Anime ATM 60 Hibike! Euphonium 2

Wowie it's our diamond anniversary. Well, not year-wise, but blurb wise. Anyways, I kind of watched this anime as a way to distract myself from the fact that I'm moving into my college dorm for the first time (9/23 D-Day). Okay, it was for that and also because I never got past the first episode because it's 50 minutes and somehow that's more daunting than watching two episodes of anime back to back. I dunno why, but it's just a psychological thing I suppose. It's been a while since I've watched the first Hibike! Euphonium, but trust me when I say that it wasn't hard to get back into it. *stares into the past* yep I was really invested. It's almost Chihayafuru level, but not quite.

Also, if KyoAni was a person I'd love to be their friend. KyoAni work is to die for.

{Spoilers, but it's slice of life? But it's also like a sports anime? Meheh}

So the first episode was basically a recap of the last episode of the first season which was a good refresher, but honestly you could skip the first half if you're watching the two seasons back to back. And then after that it gets intense. There's just a lot of dimension and different problems going on. There's Yoroizuka's complex with Nozomi which later turns into a great ship (friendship or romance, you decide), there's Reina's emerging feelings for Taki sensei (obviously), Kumiko's changing relationship with her older sister, everyone's efforts to make it to Nationals, the senpais leaving, Asuka's family drama, and Taki sensei's secret goal. All of it together combine to create something more than a light-hearted slice of life. There's so many components going on that it's hard not to relate to one, if not multiple, of the going-ons. I love how they all strive to better themselves, but they also aren't blinded by the hunger to win. You could argue and say that they don't have the hunger and drive to win, but I think they holistically have a healthier view on competition. They see it as a hurdle to overcome, but one to overcome together through hard work. Maybe it's the nature and attitude of concert band which makes it similar competitively to sports, but different because it's more along the lines of competing against yourself last year. There's just a general air of respect which fosters friendly interaction.

At many points throughout the season I felt like crying. I think a lot of it has to do with where you are mentally and at what point in your life you watch an anime that makes it poignant for different reasons. If I weren't moving away to college in T-2 days I wouldn't have felt so strongly when Kumiko's talking to Mamiko about the past, how she idolized Mamiko and didn't understand where she was coming from. As the oldest of three daughters I naturally sympathized with Mamiko. I was the experimental child, I'm currently the trailblazer. There's just something about the order children are born that puts them in a different mindset just under their own familial circumstances. And there was a pang in my heart as Kumiko cried in the train because I can totally see my younger siblings putting up a brave front for me and crying later. I only know this because my mom tells me when my siblings are emotional about something, but don't want to tell me. I hope Mamiko forges her own path.

It was kind of my favorite mini-arc where Taki sensei becomes a more fleshed out character. He opens up to Kumiko about his late wife and I really don't know why but the Italian Whites really got to me. "I'm always thinking of you" It's such a sweet sentiment. Taki sensei is secretly so cute T^T both inside and out :3

I can't really put into words what Asuka's arc did to me. She had to work so hard for something she loved. She had to become this perfect person for her euphonium, her one connection to her dad. I hope one day she can reconnect with him and they can have a little euphonium duet or something. Honestly, just for all the characters I wish for them to have eternal happiness. They're all so pure and deserve the best.

This season really took me for a lot of twists and turns. With all of the training and camps and rehearsals and sectionals, my confidence grew that Kitauji would go to Nationals and fulfill Taki sensei's dream of actualizing his wife's dream. I thought, "This is it. They're going to get gold!" My sights were set high. I mean they made it through the Kansai regionals, so was it such a pipe dream? And when they got bronze I was so proud of them, but my heart also sank. But they kept their heads high. They didn't beat themselves up too badly and promised to do better next year, to keep trying their hardest. And isn't that the most important part? Continuing on even when things didn't work out the first time. That's something I'll try to work on while going through college.

Kitauji, fight!

This whole season just filled me with such joy. There were so many little moments of happiness. The OP was happy. The ED was happy. When Haruka got her solo and stepped up to the challenge I was happy. When Asuka was able to play in Nationals I was happy. When everyone promised to do better in the coming years I was happy. When Mamiko and Kumiko turned out to be alright it was happy times. When Natsuki and Yuko were revealed to be the new president and VP I was happy. All's well that ends well.

