Anime ABC’s Z is for Zankyou no Terror

The End of a Saga

Ever since the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan, 1945 the country has never been the same. It’s an event that has left a permanent scar that permeated the culture, which is why nuclear disaster is such a prevalent theme in Japanese media, especially anime. Today’s final ABC review explores the impact of the bombings and offers a whole lot more to say on rather divisive subjects. From the brilliant mind of Shinichiro Watanabe, I present to you Zankyou no Terror.

Anime ABC’s Y is for Yuri!!! on ICE

A Love Letter to Figure Skating

When a work has so much love and passion for a given idea or topic poured into it, it’s almost impossible to ignore. It comes through in the final product. Yuri!!! on ICE is an anime that took the world by storm because of its love for professional figure skating and the statements it makes on love itself. However, it’s passion is also the show’s biggest downside, often sacrificing quality for its passion.

Anime ABC’s X is for xxxHOLiC

An Interesting Take

On the surface xxxHOLiC doesn’t look too different from your typical “dark bargain” kind of story. There’s a shop that grant any wish you desire, at a price of course. In several ways it is reminiscent of something like Pet Shop of Horrors or the plethora of other stories just like it. Except xxxHOLiC has a bit of a twist; it’s a comedy. The question is:  does it work?

Anime ABC’s W is for Witch Hunter Robin

Perfectly Capturing a Bygone Era

While Witch Hunter Robin never appeared in the North American programming block, Toonami, it’s a show that perfectly captures the revival of the block in 2012. Having aired shows like Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, and others it feels like this would have been right at home. A slow burn show that attempts to provoke your thoughts while delivering moments of explosive action. Yet in spite of this, I can see why Witch Hunter Robin never quite reached these same heights.

Anime ABC’s V is for Versailles no Bara

The Past Often Informs The Future

To date, Versailles no Bara or The Rose of Versailles, is the oldest anime I have watched to completion. Airing in the Fall season of 1979, this historical drama follows the history of the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette. It’s an almost surreal experience to watch a show and see just how much it has informed modern works, that and to see how anime has evolved with time. All of this holds especially true with a highly respected work such as The Rose of Versailles.

Anime ABC’s U is for Uchouten Kazoku

So Many Themes, So Few Thoughts

Uchouten Kazoku, or The Eccentric Family, is an anime that has been sitting on my shelf (and watch list) for a few years now. A lot of people in the blogging community have sung its praises and recommended it a great number of time to me, and it did look good. Centered on a disjointed family comprised of some tanuki, a tengu, and a human there is a story about unbreakable bonds, hardship, and interpersonal drama. There are so many themes and ideas present within the anime, but while I enjoyed the show, I don’t have much to actually say about it. Don’t go just yet though, because contrary to what I just said, I do actually have quite a bit to say.

Anime ABC’s T is for Tokyo Godfathers

Remembering a Legend

If there is one person I’ve wanted to talk about for some time now, it’s the late Satoshi Kon. I’ve seen nearly all of his work and it is something that is certainly worth talking about, but finding the words hasn’t been easy. However, you guys voted and here we are today to discuss the 2003 film Tokyo Godfathers. If you are here just looking for a recommendation, you have it in full. This is a great movie to watch whenever, but especially around Christmas time. You can find the film pretty easily and legally, so go out and watch it.

Anime ABC’s S is for Silver Spoon

Finding One’s Self

Silver Spoon is about a boy named Hachiken who doesn’t really know what he wants to do with himself. In middle school he was pushed to perform at the top of his class by his parents, and as a result, lost himself in the process. Now in high school, he has chosen to enroll in a school as far away as possible. The problem? A city kid now living the farming lifestyle isn’t easy!

Anime ABC’s R is for Run with the Wind

Motivation & Inspiration

When Run with the Wind first aired back in the Fall 2018 season I almost gave it a pass without a second thought. That is, until I learned that it was based on a novel of the same title by author, Shion Miura. Why is that important? It’s important because I had watched an anime called The Great Passage which I had loved! Can you see where this is going? Yup, that’s right, it is also based on a novel by Shion Miura. I sat down and started giving it a watch only to put it on hold, the season was just TOO packed, until this series got chosen for the Anime ABC’s article series. So after the long wait, was it worth it?

Anime ABC’s Q is(n’t) for Cowboy Bebop

A Little Context

For those of you out of the loop, Anime ABC’s is a series where I review an anime for each letter of the alphabet in order. Typically these are longer-form essays where I try something unique/different each time. This round should be Q, but instead I hosted a redemption round since there just aren’t a ton of Q anime. The winner of that vote was the famed Cowboy Bebop. Now that you know what’s going on, let’s dive right into the review.