#my best explanation for this is that comic sans is dynamic funny and even a little bit childish font

[chocolate-cringymuffin]

Anybody else got that Evergiven sized writers block

[psycho-alchemist]

Summer 2017 Anime - First Impressions

The first week of the summer 2017 anime season has ended, and we've got a pretty good lineup! I've finished sampling all of the anime I planned on watching, plus a few extra, so in this post I will discuss my impression of each first episode I watched. Click on the respective picture to see my thoughts in the description! And please share your thoughts as well; I'd love to know what you thought of this first week!

Covered in this post:

Aho-Girl

Ballroom e Youkoso

Centaur no Nayami

Dive!!

Enmusubi no Youko-chan

Isekai Shokudou

Jikan no Shihaisha

Kakegurui

Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun

Knight’s & Magic

Konbini Kareshi

Made in Abyss

Nana Maru San Batsu

New Game!!

Princess Principal

Shoukoku no Altair

Vatican Kiseki Chousakan

Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou

Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e

Aho-Girl - First Impression Anime about stupid people are usually an even mix of funny and cringey. You laugh at their mistakes while shrivelling up on the inside from secondhand embarrassment. But you know what? Aho Girl is NOT one of those anime. IT'S WORSE. I wasn't even enjoying her idiocy after a few minutes; I was not only cringing, I wanted to fucking drop kick her and end the episode. Her poor childhood friend deserves better. I can't watch this entire anime. I'll get high blood pressure.

Ballroom e Youkoso - First Impression BeY was one of the most hyped anime of the season. The manga is very popular, and I actually read 4 volumes before the anime started airing! I'm not in love with BeY, but I do think the anime will be fun and intense to watch, if it's anything like the manga. The dance moves and competitions are very fast-paced, and it'll be very cool to learn about ballroom dancing. There's a lot more to it than just romantic, sexy movement! I think BeY does a great job explaining the technical aspects of the sport, and I can't wait to see it all animated! I'll also be promoting this anime a bit extra, since YoI's awful fanbase is attempting to tear it down for being--and I quote--"aggressively het," among other things. (The Tumblr drama is INSANE.)

I wasn't very impressed with this episode. I was expecting something similar to Demi-chan wa Kataritai except with even more demi-humans, but this first episode really fell flat for me. There wasn't much good music, the voice acting felt very bland, and the art wasn't very good. It is interesting to see all the different types of students, but I just...can't seem to care much about them? Something about the show just lacks charm, so I don't think I'll even watch the next episode.

Dive!! - First Impression I wasn't tooo impressed with episode 1. I'm pretty selective about which Yuki Kaji roles I like, and this isn't one of them. But as long as I can learn some technical stuff about diving--and maaaaybe get a little bit of eye candy as well--I'll be happy! Usually these kinds of conflicts happen later in a series once we're already attached to the characters, but I'm hoping that the boys' endeavor to save their club will give us some insight into their personalities. Episode 2 was definitely more promising, so I look forward to seeing how Tomoki improves!

Enmusubi no Youko-chan - First Impression UGH. One of the WORST pilot episodes of the season. I checked out the anime because of the romance tag, but the characters were insufferable, the voice acting was pretty bad, and the plot was just stupid. And the whole "arranged marriage because girls are useless" trope is SO overdone. That's really all I have to say about this one. Not watching anymore.

Isekai Shokudou - First Impression The first two episodes were pretty cute. I was still on the fence after ep 1, but ep 2 pretty much sold me on the anime! I really like the main chef (Junichi Suwabe <3) and the girl who joined as a waitress. It was interesting to hear about the discrimination she faced, and I look forward to seeing if she will be able to regain her confidence by serving customers who are just as odd as she is. I also love seeing the variety of customers who visit, and of course, the food looks delicious!!

Jikan no Shihaisha - First Impression Based on what I saw on the forums, people weren't too crazy about episode 1? But I liked it! I like the two main characters, Victor and Wu. The first episode has already established what they do and why they do it, and I appreciate having that information in the first episode. I also loved the plot twist at the end of the episode; it really got me thinking! As for Koyuki, I thought her struggle with death was very valid. My only complaint is--who just leaves their precious violin on a bench and crosses the street?! You'd never catch me doing that to my violin! And then, who runs across the street without looking both ways?!?! Basically, my complaint is that the actual death scene was pretty stupid. But Koyuki's desire to bring her brother back to life, even if it hurt her in the process, was very valid. Obviously, there are more characters we have yet to meet. There's Mina Putin, who I'm guessing is Wu's sister. And according to MAL, there's also Blaze, Ice Radar, and Snake. I'm pretty excited to meet all of them, since I already like Wu and Victor! They're pretty amusing characters and they have a great dynamic, despite their sad pasts. I hope they can get their revenge against the Horologue that took their mother and cursed Victor!

