There’s something about visual novels that always seems to return me to younger days, and my own high school and high school-adjacent experiences. Of course, I never actually had a high school experience like the one perpetually portrayed in anime and visual novels – I never sat in that back right window seat, and I never developed the passionate, tangled web of romantic longing that seems to define Anime Youth. But the thing is, I actually was in high school at the same time I was watching through many of these properties, and my own memories are thus tethered not just to my physical experiences, but to the aesthetics that informed my view of what high school life is “supposed to be like.”
Category Archives: Essay
Neon Genesis Evangelion – Review
Today I’ve got a review that perhaps a few of you might be interested in – my sprawling, exhaustive reflection on Neon Genesis Evangelion as a whole, as I tackle a formal review of the show’s twenty-six episode run for Anime News Network. This was a genuinely intimidating project to take on, and I worked as hard as I could to do the series justice, in all its rambling narrative poignancy and greater industry influence. Returning to Evangelion was a thrilling reminder of just how powerful anime can be, and I was happy to lend my own few thoughts to the dialogue on this wonderful show. I hope you enjoy my piece!
Why It Works: Five Highlights of the Fire Force Anime’s Thrilling Debut
That’s fucking right, I somehow also wrote a Why It Works column during this ridiculous hell weekend. It’s about Fire Force, features some detailed breakdowns of the show’s visual merits, and I have no more time to continue to describing it. I’m off to continue my rampage through the season premieres, so please enjoy!
Five Highlights of the Fire Force Anime’s Thrilling Debut!
Why It Works: Meet the Staff of the Upcoming Fire Force!
Today on Why It Works, I dug into the key staff behind the new season’s Fire Force, because holy crap does this show have a great staff. The director Yuki Yase in particular has been a force at SHAFT for years now, and though it’s sad to see SHAFT losing so much key talent, I’m excited to see what he does with a major production like this. The wild card, as always, will be the writing – there’s plenty of strong studio talent here, but if the obnoxious comedy that knocked me off Soul Eater is prominent enough, none of that will matter. Here’s to hoping Fire Force is a story worthy of its excellent team!
Meet the Staff of the Upcoming Fire Force!
Planetes and the Great Man’s Shadow
Planetes’ second volume describes the allure of conquering space in familiar terms, as it sets the stage for protagonist Hachimaki’s attempts to join the first manned voyage to Jupiter. Its synopsis opens with “in the history of space travel, many great men have forged the way into great frontiers, and many great men have died so that others may continue further into the great reaches of space.” It goes on to describe Hachimaki’s dream of traveling to Jupiter and joining this hallowed pantheon, but its frame of reference for history and society is already set by those first few words. Though Planetes is about many things, in its second volume, it could perhaps most clearly be described as a story about the mythology of the Great Man.
10 Anime to Inspire Your Summer Vacation!
Today on Why It Works, I’ve got another topical list for everyone, courtesy of the end-of-season drought of things to actually critique. This one’s a pretty fun list though, and runs down a pretty wide array of shows I’ve enjoyed over recent years, highlighting them for tonal strengths that are sometimes overshadowed by their overt premises. Here’s the list!
10 Anime to Inspire Your Summer Vacation!
Why It Works: Anime to Look Out For in the Summer Season!
Today on Why It Works, I offered my usual rapid-fire list of upcoming seasonal contenders, with the summer’s particularly broad slate giving me plenty of shows to talk about. I’m not sure how many of these action shows I’ll actually be keeping up with, but with JoJo ending and Demon Slayer continuing to disappoint, I’m guessing I’ll at least be picking up Dr. Stone and Fire Force. O Maidens also seems like a given, and Granbelm definitely has a lot of potential. Without clear guidelines like “Watanabe and Ikuhara are making shows,” the season’s prospects are a lot more open, and I’m excited to see where all these shows sort out. Here’s my list!
Anime to Look Out For in the Summer Season!
Chihayafuru Part Three: The Movie
It’s generally a good policy to design your stories with a planned beginning, middle, and endpoint. Certainly leave yourself room for creative twists and new discoveries along the way, but beginning with a coherent, planned structure is crucial if you want your story to feel like a satisfying, cohesive saga. Of course, not all stories can afford to open with knowledge of their ending – particularly stories in mediums like weekly manga, where concerns like “what new variables can I introduce to keep readers hooked” will often trump more luxurious questions like “how do these new variables further articulate my story’s fundamental point.” Continuing weekly narratives demand novelty, and novelty often ends up evolving into baggage.
Why It Works: Bucciaratti Versus Secco: Breakdown of a Classic JoJo Battle
Today I returned to one of my favorite styles of Why It Works articles, as I went point-by-point through the smart storytelling choices of JoJo’s most recent major battle. There is both an art and a craft to great action storytelling, and I appreciate Araki for consistently demonstrating all the finer points of this unique storytelling form. Let’s get to it!
Bucciaratti Versus Secco: Breakdown of a Classic JoJo Battle
Why It Works: Five Anime With Great Sibling Bonds!
Today I’ve got one more grab-bag of anime recommendations, spinning off the signature strength of this season’s Demon Slayer. To be honest, even Demon Slayer itself could really use some stronger characterization for Nezuko, but she’s definitely starting to take a stronger role in the story relative to her earlier situation. And in the meantime, I’ve got a pile of shows that already demonstrate how well anime can articulate the unique joys and stresses of sibling bonds. Have at it!
Five Anime With Great Sibling Bonds!
