What anime are you watching right now? 2H15 to 1H16

[Mr. Tines]

This may have been decided to keep things realistic, but I’m willing to bet it was really just because the art director was colour blind:

Just for interest's sake, was the original Japanese "ao" ("grue") or "midori" ("yellowish-grue")?

---

Well, I finally finished Symphogear GX, and while it was not overall as bad as some of the detractors made out, it somehow managed to make what ought to have been a spectacular finale come over as just "meh" -- which is really the problem with the franchise as a whole. It ought to be something that is full of "Fuck, yeah!" moments, but those end up being restricted to the first episode of the season only; a measure of how flat-footed the delivery is.

Meanwhile, Flying Witch continues to be the best CGDCT-style series in quite a few years (I'm tempted to say "since Aria", here) -- with extra bonus points for having a boy in the cast who isn't any sort of romance self-insert, and having absolutely no school scenes. What a contrast it is to the other shows like HaiFuri which I dropped at the oh-so-hilarious "we're out of bog rolls" episode, or Anne-Happy, which spiralled through surreal into just downright stupid in very short order.

[esselfortium]

Meanwhile, Flying Witch continues to be the best CGDCT-style series in quite a few years (I'm tempted to say "since Aria", here) -- with extra bonus points for having a boy in the cast who isn't any sort of romance self-insert, and having absolutely no school scenes.

Well, there was a brief school scene in I think the first episode, but other than that, it's nicely avoided it, yes. It's packed with enough of its own ideas that it hasn't needed to fall back on the Default Anime Location, but honestly I hadn't even consciously taken notice of that distinction until now.

For a quiet and slow slice-of-life show, Flying Witch has a lot going on in terms of places and ideas to play with, and it's found so many new and endearing ways to be whimsical and fun every week, that it just feels perfectly natural and as-it-should-be. Its characters are so much fun that they just automatically make every situation wonderfully entertaining.

At this point, Flying Witch and Mayoiga are the shows I'm most looking forward to each week, with Mayoiga delivering the absurdist humor and Flying Witch bringing the adorable. While I look forward to seeing how Mayoiga clumsily wraps up its story with a surely-unsatisfying non-conclusion (I mean this in a good way, and I realize how strange that must sound to anyone who isn't watching and in on the joke) in a couple weeks, Flying Witch is the kind of show I could probably enjoy endless seasons of. Hopefully we'll see more of it someday.

[Shamsiel-kun]

Finally watched the Patlabor The new files OVA's, laughed my ass off at some of the episodes. At first I was somewhat puzzled by the fact that the UK R2 DVD has a 15+ age limit for "Sexualised nudity, injury detail" (sexualised nudity, in Patlabor? ), but there's an episode involving the maintenance crew's porn stash and the covers of the videotapes are rather realistically drawings of topless ladies (makes me wonder how the production of that episode went... ). The male bathhouse episode was utterly hilarious, especially as the SV2 can apparently best Golgo 13 in a bare-handed nude fight . Several episodes provide a nice closure to the Griffon arc, it has a Labor-powered teddy bear rampage, the return of the albino alligators in a highly amusing RPG pastiche, and CLAT is totally not Ultraman (and the Space Dorphan totally not a GM in Gundam colors...).
So that leaves only the Patlabor TV series that has not been issued on DVD in Europe...maybe I should get the R1 release...

[A.T. Fish]

At this point, Flying Witch and Mayoiga are the shows I'm most looking forward to each week, with Mayoiga delivering the absurdist humor and Flying Witch bringing the adorable.

I like Flying Witch for the chill atmosphere but I don't think it's particularly amusing. It's refreshing to see the parents though, for once they actually have a role instead of being virtually non-existent.

Mayoiga is kind of mesmerizing, the show apparently wants to be taken seriously, but then it comes up with increasingly absurd backstories and motivations for the characters. At this point I just want to see how much crazier it can get.

Finally watched the Patlabor The new files OVA's

I really want to watch this but it's been too long since I watched the TV series. I'd have to rewatch the whole thing, and it probably won't happen any time soon.

The latest Kabaneri was refreshingly not action packed, and once again showed how much it was influenced by Attack on Titan when it presented the Hunters, they even wear green.

[esselfortium]

Mayoiga is kind of mesmerizing, the show apparently wants to be taken seriously, but then it comes up with increasingly absurd backstories and motivations for the characters. At this point I just want to see how much crazier it can get.

