Why I read The Moritheil Review

To my infinite glee, I was actually approached by Moritheil after the Anime Bloggers Panel at New York Anime Festival 2009. We had a fun, brief chat, and he pointed me to The Moritheil Review, I started reading, and I was hooked.

Moritheil is the aniblogger community's pressure valve. He watches the community for less-than-professional (and less-than-adult) behavior, and promptly shines a spotlight on it. He posts long Twitter conversation threads on his blog, and otherwise highlights anibloggers who have stepped over the line into childishness.

Fortunately, he does this with no small amount of glee and no large amount of anger or self-righteousness. He's pointing out bad behavior, not bad people. And fortunately, if someone does step over the line repeatedly, Moritheil's willing to say so.

Unfortunately, that's the primary focus of the blog. When there's no drama, he'll post an occasional philosophical piece, and they're fascinating (see "Success has ruined feminism" and "Fiction Supreme"). The rest of the time, he highlights spats between anibloggers.

While that's entertaining enough on its own, 'twould be much more interesting--and valuable--to see more. I hope we do.