The Chuuni Corner

July 6, 2015

Review/discussion about: Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches

Short on quality, but not kisses or witches

I think it is safe to say that everyone has a wish they want fulfilled. Money, power, and fame are the common ones, as they seem to be the most wanted. But money, power, and fame are not everything. More often than not, what we need most is not a shiny new car or rabid fans but instead something a bit more universal. A shoulder to lean on, a friend to hang out with, or a partner to hug; one of the greatest aspects in life are the relationships we share with the people around us. For it is these very relationships that do what those previous three wishes cannot: make us happy for a lifetime. Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches is all about relationships, wishes, and of course witches, that provides an average outing overall.

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July 3, 2015

Review/discussion about: Punch Line

A 50/50 toss up

Carl Sagan, a famous physicist, once said, “Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” Whether we are conscious of it or not, our lives are filled with numerous instances of us simply trying to survive. Having a healthy diet keeps our body working well whereas wearing a seatbelt in a car provides immeasurable safety. Even something as simple as looking both ways when crossing the street could potentially save our life. We do these things – increasing our chances to live – because we do not want to die. Sounds rudimentary, but there is not a whole lot more to it than that; we all want to experience a “supremely happy future.” Punch Line is apocalyptic aversion incarnate, that’s random in nature but not quite memorable.

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June 30, 2015

Review/discussion about: Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season

Not quite unlimited

Everyone has their own set of convictions. Whether they are religiously, politically, or morally based, there are certain creeds that we, as individuals, follow. Depending on the ideals we hold, our very person is shaped, directing the lives we lead and the paths that we take. For me, I uphold a simple one: “a little kindness goes a long way.” So I try to do just that. I hold the door for others, give my thanks whenever I can, and call my family to check up on them. Small stuff, and probably pretty common too, but such actions have nonetheless made me into the kind of man that I am today, and hopefully who I’ll be in the future. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd season hones in on the convictions we maintain, but it never escapes its own faults to make its beliefs worth listening to.

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June 28, 2015

Review/discussion about: Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic

Say hello to cuteness

In elementary school, my four closest buddies and I would call ourselves “The Five Musketeers.” That’s because we did pretty much everything together while at school: sports, group activities, hanging out, making jokes, etc. We always had a blast and created memories that will last a lifetime. While we slowly drifted apart to the point that we no longer see each other, I’ll always remember them as the best friends that I ever had. Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic follows a similar troupe, showcasing impossibly cute moments while demonstrating the bonds of friendship in a familiar way.

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June 25, 2015

Review/discussion about: Show By Rock!!

Music that needed less rock and more substance

There’s this game series that is pretty popular, or at least, it was during its heyday. This video game is called “Guitar Hero.” I was never a music guy myself – I couldn’t play brass instruments, the “cool” drums, or jam out on an acoustic. But I had “Guitar Hero,” where playing was simpler, screw-ups were okay, and I got to have fun with a whammy bar. I got so good at the game that I managed to beat “Through the Fire and Flames,” considered one of the best “boss battles” in gaming history. I was capable of making music, albeit dumbed down, but it was music nonetheless. With it brought happiness and plentiful memories that I’ll never forget. Show By Rock!! looks at “the power of music,” but unfortunately becomes tone-deaf along the way.

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June 24, 2015

Review/discussion about: Owari no Seraph

In need of a guardian angel

When my brother and I were growing up at home, we always did everything together. We hung out with our neighbor friends, rode bikes, played video games; the normal, sibling stuff. But I’m the older brother, and as the older brother, I was “in charge.” There’s a distinct memory my brother always likes to bring up to sort of torment me for my immaturity. Basically, whenever my little brother wouldn’t listen to me, I’d warn him, “If you don’t do as I say, I won’t be your friend anymore.” And he would always listen. Eventually, he realized that my words were moot, but today I still feel bad about treating my brother meanly. He’s my family first and foremost, and I would do everything I could to protect him. Owari no Seraph is about brothers, family, and protecting the ones you love, but it turns out, it’s the one that needs the saving.

