The problem with having a harem series where you really explore meaningful connections between the protagonist and each of the girls is that you’re left with a lead who either needs to be characterized as clueless beyond belief (see Nisekoi’s Raku), one that’s hard to root for because he’s walking a line between being faithful… Read More Even for a Bunny Senpai-Chasing Rascal, Sincerity Covers a Multitude of Sins
Social media is such a weird thing – I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. Facebook is great tool for reaching out to those with whom you might otherwise lose touch, but only if you use it right. I think most of us use it in a way that inauthentic or half-hearted, desperate… Read More Something More: Blooming Chise, Weightless Hitagi, and a Your Name Pilgrimage
Halloween might be over, but it is not too late for a good ghost story. In fact, Bakemonogatari almost literally translates into “ghost story”, though obake and bakemono more specifically refer to supernatural beings capable of changing forms, with obake sometimes colloquially used to refer to “ghosts”. Semantics aside, Bakemonogatari is the first novel, and adaptation-wise the first anime in… Read More The Secret Stars of Anime: Bakemonogatari (Hitagi Crab)
A week and a half ago, we started a charitable campaign drive to raise funds for orphans, children with disabilities, and women in vulnerable situations. I’m happy to update that with about two weeks to go, we’re over 75% of the way to our goal of $600! Thank you to those of you who have… Read More Help Orphans. Win Anime.
After watching Bakemonogatari, I thought I couldn’t possibly get enough of the artistic direction and witty writing that filled the series. Then Nisemonogatari came along, and more specifically, the toothbrush scene. And for me, the warmth I had for the series largely disappeared. Halfway into episode one of Nekomonogatari, and we have more of the… Read More Nekomonogatari: Kuro and a Life That’s Bigger Than Me
You know what I’ve realized? I kind of despise Ararararararagi, the protagonist from Bakemonogatari. I already mentioned how, out of his own choice, he puts himself into tempting situations. But perhaps more to the point, Araragi is selfish and blind. Though Senjougahara is anything but perfect (STAPLE!), she’s still a multi-layered, beautiful character who loves… Read More Arararararagi’s Cheap Grace
I absolutely love Bakemonogatari. It’s such a unique series, full of interesting characters and perhaps the best dialogue of any anime I’ve seen. Nisemonogatari brought back the same characters (while adding more) and the cool dialogue…but with it, a host of problems. One was Araragi himself, who seemed to now be visiting all of his… Read More Tempted By the Fruit of Another…Possessed Anime Girl