I FINALLY CASTED MY VOTES FOR THE CRUNCHYROLL ANIME AWARDS 2021

Hello my friends.

First and foremost… I just want to wish you Happy New Year 2022 (Well. Not that new anymore). And also a very Happy Chinese New Year for everyone. I hope that the celebrations were really that great for all of you.

Regarding myself… I want to apologise.

Because as of January 31st 2022, it has been a very complicated month for me. I have a lot of work (And a very bad misunderstanding that almost left me… traumatised to say the least). And I have been working in my new book, trying to get some pages done, at least two per day. But because I have been exhausted, and I got a severe pain in my shoulder, I was unable to advance in my blog as much as I wanted.

Everything started shortly after I published my review on Netflix’s Death Note (Well. November was pretty busy too). That is when things got very busy for me. Christmas time came, a lot of responsibilities came as well, a lot of cleaning, a lot of hot weather in Melbourne (last week was average 36 degrees), and visiting a lot of friends for the holidays, and some time off.

So. As you can see. Many events kept me away from writing and watching beautiful anime.

But worry not.

Because I have been preparing a lot of My first Impressions, and the… TOP WAIFU OF 2021. That is a tradition in my blog.

But now. I will start with another tradition. Yep. The title says it all.

Now… I want to start showing my votes for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2021. from Best Film to Best Ending. Then, the rest will come. But little by little, I have so… many things to write.

With that said… let’s START!!!!!!!

BEST FILM

In the words of Rengoku…

Well… It is Demon Slayer. What else can I say? I red the manga of the Demon Train arc, and it was… fantastic. And when I watch the movie… I was in love with both Demon Slayer and Ufotable, more than ever. The ending was heartbreaking, and seeing Akasa for the first time was a feast. Don’t get me wrong. I do not doubt that Belle can be a masterpiece, but I never watch it. The same happened with Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. But Mugen Train is beautiful.

And my choice for Best Film of 2021.

BEST FANTASY

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation & To Your Eternity.

I have to admit that this was a really tough one. On one hand, I am starting to believe that isekai is like Scooby-Doo! You will always see many versions and proposals and it will never get old (unless we are talking about Scoob!, of course)

So I decided to spread my vote, between Mushoku Tensei and To Your Eternity. Wonder Egg Priority was also great, but, in my opinion, the two series I chose share a common strength – narrative. To Your Eternity has a very good storytelling that helps characters and story to evolve, the same happens with Mushoku Tensei, and the fantasy element is stronger than in Wonder Egg Priority. At least from my perspective.

Fingers crossed.

BEST ROMANCE

I love Beastars, but in regards of romance, Horimiya was my surprise fo 2021. Hori-san is an amazing character, as likeable as Miyamura, and seeing together was a complete feast for my eyes, and the rest of the couples were also incredibly adorable, especially Remi and Sengoku.

Again. It was a tough one, because I enjoy Komi-san (In fact, I will say it now… Both are… BETTER… WAY BETTER than Rent-A-Girlfriend as romantic comedies), bu t I still need to see more episodes of Komi-san and Tadano-kun.

Kudos for Miyamura and Hori-san. Just…

We need more headbutts!!

BEST DRAMA

86: Eighty-Six

Without a doubt, 86: Eighty-Six is one of the best anime of 2021, and a candidate for the second or third best anime produced by A-1 Pictures on the 2020s (Only beaten by Sword Art Online: Alicization and Kaguya-sama: Love is War).

For me, this anime was a big surprise, because it definitely has those vibes that you see in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing or Code Geass, including social commentary, the brutality of war, child soldiers, and big robots. But also, 86: Eighty-Six manages to have its own identity, with very well-written characters and a setting that reminds us the consequences of world wars and Why should we never, ever allow something like that to happen… ever again.

And of course… a story that gets better and better, even in the light novels. Trust me. you read the light novels of 86: Eighty-Six, and the story becomes way better.

And as much as I hate to say this – the only two competition that 86: Eighty-Six might have in this category is either Oddtaxi or Fruits Basket: The Final Season.

BEST COMEDY

I will say this straight away – I was ready to give my absolute vote to Miss Kobayashi-san Dragon Maid S. It is simply one of the best comedies of 2021, and the fact that Kyoto Animation produced this second season after the tragic fire of July, 2019 gives it more merit. But then… I got a big surprise, as big as with 86: Eighty-Six.

And that is Life Lessons with Uramichi-Oniisan.

I was like…

Honestly. Life lessons with Uramichi is pure insanity, every moment was better than the last one. Original jokes, and very hilarious characters. So yeah.

50/50.

BEST ACTION

Triple vote – Vivy – Fluorite Eye’s Song, SSS Dynazenon and Mugen Train.

Ok. Some of you might be thinking:

«Jaime… What the hell is this?»

And yes. It is definitely a fair criticisim if you have it. But I will explain.

First…n

For Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song, Wit Studio did a really good job animating the fighting scenes. Every time I watch Vivy and Elizabeth in a fight, I couldn’t resist. I really was looking forward for what will happen next. Especially in the last episodes of the series. Vivy did great here. It is a shame that it got less nominations than it deserved.

The same happened with SSSS Dynazenon. If there is anything Studio Trigger is an expert in, that is animating action, i.e. Kill la Kill, Darling in the FRANXX, SSSS Gridman, and now here. I hope it really does well.

And Demon Slayer – Mugen Train… Nothing to say. Better watch.

BEST ENDING

«Shirogane» by LiSA.

Because, as a Demon Slayer fan… How can you say No to such a beaituful song?

Every time I listen to it… I feel the whole arc of Mugen Train.

