Hige vs. Otaku

The Anime Review #3

Gurren Lagann Ep. 20

Okay, so my Yoko prediction wasn't exactly on the money but it was as badass as I was expecting. As much as Nia has grown on me since her shoehorning into Kamina's cast position, Yoko is still the First Lady of Gurren Lagann and I'm happy she's back swinging her big phallus around causing suitable amounts of mayhem. The gunshot through Nia's hair was a nice referential touch, too.

It seems now, with Rossiu taking the Arc Gurren into space and abandoning the planet, the status quo of the show is gradually being restored. Kittan and some of the old vets are getting their Gunmen back (as well as the Key Spiral for later use), which suggests we're going to see some Dai Gurren Brigade excitement in its original form. Kamina City and its politics are no longer an issue (at least in a civilized sense), returning the setting back to its original 'state of nature' circumstances, which again harkens back to earlier times in the series. All in all Gurren Largann looks to be rediscovering its roots with the added benefit (for the audience) of having countless amounts of drama to face. Abandoned refugees; Viral (who will so obviously become a good guy with all the martyr-like trimmings); Evil Nia and her Anti-Spiral chums. And of course the small matter of the Moon colliding with the Earth. Even if things seem to be returning to earlier times, Gurren Lagann really can't be criticised for simplifying things or resting on its laurels. 

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Ep. 5

Was anyone else reminded of the lyrics for 'Fitter Happier' by Radiohead when Itoshiki started ranting about modern Japanese society? Only with more . . . despair?

No? Yeah, me neither.

I'd also like to point out Mataro's distinct Love Roma eyes when her flexibility is being measured. CLEARLY THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME. Or some kind of evil-twin situation. Either way, SZS totally wrecks Love Roma's shit.

And let it be known that SZS OP may, taking into account both music and animation, be the best witnessed in an anime. I find most anime OP complete poo (often to the point of offence), but the mix of decent music and inspired bondage manga visuals equates perfection. I put it on repeat just to rock out and occasionally be scandalised.

Mononoke Ep. 3

Something base and puerile found Yanagi's manly voice (in contrast to his rather effeminate dress sense) absolutely hilarious. Part of me likes to think I've matured beyond childish sniggering at transvestites, but when done well they can call out deep-seated hilarity (he doesn't have a top lip - blahaha). The overly effeminate monk with severe stubble-shadow was a bit of a push, however. Something tells me he's probably more untoward than initially thought. Still, I'm happy we're out of the claustrophobic cheese-dream of the inn and into the only-slightly-less claustrophobic cheese-dream of the ship. I'm disappointed by the lack of actual dynamic movement considering Mononoke is meant to be Mr. Flashy My Backgrounds Are All 3D Don't-cha-know. All we seem to be getting is clunky back-and-forth movement through corridors, which makes it look like a very colourful Doom mod and not much else. Try harder plz.

The Anime Review #2

Darker than Black Eps. 15 & 16

Proof again that DtB is at its best when it remains within the main continuity of its plot. Granted, even more new characters are introduced with Amber and her chums, but they're interesting and relevant rather pointless, dull diversions. We spend more time with November, April and July, fleshing out them out, giving them more legitimacy as supporting cast. Everything flows beautifully, with the various plot threads weaving in and out of each other with obvious skill. These two episodes, much like the previous two, demonstrate how BONES should proceed with DtB's storytelling. This is when it is at its most enthralling, entertaining and meaningful.

The issues raised in this arc, specifically the dynamics between Dolls and Contractors, deal with the real curiosities of the show, too -- the stuff that got me so enthusiastic to begin with. How emotionless are these two sets of people, really? We're constantly given examples of characters that have supposedly lost their humanity behaving and emoting in distinctly human ways. The audience is gradually coming to understand that the supposed maxim of Contractors and Dolls Have No Emotion is obviously false; all we're left to do now is work out why. And if the damn thing gave us a consistent opportunity to do so DtB could be a real classic.

Gurren Lagann Eps. 18 & 19

The time-skip completely annihilated my conceived notions of Gurren Lagann. Originally an energetic mecha show that relished its hyperactivity and demonstrated GAINAX's mastery of the genre, it's now morphed into something distinctly political. True, there's still loads of mecha action, but the real drama comes from the differing ideologies of Rossiu and Simon and the aftermath of their various conflicts. The biggest surprise is that it really seems to be working. I won't deny that considering Gurren Lagann in a more 'sophisticated' way feels awkward, especially in comparison to the breezy excitement of its previous approach, but this new sense of maturity simply works. I would've preferred more time to experience Kamina City and get a real feel for it (thus caring more about its fate), but we're learning more as the show progresses.

