When you meet someone like this, you’ll know they’re not the same as anyone you’ve met before.
The Top Anime of 2018
There’s something to be said for putting down a more permanent record of your favorite anime of the year. I didn’t do it last year and I realized I regretted it—so this year, although I said I wouldn’t and the list will be shorter than normal—I won’t make the same mistake.
These are my picks for the top anime of 2018.
12 Anime Things that Made Me Happy in 2018
2018 was yet another year of evolution in my journey as an anime fan. Throughout the year, I spent less time watching anime and less time engaging in anime-related activities like doing freelance writing, blogging, and livetweeting shows. So as I started to consider “my year in anime,” I wondered if I would have much to say.
I needn’t have worried. The year is 2018 and anime is still good, so in the spirit of the 12 days of anime project (that I didn’t do this year)—here are twelve anime things that brought me some joy this year.
Tragedy and Healing: Why Maquia Makes Us Cry
On Mari Okada’s magnificent directorial debut and how it deftly weaves narrative, theme, and aesthetic together to create a gorgeous emotional tapestry.
A Cheerful Look at Some Fall 2018 Anime Premieres
I don’t have as much time these days to watch anime, but the start of a new season is always so fresh with hope and excitement just at seeing new things we haven’t seen before, that I couldn’t resist checking out a few more shows than I actually expect to follow. So here’s a breakdown of what I watched, and what I thought!
Fate/Extra LAST ENCORE’s Grand Journal of Despair
Despair is a reality with which we must contend.
[Review] Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple
As you may or may not have heard, Crunchyroll brought the Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple film over the states as part of their Movie Night series. I was lucky enough to check it out, and I wrote up a review of the film with my thoughts! It’s no Heartcatch Precure movie, but few franchise films are so I can’t knock it that bad for being visually stunning while kind of flat narratively.
By Camera, a World: Inhabiting Hyouka
Putting words to that vague idea and (likely) wild claim that Hyouka might the best-directed TV anime of all time.
A Brief Look at the Merits of Overman King Gainer
Yoshiyuki Tomino’s idiosyncrasies have rarely been so approachable, delightful, and altogether entertaining.
Your Body is Not Your Own: Darling in the FranXX and Sexual Agency (or the Lack Thereof)
Something I think is very important to get right has been got rather wrong, in my estimation.
Mage in a Barrel 