I recently read redball’s excellent post on Clannad. An excerpt and critical image:

I have the distinct pleasure of reviewing a strange story of tolerance and acceptance of those with disabilities. It is set in a town with an excellent program for the multiply handicapped and follows a protagonist who is one of the less disadvantaged students. As the story progresses we are shown the humanity of these children and we learn that the golden rule still applies – even to the handicapped… I am, of course, reviewing the 2007 – 2008 Key series, Clannad.

The article is an excellent setup, go read it. But I was disappointed that redball never got to the punchline I had been eagerly anticipating since reading the title! I’ll help him out:

Two visual novels explore themes of overcoming disabilities and can change a 14-year old boy’s life forever: Clannad and Katawa Shoujo. One is a misogynistic fantasy about a sex-starved boy knocking up defenseless disabled girls at a school for those with special needs. The other is an eroge.

Foxy Lady Ayame kindly asked me to participate in a blog carnival, and although I wrote a post about the topic last year, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse (if I had… well, let’s not go there). The topic: what do you want in an anime or manga blog? Let’s examine each of FoxyLadyAyame’s questions individually.

Why not get to reflect on what we like to read and for what reasons? (reviews, commentaries, editorials)

I agree, why not? Continue reading Reflections on Animanga Blogs →

When I come across a trap in anime, I think to myself that only the Japanese could make men wearing maid outfits a national obsession. What a bizarre idea! I will never understand those crazy Japanese people with their cross-dressing, maid outfits, and crazy ninja game shows!

Well, this afternoon I was reading The Children of Odin by Padraic Colum, a book about Norse mythology at project Gutenberg (it’s a fascinating read, I highly recommend it) when I came across the following passage. Perhaps the obsession with “traps” is not so uniquely Japanese as I was led to believe. This story outdoes shows such as Moyashimon by having Thor, the mightiest, strongest and manliest of all the gods, dress up in a wedding dress to marry a man. As if that’s not enough, Loki comes with him dressed as a bridesmaid. Enjoy! Continue reading Traps: An Ancient European Institution →

Gundam 00 was one of the most vile and despicable shows to come out of Japan in recent years. I see Gundam AGE as a response to and a renunciation of the ideas in Gundam 00. Let’s put aside for a moment my blinding hatred of Setsuna F. Seiei and the fact that Gundam 00 simply sucked, and look at the main themes of Gundam 00 and how Gundam AGE renounces each.

Continue reading Gundam AGE Renounces the Devil and All His Empty Promises (a.k.a. Gundam 00) →