The Chuuni Corner

Anime reviews, Chuunibyou, and other writings

Tag: The Chuuni Corner

September 30, 2019

Review/discussion about: Yuru Camp△

Yuru Camp△ / Episode 1 / The whole group having lots of fun camping together

More than enough healing and laughing to fill a campsite

The girls of Yuru Camp△ are quite adventurous.

In comparison, I wouldn’t deem myself as an outdoorsy person. I prefer listening to my metal music in my comfy room, streaming challenging video games on my consoles, and of course watching my favorite anime at my desk. For the most part, these activities take place indoors, and I relish the solitude they bring.

Yet there’s more to life than just being cooped up inside all the time as I like to do. Indeed, the five laid-back campers of this anime promise a firsthand look-see at the wonder and the happiness that can only be found when taking that first willing step.

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August 27, 2019

Review/discussion about: Mahoutsukai no Yome

Mahoutsukai no Yome / Episode 1 / Chise and Elias together

Broken vows

Marriage often binds both parties with a single phrase: “until death do us part.”

Mahoutsukai no Yome chooses another phrase instead: “doomed to fail.”

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August 6, 2019

Review/discussion about: Garo: Vanishing Line

Garo: Vanishing Line / Episode 19 / Sophie and Sword and their wholesome friendship

Vanished away

The phrase “drawing a line in the sand” is used to represent the spot or the threshold that somebody should not cross for fear of consequences.

Garo: Vanishing Line, true to its name, brushes the sand away to pretend as if that line never existed. All so that it may go where it wishes and do as it pleases.

The anime was under the false pretense, though, that nobody would notice its transgressions.

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July 31, 2019

Review/discussion about: Citrus

Citrus / Episode 1 / Yuzu and Mei meeting one another for the first time

Tacky fun and acidic woes

Citrus embodies its namesake; the ever-present sweet-and-sour fruitiness captures the title well.

But, like a theater troupe booed off stage, it must dodge the oranges and the limes hurled in its direction for the poor showing it offers.

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June 30, 2019

Review/discussion about: Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san / Episode 1 / Takagi content and Nishikata defeated

Helga and Arnold from another universe

My uncle has a quote which not only has stuck with me my whole life ever since he first said it aloud but also perfectly captures the spirit of Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san without any troubles.

“If we ain’t teasin’ ya, then we don’t like ya.”

It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. Most people are not comfortable being playful with complete strangers, and even more people avoid interacting with those whom they dislike. So, teasing is, in a way, another term for caring.

My family and I tease each other all the time whenever we have get-togethers, yet Nishikata and especially Takagi take the medal for teasing champions as their relationship plays out in kindhearted fashion.

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May 31, 2019

Review/discussion about: Koi wa Ameagari no You ni

Koi wa Ameagari no You ni / Episode 3 / Akira and Mr. Kondou standing together

An extraordinary rain

“It’s always calmest before the storm.”

This phrase is known and used for those situations when the good times must surely predate (or even predict) an encroaching ugliness. It’s succinct in usage, and it’s easy to understand. But it’s also rather pessimistic. A doom-and-gloom approach to what life brings on the horizon.

Because that which follows a storm can have a balanced sense of optimism. The warmth of sunshine. The colorful image of a rainbow. The smell of fresh nature. So, those ugly times may arrive without remorse, but goodness can prevail. If nothing else, Koi wa Ameagari no You ni adheres to this stance, promising a phenomenal anime containing a similar happiness.

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April 17, 2019

Koi wa Ameagari no You ni and the Power of Visual Storytelling

Koi wa Ameagari no You ni / Episode 10 / Akira and Mr. Kondou going to a book fair

What really makes visual storytelling so powerful?

Anime would be nothing, a void on the screen if not for arguably its most inherent, important element: visuals.

Art and animation grant the characters, the audio, and everything else the chance to shine. They’re that next step beyond the pages of a book or a passing conversation with a friend. If nothing else, “anime” literally stems from the word “animation”, indicating quite plainly how vital these visuals are to this medium.

It follows, then, that visual storytelling is the crux of anime. When an anime gets it wrong, a clouded journey ensues. When an anime gets it right, stardom awaits. Koi wa Ameagari no You ni is one such brilliant star in the sky. But why is its visual storytelling so powerful?

This essay will attempt to explain the power behind visual storytelling. First, an understanding of what it is, how it works, and where it comes from will take place. Afterwards, relevant analysis of examples from Koi wa Ameagari no You ni will reinforce the claims made. Hopefully, by the end of this piece, you’ll not only have a better grasp of this idea but also a better appreciation of this wonderful show as well.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

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April 8, 2019

Banjo’s Top 5 Fall 2017 Anime

Ballroom e Youkoso / Episode 3 / Tatara readying himself for his first live dance

The results are in for Fall 2017….

I can finally put my Fall 2017 anime season behind me!

Not that I’m going to forget about it anytime soon. Since my last list, I became an uncle for the very first time in my life, I survived a medical procedure which luckily gave me a clean bill of health, and I finally passed the 300 review milestone in my writing career. I’m extremely grateful for these three outcomes, and, since I’ll be remembering them for the rest of my life, I’ll subsequently be remembering this interesting season in which they all happened, too.

In turn, these past few months also enlightened me to a rather simple fact: I grow to love this medium more and more with each passing year. Whether I’m watching an ultra-grounded drama about a bunch of college-bound students or a rom-com featuring two gamers at heart, anime always has a new, exciting experience waiting right around the corner.

On that note, let’s take a tiny trip down memory lane for this season. Eleven separate shows were competing for the five spots available. However, only one has claimed the title of Best Anime of Fall 2017.

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April 4, 2019

Review/discussion about: Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau

Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau / Episode 12 / The Mud Whale facing a red-purple sunset

Shipwrecked

Whales are intelligent, majestic creatures. Rulers of the sea by size and by power.

In comparison, Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau has no size. It has no power.

All it really rules over is the bottom of the ocean – right where it belongs.

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March 31, 2019

Review/discussion about: Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou

Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou / Episode 1 / Yuuri and Chito staring in awe as the nighttime sky before them

A splendid “vacation”

Unlike the leading ladies of Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou, I probably would not survive the apocalypse.

It first assumes that I’d make it through whatever horrible catastrophe would befall humanity, and I would just-so-happen to be lucky enough to have a fighting chance. But then my prospects would reach zilch real quick when most everything else has disappeared: life’s pleasures, family, some semblance of health.

I wouldn’t know what to do with myself, and I’m sure my mental state would degrade as hopelessness sets in. However, after finishing this anime and seeing the ways in which these girls approach such a world, I’ve learned that there may yet be optimism left to cling onto.

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