This Week in Anime

Snuggling in with Cozy Anime

Coop
No kidding, Chris. Whether you've been watching the temperature or the news, last week was chilling to the bone. As you mentioned, I could go for a hot bowl of soup or a pizza-shaped food object from Little Caesar's. Perhaps not Plastic Little Caesar's. That was last week's column.

That's true! Everyone finds comfort in different places. What might be comforting for one person might put you on edge. When I think of what a "comfort show " is for me, I find myself gravitating toward titles that either remind me of my childhood or came into my life at an incredibly stressful time. Laid-Back Camp is a perfect example of the latter.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was more or less confined to my apartment bedroom. If I wasn't toiling away at my stressful day job, I was constantly finding ways to get through it all. Thanks to a recommendation from a good friend, Laid-Back Camp ended up being the unexpected cup of hot cocoa I needed.

Through Rin and Nadeshiko's camping trips, I experienced a facsimile of life's simple joys at a time when doing that was a tall order. Even if I wasn't watching the show, Akiyuki Tateyama's soundtrack felt like a kind reminder for me to loosen my shoulders and relax my jaw.

That food porn reminds me... I could go for a hot pot something fierce right now.

The virtual tourism aspect was on my mind a lot at that time, especially if you also look at the games I played then. I was running up and down the streets of Yakuza Kiwami 2's Sotenbori like a madman.

I think a rewatch is in order, especially considering I haven't seen a lick of Laid-Back Camp past the first season. It might be just the right time for another cup of that cocca.

Potential forklift certification?! Sign me up coach! Speaking of movies, I'm reminded of a little flick that doesn't exactly stroll along at a Laid-Back pace. You could say that it goes... OVER THE TOP.

You read me right away! Project Eden has always felt like a musical to me with how its tunes are so integral to the action on-screen. For instance, the sting that introduces the film's villain, Dr. Wattsman.

It's one of those flicks I'd recommend watching with the original Japanese audio mix. I dig the Streamline Pictures dub of Project Eden, but it takes the wind out of the score's sails. If it sounds like I'm making this film out to be Boomer Promare, I can't disagree with that assessment.

Promare and Project Eden just make smile right away... The music, the poppy visuals, and the fact that neither takes itself too seriously. Project Eden practically screams "We just saw Aliens and they ruled, so..."

The perfect time to warm up by the Yaoi. Or in the case of Dirty Pair, the Yuri.

Before we move on from movies with dynamic visuals and rockin' tunes, I think we should mention our favorite converting robots, Chris!

While not strictly an anime film, Transformers: The Movie might as well be one considering that Toei Animation served as the production matrix behind this classic. They helped traumatize an entire generation in the process.

Maybe it's not as nutritious, but any shot in the arm is better than one to the shoulder.

Be it with beers or a hot pot, I can't think of anything better on a cold day than sitting around the table with good friends. That's part of why I occasionally return to Tenchi Universe. Unlike Tenchi Muyo!'s other incarnations or most harem shows I've seen, Universe landed with me as a show about found family. Especially the tranquil moments where we find ourselves whittling the time away with the people we love the most. Well, tranquil until your wily Aunt Ryoko starts slinging a little mud at Aunt Ayeka.

That's true! There are more than a few folks who have really, really, really, really, REALLY found some comfort in their 100 Girlfriends. Well, except for Kiyone... She can't stand her girlfriend.

Their stormy relationship does make for one of the most relatable episodes in the whole series. Episode 6 is all about Kiyone and Mihoshi trying to survive the workday. After their day goes belly up, Tenchi and the gang show up at their apartment with a bundle of snacks to share around the table. I can tell ya, it's always nice to sit down with a friend at the end of the day.

By the way, Hazel also covered this specific episode in-depth during her Tenchi Universe retrospective. I recommend checking it out for a nuanced dive into this series.

That sounds pretty relaxing. It reminds me of how I was into trying new craft beer whenever I'd hang out with my friends in college. My selection these days is a little more limited since I don't drink, but I feel that same thrill whenever I discover a new nonalcoholic beer. Not exactly craft, but an NA Blue Moon or 0.0 Heine is pretty good at the end of a long day.

It's more high intensity and far from the bite-sized format of BanG Dream! PICO, but there's a bit of my heart that always melts when I think back to the opening cours of 2020's Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.

Over the past 5 or 6 years, Dragon Quest has been a warm blanket for me—a gentle reminder of my days playing PS2 games as a kid. Back when I didn't have to worry about the weight of the world around me.

The Adventure of Dai ends up layering a "classic shonen anime" blanket on top of that first one. The series made me think back to when I'd catch a random episode of Dragonball Z or Naruto on TV but without the glacially paced battles. In a way, Dai's pacing reminds me a lot of Yu-Yu Hakusho, despite the huge episode count. Adventure of Dai made me feel like a kid again, using those warm fuzzies to provide a little insulation from the cold. It didn't make me cry like Dragon Quest XI's opening movie does, but it sure came close.

Well, to quote a favorite manga of mine that recently wrapped up...

Working with anime is a different beast than just watching it. It's nice to sit back, relax, and not worry about taking notes or screencaps on occasion. However, that might be a topic for another time.

Don't forget the roasted sweet potatoes either!