Let's talk anime.

Gremlin wrote:

So I'm a Spider, So What? - The protagonist continues her struggle. Continuing strong as I'd expect from a solid adaptation of what I consider to be the best isakai novel series. I'm curious how far they're planning to go with the adaptation, because I suspect they won't get to some of my favorite bits. But I'd rather they take their time instead of rushing through it, so that's fine.

Book 5 seems like the natural stopping point, and I'd say it looks to be on track to end there.

Ok, I've checked out a bunch of shows this season, so here are some brief thoughts (in alphabetical order):

Combatants Will Be Dispatched! - From the same author as Konosuba and by the second episode it really shows. I could see several of the characters fitting right in with the Konosuba crowd. I expect it'll be as enjoyable.

DON'T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO - I was expecting something along the lines of Teasting Master Takagi-san or Uzaki-chan Want to Hang Out, but Nagatoro's bullying was terrible and mean spirited. I'm told it gets toned down and that there is some great character development, but I did not enjoy this first episode.

Dragon Goes House-Hunting - This one seems like a silly way to spend some time on. It's certainly an odd series, following a dragon around as he tours different houses, dungeons, and lairs to find a place where he can live safely and comfortably.

Full Dive: This Ultimate Next-Gen Full Dive RPG Is Even sh*ttier than Real Life! - A gamer is tricked into buying one of the most advanced, and lowest rated, games ever created. He immediately screws things up. I guess it is trying to be an edgy, shocking game isekai... but I'm just wondering why he will stubbornly continue to play the game!

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway - The first of the older man with a high school girl fantasy anime I've seen this season. Umm, Mr. Protagonist, I believe you are committing a crime! Doesn't matter how aggressive she is!

How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord Ω - The first season was a guilty pleasure. I'm looking forward to more.

I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level - I really enjoyed the novels. A rather nice story of an overpowered character trying to live a peaceful life and creating odd family of characters, in spite of problems caused by her unwanted reputation. I couldn't help but smile throughout the first episode.

JORAN THE PRINCESS OF SNOW AND BLOOD - A moody, supernatural action series with plenty of intrigue. Has some interesting visuals. Is trying to coat itself is a story thick with betrayal and revenge. I'm interested, but not sure if it will really sink it's teeth into it's story and setting or if it will just run the course similar shows.

Koikimo - Our second of the older man with a high school girl fantasy anime this season! This time the man is the harasser. It's told is a sweet, loving style which would be great, if it wasn't a mean going after a high school girl ten years younger than him.

ODDTAXI - A slowly unfolding mystery told between humorous, dry-wit conversations. So many questions and already so many twists. So far this is one of the most intriguing shows of the season.

SHADOWS HOUSE - This might be the most visually interesting and certainly one of the more unique settings this season. So many question brewing about the world, but the first episode primarily focuses on introducing us to the main two characters, and establishing their relationship. It's fascinating, creepy, and cute all rolled into one.

SSSS.DYNAZENON - Our next anime from Trigger and set in the same universe as SSSS.GRIDMAN. How and if they are connected isn't certain yet, but it's more of Trigger's over-the-top characters and fun, so I'm in!

Super Cub - Cute-girls-doing-cute-things with motocycles/scooters... again. There were a few moments in this one that made me think I was rewatching Bukon, even though this one is much more laid back and steeped in moe. I expect it to be a nice, enjoyable watch, but one episode in, I doubt it'll be all that memorable.

The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent - Overpowered isekai go! Trying to live a laid back life in her new world, our main character's overpowered abilities keep preventing her from staying out the limelight. Wait, isn't that the same plot as Killing Slimes? Well, this one has a much different energy, dropping much of the comedy and warmth for a more series, reverse harem tale.

The Slime Diaries - A spin off of That Time I was Reincarnated as a Slime, which I really enjoy, so I'm happy to have more. This show is a series of vignettes about Rimuru and co's lives. But honestly I felt it a bit dull in full length format. I think I would have preferred it broken up into a number of smaller episodes, which is probably how I'll watch it going forward.

The World Ends with You The Animation - Loved the game, so seeing it come to life in an anime is a real treat. They did a great job capturing the art style, although it bugs me that Neku isn't using pins to unleash his attacks. I know it wasn't meant to be the theme of the show, but Twister just sounds right for twewy.

Those Snow White Notes - A talented shamisen player loses is ability to play after his grandfather's passing, moves to Tokyo and gets wrapped up in a cast of colorful characters. The first couple episodes had plenty of emotional moments, great music (if you don't hate the sound of the shamisen that is), and really set up what might be a great slice-of-life/coming-of-age/overcoming-grief story.

To Your Eternity - Fascinating setting, brilliantly paces, moody, lots of heart, and just a dash of suspense, this is an anime to check out!

Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song- - An original anime by the author of Re:Zero. Knowing that, it's easy to see his style in the heavy moody atmosphere, mixture of cute and violent, shocking twists of tragedy, and desperate bouts action. Still the setting is different enough that you might not realize it was the same author.

