How I Fell In Love With Anime

Everyone has a story. Maybe you grew up watching anime or various cartoons on TV after school every day or maybe you were introduced to the medium by a friend. It has been two years since I started watching anime and the time between then and now has taken me on a journey like no other. So without further ado allow me to share you with, my fellow otakus, my journey thus far.

How Sweet Life Can Be: A Review of Sweetness and Lightning

The Slice of Life genre can come in many shapes and forms, but whether it be a comedy, a drama, a romance, or a mixture of all three, it essentially has a common desire to show life for what it is and what it can be. The show I’ll be looking at today is one such example and it does not take its name lightly. But how sweet is Sweetness and Lighting? Let’s dive into the tank and find out.

Having The Courage To Chase Your Dreams: A Review of Sound! Euphonium

If you’re at all familiar with anime you may have realized how many series are centred around high school students. The high school setting has become a cliche for many, a trope that should be put away with or else lessened considerably. Personally, I’ve never seen it as a sign of lazy writing or a lack of creativity. As much as I love a good adult drama, the high school setting serves a different purpose. The time during high school is one of learning and growth, of discovering who we are as people, and of finding where our passions and dreams lie. It’s awkward and messy and ripe ground for relatable, inspiring, and even life-changing stories. The show I’m looking at today is set exactly during that uncertain time. Let’s dive into the tank and take a look at KyoAni’s Sound! Euphonium.

My Answers To The Crunchyroll Lightning Round

The Crunchyroll Lightning Round is a youtube series hosted by the anime streaming service, Crunchyroll. The gist of the show is that the Crunchyroll team sits down popular names in the anime community and asks them a number of simple questions to test their love and knowledge of anime. Since I am also a name in the anime community (I suppose a popular one is kind of debatable at this point) I decided to give it a shot myself. Without further ado here are The Anime Tank’s answers to the Crunchyroll Lightning Round!

Dagashi Kashi Seasons 1 and 2 Review

One of the things that draw fans to this medium is its untamable ambition and creativity. Unlike cartoons in the West which, for the most part, equate creativity to being as outlandish and weird as possible, anime often finds inspiration in the more mundane aspects of life. Case in point, the show I’m looking at today focuses on the everyday life of a dagashi (aka candy) store and the interesting facts behind some of Japan’s favourite snacks. Is the show worth a watch? Let’s dive into the tank and find out.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Rebellion Film Review

When a show garners a significant following it’s only inevitable that a film of some sort will come out of it, whether that be a sequel, spin-off, or (horror of horrors) a live-action remake. We’ve most recently seen animated films from the likes of Sword Art Online and Code Geass but shows like Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and One Piece have a vast number of feature-length films to their name and on the list can go. The quality of these films varies depending on what the film is trying to be. If it’s a spin-off it’s easy to be a little more lenient towards it even if they’re not all that great (Rikka’s version of Love, Chunibyo, and Other Delusions comes to mind here). A sequel, on the other hand, is much harder to appreciate. Anime consumers, myself included, would rather see a fully fleshed out second season as opposed to a feature-length film. As nice as it is to see our favourite characters again these films often add very little to the story (looking at you, Steins; Gate Load Region of Deja Vu). The film we’ll be looking at today is a sequel to the twisted masterpiece known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica. How successfully does it continue a story that already ended on a satisfying note? Let’s dive into the tank and find out.

Gosick Anime Review

Often the difference between a flawed show being bad and a flawed show being enjoyable is the amount of effort and passion that was handed to it. If the writers of the show clearly put some kind of dedication into their work whatever flaws that may pop up can be more easily forgiven than the flaws that exist purely because the writers couldn’t be bothered to craft something worthwhile. The show we’re looking at today is polarizing in that regard, to say the least. Let’s dive into the tank and look at the gothic mystery known as Gosick.

Clannad/After Story Anime Review

Kyoto Animation is one of the most popular and beloved animation studios to come out of Japan, most known for their works K-On, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and most recently 2016’s gorgeous film adaption of A Silent Voice. But whenever Kyoto Ani’s name is brought up the discussion inevitably turns to a string of shows known among fans as “The Holy Trinity.” This trinity consists of the three Key visual novels Kyoto adapted into anime: Air, Kanon (2006), and what we’re looking at today Clannad. These shows are known, both famously and infamously, for their unique moe art style and their tragic plot developments. The most beloved of the three is the pairing known as Clannad and Clannad: After Story. Do these deserve the abundant praise they’ve received? Let’s dive into the tank and find out.