With episode 6, we have officially reached Kiznaiver‘s halfway point. Finally, we uncover essential back stories and key plot points, including the latest development of the Kiznaivers’ bond—sharing emotional pain. We open with a long-awaited flashback scene. Honoka Maki and a school friend with purple hair named Ruru walk down a bridge. I wonder where… Read More Kiznaiver Episode 6: Puns and Mind Reading
Now that introductions and plot cementing are out of the way, we can finally launch into the bulk of the conflict. The pacing is not bad, but I’m starting to wonder if they might end up rushing the last few episodes. Kiznaiver continues to be enjoyable, though, and delves deeper into the characters’ personalities. The… Read More Kiznaiver Episode 5: In Which No One Gets Any Sleep
We’ve reached episode 4, and I think I usually have an unspoken expectation that, by now, well-paced series should have finished their introductions and begun to fully launch the plot into action. In some ways, this episode fulfills this goal, as the most crucial characters have been introduced and the stage has been set, but many of… Read More Kiznaiver Episode 4: Jealousy and Summer Training
For some, the third episode is a pivotal milestone. If an anime has failed to capture their attention after the third episode, they drop it. Although I don’t normally adhere to this rule, I can say that Kiznaiver has been compelling enough so far that I would definitely continue past this episode, even if I… Read More Kiznaiver Episode 3: Fatal Jumping and the Seventh Member
If the first week was a promising start, the second week is an even more promising follow-up. With the introduction, Kiznaiver proved to have not only pretty animation up its sleeve, but an intense and gripping story. Episode 2 certainly did not disappoint my new-found expectations. We are presented with two opening scenes, the first… Read More Kiznaiver Episode 2: Camaraderie Under Pain of Death
Kiznaiver, for anyone who hasn’t heard the hype, is an original anime by Studio Trigger, airing in the current Spring 2016 season. Its premise involves a high school student (naturally) who can’t feel pain, and who becomes a part of a group of people who are connected in such a way that the pain of… Read More Kiznaiver Episode 1: White Hair and Questionable Tactics
Princess Tutu is a show that’s pretty low-profile. Or rather, its somewhat childish name forces it into obscurity. It’s also not normally a show people turn to when looking for biblical parallels, but hidden behind its shallow initial impression is a story that explores concepts such as free-will and sacrifice in depth. Ultimately (spoilers), the… Read More Holy Week: Princess Tutu as a Christ Figure
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