Recent Anime to Look Out For

Recent Anime to Look Out For

Friday, November 12, 2021 / No Comments

Do you find yourself watching the same anime over and over again? Is it because you've gotten lazier and lazier to determine which new anime are good and which aren't? Well, fret not, here are some shows that I think are promising and worth a watch. 

1. Komi Can't Communicate

Introducing the new hype of the season: Komi Can't Communicate. It's a comedy, slice-of-life show that's currently airing on Netflix. So what's it about?

The school's most popular girl, Komi, struggles with social interaction. In a sense where she freezes up whenever she has to speak to someone. This is discovered by our protagonist, your average guy classmate, and he decides to help Komi with her quest - make friends with a hundred people in her high school days.

Aside from Komi being a sweet, soft and extremely shy girl who makes you want to take her under your wing and shower her with some warmth, this show has elements of humour that often sterns from how socially awkward she can get. 

This show has the most gorgeous animation I've seen in a while. The music's also pretty solid in the bite-sized episodes. So if you've some time to spare, why not give this a try? Although the story may be simple, you might find yourself relating to Komi more than you'd think. 

2. Blue Period 

I'm sure that many of us, at some point in our lives, have been unsure of the path we want to take in the future. Well, that's high school student Yatora Yaguchi, who planned to breeze through life until he finds out that he has a hidden passion - art. 

As someone who displays a casual, "delinquent-like" demeanour, Yaguchi is surprisingly determined when it comes to pursuing his dreams. When he decides to take a leap of faith and actually put in effort in his art class, he was pleasantly surprised when he realised how much he liked doing art. And the next step? He joins the art club.

In this anime, we follow Yaguchi on his artistic journey and along with him, get inspired by the fascinating beauty of art. The animation is glorious, and accompanied by soul-touching music, you can really feel how much thought was put into every scene, and understand the messages they contain. That's, I feel, what makes this anime so meaningful and worth a watch. 

What does art mean to you? What do you want to express but can't? What has art made you discover? Find the answers along with Yaguchi as you embark on this new path with him, and hopefully, you may find the answers to your own questions as well. 

3. The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as Aristocrat 

Long title, I know. But you know, it kinda speaks for the show pretty well. This anime starts off with our protagonist, a highly-skilled assassin, who dies, but is then given a chance to live again, in a new body and a new world. And in this new world, it's bustling with magic and sorcery. 

To me, what makes this anime a level up is the character or our protagonist. He's highly intelligent, with a more or less "deadpan" personality that surprisingly chalks up to his charm. With his talent to manipulate and calm demeanour, you'll find yourself fascinated with the interactions between him and the other characters. 

The visuals are great, and so is the music. The magical elements are pretty cool, and the theme song comes with a catchy beat. I'd say that going by what makes an anime good: the art, music, plot, characters - this anime scores decently for all areas. 

And that's what I have this time round. Hopefully they suit your tastes but if not, don't worry - I'll be looking out for more. 

Written by Potato.

 

Manga Review: Alice in Borderland

Manga Review: Alice in Borderland

Saturday, October 30, 2021 / No Comments

Have you ever wished to escape from your boring life and jump into a world of fantasy where you could be the protagonist of an exciting story?

The manga cover featuring our protagonist, Ryohei Arisu.

Everyone surely has thought of it once or twice in their lives— But for Ryohei Arisu, whose wish was granted, things turned from a dream come true to a nightmare quickly.

The spookiest day of the year is fast approaching! Which means, naturally, that you have to whip out some horrifying manga to match the season! As such, I’ve come to you with Alice in Borderland.

For those of you who love anything relating to the death game genre, or want to consume more after dipping your toes into Squid Game, this is the manga just for you! It's perfect for beginners with a good plot, engaging characters, and not much gore, unlike most series in the genre.

This manga has a total of 60+ chapters/18 volumes which, if you’re a fast reader like me, you can binge read in a whole day. If not, you can finish it within a week or two as long as you read a few chapters a day. 

Alternatively, this manga has both an OVA and live action series. However, the OVA only covers up until chapter 13, whilst the live action series covers up until chapter 29. The OVA is quite accurate to the manga while the live action series has differences in character portrayals and the plot, so if you’ve already finished reading the manga, you might want to try out the live action show. 

