What anime are you watching right now? Feb-Dec 2010
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Watched first ep of Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru...
Pretty meh, best part of episode was the ED pretty much. And I still can't stand Omigawa Chiaki but she isn't as awful here as I expected.
But even so there wasn't anything particularly funny, will probably drop this.
Star Driver 2 - err.. Didn't feel like the plot started moving forward much, I hope this series surprises me along the way.
Also watched 5 wallpapers per second, was really really good. Wasn't as BAWW worthy like some people claim it is, but still very nice. I liked the slow pace of the movie, and that somehow even so it wasn't boring at all for a moment.
I'm not sure if I'd rate it 9 or 10..Usually I reserve that 10 score for anime that I feel really left an impression on me, but 5cm/s is perhaps flawless for what it tries to do. Also watching again, the last few minutes of the movie and especially that damn insert song are quite depressing.
Lets say 9.5, but 10/10 on MAL's rating system. For now at least.
Pretty meh, best part of episode was the ED pretty much. And I still can't stand Omigawa Chiaki but she isn't as awful here as I expected.
But even so there wasn't anything particularly funny, will probably drop this.
Star Driver 2 - err.. Didn't feel like the plot started moving forward much, I hope this series surprises me along the way.
Also watched 5 wallpapers per second, was really really good. Wasn't as BAWW worthy like some people claim it is, but still very nice. I liked the slow pace of the movie, and that somehow even so it wasn't boring at all for a moment.
I'm not sure if I'd rate it 9 or 10..Usually I reserve that 10 score for anime that I feel really left an impression on me, but 5cm/s is perhaps flawless for what it tries to do. Also watching again, the last few minutes of the movie and especially that damn insert song are quite depressing.
Lets say 9.5, but 10/10 on MAL's rating system. For now at least.
Finally finished Mushishi after month or so long break (and I've watched it in languid pace from the start, I don't even remember how many months it is since I started). Perfect. That's the only word I can use for it.
One of the best anime I've ever seen.
10/10
So, anyway, how you been liking Fall 2010 season so far? I'm certainly enjoying it.
Anyway, my impressions on Fall 2010 season so far a la Merri...
FALL 2010 ANIMU
Overall: This season is awesome and best in ages. Only decent season this year was spring (Tatami Galaxy, House of Five Leaves, start of K-ON!!) and I'm not sure 2009 had any season as good as this fall either. In any case there seems to be something for everyone in this season, at the very least. Personally speaking I'm suddenly swamped under swarm of promising or already great shows. In animation department GAINAX and Bones are - as expected - delivering excessively but one must also give props to J.C Staff if Index's and Zakuro's first eps are anything to go by. GAINAX also gets props for music: M-Flo's Taku Takahata has been delivering so far. It's also very nice to see two major studios delivering bold anime originals in this age of adaptations. Oh, and SHAFT still does its very best to overwork Shinbo to death.
The defining words of the season: incest, fabulous, fuko da
(Sections spoilered for length though only preview section needs it)
Previews/Reviews
Can't wait for Index ep 2 and whatever Anglican Church is plotting.
After all,
My Archbishop Of Canterbury Can't Possibly Be This Cute
One of the best anime I've ever seen.
10/10
So, anyway, how you been liking Fall 2010 season so far? I'm certainly enjoying it.
Anyway, my impressions on Fall 2010 season so far a la Merri...
FALL 2010 ANIMU
Overall: This season is awesome and best in ages. Only decent season this year was spring (Tatami Galaxy, House of Five Leaves, start of K-ON!!) and I'm not sure 2009 had any season as good as this fall either. In any case there seems to be something for everyone in this season, at the very least. Personally speaking I'm suddenly swamped under swarm of promising or already great shows. In animation department GAINAX and Bones are - as expected - delivering excessively but one must also give props to J.C Staff if Index's and Zakuro's first eps are anything to go by. GAINAX also gets props for music: M-Flo's Taku Takahata has been delivering so far. It's also very nice to see two major studios delivering bold anime originals in this age of adaptations. Oh, and SHAFT still does its very best to overwork Shinbo to death.
The defining words of the season: incest, fabulous, fuko da
(Sections spoilered for length though only preview section needs it)
Previews/Reviews
SPOILER: Show
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
(eps seen: 2)
lolGAINAX. Love it or hate it show from content to style. There's nothing else like it. Imaishi is mad.
I love it. Intentionally immature and obnoxious to boot with visuals greatly influenced by modern western cartoons but given immeaditly detectable GAINAX & anime touch. Pure eye candy with season's best OST (FLY AWAY NOW) and trademark GAINAX insanity. Needs more transformation scenes! Favourite chapter so far would be the fourth one.
Only time will tell if GAINAX will be able to keep it fresh (then again, spoilers from Newtype make this propable) but as it is it's one of the main contenders for this fall's best title.
Judgement: bugfuck insane aka Imaishi awesomeness.
Star Driver
(eps seen: 2)
FABULOUS, FABULOUS EVERYWHERE
Yoji Enokido did warn in interview before show launches that he'll "go all out" and that he won't "hold anything back" but goddamnit. It's only two eps in and shit is already crazyawesome. The fact this'll go on for 25 episodes makes me suspect that we very well may have best show of the year in our hands. A postmodern collage of anime aesthetics exaggarated to hell and back with sly, self-aware grin in the writing, beautiful visuals and arresting characters and setting? Did I remember to mention Akira Ishida plays guy who outperforms Kaworu in grace, mysteriousness and fabulous? And there's a girl in enormous golden bird cage singing and telling stories? And the main character is known as Galactic Pretty Boy?
