Winter 2013 – Week 10 Anime Review

This week: Being logical versus being theatrical in Zetsuen no Tempest, questioning the philosophical arguments in Psycho-Pass, why you can never make Kudryavka’s story sad in Little Busters!, and why Shinobu is the best character in Chihayafuru 2.

Needless – Chapter 106

Needless is innovative and creative, especially in its storytelling.  Throughout the manga, there have been countless examples of where character development or story progression have been told or shown in a way that directly generates interest, creates suspense and surprise or is just unanticipated fun and amusement (for example: Kuchinashi).  And of all the methods utilized, the most innovative might be how Needless has unveiled its past.  Rather than relying solely on flashbacks or lengthy exposition, Needless has decided to show us its past through a variety of diverse means and styles.  And rather than reveal everything about the past together, it’s been fragmented into various segments, allowing the manga to answer the immediate concerns while raising other questions to create further intrigue and mystery.  And with another new style presented in this chapter, it’s time we recognize a few of the brilliant storytelling techniques employed in Needless.

Moyashimon Returns – 11 (Finale)

What made the original season of Moyashimon a celebrated and beloved anime were its awkward and lively characters and the zany comedy that accompanied the lives of freshmen at a wacky agricultural university outside of Tokyo.  The second season, Moyashimon Returns, was doomed to mediocrity from straying from this effective recipe, instead opting to delve heavily into drama and introduce new characters who never assimilated to the golden standard of this anime.  However, this occurrence of a sequel failing in comparison to the original is not something exclusive to Moyashimon.  In fact, I’d be inclined to say that’s the norm for sequels in anime, a disheartening trend based on a number of critical factors.

Welcome Aniblog Tourney Voters!

Edit: Everyone, thank you for all your support.  This blog will now be moving onto the second round with voting scheduled for May 4th at 20:00 GMT.  I hope to continue to receive your support in the next round of the Aniblog Tournament.

For all of those visiting my blog from the Aniblog Tourney, I wish to welcome you to my anime blog!  For those of you who aren’t but are curious about the tournament, check out the home page of the Aniblog Tourney and vote!

I realize being in the fourth poll and probably the 7^th or so blog you’ve checked out today, I can only imagine that many of you are already tired after reading so much or scrolling through several new blogs already.  If that’s the case, then let’s keep this short.

My About page has some basic information if you’re curious about me, but I recommend you explore the site at your own pace and read what you want to read.  The anime in the categories side bar have episodic posts though the topics are extremely variable and are often on subjects that interest me or that I think would be good discussion points.  Even more anime are covered here but they are categorized by seasons and often in the format of Weekly Anime with shorter topics for each anime.  For thoughts and reviews on anime, check out the Season Reviews category which includes Season Previews, Mid-Season Reviews, and Season Reviews.  I urge you to find whatever interests you, read it, and enjoy your stay.

If you’re not tired or weary and curious for some of my better posts with links to specific examples, then please, continue on.

Usagi Drop – 3

There’s just something subtle and innocent about the comedy in Usagi Drop that really adds to the charm and the enjoyment of the show.  In fact, it might be the best comedy this summer given these first three episodes.