October 31st, 2020
How To Learn Japanese Using Visual Novels
Anime Relations: Princess Connect! Re:Dive
TOOLS (just DL for now):
Waterfox CLASSIC (NOT the standard version)
-> https://www.waterfox.net/download/ (SCROLL DOWN FOR CLASSIC)
(This is where Japanese text from the VN will be displayed and be available to mouseover.)
Textractor
-> https://github.com/Artikash/Textractor/releases (.EXE SETUP FILE)
(It extracts text.)
Horizontal and Vertical text display .html files
-> https://mega.nz/file/QV9GzD5S#gi0-DZy7oUfYZcrfzrWCdFXtLIVZbOFDsIgRCBb2QXI
-> https://mega.nz/file/URUV2DCJ#Jki8-2QjBHqLY_mzx5Tu2V3uObpF0nOykP-GdOiiYMQ
(These are loaded in to Waterfox and allow the hooked text from the VN to be displayed)
Waterfox add-ons
-> https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/clipboard-inserter/
(This automatically pastes whatever is on your clipboard in to your browser window. It does this once, whenever something new is copied to clipboard.)
-> http://rikaisama.sourceforge.net/
(This add-on enables instant access to a dictionary with pronunciation info and English definitions of whatever JP text you mouseover in the browser window.)
Locale Emulator
-> https://github.com/xupefei/Locale-Emulator/releases
(This allows you to launch Japanese programs as if your PC were Japanese. Yes, PCs have nationalities. I was surprised too.)
A Visual Novel
Check out this link for a list of good VN to learn from:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KnyyDt7jimEz-dgeMSKymRaT2r3QKBPm9AzqZ6oUWAs/pub
Though tbh some of the ones listed shouldn't be there. DO NOT play Bladr Sky or Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi unless you are already quite advanced in your ability. Seriously. They are classics and should be saved to enjoy them properly. Also, Baldr Sky is far too long considering the pace you'll be going at.
I recommend Stargazer because it is free, short, and simple:
http://rainbowdimension.jp/stargazer.html
In general, especially early on, you want to choose something that is both,
-Short
-Everyday in setting (i.e. NOT fantasy, supernatural, sci-fi, involving magic, or set in the past)
SET UP:
1. Waterfox can be installed from the set-up file as standard. Add the exe to your taskbar.
2. Open Waterfox. Go to add-on settings. Click the cog to add an add-on from a file. Install both the Waterfox add-ons you DL'd in this fashion.
3. Go to Waterfox general settings. Drag the "horizontal text" html file in to the "Home Page" field. This means you won't have to launch the html page every time you open Waterfox. Note that I have never needed to use the vertical text file. I'm not even sure if it is suppose to display vertically or hook vertical text or what. But apparently it's good to have...
4. Restart Waterfox. You now need to install dictionaries for Rikaisama. Go to add-on settings and go to the options for Rikaisama. There is A LOT you can do with this tool. For now we are just going to do a couple things. But it's worth exploring the other options at some point. Anyway, go to the dictionaries tab. Make sure "show pitch accent" box is checked. Go to the Rikaisama website and make sure you understand how the pitch accent numbering system works. If you don't know how pitch accent itself works, look it up. It's important.
[This section of the guide is unfinished because I could not confirm exactly how Rikaisama comes packaged. I had different experiences on different systems (desktop and laptop). In any case, the goal is to make sure the dictionaries tab in Rikaisama options has at least "kanji" and "Japanese-English" listed. You can click the "more" button on the right to go to a page with dictionaries listed. I would recommend adding the "Japanese Names" dictionaries if you can (I had issues; it's not important either way). Feedback would be appreciated as to others' experience.]
5. Install Textractor from the set-up file as standard. Go to the folder for it (I believe it installs to desktop by default). You'll see two versions. x64 and x86. Which version you need depends on the VN. You'll quickly find out which is the right one when you try to use it so don't worry about that for now.
You will want to do the following for both "Textractor.exe" files (one in each x86/x64 folder). Right click the exe and go to properties -> compatibility -> check "run this program as an administrator" -> Hit OK. Run the file. Several windows will open. Go to the main window and click "extensions" in the bottom left. Select and hit delete on "regex filter", "Bing translate", and "extra window", one at a time.
6. Go to where you downloaded Locale Emulator. Now, wherever this file is when you install the program from the exe inside, you MUST keep the folder in that place. I recommend moving the folder somewhere it won't be a bother. Don't put it in program files. Once you're happy where you have it, run the LEInstaller exe. Once it's installed you will be able to right click any program and run it as if your PC were Japanese. I suggest always running as admin to avoid common issues.
