On the other end of what I hope is the biggest and most important election of my lifetime, I feel a mix of joy and nerves. I also begin to wonder if there is a need for me to continue to bring politics into my writing here, only to realize the answer: of course there is. That being said, one of the goals of Edm Junkies has always been to encourage people to think through the lens of anime and manga, so I’ll strive to strike a better balance moving forward. Let’s just say that the last two months were more of an emergency call to action, and even then, it’s only one step in a long journey to a more just and equitable world.
Part of the last month or two has also been me realizing how many Japanese creators are being sucked in by right-wing conspiracy propaganda, which puts me at different degrees of empathy with Harry Potter fans, but I think I might leave that for a full blog post. Or not.
Last month marked 13 years since I began Edm Junkies, and it’s probably the heaviest anniversary post I’ve ever written, in no small part due to everything that has happened in 2020. COVID-19 literally changed the way I blog (even if the actual content might not be so different), and it feels strange to head into December—normally a time where I spend time away while reflecting on anime and manga as well as my personal life—while hyper-aware of the fact that things are simply Not Normal this year.
As 2020 comes to a close, I want to thank my Patreon sponsors, especially the following:
General:
Johnny Trovato
Ko Ransom
Diogo Prado
Alex
Sue Hopkins fans:
Serxeid
Hato Kenjirou fans:
Elizabeth
Yajima Mirei fans:
Machi-Kurada
And while my Patreon rewards are such that I only include people above a certain pledge amount every month, I want to give a special shout-out to those who’ve supported me for a long time who choose not to have their names on public display. I really am grateful.
Blog highlights from November:
Gold Lightan Is Bananas
Go watch Gold Lightan. It is a ridiculous anime that few can match up with.
Pokémon Journeys, the Original Mewtwo, and Playing with Canon
Thoughts on the recent anime return of the OG Mewtwo from the first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back
500 “Easy” Steps: Rivals of Aether
My review of the Smash Bros.-style game Rivals of Aether has turned out to be one of my most popular articles in recent memory.
Hashikko Ensemble
Chapter 34 shows both the grace and might of its student body.
Patreon-Sponsored
Let’s Make an Entire Show Out of Dance CG: D4DJ First Mix
My early thoughts on this anime about cute girls DJing.
Apartment 507
Love Live!, Nijigasaki’s Setsuna Yuki, and the President Archetype
Comparing the student council presidents of Love Live! past and present.
Closing
May we have a 2021 that is full of light and hope, and where we can all laugh and sing together again.
In the meantime, stay home for the holidays if you can. Let’s all protect one another.
