Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 3 Episodes 9-13

Akko’s determination to become the next Shiny Chariot continues to push her through her classes at Luna Nova.  Now she is being tested like never before.  When confronted with the possibility of skipping ahead to a Shiny Chariot like future, will Akko leave behind the school she’s come to love?  Then it’s time for the annual school festival.  The teachers of Luna Nova can sense the power of magic beginning to weaken as many lose their faith in it.  Well Akko, Lotte and Sucy are here to remind them of why magic is so amazing.  This will be an event to remember.

Maybe it’s because I watch a lot of action Anime and review them for this blog, but Little Witch Academia has been a breath of fresh air for my favorite entertainment genre.  It’s brimming with hope, imagination and a sense of pure fun.  So far, the show has been a success that stands on the shoulders if its two successful preceding short films.  Today though, the show wraps up a fun first half with some hints of some important conflicts to come.  So it’s time to enjoy the fun while it lasts.

Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 2 Episodes 5-8

Akko Kagari has finally made it to Luna Nova, the school where her greatest inspiration, Shiny Chariot, attended.  But when you’re a girl with zero magical talent, studying to become the best witch is the greatest challenge.  Between clashes with rivals and trying to save her roommates from a mushroom expanding infection, Akko is learning more and more about the school she now calls home and the troubles it might be facing that no one else knows about.  But Akko isn’t about to let anything stop her from becoming just like Shiny Chariot.  She may need to read a ton of books for class…but her real magic comes from within.

Little Witch Academia has succeeded in multiple area from visuals to world building.  The one thing is has absolutely been without doubt is fun.  This is a feel good show and this weeks second outing proves that with four more stellar episodes the progress Akko’s journey to proper Witch-Hood and set up a possibly greater conflict to come for the world she loves so much

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of Zeon

Universal Century 0083.  A three year period of peace is shattered when Zeon remnants known as the Delaz Fleet begin their plan for revenge.  They start by stealing a prototype Gundam equipped for nuclear warfare.  The Federation battleship Albion is sent in pursuit, carrying with it another Gundam prototype, the hot headed pilot selected for it and the beautiful engineer who designed it and its nuclear brother.  Can a rookie Federation pilot defeat a legendary Zeon ace and prevent the rebirth of Zeon?  And what is the true secret objective behind the ominous Operation Stardust?

See this, this is the reason I don’t really do reviews of Compilation Films.  The only exceptions I make to that little ruling are if I know they change or add something substantial to the original (or tell the original in exactly the same manner) or if I don’t have some time to kill in a review slot.  In spite of my stance on Compilation Films, I have reviewed more than a few from the Gundam Franchise.  In my mind, I know the high and low bars for this particular series: the original Mobile Suit Gundam Compilation Trilogy brilliantly retold the complete One Year War saga with new twists and new animation throughout, basically taking a series that was already great and making it even better.  On the low end, you have the Compilation Duology for Turn A Gundam, which rushed through 50 episodes across a 4 hour combined runtime and added nothing, in fact it reinforced that Turn A Gundam is meant to be watched in full and not in a half assed, shortened manner.  So where does the Gundam 0083 Compilation, The Afterglow of Zeon, fit on this scale?  Oh it’s at the low end, right there with the Turn A Movies. 

T5W#302-Top 5 Moments from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

30 years ago, the second age of Mobile Suit Gundam began with two attempts at a new launch point for the franchise.  One was the theatrical feature, Mobile Suit Gundam F91…it wasn’t good.  The second faired much better overall (even if it’s not a perfect piece).  Gundam 0083 served as both a sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam, taking place three years after the end of the One Year War, and covered events that would set up Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.  Like I said, Gundam 0083 isnt perfect but it is one of the most epic entries in the Gundam pantheon, boasting amazing visuals and a scale of battle by which all other Gundam battles should be judged.  To celebrate the 30^th birthday of this important chapter in the franchise, I’m counting down the Top 5 Moments from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.  Tbh, I was thinking about doing a Top 5 for both 0083 and F91…but F91 doesn’t really have 5 good moments (can only say it’s a beautiful looking flick), so we’re just sticking with Stardust Memory. 

Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 1 Episodes 1-4

Ever since she saw Shiny Chariot’s magic show, Atsuko "Akko" Kagari has always wanted to be a witch.  Though she possess no magical skills of her own, Akko has been granted admission to Luna Nova Academy, the most prestigious school of Witchcraft in the world and the school her idol once attended.  Akko’s ready to make her own legend but finds herself outclassed in every subject.  But when she and her roommates: Lotte and Sucy, discover a magical item that once belonged to Chariot herself, things are about to get very interesting for Akko, the little witch that could.

Studio Trigger hit true Anime gold with their original Little Witch Academia short films.  The first one is easily one of my all time favorite Anime ever: 25 minutes of magical wonder that really spoke to my inner Anime fan and made me remember why I fell in love with this medium in the first place.  I still cry a bit cause it’s so inspirational.  I didn’t feel quite the same way about the follow up, “The Enchanted Parade” but I still enjoyed it.  Well it looks as if the demand for more was something Trigger was more than willing to meet.  So we’ve gotten a full blown series and so far, it’s off to a fantastic start.

