All I Want for Christmas is…?

It was a frosty November morning; frost on the tips of grass glistened in the early sunlight. I stepped outside for a stroll, taking a deep breath in and exhaling loudly, forming a little cloud in the air. 

Although it was cold, a smile escaped my face as I made my way down the street. That was until I saw something that made me double-look massively: neck swinging violently, eyes leaping out of my sockets. In the window of the store, I happened to look at a short, artificial Christmas tree with red baubles dangling depressingly on the ends of each ‘branch’.

A Christmas Tree? On November 2? HALLOWEEN WAS JUST 48 HOURS AGO!

Needless to say, I fell to the ground and cried. 

As I write this, it is December – more precisely, 23 December, so 2 days away from Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the time for merriment, joy, laughter, sharing, gifts, and spending time with your loved ones. It’s also the time of year when parents worry about how they’re going to recover financially, but that’s beside the point.

Now, you may be wondering, dear reader, why have I been so inactive lately? Yes, my last article was put out into the world in September. I have made my awaited return. The reason for my absence is definitely not because I was being a lazy halfwit (DEFINITELY), but because I was thinking of something spectacular. So spectacular it seemingly took three months to put into words.

So, after having racked my brain for months, and in the festive spirit, here is a list of what I would like for Christmas:

A solution to my attraction to anime girls that could and would literally kill me

I feel like a lot of people in the anime/manga community have this issue. There’s always this feeling of attraction to certain characters, characters that would make you their submissive dog. In other words, characters that would step on you, so to speak.

Just the other day, I caught up with the Chainsaw Man chapters (a bit late to the party, I know) and I have this internal strife going on: WHY DO I LIKE MAKIMA? She is clearly the antagonist of Chainsaw Man and makes Denji her dog, essentially, yet here I am fanboying about her. 

Of course, that’s just one example. Another I can think of is Esdeath from Akame ga Kill! For some reason there’s always this irresistible urge to just submit to these strong female characters, metaphorically prostrating myself and beseeching them to step on me as I cry “goo goo ga ga.”

Whatever it is, I need to stop. If Santa could find a pain-free solution, I would like it very much otherwise I don’t see myself stopping this problem.

I also have this thing where I like ripped anime girls, but that’s fine.

A healthy sleep schedule

I stay up far too late reading manga and watching random series. I need help.

A hint as to when Rent-a-Girlfriend’s manga is complete

Before I get attacked ruthlessly, I must admit that the series is a dumpster fire. It has a pretty scummy, weak, and useless main character, Kazuya, that is somehow much more painful to watch than that bland self-insert protagonist Kirito. Not only that, the main female lead is so hard to understand that it makes me want to pull my hair out. Honestly, Kazuya should give up on Chizuru and date Ruka – the series would be over!

Instead, there are 263 chapters with literally no end in sight. 

I’m the sort of person that starts a series and doesn’t drop it until it’s finished. However, Rent-a-Girlfriend is really testing my patience and sanity. This main character has somehow not developed and has remained the way he is since the beginning of this series.

If Santa could just somehow pry the ending out of Miyajima Reiji as well as the date it comes out and give me a little snippet, I would be very happy. Firstly, I would know that the manga actually ends, and secondly, I know how long I have to wait until I can binge-read every chapter possible.

The chances of this happening are so low that I think that teaching a lion to become a vegan would be far more likely to happen.

For more seasons of unfinished anime adaptations

This is pretty similar to my wish above. I find that anime studios nowadays are pushing out more new anime titles than seasons of already existing shows. I would really like to watch an anime that isn’t just there to promote the source material. 

Some new titles that come to mind are Beast Tamer and More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers. It’s funny because I’ve read the original manga of both of these series, yet I’m not exactly pleased that they’ve got an adaptation. Although, this may just be me…

Sure, more people get to see the beauty of these gems, but I’m currently left hanging with Hensuki, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (the light novel is still carrying on), Nichijou, Classroom of the Elite, and Hyouka. These have left me crying.

It does make sense why some series don’t continue having more seasons. Even though the anime industry is growing, there is still a shortage of animators to work on newer projects announced by different anime studios. Thus, in order to work on these newer projects, studios must drop older ones, which is sad for many fans. 

Oh well, that’s just how life goes.

More good harem anime

I feel like this one’s a risky one to put on here. I’m one hundred and ten percent sure that Mia (Misaka) isn’t a fan of harem anime. BUT I AM A RISK TAKER HARHAR!

What do I consider a ‘good’ harem anime? To be entirely honest, I don’t have a clue myself. It’s just one of those things that you just watch and can think to yourself, “ah yes, I wish to be in [insert character’s name]’s position right now.” 

Such was the case in Gotoubun no Hanayome, Monster Girl Harem, Monster Girl Doctor, and Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches. 

Nowadays, especially with isekai still being a thing – a pestilence of sorts – good harem anime has steadily declined. Declined just like my sanity as I’m writing this article. These harems just exist for the sole purpose of fan service. There is no love or romance budding within these harems, instead, they’re just… there. 

It’s quite sad – disconcerting, even. Harems, for me, give me an insight into what different characteristics are like and how they interact with their love interest. Now harems are just being used and abused for the sole purpose of getting more viewers and increasing popularity with fans.

Also, it concerns me how there’s almost always a loli character in the harem. It’s really unsettling…

The last thing I want is?

Sleep.

The end of the list

This whole article feels like it sums me up very nicely: someone who types furiously. 

Santa, of course, could never make any of these true, but it’s always worth a shot. Nonetheless, the anime industry seems to be going on a continuous rise and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2023. I’m also looking forward to seeing the winners of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards for 2023!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this bombshell of an article and have a very merry Christmas!