Satoshi Kon and Perfect Blue

        I enjoyed watching “Perfect Blue” and learning more about this amazing director and what sets his movies apart from others. I really admire good editing in films so it was very interesting to see how Satoshi uses his unique skills and cinematography to have the viewer constantly guessing and reevaluating what they are watching… in a good way. 

         I appreciate seeing animated work that has adult themes and is set in a world that focuses on real-life conflicts. In the case of Perfect Blue, the story reflected issues within Japan’s pop-idol images and online culture. However, the main theme of the movie is more focused on a person’s public self vs their private self, and in Mima’s case, she struggles with identifying who she really is. The commonalities in the themes of Satoshi’s works is also interesting as they seem to usually revolve around the parallels between dreams vs reality, identity vs alter-ego, etc. Previously, I had only seen Tokyo Godfathers and absolutely loved it. The rest of his movies are currently on my watch list for the summer, and that includes finishing Perfect Blue!

Mob Psycho 100

      When it comes to ONE's works, they truly have a distinct charm about them. I remember initially going into Mob Psycho thinking that it was just going to be a One Punch Man copy in a different setting, but boy was I completely wrong about that. 
The attention given to develop organic, relatable characters in a subtle way is one that is rarely seen nowadays- especially when it comes to more action-oriented shows. Mob Psycho's vivid art style and superb animation is also something that sets it apart from the rest. The art is expressive and satirical, while also maintaining a more attainable feel that a lot of people may not experience in other, more "pretty", anime. 

      It is a very unique and enjoyable show with incredible comedy; but I would argue that the comedy is not the main reason why people keep coming back to it. Don't get me wrong- the show is hysterical and I thoroughly enjoy it. But it is the perfect blend of comedy and character/plot development that really hits home when I think of why I love it so much. And that is a balance that is not easily attainable. 
When watching Mob Psycho 100, you become a part of Mob's mistakes, his misguidance, his assumptions, and his pain. Mob quickly goes from experiencing life as a clueless kid to suddenly having his happiness (the little that he's known) stripped away from him by selfish, unrighteous people who have, ultimately, also been misguided. You get to see how important these smaller changes in his life have altered him up until that point to become better than he originally thought he could be. Of course, he isn't perfect; none of the characters are. This to me is why the anime is so compelling.

Silver Spoon Assesment

1. What is your reaction to the text you just read?
- I found it to be a unique setting for a manga. I don't think I've ever read a manga that had to do with any sort of farming. And it was just that- farming and going to agricultural school. It had no supernatural or fantasy elements; and I kind of like it. It seems like a refreshing read. I managed to get up to chapter 6 and I am interested to know more about the main character and see how him being there and interacting with people who have lived a completely different lifestyle to him can help him develop as a person and find his own aspirations in life.

2. What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the story with which you were able to connect.
- Personally, I connected to the feeling of wanting to find your dreams and who you are as a person. I remember that was a big deal to me around the time that I first got into high school. I feel like in this story that feeling is heightened for the main character because he is in an environment where, being a specialized school, everyone there already knows exactly what they want to do. I also like that its a "fish out of water" kind of story set in a different location. It deals with people coming from massively different backgrounds than that of the main character. These backgrounds are more grounded and humble for the most part. Although we still don't know a lot about the protagonist yet, I feel like this is where the title "Silver Spoon" comes into play.

3. What changes would you make to adopt this story into another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?
- I did a quick google search and it seems like there is already an anime made for this series. I haven't watched it, so I'm not familiar with how they chose to adapt it. From what I've read so far, the manga gives me a vibe that it would maybe be better suited for a feature-length film rather than an episodic show. Everything about the chapters so far are building up plot points in a way that is similar to film. The chapters feel more like scenes rather than standalone episodes. The thing that I would change or just make a little more dramatic is showing the protagonist having a harder time adjusting to the farm lifestyle. The manga does show that- but with the comedic relief, and the character going back and forth between wanting to work hard and being pessimistic about having no purpose- the hardship kind of gets played down. Don't get me wrong, I love the comedic elements, but if it were to be adapted into a film a lot of that fat would need to get trimmed down.

Mirai

          From what we were able to see in class, I absolutely loved it! I thought it had a very interesting story and it is set apart from other "sibling is jealous of new baby brother/sister" kinds of stories. Part of what sets it apart is its wonderful attention to detail that hits so close to home, it feels very real to us. Every little nuance in the characters brings life and familiarity to the story. The children especially act like real children, and not just what children are "supposed" to act like. The movie also could have easily focused on the children alone, but chooses instead to build up the adult characters in a relatable way too. The focus on the dynamic of the family as a whole is something that is uncommon in media nowadays, let alone making it feel as organic as it is presented here. I can't wait to get ahold of the movie and finish watching it over the summer. I'll hopefully try to convince my mom to watch it with me as I feel like she'll enjoy it, despite her not really understanding anime in general.

The Boy and the Beast

      I found this movie to be very charming. It was hard to have to stop watching it halfway through (as it usually is with most movies we watch in class.) It certainly peaked my interest, although I can't exactly pinpoint why... Maybe it was the design of the beast characters, since they were different than anime's usual character design stance of "Lets take this beast/creature/object and turn it into a cute girl!"
Jokes aside though, I really liked the direction the story was headed. I am interested to see how Mamoru Hosoda would present these characters and make the audience like them, given their generally "unlikeable" personality traits. I am eager to see the character development and how the dynamic between them develops further.

Akira

        I'm really glad we started watching Akira in class. I knew that it was one of the most influential anime movies to exist, and me watching it was something that was long overdue. I've heard nothing but good things about Akira; not just from the anime community, but even from my father (who is NOT an anime fan by any means) has cited it as one of his favorite childhood movies. Needless to say, it lived up to its name. I was captured completely into the world and story; it had my undivided attention from the moment it started. However, I will admit that it does suffer a bit from having too much action and not letting the audience breathe between important plot points and action sequences. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and can appreciate all the hard work and love that was put into it.

Banana Fish Presentation