-By Nick Morrow Welcome to another edition of Tomorrow Reviews where I will look over various movies, shows, games, and anime and break them down Today the topic will be based on the anime Classroom of the Elite *This will be a spoiler review* Sometimes when watching a show within any medium, there comes a moment that encapsulates everything good about the show. Years of hype, intrigue, discussion, and emotions resonate within a single moment. Afterward, the viewer can’t help but just sit back in awe. Season 2 Episode 12 delivered that moment in spades for Classroom of the Elite. Two Seasons of Build up This episode was not just the best of the season but the best of the entire series thus far. Ever since the start of the series where it was revealed that Ayanokoji (Koji for simplicity) was this genius-level intellect, multiple questions and subplots have driven the narrative forward. Yet, one of the most interesting ones was the question of just how far Koji could go before his secret was discovered by his enemies. S2Ep12 delivered those answers with stunning results. Ever since the island test arc when Koji outwitted Ryuen, these two have been on an inevitable collision course with one another. Like night and day and the sun and moon, these polar opposites had no choice but to come into conflict. While both are similar in the sense that they control their respective classes, the styles they employ to do so couldn’t be more different. If Ryuen is the sun, burning and dominating his classmates with his sheer brilliance and power, Koji is the moon, hiding in the darkness only illuminated by the light of others as he masterfully controls the tides of his class. This conflict had been one of the most masterful aspects of the show throughout season 2. While the various tests and Koji’s means to manipulate the situation and people to his advantage have been the focal point, the rivalry between the two classes has slowly simmered along as a subplot coming to full focus with the current arc. Each test, even the island test from season 1, made sure to emphasize the looming threat and presence of Class C, going as far as to make them be shadowy puppeteers in wrecking the sports festival, controlling Kushida, and being the instigators of the cruise ship test. Everywhere you looked, Class C was there, trying to stir up conflict, especially as Ryuen became more and more obsessed with discovering who was the mastermind behind Class D. Ryuen’s Obsession One of the strongest parts of the last few episodes was slowly seeing Ryuen’s measures and tactics to uncover the mastermind become more and more drastic. While his capture and torture of Kei showed just how dark and twisted he was, the more startling revelation was the twisted motivations behind all his cruelty. There were no deep, redefining characterizations behind his motivations. There was no tragic backstory. There was no anti-heroic goal to explain his cruelty. The truth is that Ryuen is just insane. He views life as a game and he wants to win at any cost, no matter how dark or twisted those means become. In a sense, it seems fitting that someone willing to use anyone and do anything to win would be the first major antagonist for Koji to overcome since he acts in the same way. Despite the similar mindset toward using others, the stark contrast between them lies in their differing philosophy on the ultimate power in the world. While Ryuen is one that believes in violence, Koji’s seems to believe that the ultimate power is manipulating desires (which can be seen from all his actions). That is what makes their final conflict so poetic since Koji orchestrates it to solve with violence while Ryuen sought to take advantage of the mastermind’s desire to keep Kei safe. In every sense, Ryuen is portrayed as an irredeemable villain, and it was one of the more brilliant moves of the story since his villainy overshadows Koji’s cold manipulation of his classmates. Between his intimidation, violent persona, and persistent harassment of Class D, he was the one that finally forced Koji to reveal his hand to someone other than a pawn. Koji Unleashed This episode’s shining moment was finally showcasing the insane, disturbing potential behind Koji. Since season 1, there have been a plethora of hints, foreshadowing his potential, but this was the clearest look that had been given of what he’s capable of. While Koji’s effortless defeat of Ryuen’s goons was one of the best-animated sequences of the year, it was his emotionless indifference that stole the show. Never before has there been such an overwhelming, one-sided affair by a character that seemed to show zero interest in his opponents. His stoic, expressionless demeanor has always been a signature of his persona, but when coupled with his brutal beating of Ryuen and his gang, it added another dynamic equal parts exciting and disturbing. The peak highlight of that moment came during Ryuen’s Joker-like moment when he crazily confessed he wanted to just to make Koji feel anything, but in response was pummeled in the face by that same uncaring, emotionless face that saw him as nothing but a bug. For someone as narcissistic