Year: 2024

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Is Coming!

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RJ Writing Ink’s Reaction to First Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Trailer

It took an entire season’s worth of waiting, but our patience has been rewarded. The first Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer is out, and the fans are overjoyed. Considering what we got in the stinger for the last film, we have every right to be overjoyed. We’re getting Sonic Adventure 2!

Sonic Adventure 2 is the GOAT. Change My Mind

Sonic the Hedgehog’s video games have varied in quality over the years, but most can agree that the original games on the Sega consoles were peak. And the best of them all was, arguably, Sonic Adventure 2. The opening level is one of the best in video game history, the music is filled with absolute bangers, and the darker and more mature storyline still holds up well. That, and you can’t tell me that final boss fight is the definition of awesome. Needless to say, our expectations for this film are pretty high. Thankfully, this first trailer has done an excellent job of demonstrating that it’s going to work hard to meet them.

From the outset, the trailer makes it clear that, like its prequel, Sonic 3 won’t be a beat-for-beat adaptation of the video games. While that shouldn’t be too big a surprise, I did like how Sonic’s role in the film is initially reversed from the game. Instead of being on the run from GUN, they’re being smart and asking him for his help stopping Shadow. But as the trailer makes painfully apparent, Team Sonic is still being prepared for Shadow. And as the trailer continues, things only get worse.

Shadow is Not a Joke

Shadow might be mocked online and called an edgelord and the hedgehog version of Vegeta, but as the trailer takes great pains to remind us, he’s still super dangerous. It doesn’t make it clear if Shadow is an artificial life-form like in the games or if he’s another alien like Team Sonic, but if it’s the latter, then it only makes his status as Sonic’s anithesis all the more apparent. Whereas Sonic found friends and acceptance on Earth, Shadow’s backstory remains in full effect for the movie. And if you played the games or saw the videos, you know how bad that is.

And yes, the rumors were true: Keanu Reeves is voicing Shadow.

Even better, though? Dr. Eggman is back!!

JIM CARREY IS BACK!!!

After Sonic 2 came out, Jim Carrey claimed that he seriously considered retiring from acting after bringing Dr. Robotnik to the big screen. And I don’t blame him. After being one of the big-name comedic actors in the 90s and 2000s, the man almost fell off the grid. His playing Eggman was his best role in years! I put it up there with Ace Ventura and The Mask for him! I would be sad if he wanted to retire, but understand he’d like to end things on a high note. Thankfully, not only is he coming back, but he’s also playing another character that I don’t think anyone expected.

None of us know why Gerald Robotnik is still alive in the film, but it’s a pretty big twist, considering what he does in the video games. Plus, it gives Jim to show off by playing alongside himself. And, his Gerald Robotnik reminds me of when he played the Grinch, but without that weird Sean Connery lisp.

I don’t know why Paramount and Sega decided to wait until less than three months before the film comes out to release the trailer, but they do a good job of making up for lost time. I follow many people in the entertainment industry on social media, and many of them are as excited about this film as the rest of the fans. However, it will be going up against Disney’s Mufasa in the box office. I love The Lion King, but I have yet to see the need for the CGI remake or this prequel. So, let’s ensure that Sonic blows that film out of the water! After that, we can worry about whether Paramount should make more Sonic movies.

Also, if the climax doesn’t have “Live and Learn” then I’m gonna so mad!

‘My Instant Death Ability’ or How I’m Worse than a Death Note on Steroids

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My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered that no One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! Initial Series Review By RJ Writing Ink

A few years back, around the start of the Halloween season, I started really getting into the SCP Foundation. If you don’t know what that is, this collaborative writing project tells stories about the same name group. This secret organization studies and captures anomalies that could help or harm humanity. Over the years, we’ve got stories that have them deal with everything from a living blob of goo whose touch makes people happy to a lizard monster that will not die to even beings that could only be described as gods, including God! The bottom line is that the SCP Foundation deals with things not meant for the faint of heart.

Then, a few weeks ago, I came across this anime online called My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! At first glance, it looked like another trash isekai…until I read the TV Tropes page and listened to the summaries on YouTube. And that made me realize something: it was still a trashy isekai. But the twist is that the main character is, for all intents and purposes, someone who would make the SCP Foundation wet themselves. And that’s where things get interesting.

How an Overpowered Guy Got Isekai’d Against His Will

Meet Yogiri Takatou, a seemingly average high-schooler who likes napping and playing video games. Then, one day, while on a field trip with his class, they find themselves getting the isekai treatment and end up in a world that’s a sink for all isekai’s. This girl comes onto the bus and gives the standard introduction speech: they’ve been summoned to gain insane powers and get the chance to become great heroes in their world. Unfortunately, the world’s definition of “hero” is more like the (primarily) fake heroes from The Boys: most people who get powers get drunk on them. And while Yogiri’s sleeping, his classmates decide to leave him and the few who didn’t get a gift to death by dragon.

Little did anyone know, but Yogiri didn’t need a gift because he’s already got one of the most broken powers in all fiction. Yogiri can make anyone or anything he wants drop dead on the ground by thinking about them or sensing hostility towards him. First, he saves Tomochika, the only other classmate alive on the bus (that they know of) by killing the dragon. Then, when three scumbag classmates try to kill him and take Tomochika as their love slave, he kills two of them. And they were already isekai veterans, too! They were basically running on new game+ and kept all their loot and skills!

At any rate, Yogiri and Tomochika aren’t happy about being kidnapped to another world and then abandoned and left to die. So, Yogiri decides to look for a way to get home, and Tomochika tags along since he decided to protect her. Mainly because when that dragon attacked, she glomped onto him in a panic and she felt really soft and lovely.

No, I am not making this up.

