Anime

I tried a few of the new shows from this season:

• Sentenced to Be a Hero - A bit edgy for my taste. It has some really cool, flashy action scenes but the characters are frankly a drag. After I completed the first two episodes I got the distinct feeling that I would've had a better time watching something else. Not sure I'll finish this one.
• You and I Are Polar Opposites - A fun, very cute shounen romcom. Made me laugh a few times. It's probably pretty similar to whatever you imagined when you read the title. Would recommend to anyone who's into that sort of thing; I'll definitely be finishing it.
• Journal with Witch - I don't know wtf is going on with that title. There aren't any witches, though there is a journal. The Japanese title, ~~異国日記~~ 違国日記 (Journal in Another Country) makes a bit more sense given the visual metaphors that the show likes to use. This is a very grounded story about a woman who adopts her teenage niece after said niece's parents die in a car crash. It's quite well-written, and is easily my favorite from among these three shows.

I also watched some sequel shows:

• Frieren - This felt like a return to form; the first episode of the season felt a lot more like the first half of the first season than the second half of the season. I hope they can keep that up 'til the end of the season; I've read the manga but that was a while ago so I can't remember how long these nice short bits go for.
• Jujutsu Kaisen - The Jujutsus sure are Kaisening over there. If you liked previous seasons for the fights you'll like this season too.
• Oshi no Ko - Fun seeing more of the girls. Also, banger of an OP.

Currently catching up on:

• Umamusume - It's okay. Not as good as Cinderella Gray or the movie, but okay. I hear it gets a fair bit better after the first season though!
• Golden Kamuy - The only anime I know of where the characters have a canonical dick size ranking chart. Couldn't have been made for a more excellent story; I love these ridiculous goofballs. If you want to watch crazy people kill each other in Hokkaido this is the good stuff. I just wish the animation were a little better, though it's generally not nearly as bad as the first episode might suggest. Don't worry, nothing looks as bad as that bear looked.

Alright, the winter season is fully underway this week. Some impressions:

• Frieren - We are so fucking back. Glad none of us got too emotional when season 1 ended, otherwise this reunion would be awkward...right? Great start to the season.
• You and I Are Polar Opposites - Fantastic series so far. I have super enjoyed the main couple, but I think the cast of side characters have also been great. I love how supportive they have all been, no questions asked. Also, the VA for Suzuki is killing it; probably my favorite voice performance so far this season.
• Oshi no Ko - Great start that sets the stage for what is to come. Looks as gorgeous as ever with a great MV in the premiere as well.
• Chained Soldier - So far so good. Yuuki continues to be an object of interest to everybody.
• The Demon King's Daughter is Too Kind - Episode 3 comes with a third sing-along segment. I hope they keep this up.
• 'Tis Time for Torture, Princess - The second season is just as needlessly well-produced as the first. I really enjoyed the first season and I am looking forward to more.
• Samurai Troopers - Episode 2 was a big drop-off for me compared to the premiere. The story just isn't making a lot of sense. They are trying to redeem the main character (red warrior), but everybody just seems to be ignoring what happened in the first episode.
• Tune in to the Midnight Heart - Episode 2 kind of showed the formula for this series. The MC does his best to help a girl solve some problem or overcome an obstacle, and in return gets some affection points with said girl. However, the MC is the most interesting character by far, setting itself apart from most other harems out there.

Back from vacation! Which means finally having the time to catch up on the first few episodes of airing anime.

As expected, sequels and adaptations that I am familiar with held up well. The only exceptions - i.e. first to be on the chopping board - are Chained Soldier season 2 and Roll Over And Die. In a sea of greatness, anything less looks mediocre by comparison.

Here's a shout-out to some anime that stood out from the rest:

The Demon King's Daughter Is Too Kind!! - IMO the anime has done a great job capturing the essence of Dou's cuteness. I also love the anime-original scenes which expanded upon the lore (unless I have dementia and already forgot the story). Hopefully its current level of quality is kept up for the rest of the season.

