge on the subject.
Despite how much I've ranted, not every little thing about this show is terrible. The show does have some decent animation, and while it fails to deliver any of what it promises, it does, if nothing else, at least have the potential to be good. Had the show been given more time to establish it's characters and storylines, as well as being written by more talented writers, I have no doubt this could have been a good, if not even great show. As it currently stands however, it is not a show I would really recommend to anyone, no matter their preferences, as there are much better shows that go into a lot of the same subjects as Heaven's Memo Pad, like Durarara!! or Paranoia Agent, and unlike Heaven's Memo Pad, they are written by people whom seem to actually know what they are talking about. If none of my arguments have shaken your resolve to watch this anime, at least be wise enough to watch it online first to be absolutely sure you actually want to PAY someone for this drivel. Your hard earned-cash is better spent elsewhere.
curisuchan
I have one question upon finishing this Anime and that is why does this Anime doesn't get much attention it deserves? not only that it was underrated i have also seen some review saying that the only good thing about this Anime is "MOE" which i totally disagree! Story: Kamisama no Memochou is all about Alice "AKA: The NEET detective" and her Assistant the main protagonists of the show Narumi " AKA: The Gardening Club" Together they solve cases, sounds generic and unoriginal right? not really and let me tell you why. First of all Alice was solving every cases without even going to the mainscene of the event(she's just waiting on her room and fulfilling the duties of being a NEET detective and some useful things/words that her comrades bring her to solve the case), secondly she's mainly collecting the data she needs for solving the case via data analysis and that's not the only thing what makes her amazing, what's really more amazing is that she's literally an adept cracker and can collect any data she needs that not ordinary citizens can access(this might be protected data's or forgotten data due to her given skill + she's really smart) . Now you may be wondering then what's the purpose of assistant? well the main protagonist has a good observation skill(which i won't discuss any further). Kamisama no Memochou got me really hook up with the phrase Alice said to Narumi which is "There are only two occupation that is meaningful for the lost. First occupation is writer as it revives the story through dreams, the second one is detective which gets the lost information from the grave"
Art: A lot of review who gives this show a low score admitted that the only thing good about this show is "MOE" which means that expect a good art and animation from this show.
Sound: Both the opening and ed songs are damm attractive however the ed song somehow contradicts the main plot of the Anime.
Character: All the characters are lovable and interesting and the character development was awesome!!!
Enjoyment: I enjoyed this a lot and it got really me hook up, specially those philosophical dialogues, our main characters saying.
Overall: I really recommend this show to anyone specifically for those who loves the genre of Mystery,Psychological(Almost none but the vibe is there), and slice of life.
Lastly i just wanna mentioned that this Anime talks about that "All secrets will be revealed on the right time, the main person involve in the case might be no longer here anymore, regardless of that the truth will always be revealed by a person who wants to know the truth.