Kakegurui - First Impression WOW. Of all the season anime I watched, Kakegurui gave off the best impression so far. Episode 1 & 2 were intense and exciting! I loved the soundtrack, the art was awesome, and I especially enjoyed the grotesque facial expressions. (They remind me of Psycho Pass!) In addition, I'm not a big Saori Hayami fan in general, but I was blown away by her voice acting. She did such a great job capturing that insanity that Yumeko flaunts, and I can't wait to see her performance in future episodes!! As for the actual plot, I'm curious to know who exactly Yumeko is. The girl with the blue lipstick clearly recognized her. In addition, the blue lipstick girl seemed to have some kind of quasi-lesbian tie with Yumeko in the OP, so I want to know if they have some kind of connection? And finally, I can't WAIT to meet all the other conniving bitches at this school and watch Yumeko take them all down!! >:D

Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun - First Impression Keppeki Danshi's pilot episode was the most disappointing for me. I may have mentioned in an earlier post that this anime was one of my most anticipated seasonal shows. I expected a fun sports anime with a quirky hero, but instead I got something...kind of in-between. This anime isn't taking the route of an intense sports anime, nor is it taking the route of a pure comedy anime. It yoyos back and forth between the two without really doing a good job at either genre. I didn't enjoy the games, I didn't like any of the characters (minus the obvious comic relief abs guy), and I especially disliked the forced character development Aoyama received at the end of the episode. The scene I'm referring to is when the manager/coach explained how much Aoyama must care about soccer because he was cleaning the soccer balls. I just don't see it at all, and I'm not sure if I'll even watch the next episode.

Knight's & Magic - First Impression I loved this first episode! I try to sample all the decent-looking mecha anime these days, since a lot of people are biased against the genre. I gotta say, I really enjoyed the first two episodes. The three main characters are so much fun, and Ernesti in particular is very interesting! Of course, I'd like to get a better explanation of how he was reincarnated into this magical world, but so far this seems like a pretty light-hearted fun mecha/action anime. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and we can always expect Ernesti to figure out a way to beat the odds. So far Knight's & Magic is one of the highlights of the season so far! <3

Konbini Kareshi - First Impression ...A below average, standard, cliche-as-fuck shoujo anime. I admit that I watched two episodes--mostly for the pretty girls--but I really dislike Towa (the blondie guy). He literally said that when girls say "no," they mean "more." And let me interrupt my anime post to say that NO MEANS NO. Doesn't matter the gender or romantic preference. NO MEANS NO. Anyway, the girls in this series feel very bland so far. And the romance between Towa and Mami feels very forced. Mami clearly dislikes the way Towa acts towards her--and he's not even her type!!--but I already know the show is going to try to convince me that 1) Mami was just embarrassed when Towa called her cute because she also thinks he's hot, and 2) Mami just avoided talking to Towa because other girls would get jealous or something. I'm calling it right now, and it's bullshit. I'm still watching right now though. I'm a hypocrite.

Made in Abyss - First Impression Episode 1 was pretty nice, but I'm getting nervous. I posted about Made in Abyss on Tumblr, and someone responded to my post by saying that the anime would most likely have to censor some of the gore from the manga. In addition, another post side-eyed the scene where Riko said that getting strung up naked was traumatizing to a young girl. Basically, I get the idea that there will be much more traumatizing events. I've also heard that the manga covers some uncomfortable, discourse-worthy topics. Honestly, I can handle a fair amount of suffering, but one of the things I won't really be able to stomach from Made in Abyss is rape. I don't know if that's a possibility, but hopefully the gore stays away from rape or sexual assault. :( (If anyone does know if that is something that will happen, please let me know! I'd at least like to be mentally prepared!) And this is just my prediction, but Nat (the boy Riko was with) is listed as a supporting character rather than a main one. If you all remember, Manato from Hai to Gensou no Grimgar was also listed as a supporting character, which clearly indicated he was going to die. I expect Nat to die as well too. (Please don't send me any explicit spoilers though!) Long story short: I'm scared of what is going to happen to these kids.

