Spring 2018 First Impressions: Part 6

Mahou Shoujo Site

[CW: Bullying, domestic abuse, torture, suicide]

I’m not automatically opposed to dark or even edgy magical girl shows. I say let creators write that stuff if they want to, because sometimes the results can be interesting and cool, but I also think that in a genre like this where the themes are usually about the struggles of young girls to find their place in life, there should be an essence of humanity in the writing as well.

This is probably the least discomforting screenshot I took from the episode.

Going Down The List: Selector Infected WIXOSS

(MAL LINK)

Selector Infected WIXOSS as well as its sequel, Selector Spread WIXOSS (which sounds more like something you’d put on your toast) is truly the Madoka Magica of the card game genre. Had I not used such an obviously memetic comparison I would have actually been half-serious, because WIXOSS did tick many of the same boxes as Madoka. I imagine most people expected it to not be just about innocent card game playing, and that’s exactly how it turned out. The storylines weren’t necessarily predictable, but I feel like the atmosphere of the show very much was.

Fall 2016 Spotlight: OP and ED of the Season

Last season I ended up giving no award to both the OP and ED of the Season, because while there were a few OPs and EDs I thought were catchy, none of them really struck a chord with me. Now, when I wrote last season’s spotlight post I was afraid that the problem lay with me and that next season wouldn’t inspire me to give awards either, but fortunately that turned out not to be the case.

Fall 2016 Spotlight: Disappointment and Surprise of the Season

This season has actually been a carnival for me, because there are so many different shows that appeal to me in different ways. Nyanbo is a cute mix of CG and live-action, Shuumatsu no Izetta scratches that alternate history universe itch (though the boob jokes are pretty stale), Gakuen Handsome is a visual marvel (of sorts) and Yuri on Ice exceeded all of my uncertain expectations (way to go, Sayo Yamamoto). Among the other new shows that I like are also Flip Flappers, Girlish Number, 3-gatsu no Lion and Fune wo Amu. They too have their unique charms.

Fall 2016 First Impressions: Part 8

Lostorage Incited WIXOSS

I really like the distorted geometry here.

Well, that wasn’t entirely different from the way Selector Infected WIXOSS started. The character designs look similar, the art direction looks similar (though no backgrounds by Studio Pablo this time, as far as I know at least), and the main character is something of a loner. Oh, and even before the story proper begins, there are hints that the story is going to be one of darkness and despair, just like the weird tetris metaphor in Selector Infected. And considering that’s about what I expected, I’m actually quite satisfied by the similar introductions.

Fall 2016 Preview Mega Post

After a two-year-long break, I’ll be going back to university this semester, and so I am afraid that I may not have much time for blogging anymore. I haven’t yet decided whether I’ll be going on a hiatus or not, but I want to inform you that the possibility exists now that I’m no longer a NEET. However, because doing this is so much fun, I’m probably going to spend a lot of time blogging about the Fall season anyway.