We here at oprainfall don’t just love video games: we’re big fans of anime, manga, and light novels, too. So in celebration of the medium, we’re here to give you our thoughts on what we’ve been watching and reading each week as we enjoy them. Old, new – anything goes.
Currently Airing:
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off!
I finally got around to finishing the Netflix Scott Pilgrim anime and as a longtime fan of the series, it was great! Science Saru really knocked it out of the park capturing the comic’s look and translating that into gorgeous fight scenes and set pieces. The show is absolutely a love letter to this story, told in a way that I found incredibly refreshing. I would say that if you’re unfamiliar with the Scott Pilgrim comics or movie, you can absolutely jump in here and still get the full story, but I think it benefits from having previous knowledge of the canon. That being said, the animation on display here is some of the best, with a blend of styles and techniques that I expect from a cutting-edge studio like Science Saru. The fight scenes especially have some fantastic choreography and staging, and the way the team uses lighting to establish mood is beautiful. If I have one complaint it’s the forced focus effect they use, since it can sometimes be a bit nauseating how quickly a scene goes in and out of focus. As an experimental technique, though, I have to give Science Saru props. At any rate, this show was a ton of fun and I’m itching to give it a rewatch. I highly recommend it for old fans and even new ones, with the caveat that you should definitely at least watch the movie to get the full perspective on these characters and story. – Leah
— You can watch Scott Pilgrim Takes Off! on Netflix.
Anime of the Past:
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island
This was one movie that I’ve been wanting to watch but didn’t have a chance to see until just now. The movie is set during the One Year War in the original series, and is a remake of an episode that became somewhat infamous. I have never seen the original, but having seen some screens of it, you can tell it was one of the times in the series that quality really dropped. With that being said, this movie is definitely for those who are fans of the original series. It does not really take any time to explain anything and more or less goes off that you already know about the characters and story, which is something that I kind of like. The animation for this looks great and does give the feel of the original, with the battles being quite good. The character of Doan was pretty interesting with the life he lives when we meet him and the conflict he has with his past unit. While I liked it, it is kind of weird to me that they turned a 20-something minute episode into a movie; especially one that of doesn’t really have any real connection to the main plot. That being said, I did think it was a pretty decent movie. – Walter
— You can watch Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island on Crunchyroll.
Manga and LNs:
Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
Since having caught up with the Japanese raws/ fan-translation, I’ve been doing a better job of keeping up with Iruma-kun. Things have certainly been happening, however most events, I feel, would have been difficult to talk about or go into detail here on our Week in Anime recaps. That is until this past week’s chapter, in which we get an Amelie focused chapter. Every so often, we get a chapter starring Iruma’s primary love interest from his harem/ not harem. These are always a fun read, as we get to see the normally straight-laced student council present show a wider range of emotions, especially when she has her moments with Iruma.
This chapter is a bit different from the other Amelie centered chapters, though, as this one actually stars her father, Henri, as he sneaks into the school and follows his daughter throughout her day. While doing so, he also reflects on Iruma’s achievements, wondering how in the Netherworld this seemingly innocuous boy, possibly a human as Henri suspects, has captured the attention of so many influential individuals. Having played a hand in many of the major events that have recently occurred in the Netherworld, the chapter ends on a cliffhanger, where Henri corners Iruma and Amelie and asks him…how Iruma feels about his daughter. Yup, that’s not awkward at all. – Drew D.
The Demon King’s Daughter is too Kind
This is a series I had come across over the summer and was hooked from the first chapter. The Demon King’s Daughter is too Kind is pure charm; a story that follows the demon king’s cute daughter, Dou, who is nothing like a demon at all. Dou seems to have the power to melt even the hardest of stone hearts, charming everyone she meets with her adorableness, as well as her genuine kindness to everyone she meets. There is never a dull moment with Dou, as she gets herself and her caretaker, Jahy, into perilous situations, only to delightfully use her altruism and lovable nature to comedically remedy any conflicts.
Lighthearted and uplifting, this is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for big doses of good nature and adorable humor. – Drew D.
The official English translation of Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun is provided by Kodansha US
Japanese volumes of The Demon King’s Daughter is too Kind available on amazon.co.jp, fan- translation can be found on Mangadex
What anime are you watching? What manga and light novels are you reading? Let us know in the comments!
You can read previous Week in Anime & Manga entries here!
