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Kinta, a Chuunibuyo, Arrives!

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 10 Review

Bryce Papenbrook, AKA Kirito, Cat Noir, Eren Yeager, and many other roles. I have been a fan of him since his Sword Art Online days, but the last thing that I expected was for him to appear in DanDaDan. Nor did I expect him to be voicing the latest addition to the cast, a boy who’s somehow nerdier than Okarun and more of a Chuunibuyo than Aira was during her introduction.

He’s gonna fit right in!

A New Chuuni Has Appeared

Meet Kinta Sakata, even more of an all-around, stereotypical nerd than Okarun was when we first met him. He likes reading sci-fi about mecha, he acts like a chuunibuyo, and he does JoJo poses like it’s second nature. Unfortunately for him, he lacks the one thing that enabled Okarun to start growing out of his shy and nerdy exterior: rizz. He’s got no rizz whatsoever, and he’s jealous of Okarun for having that.

The first few minutes of the episode are a retelling of Momo and Okarun’s first day back to school after their initial fight with Turbo Granny. The anime wants us to think that he’s been there the entire time watching them, but it’s so obvious that he’s shoehorned in that it’s hilarious. Which I feel like was kind of the point: the series is trying to make him seem like this guy who’s always been there in the background, but now he wants to take the spotlight.

Kinta Tries too Hard

In a nutshell, Kinta has one goal and one goal alone: to get girls to notice him. The problem is that he’s even more socially inept than Okarun was at the start. So when he tries to ask Okarun how a fellow nerd like him is now getting attention from beautiful girls like Aira and Momo, Ken has no idea how to respond. As if to drive the point home, Okarun’s class rep and Momo get into an argument over him because the latter keeps disrupting their studying. And since Kinta has no clue about the golden balls, he mistakes what they’re saying for spicy talk and tries to emulate it, only to come off as a total creep. It’s hilarious!

As a fellow nerd, I can recognize when one of our number is turning people off by trying too hard. And Kinta is trying way too hard! If I were to give the guy any advice, it would be that you can’t force yourself to have charisma. Okarun has rizz without even trying because he’s not trying to be someone he isn’t. He’s a naturally nice person, and so attracts people to him.

We’re Going Kaiju Now!

In any event, Kinta ends up getting more than he bargained for when he follows Okarun and Momo after school. They’re trying to find what they think is Okarun’s remaining nut, only for them to be unable to catch it once it starts flying around all over the place. Yet, despite him being more or less clueless about everything, Kinta does manage to prove to have some value. Thanks to his knowledge of sci-fi, he’s able to figure out that their enemy is using cloaking and finds a way to get past it. And it works! They’re actually able to stop this invisible enemy…for a second. Then they get to see its true form.

That’s right, people! In a series filled with ghosts and aliens, it was only a matter of time before we got one of Japan’s most famous cultural icons, the kaiju! There’s only way to fight a kaiju without summoning another one, and that requires a giant robot. Next week, expect some kaiju on mecha action! But in the meantime, I stand by what I said about Kinta. He might be awkward as they come with his chuuni ways, but he’s going to fit right in with this cast.

Are you Getting the Demon Slayer Popcorn Buckets?

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

Hey, you! Yeah, you! Assuming that we got this up on time, do you know what’s happening in the world of anime and manga this week? Starting on Thursday, September 11th (or 9th for Crunchyroll subs), an anime film that fans have been waiting to see for a year now makes its way west. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle is making its way to theaters in America.

While commemorative popcorn buckets have been around for a while, the last two years or so have seen them surge in popularity. Movie theaters have been going crazy releasing collectible popcorn buckets and cups as tie-in merch for major movies. I’ve even gotten into it by getting tins for Superman and Fantastic Four earlier this summer. And now, its Demon Slayer’s turn.

As you can see, AMC theaters is releasing this collectible tin made to look like the Infinity Castle, complete with characters from the movie itself. In addition, they’re also releasing collectible drinking cups based on the swords of four characters from the movie: Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Giyu, and Shinobu.

They’re not the only theaters releasing buckets, though. Cinemark is also getting in on the action, but their bucket isn’t as cool as what AMC has. Japan got this cool looking bucket with straps and artwork on it.

But none of them are as cool as what fans in Malaysia got. They’re getting one with an infinity LED lid that simulates the interior of the Infinity Castle itself.

