Found in Translation – A Discussion on Accessibility in Media

We’ve ALL Heard the Sub VS Dub Debate…

When it comes to anime, the conversation surrounding accessibility in the community is a weirdly contentious one. I don’t just mean the usual sub VS dub debate either, as the conversation goes well outside that but for several reasons, supposed “fans” of the medium are quick to dismiss these ideas all too often. The weird thing though, it’s not really an issue in live-action media. That’s why I’d like to take a moment to talk about two recent things I watched:  Amazon Prime’s Cinderella and Netflix’s Squid Game. What do these two experiences have in common when it comes to accessibility, and why anime licensors and distributors should be taking a page from their books? Well, you’ll have to read on to find that one out.

Somali and the Forest Spirit – A Particularly Relevant Message

I’m Going to be Political Today

If you’ve been around for awhile here than it should come to no surprise to you that I’d eventually review the Winter 2020 anime, Somali and the Forest Spirit as it’s another father-daughter anime, the type I’m particularly fond of. We’ve been getting more of those recently, and while that’s all well and good, I’m going to be focusing on something different with today’s article. A wind of change has been blowing, not just in the US, but across the world, and Somali feels like a particularly relevant anime to discuss as its message is one I think we could all use.

When an Anime Shows & Tells – A Discussion Ft. Waiting in the Summer and Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu

Seeing is Believing

Have you ever watched a show where the main character is supposedly some kind of genius or master at a thing, but the show kind of skirts around actually showing them, well, doing it? I hate that, and it happens a lot more often than you might think! Thankfully, some shows go out of their way to not only tell you these details, but show them as well. Today I’d like to celebrate two such recent examples I witnessed from the shows Waiting in the Summer and Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu.

Should Rewatch Value Matter? – A Discussion

Rewatching Stuff Can be Fun!

I’m sure this has happened to you once or twice before. You sit down to rewatch one of your favorite film, TV show, anime, etc… only to discover that it wasn’t quite as good as you remembered it to be. For reviewers, this is something that is often considered in reviews:  will X thing hold up on a repeat viewing? While there is value in this question, why is there so much weight placed on this question?

Critique ≠ Being Critical – A General Discussion on Reviews & Analytical Works

Hold Up, Something’s Not Right!

You are probably thinking that I’m off my rocker here, “Jon how can a critique not be critical?” and that’s a totally fair question. When I say this I am not saying that a critique of something can’t criticize something, but instead mean that a critique does not always have to be negative. There’s a general misconception that these two things must always come hand-in-hand but do they really? I’d argue, this doesn’t always have to be the case.

Btooom! & Problematic Protagonists

I’m Supposed to Root for This Guy, Right?

Have you ever been watching a show and everything is enjoyable enough and then you dive into the main character’s backstory and beliefs only to discover that they are a deplorable human and just abjectly horrible? To make things worse, the show wants this character to WIN and you are supposed to want them to. This is exactly how I felt watching Btooom! and its protagonist Sakamoto.

Youth & Anime – Using Anime as a Teaching Tool

Anime Teaching you Things?!?

Over the weekend I started collecting information for something that I will likely be trying in the near future. Just what may that be? Using anime to teach valuable life lessons, promote discussion, and encourage the exploration of different ideas/cultures that people may not have considered otherwise. This all started when Mrs. K, a friend of mine who I help run the Youth Group with at my church, suggested we watch some anime with the kids sometime. Today I’ll be sharing my discussion with people on Reddit while asking you, what anime would you suggest to a kid to watch and why?

Viewing Anime Alone & With Others – How do You Watch Anime?

I Got to Thinking…

When I sit down to watch some anime I often do it alone. However, as you may know, I still manage to see quite a bit of anime either with family or friends. For series like Anime ABC’s I usually end up watching the show in a group (especially if it’s one I’ve seen before) and the experience is often vastly different than when I watched the series alone. Today I ponder the differences in viewing anime alone VS with others and pose the question to you:  how do you view anime?

Barakamon, Sweetness & Lightning, and Usagi Drop – What’s the Appeal?

What’s the Appeal & Why do I Love these Anime so Much?

I was watching Sweetness & Lightning with my mother awhile back and we had an excellent time watching it. It reminded me of Barakamon and Usagi Drop, two shows that have some commonalities with Sweetness & Lightning. This got me thinking, “Why exactly do shows like these appeal so much to me?” Join me as I discuss why anime like these are so impactful to me and why they have such innate appeal.

CG in Anime – A Brief History & Discussion

Love it or Hate it, We’re Stuck With 3D & CG Work in Anime

Since I took a look at Ajin‘s first season earlier this week I thought it might be interesting to explore my thoughts on the use of computer generated content and various 3D elements that are becoming ever present in the anime industry. Before all that though, let’s explore the history of CG in anime.