where to start…
I’ve always wanted to start a blog. A space where I could write about things I truly was interested in and hopefully others would be interested too. Or at least interested enough to give it a look. Better yet, a space where I could have a dialogue about these interests.
When I first started watching anime as a kid, I was in awe of the colors and sounds; the language and culture i didn’t understand and how the storytelling often struck a cord in my heart. I still watch many of those series and movies from that time for comfort and nostalgia. I remember staying up late with my older brother to watch Toonami or Adult Swim to catch the few and far between episodes of animation that felt like to took me to another place. I was grateful to have my brother and a few friends to share this with. The happiness of chatting about characters or a certain scene was bliss. Not unlike any piece of good media or text, there is a feeling you get when watching anime that is warm and familiar yet also exciting and otherworldly. My peers and I got picked on a ton for liking anime as kids but we didn’t care. At least I’m glad I didn’t care enough to stop watching. As I got older, I felt an invisible (and probably mostly fabricated from my own mind) pressure to “move on” or “grow up” from those silly cartoons I watched as a kid. I’m so glad I didn’t. Seeing how popular anime is today is a joy to behold. People of all ages are embracing their love of whatever fandom makes them happy and why shouldn’t they? It’s no different than being a GOT fan, or even a pro sports fan. We’re all just nerds for whatever makes us happy.
I’m now married to a sweet anime fan, what joy! My husband Chrissy and I are about to finish watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He’s never seen it and I watched most of it when I was in middle/high school. Watching anime with him is amazing because although he’s been a fan since youth like me but hasn’t seen quite as many as I have. So whether we’re watching something I’m familiar with or something completely new, his perspective is fresh and full of curiosity. I don’t remember much from the latter seasons and this final arc is awesome. The show is incredibly dark and rather violent for something I watched at such a young age but there are so many moments of quirkiness and fun that really balance the series. There are some phenomenal combat sequences as well that really encapsulate the essence of “sakuga” very crisply for a series made in 2009 (more on that later). The animation can be hilariously simple at times (when Ed is angry for example) and also highly detailed and complex. I’m excited to finish it; I write more on it once we complete it and include some of Chrissy’s thoughts as well.
The end of episode monologue/preview for FMA is a must watch.
Above all else, my favorite anime genre is “slice of life” (narratives "without fantastical aspects, which [take] place in a recognizable, everyday setting, such as a suburban high school, and which [focus] on human relationships that are often romantic in nature." The genre favors "the creation of emotional ties with the characters.") I’ll use the abbreviation SOL for these (lol). Some of these shows have minor elements of fantasy or the supernatural but the day-to-day narratives are my favorite. I plan to use this blog as a space to lay out some of my favorite SOL and would love/welcome any thoughts or contributions.
I just started watching a series titled “March Comes In like a lion” or literally in Japanese as “The Lion of March” (3月のライオン). This is based on a manga by Chica Umino (Honey and Clover) whose character design was enough to get me to start watching. The plot is reminiscent of Walter Tevis’ “The Queen’s Gambit”; an orphaned teenager with an uncanny skill for shogi (Japan’s version of chess) seeks independence while working on his ability at the game and the relationships in his life. A story of sorrow, loneliness, friendship and chosen family. There are moments of quirky sportsmanship that remind me of “Ping Pong the Animation” (one of my all time favorite series, will deep dive this another time) and awkward growing pains comparable to “Princess Jellyfish” (another SOL banger). The secondary characters are all charming and unique. The animation is rich and beautiful; almost every shot and transition scene is steeped in metaphor and the dialogue can get so poetic it hurts. I’m only 12 eps in and can already tell this will be a favorite for years to come. More on this later.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you and I apologize for my unpracticed prose. Let me know what y’all think. Much love🍓
-Miranda
