Yonezawa is one of those writers that can't help but be a little interesting even when they're writing about boring things.
Jul 22, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
![Featured image for First Impressions – Shoushimin Series (How to Become Ordinary)](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240707/1720328730.86868.126787.jpg)
![Background image for First Impressions – Shoushimin Series (How to Become Ordinary)](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240707/1720328730.86868.126787.jpg)
First Impressions – Shoushimin Series (How to Become Ordinary)
I have to remind myself that my initial response to Hyouka was pretty lukewarm.
![Featured image for Second Impressions – Shoushimin Series (How to Become Ordinary)](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240714/1720925130.87229.127251.jpg)
![Background image for Second Impressions – Shoushimin Series (How to Become Ordinary)](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240714/1720925130.87229.127251.jpg)
Second Impressions – Shoushimin Series (How to Become Ordinary)
Where's Sherlock effing Holmes when you need him?
![Featured image for SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240715/1721065531.87313.127357.jpg)
![Background image for SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240715/1721065531.87313.127357.jpg)
SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary
SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary is currently streaming on Crunchyroll....
![Featured image for SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary – Episode 1](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240708/1720407329.86924.126870.png)
![Background image for SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary – Episode 1](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240708/1720407329.86924.126870.png)
SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary – Episode 1
What do you mean, you’re on a mission to become ordinary? You seem pretty normal to me as you are, kiddo—dare I say bland.
![Featured image for First Look: Shoshimin — How to Become Ordinary](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240708/1720448131.86946.126897.png)
![Background image for First Look: Shoshimin — How to Become Ordinary](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240708/1720448131.86946.126897.png)
First Look: Shoshimin — How to Become Ordinary
He’s a genius at deduction. She’s really into confectionery. Together, they solve incredibly mundane mysteries and try to survive high school.
![Featured image for First Impression: SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240706/1720305332.86858.126774.png)
![Background image for First Impression: SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240706/1720305332.86858.126774.png)
First Impression: SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary
Kobato and Osanai have a deal. The socially awkward boy and quiet girl will help one another “become ordinary.” To do so, they will follow a series of…
![Featured image for The Speakeasy #163: How to Become Ordinary, Makeine, The Elusive Samurai + More Summer 2024 Anime](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240723/1721777993.87691.127793.png)
![Background image for The Speakeasy #163: How to Become Ordinary, Makeine, The Elusive Samurai + More Summer 2024 Anime](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240723/1721777993.87691.127793.png)
The Speakeasy #163: How to Become Ordinary, Makeine, The Elusive Samurai + More Summer 2024 Anime
This month we breakdown the new summer season of anime: SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary My Wife Has No Emotions Twilight Out of Focus Alya Sometimes Hides Her…
![Featured image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 06](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240819/1724072994.88865.129200.jpg)
![Background image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 06](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240819/1724072994.88865.129200.jpg)
Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 06
I almost expected him to light a cigarette.
![Featured image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 08](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240902/1725278394.89465.130027.jpg)
![Background image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 08](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240902/1725278394.89465.130027.jpg)
Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 08
For me at least the ship has long since sailed on Shoushimin Series being remotely realistic.
![Featured image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 04](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240804/1722772793.88221.128428.jpg)
![Background image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 04](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240804/1722772793.88221.128428.jpg)
Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 04
Was this interesting? I guess sort of, though that's very much in the eye of the beholder.
![Featured image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 07](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240826/1724670599.89173.129604.jpg)
![Background image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 07](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240826/1724670599.89173.129604.jpg)
Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 07
It’s always a bit of a minefield when pure slice-of-life series get serious in their final episodes.
![Featured image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 05](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240811/1723366193.88487.128758.jpg)
![Background image for Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 05](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240811/1723366193.88487.128758.jpg)
Patron Pick Summer 2024: Shoushimin Series – 05
Can you imagine "The Chinese Restaurant" or "The Parking Garage" with little or no humor? Do you want to?
![Featured image for How to Become a Wizard with Cherry Magic!](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240414/1713136529.82675.121631.png)
![Background image for How to Become a Wizard with Cherry Magic!](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240414/1713136529.82675.121631.png)
How to Become a Wizard with Cherry Magic!
