Anime

Sunshine Blogger Award!

A huge thank you to the three bloggers who nominated this site for the Sunshine Blogger Award! The nominators were, in order of nomination:

I really appreciate the three of you for thinking of this site! If you’re reading this post, please do check out all three blogs. They do a lot of good work. I’m sure you’ll find a lot of interesting posts to read!

The Rules

Of course, there’s an order to these things. Each nomination has its own rules, and here are the rules for the Sunshine Blogger Award:

  • Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog so that other people can visit them
  • Answer the 11 questions put to you by the nominator (I’ll have to amend this; answering 33 questions would bore y’all into a coma!)
  • Nominate 11 bloggers of your choosing and provide them with a new set of 11 questions to answer (I may nominate slightly less than 11)
  • Notify the nominees by commenting on one of their blog posts (I’ll do a ping-back; I’d hate to feel like I had hijacking someone’s comments!)
  • List the rules and display The Sunshine Blogger Award logo within your post or on your blog site. This’ll be tough, because the three nominating sites used 3 different logos! So I cheated and just took the logo from the most recent nomination, which was Watashi Wa Bucho!!’s!

Questions and Answers

Since I’m combining three nominations, and since I don’t necessarily want to become a cure for insomnia, I’ll answer a total of 12 questions culled from each of the three nominators (the rules say to answer 11, but I didn’t want to leave one of the nominators with just 3 questions). In other words, I’ll choose the least embarrassing questions from each! 

And no, I didn’t plan it that way! Why’d you ask?

Matt Doyle Media Questions

What inspired you to start blogging?

Gate was one of the first series that I reviewed. It’s still one of my favorites! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

I started blogging about anime for two reasons. First, no one I know in real life enjoys anime. If I wanted to talk about it, I had to look for an alternative to in person discussions, and since I don’t get an opportunity to travel, that means turning to the internet. I’d been reading a number of anime blogs and thought that would be a perfect outlet, so I started reviewing the shows that I was watching at the time. That meant I reviewed Gate and Overlord season 1 (which I didn’t review enough to qualify for one of my series reviews — I only reviewed a few episodes).

The second reason was to prototype blogging techniques and technologies for my author blog. I’m trying to write a series of novels (and have been for the last, oh, 30 years or so). I talk about them on one of my other sites. Some day, I swear, I’ll finish… the outline!

How do you pick topics to cover?

I could cheat and say that every season, I pick two series to review (using my standard 3 favorite moments and thoughts), one series to review in collaboration, and three series to pick a favorite moment to share (Best in Show). But even I, as much as I bend the rules for my own benefit, see that such an answer would be cheating!

When I write a post that’s outside the normal seasonal reviews, it’s usually about something that’s important to me. For example, I wanted to express why I selected my approach for reviewing anime in the post Taking a Stand. Those kinds of posts are usually a result of reading another post that inspired or challenged me. The aniblogging community has a ton of great content, and some of it is seriously profound. Sometimes, it makes me take time from my usual blogging schedule (and what I’m trying to establish as my novel writing schedule) to write a special post. 

What is your favourite blog post that you’ve produced?

Sometimes, I’ll review a series like the Ancient Magus’ Bride just because I know it’s beyond my vocabulary. Can’t improve without stretching, right? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

If I’m honest, I have to say that all of my posts are equally my favorite. Because I hate all of them. I’ve talked before on this site, and in some comments on other sites, how I hate every word I’ve ever written. So, in a sense, they’re all my favorites, in that I like all of them equally — which is to say, not at all!

The problem is that I haven’t learned enough vocabulary, and I haven’t gained enough perspective, and I haven’t internalized enough experience, to get my words to align to what I’m trying to say. I see what I see, but I can’t make it come out in words. That, of course, is a challenge: I need to keep writing until I figure out how to articulate myself. Then, maybe, I can say something interesting! Until then, thanks for sticking with these halting attempts!

What is the objectively worst film that you genuinely enjoy?

Probably Twister. I adore the characters. The movie is crammed full of great character moments! But from the perspective of continuity? Ugh! From the perspective of cinematography? Just look at the reflection in the side of the Dodge Ram early in the movie: You can see the helicopter that the cameraman was riding in! Plot wise, there were too many coincidences. But I forgive all of that because the characters were so interesting. The soundtrack was also awesome! 

