Joy Ride

I was curious to see this one because of the Asian-American thing going on in it (a whole exploration of not feeling "white" enough or "Chinese" enough) even though you could tell from the trailer that it was going to be quite over the top raunchy. That's not really my thing. Anyway, Joy Ride. 

So. Yes. It was actually even rauncier and more debauched than I thought it was going to be. However, it also had a lot of heart and exploration of family and friendship and of feeling lost and out of place. Am I glad I watched it? Yes. Would I watch it again? Probably not. Once was kinda enough. I thought, for me personally, that the over the top stuff made plot sense only about half the time and the rest was more for shock value. But it had a lot of heart.

Anyway, a brief summary. An adoptee from China grows up in middle America, with a best friend who was the only other Asian girl in town. Oh, yeah, I felt that one except I was the ONLY Asian in town for half of high school. To combat the feelings of "less than" and the "ching chong" jokes, she over excels in everything (again, yeah, I feel that). Her friend, meanwhile, is more artistic and truly does not GaF.

Years later, over-achiever is a lawyer being sent to China to close some deal. What kind? Who knows. Just know that it's a bunch of white dudes sending her over. Her best friend is going with (she actually speaks Chinese) and they also meet up with the over-achiever's best friend from Uni who is now a Chinese drama actress and the eccentric cousin of hometown best friend, who is called Deadeye. 

Hm. Honestly, Deadeye is the only one I really got the name of. The rest are kind of archetypes. 

Nothing goes to plan. The deal is gonna fall through because she "doesn't know her family" and they go on a trip to try and locate birth mom. They run into a white girl drug dealer and wind up out of their heads and kicked off a train, passport-less (but at least not in jail). They meet up with a basketball team. Have so much crazy sex stuff happen that they take out half the team. Um, yeah. Meet up with some family of best friend girl, who makes uptight girl feel welcome for the first time and accepting of her Chinese-ness...but then they discover that her birth mom was actually a Korean...so then a crazy-ass sidetrip to Seoul (sans passports) and a really kind weird subplot about an unfortunate devil/oni tattoo and the actress girl's Jesus-loving boyfriend, and then lawyer girl gets fired, they have the big falling out where they all still love each other, yadda yadda. 

It's a feel-good movie with heart but too much shmexy and gross stuff, but overall I enjoyed it.

Tastefully Yours

So, I have finally picked up a new Kdrama...or, at least, I've watched enough of it to justify writing a post. Tastefully Yours has Kang Ha-Neul as jerky chaebol Han Beom-Woo who is competing with his (even more) jerky brother for control of a food empire. They both want to be the heir apparent and their (really really jerky) mother is dangling the carrot in front of them.

The brother, in fact, gets him ousted from his directorship and, desperate to get a three star rating and into his mother's good graces, he finds himself way off in some podunk town with a very talented chef (who's restaurant is kinda going under): Mo Yeon-Joo ( played by Go Min-Si). I'd weirdly wanted to try something with her in it because I've seen all these clips of her in another new show (something about a woman who dies and goes to heaven?) where she's a human cat. It makes more sense than that, but there it is.

Anyway, they are like oil and water but will, of course, find their way to true love. I've seen 4 episodes now, I think, and overall I am enjoying it. He's a true ass to start with and, honestly, hasn't really redeemed himself yet. It's kinda startling as the last thing I watched him in he was such a green flag (When the Camellia Blooms).  

It doesn't feel like this one is going to have any surprises, but that's okay.

Natsume's Book of Friends

A long, long time ago I watched an episode of Natsume's Book of Friends. Years and years ago. I don't know why I stopped...maybe I was saving it to watch with little dude? 

At any rate, I recently started it over again. I'm just about 6 episodes in, but I am enjoying it. Natsume the orphan can see yokai which has made him, similarly to all other characters in every other show who can see them, a bit of an outcast. They chase him, many thinking he is Reiko, his grandmother, who also had the gift. 

She's long gone now, but she left behind the Book of Friends, which has the names of all the yokai that she "defeated". Natsume has, by default, inherited it. And now, the yokai that come across him are of two kinds--those that want to take the book from him to have power over the yokai named within or those who want to get their names back.

Some are nice. Some aren't. A dodgy fellow that seems quite powerful and takes the shape of a cat extracts a promise from Natsume to protect him in exchange for inheriting the book once he dies. He's a bit self serving and I don't trust him (think Moggett), but there you go.

Each episode mostly focuses on a particular spirit, but there's also Natsume slowly interacting with other people. I don't think there's going to be any romance in this one, but that's okay. Maybe more of a found family kind of thing? The episodes are almost all bittersweet so far, so I feel like I have to watch them in small doses. Will post more after I'm farther along.

The Morose Mononokean

I've actually only watched 2 episodes of this so far, but I'm trying to get up to date. There are two seasons of The Morose Monokean, I just realised, which is promising.

Ashiya, the black haired boy, can see yokai (though it's actually been a few months since I watched the first episode so now I don't remember if he's always been that way or if it is recent). On the way to his first day of high school, he gets glommed onto by a fluffy white yokai critter that drains him so horribly that he collapses and falls ill. This continues, day after day, until he's desperate to somehow experience high school life. That's when he stumbles on an advert for someone who can exorcise ghosts.

Through reasons and mishaps, he winds up in debt to the fellow (the somewhat grumpy blonde haired guy) and begins working with him. He soon learns (albeit, this is me in the second episode, so I'm sure there's more to it than that) that not all yokai are bad or evil -- the one that had "possessed him" just wanted to play.

It appears to lean more towards comedic situations than outright drama and I should get back to it at some point. I'm honestly not sure why I haven't watched another episode yet. Maybe I wanted little dude to try it?

Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four!

So...I've watched three episodes of this one: Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! but I haven't watched a new one in over a month now. Maybe two.

It's very classic middle aged man isekai. And there wasn't anything in particular wrong with it, but it also didn't grab me (and it's building up to be an obvious harem show). The thing I did like was that he was unappreciated in real life but the Demon King saw his potential and encourages him to get the job done and he uses the skills he learned from his previous job and applies them to these new, weird situations...showing that everything really is the same everywhere.

The other of the "Big Four" are his likely harem (he wins over the red-haired one in the first couple of episodes) and I'm guessing whoever's hidden in the weird suit is also female. He also looks like every other middle aged guy in one of these shows, but at least he's not as skeevy as some.

So, I dunno if I'll finish it. Maybe. I'm ambivalent but not annoyed.

Bogus Skill Fruitmaster ~About that time I became able to eat unlimited numbers of Skill Fruits (that kill you)~

 I've actually watched 9 episodes of this 12 episode show: Bogus Skill Fruitmaster ~About that time I became able to eat unlimited numbers of Skill Fruits (that kill you)~

Er, so, at first I expected not much out of it. Then, for a few episodes I was pleasantly surprised. Then I was increasingly disappointed and now...well, I think I've given up as it's been a couple of months since I watched it.

In this world, you eat a skill fruit--only one; the next will kill you--and get skills. Light (the dude's name) gets a "bogus" skill of Fruitmaster, which means he can grow great fruit AND he soon discovers he can eat MORE fruit and gain MORE skills. See, that was kind of interesting. 

His best friend, who's a girl, gets a super combat skill and goes off adventuring, even though it was him that had always wanted to do that. Her team, however, are all assholes. He winds up saving her from it and getting her to join him and his little sidekick. Even though the (obviously evil) guild or whatever leader doesn't want that.

