| Episodes: 11 | Score: 8.7 (158756)
Updated every at | Status: Finished Airing
Type: ONA
Producers:bilibili | BeDream
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Synopsis
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, it holds an infinite amount of secrets. These are secrets that only Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are able to find. In a small shop called "Time Photo Studio," the two friends provide a special service: using their extraordinary powers that let them enter photographs, they jump into pictures brought to them by clients in order to grant their wishes. Through the eyes of the photographer, they live through the events surrounding the picture and try to decipher how to solve their client's request. But every time they jump into a picture, they take a great risk. One wrong move and they could alter the future of the person who took the picture... and possibly countless other events too. So when the events they are forced to live through in these pictures start to become personal, it will take the utmost strength to push their feelings aside and focus on accomplishing the task they were paid to do. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Voice Actors
Toyonaga, Toshiyuki
Sakurai, Takahiro
News
12/05/2021, 04:31 PM
Here is a collection of promotional videos (PV), television ads (CM), and trailers for the last week. This thread excludes videos that have already been featured in ...
11/11/2021, 03:29 PM
Aniplex announced a Japanese dub for Haoliners Animation League's Shiguang Dailiren (Link Click) original net anime on Friday, scheduled for a January 2022 broa...
Reviews
TheMageDalamar
Ah, behold the enigmatic allure of time travel, one in which I am akin to myself, a concept so captivating it renders even the most astute observer dumbfounded. Such is the beguiling charm of LINK CLICK, a donghua that seamlessly weaves together action, mystery, and a healthy dose of tear-inducing drama. From the very first episode, I found myself ensnared in its cleverly crafted mysteries, each twist and turn leaving me perpetually on the edge of my seat. Oh, how it tantalizes the mind, keeping me perpetually curious and frequently catching me off guard with its unexpected revelations. And let us not overlook the artistry of thismasterpiece. The refreshing and utterly unique art style breathes new life into the genre, offering a sense of originality that is both rare and refreshing. It is a testament to the importance of innovation, both in storytelling and visual presentation. For those who relish in the machinations of cunning characters, like those in Death Note, LINK CLICK does not disappoint. Its protagonists are as crafty as they come, and their plans and schemes rival even the most intricate puzzles. Ah, and what of the music, you ask? The OP/EDs are a veritable treat for the senses, each opening and closing theme possessing a distinct charm that is impossible to resist. I dare say, they are among the few that I actually refrain from skipping, except in the most dire of circumstances dictated by cliffhangers. Speaking of cliffhangers, they are perhaps the only source of consternation in an otherwise flawless experience. Their excessive use leaves me perpetually on edge, craving resolution yet simultaneously relishing in the suspense. In summary (TLDR): If you crave a donghua that is equal parts suspenseful, exciting, and brilliantly crafted, look no further than LINK CLICK. It is a journey filled with twists, turns, and moments of sheer brilliance—a true gem in the vast landscape of animated wonders.
Jamie_Banach
This show really surprised me as I continued to watch it. I wasn’t expecting much when I started it and did not know what it was about but I am so glad I gave it the chance. The plot is very good and so intriguing, definitely wanting to keep watching just to know what happens next and how it all works. Haven’t seen a show with a plot quite like this. The characters are just as intriguing as the plot, you don’t know much about them but as the show continues you want to know more. The characters can be relatable at times and the storieslooped between the main story you can connect with are just as interesting as the main story. I would have given it a 10 but I hate cliffhangers. Very excited for season two though. I would recommend this show to anyone even a anime beginner.
johansenku
I do not write a lot of reviews here - this is my second (after Nichijou, fucking loved that show). Link Click is one of those creations that stayed on my mind for a long time, even after completing it. I was obsessed over the ending and excited over the second season's storyline. The ED is one of the best I've ever heard, and it's fantastic how seamlessly it is integrated into the ending of each episode. Once you start it, you can't stop until you finish it; it is t h a t good. The storyline keeps its suspense, it keeps you on your toes,but it still manages to be a chill watch. It is heart-wrenching, but you find solace once you see yourself in Time Photo Studio. The characters are realistic, and Cheng's pain is portrayed really well. It is also interesting how the main plotline is not revealed until the very end; this made total sense to me because we are adequately introduced to the main characters and their dynamics through the side plots. It is also good that the donghua did not waste time explaining how their powers work on a fundamental level and how they got them. When Shiguang Dailiren shines, it really shines. It punches you in the gut with all the emotional scenes, which are depicted well, and makes you feel comfy with good dialogue writing. If you have not watched it, you should give it a try.
