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Oshi no Ko season 2 is a major step up from season 1. The quality of season 1 dropped after the first episode, in my opinion. This season provided real intrigue, rather than by the numbers "here's how the industry works" and "being an idol is hard" stuff that's been done to death (just watch Perfect Blue for that). There was still some, but it was properly balanced with more gritty bits.

My only major complaint is that the theater arc took too many episodes to wrap up. I wasn't interested in the side plot involving the mangaka, and I'm sure that character will never appear ... again.

Ruby's character development was much needed in this season. She had very little in the first season, and the first half of the second. Oshi no Ko is at its best when it delves into its horror elements, so please keep it coming! Unlike with season 1, the second half of season 2 had me wanting more, now!

The animation, music, and sound were great as per usual with Oshi no Ko. I particularly appreciated the abstract animation sequences with Ruby and Akane's inner thoughts.

I liked this season's OP a bit more than the first, but that's likely an unpopular take. The ED was great as well.

Overall, I'm feeling a strong 7 for this season. Had the last arc been a bit longer, it could have touched a light 8. I'm liking what I'm seeing, please keep it up for season 3!

What an incredible experience. No media has depicted America in a more convincing and illuminating fashion than Di Gi Charat Natsuyasumi Special. I was moved. Just knowing that Dejiko has graced my country with her presence made my year. My life even.

I'm literally the character Rod Young. When I think of Dejiko, my heart flutters. I have also read the Di Gi Charat encyclopedia. I know everything.

Dejiko plays a Hofner violin bass in episode three, the same instrument that the Beatle, Paul McCartney, plays. Beatles references are always a plus. Many years ago, Paul McCartney's original Hofner bass was mysteriously lost. I can't ... help but assume that Dejiko has had it all this time.

Natsuyasumi employs live-action sequences more than any of the other iterations of Di Gi Charat. As a result, it felt even more surreal than the rest. The natto beans in episode three looked delectable.

MURDER MYSTERY. Yes, there's a murder mystery. I won't spoil the culprit, but you will be surprised. Fantastic.

Not a lot of Mishter Manager-san in this special. It's a bit disappointing, but acceptable.

There's a side plot for Usada that will make you cry. No spoilers, of course.

Puchiko steals the show again in this one. Fantastic peformance from Miyuki Sawashiro, as always.

I would give Di Gi Charat Natsuyasumi Special a 10/10, but I have to take 3 points off because Rowdy Guy didn't get rowdy.

I'm going to make this short because there's no need to be long-winded about such an unserious anime. Also, no, I have not seen the anime this is based off of, Soultaker. I'm basing this review on Nurse Witch alone, since Soultaker is not required viewing to watch Nurse Witch.

The show is a parody of the magical girl genre, particularly that of the early moé boom. There are references to many other anime and live action dramas (Evangelion, Macross, Anime Tenchou, Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, etc.) throughout. If you find referential humor funny, especially otaku-media references, you'll probably enjoy Nurse Witch.

The character designs ... are by Akio Watanabe (Poyoyon♥Rock) of Monogatari Series fame. His art style is iconic and on full display here. Nurse Witch is a must watch for fans of Poyoyon♥Rock's work. The art/animation quality is inconsistent but above-average for an OVA.

The director is Yasuhiro Takemoto, someone who would go on to have a leading-role in some of Kyoto Animation's best anime. One of those would be Lucky Star, a referential anime which appears to have taken some inspiration from Nurse Witch (especially with the Anime Tenchou references).

The VA cast is equally amazing and surprising for an anime of this quality. The standouts for me are Ikue Ootani (Koyori), Haruko Momoi (Komugi), and Yukari Tamura (Asuka). These VAs are known more for their other roles, such as Yukari Tamura's later performance as Rika Furude in Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, but they bring that power to Nurse Witch. The VA for Komugi, Haruko Momoi, is a famous otaku of Akihabara, and she fits her role perfectly. As a matter of fact, she often cosplayed as Komugi in live performances with her music group, Under 17, in the early 2000s. Haruko practically embodies the character of Komugi. The voice acting is definitely an out-performance of the expectations for an anime of this type.