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June 21, 2015

Review/discussion about: Assassination Classroom

Assassination is the least of its worries

As I made my way through my early education, I always considered myself a pretty good student. I read my books, did my homework, and played nicely during recess. There was a big flaw that took a while for me to shake off, though: talking way too much. I would talk while the teachers were speaking, I would talk over my friends, and I would talk during assemblies when I wasn’t supposed to. No matter how many reprimands or punishments I got, I couldn’t seem to get it into my noggin that there are times when you get to speak your mind and times when you just have to shut up. I eventually learned this lesson – it took a little too long by my family’s account – but my teachers never gave up on me. They stuck through my incessant ramblings, allowing me to realize the error of my ways, making me into a better person because of their hard work. Assassination Classroom performs similarly, offering an anime that still has lessons to be learned.

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June 14, 2015

Review/discussion about: Triage X

Get this one an IV drip, stat

When I was in the third grade, I came down with something pretty awful. My eyes burned, head ached, and I was sweating profusely. Plus, I had this terrible cough. I’ll never forget the x-ray I saw that day, with the huge blotch over my lung. The diagnosis came back pneumonia. Now, as a youngling, I had pretty much no idea the gravity of the situation I was in. All I knew was that I had to take this gross liquid because the pill was ginormous. I missed Halloween, too, which was completely unfair. Luckily (as me typing this should be evidence enough) I made it through this ordeal, and I owe it all to the medicine and care I received from both the doctors and my family. Triage X is “similar” in that “doctors” aim to eliminate “sickness,” but this anime is itself a disease in every sense of the word.

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June 8, 2015

Banjo’s Top 10 Winter 2015 Anime

Who reigns supreme this Winter 2015?

This arrives way later than I expected it to!

Having finally completed and reviewed every anime that I set out to watch at the start of the Winter 2015 season, this list can now come into fruition. There were a lot of contenders — more than 25 in total — but only the best of the best can arrive at the forefront.

Looking at the season as a whole, it’s actually pretty astounding to realize just how lucky we are, as an audience, when it comes to the medium we love so much. The diversity, the ideas, the passion; it’s present everywhere you look. I’m not one to shy away from harping on anime — see Isuca, Tokyo Ghoul Root A, and Juuou Mujin no Fafnir for examples — but even these lowly ones showcase the incredible range anime has in its repertoire. This time around, there are shows involving lesbians of the dragon and bear variety; shows that induce sadness through song and relaxation through dinner; and even some that go meta in their own, respective ways. It was an interesting season, one that proved that anime is, and always will be, amazingly unique.

Before diving into the list, it’s important to know two ideas. First, that I am an advocate of an anime “counting” in the season in which it completed. Meaning, whether it’s fantastic or not, something like Assassination Classroom has no place here. On the opposite end, anime such as Log Horizon 2nd Season do have a shot since it concluded in Winter 2015 despite starting the season prior. So, if you don’t see Parasyte — The Maxim here on my list, that means I either didn’t see it or it wasn’t good enough to make it (it’s the latter!).

Second, each anime has a personalized review that demonstrates why it deserves to be here in the first place. Simply click on an anime’s name to be linked to its review to read my complete thoughts on it. For every review that I wrote last season, follow this link to my Winter 2015 Reviews page!

With all of the introductions, formalities, and rules out of the way, it’s time to get to my Top 10 Winter 2015 Anime!

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June 8, 2015

Review/discussion about: Samurai Warriors

Samurai, warriors, but no heart

My younger brother is a pretty cool guy. Funny, too. But obviously not as awesome or hilarious as I am – it’s the “Law of Older Brothers” or something like that. Being brothers, we understand each other pretty well due to the unique relationship that we share. We agree on subjects, but we also bicker and quarrel whenever we see fit. Yet, at the end of the day, despite the arguments that we might have, I know that we are always looking out for one another. Because he’s not just my family but my baby bro. Samurai Warriors sets its sights on a tale of two brothers that ultimately fails at nearly everything that it tries.

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