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Chikorita157's Anime Blog

Anime blog that focuses on Yuri and School Girl Slice of Life Anime and Editorials

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Episode 4 – Decline of Crunchyroll and Failure of Originals

April 8, 2021 by Chikorita157
Hana Kouen Podcast
Hana Kouen Podcast
Episode 4 - Decline of Crunchyroll and Failure of Originals
00:00 / 10:50
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In this episode, we will discuss the decline of Crunchyroll as it’s catalog shrinks and the failure of Crunchyroll Originals. We also discuss the implications of Sony possibly buying Crunchyroll.

This is an audio version of our post, originally titled Decline of Crunchyroll and Failure of Originals, published on November 17, 2020. If you have any comments, leave a reply in the original post.

This podcast uses the following songs:

Night In Venice by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5763-night-in-venice
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5010-ultralounge
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Read moreEpisode 4 – Decline of Crunchyroll and Failure of Originals
Tag: anime industry, controversy, crunchyroll, essay, opinion

Episode 1 – Speaking out Against Anti-Asian Hate and The Problem of Fetishizing a Culture

April 3, 2021 by Chikorita157
Hana Kouen Podcast
Hana Kouen Podcast
Episode 1 - Speaking out Against Anti-Asian Hate and The Problem of Fetishizing a Culture
00:00 / 8:42
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Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 8:42 | Recorded on April 1, 2021

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

In this episode, we focus on calling out Anti-Asian hate. We also focus on the dark history of the treatment of Asian Americans in the United States. Lastly, we focus on why fetishizing a culture is bad and how it contributes to Anti-Asian racism.

This is an audio version of our post, originally titled Speaking out Against Anti-Asian Hate and The Problem of Fetishizing a Culture, published on March 21,2021. If you have any comments, leave a reply in the original post.

Read moreEpisode 1 – Speaking out Against Anti-Asian Hate and The Problem of Fetishizing a Culture
Tag: analysis, essay, fandom, personal experiences

Speaking out Against Anti-Asian Hate and The Problem of Fetishizing a Culture

March 21, 2021 by Chikorita157 Leave a Comment

In last week’s monthly digest post, I shared my thoughts on the disturbing rise of Anti-Asian hate. Since I review Japanese media, I think it’s important to make people aware of this. It’s not too surprising since only a very few focused on it in the anime blogging community. Given recent events, I think it’s a good idea to make everyone aware of this so we can fight against hate.

…

Read moreSpeaking out Against Anti-Asian Hate and The Problem of Fetishizing a Culture
Category: EditorialsTag: analysis, essay, fandom, personal experiences

Decline of Crunchyroll and Failure of Originals

November 17, 2020 by Chikorita157 1 Comment
Artist: 千羽

For a while now, Crunchyroll is facing a big decline. In recent seasons, Funimation has been getting a lot of high profile shows in the past. To make matters worse, the service has been losing a lot of shows in its catalog while increasing the subscription fees.

Now, WarnerMedia, who owns Crunchyroll wants to sell it to Sony. Not only this will cause the problem of Sony almost controlling the western anime market, Crunchyroll will most likely cease to exist as they will most likely merge it with Funimation.

With the lack of shows that appeal to my tastes, I kind of let my Crunchyroll Premium lapse and I have yet to renew it. This is mostly because the titles I want to watch is now on Funimation or Hidive.

The question remains, what led to this situation? Is it because of Crunchyroll’s ambitious plans to work on creating their originals with the long-term plan of controlling anime? Or is it bad luck caused by the Covid19 induced recession.

Note: An audio version of this post is now available.

