Anime/Manga, Opinion

The Witch from Mercury and Subtlety in Storytelling

Anime/Manga

Turning Up the Creepy to Eleven in Blood on the Tracks Volume Three

Anime/Manga

Last Gender: When We Are Nameless Volume One

Blog Updates

Finally Employed (and Figuring Stuff Out)

Anime/Manga

Life at the End of the World – Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Omnibus Volume One

Anime/Manga, Secondary Findings

Secondary Findings Spring 2023

Anime/Manga, Opinion

The Witch from Mercury and Subtlety in Storytelling

May 24, 2023 Jack Scheibelein Leave a comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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The world of anime, especially when it comes to genres like sci-fi and fantasy, can often revolve around big flashy moments and fight scenes. Mecha anime, in particular, utilize their giant robots as not just points of literal conflict but symbolic conflict as well.

Mobile Suit Gundam is one of the most historic in terms of its themes surrounding war and the costs thereof. Given the nature of its combat involving giant war machines, seems logical that these questions would arise. The latest of its incarnations, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, however, arguably does a bit more to differentiate itself in this lane than some of its peers.

Despite wanting to talk about this show a bit more in-depth, my friend and I’s group watch of the series has only gotten through the first season, and thus there is probably a lot that could be missing from any analysis. Still, there is so much in this series worth talking about, and since most of my attention has been elsewhere recently, it feels like good a time as any before reviewing the series properly once it finishes. As such, the things highlighted in this post will relate primarily to season one.

There is a lot of charming optimism to be found in young anime protagonists. Many of them fight not just because they have to but because they believe doing so will bring about some sort of good in the world. While Naruto spends a good portion of his own story hated by the people around him, he rarely gives up hope in favor of a darker outlook. The same can be said of Gon in Hunter x Hunter, though the show’s more angry, rage filled moments certainly provide a stark contrast. Hell, one of the most famous mecha series of all time Gurren Lagann is known for its main character’s eternally optimistic attitude.

The Witch from Mercury approaches its story similarly with Suletta, a young girl who comes from the outskirts of the solar system and who’s parents were involved with a biological weapon’s program known as GUND. Despite Suletta’s shy personality, her outlook is decidedly positive, often reciting her mother’s mantra “retreat and take one step, move forward and take two steps.” On top of that, her generally friendly personality makes her approachable later on.

Given many MC’s tendency towards positivity and straightforward thinking, shows often develop a sense of black and white morality that leaves little room for exploring ideas in any sort of nuanced way. However, Suletta’s storyline buckles this trend in ways that make it stand out as a more subtle narrative.

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The ending of season one might have felt like a bit of a surprise to some, but the show leaves enough clues in earlier episode that its more murderous direction is not at all unwarranted. The show draws a lot of attention to her early on, not just by making her the main character, but by making her the only character from a business family without a set of ulterior motives. While everyone else’s kid serves as a puppet for one of the businesses in the group, Suletta seemingly remains mission-less.

However, it is the seeming lack of a deeper derision between Suletta and her mom that becomes suspicious, especially framed within the context of her mom’s actions. This is especially apparent in episode 12, where it takes all of 20 seconds for her mom to use that same motto “retreat and and take one step, move forward and take two steps” to essentially convince Suletta that murder is ok. This is, of course, assuming that the masked woman is even her mom which feels less and less certain as the episodes roll on.

Not so surprisingly, the concept of witches comes in the show as well. The fantastical beings have their origins in a number of places but in recent times have been mythologized as much more evil. The Salem Witch Trials in the U.S. are a great example of how hysteria created by religious fervor fueled many into believing in these being and has since become so famous as to become a parable about delivering false accusations against others.

The invocation of this event and the history of witch hunts is utilized quite well in the series. Given the taboo nature of the GUND format and people as biological weapons piloting gundams, it is no surprise that Suletta’s fellow classmates take to her robot’s mysterious powers with a bit of fear. Though the fear is initially framed as unfounded and irrational on the part of the students, it is slowly revealed that the technology not only still exists but is possibly still worth pursuing.

A lot of this is also scene from the perspective of Miorine, especially in the previously mentioned episode 12 final scene, who watches Suletta’s development. The dynamic between the two changes drastically, both in the whole of the first season as well as when she murders Miorine’s assailant. What in her eyes were annoying, unfounded rumors about her…wife (I’ll save talking about this dynamic for the review proper) becomes founded in a near instant.