Kill La Kill Part 6 Episodes 21-24

Ever since she arrived at Honnouji Academy, Ryuko Matoi has endured fight after fight in order to reach Satsuki Kiriyuin and find out the truth behind her fathers death.  Now Satsuki stands as her most important ally in the ultimate fight for humanity and the planet.  With Ragyo Kiriyuin literally towering over the world, it will take all these two brave and stubborn heroines have to bring her down.  The time has come to settle old scores and bring every bit of strength left to stand against the combined might of Ragyo and the Primordial Life Fiber.  Humanity or clothing…who will rule the planet in the end?

Kill La Kill was a breath of fresh air insanity when it kicked off, I see no reason why it shouldn’t end the same way.  This series stuck to its nonsensical guns from beginning to end and saved some of the most crowd pleasing moments for last.  Considering many of the people who worked on this show also worked on Gurren Lagann, I’m not surprised things got taken to a whole new level of epicness, to the point where everyone was a giant fighting for the fate of the world.  In a nutshell, even if you couldn’t buy into the ever evolving and crazy premise…Kill La Kill was a whole lot of fun right until the end.

T5W#301-Top 5 Gundam AND Macross Pilots Most Qualified for Top Gun

This year marks the 35^th Anniversary of one of my all time favorite movies: Top Gun.  Ok is it Casablanca or The Godfather?  No but Top Gun is an extremely fun action classic from the 1980s filled with well shot action, memorable characters, arguably one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and its easily one of the most quotable films of all time too.  What’s kind of surprising is that, originally I wanted to do a Top 5 dedicated to Anime inspired by Top Gun…but there aren’t that many, at least that I’ve seen.  And the two closest results you get are either Macross Plus (long advertised as the “Top Gun” of Anime) and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.  Still I wanted to carry on with a Top Gun dedicated Top 5 and flipped a coin between the two titles.  Both Gundam and Macross have a plethora of pilots who would fit perfectly into the school dedicated to training the best of the best when it comes to fighter pilots.  Now that I think about it, how about we do some cross pollinating eh?  Today’s Top 5 Wednesday is about the boys (and girls) who showcase the greatest need for speed.  These are the Top 5 Gundam AND Macross Pilots Most Qualified for Top Gun.

Kill La Kill Part 5 Episodes 17-20

With the success of the Tri City School Raids Trip, the Elite Four announce The Cultural and Sports Grand Festival.  Here, the students and their families will pay tribute to Satsuki’s mother, Ragyo Kiriyuin, unaware that theyre all walking into a deadly trap.  Despite her shaken resolve, Ryuko returns to battle with what’s left of Nudist Beach to save her friends and family.  What awaits is a battle more insane and dangerous than ever before; one that will force Ryuko to confront Ragyo with her one time enemy Satsuki Kiriyuin…and learn a more devastating truth that will rock both of these beautiful rivals to their very core. 

Holy crap, if anyone deserves a happy ending after all the crap they’ve gone through in a single series, it’s Ryuko Matoi.  Forget getting the bejezzus pummeled out of her almost every single episode, how about having her freaking heart ripped from her chest Kano from Mortal Kombat style?  Not only that, but Ryuko also learned her mother is the enemy, her former (?) enemy is her sister and she’s the key to bringing about a worldwide clothing apocalypse.  I don’t think one of Terminator 2’s best quotes has ever been so fitting (no pun intended), “I need a vacation.”  Not only that but in this penultimate set of episodes, the entire status quo of Kill La Kill got turned on its head.  Let’s break it all down.

Kill La Kill Part 4 Episodes 13-16

With data gathered from Ryuko Matoi’s battle with the Elite Four, Satsuki Kiriyuin announces the Tri City Schools Raid Trip: an operation to conquer the high schools of three regions.  But Ryuko herself isn’t in any position to do anything to stop Satsuki’s plans, not when she’s still recovering from her and Senketsu’s rampage during their last battle.  Then there’s Nui Harime, the bubbly but ruthless seamstress who killed Ryuko’s father.  There’s more going on with these plans and agendas than Ryuko realizes…and the time for answers (or at least payback) is now.

Ok, that was a lot thrown at us and it’s as crazy as it sounds.  And yet, those big revelations are very in keeping with Kill La Kill at its core: a nonsensical thrill ride with a story that makes no sense and I’m not sure its supposed to.  Whatever the case, I wouldn’t be surprised if you stopped reading the series reviews after this one because if you’re not onboard after reading what comes next, then clearly Kill La Kill is not the show for you.

