Anime Recommendations: Calming Shows

I hope everyone is doing well.

A little update: Starting today, I will be staying at home. The university has instructed us to stop going to our practicum sites and to do the work at home. The class will also be done remotely. This was after Justin Trudeau’s announcement, in which he recommended that everyone stay at home.

I’m not sure if I ever wrote this, but I have a number of jobs. Most of them are done from home to begin with, so I’m used to it. Still, I wonder what these next few weeks will look like… O_O

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During these uncertain moments, sometimes we just want to escape from reality for a little while and watch something to distract ourselves. I’m not in the mood to watch something twisted because it reminds me of society too much (hahaha) so these are shows that will help calm you down! In my last blog post, I wrote about songs that inspire hope during this challenging time.

Mushi-shi

Mushi-shi is perfect for when you need to unwind. It makes you feel so calm. The opening song, Shiver by Lucy Rose, is in English and it is such a beautiful song. The colours of the show are so calming to look at. Every episode is its own short story with new characters. I highly recommend this anime.

If you like Mushi-shi, you’ll also like Natsume’s Book of Friends (and vice versa).

The Case Files of Jeweler Richard

This is an anime from this season. This show is pretty interesting because you learn about different gemstones. For example, I didn’t know that there was a fascinating stone called the Cat’s Eye until I watched the show.

My Roommate is a Cat

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In this anime, Subaru Mikazuki, an introverted writer, changes in small ways. Haru is such an adorable cat. The latter half of the episodes are retold from Haru’s point of view.

I’ve reviewed this anime. You can read it here.

After the Rain

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After the Rain has so much beautiful imagery. Akira Tachibana’s eyes are drawn so beautifully and the backgrounds are so pretty. This anime is about loss, innocent love, and new beginnings.

I’ve reviewed this anime. You can read it here.

Winter 2019 Anime: Closing Thoughts

The Promised Neverland

Synopsis: Emma and Norman are orphans who learn that they’re being raised as livestock for demons to eat. Together with Ray, they devise strategies on ways to escape the orphanage.

Thoughts: This was my favourite anime from the season. I highly recommend watching it. Every episode was suspenseful and there were so many cliffhangers. I can’t wait to see what happens next in season 2 in 2020! You can read my first episode impressions post here.

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War 

Poor Ishigami

Synopsis: Kaguya and Shirogami like each other, but they are too prideful to admit it. Each episode is on them trying to get the other to confess.

Thoughts: This show had likable characters. Kaguya, Chika, Ishigami and Hayasaka were all great characters. Ishigami is easily my favourite character from the season, maybe because I can relate to his struggles. The last episode was sweet to watch. I liked how they involved all the characters and not just the two main leads. I was frustrated with how the show ended because I wanted to see more progress in Kaguya and Shirogane’s relationship, but this is a slice-of-anime anime so it’s not surprising. Kaguya-sama had great opening and ending songs.

My Roommate is a Cat

Synopsis: Mikazuki is a writer who doesn’t like going outside or interacting with people. His parents passed away in an accident and he lives by himself. Mikazuki meets a stray cat and takes her in for inspiration for his novel.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this anime a lot. I wrote about this show in more depth, which you can read here. The themes were on friendship and new beginnings. The last episode was really sweet and I liked that the focus was on Mikazuki and Haru, his cat. I recommend this anime if you like cats.

Kakegurui xx

Synopsis: This is the second season of Kakegurui, a gambling anime. The school is hosting a competition in which the student with the most points will become the school president. Yumeko is challenged by a number of students, each wanting to win.

Thoughts: Season one was good, but I didn’t really enjoy season two. The games lacked feeling. When I watched Kaiji I felt anxious and was filled with worry and dread. I didn’t feel any of that with Kakegurui xx. There was a very beautiful episode on Kiari and Sayaka’s relationship, but that was the only memorable thing about the show. The winner of the competition has yet to be to be determined.

Relatable Anime Characters – Part 2

You can read Part 1 here! Note that these are characters that I find relatable – it doesn’t mean that everyone will relate!

1. Morioka from Recovery of an MMO Junkie

We both stare at a screen all day.

We both have an appreciation/love towards lint rollers…

2. Usopp from One Piece

We’re both negative. If anyone has advice on how to be less negative, please write to me.

3. Mikazuki from My Roommate is a Cat

We both like cats, don’t like going outside, have an appreciation towards books, like to write, and don’t take very good care of ourselves.

How I feel when strangers start conversing with me…

Shorter list this time, but that’s all I have for now!

Impressions: My Roommate is a Cat

Japanese: 同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。| Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue.

Episodes released thus far: 7

Genre: Slice of Life

My Roommate is a Cat is a currently airing 12-episode anime from this season (Winter 2019).

60% of the episode is told from Mikazuki’s point of view, while the rest of the episode is told from Haru’s point of view. The same events happen – it’s a retelling of the events but from the cat’s perspective.

Synopsis: Subaru Mikazuki is a writer who hates leaving his house and finds it overwhelming to interact with people. He encounters a stray cat and decides to take her home. He names the cat ‘Haru.’ Each episode portrays how Mikazuki’s life is impacted by Haru and his friends, and how Haru’s life is also changed upon meeting Mikazuki.

Thoughts: Two things drew me into this show: 1) the protagonist’s attitudes towards life and 2) the cat! I’ve been wanting to raise a cat for the longest time, but hopefully I will be able to in a few more years.

Mikazuki reminds me of myself in some ways. We both love reading, we don’t like going outside, and we don’t take very good care of ourselves. Some viewers might find Mikazuki to be unlikable because he isn’t interested in social conversations but I really like him. He loves reading books and enjoys being alone.

During the events of the show, Mikazuki is slowly starting to see that having company over isn’t so bad. We’re just a little over halfway through the show, and Mikazuki is already changing in small ways after living with Haru.

Personal story: I used to always say ‘no’ to my classmates when they asked me to study with them. I study best alone, so I thought it would be too much of a hassle to study with others. This year, I studied with a couple of classmates at a café and I was productive. We helped each other study and I found it really helpful.

Bottom line: There’s always room for personal growth. I don’t think that Mikazuki necessarily has to change, but meeting Haru is a really great thing that happened to him. It was also good for Haru as well.

We learn about Haru’s story and what her life was like as a stray. While Mikazuki won’t know her backstory or thoughts, we know Haru on a much more intimate level. She’s a really great character.

My Roommate is a Cat is an adorable, heartwarming story. Even if you don’t like Mikazuki, you’ll like the cat.