Neon Genesis Evangelion’s fifth and sixth episodes collectively form a neatly contained arc, as the battle against the show’s third angelic antagonist is contrasted against Rei Ayanami’s formal introduction. In spite of being present and even dramatically central throughout all of Evangelion’s early episodes, our understanding of this girl has mirrored Shinji’s – that is to say, we have no clue. She has been a cipher, with even sequences like Shinji’s intrusion into her apartment only enhancing her sense of mystery. In a show that’s so fully and thoughtfully attuned to the emotional experiences of its characters, Rei has stood as a strange outlier, accepting her duties with a blank stare at every turn.
Tag Archives: Anime
Winter 2019 – Week 2 in Review
Hello all, and welcome to the new season’s first Week in Review! I’m still kinda scrambling to catch up on everything (I still haven’t watched Mob Psycho’s latest episodes, since I’m determined to trick my housemates into watching that one), but I’ve definitely got more than enough thoughts for a rambling Week in Review. So far, this season is looking to be an unusually fun one – that is, the proportion of shows I’m watching just because they’re propulsive entertainment, rather than harrowing psychological inquiries or whatnot, is pretty high. I suppose it’s not surprising that a season featuring both TATSUKI and Mizushima’s returns would be a particularly bubbly one, but I’m certainly enjoying it! Between that and the season’s many other contenders, all I’m really lacking at this point is a character drama on the level of After the Rain or whatnot. Fortunately, I’m also complementing this season with imports of Bloom Into You from last season, meaning I’m currently enjoying an extremely balanced diet of excellent anime. Let’s explore the bounty then, as we run down this season’s stars in the Week in Review!
Why It Works: Nick’s Picks for Winter 2019
Well folks, you know the drill. With the winter season having unloaded its initial bounty, this week I offered my seasonal recommendation of Crunchyroll-specific properties in my Why It Works column. It wasn’t hard to fill the list this time, as even with several of my own favorite properties appearing on HIDIVE, this season is looking strong enough to easily fill a suite of recommendations. I’d frankly really like to be watching Endro! myself, but just can’t be sure I’ll have the time. Either way, enjoy some more picks!
Hugtto! Precure – Episode 5
Folks, it has been far too long since we watched Precure, and that ends right now. I’ve been greatly enjoying our journey through this latest Pretty Cure production so far, with the show’s most recent episode standing as the clear and dazzling standout. The first segment of Homare’s introduction to the team was a stunning display of evocative direction, fluid animation, and poignant storytelling, conveying Homare’s fears with engaging visual direction and welcome understatement. Sequences like the basketball match were elevated through both energetic action cuts and a close focus on character acting, while scenes of Homare intentionally distancing herself from potential suffering were given visual gravitas through their careful staging. That episode rose up to a finale that excelled in both narrative and visual execution, balancing action cuts that really conveyed the weight and scale of this battle with Homare’s painful and deeply held fear of failure. I’m not expecting another episode quite that good so soon, but Homare’s story has been told with grace so far, and I’m excited to see how it ends. Let’s get right to it!
Ojamajo Doremi – Episode 46
Pack it in folks, you know it’s time for more Ojamajo Doremi. Though every episode of Doremi seems to be special in its own way (excepting those witch frogs, fuck those witch frogs), our last episode was special for a very specific reason – it was lucky enough to have Ojamajo Doremi’s character design Yoshihiko Umakoshi on board as animation director. In Umakoshi’s hands, the vivid expressiveness of these characters felt even more apparent than usual, as all number of incidental moments were elevated through flavorful details of movement and character acting. It was a beautiful episode that demonstrated the unique power of simplified designs, and how the details that make characters come across as human aren’t contained in the specificity or detail of their design, but the fluidity, sense of weight, and underlying personality that brings them to life.
That episode also served as Doremi’s first Christmas special, meaning we’ve likely now moved on into the new year. With that shift comes also a pretty significant turn in Onpu’s attitude – from a position of complete self-obsessed antagonism, she’s now demonstrated a sense of loneliness in her home life, as well as a willingness to help others. Whether Onpu’s shift or something else entirely is the focus this week, I’m excited to get to it. Let’s find out what Doremi and the gang fumble their way through next!
Bloom Into You – Episode 6
Hello folks, and thank you for joining me as we explore another episode of the excellent Bloom Into You! This show has carried itself with confidence all throughout its first half, and as we near its halfway point, I find myself ever more invested in the strange, perpetually unequal relationship between Yuu and Touko. Our two leads definitely don’t have a healthy relationship at the moment, but their bond convincingly reflects each of their identities, and what each of them are looking for.
