The Devil is a Part-timer: FIrst Impressions

  You want to talk about a fun premise?  King of demons, lord of flies, corruptor, and spreader of vilenesses lowered to the position of fry cook?  Really? 

 I tend to be very interested in Christian mythology having studied it quite a bit in my life.  An anime based on "the devil" immediately caught y attention; however I wasn't anticipating too much as I'm regularly disappointed as much anime just grabs the images and names rather than necessarily the themes or settings.  Not to say that I am disappointed in the anime themselves.  And this was true in the case of the Devil is a part-timer.

The first episode was filled with the backstory and was beautifully animated in what you might see a darker or medieval/fantasy style.  You learn that there is an alternate universe filled with demons and the kind of demons: Satan.  Satan aggressively strikes out to conquer the rest of the land, raping and pillaging as he pleases.  The humans are able to strike back and during the final confrontation of The Hero and the Demon King, Satan is forced to withdraw. Opening a gate to another world, the devil flees the scene with one of his last generals, Alciel.  Flees right into modern day Tokyo. 

 So in other words, this ain't yo' momma's Satan, nor story about heaven and hell.  There is no "Yahweh" or true god mentioned, though the humans do have a religion in this alternate universe.  And while you see early on Satan is considered a bad guy, cruel and wicked, there is nothing about the war with the humans that humans havn't done amongst themselves in our reality. Its a fight for land, not for truth and justice or souls. 

  Baffling to all, by the end of the episode we see Satan and Alciel settled down into a very quaint slice of life routing.  The animation style has changed along with Satan's appearance.  The demonic lord is gone replaced by a teenage boy.  The animation keeps its quality but shifts to what you might expect out of a high school romantic comedy.

  So far in the first few episodes the show is paced extremely well, masterfully interspersing comedy and normalness with the mystery and fantasy of the devil's story.  Further
the main characters are engaging, the devil being the most three dimensional of them; though some of his dimension merely comes from the impressions we get of him from the first episode. Its hard to tell how much "changing" has actually gone on, as we don't truly get to see his personality in the first episode. 

  You know I'll be sure to try to find a deeper meaning if you've been reading any part of my blog.  The use of the Christian names and titles for characters has to be for something.  What's more is the seemingly role reversal of the hero and satan. The Hero, Emi, acts like a spoiled brat, psycho ex girlfriend for much of the first episodes and reminds you much of an antagonist, while the devil is this soft, charming guy, dedicated to his work.  Very interesting indeed. 

  The anime has me hooked, and being only 13 episodes I'm sure Ill get through it quickly. Until the full review, じゃまた

First Impressions: No Game No life

  Watching I was immediately expecting another Sword Art Online.  You know, protagonist gets stuck in a alternate digital universe and then has to survive, find his humanity and deal with the consequences of being stuck in a new world.  IT ISN'T THAT!

  Oh there is an alternate universe that is introduced first thing, and its a world with a seemingly active god and very odd rules.  And there are characters that go through the looking glass, take the red pill, or whatever have you and get pulled into it, at first against their will.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

  Two episodes in, I'm guessing we're watching a morality play unfold.  A story built on over the top characters that represent thoughts and ideas in moving form that are going to lead us to the artists message. I talk a lot about "the artists message" because mark my word, that every story has an intent or a message to say about life and OUR reality. Well, not every story.  Inu to Neko which I just reviewed earlier this evening is just there to make you laugh.  And maybe there you can stretch and say that is the message - just laugh more, but sa... I'm digressing, back on point.

 Sora and Shiro are brother and sister.  They form a sort of yin-yang of personality and ability.  In "OUR world" they are two elite gamer otaku who can beat any game and any player.  They are geniuses on a level that is hard to fathom.  In the first to episodes, they beat 1200 players in an MMORPG EVEN when the other players were cheating.  They were playing 4 characters - that's right the two of them were playing with their hands and feet in an attempt to control 4 characters by themselves.  The two are our over the top protagonists.  Sora is good with people... well analyzing their motives reading their micro expressions and manipulating them.  You might think of him as a jerk and a bad guy, but just under that we see his genius has led him to be a jaded naïve virgin.  So while he seems to despise people and only see them as his tools, he holds some values close that he is searching for in others.  Shiro is the mechanical genius.  She is the type of person that can see every possible combination of a chess board at once.  She is adorable, but obviously way more soft spoken and doesn't want to attempt to deal with people.  Oh btw, Shiro means white.  I wonder what Sora means... I should look into that.  Kuro is black, so I don't think "Sora" completes my yin yang combo here sadly...

