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Last edit: 2021-12-27
I try to add enlightening commentary, but let's face it:
I'm far from perfect.

For cartoons that are not listed in the encyclopedia please click here.
    EDIT: 2020-12-31
    I have seen two three videos that examine the concept of "classics" from distinctly different perspectives:
  1. Gigguk | Garnt Maneetapho

  2. Mother's Basement | Geoff Thew

  3. Bonsai Pop | Mike ?
EDIT: 2020-04-11
In this video YouTube user Gigguk (Garnt Maneetapho) talks about SAO in the context of gateway anime.
    2 Videos That Share a Common Theme:
  1. "The Greatest Thing Anime Has Done"|Gigguk (Garnt Maneetapho)
  2. "A Love Letter to a Place Further than the Universe" | Isla McTear (Line/link added 2020-06-24)
EDIT: 2020-06-10
3 Different Perspectives On the Importance of The Ending EDIT: 2021-05-10
Geoff Thew ("Mother's Basement") has a fascinating video essay on the concept of "sakuga".
EDIT: 2021-12-27
10 Anime That Are Fantastic But Hard To Recommend
Anime only continues to get more and more mainstream, but these are 10 anime we wouldn't want to recommend even though they're great.
By Jacob Buchalter
(posted on cbr.com on 2020, Mar 30)
Seen/Read All (public list) Rating
Seraph of the End: Battle in Nagoya (TV) Excellent (dub), Masterpiece (sub)
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign (TV) Excellent (dub), Masterpiece (sub)
Serial Experiments Lain (TV) Very good (dub), Excellent (sub)
If you require action or fan service, then stay away. Heavy on drama and character development.
"Serial Experiments Lain: Loving the Wired and the Weird"|Matthew Roe
Shadows House (TV) Excellent (dub & sub)

  1. "The Shadow and Her Doll"|A steam punk sensibility. Lots of mysteries are presented. 9/11
  2. "Outside the Room"| The song sung by the Living Dolls is positively creepy...... Sarah is domineering to Kate. 10/11
  3. "The Soot Sickness"| The creepiness factor is amped up.....
    Rebecca Silverman wrote:
    There's definitely something rotten in the Shadow House.
    Which reminds me of: Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark
    10/11
  4. "Watchers in the Night"| Seeing the trio come together as a team is a real treat!
    11/11
  5. "The Debut"| What cruelty -- and the episode ends on a cliffhanger. 11/11
  6. "The Garden Labyrinth"| So the Living Doll Edward is trying to eliminate at least one of the pairs -- and it turns out this this is being treated like a game by number of other Shadows. And so the plot thickens..... 11/11
  7. "An Incomplete Map"| So now five people have come together but now must go their own separate ways..... 11/11
  8. "In the Palm of His Hand"| Cliffhangers are, by definition, unexpected and dramatic endings; but, even so, this cliffhanger is quite unexpected! What, exactly, is Edward?! 11/11
  9. "A Bird Cage and Flowers"| What a dramatic rescue! 11/11
  10. "The Final Pair"| What a shocking ending. 11/11
  11. "The Dark Drink"| Move and countermove. (There's a listening device in the room.....) 11/11
  12. "To Lord Grandfather's Wing"| This is the penultimate episode. What will the last episode be like?! What is that creature that's been following Kate around?! 11/11
  13. "For the Sake of the Shadows Family"| So the political situation in in the Shadows House is now at a stalemate. 10/11
Rating at 10/11 "The ending is paramount."
Would have rated the dub at 9/11 (Very Good) but synchronizing the flaps to English for the insert song was brilliantly done.
ED song Also, the ED itself is exceptionally animated.
Shakugan no Shana (TV) Very good (dub), Excellent (sub)
Shakugan no Shana has a little bit to offer to everyone. The plot lines and character development are handled competently enough, and there is more than enough action to satisfy those who want it. Of special interest, in my opinion, is the soundtrack. On the CD "Assorted Shana Vol. #3", the tenth track "La Vie Recomence" is simply to die for. The composer, Ko Otani, (A.K.A. Kou Ootani) once again -- in my opinion -- shows just how good he is. The "Shakugan no Shana Original Sound Track" is also worth checking out.
Shakugan no Shana (movie) So-so
A recap of the first six episodes.
Shakugan no Shana III (Final) (TV) Good
J.C. Staff must accept all of the blame for not adequately tying all three series together. Go to:
Shakugan no Shana S (OAV) Good
Shakugan no Shana Second (TV) Good (dub), Very good (sub)
Shakugan no Shana SP: Koi to Onsen no Kōgai Gakushū! (OAV) Good
Shangri-La (TV) Decent (dub & sub)
She and Her Cat (OAV) Masterpiece
She and Her Cat -Everything Flows- (TV) Masterpiece
These four shorts total less than 30 minutes -- just take the time to see if you enjoy them!
She, The Ultimate Weapon (TV) Masterpiece (dub & sub)
My initial inclination was to rate it at 10/11; however, I'm rating it as 11/11 because of the OST. Also, see SaiKano: Another Love Song (OAV).
Shigofumi - Letters from the Departed (TV) Masterpiece

Nice ED
Ep.#6 really got to me.

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