Following 1979’s Galaxy Express 999, Yoshinori Kanada had become one of the top animators in Japan and would go on to be an inspiring figure for many of the artists that emerged throughout the foll…
Jun 4, 2022 • Subscribe
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Production Assistants and the Production Side
A while ago a manual on the job of a Production Assistant (制作進行) was published by the Association of Japanese Animation (AJA), defining what this job is and…
Motion/Movement
Writing about animation isn’t easy. In my experience, the two pitfalls you’re bound to run into at some point are evaluation and description. Evaluation means that you have…
Bankara – Meiji Japan’s Anti-Fashion Movement
As the era of the samurai ended and Japan rushed towards modernization, a rough-scrabble fashion movement called the Bankara rose in opposition.
Ao Ashi – 24 (End) and Series Review
Not the title I was hoping to use. Read more
The Way of the Househusband and Interesting Production Choices
Production I’m sure that most people don’t really take much notice to who produced an anime but in blogging circles it was a bit of a deal that…
Pluto and Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
It’s, goodness, two weeks away from Thanksgiving. The days get darker earlier, which sucks because now I...
Pluto and Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
It’s, goodness, two weeks away from Thanksgiving. The days get darker earlier, which sucks because now I leave work when it’s dark outside. It’s also getting cold in…
Ao Ashi – 12
「EAGLE EYE」 "EAGLE EYE" The beautiful game is not simple.
Ao Ashi – 23
I'm going to be seriously pissed off if Ao Ashi is a one-and-done adaptation. Read more
Ao Ashi – 10
「譲れないこと」 (Yuzurenai koto) "No Compromises" Ao Ashi continues to cruise both on and off-screen.
Ao Ashi – 03
「最終試験開始」 (Saishuu shiken kaishi) "Final Test Start" The really good days in anime, when they happen, still get my juices flowing.
Ao Ashi – 02
「東京シティ・エスペリオン」 (Toukyou shiti esuperion) "Tokyo City Esperion" This is a genre where the great ones are always marathon and never sprint.
Ao Ashi – 07
「ユース初陣」 (Yuusu uijin) "The First Youth Match" Once more I'm struck by the parallels between the two superficially disparate series Ao Ashi and Dance Dance Danseur.
Ao Ashi – 07
Once more I'm struck by the parallels between the two superficially disparate series Ao Ashi and Dance Dance Danseur. Read more
Ao Ashi – 06
「最初のファン」 (Saisho no fan) "First Fan" This showdown between Hoozuki and Sugimoto could get interesting…
Ao Ashi – 11
「東京都リーグ第1節 成京高校戦」 (Toukyouto riigu dai 1-setsu narikyou koukou-sen) "Tokyo Metropolis League Section 1 Seikyo High School Match" It's not only freemasons who're obsessed with triangles.
Ao Ashi – 04
「CROW」 (Crow) "Crow" Ao Ashi is a more straightforward show than Danseur, as you'd expect - but that's not a criticism.
Ao Ashi – 15
That was the most interesting pure soccer episode I've seen since Giant Killing. Read more
Ao Ashi – 05
「オレンジ色の景色」 (Orenji-iro no keshiki) "Orange Scenery" Now the pedigree really shines through.
Ao Ashi – 01
「ファーストタッチ」 (Faasutotatchi) "First Touch" I’m not prepared to say whether Ao Ashi will be the next great soccer anime, but I am prepared to say this premiere met my expectations…
Ao Ashi – 03
The really good days in anime, when they happen, still get my juices flowing. Read more
Ao Ashi – 19
I would very much appreciate no more breaks from Ao Ashi. Read more
Ao Ashi – 02
This is a genre where the great ones are always marathon and never sprint. Read more
Ao Ashi – 11
It's not only freemasons who're obsessed with triangles. Read more
Ao Ashi – 10
Ao Ashi continues to cruise both on and off-screen. Read more
Ao Ashi – 06
This showdown between Hoozuki and Sugimoto could get interesting... Read more
Ao Ashi – 08
「夜練」 (Yoru neri) "Night Training" It's a Togashi sort of week.
Ao Ashi – 09
「広がるサッカー」 (Hirogaru sakkaa) "Broad Soccer" Gotta walk before you can run.
Ao Ashi – 16
It's only when one sufficiently masters a skill (or position) to the point where they can act on instinct that they can really succeed. Read more
Ao Ashi – 18
These are pretty decent times to be a sports anime fan. Read more
Ao Ashi – 13
If Production I.G. felt they needed to do something special for the occasion, they succeeded. Read more
Ao Ashi – 05
Now the pedigree really shines through. Read more
Ao Ashi – 04
Ao Ashi is a more straightforward show than Dance Dance Danseur, as you'd expect - but that's not a criticism. Read more
Review: “Black Box: The Memoir That Sparked Japan’s #MeToo Movement”
Ito Shiori's arresting memoir, Black Box, has been credited with starting #metoo in Japan. Now her seminal book has a superlative new English translation.
Bocchi the Rock! Complete Production Notes And Final Impressions
Bocchi the Rock has been a wonderful mix of ridiculous comedy and compelling character growth. Now that it’s over, though with hopes to return, let’s take a final…
Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo (Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches)
This manga is about a delinquent type student named Yamada getting involved with the seven witches of his high school. These witches have supernatural powers that are activated…
Death to Kanji! The Movement to Eliminate Kanji During the Meiji Restoration
Ask most English speakers about what makes Japanese so hard to learn and you will most likely hear kanji. The Japanese writing system consists of kana, or a…
Orb: On the Movement of the Earth Episode 3 Review – Sayonara, Rafal
We’ll start with a recap of Orb’s third episode, which is now available on Netflix, depending on your region. After I go over the main plot points, I’ll…
The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer and Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun
Welcome to episode five! We’re halfway to a milestone. Around this time in the Taiiku Podcast, I imagine I sort of had an idea of what the heck…
The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer and Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun
Welcome to episode five! We’re halfway to a milestone. Around this time in the Taiiku Podcast, I...
Orb: On the Movement of the Earth Episode 4 Review – The Doubting Duelist
Greetings! The second arc of Orb has begun with a new main character: Orczy the duelist. These are my thoughts on him and the fourth episode as a…