January 7th, 2018
It's been awhile.
Anime Relations: Gakkougurashi!, Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon
Like a zombie rising from the grave, I'm back to shamble about and talk about Japanese cartoons and comics. I kinda want to get back into reviewing, but it definitely won't be like how I used to write them and it won't be as detailed like I used to write them too, but I think it would be cool to get into the community again. I think I'll review School Live or Kobayashis Dragon Maid, Idk.
I barely buy any anime or manga nowadays, and I have sold a sizable amount of my collection, and I'm more into gaming now. I gots the switch and a PlayStation 4, my profile is Jbrupert91 so give me a shoutout or whatever.
I got a job that keeps me pretty busy, so I may not be on here as frequently as I used to, but I like keeping my list updated so there will be more activity on here than there was the past years.
I barely buy any anime or manga nowadays, and I have sold a sizable amount of my collection, and I'm more into gaming now. I gots the switch and a PlayStation 4, my profile is Jbrupert91 so give me a shoutout or whatever.
I got a job that keeps me pretty busy, so I may not be on here as frequently as I used to, but I like keeping my list updated so there will be more activity on here than there was the past years.
Posted by artist-retired | Jan 7, 2018 11:28 AM | 1 comments
September 24th, 2014
I'm coming back, but not here, but as a writer.
Anime Relations: Hunter x Hunter, Hunter x Hunter: Original Video Animation, Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island, Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island Final, Hunter x Hunter (2011), Hunter x Hunter Movie 1: Phantom Rouge, Hunter x Hunter Movie 2: The Last Mission
After muling over for like a year, wanting to come back and write reviews again. I just couldn't find the ambition, the inspiration to do so. But, it hit me. I'm making a blog, where it can and have written about whatever I feel like writing. So that means I''m done with the site as reviews are concerned, I still use it. but I feel that it's time to move on and start fresh. So thank you, to those who have read my reviews here.
And to those wanting to read more, I have started a wordpress where I'm just starting to get my introductions done and have plans for subject to blog about. If you're wondering why I haven't done this sooner... Well, I didn't even know wordpress was a thing til a few days ago, yeah...
But whatever, here's a link to the blog:
http://spadeoftrades.wordpress.com/
And if you enjoyed my snarky attitude in my reviews, it's there in full force, where I make fun of everything including myself, no, especially myself. And be sure to look out for my first review n months, I'm going to do some sort of retrospective of the hunter x hunter series, look forward to it.
I'm also up for guest writing other's blogs, so sent me a pm or message me where ever to get my attention.
And to those wanting to read more, I have started a wordpress where I'm just starting to get my introductions done and have plans for subject to blog about. If you're wondering why I haven't done this sooner... Well, I didn't even know wordpress was a thing til a few days ago, yeah...
But whatever, here's a link to the blog:
http://spadeoftrades.wordpress.com/
And if you enjoyed my snarky attitude in my reviews, it's there in full force, where I make fun of everything including myself, no, especially myself. And be sure to look out for my first review n months, I'm going to do some sort of retrospective of the hunter x hunter series, look forward to it.
I'm also up for guest writing other's blogs, so sent me a pm or message me where ever to get my attention.
Posted by artist-retired | Sep 24, 2014 1:10 PM | 0 comments
July 14th, 2013
My Thoughts on the 2013 Summer Season Initial Episodes.
Anime Relations: Genshiken Nidaime
Every summer usually turns out just one or two worth while shows, leaving me bored as I wait for the fall to hurry up. That's not the case this year!
This year, there's a lot to watch and even more so if you like sequels and a spin off or two. Altogether I am watching eight new series, a first time ever for my seasonal viewing since I started back in 2010, and while there is nothing 10 or even 9 worthy just yet, there's plenty of potential for there to be so.
