Category: Secret Santa

Secret Santa 2013 Project Reveal

19 Comments

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.)

Secret Santa Project Review: Aquarion EVOL aka Vandread: The Third Stage

3 Comments

hisui_icon_4040 You could also call this Shinkon Gattai Godannar!!! Third Season if you like. The common thread is these are all mecha shows about the battle of the sexes. But I am actually talking about Aquarion EVOL, the rather unexpected sequel to Genesis of Aquarion, by famed mecha director Shoji Kawamori. It is also my pick for my solo Secret Santa review this year.

First off the bat because of several complications Kate did not participate in the actual draft of  Secret Santa this year. I think it has to do in part with the fact that each year we participate it we have to watch horrible shows that sap our very will to live. That was no small factor in her decision. But apparently once she was out of the equation I got nothing but great titles to watch.

I had to choose from Aquarion EVOL, Darker Than Black, and The Legend of Black Heaven. I actually had to choose which cool show I wanted to review not what poison I wanted to kill me. I mostly went with Aquarion EVOL because we have not had enough mehca anime reviews on the blog in a while. That is as good a criteria for a choice as any. I wonder if this good selection this year will tempt Kate back next year.

On the other hand maybe it would be better if I just do it alone if it breaks the holiday curse.

Continue reading →

The 5th Annual Anime Secret Santa Project Begins!

1 Comment

It might seem early to be thinking about the holidays, but in order to get this ever-growing project off the ground we have to get started! Every year we have people say they never heard about the game so we are extending the window a bit on how long you can sign up. Once again, it is time to call for participants for the 5th Annual Anime Secret Santa Project!

The idea of this project is for everyone who participates to be reviewing a show that they might not normally watch or might have overlooked. Everyone will get someone else in the project to review a series of their choice and in return review something picked by one of their fellow bloggers. The goal is threefold for everyone involved:

  • Mixing up what you watch and review on your blog.
  • Getting other people to watch things you feel deserve more attention.
  • A way to interact with other bloggers thus creating possibilities for cross blog readership, also it fosters an environment to try other cross blog experiments.

Here is how this little experiment will work: If you want to participate send us your Name, Blog Address, and My Anime List Link (or some other equivalent listing) via e-mail (secretsanta.rt [at] gmail [dot] com) with subject: Secret Santa Participant. Due by Sunday, October 6th. Make sure that your MAL (or whatever!) is updated as much as possible before you submit it. Also, if you will not watch fan-subs mention that in the e-mail, too.

We will then make a circular list of everyone involved in the project that only we will know the order of. The order of the list will be made completely at random. Everyone will then receive the name, blog, and list of the person they are the Secret Santa for. You will then suggest three shows for the person all of which must be 26 episodes or less (yes, you can suggest movies, too). The shows must be subtitled in some fashion. Remember that you are picking shows that you hope the other person will like and give an honest chance. Look over their list and whether they watch fan-subs then try to pick out something good but unexpected.

Once we get everyone’s picks we will then pass on the shows to the recipients. No one except us will know the names of the person who gave you your choices. You then pick the show your are going to watch. Everyone is responsible for getting their own material for the review.

You then have until late December to watch the show you were assigned and write a review. On the week of Christmas everyone will post their reviews for the Secret Santa Project. We would prefer you to post your review on Christmas Eve but you can alter it as to the schedule of your blog. On Christmas Day, we will reveal the name of who had who as a Secret Santa along with a small post about the project.

Again: If you want to participate send us your Name, Blog, and My Anime List (or some other equivalent listing) page via e-mail (secretsanta.rt [at] gmail [dot] com) with subject: Secret Santa Participant. Due by Sunday, October 6th.

Just in case someone does not know what traditional Secret Santa is.

Why we don’t do manga secret santa.