Category Archives: Initial Results

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

April 26, 2023 Jack Scheibelein Leave a comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

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.

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 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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Skip and Loafer

April 23, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Hell’s Paradise

April 19, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 3 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins

March 8, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 2 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

(spoiler warning for all the available chapters)

Ever read something and just been…confused, horrified, excited, and gone through the entire emotional spectrum? Then, in the end, it turns out most people have not even read it much less heard about it? Well, that was not exactly the case for me since this series was shown to me by a friend of mine, but I had not seen anyone talking about it until I went out of my way to look it up.

The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins is by far one of the strangest series this side of English publications, and I say this while the series only has 15 chapters. The author, Taizan5, is most known for their 2021 series Takopi’s Original Sin which went semi-viral for its darker subject matter related to bullying, a lot of which seems to have transferred over into this series as well.

For those who are unaware, which is likely most people reading based on its general level of popularity, The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins follows a family of amnesiacs who has recently woken up in the hospital following some sort of accident. The group, unsure of the nature of their past relationships, tries to reconnect by discussing potential memories. However, it seems as though there are some darker secrets hidden behind the fog of the past.

Normally, I would just put the spoiler warning and call it a day, but if you’re at all interested in this series based on that description I highly recommend just catching up since it is still pretty early on and most of the chapters are pretty short. It is not unrealistic that medium-paced readers could catch up in about an hour or so, and probably a little over two-ish hours for those on the slower side like myself. So yeah, go do it.

If it was not clear enough already, this manga is crazy. The premise and more psychological/horror vibes to the story feel reminiscent of the early 2010’s Amnesia series that got popularized by a lot of Lets Players like Markiplier and PewdiePie. Although, without most of the gorier elements of those games, by which I mean all of them really, at least so far.

Advertisements

Tsubasa, the second youngest of the family of six and a high schooler, serves as main vantage point from which the story unfolds. The story reveals very quickly that, despite having fairly positive attitudes about their situations overall (minus Shiori but we’ll get to her in a sec), it is obvious there are some darker secrets that are being hidden by the rest of the family.

Younger sister Shiori, for example, ends up getting messaged by an older man who is implied to have been messaging and hitting on her prior to the accident. She ends up trying to please this man only for Tsubasa to come in and get her out of it. All of this happens while Shiori is angered by Tsubasa’s seeming lack of urgency about their situation.

One of the things that really contributes to this often uncomfortable but nevertheless intriguing atmosphere is the contrast between the manga’s story and its character designs. Outside of being solidly written, the manga’s characters themselves are drawn in a way that feels very family friendly, with big, expressive faces that simultaneously look depressed as hell.

With respect to that sentiment, Taizan5 really knows how to draw his characters eyes. Tsubasa constantly has a look in said eyes that feel both full of hope and yet somehow constantly defeated. This is especially true in the opening chapters when dealing with his best friend turned bully and the rest of his classmates.

Despite being 15 chapters in, a not insubstantial amount, it feels like The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins has only gotten started. Between Kakeru being memory swapped out of existence by the new guy and his mom just straight getting CIA eliminated in the last chapter, the level of what the fuckery is only elevating.

As far as the actually quality of the series, I am a bit torn so far. On the one hand, the writing does feel pretty good. However, it does seem like there is a nonzero possibility that the manga keeps introducing plot points for shock value and then ends up with a lot more questions than answers by the end of it. Still, I am hopeful the series can stick the landing in the future.

Have you read The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins? What are your thoughts on the series? Let me know down in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for 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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: High Card

March 1, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 4 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

Oh wow, I’ve gotten super behind on seasonal (per the usual) and now it is almost time for spring shows. I guess I better check out some of the new stuff before its too la-

oh, ok. Well, so much for that.

Kidding, kidding (kind of). A friend of mine asked me about High Card over the weekend and, not having anything better to do, decided to watch it and get back to them about it. Well, after giving the show a solid three episodes I can confidently say that…uh, its ok ig.

For those who are unaware, High Card is an action focused series which follows Finn Oldman, a high-school age kid who, after finding out about the potential shut-down of his former orphanage, looks for a way to help them out. Snooping around a casino leads him to the discovery of X-playing cards, 52 cards that grant people powers when used, and the various factions looking to collect them.

One such organization, High Card, disguises itself as a car dealership by day while simultaneously collected the X-playing cards for the royal government. The group recruits Finn and he agrees in order to help paying to save the orphanage.

