Socially Awkward

31 year old single nerd, having misadventures in New York City. I talk about life, manga, movies, music, TV shows and more.

[socialyawkdude]

hello my socially awkward friends,

So i’m in a bit of a limbo, as of the moment. Seeing that i’m fully caught up on sword art online and making my way through sailor moon crystal. I’m looking for a new anime to watch in my free time. Anyone Have any suggestion?

[socialyawkdude]

Top 10 animes for first time viewers

Hello, my socially awkward friends,

I’m back after a much-needed vacation to bring you the content, which you crave. In recent weeks, I’ve been approached by friends and colleagues, about what amines they should watch. To say that it was a loaded question is an understatement. With the world of anime and manga being so vast, it's hard to know where to start.

After thinking it over, I’ve decided to follow suit of my supernatural top 10 and do a top 10 for anime for beginners.

Today's post will cover amines for first-time viewers. Let me start by saying that, This Is my Opinion! Please do not jump my bones because of the line-up. Now with that being said, let get this party started.

 (10) Sailor Moon/Sailor Moon Crystal

Written by Nanoko Takeuchi

Genre/subgenre: Magical girl, action, romance, shoujo, superhero

Manga original run: (December 28, 1991, to February 3, 1997)

Anime Run: Sailor Moon (1992-1993) 46 episodes

   Sailor Moon R (1993- 1994) 43 episodes

   Sailor Moon S (1994- 1995) 38 episodes

   Sailor Moon Super S (1995- 1996) 39 episode

   Sailor Moon Sailor Star (1996- 1997) 34 episodes

The series follows the adventures of the protagonist Usagi Tsukino, a middle school student who is given the power to become the titular Sailor Soldier. Joined by other Sailor Soldiers, they defend Earth against an assortment of evil villains.

 Let us start with a classic, remade for the modern-day. For quite a few of my generation, Sailor Moon was our introduction to the world of anime. I can remember watching sailor moon, in the early morning before the school bus came. Sailor Moon was the beginning of my love affair with anime.

 Now here is what I got to say on sailor moon. It is a bit wonky, timeline-wise. Sailor Moon's overall timeline can be a bit hard to follow. That is if you are going in-depth with it. As long as you stay away from the headache inducing timeline, you’ll be ok.

 (9)Bleach

Written by Tite Kubo

Genre/subgenre: Action, Adventure, Shonen, Supernatural, Comedy

Original manga run: August 7, 2001 - August 22, 2016

Original anime run: October 5, 2004 - March 27, 2012

366 episodes 

 What can I say about Bleach? It is one of my favorite anime’s of all time. It's not perfect but what is? You have a diverse cast of characters, a good story and plenty of action. In my opinion, that makes a great anime for beginners. For me, Bleach was my return to anime, after years of not watching. I think that I've watched this anime from beginning to end, one too many times. 

 I'm talking watching the U.S. airing up to the point that I had the watch in Japanese. I finished the anime a full 2 years before the finale aired in the U.S. I would highly recommend this anime to any beginners.

 (8) Restaurant to another World

Written by Junpei Inuzuku

Genre/subgenre= Fantasy, Isekai

Manga Original Run: November 18, 2016, to June 25, 2019

Anime original Run: July 3, 2017, to September 18, 2017

12 episodes

 I was recommended this anime by a friend of a friend. I am going, to be honest; I didn't know what I was getting into. This would be my first experience with isekai anime. Looking back on this anime, it is quite an anime. Not much action, but at a great story. I would not recommend watching after a 420 session, you will get the munchies.

 (7) Sword Art Online

Written by Reki Kawahara

Genre/Subgenre= Isekai, Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Light Novel Original Run: April 10, 2009, to present

Anime original run:

Sword Art Online = July 8, 2012, to December 23, 2012

Sword Art Online II= July 5, 2014, to December 30, 2014

Sword Art Online Alicization = October 6, 2018, to present

  And here we go again with another isekai. The genre in itself is pretty much the same across animes. Someone dies and is sent to another world, but Sword Art Online is different. Instead of dying and going to another world; our main character is trapped in a virtual world and if he dies there, he dies in the real world.

In general, I've been pretty hard on SAO because of its a little too real world for me. It deals with some very real-world issues. To give some examples: Death, rape, incest, and other issues. To top it all off, with it being 2019; we are only months away from when the anime begins. (Where is my damn nervegear?)

If you can get past all of that it's a decent anime. The first arc is by far the best. The second arc is OK and the third I haven't finished yet. Sword Art Online is a good anime for beginners, in my opinion. Plus, Sword Art Online always puts out a beyond great soundtrack.

