theanimeview - Tumblr blog

theanimeview · 2 days

Text

[Analysis] Black Butler & Aestheticism

Source: Chapter 138

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

To be honest, after completing my Master’s thesis on Oscar Wilde and aestheticism, I never thought I’d revisit the concept of aestheticism again in my life. Yet, here I am—drawn back into it and overlapping it (much to my dismay) with the world of Black Butler, a series I’ve loved since middle school. With another arc now adapted into an anime this season, I’m excited to discuss the latest installment of this gothic tale, this time with a bit on aestheticism, the gothic, and academia.

Black Butler: Public School Edition is a distinctive arc. While each arc in the series has its unique qualities, this one is perhaps the most interesting to me because it is the first time we really get to see Ciel work independently and prove himself apart from Sebastian for a prolonged period. Sure, Sebastian is there and working too, but Ciel is powering through this particular arc solo more than we’ve seen before and since. So while the series has always told us Ciel is smart, this time we actually get to see him in action.

Moreover, in this arc we get to see the role of aestheticism and gothic literary form wrapped in a dark academia theme—a match made in my dark academia aesthetic soul.

Of course, Black Butler fans have probably noticed how the series consistently embraces various aspects of the gothic aesthetic, but what is aestheticism and how is that different?

Aestheticism is a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th century, with Oscar Wilde being a known proponent of the movement, the setting in particular being in the second half of the Victorian era. It emphasizes the importance of beauty and the pursuit of refined sensory experiences as the highest ideals in life and is often associated with a rejection of the notion that art and beauty should be valued for its moral or political utilization rather than for its own sake. To quote, badly I might add, my own thesis:

“the literature on the subject of Aestheticism highlights four consistent tenets of the movement (and the art within said movement),… These four principles are the pursuit of beauty for the sake of beauty, the elevation of art or the pursuit of beauty alone, the celebration of individualism, and the idea that art is separate from life, meaning that while art should not have limits, life should” (Wood, pages 4-5 I think).

Meaning:

The pursuit of beauty for the sake of beauty = We should like things simply because we like them and appreciate that sometimes things are just beautiful without meaning behind it.

The elevation of art or the pursuit of beauty alone = We should champion the autonomy of artistic expression, rejecting external moral or utilitarian purposes in expression.

The celebration of individualism = An encouragement of individuals to seek and appreciate beauty in all aspects of life.

The idea that art is separate from life = While we should pursue a beautiful life and not always try to apply morals or ethics or utility to art, we should not confuse that with reality. Reality has rules and should, but art can and should be free for expression of any and all forms. This rule extends to several things. For example, a morally and ethically horrible story about doctors killing patients might be a well-written thriller that people love, but that doesn’t mean the reader likes murderers. If they like the book, it doesn’t mean that they should become a murderer either. It means that life does and should have moral and ethical limitations, but art should be free of those and that we can like art while being free of those same moral and ethical limitations.

On the other hand, an “aesthetic” is a broader term that refers to the appreciation and study of beauty, whether in nature or art. It encompasses a wide range of styles, tastes, and artistic preferences, without necessarily subscribing to the specific principles of the Aesthetic movement.

With that said, I always viewed Black Butler as a largely aesthetic piece, not applying aestheticism. The aesthetic of the work is gothicism, and you can see this in every arc, which contains some aesthetic focus within the realm of the gothic. We see it in a wide range of themes from the circus to J-pop imagery, but with different forms of the gothic theme based on the setting/frame. These aesthetics also fit within the realm of the gothic novel. Paraphrasing here, ”The gothic novel is defined by its emphasis on mystery, horror, and the supernatural. It frequently features elements such as haunted castles, concealed passageways, spectral visions, and various artifacts that contribute to the overall atmosphere of terror within the narrative (NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms by Kathleen Morner and Ralph Rausch).

When we think of the gothic, we often think of the architecture or clothing styles, but there is a lot more variation to this aesthetic than you might think and we see how the creator is applying these variations of the aesthetic throughout the series as we trace some pivotal parts of late-Victorian era history.

So, broken down, we have the Black Butler Arc & Red Butler Arc, which present a basic gothic tale. We have the Indian Butler Arc, which focuses less on the gothic, but more broadly sets us in late Victorian England to match the Red Butler Arc’s Jack the Ripper narrative, based on the socio-political context.

Then we have the Circus Arc, which presents a new, dark meaning to the freak shows of England’s history and returns us to the gothic novel themes. We have the Phantomhive Manor Murders Arc, which I’ve discussed already as being true to the gothic form for the inclusion of the sublime. Next is the The Luxury Liner Arc, which coincides with the Titanic that sank just as the Victorian era was coming to an end. The Public School Arc, which we’re discussing here, followed by Emerald Witch Arc and the Blue Arc(s) that I will not discuss at the moment, but probably will in a later post.

Now, all of these arcs are–in some way–gothic. They all feature the supernatural, they all include a bit of horror, and they all contain some mystery that the Queen’s watchdog must solve. In the Public School arc, the story unfolds within the chaotic halls of academia, weaving a prolonged and intricate narrative involving demon contracts, soul reapers, and other unearthly mysteries. The aesthetic is still gothic, this time as a dark academia vibe, and though I started to notice this turn to the aesthetic during the circus arc, really all of BB has spent a significant amount of time overlapping history, image, and the gothic to build us up to the aesthetic notion.

However—when thinking of the latest arc to be animated, something clicked. In this arc it really started to click for me that, actually, this work is both a gothic novel and a follower of aestheticism, much like Dorian Gray or Wuthering Heights.

In Chapter 138, Sebastian makes references to following the aesthetic–and that does not seem unintentional. He could have said it was against a code, or policy, or moral or ethic–but he doesn’t. He says it’s against his “aesthetic” and all throughout the series Sebastian has a very hard time letting go of beautiful things. The mansion must be clean, the staff must be well dressed (so too should their lord), the cats are “beautiful” creatures, he doesn’t do “dirty” things to the best of his ability and will give up on what is natural in appearance or progress for a human with his human image to maintain his aesthetics.

So too does our story.

Ciel is rejecting external morals by maintaining his contract with Sebastian. We’re told in the anime and the manga that he doesn’t care what is “right” and he’s not getting revenge for anyone else but himself–others be damned.

What I pull from this is that Sebastian is representative of the art for art’s sake and Ciel is the elevation of art, and their approach is that of celebration of individualism. As Sebastian encourages Ciel’s individuals to seek and appreciate “beauty” in all aspects of life on the road to hell because, as mentioned, art is separate from life. The consequences of following the aesthetic, in this case revenge, are there and Ciel is actively moving towards them because his “art” is not separated from his life.

If I am right about this, then it adds some new meaning to the work as a whole. The gothic novel element still stands, but it adds additional meaning to the end and makes the use of Hamlet in the “His Butler, Performer” so much more reflective of the tale. Ciel is chasing revenge for revenge’s sake, for his own sake and it is a costly journey. One that, like Dorian Gray, will capture Ciel’s soul not because of the revenge itself, but because of the inability to separate life from art.

To me, it is an absolutely fascinating idea! I look forward to seeing how aestheticism works its way further into the work. What about you all? Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

Copyedited by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

#ANALYSIS #BLACK BUTLER #BLACK BUTLER: PUBLIC SCHOOL EDITION #FEATURED #KUROSHITSUJI #KUROSHITSUJI: KISHUKU GAKKOU-HEN

7 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 2 days

Text

[Commentary] Media Literacy: Dangers Of Romanticizing Other Cultures & Recognizing Soft Power

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

This is a topic that feels a little hypocritical to be writing considering the fact that our content seems to be all about romanticizing stories from other countries as an anime blog, but that is exactly why it is important to discuss. In our “Welcoming 2024” message, I posted on anime going from niche to mainstream, and how fans are involved in that. I stand by my statement that I think it is a really cool development. However, I also recognize that fans might romanticize the culture as a result of only seeing its “better” sides in anime and online.

No culture, no society, and no group is perfect. Using even minimal media literacy can show that about any culture (your own and others) and today’s post, as much as I loathe to do so, is about this idea.