The Witch from Mercury does not feel the need to spell out a lot of its larger points. Part of this might be its attachment to the legacy of Gundam which at this point feels like it needs little explanation. However, a lot of it feels like trust in a more mature audience, one that is able to handle not just layered and nuanced storytelling but also queer relationships and the ethically dilemma that is warfare.

How do you all feel about the series so far? Let me know in the comments (preferably without spoilers from season 2).

If you are interested in reading more from me, check under blog to read my most recent stuff, or look below for some related posts. Also, if you would like to support Animated Observations, consider donating on Ko-fi or through paypal, or pledging on Patreon. You can even support by just liking and sharing this post.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting the blog on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga

Turning Up the Creepy to Eleven in Blood on the Tracks Volume Three

May 17, 2023 Jack Scheibelein Leave a comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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Apologies for taking Mother’s Day off, adjusting to my new work schedule has left me a little more tired than usual, so I did not have much energy to write. That being said, today’s volume certainly restored a lot of my blood flow, because my heart was pounding for the majority of it.

While still processing what has happened, Seiichi finishes his summer vacation and returns to school. However, it seems as though his attempts to figure out why his mother would attempt murder have left him quite literally speechless. Eventually, he cannot take it anymore, and, well…now is the time to leave for those who have yet to read it and want to avoid spoilers.

The Confrontation

The last two chapters are thus far some of the most emotionally charged manga I have ever read. Horror is historically something that anime as a medium has failed to do a ton of justice. However, with manga, it is a different story. Because there is no set pace, reading manga comes with a degree of control: how fast eyes scan up and down, whether or not fingers decide to pick up the next page. Oshimi draws on this principally brilliantly when writing the scene between Seiichi and Seiko.

The way the darkness of the house builds the atmosphere in otherwise less tense moments before the two start arguing is brilliant. Not a single panel is wasted when it comes to mixing the cocktail of emotions the two of them feel. The character shading also really helps, with some panels even showing the two as almost dark outlines, but still drawn with enough complexity to see what they are going through with little to no visible face.

Shigeru’s Return

Another element of this volume that was particularly effective at building the atmosphere was seeing Shigeru again. It is not often that vising someone in a hospital can be as frightening, but again, Oshimi does it well. Seiichi’s cousin is not only immobilized but visibly deformed from the fall. His bloodshot and yet somehow still dead eyes and lack of speech contrast dramatically with his character in the opening chapters.

From volume one onwards, it had yet to be the case Shigeru appeared at all. This helps to build a lot of nervous distraught in Seiichi, who, after seeing him in his horrific state, finally gets the courage to confront his mom.

Minamalism and Atmosphere

Though some of the mangaka’s backgrounds can feel a bit underdone, this is not to say that a lack of linework is necessarily always bad. In fact, there are many points where it arguably adds to the atmosphere. The previously mentioned scene near the end with Seiichi and Seiko is a good example.

Many of the characters in the panels of these chapters can be extremely detailed. However, Oshimi also plays with some elements of minimalism, with the two of them at points looking like rough sketches. This rougher sketch work seems to represent points where the world around them has changed completely. For Seiichi, he is experiencing a whole new person that he does not recognize as his mom. In Seiko’s case, it likely feels like her son has betrayed her for going to see Shigeru in the hospital.

Conclusions/Predictions

As the world is crashing down around him, it seems likely that Seiichi will be forced to make a choice about how he wants to proceed. My best guess is that more than likely, he will try and get his dad to help him with his mother, and that there will also probably be more attempted murder.

Have you all read Blood on the Tracks? Let me know down in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting the blog on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga

Last Gender: When We Are Nameless Volume One

May 10, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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The queer community, especially in the U.S., is a hard place right now. It is easy enough for someone who does not pay attention to politics much to see a local pride event or the litany of advertisements from major corporations supporting the queer community that everything will be fine. The reality is much different.

Rather, many areas of the country are still significantly hostile to LBGTQ+ people. The southeast, which I call home, is particularly bad given the overwhelming conservative majorities across state and local governments. Said conservative majorities are also actively being used to try and regulate the ability of gay and transgender people to exist publicly.