I have already made plans to go see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, albeit alone due to everyone I know being busy. Whether or not I buy any of the buckets or cups is up in the air, but I cannot deny that they do look pretty cool. More importantly, the fact that theaters are making buckets for an anime film is an encouraging sign of how far anime has come in pop culture. With fans in Japan raving about the movie, it’s up to us in the West to make sure that it meets the same reception.

So what are you waiting for? Go get your tickets!!

Now there are two Sadeena’s

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The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 9 Review

What can be said about Sadeena? She has a dark and troubled past as the former water miko of Q’ten Lo. She’s Raphtalia’s big sister figure. She’s another one of Naofumi’s unwanted suitors after he beat her in a drinking contest. She’s a fun person to be around, all things considered.

So, who wants to see a mini-Sadeena? Because that’s basically what we get with this episode. 

Now They’re Gonna Worship Filo, too!

The liberation of Q’ten Lo continues apace as the rebels march towards the old capital. Thanks to Naofumi showing off Raphtalia in her miko outfit and helping everyone, their ranks continue to swell. In an extra stroke of good fortune, Filo is a dead ringer for the country’s national bird, so they have her happily walking around and befriending everyone like the floofy angel she is. Once they get to the old capital, they can perform the succession ceremony that will give Raphtalia the formal, and mystical, powers of the Emperor.

There’s just one problem: the puppet regime has decided to make its stand at the Old Capital. And they’re being led by the Water Dragon Miko.

As Sadeena explains, the role of Water Dragon Miko has always been in her family, and it’s more than just a religious role. The title-bearer also serves as the Emperor’s enforcer and executioner. Basically, Darth Vader without the cybernetics and angst. And Sadeena is unhappy knowing her decision to leave led to another taking up her burden.

As it turns out, though, Naofumi doesn’t have to wait to meet this potential enemy. While he and S’yne are going to meet with Motoyasu II and Elhart, they run into a young girl who’s a dead-ringer for Sadeena.

It’s Mini-Sadeena

The anime doesn’t say that this girl, Zodia, is related to Sadeena. It doesn’t need to; the fact that she looks like a mini-Sadeena is a big enough hint. The fact that she loves drinking alcohol and immediately asks Naofumi to marry her when he shows he can’t get drunk cinches it. This little girl is Sadeena’s little sister, and we all know it. Naofumi may not say anything, but he’s smart enough to put two and two together for himself. And as Sadeena herself states, any little sister she might have would’ve had to take up that role. And Zodia is only a kid.

Let that sink in. The system would have a kid become a religious leader and executioner. That’s messed up. When this is all over, Naofumi is going to have to go and have a talk with Sadeena’s family. Better yet, forget the talking. Make Sadeena the new head and banish the old ones. 

In any event, things stop being so easy once the rebels arrive at the old capital. The regime chooses to stand its ground and asks to parley with the rebels. It would also seem that the puppet masters opted to strike at the villages under their control without Zodia’s knowledge. As a result, Naofumi has to send Atla, Fohl, S’yne, and Gaelion away to help. It’s clear that while Zodia is willing to play fair, her superiors have no such desire to play fair.

Time to Fight Dirty

I can’t remember what exactly is going to happen next from the light novel, but I do know that things are only going to get worse before they get better. It doesn’t help that Sadeena is likely going to have to fight the sister that she’s never met before, either. Which is incredibly sad, since Zodia is such a sweet girl. Plus, seeing her get lost so easily reminds me of Zoro from One Piece, so bonus points in my book. 

This episode wasn’t that exciting, but to be fair, that seems to be the case for a lot of this season. It’s mostly drama and talking with action in between, and that’s fine. I’m still going to watch it, regardless.

Also, it gets shunted to a smaller scene, but after Raphtalia gives Fohl advice on how he needs to stop spoiling Atla, he starts calling her “big sis.” She has come full circle!

I give Zodia a 3.5/5

That Time We Fight a Giant Snake Monster

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 8 Review

There are many myths and legends in Japanese mythology that remain alive in the modern day, but I think my favorite is that of the Yamata No Orochi. Like the Hydra of Greek game, Orochi was a massive, multi-headed serpent that ran amok killing people for years before finally being slain by a great hero. The story of Orochi remains popular in modern culture, with it being referenced in many popular anime and manga like Naruto. Given how Q’ten Lo is essentially a fantasy version of Japan, it was perhaps inevitable that the monster would show up. It’s just that…the animation is mid.

