My new years resolution was to read fewer books so I can watch more anime. We're getting there.
finished series
Bang Brave Bang Bravern (2024) and The Summer Hikaru Died (2025)
mecha, comedy | horror, supernatural
What the heck are they on at CygamesPictures? I watched these back to back not realizing they were from the same studio, and it turns out it's the freaking horse girl gacha game people??? Sorry CyPic, I wasn't familiar with your game.
Bang Brave Bang Bravern is a real robot show that has been invaded and crushed to a pulp by a super robot show. You know how there's a lot of ~subtext~ in mecha anime about best friends and rivals, and how piloting a robot is like...weird? Well, Bravern hates subtext. He shows up to save Earth from an invading alien force but only if he can have sex with (get piloted by) the love of his life, Isami, a soldier who is very confused about all of this. The whole show is about the power of optimism and friendship and gay sex, and love actually for real conquering all.
The Summer Hikaru Died is a nightmare. Yoshiki is a teenage boy in a small town who is in love with his best friend Hikaru. Hikaru dies. Yoshiki sees his dead body. Yoshiki knows Hikaru is dead. A few months later, something that looks like Hikaru is back. It's not Hikaru though. Yoshiki is still in love with him anyway. Maybe. The art direction and sound direction in this show is astounding. There is so much emotional depth and no catharsis. Every episode is a supremely distressing experience that builds and builds and builds. The mortifying (in all senses of the word) ordeal of being known.
Despite being so divergent in mood, aesthetic, and pacing, both series are so confidently executed. It doesn't feel like either show was toned down to be more palatable. Ridiculousness, horror, transgression: it's all there, boldly and without compromise. I guess the huge stacks of horse girl gacha money means you can just trust your directors to go for it.
You and I Are Polar Opposites (2026) and Shoshimin (2024-2025)
comedy, slice of life, romance | mystery, slice of life, ???
Another pair of studio siblings, this time from Lapin Track.
There are so many lighthearted slice of life high school romance series, but You and I Are Polar Opposites is the only one that will improve your real life social skills. I like the characters, storyboarding and design, voice acting, opening song and animation (it's really good). It's not treading new territory, but there is so much care given to the interpersonal relationships and the way that the characters interpret situations differently from each other.
Shoshimin is a low stakes mystery-of-the-week type thing until it very much isn't. It's about two high schoolers who are trying very hard to be normal. One of them is a pleasant seeming boy who has sworn off solving mysteries (hmm) and the other is a tiny quiet girl who loves desserts and has a history of revenge (HMMMMM). The plot does have a hook and moves itself along, but the real draw is the fascinating relationship between Kobato and Osanai that even they have trouble understanding.
I don't think I would have noticed if I hadn't watched these two shows so close together, but Shoshimin's second season OP has a lot of similar imagery to Polar Opposites' OP, yet feels very different tonally. Kind of like how both of these shows tread the same ground and get to completely different places.
other shows i finished but have less to say about
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2 (2026)
Not as good as Season 1, but still better than main line MHA. A treat for anyone who wants a smaller scale superhero story. Koichi's catchphrase is a regular utterance in my household.
Ouran Highschool Host Club (2006)
This show still fucks. Genuinely subversive and funny, even 20 years later. I have no idea what they put in that ED, but I could feel tears welling up every time I heard the guitar riff playing in the background at the end of an episode.
Hyouka (2012)
This is from the same light novel author who wrote Shoshimin, a show I enjoyed much more. Kyoto Animation made it so obviously it looks amazing, but it did not hit for me at all. Watch it if you thought Haruhi Suzumiya was too fun and interesting.
Isekai Office Worker (2026)
The ultimate power fantasy: being good at your job. Also, episode 2 opens with the fuck or die trope.
Fate/strange Fake (2026)
I did not understand a single thing but the writing was good and I watched it twice.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 (2026)
I don't know, man.
other stuff
okay see you next month bye
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