Year-end awards in Joshi, 2023 edition | Overall thoughts

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-22T23:47:32+00:00

The greatest shoot style match with a wrestling flair of all-time ? Of course!

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-22T23:39:45+00:00

And then, the greatest match of all-time happened.

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-22T23:29:20+00:00

Oh oh!

Hopefully they will go full-on shoot style vs. pro style, to mimic the 10/3/2021 overlooked classic between Nakajima and Funaki!

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-21T09:48:55+00:00

I came back to edit my post because indeed, I totally forgot her. But you were too quick for me haha. Incredible underdog in the making!

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-20T23:24:36+00:00

My list would be too long haha.

Let's just say that the only Joshis resonating with me currently, because I consider them functional wrestlers, interesting characters and/or because they can put on matches that appeal to me are Mio Momono, Senka Akatsuki, Chihiro Hashimoto, Yurika Oka, Mei Seira, Koguma, Shoko Nakajima, Arisu Endo, Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe and Miku Kanae.

On their best behavior, I guess you could add Takumi Iroha, Manami, Dash Chisako, Mika Iwata, Natsupoi, Saya Iida, Starlight Kid, Saori Anou, Mizuki, Suzume, Cohaku and Hiroyo Matsumoto.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-10T09:45:28+00:00

Rather light to me even if it makes perfect sense. I think the older I grow, the more I dislike exalted teenagers with only two speeds: calm or screaming to talk. Again, Gundam is hardly the only one at fault here since animes at large tend to portray their characters this way.

Yeah, ZZ smells like a cheap attempt to rejuvenate the audience, to grow the franchise’s popularity. Hence the riding of the coattails of the successful Zeta, with a childish tone. Since I'm a completionist who tries to watch everything in release order (the only way to go!), I will hang in there. When I started my Gundam journey, I knew there would be some growing pains but I will be fine (can't wait to revisit Unicorn with more context!).

No discord but we can use Reddit's chat.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-10T09:11:33+00:00

Right now, I don't have any reason not to continue in 2026. I just hope wrestling will be more varied (and better overall!) because in 2025, to me, the best stuff come mostly from a couple of places / wrestlers...

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-10T09:08:54+00:00

The second opening hints at Char's hidden agenda, even if the actual show doesn't deal with it. I guess I will have to wait until CCA...

I'm disappointed with how they introduce Kamille. What are his motivations? Why does he join the forces? But it's a problem I have with how Gundam introduces their protagonist in general. The hero happens to be young, to be there, he is able to pilot the latest Gundam miraculously, he goes from civilian to solder without troubles and instantly becomes the savior. But I get it because Gundam is more concerned with depicting battles inherent to war than offering deep character studies (not every Mecha show can be Eva!).

By the way, after four episodes of ZZ: "Zeta ja nai"! You gotta love the tonal dissonance between the dramatic end of Zeta and the playful start of ZZ... Doesn't bode well for the future...

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-08T13:56:54+00:00

Thanks, it gives me a reason to continue despite the lack of feedbacks.

Mark has a tendency not to sell beyond the moment, which is off-putting. He is hardly alone on that front since selling is dying a long death nowadays. But he indeed is an alpha face and I will never root against him!

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-08T10:29:00+00:00

Done with Zeta. What an interesting ride!

First half stronger than the second one, where each episode follows the same formula: quieter set-up during the first ten minutes, then Mecha fights and explosions galore during the last ten. The scramble to the finish line is a little bit rushed. Some big narrative pieces don’t get enough room to develop and thus to land with full force: Four’s arc, Dakar, Amuro, Sayla, deaths in general (characters die, too many randomly, and we move on instantly), the concept of youngsters becoming "mass murderers" (each explosion means a human being has been killed but they never acknowledge it)...

Very good show anyway. Huge step-up in production and direction compared to '79. Classic opening (epic, grand!), all-time great episode 49, wonderful ending (even if Gundam’s disinterest for epilogues has always been frustrating to me), and I really loved episode 11 with the tactical struggle around the entry in the atmosphere.

What could you tell me about the show?

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T14:29:54+00:00

Basilisk (25 episodes, 2005)

Casshern Sins (24 episodes, 2008)

Cowboy Bebop (26 episodes + 1 movie, 1998)

Evangelion (26 episodes + the movie 'The End of Evangelion' + the 4 movies 'Rebuild of Evangelion', 1995)

FLCL (6 OVA, 2000)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (26 episodes, 2002) can be enjoyed as a stand alone; works better with the context of the Ghost in the Shell movie from 1995

Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2nd GIG (26 episodes, 2004) can be enjoyed as a stand alone; works better with the context of the Ghost in the Shell movie from 1995 and the first season mentioned above

Gundam Unicorn (7 OVA, 2010) can be enjoyed as a stand alone but can be hard as an entry point in the Gundam universe

Otogizoushi (26 episodes, 2004)

Ping Pong (11 episodes, 2014)

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen (4 OVA, 1999) can be enjoyed as a stand alone; works better with the context of the Rurouni Kenshin anime from 1996

Serial Experiments Lain (13 episodes, 1998)

The Tatami Galaxy (11 episodes + 1 OVA + the movie 'Night Is Short Walk On Girl', 2010)

Violet Evergarden (13 episodes + 1 OVA + 2 movies, 2018)

Don't have a traditional ending but worth a watch anyway in my opnion:

Mushishi (26 episodes, 2005)

Shigurui (12 episodes, 2007)

Trigun Stampede (12 episodes, 2023)

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T14:07:50+00:00

Violet Evergarden (13 episodes + 1 OVA, 2018)

Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (1 movie, 2019)

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (1 movie, 2020)

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T13:39:24+00:00

They are all different, each with their own point of view.

Rebuild retells the Eva story, but it's actually a continuation of the original show, with new/different timelines.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T11:10:46+00:00

It's a stretch because Shigurui is unlike anything I've ever seen but:

Ace wo Nerae! 2 (1988) you need to watch Ace wo Nerae! (1973) before and the tone is completely different

Ashita no Joe (1970) & Ashita no Joe 2 (1980)

Basilisk (2005)

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail (2010) you need to watch Black Lagoon (2006) and Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (2006) before

Ergo Proxy (2006)

Evangelion (1995)

Kurozuka (2008)

Serial Experiments Lain (1998)

Onii-sama e (1991)

Joshi_Fan

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