Anime Review: Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyōbi

Toying around with Christian imagery and ideas is not a foreign concept to anime (with Evangelion being the most extreme example) but it is often a gimmick or confusing at best. I attribute this mostly to the awkward handling of Western religions in general for Japan, but whatever the cause it is usually either a bit cringey or silly (or both). Fortunately, that isn’t the case here but that may be because other than some lip service there isn’t really anything terribly religious going on. Instead, we get an often clever, challenging, and curious take on death and ethics and so on, mired at times by a confusing delivery that’s trying too hard and a short length that leaves things a bit curtailed though not wholly unfinished.

Anime Review: Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

Time and time again, I feel like I end up defending myself a little bit in these reviews, desperately scrounging at times to justify why I watch (to completion) and subsequently review (no small effort) so much transparently commercial otaku-bait. I get it: the anime genre itself is, on the whole, fairly niche and uniquely pandered to. Most production companies know they aren’t going to score widespread appeal and so deliberately opt to zero in on their reliable base market of late-teen-to-twenties males who already watch and, perhaps most importantly, buy anime merchandise. It’s why anime home releases are so expensive. And so it’s also little surprise you see so many clichés that never seem to die. I’ve been wallowing in the weeaboo now for about fifteen years and I’ve pretty much seen it all. There are countless samey-shows and me-too series. And yet, here I am… about to spend ~3300 words on yet another one.

Anime Review: Tonari no Seki-kun

As someone who, generally speaking, detested school and the many thousands of hours I spent waiting for the bell to ring, I can sympathize with the desire to zone out and just doodle or whatever to pass the time. Of course, in my case that’s about as far as it went; I never did try to sneak in comic books or food or even a Walkman. (Yes, I said a Walkman. Look it up if you’re that young.) Maybe I just didn’t have appropriately sized balls or simply the requisite “fuck it” attitude. And I’m not sayin’ you should do those things… but I understand.

Anime Review: Miss Monochrome

I have been a long, long time fan of Horie Yui ever since seeing (and obsessing over) Love Hina so many years ago. She’s delightfully talented in both speaking and singing roles and she’s managed to maintain that for well over a decade now (though even her great talent can’t save some series). So when I heard she was pushing to produce a short series on an original character of her own I was definitely curious. It’s rare that the world is bestowed with triple-threats like the too-charming Justin Timberlake but they do happen so… maybe Miss Horie is good at character design and synopsis too? Hell, she’s been in the biz long enough to see what works and doesn’t work, right?

Anime Review: Kaitou Reinya

As an anime and weirdo Japanophile who’s a bit long in the tooth I’ve been around the JPop block long enough. Even so, while I have long had a cursory knowledge of its existence, I can’t say that I’ve ever shown any genuine interest in Morning Musume. I thought it was a TV show for the longest time and apparently it is closer to the more recently popular AKB48, though I’m almost certain I am probably oversimplifying things and making some Momusu nerd cry somewhere. That said, when a former member (or is it current? I have no idea, they’ve churned through more members than Jenna Jameson) does a weird comedy spin-off animated short thing, well… I’m not really sure what to think because any notoriety or novelty is largely lost on me.

Anime Review: R.O.D. / Read or Die

Ah yes, R.O.D.; it’s been a long time coming. I still remember how fantastically popular it was back when it originally came out in 2001. Footage of it appeared in countless AMVs of the time and for years after. It was praised for being refreshingly original and action-packed with some high-quality animation for its time. Alas, though, I never got around to seeing it until this year. And I’m sorry for being so late to the party because I really don’t think I can tell you all anything you probably don’t already know at this point.

Review: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks

About a year ago I reviewed the first Equestria Girls movie and I was noticeably guarded through the whole thing. Not surprisingly: this was the first movie and it was also doing something risky by introducing a human world. It sort of connected to the main series but in a way that ultimately wasn’t important so the two could coincide and not require one or the other. Indeed, season 4 made no mention at all of Twilight’s adventures through the magic mirror portal. Well, it’s been barely a year and the sequel is here, now sub-sub-titled Rainbow Rocks.

Anime Review: Nerawareta Gakuen

Now this… this is a good movie. Superbly animated, wonderfully executed, and a joy to sit through. Other than the slightly confusing ending I’d still say it’s damn near flawless for what it is and sets out to do. It mixes school romance, replete with blushing beauties, a childhood friend, a goofy nice guy, and a dashing new transfer student; with a sci-fi twist of telepathy and time travel. Sure, there are a ton of clichés in this stew but damn if it doesn’t taste delicious.

Anime Review: Gekkan Shōjo Nozaki-kun

It’s no secret that I tend to gravitate towards simplistic comedy series featuring plenty of pleasing cutesy girly shit. I admit, it’s an easy trap to fall into, no less because anime has evolved over the years to perfect it. Hyper-realizing embodiments of moe has become the default approach these days and it can be both frustrating and fun. The interchangeability of most series might be more distressing if they weren’t still generally enjoyable.

