Welcome to my 5 favorite anime blog posts from 2021 week 44!
Every week I look for posts that celebrate amazing moments in anime or otherwise blow me away with their wit and charm. I check over 300 sites, and I can tell you that the ani-blogging community constantly produces a ton of amazing posts. I hope this list helps you find some of them!
Here’s the list of the sites I check!
I Drink and Watch Anime
Dress as a Sexy Catgirl/boy : Do Cat Ears Really Make You Cuter?
I enjoy reading posts that explore topics that are critical to our understanding of the world. So when I came across this post by Irina on I Drink and Watch Anime, I was seriously intrigued. I mean, just check out the title. Isn’t it obvious that cat ears make you cuter? Well, maybe not all of us have had our perspective forever adjusted by Eris and Durel. Some of us, like Irina, actually research the topic, as you can see by the extensive references at the end of her post. Talk about impressive! She actually has me doubting my initial conclusions. But, Durel… What’s your position on the subject? See if Irina’s post gives you any insights!
KVASIR 369’S ANIME, MANGA, AND GAME BLOG
The Faraway Paladin: Episode 3 [Review]
Are you watching The Faraway Paladin this season? I am. In fact, I almost reviewed it. It’s not that I regret not choosing it, because so far, I really like the Fall 2021 series that I did I choose to review. At the same time, the show is so enjoyable that I’m on the lookout for reviews that capture what makes it worth watching. I’m glad that I came across this post by KVASIR369 on the site KVASIR 369’S ANIME, MANGA, AND GAME BLOG, because it talked about the third episode, which is pivotal from the perspective of narrative.
This post not only explains why, it compares the anime to the light novel version. Often, those kinds of discussions descend into a diatribe over why one version is better than the other. What I liked about this comparison is that it was fair and neutral. It helped me understand the relationship between the two versions so I could appreciate both. I appreciate that in a review. See if you have the same perspective!
The Magic Planet
Let’s Watch TAKT OP.DESTINY: Episode 4
You ever like something so much that you can’t explain why? I’m that way about takt op.Destiny. This show has completely captured my imagination. In my review of episode 2, I talked about the visual language the show seemed to take pains to establish. Maybe that has something to do with it. Anime in particular, and science fiction in general, often tries to deal in subjects that defy conventional language. Even if those efforts fail, I find them wildly entertaining.
Something else I find wildly entertaining are Jane The Anime Witch’s (from The Magic Planet) reviews of takt op.Destiny. I’ve already celebrated her review of episode 1 and episode 3. The review of episode 1 seemed more like poetry than prose, which seemed to fit this series perfectly. Now, this review of episode 4 might be less poetic, but it’s every bit as insightful. There’s something about this series that I can’t define. It’s driving me crazy! But posts like this bring me closer to the answer. I hope that before the series ends, I’ll figure out what it’s whispering to my soul. In the meantime, please check out a milestone on that path!
RABUJOI
The World’s Finest Assassin – 04 – Nice to Be Needed
The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat is another series I came this close to reviewing. Though thinking about the sheer length of the title gives me pause! That said, the first couple of episodes gave us a lot to like. For example, the main character was actually an older man at the top of his craft. As an older man myself, that appealed to me. And Tarte appeals to me just on principle! No, I don’t mean because she’s ridiculously attractive! Though I can understand why you might think that, and not the least because it’s not far from the truth.
No, the reason I like her character, and the main character Lugh Tuatha Dé, is the topic of this post from braverade on the site RABUJOI. The post also speaks well of Tarte’s voice actor Yuuki Takada, which is something I sincerely appreciate. No, I’m no voice actor, but I love celebrating the contributions of the different artists who make an anime series possible. See if the post also mentions what you liked about the fourth episode!
SpaceWhales Anime Blog
Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta Season 2 Review
There are a lot of indications that a series was successful. Some are broad, like the number of posts that Neon Genesis Evangelion still generates, despite being released more than 26 years ago. Some are more focused and personal. I found just such an indication of success for My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! X in this post by SpaceWhales on the site SpaceWhales Anime Blog. That indication was a strong and sincere reaction against one of the characters, prompted by a sincere admiration for Katarina Claes. Only a show you care about will trigger such a reaction! Since if the reaction was against the character you suspect!
Want to Read More of My Favorite Anime Post Lists?
Want to explore more amazing anime blog posts? Check out the previous editions of My Favorite Anime Community Posts!
Want to Read Favorite Posts from Other Sites?
- Anime Feminist: Weekly Round-Up, 20-26 October 2021: Black Cosplayer Appreciation, Ranking of Kings’ Sign Language, and Shakaijin Yuri
- Lesley’s Anime and Manga Corner: Anime and Manga Blog Posts That Caught My Eye This Week (October 29, 2021)
“The World’s Finest Assassin” sounded interesting. But I never really got around to it. And after seeing a review; I don’t know how much I’ll like it. I’ll prbably still check it out, just for curiosities sake.
RABUJOI’s reviews have done a good job capturing what’s working and what’s not. Though, of course, you might want to avoid spoilers…
If you do watch it, I’d love to know what you thought of it!
Thanks for the shout-out. I usually do try to give the differences in the adaptation so people can gain context because while I acknowledge the cuts that need to be made, sometimes its important to better explain why the source readers may feel the way they do about how it turned out.
At the same time, if there are some things in the source material that feel better delivered in the adaptation or that it benefitted from cutting out, I’m not above praising it for doing that too. Different media have different approaches.
I really enjoy reading that balanced approach! I just don’t have time to read manga (it doesn’t lend itself to audio books!), so your posts often help me understand the reaction I see from fans other than the anime fans.
Thank you for the shout-out Crow! You really nailed what I was trying to get across in my review. It did make me care about it, but a certain SOMEBODY was ruining the feeling. Grrr.
You’re welcome! And glad I was able to capture what it was about.
And while I can understand why a certain SOMEBODY feels that way, still… There’s a way to do things and a way not to do things!