Continue reading “Best Anime in 2018 (According to Remy Fool)”
Tag: Fall 2018
Top Five Yuri Moments from Fall 2018
Parallel Scenes in Yagate Kimi ni Naru
There’s just something about parallels in fiction that make me sit up a little bit straighter and pay more attention.
You can hear parallels in a show’s original soundtrack. Maybe a particular string of notes or chords from the OP finds its way into an instrumental piece during the episode, for instance.
In regards to Yagate Kimi ni Naru, there are several parallel moments in which later instants are intentionally framed very similarly compared to earlier scenes be it character positioning, character thoughts, etc. By doing so, the development and progression of both characters are put on display. Even though the girls are positioned in nearly the same way as before, it’s clear that their mindset is a little different by then.
I’m finding this sort of difficult to explain via mere words, so allow me to default to pretty images instead. Before we get started, however, I would like to credit Mark Nacino for bringing most of these scenes to my attention. He’s a truly avid yuri fan and befriending him has been a pleasure.
In episode 1, Yuu and Nanami were still barely getting to know each other and Yuu, after asking Nanami for advice, ends up rejecting a former classmate over phone in front of Nanami. The classroom is appropriately dyed in rich ochre tones as the sun is setting but also because the topic of love and romance is very present in both girls’ minds given the earlier conversations.
Here, Yuu’s hand is being supported by Nanami, who appears as the reliable senior (before said facade was striped away on multiple levels; for instance, Yuu quickly realizes that Nanami is the one with sweaty palms and weak knees and heavy arms even though Yuu was the one in a potentially anxiety-inducing situation since she had to turn down someone else).
In episode 13, however, the screen is covered by sapphiric tones which makes sense considering how the girls are having a date at an aquarium. However, in my mind the colour also aptly describes the mood of said date. Even though dates can often be considered to be passionate and romantic in nature, the girls are trying to ignore said connotations (to varying degrees of success) and just enjoy themselves.
By now, it’s clear that Nanami is the one who generally needs more support more compared to Yuu, so it only makes sense that Yuu is the one supporting Nanami in this similar yet different scene as seen in the positioning of their hands.
Along a similar vein, episode 1 and episode 9 contained parallel scenes. Koyomi, being the keen and sharp writer, seems to notice Yuu whenever Yuu is preoccupied.
In the 1st episode, Yuu is at a bit of loss and is thinking about how to gently reject the aforementioned classmate when Koyomi calls out to her.
In the 9th episode, Yuu is suddenly acutely aware of just how dazzling Nanami is after experiencing a flood of emotions while watching her run. Koyomi again calls out to Yuu, but once again Yuu keeps her friends at a distance while claiming everything is alright even while she tries to tackle her romantic issues alone as before.
Finally, there are the moments in episode 6 and episode 13 to consider (13 really drives home the parallels).
During episode 6, Yuu tries to convince Nanami that she doesn’t have to do the play and that others would accept her even if she didn’t try to be like her dead older sister. Nanami, however, replies that she has to be like her older sister. After a brief moment of tension, the two make up while standing face-to-face.
During episode 13, Yuu decides that they could act out some of their lines in the play since no one else is around. Just like how many of later scenes parallel earlier scenes, the main character in the play mirrors Nanami, and the atmosphere gets slightly prickly as Nanami, acting as the amnesiac main character, affirms that she has to imitate at least one of the persona familiar to others.
However, the tension is short-lived as the girls are just trying out roles that are quickly discarded when the Penguin Parade they were waiting for starts.
There are probably a bunch more parallels, but I’ll leave it at this.
Thank you for reading.
Release the Spyce – Anime Series Review
Episodes: 12
Genre(s): Action
Aired: Oct 2018 – Dec 2018
Also known as: RELEASE THE SPYCE
Summary: An intelligence agency consisting of high school girls doping themselves with “spyce” has said members fight against an evil organization which aims to take over the world!
Continue reading “Release the Spyce – Anime Series Review”
Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san – Anime Series Review
Episodes: 12
Genre(s): Comedy, Slice-of-Life
Aired: Oct 2018 – Dec 2018
Also known as: Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood; となりの吸血鬼さん
Summary: A doll fanatic becomes enamoured with a doll-like vampire NEET otaku, which eventually leads to the admirer to move in and live with a modern vampire.
Continue reading “Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san – Anime Series Review”
Uchi no Maid ga Uzasugiru! – Anime Series Review
Episodes: 12
Genre(s): Comedy
Aired: Oct 2018 – Dec 2018
Also known as: UzaMaid!; UzaMaid; うちのメイドがウザすぎる！
Summary: A muscled lolicon NEET ends up becoming the maid for a precocious, bitter brat.
