Author: Juu-kuchi

Posted in

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 2 – G-Chekketsu yourself before you G-Rekketsu yourself.

 

Solanum Lycopersicum Callipyge

Like the lumbering skeleton-framed Gundam Barbatos, the series begins its purposeful lurch forward. You can tell by its lurch (despite the exciting, electric, “Raise Your Flag” opening), in the way the battle between the Barbatos and Gjallarhorn squad quickly concludes and focuses on world building. The more interesting thing about this is that there’s no narrator this time around (it’s kindof a thing in Gundam) to get us going about the world. Every little story element that is shown and told is done by any and all characters present, thus allowing us maximum engagement in the world and its characters. Like the mobile suit, the story is piecing itself together into a more cohesive, dynamic, whole. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 01 – These Kids’re Alright…

…Except for all those things that have been done to them, never mind their place in a PMC that sees them as expendable. But let’s not dwell on that much, because there’s a lot to like in this very good first episode.

The greatest strength of this premiere is its handling of a universe that’s the result of a 300 year long reign of Mars by the Earth Sphere. The peace is frayed, calls for independence are beginning to rise, and there is an undercurrent of tension on every level. All of this is established without firing a shot given the series describing the Special Forces of Earth, Gjallarhorn, as very violent in their quelling of uprisings. The way a well-to-do Martian citizen wipes his sweating brow as he diplomatically grovels for his daughter’s independence seeking behavior, is well done and establishes how much fear can be generated if Earth is opposed. Heck, a shot won’t be fired from their elite units until near the end of the episode, and even then you can see tensions are frayed there too! I like these little touches, and hope it remains such throughout the course of the series, even if Gjallarhorn/Earth eventually goes full Titans (Zeta) or A-LAWS (00 Season 2). read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L FOREVER / Top 50 Aqua Teen Episodes 10 – 1

Introduction + 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11

And with these final ten episodes, thus concludes the AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L. Hope you enjoyed this list, and hopefully you will enjoy these episodes if you ever get around to it. I’d leave this in the end with a funny joke like they hoped they would but… nah.

AND NOW THE TOP 10!

10. The Last Last One Forever and Ever (For Real This Time) (We Fucking Mean It)

 

“Alright lock your doors y’all. This here’s kindof a bad neighborhood. Evil villains… everywhere you turn.” read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L/Top 50 Something Whatever (20-11)

Introduction + 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21

20. Broodwich

 

“It is the Broodwich. Forged in darkness from wheat harvested in Hell’s half-acre. Baked by Beelzebub. Slathered with mayonnaise from the evil eggs of dark chicken forces beaten into sauce by the hands of a one-eyed madman. Cheese boiled from the rancid teat of a fanged cow. Layered with 666 separate meats from an animal, which has maggots for BLOOD!”

After going beyond the demanded 14 inches by Frylock, a digging expedition by Shake lands him in a dark pit full of skulls. There he comes face to face with a most dangerous item: the Broodwich. Whosoever eats the Broodwich will be transported to a uniquely designed nether-realm after each bite, so they can be summarily decapitated by a creature with an axe. Eat it all? Well… Good luck. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L/Top 50 Aqua Teen Best Hit Episodes Forever For All Time (30-21)

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L (30-21)

Introduction + 50-41 | 40-31

30. Hands on a Hamburger

“Come on over and visit my big ankle and I’m gonna kick your ass with such force it will open a timerift to where Jesus lives!”

In this surprising finale to some trilogy of error, the Aqua Teens lock themselves in a game of wits and survival. The game? Keep one hand on a building-size bacon cheeseburger. The last person with a hand on a burger (as per the bylaws) gets the whole enchilada (an expression that may give people gas). read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L/Top 50 Aqua Teen Hunger Force episodes (40-31)

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L (40-31)

For introduction and 50-41 click here.

40. Balloonenstein

 

“…Do what now?”

This episode is the testbed for further endeavours by Meatwad to get back at Shake. It still remains an incredibly strong episode. After a prolonged stay in the dryer thanks to Shake, Meatwad develops a high amount of dischargeable static electricity, which he uses to remorselessly discipline the Cup.

