This is not a “review”, because that gives the impression that I know what I'm talking about. Here's my thoughts on this anime instead. I aim to avoid spoilers beyond introductions / first episodes. Let me know what you think if you watch it!
Let's go exploring!
It's easy to ignore when an anime like Ruri Rocks first appears. At first impression, Ruri Rocks seemed like just another entry into the CGDCT pantheon, of which a new show appears every season – an anime that offers comforting vibes, but not much esle.
It does offer that, and whilst you could switch your brain off when you watch and let it wash over you, you can also pay attention and go on a journey with the characters that is fully worth your time.
Manga:Hikaru no GoFirst Released: 1998
Genre: Sports, Shounen, Supernatural(ish)
I'll write “First Impressions” pieces when I haven't finished reading something, but I'm still excited to share it. Let me know what you think if you read it!
I'm always up for being Nerd Sniped into a new hobby. It can be quite dangerous – after I watched the whole of Haikyuu!, I attended a weekly volleyball meetup for 6 months and endured bruises, volleyballs to the face, and the shame from a complete inability to overarm serve. But I learned the basics, met people, and ultimately I had a blast. Unfortunately, the timing of the sessions wasn't ideal, and after a while, the next hobby came along. Due to a simple lack of time in the day, I stopped playing and did something else.
Anime and manga, on top of being mediums for great storytelling, excel at introducing me to new hobbies: sports, games, and skills.
This is not a “review”, because that gives the impression that I know what I'm talking about. Here's my thoughts on this anime instead. I aim to avoid spoilers beyond introductions / first episodes. Let me know what you think if you watch it!
I imagine a Japanese viewer of Tonari no Yokai-San will have a lot more of a confused reaction than I did when I watched it.
The series opens with Buchio, beloved elderly cat of the Ooishi family, waking up one day having become a Nekomata. Nekomata in Japanese folklore are supernatural creatures that manifest as a cat with two tails. Nekomata are known, amongst other things, to kill & eat humans; raise the dead and control them using dances; and disguise themselves as a family's dead relatives to haunt them. One might think, then, that the family will react with horror and fear.
Let's go exploring!