Reminds me of Utena the most (especially now that "Duel of the Week" and "crazyawesome student council holding bizarre meetingsto revolutionize the world), albeit it's impossible to say yet if show will eventually head into darker, more serious waters towards the end.
Well, this is what you get when you put a famous shoujo director, Yoji Enokido and Studio Bones together. Animation is good and in fights downright stunning. Characters intriguing. As it is it's already a perfect cocktail of lolanime awesome and FABULOUS in particular. Another strong contender for title of season's best anime?
Judgement: Fabulous, sparkling brilliance.
Tamayura
(eps seen: 2)
OVA series by Junichi Sato (Aria, Princess Tutu) with 4 eps in total planned, out of which two has aired. Really nice slice of life series about girl hoping to become a photographer in the future. Relaxing and cozy
Very much recommended. Has lovely opening and ending themes, too!
Judgement: moe as hell, if you like Aria et al at all you really should give it a look. Worth watching.
Hen Zemi
(eps seen: 1)
Another OVA series. Hard to describe shortly but let's just say it's twisted and hilarious comedy about all kinds of sexual perversions: and surprisingly intelligent one at that! NTR, scatology, whatever you think of it'll propably be featured through the course of this series (I wonder when second ep will be out). Matsutaka Nanako is normal girl who ends up enrolling to Abnormal Physiology seminar in her university. Thus starts her bizarre life as only "normal" person among bunch of weirdos studying the weirdest of perversions. Directing style owes a lot to SHAFT and Shinbo in particular. The contrast between subject and cutesy designs is amusing too.
It's pretty hard series to describe. Watching OP and ED gives better picture of the OVA's bizarre charm than I can.
I really recommend checking this one out. It's one of the funniest shows to have aired this year.
Judgement: If NSFW content doesn't squick you check it out.
Bakuman
(eps seen: 1)
Surprisingly good. I didn't expect much but after finishing first ep felt like this series definetly has potential. Albeit adaptation loses some of the self-referential glee of "manga about making manga" concept, it's pretty good if a bit too straightforward and thus "lazy" adaptation of manga. At least it feels like it. I wouldn't be surprised if they copied manga panel to panel, in fact
Pretty nice. Might turn out depressingly average, might turn out good. Will be on "trial" for next couple of eps. Haven't read the manga so I hope they can bring the show to closure with its planned 25 eps lenght...
Judgement: Nothing special just yet, but promising shonen. At least it'll propably end up better than Death Note. Though show could use summadat Madhouse animation...
Shinryaku! Ika Musume!
(aka Invasion! Squid Girl!)
(eps seen: 1)
Well, you just kinda knew you'd see something exuberantly energic and goofy the moment the OP started with the gleeful "invasion!" shouts. This is truly the black sheep of this season: I went watching it expecting nothing (I did know the manga is extremely popular in Japan, but then again, Japan has shit taste often) and got some extraordinary mix of hilarity, cuteness and warmth. It reminded me more of Yotsuba& than anything else (excluding character design of Ika-Musume for she's pretty much Index-II :P).
Anyway, Ika-Musume/Squid Girl one day gets really fed up with humanity polluting and screwing over her dear sea in general and decides it's time for humanity to have its well deserved, long coming judgement. She decides to invade the earth and subjugate the entire human race under her righteous rule.
Unfortunately she didn't quite realize that there are 6.4 billion humans on this planet, not few thousands. Her means - tentacle hair, squid ink and overenthusiasm - do not quite live up to the challenge and soon she ends up working for a beach house (she broke their wall and is low on cash!) owned by two sisters.
I really loved the first episode. Good, likeable cast, bizarre premise (you call *this* a squid? loljapan) and great sense of comedic timing and excellent execution in general. Quality is especially notable when one remembers we're just in "introducing characters" phase
Judgement: awesome fun, best comedy of the year if it manages to keep up this level (and hopefully surpass it!)
Otome Youkai Zakuro
(eps seen: 1)
I swear this is by *far* the most sparkly & utsukushiiiiiii neeee show airing this season. It looked (and looks) so incredibly girly and fluffy and gay it took many positive previews from multiple sources to convince to check this one out.
Anyway, Otome Youkai Zakuro is set in alternative Meiji era Japan where various spirits (titular youkai) are reality. Their relationship with humans has apparently between strained (severity unknown), perhaps stemming from increasingly fast westernization and break with past, but now things are looking up. Now humans are setting up Ministry of Spirit Affairs, Meiji era X-Files of sorts I guess, and they're collaborating with friendly spirits for this reason. Three young soldiers are sent to shrine/temple where said spirits live in as human representatives. There they meet half-human half-spirit fox/catgirls (not sure),Reimu Zakuro and her friends, not to mention vast array of bizarre critters from eastern folk tales and legends from humanoid elephants to some sort of creepy cabbage kids. (In this respect show reminded me of Jade Empire ). Overall first episode was odd crossbreed of shoujo romance, comedy and badass fights (with awesome chanting going on in the background).
Huh.
Zakuro is like Bakuman in the regard that it currently exists in indeterminate state of quality: it may turn out to be shit, average, quite good or maybe even great. First episode shows no obvious indication of how the question is resolved, albeit it's leaning on promising side. And whatever the quality of series overall the visuals cannot be praised enough (see more pics here). Gorgeously animated and blessed with extraordinary art direction and fabulous and intricate character designs it's sheer joy to watch. The two short fight scenes in particular were very, very impressive.