Oh, Cherry Magic, how I will miss you! Your angst and your miscommunications, your fluffy dreams and wishes. The show didn’t go quite as explicit as I’d been…
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
How To Cook a Series: Nana
Nana is one of those things that’s actually easier to think about than a lot of anime, because it transcends the genre(s) in a specific way. Yeah, it’s…
![Featured image for How to improve the Shenmue Series](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210503/1620058457.11569.36070.jpg)
![Background image for How to improve the Shenmue Series](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210503/1620058457.11569.36070.jpg)
How to improve the Shenmue Series
The Shenmue series, which was released in the 90s, is surely a series that we all should be thankful to, as it invented various aspects of the games…
![Featured image for How To Build a Series: Toradora](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210802/1627878794.18553.44105.jpg)
![Background image for How To Build a Series: Toradora](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210802/1627878794.18553.44105.jpg)
How To Build a Series: Toradora
I always like a nice case of Stealth Storytelling. Look, in a lot of ways, when you have a really basic story what you’re really exploring is character…
![Featured image for How To Cook a Series: Beastars](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230724/1690172321.65398.100361.jpg)
![Background image for How To Cook a Series: Beastars](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230724/1690172321.65398.100361.jpg)
How To Cook a Series: Beastars
I’m taking a week off from shows going off the track, since even I don’t think it’s THAT interesting. I mean, you know, really. Problem: This is the…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: TP Bon](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240812/1723436393.88524.128802.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: TP Bon](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240812/1723436393.88524.128802.jpg)
How to Build a Series: TP Bon
Okay, I write science fiction, so I’m a sucker for stuff like time travel as long as the writers can convincingly deploy handwavium. You know handwavium: “We can…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: Samurai Champloo](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20211018/1634530355.23454.49867.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: Samurai Champloo](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20211018/1634530355.23454.49867.jpg)
How to Build a Series: Samurai Champloo
I don’t talk enough about Samurai Champloo. I guess that’s because it’s Shinichiro Watanabe’s second series, and let’s be honest: Once you’ve made Cowboy Bebop there’s only one…
![Featured image for How to Cook a Series: Silver Nina](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220328/1648441114.33560.61767.jpg)
![Background image for How to Cook a Series: Silver Nina](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220328/1648441114.33560.61767.jpg)
How to Cook a Series: Silver Nina
Every once in a while I fall into a rabbit hole and can’t climb out. So I have a subscription to Crunchyroll, and there’s an app that gives…
![Featured image for How to Watch The Tenchi Muyo Series](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210705/1625455997.16565.41852.jpg)
![Background image for How to Watch The Tenchi Muyo Series](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210705/1625455997.16565.41852.jpg)
How to Watch The Tenchi Muyo Series
As an older series, there aren’t a lot of people chomping at the bit to binge watch Tenchi Muyo. However, whether you are looking to recapture some nostalgia…
![Featured image for How to Cook a Series: Demon Slayer](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210315/1615783059.6311.29548.jpg)
![Background image for How to Cook a Series: Demon Slayer](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210315/1615783059.6311.29548.jpg)
How to Cook a Series: Demon Slayer
Everyone thinks writers start with a plot and write. I don’t. I think about what I want to write about, and then cook up whatever other pieces I…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: Fruits Basket](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220822/1661141940.42239.72473.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: Fruits Basket](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220822/1661141940.42239.72473.jpg)
How to Build a Series: Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is one of those things that looks like a delightful piece of fluff but is actually a masterclass in story construction when you look at it…
![Featured image for How to Cook a Series: Domestic Girlfriend](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210301/1614576459.5209.27698.jpg)
![Background image for How to Cook a Series: Domestic Girlfriend](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210301/1614576459.5209.27698.jpg)
How to Cook a Series: Domestic Girlfriend
Okay, let’s throw something on the floor here: You got this high school student named Natsuo. He’s got a heavy crush on this girl named Hina. In the…
How To Build a Series: Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate is one of those things I saw a long time ago but never really had a chance to take a close look at until just recently. It’s…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: Strike Witches](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210201/1612159059.2980.25154.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: Strike Witches](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210201/1612159059.2980.25154.jpg)
How to Build a Series: Strike Witches
I’ll just say it: the neat thing about Strike Witches is that it’s like a good stew, a whole bunch of things thrown together that work together to…
![Featured image for How Did Shibuya and Shinjuku Stations Become So Hard to Navigate?](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230813/1691920721.66523.101700.jpg)
![Background image for How Did Shibuya and Shinjuku Stations Become So Hard to Navigate?](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230813/1691920721.66523.101700.jpg)
How Did Shibuya and Shinjuku Stations Become So Hard to Navigate?
