kate

NOTE: This post is NOT SAFE FOR WORK

Introduction

For as long as there has been fanservice in anime, there has been an emphasis on rear ends. Few things are more associated with anime (for better or worse) than the panty shot, and the form-fitting suits in works such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Ghost in the Shell have helped to bring posteriors to prominence. However, I believe that buttocks have not remained static over the course of anime’s history and that, over the past 10-15 years, we have reached a point where big butts are “in.” The purpose of this post is to show this gradual change in tastes while also positing some possible reasons that this change has taken place.

From the Early Days of Fanservice

In the past, the “ideal butt” was supposed to be petite with subtle curves. The character of Cutie Honey, created by manga legend and super pervert Nagai Go, is one of the classic symbols of hyper-eroticism in anime and manga. In the opening to its first anime from 1973, the lyrics state that “these days, the popular girls are the ones with small butts” (Kono goro hayari no onna no ko, oshiri ga chiisana onna no ko).

Cutie Honey is not alone in portraying this type of figure. When looking at other fanservice from the same time period, the girls there follow similar patterns. For example, Sakurano Mari from Reideen the Brave and Jun the Swan from Gatchaman are famous for their sheer number of panty flashes and are imilarly sized beneath the waist.

This general penchant for small butts extends well into the next few decades. In the manga version of Ghost in the Shell (1989-1996), heroine Kusanagi Motoko is drawn with large breasts but with a small and muscular buttocks, owing to creator Shirow Masamune’s style and preferences. Motoko’s animated counterpart from the Oshii films is larger, but still not that much bigger.

Even into the 2000s, the “Cutie Honey” figure persisted, as shown with anime series such as Ikkitousen (above) and video games such as the Dead or Alive series (below). Both tend towards small butts despite the fact that their characters’ chest sizes can vary tremendously.

That same Cutie Honey opening later mentions that girls with big boobs are popular too. The trend for ideal female body types in anime seem to disagree in terms of chest size (especially if one takes into account the advent of lolicon-style art in the 1980s on), but appear to reach consensus with butt size.

However, I believe that, since the early 2000s, there has been an increasing amount of large butts and fans of large butts among both viewers and creators of anime.

Sizing Up in the 21st Century

There is no clear starting point for when big butts might have started to appear more prominently in anime, but a good place to start is with the 2003 anime TV series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. With this new iteration in the Ghost in the Shell franchise came a new design for Major Kusanagi, and with her both wide hips and a larger rear.

The mecha anime Shinkon Gattai Godannar!! from 2004 featured a blend of intense action and overwhelming fanservice. Not only do the girls in that series tend to have larger buttocks in general, but it even has a character with especially prominent lower curves named Fujimura Shizuru. In one episode, Shizuru gets stuck trying to enter an escape hatch in a giant robot due to the sheer size of her hips and butt.

The 2008 anime Real Drive (based on a manga by Shirow Masamune) went the extra step and featured a core cast of plus-size women of all shapes and sizes.This series arguably does not place a great emphasis on large butts specifically, but it’s worth noting because of how the traditionally popular thin body type is all but absent in Real Drive.

For the sake of brevity, I’m not going into every single anime featuring girls with big butts, but by 2016 we’ve even seen series that all but worship female buttocks. The first is Prison School, which not only features the character of Shiraki Meiko, a powerful dominatrix with a dynamite body (shown below), but also a school chairman who genuinely loves big butts from the bottom of his heart.

The second anime is Keijo!!!!!!!! (shown above). This series particular is noteworthy because it’s literally a series where girls fight with their butts using special techniques straight out of shounen fighting works. Indeed, Keijo!!!!!!!! might be the culmination of this trend, an outright love letter to big butts that transcends the typical confines of fanservice anime.

Generally speaking, small butt fanservice has never disappeared from anime. However, perhaps nothing indicates the fact that large butts have gained ground more than Space Battleship Yamato 2199, the 2012 remake of the 1974 classic Space Battleship Yamato. The primary female character, Mori Yuki went from looking like this:

To looking like this:

Part of this trend appears to come from the individual creators themselves. Real Drive features character designs from an artist known for his love of larger ladies. Both Prison School and Keijo!!!!!!!! were originally manga as well. But I believe there to be other factors, a combination that created an environment where more and more people have come to realize their fondness for big butts in created works.

How Did We Get Here?

The exact delivery of fanservice has changed over the course of decades, and this includes how panty shots have been utilized. Back in the 1970s, as seen with the examples of Mari and Jun earlier, they tended to show up in brief moments while also being drawn very simply; plain white without much detail. In time, these brief glimpses began tending towards more prolonged, lingering shots, and with it came greater attention to the rendering of underwear. Animators drew the curvature of the hips, the lace on the undergarments, anything to heighten the impact of those fanservice shots.

I believe this is also partly the byproduct of the anime OVA industry that began in the 1980. With the combination of a higher budget relative to the amount of effort needed, as well as the assumption of a very hardcore fanbase with disposable income (VCRs were expensive back then!), it meant that they could take push the envelope when it came to fanservice. For example, while not rendering every possible crevice (that would come later with series like Godannar!!), the images below, from Project A-Ko (1986) and Devil Hunter Yohko (1990), are both drawn with great attention to detail:

This mindset then fed into the advent of late-night anime airing at around 1:00-3:00am in the morning. Beginning in 1996 with Those Who Hunt Elves, these series catered to hardcore otaku who, similar to the VHS owners of the 1980s, were willing to spend extra cash to see their favorite ladies in compromising positions. Combined with the general tendency towards extended fanservice stills, this meant that shows such as Mahoromatic and Najica Blitz Tactics (both shown below) allowed viewers to spend more time looking at rear ends.

The switch from cel to digital animation also brought a significant change. With digital animation came an easier time correcting mistakes. This was in addition to the fact that still shots drawn in great detail could be used to cover up shoddy or extremely limited animation or compensate for low budgets. Moroever, anime could not only render those still images of girls’ rears to the utmost degree of quality, but they could up the ante for home video release.

Prior to this, correcting animation for home video release only happened in truly dire situations, such as the infamous Yashigani crab episode of the TV anime Lost Universe. Now, they could not only draw the spicy stills, they could revise and refine them for the DVDs while also teasing the prospect of less censorship. Monogatari DVDs and Blu-rays tend to sell very well, partly out of powerful devotion to the individual girls of that series, and partly because of scenes such as the following:

If that wasn’t enough, magazines like Megami and Nyantype have devoted hundreds of pages to cheesecake drawings (or more), giving even more time for fans to look at and ogle female characters and their rears. For example, here is an image for the series Tona-gura!:

However, to limit these changes to anime (and accompanying media forms) would not make sense. After all, anime does not exist apart from the real world. Although the otaku stereotype is to prefer “2D women” over “3D,” I have no doubt that many people who would have been watching (and working on) these series were also watching live-action pornography. With the proliferation of high-speed internet starting at the turn of the 21st century, this also meant greater exposure to porn from outside of Japan, where big butt fetishes were more prominent. Thus, while I’m certain that men fond of large butts were present in Japan in no small number, this allowed big butts to reach people who might not have otherwise realized they shared this interest as well.

Eventually, big butts became a more common category for viewers of adult videos and increasingly sought after. By searching for デカ尻 (deka shiri, “huge asses”) on Amazon Japan, the vast majority of the results come from 2012 and later. They’re clearly a hot property now.