You may notice that I've said a lot of good for an anime I've only rated a 6. That's because I really can't justify anything higher. Nurse Witch is self-evidently an unserious work. It's also a niche work, and that niche is otaku culture. If this is one of the first 10 anime you watch (and I mean full series, not just individual seasons or the completed count on MAL), you will not get or like this show. That's my perspective on it, at least. If you've been around the block and can enjoy some odd-ball anime, give this a try. Otherwise, I would recommend watching some more well-regarded referential anime first, such as Lucky Star, Steins;Gate, or other anime of that kind.

Have you ever wondered why this series is called ‘The MELANCHOLY of Haruhi Suzumiya’? If you only watch the original two seasons of the anime, you may be left without an answer. It is this film-length sequel, Disappearance, which encapsulates that melancholia and is one of the best anime movies ever produced. This review will be spoiler free.

Who is Erik Satie? You may or may not have heard the name, but you have certainly heard his work. The Trois Gymnopedies, a series of three piano compositions, are his most famous; they are also a major inspiration for modern ambient music. Many, however, associate Satie’s Trois ... Gymnopedies with the feeling of melancholy, or more specifically, the melancholy of modern life. So what does this have to do with Disappearance?

Trois Gymnopedies features prominently in the soundtrack..

If you want to understand what I mean about Disappearance and Trois Gymnopedies, watch the movie’s Japanese trailer. It’s pretty much a simple, good-ole AMV using 'Gymnopedie No.1' and scenes from the movie. No dialogue, just piano. The studio behind Disappearance, Kyoto Animation, found it fit to market their film with only this song, and they knew exactly what they were doing. There is no better sense for the feel of this film, without seeing it, than listening to Trois Gymnopedies. Truly, in the span of my life, I have not seen a better use of non-original score than Disappearance’s use of Trois Gymnopedies. Hearing that piano over Kyo-Ani’s beautiful animation is mesmerizing, to say the least. All this comes from a series known for its bombastic and poppy music, such as Super Driver and Hare Hare Yukai. It’s practically a miracle that such a series could produce a movie stylistically similar to something by someone like Kiyoshi Kurosawa, if we go by the standards of Japanese film contemporaries. Never, in the history of anime, has a series made itself so well rounded as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya with this movie capstone.

Here’s a breakdown of scores for the movie’s elements:

Story: 9
The story is a great twist on the original series. It is taken straight from the source material (Tanigawa’s light novel of the same name), and presents it beautifully. You will need to have watched the first two seasons to understand the film however, as it is not a stand alone work.

Characters: 8.5
The regular cast of the Haruhi series returns for this movie. There is some incredible character development here which I do not want to spoil, so I will leave it at that.

Animation/Art: 10
This is peak Kyo-Ani work. There are multiple sequences with absolutely breathtaking scenery. Blood, sweat, and tears were put into making this, and each frame reveals the fact. The style is fantastic, 100% anime-movie-level stuff.

Sound: 9
I’ve already talked enough here about the soundtrack. It is great. Here are some great listens for reference:
- Futatabi Deaeta Danin Tachi
- Nagato Yuuki no Kokoro ni Aru mono
- Je te Veux
- Itsumo no Fuukei Kara Hajimaru Monogatari (You’ve probably heard this before)

Enjoyment: 9
This is not the Endless Eight folks. Things transition at a perfect pace. There are no slow points. You will not be bored at any point during the two and half hours of run time.

Overall: 9.1

Let me just say a few words for the incredible people who put this film together. Most of us are aware by now of the Kyo-Ani tragedy that occurred in 2019. Thirty-five people were killed at Kyoto Animation’s studio 1. Many of those victims had a role in the creation of this movie. Please watch this film in honor of those who were lost, if for no other reason. Art transcends time and space; their memory lives on in this work of art. Watch it.

The whole thing is about revolution, can't get more based than that. People who say One Piece is overrated are cretins incapable of understanding media on any level beyond pretty colors and cool noises. It is a long read, but entirely worth it for the narrative pay-offs of later chapters. I also appreciate its comedic style. The character's abilities are no less absurd than those of any other shounen manga, but with the comedic elements they make sense and work. Lesser shounen fail due to their strict seriousness, One Piece succeeds in its unabashed absurdity. One Piece is a breath of fresh air in a ... lack-luster genre that gives me hope for the medium.