As weird as it is, there is A LOT A LOT to like about Penguindrum. The main trio of characters, Shoma, Kanba, and Himari, are really well-constructed characters with multiple layers of depth. Ringo Ogonome is a screwed up young woman who has great development and a great story. But I find myself very interested […]
Read more "Character Analysis: Momoka Oginome"Fruits Basket is one of those things that looks like a delightful piece of fluff but is actually a masterclass in story construction when you look at it for the fourth time. Watch my hands … nothing up my sleeve: Okay, first of all, I’m talking about the original series, since I have it on […]
Read more "How to Build a Series: Fruits Basket"My Dress-Up Darling was one of the breakout hits of the last season. I thought it was pretty good. Did you think it was pretty good? In a lot of ways it’s nothing special, and that’s a good thing in some ways and a bad thing in some ways. I mean, how many “We’re in […]
Read more "The Power of Two: My Dress-Up Darling"As a writer I love tropes. Tropes are tropes because they work in telling good stories. Sure. Take the “Hero-Sidekick-Girlfriend” trio, right? You can use that interrelationship to create tension in lots of ways, especially if Sidekick and Girlfriend don’t get along. The two of them squabble between themselves and can be used to force […]
Read more "Oh, So Tropical: The Pre-pubescent Horndog"Look, let me lay it out here: I don’t call this blog “The Overage Otaku” because I’m 19 and all my manga friends are like 16. I’m an actual, real-live grown-up closer to retirement than entry-level positions. So, while I like anime of all sorts, given a choice I like shows that are for grown-ups. […]
Read more "How Not to Cook a Series: Michiko and Hatchin"
Confessions of an Overage otaku 