Chihayafuru S2 – Episode 24

Posted on by

Oh my gosh you guys, we are far too close to the end of this season. Do I even want to watch this episode of Chihayafuru? The show has been my most reliable, persistent joy this year, and I always enjoy stuffing myself with more karuta drama, but knowing we’re only two episodes away from the end of the season sure does put this in a somber context. At this point, I am profoundly happy I actually waited this long to watch Chihayafuru – at least now we know there’s a third season coming eventually, and all light won’t simply vanish from the world when this tournament ends.

Anyway. Sorrowful end-of-season context aside, we’re currently in the middle of a thrilling match between the two characters whose skills have been built up more than any other: Shinobu and Arata. The Master and Queen split of professional players means Arata could never actually challenge Shinobu for her throne, so their fight here could potentially be the only time they get to compete professionally. And beyond the inherent thrill of seeing their thoroughly established skills in action, this match is also acting as a full reintroduction to Arata’s skills more generally, as well as a continuation of Shinobu’s insecurity-driven isolationist act. This battle is firing on all cylinders in terms of immediate tactics, character arcs, and larger Chihayafuru themes, offering a worthy sendoff to what’s been a generally thrilling season. Let’s get to the mats and watch some Chihayafuru!

Continue reading →

Ojamajo Doremi – Episode 32

Posted on by

It has been far too long since we watched some good old-fashioned Ojamajo Doremi. The show is one of my biggest comfort food projects, and I’m always happy to return for another episode. With thirty episodes down, Ojamajo Doremi has established a broad and vibrant cast, extending from our endearing and multifaceted leads to a variety of engaging classmates, family members, and other acquaintances. The cast is strong enough that the show could easily coast on its fundamentals at this point – if you described an episode as “tall tale girl, teacher, and Pop have a ridiculous adventure,” I’d already know this was going to be a great one. But of course, Ojamajo Doremi is always climbing towards something new, be it some moral point or the elaboration of an entire new magical system.

Our last episode split the difference between those two priorities, as we got half an episode of classmate drama and half an episode of more magical exams. Our girls have passed the level 5 exams now, meaning if past episodes are anything to go by, this one will likely focus on celebrating whatever impressive new magic they’ve finally unlocked. I’m sure they’ll screw it up, and I can’t wait to see how. Let’s settle in for another episode of Ojamajo Doremi!

Continue reading →

Summer 2018 – Week 8 in Review

Posted on by

Hey folks, and welcome back to another week in review. The anime was the anime this week – one show triumphed with one of its best episodes, another show disappointed with one of its least impressive, and Planet With was as indescribably Planet With as ever. The success story this week was Revue Starlight, which illustrated a shocking revelation regarding the true nature of this competition through a beautifully realized tone piece, giving us an evocative glimpse into the headspace of Starlight’s most mysterious contender. Offering consistently striking layouts and a variety of dramatic reveals, it marked a major step up for the series in terms of narrative tension while also thrilling as its own self-contained vignette. I should probably reserve some of my gushing for the show’s own dedicated segment, though, so let’s hold off there and start with the runt of the weekly litter. It’s time to run this week down!

Continue reading →

Why It Works: This Season’s Greatest Hero is a Space Princess

Posted on by

It is absolutely time for more gushing about Planet With. After last week’s more serious and theme-focused article, I figured it was probably appropriate to also write an article about Planet With’s sillier side. Of course, Ginko isn’t a comic relief character at all – she’s just naturally funny, like most of this show’s cast. And beyond adding a bunch of charm to the production, her story echoes Planet With’s generally fatigued-but-humanist outlook, representing a hard-fought belief in the validity of all life. Ginko is great, and I’m happy to make a small tribute to her.

This Season’s Greatest Hero is a Space Princess

Princess Tutu – Episode 13

Posted on by

At last, the finale has arrived! With all the key players assembled and committed to their roles, Princess Tutu’s thirteenth episode is a dazzling celebration of both their humanity and Drosselmeyer’s keen eye for storytelling. Heroes will rise, villains will fall, and the tragic inevitability of The Prince and the Raven shall be overcome at last. Having spent long hours fighting for Mytho’s heart and gaining powerful allies along the way, Ahiru will at last be rewarded for her efforts, and claim her princely prize.

