09/09
Another one of those series meant to sell a fighting card game to the kids these days, harumph-humph. (Get off my lawn!)
Noteworthy Seiyuu:
Fukuyama Jun (Code Geass's Lelouch)
Midorikawa Hikaru (Fushigi Yuugi's Tamahome)
Neya Michiko (Read or Die's Nancy)
Horie Yui (Aoi Hana's Kyouko, Hourou Musuko's Anna)
09/28
An adaptation of a novel that is not a light novel. In a bucolic futuristic Japan, the people are ruled by those who have the "gods' power" of telekinesis. A girl named Saki and her four friends learn the truth about the calamity that brought civilization to the state it's in, and "throw themselves into life-threatening adventure" to save their world from collapsing again.
I'll give it a shot. It looks like it could be interesting. My interest is piqued, foremost, by this series' source material being a non-light novel, though.
Seiyuu:
Hanazawa Kana (Mouretsu Pirates's Chiaki, Black Rock Shooter's Mato)
Hirata Hiroaki (One Piece's Sanji)
Kaji Yuuki (No. 6's Shion)
10/01
An adaptation of a manga running in Dessert, about a studious girl (Shizuku) who befriends a boy (Haru) who was suspended from school for fighting, after finding that he isn't the violent vagabond everyone paints him as. Cue romance.
Sounds like a potentially cute series (opposites attract and all), but apparently Haru threatens to rape Shizuku at some point. Ugh. DO NOT WANT from the character who's supposed to be Shizuku's love interest. Kaburaki Hiro, Kimi ni Todoke's director, is helming this series, so it should be competent as an adaptation. But ugh, that rape threat plot point. Pass for me.
Weird trailer streaming here.
Seiyuu:
Tomatsu Haruka (Mouretsu Pirates's Gruier)
Hanazawa Kana (Mouretsu Pirates's Chiaki, Black Rock Shooter's Mato)
Nakamura Yuuichi (Clannad's Tomoya)
Another shoujo manga adaptation, being directed by Daichi Akitaro (Fruits Basket, Kodocha). Known in English as Kamisama Kiss, this series is running in Hana to Yume.
Nanami's dad abandons her because of his gambling debts, so she's evicted from her apartment. After she "saves" Mikage, a man with a dog phobia, Mikage offers to let her stay at his house...which is a shrine. Turns out Mikage is a god, and he transfers his status as the god of his shrine to Nanami. One of the supernatural residents of the shrine is a youkai named Tomoe. Nanami and Tomoe develop feelings for each other.
I've heard this series is sweet and I like the Japanese deity and monster aspect. (See: My enjoyment of the whimsical-look-at-the-supernatural themes in Tokimeki Mononoke Jougakuen and Natsume Yuujinchou.) Its third trailed (listed below), especially, is charming. (Its song is stuck my head. lol) Here's hoping it's good! *fingers crossed*
PVs streaming here, here, and here.
Seiyuu:
Mimori Suzuko (Yuruyuri's Himawari)
Ishida Akira (Mai Hime's Nagi)
Satou Satomi (K-ON!'s Ritsu)
Horie Yui (Aoi Hana's Kyouko, Hourou Musuko's Anna)
A series of "comedy shorts" based on what is apparently a pretty disturbing manga, about some high school boys who create a machine that runs on lychee fruit to "seek out the beautiful women of the world." Things don't go as they expect after the machine becomes self-aware.
So...if you like the manga, I guess you'll get a kick out of these shorts? If the "machine that unexpectedly becomes self-aware" theme appeals to you, you should check out Roujin Z. (It's old and wasn't mega-popular in its time, so I'm not sure that many anime fans know it.)
Noteworthy Seiyuu:
None.
10/02
A kid's show about a futuristic world in which cars have artificial intelligence and a fifth grader is given a special car to save humanity.
Seiyuu:
Inoue Marina (Smile Precure!'s Nao)
Iguchi Yuka (Symphogear's Miku)
Tanaka Rie (Azumanga Daioh's Yomi)
Tomokazu Seki (Cardcaptor Sakura's Touya)
w00t, Jormungand season 2, continuing the adventures of arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar and her posse of bodyguards, including a woman named Valmet who is in love with her. If you're wondering who the kid behind Koko in the pic above is, he's Jonah, a former child soldier whose parents were killed because of an arms dealer- an arms dealer who isn't Koko. He becomes one of Koko's bodyguards, and Koko and the other bodyguards become a sort of surrogate family to him.
