Tag Archives: Dr. Stone

Dr. Stone Season Two Episode One Reaction

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

It certainly has been a long time coming, huh?

Definitely not as long as, say, “Made in Abyss,” but, ya know, still pretty long. After all, in a year that felt like an eternity, its exciting to have a season with so many highly anticipated sequels, many of which I was excited for myself. Some for different reasons *cough cough* I can’t wait to make fun of “Beastars” *cough cough.* “Doctor Stone” was one of those series, without question. Though the first season was a bit goofy, there was enough in terms of the overall plot and thematic messaging that kept me engaged.

For those uninitiated, Dr. Stone is set in a world 3000 years past the modern day, where everyone has been turned to stone after being hit by a strange ray of light. Senku, a teenage science wiz, has managed to survive into this new world along with a few of his friends. Now, he must try and restore humanity to its former glory while simultaneously beating Tsukasa, a man who wishes to end the life of the adults of the past, and build a new world with only young people.

It can feel hard at times to judge a second season’s opening episode, because, a lot of the time, its just continuing the plot. While I certainly give credit to “The Promised Neverland’s” opening episode this season for having a great presentation, I can’t really fault “Dr. Stone” for just playing it safe. Of course, most of the material is going to be predetermined by whatever is in the manga, but sometimes its ok to go for what people in the Fighting Game Community would call the no mix-up mix-up.

The series picks up pretty much right where it leaves off at the end of season one, with Senku and the rest of the village making their final preparations for the battle with Tsukasa. The Kingdom of Science is almost ready, but just needs one more thing: space food. Senku wants to end the battle quickly, and so decides to launch a surprise attack in the middle of winter, and so invents freeze dried foods so that their army can eat while making their attack.

Advertisements
Advertisements

As far as shounen anime go, having the first episode of a new season be a sort of preparation episode can feel kind of lame, but, as I mentioned before, it works here. Senku and Gen manage to devise a secret plan that will not only end the battle quickly, but turn Tsukasa’s army against him in the process. Chrome overhears their plan and, of course, has to get involved. The group joke about how they are going to have to lie to Tsukasa’s army and how they’re probably going to hell as a result, which ends up being a pretty funny scene, all things considered.

One thing that has not been touched on in a while in the series, and I kind of doubt that it will be touched on much of all, is Tsukasa’s ideology and his reason for raising his own army. While it wouldn’t fit to well into shounen manga generally, it would be nice to have Tsukasa’s worldview expanded upon, outside of just science vs anti-science.

Still, I am generally excited to see what this upcoming season has to offer.


How do you feel about “Dr. Stone’s” second season? Let me know in the comments below.

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.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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

Advertisement

5 Anime I am Looking Forward to Next Year

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Surprisingly, the never-ending hell-scape that is 2020 is, in fact, ending pretty soon. While I personally have very little hope that the U.S. will be recovering from COVID-19 anytime soon, there is still plenty to look forward to, and one of those things is anime. While my attention largely drifted away from seasonal shows in 2020, what has been revealed for next year has me as excited as ever to be an anime fan. With that being said, here are the five anime I am most looking forward to, as of right now.

Megalo Box 2

Ok, so maybe most of the series on this list are sequels, but hey, there’s very little chance of them being bad, right? Bad might not be the right word for “Megalo Box,” however. The original “Megalo Box” was not only one of the best anime of 2018, it arguably competes with the best of the last decade. Despite its more traditional sports narrative, it still feels like a powerful story of man willing to bet everything in order to succeed in the thing he loves. Not to mention, his rivalry with Yuri gives the series a serious “Rocky” vibe.

All of this is to say that the second season has a lot to live up to. With the first season already being a complete and fulfilling narrative, it feels unlikely that the second season will be able to match its profound impact.

Eden’s Zero

My falling out of love with “Fairytail” in past years has left me wondering about whether or not Hiro Mashima actually has what it takes to write anything of quality. While I did consider reading the manga for “Edens Zero” a while back when it first came out, I decided against it only because there was other stuff I wanted to get to first at the time. While, at the end of the day, I still do not expect much out of the series, I am hoping at the very least that it is entertaining.

The Promised Neverland 2

“The Promised Neverland” has become one of my favorite series of the last few years, and much like “Megalo Box,” it has an ingrained legacy to live up to. However, unlike “Megalo Box,” the second season of “The Promised Neverland” is a true continuation, and given where the series left off relative to the manga, it is likely to be an exciting second season. Studio CloverWorks did an amazing job with the first season, so now its time to see if they can replicate what made it so great.

