Author: Jessi Silver

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Ao-Chan Can’t Study!

When Ao was in kindergarten, she smiled ear-to-ear as she told her classmates how her father (a bestselling erotic author) chose her name: “A as in apple and O as in orgy.” That day still haunts her ten years later as she studies with a single goal in mind: get into an elite university and achieve independence from her father once and for all. She has no youth to misspend and no time to think about boys until her classmate, “King Normie” Kijima, approaches her with a shocking confession of love. She tries to lose Kijima, but he just can’t take a hint and as her mind runs wild with impure thoughts, she realizes her father has totally influenced her. – ANN

Streaming: Crunchyroll and HIDIVE

Episodes: TBA (13 min episodes)

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: Ao’s life changed forever once she realized that her name, chosen by her father (an erotic author), referred to an “O-face.” Having grown up in an environment where her one male role model was a lecherous old man, Ao decided to point her efforts toward her studying, thus providing her a way to escape her family once and for all. In school she does everything she can to earn top grades, avoiding any kind of socializing.

What she doesn’t realize is that Kijima, a popular boy and the only person who really tries to talk to her, has feelings for her – a fact she discovers after bringing Kijima his school uniform in the nurse’s office. Ao believes all men to be lecherous perverts with one thing on their mind, but despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to get her mind off of Kijima.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Mix: Meisei Story

26 years after Meisei High conquered the Kōshien, a promising pitcher-catcher battery was formed in its middle school by the Tachibana step-brothers, Touma and Souichirou. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: 26 years ago, Meisei High School did the near-impossible – they managed to win the nation-wide high school baseball tournament held at Koshien Stadium. In the ensuing years the school never made another play at the title, and the school’s fame and ambitions cooled. The Tachibana brothers, born 10 minutes apart on the same day (but who aren’t twins), seem to have an obvious synergy with one-another, along with a keen interest in baseball. Even as young kids they had a goal in mind to one day reach Koshien.

As students of Meisei Middle School, they find that baseball team ambitions are somewhat lacking. Still, there are a few talented students chomping at the bit, and Touma and Souichiro Tachibana make an obviously talented pitcher-catcher pair. Could this be the latent beginning of a new era for Meisei?

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Kimetsu no Yaiba

Since ancient times, rumors have abounded of man-eating demons lurking in the woods. Because of this, the local townsfolk never venture outside at night. Legend has it that a demon slayer also roams the night, hunting down these bloodthirsty demons. For young Tanjiro, these rumors will soon to become his harsh reality. Ever since the death of his father, Tanjiro has taken it upon himself to support his family. Although their lives may be hardened by tragedy, they’ve found happiness. But that ephemeral warmth is shattered one day when Tanjiro finds his family slaughtered and the lone survivor, his sister Nezuko, turned into a demon. To his surprise, however, Nezuko still shows signs of human emotion and thought. Thus begins Tanjiro’s request to fight demons and turn his sister human again. – ANN

Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu

Episodes: TBA

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: Tanjiro is a hard-worker and loves his family. As the new year approaches, he plans to sell as much hand-made charcoal as he can so that his mother and siblings will have enough food to eat for the celebration. He leaves for town in the morning, sells his wares (and uses his keen sense of smell so solve a few minor mysteries for the townspeople), only making his way back up the mountain as the moon rises. The old widower living along the mountain path warns of demons roaming the mountain at night, and convinces Tanjiro to stay the evening.

In the morning, Tanjiro arrives home to a horrific situation – the smell of blood lingers in the air and the bodies of his family are sprawled throughout the property. The only person left alive is his sister Nezuko, but she’s in poor shape. Tanjiro carries her through the snow to see a doctor, but when she awakens it’s clear that she’s undergone a horrible transformation. Nezuko has gained an extreme amount of strength and a lust for blood, and attacks her own brother in her rage. She’s gained the blood of the demons who attacked her family, and her senses have gone haywire. Tanjiro believes that his sister still exists somewhere, and he’ll do whatever he can to heal her of this demonic affliction.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – We Never Learn: Bokuben

Yuiga is a student who is aiming for a scholarship because he comes from a poor family. His school gives him a condition: he can have a recommendation for a scholarship if he tutors his two beautiful classmates to help them get into the schools of their choice. Ogata may be a science genius and Furuhashi a literature prodigy — but Ogata is aiming for a liberal arts school and Furuhashi is aiming for a science school. And they’re both clueless outside their fields of expertise. – ANN

Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu

Episodes: TBA

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: Yuiga isn’t the best student, but he studies hard and has high aspirations. When his principal offers a scholarship recommendation in exchange for Yuiga’s help tutoring some fellow students, Yuiga jumps at the chance. When he discovers that these students are none other than Ogata, a mathematical genius, and Furuhashi, an eloquent writer, he’s puzzled.