Continue reading “Uchi no Maid ga Uzasugiru! – Anime Series Review”
Akanesasu Shoujo – Anime Series Review
Episodes: 12
Genre(s): Drama, Action, Sci-fi
Aired: Oct 2018 – Dec 2018
Also known as: The Girl in Twilight; あかねさす少女
Summary: The Crystal Radio Club, an interest group in a small countryside town, gets involved with a spiritual ritual for fun. However, it turns out the ritual is actually real, which then leads to the girls’ lives changing dramatically for good.
Continue reading “Akanesasu Shoujo – Anime Series Review”
Top Five Yuri Moments from Winter 2018
Himote House, Homages, and You
My brother’s friend once claimed that I’m a nostalgia hound.
In some ways I am rather like a dog, yes, but the important part of the term (?) is “nostalgia.” For better or for worse, the sentimental stuff truly holds a lot of power over my feelings and preferences. I would argue that this also applies to others considering how the same ol’ shows seem to get talked about ad nauseam.
Be that as it may, I’m just as guilty. The fact that Himote House is leaning so hard on these comfortable and wistful sensations from the past is what enables me to enjoy a relatively mediocre show, truth be told.
These homages primarily take place during the ED and feature the five young women (and a cat) cosplaying as characters from older, popular classic series. Their costumes also happen to change from episode to episode, which helps keep the viewers on their toes.
So for episode 1, the girls dressed up as characters from the series a lot of people my age grew up watching: Dragon Ball! The fact that Tae, the “protagonist” of this series, has a monkey tail while cosplaying as Goku cements it as such~
Episode follows up with another classic, Sailor Moon. They did a great job here~
I could barely recognize this one. I only got it thanks to Enishi’s cosplay. That’s right, the girls are cosplaying as Slayers! I haven’t actually watched Slayers yet, mind you, but I have watched this video a few too many times…
For episode 4…I admit I was thoroughly defeated. Thanks to reddit, I learned that the girls are cosplaying as characters from Ojamajo Doremi.
A poster from that same thread also pointed out something really cool. The title for each episode has a connection to the series from which the girls are paying homage.
- Episode 1: “Romantic Ageru Yo” / “I’ll Give You Romance” -> Dragon Ball ED
- Episode 2: “Otome no Policy” / “A Girl’s Policy” -> Sailor Moon R ED
- Episode 3: “Kizutsuku Koto wa Kowakunai”/ ” I’m Not Scared of Getting Hurt” -> a line from Give a Reason -> Slayers NEXT OP
- Episode 4: “Kitto Ashita wa” / “Tomorrow, For Sure” -> Ojamajo Doremi ED
I was embarrassingly slow to recognize the cosplay for episode 5. It took me until the very end with Tae’s excellent imitation of such an iconic pose. Yup, it’s The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
As noted by the aforementioned reddit topic, which I read after figuring out the cosplay for myself, thank you very much the episode title, “My Favorite People are Far Away” (or “Daisuki na Hito ga Tooi”) is a line from Lost My Music.
Episode 6 had no cosplay. I was very sad about this when I found out.
Episode 7 had the girls cosplaying as characters from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS~
You’re going to have to get someone else who actually watched the series to tell you the link between the episode title, “A Journey Like a Prayer” and StrikerS, though.
So for episode 8, the girls cosplayed as characters from A Girl Who Leapt Through Time. I think that movie is absolutely fantastic and I’m tickled to see them pay their respects towards this classic. With that being said, it’s a bit hard to recognize until Tae’s pose at the end, haha.
The girls (and cat) dressed up as characters from Bakemonogatari in episode 9! In hindsight it makes sense that Tae is Suguru rather than Koyomi, but it sort of breaks the trend since Suguru isn’t really the main character (and it looks like Tae had cosplayed as the protagonist until this episode)
For episode 10, the girls cosplayed as characters from To aru Kagaku Railgun! I didn’t realize it until I saw Kokoro resembling Uiharu. Sadly, I didn’t realize Tokiyo is supposed to be Kiyama Harumi, who’s like one of my favourite villains ever. Some fan I am..
I’m guessing the girls dressed up as characters from Natsume Yuujinchou, but I haven’t actually watched the series in question yet… Can Karandi, Scott, or Irina confirm please?