The live action version of Alice in Borderland.

By the way, the live action will have a second season that covers the rest of the manga’s chapters, so if a live action is more enticing to you, then you might want to pick up the manga right now whilst waiting for the second season to air.

The manga is about Ryohei Arisu and his two best friends, Chota Segawa and Daikichi Karube, who seemingly get isekai’d to a dystopian future, known as the Borderland. They learn that they must play dangerous games in order to extend their visa, or else they will die when the visa expires. Along the way, they meet Saori Shibuki, an office lady who seems knowledgeable about the games. Together, they team up and aim to stay alive while investigating the truth behind the Borderland, and who exactly is orchestrating these deadly games.

Ryohei Arisu with his two best friends during their first day in the Borderland.

I personally feel that the manga draws readers in with its interesting premise and manages to continue pulling you in due to the depth and complexity of the characters. The drama between the characters feels real and genuine, and it’s easy to understand the reasoning behind the actions of many characters. 

Not only that, despite the huge cast of characters, all of them play a large role in the manga’s plot— Many characters make small cameos in early chapters, only to appear later with huge significance, making the world of Alice in Borderland feel real. It feels as if all the characters are real people who have their own past, dreams and ambitions, with none of the characters feeling one dimensional. I believe that’s quite hard to achieve for such a large cast of characters, so I’m impressed by the writing.

The whole cast is endearing too, with only one or two hard exceptions. I love most of the cast equally, though my favourites include Mira Kano, Shuntaro Chishiya and Ginji Kyuma.

Mira Kano, who has both beauty and brains.

The games featured in the manga are unique too, as they are split into four categories: Club (teamwork), Diamond (intelligence), Spades (physical strength) and Heart (psychological strength). Each game tests the players on one of these aspects. The difficulty of the game is determined by a number and, as shown in the manga during the Three of Hearts game, Heart games are notoriously difficult even at a low number.

Some games seem to deliberately mislead players too, like the Four of Clubs game, titled 'Runaway'. The game, held in a 10km tunnel, tells the players that in order to win, they must survive four trials and reach "the goal" before the time limit is up. The trials include cheetahs, a flood with crocodiles, sudden cold temperatures, and an explosion. The characters, knowing this is a game about teamwork, are definitely confused as it seems more like they should be running away in order to survive these trials and reach "the goal", which they think is located at the end of the tunnel.

... However, there is a bus at the start of the tunnel with "GOAL" spray painted onto it. If only the players had worked together, they would have realised that and could have stayed inside of the bus to survive the four trials and win the game. Instead, the players were fragmented, thus most of them chose to ran to the other side of the tunnel, only to be met with a dead end. There are other games which have similar loopholes or misleading instructions, which is truly what makes Alice in Borderland so fun to read even after readers learn how the games work.

There are currently two spin-offs for the manga too; Alice on Border Road and Alice in Borderland Retry. Border Road is a regular spin-off while Retry is a direct sequel which involves Ryohei Arisu once again entering the Borderlands. For fans who have already finished both the manga and live action series, there's still more content to consume!

While I haven't consumed either of those yet, I personally feel that both will be good, considering that the writing and flow of the plot was handled so well in the original. Overall, I highly recommend checking this manga out for anyone who hasn't yet!

I might make a list of recommended manga to read next... or maybe I'll get around to reviewing more crane game apps. Who knows?

Until then, stay home, stay safe, and have fun!

Written by Ririko

Nintendo Switch: Otome Haul

Nintendo Switch: Otome Haul

/ No Comments

Heyheyhey my little nuggets!! Welcome back to another episode of an old lady's ramblings~ So I was hunting for new games recently, and one that really caught my eye was Cupid Parasite, an otome that is about to drop real soon. 

And then I thought, man I haven't played any otomes on console in a long time (see Hakuoki lol) so I went to look up otomes on the Switch and okokok there are so many!! 

After deliberating for quite some time, I finally ended up with these few titles. I haven't played any of them yet, but when I have, I'll do a more in depth post! For now, I kind of want to do a first impressions, who I'll probably aim for post, and see if I do end up with them. 

I'm also going into this blind, I really picked these titles off the art, VAs, and trailers. So let's start!! 