 The world our pillars get transported too is a world where games rule.  No one can steal or be murdered.  But they can challenge you to a game. These games are bound by 9 rules, and once the terms are agreed to any particular challenge, the results of the games are mystically enforced.  There are 16 races, with humans being on the bottom of the totem pole in this world.  Enter our two heroes and I can't help but predict that the siblings will champion the human race and help us climb that totem pole.  So what is it the author is telling us?  That if you can find some over the top champions of the human race we can do whatever we want?  That seems too shallow and unrealistic and inapplicable so I'm hoping there is more to this series.

You take all of the above and dress it up in anime clothes and you have No Game No Life.  The normal dated sight gags are there, the hair, the big eyes.  You know all that stuff. I'll catch up to the current episodes and keep sending you guys my insights and thoughts on how the series is progressing. 

Think I got it wrong?  Have a comment?  Leave me a post!  Thanks!
#latenightotaku 

Not really a review: Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san

  This isn't really a review, because I'm not sure if you can write a review on an anime in which every episode is only three minutes long. 

  BUT what it is, my thoughts and feedback on this series.  I guess that makes a review of some nature.  Well it couldn't be helped.

  So these three minute anime episodes are comedies that make you laugh quick and easy and then it ends.  The series revolves around Nekoyama, a girl whose name and demeanor reads cat; however, she contrary to what you might expect loves doges.  She introduced within the first thirty seconds of the anime to Inugami, a girl whose disposition lends itself to dogs and you guessed she loves cats.  So naturally this was a match made... in japan at least.

  And so the puns, dirty jokes and quick surface level humor begins.  The show makes fun of other anime, itself, and various "complexes" line after line, joke after joke, all the while keeping the humor "above the belt" and the cuteness rolling. 

  If you want something super clever or deep, stay clear.  In the three minutes, the level of humor never goes beyond the rote stuff you'll see in every other anime you've seen.  But let's face it there isn't much new under the sun anyway.  So if you really enjoy that brand of humor, they'll keep it coming in short burst of sugar high enducing tooth achy candy bar goodness.

  I for one like my candy bars, so I'll be watching the episodes as they simulcast.

Review: My Little Monster

  My Little Monster

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Setting: Japan, High School, Modern day
Late Night Otaku Rating: 2.5 Stars/5

Synopsis: My Little Monster follows Mizutani Shizuku, a studious, friendless, teenage girl, who meets Haru Yoshida.  Because Haru refuses to go to school, starting his high school career with a fight, Shizuku is recruited to deliver his homework to his home.  And that is where the ice meets spring.  Where Shizuku is generally apathetic, Haru is an overwhelming eruption of emotion.  Situations unfold that force Shizuku out of her comfort zone, ultimately calming Haru down enough to be a sensible enough member of society.  The plot follows their relationship, new friends, and life's little hiccups.  While you are never left feeling the two won't get together or that the relationship itself is in much danger, its all the externalities that keep you the viewer engaged. 

Personally, I felt that the contrasts between Shizuku and Haru's personalities is how the author made his statements abut the way relationships and life should be handled.  All the other plot variants bounced off of these two forces.  Shizuku, while gernally apathetic, I also introspective and intelligent about the way she deals with the different encounters in the series.  She is constantly questioning herself and those around her in an attempt to make sense of it all.  She doesn't have a lot of practice with people, having spent most of her childhood stuck in books, but all this studying has given her a sharp wit and self awareness.  I imagine the thoughts that are going through her head that we are privy to during the series is what makes her a relatable character.  Her doubts and concerns were very similar to questions I would ask of myself growing up, and her level of self awareness is a virtue.

On the other end of the spectrum is Haru,who acts without thinking.  But his redeeming virtue is brutal honesty and candor.  You don't have to guess hat Haru is thinking - he is going to tell you either loudly or with his fists.  With such a character it isn't hard to move your plot, and have it feel natural as Haru's character is established quickly.  Violence aside, if more people were as vocal and forthright about their feelings the world would be far less complicated. 

With their "star virtues" clearly laid out, Haru and Shizuku provide a romantic comedy that is more than just one part romance and one part comedy.  We also have a coming of age story, quests for friendship and the right way to build relationships, all packaged together with a rooster.  Yes a rooster.  Why the rooster is a running gag, I'm not sure but he was worth a cluckle or two. (see what I did there?)

