In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi
Phantom in the Twilight Episode 7

Well last week was interesting. So many new shows starting, lots of first impressions, and the first episode of Goblin Slayer blew up twitter and the internet early in the week before finally dying down toward the end of the week. That said my list of posts I found this week is kind of divided into cool posts I found and a selection of posts that provide a range of viewpoints on the first episode of Goblin Slayer and avoid just being rants. As always, feel free to link posts in the comments below if you feel they deserve a shout out (everyone likes finding great new posts to read).

Twilight1a

A new blog I found this week after they followed me called For the Otaku had a great post about Perfect Blue. It looks at a couple of different aspects of it, such as the use of colour, the comment on society and the characters. A nicely detailed post, it does contain spoilers if you haven’t watched, but is a fantastic read.

Bossils on Anime Review has a review of Is It wrong to Pick Up Girls in The Dungeon. Okay I love this anime and I really enjoyed reading this review of someone who clearly had some fun watching it as well. There’s some great images shared and some reminders of some of the most epic moments which just made me want to go and watch the thing again. There are a few minor spoilers but nothing too detailed so if you are curious about the anime it is well worth a look.

Nice Job Breaking it Hero gives us a nice Halloween themed post with 5 Steps for Surviving an Ito Junji Horror. It is a great survival guide for getting through most horror stories and its written in a very amusing way with some great images to accompany it. Definitely one to check out for the Halloween season.

Standing on My Neck has a great write up discussing Planet With and whether or not it is actually a sleeper hit from the Summer. As usual, the style of this write up is incredibly interesting to read, if at time a little blunt, but it raises some valid points about the anime being discussed, the fan base, other anime that are either similar or contrast with it, and viewer expectations in general. Planet With is one of those anime I need to catch up on from last season and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Irina over on I Drink and Watch Anime brings us another thought provoking post and asks whether character tropes can simultaneously be celebratory and exploitative. I’m amazed how week after week Irina manages to come up with such interesting blog topics and they are always a delight to read.

And finally, before we get onto the topic of the week, Weekend Otaku made an appearance this week (Yay!) and wrote an excellent response piece to another article that did the rounds on Twitter. It’s called ‘The Troubling Relationship Between Anime and Western Viewers‘ and it looks at some of the claims from the original article and expresses a different point of view. I did already share this one via Twitter so a lot of my readers have probably already seen it, but if you missed it, the post is well worth checking out.

Now Let’s Round Up Some Posts on Goblin Slayer:

David from Another Anime Review, and another blog that I’ve only newly followed has a great post explaining why he liked the Goblin Slayer anime (or at least the first episode). Given the very mixed reception that first episode has gotten, it has been interesting to see some of these style posts that thoughtfully explain the reviewer’s feelings toward the show and why. This one was great to read and if you are worried the show will put you off, the explanation here will probably let you know whether or not you should try the first episode or whether it is content you’d rather avoid.

And another opinion on Goblin Slayer, this one from CS Radical, that looks directly at the rape scene and the lack of warnings or ratings on streaming services. Again, this post isn’t about insulting or attacking people with a different opinion (although it does share tweets from some people who are being a little bit flippant about things), it is a post expressing an opinion about the scene and how it was presented and a look at an issue that is actually an issue digital media and allowing consumers to make informed choices.

Cactus Matt on Anime Q & A also weighs in on the first episode of Goblin Slayer and the question and answer format allows Matt to share a viewpoint as well as to raise some of the other arguments which makes this an interesting read. By and large Matt questions whether the explicit visuals that accompanied the rape actually added anything to the scene that couldn’t have been accomplished by implication and it is an interesting question to throw into the mix of commentary around this episode.

AstralGemini on the Zodiac Room shares their view on the first episode of Goblin Slayer and mounts a defence of the show because they loved it. This one is written by a fan of the light novels so very much looks at what this first episode sets up (in a general way, no specific spoilers). I will admit, this is the post that I most connected with having also read the light novels and also really enjoyed the episode.

Now for someone sitting right in the middle, Xenodude has his first impressions of Goblin Slayer and while he found the dark and edgy a bit too much a bit too gratuitous, there were elements of the first episode (particularly the second half) that he didn’t mind. This is such a rarity of the week, a Goblin Slayer review that isn’t completely for it or against it (though I guess Cactus Matt kind of did that as well). Anyway, if you want a review of the episode that lets you know what you are in for (and does highlight some of the problems people have encountered with the content) but isn’t just a rant, this is a great one to check out.

