Higehiro (2021) – First Thoughts – Good but Content Warnings Needed

Tags

Bunny Drop, Higehiro, Koikimo, Usagi Drop

Higehiro Key Visual (Source: CrunchyRoll)

Ok, deep breath. After Being Rejected I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway[1], aka Higehiro[2] is a surprisingly solid adaptation of a light novel series with a fairly dubious premise. As of episode 9, it is also a show that should come with some definite content/trigger warnings.

In addition to spoilers, content warnings apply after the jump for discussions of emotional abuse, statutory rape, attempted rape, bullying, and suicide. I may also be swearing a bit in places.

To be fair, alert viewers will pick up warnings along the way, although not for the specific issue that prompted this post.

Fate/Grand Order – Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot: Wandering; Airgetlám (2020)

Tags

Fate Franchise, Fate/Grand Order, Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Zero

Key Visual

In the wake of the Heaven’s Feel movies and also the Absolute Demonic Front TV series the bar for Fate anime generally has been set a whole lot higher now.

The Fate/Grand Order – Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot: Wandering; Airgetlám isn’t a bad movie, it’s pleasant enough to watch but it’s mostly just there. Which is the whole problem.

So, where does Airgetlám[1] fail, and how?

Kakushigoto (2020): Final Thoughts

Tags

Kakushigoto

Source: Anime Lab

By the end of its run Kakushigoto was an acrobatic mix of comedy, drama, and tragedy, which is an extremely difficult story to get right

And then Kakushigoto damned well stuck the landing with a near perfect dismount.

There were tears, and then there was massive laughter at the final punchline.

The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?: First Episode(s) Impressions

Tags

My Next Life As A Villainess, The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?

Source: CrunchyRoll

Ah, another anime season, another overpowered[1] Isekai harem[2] hero.

At least The 8^th Son? Are You Kidding Me? has a genuine sense of humour and some none-too-subtle commentary on what primogeniture does to the younger sons of a noble but poor family.

A former salaryman in Tokyo gets reincarnated into the body of Wendelin as a child during his second eldest brother’s wedding. Initially he thinks he’s landed in wealth because of the fabulous clothes, and the superb feast. Being the 2^nd or 3^rd son doesn’t really bother him at this point.

Wave, Listen to Me (2020): First Episode Impressions

Tags

Nami yo Kiitekure, Wave Listen to Me

Source: AnimeLab

Wave, Listen to Me[1] was definitely on the surreal side of season openers.

The opening scenes give the impression that Minare Koda is doing a radio broadcast from the woods whilst facing a brown bear before pulling back to reveal that she’s actually in a studio and the whole thing is being faked with sound effects etc.

Her style of broadcasting is this strange mix of shock jock and romantic advice[2] that left me wondering what the heck was going on here.