Aug 8, 2023
Wow. Somewhere between the intersection of fun, fantastical, disgusting, idiotic, cliché-ridden, and hilarious sits this show. I absolutely expect many normal, well-adjusted people to turn their nose up at this show--can I even blame them? Despite being one of the original progenitors of the genre, it still manages to place a mirror in front of this genre and forces it to confront its myriad complications, all while serving up something approaching a standard-fare isekai. The secret sauce, for good or ill, is the protagonist. What if a degenerate fan of this genre ended up in a fantasy world? I think how much you enjoy
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Aug 6, 2023
Season 2 does lose a bit of the adventurism that defined so much of season 1. The trade is for a more condensed and character-driven arc. Depending on your taste, the show either benefits or suffers from this decision. There’s a lot to appreciate here, but the unremitting darkness of the season pervades everything. If you thought season 1 was surprisingly violent, then I’m not sure what could be said to help you prepare for this one. Season 1 was The Osmonds; Season 2 is Alice Cooper. The first season’s light body horror elements turned out to be a light appetizer. Indeed, it would not
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Jul 24, 2023
Reading the reviews here has been amusing. I'm not quite sure what people expected with a title like "Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?" And just look at the main female character. Let's not fool ourselves. You know what this is; I know what this is. It is a perfectly passable series that plays to certain fantasy tropes. It is a dumb series to turn off your brain and teases a kind of wish fulfillment (because we all want to pick up girls in a dungeon).
The characters have one-note personalities; there is little to no plot; and nothing's meaningfully advanced by ... 
Jul 17, 2023
Before every season of this show, I always try to remind myself of how unremarkable it should be. Even the name "Demon Slayer" sounds like something crafted by a paint-by-numbers marketing team. Even thematically, what exactly makes it different from the Black Clovers or Blue Exorcists of the world? The budget certainly helps but does little except highlight the magnificent action scenes. I think it's the pathos and the characters. Maybe. I'm uncertain. It is not an original show; it certainly wear its influences, but it uniquely seems to transcend them, becoming the best version of what those influences should aspire to be. Shonen will
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Sep 10, 2016
Himouto! Umaru-chan
(Anime)
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Mild spoilers ahead:
Himouto! Umaru-chan is cute anime, even if it not an especially interesting one. Notably, it says some interesting things about Japanese work culture. Could Umaru's indoor personality be explained by her brother's continued absence and work priorities? Like many anime, Himouto! tells us just as much by what is unsaid. There's a part in episode 8(the Christmas one) where Umaru notes that all her friends are most likely with their friends and families. A few seconds of silence pass and then the episode sort of moves on. Yes, it is meant to have us reflect on her brother but there ... 
Sep 1, 2016
Dragon Ball Z
(Anime)
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How should we view DBZ? To write out all its flaws would take me all day. Simpley put, its animation is frustratingly stifled and major characters tend to have the personality of an baked potato. And yet it appears to be an anime we simply cannot do without.
Its presence is mapped in the style of nearly every modern shonen. DBZ is a bit like Homer, its sheer archetypal presence dwarfs any attempt at reviewing it. Despite this, there is something that drew me to it in the 90s. It was something I'd never seen--a non-episodic epic narrative. Battles were based on raw power and abilities. ... 
Apr 23, 2016
Shokugeki no Souma
(Anime)
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For what it's attempting, Shokugeki is great. If you're looking for an anime that subverts typical shonen tropes then you will either love or loathe Shokugeki. There's large sequences of obvious fan service, ridiculous characters, and even some dramatic scenes. It parodies shonen style but it also adheres to the formula to push the plot forward.
Therein lies the problem with certain parts of Shokugeki; it changes tone so often that it loses gravitas when actually wants it. Megumi finally learns to overcome her anxiety and cook, but it's difficult to take the situation too seriously given how silly the ... |