From the weakest I've seen to the best, here is what I'm watching this season:
8. Gatchaman Crowds
I'm actually sad to put this one here because I think it has a lot of potential to be a very enjoyable shonen-este action series for just about anyone. Which is probably the strongest thing about this anime so far with the art direction being a close second. Unfortunately, there was a lot to take in for the first episode, likely going for a show now, explain later sort of deal. It's got enough flash to entertain, though there are a few animation quirks from time to time. And the characters are of a mixed variety, that gives me a mixed feeling as a resolute. The lead character isn't going to be deepest character in the bunch and the lead female is almost way too bubbly for her own good. Everyone else gets fitted into their respective character trope like a fitting the right shapes in their right holes. A questionably gay, a silent stand off, the loli in provocative outfit, and a mascot that will be sold as keychains in your local Japanese gas station.
As with all short running series (This one is 12), it's got a lot of information to fill in a short amount of time, but as a light action series, it isn't going to try to be more than what it is, or is going to be, and that is the most I want from this one.
7. The World God Only Knows Season Three
To be honest, I want to place it higher. I really enjoyed the past seasons, and what's going on this time reassures me that the plot is evolving from it's repetitive nature. The big problem here is that I have very little knowledge of what's going on! This series skips a considerable amount from it left off in the previous season and tries to get you up to speed as fast as possible, but that attempt falls short. Those who watched the seasons prior will have an unexpected entry hazard with this season, but not enough to avoid entirely, because of the new twist, those who felt the series getting stale will have an opportunity for fresh air in this series.
6. WataMote
It's your fault that this series is questionably overrated! But with that being said, I got the same feelings I got from reading the manga while watching the anime. Constant cringing, not because the series is a pain to watch, but rather, watching the main character's cringe worthy actions, relate-able or not. The humor is hit and shudder, it tries to show us a character who is the total opposite of lead female is portrayed, and creates situations where her ineptness shines through with a punchline that packs a different punch from the norm. The animation is without a doubt the weakest in this list, and the characters have a sketchy look to them that did not transfer over very well in the anime. But it wouldn't be in this spot if the show didn't have any merits plus the theme song is an unexpected but odd treat to listen to.
5. Blood Lad
Without a doubt the next in the line of main stream anime following the shirttails of series like Attack On Titan, Sword Art Online, and the like, but there's a lack of seriousness that this series will benefit from that the other two could have used. Take Durarara, Soul Eater and Gintama and mix them up and this will most likely be the result, a supernatural action comedy series that pokes at anime culture from time to time. The humor is especially well done here though, and even pokes fun of an ecchi trope. The series isn't especially full of substance or quality animation for that matter, but makes up in spades with it's humor, and I've been craving for a good joke or two to fill a quota that Gintama left behind.
4. Stella Jogakuin Koutou-ka C3-bu
One of this season's expected-to-be-another-K-ON!-ripoff comes off much more emotion than you can fill into a slice of cake or cup of tea. Another right step for the moe subgenre to take in form of an interesting main character and trope turned on it's head slightly (Gainax still has it for the most part). Instead of doing nothing and eating cake and drinking tea, this club of highschool girls like to shoot each with air soft guns in war games styled after movies like Rambo. The animation is especially well done in those segments and helps to grow the main character out of her nervous shell and helps to develop this show into something more substantial than what it should have been. Though the note worthy issue is that the whole club of students with guns in a school have it's underlining grips and issues, but personally I was able to over look it and realize that this anime will as light as they come with no dark undertones to ruin the mood.
3. Uchouten Kazoku
From the creator of Tatami Galaxy, this one has a high prestige to compare to and I have to say I'm intrigued so far. Without a doubt the most original anime this season centering around tanuki and tengu living in modern japan, it kicks off with a small taste of the character history building up for the central plot to progress. And as the title says (Translated to eccentric family), there's more to come than just a tanuki and tengu and I'm interested to see more of the family. The animation looks like a mix of Sayonara Zetsu-Sensei and Katanagatari styles melded together, with the ears on the model standing more than anything, and the theme songs definitely have a more "japanese" feeling to them than most series this season.
