Best “Shingeki” anime ever. Fall 2014 wasn’t a great season by any means, but in addition to the expected sublimity of Mushishi Zoku Shou, it was partially redeemed by two surprises that couldn’t have been more different. Gugure! Kokkuri-san looks like it will sell around 4500-5000 in the first volume […] Read more
After a while, all these endings just cut right through you. It figured that Gugure! Kukkuri-san would be the sort of show that’s good at endings – if you’ve seen enough anime you’ll know what I mean – and indeed, it delivered one that checked all the boxes and then […] Read more
It seems only fitting that Mushishi should end its magnificent run with another display of sublime perfection. We have our answer about Artland’s plans for the final two-chapter story in the Mushishi saga, “Drops of Bells”. As did the first cour of “Zoku Shou”, this one will be finished with […] Read more
Say what you will about that ending, but it can’t be denied that it was Argevollen being true to itself. I think the seeds of Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen’s commercial failure were sewn right from the beginning, and right up to the final whistle this was a series that never […] Read more
Of all the qualities that make up great anime, there’s perhaps none more critical than imagination. This has been quite the challenging week. Fighting a full-on Japanese viral infection while having to play tour guide to two sisters on their first trip to Japan has left me desiccated and exhausted. […] Read more
As with Zankyou no Terror, a major problem with Barakamon was expectations. As I mentioned in the Daiya post, my sisters are in town from the USA just as I’ve been hit with a bad cold, so posts are going to be shorter than normal and possibly not quite as […] Read more
In the end, the takeaway from Zankyou no Terror for me is simple – writing really matters. Kenneth Turan once side of Titanic, “It was best movie that was ever made from the worst script ever written”. Watanabe Shinichirou is no James Cameron – he’s a pretty good writer, for […] Read more
Another day, another sad parting. Finale weeks are always a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, especially when they include a show that’s been the anchor of my anime life for the last three years. Fortunately I got a spiritual B-12 shot from the surprise reprieve for Baby Steps to […] Read more
In many ways, I think this is probably the toughest post I’ve ever had to write. The other day, at Sanbunzaka Studio, the place of all the beginnings, we conducted the recording for episode 148 of Hunter x Hunter, which will serve as the turning point for the anime for […] Read more
Raise your hand if you didn’t see that troll coming… I had a pretty good season for sleepers this Summer. Two of my three picks (this series and Majimoji Rurumo) wound up being not just watchable but among the very best series of the season. It was also a good […] Read more