Now, for every visual novel you play using this method, you are going to want to create a special exe which automatically loads the VN through Locale Emulator. To do this, find the exe that launches the game. Right click -> Locale Emulator -> Run with Application Profile -> Check "run as an admin" -> click "create shortcut". You will now have a shortcut on your desktop that runs the game as admin, as though your PC were Japanese.
You're done with set up! Kind of. There are a number of small niggles and issues which can come up. Message me for help and will do so if I can. One of the common issues is getting the game window size / resolution right. With Stargazer for example, the window is incredibly small on my screen, and with no options in game to fix it, I had to change my screen resolution every time I played it. No biggie really. The window size was fine on my laptop though, so your experience may vary.
PROCESS
1. Open Waterfox. Form the menu, select "New Non-e10s Window". Close the first window. Turn on Rikaisama and Clipboard inserter. Where you put the window and how big you have it is up to you. Dragging it to the right side of the screen so it attaches and then reducing width by dragging the left border is what I do most of the time. This allows me to have the game window on the left and the waterfox window on the right. But you do you.
2. Open your game.
3. Open textractor. Hit "attach to game". Select the game process. Here's where it can get tricky. Textractor is extremely good, and most of the time it's simple. When you start the VN, there are certain data strings which can be read by Textractor. You want to find the data string which has the Japanese text that makes up the actual content of the VN. The stuff you want to read. To make Textractor "see" this string, you need to start the VN and get the first line of text to display. After that, you want to go to the Textractor window, and click the long drop-down box at the top. You'll see a list. You need to find the right string from that list. You'll know when it's the right one because the text in the main part of the Textractor window will match the text in the VN. The problem comes when the text doesn't match quite right, or not at all. Troubleshooting this is beyond the scope of this guide. I highly recommend checking out this video if you are having trouble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eecEOacF6mw&list=PLo_T66pcugdjFyQ8pmEwLq5hx8cFOrWVz
(btw when you find the right string, it won't copy that over to your clipboard first time, only when you click ahead in the game and display new text. But(!), you can always select text within the main part of the Textractor window and it will automatically copy that on to your clipboard! This means you won't have to miss the first line of the VN every time you hook.)
4. Assuming you now have your VN running, and Textractor hooking it properly, and you Waterfox window open as a Non-e10s Window, with the proper and add-ons enabled and the horiztonal text html page loaded, everything should work like this:
Whenever new text is displayed in the VN. It will appear in your browser window. You can mouse-over the text in the browser, and find out how each word, phrase, or grammatical structure is pronounced, and the meaning, in a pop-up box. Rikaisama is amazing because it is very good at telling apart the different elements of a Japanese sentence. But that doesn't mean it doesn't make mistakes! If you're fairly new, it's important not to get bogged down when you don't understand stuff. Because Rikaisama might be misleading you. Also don't rely only on Rikaisama. Be prepared to google new words or grammar structures!
This is just scratching the surface of what is possible with the VN method and all the little nuances of how to apply it. Any questions please PM me. Save the comment section for glowing praise of my awesome guide.
OPTIONAL (but not really):
Download Houhou SRS:
http://houhou-srs.com/
This allows you to add new vocab and kanji to a "WaniKani"-style SRS system. Make no mistake. SRS is the THE way to memorize new words. I - and many other advanced JP learners - consider some form of SRS (most use Anki) absolutely essential. Your vocab in many ways is the hard limit on your ability with any language.
[I will add more about how to use Houhou in future updates of this guide]
Waterfox CLASSIC (NOT the standard version)
-> https://www.waterfox.net/download/ (SCROLL DOWN FOR CLASSIC)
(This is where Japanese text from the VN will be displayed and be available to mouseover.)
Textractor
-> https://github.com/Artikash/Textractor/releases (.EXE SETUP FILE)
(It extracts text.)
Horizontal and Vertical text display .html files
-> https://mega.nz/file/QV9GzD5S#gi0-DZy7oUfYZcrfzrWCdFXtLIVZbOFDsIgRCBb2QXI
-> https://mega.nz/file/URUV2DCJ#Jki8-2QjBHqLY_mzx5Tu2V3uObpF0nOykP-GdOiiYMQ
(These are loaded in to Waterfox and allow the hooked text from the VN to be displayed)
Waterfox add-ons
-> https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/clipboard-inserter/
(This automatically pastes whatever is on your clipboard in to your browser window. It does this once, whenever something new is copied to clipboard.)
