Ode to Anime Studios – Trigger

This is the 2nd studio from the order that was decided by the readers. Trigger is a fairly young studio, having started in 2012 (Minto 2018), and are known for their staff, which are a pack which formed out of the vacuum left by Hideaki Anno at Gainax circa 2006 (Minto 2018). You might know...

Balancing the Technological and the Real in SSSS.Gridman [OWLS Jul. ’19 Blog Tour]

If this prompt looks like it’s a bit different to the usual, that’s because Lyn didn’t write it – I pitched it to her. So, here’s the prompt for this month, with the theme of “technology”: For this month’s topic, we will be discussing how technology impacts our relationships with others and how it improves...

Gridman is Better the Second Time Around

Past Aria would be shaking her head if she saw this title… Gridman didn’t particularly pick up steam for me until episode 9 the first time. Initially it was a lack of consequences, but I admit the apathy mostly stemmed from the fact I care diddly-squat about direction unless it is constructed in a way...

Fall 2018 Retrospective

I was thinking about what to write during my update post, but amidst my backlog worries, I forgot the wrap-up post! (Well, that's what happens when you go on a road trip on New Year's Day and start said update post at 12 am on the 2nd...) Just listing out the shows makes me realise...

A Magical 2018 (yearly rankings)

I've put in 2017's details into the post so don't worry about keeping this post open in another tab. Top 10 (or 11...?) Worst Dropped Anime 2018 As According to their Rating on My AniList Akkun to KanojoIslandMarchen MadchenHarukana ReceiveAs Miss Beelzebub Likes.A Place Farther than the Universe (tie)Dances with the Dragons (tie)Nil Admirari no Tenbin (tie) (may...

SSSS.Gridman and the Lack of Consequences

I voiced my complaints I would drop Gridman back in my first episode impressions if it didn't have any consequences. That's the problem - it clearly has some consequences, but not enough to make the show stand on its own. That's why I sometimes end up venting about Gridman in Scott's comment section. One of the...

Finalising the Fall 2018 Lineup & Learning to Love (Backlog) Anime Again

I wonder if I even needed to hit refresh on my enthusiasm levels... Due to Han Gyaku Sei Million Arthur being a no-show and the show being pulled out of my seasonal lineup being Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (due to the adventure genre's typical slow pace for worldbuilding's sake, it won't really matter if I...

Fall 2018 First Impressions Pt 3:…That Got Explicit Real Fast

Goblin Slayer and DakaIchi conveniently happened to be in the same post so I could slap "content warnings for discussions of the 18+ stuff, including rape, assault and murder" in one place. Just to get details out of the way quickly: part 1 (RErideD and Double Decker) and part 2 (Zombieland Saga, Run with the Wind, Bakumatsu,...

Hyping Up Fall 2018

As we move into the final stretch of the year, it's time to run some shows down...but for some reason, I seem kind of disappointed at this lot. 2018 was best in the spring, methinks...to the point where even though the situation isn't as dire as when I used to throw all hopes at 2...

The Bias of MyAnimeList Scores

Not to be confused with “the bias of my anime list's scores”, which would mean that it’s all my opinion anyway. One reason why I’ve never signed up for a MyAnimeList (henceforth “MAL”) is the way users score. The reviews, the fact the site hasn't gone back to full functionality after waiting for weeks and...