Conclusion

Due to multiple factors, including changes in technology, production, and animation, viewers and creators of anime were potentially given more chances to see big butts and butts in general. As a result, it increased the chances that people would themselves discover a penchant for large rears. As more and more individuals realized their interest in this fetish, it became a trend that could be catered to and marketed towards both inside and outside of anime.

Big butts have not overtaken small butts. Even the definition of what a “big butt” is differs from one person to the next. However, as a symbol of eroticism and sexuality, the buttocks has increasingly trended towards larger sizes in the world of Japanese animation. Where once finding a female character with a large posterior was about discovering the one character who could fit that bill (usually a more voluptuous type), it’s now become a recurring trait among multiple characters.

Titles Shown/Mentioned:

Cutie Honey

Dead or Alive Xtreme 2

Devil Hunter Yohko

Ghost in the Shell (anime film)

Ghost in the Shell (manga)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Ikkitousen: Great Guardians

Keijo!!!!!!!!

Mahoromatic

Monogatari Series: Second Season

Najica Blitz Tactics

Prison School

Project A-Ko

Real Drive

Reideen the Brave

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman

Shinkon Gattai Godannar!!

Space Battleship Yamato

Space Battleship Yamato 2199

Tonagura!

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Japanese animation auteur directed not one, but two animated that will release this spring.

The post Masaaki Yuasa Directed Yet Another Animated Feature, ‘Lu Over The Wall’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

While gender equality is often associated with women fighting for equal rights as men, people often forget that the opposite can be true as well. Just as women want to be able to do what men do, men frequently (and often secretly) would love to be able to do what women do.

With incredible organizations like "He for She," we are reminded that true gender equality would eliminate the stereotypes often associated with our ideas of "femininity" and "masculinity."

 

#BeingHuman #HeForShe @edgarramirez25

A photo posted by #HeForShe (@heforshe) on

Oct 18, 2016 at 3:43am PDT

In fact, it's far from just a women's movement. Not long ago a Redditor asked the men of Reddit: "What thing would you do if it wasn't so 'feminine' or socially 'unacceptable'?"

The responses? Some heartwarming, others hilarious, all were honest, and mostly somewhat surprising. Here are just a few of them:

• "I'd knit so hard, bro."
• "It's a really simple thing, but girls just fucking smell good. When they come out of the bathroom after showering and freshening up, it smells like someone knocked over a jar full of polka dots or something. They're all flowery and fruity and sweet. I wish I could smell like a flowerbed all the time without getting judged."
• "Say that cute things are cute"
• "Openly say aww to a baby or little animals..."
• "Be the little spoon — sometimes I want to be the cuddlee instead of the cuddler"
• "I love gems and jewelry. I'd wear more jewelry if it was socially acceptable. I mean a ruby studded gold bracelet or some shit. Hell, it would be neat to get a piercing and put a gemstone in it."

Read more responses here.

NEXT: #MenInHijab: An Act of Solidarity for Gender Equality »

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We’re highlighting each anime season with a mini-version of our end of the year awards. We hope this helps cap-off the season with a splash (and helps us remember all of great things by the time the end of the year rolls around). So without further ado, our picks for the best of fall 2016 . . .

Best of the Best

Yuri!!! On Ice by MAPPA Life and love. And competitive figure skating. Understanding, discovery, and embracing of the competitive spirit is a big part of this series. As is the incredible mental game that solo sports require. What makes this incredible to watch is that every character is at the same event, seeing the same things, and yet each and every one great and small reacts different to the circumstances before them. No two characters go through the strains and hardships, or the victories, in the same way.

And then there is the romance between Yuri and Victor which is not subtext, or a nice tease of fan-service, but a pursued relationship. It is romantic and awkward and unexpected and lovely.

March Comes in like a Lion by Shaft March Comes in like a Lion is a very good show. I think most critics would agree with that statement. How much you love it or respect it might vary wildly but it is fairly easy to argue it is a solid show. But it is a show that directly speaks to me which is why it won this award. While the show is ostensibly about shogi it is really a series about depression. Rei is very clearly a troubled young man. Not in an exaggerated dramatic way. He is not Osamu Dazai from Bungo Stray Dogs. He has a far more realistic gloom that taints his life in 1,000 different ways. It is a story that resonates with me on a fundamental level.

I think the reason March Comes in like a Lion stands out is because it has empathy for Rei’s depression and not sympathy. It always feels like the show wants to understand Rei more than feel bad for him. You are asked to examine why he is the way he is as opposed to just pity him for his sad life. When you walk in his shoes for a while you understand the power of his small triumphs, the sadness of when he continues in his normal habits of behavior, and dread when Kyoko goes out of her way to drag him back down.

If you have ever dealt with a deep depression Rei’s journey will speak to you in way that I think other anime might not. It always feels like a storyteller that wordlessly says, “I understand you” while they tell an unrelated story to your personal troubles but is helpful none the less.

It is more than that. There are the shogi matchs, the makeshift family with the Kawamotos, Rei poisonous family relationships with the Koudas, Rei’s frenemy rivalry with Nikaidou, and Rei’s struggle with loss in general. There is the comedy, soft heartwarming moments, and triumph and inspiration. It is a multifaceted show that does many things very well but it’s one exceptional aspect catapulted it to the top.

Best Character

  Chidori from Ninja Girl & Samurai Master It would be very easy to either make Chidori the female reincarnation of Otomono Hosohito or the Beverly Hills Ninja. She could either be a hyper-competent shinobi god or an utterly useless nincompoop. As Ninja Girl & Samurai Master is a comedy you might expect her to tend towards the latter. But the series makes Chidori something different.

She is an amazing ninja. Her skills with infiltration, assassination, reconnaissance, and swordsmanship are all top-notch. At the same time, she definitely has a goofadoof personality which can make her job harder (and more comedic) than it normally would be. It makes her highly skilled but still a very comedic character. You never question why the ruthless Nobunaga would continue to have her in his service.

While Ninja Girl & Samurai Master is a delightful comedic show Chidori gives it an extra level of heart which makes it special.

Yuri Pilsetsky from Yuri!!! On Ice The other Yuri. Sometimes ya just gotta be angry! Yuri is really good at being angry. He also has a magnificent character arc, maybe the biggest one in the series, which doesn’t result in an evaporation of his anger. We see as him transform his energy, make leaps, and still have a road stretched out before him.

Best Finale

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable by David Productions I was enjoying JoJo’s all the way through, but I wasn’t expecting the ending to satisfy me as much as it did. I should have because at this point we know that creator Araki can really nail an ending. Part 4 wraps up things in ways I was not expecting and even brings a conclusion for characters I didn’t think would have their moments. Of course, it had some of that signature “this is not how you thought it would go”-style, too. And the absolute final moment of the series? It’s a laugh and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Girlish Number by Diomedea Chitose Karasuma is a miserable person, a mediocre actress, and fair-weather friend. Despite that, you find yourself rooting for her. So when she hits a major crisis of confidence you are actually invested in how she deals with it. The parallels between Gojou’s burn out and her own are very clear. They question is how does the girl with far less work ethic overcome the same slump that her more talented brother never recovered from.