2. Genshiken Season 2? Series 4?
What would've been easily been my number one of the season, and was also my most anticipated anime this season, Genshiken does not disappoint. It's a long awaited return of Genshiken club with a slew of new characters and cameos of the new cast from time to time, the humor remains a natural occurrence heavily focused on otaku culture but doesn't completely bath itself in it. Yes, all is good in the world of genshiken, however, there's a distinct amount that was glossed over. A third of last series was completely skipped for this series, meaning just like with The World God Only Knows season three, there is a entry hazard, but as big as TWGOK. It's mostly due to reset of characters kind of feel that even newcomers of the series will not have that big of problem going into this season. A small recap of what happened prior would've help of course, but at least there's a certain fresh feeling this season brings to the series.
1. Silver Spoon
I had low expectations coming into this one, a series about a farm can't possibly be any interesting, right? That's when I realized, this series is from the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, a fairly serious shonen series that have great humor behind it, and the creator had been wanting to a series based on her childhood working at a farm, so all of this points to creation of fantastic new series? Yes, yes it does. it's hard to make the highschool setting feel different, but this series does it without a problem and has consistently good humor (One of the few times I've ever laughed at a nut shot joke) and likable cast of characters. One of the reasons I had reservations on this series was hero tales, another series by the same creator. It came off as an incredibly genre action series with repeated characters designs, but I was surprised to see that the variety of character designs destroyed that concern of mine. And from I have heard, the series grows fast and doesn't lose any steam on the way.
I might check out a few more and I hope I don't drop anything this season.
This year, there's a lot to watch and even more so if you like sequels and a spin off or two. Altogether I am watching eight new series, a first time ever for my seasonal viewing since I started back in 2010, and while there is nothing 10 or even 9 worthy just yet, there's plenty of potential for there to be so.
From the weakest I've seen to the best, here is what I'm watching this season:
8. Gatchaman Crowds
I'm actually sad to put this one here because I think it has a lot of potential to be a very enjoyable shonen-este action series for just about anyone. Which is probably the strongest thing about this anime so far with the art direction being a close second. Unfortunately, there was a lot to take in for the first episode, likely going for a show now, explain later sort of deal. It's got enough flash to entertain, though there are a few animation quirks from time to time. And the characters are of a mixed variety, that gives me a mixed feeling as a resolute. The lead character isn't going to be deepest character in the bunch and the lead female is almost way too bubbly for her own good. Everyone else gets fitted into their respective character trope like a fitting the right shapes in their right holes. A questionably gay, a silent stand off, the loli in provocative outfit, and a mascot that will be sold as keychains in your local Japanese gas station.
As with all short running series (This one is 12), it's got a lot of information to fill in a short amount of time, but as a light action series, it isn't going to try to be more than what it is, or is going to be, and that is the most I want from this one.
7. The World God Only Knows Season Three
To be honest, I want to place it higher. I really enjoyed the past seasons, and what's going on this time reassures me that the plot is evolving from it's repetitive nature. The big problem here is that I have very little knowledge of what's going on! This series skips a considerable amount from it left off in the previous season and tries to get you up to speed as fast as possible, but that attempt falls short. Those who watched the seasons prior will have an unexpected entry hazard with this season, but not enough to avoid entirely, because of the new twist, those who felt the series getting stale will have an opportunity for fresh air in this series.
6. WataMote
It's your fault that this series is questionably overrated! But with that being said, I got the same feelings I got from reading the manga while watching the anime. Constant cringing, not because the series is a pain to watch, but rather, watching the main character's cringe worthy actions, relate-able or not. The humor is hit and shudder, it tries to show us a character who is the total opposite of lead female is portrayed, and creates situations where her ineptness shines through with a punchline that packs a different punch from the norm. The animation is without a doubt the weakest in this list, and the characters have a sketchy look to them that did not transfer over very well in the anime. But it wouldn't be in this spot if the show didn't have any merits plus the theme song is an unexpected but odd treat to listen to.