Let’s start with the idea of “soft power,” a concept regarding international relations that refers to a country’s ability to influence other countries and achieve its objectives through non-coercive means, such as culture, ideology, and diplomacy. Unlike “hard power,” which relies on military or economic coercion, soft power seeks to attract and persuade other countries to adopt the ideas, values, and interests of the country projecting it, often through entertainment and educational means.

Soft power is often associated with a country’s cultural exports, such as movies, music, and literature, as well as its diplomatic efforts to build alliances and promote cooperation on issues of common interest. By projecting a positive image and promoting values that are attractive to others, a country can increase its influence and achieve its goals without resorting to force or threats.

Japan specializes in “soft power” and they’re proud of it. They should be, as the media is engaging and the methodology—for now—remains somewhat positive.

However, that does not mean that we shouldn’t be aware of it nor combat (through similar means) some of the ideas being perpetuated that conflict with our cultural values because romanticizing another culture can be problematic for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it can create a distorted and oversimplified view of a culture that fails to capture its complexities and nuances. This can lead to stereotyping and misunderstanding, as well as the erasure of important aspects of the culture that do not fit into the romanticized narrative.

Using Japan as a continuing example, the country has a massive issue with sexism and sexual assault. The country also is resistant to immigration, and with a rapidly aging population, and not enough births to replace the aging populace. This resistance to having more children or welcoming immigrants is a detrimental point for their society.

We see this come out in their media, as women are often shown in less diverse ways than their male counterparts on screen (rather it be in animation or live-action). That’s not just fan service, that’s a form of objectification, and, as surprising as it may seem, it can lead to dehumanizing people.

In an anecdotal example, one of my former professors described being forcibly kissed on trains in Hong Kong and Japan when she was younger. Her father moved them frequently as he served in different military bases and the people who made such moves against her were surprised by her “reluctance” and fighting. They had been introduced to foreign media where women were less conservative and wanton so the idea that a foreign girl would dislike being greeted with on-the-mouth kissing or not want to be sexualized was “strange.” They even made defenses that she was being two-faced or “tsundere.” This could stem from how a lot of tsundere characters are coded as European/Caucasian foreigners.

These concepts overlap the idea of the dangers of a single story.

This is true of America and other countries too. In some parts of the world, the US is seen as an amazing place, and in others, we’re seen as bullies. Not aided by the behavior of some tourists.

Just as we regularly break down Western culture for both enjoyment purposes and educational examinations into cultural insights, so too should we examine Eastern cultures with depth.

People and traditions of the culture being romanticized can reduce them to mere commodities for consumption or entertainment, perpetuating power imbalances and reinforcing attitudes by presenting the romanticized culture as either above or below when the reality is neither. It is just a different culture from our own.

While our blog is appreciative of Japan and other foreign media, and we try to respect other cultures for what they are, we think that it is crucial to do so in a way that acknowledges and respects their complexities and histories and does not reduce them to a simplistic or idealized fantasy. We hope that those of you reading also take this into consideration.

What we see is not always what it appears to be, and so we encourage media literacy. There are a lot of different definitions for this, but ultimately media literacy is “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication.” It is a skill you already use every day because media is all around us: from pictures on a wall, to articles on your phone, to music being heard. Even while reading this post you are experiencing a form of media literacy as you interpret the writing here because media literacy refers to looking at the message of a piece of media (the values and ideas that are promoted by the media or what the creators have intended to message to the audience) and what the media’s effects are (their influences or the results as seen on the audience).

Since all media is coded by the creators’ experiences and understanding, understand too that all messages are decoded by the receivers’ experiences and understanding. Like emojis having different meanings for different age groups or how one person may enjoy an anime while another hates it.

Consider John Bohannon’s “Who’s Afraid of Peer Review?” Article and the surrounding incident to the experiment described. Ten years ago, between January and August 2013, John Bohannon submitted fake scientific papers to over 300 journals owned by as many fee-charging, open-access publishers. Publishers we may generally trust at first glance like The Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals—a journal that promised all articles were peer-reviewed. Bohannon writes in his article, “Who’s Afraid of Peer Review?” that these fake-study journal submissions “were designed with such grave and obvious scientific flaws that they should have been rejected immediately by editors and peer reviewers[,]” but 60% of the journals accepted them. Going beyond his paper, he decided to show how fake information spreads quickly, and with the help of a German journalist, Peter Onneken, one of Bohannon’s fake articles became a news article (How Chocolate Can Help You Lose Weight!) which soon went viral across the news. Corrections took far longer to spread than the initial information, so as you look into Japanese culture or really any culture, try to remember that just because you can double-check with other sources, doesn’t mean it is correct. A good way to protect yourself is to go to the main source.

We at TAV aim to give you accurate information. We try to speak from our experiences and to share our readings and insights, but we also recognize that to err is human. In general, this post is really a warning to ourselves and those of you reading that while it is fun to enjoy the entertainment we discuss on here (anime, manga, webtoons, games, etc.), you must keep in mind that these are coded pieces of media. Maybe not intentionally politically coded but certainly influenced by the culture that it comes from. So, as much as we enjoy these things, let’s not romanticize them.

With this said, what are your thoughts? Have you thought about this before? Or, can you think of a way you may have been influenced for better or worse by these media? Let us know!

–

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying us a coffee, leaving a comment, and/or subscribing to us below!

Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee

#ANALYSIS #FEATURED #COMMENTARY #ROMANTICIZING CULTURE #SOFT POWER

0 notes

theanimeview · 2 days

Text

[Theory/Analysis] Musical Literacy Between US and Japan + [Review] Solo Leveling’s Album

Source: https://www.play-asia.com/solo-leveling-original-soundtrack/13/70gxob

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

I participated in choir for close to six years, but despite that lengthy involvement, I must clarify that I lack musical literacy. Sheet music remains a mystery to me, and I’ve lost my ability to carry a tune. The instructions from my choir instructor have faded from memory, except for the general notion and knowledge that I somehow allowed myself to navigate through choir for that time. I was relying on sheer determination rather than musical prowess, until my parents allowed me to finally pursue my true passion—watching anime.

However, this doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten everything. I retain enough to appreciate content such as Mother’s Basement’s breakdowns of anime theme songs and Sideways’ analyses (though I wish he would return to YouTube, I understand his reasons for not doing so). These channels attract a wide audience, many of whom, like me, may not grasp the intricacies of music theory. Yet, what resonates with me are the segments reminiscent of how my choir teacher used to deconstruct songs, explaining the significance of high and low notes.

On that note, it has made me want to discuss, with what limited understanding I have to offer, the very real cultural difference between the US and Japan regarding musical literacy.

In Japan, musical literacy isn’t just a skill; it’s a cultural cornerstone. From a young age, Japanese children are introduced to the language of music through compulsory education programs that emphasize the importance of reading musical notation. This early exposure lays a solid foundation for understanding and appreciating various musical genres, from traditional Japanese melodies to contemporary pop hits.

One striking aspect of Japan’s musically literate culture is the accessibility of sheet music. Unlike in the United States, where finding sheet music for a specific song might involve scouring the internet or specialized music stores, Japanese bookstores often dedicate entire sections to sheet music and, in fact, it is so common that one can sometimes find sheet music in convenience stores.

This is not just about accessibility though, it’s about investment. Japan boasts a thriving music industry through J-pop supporters and, because the population is so musically literate, animation producers often invest a high budget into the musical ensemble for the work.

On the other hand, in the United States, while there’s no shortage of musical talent or passion, the emphasis on musical literacy seems to have waned in comparison. With the rise of digital streaming platforms and the popularity of synthesized sounds, the art of reading sheet music has taken a backseat for many aspiring musicians. While this shift in focus has undoubtedly led to innovation and experimentation within the music scene, it also risks disconnecting musicians and regular audience from the rich tradition and depth that musical literacy offers. I believe it’s also lead to the decline we’ve seen over time with music in US animation.

Let’s consider the case of Adventure Time, a series renowned for its musical elements. While the music was a prominent feature, it often fell short. Although some tunes were pleasant and the lyrics sounded appealing, rarely did a song effectively serve the narrative. Take, for instance, “Everything Stays,” a highly popular song upon release. Despite its pleasing melody, its lyrics lacked coherence within the storyline.