That being said, these issues also hold true in Japan, where according to Equaldex, overall governmental and public attitudes toward queer people are still a fair bit worse than in the States. Outside of big metropolitan areas like Tokyo, rights for LGBTQ+ people are pretty up in the air. All of this is to say that queer representation is more important than ever, and Rei Taki’s Last Gender: When We Are Nameless is a fairly interesting attempt at it.

The manga focuses on a queer hotspot called BAR California, where folks from all walks of life can meet and do whatever, and yes I do mean whatever. Most forms of intimate action are not only allowed but actively accommodated. It is here the story proceeds through a number of character vignettes, each representing one or more parts of the alphabet soup and telling their stories.

One preface worth putting out there immediately is that, while this manga is not necessarily supposed to be porn, it does contain a good amount of sexually explicit images. After all, the primary focus is on dating and hookups. Even I did not realize it until after buying the thing, though the volume being the only one in plastic wrap on the entire shelf probably should have been a tip-off. While there is something to be said for depictions of queer people being overly sexual, Last Gender does so in a way that is both informative about various identities and also honest about the struggles these identities bring to its characters.

A good example of this comes in chapter two, which focuses on a trans woman named Ran. Given her gender identity and attraction to both men and women, Ran has often been fetishized to the point of self-hatred. It is only through another character’s persistence in hanging out with her that she is able to finally find someone who accepts her, which makes for a short and sweet ending.

However, as enjoyable as the series is, it is also not without its problems. For starters, given that each character only gets about a chapter, outside of BAR California’s seemingly lone employee Yo, a lot of development is crammed into about 20-40 pages each. This makes a lot of arcs seem incredibly rushed, despite the point of the manga being to give these characters space to tell their story. It is possible that some of them will return in later chapters since there are two more volumes afterward, but as a first impression, it leaves a lot to be desired.

The second issue ties in with the first, which concerns the identities of the characters. Given how little space each person is given, the core aspects of their queer identities seem almost trivialized in how rushed out they are. Some scenes feel incredibly awkward, like when Ran drops her pants and just shouts out that she is trans and bisexual at Mao as if Taki realized how many pages were left in the chapter just needed to fill some kind of identity quota.

Still, for as rushed as it can feel at points, there are enough tender moments to make up for it. Masanori’s chapter about being bigender was particularly moving, especially since it can be harder for older queer people to express themselves given that social attitudes toward them tend to fall more negatively with older demographics.

It is by no means perfect, but given that it is only three volumes total, there is a decent chance I will finish it out, for no reason other than having nothing else to read. Last Gender offers a unique perspective when it comes to those who are still, by and large, forced to negatively contend with their queer identity due to societal heteronormative pressure. Those who are looking for something a bit more openly sexual on these issues should give it a chance.

Have you read Last Gender? Let me know down in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for continuing the support on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Blog Updates

Finally Employed (and Figuring Stuff Out)

May 7, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 4 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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It has been a minute since my last update (about five months or so), and as such, it seemed like a good a time as any to organize what has been going on with me in an easily digestible format.

My New (Old) Job

It never really occurred just how depressing unemployed life can be. Most days are spent desperately combing through job listings of any place that looks like it will actually hire. minutes, hours, spent checking my email inbox and looking down at my phone waiting for responses back. Even the ones that do answer back are positions only applied for because it felt like something to do and not one that would actually be good. Needless to say, finding a job has not been easy.

At least, that is what I had typed out originally when writing this post. However, after a week or so of consideration, I decided to go back to my old job after texting with my former manager. While it may not be exactly where I expected to be at this point, it will at least give me time to re-evaluate what it is I should do going forward.

I’m Finally Happy?

Finally is a bit dramatic, perhaps, but the sentiment is still applicable. As much as I enjoyed my time in higher education, and for as much as being unemployed for months on end was not particularly fun, there is also a bit of hesitance on my end to go back. At least for the last couple of years, college felt more like a way to escape entering the real world as much as a did a vehicle for self-improvement. As much as these should feel contradictory, I also cannot help but feel like both are true.

This contradiction leaves me unsure of what to do next. On the one hand, Academic spaces have always felt pretty comfortable, and spending days holed up in a library doing research does not sound that bad. At the same time, I worry about getting bored and my motivation fizzling out. I’ve also been grappling with the idea that progress is not linear, and that personal journeys are not always going to move in a straight line, so I guess we will have to see.