Is it just me, or has this show been done already? No, I don’t mean to say this is a remake or anything, but it kinda feels like High Card represents that same not-an-isekai but “insert action series here” type of story that feels present in basically every season. Some of you, if you have a separate brain space for obscure seasonal shows, might remember Code Breaker from back in 2012. It was one of those series I consumed when I first got into anime and basically watched anything I came across.

At the end of the day, Code Breaker was not bad by anime means, but it also was not particularly good either, and that is the impression I get from watching High Card. It felt like Studio Hibari and the writers who worked on it were trying to create an action series without much thought about the story itself. Maybe that is a bit harsh for three episodes, but it is a feeling I cannot help but come back to.

Still, that is not to say there are not good things worth mentioning. The idea of Finn coming from nothing and entering a more high class society is certainly an interesting angle. That is, assuming they do something with it beyond surfaces level details, though Leo’s character makes it seem like that is going to be more or less unavoidable.

The series’ aesthetic is also fairly unique. The main characters are generally wearing suits, and since the cards turn into gloves when their powers activate, it gives a sense of completeness to their looks. A sort of suave energy, if you will. Like…government butlers. Yeah, that kind of makes sense.

The neon-esque color palette in a lot of the setting and character designs, including the literal casino they go to in the first episode, feel very Vegas. That, in contrast with the suits and playing cards, further distinguish between the have and have not energy in a lot of the interactions between the characters.

I cannot say anyone outside of Finn or Leo have cemented themselves as particularly memorable, but again, three episodes might not be the fairest way to judge that. The opening credits do seem to imply so fairly interesting storylines in later episodes, especially with the secretary who seems to have a fairly wild side to her.

Ultimately, High Card has left me really unsure. Nothing about it on the surface seems particularly special, but a lot of what is hinted to come next might just make it worth continuing. My plan for now is to give it another few episodes and re-evaluate. Until then, my opinion is kind of up in the air.

Are you caught up on High Card? How do you feel about the show? Let me know (without spoilers) down in the comments.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for 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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Naoki Urasawa’s Monster

January 26, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

(Spoilers for the first for episodes, so if you want to go in blind feel free to click off).

Going into a series with a lot of critical acclaim can sometimes be nerve-wracking, not because I care about having the “wrong” opinion or whatever, but more because it feels like I might be missing something that would significantly affect my enjoyment of the series way or another. With the anime adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, however, I do not really get that feeling. What makes the series the incredibly nerve-wracking psychological thriller it is known to be is very much self-contained, in a way that often makes one feel like they are there watching the events of the story in person.

For those unaware, Monster tells the story of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a genius neurosurgeon who moved to Germany from Japan in order to study medicine. However, his fairly cushy life goes from looking up to depressing when defying the orders of his hospital director/future father in law leaves him without his position as the head of neurosurgery and the ire of the other doctors at the hospital. What is worse, the patient he chose to save when defying said orders turns out to be a serial killer, one who seems likely to haunt him.

One thing that stands out about this series is how terrifying the atmosphere can be at times. The show uses a lot of muted colors in order to create a feeling of stuffiness which is often associated with hospitals, which is where much of the opening episodes take place. However, this also has the affect of drawing attention to colors when they do appear, such as with blond hair and the uniforms of police. This makes it more likely that people will focus on certain characters, such as Johan.

Advertisements

Speaking of Johan, though I cannot speak to the strength of his motivations for becoming a serial killer, it is a fascinating development. Dr. Tenma, for better or for worse, made what he thought was a moral decision that ultimately came back to bite him. In fact, the name Monster along with the series general setting and aesthetic feels reminiscent of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in a way that feels too intentional to be coincidence. Not a direct allusion, per say, but certainly an interesting nod to the classic western novel.

Dr. Tenma, meanwhile, at least at this point in the story, feels like an unfortunate victim. After all, how was he supposed to know that saving a kid and then getting angry at his fellow co-workers was going to result in a home-grown murderer? Going back to the Frankenstein comparison, he very much feels like a modern interpretation of Victor, someone who is trying to do right by others but ends up making a terrible decision in the pursuit of morality. Though, Tenma almost certainly deserves this less than Victor did his punishment.

Seeing the politics of the hospital was also fairly interesting as well. It is clear that the director, before he dies anyway, only cares about himself. The same is also true of his daughter and Tenma’s ex-fiancé Eva, who seems to be coasting through life off of her father’s success. Despite the fact that Tenma is innocent, his connection to Johan puts that innocence in question, given that he does have a motive for killing the director and the other doctors.

The show is in a great place, both stylistically and narratively. Even though it has only been four episodes for me, I can certainly understand why this series has been given so much praise in the past. From what I have read, however, it does not seem as though Netflix has the full series just yet, so it might be a while before I do actually finish it. Still, it will probably be worth the wait.

