Ask Sensei: Lightning Round Edition

So the end of the summer approaches, along with that dreaded thing that begins with “s” and ends with “chool.” I hope that, like me, the rest of you are getting as much relaxation in as you can afford, before the familiar rhythm of the school year begins again.

Today I thought I’d go back and try to answer all the questions that I haven’t answered yet, or at least the ones that I can answer relatively easily (I cannot answer questions about anime series I know nothing about, for example). So this will be kind of a lightning round.

From Facebook, Ask Sensei regular Joshua Rubley asks: “What setting would you like to see in anime more often that you rarely see? If you can’t think of an existing one, what kind of setting would you want to break ground?” Well, I’ve always been a nut for anything involving space. I don’t go quite as far back as the original Star Trek, but I did see the first Star Wars movie in the theatre when it originally came out. So having seen and loved the obvious series like Cowboy Bebop, Legend of Galactic Heroes, Planetes, and Outlaw Star, I’d welcome anything set in interstellar space, or even limited to the solar system, that sticks to treating the subject as seriously as possible with as few distractions as possible.

And Tyler Burnette asks: “Is there a historical setting relating to Christianity you’d want to see covered in an anime?” I have mixed feelings on this. Normally I don’t do well with anime series in a historical or pseudo-historical setting (I am one of the five people who didn’t like Gintama, for example), but I bet anime could tell the stories of some of the important Christian missionaries to Japan of centuries ago better than a lot of other media could.

From Instagram, average_atypical_asian asks: “What’s your favorite anime character to cosplay?” That’s easy to answer, because I have never done cosplay (unless you count trick-or-treating as a child). I have often threatened to cosplay the title character of Saint Seiya, whose image you will find associated with the handles R86 and ryuusei86 on the interwebs in various places. It would be beastly difficult, with all the metal armor components, plus I don’t think a red full-body Spandex suit would be very flattering on me. However, if I’ve learned one thing from going to anime conventions, it’s that if I did follow through on my threat, I would not be the most ridiculous looking person there.

Next, claud.thepotatobag asks: “Do you recommend watching anything from this season?” Why yes, yes I do. You will all know that Hataraku Saibou is causing somewhat of a stir, with its fresh take on the goings-on inside the human body (and in particular the tweetstorm about the platelets), and you will also all know that Shingeki no Kyojin is back. But I believe Tsukumogami Kashimasu may be this season’s dark horse, even though I usually avoid the series with historical settings. I gave it an 8/10 at MAL out of the gate, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a very strict grader.

Then adrienmeier wonders: “Why would you ban Elfen Lied?” I wouldn’t, though I have never seen it and don’t plan to. And this comes from someone who has seen Deadman Wonderland, Mirai Nikki, and Gantz, and have just started replaying the first Danganronpa game after having finished the third. I must add the disclaimer that I’m very uncomfortable at the thought of anyone under 16 watching any of these shows, but I wouldn’t ban them.

Now blue_crane_ has two questions:

“Wait who’s Sensei?” Kono watashi na n da. (That’d be me.)

“Aha how are you doing?” Genki, okagesama de. (Just dandy, thanks.)

Then idc8u has a one-word question: “Hobbies?” To which my one-word answer is Yes. In more detail, I play woodwind instruments, I enjoy certain video games, and I have been interested in digital/electronic music for over 30 years. In particular, I’m interested in digital reproductions of classical pieces Today, with the Vocaloid technology, I can reproduce orchestral and choral pieces that are fully synthesized, with no human beings directly involved in the production of any sounds. I will eventually upload some things to YouTube, provided I can get past their extremely strict third party content filter (they don’t seem to care that Mozart died in 1791 and his music has been in the public domain for a very long time).

Last but not least, recon.sora asks why the the fish fly. I can only think it’s because they’re flying fish, no?

Thanks for reading! I might be taking a month off as I do some last-chance travelling and then start the school year, but my best wishes go to all of you as you perhaps do the same. I will then plan to return, but be sure to keep up on your reading and homework. Because, as you know, sometimes Sensei Ask You!

R86
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