Topics Coming Up

Been finding a lot of fun manga recently. On top of that, there is also some older stuff that I am just about done with and will be doing a formal post on when through.

Blood on the Tracks (Continued)
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (possibly)
Last Gender – When We Are Nameless
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Oshi no Ko
Yu-Gi-Oh 5D’s (if I’m feeling silly)

As usually, I reserve the right to ignore some of this or cover something else that peaks my interest if it happens to come up.

What have you all been up to recently? Let me know down in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting the blog on Patreon

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga

Life at the End of the World – Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Omnibus Volume One

May 3, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 2 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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After watching and writing about Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou back in 2022, it was exciting to learn that the original manga series which had at that point never seen an English print, would be translated brought state side officially. Though I was admittedly a bit inebriated which left me in a state of feeling a bit more warm and fuzz, watching the OVA adaptations of the series left me excited to get into the series proper. Now, through kind of forgetting about it because of school and spending the last few months doing other stuff, it is finally time to talk about this manga.

For those who are coming across this series for the first time and those who need a refresher, YKK tells the story of a future earth where natural disasters have drastically shifted the land and human society. Alpha, a humanoid robot, runs a small coffee shop which was made by her owner. Her owner, absent on a journey far away, leaves Alpha the shop to look after. Now, she must deal with the day to day of running the shop while finding out more about her self in his absence.

Damn, The Apocalypse has Never Looked Better

Mangaka Hitoshi Ashinano received the Seiun Award in science fiction for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou after finishing the series in 2007, and while the exact criteria for that award are unknown to me, it seems likely one of the big contributing factors was the series’ beautiful art and scenic shots.

In fact, it would not be a stretch to say that the landscapes and backgrounds of this series contribute as much as the characters who walk and drive around on them. The world has shifted greatly in this future version of reality, and while the end times are often characterized by immediate devastation and hardship, the series pushes past that and looks at the aftermath, what is left behind and how these natural disasters shape the land and human involvement with it.

One of the series’ most iconic scenes involves Alpha staring down at a city that has been submerged under water due what is assumed to be tsunamis and flooding. While a story focusing on imminent danger and survival might focus on the horror of these scene, Ashinano instead enhances the beauty of the scene by showing the somehow still functioning streetlights turning on to glisten in the water, creating a lightshow of the bay.

An admittedly fantastical example, sure, but YKK is layered with shots of Alpha’s long drive over rural and previously developed landscapes, of humanity which has returned to a more immediately communal style of living. This new landscape is not just a byproduct of disaster, but endemic to there new way of life. Capturing these scenes and moments is itself a work of art beyond the story of the manga itself. That being said,

Oh to Be a Robot Making Coffee

In stories like Yokohama Kaidsashi Kikou, narrative exists usually as a compliment to some primary objective and not necessarily as the main focus. Of course, how much a narrative actually matters in a given series as defined by its relation to theme is up for debate. Rather, this is to say that narrative remains less of a focus in and of itself. Still, the cliché that “nothing happens” is highly reductive.

Sure, Alpha spends a lot of time sitting in a coffee shop waiting for anyone to show up and give her something to do. In that sense, there is a bit of empty space in events. However, that empty space still progresses the manga’s overall story. Whether contemplating her relationship with her owner or reflecting on the found family she has in Takahiro and the old man, there is a sense of development turned appreciation, one that is implicitly juxtaposed against her immortality as a robot. Subtlety is by no means the only approach to storytelling, but it is an art form worthy of appreciation.

In this sense, Alpha’s bonding experiences with the other characters serves as the big moments that in other series would be payed off with a fight scene or battle of the mind. Her relationship with Kokone is another example of this. Being the only other robot she has met in a long time, Kokone allows Alpha to better understand herself and vice versa. It is not entirely clear at this point in the story that there are any romantic feelings involved, but like…c’mon, look at them. The two literally do music together along in their room. It does not get much more implied queer relationship than that.

Splitting the Difference

It may at first seems like there are a lot of disparate elements at play in YKK. New landscapes, humanoid robots, even magical creatures like the Osprey who seem content staying out of plain sight. One might even assume that a story like this would be far to busy to work based on the description just given. However, that is far from the truth.

