It’s that time of the week again. The time that I pull up my reading list and start perusing the rest of the ani-blogging community. Yep, it’s time for the weekly tour around the Otakusphere. I don’t really have anything fascinating or clever to say today. I was going to talk about that tomorrow (Jan. […]
In Search of Number Nine — An anime blog
Jan 5, 2020 • Subscribe
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The Otakusphere: Good romances, bad detectives and realism
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The Otakusphere: Good ideas for bad shows and bad ideas for good shows
Welcome back to the end of another week and the beginning of another Otakusphere. After binging the second and third seasons of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU last…
The Otakusphere: Good tunes, sad times and some Sailor Moon fighting
I’m glad there are people in the world that still like Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad. With all the talk about sports anime going around, I’ve been thinking that…
The Otakusphere: Good illnesses, vanishing heroines and a whole lot of honesty
Man, I’m super late this week. I don’t really have an excuse for it. I went to a holiday party last night and I slept in this morning.…


Babylon and the Coldness of Numbers
As of writing this post, I haven’t completed Babylon yet. But there is something intriguing about how it’s written and presenting its ideas. See, Babylon is a suspense…
The Dutch dub for Sailor Moon
Waarom martel ik mezelf?


OMG? Liebster Award
(This has been long overdue and I had written this last week. I’m so sorry!) I’m actually not new when it comes to owning an anime-themed blog (but…


One Shots / “By the Numbers, and Letters”
Do not be caught off-guard by their short hair and unassuming demeanors. Remember, they are androids. They may be the prettiest of warriors, but they are all about…
African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke
Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard’s book African Samurai tries to mesh nonfiction with historical fiction. The result is a patchwork that felt more fiction than historical. The seams quickly…


Key Animator Training Program ④ Telephoto and Wide Angles
Only 【54%】 before 'Raising Anime Production Budgets – A Collaboration with Aya Hirano!' is fully funded! https://gogetfunding.com/the-new-anime-making-system-project-phase-2/ We aim to directly connect anime fans to creators, ensuring ample production budgets…
The Otakusphere: Love, love, love and loneliness
It looks like I’m doomed. I simply can’t escape Valentine’s Day this week. Love (or at least cards and romance shows) is in the air across The Otakusphere…


The Otakusphere: Education, media and pretty pictures
It’s Sunday again, so I’m back for another tour around the Otakusphere, and I feel like every time I start looking around, I come up with a bevy…


The Otakusphere: So many controversies and Eva
Good morning, afternoon or evening where you are in the world. It’s Sunday in my corner of the Hinterlands, which means it’s time for another trip around The…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 23)
Cartoon consciousness comes in groups today, as we present a quartet of Tom and Jerrys and a duo of Bugs Bunny adventures, together with solo spots for the…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 6)
More interactive screen madness from Tex Avery, Friz Freleng, and efforts to keep up from Terrytoons and Screen Gems.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 24)
Magic pencils and paintbrushes abound, as characters continue to provide savvy interaction with the audience.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 3)
Part three in our series highlighting the medium and savvy characters with knowledge of their pen-and-paper world.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 1)
Not only cartoons about animators and the animation process, but cartoons about characters who knew they were in cartoons.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 16)
A wild bunch of episodes today from 1947 and ‘48, including a quartet of Tex Avery adventures into the surreal (two of which are among his most controversial),…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 27)
The late ‘60’s were not entirely devoid of characters knowledgeable of their existence on screen or of interaction with offscreen narrators and animators.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 7)
Some behind the scenes at Disney, a new franchise for Goofy, and the debut of Walter Lantz’s most durable personality.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 18)
A lot of familiar faces today, as Warner, Paramount, and Terrytoons all provide contributions continuing to exploit their toon existence for all they’re worth.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 22)
More self-referential fare, with Bugs and Daffy - and some surprises from a few relative-unknowns in Terrytoons.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 26)
Today, we transition from the 50's into the early half of the 1960's in theatrical cartoons. You've been warned!
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 4)
The 1930's continued to progress, as animated characters became more and more knowledgeable about their own world.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 10)
1943 continued to abound in self-conscious cartoons, ever aware of their theatrical venue, and eager to draw the audience into the storylines through direct reference. Characters also continue…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 25)
All action in this post comes from the stars of Warner, Paramount, and MGM, with the final appearance by Terrytoons’ Dinky Duck.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 11)
Another batch of animated eccentricities, all featuring characters that are well aware they are in a cartoon.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 2)
Cartoons exploring the mysteries of their own medium; characters with a knowledge of their ink and pen origins - all this and more!
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 20)
A significant leaning toward Looney stories from Warner Brothers today, with only two titles in our discussion coming from the ranks of other studios. We’ll be doing some…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 19)
Submitted for your approval: evidence of characters who know they are on screen, and are prepared to use this to their zany advantage.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 15)
Multiple cartoon-conscious visits with Warner Brothers, another with Droopy at MGM, and one-shots from the waning days of Columbia/Screen Gems.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 8)
1942 is our subject year. Many films from this period keep their self-referential elements on the brief side, so some of the discussions below are a little briefer…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 12)
All our action this week is centered upon four characters, all installments containing self-winks to the illustrated media.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 21)
Character recognition of the cartoon medium tends to come in short spurts during the years of 1953 and 1954.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 13)
A feast of prime Grade A titles from MGM, Paramount, and Warner Brothers is on the table today.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 14)
This week’s installment includes brief references out of chronology to several Warner Brothers cartoons I missed. Then, we move on in 1945 and 1946
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 17)
A surprising number of Terrytoons appear in this week’s survey as we resume our overview of characters interacting with audiences, narrators, and/or animators.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 9)
1942 and ‘43 (with one stray included here from ‘44) continued to bring us self-referential cartoons, plating at breaking the fourth wall, and immersing characters into the movie-going…
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 5)
All action today takes place in 1938, and all from two studios: Warner Bros and Paramount.
Cartoons About Cartoons (Part 28)
Animation made for television brought about some mixed trends in our survey of cartoons self-conscious of their medium.


Pick of the Week: Galaxies, Alchemists, and Numbers
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Re:Zero: Camera Shots and Angles in the Foot Fetish Scene — lystlesse
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Credits for Columbia’s Fox and the Crow Cartoons
An attempt to compile credits for the 1940 cartoon series.


Manhwa Review | OMG! by Chiro
Kang Yohan's life is screwed. He's in terrible debt thanks to a friend who ditched him, is being hounded by loan sharks, and is on the cusp of…
Remember me? OMG HEROES COMEBACK
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The Otakusphere: Controversy, more controversy and FIVE ALIVE!
Good morning, afternoon or evening to everyone out there on the internet. It’s Sunday in my corner of the hinterlands, which means it’s time for another trip around…
In Search of Number Nine — An anime blog
Legend of the Crystals: Final Fantasy, Flowers of Evil, Mirai


The Otakusphere: Pride, Feelings and APPLE PICKING BEAM!
Good morning, afternoon or evening wherever you are in the world. By my count, today is Sunday, so it’s time to take another trip around The Otakusphere. It’s…
The Otakusphere: Politics, gatekeeping and anime hair physics
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The Otakusphere: Censorship, cultural exchange and reckless fire
Good morning and welcome to another beautiful day in the Otakusphere. Today is a great day. First of all, we had snow. I was worried we were just…