The Anime is Isekai Trash, but Takatou Isn’t

Like I said before, My Instant Death Ability is Isekai trash, and it makes no effort to hide this. It’s filled with a ton of cliches and tropes found in most Isekai, most of the antagonists are one-note with zero depth, and the pacing in the anime is, quite frankly, wrong. The first season of Arifureta is bad. However, there’s one thing that keeps it from falling into the category of full-on Isekai trash, and that’s Takatou.

Returning to what I said earlier about the SCP Foundation and what I read on TVTropes.org? I wasn’t joking. As the anime progresses, it’s gradually revealed that Takatou’s ability is more than just the mental version of a Death Note. While he mainly uses it to kill people, it’s not limited to that. He can kill anything. Getting attacked by some random thug? He can kill their eyes or half their body so they can never use them again. Facing down an immortal, omnipotent god? Takatou will pull an “Uno reverse” card and reduce them to goo. He can even “kill” concepts like the strength of an attack or the laws of physics. And he can do this because his power isn’t instant death. It’s much, much more terrifying. So terrifying, in fact, that if he were an SCP, the foundation would be better off not making an enemy out of him lest he end their existence.

It is too bad for Takatou; most people in that otherworld are too arrogant or stupid to understand, leading to much of the series’ humor. Seeing the most outlandishly powerful beings, from other summoned people to immortal monsters to actual gods, pick a fight with him, only to drop dead for their efforts? That’s some good use of black comedy!

An Interesting Take on the OP Isekai Protagonist

So, yeah, My Instant Death Ability is a bit of isekai trash, but at the same time, it’s also making fun of the genre in the same way One Punch Man makes fun of the Shonen genre. Seeing all these mighty beings hyping themselves up, only to become part of the body count of such an ordinary-looking guy? It’s funny because of how absurd it is! It’s terrible, but it knows it is and uses that to milk the genre for all its worth. The one downside is that if you want to watch it, you’re going to have to get a subscription to HiDive, as it’s not on Crunchyroll. That, or find a third-party site to use. If seeing something deconstructing the isekai genre sounds interesting and you have time to kill, this might be a show for you. Otherwise, feel free to look up something else.

My Verdict: Worth a Binge Session if you got HiDive

‘The Elusive Samurai’ is an Amazing New Shonen Series

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The Elusive Samurai Initial Series Review

Earlier in the summer, I made a list of the anime I looked forward to watching during the season. But now that enough time has passed, I can honestly say there are anime that I regret not including on that list. A prime example being one of the latest successes to come out from the legendary Shonen Jump, The Elusive Samurai. Coming from the mangaka who created Assassination Classroom, something that I greatly enjoyed watching, I knew that I was going to enjoy this series, and I’m happy to say that I was right. Not only is it beautifully animated, it tells the story of a seemingly atypical Shonen protagonist. I say seemingly because, as you’ll soon learn, this boy may not be a great fighter, but who needs to fight when you can dodge and outrun your opponents until the fat lady sings?

The Elusive Samurai and His Origin Story

The year is 1333 AD, Medieval Japan. Tokiyuki Hojo is the young heir to the Hojo clan and the Kamakura Shogunate, AKA the de-facto rulers of Japan. But he’s not interested in being a lord, though; all he likes to do is play hide-and-seek with his exasperated teachers. All of that comes to an end, though, when Takauji Ashikaga, one of his family’s retainers, betrays them to the Emperor. Before the first episode ends, his home is

razed to the ground, his retainers dead or on the run, and his family slaughtered.

All’s not lost, though. Thanks to the help of Yorishige Suwa, this really sketchy priest who claims he can see the future, Tokiyuki escapes with his life. With Yorishige as his mentor and a group of young, eccentric retainers by his side, he vows to rebuild his family, take back his home, and get revenge on those who betrayed the Hojo clan. There’s just one problem: Tokiyuki is a lousy fighter; all he’s good at is running and hiding.

As the series demonstrates, though, that’s the best skill he can have in his era.

Tokiyuki is No Coward-He’s a Road Runner

At first glance, Tokiyuki Hojo doesn’t seem like your typical Shonen hero, much less one from Shonen Jump. From the outset, he’s not skilled in combat or has the latent potential to become so. Nor is he loud, boisterous, confident, or as cunning as protagonists like Luffy, Goku, or Naruto. In fact, most people see him as a coward for preferring to run and hide rather than face his enemies head-on like Samurai are expected to do.

Here’s the thing: Tokiyuki’s no coward, and he’s not a weakling, either. Early on, the series does its best to demonstrate how his Ultra Instinct-level dodging ability is the best thing he could have in his violent era. Moreover, Yorishige correctly recognizes that, far from being a coward, Tokiyuki is someone who genuinely enjoys the thrill of the chase and the risk of getting caught. In the second episode, he uses this to great effect by dodging an enemy combatant to the point where he can’t defend when the boy goes in for the killing blow.

To sum it all up: Tokiyuki is like the Road Runner or Jerry the Mouse if they had Ultra Instinct. He gets excited by the thrill of facing death, and he’s capable of being more cunning than most give him credit for. Coupled with his friendly attitude, he’s able to endear himself to allies that can make up for his shortcomings. In other words, he’s got a few things in common with some of the best heroes from Shonen Jump’s roster.

Amazing Animation and Art at Work!

Tokiyuki is only half of the series overall appeal, though. The other half is thanks to its amazing animation. The series is brought to life by Cloverworks, a studio that’s already well-known for its work on Bocchi the Rock, Spy x Family, Darling in the Franxx, and several other series, and it shows. The animation for the characters is incredibly fluid, especially during the fight scenes. Additionally, it also does a good job of bringing together some of the more surreal moments of the manga to life. I.E. when two of the retainers hunting Tokiyuki look like they’re communicating through their superhuman eyes and ears. It makes as much sense in context, trust me.

The real appeal of the show’s artwork, though, is how it captures Feudal Japan in all its blood and beauty. The series is a historical one and most of the cast is based on real-life figures. However, since records of that era are scarce, the mangaka’s not afraid to include more supernatural elements of Japanese culture, leading to some pretty impressive backgrounds and characters. It’s a really good-looking series!

