The Editor's Desk: 12/31/2022 - Meet the New Year, Same as the Old Year

Happy New Year's Eve, everybody! I hope your holiday season has been wonderful, and that you've been weathering these chilly winter months with great anime.

Personally, I've been particularly enthralled by Akiba Maid War and Bocchi the Rock! The former is a fantastic action-drama that is equal parts parody, pastiche, and loving homage to yakuza flicks like Hanabi, Tokyo Drifter and Kanto Wanderer. It's absurd in all the best ways—such as having the cast keep up their animal schtick even as they're slinging lead, or having a disgraced member cut off their pigtail in an atonement—tempered by a charismatic cast and over-the-top gunplay.

Bocchi the Rock!, meanwhile, is a slice-of-life comedy, which follows introverted, socially anxious guitarist Hitori "Bocchi" Gotoh. And, to be frank, the series is A Mood (TM). As somebody who lives with social anxiety, Bocchi's attempts to grow into her role as a friend and a guitarist, are relatable to a fault and genuinely hilarious, though they never come from a place of malice. The animation is nothing short of brilliant, bending styles, and even formats as everything from abstract painterly styles to claymation are used to give life to Bocchi's everyday trials.

That said, these are just a couple of my picks for the season. What kept you coming back to the couch every week?

From the Discord Community:

Skeith continued her December article run this month with daily pieces that focused on all things Sega, from chronicling all of Azami's Ninja Rules from the 2019 Sakura Wars game, to pondering Sega's seeming monopoly on Christmas content. She capped off her content campaign on December 25, with an exploration of the Like a Dragon franchise's minigames, which can only be described as "encyclopedic." This novella-sized piece details literally every mini game to be found in Kamurocho's (and Yokohamas, and Lost Paradise's...) sprawling alleys, from bowling to bartending. It's a must-read for anyone who's interested in the franchise!

Coop and the Dude, You Remember Macross? team posted one final episode to close out the year. This time, the crew explored episodes 10-12 of Macross Delta, before moving on to Tactics Ogre, the secrets of a great Macross setting, and more.

If you haven't checked it out, Ethan Fox's Nina Aquila: Legal Eagle is a ton of fun. It's a courtroom adventure with a delightfully absurd streak, a la Phoenix Wright. When players aren't fighting for their clients' freedom, they can play high-stakes trading card games, or take part in a bit of illegal drift racing. Ethan's hard at work on a fourth chapter, which takes things in a distinctly magical direction.

Anyway, that's all for today! I can't want to talk with you again in 2023.

Best,

Samantha