At least so far, the story of the manga has allowed ample room for Alpha’s journey to proceed in a more open world direction. Each day is her own, and with each chapter comes a new adventure/potential friend with whom to share a moment. Still, the landscapes are never left to the sideline, and often become a focus of many of the chapters, such as when Alpha decides to try out the camera her owner sent.

Conclusions/Predictions

In truth, whether or not I write about the rest of the series from this point on is a bit up in the air. Really, this was just an excuse to write a bit more one of my favorite OVAs. That being said, there is a lot going on given that this first volume has over 20 chapters. For my money, there is probably going to be more of a focus on Kokone and Alpha, as well as Takahiro and the Osprey.

Have you all been reading Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou? Let me know down the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting us on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga, Secondary Findings

Secondary Findings Spring 2023

April 30, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 2 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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It is about that time again, by which I mean it is that time again to talk about all of the stuff I have been keeping up with that has not made it into a post proper. The last few months have been quite a ride in that regard, as friends of mine have given me a lot of recommendations on top of all the stuff I’ve been keeping up with.

For those uninitiated, Secondary Findings is a series where I talk about primarily non-anime/manga-related things. Given that there is only so much time in a week, and that the focus of this blog is primarily weighted towards said anime/manga, it is hard to write about everything. Still, this is my attempt to do so.

Music

Here is some of the stuff that has been going hard in the headphones

This is Why by Paramore

Paramore’s evolution over the years has been interesting. As someone who was listening to Riot! on my iPod touch at 10 years old, listening to This is Why is definitely a big shift into the more adult alternative side of their sound. Still, said experience with their older material has also given me an appreciation of their transition and just how well they pull off this sound. Couple that with their poignant lyrics talking about things like the modern new cycle and how it contributes to a sense of cynical dread makes for a great 36-minute listen.

Scaring the Hoes by Danny Brown and Jpegmafia

If the attention-grabbing title and big-name collaboration was not enough, this dynamic duo manages to bring one of the most eclectic-sounding hip-hop projects this side of the “underground.” The two are both known for their weirder approach to the genre, so it only makes sense that combined effort would yield results like “Fentanyl Tester” and “Jack Harlow Combo Meal.” On top of their crazy production, both Danny Brown and Jpegmafia come through with a cult of personality that makes it hard to turn off.

Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love by Kara Jackson

Vivid memories of hearing acoustic-centered pop radio while driving around with my mom on errands did not have the same effect on me as one might think they would. As such, the folksier, more lowkey side of music was never something I really gravitated towards. That being said, Kara Jackson’s new album is absolutely something special. The lyrical detail coupled with the intimacy of its musical atmosphere is breathtaking in the best way possible. Even if it is not your first choice in genre either, it is definitely worth giving a listen.

Book(s)

Some fine reading.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

One of the most infamous pieces of literature ever printed, House of Leaves definitely comes with a bit of intimidation factor. The book sits at around 700 pages and can feel incredibly dense. That is, at least so far. I have only gotten a chapter or so into the book, however, it lives up to its reputation. While it is hard to say anything definitive at this point in the book, the premise is worthwhile enough to keep me engaged for a bit. At least, it will, once I start it again.

YouTube

Here’s some stuff I YouTube I enjoyed

The Hazel FLCL Video by Hazel

Sometimes, it is fun to just watch people gush about their favorite media. As someone who has some vivid memories of seeing FLCL floating around on the internet before seeing it in real-time during the opening weeks of the Toonami reboot, and it was incredibly fun to watch. It feels unstructured at points, and it sounds like Hazel herself would admit that to be the case. However, it has a beautifully delivered message in the end if you’re willing to see it through.

The Lie That’s Destroying the Economy by Adam Conover

Finding out that Adam Ruins Everything got canned was genuinely saddening to me, because for as much as he can sometimes feels like the physical embodiment of “Well, Actually,” Adam Conover did a lot of great work on that show. Thus, seeing a return to that style in the form of his recent video essays has been a treat. Specifically, the one about Ticketmaster’s hold on live events was pretty cathartic. Sure, it is easy to hate one of the worst companies operating today, but that does not mean Monopolies are not a serious problem in modern America.

Nobody Actually Read Chainsaw Man by Hiding in Public

At 97 chapters, though it is by no means the longest of a Shounen manga, it can still be pretty easy to misremember key details about certain characters. Hiding in Public takes the time to go over some of the more thematically elements of the series that people may have forgotten, many of which can radically alter one’s interpretation of the series. There was even some stuff I forgot about, and it has only been about a year or so since I first read the series. It was a fun watch, give it a chance.

