Welcome everyone, this is Ebby of The Demented Ferrets, back with my second blog post and video. Today I’ll be dragging you all along with me through my childhood while I reminisce about one of my favorite shows of all time. Let’s begin.
Many of us have our favorite tv shows that have stuck with us over the years, usually from our childhood. Today, I’d like to talk about a childhood favorite of mine from the Transformers series called Beast Wars (or Beasties, if you watched the show in Canada), released in 1996 and ran until 1999 with three seasons. It was a computerized cartoon using 3d models for everything. When it first released (and through my six-year old eyes), this was mind-blowing. Granted, I grew up somewhat poor, with the most advanced piece of tech we owned being a tv, so I didn’t have access to a computer or video game consoles until my early teen years in the early 2000’s.
The first episode I watched drew me in and I was instantly hooked. The character designs, 3d world, the music, voice acting: all amazing. I became obsessed with flipping through channels to find similar shows (when Beast Wars wasn’t playing, obviously). I found ReBoot (which I may talk about another time), another show made by the same company: Mainframe Entertainment (currently known as of 2020 as Mainframe Studios), as well as The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, which also incorporated a 3d world at certain points, alongside the traditional hand drawn cartoon animation. A sequel to Beast Wars titled Beast Machines was aired in 1999 until 2000.
Beast Wars: Transformers takes place about 300 years after the war between the Autobots and Decepticons, and directly follows the Transformers: Generation 1 continuity. It begins with a one-on-one space ship battle between the previous wars’ participants: The Maximals (descendants of the Autobots), and the Predacons (descendants of the Decepticons). Both ships emerge from a vortex and during the firefight, crash land on the nearby planet, landing relatively close to one another. The ships scan for lifeforms that the transformers can appropriate in order to both blend in, as well as protect them from the overflow of raw Energon that the mysterious planet is abundant with. The two groups soon meet and all Inferno breaks loose. I won’t spoil much more of the story here.
From this point, I’ll just just say that of all of the characters, Dinobot will always be my favorite, but if I had to go by visual appearance, I would have to go with his Transmetal II form, which made its debut later in the series. I love all of the Transmetal II forms, now that I think of it… Anyway, Dinobot’s voice actor (Scott McNeil) is among my top 5 voice actors, maybe even top 3. In Beast Wars alone, he voiced: Rattrap, Dinobot, Waspinator, Silverbolt, Dinobot’s Clone, Cicadacon (one of the large floating heads, if I remember right) and Transmetal II Dinobot (obviously). In other shows, he has voiced Wolverine in the X-Men animated series, Piccolo in the Ocean Dub of Dragon Ball Z, many, many voices including Koga in Inuyasha, just as many in ReBoot, and many, many others. All of his work is amazing.
I’m going to leave it here while I rewatch the show (as well as its sequel: Beast Machines) for the millionth time, and I implore you to watch it for yourselves.
This has been Ebby of “The Demented Ferrets”, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. Until next time…
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Welcome to our little corner of the Internet! l’m Frost, and I would like to talk to you about a series that I really enjoyed, time after time I have watched it. With it getting an English language dub, I figured that this is a good time to talk about it with others.
And of course, the usual warning of potential spoilers applies.
The series I am talking about is one that, I will be honest, I skipped at first. The premise was ambitious and sounded odd, and I was not sure if it would stick the landing. Then I heard the opening song, and it’s a real banger of a song. After that, I checked out the actual opening animation, and I was intrigued.
The first episode had me hooked, and now here I am, a fan of Ya Boy Kongming! It’s a newer series, produced in 2022 by P. A. Works.
Where to start? Well, let’s start with the music, since that was what initially pulled me in. The soundtrack is amazing, with most of the songs being performed by Kuroneko and Laezel. I will admit, I am not usually a fan of this style of music, but the vocals combined with the series’ top notch animation and great characterizations drew me in. I am kind of obsessed over Dreamer. It is one of my favorite songs from an anime of all time.
I would say it even beat out Flare and Dark Seeks Light.
Now, what about the story?
It is an unusual story, which is why I skipped it at first. Kongming was one of the greatest tacticians from the Three Kingdoms area, and he met his end in 234 AD. Now, in the series he is reborn as a younger version of himself in modern day Japan.
In Shibuya. On Halloween.
Needless to say, he thinks he has been sent to Hell. Understandable, considering.
He ends up at a club, where he meets the other leading character. A singer trying to make the jump into being a true professional. A young woman named Eiko, who works in the club and sings from time to time. Her performance moves him, and I will say it caught my attention as well. Kuroneko did just an amazing job.
It is a story that really touched me. It is a comedy, yes. However, one that has shades of redemption, personal growth, and questions of morality. What will you do to make it big? What will you sacrifice? What means the most to you, your integrity or fame? And how far will you go, to make amends for the mistakes you made in the past?
The writers did an amazing job on bringing this to light in ways that are very relatable.
Another factor I really enjoyed was watching the titular character deploy what were some of the most ruthless and innovative military strategies of all time… To advance the career of a young woman that he found a worthy person to serve under.
The supporting cast is another shining part of the story. None of them are really throwaways, except for the true bit characters. Even some of the supporting characters get their own time to shine, their own chance to confront their fears, their regrets, and rise above them.
And let’s face it, everyone loves the Three-kingdoms nerd that is the owner of the club. I really liked the fact that they show much more to him than JUST the gag trope. He is a vital part of the story, from making sure that things are done, to giving Kongming help behind the scenes. He even was the reason for Eiko to not just still be around, but to have decided to pursue what became her dream.
Okay, now I’m going to talk a bit about the bones of the show, as it were.
The animation style fits very well. The attention to little details, like how Kongming walks in his robes, the use of his fan, and the little bounce that Eiko does before she performs really are great uses of animation to tell the story, and to set the characters. Some of the insert animations that are used, especially during the rap battle, are just awesome. I loved how they used it to portray the battle between two forces. It really made it seem even more epic than it already was (and as someone who honestly doesn’t really like ‘modern’ rap, seeing the older style of free-form rap was very nice.)
The backgrounds and scenery are very nicely done, and truly make you feel like you are immersed in their world. No matter how good the characters look, if you don’t have a good setting for them, they lose the impact. The night time views of Shibuya are amazing, and the scene where they are atop the tower and looking down on the city? Perfection.
The sound and music are honestly spot on. They pretty much have to be in this kind of show, but let’s all admit, we have seen many musical shows where the music… Really didn’t stand up to what it should. The composition, pacing, and in-world use of insert songs was great. It made me very eager for them to release the full soundtrack, not just the televised versions of the songs. The ease that they used multiple styles and genres of music was masterful. Honestly, I now have an appreciation for several styles of music that were never on my radar before.
I would highly recommend this series, in any format, for anyone that is a fan of great music, characters that you really feel for without the need to cry, and just some of the best feelings I have gotten out of a show this season. Oh, and for Three-Kingdom nerds, of course. I am hoping that they will announce another season, but I will definitely be reading this series just in case.
I hope that you give this series a shot, and don’t forget to dream big.
And don’t get lost in the Stone Sentinel Maze!
This has been Frost from The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest, and level grinds are par for the course, and we’ll see you next time!
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Hey everyone, it’s Kern here, and it’s about time I sit down and write out a few thoughts that have been on my mind for a while. I love anime, and I love video games. I wouldn’t be spearheading this blog if I didn’t, but it isn’t all sunshine and roses, either. While I’ll be the first to say a lot of good can come out of blogging, I’ll also be the first to tell you that it is an uphill grind if you’re trying to make that blog profitable.
I’m a big fan of blogging in general, but blogging isn’t for everyone.
I’ve decided I’d highlight the pros and cons of blogging about anime and gaming to help you determine if it is the right fit for you. First though, we should talk about what a blog is, and why you might consider writing one.
What is Blogging?
If you want the “big media marketing” answer, it goes a little something like this: a blog is written media that is used to help people interact and learn, trading information based on real-life experiences and data. Blogs are used to help others make a better purchasing decision, or to simply learn something new. While none of that is entirely wrong, I wouldn’t say that’s the main crux of an anime or gaming blog.
Blogging is more than that when we’re talking about hobbies, games and other types of media. For anime and gaming fans, blogging isn’t always about selling something. Sure, it can be about that. More often though, in fandom related spaces, it is about sharing the love of those mediums.
We do this in several ways, from writing reviews and rants, to simply getting the word out about a series we really care about.
So, who should be a blogger?
Anyone who wants to do it, should do it. The baseline to beginner blogging is incredibly low. All you need is a way to write the blog, a site to write upon (even a free one), and a willingness to learn the craft. Sadly, that also means learning to roll with the punches when you’ve got to learn something new.
So, who shouldn’t be a blogger?
Anyone who isn’t motivated to face just a little bit of a struggle. Anyone who thinks it’ll be easy to just skyrocket to the top of google searches and pump out content will be disappointed. Blogging is more complicated than that. Some people will hit the jackpot sure enough. A small number will luck out and trend quickly… but most of us won’t.
The vast majority of us have to do the grind. While the baseline to entry is low, the learning curve to become a blog that earns an income will actually be fairly steep. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Blogging is pretty straightforward, but that doesn’t mean you can be lazy. There is a lot to learn.
