My Anime/Manga of 2016

That dream is to get a life.

I can’t believe it’s already my 3rd year on this blog. Time sure flies. Since I’m set on doing this every year, might as well lay down some rules for giving awards to anime/manga I’ve watched/read.

1. One award per one franchise in one year (so Yuri on Ice can’t get every award on the list, and neither can Ghost in the Shell)
2. MINIMUM SPOILER
3. The recipients can be released in any year, but I have to start/finish it in 2016
4. Awards are based solely on my opinion. Recommendations for next year are welcome! (If you want to see which ones I’ve already watched, check here.)

Since I haven’t seen or read as much as last year, this list might not fill every award, and I might add new ones.

To start off:

Best Sci-fi goes to: Ghost in the Shell

You can never go wrong with GITS. Its questions about humanity can be endlessly discussed. Live action starring Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow!) coming this year.

Best Historical goes to: Kaguya-Hime no Monogatari

Kaguya-Hime is an atmospheric and aesthetically pleasing anime movie. The art style is unique and the story of Kaguyahime’s struggles is fantastic and real. Kaguya-Hime is a break-off from traditional princess stories and you will find yourself rooting for the princess all the way while learning ancient Japanese culture.

Best Drama (anime) goes to: Re: Zero kara hajimaru isekai seikatsu

What’s better for drama than a hell loop? Although Re: Zero is a combination of the time loop and different world trope, it managed to get its own standing and became a very emotionally intense anime. (It may appear like harem but it’s not quite harem…)

Best Drama (manga) goes to: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Onisarashi-hen

This twisted hell of a side story brought Higurashi back to its throne on my favorite manga list. Although a side story, Onisarashi has all the charms of the original Higurashi manga.

More below.

Zombie Kiss Vol.3 [Intro]

Zombie Kiss Volume 3: Beauty, Corpses, Killer

<Index>

I knew a man…

He had a friendly smile,

And was always helping others.

But I could feel that under his smile…

Something was hidden.

Something mysterious, cold, and frightening,

Like an endless rabbit hole.

The man’s name was…

“Ariya”

 

Zombie Kiss Vol.2 [Ch.3 Twins] 2

Note: Lilith

 

Is this a joke…?

 

That was her thought, but the young girl’s throat was dry and the hands that held the sketchbook was shaking.

This is a story…surely a story…or maybe Namfon was playing a prank on me. Didn’t seem like her. And this is a really bad prank.

Lilith glanced around the void classroom. It made her feel lost.

Was it this late already? So quiet…why are there no teachers or janitors around?

The girl shook creepy thoughts away. She stood up, and her eyes caught on a message at a corner of the book.

Open me.

Zombie Kiss Vol.2 [Ch.3 Twins] 1

Vengeance…is the dark side of love.

If love is a bond that never ceases,

Vengeance is the anger that never fades.

The more the love, the more the hate,

Intertwined like a spider web

That never let its prey go

“Twins”

 

 

1

 

 

 

Lilith… my dearest friend.

 

Before we graduate and go our separate ways for college, I have something I must confess.

Actually, I should have said this from the first day we met, but no matter how much I wanted to spill everything I hid, I was a coward and didn’t know where to start.

That’s because… my sins were too grave to forgive.

Three years after that happened and I am still haunted by it every single day. I cannot bear to repeatedly wake up after a nightmare any longer.

I hope confessing everything in this friendship notebook to you would calm my troubled heart, even if a little.

Even if you do not forgive me…

At least, I hope…

That you would read this until the end.

Kakegurui Ep 2-4 Review – crazies running around

The adventures of Jabami Yumeko in the academy of gamblers continues.

Amon Saga + Legend of Lemnear Review – Hero Cycle Summed Up Right There.

I’ve never done a 2 in 1 anime review before, but I’ll do that here since I want to point out some thoughts I have on these two OVA.

First, I’m pretty sure you’re like ‘wth’ when you read the title, since you probably haven’t heard of either of them. Don’t worry, I’ll introduce you to them. Behold, spoiler awaits.

Let’s start with Amon Saga.

Amon Saga was released in 1986, and upon watching it I screamed ‘Saint Seiyaaaaa’ not because those two were similar in art or story, but the atmosphere and animation were the same. Amon Saga follows Amon, a generic stoic protagonist with white hair who wants to avenge his mother. While on his path to revenge, he met a generic long-haired damsel in distress called Princess Lichia. The two had a Romeo-Juliet moment, ratta-tatta-tat, Amon takes revenge, get the girl, and be done. Or not.

Kakegurui Ep 1 Review – Pinky Lips and Booby Traps

SAA, KAKEGURUIMASHOU!!!!

This madness called Kakegurui (Compulsive Gambler) is just getting started.

Zombie Kiss Vol.2 [Ch.2 Angel’s Corpse Second Half] Epilogue

Epilogue

 

Da ended the call after she finished telling her ‘Angel’s Corpse’ story on the late night show.

She sighed and hugged her pillow. After sharing her experiences with a bunch of strangers, the stress coiled inside her began to unwind. Maybe it’s because sharing her worries relaxed her mind.

Funny. She’d only ever listened to this program. She never thought she would be the one telling stories.

Then her phone rang.