I've been reading other review sites lately, attempting to establish the "market standard" and expectations and it seems like I'm meant to comment on the art or music of the series.  What do you want?  It was an anime.  The art was just whatever.  It wasn't fantastic, but it didnt' look like the studio had a parent kid work day either. With modern technologies, I find commenting on the art of most tv shows pointless as the level of consistency and quality is much greater than shows from years ago. The music was also appropriate, but nothing special.

Overall, the anime was worth watching.  In terms of the spectrum of animes I've seen it would only fall somewhere in the middle.  Romantic Comedies are my favorite genres, so I tend to be biased.  Its lack of over the top themes mean I would use this series as a good gateway to anime for someone I wanted to get into anime and was used to other romantic comedies.  Its short and while the ending is typical of a 13 episode series based on a manga that is ongoing (whew that's a mouthful), the ending was still appropriate and worked. 

My Little Monster: First Impressions

Soooo... Where to start?  どこにはじまるの？　　

I think its pretty common that you have to give an anime 2 good episodes before you pass judgment.  Don't know how that works in japan - if the series premier always ends up being a one hour special or something, because I really don't know how they would draw their fan base in otherwise.  Then again so many anime are adaptations of manga and light novels that maybe you just don't have that problem, what with the established fan base.

I'm glad I did wait around because as usual I'm pleasantly surprised.  If you watch any other slice of life type anime revolving around a romantic relationship, the formula is pretty stock.  Hell, its pretty stock even if its not an anime.  We take one girl, who meets a boy. Eventually she'll lose that boy to something I'm sure and then we'll see her get that boy back.  Its not the formula that's so important really, its the journey and what the artist/author has to say about life in general while we get there.

This story's premise takes a not so interesting lead female character, Mizutani Shizuku, and matches her up an over the top bad boy, Haru I can't remember his last name because its too late at night.  Mizutani only wants to study, to be top in her class.  No they don't tell us why.  But her passion at this goal is so deep she ignores people and activity for this sole purpose.  She is "dry ice."  Haru, on the other hand, is explosively passionate.  Haru has gotten in enough fights in the first three episodes to do Goku proud.  Then there is the odd way he acts and things he says to Mizutani, which borderline on certifiable. Again, they don't tell us why, and at least in the first three episodes it remains a mystery as to his eccentric nature.  Though the third episode had a cliffhanger that made us wonder...  

Trying to figure out what Haru will do next, watching Mizutani work out her feelings, and meeting the cast of characters that help each discovery mean something, is what moves this anime along.  And because I like to comment on the deeper side of shows, I can say this one seems pretty shallow thus far.  For a feel good high school setting I guess there's nothing wrong with that.  Closed in Mizutani discovering the importance of living life beyond a book and watching both main characters learn the value of friendship gets you measuring your own relationships against a more true yardstick.  Because that's what a good story does for you right?  Reminds you of the values you use to measure your life by?  In more youthful days I think this stick is unfairly measured.  Its "idealistic" but not measured by reality.  When we watch shows like this when we're younger, we go "that's how I want love and friendship to be."  And then when you're an おじさん　like me you see a yardstick that you use to use.  Maybe you wish it was closer to its old cut, or maybe you think hey, I've remained pretty true.  But that's what a good show will make you think.  We'll see how good this anime is in the end.

I'll finish this series pretty quickly as its light viewing, and I hope you join me on twitter and facebook at #latenightotaku or the respective fan page. Thanks again and as always, if you think I got it wrong or have your own comments, please leave a post!

また　明日

Sword Art Online Review

Ah Sword Art Online, you've been my companion this last week.  Is it weird that I'm only blogging and tweeting to myself so far?  I guess I'll have to find someway to attract people to watch anime with me and pay attention. This #latenightotaku is going to be a thing, by my will.  You heard it here first.

In any event, on to the review.  And for that I really need to split season 1 of this anime into two parts.  Episode 1-14, and Episodes 15-25.  I already gave you my impressions of Episodes 1-14 in my last two blogs; however, let be brief.  If you watch nothing else, Episodes 1-14 are concise, poignant, and accomplish what they set out to do.  Asuna is a heroine worth falling in love with and Kirito grows into a hero you can respect and root for.  The ending makes sense within the world, and the very final scene closes curtain perfectly.  I still have my gripes about it not quite being punchy enough, but you know for what it is, the first 14 episodes especially, I'd have to give this Anime a 4/5 star review. 