If you’ve made it this far, you probably want to weigh out your options. Maybe you just want to see what you might be up against. Maybe you already have a blog, and you’ve come here looking for advice. Either way, you’ll find something useful.
I’m going to take a look at blogging from a few key points of view:
Early Opportunities and Possible Income
Life Balance and Time Management
Communication and Networking
Other Perspectives
Skills You Need
With that being said, let’s jump into the good things about blogging, there’s a decent number to consider.
Pros of Anime and Gaming Blogs.
Blogging, in general, is a gateway used to share content that we enjoy. Each blogger has their own methods. One great thing about blogging is that as a written craft, it can be very fluid. We all have our own writing style, and cadences that we develop across sentence structure. Readers do learn to identify our brand with our particular style.
At the end of the day, it is a way for us to get our voices out there. There are a few perks for those that write blogs, and someone willing to work for the rewards will end up reaping a few benefits.
1. Earning a Living.
For those that just want to use the blogging format as a hobby, you’re in luck. You don’t have to be perfect to simply enjoy the pure power of the written word. For someone who just loves the craft, there’s just not a lot of downsides. Actually there are more good qualities than bad ones. Provided your content can be considered “workplace friendly” then go ahead and put your hobbyist blog onto your CV or resume. It doesn’t matter if it has nothing to do with your particular line of work, if you’re young, use that to your advantage.
I’ll be blunt. Any business with half a brain knows that blogging, social media and proper networking help to make brands more reputable. It also makes you look more reputable if you have a blog about your hobbies that you’ve cultivated slowly over time. If you aren’t going to university, you need every advantage. Even if you only have a small following, this gives you a social media presence as well. Employers like to do background checks anyway.
Bottom line for hobbyist bloggers; give them a bone to chew and a paper trail to follow. Allow your blog to uplift you as a person and you’ll be ahead of the game.
On the flip side, for those who do want to see an income in this medium, it’ll take time and effort. Building a name that can be trusted and learning the nuances of the blogging sphere isn’t a quick thing to do. With blogging, your income is entirely driven by your ability to promote your content and grow your brand. This is what we call “brand awareness”.
If people know of your brand, you’ll be more likely to build an audience and maintain it.
To make money blogging within fan based mediums, you’ve got to find more than just your niche. You’ve got to find your passion and drive that forward in your written word. Even so, yes, there is money to be made as an anime and gaming blogger.
Monetizing your blog can come in all kinds of forms, from affiliate links to advertising traffic. At the time of this post, we don’t use advertising traffic here on The Demented Ferrets just yet. However, it is something we may look into going forward, when the time is right.
You can work on commission based requests once you get your name out there. Beyond that, you can set up further methods like we do here on The Demented Ferrets using other methods such as PayPal and Patreon.
Early on, you may only see pocket change. In this often difficult economy every little bit helps, and it does add up over time. Put those small earnings into savings and let it build up. If you’re wise about it, playing the monetary long-game isn’t a bad thing.
2. Low Monetary Cost.
The reality is, you can start a blog for free on many platforms. With the rise of Medium, it has never been easier to test out blogging for yourself. Plenty of anime and gaming related bloggers find themselves a nice corner of the internet by starting up on Medium and networking out from there. For those who see blogging as merely a hobby, or those looking to put a blog onto a CV or resume, using free platforms like Medium will suit you just fine.
However, if you’re truly invested in starting your own blog, I’d suggest going the paid route and making your own. This will allow you to start a reputable brand image and begin to build the trust you’ll need to eventually get earnings. If an income is what you’re after, you need a brand to stand by.
Building a reputation is fundamentally important. For some of us, that can be a long road, it behooves you to start early and be consistent.
There is some more good news too, hosting is pretty affordable. If you take your time to look into the right hosting providers and site builders, you’re halfway there. You’ll be able to get yourself a blog without breaking the bank.
Remember, if you’re a beginner, you don’t need to break the bank with all the bells and whistles. You can take your time to learn what you’re doing. In light of this, WordPress.com recently reverted back to their old pricing model after their little experiment went awry. They’ve got some affordable price points again, and other places do too… look around and choose the one best for you.
Remember, as a newbie, slow and steady wins the race.
Check out This Blog post on Readability and “The Reading Ease Ideal”.
I’m not writing this to get your attention, I’m writing this because I’m going to tell you the truth. You’ll follow me of your own volition, or you won’t. If…
3. Blogging is a Platform.
Blogging is your chance to have a voice. You can reach out to the wider world and meet all kinds of people by blogging. With time and the desire to interact with others, you’ll find plenty of other people with like-minded interests. When it comes to fandom related content such as anime and gaming, we’re a wide and diverse community, people of all walks of life find their place to belong.
People who blog about anime and gaming, typically love anime and gaming. We’re passionate about these hobbies, and we like to share that with others.
These days, people use big buzzwords like “influencers”, “Instagram models” and “Tiktok stars”. That’s fine, and people earn a living that way too, sure enough. These are all platforms, right along with YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and countless others…
It’s easy to forget these days that blogging is a platform too, and that bloggers have our own communities and circles of friends, just like people on other platforms. I’m not always as outspoken in my personal online circle as I should be, but I do the best I can…
Shout-out to Iridium Eye Reviews who is also a variety blogger with anime and movie reviews. Go check them out. Did you know that I once wrote an open letter to him regarding blogging and some of the struggles that bloggers often share in common?
If you’re new to blogging, or just having a hard time as a blogger, go ahead and check out my open letter.
Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here and this is a more serious, introspective post that directly references this one here, written by Ospreyshire. The title? “Top 7 Concerns I Have As a Film…
The key point I want you to know is that blogging is a journey. The communities we join really matter to us. We often lift up fellow bloggers when we can, because back-linking those of like minds and content often share communities and readers. It’s important to network this way, and it usually feels pretty good too.
As bloggers, we often come across some pretty cool anime and games that way too… bloggers tend to be readers of other blogs, so discovering new content is always a blast.
4. Blogging is Fun.
Blogging is a creative medium. If you have something to say, then blogging gives you the ability to say it. Many gaming and anime bloggers are purely in it for the hobby of blogging, no matter how big they get. A lot of us just like to do it, and if it goes somewhere, that’s awesome. If it doesn’t, then for a lot of people, that’s no big deal either… we do it because we love it.
Working on our mastery of the craft, namely the power of the written word, is part of the fun. Talking about the hobbies and interests we have can be fulfilling enough on its own. For many of us, that’s reason enough to do it.
A great example of this can be seen by a great anime reviewer known as Irina Watches Anime, who has stated more than once that her blog is only a hobby. She cares for her blog deeply, but it will always just be a hobby for her… and I really respect that.
Guest bloggers share content too from time to time on her blog too, and that’s just another way bloggers help to support and uplift each other. Collaboration and networking really is a key part of being successful no matter what kind of blogger you happen to be.
The Cons of Anime and Gaming Blogs.
You knew this was coming, blogging isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For as great as blogging is, no matter how much I do love it, there are some downsides. For every good reason to work hard on your blog, there are some reasons you may decide blogging just isn’t for you.
1. Time and Effort
To have a large blog with lots of readers, it takes time and a fair bit of effort. When it comes to anime and gaming, this is particularly true. No matter what kind of blogger you are, this is a somewhat saturated market to get into. That means you’ll have to devote your time to just being noticed.
While the barrier to entry can be incredibly low, the barrier to long standing success is actually fairly high. It continues to get higher by the day. I don’t say that to intimidate you, I say that as a blogger making the up-hill climb personally.
This particular blog is still working its way up the ladder to something completely sustainable. Here on The Demented Ferrets we’re “middling” bloggers. We’re not super popular, we’re not bottom of the barrel. We have a decent and dedicated reader base, and we’re still growing… but we’re not paying all the bills in our homes with this website… not yet.
To be entirely transparent, at the time of this post, we do pay for the website with our earnings and we have a bit of pocket change thanks to our Patreon supporters and other donations. However, we haven’t put all of our eggs into one basket, and you shouldn’t either… not at first.
We also have plans for forward growth and momentum, but we understand that takes time. We all still have day jobs and stream on Twitch as well. From a purely blogging perspective though, it hcan be a lot of hard work. Here’s just a few things that need to be done on a regular basis:
Keeping abreast of blogging trends within my niche.
Contacting others/networking
Topic and planning and scheduling
Writing posts like this one
Creating new forms of content and collecting the right materials to do that effectively
Managing social media
Routine keyword research
Updating old posts when required
Several other mundane but required tasks.
Keep in mind, The Demented Ferrets has a blog with topics revolving around anime and gaming. If I’m doing an anime or movie review, I have to watch the series. If I do a game review, I have to play the game. That’s time consuming, but it is required. I’m not even the best gamer out there, as our Twitch channel so often proves. It helps very little when my cat, Sabin, decides to complicate matters even further.
In any case, blogging is a time investment. It isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s not a hard and fast solution to all of your monetary woes. I’d say this goes double in the anime and gaming sphere. You’ve got to get into it because you want to get into it, not for any other reason.
