Autumn 2012 – Week 4 Anime Review

This week: comments on the mature visual styles of Shin Sekai Yori, a phenomenal display of emotions in Jormungand: Perfect Order, a return to familiarity in Medaka Box Abnormal and thoughts on a possible and awesome ending for Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!

Needless – Chapter 104

Fight are fought and won with Fragments.  The stronger Fragment, the most likely you are to win your battles.  But Fragments alone aren’t necessarily the only factor, nor even the central factor, when resolving conflicts in Needless.  It is how these Fragments are used, through intelligence or innovation, which ultimately decides the victor and the defeated.  So, is it possible to win against a Needless with not only one of the strongest fragments but also one of the greater intellects, too?

Dog Days’ (S2) – 11

So what’s the point of any of this?

For the most part, Dog Days’ has been a collection of haphazard, disconnected events, recounting the activities and adventures of Shinku and his friends in Flonyard.  And though some episodes conclude with some development taking place, such as the introduction of Adélaïde and Valério, the institution of Hero Crystals and Bright Power Gears, and now with Yuki’s newly acquired ability to swap bodies with anyone.  But what is this all building to, why are we seeing these developments take place?  With no structure plot apparent and the finale hastily approaching, the question quickly turns to ask, what is the point of everything that’s happened thus far in Dog Days’?

Summer 2012 – Week 9 Anime Review

During one of those previous weeks, I forget which one exactly: presenting effective yet limited character relationships in Sengoku Collection, questionable abandonment of the Voxes in Rinne no Lagrange, continuing the character problems in Tari Tari, and curious about Chitanda’s curiosity in Hyouka.

Summer 2012 – Week 5 Anime Review

Some major discussion points from the fifth week of anime: everyone’s curiosity in Hyouka, the fantasy realm side-story in Natsuyuki Rendezvous, and undoubtedly the best episode of anime for the entire year in Sengoku Collection.

Spring 2012 – Week 8 Anime Review

This week: an unexpected character trait for astronauts in Space Brothers, a neglected storyline for a main character in Tsuritama, how the girls of Upotte!! will be unable to adapt to our society, and telling sweet, little lies in Hyouka.

Nisemonogatari – 5

Although it depends on each specific character and varies on a case-by-case basis, I tend to like antagonists in anime.  Generally speaking, what fascinates me about villains or adversaries are not that they’re commonly portrayed as wicked, evil, or used in a negative manner but rather for the rationale for why they are a villain or adversary.  The ones with logical and coherent backgrounds not only make the best antagonists but they do double duty and reinforce the story by providing a satisfying obstacle for the protagonist to overcome and help inhibit the development or expansion of plot holes or shoddy storytelling.  They really are one of the most crucial characters to any anime they’re in.  And Kaiki is no exception.