Lastly, we have the OP and ED. Any good anime needs to have a memorable OP and Ed, and The Elusive Samurai delivers on that promise. The OP itself is very upbeat and exciting, despite how grim the series itself can get, while the ED is this bizarre Japanese hip-hop talking about the history of the Kamakura Shogunate. And like the rest of the series, both are beautifully animated.

Overall, I really like The Elusive Samurai, and have greatly enjoyed watching the series thus far. It’s got some interesting characters, good music, great animation, and to top it off, it’s a historical series. As someone who loves reading about history, that alone gets me interested. If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend you go watch it.

My Verdict: WATCH. IT.

How to Expand Your Audience as a Manga Artist

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In the vibrant world of anime and manga, artists continually strive to carve out a unique space and connect deeply with an ever-growing fanbase. Achieving recognition in this dynamic industry demands more than raw talent; it requires strategic visibility, genuine community engagement, and continual learning and adaptation. Here, we explore diverse strategies to help anime and manga artists enhance their visibility and establish a strong foothold in the industry.

Participate in Fairs and Exhibitions

Participating in local art fairs, pop-up shops, and exhibitions provides invaluable opportunities for anime and manga artists to showcase their work. These events attract a diverse audience, including potential fans, collectors, and industry professionals. Engaging in such events not only increases your physical visibility but also offers networking possibilities. Displaying your art in public spaces helps build your reputation and can lead to significant career advancements.

Forge Partnerships for Wider Exposure

Collaborating with other creatives can significantly expand your reach. Partner with fellow artists, writers, or influencers to create joint projects that tap into each other’s audiences. Cross-promotion can introduce your work to new fans and build a more substantial online presence. This collaborative approach not only diversifies your portfolio but also fosters a supportive community of like-minded creatives.

Strengthen Business Skills with an MBA

If youโ€™re planning on launching a business in the anime and manga industry, it  requires a blend of creative talent and sharp business acumen. To enhance your management capabilities and strategic thinking, consider advancing your education. Opting to get an online MBA degree can equip you with critical skills in business strategy, management, and leadership. This education not only sharpens your self-awareness and self-assessment but also prepares you to navigate and thrive in the competitive marketplace.

Unify Your Brand Identity

A consistent brand identity across all platforms is crucial for creating a memorable presence. Develop a distinct style that reflects your unique approach to anime and manga. Ensure that your branding is cohesive across social media, websites, and promotional materials. Consistent branding helps your audience recognize and remember your work, establishing a strong and professional image.

Build Authority with Workshops

Offering workshops or courses is an excellent way to share your expertise and build authority within the anime and manga community. By teaching others, you position yourself as a knowledgeable and respected artist. Workshops also provide opportunities to connect with fans and aspiring artists, fostering a sense of community. Sharing your skills not only enhances your credibility but also strengthens your fan base.

Discover Untapped Markets

Exploring niche markets or underserved audiences can open up unique opportunities for anime and manga artists. Identify specific sub-genres or themes within anime and manga that are less saturated and focus on creating content for these areas. This approach can help you stand out and attract a dedicated and passionate fanbase. By catering to niche audiences, you can carve out a distinct and recognizable place in the industry.

Keep Your Portfolio Fresh

Regularly updating your portfolio with new work is essential for maintaining engagement with your audience. Continuously create and share new artwork, sketches, and short stories to keep your portfolio dynamic and exciting. A fresh and regularly updated portfolio demonstrates your growth and versatility as an artist. This practice keeps your audience interested and encourages them to keep coming back for more.

Engage with Your Audience

Actively seeking feedback and engaging with your audience is vital for fostering loyalty and improving your work. Interact with your fans on social media, ask for their input on your projects, and use their feedback to enhance your creations. Engaging with your audience builds a strong community and shows that you value their opinions. This interaction not only improves your work but also strengthens the bond with your fans.

As the anime and manga landscape continues to evolve, artists must remain adaptable and proactive in their strategies for gaining recognition. The integration of direct engagement, strategic education, and innovative collaborations can significantly amplify an artist’s presence and influence within the industry. By nurturing their craft and their community, anime and manga artists can not only achieve recognition but also sustain a flourishing creative career, making every stroke of the brush a step toward lasting success.

Dive into the vibrant world of D&A Anime Blog, where anime and manga enthusiasts can explore engaging content, connect with fellow fans, and discover exclusive merchandise!

‘Nokotan’ is the Best Brain Rot I’ve Seen In Years!

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RJ Writing Ink’s Initial Review for My Deer Friend Nokotan

Brain rot (Noun): media deemed to hold little artistic value and/or negatively impacts those who consume it.

Over the years, I have watched plenty of shows that would qualify as brain rot, especially when it comes to anime. There’s the classics like FLCL, where turning your brain off and not thinking too hard is a requirement, not a recommendation. A few years ago, we got Pop Team Epic, which is so random and all over the place that it makes people ask if they’re on something when they’re watching it. But the thing about brain rot is that there can be standards to it that separate the plain stupid from the stupidly brilliant. And right now, there is one anime that is considered the pinnacle of brain rot. An anime so stupid yet so funny that even before it came out, it was already flooding the Internet with memes. And it’s all about a girl…who is a deer.

This is Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan, AKA My Deer Friend Nokotan, AKA the herald of the deerpocalypse.

Shika Shika Shika

Poised; prim; proper; beautiful. All of these adjectives can be used to describe the class idol, Koshi Torako, who seems to be perfect in every wayโ€ฆand that’s just what she wants everyone to think. The truth is, before high school, she was a notorious and feared delinquent. But she’s since gotten her act together, and has made sure no one knows about her delinquent phase!

