AzureEclipse's Anime List | AzureEclipse's Manga List

AzureEclipse's Profile

I've found K-On to be a fantastic light-hearted story with a refreshing lack of drama. I think the reason it's stood out so much for me this season is that the carefree aesthetic of the show is really quite refreshing. With other hard-hitting drama shows like Eden of the East are building tension and suspense through the whole episode, K-On gives an opposite approach, and really doesn't push any sort of seriousness on the viewer.

Ignoring the parameter of anime, even in American television shows these days, it seems like everything is over-dramatized and so many inconsequential scenarios are built up to be a big deal. In K-On, nothing is a big deal - it's seriously just a half-hour spot of relaxing, fun enjoyment. This is the charm of K-On for me.

If you're looking for excitement on a Gurren-Laggan-esque plane, K-On is not going to give it to you. If you're looking for a panty-shot every other frame and an outlet to swoon over scantily clad girls, then K-On isn't going to give it to you (despite the entire cast being female, all of whom are absolutely adorable).

K-On is by no means a jaw-dropper, but there is a certain calm aesthetic about that I've never really seen in a show before. It feels good to watch a group of best friends getting along and playing music (or more often, eating pastries and drinking tea), so if you're looking for an easy-to-watch show with no hidden, analyzable motifs that simply exists to put a smile on your face, I couldn't recommend anything more highly than K-On. read more

FLCL is as close to a piece of literature as you're ever going to get with an anime series. Fast paced as it may be, the story beautifully presents a theme of growing into maturity, and accompanies it with stunning visuals I've yet to see surpassed. Many comments have been made on how plot is very difficult to follow due to both its speed, and also because of all the symbols, motifs, and dialogue that doesn't reveal its meaning until the very end. Never in any anime have I seen foil characters like Amarao and Ninamori played as such a beautiful literary supplement to the main character Naota's journey into adulthood. To me, this series is the perfect balance of seriousness and humour. It makes you laugh, it makes you think, it pumps you up, its aesthetics impress you, it tells an eloquent story with a great mixture of science fiction and real life, it does everything a good story should do. Add to the mixture a soundtrack comprised almost entirely of music by The Pillows, and you have yourself and incredible piece of film work.

I highly recommend watching this series multiple times (it is short enough for sure - about the length of a movie all together). Each time I watch it, I start to pick up more subtleties, like pieces of foreshadowing dialogue, thematic development between characters and their foils, and witty humour. The director's commentary is also extremely insightful to the themes of the story, and I would definitely spend time watching that as well.

Most importantly, I can't stress enough to not be quick to judge this work. If you don't understand everything (and you undoubtedly won't after the first viewing), it certainly does not mean FLCL is "random" or "plotless". It is in my opinion WELL worth a second and third watch in order to pick up as much as you can.

I can't sing enough praise about FLCL. It holds a dear place in my heart, and I hope everyone that reads this can find a great enjoyment in it as well. read more