On 26 July 2026, the 9th session of KAORI Nusantara Bibliobattle was held on the KAORI Nusantara Discord server. The session gathered 2 duelists and a total of 6 participants. Even though the notice was sudden and the session was held in the evening, we tried to open the discussion to the members of the KAORI Nusantara Discord server, which surprisingly resulted in many members coming in (and out), with some staying until the end.
The reason for us opening the session to the regular members of the server was that we were going back from manga recommendation to anime recommendation. We assume that an anime recommendation and watchalong session is easier to enter for most people. To add to that, a lot of platforms also stream anime for free (for the SEA region specifically), so we were very accommodated to host a watchalong session.
That month’s bibliobattle recommended two anime, namely Grand Blue Season 3, adapted from the manga of the same name recommended by duelist Pl4tinumDisco; and Chainsmoker Cat, also adapted from the manga of the same name, recommended by Dany M. Given that this manga has items that can get people addicted, the session was like a “pick your poison, alcohol or cigarettes?”
This is how duelist Pl4tinumDisco recommends Grand Blue Season 3 anime:
“Season 3 of Grand Blue. A coming-of-age anime about diving. Of course, there is alcohol too, but when it comes to the diving part, it’s actually quite serious.”
“For those who read the manga, they already know that Season 3 of Grand Blue will focus more on the serious daily life part. Many memorable moments will happen in this season. Of course, there is still a lot of alcohol. But this season will be more serious.”
This is how duelist Dany M. recommends Chainsmoker Cat anime:
“Upon watching, it becomes clear that Chainsmoker Cat is not an anime that promotes smoking; rather, smoking is depicted here as an unhealthy and detrimental habit. The anime’s central theme is Yaniko’s attempt to break free from that unhealthy lifestyle. To convey this, the show does not shy away from revealing the ‘grimy’ side of a person (or cat?).”
“The anime deserves praise for its boldness in depicting the squalor of Yaniko’s environment, something that makes the viewer feel genuinely uncomfortable. This approach gives the anime a raw, hard-hitting quality, making Yaniko’s journey toward better health feel truly relatable.”
During the Q&A session, a participant pointed out that jumping to season 3 for a first watch might be a problem, but the other participants reassured them that Grand Blue has a lot of comedy, so they would be okay if they missed some context. In the voting session, Grand Blue won 3 votes, and Chainsmoker Cat won 2 votes; 1 participant came late, so they couldn’t vote. But in the end, since both are available for free, all the participants decided to watch both simultaneously.
While watching Grand Blue Season 3, some participants who have been watching since Season 1 commented that the production quality for Season 3 is a whole lot better than the previous season. The opening really captures the intention behind this season’s story arc of Iori and friends. As for the participants who watch for the first time, Grand Blue‘s comedy made them interested in watching from season 1. Season 3 is catching the essence of the coming-of-age genre, that was how Pl4tinumDisco describes it.
As for Chainsmoker Cat, the discussion focused on smoking habits and their impact. Some participants felt that smokers often justify their behaviour, even though the smell of cigarettes is unpleasant, sticks to furniture, and turns white items yellow. Most of the participants who have friends who smoke admitted it is difficult to quit, and many rely on excuses such as older relatives who smoked into old age (though this is survivor bias).
The conversation also highlighted how other countries restrict smoking through high prices and limited spaces, while in Indonesia cigarettes remain cheap and widely available, including illegal products. Interestingly, Indonesian cigarettes are considered the best by foreigners, with Australians often seeking brands like Gudang Garam or Djarum because local options are expensive and less satisfying. In Japan, prices can reach 1000 yen. Justifying smoking by saying taxes benefit the state is flawed, since government spending is not a reason to ignore health risks.
That’s it for the July KAORI Nusantara Bibliobattle session. See you next time!
The Indonesian Anime Times Vina Nurziani