-> http://rikaisama.sourceforge.net/
(This add-on enables instant access to a dictionary with pronunciation info and English definitions of whatever JP text you mouseover in the browser window.)
Locale Emulator
-> https://github.com/xupefei/Locale-Emulator/releases
(This allows you to launch Japanese programs as if your PC were Japanese. Yes, PCs have nationalities. I was surprised too.)
A Visual Novel
Check out this link for a list of good VN to learn from:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KnyyDt7jimEz-dgeMSKymRaT2r3QKBPm9AzqZ6oUWAs/pub
Though tbh some of the ones listed shouldn't be there. DO NOT play Bladr Sky or Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi unless you are already quite advanced in your ability. Seriously. They are classics and should be saved to enjoy them properly. Also, Baldr Sky is far too long considering the pace you'll be going at.
I recommend Stargazer because it is free, short, and simple:
http://rainbowdimension.jp/stargazer.html
In general, especially early on, you want to choose something that is both,
-Short
-Everyday in setting (i.e. NOT fantasy, supernatural, sci-fi, involving magic, or set in the past)
SET UP:
1. Waterfox can be installed from the set-up file as standard. Add the exe to your taskbar.
2. Open Waterfox. Go to add-on settings. Click the cog to add an add-on from a file. Install both the Waterfox add-ons you DL'd in this fashion.
3. Go to Waterfox general settings. Drag the "horizontal text" html file in to the "Home Page" field. This means you won't have to launch the html page every time you open Waterfox. Note that I have never needed to use the vertical text file. I'm not even sure if it is suppose to display vertically or hook vertical text or what. But apparently it's good to have...
4. Restart Waterfox. You now need to install dictionaries for Rikaisama. Go to add-on settings and go to the options for Rikaisama. There is A LOT you can do with this tool. For now we are just going to do a couple things. But it's worth exploring the other options at some point. Anyway, go to the dictionaries tab. Make sure "show pitch accent" box is checked. Go to the Rikaisama website and make sure you understand how the pitch accent numbering system works. If you don't know how pitch accent itself works, look it up. It's important.
[This section of the guide is unfinished because I could not confirm exactly how Rikaisama comes packaged. I had different experiences on different systems (desktop and laptop). In any case, the goal is to make sure the dictionaries tab in Rikaisama options has at least "kanji" and "Japanese-English" listed. You can click the "more" button on the right to go to a page with dictionaries listed. I would recommend adding the "Japanese Names" dictionaries if you can (I had issues; it's not important either way). Feedback would be appreciated as to others' experience.]
5. Install Textractor from the set-up file as standard. Go to the folder for it (I believe it installs to desktop by default). You'll see two versions. x64 and x86. Which version you need depends on the VN. You'll quickly find out which is the right one when you try to use it so don't worry about that for now.
You will want to do the following for both "Textractor.exe" files (one in each x86/x64 folder). Right click the exe and go to properties -> compatibility -> check "run this program as an administrator" -> Hit OK. Run the file. Several windows will open. Go to the main window and click "extensions" in the bottom left. Select and hit delete on "regex filter", "Bing translate", and "extra window", one at a time.
6. Go to where you downloaded Locale Emulator. Now, wherever this file is when you install the program from the exe inside, you MUST keep the folder in that place. I recommend moving the folder somewhere it won't be a bother. Don't put it in program files. Once you're happy where you have it, run the LEInstaller exe. Once it's installed you will be able to right click any program and run it as if your PC were Japanese. I suggest always running as admin to avoid common issues.
Now, for every visual novel you play using this method, you are going to want to create a special exe which automatically loads the VN through Locale Emulator. To do this, find the exe that launches the game. Right click -> Locale Emulator -> Run with Application Profile -> Check "run as an admin" -> click "create shortcut". You will now have a shortcut on your desktop that runs the game as admin, as though your PC were Japanese.
You're done with set up! Kind of. There are a number of small niggles and issues which can come up. Message me for help and will do so if I can. One of the common issues is getting the game window size / resolution right. With Stargazer for example, the window is incredibly small on my screen, and with no options in game to fix it, I had to change my screen resolution every time I played it. No biggie really. The window size was fine on my laptop though, so your experience may vary.
