GTWFSL Virtual Christmas Caroling 2020

This is definitely the toughest GTWFSL "virtual jam" video we've ever done so far, as this time, it's not just a collaboration between my high school students and me, but a schoolwide project that involves my my co-teachers and our elementary students as well.  Since there were a lot more video files to juggle, editing it required more work.  In the end, I think our collection of talents succeeded in making a beautiful production for our Lord Jesus Christ.  Merry Christmas!

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Virtual Jam with My Students Part 6

This time, we covered Tommy Walker's short medley of his two songs, "Mourning Into Dancing" and "Only a God Like You", which was performed in the first episode of "Live from Home: Worship with Friends" in his Youtube channel.

Chain of Thoughts: Disney Investor Day 2020

Disney had their annual Investor Day a few days ago, and they dropped a lot of major updates regarding their projects in the coming weeks, months, and even years.  I have some thoughts.

Virtual Jam with My Students Part 5

As our project for the 1st grading of SY 2020-2021, my high school students and I did a virtual cover of the Battle Hymn of the Reformation -- "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" by Martin Luther.  Our rendition is based on Tim Bushong's version, which awesomely reimagined it as a rock anthem.

Apart from a Batman Supervillain and a Decent Car Chase Sequence, There's Nothing Else of Note in 'Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!'

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! is the 31^st direct-to-video Scooby-Doo! animated movie, and also completes a trilogy with the last two movies – Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13^th Ghost and Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island.  Set during Halloween (duh), the movie kicks off with the Scooby Gang clashing with and defeating Jonathan Crane a.k.a. the Scarecrow – yep, the Batman supervillain (note: Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold established a share universe).  However, as it turns out, their night’s work is only beginning.  Before long, flying zombie jack-o-lanterns, arising from the nearby pumpkin patch, attack the town.  With the help of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and Bill Nye the Science Guy, the Scooby Gang must figure out a way to stop their terror spree.

'The Queen's Gambit' Is a Grand, Masterful Chess Drama

The Queen’s Gambit has ended up becoming one of the hottest TV shows of 2020.  And, of course, I had to watch it.  Not only is the buzz for it considerable enough to amply fuel my curiosity, but it revolves around a topic I find interesting: chess.

Despite Its Seemingly Basic Premise, 'Love and Monsters' Is a Delightful, Uplifting Standout

Love and Monsters is set in a post-apocalyptic world wherein a chemical fallout had mutated cold-blooded animals, such as bugs and amphibians, into giant monsters.  Seven years later, these monsters have taken over the world, and the few remnants of humanity are now living in underground bunkers called “colonies.”

The plot centers on a young man named Joel Dawson (Dylan O’Brien).  Although he can’t contribute much to his colony as he can’t help but freeze up whenever there’s a monster, he’s quite beloved by his companions.  Nevertheless, he still feels lonely since everyone in the colony has found his or her soulmate except for him.  But after discovering by radio that his high school girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick), whom he got separated seven years ago during the height of the apocalypse, is in a coastal colony 80 miles away from where he is, he decides to set out on perilous journey across monster-infested lands so that he can finally reunite with her.

'Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day' Is a Masterfully-Executed Coming-of-Age Melodrama

First released in 2011, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is widely regarded as one of the best anime dramas of all time.   It has supposedly made anyone who sees it cry.  I’ve known its reputation for years, but it was only recently that I finally got around to seeing it for myself.  I binged the whole thing – 11 episodes plus the sequel movie – while Typhoon Ulysses was brewing last Wednesday.

Anohana tells the story of six childhood friends – Jinta “Jintan” Yadomi, Meiko “Menma” Honma, Naruko “Anaru” Anjo, Atsumu “Yukiatsu” Matsuyuki, Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi, and Tetsudo “Poppo” Hisakawa.  When they were in sixth grade, they were a tight-knit group, referring to themselves as the “Super Peace Busters.”  One summer day, during their playtime, Menma accidentally fell to the river and drowned, and after her death, the five remaining friends drifted apart.