Then, one fateful day as she’s walking to school, she looks up and sees a girl with antlers stuck in a power line. And just like that, Torako’s perfect life comes crashing down. For thisโ€ฆdeer, this embodiment of chaos named Nokotan, is not only the new transfer student at Torako’s school, she knows about her delinquent past! And to make matters worse, she’s suddenly the only sane person capable of questioning how bizarre this new girl is!!!

Oh, and she gets tricked into forming a club meant to take care of deer like Nokotan.

And if none of that made sense, then you’re not alone.

The Craziest I’ve Seen Since Pop Team Epic

So, Nokotan is a series that operates under two types of comedy: surreal humor and the straight man-wise guy routine. Surreal humor is when something’s so absurd and random that it leaves the audience wondering what the heck they’re even watching. And even though they don’t know, they can’t help but want to watch more. For example, one minute everything is normal, and the next you’re surrounded by CGI deer while this girl with antlers breaks down the door to a classroom and sends debris flying into the faces of all the students. And the whole time, they’re smiling like nothing is wrong! Or that same girl proceeds to remove her antlers and uses them for bombs or as a compartment for snacks! Or we get a CGI deer staring at us in a way that reminds me too much of this creepy cat picture from a 2000s animated series from Cartoon Network! And some of that has only happened in the first few episodes right now!

And then we have the straight man-wise guy aspect. In this case, it’s more accurate to say that Koshitan is the only sane person while everyone around her is now crazy. And try as she might, she is the only person questioning how strange things are around Nokotan. On top of this, she has to deal with her little sister, whose sister complex is so massive that she turns into a yandere if anyone tries to get between them. Plus, this other girl insists on wanting to become a deer like Nokotan and eats a mountain of rice. Is it any wonder why Koshitan cracks under the stress and lets her delinquent side come out?

Of course, no comedy duo is complete without the wise guy, and in that regardโ€ฆNokotan is ? built different. It’s not clear just what Nokotan is besides the fact that she’s not normal. Is she a human-deer hybrid? Some kind of reality-warping god? An anamoly that escaped from the local branch of the SCP Foundation? All we know is that she is a living embodiment of benign chaos, and pretty much everything she does is worthy of being a meme.

So, if you’re reading this and thinking that My Deer Friend Nokotan is so stupid and absolute brain rot, then you’re right. It’s 100% pure brain rotโ€ฆand it owns it!

This is High-Quality Brain Rot Right Here

In the months leading up to its debut on TV in Japan and on Crunchyroll/pirated websites internationally, Nokotan has been at the center of a pretty successful viral marketing campaign. Studio Wit, the studio famous for Attack on Titan and Spy x Family, made it a point to emphasize how absurd it is in the months leading up to its release. It got to the point where they decide to pre-empt the inevitable attempts to make hour-long loops of the Opening theme by releasing their own on YouTube. It worked. Not only did it help the show blow up before even starting, but people started copying it.

My Deer Friend Nokotan is, by its nature, an incredibly silly and stupid series, but that’s what makes it so funny. Only a few episodes have been released thus far, and people are already memeing the heck out of it. I’m one of those people; I already remixed Nokotan’s classroom entrance to the theme for the Pillar Men from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure!

Bottom line: it looks like My Deer Friend Nokotan is in the running for one of the funniest anime of the year. If you’re looking for something that’s just a stupid good time and requires little to no thinking, then it’s time for you to become a deer like Nokotan!

Jay’s Verdict: WATCH IT, OR YOU DEER!

‘No Longer Allowed in Another World’ is the Anti-Isekai

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RJ Writing Ink’s Initial Series Review for No Longer Allowed in Another World

Disclaimer: The following series uses the subject of suicide for comedic purposes. It is not meant to be taken seriously. If you or a loved one have thoughts of suicide, then seek help or call the suicide prevention lifeline at 988. You are not as alone as you think you are.

In this world, there are two kinds of isekai protagonists. On the one hand, we have the people who embrace getting sent to another world for all its worth and see it as a chance to make up for how dull or miserable their lives were back home. On the other hand, we have people who, for one reason or another, want nothing to do with it and want to go home. We got your Hajime’s, Naofumi’s, Nanahoshi’s, and Anne Boonchuy’s in that category. But those people wind up getting pulled into whatever isekai stuff they’re part of anyway, so it doesn’t matter. But what if there was one isekai protagonist that was just absolutely done with all that stuff before they even started? In fact, they’re just done with everything in general and want it all to end. In other words, they long for the sweet embrace of the eternal slumber that is death.

Someone in Japan decided that that could be a thing, because that’s one of the latest in the summer crop of isekai, No Longer Allowed in Another World. And after seeing the first three episodes, I can honestly say this: it’s built different, and it knows it!

Who is Osamu Daizai?

Before we start, let’s talk about a certain Japanese author, Osamu Daizai. He’s not that well-known in the West, but in Japan, he’s pretty the equivalent to Edgar Allen Poe. He’s famous for creating incredibly dark literature, much of which remains popular in his homeland. He was also famous for his multiple attempts to end his own life due to how troubled he was. In June, 1948, he managed to succeed, with himself and his lover drowning themselves in a swollen river canal at the age of 38.

When the anime starts, Daizai, called “Sensei” here for copyright reasons, is about to make his final suicide attempt with his lover, here called Sacchan. Then, out of nowhere, Truck-Kun’s grandpa shows up, and we all know what happens next.

When Sensei wakes up, he’s in a Western-style church and being greeted by this elf priestess named Annette. She gives him the speech about how he’s been chosen by their magical world to become its newest hero, destined to save them from the Dark Lord. In other words, your standard isekai scenario.

Here’s the thing: Sensei doesn’t care about that. Since he’s from the time before anime and manga were widespread, he doesn’t even know what an isekai is. All he cares about is that his latest attempt to un-alive himself failed, and he just wants to find someplace nice to finish the job. And, if he can help it, find Sacchan in this new world so they can keep their promise. And because his stats are so weak and he’s not an arrogant, pretentious snob like everyone else she’s summoned, Annette and this cat girl that he calls Tama decide to go with him to make sure he’s safe-ish.