So, all this part is fairly okay. And there's bits with a big fight and he gains more skills, etc. and also saves this blacksmith-y talented girl. All interesting.

Then they make the classic mistake and split the party. And the original plot thread goes out the window and suddenly we're following a new thread (that we don't, honestly, care about as much and doesn't make as much sense). 

That's where I bunked off. 

Maybe at some point I'll finish those last three episodes but I dunno. It felt like a bait and switch.

Tying the Knot with an Anagami Sister

Ok. So. I watched one episode of this and I haven't watched another yet. 

I honestly am not sure if I'll go on with it or not. Uryu Kamihate, an orphan and medical/uni student, gets taken in by a shrine as a kind of foster student. The old man (grandfather?) of the three shrine maidens basically says he can inherit the shrine (and a placed to live as he goes to school) if he marries one of the three sisters. He doesn't want to, but he also wants a place to live, this poor unfortunate foster student.

The girls all have distinct personalities -- i.e. the standard harem types -- the lolita youngest, the she-doth-protest-too-much middle, and the oldest sweeter-than-though sorta naive one. And he, of course, is the 'he-who-must-protest-loudly' and get caught in accidentally compromising situations through no fault of his own and wilful misunderstandings. 

Urgh. Actually, now that I'm writing it up, I feel like I probably won't pick this up again. I'm really not a big fan of harem stuff so there has to be something about a show that has that which pulls me in and looking back, there wasn't anything in the first episode which made me think, yah, I'll do this despite the obvious harem. I didn't even particularly like any of the sisters OR the guy.

I know it definitely has its fans and that's totally ok. If I were hard up for a show, I'd probably watch it. But, instead, I'm summing it up here so I remember when next I am looking for something to watch and think, huh, didn't I start that one? 

Kill Boksoon

This is one of the write ups I was very behind on -- Kill Boksoon. I'd wanted to see the movie for ages: assassin mom of a teenage daughter, and the actress from Crash Course in Romance (which could not be any more different from this character).

It's got a bit of a John Wick vibe with the world building around the assassins--she's another one that's been in it since she was young. It's slick and stylishly gritty, though with a Korean-vibe. Not Kdrama exactly, but I think it helps if you've watched them to catch some of the nuance.

I realise as I am typing this up that I don't want to rehash the plot. It's not groundbreaking, but it's solid. I very much enjoyed all the actors and the action sequences. It was a hoot to see Jeon Do-yeon in such a different kind of part after seeing her in a rom-com, though I think she does more of this kind of stuff than the other.

I'd recommend it. I enjoyed it. I would watch it again someday.

Perhaps my last

So, I went to the first lit festival I'd been to in a while. They invited me months ago and I accepted, drawn in, perhaps by their effusive email and the fact that they seemed to actually know my books (including the ttrpg ones). And I'm not saying it was terrible, but it also just made me think that I really don't know that it's worthwhile (or mentally advisable) to do these things anymore.

It started off awful to begin with because I wound up on two weeks of (terrible) jury duty on a mentally draining trial. So I didn't have as much time to prepare as I thought I would -- though, honestly, the prep I did do was fine. But I was going into it stressed. I didn't even book hotel or train tickets until the day before because I wasn't sure if I'd have to be back for another day of jury duty or not on Monday (and my sessions were on Sunday until late and it was far enough away that even if I could catch a train back, it would get me home after 1 am).

Anyway, I went Saturday afternoon so I wouldn't have to run on Sunday and maybe have a chance to decompress a bit and enjoy what I'd been told was a charming town. The hotel was nice, but super expensive on the Saturday night (which I didn't expect them to cover)--double what it was for Sunday night's stay. Walking around it was...well, it was like any random English town that isn't London. Some nice old buildings. Random construction. There were a lot of busy restaurants and bars and I managed to find a place for dinner that got good reviews. It was...okay. The clientele was varied. A few tables of ladies my age or older, dressed to kill and adjusting their boobs (one woman literally couldn't apparently keep her hands off of them, though I'm not sure what she thought the constant pushing up and cupping was going to do...gravity is gravity, ma'am.) Older men, balding, with younger ladies in very short skirts. Reminded me of White Lotus. A few hen-do's, one of which the bride-to-be was so pregnant that I was thinking the wedding better be the next day or she'd not likely make it--she barricaded herself in the toilet and wouldn't let anyone else in for a while. 

So. Yeah. I wasn't overly impressed by the town. I really have pretty much figured out that I like London, but I don't love the rest of England. At least, not to live in. Haven't tried Manchester, so maybe it's okay. I mean, it had better restaurants than Coventry but that's not a steep hill to climb.

Before I even arrived, I'd received a notice late on Friday (too late to do anything about it) that the Waterstones that was supposed to have ordered books for all the visiting authors had somehow messed up my part of the order so that none of my books were available to sell/sign. 

This is not even the first time this has happened to me at an event. Maybe the third. Everyone else's somehow always wind up ordered, but not mine. Do I have a curse?

And they were charging £5 to £10 less for my 2 hour workshop than some other people's sessions (who weren't any "bigger" than I am and were sometimes only 1 hour things). It just felt kind of insulting. 

And, at various times, my name was misspelled -- both first and surname, though not at the same time. The first name gets misspelled all the time in this country, to be fair, but it's still annoying and makes you feel unseen and unappreciated.

The sessions themselves were okay, though not packed with people, and I did well at them. Honestly, I'm really good at it. I had attendees ask me when/where they could hear me speak again, others that stayed late, a few that came to my panel session to hear me speak more.

But, all told, I make very very little money off of these things, especially when they don't even have my books available for sale. They are exhausting, even if I am good at the talking part. From a purely cost-benefit analysis, they aren't worth it. I did help a handful of writers with the workshop, but I could probably start running an online course and keep a discord and reach more people if I wanted to do that.

So, yeah. Maybe it's sour grapes but it never feels like these things work out in my favour.

Suzume

I watched Suzume a while back (on a plane, I think), though it had been on my list for a long time. It's another Makoto Shinkai film, which I generally always find appealing--there's a very dream-like quality to them. 

This one is no exception to that. Suzume Iwato is a 17 year old schoolgirl with a curious mind who lives with her aunt. She has dreams of herself as a child walking through a ruined landscape looking for her mother, but doesn't know what they mean. One day (hello, inciting incident), she runs into a young man not much older than herself (uni aged) named Souta who is looking for abandoned places...with doors. 

She follows him and accidentally releases a keystone (which turns into a mischievous cat) and thereby unleashing some potential earth-shattering problems. Souta is a "closer", something his family has been doing for generations. They hold back this gigantic earthquake-causing worm...ok, as I'm typing this, I realise it sounds very, very implausible. But it doesn't while you're watching, I promise.

For reasons, he gets turned into a three-legged chair and Suzume and he go gallivanting around the country relying on the help of strangers as they try to get him human again AND re-capture the cat. The aunt and a friend of Souta's get involved at the end and everything is very neatly tied off, returning back to Suzume's early memories--she had, indeed, once wandered the Ever After. 

And...that's all I'm gonna say about the plot because, honestly, there's a lot going on and to really explain it would take ages. I'll say that, as with all Shinkai films, it is visually gorgeous, though some people have complained that it doesn't stand up to his other works. It's a coming of age story, but also a heroic, epic journey with sacrifice and love. I really enjoyed it though I can definitely see that the romantic aspect (with Souta) wasn't the original, intentional goal and is a sideline. 

