Various thoughts on a variety of topics.
Japan’s Saga Prefecture has many things to recommend it, from traditional arts and crafts to stunning vistas. Join us as we explore the area’s sights and take a look into the lives of a few people who call the city of Saga home.
A collection of short stories highlighting different parts of Saga’s cultural history and a few of its attractions. The first two are romance themed, while the third is comedic and fourth is more slice of life.
More Information:
aniDB (1, 2)
Following the shock of his mother’s sudden death, Satoru Fujinuma’s normally limited time jumping ability kicks in and sends him all the way back to elementary school. To a point just before an unsolved kidnapping incident resulted in the deaths of three students.
A character drama with thriller and mystery elements which happens to include a slight romance subplot.
More Information:
aniDB
Crunchyroll
Wikipedia
Retsuko is a 25-year old accountant who constantly has to put up with all sorts of unreasonable and annoying behavior from her superiors and co-workers. She can never express her feelings directly however and so instead vents her frustrations through death metal fantasies and karaoke sessions.
A short-episode workplace comedy with a chibi artstyle.
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aniDB
Wikipedia
It’s been over 25 years since we last saw the Matsuno sextuplets and now they’re all grown up. Yet… nothing really seems to have changed. Will they every be able to find a job, move out of their parents’ house, or get a girlfriend?
An episodic gag comedy featuring an assortment of reaction-based, random-style, 4th wall breaking, slapstick, and parody humor. It does not require any familiarity with either of the Osomatsu-kun prequels.
More Information:
aniDB (1, 2)
Crunchyroll
Wikipedia
The three realms (heavenly, human, and boundary) keep their balance by cycling souls from one to another, often by force, with the responsibility of transferral falling to the boundary realm’s Black & White Warriors. The youngest of these are Heng Wang and Liang Yan, a unique pair who have never completed an assignment and only seem to excel at being late.
An action-drama with an initially large streak of comic relief which almost entirely disappears by the halfway point.
Walking home from the store one night Koyomi Araragi finds a vampire on the verge of death, and against his better judgement he decides to sacrifice himself so that she can survive. He does not die however. Instead, she transforms him into a vampire and tasks him with recovering her lost limbs from the hunters who stole them.
A prequel to Bakemonogatari, this series of movies fully fleshes out the brief flashback you get there. Content composition is similar with the main difference being that a larger percentage is dedicated to action and horror.
More Information:
aniDB
Wikipedia
Ajin: Immortal beings able to manifest powerful avatars made of dark particles. Hunted by the government for research purposes and vilified as inhuman monsters, a group of Ajin come together to form a terrorist organization with visions of forcing reform. Meanwhile, an otherwise normal student recently revealed to be an Ajin finds himself on the run from both groups.
The first half of the show is an action drama focused on Kei Nagai’s capture and eventual flight from government agents, with Satou’s terrorist actions providing the backdrop. The second half however transitions into something closer to an agency thriller, with the conflict between special forces and the terrorists taking center stage.
More Information:
aniDB (1), (2)
Netflix
Wikipedia
A collection of short stories that take place all throughout the Monogatari series, each featuring one of the girls discussing some sort of supernatural-seeming phenomenon with Koyomi.
Almost all of the episodes are effectively stand-alones that resemble the main series entry they take place near. A couple however (8 & 12) have explicit ties to the core storyline and won’t make much/any sense if you haven’t seen several of the main entries.
More Information:
aniDB
Wikipedia
When the CGS mercenary group is contracted to transport the leader of a Martian independence movement to Earth, they become the target of Gjallarhorn, a police-like organization which seeks to keep Mars under Earth’s control through any means necessary. Earth however is not united, and the mercenaries quickly become entangled in an elaborate political scheme.
A mecha action drama with child soldiers as the protagonists. Like many Gundam series it focuses on the themes of colonialism, prejudice, rivalry, and chains of revenge. Less common are the mafioso elements it eventually adopts.
More Information:
aniDB (1, 2)
Crunchyroll
Daisuki
Fansub.co
Wikipedia
Having been just released from prison, Yotarou wishes to become a rakugo performer by apprenticing himself to Yakumo Yuurakutei. His performance style however ends up being closer to Sukeroku, a deceased friend and contemporary of Yotarou’s, and brings up memories of the past.
A period piece focused on the trials and tribulations of two rakugo performers with vastly different personalities working to move up the ranks. It doesn’t return to Yotarou’s story until the last episode.
More Information:
aniDB
Crunchyroll
Wikipedia
