Last week: the vivid and dazzling display of emotions of Kumiko in Hibike Euphonium!, Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works demonstrating the necessity of an epilogue for an anime, questions regarding the Nagato of the Disappearance arc in Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu, and the best possible ending for Plastic Memories.

Best episode of the week: Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV)

Anime trending up this week: Plastic Memories

Anime trending down this week: Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki (S2)

Plastic Memories (Episode 13 [Finale])

Sometimes, I hate being right. After watching the third episode of Plastic Memories, I projected that the anime had about 3 episodes worth of content on Isla’s story and that the anime needed to stretch it over 13 episodes to fill the entire series. And, well, that’s pretty much exactly what happened with Plastic Memories. However, what I failed to predict is how much I’d enjoy the content on Isla’s story, which actually turned out to be genuinely good. Although I never had much praise for Plastic Memories, I honestly felt satisfied with how her story was handled during the serious moments, and was actually content with how the finale portrayed her final moments. This was the best possible ending for the series, and it left me with positive memories of Plastic Memories.

Ninja Slayer from Animation (Episode 11)

Although I initially praised the still-image animation style in the first episode of Ninja Slayer, I’ve grown weary of its overuse and inappropriate use as the series has continued. The major turn-off of this comedic animation style is that it should only be used for comedic scenes. When the still-image animation style is used for serious fights, or more grossly, for exposition, the style feels cheap and ineffective. It isn’t suitable to use such a simple and plain animation style for these scenes, especially when I can’t tell if I’m supposed to laugh or be engrossed with the story. And when it’s used for exposition, it’s just cheap and boring. Thankfully, as the series has progressed, Ninja Slayer has deviated from its original path and become more normal as an anime. I’d applaud this change in direction, that it’s now moving down the right path, but I’ll reserve any praise for this series when it rids itself of these oversights and can effectively demonstrate an understanding of when to use the still-image animation and when not to. A perfect example of this animation style contrasting with the theme of the story was the fight between Dark Ninja and Ninja Slayer. Although I don’t expect Ninja Slayer to have the budget to pull off an impressive fight scene here, it felt as though the series was mocking itself by using the still-image animation here at such an important time. Until Ninja Slayer can fix this, I am uncertain how much I’ll enjoy this anime moving forward.

Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu (Episode 13)

Why was Nagato acting like Nagato and not Nagato in Nagato? Or rather, why did we have this brief interruption of silly, stupid Nagato for silent, serious Nagato with no real explanation to who she was (or maybe what she was), why she was able to change, and what this whole story arc had to do with Nagato. It’s frustrating to me since this was one of the few times I enjoyed the series besides all the cute, chibi Nagato faces, and I feel the series has dropped the ball into tying this Disappearance arc in with the rest of the series. Just, what exactly was the significance of this arc and how does it change Nagato or Kyon? I’m still hoping for an explanation before the series is over at episode 16, but I have a sinking feeling that this is it for the Disappearance arc and for silent, serious Nagato.

Hibike! Euphonium (Episode 12)

Hibike! Euphonium has done a phenomenal job with how the characters display their emotions and personalities through their facial expressions. Perhaps the most notable of this anime is the protagonist, Kumiko, who goes through these emotions more easily than the others. And the twelfth episode of Hibike! Euphonium probably featured the most emotion from Kumiko yet, ranging from confused to awed to surprised to determined to frustrated to confident to defeated to bawling to understanding. Kumiko’s face is a canvas for which the artists can use their entire palate of emotions for which to write and draw her character. And this episode is a perfect example to demonstrate how the creators of Hibike! Euphonium wanted to create her character and for which to test her with this performance. And as a result, we were able to witness a smörgåsbord of emotions, feelings, and reactions from Kumiko, all well on display in her brilliantly animated face. This episode was an absolute delight to watch to see Kumiko’s character grow, and I am thankful that her character is able to demonstrate the emotions she goes through with such magnificence.

Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV) (Episode 25 [Finale])

Ah, an entire episode dedicated to an epilogue; how heavenly. To me, an epilogue of some sort is necessary for an anime to have a proper ending, and not only to tell me what happens to my favorite characters after the events that just unfolded. No, it’s much more than that. An epilogue is necessary because it provides the proper de-escalation that a story needs, bringing the anime back down from the climax, the peak of the story, to a final resting place. So while the content and format of this episode was nowhere near as accomplishing as some of the other finales and episodes this week, I adorable this epilogue of FSN UBW because it was the most satisfying and gratifying episode. What it did was take the passion and excitement of the final fights, bring it down to Earth gently, provide closure to the characters and help tie this series in with others in the Nasuverse. If it were up to me, every anime would have an epilogue like this, either at the end of the series or in an OVA soon thereafter, but it’s difficult when most anime are derived from concurrent manga and light novels. A shame because an ending like this is likely to be one of my favorites of the year.

This post reviews: Gangsta., Okusama ga Seitokaichou!, Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace, Classroom Crisis, Gate: Jietai Kanochi Nite, Kaku Tatakaeri, and Wakaba Girl.

A quick note, I’m actually caught up on all of the new shows that have aired this season, but have fallen behind on these posts due to being out of town (again). There will be four of these First Impressions posts for Summer 2015, with the remaining parts out soon.

Watching:

Classroom Crisis

Classroom Crisis has a certain endearing charm thanks primarily to its characters and their chemistry together. Unlike many school anime that focus on general studies, all of the students in Classroom Crisis are connected through their passion for engineering and researching advanced space flight, so the students all have a natural connection with each other. Furthermore, as demonstrated by the first episode, they function as a somewhat cohesive unit, with certain characters taking charge for certain roles. And to facilitate this, most of the characters have some level of depth and personality that lends to the idea that this anime is about a cohort of teenagers rather than a few special students in school of 3,000. The setting is clearly a strength too, not only because it’s a sci-fi setting taking place on Mars, but that it’s focusing on the technology and interstellar travel. In a sense, the setting reminds me of Mouretsu Space Pirates, albeit without the silly privateering focus. Additionally, the art and animation are simple and delightful, and fit a more relaxed mood that I think will predominate the series.  That said, I’m not sure what most of the anime will concern itself with, and my main reservations with this series pertain to the plot with the Kiryuu appearing before the class at the end of the episode. Everything else has worked hard for me to keep the anime this summer, but it’ll depend on the plot with how highly it ranks.

Wakaba Girl

It’s hard to pass up a cute, chibi, 4-girl, slice-of-life/comedy anime like this. Wakaba Girl doesn’t pack a powerful punch, but the anime is entertaining with some of its humor. And when a joke isn’t funny, at least you have chibi girls making cute faces, so it doesn’t feel like a total waste of time. And with only 8-minute episodes, it doesn’t require much of a commitment to sit, watch, and smile once a week. That said, if any element of this anime’s formula had been changed (cute, chibi, and 4-girl), I probably wouldn’t be watching it. Really, Wakaba Girl is kinda flat, but I can’t really say no when everything else is so pleasant. Let it be known to animators in Japan that those 3 elements together are an obvious weakness of mine and that you could get me to watch probably anything if you include all 3 factors in a healthy balance.

Undecided:

Gangsta.

I want to like Gangsta, I really do. So much of this anime appeals to me with its harsh, graphic setting, its knowledgeable yet neutral protagonists, and its alluring while joyless art style. It has a lot of elements that tell me that this is the anime for me… yet, I couldn’t help but feel somehow bored with this first episode. Even the climax of the episode, full of action, drama, and retribution felt… lackluster. Although there are a number of things I enjoyed about this episode, I didn’t enjoy it overall, and it’s difficult for me to pinpoint where something went wrong. Really, Gangsta is an enigma which means I’ll want to keep it around for another episode or two. However, if this unsettling boredom doesn’t dissipate, I’ll consider dropping the anime, but I don’t really expect it once the story picks up and more police and mafia are involved. That being said, this first episode wasn’t terribly impressive.

Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace

One episode really isn’t enough material to make a correct decision for Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace. After all, the focus and content of this first episode was to establish its characters, its setting, and its first mystery, all of which feel incomplete at this time. After the second episode, and probably at the end of the first mystery, then I think I’ll have a better idea, especially in regard to how the mystery is presented and solved. Still, I can’t help but feel unenthusiastic with Game of Laplace, especially with Hashiba and Akechi. At least Kobayashi is interesting in his quirkiness, but Hashiba is dreadful and Akechi is jaded with his redundant personality of “genius detective boy”. Still, I want to see how this first story arc resolves before I give up on this, but it’s not looking good at this point.

Dropped:

Okusama ga Seitokaichou!

It was awful.

Gate: Jietai Kanochi Nite, Kaku Tatakaeri

So, yeah, the anime wants to portray the main character as some gallant hero who serves Japan with courage and pride, but really, all he cares about is buying anime porn. It doesn’t really make a consistent product when the anime wants this guy to be admirable and glorious and then have him talk about doujinshis and otaku stuff the whole time and not seem to care about anything he’s doing for Japan. I can’t tell if this is supposed to be glorifying the JSDF or patronizing it. Like, I can’t tell what this anime wants to do, and I can’t tell who this anime is trying to target. You’d think that this is targeting otaku, but wouldn’t it be better if it were all cute girls fighting monsters instead, something like Strike Witches or Garupan which have demonstrated success? Like, I don’t get anything about this anime. Usually when an anime is awful, I can at least identify some group of people who might like it. This? I can’t. It’s a mystery to me, and it’s one that I won’t be solving any time soon.

This post reviews: Himouto! Umaru-chan, Gakkou Gurashi!, and God Eater.

Alright, this post is light, and Himouto and Gakkou Gurashi are already on their second episodes, but you can blame that on God Eater waiting until the third week to debut (and me not watching it until several days after its premire). Anyway, my final first impressions for Summer 2015 are below.

Watching:

Gakkou Gurashi!

What a delightful and memorable introductory episode, one that beautifully mixed subtle elements of distress in a sugary-sweet package of cutesy, moe girls living at their school. I especially enjoyed how the clever hints of horror were implanted in amusing scenes with easygoing jokes and chibi caricatures, but these hints are evidence that this anime will steadily become darker, especially as they escalated from a Stephen King novel to the hidden words on the blackboard to the broken glass and finally to the cross on the rooftop farm. Although the episode was shown entirely from Yuki’s delusions, I expect the anime to move forward through a realistic interpretation of the world as we saw from the ending to this episode: a ghastly, horrific setting with death lurking behind every dark corner. I am thrilled with the execution and directing in this first episode and this promises for a pleasant series, one that is able to successfully blend the contrasting elements of lighthearted, 4-girl, slice-of-life with a zombie apocalypse. Yuki will be an fascinating character to watch as the protagonists, due to her rejection of reality, and I’m sensing some annoyance from Miki who wants her to see the world for what it is. I don’t really have much to say about the other characters at this point, though, but the chemistry and writing work well. Really, this was probably the most impressive first episode of the season, and I’m hoping Gakkou Gurashi continues to be this strong from start to finish.

Undecided:

Nothing undecided in this post, meaning…

Dropped:

Himouto! Umaru-chan

So this is an anime about the most beautiful/athletic/smartest/blah blah blah girl in the school who *gasp* has an otaku personality! Wow, so original! And then there’s her onii-chan who possesses no personality whatsoever and tries to establish some discipline but gives in, almost immediately, to her wacky and silly demands. What a disaster.