…

Read moreDecline of Crunchyroll and Failure of Originals
Category: EditorialsTag: anime industry, controversy, crunchyroll, essay, opinion

What Is on My Mind – September 2020 – The Things You Like Turn to Crap Because 2020, Machikado Mazoku 2nd Season, and More

August 28, 2020 by Chikorita157 3 Comments
Artist: nn 2b

Now that Summer is coming to an end soon, it’s time to share my thoughts during the month. As expected, it’s not pretty because it’s 2020 after all.
…

Read moreWhat Is on My Mind – September 2020 – The Things You Like Turn to Crap Because 2020, Machikado Mazoku 2nd Season, and More
Category: Editorials, Machikado Mazoku, Mahou Shoujo Madoka MagicaTag: anime industry, crunchyroll, essay, gacha games, opinion, personal experiences, rambling, Video Games

What Is on My Mind – August 2020 – Crunchyroll and Poor Translator Pay, Blog’s Domain Turns 10, In Defense of CGDCT Genre, and More

July 26, 2020 by Chikorita157 4 Comments
Artist: merukyara

With July ending very soon, it’s time to share some interesting posts and some thoughts during the month.
…

Read moreWhat Is on My Mind – August 2020 – Crunchyroll and Poor Translator Pay, Blog’s Domain Turns 10, In Defense of CGDCT Genre, and More
Category: EditorialsTag: anime industry, crunchyroll, essay, opinion, personal experiences, rambling

What Is on My Mind – June 2020 – Coronavirus Impact on Anime Blogging, Blog Changes, Black Lives Matter and Summer 2020 Preview

June 7, 2020 by Chikorita157 4 Comments
Artist: ヒロき

Now that it’s finally June, the rather desolate spring season thanks to Covid19 is coming to an end.

After the breakdown I had on Twitter, I want to change things up to perhaps improve the content of this blog. Since I usually do some kind of life updates on season previews, I want to do some kind of monthly summary type of posts.

Back in 2013-2015, I shared some kind of updates in a weekly summary of titles I chose not to cover individually. What I tend to do with these monthly posts is to share not only what I am up to and have planned, but also mini editorials on anime-related topics I find interesting during the month but couldn’t write a whole post for. Also, I will also share my picks for this summer, providing that it doesn’t get delayed.

…

Read moreWhat Is on My Mind – June 2020 – Coronavirus Impact on Anime Blogging, Blog Changes, Black Lives Matter and Summer 2020 Preview
Category: Editorials, Season PreviewsTag: essay, first impressions, opinion, personal experiences, rambling, summer 2020, Video Games

Impact of Covid-19 on Japanese Animation Studios and the Need to Embrace Digital and Telework

May 16, 2020 by Chikorita157 4 Comments
Artist:stick jitb

Believe it or not, I have covered the impacts of the Anime Industry due to Covid-19. However, we still didn’t know the full impact back then, until now. This just didn’t happen overnight. Animation studios faced problems such as poor working conditions, a packed production schedule and noticeable delays in 2019.

As expected, the coronavirus situation made the whole thing worse. Sure, a handful of titles suffered minor delays. Eventually, the coronavirus situation worsened with more than forty titles facing delays.  As a result, studios had no choice but to delay productions. Eventually Japan declared a state of emergency on April 16, weeks after delaying the Olympics. This does not come at a surprise since the workplace at these studios clamped. As a result, this makes social distancing efforts nearly impossible. With that, I want to focus on some thoughts on the whole situation.
…

Read moreImpact of Covid-19 on Japanese Animation Studios and the Need to Embrace Digital and Telework
Category: About the Japanese Animation Industry, EditorialsTag: analysis, anime industry, essay, opinion, topical issues

The Reasons Why You Should (Probably) Not Pirate Anime

February 13, 2020 by Chikorita157 1 Comment
Artist: キュードリ

Since 2017, I started the shift towards streaming mostly because it’s convenient and it’s probably the cheapest way to support the industry. From the monthly subscription fees, royalties are paid from the shows you watch, which eventually goes back to the studios and the industry.

Given the problem that studios are facing with low pay and poor working conditions, if more switched to legal alternatives, it would help the industry. After all, revenue generated overseas will become more important given the change in demographics in Japan.

While streaming is not the ideal solution mostly because of region restrictions, it’s not a problem if you live in North America. Of course, exclusivity of titles and fragmentation is another issue. Certain titles will only be available on Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Amazon, Netflix or Funimation. In other words, this will require subscribing to multiple services.