as Ryuen, having the object of all his time and effort think so little of him was the final straw that led him to feel fear for the first time as Koji demolished him for hurting Kei. Yet, Koji’s dominance didn’t stop there. Between the reveal that all these events have just been a part of his carefully orchestrated plan and him physically dominating Ryuen, he made it clear that Class C and Ryuen never had a chance of causing him any real problems. Despite subtle parallels between the two characters, the fact that Koji can’t even begin to comprehend what makes Ryuen tick showcases the vast divide between them and how Class C will just be another stepping stone in his goals. Kei is the best part of the show Between season 1 and 2, one change of direction has made all the difference, the incorporation of Kei into the main plot. While her growing attachment to Koji (who only sees her as a tool) is messed up in so many ways, it is that bond that really drives the narrative forward. It should not be missed that Horikita has been in countless bad predicaments, especially ones with Ryuen, yet Koji never once stepped in himself to aid her. For her, he always stayed in the shadows. Through their relationship, we are given more of an insight into Koji’s potential from an intellectual, emotional, and physical view. Intellectually, her role as his pawn lets the audience witness more of his mindset as he explains his plans through her. Physically, her endangerment forces him to stop holding back his combat potential. Emotionally, their promise shows a rare side of him that can be protective even if he hides that protection behind a twisted promise. While he prefers to be a fly on the wall, the show begins to slowly develop him into more of a classic, high school protagonist role due to her influence. That journey reaches its full culmination as he sweeps in to rescue her from harm, keeping his promise and allowing her to be the only person in Class D fully aware of his full potential. Verdict 10/10 Perfect Episode Welcome to another edition of Tomorrow Reviews where I will look over various movies, shows, games, and anime and break them down Today the topic will be based on the anime Summer Time Rendering *This will be a non-spoiler review* Ah, the infamous time loop plotline. For ages, all types of different media from movies, shows, comics, and games have explored this idea.
Typically they all follow the same formula. Character X experiences some tragedy in their life but mysteriously finds themselves caught in a time loop. Now, with this new power guiding them, Character X will go through a cycle of pain, misery, and heartbreak again, again, and again as they attempt to break the cycle and earn their happy ending. Like the classic love triangle, it has become one of the more known plots a story can incorporate to varying degrees of success. Some stories, only use this idea as a small obstacle to be overcome in a single episode or chapter. Other stories double down on the idea and base their entire narrative around it. Either way, time loop plots have to follow the same key principle as all other stories. The gimmick, hook, or idea doesn’t matter. What does matter is the art of execution. Even the silliest, most ludicrous stories can rise to greater heights as long as the author executes the idea well, coating it with a new, fresh perspective. This is why anime like Stein’s Gate and Re:Zero have risen to such great heights. They took the classic idea of the time loop and gave it a fresh (albeit extremely depressing) spin. Fortunately, another anime has been added to the mix of those greats. Even though it is not done with its season yet, its unique take on the time loop formula allows it to stand alongside those other great shows. This anime in question is none other than Summer Time Rendering or STR. Ironically, the only reason this show caught my attention originally was due to the comparison it was getting to Re:Zero. Now, I love Re:Zero, and it is one of my favorite anime of all time. So, I don’t take comparisons to it lightly. At first, I thought STR was just going to be a cheap knockoff since it has some of the same elements:
So, from that perspective, STR does seem eerily similar to Re:Zero, but despite a similar premise, it manages to form its own identity within the time loop genre for largely three reasons. Different Time Loop Twist Like stories themselves, time loops seem to take on a different genre depending on the elements of the plot. Stein’s Gate’s loop was heavily tied to its science fiction roots while Re:Zero leaned more towards the fantasy side. STR on the other hand begins as a murder mystery, and the resulting time loops contribute to and expand on that scenario. For most good mysteries, their appeal and strength of them come from their pacing as the stories slowly add more layers of depth and intrigue to that initial mystery. That is the beauty of the nature of STR’s time loop. The problem from the very start of the show never changes; it only evolves as more layers of the truth come out, and the stakes get higher. Shinpei Ajiro, the protagonist, thrives in that environment. While