I’m not a fan of magical girl anime. I’ve watched a little Sailor Moon and read a few issues of the manga a few years ago so I could write about it. I enjoyed Kill la Kill, but on the whole the genre just isn’t my thing. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (PM3 from here on) languished in…
Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton
The other day I was at a library for a teen mental health conference. As I usually do, I took the lunch break for some alone time. Conferences have far too much group work and socialness! After wandering around town, I returned to the library and found the book Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton. I’ve…
Pokemon Sword and Shield, A Game for Kids
I recently finished Pokemon Sword on the Nintendo Switch. It’s an uneven game but fun. Some of the areas have poor textures, and many of the Pokemon animation and effects disappoint. But the game doesn’t warrant the outcry on the Internet. At this point, I shouldn’t be surprised. The Internet outraged? On Metacritic, Pokemon Sword…
Restaurant to Another World
The premise of Restaurant to Another World struck me as odd at first, but I gave the show a try anyway and found it surprisingly charming. The story lacks depth. You really don’t get to know the visitors or characters of the restaurant. The owner of the restaurant is confident, capable, and mostly unshakeable–other than…
Dogged Determination: One of Anime’s Favorite Themes
Determination sits at the top of anime’s favorite themes. When I first considered writing about this, the obviousness of determination made me wonder what I could say about it that wasn’t, uh, obvious. Anime heroes are determined to achieve their goals. Full stop. They aren’t any different from heroes in other stories. But there is…
Anime for the Brokenhearted
If you are brokenhearted, anime can offer some reprieve. Relationships can be rough, and they often end. If you are like me, when I’m brokenhearted I want to watch relationship stories. There’s something comforting in seeing people work through their relationship problems. Of course, sometimes you also want something cathartic. Anger and frustration remain part…