As it turns out, while the two have their talents, their passions lie within the subjects that they find more challenging. Yuiga invests a week in teaching them, but when their scores don’t improve he tries to call it quits. It’s only after learning each girl’s reasoning for trying to go outside their comfort zone that Yuiga recalls his father’s wisdom regarding learning and talent.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Kono Oto Tomare! Sounds of Life

Takezō is the last remaining member of the Koto club, a club dedicated to the traditional Japanese string instrument. If he doesn’t find new members, the Koto Club will be terminated. One day, Takezō is alone in the club room when a student barges in and demands to join. The student is delinquent Chika Kudō, a boy who even scares delinquent upperclassmen at other schools. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: As the last remaining member of the koto club, Takezo is in a tough position. If he doesn’t find some new recruits, the long-running club will be disbanded. However, the koto club room has been infested with ruffians and bullies and Takezo’s insistence that they leave has turned him into their target. When Chika Kudo, a delinquent whose history precedes him, tries to join the club, Takezo won’t accept it. This leaves Chika to use his threatening aura in order to get his point across.

Takezo soon learns that Chika’s reputation is unwarranted and the result of a grave misunderstanding by both the police and other adults. When history repeats itself and Chika is blamed for an attack on Takezo and the koto club room, Takezo insists on speaking the truth. This provides Chika a pathway to koto club membership, though his shaky relationship with Takezo may need as much nurturing as any musical ability.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Amazing Stranger

Nona is a bishōjo character figure that the young male otaku office worker Haruto bought and she suddenly comes to life, and begins moving and talking on her own. – ANN

Streaming: Crunchyroll

Episodes: TBA (Episodes are 12.5 minutes in length)

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: Nona is a space explorer, or at least that’s the premise of the anime in which her character stars. During one of her quests, she disguises herself as a doll in the workshop of a giant carver. When she awakens, however, she finds herself in the home of a very different giant.

Haruto is a work-from-home programmer with an otaku’s spirit, and Nona is the star of his favorite anime. He bought a character figure as a show of his devotion, but he never expected for it to come to life. After some misunderstandings, Haruto and Nona strike a deal; he’ll help Nona explore the “giants” of planet Earth if she’ll allow him to accompany her on her mission.

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Previews Reviews

Spring 2019 Anime – What I’m Looking Forward To

Now that Anime Detour is in my rear-view, I can get back to doing what I love to do – writing about anime instead of just talking about it in public for hours on end (though I do enjoy that also!). The Spring season is already starting, and there are a few intriguing titles that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. As usual, I have to mention that it’s nearly impossible to know enough about an anime series before its broadcast to pass definitive judgment; what I’m working off of is manga knowledge, buzz, staff familiarity, and sheer hope. I do, however, think it’s served me well to go into each new season with a plan, even if that plan is blown to shreds right away.

In addition to the series outlined here, I’m also glad to have the opportunity to continue watching Dororo, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, and Attack on Titan.

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Conventions Special Features

Anime Detour 2019 Panel Materials

Hello friends, both old and new! As promised, below are J.C.’s and my panel materials from this year’s Anime Detour convention. I provide these for reference and for those who were unable to attend the panels in person. Some of the PowerPoint presentations contain notes/links that are supplemental to the presentations themselves.

If you have any questions about these, please feel free to leave a comment here or drop me a line directly:

jessi@s1e1.com

Manga for Grown-Ups

Handout

Presentation

Anime for Kids

Handout

Presentation

Anime Blogging 101

Presentation

Visual Storytelling – Camera

Presentation

Anime for Grown-Ups

Handout

Presentation

Women in Anime

Presentation

Shiny New Anime

Handout

Presentation

Categories
Conventions Special Features

Anime Detour 2019 – My Schedule

Hello, friends. Apologies for the lack of updates over the past couple of weeks. Those of you who know me are already aware that this time of year is “crunch time” for Anime Detour, a local anime convention to which I devote a great deal of blood, sweat, and tears. I’m both a volunteer staff member, as well as a panelist (to the extreme!). Seriously, someone please make me stop (just kidding, please don’t). Below is a run-down of my schedule for those of you who are attending (or even if you’re not – maybe you’re just curious). As usual, I’ll be posting panel materials and such after the convention is over, so stay tuned for that!