*cries a little bit though because the senpais still left even though they had a great send-off party but Reina's trumpet solo made me teary-eyed and I just hate good-byes but this season was still great*

Obviously I would say you have to watch this. The feeling is so great. KyoAni made it so it was obviously quality. There's some great songs. Great plot and it's easy to become emotionally invested in these fictional (sadly) characters. Might want to watch the first season before this one, just a suggestion, to be truly enthralled with this season. It ended on a high note. It was a fluffy, happy, emotional roller coaster of a time.

This made me laugh so much because it's such an awkward but honest answer. Sums up Kumiko tbh

Awh smol Sapphire. 

They're already so talented and special so yES

Who's the senpai? Kumiko or Asuka?

Gotta love these scenery shots

HAHA omg this face kills me every time

Kumiko: Stop acting like an adult, you're a kid

asdfghjkl; when Asuka just drops the truth

Yoroizuka has grown so much from the beginning and I'm happy for these two

Me now that I've turned 18 but I'm still 5 inside

Why do school festival arcs never grow old? They're the best

Rikka is a great minor character

Aren't they just the coolest? I wish I could go to their performances for real

Smol Kumiko coming to snatch your heart ugh

This part actually wrecked me. I really did tear up :')

Good job Midori!

NOOOOOO

That awkward moment when your crush doesn't understand what you meant

I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU ASUKA YOU DID IT

*snickers* Also these two are the serious silent power couple

Best wing-women ever

UNTIL NEXT YEAR!

*plays the Hibike! Euphonium song*

Honestly I feel like I could do live reactions, but at the same time so many people already do that and they've got better personality than me...but maybe someday?

Anime ATM 59 K: Missing Kings

I've been a roll lately, checking off all the shows on my "to watch" list this summer, maybe because subconsciously I know that during the school year I'm going to have to hustle hard. Whatever it is I'm really enjoying watching all the shows I've been meaning to watch.

Fun fact is that I didn't actually watch this in the order you're supposed to because first you're supposed to watch K and then this movie and then K: Return of Kings. I just dived right into the second season because I didn't do enough research. Honestly though I wouldn't say that it's necessary to watch this movie in order to watch K: Return of Kings. They do a great introduction as always, so the only reason you'd need to watch it in order would be because you're a perfectionist or something. Otherwise watch at your own leisure whatever in whatever order. It's not like Fate/Stay Night where you have to watch it in a certain order or Star Wars where you can watch it chronologically or by production date or whatever.

{Spoilers}

I love the entire universe of K. I'm simply in love. Just visually the coloring that's added to so many of the scenes just adds this pop of wow that it wouldn't otherwise have. I'm all for a pop of color, but the melding of the colors that didn't scream something tacky like "Rainbow!" but instead something more harmonious because of the dark muted tones or light blending it together made it beautiful.

With the introduction of JUNGLE that's what I realized I missed because in season 2 it's like wow where'd this clan come from? All of the clans have their different dynamics. Like HOMRA is all about this gang-like mafia style (is that repetitive? Not sure). I mean their slogan "No blood. No bone. No ash." really says everything it needs to. They're intensely loyal and treat each other like family. Of course it's not as intimate as the Silver Clan which consists of 2 vassals and their King. That bond is tighter and seems more miscellaneous in a nice kitsch sort of way. And SCEPTER 2 is the actual coolest. Every time they unsheathe their swords for battle or when they're saluting someone it's just such an impact. It's a more business-like relationship between the members of the Blue Clan, but they all respect one another. Plus their section of the city is all blue which give such jivin' vibes. And then JUNGLE's dynamic is so different. It's not able building each other up per say, but more about building yourself up in a competitive setting. That's what makes it all the more unsettling.

This whole piece was very transitional. It was the search for Shiro for the Silver Clan and Shiro's decision to stop running away. It was the rise of the new Red King (Go Anna!) and the recollection of the Red Clan. It was the rising threat of the Green Clan and the introduction of its members. It was the rise in power and responsibility for the Blue King with the Gold King MIA aka dying.