Marco_Yooo
THIS IS A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW While a lot of people tend to focus only on the anime industry in japan, i once in a while try to branch out and watch something different. The rising influence of china in the current consumer market has not only changed the way the anime industry as a whole works, but it also has brought up chinese creators to get their own animations into the mainstream market. Link Click aired last year and stands as the best non-japanese anime on MAL with a rating of 8.87. Intrigued by the design of the show, i started to watch it and wasfinally able to finish all 11 episodes. Story - 9/10 Of all the different anime with the time-travel element in it that i have seen, this is certainly one of the most unique. Its mix of drama and suspense gives the show the exact same vibe as the undisputed king of the genre : "Steins;Gate". However there are some structural differences. Link Click´s eleven episodes are split up into different mini arcs with various length.These could all be enjoyed as seperate stories, but they are all wonderfully connected through another. Every single arc was done well, and the show never got boring. It manages to make you care for so many different characters in such a little amount of time.The way time-travel is done in this show makes for some really interesting ideas and plotlines. Right in the first episode the show throws you into its narrative without slowing down for a second. Link Click is an emotional rollercoaster and plays to its strenghts in every arc. It is also very unpredictable and subtle in its storytelling. The plottwists are build up perfectly and the cliffhangers at the end of every episode make you immediately watch the next while never feeling cheap or forced (Like for example in "Code Geass"). There are some flaws in this category though. I think that some episodes were paced a tad bit too fast which makes some parts a bit hard to follow. This mainly comes down to some important detail the show fails to elaborate. If there were 13 episodes instead of 11 it would have been much more comfortable. Art - 9/10 The artstyle off the show may split the opinions of the average anime fan because it really is unique and very chinese. I absolutely fell in love with it, mainly because i love every show that sets itself apart from the mass. The character designs were fantastic. The background was drawn with very bold and thick colours which makes it feel like the show was drawn on a massive drawing board. The movements were fluid and subtle. The highlight was definitely the basketball game in episode 3. This is where the show incorporates distinct camera movements into a 3D environment. This is wildy different from anything i have seen in japanese productions, making it feel truly refreshing and new. Sound - 8/10 The OP is an absolute banger and definitely one of my new all-time favorites. The fluid movements and vibrant colours set the tone for the show perfectly. The ED also did a great job of connecting the different episodes and the transitions leading up to it were timed exactly right. The BGM was used very reservedly which gave it more of an impact in the emotional scenes. Aside from the typical background music, there are multiple well done vocal tracks in the show. Character - 8/10 This is definetely a character driven story. We have our main trio who we follow throughout the story. We learn a bit about their backstory and past as the show goes but it was never given as much focus as i wished it did because every arc features its own set of new characters. But this can also be seen as a strong point of the show. The fact that it made me truly care about so many characters in such a small amount of time is admirable. The Chen Xiao Arc is the peak of the show and features a set of characters developed so well that they could starr in their own show. The only other negative point of this category is the handling of the main villain in the final arc, which didn´t really work out for me- This show does end on a very disturbing and emotional cliffhanger so maybe there will be an explanation in season 2. Enjoyment - 9/10 Although a bit flawed in the execution, this was an absolute blast to watch. The arcs were connected so well and the characters felt like real people in real situations. I think everyone can relate to someone in this show, so as long as you are open to chinese culture and especially chinese language, this show can be enjoyed by everyone. If you are a fan of "Steins,Gate" this will certainly be one of your favorites. - Marco_Yooo FINAL SCORE - 9/10
anilov_05
I just finished this amazing donghua and I must admit, words can't do it justice!!! THIS DONGHUA BECAME A FAVORITE IN AN INSTANT (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ I was captivated by the first episode; the art, the music, the story build up, and even the characters drew me in! It was very unique and made me want to continue watching >< Every episode didn't disappoint and always ended with a cliffhanger that created suspense and made me want to keep watching!! I was often left dumfounded with my hand on my mouth by the end of every episode AND THEN the masterpiece of an ending played. The waythey made the ending song fit so well with every episode's cliffhanger is blowing my mind (°ロ°) ! Gosh this is making me want to rewatch the whole thing again (*꒦ິ꒳꒦ີ). The plot is great and it emotionally captivated me too ;))) There will be tears shredded and various of emotions felt... (I'm not gonna explain why cause I'm afraid of spoiling a thing or two about this donghua.. and that would ruin the experience ><) Whoever reads this review and decides to watch it, I really hope you enjoy it like I did and that you have a fun time watching ;))) MAY YOU ENJOY
literaturenerd
