Manga

No Peace As Long as Jerks are In Charge

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 10 Review

You know who we hate? Witch, AKA Bitch, W***, and formerly known as Malty S. Melromarc. She might be one of the most loathsome, contemptible, and disgusting excuses for a sentient being in all of anime. And as this season has revealed, Q’ten Lo has its own version of Witch in the form of Makina, AKA the one running Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland into the ground. Bitch #2 is such a waste of life that even when it’s obvious she’s going to lose, she’d rather drag everyone else down with her, even if they’re just kids like Sadeena’s little sister.

You Can’t Negotiate with Jerks

At the end of the last episode, Naofumi, Raphtalia, and the other rebels had made it to the gates of the Old Capital of Q’ten Lo. Right when it looked there would be a huge fight, Sadeena’s little sister, Shildina, AKA Zodia, asks to talk things out. Despite her future subjects calling it a trap, Raphtalia agrees to go, and alone at that. It’s rather sweet to see that Naofumi and Sadeena trust Raphtalia to take care of herself, even when their followers act paranoid.

As it turns out, it’s not a trap. Shildina does want to end the civil war peacefully, asking the rebels to lay down their arms so their lives will be spared. She even offers Raphtalia a job in the government. As we’ve seen about her character, she’s completely sincere about her offer. She hates seeing people suffering as much as Raphtalia and wants to end things without any further bloodshed. With how hard it can be in real life to get people to talk things out, I can’t help but respect the young priestess’ willingness to know when it’s time to compromise.

Unfortunately for Shildina, her efforts to end the war without any more fighting were doomed from the start. I didn’t need to be Naofumi to see that fact plain as day.

Is this Woman Witch’s long-lost relative?

First of all, it’s implied, and later confirmed, that Shildina is acting of her own accord. Her master, the horrid Makina, is like Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones: if you’re not with her and doing what she wants, then you’re an enemy to be crushed. Needless to say, she is neither understanding nor willing to even entertain the thought of peace. Not that it would matter for her. After allowing Raphtalia to become an orphan, be enslaved, and then have assassins sent after her, any peace deal Naofumi would want would involve her facing justice.

Second of all, this episode pretty much confirms that the child Emperor is a figurehead with no real power. Even when he tries to speak up for Shildina’s, likely his only real friend, Makina shuts them both down. Any attempts to act in good faith are never going to work with her in charge. Case in point, when Shildina comes back having given up the Old Capital to Naofumi’s forces, she proceeds to verbally abuse the girl, playing on her feelings of inferiority towards the sister she’s never met. In other words, she’s a horrible woman and the world will be better off when she’s dead.

All Hail Empress Raphtalia!

The good news, though, is that thanks to the government abandoning the Old Capital, the group’s able to perform the ritual to make Raphtalia the new Heavenly Emperor of Q’ten Lo. Or Empress, in this case; the story doesn’t make it clear if “Emperor” is gender-neutral here. Regardless, the important thing is Raphtalia is now able to perform the blessings of the Heavenly Emperor. Even better, the Cardinal Heroes manage to learn a new way to power up that basically amounts to the use of Ki. With the Phoenix’s arrival on the horizon, they will need all the power-ups they can get.

The bad news? The road to the new capital is now blocked by Shildina. And judging by the amount of sake she’s drunk, she’s not here to negotiate.

We are nearing the end of this season of Shield Hero, and knowing what the story is like, we can expect at least one climatic fight before the dust settles. In the meantime, here’s hoping that the next episode won’t see Sadeena or anyone else forced to fight Shildina.

Also, we saw a glimpse of Motoyasu, and it looks like he’s raised some Filolials into potential queens like Filo

I Give “Prayers” a 3/5

The Straw Hat Pirates Flag Waves Around the World

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All over the world, people are raising the Jolly Roger of the Straw Hat Pirates, and those in power are afraid.

In its nearly three decades of publication by Shonen Jump, One Piece has become an international phenomenon. Eichiro Odaโ€™s legendary manga has become the most successful of all time, making the man himself one of the most successful authors in history. Heโ€™s up there with the likes of Shakespeare, and itโ€™s not hard to see why. People from all walks of life love One Piece for its action, sense of adventure, and the beloved characters that make up the heart and soul of the story. And at the heart of the story are the Straw Hat Pirates, known in-universe and without for their Jolly Roger featuring their captainโ€™s iconic straw hat. For Luffy and the crew, itโ€™s a symbol of the fun to be had in their adventures. For their many, many friends, itโ€™s a symbol of joy and hope. But for those who abuse their power, itโ€™s pretty much their worst nightmare.

