As noted philosopher, scholar, and warrior Yuri Kumoi once said, “Forgive those who will not love you and love those who will not forgive you.” Someone else might have also said something like that. I’m not too sure.
In the past we may have been wronged. We may have wanted the Armor Hunter Mellowlink of joy as a Secret Santa present but instead gotten the Texhnolyze of despair instead. But during the holiday season it is a time of forgiveness. We try to spread the joy and wonder of a newly discovered favorite show despite the hardships of the past. In turn we hope that those we touch will do that same to another as well. And so we hope to make the anime blogosphere a slightly brighter place.
That is also why we gut punch anyone who recommends people Boku no Pico. “Hit him three times and even the Buddha will get mad.”
And so we enter into the 5th year of this project that brings together some very diverse voices anime blogosphere. Every year it is rather interesting for both of us running the project. I myself love to see how many people adore what they get as choices, how many have to just bite the bullet and choose what they hope is the least worst show, and how many unexpectedly find something they would have never seen before. It is also enlightening to see what shows also get recommended, what shows are popular to watch or recommend any given year, and what has never been reviewed. I feel like I saw so much less Denno Coil this year just because it was so often recommended in the past that a majority of the participants have either seen the show or watched it because another participant loved it so much in their review in a previous year. I think Kate and I will do a little round up on the results next year when most of the reviews have come in.
But until then let us see who gave the gifts of socks and ties and who gave the gifts that people actually wanted.
(As a side note: I have actually gotten to the age were I often just ask for new clothing for work from my parents for Christmas. I actually want the socks and ties. Goodness I feel old.)
- SDShamshel reviewed Acchi Kocchi as recommended by Shance
- Yerocha reviewed Akagi as recommended by SDShamshel
- Ray reviewed Chihayafuru as recommended by Yerocha
- Kyokai reviewed XXXX as recommended by Ray
- Charles reviewed Kara no Kyoukai as recommended by Kyokai
- Scamp reviewed Kanon (2006) as recommended by Charles
- Aeroblip reviewed XXXX as recommended by Scamp
- Lothos reviewed Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure as recommended by Aeroblip
- JoeAnimated reviewed End of Evangelion as recommended by Lothos
- Kory reviewed Gunbuster as recommended by JoeAnimated
- John aka Jeckyllgeek reviewed Time of Eve as recommended by Kory
- Inushinde reviewed Maria-sama ga Miteru as recommended by John aka Jeckyllgeek
- lvlln reviewed Spice and Wolf as recommended by Inushinde
- BTA reviewed FLCL as recommended by lvlln
- Tom reviewed Ocean Waves as recommended by BTA
- Foshizzel reviewed Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei as recommended by Tom
- Appropriant reviewed Tiger & Bunny as recommended by Foshizzel
- Deadlight reviewed Xam’d: Lost memories as recommended by Appropriant
- Alain reviewed Aquarion EVOL as recommended by Deadlight
- Sumaiiri reviewed Azumanga Daioh, Whisper of the Heart, Planetes, & Solid State Society as recommended by Alain
- Steelbound reviewed Break Blade Movie 1 as recommended by Sumaiiri
- TheBigN reviewed Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth as recommended by Steelbound
- Vincenzo reviewed Kino’s Journey as recommended by TheBigN
- Landon reviewed Macross Plus as recommended by Vincenzo
- ExecutiveOtaku reviewed XXXX as recommended by Landon
- Highway reviewed Macross Frontier as recommended by ExecutiveOtaku
- Bradley reviewed Mysterious Girlfriend X as recommended by Highway
- Andy reviewed Dragon Half & Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still as recommended by Bradley
- Cely_belly reviewed XXXX as recommended by Andy
- kevo reviewed Summer Wars as recommended by Cely_belly
- Karakuri reviewed Aria the Animation as recommended by kevo
