Another weekly general thread! I know everybody has this time of the week set aside as their favorite, so here it is. Like usual, feel free to use this thread for any kind of anime/anime-adjacent topics you might want to discuss.
As always, remember to be mindful of spoilers. If you want to know more about how to handle spoilers in this community, check the guide here (also linked in the sidebar).
13 Comments
wjs018@ani.social · 5 pts · 1y
Instead of writing about currently airing shows this week, I wanted to write about something else I did instead. Oshi no Ko was on break this past week, but I still needed my fix, so I went back and watched season 1, episode 1 instead. That then started me on a bit of a journey of going back and watching some of my favorite episodes for a couple shows of the recent past. So, I am going to put my thoughts behind spoiler tags below for each one.
::: spoiler Oshi no Ko Season 1, Episode 1 Even knowing about Ai's fate at the end of this episode/movie, the way this story unfolds is so well done that it still hits emotionally.
After rewatching this episode, it reaffirms to me that my absolute favorite character in this whole series is Miyako, the twins' adoptive mother. She is so much fun to hate with her introduction and even her turnaround is driven by incredibly shallow motivations. However, over the course of the first episode, she steps up and becomes the mom that the kids need. The cherry on top was her recognition that she couldn't ever hope to replace Ai for them, but that she is simply going to do her best to support them in her own way.
Honestly, she is too good for some young, handsome guy, and I am happy that as we jump forward in time, she is an independent, successful businesswoman that still raised two children. It stands in contrast to typical Japanese societal expectations and, as Gotanda would say, is (hopefully) a sign of the times. :::
::: spoiler Oshi no Ko Season 1, Episode 6 Episode 1 got most of the attention back when this show aired, but this was the standout episode of the season for me personally. It hit pretty close to home as I have dealt with somebody close that has come approached the metaphorical edge in the past (though not due to bullying or social media like Akane).
The standout moment in this episode for me (unsurprisingly) happens as Akane is standing on the precipice, about to take her final step. Her hair is gently blowing in the breeze, the city lights are twinkling with some soft bokeh, she has a content grin on her face, it honestly looks gorgeous. Then suddenly it isn't. There is a hard cut to Akane standing in the pouring rain, drenched, with unkempt hair, and a mix between a scowl and a grimace as the music also suddenly cuts to just the sound of the rain; falling down to the earth, just like Akane is about to. The sudden cut does an excellent job of contrasting the elegant solution to her problems that Akane imagines her death to be with the ugly truth of what it is she is about to do. I can't get enough of it.
Just as an aside, this same kind of sudden cut is used elsewhere in the series as well. Most recently, it was used in season 2, episode 7 when Akane is upset with Kana because Kana is not living up to her acting potential. :::
::: spoiler Frieren, Episodes 9-10 Episode 9 is an absolute visual feast. I don't have too much to add to my original comments on this episode except that I really wish Linie were still around. Her fighting was so much fun. Though, I guess Ubel kind of fills this niche later on in the season.
By comparison, Episode 10 doesn't have much in the way of action animation, but instead is a storytelling tour de force. I already wrote a lot about this episode back when it aired. Thinking about this episode some more, it is really a lore dump more than anything else. It is packed full of flashbacks and lore while the combatants are simply standing and chatting. The execution of this exposition is so incredibly well done though that it manages to build expectation the whole way through rather than get boring. Finally, the payoff is short and sweet, leaving us in shock.
Fortunately Milet is there to help soothe us with the sudden ED at the end. For the record Milet, I was not alright after this episode. Not even close. :::
::: spoiler Frieren, Episodes 25-26 My favorite part of episode 25 (just like when it aired) was the Serie flashback when Frieren delivered the will of Flamme. I absolutely love the way that the Serie/Flamme relationship is depicted through Serie's flashbacks. It is done in a way to take advantage of the animation medium and, frankly, works much better than the manga version. I can also see how Serie's feelings towards Flamme echo the interest she will later show in Fern during the third test.
The Frieren vs. Frieren and Fern fight in Episode 26 is just a phenomenal visual spectacle from start to finish. However, upon rewatching, I also had a new appreciation for the Ubel/Sense "fight" and flashback. The way that they depict magic and visualization through Ubel is just so well done. Magic visualization is a recurring theme through the rest of the series and Ubel provides such an comprehensible way to develop an intuition for the complex game of magical rock/paper/scissors that mages undertake in the world of Frieren. :::
::: spoiler Delicious in Dungeon Episode 11 This episode is just a phenomenal climactic battle. It really feels like a boss battle. When this episode aired, I gushed about the OST. Upon rewatching, that is still the thing that jumped out at me the most. In particular, the way the OST is used in this episode compared to the other shows/episodes in this post is so different.