2. Significant Amounts of Patience and Persistence
This ties into point number one, but it needs to be its own separate category. Look, I won’t mince words, blogging can be very emotionally draining. If you don’t love it, you won’t be able to commit to all of the things you need to know. Blogging has its own lingo and skill sets that you need to learn.
As an anime or gaming blogger, that gets just a little bit more difficult. We need to know all about the anime and games we write about, and these are two very diverse mediums. I’m going to be honest, the grind is real, and it can be a very good way to snap your resolve as a blogger.
If you expect too much of yourself too soon, you will burn out… and it’s not just writing the blogs, either.
The games you play have their own barrier of entry too. Thanks to exclusivity deals, another barrier is in front of you by default. Your general ability to play and beat a game will be a barrier too. You’ll have to manage your expectations effectively. You need the proper technology to play the game, and that’s an investment in itself sometimes. Then you need to at least play enough of the game to adequately come to a determination on how to properly review the title.
With some games being incredibly long, that alone is a time investment. That’s not even considering the blog post you’ll have to prepare after you’ve played it.
For example, for our play through of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time it took Ebby almost 24 hours of gameplay footage to do a 100% run…. and that’s just the footage we edited down. That wasn’t even the blog post or video editing that came along with it.
Check out our gameplay post of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Hey everyone, it’s time for another set of gameplay videos. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time probably doesn’t need an introduction, chances are good that you’ve heard of it. The game was first released on the Nintendo 64 back…
Anime, movies and television shows have a similar issue. With streaming services snapping up exclusive licenses left and right, watching certain titles legally can sometimes be a pain in the behind. When you take into consideration the “Netflix” binge model, you may as well kiss away an entire afternoon just to watch the series when it comes out… that can take away time from other meaningful things.
It’s easy to find yourself sucked into a void as a blogger. I’d say that gaming and anime have their own occasionally insidious practices. Frankly, blogging does too. These issues can, and sometimes do, build up… it can be a stressful situation, and some people just can’t take the heat.
3. Fandom
I love being an anime and gaming fan, I do. It’s great to meet new people and share experiences. It can be a lot of fun, I pointed that out directly in this post a little while ago. However, fandom like all things, has a dark side. There are times that a fandom might argue or turn on each other, and this is the internet.
It is very easy to lose sight of our own personal experiences and thus, lose sight of the power that these mediums hold… but just as those mediums compel us to write about them, they compel others to feel something just as valuable on a personal level. We can’t forget that.
Fans are simply fans because they feel connected to the things they care about. Their reasons are their own, just as our reasons are ourown. Gaming and anime fandom have a distinctive “gate keeping” mentality on occasion, and no matter what your stance on that is, it isn’t going to go away any time soon.
The fact is, when we care deeply about something, it can hurt to feel invalidated by the opinion of another. Readers sometimes lash out and leave nasty comments, that’s a fact. All bloggers that talk about beloved media get a few not-so-nice comments on occasion.
If you blog for long enough, and share your personal opinions about anime or gaming commonly enough, there’s going to be someone out there who will disagree with you. People have bad days, and sometimes they take that out in comment sections.
Occasionally, seeing an opinion that’s harsh upon a thing they’re a fan of, truly is the last straw… and they may not offer constructive criticism in return.
Sometimes, you’ll get a very angry commentator that says some very nasty things… and you will have to deal with that. I’m sorry if this has happened to you, it has happened to me too… and as a blogger, eventually it will happen to all of us. I would say that all bloggers that discuss fandom related topics need to have thick emotional skin, but it isn’t just about that….
It’s about understanding that fandom is a powerful tool, and respecting that tool is part of being an anime or gaming blogger. We are the ones putting ourselves out there, and that’s a hard thing to do sometimes.
My Conclusions About Anime and Gaming Blogs.
Blogging is a journey. You will learn more about yourself, and the content you enjoy. It’ll give you something to really sink your teeth into. It’ll forge your outlook on the things you write about. Creatively, you’ll learn to be a wordsmith, cultivating and creating your own content for the world to see.
Does that mean blogging is for everyone? No, absolutely not.
Gaming and anime blogging requires a rich and diverse set of skills that aren’t exactly inherent to blogging directly. Both of these kinds of media can be a bit exclusionary too, simply by default. Blogging may be cheap, but gaming and anime aren’t always cheap hobbies. Streaming services and exclusivity deals certainly make that just a tad more difficult on occasion.
Anime and gaming fandom have an ebb and flow that can certainly become complicated the moment that a scandal in the industry arises. Crunch times and poor working conditions can cause fandom to run amok. Sometimes they fight among themselves, or aim that frustration outward. Series that are products of a bygone era may be problematic these days, and those are just the surface level concerns to be aware of… does that mean I’m going to discourage you from being a blogger?
No, I’m not… I’m going to do the opposite.
If you’ve read all of that and you still want to be a blogger, then it may be the right choice for you. I think blogging is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, because it can teach you so much about yourself… if you want to start up a blog, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.
However, I also think blogging is a challenge. There are times when it can be difficult, and times when you’ll need to puzzle out a problem or educate yourself on something you don’t know.
There’s not really anyone to hold your hand. Unless you know a blogger personally, you’ll be doing a lot of research. Even once you get into contact with fellow bloggers, we don’t always have the answers you might need. We all have our own tactics and methods to this madness, with time, you will too…
I hope this has been at least some help to you, and I wish you luck on your blogging endeavors.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at it’s finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll catch you next time. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more content.
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Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here, coming at you with another anime review. I’m going to be trying a new review format today. If you like the way this one is laid out, please let me know. I’m trying to improve upon my standard formula, and want to know your opinion. Today, I’ll be reviewing ACCA 13.
Anime: ACCA 13
Genres: Drama, politics, thriller, economics
Episodes: 12 and an OVA
Target Demographic: Seinen (18–30 year old audience)
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Shingo Natsume
Other Media: Yes.
Manga written by Natsume Ono: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept
Manga written by Natsume Ono: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. P.S.
Setting:
The anime takes place in Dowa, a kingdom subdivided into 13 states. Each one acts under their own autonomy and influence. To help facilitate the governance of this kingdom, an organization known as ACCA helps to maintain peace.
Quick Look:
I neither love nor hate this series, but I do think it stands as a solid viewing experience for the genre and themes the anime presents. If you need something else to watch between your typical seasonal line-up, ACCA 13 is a decent choice. What it lacks in heart pounding action sequences, it more than makes up for that, offering mind-games and political intrigue.
The anime is a technical marvel, made a spectacle for the small and intricate details embedded into every fiber of the series. Instead of large bombastic moments, this anime offers you a much more down-to-earth narrative and satisfying character development.
If you’re looking for something thoughtful to sink your teeth into, you’ll like this anime. If you want action, suspense, and mindlessness, look elsewhere… this is not a shoot-em-up, and victories don’t come at the hand of overpowered lead characters with more ego than good sense.
Mind you, ACCA 13 is a very high-brow anime, suffused with socioeconomic issues, cultural questions, politics and policy at every turn. This is not what I call a “popcorn anime”. You’ll get the most out of the series if you’re willing to take your time and savor the episodes slowly. I do not suggest trying to binge-watch it.
In-Depth Review:
The main protagonist is Jean the “cigarette peddler”, as he’s so often called. This guy always seems to get into trouble despite his best efforts. It’s not usually his fault, either. He tries his best to keep a low profile, going about his day without getting mixed up in problems that he shouldn’t. It’s just that his best laid plans don’t always work the way he might like. For him, another headache is just another day of work.
As the deputy chief of the “territory inspection division”, a subbranch of ACCA, he has his work cut out for him. As the story begins, all he really wants to do is finish the state inspections he’s been saddled with and find a suitable replacement to take his job. He’s tired of the workday grind, and nearly ambivalent about his daily tasks.
All he wants to do is take a quiet position somewhere else, literally almost anywhere else. He’s done with all of the hassle that his position demands of him. Unfortunately, there are murmurs circling around reguarding a coup d’etat, and once again Jean is dragged into countless details he never even wanted to be bothered with in the first place.
By and large, this is your typical cloak and dagger sort of anime. Think big crime and spy syndicates, wrapped up nicely in a political thriller coat of paint. Anime like ACCA 13 can be hard to find, and I think that stands as a very good reason why the hype for this anime was so all-consuming when it was first released.
This is a Madhouse production. You can see that within every detail of the animation. None of the anime feels low quality, and everything looks absolutely gorgeous. With openings and endings that remind me of Burst Angel and Psycho-Pass, there’s just a lot to like here. The entire series carries a sort of European flair, represented in the backdrops surrounding the characters. Meanwhile, the character designs themselves remain striking and distinctive amidst their eye-catching environment.
The sound design and music remains pleasing to the ear, and often fitting for the scenes they’re playing beneath. That being said, I wouldn’t say that the entire soundtrack is memorable, only that it’s entirely serviceable. Really, that’s all we need, so that’s just fine. As long as it remains consistently solid across the series, and it does, that’s all I truly care about.
While the overall tone of ACCA 13 lacks the heart pounding action I might expect, it favors a subdued narrative experience. Honestly, this series doesn’t feel like an anime at all.
For that reason, I’d highly suggest it to anyone looking for a show to offer to a non-anime fan. It’s a lot like Bartenderand Space Brothers. You could show it to a complete anime novice, and they probably wouldn’t hate the show based upon the fact it’s animation alone.