Judgement: hard to say anything for sure yet but its aesthetic beauty is impossible to deny
Yosuga no Sora
(eps seen: 1)
ANN put it perfectly already:
The piercing melancholy of a piano-and-strings ballad...
A nondescript boy and a delicate girl riding on a train...
The saccharine moe-pop chords of eufonius starting up in the theme song...
This distant feeling of nostalgia... these faded memories...
It must be...
"Here's some random ero-game we made an anime out of."
Imagine Key adaptation devoid of any positive values (such as lush animation) they might've had and add sex. You have fairly good picture of YnS then.
Yosuga no Sora is pure shit. Incest shit to be particular (and propably harem shit in the future). In fact only reason I watched this was because /a/ could not stop splooging about how it featured quite explicit imouto incest. It wasn't even as hot as I hoped it to be, goddamnit!
Background art is gorgeous I must say, but despite that this show is worst turd I've seen in a while and I can already say it merely after one ep. Meh, I'll propably keep watching this for teh ludicruous writing and zomgincest but there's no way in hell I can say this is anything expect pure, undiluted crap.
Judgement: Shit. Watch it for wincest (or to laugh at ludicrous, melodramatic eroge writing) or not at all.
Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector
(eps seen: 1)
Mecha porn for the fetishists. Nothing more, nothing less. No sense of writing, pacing or directing. Only one GAINAX bounce to satisfy us who do not suffer from mechaphilia. Animation was excellent I must say. I hate Japan, handing out bags of money to super robot diarrhea like this.
Judgement: Shit. It did have one redeeming grace however and that's the ED. This 1:31 slice of cinematic perfection is all you need to see from the show
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru
(eps seen: 1)
lolSHAFT. With S2 of Arakawa (which I'm not watching as I quickly dropped Arakawa in spring) this presents fall output of that never breaking alliance of director Akiyuki Shinbo and SHAFT. I don't think it quite reached its full promise (and what the fuck is up with those random tanuki inserts? Reminds me of Osaka from AMV Hell 3 but with disgusting addition of Pom Poko association...) yet but it was quite good nonetheless. Looking forward to next ep and introduction of rest of the cast (after which show propably starts rolling better). It's refreshing to see Maid Cafe as subject of seinen comedy instead of shonen anime fanservicey hijinks.
Animation and editing was in typical lolshinbo fashion, albeit thankfully he doesn't quite overdirect the show as badly as some other works of his. No random red or black screens etc. Oh, and it has more budget and animation than typical SHAFT animation from last years, propably thanks to all the cash brought in by Bakemonogatari.
As for Omigawa Chiaki, I like her here. Fits the MC in my opinion. What I did not like and didn't fit in however where GG's trollsubs. Godfuckingdamnit, take your "Let's be gay" and "<3" somewhere else. And fix timing of ED subs! Damn attention whores...
Oh, and not too surprisingly Soremachi has best OP and ED of the season (as expected from SHAFT and Shinbo).
I especially love the ED and am pretty much addicted to it
Judgement: pretty good start. Awesome OP/ED
Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai/My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute
(eps seen: 2)
This is the kind of show one watches in order to better "get" the context of H doujins and/or in hope of sum sweet imouto loving, I figured from the very start. I mean 'cmon, your oh-so-perfect, popular as hell tsundereish 14 year old little sister is chic, works as a model, is perfect in sports and in school studies...and is a closet otaku who loves imouto eroges more than anything else in the world?
Japannnnnnnnnn, you're not even trying anymore!
First ep then turned out to be surprisingly decent, a state of matters greatly helped by couple of good injokes, Yuuichi Nakamura giving his perfected "sarcastic jerk" voice (it's as if Kirino had Alto as her "onii-chan"! Ranka must be jealous...) to surprisingly bro (figuratively as well as literally ) MC and Ayana Taketatsu's (Azunyan) HHHHHHHHHHNNNNNGG-inducing tsundere voiceacting that was spot-on perfect - and quite a mindfuck when I realized who she was the seyuu.
But the fact first ep was ok instead of being simply creepy crap did not prepare me for second ep at all. I'm still not quite sure how it happened but goddamnit, OreImo's second episode was damn great. It was funny as hell (laughed out loud many times), new characters great and the whole thing unexpectedly touching and genuinely engaging. Kirino's loneliness and problems of social ostracization of otaku were well portrayed. And MC continued to be very likeable. What the fuck, how can he be main character?
As Merri said, show should've been called “Tsuntsun Sis and Her Badass Bro”
Laughed so hard when this part came up
(So, apparently "teen complex" is Japanese term for deepfags and grimdark fags? )
If show builds on ep 2's level of genuine quality I might have most surprisingly good series in my hands since...second season of K-ON? No, even for K-ON!! I had more hopes than for this initially... Well it's great in any case
And of course while imouto wincest is always fine and dandy I really don't care anymore.
Judgement: Came for wincest, stayed for shocking goodness.
To Aru Majutsu no Index II
You know what people say about leaving the best last eh? Easily the show I was most looking forward to this season and if first ep is anything to go by they're going to exceed my expectations. J.C Staff truly is delivering here with fantastic one ep standalone story acting as well executed reintroduction of characters. Animation and art quality are fantastic: both were great back in the original already but I'd say Index looks now better than it ever has. Soundtrack is great with couple of BGM tracks actually gathering some attention on their own (only show to do this excluding P&S in this season, I'd say). All production values and technical aspects are top notch. Action is fantastic, humour works, characters are as lovable as always.
