Tag Archives: Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer

Summer 2022 Episode Reviews: Week Four

August 1, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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Last week was solid, and so is this one. However, there is one show that I simply have no desire to continue, as you will find out in a bit.

RWBY: Ice Queendom Ep. 4

One thing I have realized about this series is that it kind of suggests that the person watching should have already seen the original. Which, I guess makes sense. The anime never really marketed itself as a remake, after all. Still, I cannot help but feel a little annoyed when shows which are more or less telling the same story rely on the original for character development as opposed to doing the work themselves.

I say this because the show treats Ruby and Weiss’s relationship like the two have known each other for a while as opposed to 3 episodes. It makes sense in the context of their bickering, but there just is not enough history at this point to sell the dramatic impact of their fight. If this arc happened at the mid-point of the season it would make a lot more sense, but definitely not now.

Made in Abyss S2 Ep. 4

Something I love about Made in Abyss is that it is very much in the show not tell camp of storytelling. Rather than info-dumping a million pieces of relevant backstory, it lets the material speak for itself. This episode, in particular, is bridging the gap between the past and the present, both for the island itself and for Reg and Nanachi.

Faputa, who Reg meets at the end of the last episode, is implied to be both a figure in Reg’s past and also, through clever transitions, the native girl who accompanied the original adventurers on their journey. In Nanachi’s case, while shopping at the market with Majikaja, finds out that he knows of Mitty. The two trek through the Hollow village, and in the final frames of the episode Mitty sits underneath a giant guardian. This was a really cleverly planned-out episode and overall one of the highlights of the week.

Call of the Night Ep. 4

I am glad that Akira is sticking around, at least for a little bit longer. There is a lot of great character chemistry between the three of them, and this episode demonstrates that perfectly. The episode starts with Akira not being able to sleep, calling back to Kou in episode one, and so she decides to stay up, running in Kou and gets invited to hang out with him and Nazuna. The three hang out, play video games, and Nazuna kinda just jokes with them and makes them feel awkward.

Akira also spends time dealing with an internal conflict as well. Part of her wants Kou to come back to school so that she can escape her own loneliness, but part of her also recognizes that despite Nazuna literally being a vampire and Kou being a middle schooler, their relationship makes Kou happy. The visuals and music have also been incredible, so that helps too.

Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer Ep. 4

Ok yeah, I am done. I wanted to give this series an honest try considering how interesting the opening chapters of the manga were, but man has it just been a snooze fest, and this episode did not do any better.

We get a bit more backstory about Hangetsu which is, admittedly, well included in the episode alongside his growing affections for Hisame. However, that is pretty much the only compliment I can give it, as Yuuhi is somehow unlikeable in the worst way possible, even outside of the questionable relationship with Samidare. On top of that, the studio seems committed to “animating” this show with as few frames as possible. This show has some of the stiffest action scenes I have watched in a while.

If I were rating this right now this would get a 40/100 at best. Please do not bother watching this, and I have not uttered this sentence very many times, but just go read the manga.

Lycoris Recoil Ep. 5

Another solid but ultimately confusing episode from Lycoris Recoil this week. There are a lot of questions about the politics of this series that it could not be bothered to answer. For starters, Kurumi implies within the first minute of the episode that even the current president doesn’t know about the Lycoris, which has a lot of implications on its own, but also the private detectives seem to suggest that the DA has the ability to shut down even the public police force…huh?

The rest of the episode was ok. The lead duo takes on a client who is secretly being hunted by an assassin, only to find out that was not real and what they do not know is that the whole thing is connected to the Alan Institute as well. The show really just has me intrigued, not in a cool and methodical way, but more in a “watching a drunk guy stumble his way around the restaurant looking for the bathroom” kind of way.

The Devil is a Part-Timer S2 Ep. 3

A show that makes a lot more sense is The Devil is a Part-Timer. Well, as much sense as a show about Satan coming to the human realm and now also raising a plant baby can make, anyway. Maou and Emi are enjoying a day off, while also looking out for any potential danger that might come to pass. However, when they least expect it, Gabriel comes down to request Alas Ramus and the holy sword. But, he’s nice enough to give them a day to make their decision.

