Netflix

Netflix ‘Avatar’ a Success or Failure? Honestly, In the Middle.

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Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One Review

November 2004: I, a ten-year-old, saw The Spongebob Squarepants Movie with my family. That’s when I saw a trailer for this new, anime-inspired series coming to Nickelodeon called Avatar: The Last Airbender. Three months later, I was watching the series premiere on TV with my sister, and I knew it was special. It was unlike any Western cartoon I had ever seen. And, while I didn’t realize it then, it would be one of the most important shows of my life. 

Calling myself an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan would be an understatement. I’ve seen most of the episodes, read the comics, and spent the money on autographs from most of the main cast. My most prized possession, which I have since had to replace, was a dog tag necklace featuring the main character. It’s also why, like most, I loathe Shamylan’s crime against cinema that tried adapting it. So, I was skeptical when I heard that Netflix would be making a live-action adaptation. This is more so when the series creators bailed on it in 2020. Then we got the live-action One Piece last year, which turned out alright. Maybe the remake wouldn’t be so bad. So, was Netflix’s Avatar capable of living up to its legendary source? Was it any good?

Meh. I’ve seen worse.

A Different Version of Avatar

Much like One Piece, the Netflix adaptation isn’t a shot-for-shot retelling of Avatar. The first episode clarifies that by devoting its first twenty minutes to a prologue. Said prologue retells the night that Aang became frozen in an iceberg and shows the opening salvages of the Hundred Year War. That includes the genocide of the Airbenders, something the show never did due to how dark it was. 

It’s a reasonable effort, but right away, we start to see some of the drawbacks of live-action. The bending here feels underwhelming after seeing what firebenders can do with their comet-powered hacks. The spirit is there, and the horror of the events rivals Order 66 in Star Wars. But after almost twenty years of imagining it, the whole thing doesn’t measure up. 

That opening sequence indicated just what this remake would be like: it tries so hard to measure up to how excellent the original is. And while it does succeed in some places, it fails in others.

Acting All over the Place

For example, the acting was all over the place regarding quality. Some did great, like Gordon Cormier as Aang and Dallas Liu as Zuko. Others didn’t do so well like the ones playing Katara and Azula could have done better. They were trying, and I’m willing to bet it’s because of bad writing, but they didn’t quite capture the essence of their characters. Katara had the compassion but little of the fiery nature that Mae Whitman gave her. And Azula? She was ruthless and manipulative, but without Grey DeLisle, she lacked the psycho girl edge that made everyone fear her. And plenty of the supporting cast suffered similar problems. I cringed hearing Katara and Sokka’s Gran-Gran recite the opening lines to the original series! She was no Mae Whitman!

Even the characters that I did end up liking had their issues. The show was trying too hard to act more adult, and it downplayed some character traits. For example, despite saying he’s a fun-loving kid, Aang here spends much more time feeling bad about what happened to his people. It takes away a lot of what made him lovable in the original! 

No Excuse to Make Shorter Episodes

Furthermore, there are issues with the pacing and how they condensed many things from the original series for the live-action version. That meant some stories got abridged or outright didn’t happen. That could work with One Piece because they had dozens of episodes to cover in a fraction of the time. But here? The first season of OG Avatar and this series clock in around the same run time. They could do the same amount of stuff as the original series if they didn’t insist on sticking to the hour-long format.

So, either Netflix or the people who made the series wanted to stick to the Game of Thrones, hour-long format. Or they didn’t want to risk the extra money. Either way, no excuse. But, at least, they kept the Cabbage Merchant.

No matter what universe he’s in, the Cabbage Merchant suffers

They Did Improve Some Things

In all fairness, this is not the worst we could’ve gotten. The fans have already seen the worst in the form of Shmyalan’s hot garbage. At least the show makes an effort to capture the spirit of the original series, and there are plenty of callbacks and references to the original—enough to have a drinking game. The show improves on a few things from the show, as impossible as it sounds. 

Exhibit A: Iroh reveals to Zuko’s crew why they got stuck with him on his hunt for the Avatar. They’re part of the division that would’ve been sacrificed in a suicide mission had Zuko not spoken up on their behalf. That’s a nice touch that endears him even more to fans and his crew. And honestly, I’m hoping they come back in season two because that was an issue I had with the OG. 

Exhibit B: at the funeral for his son, which the OG never showed, Iroh spends the whole time hearing people insult him as a coward or saying Lu Ten died a hero. Zuko is the only one who shows him sympathy and compassion, telling him about the time Lu Ten encouraged him with his studies. They added a soft rendition of “Leaves From the Vine,” and I couldn’t help thinking of Iroh’s late voice actor, Mako. Chef’s kiss!

Exhibit C: when Aang goes to the Spirit World for the first time, he meets his mentor and father figure, Monk Gyatso. Gyatso chose not to move on or reincarnate until he could see Aang again. In doing so, Aang apologizes for running away and not being there, something OG Aang never got to do. And Gyatso? He tells Aang what he deserves to know: that the War wasn’t his fault and that he would’ve died with everyone else had he stayed. It’s an incredibly cathartic moment for both Aang and long-time fans. 

At Least it wasn’t Bad as the Movie

So, as a whole, the Netflix series meets different heights than the animated series. Though that may be impossible, to begin with. A: TLA is one of the greatest shows ever, as close to perfect as possible. Anything trying to adapt it would face a lot of scrutiny, especially since the fans had already gotten hurt once before.

Don’t get me wrong: the original series is the best. However, what Netflix managed to do was still pretty impressive. It makes me love Avatar even more because we remember how good it is. Also, the show’s still way better than that horrible film. I consider that a win.

I Give the First Season a 3/5

‘Monsters’ Finally Adapts Eichiro Oda’s One-Shot Manga

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Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation Review

Before he became the man who created One Piece, Eichiro Oda was a young man who aspired to become a mangaka. In the 1990s, he cut his teeth in the industry with a series of one-shots that would be published in a collection after One Piece started, but one in particular stood out. So much so that Oda would eventually incorporate it into the overall story of One Piece itself. Almost thirty years after it was published, this one-shot has been adapted into an ONA on Netflix. While Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation doesn’t reach the same levels of action and silliness as One Piece does, it demonstrates the groundwork for what would later become Oda’s massive success. 

A One Piece Prequel

Taking place several hundred years before the events of One Piece in an unknown location, Monsters revolves around Ryuma, a wandering swordsman with a few eccentricities. Chief among them, he’s constantly begging for food, always repays his debts, and considers anyone who bumps into the scabbard of his sword as challenging him to a duel. That seemingly comes back to bite him when a passing con man frames him for trying to attack him and uses a horn to summon a giant dragon. However, there’s more to the story than people realize…

The main that should stick out regarding this ONA is how familiar the main character, Ryuma, feels. With his appearance, wandering nature, and skill and dedication to the sword, one would assume that he’s the prototype for Roronoa Zoro from One Piece. They’re not wrong, as Oda would refine many of Ryuma’s traits into Zoro. It’s more than that, though. After the end to the Wano Country Arc, Oda confirmed in an OBS that Zoro is, in fact, a direct descendant of Ryuma. This only makes the events of the ONA all the more important to the greater lore of One Piece. In addition, the special ends with the moment when Zoro bested the zombified Ryuma during the Thriller Bark arc, earning his sword and (unknowingly) the right to call himself his descendant.