Why'd they have to go and make everything so complicated? A short history of how Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo developed their bad reputations as Japan's most confusing…
![Featured image for How Did “Octopus” Become a Japanese Insult?](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240122/1705882572.77768.115356.png)
![Background image for How Did “Octopus” Become a Japanese Insult?](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240122/1705882572.77768.115356.png)
How Did “Octopus” Become a Japanese Insult?
Did someone just call you an "octopus"? How "tako" became both a fish and an insult in Japanese (spoiler alert: it involves samurai).
![Featured image for Summer 2024 Impressions: Shoushimin Series, VTuber Legend, Dungeon no Naka no Hito](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240710/1720592731.87041.127013.jpg)
![Background image for Summer 2024 Impressions: Shoushimin Series, VTuber Legend, Dungeon no Naka no Hito](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240710/1720592731.87041.127013.jpg)
Summer 2024 Impressions: Shoushimin Series, VTuber Legend, Dungeon no Naka no Hito
Shoushimin Series Short Synopsis: A girl who loves sweets and a boy who is really trying his best to be normal solve a mystery and (temporarily) get some…
![Featured image for How to Cook a Series: The Orbital Children](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220627/1656303177.38471.67806.jpg)
![Background image for How to Cook a Series: The Orbital Children](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220627/1656303177.38471.67806.jpg)
How to Cook a Series: The Orbital Children
The Orbital Children is one of those things that snuck up on me. I was like, yeah, kiddie sci-fi, I’m going to like that (sarcasm), but I was…
![Featured image for How To Start a Series: Pleasure and Corruption](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230417/1681773186.57540.90700.jpg)
![Background image for How To Start a Series: Pleasure and Corruption](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230417/1681773186.57540.90700.jpg)
How To Start a Series: Pleasure and Corruption
There’s a manga out there called Pleasure and Corruption. It is hard R-rated. Be warned. I’m going to be frank here. I’ve only read one volume of the…
![Featured image for How to Cook a Series: Wonder Egg Priority](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221114/1668403210.46821.77968.jpg)
![Background image for How to Cook a Series: Wonder Egg Priority](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221114/1668403210.46821.77968.jpg)
How to Cook a Series: Wonder Egg Priority
You know what Wonder Egg Priority reminded me of? Interviews with Monster Girls. Let me tell you why. The deal with the demi-human girls of Interviews is that…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: Thermae Romae Novae](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220606/1654489376.37372.66460.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: Thermae Romae Novae](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220606/1654489376.37372.66460.jpg)
How to Build a Series: Thermae Romae Novae
WARNING: This discussion violates my rule on not talking about anime that are just out. It contains spoilers! Be warned. In a lot of ways Thermae Romae Novae…
![Featured image for How to Cook a Series: Kotaro Lives Alone](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220502/1651465976.35542.64208.jpg)
![Background image for How to Cook a Series: Kotaro Lives Alone](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220502/1651465976.35542.64208.jpg)
How to Cook a Series: Kotaro Lives Alone
Isn’t Kotaro Lives Alone so cute you just can’t stand it? That brave little boy, living alone, living up the ideals of the noble knight, making all the…
![Featured image for How Not to End a Series: School-Live!](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210104/1609737865.586.22017.jpg)
![Background image for How Not to End a Series: School-Live!](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210104/1609737865.586.22017.jpg)
How Not to End a Series: School-Live!