In context, the song fails to fulfill its intended role as a comforting piece for a child. In fact, let’s examine the entire piece:

“Let’s go in the garden You’ll find something waiting Right there where you left it lying upside down When you finally find it, you’ll see how it’s faded The underside is lighter when you turn it around”

In the episode where this song/scene takes place, the characters involved (Marceline and her mother) are not depicted as moving towards a garden, either physically or metaphorically. Marceline’s mother imparts a troubling lesson by stating that things will remain where they are left. This lesson is particularly ill-suited for Marceline, who, being a half-demon/vampire, is likely to live indefinitely, far outlasting her human mother. Additionally, items left exposed to the sun for extended periods will inevitably fade on the side facing up, not upside down.

What exacerbates the situation is that the song is intended to be a source of comfort, akin to a lullaby, for Marceline, as her mother recognizes her own limited time to provide solace to her daughter. As the song progresses into the chorus, the messaging becomes even more distressing given this context:

“Everything stays right where you left it Everything stays But it still changes Ever so slightly, daily and nightly In little ways, when everything stays”

As history has often demonstrated, things don’t tend to remain in the same place where they’re left. While this might hold true within the confines of your home, it’s not applicable outdoors where weather, wear, and tear are factors. The lines “But it still changes” and the subsequent few lines after in this verse do make sense within the song’s narrative. However, they become disjointed from the following lines, which I don’t believe were part of the original iteration of the song but certainly appear in its final version:

“Go down to the ocean The crystal tide is raising [sic] Waters’ gotten higher as the shore washes out Keep your eyes wide open, even when the sun is blazin’ The moon controls the tide, it can cause you to drown”

The initial part, “Go down to the ocean / The crystal tide is raising [sic] / Waters’ gotten higher as the shore washes out,” while not inaccurate, lacks thematic or contextual connection to the preceding verses. Furthermore, the final two lines pose issues. “Keep your eyes wide open, even when the sun is blazing” appears to offer advice that could inadvertently lead a child to stare at the sun, risking blindness. Similarly, “The moon controls the tide, it can cause you to drown” carries a poetic allure but lacks substantive meaning. As per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “The moon is a significant influence on Earth’s tides, although the sun also exerts considerable tidal forces.” Additionally, the use of “it” in the dependent clause seems to refer to the moon rather than the tide, aligning with grammatical clarity and logical causation, implying that the moon poses the drowning risk rather than the rising tide itself.

The song then ends with a return of the chorus, “Everything stays, right where you’ve left it,” which I’ve discussed already.

The song sounds pleasing to the ears, with poetic lyrics and a soft, flowing melody reminiscent of a lullaby. However, upon closer examination, its quality falters as the lyrics lack coherence and detract from the narrative. This issue isn’t exclusive to a single instance but rather a recurring problem across various forms of US animation, spanning from high-budget blockbuster children’s films like Disney’s recent movie Wish, to adult animated productions, like Hazbin Hotel‘s “Out for Love.”

That’s not to say US animation can’t kick out some really great songs. I mean, Rapunzel‘s “Nothing Left To Lose” is a great antagonist song, I’ve played Hazbin Hotel‘s “Loser, Baby” on repeat so many times I’m pretty sure that my Spotify app is tired of it, and who can forget the choke hold “Let It Go” had on us years ago? However, it’s undeniable that Japanese animation consistently delivers exceptional music, often with multiple standout tracks on nearly every album release, far exceeding the occasional hits produced by US animated works.

Upon reflecting on US animation and Japanese anime, it’s evident that instrumental music isn’t as prevalent in American animated media as it once was. While it still finds its place in older productions like DreamWorks’ How To Train Your Dragon or contemporary live-action films, the gradual buildup of music and emotion seems lacking in much of today’s US animation. It’s either a full-blown musical number or silence. Furthermore, even when instrumental tracks are utilized, they’re often omitted from the album listings, making them challenging to track down.

In my understanding, the stark contrast in musical literacy between the two cultures directly influences how songs are created and received in animation. In Japan, where musical literacy is deeply embedded in the cultural landscape, anime serves as a testament to the nation’s musical prowess. The songs featured aren’t merely background accompaniments; they’re integral components of the viewing experience, helping to build emotional resonance and set the tone, much like we see still in US live-action productions. Japanese composers meticulously craft compositions that mirror the mood, tone, and narrative arc of each series, heightening the audience’s immersion in the story.

Conversely, in the United States, although animated cartoons have produced memorable theme songs and occasional hits, the musical impact tends to be less enduring. Often, songs are either standalone musical numbers or disconnected from the overall soundtrack, lacking the cohesive thread that binds them to the narrative fabric of the works they accompany. I truly believe that due to fewer opportunities for formal music education and a cultural preference for visual entertainment over auditory artistry, American animated series often feature catchy yet simplistic tunes that serve more as background filler than integral storytelling devices. This creates a noticeable lack of emphasis on music within animation as a whole.

Moreover, the disparity in music budgets between Japan and the United States exacerbates this divide. Japanese anime producers allocate substantial resources to hiring top-tier composers, orchestrators, and performers, resulting in high-quality soundtracks that enhance the viewing experience. Meanwhile, American animated series often contend with budget limitations, particularly for smaller productions, which restrict their ability to invest in original compositions. This often leads to reliance on pre-existing tracks or generic stock music, or the creation of music and lyrics by showrunners and creators who may lack musical talent or understanding of music’s impact within the work itself.

When examining the musical disparity between anime and animated cartoons, it’s crucial to acknowledge the influence of this cultural context on artistic expression. Japan’s musically literate society not only enriches the creation of anime but also fosters a profound appreciation for music as an art form. Conversely, in the United States, there exists an opportunity to reignite interest in musical education and elevate the role of music in animated storytelling, with anime serving as a potential model.

We ought to celebrate the rich tradition of music and musical literacy that has long been integral to Western culture, even as it faces challenges from advancing technology and a building tolerance for lower-quality productions. By investing in the development of compelling songs, US animation has the potential to create works that resonate across continents and generations, just as it has done for decades before now.

youtube

Title: “Kill or Be Killed | Solo Leveling” by Crunchyroll | Source: https://youtu.be/HI7k2FqPxfM?si=nlFm0ErOIq2ZkE1B

With that in mind, I’d like to briefly discuss/review Solo Leveling‘s album.

To briefly discuss the anime too (since I’m here discussing the album) I love the anime series in addition to the novel and comic. Were there some significant changes in terms of narrative order? Certainly, but these alterations make sense for its adaptation into a new medium. It’s worth considering that many anime fans who will encounter this anime before the comic/novel might be unfamiliar with concepts like dungeon break worlds, and may not grasp why various elements are significant or how they intertwine so the change in narrative structure to present information to the new/different audience makes sense. Furthermore, within the limited 12-episode run, certain details may not be presented in the same order as they are in the original medium. The showrunners are handling this aspect admirably, and fans of the manhwa/webnovel should bear in mind that a new medium entails a new storytelling approach.

Setting that aside, Episode 6 features one of the best songs anime songs I’ve heard in a few years, DARK ARIA <Lv2>. It’s truly remarkable because it’s a high-energy song introduced in a series that typically doesn’t incorporate lyrically dense songs, except in the outro and intro/theme. Yet, as our main character’s power surges while he confronts his first human adversaries, the lyrics of DARK ARIA begin playing and blending in with the SymphonicSuite-Lv.2. Initially, this caught me off guard given that it has been instrumental music all throughout the series thus far, but then I realized that it’s more than just a song. The lyrics in DARK ARIA are intended to represent the system overlapping with Sung Jin-woo’s thoughts. It’s akin to a siren song, enticing and persuading Sung that this is his duty and his resolve, and by the end, he is convinced that it’s not just the system forcing him to choose his life over the lives of others. While this may contain mild spoilers, it’s an incredibly compelling aspect of the adaptation.

I wholeheartedly endorse the Solo Leveling album. It’s truly exceptional, and I must say, Hiroyuki Sawano has done an outstanding job with the entire series. The carefully crafted compositions and the seamless integration of music into the narrative elevate the emotional resonance of each action scene, making it a worthwhile addition to any fan’s collection. After watching episode 6, I promptly purchased the album from Apple Music, and in my opinion, it’s absolutely worth the almost $11 cost since I’ve been listening to it on repeat while studying.

Well, that was a long post… Thank you for reading!