And with that, Sensei’s anti-isekai adventures begin.

Sensei is a Different Kind of Protagonist

Right off the bat, the anime makes it clear that it’s not for those who get triggered by suicide. The moment Sensei realizes his last suicide attempt fails, he tries again by overdosing on sleeping pills. And when he gets attacked by a tree monster that tries to choke him out, he accepts it without complaint; and that’s just the first episode. Both times, Sensei’s foiled and it’s played for comedic purposes, but that doesn’t change what he tried to do. Sensei is a man who is so done with life that he wants out. He thinks the only way he’s going to be happy is when he can welcome the sweet embrace of the grim reaper!

One would think that a story about someone as depressed as Sensei is would be equally depressing. Or for Sensei to be this jaded, nihilistic man who sees no value in anything, which is why he wants to end it all.

Yet, he oddly isn’t.

Yes, Sensei’s main goals in this new world are to find his lover and then off themselves together. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t see the value in what other people care about. He’s very respectful, listening to other people’s problems and encouraging them to live however they want. And the fact that he does it without any of the confidence or arrogance that many people would have in an isekai helps him to win over the likes of Annette and Tama. The former of whom, the first episode makes it a point of explaining, was starting to get jaded by how full all the Otherworlders she met were.

Which is good, because, by the third episode, things take a turn for the worse when the Dark Lord is defeated a week after Sensei arrives. And without anyone to fight, the Otherworlders start going mad with power and taking over. For comparison, think about what Homelander is about to do with his army of Supes in The Boys, only not as scary.

I guess Truck-Kun’s family isn’t as good as their job as they think.

Sensei is the Anti-Isekai Protagonist

Sensei is an odd protagonist, without a doubt. He has such a passion for what he does as a writer, which I can respect, yet he’s also critical about himself. He’s brilliant, kind, and understands how important life is, yet he finds no value in his own. He doesn’t want to deal with the nonsense of an isekai, but he’s rather suited for it. He’s a rather refreshing change of pace in the genre. And while this can’t reach the same heights as the GOATS like Konosuba, Re:Zero, and Mushoku Tensei, No Longer Allowed in Another World should be an interesting watch.

My Verdict: Watch it if you Have the Time

Rachael Lillis, the Original Voice of Misty and Jessie from ‘Pokemon’, Has Died

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Rachael Lillis, the OG Voice Actress for Pokemon’s Misty and Jessie, Has Passed Away From Breast Cancer

This might be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write for this blog, but it needs to be done. This monday, it was publicly announced that Rachael Lillis, the legendary voice actress and original voice of Misty and Jessie, passed away on Saturday, August 10th. She was 46 years old.

A professional voice actress, people best knew Rachael for her time with the Pokรฉmon franchise. When 4Kids started dubbing the anime in the West, Rachael was part of the original cast. For eight years, she provided the voice to both Misty, the water-type Pokรฉmon trainer with a fiery temper, and Jessie, the lovable villainess of Team Rocket. She was also the voice behind multiple Pokemon, with Jigglypuff being the most notable. To the best of my knowledge, they still use archival recordings of her for Jigglypuff to this day.

Earlier this year, I had reported how Rachael had developed breast cancer that had since spread to other parts of her body, leaving her barely able to walk on her own. Several of her relatives and colleagues set up a GoFundMe to get the money to move her to a better facility, and many spread the word about it on social media. As hopeful as I wanted to be, I knew she wasn’t long for this world. But…I didn’t expect us to lose her this soon.

I don’t need to spend time explaining just how important Rachael, Misty, and Jessie were to me. Watching Pokemon was what got me into anime. I retroactively consider Misty to be my first anime waifu ever. Watching how she could go from being sweet and friendly with Ash and Brock to being ballistic was so much fun, and it made for a big part of the show’s appeal to me. As a 90s/2000s kid, losing her is like a massive gut punch. I’m barely able to keep myself from crying as I write this; it’s beyond devastating.

Fans and colleagues are mourning Rachael’s passing all across the Internet, and it is heartbreaking to read. She was one of those early pioneers of anime in the West, and while others went on to voice her characters, to me, she was the only Misty and Jessie that I needed.

Rest in peace, Rachael. You were a real one, and I’ll never forget you as Misty for as long as I live.

New Members Join the Greyrat Family as ‘Mushoku Tensei’ Ends S2

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 24 Review

It’s almost hard to believe, but by the time this goes up, it will have been a year since Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation returned for its second season. Yet here we are, at the end of the road for now. Rudeus, Roxy, and his father’s friends have made it back to Sharia with Zenith in tow, but their toughest fight is still to come. Rudeus not only has to explain to his wife and sisters how their father’s dead and his mother basically has a disability. More importantly, how Rudy intends to marry Roxy and have her move in with them.

…The awkward levels are off the charts.

Love Sylphie’s New Hairdo

Much like in the first season, the episode eschews an OP to get right into the story, highlighting just how important this moment is. Once he’s within sight of his house, Rudeus starts panicking and runs inside, remembering the Man-God’s words about him regretting leaving. Oddly, Rudeus doesn’t consider losing his Dad to be what he’d regret. I’m unsure if this point covers it, but in the light novels, the Man-God tells Rudy that had he stayed behind, Paul wouldn’t have died while Zenith would still be saved. The entity is merely messing with Rudy, though. Also, while Paul might not have died, Roxy might have been lost.

Thankfully, though, nothing’s wrong with Rudy’s family, Sylphie’s now sporting longer hair. I will miss the short-haired Sylphie, but longer hair makes her look cuter.

