Puella Magi Madoka Abstract Subversion Nyanyan Death

by bateszi · April 22, 2011 · 16 · 0

In 12 episodes, Puella Magi Madoka Magica convinced me that there’s more to Akiyuki Shinbo than otaku-pandering. The director has increasingly been held in high regard, but until Madoka, I’d not taken any substantial steps into his oeuvre. Not even Bakemonogatari coaxed me in, but post-Madoka, I’ve found a lot of new respect for the man.

Experimental and fearless is how I’d describe the series, as not only does it impose a very specific, artsy aesthetic on a subject matter reserved for the hardcore, it also takes a hard-line with its young characters. Much like Bokurano, it never backs down, or allows for an easy way out.

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This isn’t how I imagined it; Hanasaku Iroha

by Celeste · April 14, 2011 · 10 · 0

Teenage girls are a tricky thing to do well in anime. Anime about (and often aimed at) teenage girls is a continually saturated market, making it hard to improve upon. That said, I liked Hanasaku Iroha. In particular, the portrayal of Ohana was intriguing.

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How to watch your anime

by dengar · April 10, 2011 · 9 · 0
When I watch a new show on TV in the United States I watch each show as it is released, one episode a week.  Until recently I watched anime in a very different way, I would watch anime after all the episodes were released, usually four or five episodes at each sitting.   This led to different viewing experience compared to US shows, albeit one that I did not choose.  But marathoning anime is not the only choice anymore.  With streaming anime, available hours after the Japanese broadcast, I can now watch Japanese shows in the same way I watch American ones.  Now I have to choose which is better, marathoning a show or taking my time to watch one episode each week.

Watching alone...

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