I will possibly watch it again in the future, perhaps with little dude.

The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows

I am not having much luck tonight and I was really just trying to relax. Tried out The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows and it might be good, but half the first episode was about his already formed harem fighting over getting to see him (while he was out on a house call) and eating his dinner that some poor girl had been cooking all day (oh, and she wants to marry him too). It's kind of like it started in the middle.

So. Maybe I'll try another episode another time but there wasn't anything about this one that particularly made me want to try another. Even if he is deadpan.

La Dolce Villa

 Just a very brief post. Tried the (all too American) La Dolce Villa (American writers and production company, though a lot of Italian actors) and made it approximately 20 minutes. Acting was so-so or, rather, like Hallmark movie level, I guess? That kind of slightly exaggeratedness that works better on the stage? 

And considering the year and a half we spent house hunting in Italy and researching citizenship + even the One Euro houses that this movie delves into, it just was totally unrealistic to me. Other than, yes, small Italian towns are in desperate need of new investment and residents. And the whole father-daughter dynamic was meh and I'm sure they'll all be one big happy family by the end but...bleh.

The Unwanted Undead Adventurer

So I wasn't particularly looking for (another) new show to watch but was still kind of unwilling to go into the angsty part of Sacrificial Princess...which is how I found myself starting up The Unwanted Undead Adventurer and, I gotta say, I really liked it!

In fact, I think I may very well get the books. I'd thought going in that it was going to be something like Skeleton Knight in Another World but this is not an isekai. And the stories and characters have no relation to each other at all...this one is actually got a fairly good plot going that stands up as not being derivative (at least not much). True, there's almost a harem thing going on, but not really.

But I shall start anew. We meet Rentt right as he's about to die. Twenty-five, he's been a low ranked adventurer for 10 years (and, we learn later, trained for 10 years before that) and thought it a bit of luck that he'd stumbled into a secret part of the local labyrinth...until he runs into a legendary dragon creature and is killed. Or eaten. At any rate, dead.

And not just dead, but undead. He comes to in the next day or so (this in one part that doesn't totally make sense as his equipment looks aged and he's only bone) as a barebones (haha) skeleton. But his mind and memories are intact. He soon figures out that he can "evolve" as he kills other monsters and gets to the point that he's a ghast. 

A lucky encounter sees him save a young adventurer from certain death and he convinces her to go into town and buy him some concealing clothing so he can try and return home. Because if he just wandered in, they'd surely kill him because he's a monster now. He might have actually still been just a skeleton when he meets her, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is that they get back to town.

Now, all this time, we're getting his inner monologue about how he's "just" a bronze level and has been stuck there for years. But it's clear from the townspeople (who are wondering where he is and the ones who immediately recognise him in his disguise) that he's beloved because of his hardworking ethic, his willingness to always help people, and that even though he was low in rank, he was high in heart. He immediately heads to Lorraine, someone he's known for years who is obviously in love with him (to everyone but him, I suppose, as all he focuses on is becoming a mythril level adventurer (and that is the way they spelled it, not mithril??)).

Anyway, she's a scholar and sort-of witchy researcher and he stays with her. I'm not going to rehash all of it, but will say that he proves over and over again what a decent guy he is and, at the end of season 1, has evolved again to be some type of vampire (with wings). There was a season 2 announced, though it doesn't have a release date yet. I'll definitely watch it. 

The worldbuilding seems decent. The side characters are reasonably fleshed out for an anime with a diverse cast, doing a lot with the little screentime they have. And in the last episode, we get the payoff of why he has laboured so hard for so many years--it's revenge. A wolf monster killed his entire family and best friend and he was saved by a mithryl level adventurer, who set him on the path that he's on. He's just a decent guy. Yes, pretty much every woman that he meets gets a heart flutter, but so far there's no romance in it--though clearly Lorraine has been on that ship for a long time. 

So, yes, glad I watched it. Will definitely continue on. Will post about the books if/when I get them.

The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt

I'm trying to actually keep up (I am SO behind), so I'll start my post on The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt as I watched the first episode today.

Crown Prince Wein complains that he wants to sell out his kingdom (his father is ill, leaving him in charge) as it is a far northern itty bitty kingdom without industry or resources. But he gives stirring speeches and his liege lords follow him with smiles. When another kingdom attacks, he's amazed when they not only repel the invaders but then go on to annex their gold mine. And that's just in the first episode.

He's obviously going to have to now come up with more plans to keep the kingdom going, with the help of his capable assistant (the girl in the picture). 

I am ambivalent at the moment, mostly because he's one of those histrionic types when he's alone with just his assistant, though the face he presents to everyone else is very kingly and wise. I do think I'll try another episode or two before I decide though.

Tearmoon Empire

This is a timeslip type of anime -- a selfish princess is executed at age 20 (after spending 3 years in the dungeons) after a revolution, but gets a second chance in Tearmoon Empire, when she awakens 8 years earlier at age 12. At first thinking it was a horrible dream, she realises it is her potential future when she sees her blood soaked diary that she had carried with her to the gallows.

It's a bit Bakarina-like as she's basically trying to avoid doom flags by changing history. And I did enjoy it (other than the chipmunk on helium voice for the main character; it was a bit grating after awhile), but Mia does remain, for the most part a selfish person. 80% of what she does is still very me-me-me, though things work out in this timeline better for everyone. She does show some growth though, when she makes some choices towards the end that aren't wholly beneficial to herself and are focused more on others.

It is a comic take, however, which is why I was watching it. The gains the reputation of being the wisdom of the empire, but it's wholly undeserved. Her "wise decisions" are a culmination of things other people told her in her first go through or people misinterpreting her actions based on the best possible scenario. 

So, it's cutesy. I did like that the first retainer she gloms onto is the servant that didn't abandon her in the last life and she's very loyal. And you do come to learn, by the end, that it wasn't really her bad decisions that led her to the guillotine the first time; there was a plot. If someone had given her the benefit of the doubt or asked a few more questions in her first life, it may not have ended so badly for her. Still, she was a spoiled pain that first time.

I did also like that in trying to save herself, she also saves some others. Notably, Prince Abel who had been destined to be a second son playboy type, instead becomes a true knight in shining armour with her encouragement (I looked it up and they do get married in the books, apparently).

So, yes, I enjoyed this one and I'm glad I watched it. I don't think I'll watch it again or pick up the books, but it's a solid showing.

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

I honestly was not expecting a lot out of Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts. The cover image felt almost identical to The Tale of the Outcasts on first glance (youngish girl with white hair, beastly lion-y guy) and I will be verrrry honest here...I am really not into furrrrrry type stuff. Cross-species things often feel a bit iffy, even if it's human / demon (wherein the demons look very humanoid). I mean, I shouldn't complain. Technically then elves and humans shouldn't mix either. Eh, I dunno. Maybe you get used to some things through over use? Though I do look at the main characters and from a logistics standpoint it seems...doubtful. Though he is actually also part human some of the time...but I should start over.

In this world, there are humans and there are beasts -- though the beasts are more or less humanoid--they all seem to walk upright on two feet, have two arms, carry themselves like humans, dress in clothing, etc. The humans live separately and there's a truce between them--sort of. The humans have to give a sacrifice and Sariphi, our erstwhile heroine, is the 99th. She knew from a young age that she was to be the yearly sacrifice...in fact, she was brought up by an (evil) family simply so she could take the place of their "real" daughter as the sacrifice. That knowledge perhaps is what set her up for what happens--she's not afraid when she is offered up.