Nana Maru San Batsu - First Impression Ironically, the first two episodes of this anime have been more exciting than the debut of Dive!! and Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun. Even though this anime is about taking quizzes, I truly still classify it as a sports anime. It's about a competitive club, and it requires training and fast reflexes, which makes it sporty enough for me! I had no idea that the quiz takers had to anticipate the question material based on the syllables, and it's been really interesting so far to learn about the nuances of quiz taking! I also love that Shiki gets to participate in a high-energy club, even though he's the type of student who typically wouldn't get to do something like that. My only grievances so far are 1) the panty scene in episode 1 (but the rest of the episode was good enough to overlook it), and 2) Mari's voice actress is clearly VERY inexperienced. She lacks inflection and enthusiasm, and Mari is a pretty dynamic character. I'm all for supporting budding voice actors, but I still feel that Umika Kawashima wasn't the right choice for Mari. She needs more practice using more inflection. Luckily I'm still really liking the anime, but Mari's voice stands out to me often as just not emoting enough.

New Game!! - First Impression A pretty good first episode. I will say right off the bat that I wasn't happy with all the panty/butt fanservice. Can't we just have an anime about female programmers making a game? But aside from that, I liked this episode! The idea that Aoba could be the leade character designer is super exciting, and I can't wait to see what kinds of characters she creates! I'm excited for this season, but I remember how slice-of-lifey and fanservicey s1 got towards the end, so I really hope that doesn't happen this time.

Princess Principal - First Impression A pretty impressive first episode! With these kinds of "cute girls killing people" anime, you can never be too sure until the first episode airs whether the anime will take the dark route or the ultra cute route, and so far this anime seems to be going more for the dark route! Maybe not as dark as MahoIku, for example, but the first episode clearly wasn't trying to be moe at all. I appreciate that. So much... ;_; I really like the characters so far, and I was pretty surprised by the ending! I was impressed by how hard-headed all the spies are, and I Ioved watching them in action. Overall this was one of the strongest debuts of the scene as well, and I'm definitely looking forward to future episodes! ((Maybe this anime won't disappoint me the way Joker Game did :))))) ))

Shoukoku no Altair - First Impression ...This is the one anime that I just can't remember much about from the first episode. It was pretty unremarkable to me. People seem to like the manga, but so far Shoukoku no Altair just reminds me too much of Arslan Senki, except more boring. I'm not going to quit just yet though! I still want to find out if Mahmut will convince that other kingdom that they were framed!

Vatican Kiseki Chousakan - First Impression ...WOW. You know what, this is the dark horse of the season for me. I was not expecting this anime to be so interesting or exciting. I don't know what the anime community is saying about this anime--removing myself from that community has done wonders for my mental health--but I certainly did not expect ANYTHING good from this anime. I don't think I even bothered to put it in my season preview, because it was right at the end and the summary left me entirely underwhelmed. But here I am, singing Vatican Kiseki Chousakan's praises left and right! I can imagine that one issue people might have with the anime thus far is the very strong roots it has in Catholocism. However, as someone who grew up in a Christian home, I'm very familiar and comfortable with all the Catholic references. If anything, I'm glad to see religion discussed in an anime without being the butt of a joke. However, while I can understand people getting put off by all the religion, I think the mystery from episode 1 is genuinely interested. I'd really like to get to the bottom of it, and I'm fairly certain I will continue watching this anime!

Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou - First Impression The first episode of Youkai Apartment genuinely wasn't too bad, but it was just...kinda boring? I didn't care for any of the characters, and something about the art style was just horribly average. I don't plan on watching anymore.

Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e - First Impression This episode was actually not too bad. The colors were pretty (albeit a little odd), and the twist at the end was unexpected. Obviously I don't really like the main character--a lot of people don't from what I've seen--but the premise was pretty cool. It kinda reminded me of Danganronpa, but I'm confused about why the genres are "comedy" and "romance." This anime could easily turn into a drama/psychological anime, so why the comedy tag? If the show ends up being really generic and light-hearted I will definitely drop it, but I'm hoping it'll take a "Lord of the Flies" route! :D

[hannahstarshade]

Ten UNDERTALE Fanworks Every Fan Needs to Check Out

It’s February 15th, time once again to celebrate International Fanworks Day! Seriously, how great is that? Whether it’s books, movies, comics, games or television series, fanworks make up a huge part of their communities. This year I’m tackling UNDERTALE, the game that most people (myself included) fell in love with and whose fandom is still going strong more than a year later.