Raildex has always been better than sum of its parts but if second season keeps going on in this direction it'll nigh-certainly surpass both first season of Index as well as Railgun with ease. Post-ED scene with return of Kanzaki and that whatshisface-Kamiyan dude was very, very promising to say the least!
Judgement: AWESOME! SONO GENSOU WA BUCHIKOROSU & FUKO DA are back!
(eps seen: 2)
lolGAINAX. Love it or hate it show from content to style. There's nothing else like it. Imaishi is mad.
I love it. Intentionally immature and obnoxious to boot with visuals greatly influenced by modern western cartoons but given immeaditly detectable GAINAX & anime touch. Pure eye candy with season's best OST (FLY AWAY NOW) and trademark GAINAX insanity. Needs more transformation scenes! Favourite chapter so far would be the fourth one.
Only time will tell if GAINAX will be able to keep it fresh (then again, spoilers from Newtype make this propable) but as it is it's one of the main contenders for this fall's best title.
Judgement: bugfuck insane aka Imaishi awesomeness.
Star Driver
(eps seen: 2)
FABULOUS, FABULOUS EVERYWHERE
Yoji Enokido did warn in interview before show launches that he'll "go all out" and that he won't "hold anything back" but goddamnit. It's only two eps in and shit is already crazyawesome. The fact this'll go on for 25 episodes makes me suspect that we very well may have best show of the year in our hands. A postmodern collage of anime aesthetics exaggarated to hell and back with sly, self-aware grin in the writing, beautiful visuals and arresting characters and setting? Did I remember to mention Akira Ishida plays guy who outperforms Kaworu in grace, mysteriousness and fabulous? And there's a girl in enormous golden bird cage singing and telling stories? And the main character is known as Galactic Pretty Boy?
Reminds me of Utena the most (especially now that "Duel of the Week" and "crazyawesome student council holding bizarre meetings
Well, this is what you get when you put a famous shoujo director, Yoji Enokido and Studio Bones together. Animation is good and in fights downright stunning. Characters intriguing. As it is it's already a perfect cocktail of lolanime awesome and FABULOUS in particular. Another strong contender for title of season's best anime?
Judgement: Fabulous, sparkling brilliance.
Tamayura
(eps seen: 2)
OVA series by Junichi Sato (Aria, Princess Tutu) with 4 eps in total planned, out of which two has aired. Really nice slice of life series about girl hoping to become a photographer in the future. Relaxing and cozy
Very much recommended. Has lovely opening and ending themes, too!
Judgement: moe as hell, if you like Aria et al at all you really should give it a look. Worth watching.
Hen Zemi
(eps seen: 1)
Another OVA series. Hard to describe shortly but let's just say it's twisted and hilarious comedy about all kinds of sexual perversions: and surprisingly intelligent one at that! NTR, scatology, whatever you think of it'll propably be featured through the course of this series (I wonder when second ep will be out). Matsutaka Nanako is normal girl who ends up enrolling to Abnormal Physiology seminar in her university. Thus starts her bizarre life as only "normal" person among bunch of weirdos studying the weirdest of perversions. Directing style owes a lot to SHAFT and Shinbo in particular. The contrast between subject and cutesy designs is amusing too.
It's pretty hard series to describe. Watching OP and ED gives better picture of the OVA's bizarre charm than I can.
I really recommend checking this one out. It's one of the funniest shows to have aired this year.
Judgement: If NSFW content doesn't squick you check it out.
Bakuman
(eps seen: 1)
Surprisingly good. I didn't expect much but after finishing first ep felt like this series definetly has potential. Albeit adaptation loses some of the self-referential glee of "manga about making manga" concept, it's pretty good if a bit too straightforward and thus "lazy" adaptation of manga. At least it feels like it. I wouldn't be surprised if they copied manga panel to panel, in fact
Pretty nice. Might turn out depressingly average, might turn out good. Will be on "trial" for next couple of eps. Haven't read the manga so I hope they can bring the show to closure with its planned 25 eps lenght...
Judgement: Nothing special just yet, but promising shonen. At least it'll propably end up better than Death Note. Though show could use summadat Madhouse animation...
Shinryaku! Ika Musume!
(aka Invasion! Squid Girl!)
(eps seen: 1)
Well, you just kinda knew you'd see something exuberantly energic and goofy the moment the OP started with the gleeful "invasion!" shouts. This is truly the black sheep of this season: I went watching it expecting nothing (I did know the manga is extremely popular in Japan, but then again, Japan has shit taste often) and got some extraordinary mix of hilarity, cuteness and warmth. It reminded me more of Yotsuba& than anything else (excluding character design of Ika-Musume for she's pretty much Index-II :P).
Anyway, Ika-Musume/Squid Girl one day gets really fed up with humanity polluting and screwing over her dear sea in general and decides it's time for humanity to have its well deserved, long coming judgement. She decides to invade the earth and subjugate the entire human race under her righteous rule.
Unfortunately she didn't quite realize that there are 6.4 billion humans on this planet, not few thousands. Her means - tentacle hair, squid ink and overenthusiasm - do not quite live up to the challenge and soon she ends up working for a beach house (she broke their wall and is low on cash!) owned by two sisters.
I really loved the first episode. Good, likeable cast, bizarre premise (you call *this* a squid? loljapan) and great sense of comedic timing and excellent execution in general. Quality is especially notable when one remembers we're just in "introducing characters" phase
Judgement: awesome fun, best comedy of the year if it manages to keep up this level (and hopefully surpass it!)