he is not a main character with a genius-level intellect to rival characters like Light Yagami and Lelouch Vi Britannia, his calculating view of the world allows his persona to flow naturally with the mechanics of his abilities, using it to unlock the hidden layers behind this mystery. That heavy aspect of deduction is one of the strongest aspects of STR. Every moment within every loop is important as it adds more to the overall puzzle. Even the rules and limitations of Shin’s ability to time loop aren’t just treated as a gimmick. They become essential components of the mystery and a driving force for the story and many characters' actions. Without getting too heavily into spoilers, I love the angle taken with his ability as it continues to evolve alongside the complexity of the story itself. As the story moves forward, so do the nature and mysteries surrounding his strange power. Whenever a story has to deal with the fact that others have incorporated similar plots and conflicts, it is forced to do something different and fresh to make it stand out. Thankfully, that obstacle is one of the best aspects of STR. A deadly game of chess mixed with cat and mouse. Hands down, one of the best elements of the story lies in the conflict between the protagonists and antagonists in the series. Within the scope of the show, the back and forth idea of the hunter vs the hunted, truly allows for the story to become something special. At times, Shin and his allies very much feel like insects challenge giants as they work to unravel the mystery, and that’s what makes the conflicts so meaningful. Every win and loss experienced by the characters carries weight in this expansive game of cat and mouse being played along a chess board. As the story progresses, there is a real sense of tension within each moment as it is impossible for our heroes to know exactly who or what is watching them at a given time and place. Lovable Cast Lastly, one of the most endearing aspects of the show comes from the cast of characters. Whether it is the dry, stoic ones acting as mentors or the quirky, energetic ones bringing a combination of humor and heart to scenes, the unique blend of characters flesh the story out even more, never holding it back. Like a grand puzzle, each character’s involvement within the story brings more clarity to the picture, showing the audience how expansive the networks of twists really can be. While Shin gets the billing as the protagonist, it is the other characters getting involved in the great mystery of the island that adds new levels of depth to the show. Welcome to another edition of Writing Insights where I will look over various stories from movies, shows, games, and anime to discuss the ways writers can improve their work. Today the topic will be based on the anime hit Attack on Titan (SPOILER WARNING AHEAD FOR THE ANIME!!!!) Today’s post will be a part of my series: The Art of Character Development. One of my favorite aspects of talking about shows and books comes from the conversational aspect. Sometimes, you just never know where a fun, honest conversation about a show will take you. This analysis on Floch is one I’d never thought I would do since the series has a bevy of other deep, complex characters to look into, but a conversation with one of my favorite people in the world sparked this analysis. So, here we go. My hot take of the week is that Floch is one of the most brilliantly written characters in all of anime. Ok, hopefully, if you’re still here that means you didn’t exit the page because you thought I was insane. So, let’s get into the analysis, shall we? Look I get it. Floch is one of the easiest characters to hate in the whole show. From the introduction, he comes off as weak and annoying. Then he transitions into crazy, violent, and wholly unlikable in many regards. But that’s the point. As the audience, we are supposed to hate Floch. Just like we as the audience are supposed to hate the nation of Marley. Floch’s character is the perfect parallel to the nation of Marley. Based on the history of the anime, the citizens of Marley were an oppressed people due to the fear of the Titans, the stronger force of the world. This fear and oppression for centuries defined them. It ensured that when they were in a position of power, all those years of fear and suffering twisted into cruelty aimed at their oppressors. When Marley was introduced, they were shown as a nation operating off their superiority complex, but that complex was built as a means to weaken their former oppressors and to build up national pride. All their horrendous actions were glossed over as righteous acts since it was directed toward the people that had ruled over them. In essence, Marley acted in the same way Floch has as we see the same characteristics within him. At first, he was a weak person, oppressed by the power of the Titans. But when given the chance at power, his negative experiences with oppression molded him into an oppressive force himself. The survivor’s guilt that haunts Floch makes him latch onto this idea of the Eldia Empire’s restoration. For him, just like Marley, he needs his suffering to