As a fantasy fan from the cradle I love a good dash of magic in my narratives. That said, sometimes the very presence of magic can hurt the story. Here are 3 ways magic can undermine what might otherwise be a pretty good story.
During the Autumn 2018 anime season, it occurred to me that there are some narrative devices I just don't take seriously anymore. They may have at one point served a valuable narrative purpose or been written with thought and care, but now it seems as though every example I run across is either tongue-in-cheek satirising … Continue reading And With This Monologue I do Progress the Plot
This is a re-post. All reviews from the 2nd of July until the 7th of July will be reruns. New episode and series reviews will resume on the 8th of July. Overview: Shiki is a horror (?) anime that came out in 2010. It is set in a small isolated village called Sotoba where life … Continue reading Shiki Series Review
When you have a show based on a game that you've never played you already know that there are going to be some parts of the show that you are just never going to get. They'll be references or nods to the game and the fans and that is fine. You also don't expect a … Continue reading Friday’s Feature: What Went Wrong with Katsugeki Touken Ranbu?
This is another My Hero Academia inspired list after a discussion with a few people on Twitter and this comment: Which got me thinking of all the times characters have lost out in anime because the plot demands they lose. There are a lot. Of course that is true of any narrative because sometimes you … Continue reading Tuesday’s Top 5: Characters Robbed By Plot
I'd suggest that those who haven't watched Your Lie in April and haven't read yet what happens, that you might want to try one of my other posts and come back after you've either watched the end or someone else has spoiled it for you. It's a common criticism of television shows, movies, and of … Continue reading Friday’s Feature: Are There No New Ideas?
Review: Well, you should know I hate recap episodes by now so 11.5 isn't exactly going to do much for me. That said, at least the timing on this makes sense. If you didn't pick up this show in Autumn but are considering it (given it is continuing on in the Winter season), 11.5 does … Continue reading March Comes in Like a Lion Episode 11.5
Overview: After an event known as careless Monday (a bunch of missiles hit Japan but there were no casualties), Saki finds herself travelling in America before beginning her first job. She wants to make a wish but after throwing a coin over a fence in Washington she is confronted by police. A naked man comes … Continue reading Eden of the East Series Review
Overview: I'm going to suggest reading the write ups on MAL or Crunchyroll because having watched this I still don't really know what this is about. Review Episode 1: I know that there are some anime that prior knowledge is needed in order to get what is going on (see D.Gray-Man review), but Rewrite takes … Continue reading Rewrite Episode 1 and 2
Review: This was probably one of my favourite episodes so far. Not a lot happens other than a grave visit but it feels like a lot of the plot threads and character developments have come together in this episode. It wasn't as light or amusing as other episodes but took a more serious tone and … Continue reading Shonen Maid Episode 10