Promare

Promare is beautiful visually, with vibrant colors and a very geometric animation look that I really enjoyed. The fights were fun and visually loud, maybe overwhelmingly loud by the end, and the characters were fun and charismatic (minus Forsight who was undercooked imo).

All that being said, this story was so cliche and muddled in the final act that it started to really irritate me. It didn’t have much else to say about oppression that I haven’t seen explored somewhere else at a deeper level. It felt like it was all flash and little substance. The conflict between Forsight and Lio just gets papered over by Big Himbo Firefighter’s singular moral clarity that anyone dying is Bad and you don’t get the sense anyone will be held accountable for the pain caused by the oppression of the Burnish.

Misc notes

• When I visit family I end up passively consuming Paw Patrol and I could not stop seeing the similarities
• I would’ve liked them to dig into Heris’s storyline a bit more
• All the character names were so top tier, great job folks

Lost Lad London

I’ve started to lean towards short running manga since it’s cheaper and less space intensive to collect, which is a big reason why I got Shima Shinya’s two series, Lost Lad London and Glitch. Lost Lad London is an exploration of racism in a murder mystery as Al, a South Asian Londoner, is getting pinned for a murder he didn’t commit. Shinya-sensei’s art style is kind of deceptively simple: the paneling is contained within a few boxes for each page and isn’t too detailed, but that simplicity is also its strength. The space is mostly taken over by dialogue and the emotional response of characters and it serves the narrative well. I also just really love the art style, it’s so gorgeous.

Of course, I am very happy to have space for progressive manga with interesting stories and perspectives that have not always found space in the medium before. Al and Ellis connect almost immediately because they both know what it’s like to be immediately judged based on skin color in a society like modern day London and there are other characters with similar experiences that the series highlights. I’m a bit conflicted about the length of the series only being 3 volumes because it does seem to be enough for the story, but I also do think there were other characters that could’ve been explored more.

Misc notes

• That person being the killer is a bit brilliant because the arrogance fits so very well
• I know I already said this but GORGEOUS art!!!
• I’m waiting for Glitch to finish getting published in English, but I cannot wait to check out more of Shinya-sensei’s work, their work feels so fresh

Anti-Romance

This was only two volumes and seemed interesting so I picked it up on a whim. Anti-Romance was a mixed bag for me. The couple are childhood friends and roommates (vine voice and they were roommates) struggling to come to terms with the romantic feelings harbored between them. In the process, they hurt each other as these feelings have festered in a lot of unhealthy ways in the past 6 year. But truthfully, I didn’t feel too invested in the main couple’s story. Both Suou and Ryou have people they talk to about this relationship and those not-couples were once in a similar boat to them and offer advice about their own moments that came and went. I found those stories of failures in communication and missing a window and having the rest of your life to regret it interesting and bittersweet. These secondary relationships did a great job contextualizing what Suou and Ryou had to lose if this moment passed them by, and I found them more interesting than the main characters.

I do feel like this is maybe on me trying to find romances despite me being incredibly picky. There was just too much about the story I found frustrating, but generally the themes of Anti-Romance did move me even if the execution didn’t. I do wonder if I should stop trying so hard to find romance manga that I’d like, but when it’s good I love it and I’m still chasing that high.

Misc notes

• I am still rooting for the two hair stylists…where’s their series
• If this wasn’t just 2 volumes, I don’t think I would’ve finished it

Home Office Romance

Home Office Romance is a combination of two of the trickiest genres for me to enjoy: slice of life and romance. However, I adored this short read! I found Nokoru endearing in the way that straightforward nerds can be and it helps that I share a lot of his personality traits myself. He’s hard working and constantly exasperated by everyone else, extremely relatable. I loved seeing all of Natsu and Nokoru’s little interactions and seeing their relationship develop.

Usually, COVID-19 era media stresses me out for obvious reasons, but using the global pandemic and the ways it completely changed how we live and work to show a positive outcome of two neighbors falling in love brought me joy to see. This is one of those mangas where you’re bummed that it’s so short.

Misc notes

• hold your shock but I related to the tech worker who’s straightforward and logical
• I need this series in english and in print!

Planetes

Planetes is undoubtedly a great manga. It has space exploration ennui and celebrates the pursuit of scientific journey into space while discussing the pitfalls of that endeavor. It’s a real hard science sci-fi series but doesn’t skimp on character development or the emotional interior of the characters. But, to me this series was one where I can recognize all of this and still not enjoy it a lot.

I think my two biggest stumbling blocks is that, despite liking sci-fi, I get easily bored with hard science approaches to it. I like the lofty ideas, but being asked to remember some of the scientific facts provided feels too much like school. The other is that this series came out in 1999 and had big dreams for our future with space exploration and that just does not feel as resonant in our world today. The dreams of a humanity that made it out to space and continues to make incredible leaps forward in space development feels like a bygone era. It’s not Planetes’ fault that we live now in an incredibly anti-intellectual world now, but it did make getting invested in a series about a near distant space based future difficult. But I’m a cynic who struggles to see a path where space exploration doesn’t pollute the stars beyond recognition, so if this sounds like you would like it, please check it out, it is good.