Copyedited by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

Updated: 4/8/2024 – Revised title of post.

#ANALYSIS #ANIME #CULTURAL DIFFERENCES #FEATURED #MUSIC #REVIEW #SOLO LEVELING #Youtube

2 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 22 days

Text

TAV Return! We're back~

We’re back! Over the last two months, we intentionally stepped back from our writing pursuits to focus on editing our backlog of a few hundred posts. This hiatus provided an excellent opportunity to revisit our editorial guidelines and revitalize our creative sides! Now, the backlog was large and no one does this full time, so we’re still a bit behind on older posts and transferring edited work…

View On WordPress

#chat #chatting #Featured

0 notes

theanimeview · 23 days

Text

[Analysis] [April Fools] Fullmetal Alchemist: A Glance at Alchemy

Source: https://fma.fandom.com/wiki/Alchemy?file=Simpletransmutation.png

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

Welcome, fellow alchemists and (humor) enthusiasts, to a light-hearted exploration of the wild world of chemistry history using Fullmetal Alchemist as the base for our discussion because today we’re diving into the notion that alchemy was basically chemistry before they decided to ditch all the woo-woo shenanigans. Grab your philosopher’s stone and let’s embark on a journey through the transmutation circles of science!

Alchemy was, historically speaking, the OG of woo-woo sciences. Philosopher’s stones, mystical symbols, and the pursuit of the elixir of life were all part of the package deal. In a whimsical revival of the historically disproven science, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist (FMA) decided to give alchemy a 21st-century makeover that took the almost-mumbo-jumbo that was once used as a method to help heal people (not just make them rich) and turned into war crimes.

Of course, as the Elric brothers progressed in their alchemical adventures, it becomes increasingly clear that the mystical side of traditional alchemy had been replaced by a more down-to-earth, science-y vibe for the series which is nice. I mean, sure, there were still flashy transmutation circles and cool glove-snapping fire sequences, but beneath the surface, it’s all boils down to some actual science regarding chemical reactions (you know, plus the occasional explosion for dramatic effect). However, in all seriousness (not really), alchemy in FMA is about the weaving of periodic tables, and less about magic. Equivalent exchange is the golden rule of alchemy, ensuring that nothing is gained without something of equal value being lost. This principle may sound a lot like the laws of thermodynamics, but hey, alchemists had it first! Forget about balancing chemical equations; the Elric brothers were masters of balancing the cosmic scales while pulling off jaw-dropping feats against a bunch of homunculi.

OKAY, now, sincerely—setting aside the April Fools aspect of this post.

FMA does give some credibility to the ideas behind Alchemy from a historical sense. I mentioned above that it used to be a healing science, and that’s because it was. We didn’t have chemistry the way we have it now, in the same way that we didn’t have medical knowledge and access to technology that we do now. There are a lot of things that we don’t understand about the human body and while we know more now than in the past, that doesn’t mean that some of things we consider “common” knowledge won’t be outright nightmarish ideas to the future of humanity, in the same way that lobotomies are now considered stuff of horror films but were actually viewed as a sincere advancement in treatment that was practically the only effective treatment for severe, mental conditions until more advancements could be made.

While alchemists in modern interpretations are sometimes given fantastical myths in games and stories, or seen as greedy horrible con-artists, there was a time when they were blurring lines with medical doctors. Arguably, what founded chemistry as a science is alchemy.

Much like the World War that inspired FMA’s militaristic storylines, this adjustment of using Alchemy as their base for magic—a magic system routed within workable science concepts—is a fascinating revival of the ideas of what alchemy used to be for parts of the world: a science. While outside of this is ties into a major concept of FMA, which is that neither a complete reliance on religion or a complete reliance on “science” is truth because both are incomplete sets of knowledge and ideas.

With so may religions in the world, many that have overlapping ideas and many that have significantly divergent ideas as well, we don’t know what the exact “truth” is, because we don’t have all the pieces. The same can be said for our sciences. I mean, we just learned in the last five years how general anesthesia works, assuming that the study is correct because it too is building off of theories and “proofs” for those theories that we have about the human body.

It’s an interesting look, essentially, at how the creator of FMA, Hiromu Arakawa, has so deeply developed that major theme that it even boils down to the real-world example of Alchemy.

I really think it is a fascinating concept and so, if you have time, I encourage you to take a glance at the history of the topic!

–

Editorial Note: This post was inspirational by Krow’s stimulating comment when I compared FMA’s alchemy to bad chemistry, “Alchemy was chemistry before they got rid of all the woo-woo shit.” I felt like this was just the perfect line to inspire a really borderline comedic post for our return. Thanks for reading!

Type your email…

#ALCHEMY #APRIL FOOLS #FMA #FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST #FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST BROTHERHOOD

0 notes

theanimeview · 23 days

Text

[Analysis] [April Fools] Fullmetal Alchemist: A Glance at Alchemy

Source: https://fma.fandom.com/wiki/Alchemy?file=Simpletransmutation.png By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting Welcome, fellow alchemists and (humor) enthusiasts, to a lighthearted exploration of the wild world of chemistry history using Fullmetal Alchemist as the base for our discussion because today we’re diving into the notion that alchemy was basically chemistry before they decided to ditch all…

View On WordPress

#alchemy #april fools #fma #fullmetal alchemist #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood

0 notes

theanimeview · 24 days

Text

Letter from the Editor: A Stream of Consciousness Post

TL/DR: Peggy has a long history loving anime+manga and thanks for sticking for sticking with us. Well, this is not the post I expected to make. I was planning to edit a notes post from a panel that Krow and I attended during the Aniplex Online Fest this year but was inspired to write and publish this instead. (Though I promise to get the Aniplex post up before Christmas, okay? Or… closely after……

View On WordPress

#Analysis #Anime #anime blog #anime journalism #blog #chat #chatting #journalism #manga #manga blog #manga journalism #stream of consciousness #the anime view #theanimeview #thinking day #thoughts

0 notes

theanimeview · 24 days

Text

Aniplex Online Fest - How to Produce an Anime - Notes!

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (PDT) | Aniplex Live Stream | Sunday 5 July 2020 Panel Description: Anime producers will talk about behind the scenes of anime production. Master of Ceremonies/Host: Hisanori Yoshida Guests: Shizuka Kurosaki (Aniplex, Producer) Masami Niwa (Aniplex, Producer), Atsushi Kaneko (A-1 Pictures, Producer), Toshikazu Tsuji (CloverWorks, Producer) _ Credit: Krow Smith |…

View On WordPress

#Anime #Aniplex #aniplex online fest #aniplex usa #aof2020 #film #manga #notes #production #tv

0 notes

theanimeview · 24 days

Text

Anime To Look Forward To – Spring 2024

It is now the start of the Spring 2024 season, and we’re finally returning from our long hiatus. As we return, I thought it would be nice to start off with something a little easy–like a few quick recommendations for those watching things this season.

In upcoming/ongoing works to consider watching this season, I (Peggy Wood, Editor of The Anime View) recommend:

Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken 3rd Season

That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime is a personal favorite of mine. The anticipation for the upcoming third season is truly exciting, and I look forward to seeing where this story will continue now that we’ve had a movie which seems canonically related. If you’re already a fan of this incredible series, you won’t want to miss the upcoming season either! I hope we get to see some further character developments too, as they’ve been hinting for a long period about the summoned children and the expanded role the older “children” will play in Rimuru’s story. A definite must watch!

Ookami to Koushinryou: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf

I watched Season 1 of Spice and Wolf years ago (2008). It was a very cute romance then, with an interesting approach to merchant life in a historical fantasy. The second season as also pretty good.

Judging from the trailer, it seems like this upcoming season will serve as a reboot for the series. So, if you’ve been contemplating giving it a try, now seems like an excellent opportunity to dive into the fandom!

In general, the series revolves around an older-looking merchant who embarks on a journey with a wolf spirit. The romantic elements build slowly, the business strategies are practical for the story, and the overall progression is delightful. Throughout much of the early series, it maintains a historical slice-of-life vibe that I believe many viewers will find appealing. Don’t miss the chance to explore this engaging world and join the Spice and Wolf fan community anew!