ZOMBIE LAND SAGA REVENGE - Tae still cracks me up, just knowing who she's voiced by.

I don't know who still needs to hear this, but I just finished Deca-Dence and it is the good stuff. I blew through the final four episodes today.

As of the third episode, To Your Eternity may be the standout series of this season for me. Such good story telling.
Other stuff I'm watching this season: So I'm a Spider, So What?, 86 Eighty-Six, Dragon Goes House Hunting, Combatants Will Be Dispatched, and I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level.
The other ones I haven't begun to watch yet but want to are Tokyo Revengers and Vivfy(?).

On Eldon's recommendation, I checked out "To Your Eternity". (it's Fumetsu no Anata e if you want the Japanese version.)

The first episode should be enough to set the hook. I can't imagine watching that and not wanting to see more.

There are plenty of great shows this season, To Your Eternity is certainly one of them. 86 Eighty-Six has a lot of potential, and I have a soft spot for I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years.

I think the two I'm most taken with this season are both mysteries, although in very different genres: Odd Taxi and Shadows House.

Odd Taxi is a drama centering about a missing girl. Although where that girl is ends up revealed very early, there still a plethora of questions left open as danger continues to get drawn in around the main character. The non-linear way it weaves around the story can be a little confusing, however.

Shadows House has one of most interesting settings this season, but is largely a "girls do cute things" anime with a touch of horror. The mysteries of the shadows house are slowly unfolding as our main character can't help but innocently wonder about the things she is warned not to think about. There are certainly big revelations coming up and likely none of them will be good.

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 2 is great. Just love the humor, and it's about to start one of my favorite arcs. Can't Wait.

Castlevania Season 4 is ridiculously good. Technically not anime? Whatever don't care. It's some really amazing writing, characters, and fights.

There's also a bunch of isekai anime that I've read before but none of them I would consider that great. Which is too bad cause I'm a sucker for the genre.

Mantid wrote:
Gremlin wrote:

So I'm a Spider, So What? - The protagonist continues her struggle. Continuing strong as I'd expect from a solid adaptation of what I consider to be the best isakai novel series. I'm curious how far they're planning to go with the adaptation, because I suspect they won't get to some of my favorite bits. But I'd rather they take their time instead of rushing through it, so that's fine.

Book 5 seems like the natural stopping point, and I'd say it looks to be on track to end there.

Ok, I've checked out a bunch of shows this season, so here are some brief thoughts (in alphabetical order):

I'm liking the show, but honestly the part of it where we're following the rest of her class with their infighting and political intrigue leading up to a war with the newly appointed Demon Lord just falls flat by comparison (apart from the Demon Lord, the foreshadowing of whose identity is enjoyably blatant).

Mantid wrote:

Full Dive: This Ultimate Next-Gen Full Dive RPG Is Even sh*ttier than Real Life! - A gamer is tricked into buying one of the most advanced, and lowest rated, games ever created. He immediately screws things up. I guess it is trying to be an edgy, shocking game isekai... but I'm just wondering why he will stubbornly continue to play the game!

Why do people play Dark Souls?

I've been watching Miss Nagotoro, 300 years Slime, and Saint.

I liked "The Saint's Power is Omnipotent," the most because they do really nail the feel of it and the ongoing drama is believable. As a middle-aged employee myself, I totally get the vibe of just wanting a peaceful life where everything is easy and I just enjoy myself doing things I like. It gets more serious treatment here and it's more believable. The fact that the heroine's power is enormous and unmistakable is kind of a bummer for her but she does know her obligations and the cute guys willing to help her do them definitely don't hurt.

Nagotoro is... well it's made by a woman mangaka, I hear and it can be difficult to explain. It IS funny, but it's a lot more blatant about the S&M without being blatantly about the S&M. It's less about teasing and more about sitting on people and very mild power exchanges. The lack of firm contracts is only okay because this is literally just mild play between kids, and since it's fantasy, Nagotoro never actually does anything Senpai doesn't really want her to do. The realization that even Nagotoro is kind of an idealized Dom recasts a lot of it into a different light.

The 300 years slime killing Witxh thing is just pure slice of life typical anime comedy so it's nothing anyone hasn't seen before. It's comfortably rote so I watch it when I want something predictable.

Spider is one of things I'm curiously following. The protagonist is definitely more interesting than her classmates and I'm following it so I know what happens when they finally reunite with her.

I've been busy so I'm way behind, but I'm mostly caught up on So I'm a Spider, So What?, Super Cub, and 86. I'm behind on Shadows House, To Your Eternity, I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years and Zombie Land Saga Revenge but plan to catch up.

Taharka wrote:

I've continued watching Sleepy Princess in a Demon Castle...

Sleepy Princess continues to be a delight. It's not deep, but it's fun. They've managed to keep things interesting even though the premise is fairly simple.

That's some nigh-sociopathic creative problem solving in her quest to sleep better.