The CGI Snake was Mid…

The episode (which skips the OP), starts off on a rather humorous note: the rebel army being absolutely wasted. They made the mistake of competing with Sadeena in a drinking contest. Once they drag themselves off the floor, though, they provide exposition on the current situation. In a nutshell, the country is controlled by a horrible woman called Makina, who’s using the child emperor as a puppet. She moved the capital from the ancient one to the east and is responsible for extorting the population, so she has to die. However, she’s not going to go quietly. No sooner is Naofumi brought up to speed than the enemy makes its move…by unleashing a giant monster.

Remember how the puppet Emperor passed laws to protect all monsters? They extended that protection to monsters that threatened to destroy Q’ten Lo, providing them with the Emperor’s blessing. And one of those monsters, an Orochi that Raphtalia’s ancestor sealed, has been freed. And it is…kind of mid.

Cool Fight

There’s no getting around it, everyone. The animation for the Orochi and its multiple forms is not that good. In fact, it reminds me too much of how bad the Spirit Tortoise looked in what little I saw of Season Two. It’s big, but it doesn’t look that intimidating. The hydra that Rudeus and his father fought in the Teleportation Labryrinth looked scarier, and that one cost the former his arm and the latter his life! This one feels a little like a joke in comparison. Maybe it’s just the limits of what CGI can do here, but it doesn’t look that scary.

At the very least, the actual fighting of the beast, which makes up a good part of the episode, is decent enough. While everyone does their own part, the main MVPs are Raphtalia and Sadeena, the latter of whom gets her own beast transformation that turns her into a flying killer whale. It doesn’t make any sense, but it looks cool!

Okay, the Killer Whale Was Cool

At the tone, that is Naofumi and the Rebellion 2, Evil Bitch running Q’ten Lo 0. And they got a cursed sword that they can eventually use. As soon as Motoyasu II gets it under control.

Things will only get harder from here on out. Now that the rebellion has shown that it means business, it’s only a matter of time before it hits its first wall. We shouldn’t be too worried, though. Naofumi and the others have got this.

I Give “Orochi” a 3/5

LOL, Okarun Ragebaited the Evil Eye

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

DanDaDan S2, Ep 9 Review

Well, that’s certainly one way to solve your problems, Okarun. After going through a short anime training arc, Ken Takakura came back to the Ayase’s to challenge the Evil Eye to a fight. Normally, anime logic would mean that the training he went through was enough to get stronger than the Evil Eye. However, let us not forget that it’s still the strongest Yokai in the series to date. That fact hasn’t changed. So, how does Okarun overcome this? By pulling out another time-honored card in the arsenal of Shonen heroes: outsmarting his enemy.

LOL, Ragebait

For anyone who was hoping that the rematch between Okarun and the Evil Eye would be this epic clash that would take up most of the episode, you only got half of what you wanted. The fight, while it is pretty fun to watch, lasts all of two minutes. After that, Okarun runs out of juice, while the Evil Eye is in his Madara Uchiha mindset. He’s having too much fun to stop now.

Which is why Okarun’s real plan is absolutely brilliant.

Now, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a Shonen protagonist bait an enemy into doing what they want. Goku did it with Majin Buu; Luffy did it with Laboon; and Okarun has now done it with the Evil Eye. However, the fact that Okarun goaded the Evil Eye into cooperating by calling him mid was comedic genius. With the Evil Eye’s attention firmly on him, he will no longer look to kill anyone else. And as time passes, he and Jiji might be able to heal the centuries-old hatred in the spirit’s heart. And the best part is that now Okarun will have more motivation to keep getting stronger so the Evil Eye can’t hurt anyone. Everyone wins!

And with that, the Evil Eye Arc comes to an end. But not before the Ayase house not only gets restored, but gets an upgrade.

New house and the Evil Eye goes to school

Thanks to Ken and Aira telling Mantis Shrimp what happened, the alien was able to call in a friend of his to rebuild the Ayase residence. Not only that, but they did it using blocks made out of nanomachines. They’re like a fusion of clay and LEGO, able to take any shape someone wishes. Which means that from now on, the Ayase home can be turned into everything from a regular house to a spaceship to a giant robot. That’s going to come in very handy at some point!

The last few minutes of the episode are among the funniest, though. While the Evil Eye’s keeping their promise, they’re not completely docile. Case in point, Jiji goes ghost in the middle of school, forcing her to babysit E.E. (Evil Eye), with hilarious results.