Anime Madhouse Questions 

What anime world would you absolutely never want to live in?

As much as I love watching the series, there’s no way I’d want to live a world with titans. Or with those politics! Can you imagine waking up every morning and having to say something like, “Honey, there’s a Titan in the yard again! Darned kids….” Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

Attack on Titan. A world like the one in Muv Love Alternative: Total Eclipse would be terrible, yes. The BETA would be an exhausting and terrifying threat. But the titans? Not only are they themselves a problem, but there’s the whole “Oh, Annie is a great colleague but OMG she’s a titan who will stomp you” thing going on. The BETA will eat you, but you know that’s what the BETA do. In Attack on Titan, who are your enemies? Who are your friends? At any given moment, you only have a vague idea. I would not want to live like that. But it’s fun to watch!

What’s one skill you want to develop but haven’t found the time/money/energy to do so?

Illustration. I used to dabble in pencil drawings and some oil painting. Lately, I’ve wanted to learn Adobe Illustrator. But I’d need to invest time in developing those skills, and to do that, I’d need to give up my regular job (but I like to eat too much, and so does my family); give up my anime blogging (nah); or give up my vain attempts to write novels (also nah). Plus, I’m not abdicating my family responsibilities beyond the financial, so that leaves me with zero time. Still, someday, maybe after I retire, I can make the time!

Likewise, what’s one anime character that made an otherwise terrible/boring anime exponentially better?

Raphtalia from The Rising of the Shield Hero makes the series a lot more enjoyable. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

Raphtalia from The Rising of the Shield Hero. Look, the whole incel camp versus the “liar got her just desserts” camp arguments mean nothing to me. That’s not why the series feels boring to me. It because from my perspective, Malty’s decisions made no logical sense; neither did the king’s. Those two characters made decisions that would literally result in the death of their world, and I just can’t buy that without some extraordinary explanation. Not only that, but using the whole “organized religion is evil once again” trope doesn’t help. Yeah, I get that organized religion is a whipping boy. Goodness knows most of the organized religions on our world have screwed up often enough (and continually)! But I’m tired of those ideas. All that being said, a character like Raphtalia makes the show worth watching. Yes, she’s easy on the eyes, but she also has a compelling backstory and she’s been fighting all along for someone she believes in. I like that!

What do you do when you have writer’s/artist’s block?

Before you ask, no I’m not taking the easy way out. In all the years I’ve been writing, I’ve only found one treatment for writer’s block. It’s not sexy. It’s not something that’ll work very well in a headline. It won’t sell books. But it’s honest and it works. What do I do when I get writer’s block? I write. Seriously. That’s it. I’ll likely write crap, but I write. And then I write some more. What if I don’t know what to write? I write more crap. Just eff-ing write! There may be other fancier or more headline-worthy answers, but that’s mine. You write your way out of writer’s block. You’re a writer, right? So write!

Watashi Wa Bucho!! Questions

Who’s your embarrassing anime crush?

Yes, the character’s Miia, and no, I didn’t chose her for the reason you might think! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

As soon as I tell you the name of this character, you’re going to think, “Yeah, I know why he likes her!” But it’s not that. Well, it’s not only that. Please let me explain. The character is Miia from Monster Musume. She’s the first monster girl we get to meet, and it’s clear from that moment forward that she really, really likes Kimihito (Darling-kun) Kurusu. She ends up competing for his attention with the other monster girls because, well, it’s a harem comedy. With me so far? If I just drop this knowledge on you out of the blue, you’re likely think it’s a purely physical attraction. Can’t blame you, because let’s face it: these characters were designed to be appealing! But that’s not why I picked her. First, i chose her as the answer to this question because if it’s kind of embarrassing to admit finding an anime woman attractive, and it’s doubly so if the anime woman in question is a monster girl. Second, I chose her because of a moment in episode 12 (Everyday Life with Monster Girls). Lala has everyone convinced that Darling-kun is fated to die. They try to help him escape, but from Papi smashing him through a sign and Mero almost drowning him, he ends up almost dead anyway. Even Rachnera, usually so rational, says that if he has to die, they should be quick about it. Miia wraps herself around him and says, “How can I accept it? Someone just shows up and says they’re going to kill my darling… and I can’t even stop it! If that’s the way it has to be, at least I want to be with him in heaven.” Of all of them, Miia showed the most dedication, and that meant something to me. 