That last bit is especially important, as lately, that is what the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates has come to represent to those who stand to lose their power.

How this All Started

It started this past summer in Indonesia. People were fed up with the numerous issues facing their country, especially regarding corruption among those in power. People stopped flying the country’s flag. Instead, they started flying the Straw Hat Piratesโ€™ Jolly Roger in protest. Some government officials saw this as acts of treason and sedition and tried to have it banned. But the flag stayed.

Then came the events in Nepal, one of the poorest and demographically youngest nations in the world. In September 2025, the Nepalese tried to ban two dozen social media platforms. They claimed it was due to them failing to meet new rules, but many believed it was because social media was being used to show just how unfair life was for those not born into privilege. In response, people took to the streets, and among them were those waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag. Once again, it became a rallying symbol for those fed up with how things were going for their nations. Look on the protests Wikipedia page at the time of this writing, and youโ€™ll see an image of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger on there.

Since then, the flag has continued to spread. At protests around the world, people are waving the Straw Hats Flag, uniting people under its banner. Itโ€™s becoming more than just a symbol of the popular manga and anime. Itโ€™s becoming a real life symbol of rebellion, defiance, and freedom.

The Straw Hats have Always been about Freedom

The crazy thing is, all of this is in line with what One Piece is about: freedom.

There are several major themes behind the story of One Piece, but one of the biggest is that of freedom. All Luffy and the Straw Hats want to do is live their lives however they see fit, no matter what the rules may say. Fortunately for the world, the Straw Hat Pirates are naturally friendly and donโ€™t seek to use their freedom to take it away from others. In fact, everywhere the Straw Hats go, they end up changing peopleโ€™s lives for the better, bringing joy and saving them from oppression. At first, it was assumed that they were doing this simply because they were just that nice. But as One Piece has continued, their actions have take on a more significant light.

As the series has progressed, itโ€™s become increasingly clear that the world they live in is one shrouded in darkness and misery. From other pirates to the government that rules the world under a false guise of benevolence, there are too many people who oppress and hurt others for their own gain. The World Government, in particular, is one of the most corrupt organizations in all of fiction. Theyโ€™re willing to let most of the world be swallowed by the sea to keep themselves in power, deluding themselves by thinking theyโ€™re gods. And their corruption inspires others to follow suit, creating a chain of misery that keeps most of the world enslaved without realizing it. But the Straw Hats keep getting in the way.

Itโ€™s eventually revealed late in the manga that thereโ€™s a reason why Luffy has his powers and seems to change things for the better wherever he goes. As it turns out, his powers mark him as the incarnation of an ancient sun god, Nika, the Warrior of Liberation. Nika is said to go around playing the fool, using his rubbery body to defy the laws of the world and bring smiles to all those who are oppressed. In other words, Luffy is the second coming of Pirate Jesus. Thus, his flag becomes more than just a pirate flag: itโ€™s the embodiment of freedom itself.

And people in the real world are taking a page from Luffyโ€™s book.

Maybe the World Needs the Straw Hats right Now

Thereโ€™s no getting around it: the world kind of stinks right now. Itโ€™s becoming increasingly difficult for people to stay afloat, while those in power continue to accumulate wealth and gain more influence. Many people likely wish for the chance to change things for the better, but either donโ€™t know how or are scared to try. That is why Luffy and the Straw Hats have become so popular amongst younger generations. Luffy may not care about changing the world for the better, his willingness to call everyone he meets a friend means that he and his crew will inevitably get involved in fighting whatever tyrant is making people miserable. People see Luffy as an inspiration, and the growing popularity of One Piece proves how much of an impression the series is leaving on the younger generation. Thus, itโ€™s inevitable that when fans take to streets to fight oppression in real life, they use the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates as a rallying cry. More than any one nation or ideology, One Piece is uniting the world. And the world is starting to notice.

Thereโ€™s no telling where things will go from here, but the more people use the Straw Hats Flag, the more it gets attention. Itโ€™s doubtful that Oda intended for the protagonists he created to become political symbols, but the fact that their flag is unifying people across the world is a testament to how much heโ€™s changed it for the better. Who knows? Perhaps by the time One Piece concludes, it will have brought about world peace. At this point, not even that sounds impossible!

Whoa, it’s a Kaiju!!!

