After drawing flak from the vast corners of the community, Darling in the FRANXX has received so much criticism for its story and characters. It became such a hot topic to the point of alleged reports involving fans sending threats to members of the production for creating a point in this show’s story in which many will never accept. For this individual, I would like to put my finger into this show – why anger coming from its fans is a testament to how effective it is as a show.
It has been almost a year since the anime film, Your Name, released on theaters worldwide and the fame its generating is not slowing down. In Japan, the movie became a huge hit and grossed over 190 million US Dollars. It was ranked second among well-heard films like Spirited Away.
DISCUSSION – After waiting for a few months, I finally had the opportunity to go and watch Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale – an anime film set on events after its main series. Despite enjoying the film, I find myself somewhat dissatisfied and wished that the film would have tried to go all out with its story progression – which is something I want to talk about here.
If you have not watched this film and do not take kindly to spoilers, avert your eyes! With that warning in, let us dive in.
ANIME, DISCUSSION – Throughout the times, settings for anime shows have been getting wilder and interesting as the years go by. Ranging from a deconstruction of the mahou shoujo genre to the concept of clothes being an alien weapon of mass destruction, anime series shines when it comes to putting something new on the table.
The anime series, Shimoneta, does this with its idea of “what if a world existed where the concept of dirty jokes is outlawed?”
So, we ask the question: what if such were the case for us in the real world?
ANIME, DISCUSSION – Last Monday, RWBY has unveiled a character short teaser featuring one of the main characters, Weiss Schnee. This teaser is the first of the other character shows that will be live as the release of Volume 5 draws near.
One thing to note about this video is how it shows Rooster Teeth’s improvements when it comes to animation and production quality.
Let’s get right to it!
ANIME, DISCUSSION – As the spring season comes to an end, a new one opens filled with interesting titles that may or may not become the best of this year. Personally, the spring season had a few letdown titles and I was left with only two shows completed and the others on hold (I will get on them eventually).
Without further ado, allow me to list down five shows which I’m itching to watch this summer season.
ANIME, DISCUSSION – If you have been following the ramblings I have on Twitter, I am pretty much mixed when it comes to watching and talking about the anime series, Guilty Crown. It’s one of those shows wherein I just say it’s good and all, then say otherwise after a few episodes. All of my opinions about it are mixed and for good reason.
This will probably end up as a rant, so fair warning. Also I think this counts as a review (ish).
ANIME, DISCUSSIONS – After listening to the opening theme song for the anime series, Guilty Crown, which is My Dearest by the Japanese band supercell, I couldn’t help but get interested in this show. The visuals and lyrics of the song felt tied to the story of the show and I had to know what was the whole deal.
ANIME, DISCUSSION – Ymir as a character has unexpectedly grown in terms of character development. In the first season, she was nothing short of this douche-y tomboy who had a thing for another female character, Christa. However, as we see her in every episode of the second season, she has indeed grown.
DISCUSSION – When I mean “deep anime”, I am referring to anime series that tend to use wordy, complex and metaphorical dialogue and processes that might seem to be a headache for a casual viewers to understand.
After watching the first episode of the anime series, SAGRADA RESET, I was left thinking to myself – “what makes a complex anime series great or bad?”
I want to put the Monogatari series as an example for this article. The charm of this anime series is not mainly because of the fighting, the softcore ecchi but the witty, and intelligent remarks the characters give whilst they communicate.
Over the course of time, people have always said that it takes away some sort of realism when a male high school student converse as if he was writing an essay about social norms but that’s just it – this is what makes the anime great. Coupled with great humor, some ecchi, and seriousness, the Monogatari series shaped up to be one of the most head-turning anime series every time they release a new season for it.
The good thing about anime series that tend to go in-depth is that we learn more and more about the world they are in and we can further understand the events unfolding around them.
But an anime series with characters that talk seriously and in-depth doesn’t work if they don’t include one important aspect – how do viewers relate to these characters?
Sagrada Reset lacked in character depth to be able to appeal to the majority of its viewers for its first episode. The dialogue was interesting and deep coupled with the great usage of metaphors and short moral stories but in the end, it was for naught as these characters were not, in any way, relatable to anyone at all.
It felt like someone wrote an essay about astrophysics and it was read aloud by a toddler. It doesn’t feel, in any way, somewhat real in order for the viewers to relate with these characters. But then again, anime is a story-form based on mostly fiction so it’s not really expected to be real. However, we should at least be able to relate with these characters but the anime series fails to do this in its first episode.
So what’s the bottom-line here?
An anime series can have deep, complex, wordy, and interesting dialogues and characters but in order for it to sell to most people, it should be at least relatable.
Series that pull this off are the Monogatari series, Hyouka, Oregairu and many more.
These anime series pride themselves in having witty and wordy dialogue, intricate scenarios and premises whilst maintain entertainment by keeping their characters in check.
However in the end, it all comes down to what a person is interested in. Is he/she a casual viewer? Or does he/she long for more deeper and intricate story lines in order to pique his/her interest?
I, for one, am the latter.
I love stories that go deeper and explore ideas that I’ve never thought of before. It makes me think and ponder about how things are possible or not.
What about you? Do you love stories that are more deep and intricate? Or do you prefer stories that cut to the chase with all the actions and the like?
Leave your opinion in the comments below!
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