Casual Discussion Fridays - Week of January 02, 2026

[New CDF!](#michaelwink)

I decided to start One Piece as my first new anime of 2026. This should be fun. [](#oilup)

Happy New Year

Oh right, it's Thursday.

[](#mindmelt)

Happy new year to all, what’s your top anime on your watchlist that you will be starting first this year!!

cdf, what do you do while [sleeping](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/38b8b5c352f1.jpg)?

[](#mugiwait)

Tops of the week

mod stuff: [a ton of state of the subreddit stuff](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pxbws9/state_of_the_subreddit_looking_at_ranime_heading/nwajjf4/?context=3)

r/anime: [why isekai](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pzansh/maybe_a_hot_take_but_most_isekai_have_no_reason/nwovwju/)

CDF: [Monitor is probably dying](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nw5e8i7/)

normie: [cherry picked baseball stats](https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1pxagji/my_attempt_to_come_up_with_the_most_cherry_picked/nwab3t0/)

Symphogear has all the elements to be one of my favorite shows. yet I can't.
I'm blaming Hibiki.

Remind me to catch back up with Hell's Paradise

[](#mugiwait)

**Panther's Top Love Live Tracks of 2025**

[[Spotify]](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1NupQoTxD9nWumpuWzU227)

What to say about Love Live's 2025? Well...there are fifteen tracks I would point to and call my top five.

[](#mindmelt)

First off, Liella are reliable as ever. You can always count on those girls. [Aspire](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nv_pJUdxP0kKXq6mB2OnqKTJRZq_jdCNI) is for sure the single best album that the franchise has ever produced. Superstar was the most stable Love Live anime and their music likewise has imo been the most stable quality among the branches. Nijigasaki and Hasunosora have had the usual highs and lows of their music production as well. Though you could *really* feel how Nijigasaki pulled out their A game for the movie singles, those all blew me away. Ikizulive's first round of solos had some pretty promising tracks as well.

The loss of Aqours is felt dearly. Sunshine is more or less my favourite anime, that I've rewatched and blogged about so, so much. Chika is probably my favourite anime girl for her personality quirks, symbolic implications and pained motivations, and the top of my Love Live annual rankings is usually dominated by Aqours. I'm not any less excited about the future of Love Live now and certainly not quitting the franchise like many claimed to be doing when the announcement came, but it does suck. Nothing lasts forever - doesn't mean I can't be bummed about it though. But with Ikizulive coming in, I do see how *something* had to give. I had already listened to a lot from the year, but when I then went to catch up to my missed tracks there were a whole other 40 or so I needed to listen to.

In any case, the list.



No. | Song | Artist | Comment
---|---|----|----|---
30 | [Luca](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDlpf36QTeg) | Wien (Liella) | Bop. They're never going to give Wien another moody evil song again though RIP
29 | [Savotina](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcgSp6OeLmw) | Mia & Setsuna (Nijigasaki) | Kinda basic as far as jpop rap songs are concerned, but I like the energy.
28 | [What a Beautiful Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvidSDg_Pt4) | Kanata (Nijigasaki) | Kanata's songs are always nice.
27 | [Celebration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEnDR9ALBDU) | Cerise Bouquet (Hasunosora) | Fun.
26 | [The Sweetest Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhBgsapY6Q8) | Ayumu (Nijigasaki) | Catchy.
25 | [My Untold Diary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG8toN-9GNQ) | Shizuku (Nijigasaki) | A nice no-frills song. Like, no real gimmick in the vocals or bgm like LL often does, it's just a nice listen.
24 | [Dream Shooter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7hiNOHPd-U) | Emma (Nijigasaki) | Energetic.
23 | [YES to Tomorrow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebs468y0h8k) | Setsuna (Nijigasaki) | Very anime opening core.
22 | [Boooooom Boooooom Bee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo220kyU0Ac) | Nijigasaki | Chaotic, but dang does it hit.
21 | [Dizzy Lily Valley](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTlK9VHAfWA) | Ayumu & Karin (Nijigasaki) | Nice chorus.
20 | [Inner Travel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjCaCY1GJfg) | Kanata (Nijigasaki) | Cool sound.
19 | [Tsumi DA YO NE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeeoZWMVdGU) | Mei & Shiki (Liella) | I guess it's Liella's turn for the token gay song. It's a bop.
18 | [Now or Never](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaDdYLb0zfE) | Hasunosora (Link Like Love Live) | Simple, but I like how the vocals and music interact.
17 | [Stay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h70gaZIxAOM) | Rina (Nijigasaki) | Powerful song progression.
16 | [Omoware Marionette](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzM41vYuzpY) | Kanon, Chisato, Ren, Natsumi, Wien (Liella) | A bit of a different track but I like the energy.
15 | [Circle of Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziCpbYhpvc) | Ai (Nijigasaki) | Not sure we've had Ai put on a song like this before. I quite like it.
14 | [Cheer Mode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja00LoWxRY8) | A.L.A.N / Rina (Nijigasaki) | I like the mood of this track. A.L.A.N's vocals are a pretty unusual inclusion for Love Live and the heavy synthesizer on Rina's singing makes this track very Vocaloid.
13 | [Yoin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu572KcX7E0) | Shioriko (Nijigasaki) | I think this is chillhop? But with a koto because Shioriko. Very nice track.
12 | [Rhythm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgSfkYvffGQ) | Chisato (Liella) | The vocal performance is so smooth.
11 | [Ai♡Scream!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1mFVp9IM9c) | AiScReam | An unusual song carried by its vocal direction and bgm. Oh, this is the only track to have an Aqours on it this year? Yeah, that tracks.
10 | [Fuwa Fuwari](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umTZEBZkH3M) | Kasumi & Emma (Nijigasaki) | Very, very nice. Because of the way it builds up, this is the kind of song that wins you over more the longer it goes on. I really would like to push this one higher in the ranking, but just a lotta strong competition this year.
9 | [SOL de ROSA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ_VzUQe2jM) | Ai & Lanzhu (Nijigasaki) | [love live eurobeat 2025 **love live eurobeat 2025**](#delighted)
8 | [Kurari to Bright](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9c0XRlDagk) | Konohana Aurora (Ikizulive) | Really fun vocals and music.
7 | [Wildcard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCzQPrrAx8) | Tomari (Liella) | Very catchy.
6 | [Burn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF8Kva-tIjM) | Setsuna (Nijigasaki) | The chorus in this one is so good. It makes me want to immediately hit replay every time the song finishes. I feel like this is the first track where Love Live has really figured out the right energy and style for Setsuna's new VA.
5 | [think of you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2msv8dbmSY) | Setsuna (Nijigasaki) | For me, this is the year's biggest earworm. Part of me doesn't want to admit that since it's fairly standard radio pop, but it just really stays on my mind.
4 | [Aspire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFe-qDN11wc) | Liella | Incredibly high quality track. The backing and vocals are constantly matching each other's flair.
3 | [Itoshiki Yume yo Izanaite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONFz--21jII) | Shioriko (Nijigasaki) | I love Shioriko Mifune ( つ ◕_◕ )つ. The R3BIRTH girls always seem to get some bias from the producers, and Shioriko really seems like she can do no wrong.
2 | [Dress Code](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R33keqe7Bo) | Karin (Nijigasaki) | Banger.
1 | [LiLiA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsuSFNSEphw) | Shiki (Liella) | Chill and addicting. Aspire is an easy #1 album for Liella, and this is my clear favourite from it.