Not that Zoro would ever care about something like that. 

The Seeds to Oda’s Success

Look closer at Monsters, and one will also find some of the concepts and ideas that Oda would incorporate into One Piece. Besides the dragon, there are two main villains. One is a hammy bandit that wouldn’t look out of place next to Buggy the Clown, while the other acts like they’re the good guy, only for it to be a facade. One is a card-carrying bad guy, the other is more insidious, but both are bad news. And both are the kinds of enemies that the protagonists usually fight in One Piece. 

The special itself is short, only clocking in at about 25 minutes. However, it makes up for it by capturing the anachronistic feel of the original one-shot, the art style of the anime, and Oda’s sense of comedy. Getting to see a creator’s early work adapted and comparing it to what they’re most famous for is an interesting experience. And while Monsters isn’t as grand, silly, or epic as One Piece would become, you can see the seeds of what Oda would one day create.

Overall, Monsters is less of a must-watch for 2024, and more of a gift for longtime fans of Eichiro Oda. If you ever wanted to see more of what Oda did in his youth and how it would help shape the mangaka he would become, though, I’d recommend giving Monsters a watch.

Also, if you want to read the original one-shot, Viz Media just published it onto their website. Click this link to see it for yourself. 

I Give “Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation” a 4/5

So Many Good Anime to Come out of 2023

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

RJ Writing Ink’s Best Anime of 2023

The Year 2023 was undoubtedly an absolute banger of a year for anime. From seeing how Satoru Gojo became an overpowered rizz God to the most upbeat zombie apocalypse to the end of the Rumbling, it has been a glorious year in anime. With 2024 now, it is the perfect time to reflect on the best to grace our screens. I’m RJ Writing Ink for D&A Anime Blog, and in no particular order, here are my picks for the best anime of the year.

Full disclosure: most of this list will cover anime I’ve seen this year. Thus, this is more of an opinion post than a formal review and breakdown. Most of my choices were anime that set the Internet ablaze with hype, so I think I’m good.

Attack on Titan: the Final Chapter

This should’ve been shown in theaters, plain and simple. Two years after the end of the manga, the anime Attack on Titan ended in two earth-shattering, apocalyptic specials that set the world on fire. As the long-awaited Rumbling flattened the world, fans saw the true horror of what Eren Yeager had unleashed in visceral detail. Everything from the music to the animation was on point courtesy of studio Mappa, delivering some of the best moments anime has seen in this decade. At the end of the day, the real triumph was how the finale improved the ending.

The ending to the manga garnered a fair amount of criticism over the past two years, and it seems the people making the anime took it to heart. As a result, the series finale saw several additional scenes that better explained things that seemed vague in the manga. IE, they better explained Eren’s rationale, how he hated himself for what he did, and how Armin reacted to it. That and it confirmed that, yes, Paradis did get centuries of peace before its eventual destruction. That’s as close to a happy ending as we’re gonna get, and I’ll take it. 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Once again, Demon Slayer reminds us why it’s one of the greatest Shonen anime of the next generation with the Swordsmith Village arc. Having damaged his sword in the battle at the Pleasure District, Tanjiro and Nezuko head to the Demon Slayer’s secret Swordsmith Village to get him a new one. However, things go awry when two of the Twelve Kizuki infiltrate the village to destroy it. A desperate battle follows as Tanjiro and the other Demon Slayers fight to protect the makers of the only weapons capable of stopping the Demons.

As always, Demon Slayer remains a visual feast for the eyes. The anime has achieved international renown for the stunning beauty put into its animation, but something should also be said for the emotional depth of the characters. From the depravity of the Demons, as they embody the worst of mankind, to Tanjiro’s refusal to ever give up, there’s a reason why Demon Slayer is so popular. The best moment, though, comes in the final episode when Nezuko steps out into the light of the sun and is fine. Such a simple sight, once thought impossible, is enough to bring tears to people’s eyes. 

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

The story of Rudeus Greyrat, the man given a second chance at life via reincarnation, continues in Mushoku Tensei. Unfortunately, the anime picks up with Rudeus at rock bottom, having been seemingly spurned by his love, Eris. Rudy struggles to deal with the trauma of Eris’ abrupt departure as he journeys North to attend the magic school of his dreams. In doing so, he encounters faces both familiar and new as he tries to make the most of his second life, including a certain friend he hasn’t seen in years.

Say what you want about Isekai being a dime a dozen these days, but Mushoku Tensei is one of the good ones. That’s because, unlike many others, it goes out of its way to portray the protagonist as a flawed person whose first life still affects their worldview. While Rudy is still far from a necessarily good person, you can’t help but root for him as he tries to improve. And after the ill-planned stunt Eris pulled, you can’t help but want him to be happy. And the season still needs to be finished, with the second half coming in 2024. Here’s to seeing Rudy’s life continue improving until it isn’t. 

No spoilers. 

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

Ever since he was eight months old, all Rentaro Aijō has wanted was a girlfriend to love. Unfortunately, by the time he reached high school, he’d been rejected 100 times. That’s when he visits a local temple, and its Love God tells him something incredible: he won’t just meet his soulmate in high school. He’ll meet all 100 of his soulmates. The catch is that if he rejects one of them, the resulting misfortune will eventually kill them. Refusing to let this happen or make anyone sad, Rentaro decides to date all of them. 

No, you read that right. This man is going to date 100 girls before he leaves high school.

Harem anime don’t always get a positive reputation, but 100 Girlfriends should be a big exception:

  1. The protagonist is aware of every girl falling for him and goes out of his way to make them all happy.
  2. Almost every girlfriend serves as a deconstruction of their character archetype. Behavior that would be one note in another series becomes more nuanced here and serves as actual issues they may have to solve.
  3. The show embraces the pros of the genre and takes them to new comedic heights.

I can’t remember the last time a harem anime made me laugh so hard, so much so that I wrote a whole, separate review of this!

Scott Pilgrim Takes off

Thirteen years since Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the world was glad to hear that the famous graphic novel was getting an anime adaptation. Animated by Science Saru and debuting on Netflix, the show saw most of the film’s cast reprising in what looked like a full adaptation of the graphic novel series. However, the end of the first episode changed everything. Instead of winning against the first of Ramona’s evil exes, Scott disappears and is presumed dead by almost everyone. Thus, the story shifts to following Ramona as she attempts to uncover who took Scott while everyone tries to move on from their lives.

Since fans expected a proper adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, some were unhappy that Netflix blindsided everyone. The majority of viewers, though, had nothing but praise. The anime keeps the spirit of the novels and film alive, and it’s clear that everyone was on their a-game working on this. Additionally, the changed timeline allows Scott Pilgrim to deconstruct itself without as much drama. The show gives Ramona more depth and shows that, despite her cool demeanor, she’s made just as many mistakes as Scott did. So, she gets that character development, and so does Scott when he returns. 