Some of them have been completed, some of them are only partially done, and some of them have been forgotten. Regardless of their status, I think they’re special and amazing and I hope you will love them as much as I do. I’ll do my best to leave out any spoilers.

Death by Glamour

Here’s a neat animatic featuring our favorite human and robot. Animated by Alyssa Gerwing, this video makes their battle look really cool, bringing the fight sequence out of the box and into UNDERTALE’s real world. You have to love the pacing and timing, which is perfectly in sync with the boss music. The facial expressions really give it something extra, whether it be humor or drama. What a stylish video! @walkingmelonsaaa

Papyrus Finds a Human

This animation was an unexpected delight. This was not the cutesy video I thought it would be. With it’s mild swearing and cartoon violence, Mike (a.k.a. Piemations) created a brilliantly funny video. The voice acting is flawless. The punchlines hit home. Papyrus is the best. I can’t write much else without giving all the best bits away. Just go experience it for yourself. As an added bonus, I highly recommend turning on the subtitles while watching the video for the second time. You will not be disappointed.

UNDERTALE ANNIVERSARY

This animation blew me away. I was a fan of iscoppie’s Game Grumps animations before this, but wow. This six-minute video depicts a moment I rarely see people tackle: how Undyne and Alphys met. It’s a bittersweet meeting when you really think about it, and this animation captures and balances all of the emotions involved: fear, hope, resignation, awe. The colors are gorgeous, the voice talent is wonder, and the music is beautiful. This is the best UNDERTALE tribute to date. @iscoppie

The Sons of Gaster

There are many theories as to how, or even if, Sans and Papyrus are connected to W.D. Gaster. One popular theory is that they were created by the doctor. This two-part comic series by sansybones depicts the skeleton brothers’ beginnings: their time with Gaster, growing and gaining independence, and how the two bros become family. The black-and-white style–with the occasional blue–is very effective and looks really nice. I especially love Papyrus’ facial expressions; they capture his personality perfectly. One thing I do appreciate is that this isn’t just a Sans story. Papyrus is just as important and has just as much focus and growth. Sansybones’ depiction of the UNDERTALE characters is fantastic. Their feelings, struggles, and personalities feel genuine and sincere. It’s an emotional roller coaster well worth the ride. @sansybones

They Say He Shattered

I’m a big fan of the multiverse theory. I’ve talked about it extensively in regards to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If you’re like me, then this comic is right up your alley. Emily plays with the idea of timelines collapsing and converging in They Say He Shattered, creating the best kind of mess. It’s a fascinating story that balances humor and seriousness very well. Each game ending results in another dimension, but it seems the very fabric of time and space has been broken. Characters come face-to-face with different realities or feel the effects of forces on their other selves. Some things happen out of order. Some things that never should have been are now possible. It’s really hard to explain, but well worth a read. I’m really excited to get to the bottom of this mystery. @theysayheshattered

A CHARActer Analysis

Normally when we think of “fanwork” we think of art, music, fanfiction, cosplay, videos, and animation. However, this thesis bears recognition. Toby Fox created a cast of characters rich in personality and full of life. Chara is one of the only characters in UNDERTALE to be almost unanimously revered and portrayed as one-dimensional. They’re evil and hate humanity and that’s the end of that. Only it’s not. In this analysis we are shown every detail we may have missed. Chara’s story is scattered throughout the game. There are so many subtle hints and clues that most people wouldn’t notice or even think twice about. This in-depth thesis is by far the best explanation of who/what Chara is, who they were, and their role in the overall game. With all of this evidence, you may find yourself viewing Chara in a completely different light. @thefloweryfanclub

Never a Lovely So Real

The artwork shown above was created by theslowesthnery.

Of all the UNDERTALE AU’s, the Gangster/Mob AU is my big favorite. I adore this AU, and this fanficiton was heaven-sent. Kaesa’s Never a Lovely So Real is loosely based on Hnery’s neat headcanons and spectacular art surrounding the Gangster AU. This story is told from Sans’ point of view as he tries to keep the family safe. You have all of your favorite major characters playing their roles in the operation, while a lot of minor characters show up frequently as well. I really appreciate that Sans and Alphys are science bros and have to work as a team. I normally don’t like a who lot of new characters being added into fanfictions, but here it works. Getting to know the rival gang members goes to show that not everything is black-and-white, especially in these types of situations. Much like the game, the “bad guys” aren’t always bad guys. One of the greatest things about this fanfiction is how much research and knowledge went into it. I was impressed by how authentic this story felt the first time I read through it. Kaesa did her homework and it shows. There’s mystery. There’s action. There’s romance. There’s suspense. This is a great work. Did I mention the Gangster AU was my favorite? @kaesaaurelia 

Under Shield

The artwork shown above was created by hamstermastersamster.