In many ways, it would be very easy for Chitose to just buckle down or learn a very special lesson in a very special episode of Blossom. But that sort of growth would feel insanely out of character. Instead, they have Chitose grow in a way that is true to her twisted nature while still having her grow positively as a human being. It is just the right sort of change for her.

At the same time, Kazuha and Momoka’s growing friendship was one of my favorite parts of the show. They go from two people who have a cold but comfortable working relationship to actual friends who support each other and enjoy each other’s company. I actually did not make them my couple of the year mostly because they are not romantically compatible but work perfectly as allies and confidants.

I said on the podcast this is a show that all comes down to its ending. It can be mean-spirited and dark as well as insightful and charming but the conclusion needs to keep both sides in balance or it ruins the whole balancing act. I think it kept all its plates spinning quite admirably despite looking like everything might come crashing down at points and was able to end the performance with the audience giving it honest applause.

Best Show I Wanted to Watch this Season But Couldn’t
Because There Was So Much Stuff On

Keijo!!!!!!!! by Xebec At this point I just might have to watch this show to see if this is just an extremely elaborate No soap radio gag perpetrated by anitwitter or the ultimate case of “don’t judge a book by its cover.”

When this series first was announced Keijo immediately garnered attention with its premise of girls fighting basically using the Butt Battle system from Dead or Alive Xtreme 2. It seemed like the ultimate mega dumb fanservice show that would make The Qwaser of Stigmata and Manyuu Hikenchou blush. In fact, there was a rush of people who rushed to watch the show just to see HOW terrible it was. Then the reports started coming back. People actually liked it.

Make no mistake. It is a fan service show where girls battle with their boobs and butts. But the odd thing is they take the premise and treats it like it was a traditional sports show. It has the legitimate structure that a good sports show would take. They use T&A as a weapon in this strangely way that is simultaneously serious like Ring Ni Kakero while also being just as ridiculous.

It is not a smart show or a classy show. But it takes what should have been an utterly deplorable premise and actually makes something worth watching. Or so I have been told. I’m still a bit wary. I guess the only way to know the true is to dive in and hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Poco’s Udon World by LIDENFILMS Food and wackiness? Seemed like a great combination from the first episode! 

Best Couple (Real or Imagined)

Reina Kousaka and Kumiko Oumae from Sound! Euphonium HA! You thought I was going to pick Yuri!!! On Ice for this, didn’t you? I’ve had an up and down relationship with this series, but these two together have been a consistent high point.

 Rei Kiriyama and Akari Kawamoto from March Comes in like a Lion I would call this couple imagined mostly because at this point in the series Rei Kiriyama is not really in the position to be in a healthy relationship with anyone. He needs to work on himself before he can really connect to another person. Plus his toxic relationship with Kyouko Kouda is currently blocking him from being with anyone else even if that were not the case.

Overall Rei is distinctly a broken bird and Akari is someone who loves to takes in strays. If Rei had a greater commitment to starting to heal his emotional wounds instead of fostering them he would really benefit from a relationship with someone like Akari. They definitely get along well and Rei has shown that he can let his guard down around her. Akari lives in a world of fake love and artifice as a hostess so someone as genuine as Rei would clearly be refreshing.

I have a feeling that the series is pushing a Rei and Hinata relationship. I don’t have a major problem with that. They also make a cute couple. The core problems are still there but I wonder if Hinata’s youth and inexperience make her a little incabale deal with someone like Rei but that is neither here nor there. I prefer Akari and Rei but I would be happy with Rei and Hinata.

Best Continuing Series

 March Comes in like a Lion by Shaft I think I have praised this show quite a bit already in these awards. I was tempted to give it an award for its opening or ending but that just seemed excessive. Plus there were some stellar shows that deserved some more love from me.

I am fascinated by Rei’s growth as a shogi professional as well as a human being. I also want to see more of the amazing Kawamotos, the broken Koudas, and the various people in the world of shogi. There is more story to tell in Rei’s journey out of his personal darkness and I am curious to see where that leads.

Tiger Mask W by Toei Animation The show is fake fake wrestling made real. Tiger Mask and Tiger the Dark are both looking to avenge their former mentor who was mercilessly injured by Yellow Devil. It pokes fun at the WWE with its Global Wrestling Monopoly villains. There are still mysteries to be revealed about Tiger’s Den. What’s not to love?

Best Opening

Yuri!!! On Ice “History Maker” by Dean Fujioka Demonstrating the beautiful movement and fluidity of figure skating this opening is impressive to see. The song that goes along with it feels different for an anime opening, it has almost a musical theater feeling to it and captures the emotions of the series.

 Drifters “Gospel of the Throttle (Kyouhon REMIX ver.)” by Minutes Til Midnight Drifters is hardly a perfect show. The humor and action clashes as often as it blends. The characters can be just as stereotypical as they are fun. It plays very fast and loose with its historical figures. But in the end, it makes up for so much of its faults with Style™.

The opening really tells you what you’re in for with the rest of the show. They have samples of both the normal animation and the silly loose sketches used for the comedy scenes. Also whenever any of the Drifters are introduced for the first time they get these fancy manga cover styled splashes that herald their arrival nicely.

I think my favorite part of the opening is when the various soldiers will stop fighting, turn to the camera, and the start singing with the song’s chorus. It is a remarkably good moment that sells both the violence and irreverence that are the show’s hallmarks.

Best Ending

Tiger Mask W “KING OF THE WILD” by Shonan no Kaze Tiger  Mask W is a show so overflowing with testosterone and energy that its ending song is as powerful as most shows openings. It perfectly captures the spirit of a world where kayfabe is real while also invoking that persona of a timeless character like Tiger Mask. It fits in with the delightfully over the top world that the anime creates. In a universe where wrestlers regularly try to mutilate each other in the ring with no consequences, where there are legitimate assassination organizations behind bad guy groups, and where justice can only be delivered by a man in a mask in a wrestling ring. In this world, King of the Wild would be someone’s entrance theme.

King of the Wild is also is just a powerful earworm. I always find myself humming “King of the wild wild wild” thought the day whenever I finish an episode. The song works in an almost insidious Do Not Forsake Me, O’ My Postman manner.

Haikyu!! S3 “Mashi Mashi” by NICO Touches the Walls Attempt to watch this opening without bobbing your head or getting the song stuck on loop in your brain. The style of the character drawings has a nice bite to go along with it.

Filed under: 2016, Anime, Anime Seasons, Editorials, Guides

A new exhibition pays homage to the placid beasts of Tove Jansson’s imagination

This week, the first major UK exhibition devoted to the Moomins opened. As well as featuring original artwork and archive material, the exhibition at London’s Southbank Centre captures the true spirit of the artist and writer behind some of children’s literature’s most enduring creations.

Tove Jansson was born in 1914 in Helsinki, and often said that her leading character, Moomintroll, was her alter ego; an imaginary friend who loyally followed her everywhere. Initially, the “Moomintroll” was imagined as a terrifying, threatening beast; conjured up by Jansson’s uncle when she was young to prevent her from sneaking down to the pantry in the dead of night to steal jam and liver paté. The first time Jansson rendered Moomintroll visually was as a scrawl on the family outhouse wall, with a longer snout and an awful glare. But over the years the troll evolved and softened in shape, and developed friends who lived together in a magical setting: Moominvalley.

