Top 10 Viewed Blog Posts

I check my blog's stats almost obsessively in the hours and days following new posts. Even when I don't have a new post I'm hoping for reads on, I like to look at my top viewed posts and their traffic sources. So I thought it would be fun to share the ten posts that have been most viewed in the history of this blog.

1. Sharing the Prince of Tennis (July 13, 2011)
- Most people who landed on this post just wanted the picture in it. Unfortunate, considering that I wanted people to notice the text, not the picture. I wrote about sharing anime with my cousin, and how important it was to me. It was a relatively short and easy-to-read post, but I got no comments on it.

2. Umbrellas are Bad (and other thoughts on Another) (March 6, 2012)
- People actually took the time to read this post, which contains my reactions and comments on the Winter 2012 anime Another. Still, I think the main reason it became popular was the screenshot of Misaki Mei.

3. Guilty Crown eps 15-16: Shu, the Idiot Tyrant (February 11, 2012)
- I rarely do episodic posts, but I wrote this one after a particular frustrating episode watching Shu be a dummy. Much of the post was a rant, which at least one reader enjoyed and related to. Again, pictures made this post more popular.

4. Winter 2012 - Halfway Point Thoughts (February 18, 2012)
- I followed a lot of anime that season, and wrote my halfway point impressions of them all. I got a few readers commenting... and many more people looking for screenshots. I still like what I wrote.

5. Pondering Effort and Eyeshield 21 (April 28, 2011)
- I still feel good about both this post and its companion post, Perseverance and Sports Anime. Sure, people only found it because they wanted a picture of Sena's helmet. But you know what? I went deep and personal in these posts, and I'm glad it's in my top ten viewed. I just wish more people actually read it.

6. Naruto Shippuden - "Assemble! Allied Shinobi Forces!" (April 1, 2012)
- This was one of those rare episodic posts (on ep 256). I was feeling the anticipation build as the allied shinobi forces gathered for war. My excitement definitely showed as I raved about how grown-up Naruto's friends looked in their vests, how impressive both armies looked, and so on. Most views were, of course, due to screenshots, but I got a commenter.

7. Blue Exorcist - My Thoughts upon Finishing It (January 1, 2012)
- This one actually got a lot of readers due the content, partially thanks to Charles at Beneath the Tangles, who included my post on one of his Friday "Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere" posts. And someone recently found this post through Google to find an answer to their question (I hope they got their answer). This post is one of those I think really does belong in my top ten posts. In it, I gave a brief description of the show and gave my opinions on it both as a Christian and as an anime fan. I concluded that, "I wouldn't recommend it to any Christian who is easily offended. Still, I think most fans of shounen anime would like Blue Exorcist."

8. First Half of Fortune Arterial (March 6, 2011)
- I basically gave my opinions on the first half of this semi-harem show. It included pictures, which is why it got so many views, but the content was brief and readable as well. My conclusion after watching the first half of Fortune Arterial was that it had too much harem/school life, and too little vampire. Thankfully, the vampire content was upped a little in the second half of the show.

9. Anime 101, Part 2 - Common Misconceptions (February 1, 2011)
- This is another post that definitely belongs on my top ten list. It's part two in my six part Anime 101 series, and it's meant to clear things up for people who don't understand anime. Thanks largely to Charles's link on his Christian Resources page, I've had quite a few people check into this series of posts. This post, part two, is by far the most popular.

10. New Prince of Tennis: Enjoyable but Disappointing (March 30, 2012)
- Despite my former lack of appreciation for sports, sports anime are now among my favorite. The Prince of Tennis got me started on sports anime, so it holds a special place on my favorites list. Unfortunately, its latest anime installment did not impress me. This post holds my thoughts after I watched the last episode at the end of the Winter 2012 season. Some people actually read it for the content, one person commented, and many people came across it looking for pictures.

So, that's it. Maybe I'm the only on who cares about my most popular posts. But hey, at least I know that the people who look at this posts are looking at the content - there aren't any pictures.

Enjoying Gon and Killua

Okay, time for another post. I've been pretty absent from the blogosphere lately, something I regret. But I have too many pastimes. I can't be deeply involved in all of them at the same time, so the pastimes get turns in the spotlight at my whim.

Of course, I'm still watching anime. I'm just not caught up on all of this season's shows at the moment. Maybe they're not as enticing as the Winter 2012 anime. Maybe I'm just distracted. Does it really matter?

Hunter x Hunter is one of the few anime I'm following closely at the moment. I saw the first animated version of the series a couple years ago, but have since forgotten much of it. Thus, I'm greatly enjoying it this time around. Killua and Gon are awesome. Yeah, I realize I've said this in previous blog posts, but it's worth repeating. They've spent the last eight episodes at Heavens Arena. In these eight episodes, we've seen Gon realize just how strong he's become. We've seen Gon and Killua beat up super strong adults with a single movenment. We've seen them learn Nen like it was riding a bike - and then beat up more cocky adults. 

And now, Hisoka has acknowledged Gon's progress and told him to set a time for their long anticipated fight. Personally, I don't think Gon is even close to ready for that, and I hope Gon realizes it, too. 

Speaking of Hisoka, a future arc was alluded to in recent episodes, an arc I barely remember. Keep an eye out for Phantom Troupe mentions, folks! They will be dealt with, and it looks like Hisoka will have a hand in the dealing. That should be fun. For those of you who forgot: the Phantom Troupe is a group of very dangerous criminals. They killed off Kurapika's whole clan, something he's still pretty ticked off about, to say the least. And here's an interesting connection: Remember at the "end" of the Hunter exams when Hisoka told Kurapika where and when to find the Phantom Troupe? It's making a little more sense now, isn't it?

Oh, I do love making connections. Especially in my favorite action-packed anime. 

Hunter x Hunter is no Gungrave. It isn't at all deep, the action is based in fantasy even without the Nen, and the plot holds few or no surprises. It's certainly not realistic. That's probably why I love it so much, even though it will never get that number one place on my list. I have a blast watching Gon and Killua no matter what they do. If they face off Hisoka, I'm happy. If they learn new tricks or practice Nen, I'm happy. If they participate in any fight, I'm really happy. And if they just sit around and talk to each other... well, that pleases me, too. They're my favorite animated twelve year olds, easily beating even Echizen Ryoma and the younger Naruto. How could I not love the duo? Between their friendship and their fighting skills, Gon and Killua are unstoppable bundles of fun.

*Picture is a screenshot from episode 34 of Hunter x Hunter (2011 version).