Shi Guang Dai Li Ren or Link Click is a popular Chinese cartoon about time travel. This has earned it many comparisons to Stein’s Gate, but beyond the time travel element this isn’t really a good comparison. Speaking of time travel, the plot of Link Click was problematic within China since the CCP banned all time travel fiction in 2011. It was considered “disrespectful to history and unhealthy wish fulfilment”. So instead of time machines, Link Clink had to create a truly bizarre and unique magic system to get the series approved by Communist Party censors. The series is about these 2 best friends named Xiaoshiand Guang who run an unusual business together. If they look at a photo, Guang has the power to know everything the person in the photo did or thought within a 12-hour period. Xiaoshi has the power to project his consciousness back into the past and take over the body of the person in the photo for 12 hours. Guang can then use his natural telepathy to tell Xiaoshi what to do in the past. Yes, Guang’s telepathy is so strong he can communicate with people in the past, even if they’re located vast distances away. They don’t actually try to change the past, but rather use their power to learn information. In the first episode, an unknown client gives the duo the task to recover the financial data of a powerful CEO who is suspected of fraud and embezzlement. Xiaoshi goes back in time 48 hours to take control of the CEO’s female secretary and has to find a way to read the data off the guy’s laptop. That’s a typical episode of Link Click until they meet their main antagonist later in the series. So how does Link Click compare to Stein’s Gate? Stein’s Gate is about a goofball mad scientist who accidentally creates a time machine by putting bananas in an old microwave oven. This immediately gets him targeted for assassination by the real-life research agency CERN, who in the world of Stein’s Gate is just HYDRA from Marvel Comics. They’re an evil organization of ex-Nazis who want to take over the world using super tech and succeed in 99.999 percent of all timelines. The plot of Stein’s Gate is fucking stupid. The series works because of its over the top characters and how they interact with each other. Stein’s Gate combines goofy humor with serious drama in a very VN sort of way. It is 100% a visual novel adaptation and it succeeds by embracing that. Link Click is kind of the polar opposite. It’s a series that lives and dies by its plot and high concept. The series succeeds because the plot is cool and the way they do time travel is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It’s not particularly funny. It’s not there to generate dozens of memes and reaction gifs. The characters aren’t as fleshed out or memorable as the ones in Stein’s Gate. Xiaoshi is the funny man and Guang is the straight man. Xaioshi has a heart of gold and Guang is kind of a cold bastard who is all about profit with little concern for the people in the photographs. By the end of the first episode, you basically know who these guys are. Link Click is less like a visual novel and more like a Hollywood blockbuster. I would say it’s a lot closer to Inception than it is to Stein’s Gate. One thing that actually impressed me about Link Click was its willingness to address China’s massive wealth gap and rural poverty that still persists to this day. This isn’t something that China typically advertises, so I assume this show was mostly made for a Chinese domestic audience. This may seem like a minor thing, but it shows up in Link Click repeatedly and actually makes the story more powerful while also making it feel more real. Link Click was made entirely in Shanghai by a studio called BiliBili. Apparently, it was made using Adobe Flash, so that’s actually really impressive. They made a God Tier rated anime in 2021 using the same software that brought us immortal classics like “Kerrigan & the Frog” 20 years ago. Is Link Click worth watching? Absolutely! However, if you don’t have Funimation, you might have a rough time. On most of the streaming sites as of this review, some of the episodes use the official subs and some use the fan subs. The fan subs are bad. REALLY bad! I’m getting flashbacks to bootleg Naruto DVDs where they translated “dattebayo” as “Fuck!”. I think most MAL users that watched Link Click just watched it in the original Mandarin, but if you’re a gweilo and don’t have a Funimation subscription, be prepared for a rough ride.
Rance-sama
tl;dr: good art, decent soundtrack, awful character development and one of the worst time travel implementations of any show. It's okay, not great, not awful. Story: 4/10 --- They jump into photographs and change the past for various clients, why? Well, they don't really explain their motivations much. They simply do it. The story is one of the characters jumping back into the past to help a client, solve their problem and then return to the present. You might then wonder, why doesn't the main character go into the past to either 1) save people 2) accrue a large amount of money Well, he can't do that. Why? The showessentially brings up the butterfly theory, that one small change can have immense impacts. For example, if I traveled to the past and took up a few seconds of your future partner's time with idle conversation, you may never meet them. Then your entire life trajectory (and countless others) would be changed permanently. The show brings this concept up multiple times as a generalized excuse, it never expands on it and it's never applied to the characters when they change the past every episode. Every change the characters do in the past are seen as largely an isolated change, so why can't the main character change the past however he pleases? This is never answered. Art: 7/10 --- There was a few scenes where I could tell there was a lot of effort put into it, then others where there was a lot of slacking. Overall, the background art/animation looked generally good. Sound: 6/10 --- Very hit or miss. It either perfectly suits the atmosphere or it ruins the atmosphere, they also reuse some tracks far too much in the wrong context. I did enjoy some of the OST's in this show but by the time I heard it for the 30th time, I stopped enjoying it as much. Characters: 4/10 --- I feel like I know nothing about the main characters motivations, thoughts or beliefs. Instead of focusing on the main characters, there was a plethora of episodic side characters that ended up being fleshed out more then them. I found that the random side characters they helped out seemed more interesting then the main characters, who didn't seem to have much of a personality. Overall: 6/10 --- It's alright but has a few flaws, mostly related to character development and the time travel aspect of the show. It's like Mushishi and Steins; Gate tried to have a kid but it came out a little retarded. Great concept but very poorly executed.