Yup, watching this. If you liked Black Lagoon, Jormungand will be right up your alley.
PV streaming here.
Seiyuu:
Ohara Sayaka (Fate/Zero's Irisviel)
Itou Shizuka (Marimite's Rei, El Cazador de la Bruja's Nadie)
Koshimizu Ami (Marimite's Kanako)
Toyoguchi Megumi (Marimite's Sei)
A children's series about Wooser, a "mysterious 'animal' that lives on the internet" and has a horrible personality.
I'm not watching this show, but it does sound kind of funny. What's its point? Remember kids, don't trust appearances too much, especially on the internet? Not a bad lesson, actually.
Seiyuu:
Miyano Mamoru (Ouran's Tamaki)
10/03
A Japanese-US collaboration that premiered in the US this past February and is premiering in Japan this season.
Kids fight each other using monster creatures. This series's English-language website's "Collect them all!" tagline tells you everything you need to know about it.
Seiyuu:
Tano Asami (Smile Precure!'s Akane)
A comedian once joked about middle schoolers having "chuunibyou" ("middle school second-year disease"), referring to their having delusions of being more special and important than they are.
This series' protagonist, Yuuta, used to have chuunibyou and his girfriend Rikka still has it, and they meet another girl who has it and there's a fantastical aspect to this series because two of them are really into video games, and I just don't care. I'll probably try an episode because as an otaku, it is my patriotic duty to sample everything by Kyoto Animation, but I don't expect to watch more than one episode.
This show's ending theme is streaming here.
UPDATE:
A mini-episode has been released in advance.
Seiyuu:
Fukuyama Jun (Code Geass's Lelouch)
An all-new adaptation of the otaku reference-heavy Hayate no Gotoku shounen comedy manga. It's about a boy who, abandoned by his debt-laden parents, ineffectively tries to rob a rich girl but becomes her butler instead.
Tried the Hayate manga. I could see why people are into it, but it didn't interest me. Pass on this adaptation.
PV found here.
Seiyuu:
Kugimiya Rie (Marimite's Touko)
Shiraishi Ryoko (Saki's Mako)
Tanaka Rie (Azumanga Daioh's Yomi)
Itou Shizuka (Marimite's Rei, El Cazador de la Bruja's Nadie)
Iguchi Yuka (Symphogear's Miku)
10/04
22 year-old Ryota has nothing to boast of in life except his skill at the combat game he plays online. One day he wakes up and finds himself in a real-life version of that game and has to figure out how to get out of Zzzzzzzzzzz.
Pass.
And super, along with Btooom!'s protagonist's love interest being pure, busty wish fulfillment service-bait, she's going to get sexually assaulted. My prediction: She won't get raped before this series' protagonist swoops in and saves her in the most Gary Stu way possible, so the viewers who get off on seeing her manhandled in a servicey way by the would-be rapist can feel good about themselves.
Seiyuu:
Mimori Suzuko (Yuruyuri's Himawari)
Sawashiro Miyuki (Canaan, Blue Drop's Hagino)
Nakamura Yuuichi (Clannad's Tomoya)
More slice-of-life with Yuno and her art school friends who live at the Hidamari apartments.
I like Hidamari Sketch as a relaxing series with spiffy visuals by SHAFT, but a fourth season of pretty much the exact same thing as the previous three seasons is wearing out the franchise's welcome for me. ^_^;
UPDATE: PV added.
Seiyuu:
Harada Hitomi (Sasameki Koto's Tomoe)
Shintani Ryoko (Mai Hime/Mai Otome's Aoi)
Fukuen Misato (Smile Precure!'s Miyuki)
Sawashiro Miyuki (Canaan, Blue Drop's Hagino)
Kugimiya Rie (Marimite's Touko)
A high school boy named Rihito returns home after studying abroad and lives with his four moe, sentient, weapon-toting female action figures.
Blah.
UPDATE: PV added. It hasn't changed my opinion.
Seiyuu:
Asumi Kana (Hidamari Sketch's Yuno)
Nakajima Megumi (Macross Frontier's Ranka)
An average high school boy meets a cute girl who needs him to help her oppose her clan, who want to unleash a power that will destroy the world.
*sigh*
PV here.
Seiyuu:
Hanazawa Kana (Mouretsu Pirates's Chiaki, Black Rock Shooter's Mato)
Sawashiro Miyuki (Canaan, Blue Drop's Hagino)
Mizuki Nana (Nanoha's Fate, Heartcatch Precure's Tsubomi, Symphogear's Tsubasa)
Shiro's high school is located in a suspiciously Academy City-like area. While going on an errand for a classmate, Shiro runs into Kukuri, a girl who is being chased. Fantasy-action stuff happens.