You can’t help but laugh at how silly this is! This is going to cause plenty of headaches down the line, but plenty of comedic material for us. The fact that the school is oblivious after this and the other weird stuff is nothing short of a miracle.

Back on the hunt for the kintama

Speaking of which, Momo’s friends inadvertently give her a potential lead on Okarun’s missing kintama. Could he finally be getting his missing junk back?

Probably not. The season is almost over, and from my understanding, we’ve got a ways to go before we get to that point. We do get a post-credit scene, though, introducing us to a new character. And there’s something familiar about their voice…probably nothing.

I give “I Want to Rebuild the House” a 4/5. Bonus points for E.E. Stripping naked for comedic effect. And for creating a new meme.

The Spark of Rebellion Ignites

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 7 Review

Everyone, we’ve got some good news and we’ve got some bad news. The good news is that Naofumi and Raphtalia have successfully made it to Q’ten Lo, Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland. The bad news is that only they, Sadeena, and Gaelon have gotten in. The rest of their group is stuck at sea thanks to a magic barrier. If they ever want to settle things with the corrupt leaders of Q’ten Lo, they’ll need to bring down that barrier. And to do that, they’re going to need some help from the locals. And to do that, they’re going to have to start a revolution.

Sweet.

Welcome to Q’ten Lo

So, Naofumi managed to make it into Q’ten Lo, but most of his allies are stuck outside with no way to get in. Fortunately, this isn’t the first time that he’s had to move around in a place where everyone’s out to get him. After he and his companions blend in, they get to go around seeing what Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland looks like. Having read the light novels in anticipation for this season, my expectations saw the nation as a more fantastical version of medieval Japan, like Wano Country in One Piece. In this case, though, the animation style’s more grounded in realism (to the extent that a fantasy world can be, that is), so not as many Sakura trees as I hoped. The silver lining is that the amount of tanuki statues makes the place feel like a wonderland for Raphtalia-lovers everywhere. Raph-Chan will likely be worshipped as a deity.

PETA Taken to Logical Extreme

Despite it’s beauty, though, the suffering of the inhabitants is made blatant. When the group sees someone being attacked by a monster and no one’s doing anything, Gaelon steps in to save the day. That’s when they learn something scary: by decree of the Heavenly Emperor, no citizen is permitted to attack a monster for any reason.

Let that sink in. Even if you’re about to be targeted by a wild animal that intends to hurt and kill you, you’re not allowed to fight back. Not even in self-defense. And considering how dangerous the wildlife is in the series, that’s tantamount to saying their life has no value. It’s like PETA taking their mindset to its logical conclusion, with disastrous results. It’s not always kind, but sometimes you have to kill to survive.

Let the Revolution Begin

Regardless, Naofumi and Raphtalia find that between this and the unbearable taxes, there are plenty of people fed up with things. Sure enough, they find the local official, who knew Raphtalia’s father, is more than happy to help them launch their rebellion.

The raid to bring down the lighthouse keeping the barrier up proves to be a challenge for Naofumi and the rebels. In keeping with previous fights, the enemy can negate the powers of the Cardinal Weapons. Thanks to the intervention of a blacksmith, though, they win the day. And give us a pretty cool-looking final move.

As it turns out, the blacksmith in question is Elhart’s old master whom he had come to find. He’s also a massive simp who flirts with every pretty lady he meets. It gets to the point in the light novels that Naofumi dubs him Motoyasu II, which is hilarious.

The episode ends on a positive note for the heroes. With the beachhead secure, they’re able to begin landing the troops. What’s more, with Naofumi’s backing, Raphtalia has (reluctantly) staked her claim to the throne. Which means the rebellion has begun! And by the time it comes to an end, Raphtalia might very well be called the Heavenly Empress of Q’ten Lo. Knowing Naofumi, he’s probably going to use it to sell Raphtalia merch or spread the word of Raph-Chan.

I Give “Arriving in Q’ten Lo” a 3/5

Q’ten Lo, Q’ten Ho!

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 6

Fun fact about Japan: not counting how the Allies occupied it after World War II, no foreign power has ever successfully invaded it. Besides being home to a historically warrior culture, there’s also the issue of Mother Nature to deal with. Legends say that the storms that thwarted the Mongol Invasion were conjured by the gods. Gods or not, though, nothing is stopping Naofumi from getting into Q’ten Lo. They tried to kill the tanuki goddess Raphtalia, and for that, they must pay! And now that Naofumi has a ship, he’s able to bring his crew in to march on Q’ten Lo. Let the invasion begin!

