Entries tagged with consumerism

Current Mood: rushed

Entry tags:

Puella Magi Madoka Magika

I have to say right from the start: I am conflicted about Madoka Magika. So much so that I wrote only personal notes on it when I first watched it several months ago, and decided not to review right away, to give it time to sink in. But given that it was the season's biggest otaku hit, I suspect that it will be a topic of conversation at this year's SGMS con. So I want to go on the record now and say: this is clearly a groundbreaking work in the magical-girl genre, in terms of narrative structure and visual style. But there are a few things about it that are...troubling. To say the least.

( More magical girls )

Current Music: Koko Dake no Hanashi -Kuragehime OP

Entry tags:

Kuragehime

When Kuragehime (“Princess Jellyfish”) debuted on Japanese television back in Fall 2010, my first thought was: oh my god, they made an anime about me. Ok, not exactly about me. I’m not an 18-year-old NEET living in a Tokyo apartment full of female otaku, like the heroine, Tsukimi. But a jellyfish-loving virgin geek girl? Yes indeed! And it’s cool to see a story about someone like that.

Well, that was my gut reaction to the premise. I’ve been following the series online since then, and really it’s not much like my life or the lives of any fangirls I know. But as far as the fall season’s crop of “otaku meta-anime” went, Kuragehime did turn out to be one of the most enjoyable: a show about some eccentric people who like eccentric things, told with heart and humour, in a non-exploitative way.

Also, the opening credits are pretty fun!

( Himitsu, himitsu! )

Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Chocolate Disco -Perfume (stuck in my head o god why)

Entry tags:

Genshiken

As promised last week, are some thoughts on Genshiken and fandom. I'd write more of a preamble, but I need to get some lunch and start reading up on comics/manga history. I'm trying to sneak a half-chapter on anti-colonialism and comics into my thesis. We shall see how that goes. In the meantime...

( Genshiken )