40 Seasons in 40 Days: Winter 2006

Evidently this scene was controversial to some people, Matsumaru is clearly within the "1/2 + 7" rule. Oh, it was something else wasn't it?

Fortunately, I never said anything about these posts being in any sort of chronological order. Yesterday’s post aside, the next 38 of these are in random order culminating with the current season on New Year’s Eve. The second post marks the beginning of the second half of the decade. While there are signs here of what was to come in what got green-lighted, my tendency to miss quality while dropping everything in sight probably began about this time.

40 Seasons in 40 Days: Winter 2000

Steel Angel Kurumi in one line shows it's high concept ideas.

Decade retrospectives are inherently difficult things to write. Trying to cram 10 years worth of developments into a small amount of space, then revisions and other edits eventually means that over 90% gets left out. Controversy reigns over real information and all that. However, I can always go back and do four or five versions of “I Love Noughties Anime.” I’d probably need guest writers for that. Anyway, time to get this started.

Blogging Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 47

This Imperial officer should have known that only Julian can be a hero in the Phezzan Corridor.

The 47th episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes takes us back to Julian’s struggles to get back to Yang’s side. At the same time, Reinhard insists to his subordinates that he be the one to lead the final battle. On the Allied side, Bucock and his advisers come to an agreement that they will eventually have to take on the invading Imperial forces, but that the timing will be key.

Blogging Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 46

When you blow up 500 of Alex Cazellnu's ships, you would have that same expression.

The 46th episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes focuses exclusively on events at Iserlohn. Yang is forced to abandon the fortress he seized two years earlier, but everyone knows that he has to make that call. Reuenthal, meanwhile, begins to be caught in a battle between what he should do and his own ambitions.

An Anniversary of Sorts…Impressions and Reflections of Falls Past and Present

Burned out? Not so much as completely devoid of ideas.

One year ago today I started this little project in writing having really no idea what I wanted to focus on and perhaps mainly as a way to kill time since I did not have anything to do the next day. With almost half of my posts in the past year devoted to Legend of the Galactic Heroes, as great as that is, I still think things haven’t quite gone to plan. Since I have a tendency to perhaps overreact to anything new in the most negative way possible (see my Worst Spring Ever posts from the first week of April), I though I would reflect on how this fall compares in the short term compares to last year.

Blogging Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 45

The way I see it Hosinger is continuing the series' fine tradition of combining strategy meetings with heavy consumption of alcohol.

The 45th episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes focuses largely on the reaction to the news from Phezzan on Heinessen, and what the Alliance government plans to do about it. While there is disappointment at the public statements coming from the government, behind-the-scenes, the government and military seem to finally getting their acts together.

Blogging Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 44

Mittermeyer is about to make a few men experience the full wrath of "The Gale Wolf."

The 44th episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes takes place almost entirely on Phezzan. This episode features an assassination attempt and further insight into the independent spirit that has guided Phezzan throughout its century of autonomy with the usual Julian heroics thrown in at the same time.

Blogging Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 43

Schenkopp returns after failing to change history, and you know there is no way that is his blood on his armor.

The 43rd episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes primarily focuses on the battle between Yang and Reuenthal at Iserlohn. Predictably, the battle turns out to be highly tactical while both commanders realize the whole exercise is serving as a diversion.

Blogging Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 42

Part of me wishes that those girls want some of Mashengo or imagining Julian as a harem lead.

The 42nd episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes serves as an introduction to life on Phezzan to Julian as well as a look at the final preparations for the upcoming battles between the Alliance and the Empire. Politics behind the scenes on Phezzan are the order of the day. Preparations go seamlessly for the Imperial forces, while Bucock and Yang have to fight their own governments complacency.

Watching Anime With Extreme Prejudice Part 3

Sakurai Tomoki or whatever passes for a male lead these days.

Trying to look at groups of people based solely on TV ratings and DVD sales can be a frustrating exercise indeed. For example I could say that the general public in Japan likes animation that is nostalgic and/or child friendly based on rankings like this, or I could say those who actually buy the product like samurai and moe anime based on this. However, that would be as much of a logical fallacy as saying American men who buy beer like football and objectifying women based on a bunch of adverts. That doesn’t stop them from being made, though.

In a brief conversation with Twitter, the topic of Japan’s efforts to promote anime in an attempt to expand its “soft power” came up and this response got me thinking. Could this be the answer I was looking for in all of this?

The otaku making stuff for other otaku point could make sense logically. The idea of members of a niche subculture making something that caters to other members which reinforces the subculture and sets it further away from mainstream seems reasonable. I happen to be further separated from this by being part of a separate mainstream culture in another country thousands of miles away, which is just a really elaborate way of saying the material is becoming more inpenetrable because it is made for a selected group.

There’s really no way I can see this trend reversing anytime soon, and I am completely powerless to do something about it. There’s really no point in raging over the fact I can’t get an ever increasing percentage of what I am watching anyway. So I remain pretty much limited to asking myself why I like or dislike something constantly or trying to come up with ideas on why something gets made or if something like Saimoe is indicative of the future of character design?

Is it a pointless exercise? Most likely, but I can still have a go at criticizing the passive wish fulfillment in Sora no Otoshimono even if I do laugh at some of the silliness and it is well executed overall. I might not give the highly academic analysis of what I am watching (apart from my few years old idea of a look at snow removal in anime based on Kanon) but I can at least continue the constant introspection that has become a part of my experience watching anime.

It appears I have come from this at the wrong angle in asking why I decide not to finish 30-ish% of what I initially start. Maybe I should just start with why I like to watch anime in the first place over a lot of other activities I could be enjoying?