The Darwin Incident - The story is kinda edgy but I have been enjoying it unlike Sentenced to be a Hero, not sure why; maybe because its premise is fresh to me? Looking forward to seeing how the story develops.

Tamon's B-Side - I thought it would just provide some cheap dopamine but I have been finding this anime funnier than expected, week after week. I think I may actually watch this one till the end.

Journal with Witch - After seeing so many members of our community glazing this anime in previous threads, I gave it a shot.

It is one of the anime that I can tell is special from the beginning. In fact, if I were to judge anime purely by how well-written they are, this one would likely be my anime of the season. Yes, better than Frieren and Oshi no Ko (or their previous seasons at the very least). Its writing is just that peak.

Easy recommendation for You and I Are Polar Opposites. Series has been amazing so far and I can't wait for the next episode even though I'm not usually a fan of romance.

I had high hopes for Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord because isekai+city building is my perfect junk food, but I think they're rushing too fast through the material compared to the manga. Still fun, but could be better. Has the cutest OP of the season at least.

I started watching Violet Evergarden. Looks very pretty.

Caught up on Spy x Family S3. This was the comfort food show I needed after a rough week at work.

Frieren S2 is finally here, and I don't even need to say anything more. It's Frieren.

I have a bit of a soft spot for representations of disability in media, so The Invisible Man and his Soon-to-Be Wife caught my attention. I'd heard that the mangaka worked closely with a local school for the visually impaired to research the depiction of a blind MC, and it definitely looks like she did her homework. Adorably sweet and fluffy, might give me diabetes.

Also started on Legendary Gambler Tetsuya (2000). First hand and I'm already complaining that they can somehow make complete reads just a few turns in with so little visible information on the table. But this is how every mahjong anime/manga goes, it's an entirely different game when characters can draw whatever tile the author wants them to draw, so fine fine I'll suspend my disbelief. But then you have the whole bit about them improperly shuffling and then keeping track of tiles that got flipped over, and that's driving me wild because they simply shouldn't be getting away with not shuffling correctly. You never put a face-up tile in your wall, flip it back over and gently reshuffle a bit more. Call the other players out if they do this. Can't even use the fiction excuse for that one, just no.

Current Season:

MF Ghost - still formulaic and still entertaining.

Trigun Stargaze - watched the first two episodes, since it was waiting on my rewatch of Stampede. It was genuinely great to see Milly, and to see the Ceylon tea gag (and the debut of Milly's gun) played out again, if a bit differently. Broadly, it seems that Stargaze is picking up pretty much exactly at episode 7 of the original - immediately after Lost July - though with the Stampede-introduced differences . Looking forward to it.

Yuusha no Kuzu aka Scum of the Brave - this was just something of a whim, but it's promising. The mains have great chemistry, so if it's relatively well written, it could actually be pretty good.

You and I Are Polar Opposites - This is such a good adaptation that I envy the people who haven't read the manga.

Ikoku Nikki - the highlight of the week, as it has been since week one. I still love absolutely everything about it.

Past Seasons:

First was finishing up my rewatch of Trigun Stampede, to get myself oriented for Stargaze. I was sort of relieved to find that I still like it. To me, it's neither better nor worse than the original - just different.

I was a bit burnt out after that, so next, after bouncing around a bit, was a rewatch of Sounan Desu ka aka Are You Lost?, which is a short (12 12 minute episodes) oddity about four schoolgirls who wash up on a desert island.

Next, following a sudden inspiration, I rewatched for the I-don't-know-how-manyth time the original Little Witch Academia OVA. I still maintain that that's one of the best, if not the best, "episode" of anime ever. There are just so many brilliant moments crammed into those 24 minutes (some of which you'll only notice on a rewatch).

Then I was ready for a satisfying challenge, so it was time for one of those series that's preceded by its reputation, and after a bit of thought, I went with 91 Days. And it was a great choice.

