This debate crops up with some regularity. First of all, it’s pointless and stupid to tell you which you should prefer. But there are some interesting things about brain science and anime history that can be added to the mix.
Continue reading →On August 4 of this year, one of the Precure events for children was held in Tokyo. They’re popular, featuring all sorts of activities, including a live-action stage battle and dress-up corner where girls can transform into their favorite current season Cures and have their photo taken. Something was missing this time. There are outfits for Cure Sky, Cure Prism, and Cure butterfly, but none for Cure Wing! Maybe the … Continue reading →
I’ve been impressed by the writing on the Pretty Cure series from the very first. It’s a great example of Hopepunk, positive and uplifting, with the characters making tough decisions and coming up with different solutions and unconventional tactics. They make things better, but not perfect.
Continue reading →What’s an Otaku? An otaku is someone passionate about their unconventional interests, and spends considerable time, thought, and/or money in support of them. People usually think of anime and manga fans, but in Japan it would also include trains, martial arts, traditional/historic clothing, gaming, etc.
Continue reading →Bocchi the Rock! is the new entry in the girl’s rock band category. It’s more of comedy to K-On!’s relaxing iyashekei. Bocchi’s more succinct, with 12 episodes to K-On’s 41 + Movie. The real difference is that we see a lot more musical realism with Bocchi, which gives them challenges to work on.
Continue reading →In the last entry I introduced the project to compare episodes from the 2004 Futari Wa Precure with the new series, Hirogaru Sky! Precure. Here we look at the first episode from both:
Continue reading →Garden of Words is an excellent example of the Kishotenketsu story structure. If you haven’t seen that movie, I also look at Kiki’s Delivery Service here. Did you ever notice that things play out differently in some anime movies? They just don’t follow the familiar pattern of action that we’re used to in Western fare. For fans expecting something like a typical action movie, it’s a disappointment. The reason? It’s … Continue reading →
My second installment looking at the Heartcatch Precure transformations.
Now it’s Erika- the loud, enthusiastic blue Cure with no social skills and a passion for fashion. She can go from design to final outfit in nothing flat.
See how her personality and experiences are illustrated by the storyboarder and animator’s art:
Continue reading →The first installment in my series, looking at the Heartcatch Precure transformations.
Tsubomi is the first Cure in Heartcatch. As a 1st Cure, and a Pink one at that, you’d expect she’d be outgoing and enthusiastic- an ideal team leader. Instead she’s pathologically shy, somewhat clumsy, and fixated on flowers and the language of flowers (Hanakotoba).
See how her experiences are illustrated by the storyboarder and animator’s art:
Continue reading →The Japanese esthetic principle of Mono no Aware, the value and pathos of impermanent things viewed through the lens of a Delicious Party Precure episode.
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