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 11 Review

Japan may not have invented the concept of giant monsters, but it turned it into an art form, complete with its own name: Kaiju. Since 1954, Japan has cemented itself as the giant monster capital of the world, with names like Godzilla gaining international fame long before anime established a foothold in the West. With DanDaDan essentially being a love letter to all things supernatural and sci-fi, it was only a matter of time before we got ourselves a Kaiju. And just like how most humans are in the movies, Momo, Okarun, and that new guy Kinta are completely outclassed as they face down this terror from the stars! Theyโ€™re going to need all hands on deck just to survive this fight!

Or maybe a giant robot.

Kaiju Approaching!

Just when Momo and Okarun thought they had a lead on the latterโ€™s missing nut, not only did it turn out to be a dud, but itโ€™s led them to be facing down some kind of alien Kaiju. The upside is that it doesnโ€™t shoot atomic breath at them. The downside? It shoots bolts of lightning like itโ€™s a thunder god. And with tagalong Kinta unable to defend himself, the pair are forced onto the backfoot until Aira and Jiji show up. While Jiji takes Kinta away, since neither of them can fight, Aira, Momo, and Okarun try to fight the Kaijuโ€ฆwith disastrous results.

There is a lot of unresolved tension between this growing group throughout the season, and a lot of it has to do with Aira. Sheโ€™s kept insisting that sheโ€™s the leader of this โ€œFamily,โ€ something that the others have either ignored, like Okarun, or flat-out rejected, like Momo. Thanks to that, their lack of team coordination means theyโ€™re not able to fight as effectively as they can. Not that that matters, since theyโ€™re fighting a Kaiju. You have to be as freakishly strong as a Saiyan, ninja, or a pirate with Conquerorโ€™s Haki to take that down.

It also doesnโ€™t help that thereโ€™s the tug of war that Aira and Momo are caught in over Okarun. Look at what Aira did this episode to one-up Momo!

Diabolical!

Meanwhile, Jiji fares no better with Kinta. Thanks to the latterโ€™s stubbornness, Jiji winds up turning into the Evil Eye, and he doesnโ€™t change back. For the rest of the episode, heโ€™s serving as comic relief, complaining about wanting to fight someone, but he canโ€™t. Itโ€™s not Tuesday! Admittedly, it is funny to see the Evil Eye acting all pouty because he canโ€™t fight Okarun, but since he canโ€™t fight the Kaiju (Takakura points out this is a bad idea), comic relief is all heโ€™s good for. Which is fine in this case.

As entertaining as this, though, there’s still space-Godzilla headed straight for them. And with Turbo Granny nowhere to be found and Seiko a guest on some show, they’re on their own. Luckily for them, they have the means to fight back!

Even if I didn’t know the basics from the manga already, I would’ve guessed that rebuilding the Ayase house out of memory-shape nanomachines was an important plot device. Technology like that plus raw imagination means someone could think of anything, and the machines would make it a reality. And there’s only way to stop a Kaiju without getting another one to fight: giant robots. And this is when Kinta comes in clutch, using his otaku knowledge of all things mecha to create this!

This is Voltron meets Pacific Rim with the Buddha thrown in, for good measure! Some people may say that giant robots are a waste of time and money, but they’re probably just jealous they don’t get to use one. This could make for an amazing finale next week as the gang fights the giant Kaiju! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens! Assuming, that is, they can pilot it!

I Give “Hey, it’s a Kaiju” a 4/5

Jujutsu Kaisen Has a Sequel!!

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Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Announcement!

Everyone, the Jujutsu Sorcerers are back in town.

When the hit Shonen manga Jujutsu Kaisen came to an end last year, fan reactions were mixed. On the one hand, people were happy to see the protagonists come out on top over Sukuna and the corruption of Jujutsu society. On the other hand, the final chapters did little to wrap up the emtional loose ends. That, and people were upset over Satoru Gojo dying. That man was basically Kakashi 2.0, and many likely won’t forgive the mangaka for taking him away from us.

Now, Gege did make an effort to provide the fans with further closure with an epilogue omake, but that can only do so much. And with a world as interesting as the one created by Jujutsu Kaisen, there were more stories to be told. And Gege Akumatai has delivered! Much like its predecessor, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen has a sequel about the next generation, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. And this time, aliens are involved!

Welcome to the Future!

It’s now the year 2086, 68 years since the Culling Game and the defeat of Sukuna. In that time, Jujutsu society has reformed as Gojo wanted, free of the archaic ways of the past and the corruption of the leadership. Yuji, Gojo, and their generation of Sorcerers have gone down as legends, but most of them are now either dead or super-old. The task of protecting people from Curses now falls to the next generation.