This series is trying so hard to be cool. So hard to be liked. It even has some bishounen for the ladies who like dudes and a busty woman-child for the man-children who like that type of fictional lady (link NSFW). "Blech"-inducing female character aside, this series seems pretty trite, despite its slickly animated action scenes.
PVs streaming here, here, here and here.
Seiyuu:
Ono Daisuke (Kuroshitsuji's Sebastian)
Fukuyama Jun (Code Geass's Lelouch)
Miyano Mamoru (Ouran's Tamaki)
Komatsu Mikako (Mouretsu Pirates's Marika)
Sawashiro Miyuki (Canaan, Blue Drop's Hagino)
Satou Satomi (K-ON!'s Ritsu)
Sakurai Takahiro (Code Geass's Suzaku)
Sugita Tomokazu (Suzumiya Haruhi's Kyon)
Horie Yui (Aoi Hana's Kyouko, Hourou Musuko's Anna)
Nakamura Yuuichi (Clannad's Tomoya)
Kaji Yuuki (No. 6's Shion)
10/05
Obligatory incest-themed comedy of the season. Akito and his twin sister have been separated for years, but now in high school they're living under the same roof.
*sob sob*
*sob sob*
Seiyuu:
Kitamura Eri (Madoka Magica's Sayaka)
Takamoto Megumi (Sasameki Koto's Ushio)
An adaptation of a very long, very weird manga about the crazy adventures of people in the different generations of the Joestar family. One person in each generation is born with a star-shaped birthmark, and they are the protagonist of each generation's arc. (The eight generation's arc is currently running in Ultra Jump.)
I tried the first chapter of the first arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Even setting aside my avoidance of incredibly long series, it didn't do much for me. Good for the folks who are fans of it, though.
PV here.
Seiyuu:
Okitsu Kazuyuki (Shiki's Muroi)
Koyasu Takehito (Fushigi Yuugi's Hotohori)
Kawasumi Ayako (Chikane and Saber)
An adaptation of a manga spin-off of the To-Love-Ru manga, a harem series in which a high school boy cohabits with an alien princess. This series will star two of To-Love-Ru's side characters, Momo and Yami.
Yup, pass.
PV found here.
Seiyuu:
Toyosaki Aki (K-ON!'s Yui)
Fukuen Misato (Smile Precure!'s Miyuki)
Iguchi Yuka (Symphogear's Miku)
Watanabe Akeno (Kaleido Star's Anna)
Tomatsu Haruka (Mouretsu Pirates's Gruier)
Hanazawa Kana (Mouretsu Pirates's Chiaki, Black Rock Shooter's Mato)
Itou Kanae (Hanasaku Iroha's Ohana)
Noto Mamiko (Marimite's Shimako)
Yuzuki Ryoka (Mai Hime/Mai Otome's Haruka)
Arai Satomi (Railgun's Kuroko)
10/06
Rather than get pissed again ranting about this series, I'll paste what I wrote in response to its second season:
I won't lie. I hate Bakuman. I hate its sexism dressed in uplifting shounen tournament garb; I hate it for painting its lead's crush as the perfect girl for being meek and modest, unlike that total bitch who's proud of getting good grades; I hate its "men have dreams that women can't understand!" message; I hate how its heroes put down female mangaka, and how every mangaka in Bakuman's world is a guy except the token girl who doesn't have a full grasp of what the shounen market wants because she started out in shoujo. (The shounen market consists of girls as much as boys, really, but hey! They're icky and shouldn't be allowed in the tree house, right?)Passing again, of course.
Seiyuu:
Kawasumi Ayako (Chikane and Saber)
Nanafa, an energetic middle school girl, lives with her older sister, her younger sister, and her grandma, who runs a soba shop. Nanafa sees a seal fall off a Chinese kanyan tree, causing the three spirits sealed within the tree to be released.
While this series has a whimsical-supernatural-beings-intrude-on-a-regular-human's-life theme like Kamisama Hajimemashita, I don't plan on trying it. Kamisama looks like it's sweet without trying too hard to be. This series looks like it's going to beat viewers senseless with how precious its characters are supposed to be, and oh my god, don't you just want to go on a moe-induced merchandise-buying spree for them?
Noteworthy Seiyuu:
None.
The latest Key visual novel adaptation, about a group of friends who grew up together.