And if you want a fairly level headed discussion about why people were upset and how the episode actually presents the rape and murder of children then I’d firmly suggest checking out WeeabroDerek’s post aptly named: Goblin Slayer is Graphic and that’s Alright, Right? This one had the benefit of coming out after a lot of the fireworks and so considers the whole situation from a wider perspective and it ends up being a pretty great read for those who either liked or didn’t like the episode.

Pick of the Week

In Asian Spices delivered another Natsume themed post this week looking at Madara and some of the legends and folk lore that may underpin the yokai in the anime. I really enjoyed their previous post looking at Nyanko-Sensei’s cat form so this was just a great follow up, really well written and informative. A must read for Natsume fans.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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THE ART OF GHOST IN THE SHELL (HARDCOVER)

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In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi
100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams Episode 7

It is the premiere week and one full of possibilities and fun. So many bloggers are active for the start of the season and whether they are giving first impressions of new shows, wrapping up the previous season, or just doing what they want to do, there has been a lot to read, which is fantastic. Below are some of the posts that caught my eye this week but really there are dozens more that could be on the list so please feel free to give a shout out to any posts that caught your eye in the comments below.

However, a small celebration is in order. This is apparently my 100th In Case You Missed It post. That seems a little surreal to me but I’m glad I’ve kept this post series going as it is one of the most rewarding parts of the week sharing some really great posts.

Dream2b

Yomu continues their A – Z anime with a review of Cross Ange this week. This is an anime that received some very mixed reviews on release and as a result I still haven’t gotten around to it. I had a lot of fun reading this post about it and it has made me curious enough to try to move Cross Ange up my watching priority list. For anyone else on the fence about the anime, this post is worth checking out as it gives you an idea of the good and the bad that this anime has to offer.

For Megane Day, Irina wrote a fantastic piece on Ginoza from Psycho Pass. It is a really brilliant read and one well worth checking out. That said, there are definitely plot spoilers if you are one of the six people left who haven’t watched Psycho Pass, and on that note, go watch Psycho Pass. Still, fantastic post from Irina.

Xenodude has his first impressions of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and I’m pretty much in agreement about how this one went. That said, if you were wondering what this anime offers in its first episode, this is a fairly reasonable post to read with enough to give you an impression without recapping the whole episode. Be sure to check it out if you are curious about the anime.

One of my new followers this week I had never visited their blog before but I’m really glad I did after they followed because it let me read this fantastic post. In Asian Spaces has a post all about Nyanko Sensei (from Natsume Yuujinchou) and the Maneki Neko and the post seems to be the first in a series focusing on the yokai from Natsume. I’m hoping the other posts appear because this was a great find and a great read.

Sean on Moe Sucks regularly has some very strong opinions about shows and quite a unique writing style that makes me smile even when I’m not agreeing with the content, but I couldn’t help but find myself nodding along as I read his first impressions of Between the Sea and Sky. He kind of nailed everything wrong with it and put into words exactly why I won’t be going back for a second episode. Though, I thought his opening line on his review of Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet was pretty hilarious as well. Incidentally, if you want seasonal coverage of anime that doesn’t sugar coat things, this is a great blog to follow.

Jon Spencer starts to get us ready for the Halloween season with 10 anime recommendations for the season. So many of my very favourite shows ended up on this list and I loved reading Jon’s explanations for inclusion. If you are looking for something to binge for October, this is a great list to check out.

Anima&Anime has a fantastic post about episode 1 of March Comes in Like a Lion and the choices in direction and contrast that are used within the episode. No surprises that I love the show, but this post really looks at the visual elements that make this show work very early on. It was a great post to read and one that made me want to go and watch the show all over again.

Kyra on Kyra Desu Yo has a great post, Kotoba 2, that teaches us about some of the phrases that have cropped up in anime over the last week. Much like the series they write where they deconstruct character names, this post is really clearly laid out and the information is easy to digest. So if you want to learn a little while watching anime, this is a great place to start.

And, if you want to read perhaps the best review ever of Cells at Work, well it certainly has the best description of the platelets that I’ve ever read, then I suggest you check out John Samuel’s review on Pirates of the Burley Griffin. The great review would be enough of a reason to check this post out, but there’s also an embedded video of the OP and another video discussing the show from a medical point of view.

Lastly, this is a tweet that Mel shared with us as part of Inktober and I just had to share:

 

Pick of the Week

Scott from Mechanical Anime Reviews has his write up of the My Hero Academia movie and gives us a bit of a recap of his experience going to see it on the big screen. This is a post bursting with passion and enthusiasm and it is a delight to read. He does acknowledge some of the issues with the movie but the focus is very much on the fandom and the fun.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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Haikyu Shoyo Hinata Nendoroid

In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi
How Not To Summon a Demon Lord Episode 11 - Saddler

And the summer anime season has come to an end. Later today I’ll have my best and worst of the season posts out so be sure to drop by and check them out. In the meantime, here are some cool posts that people have written over the past week. I hope you enjoy them an as always feel free to give a shout out to any cool anime related posts in the comments.

