An American Writer's Thoughts on Japanese Animation

Category: Seasonal Episodes

Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, Episode 1

So, every season, I try to watch one show and report on it, episode by episode. Sometimes these shows have been pretty decent, other times they’ve been bloody terrible. The main qualification is that the show has to be something new, not a second season, sequel, or anything like that. I’ve tried to reach for originals sometimes, but I’ve also done adaptations. This season, I said to myself “Well, I got through Ex-Arm, one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen, clearly I can take on anything.”

I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. Suffice to say, I will NOT be watching through “Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro” as my Seasonal Selection for Spring 2021, but having watched the first episode with the intent of doing so, I feel I would be remiss if I did not at least report on what I’d seen.

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Seasonal Selection – Ex-Arm Episode 5

It was bad enough that the animation, slowly improving though it is, should never have made it to the screen. Up until now, that was the worst thing; the rest of the show had been… lame at worst. Mostly serviceable when you take the art of cinema out of the equation. Now? It’s still the worst, but the writing isn’t doing it any favors. Reaction video and more after the cut.

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Seasonal Selection – Ex-Arm Episode 4

Look, I get it. If you’re going to steal visual designs, Neon Genesis Evangelion is probably a good choice. It’s got some good designs. But if you’re going to steal from Eva, show a little respect and actually use the pilfered parts in a way and in a place that has the weight and awesomeness the material deserves. Having a cruddy little robot that would be stomping material even by most Real Robot standards mimic EVA-01 just makes you look even lamer for the comparison.

Audio Commentary and thoughts after the cut.

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