thoughts from tsujirii

In a nutshell: If American youtubers who made anime parodies were given license to write the entire script for a school series.  I wasn't sure if I'd like it going in. I assumed it would be another slice of life anime with overly kawaii characters, fanservice, harems, and no actual depth - the kind of anime that's popular nowadays, and unfortunately, tends to be a hit in North America. I figured I'd drop it after the first or second episode. But the storyline was intelligently written, and it was easy to follow along after the second episode.  All the mini stories, almost like 'chapters' of a book, were hilarious, because the characters were hilarious. For me, Hanako's "socially repressed, thus insane at times" character was actually the most relatable, especially when I was growing up, so it was super funny to watch. Each character breaks an anime archetype in their own way, and more than once. This anime is full of self awareness, so a lot of the...

 I see a kimono, I click.  Animax's description said "Japanese culture gains popularity in the West", which was grossly inaccurate of what actually transpired. So let me break it down for you real quick: 8 year old* Japanese child moves to Paris in hopes of 'studying abroad' all things French. Instead, she becomes an au pair (domestic helper who is typically unpaid) to a working-class family on the verge of bankruptcy. Every episode is filled with culture shock, subtle racial discrimination, and abuse from her host family. Whether you choose to watch this series is totally up to you, and there are many parts that are enjoyable - but I feel all viewers should be aware of the above, instead of being completely deceived like I was. Honestly, the initial description led me to expect affection and admiration of Japanese culture. And Japanese products to be in high-demand by all of society. Which already happens today in certain niche social groups as we know - and may ...

 If you've ever seen Karneval and Avatar the Last Airbender...  Thorfinn (the protagonist) is like a perfect combination of both Gareki and Zuko. Extremely traumatizing past, leading to a lot of *unresolved* emotional angst and insane fighting skills. He has so much potential, and it's because of this, I really liked the story, but thought it could've been better. His character depth doesn't develop or transform the way Zuko's does, which is disappointing.  Overall: Would recommend Episode 1 - 11 Episode 12 and onwards is optional - it's addictive to watch, and the political / action elements keep you in suspense. But the emotional depth of characters, while touched on, still wasn't enough for me, and Thorfinn's original goals (like family) are quickly lost in the scuffle of other character plots (Canute's, Askeladd's). Long version: Thoughts in bullet points, no particular order: - Lots of characters with gray morales (e.g. Askeladd), constantly...

I never thought I'd find another anime that hit me as deep as Natsume Yuujinchou did. And then I came across this treasure and was in love from the first episode. It's hard for me to even begin describing it, because it's such a powerful and inspirational series - not to mention highly relatable.  I'll start there: Who it's for, and who I would recommend it to: - Aspiring artists - Creative souls - Stigmatized, marginalized, or minority folks (define minority how you like, I am using the term liberally here). The more you have been discriminated against (or faced extreme hardship) to pursue your life's passion, the more you will be able to relate to, and enjoy this show.  - People who enjoy strong female characters - Friends of those mentioned above. If you don't fall into one of these categories above, I'd still encourage watching it, but I can't guarantee that you will like it. This is not a light-hearted story like Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, where ...

Expectation: Protagonist magically heals broken hearts from lots of emotional high school romances, divorces, and mild trauma in each episode that ends on happy notes. Alright, sounds like just the right blend of bittersweet but warm and empowering, I'm in.  Reality: Ditzy girl with 0 superpowers devotes the majority of her life to a failing kindergarten with predictable children. "Helps" people by forcing her way into the daily lives of neighbourhood's residents, and is rewarded when they smile.  - I was initially surprised that I hadn't heard of this anime before. The description sounded appealing for a sensitive sh*t like me, and I generally appreciate protagonists who try to make others' lives better, because I too, like helping people in real life. Now I know why it was never popular, and hope it stays that way. It is NOTHING like the description said; the description is a LIE.  - Out of 24 episodes, we can say maybe 2 of them were actually 'broken he...

If Studio Ghibli (Hayao Miyazaki's movies) and Avatar the Last Airbender (ATLA) had a baby, this series would be it. If you like both of those things, this might be your new favourite.  But if you're looking for a light-hearted anime that doesn't make you think too hard, or can't stand supernatural / spiritual journeys, you're probably not going to like this. Full review: I wasn't sure what to expect before watching. Truthfully, I came here for Tanda's voice actor (Tsujitani Kouji), the muted color palette didn't seem very appealing to me. What could be that exciting about old people in palaces, forests, and herb gardens? I even planned to skip through it if I didn't like it.  - Characters: Then the first episode came on, and Balsa captivated me. She's everything I could want and ask for in a strong female hero who thinks on her feet. Someone who is respectful as she is dangerous. It's a pretty rare combination to come by these days.  I think...

A woman trapped in a suffocating home, and a woman trapped in a heavenly palace... what's the difference? Looks the same to me.  I had really high hopes for this movie, and in the first half, it looked like it was going to exceed my expectations. The script, art, and characters imparted a kind of magic that only Studio Ghibli can do with traditional illustration and color palettes. The Kaguya-hime (Princess Kaguya) that they had chosen to portray had a youthful spirit and expressed herself in ways that most people in this century could probably relate to. She was fun, lovable, cheeky, and beautiful.  Compared to the traditional folk tale that is well known throughout East Asia, I think they gave her a very elaborate story and setting in this movie. And, probably, because of the opulent setting (e.g. this Kaguya grows up to live in a luxurious mansion, as a noble lady, with many servants), I was hoping that they would also take creative liberties with the ending too.  They...