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From Margaret Atwood to Stephen King, a host of great authors will see work adapted for film and TV this year. Here’s our guide to which to read before you watch

Thanks to Hollywood’s baffling inability to produce anything that wasn’t first a book, a question that gets asked more and more these days is: “Should I read the original?” There is no default answer. Sometimes, the book is so far removed that reading it lends nothing new to the cinematic experience; sometimes “the book” is actually eight chunky volumes in an epic fantasy series, and an intimidating experience for the casual reader. Sometimes – unthinkably – the adaptation is better than the book.

There is a rich list of fiction being adapted this year, so here is a guide to which books are worth experiencing on their own, before seeing the version overseen by producers panicking because there is not enough stabbing and too much bonking. And indeed, on that note …

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Winning images from national and international wildlife photography competitions of the year

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A swimming baby elephant, diving penguins and jumping impalas are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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Not all spuds are created equal — here are the ones worth seeking out.

French fries aren't just a side dish. If they're crispy and salty enough, fries are delightful in their own right (or maybe next to a drink). Here's a map of 13 great fry options in NYC — including curly, shoestring, and waffle-shaped varieties.

Restaurants are listed geographically — south through north in Manhattan, and north to south in Brooklyn.

On the horizon is a day of either great joy or deep reckoning, depending how radical you are regarding chicken’s place in taco taxonomy. If you’re among those who refuse to confine its role to just a filling, then Taco Bell has an exciting announcement. Later this month — January...More »

The holidays can be a stressful time. Let’s face it, Christmas shopping for friends and family can be a hassle: long lines, many shops, crowds, traffic, online delivery waiting. Well, Ho! Ho! Ho! In the most crowded city in the world, there’s a cheapo solution to bring cheer to all—and have a lot of extra time to watch more streaming video on the internet. Surprise! It’s a vending machine — a Christmas present vending machine! Watch the video here for all the details in glorious HiDef: Take a inside look at these spectacular machines and watch me give these vending machine presents to my friends. Their reactions are priceless. So, what about these vending machines? They’re not actually Christmas present vendin

The post Lazy Santa and His Christmas Present Vending Machines Around Tokyo appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.

A 'hacked' bowling ball helped Laika's animators create a crucial underwater scene for the film.

The post How Laika Used a Bowling Ball to Animate the Giant Eyes in ‘Kubo and The Two Strings’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Online anime database and community platform Kitsu announced on Wednesday that it has raised US$600,000 in seed funding from North American anime and manga...

Story of boy who meets girl in desert world inspired stage play in 2016

Is America ready for a pizza-vending-machine revolution? It better be. French company Paline debuted its self-serve Pizza ATM at Xavier University back in August, and since then the company says that businesses and colleges located in 20 states and Canada have inquired about getting their own....More »

If you could look into the minds of the grieving, what would you see? Happy memories of the deceased? Bewilderment and grief? A desire to see, feel, or touch a loved one for the last time?

Like paying respects to the recent deceased, the surviving friends and family of Carnegie Deli stood waiting for seats or takeout in lines that snaked down 7th Avenue on Friday afternoon. Despite the crowd and freezing temperatures, people shared stories and memories of the restaurant as they waited to experience the place before it closed at the end of service.

Dressed in a tan coat and clutching a Macy’s bag, Charlene Murray looked around at the other faces. "My dad worked at NBC across the street in the 80s and when he would come to work on Saturdays he’d bring me here for a sandwich," she says. The New York native was prepared to wait the full four hours she was quoted for a table. "I had to come by."

The story of Carnegie Deli starts in 1937, a restaurant across from Carnegie Hall selling sandwiches stacked five-inches tall, bursting with pastrami, corned beef, and other delicatessen staples. In serving the neighborhood for nearly 80 years, it would seem that nearly every celebrity stopped in for a sandwich — on the way out signing a photo that would claim a permanent spot on the wall. 

Sole owner of Carnegie Deli, Marian Harper Levine announced she would close the restaurant earlier this year. A staff wage lawsuit and a difficult divorce pushed her to the decision. Her father, Milton Parker, bought the deli in 1976 from the original owners and helped turned it into a landmark. Parker’s business partner, Leo Steiner, who died in 1987, was the face of the restaurant and the one who made it a celebrity haven.

As the years progressed and the walls filled corner to corner with those yellowing photos, the crowds have honored the ritual of waiting for seats in this tiny dining room, its proximity to Broadway and Times Square making it an essential stop for tourists. Yet Carnegie Deli had become more than just a place for a sandwich and celebrity-spotting, be it photos or in real life. It was a piece of Jewish history in Midtown Manhattan, and like many delicatessens in the city, a testament to the tenacity of Jewish people and their food.

News of the closing felt like a shift in the very fabric of this part of the city. The final day offered the last opportunity for people to wrap their arms around something they love —or in this case, to eat one last towering sandwich, latke, or knish. "It’s another iconic place in New York that’s closing," Murray says with a grimace. "When I told my dad about it, he was really sad."

When restaurants die they leave a lot behind. Two men in charge of supervising the lines handed out the last of the printed takeout menus and Carnegie Deli mint tins: mementos these diehards will cherish. But tactile items are nothing compared to memories and lore of the glory days.

Gabriel Kronzek, a culinary student from Santa Barbara, Ca. flew into New York City on Friday morning to say goodbye to Carnegie Deli. "I bought my ticket yesterday," he says from the end of the line. "I grew up going to authentic delicatessens with my dad." He wants to own a deli chain someday and made the pilgrimage to try one of the sandwiches he had heard and read so much about. "For me," he says, "it’s cultural heritage." His grandfather owned a deli in Pittsburgh.

Inside, the dining room is a respite from the cold. Tables are packed with guests who have shed layers of coats and scarves and settle in for their meal. Towards the front, a crowd of takeout customers wait for orders. There’s the occasional thwack as the kitchen doors swing and servers hustle from the kitchen into the dining room. Cooks seem to plate a million pastrami sandwich a minute. It’s busy. It’s crowded. But it’s also quiet. What happened to the boisterousness of the same guests who had been standing in line moments ago?

A manager escorted an irate man out of the kitchen and into the dining room. The man, a disgruntled cook, mumbled something about one of the servers being a bitch and is forced to clock out at one of the computer terminals while the manager watches.

"He’s done. I’m getting him out of here," the manager says to a waitress. He placed a hand on the cook’s shoulder and escorted him back to the kitchen and, presumably, out the back door.

As I turned to leave the restaurant, I nearly ran into a server who I saw taking a smoke break outside earlier in the day. I asked the waitress how long she has worked here and she told me 26 years.  "And I’m getting nothing when I leave," she says, her eyes narrowing with anger. "No unemployment. Can you believe it?"

That’s the thing about memories and grieving. It is ultimately about us — about what we remember of the deceased, not about how things actually were. Our rosy-hued recollections don’t include the unsavory moments. We remember the best things about the dead and what they meant to us. And we move on.

In the evening, the lines waned as those who consider paying respects realize they may not get a seat for a final meal. A man and a woman walking by joined the line for a moment then changed their minds. As they turned away, I heard the woman say, "We could just go to Katz’s."

Korsha Wilson is a food writer, culinary school grad, and creator of A Hungry Society. She has worked front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house in restaurants, spent two years working as a cheese maker in New England, and took a month-long road trip eating at different restaurants on the East Coast. If you want to see her geek out, ask her about the role of restaurants in modern society or "real" crab cakes —she grew up in Maryland.