How do you feel about Naoki Urasawa’s Monster? 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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Shuzo Oshimi’s Latest Work: Welcome Back, Alice (Vol. 1)

January 11, 2023 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

(This one gets a bit weird, even for manga anime standards, so if you’re easily grossed out maybe skip this one for now).

*Terrible impression of Jerry Seinfeld* “What’s the deal with gender? and sex? get outta hereeee.”

Oshimi’s The Flowers of Evil is still one of the wildest experiences I have had with a manga to this day. It is a psychological thriller in mostly the best way possible, letting you feel everything the main character feels as his life becomes a spiraling mess. I never ended up watching the anime, but from what I saw of the promotional material…yeah the manga was a significantly better choice.

Of course, that manga is, at this point, over 10- wait, Flowers of Evil is almost 15 years old…anyway, his newest series, which started back in 2020, is called Welcome Back, Alice, and has a decidedly similar character set up and tone to his most successful work. I say this not as a diss, but merely an observation, for thematic reasons which we will get into shortly.

First, though, for those unaware, a quick mostly spoiler-free summary of the opening volume: Yohei is a loner middle school kid who all of a sudden becomes friends with a boy named Kei and a girl named Yui. The group gets close until Kei moves away. When the three meet up again in high school, pre-existing romantic feelings get complicated when Kei comes to school dressing like a girl, and saying they no longer identify with either gender.

Ok, for anyone interested just based off of that quick summary, just go ahead and read it, it’s weird but interesting. For everyone else, strap in.

So, That Just Happened

Well, Oshimi is nothing if not a little bit weird. Ok, actually “a little” is putting it lightly. I mentioned The Flowers of Evil at the beginning because as far as the overall tone and setup the manga are actually remarkably similar, at least as far as the coming-of-age set-up and deeply horny main character.

Also, I do not know if this is just me being dumb, but the opening chapter was just kind of confusing on a text level because the characters that were not Yohei kept shortening his name to Yo, which felt more like a general greeting than a nickname so the part about them being friends prior felt very tenuous.

Which, even without the confusion, it still kind of does, as most middle school friendships do. This feels especially true after Yohei sees Yui confessing to Kei behind the gym building, after which the middle school crush jealously kicks in, and their relationship sours. Que the time skip and Kei’s transition and we get to the real meat and potatoes of the story.

Advertisements

Oshimi’s Take on a Non-Binary Character

For what it is worth coming from a random internet critic, I do things it is still noteworthy to have a stated Non-binary main character from an otherwise relatively notable mangaka (I say main character because it feels pretty obvious that Kei is the focal point and will as or more important than the other two). Representation has come a decent way but is still far from perfect.

What’s more, that representation does seem to matter to the overall story. Yohei starts the story with a fairly normal heterosexual crush on Yui, but ultimately ends the volume with the two of them reevaluating their feelings towards Kei.

Oshimi states at the end of the volume that the story is about exploring male hypersexuality and ultimately how fragile it can be. As far as motivations for writing a story, I think this makes sense, especially at a time when that same hypersexuality drives a lot of internet grifters telling men that being cold and misogynistic is the best way to get women along with reinforcing decades-old stereotypes about queer people.

Still, using your only genderqueer character in a way that portrays that as not just hypersexual but very willing to violate boundaries for no reason might not be the best way to do it. It is one thing to say stereotypes are bad, but it is another thing entirely to do that while also then reinforcing those stereotypes. Ultimately, the story has yet to cover much ground, in the first volume, and Oshimi is an intelligent enough writer that it feels worth giving it more time.

The Art

Oshimi’s art sits in a weird place for me, because while I would by no means call it bad, he also probably would not make my top mangaka artists list any time soon. It comes with a sense of realism that, while mostly uneventful, becomes infinitely more detailed in the moments when the story ramps up, or when he wants you to experience the same intense feelings as the characters.

The same is true of Welcome Back, Alice, with the backgrounds often being solid but uneventful, which fits the more intimate subject matter of the story. If the author were making his debut attempt at an expansive shonen action series, I would probably be a bit more disappointed, though.

The character designs, on the other hand, do feel unique and in line with the personalities they are supposed to represent. Kei is much more boyish and feminine even before presenting as such. Yohei looks like a typical middle-school/high-school nerd (and certainly acts like it). Yui looks like…well, a girl that it would be totally reasonable to have a crush on if you’re a nerd idk. Saying they look stereotypical feels more like a compliment in this case given that it appears to be the focus of the story.