She also very soon discovers that the King of the Beasts is actually part human and when the miasma clears, his human side takes over and the only remnant of the beast is his horns. This is not something that is common knowledge, nor is it known that he's never eaten any of the sacrifices--there's an escape tunnel that he sends them off in. What happened to all the others? Hard to say, given that they would have wound up deep in beast territory. 

Anyway, her sort of strange attitude and pure hearted sympathy catch his eye and he decides to keep her. It feels a bit like a spur of the moment thing; he definitely wasn't planning it. And his advisors, especially his chancellor Anubis (yes, that Anubis...there's also a Set...though none of the other beast-types seem to have any Egyptian ties, so not really sure what they're doing there), are wholly aghast that he plans to take a filthy human as his queen.

Here's where there's a bit of dodgy-ness. She's 15 (thank heavens she's not any younger), though she definitely appears like a child next to him in beast form--he can carry her around practically in the palm of his hand. His lifespan is longer than a humans and while they don't say exactly how old he's supposed to be, I'm guessing (as these things go) it's much older. Though, in his human form, you'd guess he's low 20s. So, yeah, got the age gap thing going on as well as the beast / human combo. And massive power differential between a literal king and a human sacrifice though, to her credit, she never acts like a sacrifice. She is who she is.

BUT...all that said, I don't actually really care about any of that. I'm here for her saving him from his despair and loneliness and self-hatred. For the somewhat complicated socio-economical kingdom stuff and the kind-of caste system of the beast kingdom where ichthyians are lower than low, cat-people seem high up, etc. etc. For him raising her up and giving her a purpose and realising she can have hope for her own life. For her slowly winning the people over by being herself. 

They are two people who each had never experienced any kind of love before (poor guy, his dad even hated him for his "tainted" blood) finding it in each other and there's a kind of beauty to it. They are both childlike in some ways. There are definitely bits that could be gross but instead come across as sweet or wistful. I am about half way through the 24 episodes and I hadn't looked to see how many there were and when it flipped over to 13 after 12 I was like, whoo-hoo! it's not over! and not oh damn, yikes, there's more. So that's a good sign.

Animation-wise, it's okay. A bit rudimentary maybe? I have to admit I love his big fluffy tail though haha. Maybe rudimentary isn't the word. It feels reminiscent of older animation; it's not polished and shiny. It's kinda old school hobbit-y. It doesn't feel like a modern anime but more like a classic fantasy cartoon. The story has that feel too, actually, in many ways.

Both for Sariphi and Leonhart (the name she gives him; he didn't even have one before) -- this is their fairy tale and maybe that's one of the things that I'm quite liking about it. It could feel gross and exploitative but it doesn't. Instead, it's more dreamy and folktale-y. Here's hoping the last half continues to enthral me.

And can I just say that I like this SO MUCH MORE than Nina the Starry Bride.

Edit: up to episode 20 and I had to take a break as it was getting Grimm Fairytale Dark. It's not a bad thing, it's just that I'm on jury duty on a rather difficult (and depressing) trial and I need a break. 

There was kidnapping, an uprising from anti-monarchists, a damaged villain, a very bloody battle, and now as she heads into human lands to try and broker at least the start of peace between them, I'm sure there's about to be a lot more hardship. And Set has been researching the lack of info on the King's mother and has SUSPICIONS that I'm sure will be bad for our couple. I mean, shoulda known. It's Set. How on the nose can you be? I grew up on The Egypt Game. I will go back and finish it, just need some light and fluffy stuff first.

The Unaware Atelier Meister

 So. The Unaware Atelier Meister. Not sure how I'm feeling about this one yet. Mostly because "Unaware" in this case means TOTALLY unaware and completely clueless. And it's definitely harem-y.

Kurt was the, basically, bag carrier on an adventurer team before getting unceremoniously fired. They treated him like a slave but our boy just rolled with it and thinks nothing of his abilities.

His combat skills are atrocious BUT literally every other type of skill (building, mining, creating, crafting, whatever) is SSS rank or who knows, maybe higher. He takes on random jobs through a hiring company (?) and does so well at everyone of them that he's earning money hand over fist but doesn't realise it and thinks he gets fired because he did badly rather than the fact that he does things like 10x faster and better than any person should be able to.

Dude can build an entire freaking mansion in 3 days. By himself. He falls in with a royal princess that he saved from a curse with PORRIDGE. Of course he doesn't realise she's a princess or that he saved her. And of course she is totally besotted with this wide-eyed innocent that would remind you of Bell Cranel except for crafts instead of combat. The others around him include a former royal fighter, a mage, and a new fighting group. They're trying to get to the bottom of who's trying to kill the princess.

They all know that he's crazy high ranked but have told him he's at best a B or maybe A because he's so innocent. They know that if others knew, they'd want to steal him. Or worse.

I am not all that fond of this plot bit. Because dude is clueless but he can't learn unless SOMEONE ACTUALLY TEACHES HIM and corrects him when he downplays his abilities. So, yeah. I mean, it is literally in the name, but I dunno. It kinda rubs me the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with Kurt himself but you do feel like he should get at least something of a clue sometimes! Am just a few episodes in, so we'll see how it goes. Or maybe his intelligence is just as bad as his combat ability.

The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom

Have started another ongoing one that grabbed my attention: The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom. Whew. Yeah, that's a mouthful.

It is, once again, not an isekai. ;-) In this fantasy world, kingdoms are protected by powerful Saints (we've seen this before, like in The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent). In Saint Philia's original kingdom, she and her younger sister are both saints. But Philia, even though she does the brunt of the work and is likely the most powerful saint in years, gets no respect from her family, the prince she's supposed to be engaged to, or even the people she works so hard for. Only her sister supports her in anyway. They think she is standoffish and too full of herself, though really she's just been overworked, un-socialised, and is kinda deadpan. She literally does nothing wrong and gets treated like trash.

The prince approaches a nearby kingdom that lost their saint and basically sells her off, breaking off their engagement (he wants to marry the younger sister who is all smiles). They bundle her off and send her on her way without even letting her say goodbye to her sister (and they tell the sister it was her choice).

Luckily, the new kingdom welcomes her with open arms and the princes there are upstanding fellows (the second prince is definitely the new love interest). Though she's still deadpan and a workaholic, everyone there is amazed at what she can do and how powerful she is. And that power is necessary because it appears that the demon realm is creeping closer and closer...

Meanwhile, younger sister is investigating her sister's disappearance and comes to realise it was indeed a plot by her (horrible) money-grubbing parents and the truly distasteful prince. While she plays along with him, she plots her revenge. Step in a go-between ninja who sets up communication between the sisters and we see some nice movement there.

I do like that the sisters love each other. And that Philia is experiencing appreciation and love for the first time. Even her butler and maid are totally devoted and impressed with her. She doesn't know how to respond, but she'll learn. And good for Mia--I hope she totally sticks it to the asshole prince.

I am definitely enjoying this one so far. I hope it keeps up the good work.

Edit: Finished this one and really quite enjoyed it. Story was good, characters were good. The one idiot prince never redeemed himself BUT he actually got punished. The Asmodeus demon thing didn't totally make sense with him having fallen in love with the Saint who vanquished him 400 years ago who's soul was reborn in Philia (but who also communicated with Philia?), but I'll forgive it that. It was a good show.

