Ranking of Kings – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’ll be embarking on a journey through a show that’s pretty much unanimously considered one of 2021’s best productions, Ranking of Kings. Having already screened the first episode back around its debut, I can affirm that Ranking of Kings is indeed The Good Shit, but let’s start off with a brief breakdown of the production situation inspiring its excellence.

Wit Studio roared onto the anime scene ten years ago, branching off from Production I.G., and swiftly gaining acclaim for their adaptation of Attack on Titan. Their productions in the years since have included such highlights as After the Rain and Vinland Saga, with the first of those properties highlighting the unique “makeup team” the studio developed during Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, and the second illustrating their tendency to bite off more than they can chew in terms of production scheduling. Though their attachment to the Titan franchise has afforded them a perhaps over-inflated reputation among general anime fans, the studio has built an undeniably impressive catalog over a short time, bringing a unique style of painterly artistry to projects ranging from Rolling Girls to Vivy.

For Ranking of Kings, the studio has assembled a top shelf team worthy of a prestige production, and appear to be consciously aiming to create a property that will fortify their artistic credentials. Art director Yuuji Kaneko has previously served as art director on projects ranging from Madoka Magica to Little Witch Academia to Patema Inverted, while the production’s roster of key animators includes many of the greatest working artists in the business. The economic conditions of anime production rarely allow for projects that strive purely to be great works of art, so I’m eager to see Wit’s artists apply their talents to something with such grand and admirable ambitions. Let’s get to it!

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Anne of Green Gables – Episode 4

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You can do it, Anne! It only took one wagon ride to convince Matthew you belonged in the family, and Marilla may well be a tougher nut to crack, but you’ve had a whole extra day to win her over. For as much as Marilla has protested over Anne’s precocious and talkative nature, it’s been easy to see her initial distrust fade into something at least a dash more warm and accommodating. And with Anne having promised to make the most of this final ride, I imagine she’ll be returning to the star-struck wonder of her first journey, with a sprinkling of melancholy to tug at Marilla’s heart. Marilla’s certainly a tough customer, but it’s hard to imagine any fundamentally decent person won’t be won over by Anne eventually.

I’m quite looking forward to seeing Anne triumph today, even though it’s also been fun to witness her larger-than-life despair. Whether in happiness or sorrow, Anne is determined to live with the intensity of her storybook heroes, with Takahata’s production providing a suitably gorgeous backdrop for her adventures. It’s been a privilege to watch and write about this profoundly generous production, and I hope you’re half as excited as I am as we return to the hills of Green Gables!

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The Demon Girl Next Door – Episode 3

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am eager to dive back into The Demon Girl Next Door, whose first two episodes were as charming as is legally permissible. Yuko and Momo have already proven themselves to be excellent heroines in their own right, and far greater as a matched pair. Yuko’s confident spirit and profound incompetence slot her into a long and distinguished line of anime gremlins, while Momo’s deadpan affectation is a fun twist on expectations that make her a perfect foil for Yuko. Momo seems genuine in her support for Yuko’s ambitions, but also can’t help but tease her adorable demon friend, making for a wonderful central dynamic.

Of course, along with that strong character chemistry, I’ll also be keeping an eye on this show’s intriguing perspective on magical girls more generally. Like Madoka Magica before it, Demon Girl seems interested in how magical girls can be used as a signifier for society’s expectations about women. In these worlds, righteousness is not something we embody, but something we are assigned, and must perform as the eye of society wills it. Demon Girl gestures towards the limits of this philosophy even with its lead’s personalities: Yuko’s chipper disposition makes her a natural magical girl type, while Momo’s cool, imperturbable affectation is more regularly assigned to villains. But here they are, trying to do their best with the roles they’ve been given, and propping each other up in spite of society’s demand for blood. Let’s see how our perfectly mismatched heroines fare!

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Fall 2021 – Week 11 in Review

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Hello everyone, and welcome on back to Wrong Every Time. I have to admit, my film viewing hours have been diminished as of late, due to one obvious and embarrassing cause: Darkest Dungeon is taking over my life. I am not one of those people who plays a videogame casually, logging in a few minutes here and there throughout the week. Either I bounce off a game almost immediately, or I let it consume me entirely, thinking of little else until my trials are complete. My mind is now perpetually half-occupied with hardy adventurers and the trials thereof, but I fortunately managed to sneak in a sturdy collection of film viewings in the margins of the week. With a healthy mix of artistry, indulgence, and straightforward violence ahead of us, let’s dive into the Week in Review!

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Shadows House – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m reaching deep into our bag of outstanding projects, as we check out the first episode of the recent production Shadows House. I know very little about this production, beyond the fact that its source material seems relatively well-liked, and that the adaptation received a modest but altogether consistent degree of praise. 

