The Chuuni Corner

Anime reviews, Chuunibyou, and other writings

Category: Spring 2017

February 27, 2018

Banjo’s Top 5 Spring 2017 Anime

Little Witch Academia (TV) / Episode 1 / Akko seeing the Leyline

Which anime beat out the competition this Spring 2017?

I’m just now finishing up Spring 2017 season, but I’m slowly catching up!

It takes me so long because, to me, every anime deserves a shot. I don’t care what it is; I will give it its fair shake and try it out. From a dramatic story about two unfortunate people to a kindhearted tale about a grandfather and his granddaughter, I find it important to approach everything with fairness and respect and professionalism. It’s how I’ve always behaved as a writer and critic, and it’s how I’ll continue to behave for as long as I take part in this awesome medium.

Thus, with fairness in mind, we look back on this season and all that it offered. I myself tackled and reviewed eleven series in total. Of these eleven, only five earned a spot on this list, and just one claimed the prize of Best Anime of Spring 2017.

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February 25, 2018

Review/discussion about: Little Witch Academia (TV)

Little Witch Academia (TV) / Episode 2 / Akko's favorite poster of Shiny Chariot

A magical experience

(As supplementary material for this review, please refer to my writing on themes and motifs, “Little Witch Academia and Thematic ‘Magic'”.)

I can’t recall if I’ve talked about the Harry Potter series in-depth in the past, but, even if I did, it’s too relevant to Little Witch Academia and my own interests to leave on the wayside.

Long story short, I love that universe. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are an awesome trio of protagonists. The lore is interesting and packed with lots of details. Its premise, setting, and timeline make for a neat setup over the course of its whole run. I’ve read all the books, and I’ve seen the adapted films more times than I can count. It’s simply a world that I hold dear.

Do I put Little Witch Academia on the same pedestal personally? No, it doesn’t quite earn a special place in my heart. But what it does do regardless is craft and present an anime that’s worthy of praise all the same.

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February 19, 2018

Little Witch Academia and Thematic “Magic”

Little Witch Academia / Episode 1 / Akko smiling bright

What theme does Little Witch Academia explore?

Anime gives me everything I want in stories and then some.

One story may have compelling characters whose traits make me laugh. Another story may take on a completely different artistic style that dazzles my eyes with its strangeness. Then there could be a story that entertains me outright with moments of solid drama, crazy action, or sweet romance.

On that note, and just recently, I finished Little Witch Academia, Trigger’s famous and beloved anime from last year that won the hearts of many. A story about a girl’s dream to become as great a witch as her role model, the characters, the style, and the moments therein impressed me.

However, like always, I took a keen interest in the “…and then some” part of my original statement. And so I wished to know: What is this anime really about on a deeper level?

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February 19, 2018

Review/discussion about: Alice to Zouroku

Alice to Zouroku / Episode 6 / Zouroku carrying Sana on his back

Not really wonderful

It’s my hope to be a grandfather someday.

My own Grandpa turned 85 years old this week. I called him up on the phone to tell him happy birthday and to see how he has been doing. We talked about my job, his thoughts, and just life in general. To him, he’s most grateful for a simple yet important thing: his family.

From his wife to his siblings, from his kids to his grandkids and great grandkids, he is proud to know that his legacy is one filled with amazing people. Good people. And I’m lucky enough to be a part of the love that he shares.

Alice to Zouroku isn’t about birthdays and legacies, but it is about a relationship that spans a couple of generations. Sadly, whatever love it does have to share is lost along the way.

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February 19, 2018

Review/discussion about: SukaSuka

Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desu ka? / Episode 8 / Chtholly and Willem standing next to each other while watching some shooting stars

Goes unsaved

The older I get, the more I become aware of my own mortality.

A rather sad opener, right? It is, and it isn’t. When I was kid, I had no concept of death and what that meant. I wasn’t thinking about whether I’d make it to tomorrow but instead about how many hours of video games I’d be able to squeeze in-between homework and dinner.

However, with age comes maturity – and the realization that I will not be around here forever. That thought scares me; I want to see everything that life has to offer. But I won’t. I know that, and that’s the sad part.