Advertisements
Advertisements

Dr. Stone: Stone Wars

“Dr. Stone” also left off on the beginning of a pretty important arc in its story, where Senku is preparing to go to war with Tsubasa after their ideological differences lead them to splitting up. While Senku is working to revive all of humanity, Tsubasa believes that it is the adults who have ruined society, and wishes to leave them in stone. Since it is likely that this ideological dispute will be at the center of the story, I am totally on board.

Log Horizon 3

Man, to think after so long its finally back… Log Horizon has been one of my favorite series since its release in 2013. While not being as highly regarded in the Isekai sub-genre as some other shows, its unique focus on the politics of running a society of people trapped in a video game, combined with its diverse cast of characters makes it a stimulating watch. Unfortunately, after the author got in trouble for Tax Evasion, the series got put on hold. But after getting out at the end of 2018, and continuing his work while under house arrest, he managed to continue the series. Now a new 12 episode 3rd season is coming and I am excited.

Honorable Mention: Beastars 2

This is only kind of a joke. While anyone who has read my final thoughts on the series knows that I do not like “Beastars,” its ending left me extremely confused about the direction of its story. Granted, the entire series left me confused about the direction of its story, but that is an argument for another post. If I hate watch anything next year, it will be this series without a doubt.


Thanks for reading! What shows are you most looking forward to for next year? Let me know in the comments below.

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.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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

Top Three Favorite Anime Openings of 2019

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

The end of the year is fast approaching, and because of that, I thought it would be good to do a little bit more reflecting. Now, it is safe to say that overall it has been a great year for anime, but it has also been good amazing for anime openings. Time to talk about some of my favorite openings of 2019.

3. Promised Neverland – Touch Off by UVERworld

It did not take long after I started watching The Promised Neverland that its opening became one of my favorite parts about the show. This is not to say that the show is bad, it is actually phenomenal. However, the more energetic nature of the music, combined with the visuals that foreshadow the events to come, make it one of my personal favorites of the year.

2. Dr. Stone – Good Morning World! by BURNOUT SYNDROMES

Dr. Stone honestly has two very good OP’s, but for the purpose of this list I decided to go with the first one, because to me, Good Morning World not only looks more interesting visually, but musically has the same sort of fast paced, fun energy that is present in the series itself, at least for the first half anyway.

1. Carole and Tuesday – Kiss Me by Nai Br.XX and Celeina Ann

Carole and Tuesday was probably the best musical experience I have had all year with an anime, and no I do not just mean that because it was centered around music. It could have been very easily messed up or made haphazardly without any thought and come out terribly. Luckily, sitting at the helm of direction for the show was Shinichiro Watanabe, the man behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, two other series known for their great musical scores. Kiss Me takes everything that the is great about the show’s music and combines into one animated sequence, perfectly demonstrating just why the show it is attached to is so great.


What were some of your favorite openings this year? Let me know in the comments below.

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.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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

Dr. Stone Episode One Reaction

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

The summer season is here and the first episode of one of the most hyped shows both of the season and the year is finally out. Dr. Stone, who’s anime announcement came earlier this year, is now officially available on streaming platforms, and it is time to talk about it.

Dr. Stone focuses on a world in which everyone has been turned to stone, after a mysterious green light appears. The show then opens on Taiji, who, during the opening moments of the show, was trying to confess his love to one of his best friends Yuzuriha, and reawakens alone in a cave. Taiji soon discovers his genius friend Senku, and together the two work to survive and eventually rebuild humanity.

While the first episode mostly focuses on Taiji’s struggle in wanting to revive his friend, it is pretty clear that the show’s main character is Senku, the scientific genius. However, I do also appreciate the contrast brought by the two of them together.

Taiji, as Senku says, is clearly the bronze of their operation, doing all of the heavy lifting and dirty work, while Senku is the brains. Each of the two contribute what they can, and together they solve problems. This kind of dynamic right off the bat makes the first episode not only interesting, but inviting. It allows for a bit of relaxation before the main conflict to come.

Another aspect of the first episode I enjoyed was how each of the characters had their personalities established quickly and effectively. Taiji, through ignoring Senku’s assistance in confessing to his friend, showed how earnest and straightforward he is. Meanwhile, Senku showed numerous times throughout the episode just how smart he is, and also how much he values science, saying near the end that he “wants to beat fantasy with science.”

