I now have a full time job plus a long commute, which means… more time for reading manga while half-asleep? Huh?
Anyway the last thread of this kind was in July, and since then an anime season has finished, so might as well do it again.
For me:
Manga:
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2005): Parallel to watching the excellent adaptation, I have picked up the manga and, much like Kaiji, finished it in a concerningly short time. Koji Kumeta has a bone to pick with the world… with everything in the world. What arises is a very entertaining ruthless critique. I’m fairly sure he’s either still a leftist, or used to be one and got disappointed. However, he is also nationalistic. A political mess, mostly agreeable, sometimes dropping horrible takes - but a fantastic manga which never loses its bite no matter how many chapters you are into it. It’s also less horny than the Shaft adaptation. A+
√Paradise (1991): Being curious about Kumeta’s early work, I read this short manga of his, which is basically the Yakuza games’ cabaret club side-plot in manga form. Not too interesting, but a decent enough read. B-
Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san (2017): Nagatoro is a decent romance manga with a pretty bad beginning. It ended a few months ago, but I have caught up only recently. Not much else to say, really. B
Shiroyama to Mita-san (2021): Nice comedic romance/slice of life manga about two (mostly) uncool people. Fun, but have not finished it yet. B+
Anime:
Aa-Megami Sama (2005): I had read a large chunk of the manga before, and it’s just as fun as I remembered it being. The romance stuff isn’t too strong, but the hijinks are fun. The source material being from the 80s means that many of the usual tropes didn’t exist yet… or were being invented. A-
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003): Almost done with this show, it’s been really good overall. Strong characters and storytelling, and the anime original plot… I can clearly see why it’s controversial, but I like it. Good show. A
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! (2024): The only seasonal I didn’t drop. Story-wise very conventional, but the character writing was good. Anna Yanami in particular, being one of the strongest female leads in recent anime history. It had a few tone-unfitting scenes that felt tacked on for the horny audience, but overall decent show. B
Western Animation
The Owl House (2020): Very fun show, with some blatant inspiration from many recognizable source materials, western and Japanese. King is a king. A
Manga
Giant Killing - Great soccer manga, sporadic release.
Hajime no Ippo - Classic Boxing Manga, just had its 35 year Anniversary.
Chainsaw Man - Keeping it real
One Punch Man - Probably could have ended it a while ago, but I’ll keep reading.
Oshi no Ko - Started to lose me with the Brother Sister stuff, but has picked back up
Frieren - there was a big delay and it’s started back up and I can’t remember quite what’s going on. Gotta reread the last ten chapters or so. But I was enjoying it.
Vinland Saga - Shit getting real also feels kinda sporadic lately.
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat - patiently waiting for another volume.
I need to pick up Dungeon Meshi one of these days.
Anime
Dead Dead Demon DEDEDEDE Destruction - completed amazing stuff, definitely recommend 9/10
Dan da Dan - 6 episodes were leaked, AMAZING. lil ecchi in the beginning but great stuff. Reminded me of FLCL. Looking forward to the rest of the season.
Edit: CW: general pervy-ness, SA, jokes about genitals are major plot points.
Shikanoko - I watch an ep every once in a while. Silly, but needs to be in small doses.
I Parry Everything - completed. funny shit! I bet I would have loved it high. It’s just predictable enough that you’re looking for the joke and it’s so satisfying when it hits.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon - Completed. Someone mentioned this a while ago so I thought I would check out thinking it was gonna e a gag anime. But they play it serious for most part… amusing, but I don’t think I’d bother if there was ever a second season of it.
Madougushi Dahliya wa Utsumukanai - completed. iseka about a girl that dies of overwork and is reborn to become an artificer. Cute, but nothing to write home about. I’m also probably not the target audience, being a middle aged dude.
Oshi no Ko season 2 - Decent enough. Adapting the manga well. Has its moments, but…
Ramen Akaneko - About a girl that’s the only human working at a Cat owned ramen shop. Cute. Not much else to say.
Currently rewatching season 4 of Lower Decks. May pick up one of the shows mentioned here tonight afterwards if I’m not sleepy.
I read Dungeon Meshi during Milton while waiting for my power to go out. Never happened. Completed. Enjoyed.
