There have been numerous anime about anime and anime fandom from Otaku no Video and Genshiken on the fandom side and Shirobako and Animation Runner Kuromi on the production side. This last year had AnimeGataris an anime series spunoff from a series of shorts that aired in a specific movie theater in Tokyo a series that does a little bit of both and then some. The series follows Minoa Asagaya a new student at Sakaneko High School. While looking to make friends she bonds with a couple classmates over a discussion of an anime she saw when she was younger but doesnt remember very well. She and her friends from various walks of life and stripes of fandom attempt to restart the schools old anime club only to run into an everescalating series of obstacles going from the mundane to the absurd to the metatextually crazy. The shows greatest strength is also unfortunately related to how it disappoints. The first 9 episodes of the series are pretty conventional the club forms and we get an exploration of the various aspects of anime and anime fandom from doujinshi to cosplay to light novels to anime tourism and so on after which the Student Council starts throwing various obstacles in their way. These obstacles are also fairly conventional and mundane do a presentation defending the existence of the club to the student body and produce a work for the school fair. And then from episodes 10 to 12 things go absolutely nuts. Episode 10 has various other clubs turning to the Anime Club for recommendations on how they can improve their club through anime better living through anime if you will before the final two episodes almost literally lead to anime bleeding into the real world. The only reason I say almost is for it to get into actual literal reality would involve shifting into liveaction and who has that kind of budget? These last 2 episodes are the point where the show becomes the most visually creative with characters shifting art styles making references to the change in aspect ratio from older series to the present day and even a gag where a character becomes aware that their day is passing in the form of a montage. The change is incredibly abrupt something which is called attention to in the narrative but its also incredibly late in the series. The presentation is wonderfully done too. The art style goes from modern to 90s early digicels to references to black and white anime from the 60s and some of the more risque comedies of the 70s and 80s. The timing is also perfect the style changes stay on screen long enough that you can let them sink in while stuff like the aspect ratio change goes just long enough for you to stop and go Did they just do that? before moving on. Consequently theres a very real chance that most viewers of the show wouldnt get far enough into the show to see it kick into high gear. Plus once it gets there it doesnt stick around enough to quite feel satisfying. Its like a multicourse meal with a lot of appetisers of a kind and variety that youre familiar with and of a quality that fine but not mind blowing and then you reach the main course. The main course is something with delicious complex flavors presented beautifully and with an end portion that leaves you craving more. Note: This review originally appeared on my blohttp://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/animereviewanimegataris2017/ghttps://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/animereviewanimegataris2017/