The Gorilla God's Go-To Girl

I'm not entirely sure why this one grabbed my interest enough to start watching it before it's complete. But I've started The Gorilla God's Go-To Girl. 

It's not an isekai and possibly not a harem (though it probably is, I mean, look at that image...it looks like an otome opening screen right there). In whatever fantasy world this is, when you hit a certain age, you draw a card and gain a blessing from an animal god. Our not-so-plucky, shy, downtrodden heroine has a heart of gold and winds up drawing a very rare card--the Gorilla God has picked her, giving her the strength, speed, etc. of a gorilla. 

When the Knights hear about it, they immediately want to recruit her. But the one thing this blessing didn't give her is any kind of backbone or self confidence. Even after hearing how rare it is (one maybe every 50 years), she still just wants to fade into the background. But her good heart gets in her way; she even manages to save the life of Isaac (light brown haired guy with puppy dog energy and powers) and impress Louis (dark haired guy 2 years older who is already a knight who seems immediately beguiled and is more than likely the official love interest) and make friends with Eddy (the other dark haired younger guy who is definitely more savvy than the other two youngsters and completes the friend group). Most of the other fellows in the picture are other knights who lead battalions? groups? that all kind of want to recruit her (probably). I honestly mixed up the two blonde ones, thinking they were the same guy just in different clothes, but looks like they're different.

Anyway, the big complication is the bullying she's getting at school (but all 3 of her new found guy friends now conveniently go there too). I am enjoying it, though I am also frustrated at just how much this girl bends over backwards to not even potentially offend or inconvenience anyone else, including the girls that bully her. She brings new levels to "turn the other cheek". Here's to hoping she develops a backbone.

The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far

Er, so I started watching The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far because I'd seen a clip of it that looked decent. I made it through 5 episodes in, I must admit, a mini-binge wherein I didn't want to think about anything. But then I didn't have any time and now I've let it sit for a couple weeks and...meh, I don't actually think I'm going to pick it back up. I'm already watching two other shows that are terrible (it's a trainwreck thing; exactly how bad can it get??) and I don't think I can add another.

I mean, I liked the idea of the gods going overboard. At least there's a reason that he's OP. And it would actually be okay if he weren't, like, maybe 12 and he's already betrothed to 2 girls and is constantly rizzing them up (sort of on purpose but kind of not) AND he has an older sister that ADORES him. AND it looks like the harem is just going to get worse and worse. 

So, yeah, just doing my brief write up so I remember later when I see that I've watched a few episodes and can't remember why I stopped. I am really not liking this recent crop of isekai where all the main characters are literally children but still basically acting like adults. It's skeevy.

Love Scout

Wah, so I finally watched (and finished) another Kdrama. Not, of course, any of the ones that I had started ages ago. Sigh. 

There's reasons, of course. One, for a long time Viki wasn't working at the gym, giving me some weird message about proxy servers, even though I connect to the Wifi there. And I also usually exercise 55 minutes there (as hubby does his swim) and most of them are an hour or a little more. And I haven't had time at home, really. So anime has fit the bill.

But Viki started working again AND I've been working out over an hour while hubby is in Madeira. So I had time. AND Love Scout features an "older" romance (actors in their forties! whoa!) and there's even a kid (male lead's daughter; he's divorced and she's 7). So I was happy to give it a try and get away from school romance and harem isekai. 

It also features a (sort of) powerful female lead as a CEO and the greenest of green flag male leads (he puts 'em all to shame). I've finished it now and I'll say that my overall feelings are positive and I did enjoy it. I'd even say that MOST of the way through my satisfaction rating was like 90%. 

There was an inkling very early on where they hinted that their past childhood traumas were connected and I was really, really hoping they weren't going to go that route...but they did indeed. It was wholly unnecessary, unwanted, and annoying. On the plus side, they didn't draw it out more than about an episode and a half. So, her dad died when she was a pre-teen when he ran back into a burning apartment building to save someone. Of course, the someone he saved turns out to be Eun ho, the male lead, who she falls in love with 30 some odd years later. Ridiculous coincidence and totally not necessary for the plot. It would have been enough to have her just opening her heart (as she did) from normal trauma/life/issues rather than making this ridiculous connection. I really hate it when shows do that. And, seriously, how many fires does South Korea have? 

The other annoying plot stuff has mainly to do with the "big bads" of the show (stupid) and how the writers of these shows really don't seem to understand how businesses work. Not gonna hash that out though.

I did think the main romance was sweet, as were the side ones. Was definitely all in for the developing relationship between the daughter and the female lead and it was nice that they got to know each other BEFORE they realised their connection to Eun ho. 

So, yes, I enjoyed this one and am glad I watched it. I doubt if I'd watch it again as it wasn't heart pounding doki-doki or anything but it was really nice to see a more mature romance for once. More of that please. 

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too

Ok, I'm first going to say that I enjoyed I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too and I binged it in short order. That said, it is absolute, pure unadulterated wish fulfilment for those that feel unloved, unattractive, and abandoned.

Rather than being the standard "Average Joe" that gets sucked into an isekai world, Yuuya is an overweight new graduate of middle school, about to go to high school (so, 15ish). Not only that, but he's abused by his younger siblings and ignored or worse from his parents. His beat downs are daily from his bullies. His grandfather was the only one who loved him and, when he passes and gives all of his belongings to Yuuya, his parents try to cheat him out of it. But grandpa was too smart--so instead they just abandon him. And so poor Yuuya lives on his own, a very miserable existence indeed. But he somehow manages to still be an upstanding, kind guy and even saves a pretty girl from a bunch of assholes--who beat him bloody. 

Around the same time, he discovers a hidden room in his grandfather's house that leads to another world; hello isekai. He immediately gains a bunch of powers/abilities which cause him to lose a massive amount of weight and get all buff. But also more clever and lucky. 

Meanwhile, when he gets back to the real world, he's changed there too (though he doesn't realise this immediately). When he gets to school, everyone is stunned, but still kinda ready to bully him (especially the younger brother and sister). But, hallooo! The pretty girl he saved arrives, having tracked him down. It seems her dad is the chairman of some fancy shmancy school and she wants him to go there because he saved her. She even recognises him (from his kind eyes) even though he's changed so drastically physically.

So after this, he winds up going back and forth between worlds, levelling up. He thinks he's cheating and has about as much self confidence as a cucumber even once he starts winning at, like, everything in both worlds, and gets stronger and stronger every day. But he's putting in hours of training time, so I dunno that I'd actually call it cheating. 

The wish fulfilment continues -- model agencies want him. ALL the girls want him. Probably the boys too. He saves a princess, she wants to marry him. He accidentally trains with an assassin girl, she wants him. Everyone wants him and thinks he's the most attractive thing on wheels. He cooks so well that even his teacher immediately proposes to him while on a school trip. Yeah. Wholly inappropriate. Yet he stays completely humble and oblivious. 

I'm sure I'm sounding sarcastic, but, really, everything about this story is pretty ridiculous. The most unbelievable thing, perhaps, is that this kid who is PURE and NOBLE and has actually a great work ethic...if he didn't have some kind of medical condition, why was he fat and unhealthy his whole life? Why did it take magic intervention to turn his life around? They show his EARLY childhood where his parents were already hating on him. And grandpa was there. So...why was it all so horrible and traumatic? Not to mention grandpa has the secret door to another world. Since he knew how horribly Yuuya was treated, WHY didn't he do something about it? 