I actually had a fair amount of tracks from Hasunosora and Ikizulive I thought I'd get to spotlight, but Liella and Niji were just such sweeps this year.

[](#listen)

[](/u/ha_ck_rm_rk)

[I'm going to post horse every day whether or not you like it](https://x.com/Yome_an/status/2001578188938543526)

[](/u/Amndeep7) [](/u/ZaphodBeebblebrox) [](/u/bananeeek)

[](#SOON)

[**前回のシー･ディー･エフ！(2025年12月26-2026年1月2日の週間)**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfcVHq_D5Yw)

[**Last time on CDF! (Week of 26th December, 2025)**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfcVHq_D5Yw)

Happy new year! 覚悟するんよ！

--

**1st place**: [lilyvess is unfortunately spending more time on CDF now](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nwvieaq/)

**2nd Place**: [eno-tita's Cake Day Year end post](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nvy2tmp/).

**3rd place**: [More bad news from lilyvess](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nwyoeh5/) [](#therethere)

**4th place**: [Madmako's Drawing Corner, 2025 Summary](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nwve87y/)

**5th place**: [angryeditor asks us the culture or identity of r/anime.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nwel8m0/). This is the [comment with more substantial answers.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nwbr026/)


**Honourable mentions**: Ariashachou [is having health issues, i hope you are on the mend now!](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nww9pl7/), new year's [greetings from amndeep7](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nx1bpvz/); shadowwastakenstaken [is watching Umineko](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nwg0yb7/); InfamousEmpire's [uncle is playing 5D chess](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nvzi079/); and cheesechimp's [2025 media recap.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nx1efwv/)

[](#pigeonbeats)


<-- [Last Time ](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nvyczgm/)|[Next Week]-->

/u/animayor /u/myrnamountweazel /u/notsosnarky

Locked on

#:12:07

One second late.

/u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah see I didn't miss

forgot about the thread lock again award

[2026 CDF](#mentioned)

Now 2026 feels real when CDF is saying it's 2026.

I can now spend the rest of the evening coping with various ailments and mentally voiding for the stupid day at the employment tomorrow.

[](#konosubawot3)

**Gundam IBO episodes 4-5**

So the reason I'm watching this is because of the [double feature Premiere night](https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/gundam-premiere-night/). I've seen Gundam Wing, but not IBO. I have a friend who has seen IBO but not wing. So we both have to watch 50 episodes in 15 days.

I bring that up because he's been talking about the [iconic romance from episode 1 of Wing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2S4q581-To).

The romance in IBO is definitely trying to compete. It's only been a handfull of episodes but Kudelia is already throwing herself at Mikazuki who responds to her affection by... doing nothing. Minimal reaction. Barely says anything. Almost never reacts to anything she says.

So from both these series we can understand that the way to a woman's heart is to threaten and ignore her. That will get you girls!!

[what is with this corny dialogue](https://x.com/Nix_uotan51/status/2006895800438395314)

Oh yes, trust the man with the hitler mustache. Good idea.

okay enough teasing, show is awesome. I really enjoy this mercenary band perspective, making deals and having to fight for work. A working man's perspective to Gundam.

We reach space a lot sooner than expected. I mentioned I was really worried how the show would deal with space, and the show managed to alleviate all those fears.

We see space and higher grade suits, but they didn't use beam weaponry still, still focusing on rounds and blades. I think it's just so fresh seeing combat with physical weaponry. The clang of shells against armor.

Barbatos with this giant freaking rifle is a great way to give him a ranged weapon that still feels massive.

Even the ship that the Tekkadan use has this dirty and used look to it. I love that it's not the sparkling white look of the White Base. This isn't a state of the art vessel. We aren't the top of the line.

I'm also really enjoying this crew. Orga is a charismatic leader for this crew. This isn't a military crew built on rigid structures, it feels a lot more like a brotherhood. Orga leads but you get the sense that he isn't asking anyone to do anything he wouldn't risk his own life for. Everyone has this brotherly bond between them that make them feel tightknit. Biscuit, Akihiro and the rest trust but they also push back. It's a very different sort of unit.

everyone talks about the opening theme, but honestly, the [ending theme](https://youtu.be/YbTsghxSGgU?si=oZUUshUlSdJSyfMd) has caught my attention more.

/u/TakenRedditName /u/jkubed /u/infamousempire

I was never sure whether or not Sayonara o Oshiete was an eroge but it wasted no time in clearing that up in the very first scene.

My mum made a lamb dinner today today with roast potatoes, sauteed cabbage, roasted parsnips, steamed carrots, mash, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce (leftover from Christmas) and gravy.

It was sooo good that I feel the need to shout it out here.

[Mum! **You're the best!**](#teekyuuhype)

The lamb was perfect, it fell apart so easily that it was hard to pick up.

I love when the internet sees little colored things bouncing around and makes up whole surprisingly engaging narratives around them

[More train tunes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxQIEhsFQk)

IBO and Gundam Wing is a great example of male fanservice for the men vs for the women.

[IBO has a lot of shirtless men](https://i0.wp.com/anitrendz.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mobile-Suit-Gundam-Iron-Blooded-Orphans-Makuai-no-Kusabi-screenshot.png) vs the [bishounen that women actually want](https://x.com/atie1225/status/1521119258352418817)

/u/theangryeditor /u/chilidirigible [re:](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pvqcti/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_26_2025/nx69mg1/)

Ability to edit any image with no filter via a simple text prompt + pictures of people, including children, innocently posted online = [whoopsie](#sillyme)

On a related note, twinks, or beefcakes?

[](#ama)

What do you aspire to? What do you want to see?