What anime are you embarrassed to admit to liking?

Okay, I’m only going to admit this if you don’t tell anyone. Agreed? Okay. It’s Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!! (Fight, One Shot! Charger Girls!). No, I have no idea why I like it. Well, I have some idea, but given how objectively terrible the series, is, it’s embarrassing (which I guess is in spirit with the question!). First, the main character, Plug Cryostat, is just so darned earnest and dedicated. I have to admire that! Second, Arrester Blanket is adorable as Plug’s strait-laced foil. And third, Sento Oumi is a nearly complete idiot, but he’s still a reliable idiot, and that counts for something. Honestly, I have no idea why I like this series, but there’s my best guess why. 

What anime are you enjoying the most right now?

Wise Man’s Grandchild might be the beneficiary of low expectations, but I’m really enjoying the show. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

This might qualify as the answer to the previous question, but I’d have to say the Wise Man’s Grandchild. It was a hard decision, because I’m also really enjoying Demon Slayer, but I figured I’d go for something a little more esoteric. What? I’m calling a generic show like Wise Man’s Grandchild esoteric? Yes, I am, and here’s why: the show is in the isekai genre, and the main character, Shin Walford, and the main character is not in the middle of a harem. No, seriously! He’s not! He’s actually in a monogamous relationship with the utterly adorable Sicily von Claude. And they both have stable families. Can you believe it? That alone makes it interesting…

Which anime character do you see yourself the most in?

Okay, this is going to need some explanation, because otherwise, your eyebrows will go straight up and you’ll probably say something like, “Duuuude! Seriously?” But it all comes down to attitude. I see a lot of my attitude in Takashi Komuro, one of the male leads from High School of the Dead. Remember, I warned you I’d have to explain! It’s not that I had women like Rei Miyamoto, Saya Takagi (though, to be honest, she’s a lot like my wife, but please don’t tell her I said that!), and Saeko Busujima competing for my attention. Not in real life, anyway! No, it’s more his attitude under fire. Zombie attack? Okay, what’s the best approach? Being quiet and if that fails, doing a head shot? Okay, let’s do that! Team member’s crumbling? Time for a pep talk! Though I wonder if him grabbing Saya’s shirt and picking her up off the floor was the absolute best approach. Hard to say, though, since the number of zombie apocalypses I’ve lived through is surprisingly low! 

Nominations

Here are the bloggers I’d like to nominate:

Of course, if you don’t have time or are for any reason not interested, that’s cool! But if you are interested, I’d like to see how you answer the questions below!

The New Questions

I wish I could think up questions that would be as interesting as studying magic. But since magic doesn’t seem to exist, what can you do? And did we ever figure out why Sistine had cat ears? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

  1. What part of blogging do you find the most challenging?
  2. What tools do you use to help you write your blog posts, besides the blogging platform itself? For example, do you have a favorite tool for screen captures?
  3. Do you prefer to write episodic reviews or other features and why?
  4. When you watch an anime series, is it easier for to forgive bad plotting or bad characters and why?
  5. If you could bring one piece of an anime series — a magic spell, a piece of equipment, a technology, or something like that — to our world and use it, what would it be?
  6. If you use one of the anime database sites (Anime Planet, AniList, MyAnimeList, or some other), which is your favorite and what do you like about it?
  7. What series in Summer 2019 (or in the next season if you get to this later) are you most looking forward to? Multiple answers are fine if you have a tie!
  8. What’s your favorite non-human anime character?
  9. What anime series would you like to see get more recognition?
  10. Do you have a post, or a topic, that you’ve tried to write many times, but couldn’t? What was it about and what stopped you from finishing?
  11. Have you ever not posted something because you thought it might be too controversial? Did you change your post, cancel the post, or just let it fly? 

Thanks for Reading!