CONCLUSION

And that is it for now. I must admit that, at the beginning, I was kind of disappointed for some of the nominations. I was expecting something like Vivy being nominated as Anime of the Year, as well as To Your Eternity. And 86: Eighty-Six had less nominations too. I expected Shinei to be nominated as Best Protagonist, and…

What about Rudeus Greyrat?

And for those who are wondering why I haven’t choose any of the categories for Attack on Titan. The answer is simple… I haven’t reach The Final Season: Part I yet. I guess I will get there when I get there.

But that is for today. Stay tuned for Part II.

And now… let’s get some beautiful Uzui waifus…

And what about me?

Who?

ME!!!!

I AM PERFECT TO SHIN… MORE THAN LENA.

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Keep your Hands Off Eizouken – First Impressions

Hey guys.

Welcome back to another anime review. And this time, I am reviewing an anime that I did not expect me to grab me this quickly. I am dead serious.

Furthermore, I have to admit it has a really interesting title.

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF EIZOUKEN!!!

But before I start, I must ask the guys…. The Question.

Are you ok? Feeling healthy?

If the answer is yes, then I am happy. Having said that, let’s go with the review.

STORY

Based on the manga series written by Sumito Owara, and published by Shogakukan seinen magazine, Monthly Big Comix Spirits, Keep Your Hands off Eizouken!!! (Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na!) tells the story of Midori Asakusa, who wanted to be an adventurer since she was a child, and then, she watch the complete 1978 anime Future Boy Conan (directed by Hayao Miyazaki, btw!), falling in love with Anime itself, to the point that her dream became to make an anime of her own. There is a problem though: making anime is hard, and she cannot do it by herself.

But then, her chance comes when another student, the famous actress, Tsubame Mizusaki, is transferred to the same school as Midori. Soon both discover their mutual devotion to anime, as Midori likes to draw landscapes, and Tsubame has a sharp eye with character models. And with the help of the money-obsessed Sayaka Kanamori, they have an opportunity to fullfill their dream, with all the passion and effort that will make their journey even more satisfying.

One thing that I want to point out about Eizouken, is that it reminds me a lot of another anime about girls making anime, Shirobako, which I really cherished from beginning to the end, especially since you learn of all the processes and departments involved in the production of a single anime episode; production assistant, animation, accounting, voice acting, foley artist, etc, around five girls who want to create anime. Moreover, because Shirobako is more of a feel-good story.

Here, Eizouken is more about a tale of high school, where very likeable girls put all their 100% to achieve their goals, while Shirobako is centred about how anime studios work too.

By the way, I will be doing a Shirobako Review. I promised.

Anyway. Yearsa fter watching Future boy Conan, Midori gets so passionated about anime, that she sneaks around the crowns to the screening of the anime club of the Shibahama High School. Well, in the middle of one of those screenings, is where Midori and Sayaka meet Tsubame, who is escaping from her bodyguards, for she has been forbidden to join the anime club, and must focus in following the same footsteps of her parents, something that she despises to a fault.

And then, Tsubame spills her strawberry milkshake on her blouse and jacket. There is when Midori takes Tsubame to her «secret place» which is really an old laundry; and after helping Tsubame to wash her clothes, she shows her sketches and her vision of anime.

Finally, with their respective abilities, both Midori and Tsubame create, and in fact, «act» their own sketch that leads the episode to deliver what, I feel, is probably one of the best animated landscapes of the 2020s anime, or at least the first of them. And of course, the rest comes together, they promised to make their own anime, they have the support of Sayaka, and they go on this «adventure» to change her school years.

Or at least, that is how I see it now.

Ok. Based on how I explained it, Eizouken sounds like your typical slice of life anime. But here is the thing. The animation is done by Science Saru, and directed by Masaaki Yuasa.

Do you know which other anime came from these two?

The Tatami Galaxy

And of course… their crowning achievement…

Devilman Crybaby

And does it show!!! The texture, the soft lines, the expressions of the characters, the backgrounds, etc.

And is in this weird simplicity and art that the animators took a lot from freedom in order to create the best moments of these two anime, especially with Devilman Crybaby;  that is why all the gory scenes, the censored ones, and all the monsters looked and felt so creepy and unnerving.

Without mentioning the solid story.

And in Eizouken that same quirkiness, feeling of freedom and sweet extravaganza are present too. Trust me. I have not seen, or felt, something similar since I saw the work of Kunihiko Ikuhara (Penguindrum, Sarazanmai, Yurikuma Arashi). I know that is too soon to judge both the quality and relevance of this anime, for it has just released its first episode, especially for this 2020. Nevertheless, for those who cherished Masaaki Yuasa and Devilman Crybaby, he can argue that this is really a worthy alternative, even if it is for watching it once.

Another element that I believe is extremely beautiful of Eizouken is that is a Feel-Good-story, created for the purpose of generating optimism and joy of being alive to the anime fans, or in other words, to let them enjoy the present, that feeling of being part of the world, to relax and being grateful of Life itself, even if it is for a few hours. Carole & Tuesday is another anime created for that purpose.

Also, I am working in a review of Carole & Tuesday, and it will be released soon. Promised.

Personally, I am very happy of watching this anime for all the great potential it has. It can even become of the best anime of the Q1 2020.

The last detail before I wrap up. The opening song, Easy Breezy, performed by chelmico, is so damn good. Honestly!!! Yesterday I spent like one hour looping it. And I want to do that once more.

Like I said, Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na! is something you can check out, for better or worse. And you might get a surprise. And a cool way to jet this 2020.

Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na! is available at Crunchyroll.

AND REMEMBER… EASY BREEZY!!!!