Sara Talks Anime

Before I get into the writeup I typically do, I just wonder: how similar is the mangaka process to the graphic novelist process? Someone correct me if I’m incorrect, but I believe that in some instances, graphic novels get serialized in the same way as manga does. Is it just Japan that has the magazines that include chapters of many different series as part of serialization, or does the US have an equivalent to that for its comic series? I already know that the US wouldn’t go right to left, but how similar are the two markets?

…okay, I’m probably rambling on too long, it’s writeup time.

In this week’s episode of A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace: Futami gets in a slump while waiting for the first tankobon volume of her manga to release. And we do see the volume get released in this episode, as well as some hijinx than ensue afterward.

Overall, this was a fun episode. I especially enjoyed how the characters interacted with each other in this episode. Seeing how the characters act so naturally together, it’s no wonder that I enjoyed this episode as much as I did. While this wasn’t an episode that had me laughing out loud, I feel like that wasn’t supposed to be the purpose of this episode.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “What? Sara thinks that there can be episodes of comedy series that don’t focus on the comedy?” is likely the thought going through your mind right now. And to answer that thought: despite this being a comedy, there still has to be some semblance of a plot, hence why we have the story of Futami writing her own manga.

So, it’s completely understandable that there are episodes that move the story that’s typically in the background, especially since it doesn’t feel like that this is a story that can easily exist in a realm where time doesn’t march forward, or marches forward at a slow pace. Though I wonder if we’ll get to see the characters age at all.

Am I only asking that because I watch an anime series that’s been ongoing for almost 30 years at this point that evolves its technology to match with modern time but seemingly refuses to let its main characters age, despite celebrating the same holidays multiple times? Pfft, no, what could possibly give you that idea?

Anywho, I found myself enjoying the episode, even if I didn’t find myself laughing at it. And, hey, as long as I can find myself getting lost in the world of a show without it getting into territory that’s too uncomfortable for me, I think that’s the biggest win of them all. I don’t particularly care about how flashy the fight scenes are or how smooth the animation is. I just want to be able to have a show that I can daydream myself into once the episode of the week is done. And right now, A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace is fitting the bill perfectly for me.

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