How Not To Summon a Demon Lord Episode 7

Mistakes Cheerio for Chesto has an interesting comparison post of How Not To Summon a Demon Lord and Overlord and discusses the use of limits in a story and how they can improve the viewing experience. It’s a fairly interesting read about the rules and settings of the two stories and how those small choice have had a big  impact on how the story plays out. Well worth the time.

Cactus Matt also has a Q&A review of How Not to Summon a Demon Lord this week. It’s a nice positive overview of he series and what it did right as well as a sensible warning for those who don’t really like too much fan service. I had a lot of fun following along with Cactus Matt’s write ups of this show week to week and his final thoughts were also really fun to check out. If you didn’t watch the show this season, this review might get you started.

Scott from Mechanical Anime Reviews has a post about nostalgia and the Bleach live action movie. Given Scott is kind of blaming (in a good way) both Raistlin and myself for suggesting he watch the movie, I’m glad he enjoyed it and reading this post was fantastic because it really captured the fun of revisiting something like Bleach. So great to read about how an anime can really stick with people. And while we’re hearing from the amazing Scott, he watched My Teen Romantic Comedy is Wrong as I Expected but found it somewhat wanting. If you want a review of SNAFU from someone who didn’t really get into it, this one is worth checking out and offers a nice counterpoint to all those positive reviews out there.

Otaku She Wrote has another great analysis and discussion of Banana Fish, this time episode 12. I continue to really enjoy following along with these posts because they pick up a lot of the episode detail and consider its purpose. It definitely gives you something to think about after watching the episode. For those watching the show, I definitely recommend following this blog and checking out these posts after watching the episode.

Jon Spencer reviews Island and shares his thoughts on the controversy surrounding ‘that’ scene, and if you’ve been online at all this season you really should know what ‘that’ scene is already. That said, it is a nice review of the anime and for those who are curious about the anime and don’t want to deal with the drama that surrounds it, this post is kind of a pleasant read.

Two Happy Cats is here this week to help all of those who have played Mystic Messenger but don’t know what to try next. They share some great mobile otome recommendations for those who really want to try something else and I love how they’ve divided this post into categories based on what you liked about Mystic Messenger. Great post to read.

Pop Culture Literary has a great OWLS post this week looking at This Boy is a Professional Wizard and Chiharu’s lack of self-care and the negative results that stem from it. It’s a really solid post and the example of Chiharu’s path is easily relatable. Well worth reading if you missed this one.

Rory Muses has an early Cells at Work series review and covers the main points of appeal the series has had this season. It is quick and to the point but comes with some great images from the anime and gives a fair impression of what you are in for if you choose to watch it and for those who are curious but haven’t tried it, this post might get you ready to watch.

Pick of the Week

This might be an incredibly biased pick, but it made me happy to see it and so I’m picking it anyway. Biblionyan and Arthifis responded to the Blog Evolution Tag that Raistlin and I cooked up awhile ago and I had an absolute blast reading their post. I really do want to thank them for taking up the challenge and I really like how this tag gives the reader a bit of insight into the writer of the blog as well as their partner. Thanks guys for taking the plunge and having a go at this tag.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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Busou Shink Original Illustration Collection Legends Vol 1

In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi

Welcome everyone to another week. As always I’ve come across some great posts that I’m really happy to share with you and hopefully you will find something great to read.

For those who haven’t yet voted, remember you’ve got a week left to vote for your best and worst for the Summer season. I’m really looking forward to the final result.

Black Cat - Train Heartnet

Lethargic Ramblings has a great discussion piece where they share their view on Magical Girl Site and why some of the criticism of the show rubbed them the wrong way. Whether you like the show or not, this is an interesting post about different perspectives when watching anime and one that I feel there is a lot to be gained from reading.

CTRL + GEEKPOD has a fun review of Wotakoi – Love is Hard for Otaku, an anime I did not get to watch when it was airing and I am still very curious about. I thoroughly enjoyed this review and it definitely made me want to check this anime out at some point though when I’m still not sure. If you are curious about the anime be sure to check out this post.

Raistlin shares his new found love of Violet Evergarden and it is always great to read a post that is overflowing with so much enthusiasm for a work. I will admit, not being to watch this when it was airing due to Netflix not releasing it in my region until it was finished meant that by the time it was available I was more or less over it and just haven’t gotten around to watching it. This post makes me want to prioritise getting back to it at some point.

