Your anime viewing journal

(SLA 2025 Edinburgh. I purposefully kept my research of this years films to the barest minimum before booking and all are new to me)

Redline - what a fantastically fun movie. Rarely stops to checks its pulse and it doesn’t care. How has this slipped through my net of films before now!

The Last Blossom - beautiful, in many ways a small film and yet it hits hard and large. I’m sure others have said this about other projects, directors and films but this really feels like it was made by a prodigy of Satoshi Kon (even though I can’t see any connection). It’s laser focused on some details, has very real, complete characters and that’s why gives me a ‘Kon’ vibe. Somehow, you must see this film.
 
Sanda episode 7 Thumbs.

TOUGEN ANKI episode 18 Pairing off.

The Apocrethacy Diaries episodes 15-24, The Apocrethacy Diaries Season 2 episodes 25-36
 
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I was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince S2
Finished.
Not quite as much fun as S1 but it was enjoyable. It had too much chibi.

Dark Gathering
Episodes 3-5.
It's getting better with more information and reveals. No flying severed heads yet, just really creepy babies.

As I was needing to relieve feelings of anxiety and goosebumps, I watched the last 2 episodes of Birdie Wing to cheer up. Excellent song, tears and good vibes.
That girl can afford more Gunpla.
RAINBOW BULLET GO. 😭
 
SLA Day 2 (yes I missed out on a seat for 100 Metres)

Angel’s Egg - Very artsy! I’m sure my interpretation is as wrong as any but I took it as one holding onto faith and another questioning it stuck together in purgatory. What is stellar is the animation, the use of shadows is fantastic and its animation including negative space left my jaw on the floor at times

Chao - I liked this but don’t love it, as (sorry) fish out of water love stories go I think we’ve got better prior with both Ponyo and Ride Your Wave but it was funny and charming in its own ways

All You Need Is Kill - More stylish and slick than the Cruise led effort and gets into rhythm way sooner. I think overall it’s better than the Hollywood attempt but the ending is quite nailed on as I’d like.
 
Kingdom 6th Season episode 149 Locusts.

My Hero Academia: Final Season episode 166 Suffer and sing.

Ranma 1/2 (2024) 2nd Season episode 19 Instant spring.

Spy x Family Season 3 episode 44 Hijack.

To Your Eternity Season 3 episode 47 Possessor.

The Apocrethacy Diaries Season 2 episodes 37-48 (Complete. A great story so far that I missed when it initially aired, and so opted to catch up now ahead of the film and third season - I can’t wait to see where this story goes.) 4.5/5, 4.5/5

The Boy and the Heron (Film) Hayao Miyazaki’s grand return as director proves fruitful, and it was nice to see this win an Oscar as anime and Japanese cinema in general so rarely do. 4/5
 
I've got back onto GTO again after being sidetracked for a while, I'm still only maybe fifteen or so episodes in but still loving it. It is one of those shows though that when you stop and actually think about what's taking place on screen, it's err the sort of thing you'd imagine Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would have tuned into back in the 90s if he were into anime. But thankfully it's also the kind of show he'd have probably dropped after a couple of eps in disgust and hated it for not being truly seedy at all. But I think that really sums up GTO. It's simultaneously a pretty wild show you'd have second thoughts about introducing to a friend (who isn't an anime head), but it's also oddly and charmingly innocent. It's a variety of innocent sleaziness or sleazy innocence that I find impossible to imagine existing nowadays. Definitely not because of "cancel culture" but for some reason in today's polarised world it's just very difficult to imagine a show walking that weird tightrope as successfully as GTO. I'm still pretty early on in the show though!
 
A Wild Last Boss Appeared! Episode 8

Inexpressive Kashiwada and Oota Episode 7

My Friend's Little Sister Has It In for Me! Episode 7

Ranma ½ (2024) 2nd Season Episode 19

Spy x Family Season 3 Episode 44

Tales of Wedding Ring's Season 2 (Uncensored) Episode 19

Tales of Wedding Ring's Season 2 (English Dub) Episode 17

The Banished Court Magician Aims to Become the Strongest Episode 7

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 7
 
SLA Day 3

Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: The Immortal Bloodline - some odd scheduling meant this, the latest piece of Lupin lore that caps off a story started with four OVAs (more later) was first up. I haven’t seen much of Lupin but I always enjoy it and this is very much more of the same.