 (6) The Saga of Tanya the Evil

Written by Carlo Zen

Genre/subgenre: Isekai, fantasy

Manga Original run: April 26, 2016, to present

Anime original run: January 6, 2017, to March 31, 2017 

12 Episodes

 Here we are with the last isekai on our list. I understand that there have been quite a few listed, but besides the honorable mentions, there are no more. The Saga of Tanya the Evil is the perfect end of the isekai on this list.

Following the usual isekai tropes, Tanya the evil can best be described as a fantasy, historical alternative reality anime; taking place in a world similar to World War 1. As of this post, I'm only eight episodes in and quite enjoying it. I highly recommend checking it out.

 (5) Fairy Tail

Written By Hiro Mashima

Genre/Subgenre: Shonen, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Manga Original run: August 2, 2006, to July 26, 2017

Anime original Run: October 12, 2009, to Present

328 + episodes

 It was around 7 years ago that a friend recommended fairy tail, to me. At the time, it wasn't my cup of tea. I was following Bleach, at the time, and hadn't leaped into the world of anime. Fast forward several years and it is still not my cup of tea. Now here is the thing, even though I may not be into fairy tail, ii know a good anime when I see it Given that fairy tail is entering its last full season; it a great choice for beginners and old alike. This is why I’m giving it the number 5 spot.

 (4) Attack on Titan

Written by Hajime isayama

Genre/Subgenre: Dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic

Original manga run: September 9, 2009, to present

Original anime run: April 7, 2015, to present

 Attack on Titan is one of those manga/animes that is a hit from day one. With a post-apocalyptic feel straight out of someone's worse nightmare. This isn't the zombie apocalypse folks; this is something far worse. The following that Attack on Titan has garnered is on par with American shows like The Walking Dead. 

Along with the manga and anime, Attack on titan has spawned a live-action movie in 2015. In my opinion, the movie was just as gory and the anime, but a little toned down. If your a fan of post-apocalyptic shows like The Walking Dead, this is one that you have to check out. 

A little piece of advice, do not watch the movie until you have seen the first season.

 (3) Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

Written by Coolkyoushinja

Genre/Subgenre: fantasy

Manga original run: May 25, 2013 to present

Anime original run: January 11, 2017, to April 6, 2017

13 episodes plus OVA

 If there was ever an anime that should be the official anime of this blog, this is it. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid has been one of my favorite animes that I've seen in recent years. This is not the usual action-pack thriller, that you'll usually see from animes that make there way west. It the cute and funny story of Miss Kobayashi and how she ended up with a dragon maid and the adventures that follow. I would recommend this to anyone, anime watcher or not.

 (2) Fullmetal Alchemist/ Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Written by Hiroma Arakawa

Genre/Subgenre: Adventure, dark fantasy, science fiction, shonen

manga original run: July 12, 2001, to June 12, 2019

Anime original run: 

( Fullmetal Alchemist) October 4, 2003, to October 2, 2004

51 episodes plus the movie Conqueror of Shamballa (2005)

( Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood) April 5, 2009, to July 4, 2010

64 episodes

 Here we are at the number 2 spot. This was a toss-up for number one, but I decided against it. I would suggest watching Brotherhood because it follows the manga beginning to end. Fullmetal Alchemist ends at episode 51 and it is up the movie, Conqueror of Shamballa to bring an end to the story. I saw Conqueror of Shamballa and overall the movie was great. Well deserving of the praise it got from film festivals around the world. Do yourself a favor and check out this anime.

 (1) Dragon Ball /Z/GT/Super/Heroes

Written by Akira Toriyama

Genre/Subgenre: Action, Adventure, martial arts, shonen

Manga Original run: 

Dragonball= December 3, 1984, to June 5, 1995

Dragonball Super= June 20,2025 to present

 Anime original run: 

Dragonball(1986 to 1989)

Dragonball Z( 1989 to 1996)

Dragonball GT( 1996 to 1997)

Dragonball Super( 2015 to 2018)

Super Dragonball Heroes(2018 to present)

 And here we are at the number one spot. Come on, everyone should have seen this coming. Anime lovers and non-anime lovers have heard of the Dragonball series. While I was fighting for Fullmetal Alchemist to be in the number one spot; it wasn't going to happen. The Dragonball series is perfect for new anime viewers fro many reasons. One of the main reasons is if you get confused, there is plenty out there to help you understand what’s going on. The Dragonball series has been around in manga form since 1984 and anime form since 1986. There is plenty out there to help newbies and confused them, at the same time. Just don't watch the shitty American made live-action movie.

  Honorable mentions: Konosuba, Ghost in A Shell, Food Wars and Naruto

   Like always my friends, don't forget to like/share/reblog and follow. To get more of an idea of what's coming, you can follow me over on twitter at @socialyawkdude. 

