UlasanAnime.com – This collection presents a series of short blog posts, with the final entry focusing on Moenovel. The preceding posts delve into anime series that are either concluding their runs or are currently airing.
The Soul of Wit
This perspective explains why I abandoned Yuyushiki after four episodes but thoroughly enjoyed Aiura. I would argue that K-ON! isn’t solely a “cute girls doing cute things” narrative, even if that’s a primary draw for many viewers. Yuyushiki, so far, feels like an even more aimless rendition of Azumanga Daioh. The key difference is that, unlike the classic 4-koma comedy anime adaptations, Yuyushiki offers fewer character hooks to engage the audience. It’s a more concentrated experience.
The puzzling aspect is the 23-minute episode length. If the goal is to explore the untapped comedic potential of extended snippets of everyday life, Yuyushiki falls short. I had higher expectations, but the series consistently delivered the same kinds of skits. I desired a more impactful use of time, rather than simply more of the same. It’s akin to wanting a stronger drink, not just a continuous stream of lukewarm ones.
This raises the question: is one episode of Yuyushiki equivalent to six episodes of Aiura? My answer is a definitive no. I’m not even convinced it’s worth two episodes.
To be fair, Yuyushiki does possess certain strengths. It remains on my list of shows to catch up on after the season concludes. Much like K-ON!, I believe there’s more to it than just cute girls engaging in amusing activities.
However, if Muromi-san had been 22 minutes long, I would have embraced it wholeheartedly.
Maou-sama Peaked with Episode 8
The anime series “The Devil Is a Part-Timer,” which defied expectations, is essentially a straightforward love triangle or harem story. However, I suspect its appeal lies primarily in the deadpan, passive-aggressive office humor woven throughout. At least, that’s where the show truly shone for me.
“Maou-sama” also features a couple of interesting, almost unique elements. One is the theme of “limited time,” best illustrated by the ending visuals and Chi-chan’s dream in the final episode. Another is the peculiar internalization that keeps Emi tethered to Maou. The “you’re a good person, but you killed my family” sentiment, which she cannot easily let go of due to her adherence to principles, is compelling.
I appreciated both these aspects (and the humor, making it three elements I enjoyed) for distinct reasons. The “limited time” theme offers a poignant exploration of mono no aware, particularly evident in the ED’s composition. Chiho’s pin-up poster features clocks that advance on her translucent dress, a visually striking detail. It evokes the ephemeral nature of the latest fashion trends displayed in a high schooler’s path. The Emi storyline resonates with my thoughts on characterization. It’s one thing to tell a story about someone doing the right thing; it’s far more powerful to depict someone who is inherently right, as seen in “Twelve Kingdoms.” Emi embodies this, so her occasional missteps become secondary to the strength of her character, allowing for thematic interpretation.
Since we’ve reached the end of the first cour, neither of these themes could fully develop. Nevertheless, I found myself laughing heartily at episode 8. Thank you!
Valvrape
I had a tl;dr post prepared for this, but I need to revise it for episode 12.
Best OP-EDs, Spring 2013; by Best I Mean I Like Them
Best OP: Muromi-san
I believe it’s a sure winner.
Why? Because this is undoubtedly the opening sequence I always actively wanted to watch. I would anticipate it, play it, and enjoy it. It’s difficult to articulate its special quality, but throughout the weeks of watching the show, I never felt the urge to do anything else but watch the OP when it was time. I even feel like rewatching it sometime.
Furthermore, the sign language animation is incredibly cool. Muromi-san can flash signs at me all day. I’d love to find the person who conceived this idea and shake their hand. I’d also ask if it was inspired by the Little Mermaid’s traditional muteness handicap.
Bonus link. Because you know Sumire Uesaka would have found that by now.
Runner-ups:
- Aku no Hana OP… song(s). Incredibly catchy.
- Attack on Titan OP – Guren no Yumiya gets an advantage because it’s the kind of song that grows on you. If it weren’t a meme, I wouldn’t have included it.
- Nyaruko-san W OP – I want to learn the poses!
- Aiura OP – JOBS CANCER hur hur hur. Also wins for most dissonant OP this season.
Best ED: Aku no Hana ED
Primarily because I also always watch it all the way through. This is significant when all you’re presented with is essentially a black screen and a credit scroll.
I’m not providing links to the actual anime EDs as they aren’t particularly visually remarkable on their own. There are many instances where they create a whiplash effect, but you always know when it’s the creepy part of the week! Additionally, the full version offers a rather interesting experience in itself. It’s proper post-modern.
Runner-ups:
- Henneko ED – The dance is so captivating. But it needs, I don’t know, something more.
- Gargantia ED – Chochou’s voice and the direction/layout are so iyashikei, like.
- Maousama ED – See aforementioned clock motif
- Nyaruko W – The two Kuuko EDs – Sexiest EDs this season.
My Simulcast SNAFU
I read Twitter at work. Sometimes, I check it right when the @crunchyroll account announces that the latest SNAFU episode they’re hosting has been released. Within the next half hour, I’d see tweets from Mikako Komatsu, who would live-tweet her viewing experience. How cool is that? Except Crunchyroll is a full week behind, so there’s no element of surprise.
What’s going on this season? The week-behind simulcasts? I’m quite sure I would have kept up with Photo Kano if it were current. At this point, I’m only about 4 episodes behind, so perhaps it doesn’t make a significant difference. Well, perhaps a better way to describe it is that due to the one-week lag, I ended up not watching both shows as they aired. I stuck with both series from CR for about 6-7 weeks, usually watching them in short 2-3 episode bursts. Then I just fell behind and caught up separately. I’m still behind on Photo Kano. And I believe Asuka Ogame was livetweeting at least her episodes… Ugh.
MJPR Is about What Again?
I still have no clear understanding of this show, even after its turning point. I agree with Pikasha; team Doberman is where it’s at, despite the high-flying death flags.
Is This Really Okay?
Well, we reap what we sow. I wouldn’t describe it as people lashing out at censorship, even if the narrative has shifted. The 45 minutes or so I spent reading a few threads on Konosora suggests it was simply poor misinformation, and negative individuals (though I don’t blame them) latched onto the spin of the news. I think it’s safe to say that if anime still faces marketing challenges in the English-speaking world, visual novels just make me want to laugh and grab a drink.
By the way, I played the demo for 10 minutes, and it checks out okay. At this point, my game backlog is extensive. I haven’t even finished one route in ef yet. I still haven’t finished Ni no Kuni. I can’t justify another visual novel right now.
You might also be interested in : Anime, Blog, and My Life
My personal take on Moenovel’s strategy is that it’s simply incompetent. I believe they have the right idea, but execution is paramount. It’s not even a 50/50 situation; it’s more like the right idea accounts for only 10% of your success, if that. And it’s incredibly difficult to execute correctly without experience. I’m unsure if they possess it. On the bright side, experience is something acquired, so things will improve if they persist. Hope will prevail.