If you take these drawbacks from the picture, it’s a better way to watch anime as it’s convenient. One doesn’t have to mess around with Bittorrent, worry about what video players to use, and having enough disk space. You just watch whatever you want.

However, people who live in regions where legal options are readily available and can afford it still choose to pirate. People have to realize that not only this is selfish and immoral given the poor state of the animation industry, you are also putting your information security at risk. Not to mention, piracy or rather the correct term, copyright infringement is illegal. I will explain why you should probably stop pirating anime and consider legal options if available.

(Note: Pardon the lack of images, they are coming in a few days)
…

Read moreThe Reasons Why You Should (Probably) Not Pirate Anime
Category: EditorialsTag: anime industry, controversy, essay, opinion

Tribute to Kyoto Animation and How Their Works Rekindled My Interest in Anime

July 21, 2019 by Chikorita157 6 Comments
Artist: 紗江

On July 18, 2019, tragedy stroked as an arsonist set on fire the main studio for Kyoto Animation. About 33 people died from the incident along with several injured. In addition, the fire destroyed all their production materials in the first building. However, the second animation studio and headquarters were not affected.

This tragedy is heartbreaking to not only to the family members, but also the anime industry and fans of anime. It’s not too surprising since Kyoto Animation’s production values are regarded highly by most people. It’s mostly thanks to the talented people who worked on the productions. Not only that, they are treated well compared to other studios.

In the past, I shared my thoughts about the studio. In this post, I want to share how the productions from this studio influenced me to start blogging about anime.
…

Read moreTribute to Kyoto Animation and How Their Works Rekindled My Interest in Anime
Category: AIR, Clannad, Editorials, K-ON!, Kanon, Suzumiya HaruhiTag: essay, kyoani, personal thoughts

More Thoughts on Manga: Physical vs Digital and the Problem of Manga Piracy

April 4, 2019 by Chikorita157 4 Comments
Artist: 千歳坂すず

It has been a year since I started reading manga of series I enjoyed. This mostly consists of Manga Time Kirara series in Japanese. To me, it’s a good way to practice my Japanese language skills without the time commitment compared to other mediums such as video games.

Of course, there is more I want to touch upon the manga reading experience besides what I covered already. It includes the debate over buying physical or digital formats and of course the whole piracy debate with manga.
…

Read moreMore Thoughts on Manga: Physical vs Digital and the Problem of Manga Piracy
Category: EditorialsTag: essay, manga, opinion, personal experiences

The Many Reasons You Should Start Reading Manga

March 15, 2019 by Chikorita157 7 Comments
Artist: ちょいん

For most people, watching anime is the most convenient form of entertainment for most people. It’s not too surprising since the voice acting, music and visuals make it a lot easier to experience the story opposed to reading it.

The reality is, anime productions are very expensive. In other words, some of the story will be left out so it can fit it in twelve or twenty-four episodes. When the show ends, you might want to experience more of the story since in most cases, most shows won’t receive another season. With that, there are some reasons why you want to read a manga or light novel.
…

Read moreThe Many Reasons You Should Start Reading Manga
Category: EditorialsTag: essay, manga, opinion

Bang Dream’s Popularity Two Years Later, Girl-Band Boom or The Raise of Mobage?

January 21, 2019 by Chikorita157 1 Comment
Artist: exitb

Nearly two years ago, I wrote an editorial sharing my reasons why the Girl-Band Boom will never happen. Since then, Bang Dream has grown in popularity, especially with their overseas mobile game release. From this, I thought I was going to eat crow over this. With some thought, I wonder if the statement Kidani Takaaki made was correct. Or maybe, does it represent another trend for gaming in Japan? Here are my thoughts.
…

Read moreBang Dream’s Popularity Two Years Later, Girl-Band Boom or The Raise of Mobage?
Category: BanG Dream!, EditorialsTag: essay, fandom, girl bands, idols, mobile gaming, music, Nintendo Switch, opinion, Playstation 4

