AniFem Spherical-Up
Fluffy Paradise – Episode 1
The lovable animals and tender vibe mesh awkwardly with the protagonist’s God-given mission to discern whether or not humanity is irredeemably racist.
Ishura – Episode 1
A darkish fantasy present that can stay or die relying on how a lot it decides to heart its traumatized heroine.
Gushing Over Magical Ladies – Episode 1
Leaves one with that “am I on a watchlist now” type of feeling.
Chained Soldier – Episode 1
The second present this season that falls on its face making an attempt to construct a domme-focused fantasy sequence.
Scrumptious in Dungeon – Episode 1
Simply probably the most anticipated present of the season, and it doesn’t disappoint.
My Instantaneous Dying Capability is Overpowered – Episode 1
That means labored too effectively, as a result of that is lifeless on arrival.
The Demon Prince of Momochi Home – Episode 1
There’s potential and it’s all the time good to see extra fantasy shoujo, however its leads have to develop some extra depth fast.
Sasaki and Peeps – Episode 1
What must be a slam dunk idea is shredded by horrible pacing and an overlong runtime.
A Signal of Affection – Episode 1
Candy, superbly made, and it’s thrilling to see the element paid to the heroine’s use of signal language.
Solo Leveling – Episode 1
The premise has nice potential as a satire on capitalism, however the protagonist is principally a void of charisma proper now.
The Undesirable Undead Adventurer – Episode 1
There’s overbearing inner monologue, after which there’s this.
The Fallacious Method to Use Therapeutic Magic – Episode 1
Most likely the very best isekai premiere of the season to this point.
The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids -A Tank with a Uncommon 9999 Resistance Talent Acquired Kicked from the Hero’s Get together- – Episode 1
It’s good to see a ‘kicked out of the get together’ present that lacks the imply, petty bitterness usually laced into the microgenre.
Tales of Marriage ceremony Rings – Episode 1
The principle couple’s very candy chemistry is held again by a bucket of fanservice.
Mr. Villain’s Day Off – Episode 1
A bit repetitive, but it surely’s obtained a superb comedy author backing it up.
The Silly Angel Dances with the Satan – Episode 1
Mixes extraordinarily bizarre comedic choices with an exceptionally enjoyable lead—although the ultimate scene leaves a big stain on the proceedings.
seventh Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! – Episode 1
A promising begin with a improbable heroine if considerably lackluster visible presentation.
Chatty AF 198: The Boy and the Heron Retrospective
Vrai, Cy, and Toni talk about Miyazaki Hayao’s newest (final?) film, its callbacks to his profession and themes, and Robert Pattinson.
What’s your most anticipated Winter 2024 anime?
Even a sluggish season all the time has just a few gems.
Bonus Podcast (with Transcript) 2023 December: A Vista of Visible Novels
Dee, Caitlin, and Vrai reunite to speak about a few of their favourite visible novels, all of them a beguiling bundle of messiness.
Past AniFem
Donations for Catastrophe Victims (Peace Boat Catastrophe Reduction)
Established in 1983, the Japan-based group is at the moment serving to these affected by the earthquakes.
PBV employees are at the moment dividing their actions within the cities of Suzu and Wajima. We’ll proceed to offer assist tailor-made to native wants.
Donate now by means of bank card funds, cash switch, Benevity, Give2Asia, or Yahoo! Japan web donations.
Thanks on your continued cooperation to assist us assist these in difficult situations.
What Occurs When Magical Ladies Develop Up? (Anime Information Community, Christopher Farris and Monique Thomas)
On the glut of “grown up” magical lady reveals and what separates the efficient from the cynical.
Nicky: The imitators show my level that making one thing each subversive whereas nonetheless feeling attention-grabbing and authentic is a reasonably troublesome trick to drag off. One of the best takes usually must be aware of the style to not really feel like an inexpensive knock-off. I’d say the identical about sentai heroes, who’re form of magical women’ brother. Each genres are extremely structured and have a selected set of tropes, but it surely’s not sufficient to joke about it in the event you’re doing all of it from the skin; there needs to be a stage of sincerity to make the viewers really feel “in on it.”
So one thing like Magical Woman Web site or Gushing Over Magical Ladies didn’t work for me, however one thing just like the tremendous bizarre Magical Destroyers which is all about otaku tradition and appears like a ’00s love letter. It did every part crudely and bizarrely as a result of it was having a blast with it.