I've enjoyed previous Key adaptations- primarily Kyoto Animation's adaptations of Air, Kanon (the 2006 version- never made it through the earlier Kanon adaptation because of its awful visuals, although I finished that OVA in which Mai and Sayuri get an extra happy ending together since I used to ship them lol), Clannad, and Clannad ~After Story~ (~After Story~ being my favorite, followed by Air). I even enjoyed P.A. Works' Angel Beats even though it has plot holes big enough to drive a truck through. (Yes, I know Angel Beats! was directly written by Key's Maeda Jun, rather than adapted from a Key visual novel.) I did like Toei's Air movie (If you want to see Yukito punch out Misuzu's horrible father, here's where you can see it!), but still prefer the TV version. I would rather see Little Busters! adapted by Kyoto Animation than J.C. Staff, but I'm still willing to give this series a chance.
PVs here and here.
UPDATE: New PV.
Seiyuu:
Horie Yui (Aoi Hana's Kyouko, Hourou Musuko's Anna)
Midorikawa Hikaru (Fate/Zero's Lancer)
Another adaptation of a shoujo manga from Dessert. 16 year-old Mei has never had friends or dated. Because of a misunderstanding, she kicks a popular boy named Yamato. He decides he likes her, and she starts to like him back.
Could be cute. Its trailer doesn't do much for me, but it doesn't seem outright bad like Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, so I'll try it. I dread the girl-classmates-ganging-up-on-the-main-character-because-she-"stole"-their-precious-school-idol part, though- because protagonists in these types of stories tend to just grin and bear the bullying directed against them. Even though such a response is realistic for a lot of people, I'd rather see the bullied girl rub her tormentors' ridicule back in their faces and act like she doesn't give a shit. (That's part of why I like the protagonist of Okazaki Mari's Shibuya-ku, Maruyama-chou so much. She starts out as a passive girl who doesn't want to rock the boat and disrupt her illusion of a peaceful school life by admitting that she's being bullied, but owns what's happening and becomes much more effective at dealing with the scumbags who try to push her around.)
Seiyuu:
Kayano Ai (Lagrange's Muginami)
Sakurai Takahiro (Code Geass's Suzaku)
Kotobuki Minako (K-ON!'s Tsumugi)
Uchiyama Yumi (Binbougami ga!'s Momiji)
While riding the bus, Sakura sees a bunch of people burning in blue flames while a teenage boy stands above them. When she returns to the scene the next day, there isn't evidence of anything more than a small fire. Her class gets a mysterious new transfer student, the same boy who she saw standing over the burning people. Sakura learns that the boy, Rei, is an assassin with preternatural abilities who is part of a secret government organization.
Pass. This series' premise doesn't interest me, and going by its trailers, it takes itself too seriously given that it's just a checklist of anime tropes.
PVs here, here, here, and here.
Seiyuu:
Hikasa Youko (K-ON!'s Mio)
Saiga Mitsuki (Mai Hime/Mai Otome's Chie)
Yukana (Futari ha Precure's Honoka)
Kaida Yuko (Strawberry Panic!'s Amane)
Kimura Subaru (Penguindrum's Kanba)
Inspired by a popular children's song called "Oshiri Kajiri Mushi" ("Butt-Biting Bug"), this series is about a ten-year old bug who attends Biting School.
Here's the Oshiri Kajiri Mushi song. Enjoy. lol
Seiyuu:
Ise Mariya (Lagrange's Yurikano)
10/07
Another series meant to market a children's fighting game or something.
Seiyuu:
Mizusawa Fumie (Heartcatch Precure's Erika)
An adaptation of a shounen manga that re-imagines One Thousand and One Nights.
Going by its trailers, it looks pretty meh. And there's the way to attract female fans- advertise the
Noteworthy Seiyuu:
None.
A slice-of-life comedy about four girls who are on the same tennis team. They don't play tennis much.
Pass. Don't see anything suggesting this series is going to be one of the not-utterly-disposable examples of its subgenre.
Seiyuu:
Hanazawa Kana (Mouretsu Pirates's Chiaki, Black Rock Shooter's Mato)
Mimori Suzuko (Yuruyuri's Himawari)
An adaptation of a fantasy PC game, about a fantasy PC game-playing teenage boy who finds himself in an alternate fantasy world.
Meh.
PV here.
