I have a real problem with a lot of shows. Should I grab it when it comes out and take it as it is or should I wait for it to conclude and watch it all at that time? But then, I’m not giving a ‘fresh’ review. Sure, I end all my reviews with the admonition “It’s first run until you see it”, but you never want to be behind the curve in reviews, as it looks like you are cobbling one together from what other people have said and so it isn’t all that ‘fresh’. I bring this up as I almost did not finish the run for “God Eater” (“Goddo Ītā”) because of some crazy trick they pulled during the run. It also doesn’t help it is a video game adaptation and it feels like it several times over. (more…)

Another long-time staple of story-telling involves a journey. Not merely a journey of distance, but one of emotional growth or of physical prowess or even of understanding your place in the cosmos. And I’m not talking about a trip to the local Starbucks for a $3 Pumpkin Spice latte or even all that walking to hatch an egg for ‘Pokemon Go.’ I am talking time and space and voyages and struggles and trials and tribulations and all that other stuff that makes life more interesting than a $3 PSL at Starbucks. Now, after this rather loquacious introduction, let’s get down to brass tacks. (more…)

Now, I was watching this show at the same time I was seeing “Kono Subarashii”, which made for a stark contrast, as everything “Kono” is, “Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash” (“Hai to Gensō no Gurimugaru”) isn’t, so things are played out far differently. (more…)

One thing I have never been able to understand about MMORPGs is why they are predominantly set in medieval times. I assume it has to do with the mano-a-mano style of combat or perhaps we can use magic to cast a far-ranging spell to dish out damage to your enemies. It’s just that when we have an anime set in a caliber of MMORPG (“Sword Art Online”, “Log Horizon”, “The Tower of Druaga” and/or “And You Thought There is Never a Girl Online?”)  or if I find myself transported to another place and time, I end up here in this time frame. And no Starbucks. (more…)