Chris: It’s the distinction between merely dressing up within the livery of one thing perceived as cute and harmless for shock worth and earnestly taking part in with its style conventions. That results in extra profitable Madoka-likes, similar to my beloved Granbelm. That one takes a few of these base parts, provides stuff like mecha, and runs in several, however nonetheless solidly outlined thematic instructions.
Nicky: Granbelm is a superb instance as a result of it’s not solely about magical women but additionally a mecha and magical battle sequence ala Destiny/keep evening. It by some means takes all these issues and makes them really feel authentic once more by having some stellar character writing and presentation. To not point out its kick-ass theme music!
It’s one of many solely “food plan” reveals I’d say tastes simply pretty much as good as Madoka. It’s obtained a novel taste.
Chris: This has been your perennial reminder from This Week In Anime to observe Granbelm!
It’s one other affirmation that, just like the successes of the aforementioned Princess Tutu, a sequence wants good fundamentals to work inside that style house. Granbelm has its fair proportion of tragic turns and stunning moments, but it surely by no means feels prefer it’s pushing its “magical women for adults” setup as a pure gimmick. That ought to apply no matter whether or not a sequence is subverting expectations for drama or comedy worth.
Nicky: Once more, the identical applies to parody or much less severe takes, too. What’s a darkish, humorous, and super-erotic sequence that’s goofy and honest? Why, it’s my previous good friend, Fairy Ranmaru. It’s magical boys as an alternative of magical women, but it surely’s eager to discover drama, society, and sexuality whereas taking part in with the style’s tropes. What a gorgeous and weird present. I lined a part of it with Jean-Karlo a methods again, but it surely nonetheless holds a particular place in my coronary heart.
Widespread animator breaks silence on MAPPA’s working situations (Dexerto, Tulisha Srivastava)
Chansard lately labored on One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen.
A Twitter person translated the interview the place the interviewer requested Vincent why he doesn’t wish to work for MAPPA anymore. Vincent replied, “I don’t wish to assist an organization that ideologically doesn’t care about working situations. Go requested me, and I like working with him. He additionally doesn’t wish to work anymore for Mappa.”
Moreover, when the interviewer requested to decide on between Studio Bones or MAPPA, Vincent picked Bones whereas Dourian picked the latter. Between Wit and MAPPA, Dourian once more picked MAPPA, whereas Vincent selected Wit.
He’s standing his floor and sharing his dislike of MAPPA’s poor working situations that limit their inventive freedom, due to the time crunch. Though the interview isn’t formally translated but, it is going to be shared afterward, the place he talks concerning the studio intimately.
An Anime Insider’s Tackle the Netflix Engagement Report (Anime Information Community, Miles Thomas Atherton)
Breakdown of the 2023 viewership knowledge lastly launched by Netflix.
In case you’ll permit me the indulgence of returning to the Pareto Precept for a second, it’s fascinating – although under no circumstances stunning – to see such an enormous distribution in viewership throughout these movies. Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata is a beloved director in his personal proper, however his best-performing movie on Netflix, The Story of the Princess Kaguya, solely drew 10% of the eyeballs of his up to date’s primary movie. Whereas the hole between Toonami’s most-watched and least-watched titles, for instance, was sometimes not more than 20-30%, the delta in viewership between Totoro and My Neighbors the Yamadas is greater than an order of magnitude.
This instance exposes one of many challenges with streaming: the seemingly infinite decisions one has for consumption signifies that, even with cautious curation, many of the titles delivered to the platform will die on the vine. Irrespective of the standard of the content material – and it’s laborious to argue that even the bottom rung of Studio Ghibli fare is something lower than distinctive – there’s not sufficient time within the day or curiosity to completely exploit any catalog. Out of your perspective, having Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and The Wind Rises accessible for streaming could also be non-negotiables concerning the Ghibli catalog. However for Netflix’s sake, outdoors of the constructive press of the preliminary announcement, they might have benefitted simply as a lot to solely get the highest dozen movies, even on the similar worth.
Survey: 30% of teenage sexual minorities averted college (The Asahi Shimbun, Chinami Tajika)
The survey of 10,449 respondents included 459 present youngsters.