[socialyawkdude]

LiSA - Crossing Field メガスピーカー Lyrics

Back at the deck working. Here is a preview of what i’m working on. 

[socialyawkdude]

Birds of Prey Trailer #1 (2020) | Movieclips Trailers

WHAT THE FUCK  did I just watch

[socialyawkdude]

Socialyawkdude presents: NSFW pro-tips #1

Reverse Cowgirl, on paper, is an incredibly sexy position. But it's also the single most dangerous sex position, and responsible for hundreds of E.R. visits a year. Be very careful with any position wherein your partner drops down on your penis, as it can bend or even break your penis, and your partner can be penetrated too deeply, causing internal punctures. Slow and steady is the name of the game.

[socialyawkdude]

Smallville's Tom Welling Cast in Crisis on Infinite Earths

In the wee hours of last night/this morning, former Arrow and DC's Legends of Tomorrow showrunner [...]

BREAKING NEWS

Smallville actor, Tom Welling will be coming to the arrowverse. Welling, known for playing Clark Kent on Smallville, will be joining the arrowverse for its Crisis on Infinite Earths.

[socialyawkdude]

Here’s a question. Is twitter more your style? Are you interested in my socially awkwad misadventures? Well if you are, you are in luck. You can follow me on twitter at  @socialyawkdude

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The Road So Far: A Overview of Supernatural

Hello, again my socially awkward friends and its time again for another review. Well, it's not a review in the normal sense, it is more of an overview. What is this mystery show, at that I will be covering? If the title didn't give it away let me give you a little background on the show.

Premiering on September 13, 2005, on The WB network; it is the longest-running American fantasy tv show. That isn't the only thing, this show is the last remaining original WB network show remaining. Yeah, I'm talking about the tv show supernatural. I'm guessing that you already know that supernatural's 15th season will be the last.

When the news of the final season, came across the wire, I was shocked. I had just recently started watching again, in season 13. Supernatural has always been my go-to show, in times of boredom. Hey, how could it not be? Supernatural has been in Syndication since January of 2010 and i could always find a episode, at the most random times. 

All good things must come to an end and supernatural was going to end at some point. Which brings us to present day and I'm doing a full-on binge of supernatural. The current goal is to watch every single episode of supernatural by the October 10th, 2019 premiere date. Currently, I'm in season 8 around episode 16.

So in honor of the final season, I'm going to my 10 favorite supernatural episodes.

10. Season 7 Episode 20: The girl with the dungeons and dragons tattoo

FELICIA DAY ("THE GUILD," "EUREKA") GUEST STARS - Dick Roman (James Patrick Stuart) acquires Frank's hard drive that contains sensitive information about the Winchesters and gives it to an unsuspecting brilliant hacker named Charlie (guest star Day) telling her she has 48 hours to crack the firewall or she is fired. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are tipped off that Dick has the hard drive and race to get to Charlie before she breaks the code. Meanwhile, Bobby (Jim Beaver) tries to help the brothers, but his rage towards Dick for killing him starts to get in the way.

9. Season 8 Episode 11: LARP and the real girl

FELICIA DAY RETURNS! - Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate the mysterious deaths of two LARPers (Live Action Role Playing) who were playing a game entitled Moondoor. The guys are thrilled to discover the Queen of Moondoor is none other than Charlie (guest star Felicia Day). The three learn that a fairy (guest star Tiffany Dupont) has been commandeered to harm people and the only way to stop her is to find her master.

8. Season 8 Episode: Pac-Man Forever

DEAN INTRODUCES CHARLIE TO CHEAP PANTSUITS - Concerned about the physical toll the second trial took on Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) benches his brother from hunting until he heals up. So, when geektastic hacker Charlie (guest star Felicia Day) stumbles upon a case and finds the boys, Dean decides it's time to teach Charlie how to be a hunter-in-training. While happy to see "her highness," the boys suspect Charlie is hiding something; a secret that could get her killed.

Supernatural was my introduction to the wonderful Felicia Day. If it wasn’t for supernatural, i would’ve never have never ave seen The guild.

7. Season 12 Episode 6: Celebrating the life of Asa Fox

THREE WINCHESTERS ARE BETTER THAN ONE – When hunters gather together to celebrate the life and tragic death of one of their own, Sam (Jared Padalecki) Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Mary (guest star Samantha Smith) must take action when a demon starts picking off hunters one by one.

My favorite moment I love the most about this episode is hearing Man in a Box by Alice in Chains. In my opinion, this one song made this episode.