PROCESS
1. Open Waterfox. Form the menu, select "New Non-e10s Window". Close the first window. Turn on Rikaisama and Clipboard inserter. Where you put the window and how big you have it is up to you. Dragging it to the right side of the screen so it attaches and then reducing width by dragging the left border is what I do most of the time. This allows me to have the game window on the left and the waterfox window on the right. But you do you.
2. Open your game.
3. Open textractor. Hit "attach to game". Select the game process. Here's where it can get tricky. Textractor is extremely good, and most of the time it's simple. When you start the VN, there are certain data strings which can be read by Textractor. You want to find the data string which has the Japanese text that makes up the actual content of the VN. The stuff you want to read. To make Textractor "see" this string, you need to start the VN and get the first line of text to display. After that, you want to go to the Textractor window, and click the long drop-down box at the top. You'll see a list. You need to find the right string from that list. You'll know when it's the right one because the text in the main part of the Textractor window will match the text in the VN. The problem comes when the text doesn't match quite right, or not at all. Troubleshooting this is beyond the scope of this guide. I highly recommend checking out this video if you are having trouble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eecEOacF6mw&list=PLo_T66pcugdjFyQ8pmEwLq5hx8cFOrWVz
(btw when you find the right string, it won't copy that over to your clipboard first time, only when you click ahead in the game and display new text. But(!), you can always select text within the main part of the Textractor window and it will automatically copy that on to your clipboard! This means you won't have to miss the first line of the VN every time you hook.)
4. Assuming you now have your VN running, and Textractor hooking it properly, and you Waterfox window open as a Non-e10s Window, with the proper and add-ons enabled and the horiztonal text html page loaded, everything should work like this:
Whenever new text is displayed in the VN. It will appear in your browser window. You can mouse-over the text in the browser, and find out how each word, phrase, or grammatical structure is pronounced, and the meaning, in a pop-up box. Rikaisama is amazing because it is very good at telling apart the different elements of a Japanese sentence. But that doesn't mean it doesn't make mistakes! If you're fairly new, it's important not to get bogged down when you don't understand stuff. Because Rikaisama might be misleading you. Also don't rely only on Rikaisama. Be prepared to google new words or grammar structures!
This is just scratching the surface of what is possible with the VN method and all the little nuances of how to apply it. Any questions please PM me. Save the comment section for glowing praise of my awesome guide.
OPTIONAL (but not really):
Download Houhou SRS:
http://houhou-srs.com/
This allows you to add new vocab and kanji to a "WaniKani"-style SRS system. Make no mistake. SRS is the THE way to memorize new words. I - and many other advanced JP learners - consider some form of SRS (most use Anki) absolutely essential. Your vocab in many ways is the hard limit on your ability with any language.
[I will add more about how to use Houhou in future updates of this guide]
Posted by YossaRedMage | Oct 31, 2020 8:46 AM | 0 comments
October 2nd, 2020
Classics and the "Anime Community"
Anime Relations: Bakemonogatari
The vast majority of people that work in any capacity related to anime, will simply not be able to acknowledge that the issues affecting the community are because it is too big. They want the "industry" to grow as much as possible so they can make more money. So when Gigguk releases a video, like he did earlier this year, asking why the idea of classic anime seems to be dying out, he spends a bunch time going over all kinds of bull while never getting to the core of the problem: The anime community isn't cohesive because there are too many people who don't love anime as a whole and aren't interested in raising up shows to the level of classic.
Normies, casuals, whatever you want to call them. As individuals they are fine people. One of my best friends in real life is casual as fuck in his approach to anime. I don't want him to stop watching anime. I'm not saying we need to kick people out. I'm just telling you what the problem is. I don't have a solution.
The problem right now is that for the idea of a classic to exist, there need to be enough people who, even though they might not like the show, they love the community and anime as a whole so much that they keep their negative opinions to themselves. But we can't have that while assholes feel it their "right" to shit on anything that even begins to get popular. Not to mention the assholes who spread anti-art problematizing rhetoric which means anime with taboo themes are relegated to the position of throwaway comedies rather than serious works of fiction.
Ask yourself this question: Do you really think something like Monogatari will be made again and receive the same level of love from the community as a whole?
Normies, casuals, whatever you want to call them. As individuals they are fine people. One of my best friends in real life is casual as fuck in his approach to anime. I don't want him to stop watching anime. I'm not saying we need to kick people out. I'm just telling you what the problem is. I don't have a solution.