Fiscal 2022 statistics launched by the schooling ministry present that 3.2 p.c of elementary and junior highschool youngsters nationwide refused to attend college. The determine for prime schoolers was 2.0 p.c.
The speed for sexual minorities within the newest survey was upward of 10 occasions of what’s thought of customary.
As well as, 38.8 p.c of respondents within the 10-19 age group mentioned they’d been bullied throughout their scholar days.
The research additionally regarded on the injury brought on by verbal abuse in addition to sexual and different varieties of violence. Multiple reply was allowed for this query.
It discovered that 13.9 p.c of all respondents had been “victimized by bodily violence,” whereas 11.5 p.c ticked “sexual violence.”
A staggering 52.8 p.c of the three,686 respondents who touched upon their experiences of being uncovered to some type of abuse and violence acknowledged they’d “by no means consulted” with others about their issues.
One-third of Japan’s single adults beneath 50 have by no means dated (The Mainichi)
The survey consulted 1,200 single adults.
Among the many respondents of their 20s, 19.4 p.c of girls and 23.7 p.c of males mentioned having a romantic relationship is a waste of money and time. The share was decrease amongst older male respondents, but it surely was notably increased amongst feminine respondents of their 30s at 23.6 p.c, rising sharply from 14.6 p.c within the earlier survey in 2021.
Amongst males of all age teams who don’t wish to marry, the highest purpose, given by 42.5 p.c, was the monetary pressure of married life. As for girls, 40.5 p.c mentioned they don’t wish to compromise their freedom and independence.
Whereas 46.1 p.c of all respondents mentioned they wish to marry finally, the quantity has been on the downtrend, falling from 55.4 p.c in 2017 and 52.6 p.c in 2021.
Among the many respondents of their 20s, 44.3 of females and 34.6 p.c of males mentioned they might solely date somebody for the aim of discovering a wedding associate.
Chainsaw Man Director Ryū Nakayama Establishes Anime Manufacturing Unit (Anime Information Community, Egan Lavatory & Rafael Antonio Pineda)
We ship our sincerest hopes that the cycle of idealism to overwork seen in Madhouse and MAPPA itself don’t recur right here.
In its job recruitment discover, Andraft says it’s searching for contract or outsourced employees for a three-month trial interval, with potential promotion to common worker standing after. The wage is determined by expertise and talents, however Andraft gives a pattern wage of 350,000 yen (about US$2,400) a month for an skilled employee, with as much as 20 hours of time beyond regulation already factored into that wage quantity.
Andraft has an workplace within the western Tokyo neighborhood of Ogikubo (close to different anime firms), however distant work is allowed for individuals who stay removed from there. The each day hours are beneath the flextime schedule, though workers should work throughout a sure set of core hours. Earlier business expertise shouldn’t be obligatory, as Andraft says it values these with a ardour for creativity.
Billionaire Lovers Sport Evaluate – Extra Cash, Extra Issues (Blerdy Otome, Naja)
A spoiler-free evaluate of a rollercoaster expertise.
The MC is the spotlight of Billionaire Lovers. In actual fact, they’re the principle purpose you ought to play this sport. Their character arc is the thread that pulls every part collectively. At first of the sport, the MC is naïve and overly trusting of others. Somebody who’s a straightforward mark for folk seeking to benefit from them. However, after every part they undergo they grow to be rather more shrewd concerning the world round them. Although in an attention-grabbing twist the MC by no means totally loses religion in others.
It’s a fantastic line to toe for a protagonist. However Ayacat is as much as the problem delivering a compelling arc, that additionally manages to impart an impactful life lesson for the participant. I’d be mendacity if I mentioned the ending of the sport didn’t have me reevaluating my very own life decisions!
Ayacat knew what they had been doing with the advertising, this sport is the right honey entice. Billionaire Lovers feels like your run of the mill romance VN. It performs on our information of romance tropes to subvert our expectations, in the very best methods. It’s straightforward to fall for the deception, when there are lovely CGs depicting the eligible bachelors at their most dazzling and enjoyable, snappy, lighthearted dialogue.
VIDEO: Generational trauma and cycles of abuse in 90s eroge Suisenka.
VIDEO: The necessity to set up requirements for accessibility in sport growth.
AniFem Group
There’s already just a few eye-catching titles to sit up for.