I just have to add it in here that this movie is a definite advancement in Fushimi and Yata. Just had to say that because at the end when the Red and Blue Kings are talking and Yata's trying to say thanks to Fushimi for the intel his blush was so cute and if you try to deny it I will show you that clip on repeat.

Overall if you're a fan of K and everything about K you must've already watched this. If you're not so sure about the whole K fantasy world then just give it a chance. It's my favorite fantasy anime. It's the absolute best. There's so much loyalty, power, and just interrelations between characters that really make this a must-watch!!!!

This made me sad because it was such a blast to the past and now Mikoto's gone forever

He's such an angsty boy smh but he's so pure too

Isn't this color just great? Yata's so cool. I love Yata.

Look at Kuroh with those sparkles though! Please validate his feelings

Ok 1. I love this translation and 2. People say Neko is just fanservice but she's actually really helpful so shush

CASUALLY fighting on the side of the building like how is this occurring?

yES

This made me happy thinking about these two swords side by side again even though it's not Mikoto's sword anymore, it's Anna's, but still. Mikoto x Reishi lives on

This was actually 4 seconds in, but it's so beautiful

Anime ATM 58 K-On! Movie

You might or might not be wondering how I rang in my eighteenth year of life. I did so by watching this movie. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen if I'm being honest, but it was a slow, easy, light-hearted way to start off my first moments as an adult: watching a show for middle aged men (well this is according to my friend anyways).

{What are spoilers with the whole K-On franchise anyways?}

So, this movie had no plot. It was actually just based around the fact that Yui, Ritsu, Mio, and Mugi were graduating soon and realized that they hadn't made a big impact as seniors in high school. Relatable. To remedy this they think they should give Azusa a gift to be determined when the inspiration strikes. And then they head off to London because the volleyball team was going on a graduation trip too to Hawaii. They don't speak great English for the most part, but apparently this isn't a problem because this lands them in a bunch of ridiculous scenarios like landing an accidental gig at a conveyor belt sushi store's grand opening. Or the fact that even in England they're eating Japanese food. Or they never had afternoon tea despite actually being Hokago Tea Time. But they made fun memories.

This really hit me in the feels because poor Azusa's gonna be alone next year and she's gonna either have to coerce Jun and Ui into the Light Music Club or she's gonna disband the club and just play with her senpais or she'll be the ultra senpai with a bunch of first year members. Who knows? But this movie wasn't so much about the future but more as a last hurrah for Hokago Tea Time. This was their last year and last time as high school girls altogether which made it bittersweet because me too. I was just there as a high school student ending that chapter of my life. Well, that's a lot of high school slice of life anime anyways right?

Overall, this movie has no real plot. There's not a whole lot to think about. It's full of fuwa fuwa times and good jams (see what I did there?). Watch it if you're a completionist with the K-On series or just if you want to see ridiculous shenanigans.

Okay, who drew this picture? It's almost horrifying.

AKA the catalyst for this whole movie #relatable

When they were all singing the song it was super cute so I had to add it in even though there's no audio clip to go along with it

They really just give all the L's to Yui

When you leave your whole fate up to a turtle

Who is she imitating??

Gotta love that London aesthetic

D'awh

Anime ATM 57 Black Rock Shooter

Surprise, surprise. I've finished Black Rock Shooter right after the OVA. And man that was great. As you can see from the general reviews I do I'm really into slice of life and shoujo because I'm a basic af "little girl" as my coworker likes to call me. This was great though, it really was. I wouldn't say I'd watch it again, especially at night, but it was still worth watching.

