2017 Year in Review

Also the Fall 2017 Review because I don’t see a reason to do two posts on this. In the end, I finished 30 shows this year. I ended up dropping nine at various points in their run, including three from Fall season.

In lieu of numbered scores I’ve arraged the shows into a set of tiers. Inside each tier the order doesn’t matter, so shows will be listed alphabetically.  Anything in the top two tiers is an unreserved recommendation, while the three tiers after those range from “really good” to “ok”. Only one non-dropped show is not recommended at all. So lets get this started.

#12DaysofAnime 11: 2017 Best Couple Awards

Lets take a moment to look back on some of the best couples of the year! This is of course entirely subjective and all my opinion. Also spoilers for a lot of stuff sorry.

Also Mari and Kanan didn’t make the list but they get the header image and are amazing and wonderful. Just for the record.

(yes they’re all gay girls. My list, my rules)

#12DaysofAnime 8: Kurosawa Ruby Does Her Rubesty

First of all, all the Aqours are good. Secondly, Kurosawa Ruby is by far the most underrated member of the group, and the one that tends to get the most overt dislike or disparagement. This is super unfair because as she will tell you herself, she always does her Rubesty. She also happens to have one of the best character arcs in both seasons of Love Live Sunshine. I touched on this briefly before, though it was mostly in the service of discussing her and Hanamaru joining the group.

Spoilers, I guess.

Fall 2017 Mid-Season Review

Wow halfway through the season already! (I guess this is just tradition now…) Also the final Mid-Season review of the year! After the FlipFlappiversary is over, the FlipFlapping Anniversary will be coming up shortly afterwards. But that’s for later. For now, how are the season’s shows coming along anyway?

Fall 2017 Overview

Once again another anime season is upon us! Sadly, there is no Flip Flappers in the lineup this fall, but things are still looking pretty fun!

Kunikida Hanamaru and Kurosawa Ruby: Their Story

Episode 4 of Love Live Sunshine has two new girls join the now official School Idol Club. Kurosawa Ruby and Kunikida Hanamaru were approached by Chika several times before, but they always turned her down. Now, however, they have taken the initiative to join. It wasn’t an easy road for either of them, however.

Sakurauchi Riko: The Door to Her Dreams

A while back we discussed Watanabe You, and her role as a traditional “Childhood Friend” character for Takami Chika. Childhood Friends thrive in a static environment, where they don’t have to confront their feelings for the protagonist. So stories with them almost always start with a disruption, very frequently the unexpected arrival of a new love interest. Enter Sakurauchi Riko.

Watanabe You – The Yousoro of her Heart

The idea of the “Childhood Friend” (Osananajimi, in Japanese) has long been a staple of anime and manga romance stories, particularly ones with a harem bent. They are, especially in popular consciousness, somewhat tragic figures. The girl who’s been by the hero the longest, but is never able to convey that she likes them as more than just a friend. Love Live: School Idol Project technically has had many “Childhood Friends”. Honoka, Kotori and Umi all knew each other for years before the story began, for example. However their is only one true “Childhood Friend” character in this franchise, Love Live Sunshine‘s Watanabe You