Otome Youkai Zakuro
(eps seen: 1)
I swear this is by *far* the most sparkly & utsukushiiiiiii neeee show airing this season. It looked (and looks) so incredibly girly and fluffy and gay it took many positive previews from multiple sources to convince to check this one out.
Anyway, Otome Youkai Zakuro is set in alternative Meiji era Japan where various spirits (titular youkai) are reality. Their relationship with humans has apparently between strained (severity unknown), perhaps stemming from increasingly fast westernization and break with past, but now things are looking up. Now humans are setting up Ministry of Spirit Affairs, Meiji era X-Files of sorts I guess, and they're collaborating with friendly spirits for this reason. Three young soldiers are sent to shrine/temple where said spirits live in as human representatives. There they meet half-human half-spirit fox/catgirls (not sure),
Huh.
Zakuro is like Bakuman in the regard that it currently exists in indeterminate state of quality: it may turn out to be shit, average, quite good or maybe even great. First episode shows no obvious indication of how the question is resolved, albeit it's leaning on promising side. And whatever the quality of series overall the visuals cannot be praised enough (see more pics here). Gorgeously animated and blessed with extraordinary art direction and fabulous and intricate character designs it's sheer joy to watch. The two short fight scenes in particular were very, very impressive.
Judgement: hard to say anything for sure yet but its aesthetic beauty is impossible to deny
Yosuga no Sora
(eps seen: 1)
ANN put it perfectly already:
The piercing melancholy of a piano-and-strings ballad...
A nondescript boy and a delicate girl riding on a train...
The saccharine moe-pop chords of eufonius starting up in the theme song...
This distant feeling of nostalgia... these faded memories...
It must be...
"Here's some random ero-game we made an anime out of."
Imagine Key adaptation devoid of any positive values (such as lush animation) they might've had and add sex. You have fairly good picture of YnS then.
Yosuga no Sora is pure shit. Incest shit to be particular (and propably harem shit in the future). In fact only reason I watched this was because /a/ could not stop splooging about how it featured quite explicit imouto incest. It wasn't even as hot as I hoped it to be, goddamnit!
Background art is gorgeous I must say, but despite that this show is worst turd I've seen in a while and I can already say it merely after one ep. Meh, I'll propably keep watching this for teh ludicruous writing and zomgincest but there's no way in hell I can say this is anything expect pure, undiluted crap.
Judgement: Shit. Watch it for wincest (or to laugh at ludicrous, melodramatic eroge writing) or not at all.
Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector
(eps seen: 1)
Mecha porn for the fetishists. Nothing more, nothing less. No sense of writing, pacing or directing. Only one GAINAX bounce to satisfy us who do not suffer from mechaphilia. Animation was excellent I must say. I hate Japan, handing out bags of money to super robot diarrhea like this.
Judgement: Shit. It did have one redeeming grace however and that's the ED. This 1:31 slice of cinematic perfection is all you need to see from the show
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru
(eps seen: 1)
lolSHAFT. With S2 of Arakawa (which I'm not watching as I quickly dropped Arakawa in spring) this presents fall output of that never breaking alliance of director Akiyuki Shinbo and SHAFT. I don't think it quite reached its full promise (and what the fuck is up with those random tanuki inserts? Reminds me of Osaka from AMV Hell 3 but with disgusting addition of Pom Poko association...) yet but it was quite good nonetheless. Looking forward to next ep and introduction of rest of the cast (after which show propably starts rolling better). It's refreshing to see Maid Cafe as subject of seinen comedy instead of shonen anime fanservicey hijinks.
Animation and editing was in typical lolshinbo fashion, albeit thankfully he doesn't quite overdirect the show as badly as some other works of his. No random red or black screens etc. Oh, and it has more budget and animation than typical SHAFT animation from last years, propably thanks to all the cash brought in by Bakemonogatari.
As for Omigawa Chiaki, I like her here. Fits the MC in my opinion. What I did not like and didn't fit in however where GG's trollsubs. Godfuckingdamnit, take your "Let's be gay" and "<3" somewhere else. And fix timing of ED subs! Damn attention whores...
Oh, and not too surprisingly Soremachi has best OP and ED of the season (as expected from SHAFT and Shinbo).
I especially love the ED and am pretty much addicted to it
Judgement: pretty good start. Awesome OP/ED
Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai/My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute
(eps seen: 2)
This is the kind of show one watches in order to better "get" the context of H doujins and/or in hope of sum sweet imouto loving, I figured from the very start. I mean 'cmon, your oh-so-perfect, popular as hell tsundereish 14 year old little sister is chic, works as a model, is perfect in sports and in school studies...and is a closet otaku who loves imouto eroges more than anything else in the world?
Japannnnnnnnnn, you're not even trying anymore!
First ep then turned out to be surprisingly decent, a state of matters greatly helped by couple of good injokes, Yuuichi Nakamura giving his perfected "sarcastic jerk" voice (it's as if Kirino had Alto as her "onii-chan"! Ranka must be jealous...) to surprisingly bro (figuratively as well as literally ) MC and Ayana Taketatsu's (Azunyan) HHHHHHHHHHNNNNNGG-inducing tsundere voiceacting that was spot-on perfect - and quite a mindfuck when I realized who she was the seyuu.
