March 31st, 2025
This is NOT quite about anime
Anime Relations: Death Note, Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch, Nodame Cantabile, Bakemonogatari, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei, Steins;Gate, Kingdom, Gundam Build Fighters, Grand Blue, Dr. Stone
These past 4 months or so has been quite underwhelming for me. I was simply just doing something akin to wasting away. My routine during those times consists of eating, anime, taking motorbike and car lessons, YouTube, and sleep. Even though I had the time, I actually did not watch more anime than when I was in school. I spent most of my anime watching time rewatching previous titles like Steins Gate, Code Geass, Death Note, Monogatari, some of the greats. I did this to see how I felt about these shows now. Unsurprisingly, it did not change much, probably because of nostalgia. It's also because I took a longer time deciding which anime to watch. I would be lying if I said I did not feel like I have been running out of good shows to watch, I try to keep an open mind.
This is the part where I cut back on my anime screentime, because the next season of my life starts this week (university). This time, I would like to spend more time enriching myself and going outdoors, and sort of soul-search. With or without other people is fine. I honestly don't know what is in store for me. But even so, I want to face it earnestly. Like in Tatami Galaxy, it would not do me better to chase after that rose-coloured campus life, it should be multi-coloured instead. It's incredible how quickly everything is passing by. Me watching Evangelion on my dad's Netflix account feels like it just happened last month. It is also incredible to even imagine that I used to complete 40 titles one month in 2022.
It was hard to think that I was at the peak of my depression and anxiety (so far) just 4 years ago (I was not being emo I swear). I truly think that anime played a part in me staying alive. And I am not saying that for edgy purposes. I've come a long way since that time. I had to sacrifice studying for anime, but I do not regret it one bit. I did end up graduating after all. I owe a some of my interests to anime too. Grand Blue introduced me to the world of scuba diving, got horrible sunburns on my feet but I loved it. Because of Nodame Cantabile, I tried harder on the piano. Initial D made me realize I actually like driving manual. Not an interest, but Kingdom taught me that Chinese history is actually kind of fire. As opposed to what the chinese history textbooks teach (My chinese is just bad, I admit).
The days where self-affirmation and constant berating of myself during my monologue will most likely last a while longer. Even my jealousy of peers, taking what I have for granted. That is the most privileged I can be. Everyone has a tiny bit of imposter syndrome in them, even to this day I do not think that I have anything I am particularly good at, no talents, nothing. It's like a "jack of all trades" situation but not quite. Theres nothing I can do that most other people can't. Which sucks but that's fine, I'm always open to learn something mildly interesting. Even if it's surface level knowledge of how things work from Dr. Stone.
I will never leave anime, it's too beautiful.
Posted by CoolIcedTea | Mar 31, 6:37 AM | 0 comments
March 2nd, 2025
My biggest dissapointment yet
Anime Relations: Prison School
The first paragraph are self-expositions, feel free to skip.
I still remember one week ago, when I was plagued with boredom, passing my mundane days doing nothing but stare at pixels. While searching through MAL for anime and manga recommendations (which in this case I always judge a book by its cover), I recalled finishing an anime called Prison School some years ago. It was funny as shit, I quite liked it. It was also then I entertained the idea of starting the manga, it shouldn't be as bad as people make it out to be, right? With the mindset of "just do it", I opened the first chapter. As hours passed, filled with laughter, I enjoyed every panel of it. To me, the comedy is catching up to Grand Blue, but hornier. So, the question naturally came to me, why does it have a low rating? Eventually, it hit me.
I genuinely loved everything up until the sports festival arc, at that point it felt like nothing much happens with that arc, but I still enjoyed it. As I approached the ending, I had a bad feeling. I prayed for the ending not to be bad as people had said. That feeling lasted from the 260th chapter right until the second last. It makes for a good ending; I am looking forward to the after story.
But no, everything you have felt for the manga will come crumbling down. 200+ chapters of buildup and progress between characters relationships, only to have your dick get punched in the final chapter. Everything just... evaporated. It was as if the manga itself had not existed at all. 200+ chapters of hard laughter, expectations built up, feeling for the characters, only to disappear in what I call lazy writing. If it had ended one chapter early, I would've, PEOPLE would've, been satisfied. But alas, life will not go the way as expected.
Signed, a disappointed guy who feels like a clown.