There’s a pervasive natural quality to the characters and their actions. A true grounded focus relies upon even the small details. That grounded focus helps to uplift the sometimes dry moments that crop up from time to time. The show would be lost without it.
From the way smoke wafts from around the characters, to the way some characters act, there’s a fully realized weight to the physics in the show. Some of them even stumble on occasion, or fidget where they stand in casual little ways… all of this adds context to the wider show.
I’d go so far as to say almost everything in this series comes from a casual lens. The voice acting is often delivered with a relaxed bent to it, using matter-of-fact bluntness to cut through thematic hypocrisy and droll diatribes like a knife through warm butter.
Characters don’t make obscene noises, cry out, or even raise their voice idiotically in the entire series. So many characters, Jean included, just don’t give a rats ass about propriety beyond a certain point. There’s a near fatalistic overtone and resigned undertone that continually seeps into the entire series. That’s what makes ACCA 13 so interesting to watch, and why many believe it to be so damn good.
I’ll say this, ACCA 13 is best enjoyed by anime fans who crave attention to detail. Nine times out of ten, I found myself much more interested in what the characters themselves were doing, rather than the wider story. That’s due to how wonderful the animation is.
Then again, it all seems natural, these don’t feel like anime characters. They feel like real breathing people. Even at mealtime, something we see in anime all the time, these scenes feel exactly as it should. The characters simply grab a meal, with absolutely no pretense to get in the way.
The real-world feel of the series drifts all the way down to socioeconomic questions. The values and cultures within each of the 13 separate states are distinctive enough to feel believable, same as the issues plaguing them. Sometimes there is no “right” answer, only a “less horrible” answer. Altruism is not closely at hand in the series, even when some of the characters would like it to be.
That being said, you’re free to draw your own conclusions. This isn’t an anime that focuses too heavily on the concept of moral high-ground. Jean typically spits in the fact of that, anyway. He just isn’t the type of character to smack the viewer over the head with any particular message one way or the other… then again, the wider ethos provided by Jean is a simple one.
A good drink in hand, a friend by his side, and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth is his ideal of a “happy place”. Anything beyond that, and he’s going to wonder why he should be brought to care beyond simple surface level concern… and that’s not to say he enjoys watching the world burn around him. Only that he’d rather not mess around with problems that don’t directly concern him.
He can’t simply fix the entire would, after all, why try?
There’s an honesty here, all the way through to the end, and it’s never unbelievable. It never gets taken to the climatic expected conclusion. Rather the subdued anime gives us a subdued ending, no blood spilled, no hands unrelentingly left dirty, all of it handled tactfully. Perfectionism has no place. It’s overrated entirely to everyone viewers have connected with, and these characters go on with their lives displaying that.
All in all, ACCA 13 is by far and away one of the most interesting series I’ve ever seen when it comes to displaying characters upon the screen, cramming them together just to see what they do within the political sphere.
I don’t love it, I don’t hate it. The series has its flaws. It’s witty in many places, but dry wit doesn’t always make for the most compelling story. The characters and stellar animation were the main reasons I enjoyed it. Then again, I meant what I said above.
It’s a solid decision for anyone who wants thoughtful maturity layered within the anime they watch. These characters are adults, they think and act like adults, treating the wider world with the required gravitas when they need to.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
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Hey everyone it’s Kernook here. It’s time to talk about March Comes in Like a Lion, a 2016 anime that is both heartfelt and wonderfully animated. The series lands hard with serious undertones and a main character that suffers from extreme anxiety.
It seems like I’m reviewing a lot of series from Studio Shaft recently. That is the same studio responsible forRWBY Ice Queendomas well. However, where that anime doesn’t start off strongly at all, the studio certainly pulled out all the stops on this one.
Honestly, March Comes in Like a Lion is likely one of the few anime that ever really gets to me. That’s because the series is both subtle and incredibly evocative of other shows and series you may have seen before. Yet, where those anime may fall short, this onedoesn’t. This anime stands its ground quite well, despite what it has to offer.
Other anime that might come close in terms of impact might be Your Lie in April, but that anime has nothing on this story, at least in my eyes. Sure, March Comes in Like a Lion lacks several of the same sort of punches to the gut that other melancholic anime offer. What we receive in return, remains an introspective piece of fiction worth your time and attention.
That being said, while this is a beautiful anime, the core themes of anxiety, depression, and a sense of feeling lost, it makes it hard to suggest to anyone who isn’t into very thoughtful and analytical anime in the first place. It isn’t anything you need to dive into, it’s not complicated… it just isn’t mindless viewing either.
Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and Kenjirou Okada, who also worked upon the storyboard, the series was adapted from a manga of the same name. There is also a live action film, if you care to look for wider media within this franchise.
As for me, I’m just going to focus mostly upon the anime. Right off the bat, let’s not pull any punches here. The story follows Rei Kiriyama, a boy who loses his family at a fairly young age. Now, as a wayward seventeen year hold, he has a pretty rough life. When we first meet him, he’s setting off on his own.
Prior to that, he went to live with a mentor and family friend. Due to strained relationships and a sense of failure, Rei decided it was time to live on his own. The game Shogi plays a large role in the anime, because he not only uses it to pay the bills, to him it’s a possible path for his life to take as a professional player… and that’s an important note.
To me, these tiny, but ultimately pervasive details, are what sets this particular anime above a great many others. When it comes to hobbyists and sporting anime, this one is a rarity. You hardly ever see such sad and emotional ones like this. The series has such introspective overtones, that it can seem a bit overbearing on occasion.
That’s fitting, because that’s actually how the characters in this show often feel The story is about finding a sense of belonging and forging one’s own path. Unfortunately, that’s rife with answers that aren’t clear cut for Rei.
He doesn’t know what to do. He has no idea how to come to terms with his past. He needs to find the levity in his life going forward, but that’s a difficult task. His own emotions inhibit him even more when he’s faced with coming to the right decisions about his future.
However, if Rei was the one and only protagonist, this series would fall incredibly short. Thankfully for us, there are three siblings ready to give us a deeper insight into what this series has to offer.
Overall, I think the Kawamoto siblings were a great addition to this otherwise dour anime. Akari, the eldest, Hinata the middling sibling, and Momo who is the youngest lost their parents too. As a family, they managed to get by in life much better than Rei ever did.
The bond Rei makes with them is probably the most endearing, and reasonably “happy” thing, that March Comes in Like a Lion has to offer.
Akari is the oldest, and the motherly overtones as the one to continue to raise her siblings really carries on well for most of the plot. That is a point too, these characters have their own spotlight episodes, separate from Rei entirely. That allows us to really get to know these characters in ways we otherwise wouldn’t.
From a rather sour outlook of school life from Hinata, to Akari’s need to keep the home running smoothly and raise her siblings, there’s a lot going on for these three characters. I won’t spoil too much, as I do find these women more interesting than Rei a vast majority of the time.
There is a little something I should make note of, though. Momo is quite young, and she acts her age. If that prospect annoyed you in Sweetness and Lightning, or particularly young characters aggravate you in general, it’ll likely annoy you here as well.
That being said, without her particular brand of levity, the anime might be considered too dark. The series kind of needs Momo. Without her, scenes that would be naturally infused with the joyous mind of a small child would cease to exist.
Really to me there is only one major and pointed downside to this anime, and that’s the Shogi matches themselves. If you want to learn about this game, this is the wrong anime. If you don’t know how to play Shogi, and have no concept of the rules for the game, you’re going to feel lost.
March Comes in Like a Lion won’t explain the rules to you in a way that’s meaningful, and it won’t attempt to catch even a novice player up to speed, either. You’ll be on your own, and that can make some of the matches feel boring overall.
A vast majority of rules and confines of gameplay are hand-waved away. So little is explained, glossed over at best. At worst, it makes little sense for someone who hasn’t played the game.
However, it’s not really about the game, it never was. It’s about the characters playing the game. That introspection I spoke of earlier comes from the matches in this series, and the way the characters themselves feel at that moment.
At the end of the day, that’s what the entire story of March Comes in Like a Lion comes down to. It isn’t just about their daily lives, it’s not even really what I would call a slice-of-life show. Rather, it comes down to how these characters really feel. None of the characters in this series are entirely unscathed. Everyone has some kind of trauma.
Sometimes that trauma is subdued or hidden beneath a happy facade. Other times you’ll have a character like Rei, who refuses to hide his own emotional scars, having no need to pretend he’s better off than he is. Several other characters do try to hide it, or at the very least, endure it.
From the whimsical Momo, to the completely depressed Rei, the characters run the gambit of emotions. You’ll notice I didn’t touch on Hinata’s story line here. That’s because it is one of the darkest besides Rei’s own. For me it is also one of the most infuriating and depressing, as Hinata faces bullying from her peers and those around her in a way that goes undressed by the adults around her.
With all of that said, I don’t know if you’ll enjoy this series. I don’t even know that you’ll sit there and think it to be a masterwork of narrative story telling….
To be fair to the critics of this show, there are moments that seem a little contrived, and others that feel a little more heavy handed than they needed to be. I think part of that has to do with the name itself, and the poetic narrative surrounding it.