6. Season 11 Episode 4: Baby

NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER — Seen entirely from the POV of the Impala, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) go on a road trip to fight monsters and demons

5. Season 13 Episode 16: Scoobynatural

JINKIES! "SUPERNATURAL" GETS ANIMATED WHEN SAM, DEAN, AND CASTIEL ARE TRANSPORTED INTO THE WORLD OF SCOOBY-DOO – Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Castiel (Misha Collins) are transported into the animated world of Scooby-Doo where they join forces with the Scooby gang to solve a ghostly mystery.

Try and watch this episode and not think its awesome.

4. Season 13 Episode 10: Wayward Sisters

KATHRYN NEWTON, KIM RHODES, KATHERINE RAMDEEN, BRIANA BUCKMASTER, CLARK BACKO AND YADIRA GUEVARA-PRIP RETURN – When Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) go missing, Jody Mills (guest star Kim Rhodes) calls Claire Novak (guest star Kathryn Newton), the rebellious rogue hunter, and tells her it is time to come home – they need to find the Winchesters. Claire returns and reunites with Alex Jones (guest star Katherine Ramdeen), who has stayed behind with Jody and tries to balance a "normal" life with being a part-time hunter. While Jody is happy to have Claire home again, she's plagued by Patience's (guest star Clark Backo) disturbing vision involving her adopted daughter. Claire and Alex search for Kaia Nieves (guest star Yadira Guevara-Prip), the dreamcatcher responsible for opening the rift that Sam and Dean went through, as she holds the key to their whereabouts. Jody calls her friend, Donna Hanscom (guest star Briana Buckmaster), to round out the team and the women head off on the most important hunt of their lives.

3. Season 5 Episode 5: Fallen Idols

PARIS HILTON GUEST STARS - Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) decide to start hunting together again and their first case leads them to a small town whose inhabitants are being killed by famous dead icons like Abraham Lincoln and James Dean's car. However, after two teenage girls come forward and claim their friend was kidnapped by Paris Hilton (in a cameo role as herself), the brothers aren't sure what they are hunting anymore.

his one is pretty simple, I get to watch Paris Hilton get shived.

2. Season 12 Episode: Don't call me Shurley

ROB BENEDICT RETURNS – Amara (guest star Emily Swallow) unleashes a dark fog on a small town, causing everyone to go mad. Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) realize this is a stronger version of the original black vein virus Amara previously unleashed. They team up with the sheriff to protect the town but their old remedy no longer works. Meanwhile, Chuck (Rob Benedict) returns with an interesting proposal.

Chuck is god! What else can I say? I had my suspicions, that something was up with chuck, but it wasn’t this. Also Rob Benedict’s cover of fare thee well, blew me away.

1. Season 4 Episode 8: Wishful thinking.

A WISHING WELL THAT REALLY WORKS BRINGS CHAOS - Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate a small town where the wishing well really works. A teddy bear comes to life, someone wins the lottery and the town geek gets a hot girlfriend. The brothers realize that while everyone is happy now, the end result will be disastrous. 

My all time favorite episode of supernatural. Why is this season 4 episode ,y favorite?, you ask. Well, the answer to that question is quite simple, really. Teddy! Seeing a giant teddy bear try to blow his brains out, with a shotgun, always has me on the floor.

So there is my top 10 list of supernatural episodes.  What are your favorite episodes? I would love to read your own top 10 list. Like always; don't forget to like, share, follow, and reblog. until the next time we meet, stay awkward my friends.

[socialyawkdude]

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Welcome back, it's time for another review. This time I will be reviewing the anime, Death March to the parallel world rhapsody. Ok so before we get started, I just want to say that if it wasn't for the fact that I have a Crunchyroll.com account, I would not be able to do this review. With that being said I would like to thank Crunchyroll.com for bringing anime to those of us outside of Japan.

Ok, let's get this show on the road. I've been watching a great deal of isakai animes lately. What all of them, except for konosuba, have in common is the main character is overpowered as fuck. Death March is the same as all the others, with one exception. This anime did overpower (OP) right. Oh my God, it's been a while since I have binge-watched an anime from beginning to end. There was no cringe-worthy moments, no watchers regret, just pure enjoyment. What I enjoyed the most were the character and world development. Once our main character enters the parallel world, he is not op, at first. He gains op status in the most newb way possible, nuking a bunch of monsters by accident. As he goes through his adventures in this world, he tailors his abilities to his needs. Never drawing too much attention to himself at all. In other words, he's just figuring it out what is going on and trying to survive. One thing that I will say about this anime is that it feels like a video game. The way our main character goes about his progression, in skill, should be a standard in these types of shows. Instead of being an overpowered mess, he masters his skills as needed. Death March is only 12 episodes long but well worth the watch in my opinion. I would highly suggest checking and the other wonder animes available on crunchyroll.com. In till the next time, feel free to check out all the other wonderful content available, on this blog. Like usual, don't forget to like, share, reblog, and follow.

