Category: Analysis

The serious side of semi-serious

Analysis

The Spiral: Symbolism, Imagery, and a little Direction for Kara no Kyoukai 5

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The spiral is a recurring image in the latest installment of Kinoko Nasu’s Kara no Kyoukai, representing the pathway to Araya’s elusive origin of the universe. Mathematics confuse me, to be frank, and I doubt that Nasu was thinking about physics when he penned the novel, but looking at thing from a more figurative (or possibly religious) perspective sheds a bit more light on the matter.

However, the fifth movie in the series is chock full of not only skillful imagery and symbolism, but also brilliant fight scenes that brought even me to the edge of my seat. While the plot and characters of the franchise are something that I will avoid discussing at least until the series ends, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Paradox Spiral is as aesthetically and technically appealing as it is simply good.

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Analysis

Maria†Holic OP – Of Yuri, Sadistic Traps, and a whole lot of paint

mariaholic-op-21I’d hit it.

After watching two seasons of ef and a Hidamari Sketch or two, I can honestly say that SHAFT has completely corrupted me. And by corrupted, I mean that they’ve taught me to appreciate the abstract and to look between the lines – even if there’s nothing there to begin with. Maria+Holic is a lighthearted show compared to the likes of ef, and while the kind of deconstruction that went on during the early days of memories is more suited to a story of ef’s intensity, there’s something oddly alluring about a sadistic trap painting walls with dolls fashioned after his lesbian roomate.

In other words, this show is about as insane as it’s OP, and I’m about to try to make sense out of all of this. I wonder what that says about my sanity?

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Analysis

Toradora: A Story of Contradictions

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It’s pictures like this that can hold the viewer back from seeing what the series really is.

In case you haven’t caught wind of the hype yet, I’ll start with this: Toradora is definitely among the more unique romantic comedies that’s aired in recent time, and it does an excellent job at playing with stereotypes. Like with everything else, there are probably a few naysayers in the audience, but by and large the show has gained its fair share of respect. With charaters that look shallow on the outside but contain much depth on the inside, skillful writing that’s both believable and entertaining, and an all-around solid presentation that accomplishes everything that one would expect from the genre and then some, it’s a show that I would recommend to most anyone.

However, something dawned on me while watching the fifteenth episode the other day. It’s a little something that’s been in front of me all along, yet took me this long to notice: a little something involving Vanilla Salt and a neatly-woven tale of preconceptions.

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Analysis

5 Centimeters Per Second Re-Watch: A Bittersweet Analysis of a Bittersweet Tale

Makoto Shinkai’s latest masterpiece was a short film that provoked lengthy discussions – discussions about childhood romance, the definition of love, and the use of melodramatic backdrops and sunlight to heighten the impact of a story. However, more important than the discourse it encouraged are the questions that it forced all of us to ask ourselves. Introspection with no particular cause nor goal, introspection sparked by a subtle story with a lifetime’s worth of meaning…introspection that differs between each and every viewer. This is what I believe 5cm/s achieved, and through this post, I would like to discuss and attempt to deconstruct this masterpiece of anime that affected me more than anything else.

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Analysis

On Rabu-Rabu [part one]: The Beauty of the Conflict

We all know that I’m a romance fan, right? Well, if you don’t, then now you do – it’s no coincidence that Memories of Eternity isn’t exactly the manliest name around. Being the fan that I am, upon reading anime blogger ghostlightning‘s recent post on shoujo and the nature of the “happily ever after” endings that we so often see, my mind was left in a daze – the good kind of daze – and I was inspired to write something of my own. It’s a somewhat unrelated topic, but it falls under the same general category anyhow; I’m talking about the appeal of romance anime, and the effect it has on its fans. Contrary to popular belief, there very well may be layers of depth to the genre that people don’t often think about, and it’s my duty as a fan and as a blogger to see what I can dig up. So, if you’re in the mood for some reading, then I welcome you to join me on my quest through the wonderful world of rabu-rabu.

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Analysis

Remembering School Days – The Nice Boat Anniversary

On this day precisely one year ago, the 18th of September 2007, a legend of anime was born. After 11 episodes of mind-bendingly ridiculous “romance”, drama, and character interactions, after witnessing the actions of quite possibly the worst and most (in)famous harem lead ever, and after revolutionizing the way the world would see visual novel adaptations in the future, we came to a single jaw-dropping conclusion. Yup, that’s right, people. It’s Nice Boat Day.

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