Anyway, I did enjoy watching it. I liked the back and forth between worlds, which isn't something you see a lot of in isekai. It is definitely the kind of story you can't think about too hard because it doesn't hold together at the seams, but you do want to root for Yuuya. I'm not sure that the message behind stuff is totally a good one -- it's even repeated later on with the older brother prince of the princess, who spends most of the season trying to kill her...he's scarred beyond recognition with burns and that has lead him to be crazypants...but after Yuuya heals him and he's pretty again...it's all good? 

So...while I overall liked it, I guess you could say it's a surface appreciation. The animation style is also a bit wonky. While Yuuya seems oblivious to the growing harem, it's a bit much. Actually, it's a lot more than a bit much. But at least it isn't like some where they actually get married and have concubines and things. So it could have been worse, I suppose. 

And when looking it up to grab an image for here, I saw that if you read further than the anime went that apparently there's also aliens and interplanetary travel? And the other vile/divine disciple girl that was like crazy lolita robotnik with a bow...he takes her to the real world and enrolls her in the school? WTF? The level of forgiveness this dude has is more legendary than his out of control skills. You tried to annihilate the world and kill everyone? Oh, that's okay, why don't we just be friends? Do you wanna manhandle me as well and ogle my washboard abs? Don't worry, everything will be fine if I just smile bashfully at you as I princess carry you off the field of battle where you just tried to turn me into a pincushion of arrows.

Zenshu

I confess I really wasn't sure about this one after the first episode, but Zenshu has won me over (for now), though I'm really hoping it ends happily.

Let's call it isekai-adjacent. Natsuko Hirose is a young woman that has been totally and wholly consumed by making anime/drawing since she first saw A Tale of Perishing (a distressingly depressing anime movie) as a young girl. She could probably draw the characters in her sleep. After high school, she went straight to work and developed a hit anime (a la magical girls) and now she's supposed to follow that up with a new one...about first love. Something she knows absolutely nothing about.

While struggling with the deadline and tossing storyboard after storyboard, she winds up eating an expired clam lunch and collapses to (theoretically) reawaken in the middle of A Tale of Perishing, right before one of the characters, Unio (a really annoying talking unicorn dude), is about to sacrifice himself to save the other heroes fighting the Void. But Nautsuko has her pegboard, which is apparently magical now, and it demands she draw! A desk appears and she does; drawing with release, drawing like she hasn't been able to draw since her last project started. 

And she saves the day and Unio, re-writing the battle on the fly. Then she promptly collapses and sleeps for a few days. Now, I should mention that she'd stopped cutting her hair and wasn't going to cut it again until after the project was done (or at least the storyboard) and when she first arrives in the world, she looks, basically, like a walking clump of hair. Can't see her face at all. So the heroes are shocked when they realise she's actually human.

I'm not going to rehash everything, but let's say that the show really seems to be about her rediscovering her love of drawing, but also seeing people outside of herself and her obsession for the first time. As she changes the world around her, it's changing her too. Luke Braveheart, of the super cheesy name, falls in love with her instead of Destiny, the character he was supposed to (and Destiny, instead of being a damsel in distress, becomes a crazy bodybuilder and builds an orphanage, finding her purpose as well, even if it wasn't what the original writer wanted). And the original writer (who also had died) is there too -- in the form of a bird, annoyingly proclaiming to Natsuko that the end of the movie is set in stone and there's nothing she can do about it.

And the ending is terrible; Luke would have become the Ultimate Void after Destiny died. The world ends, the future destroyed.

Can Natsuko re-write this tale? Is she really there or just experiencing bad clam hallucinations? That'd be a shame, because she needs Luke (and the others). Just as much as she needs her spark.

So I'm curious as to how this will wrap up. I'm not going to look anything up and spoil myself.

Edit: Finished it. It was good. The ending made sense, but was also bittersweet (she saves the world, but also goes back to "reality"). But they left it open for a sequel as Luke has promised her he'll find her next time. 

The best part is that it's one of the more original storylines in the season. Definitely glad I watched it. Dunno that I would watch it again, unless there is a second season and we get some romance thrown in if Luke makes it to reality...

Skeleton Knight in Another World

Oh look, another isekai! Haha. Ok, I actually started Skeleton Knight in Another World a long time ago with little dude then forgot about it and just recently finished it (only had about 5 episodes left).

It's a fairly standard storyline with the only major difference being that Arc finds himself isekai'd into the MMO that he'd been playing and he's basically a human (probably) who has been cursed to look like a walking skeleton. That's not normal, even for this fantasy world, so he wears some massive armour to cover that up.

Other enjoyable bits: he is continually geeking out over any cool fantasy stuff he comes across. A dragon? OMG! An elf? OMG! So even though he's a skeleton, he's honestly just adorable.

He's also so GOOD and PURE that Ponta (the little creature with a lot of tails) gloms onto him and adopts him, which helps him as others he meets know that the little creature like that doesn't normally associate with anyone and especially not anyone bad.

I wouldn't say it's a harem, though his main two companions are a dark elf fighter/mage and a beastfolk lady ninja. There's hints of jealousy from dark elf lady when he saves a "lady of the night" from some ruffians (pretty sure he didn't even realise what she was; he just runs in if there's a damsel in distress) but nothing overt. 

There's an adorable bro-mance between him and another beefcake beastfolk ninja dude where they wrestle and bro-hug.

Other than that, it's pretty standard -- he's OP as they come (singlehandedly defeats a hydra). The main conflict is that there's slavery in this world where the elves and the beastfolk aren't safe from humans. Some political intrigue.

I've heard there's a season two, so I'll probably watch it. Not so much for the plot, but because Arc is such an exuberant, chill dude.

The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies

Oh man, I was really enjoying this freaky, kinda weird magical girl anime: The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies and I got to the last episode and was wondering if there was more (it stopped rather open-ended) and looked it up and the mangaka apparently died very young at 31 and left it behind unfinished.

So, that's a bummer. I binged the whole thing in one night -- the episodes are about half the length of normal ones (which makes sense because it's from a 4 panel manga) and even shorter if you skip the intro/outro. It is a little bit charming, a bit sketchy, very sweet, but also a bit dodgy. It has a deadpan heroine (the eponymous magical girl of misfortune Byakuya) who works about a billion jobs and never has enough money. And an eyeglass wearing "evil" lieutenant that falls in love at first sight. He wants to do his job and defeat the magical girl, but no, he really just wants to spend time with her.

On the skeevy side, it also has the weirdest ass most awful "angels" / familiars who are "in charge" of the magical girls. Byakuya's is the chainsmoking pervert dude in a cat suit who is constantly trying to get her into compromising jobs or talking about her boobs. He's gross. Actually, beyond gross. Mira tears his head off at one point, though he sadly doesn't stay gone, and you really wish it was permanent. The other magical girl is a childhood acquaintance and she hardly ever actual speaks (except in her head) and acts like she has Tourette's because she's constantly blurting out "fuck" as she randomly chomps people. The swearing part, not the violence. Her familiar/angel is a very bizarre looking bird-man with a six pack. Though when the familiars go back to "heaven" (is it really??), they look like guys.

Honestly, could have completely done without the other magical girl and the horrible angels that are just taking advantage of the girls. Just give me more of the "evil" lieutenant who can't help but save the hapless but...ok, I was going to say plucky, but she's not plucky. She's resigned. But she keeps going even so. I love that they find their happiness in each other.

