Category Archives: Discussion

My Favorite Anime 2023 Addendum

Discussion, ,

I last updated my list of favorites in 2014. I always thought it was mostly a futile exercise: how am I supposed to compare things that are so radically different, aside from sharing a common medium? Every time you’d ask me you’d get a different answer.

So instead of updating the list, this time I’m just going to tell you all a bunch of my favorite anime since then. Most of them are in alphabetical order— but I did make an attempt at ranking the top 15. Enjoy! And please share what you think I left out!

Click the links for more details about each show.

ACCA
I don’t even know how to explain this. A corrupt cop eats bread and saves the country?? It is wild while having a relaxed tone, and some fascinating characters. I need to rewatch this.

Aho Girl
So stupid and so funny. Just a really well made comedy. Kanojo mo Kanojo by the same author was great too but Aho Girl had the perfect adaptation.

Akiba Maid War
It was when the main character was tied to a chair, being drowned by a rival maid in a tub of tomato juice, when her rival threw a live goat at her, that I truly fell in love with Akiba Maid Wars. Continue reading My Favorite Anime 2023 Addendum →

Mr. Robot

Discussion

Vuc recommended that I give Mr. Robot a watch. He claimed it was the best anime of the decade. He insisted that since he hooked me up I have to evangelize for Mr. Robot now and shill it on my anime blog that no one reads. So here we are.

I’m not sure if I would go as far as to say it is the anime of the decade, but it’s damn good. Note I tagged this post under the “anime” category.

Rage Against the Machine

What initially drew me to the show is that it is so socially relevant. The characters are fucking pissed and they have every right to be. There are some great soliloquies where characters will rage against society. The main characters’ hacking group is named “fuck society”. Not exactly subtle here. Continue reading Mr. Robot →

Resisting Capitalism in Classroom of the Elite

Discussion,

Classroom of the Elite is, by most measures, not an especially good anime. But thematically I think it’s great and I’ve been enjoying it.

The whole setup is a pretty obvious analogy for capitalism. The students enter a school where they earn money each month based on their performance. They are literally divided into classes and forced to fight in class warfare. The upper classes have all the advantages and the lower classes are treated like trash. All while the upper classes and the teachers pretend that this system is fair and just. Continue reading Resisting Capitalism in Classroom of the Elite →

Thoughts on Nationalism in Anime (Inspired by Seikaisuru Kado)

Discussion,

As many of my readers know, I enjoy watching shows with strong nationalistic leanings. The main reason being that I think nationalism is:

A. One of the most destructive ideologies in human history;
B. Fascinating, as are all human belief systems;
C. Something I once fell for; and
D. Fucking stupid.

Some of the anime I enjoyed watching the most include such nationalistic classics as Gasaraki, Gigantic Formula, Gunbuster, and even shows as subtle with their nationalist messaging as Gate and Mahouka. The other day I was discussing the nationalism in Seikaisuru Kado with Marina, and she encouraged me to write a blog post. So here we are. Continue reading Thoughts on Nationalism in Anime (Inspired by Seikaisuru Kado) →