Such a breath of fresh air this episode is if you start chronologically. I remember when I didn’t really get the show, and wondered if all that Meatwad abuse would get tiring. Thankfully with this episode, it isn’t the case, as it shows the capacity of Meatwad’s vindictiveness when goaded for the first time. Given the consistency of Shake’s character, it ought to be considered a welcome development, as it shows there are characters in this show that will take it out on him if need be. Frylock is always going to be that paper tiger wrapped in a veneer of rational civility, so it falls upon others to pick up the slack. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

AQUA INTEGRAL EPISODE PROJECT L [i.e. Best episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force ellipses For All Time] (50-41)

 

Their names were: Shake zula, the mic rula, the old schoola. If you wanted a trip, he’d bring it to ya. Frylock he was on top, rocked you like a cop. Meatwad was up next with his knock-knock. Meatwad, got the money see? Meatwad, got the honeys see? Drove in his car, lived like a star, ice on my toes and my fingers and I’m a Taurus. Cuz they were the Aqua Teens. They made the homies say ho and the girlies wanna scream.

Can you believe it? It’s been fifteen years since Cartoon Network aired “Rabbot”, and then had Aqua Teen Hunger Force as a flagship title for their daring new venture, Adult Swim. As it found its groove, the ten minute adventures of Master Shake, Frylock, Meatwad and their neighbor Carl got more violent, more surreal, yet stayed quite hilarious. It didn’t matter if Zombie Ninja Pro-AM was shit, or if their movie’s promotional campaign inadvertently started a bomb scare in Boston, the Aqua Teens remained. But now, Adult Swim president Mike Lazzo is ready to “move on from it”, despite creators Matt Maellaro and Dave Willis’s desire to continue. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

After the Cel Shading – BoJack Horseman Season 2 – My Little Pathos: BoJack is Magick

SPOILERS AHOY!

It probably has been said before, but it’s worth reiterating again, BoJack Horseman was one of last year’s most pleasant surprises. While starting off as some raunchy situational comedy, the show after Episode 5 decided to instead throw emotional gut punches at the viewer. Granted the raunch remained, as well as the absurd humour, but that veneer like say… the inner lining of your stomach wall was pierced, and out forms an ulcer giving bouts of emotional pain and awkwardness. The characters and world are at times horrible and remorseless in their wanton devilry, but there is pathos despite their peccadilloes, leaving a desire that eventually whatever the characters are doing will lead to happiness. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

After the Cel Shading review: Hibike! Euphonium – Girls Und Blechbläser (Or: These Girls Know How to Blow)

I loved 2012’s Girls Und Panzer. Initially perceived to be some maudlin, meaningless, moe animu with a gimmicky contrivance, it turned out to be the exact opposite. It was a brisk, well-executed, tale with likable characters, great camaraderie, great production values, and most importantly a genuine desire to make the latter part of the title (tanks), authentic as all get out. It did not get bogged down by hyper-existential dilemmas, pointless filler, cynicism, or even apocalyptic endgame scenarios. It was a well-crafted tale of a bunch of girls and their tanks as they grow together as a team and as individuals on the road to glory. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

After the Cel Shading – Inside Out

Wow, feels like forever since we’ve seen a Pixar movie, especially one with the creative spark that defined its most memorable stories. After a trifecta of mostly eh from 2011 to 2013 (Cars 2 was Cars 2, Brave can go die in a fire, and Monsters University while likable was highly unnecessary), Inside Out breaks that streak with its incredibly creative premise and Pixar’s deft hand in tugging heartstrings. I believe we’re finally back, baby.

So apparently deep in our heads we are manned by a quintet of emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. They help us react to the world around us and in turn maintain important memories as well as keep up the foundations of personality (manifested in various island worlds). In one particular girl, Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), things are awry due to a family move from Minnesota to San Francisco. Unsure of the situation, her emotions (Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Bill Hader, and Mindy Kaling respectively) are at odds with how to make things work. However, before they can do any of that, Sadness (who is always kept at bay by Joy) causes a situation where she and Joy are jettisoned away from where the emotions man Riley’s disposition, along with her most important memories. So now it’s up to them to get back in time before the three remaining emotions, despite their best efforts to aid her, lead Riley to inadvertent self-destruction. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•