Aria, Episode-by-Episode: The Animation, Episode 2

If episode 1 focuses on introducing Akari and Neo-Venezia, episode 2 focuses on making us further connected to the city, as well as to Aika. Aika got some screen time last episode, and she got to hear her catchphrase, but outside of that we didn’t get any deep insight into her character. This episode manages to introduce her in a way that makes her purpose within the show clear, while also further fleshing out the city as a whole.

Aria, Episode-by-Episode: The Animation, Episode 1

Unless this rewatch changes my opinion drastically, Aria is my favorite anime. I’ve been planning on rewatching it for a while, and originally I just planned on watching it again and making a Why I Love It post about the show. I still intend to do so, but I figured that with the amount I love the show, I can find enough in each episode to write a piece about every single one.

This will be coming out three times a week for nineteen weeks, assuming there’s no delays. These will likely range from more analytical pieces which look at how the episode contributes to the show, to more personal pieces which focus much more on what the episode means to me. Some pieces will likely be short, and some will be longer. I’ll try to avoid retreading too much material, though at times similar themes will lead to similar writing. Without further ado, let’s begin with the show’s premier episode.

Great Anime OSTs: Turn A Gundam

Sound is key. Like all parts of a production, with bad sound design you’ll end up with a bad show, and the soundtrack is a key part of that design. Every good anime has at least a passable OST, and every great anime has at least a good OST. But some shows go beyond that, not settling for an OST which simply tonally fits, but one which constantly astounds the viewer, one that remains in the heads of those watching, one that elevates every scene. An OST which makes you want to save it to your phone. This project is for looking at those OSTs, and breaking down why I love them. This time, we’re focusing on Turn A Gundam.

Winter 2017 Week 7 Recap

This was a good week. I dropped Bang Dream, less out of hatred than out of mild boredom, but I picked up Kemono Friends, and that was certainly a worthwhile trade-off. I’ve got a new project beginning with a write-up on Saturday, and if all goes well another project will be starting on Sunday. I’ve finally got a schedule worked out that allows multiple posts every week, and I’m pretty excited with my writing in general right now. My anime watching rate might go down now that I can play Nier: Automata, but I’ve got a big enough buffer now that I’m not worried. Look out for my new stuff, and enjoy my thoughts on this week.

Why Don’t People Watch Old Anime?

Anime is a medium with a fairly long history. Compared to other visual mediums it’s had a somewhat short life, but it’s older than the vast majority of its fans, and over the years a lot of it has been made. Many of anime’s best works are more than ten years old, and yet many won’t watch anything made before Code Geass. At best, some will watch Eva and Cowboy Bebop, before returning to newer shows, satisfied with having seen “the good shows from the last millenium”.

It should be obvious that I don’t agree with this perspective; there’s a ton of good anime from the 20th century and the early 2000s, and yet much of it goes unwatched. I’d like to examine the reasons why people don’t watch old anime, and offer up reasons why they should start doing so.

Winter 2017 Week 6 Recap

Another late post, but what are you gonna do. My actual essays are back on track, and with luck another will be out within a few days. I plan on picking up Kemono Friends, so look out for that on the next recap. Eventually I’d like to pick up Pokemon and catch up to Yugioh as well, but Pokemon can wait and I might just start Yugioh again with the next season. Anyways, here’s my thoughts this week.

Why I Love It – Haibane Renmei’s Quiet Atmosphere

Haibane Renmei is an anime which lives and dies on the execution of its atmosphere. I wouldn’t quite call it an iyashikei, but it certainly shares elements with the genre, and like many iyashikei shows it focuses heavily on creating an atmosphere you can easily immerse yourself in. This atmosphere is used to great effect in exploring the show’s themes, and by focusing on it so heavily, the show is able to remain incredibly tonally consistent. What really makes it stand out though is that it’s consistent in spite of major tone shifts. It’s this ability to subtly change the atmosphere while maintaining the feeling of a coherent whole, that makes Haibane Renmei one of my favorites.

Winter 2017 Week 5 Recap

Finally, I’m on track for once. I’ve got a post waiting for its final revision, hopefully going up this weekend, and a plan for more essays on the way. My anime watching speed is picking up for real this time, and my “Why I Love It” project is well underway, alongside the shows I watch for fun. Basically, this week was great for me, and hopefully I can keep saying that from here on out. This week was pretty great episode-wise too, so enjoy my thoughts.

Winter 2017 Week 4 Recap

I didn’t write as much this week because some of what I wrote was deleted, but oh well. I managed to finish the show I was watching for my next actual article/essay, which’ll be out within two weeks. I’d like to increase my rate of posting “real” posts, but it might take a little setup to do that, so I can’t promise anything. Anyways, I hopefully will be adding Precure next week, so look out for that.