This post isn’t about anime, but about the little chatbox on the right of the site. There’s nothing wrong with it, but this is 2021, so we’re trying out new things! Specifically, for those of you on Discord, a new channel called #chat-box was made. We’re looking at replacing the Chatango box with an on-site client for that. Read on!
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Category: Uncategorized
Spring 2021 Coverage & First Episode Awards
Wooper: Spring has finally sprung, and with it comes one of the biggest anime seasons in a long while. Over the past two weeks, we’ve published our thoughts on 30 different premieres, but there were a dozen others that we skipped for the sake of time and/or self-respect. Despite those omissions, however, I feel pretty good about our new lineup. We’ve got follow-ups to a pair of 2018’s best shows, adaptations of a beloved manga and an acclaimed light novel, and a promising original project that’s managed to fly under the radar thus far. Lenlo’s Throwback Thursday column will continue uninterrupted, and our weekly recaps will return as a home for everything we’re watching that isn’t receiving full write-ups. We’ve got the results of our First Episode Awards after the jump, as well – that’s our way of saying goodbye to the limbo of first impressions season, and hello to the grind of weekly-ish blogging. Wish us luck!
Spring 2021 Lineup
Lenlo
– 86: Eighty Six
– Megalo Box S2
– Throwback Thursday series (vote here)
Wooper
– Fumetsu no Anata e
– SSSS.Dynazenon
Amun
– Odd Taxi
Mario / Armitage
– On hiatus
Continue reading “Spring 2021 Coverage & First Episode Awards”
Winter 2021 Coverage & First Episode Awards
Wooper: Much of the recent talk around the Star Crossed water cooler has been unusually optimistic. Winter 2021 looks to be a promising season for anime – the best in a couple years, at least. Whether you’re into blockbuster franchises, slice of life sequels, or original projects, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. In light of this excellent slate of shows, we’re taking on more blogging duties than usual. Writing machine Lenlo is up to four posts per week, and both Aidan and Mario are back to cover personal favorites. Our weekly recap columns will be returning soon, as well, so you can expect a veritable flood of content from us each week. Oh, and our Best of 2020 post is going live in just a few days, as well. We hope you enjoy!
Winter 2021 Lineup
Lenlo: Jujutsu Kaisen, Dr.STONE: Stone Wars, 2.43 Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu, Spice and Wolf (Throwback Thursday)
Mario: Beastars S2, Wonder Egg Priority
Wooper: SK8 the Infinity, Back Arrow Horimiya
Aidan: Re:Zero S2 Part 2
Amun: Weekly Summary duty
Armitage: Studying for entrance exams
Continue reading “Winter 2021 Coverage & First Episode Awards”
Fall 2020 Coverage & First Episode Awards
Wooper: Finally, our quarterly ritual of gorging on new premieres has come to a close, and we’ve emerged with a handful of blogging prospects. Our team will be covering the six shows in the grid above, plus Lenlo will carry on with his usual Throwback Thursday column. Our weekly recap posts will resume, as well, offering brief thoughts on Majo no Tabitabi, Dragon Quest, and others – I’ll do my utmost to keep them on schedule. Will this season fall short of expectations, or will it propel a handful of series into our eventual Top 10 for the year? Stick with us to find out, and click through to see the results of our First Episode Awards!