The problem right now is that for the idea of a classic to exist, there need to be enough people who, even though they might not like the show, they love the community and anime as a whole so much that they keep their negative opinions to themselves. But we can't have that while assholes feel it their "right" to shit on anything that even begins to get popular. Not to mention the assholes who spread anti-art problematizing rhetoric which means anime with taboo themes are relegated to the position of throwaway comedies rather than serious works of fiction.
Ask yourself this question: Do you really think something like Monogatari will be made again and receive the same level of love from the community as a whole?
Posted by YossaRedMage | Oct 2, 2020 2:19 AM | 0 comments
August 10th, 2020
Review: Genji Monogatari
Anime Relations: Genji Monogatari
So this was kind of a random watch. I hadn't watched any anime in like 3 days since finishing Gosick (9/10). Partly because I've been focusing on my Japanese practice and reading Baldr Sky. Then this evening I had this YT vid recommended, and I thought why not?
It was definitely something different. I thought Blue Drop (9/10), that I watched recently, had an old-school aesthetic, but that was only made in 2007, 20 years after Genji Monogatari, so this was something else.
Similar to Blue Drop, there's a really moody, slow, atmospheric feel to this too, only cranked up to 11. It feels like that patience and appreciation of stillness is hard to come by from anime of the past decade (so much for Gigguk's nonsense about how this was the "decade anime grew up"...).
But that aesthetic can only carry a story so far. While I'm sure the original novel is excellent, it was obvious this movie was a very stripped down adaptation. Great use of symbolism and strong themes of love and loss were present, but not very well presented.
I almost wish I hadn't watched it, but instead picked up the original novel, which I will still do one day, and I'm sure the experience will only be minimally affected.
Enjoyment: 3/5
Production: 4/5
Thematic Value: 5/5
Overall: 8/10
Summary: Watch if you want a movie slow, moody, old-school aesthetic, and you don't plan on reading - or have already read - the original novel.
It was definitely something different. I thought Blue Drop (9/10), that I watched recently, had an old-school aesthetic, but that was only made in 2007, 20 years after Genji Monogatari, so this was something else.
Similar to Blue Drop, there's a really moody, slow, atmospheric feel to this too, only cranked up to 11. It feels like that patience and appreciation of stillness is hard to come by from anime of the past decade (so much for Gigguk's nonsense about how this was the "decade anime grew up"...).
But that aesthetic can only carry a story so far. While I'm sure the original novel is excellent, it was obvious this movie was a very stripped down adaptation. Great use of symbolism and strong themes of love and loss were present, but not very well presented.
I almost wish I hadn't watched it, but instead picked up the original novel, which I will still do one day, and I'm sure the experience will only be minimally affected.
Enjoyment: 3/5
Production: 4/5
Thematic Value: 5/5
Overall: 8/10
Summary: Watch if you want a movie slow, moody, old-school aesthetic, and you don't plan on reading - or have already read - the original novel.
Posted by YossaRedMage | Aug 10, 2020 5:49 PM | 0 comments
July 8th, 2020
Review: Princess Connect! Re:Dive
Anime Relations: Princess Connect! Re:Dive
Watching this show, you don't need to know it's based on a mobile game to know it has real money behind it, though that information might explain where that money comes from. This show oozes production value. The art is crisp and detailed with skilled use of CG woven in to bring lustre and vibrance. The combat is fast, energetic and boldly directed. The more dramatic moments have among them some gorgeous close-ups with fluid, expressive animation.
The character designs only add to the eye candy. Three cute and sexy bona-fide AnimeGirls(TM). A petite white-haired kuudere. A tsundere cat-girl. And a buxom, red-headed genki girl. What more could one ask for?
Well, it depends what you're looking for, but for me there were two things.
The comedy didn't always land with me. The main character, a dude who has lost his memory and his wits, is a joke which never stopped giving. A clear satire of the pointless, dumb harem MC, his flashing a clueless smile and accompanying thumbs up - and similar moments - made me laugh every time. But too often the comedy felt forced.
It's interesting that the show isn't listed as a comedy, because it felt like it really wanted to be one. If it had taken itself a touch more seriously I think it would have made a world of difference. I don't mean "serious" serious, but a maybe leaning in to a more relaxed SOL tone in some scenes instead of trying to make the audience laugh every ten seconds.
The other thing I would have liked is if the characters and story were a bit less on the cliche side. But I get it. It's a light-hearted adventure show. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel. For what it's trying to do, I think Princess Connect does it fantastically. And if you're only looking for some swords and scorcery fun with cute girls and plenty of eye candy, then this is top-tier.