Friday, March 29th:

2pm, Greenway A: Manga for Grown-ups – An annual recommendation panel during which I talk about some of the great manga out there that’s either aimed at a mature crowd, or which can (and should) be appreciated by adults. “For Grown-ups” is not meant to be an overall quality assessment (I watch and read things that are more “juvenile” all the time), but I do like to keep older fans in the fandom, and this is one way I try to do that – by feverishly trying to convince them that manga and anime aren’t all just about teenagers and their teenage problems (and that sometimes, those teenage problems can still speak to our lives anyway).

5pm, Greenway B/C: Anime for Kids – A repeat of a panel we put on at CONvergence last summer. It’s meant partly as a resource for parents to understand what their kids are into, as well as a way to recommend anime that is fun and fulfilling for kids (of many ages) and parents to watch together.

6:30pm, Greenway B/C: Anime Blogging 101 – My personal attempt to relay the joys of blogging about anime and help out those who are interested in starting up an anime blog of their own. I have something like 12 years of blogging experience (in various forms), and I would love to pass along some of that to others who are waiting in the wings.

9:30pm, Lake Superior B: Anime by Numbers Trivia Game – My husband J.C.’s long-running anime trivia game, during which I run the computer program. All the answers are numbers-based and almost impossible to have memorized, so the game is open to just about anyone. It helps if you’re a good guesser! As usual, there are prizes.

11pm, Lake Superior B: AMV Showcase – I run the AMV Contest for the convention (in addition to my general programming staff and panelist responsibilities). This is the AMV exhibition showcase, for all the AMVs that didn’t fit into the main AMV contest time slot for various reasons.

Saturday, March 30th:

10am, Nicollet Ballroom: AMV Contest – This is the showing of the AMVs that were judged as part of the main AMV Contest for the convention.

12pm, Lakeshore C: Visual Storytelling: Camera – The latest in a series of panels focusing on the craft of anime. This session looks at how camera work (zooms, pans, camera angles) contributes to the language of anime storytelling.

3pm, Lake Superior B: Anime for Grown-Ups – Much like “Manga for Grown-Ups,” this is a selection of anime (old and new) that might have appeal for older or more experienced fans of the medium.

4:30pm, Regency Room: Pressure on Athletes – This is one of the convention’s “moderated panels” (the subject is proposed by us, and others with expertise sign up to present) which focuses on the pressure experienced by athletes, and whether this is adequately portrayed in various sports anime (the theme of the convention this year is focused on sports, so this is what prompted the idea). I am not directly involved in this panel, but J.C. is moderating it.

7:30pm, Lake Superior A: Women in Anime – A panel focused on girls and women in anime. I’ll discuss the traits and aspects I look for in female characters and why I connect to those, as well as ways of looking at and analyzing different characters and their portrayals. I came up with this panel because I saw it done very poorly at another convention; I’m also generally dissatisfied with the discourse surrounding female characters in anime and wanted to take my own stab at it.

10:30pm, Greenway F/G/H: Don’t Judge an Anime by its Cover – We show you funny/weird/amusing anime openings, and you tell us what the anime is about based only on that minimal amount of information. There are prizes!

Sunday, March 31st:

10:30am, Lake Superior B: AMV Contest Awards – We give the awards to the winners in the AMV contest, and then watch them again!

1pm, Greenway F/G/H: Shiny New Anime – We were given an extra half-hour this year to talk about our favorite anime from the past year! We’ll show clips, talk at length about why we love these shows, and hopefully keep the audience excited about all the wonderful anime there is to see out there!

…and then I return home to collapse on the floor until next year.

If you’re a Twin Cities local, I hope to see you at the con!

Categories
Opinion Personal

What I’m Watching – Mob Psycho 100 II (Episodes 1-5)

This post discusses plot spoilers through episode 5 of the series.

Read my First Impression here!

I watch anime for all sorts of reasons, but beyond just enjoying it for its aesthetic properties I also appreciate the many different stories that are told within the medium. I think one of the better ways to achieve some sort of empathy is to read or watch stories about people who are different than yourself, and while anime characters tend to be homogeneous in their own way, I’m still amazed at the variety of characters and stories there are to experience. It is always nice, though, when what I’m able to decipher of an anime’s worldview feels very much in line with my own.

It’s taken me until the second season of this anime series to hone in on the fact that its biggest strength has always been Shigeo’s (Mob’s) decision to choose kindness over all else. Typical for most heroes, he tries to avoid hurting others outright; it’s both a testament to his personal ethics, as well as a reaction to having been bullied himself. While others might take these experiences and twist them into an excuse to lash-out (we see many such characters throughout the series), Shigeo chooses not to perpetuate unkindness or fall into the trappings of his power, and it’s the active and deliberate nature of this choice that drives home the story’s message.

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