Sometimes it’s weaker for its additions, and other times it’s very bold for covering them. Either way, I can’t help but love March Comes in Like a Lion. If you like deep, heavily introspective anime, maybe you will too.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time. Please be sure to follow the block and check out our other platforms for more content like this.
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Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here, finally ready to begin reviewing the RWBY Ice Queendom series properly. In all honesty, it was off to a shaky start when the first three episodes released as promotional hype.
You can read all about my RWBY Ice Queendom first impressions here. That’s just a broad look at the first three episodes, mind you. For now let’s dive into the actual and proper review, shall we?
To begin, I want to say that the first episode is as rushed as it could possibly be. I don’t think anyone should go into this anime as their first experience with RWBY. It isn’t exactly what I would call a strong start for those unfamiliar with the main series.
You see, we knew going into Ice Queendom that the first two episodes would rehash a lot of plot elements from Volume 1. My god, did it ever do that… but I’m going to be honest here. It is super fast, and it’s not for a non-fan to try to absorb.
No newbie can hope to truly understand the depth of what is actually going on without having seen Volume 1 of the original show first… so if you’re going to watch Ice Queendom, awesome!
Just… uh… watch Volume 1 first too, okay? I promise if you did feel a little lost, don’t be too concerned… even I felt a little lost, but we could have a diamond in the rough here, so let’s not be too hasty.
That said, we did get some pretty stellar moments, and we got some clunky ones. Spoilers ahead, be warned…
If they were going to re-hash volume one, they should have done it from scratch. Enough is changed in this iteration to argue a complete and total overhaul. Here’s the thing, the first volume of RWBY is only two hours long. That means they could have rehashed all of what they needed to do in six episodes (no I’m not joking). They should have done that.
Take for example the Weiss battle from the RWBY White Trailer and compare that fight to this one. The battle is cleaner in Ice Queendom for sure, but it lacks some of the emotional character development we get from the Weiss Trailer and her introduction song. Also, the battle feels just a little rushed and choppy. Thanks to the break-away scenes with Blake and Adam running around doing a separate fight entirely, the combat feels very segmented.
Winter’s inclusion so early in Ice Queendom is a welcome addition, but it is just a little jarring without context… Winter wasn’t in the RWBY White Trailer and didn’t make an appearance until a later volume. The same is true for all the Schnee family.
It is very nice that some of these plot points were touched on in the first episode, but why not slow down and really contextualize it? I don’t understand the need to rush, and that is a bit annoying.
I do like this fight, though, and I think Studio Shaft had the best of intentions. It was merely that those intentions fell a little flat. The same is effectively true for a great deal of the first episode during the re-hash scenes. They’re a bit cobbled together, demanding you have some concept of the show to start with, and not particularly caring to slow down if you don’t.
That said, there is a highlight moment every now and then when Ice Queendom extrapolates where the original RWBY series never does. For example, at least Taiyang isn’t strangely absentee this time around, which is something I’ve brought up in my character analysis of him. His lack of development in the original series really paints him in a really bad light.
It’s nice to see him as the father we knew he could be, and not the complete jerk-ass father that the original series implies him to be. Again, super nice gem here. Whoever had the mind to add this in and push it through should get a standing ovation.
Taiyang’s scenes with Yang, and later Ozpin, really help to flesh out what Volume 1 failed to really cover earnestly.
However, a few good narrative calls doesn’t help the show when the rest of it can be somewhat crammed together at such a break-neck pace. There’s little room to breathe.
This may sound harsh, but I’m not trying to rip on the show here.
I’m just pointing out that there are some really good choices when the creators choose to take the time to flesh things out. When they do, it’s amazing. When they choose not to take that time, it’s obvious. In some ways that’s very annoying to me as a fan.
Ice Queendom is “canon adjacent” or so they call it. That means some canon remains the same, and some become different… when you do this, you need to be clear about what changes and how it changes.
You can’t be vague about this. Many of us aren’t coming into the series with fresh eyes. We’re coming in as fans from the original show. We have preconceived notions and biases that needed to be challenged under these new ideologies.
In any case when the fights are this clean, they’re pretty good. If you just want action with no combat choreography or subtext, this will do you just fine. It feels fun and it’s entertaining, that’s for sure.
Once again though, welcome to my biases at play here. I’m a huge fan of the original show, there is a lot to live up to here in terms of combat. This show has big shoes to fill and I’m not entirely sure that it could have hoped to live up to the original fight scenes.
If you want actual choreography that sticks with you and hits home, this just won’t hold a candle to a lot of the battles in Volume 1. Sorry, but for me it holds true. If you don’t mind losing some of the charm of choreography and just want a good brawl, this will do just fine as it is though… it’s serviceable.
In losing some of the charm in the fights, we do lose a little something in the characters too. That is the main issue here.
All of the characters feel watered down and distilled in ways that just pull me out of the experience. Yang especially feels so watered down I don’t even recognize her as Yang anymore. We just don’t have the time with her to really get a sense of who she is, what she wants, or how she feels as an aspiring huntress.
There is no combat at the bar scene to really amp up her temperament, or showcase some of her poor decision making. To highlight my point look at these two comparison photos.
Let’s be real honest here guys, which one best represents the Yang that’s adventuresome, ready to throw down in a fight? Yang is a complicated, deep character. She spends all of volume one trying to get Ruby to go out and make friends, find her own way, get on her own team, and become a huntress. That’s not the Yang I see portrayed in Ice Queendom even slightly… she doesn’t get enough screen time to get that portrayal.
Now, that’s not to say I expect Yang to be the same… or any character for that matter. At this point in time, I just don’t know who she even is as a character. I’m a huge RWBY fan. I should have a very firm idea of who Yang is, but she’s not really anything at the moment.
I want to know who these girls are in this iteration of the show, and the show itself doesn’t seem to want us to know.
It’s like that with all of the characters to one degree or another, even Weiss… considering Weiss is supposed to be the focal point, that’s a problem here. I’m only using Yang as just the most notable problem with this in the first episode… and I know it will be a problem with JNPR in episodes two and three because I’ve already seen those episodes.
You can’t scream canon adjacent in one breath, and fail to really take the time to flesh out these characters in the earliest episodes. I just don’t think that’s the best way to endear fans to a series that we’re not coming in completely blind on.
So my final thoughts on RWBY Ice Queendom are simple. Let’s wait and see. It might be a trash fire, it might get really good. As of right now, there’s just no way to tell. There are enough tidbits to make me feel like we’re going to get something good, and enough red flags to have me concerned. Either way, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Another take on episode 1 can be found here, reviewed by DoubleSama. I’m not entirely sure that they have seen the original RWBY series, but I do think their take adequately describes some of the confusion a person might feel if they are going into RWBY Ice Queendom entirely blind, or rusty on the wider show. That’s why it might be worth it to give it a look.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
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Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here… I’ve always loved the Naruto universe with its compelling cast and complex ninja world. However the cast is so large that narrowing down a top ten list isn’t easy. I love so many of the characters for an assortment of reasons, so this is my list. It might not be yours. There’s also a caveat that should be kept in mind.
None of the core cast of the rookie nine were included in this list. That would be unfair, because so many of them are beloved fan favorites for myself included. I had to prune this list massively, as I doubt a gigantic list of top 50 or top 70 Naruto characters would go over very well… plus it would be very long to write.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into the list.
#10. Jiraiya
The resident pervert sage ranks number ten in my list because he’s honestly one of the characters that really sticks out to me. All of the Naruto characters have some sort of fatal flaw, none of them are perfect. That’s the hallmark of good writing. The man is a pervert though, make no mistakes about it. His love for writing erotic books aside, he’s earnest and he’s kind.
Jiraiya is a complex man with simple pleasures in life, and he’s old enough to carry the perspective needed in a good mentor. As a sage, he’s probably not the best example of the discipline or demeanor. However, there’s no question that he is a wonderful mentor and friend to those that need his support.
He ranks number 10 because his death is literally one of the saddest in the series for me. It’s secondary only to Asuma Sarutobi. Quite frankly even after Jiraiya is gone, he plays such a paramount role in Naruto’s development that he just needs a spot on this list.
#9. Iruka Umino
I honestly believe that Iruka is one of the most earnest characters in the entire series. He’s devoted to his village, and to his place in the ninja world in a way few others are. He’s a middling villager in almost every way, and he’s just fine with his lot in life. Given his own sad past and how it reflects Naruto’s own, there’s something to be said for a guy like him.
We can only really appreciate the tragic stories of others by looking back on where they came from. A lot of prominent youths in the series come from broken homes, left as orphans to fend for themselves. Iruka is one such character who grew into a well-adjusted adult.
For all of the characters achieving greatness, showing off insane feats at every turn, it’s nice to see a regular guy. He’s just living out the average ninja lifestyle the best way he can, and really I’ve got to give him a lot of credit for that.
#8. Asuma Sarutobi
This guy has a story for the record books. A man does his job valiantly, only to leave behind a woman he loves, and his unborn child. His students surround him in his final moments, rain falling from the sky as he doles out his last words. Asuma has one of the most memorable deaths in the Naruto series…
Here’s the thing, when it comes to the wider universe, this series heavily focuses on legacy and the passing of the torch from one person onto another. Youth grow up, inheriting the responsibilities of their successors. Passing on those lessons becomes intrinsic to the “ninja way”, and there’s just a lot of heart and soul you can’t fit into a few simple paragraphs hoping to do it justice.