Lets do a brief plot summary so I'm not just throwing out episode numbers at you and you can decide if its at least something that catches your attention.  Sword Art Online is a new MMO that sells some 10,000 copies - and that's it.  That's all they wanted to sell.  Everyone logs on for the opening ceremonies of the game only to discover that they are stuck.  That's right, the game creator tells them, its not a glitch - you can't log out. And if you die in this world, you die in the real world.  Kirito, the lead character and veteran MMO player, resigns himself to living in this new world, survive and clear the game.  Each episode, or at least the first 14, build on this theme.  Kirito and the fellow victims all do their best to adjust.   In Lord of the Flies fashion, some go crazy, while others become violent and still others just give up.  Episode after episode, you see the higher values of humanity win out and are thankful the artist doesn't quite share Goldman's distrust of human nature.


Now what really pushes the series to hit all the notes that matter is Asuna.  Not your typical damsel in distress... In fact there was no boy meets girl boy loses girl boy gets girl back in that first story arc.  And that was refreshing. In everyway Asuna represented an idea that when someone is worthy of being loved, you give it to them without holding back. 

After episode 14, it gets wishy washy.  Like, hey this series is successful, so lets keep it going.  The original story is a ライトノベル (sp?  Light Novel) or at least a series of them, and I'm not sure if maybe the themes held tighter or not, but in the anime incarnation the plot does fall pray to cliché and you don't get the statements the show starts with.  Still they were entertaining I suppose.

It's late, and I think I'm repeating myself, so I'm going to sign out here.  Its a good show overall, and if you at least just watch the first 14, you'll be good to go.  Its got fantasy, well animated fights and a worthy romance arc.  So go for it and watch.

The next series I'll be picking up... I haven't decided. If anyone sees this and wants to weigh in, leave a comment. Have anything to add you think I left out about SAO?  Leave that in the comments too.  This has been the ramblings of a late night otaku, about to get to bed.  We'll start the next series... Tuesday perhaps?  Until then またね！

Sword Art Online: Mid series reflection

I told you during my first few episode reflections that the series barely had me looking forward to the next episode.  It got me.  It took it some time but it managed to grab me by the feels deep down in my kokoro 心。  They introduced a romance arc... but before we get there...

First the things I get to say I told you so about: Kirito was the typical anime loner.  And then he tried to break out of that behavior and the plot jammed a spike in his introverted soul.  I'm debating whether this blog will have spoilers or just focus on feedback, but that's a decision for later so I'll avoid the from now. Also the themes circle around Lord of the Flies type emergences, while all the denizens of sword art online try to cope with their entrapment.  A theme I hadn't quite expected that Kirito gets to give us:  No matter how bad things are and can get:  enjoy life, don't let it get these situations get the best of you.  Enjoy the beauty around you.  And that's a theme I can get behind.

The show meanders through various short one or two episode stories of the citizentry coping.  Kirito plays a star roll and during the first half of the series, you see two years go by with him doing his best with the life he's been given.  You get to meet different characters each shaping Kirito's personality and growth in a different way.  The big punch in the face for Kirito is Asuna.  And here the most basic cliché story line is introduced and I personally thank them for it, because what story isn't complete with out a good romance. 

Two things here, and then I'm going to watch a few more episodes tonight. 

Understand the target audience for the show - 12-16 year old males would be my guess, though its not so masculine in themes that females shouldn't have a hard time appreciating it.  I bring this up to comment on the delivery of the themes and what the artist is trying to tell us.  The delivery is simple and doesn't go to far beyond skin deep. It never hits any real lows, and the highest highs are in my opinion more of a walk in the park with the one you love (Asuna ドキドキ）.  Its enjoyable, and maybe it s just my age talking (おじいさんじゃない！) but I've seen deliveries better. I've had my feels pulled harder.  And that's probably what's keeping this anime as a top ranking one in my book.

My favorite aspect, if you couldn't have guessed, is the relationship between Asuna and Kirito.  But mostly just Asuna.  Her line towards the midseries finale, "君をまもるよ！”　brings it home.  For those finding my random Japanese obnoxious, "I will protect you."  The great part is she has the guts, skill, and abilities to do it.  The love between Asuna and Kirito is born from a mutual respect of each others abilities and values.  Again the delivery is fairly superficial but you couldn't want a better model of love.  Asuna is Kirito's hero, and likewise he is hers.  If you can't say the same of a relationship you are in, please take a moment and take this one thing from this anime.

Well if you havn't started Sword Art Online its watchable, even enjoyable. If you have and you want to watch with me I'll be tweeting comments on #latenightotaku and #swordartonline.

If you think I got it wrong, or want to add to the conversation, please leave me a comment.  じゃね