Piofiore: Fated Memories

Piofiore is set in the Mafia world, and what's better than romance and danger?

I am super stoked for this to reach my hands, I love the art so much. Usually with some otomes, I can pick the character I'll go for right off the bat, but with this, I was thinking so hard about it and I still can't choose! Just going off visuals, I think I might pick Yang.. he gives off this bastard vibe.. for a lack of a better way to describe him. 

I don't know! Dante feels like a tsun, Nicola looks like a playboy, Gil is pretty nice, feels like he'd protecc and attacc. Gil and Yang feel rather similar to me, but Gil sits on the wholesome side, and Yang on the bastard side, if that makes sense. Gil will die for you but Yang will kill for you, I guess? Orlok has the lost puppy vibe to him, kind of cute. 

left to right: nicola, gil, dante, yang, orlok

I prefer Yang's voice too, so I think I'll probably go for him first, then maybe Dante or Gil.. Though I think I would be OK with anyone except Nicola. 

We'll see how the playthrough goes. 

Code Realize: Guardian of Rebirth

clockwise: van, impey, lupin, saint germain, victor

Steampunk London!! I love the art!! And outfits, minus the hats. For some reason, I really dislike hats. Maybe because sometimes they cover up so much of the face..? 

Anyway, cover art, off the bat I was drawn to Victor. I really liked Van too, but man his hair is so spikey!!! Also what's with those glasses!!! 

So Victor gives off this aloof guy with a tragic backstory feel, probably the really caring sort. Van? Tsun. The end. Saint Germain, mm, looks like bad news frankly. Has Kuroshitsuji Undertaker vibes. Impey feels like he has too much energy. Lupin has so little shown of him, but he kind of feels a bit like BSD Dazai, I suppose. Although!!! In the other cover art where it's just him and MC, man!!! That was so soft!! 

Ok so I said Victor right, but when I heard the voices!!!! I knew it was going to be Van for me. I looked it up to be sure and yep, it's Junichi Suwabe. Tsun + Suwabe? Ah, what a day to be alive. 

Collar x Malice

clockwise from black: aiji, kageyuki, kei, takeru, mineo

MC is a police officer, nice! 

Ahh I love the art so much, and the colors are so gentle.

Aiji looks like a no nonsense type of person, but really caring at the same time. Kei looks aloof but soft and huggable, like he'd listen to you rant and just pat your head? Mineo has too much energy, I feel like I'd be tired just being around him. Takeru looks tsun as heck. Kageyuki feels like a playboy, but like the cruel ones where he uses people and tosses them aside. Is playboy even the right word? 

Anyway, don't really know who I'd pick, so I guess we'll see how the common route goes.

Nightshade

goemon is the middle with the red pendant

This was so hard to find but I absolutely love it to bits. I knew immediately who I was going to pick, and when I heard the voice?? Oof, take my money, Nightshade, take it all. 

So if you've guessed Hanzo, good for you because it is!! I don't even know what to tell you, I took one look and that was it. And then he spoke and well, my soul just evaporated. Gekkamaru looks like your typical leader type, cool calm collected. Kuroyuki feels like the fun type, very younger brother vibes I guess. Chojiro has the mom friend vibes, will take care of you, make sure you eat, and all that. Goemon feels like he'd do a lot of teasing, looks carefree but has a bit of a dark past? 

left to right: hanzo, chojiro, gekkamaru, kuroyuki

It's Hanzo for me. I love him so much already. I hope I don't get a bad ending.. I'd better not get the bad ending!! 

Olympia Soiree 

clockwise: himuka, kuroba, shiro, riku, akaza, yosuga

There's some clan caste? structure thing going on here, and MC is some OP being I think?

Guys, the character I liked isn't romanceable!!! I don't know what came over me, I was watching the trailer and was like AH THIS ONE IS NICE and then I sent in a order for it and then I continued watching and was like, wait a second, he's not part of the line-up. 

my fav lmao

But anyway, on to the actual characters. 

Akaza. I don't quite like his glasses, but he does give off the stoic leader vibe. A little like Hijikata, maybe? Kuroba feels really bright and cheerful, also for some reason also looks sad, like his cheeriness is a front? 

