Welcome to My 5 Favorite Anime Blog Posts from 2022 Week 23!
Every week I look for posts that celebrate amazing moments in anime or otherwise blow me away with their wit and charm. I check around 340 sites, and I can tell you that the ani-blogging community constantly produces amazing posts. I hope this list helps you find some of them!
You can see a list of all those sites! Here’s the Massive List of Sites!
Anime Herald
JUNI TAISEN AND THE INEVITABILITY OF WAR
When I think of JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR, the first thing I think of is how much I liked its OP. The second thing is how hard it was to watch. Not in terms of “man, this sucks,” but in terms of “these poor characters…” It almost felt like Penguindrum in that respect, though not quite. Because nothing’s like Penguindrum.
Juni Taisen was hard to watch because of what it put Nezumi through. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the thought of his trials stuck with me years after I finished watching the series. That’s part of the reason I so enjoyed Kyle Tam’s post on Anime Herald. The other reason I liked the post is because it was just that enjoyable to read. It raises valid points about war and how JUNI TAISEN comments on it. The topic could easily become depressing, but Anime Herald’s presentation avoids being maudlin to focus on the real issues. See what you think!
Beneath the Tangles
Ya Boy Kongming Ep. 9 & the Adult I Aspire to Be
I’ve seen a lot of years in corporate America. Enough to know that there are two ideas that get a lot of lip service, but precious little support. The first is teamwork. Everyone’s for teamwork, until each individual wants the credit, or exploits their team-mate’s desire to be a real team player for selfish gain. What I’m saying is that if you find yourself on a team that works well, celebrate. It’s a rarity.
The other idea is servant leadership. The search for this kind of leadership is why I don’t work in for-profit companies anymore. I’ve stuck with non-profits for the last 25 years, and I plan to retire that way. In my experience, non-profits tend to have leaders who are interested in the right things. It turns out there’s an anime character like that, and it’s none other than Ya Boy Kongming!’s Kongming Zhuge. Claire’s post on Beneath the Tangles perfectly captured this idea, much better than my halting attempts here. Head on over and see if you agree!
GENTLEMANOTOKU’S ANIME CIRCLE
RE:ZERO − STARTING LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD (SEASON 2)
I’ll just come out and say it: I liked Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2. I also liked reviewing it with Irina from I Drink and Watch Anime. The series was complex and multi-faceted, and being able to rely on her insights during our reviews kept me from looking like a complete idiot. So I guess that meant I looked like an incomplete idiot?
Is that better?
Anyway, a couple of things stood out about the second season, and I’ve rarely seen reviewers directly talk about those things. That’s why I was so excited to read this review by gentlemanotoku on the site GENTLEMANOTOKU’S ANIME CIRCLE. The review talked about those things. What were they? I’ll give you a hint: the ideas revolve around both Subaru and Emilia. The post even mentioned Echidna! If that’s not a mark of quality, I don’t know what is. See if the review talks about your favorite aspects of season 2!
The Infinite Zenith
My Dress-Up Darling: Whole-series Review and a Full Recommendation
If you have a website, or a YouTube channel, or anything dealing with the public, branding is important. For example, it’s undesirable for a reader to see your web site’s name and have zero reaction. You want them to remember your site’s name — for better or worse. And guess what? For me, The Infinite Zenith has a very specific brand: this site writes detailed, in-depth and thought-provoking reviews. With an emphasis on “in-depth.” I think that’s a great thing!
Take infinitezenith’s recent post on The Infinite Zenith, for example. This is the ultimate review of My Dress-Up Darling. It presents prominent objections to the show and addresses them. Not straw-man versions of the objections; clear and complete versions. The review lays out what the show got right, too, in a way that I found very satisfying. I’ve read a lot of reviews of this series, and I think this review is now my favorite. See if you agree!
The Otaku Exhibit
Demon Slayer is Mid Except for the Animation
We just talked a little bit about branding. When I think of The Otaku Exhibit, I think of balanced, nuanced, and thoughtful reviews. So when I saw this title, I paused. Was this title an indication that the reviews were taking a turn for the mundane? I mean, that’s a pretty typical take for click-bait! Or was perseus54321 being ironic? I read the post, and guess what? Branding won! The post talks about how Demon Slayer implements shonen anime’s tropes. And from where I sit, perseus54321 nailed it. Down to what made the show popular. Yes, the animation was part of the equation — but only a part. See if you agree!
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, 25-31 May 2022: #OurFlagMeansUnion, PIXIV Lawsuit, and Precure’s Tokusatsu Connection
- Lesley’s Anime and Manga Corner: Anime and Manga Blog Posts That Caught My Eye This Week (June 3, 2022)
I really liked Re;zero and I’m still debating on if I should read the light novels. I’m currently on the Overlord series, preparing for the summer release.