T5W#300-Top 5 Best (and Worst) Things about Resident Evil: Village

Wow, can you believe it?  Today, we’ve hit the Gundam Anime Corners 300^th Top 5 Wednesday…jeez.  300 random Top 5s (and the occasional 10s) of random Anime facts, personal reflections and just whatever really comes to mind week after week.  To be honest, I had no idea what to cover for this momentous landmark.  Then Resident Evil: Village came out on Friday and after beating it within a day or so, I really want to talk about it since I had mentioned it before and talked a bit about Resident Evil here on the blog.  The game is a bit of a mixed bag for various reasons, so much I wasn’t sure whether to talk about the good or the bad in greater detail…so screw it, we can do a special variation for a special occasion.  Today, Dear Readers, I give you the 300^th Top 5 Wednesday- Top 5 Best (and Worst) Things about Resident Evil: Village.  (Note to self: Maybe do an actual Anime related list for T5W#400).  Also, I while I’ll try to keep this Top 5 Spoiler Free, there’s a chance I might delve into that territory, particularly towards the end of the list.  I’ll place a warning where needed. 

Kill La Kill Part 3 Episodes 9-12

At last Ryuko Matoi has found the opportunity she’s been looking for: A chance to face Satsuki Kiriyuin and learn the truth behind her fathers death.  Only four obstacles stand in her way: Satsuki’s Elite Four.  As each fight grows more intense and difficult, Ryuko draws upon more power from Senketsu than ever before, enough to alarm secret freedom fighter Akihiro Mikisugi.  But just when Ryuko’s goal is in sight, a new opponent appears: Nui Harime, the Grand Couturier of the Revocs Corporation owned by Satsuki’s mother, Ragyo Kiryuin.  The news she has to deliver will shock Ryuko to her core and change her destiny forever.

Well…ok, that all just happened.  I predicted a lot would go down in Ryuko finally getting a shot at the Elite Four and Satsuki Kiriyuin.  But wow, I could never have predicted THAT MUCH would ever go down.  Kill La Kill brought the goods and somehow both exceeded expectations and got me pumped for what’s to come in the second half of the show…even if one or two things didn’t gel so well with me, but it’s more of a personal preference thing.

Kill La Kill Part 2 Episodes 5-8

Life at Honnouji Academy has been anything but dull for newcomer Ryuko Matoi.  She’s attracted the interest of the schools overlord, Satsuki Kiriyuin, and is facing daily challenges from multiple clubs that want her head and her Kamui, Senketsu.  Adding to the confusion is the ever persistent, constantly stripping homeroom teacher Akihiro Mikizuki and a new arrival: a deadly assassin named Tsumugu Kinagase.  Ryuko came to Honnouji to figure out who killed her father.  But will she really have to battle every last student in the school to find the answer?

Kill La Kill is a show that I think is pretty easy to get into and a lot of fun to enjoy.  While the lack of proper explanation to certain world building aspects can be aggrivating, the show makes up for it with an abundance of manic energy filled fight scenes and great comedic timing.  The second outing for the show was just as strong as the first, although I found myself being a bit more critical of a couple of core characters for various reasons.

T5W#299-Top 5 Manga/Anime Comparisons I’d Like to Tackle

Last year on the Gundam Anime Corner, I decided to undertake one of my most ambitious projects to date.  By early 2020 I had finally finished acquiring the most recent Gundam Wing Manga-Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz-Glory of the Losers, and set about comparing it to the Anime that changed my life forever.  Across 14 Volumes, I covered where each chapter fell within the Anime itself and noted all the little changes that either enhanced the overall Gundam Wing experience or even hampered it a little bit.  As a life long fan of Gundam Wing, it was probably one of the most fun project I’ve ever worked on here at this blog.  So…why not plan to do it again?  I’ve got plenty of Manga on my shelf and most of them have been adapted into Anime or other features.  While I had planned to maybe try this in 2021, the way the year started out kind of threw things out of wack…but hey something could still happen.  In the meantime, for todays Top 5 Wednesday im counting down the Top 5 Manga/Anime Comparisons I’d Like to Tackle.  Like I said, we might see at least one of these in 2021, there’s still plenty of year to go.  But let’s list all of these options under “tentative”.

Kill La Kill Part 1 Episodes 1-4

Welcome to Honnouji Academy, where your level in standing is judged by the uniform you wear.  Here, the school is ruled by the beautiful and ruthless Satsuki Kiriyuin and her Elite Four.  It is a school where the weak suffer and only the strong survive.  But someone has arrived to upset the established order.  Her name is Ryuko Matoi and she’s come looking for answers to the death of her father.  Ryuko might be a good fighter but she’ll need more than guts to handle a super powered student body.  That’s when fate intervenes and hands her a uniform and weapon capable of taking on Satsuki and her army on their own terms.  It’s gonna be one helluva school year at Honnouji Academy.

Question: When you saw your first Anime, be it Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon or Sailor Moon, did you ever wonder just how far Anime could be pushed as a medium?  How awesome would life look in this artstyle with all the bombastic coolness it presented?  I only ask because Kill La Kill seems to be answering those couple of questions and more.  Created by a bunch of former Gainax employees who made a career out of working on some of the most prolific and amazing Anime of all time like Evangelion or FLCL, Kill La Kill is Studio Trigger getting to do the kind of balls to the wall project they’ve always wanted.  And it’s the title that’s kicking off the start of a special summer event: The Summer of TRIGGER.