Category Archives: Episode Writeup

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! – Episode 2

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Hello folks, and welcome back to your regularly scheduled Eizouken gushing. In contrast with my first writeup, which I actually wrote while watching the show’s premiere for the very first time, I’ve actually watched Eizouken’s second episode twice already already – and at this particular moment, there is nothing I would rather do than watch it a third time. Alright, that’s a lie – I’d actually rather watch the third episode again, which I’ve only seen once so far, but that will have to come AFTER I finish this dang writeup.

Incidentally, if you’re looking for a deep dive into the production details behind this incredible anime, I’d strongly urge you to check out kViN’s in-depth articles over at the Sakuga Blog. I can say without hyperbole that kViN is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable animation enthusiasts in fandom, that he has raised the level of fan discourse regarding anime production in general, and that he’s also one of the nicest guys I know. I can’t hope to match his depth of insight regarding production staff, but I’m hoping to at least partially make up for in enthusiasm what I lack in expertise, and maybe even offer a few clever observations of my own. As a show specifically about the joy of artistic creation, Eizouken’s first three episodes have charmed and moved me more than any anime I’ve seen in quite some time, and I’m eager to share my delight in this show with you. Let’s get back to Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

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Chihayafuru S3 – Episode 14

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The karuta hour has come again! We return to Chihayafuru at the climax of an incredibly intense battle, as Arata and Harada grapple for the right to challenge Master Suo. Though I expected this match to be a dramatic highlight, I could never have predicted how much time and energy Chihayafuru would dedicate to this battle. In a season that’s seen entire tournaments come and go over the course of an episode and a half, Harada and Arata’s battle has already taken up two full episodes by itself, and now seems poised to consume a third.

I’m certainly not complaining, though – this battle, and its Haruka/Megumin compliment, feel like like the culmination of season three’s most central and compelling themes. What it means to grow up or grow old with karuta is a question all of Chihayafuru’s stars have been asking themselves, whether they’re nearing retirement, hoping for a late-career comeback, or simply wondering how karuta can fit into a post-high school lifestyle. In Harada and Arata’s battle, karuta’s past and future collide, with Arata calling his grandfather’s spirit back to the playing floor, and Harada responding with a vigor that argues however our bodies age, our passions need not be diminished. It’s been an riveting battle, and I’m eager to see how it ends. Let’s get to it!

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Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! – Episode 1

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NEW YUASA NEW YUASA NEW YUASA. If you’ve been around this site long enough, you probably know that Masaaki Yuasa is one of my favorite directors, and frankly one of the most noteworthy anime directors by any reasonable metric. Yuasa’s works melt and weave between visual styles, embracing animation’s ability to convey a sensory experience through visual transformations. They tend to be both visually astounding and also far more compelling as narratives than most of the medium – Yuasa never writes down to his audience, and generally picks only the best source material to transform into animation. And here at the start of 2020, this animator’s animator is tackling an even more animation-celebratory work, as he adapts a story that overtly celebrates the miracle of animation, and the joy of collective artistic discovery. Let’s dive into the first episode of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 4

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As winter approaches my drafty New England apartment, there’s nothing I’d like more than to escape to somewhere warm and sunny, where the beaches are plentiful and the Pokemon always happy to see you. Pokemon Sun and Moon’s anime has been a relaxing and very charming adventure so far, and really does feel like a little slice of anime vacation. The show’s first three episodes have possessed little sense of urgency, and I actually really appreciate that; instead, the show has held closer to something like a slice of life tone, simply reveling in Ash’s process of getting to know the Alolan residents, and going on adventures with his new friends. The show’s narrative trajectory embodies its ethos: enjoying Pokemon is not about winning or losing, but about the fundamental joys of friendship, discovery, and competition. Let’s see what new adventures await in the next episode of Sun and Moon!

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Chihayafuru S3 – Episode 13

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Folks, it is wonderful to see you all again. After an end of December dominated by family activities and an early January consumed by the preview guide, I can at last return to my regularly-scheduled reader projects. And you know what that means: it’s time for more goddamn Chihayafuru.

When we last left off, Chihayafuru’s two most senior competitors had each pulled off victories of inches, just barely defeating their much younger opponents. But along with speed and reaction time, youth also blesses us with tremendous stamina – and as Harada and Haruka’s own stamina is used up, their chances of securing a second win become that much slimmer. Harada’s response to this reality is to immediately forfeit the second round, thus giving himself a chance to recover his strength for the deciding match. That leaves Haruka to face Megumin alone, as her anxieties about aging, guilt regarding her children, and complicated relationship with her own professional legacy all collide.

Haruka has become this season’s breakout star, with her and Harada’s feelings expanding Chihayafuru’s emotional scope from the pains of adolescence to the compromises and disappointments of adulthood. Her fear of aging out of karuta is palpable, and though this season has consistently emphasized that change is inevitable, I can’t help but really really hope she wins. Let’s see how she fares against Megumin in the second round!