- lostty reviewed Read or Die OVA as recommended by Karakuri
- Diego reviewed Perfect Blue as recommended by lostty
- Fang-tan reviewed Memories as recommended by Diego
- Keikakudoori reviewed Gatchaman Crowds and Binbougami ga! as recommended by Fang-tan
- Sabas reviewed XXXX as recommended by Keikakudoori
- Chii reviewed Starship Operators as recommended by Sabas
- Donald reviewed ef – a tale of memories as recommended by Chii
- Astrange reviewed XXXX as recommended by Donald
- TheDigitalBug reviewed Pale Cocoon as recommended by Astrange
- BokuSatchii reviewed XXXX as recommended by TheDigitalBug
- joshspeagle reviewed Ayakashi and Mononoke as recommended by BokuSatchii
- IntermediateOtaku reviewed THE IDOLM@STER & The Future Diary as recommended by joshspeagle
- Matty reviewed Taisho Yakyu Musume as recommended by IntermediateOtaku
- Shinmaru reviewed Working!! as recommended by Matty
- Kai reviewed Little Witch Academia as recommended by Shinmaru
- Emily reviewed Aria the Animation as recommended by Kai
- Caraniel reviewed One Outs as recommended by Emily
- Numbers and space reviewed Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket as recommended by Caraniel
- Wendeego reviewed Perfect Blue as recommended by Numbers and space
- Emily reviewed Koi Kaze as recommended by Wendeego
- Lerxst2112 reviewed XXXX as recommended by Emily
- Spring reviewed Bunny Drop as recommended by Lerxst2112
- SuperNeku reviewed Millennium Actress as recommended by Spring
- Schneider reviewed Howl’s Moving Castle and Midori Days as recommended by SuperNeku
- Erick reviewed Planetes as recommended by Schneider
- Emperor J reviewed Whisper of the Heart as recommended by Erick
- Mr. Flawfinder reviewed Martian Succesor Nadesico as recommended by Emperor J
- Hakim reviewed Nerima Daikon Brothers as recommended by Mr. Flawfinder
- Kadian1365 reviewed XXXX as recommended by Hakim
- fnzna reviewed Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket as recommended by Kadian1365
- Ink reviewed Mahjong Legend Akagi: The Genius Who Descended Into the Darkness as recommended by fnzna
- Overcooled reviewed Seirei no Moribito as recommended by Ink
- swabl reviewed Michiko to Hatchin as recommended by Overcooled
- Justin reviewed Steins;Gate as recommended by swabl
- Draggle reviewed Tokyo Godfathers as recommended by Justin
- Hoshi reviewed Noein as recommended by Draggle
- Shance reviewed Genshiken as recommended by Hoshi
I think it’s worth pointing out that both Inushinde and draggle put up Secret Santas already
also rather strange that you’d put up the name I gave in the emails rather then the one used for blogging. My bad I guess.
Yeah, I put mine up as well. I tweeted the link to one of you.
Actually my review is going to be about Starship Operators you linked my Anime-Planet secret santa heh :)
Just wanted to point out that you linked to Bradley’s last year Secret Santa review of Aoi Bungaku, rather than the current Secret Santa post of Mysterious Girlfriend X
http://thosedamncartoons.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/honey-i-are-doing-just-fine-mysterious-girlfriend-x-secret-santa-review/
Just posted my review of ef – a tale of memories. Hey, at least I was only 49 minutes late this time! Progress!
http://otakunopodcast.com/2013/12/26/anime-secret-santa-review-ef-a-tale-of-memories/#more-3746
Another Christmas, another (late, my bad!!) anime to review!
Part of what I look forward to doing these each year other than watching a series I might like is also seeing what others recommend to watch – or not watch.
I’m not sure if the number of participants is bigger this year than last, but props to you two for taking such a huge task of organizing this fun project on what is probably an already insane schedule in your daily tasks.
Merry Christmas, and I’m already looking forward to doing it again next year!
I believe you got the link on my SS entry wrong, my dear detectives.
Corrected.
– Alain
You linked my review from last year. :)
Corrected.
– Alain
This sounds like quite a lot of fun and will definitely consider taking part next year!