WW (Week 4): What Seperates the Heavenly and the Great

Last night my brother (the guy who sometimes watches anime in a clueless and irregular basis) and I were debating over Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, specifically, what rating it deserved. But first, some background on how my rating system works (this pertains to MyAnimeList only, as I rate to the tenth decimal place on this blog).

I never give out 10/10s. No anime is perfect. This is obvious enough, because you can't really define anime. It's a subjective thing, meaning that there is no standard. Throw in personal opinions and you will see there is no way to objectively rate anime. It's unlike a square, which you can indisputably call perfect. That being said, the highest scores I give are 9.

Back to the debate. My brother completely loved Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, giving it a 9. He was completely satisfied with everything that it had to offer. Me, on the other hand, I was more satisfied with handing it a solid 8. In short, I really disliked the way that the last episodes was done, and I felt like it didn't have enough of an emotional impact. Sure, all the elements of a "heavenly" (9/10) anime were there, but the way that it was portrayed and shown were definitely at the "great" (8/10) level. Don't get me wrong, I loved Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. It is one of the more memorable and better watches in the last while.

I mentioned how Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso had the elements of a heavenly watch there, but what exactly are those said elements?

Elements of a "Heavenly" (9/10) Anime
1. Technical aspects of the anime
The stuff that comes in every good anime, including story, characters, art, and sound. Are these all done exceptionally well? Story is compelling? Characters are filling their roles near-perfectly? How's the art? Naturally you can't have an extremely good anime without these essentials.

2. Conflict/Resolution
Any standard plot involves some sort of conflict. The conflict and resolution are basically what make the anime worth watching. Additionally, it's not a very good watch if the conflict is easily solved. It takes away from the importance and severity of it, turning it into less of a conflict and more into a small problem. However, when written well, it will keep the audience on the edge of their seats and wanting more.

3. Plot twist
A plot twist done well will do wonders for the anime. Adds spice to the story and really shakes things up. What this does is that it gets us excited and revved up, and that's just a part of personal enjoyment.

4. Emotional attachment
This is important, because without saying, you should be invested in any heavenly anime. If you feel strongly and passionately about the characters, story, or any element of the anime, then it makes the watch much more enjoyable. This emotional attachment is obtained through personal connections to the anime, or if you have spent a relatively long time with the anime. The latter is the reason why most heavenly anime are on the higher side of episode counts (usually 24).

5. Bittersweet/destructive ending
I'd like to say that I'm a fan of happy endings, but really, I'm not. When I watch the final episode of a series, I want to be devastated. The raw emotion of having something terrible happen to the characters that you love and cherish (there's the emotional attachment coming in) fans the flames that you feel. It stokes the fire that you have kindling in yourself. This is what makes an anime memorable. It's not, "Oh I loved how the characters all resolved the situation and now live happily together," but instead it is, "Holy I can't believe that character A just killed off her best friend, character B, in a twist ending."

6. Execution
Even if you have all of the above, it all goes to waste if you execute it poorly. This is what I was referring to with Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. I couldn't stand the way the last few episodes were done, and they left me feeling sour in the mouth. Execution is crucial. It's how you convey all your work, your feelings, and emotions to the viewer. The effort put into this is directly correlated to how much the producers want to work to show you a heavenly anime.

So that's all. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso actually has unbelievable ratings on MaL, and it is not a bad anime by far. This wasn't meant to be a hate post on the anime, even if I did kinda make it sound like one. Anyhoooow, thanks for reading, and hopefully you'll stop by next week for Weaboo Wednesday.

WW (Week 3): The Beauty and Extravagance of Ore Monogatari!! (Spoilers)

For this week's Weaboo Wednesday, I'll be shining a spotlight on Ore Monogatari!!, the incredible and lovable romcom carryover from the spring. Today was actually the last episode of the show, but it was a really good run, and it'll definitely remain a memorable anime for me.

Story
Ore Monogatari!! is different from your run of the mill romcom, in that it cuts to the chase immediately and we are taken on a new and fresh journey. At the core, it's a light-hearted, hilarious, and enjoyable love story.

The story starts off by introducing the main characters, Gouda Takeo, Sunakawa Makoto, and Yamato Rinko. Takeo, due to his ape like stature, has never had success with girls, whereas his best friend, Suna, easily picks up flocks of them. The two are riding the train when they witness a girl, Yamato, being harassed on the train. Gouda intervenes, saving Yamato, and the three quickly begin a fruitful friendship.