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Rilakkuma and Kaoru – Episode 3

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June arrives in Rilakkuma and Kaoru, heralded by a torrent of cool, unending rain. Though most narratives are guided by the course of their protagonists’ journeys, Rilakkuma and Kaoru instead follows a month-by-month schedule, a choice that can feel either comforting or anxiety-inducing, depending on your perspective. Adult lives don’t necessarily follow “protagonist’s journeys,” or really clear narrative arcs in general. After a first act defined by the guiding trajectory and lofty promises of education, we are thrust out into the world, and forced to accept that we are no longer main characters.

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Chihayafuru S3 – Episode 12

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Alright folks, buckle in for more Chihayafuru! We’re a week behind after I foolishly took a week off for holiday affairs, and the challenger tournament finals won’t wait. Chihayafuru’s last episode set us up for a fairly unusual pair of matches, with the contrast of eastern and western representatives also neatly falling upon generational lines. In the east, two separate generations of older karuta players are fighting to demonstrate they’re still just as talented as any of their younger peers. Dr. Harada must battle not just his opponent Arata, but also his failing knees; meanwhile, Haruka’s attention is unavoidably divided by her obligations to her family, and as Sakurazawa noted, her reaction time and game sense can’t match her talent in her prime.

Over in the western corner, we’ve got a pair of snot-nosed upstart kids who should really accept they’ve got all the time in the world to become champions, and let their long-suffering elders take the crowns this time. Both Arata and Megumu are obviously sympathetic characters in their own right, but neither of them need this the way Harada and Haruka seem to, and both of the older contenders are such sympathetic characters that it’s hard not to root for them. Regardless of how the matches play out, we’ve got a thorough understanding of the strengths of all of today’s contenders, and I’m eager to see how their styles collide. Let’s get back to Chihayafuru!

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Simoun – Episode 21

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Let’s return once more to the troubled skies of Simoun! The show’s previous episode was one long, somber dirge, as all of Chor Tempest struggled with Mamiina’s death in their own ways. With the actual, senseless consequences of war made so inescapably clear, Tempest seemed on the verge of dissolution. The team’s theoretical rocks, Aaeru and Para, both blamed themselves, while Neviril sank into the familiar grief she’s been struggling with all season, and Floe decided to leave altogether.

What ultimately saved them was not their own ability to rise out of tragedy, but instead the uniting influence of a common enemy. The military’s callous discarding of Mamiina’s remains brought the team together in rage, before Onashia’s gift of Mamiina’s braid reminded them that ultimately, the only support structure they can now rely on is each other. Once protected by their religious status, military importance, and inherent class advantages, the sybilla have discovered that as Simulacrum society disintegrates, none of their old guards can now be trusted. The only people still at their side are their fellow sybilla; the squadmates they once bickered with, but now realize are their only true friends. Let’s see how Neviril’s team hold together through one more episode of Simoun!

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Chihayafuru S3 – Episode 11

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Pile in folks, it’s time for more Chihayafuru! When last we left off, the Masters qualifiers had just ended on a surprising conclusion: Arata and Harada would be competing for the challenger seat. Taichi fought his hardest, but his run through the qualifiers was ended by one more luck of the draw, and he was forced to shuffle off to Kyoto in total defeat.

Where this leaves the overall Chihayafuru narrative is a bit of an open question. Taichi had seemingly planned on treating the Masters tournament as his karuta swan song, but I can’t really imagine him happily submitting to his mother’s wishes from here out; additionally, his struggles over the course of that tournament also seemed to indicate he might be moving towards a more positive and fulfilling relationship with karuta, and not just seeing it as an avenue to get closer to Chihaya. Meanwhile, Chihaya seems to have possibly realized that Taichi is love with her, while Arata has discovered that acknowledging that fact prompts feelings of jealousy.

And over all of this, Suo’s strange prediction still looms, dictating that Arata will be the Master one day, but not the next Master. Does that mean that Harada actually has a chance here, or will Suo remain unchallenged for another year, and only fall when Taichi takes the crown? Either way, the Harada-Arata match hovers in the distance, and I can’t wait to see Chihaya and Taichi awkwardly stumbling through their new relationship dynamic. Let’s get to it!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 11

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I’ll let you folks in on a secret – at the time of writing this article, Huggto’s eleventh episode wasn’t actually funded yet. Normally I try not to push ahead of the funding on specific projects, even if I’m fairly sure they’ll get there, because I’ve already got more than enough projects to work on – but today, I feel like I just need some Huggto! It’s been a long week, I’ve accomplished more work than I have in over a month, and I think I’ve earned the right to spoil myself with some charming magical girl adventures. We’re checking in with Hana and the gang, and that is final.

When we last left Huggto!, I was actually feeling some uncertainty about our current arc. Hana has always served as a beacon of optimism within the group, essentially embodying the “hope for the future” that this season’s enemies are trying to destroy. Having her lose that hope simply by seeing her friends competently serve as waitresses felt a little abrupt, narrative-wise – though of course, Hana is young and impressionable and far less certain of her identity than an adult would be. At times like this, you need friends who can build you back up, and personally, I’m hoping this situation provides a chance for Emiru to return to the narrative, and maybe even pay back Hana for her support before. Look, I’m a simple and very anxious person, “The Magical Girl With Anxiety” is an easy sell for me. Either way, let’s see what awaits in the next Huggto! Precure!

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