Yet, in a paradoxical manner, that’s also the uplifting part. My time is short, so I know that I must do what I can now to make the most of it. From enjoying the moments with my loving family to fighting hard at making writing a potential career, I believe I’m doing just that. There’s still a lot left to get to, but that thought simply makes me more motivated than ever before.

Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desu ka? (which will hence be SukaSuka from here on out because jeez laweez) thinks about these same thoughts, too. And while this entire project may not reach the pinnacle of storytelling, what it has to say is still worth hearing out.

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February 16, 2018

Review/discussion about: Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ / Episode 1 / Utaha and Eriri bickering per usual

Hits a high note

In Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭, Utaha is a writer. Or, as she may say, a creator or creative. And I view myself in the same way.

I started writing officially as a critic, reviewer, and essayist about three-and-a-half years ago now. I’ve written hundreds of pieces, thousands upon thousands of words. It’s technically not my career (as much as I dream it to be), but I see it as an extension of myself and not just any other fun aside of mine (because of the seriousness with which I pursue this field). Thus, I exist within this quasi state of not quite a professional yet more than just a hobbyist. Either way, I’m a creator all the same.

Being a creator brings with it certain challenges and caveats that may not be immediately noticeable to somebody who is not. Sodatekata Flat (ditching the symbol from here on out since it’s a pain to copy-paste it constantly) understands this sentiment, presenting a sequel that surprises in its newfound direction.

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February 8, 2018

Review/discussion about: Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records

Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records / Episode 2 / Glenn explaining the limitations of his magic-sealing move

Unrecorded

I inherited from my parents a tendency to keep records of the important documents I come across.

Financial papers, important personal information. While not the most organized set of folders imaginable, I keep track of the details in my life that require it to make sure that things are in order on my end.

Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records (or Akashic Records for short) could have done the same, keeping track of itself so that everything proceeded smoothly. Instead, it misplaces its details all over the place.

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February 1, 2018

Review/discussion about: Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho

Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho / Episode 1 / Zero and Mercenary together

Grim, indeed

I hope to one day write my own novel.

While writing reviews, analyses, and essays is my forte, I have always had a keen interest in fiction. Whether completely imaginary like the Harry Potter series or closer to realism like 1984, the approach involves a different mindset that is fun to indulge. Creating witty dialogue. Describing scenery. Forming logical plotlines. It’s much different than articulating how an anime accomplished its goals or basing events off a personal set of ideas.

Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho features a novel of sorts – the Grimoire of Zero – written by one of its characters. In some sense, it contains the purely fictional (to us at any rate). Sadly, it doesn’t contain the solution for the show’s lagging performance.

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January 23, 2018

Review/discussion about: Clockwork Planet

Clockwork Planet / Episode 1 / The literal Clockwork Planet

Automatically broken

Clockwork Planet features and stars a couple of automata, robots who are more human than machine (on the outside at least).

Last year, a video game titled Nier:Automata stayed true to its name and did the same. I quickly fell in love with the somewhat niche project: 2B, the phenomenal OST, the amazing (true) ending. Not only was it my favorite game from 2017 but also it earned a spot within my all-time-best list. Alongside the likes of Banjo-Kazooie, Super Mario 64, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, Dark Souls, The Last of Us, and many others.

In comparison, Clockwork Planet will in no way be earning a similar treatment.

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January 15, 2018

Review/discussion about: Eromanga-sensei

Eromanga-sensei / Episode 10 / Sagiri playing the card game with Masamune, Elf, and Muramasa

That which must not be named

Names are a vital part to our day-to-day lives.

Mostly because they allow us to identify others. Take myself on the Internet. I go by the name “Banjo” and have done so since I first started taking part in the community. But it’s not just for people. We name pets. We name foods in the wild. We name tracks on a music album.

Without names, we’d be left with describing something without really pinpointing the thing in question. “The dog the Johnsons’ got.” “That one red, rounded fruit.” “That goofball anime writer that always starts his reviews with a prologue and an anecdote.” Clearly possible to do so, but names make it easy to quickly and accurately specify what we encounter.

Same goes for Eromanga-sensei. Its name (formally a title) instantly selects which anime a person is talking about in a conversation. Coincidentally, the name also makes it a simple method of determining which show to chuck farther away than a poison apple.

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