Yosuga feels like a playboy, but the kind who actually just wants to find his one true love. Riku? Tsun. Shiro is so so so so cute!!! Definitely shota vibes, and I was actually eating the same ice cream he's holding when he appeared on screen. Himuka looks like he doesn't even want to be here, wherever here is, and just wants to live his own life doing his own things?

I don't really know what to expect of this, but the reviews are pretty good so I'm excited regardless. 

Cupid Parasite 

left to right: keisaiin, gill, npc, shelby, raul, allan

This one was really really not my jam because of how bright everything was. But at the same time it was so cute and different and upbeat that I bought it anyway. 

I saw this image before I watched the trailer and yeah, well, after I placed the order I found out the character I liked is not playable. But that's OK! Let's move on.

Gill has the childhood friend trope I think? He sure looks like the blustering shy childhood friend.. Wait, but that's for BL.. Moving on to Shelby, seriously? What exactly is that name?? Shelby Snail?? I almost cried when I saw it!! But anyway, typical CEO, probably in just to marry someone so the media will get off his back. Raul feels like a wholesome himbo. Maybe it's the hair? Surfer type vibes. Keisaiin looks funky as heck. I don't even know what to make of him? He feels like a tsun but I really don't know? Allan.. I don't know too. Playboy I guess? Use and discard type maybe? 

Frankly the vibrancy is painful for me but all in all I think the plot isn't too bad! MC's an actual Cupid! 

So that's all I have lined up so far! I'm so excited for everything to arrive~~~ I was considering preordering Dairoku: Agents of Sakuratani but I guess this is enough for now, whew. 

Tata for now!~

Written by: ninetylives

Cosplayers of Instagram

Cosplayers of Instagram

Thursday, October 28, 2021 / No Comments

 Cosplayers play a huge part in the anime community as well as each and every fandom. They bring our favorite characters to life and make their own cosplays interesting and different from the rest. With the rise of social media such as popular video app TikTok and Instagram, it is now very easy to discover any different cosplayers around the world. 

As someone who is constantly active on Instagram, I often come across different cosplayers that appear on my explore page and their unique cosplays and photo editing skills. Having said that, here are 10 of my favorite cosplayers who you may or may not recognize. 

10. hakuyacoser 

The first cosplay I've came across of her was her Lisa Lisa (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) cosplay, although her Fushiguro Megumi (Jujutsu Kaisen) cosplay was what made her more well known. If you go through her Instagram page, you would be able to see her other cosplays such as Oikawa Toru from Haikyu!!, Bakugo Katsuki from My Hero Academia, Denji from popular manga Chainsaw Man and Chrollo Lucilfer from Hunter x Hunter. 

What intrigued me was her makeup style, which isn't as harsh as compared to some other cosplayers when it comes to male characters. Because of that, it makes her cosplays look more simple and natural any yet pleasing to the eye. 

You can see more of her cosplays on her instagram page as well as TikTok. 

9. susuwatar.i 

If you are a fan of popular series Demon Slayer, you'd be pleased to know that this cosplayer has quite a few cosplays of Kanroji Mitsuri, Tokito Muchiro as well as Hashibira Inosuke. 

Some of her other works that are my favorites includes Shizuku from Hunter x Hunter, Bruno Bucciarati from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Tomie from the Junji Ito collection as well as Yosano Akiko and Dazai Osamu from Bungou Stray Dogs. 

Recently, she has also done cosplays of Zenin Maki, Gojo Satoru and Itadori Yuji from Jujutsu Kaisen. What I love about her cosplays is that no matter which character she cosplays, she manages to pull them off easily. 

8. alexy_sky_

A cosplayer and makeup artist from Brasil, this cosplayer has done many different characters which can be found on her Instagram page. From Toga Himiko from My Hero Academia to Haruno Sakura from Naruto, this cosplayer has done countless cosplays of different characters, including characters from games like Ahri, Evelynn and Kai'Sa from League Of Legends and different Geshin Impact Characters such as Hutao and Jean. 

If you are a Naruto Fan, you can also check out the various Naruto Characters she has cosplayed such as Anko, Hinata, Sakura, Sarada, Kushina, Kakashi, Kurenai, Kairin, Kunoichi, Kagua, Neji, Temari, Tsunade, Tenten, Yugito, Rin as well as Itachi. 