But the fact first ep was ok instead of being simply creepy crap did not prepare me for second ep at all. I'm still not quite sure how it happened but goddamnit, OreImo's second episode was damn great. It was funny as hell (laughed out loud many times), new characters great and the whole thing unexpectedly touching and genuinely engaging. Kirino's loneliness and problems of social ostracization of otaku were well portrayed. And MC continued to be very likeable. What the fuck, how can he be main character?
As Merri said, show should've been called “Tsuntsun Sis and Her Badass Bro”
Laughed so hard when this part came up
(So, apparently "teen complex" is Japanese term for deepfags and grimdark fags? )
If show builds on ep 2's level of genuine quality I might have most surprisingly good series in my hands since...second season of K-ON? No, even for K-ON!! I had more hopes than for this initially... Well it's great in any case
And of course while imouto wincest is always fine and dandy I really don't care anymore.
Judgement: Came for wincest, stayed for shocking goodness.
To Aru Majutsu no Index II
You know what people say about leaving the best last eh? Easily the show I was most looking forward to this season and if first ep is anything to go by they're going to exceed my expectations. J.C Staff truly is delivering here with fantastic one ep standalone story acting as well executed reintroduction of characters. Animation and art quality are fantastic: both were great back in the original already but I'd say Index looks now better than it ever has. Soundtrack is great with couple of BGM tracks actually gathering some attention on their own (only show to do this excluding P&S in this season, I'd say). All production values and technical aspects are top notch. Action is fantastic, humour works, characters are as lovable as always.
Raildex has always been better than sum of its parts but if second season keeps going on in this direction it'll nigh-certainly surpass both first season of Index as well as Railgun with ease. Post-ED scene with return of Kanzaki and that whatshisface-Kamiyan dude was very, very promising to say the least!
Judgement: AWESOME! SONO GENSOU WA BUCHIKOROSU & FUKO DA are back!
Random SPOILER: Show
Random
Best OPs
3. Tamayura OP
2. To Aru Majutsu No Index OP
1. Soremachi OP
Best EDs
3. Tamayura ED
2. PSG ED
1. Soremachi ED
Maids rock, that's all I can say!
Best male lead
Touma Kamijou, of course! OreImo's MC is pretty damn godo too. And Takuto's fabulousness levels are formidable.... woah, THREE good male leads? This is quite unnatural state of matters.
Best female lead
Squid Girl, of course!
I can't count Misaka as lead of Index unfortunately, but lack of her in this position doesn't hurt much because Ika-Musume is funny and cute as hell
Best series
Index II, Star Driver, Panty & Stocking
Best OPs
3. Tamayura OP
2. To Aru Majutsu No Index OP
1. Soremachi OP
Best EDs
3. Tamayura ED
2. PSG ED
1. Soremachi ED
Maids rock, that's all I can say!
Best male lead
Touma Kamijou, of course! OreImo's MC is pretty damn godo too. And Takuto's fabulousness levels are formidable.... woah, THREE good male leads? This is quite unnatural state of matters.
Best female lead
Squid Girl, of course!
I can't count Misaka as lead of Index unfortunately, but lack of her in this position doesn't hurt much because Ika-Musume is funny and cute as hell
Best series
Index II, Star Driver, Panty & Stocking
Conclusion SPOILER: Show
Conclusion
This is fantastic season. Out of 12 shows I've checked out on 8 are promising and/or already good or even great, only 2 suck and last 2 are of indeterminable quality.
I have no idea when was last time I could say there were 8 at the very least promising titles in one season. Out of these 3 are already all-but-confirmed for greatness.
This is fantastic season. Out of 12 shows I've checked out on 8 are promising and/or already good or even great, only 2 suck and last 2 are of indeterminable quality.
I have no idea when was last time I could say there were 8 at the very least promising titles in one season. Out of these 3 are already all-but-confirmed for greatness.
Can't wait for Index ep 2 and whatever Anglican Church is plotting.
After all,
My Archbishop Of Canterbury Can't Possibly Be This Cute
- Twin Drive Sigma Aquarion
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Nice list Xard I I wonder if you ever thought about being a cr- Hey wait, what the hell is this?
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
OG The Inspector mecha porn? BWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No it isn't. I will admit that Angelg's design is questionable, yes, but that's it.
It's called getting the audiences attention, which it does. In a show called Super Robot Wars, what the hell comes to mind first? War, explosions, fighting, and guns, what else?
Hardly, the first episode was easily one of the best first eps in any anime I've ever seen and the second episode puts a ton of episodes of Gurren Lagann, most Gundam, most Zoids, and I dare say Evangelion eps save for post Ireul battle ones to shame.
Actually that song was terrible or at least I thought it was.
Mecha porn for the fetishists. Nothing more, nothing less.
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
OG The Inspector mecha porn? BWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No it isn't. I will admit that Angelg's design is questionable, yes, but that's it.
No sense of writing, pacing or directing
It's called getting the audiences attention, which it does. In a show called Super Robot Wars, what the hell comes to mind first? War, explosions, fighting, and guns, what else?
I hate Japan, handing out bags of money to super robot diarrhea like this.
Hardly, the first episode was easily one of the best first eps in any anime I've ever seen and the second episode puts a ton of episodes of Gurren Lagann, most Gundam, most Zoids, and I dare say Evangelion eps save for post Ireul battle ones to shame.
It did have one redeeming grace however and that's the ED.
Actually that song was terrible or at least I thought it was.
So depressed am I
Missing you I do TK
Gone from paradise
Missing you I do TK
Gone from paradise
Since we're talking about OG here: talking cats, fourth wall breaking, homosexual innuendo, characters talking about cooking.