Ty from Watashi wa Buchou has a great character spotlight on Midoriya from My Hero Academia this week. There’s a lot of love for the growing hero in this post and it highlights some of the changes we’ve seen in Midoriya since season one. Really fun post to read for fans of the series or for people who are curious about whether they should try it.

Kapodaco writes a post about what it means to be tryhard in anime. It’s an interesting post that explains what he means when he states a series is tryhard or trying too hard and the post kind of offers a different view on the feature I wrote a few weeks ago about not mocking shows for trying. It’s an interesting read and offers some insight into how Kapodaco views shows that just don’t land where they think they want to be.

Spastic Surgeon wrote an article about why Gun Gale Online is hard to take seriously. Its a fairly interesting look at the game mechanics and strategies used by the players (or lack of them) and why that hurts the believability of the setting. It is an interesting post and one that takes a slightly different look at the anime.

Astral Gemini has a great post about music and hype in anime. This is a fairly indepth post about the structure of music used in particular scenes in anime. There’s plenty of great examples and some solid explanation of what is happening in these songs and why they work. A different but great post to read.

Pick of the Week

Irina has an amazing post focusing on Hotaru, a one episode character from Natsume Yuujinchou, who demonstrates an amazing lesson about happiness. Admittedly, this being a Natsume post, it was always going to get my attention, however Irina has done an amazing job of capturing the feeling of watching this episode and has shared how she personally came to terms with the ideas within it. It is a beautifully written post and one well worth the read even if you’ve never seen the show.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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Mega Man Legacy Collection PS4

In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi

Welcome back to another week. We’re closing in on final episodes of the Summer Season and it has been another really busy week in the ani-blogging community. Hopefully you enjoy some of the posts below that I found while visiting some really fantastic blogs this week. Also remember that it is time to vote for your favourite show of the season as well as the show you wished you hadn’t watched in the Best and Worst of the Season Poll. The poll closes on the 30th of September with results announced soon after and the top 3 shows of the season will come back at the end of the year to battle it out for anime of the year.

blackbutler2b

Astral Gemini over in the Zodiac Room has a great post this week about Gacha Games. They look at and compare a couple of different games as well as look at strategies for maximising your rewards. There’s also just some pretty sound advice for not ending up thoroughly disappointed by realising you’ve spent too much on something. It’s a great post and one well worth reading.

Dewbond from Shallow Dives in Anime has a very sweet review of Cardcaptor Sakura. They make quite the distinction between Cardcaptors (the original dubbed version) and Cardcaptor Sakura before they begin their review, and it is kind of needed given the substantial differences between the two. This review, much like the show, is just fun to read and very nostalgic.

Black and Yellow Otaku Gamers review Kakegurui, an anime I still haven’t gotten past the first episode of. This review actually made me wonder if it was time to go back and try it again, and then I realise with how tired I am right now that probably isn’t a good idea. Still, the review covers the overall plot nicely and makes it sound quite interesting so if you haven’t checked out this anime and you don’t mind a spoiler or two, this post might make you want to watch.

Arthifis has an interesting post looking at the similarities in concept but differences in approach for Natsume Yuujinchou and Mushishi. Its an interesting post that compares two shows that on a very surface level seem fairly similar but are very different in how the audience experiences the story. Really loved reading this one.

Irina takes some time to look at the demographics that anime appeals to and those fun labels (shounen, shojo, seinen and josei) and what they actually mean. It’s an informative post and (because it’s Irina) it is also really fun to read with some great examples and asides. Well worth taking the time to check out if you haven’t already.

MoreXP shares their list of 5 anime characters who make bad decisions. Not just once, but throughout the course of their time on whatever show they are on. It is a great list with some fairly strong contenders on it and it just makes you realise how many more characters there are out there making bad decisions.

Reasons to Anime came up with 4 reasons to watch Made in Abyss. Other than the fact that Made in Abyss doesn’t end, it is a fairly great introduction and adventure and with the announcement that it will continue, there really is every reason to watch the first season if you’ve missed it. Be sure to check out this post if you are still undecided about trying it.

Artemis over on Otaku Lounge has a fantastic list of Top 5 Foreign Language OP’s. While he’s left out songs in English by native English speakers, there are still some fantastic OP’s on this list with some fairly memorable songs. Be sure to check out the list.

Jon Spencer looks at the difference between a critique and being critical in a discussion piece that is quite interesting this week and looks mainly at the focus we seem to put on posts that have a negative focus rather than ones that are positive toward something. It’s an interesting post with plenty for reviewers and analysts to consider.

