Chihayafuru S3 – Episode 16

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Well everyone, I believe it’s high time for some Chihayafuru. When last we left off, we’d transitioned from the rapid-fire matches of the challenger tournament to a brief training period, with all of our leads stewing in the emotional blowback of that tournament’s conclusion. With Arata having finally confessed to Chihaya, the tone of fraught but unstated romantic longing that has defined Chihayafuru for so long has at been disrupted, and even Taichi is able to tell something is different. Chihaya’s understanding of romance is basically non-existent, but Arata’s confession has already turned into a source of strength on the one field she truly cares about – when falling back into her old self-doubting patterns, it was his face that returned her to focusing on her current Suo match.

Taichi’s window to choose his own future seems to be rapidly closing, but at the moment, we’ve got a more pressing concern: Suo declaring that Chihaya isn’t allowed to be Queen. He might simply be stating the obvious fact that Chihaya doesn’t “need” to be Queen as badly as the emotionally isolated Shinobu, but given he last predicted Arata would fail, I’m not going to take his sorceries lightly. Let’s ramble on through another episode of Chihayafuru!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 12

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Folks, I am very excited to return to Hugtto! Precure! It’s been some time since our last episode, at least from my perspective, but I still remember it quite clearly. Hugtto’s eleventh episode was one of its strongest segments yet, elevating Hana’s relatable anxieties through isolating yet beautiful layouts, and culminating in a fight sequence that somehow embodied the terrifying, inhuman energy of an Evangelion battle. That climax ended on Hana resolving her doubts through a confident declaration of selfhood, as she refused to actually strike down her opponent, and instead chose to express herself through what she’s always done best: cheering people on, and inspiring them to reach their greatest selves.

That conclusion also served as a reiteration of Hugtto’s own themes, from its focus on finding a fulfilling path to careers and adulthood, to its insistence that we are stronger if we build each other up, rather than exploit each other for personal gain. And of course, by framing that contrast in terms of the distinction between the Precures and their corporate-themed antagonists, Hugtto also furthered its perhaps inadvertent message of “fuck capitalism.” I kinda doubt this entirely capitalism-grounded production, which is designed to sell children’s toys, is also promoting a deliberately anti-capitalist message, but hey, inadvertent subtext is also fine with me. Either way, I’m eager to see what Hana and her friends get up to in one more Precure!

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Winter 2020 – Week 4 in Review

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Alright folks, settle in for the Week in Review! Once again, the fact that I’m already writing about all the anime I’m watching elsewhere means we’ll be diving into non-animated attractions this week, as I run through David Lynch films, wuxia dramas, and a novel new war epic. I’ve got a whole film canon to catch up on, and though my journey may be rambling, I’m committed to marching through it all. Without further ado, let’s explore some new movies in the Week in Review!

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Why It Works: How Eizouken Embodies the Messy Thrill of Storytelling (Part Two)

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Today on Crunchyroll, I conclude my early breakdown of how Eizouken explores the genuine fundamentals of creating stories generally, and producing anime specifically. The show’s progression actually ended up helping me a great deal here – I was already planning on centering much of this half on how essential people like Kanamori are, and then episode four came along and basically served as a direct celebration of her talents. It’s always a joy to write about this show, and I hope you enjoy my piece. Let’s get to it!

How Eizouken Embodies the Messy Thrill of Storytelling (Part Two)

The Big O – Episode 3

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time! Today I’m thrilled to return to Big O, a turn-of-the-millennium classic that combines noir storytelling tropes, art deco and gothic architecture, and lumbering super robots to arrive at something totally unique, yet roughly reducible to “giant robot Batman.” Using his titular robot companion, negotiator Roger Smith managed to save the android Dorothy from a gang that wanted to make use of her much larger sister, thus ending the show’s two-part introduction on the formation of Roger’s full negotiation team.