So there's no real end to the series due to the author's death, so I imagine that she is somehow the magical girl who saves everything by the two of them falling in love. And even though there's an age gap (not sure how much, but this is a weird world where he's not human (?) and she's not either exactly, now that she's a magical girl, so I'm just gonna roll with it). 

So, am I glad I watched it? Yeah. I doubt if I'll watch it again, but it has it's own special charm. In "my" ending, I'll also imagine that Mira ("evil" guy) manages to send off the familiars once and for all and truly save Byakuya and give her the life he so desperately wants her to have.

Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective

In an effort not to fall any further behind, here's Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective, an anime that I tried an episode of last night.

It's basically House meets anime, teaming up with the police (sort of), if House was a short, female doctor with too much attitude who looks a bit like a teenager and the Watson of the group is a tall, sturdy, dependable doctor with dark hair.

I...didn't love it. I mean, I love mystery type things but I really didn't care for the Dr. lady much. She's needlessly abrasive, doesn't actually seem to care about patients -- just satisfying her curiosity. The junior doctor was a much nicer character. 

And the mystery begun in the first episode involves her postulating that a Tyrannosaurus Rex bit off a guy's leg and killed him. Like, wtf? It seemed a bit too out there for what the show was billing itself to be. It does have a decent rating on Crunchyroll, so I may try another episode to see if grabs me at all, but I'm very meh over it and there's a lot of other untried shows out there.

Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!

Out of the new crop, Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! is one that I'm finding very enjoyable. 

Since a young age, Kazuhiro Kitase (the dude) has loved sleeping -- because in his "dreams" he travels to another, fantasy-style world. He's able to bring with him bentos (that he leaves by his bed) and not really anything else and his "body" in the other world started as a young child and is now more or less like a teenager, though in the real world he is out in the workforce and in his mid-twenties. When he "dies" in the alternate world, he just finds himself back at home in Japan. He's never questioned it much, since it's been this way since he was young, but it seems like he assumed it was some kind of rich dreamworld. 

In the fantasy world, he has a friend, Marie, an elf wizard that he likes to hang around with. But then, one day, they are both killed by a dragon, though Kazuhiro protects her as the fire envelops them. When he wakes up back in Japan, he's very startled to discover a (naked) Marie in bed with him. That's when he realises it isn't just a very realistic dreamworld; it does exist. Why he goes back and forth isn't really explained (at least so far; I'm in episode 8) or why anyone there with him when he falls asleep and/or dies returns with him, but it's not really necessary. 

Marie then begins to accompany him back and forth (and later, the avatar of the dragon does as well). So the show is kinda like an isekai but not at the same time. There's cooking related stuff as Marie (and the dragon lady) discover the joy of Japanese food and also just Japan in general, but then it's balanced with their adventuring in the "fantasy" world. 

I like the set up. I like the characters. The two main characters are obviously destined for some romance, but it's very sweet and even though big busted dragon lady appears and an old childhood friend, it's NOT a harem (childhood friend is even married!). All around, I'm finding this one charming and a big enough departure from standard isekai that it's quite enjoyable. Will update after the end of the season.

End: Finished this one and did enjoy it a lot. I would definitely watch another season. It's a bit open ended, as far as the anime goes, but there was some progress both romance and plot wise. But lots left open, so hope it does go for a second season as I'm not sure I love it enough to get the books, but I'd definitely watch it.

Psychic Princess

Ha, okay. So leaving aside for a moment that the intro/opening credits to this Chinese anime is quite possibly one of the weirdest I've seen with the strangest song and the title itself is iffy, Psychic Princess is actually very enjoyable. 

It's actually a kinda overused storyline for the base premise -- older sister has strange (i.e. spirit) talents and is sent away at a young age because she's seen as a "jinx" to Spirit Cloud Mountain while younger sister is a pampered, spoiled brat. Hmmm, yes, we can see our Happy Marriage parallels easily, though this one might have come before it. Then the emperor has arranged a marriage between the Grand Councillor's daughter to Prince Ye, but he has a reputation of being cold and heartless and evil Grand Councillor has plans AND younger daughter doesn't want to marry Ye either (until she sees him later and has regrets) so they recall the free spirited older sis and make her go through with the marriage, sort of holding her servants (Auntie Xu (?) and Qu'er) as hostages. 

So, at first it's the classic thing where he declares he doesn't want her anywhere near him (while she's hiding under a table, so he doesn't even see what she looks like) and sends her off to a busted up Serenity Palace building. But then she winds up running into him later dressed like a ninja, into one of his brothers who thinks she's a maid (and she shoulder throws him, much to his immediate joy; he crushes on her immediately) and into another brother, who witnesses her taming the untameable horse (Ye's). 

Meanwhile, our psychic princess (I have to think that the original Chinese is less goofy than the translation, but maybe not) has a ghost servant and soon adopts another one that's been haunting the Serenity Palace. They are called Mochi and Sesame. 

So while he doesn't trust her at first, she continues to intrigue him with her very non-princess-y ways. She knows martial arts, she argues with him all the time, she's not remotely demure, etc. etc. The consorts, including the former favourite, of course detest her. There's political machinations via her father. There are evil Taoist priests who want to steal her away. There are good fairies that become her friends. 

I finished season 1 and can't find season 2 (or, strangely enough, the manga/donghua/manhua version) even though there was news that it was supposed to be out in the 2023/2024 season, though in a weird 3d-ish animation style. I can find online translations and supposedly the season 1 of the anime covered up to around Chapter 130 (and there appear to be over 500 chapters). Taking a peek at the online version it has a bit of a different feel / pace than the anime, though the bones are the same. 

I guess let me cover this...I did enjoy it, the weirdness notwithstanding. She's a strong character, though the voice actress for her has a particularly whiny, high pitched voice that kind of gets on your nerves -- I know it's supposed to be the "cute" voice but, eh, not to me. The art is actually okay once you get past the weirdness of the opening title song. It's SO weird. I did wind up binging it very quickly, so it held my interest and it's annoying that season 1 ended so abruptly, so I did like it and I am glad I watched it. I'll probably even attempt to read it online as there's no other way that I can find, though the translations are...not the best.

Edit: Ok, I found a reasonably (but not great) translated version online and I've been reading it. Up to Chapter 337 out of 500 something. The anime went to roughly Chapter 125? It is both better and worse than the anime, though some of the "worse" might be due to the somewhat iffy/ridiculous translation. Maybe. 

Pro for the anime is that some of it was restructured so that the story makes more sense. And the art is much more consistent. 

The most ridiculous things for the written version is that we're supposed to believe that this 20-something year old (or maybe older, it isn't clear) prince with an ACTUAL harem and even a favourite concubine, has NEVER before had sex and has no idea what to do. Nor have any of his brothers, except for the Crown Prince, who is married and a total horn dog. 

Then, there's a whole section about how they have a past connection and have been reincarnated (I guess?) where neither one were human. He was the Sage King of the Devil Realm and she was a Sky Fairy (and princess? maybe?). And their romance in that past life was also just about as weird, where she went to the Devil Realm dressed as a man (but not remotely looking like one; I mean, the girl has obvious boobs even when wearing men's clothing) and he figures out she's a woman, sort of...but literally is like asking her "Are you a woman?" like he's never seen one before when he has handmaidens who gush all over him all the time. 

