Anime Preview: Dimension W is (currently) my favorite anime of the 2016 winter season

I am loving Dimension W and it scares the shit out of me. It scares me because I can't help but expect the things I love to fall apart in the end and I can easily see that happening with Dimension W; at least, I can see the season ending in a way that leaves me unsatisfied and full of unanswered questions. Still, I can't help but love Dimension W six episodes into the season; it's the new anime I look forward to more than any other and I just can't get enough. Seriously, when I'm watching Dimension W, baby, I go out of my head and I just can't get enough.

The reason why Dimension W has my full attention is because it's managed to create both an interesting world story and an interesting personal story thanks to great world building and a cast of fully-realized characters. Dimension W takes place in the somewhat near future after a scientist discovers a new dimension filled with a seemingly unlimited amount of energy--this dimension is, of course, called Dimension W. The way people utilize all this newfound energy is through coils and, because business is business, a company, New Tesla, monopolizes the sale and distribution of coils, which leads to a thriving black market and the creation of bounty hunters--called "collectors"--who find these black market dealers and collect their illegal coils for a reward. And so the story of Dimension W begins, when a collector, who hates coils so much he never uses them, runs into a very human-esque robot powered entirely by coils during one of his jobs.

Click to read more ...

When your mind says, "I wants to poop," but your body says, "No."

PSP #278: Charting New Dimensions in Anime with Luck & Logic & Weird Love Triangles

Today's show is another anime-heavy show, starting the show with a little discussion about anime titles and how some people use English titles while others use Romaji titles before eventually tackling even more brand new winter anime, including the fantastic Dimension W and the not-so-fantastic Divine Gate; however, despite all the anime, Marc also manages to talk about quite a few games, too, including a pinball game that brings back a lot of happy memories. A full list of what was discussed can be found below.

Anyway, that's it and that's all, folks, and, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s); it's not free to host the site, the show, to make and record videos, and everything in between, so, anything would be greatly appreciated, even if you just tell a friend or two about the site and show(s). Y'all can also support the site by shopping at Amazon if that's what ya like.

Click to read more ...

Anime Preview: Hitting the dance floor with Brave Beats

I have watched sixteen episodes of Brave Beats.

I don't know why I've watched sixteen episodes of Brave Beats.

Brave Beats is a silly anime, very silly, and aimed towards children who want to dance because dancing is cool and can be used to fight enemies and Santa Claus and there's a giant pink alligator always hanging around because why not, and then the principal says, "You shouldn't do this or that" before getting punched or kicked or punch-kicked into the sky, eventually disappearing in the clouds, only to return in the next episode so it can all happen again because are you actually still reading this? Like I said, Brave Beats is silly, but that's what makes it worth watching, or, at least, worth half-watching.

What's "half-watching?" Half-watching is just a very unoriginal term I use for watching an anime (or anything) while doing something else--like writing this or that, playing a game, browsing the internet, etc--and I think Brave Beats is a great anime for doing just that because there is a smidgen of joy to be found within its quirky frame. I may not re-watch Brave Beats or remember it months after it ends, but I'm happy I got to see Flash Beat, the main protagonist's secret identity, take on a buffed up, temporarily tainted Santa Claus because where else could I ever see such a ridiculous scenario take place? Nowhere, that's where, and being super silly and ridiculously ridiculous is where Brave Beats shines.

Click to read more ...

If you were wondering, "Should I play ROBLOX..." The answer is no.

PSP #277: Magical Boobs Versus the Limbo Dance 'Cause Anime

Before Marc gets down and dirty with a whole lot of winter 2016 anime, they talk about a handful of random nonsense, including how they no longer care about most sports, except hockey 'cause...hockey. Once all that nonsense is out of the way, Marc talks about a good chunk of new anime--including two incredibly beautiful shows, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar and Musaigen no Phantom World--and actually decides to drop a few shows (already), which is new for them. And then, when even Marc starts yawning like all y'all listeners do each and every week, they talk about a few games, none of which are any good, except (maybe) The Witness 'cause they still haven't actually played it (but that won't stop 'em from talking about it).

Anyway, that's it and that's all, folks, and, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s); it's not free to host the site, the show, to make and record videos, and everything in between, so, anything would be greatly appreciated, even if you just tell a friend or two about the site and show(s). Y'all can also support the site by shopping at Amazon if that's what ya like.

Click to read more ...

Winter 2016 Anime Preview: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash)

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is beautiful. From the very first second, I knew, if nothing else, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar was going to be a feast for my eyes and, after watching the first five episodes, the splendid art and animation is, sadly, one of the few things Hai to Gensou no Grimgar has going for it. And, before I lasso my thoughts and put them into this preview, let me tell you right here and now that there will be spoilers, so, keep that in mind and don't act like I didn't warn y'all.

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is based on a light novel and is yet another story about people waking up in an unknown world with no memory of how they got there--hints that they're in a video game, like Log Horizon or Sword Art Online are present. I may sound like I'm not a fan of this growing trope, but, being a gamer and all, I actually enjoy such stories when they're well done; the problem is, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar has, in the first five episodes, revealed very little and, since it is only a 12-episode season, I expected more story development than barely any at all at this point. In the first five episodes, the party has killed some goblins, eaten some food, bought new clothes, and, oh yeah, the leader just died, and he was one of the more interesting, developed characters. Have there been any answers about what's actually going on? No. Have the characters themselves been asking questions about what's going on? Not really, not as much as they should be. As of right now, there has been little progress and nothing, story-wise, is drawing me in and making me want to watch more.

Click to read more ...

When you're Mad Max and just can't even anymore...

PSP #276: Gallivanting With Anime Through a Gate to Escape...Da Yo!

Marc starts off the show with a hefty serving of anime, starting first with all the Fall anime they took a break from that continued on into the Winter season and then they follow all that with a few new shows which include murder, time traveling, winged cabbage monsters, and lots and lots of talking*. After completely exhausting their anime stamina bar, Marc returns, briefly, to the manga, Inside Mari, before hitting a handful of indie games and the wonderful, lovely, delightful, etc, TV show, Galavant. *All this nonsense is not in just one anime.

Anyway, that's it and that's all, folks, and, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s); it's not free to host the site, the show, to make and record videos, and everything in between, so, anything would be greatly appreciated, even if you just tell a friend or two about the site and show(s). Y'all can also support the site by shopping at Amazon if that's what ya like.

Click to read more ...

Sometimes you just have to stick it to the man