Until next time stay awkward.

[socialyawkdude]

A intro to manga, anime and light novels

Hello again, long and first time readers..

Its time for the long-awaited manga review section. Now before we get into the nitty gritty there a few things we need to cover first. Seeing that I will be coving light novels, mangas, and anime there are a few terms that we need to go over. Most of these terms will be covering the different genres and subgenres. Seeing that not everyone is literate in this word, it may be a good idea to cover this before we get into the good stuff.

What I’m about to go over are the genres of light novels, manga, and anime. Like many television shows and movies; manga and anime are broken up into different genres. Many of these are pretty self-explanatory, while others are more unique, as you are about to find out. I have included a few examples with of the sub-genres. I’m no expert, as I’m learning along with a few of you. Some of the examples I’ve given are some that I’ve read or heard of.

List of Major Anime/Manga Genres

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

Slice of Life

Fantasy

Magic

Supernatural

Horror

Mystery

Psychological

Romance

Sci-Fi

Looking at this list you can see many familiar genres of movies and TV, that you may watch. I won’t go into a detailed description of these, because everyone should know these. Now for the sub-genres, it’s a bit of a different story. Many of these are unique to anime and manga. It is these that I will give a little description along with a popular anime or manga.

List of Anime Subgenres

Cyberpunk= This type of anime is a subgenre of sci-fi. It usually displays a future where society has become more ingrained with technology at the expense of social order. The setting is typically a dystopian future where the technology may be doing more harm than good. 

Game= The game category encompasses shows revolving around the idea of gaming and playing. The anime can feature a card game, board game, puzzle game, or even a virtual online game. As long as it concerns any playable game of any kind, it belongs in this category. Sometimes, even video game-based shows can count in this selection.

Ecchi= The word ecchi comes from the sound of H in the word hentai, which in turn means pervert in Japanese. This sub-genre is generally accepted as being full of sexually provocative scenes (mild enough to be viewed by the general audience) and scenarios derived from innuendos and humorous situations. It’s a fact that ecchi shows are taking an upswing nowadays as more and more titles are produced every season. More often than not, ecchi is paired up with comedy as both genres compliment each other well. This, in turn, serves as a buffer that prevents the shows from crossing the line and delving into something less appropriate for general audiences. 

Demons= Originally just an infrequent theme, the rise of demonic characters and themes have given rise to this sub-genre. The term demon does not only encompass literal demon characters. It also extends to other entities such as monsters, beasts, ghosts, and other demon-type figures. The demons present can come from biblical backgrounds or come from Japanese culture. Believe it or not, this category doesn’t just come hand-in-hand with the horror genre; it surprisingly blends well with other genres as well. 

Harem= If you see a reluctant male character surrounded by multiple female characters who all adore him, then you’re probably watching an anime of the harem sub-genre. This type of show typically features more than two female characters go head-over-heels for a single male character. Anime in this category is typically within the comedy and romance genre. It’s possible that a harem anime can have no romance and feature mostly slapstick comedy.

Josei= Josei is actually a demographic but is also considered a general category in anime. It specifically targets female viewers around the age range of 18-40. These shows depict life and romance in a more mature light, usually with more grounded realism and less idealistic fantasies. The sub-genre is fairly wide and doesn’t necessarily have to focus on romance. It merely needs a narrative that caters to the mature woman. Josei originated from manga during the 80′s. Girls who grew up reading shoujo stories from previous decades wanted stories for adults.

Martial Arts= Martial arts play a big role in every anime that has fighting/battles in it. Whether it’s hand-to-hand combat, swordplay, gun fighting, or armed combat, there’s some kind of martial art element that plays through them. But did you know that there are shows that are primarily focused on martial arts itself and their battle techniques? There’s a lot of them, and they mainly involve hand-to-hand combat and technician battles.  

Kids= A lot of people say that anime is just for kids, but that’s not really true. As a matter of fact, there are only a few numbers of anime that are precisely catered towards children. These shows are contained within the kids’ sub-genre. These shows are mild, light, and insightful, which makes them perfect for children 12 and under. 

Historical= As the name suggests, historical anime revolves around events in history and moments of antiquity. Shows of this sub-genre are typically set in Ancient Japan and the feudal period. Other settings such as the Middle Ages and medieval period of Europe exist but they’re much more rare in anime. As long as the time or setting (or even elements) are old and ancient, then the series can be considered a historical anime. 

Hentai= Hentai literally translates to “pervert” in Japanese. This is the R-18 (mature) domain of the anime world. This sub-genre commonly depicts nudity and highly explicit content. Unlike ecchi, the focus here is on explicit sexual content rather than on storytelling and narrative progression. That is why the shows in this category are usually brief and lacking in substance.

Isekai= Isekai translates to “another world.” This sub-genre typically has a     narrative where a protagonist somehow gets transported to a different     world. The new world is more often than not in a fantasy setting,     occasionally with traits pulled from JRPG games.

This category of anime exploded during the 2010′s and arguably dominated the decade. A good portion of isekai anime is adapted not from the manga but rather from light novels. The most popular series in this sub-genre maybe Sword Art Online. While the world featured there was just virtual reality, it did feature a fantasy setting that would be mimicked in other anime. 

Military= As the name implies, this sub-genre involves the military in one way or another. War may also be a huge part of military anime. One thing to note about this category is that it is often coupled with the mecha and action genre.

Mecha= Mecha stands for mechanical (as in mechanical units or robots). You’ll never see a mecha anime without a robot or mechanical suit in it. That’s the most important element of it. And while this sub-genre is rising in fame as the days go by, it almost always uses a standard formula to carry the plot. As a general trend, mecha is often seen alongside the military, sci-fi, and action genre.

This may very well be the most iconic anime sub-genre as there is a multitude of memorable shows in this category. The mecha can be considered to be one of Japan’s most popular exports. Some of the earlier iconic titles from the late 70s and 80′s include Mobile Suit Gundam, Mazinger Z, and Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered to be an iconic and dark deconstruction of the genre as it examined the psyche of young pilots. GurrenLagann was a massive hit that brought the genre back to its hot-blooded and idealistic roots. With a rabid fan-base that loves mecha designs, this genre is one that has been consistently popular over the years. 

Music= Anime shows in the music sub-genre aren’t that popular nowadays, but they do exist and they are very timely. These shows typically focus on singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments. These usually fit within the larger categories of comedy and drama.

Parody= A parody anime is one where countless numbers of other anime references are showcased throughout the plot. It might be a popular running gag, a famous symbol, a character reference, or any other attempt at bringing another show into its domain. One anime worthy to note is Gintama. They often use similar elements from other anime to showcase in their own show.

Police= The police sub-genre emphasizes the life and struggles of law enforcement in their line of duty. Police-based characters have shown up in numerous shows and     there are now anime that could be considered as police procedural. This genre isn’t exclusive to police officers; detectives, investigators, and enforcers of any type are included as well. 

Post-Apocalyptic= Post-apocalyptic anime basically show that is set in a world that is in a dystopian state. This could mean the world is destroyed and/or humans are nearly extinct. Post-apocalyptic settings were merely a theme in the past, but an influx of titles bearing this backdrop over the years have made it become a sub-genre on its own. This type of anime has become more and more popular by the day. 

Reverse Harem= A reverse harem anime is typically a harem series where the gender roles are switched around. There is one female character surrounded by multiple male characters who are all potential love interests. Like the traditional harem genre, anime of this variety is usually within the comedy and romance genre.

School= There are countless anime that use the school as a setting. An anime can be considered a part of the school sub-genre if a school is the primary setting and the anime deals mostly with school and student life. This type of anime is usually seen within the comedy genre, though there are some entries in drama as well. 

Seinen= Seinen is actually a demographic but is also considered to be a category in anime. It’s a sub-genre that specifically targets male viewers around the age range of 18-40. The shows here are depicted in a more mature light and often include more explicit content such as gore, sex, and violence. More cerebral narratives are present as well.

Shoujo= Shoujo refers to the demographic of young girls. This sub-genre specifically targets female viewers around the age range of 10-18. Most of the time, shoujo anime works hand-in-hand with the romance and comedy genre, particularly with the former. The protagonist is traditionally female and the narrative focuses on romance as well as personal growth. The world in these shows is often very idealized.

Shoujo-ai= Shoujo-ai literally translates to “girls love.” The typically young female characters in shojou-ai anime show love and affection for each other. The romance is usually milder in comparison to the more explicit yuri genre. Shows in this category portray blooming feelings of love and romance rather than intimate relationships. 

Shounen= Shounen refers to the demographic that this type of anime targets, which is male viewers around the age range of 10-18. These shows are usually a combination of action and adventure and are typically adapted from serial manga series. As such, these anime tend to have lengthy runs. One Piece currently has over 800 episodes and is still running. These shows are typically the most popular with mainstream audiences. They have done very well when exported to foreign markets thanks to their relatively simple plots and focus on action.