Lion_Sin
AMAZING. ABSOLUTELY, JAW DROPPING, MIN BOGGLINGLY, RICOCHET SMACKINGLY, UPPERCUT BOOM TASTICALLY, EXPLOSION OF THE NEURONS IN OUR BRAINS-TASTICLY, AMAZING. This show, makes you keep your back and (bottom) on the edge of your seat for 12 episodes straight as a giraffe's neck, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE A LONG LONG TIME FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. To those who oppose, I MEANT THROUGHOUT THE SHOW, not just a few episodes here and there. This show is a bang on the billboard in the history books, with a block of certified platinum cherried with a diamond on its label. Well, done China [especially Haoliners Animation League Studio], YOU BOUGHT YOUR ROCKETEERING A GAME WITH THIS,after all those crap shows, THIS IS IT. Just go and watch it if you haven't yet, seriously, stop reading this, GO WATCH IT. And if you've finished it, I PITY YOU, just as I do me, because this was a masterpiece and wish I could watch it again without knowing anything. Thanks for reading and Goobye.
Louis3272
Some Interesting Facts about Chinese Metaphor There are many Chinese metaphors in this donghua, some were well translated but some were omitted. 1. In Episode #1, the name of that game company is “雀德”, same pronunciation as “缺德”, which means “wicked” in English. 2. In Episode #7, the human trafficker’s name is “梅琵艳”, same pronunciation as “没屁眼”, e.g. “No asshole” in English. Also, her surname is Mei because “Aunt Mei” is the designate of human traffickers in Chinese. This is because since 2016, “Aunt Mei” participated in multiple child trafficking cases and hunted by thepolice. However, she hasn't been caught till today and her name has become a symbol of human trafficker. 3.The names of the two heroes are “程小时(Cheng Xiaoshi)” and “陆光(Lu Guang)”. Combine the last character of their names, we have “时光”, meaning “time” in English. “时光” is also the name of their photo studio. Actually, if we translate this donghua’s Chinese name directly to English, it means “Time Agents”. 4.In Episode #1, the boss said “他妈的电话”, which was translated into “What a fuck time”. Actually, it also means “Her mom’s call comes” in Chinese because “Her mom’s” itself is a dirty word in some scenarios. 5.… (to be updated) |<-----------------------------------Divided Here------------------------------------->| Why is this anime extremely popular in China? As a Chinese, I clearly know that this donghua shows a real picture of current Chinese society. 1.Dirty company culture shown in Episode #1. Unspoken rules and sexual harassment of subordinates by company executives. Recently (2021.8.6), Alibaba was exposed to scandal that company executives raped drunk female employees. This phenomenon is common, especially in the top-tier company of China (Few people had courage to expose that). 2.In episode #3-#5, it shows the huge imbalance between cities and villages in China. Although it was 2008 in the story, the situation still exists now. Children in village have few chances to succeed. The only possible way is to study, take exams and work in the city. Emma is just example of this, but she is also discriminated by her boss. 3.In the Extra Episode about Kungfu, it shows the old traditions and new things coexist in society. There are still people who spend whole life studying Kungfu and hold some traditional rules and values. But those people are fewer and fewer and will completely become modern citizens in the future. 4.Episode #6-#7 are about child trafficking. It the past few years, such cases often occurred in rural areas. Luckily, with the help of DNA testing and monitors, there are much fewer cases these years. 5.The background of Episode #3-#5 is Wenchuan Earthquake (level 8.2) in 2008, the biggest earthquake since the founding of China (1949). Due to bad building quality at that time, many buildings collapsed, causing the death of 69227 people. This disaster really hurt Chinese people. Hundreds of thousands of people then struggled to become an architect to improve the building quality. That’s why in the episode, the man who lost his family, friends and lover in the earthquake became an architect. Architecture is almost the hottest major in China from 2008 to 2016 and was overtaken by CS in recent years. I am really surprised that this donghua was bold to show some dark side of Chinese society. It is rare that a donghua can give attention to those phenomena rather than fancy life in big cities. Also, the quality of this donghua is extraordinary. Tbh, many donghuas are just trash. Even for many good donghuas, their characters, music, drawing, completeness of the story cannot match this one.