Gnossia is fun. The narrative structure revolving around the Mafia/Werewolf game mechanics keeps you on your toes, though I'm not sure if it's the anime format, but it seems like it could do a lot more with the character dynamics that the premise allows.

Tomorrow starts Week 1 of this mad stacked season for me with the return of Strange Fake, lord help me in these coming weeks lol

**MysteryBiscuits in Japan - Season 4 Episode 7**

**Tokyo**

**Yuru Camp Exhibit**

- This is probably THE anime exhibit with the highest number of CDF attendance, like ever, and other recent writeups have probably already featured it. [Here's some translated Q and A in the captions from afro sensei (note: spoilers up to Yuru Camp S3 and mono anime)](https://imgur.com/a/QEfUckd), as well as a [text-only version](https://pastebin.com/EetR6vfP), as other CDF attendees have probably posted photos of the various exhibits. TL by me, and thank you very very much u/draco_estella and u/programmaticallypea3 for QC-ing and providing input on the translation. (~~i doubt an official TL will come here~~)

- Overall, as you may have seen from the other pictures, [this was a very large, and very well put together exhibition](https://imgur.com/a/gjE2meD) that celebrates both the anime and the manga. And it also did an excellent job of uh motivating me to spend money haha.

**Illuminations**

- When visiting Tokyo in late November/December, there are illuminated streets around the place! I did a leisurely walk among the many, many couples from [Tokyo Station to Hibiya](https://imgur.com/a/n24RRen) to see some of them. It was very pretty!

**Akasaka Palace**

- As a working diplomatic property, [Akasaka palace is done up very prim and proper](https://imgur.com/a/3P8d9cJ) - indeed, the last official guest before my visit was the Donald. No interior photos allowed unfortunately!

- Compared to the Kyoto State Guest House, which was more modern cosy Japanese in design, Akasaka palace was a bit more extravagant, grand and Taisho-Westerny, which I guess suited its use for the most important guests, but honestly I liked a bit less - it represents less of the contemporary Japanese architecture and style that I'm more familiar with and prefer. But there were a lot of quality and elaborate fittings and decorations, and in the more traditional show off your country's might sense, it is a fitting guest house.

- Apart from historical uses of the various state rooms (e.g. press conferences, banquets etc.), the state guest house also showed (with pictures) where the most recent visitor and the PM got up to during their various engagements, including the welcoming, signings, meetings etc., which, political thoughts aside, was actually quite cool, well done Japanese government for getting all that up so quickly. I mean, you're actually in the room where historical meetings, past and present, have taken place between some very powerful people, and you don't have to see them through a news camera!

- They also showed what they served during the working lunch between the 2 parties, the menu I thought reflected the state of the times. A fair bit of diplomatic political theatre and meetings has and will take place here, and I've wanted to come here for all my visits - and I'm glad I did, it was quite interesting. I should honestly actually go inside Buckingham Palace and Rideau hall too...

- Oh i also stopped by Ginza to shop at... New Balance of all places, they don't sell the [Walking Fresh Foam series](https://dk.newbalance.eu/en/pd/fresh-foam-walking-880-v7/MW880V7-50139.html#dwvar_MW880V7-50139_style=MW880BB7&dwvar_MW880V7-50139_width=D&pid=MW880V7-50139&quantity=1) in North America for some reason [but 574s have old tech](#hajimepout). A main street was turned into a pedestrian zone! That was very nice.

- [Koupen chan!](https://imgur.com/C70QgBK) [](#seasonallisten) I stopped by the precure store. holy crap the Chiikawa shop lines.....

**Food**

**S-Tier** (all Repeats)

- I loved Cuisine Shingo last March, and I still love it this time. I really appreciate that the chef (Shingo-san) also remembered me and our conversations as well. [Delicious food and sake, personal service, thank you very much, I will be back again.](https://imgur.com/a/8HLHdOb). My preferred breakfast in Tokyo is still [this udon shop just past Nihonbashi station.](https://imgur.com/a/Rmhm57z)

**A-Tier**

- [A bunch of us met up in a Shinjuku izakaya!](https://imgur.com/a/jEkBdf8) As I said back then, it was a blast meeting everyone, though [the food was just OK](https://imgur.com/a/WK0c4KV) (and also took forever, lol). If we ever run into each other again, would love to hang out again!

- [Omakase Sushi](https://imgur.com/a/kAoY3Uu) at [Akasaka](https://maps.app.goo.gl/5c56j53MzurF6vCf6). The sushi was tasty and was presented super nicely, the restaurant fancy, and the chef was nice and put on a proper show of his techniques for his customers. Hope it could've been cheaper though haha even though the whole experience was great. Maybe i shouldn't have picked akasaka for this.

And that's it for this trip! I had a blast, as usual, and though probably the trip with the most ups and downs so far, I also learned a fair bit more about local japan travel, and as usual a bit of the local history and culture. Thank you very very much to all the locals for their generous hospitality while I was there - it's honestly a very big reason why i keep coming back. I'll also no longer do full writeups like this anymore for trips going forward - they're probably be just gonna 1 or 2 entries, focused on a couple favourite memories. Until next time! (hopefully this year? or next?)

[Season 4 Episode 1 - Hong Kong, Precure Movie, and Nagoya (part 1)](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1p2jg7u/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_november_21_2025/nq4v9tg/)

[Season 4 Episode 2 - Collections of Old Buildings (inc. Nagoya, Part 2)](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1p2jg7u/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_november_21_2025/nqdfaeg/)

[Season 4 Episode 3 - Weather woes in the Alps](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1p8gnaf/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_november_28_2025/nr5base/)

[Season 4 Episode 4 - Miscellaneous Interlude](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1p8gnaf/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_november_28_2025/nrm0nbn/)

[Season 4 Episode 5 - Matsumoto](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1peg2ki/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_05_2025/nsckw3w/)

[Season 4 Episode 6 - Obasute and Chikuma](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1peg2ki/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_december_05_2025/nt7ccex/)

[Season 4 Episode 7 - Tokyo](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/nx6je19/)

u/animayor

Wordle 1,657 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜

⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜

⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I need something new and weird that irreversibly changes my personality.

[](#thoughtful)

Honestly, I kind of thought 2025 sucked for anime. I went into awards with few enough shows I was really invested in to count on one hand. But I’ve had to sample a bunch of things for awards, and honestly I have rounded out a respectable little list of shows I liked a lot this year… even if awards hasn’t permitted I actually *finished* all of them yet. So here’s my 2025 shout-outs.

