Welcome to My 5 Favorite Anime Blog Posts from 2023 Week 04!
Every week, I visit about 320 anime sites looking for posts that celebrate amazing moments in anime or otherwise blow me away with their wit and charm. The ani-blogging community writes a lot of those posts. I hope this list helps you find some of them!
You can see a list of the sites I check here: Massive List of Sites!
Anteiku Anime Reviews
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
This site is all about celebrating anime. That doesn’t mean I’m not a critical viewer. You just don’t see me reviewing shows I don’t like (not after my experience with Taboo Tattoo… shudder). There are times, though, when parts of a series rub me the wrong way, while some other aspect of the show more than makes up for it. That was the situation discussed in this review by Anteiku Anime Reviews on the site Anteiku Anime Reviews. It talked about Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie. Some aspects of the show did not speak to Anteiku Anime Reviews, but one did. Very much so, in fact. Can you guess what it was? There’s one way to find out if you were right!
Beneath the Tangles
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady: Episodes 2-3
It’s hard to tell for sure just three episodes in, but I have a good feeling about The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady. It’s one of those rare shows that can make me forget a bad day — or even a bad week. One of the ways it does that is by crafting characters like Euphyllia. The way the show presented her fall from social grace was the second most compelling part of her arc, at least so far.
What’s the most compelling part? Glad you asked, because it gives me a chance to direct you to this post by Sleepminusminus on the site Beneath the Tangles. He not only gets Euphyllia — he’s able to explain her in a sympathetic and empathetic way. If you want to know one of the key reasons this show feels the way it does, look no farther! Oh, and there’s a slideshow about half way through the post. Be sure to check it out! It’s seriously cool!
Confessions of an Overage Otaku
CHARACTER ANALYSIS: HARUKO HARUHARA
Well, we got to the third post this week before I had to mention my ever-hungry back-list. This week, the trigger show is FLCL. And it’s all The Overage Otaku’s fault! On his site Confessions of an Overage Otaku, if only he had not written so well about Haruko Haruhara, my backlog might have remained dormant. But no! He had to…
Anyway, you see where I’m going with that, so instead of using that schtick to bore you, let me just say that I love posts like this one from The Overage Otaku. The writer in me is constantly on the lookout for new insights about the craft of storytelling. The viewer in me is on the prowl for new angles from which to enjoy a story. The post presents the role Haruko plays in FLCL.It post made made both of those often-warring sides happy and content! I’ll be it has a similar effect on you!
The Otaku Exhibition
NieR:Automata Ver1.1a: Anime of the YoRHa Material
It takes nerve and skill to adapt any beloved source material. Consider something like NieR:Automata. Those who played the video game tend to be pretty vocal about how much they loved it and why. From a wider cultural perspective, I’m having a hard time coming up with a character that’s more easily recognizable than 2B. Though the anime series NieR:Automata Ver1.1a might seem to have a built-in audience, that opportunity is double-edged. If the adaptation doesn’t faithfully present 2B in all of her glory (okay, there’s more to the series than 2B, but for some reason, I tend to think of her first), they’ll be vocal in their rejection.
How is the series doing? Well, I could launch into an opinion piece that includes pointing you to one of my reviews of the series, but that’s not why you’re here! You’re here because you want to see really cool posts from other anime bloggers. Rejoice! This post by perseus54321 on the site The Otaku Exhibition is one of those posts! It has some great insights into how the show’s doing so far. Is is great? Average? A disaster? Not only does this post have an answer — it has a well-reasoned answers! It’s hard to ask for more than that!
Wrong Every Time
Land of the Lustrous – Episode 7
Land of the Lustrous is one of those shows that took my breath away with its beauty. The first time we saw the Lunarians hit me so hard it compressed my imagination through the flow of time until it briefly touched eternity. Sounds like I’m being hyperbolic, doesn’t it? I’m only putting it that way because I lack the vocabulary to say it any other way. I’m forced to fall back on my theological education to even get close.
But the show is more than just merely beautiful. It’s also amazingly adept at giving us characters we care about in situations that are important. What do I mean by that? Well, rather than try to confuse you anymore, let me point you to this post by Bobduh on the site Wrong Every Time. I’ve watched this series a dozen times. Every time I get something new out of it. But even though I caught some of what Bobduh talks about in this post, I didn’t appreciate it fully. After reading this, I have an even deeper appreciation of a series that I already love! See if you come away with a similar experience!
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!
TCrow, Re:zero will be at AnimeJapan 2023 on March 25 and will get the Red Stage treatment, which is reserved for bigger anime with very big news. Season 2 of Re:zero was confirmed at AnimeJapan 2019 and got the Red Stage treatment at the time, so a lot of fans are expecting Season 3 to be announced at the next AnimeJapan.
I hope that fans aren’t getting themselves worked up for no reason. If Season 3 comes out in 2024, maybe we can expect a new Re:zero season every 4 years, and the series will be completely animated in 25 years when I’m getting close to 60 years old.
Well, I’m 60 now, so they better get a move on!
But seriously, that’s (cautiously) great news! I’d love more seasons. I caught a clip with Echidna, and I’d forgotten how much I adored that character.