Another note-worthy aspect of this cosplayer is her photo editing apart from her cosplays. She edits her photos in a way to make the cosplay more accurate and unique.

7. kleinerpixel 

Another cosplayer with talented makeup skills, this cosplayer has done many different characters such as Misa Amane fro Death Note, Yuno Gasai from Future Diary, and Haru from Beastars. 

Kakegurui fans can look forward to seeing many cosplays of her as different Kakegurui chraracters like Sumeragi Itsuki, Ikishima Midari, Yomozuki Runa,  Yumemite Yumemi, Kirari Momobami, Yueko Jabami as well as Mary Saotome. 

Apart from Kakegurui, most of her cosplays of Demon Slayer characters can also be found. One of her more popular Demon Slayer cosplay would be the spider mother, which garnered her quite a number of new fans subsequently. 

She has also done cosplays of characters from games like Genshin Impact, Black Desert, League of Legends and Dragon Raja. 

Besides her photo editing skills to give her cosplays a special effect, this cosplayer also runs a Youtube channel where she posts cosplay makeup tutorials for anyone to follow. If you are an aspiring cosplayer and need some inspiration, you can check out her Youtube channel for makeup tutorials of even characters like Dabi from My Hero Academia. 

6. angry_jeager

If you are a fan of Shingeki No Kyojin, more commonly known as Attack On Titan, This cosplayer is for you. 

True to his Instagram handle, this nineteen-year-old cosplayer has cosplayed different Attack On Titan characters like Eren Yeager, Zeke Yeager, Levi Ackerman, Jean Kristen, and Armin Arlert. 

Although he has cosplayed other characters such as 707 from Mystic Messenger and Todoroki Shoto from My Hero Academia, he is more well known for his Attack On Titan cosplays. 

If you're interested, do check out his Instagram page for more Attack On Titan cosplays. 

5. zumiii_zhr 

Love Jujutsu Kaisen? Then check out this Japanese cosplayer. Although he has cosplayed different characters such as Adam, Reki and Langa from Sk8 the infinity, as well as a few other characters from Hypnosis Mic, his Jujutsu Kaisen cosplays easily stand out the most. 

This can be seen from his Geto Suguru cosplay, which is personally my favorite because of the accuracy of his cosplays. Apart from Geto, he has also done cosplays of Gojo Satoru as well as Fushiguro Toji, who have garnered many fans ever since his first manga appearance. 

The accuracy of his cosplays can also be found in his Fushiguro Toji cosplay, which left many of his followers in awe. Don't believe me? Head over to his Instagram page and see it for yourself. 

4. uzileks 

A cosplayer who loves hamsters, Uzi is a cosplayer who has a unique makeup look. If you scroll through her Instagram page, her makeup would definitely be the first thing you notice. Unlike other cosplayers, Uzi has a makeup style that enables her to have doll-like features. 

She has cosplayed many characters, such as characters from Kakeguruu, Demon Slayer, and Dangaronpa. At a glance, her colorful and eye catching feed is bound to pull you in. Even if it doesn't, her makeup style is bound to. 

Apart from cosplaying, Uzi is also a big fan of gaming and usually plays games like Apex Legends. From time to time, she entertains her followers with updates on things related to gaming. if you're lucky enough, you might even catch a glimpse of her setup and gaming clips that she posts on her stories. 

3. cospoxia 

Going by the name Ann / Li Ming, this talented cosplayer has over 96.8k followers on her Instagram page. If you are a big fan of popular miHoYo game, Genshin Impact, you would be thrilled to find that she has cosplayed different characters from the game, such as Xiao, Diluc, Zhongli, Kaeya, Thoma and Ningguang.

 Besides Genshin Imapct characters, you can also find other characters from different video games like Resident Evil, NieR Replicant and Final Fantasy VII on her page. 

Not only do her cosplays have a unique touch, her photo editing skills are also to die for. With bright, focused and stunning visuals, you would instantly drawn to the intensity of her cosplays. Besides her amazing cosplays, her dedication and discipline is also something to look up to as she juggles her studies while producing such quality content for her fans. Every now and then, Ann would also feed her fans some behind the scenes of her photo shoot, so do keep a lookout for them on her story. If you ever want to support her, be sure to look through her cosplay prints that are available for sale. 