What’d you think of my answers? My questions? If you feel inclined, please share your answers in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

Other Posts in this Series

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Copyright 2022 Terrance A. Crow. All rights reserved.
https://www.crowsworldofanime.com

33 thoughts on “Sunshine Blogger Award!

  1. What you said about hating all of your posts was both funny and tragic! It kind of struck a chord with me… I, too, am very rarely satisfied with what I write! My standards are impossibly high, while my ability to express myself is far too low… But with every post we write we get a little bit better, right? And, for what it’s worth, I’ve always loved (not hated) your posts!

    Thanks for responding to my questions! I’m going to have to give some of the shows you mentioned a try sometime!

    1. “But with every post we write we get a little bit better, right?”

      That’s a good perspective! I’ve tried to get away with ignoring the problem, and it’s worked to a point. But I’m starting to believe it’s limiting my novel career, so I might have to adopt a more healthy attitude — like the one you just said!

      “And, for what it’s worth, I’ve always loved (not hated) your posts!”

      Thank you! I appreciatethat!

  2. It’s interesting that you hate all the posts. I find that we can often be our own worst critics. On the positive side ot that though, it’s a good motivator to keep seeking improvement.

    1. “On the positive side ot that though, it’s a good motivator to keep seeking improvement.”

      That it is!

      Though in all honesty, I have to say that I should have invested time in developing actual confidence. At the very least, I wonder if it might have sped things along!

      Hindsight is so clear compared to foresight!

      1. LOl. That’s true. I’m sure plenty would agree that you should have mroe confidence in your work. We’re all still here reading, after all. Confidence just isn’t always the easiest thing to find.

  3. Thank you for the nomination, friend! I really appreciate it right now when I don’t feel able to devote myself to my blog as much as I would like. ?

  4. “I see what I see, but I can’t make it come out in words.” This, big time. I think it’s something we all go through, though; feelings and emotions are too big and complicated for the limitations of language, and every creative person is also their own worst critic. But for what it’s worth, I think you do a good job.

  5. Fight Ippatsu? You managed to find a show from 2009 I’ve never heard of. That’s a rarity. (Plug Cryostat? Arrester Blanket? Who comes up with those names? Unlike Fairy Gone, they’re brilliant!)

    Wiseman’s Grandchild is adorable, but clumsy when it’s trying to be dark. I love Maria.

    1. “Fight Ippatsu? You managed to find a show from 2009 I’ve never heard of. That’s a rarity.”

      I even forget how I found it. It was censored when I first saw it, so maybe Crunchyroll?

      “(Plug Cryostat? Arrester Blanket? Who comes up with those names? Unlike Fairy Gone, they’re brilliant!)”

      They’re funny, and they fit the story, too. I might have to watch it again to make sure I remembered the details…

    2. I keep seeing it pop up on Crunchy… But you might not because of regions. I keep getting tempted because it’s been a while since I watched what looks to be a truly trashy show. (Of course, looks can be deceiving.)

      1. “it’s been a while since I watched what looks to be a truly trashy show. (Of course, looks can be deceiving.)”

        Trashy is actually a pretty good description!

  6. “I hate every word I’ve ever written” plagiarizing my thoughts I see, damn I can relate. You’re a good writer crow, feel free to stop by at the movies if you wanna feel good by comparison.

    1. “plagiarizing my thoughts I see”

      Don’t tell me you copyrighted the idea? Dang. I’m going to go broke paying licensing fees…

      “You’re a good writer crow, feel free to stop by at the movies if you wanna feel good by comparison.”

      I have stopped by! I like your writing. I’d like to say something like “Don’t sell yourself short,” but I’m afraid I’d open myself to a charge of hypocrisy!

  7. “I see what I see, but I can’t make it come out in words.” – This hits home for me, too. I think all of us who try to write reviews and talk about the things we really enjoy experience this, just because feelings are so difficult to express in the very limited way language allows us to.

    Great answers to these questions!

  8. OMG I love Twister and Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-Chan!! I don’t really know why I love Twister, but FIJC is just a lot of silly fun to me. The style of humor usually doesn’t work with me, but I really like it there. Also yeah, as much as I’d like to try 3D maneuver gear and as much as I’m enjoying the show, screw living in the actual world of Titans.

    Thanks for answering my Qs and congrats on the three awards! 😀

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