Stripey and I often have quite different anime diets, it’s not unusual for one to have never seen a series that the other considers a favourite. But as we like to discuss anime, over bowls of minced pork noodles or ramen when I’m back in Singapore or via Skype when I’m not, there are constant battles to influence each other to watch this or that anime series. 2006 has been no exception. Looking back, it seems that Stripey patiently practises an attritional strategy while I prefer to strike hard at his weakest points to secure swift and decisive victory.
Continue reading ‘Hontou Ni anime skirmishes 2006′
I came pretty close to dropping OtoBoku as the first half of the first episode was so excruciatingly clichéd. My suspension of disbelief was stretched pretty thin too with how Mizuho was regarded as one of the school’s beauties. I love Mariya but there’s no way her makeup kit can be that powderful [sic - you'll get this pun only if you're fluent in Singlish]. It’s not a far stretch of the imagination for a pretty girl to look like a pretty boy (think Ouran’s Haruhi) but it takes a very very pretty boy to make a decently pretty girl, much less the school idol. While I do think of the catgirls, I just couldn’t let it slide. Until the super deformed (SD) mode kicked in. With the show not taking itself seriously at all, it was hard for me to continue being pedantic.
OtoBoku is probably the most recent example where SD is an important and successful part of the animation. In other cases, Continue reading ‘Super Deformed to the rescue!’