Video Game(s)

Le video games I have been enjoying

Coffee Talk 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly

The influx of “cozy media” into my diet recently has done quite a bit for my mental health…well, that and actually going outside and having a social life…but the cozy stuff is important too! The original coffee talk was an aesthetically pleasing game with an infinitely likable cast, which is exactly what it needed to be given that gameplay is limited to pressing a couple buttons every few minutes. In that respect, Hibiscus and Butterfly builds on that formula in a way that is just as good if not better than the original. It is hard to say anything about the game’s story definitively until I am done, but it will be interesting to see regardless.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Despite never having been a fan of puzzle games, Professor Layton certainly has a charm to it that makes the gameplay engaging and worthwhile. The charm in question comes largely from Layton himself, along with his dynamic with Luke and the various others they encounter on their journey. While Curious Village was certainly fun, Diabolical Box feels like a more refined version of the first game’s attempt. On top of that, it is nice to see that the developers went out of their way to give the game extra content beyond the main story. Getting ready for the newest game is still a long way away, but it feels as though it will be fun all the same.

Blog(s)

For the blogging homies

Rhapsodise – Ashley Capes

Many anime fans have can problem name some of their favorite series without thinking about it for too long, but what about their favorite episodes? The moments that truly sold them on the series, or maybe even another way of thinking entirely? What does a favorite episode mean to them? Rhapsodise is a blog dedicated to exactly that premise, and it is really cool. Litakino recently did a post on her favorite episode of Aria the Animation, and Ashley also did one about Cowboy Bebop’s Bohemian Rhapsody which was incredibly insightful. So far it only has a few posts. However, it plans on featuring a number of writers from around the blogosphere in the coming year, so be sure to give it a follow.

What kinda stuff are you all watching/reading/listening to? Let me know in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting the blog on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results – Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!

April 26, 2023 Jack Scheibelein Leave a comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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It has been a hot minute since anything Konosuba-related was on the air or being discussed broadly, so when I heard Natsume Akatsuki’s spin-off series focusing on Megumin was getting an adaptation, there was indeed a bit of excitement on my part. The show has always been about stupid, crass isekai brand humor, but it never really pretended to be anything else, and in that sense, it was pretty funny.

Meanwhile, Megumin was always one of my favorite parts of the show, even if the jokes involving her were a bit one-note and usually ended in something exploding. She added a flavorful overconfidence that balanced out against the other three idiots on screen.

If it was not obvious from the title and promo art, Konosuba: An Explosion on this Wonderful World focuses on Megumin, telling the story of growing up and learning magic in her home village. Though the place is relatively small, there is no shortage of apparent problems, be they monstrous or human. Despite it all, Megumin…is still trying to learn explosion magic, which is widely considered a joke.

Despite some good attempts, the series has thus far left me a little underwhelmed. This is not to say it is bad by any means, but the opening episodes do not have as much of the zaniness that was present in the original.

Still, my overall disappointment so far might be attributable to a couple of things. First, the original series aired when I was still in high school, and though saying my sense of humor would has changed drastically would be a lie, there is a sense of sameness to the comedy. There is a sameness to it that is not as funny as the first time.

Second, a big part of Konosuba‘s comedic success was its character dynamics. The show was funny not necessarily because of anyone individually, but because the stupid was passed around among the main characters and gradually built. There is some of that present, like with Megumin and YunYun’s budding rivalry/friendship, but rarely does it rise to the level of laugh-out-loud.

Still, harping on it this much maybe sells it a bit short. Despite Megumin’s one-notedness in the original, this side story has done a solid job at making her a more interesting and complex character. It is clear that her village is suffering from poverty and lack of resources (still mostly lack of intelligence but it is fine to but that aside). Even if her pursuit of explosion magic is quite literally a joke, it is fun to try and watch the underdog succeed.

Overall, it feels like a fine addition to the Konosuba universe…so far. Hard to say where it will go without having read any of the source material. However, I do hope they push more of the side characters like the series has been trending towards, because, otherwise, it will probably end up being just ok.

