Winter 2016 – Week 9 Anime Review

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Clik here to view.Back during Week 9: the symbolism of clothing in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, questioning whether anyone else is ‘special’ in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, praising the tsukkomis in Dagashi Kashi, and posting pictures of Clarion from Koukaku no Pandora because why not?

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Osomatsu-san

Anime trending down this week: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 9)

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Clik here to view.Fashion and apparel in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu has been used brilliantly as symbolism to both connect and contrast Yakumo and Sukeroku. Given that anime is a visual medium, clothing has always played a significant role in defining characters and is often used to enhance them by supporting or augmenting their personality, profession, or general appeal. In Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the clothes play an important yet reserved role in the relationship between Yakumo and Sukeroku. Yakumo has adopted a modern, sophisticated, chic western-style wardrobe, as seen by his clean dress shirts, charcoal grey suit, and black tie. Sukeroku, on the other hand, wears traditional Japanese clothing, such as his typical jinbei. Another inherent difference between the styles is the impression that these clothes give, with Yakumo appearing to be wealthy and upper-class while Sukeroku appears as an ordinary commoner. Not only does it symbolize a contrast between their personalities, but their clothes also denote the success that Yakumo is realizing in the world of rakugo whereas Sukeroku appears to be crashing, especially with the developments in this episode. And while their casual outdoor-wear shows great, significant contrasts between the characters, clothing also unites these characters together. When performing rakugo, Yakumo and Sukeroku wear the same haori and hakama. Not only does wearing the same clothes connect them both to the profession they love, but it connects them to each other, as best friends. That is to say, while they are different in just about every category, they are the same when it comes to their passion for rakugo. And you can clearly see it, visually, with their connection via their same clothing when performing rakugo together.

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Koukaku no Pandora (Episode 9)

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Clik here to view.I have nothing new to say about Koukaku no Pandora, but I wanted to post pictures of chibi Clarion so that I can find them easily online.

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Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 8)

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Clik here to view.With Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! ending in two episodes (the finale has already aired, whoops!), I will admit I am kinda sad we didn’t see more of the characters before their star-crossed journey together. What I mean is, I wish we saw how much of a dick Aqua was prior to meeting Kazuma, how Megumin was shunned by society due to her name, behavior, and explosive magic, and how everyone felt weirded-out by Darkness before she was accepted by Kazuma and others. However, given that there is a second season already announced, this topic is really a moot point now since we’re likely to get some backstory for these characters whenever the next season airs.

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Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (Episode 9)

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Clik here to view.Given the immense size of the cast and the length of Durarara!!, I am curious if I missed cameos in the original seasons of characters that were formally introduced during these latter seasons. And though many of these newer characters have vibrant and obvious designs, I still wonder if I may have missed Chikage standing in a crowd, Akane walking by on the street, or Mikage waiting outside her dojo for Mairu and Kururi. Part of me wants to go back and scan around a few of the episodes to search for these fascinating Easter eggs, especially since there have been numerous instances of actual characters being a part of the crowd throughout the series. But, realistically, I don’t think it’s worthwhile given that such brief cameos won’t hold any significance to the story or their own development. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed how Durarara!! has incorporated these individual characters as functioning parts of Ikebukuro and have featured them throughout, even when their time in the spotlight has long been over.

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Dagashi Kashi (Episode 9)

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Clik here to view.One of the very most essential aspects of a comedy anime, or at least in a manzai or gag anime, is that the tsukkomi (or straight man) does not scream or shout or yell too much. Thankfully, Dagashi Kashi meets that necessity with Kokonotsu and Saya being entirely reasonable tsukkomi with their reactions and punchlines. Dagashi Kashi really seems to understand how to use their personalities and comedic timing well, as the anime has a pleasant balance between normal and loud jokes. And, because of that, Dagashi Kashi has really started to grow on me despite having virtually no experience or understanding of what it’s like to grow up with these candies and snacks.

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Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 9)

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Clik here to view.Will Satoru’s time traveling ability ever be explored? Or rather, and what interests me the most, does anyone else have the ability to go back in time, too, to fix their mistakes like how Satoru saves the lives of others around him? For example, does the killer have the same ability as Satoru and the two are using their two time traveling abilities to counter each other and do their best to save or kill as they please? I’m expecting something else from Boku Dake ga Inai Machi given that Satoru has been able to ‘Groundhog Day’ himself three times now, and am curious if someone else (the killer or maybe Kayo) has something unique going on with them as well.