Jujutsu Kaisen

After years of waiting for the next chapter, fans of Jujutsu Kaisen got their wish with the show’s second season debuting on Crunchyroll. The first five episodes of the season serve as a prequel to the series, chronicling the events that turned a teenage Gojo into the man who would serve as Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi’s mentor and establish how he is that guy. He was so powerful that the follow-up Shibuya Arc saw him sealed away by the Cursed Spirits, the Jujutsu Sorceror’s fight. And from there, everything that could go wrong did go wrong, as everyone present in Shibuya either died or was thrust into hell.

Let’s come out and say it: the Shibuya Arc is one of the darkest arcs in Shonen history. Between the protagonist’s primary mentor being sealed away and Sukuna using Yuji’s body to destroy Shibuya and kill thousands. By the time the dust settles, the initial villains of the story, who aren’t Sukuna or Geto, are dead, and most of the supporting cast is either dead or heavily injured. Did we mention how Sukuna leveled the district? Not including Jujutsu Kaisen on this list would be a disservice to it. It gave fans everything they wanted and then some!

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Have you ever had a job so bad that a zombie apocalypse seems like heaven in comparison? That’s precisely what Akira Tendou felt in his borderline sweatshop corporate job. So when an actual zombie apocalypse occurs, Akira’s first thoughts? He never has to work again! With a growing group of friends by his side, Akira decides to live his life to the fullest before he potentially becomes a zombie.

The idea of someone being happier in a zombie apocalypse sounds so absurd on paper, but Zom 100 does it so well it might as well be the anti-High School of the Dead. Besides being a rebuke of how oppressive corporate society is, the series also serves as a reminder of what it means to live life for oneself genuinely. Akira’s joy at his freedom in such bizarre circumstances is infectious and enough to inspire people in the universe without focusing more on what makes them happy. That, and it’s just plain funny. 

Baki Hanma

The Baki franchise has always been crazy, but this year, it reached absurd levels of ridiculousness. The first half of the season sees the world’s best fighters trying to fight Pickle, a 190 million-year-old caveman thawed out from ice that are dinosaurs for lunch. The second half of the season saw Baki prepare for his final confrontation with his father, Yujiro, the strongest creature in the world. The results: bones are bones, missing limbs, and punches flying at the speed of sound.

Baki is the kind of series that has to be seen to be believed. The idea of a caveman waking up in the modern day isn’t new, but a caveman that fought dinosaurs and made victims out of everyone he fought? It sounds so dumb, yet so awesome. Additionally, the fight between Baki and Yujiro isn’t just incredible but emotional. Watch this if you haven’t already!

One Piece

If there’s one anime that came out of this year more popular than ever, it’s the legendary One Piece. The long-running Wano Country Arc, which saw Straw-Hat Luffy and his crew and allies fight their most brutal fight to date against the inhumanly strong Kaido and his Beast Pirates, come to its climactic conclusion. Pushing himself beyond all his limits to defeat Kaido and save Wano Country, Luffy unlocked a new form so ridiculous that it can only be described as a weaponized form of Toon Force. 

Say what you want about One Piece, but the world eats well when it cooks. Clips uploaded by Crunchyroll took the top trending spot on YouTube multiple times throughout the year. The live-action Netflix series broke the mold by not being bad. And Luffy got his own balloon at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  

2023 Was a Badass Year for Anime

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

Best Anime Moments of 2023

Another year ends, another year of anime on the books. And this year saw some of the best anime in recent years set the Internet on fire. From Isekai’s setting new standards to martial artists fighting actual cavemen, this year had some crazy moments to show for it. Therefore, it only feels right to end the year by recounting some of the best moments.

I’m RJ Writing Ink with D&A Anime Blog, and here are my picks for the best anime moments in 2023. For this list, I’ll limit myself to anime that I’ve either watched or watched enough to get a general understanding of what’s going on. If your anime didn’t make the list, apologies in advance. 

Rudeus and Sylphiette Get Together-Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Growing up in Buena village together, Rudeus Greyrat and Sylphiette were inseparable best friends until the day he left to tutor his distant relative. Then the Teleportation Incident destroyed their home, scattered everyone around the world, and set them on different paths in life. Fate (and the handiwork of Princess Ariel) saw the two finally reunite after nearly ten years attending the magic school they always talked about…only for Rudy to not recognize her, and Sylphie too shy to tell him who she was. It took a year and the help of her best friends, but Sylphie finally managed to tell Rudy who she was. One romantic night later, and the two were a firm couple.

There’s something sweet about childhood friends taking that next step to becoming lovers, and these two earned the right to do so. Sylphie trained hard for years to match Rudeus’ level of magical skill, and had to endure the deadly intrigue of the Asura Kingdom’s royal court. Meanwhile, Rudy spent almost three years trying to get home, only for his love, Eris, to seemingly abandon him. Rudy may have flaws, but he didn’t deserve to get traumatized. Seeing Sylphie’s love for him pull him from the depths of despair was immensely satisfying to witness. Even more so when Rudy didn’t hesitate to ask Sylphie to marry him. They’ve earned this chance to be happy!

Akira Realizes He’s Free from Work-Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

For three long, agonizing years, Akira Tendou had been stuck in hell. His dream job wound up being little more than corporate slavery, his boss gaslit him into thinking he was worthless, and the girl he liked was having an affair with the CEO. At the rate things were going, he was on the both to an early grave. Then the zombie apocalypse happened, and Akira suddenly realized something: he never has to go to work again. Cue the absolute euphoria.

All too often, people get stuck working in jobs that they come to hate. But whether it’s because they need the money or they’d feel guilty for leaving or wouldn’t know where else to work, they stay there and let it beat them down until there’s almost nothing left. It gets so bad in Japan that people have chosen suicide rather than endure another day of their horrible jobs. Thus, seeing the look of absolute euphoria on his face as Akira realizes that he’s finally free is catharsis at its finest. It also sets the tone for Zom100 being one long middle finger to corporate culture. 

(Almost) Every Scene with Pickle-Baki Hanma

In a world filled with absolute powerhouses like Yujiro and Baki Hanma, how do you top them? By introducing an actual caveman so tough that he hunted T-Rexes for food. Meet Pickle, the evolutionary-defying caveman from the Jurassic era preserved for 190 million years in ice and salt, only to be revived in the present day. From the second he woke up, Pickle made victims out of everyone he ran into. He tore through the US Army, bent a Siberian Tiger into the letter ‘C’, slew Truck-Kun, and ate the limbs off several of the world’s best martial artists. He even made Yujiro use an actual technique when they had the manliest fist-bump ever.

Pickle is the kind of impossible, indescribable menace that could only come from a series as insane as Baki, and he is amazing. There’s something both amazing and terrifying of seeing this evolutionary impossibility not only exist, but make mince meat of the world’s strongest. The fact that not even Baki, the main character, could beat him, only makes watching Pickle even more amazing. The only scene that isn’t cool to watch is when he violated that news reporter who foolishly got too close to him. Assault is never cool. 