Pick of the Week

Never Argue with A Fish (sound advice) had the perfect review of Record of Grancrest War this week. The series had its moments, but ultimately it wasn’t well put together and this review identifies the main issues that the series faces. Not all the issues, just the main ones. However, why this is my pick of the week is because there are some genuine golden lines in this review that perfectly capture the experience of watching and make it a joy to read. Loved reading this review and I fully recommend it even to people who know they don’t intend to watch the show.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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Black Butler Artworks

In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi

It’s been an interesting week. Super busy as is normal for this time of year but there’s been a lot of fun as well. The main highlight for me though was Raistlin and I finally launched our super secret project and revealed our new tag that we created. If you missed it be sure to check it out because it was just great fun to do. Later today (or early tomorrow depending on your time zone) I’m also hosting Average Joe from Average Joe Reviews  as they have written a guest post about colour in anime. It’s a great post and I’m really excited to share it.

As always, I’ve found some great posts this week so be sure to check out some of the content below and leave me a comment if there is a post you feel deserves a shout out. Thanks and have a great week.

nanami and tomoe 2

Lethargic Ramblings has a great post about Made in Abyss and how they connected with its sense of adventure. Definitely a good post to catch up on if you are interested in either Made in Abyss or hearing about how Leth’s own adventure has been going.

Anime Sunday talks about whether anime should influence our life and looks at some of the positive things anime has influence them to do. It is a really inspiring post and full of some fantastic anime food images (so don’t read it while hungry).

KurumiShim looks at why Deku deserves the spotlight as she examine Midoriya’s character within My Hero Academia and how he brings inspiration to others. It’s a lovely post and one that I really enjoyed reading this week.

Irina explores the limits of emperor Il’s compassion looking at the events of Yona of the Dawn. There’s some spoilers for the anime in this post, but if you’ve watched it there’s a lot of fun to be had in reading this and considering the characters and their actions.

D&A Anime Blog have a great list this week with their top 5 anime girls who are nerds. There are some very familiar and interesting faces on this list. If you like lists, anime, and all things nerdy, this one is for you.

Biblionyan has a review of the full colour edition of Attack on Titan No Regrets and it sounds like a fairly amazing read. As much as I had no intent on reading anything to do with Attack on Titan this write up kind of made me want to check out this title.

Railgunfan75 asks whether you should watch Full Metal Panic and then explains all the reasons why yes you definitely should in this post. For fans of the franchise it is a great read and for people who skipped Invisible Victory because they had never seen the original seasons, it may be the catalyst you need to go and watch the original seasons.

Pick of the Week

I had to put this top 10 list as my pick of the week. GeekOut South-West bring us an amazing list each and every week with picks from all over geek fandom (games, movies, books, anime, and anywhere else you can imagine). There’s always a great reason for their picks and the dig up some really interesting choices as well as some fan-favourites. This week they gave us the top 10 artifacts and there are some very cool choices on this list. Definitely go check it out, vote on what you want the next list to be and remember they bring you a new list every week.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi

A lot has happened in the last week, other than my catching the flu yet again (although that was fun). Most notably, I hit one of my goals for my blog and that was 10,000 views in a single month. Thanks to everyone who helped me reach the target and helped me celebrate the occasion. In fact, the celebration managed to draw more viewers to my blog than ever so the day after reaching the highest number of views in a month ever I set a new target for most number of views in a day. So a huge thank you again.

However, that is enough about me, because I like to make this post about the other amazing bloggers out there who continue to inspire me and give me plenty of great posts to read each week. Below are some of the posts that caught my eye but as always you are welcome to give a shout out to a post in the comments. If you know a blogger who wrote something awesome last week, why not give them a shout out?

Sora1

Scott from Mechanical Anime Reviews had a fantastic post last week featuring a discussion around anime humanising the non-human and it was an absolutely fantastic read. Not just because it contained both Platelets (Cells at Work) and the Fox Boy (Natsume Yuujinchou), but because it touched on an idea that has been a fundamental of story telling since forever and I absolutely loved the post.

Eumiiboo has a bit of a break down of the OP for Inu X Boku. It does contains some plot spoilers but for fans of the show it is a great read and a great look at how the characters are presented during the opening.

Arthifis uses The Lost Village to talk about a fairly personal and serious topic: Accepting Our Emotional Scars. If you happened to miss this one, or skip over it because you weren’t into The Lost Village, I definitely recommend going back and having a read because this is a fairly great post.