Cowboy Bebop live action confirmed to be coming out this fall on Netflix. John Cho as Spike. I'm pretty pumped for this.

Yoko Kanno, the original songwriter for the anime, is composing the music for it too.

https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/st...

Amazing composer. At the very least, the music will be good.

Finally got around to watching Your Name. Absolutely gorgeous, well-told, deserves every plaudit it got.

I've finished the latest episode of Nagotoro and tracked down some manga translations and... yeah, it's a light S&M romance thing. As far as I can tell the way Nagotoro is mean to Senpai is meant to be part of the fanservice.

Uzumaki is delayed again, this time to October 2022!

But hey, at least we know the 30 seconds they have completed looks incredible (it is at the 1:30 mark):

I didn't even know that was in the works, but it looks great!

They can delay as long as they need to. Anything to make it better in quality than the Junji Ito Collection that came out a few years ago.

Chainsaw Man anime gets a trailer!

Here is the synopsis for the show stolen from a reddit comment.

Synopsis Written by MAL Rewrite wrote:

Denji has a simple dream—to live a happy and peaceful life, spending time with a girl he likes. This is a far cry from reality, however, as Denji is forced by the yakuza into killing devils in order to pay off his crushing debts. Using his pet devil Pochita as a weapon, he is ready to do anything for a bit of cash.

Unfortunately, he has outlived his usefulness and is murdered by a devil in contract with the yakuza. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Pochita merges with Denji's dead body and grants him the powers of a chainsaw devil. Now able to transform parts of his body into chainsaws, a revived Denji uses his new abilities to quickly and brutally dispatch his enemies. Catching the eye of the official devil hunters who arrive at the scene, he is offered work at the Public Safety Bureau as one of them. Now with the means to face even the toughest of enemies, Denji will stop at nothing to achieve his simple teenage dreams.

Goodness gracious, that's some top notch animation.

I remember first watching Akira in the late 80s early 90s. Of course back then it was in Japanese with no translation available. So watching Akira - which has a kind of convoluted story - in Japanese which was even more confusing.

That's what I felt like watching Godzilla Singular Point even though I could read every word that was said lol

Star Wars anime shorts coming in September to Disney+:

Watched The Seven Deadly Sins final season and didn't care for it much. Everyone has a secret girlfriend. Secret brothers falling out of the sky. Everyone playing their secret trump card ability they were saving for the final battle.

Ever notice how no one has a mother on this show. Everyone with a important father never has a mother.

Maybe there were to many people to juggle that made all the story points dull. I kind of forgot the main character was in the show for a bit.

Cut down on the fan service. Merlin has a outfit that covers her entire body. No butt or boob grabs. Escanor had on a shirt. Still had the fairy girl that looks like a ten year old making out with immortal guy for all the pedos. I don't recall any male gaze shots.

Big bads were kind of dull. Demon King wants to be bad just because. Okay.

Going to be another series aimed on the kids and a movie that looked dumb to me. Didn't like the last movie either.

MHA is better. Jujutsu Kaizen is better. Demon Slayer is better. We've just moved on from that kind of shonen, I think.

Two years after one of Japan's deadliest massacres since WW2, Kyoto Animation let's us know they are back to doing what they known for:

Mantid wrote:

Two years after one of Japan's deadliest massacres since WW2, Kyoto Animation let's us know they are back to doing what they known for:

Those look nice. Glad the survivors can continue, but damn, I won't be able to unpack all the background of anything they release now.

When you're waiting for Thursday so you can watch more Sonny Boy.
IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7kKFxvVIAApBgt?format=jpg)

When Thursday arrives.
IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E8GIvXIVoAQkZrm?format=jpg)

I haven't even been looking at what's new lately, and have instead rewatched My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (still good), and watched the three original Gundam movies for the first time now that they're on Netflix. I'm either going to rewatch Parasyte, rewatch Macross since Gundam got me in the mood for it, or crack the plastic on my newly purchased Fist of the North Star: The Entire Series on Blu-Ray.

It was recommended that I check out Yuru Camp at some point, and I probably will, but right now I guess I'm just not interested in seeing whatever's new and am going back to old stuff.

The downside: Netflix doesn't have Zeta Gundam, its sequel, or Stardust Memory, all of which take place before Char's Counter-attack, which Netflix does have. On the other hand, it turns out this stuff's all on YouTube anyway. But then it turns out all these Gundam shows are like 50 episodes long and good gravy, that's a lot of TV.

I watched the Hathaway Gundam movie which takes place after Char's Counterattack. It was a nice nod to my favorite Gundam.

Watched Record of Ragnarok. Just want to warn you to stay away from this. Trying to be your friend.
It's crap like this that gives Netflix anime their bad rep.

slazev wrote:

Watched Record of Ragnarok. Just want to warn you to stay away from this. Trying to be your friend.
It's crap like this that gives Netflix anime their bad rep.

Its actually based off a popular manga.