Definitely, a bit more plot-focused, but that is not much of a bad thing, as the main plot for the series has generally been pretty solid. On top of that, Alus Ramus and this mystery of the World Tree is still really fascinating. Also, Rika and Ashiya as a couple would be hilarious, change my mind.

What did you think of this week? Let me know down 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, a special shout out to our Patron Jenn for supporting the blog.

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, Seasonal Reviews

Summer 2022 Episode Reviews: Week Three

July 24, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 2 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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The summer coverage continues. I was initially pretty surprised at just how much of what I chose to cover this season actually turned out to be pretty good. The sequels were pretty much a “duh” in that regard, but even the originals this season are coming to play. This week was no different in that regard.

Made in Abyss S2 Ep. 3

Made in Abyss had another fantastic week. In this episode, the gang explores the village of the Hollows, but remains on guard against a potential attacker. They do discover the location of Riko’s white whistle but decided to leave it with a craftsman who is working to bring out its “full value,” still uncertain of who might have taken it.

This is by far one of my favorite episodes of the entire series thus far. The setting is masterfully drawn, and each of the hollows is unique enough that they stand out in a crowd, imbuing a real sense of individuals they were before they transformed. On top of that, the weird economic system which exists within the village creates an underground, black market vibe, but somehow both less dangerous and more unsettling. I do hope we get to spend a bit more time in this area, as there seems to be a serious bit of lore associated with it.

Call of the Night Ep. 3

Anyone else getting a bit of Fooly Cooly vibes after this episode?

I do not mean to say that they are going to be of similar quality, far from it. After Wonder Egg Priority, I am pretty much done with making large-scale predictions like that. Rather, it seems there are some immediate parallels between the way that the wild and crazy Nazuna and Haruka fixate on the main characters and attempt to bring them into their world, and how both Kou and Naota willingly go with them to escape some sort of emotional pain. A bit surface level, sure, but something that definitely stands out.

Aside from that comparison, the episode also sees the introduction of Ko’s friend Akira, who not only considers them to be friends but after meeting Nazuna, wants to bring him back to school. It seems the series wants to set up a sort of twilight-esk dynamic, only in this case Kou is choosing between his own humanity and vampirism. It’s a dynamic that I think certain can work as long as Kou ultimately remains the focus

The Devil is a Part-Timer S2 Ep. 2

The gang continues to grapple with the fact that…apparently they have a kid? I mean, not really. It is clear from the bit at the end that there is a bit of allegory being set up, as the series makes sure to remind you that Alas Ramus came out of an Apple. Anyone who knows literally anything about biblical stories should immediately have some bells going off in their head.

The dynamic is also just incredibly funny, though. The more serious plot elements of this season are intriguing, do not get me wrong. However, I am still mostly here for the comedy. This episode was a little lighter in that department, but the moments that were shown were still pretty hilarious.

Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer Ep. 3

Well, it is getting better, I think? Honestly, it would be harder to do worse by the series than that first episode which looked pretty horrendous until they bothered to fix it.

This episode was…ok. I am starting to have less and less hope for this adaptation, and given that I have not read beyond the end of this episode in the manga, it will be hard to tell how good of a job it is actually doing. From what I can tell, the fight between Yuuhi and the golem which shows up outside of the hospital is shortened to focus a little more on his internal struggle with his grandpa. Though, that was still somehow less compelling. The series overall still feels fairly stilted in its animation and action. As much as I hate to admit it, anything good that comes out of this adaptation is going to be carried solely by the manga.

Lycoris Recoil Eps. 3-4

Lycoris Recoil continues to both amaze and confuse me. On the one hand, episode three demonstrated very proficiently the series’ great capacity for character writing that is both interesting and compelling. Takina often comes across as cold and uncaring but also wears her heart on her sleeve when it comes to her desire to return to DA proper, although she may deal with some serious self-questioning in the next few episodes.

Chisato meanwhile comes across as aloof but is not only incredibly capable, but also understands what it means to live and work within the DA, and thus wants to do everything she can for Takina. Kind of a shame the series then spend an entire subplot in episode four on two teenage girls buying underwear. Like, are we really still doing this in 2022? Not to say the strong writing elsewhere is negated by this part, but it just feels like such an unnecessary and weird inclusion

How do you feel about this week’s episodes? Let me know in the comments. I am on the verge of dropping Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer at this point and just picking back up the manga in its place, but I will give it another episode or two to redeem itself. Meanwhile, RWBY will be back in our lineup next week, so stay tuned!

