An American Writer's Thoughts on Japanese Animation

A Grimm Fate – Grimm’s Notes the Animation Spoiler Review

Shows that have to include “the Animation” in their title don’t have a great track record, do they? Which is to say, most of them that follow that scheme seem to be mobile gacha adaptations, which are a troubled corner of the already troubled video game to screen pipeline.

I may have said this in the past, but it doesn’t need to be this way. Video Games can have amazing stories, even if the addition of “viewer” agency tends to lens how those stories are told. Even mobile gachas, while no doubt rife with no-effort cash-grabs, include engaging tales told with memorable characters. There are barriers to adaptation, and some uncomfortable choices can be made, but with a good base material and a clever and invested studio involved, it could be done. It could even be amazing.

Considering that the game itself shut down entirely in about a year after this thing came out, though, I’m going to lower my expectations. The pitch is fractured fairy tales? Let’s just hope that it’s better than later RWBY seasons.

Read More…Read More…

To all the Cyberpunks – Armitage III Spoiler Review (OVAs + Dual Matrix)

Oh, classic Cyberpunk, how I’ve missed you. I might be more partial to more optimistic sci-fi, in part because it’s so rare, but there’s just something absolutely exquisite about the occasional piece of media willing to display some adroitly grim and rebellious retro-future stylings – dark shadows, menacing greebles, body horror, bizarre fashion, fanservice, and of course a good slathering of ye olde ultra-violence.

Armitage III is determined to deliver.

Read More…Read More…

The Miko and the Fox – Gingitsune: Messenger Fox of the Gods Spoiler Review

Gingitsune, like last week’s entry of Kamichu!, is a slice-of-life show focused on a high-school girl, which is sometimes described as “Shinto propaganda”. In specific, this one is focused on Makoto Saeki, currently the shrine maiden of a modest Inari shrine that’s been around since the Edo period, and the heir to the shrine-keeping family’s ability to see the heralds of the Gods. In her case, the Herald that lives at the shrine is Gintarou, a fox spirit who loves mikans and is often described as “lazy”. This is their story.

Read More…Read More…

Miko and God – Kamichu! Spoiler Review

So, I will admit that this one leans a little more heavily on the divine element, what with the characters most recognizable as shrine maidens being in the friend and helper role, but when you look up shows with miko characters and Shinto vibes, Kamichu! (the title is excited) tends to come highly recommended.

Read More…Read More…

Endangered Miko – RDG: Red Data Girl Spoiler Review

Well, it’s still Miko May, so here’s the pitch for this one: it stars a girl who has been raised at a shrine deep in the mountains. She wants to be normal, but unfortunately for that wish, she may well be the vessel for a god.

Oh, and this is also a school romance.

Read More…Read More…