Dreams Do Come True (If You Make Them)

Once again, I have gone more than a year without blogging. Are blogs even a thing anymore in this day and age of social media? Regardless, in my absence, I managed to make one of my dreams come true.

Anime is subjective. Here’s proof.

Sick of your favorite show getting hated on or vice-versa? I’ve always said that art is 100% subjective. Just for fun, let me demonstrate by quickly whipping up both a scathing review and rave review of the opening scene of Kotoura-san. If you haven’t seen it, here it is for your delectation:

How Lucky Star Changed my Life

Here is the story of why I love Lucky Star and how it changed my life.

Basic Film Analysis with K-ON!

You never know how well put together something is until you take it apart. In this post, I’m going to analyze a scene from the final episode of K-ON!, showing how the framing and editing show Yui has grown as a character over the course of the series, gaining trustworthy friends that rely on her and finding a place where she can belong.

Let’s Talk About Anime YouTubers

Look, I enjoy thoughtful analysis. The problem that no one seems to address is the value judgment that seems inextricably linked to it. I’d love for channels to do a critical reading of anime, breaking down the themes, using different theories to pick apart the structure of the narratives and writing. I’d love to hear people discuss Narrative/Database Consumption, the Media Mix and Phallic Girls. But the arrogance that comes with it just annoys me to no end. The elitism, the pontification, the proselytizing, it’s so grating.

Why would any serious anime academic listen to these YouTubers when they could just read the works and theories straight from the source? I’ve had a much less stressful time reading Marc Steinberg, Ian Condry, Azuma Hiroki, Otsuka Eiji, Susan Napier, Anne Allison, Sharon Kinsella, Koichi Iwabuchi, Thomas Lamarre, Saito Tamaki, etc… They don’t spend half the book criticizing their readers (most of them, anyways) and I think anime YouTubers could stand to learn a thing or two from them. Cut the bullshit, rein back the pride and pretension and maybe people will be more interested. If you want to teach people something, the last thing you want to do is to make them feel stupid.

“How” Do You Love Anime?

Yes. Not why, but how.

I Need to Start Blogging Again

Oooh dear… It’s been awhile, huh? I said that I was going to put more long-form posts here, but in the end, I have been too busy/lazy (the paradox!) and have been using Facebook for everything… (>.<)

I don’t know about you guys, but while this blog has been extremely imperative in helping me meet many wonderful people and exchanging ideas, it really hasn’t been offering the instant gratification and viewership that Facebook has. Not to mention, the UI is far more clunky and there are so many extra considerations including categories and tags that you just don’t have to deal with on Facebook… Of course, there are far more formatting options available and that’s something that cannot be ignored. (^.^;)

Still, I do want to start putting up stuff here again because I do want the freedom to format my posts and to insert pictures in them. Not to mention, I also want to give them some sort of permanence and ease of reference that Facebook really doesn’t allow for.  So, speaking of Facebook, first up on my agenda is to migrate some of my posts over from Facebook.

Hopefully, I’ll be turning some of these into commentary videos as well… (^.^;)

The Difference Between “Otaku” and “Weeaboo”

From what I understand. In 460 words or less.

I am Now on Facebook (and MyAnimeList)

Yes. After years of trying to steer clear of social media, I’m actually going to give it a shot. (^.^;)

Currently, I’m still experimenting with the type of content I’ll post there and I’m also thinking about how to differentiate it from my blog. Essentially, what I’ll be posting there are updates, random musings, show reviews, opinions and even small loot posts. Stuff that I feel are important, but not important enough for a long blog post.

My blog will still be for longer, more well thought out opinion pieces, articles and loot posts – the kind that anyone can come back to and won’t be lost in a sea of updates. However, I’ll be sure to link all new blog posts from my Facebook account as well.

Please don’t hesitate to drop by and say hi and don’t be afraid to send a friend request!

http://www.facebook.com/actar.raikit

You can also follow me on MyAnimeList! I’ve been a member for a very long time and I update it very, very, religiously. My favorite anime, my favorite characters, what I’m watching, what I watched, it’s all there!

http://myanimelist.net/profile/Actar

World Uniform Operation Tsubomi and Erika!

HeartCatch Precure! is one of my all time favorite Magical Girl series and my favorite series from the Precure franchise. I’ve been waiting ages for the HeartCatch girls to make an appearance in the World Uniform Operation line (a brilliant name, being a pun on World Domination Operation) ever since MegaHouse started making their way through the various Precure franchises.

Tsubomi and Erika are absolutely gorgeous and look simply magnificent together with the figures of their transformed counterparts, also produced by MegaHouse.

See several more pics after the jump, including more of Cure Blossom and Cure Marine!