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, Seasonal Reviews

Summer 2022 Episode Reviews: Week Two

July 17, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 1 Comment

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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It is time once again to look at summer 2022’s offerings and see how they are doing this week. This time, there are a couple of new additions and some clarifications I need to add.

Lycoris Recoil Eps. 1-2

This was not a series I even realized existed this season, let alone planned on picking up. However, despite the fact that it flew a bit under the radar, there is certainly some potential here. The setup of undercover agents who work to stop danger before it arrives makes a lot of sense, especially since the introductory monologue seems to imply there is a lot more going on with this organization than meets the eye. On top of that, the dynamic being set up between the care-free Chisato and the straight-laced Takina seems like it could work really well, and has already presented some seeds of interpersonal conflict.

The one hold-off I have about this show is: why teenage girls? I spent a solid half an hour trying to come up with some thematic justifications for why they would be this young, and there were definitely some that seemed plausible. However, if their age is irrelevant thematically anyway, why not take the opportunity to focus on some adult characters? Maybe ones that have already dealt with some morally grey decisions as the result of orders from the DA. I kinda hope this series ends up being a bit more than just a cute girls show, cause there is a lot of here to like.

The Devil is a Part-Timer Season 2 Ep. 1

On the contrary, I have been eagerly awaiting the time that I get to talk about this series once again. The Devil is a Part-Timer is one of my all-time favorite comedy series, and the studios really did a disservice by letting this go without a sequel for so long. So, how did the first episode fair?

Pretty good, actually. There was, of course, plenty of high-quality humor abounds, with the primary focus of the episode being on Ushiora’s unwillingness to do anything for the house. Meanwhile, Maou has to deal with normal work BS, all the while a c*ckr*ach hides in their closet and terrorizes the apartment. The end-of-episode reveal did feel a bit out of left field but was still hilarious, and I am certainly excited to see where the rest of the season goes.

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Call of the Night Ep. 2

I started talking about this show’s first episode by saying that I was pleasantly surprised, and overall, that is the best way I can speak about episode two as well. Much like Lycoris Recoil, Call of the Night already has a lot going on thematically that I think could really be utilized well given some good execution.

Between the two of them though, while Recoil arguably has a bit more going on plot-wise, Call of the Night just looks and sounds really damn good. The Jazz and hip-hop-infused soundtrack combined with a set of very minimalist backgrounds make the city and surrounding suburbs feel incredibly empty, but at the same time, also inviting. This is kind of the point of the show, I am aware, but it is worth pointing out because of how well it has been done so far.

Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer Ep. 2

Ask and you shall receive, I guess? The big quality issue as far as the video itself on Crunchyroll is concerned seems to have been fixed, which is nice. However, I cannot say that the series animation is all that compelling. The character designs are unique enough, but the action, despite only happening in short bursts, looks kinda…ok, but nothing special.

This episode does give lead us into one of the first major “arcs” if you wanna call it that, which is Yuuhi confronting his past and his abusive uncle. In that regard, it does a solid job at creating this feeling of a tortured mental state that he is going through. I honestly am not sure how long I plan to stick with this, but for now, it is still just ok.

Made in Abyss S2 Ep. 2

So, as it happens, I made a bit of an oopsie. Not only did I not bother watching the recap films, but I also was completely unaware that the third movie was entirely canon and necessary for understanding the plot, which is probably why the first episode last week came off as overly confusing.

Having now watched said film and the second episode, I can confidently say I am in fact, slightly less confused. All jokes aside, this was a fantastic episode as well. The scenery of the Golden City is gorgeous, as well as the continuously unique monster designs that populate the sixth layer. The question of the beings that stole Riko’s white whistle is also lingering in the air after that final scene. Overall, a great couple of opening episodes with a lot more to come, I am willing to bet.

RWBY: Ice Queendom is on a bit of a hiatus until episode four, but otherwise, weekly coverage will continue until I decide to drop something, which may or may not happen. What is your favorite weekly watch? Let me know down in the comments.