After that, I just wanted to coast, and I ended up rewatching a sentimental favorite - Estab-Life: Great Escape.

Checked out more of this season's premieres.

Champignon Witch - it has a fairy tale feel. I somehow expected it to be cute and episodic, but it turned out to be a drama with an actual plot and thought-out lore.

The Darwin Incident - the story raises interesting philosophical questions, but so far lacks in execution. The writing feels rather bland.

The Holy Grail of Eris - managed to interest me in the conspiracy behind Scarlett's death.

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife - pairing up a blind woman with an invisible guy, who happens to be a gentleman in a suit, is a genius move. It's sweet and wholesome, but, since they are both adults, I expect to see more spicy moments as their romance develops.

Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter - the premise sure was premising at the start of the second episode. It was premising so hard I remembered my fujoshi days and screamed all the way. A BL isekai with an adult cast was unseen in anime form before this one, I believe. It's fun seeing Aresh get frustrated with Seiichirou's corporate slave mindset. That long "Haaaaaaaaaaaah?" when Seiichirou ran off to work right after waking up was hilarious. May a hot man heal that unrepentant workaholic and change his unhealthy lifestyle.

A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation - an isekai about a noble transported from one fantasy world to another and being extremely chill about it. I'm a bit confused about the title, because the guy decides to become an adventurer of all things. I don't see BL in genres tags, but the vibe is there. It looks and feels like isekai targeted at female audience. Fascinating we got two of them in one season all of a sudden. I don't know what to make of it so far, but I'll keep watching for now; I quite enjoy hearing Souma Saitou's calm noble voice.

Love Through A Prism - haven't finished it yet, but one thing I appreciate about it is how the story's progress gives the drama time to develop so that it doesn't feel forced or like coming from nowhere and characters' grievances feel believable. Having 20 episodes certainly helps. Update. I read that Wit Studio most likely used genAI on some of Love Through a Prism backgrounds, in a story about art and human talent of all things, and now I don't want to finish it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was used to generate all those paintings as well. Story-wise, I stopped at a pretty satisfying point, so I don't feel like I'll be missing out. Catherine, it's been nice knowing you. You would have shined in a historical lesbian piece.

Kaya-chan Isn't Scary and Scum of the Brave - I would give both more episodes in a slightly less busy season, but with Love Through A Prism batch release and Fushigi Yuugi and Dear Brother, which I started when the current season wasn't in full swing yet, something had to be sacrificed, and nothing about these two particularly stood out to me.

Fall 2025 leftovers

To Your Eternity Season 3 - Fushi has finally realized that his friends have got to live their own lives and there is nothing he can do to prevent them from struggling and facing new challenges. Heartbreaking. This story is at its best when it focuses on Fushi and his friends instead of nokkers.

Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider - Still fun. I've seen people being disappointed with ramen-loving idol episodes, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. I mean, Sena just went and domesticated a powerful Shocker, isn't it hilarious? I wonder if it would be relevant to the plot later. Maybe Kumota would feel a tinge of sympathy for humans or something.

Love Through a Prism: it's Netflix-produced, so it's a batch release. Set in the Edwardian era and structured like a Taisho romance. Screenwriting is serviceable, but the backgrounds are gorgeous and fits the art theme. Also a bonus that they've got a proper London-based English dub cast for maximum immersion.

Ganso BanG Dream Chan: Surprised by how funny these can be once you're familiarized with the characters by either playing Girls Band Party or watching the main series

Good news everyone!

A subbing group finally picked up the short episode series Elegy for the Henchmen Fist of the North Star, and yes, the subtitles help immensely.

Some parts aren't getting translated though, such as the titles they gave these guys in episode 2:

The only one that I can read off the top of my head is the smallest guy, "Unit Boxer"

The humor is hit and miss, predicated on being a little familiar with Fist Of The Northstar and how quickly the minions die, and how they're always so jolly.