Seiyuu:
Kamiya Hiroshi (Zetsubou-sensei)
Fukuyama Jun (Code Geass's Lelouch)
Nakai Kazuya (One Piece's Zoro)
Saiga Mitsuki (Mai Hime/Mai Otome's Chie)
Shintani Ryoko (Mai Hime/Mai Otome's Aoi)
Mikami Shiori (Yuruyuri's Akari)
Sugita Tomokazu (Suzumiya Haruhi's Kyon)
Hosoya Yoshimasa (No. 6's Nezumi)
10/08
Based on a card game aimed at girls. Figures that while the card games marketed at boys are about fighting and monsters, this one's about choosing the right clothes to become a cute top idol.
Seiyuu:
Noto Mamiko (Marimite's Shimako)
Kotobuki Minako (K-ON!'s Tsumugi)
An adaptation of a seinen light novel. Ugh, this series' premise.
Sorata, an ordinary high school boy, lives in Sakurasou, a dormitory for the problem children at his school. Mashiro, a cute girl who is a highly talented artist, moves in. Sorata decides to protect her from the dorm's eccentric residents and finds that she's completely incapable at taking care of herself. e.g. She can't leave her residence without getting lost. Sakurasou's other residents dub Sorata Mashiro's "Master", and they live together as "master and pet."
Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh. Ptooey.
PV here.
UPDATE: New promo vid.
Seiyuu:
Kayano Ai (Lagrange's Muginami)
Toyoguchi Megumi (Marimite's Sei)
Sakurai Takahiro (Code Geass's Suzaku)
Horie Yui (Aoi Hana's Kyouko, Hourou Musuko's Anna)
In the world of Girls Und Panzer, girls practice Sensha-do, the art of tank combat. After transferring to Ooriai Girls' Academy, Miho is ordered by the student council to join Ooriai's Sensha-do team to compete in the national Sensha-do championships.
Potentially fun setting, but this series is by the same folks who brought us Strike Witches, so blagh. This series doesn't appear to be anywhere as obsessed with young girls' crotches and butts as Strike Witches, but going by this series' promo art and trailers, there is enough indication that this series' adult viewers are expected to leer at the little girl characters in it (e.g. how the redheaded girl in the promo pic above is posed) to warrant my giving it the side eye.
PVs here and here.
Seiyuu:
Kayano Ai (Lagrange's Muginami)
Kitamura Eri (Madoka Magica's Sayaka)
Shiina Hekiru (Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou's Alpha)
Ueda Kana (Marimite's Yumi)
Kikuchi Mika (Mai Otome's Arika)
Fukuen Misato (Hidamari Sketch's Natsume)
Hirano Aya (Suzumiya Haruhi)
Kawasumi Ayako (Chikane and Saber)
Nabatame Hitomi (Strawberry Panic!'s Shizuma, Marimite's Eriko)
Ise Mariya (Lagrange's Yurikano)
Tanaka Rie (CANAAN's Liang, Mai Otome's Tomoe)
10/10
The sequel to Medaka Box. Zenkichi is an average guy whose best friend and crush is Medaka, an eccentric, seemingly "perfect" girl who strives to solve her school mates' problems after becoming class president.
Tried the first episode of Medaka Box. It wasn't awful, just meh.
PV streaming here.
Seiyuu:
Toyosaki Aki (K-ON!'s Yui)
Kayano Ai (Lagrange's Muginami)
Katou Emiri (Sasameki Koto's Kiyori, Madoka Magica's Kyuubey)
Paku Romi (Air Master's Maki)
10/11
A Noitamina series. In the near future, technology that can "measure and quantify a person's state of mind and personality" has been developed. Psycho-Pass's protagonist, Shinya, is a police officer. I assume/hope he and his colleagues will have to deal with the flaws and potential abuses inherent to their mind-reading technology.
I have some hope for this series because Urobuchi Gen (Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero) is in charge of the series composition.
PV streaming here.
UPDATE: A PV with animation.
Seiyuu:
Hanazawa Kana (Mouretsu Pirates's Chiaki, Black Rock Shooter's Mato)
Tomokazu Seki (Cardcaptor Sakura's Touya, Fate/Zero's Gilgamesh)
Ishida Akira (Mai Hime's Nagi)
Sawashiro Miyuki (Canaan, Blue Drop's Hagino)
Itou Shizuka (Marimite's Rei, El Cazador de la Bruja's Nadie)
Sakurai Takahiro (Code Geass's Suzaku)
Another series that doesn't fulfill Noitamina's original purpose (at this point, the Noitamina label isn't a draw in and of itself for me)- or look good, for that matter.
In 2019, an average high schooler named Kaito is in his school's robotics club. Together with his childhood friend Akiho, a crack fighting game programmer, he decides to create a fighting robot.