Fall 2020 Lineup
Lenlo: Jujutsu Kaisen, Twelve Kingdoms, The Woman Called Fujiko Mine (intermittent)
Wooper: Akudama Drive, Taiso Samurai
Amun: DanMachi S3, Kamisama ni Natta Hi (w/ Armitage)
Armitage: Adachi to Shimamura, Kamisama ni Natta Hi (w/ Amun)
Mario: On vacation
Aidan: Waiting for Re:Zero S2
Continue reading “Fall 2020 Coverage & First Episode Awards”
Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World 2 – 04 [Parent and Child]
Let me introduce you to the best episode of the second season so far, if not one the best episodes in the series.(Episode 15 remains my top pick with 18 second but this is certainly up there) Re:Zero can sometimes be considered a deconstruction or subversion of the Isekai genre, I myself may have referred to it as such maybe if I look through my old posts, but the fact of the matter is that if it was so then it was subverting tropes that had not even been established yet. Re:Zero is actually one of the granddaddys of the Isekai Genre alongside what can be considered the real kickstarter, Mushoku Tensei(People often wrongly attribute Sword Art Online with the monicar and while the webnovel of that certainly came before Mushoku Tensei, the factors and tropes commonly associated with the genre as well as the popularisation of the concept that lead to many MANY imitators most definitely belongs to Mushoku Tensei. Which is getting an anime by the way.) That was a tangent but essentially in a way Re:Zero acts as a criticism of what the genre would become just by the fact that the tropes that defined it hadn’t been set so the author simply addressed what by accounts most Isekai should address. Namely that a person who is Isekaied to another world did in fact have a life that could affect others before being transported away.
Continue reading “Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World 2 – 04 [Parent and Child]”
Summer 2020 Anime Coverage & First Episode Awards
Mario: I’m pretty sure that since I have taken this blogging job back in 2016, this is by far the season with the least number of shows airing. But on the bright side, this season is where we have the most writers blogging, as Aidan comes out of his hibernation for his beloved Rem Re:Zero, and most of us at least take one show under our belt. Without further ado, here’s the Spring Seasonal Coverage of Star-Crossed Anime:
SUMMER 2020 BLOGGING SCHEDULE
Aidan: Re:Zero 2
Mario: Oregairu 3, Weekly Summary
Lenlo: Fugou Keiji: Balance:UNLIMITED, Japan Sinks, Gunslinger Girl (Throwback Thursday), and irregularly, A Woman Called Mine Fujiko
Wooper: Great Pretender, The God of High School
Amun: Fire Force 2
Armitage: Deca-Dence, Manga Musings on Monday
FIRST EPISODE AWARDS
Best First Episode
(The Death Note Award)
(The Death Note Award)
GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL
Likely Spent All Their Efforts on the First Episode
(The Kyoukai No Kanata Award)
(The Kyoukai No Kanata Award)
GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL
Best Animation
(The Samurai Champloo Award)
(The Samurai Champloo Award)
DECA-DENCE
Season Sleeper
(The Gargantia Award)
(The Gargantia Award)
GIBIATE
Worst First Episode
(The Bleach Award)
(The Bleach Award)
DOKYUU HENTAI HXEROS
Exceeded Expectations
(The Hyouka Award)
(The Hyouka Award)
GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL
Most Disappointing First Episode
(The Berserk Award)
(The Berserk Award)
NO GUNS LIFE S2
Best Continuation
(The Natsume Book of Friends Award)
(The Natsume Book of Friends Award)
OREGAIRU S3
Best Background Art
(Made in Abyss Award)
(Made in Abyss Award)
JAPAN SINKS
Spring 2020 Anime Coverage & First Episode Awards
Mario: Well, with all the premieres are out (and couples of them delayed infinitely), it’s time for our usual blogging schedule for the next 3 months and our First Episode Awards. It might be an unpopular opinion but I still eager to follow what this Spring season has to offer. The current pandemic has sadly halted many projects (most of them are sequels, for reasons I am yet to comprehend), and I suspect in the next two seasons, we’re going to hear more sad news regarding the medium. That’s the reason why my current attitude is that I am happy with what we currently have. This Spring season has couples of stylish Detective shows, new trend of isekai a protagonist who came back as someone younger (or I call it New-AGE isekai), and many promising seinen titles. Unlike last season where Eizouken and Dorohedoro dominated our list, this season we have no clear “Best Premiere”, in fact there was a heated discussion between staffs to agree on the winners.