Labyrinth - every year the anime industry challenges itself to break new ground and reach new heights. Turns out some of the industry is also trying to find new lows. In 2021 the SLA audience openly laughed at Over the Sky and once again we laughed at a film. This is somehow worse, a real turd not even rolled in glitter.

JUNK WORLD - a bit less creepy, a little less frenetic and way more funny than the film it follows but still excellently crafted. This is a really good time even if your brain gets a bit muddled as the ending draws near. I now hope this team move onto a new subject with their talent.

Lupin the IIIrd: Jigen's Gravestone, Lupin the IIIrd: Goemon's Blood Spray, Lupin the IIIrd: Fujiko's Lie and Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata and the Two Lupins - so yeah, the four Lupin OVAs (described as a trilogy in the festival guide because Mr Partridge hates the term quadrilogy) capped off SLA for another year. The organisers seems very happy with attendance, feedback and production company interest showing that after 15 years it’s still going strong. Back to Lupin, these are fairly solid but I preferred the first two of the set.

Bonus: festival thoughts - This is my sixth year attending and funds on hand I’m sure I will make it 7! The Last Blossom was this year’s standout for me, the jury (awarding it the Golden Partridge) and in the attendee award too. Let’s keep with the Cameo in Edinburgh and if by chance Mr Partridge pops his head on this forum… it’s the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within next year and what a wild way to finish on Sunday would that be….
 
Gachiakuta episode 19 Past the border.

One Piece episode 1150 Mysterious monster.

One-Punch Man Season 3 episode 30 Moving out.

The Café Terrace and its Goddesses episodes 1-12, The Café Terrace and its Goddesses 2nd Season episodes 1-9
 
Alma-chan Wants to Be a Family! Episode 7

Dad is a Hero, Mom is a Spirit, I'm a Reincarnator Episode 7

Hands off: Sawaranaide Kotesashi-kun (Uncensored) Episode 7

Li'l Miss Vampire Can't Suck Right Episode 6

My Hero Academia: Final Season (English Dub) Episode 5

My Hero Academia: Final Season Episode 7

One Punch Man Season 3 Episode 6

Spy x Family Season 3 (English Dub) Episode 42
 
A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace episode 7 Flexible.

Gintama – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class episode 7 Digging in the dirt.

Isekai Quartet 3 episode 6 Shadowplay.

The Café Terrace and its Goddesses 2nd Season episodes 10-12 (Complete. Another series where I just didn’t get around to watching when it aired, and played catch-up on multiple seasons. This was fun but I thought the second season was stronger overall.) 3/5, 3.5/5

The Deer King (Film) This curiously felt oddly paced yet also compacted a lot into its two-hour run time, and I found it to be a mixed experience overall but with some nice visuals here and there. 3/5

The Hakkenden: Legend of the Dog Warriors OVAs 1-6, The Hakkenden: Legend of the Dog Warriors Part 2 OVAs 1-2
 
FLAG - Episodes - 13 [Final]

A really good series that I have enjoyed watching again a great deal. Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen it.

Revoluntionary Girl Utena - Episode 1 - 6

I've always felt that not having seen Utena thus far in my fandom has been a bit of blind spot in my viewing history so finally time to put that right. During the 00's and 10's nearly every podcast I listened to used to go on about Utena with some sort of regularity so there's a lot of expectation that goes with it for me. I'm enjoying it so far.

Heavy

An slightly odd 1990 OVA clearly influenced by a mix of 80's Rocky and karate films. Nothing special but lots of violent action and it entertaining so didn't disappoint.

Ranma 1/2 (2024) - Episode 19
 
Witch Watch (Japanese audio) - Episodes 13-15

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