Predictions

After Flowers of Evil, it honestly feels like a wasted effort to try and guess where this man will be taking his story. That being said, I do expect it to be significantly more unhinged as time goes on, but hopefully in a good way? Like I said, the dude’s an intelligent writer, I just hope the significance of the subject matter is not lost on him as the story goes on.

As of right now, the manga has four volumes in English and 30ish chapters. So, assuming I like the story enough to get that far, I’ll probably continue to cover it on a weekly or biweekly basis until I catch up.

Have you read Welcome Back, Alice? Let me know your (spoiler-free) thoughts in the comments below.

As always, special thanks to Jenn for 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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Revolutionary Girl Utena

September 14, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 6 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

I have spent a lot time thinking about this series, not because I have any real connection to it myself, but rather because of how widespread its influence seems to be. Not only have I heard this show cited in a number of video essays, even ones not about anime, but but also from western creators of other animated series, like Rebecca Sugar of Steven Universe/Adventure Time, and Michael Dante Dimartino, one of the creators behind Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Seeing as how my journey with Wolf’s Rain came to a close not too long ago, I figured it a good a time as any to get back into another relatively older series. After all, given its influence within the medium of animation, its worth at least having as a point of reference, right? So, after the first six episodes of the series, here are a few of my thoughts.

I will say this first because it has nothing to do with the quality of the series, but the modern anime season really made me forget that series did not have to be 12 or 24 episodes, and could literally just be however long is needed to have a satisfying conclusion. Seeing 39 episodes for this series really threw me for a loop is all.

Now, as for the series itself, there is certainly a lot to like. I have never been overly crazy about the aesthetic of a lot of 80s or 90s anime series, but Revolutionary Girl Utena is one I can get behind. A lot of the colors are fiery and bright, including those on the members of the student council. The overall vibe of the school is very regal and upper-class, showcasing very intricate designs on the outfits of its primary cast, which itself begs the question of why any of the main characters are there to begin with.

Speaking of, Utena and Anthy, the show’s lead characters, offer a nice contrast both in personality and design. Utena takes on a more masculine role, subverting the the damsel in distress trope by vowing in the series intro to become a prince herself, though she does say specifically that this desire still exists within her own identity as a girl. Anthy, meanwhile is apparently what is known as the “rose bride,” who will help “revolutionize the world.” At this point, all of that still feels a bit esoteric and clouded in mystery, which is appropriate because Anthy herself feels much the same way, opting to take a more passive role in the opening episodes.

The two have yet to build a ton of chemistry, other than the fact that they just look cute together. I suspect, though, that will come with time, as the series is divided into four main arcs, of which I am barely halfway into the first. It will be interesting to see both how the contrast in their personalities is shown, and how that contrast will then affect their relationship.

Series creator Kuniko Ikuhara has been praised not only for his work on this series, but also for his previous work on Sailor Moon, as well as a number of other projects later on the in the 2010s. It is clear even from the show’s opening episodes that there is a strong creative drive that went into Revolutionary Girl Utena as a series.

While I cannot say my my attention has been fully retained at every point so far, the show is fascinating, and I do want to see where it ends up. So yeah, I will probably keep watching.

Have you seen Revolutionary Girl Utena? Maybe not? Let me know down 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!

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Wolf’s Rain

June 8, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 6 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

There are a lot of shows that sit in the back of my mind, every so often popping into my immediate consciousness after a brief interaction via a mention on social media or a peer talking about the series in passing. This time, however, it was a little bit more forward than even that, as a friend of mine lent me the series since it is one of their favorites. After sitting on it for a month, I decided to finally start Wolf’s Rain and see for myself why this 2003 Bones original is remembered fondly by so many.

The story of Wolf’s Rain details a world much different from our own, where legends say humans are descended from wolves, and that their ultimate goal is to return to paradise. The only problem is, the last wolves were seen over 200 years ago, and are believed to be extinct…so it is thought by most, anyway. Enter Kiba, a lone wolf who has recently come to town following the scent of the Lunar Flower. He then meets a few others, Tsume, Toboe, and Hige, who flee the town and join him on his journey.

There are a lot of individual storylines which are introduced in the opening episodes of the series. The majority of the time thus far has been spent on the wolf boys themselves. However, there is the story of the sheriff who came to Freeze City looking for wolves, the detective whose head researcher ex-wife knows a lot more than she lets on, and a mysterious masked man who is trying to gather the “flower maidens.” Yet, despite all that, it never feels like these storylines are fighting each other. Rather, they serve as a compliment in a mystery that is clearly bigger than all of them.