The Random Editor lists their favourite 5 OP’s of the Summer Season and gives some great reasons for their choices. As always, I do enjoy reading a good list and this one made me think about what OP’s I really have enjoyed this season. They then followed up with 5 anime endings from Summer and this was yet another fantastic list.

Another great list comes from Biblionyan with 5 black haired anime boys. If you want some great characters with some great reasons to like them, this list of 5 is a must read so be sure to check it out.

Kawaii Paper Pandas discusses the use of CG in anime and why Orange Animation Studios is leading the way. It’s a thoughtful post that gives a bit of background about the studio and examples of CG in anime that have both worked and not worked so well. Well worth the read.

Heyitszel continues to try to educate us all by sharing some fun facts about the city in Attack on Titan and its real world influences. As this is something I hadn’t really thought about at all, reading this post was really fun and I love how they explain and provide images to help get their point across. Great read.

Xenodude has a fantastic episode write up for Banana Fish Episode 9. Now if you don’t exist on Twitter you may have managed to avoid episode spoilers, in which case, don’t read this post. Otherwise, if you want to continue processing everything that went down, this is a great read that looks at what works well in this episode and which aspects of the show could still be improved upon.

Moe Sucks had a post on the latest My Hero Academia episode titled Childish, Petty Heroes and to be honest that kind of summed up my thoughts on the latest episode beautifully. If you want a summary of the episode that is pretty critical of the goings on, then this one will fit nicely.

Pick of the Week

Aria from the Animanga Spellbook has a great post about Phantom in the Twilight and how it is the Epitome of ‘Absurd, but Fun’. Phantom in the Twilight has been one of those odd anime that I only added to my watch list because it was supernaturally themed and I had a really small watch list for the season. The first few episodes weren’t great though there was some potential. And yet we’re now at the point where it is among my favourites for the season and it has become something I look forward to. Aria’s post does a great job explaining the flaws of the show but capturing the fun of this anime. Be sure to check it out and maybe give Phantom in the Twilight a go.

And, I’m allowed to have 2 picks of the week, because it’s my blog and all that. Besides, I had to pick this one but didn’t want to move Aria’s wonderful post. Here we have a Yuri on Ice Review from The Fullmetal Narcissist himself, @Fullmetal_Naru if you want to follow him on Twitter. This review is a lovely balance of genuine critique and praise for the fantastic Yuri on Ice and is well worth the read by fans of the anime and by newcomers alike. Be sure to check it out.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi

Welcome back to another week and as we near the end of August and are about to plunge into the final month of the season for some shows, I have to say that there are a lot of people with short watch lists meaning the number of episode reviews being published has cut right back. That said, everyone seems to have found something to watch and enjoy this season (even if it is just adorable platelets – and at the end of the season can someone please cut the show so that we just get a montage of every platelet scene because I would be forever grateful for your efforts).

As usual, I’ve found some great posts though this week seems to be very big on lists. Looking forward to seeing what people write next week and as always you are welcome to give a shout out to a post that you think needs some more attention in the comments below. I will unspam it if it gets caught by the filter.

A reminder that if you would like to write a guest post for 100 word anime you can contact me via the contact page or via a DM on Twitter and we can discuss. Looking for someone interested in posting during September so if you have an idea, let me know.

Also (and I know this introduction is getting long), August has been a great month for views on my blog and while normally I’m not all that concerned and just happy people are reading my posts, this month I’ve gotten really close to finally tipping the 10,000 views in a single month but I’m probably going to fall just short. I’d really appreciate if you could share one of my posts and help me get those few extra views I need because reaching that milestone has been a goal for quite awhile and I would be over the moon if I could reach it.

Super6

Amelia from A Girl and Her Anime shares their thoughts on Scum’s Wish in a detailed review that attempts to counter some of the more negative impressions of the anime. Given the limited accessibility of Scum’s Wish I never got to see it, but I did read the manga while the anime was airing (more because I could) and I found it interesting enough though a little melodramatic. Anyway, if you want to know what the anime does do right, this review will probably point it out for you.

Jiraiyan on Otaku Orbit did an episode review on Attack on Titan episode 5 and looks at how Eren’s character has been portrayed, as well as examining the coup and the representations of the King and other characters. It’s a short post but packs in a lot as it looks at some of the highlights from the episode.

Over on the Weeabros there is a great list this week of dynamic anime duos. I love lists and duos are always great to look at because the play between the characters is so important that it isn’t just about how the character sits individually, but how they work with the other character. Anyway, its a really fun post and well worth the read.

My Brain is Completely Empty also shared a fantastic list this week with 7 flawed characters on display. Do you have a favourite character that’s a little bit broken or emotionally scarred? It’s a great list with some great reasons for the picks.

