Kotaro Lives Alone – Episode 1
As an initial vibe check, I’d describe Kotaro Lives Alone as “deeply odd, but potentially (???) charming”.
Posts by Alex Henderson
-
-
The Orbital Children’s Rejection of Ecofascist Ideas
The Orbital Children rejects the ecofascist idea that humans need to be controlled and culled in the name of someone’s idea of “humanity” and demands we imagine a better future that everyone gets to be a part of.
-
Delicious Party Pretty Cure – Episode 1
o a certain extent, what can I say? It’s PreCure. It’s adorable. It’s charming. It’s some colorful easy fun for tired adults and energetic children alike. But hang tight, reader, because there are a couple of aspects to this series that I want to talk about in more detail.
-
The Orbital Children – Episode 1
This introduction paints a dazzling but grim picture of a not-too-far-flung sci-fi future.
-
The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt – Episode 1
Do you want to watch a show about an insufferable young man born into money, scheming to make more money, stumbling into success and being lauded as a tactical genius?
-
Futsal Boys!!!!! – Episode 1
If you’re not a sports anime fan, it probably doesn’t have enough pizzazz to win you over. If you’re already a sports anime fan, you can probably already recommend six other shows that you’d rather be watching.
-
Akebi’s Sailor Uniform – Episode 1
Akebi’s Sailor Uniform is a beautifully-put-together show with a voyeuristic undercurrent, that doesn’t necessarily affect the overall experience but leaves it (at least, leaves me) feeling… off.
-
SLOW LOOP – Episode 1
There’s nothing wrong with Slow Loop (except some potential yellow flags in the dynamic between these soon-to-be stepsisters, which I’ll get to in a second) but it just doesn’t earn the kind of gold star I know this genre can.
-
Girls’ Frontline – Episode 1
Personifying war machines (or just putting cute girls in them) is a trope by this point, and I want to say it’s not inherently harmful in and of itself. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that the very premise of this show relies on detaching killing machines from their historical (or current!) context. Yes, these girls represent assault rifles and are shooting assault rifles, but don’t worry about it, they’re only using them to shoot evil robots. And don’t they look cool?
-
The Faraway Paladin – Episode 1
This premiere isn’t keen to rush into the heart of the action and show Will being a cool badass holy warrior. It’s content to draw us in slowly, focusing on the relationship between Will and his undead guardians.
-
PuraOre! ~Pride of Orange~ – Episode 1
It’s the job of a hobby anime’s premiere (and this is listed as “slice-of-life” rather than sports, at least on Funimation) to show the protagonists getting hooked into the hobby in question. To throw the heroines into something new and to show that initial spark of interest, so the audience is inspired to join them week by week on their journey. But this first episode of PuraOre! just doesn’t have the emotional weight to pull this crucial work off.
-
Banished From the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside – Episode 1
A slow life show set in a fantasy world runs a dual risk: being too slow, and being a bad fantasy.
-
Mieruko-chan – Episode 1
I’d assumed Mieruko-chan would be much more straightforwardly a zany comedy, juxtaposing the terrifying creatures of the beyond against Miko’s disinterest in engaging with them. But the pacing of this entire episode, and each individual apparition, leans way more on the horror aspect of this horror-comedy.
-
Waccha PriMagi! – Episode 1
Technically, the general rule at AniFem is that we don’t cover children’s programming, but if we can make an exception for dear ol’ PreCure I figure I may as well shine a spotlight on PriMagi and see what’s going on over there, too. If you’re hungry for more officially-licensed all-ages magical girl content, you might want to join me in the audience.
-
Fena: Pirate Princess – Episode 1
Fena has the potential to be a really fun action-adventure protagonist in a really fun action-adventure show. Fingers crossed she retains her agency and gets to really grow and shine across whatever zany treasure hunt she’s about to embark upon.
-
Convenient Monsters: The problem with Frill and Wonder Egg Priority’s take on trauma
Just as the dreamscape Wonder Killers provide a convenient and killable representation of the issues that harm young people, the writers of the show invent a convenient “monster” and pin the blame for those very issues on her. As a result, a lot of the nuance in the series’ treatment of trauma and suicide is lost.
-
The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! – Episode 1
Give this child-shaped demon some pants!
-
The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace – Episode 1
While it has great style, there are a few key things that block Idaten Deities from being truly enjoyable.
-
The Aquatope on White Sand – Episode 1
The Aquatope on White Sand was my most-anticipated premiere this season, and it did not disappoint.
-
Drug Store in Another World: The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist – Episode 1
For a show with “slow life” in the title, I was expecting a premiere with much more chill.
