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Hello and welcome to the penultimate episode of Arte, the artist who made best-girl Katarina cry. This week, a child pines for the attention of her newfound friend while the friend pines to see her employer back in Florence as the employer pines to have his apprentice with him again, which all makes for a whole lot of pining as Arte doubles down on its themes and presents a conflict which was yet unexplored to set up an exciting finale for the coming week.

After the emotionally cathartic episode we had last week, things were always going to shift one way or the other. So, while it did come as a surprise that the part of this story chronicling Arte’s (possibly) last days at Venice got shrouded by a somber melancholy, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. It’s kind of how in our lives when things are headed towards completion that we get overcome by memories and feelings which wouldn’t cross our minds on other ordinary days.

Endings just do that to us sometimes.
Continue reading “Arte – 11 [The Faliers’ Portrait Painter]” →

Hello, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the first (makeshift) double-header post covering Arte. While I couldn’t cover these two episodes in their own respective posts, these were the show’s most adorable and heartfelt episodes and I feel that it would be unfair if they don’t get proper write-ups. So, the following are essentially two separate full-length episodic reviews posted under one title. Yes, that’s right! Two for the price of one!! Come one, come all.

Starting off with Episode 9, Arte is still facing difficulties in tutoring Katarina. Even though she’s well-versed in public etiquette and mannerisms, she refuses to behave as expected in front of her parents. Katarina tells Arte that there’s no formal education regarding etiquette that she can teach her so, it is best if she just leaves her to minding her own business. By that, she means dozing off in the middle of the day.
Continue reading “Arte – 09+10 [Naughty Child | Katarina’s Dinner]” →

HOLD THE PRESSES!! The anime gods have bestowed their graces upon us! Yes, that’s right. This Spring Season, we the viewers would now be able to cherish the on-screen presence of not one but TWO CATARINAS!!!

[Well, the new one’s name is spelled with a ‘K’ but she is more befitting of the ‘Evil Villainess” title so it still counts.]

Greetings, lovely readers. Welcome to Week 8 of Arte, the swashbuckling sailor! This week, we change settings from Florence to Venice, get to see two men duel it out on the deck of a ship at sail (because why the hell not?!) and witness CGI water in all its glory. Let’s unpack.

Continue reading “Arte – 08 [A New Chapter]” →

Apologies for the slight delay in posting this week’s episode review. I have been busy preparing for my end-terms (yup, the world’s in a freaking pandemic but we still gotta give exams!) so, taking time out to write reviews has proven to be a bit difficult. I hope you’ll excuse some other possible delays in the coming weeks. Though, I’ll try my best to adhere to schedule.

Anywho, this week on Arte, the soon-to-be-full-time-working-and-money-making artisan, things get shaken up a little with the introduction of two new characters: the sweet-talking Yuri Falier and Leo-san’s old friend(!), Ruthanna. How does Arte deal with their arrival? Let’s talk about it.
Continue reading “Arte – 07 [The Venetian Noble]” →

Hello and welcome to the review of another episode of Arte, the Soccer Ace. The halfway point in the story of Arte has finally arrived and this week, she learns to paint fancy graffiti and play 16^th-century Italian football. Let’s talk about it.

A member of Leo-san’s trade guild passes away and he takes Arte along for the funeral. All the other artists assembled there are surprised or angered to see a woman present among them. Some are very vocal in the display of their dislike towards Arte while others just avoid getting involved and ignore her altogether. The masters of the guild are concerned that Arte’s presence would become a point of conflict amongst the guild members and decide to give her a test to prove her mettle as a competent apprentice.

Continue reading “Arte – 06 [Trade Guild]” →

 

To all readers, new and regular alike… Hi! Nice of you to join me as we discuss about the latest episode of Arte the arty Artisan. This time around, our ever-cheerful protagonist sharpens the kind of skills every artist, no matter how good, must develop in order to ensure their survival: marketing!

This week, we learn that Leo-san keeps a fast every Friday which makes Arte crave for that juicy steak even more. But she stays strong against her gluttonous desires and diligently goes about carrying out her errands. As she is returning back to Leo-san’s place, she catches a glimpse of a man heading out after having a heated argument with her teacher. Leo-san tells her that that man, Mr. Umbertino, comes around every so often to order paintings with very precise specifications but the money he pays for these orders doesn’t leave room for them to make any profits after all expenses are accounted for. Leo-san intends to negotiate with him regarding this but Arte offers to do it instead. After giving it some thought, Leo-san agrees to her proposal.

Continue reading “Arte – 05 [Inescapable Bond]” →

Welcome to another week of ‘Arte learns life-lessons while painting as a side business’. This week, we are reunited with the lovely Courtesan-san from back in episode 2, with whom Arte forms an unlikely friendship. Let’s break it all down.

Last week, we saw Arte developing feelings of romantic affection towards a man for the first time in her life, which made her feel a kind of pain she had been unfamiliar to all her life. She couldn’t understand her own emotions and this week too, she seems to be having a hard time dealing with them. Whenever Leo-san is anywhere near her or their bodies so much as brush up against each other, Arte finds herself stiffening up and overcome with an inability to process anything around her. Though, she still cherishes the moments when Leo-san appreciates her efforts in any way. She learns about a new method to improve the quality of the bread from the local baker and when Leo-san compliments her in his usual droll manner, it brings her real happiness, making her feel like the efforts she put in were worth it.
Continue reading “Arte – 04 [Courtesan]” →

 

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the third installment in the story of our favorite noble-turned-apprentice. This week, Arte learns about the warm joys and strange sorrows of first love, gets her first opportunity to draw professionally and throws her hat in for the seasonal Best Boy race! Let’s jump in.

Leo-san asks Arte to come along with him to the carnival but only after she has changed into an adorable Peter Pan cosplay costume. There they meet up with a courtesan – a high-class prostitute – who is somehow able to make the normally ogre-like and demonic Leo-san smile and laugh like he was having the time of his life. Seeing her looking pretty as a picture and smelling all nice, Arte can’t help but fight the feeling which takes over her heart; a feeling of envious approbation.

Continue reading “Arte – 03 [First Job]” →