There is no greater example of this than Asuma’s bond with Shikamaru. To me, that is the absolute pinnacle of what the core themes of the series attempt to convey. Found family and honor clings heavily upon the young upstarts aging into their positions in the village…
Facing down the difficulties of childish dreams slowly taken away, and replaced by adult ambition. Asuma to me is one of the most tragic characters. Outcomes like his are what lead to so much suffering among the hidden villages. It’s also what breeds the war and continued suffering of countless others.
If Iruka is one of my favorites due to his earnest average-joe lifestyle, then Asuma is one of my favorites because he represents the average casualty among villages and just how deeply it impacts those closest to them. We see on screen exactly what that does to the people he inadvertently leaves behind.
#7. Karui (Later, Karui Akimichi)
This was a difficult choice, because when it comes to Karui and Temari, it’s a toss up of what style of bad-assery you like better. Both of these women refuse to take crap from anyone, and both are self-assured. Ultimately, I settled on Karui because she’s not as charismatic, and she doesn’t even care what we think of her.
Beating Naruto bloody might have been a bridge too far, but that just goes to show how tenacious and ruthless she is. When she feels she has to act, she does. Temari is just a bit softer, and a tiny bit more timid, which is what made her lose the spot in the running.
You have to take Karui as she is. She won’t tolerate anyone doing otherwise. She won’t conform, she doesn’t want to. Her loyalty can’t be bought, and her ability to see the value in others comes from a very personal place. What I absolutely love about her character is that she eventually finds romance with Choji, and the romance is a mature thing from the get-go… neither of them act like profound idiots… beyond that, it gives all the proof we need that Karui has a gentle side.
So many stereotypes flip on their head when Karui is on screen. In a series like Naruto, that can be pretty hard to come by. So many of the core members within the series are taken up by women who can’t seem to figure themselves out… or when they do, it isn’t on firm ground.
Karui knows who she is and what she wants out of her future. She’s also one of the few women who shows romantic interest because it empowers her own personal sense of pride and self-worth. In a series where young, emotionally independent women can be somewhat hard to find, Karui is a breath of fresh air…
But, like I said, Temari isn’t too far removed from that, either. In that way, she’s certainly an honorable mention not soon to be left out or forgotten.
#6. Might Guy and Kakashi Hatake
Call this a cop-out if you want, but in my opinion you just can’t have one without the other on any character list. You also can’t place one of them above the other in my opinion. That diminishes the bond these two share. They’re rivals, but they’re also sincerely good friends. The connection of their male bond is so incredibly important for so many characters in the series. It gives us viewers context for so many key themes in the show.
Male bonds are a driving factor for so many things the young men in the series do. Separating these two is just impossible to me. It would be like having a Naruto anime without Sasuke… you just can’t freakin’ do it… and that’s why these two need to be on the list.
It’s the entire point of the show… the forged bonds that last the test of time. That’s what the series is about. That’s the core ethos.
These two characters showcase this bond when it’s in synergy. There’s a brotherhood here. When both of them are on the same wavelength, the two of them harbor the same sort of profound loyalty and companionship that Naruto has for Sasuke.
I just can’t overlook that, not for anything…
However, that’s why they’re not in the top five, that wouldn’t be fair either. As important to the series as these characters are, and as deeply compelling the friendship they keep is, it’s only fair I place them in the number 6 spot.
#5. Killer Bee
It’s funny to me that when it comes to Naruto’s long list of mentors Killer Bee stands out on top for me, but it’s true. I really do like Jiraiya, but there’s just something so unassuming about Killer Bee. He’s fun to watch, charismatic and goofy at times, but he knows when to get serious too.
Honestly, I love this character because what you see is what you get with this guy. Much like Karui, you’ve got to take him as he is, and if you don’t that’s not his problem… he doesn’t care.
He’s been through the ringer, there’s some real grit and trauma attached to him. He doesn’t let that history get the better of him. As a Jinchūriki, he’s the most emotionally well-rounded when we first see him on screen. He has such a fundamental role in the series, and also the one so easy to overlook. Yeah, it’s true, he’s always spouting off nonsense and driving everyone crazy… still, if he weren’t so well respected, he wouldn’t be where he is when he enters into the show.
Common sense does not always equate to wisdom, but Killer Bee has both. He knows what it takes to earn the respect of those around him, and exactly how to keep it. For a Jinchūriki that’s not an easy road. We’ve seen what happens to Naruto and Gaara when communities turn their back on one.
Killer Bee walked that path too, but he did it with a smile on his face and he continues to do so even when the chips are down. Killer Bee is just an uplifting guy all around.
What isn’t to like about that?
#4. Nagato (Pain)
Once again, we turn to the deeper ties that bind these characters together. Pain’s character accomplishes 2 things. Firstly, he brings the full ramification of the Akatsuki’s story to a boiling point. Secondly he forces viewers to ask themselves deeper questions about the series as a whole. There is, in a way a “circle-of-life” vibe from this true and iconic villain… even if it is the darker, grittier sort.
In a world where war tarnishes what characters love most, and rips innocence away from them, Nagato provides a rather insidious bone to chew. He’s as tragic a character as he is completely dangerous. Seeing his true form, a withered husk of a person really hits home in ways so few of Naruto’s villains do.
He trained under Jiraiya in his younger days, but sadly, that peaceful philosophy became warped and sent askew. Although Jiraiya had spent the time to teach many things, all of those lessons became corrupted entirely by years of atrocities… death, war, emotional hardship and the continued loss of community and innocence.
In a way, you might say this man became Jiraiya’s greatest failing, and in another way turned into what I believe to be Naruto’s greatest foil…
#3. Itachi Uchiha
You know what they say. Assumptions make asses out of people, and it made an ass out of Sasuke. First assumed as a villain, Itachi Uchiha was a guy that completely massacred the Uchiha clan, aside from his younger brother. However, that’s a slanted view… a child’s view of something much larger and far more complicated.
If growing up is part of the core ethos in this series, so is learning to see the truth for yourself. To gain a clearer insight, and forge one’s own opinions based on the facts presented. Sasuke later finds out that his brother is no sick and twisted murderer.
He did kill the rest of the clan, but that was only to protect the Hidden Leaf village, and it was something he did in service to it. Even the Hokage knew what had to be done, and Itachi did exactly that.
What makes these bonds of bloodline and vengeance so entirely heartbreaking is that Itachi had no intention to truly harm his little brother with his actions. Morally bankrupt or not, someone had to do it, and Itachi took up the task… in a way it ruined his spirit and forged him anew in ways he least wished for.
I will never forget Itachi’s last apology as he’s bleeding from the mouth and facing his own death. For countless episodes there are flashbacks, and promises of later. Sadly, later never comes for these two brothers. Instead, it’s only a final apology and a goodbye… a death and loss that holds no comfort or even vindication. All that Sasuke has left is an understanding that he didn’t know a single thing, blinded by his own grief and anger as he was, there was nothing he could have done.
Itachi is without question one of my most favorite characters that as a fan, I never had the chance to understand. Having viewed the entire event through Sasuke’s eyes, I never had the chance to really get to know Itachi until it was too late and he was gone…
The series played this one close to the chest right up until the end, and they did a damn good job of it. Itachi sits at number 3 because there is so much more to this character than I ever gave him credit for. That sticks with me to this day…
As long as i continue to be an anime fan, it probably always will.
#2. Zabuza Momochi and Haku
Yes, we’ve got another two-for-one deal here. Sorry, it just needs to happen, because you just can’t have one without the other. It just cannot work for me. What makes these two so interesting is the bond they have for each other and the true and imminent threat these two pose to the rookie members of Team Seven.
These two characters are the first real time that we’re shown what kind of actual danger these kids are in, and just what happens when adults cannot keep them safe or protected. There’s a cruelty and hardship laced down deep among many of these characters, Zabuza is one of them, Haku is another…
However, for many of us, these were some of the first characters to value their lives not based upon their own self-worth, but rather the worth of another found within them instead… and there was nothing heroic about the way either of these two characters chose to think.
Yet, in his dying breaths, Zabuza makes his way bodily over to Haku and spends his final moments reflecting upon everything that he ever was, and everything he tossed away. For the rookies, it’s their first real taste of this dark and gritty world that they live in. For us viewers, it’s the first time we’ve got to contend with the truth.
This moment did one thing. It promised that we were going to have to swallow down some pretty uncomfortable realities. We had to accept that no, this really wasn’t a kid’s show, and it wasn’t all fun and games.
In these moments nothing could be sanctimonious anymore. We were going to lose characters we enjoyed, and not all of them would be hard and grizzled adults going out in a bad-ass blaze of glory… no, sometimes it would be a death that could have damn-well been prevented, and in all honesty damn-well should have been.
After this battle, there’s a burial. Although it isn’t the hardest hitting one that we run into across this series, it is one of the first that really made us think about what the show was going to send at us next.
Mark my words; if Zabuza and Haku were not so wonderfully written and conceptualized as characters, the early establishment of so many themes would have entirely suffered for it.