I'm certain that the show is in on the joke, it's just so deadpan that it's easy to get the impression that it's trying and failing to be serious. But it's full of subtle jokes like Valkana in this week's episode referring to Judgeness by the wrong name again, characters who get bored of the plot and forget what they're even doing, and comically-unfitting direction and BGM that turn would-be dramatic scenes into farces, despite having shown itself to be capable of presenting itself competently on the rare occasion that it actually wants to build some tension. It's honestly surprising that it's shown as much restraint as it has, because this kind of humor would be so easy to screw up by being overzealous about it.

[Gus Hanson]

Eureka Seven ep. 7

I already tire of these Renton getting hazed episodes when I have a feeling there will be many more. I find myself on Hilda's side finding no fun or pleasure watching Matthieu and the gang picking on the new kid just because it's tradition on board the Gekko. The main storyline better pick up the pace or I might drop it.

Rahxephon ep. 21

The show definitely pays homage to Evangelion well with the Jewish imagery on the Operation Downfall points of counterattack. I look forward to viewing Ishiiki's downfall which must happen in a couple of episodes since he's so smug and arrogant, it just begs for that kind of karma. Sayoko's situation I believe owes to Itsuki ignoring her feelings for him and unless I am wrong, I think she sees so much of Itsuki in Ayato that they don't convey their true emotions when the other person is begging for them to confess it.

Macross Delta ep. 5

Messer is a jerk, it's obvious. He will either die protecting Hayate from some sort of close attack on him early on or he and Hayate will find some common ground further down the line. I sort of hope it's the first scenario. As for the love triangle, I began and still support Hayate/Mirage since the end result is usually drawn towards main male ends up with tsundere older female but if the writers would feel like mixing it up here and give us more Hayate/Freyja moments, I think Hayate asking Mirage if he and Freyja should do like Max and Milia who were obviously human and Zentraedi and do the first human/Windemerean union could be a sign of good things to come. The only thing to worry about is how comfortable the three would be working with each other if they keep the Delta Squadron/Walkure collaboration going.

[Bagheera]

The big thing about the Delta love triangle is that Freyja is nice. I mean, she's genuinely cute and adorable, unlike, say, Minmay. Her laughter and song are positively infectious, and I think even Mirage finds her appealing. Mirage, for her part, is not only competent but reasonable; when Hayate saves her life she's grateful, and when he offers her encouragement she accepts it. There is thus no "best girl" here, since they're both pretty damn good.

One other note: I think this is the first time Macross has given us a protag who dances in response to another protag's songs. That's new, and we see it in practically every episode. That leads me to think Freyja's got a solid shot, though honestly she and Hayate pair so well together it's almost too good; I think we'll be kept guessing on this front until the end of the series run, and I think the characters will, too.

[Gus Hanson]

Haganai eps. 8-9

Some of the fanservice like the more grown up girls in swimsuits are appealing but the younger kiddies like Kobato and Maria buck naked running around get me uncomfortable for good, sane reason. I have to note that the voice acting in particular by Yozora and Sena in the English dub got better after I criticized it the last time I mentioned this show, particularly how Yozora emotes the horsey head scaring the living daylights out of Maria.

[chazthesilencer]

was the original Japanese grue or yellowish-grue?

I thought it might have been a translation error too, but it was most definitely “midori me”.

The big thing about the Delta love triangle is that Freyja is nice

I wasn’t convinced by Macross Delta’s first episode, but the second had me sold.
I’m not feeling the love triangle yet, there are no green-heads for starters. Freyja’s got the whole “buddies to start with” thing going, I guess Mirage is on more of a slow-burn?
How long before Mikumo inevitably does a Mami Tomoe?

Haganai eps. 8-9
Some of the fanservice like the more grown up girls in swimsuits are appealing but the younger kiddies like Kobato and Maria...

If it makes you feel at ease- the next season has less fanservice but more of the same group of terrible characters.