5. Blood Lad
Without a doubt the next in the line of main stream anime following the shirttails of series like Attack On Titan, Sword Art Online, and the like, but there's a lack of seriousness that this series will benefit from that the other two could have used. Take Durarara, Soul Eater and Gintama and mix them up and this will most likely be the result, a supernatural action comedy series that pokes at anime culture from time to time. The humor is especially well done here though, and even pokes fun of an ecchi trope. The series isn't especially full of substance or quality animation for that matter, but makes up in spades with it's humor, and I've been craving for a good joke or two to fill a quota that Gintama left behind.
4. Stella Jogakuin Koutou-ka C3-bu
One of this season's expected-to-be-another-K-ON!-ripoff comes off much more emotion than you can fill into a slice of cake or cup of tea. Another right step for the moe subgenre to take in form of an interesting main character and trope turned on it's head slightly (Gainax still has it for the most part). Instead of doing nothing and eating cake and drinking tea, this club of highschool girls like to shoot each with air soft guns in war games styled after movies like Rambo. The animation is especially well done in those segments and helps to grow the main character out of her nervous shell and helps to develop this show into something more substantial than what it should have been. Though the note worthy issue is that the whole club of students with guns in a school have it's underlining grips and issues, but personally I was able to over look it and realize that this anime will as light as they come with no dark undertones to ruin the mood.
3. Uchouten Kazoku
From the creator of Tatami Galaxy, this one has a high prestige to compare to and I have to say I'm intrigued so far. Without a doubt the most original anime this season centering around tanuki and tengu living in modern japan, it kicks off with a small taste of the character history building up for the central plot to progress. And as the title says (Translated to eccentric family), there's more to come than just a tanuki and tengu and I'm interested to see more of the family. The animation looks like a mix of Sayonara Zetsu-Sensei and Katanagatari styles melded together, with the ears on the model standing more than anything, and the theme songs definitely have a more "japanese" feeling to them than most series this season.
2. Genshiken Season 2? Series 4?
What would've been easily been my number one of the season, and was also my most anticipated anime this season, Genshiken does not disappoint. It's a long awaited return of Genshiken club with a slew of new characters and cameos of the new cast from time to time, the humor remains a natural occurrence heavily focused on otaku culture but doesn't completely bath itself in it. Yes, all is good in the world of genshiken, however, there's a distinct amount that was glossed over. A third of last series was completely skipped for this series, meaning just like with The World God Only Knows season three, there is a entry hazard, but as big as TWGOK. It's mostly due to reset of characters kind of feel that even newcomers of the series will not have that big of problem going into this season. A small recap of what happened prior would've help of course, but at least there's a certain fresh feeling this season brings to the series.
1. Silver Spoon
I had low expectations coming into this one, a series about a farm can't possibly be any interesting, right? That's when I realized, this series is from the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, a fairly serious shonen series that have great humor behind it, and the creator had been wanting to a series based on her childhood working at a farm, so all of this points to creation of fantastic new series? Yes, yes it does. it's hard to make the highschool setting feel different, but this series does it without a problem and has consistently good humor (One of the few times I've ever laughed at a nut shot joke) and likable cast of characters. One of the reasons I had reservations on this series was hero tales, another series by the same creator. It came off as an incredibly genre action series with repeated characters designs, but I was surprised to see that the variety of character designs destroyed that concern of mine. And from I have heard, the series grows fast and doesn't lose any steam on the way.
I might check out a few more and I hope I don't drop anything this season.
Posted by artist-retired | Jul 14, 2013 8:13 AM | 0 comments
April 8th, 2013
My Thoughts on the 2013 Spring Season and Other Stuff.
Anime Relations: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai., Aku no Hana, Shingeki no Kyojin, Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
Is it that time of the year once more? Because I didn't watch anything from the winter season this year except Kotoura-san, which I found to be quite hilarious in a fucked up sort of way. Anyway, I'm only watching a select amount of shows this time while I play catch up on other series I'm way behind on (Bakuman 3, Space Bros, HunterxHunter, JoJo, etc, etc....).
So yeah, I think I'm only going to watch 4 or 5 shows this season, if I hear about good things from the others I'm not watching, I'll look into it later.