When A Fairy Tale Becomes a Nightmare – Analyzing the Production Failures of Märchen Mädchen

March 29, 2018 by Chikorita157 5 Comments

Back in 2015, I analyzed production issues in regards to Anime. It seems that every year, production issue are becoming more apparent. It’s saddening that a lack of production values can hold a show back regardless of how good or interesting the story and characters are. To me, no adaptation deserves the poor treatment that this show received. This adaptation is Märchen Mädchen.
…

Read moreWhen A Fairy Tale Becomes a Nightmare – Analyzing the Production Failures of Märchen Mädchen
Category: About the Japanese Animation Industry, Editorials, Märchen MädchenTag: analysis, anime industry, essay, Hood's Entertainment, opinion, topical issues

All Work and No Pay – Part II – Animator’s Pay and Working Conditions Keeps Getting Worse

February 21, 2018 by Chikorita157 5 Comments
Artist: ハジメカナメ

Back in 2015, I covered and analyzed the poor wages and working conditions animators face. It’s a known fact that animators are paid very little, they work long hours, and receive little free time. Since then, I wonder how things progressed since then. Have they improved?
…

Read moreAll Work and No Pay – Part II – Animator’s Pay and Working Conditions Keeps Getting Worse
Category: About the Japanese Animation Industry, EditorialsTag: analysis, anime industry, essay, opinion, topical issues

The Lifelong Question: Will Anime Become Mainstream Outside of Japan?

August 6, 2015 by Chikorita157 9 Comments
Artist: zhkahogigzkh
Artist: zhkahogigzkh

Since the late 1990s, Anime has grown tremendously popular mostly due to globalization and the Internet becoming widespread. When I read Moonlitasteria’s take on the topic on whether or not Anime as a whole have become mainstream in the West, I wanted to share my own thoughts on it.
…

Read moreThe Lifelong Question: Will Anime Become Mainstream Outside of Japan?
Category: EditorialsTag: essay, fandom, industry, opinion, rambling

Effect of Source Material on the Anime Viewing Experience

March 17, 2015 by Chikorita157 3 Comments
Artist: yezhi na
Artist: yezhi na

In the past, I have written several opinion pieces on how a person perceives an Anime as a good one and what is considered a good adaptation. However, I feel that expectations on how the viewers perceive an adaptation can vary depending on prior knowledge of the source material and how the show is being made.
…

Read moreEffect of Source Material on the Anime Viewing Experience
Category: Amagi Brilliant Park, Atelier Escha and Logy, Editorials, Kantai CollectionTag: analysis, essay, fandom, opinion, personal experiences

All Work and No Pay – Being a Japanese Animator is Tough

February 3, 2015 by Chikorita157 11 Comments

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Just little over five years ago, I have done some research on how the Anime industry works and of course, I have only covered the surface. Shirobako, which started airing back in October of last year. Not only it reveals how anime is produced, but also blew open some of the internal issues in the industry, especially in regards to the animation studios.

With that, I will be focusing on animator’s wages, working conditions and its implications on the industry as a whole. Also, what steps should the industry take to deal with these issues?
…

Read moreAll Work and No Pay – Being a Japanese Animator is Tough
Category: About the Japanese Animation Industry, Editorials, ShirobakoTag: analysis, anime industry, essay, opinion, topical issues

Production Values and Anime – Is “Let’s Fix it in the Blu-ray Release” a Bad Excuse for Lack of Quality?

January 6, 2015 by Chikorita157 16 Comments
Artist: itou
Artist: itou

Animation quality is one of the aspects of Anime that viewers tend to judge first hand when determining how good the production values are for a show. The sad fact is that animation mistakes regardless of the studio are bound to happen. Animation studios work on a very tight schedule and because of that, they might not have enough time to check every key frame before having to give the finished episode to the station to air. As a result, these errors usually get fixed later on, namely for the Blu-ray/DVD release.

