AAMS, 2010-2011.

Here's a list of all the anime that we watched this year, pain-stakingly stitched together and maintained by the Society's heroic secretary:

An indictment of J-pop, and the proposal of new alternatives

It dawned on me a long time ago that most J-pop is dreadful. This corporate bullshit - created to conform to carefully crafted tropes such as the teen idol or the girl group -  is designed specifically to bring in cash for the various corporations that fund its creation. Whilst it's true that there is independent J-pop, this isn't the focus of this article and I've found that it tends to be a little more experimental and subject to the whims of the original artist (see Hazel Nuts Chocolate).

Toradora, A Review

From Anime News Network:

Despite Ryuuji Takasu's gentle personality, his eyes make him look like an intimidating delinquent. Class rearrangements on his second high school year put him together with his best friend, Yusaku Kitamura, and his hidden crush, Minori Kushieda. Along with these two comes Kushieda's best friend, Taiga Aisaka. Her delicate appearance contrasts with her brutal personality. Secretly in love with Kitamura, Taiga agrees to help Ryuuji with his love interest as long as he helps her get closer to hers.

Toradora is the sort of anime that wasn't created, but designed, possibly by a robot. It flat-out refuses to bring anything new to the table, and accomplishes little since it doesn't try much anything. It has a number of tangible flaws, but is put together more or less competently. The show's real problems are conceptual.

Food for Thought: My Little Pony and the Moe Phenomenon

That is so moe! Or is it?

Find out after the break.