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Showing posts from 2017

Best anime scenes: The unexpected reunion in Nagi no Asukara (epi 15)

Look past some... *ahem* I mean a lot of the childish melodrama in Nagi no Asukara and you will find some pretty neat scenes. The reunion of Chisaki and Hikari is one of the most well-executed scenes I have seen in anime. First, for every good scene, there will be an equally good set-up for it. It's like one of the golden rules of anime or storytelling in general. Chisaki thinks back to how Tsumugu said that Hikari has not change just as the bus rolls by and we see the reflection of Chisaki's facial expression. Shocked and despaired. It was then the door opens and we see that Chisaki crotches down, unable to accept that she herself has changed. Prior to this, we were already beaten by the fact that Chisaki hates change so we can understand how devastated she feels. And if anyone didn't catch this, she goes on to explain how she is afraid to see Hikari in her current self to Tsumugu. Hikari on the other hand has a hard time accepting how everything around him has so drasti

Nagi no TOO MUCH FUCKING BLUE

After watching Nagi Asu for the sixth time, I have dawned upon a frightening realisation. That in every single scene of Nagi Asu, there will always, guaranteed to have a colour blue. This anime is so stuffed up with blue in all of its settings. Even in the surface, there will be fucking blue on the walls and shit. And under the sea, it's like blue hell down there. 'So what?' you say. Nobody cares. It's a show about mermaids, of course it will be blue... Oh boy, you don't even know that that is not even the most frightening part about this blue hell. You see because, the most scary part about this whole goddamn conspiracy is that, EVERYBODY'S GODDAMN HAIR IS LIKE BROWN. WHAT?! Yes, I swear, apart from Chisaki and her milf mother, NO ONE ELSE HAS BLUE HAIR IN BLUE HELL! INSTEAD, THEY ALL HAVE BROWN?! WHY BROWN?!?!?!?! There is even one scene when Tsumugu was talking to his grandpa about the salt flake calamity that is befalling upon the world, and that

Best anime scenes: The birth of a hero in Danmachi (epi 8)

Get rid of all the preconceptions you have on Danmachi. Whether it is a shitty harem anime or not, I am here to convince you on how that shitty anime managed to craft one of the most intense anime battles I have ever seen. So buckle up your seat belts and let's go on an adventure. The set-up is important in setting the overall tone and to solidify the stakes and motivations of our main character. "This shell can only be broken by those who goes on adventures." This is followed by the roar of the minotaur which instantly sets up for Bell's battle with his greatest fear in the episode. This cuts to showing Bell despairing over the huge gap between him and Ainz who he is trying to catch up. "You can't compare to her, she is special," and "I'm not fast, or strong at all," brilliantly sets up the internal conflict of Bell with his own weakness. And after Ryuu explains the concept of having an adventure, we instantly jump into the emotional cru

In need for a greater conflict in Youjo Senki (epi 3)

The primary conflict set up in Youjo Senki as of now is Tanya being tormented by Being X for her lack of religious faith. The problem I have with this conflict is the fact that Being X is essentially god and can do whatever he wants, whenever it is convenient to him. He can even break the world's rules as he is the one who made said rules to begin with. This makes it extremely difficult to relate to or to understand where this conflict will ultimately lead to and gets rid of any tension possible. For example, if two people is involved in a conflict, we can predict what the conflict will lead to with the two people's personalities, limitations and motivations. This gives the readers the necessary drive to continue watching on to find out more. But with Being X, we understand nothing about him and is introduced to him being god. This makes this conflict impossible to find out how it will play out and leaves the readers just sitting on the seat thinking, 'oh that just happen

How to believe in yourself

I think throughout my life I have seen and heard way too much advice that tell you to simply 'have more confidence', 'believe in yourself', 'don't be ashamed of who you truly are' or 'you are perfect as you are'. No. It is not that easy to just believe in yourself. It is like asking someone to make a leap of faith across the Petronas towers and not expect you to fall. I am a shit person. I am selfish and it is evident in all the small actions I do. I am sure a lot of people have a score to pick with themselves and telling them to just believe in yourself is like turning a blind eye to your opponent. What I believe in is actually looking straight at a problem you have with yourself and tackling it head on. Well now that doesn't sound easy as well since it makes you feel more shit thinking that you are shit but I think of it as building a bridge instead of jumping between skyscrapers. You start with the first plank and move on from there. I u

Dreaming to be in Isekai

I was scrolling through kissmanga updates yesterday and I just came upon a manga called Death March with a invaluable 'Isekai' tag slapped onto the back. And like someone danging a lollipop in front of me, I took the bait while subsequently spitting it back out after two chapters. Why make Satou max level? I actually think it would be more interesting if the character starts from scratch. He doesn't necessarily need to be weak but max level? I can't comprehend turning him into fifteen as well as it would've been perfectly find if he went in as twenty-nine. And doesn't it feel out of place-- Oh no... I probably had this conversation with myself every time I read a new Isekai/fantasy manga. Yet even after all the flaws, I still end up pouncing on that lollipop every time. I think there is something to say about how the Isekai genre reflects people. I won't say it over-saturates anime nowadays but I definitely feel like there is a common trend that is sweep

The edginess that is Youjo Senki (epi 1)

"She is..." "W-W-What?"  "A monster in a form of a little girl!" "HI HA HA CI CI LI HI LI DA DA DA DA!" How? How is she a monster from what we have seen in the first episode? The term 'monster' has to be earned to be impactful. Too much vileness will make a character unrealistic and too little will make it seem edgy.  The devil: But she almost beheaded her two subordinates. They disobeyed orders. Mind you this is the military and even to this day you are still expected to strictly follow your commanders' orders without any complains. Back in World War 2, speaking out of line would have had your entire family executed by the Gestapo.  The devil: She shows almost no care or concern to her subordinates. Big deal... Talk to me when she starts using them as meat shields. Not caring just shows that she is a cold individual, and not a monster. And she actually compromised to Serebryakov by letting her in on th