[](#urarahype)

**The Obvious**

I already knew City was great, and it turns out The Summer Hikaru Died is also great. Putting your hand in some weird monster as a stand-in for gay sexual intimacy? Hell yeah. Probably my two favourite shows of the year if Hikaru keeps up the quality. But I don’t need to tell you they’re really good. Also checked out My Dress Up Darling, and despite the mixed things I’d heard about season one I loved it and season two is more of that same quality. Watanare’s also really good, but you probably have an opinion on that already. I also don’t need to say I like Anne Shirley. I made that clear, I think.

**Milky Subway**

Easy to overlooked a quaint short series like this, but it’s one of my favourite things that came up all year. Endlessly delightful, super funny, and honestly really tightly written for the half hour it takes to watch it all. Chemistry is the key word here, everyone plays off each other so well. Go watch it, but make sure to watch the Milky Highway short first for context.

[](#ilovethiskindofshit)

**Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze**

I heard this was pretty good for a harem, but having now checked it out… this has zero right to be anywhere near as good as it, in fact, is. Three fun main girls, and shockingly for once an actually fun and distinctive main guy to go with them! Fun fast paced comedy style, juggles the various characters very well, weirdly strong use of sound effects, just a fun time. Don’t expect anything more than a romcom, but if you’re into that it’s an easy recommendation.

**This Monster Wants To Eat Me**

You know, the other gay people monster show. This can’t quite match the all around quality of Hikaru, but it has some really nice presentation when it wants to and the main conflict is just so compelling. They could’ve handled the backstory better… ([Watatabe] >!Just make Shiori actually die, and then she’s reborn as a younger monster determined to spend her new life better! Instead of totally adult Shiori falling for tiny child Hinako!!<), but it’s still a really compelling narrative and it’s got a great sense of tone. [Watatabe] >!The depiction of the impossibility of suicidality in a relationship did a lot for me - it’s selfish of Shiori to ask Hinako to keep going, but what else can she possibly say?!<

[](#seasonallove)

**The Lenticulars**

Another short series amongst my favourites this year. Trigger made a whole series with characters styled as paper cutouts and it’s *still* one of the more visually interesting romances this year… it has a really sweet down to earth vibe that’s incredibly charming, and uses its scant screentime well to tell a simple little story about romance and three friends. Totally knows how to capture an awkward atmosphere like nothing else. Haven’t seen the finale yet, but looking forward to finding time.

**Mangaka's Weird Wonderful Workplace**

My latest obsession, this isn’t *technically* a yuri series but it might as well be a slow burn romance, and an incredibly sweet one at that. Futami is fun, Hazama plays off of her well, Sato’s professional but awkward shtick makes her a favourite character of mine this year, and the whole sidecast is enjoyable as well. Fun positive vibe with lots of laughs and just enough of a central narrative spreading the love across its cast. Yuri fans, don’t overlook this one.

[](#forbiddenlove)

**Hibimeshi**

I’m not a CGDCT slice of life person, so I didn’t even bother trying this as it aired (especially after being so bored by Mono). But once I had to sit down and give it a shot, it had me glued to the screen for three episodes straight before I had to force myself to move along. Mako just *gets* my particular flavour of social anxiety, and Shinon is a fun personality to match. So perfectly captures the feeling of a friend group rather than just a group of -dere personalities in a room. Always keeps the characters in the front seat of each scene, and the characters are a delightful group of… no, I’m sorry, those are *definitely* middle schoolers. High schoolers at *best*.

**Catch Me At The Ballpark**

A baseball show is the last thing I would have ever given a chance if it wasn’t for awards. But Ballpark, which could easily be a super forgettable slice of life comedy about beer vendors, instead aims to capture all walks of life at the titular ballpark and the result is great. Rurika is a great supporting pillar of the cast, but the show’s never any more or less dull regardless of who’s leading the current skit. What I think I most like is that it’s not a hard anthology - it weaves naturally between perspectives rather than drawing clear lines of individual stories. Check this out if it went completely under your radar too.

**Medalist**

Only three episodes didn’t get me super far into the meat of this series, but I really like what I’ve seen so far. This could easily be a samey club drama or mired in aimless comedy, but instead it commits to both narrative and laughs and weaves them together perfectly. The gags push forward the characters, and the characters push forward the drama while keeping a sweet tone over the whole series that can’t help but leave me smiling. Inori is an absolute delight and the focus put on Tsukasa as a mentor, although archetypal, makes it stand out from many other middle/high school anime series. This got a fair amount of attention, but I’m happy to be finally getting on the train even if it’s late.

[](#anko)

So you know what, maybe you weren’t so bad, 2025! Here’s to another good year for anime in 2026.

[](#kanpai)

>rule 6

[](#megadeathparty)

who up casualing their discussions

[2025 Anime Series Bingo Results](https://imgur.com/r26LDXv) - 2/25, No Bingos

[2025 Anime Movies Bingo Results](https://imgur.com/vl5Pn02) - 5/25, No Bingos

It sure doesn’t feel good looking at how little progress I made on either bingo card

[](#tiredaoi)

Regardless, I consider it an annual tradition to create new bingo sheets each year. So, here are my anime bingo sheets for anime series and movies I hope to watch here in 2026:

[2026 Anime Series Bingo](https://imgur.com/C9JVCXh)

[2026 Anime Movies Bingo](https://imgur.com/01QFxQb)

I’ve decided my strategy will be to try and just keep a consistent pace of an episode or two each day, make time for a movie sometimes on the weekends. If I can just keep a slow and steady pace consistent, before I know it I’ll be finished.

[](#faito)

If this comment gets 5 downvotes I will write out some thoughts on my 2025 anime.

[](#bigthink)

Forgot to share this here earlier, but I made [a bingo card for shows I’m gonna watch this year](https://imgur.com/a/2DUHUuc)

Expanded it out of just anime since I’ve been slacking when it comes to live action shows and there’s a lot I want to get to.
[](#faito)

**The Great CDF Lynchwatch of 2026**

The original plan was "watch everything in January," but that would only be potentially feasible on my own. So, with some of you along for the ride, we'll give it as long as it needs.

The plan is to watch everything chronologically. I think that helps with a lot of artists, but especially Lynch. Getting to The Return knowing all his other stuff will make it that much more interesting (or confusing!)

