Tag Archives: Anime

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Episode 1

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re setting off on a new journey, or more precisely beyond a journey’s end, as we check out the first episode of the recent and much-loved Frieren. There was a great deal of buzz surrounding Frieren prior to its release, and it’s not hard to see why; in this era of modern otaku being constantly flung into Dragon Quest-reminiscent worlds, an honest-to-god committed fantasy drama is an inherent and very welcome change of pace. And beyond that, Frieren’s novel twist on genre convention provides an additional pull: the allure of a more somber, reflective story, one primarily concerned with finding value and beauty in life after the great adventures are over.

That’s a hook that holds a great deal of appeal to me! It feels adjacent to my beloved “apocalyptic travelog” subgenre (think Girls’ Last Tour or Kemurikusa), stories where the chance for transformative, world-shifting change has already passed, wherein the great challenge lies in coming to a happier understanding of our place in a land at peace. It’s so appealing that I actually wrote a long-form variation of it back in high school, though no, I am not showing you my high school fiction. Anyway, Frieren is also directed by Bocchi the Rock’s fast-rising Keiichirō Saitō, and from what I’ve told, the production is a lush spectacle from start to finish. That’s a fine stack of reasons to be optimistic, so let’s see what we’ve got in the first episode of Frieren!

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Winter 2024 – Week 12 in Review

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Hello folks, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am riding high on the success of our new campaign’s first session, wherein I took on the guise of Tilly The Goblin With Anxiety, and became fast… well, acquaintances at least with my party of a swashbuckler, mad scientist, and Dandelion From The Witcher. Having already completed two campaigns with this group, our confidence in executing in-character drama has never been higher; compared to actually serving as dungeon master, simply staying in character during the session feels totally effortless, and I’m thus looking forward to more directly party-driven drama in the sessions to come. And alongside that, I have of course continued with our regularly scheduled film and anime screenings, munching through some light One Piece adventures while also completing Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. I’m frankly not quite sure where to go at this point in our Gundam journey; I suppose Gundam Unicorn would be the next natural step? Anyway, I’ll figure that out myself, while you all enjoy my latest week in films!

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Blue Reflection Ray – Episode 1

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Hello folks, and welcome on back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re embarking on a brand new adventure, as we check out the first episode of the recent magical girl drama Blue Reflection Ray. The show is apparently a spin-off of the 2017 RPG Blue Reflection, which I recall a fair number of my friends enjoyed back on release, as well as a precursor to the franchise’s second game, Blue Reflection: Second Light. Aside from that, I confess I know next to nothing about either the games or show’s actual content; my general impression is “magical girls and intimate drama in a modern urban setting,” but that’s about all I’ve got.

As for the show’s production team, director Risako Yoshida has risen through the key animation grind to arrive at consistent directorial positions within the last five years or so, meaning we’ll hopefully be appreciating their animator’s eye for staging drama. Meanwhile, this is actually series composer Akiko Waba’s first full composition, having previously written scattered episodic scripts for a variety of productions (not too many notables, though A Lull in the Sea was probably effective training for this sort of story). Though it technically possesses the “source material” of the first game, as an anime-original narrative, I’m hoping the series will embrace the unique opportunities of shows that aren’t beholden to source expectations. Anime-originals are preposterously over-represented among the best anime for a variety of reasons most people are too polite to go into, so with any luck that’ll hold true for Blue Reflection Ray. With this admittedly limited context to go on, let’s check out the first episode!

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Star Driver – Episode 22

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am thrilled to be returning to Star Driver, as we charge forward into what I have to assume is the show’s endgame. With Ko and Madoka having abandoned their pursuit of the Ginga Bishonen, we’re basically out of secondary conflicts at this point; all that’s left is the school play and Tokio’s machinations, meaning I have every expectation that we’re in for a school festival episode.

Taking one final break before the big action climax seems more than fine by me. Both Igarashi and Enokido are in their element spearheading comedy; the two have been collaborating on delightful goofiness ever since their Sailor Moon days, and given his long stewardship of the Doremi franchise, I’ve likely laughed at more Igarashi nonsense than any other artist in the industry. In their hands, irreverent school adventures and ludicrous expressions aren’t just a break from the action, they’re often a vehicle for characterization, revealing as much or even more about their casts as their actions under pressure. With that play and its long-anticipated kiss scene approaching, I’m guessing we’re in for an episode that revels in school shenanigans while simultaneously harnessing them as a vehicle to explore Wako’s hesitant, shifting emotions. Let’s find out!

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The Wonderful World of Puss ‘n Boots

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am delighted to announce we’re returning to the venerable films of Toei Doga, this time screening the much-loved Wonderful World of Puss ‘n Boots, one of the final films of the studio’s original golden age. Coming out shortly after the landmark Horus, Puss ‘n Boots was actually something of a step back in terms of dramatic content – Isao Takahata’s first masterpiece was a true outlier in its era, and it would take some time for projects like the World Masterpiece Theater to catch up with his vision of a more tonally somber, morally ambiguous medium.

That’s not meant as a jab against Puss ‘n Boots, though! There’s no shame in offering a rip-roaring adventure, and Puss ‘n Boots further benefits from involving most of Toei Doga’s best animators at the peak of their powers. The legendary Yasuji Mori is once again handling animation direction, meaning I’m sure we’ll be able to admire the fluid sensitivity of his character acting scattered throughout the film, while Yasuo Otsuka, Reiko Okuyama, and Hayao Miyazaki all stand among the film’s formidable slate of key animators. Otsuka described his time on Puss ‘n Boots as something like a playground of unbound animation, and Miyazaki’s contributions here are so legendary that he himself would end up echoing them in later projects like The Castle of Cagliostro. Hell, the film’s so iconic that its protagonist still stands as Toei’s mascot, half a century down the line. I’ve rambled more than enough about the film’s unimpeachable credentials, so let’s get to it!