mean something. He needs surviving years of fear and oppression to matter. As such, he becomes the very monster that he cowered under before. Floch even goes as far as adapting the armband system that Marley used to classify citizens which only further reinforces the similarities. Yes, that action represents people learning from their oppressors, but it is just one of many subtle instances that indicate that Floch’s entire transformation is based upon this parallel between him and Marley. His transformation acts as an expertly crafted window to show the audience how Marley came to be. Just as Floch rallied the people against the world in the name of freedom from their enemies, Marley did the same against the people of Elida. Brute force and despicable means were employed by both hiding behind those ideals to justify their actions. So yes, Floch does suck, but Marley sucks as well. The two are two sides of the same coin, which goes to show the masterful job of character development. Having a character change to become the mirror of another is always a great tactic to use for character development, and Floch’s example stands out as one of the best. Welcome to another edition of The Anime Deep Dive where I will look over various stories from movies, shows, games, and anime to discuss the ways writers can improve their work. Today’s post will be the first in my character analysis series. In this series, I’ll review anime and take a deeper look at the characters within the show to examine how the writer crafted their complex identities based on the character’s wants, needs, and wounds. The topic will be based on the anime 86 (SPOILER WARNING AHEAD FOR THE ANIME!!!!) From top to bottom, 86 is an exceptional anime in every regard. The animation is stunning and filled with love. Its story is enthralling and captures the audience from beginning to end. The music is phenomenal and one of a kind. The action is fluid and engrossing, and I could continue to go on and on singing its praises. Yet, one of the aspects that made me love the story came from the characters. 86 has a vibrant cast of characters, each with distinct personalities and roles, but it’s the main character, Shin Nouzen that carries the show. The key behind Shin’s captivating nature lies in his internal conflict; the struggles that he deals with due to the war define him. They consume him, almost ripping his humanity away. Like all good characters, Shin experiences some sort of wound, a negative experience that shapes him. In his case, the primary wound he endures is when his brother tries to kill him. This experience has scarred him both emotionally and physically, leaving a mark upon his neck and acting as a parallel between him and the severed heads that now pilot the Legion. That wound only intensified upon his brother’s death. Based on those negative experiences, one feeling resonates deep within Shin, abandonment. Between his brother’s abuse, his subsequent death, and the lack of closure Shin attains from it, he feels abandoned by his brother. It’s such a tragic, yet poetic irony. Shin, a child soldier forced to fight for a country that doesn’t love him, a nation that exiles and forsakes his people, feels a greater sense of loss from his brother’s abandonment. It becomes such a powerful moment in his life that he spends years fighting on the battlefield for a single purpose, killing his brother. But for him, it’s not as simple as revenge. No, his wound leaks into his desire for vengeance and morphs into a contradictory new desire, one that acts as the foundation of his character. He wants to kill his brother and others captured to the Legion, thus saving them from being abandoned by the rest of humanity. It is dark, tragic, twisted, and expertly done. Shin literally can’t let go of people he cares for if he has a choice. That abandonment he experienced haunts him, and he has no desire to allow others to feel that pain. So, he dedicates himself and tosses away his humanity to save those that have been taken by the Legion, forever abandoned, forever suffering, if not for his intervention as the Reaper. Despite coming off as stoic and uncaring, he cares for people far more than he lets on. By taking the decals from the machines of those he kills/saves, he always wants to carry a piece of them. Though he says it’s to carry them with him to the end, it seems, in truth, to more so lessen the pain from that feeling of abandonment once more. But that is the genius of his character. That wound, though disguised by noble and admirable intentions, still festers. Sinking into a pit of depression in the second season, Shin comes to fear abandonment so much that he seeks death on the battlefield to escape it. The wounds suffered by a character are critical to successful character development. It is from the wounds that the wants and needs are presented, allowing for the full arc to occur, leading to a character’s highest and lowest points. From there, we can dive into Shin’s Wants and Needs, the topic for the next segment. |
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September 2022
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