To those who left us in 2016

Welcome to our annual awards post! As always, this posts is mostly to remind us and the readers what was great about this year in anime. 2016 had been . . . well, it has been 2016 . . . but at least it wasn’t a year of bad anime! Consider this a culmination of 2016.

Anime of the Year
(The Shows You Will Actually Remember Award)

 Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju by Studio Deen Rakugo Theater is not the normal subject of anime. Well, there is Anime Rakugo Kan and Rakugo Girls but you get my point. It is hardly a well-worn topic like baseball or the Sengoku period which get at least one anime a year. But just an obscure topic does not an award-winning anime make. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju has a wealth of unique merits that made so many critics take notice of this show.

It is a rich historical character drama that examines the life of two artists during the time of strife that surrounded the Second World War. It shows the growth of Sukeroku and Kikuhiko as performers and people as their relationship changes over the years. It has a wonderful mixture of drama and comedy with a spectrum of intimacy that ranges between friendship, codependency, love, and lust between the main cast. It has a tremendous range that satisfies the hunger for mature storytelling that so many older fans desire.

This is a show that lives and dies on its voice acting. Since Rakugo is an art from that is a one-person show all the voice actors need an impressive amount of range to effectively portray the characters in the show. It is like as if Orphan Black had to cast several characters with the complexity of Tatiana Maslany’s multitude of characters. That makes this a who’s who of seiyu. They take a strong show and turn it into a master class of acting.

The best part is the framing story that surrounds the story of Sukeroku and Kikuhiko will finally get the continuation that was promised in the beginning with the coming of the second season. If you were disappointed that you did not see more of Yotarou and Konatsu in the first season or just want more Rakugo then you have a lot to look forward to in 2017.

Runner-up:  91 Days by Studio Shuka If you still hungry for mature drama then you can dive into 91 Days to scratch your crime drama itch. This dark tale of revenge sits alongside stories like The Godfather and Goodfellas as compelling stories of the mafia and the corrupting influence of organized crime. At the same time, it is also an operatic tale of revenge and betrayal to give it a little extra layer of interest and complexity.

Avilio Bruno’s quest for revenge is a dark tale that he often masterfully acts as the director of a bloody play of demonic retribution. At the same time, there are no M. Night Shyamalan twists. Everyone (other than Avilio) is pretty much who they say they are and their motivations are all too human. The twists and turns come from the plays and counter plays of the cast and not hidden information. It gave the story much more the feel of a mafioso Count of Monte Cristo than Code Geass with gangsters.

At the same time, some of the character studies with Nero and Corteo add an extra amount of gravitas and depth to what could otherwise have been a more straightforward vengeance. Avilio growing friendship with Nero completes his feelings and adds the few points of doubt in the series. Corteo, on the other hand, is a man torn between loyalty and self-preservation while acting as a barometer of Avilio’s waning humanity.

But at its heart it examines two classic quotes “He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster” and “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” In a way you know where an examination of these ideas will lead but the meditation is all about the journey to that conclusion.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable by David Production When I look back on 2016, a year of serious business like no other, I felt lucky to have a new episode of JoJo’s to look forward to for nearly the entire year. Morioh with its eccentric and crazy residents were always a welcome sight.

Josuke is charming from the beginning and ended up my favorite JoJo aside from Joseph so far. He has the right amount of humor, heart, and toughness which carries the story as the secrets of the town are revealed. Once they are revealed and the entire cast has come together, we end up with a strong group who each have their own stories to tell. At times Koichi, Rohan, and others get so much focus as to push Josuke into the background, and he doesn’t constantly show up to save the day or steal their thunder which is a welcome relief. Josuke comes back around to front and center in the end, and does what all JoJo’s must: out think the villain.

Original creator Araki thus far has been very good at endings and Part 4 is no exception. It satisfied me in ways I was not expecting and of course it had some of that signature “this is not how you thought it would go”-style, too. Everything really comes together and sends off the series with heart and a final laugh.

Runner-up: Yuri!!! On Ice by MAPPA A phenomenon far and wide, Yuri!!! On Ice gave us life and love. And competitive figure skating. Talented, but down, Yuri is ready to drop-out of the world of skating until a new coach and a new rival revitalize his spirits.

The competitive spirit and the mental fortitude needed for solo sports was on full display through each of the characters great or small in the series. Because each of the characters is going through similar things it really drives home the ideas and themes of the show. At the same time, none of the characters is going through it in the same way as the series plays with a wide range of personalities.

And then there is the romance between Yuri and Victor which is not subtext, or a nice tease of fan-service, but a pursued relationship. It is romantic and awkward and unexpected and lovely.

BONUS: Thunderbolt Fantasy by Pili International Multimedia It is too unique, too unexpected for me to not put it here. Is it anime? Yes? I think so.

Anime Woman of the Year
(The Leading Ladies of Anime Award)

 Atra Mixta from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans I just wanted to remind every one of Atra as this year comes to a close. Although she has become more of a background character alongside Kudelia in the first half of the second season it should not take away from the fact that Atra proves her worth several times over in the first season of Iron-Blooded Orphans.

It would have been very easy for Atra to fall into the mold of Fraw Bow or Shirley Fenette but she takes from the childhood friend archetype and heads out on her own path making her an interesting character to watch. She avoid either becoming wholly the warrior woman or the domestic goddess but instead finds her own role that takes from both paths but is not really either.

This second season has but a greater emphasis on trails and tribulations of the child soldiers now that they from being complete slaves to pawns with independence. But she is still around and it is clear that she will be instrumental in the end. I look forward to how she factors into the conclusion of the series next year.

Miyano from Tanaka-kun is Always Listless A short, energetic girl who wants to be a good friend and a good apprentice. Half the fun of Miyano is seeing what kinds of faces she’ll make, the other half is her sincere, and a little awkward, attempts at getting closer to understanding those around her.

Anime Man of the Year
(The Manly Passion Award)

 Josuke Higashikata from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Josuke has always been my favorite Jojo. He has the charm and wit of young Joseph Joestar, the honor and dignity of Jonathan Joestar, mixed with the delinquent nature of Jotaro Kujo. He takes the best parts of the last three heroes while combining them in a way that still allows him to be his own character.

It would easy to blend into the background with characters like Jotaro and Rohan eating up the scenery in every scene they are in. You need someone who is just as fierce, inventive, and uniquely charismatic to stand toe to toe with those giants. Josuke is able to hang tough and earn his place as the main character of the Part 4 while still letting the rest of the cast feel important. If he shone to brightly he would easily overshadow Koichi whose character arc was so enjoyable.

He also remains vulnerable. Crazy Diamond is powerful and versatile. The number of ways he uses its ability to repair thing for defense and offense is amazing. But at the same time since it can not heal him he stay out of the Kenshiro/Goku levels of power that plagued Star Platinum.

Plus it is refreshing to have a guy who generally has a heart of gold but is not utterly a good two shoes. Josuke is a hero but he is also willing to do some dubious actions to get what he .considers justice. Old man Joseph knows this all too well.

Hiroto Suwa from Orange BEST BESTIE EVER. It is mildly hard to talk specifically about everything that Suwa does in this show without diving into spoiler waters. However, the important thing is that he is willing to go so far to save his friend who is so closed-off, who has so much pain inside. This isn’t a show about the bravery needed to save the planet, it is about the bravery needed to not give up on your friend.