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Wonder Egg Priority – Episode 10

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’d like to return to a story I’ve left hanging for far too long, as we continue our exploration of the harrowing and transcendent Wonder Egg Priority. I frankly would have returned much sooner, but the discussions surrounding the show turned pretty toxic by the end of its original run, migrating into that frustrating realm of condemning people for the stories they enjoy. Discussions like that were what prompted me to limit my engagement with online arguments in the first place, so I promptly removed my hand from the stove, waiting for the heat to dissipate.

Well, no one talks about Wonder Egg Priority these days, so I’m happy to finally be returning. When last we left off, Momoe’s anxieties about her gender presentation had just been assuaged by her fast friendship with Kaoru, her latest wonder egg project. Unfortunately, her victory was cut short by the appearance of a mysterious butterfly-headed girl, who promptly killed Momoe’s familiar Panic. With Momoe’s latest victory having also released the girl she’d long been fighting for, and the machinations of Acca and Ura-Acca coming into focus, it seems like the time for episodic adventures has ended, and the time of painful revelation is at hand. Let’s see what awaits in our next Wonder Egg Priority!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 43

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m eager to dive back into Hugtto! Precure, as we charge ever closer to the season’s epic finale. Our last episode wrapped up the season’s primary remaining conflict not related to the Cure team directly – although it did not remain that way, as the resolution of Henri’s struggles saw him actually becoming a Pretty Cure as well, donning the title of “Cure Infini” and offering a gorgeous final performance to his adoring fans. It was the perfect conclusion to an arc that has frequently challenged the implacability of culture and identity, firmly attesting that anyone can be whoever they want to be, including a Pretty Cure. Just like our professional aspirations, our identities are our own – and in Hugtto, pursuing a happier selfhood is always something to be met with a heartfelt “hooray, hooray!”

With Henri having resolved his anxieties regarding moving beyond his skating career, the stage is now clear for a final confrontation with Criasu Corp. But frankly, considering neither Listol nor Traum are personally invested in George’s mission, I wouldn’t mind some more villain rehabilitation before that – or even a goofy one-off, if we’ve still got time for such things. Regardless, I’m sure we’ve got a charming adventure ahead as we dive back into Hugtto Precure!

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Spy x Family – Episode 29

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am suffering in the grip of my first winter cold, with snuffles, a sore throat, and a persistent headache all collaborating to bring me down. I’d say I’m “under the weather,” but frankly the weather today is also pretty miserable – as such, I have decided there is no recourse to lighten the mood but to indulge in a fresh episode of Spy x Family, and see what those wacky Forgers are up to.

Our last episode was actually quite light on Forgery, concerning itself primarily with Yuri’s investigations of a potential political dissident. Forgunately (okay, I’ll stop), with Yor out of the picture, we were able to see a somewhat less one-note portrait of Yuri as well. Like his sister, his dedication to his mission stems from a fundamental conflation of family and country, and when he’s forced to reckon with how his “enemies” are just as dedicated to their own families, his resolve immediately wavers. The siblings are essentially both child soldiers who’ve grown into adulthood without abandoning their naive ideals of binary justice, making them perfect tools of political suppression. That certainly makes them unusual stars of a wacky romantic comedy, but that’s really Spy x Family all over, isn’t it? Let’s get to it!

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Skip and Loafer – Episode 5

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m eager to check back in on Mitsumi and the gang, as we charge through another delightful episode of Skip and Loafer. Last episode saw Mitsumi adding yet another foundling to her rapidly growing collection of confidants, this time pulling student council superstar Takamine into her inner circle. Having joined Takamine on her extracurricular errands in order to learn from her studious example, Mitsumi instead found herself serving as an inspiration to Takamine in turn, convincing her of the necessity of slowing down and smelling the roses from time to time.

Of course, that’s little surprise to us in the audience. Mitsumi has proven herself a quiet inspiration to her peers time and again, drawing characters like Shima and Suzuki into her orbit through her earnest, curious, and eminently considerate personality. Through their interactions, Skip and Loafer demonstrates how thoughtful character dramas need not be centered on those whose lives are defined by psychological torment; the trials of Mitsumi and her friends catalog the scope of human interaction in gentler form, offering a story that is no less poignant or insightful for its fundamental warmth of perspective. Let’s see what awaits our crew next!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 3

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I figured we’d stop back in with Rentaro and the gang, and see how his sacred mission to acquire one hundred girlfriends is proceeding. Look, it’s not like he’s a cold philanderer or anything; as has been clearly established by the suspiciously convenient worldbuilding, all of those girlfriends are doomed to perpetual unhappiness if he does not find them and date their worries away. It’s a heavy burden, but given Rentaro’s deft navigation of his first two true loves, I have every confidence he’ll be able to manage it.

Rentaro’s woes aside, 100 Girlfriends continues to be an altogether charming, entirely ludicrous riff on romantic comedy convention, persistently innovating on its core joke of “what if we played this fantastical polycule entirely straight, complete with soaring string arrangements accompanying each ridiculous romantic threshold.” It doesn’t seem like there’s much of a larger point beyond the comedy yet, but comedies don’t necessarily need a thematic backbone; the faces are good and the gags are snappy, making it an energetic watch regardless. Let’s see how Rentaro fares with his third destined love!

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