This line-up is a start-studed one to be sure, but how do you beat these guys in my book and take the number one spot on this list? Good question…
#1. You Don’t! The Hidden Villages Take the Top Spot!
Hidden villages are their own character within the show, translucent and on the back-burner but no less dynamic. There’s an intuitive understanding among those that live within them, and that understanding forces so much of the good and the bad within this wider ninja world that we fans enjoy.
Hear me out here, the series wouldn’t be so good if we didn’t get to have a taste of the complex and diverse ideology found within these villages. Some of the best and beloved moments come from a cast of characters that come from far away places. Be it the battle Gaara has with Rock Lee during the Chunin Exams early on, or some of the saddest battles in the series later on, we get a taste of it all.
What makes these characters so prolific are the communities and cultures they hail from. These identities can’t only come down to the characters we follow on the screen, but the masses that we don’t see. Naruto and Gaara want to be Kage simply because of their villages and the ambitions they have… to belong among them.
I am always taken aback by the scenes that truly highlight the wider world, the changes it’s made for the better, the faults it still has… the world building in this series is absolutely a master craft in and of itself.
The countless peoples inhabiting this world are what breathes real life into the fights. When villages are on the verge of ruin and war takes so much away, the villages still persist and persevere.
So much about this series comes down to protecting what is valuable, and mourning what is lost. To fight for the things that matter, and to let go of the things that don’t. To love despite pain, and to trust despite war. These themes are only made so incredibly powerful, because we get to experience the realities of a village attacked so brutally.
We are forced to see the cold and hard realities for those that call themselves ninja. Neji says it best, when he says that Hinata is prepared to die for Naruto. That he holds more than his own life in his hands.
This, I believe is true of all ninja to a point. To choose to kill and cultivate more war is the end result. Years of bloodshed continue to harbor old grudges. So much if that could be avoided, and is shown to be mitigated once this new enlightened generation matures to take center stage.
From characters like Nagato and Jiraiya, to those like Neji and Itchai, those who are raised to become a ninja are at the mercy of the world they’re thrown into… and there is really little mercy to be found.
This scene would not be so powerful if it was only Neji that died. Many nameless characters lay dead and each one meant something to someone out there. That is implied, but Naruto knows it to be true. He is horrified to see these things around him, and these atrocities continue to occur in ways he just cannot abide.
The villages, the peoples, and the journeys all of the characters take really rely on where they came from, who impacted them the most. What lessons were passed down during their formative years are the ones that will forge either peace, or more bloodshed.
That is something only the villages do, for better and for worse, and that is why they take the top spot on this list.
From the little ramen shop that Naruto frequents, to the barbecue Choji enjoys, and the shogi matches Shikmaru spent his childhood playing, all of the characters we come to care for learn one thing.
You always protect the “king”, and that metaphor will never die, nor will it ever become weak or overstated.
Then again, this is my list. you may disagree. You’re free to do so. No matter what your opinion might be, the hidden villages, with their diverse cultures and complex mindsets take the number one spot for me.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
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This is not a review, as I don’t want to give spoilers for the first three episodes released today on Rooster Teeth and Crunchyroll for paying members. These episodes don’t release properly until July.
Therefore, the following statements are just very vague opinions, as I can’t dive into details right now. I don’t want to ruin the show for anyone… plus, this is a hot-take, obviously, as this series just went public today.
I want to start off by saying if you have never seen RWBY before, this IS NOT the place to start. RWBY Ice Queendom is canon adjacent. After viewing the first three episodes, I firmly believe you will be best served if you have some concept of the show and universe going into it. Failing that, and you will probably be lost…
These first few episodes condense down key aspects of RWBY‘s Volume 1, but without all of the context required to assess what’s actually going on here. I’ll be honest it is very interesting, but sometimes it’s just sloppily done as well.
While the show does diverge a fair bit from its other animated counterpart, and gives viewers new bones to chew, to me that’s not enough to go into this completely unaware of RWBY.
if you don’t know who these characters are… it’s a tough sell…
These early episodes do a very piss poor job of conveying key character traits and personal motivations to the viewer… but rehashing old content is not the draw of this show. I may be harsh in my above statements, but I do love what we have.
I just don’t believe this new series has a simple entry. I don’t believe it is made for someone who isn’t already a fan of the series. But, we already have RWBY as a series after all, we don’t need a carbon copy of the same show in a two-dimensional anime format.
RWBY Ice Queendom needed to do more than that, and do it quickly. Therefore, I’ll forgive the rush feel of the narrative, and the sloppiness of bouncing around doing scenes.
There’s a lot to like here, particularly with our favorite characters coming back to tell this story. That’s not to say that you should expect deeply beloved characters to be the same though. Even looking at Klein, you can tell he isn’t the same man we all know from the RWBY series. He’s much more stern in appearance and very much a “butler”. He’s not the jovial impressionist that will crack jokes while attempting to cheer her up.
All of the cast is this way. There are firm and clear differences between the RWBY characters as we know them, and the way they’re presented in Ice Queendom. We can’t hold these characters to the standards we’re used to. That’s the takeaway I’ve gained from the viewing experience thus far.
The animation is okay, but the Grimm monsters in the show look like complete and total crap. They feel like a bargain bin, rejected Pokemon to me… the fights are lackluster too. Again though, that’s because they feel rushed, poorly planned and have a lot to live up to.
RWBY Volume 1 did one thing astoundingly well and that was to offer the fans amazing fight choreography. You just can’t rehash or breathe life into thought old fights and expect them to objectively hold their ground. We’re all going to have our preferences… Ice Queendom fails in this regard for me. I don’t like the combat here.
What I do like are the themes being toyed with and the possibilities offered to us from the new show. So many changes were made, even to simple scenes we come to expect from the show. While old fans will remember the scenes fondly and get a boost of nostalgia, we’ll also get a new spin on the old formula we’ve come to expect.
There will come a time when old expected habits, patterns and routines will shift over to an entirely new story. This small taste certainly feels like that story is coming sooner rather than later. RWBY: Ice Queendom gives us a good peak at what we’re in for, and as I said, no spoilers…. but I’m excited to see it.
I’ll give a proper cohesive and reflective opinion on the series episode by episode, but for now, we’ll just have to see how it goes.
Here’s to hoping the story it has to tell is a good one, I believe it will be.
Hey all, it’s Kernook here, I typically review anime that I like. That’s not the hallmark of a good reviewer though, so I’m starting to dive into anime I’m not particularly a fan of. A Certain Magical Index fits that bill.
I find it hard to talk about this anime without wanting to pull my hair out. It just isn’t that good. I’m not alone in this assessment, either… more on that in a moment.
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While many people do love this particular anime, and others find it to be a decent one to watch, there’s a decent number of people who dislike A Certain Magical Index. I’m among that number, and the reasons I dislike the series comes down to a slapped-together feel of the entire series.
Nefarious Reviews also pans the show… and the criticism in that review is heavily warranted. IF you want another poion, check there too.
Frankly, I just don’t see the value in this series, at least not on a personal level. The anime had a good premise, but it failed to follow through. It couldn’t execute on the ideas it tried to present. It’s a weird show, honestly speaking. While I do think A Certain Magical Index will cater to some anime fans, I’m often brought to wonder just who I can honestly suggest this series for.
That’s one of the reasons I hesitated to review it for so long. Just who would watch this series, and who might enjoy it? I honestly don’t know. If you did enjoy the series, please let me know why you liked it. I’d be interested to know.
To me, the themes just fall short, as do the influences of its setting. Futuristic or magical? Science fiction or fantasy? What themes best contextualize the show? Those questions aren’t simple to answer when A Certain Magical Index can’t even decide upon them itself as a series… let alone what I think of it.
Honestly, I expected better from a series adapted from light novels written in 2004 by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura. The anime itself is produced by J.C. Staff.
While it certainly looks like an action based science fiction, it isn’t even close. The series distinctly lacks action. It doesn’t exactly hold the hallmarks of good science fiction either. Perhaps I’m simply being much too harsh. I’d say this anime falls distinctly into the “guilty pleasure” category for a great many viewers.
It isn’t the cream of the crop, but I have seen worse…
So, maybe it’ll fill a void for you as a viewer. I suppose if you enjoyed Strike the Blood, Guilty Crown, orCharlotte, you may in fact like this series too. For the rest of us, we’re out of luck. Bypass the series. There are better options out there.
Here’s the problem… or rather the list of problems.
To begin with, this is a somewhat long anime to get into. With several seasons under its belt and spin-offs galore it feels like an absolute slog to dive into. While the animation is decent enough and the soundtrack isn’t entirely awful, this is only a standard anime at best. It just isn’t worth the time investment to justify watching the series.
The story isn’t that good, either. This is a real shame too. On the surface, the idea of science and magic clashing against each other could be very interesting. Where A Certain Magical Index drops the ball is that it doesn’t give us a bone to chew here.
The series ultimately fails to offer a compelling narrative or one that even ties together its plot elements. Nothing feels meaningful.
To do this kind of plot justice, you need characters that have a firm ethos one way or the other. You also need a main protagonist that’s interesting in the first place. That’s the next issue. The characters are bland by nature.