The Painful Part

Then comes the tearjerker moment where they tell everyone about Paul’s fate. I already read the light novels, but I still felt my heart breaking for Norn, who took the news the hardest out of anyone. Out of everyone in the family, Norn had been with Paul the longest, and thus was the one closest to him. As she starts bawling her eyes out, I can only imagine how much she must regret not staying with him. At the same time, I like how the story subtly shows off her desire to become stronger by asking for her father’s sword and for Rudy to train her. She’s probably thinking that if she had been stronger, Paul wouldn’t have sent her away. I don’t know if that’s the case, but if that’s what helps her grieve her loss, then good.

As a quick sidebar, it was equally heartbreaking to see Zenith cling to Paul’s armor like she did. She’s likely going to have lucid moments like this for the rest of her life, and while it might be painful, Rudy and his family have no intention of abandoning her. They will be a family and live together, even if its not the way Rudeus envisioned.

Speaking of which, time for the awkward part.

Norn, You Protest Too Much

So, after everyone else leaves, Rudeus tells everyone the news: he cheated on Sylphie with Roxy and wants to take her in as his second wife. And like before, Norn is the one with the strongest reaction. Or overreaction, and it’s pretty faithful to the light novels. It’s also going to be the scene that will make many people hate Norn for a while.

Seeing Norn tear into her brother for how selfish he’s being and how unfaithful he was to Sylphie was hard to watch, even if she did break up some good points. Rudy broke his promise to be faithful to Sylphie, and Roxy understands that, even if desperate times called for desperate measures, she slept with Rudy because part of her was selfish. However, at the same time, Norn is also being inconsiderate. She lets it slip how Millis (the god of the Millis religion) wouldn’t forgive Rudy for doing this. Good intentions or not, she’s projecting her beliefs onto the situation without thinking about the context or how others feel. Thank heavens that Sylphie stops her before Roxy leaves.

Sylphie Truly is the Goddess of Love

I knew this moment had been coming for a long time, but this marks the first time that Sylphie and Roxy have ever met, and it was worth the wait. And not only is Sylphie not mad at Rudy or Roxy, but she says she’s cool with it! And the anime doesn’t skimp on some of the reasons why she is, too!

Firstly, Sylphie knows that her husband is super horny. She openly admits that she expected Rudy to bring another girl back home. At the same time, she also recognizes that he’s loyal, so if he brought home any other woman, it would be because they’re special to him. It’s a paradox, but that’s just how Rudeus is, and she’s fine with it.

Sylphie’s tolerance for it also stems from her memories of Rudy’s family in Buena Village. She remembers how Paul married Zenith and Lilia and kept them both happy. It may not have been his intention, but Paul’s actions influenced Sylphie to be open-minded about polygamy. If Paul can do that with Zenith and Lillia, so can Rudy.

Secondly, Sylphie already knows all about Roxy. From the day she met Rudeus, he’s gone on and on about how much he respects Roxy. And that did make Sylphie a little jealous at times. But seeing her in person and how much she loved Rudy greatly humanized her in Sylphie’s eyes. She was just as capable of making mistakes as the rest, and seeing how upset Norn’s yelling made Roxy caused Sylphie’s empathy to go into overdrive. Plus, Sylphie has Roxy to thank for meeting Rudy. If she hadn’t taught Rudy, Rudy never would’ve left home and met Sylphie. And if that never happened, Sylphie wouldn’t have survived the Mana Incident! Sylphie and Rudy are both alive, thanks to Roxy’s teachings!

Lastly, as Sylphie points out, Rudy isn’t a follower of Millis, so Norn doesn’t have the right to judge him by her own religious beliefs. Also, what she says is very insensitive towards Aisha and her situation. So Norn backs down.

And with this, Sylphie truly cements herself as Rudeus’ Goddess of Love. She already became that when she healed his impotence with her kindness, but her empathy towards Roxy kept their family from falling apart. Best girl for Mushoku Tensei!

And with that, Roxy joins the Greyrat family. Oh, and that part from the light novels about Elinalise telling Rudy he got her pregnant? That was a big, fat lie Lise told him.

I Don’t Have a Problem With the Two Wives Thing

So, I’m well aware of how controversial it is for Rudy to take more than one wife, even among the fans. Some object on moral grounds. Others object because they only want their girl to be with Rudy. My opinion, though: I don’t mind it.

Maybe it’s because I’ve seen a lot of harem anime over the years, but I doubt that’s the case since most of them have me preferring one waifu over everyone else. The reason why I don’t object to Rudy having more than one wife is simpler. Rudy loves them both equally and will do everything he can to make them happy. So long as he does that and does sleep with some random women he meets at a bar, then I think any god wouldn’t hold it against him or consider him unfaithful. Although that’s just how I see things.

Also, let’s face it: when Eris returns, and we know she will, she will join him as wife #3 once they work things out. So, we should start preparing ourselves.

Rudy Joins the Anime Dad Club

There’s one last part to the season: the birth of Sylphie and Rudeus’ child. And it was one of the sweetest moments in the entire series. It does cut out most of the birth itself, but thankfully, we do end up seeing the birth of their child, a beautiful baby girl. And you know that people will tear up at this alongside Rudy.

Of all the moments a person can experience in their lives, one of the most surreal might be holding your child for the first time. That goes double for Rudeus. Never, in either of his lives, did he ever think he would become a father, but here he is! He’s joined the club of anime protagonists that get to say they’re parents! He’s father to a little girl named Lucie Greryat.

Rudeus Continues to Grow and Be a Better Person

The final shots of the season are of Rudeus celebrating at Paul’s gravesite in Sharia. He pours drinks for both of them and starts pouring his heart out about how sorry he is for not being a better son. He never truly considered himself Paul and Zenith’s son until now, and it’s something he’ll always regret. That being said, he’s being too hard on himself. If you got reincarnated into another world and still had all your old memories, wouldn’t you have a hard time considering your new birth parents your parents?