Kuroshitsuji: Kishuku Gakkou-hen

Black Butler holds a special place in my heart, and one of the standout arcs that I wholeheartedly recommend is the Public School Arc that is getting an animated adaptation this season. This particular storyline showcases Ciel Phantomhive navigating challenges independently, a departure from the usual dynamic where Sebastian Michaelis takes the lead in many situations. Witnessing Ciel’s problem-solving skills and collaboration with others in the absence of Sebastian adds a unique and compelling layer to the series. For fans who appreciate character development and intricate plot twists, I believe that this arc is a true gem in what has been published of the series thus far.

Lv2 kara Cheat datta Motoyuusha Kouho no Mattari Isekai Life

I’m thrilled that this series is getting an anime adaptation. Having read about the first 20 chapters, it appears to be a highly promising work. The narrative introduces a “hero” summoned from a world with slight similarities to the one he finds himself in, yet he doesn’t fit the mold of the anticipated hero—at least, that’s the initial belief, though I suspect otherwise!

While there are elements of fan service, the series offers a thought-provoking exploration of a world where a country depends on individuals from other realms. Additionally, pay close attention to the summoning number—it introduces intriguing details that spark theories and contemplation. Overall, the storyline provides a fascinating twist on the isekai genre, centering around a progressive-minded merchant who seamlessly adapts to his new environment. So, for those who haven’t added this to their watchlist yet, I highly recommend it!

Dekisokonai to Yobareta Motoeiyuu wa Jikka kara Tsuihou sareta node Sukikatte ni Ikiru Koto ni Shita

This one is new to me, but it definitely caught my attention with its promising premise. The protagonist is a reincarnated hero aiming for a more laid-back life this time around. Despite possessing hero skills, these abilities go unnoticed during appraisals, and the absence of the “gift of God’s bounty” results in his family deeming him a failure and subsequently casting him out. However, things take an interesting turn when he’s taken in by his (former?) fiance, who recruits him as a bodyguard.

The storyline seems to promise an entertaining comedic twist within a fantasy world and I am excited about the potential. It looks like a delightful blend of humor and fantasy, making it a show worth checking out. With that said, I’m planning to pick it up this season and wholeheartedly recommend it here!

Tadaima, Okaeri

This is an Omegaverse BL story, and as far as I can discern, it’s the first of its kind to be adapted into an anime. Having previously explored the series, I can confirm that it comes with several expansions, including a sequel(s), doujinshis (djs), and at least one spin-off. If you’re on the lookout for an Omegaverse BL narrative, this one seems like a reliable choice, offering a complete and well-established storyline with a dedicated fanbase.

While the story might not align perfectly with my personal preferences, I believe it has a well-crafted narrative, complete with clearly defined rules for the world it presents and a harmonious blend of slice-of-life elements. If you have a penchant for slow-burning romances and heartwarming family dynamics, this series might be a perfect fit for you. It has certainly piqued my interest, and I’m eager to see how the unfolding narrative captivates viewers this season!

Code Geass: Dakkan no Rozé

Calling all fans of mecha and socio-political narratives, brace yourselves—it’s Code Geass time once again! As an avid enthusiast of mecha stories, the allure of colossal robots engaged in epic battles never fails to captivate my attention, making any series featuring giant robots an instant addition to my watch list. However, Code Geass stands out prominently, even overshadowing the iconic Gundam series in terms of its ability to grip my interest.

With great anticipation, I await the unfolding events involving Ash and Rozé, eager to see how their roles contribute to the overarching storyline. Code Geass has a proven track record of offering thought-provoking plots, and this season is hopefully one of no exception. Fingers crossed!

2 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 24 days

Text

Anime To Look Forward To – Spring 2024

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting It is now the start of the Spring 2024 season, and we’re finally returning from our long hiatus. As we return, I thought it would be nice to start off with something a little easy—like a few quick recommendations for those watching things this season. In upcoming/ongoing works to consider watching this season, I (Peggy Wood, Editor of The Anime View)…

View On WordPress

0 notes

theanimeview · 1 month

Text

[Anime Review] Dragon’s Dogma: Compare And Contrast

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 2

By: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a game I hold near and dear to my heart. It is a Japanese action RPG in a high fantasy setting where you fight Harpies and Ogres, with the end goal of slaying a Dragon who has stolen your heart (literally). Is the story the best? Not really, but there is definitely something there to make you think and it is serviceable with a fantastic class system that keeps me coming back to replay it over and over again. In fact, throughout the years it has become one of my obsessions! This is why I viewed the release of the Dragon’s Dogma 2 showcase with such excitement, as I thought about what could be improved for the series. So, with my growing anticipation, I decided to finally watch Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma and compare it with the game it is based on, which is what you are about to read below.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 1

Episode One: Wrath

In comparison to the game, I can see where the story team is going with the plot. Not everything is going to be an exact copy story-wise, nor should it. Some things work better in the medium they were created in and need to be redone in order for them to fit into another form. Especially when, in the game, you create your character and go on a quest that’s the same for everyone who plays. With Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma, you’re now following Ethan, who has his own past and his own path that is very different from the game.

For example, both settings for the game and the show start in a small fishing village named Cassardis. Yet, Ethan is in the forest when the dragon arrives rather than your character in-game being in the village as it happens. This is to coincide with Ethan’s backstory as a hunter in the forest rather than as a fisher, like every other person in Cassardis.

However, both have a key moment, wherein the protagonist picks up the sword and attempts to attack the dragon. This is vital to the Dragon’s Dogma story as it is the sole reason why the dragon chooses to make them (Ethan and your character) an Arisen. However, the reasons for taking up the blade are different between the game’s protagonist, player, and the anime’s protagonist, Ethan.

In the game, your character is doing it to protect your home and its people. This results in the mitigation of greater harm to the village due to your courageous sacrifice. For Ethan, it was an act of wrath, while focusing on the loss of his family and home.

This difference brings me to my next comparison: the naming of episodes for the story’s progression. When I saw that the episodes are named after the seven deadly sins, I was quite perplexed. This is not a concept in the game. I mean, you can attribute some characters to certain sins, but it’s not an overt, overarching theme when it comes to the story. This idea ends up weighing down the show as they try to shoehorn the sins into each episode, mostly unsuccessfully.

In terms of judging the first episode on its own, one thing I noticed immediately was the CGI, which does not bode well when it comes to first impressions. The animations are stiff and often appear to be emotionless, making it difficult to relate to the characters. Meanwhile, the dialogue doesn’t help with this problem either—in fact, it makes it worse. With repeated uses of trite lines, such as “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” it’s hard to take it seriously.

There were also some awkward moments, such as Ethan and Louis (an orphan Ethan and his wife had taken in as their own) having a conversation with some guards while walking past them at a considerable distance.

Overall, I give this episode a 4/10. In terms of story, it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t special either. Also, at this point, the CGI and stale dialogue had me quite dubious of what was to come.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 2

Episode Two: Gluttony

This is where Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma strays far from the game in terms of geography and story. In the game, there are only 2 towns: Cassardis and Gran Soren.

I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous to have only 2 towns in a fantasy game, but a lot was cut out of the game during production due to budget constraints. So, I understand adding more villages for the show to make it more interesting. However, in terms of the Pawn, Hannah, they do stray quite a bit compared to the source material. This change is less understandable.

Her vocation, or what you might call “class” are significantly changed between the anime and game. There are nine vocations in the Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen game, starting with the base classes of Fighter (sword and shield), Strider (dagger and bows), and Mage (staff). Then you have the upgraded versions of those vocations with the Warrior, Ranger, and Sorcerer. Next are the mixed classes, such as Assassin or Mystic Knight. Hannah is very obviously a Magick Archer, she uses a bow and magick (as it is spelled in the game). This is an issue conflicting with source materials because Pawns can’t be any of the mixed classes, only the Arisen have this option.

Not to mention the writers decided to make her detached in a way that is heartless and inconsiderate. While Pawns in the game lack a true will of their own, they simply follow the Arisen wherever they go and are always trying to help the Arisen regardless of the quest.

Anime-Hannah, on the other hand, doesn’t care to help anyone and only wishes to commit to the quest of finding and slaying the dragon. A stark contrast to Pawns in the game as they give advice on current quests and don’t complain about wasting time.

