Spring 2013 – Week 5 Anime Review

This week: why the beach episode of Suisei no Gargantia is entirely appropriate and meaningful, what we can infer about the settings in Hataraku Maou-sama! and how they will dictate the story from here onward, why I have been impressed with how Devil Survivor 2 handles its extensive cast, and the main reason why we return to Kakumeiki Valvrave every week.

Magi – 25 (Finale)

One of the most fundamental and essential concepts present throughout all of Magi is the romance of adventure.  The romance of adventure is not an idea that unifies the romance between two characters with the genre of adventure (although one could argue that a powerful bond existed between Aladdin and Alibaba), but one that quantifies the stylization and presentation of adventure that is largely romantic and idealistic.  Whether it was questing through treacherous dungeons, relying on the help of mystic, majestic djinns and their phantasmal magic, fending off monsters and assassins alike or hunting for treasures of unimaginable wealth, the image and feeling of adventure in Magi was portrayed as glamorous, glorious, rewarding and extremely passionate.  Magi wanted to show these elements of adventures through this distinctive perspective which then helped enthuse and entertain the audience.  As you can imagine, this concept had a significant and permanent impression in Magi.

Spring 2013 – Season Preview

The Spring 2013 anime season already upon us with an extensive array of new and returning anime debuting over the next couple weeks.  As with every season prior, this season preview is a complete and thorough glimpse at all the anime airing over the next three months, and paired together with my thoughts on each and what my current plans are for each show.  So with that, onto the good stuff!

Winter 2013 – Week 12 Anime Review

This week: appreciating the evolution of Akane’s character in Psycho-Pass, thoughts on how others face anxiety and pressure in Chihayafuru 2, the perspective and surprise of tricks in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and thinking about the story going full circle in Zetsuen no Tempest.

Robotics;Notes – 22 (Finale)

Robotics;Notes is an anime that progressed through a series of ups and downs.  During its ups, the anime was amusing and entertaining with an ominous mystery and a robotics theme that was both strong and appropriate.  During its downs, the series was a curious and confusing mess with a story that felt disjointed and incoherent that bounced between two very different sides in a ‘Robotics’ half and a ‘Notes’ half.  And though the series cycled between these high points and low points, the second half of the anime saw a general trend downward with its obvious peaks in the first half and its lowest valleys in the latter half.  Just what happened to Robotics;Notes to take it from a promising and entertaining anime to one with an unclear, directionless plot with highly questionable storytelling.

Winter 2013 – Week 11 Anime Review

This week: how transitioning focus away from the cantus has strengthened Shin Sekai Yori, how the diversity of settings in Battle Spheres reflect on the characters in Senran Kagura, the brilliant cinematography utilized in Tamako Market, and finally realizing what’s important in Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo.

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.