Review: How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? / Danberu Nan-Kiro Moteru?

(i had many screenshots that don’t seem to be popping up… very sad…)

This is my review for How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? (2019)!! I will be going over some of the main aspects that I deem relevant to the review/audience’s (my own personal) interest.

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Tldr/Summation: Don’t watch if you are looking for a story or dynamic characters. But if you like the gym/weightlifting/body building, the visuals and gym humor/references are fun + seeing animated and completely roided (but canonically natty?) physiques in a clean and visually aesthetically way is mad cool. 

If you're into gym/body building I’d definitely recommend watching Episode 9 for a fun animated 20 minutes about body building competition narrated by jacked Arnold!

If you are looking to get into the gym, the show has some helpful information, but be wary of taking information given to you from an animated show too seriously. As with most things, do your research, practice, get to know your unique body, stay consistent, and have fun! 

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(1) Opening/Ending

Catchy opener !!!  Such a jam I bounce along each time. This was also very fun to play on Taiko no Tatsujin B)

(2) Characters

So So So disappointed in the lack of buff fems… They had one scene in Episode 2 that gave them some screen time, but they were extras who never appeared again. 

None of the main cast had any definition more than just sleek stomachs, even though all but two had some kind of extensive physical training???

(See instead: Love Lies Bleeding)

To be fair, this is almost 5 years old now, and we have seen changes in popular media since this show’s release. But still….

Very cis/het normative. 

(3) Plot

This was the absolute weakest part of the show. I could go on and on about the failures, but that would make this the longest portion of the review, and really, it’s not that serious. The series was self aware about the plot’s frivolity and even included some fourth wall breaks around this. I will say, the final episode was such a let down. Downhill trajectory that took a sharp nose dive after Episode 9. 

(4) Education

Conceptually, I have the idea of an educational gym anime!! I had the Biggest Smile on my face when I first heard that adorable tune + “Machio’s Muscle Lesson of the Day!” The follow alongs at the end of each episode were a cute way to engage the audience and tie together lessons with some practice!

Now, regarding the actual information that was shared, I think some of it may have been questionable/needed some more nuance. But, I will say, there are few ways to “do the gym wrong.” It can be very nuanced and really cool because there is so much that one can do in the gym—ex. there are so many combinations of workout splits, and choosing one for yourself is dependent on what your own unique goals are. It’s like color theory! Randomizing colors in a painting isn’t wrong, but an artist with knowledge of color theory can intentionally choose when to adhere to classic relationships (ex. monochromatic) and when to break them in order to communicate what they would like through their own personal artistic expression. 

There was also some info that was straight up wrong— like that the chest press will increase your breast size. 

(5) Gym Motivation/Attitudes

Fun gym humor~!

+There was some great framing in beginning episodes about non-judgement/trying your best, especially in the beginning of one’s gym journey. Starting & getting consistent in the beginning is the hardest part!! 

No need to compare yourself to other people, we can only try to be better than yesterday ;)

(6) ARNOLD

Loved the Arnold arc!!!!!!! I would have loved if they would have included more body building references and ran with this. Episode 9 was the best episode (followed by the pilot) and it was a real let down that they didn’t do more with that. It was such a tease at what could have been.

I’d def recommend to watch Episode 9 as a stand alone episode! Watch Arnold narrate a body building competition B) 

Note: critiques of the plot/characters may have had more to do with the manga than the anime. I did not read the manga & don’t plan to given the weak story.

All of that said, it was a very enjoyable watch, so much so that I wanted to rewatch & I had a very fun time putting together my thoughts and these images <3

Thanks 4 reading!

And remember folks…

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