2020 Fall Three-Episode Check-In
There’s too darn many anime this season. Some of them are even really good! The team did their best, resulting in our longest check-in post ever.
All Articles
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Rise of the Villainess: How the reborn bad girls of otome games are defying shoujo stereotypes
In the past few years, the villainess has seen something of a renaissance. Rather than being the subject of ridicule or comeuppance, she’s being celebrated, given the opportunity to come into her own as the subject of an emerging theme in an ever-expanding field of light novels, manga, and anime. Today I’d like to talk a little bit about these ojous: who they are, where they come from, and why in the 21st century their success demonstrates an alternate world where being smart, hard-working, and kind gets you far.
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Resources and Fundraisers: October 2020
As always, we encourage folks to bring attention to fundraisers we’ve missed in the comments. If you’re in the United States, we encourage you to vote if you are able. You can find info about ballot tracking, early voting, and voter suppression issues here.
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Chatty AF 127: Live Action Hot Gimmick Drinkalong (WITH TRANSCRIPT)
Caitlin, Chiaki, and special guest Megan D enjoy some drinks while not enjoying a live action adaptation of the infamous shojo manga Hot Gimmick!
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A Swing and a Miss: The mixed-up feminism of Princess Nine
Princess Nine wants to be an empowering lady-led sports anime, but it can’t quite shake off the gendered expectations about what girls “really” want or who society thinks they’re “supposed” to be.
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D4DJ First Mix – Episode 1
D4DJ is like a swig of energy drink. It’s fun, colorful, high-octane, and I can already tell I’m going to have Rinku’s beloved dance track stuck in my head for the whole weekend.
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My Fave is Problematic: Phantom Thief Jeanne
As Jeanne, Maron steals paintings possessed by demons trying to steal the beauty of human hearts, weaken God, and strengthen the Demon Lord. By doing so, Maron seals the demons away, restores the affected humans to normal, and leaves a new painting of an angel in its place. This premise intrigued me because the magical girl was a phantom thief, rather than the standard “magical warrior” or “witch.”
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Anime Feminist Recommendations of Summer 2020
One series out of Netflix jail and another delayed from the spring season ride in to save an otherwise slim summer.
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MAGATSU WAHRHEIT – Episode 1
While it has the most generic Fantasy Oppression setting imaginable, the very emphatically capitalized MAGATSU WAHRHEIT knows exactly how it looks—and it’s unexpectedly sly at playing with those expectations.
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Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club – Episode 1
A stunning premiere that showcases the main cast while hinting at a wholly optomistic plot that welcomes newcomers and seasoned fans to enjoy a new entry to the Love Live! franchise.
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2020 Fall Premiere Digest
If Summer was thin, then Fall’s made up for it by being absolutely packed to the gills with titles of every stripe!
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Dropout Idol Fruit Tart – Episode 1
Dropout Idol Fruit Tart, like the sweet treat in its name, is bright and sugary, but probably does not contain much nutritional value… and in fact might make you feel a bit off if you consume too much of it too quickly.
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Maesetsu! Opening Act – Episode 1
It took me two days and no less than four separate attempts to make it all the way through Maesetsu’s 24-minute first episode.
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The Gymnastics Samurai – Episode 1
This first episode is such an eclectic mix of plot points and character beats that I suspect everyone is going to have a different reaction to it. My advice? Go watch it. At worst, it won’t make you angry, and at best, it may just charm the leotard off of you.
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Chatty AF 126: 2020 Summer Wrap-up (WITH TRANSCRIPT)
Dee, Chiaki, and Mercedez look back on the 2020 Summer season!