Gouda has a thing for cute and quiet girls, and naturally falls in love with Yamato. However, under the belief that Yamato likes Suna, he attempts to push the two together, and gives up. Eventually, it's revealed that Yamato actually likes Gouda instead, and thus begins the relationship (albeit somewhat awkward) of the two.

This all takes place in the first three episodes of the season, leaving loads of room for the silly endeavours that the three partake in. While one can say that it is essentially the same thing happening over and over again, Ore Monogatari!! does it in a perfect way, with the right balances of humour and seriousness. All of the content was very feel-good, even all the way to the ending, when Gouda faces off against Ichinose.

Everything was displayed and done with expertise, and it is this that really helped make Ore Monogatari!! great. I thoroughly enjoyed watching a love blossom between Gouda and Yamato, and I was also glad to see a bunch of side characters who each had depth and interesting features.

Characters
All of the characters are plain lovable. While you have a pretty good idea of what archetypes Gouda, Suna, and Yamato fit into, there are also subtle hints and clues along the season that help guide you. Each of them get a great amount of development and focus (as is the case with most longer seasons), but what I found extremely impressive was the amount of depth that I got from the side characters (notably Suna's sister, and the white-hair who liked Suna).

Sound
Let's start off with the opening and ending themes. The OP and ED remains consistent throughout the season, and I think that was a good choice. Both pieces work with the mood and theme of the show very well; a poppy and energetic OP, with a more soulful and nice ED.

There was nothing super notable about the rest of the soundtrack (i.e. whatever played in the background), or at least nothing that jumps out at me. That's not to say that it was bad, I'm simply the type of guy who doesn't really recall BG music.

Art/Animation
The style of art and it's presentation is pretty much top-notch (when it comes to me). I especially liked the emotional moments, where translucent abstract shapes would fill the scene and engulf the characters. Thought that was a super cool form of displaying intense emotion, and it was the first I had seen of it.

Everything has a very light theme to it, and it makes sense, as Ore Monogatari!! is a light-hearted romantic comedy.

Personal Enjoyment
If you couldn't tell by now, I absolutely adore Ore Monogatari!! Few shows like this pop up every year, let alone something like a romcom. While I have sung nothing but praises for Ore Monogatari!!, it lacks the extra mile to go all the way. It's not that the anime is missing something, not at all. I'm very happy with the way that it ended. However there wasn't the big event that made me go, "Oh I'm going to hate it when this anime ends."

Nevertheless, Ore Monogatari!! ends off it's beautiful run with a (very respectable and relatively high) final score of 8.4/10.

Ore Monogatari!! on MyAnimeList

WW (Week 2): Anime Starter Pack

Hey all, and welcome to the second week of Weaboo Wednesday. Hopefully the past week has been enough to clear any cringey feelings that the first post may have instilled in you, and you are all ready to get your weekly dose of terrible writing.

You may have thought, "Wow, I want to watch anime because my friends do or for some other obscure reason, but I have no idea where to start!" If that's the case, then you're in luck, because in this post I will share with you the complete foolproof moron-friendly guide to starting anime. This, I affectionately dub, the Anime Starter Pack (1st ed.)

1. Anime vs cartoons
More likely than not, you have heard somebody call anime a "cartoon". And I'll be truthful here, that's perfectly understandable if you have absolutely no experience or knowledge with anime. But if you want to start watching anime, then it's a given that you should know the difference.

Simply put, anime is short for Japanese animation. Cartoons are kinda like a westernized anime. However there's a vast difference in the mood, tropes, values, and overall feel of the animation when it comes to anime and cartoons. It makes sense. Anime stories typically don't fall into the categories that cartoons do, because the Japanese value different things.

There's also the obvious difference of language. Cartoons are pretty much strictly English and the same goes for anime, except with Japanese. However there are some exceptions...

2. Subs over dubs
If you are seriously planning on viewing anime as a sort of side hobby or whatnot, then there is only one thing that I ask of you: do not watch the dub. Just because there is a dub does not mean that you should watch it. Subs are a wonderful thing. They translate the message (although sometimes a bit off, when it comes to fan subtitles) while retaining the same emotion and power in the original voice.

Dubs are never better than their sub counterparts. Hell, a lot of the anime out there are sub-only, and really, there are only a few anime that have really good dubs (and these are the ones that usually make the big bucks). Even then, subs are just the way to go, for full enjoyment and perception.

