FIF#116-JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Throughout the annals of history, a war has been raging for the better part of a century.  Every era marks a new chapter in this conflict without end and every era sees two individuals partaking in it.  One is Dio Brando, a mad man who has sworn to rise above his lowborn status and see humanity cower beneath him.  The other is a descendant of the Joestar Family, the family that once took Dio in and now he wishes to destroy above all others.  It is the one name that can challenge Dio and give mankind a fighting chance at survival.  And that name, the name given to every Joestar descendant…is JoJo.

While I feel like it’s fervor has died down a bit, I cant help but think of a time when everyone was talking about the oddly named JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.  My initial glimpses of it made me think of a far more flashy Fist of the North Star, though maybe with a lot less gore.  I was also aware of some of the Anime and Manga’s more wacky attributes.  So I thought it was about time I take a look at the first episode of this series and…yeah I can see why it’s hyped so much.

T5W#262-Top 5 Forthcoming Anime Projects in 2020 and 2021

It’s no surprise that Anime, like everything else in the world, has taken a massive blow thanks to the impact of the global pandemic still going on around the world.  The entertainment industry as a whole is in a strange state with countless films and tv shows being delayed or sent straight to streaming.  And yet, while we continue to weather the storm, plans are being made to get back to work when the world is in a safer state.  This goes double for the Anime Industry.  There have been a mix of delays along with announcements of projects still forthcoming in 2020 and it feels right to go over five of them today.  So, please enjoy my Top 5 Forthcoming Anime Projects in 2020 and 2021 and know that when we establish the new normal post pandemic, we’ll all have something to look forward to.

Bayonetta: Bloody Fate

For centuries, a war has been fought between the forces of light and darkness.  The Umbra Witches who served the dark were thought destroyed by their enemies, the Lumen Sages over 500 years ago.  In the present, one still walks among the living, dealing death and destruction to the forces of Heaven who threaten the Earth.  Her name is Bayonetta: a witch without a past and a penchant for raising Hell wherever she goes.  The announcement of a historic religious event leads her to the city of Vigrid, where a bevy of Angelic foes and a mysterious rival wait for her.  When the past comes knocking, will Bayonetta be subject to a truly bloody fate?  Or is it the destiny of a child of the darkness and the light to be humanities salvation?

Bayonetta might just be one of the best video games of the 21^st century.  Basically, it’s Devil May Cry with a sexy female leading lady who gets into some of the craziest, mind bending action sequences the human mind can think of.  The game is a thing of beauty and it’s content is just begging to be adapted into an Anime.  Thankfully, Bayonetta: Bloody Fate delivers everything that made the game that inspired it so legendary while also doing a few things differently and, in my opinion, theyre changes for the better.

FIF#115-Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

In a world where the Gods walk among the humans, becoming a dungeon crawling adventurer is the dream of many.  One such hopeful soul is Bell Cranel.  When the beginner is almost killed by a monster in dungeon, he is saved by the woman of his dreams, The Sword Princess Aiz Wallenstein.  Little does Bell know, he has a special skill that boosts his abilities and experience gathering so long as he keeps his mind focused on one goal: winning the heart of the Sword Princess herself.  Creatures of the darkness and the deepest dungeons beware: Bell is coming for all of them and nothing will stop him from finding love in a Dungeon.

As Issekai continues to dominate the world of Anime, its hard to forget that there are still straight up fantasy Anime set in fantastical worlds of swords and sorcery.  Besides it’s rather long title, Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon seems like harmless fun from its first episode, though it’s the little things about the world where it set that intrigue me the most.

T5W#261-Top 5 Popular Isekai before Sword Art Online (aka the Issekai Boom)

Even if you’re new to the Anime medium, there’s no doubt you’ve heard the term “Isekai” a few times.  The term translates to “Another World” and usually features a protagonist transported from his home world (usually modern day Japan) to, you guessed it, another world (a fantasy realm has been the popular choice).  This subgenre didn’t just boom in the 2010’s, it was its own Big Bang.  Beginning with the monumental success of Sword Art Online in 2012, there have been dozens of Isekai shows over the years, I don’t even want to try and count them.  Most follow the same cut and paste formula with different variations but it has become the genre of choice for Anime Studio projects looking to make it big.  While Isekai thrives on SAO and other titles like Re:Zero or That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, the genre has been around long before SAO came on the scene.  Isekai titles weren’t popping up every couple of months back then but there were a few golden classics that shouldn’t be forgotten in the new heyday of the genre that sees no signs of stopping anytime soon.  So, on todays Top 5 Wednesday, I’m counting down my Top 5 Popular Isekai before Sword Art Online (aka the Issekai Boom), so any Anime with an Isekai feel before 2012.