I still remember one week ago, when I was plagued with boredom, passing my mundane days doing nothing but stare at pixels. While searching through MAL for anime and manga recommendations (which in this case I always judge a book by its cover), I recalled finishing an anime called Prison School some years ago. It was funny as shit, I quite liked it. It was also then I entertained the idea of starting the manga, it shouldn't be as bad as people make it out to be, right? With the mindset of "just do it", I opened the first chapter. As hours passed, filled with laughter, I enjoyed every panel of it. To me, the comedy is catching up to Grand Blue, but hornier. So, the question naturally came to me, why does it have a low rating? Eventually, it hit me.
I genuinely loved everything up until the sports festival arc, at that point it felt like nothing much happens with that arc, but I still enjoyed it. As I approached the ending, I had a bad feeling. I prayed for the ending not to be bad as people had said. That feeling lasted from the 260th chapter right until the second last. It makes for a good ending; I am looking forward to the after story.
But no, everything you have felt for the manga will come crumbling down. 200+ chapters of buildup and progress between characters relationships, only to have your dick get punched in the final chapter. Everything just... evaporated. It was as if the manga itself had not existed at all. 200+ chapters of hard laughter, expectations built up, feeling for the characters, only to disappear in what I call lazy writing. If it had ended one chapter early, I would've, PEOPLE would've, been satisfied. But alas, life will not go the way as expected.
Signed, a disappointed guy who feels like a clown.
Posted by CoolIcedTea | Mar 2, 3:22 AM | 0 comments
December 10th, 2024
Highschool romance is beyond me
Anime Relations: Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen
It has been almost 4 months since my last entry, during that time, I prepared for my A-levels (equivalent), took the exam, and graduated. Then comes two months of waiting for the results before further studies, what else can I do besides finding a part-time job? Of course, it's reading a manga that I have put off for a while.
The only downside I would say about Kaguya-sama is that sometimes the dialogue in the speech bubbles can be too long, at which point I skimmed over what was said. I understood it well, but it still feels like I speedran it.
Being a seinen, the comedy utilised is much more colourful than a shounen romcom, which you don't see often. I don't know about the original Japanese version, but the english translators did a splendid job translating as they were using modern slang and such, which again, you don't see much.
Among all, the author did an amazing job with the ending. It was long enough that it gave me enough closure that doesn't feel abrupt. There were character developments for most of the cast too, main or side. It was one of the mangas that made me feel completely satisfied.
I realised I used the first paragraph for self-exposition instead of animanga stuff, but who reads this anyways.
I really want to play apex on pc.
The only downside I would say about Kaguya-sama is that sometimes the dialogue in the speech bubbles can be too long, at which point I skimmed over what was said. I understood it well, but it still feels like I speedran it.
Being a seinen, the comedy utilised is much more colourful than a shounen romcom, which you don't see often. I don't know about the original Japanese version, but the english translators did a splendid job translating as they were using modern slang and such, which again, you don't see much.
Among all, the author did an amazing job with the ending. It was long enough that it gave me enough closure that doesn't feel abrupt. There were character developments for most of the cast too, main or side. It was one of the mangas that made me feel completely satisfied.
I realised I used the first paragraph for self-exposition instead of animanga stuff, but who reads this anyways.
I really want to play apex on pc.
Posted by CoolIcedTea | Dec 10, 2024 7:04 AM | 1 comments
August 27th, 2024
Why can't I select the manga option?
Anime Relations: Inu ni Nattara Suki na Hito ni Hirowareta.
Make no mistake, I am not into whatever shit this manga portrays. If you had seen my scores for the manga, I gave it the second highest number out of 10. Why, you ask? I gave it a 9 not because of the zoophilia, but because it of superior writing. How did it even get serialized in the first place?
I have not laughed as hard as I did in a long time. The way the MC solves problems can be described as "smart as hell" and the art is not mid. I have had my share of degeneracy before but not to this level. It can't even be compared.
Long story short, this manga is funny as shit. Highly recommended.
I swear I only liked it because it is funny.
Farewell for now, anti-rizzlers
I have not laughed as hard as I did in a long time. The way the MC solves problems can be described as "smart as hell" and the art is not mid. I have had my share of degeneracy before but not to this level. It can't even be compared.
Long story short, this manga is funny as shit. Highly recommended.
I swear I only liked it because it is funny.
Farewell for now, anti-rizzlers
Posted by CoolIcedTea | Aug 27, 2024 7:57 AM | 0 comments
April 12th, 2024
Potato chips are kinda nice
Anime Relations: Death Note
On this week of holidays, I decided to make the decision of rewatching one of my favourite shows --- Death Note. I forgot how many years it has been since I first watched it. I don't think Death Note was my first anime, but it was definitely one of the first. This was when you can watch anime in three parts on Youtube. Good times. After first watching the dub then the sub, I can't help but like the dub a little better because of the infamous potato chip line.
