I’m kind of wondering to myself if this is the new normal for me—will I never feel as to blog and writer as I did before the real world came? I’m hoping it’s just the transition affecting me more than I realize, but it’s a bit upsetting how much of a non-positive effect I feel the move to the real world has had on my blogging. I’m gonna keep at it, though! There are shows that must be championed, even this late in the season!
Ore Monogatari!!, Episode 9
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little unsure about my ability to blog Ore Monogatari!! through the end of its runtime. As much as I like it, I can’t really deny that there’s a gap between substance and depth in this show that was highlighted in this episode—plenty of teases at going deeper, but no actual commitment. Which isn’t, by any means, a terrible thing for a show like this, it’s just not all that conducive to weekly blogging.
Announcement: Introducing Aniwords on Crunchyroll!
So, I teased a big, exciting announcement at the beginning of the day and now it’s time to make it (although it’s already been spoiled if you follow me on Twitter):
https://twitter.com/iblessall/status/605890626761007104
Click the image to read the article!
I won’t lie; I’m pretty freaking excited about this. This will be the biggest audience I’ve ever written for and (to tell the truth) I’m at least partially looking at it as a way to expand this blog’s reach. I’ll certainly be putting up a post every week linking to the column itself, but I’m considering doing something a little extra for you guys on here. Y’all were, after all, my first and are still my most faithful readers and the people I most enjoy interacting with. So, yeah, there might be some sneaky bonuses coming your way in the future. This is supplementary to my work on the blog, and I don’t intend to change my posting schedule here for the sake of the column.
But, for now, I hope you enjoy the semi-inaugural edition of Aniwords!
Spring 2015, Week 9: Highlights of the Week
So, this was my first full week having being under ten shows. It was nice. I’m hoping this upcoming week allows with few shows allows me to catch up on blogging about things I’ve been wanting to blog about (aka catching up on those BBB posts), but we’ll see how things go. Otherwise, I’m still trying to get used to balancing anime and blogging with work in my headspace—considering taking naps right after work to see if that helps me shift gears better. I’m a work in progress, that’s for sure!
Watching as Myself: Anitwitter, Me, and Sound! Euphonium 8
Up until episode 8, Sound! Euphonium had been one of my favorite shows of the current anime season—beautifully produced, delicately written, nostalgic in the extreme, thoughtfully reflective on the nature of competitive high school music programs. But, when episode 8 hit the Anitwitter waves, there was…a shift in focus I wasn’t expecting. And the effects of that shift were, well…I didn’t realize what they were for a while, but I thought the overall arc of my experience with the episode was interesting enough that I ought to bring my immediate reactions over from Tumblr and make a more reflective piece out of this fascinating experience.
Ore Monogatari!!, Episode 8
In which I shed many tears over the genuine love shared between a couple of friends.
So, wow. Yeah. That episode was phenomenal. Easily the best 25 minutes Ore Monogatari!! has done all season. Definitely among the best episodes of the season. Subtle, adorable, melancholic, touching. Special. I’ve cried over Suna moments before, but this…this was something else entirely.
Spring 2015, Week 8: Highlights of the Week
Well, hello there! You might notice that this week’s highlights are shorter than in weeks past. There are a couple of reasons for that. One, I dropped three shows this week. Having a full-time job, wanting to do a good job maintaining my blog, and generally just wanting to have the freedom to watch more, different things, has moved me in this direction. The thing that most often inspires me to write is actually watching shows, but there are few shows this season that actually compel me to write about them. Two, I do have quite a few things I do want to write about—and so I’m saving my words and writing energy for those! Three, I wrote most of this post after the BBB 5 post, so I’m tired…eheheheh
Sound! Euphonium episode 7: in which we discover that Kumiko likes eggs as much as I do—and looks stupid cute at the same time.
Ore Monogatari!!, Episode 7
There are a lot of different ways to watch the same show. Myriad perspectives and ways of reading into a show’s text and subtext exist—and I don’t believe that all those different interpretations are exclusive to our particular headspaces. Why do I bring this up? Because my take on this episode differs somewhat radically from my thoughts on last episode. And that’s okay. I spent a lot of time thinking about what some of you guys said in the comments on my last post and I spent this episode trying to think about it in different, more positive terms. And, you know what? It made for a pretty great experience—much of it thanks to some of the cool things Ore Monogatari!! was doing this week.
Blood Blockade Battlefront, Episode 5
Right so, deep thematic analysis, resonance between cinematographic technique and unstated meaning…it’s all there in Blood Blockade Battlefront. It’s exceptional, in a way only a Rie Matsumoto show could be. Those qualities…have almost not bearing whatsoever on this episode—because this episode is about one thing and one thing only: having a good time. And if you didn’t enjoy this episode, you might as well get off the giant car-eating monster vehicle now, because this is the reality of Blood Blockade Battlefront. And this is my favorite episode of the season.
Ore Monogatari!!, Episode 6
As expected, this episode of Ore Monogatari!! brought to a close the relationship tension between Takeo and Yamato—and, as I expected, Yamato’s “secret” was revolved around guilt induced by Takeo’s perceptions and expectations of her. It’s not like this is an uncommon thing; they’ve just started dating and still don’t really know much about the other person yet. But, while it’s nice to see the tension resolved in Ore Monogatari!!‘s typical adorable fashion, I had a few problems with both the execution and the content of the episode.
Mage in a Barrel 