…is what I would like to say. Dang weather and divine intervention.

Q’ten Lo, Q’ten Ho!

Having returned to Melromarc in triumph, Naofumi meets with Queen Mirella to tell her that Siltvelt will be much more cooperative from now on. In return, she reveals what I already told you: Atla and Fohl’s mom was Trash’s sister, making them his niece and nephew. It’s sad to think that this had to be revealed in a manner that screams afterthought. Given everything that has happened, it feels a bit of a disservice to the two. Regardless, the pair had their time in the spotlight. Now it’s time to focus on the main side quest of the season: stopping Q’ten Lo.

Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland hasn’t given up trying to kill her or her companions. Their assassins have kept trying to attack their village, only for Motoyasu to storm in and kill them before they can do any damage. Thus, Naofumi opts to leave him and Ren in charge of watching the village. He, Itsuki, Rishia, Raphtalia, Sadeena, Filo, Raph-Chan, Galleion, S’yne, and the Hakuko siblings will proceed full sail to Q’ten Lo. They will invade the country, bring down its leaders, and put a stop to things so they can focus on the coming of the Phoenix.

Things are easier said than done, though. Not only do they get attacked by more assassins at sea, but they have to deal with nature and divine intervention preventing them from entering. The outskirts of Q’ten Lo are covered in fog, whirlpools, and a magical barrier. If they don’t want someone to come in, then they are going to have a hard time getting in! To make matters worse, one of those whirlpools proceeds to separate Naofumi, Raphtalia, Sadeena, and Gaelion from everyone else. It’s like the start of a JRPG!

Welcome to Q’ten Lo

From what I can remember, the entire sequence is pretty faithful to the events in the light novel. When the group wakes up, they’re in a cave inside Q’ten Lo itself, having been brought there by the nation’s guardian dragon. To put it bluntly, the dragon wants Naofumi to restore Q’ten Lo to its rightful purpose.

In the anime’s lore, the Four Cardinal Heroes are beings summoned from other worlds to save it when the Waves of Catastrophe hit. As we have seen, though, being called a hero doesn’t exempt a bearer from being corrupted by darkness. Thus, it makes sense that there would be a nuclear deterrent in the form of weapons that can kill the Cardinal Heroes. That is what Q’ten Lo’s role is supposed to be, but it seems they’ve either forgotten it or have been isolated so long that they no longer care until it starts affecting them. Either way, they could’ve stepped in and put the other Heroes in check well before Naofumi had to, which would’ve saved a lot of time, energy, and lives. The fact that they didn’t is just another reason for Naofumi, and by extension, the audience, to want to see this country brought to heel. Except that the rest of his group is stuck outside the barrier, meaning they’ll have to find a way to bring it down from within.

It’s a little annoying that it took us so long to get this point, but now that we are here, we might as well enjoy Q’ten Lo. This is the closest Naofumi will get to being back home for the foreseeable future, and I’ve been reading the light novels to see what happens. From what I’ve gathered, we are in for some interesting events. Welcome to Q’ten Lo, everyone! We’ve got a rebellion to start.

I Give “Leaving Port” a 3/5

Wow, Fohl Got Quite the Glow-up!

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 5 Review

Have you ever seen The Lion King before? Remember that climactic scene where Simba and Scar clash atop Pride Rock as the land burns around them? That was one of the coolest things that Disney did during the 90s, and throughout the duel of Fohl and Atla vs Jaralis, I’ve gotten similar vibes. From Fohl fighting to avenge his father to the fact that the three combatants are humanoid cats, it just feels so similar. And much like The Lion King, Fohl succeeds in his mission, while also getting a glow-up in the process.

Bad Kitty

After turning into a lion the size of a tank and calling his drugged-up followers, Jaralis goes from fighting a duel to attempting a coup and assassinating Naofumi. His thugs prove to be no match for the Shield Hero’s party, but the crazy thing is that they won’t stay down. They keep respawning, making them a major pain for Naofumi. Even worse, when Jaralis continues to lose to Fohl, he absorbs them into his body, turning him into a monstrous chimera. He starts to think that he’s a god who could conquer the world. In actuality, though, he’s only succeeded in outwardly becoming the monster he always was, and everyone knows it.