Misc notes

• too busy complaining about space travel losing its novelty to me that I didn’t mention the human focused stories in Planetes, but that was my favorite part I just didn’t have much to say
• I liked the ending! I think some thought it as abrupt but I disagree

Perfect Blue

I’m whatever the opposite of a movie buff is, but this trippy and fucked up hour and a half is the kind of movie I enjoy. It’s grim as hell and made me reconsider my relationship to the entertainment industry, reminding me of the bleakest and most exploitative parts of the industry. Mima is a young woman miserably trapped in an industry that views her both as an object of chaste purity that young men can project their feelings and ideas of femininity onto as a pop idol and an aspiring actress that is expected to be an object of lust. She’s neither, she’s simply a woman pursuing a career, but the film does an incredible job of depicting this contradictory expectation of women under patriarchal society. The movie expresses the confusion and stress this puts Mima through in an incredible way that’s disorienting to the viewer but never too much. Well, maybe a bit “too much” but in a very story appropriate way. I kept wondering what was real but then considered that “what’s real” is a boring question to have for this movie. What does it matter what’s real when the scripted feels indistinguishable from real actions or genuine feelings brought on by them?

I’ll be vague but I think I’m still not fond of the ending. It feels like a “twist” to get the audience on their heels more than a conclusion to the outcome of this sort of misogynistic violence. I’ll sit with it to see if that changes, but it felt like a flat way to end a fantastic movie.

Misc notes

• I have a pretty high tolerance for violence in media (I’m American after all), but woof this is truly tough
• I’m gonna have to break my “no movies” rule to check more Satoshi Kon because this film was incredible
• no but like, why was the ending like that

Basara

Basara was both “a mangaka I like” with Yumi Tamura and “a big name shojo series” so it was pretty high up on my to read list. Basara captivated me immediately and held my attention to the end (minus the post-series stuff which isn’t really my speed anyway). One noticeable difference between shojo and shonen manga is how much more work goes into conveying emotion and moments as opposed to big speeches or plot points. Basara has plenty of big plot moments that got me excited or pushed the story forward effectively and skillfully, but it’s also a series that takes the time to give us a whole page of Sarasa or Shuri processing an emotional moment or revelation and is just as interested in the emotional story for the characters. I love long form storytelling precisely because I love seeing characters grow and change and this series did a great job of managing a large ensemble of Tatara’s army, the royalty, and Shuri’s orbit and their growth throughout the manga.

Basara features a world that is ruled by a monarchy that imposes cruelty and violence that has people trapped and devalued in a hierarchical society that is on the precipice of a revolution, as one woman is destined to change the tide of history. But even more importantly, Basara wants to explore what’s beyond the hate and the revenge that fuels a revolutionary movement. Do we have space for rage and hate against those who’ve wronged us or do we stay trapped in a cycle of violence? Is there a way out that gives us justice and peace? It’s a hard question to ask when rage and violence feeds a very visceral feeling in us and peace and forgiveness (not in the annoying “turn the other cheek” way but in the thoughtful “the peace within yourself demands it” way) do not. It still is hard to let that desire for revenge go so I’m not sure if the story completely got me there opinion wise, but it gave me a lot to ruminate on and I enjoy that very much. It felt like the ending the series deserved even if I think that line of thinking re: forgiveness doesn’t give the people who suffered the justice they deserve.

Misc notes

• slight spoiler, but I truly can’t believe Nachi and Hijiri didn’t get married at the end…fujoshis in the 90s I mourned with you
• Viz when will you reprint this series, I NEED IT
• Shuri never really won me over (partially out of stubbornness on my part), but his character arc never felt forced or unearned and I really appreciated it
• I adored all of the tiny Tam Tam times, it’s so fun to get insights into Yumi Tamura’s life in the 90s and it really added a layer to the story to see these brief inner moments of her life as she wrote this amazing series

Girls5eva

Girls5eva feels like the little show that could and it feels a bit miraculous that it made it to season 3. It’s switched networks since it first aired in 2021 and has short seasons, even for streaming comedies, that get dropped in one go, and yet it survives and is as fun as ever. It’s a bit more reflective of the Girls5eva group as women reinventing themselves and forcefully carving their own way through an industry that left them on the metaphorical side of the road a long time ago. This season was funny and sweet like it always is and the finale always makes me smile. If you love fun and laughing and silly songs written by Sara Bareilles, you must watch Girls5eva.

On a small side rant…I hate the “season all at once” model and I can’t believe it still persists! I watched this season all in one day (look I GET that I am complaining about habits I myself am doing but I don’t have good self-control, it’s not on me) and I had completely forgotten I even watched this until I was scrolling through my Serializd reviews. TV isn’t meant to be like this!!!

