I really don’t know how this post is going to end. But at the least, I know how it’s going to start. I had heard of Clannad, but I was avoiding watching it, because something about the title made me think that it was an isekai or something set in medieval times, and I’m really not too keen on those kinds of anime. But then I found out it’s nothing like that, and I watched it. Or some of it. I put it on hold after fifteen episodes because I have… Read More »Clannad
The first anime I ever watched (that I can recall) was “Bocchi the Rock”. It was maybe a year ago, I had heard good things about it and saw some clips on YouTube, and thought “what the heck”. And I loved it. But it’s not really because “she’s just like me fr”. She’s really not. I mean, yes, she is a lot like me, but there are some significant differences. I did identify with the social anxiety a lot, though. I also identified with the way she kind of seemed to… Read More »Bocchi the Rock: Atmosphere
I’ve noticed in my site stats that I’ve been getting a surprising amount of visits from Japan. Konnichiwa! They probably just think I’m some American baka, but whatever. Anyway, I had an epiphany today. And if you care, I’ll share it here. I wrote a concert band piece a while ago, inspired by Sound! Euphonium. It’s actually not a bad piece. Everyone I’ve shown it to has liked it, and I’m actually somewhat happy with it too. It’s something I’m not ashamed to share, and I guess that’s something. Compared to… Read More »Anime: Reconnecting with what was Lost
In Love Live, there are a lot of different groups, and one of the interesting things is that each one has their own character to their lyrics and songs. The three main groups – mu’s, Aquors, and Liella, tend to write happy, cheerful songs that are supposed to be like, well, pop songs I guess. but they’re not the only group, and the groups like Arise and Saint Snow have different lyrics, and they tend to be far more success and goal oriented. “Self Control”, for example. One lyric that got… Read More »Self Control
I’ve watched a lot of anime lately. Now, let’s be clear about one thing: I’m pretty picky about the anime I watched. Some anime that is very popular I dropped after as little as one episode. “The Quitessential Quintuplets”, for example. Maybe I’ll pick that up at some point, but I doubt it. It has no real redeeming quality, and is just cringe to me. Others I watched through and somewhat regretted it. “My Dress-Up Darling” was in that category. It was brainless and the main character seemed to be… Read More »Why Anime Hurts
This usually surprises people to find this out about me, but I went to college as a piano performance major. I didn’t complete college for health reasons, but that was my major. I attended a medium sized college in Northwest Ohio (you have maybe three to choose from, and I’m very close to telling you which one after all). And I rank choosing to become a piano performance major to be one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made in my life, and there is very little positive that I’ve… Read More »Hibike! Euphonium: My regrets
Last night I finished watching “If my favorite pop idol made it to the Budokan, I would die”. It wasn’t a great anime. I didn’t feel like I didn’t want to leave the world it created, like I did with some anime. It was actually just fair to middling, I even rated it 6 on MyAnimeList. But I didn’t regret watching it, because it’s one of those anime that made me think. Parasocial idol relationships are something that’s interesting to me. Creepy, yes, but interesting as well. There’s a lot of… Read More »Eripyo and Maina
I didn’t get a childhood. I’m not really exaggerating in that statement, though as with every statement like that, there are nuances. It’s generally correct. I did not get a childhood. Every opportunity I had for “normal” development was stunted – either inadvertently or deliberately. The end result is the same. I didn’t get a childhood. The thing about our society is that (and this is understandable) you only really get one chance at a childhood. I mean, after all, you’re a child, and then you’re not, right? If you… Read More »Anime, Otaku, and Lost Childhood
I hate anime dubs. I mean I really can’t stand them. I’ve tried to watch one or two, and I always end up dropping it after a few episodes. Subtitles are far better in my opinion. Is this because I’m an elitist who thinks that the anime is only good in its native language? Well… that’s true, but that’s not why I hate anime dubs. It’s close, but not really. Is it because I’m upset at the localizers for fucking up the dubs? Well, I am, but that’s not why… Read More »Why I Hate Anime Dubs
There’s a “rule” that whenever you see a question in a headline, the answer is “no”. It’s not quite so simple in this case. The question maybe should be posited a little broader: Should I continue studying anything about Japan, including Japanese? I’ve asked this before, but the reasons for my question are different now. My recent foray into the world of “Love Live”, and my subsequent flaming withdrawal from said world, made me think. Oh yes, you might say, that never happens, Gaijin! You never think about anything! Sarcastic… Read More »Should I Continue Watching Anime?