This would be the part where I criticize the show, but to be honest, there is not a whole lot Dr. Stone did wrong. The most I could say is that starting with Taiji even though Senku does not make a lot of sense, but even then it was still a good setup.

Dr. Stone’s first episode was fantastic. It established the story and its characters well, and did not do a whole lot wrong. Overall, I am excited to see where the series goes.


What are your thoughts on Dr. Stone? 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.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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

Top Three Most Anticipated Anime of Summer 2019

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

The summer anime season is already shaping up, and boy does it look promising. As of late, I have been less inclined to watch a bunch of different shows all at once and then drop them, so for this season I will be looking at my top three that I am looking forward to and will likely be watching. I don’t think any of these will be that surprising, but nonetheless, lets get started.

3. Dr. Stone

I had heard about the Dr. Stone manga from a couple of different Anitubers over the last couple of years, but since generally do not read all that much manga, I never paid it much mind. Fast forward to a couple of days ago when I started looking up stuff about it out of curiosity, and I can now say I am officially on board the hype train.

The story is set in a post-apocalypse, where Everyone has been turned to stone after a strange glowing light appeared in the sky. One day, Taiju. a Japanese high school student, awakens after thousands of years only to find everyone as statues. However, he soon discovers that his friend, Senku, has already been awake for a few months, and has vowed to reinvigorate the world using science.

One thing I am excited about right off the bat is the show’s aesthetic. The show’s setting in a Japan that has been taken over by nature looks incredible, and it reminds me a lot of videos where people go into the area surrounding the Chernobyl accident.

The other thing that has me really interested is the main character. Senku. I am interested to see how he uses science to not only survive, but to “reinvigorate” the world as it is. In doing this, I hope the show also gets into the lure of the world and how everyone became a statue, even if it take a couple of seasons to get there.

2. Vinland Saga

Never thought I would say, “Man, I am really excited to watch that new Viking anime,” and yet here I am. Similar to Dr. Stone, Vinland Saga is another manga that I heard a lot about but never bothered to look into much. However, somewhat differently from Dr. Stone, I am a bit more interested in Vinland Saga.

The show follows the Viking clan as they go through there daily lives. However, Thorfinn, one of the clans most powerful warriors and the son of the clans former leader, is ready to enact revenge on one of the clans other most powerful warriors for killing his father.

Advertisements

One thing that stands out immediately to me based on what I have seen so far is the music. Now, I am not entirely sure if the music from the trailer is going to be in the anime, but if it is then I am definitely excited. It definitely gives off a Skyrim vibe, and that make me even more excited.

However, the story of Vinland Saga is what has me most involved in the series, even before it comes out. Again, just based on what I have seen from a few trailers, it looks like Thorfinn will have a really interesting development arc. Wanting to get revenge on the man who killed his father comes with a lot of interesting questions, like is a prepared to take responsibility for that man’s death, and what will he do after he gets his revenge? Definitely has me invested already.

1. Fire Force

Fire force is indeed my most anticipated anime, but for a much different reason than the other two on this list. While it is probably true that Dr. Stone and Vinland Saga overall have a bit more hype, Fire Force has something, at least for me, they do not: expectation.

Created by the author of Soul Eater, Atsushi Ookubo, the show follows a Japan in which people have begun to spontaneously combust into creatures known as Infernals. In order to stop said creatures, special squadrons known as “Fire Force” were created. The Fire Force Company 8 is a specific division made up of those who have developed the ability to manipulate fire to do this spontaneous combustion.

Soul Eater has a lot of fun and creative elements to it, so much show that I have watched the show a few times in full. As much as I generally try not to put to much stock into one show, I am hoping that Fire Force will be able to provide that same enjoyable story-line that is present in Soul Eater, which it seem like it definitely can.

I have always been a fan of Ookubo’s art style, so it being here in Fire Force is definitely a plus. However, I think the main thing giving me hope is actually how similar the show’s story-line is to Soul Eater. The show’s main character, Shinra, seems a lot like a mixture of Soul and Deku from My Hero Academia, not to mention that Company 8 looks somewhat comparable to Death Weapon Meister Academy. But, even aside from its similarities to Soul Eater, the show still looks like a fantastic series and that’s why I am excited about it.


What are you guys most looking forward to from the summer lineup? Let me know in the comments. Also, if you would like to support Animated Observations or are just feeling generous, consider donating on Ko-fi:

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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