Regardless, though, Rudy isn’t going to let this stop him. As we get a few scenes showing what everyone else has been up to (including Eris), Rudeus reaffirms his resolve to keep living his new life to the fullest. And with that, the second season of Mushoku Tensei ends…or is it?

This entire season, one character has been missing the entire time. Someone very important to Rudeus, whether he likes it or not. Someone that we just got a quick look at in the final moments of the episode: Eris. While Rudeus has been off trying to live his life, Eris has been having her adventures. A few key parts of them get covered in some interludes at the end of a few light novels, and there’s even a spin-off manga focused on her training. Oddly, the anime will adapt at least part of them into another OVA. Which will help to tide us over until Season Three.

And yes, Mushoku Tensei is going to get a third season. And I won’t spoil anything! All you need to know is that there will be plenty of slice-of-life, but once it gets going, things will start hitting the fan.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to indulge in all the fanfics and extra material.

I Give “Succession” a 5/5

Roxy Stans, You Won.

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 23 Review

Death is an undeniable fact of life, but losing someone well before their time is beyond painful. Rudeus and the Black Wolves saved his mother, but it came at the cost of his arm and the life of his father. Paul died saving Rudy, and the guilt over that has all but broken him. If this keeps up, he’s going shut himself off from everything like he did in his first life. And someone else has to step up with Sylphie too far away to help him. And that someone is Roxy.

Too bad the anime skipped a few crucial scenes, though.

How Roxy Planned to Help Rudeus, Now With Context

From day one of his second life, the choices that Rudeus has made have been defined by the trauma of his past life. He didn’t appreciate his family in his first life, and that led his siblings to throw him out when he refused to attend their parent’s funeral. Rudy has always strived to avoid making the same mistakes in his new life, but by not seeing Paul and Zenith as his actual parents, he made the same mistake again. Now his self-loathing has him thinking he’s a worthless son. He isn’t, but it’s hard to escape that mindset alone.

That’s where Roxy comes in.

I’ll be blunt: the anime didn’t do an excellent job handling how Roxy helps Rudy recover. Some anime-only people might even mistake Roxy’s decision to sleep with Rudy as her taking advantage of his mental state. However, the anime skipped an important scene, revealing that the idea wasn’t Roxy’s.

While Rudy spends a week holed up in his room, Roxy and the others discuss how to help him. Elinalise suggests letting Rudy sleep with a woman to help him. When she refuses to do it, she drops a bombshell on Roxy: Rudy is married to her granddaughter and will soon be a father. Neither of which Roxy was aware of until this moment in any adaptation. So now, she feels stupid for flirting with him so much. In her defense, though, Rudy was too dense to realize she was hitting on him.

Maybe Roxy was being a little selfish and took advantage of his mental state. And yes, Rudy did cheat on Sylphie. Given how bad things were, though, I can’t hold it against them. Others will, but I won’t. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And it does work.

The Anime left out Rudy’s big confession!

This next scene also happened to be one that the anime cut out. After mentally berating himself for being so rough with Roxy (it was her first time), Rudy starts telling her a story. He claims its fictional, but the light novel clarifies that he’s just telling her everything that happened to him in his first life. All his regrets, insecurities, guilt, and negative emotions just burst out.

I think the anime made a mistake not including this scene. To my knowledge, Rudeus has never told anyone about his first life. Maybe it was the right decision; he had no clue how his parents or friends would react to hearing that. However, keeping it all inside of him has been detrimental to his mental health. For example, when Eris left him, his low self-esteem and experiences from his first life led him to the worst possible conclusion about Eris’ actions. And after Paul’e death, he couldn’t keep it in anymore. He had to tell someone! And I’m glad he told Roxy.

It’s never made clear if Roxy understood the hidden meaning behind his story, but I wouldn’t put it past her; she’s smart. More importantly, though, she tells Rudeus what he needs to hear when he asks what the man (him) should do. Her advice to Rudy, remembering the people he still has left, is cliche. Rudeus himself thinks so. But that doesn’t make them any less accurate. He lost something that he can never get back, but he still has more people who care about him. And thanks to that, Rudy regains his strength to keep moving forward.

Which does bring up an awkward issueโ€ฆ

Roxy Stans Can Be Happy Now

So, as the group makes the trip back to Sharia, Rudy needs to address the elephant in the room. Roxy admits she fell in love with him when he saved her life. And between the feelings he already had and her saving him from complete mental collapse, Rudy realizes he feels the same way. But he also swore loyalty to Sylphie, and they have a child on the way. Soโ€ฆwhat now?

It’s Elinalise who states the apparent solution to him: marry Roxy. Marry both her and Sylphie. And here’s where some more controversy for Mushoku Tensei pops up. Some people aren’t cool with the idea of a person marrying more than one person. However, Elinalise makes some intense arguments.

Firstly, keep in mind that Sylphie is still Elinalise’s granddaughter and she wants her to be happy. But she’s also Roxy’s best friend, and she hates the idea of Roxy denying herself her best chance at happiness like this. She wouldn’t suggest this if she didn’t think Rudy could make both happy.

Which brings us to the second point: Paul’s example. Once he took responsibility for getting Lilia pregnant, he married her, too. Instead of their family falling apart, it became happier than ever. Sure, not everyone supports polygamy, even in our world. From how I see it, though, if Rudy can love both girls equally, there’s not much of an issue.

Also, and this was taken out of the anime, but in the light novels, Elinalise implies that Rudy got Roxy pregnant. If he abandoned her now, he really would be a scumbag.

So, that’s that.

Return Home

So, I was expecting this episode to be the season finale, but it turns out, we have one more to go. Even though Rudy has finished grieving for his father’s death thanks to Roxy, he still has a few significant hurdles to overcome. He has to explain how Paul is dead, how Zenith is a mental invalid, andโ€ฆhow he wants to marry Roxy.