Arthifis has a top 15 Final Fantasy list (so gaming rather than anime – close enough). As with all good lists this one comes with some insight into why particular titles have been put above or below others giving some insight into Arthifis as well as allowing us all to reminisce over Final Fantasy. Very fun post.

Biblionyan has a look at Calamity of Zombie Girl in a review and their impression was about as good as mine was after watching that train wreck of a movie. Seriously, the best thing about Calamity of a Zombie Girl has been reading blog posts about it. There are a few that try to justify it as a satire but for the most part, people will be pointing out the fairly terrible effort at anything. If you want to save yourself some time and read something fun rather than watching a terrible movie, check out Biblionyan’s review.

Amelia from A Girl and Her Anime has a review of How to Raise a Mummy. It is short and to the point, but there isn’t a great deal to say about the show. If you were on the fence about whether this is something you would enjoy or not, you should get a good understanding of what to expect from this review.

And Remy Fool is back asking the difficult questions. This week they look at whether explicitness defines Yuri as a genre. If you want a great post full of examples and then some interesting comments on the topic to read, this is one to definitely check out.

Pick of the Week

Cactus Matt from Anime Q&A has a fairly interesting take on episode 7 of Cells at Work. Now the cancer episode was interesting for a number of reasons, but this write up looks at the broader social implications of the messaging (that and adorable platelets so not a lot to complain about). If you are watching the show or interested in it, this is a great review to read.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi
Sunday Without God

I’m going to apologise to most of my picks this week given I’ve had one of those really stressful and tiring weeks so even though I loved some of the posts below, they haven’t been given much of a write up or sales pitch for people to go read them because I just lacked the energy. That said, there are some amazing posts in the links below that have been written by our fellow ani-bloggers and they are all worth the read, so if you’ve got some time be sure to check them out.

Just a reminder though that if you want to ask me a question for the Inquiring Minds series I’ve set up a new survey (issues with the old one). Hopefully this one will allow you to take it more than once so if you have a second question you should be able to take the survey again, or if you make a mistake.

Sunday Without God

If you want to check out a massive collaboration effort about a massive anime, Scott, Shoujo and Leth joined forces to take on Dragon Ball. Here are the links to part 1, part 2, and part 3 in case you somehow missed this one coming out this week.

Meanwhile Aria shares their top 5 potions to season your posts with magic, or just some good solid advice for your blog posts that it is always helpful to be reminded about. Bloggers helping bloggers, always love to see it.

Zainou has a post about Touch and the Perfect Portrayal of Death. I haven’t seen the story in question but I really liked reading this post and the description of how the story dealt with this subject matter. Clearly some spoilers to be found in the post, but an interesting read.

Thero shares a top 5 list of Daedric Princes from the Elder Scrolls (so no anime here but gaming and a great list). As a very big fan of the Elder Scrolls and having enjoyed quite a few moments with these characters, it was great to see this list and the reasons for their inclusion.

AniB Productions shares a review of Erased. While this one was talked about a lot while airing it is one of those shows that seemed to go quiet fairly quickly after it was done, so it is great to catch a new review of it and hear people talking about the show. If you missed Erased when it was out, you might want to check out this review and it might convince you to try the show.

Grimm Girl shares another husband reacts post, this time to Ouran High School Host Club. If you want to read the reaction of someone who hasn’t watched a huge amount of anime being exposed to some of the insanity that is Ouran, you will be highly entertained.

Beneath the Tangles has an interesting look at the characters and their choices in episode 41 of Attack on Titan. As I said in my own review of the episode, this is probably one of the more interesting episodes from a narrative point of view that this series has given us for awhile. Beneath the Tangles looks at how the characters are responding to the situation presented and the choices they are making and it was a great post to read.

Keiko shares three things they like about Natsume Yuujinchou. Okay, its a Natsume post so I was probably going to share it regardless, but this one really does hit three great reasons to watch it. Plus, it is a great reason to remember all the great characters that Natsume has offered us over the seasons.

Yuu’s Sanctuary has a review of 5 Centimeters Per Second which is a film I still haven’t actually seen but probably should at some point. Anyway, this is a great write up focusing on the characters, themes and structure of the film and it made me want to move this up on my future watch list.

Finally, The Nerd Book shared their thoughts on the most recent episode (episode 7) of How Not To Summon a Demon Lord. This write up doesn’t shy way from the content of the series but looks at what is working and what isn’t in a fairly matter of fact way and I probably like this write up because it comes to the same conclusion I have. Even when the show does things I don’t like, there’s still plenty of reasons to come back and watch more of it.