Here we have my favorite post-true-pacifist story. Under Shield by Fantasia Wandering is a series of fics told out of order telling of Frisk growing up and growing into their role as ambassador, as well as dealing with their past and becoming part of a family again. Frisk is given a lot of character and background, but it never seems like too much. Frisk is a person with big feelings and big thoughts, and sometimes they can weigh too heavily on their mind. These feelings, accompanied with the struggles of growing up, are relatable to everyone and make it easy to slip into Frisk’s shoes. Although Frisk is the main focus, some of the main cast have important developments as well. One of the most powerful chapters in this series is the eighth part: Penance. Asgore’s redemption arc is a prominent theme throughout the series. He’s not immediately forgiven for his sins by Toriel, or even himself. This in turn affects his relationship with Frisk. It’s a process that takes many years and the reader is there for each important step. This fic’s strongest suit is its stunning imagery. The environments Fantasia has created are painted so vividly. Any reader can picture the settings in great detail. Overall, this is one well-written series. @fantasiawandering

Blood of the Covenant

The artwork shown above was created by donidoodles.

Remember when PTA Sans was a thing? Well, this is the PTA slice-of-life UNDERTALE story the fans deserve. Blood of the Covenant takes place nearly a decade after the game. Everyone has grown up–and it shows–but they still retain their character. Doni’s characterization is so on point. This fic has the most realistic high school you’ll ever find. None of that Lifetime or Disney Channel nonsense here. The history teacher coaches the football team, the PTA is a hot mess, and aside form a few ass-hats the kids are generally nice and friendly. (Is this my high school? I feel like this was based on my high school.) The story’s strongest appeal is that every character’s time is balanced and utilized effectively. This cast is huge and yet every single one of them has their time to shine. I’ve read a lot of UNDERTALE PTA fics and most of them are a lot of fun, but a common trend in those stories is that the human members of the PTA (Linda, Helen, etc.) are usually so cartoonish and two-dimensional, like their only purpose is to be ignorant evil villains. Here our antagonists are fleshed out. They have feelings, struggles, even arcs of their own. They learn and grow just as the protagonists do. This is a fantastic, well-rounded story. I lost so much sleep the first time I read through it because I could not stop. It was all worth it, though. I promise. @doniblogs

The Scientist

The link provided leads to AO3, but you can also read it on Tumblr. The artwork shown above was created by hamstermastersamster.

This is my favorite pre-game scenario. Out of all the fanfictions I’ve read, this two-part series written by Pen has the best portrayal of Dr. W.D. Gaster and his backstory. The first part of the series, The Scientist, revolves around the life and times of the royal scientist before Dr. Alphys got the job. The passage of time feels seamless, from the point of monsters’ imprisonment to the end of Gaster’s existence. It makes sense and goes right along with UNDERTALE’s timeline. Everything fits together like a puzzle. I could go on and on about the relationship between Gaster and Sans. It is just so strong and told very well. They are co-workers instead of father and son as I’ve seen in many fanfictions. (I prefer the colleague dynamic, actually.) The audience can get a real sense that their bond teeters between healthy camaraderie and toxic friendship, eventually falling to the side of the latter. The second part in the series, Entropy, shifts the focus onto Sans and how he deals with the aftermath of Gaster’s disappearance. It shows Sans’ own decline; he is deteriorating into the character we see in-game. This story is as well-written and intriguing as its predecessor. It paints by far the most natural, realistic relationship between Papyrus and Sans. Their situation, their dialogue, and their banter is so believable. There’s something really pure about it that just makes me smile. This series, you guys. This series. @talkingsoup

So there you have it! I had so much fun making this list. I can’t believe I’ve been working on this post for a whole year.Shortly after I made a similar post about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fanworks last International Fanworks Day, I got right to work on this one. Thanks as always to anyone who read this. If you’d like to discuss anything you read here today or have recommendations of your own, please feel free to reply to this post or drop something in my ask box. Have an awesome day, friends! @undertale