UlasanAnime.com – The experiment continues as we delve into the latest Omonomono Newsletter from February 22, 2021. The week brought reflections on music, anime, and even some personal thoughts on current events.
The passing of Daft Punk was noted, though the sentiment was softened by the observation that “the Clock of the Cinderella never stops ticking.” A humorous follow-up pointed out that the real tragedy might be the skyrocketing prices of Daft Punk vinyl.
This Past Week
The newsletter highlighted a discussion about the anime D4DJ First Mix. While the general overview was previously covered, this week focused on the involvement of Waipa in the anime. His work was featured in the D4DJ presents Peaky P-key no SaichoutenMix episode. The piece noted the rare occasion of a DJ’s backstory being shared in such detail, mentioning Miyu and DJ Wildparty’s long-standing connection.
The full episode was made available for free on Radiko (requiring a VPN or region-bypass plugin), and also on platforms like Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Podcasts.
A portion of the Hololive idol concert, Bloom, was also watched. The author found it to be “really not that bad,” but acknowledged that other well-resourced companies and VTubers could produce similar or even better quality content. However, this perspective was deemed as looking at the situation backward, suggesting that the creation and management behind such productions are significantly more complex than simply analyzing the output. Despite the technical appreciation, the lack of personal connection to the characters or performers made it less appealing, though it was recognized that the event would resonate with a specific audience.
A sneak peek of Mamoru Hosoda’s new film, Belle, was shared via a Variety article.
The birthday of Hironobu Kageyama on February 18th was celebrated. A YouTube video discussing the 20th anniversary of JAM Project and their new docufilm was recommended. The unusual choice of Angela’s Atsuko and Masayoshi Oishi as MCs, described as “anisong’s biggest shittalkers,” was also pointed out. An article in English about JAM Project was also linked.
The eufonius anniversary concert stream on Zaiko was also reviewed. It was described as “pretty chill” and featured all their hits. Although a bit short, it was deemed accurate, with a particular mention of the singer’s falsetto.
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On the Mind
Fond memories of the Crest series, specifically Crest of the Stars and Banner of the Stars, were shared. These science fiction novels by Hiroyuki Morioka were compared to a more superficially engaging version of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, incorporating elements of 40k in space and relationships that would appeal to otaku. Despite the anime adaptations having been around for over 20 years, the light novels have recently been rebooted by J-Novel Club with a new English translation, surpassing the extent of the original official translation. Volume 5 had recently been released, with part 1 of volume 6 in preparation.
Sunday night anime viewing this season, featuring Attack on Titan Season 4 and Mushoku Tensei, has become a notable experience. The author drew a parallel to the Sunday night viewing of Game of Thrones, noting a similar “water-cooler” talk vibe, albeit with a divide between smug light novel/manga enthusiasts and a broader audience simply enjoying the ride. A frustration was expressed that many viewers do not watch the shows as they are released.
A backlog of events was acknowledged, despite a relatively light weekend for most. The author intended to catch up, possibly including the 8bitstory BAC show.
A question was posed about a potential Kurocon announcement, met with a humorous “LOL.”
The imminent launch of the long-awaited Umamusume mobile game was announced, with availability on iOS, Android, and DMM/PC. A link to the live stream was provided.
Events
A Zombieland Saga streaming event was scheduled for February 27th, followed by a stage appearance at the virtual Anime Japan at the end of March.
The major event of the weekend was LisAni Live 2021. The author planned to watch it in real-time, noting that unlike Animax Musix, it was accessible to a global audience without geo-restrictions. The presence of CG and ML made it a must-watch.
May’n was celebrating her 15th anniversary with five monthly concert streams, with her second stream scheduled for Saturday.
Taketatsu Ayana was set to have three showings on Sunday, an online concert described as being in “Ayachi style.”
Asaka and Yurucamp were highlighted as a winning combination for the weekend.
Personal Note
The extremely cold temperatures and resulting power outages in Texas were a cause for concern, indirectly affecting the author through friends and family. The details of the situation were described as “extremely sad.” The author reflected on how unregulated greed, disguised as capitalist policy, could undermine a nation’s fundamentals, contrasting it with the potential effectiveness of authoritarian governments in managing national resources. The cost of fortifying the Texas power grid against cold was noted as a fraction of the losses incurred from blackouts affecting factories and businesses. The recurrence of a similar issue from 10 years prior was also highlighted, questioning the nature of capitalism when governments fail to act as fair referees and revise rules for the collective good. This situation was likened to “spending a big fortune to make a small one, just backwards,” a saying learned from Everquest and referenced from Log Horizon.
A concerning observation was made about a specific philosophy of greed gaining momentum in the US government, raising fears that Texas’s struggles might foreshadow broader national crises that could occur without adequate preventative action.
On a lighter note, Priconne Fest, the series’ first in-person festival, had taken place. Unfortunately, the live concert segment was postponed, which was a “bummer.” The author’s past week in PriconneR had been “pretty crazy” due to the new English level cap, an event, and festivities in Japan. The upcoming addition of horses to the game was met with a resigned “Ugh.”
Long Reads
Jerry Sands, an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers, was featured in an English interview on thehanshintigers.com. His emotional play on the field and his “raking” were appreciated by fans, and he had become a meme in 2020. The article also noted his “chonk” physique, common among modern hitting prospects.
A short video was also linked.
More on-topic content included a translation of a Famitsu interview with Noriko Hidaka, who reached 40 years in the industry in 2020. The translation was provided by the same individual who translated an interview with Kouhei Tanaka from the same issue, also celebrating 40 years in the business.