God Eater

I’d be inclined to call God Eater the most visually impressive anime of the season based solely on its cinematography, directing style, and stellar art and animation. I can’t, though, because of on consistent and unnerving error throughout various scenes of the episode. I’m not sure whether the 3D camera, the encoding or what is to blame but there were many shots where the camera was shaking or jittery. These uncanny movements were especially notable when looking at the edge of the screen, at the floor, which would move up and down. This ataxia didn’t ruin the episode for me, but it caught my attention multiple times, distracting me from what were the wearisome and uneventful monologs of this introductory episode. Oh that’s right, beyond the visuals, God Eater is another generic “boy-must-save-humanity” anime that we’ve seen a dozen times before. But the main issue with God Eater isn’t with this overused story, but that its protagonist is flat with about as much personality as a ham sandwich without the ham. The writing and dialogues were less than motivating too. Though I was engaged and pulled in by the visuals, God Eater is honestly nothing special.

This week: deliberating about the setting and what we’ve seen about the city of Ergastulum in Gangsta., curiosities about continuing delusions in Gakkou Gurashi!, noticing and appreciating the music in Rokka no Yuusha, and a statement about disposing drugs down the toilet with Durarara!!x2 Ten.

Best episode of the week: Working!!!

Anime trending up this week: Rokka no Yuusha

Anime trending down this week: Classroom Crisis

Charlotte (Episode 3)

Why are scientists never ethical in anime? Why are they always able to get away with capturing people, conducting experiments against their will and being able to get away with it? You know, if a hundred or so people go missing in a city, I think there might be a couple investigations going on, and probably a few sting operations, too. What’s so hard about having scientists design experiments, be approved through an ethics board, recruit willing participants, and gather information that way? I’ll never understand why scientists are always portrayed as unethical in anime, especially the ones in Charlotte.

Classroom Crisis (Episode 3)

So the ATEC program has recruited some of the best and brightest students from all over Mars(?) to study and develop under the roof of Kirishina Aerospace Heavy Industries, one of the most respected space flight companies in the universe, and the response to this is to crash the program, and disband it? Yeah, sure, the program is costing an unreasonable amount of money, but there are other ways of handling the program rather than screwing them over and driving the future of your company to your competitors (these are the best and brightest, after all). Why not do what many student researchers do and have each one join a specific lab for them to develop their skills, or intern with a leader in their field within Kirishina? Hell, you could still keep the program but have the students focus on their own individual projects within these labs, or, if they wanted to build a new racing engine like we see in the anime, why not have it under the direct supervision of a number of relevant engineers? Like, I know we’re supposed to believe these people are the best businessmen in the world because the anime has told us that in every episode, but there are probably a thousand better ways to handle this situation than what they’re doing in the anime.

Durarara!!x2 Ten (Episode 3)

In Durarara!!x2 Ten, we saw Akabayashi flush some illicit drugs down the toilet to dispose of them. However, flushing drugs down the toilet is not a proper method of disposal. Putting drugs in the toilet is a key method of introducing them to the water supply and this has even been linked to traceable amounts of antibiotics, hormones, hypertension medications, narcotics, and others in the ocean and in our water supplies. Additionally, water treatment plants aren’t able to completely remove these small amounts of pharmaceuticals, meaning they’re able to make it into our drinking water. Instead, there are other harmless methods of disposing medications that do not cause potentially adverse effects. That being said, there are indeed some medications that are safe to flush down the toilet, but these are controlled medications that can be harmful, or potentially fatal, if children or pets ingest them. If you have questions about the disposal of medications, contact your local pharmacy for more information.