jeijing
Honestly, I can't see how this anime is ranked higher than others out there. Vinland Saga, Banana Fish, and Mob Psycho are better than this. That's not to say that this anime is bad, it's pretty good. But that's about it. Pros: -op and ending -art style -time travel actually executed good -the plot twist at the end Cons: - The story leaves you with a lot of questions. This is a good and a bad thing. There is a plot twist at the end which is supposed to leave you on the edge, but there's also just not much backstory at all. Like how did the characterseven get their power? Why are they working together (besides the fact that they're friends)? Who even set the "rules" for the time travel? Do they have an ulterior motive, other than their job? Etc... I really just wanted more backstory, because you're kinda just following these characters along for the hell of it. This is the biggest drawback I have with this show. - Idk if it was just me, but the impact the first ~6 episodes had on the story was little to none. Like I know each episode had a message to tell, but it lowkey seemed irrelevant to the overall plot line, especially near the end when the main conflict arises. Overall, I don't see anything groundbreaking with this anime. In my opinion, I can't say it crossed any significant boundaries in storytelling, and I'm a little upset to see it ranked higher than some others out there. But take my opinion with a grain of salt. Maybe this is your favorite anime, but I would definitely rank some other shows higher than this.
MiyaMiwu
1. There was a reviewer here who commented about how this was a lackluster sci-fi, but that's not exactly right... For one, this show can't even be considered sci-fi. It's more like magic realism. There are characters with superpowers, but the superpowers are not the highlight of the story. The highlight of this story is simply the ordinary people, the clients Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang receives, and how their past shapes the person they are today. 2. Season 1 doesn't really dive in too much in the overarching plot (that will be in season 2, as recently announced). Season 1 simply shows us what ourtwo main characters do on a day-to-day basis, and how they meet people (their clients) who teach them what it is to live, what it is to love, what it is to be a parent, and many more. 3. This season also focuses on Cheng Xiaoshi alone. Lu Guang is also a main character, but his story would only be explored in season 2. And I think that's alright. Season 1 is more about the emotional aspect of the story, so having Cheng Xiaoshi, the emotional guy between the two of them, lead the plot in Season 1 is just right. It perfectly shows us what stakes are hold everytime Cheng Xiaoshi enters the past, and what consequences could be entailed if he ever changes something. 4. This show is more like a slice of life. However, it's not at all plain. Every mission our two MCs take may seem like ordinary tasks, but how this donghua presents them shows them that they really aren't "ordinary." These missions they go through involve the life-changing moments of their clients, and it shows how each individual life, no matter how small the person, is just as important as any other. And I think that's a beautiful lesson. 5. This show is not boring either. Almost every episode ends with a cliffhanger that you can't help but just watch the next one. 6. Lastly, this show has a really cinematic feel to it. I feel like it's best watched on a widescreen tv with all the lights off and with large speakers so that sound surrounds you. The animation quality, the music, and everything else make it seem like a movie
A2NIME
The art was not to to my liking but the animation was just to the top. The story had many characters and it was just lit. The music was good the opening and ending the songs were just to good to skip. The first chinese anime i watched and i dont regret it its just so good from a 7 to a 10 now its 11 out of 10 for me. The enjoyment is just unexplainable. The story has one of the best mystery and thriller also the best cliff hangers.Just waiting for season 2. its just good asf i cannot tell anything more than this
mystrias
"we can't change the past. dont question the future, as the future will change because of us." ─ lu guang story: 10/10, link click isn't necessarily a show about thrilling action and the deep sci-fi structure of time travelling - it's a donghua about the hardships in life: the things from our past that still causes us regret till this day in the present. it could be personal matters revolving around friends and family or devastating things that no one could predict.. realistically, past is something you can not change - but protagonist cheng xiaoshi has the power of diving back in time through photographs (thegold of preserving memories) and the goal to make no one regret what happened in the past as much as he's not allowed to change it. art: 9/10, there are times where it isn't consistent but it's completely okay to me! inplick has done a beautiful job with their artstyle creating the designs of the characters and founding the shows entire artstyle. it's so unique, the shows poster is what dragged me in the first place! hellooo amazing artstyle and attractive characters sound: 10/10, it's amazing. from the suspenseful or heart-warming ost in the donghua itself to the AMAZING opening and ending, it's just so good. do take a listen to the full version of dive back in time (op) and overthink (ed) once you get the chance! character: 9/10, this is a rating for the current season of course. it shines light on protagonist cheng xiaoshi and his experience connecting his emotions to the clients. our other main characters calm and collected lu guang and carefree outgoing qiao ling don't have much depth behind their backstories (because it's confirmed that we'll find out much more about them in season2!) but they make for a wonderful trio of red yellow and blue~ also, some of the clients stories are just unforgettable. should i mention that majority of them are based on true-stories? ranging from devastating things in history to people in the shows own animation studio enjoyment: 10/10, i was on the edge of my seat EVERY SINGLE EPISODE!! just watch it, it's an unforgettable experience with all the cliffhangers - especially since i was tuning in from the start and having to wait weeks to find out what happened after the end of each episode. overall: 10/10, link click is a masterpiece and i'm glad that myanimelist is acknowledging it. it truly did pave a way for the donghua industry, thank you so much cheng xiaoshi and lu guang! i'll see you soon in season 2
ilalochezia
Adjusted rating: 7 / 10. Personal rating: 6 / 10. Minor spoilers alert (no plot points spoiled, just some very general stuff). ----- Overall, while I think that this show has many flaws, I personally respect it for its overall messages. The flaws: - Given the nature of the premise, there probably are a lot of plot-holes. I’m not aware of any, but I think some people might have pointed some out. Regardless, I won’t mention them due to spoilers, but I just want to get the obvious flaw out here first. - The over-reliance on shock value. This show probably has the most cliffhangers I’ve seen. Characters are laughing, theaudience is smiling, and Boom! A cliffhanger. Usually, the mood does a complete 180° from whatever it is you’re enjoying to destroying your peace of mind. There’s no build-up or anything to the cliffhanger and no hints are dropped. The result: this maneuver comes off as cheap, unplanned, and manipulative. Some cliffhangers are so quick that they don’t even make you scared, but only make you go “what was that!?” And the worst part? - Too many cliffhangers = they became predictable. For the later episodes, I was SURE that they would have a cliffhanger, and guess what? They did. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this, but come on I really couldn’t help thinking about it. And it ruined some of the experience. - You can’t really tell whether this story is supposed to have a direction, and if yes, what kind. Is it about separate heartwarming arcs that don’t tie into each other that much, or is it about this grand mystery plot? There’s no sense of direction – it’s all muddled. As the audience, we don’t know what to expect (in the bad way) and the story can become confusing. This confusion is made worse by the non-stop switching-back-and-forth-between-slice-of-life-and-thriller. - The sound quality is bad sometimes – you could HEAR that the voices were recorded in a studio. They also make some lines sound real cheesy. I usually don’t comment on voice acting, but I have to here. The good: - One character gets some character development, and they are none other than the black-haired boy, Cheng Xiaoshi. He’s the only one that has his background shown, and he changes from this annoying dude to someone more self-aware about his flaws. The specific scene when Cheng Xiaoshi develops is quite well presented and creative (I remember even the screen ratio changed), and it definitely speaks volumes about the hidden talent that the producers have (but unfortunately fail to use fully). - About the art, I have nothing but general praise. Lighting and color were great, and backgrounds were consistent in their level of detail. CGI is really sparse and not distracting. Quite a few of the shots have a reflective quality to them, especially ones with flat surfaces like floors and tabletops. The basketball game particularly stood out, and so much that I recommend watching that game just by itself even if you are not planning to finish the entire show. A minor nitpick would be that characters’ faces look slightly different in their shape and layout between far and close-up shots, resulting in a hint of inconsistent art that some might call ugly. - There are two good underlying meanings that I like: - Normally, time travel stories demonstrate that time travel is necessary to solve all your problems. But Link Click also says that we don’t need time travel. Sometimes, we must learn to accept the bad parts in life. We can’t erase them because they are a part of who we are. - This one is kind of meta since it directly connects to us. You know how the MCs dive into photos? Like they’re some kind of gateway into lives? Well, quite literally photos are gateways to what makes us human. It repeatedly shows how photos are reminders of our important moments and experiences, and that we should look at photos to gain a better understanding of ourselves and to move forward in life. At the very end of the extra episode 5.5, there is a sequence of montages in which real-life photos showing key memories of Internet users are depicted one by one. This sequence ends with the statement that no matter the emotional context (mostly), our photographs show how we are remarkable in each of our ways. We should not be afraid to show the true side of ourselves in these photographs to the outside world (mostly). Now, that’s a great message. It really strikes home for me and makes a lasting impression. - Lastly, I cannot help but gush about the opening and ending songs and sequences. All of them are pretty cool, not least the animated finger-tutting in the opening. They have really been a joy to watch and hear. Comments on the iffy parts (but no penalty to the show): - How the time travel works and who started the photo shop are some unanswered questions. Explaining them could help make the story’s background feel more ‘real’. If there were to be only one season, I would’ve been okay with this ambiguity, but with the announcement of the second season, I can’t help but suspect that there will be a looong info-dump later on. - Implausibility is an interesting criticism. It’s usually not valid if it’s about an underlying mechanic (e.g., time travel) since this is fiction we’re talking about, but it can be valid if it’s about the choices that characters