Eh.
PVs streaming here.
Seiyuu:
Kugimiya Rie (Marimite's Touko)
Hona Takako (Kara no Kyoukai's Touko)
Kikuko Inoue (Aa! Megami-sama's Belldandy)
10/13
I tried the first episode of the first season of Seitokai no Ichizon. Considering its haremy premise (its protagonist is a guy in a student council full of girls), it wasn't bad. Didn't watch any further, though.
Noteworthy Seiyuu:
None.
10/20
A parody of the console wars. Two kingdoms are at war- Segua and Ninterdo. Gear (Sonic), from the kingdom of Segua, seeks to defend his homeland from Ninterdo's emperor Marcus (Mario).
Certain older gamers may get a kick out of this series' premise, but it's lost on me. Pass.
Seiyuu:
Mimori Suzuko (Yuruyuri's Himawari)
Koyasu Takehito (Fushigi Yuugi's Hotohori)
11/04
You already know if you're going to watch this. Not being an Initial D fan, I'm not. Initial D is worth sampling in order to understand the ubiquitous parodies of it more than for itself. But I guess plenty of people disagree, since this is its fifth season.
Animax will air Fifth Stage's first episode on November 4, but then from November 9 on, this series will only air on the "Animax presents PPV" pay-per-view service. On the second Friday of each month, two new episodes will be available for 840 yen.
Seiyuu:
Tomokazu Seki (Cardcaptor Sakura's Touya)
Koyasu Takehito (Fushigi Yuugi's Hotohori)
Date still undetermined:
Season 2 of an adaptation of an otome game about a high school girl who inherits her ancestor Princess Tamayori's task of sealing the sword Onikirimaru, with help from five young men who act as her guardians.
I didn't try the first season, but I'm glad for this series' fans.
Seiyuu:
Miyake Marie (Penguindrum's Ringo)
Sugita Tomokazu (Suzumiya Haruhi's Kyon)
Ohara Sayaka (Fate/Zero's Irisviel)
Mimori Suzuko (Yuruyuri's Himawari)
And that's it!
10 comments:
Wow, you weren't kidding about this season being rather sparse.
Shin Sekai Yori and Pycho-Pass sound interesting (and I swear I've read an old sci-fi short story with a similar premise as Pycho-Pass somewhere before... back to the anthology books for me).
I'll probably also watch Girls Und Panzer since I know my best friend will be watching it if only as a subject of conversation.
@Steven- Yeah, here's hoping for better pickings next season. *fingers crossed*
And yeah, Shin Sekai Yori & Psycho-Pass definitely have potential.
My total list of what I'm hoping will be good:
Shin Sekai Yori
Kamisama Kiss
Little Busters
Sukitte Ii Na Yo (Not really, but it doesn't seem awful like Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, so maybe it'll surprise me...?)
Psycho-Pass
And while I'm watching Jormungand s2, Hidamari...yeah, don't think I'll sit through it.
Which summer shows did you end up sticking with?
For me: Lagrange season 2, Yuruyuri season 2, Binbougami ga, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, and Horizon season 2.
@Katherine- For summer shows I watched through Yuri Yuri 2, Humanity has Declined, Tari Tari, and continued Polar Bear Cafe (which seems to be continuing on even further, yay!).
Tari Tari was surprisingly well done, the characters were believable, had distinct personalities and range of emotions. There were certainly some tongue in cheek moments but overall it was a pleasant viewing experience. Also, Wakana's father gets an "awesome parent" award for abandoning a job to rush home and take care of her when she got sick. Actually, for being a high school anime, the main characters' parents are actually part of and involved in the story (and by extension their childrens' lives). And of yuri related interest, there's the strong suggestion that the vice-principal may have carried a torch for Wakana's mother.
Humanity has Declined just continued to be flat out weird and there was a nod towards yuri in the final two episode arc. Overall I think that of our speculation at the beginning of the season about the society presented there's thoughts towards homosexuality in general the "viewed with apathy" option is about right, though probably more of a "don't care, world is in ruins, do what you want" thing. Of note near the end of the final episode two of the other girls from the mediator's school, as they're departing, look like newlyweds by how they're dressed (Ep. 12 timestamps 17:35-17:39 because I don't have time before work to mess with trying to take a screenshot and upload an image).
@Steven- Oh, I'm glad to know Tari Tari gets better- and that its characters actually have parents. lol (Speaking of unusual anime adults, I've mentioned it before, but I quite liked how the characters' homeroom teacher doesn't decide to retire for good just because she's having a kid. Even Girl Friends had that. >_>) I may give it another look sometime.