Not only are the storylines immediately interesting, but the world itself is also fascinating. Not much about the landscape outside of major cities is known, but a lot can implicitly be drawn from episode four, where the crew travels across what looks to be a war-torn area, and Toboe’s reactivation of a mech that was buried underground seems to imply that much of the world was burned down from advanced military technology. There is a sense of bleakness not just in the landscape but in the colors as well. The four wolves trek across what is essentially open, frozen land, with nothing but snow for miles.

Advertisements

The wolf boys themselves are fairly compelling, and each of them clearly has their own problems. Tsume has been leading a gang in order to make enough money to survive, but clearly does not fit in with human society. Toboe, at least at first, is a bit more optimistic. A chance encounter with a young girl gives him hope that wolves might be accepted by humans but is later betrayed when the girl cowers after he reveals his wolf form. Hige is admittedly the most underdeveloped of the three since he more or less just meets Kiba and sticks along for the ride. However, I am hopeful that his own storyline will come to fruition.

I did choose to watch the series in dub, only because that is how the DVD is set by default (I am that lazy). Still, I do not at all regret that decision. Not only does Johnny Young’s Bosch play the role of Kiba, but a younger Crispin Freeman takes the role of Tsume, and oh boy do I miss his buttery voice when watching anime dubs. Hige, played by Joshua Seth, and Toboe, voiced by Mona Marshall, also do a great job in their respective roles. Although, in the case of the latter, I cannot help but laugh a little every time I hear his voice.

The only thing I can really complain about at the moment is the format in which I am watching it. The show is almost 20 years old at this point, and as such, is sadly stuck in 4:3 aspect ratio. Not only that, the latent audio is incredibly quiet, and the English subtitles do not at all match the dub script, meaning I am basically required to wear headphones when I want to watch it.

Minor annoyances aside, Wolf’s Rain is looking set up for success. Not does it excel at visual storytelling, but its cast is just big enough to keep it interesting at all times without having to fight for screen time.

Have you all seen Wolf’s Rain? Let me know in the comments, but please avoid spoilers, as by the time this gets released I may or may not be finished with the series.

As always, thank you to our Patron Jenn for being amazing!

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

Advertisements

Anime/Manga, Initial Results

Initial Results: Kaguya-Sama Season Three

April 24, 2022 Jack Scheibelein Leave a comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Advertisements

Love is war, indeed, and the war now continues into the series’ third season. The competition: fierce, the battles: just as high stakes as ever. Even Chika is resorting to cheating just to get a leg up, much to Ishigami’s continued annoyance. Those who have watched the first few episodes already will understand what I am talking about, and those who have not…what are you doing reading this?

I mentioned in my seasonal intro that Kaguya was the series I was most hyped for. The first two seasons not only had me laughing my ass off but also genuinely had me invested in the characters as people. Luckily, the first episodes of the season have yet to disappoint.

Part of what has made Kaguya-sama work up until this point is its previously mentioned characters. Sure, Kaguya and Miyuki themselves could probably carry a good portion of the show. After all, their dynamic is well thought out on a comedic level. However, they can only be that funny for so long, and the elevated role of Chika, Ishigami, and the recent addition to the student council Miko has helped to prolong the show’s comedic value.

The Witch from Mercury and Subtlety in Storytelling

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

Last Gender: When We Are Nameless Volume One

Finally Employed (and Figuring Stuff Out)

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

Still, the opening bit between Miyuki and Kaguya is no less funny. With her first-ever smartphone now in hand, Kaguya attempts the daunting task of responding to Miyuki’s messages. The 4D chess of trying to get her to admit to staring at her LINE app for hours and then getting saved by Hayasaka and the “computer system” at the last minute is honestly brilliant.

The growing relationship between Ishigami and Miko is another that I am intensely curious about going into the rest of the season. At times, it can be hard to tell whether the two actually hate each other or if the combative aspects of their personality are just being played up for maximum effect. Personally, I am not complaining either way, but I do hope we get a real conclusion in that regard.

The anime is also no less beautiful than it was last time around. A-1 Pictures seems to be handling the production well enough, and director Shinichi Omata, who handled the first two seasons as well, seems poised to deliver on quality, per the usual. Musically, the series is still quite interesting. the OST feels as strong as ever, and both the opening and ending themes also have their strengths, along with also being incredibly well animated to boot.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Ultra Romantic seems to be on track to be one of the better entries of the spring season. Though I have definitely cursed other series with those same predictions into a spiral of bad writing, this series has a proven track record and a convincing one at that.

Are you excited about Kaguya-sama season 3? Let me know in the comments.