Gojo Unlocks Limitless-Jujutsu Kaisen

Satoru Gojo is many things: a master of rizz, an absolute troll, and Kakashi 2.0. But like many, he didn’t start out like that; he had to work for it. After being stabbed and left for dead by Toji Fushiguro, Gojo survived by unlocking the full extent of his technique, Limitless. When he next confronts Toji, he proceeds to utterly decimate the assassin. It’s not even a fight at this point; just a beatdown.

There’s a reason why everyone considers Gojo to be that guy, and this moment demonstrates what he’s like when he’s off the leash. As cool as it is to see him use the full extent of his powers, though, his behavior here is very, very unsettling. He’s laughing and raving like a lunatic or someone high on drugs, drunk on his own power and not caring at the fact that one of his friends is now dead. By the time he comes down from it, the sobering reality of how worthless having all that power is if he can’t save anyone hits him like a freight train. As cool as this was, it also marked the start of Gojo’s character development that made him become the teacher he is in the present day. 

Miyo Stands up to her Half-Sister and Stepmother-My Happy Marriage

Saying that Miyo Saimori had a horrible family would be like comparing apples to orange. Treated as an unwanted reminder of the arranged marriage he never wanted, her father did nothing to stop her stepmother and half-sister from abusing her and treating like a servant. It wasn’t until she was sent away to marry the enigmatic Mr. Kudou that she finally started got to experience happiness for the first time. In a jealous fit of rage, though, the evil stepmother and sister kidnapped Miyo and proceeded to beat her senselessly until she agreed to renounce her engagement. However, for the first time ever, Miyo stood up for herself. 

Seeing fictional characters like Cinderella and Miyo suffer domestic abuse from their own family is bad enough. The fact that such things happen in real life, though, can be downright heartbreaking. The worst part is that not everyone can escape this ordeal like Cinderella and Miyo did. Thus, getting to see Miyo find the strength in her to stand up to her family is cathartic to watch. What makes it better is knowing that Mr. Kudou stormed their home and let it burn to the ground to get her back. That’s karma at its finest.

Netsuko Walks in the Sun-Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba-Swordsmith Village Arc

From the beginning of his journey, Tanjiro’s goals as a Demon Slayer have been simple: turn his sister, Nezuko, back into a human, and defeat the Demon Muzan. The Demon Slayers made a huge step towards the latter goal during the Swordsmith Village Arc. The Demon Slayers managed to slay two of Muzan’s Upper Ranks, but to do so, Nezuko was left standing outside when the sun came up. However, instead of burning into ashes like other Demons, a miracle occurred: Nezuko had become immune to sunlight.

Hands down, this is one of the most heartwarming, tearjerking moments in the entire Demon Slayer series. Tanjiro has fought tooth and nail to ensure that Nezuko can become human again. To see him burst into tears when he thinks the whole reason he became a Demon Slayer go up in smoke, only to find Nezuko’s fine. After all the pain he’s gone through, this little victory of his makes it all worthwhile.

Sukuna’s Rampage-Jujutsu Kaisen

By its nature, Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark series, but that’s balanced out by the lighthearted comedy found in many Shonen manga. The Shibuya Arc, though, had no such protective netting, as everything that could go wrong did. Gojo getting sealed alone was bad enough, but then the Cursed Spirits upped the ante by force-feeding Yuji Itadori ten of Sukuna’s fingers. As a result, Sukuna was unleashed, leveled the Shibuya District, and killed multiple Cursed Spirits and likely hundreds of civilians. And that’s only putting it lightly!

Everything about this moment is the pinnacle of what Shonen anime aspires to be. Seeing what Sukuna can do when left free for an extended period of time was flat-out terrifying. From killing Jogo to battling Fushiguro’s most powerful Shikigami, everything about this is flat-out awesome. Well, for the viewers. For . 

Shanks Scares Greenbull out of Wano Country-One Piece

Kaido and Big Mom had been defeated and Wano Country was finally free, but there was one last battle to fight. With the two Emperor’s out of the way, Navy Admiral Greenbull tried to march right into Wano to kill Luffy, only to be met by Momonosuke, the Red Scabbards, and Yamato. While they put up a good fight, Greenbull looked ready to overwhelm them…until Shanks pulled up from afar.

Shanks is one of the most popular characters in One Piece for a reason, often acting as an avatar for series mangaka Eichiro Oda himself. And when Shanks gets and tells someone to back off, it’s best for them to listen. Shanks only had to unleash a fraction of his Haki to paralyze Greenbull without ever leaving his ship. Another burst of Haki was enough to make him turn tail and leave Wano Country altogether. 

The cool thing about this, though? He didn’t necessarily have to do that. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbei were already observing the battle from the capital. They could’ve intervened if things got out of hand, and likely would’ve beaten Greenbull. Shanks did it to remind everyone how badass he is!

The Entire Finale-Attack on Titan: the Final Chapter

This finale deserved to be a feature-length movie released in theaters. Wrapping up the Attack on Titan anime with a bang, this two-part finale saw Eren Yeager unleash the Rumbling onto the world in order to wipe out all of humanity beyond his home island of Paradis. His former friends in the Scouts and the remaining Warriors of Marley are forced to abandon their past grudges to save the world while there’s still a world left to save. What ensues is an absolute desperate fight for survival that pushes everyone involved to their absolute limits.

Everything about these two specials qualifies as a best moment for 2023. The animation reaches new levels of quality, the music is on point, the action is breathtaking, and everything is just perfect. In addition, the anime improves on the ending to provide better context. It’s as close to perfect as one can expect.

Luffy Goes Gear Fifth for the First Time-One Piece

This was the moment that One Piece fans had been waiting the entire series for, and they didn’t even know it. As the Wano Country Arc reached its climax, Luffy was once again bested by the monstrous pirate Kaido, seemingly for good. Just when it looks like all hope for victory seems lost, Luffy’s body begins to stir as the sound of drums begins to pierce the heavens, heralding the awakening of his Devil Fruit and unlocking of Gear Fifth.

There are almost no words to describe how unbelievably epic this moment was for fans. The intimidating yet whimsical sound of the drums. The way it’s juxtaposed against Luffy’s unheard-of transformation. An elephant the size of an island proclaiming the second coming of Joyboy in Luffy. Luffy’s grin at the end indicates that he’s about to kick some serious ass. This moment needs to be studied as an example of building up hype. And given how the following episodes see Luffy turn into SHONEN POPEYE, it’s hands-down the best anime moment of 2023. No ifs, ands, or buts!

‘Zom100’ Came Home for the Holidays!

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Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead Eps. 10-12 Review

It’s been three months since the last episode of Zom100 came out, thanks to delays with production from behind the scenes. Many people despaired that one of the year’s best anime would never be finished. However, after three months of hiatus, Akira is back for the holidays! When we last left off, he and his friends had settled in his secluded hometown in the mountains, safe from the zombies. Unfortunately, their oasis was about to become a battlefield thanks to another quartet looking to do whatever they wanted. Unlike Akira, though, this group wants to hurt everyone around them! It’s up to Akira and the others to save his home in this three-part finale!