Best Mascot Character
(The Small Furry Creatures from Alpha Centauri Award)

Gaogao-chan from Poco`s Udon World This powerful invader from space is charmed by the beauty and wonder of earth (and Mimi and Momo) to become its defender. This gives him the power of Master Asia but the kind charm of Totoro. Also the manly voice of Takaya Kuroda gives him a virile and gallant appeal.

Who would not be like Poko and Hiroshi and go out and buy all his merchandise?

Makkachin from Yuri!!! On Ice There was a prominent dog, obviously it was going to win. Victor’s dog that he brings to Japan becomes the unofficial mascot of the series. Their bond is so strong that at one point Victor leaves at a critical time to check on his beloved pup.

Best Ensemble Cast
(This Cast Will Make History Award)

 Flying Witch by J.C.Staff Flying Witch is a show about soaking in a pleasant atmosphere filled with both the gentle magic of the countryside and the mysterious and wonderful magic of the world of the arcane and the spirits. While this sort of healing anime can be very refreshing it can also be deadly boring. Therefore you need a cast of characters with the appropriate amount of energy to counterbalance the idyllic setting or ease you will have the animated equivalent of a glass of warm milk. It will be soothing and fulfilling but also will put you out like a light before you realize it.

Thankfully the Kuramoto household is able to keep you awake by being fairly pleasant so they feel like part of the show but not so nice that they act as Valium. Kei is pleasantly sarcastic but not so much that he becomes caustic. The Kowata sister brings both the magic and the energy to the show. Chinatsu is always delightful even if she might be a dark witch in training. The surrounding members of the magical world add spice without going into The Ancient Magus’ Bride territory.

I think Flying Witch would be a good show with another cast. It becomes an exceptional show with this cast.

 Tanaka-kun is Always Listless by Silver Link I really enjoyed this show and found myself thinking back on it fondly a lot as the end of the year approached. Mild-mannered as it seems, it actually produced some huge laughs. Like any good comedy series, those laughs start with a group of likable idiots just trying to make it through the day. I could really use a second season of these jokers.

Anime I Unexpectedly Liked
(You Can Still Be Surprised By Anime Award)

Girlish Number by Diomedea At first glance Girlish Number seems like a mixture of Shirobako and Seiyu’s Life! with a sad mix of New Game! and Oreimo. So a snow that says it is a satirical look at the voice acting portion of the anime industry but is really just a vehicle for cute girl fluff and incest. If you thought this show was going to be nothing more than bitter disappointment and unfulfilled promise you would normally have been right. But in all actuality, Girlish Number is far better than that.

After the first episode, you realize while this is a show with a cast of five cute girls it is not Ho-kago Tea Time for voice actresses. There is some serious criticisms of light novels, the anime industry, and voice acting with some darker humor than you might expect. At the same time, there is a nice mixture of friendship, humanity, wry humor, and even the rare bit of sweetness to balance it all out.

Think of it as Shirobako mixed with Seiyu’s Life! but containing far more of a sardonic bite. I was very glad I will willing to look beyond my first impression and give it a chance.

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou by Studio Deen This strange little show combining the power of making tonkatsu with rising up to become a popular DJ was obviously bizarre enough that it had to seen, but I didn’t know I was going to like it so much!

Favorite Opening
(The Opening Move Award)

ERASED OP “Re:Re:” by Asian Kung-Fu Generation If you want a shot by shot breakdown of the excellent composition and symbolism in the Erased opening you can just watch the Mother’s Basement analysis of the animation. It is a dense opening that spells out the story of the series without being blatant. It is clearly one of those openings meant to be watched after you have finished the series so you can see what you picked up on and what you missed despite it being right in front of you. 

But it is also worth mentioning the strong beat and presence of the song by Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It ties everything together while also hinting at the fate of Satoru after he discovers the identity of the killer. Despite problems people might have had with the ending of the series the opening is bulletproof.

 Yuri!!! On Ice “History Maker” by Dean Fujioka Apparently animated by a single person, this opening perfectly captures the hopes and dreams of its cast with undeniably beautiful animation. The minimalist nature of its look can be deceiving because all the focus is on movement and fluidity.

Favorite Ending
(The End Game Award)

 Dagashi Kashi ED “Hey! Calorie Queen” by Ayana Taketatsu Despite better ending coming out after the release of Dagashi Kashi I still think this is my favorite. The combination of bizarrely catchy lyrics and amusing visuals really won me over. If anything it is a good summary of the show. It is hardly perfect but it stuck in your head with the way that its various unique elements made it a greater sum that the individual elements.

Plus it was a show all about candy. That automatically makes it 20% cooler. 

  Lupin III Part 4 ED “Chanto Iwanakya Ai Sanai” by Sayuri Ishikawa Many endings are static with a good song. This one really captures the spirit of Fujiko combining her chameleon identity with her traveling nature. And the song is no slouch either.

Favorite Sequel or Ongoing Anime
(The “May You Last As Long as PreCure” Award)

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable by David Production The most interesting part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is how each arc feels so wildly different from the last while still feel like they are all part of Araki’s unique world. While the previous stories were all world spanning adventures to save humanity from the greatest of evils this was a much more intimate tale of a gang of buddies dealing with the darkness that lies within the seemingly idyllic suburb of Morioh.

But different does not necessarily mean better. There are plenty examples of a series trying to shift focus or tone and utterly failing. In fact, the change from Stardust Crusaders to Diamond is Unbreakable used to be fairly controversial. But a variety of factors made the transition from Part Three to Four much smoother today. 

 The smaller stakes made the stories within Diamond is Unbreakable oddly enough feel much more personal. Kira’s much more mundane goals are a good refresher after Dio and the PIllar Men’s apocalyptic ambitions. Koichi transformation from nebbish sidekick narrator character to full-fledged hero made him many an unexpected fan. Also, this arc is the introduction of the infamous and iconic Rohan Kishibe.

While I am very interested to see how fans react the the fujoshi friendly gangster story and the women in prison arcs that are coming up I am no longer worried about the future of the series. The overwhelmingly positive reaction to Diamond is Unbreakable pretty much ensures that everything up to Steel Ball Run is going to get animated.

Haikyu!! S2 by Production I.G We were lucky enough to have two Haikyu!! stories in the same year! While S3 was a dramatic turning point, S2 was a delightful training arc. It was actually really fun to watch despite being such, and we got to know some of the other teams a lot better. Since Nekoma and Furokudani are from the Tokyo area and won’t meet Karasuno in competitive play for a while, it was a smart move to put them together in this way to solidify the relationships.

Favorite Sequel or Ongoing Manga
(The “One Piece” Award)

 Space Brothers by Chuya Koyama When the Space Brother anime finally ended in 2014 it has a commendable 99 episode run. I remember most of my friends saying they would love to go out and read the manga if they were able to do so. The main problem is for most people who meant reading 19 volumes or 187 chapters of the manga to get back to where the anime left off. It was hardly impossible but it proved a bit too much of a wall for most people. I know I put off reading the series because of it. I started at one point but lost steam father quickly. 

Then I got the dual itch to knock out some of my online manga backlogs and read some sci-fi manga. That gave me the momentum to get back into Space Brothers. As I reread the series I remembered how great it was. The highs and lows of Mutta’s journey were still as emotionally impactful as they were the first time. See him going from a listless salaryman to the quick thinking and compassionate astronaut is inspirational and uplifting. Plus it has been enough time between the anime and my big push that a little reminder of what happened in the anime before I got to new material was very welcome.

