It seems fitting that the anime I’m watching while waiting to check in for the first leg of my trip to Japan would be focused on two things that have been so important to my time in America, coffee and baseball. OP2: “Rough & Laugh” by Clammbon There was lots […] Read more
What is it with all these exclamation points in anime titles lately anyway? OP: “Sparkling Daydream” by ZAQ When the respective projects were announced by Kyoto Animation, there was some consensus – and it’s one I tended to share – that Hyouka would be the safer, less ambitious series, right […] Read more
A wild fansubber appeared. It had to happen sooner or later, with a show this good – it’s in the bloodstream, like a virus. We have a second subbing group at last, Reika – and like Oyatsu, their work is high-quality. So feel confident in grabbing these new episodes – […] Read more
One strategy for OVAs is to try and make them as consistent with the TV episodes as possible, and that’s the tack AIC have clearly taken here. Haganai is an interesting show for me – a test of whether you can like a series if you really dislike the main […] Read more
I move that today is officially Brains Base and Tomatsu Haruka Appreciation Day. OP: “Q & A Recital” by Tomatsu Haruka I’ve waxed poetic before about what a stellar studio Brains Base is, but it really bears repeating. There are studios that made more anime, and those that have more […] Read more
No huge surprises in the Fall poll this year. What Fall Series Are You Most Looking Forward To? Read more
Fall 2012 kicks off properly with the first big premiere the show I was most anticipating – and it doesn’t disappoint. I’ll freely admit that a lot happened in the first episode of Shin Sekai Yori that I didn’t fully understand – and I’m absolutely fine with that, because I […] Read more
Forget Space Brothers – this is the cartoon I want to watch. I’ve remarked before that JAXA seems to take its cue from the Hunter Association when it comes to examining its candidates. If anything is clear, it’s that nothing should ever be taken at face value, and this episode certainly […] Read more
I hope people keep talking about the impending demise of Madhouse, because every time they do the studio does something that really knocks your socks off. I’m fascinated by this continual talk about Madhouse being in desperate trouble, given that they continue to produce not just great anime, but anime […] Read more
If you go by the assumption that any episode without Yui is a good episode, SAO #13 was definitely a big improvement. I think I’ve more or less figured out the problems I’m having with Sword Art Online, and they’re not surprisingly similar to the ones I had with Accel World. It’s […] Read more