My idea right now is to start on his birthday, 1/20, and begin with a twice-a-week schedule up until we get to Twin Peaks:

1/20 - Eraserhead
1/24 - The Elephant Man
1/27 - Dune
1/31 - Blue Velvet
2/3 - Wild at Heart
2/7 - Twin Peaks pilot episode

We would then watch S1 of Twin Peaks and some portion of S2, depending on participant interest. I'd be interested to hear how many ~45 minute episodes you think would be doable over a week. I don't want to rush them, but two a week would take us a while. But, if we want to slow burn it, we'll slow burn it.

Reliable sourcing of the media is being investigated.

I'll tag everybody who showed any vague interest. Let me know your thoughts. If anyone wants to be added/removed from the tag lists, let me know.

society

As I commented earlier today on Old CDF, I started watching One Piece today! [Just posted my reactions to episodes 1-4 on /r/AnimeImpressions](https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimeImpressions/comments/1q1ozk8/sky_watches_one_piece/nx774i4/) (that way I wouldn't have to worry about what to spoiler tag or not on here), let me know if you want tags for future batches.

u/KendotsX, u/KiwiBennydudez, u/drstripjo

I feel drained for some reason.

[](#mindmelt)

[](#suddenshock)

[Is that a historical slur in the id of this thread?](#kannainspect)

[reddit](#tch) [](#banhammer)

how the fuck is it already past midnight

[](#deadtired)

On break.

[](#bigthink)

I think I'm good enough at my job and can stop stressing.

I've freed up the mental resources to do other things with my life now.

as if my anxiety wasnt already bad enough, half the meds ive been prescribed give me panic attacks as a side effect LMAO. cant wait for this to be over

One day of work tomorrow before the weekend and after getting today off and a half day yesterday. This is the kind of BS I'd spend PTO on if I wasn't trying to save it.

The biggest Lynch/CDF thing I'm curious about is [Twin Peaks]>!which of the main cast CDF will think is the hottest. So many options!!<

CDF crossed 6k

[](#drunkhisone)

/u/theangryeditor [lenticulars]>!I still don't know where the name Sudako comes from but I think she's supposed to be Leo. It's not just the names, they're actually color-coded too (Rakkun=red, Donny=purple, Miike=orange) and Sudako's blue eye is the bluest blue in the series. Also Sawaki is actually supposed to be Shredder!<

[I don't want to press A for some reason](https://twitter.om/neomechanica/status/2006687093834264934?s=20)

1/1 was my birthday baby lets goooooooooooooo



34 years around the sun i still got alot of work to do on this earth ma kids need me god still needs me to work in his behalf and im never gonna leave gaming until i cant do it no more


throw in some anime and im still here baby


happy new years cheers and god bless to all


lets make 2026 good man

**LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO**

[(mass effect 3) on account of not romancing tali, i missed out on this beautiful moment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHvOLdNvj8c)

[](#azusalaugh)

I ended up burning two of my fingers by touching a hot pan...

Now they look like I ironed their surfaces.

[Sayonara o Oshiete]>!I see that (You) are the beast!<

I should stop getting distracted and pick up the pace

[](#oilup)

Now that One Piece season 1 is about to end for the format change, we'll have a good recommendation to make to people who are looking for a short anime, just 1 or 2 seasons.

[](#awe)

something ive learned recently thanks to mass effect is that certain male aliens are popular among female fans *because* of the fact they are so alien looking. and that sent me down a rabbit hole of finding out just how dedicated to monster fucking women are. yknow how guys will be like "yeah i like monster girls" and the monster girls in question are basically like "girl in a sexy halloween costume of [insert monster here]"? yeah, apparently women just straight up like the monster - the less human like the better.

honestly? based. as a degenerate myself i have to give my props to the ladies. i wasn't familiar with your game.

[](#congratulations)

Rule 6: the thing that convinced me to never watch Symphogear.

Trails of Cold Steel 1

Thors Academy? More like a Thots Academy. [](#sassyimouto)

Oh a Calendar system.

Prologue ends and the Calendar jumps to 4/17. [](#bocchitheshock) [](#panic)

[](/u/Raiking02)

rule 6: corporations when they see nature (they need the space to build a bigger parking lot)

Just noticed that if you remove the credits 100 Meters is exactly 100 minutes long [](#maxshock)

It feels like I haven't had a Friday whole year

[](#tiredaoi)

>Best of r/anime 2025 Index

>>Best Essay

Time to nominate the MT Review [](#trololol)

[ni](#giveuponlife)

The thing you love the most, turns out to be liked by the person you hate the most. wyd?

[cdf confession]>!its 2026 and i still find "bro visited his friend" funny!<

hey come to think of it, what was the first cdf confession of the year?

[](#schemingsaten)

[Princession 35]>!Are you telling me that this adult in a position of authority who appeared in front of two emotionally compromised children in their moment of greatest weakness was actually manipulating them into doing her bidding against their own best interests?!?! [](#maxshock)!<

[same]>!ngl if someone with Kana Hanazawa's voice asked me to do something I think I would fold instantly!<

Belly

[Princession 35]>!Ah, yes...sisters. Just sisters. In a perfectly normal sisterly relationship. Nothing more going on here. [](#cup6)!<

[Princession 35]>!Well, I was right about Sumire becoming a Princess, I suppose. I was just wrong about the path she would take to get there. But goddamn. Her and Lily's Princess forms look cool as fuck.!<

Today's tasks:

1. Pizza
2. Rent
3. Nap

\# 3 won.

I kinda like the 80s music's lyrical vapidness. At some point, it ended up being blasé, understandably so. But the following alternative rock and accompanying dark lyrics makes me weary after a certain point that it cycled back to wanting to get back to something less gloomy.

[Those glam metal singers had a point](#thoughtful)

[squirrel cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyyCCzChwXc)

[Friday](#cantbehelped)

I should sleep

but dis VN ain't gonna play in the background by itself

Imagine the post credits scene of Genshin Impact taking place in well, IBIZA and with Another Chance or Point Of View playing

I want to hate the MGSD Aerial for being an SD kit, but the MG build is so beautiful, so elegant, I can't hate it. It's perfect. The best kit I've built so far.

for an introduction to what MG could look like, this was incredible

[Year of the equines.](https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/139402435)

/u/chilidirigible

Any climbers on CDF?
What do you climb? How often do you climb? How long did it take you to climb that?

[SayoOshi]>!i wonder how much of this will be psychological and how much will be actual eldritch monstrosities. So far everything can be chalked up to the MC's slipping sanity due to his insecurities, ennui, and irrepressible sexual urges!<

[](#bigthink)

> You ran out of people.

Well, looks like I literally swept aside all girls in my area.

[](#yuishrug)

It's better to burn out than to fade away.