Naofumi, though, manages to put him in his place. Using his Shield and connection to Fohl, he gives the boy his own power-up, turning him into a full-on white tiger. Between him and his sister, they make short work of Jaralis, simultaneously avenging their father while also silencing any skeptics. Naofumi is the Shield Hero, and anyone who denies it is deluding themselves.

Fohl got a glow-up

The duel is thus over, and the leaders of Siltvelt keep their promise. The ship will be ready in three days. Truthfully, though, Jaralis had forfeited the second he called in his back-up and commit high treason. What was most puzzling, though, was that before he died, the lion mentioned how someone had given him the drug he used. Someone else had been pulling the strings, but at the moment, we don’t know who it is. Nor will we know anytime soon, as Q’ten Lo remains the priority.

Besides restoring their family’s honor, though, the biggest change from the duel is Fohl himself. Thanks to being half Demi-Human, when Fohl got his big level up, he aged into a teenager, showing how strong he’s gotten. In fact, Naofumi says that in his white tiger form, he’s stronger than Raphtalia and Filo! Sadly, the drain on mana means the form can only be used sparingly, preventing it from becoming a cheat code. On the plus side, though, the latter half of the episode sees Fohl and Atla returning to their childhood home and visiting their parents’ graves. Fohl sold it to pay for Atla’s medicine, but a friend of theirs kept it and is nice enough to return it. There, the group enjoys a home-cooked meal that fuses the best of Siltvelt and Melromarc together, a symbol of who Atla and Fohl are.

Time for the Truth

And since the anime isn’t going to say it, I’m going to rip the band-aid off: the Hakuko siblings mom, Lucia, was the younger sister of King Trash of Melromarc. For years, Trash thought that she had been killed while attending a supposed peace summit between Melromarc and Siltvelt. In truth, the whole thing had been set up by war hawks, and Lucia had somehow fled with Tyran’s son, their father. That led Trash’s hatred for Demi-Humans to boil over, hence why he treated Naofumi so badly. To him, Naofumi was a reminder of what he thought he had lost. But now that he knows that his sister had kids before she died, he has the chance to change for the better.

This entire part of the season has really been the story of Fohl and Atla. A good story knows when to develop its supporting cast, and that is pretty much what the Siltvelt Arc has amounted to. While it could’ve been done in a much shorter timeframe, though, I can’t complain about the results. From here on out, though, we’re focusing on Q’ten Lo. It’s time to settle things for Raphtalia, and I can’t wait to see what her ancestral homeland looks like.

I Give “White Tiger” a 4/5

What a Musical Battle

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 8 Review

DanDaDan is at its best when its doing one thing: embracing chaos. And it has seen a lot of chaos so far. From escaping perverted aliens to fighting a Loch Ness monster in a flooded pocket dimension, where there is chaos, the show thrives. But this episode might be among the strangest and most chaotic things that DanDaDan has done to date. And it all has to do with Ken and Aira using angry musical ghosts to train.

Musical Chaos

Having grown frustrated at not being able to stop the Evil Eye, Ken and Aira opt to train under Turbo Granny. Unfortunately, her idea of “training” involves them fighting the Music Room Portraits. They’re beings created from people’s fears of their freaky paintings, and they will kill anyone who plays music badly in front of them. As a result, Okarun and Aira are forced to fight them in an increasingly chaotic battle.

I will be blunt: I find it very hard to accurately describe what is going in this episode. From the teens having to dodge musical notes to the portraits creating a domain expansion and summoning armies of clones to fight, it’s the sort of thing that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. It’s these kinds of moments when DanDaDan is at its absolute best, as it gives the story the chance to run wild with its imagination. As usual, Science Saru does a superb job of bringing the chaos to life, going evern further by having the entire fight set in monochrome, with only Okarun and Aira’s ghost forms providing color.

The main focus of the training, though, is to help the pair find their sense of rhythm in battle. I don’t really understand it, but the whole point is to get Okarun to tap more into Turbo Granny’s powers. And when you’re into a song that makes you want to get up and move, you’d be surprised to know what rhythm you gain.

It ends up working in the end. Aira holds her own against the music portraits even after they grow to the size of Titans. Which, by the way, gave me Attack on Titan vibes!

And by the end, Okarun is able to move faster than he was before. And according to Turbo Granny, there’s still plenty more of her power that he has yet to tap into. Assuming he doesn’t die along the way. TG admits that she didn’t care if he or Aira didn’t survive her training. Which makes it feel like karma when she accidentally riles the portraits up a second time by accident.

