Sakura Quest (2017)

Tags

Hanasaku Iroha, Sakura Quest, Shirobako

Sakura Quest is another “young people working” anime from P.A. Works who previously delivered the Hanasaku Irohaand Shirobako. Stacked against those Sakura Quest is a very slow burner that pulled an emotional reaction in the finale but not before.

Girls Und Panzer Der Film (2015) with Spoilers

Tags

Girls Und Panzer, Shirobako, The West Wing

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_und_Panzer_der_Film

I finally got to Girls Und Panzer Der Film on a whim last night[1], and it’s a wild ride.

This film is a huge amount of fun.

There are major spoilers ahead, with one final warning before I get to key points. 

New Game! (2016)

Tags

New Game!, Shirobako

Source: http://www.crunchyroll.com/new-game

Back in my Summer 2016 round up, I didn’t expect a lot out of New Game! but did actually end up enjoying it a fair bit. As I said at the time:

Between the all-female cast, and the excessive fanservice, this show isn’t going to be on the level of Shirobako by any stretch of the imagination, but there’s still some hope that this show will have some things worth saying.

That’s more or less where New Game! ended up being: a light comedy about working in a creative environment, with occasional commentary on Japanese work practices[1]. It did have some good points to make about the issues of creating art to schedule, whilst also learning the tools of your trade.

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (2016): First Thoughts with Major Spoilers

Tags

Grimgar, Haibane Renmei, Kancolle, Kantai Collection, Log Horizon, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Shirobako, The Pilot's Love Song, Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Yuki Yuna wa Yusha de Aru, YuYuYu

Source: https://www.animelab.com/shows/grimgar-ashes-and-illusions

The single biggest problem with Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is that Grimgar is reaching for something beyond the creator’s artistic grasp.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it is after all better to try for something special than settle for being just another generic show.

This does mean that much of my interest lies in working out what Grimgar is trying for, where it falls short of the mark, and why it fails.

There will be major spoilers ahead.

2015 in Review

Tags

akagami no shirayuki-hime, Akatsuki no Yona, Anime De Training! Ex, board games, Bodacious Space Pirates, business analysis, Feminism, games, GATE, Hibike! Euphonium, Kamisama Hajimemashita, Kamisama Kiss, Monopoly, Princess Jellyfish, Say "i Love You", Seiyu's Life, Shirobako, Snow White with the Red Hair, Sore Ga Seiyuu, Sound! Euphonium, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Source: http://www.crunchyroll.com/shirobako

I suppose it’s that time again. So here’s the top 5 posts for the 4^th quarter, year, and all time, plus some other random commentary on the year.