CoolIcedTea's Blog

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.

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.

Anime Relations: Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki

Family. To many, it's the most important thing you can ever have. The bonds you have with your siblings, parents or even children are one that cannot be formed overnight. The last anime I watched with a family theme happened to be Clannad, at least that's the last I remember. Watching such a show can be quite the emotional ride.

Wolf children portrays a single mother, Hana, who is left to raise children that are different from others by herself. To this moment, I can't help but think that her first thought when she saw a werewolf was to "tap that thing". Wolf children is sort of like a coming-of-age story where we see the children growing up and facing the obstacles. Seeing the villagers help one another has a certain warmth to it. One of the funnier moments in the movie was Hana can't decide whether to visit a pediatrician or a vet. I can't help but expect a sad ending that could make me cry but instead I got sort of a happy ending, which was not so bad either. Respect to single mothers who are making ends meet.

Anime Relations: Hibike! Euphonium

It has been two days since I spent New Years Eve by listening to anime openings. It's weird, I don't feel any different even though the earth made a full revolution around the sun. I guess this feeling is inevitable when you get older.

I've been thinking about when was the last time I was really excited for a show that I couldn't sleep thinking I should continue watching it deadass in the middle of the night. And it was Teasing Takagi-san about 3 months ago. Hibike! Euphonium is also my first show of the year. And my god, what a cute show. I always liked the way Kyoto Animation draws their characters. Almost a cross between Chibi-like and realistic. I also like the way that female character's knees are pointed inwards a little. It's so cute. Not sure about that in real life though. And to top it off, there is that slight tinge of Yuri as the cherry. And with the Spring 2024 release of the third season, it makes it even better.

Honestly, I've thought about if I watched this earlier, I might join my school's wind orchestra. I kind of am interested in it now. Even if it isn't because of this show, I have always been interested in music and being able to play a brass or woodwind instrument. If I can choose again maybe I would. What a way to start a year, but I still can't get myself to relax. These 3 months are the period of many exams, and a very (most) important one at that. I just want this to be over.

Anime Relations: Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari Season 3, Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season, Shangri-La Frontier: Kusoge Hunter, Kamige ni Idoman to su, Undead Unluck, Keikenzumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Otsukiai suru Hanashi., Sousou no Frieren, Spy x Family Season 2, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! 2nd Season, Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo, Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku-hen, Dr. Stone: New World Part 2

2023 has gone by so fast yet so slow at the same time. And with that comes the final batch of seasonal anime this year. Fall 2023 has been a pretty good season so far compared to the others I must say.

Tokyo Revengers Season 2 Part 2
Chills. I got chills. Every moment during its 12-episode run I get chills. Not the kind you get when you witness something cool, but the kind where you are exposed to cringe. I basically just skimmed through entire episodes in 5 minutes or less. I'll save the rest of my rant for the final season. (If it is going to have one)

Our Dating Story
I actually had higher expectations for this when I first saw the poster. But after watching episode 1 it was a bummer. But that doesn't make it a bad show. The show still had its qualities. While it is generic romcom with subpar animation it is still a good show to watch and get the occasional every once in a while.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3
You know how the last season was a total letdown? This one was the biggest surprise for me. I was watching this out of obligation because I started it. Then "BAM!" comes the first episode. Not just the first episode but the first few episodes. It really improved on the abomination that is last season.

Shangri-La Frontier
This has not ended yet and will be carried through the next season. So far looking good.

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2
As always, quite the banger. I've always had a feeling that if I understand Japanese very well or watched it in dub I will cringe so hard. This show is every teenagers/mans dream of power fantasy. Chuuni main character? Check. Dark setting? Check. Moody music? (E.g. Moonlight sonata plays every now and then on the piano) Check. Actually funny comedy? Check. It does it so well. The comedy hits you in places you would never expect. Just a fun show overall. Last but not least,

The frenzy has begun.
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You
This is the pinnacle of harem. Top tier comedy. My man has infinite rizz. Getting girls everywhere including THE MOM. It also has that perfect blend of romance despite it being parody and comedy focused. It takes the common tropes of romcom anime and makes fun of them. Ep 12s ending is godly. I heard the manga hit 20+ girls and the author has plans to get to the full 100 which I am waiting for. I really hope this anime gets a full adaptation.

Undead Unluck
TBA

Dr. Stone New World Part 2
Hype for the next season

The Apothecary Diaries
I first didn't plan to watch this when the season started. It was through recommendations that I started watching this halfway in. And it was worth it. About halfway in it turned into a detective show, which I'm not complaining about.

At this point, I've run out of things to say for the rest of it so I'm going to just say they're good.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2
Extra notes: Despite the controversy surrounding Mappa and it's work conditions, you can't deny the animators did one hell of a job with this.

Frieren
A fantasy show but it does not follow the tropes.

Spy x Family Season 2

What a good way to end the year with, 2023 has been a ride for both anime and my life. I hope for great things in the coming years. I will not stop watching anime till I die.

Anime Relations: Shingeki no Kyojin, Shingeki no Kyojin OVA, Shingeki no Kyojin Season 2, Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou, Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3, Shingeki no Kyojin: Lost Girls, Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2, Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season, Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season Part 2, Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season - Kanketsu-hen

Today is a monumental day for anime. It actually ended. A story (anime) that has been told for 10 years. Today was also the day I find out that one of the soundtracks was a remix of Mozart's requiem. Not to brag, but I'm proud to say I have been here since the beginning, and it feels strange. Is this what people who have watched Evangelion from the 1995 series until the end of the rebuilds feel like?

First of all, thank you to Hajime Isayama for this amazing series. For his first work, it was nothing short of impressive. Second, thank you Studio Wit for laying out a strong foundation for the series. And lastly, thank you Mappa for doing an amazing adaptation for the rest of it. They have so many projects at once, are the employees at Mappa doing okay?

The masterpiece that is Attack on Titan is something that you need to see if you are an anime fan. I can find no words in my limited vocabulary to describe the things I'm feeling right now.

I still remember when I watched the first episode many years ago. At that time, anime on Youtube was a thing. Is was not as widely known as it is now but it was still talked about in the community. A giant just popping out of a wall was legit scary, but I liked it. After I finished the last episode, I still wonder what was so controversial about the ending. I think it was nice, the manga readers are just overreacting. Sure, it has plot holes, but I'm satisfied. Seeing towering skyscrapers getting built as time moves on, and eventually more war and leading to it getting nuked was surreal. Even after all that happened, the conflict never ends.

This is arguably storytelling and writing at its best. The buildup and suspense were real. Everything just makes more sense as you go on. There are also OVA's on some characters backstories and a junior high spin-off, it was fun to watch. Recommended to everyone.

Also, their history books must have been a wild ride. I mean, I would totally get invested if it was real.