Misc notes

• I’m not good at reviewing comedies because I usually like them or I don’t and I don’t put a ton of thought into them structurally or comedy wise, but yes! a fun show
• Wickie fills the Jenna Maroney sized hole in my heart
• the theme song is so incredible and fully jams itself into my brain for days after I finish it

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

I try to check out the big anime of the season when it appeals to me because I really enjoy the community that sprouts up and having a little weekly ritual, so I checked out Frieren and it is the perfect shonen series for me. Thematically interesting with its exploration of death and legacy, fun characters and funny moments, and battles that get me excited. It has a wistful, melancholic tone as it focuses on loss and aging as the semi-immortal elf Frieren reminisces on the hero’s journey she took with a group of friends to defeat the demon king as she embarks on a new journey with a new group. The anime does a fantastic job handling the nostalgia and reflecting on past times without overwhelming the plot too much and I really enjoyed it. It made me cry, not really out of sadness, but more of a longing, as these are memories and experiences Frieren can’t have again since some of her original team have passed. In that sense, it captures the sort of ache that grief leaves behind. But Frieren also has new memories to form with new people and that time she spent with Himmel and the others has taught her what a treasure these moments are.

And the battles are FUN! I wasn’t that into the second half with the standard exam style arc that is a shonen cliche, but by the end I really loved getting an expanded view of the mage world. Just enough to add flavor without overwhelming the plot of the series. The characters are fascinating and a lot of fun to spend time with and don’t feel like a distraction from the main characters. I think youtuber On the Rise A&V did a great job of explaining what makes Frieren appeal to so many types of anime fans in this video that I recommend if you want to hear someone explain it better than me. But your takeaway here is that you should watch Frieren!!!

Misc notes

• I miss my Frieren Fridays already!
• People talk a lot about Himmel and Frieren’s relationship, but we need more discussions on how delightfully weird Fern and Frieren’s mentor/mentee relationship is! It’s like anime Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy TO ME
• Everybody pisses Fern off…she’s so relatable

Lodge 49

Lodge 49 heard my pleas for fewer TV dramas about rich people and more stories about people living on the edge of a broken economic system who are close to tipping over. Lodge 49 is not just about economic precarity and the dying of the American middle class, but about loss and death generally. The focus of the story is on Liz and Dud, who lost their father a year ago and have been struggling a lot with it. They both have bizarre ways to cope with the grief, but Dud joins an esoteric Lodge order and becomes interested in alchemy.

This show is so unique when you think about other shows that aired alongside it during the prestige tv era boom, for the content matter sure, but also it’s such a beautiful exploration of the multifaceted experience of loss and grief. There’s the loss of the person, but there’s a loss of you and the person you were when they were around as if your life is so clearly segmented into a before and after. Almost every character in the show is experiencing some type of loss, a person, their health, or their job, and the show has such a focus and dedication to exploring this experience. Pair this with the show’s bizarre, almost anachronistic secret society, the Lynx, and you get a show with a fresh perspective and something fascinating to say instead of Prestige TV HBO Drama Number 58 about how gross rich people are but also how much we kind of want to be them? There are few things I appreciate more than a show that tries something new, even when it’s not completely nailing it (which Lodge 49 does have a way better handle on what about it works by s2).

Misc notes

• I found s1 a bit uneven, but s2 was really incredible stuff
• It’s such a shame it was canceled so early when it had so much more to say! I will accept some responsibility for not tuning in while it was airing; I watched the pilot but it didn’t grab me.
• I definitely recommend this show, but I get there’s just so much out there :( but check it out if any of that spoke to you!!!

Ping Pong

I get really excited when a medium pushes against the limitations of itself. Sports manga can be a great example of this, considering how much sports involve movement and action which can be a challenge to properly illustrate. Ping Pong showed me how much value can be added within the pages to make a sports story dynamic in the confines of a manga panel. I’ve only read Haikyuu before this and that series does a good job of not completely confusing the reader, but Ping Pong was such a step up action wise compared to Haikyuu (no hate!). So much was conveyed by sound effects and paneling that added this dynamism that blew me away.

And again, I’m comparing the two as Haikyuu (and the Initial D anime) are my only touchstones for sports anime and manga, but Ping Pong decidedly not being the kind of “hard work pays off!” cheeriness of more typical sports series was so fun. Sports can really be anything at any given moment, it can hold high highs and low lows, and this series has these ping pong players in the damn trenches a lot of the time and I loved it. Talent only gets you so far in sports and the rest is achieved by torturing yourself day in and day out until your body can’t take it anymore, and that’s a grim way to live!

This manga went in a lot of directions I wasn’t really expecting, but I loved every nuance and detail Matsumoto-sensei added. I’m really excited to read more of his works because even though the art is (thinking of a polite euphemism) stylized very much like an early Adult Swim animated show, I think it captures emotion in ways you don’t initially expect it will and his storytelling is top notch.

Misc notes

• I’ll be a bit vague to avoid spoilers, but it speaks to the skill of the story that I wasn’t expecting a certain early story beat to come back, that made me so happy
• I truly love all my temperamental ping pong high schoolers, but Wenge won me over with the “worst shock since I emerged from the womb” line
• “being good at a sport you loathe” has really gotta be one of the more mundane and miserable afflictions possible and I love that this series explored that a bit