This month:
Last Exile: WW1 aesthetics, but taking place entirely in flying ships. Tons of passable CGI with very ok dogfights. It’s pretty average, but you do get one of the leads as Haruko from FLCL. I’ve had this one on my to watch list for over a decade, so I’m pretty disappointed that it turned out to be passable at best.
Oshi No Ko S2: I’m also disappointed with this one, but for a different reason. The first episode (movie?) of the first season was absolutely stellar. Psychological thriller par excellance. It seems to just be a harem with pretty animation now, I guess? I feel like it has all the potential to be something great, but it misses so many layups that I might just drop it considering what is supposed to be coming in the manga. I’m particularly irked with Kana being written to fawn over the main character, when she has the depth to be more than that.
I’m looking forward to starting Dan Da Dan sometime soon considering the studio behind it.
PTSD never looked so elegant. (Area 88)
I have a few shows I’m working through rn: Bungo Stray Dogs (finally at s5), The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio (almost done), My Deer Friend Nokotan (taking my time because it’s fantastic), rewatching D-Frag on my own, Re:Zero
I feel like I’m forgetting something
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Only thing of note lately is the anime-original Hoshiai no Sora (Stars Align). Feels like an absolute unicorn of an anime and I’m really enjoying it–unfortunate that it never got a second season. Still got four episodes to go so I don’t know if it’ll shit the bed or something, but I’m honestly not too fussed about endings and it’s absolutely been worth the price of admission already.
All manga atm right now:
Crossbone Gundam (1994): It’s written by Tomino so it has some good plot beats but so far it feels very “anime-y” if that makes sense. It doesn’t really carry the same weight a traditional Gundam show would have when it comes to war. B
Dragon Ball (1984): Love it so far, I’ve read up to the first tournament arc when I used to get comics through Viz so it’s cool seeing it uncensored. The gags are pretty charming (even if Bulma is underage
). A
Area 88 (1979): Surprised Mangadex had this, picked it up today and so far so good. I like the idea of mercenaries with fighter jets. I can see where Ace Combat got it’s inspiration from. B
Dragon Ball (1986-1989) was a fun watch. I’m gonna continue onto Z eventually.
You gotta step into the Room of Spirit and Time to watch through Dragon Ball Z
Anime:
Patlabor on TV and Patlabor: the New Files: Putting these together since they’re more or less part of the same show. This is probably one of my favorite anime of all time. There’s a primary plot about a private security company, but it really shines in the one-off episodes. There’s all sorts of fun shit - Totoro, spy capers, Wizardry/dungeon crawlers. A+
The Princess and the Pilot: I heard this described as “chick flick for plane otaku” and that’s accurate. Very fun! A
Gundam: Reconguista in G movies: I’m normally not huge on compilation movies, but this is a 5 movie adaptation of a 25 episode show, so it’s roughly equivalent. There’s some new stuff in here, but it’s still kinda hard to recommend one over the other. Must watch for Tomino brained sickos, but maybe not for newer Gundam fans. B
Dominion (tank police): “We’ve got Patlabor at home” before Patlabor existed. Eehhhhh. C-
Patlabor is one of my favorites too. I’m looking forward to the reboot coming out soon-ish.
It’s funny how the MC of Dominion Tank Police is basically the same as Noa Izumi, and they came out at the same time more or less.
Patlabor is one of my favorites too. I’m looking forward to the reboot coming out soon-ish.
I watched that 2016(?) reboot short, and it was alright. I’m so attached to the original cast that I would miss them if they go with new characters like the short lol.
It’s funny how the MC of Dominion Tank Police is basically the same as Noa Izumi, and they came out at the same time more or less.
What if Noa Izumi was more fascist lmao.
Dominion Tank Police felt like a satire to me tbh, but I suppose yeah.
Also if they have a new cast for the new Patlabor, at least have the old one show up from time to time.
Dominion Tank Police felt like a satire to me tbh, but I suppose yeah.
It can be both, kinda like Warhammer 40k stuff lol
Also if they have a new cast for the new Patlabor, at least have the old one show up from time to time.
Even better if it’s just the old cast showing up in the backgrounds, like an older Noa, Asuma, and a child at a park or Hiromi driving a small truck with chicken supplies
Reading Parasyte. Decided to pick it up researching some seinen manga and I like it so far. Has major The Thing vibes and it’s funny.