3. Ongoing and aired
Let's start with ongoing anime (anime that is airing). Anime airs on a seasonal basis, with new arrivals every season. One season for an anime will consist of 12 episodes or 24 episodes, with some variance (ex. the odd 13-episoder or 26-episoder). Each season will air one episode every week. If you do a little thinking, you'll see that this system works nicely, with each season having ample time to air and a break in between every season.

And as for aired (completed and finished) anime, you can watch it at whatever pace is comfortable. It's one of the neater things about aired anime. You can also kinda look it up and you'll have a solid idea of how good it will end up being in the end.

4. Crunchyroll is your best friend (and so is MyAnimeList)
Crunchyroll is an amazing service. Even without membership you're getting full episodes of anime (albeit airing anime are shown one week late) at a decent quality. It's completely legal and a great place to start out. It's especially friendly and pandered towards a western audience. They also have most anime, and get the lion's share of the ongoing titles every season. Easily one of the most popular streaming services that we have over here in North America.

Buuuuut some things you just can't find on Crunchyroll... so where do you turn at that point?

Honestly, a quick Google search will get you some not-so-legal methods of watching said anime. I'm not going to list any of the sites here personally, but you should have enough common sense to not go clicking around randomly. Please search at your own risk.

There's also a bunch of stuff on YouTube, if you haven't tried that.

MyAnimeList is a site that pretty much has the entirety of anime in a database. Pretty much any anime of even the slightest significance can be found on MyAnimeList, with ratings, genres, and a synopsis. Another great thing about MaL is that you can easily create an account and keep track of all your anime.

5. Anime to start off with

Angel Beats is a super noob-friendly anime. All of the usual characteristics of anime are present, and I think that it's quite good when it comes to comedy and drama. The premise is interesting enough so that you won't get too bored. Additionally, it's one of those anime that everybody expects you to have watched, essentially making it a must-watch.

For a synopsis and more info, go on over to its MaL page.

Mirai Nikki is somewhat like eating food while it's fresh out of the oven. As one of your first watches, it will be a really really good watch. It does have a lot of violence, gore, and blood, so those who aren't really into that kinda stuff should stay away. There is a bit of a love story in there, and I think that it's such an unorthodox watch that it's good (at least for anybody new). Once again, another anime "classic" that you should watch.

For a synopsis and more info, go on over to its MaL page.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun is a romantic comedy (commonly called romcom) of sorts, focusing on the life of a highschool boy who is secretly a popular girls' manga artist. The comedy is near gold and all the characters are genuinely lovable. Really easy to watch and laugh along with. It's kinda flown under the radar, and it never jumps right to mind, but Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun is superb for what it's worth.

For a synopsis and more info, go on over to its MaL page.

Sword Art Online. As much as I may hate to say it, SAO is a good fit for anybody looking to venture into the unknown world of anime. There's the intriguing and thrilling idea of a video game world where death in the game means death in life, and everything else is pretty solid. In fact, the show would be much more favourable with me if it weren't for an arc of two. Actually the first arc was (for the most part) really good, it's just that the second arc was a complete and utter mess. Just watch it before you've seen much of anything else.

For a synopsis and more info, go on over to its MaL page.

RTM (Week 1): People in High School

It's barely been a week into the school year and already I've seen some ugly and pretty neato stuff. Even though I'm grade eleven I still feel somewhat tiny and insignificant as a member of the school. But this post is not about me. No, the very first Real Talk Monday will be on a kid who came off as obnoxious, and a school (almost) fight.

Let's start off with the ugly thing (by the way, it's not me). Last Tuesday (about a week ago) was the opening day of school. As a member of Students' Council, I was assigned the task of joining a grade eight homeroom and to just float around and help out whenever needed. Pretty simple and solid way of killing about two hours of my day.

So the teacher gets the ball rolling with a little introduction to what the homeroom will be about, and start off with the attendance. Everything's rolling along fine, and I'm sitting in a chair and doing nothing, when all of the sudden there's something different than the usual Here!

It turns out that it's a student who wanted to be called something different. Fair enough. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, in itself. But the way that he went about it, the particular words he chose, and the particular tone made him seem as if he was being picky and trying to get on the teacher's bad side. Dude, it's your first day of high school. Why would you ever try to do anything to get on the bad side of any teacher? Chances are you're going to run into quite a few during your five years here.

