UlasanAnime.com – Ending an episode with a smile on your face is generally a positive sign.
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However, sometimes that smile might be a result of a cheap trick, a bit of narrative sleight of hand. Gurren Lagann’s impactful conclusion to its first 13 episodes serves as a prime example of how to achieve this genuinely. It leaves you pondering whether your smile is due to the upcoming recap episode and time skip, introducing a more mature Nia, or if it’s the lingering euphoria from the stunning animation of a classic mecha battle.
On the other hand, there’s a different kind of smile, a sort of “huh?” smile. Shinbo’s directorial style often evokes this reaction in me, though recently with a subtle shift. Hidamari Sketch offered moments of pure bliss, reminiscent of Azumanga Daioh. Negima skillfully blends adolescent romance with popular otaku themes and a touch of Nanoha’s action. But with Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, he returns to his roots, intensely amplifying the core elements of a straightforward manga adaptation to generate significant enjoyment for a specific audience. While it’s not a show for everyone, much like Soul Taker, Shinbo possesses the talent to transform the ordinary into something remarkably unique without being entirely disappointing!
This is somewhat comparable to Sky Girls TV. Though, I suspect, like Yin from Darker Than Black, I might need to count on my fingers to fully grasp its appeal.
Shifting gears to a completely unrelated topic, this is quite impressive and something you wouldn’t typically find in a street racing anime:
