Anime Herald posts
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Animazement 2024: A Spectacle, And A Homecoming
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will go live on the main Anime Herald site on June 1. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Daniel DockeryEditor: Samantha FerreiraWhile sitting with some friends at The Davie, a bar nestled in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, I got an unexpected question from another patron: “Oh, are y’all from the zombie thing?” His group, not bearing any sort of name tag, nor dressed in elaborate cosplay, had likely been wondering about the parade of characters that had inundated Raleig...
The Colorful Music of Ichiko Hashimoto
Author: Adam WescottEditor:Trent CannonMusic is central to the anime series RahXephon. The titular robot seeks the power to “tune the world” while its enemies, the stone Dolem, are named after musical notation and attack by song. The show’s soundtrack lives up to its central motif. Legendary anime composer Yoko Kanno provided the theme song, sung by voice actor Maya Sakamoto. Meanwhile, Ichiko Hashimotoscored the soundtrack and ending theme. Hashimoto’s music spans three hours across three CDs, not including the film Pluritas Concentio....
Hail to the Queen: Queen Bee at Anime Boston
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will go live on the main Anime Herald site on May 27. We apologize for the inconvenience.Interviewer: Seth BurnEditor:Samantha FerreiraAnime Herald: What was your experience like last night performing here at Anime Boston?Avu-chan:(In English)Very very good!We performed in Seattle last year, but the anime fans here in Boston were very different. It was interesting to see that difference.The big difference we felt was that in Seattle, the fans were pretty shy initially, while here at A...
I want you (yes, you!) to become an anime convention reporter!
Author: Lauren OrsiniEditor: Samantha FerreiraAre you an aspiring convention reporter? Are you interested in covering conventions, “but not yet, once I get some more experience”? As fandom event season approaches, I’m urging you (yes, you!) to put those concerns aside and apply for a press pass at an anime convention near you.You might be thinking this is easy for me to say since I’ve attended Anime Boston, Anime USA, Katsucon, and Otakon (for a few examples) as a member of the media. And it’s true that I’m a professional reporter w...
Mass Destruction: Lotus Juice Talks With Anime Herald
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will go live on the main Anime Herald site on May 23, 2024. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Seth BurnEditor: Samantha FerreiraAnime-Zing Radio: What got you into music, specifically rap?Lotus Juice:Growing up, I moved here in 1989, for my dad’s work. I grew up in NJ. Hip-hop and R&B was a growing market in the 90’s. Every one of my generation listened to hip-hop. As an Asian, I know we are a privileged minority, but, I didn’t really speak English fluently back then. I...
Just Communication: Skip and Loafer and When The Day Comes
Author: Adam WescottEditor:Masha ZhdanovaMisaki Takamatsu’s Skip and Loafertells the story of Mitsumi and Sousuke, two high school students from very different backgrounds who nevertheless become friends. As the two of them grow closer, they inspire each other to reach outside of their comfort zones and become better people.Skip and Loaferis nominally a romance comic. A mismatched boy and girl, potential love rivals and dramatic confessions are all there and accounted for. But Takamatsu is less interested in the chemistry between Mitsumi and ...
Panda-monium: World War II, Diplomatic Relations, and Anime
Author:Borealis CappsEditor: Samantha FerreiraIn this day and age, it’s impossible to deny that Japan’s actions during World War II were anything short of horrifying. The Massacre of Nanjing, forced sexual slavery through the practice of keeping comfort women, and human experimentation done by Unit 731, are but a few examples of the atrocities Japan committed against Chinese citizens during the events leading up to and throughout the war, resulting in strained relations between the two nations. Despite this, the Chinese government graciousl...
Anime Boston 2024: Bad Anime, Bad!
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will go live on the main Anime Herald site on May 16, 2024. We apologizes for the inconvenience.Author: Samantha FerreiraEditor: Samantha FerreiraIntroduction: Time Stands StillFifteen years ago, Brian T. Price became a part of the very fabric of Anime Boston when he hosted his Bad Anime, Bad! Panel at Anime Boston 2009. These events, which combined performance and a seemingly unending parade of dreck that even the most inebriated producer would have trouble justifying, quickly earned...
Why Do VTubers Use Anime Avatars?
Author:Theo WiseEditor:Nicole MejiasYou’ve probably come across VTubers if you’ve spent any time in the wild world of online entertainment. They’re internet stars who use digital avatars instead of showing their faces. This trend really kicked off back in 2016, when Kizuna AI, a virtual persona from Japan, took the YouTube scene by storm. Since then, more and more influencers are going virtual.One thing you’ll notice is that most VTubers have avatars that look like anime characters. It’s not just a coincidence—it’s become a defini...
Babybeard bares their souls (and beards) at Anime Boston
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of this piece, it will be going live on the main Anime Herald site on May 10. We apologize for the inconvenience.· Interviewer: Seth Burn· Editor: Samantha FerreiraAnime Herald: Do you want the most important question to be the first one I ask, or the last one I ask?Mahri:Last.Anime Herald: Then our first question is from our readers. What are your workout routines?Mahri and Ladybeard in unison:“Workout routines?!” (Laughs)Ladybeard:I’ll tell you Mahri’s workout routine. Stay awake until 5 AM. Th...
Castlevania's Annette Brings Heritage and a Pantheon of Gods to Konami's Classic Series
Author:Gabriel LeãoEditor:Samantha FerreiraIn 2023, the gothic world of Castlevaniareturned to televisions around the world, with an all-new entry into the series’ animated universe. Castlevania: Nocturne, an anime-inspired series by Frederator and Powerhouse Animation, took viewers away from the times of Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard to focus on Richter Belmont and an all-new main character. Specifically, Nocturneintroduced Annette, an Afro-Caribbean witch and former slave, who serves as an important step forward in Black representation.Repres...
Disastrously Not Knowing What to Do: The Life and Death of Always Breaktime
Author: Borealis CappsEditor:Samantha FerreiraThe first AI-generated “anime,” Disastrously Not Knowing What to Do and What Not to Do,known colloquiallyas Always Breaktime, began streaming to Twitch on February 8, 2023. Its goal was to create an endless slice-of-life show that followed the lives of high school students, which was inspired by anime with stories generated by OpenAI’s GPT-3.5. Always Breaktimepromised to have“new content every second for the rest of your life”, while brashly claiming “the future of anime is here.” Tho...
Anime Herald Fiscal Report for Year Ending 3/31/2024
IntroductionAs part of our efforts to maintain full transparency within our organization, it’s decided that every year, the chief officer of Anime Herald must compile an annual financial report within 8 weeks of the end of the fiscal year. This document will serve to outline our finances, as well as our performance over the year.For reporting purposes, our fiscal year runs from April 1, 2023, through Mar 31, 2024. However, following a conversation with our accountant, we are modifying our fiscal year. Going forward, our fiscal years will run ...
Seeing Yourself in Strange Phenomena: God Bless the Mistaken as Disability Analogy
Author: Patricia C. BaxterEditor:Alex HendersonSpoiler Warning:The following article contains spoilers for major plot points revealed in volumes 2 and 3 of Nakatani Nio’s God Bless the Mistaken.When creating works of fiction that represent or allude to the experiences of marginalized people, a creator can tackle this heavy and challenging subject matter in many different ways. Some will implement the direct approach, reflecting a current or past example of these issues people encounter. Others will provide indirect examples, relying on metaph...
Anime Boston 2024: Queen Bee Concert
Note: Due to the nature of this event coverage, this will debut on Anime Herald's main site on April 29. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Samantha FerreiraEditor:Samantha FerreiraIntroduction: The Storm Before The FireIn this day and age, it’s impossible to talk about anime music without mentioning Queen Bee. Founded in 2009, the group rocketed to stardom within the community thanks to their musical contributions to more than a half-dozen prominent anime series. Starting with Tokyo Ghoul:rein 2018, Queen Bee’s songs seemed to ...
My cosplay book deal: by the numbers
Author: Lauren OrsiniEditor: Samantha FerreiraOne day, I was offered a book deal and my life changedovernight.Just kidding.Even today, writers cling to the fossilized misbelief that books are the end-all-be-all of our careers. The problem is, nobody reads books. In 2023, only 54% of Americans read even one. Consequently, as a viral article made it clear this April, nobody actually buys books, either.I’m making a very likely guess that you, the person reading this article, did not buy my book. That’s because very few people did. I’m specul...
Zom 100 Is the Most Important Anime of This Generation
Author: Caitlin Sinclair ChappellEditor:Nicole MejiasOne of the most anticipated anime of 2023 was Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, and it has not disappointed—outside of several episode delays. Zom 100is about former wage slave Akira getting a second go at life during the zombie apocalypse. Free of the shackles of his exploitative work, Akira is determined to finally live his life for himself with the help of his friends and a bucket list. With a strong ensemble cast, excellent comedic timing, vibrant animation, and plenty more, Zom 100woul...
Beyond Birdie Wing: COVID-19's Impact On Golf Anime Adaptations
Author: Borealis CappsEditor: Samantha FerreiraOn March 28, Chris and Steve over at Anime News Network posed a curious question: Is Birdie Wingto blame for the sudden rise in golfing anime? Not only has Sorairo Utilitybeen greenlit for a full series, we also have Rising Impactand Oi Tonbo!on their way to grace our screens with golfing goodness in the near future. Birdie Wingwas no doubt popular on top of being a critical success, resulting in nominations for best original anime in both the Crunchyrolland Anime Trendingawards.Despite this, it wo...
Kagurabachi, the Smash Hit Born from the Modern Manga Hype Machine
Author: James ParkerEditor:Alex HendersonHave you seen this man? If you’ve been anywhere near online manga fandom in the past few months, you probably have—though maybe not in his original context. Pictured is Rokuhira Chihiro, protagonist of the manga series Kagurabachi,created by Hokazono Takeru, which began its serialization in Shonen Jumpon September 17th, 2023. That same fateful day, a hype cycle swept the otaku community off its feet. In one chapter, Kagurabachihad people both praying for its downfall and swearing that it would be the...
Anime Boston 2024 - One Piece Fandom in the 4Kids Era
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 15. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Samantha FerreiraEditor: Samantha FerreiraA History LessonIn this day and age, it’s difficult to explain just how different anime fandom was during the greater anime boom. The penetration of broadband had transformed the world, expanding access to anime in ways that seemed unfathomable in the ‘90s, while opening the floodgates to hubs of information and community. Meanwhile, the...
Dongpo: Life in Poems at New York's Lincoln Center
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 16. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author:Seth BurnEditor:Samantha FerreiraYou can get a vibe from the theater before a show begins. Sometimes it can be mellow; other times, rowdy. Even so, the expectations of the audience set the stage long before the curtain goes up. For Dongpo: Life in Poems, I was struck by how fashionable the crowd was. Fine suits, bright red dresses. Even by the standards of the David H. Koch Theater, ...
How Bringing A Kid To An Anime Con Is Like Breaking A Bone
Author: Lauren OrsiniEditor: Samantha FerreiraI never thought breaking my foot would be the ultimate crash course in taking a kid to an anime convention. As it turns out, though, a bum foot and a preschooler aren’t all that different.Back in 2011, I broke my foot by tripping down a Metro escalator. Katsucon began the next day, and I’d already lined up interviews for my convention reporting. So, I got an aircast boot for my foot at the hospital, and a wheelchair from the accessibility station at the Gaylord Resort.Attending Katsucon in a whe...