Teachers are here to help you, regardless of whatever notion you may have obtained from an older sibling or friend. It's hard to find a teacher with enough malice to actually try to lower your grades. Naturally there are such things as "difficult" teachers, who maybe have a higher standard, or different expectations, but these ones also are the same ones who want to see you thrive and succeed. But it makes it that much harder to be inclined to help you out, if you've already hit it off badly.

Look, I'm saying this all as a spectator. I don't know what the teacher was thinking, or if the teacher even cared. Hell, I don't even know if the student in question was aware of how he sounded, or if he meant to do so. But really, it's a name. People are going to call you lots of different things throughout your life. I'm going to be fair here though, I mean, maybe guy couldn't help it. Maybe he just didn't have the time to go to the office to get his name changed.

Wow that was a mouthful. Now onto the neato thing that I saw.

Nothing big, but the hallways were just crowded, and of course there was shoving. I'm trying to claim a seat by the lockers, and all of the sudden there's some yelling and before you know it, the first fight of the year has nearly started. It's actually the first fight I've seen in my three years of high school, and to be honest, I wasn't sure what to do. But before I could even think about doing anything, one of the grade twelves steps in between them and just kinda stops them from going at it.

I mean, props to you. I'm not sure if I would've been able to do something like that, so really, awesome job there buddy.

WW (Week 1): The Current State of Anime

If you follow anime culture at all, then you have most likely heard or seen controversy about the state of anime right now. More likely than not, you have seen harsh criticism of modern-day anime, which is dominated by the romcom and SoL genres. In an era that is seeing more CG, excessive fan service, and unoriginal storylines, isn't it safe to say that anime really is not dying? Welcome to the first Weaboo Wednesday, in which I'll be giving my two cents about the current state of anime.

Before you make me out to be some sort of hardened anime veteran, I should say that I have been watching anime for little over two years. It's definitely not a whole lot of time when you're looking at the big picture, but the important thing to take away is: I started watching anime while being exposed to the current era of anime.

I'm not your hardcore Western otaku who collects figurines, prowls the web for anime culture, and would absolutely give anything to be Japanese. Anime is a hobby of mine, but it doesn't go as far as being a lifestyle or an addiction of some sort. I'm a simple man, and I like simple things. I tend to stay away from manga and anime culture, while basking in the golden rays of masterpieces such as Clannad, Hyouka, and Toradora! To date I have never been to any anime convention of any sort.

Yet I can (somewhat proudly) still say that I have watched my fair share of anime. I clock in at about 125 television series, and I'm nearing 2000 episodes. MyAnimeList claims I have watched at least 31 days of anime. So I've been around the block, but I'm still a bit lacking in the classic anime department. But I mean, that is to be expected, seeing as my usual schedule consists of watching the majority of the airing season while slowly finishing a completed series. If I were to put this in an example, we can use this season. I am watching 14 airing anime this season, and over the summer season I have completed three non-airing anime.

Enough about myself though. Let's get to the real topic at hand.

Is anime really deteriorating?

My short and simple answer: yes, but not as drastically as you may have been led to believe.

Let me tell you the single biggest thing that makes anime seem "unsavoury". It's the so called "fan service". This is not a joke though. From what I can see, it's difficult to watch many series without having gigantic boobs or excessive amounts of exposed skin shoved in your face, regardless of whether you like it or not.

Don't get me wrong though, I enjoy seeing attractive females, even if they may be completely fake and two-dimensional. I can appreciate a pretty face, a well proportioned bust, or a really soft and reassuring voice. As silly as it sounds, it is something that is important.

However when you've got Highschool DxD levels of ecchi, it becomes ridiculous, and at best, laughable. At this point, it is impossible for the anime to retain any seriousness it had. And this is a big deal, because a serious and engaging story is key to any great anime.

I think this is the central problem that anime is facing right now. Of course there's also the fact that not a lot of studios can really produce consistent and presentable CG, and maybe you can also throw in the constant pandering of the otaku nation (ties in with what I said earlier). I might be completely off my rocker, but it's what I have come to believe. Who knows? I might be biased because I was "born and raised" in this era, or maybe it's because I'm not well versed in this kinda stuff.

I'm not calling for anything huge. I don't even think that much needs to be changed. Every season there are still gems to be dug out, shining with a brilliant and unique approach, without relying on sheer appearances. These are just the ramblings of a guy who thinks that he knows anything about anime.

All in all, I believe that anime is perfectly fine the way that it is right now. What it all bubbles down to is how much I am enjoying it. After all, I am a simple guy who just wants to watch his anime.