Returning to the episode, my judgment is that it is very bland, with more predictable dialogue and obvious story beats. For example, there is a corrupt mayor who is starving the townspeople and using a Cyclops as a tool to seize all of their belongings and food in order to satiate his gluttony. It was simply a classic case of “Evil, just because.”

The mayor was so comically evil that it even caused an eye roll or two and the “twist” at the end didn’t fare much better. I sighed in disappointment as the townspeople became the embodiment of gluttony. This episode is a taste of the template that the show follows throughout the rest of the season:

Something bad is happening → Main characters help → Someone or something represents the sin the episode is named after → “twist” → character(s) for the episode die or is/are afflicted → the end

There are very slight variations to this format depending on the episode, but this is what it all boils down to, and it becomes redundant almost immediately.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 3

Episode Three: Envy

Disclaimer: MATURE CONTENT WARNING – This episode review contains content that we at The Anime View do not think is suitable for everyone. Possible triggers or subjects include sexual assault and suicide. By clicking “Read More,” you understand that you may encounter such content. Reader discretion is advised.

Wow, this episode was hard to watch (and not for the reasons that were probably intended)! Before I get ahead of myself, let’s compare it with the game. So far, I appreciated that the monsters looked exactly as they did in their source material. I’ve also noticed a trend in which some characters are loosely based on characters from the game.

For example, the mayor from the previous episode vaguely resembles Fornival from the game—a greedy, rich man who will gladly step on the downtrodden to get what he wants. In this episode, there is a woman named Elizabeth who is reminiscent of the game’s Madeleine, a merchant who flirts with her clients and is trying to make a fortune. However, there really isn’t much else to compare.

When it comes to the story in the anime, a couple is being escorted by two guards when they are overrun with Goblins and the wife, Elizabeth, is sexually assaulted by said goblins. This scene didn’t feel necessary and I believe the show could have suggested what was happening rather than outright showing it on screen, particularly when the assault feels so out of place from other episodes.

It was poorly done in another way too, as the other characters didn’t seem that concerned for her despite her screams. Their reactions were stiff and would be more fitting if she was simply trying to fight them off on her own and needed a little assistance.

Sure, the guards were busy fighting off Goblins themselves, but there could have been more urgency and horror in their voices or expressions as they called out to the husband, Theo, to help Elizabeth. Because of that, it felt like there was a dichotomy between the show making a big deal out of the sexual assault by focusing quite intently on it, all while the characters’ reactions downplay the event. Making the entire scene feel strange and at odds with itself.

I also have issues with the “twist” at the end. After Theo has his heroic redemption by saving Elizabeth from a Griffin, he stabs his wife, so that she will always be with him. Then she lovingly remarks, “I was always yours,” even though she actively tried to cheat on him with Ethan due to Theo’s lack of bravery during her assault scene earlier in the episode.

Theo then decides to stab himself and end his own life, so they can be together again? I end this as a question because it isn’t very clear what his intention was and I’m only assuming. The entire moment felt undeserved and unoriginal, like a strange Romeo and Juliet situation without having spent an entire story with these characters or connecting with them. I was simply left with the thought: “Well, glad that’s over with.”

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 4

Episode Four: Sloth

The episodes feel very paint-by-numbers at this point and are a real drag to get through. During this episode, I heavily considered not finishing the show. However, to make a full comparison between the game and the anime, it was imperative that I finish the season. So on I watched!

Ethan and Hannah find themselves traveling through a cavern where people are addicted to a moss, causing them to laze about. This episode did a poor job of making me feel any kind of empathy for the characters that Ethan and Hannah are trying to help. Perhaps it was the stiff CGI, or the painfully predictable dialogue once again, but either way, it resulted in a complete lack of emotion in the characters and more apathy from me. Even Ethan’s rage felt like there was no tension in his body, just angry faces with no power behind his attacks.

It is at this point in the show that Hannah is expressing more care and concern for humans, while Ethan is beginning to experience a lack of empathy for them instead. The change starts almost immediately and becomes more obvious by the next episode. However, considering there are only seven episodes in the season and the lacking quality of its writing, it realistically couldn’t have had a more natural progression.

In comparison with the game, there are a few discrepancies. This episode revolves around moss that these people are using habitually as a drug. The problem is, in the game, there is no moss. There’s a curative called “Moss Poultice,” but it’s not made with actual moss, nor are there any notes about recreational use. In fact, there are no recreational drugs in the game. The closest you get is ale.

Then, while fighting the Hydra, we have our male lead, Ethan, go into some kind of “berserk” mode, with glowing red eyes and uncontrollable growling. This is certainly not in the game. There is no “rage meter,” so to speak, for the Arisen—this is exclusive to the show.

Not that rage-mode is inherently a bad thing, just that I find, as a huge fan of the game, it creates a disconnect and makes me think of other series rather than the source material.

In addition to my previously addressed discrepancy that Pawns can’t be Magick Archers, Hannah not only uses a skill exclusive to that vocation, she uses it incorrectly. The skill in question is “Magickal Gleam” and it creates a bright light. However, in the game you use a bow to release it while Hannah casts it with her staff. A small gripe, yes, but I feel details such as this are important to keep straight. Lest anime fans decide to pick up the game and find themselves confused.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 5

Episode Five: Greed

For this episode, the guards, Balthazar and Simon, return as they are hired to kill a Lich in order to free up a route for safer travels. In the process, however, Balthazar becomes cursed with greed and impales his best friend, Simon, foregoing his morals and code of honor.

There isn’t much to compare with the game. Yet again, it strays far from Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen in favor of a confused plot about the betrayal of friendship and ethics while being cursed with greed. However, I will say that I did care a little bit about the returning characters, Balthazar and Simon, as we had some time to get to know them. It still doesn’t mean their “tragic” fight to the death made me feel anything other than boredom, but it was nice to see them again regardless.

The animation, in the beginning, made me laugh as the Lich’s army of Skeletons running looked very silly to me. There was also a discrepancy between the quote “It burned everyone’s homes to the ground,” and then showing buildings still standing.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 6

Episode Six: Lust

In this episode, Ethan and Hannah decide to rest at an inn for the night. When a Succubus imitating Ethan’s late wife seduces him, causing him to get lost in his memories of her. Until he snaps out of it and slays the monster. The plot felt shoehorned, like this whole episode was just an excuse to have a lust theme somewhere in the season.

There are no real game similarities in this episode, aside from the act of killing a Succubus. As a result, I didn’t write many notes other than “There really isn’t anything to note anymore,” and “The sex scenes are very uncomfortable and awkward.” There just wasn’t much else to point out. However, there was something that kept coming to mind as I was watching the show, and that’s Berserk.

Okay, here me out: In the first episode of Dragon’s Dogma, we’re shown the death of Ethan’s pregnant wife and adopted son, making him lose everything right before his eyes. In turn, the loss causes him to swear vengeance against the Dragon. Then, we have episode three, “Envy,” when it comes to the Goblin scene with Elizabeth, which is reminiscent of the disturbing Trolls from Berserk. In the fourth episode, “Sloth,” Ethan starts going into a state of complete rage, as does Guts in Berserk. Moreover, in this episode, “Lust,” we have a monster disguising herself as a human to fool men into intimacy. The part that reminds me of a scene in the first Berserk manga is when Ethan kills the monster after having just been intimate with her. The CGI also doesn’t help in separating the two, either.

The game, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, was very much inspired by Berserk and there was actually a merchant that sold the armor of Guts and Griffith from The Golden Age Arc movies as an in-game promotion.

I’m not saying it’s bad to be inspired by Berserk, in fact, I feel that inspiration can be a base for great things. The game itself is basically a love letter to Berserk! The problem is when, in the case of Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma, it feels like it is trying to replicate the series rather than be inspired by it. As what tends to happen in cases such as this, is you have dark tones with blood and death, but no philosophical bite; no characters with depth and complexity; and no worldbuilding to make these story elements make sense.

Dragon’s Dogma, the anime, has a philosophy and it’s “humans suck.” The characters are bland and barely have a pulse; they’ve built a world with little history and no geographical coherence; and because of the poor writing, I cannot help but compare it to better work out there. Everything feels tacked on and yet so limited at the same time.