How do you feel about the new Konosuba series? Let me know in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting us on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Skip and Loafer

April 23, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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Spring 2023 continues on, and while everyone is still marveling at Suzume and Oshi no Ko, I have seen neither yet. However, the stuff I have watched from this season has generally been in the range of “eh” to “pleasant.” Most of it was picked up on a whim, and half of it was not even on my list of planned watches. However, one show did bring a bit of promise, even if it feels a bit slow-going.

Skip and Loafer tells the classic Hallmark Christmas movie tale of a young girl moving to a big city. Mitsumi Iwakura is now living in Tokyo with Aunt Nao and has plans of conquering high school in order to pursue her dream of working in government and revitalizing rural areas. However, she seems to be running into problems already and is definitely gonna need some help from friends new and old, including a pretty boy with a mysterious background Sosuke Shima.

Talking about the quirks and quips of a slice-of-life series for the millionth time probably would not make for a particularly interesting post. Instead, it would be more worthwhile to instead talk about what makes the anime pleasant to begin with.

For starters, the show is refreshingly optimistic. While Skip and Loafer does delve into Iwakura’s worries about living in a new city and making friends, it also presents a main character who is endlessly determined to succeed and even has some fun along with way. There is definitely some push and pull so far when it comes to those two things, but the series never delves into straight-up doom-and-gloom territory. At least, not yet.

Despite it only being three episodes in, Shima has already been hinted at being a lot more than he presents himself as. Based on his reaction to said information, it does seem like it will be a pretty big plot point later on. Otherwise, Shima’s above-average good looks tend to contrast with his down-to-earth personality and chill vibe. Though, to Iwakura, he more often looks like a savior, or her…dog. Yeah.

The minor characters, despite only getting a little bit of screen time, already seem to be coming into their own. Iwakura’s previously mentioned Aunt Nao seems to be dealing with her own troubles of living life as a trans woman in Tokyo. Though it is not out right stated, there are plenty of hints dropped to make a safe assumption about her queerness.

There are also Iwakura’s various friends who she appears to get close with rather quickly. There is, of course, her best friend who she leaves says goodbye to in the opening scene, and who she calls regularly in order to talk about adjusting too city life. However, she also manages to pick up a few other friends outside of Shima. Most notably, Yuzuki, who drops her cool loner persona in order to reach out to Mitsumi while she is having a bad time at karaoke.

Skip and Loafer is not much more complicated than a good cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, but it does not need to be. Its charm lies in its organic character interactions and the all to relatable set up of finding oneself in an unfamiliar social environment and just hoping for a friend or even just someone who cares. It is not pushing the boundaries of the medium or anything, at least not yet, but it would not matter if it did, cause right now it is enough.

How do you all feel about Skip and Loafer? Let me know in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting us on Patreon.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Hell’s Paradise

April 19, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 3 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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The internet truly is a blessing…in some ways, that is. It would have been hard to imagine series like Blue Flag, Chainsaw Man, or Spy x Family to be housed under the Shonen Jump library just 10 years ago, and yet, with the advent of Shonen Jump’s online service Jump+, artists have been given a lot more creative freedom and control over the content they put out. The same could definitely be said of Hell’s Paradise, another “dark” shonen that has added to the popularity of the service.

Hell’s Paradise follows Gabimaru, a man raised in a village of assassins in which no one is allowed to leave. After realizing just how deeply he cares for his wife, the daughter of the village leader, he plans on retiring and leaving with her. However, he is betrayed and sentenced to death by the chief for his crimes. While getting ready to die, he meets a woman, Sagiri, who offers him another chance by finding the elixir of life and getting a pardon from the shogunate, an offer he gladly excepts.

To be completely honest, kind of thought this would be a harder sell on my end. Outside of Chainsaw Man, none of the edgier shonen properties have necessarily resonated with me all that well. I enjoyed what I saw of Jujutsu Kaisen, but never ended up finishing it. The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins has been a decently enjoyable read, but nothing that could really be called great, at least not yet.

Still, to say I am not hooked yet would be a lie. To start, the anime has a beautiful aesthetic, especially when it comes to the scenes involving the island. The unnatural beauty combined with the stark reality of just how much danger lurks further in is genuinely chilling at times, especially as of episode three, where we see some of those dangers firsthand.

