Anime Review Time: Paranoia Agent

On the prowl for something new to consume, I visited N to Watch Paranoia Agent by Satoshi Kon, creator of Paprika and Tokyo Godfathers. Having watched a few of Satoshi’s previous works, and being interested in series that have psychological elements to them, I knew that I would not be disappointed with the art style and obscurity of the storyline.

When you gain so much success for a character, what do you do when you are under pressure to produce more?

The series does start off a bit slow and gains momentum after the first few episodes. Speeding up the first few episodes would have kept my attention a bit more. I was drawn to the various differences of the characters mindsets and psychological states (such as multiple personality disorder) that have drawn Lil slugger to them to ease their pains.  Even though the series is about the characters that have been targeted by Lil Slugger, I feel that there could have been a little bit more story for the characters who were around the victims of Lil Slugger and how they dealt with the attacks to the person they were close to. I also felt that the episode with the little girl, older man, and man around his twenties was a bit of a distraction to the storyline and personally didn’t add much to the plot.

After watching Paranoia Agent, I made my way back to discuss our opinions on the series. Upon talking with N’s friend Ks, I was told that each episode referenced Satoshi’s earlier works. Not only do I have to go back and rewatch the series, I also have to catch up and rewatch Satoshi’s previous body of works to get the imbedded references that are scattered throughout the episodes of Paranoia Agent that I missed the first time around.

Have you watched Paranoia Agent before? What did you think about the characters or storyline?

Share your thoughts below!

Bye Upper West Side

Yup... Two years has flown by and due to various reasons, I'm headed back to the South Side.
It sucks because I kinda like my neighborhood, but hopefully it will be a good thing. I will be able to sort things out, help my fam, and maybe even volunteer at my high school since I will be closer there. I want to do a little something different in my old neighborhood while I am back there again.

When I move back out again... I don't quite know where I want to move to. I think I'd stay in the city still.

Though the transportation in Chicago is better than some, it still eats up quite a bit of time especially heading to and from the north and south sides.
Oh wells. Maybe I should have learned how to drive a bit sooner due to the distance I will be traveling in my city! In due time......... right?


Debating on taking up another semester or so of school... But unless its online or night classes, I may not be able to.

Final Fantasy Jerk Offs: Wakka

One of the most recognizable characters of the Playstation 2 installment, Wakka is a Blitzball player of the Besaid Aurochs. With his orange hair and bright clothes, he reflects the sunny, sandy atmosphere of the Besaid Islands. He is one of Yuna’s guardians and the coach of the Aurochs, a team who can’t seem to score a goal and is ok with just doing their best. When he happens upon Tidus and his signature move, Wakka is drawn to him instantly and snares Tidus in his grasp.
Rewatching the scenes of Final Fantasy 10 I started to notice something in Wakka’s behavior. Though Tidus needed a place to exist in the land of Spira with his core talent, was Besaid the right place to start off and with Wakka? A man who saw that there was talent in the young estranged Blitzball player? A man who only wanted to use Tidus for his own personal benefit for his failing team?

Now you may say, “How can you say that about Wakka?!” With just reviewing the first part of the game’s cut scenes I noticed that Wakka wants to win a tournament and tries to make it seem that it is ok for Tidus to refuse to help out a team. How can Tidus say no to playing his favorite game and what he lives for in life? Tidus has no choice but to say yes, entrapping himself in Wakka’s plans.
To further reiterate my point:

1. Wakka upsets Lulu by choosing to have Tidus tag along with their group. She had loved Wakka’s brother, Chappu, who looked similar to Tidus and had died years before.

2. Wakka even salted Lulu’s wound by giving Tidus Chappu’s sword, the Brotherhood Sword.
3. Wakka also does nothing when Yuna has been in the temple for too long. He stands by and watches as Tidus makes his way through the temple to save the summoner.
What do you think? Is Wakka a jerk for nabbing Tidus for his plans or not?
I would love to hear from you!