Episode Seven: Pride

Finally, the fight with the Dragon arrives, it’s the episode I’ve been waiting for. The reason this episode is important is because, in the game, this is the beginning of a series of choices that reveal a lot about the Arisen, the Dragon, and exposes the actions of the previous Arisen.

In the game, the fight with the Dragon isn’t simply something you’re building up to, it’s a peek behind the curtain before the full reveal of his purpose later on as you progress. The Dragon isn’t just some incarnation of evil with a taste for destruction. He has an objective, which is to choose the Arisen. When you pick up the blade to protect your small village, it is just as imperative as fighting the Dragon after a long journey. Your character is chosen specifically to kill him, as the Dragon’s existence is to find the next god. His divine purpose is exemplified by the fact that he is weak to the dark element and has resistance to the element holy.

By killing the Dragon, you then eventually get to proceed in fighting the Seneschal (the god of the game) and thus, taking their place if you defeat them. In this world, all of the energy and life is made by the Seneschal, as that is all they provide—creation and energy. However, after a while that energy becomes stagnant, causing the world to fall to a similar static state. Thus, the need to send out a Dragon to choose the next Arisen (a candidate to become the next Seneschal).

In the game, before fighting the Dragon, he gives you the choice between rescuing your beloved (the person who loves you most or hates you the least) and killing him. Or to sacrifice your beloved and he will go quietly, letting everyone think you defeated the dragon and making you the ruler of the land.

What happens if you don’t have a beloved? Well, for your character, it’s impossible as it is a forced mechanic. However, in the game there is an Arisen named Dragonforged who did not have a beloved and was simply left with the option to kill the Dragon, but failed in his attempt.

So, as a player, your only choice is to sacrifice or fight. This exemplifies the choice of the well renowned Arisen before you, King Edmun, as this is where you figure out that he chose not to kill the dragon and instead sacrificed his beloved to rise to the throne.

In the anime, the fighting sequence is out of order in comparison to the game. Even though it felt wrong considering I’ve fought the dragon countless times and know the battle by heart, I was able to withhold such feelings and understand that the order in which the battle happens isn’t so important.

What is important is the Dragon’s reasons. The anime does explain that Ethan was chosen to kill the Dragon. However, where the show falls flat in its explanation is in how they portrayed the Dragon as killing simply to kill. Relating it to Ethan as though he is killing the Dragon just because he can. This portrayal is very reductive not only for the Dragon, but for Ethan as well. I highly doubt Ethan would go out of his way to kill the Dragon for no reason.

As for the beloved, Ethan no longer has one as his wife was killed. It was strange but nice to follow an Arisen without a beloved, as it is forced on you in the game. It caused me to watch more intently since I didn’t know what to expect.

Judging the episode on its own merit, the use of pride as the ultimate sin that was committed by Ethan makes no sense to me. It seemed more like wrath than pride and it felt like a punishment after completing what he was meant to do. Not only that, but the idea the Dragon was trying to push that humans are full of sin and it was shown across Ethan’s journey was very obvious and didn’t make the entire gimmick feel any less unoriginal.

Though, the worst part is when Ethan turns into the dragon due to his committing sin, that being pride. In the game, the only time you are turned into a dragon is when you are bested by the Seneschal, off to find the next Arisen. There is no gameplay, it’s just a simple cutscene, but it shows the dragon’s holy purpose and expresses that Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is cyclical. As the game is an endless loop:

Seneschal creates Dragon → Dragon creates Arisen → Arisen fights Dragon → Arisen Fights Seneschal → Repeat with new game+

Meanwhile, in the show, it simply ends on the Arisen becoming a Dragon as though that is the only option, making it feel finalized, yet also incomplete. What is the purpose of the Dragon? Why bother creating another Arisen? These are some of the questions the show has left me with as the ending lacks any real meaning or reason for anything to happen the way it did.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 7

The Conclusion

Well, there you have it! My entire review of Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma and how it compares to the game is finished. Now I feel like I can truly put to rest this awful anime from my mind and continue to look forward to Dragon’s Dogma 2, set to release on 22 March 2024.

If you made it this far, Thank you! Please consider subscribing for more content and/or tell us what you think!

#ANALYSIS #ANIME #DRAGON'S DOGMA #DRAGON'S DOGMA 2 #FEATURED #NETFLIX #REVIEW

2 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 2 months

Text

[Recommended Watch] The Apothecary Diaries

Source: Crunchyroll/Toho Animation Studio x OLM, The Apothecary Diaries

By: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee

We are well into the winter anime season, and a certain show called The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) should be on your watchlist if it isn’t already. I saw the poster for it on my Crunchyroll homepage back in January, and I recalled seeing the trailer being unveiled at Anime Expo 2023. It left a lasting impression on me with its gorgeous animation, historical setting in Imperial China, and the concept of exploring herbal medicines and poisons from that time period. However, since the trailer release, I had seen and heard virtually nothing about it. I admit that I can be quite the contrary to the popular trends, so I was driven to see what was becoming of The Apothecary Diaries, despite Frieren and Solo Leveling dominating the anime discourse these days. So, I clicked on the advertisement and started watching. The rest is history. Now, I come to you today to spread the word about this show so you, too, can enjoy this gem hidden in plain sight (and help ensure a Season 2 gets made!).

The story is set in a fictional universe inspired by Ming Dynasty-era China (1368-1644 in the real world), and all the beauty and ugliness of life in that society. 17-year-old Maomao simply wants to live a quiet life with her apothecary father and her “big sisters” (high-level courtesans) in the nearby brothel. However, Maomao is unfortunately (and/or fortunately) kidnapped and sold into the Rear Palace, the garden of the Emperor’s concubines. She starts at the bottom as a servant girl and soon reveals her knowledge of medicines and poisons to save the Emperor’s newborn heirs from a mysterious illness.

From then on, she is swept up in solving the medical mysteries befalling those who live and work in the Imperial Court, while working her new day job as a poison taster for a high-ranking concubine. All this while rejecting and evading the increasing infatuation and sometimes creepy, sometimes endearingly, childish advances of Jinshi, the Rear Palace manager who is also the most beautiful eunuch around.

Fans of medical dramas, detective/mystery dramas, historical dramas, and comedic innuendos will find lots to love about this show. It has a well written development and a lot of really interesting, accurate tidbits. There is even a “Pharmacist Reacts” YouTube series on The Apothecary Diaries by DefinitivelyZach that is particularly educational and just as entertaining! The animation quality, voice acting, and soundtrack are all top-notch too.

Maomao may be smart enough to solve every puzzle thus far, but she is too well-characterized to be a Mary Sue. Lest you be wary of a toxic reverse-harem situation here, with Maomao potentially collecting suitors left and right and treating them all like dirt, the romance aspect is not the immediate main focus of the story (although there is clearly a slow-burn romance between Maomao and Jinshi that has grown on me the more Jinshi matures).

On par with recent trends for female characters in anime, we see a highly intelligent woman like Maomao earn the respect of everyone she meets through her tact and problem-solving skills, despite her commoner status. She also remains hilariously aloof to Jinshi’s advances when he puts on insincere, seductive airs.

As a girl who grew up on the doorstep of a brothel, Maomao has seen many women be lied to and downright betrayed by men. If Jinshi can be more consistently honest with his feelings around Maomao, and grow out of his childishness, he might just stand a chance with her!

Once I got used to Jinshi being cringe-worthy levels of creepy and accepted his weirdness as innocent immaturity (because at least he never has harmful intentions, despite his questionable methods of flirting), I quickly fell in love with The Apothecary Diaries and I’m confident that you will, too!

Season 1 Second Cour of The Apothecary Diaries is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Cours 1 and 2 are 12 episodes each for a total of 24 episodes in Season 1.

–

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying us a coffee, leaving a comment, and/or subscribing to us!

Copyedited by: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

#ANIME #APOTHECARY DIARIES #RECOMMENDED WATCH #REVIEW #THE APOTHECARY DIARIES

12 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 2 months

Text

Happy Hearts & Matching Outfits! #3

Late post! Sorry--this went up on Wordpress but we forgot to schedule it here.

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

It’s that time of the year again when both lonely and love-filled hearts come together to celebrate the Valentine’s holiday this coming week. Having engaged in this tradition of presenting matching outfits that make me happy for two years now, I’ve decided to make it a lasting ritual! So, here I am—posting while on break.