[](#threatening)

Now that I think about it anime is how I usually learn the majority of the rules to sports. Feels so awkward asking people to teach me for some reason and even though my dad loves rugby he never thought to teach me the rules.

Maybe if there'd been an accessible rugby manga as a kid I would've gave a shit about it.

[](#thinkingtoohard)

I probably would've thought basketball is way more fun than rugby. If only I'd read Slam Dunk earlier.

I was supposed to have six days in a row off from work, but I agreed to cover for a colleague today because they're out of town and this way they don't need to come back for a few more days.

Now I'm stuck starting my 4th hour of morning overtime, I was called in yesterday for a special surprise call, and I still need to come back tonight for a few hours.

[](#illyastare)

I'm getting paid double for all this so I don't really mind, but man, a part of me wanted to just enjoy those 6 days off!

Are Melonbooks named as such because the books they sell have a lot of melons in it?

[](#thinkingtoohard)

I really wonder what that one anonymous person on Tinder yesterday gave me a like for.

My sleep is on the wrong track

Yo chooms. I've started playing Cyberpunk 2077. Was worried it'd fry my PC, but while its noisy, its keeping steady, which works for me. Going for a tech build; so wanna go into all those quickhacks. Also Corpo origin.

[The Mejiro McQueen Experience Featuring Gold Ship](https://bsky.app/profile/arcees.bsky.social/post/3mbhmv7zios2d)

[Animator interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWV4dgJDlQ)

[](#sickness)

[DMJii](https://x.com/tutanoha/status/2007006455325765896)

[Meanwhile](https://x.com/kazue1000/status/2007068928317743327)

[](#romance)

[More](https://x.com/vibaotter/status/2007041575797633433)

/u/thecomicguybook /u/MyrnaMountWeazel

[Some kind of hot dog.](https://x.com/worldly_desire2/status/2007031244102750582)

[The idol](https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/139438007)

I've finished Solo Leveling S2. It's been pretty good. I like that it's consistent with what it does. Fancy cool action, power fantasy MC and some mystery regarding the "game".

I do find it funny how technically non-existent story this anime has. [SL S2]>!The final boss of S2 is... a powered up ant? *Really*?!< Had to suspend my disbelief a bit extra for that one lmao

Since I've actually gotten around to watching some anime I decided to [expand my 2026 PTW](https://i.imgur.com/UESOHOs.png) and [two are already down!](https://i.imgur.com/ZC6MtuA.png)

Oh, I was surprise gifted a little set of [Shinn/Pochacco character merch (+ Zura).](https://i.imgur.com/gWycCbe.jpeg)

[](#anko)

~~Now I kinda want to get a new Impulse/Destiny Gunpla to display together. I already have their MGs.~~

CDF, how do I get to pet a wild goose?

[listen 2 dis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYX-20kYJyY)

[](#morecomfy)

I swear the gap between Hard and Very Hard SC2 AI is insane.

Hard you can easily beat, no sweat.

Very Hard and the Ai is basically super-god-Jesus levels of fucked up.

And its not like the AI cheats, no extra resources - it just has a better build order than me, and so it crushes.

[                                    ^(It's)                  ^(3x3)                 ^(Time!)                ](#smugboard)

Welcome to this week’s CDF 3x3 Corner! So feel free to make and share a 3x3 (or a 2x2 or 4x4 or whatever size you like). And check out other people’s 3x3s. If you can’t make it because of the time, feel free to share your themed 3x3 whenever!

If you're not sure where to make 3x3s, some popular sites are [bighugelabs](http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php) and [BeFunky](https://www.befunky.com/create/collage/).

####**This week’s theme is Fall 2025!**
___

**Next week’s theme will be 2025.** This theme will be posted to r/anime one day early also.

*In 2 weeks the theme will be Blonde Hair.*

If you’d like a tag for future 3x3 Corners, let me know! If you’d like to stop getting tags, also tell me.

[Link to past 3x3 themes](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fYp_LmnwxkAHU5AwdvW5DRp7LGbItgfjyjm4oL4MzCc/edit#gid=0)

[Have fun!](#salutegeo)

The new Kaguya episodes are peak

[They really show Aokiji and Dio there](https://i.imgur.com/O6avoli.png) and even [Koyasu's picture](https://i.imgur.com/KPNc0lF.png) himself

[F&F](https://x.com/otoufu_material/status/2007063056245985574)

Finally picked up where I left off in Medalist. God, I love watching these dorks do their thing.

[](#anko)

Gachiakuta reminds me of early Naruto. Every element of the story is tightly integrated and ties back into the main themes. It has a very good sense of where its core story is and keeps coming back to that. With Naruto, it's about isolation and connection, and with Gachiakuta, it's about learning to value yourself and others. Time will tell if it stays true to that or follows Naruto's.

I should stop eating for a day and reset

[](#sickness)

the eternal winter has technically passed but I'm going back in because i want to check something

[](#oilup)

https://x.com/un_nm5sy/status/2006485523875950928

/u/Shimmering-Sky /u/ZaphodBeebblebrox /u/flaminscribblenaut

Just saw a comment saying they have been watching anime for 30 years and only seen around 26 anime and that anyone claiming they seen 100 plus shows or more are lying or just watch anime with nothing else to do.


Like bruh, I average around 2-3 episodes a day and even i racked up almost 400 animes watched by now.

[I can confirm that me moving to somewhere with snowing happening very often lately did increase my ears' consumption of *Snow Halation*.](https://x.com/PhotoAkiba/status/2007059655273656678)

[Irish (?) man talks about Kansai dialect.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muimb4Phq8k) (not a new video)

Hello once again everyone, and welcome to another week of AMQ! The lobby name for this week is "Cloud Strider" and the password is "Megumin"! We will be starting around five minutes from when this comment appears.

As always, I hope you all have a wonderful time playing, as well as a great day and weekend!

[](#skyhype)

If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list for future games be sure to let me know in a reply to this comment!

/u/ameteurelitist /u/shimmering-sky /u/Tetraika

[A dog wanna go](https://x.com/asaken1982/status/2006911044686655686) *Run With The Wind* too this year.
[(and apparently not the first time either!)](https://x.com/thetwilightgene/status/1874959863635481044)

For a moment I though sending /u/_____pantsunami_____ to the Hentai Seiri Seminar to be studied was a good idea, until I realized that would probably skew the results of their experiments a bit too much.

Has anyone on CDF started watching Dou-sama yet?

I should watch that.

