The best anime of 2016 was Flip Flappers. It's an easy 10/10 and one of the best series I ever expect to watch. It deserves so much more attention than it received. Please give it a try. Here's why:
Flip Flappers was the most inspiring and beautiful anime of 2016. The animation and use of color is, in general, exemplary. The story plays with a lot of anime tropes in a knowing way. In a certain sense, it's an anime directed at anime fans. In some ways I'd compare it to Kyousou Giga, but much more thoroughly plotted. Flip Flappers actually wraps up a full, complex narrative that nonetheless is a beautiful example of what anime can do in a pure visual sense.
It's almost impossible to give a plot summary, but what I loved was that it took a fairly standard story (shy girl meets super energetic girl and her life changes) and then went crazy with it. I'd say that a lot of people out there who started watching the show began posting things along the line that "I have no idea what's going on but I absolutely can't stop watching." I think that's pretty accurate. Flip Flappers keeps a lot of secrets until the end, and part of the joy in watching the show was to slowly uncover the mysteries at the center of the story.
On the other hand, Flip Flappers is not a slow-burn kind of show, nor is it a mystery per se. It might be a love story. It might be a magical girl show. It might be an exploration of personality, desire, loneliness, pain, and redemption. It might be about growing up. It also might be about overcoming past traumas and looking forward.
But, whatever it is, Flip Flappers is a beautiful experience, both visually and in terms of its narrative. It's not for everyone, of course, but I can respect that. I just think it deserves a lot more attention and I definitely rate it as a masterpiece.
And really, when you come down to it, I can't think of an anime series that has made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up in years. I could go on and on about the show and why I love it, but my sheer and immediate emotional response is most telling in terms of my own enjoyment. The show has a lot going on, and the layers are frequently unveiled in ways that avoid heavy exposition and features the actual animation above all else. It's not a story for people who like everything explained to them. But it is most definitely an anime for those who love the sheer joy of creation, the exhilaration of seeing something genuinely new, and who appreciate how Flip Flappers genuinely pushes the limits of anime today. It's almost sui generis.
10: Obviously a masterpiece, but it doesn't have to be perfect in every way. The work should have advanced the field, be utterly true to itself, and make me want to experience it again and again. It should resonate with me for years.
9: Basically a 10 but there were narrative flaws or real artistic issues that just didn't quite let me get to the perfect 10 rating. Otherwise, it's something I would absolutely say that anyone should experience without hesitation.
8: A fantastic and memorable work. It could've been a 9 but for a certain lack of depth, artistry, or focus. I put a lot of great material into this score that just doesn't quite find its place, but I can't say it's in any way bad either. Also definitely a category that I would unhesitatingly recommend to all.
7: Well worth anyone's time. I might say this because it's just great entertainment in general or it's a fantastic representation of a genre. If I give something a 7 then I truly loved the experience but it just didn't offer "more" than that. It's a tough score to define.
6: I enjoyed it a lot. I don't consider the work to be something very special, but I definitely thought it was worth most of the time I spent. I probably rate more things as a 6 than I should, but I don't care too much about that. Many of these items will probably be forgotten after a year, and I doubt that I'll recall them in much detail either, but I don't regret the time investment.
5: Average. It did what it was supposed to do, but it's thoroughly in the middle. I might actually quite enjoy many of these things but it was ultimately filler. I try to find reasons to bump items in this category up to 6, but if I can't then this is where they hide...
4: Bad. It's just not very funny or dramatically compelling, has bad art, is stupid, or panders to a really lame audience. There's nothing worth one's time here.
3: Really bad. The story is terrible, the art is atrocious, or I just think some aspect of the work is reprehensibly idiotic or vile (e.g. Gantz: moronic characters + bestiality + rape + incredibly dumb plot ++++++). I rarely score anything as a 3 and if I do I have a very good reason and it's one that I can articulate. I do not enjoy scoring anything at this level.
1&2: Practically unwatchable. No redeeming value. I haven't scored anything this low, and I probably won't, because I'll have stopped enduring it before I even get to the point of assigning a score. There's too much good material out there to enjoy.
Favorite Characters (extended edition & work in progress):
Gokou Ruri (OreImo)
Kino (Kino no Tabi)
Fleet Admiral Yang Wenli (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu)
Koto (Kyousou Giga)
Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh)
Papika (Flip Flappers)
Minakami Mai (Nichijou)
Shinonome Hakase (Nichijou)
Miyauchi Renge (Non Non Biyori)
Shimogamo Yasaburou (Uchouten Kazouku)
Rory Mercury (Gate: Jietai etc etc)
Megumin (KonoSuba)
Last Order (Toaru Majutsu no Index/Toaru Kagaku no Railgun)
Kotoishi Naru (Barakamon)
Yamamura Miwa (Barakamon)
Kiriha (Tsugumomo)
Endou Saya (Dagashi Kashi)
Milim (Slime isekai)
Shirakiin Ririchiyo (Inu x Boku SS)
Favorite Anime:
Shinsekai yori
Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
Flying Witch
Flip Flappers
Azumanga Daioh
Nichijou
Kyousou Giga (TV)
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (both seasons)
Mushishi
Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryouko
Zettai Shounen
Favorite Manga: (TBD)
Favorite OPs, EDs, and anime songs (a random and arbitrary selection):
Saw your review of Kumo to Tulip.