As a point of comparison, Frieren episode 9 is also a life or death battle, but the OST helps give that episode and this episode such different feelings. Just such an excellent way to aurally signal to the viewer that everything is different now. There is a much darker element to this show that has always been lurking there if you really looked for it, but is now in the forefront. :::
Endmaker@ani.social · 4 pts · 1y
Completed the following:
My Dress-Up Darling
Heard plenty of praises for it before. It moved up my priority queue thanks to the latest manga chapters.
It is good as expected and I can see why everyone likes Marin. In fact, I'd say she carried the show quite a bit. Wakana does not have as much of an impact but he's decent too.
Like most other seinen romances that I've consumed, there's a lack of unnecessary drama. For example, at the end of episode 10
::: spoiler episode 10 spoiler
it looked like Wakana was going to cause a rift in their relationship over a small issue. I thought the episode is going to end with a looming drama as a cliff-hanger, which I'd find annoying. But Marin just straight-up spoke up about it, crushing the drama before it even begin, all in a span of one minute.
:::
Those shounen and shoujo romances can learn from this (though at that point, they would probably be considered seinen and jousei).
It's among my potential top favourites at the moment (i.e. score of 9 / 10). Looking forward to the next season.
Coincidentally, I picked up the manga The Story of a Succubus Who Came to the Human World. It looks like it's inspired (or referenced) by the succubus manga from My Dress-Up Darling. Real cute and wholesome.
WorldEnd: What are you doing at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?
Kinda like Captain America but in a fantasy world.
This anime surprisingly fulfills many of my criteria for a Gundam-like show. At one point, I was half-expecting the talisman to float around and attack enemies like funnels / dragoons / gund bits.
Not sure if it's because the anime tried to adapt too much of the source material in too few episodes, but I find that there's a lack of explanation and depth when it comes to characterization and world-building.
Due to its flaws, I've gotta give it a 7 or 8 / 10
wjs018@ani.social · 3 pts · 1y
I have read most of the Dress-Up Darling manga, but dropped it when I caught up to what was released at the time. I did see about the most recent developments, so I might have to hop back in and catch up. One of my complaints about the manga is that it went on such deep dives about the cosplaying details and techniques that it seemed to completely forget the main plot for entire chapters. Does the anime manage to smooth out this pacing to help keep the story moving?
mo_lave@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 1y
The anime pacing was good from what I remember. I appreciated the deep dives of creating cosplay clothing without detracting from the romance.
::: spoiler spoiler Me: "Gojo, did you lose?"
Gojo: "Nah, I won." :::
wjs018@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y
That's good to hear. I liked the info as well, but felt like the balance was off in the manga.
Endmaker@ani.social · 1 pts · 1y
SnowGator@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 1y
Completed:
Current releases, following weekly (roughly organized by decreasing interest):
Watched part of, but not up to date:
esc27@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Yeah. I felt the same about "No Longer Allowed in Another Word" at first, but it grew on me. I think it took about four episodes to establish itself.
wjs018@ani.social · 3 pts · 1y
Weekly ranking roundup:
Credit to /u/Abysswatcherbel for making the chart for reddit karma and /u/Nooble5 for the Anime Trending chart.
One show that I feel like these rankings are really missing is Dungeon People. It is down at #37 on AC, unranked on AT, and #29 in reddit karma. I have really enjoyed it a lot. I am not claiming it is the best show this season by any means, but it is a really solid, dungeon SOL with likeable characters.
thejoker954@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
I tried dungeon people and was liking it, but the whole father situation was just handled so damn weirdly that it just pulled me out.
wjs018@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y
I agree that the father storyline is the weakest part of the show. It used to bother me more, but I have been able to largely ignore it (much like the show does) after a couple of episodes.
zabadoh@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y
Is it too early to start thinking about next season? (Credit and blame to MAL)
Fall 2024 Lineup:
zabadoh@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y
Whew, Fall 2024 looks stacked with good shows!
I'll be anticipating:
Maybe:
wjs018@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y
You are like 12 hours early. The week 38 thread I am posting soon is going to be the Fall season look ahead. I need to sit down and look through the shows and pick what I want to try to watch yet. I anticipate my work schedule is going to pick up some more in Q4, so I might have to make some tough choices.
All the credit to you for formatting that big of a markdown table.