Hello readers.
As you know, I'm an anime fan. So what I'm about to write has been on my mind since the incident, and as more details are being revealed, it makes the situation even more heartbreaking. Yesterday (July 18), Kyoto Animation, the studio that gave us gems like the Free! series, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Nichijou, and Violet Evergarden was attacked in an act of arson. The arsonist, claiming that the studio plagiarised him, poured gasoline in the front door and on the occupants, setting the building ablaze while yelling for everyone to die. So far, there are 33 confirmed casualties, 35 injured (I refuse to add the arsonist to the count), and everything within the building was destroyed. That includes the computers, artwork, and any possible backup the studio had of their works. This is horrible, to put it mildly. For someone to do this, it's just disturbing and evil. There's absolutely no justification for this act. I really don't care what his reasoning was, to do this was extreme evil. In addition, unlike the United States, you don't hear about incidents like this in Japan everyday. It's considered to be one of the safest counties in the world with a low crime rate, and having been in Japan, I've never would imagine something like this happening there. This act is now the second mass murder in Japanese history since 2001. And now KyoAni was destroyed because of a madman. My hearts breaks for the families of the lost, and for those having to deal with the aftermath. A gofundme page has been set to help KyoAni, which has already surpassed its goal. You can still donate here. You can also keep them in your hearts and minds by watching their amazing works through Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, and other streaming services. Again, my heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy. Just unbelievable. #helpKyoAniheal <3
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Thank you. Thank you so much for Umaru-chan! After reading Yuri is my Job, and dying a little on the inside, I needed a pick me up. When my library acquired the Himouto! Umaru-chan series, I had to give it a shot especially after watchmojo.com listed it as one of their "Top 10 Anime to Watch if You Hate Yourself," which peaked my curiosity. And yes, that was the title of their list. Look it up for yourself. So the premise of Himouto! Umari-Chan is that Umaru is a popular, overachieveing, and likeable girl to her peers and those who come across her. But at home, she transforms (literally) into a lazy, overbearing child (or troll/"himouto") who throws tantrums to get what she wants, especially from her older brother, Taihei, who happens to be her caregiver. Yep, the teen and the munchin she's holding is Umaru-chan. Yes, they are the same person. Here's where the comedy and fun really take hold. Taihei knows how Umaru really is, and comically suffers through his sister's tantrums and laziness. He comes home after working long hours, and Umaru expects him to do everything for her. Ranging from cooking, cleaning, even buying the newest manga or video game, which she will tire of soon after receiving it, which causes Taihei more grief. The artwork in this series is wonderfully done, and the story moves at a good pace. Nothing is missed, and I was able to follow and laugh along as Umaru tortures her poor brother. Now here's where Umaru-chan is more likeable. While she is a lazy, spoiled child in her brother's eyes, Umaru truly cares about the people around her. She makes friends with those who others disregard because they are shy and different, like Kirie Motoba who has a reputation of being frightening towards others because she glares, and Nana Ebina who's lacking in the self confidence department because when she tries to talk to people, they pay more attention to her breasts than to the girl herself. (Seriously, what's with the anime girls with boobs that defy gravity? How do they not have back problems?!) Anyhoo, back to Umaru. She does tend to manipulate her brother through her tantrums (what child hasn't done that?), but when Taihei gets sick, she is genuinely concerned for him and cares for him until he is well enough to care for her. Still spoiled, oh yeah. But Umaru is still his sister, and she does love him and he loves her despite her behavior. It's a perfect, albeit hilariously exaggerated, view of sibling relationships. As for the anime, holy crap I had to put it mute sometimes. The English and Japanese voice actors do a really good job on Umaru's mannerisms and tantrums. Too good of a job if you ask me, but I did find it funny and endearing. Did I hate myself for watching it? Nah, because the story, animation, and the overall series was fun to watch... And the mute button is such a beautiful and wonderful thing to have, especially when you really can't endure Umaru's cries and whining. I work with kids and teens on a daily basis. I hear enough of that as it is. Overall, I give the manga series of Himouto! Umaru-chan a 4/5. It's not perfect, but it's very entertaining and a quick read. The anime I give a 3.5/5 mostly because I was about to wear out my mute button, and that thing is a necessity. |
Who am I?The Library Lady is a Young Adult Librarian and reviewer. She's also a music, anime, and film nerd. Archives
January 2024
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