2. villain_lady

Big fan of villains? If that's the case, you might have heard of villain lady, also known as Klaudia in real life. This female cosplayer specializes in villains, courtesy of her Instagram handle. 

If you have followed her long enough or have just recently heard of her, you wouldn't miss out her cosplays that scarily resembles each character she cosplays. One of her more popular cosplay would be Hisoka Morrow from HunterxHunter. On her Instagram, you would be able to find numerous posts of Hisoka. Besides the infamous character of HunterxHunter, Klaudia has also cosplayed characters such as Dio Brando from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Oh Sangwoo from manhwa Killing Stalking, Ryomen Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen, Hanma Shuji from up and rising popular anime & manga series Tokyo Revengers and even Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. 

Besides having amazing content that will leave you wanting more, this cosplayer also frequently interacts with her followers, creating a cozy fanbase of 795K on Instagram alone. Occasionally, she also posts behind the scenes of her cosplays. If you're lucky, you might catch them on her story. 

1. Fukuwakuro   

Boasting a following of 41.2K fans on Instagram, this Italian cosplayer has done different characters from even lesser known shows such as Hypnosis Mic, and Dramatical Murder On their Instagram page, you can view seemingly accurate cosplays of characters such as Ash Lynx from Banana Fish, Undertaker, Joker and Grell Sutcliff from Black Butler, different Kimetsu No Yaiba charcters such as Giyu, Tanjiro and Zenitsu. 

Besides having a majority of Black Butler content, they also have many cosplays of Jujutsu Kaisen characters such as Zenin Maki, Fushiguro Toji, Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru. Most recently, they have also joined the Genshin Impact fandom and cosplayed popular Genshin characters like Diluc, Xiao and Zhongli. 

One of the most unique thing of this cosplayer is how they incorporated their own special touch with their piercings in most of their cosplays. While most cosplayers choose to follow the book and recreate each character as accurately as possible, this cosplayer would add their own touch to each character, which somehow seamlessly blend together.

That is all for this article, and i hope you enjoyed looking at some of my favorite cosplayers of Instagram. If any of them captures your attention, do check out their Instagram page. 

Until next time, 

Rika  

Webtoons I Think Are Worth Sharing

Webtoons I Think Are Worth Sharing

Sunday, October 17, 2021 / No Comments

Webtoons I Think Are Worth Sharing 

What I'm about to introduce are works that I think are absolute gems and that more people should know of. So without further ado, let's get started. 

1. Odd Girl Out

I’m sure at some point in your life, you’ve compared your looks to someone else’s. Be it girl or guy, it’s basic human nature. So here’s a cute little Webtoon about a girl-next-door character being roped into a clique of three drop-dead gorgeous girls. 

In her new school, Nari was looking forward to peaceful, fruitful school days after her personal glow up, when she found herself surrounded by three beauties —  Seonji, Mirae and Yuna.

Seonji looks like an angel and is an angel. She comes from a humble background and although a little naive, she is the sweetest soft girl you’ll ever meet and treats everyone she knows with sincerity. 

Mirae is the kind of girl everyone wishes they were friends with. With her bigger-than-life personality, she can lift up the mood with a step into the room. That paired with her chic looks make her a shining star in everyone’s eyes, quite literally (You’ll understand what I mean when you read the Webtoon).

Yuna, is well, to put it simply, gorgeous. She makes head turns, but no one dares to go near her because of her cold exterior. However, deep inside, is just a delicate girl looking for something genuine in her life.

 

And with that, it’s finally time to introduce our main character ─ sweet ol’ Nari. She’s wholesome, down-to-earth, and has a heart of gold. Warm and caring, Nari is the righteous friend you know you can rely on for help. 

This story takes you on Nari’s school life journey, where she has to navigate through the muddy waters of drama, relationships and more. From being the target of malicious gossip to testing new relationship waters, every episode displays the most simple but tasteful stories. So if you’re looking for something to relive your school days, here you go.

2. New Normal: Class 8 

A school full of unusual people ─ that’s Class 8 for you. Filled with the most peculiar characters, you’ll be surprised at how much depth is under this odd group. 