make. Unfortunately, in this show those two scenarios interact to create a couple of unconvincing moments to me. But I don’t know which part I should criticize and which I shouldn’t, so I’ll just leave it as a tie. - I personally don’t like semi-realistic characters making faces like > _ < or • _ • all of a sudden (unless they’re in a moe form). Whenever they do that, you automatically know it’s going to be a Funny Scene™. What’s more, it just feels jarring. Or maybe I just like realistic, mature shows too much. Poor me. I must stress and re-stress the fact that a rating is nothing much more than a mere number, and what matters is that YOU watch it and YOU experience all that this show makes you go through. A rating is arbitrary, but your experience is not (wow so cheesy). And that’s what individual scores really are. Different people feel different ways about a show and then proceed to hammer a number that they felt was right onto their thoughts. Thanks for reading this review, in part or in whole. Until then…
Fotsuan
While it was airing, Shiguang Dailiren was considered the hidden gem of Spring 2021 by many fans. Now, with its strong finale and its pass to a second season, its insanely positive response by the audience will make more people watch it and discuss it. But is it really worth the hype? First of all, let's state the obvious and answer this question to a certain audience. People with an interest in non sci-fi time traveling shows could easily enjoy this. Flashy and with style, the protagonists use photographs to enter a past moment of the same world's timeline, and control others' bodies and minds therefor a few hours with their main objective being the solution of criminal cases. Using that power, they must be careful not to change the flow of events because the butterfly effect may lead the world to a completely different future. How do they handle situations like these? Well, Cheng Xiaoshi's character is heavily inspired by the mad scientist from Steins;Gate, Okabe Rintarou. In his "diving operations", he gets emotional when he faces hardships and he feels the urge to help other people. He never puts the blame in others and tries to take full responsibility, and that's what could make him a tragic character or... a hero. His partner, Lu Guang is more grounded and that makes sense because he is an observer when they use their special power. Sadly, in these 11 episodes all the other characters are shallow and forgettable, so in the end, only Cheng matters. The dialogue and character interactions are a big minus in this show. There's sometimes fan service, while at times there are just tragic events happening and people acting immaturely. Of course, not everyone views this as a flaw. The animation and art show almost no similarity to those of common anime, and that's because Shiguang Dailiren is a donghua. Their style is closer to a live webtoon than a japanese anime. As for the soundtrack, it's a good reason to watch the show; the beautiful and romantic opening song, the dynamic and mysterious ending song that makes you want to watch more, but most of the insert songs too; all of them are praiseworthy. In my point of view, to really answer the question I set in my prologue, Link Click is neither innovative nor brilliant. Its selling points are either easy to use or already popular in fiction: simple time travel with no sci-fi approach, a compassionate main character, simple life lessons and morals that say no to greed, attractive looking characters and shallow drama that stems from bad life choices. It's like a failed attempt to make a crossover of Sherlock Holmes and Steins;Gate. Thank you for reading.
IrDefender
Truly a masterpiece, it's not just a show about entertainment, it talks about the way time pass, our choices, our social life, and what's worthy for us. Friendship, family, friends, love. It reminds us how important and worthy they are, and sometimes we are ignoring the time we have, our family & friends. How we forgot that what's truly important and what's just a matter of time, what really matters and what is really not. It reminds us that we have something in our lives that we need to look after and care about, because someday we may lose them, then we notice, and it'stoo late to do something about it. The story so far is genius with unexpected moments and emotional moments that leave you surprised. Besides that, the background and art are so effective and beautiful that fit the genre and scene. Character background and development are yet a thing that you can see on main characters.
Harmonywind5
The absolute tragedy that more haven't people watched this show kills me. This is the best anime (technically) donghua that I've watched this past season. This doesn't feel like a show that is just using the time travel as a gimmick. Its unique form of time travel and the way it impacts the characters is just so raw and emotional at times I was near tears. The show also has abundant mystery and twists and turns. It's brilliant, and I loved every second. As for the characters, I appreciated the bonds the main characters have, but as you would expect, the start of the show ismostly focused on Cheng Xiaoshi. Love him or hate him, I think if anyone else was in his shoes, they'd be hard pressed to do any better. I do wish that the characters outside the episodic stories got some more fleshing out, but it seems like they'll be making a season 2, so this could be remedied later. The lack of explanation on the supernatural elements as well, like how the two male leads even have these abilities also would have been nice...but again...season 2. As for the art, I like the style, but animation wise it suffered a bit, whether just due to a lack of animation sometimes or just certain characters looking off. But really, it's hardly awful. I've seen much worse. All in all, Link Click is simply fantastic, and sitting at 11 episodes currently, probably the shortest anime of last season. Just watch it. You won't regret it.