But getting to the new material was even more rewarding. Learning about Walter Gates was interesting as he was the first real villain in the series as opposed to someone who was just a jerk. But you learn how he went from being an idealistic dream to a petty obstructionist bureaucrat without ever realizing it. Serika’s trials and tribulations on the ISS sends you on a rollercoaster of heartbreak and jubilation several times while taking her from a supporting character to the heroine of her own stories. Hibito’s journey to get back into space is just as difficult and inspirational as his brother’s. Plus you might be a robot if the story with Sharon does not make you tear up. And let’s not forget that more Muta means more laughter and more heartwarming memories.

If you have not caught up with Space Brothers I highly recommend you start climbing your way back to the new material or just hit the ground running with chapter 188. And if you never have experienced any Space Brothers take this as your inspiration to start. Ad Astra Per Aspera!

Barakamon by Satsuki Yoshino I spent a good portion of 2016 catching up with this manga and then realizing how much sadder I am to have to wait months for volumes from now on. Yoshino has great comedic timing and can perfectly play the long game when it comes to a joke. At the same time, the series has heart without becoming saccharine.

By volume 12, Handa has really integrated into the small town having left and returned, hosted many visitors including his parents, and found out (at least a little) about Naru’s family life. We’ve also seen Handa make moves forward in his career which coincides with Hiroshi’s pursuits and failures of deciding on what he wants to do after high school.

This is the closest I’ll ever come to enjoying slice-of-life.

Best U.S. Anime Release
(The Streaming is Not Forever Award)

 When They Cry – Higurashi no Naku Koroni Kai: Complete Collection from Sentai Filmworks I did not pick this title because it has a fancy box or super cool features. I picked it because it finished a mystery.

For the longest time if you wanted to avoid fan-subs and bootleg streams there was no way to watch the ending of Higurashi. It was originally picked up by Geneon just as they were going out of the anime business. This meant that while the first season gains a fan following they went under before they released the second season. When Funimation licensed recused the series they never realized the second season and went as far as to say it would most likely NEVER happen.

If this was some other series it would be sad news but not much more than that. The problem is that Higurashi is a giant mystery series that sets up several interconnected puzzles that are only answers in the second season. So if you want to know what happens you need to see that second season. They are various methods of getting those answers from the anime you either had to raise the Jolly Roger or go without answers.

But finally Sentai Filmworks licensed both seasons of the anime and it is finally out. If you ever needed to know what is happening in the mysterious rural village of Hinamizawa you can finally learn the truth.

Otaku no Video from AnimEigo Consistently great Kickstarter projects aren’t that easy to come by, but AnimEigo keeps pulling them off! The packaging is a really stellar component to these pieces. New art and a special comic was created by Kenichi Sonoda, a book which includes storyboards and color art, the box spine resembles a recorded VHS tape, and more was an incredible way to honor this classic.

Best U.S. Manga Release
(Manga Sales Are Up For A Reason Award)

 Master Keaton from VIZ Master Keaton was never an anime that was going to have a super huge following. It is a dad manga sort of seinen but not in a sexy or action-packed manner. It was a smart and thoughtful series but the type that critics love and the masses overlook. So the fact that the anime ever got licensed was odd but that made the manga even more of a long shot. When the anime bombed it seemingly sealed the fate of the series.

But then Monster and 20th Century Boys were FAR more popular and it sparked and interest in anything else Naoki Urasawa had worked on. They were even able to save Master Keaton out of the DO NOT LICENSE pile it had been thrown on.

This is wonderful because Master Keaton was a very episodic manga. While there are some storyline threads and character arcs, for the most part, every story is a stand alone tale. The anime was more of a sampling of stories from the longer manga so there were a good deal of adventures of the mild-mannered professor that had yet to be seen in English. As Master Keaton is not the type of series fansubbers go after it seemed like these wonderful stories have been cut off from an English-speaking audience.

But thanks to Viz you can now read these adult stories with an air of sophistication since their release has some gorgeous covers and overall a high level of production values. They distinctly gave this title the release it deserved.

If you looking for a manga that stimulates the mind and the heart then you need to read Master Keaton now that it has finally arrived.

Fruits Basket from Yen Press Previously released by TokyoPop long, long ago as a mega-seller, this series really deserved a new edition. But I wasn’t really expecting one considering it is more than 20 volumes so imagine my surprise when Yen Press announced it! Lovely, oversized omnibuses with color pages and a new translation bring this series to a whole new group of fans and give us a much better way to own it.

Favorite Past Anime I Finally Watched
(The “OK. I Will Watch It. Now Leave Me Alone.” Award)

 Lupin III Part 4 by Telecom Animation Film This might seem like an odd pick. This was a series that only wrapped up in March. But I put it on here for a reason. The way a lot of us watch anime has changed greatly. Now that simulcasts are the rule and not the exception any show that is not streaming has to be twice as good and twice as flashy to get any attention as compared to everything else that is far easier to watch. So when Lupin the Third Part 4 first aired in Italy and then Japan without an English streaming a show that had a huge amount of hype surrounding it quickly lost a lot of eyeballs.

Then it eventually began streaming half way through the Japanese broadcast. Sadly by that time I had filled my plate with a bunch of other series. The fact that Lupin now had half a season of new material made it slightly hard to dive into when I was having a hard enough time watching series that only had one new episode every week.

Turn A Gundam from Sunrise I had it on good authority that Turn A was a high bar in the Gundam franchise. I knew that I was going to like it. What I didn’t expect was to love it as much as I did. I enjoyed Turn A Gundam so much that it now ranks as one of my all-time favorites in the franchise.

Favorite Past Manga I Finally Read
(Why Was I Not Reading This? Award)

 Princess Jellyfish by Akiko Higashimura While I was making my triumphant run through Space Brothers I would sometimes switch to reading some Princess Jellyfish as a refresher for my palate. Princess Jellyfish is another series where many of the people I follow had been watching but were disappointed when the anime ended in the middle of the story. Unlike Space Brothers, since the Princess Jellyfish manga got a physical release when it was licensed I saw more people go out and catch up with the series. 

Much like Space Brothers I had that barrier of what was covered in the anime which kept me away from the series for a while. But once I started reading manga on my tablet with one series it became easier to start another. Soon I was up to date with Princess Jellyfish.

I found that the series goes some interesting places. The examination of Fast Fashion was a little unexpected but it adds layers of depth to a series that was already quite complex. I had recently seen a piece of the topic on Last Week Tonight so I was at least aware of the issues so it resonated even more than usual. It still had all the drama and comedy from the Amars but Tsukimi’s journey into the darker side of fashion is fascinating.

But the best part of reading the manga was the author’s notes at the end of each volume. Herr stories about winding up with visiting high school students as assistants, pretending to be a journalist to interview an athlete as a student, and her husband meeting Takehito Koyasu had nothing to do with the story proper but were infinitely amusing.

So until they make Princess Jellyfish season two you really need to read the manga. It only gets better and smarter than what you have seen so far.

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda It isn’t as if I had avoided One Piece completely before this year, but I made it a point to start reading again from the beginning and continue right up to the present. I’m currently about to start the Water Seven arc.