Let’s take a look at our main character: Big Head. I-I’m serious, he actually lives up to his nickname. Big Head has, well, a big head. In fact, when he first tried to enter the classroom, he got stuck at the doorway because of his head. 

If you think that’s strange, wait till you hear the rest of the characters. Some of them include a feisty girl the size of your thumb, a guy with arms for noodles, and a teacher with a halo over his head. 

As you may have guessed, the genre of this Webtoon is comedy. However, as it progresses, you’ll also get splashed with some romance, some drama, and everything in between. Two friends crushing on the same girl, being discriminated against by others for your appearance, dealing with family abuse ─ this Webtoon displays a wide range of situations that occur in real life. 

And with that, I hope you will give these two works a try. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one sharing them with others in the future :  ) 

Written by Potato.

Japanese Crane Games Online: Dokodemo Catcher/DC7

Japanese Crane Games Online: Dokodemo Catcher/DC7

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / No Comments

If you're like me, you'll love arcades. And more than just arcades, you'll also love Japanese arcades; the kinds with intricate machine set-ups and various Anime goodies waiting for you on the other side of that glass cabinet. Sadly, due to the pandemic, it's not safe to travel to Japan right now.

However!

There's a way to experience the joy of crane machines without needing to board a plane, and we have technology to thank for that.

Not sponsored, though I wish it was.

Introducing: Dokodemo Catcher/DC7. 

This crane game app goes by two names, but I'll be referring to it as DC7.

As mentioned earlier, DC7 is a Japanese crane game app that you can play from the comfort of your home! There are a variety of prizes to be won, from the latest Anime figures to cute household items like containers and trash bins. You can play on various machines too, from the typical three claw set-up to takoyaki machines, just like a real Japanese arcade.

They have a pretty cute mascot, too.

I'm obsessed with Japanese crane games in general so, of course, I had to give the app a try! Here are some observations I've made for crane fanatics who want to give it a go!

        1. Large Variety of Prizes

They have special events sometimes, too.

There are lots of prizes to be won! Ranging from Sanrio plushies to Jujutsu Kaisen figures, there's bound to be something for everyone. The selection of prizes is updated daily, so you will always have access to the latest Anime goods from Japan!

The search function on the app is pretty advanced, as you can search for machines based on the type of machine (three pronged claw/'bridge' set-up/'takoyaki' set-up), the type of prize (plushie/figure/), and so on!

A thing to note: Some prizes can't be shipped out of Japan, which means that you can't play on just any machine you see. There will be a logo on the machine's thumbnail indicating if it's a Japan-only prize, so do look out for that!

In order to play the machines, you need to purchase DP. Different machines need differing amounts of DP per play, which brings in my next point...

        2. Affordable Prices

Price per play differs from each machine, with the lowest being 90 DP while the highest can go up to 350 DP. The most common price, it seems, is 180-200 DP, which is roughly 2SGD per play! Considering that most prizes are the latest Anime items straight from Japan, this is a pretty good price!

One thing to note is that once per month, you can buy DP at a discounted price. If you're the type of person to funnel money into crane machines (like me), it's going to be very helpful!

Now that you've played some machines and won a few prizes, the only thing left to do is receive your prizes, which brings me to my last point...

        3. Solid Delivery

It's so big! Featuring Nendoroid 1469, Bedivere.

I did say that I gave the app a try!

Although it took a month for the prizes to arrive, the prizes came bubble wrapped and perfectly intact, with not even a dent on the boxes! I've experienced prizes from other crane game apps getting dented in the mail in the past, so this was a pleasant surprise.

One thing to take note is that, if you're shipping outside of Japan, you need to pay for shipping using DP (which is exactly what I did). Make sure to purchase extra DP for that!

Now, let's look at the spoils...

All wrapped safely in plastic and bubble wrap; no dents!

The prizes that I won were:

1. Fate/Grand Order Servant Figure Moon Cancer/BB

2. Pompompurin Storage Container

3. Super Sonico BiCute Bunnies Figure

4. Pompompurin Lunch Box

5. Fate/Grand Order Camelot the Movie Mouse w/ Mouse Pad

6. Pompompurin Easter Bunny Plush

As you can see, I'm a big fan of Pompompurin and Fate/Grand Order! There are plenty of prizes from those two categories, which made me really happy. 