Meet Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu, the twin grandchildren of Yuta Okkutsu and Maki Zen’in. The two are following in their late grandparents’ footsteps as Jujutsu Sorcerers, but there’s a little tension between them due to the older generation’s beliefs. Then all of a sudden, a group of aliens called the Simurians arrive on Earth asking for refuge, and they can also use Cursed Energy. In order to see if Earth would welcome them, they send one of their own, Marulu Val Vol Yelvori, to observe the Okkotsu siblings. And this is where our story begins.

To be clear, there is only one chapter of Modulo out at the time this was written, and the series will not be that long. At best, Gege intends for it to last around three volumes, meaning about 30 chapters, if we’re lucky. Yet even with the one chapter already out, we’ve already got a pretty good idea of what Jujutsu Society is like in the 2080s.

Gojo, Your Dream Came True

Those who read the original series and watched the anime already know this, but the Jujutsu world was a fairly corrupt one. The higher-ups in charge were explicitly self-serving, archaic, and refused to change with the times. Needless to say, Gojo was right to want them gone, and while he didn’t live to see it, the students he trained would change Jujutsu for the better. These days, Yuji and Gojo are considered legends who people still try to measure up to. Which isn’t exactly a good thing, as Jujutsu Sorcerers are getting weaker.

The downside to the peace that Yuji, Yuta, and the others fought for is that the following generations won’t face threats like Sukuna or Mahito. As a result, Yuta and Tsurugi, while strong, are nowhere near their grandparents level yet. Which makes their job of fighting Curses evil Curse users, and protecting good Curse users harder.

The other big change to the Jujutsu world is the fact that it’s no longer a secret. The Culling Game has made the entire world aware of the existence of Cursed, Cursed Energy, and those who wield them. The upside is that it means Jujutsu is more widely accepted by the public, and Japan is considered the global expert on the paranormal. The bad news? Because Cursed Energy is found almost exclusively in Japan, and it’s a great alternative to fossil fuels, Japanese citizens are a hot commodity. So now, Sorcerers have to protect anyone with a modicum of Cursed Energy who can’t look out for themselves, like kids. It’s dealing with this very problem that serves as the catalyst for Yuka and Tsurugi meeting Maru. But that’s only part of what it looks like the series will be about. The other half seems to be focused on the legacy of Yuji and Yuta’s generation and how it’s affecting Jujutsu Sorcerer’s in the 2080s.

The Next Generation of Sorcerers

By the time Modulo starts, Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zen’in have passed away, and while there’s a chance that members of their generation, like Yuji and Megumi, might pop up, there’s a good chance that most of the cast of Jujutsu Kaisen is dead. Yet their accomplishments were so incredible that they’re still idolized as heroes. Much like their mentor, Gojo, they came to be considered the peak of Jujutsu Sorcery, one that their descendants are struggling to surpass, with Yuka and Tsurugi being examples of this.

When they were kids, Yuka and Tsurugi were close to a different grandparent. Yuka adored her grandfather, Yuta, and loved spending time with him. The feeling was mutual, as Yuta chose to entrust her with his most prized possession: the engagement ring he got from Rika when they were kids. Now a Cursed Object, Yuta hoped Rika’s Ring would protect her like it did him. However, this sentimentality flew over the rest of the Gojo clan’s collective heads, as after Yuta died, they took the ring and gave it to Tsurugi, who they saw as the stronger of the two. But Tsurugi didn’t see it that way.

Like his grandmother Maki, Tsurugi was born with a Heavenly Restriction, basically giving him great power in exchange for nerfing his cursed energy. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could make it as a Jujutsu Sorcerer like his grandma on his own terms. So when the clan gave him Rika’s Ring, he took it as an insult with them saying he wasn’t strong enough on his own. So while Yuka’s goal is to take the ring back by proving she’s stronger, Tsurugi’s is to prove he doesn’t need it, sparking their sibling rivalry.

Here’s a Bright Idea…

I understand the driving force behind this conflict, and it does sound interesting. Yet, I cannot help but be reminded of the many times in anime and manga where poor communication leads to unnecessary drama. There are probably rules in place, but from my perspective, there’s a simple solution to this problem: Tsurugi just gives his sister the Ring, and if the Clan objects, tell them off. It probably won’t work, but it feels like the best solution possible. Then again, I’m sure that the series will give us further reasons why this won’t work, but for now, I just wanted to make my opinion known.