Continue reading →

Chihayafuru S2 – Episode 23

Posted on by

Our rampage through Chihayafuru continues today, as we explore the third-to-last episode of the second season! Like season one, it appears that season two will be climaxing with a big tournament final, but not a Chihaya-focused final – instead, it seems extremely likely that the last match of this season will be Arata facing Shinobu for the A rank crown. Arata has so far been presented as “stupidly strong, even for an A rank player,” so I’m excited to see how he fairs against the best of the best – and beyond that, the show’s also been building up this personal reunion for most of a season now, so I imagine sparks will fly even beyond the tatami mat.

Of course, we’re not quite there yet. Chihaya was beaten very quickly in the third round, and her defeat leaves us with Taichi, Tsutomu, and Kana still in the running for Mizusawa. Of the three of them, Taichi easily has the most on the line here, as a victory in any major tournament would cement his transition into A rank. He’s fighting Retro in the third round, but even if he succeeds here, he’s likely got Rion waiting for him somewhere up ahead. The stakes are high for our deeply self-doubting hero, but he certainly has the skill necessary to move up in rank. Let’s see if he can face his anxieties and triumph at last!

Continue reading →

Toradora – Episode 3

Posted on by

Toradora’s third episode opens with cherry blossoms blooming in sunlight, their petals shaking free and dancing in the breeze. A bright blue sky and the sounds of birds chirping complement the petals, leading into Taiga yawning as she wipes the sleep from her eyes. Every element of this episode’s first moments convey a firm sense of rebirth and growth, a new beginning. After the torrential drama of the show’s first two episodes, Toradora has at last established its neutral mode, leading Taiga and Ryuji through calamitous confessions to arrive at an honest, genuine friendship. Ryuji and Taiga are no longer “partners in crime” or otherwise forced to share space; they’re just friends, and so they hang out.

Continue reading →

Summer 2018 – Week 7 in Review

Posted on by

Well folks, it’s Wednesday again. With the season’s halfway point behind us, my airing schedule has settled into a comfortable neutral at this point, as three very entertaining shows each continue to impress in their own ways. This was a particularly good week for Planet With and a mediocre one for My Hero Academia, but bumps and divots like that are basically expected from all shows, and on the whole my airing schedule is consistent as heck. In fact, with only one season left in the year, we’re actually reaching the point where I could even start to plot out what will end up on my end-of-year top ten list. My Hero Academia’s likely to settle somewhere around the bottom of the list regardless, but both Planet With and Revue Starlight have the potential to fall almost anywhere within that list, depending on how they resolve. It’s anyone’s game at this point, so let’s do some thorough sifting as we RUN THIS WEEK DOWN!

Continue reading →

Why It Works: Planet With’s Villains Are Right

Posted on by

Today on Crunchyroll, I finally took my first stab at a Planet With article, which will hopefully be the first of many. There are a million possible angles to tackle this show from, but I went with a pretty central one to start: the moral ambiguity of the various shifting factions in this very unique show. There are no clear villains in this one – even the friggin’ dragon has his own ethos, as horribly violent as it is. I’m excited to see how alliances shift in the second half!

Planet With’s Villains Are Right

One Piece – Volume 17

Posted on by

As always, Eiichiro Oda opens One Piece’s seventeenth volume with a brief personal anecdote, one of the many ways this manga creates a personal relationship between reader and storyteller. Oda mentions how he and his assistants often visit a raucous family restaurant, full of loud children and their parents. However, if you visit on Sunday at 7:30, the restaurant is quiet. All children are turned to the television, all eyes on Oda’s One Piece. Oda understands the responsibility inherent in that – that he has an opportunity to teach and inspire, and that few possess the platform he does for reaching young people. There are few jobs more noble or significant than inspiring the next generation’s dreams, and Oda’s understanding of that responsibility is clear in his every page.

Continue reading →