[pwhodges]

When this season started I took little interest, as I had other things on my mind. But I find I'm watching a couple of things now. Luluco, of course (as I've said before), which is undemanding fun for just a few minutes a week. I've now also caught up with Mayoiga, which I'm in two minds over - I find it hard to decide if it wants to be taken seriously or not. On the whole I'm getting the feeling that any resolution it comes up with will be an unconvincing mess; but it's still intriguing enough to follow a bit more, and Mitsumune is showing signs of toughening up a bit which helps. I'm nearly caught up with Kiznaiver as well, which has some things in common with Mayoiga but seems better put together overall - at present I think of the two this is the one I'll remember longer. For some reason Kacchon intrigues me more than many characters, and they're being slow to draw out his secrets, unlike Mitsumune's.

[Mr. Tines]

Kiznaiver as well, which has some things in common with Mayoiga

Most obviously, they are both scripted by Mari Okada, so will share elements of her style.

[BrikHaus]

Well, I gave up on [Monster]. Probably time I gave it another go. When does the story get "omg best animu evar" good?

You'd have to get Ornette's opinion since he's the resident expert on Monster. For me, I never found the story hit a point where everything clicked, and suddenly all the episodes moved ahead at a break-neck-god-tier-pace. There were certain episodes that were "HOLY SHIT" and then it would go back to moving slowly again. It was a wonderful show overall, but more of a slow burn.

[Gus Hanson]

Captain Earth ep. 5

For a show which had a rough start, this side quest episode which prominently features the two secondary protagonists in the limelight and leaves the primaries to the side just for a beginning cameo shows lots of potential in weaving together an interesting journey. Interesting how when it focuses not on Daichi and Hana but on Teppei and Akari, the show gets more proficient. I guess that's what happens when you have a protagonist like Daichi who is bland as they come. I will say though that the journey is more appealing than the end result since it develops into Teppei's father surrendering to the antagonists but escaping off-screen which kind of turns it all into filler that doesn't really advance the main plot which will shift the focus back to Daichi. Joy...

[Shinoyami65]

Kabaneri e.08

SPOILER: Show

I'm getting some Griffith vibes from Biba after that episode, possibly from the way he recruited Mumei. There's also at least one other Kabaneri besides Mumei and Ikoma, who serves as one of Biba's guards. Ikoma, in typical anime fashion, can't display any tact and has to go looking for a fight with the people currently hauling his train through the zombie wasteland, although this is probably in character for him. The Kabane heart fuelling the black train was bizarre. I thought it was a pretty good episode overall, although I was surprised that it ended so soon.

[Bagheera]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we've encountered the main villain of the piece. As with AoT it seems to supernatural element (the kabane) won't be the real threat. But the politics are kinda interesting thus far, so I remain optimistic.

[pwhodges]

I'm amused that this week's episodes of Space Cadet Luluco and Kiznaiver have almost the same title: "It's all over" vs "It's all over...I think".

[Gus Hanson]

I watched in VHS form for the nostalgia the movie version of Macross Plus. I sincerely felt like I could comprehend the Sharon Apple artificial intelligence angle more after switching from DVD to VHS even if the Japanese language is the same. Speaking of subs, I have to note that this time around, I couldn't stand Takumi Yamazaki as Isamu. Even when he starts to mellow from the cockiness the character has, he still has a rough tone to his voice that oozes arrogance. I found myself enamored with Unsho Ishizuka as Guld and Rica Fukami as Myung, would definitely listen to them for hours.

A bit OT but I feel I owe a much delayed apology to BrikHaus for going postal when Brik asked if I had bought the Akira VHS for nostalgia reasons which is similar to the reason I bought Macross Plus the movie on VHS. Sorry.

[BrikHaus]

A bit OT but I feel I owe a much delayed apology to BrikHaus for going postal when Brik asked if I had bought the Akira VHS for nostalgia reasons which is similar to the reason I bought Macross Plus the movie on VHS. Sorry.

Thanks. It's cool.

[Bagheera]

Kabaneri 9: So, there's this elite club. Its members have names like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Biba really, really wants in.

This show has gotten a little too grimderp for me. Time to get off this train.

[chazthesilencer]

Rewatched Koihime Muso, this time uncensored. So colourful, this show. Too colourful.
Whilst I was happy to finally see Kan’u and Sei naked, I was less pleased to see Rin Rin and Shao in the same state.

Mayoiga / The Lost Village. Only one episode in. The way Japanese pronounce “Hippopotamus” is bloody hilarious.

Started Food Wars after AWO give it a positive critique.
Defeating your enemies by making them flavorgasm? Amusing. I can run with that.
That food does look damn sexy. Reminds me of those M&S adverts from a few years back.