At any rate, I’m probably going to end up reading Modulo as it progresses over the next several weeks. I was never that big a fan of JJK, but with the third season of the anime coming up, I feel like it’s worth paying attention to. But what do you guys think? Let’s talk in the comments!

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Was Everything We Wanted, and then Some

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

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba โ€“ The Movie: Infinity Castle Review

When it was announced at the end of the last season of Demon Slayer that the finale would be a movie trilogy, we all knew we were in for a good time. When Mugen Train came out in 2020, it managed to break the global box office despite COVID-19 shutting everything down. The series was so awesome, not even the dreaded Coronavirus could stop it! And with how this young anime franchise has risen to become one of the most popular in the world and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Naruto, Dragon Ball, and One Piece, the grand finale that is Infinity Caslte and Sunrise Countdown were going to be major events. Come opening weekend in the US, I got my Tanjiro haori on, grabbed a prop sword I had from One Piece, and headed to my nearest AMC to see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle.

And it was worth every last penny that I spent.

LET THE WAR BEGIN!

After a brief flashback revealing how Kagaya, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, told the Stone Hashira Gyomei about his plans to sacrifice himself to kill Muzan, the film picks up right where we left off. Muzan teleports the Demon Slayers, save for a few non-combatants, into his base, the Infinity Castle, in the hopes of wiping them out for good. With everyone capable of fighting separated within this pocket dimension and surrounded by hordes of Demons, their mission is clear: find Muzan and kill him. With the stage now set and all the players in place, the final battle between humans and demons begins, and what a battle it is!

Ufotable Fired on All Cylinders

Right from the start, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle makes it clear it’s not going to wait for the gate to open: it’s just going to break it and come out charging like Inosuke trying to fight a train. By that, I mean that the film knows that this is the start of the grand finale, and that it can’t afford to hold anything back. Ufotable has always been consistent about providing the series with cinema-levels of animation, but for the second time in its history, the franchise gets to play out in actual cinemas. So it holds nothing back in regards to everything. It continues to blur the line between 2D and CGI animation to the point where it doesn’t exist anymore. It knows when to inject some of the series’ irreverent comedy when needed. Above all else, though, it knows how to get the most out of the fights to keep audiences on their toes, cheering one minute…and then crying out the next in anguish.

Say your Goodbyes in Advance

If you have read the manga ahead of time, then you know that not all of the heroes are going to live to see the end of this fight. Even anime-only people will go into this film expecting for some of the Demon Slayers to die. Losing Rengoku in Mugen Train made it abundantly clear that it doesn’t matter how likable someone is; that won’t save them. If anything, the film only makes the anguish of seeing what the heroes get put through feel even worse thanks to its frequent use of flashbacks for both parties. As a result, when something bad does happen to one of the heroes, you are going to feel awful watching it and knowing that nothing can be done. I will not name names, but if you read the manga, you know. We should just be grateful that the body count was light in the film, because the proceeding films will not be so kind.

Speaking of flashbacks, a good chunk of the film’s 2-hour, 35-minute runtime is made up of flashbacks. Like many good Shonen anime, these flashbacks are designed to flesh out the backgrounds of certain characters, revealing their motivations, perspectives on the world, and driving forces. Some people have complained about their prescence in the film as it takes time away from the action people came to see. However, they serve an important purpose that ties back to the series themes of overcoming adversity and facing impossible odds. Many of the demons we meet were people who saw the ugliness in the world and allowed it to corrupt them, turning them into the monsters that they are. Some of them even have downright sympathetic backstories. It doesn’t excuse them for what they do, but it’s meant to help contrast with the Demon Slayers, who refuse to give up despite the odds.

Hence, the flashbacks stay, even if they make Infinity Castle run longer than some would like.

Demon Slayer Deserved to be a Movie. Again!

Having seen the movie for myself, I can honestly understand why some people complain about its length and pacing. Demon Slayer has released compilation films in the past, and at times, Infinity Castle can feel like one. In fact, its sheer size and pacing makes it feel less like a film at times and more like an excuse to get the first six or so episodes on the big screen. At which point you start to ask whether or not making the finale a movie trilogy was even necessary.

To all those who think question this logic, I offer this rebuttal: It is necessary, because it’s Demon Slayer.

One of the most important aspects to any story is its ending. If the ending is good, then people will talk about it for years to come. Maybe even generations, if lucky. Given how much flak Demon Slayer got for the manga’s ending, it’s not inaccurate to say that it’s up to the anime to redeem things. And for something as grand and epic as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a simple TV or smartphone isn’t worthy of what’s going to happen. In all fairness, Demon Slayer has earned the right to end on the big screen. And so far, it’s justifying its right to be there, again! It’s the biggest opening for an anime film in the West to date!