No matter how you slice it, the next episode will be hard for Rudeus. But now that he’s healthily dealt with his grief, I think he can handle it. I just wish the episode hadn’t skipped so much.

I Give “Let’s Return Home” a 3/5

Muzan, We Come for You!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba S4 Ep 8 Review

There have been a lot of horrifying villains in anime over the years. One Piece is filled with so many detestable scumbags that I can’t keep track. Madara Uchiha was an evil mastermind whose mere name getting thrown around was enough to start a war. And Frieza is so brimming with black air force energy that its become his strongest form to date! However, another name deserves to be added to the list of baddest anime villains. The monster in the dark seeking immortality, the being who stole Michael Jackson’s whole flow. The mortal enemy of the entire Demon Slayer Corps, Muzan Kibutsuji!

Demon Slayer hasn’t been around as many other big names in Shonen, but there are reasons why it’s considered one of the all-time greatest. And a big part of that is because of how much of a menace Muzan is. The penultimate episode for Demon Slayer’s fourth season airs, and the big thing everyone’s talking about is that two-minute-long scene of him arriving at Ubuyashiki Mansion, looking like the Devil himself. And the hour-long season finale only serves to hype him up even further. As Muzan tries to cut the head off the Demon Slayer Corps, he finds himself at the center of an elaborate trap. What he does in response marks the start to the endgame to this ancient war between humans and demons.

Kagaya Stares Down the Devil Himself

As lighthearted as Season Four of Demon Slayer is, there’s an unspoken sense of dread. Everyone knows the final battle against Muzan is coming, but the Corps doesn’t know when or where he’ll strike from. The Hashira Training Camp was meant to help prepare for the final battle, but even that may already be too late. After years of searching, Muzan has found the Ubuyashiki Mansion, the de facto HQ for the Demon Slayer Corps. And he shows up in the middle of the night, ready to kill the man leading the corpsโ€ฆonly to find it’s pointless. Kagaya Ubuyashiki isn’t just on death’s door. He’s a talking corpse that should’ve died months ago. The only reason he’s still alive is because of his pure, unadulterated hatred for Muzan.

As Kagaya reveals to the Demon King, the Ubuyashiki family is distantly related to Muzan. Because their bloodline produced the first demon, they’ve been cursed to die young until they kill him. Thus, when Muzan comes to kill Kagaya, the man isn’t afraid of him. He already knows he’s going to die anyway, with his wife and two of his kids to follow at Muzan’s hands. Rather than fear death like Muzan, Kagaya mocks his distant relative for how pathetic he is and how the world will be a better place once he’s gone!

See you in Hell, Muzan!

I loved this scene. Don’t ask me why, but seeing someone stare down a monster that could easily kill them and choose to definitely flip them off is so awesome. However, it’s what Kagaya does in his final moments that is so badass that it takes even Muzan aback: he blows up the mansion and everyone in it. The anime does a great job of increasing our emotional responses by having the explosion play out in slow motion.

Plenty of fictional characters have used the “taking you with me” card before, but the context here sets Kagaya apart. He didn’t just blow himself up; he blew up his wife and two of his children. And while it doesn’t say it outright, the story clarifies that they all knew this would happen. However, instead of running or panicking, they all chose to remain calm and accept it. They understood that Muzan is such a threat to humankind that they have to pull out the contemporary equivalent of a nuclear bomb.  And they do it to make sure that the Demon Slayer Corps can end Muzan here and now.

The entire sequence of events is masterfully animated, with Ufotable pulling out all the stops. And that’s only the beginning. Seeing Muzan slowly regenerate from that is both grotesque and fascinating to look at. And though he’s still alive, it really got to him. He didn’t think Kagaya would have the guts to do that. But that was just the first part of the trap that Kagaya laid.

Wrath of the Hashira

The next part sees Tamayo, one of the few demons not under his control, trap him in place with her blood demon art. Then, she injects him with a sample of the fruits of her labor: she’s finally made a drug that can turn demons back into humans. In other words, the means to turn Nezuko back to normal now exists. I didnt read the manga, so I don’t know if Tanjiro’s sister took the drug yet, but I’m willing to bet that she did. Not only does that mean that one of Tanjiro’s biggest goals is about to be completed, but the minute she becomes human again, Muzan will lose his means of conquering sunlight.

And the bad news just keeps coming for Muzan.  The Hashira and Tanjiro, having been made aware Kagaya was in danger, were already in the process of rushing to the Ubuyashiki Mansion. They arrived just in time to see it go up in flames. Now they’reโ€ฆI actually can’t think of a word to best describe how angry they are.

One would think that the combined might of 8 Hashira, a demon, and a boy on par with a Hashira, would be enough to pin Muzan down. However, that is when Muzan brings out his own trump card. He not only teleports himself to the safety of the Infinity Castle, but pulls in the entire Demon Slayer Corps. Every. Last. One. No matter where they are, they fall into the Infinity Castle. And we get yet another amazingly animated shot in an episode that’s already packed to the brim with them. I could feel myself getting goosebumps as my heart began to race. I started grinning like Inosuke because I knew what was about to happen. The final battle between the demons and humans was about to begin!!

And the best part? Ufotable is treating the final battle with the reverence its going to deserve. Rather than give Demon Slayer another season, they’re turning the Infinity Castle Arc (and presumably the one after it) into a movie trilogy!

Infinity Castle Needs to Break the Box Office!

To date, there is no news about when the trilogy will come out, but when it does, I am hoping that they dont just make it a limited-run event. I want to see it compete with other movies and remain in theaters as long as possible. And you can bet that I will get in line to see each on opening night!

Demon Slayer has always managed to go hardcore regarding the season finales, but this one might be the best. The animation, the story, everything is flawless! This is why Demon Slayer is one of the GOATS! I am looking forward to seeing the Infinity Castle trilogy, and I hope we can get them to break box office records!

Muzan, your days are numbered!

I Give “The Hashira Unite” a 5/5