{Spoilers}

As I said in the previous Anime ATM there are some differences between the OVA and the anime. The way Mato and Yomi became friends was changed because of the addition of Kagari. At the beginning Kagari scared the hell out of me. The whole thing with the dolls creeped me out and just everything about her like how she would force feed Yomi or how she frickin carved a heart on Yomi's chest?! Nothing about that was okay. Nothing. Another thing that was different was Yuu. I was expecting her to be the deranged psychopath, but obviously that role was taken by Kagari so instead she got the mystery character with an angsty past. But this series has a thing for creepy as hell characters because Saya is absolutely the least qualified person to be a counselor. She thinks by awakening the beings in the alternate world and then killing them would help more than just talking it out and giving actual guidance like a good adult? This raises so many questions and I just can't even imagine how this woman got her credentials. Also all the cups in her cabinet were creepy because she was the controller of that other world for a while, or at least I think she was because of all the red eyes, and it seemed like those cups that had individual symbols on them were her way of locking them up inside that dream in a metaphorical way. Who knows though. I can imagine there's a whole lot of intense theories and analysis out there. Also why does she keep giving middle schoolers coffee? Starting them on the drugs early? And she herself doesn't even like coffee, so does she keep drinking it because she a masochist or maybe coffee unlocks the different world in the girls' dreams easier?

Besides the fact that every single person basically was deranged to some degree, the plot was actually excellent if I do say so myself. *pushes up imaginary glasses while trying to hold an image of credibility but is honestly a noob while swirling a glass of sparkling lemon lime juice aka Sprite* The whole idea of killing the person in the alternate reality in order to release them from their greatest burden is an excellent idea in the short run at least. Until you realize that in order to grow you need to confront those problems and talk them through. Then it gets a little bit deeper as it's revealed that the only reason that Black Rock Shooter, Black Gold Saw, Strength, Chariot, and Death Master were fighting was because they loved the girls in the other world. That was really sweet. They don't have emotions or fully understand human concepts, but they loved the girls so much that they would risk their lives for them, for someone they barely knew. That kindness resonated with me, the altruistic behavior they displayed. (It took me so many random google searches to remember the world altruistic)

The fact that all of them had mental barriers to overcome made all the visual fighting scenes more dimensional because not only were they fighting each other, they were also fighting themselves and their own feelings and dealing with their own emotional turmoil.

What made all the craziness and the confusion and angst worth it was the art and the friendship they developed. It was so sweet that through all of that Yuu, Yomi, Kagari, and Mato were able to become friends. And the bond between Yuu and Saya was really cute in its own way. Sure Saya thought Yuu was lashing out and dealing with her pain by lighting her own house on fire, a false accusation, but she still stuck with Yuu and did about everything to preserve what she and Yuu had aka almost killing Mato. But in the end the 4 middle school girls were able to overcome their differences, united by the trauma they all experienced. The art was killer just like in the OVA, like those fight scenes and the epic rainbow blaster Black Rock Shooter had at the very end. Bomb. Visually the impact of the alternate battle world was a lot cooler.

I think we all have something to say about our favorite GL pairings in this series. There's an argument to be made for a lot of this, so I'll just let you figure out which is going to be your OTP. The whole friendship between Mato and Yuu really gets me though. They're such good friends, even though I know it was Strength actually because she switch places with Yuu I just see it as Mato and Yuu, best friends for life. And there's just something off-putting about Yomi's obsessive, jealous behavior, but of course that could be validated by the fact that her whole childhood was consumed with guilt over Kagari.

Overall I'd say it's a definite watch if you're not too afraid of creepy dolls and an eerie ambiance because there's a lot of that. And there's a lot of symbolism and stuff to analyze if you're into that sort of meta type situation. And it's got a whole lot of different elements going on which makes it fun to watch through. Plus it's only 8 episodes so it's a shorter watch than a regular season of anime by an hour and 20 minutes or so. And who doesn't love badass girls fighting?

They're so cool! Oh my god those character designs

Is this Kuroko no Basket? JK but Kohata was a great senpai :') and I'm still mad at the guy who humiliated her and all the people that made fun of her confession letter. They're just jealous they don't have the guts to confess to the person they like like she did.

He's such a cute little brother. He's the epitome of siblings. "If you see me don't talk to me" to her face, but actually adores her.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate this coloring and style choice? 

AWHHHHH

At first I was just thought it was romantic and then I realized she didn't have a shadow and I got really freaked out thinking that Yuu was actually a ghost, but Strength actually just swapped worlds with Yuu