I'd definitely recommend DC7 to anyone who loves crane machines since they have a wide selection of prizes, monthly discounts and good delivery.

I'll do a review on the figures in another post, so please look forward to that.

Until then, stay home, stay safe, and have fun!

Written by Ririko

Here’s Some Chill Romance Anime for You

Here’s Some Chill Romance Anime for You

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 / No Comments

Hmm, romance anime. There are hundreds and hundreds of those out there, some with little twists and turns that bring out quite bizarre premises. But what about some good old, “ah, that hits the spot” shows? Here are some cute, light-hearted watches if you’re just looking to chill and enjoy. 

1. Wotaku: Love Is Hard for Otaku 

A romance anime revolving around an adult couple in a workplace environment. And guess what? They’re both otakus! 

Despite being a show with grown-up characters in an office setting, its playful demeanour makes this anime a good watch. The concerns these characters face regarding otaku culture, romance and work-life are relatable to me, despite the fact that I’m a student. 

Our female protagonist, Narumi, is a preppy and cute lady who tries to hide her “true identity” of being an otaku in her new workplace. However, to her surprise, her childhood friend is also there 一 Nifuji, a stoic and down-to-earth gamer. As they bond over their connections with the otaku culture, they also find themselves in a relationship with each other. 

Most romance anime I’ve witnessed are full of melodramas and misunderstandings. This is not one of them. The main couple, Narumi and Nifiji, have striking chemistry with each other and demonstrate the essence of a healthy relationship. The side couple, Hanahko and Tarou, make for an adorable sight as a cosplayer girlfriend and a straight cis man. 

With a pretty small group of characters, you’ll quickly adapt to each of their traits and quirks and grow attached to them. 

2. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun

The behind-the-scenes of a manga 一 all that’s reflected in this show. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is about a cheerful student named Sakura, who has a massive crush on her schoolmate Nozaki. And guess what? He turns out to be the creator behind a famous shoujo manga. 

When Sakura musters up all her courage to finally confess to the stoic Nozaki, he mistakes her as one of his fans. And somehow, along the way, Sakura ends up as his manga assistant. 

The anime delves into the characters’ school life and the manga scene. Each character has their own unique quirky character 一 like Nozaki and his obliviousness that’s often mistaken for stoicism, and his friend Mikoshiba, whom Nozaki takes as a character inspiration due to his frivolous and yet shy, tsundere-like personality. 

Naomi constantly tries her very best to get closer to Nozaki. She floods her mind with romantic daydreams and is hit with the reality of her crush’s impassiveness, making for a bunch of comedic moments. Her interactions with the other characters also make for an entertaining watch due to the bickers and laughs they have with each other. 

With all that said, if you’re looking for some angsty slow-burn, this is not the show for that. But running gags and little specks of that first love you feel blooming for your first crush? This anime has just that. 

3. Kimi ni Todoke

Are you a fan of the loner girl and popular boy trope? Well, fret no more, I’ve just the thing for you. Introducing Kimi ni Todoke: the story of a girl who’s avoided by others because of her scary appearance, and her undying crush on the extroverted, golden-retriever popular boy who’s loved by everyone.

In this show, you won’t find yourself trying to resist the urge to throw eggs at the guy for being an absolute jerk, or the girl for “not being like other girls”. Instead, you’ll get characters who are sweet and genuinely care for each other 一 the epitome of a healthy relationship, which is unfortunately not a common find in recent romance anime. 

This is a perfect watch for those who want to relieve some raw, pure romance with genuine relationship development. At the start, our female protagonist, Sawako, was greatly feared by other students due to her seemingly ghastly demeanour. But underneath all that lies a naive, gentle girl with a kind soul, someone who you can’t help but grow to adore. As people get the chance to interact with Sawako, they get to know her real character and open up to her. 

And Kazehaya is, well, your typical sunshine boy. Nothing about him is over-exaggerated, and it makes sense that he’s a character many girls would have a crush on. That’s the essence of this show 一 the people are realistic and can be found in your everyday life. 

So what are you waiting for? Get comfy and ready to delve into the world of some heartwarming, cosy scenes that you wish would happen to you. Have fun : )

Written by Potato.