Though definitely not my favorite Shonen mc, Gabimaru does offer a nice change of pace. Despite probably being stronger than every random isekai protag that spawns in each season with enough magic bullshit to destroy the planet, his character is written in a way that it feels earned. Though, maybe suffering through is a better way to phrase it. His battle between the labels others have put on him versus the authentic feelings he has for his wife is also a narrative worth getting behind.

Weirdly enough, a lot of that also applies to Gabimaru’s partner in adventure, Sagiri. Sagiri also has a lot of problems stemming from self-identity, specifically when it comes to her father’s respect and her existence as a woman trying to be an executioner. Her investment in trying to help Gabimaru can be seen as stemming from her relating to Gabimaru in his quest for self-acceptance.

There are, of course, the other criminals who are racing against Gabimaru for the chance at a pardon. However, no one who has been implied to have any importance has really gotten the chance to show off their personality to any significant degree. At least, not beyond a few scenes during the third episode where the show gives a glimpse into their murder methods.

Given that the manga has thirteen volumes in total, amounting to around 127 chapters, it seems fair to say that this first arc is not likely to be the only major one. In that regard, it will be interesting to see where the show develops from here and what elements it chooses to emphasize. As of right now, though, it feels as though the source material is being well-represented.

How do you feel about Hell’s Paradise? Let me know in the comments below.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for supporting us on Patreon!

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

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Anime/Manga

Things are Getting Weirder: Blood on the Tracks Volume Two

April 16, 2023 Jack Scheibelein Leave a comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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If the premise of a mom killing one attempting murder on one of her nephews while simultaneously traumatizing her only son wasn’t enough, oh golly gee does this next part have a nice little surprise.

Volume 2 largely focuses on the aftermath of the first’s climax, resolving the dramatic moment only to then simultaneously build on another dramatic moment. This collection of chapters also delves somewhat into the developing, or rather complications with, Seiichi’s relationship with his crush. Despite seeing her true colors, our main character is still inclined to trust his mom, with all the problems that may bring.

Ok, But Why Though?

Definitely a question better suited for someone with a degree in childcare or developmental psychology. However, in the context of the story at hand, there does seem to be a more obvious answer.

In seeing the heinous act committed by his mom, he has now developed two distinct images of his mom. These two images, one a loving mother and the other a horrible murderer, are strictly at odds with each other. In other words, Seiichi simply cannot process what has happened despite witnessing it with his own eyes, in no uncertain terms.

Oshimi utilizes this clash of ideas in our protagonist’s mind to its utmost power, often showing him paralyzed in fear under the watchful eye of this new motherly persona.

Great Facial Expressions

The author also continues to employ a frankly scary range of facial expressions in his characters. In fact, this volume arguably does more to display this insane talent than the first.

This makes sense however, since the aforementioned first volume climax left Seiichi with a lot of emotions to express. Confusion, anger, regret, doubt: all of it is there in full force. All of it, however, with a sense of things being still worse yet to come.

Of course, Seiko contributes to this as well, though it often is not the expressions themselves that hint at her inner workings. Rather, her lack of a clear facial expression, hidden through clever paneling cutoffs and shadowing in the dark halls of the hospital, makes her all the more terrifying.

Love is in the Air?

In more ways than one, it would seem.

Normally, getting a love letter from your crush should be a dream come true. However, while Seiichi is still processing the emotions from the previous days, he is not really in a state too accept or deny Fukiishi’s feelings.

After refusing to visit Shigeru in the hospital again, Fukiishi visits Seiichi while his parents are out. Clearly this is not the right time. However, after forgetting something at the house, Seiko walks in her giving a note to her crush. Fukiishi then leaves hurriedly, leaving mom and son alone.

What comes next is maybe the strangest scene in the series thus far, where Seiko takes the letter and forces the two to not only read it together, but then tells Seiichi he is not allowed to love her, and tears it up with him while the two lay down on the bed. The preceding images of his face torn up into pieces of paper symbolizes his investment in the note and his continued confusion surrounding his feelings towards Seiko.

Conclusion/Predictions

There is a lot I could unpack when it comes to that ending, but I think I will save that for a bigger post at the eventual conclusion of the series. For now, it will be interesting to see where the story goes. Personally, it seems as though much of focus will be on this continuing clash of his mom’s personalities in Seiichi’s mind.

How do you feel about Blood on the Tracks? Let me know in the comments. Also, for those who missed the introductory post for this series do check that out.