Director Kazuki Oohashi cut his teeth on a variety of SHAFT productions, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some degree of the post-Shinbo school’s signature tricks represented here. After that, he storyboarded and directed several episodes of the Persona 5 anime, meaning he’s also spent time with that irrepressible stylist Masashi Ishihama. Given this combined education, I’m expecting ornate scene-setting, a strong focus on overall layouts, and a general disregard for naturalism as a cinematic goal. Ishihama is one of very few directors who can pull off horror in animation, so I’m eager to see if Oohashi brings some of that style to this production. Without further ado, let’s dive into Shadows House!

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Eureka Seven – Episode 9

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Yeah, no, we’re not doing another five year break between episodes. Eureka Seven has been a delight to return to, and I’m eager to learn more about Holland’s mission and history. The conclusion of last episode seemed to promise we’ll be digging into Holland and Talho’s shared past, but whatever this episode brings, I’m content just to luxuriate in this show’s overwhelming bounty of character animation and background design. We just plain don’t get originals of this scale and quality anymore; the market has moved towards single-cour light novel adaptations as a rule, with only an occasional Deca-Dence or Sonny Boy slipping through the cracks. It’d be easy to lament this transition, but every era of anime production has its own pleasures and pitfalls, and I’d rather celebrate the good in each of them. Let’s explore the wild bounty of the ‘00s then, as we return to the skies of Eureka Seven!

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Oregairu S3 – Episode 8

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Alright Hachiman, how are we doing this? Last episode saw our quasi-hero taking clear steps towards establishing his anti-prom, as he conscripted a bunch of former allies to his planning committee, and even got Jazzhands hyped about a potential multi-school collaboration. Of course, all of his plans have been theoretical so far; he hasn’t even raised the possibility of a second prom to any school officials, meaning his greatest battles are still ahead of him. At some point Hachiman will have to face Yukimom directly, and I’m eager to assess the bloodshed.

Meanwhile, Hachiman’s personal life is such a clusterfuck that I barely have the strength to untangle it. Iroha will make it out of all this with her usual grace, but Yui is being set up for some kind of Fated Tragedy, which frankly feels terribly unfair. It was Yui’s kindness and generosity that essentially taught Hikki and Yukino to be decent people, and to desire the kind of sincere friendship they initially distrusted. But Yui isn’t some ethereal saint with no desires of her own; she instigated this whole situation because she actually likes Hikki, and having her bow out to ensure the others’ happiness would just be a repeat of the same self-sacrificing behavior she hates to see from Hachiman. I’m not sure how this show will make Yui happy, but I’m ready to hold it accountable if it fails. I’ve got my eye on you Watari; if you make Yui unhappy, I’m getting on a plane.

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Fall 2021 – Week 10 in Review

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Boy oh boy have I got a pile of film thoughts for you today, ranging across nearly a full century of cinematic history. We’ve essentially run through both the first- and second-tier films of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, meaning our current selections tend to group into two categories: film classics I seek out myself, or random crap that my housemates put on before I can convince them to watch a classic. This on the whole results in a fairly balanced film diet, as I have much less trouble agreeing to watch garbage than intentionally putting it on myself. Plus, it seems you sickos actually enjoy watching me tear stuff apart, so I suppose this works out best for everyone. Without further ado, let’s charge through some fresh films!

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Dead Dead Demons and the Banality of Apocalypse

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Late in Dead Dead Demons’ first volume, its boisterous heroine Ontan stares out over the city of Tokyo, a vast alien mothership hanging silently above. In spite of the imminent threat, the city is quiet. After months of frantic news reports, the mothership has become just another feature of the skyline, an accepted feature of the modern age. Ontan has news for her complacent city. “Everyone seems to have forgotten what happened that day, and are living their peaceful lives as if it’s a given. But I have something I’d like to tell them: there’s no such thing as an endless summer break!”

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 48

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today it is too damn cold outside, as it will remain in my state for roughly eight months, before suddenly becoming habitable again sometime in late May. Accordingly, I have already developed my seasonal sniffle-cough, which will be accompanying me for the entirety of this megawinter, regardless of my personal choices. Going out for a jog is now a laborious process; heck, even stepping outside for some fresh air no longer provides that vitalizing rush of warmth and sunlight. Winter is a plague visited upon me for reasons unknown, a gentle reminder that the universe is frequently cruel for no reason.

As you may have gathered, I am not thrilled about winter’s onset, and could very much use a reprieve from its encroaching grasp. As a result, I am extremely pleased to announce that today we’re returning to Sun and Moon, and staging a tactical retreat into the sun-drenched isles of Alola. There are few things that can rally my spirits like a dash of Pokemon, and I hope many of you also enjoy these cheerful adventures. For all I tend to focus on art’s ability to inspire or provoke, providing simple comfort and cheer is also one of art’s great callings, and Sun and Moon absolutely excels at it. Let’s venture on back to the islands of Alola!

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