That was a pretty good example of how a series can turn on a dime. If you want a dramatic shift, Samurai Flamenco could be just the show you’re looking for. We went from last week’s unequalled (this season) explosion of pure fun to a sometimes pretty ugly and even […] Read more
Classic Okada, that one – for better and for worse. Here’s what I said in my spirited defense of Nagi no Asukara after the third episode: I am aware that there’s a certain manipulative quality to the writing here, as there is in much of Okada’s work. I’m not blind, […] Read more
Yep, still great. I’m seriously starting to worry about Kyousogiga. It’s not so much the show itself – although approaching the halfway point of a series that has a chance to be a masterpiece, there’s definitely a “Please, for the love of God don’t screw this up!” thing going on […] Read more
The people’s choice was clear this time around. Thanks for participating in the straw poll, which gave a clear win to Kyoukai no Kanata. Happily, that’s the one on the list that looks like it’s going to make the cut – the last two eps have been much better. Yozakura […] Read more
One stays, one goes. Kyoukai no Kanata – 05 It’s funny, but somewhere along the line KyouKan has leveled up a little and it’s hard to say exactly why. The last two eps have certainly been the best – it’s a bit more self-apparent with #4, which was simply the […] Read more
There’s nothing like a Shrine visit to break up the routine. It’s strictly a coincidence and nothing to do with Gingitsune, but I paid a visit to Kameido Tenjinja in Eastern Tokyo today. The weather was perfect and I was in dire need of a mental health day, and the […] Read more
It wasn’t what I hoped it’d be, but there’s never a bad time for more Chihayafuru. So – all that stuff I said about watching the Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun OVA with a heavy heart? Ditto here – but with the one caveat being that there’s at least a chance we’ll […] Read more
If I were to slap an idiom on that episode, it would be “Still Waters Run Deep”. Lest anyone think I’m unnecessarily bashing, let me re-state for the nth time – I like Shingeki no Kyoujin, and rather a lot too. Not only that but I think it’s rather good […] Read more
I can never watch one of these without big-time mixed-emotions. Ah, Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun – another great anime that tanked commercially. My endorsement (I ranked it #6 in a quite strong 2012) is surely the kiss of death for any series, but no matter how many times it happens it […] Read more
We had Hunter X Hunter 101 last week, and this week it’s Cycling 101. This was a pretty simple episode of Yowamushi Pedal structurally, but it was pretty effective (as usual) in getting the job done. And it fits, because as clever and sneaky-subtle as this show is it really […] Read more