Parasyte’s fun and has a great artstyle. To my knowledge, the anime redesigned the characters, which is a huge L imo.
I’m really enjoying it so far! It’s like the best body horror of the thing mixed with what if school boy got cool powers.
Migi’s a fun character too.
The Fable just finished airing, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Oh yeah, directed by Ryosuke Takahashi (of VOTOMS, etc. fame). I still need to check it out.
Haven’t been watching/reading much.
Working thru:
Anime:
Oshi No Ko season 2 is good, but I’ve been reading the manga, so I’m not rushed.
Shikanoko is alright, though in small doses. I’m like 5 or 6 episodes in? It is sadly not kino at the level of Zetsubou Sensei (glad others are experiencing the greatness!)
Western Animation
I am once again asking you to watch Over the Garden Wall. Trying to savor it this year, so I’m only on episode 2/10 of my rewatch
Dragon ball super: its to formative to my childhood to rate fairly
I’m still stuck on Deer Friend Nokotan and the Suicide Squad anime. Both are okay, nothing too special. I’m going to cut back in the future on watching stuff that doesn’t blow me away. I will say Nokotan is quite cute and random which I do like.
I just don’t have the time to watch stuff that’s only okay these days.
Yeah, same. Dropped the two of them basically instantly. I expected way more from nokotan.
If you want a comedy anime that delivers. You HAVE to try Nichijou
I did! Abolutely amazing :)
Happy to hear you enjoyed it. It’s a real shame we only got one season of that.
Yeah, but now they’re working on ‘City The Animation’! Seems like it’ll be a nichijou v2
Recently finished with mom
- Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan: funny, sometimes low budget, sometimes cringe (mainly because of Anko), it was neat getting to follow along on this show week by week since I haven’t done that in a long time.
- Library War: very strong recommendation, the cliffhanger in the penultimate episode was so good that we had to watch the last episode right after.
Continuing from previous months with mom
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water: this is an absolute classic, it’s cartoony but it still tells a very captivating story.
- Samurai Champloo: top class, not much more I can say.
- The Boondocks: also top class, we’re nearly done with season 2 and I’ve heard that it kinda starts to drop off after that point…
Recently started with mom
- Cells at Work: Code Black: it’s not as good as previous seasons of Cells at Work, the “grittiness” rubs me the wrong way, and the new red and white blood cell duo aren’t as charming as the duo from the first two seasons. I still appreciate that they did a boner and cum episode though.
- Hitoribocchi no Marumaruseikatsu: we started watching this one because it has the same original creator as Mitsuboshi Colors. We have really enjoyed these first two episodes but I wouldn’t say it yet stands out as better than Mitsuboshi.
Brought back from years on the paused list with mom
- Barakamon: Mijikamon: these are short chibi-style videos promoting each episode of Barakamon. They’re silly, simple fun.
- Minami-ke: Okawari: the first season of Minami-ke was better, and that was itself fairly middle tier slice of life. Still, we’ve been enjoying the second season, even if we sometimes have to interpret or ad lib new lines when the subtitles randomly decide to cut out.
Anime I’ve been watching by myself
- Dinosaur King: this is a nostalgia watch, I’m only one episode in so far. It was decently entertaining but it’s a 4kids dub of a kids’ anime so y’know only so much.
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card: I’m only two episodes in, and I love seeing these characters again, but all the changes subtle or otherwise might take some getting used to. I wish it had Norwegian subs, though, since that’s how I watched the OG Cardcaptor.
- Toradora: I’ve stalled out on this one because I feel like I’ve reached a point where my feelings towards it are like a combination of my feelings towards Stardust Telepath and Gurren Lagann as I was watching those, i.e. “this character has some big feelings, and now this character has some big feelings, yawn” + “I want to finish this show but I don’t actually want to watch it”. But at least those shows had things about them that made me finish them despite me feeling kind of bored with them. I absolutely will finish Toradora but I just feel like it’s gonna take a while between each time I’ll actually say to myself, “hey, I feel like watching Toradora right now”.
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I am mainly watching my watchlist at the moment, since I already finished all good anime ever released. So now I just stare at the list of anime I could maybe watch, alongside the list of anime that would be a total waste to watch if I’m not in the right mood for them (I never am).