akiyuki shinbo – Yuki The Snowman

30 Day Anime Challenge Day 16: Favorite Fantasy/Supernatural Anime (Bakemonogatari)

An anime directed by Akiyuki Shinbo that features a (justified) tsundere, a perverted tomboy, and a cute nerdy bookworm catgirl? I’m set!

From left to right – Book nerd Felicia Hardy, Solid Snake, unoriginal harem male MC, annoying brat, weight disorder mentally ill girl, and confused lesbian possibly bi fan service girl.

Bakemonogatari (lit. Ghost Story) is studio Shaft 2009’s anime adaption of Japanese novelist Nisio Isin’s long running light novel series “Monogatari”. The series centers on high schooler Arargi who (after surviving an vampire attack) gets involved with a couple of girls to help deal with their supernatural problems.

One day, Araagi was chilling and at school doing whatever when his classmate, the withdrawal Hitagi, falls from the top of the stairs (after slipping on a banana peel). Being the good kid that he is, he catches her, only to discover that she’s near weightless. In order to keep him quiet about her disorder Hitagi threatens Araragi, stapling the inside of his cheek; warning him to stay far from her.

Rather than ignoring her warning, Araragi chases after her, and shows off his healing factor (a power he gained from being bitten from the vampire). Hitagi is shocked; the wound she inflicted on him has completely healed! Araragi offers to help Hitagi with her weightlessne introducing him to his mentor and supernatural advisor, Meme.

meme-oshino-7-meme-wallpaper — Homeless bum Meme

Throughout the series, Hitagi and Arargi join forces; tackling series of supernatural cases with other girls and their oddities with as his classmates the athletic (and perverted) Suruga and the nerdy bookworm Tsubasa, the wandering ghost girl, Mayoi, and his sister’s friend, Nadeko. Each girl’s oddity has an unique symbolism tied to them such as Hitagi staple to represent the crab, Mayoi’s bookbage to represent the snail, and Suruga’s arm and brute strength to represent the monkey.

Best girl but she’s also a furry so some points docked.

The Monogatari series is great if you are looking for a story driven and artsy supernatural anime. There isn’t much action but Shinbo’s famous bold and outlandish directing style and the diverse cast of characters will make up for the lack of it.

Check it out on Crunchyroll or other forms of streaming websites.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on July 13, 2017

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What Makes an Anime Great (My Opinion of Course)

a886-48 — Lupin the 3rd (1971). One of my favorites anime series of all time.

Everyone has an opinion on what makes an anime great. Some people love storytelling. Others enjoy aesthetics and art direction.

I love storytelling and music personally. I love direction synergy between art and music tones.

We all bring in our own personal bias and taste when viewing anime, considering what will make or break an anime.

Anime is a visual medium. I like anime series that can play off the aesthetics of the series. Visuals are narrative. It gives aids the story’s tone.

Directors can use visual tones to emote viewers’ emotional reaction.

Example: The conclusion of Yusuke and Suzuki’s fight (Yu Yu Hakusho).

Series animation director Akiyuki Shinbo uses vibrant surrounding white light transiting into black and. dark shading on Yusuke. It sets a depressing feeling; that Yusuke died putting his life energy to defeat Suzaku.

Along with visual tone, a great anime needs a convincing story. The story needs interesting written characters with motivation. I like characters that are written in a way that can relate to naturally.

gohanmoronicpose-fusionreborn — Son Gohan of Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1994). I love his goofy and carefree nature as Great Saiyaman.

Most of my favorite anime characters are written like this. If I relate to a character, I care for them. I root for them to overcome their issues and improve overtime. This factor makes the character seem more human.

Mob from the 2016 anime series “Mob Psycho 100” is a character that fits this.

Despite blessed with everlasting psychic power, Mob wants to improve in other accepts in his school life. Rather than joining his school’s supernatural club, he joins the athletic Body Improvement club.

He aims to nurture his weak psychical strength and body.

He wants to improve his weak body by strengthen it. He could have easily joined a club suited to natural skills. However, Mob wants something more in life than just relying on his natural gifts.

This makes him feel human. This makes me relate to him because I want to improve in life. We all do.

Finally, a great anime needs a prominent music. Similar to visual, music sets tone. Music is narrative. Music is expressive. Music should reflect the mood of the scene.

I want to experience the same shock and amazement of Kyon, a normal teenager, as he was spectating reality wrapping aliens Yuki and Ryoko fighting inside a data field. Hell, I want the music to make me believe that I am Kyon.

_uploads_original_0_238_661202_ryouko_asakura_88 — Ryoko vs. Yuki from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2007)

I believe music can do this to my emotions. The right usage of a background song can impact and trigger the emotional accepts of my core. This enhances the anime for me.

As diverse individuals, we have our ideas on what make a great anime. We bring in our own taste and ideas that reflects what we want in an anime. Visual, sound, character story and tone. We use those factors to build standard of quality.

REFERENCES:

Ryoko vs. Yuki Fight Theme
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Love the song’s usage of of techno-like percussion, violins, cellos, and synths to create an alien sound.

Why You Should Watch Mob Pyscho 100

Super Eyepatch Wolf’s in-depth analysis on why Mob Pyscho 100 is worth watching.

Aesthetic IS Narrtive

Digibro’s analysis on the importance of using visuals aid and aesthetics for anime story-telling.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on February 27, 2017