Getting to Know Everyone in Akira’s Hometown

At this point, Akira, Kencho, Shizuka, and Beatrix have integrated themselves into Akira’s hometown. Akira is helping his parents work in the field. Kencho has taken to trying to cheer up a little girl named Angie, who lost her parents. Beatrix has learned more about how the villagers keep the zombies out. As for Shizuka, she works as the village’s unofficial doctor. As a kid, she always wanted to study medicine and become a doctor, but her dirtbag wouldn’t let her because it wouldn’t be a high-paying job, which doesn’t make sense. After all, being a doctor is one of the best-paying jobs in the world. 

All this downtime allows everyone to relax and bond with the villagers and other refugees. Akira, in particular, tries to devise a way to repay his parents for everything they’ve done for him. As someone lucky enough to still have both his parents, it’s a sentiment I can greatly relate to. Plenty of kids give up so much for the sake of their kids, and not every kid can fully repay or express that gratitude while they still have a chance. It’s a genuinely wholesome moment and one I enjoyed getting to see.

It’s too bad the moment gets ruined by a group that’s the yin to Akira and his friend’s yang, who open the barrier, keeping the zombies out so they can destroy the village.

Higurashi and his Group of Haters 

Meet Kanta Higurashi, a 24-year-old shut-in and the anti-Akira. Like Akira, his life before the zombies was terrible, with no friends, family, or job. This made him bitter at the world and blame everyone else for how his life turned out. Thus, when the apocalypse happened, he decided to indulge in everything he wanted and found others who wanted to do the same thing. In other words, he’s a mirror version of Akira.

Here’s the difference, though. The problems that Akira and his friends had before the zombies came were external, resulting from things that weren’t always in their control (bad job and worse boss, bad Dad, etc.) Higurashi’s group? As the zombies come pouring in and each member of Akira’s group has to fight a member of Higurashi’s group, it becomes clear that most of their gripes are self-inflicted.

  • Kurasugi hated his wife because she always complained about him never being there for her. In reality, though, he failed to put in the effort that came to a successful marriage, expecting his wife to do everything for him and ask for nothing in return. That’s not how marriage works!
  • Atenbou (who tries to French kiss Shizuka) complains he’s had bad luck, but it was due to his lazy and careless nature. I.E., he forgot to put out his cigarette in the restaurant he worked in, which burned down.
  • This woman named Kanbayashi got fired from her job, but it was because she had an overbearing attitude, insisted she was always right, and was generally a Karen.

Thankfully, Akira’s friends all beat each other while shutting down their arguments about why they’re jerks.

  • Shizuka points out how Atenbou’s lack of care for anyone but himself means his bad luck is self-inflicted. Then, she helped all the elderly people capture him.
  • Kencho outsmarts Kurasagi by diving into a cesspit to hide himself from the zombies. Gross, but effective.
  • Beatrix shuts down the water mill, providing power to the electric fence, trapping everyone, and points out the fact that so many different cultures and ways of thinking in the world mean that no one can be right about everyone. She’s then eaten by zombies instead of crushed by a water wheel.

As for Akira, he outsmarts Higurashi by disguising himself as a zombie to get close enough to pin him. Higurashi (who went to college with Akira and Kencho) then breaks down in tears and complains about how miserable his life has been.

Happiness is Something that Has to be Worked for

As sad as it is to see Higurashi cry about how miserable his life was, like his friends, a lot of his misery was self-inflicted. While his introverted nature did make it hard for him to reach out to anyone, it wasn’t like no one tried to. Akira did offer to befriend him in college, but his fear and loathing at how carefree Akira seemed to be led to him refusing this offer. 

According to T.V. Tropes, Higurashi is a deconstruction of the NEET archetype that’s become popular in many skis. Unlike someone like Rudeus Greyrat, who puts in the effort to be a better person, Higurashi doesn’t. He gave up on the world, so the world gave up on him and led him to what he is today. Unfortunately, Higurashi gets bitten by a zombie amidst his epiphany, denying the chance for a redemption arc. Instead, he sacrifices himself to lure the zombies away.

On to the Next Adventure

In the end, everyone’s able to escape the zombies, seal back in the tunnel, and rebuild the village. And, though I’m not sure if it’s shown onscreen, Atenbou’s the only one still alive and works to help rebuild and make amends. The bigger question, though, is what Akira and the others will do now. 

As it turns out, Akira’s father is suffering from a painful illness. The good news is it’s hemorrhoids, something a doctor can take care of. The bad news is that zombies make that pretty hard. Not wanting to let his Dad die this way, Akira comes up with a new goal: find the cure for the virus.

In almost every zombie story, one of the top priorities for survivors is to find a cure for whatever’s creating the zombies. Barring that, it’s trying to get them under control and rebuild society. Thus, the fact that Akira wants to eventually find some way of ending the zombie apocalypse is kind of expected. Given who he is, though, some people might not believe Akira can be the guy who could save Japan or the world if it’s spread that far. However, I think he might be able to do it.

No, really. Akira might be the guy who saves the world. He’s outgoing and friendly, bringing out the best in others and inspiring them to be better. If he managed to win over Shizuka as he did, then he might be able to get everyone to unite and stop the outbreak.

Thus, Akira, Kencho, Shizuka, and Beatrix all head out on their next adventure: finding a cure for the plague and completing more on their now-shared bucket list. Thus, the first season of Zom100 came to an end. 

A Season Two on the Horizon?

I will be upfront about this: I want to see a second season of Zom100 under better circumstances.

This anime is one of the best out of 2023; there’s no denying that. The problem is that it was plagued by production issues that led to delays and more. As a result, much of the hype around this amazing series started to fizzle out. This is sad; I’ve taken to read the manga, and it’s pretty good. This anime has much more potential, and I hope it continues. Until then, though, I will enjoy what we’ve gotten.

Happy Holidays!

I Give “Hometown of the Dead Pts 1-3” a 4.5/5. Each

‘One Piece’ Getting a Remake from Studio Wit

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2024 Shall Be the Year of One Piece

This year, One Piece fans got to eat well. Next year, One Piece fans will be eating even better than before. 

One Piece is a modern-day epic that few can measure up to. It’s a story about following your dreams and living life to the fullest. And right now, it’s more popular than ever. It’s the latest film earned big money in North America. Luffy got his balloon at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The live-action Netflix series broke the curse of lousy live-action adaptations. And when Crunchyroll posts clips from the anime on YouTube, they trend. Bottom line, One Piece is more popular than ever. And next year, it’s going to get even better. 

Early One Piece is getting a Remake

Next year marks the 25th birthday of the One Piece anime, and it will be commemorated In a big way. In an announcement on Twitter, Netflix announced that they would be remaking the anime from the start. More importantly, instead of being made by Toei, this remake, named The One Piece, will be produced by Studio Wit. Wit is renowned for creating the first three seasons of Attack on Titan. More recently, it’s also Co-animated another popular Shonen anime, Spy x Family, alongside CloverWorks. 