Anyway, while I am finding it moderately interesting, it's also got a lot of stuff that makes no sense at all. I am not sure if I'll finish it. I kinda just want a summary. And, seriously, if you could just skip through all of the wrist grabbing and forced kissing and "Shocked" faces, it'd probably take the chapter count down from 500 something to like 200. 

Blue Box

Blue Box is somewhat of an atypical watch for me as I'm not really into sportsy anime. That said, it's really more of a slow burn romance/coming of age story.

This one is on Netflix and is ongoing. I'm not sure how many episodes there will be, but I'm caught up at episode 19. Gah, I kinda hate watching stuff as it comes out! So much nicer to just watch after it's all been released!

Taiki is a badminton player and a year younger than Chinatsu (brown haired girl) who plays basketball. Every morning, they are the first ones at the gym to practice. He has a crush on her and respects her, content mostly to admire her from afar, though he dreams of more. Then it turns out that her parents have to move country and she is going to stay behind to hopefully make it to nationals (she's the star player). As Taiki's mom and her mom were close friends, she goes to live in his house. Oh ho, forced proximity!

It's pretty clear early on that Chinatsu does have some interest in him as well, though she seems determined to not act on it -- she's very focused on basketball, the whole reason she stayed behind. The pink haired girl is Hina, a good friend of Taiki's. They have a teasing relationship together and he treats her basically about the same as his best guy friend Kyo.

But Hina realises she wants more and confesses to him. He rejects her, though he's confused. Meanwhile, Chinatsu senses/sees Hina's moves on him and is growing more and more conflicted. Does she dare disturb the universe?

I'm sure the end game is that Chinatsu and Taiki wind up together, though I have to admit that I don't mind Hina. She's honest and straightforward and, if Taiki weren't totally smitten already, would actually be a good match for him. If, perhaps, she'd started her campaign earlier, who knows what might have happened. But there's definitely some second lead syndrome with her. Not to mention -- Chinatsu is a year ahead. Someday, she'll be at uni while he's still in secondary. That's a hard thing. But, in general, you want to root for the two of them.

It is very much a slow burn--at episode 19 neither one has confessed to the other as they both dance around their feelings. It is very sweet, though I don't think this will be a rewatch for me because it's so painfully awkward. Will update when it finishes though! I do feel bad for Hina; hopefully she'll find her prince charming someday.

Edit: Er, okay. I finished the season. 24? 25? Episodes and NO PROGRESS AT ALL. The only thing that actually happened is he finally officially rejected Hina. FFS. I mean, it's not a bad story but seriously. SO. DAMN. SLOW.

Raven of the Inner Palace

Hmmmmm. I felt like I at least partly found what I was looking for in Raven of the Inner Palace, though the anime ends very abruptly (and rather unsatisfyingly). 

It's from a Japanese light novel series (completed, though the anime doesn't cover it all), though it's set in an alternate world historical Chinese universe. The mythology behind it is unique and the art style has a gloriousness to it. It isn't your typical story, which is likely what made me binge it all in a short amount of time.

Anyway, the Raven Consort is a 16 year old girl and while she is ostensibly part of the Emperor's harem, she stands apart from the other consorts. She does not have nighttime duties, for one, and she is the one you go to with requests...occultish ones. Her strange powers come from a raven-ish goddess and she was chosen when she was only 6 to be the successor of the latest Raven Consort.

She's also one of the only surviving members of the old ruling family clan -- they all had silver hair, as does she, though she dyes it to hide. I thought more would be made of that in the anime, but even when her secret is discovered (like, immediately) by the emperor, it really wasn't a big deal and he even mid-way through repeals the edict that put a price on her head.

This at first appears like it is going to be a romance, but it really isn't. It is more a story about freedom and truth, friendship and loyalty. There's definitely a found family aspect to it as well. 

I'm not actually going to rehash it any more than that because, while it is only 13 episodes, to really explain it would take ages. Suffice it to say that the world building is interesting and well done, though I definitely get the feeling that they had to leave large swaths out. The art is well done, the characters are well drawn and well rounded. I enjoyed it, though the ending of the anime really leaves you hanging. 

I did look up what the ending of the manga is and, while I think it would also prove ultimately unsatisfying in some ways, it is a logical conclusion. I'm glad I watched it. I am not likely to re-watch, however, as it has that feeling of 98% complete-ness to it, leaving you unsettled and unsatisfied.

The Tale of the Outcasts

I've obviously been searching for something that I haven't yet found, as I keep starting new animes. I mean, I am finishing some, but I keep starting new ones. Such as: The Tale of the Outcasts.

I'll say right off the bat that this also isn't exactly what I've been craving, BUT, that said, it does seem like a decent show. There's a bit of an Ancient Magus Bride thing going on, but I won't fault it that, though so far I'd say the Ancient Magus Bride has the nod as far as art style and story. I've watched a few episodes so far. 

Wisteria is a young orphan girl who is forced by a (very nasty) priest to beg for a living and is then sold off by him to a nobleman who intends to torture and kill her. Before that sale, the only bright spot in her life was Marbus, a lion-like powerful demon that only she (and very few others) can see. While he has a human form, it costs him to wear it long. When he's a demon, almost no one can see or hear him, but Wisteria can. 

They've spent some time where he comes to her room at night to tell her stories. You see, he's terribly, terribly bored. Demons are NOT people and his values and the things that bind him are very different...but he's been alive for a very long time and he is BORED with a capital B. He's also relatively decent...for a demon, you might say he's quite honourable in his own way. He's at first not going to interfere in Wisteria's life, but that changes when he hears what the nobleman plans. He whooshes off to save her --where it turns out that noble also had a pact with a demon...but that demon is no match for Marbas...except...if a demon does something "good" without something big in exchange, it can kill them. When he tries to save Wisteria, expecting nothing, it immediately cripples him.

So Wisteria gives him her eyes (eyesight), forming a pact with him. Back in full form, he easily levels the evil demon dude.

Complicating matters is that Snow, a demon hunter and Wisteria's long-lost brother, tracks them...he's looking for his sister. After a standoff with Marbus, Wisteria convinces him that this is what she wants, and at the end of the last episode, she and Marbus are off on a new adventure, though I am sure it will be full of people wanting to tear them apart.

I am enjoying it so far and the dynamic between Marbus and the now-blind Wisteria, who has to rely on him to do things like clean when he's never done anything like that before. I truly hope it doesn't drop into romance territory as she's a literal kid and he's more or less like a father figure for her. But, we'll see. 

Edit: Ok, it's end of April and I haven't watched anymore. I won't say I won't ever BUT I've started The Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts and am kinda enjoying that one more than I enjoyed this one, so we'll see.

Play It Cool, Guys

I dunno why, but I wanted to add in a short format anime for those bits of time where you just gotta watch something quick. Meet Play It Cool, Guys, which run about 15 minutes, though some of that is intro/outro and can be skipped.

Even being as short as they are, I've just watched three episodes so far. As there look to be 4 or 5 guys and each one seems to focus mostly on one, I haven't met all the cast yet. Anyway, the guys are all decent types, each sort of a different trope, if you will. And they all behave "cool" but also cluelessly sometimes. Like the office worker that misses the spout on his coffee or accidentally wears an eye mask as a headband after forgetting to take it off. The high school student that forgets things all the time and tries to pass it off like it was on purpose.

I think you could think of the episodes like brief little pick me ups. It doesn't appear that there's any romance (BL or otherwise). More like a slice of life with some "Goofy Boss" vibes. So far, I like it.

Edit: Up to episode 13 and this one continues to be light and charming.