T5W#191-Top 5 Gunpla I’ve Built (So Far)

Since my last Otakon, I’ve been steadily getting back into regularly working on a core component of being a Gundam fan I haven’t really embraced: building Gunpla.  Actually, I shouldn’t say I’ve been steadily doing this.  I’ve been diving in head first and gathering as many new models as I’ve been able to from local shops and stores that happen to sell them.  I’ve amassed quite a collection in the last 7 months and with Katsucon on the horizon, I’m definitely planning on bringing more home to assemble.  You could call this me catching up on lost time with Gunpla, a new calming activity for dealing with mental health or finding a hobby that brings me closer to my Dad (who did some train model work here and there).  Anyway, like I said, the collection has grown and today I’m gonna highlight some of my personal favorites.  These are the Top 5 Gunpla I’ve Built (So Far).  Hope you don’t mind the photo quality, I need to add making a proper staging are to my list of 2023 objectives.

 

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom Part 2 Episodes 5-8

After 7 years of planning, Katarina has finally arrived at the Magical Academy.  It is here where the main plot of Fortune Lover begins and where Katarina’s future will be in constant jeopardy if she doesn’t play her cards right.  Her actions in the past have already altered potential route for each suitor and she’s even befriended the girl who will ultimately spell her downfall, Maria Campbell.  But is Katarina changing things too much?  What happens when all eyes start moving away from Maria and over to herself as the object of their affections, even Maria?

So this sophomore outing for My Next Life as a Villainess surprised me in a number of ways.  Not only did we get a lot of major improvements over elements introduced in the premiere that felt tacked on and useless, but we also got some good expansive and surprisingly heartbreaking backstories for several characters.  One of these backstories seemed to come not quite out of nowhere but it was decidedly the most tragic aspect of an otherwise feel good Issekai Harem Romance Anime about a girl making a new life for herself in her favorite video game while trying to avoid certain doom.  Let’s dive right into all of the goodness and especially break down that one revelation that I’m a little on the fence about but thankfully don’t feel that it detracts from the sheer fun this show can be…unlike another Anime but I’ll talk about that when I get to it.
 

FIF#178-The Legend of Vox Machina

The continent of Tal’Dorei is under siege by a malevolent and powerful evil that is decimating souls brave enough to stand against it.  Desperate, the rulers of Tal’Dorei turn to the only remaining option they have: a crew of rowdy, drunken, no F’s giving mercenaries known as Vox Machina.  An Elven Ranger, her Rogue brother, a Cleric, a Gunslinger, a Bard, a Druid and a Barbarian who are prone to messing up quests more than completing them are all that stand between Tal’Dorei and total annihilation…yeah when you put it like, Tal’Dorei might be in trouble.  And thus begins the Legend of Vox Machina…God help us all.

 
As big a nerd as I am, I hardly dabble in Dungeons and Dragons.  I admire the game, the creativity that goes into each campaign and have watched many of them played out among friends but I’ve never been able to commit to the phenomenon.  But I know plenty who have and all of them have recommended this series to me (some of you reading this know who you are).  The Legend of Vox Machina is based on a D&D campaign played in the Web Series Critical Role, whose cast of players includes many famous voice actor friends including Laura Bailey & Travis Willinghem (Fullmetal Alchemist), Ashley Johnson (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Matthew Mercer (Overatch).  This Kickstart funded animated adventure has become one of Amazon’s biggest hits.  Do the first couple of episodes justify jumping into this quest with the Fantasy equivalent of the Guardians of the Galaxy?
 

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom Part 1 Episodes 1-4

Katarina Claes, a girl of noble descent, lives a privledged life.  One day, however, an accident causes her to remember the truth: Katarina isn’t a noblewoman but a 17 year old Otaku Girl who met a tragic end and has been reincarnated as the Villainess in her favorite video game, Fortune Lover.  Even worse, Katarina knows well enough how the game always ends: Exile or Death.  But Katarina knows Fortune Lover like the back of her hand and she is determined to steer clear of death and change her fate.  Katarina’s already died once.  She’s not in a hurry to do it all over again.

 
As much as I like to rag on Issekai for taking the spotlight away from most other Anime (especially Mecha), most of the ones I’ve seen have actually been pretty decent, if not good (Rising of the Shield Hero comes to mind).  And it looks like that trend might continue as I take on a request from a friend for the month of February: an Issekai Romantic Comedy Fantasy about a girl who tries to change her fate when she’s reincarnated into her favorite video game.  There’s no escaping back to the real world, there’s just playing the hand life has dealt and from the looks of it, Katarina got things under control…for now.  Welcome, Dear Readers, to My Next Life as a Villainess: All Roads Lead to Doom.
 

T5W#390-Top 5 Zombie Anime

Zombies, Zombies, Zombies.  Ever since George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, they’ve been all the rage in media from Movies to TV to Comics and more.  While many can say that the genre has run its course thanks to the overabundance of The Walking Dead, the overnight success of The Last of Us indicates that isn’t totally true.  But with all the live action focus on these legions of the undead, what about Anime?  Oh yeah, youre definitely covered in that department and while you can commend incredible make artists for the hard work they put into Zombie makeup, Anime can really bring the threat of the Zombie Apocalypse to a whole other level of terrifying. So, for todays Top 5 Wednesday, I’m picking my Top 5 Zombie Anime sure to wet the appetite of any casual horror fan.