This is big news for One Piece fans. Despite being more popular than ever, One Piece can still intimidate a lot of potential fans from enjoying it. At 1,100+ chapters and 1,078+ episodes long, it takes a lot of dedication for newcomers to work through. Even factoring in the movies that abridge some of the earlier arcs, it will still take a while to get through! An ongoing fan project, One Pace, cuts out much of the filler and padding by Toei, but it’s still long.

This remake offers a chance to retell the earliest days of One Piece better than ever. With updated animation in the vein of Attack on Titan and the ability to not include filler, One Piece can retell its early days and attract even more fans. 

In Other One Piece News

In addition to the remake, there are plenty of other things that One Piece fans have to celebrate going into 2024. In January 2024, Netflix will be debuting the ONA Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation. Based on a one-shot One Piece mangaka Eichiro Oda created in 1994, the ONA tells the story of the Samurai Ryuma as he travels his country and fights powerful monsters. It’s also a story that’s been retroactively added to the timeline of One Piece, so this is official lore.

There’s more: The live-action One Piece series is getting a second season. Making huge waves in the summer of 2023, the series broke the trend of bad live-action adaptations of popular anime. It helps that Oda actively guided production, and Netflix listened to him. 

Lastly, January 7th will mark the anime’s official start to the Egghead Island Arc. Currently ongoing in the manga, this arc has already seen multiple jaw-dropping moments and reveals that fans are eating up:

  • The official introduction to the mysterious Dr. Vegapunk. 
  • The backstory of the enigmatic Bartholomew Kuma
  • The rapidly changing status and allegiance of several named characters.
  • Confirmation that one of the most hotly anticipated locations in the series is imminent.

The bottom line is that now is a great time to be a One Piece. With the series directly into its final saga, it’s the perfect time for people to participate in this legendary story. One Piece could go down as one of the greatest stories ever told. Stories like it only come once in a generation or even generations. 

‘Scott Pilgrim’ Anime isn’t An Adaptation; It’s a Canon AU

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Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Spoiler Review

Have you ever seen the plot of JJ Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek film? Thanks to the power of time travel, Abrams could alter the circumstances around the day James T. Kirk was born and create a separate, alternate timeline from the established canon. The result was similar to what the Star Trek fans had known for forty years, but the dynamics between many characters changed, as did their paths in life. That’s what the new hit anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off amounts to. Instead of being the adaptation of the popular graphic novel or the 2010 based on it, it does the same thing that Abrams did with Star Trek. While some fans might be mad we don’t get the adaptation of the graphic novels or films they wanted, I don’t care. This is like a licensed AU Fanfiction, and I freaking love it!

This is my spoiler review of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. If you haven’t watched the show (or don’t care), do so and return. Or read my spoiler-free review.

Pulling the Wool over Everyone’s Eyes

The anime starts following the graphic novels and film. Scott’s a slacker who plays in his band Sex Bob-omb and dates a high schooler. He meets Ramona Flowers, the girl from his dreams, and asks her for a date. Then he learns that she has seven “evil” exes that he has to fight so he can date her. Everything is going the way fans expect it to go. 

Until it doesn’t. As Scott starts fighting the first evil exes, Matthew Pattel, he seemingly dies, exploding into coins like Matthew should’ve. And everyone, in-universe and out, is going, “What the heck just happened?!?” 

WHAT A TWIST!!

This is the moment where Scott Pilgrim Takes Off reveals its ultimate surprise. Going in, everyone thought that this was an adaptation of the film or graphic novels. Instead, a sequel a la Alternate Universe, and despite being the titular character, Scott Pilgrim’s barely in it

I loved this twist when I first saw it. I never read the novels and couldn’t get into the movie, but I knew the general synopsis of what would happen. To see everything go off the rails into AU territory before the first episode was done made me want to jump up from the couch and yell “holy snap, this is going to be good!” And while some people might not like this twist and how it changes things, I liked it—especially considering what happens next and who the series follows.

What the Cast Does Without the “Main Character.”

At first glance, it looks like Scott Pilgrim is dead, and the story’s plot is now lost. However, while the original canon is now impossible to follow, the show opens up to new possibilities as the cast grapples with Scott’s apparent passing and what this means for their lives. 

Starting in episode two, everyone that knew Scott personally attends his funeral and takes the time to grieve for him (or not.) As is the case in real life, though, they eventually have to move on with their lives in some way, shape, or form. And while most of the cast handles this event in their ways, Knives gets the best change from the original story.

In the original story, Knives Chau was the high-schooler the adult Scott was dating, to everyone’s dismay. She got a little too obsessed with Scott for her good, and what happens with Ramona leads to a lot of drama. Initially, that part remains unchanged, with Knives blaming Ramona for getting Scott killed. However, once she takes the time to process everything, she realizes that her relationship with Scott won’t work out. In addition, she also joins Sex Bob-omb and proves to be an amazing musician, helping her move on with her life. This is one welcome change to the original story. People frowned upon an adult dating a minor when the story first came out, even more so today.

A Pointless League of Evil Exes=Character Development

The people in Scott’s circle of friends aren’t the only ones affected by the loss of Scott, either. After his surprise win, Matthew Pattel calls the League of Evil Exes and gets them all to realize something important: they have no reason to exist. More importantly, they realize that they’d never win Ramona back even if they won. Their leader, Gideon Graves, was using them to get her back for himself. As a result, the League falls apart with everyone their separate ways, with varying levels of importance in the series. The most important, though, are Matthew Pattel and Gideon, the former of which challenges the latter to a fight for his business empire and wins. Suddenly, the starter villain ends up being the top dog!

As interesting as this is, though, the fate of the League serves as a deconstruction of how silly their whole concept was. They were only united by their pain of getting dumped by Ramona. Most of them weren’t even evil. The second ex, Lucas Lee, even says they called themselves that for branding purposes. Furthermore, they all move on with their lives without the need to fight for Ramona (since she wouldn’t take them back anyway). Several of them go so far as to join the circle of Scott’s friends, proving that most weren’t evil. They were just upset over how bad things ended with Ramona.

Except for Gideon. He decides to keep being evil, not to get Ramona back but because he enjoys it. That, and his new girlfriend, Scott’s frenemy Julie Powers, thinks his evil is hot, which I find hilarious.

Ramona is the Real Main Character of the Series

With Scott seemingly gone, someone else has to take up the main character role. And that person winds up being Ramona Flowers. After dealing with the loss of Scott, Ramona discovers that he might be alive and that one of her exes might have kidnapped him. As a result, she makes it her mission to figure out who did it and get Scott back. 

While some might wonder why Ramona would go so far for a guy she went on a single date with (including Scott’s friends), I don’t see it as too much of a stretch. I see it as her feeling guilty for what happened to him. Plus, there were sparks between them by her admission, so she thinks he might be worth it.

Ramona Was no Saint With Her Exes

Besides the added benefit of allowing Ramona to meet with and befriend Scott’s friends on her terms, the show also serves another, interesting premise. The source material only sometimes understood why she dumped her exes beyond the bare minimum of details. In contrast, though, the anime not only gives fans greater detail about what happened, but demonstrates how Ramona isn’t entirely innocent of what happened. As the show reveals, rather than handling rough patches with her partners when they came around, Ramona tended to break things off and bail. For whatever faults they had, her exes have every right to feel bitter at Ramona. 