Though the narrative parallels and stylistic similarities between The Big O and the much-loved Batman: The Animated Series make comparisons inevitable, The Big O’s first two episodes emphatically demonstrated this is a show with its own wide array of formative influences. The Big O’s action setpieces embrace a style of slow, impactful movements that feels heavily reminiscent of classic kaiju battles, with shots cast through windows or upwards from the city streets, vividly emphasizing the unimaginable scale of giant robot battles. Its music calls back to the early 20th century film styles it’s emulating, while its robot designs combine playful super robot anthropomorphism with imposing gothic arches and buttresses. And even though they weren’t actually spearheaded by the same Sunrise substudios, it’s hard to shake the sense of Cowboy Bebop’s ghost in Paradigm’s dirty streets and huddled passerby (particularly when combined with Steve Blum’s iconic leading voice). But influences aside, The Big O’s first two episodes were plain and simply excellent television, and I’ve wasted more than enough breath getting us all caught back up. Let’s explore The Big O’s third episode!

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Chihayafuru S3 – Episode 15

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Well folks, we’re really in the shit now. After a grueling series of episodes dedicated to the fight for the challenger seat, both Harada and Haruka emerged victorious, proving they can still compete on the highest level. For both of these characters, their final matches turned out to be difficult but ultimately joyous celebrations of the time they’ve spent both with and apart from the sport. In a season that’s consistently emphasized how Chihaya and Taichi’s freedom to only prioritize karuta will end after high school, Harada and Haruka have emphatically demonstrated that growing up and accepting responsibilities apart from the sport need not diminish your passion, or your hunger for the top seat. It’s been an exciting, thematically compelling, and consistently poignant arc, and I’m happy for both of them.

Unfortunately, pretty much exactly the moment Harada declared victory, Arata also declared he was in love with Chihaya. Meanwhile, while pursuing Suo, Taichi oh-so-casually announced that he’s already Chihaya’s boyfriend. The time of competition has ended, and it seems the time for bare knuckle love triangle shenanigans has come. Secure your hard hats and protective goggles, folks – this is gonna get messy.

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Girls’ Last Tour – Episode 12

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Well everyone, the day has come. I’ve been putting off watching this episode for a simple, familiar reason: as long as I don’t actually watch the last Girls’ Last Tour, the show never has to end. The adventures of Yuu and Chi have turned out to be some of the most beautiful, thematically rich, and moving episodes I’ve experienced. Confronted with the last episode, I’m forced to admit how much I don’t want this journey to be over.

Simply following these girls as they traverse the ruins of their great city is an enchanting experience all by itself, mournful and yet also hopeful, with each new episode offering its own visual wonders and artifacts to discover. On top of that, Yuu and Chi’s reflections on this world, unbound by our preconceptions regarding “proper living,” regularly poke at the heart of the human condition, forcing us to reflect on what we believe and pursue, and what will ultimately last. The show’s frank acknowledgment of the ephemeral nature of all things is balanced by its last and greatest strength: the clear and loving bond between Yuu and Chi, a tether protecting them, and also giving all of their adventures meaning and a sense of joy. Lost in a world whose end is inevitable, Yuu and Chi cannot hide behind any promises of future glory or ultimate reward; what joy and solace they find in this place is found each day, in their uncovering of this lost world, and in the love they bring to each other.

It seems a little ironic, then, that I’ve put off this last episode for so long. As Girls’ Last Tour itself states, everything ends, but that should be no cause for despair. Let’s enjoy this last episode, and remember the show fondly, without regrets. What the future holds, we cannot know – but as Yuu says, if you stick around, something good is bound to happen.

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Winter 2020 – Week 3 in Review

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Well folks, it’s Wednesday again. Normally, this is when I offer some scattered thoughts on the previous week in streaming anime, but for this season, that process seems kind of superfluous. I’m currently watching My Hero Academia, Chihayafuru, and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, and among the three of them, I’m already writing episodic articles about each new Chihayafuru and Eizouken article. I doubt anyone’s particularly excited about hearing me dutifully report on My Hero Academia’s extremely loyal and generally unremarkable adaptation each week, so instead I’d like to expand my focus a bit, and talk about some of the non-anime media I’ve gotten to recently. I’ve been making a concerted effort to watch more acclaimed films and whatnot, and if I can’t turn all that personal fulfillment into Content, then what the heck am I doing?

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Why It Works: How Eizouken Embodies the Messy Thrill of Storytelling!

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I am sure it could not be less surprising that I’m favoring Eizouken in this season’s Why It Works columns, but you only get so many chances to write about shows this good. I’ve still got more Eizouken writing to do today, but I hope you enjoy this piece about how Eizouken reveals the true messiness of constructing a narrative. Here’s the piece!

How Eizouken Embodies the Messy Thrill of Storytelling!

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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