Pick of the Week

Mel in Anime Land discusses ships and shipping culture as part of fandom. This is something that probably needs more discussion as people taking ships too seriously does lead to some less than pleasant encounters online sometimes and certainly when it leads to death threats and other things someone needs to call this behaviour out. Definitely a post worth visiting.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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In Case You Missed It

Posted on by Karandi
Iron Blooded Orphans Episode 46

This week saw a lot of shows dropped from my viewing line up, but despite the slow anime season there are still bloggers putting out some quality posts. The love of anime is strong out there and the passion people put into some of their posts is extraordinary. As normal I’ve gathered some posts that caught my eye in the list below but there are plenty of other great posts out there. If you want to give a post a shout out, feel free in the comments below.

Iron Blooded Orphans Episode 30

Reasons To Anime gives us 5 Reasons To Watch Humanity Has Declined. I will admit, this is an interesting anime with some really fun concepts in it. Admittedly, by the end of the series I was a little fatigued by it, but there is certainly something appealing about the mix of relatively dark ideas about the end of humanity and the general brightness and optimism of most episodes. Anyway, if you want 5 reasons to watch it you should check out this post.

Luminous Mongoose discusses different types of hand holding and this is a super cute post (okay, only if you are happy when characters finally reach out and hold hands but I thought it was cute). It nicely looks at the different ways characters can hold hands and what it might mean. Very fun post to check out.

Yuri Nation looks at Fire X Ice couples in yuri and discusses the roles the characters play and how the dynamic between the two works. There are some great example couples pictured throughout the post so if you want to learn a bit more about yuri and this type of couple then this is a nice post to get you started.

Rodrovich revisited Steins;Gate and wrote their impressions of it from a rewatch perspective. The original Steins;Gate is definitely a show that benefits from a rewatch because there are plenty of points you just will not pay attention to the first time because you don’t really know why they are significant. It makes a rewatch of it very satisfying. Anyway, this is a post worth checking out if you are curious about Steins;Gate or if you’ve watched it once and are wondering whether to give it a second go. Or even if you just like reading about Steins;Gate.

Arthifis looks at how Dynamic Chord could be improved and the suggestions put forward make a lot of sense and are clearly explained. I’ve never watched the original anime so can’t comment on whether or not it is horrible, but to be honest, this post makes it clear that there are some issues and some changes that might help it along (or make it ‘bearable to watch’ as Arthifis puts it.

Schizoidmouse has a comparison discussion of the two sports anime of the season, Hanebado and Harukana Receive. Given I didn’t really take to either in the first episode I’m not really up for the conversation, but there’s no denying that most viewers prefer one over the other and yet the community seems pretty evenly split on which one is better (guess it depends what they are looking for). Anyway, its a great post if you want to join in the conversation about it.

The Lost Voice shared an incredibly touching short film they came across and if you missed the post you should go check it out and watch the film. I’m not going to tell you anything more because you really do need to just watch it. For 4+ minutes, it is pretty well done. I love it when people share things that are awesome.

Cactus Matt compares the anime and the manga versions of Shomin Sample to determine which is better and he does a nice break down of the positives and failings of both before drawing a conclusion. I had little interest in the anime of this one and no interest in the manga, yet I still found this post to be a pretty fun read.

Irina takes the time to explain what our top 5 lists say about us. This is a pretty amusing read and some of her ‘joke’ top 5 titles are pretty amusing. Though part of me really wants this list to be a thing: Top 5 characters who can’t use chopsticks and are afraid of squirrels. I’m not sure we’d find five of them, but seriously, someone make this list real.

Ideas Without End discusses Gankutsuou, a futuristic retelling of Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve had this one on my watch list forever and still haven’t actually watched it, but after reading this post I’ve now added it to my queue on Crunchyroll and I fully intend to watch it relatively soon. Not so much a review, this post is more of a discussion around the nature of the adaptation and how other futuristic stories have borrowed ideas from times past. It i an interesting post and one that made me fairly interested in the anime.

Pick of the Week

Scott from Mechanical Anime Reviews opens a discussion about why ‘we can’t have a big three anymore‘ looking at the fact that while the big 3 were a thing, that isn’t the way people produce or consume anime anymore. What I think I really liked about this post was it didn’t seem to be lamenting this, or mocking what was done in the past, it was merely reflective of the situation then and now and looking at how and why things changed. Great opening post for a discussion so if you missed it hop on over and check it out.

My Stuff

And that was my week, in case you missed it.

Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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Consider supporting the blog by:

Patreon2
Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com