media log 2026

#status_ongoing

These are all the books, movies, and shows I've finished in 2026. Sorted in reverse chronological order.

currently in progress

• Witch Hat Atelier, Season 1
• Lord of Mysteries, Part 1: The Clown
• Witch Hat Atelier (Manga), Vols. 10-current

to be logged

• The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2 - 2026/07/12
• The Case Files of Jeweler Richard, Vol. 9 - 2026/07/16

witch hat atelier (manga), vols. 1-9

• Media: Manga
• Author: Kamome Shirahama
• Genre: Fantasy
• Date Finished: 2026/07/10
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Comments: I don't even have the words to explain how much I adore this series. I love the magic system and world building in this series. And while the main characters are children, the series does not hesitate to tackle ethical dilemmas and complicated societal issues. Nothing in this series is completely black or white, good or evil.

the scum villain's self-saving system, vol. 3

• Media: Book
• Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
• Genre: Light Novel, Romance, Comedy
• Date Finished: 2026/07/02
• More Details: Seven Seas Entertainment Page
• Rating: ★★
• Comments: I'm a big fan of MXTX's other work (Heaven Official's Blessing, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation), but this series is really hard to swallow. While I understand it's intended to be a satire, I don't feel it executes it very well. Personally, there were a lot of moments that felt unfunny or uncomfortable.

ne zha (rewatch)

• Media: Movie
• Genre: Family, Animation
• Date Finished: 2026/06/27
• More Details: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne_Zha_(2019_film)
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Comments: This film was one of the first Chinese animation films I've ever seen, and it's one of my favorites. It's a kid-friendly movie, so it's got a good dose of slapstick jokes and toilet humor, but don't let that deter you from watching it. The story's got a lot of heart and will tug on your heartstrings.

the apothecary diaries, vol. 5 (reread)

• Media: Book
• Author: Natsu Hyuuga
• Genre: Light Novel, Drama
• Date Finished: 2026/06/18
• More Details: J-Novel Club Page
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Comments: Maomao goes on an expedition in the west! I enjoyed discussing this one for my book club, even though it had some eyebrow-raising moments.

milky☆subway: the galactic limited express

• Media: Movie
• Genre: Comedy, Animation
• Date Finished: 2026/06/09
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★★
• Comments: When I finished this, my first thought was, "That felt like a long short film," which makes sense given that it originally ran as a 12-episode web series. Charming characters and plenty of funny moments.

nope

• Media: Movie
• Genre: Horror, Sci-fi
• Date Finished: 2026/06/09
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Comments: I'd heard a lot of good things about this film, and I'm pleased to say that it really delivered! Very cool creature design and a great daylight horror.

the platform (el hoyo)

• Media: Movie
• Genre: Thriller
• Date Finished: 2026/06/05
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★★
• Comments: Great high-concept, dystopian thriller with a hefty dose of political-economic commentary. One day, I'd love to dig into folks' analyses about this one.

the true true story of raja the gullible (and his mother)

• Media: Book
• Author: Rabih Alameddine
• Genre: Drama
• Date Finished: 2026/06/05
• More Details: WorldCat Entry
• Rating: ★★★★
• Comments: The interactions of Raja and his mother gave some humor and lightness to the story despite the heavy topics of civil war, Israeli occupation of Lebanon, and the 2020 Beirut explosion.

goat

• Media: Movie
• Genre: Family, Animation
• Date Finished: 2026/06/04
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★★
• Comments: I picked this up mainly for an easy, comfy watch to run in the background. Good film overall, but I felt that the pacing was a bit too fast. Some significant moments of the film felt like they breezed past, not allowing enough time to really soak in.

it's what's inside

• Media: Movie
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Date Finished: 2026/05/31
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★★
• Comments: If you like the Knives Out series, you might like this one (but don't expect it to be quite as clever). I'd recommend this one for a chill movie night.

the director: a novel

• Media: Book
• Author: Daniel Kehlmann
• Genre: Historical fiction
• Date Finished: 2026/05/28
• More Details: WorldCat Entry
• Rating: ★★
• Comments: I was surprised by how popular this book was. To me, it read as if it was trying really hard to be highbrow.

greenteeth

• Media: Book
• Author: Molly O'Neill
• Genre: Fantasy
• Date Finished: DNF
• More Details: WorldCat Entry
• Rating: -
• Comments: It had a very charming beginning, but quickly devolved into a bland D&D adventure with low stakes and zero tension.

something very bad is going to happen

• Media: TV Series
• Genre: Horror, Drama
• Date Finished: 2026/05/23
• More Details: Wikipedia
• Rating: ★★★
• Comments: This had a refreshing plot line and a satisfying ending, but I think it ultimately suffered from convoluted details and plot holes.

copper coins, vol. 1

• Media: Book
• Author: Mu Su Li
• Genre: Light Novel, Fantasy
• Date Finished: 2026/05/21
• More Details: WorldCat Entry
• Rating: ★★
• Comments: This series has an interesting premise (a mysterious monk, a dragon-turned-paper effigy, and a ghost scholar getting caught up in adventures), but this first volume was ultimately just "OK."

tasokare hotel

• Media: Anime
• Genre: Mystery
• Date Finished: 2026/05/12
• More Details: Wikipedia (All episodes available on YouTube.)
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Comments: I didn't have high expectations for this since it's based of a visual novel for Android/iOS, but it was surprisingly good; the main character is charming and headstrong, and she really carries this whole series.

fahrenheit 451 (reread)

• Media: Book
• Author: Rad Bradbury
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Date Finished: 2026/04/30
• Rating: ★★★

peerless, vol. 4

• Media: Book
• Author: Meng Xi Shi
• Genre: Light Novel, Romance
• Date Finished: 2026/04/22
• Rating: ★★★★

trigun: stargaze

• Media: Anime
• Genre: Action
• Date Finished: 2026/04/12
• Rating: ★★★★★

the god of the woods

• Media: Book
• Author: Liz Moore
• Genre: Drama, Mystery
• Date Finished: 2026/04/06
• Rating: ★★

peerless, vol. 3

• Media: Book
• Author: Meng Xi Shi
• Genre: Light Novel, Romance
• Date Finished: 2026/04/01
• Rating: ★★★★

i'm starting to worry about this black box of doom

• Media: Book
• Author: Jason Pargin
• Genre: Mystery, Action
• Date Finished: 2026/03/07
• Rating: ★★★

the apothecary diaries, vol. 4 (reread)

• Author: Natsu Hyuuga
• Genre: Light Novel, Mystery
• Date Finished: 2026/03/04
• Rating: ★★★★★

ranma 1/2, season 2 (2025)

• Genre: Anime, Comedy
• Date Finished: 2026/02/26
• Rating: ★★★

the scum villain's self-saving system, vol. 2 (reread)

• Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
• Genre: Light Novel, Romance
• Date Finished: 2026/02/05
• Rating: ★★★

the apothecary diaries, vol. 3 (reread)

• Author: Natsu Hyuuga
• Genre: Light Novel, Mystery
• Date Finished: 2026/01/15
• Rating: ★★★★★