I think a lot of people forget that Disney and American cartoons is one thing propelled the "black face" in early days animations, and in the 1940s, western animations were straight up banned in Japan and animators tried taking inspiration from Disney and their technology since they were so far ahead. Most likely what caused animations like this to appear. Then there's a whole slew of other notable historic reasonings.
heyo~ I read your review on "The orbital childred" and I thought i'd inquire a little bit, More to organize my own thoughts about the show but also just cause your review did actually help me confirm I did really enjoy the show, Which I think makes you a great reviewer as your thoughts and views must've been consistent and honed from well thought out introspection as they were immediately identifiable and understandable as soon as I read the short entry. So i'd like to inquire anyway and i'll explain why in a bit.
I agree, The kids are very very irritating and annoying, There feels like theres no stakes and alot of it can feel wishy washy, But I think thats side effects from what they actually focused on achieving.
This show showed us a kind of interpretation(As far as they could get) of where they felt the world was going and told us a tale of how the youngest generation can mature, and find their own faults through existing in eachothers "frame".
Yes Touya is a gloomy hateful brat with a twisted mesiah complex that over-convoluted itself into wanting to destroy a 3rd of the world, But when he realized that solution wouldn't solve the reason he first wanted to solve any problem, For his "sister" or friend who he grew up with, He reconsidered everything, And didn't stop thinking, An important theme in this show because everyone had this arc at the end of the show, Where they "Leave their cradle" and grow to be more mature and meaningful people.
However this only happens after they confront what was the symbolic equivalent to everyones "Answer" regarding all our(as in humanities) unchecked mistakes, and the 2 representatives were children who felt forced to believe in either Fate or the extreme truth in order to feel some semblance of peace in their quickly fading lives, In some senses opposites. But instead of sacrificing more people to solve those problems with a solution given to them, They decided to go against it and instead never stop thinking, Encompassing as much as they could into their "frame" to find as many solutions to benefit those they cared about and those around them.
It was supposed to be a testament to humanity, And tried to show us moving away from Gods, Fate or reliance and taking responsibility. And I do think Iso Mitsuo did a fantastic job with this new studio and really brought the senses of Gravity and development to life, And even if they couldn't bring a full weight to the situations with just this much they did show development and gave reasons for character growth that I find very acceptable.
And the fact no one needed to mention the Chief means he was used just right.
In the end it was a story of questions and answers, And I do think the answers are very suitable for the people who should be watching, Those that relate to the children present, And need a direction to grow and believe in.
But again, Thank you lots for your entry, It gave me the perfect jumping off point and sorry for hijacking your profile comments to do my thing, Have a great one!
All Comments (164) Comments
I think a lot of people forget that Disney and American cartoons is one thing propelled the "black face" in early days animations, and in the 1940s, western animations were straight up banned in Japan and animators tried taking inspiration from Disney and their technology since they were so far ahead. Most likely what caused animations like this to appear. Then there's a whole slew of other notable historic reasonings.
Animations neat though.
P.S.: So sorry I'm late, I could have sworn I wished you a happy birthday yesterday but then realized I hadn't this morning, my bad..;v;
You say: Something very special happens, something magical, something perfect. (wrt to the final episode)
What were you referring to ?
https://tenor.com/wjob.gif
I agree, The kids are very very irritating and annoying, There feels like theres no stakes and alot of it can feel wishy washy, But I think thats side effects from what they actually focused on achieving.
This show showed us a kind of interpretation(As far as they could get) of where they felt the world was going and told us a tale of how the youngest generation can mature, and find their own faults through existing in eachothers "frame".
Yes Touya is a gloomy hateful brat with a twisted mesiah complex that over-convoluted itself into wanting to destroy a 3rd of the world, But when he realized that solution wouldn't solve the reason he first wanted to solve any problem, For his "sister" or friend who he grew up with, He reconsidered everything, And didn't stop thinking, An important theme in this show because everyone had this arc at the end of the show, Where they "Leave their cradle" and grow to be more mature and meaningful people.
However this only happens after they confront what was the symbolic equivalent to everyones "Answer" regarding all our(as in humanities) unchecked mistakes, and the 2 representatives were children who felt forced to believe in either Fate or the extreme truth in order to feel some semblance of peace in their quickly fading lives, In some senses opposites. But instead of sacrificing more people to solve those problems with a solution given to them, They decided to go against it and instead never stop thinking, Encompassing as much as they could into their "frame" to find as many solutions to benefit those they cared about and those around them.
It was supposed to be a testament to humanity, And tried to show us moving away from Gods, Fate or reliance and taking responsibility. And I do think Iso Mitsuo did a fantastic job with this new studio and really brought the senses of Gravity and development to life, And even if they couldn't bring a full weight to the situations with just this much they did show development and gave reasons for character growth that I find very acceptable.
And the fact no one needed to mention the Chief means he was used just right.
In the end it was a story of questions and answers, And I do think the answers are very suitable for the people who should be watching, Those that relate to the children present, And need a direction to grow and believe in.
But again, Thank you lots for your entry, It gave me the perfect jumping off point and sorry for hijacking your profile comments to do my thing, Have a great one!