As always, special thanks to our awesome Patron Jenn for the support.

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, Seasonal Reviews

Summer 2022 Episode Reviews: Week One

July 10, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 4 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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Now, I know what you all are thinking: Who are you and what are you doing with that title? Well, do not be scared, my observers, as this is me writing this post, and no your eyes are not lying. Normally, I tend to be a bit lighter when it comes to seasonal content. However, since there are a good amount of shows I want to watch this season, I figured it would be easier to cover them in a more familiar format. So, for the rest of this season at least, there will be a weekly post from me talking about all of the seasonals I will be watching. With that being said, let us get started.

Call of the Night Ep. 1

Call of the Night? More like call me pleasantly surprised because, well, I actually thought this was pretty decent. I mentioned last week that Kotoyama’s other major hit Dagashi Kashi was not exactly my cup of tea. However, his art style and character designs do feel a lot more fitting for this sort of horror aesthetic, even if the most terrifying thing about it is how immediately horny it is. Granted, that is not always a bad thing, but like, cmon, the main character is 14?

Aside from the weird sexual stuff, in a story whose main premise is using the night to escape the inability to sleep due to obligations and stress, middle school is not exactly the demographic of people I would have first suggested. Although Japan does have some pretty toxic culture around education and relationships, so I guess it can get a pass on that one. Overall, looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

Made in Abyss S2 Ep. 1

I would call this a pleasant surprise if were not already holding some pretty big expectations for it. Safe to say, though, that it delivered in spades. I will admit to being very confused for the first half of the episode since it was supposed to be a prequel of sorts, but then as soon as they landed on the island it became pretty clear what was happening.

One thing I was not expecting was just how heavy it was going to be right out of the gate. Again, it has been a while for me, and Made in Abyss is nothing if not a boundary pusher. The music was nothing short of phenomenal even in the first episode, as Kevin Pinker returned to do the second season’s soundtrack and has absolutely nailed it. I saw on Twitter him expressing his worry over its quality, and after hearing in the context of the show, that almost feels like a joke. While episode one may have been mostly introductory, it was without a doubt a great start.

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RWBY: Ice Queendom Ep. 1-3

The show that was practically begging to be an anime finally got an anime. It is honestly not that surprising considering it got a manga back in 2018 and likely would have gotten an anime sooner if it were not for pandemic delays and other extenuating circumstances. However, it is here, and yeah the first three episodes were also solid.

Personally, 3D animation has never been my thing, and even though I enjoyed the original first season of RWBY which was made by Rooster Teeth, the 3D aspect was always my least favorite part. This adaptation does not have that flaw, and so my enjoyment has gone up exponentially. The action sequences thus far have been incredibly choreographed and animated, and something about the series’ color palette just rings more with this adaptation. They did skip the final fight near the docs which happens at the end of the first season, which feels like a bit of an odd choice considering the appeal of the show, but oh well.

One of the other things that always felt off about the original is the way earlier episodes really tried to imitate anime mannerisms. Of course, the 3D animation made it incredibly awkward, but then you also had the main characters themselves. The voice acting in the original catered to this a lot, and it felt overall worse for it. However, All of the main crew, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang, feel a bit more…natural? in their new dub. I suppose it feels less out of place only because the VAs are speaking Japanese, but even then, the overall quality, at least from what I can tell, is substantially better. If the new series ever does get a dub, I would be curious to see if any of the original cast makes a re-appearance.

All of this is to say that RWBY: Ice Queendom has a lot of potential. Since I have not seen past season one of the original, it will be hard to judge it as an adaptation, but based on the subtitle and the increased focus on Weiss in these earlier episodes, I get the feeling this one will be moving in a new direction.

Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer Ep. 1

Coming off reading a bit of the manga earlier this year after the show had gotten an announcement, I was actually fairly excited to see how the show would come into its own. Safe to say that this season is 4/4 in terms of its opening episodes because Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer also did a solid job.

The comedic timing was there, and the animation was expressive enough to make the visual humor pop. Yuuhi is unlikable, but that is part of his personality, and as it will likely be shown in the next episode or two, there is a pretty big reason for that. The episode did a great job at hinting at what is to come with some of the musical moments, and Asahina looks about as threatening and psychotic as ever. Speaking of Asahina, one thing I am glad is missing is the random panty shots that littered the series’ opening chapters.