Raw Enjoyment: 3/5
Production Value: 4/5
Lots of money, but direction and sound design were for most part average.
Thematic/Emotional/Cultural Value: 4/5
Nothing is more anime culture than cute girls of this quality. As long as shows like these exist, moe will be with us.
Overall: 7/10
The character designs only add to the eye candy. Three cute and sexy bona-fide AnimeGirls(TM). A petite white-haired kuudere. A tsundere cat-girl. And a buxom, red-headed genki girl. What more could one ask for?
Well, it depends what you're looking for, but for me there were two things.
The comedy didn't always land with me. The main character, a dude who has lost his memory and his wits, is a joke which never stopped giving. A clear satire of the pointless, dumb harem MC, his flashing a clueless smile and accompanying thumbs up - and similar moments - made me laugh every time. But too often the comedy felt forced.
It's interesting that the show isn't listed as a comedy, because it felt like it really wanted to be one. If it had taken itself a touch more seriously I think it would have made a world of difference. I don't mean "serious" serious, but a maybe leaning in to a more relaxed SOL tone in some scenes instead of trying to make the audience laugh every ten seconds.
The other thing I would have liked is if the characters and story were a bit less on the cliche side. But I get it. It's a light-hearted adventure show. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel. For what it's trying to do, I think Princess Connect does it fantastically. And if you're only looking for some swords and scorcery fun with cute girls and plenty of eye candy, then this is top-tier.
Raw Enjoyment: 3/5
Production Value: 4/5
Lots of money, but direction and sound design were for most part average.
Thematic/Emotional/Cultural Value: 4/5
Nothing is more anime culture than cute girls of this quality. As long as shows like these exist, moe will be with us.
Overall: 7/10
Posted by YossaRedMage | Jul 8, 2020 8:48 PM | 0 comments
July 3rd, 2020
Review: Yesterday wo Utatte
Anime Relations: Yesterday wo Utatte
Doga Kobo have been the CGDCT/SOL kings for the past little while but they really came out with something different this time. Strange that this comes in a season that also had Nami yo! Kiitekure, which had a similar "adult" vibe. As I said when I finished Nami yo, I like it. I wouldn't complain if there were a few more. Though, not too many. It would be a shame to lose the youthful, energetic, high-school vibe of anime. Plus, shows like these are more enjoyable when they're rare.
Whereas Nami yo leaned on its quirky humor and charismatic MC, Yesterday has a more relaxed, SOL vibe, and focuses on the relationships between a larger, more developed cast. The strengths kind of clash a little though. The characters are complex and their relationships make sense, but the show takes too long to reach a conclusion. It honestly feels like it establishes the characters in the beginning, and conludes tidily at the end, but with this large middle section where nothing really happens.
The show has a groundhog day feel where events happen over and over. Which would be fine if it were just an SOL, but the looming romantic drama leaves the audience aching for development that takes too long to come.
Maybe I'm just impatient though, and seriously the show was still very enjoyable. It had a charming, quaint kind of vibe which I loved, and it's rare to see such solid, tight character writing that naturally comes together all the way up to the conclusion. I can't help feeling this would have made a MUCH better movie though.
Raw Enjoyment: 4/5
Production: 4/5
Value (Thematic/Emotional/Cultural): 3/5
Overall: 7/10
Whereas Nami yo leaned on its quirky humor and charismatic MC, Yesterday has a more relaxed, SOL vibe, and focuses on the relationships between a larger, more developed cast. The strengths kind of clash a little though. The characters are complex and their relationships make sense, but the show takes too long to reach a conclusion. It honestly feels like it establishes the characters in the beginning, and conludes tidily at the end, but with this large middle section where nothing really happens.
The show has a groundhog day feel where events happen over and over. Which would be fine if it were just an SOL, but the looming romantic drama leaves the audience aching for development that takes too long to come.
Maybe I'm just impatient though, and seriously the show was still very enjoyable. It had a charming, quaint kind of vibe which I loved, and it's rare to see such solid, tight character writing that naturally comes together all the way up to the conclusion. I can't help feeling this would have made a MUCH better movie though.
Raw Enjoyment: 4/5
Production: 4/5
Value (Thematic/Emotional/Cultural): 3/5
Overall: 7/10
Posted by YossaRedMage | Jul 3, 2020 8:48 PM | 0 comments