As for this season’s coverage, there are some good news: Armitage is back in full force with Arte and new manga column (I wish her all the best), and hat’s off to Wooper for blogging full time (3 shows) this season. Amun won’t be blogging any show, but he will be regular in Weekly Summary post. Here’s the full coverage for Spring 2020 season:
SPRING 2020 BLOGGING SCHEDULE
Mario: Kakushigoto, Oregairu 3 (If it ever happens)
Lenlo: Tower of God, Fugou Keiji: Balance:UNLIMITED, Princess Tutu (Thursday Throwback)
Wooper: Kaguya-sama 2, BNA, Yesterday wo Utatte
Amun: Weekly summary contributions
Armitage: Arte, Manga Musing on Mondays
FIRST EPISODE AWARDS
Best First Episode
(The Death Note Award)
(The Death Note Award)
KAGUYA-SAMA
Likely Spent All Their Efforts on the First Episode
(The Kyoukai No Kanata Award)
(The Kyoukai No Kanata Award)
LISTENERS
Best Animation
(The Samurai Champloo Award)
(The Samurai Champloo Award)
BNA
Season Sleeper
(The Gargantia Award)
(The Gargantia Award)
YESTERDAY WO UTATTE
Worst First Episode
(The Bleach Award)
(The Bleach Award)
ARGONAVIS FROM BANG DREAM!
Exceeded Expectations
(The Hyouka Award)
(The Hyouka Award)
OTOME ISEKAI
Most Disappointing First Episode
(The Berserk Award)
(The Berserk Award)
APPARE-RANMAN
Best Continuation
(The Natsume Book of Friends Award)
(The Natsume Book of Friends Award)
KAGUYA-SAMA
Best Background Art
(Made in Abyss Award)
(Made in Abyss Award)
OTOME ISEKAI
Winter 2020 Anime Coverage & First Episode Awards
Mario: Hey folks, welcome to the brand new decade of anime. Winter season is usually the quiet time for anime, and this edition doesn’t seem to break that pattern. Wish-fulfillment isekai and jerky CG idol shows are still going strong to remind us that the fruits of the last decade aren’t truly gone. And while this season might be lacking in terms of truly elite premieres (I can count only Eizouken and Haikyuu), there are many promising lower-tier shows that could manage to become sleeper hits. Without further ado, I’m pleased to present our coverage for this season:
WINTER 2020 BLOGGING SCHEDULE
Mario: Magia Record – The Case Files of Jeweler Richard/Kyoko Suiri*
Lenlo: Eizouken ni Wa te wo Dasu na! – Runway de Waratte – Throwback Thursday: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Wooper: Chihayafuru 3 (carry-over) – Dorohedoro
Amun: My Hero Academia 4 (carry-over) – The Case Files of Jeweler Richard/ Kyoko Suiri*
As you can see, this season we writers are trying something a bit different with the blogging. In true “multi-author” spirit, Amun and I will take turns covering Jeweler Richard and Kyoko Suiri each week. Expect an array of different opinions from each of us. In addition, it’s my intention to keep the Weekly Summary running, which means that some shows that aren’t in our blogging list might find their way over there.
FIRST EPISODE AWARDS
Best First Episode
(The Death Note Award)
(The Death Note Award)
EIZOUKEN NI WA TE WO DASU NA!
Likely Spent All Their Efforts on the First Episode
(The Kyoukai No Kanata Award)
(The Kyoukai No Kanata Award)
ID:INVADED
Best Animation
(The Samurai Champloo Award)
(The Samurai Champloo Award)
EIZOUKEN NI WA TE WO DASU NA!