Anime Boston 2024: Cosplay Makes The (Anime) World Go Round
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 12. We apologize for the inconvenience.Anime Boston has sought to make cosplayers feel welcome since their very first weekend in April 2003. Back in that inaugural weekend, it felt like one stepped into wonderland, as folks cosplaying as Belldandy, Sailor Moon, Sae Sawanoguchi, and more mingled with one another across the Park Plaza.In the following years, the event welcomed tens of thousands of cosplayers through their doors. D...
Anime Boston 2024: Dubs That Time Forgot
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 8. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Samantha FerreiraHost: Mike TooleIn this day and age, the idea of shows vanishing into proverbial oblivion has become a distressingly common phenomenon. Organizations like Warner Brothers and AMC have scrapped dozens of beloved titles, like Infinity Train and Pantheon, while news of completed films being binned for tax write-offs has become distressingly common. In the anime world, d...
Anime Boston 2024: Opening Ceremonies & Babybeard
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 6. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Samantha FerreiraA line of attendees had already begun to form outside of the Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium by nine o’clock, as fans staked out their spots for Anime Boston’s opening ceremonies. Some chatted about their plans for the event, others caught up on their simulcasts. Within the half-hour, the line had reached halfway around the perimeter of the Hynes’ second floor,...
Anime Boston 2024 – Introduction: The Annual Homecoming
Note: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 6. We apologize for the inconvenience.Author: Samantha FerreiraOn April 9, 2004, New England anime fans rejoiced, as they descended upon Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel for a second year. Anime Boston had returned, boasting an expanded space that included the cavernous Saunders Castle, which would host the event’s Artist’s Alley and Dealer’s Room. The guest list was studded with stars, from up-and-coming talents like Monica Ri...
How the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, influenced 'Odd Taxi'
Author: Fritz KurzEditor: Lydia RiversIntroduction:If you have ever considered Odd Taxi to be a brilliant entry in the neo-noir genre of storytelling, you wouldn’t be alone. With morally ambiguous characters, an increasingly intertwined crime story, and a focused, slow-burning emergence of violence, intrigue, and a (sort of) femme fatale, writer Kazuya Konomoto pays stunning homage to one of the most popular cinematic genres to emerge in the late 1950s and 60s. He incorporates the key thematic elements of beloved film-noir titles such as Odds...
The Evolution of Abridged Anime Part 5 - TikTok And The Future
While TikTok is a massive and attractive platform for comedic anime fandubs, it does come with its own difficulties when compared to YouTube. The traditionally episodic abridged series aren’t suited to the platform’s algorithmic nature, which is likely to put those episodes in front of viewers out of order, or long after they were originally posted.To compensate, creators have evolved their craft to make ongoing series that are closer to what works in syndicated television. Characters simply remain consistent between episodes, while little ...
An Unexpected Gem: How Bocchi the Rock! Outshines the Competition
Author: Austin JacquesEditor: Masha ZhdanovaA Unique AnimeIs there any greater vibe than settling down to watch some cozy anime content that makes you laugh again and again? Maybe you’re more of the shonen type, but for me it’s the quiet, feel-good anime that I crave most often.The good news is there’s no shortage of comedic and lighthearted slice-of-life shows. The bad news is, let’s be honest, most of them aren’t that great. They don’t quite satisfy the itch, hit the spot, or whatever metaphor you want to use. They’re a little l...
How Jojo Lost Its Mojo; Exploring The Complicated Story of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure's Western Fortunes
Author: Madeline Blondeau Editor: Samantha FerreiraA huge thanks to Patreon backer NegiKitsu for requesting this. The article wouldn’t have happened without his suggestion.In 2017, I attended Viz Media’s evening panel for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It was a full house, and I almost couldn’t find seating. Once I plopped down with my piping paper platter of okonomiyaki, I was bombarded with two-plus hours of dub news, DVD announcements, and an awkward “pose off” competition. None of the proceedings were particularly engaging, but the ...
