Komi Can’t Communicate focuses on the perception and the challenges of having social anxiety. Komi is the most beautiful and popular girl in high school, but she suffers from social anxiety to the point where she can’t speak to anyone. The attention her fellow students lavish on her only makes the anxiety worse. She wants…
Category: Anime
The Ending of Cowboy Bebop
[This post contains spoilers. I suggest you go watch Cowboy Bebop] When it comes to a classic story like Cowboy Bebop, what can I write that hasn’t been written? Not much of anything, really. Unlike the ending of its spiritual sequel, Samurai Champloo (which I like more than Cowboy Bebop, I might add), Cowboy Bebop…
What Makes Anime, Anime?
It used to be anime was animation from Japan. That was why in the old, pre-Internet days it was often called Japanimation. It was known for being stiff, but super detailed and naturalistic compared to the more cartoony and exaggerated American animation. Animation was, after all, for children. Then Akira and Ghost in the Shell…
Is Anime a High Art?
Can we consider anime a high art? Before we can answer this question, we have to define what high art means. High art typically involves works of art that stand the test of time. They can include music, opera, literature, music, and the visual arts. High art contains messages or moves people. Most of all,…
Anime’s Bad Story Telling Habits
Anime has problems with its story telling habits. Habits we as fans often take for granted. It’s just how anime is, we say when we notice these problems. We overlook them. But in the end, these habits of anime–killing tension, breaking world rules, escalation of power, getting lost in complexity, flashbacks, and undoing everything–are just…
The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent
An isekei with a female lead? Sounds good! Unfortunately, The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent has many interesting aspects, but suffers from a passive protagonist. Sei Takanashi sits in the center of a reverse harem in an rpg-like fantasy world. This is an isekei, after all. Like most isekei, Sei is overpowered. I mean, it’s…