Are you reading the Overlord LNs, or the series? I really enjoyed the series, but I haven’t read any of the LNs yet. Dewbond reviewed the first five volumes, starting here:
https://shallowdivesinanime.wordpress.com/2020/08/22/overlord-volume-1-a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-last-day-of-the-mmorpg/
Interesting read! Well, the review, anyway, and it sounds like the LNs could be interesting! I’d love to hear what you thought of them!
I’m a huge fan . The novels are great to read along side or before watching the anime . I have all the books up to 13 in physical form . And I’m reading 14 currently online . I do plan on buying 14 and 15 once they are released stateside . I really like the novels and how they get you in the head space of Ainz . Also the world building is great .
I’m friends with a Re:zero novel reader who thinks my theory about Subaru ending up with Priscilla at the end is crazy, but he is more up-to-date on Re:zero news than I am, and he says that the new Isekai Quartet movie coming out later this year has an original character that Tappei specifically had input on creating, so now I’m wondering whether I need to watch that Isekai Quartet movie just to see this original character.
Wow thats really cool. I can’t wait for isekai quartet to come out. I love Overlord and Re;Zero alot and it’s cool to hear that Tappei is putting in a new character.
I haven’t watched Isekai Quartet, but I’ve wanted to. Sounds like you just gave me another reason to try to make time for it!
Priscilla and Subaru would be an interesting couple. After the ending of season 2, I have to admit that he and Emilia do look good together. Still, I can see how the narrative could still go in different directions.
I’m interested in seeing more interactions between Priscilla and Subaru since from my viewpoint Priscilla is the only female character in the Re:zero anime, who after the end of their first interaction together, thought of him as a potential suitor, and considering what a prideful person Priscilla is, their interactions may go down some interesting paths after seeing as how Subaru’s outrageous outburst at the Royal Castle was the last time she saw him after she displayed what I believe to be possessive traits in declaring Subaru to be her manservant in front of Emilia, and given how she believes that the world works in her favour, perhaps she already thought Subaru was worthy of being a part of her camp in that moment even if Subaru had no inclination of defecting to her camp since he has made being part of Emilia’s camp his life purpose. I think Subaru’s very clear rejection of her with his declaring with his entire being his intention to make Emilia the ruler may have left a mark on her.
While I’m sure novel readers will laugh at what I have to say, the story is mainly told from Subaru’s perspective, and I doubt most novel readers clearly get a sense of what Priscilla is feeling in the majority of her scenes. I took some psychology courses in university, and although I didn’t finish with degree in psychology, I feel that if Tappei has dabbled in psychology a bit that there’s the potential that he might have written in a future arc or future arcs at least one example of Priscilla overcompensating for her initial impression of Subaru being shattered to pieces by his outburst by either consciously or subconsciously making light of his value in some way. I believe the reason their interaction in Episode 16 happened was because Priscilla was fuming about what had happened, and that’s why she proposed a test that either completely emasculated him, confirming that he was somebody of little value, or resulted in him needing to stand up to her much like how Subaru stood loud and proud when he confronted the thugs in the alley for her.
I don’t think Subaru and Priscilla are the type to get together in the middle of Re:zero’s story but rather at the end, and only after Subaru has found some other purpose in life than being part of Emilia’s life. I feel a large part of Subaru’s insistence on making Emilia the ruler has to do with it being a coping mechanism, or just his way of finding meaning, in a world full filled with pain and suffering. By thinking that at the end, he’ll be rewarded with Emilia’s love, that might be what fuels him to keep going despite needing to die over and over again. After seeing the construct of Subaru’s past through the first trial, it’s clear that Subaru had a thing for silver-haired heroines, and Emilia showing up like she did probably felt to Subaru that the universe was delivering to him the perfect woman for him. If Subaru ends up with Priscilla, it’ll only be at the end of Re:Zero when she gives Subaru a from zero moment after Emilia permanently dies at like I believe will happen, and it changes his view of his life purpose.
Priscilla did seem angry about Subaru snubbing her, didn’t she? That an interesting train of thought!
I haven’t taken any psychology classes in 30 years, but as I try to write characters, I can attest that your guess about Tappei seems right. He’s a good enough writer that he took Priscilla’s state of mind into account as he wrote her scenes.
I don’t know if I can see Subaru ending up with Priscilla, even if Emilia dies. But I’ll say this: I can’t rule it out. She’s a prideful woman, but she’s Subaru’s equal in terms of raw will. I mean, sure, Subaru tends to act like a wimp. But anyone who can face the day knowing what he knows, having experienced what he experienced, has a strong will. Priscilla’s a good match from that perspective.