They’re happy to pose theories upon their abilities more often than actually using them. It feels trite considering that these characters are also annoying and juvenile. I don’t expect them to be geniuses here, I just want characters to be a little self-aware as a cast.
They’re not… they’re idiots more often than anything else.
Beyond that, the dialogue drags and honestly, so do the fights. I’m all for deep and compelling character introspection. There’s just a time and a place for that. The series can’t figure out how to handle its pacing for the life of it. That’s my biggest issue.
I wouldn’t say you should avoid this anime like the plague, but there are better series worth your time out there.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
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Hey everyone, it’s Kern here. I recently did a review for My Hero Academia Season 1. As promised, I’ll be slowly reviewing all of the seasons in order. Today I’m moving onto talking about season 2.
As a reminder, the first season of My Hero Academia, also known as Boku no Hīrō Akademia, features the next several steps of Deku and his hero’s journey. The introduction to this series was a strong one. Season 1 introduced us to a strong cast of compelling characters, gave us amazing fights, and deeply intertwined character struggles. There wasn’t much that you could complain about.
Aside from small nitpicks or just a general dislike of the genre itself, it would be difficult to just dislike the show. So, enter in season 2, another strong entry in the series and marked improvement to the My Hero Academia universe.
I personally find that season 2 was actually much better than season 1, raising the bar higher than I thought it would back in 2017. To look at why, we should probably begin with the surface level production.
Production Quality
The image above, even though it is completely mundane showcases the worst of the baseline standard. As you can see, it’s far from an insult.
Production-wise, My Hero Academia is a masterpiece of production and planning in season 2. Studio Bones comes back stronger than ever in this iteration. Fluid animation and mindful sound design holds up even at its weakest points. There’s nothing to complain about at its absolute worst.
However, at its best you’re going to get some amazing attention to detail. The series is packed with beautifully bombastic fights, and a fair amount of atmospheric drama. All of that is skillfully wrapped in a fresh coat of hero colored paint. This is a bright and airy series, right up until it isn’t.
The animation follows these dynamic shifts as it needs to, aiding and uplifting the key moments that makes the series stand strong. My Hero Academia lends itself to a certain level of emotional maturity, characters have to work hard and be assets to their society. The imagery and sound design adequately represents these struggles perhaps better than season 1 ever could.
Like its predecessor before it, the pacing in this season is noteworthy and very well done. While it is certainly action packed, it isn’t stifling or overbearing either. Important cast members receive fulfilling character development. The moments are wonderfully conceptualized for the screen, and continue to be entertaining even during a re-watch.
Story and Progression
Overall, the villains and plot moving forward has a steady pace, giving us an actual significant improvement to discuss…. characters, motivations, ego and trauma are the driving factors in this season.
The first half focuses upon the U.A. Sports Festival, which features some of the strongest characterization we’ve seen so far. This section is one of my favorites because it is so dynamically diverse. You’d expect this to be an all hero match-up, battle of the greatest… but nope… we don’t just get that… we get a taste of school life in this quirk filled universe.
The sports festival introduces several new U.A. High students. Many of these characters either couldn’t make it into the prestigious (also in a way pretentious) “Class 1-A”. Others just have different professional pursuits that “Class 1-A” wouldn’t have met the need for.
This is a world that relies heavily upon doing what a person is most suited for. Society in the series focuses heavily upon overall utility, rather than just pure ambition. What a person dreams to become isn’t always as important as they can reasonably accomplish… but here we see the serviceable balance between those two extremes.
Ambition becomes a spark to pure gasoline as characters strive to showcase their talents. What would typically be thought of as a dystopian world works so wonderfully here because the characters intuitively understand their places within it.
Even the weakest among them understand their skills have an intrinsic value to aid in that society… even if they’re still figuring out those limitations, that is a journey they’re willing to undertake.
Todoroki’s characterization and development in this season is probably even stronger than Deku’s overall. His backstory underpins the core ethos of the show. As the son of the #2 hero, he needs to make firm and definitive choices about his place in the wider world… and that means coming to terms with his trauma. He needs to learn to live beside his struggles, and to accept himself as he is.
Truly, that is the centralized ethos in this season, self acceptance, and the acceptance of others in the face of adversity.
This particular arc gives us a deep dive into the personal struggles that our favorite heroes-in-training face down on a daily basis. The Sports Festival arc also calls back to key issues briefly touched upon in the first season, and brings new ones to light.
The rest of season 2 is filled with internships, studying, and exams. It gives us a much deeper in-universe study of how professional heroes maintain a workspace and how they function with the wider society. The world building here is astronomical, and hard to find fault with… only, I wish there had been more.
The teachers are actually skilled in the series, and so are the professional heroes. That’s an important metric, and it’s one that many series often overlook. My Hero Academia takes the time to truly show us how inept these students really are, and just how much more they need to learn. The power and skill barrier isn’t lip service, it’s stone cold fact.
Deku and his buddies aren’t ready for the struggles of the real world just yet, and season 2 drives that point home unflinchingly.
As amazing as these characters seem to us… they’re just small fish in an ocean at the end of the day… it was nice to see all of them knocked down a few pegs. Since the series gave us a chance to see their betters in action in the workspace, we know what the wider world truly expect of them now… and it isn’t a simple thing.
Themes of personal identity, gumption and pride come blazing in, front and center from all around. These moments offer a different kind of conflict. We get deep and private introspection among several of the characters. It truly is a breath of fresh air.
Characters
This is ultimately Deku’s story and it focuses upon him. That said, this season “feels” like an ensemble story encompassing the wider classroom and Deku’s peers. In a way, I’d say it feels a little like Assassination Classroom. Some of the strongest spotlight moments come from other students, and it doesn’t feel out of place in the slightest. Actually, that’s what I think makes season 2 so much more enjoyable.
That isn’t to say Deku doesn’t get plenty of his own spotlight and personal growth. He receives a fair bit, to be honest. As Deku learns to handle the taxing ramifications of his “One For All” quirk, he also begins to conceptualize himself as a hero-in-training realistically. This isn’t always easy for him. However, it is interesting for viewers to watch.
Deku maintains a chord of shyness and humility that we saw encapsulated within season 1. He continues the trend in this season. Frequently, Deku puts his own welfare on the line, for better and for worse. These attempts are often selfless on the surface, but they’re also in a way self-serving to him.
Deku knows what it means to be a hero… and maintaining those key traits are important to him. His personal conscience is so enthralling when you consider just how easily it comes to him. Yet, we as viewers know these values must come easily, or he’ll be little more than a failed byproduct of what he truly wishes to aspire to.
There’s almost a hint of the fourth wall breaking between Deku and the attentive viewer to a point. In his attempt to help his friends work through their own struggles, he also must work through a few of his own. For a shounen series, we get some stunningly emotional and memorable moments both for Deku and a few of the others.
Todoroki, Iida and Uraraka stand out this season, and they’re not the only ones. I do have to give a call out to the episode “Shoto Todoroki: Origin” as I do think that’s perhaps one of my favorite ones in this particular season. As I mentioned above, his story so fully encapsulates the themes of this season in a way even Deku doesn’t quite reach, and I firmly believe that was entirely intentional.
New cast members give us a different bone to chew on as well. You’ve got a little bit of everything in this mixed bag, and each of them are nice additions. The non-hero students in the event are great for world building and context.
Then you have Gran Torino who is batty-as-hell. This old dude is All Might’s mentor. He offers comic relief as well as backstory into All Might and the quirk known as “One for All”. I loved every moment this senile old fart was on screen. Honestly, he’s a great addition to the cast.
On top of that, Hero Killer: Stain is the kind of big baddie we want out of a high stakes, action packed series. He’s ruthless and maliciously motivated towards violent crime. As his name suggests, he’s willing to kill for his beliefs. His implications are much more interesting than what he actually pulls off, but that’s kind of the point with this guy.
Fans know what to expect here. He’s going to be a mainstay, and this is early characterization for massive plot elements later. To that point, the big baddie of season 1, Shigaraki is still around. For season 1, he provided a reasonable threat and a good early start, but now we know what a real threat is. Honestly, Stain is the villain dial cranked to eleven, and no one pulls punches on this guy.
Final Thoughts
Personally, I have only praise for the second season of My Hero Academia. My complaints reduce down to what I wanted more of, and that wasn’t because anything was lacking. It was just that good. The slower moments never drag on too long, the faster ones don’t outstay their welcome.
Less is more in this particular instance.
Season 2 maintains a strong balance between its larger cast of characters, the wider story, and its core themes. There’s a lot to unpack, and to enjoy. I spoke briefly on Todoroki, because he is such a stand-out character this season. However, Iida and Uraraka stand out to me as well.
I just wanted more, plain and simple. When season 2 was over, I felt like I wasn’t done yet. The times the show feels lesser, it doesn’t feel as though I’ve been cheated out of something great.
This is a solid continuation of the series, no question about that. In some ways, it’s much better than before. No wonder why it was so popular, My Hero Academia easily earns its acclaim as one of the best shows of 2017 because it is so incredibly dynamic.
I just can’t think of how they could have done it better, at least not without sacrificing something else. There’s just too many great moments in this season to do that.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
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The Demented Ferrets 