Ironically, this makes her a lot like Scott regarding their relationships. Scott had a problem with actually ending them, and Ramona has a problem with ending them too brutally. The anime allows her to find closure with most of her exes, helping everyone move on and become semi-better people. Even Gideon, the only evil ex, finds some closure with Ramona.

Scott Pilgrim’s Worst Enemy is Himself

Now, for the big twist at the end of the series with Scott’s inevitable return. As it turns out, he was pulled into the future by himself. Or rather, a version of himself from a timeline where things proceeded as they did in the original canon. Despite winning against the Exes and marrying Ramona, Old Scott got into a fight with Ramona after several years, and becomes convinced she dumped him. She didn’t; she just wanted space, and he overreacted by trying to change his past and stop himself from dating Ramona in the first place. All this created an alternate reality, like in the 2009 Star Trek film.

https://twitter.com/SladeTroy19111/status/1725482723866034586

Despite Old Scott’s best efforts, he fails to convince Show Scott to stay away from Ramona. Telling Show Scott what would’ve happened helps Old Scott accelerate his character development. Thanks to Future Ramona’s help, by the time he gets back, he realizes that dating Knives was a bad idea- drama averted.

Old Scott Pilgrim ultimately proves to be the final villain of the series, as his inability to fix his problems leads to him, ironically, becoming another evil ex. Some might call it corny, but I like the idea of an alternate version of oneself being evil. It’s a look into what we’d be like if we decided to be the worst versions of ourselves. 

I Would Watch a Season Two

Ultimately, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off doesn’t just adapt the movie or graphic novels but improves on them while becoming its own thing. The fans loved it, and I think it’s one of the best anime to come out in 2023. Considering the anime we’ve gotten this year, that’s saying something. 

Will they make a second season of the anime? After all, the show has already broken free of the original canon and could keep going. I would want to watch it!

I Give “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” a 5/5

‘Scott Pilgrim Takes off’ is a Hilarious Return to the World of Scott Pilgrim

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Scott Pilgrim Takes Off  Spoiler-Free Review

I will be upfront: I was never into Scott Pilgrim when it came out. I have never read graphic novels, and I have never watched movies (until now). My only frame of reference was a parody done by that MAD cartoon on Cartoon Network from ten years ago. However, after I saw the trailer for the anime series coming out on Netflix, I found myself interested. I tried to watch the movie to prepare myself for the anime, but it wasn’t as interesting as I thought. However, that did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for the anime, and after one binge session, I had only one thing to ask myself:

Why did I sleep on this for all these years?

Full disclosure: this is one of two reviews for the series. The other one will dive into full-on spoiler territory. 

Scott Pilgrim Breaks Canon

After a banger opening set to the song “Bloom” by Japanese band Necry Talkie, the anime starts much like how things go in the film and graphic novels. Scott’s still a slacker dating a high-schooler who then meets Ramona Flowers, the girl whose literally from his dreams, and is instantly smitten. However, he also learns that if he wants to date Ramona, he has to fight her seven evil exes. For the first episode or so, the story follows the source material to a tee…and then goes completely off the rails.

In what has to be one of the biggest anime twists of the year, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off isn’t a straight adaptation of the movie or the graphic novels. The best comparison I can make is that it follows in the vein of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek film from 2009. It changes one canon event in an unexpected way that makes the story as we knew it impossible to tell. From there, things go in a direction so unexpected that some might call it high-quality fanfiction. The basic premise is still there, and the characters retain their major personalities, but now they get to interact in new and unexpected ways.

As someone who’s come to appreciate the creativity of fanfiction, this premise rules. 

The Cast of the Movie Makes a Seamless Return

A major part of the appeal of the anime is that most of the film’s cast returned to reprise their roles. And with the extra thirteen years of acting experience to work with, they seem to be better than ever at their roles.

While several of the stars of the Scott Pilgrim film had already found success in showbusiness before the film, it wasn’t until after it came out that many of them became household names. Michael Cera has continued to find success on-camera and in the booth, getting roles in films like The LEGO Batman Movie, Sausage Party, and the recent Barbie film. Mae Whitman, who played Roxie Richter, has continued to find success as a voice actor with roles like Amity Blight from The Owl House (Which I’m a huge fan of!) And Chris Evans and Brie Larson’s careers have blown up thanks to their roles as Captain America and Captain Marvel in the MCU franchise. Jason Schwartzman helped do the impossible and make The Spot scary in the new Spider-Verse movie! In other words, most of the cast has blown up in the last thirteen years.

The extra decade seems to have upped everyone’s game, as they’re better than ever at their roles in Scott Pilgrim. The bottom line is that they’re good!

Like the Graphic Novels Came to Life

I’ve never seen or read the graphic novels beyond some images that I’ve seen online, but the anime adapts the art style almost seamlessly. As zany and whacky as the live-action film was, there’s only so much live-action can do with the source material. Animation, on the other hand, has no such restraints, and can go all-out and tell the story that wasn’t possible before.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is an anime, plain and simple. It was produced by a Japanese animation studio, Science Saru. It includes many of the exaggerated facial expressions that anime are known for. A Japanese metal band sings the opening! Even though it’s based on a piece of Western media, it’s an anime and one of the best-looking ones of 2023. 

Scott Pilgrim is a Must-Watch for 2023

As I said before, I never got into Scott Pilgrim when the novels or film came out. Having seen what the anime is like, though, I now understand why so many people love it the way they do. It is amazing! The cast is in top form, the animation is flawless, and the surprising direction that the anime takes is mind-blowing. It’s like a high-quality fanfiction that was lucky enough to be canonized. 

If you have a Netflix account, then I cannot stress this enough. Stop what you’re doing, and take the time over the holidays to sit down and watch this show. It’s short at only eight episodes, but the ending will leave you wanting way more. I don’t know if we’ll get a second season, but if we do, I’ll be there to watch it.

Now go read my spoiler-review so I can gush more about the series without fear.

Akira Remembers to Appreciate Family

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Ep 9 Review

Zom 100 is unlike most zombie apocalypse stories that came before, and that has to do with its main themes. The whole story’s an argument that people are spending too much of their lives working and doing what society expects of them instead of doing what they want. As a result, many people never get to do the things they want in life until it’s too late. That’s nothing new to this story, but this week’s episode adds another layer to this concept. It’s hard enough when people need more time to do what they want. Now add that they may not have the time they want to spend with their loved ones before they’re gone. 

This review will get pretty deep, so put tissues on standby.

The Magic of a Treehouse

As Akira and his group nears the end of their trek to his hometown, they run into a literal roadblock. The only tunnel leading to Gunma is sealed off on both sides and infested with zombies. Nothing can get out or get in. Thus, the trip to “Kanto’s best-kept secret” continues on foot, leading the group to run into a carpenter being chased by a zombie boar. After saving his life, the carpenter, Masaru Kumano, explains why he’s out in the woods. He’s building a treehouse to keep himself safe from the zombies, something that Akira and Kencho eagerly join in on. Both because it’s on Akira’s Bucket List, and the simple fact that most kids dream of having a cool treehouse.