I randomly skimmed over the manga at random times I came across it and it was very cute. I hope the anime also delivers

[Look at dis serfish animal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvwNq550mBY)

Everyone was so busy trying to figure out nuclear weapons when all they needed to do was weaponize the flatulence of middle school boys.

[](#everythingisfine)

I guess none of us like reviews, huh?

[PORK](https://x.com/kudo_pon/status/2009183963743666651)

I had another interview today. The number of interviewers doubled from 2 to 4 lmao

I'm glad I do well in situations like this. Usually a lot of people can get stressed in an interview but I felt totally at ease as if I was talking to nice random people in a bar or something when telling them about my work experience.

They seem to have been impressed and said they'll be in touch next week.

I think maybe finally the job search is over.

Also, can we talk about the fact I still haven't gotten a grade for my last Uni seminar?

Turned it in on September, usually it takes a few weeks but this time we understood it could take until Nov-Dec. December comes and nothing, I mail the professor on the 24th of December asking for status update, to which he claims he plans on "returning grades in a these few coming days".

The date is 9th of January, still no grade.

Maybe I should reach out again. I'd generally rather have it so I can get a tax relief for Uni graduates for work. Rather have it earlier than later.

[Salsa](https://x.com/PlatinaJazz/status/2009236550786404789)

[Loungewear](https://bsky.app/profile/aleos696.bsky.social/post/3mbwy64jbfs2i)

Fanbox: Overalls

after watching it about 15 times I have come to a conclusion about the JJK OP

[it's pretty good](#kannathumbs)

but I wish I liked the song in any capacity because I don't really feel any emotion from the sequence overall. While the sequence has an overarching visual idea it doesn't particularly reach a climax (thinking in terms of parameters here: editing, color, density) that should have been the last chorus refrain, which is likely leading a lot of people to think the sequence is disorderly. I kinda wish it went either full Elfen Lied or full Magical Destroyers overall (or maybe just full still motion) but the song couldn't let that happen anyway

Still, I'm seeing many JJK fans sitting down going frame by frame and interpreting every image, so it's prob doing its basic job very well

Oh shit it's Thursday.

[](#ohfuck)

Where Winds Meet keeps being bizarre with its quests and mechanics.

Apparently they're adding a new feature in this upcoming update that if a player commits too many crimes, they'll have a "walk of shame" to the jail, and other players can throw shit at them.

I saw that in videos on the Chinese server and it seemed hilarious.

Meanwhile in my playthrough I came across a quest of some dude who was stuck squatting in a bathroom stall for 30 minutes because someone took his poop stick, so he asked me to help.

I went to fetch a poop stick to hand it to him, he thanks me, uses it, then gives it to me back (used) so I can use it too.

Later on if you use the bathroom in another place with it you get an achievement.

This game is so hilarious, it feels like the devs just wanted to do things and were like "yeah this sounds funny as shit, let's put it in", no constraints.

[Spry](https://x.com/photo_beaver/status/2009187537567535436)

/u/thecomicguybook /u/MyrnaMountWeazel

Caught up with Princession.

[](#kannathumbs) [They keep the swords!](#happyclap)

[PriOrche:] >!I like the Kazahana sisters' story. The backstory episode was very visually neat. I thought they were going to have their cake and eat it too by bringing Thoma back to life. I respect keeping the fairy "dead."!<

I like the updates to the OP/ED. The updated vocals sound very nice.

[](#seasonallisten)

Shiboyugi's first episode was not bad. Hopefully the show didn't blow its load right at the start and the rest of the episodes will remain interesting now that the initial sense of mystery and the subsequent suspense is gone.

[](#bigthink)

[The cockatiel.](https://x.com/s_kei_jpn/status/2009120880555889053)

>I open reddit

>See a villain character I dislike is getting slandered

>Get excited and join in

>Meet the most chronically depressed person with homicidal tendencies who sees themselves in the said mass murdering villain and is in genuine love with him.


This is living rent free in my mind for a while now..

[Secret Galaxy viewers ranking '80s sci-fi TV.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iSexL5VMKE) (Bonus: Hijinks)

[Bananer](/u/OrangeBanana38) [floot cover when?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNTWyILc5S4)

[](#mugiwait)

CDF Confession time

My dream video game, if I could make one, would be an adult version of Monster Hunter.

Imagine MH mechanics of gameplay, but instead of killing monsters to carve out their pieces, you actually find out it's cute girls who transform into monsters, so after slaying them you get to fuck 'em for rewards.

I think adult games are an interesting space, but unfortunately since it's so niche and there's little money to be made there, you don't have any actual big studios/high budgets making any of these.

An AAA quality game with actual gameplay in it besides the lewd stuff would be very very interesting.

[](#doggo)

Slightly-NSFW [horse](https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/139672884)

/u/saltedbeansprouts

[Chicken Gotoh](https://x.com/cs4126/status/2009097731667542025)

Tops of the week:

Post: [Propaganda for Fetches poll for anime of the year](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q2bhk7/reinhard_demonstrates_his_divine_protection_of/). [Mission very likely failed](#sadholo)

r/anime: [Mushoku Tensei sucks to mod](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4gy2b/what_is_the_most_polarizing_anime_series_you_come/nxsjl48/), HM: [Didn't like KonoSuba S2 at first](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q40gjp/anime_you_gave_a_2nd_chance_to_and_it_actually/nxoufy3/)

mod: [year of tech in review](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q3afc7/meta_thread_month_of_january_04_2026/nxuudl5/)

CDF: [My sister almost got the same car as me](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/nxpus25/)

"normie": [AnimeMod 2.0](https://www.reddit.com/r/PartnerCommunities/comments/1q5uly1/challenge_6_wrapping_it_all_up/ny3pldw/)

No daggers this week.

[Slightly more lesbian.](https://x.com/unekoheyhey/status/2009040955077480739)

/u/lilyvess

/u/drstripjo /u/chilidirigible

Boy, I sure do like Bocchi fanart hint hint. Wouldn't say no to tags.

It took me a couple of times between reading the word and saying it out loud to remember that "Neige" means snow in French. When the "Oh yeah, I do remember what that word means."

[](#sillyme)

Oh shit it's thursday

[made a 2026 shortlist that's basically "hey I should watch more sunrise anime"](https://imgur.com/Nt8ojHQ)

[](#mugiwait)

Thursday? For watching shows? How disconcerting.