Ah, so they went with the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou plan for dealing with impending extinction. Makes sense, since from what I saw of HHD's world, the folks in it are pretty chill about whatever happens. *checks out episode 12, 17:35-17:39* Hoho, they make a fine pair~
Speaking of unexpected yuri bits, in the second half of episode 9 of Binbougami ga a new God of Misfortune named Kuroyuri appears to replace another God of Misfortune in her task to drain the happiness energy from Binbougami's protagonist Sakura. (Sorry, I know that makes no sense.) Long story short, Kuroyuri's motive is wanting to win over her Goth-Loli boss, but the one bite of Sakura's cooking she takes is so horrific that it spirits her back to the realm of the misfortune gods. Uh...yeah. It's a fun show. lol I just dropped HHD because its second arc ultimately didn't entertain me nearly as much as its first, and the first episode of its third arc bored me. Never got back to it.
I thought YY season 2 and Horizon season 2 were better than their respective first seasons (if still not what I can call good- although Horizon still has an episode to go, I don't expect it to be significantly better than the rest of the season), but Lagrange wasn't as good as its first season. Sad irony. :\
And I wasn't comfortable with everything in Natsuyuki Rendezvous, but I found it pretty fascinating and ultimately satisfying. It touched on some themes- dealing with loss, life being a gift, it being worth it to fall wholly in love with someone despite the risks inherent to it- that I quite liked. And in a way, I liked that its characters made (or came a hair's breadth away from making) some genuinely cruel/selfish/idiotic decisions while also being people who one could empathize with, given where they were coming from, and ultimately redeeming themselves. (Not terribly unlike some of the characters in Gunjo and Penguindrum.) A lot of people don't seem to like it (and I understand why they don't and think they have every right not to), but I liked it.
@Katherine- Tari Tari's definitely worth a second look if you have the time for it.
I can see Humanity Has Declined as being pretty hit and miss per arc. I think it may have done itself a disservice with the first arc being so strong and "out there" that it set up expectations that weren't met by the rest of the show. The third arc in particular is, at the end of it, rather thought provoking in that (arc spoiler here) Pion and Oyage turn out to be the Pioneer and Voyager spacecrafts returned home and not wanting to leave again. Considering that the episodes for that arc aired right around the time that the Discovery rover landed on Mars and that Discovery has been given a "personality" through Twitter and other internet outlets, that arc brings up some "what ifs" in regards to utilizing these robots for space exploration. Take, for example, the Opportunity and Spirit rovers on Mars. Their missions were only to be for three months, January-April 2004, yet those missions were extended for years beyond. What if they wanted to come home again? What if they're lonely up there? Those sorts of questions are the ones that I felt that third arc was getting at. This is also a theme I've found it many older "classic" science fiction writings, the consideration of machines having their own desires, feelings, and personalities that we, as humans, can't understand. So for that reason I think that Humanity Has Declined's arcs have to be approached with different mindsets that don't have preconceptions based on previous episodes. (The final arc, though outwardly appears to be your typical school life premise, deals with the twin concepts of loneliness and isolation within that setting).
I agree with you in Yuri Yuri s2, better that s1 but... not "good" in the respect of a show that you'd want to get other people to watch, could've used more screen time for Himawari and Sakurako though that still probably wouldn't have saved it.
Back more on the topic of the upcoming season: Judging from Shin Sekai Yori's spotlight on ANN, it looks like the protagonists will be age 12, then a timeskip to age 14, then another timeskip to age 26 at which it seems to suggest that most of the show will take place during. This has brought my interest factor up a bit more and makes me wonder if it'll span two seasons.
@Steven- Just finished the third arc of Humanity Has Declined. It did have a great ending, for the reasons you mentioned, and gave the show more of a heart than it previously had (as much as I enjoyed the first arc). It was also timely since I'm getting through Battlestar Galactica, what with the contrast between the two shows' approaches to similar themes. BSG makes HHD's third arc look all the more warm and optimistic. lol HHD's AI beings don't want to slaughter and replace their human progenitors, they just want warmth and company. (Kind of oversimplifying the AI characters in BSG, but the comparison still holds.) That final arc sounds interesting also.