Shounen-ai= Shounen-ai literally translates to “boys love.” The male characters (typically younger boys) in these shows display tender affection for each other. The romance in shounen-ai is generally milder when compared to the more explicit yaoi genre. There is usually more focus on developing romance than actual relationships.

Space= The setting of space has always been massively popular. With so much anime taking place there, it has become a sub-genre in itself. Any anime set in the cosmos can be labeled in this category. Space anime is often within the larger mecha and sci-fi genre. 

Sports= Pretty much self-explanatory, sports anime are shows that cover characters engaging in athletic competition. Popular choices in this category include basketball, tennis, baseball, and soccer. Other sports exist as well (including those that you wouldn’t expect showing up in anime). As time goes on, more and more of these series are produced. Just like real sports, shows in this sub-genre are action-packed!

Super Power= You know you’re watching a superpower anime if you’re seeing an array of explosive superpowers scrambling right on the screen. If you see bursts of energy balls, death-defying attacks, and opposing forces battling it out throughout the story, then that means you’re probably witnessing a show in this sub-genre. These shows generally fit in the action category.

Tragedy= As the name implies, the tragedy sub-genre revolves around tragic events or phenomenon where the characters are deeply involved and affected. Tragedy comes in diverse varieties such as disasters, accidents, misfortunes, and deaths. These shows are often very dramatic and can pull the heartstrings of audiences.

Vampire= As vampires have become so popular throughout the world, it’s no shock that they’ve also infested the world of anime. There are lots of titles now featuring vampires and they’re not just exclusive to the horror category. They’ve also manifested themselves into other categories such as comedy, romance, and drama.

Yuri= Yuri is essentially the more mature and explicit version of shojou-ai. The female characters are typically older and the series examines their more mature relationships.

Yaoi= Yaoi is the much more sexually explicit counterpart of shounen-ai. This sub-genre covers male-to-male relationships (typically older boys) in a more mature light. There is more emphasis on serious relationships and intimacy.

Well, there you go… a not so short overview of the genre and sub-genres of anime, manga, and light novels. Hopefully, this will help newcomers to this wonderful of books and tv. It is now time to reveal the first series in the socallyawkdude’s manga review….. Tales of Wedding Rings by Maybe.  The volume 1 review should be up soon, as i’m finishing up the art work for the post.

Till then this is your friendly neighborhood sociallyawkdude signing off.

[socialyawkdude]

New review coming out Friday

[quotemadness]

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

Louis L'Amour (via quotemadness)

[quotemadness]

Every person from your past lives as a shadow in your mind. Good or bad, they all helped you write the story of your life, and shaped the person you are today.

Doe Zantamata (via quotemadness)

[socialyawkdude]

His Dark Materials: Season 1 | San Diego Comic-Con Trailer | HBO

Wow, it been god knows how long since The golden compass came out.,let me tell you, that movie royaly piss me off. As a fan of the booksthat movie did not do the books jusstice.

Now we the fans are finally getting something true to the books. I was sitting in the bar when I saw the trailer and i cried like a baby. Thank you BBCX and HBO for making this happen.

[socialyawkdude]

Konosuba: Gods Blessing on this Wonderful World review

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in your favorite video game? Would you be the hero of the story or the villain? I think that every gamer has had this thought, at some point.

Well, thanks to manga and anime we now have an idea of what this may be like. If you have read one of my previous post, "An Intro to anime, manga, and light novels"( https://socialyawkdude.tumblr.com/post/186036672611/a-intro-to-manga-anime-and-light-novels ), you will have an idea of the genre of Isekai.

Isekai translates to "another world." This sub-genre typically has a narrative where a protagonist somehow gets transported to a different world. The new world is more often than not in a fantasy setting, occasionally with traits pulled from JRPG games.

Some good examples of this are overlord and sword art online. While these are some popular examples of isekai's, these are not what you are here to read about. You're here to learn a bit about "Konsuba: Gods blessing on this wonderful world." Konosuba is not your typical isekai.

Written by Natsume Akatsuki, the series follows a boy who is sent to a fantasy world following his death. He goes on to form a dysfunctional party with a goddess, a wizard, and a crusader to fight against monsters. Now, this a very simplified summary of the overall story. It is so much more and has developed quite the following in recent years.

I first came across konosuba, about two years ago, on youtube. I haven't laughed so hard in my lifetime. The anime version is partially responsible for my upcoming hearing lose. Seriously, if you watch the anime with headphones on, turn the volume down, you'll thank me later. The best way I can describe this series to you is to describe the main characters.

