Autumn 2013 – Week 5 Anime Review

This week: why Flamenco Girl is evil in Samurai Flamenco, appreciating how Kyousogiga is reusing its material by expanding on its recaps, why the storytelling outdid the unique visuals in Monogatari Series Second Season, and questioning the schoolgirl uniform attire in Coppelion.

Autumn 2013 – Week 4 Anime Review

This week: an analysis of Mako’s character in KILL la KILL, developing the racist schoolgirls into characters in Nagi no Asukara, enjoying the level of detail in the setting of Samurai Flamenco, and pretty much hating the Galileo aspects of Galilei Donna.

Casting Japanese Seiyuu with Michihiko Suwa – A Sakuracon Panel Recap

Perhaps the most appealing feature of Sakuracon (besides meeting and hanging out with dozens of awesome people) was the impressive list of special guests from all levels of the anime industry.  Among the distinguished crowd visiting the 2012 Sakurcon was Michihiko Suwa, a producer for numerous notable anime including Detective Conan, Inuyasha, City Hunter, Black Jack, and most recently, Rinne no Lagrange.  Of his three panels at Sakuracon, this post will provide a summarization a panel led by him that covered an aspect of the anime industry that holds particular importance to me: voice acting.  Using Rinne no Lagrange as his primary example, Michihiko Suwa provided a rare and valuable insight into one of the most essential pieces of anime production.

Winter 2012 – Week 4 Anime Review

This week: Chihayfuru producing a recap episode the right way, two Takehito Koyasu appearances this week (Brave 10 and Mirai Nikki), and the charming art style of Thermae Romae.

Usagi Drop – 1

There are a ton of things that impressed me when I watched the first episode of Usagi Drop.  I’m already heavily invested in that modest, yet striking art style for both the scenery and the characters.  And when the art is sometimes limiting, the voice acting for the characters does a proper job of bringing out their emotions.  The storytelling, partially switching between Daikichi’s conscious and general observer, really puts us in his perspective for the series, giving us the opportunity to see Rin through his eyes and mind.  The music has been appropriate and delightful, too, and you could imagine I could go on for another thousand words about all the aspects I love from watching this one episode of Usagi Drop.  But what I am most mesmerized with is the absolute God-tier level of animation in Usagi Drop.

Softenni – 11

So the story behind Softenni, or what I’d like to think was a story, was Asuna and the rest of the soft tennis team aiming to play in the national tournament and eventually end up as national champions.  With only one episode left in the anime, it has become obvious the girls will never become champions, let alone play in the tournament.  That shouldn’t be surprising, seeing as the manga is still continuing and this is only a 12-episode season, but that’s quite a tease they put on us.  Still, it’s a thousand times better, at the very minimum, than making an anime original ending.

Softenni – 7

If you’re able to watch Softenni without being a demanding, harsh, and elitist critic, then this anime can actually be pretty relaxing.