I’m basing this assumption off the fact that Enishi looks like Nyanko-sensei. Was Natsume really after To aru Kagaku no Railgun?!
Don’t worry, I’m going to keep updating this every week~
…but I think this all stops at episode 11 given the title for episode 12 suggests that the seiyuu are going to talk about what it was like to do 12 episodes of Himote House (usually these episode titles are a reference to another series, you see). The ride was great while it lasted…
By the way, I haven’t watched any of these series before. I did watch a bit of the Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon dubs when I was young, but that doesn’t really count (as in I never actually finished either series and couldn’t really tell you anything about either show. I do know that the dubbed OP/ED for Sailor Moon was really good. SHE WAS THE ONE CALLED SAILOR MOON~).
Be that as it may, I get really nostalgic seeing these girls dress up and pay homage to these older shows even though I’ve never watched a single one of these shows. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and I yearn for those simpler days. Perhaps it’s because I’m weird. Well, weirder than expected, I mean.
Himote House is going to get a lot of flak from those who dislike absurdist humour and shoddy 3D animation. I have to admit this show can’t even be considered to be a diamond in the rough. Still, I think Himote House does have valuable and uncommon things to offer. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself growing pensive listening to the simple piano music as you come across these five girls (and a cat) pose while dressed as characters you have long forgotten or have never let go. That’s what I think, anyways.
My Fall 2018 Anime Watch List
So here are the upcoming Fall 2018 shows I’m personally interested in watching.
Sorry that this list is coming out so late, by the way. Others have already had theirs out for a few weeks and all.
None of this is really ranked since it’s all listed alphabetically.
Non Yuri Anime
(There’s good stuff outside of gay girls believe it or not)
Goblin Slayer
A priestess forms her first party but ends up getting saved by someone who probably really hates goblins since he’s made it his personal goal to kill them all off. He’s probably a lot of fun at New Year’s Eve parties.
I don’t know anything about the original light novel source material, but I’m hoping this series scratches the fantasy itch while keeping the priestess from not being just another damsel in distress.
Golden Kamuy 2nd Season
I liked the first season a lot! If you like violence and gore but aren’t overly offended by poorly animated CGI bears, I’d recommend giving Golden Kamuy a whirl!
Toaru Majutsu no Index III
It’s been eight years since Index II! Even Durarara!! fans only had to wait for five. You know what happens in eight years? A ten year-old becomes old enough to vote and a thirteen year-old obtains the legal right to become an alcoholic. What I’m trying to say is that eight years is a long time.
Given that I’m an eternal fan of the underdog, it shouldn’t be a surprise that I like Index a lot. I just don’t really talk about it, I guess, so it’s really a low-key personal favourite. The PV is actually hilarious since it makes Touma look like a self-righteous thug who punches people left and right.
The Yuri List
(After all, possibly gay girls are golden)
Akanesasu Shoujo
Seems like some girls in a club perform some sort of ritual, which causes the unexpected spooky shenanigans to happen.
Anima Yell!
I had assumed that Cheer Danshi!! aired more recently while I was writing this, but it actually came out back in 2016! Time flies! At any rate, this series is gonna be about cheerleading girls~
Devidol!
Three demons attempt to become idols. Sounds like some cringe humour is to be expected given that these girls have no idea about what being an idol entails.
[No PV released as of September 24, 2018]
Himote House
Three sisters, two classmates, and a cat live in a house together and it turns out they have a “mysterious secret power.” It’s going to be a short (for those who get fussy about that).
[No PV released as of September 24, 2018]
Release the Spyce
Girls protect people because they work at an intelligence agency. For those of you who like comparing One Punch Man to My Hero Academia or Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku to Madoka, I guess said individuals will inevitably compare this series to Princess Principal. Be that as it may, I’m pretty excited for this one.
Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san
A “modern-day vampire comedy” that is probably really gay.
Yagate Kimi ni Naru
Finally, a full-length (modern) yuri series that doesn’t feature a toxic relationship.
The Neglected
(These shows probably would be good but I simply don’t like or haven’t watched these shows/prequels)
Sword Art Online: Alicization
Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online was great, but it’s markedly different compared to SAO, which I don’t particularly care for. Plus I haven’t watched the second season or the movie. Considering what was mentioned above, this is a no-brainer for me to ignore.
Senran Kagura: Shinobi Master – Tokyo Youma-hen
Unfortunately, I haven’t watched the first season.
…And that’s my list!
Did I miss any shows you’re excited to watch? Feel free to degrade me let me know in the comments section down below!
The Lily Garden 