The only thing really worth complaining about thus far is the video quality. Idk if it is something on Crunchyroll’s end and it happened because I watched the episode more or less as soon as it came out, but my god does it not look great. Hoping that it is just a glitch and it will be gone by the next episode. If not, the show will become a lot harder to watch.

That, my friends, is our week one. The Devil is a Part-Timer apparently starts next week, and since the first few episodes of RWBY aired early, it will be a few weeks until a new one comes out. What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know down in the comments.

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

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Blog Updates

Secondary Findings: Hades, All of Us Are Dead, Etc.

February 20, 2022 Jack Scheibelein 2 Comments

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

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As much as I love talking about all of the things I review for this blog, there is also a lot of stuff that I watch, play casually that does not get its own dedicated post. This is either because I have yet to finish it or because it does not fit in with the normal stuff I talk about. So, we are back with another edition of Secondary Findings, a series where I do just that.

Hades

This game probably will end up getting a full review on this blog at some point. However, with the little free time I have already, it has been hard to dedicate the proper hours to actually finish it. On top of that, Hades is the type of game where exploring it in depth could mean going through multiple runs, as it has become the poster child for indie rogue-likes.

It is not hard to see why, though. Between the relatively straightforward gameplay, unique build paths for different styles, and the incredible fluidity with which to make combos. That is not even getting into the super-inspired character designs which re-imagine the greek gods and goddesses in a way that gives them a lot of charm. While I cannot speak to anything beyond a few hours of gameplay, it is fairly obvious why Hades has such a strong fanbase.

Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer

Though the series has yet to get its recently announced anime adaptation, its 15 minutes of Twitter fame was enough to ensnare my interest, and so I decided to give its first volume a read. To my surprise, the hype felt mostly deserved.

Even with its incredibly convoluted plot about saving the world from a wizard and a giant hammer with the help of a girl who also wants to destroy the world, this shounen comedy has thus far been a delight. Its funnier moments are indeed funny, but in the moments where the series calms down and starts to do a bit of introspection, these moments of malice slowly creep in and reveal some things that really drive a lot of interest.

It is hard to say what exactly will happen from here, but Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer is definitely a manga that I am going to pursue further. if those moments of darkness are any indication of what is to come, there will certainly be something worthwhile on the other side.

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Hyperpop

I generally try to avoid talking about music on this blog unless it is in the context of an anime or video game soundtrack since that is fairly outside my wheelhouse. Though, of course, I have made exceptions for albums and artists who have had a significant impact on my thinking, with the most recent example being From Me to You by Quadeca.

However, since this is a more casual series focused on the stuff I enjoy, it would be weird not to talk about this strange musical subgenre that has taken up a not-insignificant portion of my music diet. Anyone who has been paying attention to internet culture has probably at least heard the name 100 gecs, who are the most recent act to popularize hyperpop.

However, the subgenre goes has been developing a lot over the past couple of years, often with the artists themselves having a love-hate relationship with the label. Personally, what I love about it is the way it combines elements of EDM reminiscent of the early 2010s, as well as modern pop and hip-hop trends.

The song linked above serves as a good example of what a lot of modern hyperpop has leaned into. I have heard it described more than once as “a musical genre for people with ADHD,” and while I am not sure if I actually have ADHD, it does help scratch a certain brain itch when listening to it.

All of Us are Dead

All of Us are Dead is a Korean zombie horror series that was released on Netflix in a manner similar to the now hit series Squid Game. It focuses on a Korean high school where a new illness has broken out which rapidly transforms the students into zombies, and now they must survive while being quarantined inside the school.

This is another property I have yet to fully dive into, having only watched one episode as of writing. It does take a while to build to its crescendo, with the first episode clocking in at just above an hour in total runtime. Yet, even with that long run time, it still manages to set up a lot of unique storylines without feeling bogged down by the number of characters.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not the series can actually stick the landing, but considering the last semi-competent zombie story I consumed was roughly seasons 3-4 of The Walking Dead, I am excited to see where this goes.

What all have you been enjoying recently? Let me know in the comments.