Even after all these years, my opinion of the show has not changed one bit. Being a little older, I can see that Light was just a psychopath, but even so, I still wanted him to win. While his sense of justice and ideology is for the good of the people, the methods he takes to reach it may be a little unforgiving for some. It all depends on perspective. And, the only thing I dislike is the second part. They could've end it with the first part and I will be satisfied.
Another thing is in the last season of Barakamon, where they showed a manga's process to being serialized, it gave us a glimpse of what Death Note could've been. At least that's my guess. With them having the same author and all. In the end, it is still a masterpiece to me.
Even after all these years, my opinion of the show has not changed one bit. Being a little older, I can see that Light was just a psychopath, but even so, I still wanted him to win. While his sense of justice and ideology is for the good of the people, the methods he takes to reach it may be a little unforgiving for some. It all depends on perspective. And, the only thing I dislike is the second part. They could've end it with the first part and I will be satisfied.
Another thing is in the last season of Barakamon, where they showed a manga's process to being serialized, it gave us a glimpse of what Death Note could've been. At least that's my guess. With them having the same author and all. In the end, it is still a masterpiece to me.
Posted by CoolIcedTea | Apr 12, 2024 4:42 AM | 0 comments
March 6th, 2024
My life is yet at another turning point
Anime Relations: Yosuga no Sora
Behold, Yosuga no Sora. Whether you like it or not, this is what the pinnacle of drama looks like. My life has been changed in the last 12 episodes of this. Nobody can create a story something that surpasses the epitome of storytelling. But does that mean Yosuga no Sora can beat Code Geass in terms of that? Of course not, but it definitely does bring something to the medium.
A few years back I gave this show a shot, it was a miss, frankly. I ended up dropping it, like the ignorant little brat I was. Three days ago I decided to do the life changing decision to rewatch this. I was wrong, so wrong, and my god was it beautiful. The last three episodes were peak Yosuga no Sora. It would not be the same without them. At the height of this show at episode 11, when the twins were doing the deed and one of them forgot his cellphone at class, I already knew what was going to happen. I was bracing myself holding my hands on my head, and then it delivered. This episode was also unironically the best suspense I've watched. Nothing could better prepare me for the moment. The post credits skits with the maid are a wonderful dessert to pair with the main course. Like a Mcflurry to my double cheeseburger.
Besides that, I was laughing like a goddamn lunatic throughout the entire season. They really should add a comedy tag for it. The scene where the brother literally locked eyes with his sister and still continued thrusting on is genius writing. Of all the years and anime I've been watching leads to this moment. That soundtrack? Absolute fire. The people that say they hate Yosuga no Sora while ending up watching the entirety of it are nothing but hypocrites. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE, THIS IS THE MOST HEARTFELT DRAMA/ROMANCE OF THE CENTURY. WE WILL NEVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER AGAIN. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Edit: I apologize for my rant. I was full of emotions while writing this.
A few years back I gave this show a shot, it was a miss, frankly. I ended up dropping it, like the ignorant little brat I was. Three days ago I decided to do the life changing decision to rewatch this. I was wrong, so wrong, and my god was it beautiful. The last three episodes were peak Yosuga no Sora. It would not be the same without them. At the height of this show at episode 11, when the twins were doing the deed and one of them forgot his cellphone at class, I already knew what was going to happen. I was bracing myself holding my hands on my head, and then it delivered. This episode was also unironically the best suspense I've watched. Nothing could better prepare me for the moment. The post credits skits with the maid are a wonderful dessert to pair with the main course. Like a Mcflurry to my double cheeseburger.
Besides that, I was laughing like a goddamn lunatic throughout the entire season. They really should add a comedy tag for it. The scene where the brother literally locked eyes with his sister and still continued thrusting on is genius writing. Of all the years and anime I've been watching leads to this moment. That soundtrack? Absolute fire. The people that say they hate Yosuga no Sora while ending up watching the entirety of it are nothing but hypocrites. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE, THIS IS THE MOST HEARTFELT DRAMA/ROMANCE OF THE CENTURY. WE WILL NEVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER AGAIN. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Edit: I apologize for my rant. I was full of emotions while writing this.
Posted by CoolIcedTea | Mar 6, 2024 12:31 AM | 0 comments