Anime Review: Bungaku Shoujo

The synopsis of this movie is woefully inadequate. No, really, go read it. It’s bland sounding other than the eating paper thing. Normal high school student joins literature club. May have had issues in past resulting in not wanting to write. You’ll have to just trust me that this is also a fairly misleading account as this leaves out psychotic ex-girlfriend that makes up the majority of the drama and running time.

Anime Review: Kokoro Connect: Michi Random

I’m only a year late to the party, especially considering my undeniably positive review of the TV-aired portion, but the additionally adapted LN of Kokoro Connect released in OVA form is definitely cause to say “More please!” If there was ever an indication that a second season is warranted it’s this. I realize, of course, that doesn’t make it financially viable but… well… I’m a fan not a financier.

Anime Reviews: Shin Sekai Yori, Day Break Illusion, Love Lab

All three of these probably warrant longer reviews but… I procrastinated so long I’ve forgotten too much to say more. I’m ashamed to say it’s been since sometime last year when I finished watching these.

Anime Reviews: Servant x Service, GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class, Dai Mahō-Tōge

Comedy’s the name of the game today, boys and girls, in yet another triple batch of mini-reviews.

Anime Review: Arakawa Under the Bridge

It’s difficult to place this show. On the surface it is an episodic wacky slice-of-life comedy. Only it eschews most of the cliché settings in favor of taking place under a bridge and starring a dozen or so weirdos. And they really are weirdos in the strongest sense. These aren’t your typical characters who are portrayed as “wild and zany” but still lead relatively normal lives going to school/work and so on. No, these people live under a bridge so you know already there is something wrong with them as they willfully choose not to participate in normal society. And it is a deliberate choice because none of them seem to be poor hobos either. Well, probably.

Anime Reviews: Arata: The Legend, Kanamemo, Morita-san wa Mukuchi

I hope you like images because I’ve got over a dozen this time spread out over three more reviews. (Dial-up warning!!)

Anime Reviews: Kotoura-san, Teekyu 2 & 3, RecoRan Mi

This time around I review three very different comedies.

Anime Review: Ore no Nōnai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Rabu Kome o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru

Cheesecake shows like this are a guilty pleasure of mine. They are the empty calories of anime, and just like a Twinkie they’ll leave you feeling disappointed with them and yourself. For all of the fancy packaging and appearance it rarely satisfies like you hope and it just makes you feel a bit ashamed since, let’s face it, this isn’t your first pre-packaged pastry. You knew better, but you thought maybe this time it would be different.

Anime Review Retrospective: To Heart

It’s been well over a decade since I was a fairly hardcore To Heart fan. I had the whole series, the omakes, all of the soundtracks and singles, and even the making of interviews and stuff. I still have both of the official TV series art books on my bookshelf right now. I even drew fanart — yes, honest to god-awful fanart. Have I mentioned yet this was over a decade ago and I was barely out of my teens?

Anime Review: The World God Only Knows: Goddesses

When I last spoke of TWGOK, I labeled it “the Bruce Springsteen of anime”. My reasoning was simple. In full disclosure I am not a Springsteen fan (not out of dislike merely ignorance), but to me Springsteen represents a kind of musical phenomenon that is easy to like because it does what it does so well. He's not that innovative, really, but damn if he isn't charming and fun and catchy and makes you feel good. TWGOK is that: it takes the harem genre and puts a nice spin on it without really deconstructing it or innovating otherwise… but it's so wonderfully executed it doesn't even matter.

Anime Review: Gurren Lagann, WataMote, Mondaiji

Yet another triple batch of mini-reviews!

Anime Review: Ore no Imōto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai.

Thus continues the tale of our violent model-by-day otaku-by-night heroine and her frustrated and confused brother. Kirino has returned from America ready to get back into her semi-secret hobby. What’s that? You don’t remember her actually leaving for America? Season two here picks up after the “True Route” extra four episodes, which weren’t televised (and thus sadly aren’t on Crunchyroll), the first of which is a replacement for the last televised episode.  Just like the first season, there’s more hijinks, incest overtones, nerdy anime fandom, with a dash of S&M and Lolita. So, basically, more of the same, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how well you liked the first season.

Anime Review: Ano Natsu de Matteru

Classically animated in style but with plenty of modern technical prowess, this series takes us through “that fateful summer” as our protagonist meets, falls for, and inevitably gets tangled up with a new transfer student who is as beautiful as she is eccentric. If that synopsis sounds a bit too familiar, that’s because it is. But don’t let that turn you off! While it isn’t anything new, the quality of animation, direction, music, and screenplay combine to make a solidly excellent series with only a few issues. Been itchin’ for another good romance/drama? I suggest you keep reading. (Note: haters should keep reading too, because… because don’t leave me…)