Shingeki no Kyojin
This is my second most anticipated series for this season, and I'm impressed with the first episode. The titans actually look a little more terrifying than how they are represented in the manga series and it's really cool to see how the soldiers gas powered zip line things look in animated form. Honestly, I'm quite happy that this series got the high budget treatment, though the character models are a bit shaky from time to time. Though I kinda wish they kept the rough look of the manga instead of the cleaner look, it really did fit the darker edge of the series.
Overall, I'm more than satisfied with this, 8.75/10 for the first episode.
Oreimo 2
I really did dig the first season, but now that I look back on it... This is really quite the creepy series. The incest overtones are almost more than distracting than ever before, and you really need to watch season 1 and the ovas to get where the story is at, really hurts it in hindsight. Fortunately there's the development of the non-incest relationship and it is really highlight of this season because it features the most interesting character in the series, Kuroneko aka Ruri Gokou. Unfortunately that didn't steal enough of the scenes that it really should have... because I guess people actually like Kirino? It's hard to believe.
Overall, because of waning interest in this series I'm guessing I'm going to have a rough time, hopefully the more interesting characters take some spotlight away from Kirino, 6/10 for the first episode.
Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
My third most anticipated series this season and one that I shouldn't be watching really. I bought the game last year and have yet to beat it, and now I'm going to spoil the entire plot for myself in thirteen episodes. Rather short and the pace of the first episode really shows, though I usually enjoy series with a brisk pace. Another thing to mention is that the guys behind the Persona 4 anime are making this one, and the animation is small step up from that series and it has me thinking that they're going to solely animate Altus properties (I want a Catherine anime!).
Overall, despite the short episode length and fast pacing, this might turn out to be better than the Persona 4 anime that preceded it, 7.50/10 for the first episode.
Aku no Hana
And finally my most anticipated anime of the season and currently my favorite. Now you're probably thinking that I'm trolling or something but I'm serious, I'm really grateful for this experimental adaptation. People all over the anime sites are bitching up a storm and quite frankly it's pathetic, it looks nothing like the manga and that is okay, I thought the artwork in the manga was a step above mediocre anyway. The big complaint is that it's rotoscope instead of traditional anime, and it actually adds more to the series, this realistic look on top of the great atmosphere add a new level of uneasiness and creepiness that the manga lacked. Sure I've seen better rotoscope used in other series and compared to the manga the pacing is at a snalls crawl, but this was one of the best build up episodes I've ever seen and the payoff ought to be spectacular.
Overall, despite the limited frame rate and retoscope, it actually adds a new level of awkwardness and dread that the manga never had, and it's really exciting to see companies taking a chance with doing something different for once, 9/10 for the first episode.
And that's at, I might watch one more, probably one of the mecha series, but other than that, I think these will tide me over for now.
So yeah, I think I'm only going to watch 4 or 5 shows this season, if I hear about good things from the others I'm not watching, I'll look into it later.
Shingeki no Kyojin
This is my second most anticipated series for this season, and I'm impressed with the first episode. The titans actually look a little more terrifying than how they are represented in the manga series and it's really cool to see how the soldiers gas powered zip line things look in animated form. Honestly, I'm quite happy that this series got the high budget treatment, though the character models are a bit shaky from time to time. Though I kinda wish they kept the rough look of the manga instead of the cleaner look, it really did fit the darker edge of the series.
Overall, I'm more than satisfied with this, 8.75/10 for the first episode.
Oreimo 2
I really did dig the first season, but now that I look back on it... This is really quite the creepy series. The incest overtones are almost more than distracting than ever before, and you really need to watch season 1 and the ovas to get where the story is at, really hurts it in hindsight. Fortunately there's the development of the non-incest relationship and it is really highlight of this season because it features the most interesting character in the series, Kuroneko aka Ruri Gokou. Unfortunately that didn't steal enough of the scenes that it really should have... because I guess people actually like Kirino? It's hard to believe.
Overall, because of waning interest in this series I'm guessing I'm going to have a rough time, hopefully the more interesting characters take some spotlight away from Kirino, 6/10 for the first episode.
Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
My third most anticipated series this season and one that I shouldn't be watching really. I bought the game last year and have yet to beat it, and now I'm going to spoil the entire plot for myself in thirteen episodes. Rather short and the pace of the first episode really shows, though I usually enjoy series with a brisk pace. Another thing to mention is that the guys behind the Persona 4 anime are making this one, and the animation is small step up from that series and it has me thinking that they're going to solely animate Altus properties (I want a Catherine anime!).
Overall, despite the short episode length and fast pacing, this might turn out to be better than the Persona 4 anime that preceded it, 7.50/10 for the first episode.
Aku no Hana
And finally my most anticipated anime of the season and currently my favorite. Now you're probably thinking that I'm trolling or something but I'm serious, I'm really grateful for this experimental adaptation. People all over the anime sites are bitching up a storm and quite frankly it's pathetic, it looks nothing like the manga and that is okay, I thought the artwork in the manga was a step above mediocre anyway. The big complaint is that it's rotoscope instead of traditional anime, and it actually adds more to the series, this realistic look on top of the great atmosphere add a new level of uneasiness and creepiness that the manga lacked. Sure I've seen better rotoscope used in other series and compared to the manga the pacing is at a snalls crawl, but this was one of the best build up episodes I've ever seen and the payoff ought to be spectacular.
Overall, despite the limited frame rate and retoscope, it actually adds a new level of awkwardness and dread that the manga never had, and it's really exciting to see companies taking a chance with doing something different for once, 9/10 for the first episode.
And that's at, I might watch one more, probably one of the mecha series, but other than that, I think these will tide me over for now.
Posted by artist-retired | Apr 8, 2013 8:08 PM | 1 comments
March 29th, 2013
I'm back as just a normal member.
Anime Relations: Kotoura-san
The whole bloodlines manga thing was a bust for me and I have left it for good, redirecting all of my focus on my dream for entering the film industry in some way or another. I'll mostly just be here to update my lists and what not and I even plan on continuing my weekly anime and manga blog fairly soon that not only will review the product but review the series itself, for a full judgement.
Going back to reviewing on the other hand... don't get your hopes up, I'm feeling pretty rusty there. However, I'm pretty interested on what the spring season this year has so expect me to have a word on what's to come.
Going back to reviewing on the other hand... don't get your hopes up, I'm feeling pretty rusty there. However, I'm pretty interested on what the spring season this year has so expect me to have a word on what's to come.
Posted by artist-retired | Mar 29, 2013 7:02 PM | 0 comments
December 5th, 2012
More news and prospects for the future.
Anime Relations: Kiss x Sis
Inactivity mode is in full throttle for my involvement with this site, but be sure to keep a look out for me in other places, especially in a new entrepreneur manga company that's as small as can be right now (Named Blood Lines Manga it can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/bloodlinemanga ), with the hope of finally getting a series of mine off the ground. It's a gamble for sure, but I've been llooking for something like this for ever and it's definitely worth a look and the people involved are incredibly enthusiastic and serious about what they're doing and I'm going to try my best to jump on board and see where this ship will sail.
So yeah, I will officially say it: My reviewing days are all but over. I do intend to keep on reviewing, but it won't be on this site that's for sure or anytime soon as all of my time will be focused on this new development.
Reviewing on this site has been fun, and I appreciate those who have been reading my reviews and shopping blogs and I hope that ya'll might read or even review my work one day.
And about that troll review, I decided to ditch it, so KissXsis lovers will be spared.
So yeah, I will officially say it: My reviewing days are all but over. I do intend to keep on reviewing, but it won't be on this site that's for sure or anytime soon as all of my time will be focused on this new development.
Reviewing on this site has been fun, and I appreciate those who have been reading my reviews and shopping blogs and I hope that ya'll might read or even review my work one day.
And about that troll review, I decided to ditch it, so KissXsis lovers will be spared.
Posted by artist-retired | Dec 5, 2012 10:38 PM | 0 comments