Kazuma Sato: Kazuma is a 16-year-old gamer shut-in neet. While returning home from buying a video game, he attempts to save a classmate from a slow-moving tractor he mistakes for a speeding truck and dies from an acute stress reaction. As a result, he is sent to the parallel reality and becomes an adventurer. He has average stats in crucial categories but above average intelligence and extremely high luck, neither of which are important for adventurers.

Aqua: Aqua is the goddess of water who judges humans to send to the JRPG world up till Kazuma drags her along with him after she provokes him by mocking his death. As an arch-priest and a goddess, she is powerful against demons and the undead and can resurrect recently deceased people as well as purify water supplies. However, despite her high stats in magic, her intelligence and luck are among the worst.

Megumin: Megumin is a 13-year-old arch-wizard who is a part of the Crimson Demons race- Modified humans who possess black hair, red eyes, and powerful magic affinity. Megumin only knows a single, incredibly powerful Explosion spell that immediately depletes her mana and incapacitates her after a single use, and she refuses to learn any other skills. Due to the strength and resulting fallout of the spell, she struggles to find a party who would accept her before meeting Kazuma.

Darkness: Darkness is an 18-year-old crusader who possesses powerful offense and defense, but lacks the accuracy to land a hit. She is a masochist who dreams of being ravaged by monsters or married to an abusive husband, regardless, she becomes serious with issues involving her friends.

I'm just going to leave it at that. The description of the main characters alone should give you an idea of what the anime, manga, and light novels are like.  I will say, that between the light novel and anime, there are some pretty funny parts of the story that are left out. I would highly recommend this series to anyone. It has a good story, outrageous characters, and is a good overall comedy. Konosuba is what I picture living in a JRPG would be like. I wouldn't be the overpowered hero of the story. I would be a Kazuma-like character surrounded by characters one card short of a full deck.

Now that we are at the end of this review, its time for the standard housekeeping. Do not forget to like, share, and reblog. Also, let's not forget to follow me here and over on twitter at @socialyawkdude. I'm also looking for a suggestion for anime and manga to check out, so feel free to recommend something.

Until the next time, stay peachy peoples

[socialyawkdude]

Manga Review #1: Tales of Wedding Rings Vol 1

Hello, my friends Now I've been putting off this review, for what seems like forever. Well, there is no more putting it off and my review is finally here.  Today I will be reviewing the manga, Tales of Wedding Rings.

This is one of the first manga series that I've bought and gotten into. normally, I'm not into ongoing series, but I made an exception for this one. I will get into those reason in a little bit, but let get into the background of this manga.

"Tales of Wedding Rings (Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari) is an ongoing high fantasy adventure/romantic comedy manga written and illustrated by Maybe, creator of Dusk Maiden of Amnesia. It started serialization in 2014, and the following year Crunchyroll began publishing it in English online. Yen Press began releasing English print volumes of the series in February 2018."(1)

Let do a quick breakdown. If you have read my "intro to manga, anime, and light novels" post you should know about the genres. If you haven't, go check it out. In my opinion, Tales of wedding rings falls into the genres of adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, magic, romance, ecchi, harem, and isekai. It is primarily an isekai/harem/fantasy, in general.

So I'm going to give you the summary from the manga, itself.

"Satou and his best friend, Hime, have been together for as long as he can remember. So when she tells him she's going back to her homeworld to get married, his first thought is to follow her and crash her wedding. All goes according to plan, and with a kiss from Hime herself, Satou becomes the new groom! But unbeknownst to Satou, the man who marries Hime is destined to be a hero of immense power and save the world! Is Satou up for the challenge, or is this just too much responsibility for one high schooler to handle?!"

OK, when I first read this summary, I was like, "this sounds interesting." Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into because I ended up hooked. With my limited knowledge of manga, at the time, it seems like a good first manga. I've still yet to read any more of Maybe's work, but I liked what I've read so far. I'm currently on volume 6 and already preorder volume 7. saying I'm hooked is an understatement.

The overall story draws you in and the artwork is pretty good, in my opinion. Maybe's use of fan service isn't just for show; as it pertains to the overall story. While volume one only has one of the five princesses, once you advance into later volumes, you will have you waifu, trust me on that.

I'm going to stop there, as I don't want to give away any spoilers. so before I leave you, I wanted to share something with you. Since I've decided to review this manga, I've been trying to figure out how to make it stand out. I greatly enjoy Maybe's art style, so I decided to draw each cover, as I do this review. With that being said, each review will come out, as I finish the artwork. This can take a bit of time, as I do work full time. I'm no maybe, but I do try my best. Until the posting of my volume two review, I've got to figure out the content. I've been reading "Konosuba: God's Blessing on this wonderful world", so I may post a review of that. If you have any suggestion, please let me know.

Until then stay awesome and read a good manga.