Hottest Anime Woman
(The Witches and Songstresses Award)

Izetta from Izetta: The Last Witch Right after swords-women my general preference is female magic users. I think this should be another insight into why I love Fate/Stay Night so much.

She is very attractive with her bright red hair and full figure. She has a gentle and innocent charm but does not come off as sheltered. She has clearly expediences some of the best and the worst of life. She young but experienced.

At the same time, she has a strong mixture of gentleness and determination. She can be very nurturing and loyal by default. Her dedication to Ortfiné despite any odds is extremely admirable. At the same time, she can be utterly gun-ho and fearless when the situation calls for it. She neither rushes towards danger and sacrifice nor chases it. Her balanced approach to life might be her most admirable asset.

Flying around on an artillery rifle as a broomstick is a distinct bonus. 

Mikumo from Macross Delta The terrible outfits of this series could not bring down the beauty that was Mikumo.

Hottest Anime Man
(The Manga-Ka and Soccer Stars Award)

 Jin Kazama from DAYS He is a hot athletic with long blonde hair on a nationally ranked soccer star. That pretty much the example in the dictionary for “Hot Guy.” I think it is definition four in the latest version of Merriam-Webster. He also has a fairly easy-going personality that makes it easy to have a good time with him. He is a bit flighty and has a wandering eye but if you know that before hand you can make it work. You just have to realize he is more a fun weekend hookup than a long-term boyfriend. 

I don’t think anyone has tried to throw this Jin Kazama into a volcano but there is still a second season of Days on the way.

 Rohan Kishibe from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable Manga-ka, fashion icon, detective, and loveable jerk. I couldn’t wait to see what outfit he was going to wear each week. And he almost always pulled off the look.

Favorite Canon Couple
(Sadly No Members of the Field Artillery Crew Award)

 Tsukushi Tsukamoto and Chikako Ubukata from DAYS There is a certain complementary nature to their fledgling relationship. They are not exactly opposites as much as matching pieces in many respects. They both get a bit of direction and comfort from the other one’s eccentricities.

Tsukushi is passive to fairly impressive degree but when he is aimed at a target he has unlimited endurance. He just needs a steely taskmaster to point him down a road and he will take it all the way to the end. The problem is left to his own devices Tsukushi is bad at taking that first step. Chikako is ALL too willing to give people a piece of her mind and tell them what she thinks they should do. 

Chikako Ubukata, on the other hand, is someone who can get worn down by failure. She fledgling writing career is a testament to that. She hardly gave up the second she hit any sort of difficulty but she also clearly succumbed to self-doubt far earlier than she should have. She has the drive, skill, passion, and perseverance to be a professional author. She needs a cheerleader to give her energy and her low points. If there is anything Tsukushi excels at it is being a booster.

Plus I just get the feeling they are the types that would not easily attract anyone else. They both have slightly weirdo personalities that make most other people run in terror but are attractive to the other one.

 Kayo Hinazuki and Satoru Fujinuma from ERASED This simple, young love is the hope in an otherwise dark series. Kayo’s life is a tragic one even before she becomes the first victim of a killer. Satoru’s desperate hope to save her is the beating heart of tension in ERASED. Sweet and sad; the story of these two stuck with me.

Favorite Non-Canon Couple
(The Foolish Author Did Not See Their LOVE Award)

 Hotaru Shidare and Saya Endou from Dagashi Kashi When I work on Non-Canon Couple I always try to think about how would actually work together well in a relationship. Much like Kate I don’t have a fascination with pairs that hate each other so I need them to smooch. Therefore the mutual respect Hotaru and Saya develop for each other over the course of the series makes me think they are a better pair than either of them with Kokonotsu. 

Saya can run off with Hotaru and they can become the queens of the candy world as they grow their sugar-fueled empire.

 Tanaka and Ohta from Tanaka-kun is Always Listless Every episode became a highlight reel of why Ohta is the best boyfriend ever to Tanaka.

Favorite Moment That Made 2016 Suck Less
(The Count Your Blessing Award)

The Announcement That Hayate is Ending Soon It would be easy to assume this would be the WORST news I could receive this year but that is not the case. If this was a statement that Hayate was being forced to wrap up in 2 weeks I would be devastated as it would clearly be a sign that the series had tanked and was forced to hit the brakes. Such an ending often feels messy with large plot threads being left hanging and the conclusion often feeling rushed and awkward. Thankfully that is what happened here.

The ending of Hayate, on the other hand, feels like a very controlled exit. All the big secrets are being revealed at a solid pace as everything important is coming together in a way that feels natural and deliberate. I would rather Hata end the series on his own terms and the story to leave the stage well then get an extra year of laughs and then get an ending slapped on at the last-minute.  

I will be a little sad to no longer get a pick me up every week with a new chapter of Hayate but I look forward to seeing what Hata is going to be working on next. I have enjoyed the monthly Ad Astra Per Aspera and I excited to see that comeback. I am very curious to see this new series he has teased.

The hottest scientific journal article of 2016 wasn’t on black holes or asteroid-killing dinosaurs: it was on the Affordable Care Act, and it was penned by sitting President Barack Obama. Imagine that ever happening again.

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Tama Yugyōji draws Fire Emblem if: Nibelung no Hōkan

Manga by Yuusuke Kozaki, Shin Kibayashi was slated to launch last year

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, Dame Helen Mirren read a prepared text regarding the year soon past.

Mirren is an Oscar-winning superstar well-known for playing Queen Elizabeth in several productions.

Actors with the People they Portrayed in the Biopic Film
(Helen Mirren, The Queen) Queen Elizabeth pic.twitter.com/OULGvX4HGP

— La vita è bella (@ritabox68) August 23, 2016

And so she's perfect for giving the "year end address" in royal tones, opening with:

"2016 was a big pile of sh*t."

The thread below is available to share your views of 2016, and especially if something GOOD happened that you'd like to share. We could all use the good news.

Ongoing Investigations: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Warner Bros. Pictures, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne (spoiler YT video review), Princess Jellyfish by Akiko Higashimura, Ole Golazo by Takamasa Moue, Ninja Girl & Samurai Master from TMS Entertainment.

Song: OP1 to Ninja Girl & Samurai Master, “Adazakura” by Renka

Food for Thought: Pick an anime character to give a present to.

Topics: Hayao Miyazuki working on new feature film, former Ghibli staff making Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Kenjiro Hata starting new manga, SEGA’s Altered Beast and Streets of Rage getting American film/TV adaptations, Kuroko’s Basketball cakes.

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Filed under: Anime, Books/Novels/Light Novels, Editorials, Live Action, Manga, Podcasts, The Speakeasy Tagged: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Ninja Girl and Samurai Master, Ole Golazo, Princess Jellyfish

Shake Shack’s mobile-ordering trial run in midtown Manhattan apparently went well, because it’s taking the Shack App nationwide. The burger chain has expanded the service to 50 more locations, including ones in New York City, New Haven, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis....More »

Any burger pursuit worth her weight in griddle grease will tell you that, fancy buns be damned, less is more. This maxim has reached its inevitable conclusion at the Japanese restaurant Shake Tree, which in the great tradition of pseudo-sandwiches like KFC’s Double Down, has eliminated the bun...More »

Shogakukan to republish follow-up to 20th Century Boys next week

Yuki Kaji stars in series about diving club on the verge of dissolution