From For My Derelict Favorite on Webtoon, we have our main couple in a beautiful set of purple outfits. This love story is a slow burn, and it’s nice to see the planning for their couple outfit in the story itself. This is the chapter were our ML is really starting to get to know his wife and starting to care about knowing her. It is a cute and nice inclusion. I also love that these two have begun consistently wearing matching outfits as time goes on, mostly with purple as their primary color.

From I Will Fall With the Emperor (not officially translated yet) we have a great villain couple. They’ve been subtly matching for a while now and this is shown to be a thoughtful inclusion by the artist/writer because throughout the series, characters that want to be on the MC’s side are shown to change their style of dress to match hers. Seeing the two matching in the beautiful burgundy above shows them coming closer as a couple, and also fits their villainous aesthetic!

From The Promise on Inker (Chapter 19), we have a more modern ensemble choice for the same-sex couple in this particular scene. Unlike most of the series where the couple does not wear matching outfits, they attend this event in coordinated attire. The significance becomes apparent when we see that all the couples in the series appear in matching outfits of distinctly different colors/styles for the event. This act symbolizes partnership and, to some extent, ownership at that moment. Interestingly, the love interest is likely the one that selected the outfits, notably choosing a shade of purple that complements our main character’s eyes.

From The Male Lead’s Little Lion Daughter on Tapas, we have another cute matching outfit between a father and daughter! I mentioned these two before in my last matching outfits post of 2023, and here they are again dressed up in similar colors and styles for a day out.

Also from a title mentioned last year is this lovely family unit in matching yellow outfits from Also from a title mentioned last year is this lovely family unit in matching yellow outfits from When the Villainess is in Love on Tapas:

Now, some of you might be wondering about the runners-up. Well, here are a few for you to enjoy!:

The Rogue Prince Is Secretly an Omega on TappyToon >

Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom on Tapas >

Solitary Lady on Tapas >

–

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying us a coffee, leaving a comment, and/or subscribing to us!

Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee

#FEATURED #I WILL FALL WITH THE EMPEROR #MATCHING OUTFITS #MY DERELICT FAVORITE #NOT-SEW-WICKED STEPMOM #SOLITARY LADY #THE MALE LEAD'S LITTLE LION DAUGHTER #THE PROMISE #THE ROGUE PRINCE IS SECRETLY AN OMEGA #WHEN THE VILLAINESS IS IN LOVE

6 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 3 months

Text

Letter From The Editor – See you in April!

Hello, Everyone!

Thank you all for your continued support! Beginning today, we are officially on hiatus until April. Although we may post once or thrice during the next few months, our updates will be limited as we focus on sorting through our backlog and making necessary revisions to older posts.

For more information about this, please feel free to check out out 2024 Planning post from a while ago:

Be back soon!

– The Anime View Editorial Board

#featured #chat #chatting

1 note · View note

theanimeview · 3 months

Text

OMG—One Piece Soundtrack’s New Opening and Ending Theme Songs!

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

This past weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Avex Pictures Inc. hosted a One Piece event as part of the Bandai Card World Fest 23-24 World Tour. This seems to have been the kick-off for the nine-location world tour that will bring together various Bandai Card Game titles. This tour is the first large-scale card game event to visit nine regions worldwide. At each stop, tournaments are held for select titles, and the Los Angeles event included a tournament to determine the North American One Piece Card Game champion. The event is still ongoing, with World Championship Finals set to happen this March.

We learned that the new opening and ending theme songs are set for an official release by Avex Pictures on 10 April 2024, along with other songs from the One Piece anime series’ 25-year history. They’ll be available on Apple Music’s official One Piece Playlist, which is not currently up at the time of writing this (but should be up when the release happens!). In the meantime, you can enjoy most of the songs here: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/one-piece-openings-endings-ost/pl.u-MDAejajTADMzlJB

You can read the official press release here.

–

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying us a coffee, leaving a comment, and/or subscribing to us!

Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee

All Images for this post are sourced from: ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation One Piece, and all logos, character names and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

#AVEX PICTURES INC.#BANDAI CARD WORLD FEST 23-24 #FEATURED #ONE PIECE

2 notes · View notes

theanimeview · 3 months

Text

[Event Review] Anime Pasadena 2023

By: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee

TL/DR

This was a very enjoyable and well-attended mid-tier convention (around 15,000 attendees) with a lot of official vendors, art vendors, and English VAs hosting panels/meet-and-greets. Spend one day if you’re mainly planning to shop; spend two days if you also want to attend panels. Plan to arrive as soon as possible in the morning because once parking at the convention center fills up, additional parking structures in the surrounding area will require a good amount of walking to get to and from the convention.

Location: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101

Date: 4-5 November 2023

I attended for Day 1 and spent it mainly on shopping and slightly on exploring. The venue was an appropriate size given the scale of the event. It felt spacious enough to house all the vendors, main stage, gaming area, photo op zone, and still had open floor space in the hallways to sit, rest, or eat. I also appreciate that there was an information table at the entrance to each building in the venue.

Food options abounded, starting with a couple of food trucks that had incredibly long lines in the outdoor plaza on Green Street and a conveniently-located Starbucks that was part of the convention center itself. The location in downtown Pasadena also afforded attendees a wide variety of surrounding restaurants. My friend and I ended up getting lunch at the soft opening of a new restaurant a couple of blocks away called “Tokyo Chick.” They had a banner up across the street from the convention center to attract hungry con-goers who didn’t want to wait for up to an hour for food from the food trucks. Considering how busy it was at Tokyo Chick, we liked that the wait from the back of the line to receiving one’s food was around half an hour. Everyone was required to take their order to-go, and the to-go boxes were placed in a Tokyo Chick-branded reusable polyurethane bag that could be brought back to the restaurant for a discount on your next order. If you find yourself at Tokyo Chick in the near future, I recommend trying the karaage!

Health and Safety Policy

The Pasadena Convention Center states on their website that they are in ADA compliance with everything from designated parking, to restrooms, to service animals. As is somewhat standard now across California conventions, there was no strong encouragement to wear masks, and masking was entirely up to individual preference. While I did I see several attendees wearing masks, the majority of people were not and I did not observe any pressure or harassment of masked individuals by unmasked ones, or vice versa.

Vendor Hall & Artist Alley

Cosplay Areas

Cosplayers freely roamed the venue and were concentrated most heavily in the outdoor plaza on Green Street. This area is where people could best admire the cosplayers from afar, or interact with them and ask for photos.

Entertainment – Attendee Experience

Once we made it to the front of the registration and badge pick-up line, there were no more long lines to contend with (not counting the lunch lines)—just convention fun! Between the Entertainment Hall, Cast Panels, and Artist Alley, I spent the majority of my time in the Artist Alley and enjoyed every moment.

Of course, every mid-size and larger anime convention worth one’s salt has a Main Stage, and true to form, the one here was playing a lineup of anime soundtrack cover singers, emcee jokes, and trivia contests with the audience. The photo booth area on the same floor as the Main Stage had many banners of popular anime, but the views were always obscured by people sitting on the floor or at round tables in front of them, so they were not very accessible for photo takers without having to ask for people to move. There were also giveaways to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Anime Pasadena, but we arrived too late and decided not to participate since they had run out of everything we would have been interested in. However, other than these small letdowns, we had a great time and experienced a lot without feeling overwhelmed.

One lingering question I had about the convention management was that there was a dedicated convention center staff member in the Entertainment Hall (Dragon Hall Z) catching everyone at the door and verbally directing them to go straight downstairs towards the Main Stage area. The whole ground floor was off-limits to convention attendees for undisclosed reasons. It would have made more sense to have physical cordons, like retractable-belt barriers, and a sign put up to communicate this in addition to having a staff member present to ensure compliance.

In closing, Anime Pasadena was time and money well spent, and I encourage any anime fan who will be in the LA area in early November to plan for next year’s convention!

Final Judgments

Venue: 5/5

Staff: 5/5

Organization, Layout & Management: 4.5/5

Organization, Media Use: 5/5

Attendance: 5/5

Affordability: 4/5

Overall: 4.75/5

–

#2023 #ANIME PASADENA #CONVENTION #EVENT REVIEW #FEATURED #REVIEW

0 notes