I normally watch all kinds of robot crap, but I have no interest in this one because I own the game and I know how the story is going to play out for the most part. I can always watch the best parts on Youtube or something and save a lot of time that way.
- Joseph the PRPD
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- Eva Yojimbo
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Perfect my ginger ass.
Cinelogue & Forced Perspective Cinema
^ Writing as Jonathan Henderson ^
We're all adrift on the stormy seas of Evangelion, desperately trying to gather what flotsam can be snatched from the gale into a somewhat seaworthy interpretation so that we can at last reach the shores of reason and respite. - ObsessiveMathsFreak
Jimbo has posted enough to be considered greater than or equal to everyone, and or synonymous with the concept of 'everyone'. - Muggy
I've seen so many changeful years, / to Earth I am a stranger grown: / I wander in the ways of men, / alike unknowing and unknown: / Unheard, unpitied, unrelieved, / I bear alone my load of care; / For silent, low, on beds of dust, / Lie all that would my sorrows share. - Robert Burns' Lament for James
^ Writing as Jonathan Henderson ^
We're all adrift on the stormy seas of Evangelion, desperately trying to gather what flotsam can be snatched from the gale into a somewhat seaworthy interpretation so that we can at last reach the shores of reason and respite. - ObsessiveMathsFreak
Jimbo has posted enough to be considered greater than or equal to everyone, and or synonymous with the concept of 'everyone'. - Muggy
I've seen so many changeful years, / to Earth I am a stranger grown: / I wander in the ways of men, / alike unknowing and unknown: / Unheard, unpitied, unrelieved, / I bear alone my load of care; / For silent, low, on beds of dust, / Lie all that would my sorrows share. - Robert Burns' Lament for James
quiet, you! All I can say is that I'm glad it's turning out like the first ep hinted at.
Besides, you know you're watching Yosuga no Sora for the plot.
"Let's marathon a show that wasn't intended to be marathoned, and then when we feel underwhelmed about its episodic nature, complain about how it's the show's fault for not being fresh enough or paced faster!"
- IrkenEvangelion
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Believe it or not I am.... I enjoy the plots of such a story as this. I am a story kind of guy. Yes I am weird...
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- Mr. Tines
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Still working my way through Strike Witches 2 -- while S1 managed to combine generally unobtrusive fanservice with a reasonable amount of character driven story, this season seems to have lost the plot and tipped over into being tacky.
In its first episode, Letter Bee REVERSE has picked up nicely from where we left off, and looks like the plot might be starting to slowly grind into motion. In a season mostly full of pandering to various otaku fetishes, this stands out from the pack.
In the same way, Otome Youkai Zakuro looks like something I might try when there are a few more episodes out. In the meantime I'm getting tempted to go back and try Giant Killing because it's different.
You will never get that second season, even though there are 24 more chapters of the manga not animated ; ;[/sadfrog]
In its first episode, Letter Bee REVERSE has picked up nicely from where we left off, and looks like the plot might be starting to slowly grind into motion. In a season mostly full of pandering to various otaku fetishes, this stands out from the pack.
In the same way, Otome Youkai Zakuro looks like something I might try when there are a few more episodes out. In the meantime I'm getting tempted to go back and try Giant Killing because it's different.
You will never get that second season, even though there are 24 more chapters of the manga not animated ; ;[/sadfrog]
Probably to do with all the angst and emo associated with that age range.(So, apparently "teen complex" is Japanese term for deepfags and grimdark fags? )
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- Eva Yojimbo
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I think some of my problems had to do with marathoning it, but not all. It's one-note sameness and rather bland characters would be a problem whether I marathoned it or not.
Cinelogue & Forced Perspective Cinema
^ Writing as Jonathan Henderson ^
We're all adrift on the stormy seas of Evangelion, desperately trying to gather what flotsam can be snatched from the gale into a somewhat seaworthy interpretation so that we can at last reach the shores of reason and respite. - ObsessiveMathsFreak
Jimbo has posted enough to be considered greater than or equal to everyone, and or synonymous with the concept of 'everyone'. - Muggy
I've seen so many changeful years, / to Earth I am a stranger grown: / I wander in the ways of men, / alike unknowing and unknown: / Unheard, unpitied, unrelieved, / I bear alone my load of care; / For silent, low, on beds of dust, / Lie all that would my sorrows share. - Robert Burns' Lament for James
^ Writing as Jonathan Henderson ^
We're all adrift on the stormy seas of Evangelion, desperately trying to gather what flotsam can be snatched from the gale into a somewhat seaworthy interpretation so that we can at last reach the shores of reason and respite. - ObsessiveMathsFreak
Jimbo has posted enough to be considered greater than or equal to everyone, and or synonymous with the concept of 'everyone'. - Muggy
I've seen so many changeful years, / to Earth I am a stranger grown: / I wander in the ways of men, / alike unknowing and unknown: / Unheard, unpitied, unrelieved, / I bear alone my load of care; / For silent, low, on beds of dust, / Lie all that would my sorrows share. - Robert Burns' Lament for James
- toe mash
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I started watching the 2nd season of Honey and Clover..
I'm glad to see that the second season is off to a better start than the 1st was, and it looks like things are finally starting to move. Last season it felt like the characters were in nearly the exact same state they were in the first episode and the last.
But I gotta say, it's really getting annoying that we get a Yamada crying scene every 10 minutes or so. I kind of doubt it, but I hope that the ending will be satisfying.