[Some of you may remember previous occasions when Jamaica competed at the Winter Olympics.](https://x.com/AP/status/2009396242980216902)

\> Go into Jujutsu Kaisen thread to check if I missed anything from only watching the movie

\> Learn that I probably didn't miss anything

\> Witness /u/shimmering-sky murderizing people for spoilers

[MFW](#skyhype)

Mmm, I watched two episodes of Dou-sama and was not a fan. For some reason they decided to add anime original [eps1-2]>!Dark backstories to the humans, which makes the entire thing feel like a huge yikes. The whiplash doesn't feel very good!<

Dropped.

[Ohayo](#firstthinginthemorning)

Nice viewpoint from this hotel.

I want to protect Luna's smile

NANDATO?

I liked the season off of seasonals. I watched so much fucking gundam. I don't want to go back to seasonals.

but frieren. but fate. but jjk.

[](#seasonaldepression)

Top comment of the week: [Big Order is why I have a "no drops" rule.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4o83j/ever_watch_something_so_bad_that_it_reset_your/nxtxsk9/)

Top CDF comment of the week: [I started watching One Piece!](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/nx77db1/)

So I'm already falling off my little routine, but I'm not gonna let it mither me too much for a few reasons:

1.) Focused on this Magic thing we're sorting out (We're calling it Quest now, which I like)
2.) It's my first week. Things have been messy, chaotic - understanadable that things don't go smoothly. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater on the first attempt.

I can always try to make up for not reading or watching a show on Saturday quite easily. Plus I'm giving myself a pass for Friday since I'm busy with something else.

Top CDF: [Béisbol](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/nx6w29j/)

Top outside was inside a NSFW thread so I'll leave that one out, but the second-place outside was about [sticky residue](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4kuv2/black_lagoon_author_i_saw_a_foreigner_jumping_the/nxw8qzx/).

Top normie was an angry sportsball [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/panthers/comments/1q3ayrt/post_game_thread_carolina_panthers_at_tampa_bay/nxjcq0c/?context=3).

Top anime was in response to...[bad](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4k4zo/hensemi_the_tragedy_of_darth_pervert_the_wild/nxw8auy/?context=3).

Top CDF was just wordle so...

Hello CDF users! Since it is Friday, the new CDF is now live. Please follow
[this link](/r/anime/comments/1q7sj6i/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_09_2026/) to move on to the new thread.

[](#heartbot "And don't forget to be nice to new users!")

A quick note: this thread will remain open for one hour so that you can finish
your conversations. Please **do not** use this thread for spamming or other
undesirable behavior. Excessive violations will result in sanctions.

I had to revise the sidebar image for the Meta Thread about four times, with the final edit including a bonus modification to account for the image having to fit in a square.

If anyone else here uses KLite Encodes for MPC, do me a favor and look at your task manager to see if infatica_agent.exe is running.

apparently a year ago they started bundling fucking malware to sell data.

I guess it's back to VLC for me. or figuring out how to make MPV's UI not complete dogshit. why can't people be fucking normal.

[](#dead)

top CDF was [big plans](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/nx75oqf/)

*fires up archive drive*

[EVA Confession]>!You know sometimes I think about doing some joke ranking of how I'd rank each version of the major characters (As in, OG Series, Rebuild and Sadamoto Manga) in terms of my opinion of their portrayals but even setting aside how that'd be too much work I'm also like "How the fuck can I rank Sadamoto's Kaworu compared to the other two considering the other two are basically saints and this one is the worst human being on Earth" [](#hardthink "I dunno, maybe I'd do something like this as a joke if I'm motivated enough at some later point in time but still.") [](/u/InfamousEmpire)!<

I am not a naval historian.

You know, when I issued that [Cool Zone Watch](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/nxfwez6/) for the US last week, I was expecting the timeframe to at least be 2-3 weeks rather than, uh, 5 days (really 4 but). The previously issued Cool Zone Watch for the US is upgraded to a Cool Zone ***Warning***; high risk within weeks if not days (would *not* bet against days) of the kind of events currently being seen in Tehran also occurring in American cities and/or the commencement of the precipitation of lead in large (as opposed to small) quantities, American rewatch participants should plan their upcoming rewatch participation/hosting plans accordingly. (If Madoka is running this year - which it really should! - it probably needs to be one of our Euros or Asian posters running it.)

Back from Eye Exam. Eye pressure normal, but completely failed the peripheral vision test! Doctor can't see anything wrong, so going to redo the test when I get my new specs. Larger frames are in style, which is good news for me, I disliked the smaller frames (no peripheral vision).

Doctor had to dilate to look for problems, so >_< I can't see.

I got greedy and tried to delete 2 weeks of spam from my usenet headers (2.7M posts) and I come home and it hasn't even closed the "are you sure" dialog box yet.

[task manager - kill - start over](#thebutton)

At least it was some how coded in a way that I don't corrupt my database everytime I do this.

I mean, the captain is a koala.

Also, since I am here:

Top normie: [The Jets and their 2010s history of feeding their rookie quarterbacks to the NFL defensive final boss.](https://old.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1q3fie3/post_game_thread_seattle_seahawks_at_san/nxkgvuk/)
Top r/anime: [What's that, a free excuse to shit on Amazon Prime official subs?](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4fxzj/you_know_youve_watched_alot_of_anime_when/nxtk0fy/)
Top CDF: Two upvotes ain't worth linking.

A nod to the old lock time.

A nod to my paused anime

[A nod to my top CDF](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/ny7c1ov/)

potato

Top Comment: [Yuri bait-and-switch](https://old.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1q4fxo4/time_to_make_another_sakura_chiyono_o/nxx3g4d/?context=3)

Top CDF: [Regarding Deadly Sins](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q1japv/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_02_2026/ny5i66w/)

Not too far off from the recent average in here.

[I love her --->](#seasonalneat)[](#seasonalsmug)

I feel like they are trying their best to make me hate Kan Yu, but it’s not working, he’s entertaining. [votoms]>!”now we can torture chirico for information since he’s clearly a spy coming back unharmed” yeah yeah get in line who doesn’t want to torture him!<

Haven’t posted much of this votoms arc but it’s a double thumbs up

[votoms]>!I love a group of assholes!<

[TEAM FOUR STAR IS STILL MAKING STUFF???](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9MtkBVXY0M) (repost for thread lock)

The lock time approaches...

🍅

beep boop (label: None)

[](#mechablush)

This thread has been locked.
We will see you all in the new Casual Discussion Fridays thread,
which you can find [here](/r/anime/comments/1q7sj6i/casual_discussion_fridays_week_of_january_09_2026/).

Reminder to keep the new discussion *welcoming* and be mindful of new users.
Don't take the shitpost too far — but have fun!

[](#bot-chan)

[](#mug3)