So, to summarize, this movie is awesome. I consider it the last big movie of the summer season, and if you’re a fan of Demon Slayer, don’t wait for it to show up on Crunchyroll or another streaming service. Do yourself a favor and get your cosplay, go to the nearest theater, and get your butts in a seat. You will thank yourself later.

Just hope you have better luck getting the collectible popcorn bucket or cups than I did. They sold out where I went days in advance.

I Give “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba โ€“ The Movie: Infinity Castle” A 5/5

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 whatโ€™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. Iโ€™ve even gotten into it by getting tins for Superman and Fantastic Four earlier this summer. And now, its Demon Slayerโ€™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, theyโ€™re also releasing collectible drinking cups based on the swords of four characters from the movie: Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Giyu, and Shinobu.

Theyโ€™re not the only theaters releasing buckets, though. Cinemark is also getting in on the action, but their bucket isnโ€™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. Theyโ€™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, itโ€™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!!

LOL, Okarun Ragebaited the Evil Eye

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

DanDaDan S2, Ep 9 Review

Well, thatโ€™s certainly one way to solve your problems, Okarun. After going through a short anime training arc, Ken Takakura came back to the Ayaseโ€™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 itโ€™s still the strongest Yokai in the series to date. That fact hasnโ€™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. Heโ€™s having too much fun to stop now.

Which is why Okarunโ€™s real plan is absolutely brilliant.

Now, this isnโ€™t the first time Iโ€™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 Eyeโ€™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 spiritโ€™s heart. And the best part is that now Okarun will have more motivation to keep getting stronger so the Evil Eye canโ€™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. Theyโ€™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. Thatโ€™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 Eyeโ€™s keeping their promise, theyโ€™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 canโ€™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, Momoโ€™s friends inadvertently give her a potential lead on Okarunโ€™s missing kintama. Could he finally be getting his missing junk back?

Probably not. The season is almost over, and from my understanding, weโ€™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 thereโ€™s something familiar about their voiceโ€ฆprobably nothing.

I give โ€œI Want to Rebuild the Houseโ€ 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, thatโ€™s tantamount to saying their life has no value. Itโ€™s like PETA taking their mindset to its logical conclusion, with disastrous results. Itโ€™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 Raphtaliaโ€™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 Elhartโ€™s old master whom he had come to find. Heโ€™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, theyโ€™re able to begin landing the troops. Whatโ€™s more, with Naofumiโ€™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 Qโ€™ten Lo. Knowing Naofumi, heโ€™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, thereโ€™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 Qโ€™ten Lo. They tried to kill the tanuki goddess Raphtalia, and for that, they must pay! And now that Naofumi has a ship, heโ€™s able to bring his crew in to march on Qโ€™ten Lo. Let the invasion begin!

โ€ฆis 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 Fohlโ€™s mom was Trashโ€™s sister, making them his niece and nephew. Itโ€™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 itโ€™s time to focus on the main side quest of the season: stopping Qโ€™ten Lo.

Raphtaliaโ€™s ancestral homeland hasnโ€™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, Sโ€™yne, and the Hakuko siblings will proceed full sail to Qโ€™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 Qโ€™ten Lo are covered in fog, whirlpools, and a magical barrier. If they donโ€™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. Itโ€™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, theyโ€™re in a cave inside Qโ€™ten Lo itself, having been brought there by the nationโ€™s guardian dragon. To put it bluntly, the dragon wants Naofumi to restore Qโ€™ten Lo to its rightful purpose.

In the animeโ€™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 doesnโ€™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 Qโ€™ten Loโ€™s role is supposed to be, but it seems theyโ€™ve either forgotten it or have been isolated so long that they no longer care until it starts affecting them. Either way, they couldโ€™ve stepped in and put the other Heroes in check well before Naofumi had to, which wouldโ€™ve saved a lot of time, energy, and lives. The fact that they didnโ€™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 theyโ€™ll have to find a way to bring it down from within.

Itโ€™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 Qโ€™ten Lo. This is the closest Naofumi will get to being back home for the foreseeable future, and Iโ€™ve been reading the light novels to see what happens. From what Iโ€™ve gathered, we are in for some interesting events. Welcome to Qโ€™ten Lo, everyone! Weโ€™ve got a rebellion to start.

I Give “Leaving Port” a 3/5