Waifwu
Link click is arguably the one of the most unexpected shows I've come across. Chinese anime has been on the rise in past 3-4 years with a lot of shows coming out ranging from esports focused The King's Avatar to historical wuxia like Modao Zushi, while quite a few of them were pretty solid on their own they all lacked that one element that could make them truly stand along with the topnotch japanese anime. Link click while in no means a perfect show but the first 5 episodes are one of the closest thing to that I've seen. The plot itself is not much complexat all. Simply if you read from the synopsis it's about a couple of dudes ( AND THERE IS NO BL) who can go inside photos at the time when it was taken. Now that sounds like any classical time manipulation show but what truly makes this one stand out is the really unexpected emotional element, The show itself is mostly episodic where the main duo (or trio you can say) take requests from customers and go back in the photos to help them in various ways i won't go into detail as to what kind of assignments they get or what the constraints of their power is because that will definitely spoil some of the fun but you can be rest assured that the best part of this show lies in it's simplicity yet making the most out of it. Not to mention the cliffhanger at the end of almost every episode combined with the ed that drops hard af makes you watch the next episode really hard. What Link Click actually has that makes it so beautiful to watch is the soul, you can actually see the passion of the screenwriters and showmakers that went through writing all those stories for the episodes. Each story tells about a different person and their life and what they went through while at the same time it doesn't completely turns into a tearforcer but instead leaves a lot of the emotional elements for the viewers to take as they desire and doesn't lose focus on it's thriller/mystery element. As I said before the first 5 episodes clearly blew me out, when i started watching i, it was just on whim and wasn't even expecting to go past 2 or 3 episodes but the hooking element of the show is really not to be underestimated. The show does take a dip after episode 5.5 and the arc after that is not as solid as previous one but the final closing arc specially the final episode is great that not only wraps everything up in a good emotional way but also has a little something at the end which pretty much confirms a 2nd season. The bgm is really nice and keeps the continuity of themes of the show and both op and ed is great. Specially the ed clearly syncs with those cliffhangers at the end of each episodes. Visuals aren't extravagant but as the show isn't action focused they turn out to be pretty nice and handfighting and martial arts scenes are done pretty well as a matter of fact. Overall if you're even a little bit into mystery/thriller genre then i will say this is a must watch. Highly recommended and even more so if you're into actual soulful shows.
MoonRiverNights
Holy. Fucking. Shit. This jewel of a show is buried underneath all of the other great anime that have come out this spring season, but it's definitely one of the best, standing with Vivy and 86. The concept of time travel done through photographs is so fresh compared to all the other usual types that we see in media. The story is outstanding, to say the least, and I can't believe I almost missing this from my hesitation of it being a Chinese anime - I don't know the proper term. But I am so glad I took the leap and boy has this setthe standard! The art style is pretty good, it matches the style of the show and doesn't distract from the story being told here. It compliments it so well and I would totally wear the characters' outfit choices, they're very trendy. While I personally don't really like the OP - I find it kinda cringey - the animation showcases the talent that is behind the scenes, it's so fluid, it's as if they rotoscoped it or something cause I can't believe how smooth it is. The ED is fucking FIRE! I love EDM music and as soon as I heard it I wanted the song on my phone and listen to it on repeat for a few days. This show NEEDS to be promoted more cause it's truly a shame that only a few curious people will watch it and it is overshadowed by other better-marketed shows. The word needs to spread that Link Click is fantastic and Season 2 needs to come out like right now!
bellfruit
There's action, there's mystery, there's this captivating concept of time travel. It draws me in so much just in the first episode that im just dumbfounded. Its cleverly crafted mysteries don't lack anything: it keeps me curious, and always somehow end up catching me off guard. It's a donghua capable of tears too, and isn't emotionally lacking either. Well, to start off, it’s the first thing you notice about this donghua: the art. It’s refreshing unique art style I can’t find anywhere else. It gives me a new sense of originality that’s important in these animes and donghuas, in both story and art. If you're onefor smart characters (ex. The Promised Neverland) with crafty plans then this is a good add to your watches. This has one of the few OP/EDs that I actually don't skip (unless I'm urgent due to cliffhangers) they have a unique opening and the endings are always somewhat chilly as it ends on the iconic ED beats. The only upsetting thing I can find in this donghua is their excessive use of cliffhangers that keep me on the edge. So basically (TLDR): if you like a suspenseful, exciting, brilliantly planned donghua, you'll like LINK CLICK.
Animanga