Let the Rematch Begin!

Meanwhile, things aren’t looking good at the Ayase house. After the recent scare, Seiko’s apprentice is insisting that it’s not safe to keep Jiji bonded to the Evil Eye and wants to call the Hayashi back. All of this is taking a toll on poor Jiji, who feels guilty about putting everyone in danger. It’s not his fault the Evil Eye is doing this. His kindness led him to want to save the ghost in the first place. He shouldn’t have to feel bad about wanting to help someone who deserves it. But he can’t do it alone.

And that brings us to the end of the episode. Having leveled up from training, Okarun comes back to the Ayase house with one purpose and one purpose alone: to fight the Evil Eye.

Next episode is going to be straight fire, people. That’s all that I have to say. Straight. Fire. I can hardly wait!!!! You can do it, Okarun! Which is also the name of this episode!

I Give “You can do it, Okarun” a 4.5/5

Heavy Metal Hayashis, Maid Cafes, and Evil Paintings, oh my!

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep. 6 & 7 Review

So, since I was at a convention last week, I was unable to watch the new episode of DanDaDan. So, I’m combining my review for the last two episodes since they both continue the Evil Eye Arc! And as we have already seen multiple times by now, the Evil Eye is a problem, and will continue to be a problem until it’s gotten under control. But since Jiji is such a good person, that means that the family is going to have to do things the hard way. And as these two episodes demonstrate, this ragtag group has very much become a family.

So, after Jiji almost lets the Evil Eye out thanks to some room-temperature soy sauce, it becomes apparent that the Family can’t keep going like this. Fortuntately, the Hayashi that Seiko sent for arrive…and they double as a heavy metal band! In some cultures, music is said to have mystical properties and can banish supernatural evils, but this takes it to a whole new level! As a casual fan of heavy metal myself, I wholeheartedly approve of this creative decision. Especially since the anime does a great job of giving us the private concert that manga readers have waited years to see!

One might think that having Jiji decide to not exorcise the Evil Eye would make that entire scene pointless, but it wasn’t. It was a good source of entertainment, which is what stories are supposed to do. Plus, it’s likely that we’ll see the band again in a future arc. Until then, though, the group has to keep watching Jiji while they train to get stronger to stop the Evil Eye.

In all honesty, though, we can’t really fault Jiji for feeling sympathy for the Evil Eye. After what they went through in life, many people would end up as angry and vengeful as that yokai has become. This also isn’t the first time that a teenager has opted to try and befriend a demonic being calling their body home, either. Granted, Yuji never could get Sukuna on his side, but Naruto was able to win over Kurama the Nine-Tailed Fox, so there’s hope! Not that it doesn’t make it any easier when Jiji nearly loses control again and almost kills Momo. The look of guilt on his face is overwhelming. That is the look of someone who thinks they’re a burden and a monster. But more on that later; let’s talk about Momo’s new job!

MAID-O BEAM!!!

In light of the recent damage to her home, Momo has come to the decision that she needs to get a part-time job to help pay for repairs. That’s when her two gyaru friends come in clutch and land her one at a nearby cafe. However, they also do two things. Firstly, they mischeviously drag (literally drag) Okarun there while she’s working to embarass the two of them. Secondly, they neglect to tell her that this cafe in particular…is a maid cafe.

It takes a certain level of confidence to work in a restaruant that requires its employees to wear potentially embarassing attire. Normally, Momo has that kind of confidence down pat. When she’s forced to work in front Okarun, her mutual crush, though, it’s likely one of the most embarassing moments of her life up to that point! Anyone who has had the misfortune of being on the clock when their crush walks in on them can relate! Still, it does feel like it’s worth it when the two end up walking back to the Ayase home together. Sadly, this is also when the incident with the Evil Eye happens again, meaning it’s back to the seriousness.

The fact of the matter is that at this time, none of the Family can hold a candle to the Evil Eye. If they want to win, they need to get stronger fast, especially Okarun. Surprisingly, Turbo Granny proves quite forthcoming about ways to tap into her power more, bringing him to his school after dark, with Aira following out of curiosity/she’s simping for Okarun. She talks about having to maintain a steady rhythm or something during combat and how slow Okarun is. That matter can wait, though, as they have to fight haunted paintings.

…Wait, haunted paintings? Oh dear!

I Give “We Became a Family” and “Feeling Kinda Gloomy” a 4/5 and 3.5/5