Season Sleeper
(The Gargantia Award)
(The Gargantia Award)
RUNWAY DE WARATTE
Worst First Episode
(The Bleach Award)
(The Bleach Award)
PLUNDERER
Exceeded Expectations
(The Hyouka Award)
(The Hyouka Award)
THE CASE FILES OF JEWELER RICHARD
Most Disappointing First Episode
(The Berserk Award)
(The Berserk Award)
PET
Best Continuation
(The Natsume Book of Friends Award)
(The Natsume Book of Friends Award)
HAIKYUU!! TO THE TOP
Best Background Art
(Made in Abyss Award)
(Made in Abyss Award)
DOROHEDORO
A Closer Look: Babylon and the Male Gaze
We’re currently moving to the new domain, so I figure it’s the perfect time to celebrate the event by writing this little essay. If you read my Babylon’s weekly summary you’d know that I am mixed on Babylon as a whole, but there’s one segment in that messy show that rile me up, that I find myself still thinking about it even now, and even inspires me to envision a whole new tale in response to it. I won’t trouble your time with the latter, though, but I’m here to critique that particular segment through a specific lens. There is no spoiler and it’s about the flashback of one character, so I encourage all readers, even to those who haven’t watched Babylon, to read through this mini tiny think-piece. [UPDATE: If you want, you can watch that sequence right after the jump, from the beginning to 11:40), no prior knowledge of the show required)
The Versus Show: Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED) vs. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
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It has been quite a while since the last time we had this, right? Now, game on for some new match-ups. This time I pick 2 shows from recent years, both dealing with the death of a childhood friend(s), and arguably both of them received commercial and critical success in their run (as of this writing they receive a very close rating over MAL). Both deal with grief, confusion, and the allusion of fixing one’s mistake. Both have a diverse cast with their own emotional growth, strength and weakness. Both produced some of the most heart-breaking, tear-jerking and emotionally roller-coaster we have witnessed for the last few years. Both are made by A-1 Pictures. One is a drama, the other is a thriller, but ultimately they’re both character-driven shows. Without further ado, please welcome on stage, ERASED and AnoHana
Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Season: Winter 2016
Episodes: 12
Source: Manga
MAL Rating: 8.57
When tragedy is about to strike, Satoru Fujinuma finds himself sent back several minutes before the accident occurs. The detached, 29-year-old manga artist has taken advantage of this powerful yet mysterious phenomenon, which he calls “Revival,” to save many lives.
However, when he is wrongfully accused of murdering someone close to him, Satoru is sent back to the past once again, but this time to 1988, 18 years in the past. Soon, he realizes that the murder may be connected to the abduction and killing of one of his classmates, the solitary and mysterious Kayo Hinazuki, that took place when he was a child. This is his chance to make things right.
Boku dake ga Inai Machi follows Satoru in his mission to uncover what truly transpired 18 years ago and prevent the death of his classmate while protecting those he cares about in the present.. (from MAL)
Excerpt from our site’s original review:
“This series has some great presentation and direction though it does make it somewhat predictable in how it highlights what’s to come. Predictable does not mean boring though and this tale has a lot of heart. There are a number of great scenes that can play with your emotions and each episode does leave a feeling of dread for a tragedy to come. Though those episode cliffhangers do build up expectations which the ending fails to deliver.The female cast is ridiculously strong with Satorus mother being one of the best parenting figures one could have.
Ultimately what decides your enjoyment of this show is your level attachment to the characters. The focus is clearly character driven and if you find yourself not caring for them, I am afraid the plot will not hold anything to compensate. But if you find yourself getting drawn into these characters then I believe your experience with this show will be a positive one but remember to walk into it with the right expectations.”
Versus
Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Season: Spring 2011
Episodes: 11
Source: Original
MAL Rating: 8.56
Jinta Yadomi is peacefully living as a recluse, spending his days away from school and playing video games at home instead. One hot summer day, his childhood friend, Meiko “Menma” Honma, appears and pesters him to grant a forgotten wish. He pays her no mind, which annoys her, but he doesn’t really care. After all, Menma already died years ago.
At first, Jinta thinks that he is merely hallucinating due to the summer heat, but he is later on convinced that what he sees truly is the ghost of Menma. Jinta and his group of childhood friends grew apart after her untimely death, but they are drawn together once more as they try to lay Menma’s spirit to rest. Re-living their pain and guilt, will they be able to find the strength to help not only Menma move on—but themselves as well? (from MAL)
Psgels’ original review:
“Ever heard of the phrase “short but sweet”? This is the key to the best Noitamina-series out there: most of them can only be eleven or twelve episodes long, so they really need to know how to use their time, and this series is a brilliant example of how this timeslot should be used. It leaves no moment wasted, it never drags, and it’s always developing its characters, delivering heavy drama, and moving back and forth between showing new things about its characters and fleshing them out.
If you are looking for an emotional roller coaster however: watch this. Few series can boast to be this well laid out, especially when so small. Everything fits just perfectly. I’m not a fan of moe, but this show is so good that it immediately won me over.”
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