Right. I did like Himawari and Sakurako in s2 more than in s1, since they come across as having genuine affection for each other underlying their prickly behavior, instead of our just being expected to see them snark at each other and go "Yep, true looooove!" Although I'm still not invested in them as individuals or as a couple, it's nice to see confirmation of actual mutual feelings in what is supposed to be a yuri show. lol
makes me wonder if it'll span two seasons Hopefully! I'm glad the characters are going to age up also. The characters' 26 year-old character designs aren't on the Shin Sekai Yori website right now (http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/shinsekaiyori/character/), but hopefully it's because the producers want them to be a surprise.
@Katherine- Glad you took another look at that third arc and liked it.
I'm also hoping for that especially after browsing through the Shin Sekai Yori site and not seeing anything related to the characters growing up. Hopefully they're hiding it for either a second season (first season spanning the 12 and 14 year parts) or just to, as you said, leave them as a surprise for some point in the series. Of course, my speculation about the characters being 26 at some point is only due to the line "Then, on their 26th summer, an unexpected, unprecedented tragedy strikes mankind…?!" which, though it doesn't explicitly state that they're aged 26 there's not much else that "26th summer" refers to.
Hey Kat, long time no see on this blog. Not sure you remember me posting on a few of your posts...
Can I just speak some of my opinions of the current Fall/Winter Season airing right now?
I'm going to put them in certain groups: Guilty Pleasures, Must Watch (personal choices), Maybe... and OH GOD, WHY?!
First off: Chuunibyou demo ga Shitai is a must watch for me because it resonates with me from when I was younger. The innocence of the character Rikka is my past self...wearing certain types of articles of clothing that gives her "powers" and the world she lives in. You see, watching a character like this is embarrassingly sweet to me. The main character Togashi is my current self... who has grown up and cringes at the memories but at the same time, can't help but grin bittersweet at the past. The show's character designs are moe... HOWEVER, it...oddly fits. And the animation for the little fight scenes they have. To sum it up: It's Epic Powers of Imagination vs The Cold Hard Facts of Reality! However, I also get a sense of familiar loneliness from watching these characters. It just started but I think it'll be a good must watch for me.
Second, Magi (Must Watch) The story is fun and heartfelt I feel. It really pulls you in because you want to see where these characters are going next. Plus, not a lot of anime (from what I've seen) has played with the setting of Aladdin and Ali Baba. I'll admit that I too was a bit turned off to the....awkwardly tied girl but at the start of the series, you understand the meaning behind the ropes. The art is left to be desired but it reminds me of a previous character design... *scratches head* Anyway, I want to see where this series goes because it's got a lot of potential to be something awesome I feel.
I'm going to try to keep this short. Sorry... this could get a bit long.
Other choices for watching this season for me is...
"Guilty pleasure" series (nothing dirty I swear!):
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanajo (I have weird tastes...don't remind me...)
Sukitte Ii na yo (I'm a sucker for romance)
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun (It seems to be a quirky romance...minus the awkward, random sexual comments from the main male guy... Here's hoping nothing worse is said...)
Second half of SAO (Must watch/finish for me) It's already come so far, I can't stop watching... It's actually smart of a series in some emotional, psychological aspects and had a lot more going on than .//hack.
Little Busters is still up in the air for me...but it may be monumental in the tear-jerking department.
One "OH GOD WHY?" series I didn't care for was Zetsuen no Tempest... One word: BUTTERFLIES! Oh god, I can't stand the sight of them, be it real or animated! They freak me out! Well that and the main story seems a bit... ehh.... *makes the so-so motion*
I hope I'm not sounding like a pretentious ass or something...
I am a bit bummed out that I didn't see a lot of anime with Yuri subtext... I mean, you could say Ebiten would qualify but it really doesn't. *shrugs* I dunno... this season may be a bit lacking.
@Duskren- No worries, I do remember you. ^_^
Yeah, not much of yuri interest this season. I haven't tried Chuunibyou yet, and I haven't tried Magi- I will give Magi a shot, though.
I tried Sukitte Ii na yo, but it didn't do much for me. Didn't like Kaibutsu-kun, because I found its protagonist's love interest's behavior creepy. Really creepy. I like Kamisama Kiss (something fun and light) and Shin Sekai Yori (just world-building so far, but it seems like it's going to pay off). And of course, I'm following Jormungand season 2. ^^ Looking forward to seeing how it develops.
Psycho;Pass has its problems, but I'm still interested in seeing where it'll go.
I still need to check out Little Busters.
I haven't tried SAO. .hack//sign never interested me either, although I watched some of it way back on Adult Swim. The whole "gamer literally brought inside the world of a game" premise doesn't do much for me.
Post a Comment