Spring 2016 – Week 5 Spotlight – The Shanghai International Settlement in Joker Game

The fourth episode of Joker Game had an astonishing setting, both in terms of its historical context and for the presentation of its story.  Yet, how was such a locale and situation even possible for a plot like this?  This episode was set in Shanghai and between 1937 and 1941, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War when Japan was invading and controlling large regions of China.  You may be wondering, with war between Japan and China raging across the nation, how was such a setting possible for Joker Game to utilize?  How was a military police unit, Chinese revolutionaries, and America and British citizens able to coexist in such a place with such turmoil and conflict?  This post on the fourth episode of Joker Game attempts to describe all the details and history of the Shanghai International Settlement and why it was such a remarkable setting for this episode’s narrative.

Summer 2015 – Week 8 Anime Review

This week: why combining business with school has failed for Classroom Crisis, highlighting a major weakness for Chamo in Rokka no Yuusha, similarities between the Orihara family with the Araragi family for Durarara!!x2 Ten, and major changes (again) in the OP for Gakkou Gurashi.

Summer 2014 – Week 3 Anime Review

Last week: why the third episode of Space Dandy Season 2 might be my favorite of the year, an analysis on the diversity of rural settings and how the specifics of this are impacting Barakamon, some egregious contradictions with the mecha in Aldnoah.Zero, and some serious questions about the structure and purpose of Night Raid in Akame ga Kill!

Summer 2013 – Week 9 Anime Review

This week: appreciating the use of color and lighting in Monogatari Series Second Season, thoughts on the specific location of human settlement in Shingeki no Kyojin, how Sonora’s addition shifts the character dynamics of Stella Jogakuin Koutouka C3-bu, and ideas on how to improve upon the detective/mystery carousel which is Danganronpa.

Summer 2013 – Week 3 Anime Review

About 2 weeks ago: why I’m bored with Uchouten Kazoku, the impact of alternative hairstyles in Monogatari Series Second Season, how Zoe’s character contrasts everyone and everything in Shingeki no Kyojin, and why the clothes are my favorite part of Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou.

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!

Fractale – 2

Recently, there has been some events about Fractale that have overshadowed the show.  In case you haven’t heard yet, basically the Fractale Production Committee (the copyright owner) cut off Funimation’s streaming rights in North America over illegal distributions of their product.  There’s already been much discussed on the topic and I prefer to stay out of the political realm.  It isn’t my arena to begin with and, hopefully, never will be.  Instead, I plan to discuss the actual episode and hope these kinds of incidences never return.