I’m relatively new to anime/manga fandom, and School-Live! is the first series I’ve managed to follow “traditionally.” You know: waiting for weeks or months for the next issue,…
![Featured image for How to Watch the Grisaia Series in Order](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220121/1642762115.29616.57218.jpg)
![Background image for How to Watch the Grisaia Series in Order](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220121/1642762115.29616.57218.jpg)
How to Watch the Grisaia Series in Order
You, too, may have fallen prey to the Grisaia trap of cute anime girls and found yourself in a series of building complexity. It is the visual novel…
![Featured image for How to Start a Series: Revolutionary Girl Utena](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220425/1650860078.35197.63796.jpg)
![Background image for How to Start a Series: Revolutionary Girl Utena](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220425/1650860078.35197.63796.jpg)
How to Start a Series: Revolutionary Girl Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena is one of those concoctions, like Neon Genesis, that is sometimes so deep it seems like the creators outsmarted themselves trying to show themselves how…
![Featured image for How To Start a Series: Komi Can’t Communicate](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210517/1621224843.12677.37369.jpg)
![Background image for How To Start a Series: Komi Can’t Communicate](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210517/1621224843.12677.37369.jpg)
How To Start a Series: Komi Can’t Communicate
I almost called this “How Not to Start a Series,” but as annoyed as I am with Komi Can’t Communicate, from the standpoint of financial success the author,…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: Knights of Sidonia](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240506/1714969529.83763.122908.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: Knights of Sidonia](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240506/1714969529.83763.122908.jpg)
How to Build a Series: Knights of Sidonia
There are some shows that are constructed so cleverly that I would give anything to be a fly on the wall during their development meetings. In fact, I…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: My Happy Marriage](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231016/1697429521.70649.106646.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: My Happy Marriage](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231016/1697429521.70649.106646.jpg)
How to Build a Series: My Happy Marriage
Look, there are times when you can look at creating a story/series as being like cooking from a recipe. That doesn’t mean it’s going to work. You can…
![Featured image for How To Build a Series: Spy X Family](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221121/1669008010.47139.78386.jpg)
![Background image for How To Build a Series: Spy X Family](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221121/1669008010.47139.78386.jpg)
How To Build a Series: Spy X Family
Okay, repeat after me: Stories don’t need conflict if you don’t want people to pay any attention to them. Of course, if you DO want people to like…
![Featured image for How to Watch the To Love-Ru Series in Order](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221207/1670427611.48005.79446.jpg)
![Background image for How to Watch the To Love-Ru Series in Order](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221207/1670427611.48005.79446.jpg)
How to Watch the To Love-Ru Series in Order
For most ecchi anime, much like their watchers, they usually don't last long. Well, they don't last long enough to usually require watch orders anyway.
![Featured image for How Not to End a Series: Welcome to the NHK](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220620/1655698976.38071.67337.jpg)
![Background image for How Not to End a Series: Welcome to the NHK](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220620/1655698976.38071.67337.jpg)
How Not to End a Series: Welcome to the NHK
Welcome to the NHK is one of those things that should remind you of how a medium people think is for children – I mean, it’s a CARTOON,…
![Featured image for How to Become a Recruiter in Japan—or Use One to Land a Dream Job!](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240118/1705619770.77562.115110.jpg)
![Background image for How to Become a Recruiter in Japan—or Use One to Land a Dream Job!](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240118/1705619770.77562.115110.jpg)
How to Become a Recruiter in Japan—or Use One to Land a Dream Job!
Japan’s recruiting industry is one of the world’s largest. Tap into its strengths and level up your career with the help of GaijinPot Jobs.
![Featured image for How Not to Cook a Series: Michiko and Hatchin](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220801/1659327541.41028.70897.jpg)
![Background image for How Not to Cook a Series: Michiko and Hatchin](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220801/1659327541.41028.70897.jpg)
How Not to Cook a Series: Michiko and Hatchin
Look, let me lay it out here: I don’t call this blog “The Overage Otaku” because I’m 19 and all my manga friends are like 16. I’m an…
![Featured image for How to Build a Series: Teasing Master Tagaki-san](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210215/1613367459.3995.26328.jpg)
![Background image for How to Build a Series: Teasing Master Tagaki-san](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210215/1613367459.3995.26328.jpg)
How to Build a Series: Teasing Master Tagaki-san
I’ve been watching something utterly inane called Teasing Master Takagi-san on Netflix. To qualify, “Teasing Master” is a title, not a verb: Takagi does the teasing rather than…
![Featured image for How to Watch the Love Live Series in Order](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210815/1629001394.19391.45063.jpg)
![Background image for How to Watch the Love Live Series in Order](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210815/1629001394.19391.45063.jpg)
How to Watch the Love Live Series in Order
Do you have idol fever? Well, then you are in the right place for it. Love Live is that happy little anime thing that carves out its place…
![Featured image for How Not to Build a Series: Girls und Panzer](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210809/1628483594.19004.44610.jpg)
![Background image for How Not to Build a Series: Girls und Panzer](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210809/1628483594.19004.44610.jpg)
How Not to Build a Series: Girls und Panzer
I REALLY REALLY wanted to like Girls und Panzer. Seriously, among other things I have been a World War II buff for years. My dad – Staff Sergeant…
![Featured image for How Much Does It Cost to License Anime Series?](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210802/1627920796.18596.44151.jpg)
![Background image for How Much Does It Cost to License Anime Series?](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210802/1627920796.18596.44151.jpg)
How Much Does It Cost to License Anime Series?
ANN CEO Chris Macdonald spoke with multiple industry experts to get you the figures on how much it really costs to bring anime stateside.