Tragically, Kumano reveals that the treehouse is not just for safety, but a tribute to his dead son. He always promised that they’d build a treehouse one day, but he lost his wife and son when the zombie plague broke out. This leaves him filled with melancholy over the fact that he didn’t spend as much time with his kid as he wanted.

This moment defines the tone of the rest of the episode, as it makes Akira reflect on his own relationship with his parents, who he hasn’t seen since he left to work in Tokyo. Many young adults leaving home for the first time (and even the ones who remain at home) can feel guilt over not showing enough gratitude to their parents, or getting to do everything they want with them. That was even before the zombie outbreak; with the chance of survival far lower now, Akira’s more determined than ever to make things up to his parents.

I won’t lie: this episode made me think about my own relationship with my parents, and what I can do to help them as we all get older. Anyone acutely aware of the passage of time and how their parents might not always be around may end up feeling the same. 

Gunma is the Perfect Anti-Zombie Stronghold…Until Now

Regardless, Akira leads his group to his hometown of Gunma, and he isn’t joking when he calls it Kanto’s “best-kept secret.” It’s the perfect stronghold to ride out a zombie apocalypse: limited routes to get in, self-sustaining food supply, and plenty of people around make it a veritable redoubt. Akira and his friends could take refuge there forever if they wanted to. Alas, trouble’s already brewing in the form of a group that serves as evil twins to Akira and his friends.

Many refugees from the cities wound up making their way to Gunma following the zombie outbreak, which isn’t a problem at first glance. However, four of those people have come with the intent of destroying the village by unleashing the zombies on everyone. The reason why? Simply for the sake of it.

Meet Kanta Higurashi, a nihilistic NEET and Akira’s evil counterpart. The anime doesn’t reveal his full backstory yet, but it spends the final moments of the episode establishing why he and his group are dark reflections of Akira’s group. Like the protagonists, they were people who either wanted more out of life or were dissatisfied with society and their place in it (or lack thereof.) Whereas Akira and his friends are using zombie virus to better themselves and live their best lives, though, Kanta’s group doing the opposite. They’re indulging in their worst vices and acts of petty vengeance against those they think wronged them. There will likely be those who use the end of the world to embrace their worst aspects, and Kanta’s group is a frightening example of what can happen. 

Too bad we don’t know when the next episode will air.

Support the People in the Anime Industry

Zom 100 has been continually plagued by numerous delays since it’s premiere. As a result, what should’ve been a surefire hit for the summer season has likely not live up to its full potential. Now, it’s suffering its most considerable delay yet as the final three episodes of the first season are delayed indefinitely. 

There’s a dark sense of irony to this. For an anime about bashing abusive working conditions, the anime industry is one of the worst places for people to work. The last few years have seen a growing awareness of how bad it is working in the anime industry, with people even being hospitalized from sheer exhaustion. Now, that kind of work environment could cost Zom 100 a spot as one of the best anime of 2023.

The anime opening was actually incomplete when the series premiered. This latest episode is the one that includes the full opening.

There’s no telling when this popular anime might return, but for now, the best fans can do to support is to spread awareness about how great it is. Anyone who’s hated their jobs can emphasize and identify with Akira and his friends, and maybe it can encourage more people to prioritize their own wellness in this chaotic world. That, and it can help spread awareness of how the anime industry needs serious reforms.

I Give “Treehouse of the Dead” a 4.5/5

Netflix ‘One Piece’ Gets an Unprecedented Season Two

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Why the Live-Action One Piece Getting a Second Season is a Big Deal

Over the years, Netflix has tried to adapt popular anime into a live-action format, only to fall flat on their faces. Their live-action Cowboy Bebop got canceled less than a month after first premiering. And their film adaptation of Death Note was hated so much, the director deleted his Twitter to avoid the death threats. Needless to say, anime fans are adamant about any adaptations being true to the source. Then, Netflix decided to team up with mangaka Eichiro Oda to adapt his legendary series, One Piece. And despite the stigma surrounding live-action adaptations, One Piece succeeded where so many others failed. It was good! It didn’t reach the same levels of comedy as the original story, but it captured the spirit of the series in a way few had.

The show’s success is apparent to Netflix and fans alike. At the time of this writing, it’s consistently remained in the top ten most-watched shows on the platform. In addition, it’s garnered more popularity than the Ahsoka miniseries. Fans waited years for that to come out, and One Piece blew it out of the water. Thus, it comes as no surprise when Eichiro Oda himself announced on social media that the series would be getting a second season.

An Unprecedented Decision

This decision is unprecedented. While live-action adaptations of anime have gotten sequels in movie format, such as Ruronori Kenshin, to the best of my knowledge, it’s never happened to a show itself. In a recent interview with Deadline, executive producers Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements admitted that they already have a roadmap planned out for six seasons of the show. If it does well enough, though, they have plans for twelve seasons. If that’s true, then Netflix could attempt to adapt the entire series over the next ten or so years. 

Those familiar enough with One Piece will know how Herculean a task this is. One Piece is a series with a thousand-plus chapters under its belt, and a near-equal amount of anime episodes. In other words, there’s a lot of material to cover. If the people at Netflix are truly investing in this for the long haul, then they’re going to have make a lot of hard decisions. How much of the material will they choose to adapt per episode? Assuming they choose to give season two the same number of episodes as the first one, they will have to condense a lot of material. At best, they’ll be covering the Loguetown arc all the way up to the end of the Alabasta Saga. That’s a tall order to fill!

Then there’s also the manner of how much this will cost them. As One Piece progresses, the fights become more elaborate and fantastical. Considering how many of the opponents that Luffy and the others will be facing from this point onward will have Devil Fruit powers, they will have to find a way to adapt them to live action. That means a lot of money will go towards special effects and related issues. One of the future Straw Hat’s alone will have to be created entirely by CGI. Adapting most of this will cost a lot of money!

Fortune Favors the Bold…and the Crazy

Regardless of the cost, though, it seems likely that Netflix will be willing to pay whatever they have to ensure that their adaptation of One Piece is a success. Despite some nitpicks, the show has largely been a success, capturing the spirit of the anime and manga in live-action form. Countless people worldwide are getting into One Piece thanks to the live-action series. Before, many would refrain from getting into the franchise, intimidated by its sheer length and size. The live-action series serves as a mean for newcomers to get into One Piece without having to spend days binging the anime or manga, making it an appealing alternative for those lacking free time. 

As for Oda, he’s getting the chance to retell one of the greatest stories in recorded human history: his story. It’s not even complete, and it can already stand toe-to-toe with legendary, centuries-old tales. With the right planning, advertising, and Oda’s steady hand, it could become the big show to watch in the 2020s. Even if it isn’t, though, One Piece has already secured its legacy for generations to come.

That, and there’s no way it could do worse than the end to Game of Thrones.