To me, I think it is always in the best interest for the animation studio to make them not too noticeable and then fix it while enhancing some scenes in the final release. However, what implications will arise if studios decide to take advantage of this fact and air a half-finished product to entice people to buy the physical releases? Let’s find out.
…

Read moreProduction Values and Anime – Is “Let’s Fix it in the Blu-ray Release” a Bad Excuse for Lack of Quality?
Category: About the Japanese Animation Industry, Editorials, Ore Twintail, ShirobakoTag: analysis, anime industry, essay, opinion, topical issues

Thoughts about the 2D Animation vs. 3D/CGI debate with Anime

November 12, 2014 by Chikorita157 13 Comments
Artist: dry-man
Artist: dry-man

A recent episode of Shirobako has brought up an interesting topic regarding the whole 2D Animation vs 3D Animation/Computer Generated Images debate and how should Anime be made. This issue was so controversial that it almost pushed Endou to quit (besides Tarou’s incompetence).

The 2D vs 3D/CGI debate has been a passionate one for the fact that most Anime have 2D animation. As technology improves, animation studios might be eager to adopt 3D/CGI as a way to make it flashier while cut production costs. By doing so, something gets lost in the process, which is why this debate is so passionate not only to fans, but people who work in the industry.
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Read moreThoughts about the 2D Animation vs. 3D/CGI debate with Anime
Category: About the Japanese Animation Industry, Editorials, Love Live, Shirobako, The iDOLM@STERTag: 2d vs 3d, animation, anime industry, essay, opinion

Thoughts on Tastes and Why There is No Such Thing as Good/Bad Taste

November 6, 2014 by Chikorita157 2 Comments
Artist: kichi8
Artist: kichi8

For a long time, I avoided sharing my views on how people view tastes in Anime since it is a controversial issue in the fandom. While some anime bloggers shared their thoughts on the issue, there are many reasons why I do not subscribe to the view there is such thing as good/bad tastes.
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Read moreThoughts on Tastes and Why There is No Such Thing as Good/Bad Taste
Category: EditorialsTag: bullying, controversy, essay, fandom, opinion, tastes

Bullying and Generalizing People for Liking Anime and/or Video Games

September 13, 2014 by Chikorita157 11 Comments
Artist: supertie
Artist: supertie

In the past few weeks, I have witnessed a lot of bullying and name-calling shaming people who play or enjoy video games. It’s true that people tend to judge people depending on tastes and their hobbies such as people who like Anime since it’s a niche medium. Because of this, people who are not familiar with it will likely hold an ignorant, distorted or uninformed view on it and generalize them to a certain stereotype or label.
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Read moreBullying and Generalizing People for Liking Anime and/or Video Games
Category: Editorials, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, Ore No ImoutoTag: bullying, essay, fandom, opinion, personal experiences, Video Games

Hanayamata and Portrayal of Foreigners in Anime

August 23, 2014 by Chikorita157 4 Comments
Artist: 54hao
Artist: 54hao

When I watched the first episode of Hanayamata, I wondered how foreigners are portrayed in Anime stereotypically. I think there are several reasons why authors/creators decide to do so in their works.
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Read moreHanayamata and Portrayal of Foreigners in Anime
Category: Editorials, HanayamataTag: analysis, essay, foreigners

Changing Views on Legal Streaming and Decline of Episodic Blogging

August 4, 2014 by Chikorita157 9 Comments
Artist: まさしょう
Artist: まさしょう

For a while now, I have noticed a downward trend in the blogosphere since 2012 as episodic blogging is coming out of favor with bloggers either giving blogging or forego other types of content such as essays, analysis and reviews. With Hanner’s Anime Blog throwing in the towel just a few months ago, I wonder if episodic blogging has outlived its usefulness in an age where legal streaming is widespread. Furthermore, I think there are better ways to present an analysis rather than share than in 12 separate posts.
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Read moreChanging Views on Legal Streaming and Decline of Episodic Blogging
Category: EditorialsTag: crunchyroll, essay, fandom, legal streaming, opinion
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