Hello, all! Kate here.

I don’t know about you, but I hate the summer. June is only mildly bearable, and then it goes downhill from there. And yet, I love a summer setting—a moment around which everything in a fictional story revolves.

When thinking about summer in anime and manga, Summer Wars naturally comes to mind. My manga of the month is also a summer-y romance story. Other things jump out too: In my review of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop I specifically call out how I wished I had watched it in the summer; Movies like Ride Your Wave and Lu Over the Wall highlight this time of year (maybe Masaaki Yusa has a thing for summer too now that I think about it); and I recently read the sweet romance My Summer of You and its follow up My Summer With You. Summer has so many distinct features and visuals, the season is a joy to behold in anime and manga.

Join us on Discord and let me know what anime or manga summer brings to mind!

-Kate

Hello, all! Kate here.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my passion as a anime fan. My love for the medium has remained ever strong, but I realized I haven’t felt an all-consuming love for a series in a while. But just recently, I’ve found not one but two series that have really captured me! In the latest episode of The Speakeasy Podcast, I gush about Ranking of Kings and it made me realize just how exceptional it was. Then, this new anime season has brought my new obsession: Spy x Family. I feel relieved to know I still have some youthful passion in me!

Join us on Discord and let me know what recent anime or manga has captured you!

-Kate

Hello, all! Kate here.

In case you missed it, this fun little quiz was going around to determine whether you have proper taste in anime men. As should be expected, I and those I associate with all got “Excellent Taste” scores. It actually seems pretty hard to NOT get “Excellent Taste,” but somehow it has happened.

Speaking of excellent taste, I lost a couple of days to a Gackt live marathon. I was once a deeply devoted fan, but have lapsed in last few years so it was time to revisit his music. Turns out I still really love this ridiculously theatrical chuni dork with an incredible voice who sometimes dances with cat mascots. My favorite live is Requiem et Remincesnce I, Gackt is less refined at this point but to my eye he is having the most fun. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry. Get well soon, Gackt!

For bonus points with me, share a favorite Gackt video in the Discord!

Join us on Discord!

-Kate