If Yuu was a confident and well-adjusted person, she’d almost certainly never have agreed to this quasi-relationship with Touko… of course, we know well that Yuu is anything but a confident and well-adjusted person. Yuu is defined by her insecurities and worried that there’s something fundamentally wrong with her, and even though she can’t reciprocate Touko’s feelings, she’s happy just to have a close friend and confidant who both values her presence and can actually listen to her worries. Meanwhile, Touko is too preoccupied with her infatuation to really engage with Yuu’s needs, or respect her boundaries – an issue further complicated by Yuu’s tendency to blur the lines of whether they’re joking or flirting with each other. Their relationship is a mess, in short, but it’s the kind of mess that emphasizes the relatable flaws and fundamental humanity of its occupants. Right now they are each asking the other for something they can’t really provide, and though they certainly care about each other, that’s not enough to create a real relationship. I’m very excited to see where this flaming car of a romance goes, so let’s get right on with exploring the next episode!
Why It Works: The Brilliance of Mob Psycho 100’s Season Premiere
Today for Why It Works (well, yesterday technically, but I was too busy to actually link stuff then), I gush some more about Mob Psycho 100’s season premiere! The episode was friggin’ brilliant, so I was happy to extol its strengths in a longer format than the preview guide allows. I could probably just dedicated Why It Works to weekly Mob posts and be happy this season, but I’m sure I’ll mix it up – with Neverland and a variety of other hits on the service, I certainly won’t be lacking things to talk about. Anyway, here’s the piece!
The Brilliance of Mob Psycho 100’s Season Premiere
Winter 2019 – Virtually Every First Episode Retrospective
Hello all, and welcome to the Winter 2019 Virtually Every First Episode Retrospective! As usual, my dedication to Anime News Network’s preview guide mean I’ve watched nearly every single new premiere this season, with I believe the exception of the slice of life mermaids show (I am sorry slice of life mermaids show). Aside from the mermaids, I’m pretty sure I caught every single premiere that was A. full length and B. not a sequel to something I hadn’t seen. That’s a lot of shows!
Having watched all these shows, I am clearly in the objectively best position to tell you all what is good and what is bad. Consider these words as law, their veracity as fixed and unchanging as the stars in the sky. Whosoever denies these takes, let them be cast out from our land, and condemned to forever wander with their terrible opinions.
Seriously though, these are all just my takes, and my own media preferences are pretty established – I like character stories, themey-wemey stuff, and occasionally well-executed action or adventure. I do my best to give everything a fair shake, but my own preferences and simple preview week fatigue mean something worthy is bound to get overlooked. In spite of that, I hope my thoughts give you something new to check out, and you can always click on any of the names for my fuller thoughts over at ANN (I’m Nick Creamer over there, incidentally). Starting with the absolute cream of the crop, let’s run down a full season of new anime!
Ojamajo Doremi – Episode 45
Do you truly think that with your pitiful strength, you could hope to stop me from watching more Ojamajo Doremi? From delighting in the adventures of these girls, and celebrating the lessons illustrated thereby? From cherishing this world’s wonderful art direction and profoundly empathetic perspective, which has become so valued a source of optimism in a world of ruin? Fool that you are, perhaps you assumed my dedication to magical girls and their charming escapades might waver, or my hunger for giggling uproariously at ridiculous faces might be sated. Your hopes are as dust. Doremi continues!
Alright, seriously, let’s get to this. Doremi’s last episode was friggin’ awesome, and offered a variety of charming anecdotes and thoughtful lessons throughout. Mutsumi was a great addition to the class roster, seeing a Doremi episode all about professional wrestling was adorable, and I particularly appreciated how Mutsumi being interested in a stereotypically “boyish” interest wasn’t even the point – obviously girls can be into pro wrestling, why wouldn’t they? Instead, the show offered a broader mix of lessons, from the importance of adjusting your behavior to respect your friends’ current feelings, to the variable nature of strength itself. It was one of the best classmate-focused episodes so far, and I’m eager to see whatever’s next. Let’s get to it!
Winter 2019 – First Impressions, Part Two
Hello folks, and welcome again to the madness that is preview week. The premieres are still piling up, and I’ve got a wide array of fresh reviews for your perusal AND DELIGHT. The season is shaping up pretty well so far, on the whole – there haven’t been any major surprises, but nearly everything I was anticipating has offered a fine premiere, and combining that with fall’s continuing stars should make for a solid roster. As usual, you can check out the full list of reviews over here, or scores and links to individual writeups below. Let’s get to it!