In this week’s edition of Weekly Anime Round-up, the Traditional Catholic Weeb (TCW) reviews the Studio Ghibli film, Laputa – Castle In The Sky. Studio Ghibli is renowned for its high quality and innovative anime film’s. Personally, I’ve never heard of this film. I was released before I was born, so that’s likely the reason. Regardless, was well-received, garnering positive reviews and grossing over $150 million between box office, home video, and soundtrack sales. TCW has a positive view of the film:

the origins of Studio Ghibli‘s filmography can be traced back to one film: Laputa – Castle In The Sky, an action/adventure film which would centralize the ongoing tradition of Miyazaki’s magical tales, featuring gallant visuals, charming characters, majestic worlds and captivating stories that continue to enthrall folks of all ages worldwide.

Tradition Catholic Weeb

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Popularity, Quality, and Anime fandom

This post was posted on May 5th but I think it’s interesting. DAZE3X over at the blog A Certain Dazed Producer, explores the relationship “between how good an anime is and how popular it is.” Anime fans have been fighting over whether particular anime is actually good or is just hype. In the past few years, popular anime like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen has been labeled “overrated.” Anything that is considered popular or mainstream is often going to receive criticism for being undeserving of the attention. Ultimately it doesn’t matter if you think a series has worthy of praise, if people like it, then it’s going to be popular. DAZE3X, who didn’t like Demon Slayer, argues:

If we could remove the concept of popularity away from the discussions over the quality of anime, we could have much more meaningful discussions over quality. Yes, there are bound to be some people who base their impressions of an anime depending on it’s popularity. I’ve seen people use statistics to show that people watch it so it must be good. And lots of people do follow the hype train and watch whatever else people are talking about and pretty much ignore everything else.

DAZE3X

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The Top 5 Anime Kitsune

If you’re an anime fan you have probably noticed that the Kitsune or Nine Tails Fox is a common trope in anime. Irina limits her list to “to characters that are more clearly defined as Kitsune.” So, no Naruto. In Japanese folklore, the Kitsune can shapeshift into humans and often trick others with this ability. Each tail of the Kitsune correlates with how old, wise, and powerful the Yokai is. They are considered magical and are classified into two categories; the zenko and the yako. Irina’s list includes Pyo from The God of Highschool, Mugetsu from XXXHolic, Ginji from Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits, Soushi from Inu X Boku SS, and Kokkuri-san from Gugure! Kokkuri-san. I would have added Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho, but I don’t think he fits the criteria Irina set. Irina fav is Kokkuri-san. She states:

I sure like him a lot and he fits all the traditional requirements. And I say him but Kukuri-san actually changes gender at will. They aren’t all that worried by social impositions, or biological ones either.

Irina