Really, Yoko just needs to make a triumphant return - preferably to bust Simon out of jail just as his back is against the wall. Part of me will feel comforted by Gurren Lagann's charming predictability if it actually happens that way. J'aime Yoko~

Mononoke Eps.1 & 2

This season has had a few contenders for Argh Biggest Headfuck and Mononoke just about wins it with the additional advantage of looking like an LSD-induced seizure. While I enjoyed the first episode in an artistic sense, the second really cemented its worth with some actual, tangible plot to hold on to. Some incredibly disturbing, creepy tangible plot, albeit, but incredibly enthralling and entertaining once you click to what's going on. Specifically I loved the sinister histories of the innkeeper and her assistant; the character design of her younger self specifically was gorgeous in its wickedness. My main complaint with this arc is its lack of obvious resolution; or at least my lack of understanding it properly. Granted, Shino chooses to 'give birth' to all the spirits of the aborted children and in that act of kindness seems to placate the Mononoke, but what happened to the innkeeper and her assistant? Were they literally enveloped by the giant eye monster? I was expecting a more direct, brutal form of revenge for those two. Mononoke seems to command countless rewatchings to truly appreciate its meaning, and that suggests it will make a very entertaining show to marathon when it's over. Beautiful, creative and sophisticated; Mononoke has graduated from a mild curiosity into something I really anticipate.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Ep. 4

I think SZS's structure, if anyone would dare use such a word when talking about this psychotic mess of awesomeness, is basically a focus on two students per episode - one for each half. The main benefit we're feeling by this fourth episode, however, is that the cast and their various quirks [personality disorders] are becoming more established. This means the self-referential humour is getting a major boost and we're finally starting to get a feel for the show (rather than it just pounding on our brains until we submit into a quivering incoherent mess, par exemple). Still, even with obvious cues for laughter it's the downplayed moments of bizarreness that get the biggest laughs out of me. Meru might possibly be my favourite student so far, more so than Fuura and her fucked up family history (and potential psychopathy). The OP is probably the best of the season, too. Better than either of DtB's attempts, at least. Bletch.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Ep. 3

I think Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei might actually be impossible to blog.

On one hand, I want to ramble incoherently about the tiny, often hilarious, quirks I pick up on in each episode. On the other, I want to try and normalise everything just so I can put together a lucid process of thought (which is ridiculous considering the anime itself seemingly has no lucid process of though).

Regardless of the method chosen, SZS demands three or four watches per episode before anything can be said at all. The amount of textual distractions means you're either following the dialogue or reading the background 'meta-text', and it's impossible to do both at once. Yet, out of sheer enjoyment, I do do both; rewatching however many times it takes to appreciate all the humour is time well-spent. But then having to write about everything in a blog after all that commitment? It's pretty freaking demanding considering I do this site for the sake of recreation and fun.

Still, being overwhelmed and not writing about it at all would be a disservice to one of the most entertaining shows this season.

So . . .

"Death NEET" BLAHAHAHAHAHA.

"Gourmet? Don't you mean fat ass?" AHHAHAHAHA

A blonde-haired, blue-eyed gaijin that rants about the injustices of Japanese society towards foreigners but has a second personality that abides by every single little-Japanese-school-girl stereotype ever? HAHAHAHAHA

A bizarre homage to the Dragonball Z Gotenks fusion dance? MAN I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT THAT REFERENCE AHAHAHAHA SO MUCH WASTED YOUTH

A disenfranchised student that sold his student roster number in order to escape the hierarchical, class preoccupations of modern Japanese society? *holds sides while hyperventilating*

Completely random scene where the school councillor does a hand-stand as her skirt gradually reveals panties, boobs a-wiggling all the while? *brain synapses disconnect, death*

Why do I always feel the need to neck a bottle of Ritalin and sit in a dark room to reacclimatise to the world after every episode of this anime. Quite apart from having no idea how to write about it, it can't be good for my mental health. Pretty bloody enjoyable, though.

Oh, and did anyone notice how each student has their own camera angle/perspective? I thought that was pretty cool.

(Help me)

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Ep. 1

Why hello, an anime from this season that doesn't disgust me with the overt stench of saccharine tweeness? A surreal mix of Love Roma's school-based charm (but completely mashed on crack) and FLCL's 'you're watching a cartoon' self-awareness? Thank god. I thought I was this new season was going to pass me by like chili beans in a fat man's diet.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei couples extremely stylised cinematography (pretentious noun to use, I know, but I can't think of a better one) with moments of dramatic manga-like stasis (and hilarious use of text. The blackboard! Blahahaha). Cohesively, it comes across like a schizophrenic ADHD kid bleeding Skittle rainbows from its eyes - a complete visual overload - but it works. Oh how it works. I've never seen something this unashamedly animated since a certain GAINAX opus.

The amount of cinema hat-tipping and copious staff invasion (the face of a staff member features as a censor bar when the frequent pantsu shots occur, among many other things) elevates Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei above its slice of life/school drama/etc trappings. To be honest I can't even begin to define it. Its parts suggest it belongs to the categories listed on AnimeNfo, but it flouts every single one with an overriding cynicism that simply doesn't exist in something that takes itself seriously. Serious themes exist in it - suicide being the most obvious - but they act more as a platform for black, ironic humour rather than straightforward dramatic mechanics. Perhaps more genuine serious moments will develop in the coming episodes, or perhaps its tragedy is so ingrained that all it can do is make fun of its characters. Either way, I'd be happy if it maintained this snappy aloofness for the whole run. It provides the same exhilaration I get from reading Love Roma without the quaint YAY LIFE sensibility that taints that manga, but ingratiates this anime all the more for me.

Its character design also reminds me a lot of xxxHolic the manga, moreso than xxxHolic the anime, and is pretty damn sexy as a result.

Cerebral visual stimulus; surreal hilarity; total unpredictability. Where the hell did this thing come from? SHAFT now officially have my attention. Just don't Haruhi-ify this show, anime fandom. It's already so much better than that otaku crap. Don't do it.

(I'll actually talk about the show's characters and plot once I get over this overwhelming desire to seizure in fits of joy. So. Good.)