Arist posted:

For my challenge, Umurangi Generation is on sale on Steam for $12 atm, and you mentioned photography as well as games, so play a bit of that and post some choice shots. If for whatever reason that doesn't work just say so.

starbucks hermit posted:

Julias posted:

1. Doctors without Borders
   
2. OP of the Seasonal threads
   
3. Anime, Manga, Video Games, Japanese History, Folklore, and Classical Art
   
4. Reading, Writing, Watching TV, Video Games, Running, Shopping.
   
5. Art, Music, Board Games.

sb hermit posted:

oops, I meant to say

Julias posted:

So today I finished watching Adachi and Shimamura. The premise is simple-we have two delinquent school girls, the titular Adachi and Shimamura, who form a bond hanging out with each other on the second floor of the empty gymnasium while playing hooky from class. Adachi is a loner, who hasn't sought friendship, and Shimamura is aloof, and tends to go with the flow of things, which has the consequence of her having trouble maintaining steady, meaningful relationships with others. As the two hang out, they come to realize the feelings they have for each other, and we watch their relationship grow. As one might expect with adolescents, both characters are terrible at both expressing their true feelings and understanding each other's intent.

Adachi rather quickly realizes that she is full-on, head-over-heels, in love with Shimamura, but is both afraid of pushing her away, and lacks the self-esteem to confess her true feelings. On the other hand, Shimamura initially thinks of Adachi as just another friend, and over the course of the show, slowly realizes that her days without her are a little less colorful, and that she laments the flow of time that moves people apart.

The show, based on a novel, is framed by alternating between the two characters as the narrating perspective, which does a good job of giving the viewer both character's perspectives and internal thoughts. As an adult, I can't help but say that it's a tad frustrating and aggravating seeing dumb kids be stupid about this stuff, especially when they spin their wheels and wind up being so oblivious to comical degrees, as is the case with Shimamura somehow never grasping that Adachi truly loves her, despite all of the intimate physical interactions and time that they spend together.

I enjoyed seeing Adachi's small personal victories throughout the show, and was saddened whenever she lacked the conviction to go through with a plan or make a love confession. These are both good things, as they make you root for the character to succeed. The show wasn't really all that humorous, but there was the occasional cutaway gag or joke that made me smirk. The animation quality isn't anything standout, but the color design in the show was nice, it painted each romantic scene with an exaggerated hue of warmth, especially in the Opening to the show.

As much as I enjoyed the journey watching these two doofuses, I have to say the ending feels a tad underwhelming. Despite Adachi becoming a bit more bold and proactive, she never confesses her love to Shimamura, and likewise while Shimamura finds comfort in Adachi and would be sad to lose her, she doesn't come to a conclusion that she loves Adachi either. In that way, the story feels inconclusive, leaving the viewer hanging for an emotional payoff that never will arrive. Also, the alien subplot? Completely worthless in my opinion. It lends the show a bit more personality, but it doesn't affect the plot in any meaningful manner and takes a story that's supposed to feel down to earth and realistic...much less so.

Overall, I'd rate Adachi and Shimamura a 6/10. A fine, lighthearted yuri romance, but a tad too one sided and inconclusive to leave a strong lasting impression. I guess that makes me Shimamura.