It was a quiet week in New Fuyuki, not my home town… Yes I did watch it, and no – I’m still undecided on whether I’m going to cover it. But it’s clear that a lot of people are interested in this show, so it only seems logical to touch […] Read more
Snapshots of Japan: October 2014 – III
So long Phanfone, hello Vongfong… In many ways, this batch of photos is a chronicle of the week between typhoons. It starts out in Kyoto in the gloriously clear, dry weather following Phanfone’s departure, and finishes in Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula as Vongfong roars in from the South. But […] Read more
Better…stronger…faster
I thought I’d post a quick note to thank LiA readers for pushing the site past the 6 million visitor milestone this week, and far sooner than I ever thought possible. Here’s to six million more, and even faster too – thank you! Read more
Diamond no Ace – 53
This is an episode that just screams “October”. The Koushien itself (and this final play-in game) may be in August, but playoff baseball is everywhere at the moment. The World Series is just about to begin, and the Hanshin Tigers have just beaten the Empire Yomiuri Giants (Yomiuri and the […] Read more
Mushishi Zoku Shou – 11
The only good thing about Mushishi going away is the wondrous feeling of seeing it come back. What to call this episode of Mushishi Zoku Shou? Is it Episode 1 of the second season, or is it Episode 11- or Episode 13? The official website seems to have settled on […] Read more
First Impressions – Sanzoku no Musume Ronja
What a muddle of emotions Sanzoku no Musume Ronja conjures up for me. While there’s nothing wrong with Sanzoku no Musume Ronja apart from one very obvious exception, honestly compels me to say that I hope this isn’t the last project we ever see from Studio Ghibli. It’s not that […] Read more
Ano Natsu de Matteru – OVA
This is one series I can never get enough of. OP: “Kisetsu no Shutter (季節のシャッター)” by Ray I can see where some might be disappointed with this special, which reunites us with the cast of Ano Natsu de Matteru some two years after the events of the TV series. It […] Read more
Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen – 15
And so it begins. It seems to me that Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen’s patience is both its greatest strength and greatest weakness – the latter at least in terms of connecting with fans. This is the mecha series that’s antithetical to mecha anime in so many ways, more akin in […] Read more
Second Impressions Digest – Shirobako, Psycho-Pass 2
Is Sausage moe? Shirobako – 02 Otto von Bismarck said that “The making of laws is like the making of sausages – the less you know about the process the more you respect the result”. As far as Shirobako is concerned, I haven’t yet decided if anime is like law. […] Read more
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso – 02
Wow. There are some anime episodes for which that’s the only above the fold comment that really fits, and this is one of them. To call it impressive would be an understatement – it was staggering. Interestingly enough even as I was in awe I was still noting things which […] Read more