Drastic My Anime Blog

Written by TheBigN

This is sort of a continuation from my last installment in this category from my experience at the D.C. Sakura Matsuri. As you recall, I immediately criticized in my mind the actions of some participants during a cosplay contest for what I thought was no good reason. And I had mentioned that at the time I was thinking that as anime fans, we represent anime culture to the rest of “society” (a fun concept to be sure). So the “logical” conclusion I had was that because these cosplayers weren’t acting “normal” in regards to society, moral scruples, or whatever kinds of standards most of us agree abide by, they were demonstrating to people that anime culture isn’t normal. Therefore anime would not be perceived as normal and “those” fans end up making it harder for the medium to have “mainstream acceptance”, whatever the hell that is. Not the best train of thought there, as you can see, and I’m still a little ashamed at myself for that unfounded rationale.

Continue reading ‘My Delusions as a Fanboy: Down That Slippery Slope to the End of the World’

Written by TheBigN

So if you’ve been reading this blog, you might have noticed that I have a thing for ARIA. In this case, you should excuse my saying that RightStuf is my favorite licenser at the moment, as other bloggers have noted with this annoucement. ARIA has been one of the titles that I’ve wanted licensed in the US since I first started caring about that sort of thing years ago, so I’m really happy that this came through (Now go Hidamari Sketch! Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! Futakoi Alternative!). And I hope that somehow I’m able to introduce this (in my opinion) wonderful world to others.

As if Akari needs any extra help in the first place.

ARIA BANZAI!

Written by TheBigN

This season has brought out a lot of entertaining shows, and it makes me wonder if I’ll have enough time to see all that I want to see. When coupling this with the yearly ritual of next to no Internet access (and what is would probably only be 56K, so fun times) during the summertime, it makes for a massive backlog of things to take a look at when school goes back in action (however, things might work out better this time around). And that backlog will probably be increased further by a combination of things that I want to see this summer, such as Hidamari Sketch x365, and the increased difficulty of the second-year of medical school. But enough about what might be, and more about what is. Of the many series that I’m watching and planning to watch (hurry up with Library Wars subs, please), three have stood out early, hooking me in different ways.

Continue reading ‘Three Quick Spring 2008 Impressions: Flow, Glow, and Not Your Ordinary Status Quo’

Written by TheBigN

This is what I’d like to say a “philosophical exercise” based on some RL events. But it’s really just me asking a bunch of questions, so take it as you see it, I guess.

Continue reading ‘My Delusions as a Fanboy: I Need To Get Over Myself, or How Watching Cosplay Is a Starting Step in Self-Contemplation’

Written by TheBigN

I turn 22 today. Have some cake with Miyako.

In terms of this season, I’ve been looking forward to Library Wars (because knowledge is power), Macross Frontier (because it turns on a dime), Allison to Lilia (because of Kino’s author), Kaiba (because it looks and sounds interesting) and Kamen no Maid Guy (because GAR insanity is always awesome). Taking a look at Kurenai because of what people have been saying about it, Zettai Karen Children because it has Aya Hirano in her Pachira voice and Ryouko Shiraishi in her “Hermione Ayasaki” voice, Tower of Druaga because I want to see how serious things will get from the awesome first episode and that’s it. I don’t know much about this season really, so could people give me recommendations on what to pay attention to for this season when I get internet again in the fall?

But then again, aren’t most of us like that?

Written by TheBigN

There have already been substantial posts in content from other members of the committee trying to bring to successful fruition the Anime Blog Awards, so chances are that this isn’t really going to be one of them. But I’ll rehash some thoughts that I had about them anyway, so you never know. I don’t think I really need to say this, but these views are mine alone and not representative of the ABA committee as a whole. There’s no real hivemind here, no matter how much people would like to think so. Okay, maybe Impz, but it’s okay if it’s him/her.

Continue reading ‘ABA Nominations From The “Third Wheel” of The ABA Committee: For I Am A Copycat And An Attention Seeker’

Written by TheBigN

It’s funny how a lack of knowledge can help or hurt me, and it also shows how easily I can be swayed. When I first heard of the premise for Bamboo Blade, I thought it wasn’t something that would interest me much compared to what else was shown (Fall 07′ was a pretty strong season, now that I think of it). My last foray into a sports anime focused on a squad of girls coming together was fun (often more unintentionally than intentional), but not something that I was really too much into. Based on how people explained the show , I admit that I had a wrong uninformed opinion of the show, thinking it was harem-related without even doing research or taking a look at the show in the first place. Ignorance is bliss after all. At the same time though, because of people’s glowing mentions of the show, because I didn’t know anything about Bamboo Blade, I decided to check it out. And I’m glad I did, since it’s now one of my favorite series of 2007/08. Everyone has pretty much said what I’m going to say, but I figure more voices of support can be used for it, and because I think more people need to check it out.

Continue reading ‘Impressions on Bamboo Blade: A Strange Band of Bravers’

Written by TheBigN

I’d like to think that it’s common knowledge that as we are all separate individuals, we each have our own way of looking at the world. By extension of that, more often than not, we can see the world in a way that makes sense to us, irrespective of how things actually “are” (and how do we know what that reality is?). The idea of “I take your reality and subjugate it with my own” is a universal human trait in my reality. Because of that, as already stated, bias is inherent in humans, and it’s probably impossible to completely nullify when doing anything in life. So for some fun, I feel like rehashing observations when applying this to watching anime. As always, hopefully it makes sense to you as it (sorta) did to me.

Continue reading ‘My Delusions as a Fanboy: These Goggles Actually Do Something’