'Nichijou' Is Truly an Anime Comedy Gem

Considered by many as one of the funniest anime series of all time, Nichijou – also known as Nichijou: My Ordinary Life – was something I had always been meaning to see (at the earliest, I considered picking it up immediately after watching Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto).  I finally decided to start watching it after I finished Daily Lives of High School Boys, intending it to be its replacement – something I could sporadically watch, reserved for my “free-ist of free times.”  However, although it’s somewhat similar to Daily Lives of High School Boys in its comedic style and presentation, I was compelled to binge and finish Nichijou immediately.  It’s because there’s an “addicting” flavor to it that Daily Lives of High School Boys didn’t have.

'Enola Holmes' Is a Winsome Sherlock Holmes Reimagination

As a life-long Sherlock Holmes fan, I will most likely check out the latest Sherlock Holmes-related media that get under my radar.  Thus, there was no way I was missing Enola Holmes.

'Gakuen Babysitters' Is Exactly the Cute, Wholesome Comedy Anime You Expect It to Be

Gakuen Babysitters, a.k.a.  School Babysitters, ran during winter 2018, but I didn’t pick it up then.  Similar to my experience with My Neighbor Seki, I only learned of this anime and was compelled to watch it after seeing cute and funny clips of it shared on Facebook.

Gakuen Babysitters follows a teenage boy named Ryūichi Kashima and his toddler brother Kotarō, who are left orphaned when their parents are killed in a plane crash.  They aren’t on their own for long, however, as they are soon taken in by Yōko Morinomiya, the Chairwoman of Morinomiya Academy, who also lost her son and daughter-in-law in the same plane crash.  In exchange for her guardianship, Ryūichi has to enroll in Morinomiya Academy and then start the school’s babysitter club, in which he and any member he may somehow recruit must help in the daycare.

'High & Low: The Worst' Is Fire

At last.   A year after I got into High & Low, I finally got to watch the film whose trailer enticed me to check out this awesome franchise in the first place – High & Low: The Worst.  And, as anticipated, I relished it.

Technically a crossover between High & Low and the Crows and Worst manga series by Hiroshi Takahashi, the movie features a clash between Oya High School and Housen Academy – the former being the “O” in S.W.O.R.D., which is the five main gangs of High & Low; and the latter being the most prominent rival of Suzuran High School, the central gang in Crows and Worst.  And as usual with these crossovers, after the two parties engage in the obligatory battle, they eventually team up during the third act to take on the true bad guys of the story.

'Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!' Is a Masaaki Yuasa Masterpiece

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! ran earlier this year, during winter 2020, but I didn’t get to watch it.  I knew it was good, but I guess I wasn’t in the headspace to get into it then.  However, I finally got around to watching it recently.  One of the reasons that pushed me to do so was my disappointment with Japan Sinks: 2020, the most recent offering from renowned director Masaaki Yuasa.  I needed a good Yuasa anime to counter that disappointment, and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, which he also directed, was fortunately on hand.

'Daily Lives of High School Boys' Is Hilarious Silliness

Daily Lives of High School Boys is a 2012 slice-of-life comedy series that revolves around a class in Sanada North High, an all-boys high school.  Every episode consists of several short segments – sometimes inter-connected, sometimes standalone – showcasing their wacky, boyish escapades.  Most of the segments center on the main trio of Tadakuni, Hidenori Tabata and Yoshitake Tanaka, but there are also segments that focus more on their classmates and/or the recurring female characters.

Anime of Summer 2020, Ranked

This is a bit late already, but here’s the recap of all the anime from summer 2020 that I watched – arranged from what I liked the least to what I liked the most, and their titles color coded for new series, returning series, and carryovers from spring 2020.

Ahiru no Sora

I stuck with it through its 50-episode run only to watch the main characters lose every game they played.  If only the action during basketball games were more hyped and visually striking, I would have been fine with the endless losing.  But the animation and direction during matches were pretty basic.  Thus, following it through four cours was mostly a tedious experience for me.  But as I mentioned a season back, I had decided to go all in with this.  So, yeah, I’ll hate-watch season 2 when it comes.