Also Yosuga no Sora episode 2 was hilarious, it's like they tried to cram in 25 minutes as many cliches as they could. Even though this series really is crapola, I think I'll continue watching it for some inexplicable reason.
Also the "so awful it's embarrassing so you pause the video for a sec before continuing" scenes keep piling up.
I'm glad to see that the second season is off to a better start than the 1st was, and it looks like things are finally starting to move. Last season it felt like the characters were in nearly the exact same state they were in the first episode and the last.
But I gotta say, it's really getting annoying that we get a Yamada crying scene every 10 minutes or so. I kind of doubt it, but I hope that the ending will be satisfying.
Also Yosuga no Sora episode 2 was hilarious, it's like they tried to cram in 25 minutes as many cliches as they could. Even though this series really is crapola, I think I'll continue watching it for some inexplicable reason.
Also the "so awful it's embarrassing so you pause the video for a sec before continuing" scenes keep piling up.
- InstrumentalityOne
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- IrkenEvangelion
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^ I like it so far. That guy's beard is hilarious... I like the Lincoln Kazuha gets driven around in. Also, co ed pool cleaning? Why not! I feel bad for Sora though.. she's so cute. I also enjoy the spastic song at the end.
I really really like the harmonica music in Ore no Imouto. 1 and 2. Hopefully they'll keep including it. Just something about it..
"you post-Evangelion biter."
I really really like the harmonica music in Ore no Imouto. 1 and 2. Hopefully they'll keep including it. Just something about it..
"you post-Evangelion biter."
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8 YEARS OF EVA, Does it mean something to you?
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- InstrumentalityOne
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Predictable.
Mecha porn doesn't literally mean "porn" anymore than food porn means fucking porridge and mushrooms and filming it.
Names shouldn't affect quality of content in any way. I have absolutely nothing against action shows (Dead Leaves is nothing BUT action and sex...at the same time occasionally) per se but shittily constructed action is one of the most tedious things imaginable to watch.
oh, right, there was a song there... I was talking about "visuals"
I'd say Otomoe Youkai Zakuro is well worth a shot. As far as Chiaki Sato anime goes it's certainly shaping up more Higurashi than Umineko and, of course, there ain't any DEEN QUALITY here as it's animated by J.C Staff.
It's pretty funny though, the OP made me think of Higurashi's OP the moment I saw it for obvious reasons
Have I remember to mention how beautiful it is to look at today?
WHAAAAAT
I thought the whole manga was animated...so I figured out I wouldn't need to buy manga too if I watched the series *sigh*
Let me guess, those chapters are here and there spread through all the books instead of being the newest ones or something like that?
*************************
Squid Girl ep 2
Continues being cute and funny in equal measure de geso. First ep's quality wasn't accident, it seems de geso. For some reason it makes me think of Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba& in particular despite not being very similar at all de geso. Maybe it's the general feeling of it, dunno de geso
Bakuman ep 2
Better than first ep and pretty ok. I'll continue trial time for couple of more episodes for now, but the direction is positive.
Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector ep 2
Blergh. Still crap. I'll give it one more ep, two at most, if it doesn't start to get better.
Otome Youkai Zakuro ep 2
Bakuman showed some promising direction with ep 2 but nothing compared to Zakuro. Second ep was very nice, building on what happened in previous episode and introducing some new plot/character mysteries. Character dynamics are *very* shoujo (and, of course, those character designs) while otherwise whole thing feels more like shounen/seinen "supernatural detective" kind of show...
Nonetheless, very promising! I don't think Zakuro needs to be on trial anymore so yeah, I'll be watching this. Maybe this is another surprise in this season :)
Now that I finished Mushishi I continued Aria today, something I've been slowly but surely watching for a while by now.
edit: I forgot
Yosuga no Sora ep 2
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-
FUCK YOU Japan
I MAD
I SO MAD
I HAVEN'T BEEN TROLLED THIS BADLY SINCE MACROSS FRONTIER'S ENDING
I WANNA COME... TO SCHOOL HURRHURRRR
- IrkenEvangelion
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Who says I want to come to school anyways? I believe it's I want to go to school.
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- Mr. Tines
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In the same way that Makoto Shinkai's works (e.g. The Place Promised) are cloud porn and Aria is scenery porn.
Surprisingly, they just animated the first 26 chapters, slightly out of order -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mushishi_episodes
The Japanese say "go" when we say "come" (in a sexual sense).
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Avatar: art deco Asuka
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SPOILER: Show
Seriously. Here we have sum imouto sneaking into her brother's room in middle of night, waking him up, taking off her dress and saying "I want to come"? Cue ED
I damn well expected something else than "lol you need to take measures for mah seifuku"
I damn well expected something else than "lol you need to take measures for mah seifuku"
it didn't help rest of the ep wasn't even as ridiculous as first, just terribly, terribly cliche so there wasn't even as many possibilities to laugh at writing.
Mr. Tines wrote:Surprisingly, they just animated the first 26 chapters, slightly out of order -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mushishi_episodes
Well this is awesome! So basically I just need to get manga volumes starting with vol 6?
I think ep 20 would've been perfect final ep for the show, but the one they put in the end worked ok as well.
- IrkenEvangelion
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^ Hey I was ticked too. Although I kinda figured it'd be something stupid because Sora's not a direct person.
Funn fact to know.
SPOILER: Show
At the same time who comes into someone's room and asks them to take measurements in the middle of the night?
Funn fact to know.
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