Gakkou Gurashi! (Episode 2)

Since we are now fully aware of Yuki’s delusions, now we can play the game of what’s real and what’s not. Specifically, we can play the game of whether the dog (Taroumaru) and the teacher (Megumi-sensei) are real or not. At this point, I’m inclined to believe the dog is real but the teacher is not. The evidence I’ve gathered thus far that supports these conclusions is that the other characters, especially Miki, react to the dog. The fact that Miki looks disappointed after Taroumaru turns away from her and that Yuuri holds Taroumaru help convince me the dog is real. As for Megumi-sensei, no one has actively reacted to her presence besides Yuki. At the most, they’ve acknowledged her presence, but they could be doing that because it’s Yuki’s delusion. You also wonder if she’s real or not because she was on the other side of the barricade in the school, ahead of the girls, meaning she would’ve been wandering around with the zombies alone at night. And when the girls found Yuki hiding from the zombie, they were only immediately concerned about her safety and not Megumi-sensei, thus leading me to question if she was really there or not. However, there was a plate of curry in front of her at the beginning, so I’m not sure if that was part of her delusion as well or not. Either way, I’ll be curious to see what happens to these two auxiliary characters, to find out whether they’re real or not.

Gangsta. (Episode 3)

“If you stay in this city too long, you’ll end up not being able to go anywhere.” –Worick

The city of Ergastulum and the setting of Gangsta already fascinated me by the first episode, but it was Worick’s line about the city at the end of the third episode that captivated my interest to understand how it’s depicted and what he really means. To date, all we’ve seen from the setting of Gangsta seems to be a nondescript Sicilian city of Ergastulum. We have yet to see where the city is located though, and what environment it’s in. We have no information about the biome, the climate, the plants and animals, whether the city is by the ocean, in the plains, surrounded by forest, or settled in the mountains. To date, we’ve seen nothing but Ergastulum, a city where all the buildings and alleyways are homogenous with no sense of location or direction… and this might be by design. Worick’s line means that once you stay too long in this city, you’re unable to leave it. And because Gangsta is told through the eyes of Worick and Nicolas, the two “Handymen”, the anime is only able to show us Ergastulum because they have stayed too long and are not able to leave it. To them, Ergastulum is the only world they have. And as a result, the anime has only shown us the city of Ergastulum because that’s all that’s there for them. It isn’t much, but details like this about the setting facilitate hope for me with Gangsta. I’m not completely convinced that this is the reason we’ve only seen Ergastulum, but Worick’s line and how the city and setting have been shown to us has enchanted me.

Joukamachi no Dandelion (Episode 2)

For an anime with essentially nine primary characters, splitting the episodes into multiple acts is probably the most ingenious way of properly distributing air-time for the characters and allowing each to have proper time to develop and contribute to the anime. In fact, I wish more anime took this approach since it helps break up the episodes into shorter, more concise, more focused narratives that are character driven. And hey, if it’s a story about characters you don’t like or don’t care about or is boring, at least it’ll only last 6 more minutes before it changes. I really, really like that about Dandelion, and am thrilled that the anime is presented this way.

Ore Monogatari!! (Episode 15)

Probably my least favorite part about Ore Monogatari!! are the size inconsistencies with Takeo. Although the inconsistencies weren’t as egregious as previous episodes (or as hilarious), it bothers me that Takeo is constantly shown to be different sizes in almost every shot. For example, in scenes where he’s walking with Rinko, their waists are shown to be the same height… meaning Takeo’s legs are as long as Rinko’s. Or their knees are at the same height… meaning their shins are the same length. Other times, Takeo’s waist is up to Rinko’s shoulders. There are also times where Takeo’s arms change from skinny to ultra-muscular. And yeah, I get that this is an anime, and there is bound to be variation in how the characters are drawn in each shot, but for an anime where a number of jokes and storylines are dependent on his physical appearance, it seems haphazard for there to be so much variability in how he actually appears. And because of that, the constant changing of Takeo’s appearance is the most bothersome aspect of Ore Monogatari!!

Rokka no Yuusha (Episode 3)

I am terrible at appreciating the music in an anime, so if I notice the music in an anime, that means it’s either really good or really bad. For Rokka no Yuusha, that’s a good thing since I find the music to be one of the best this season, if not this year. Not only does the music do an outstanding job helping to establish the mood and atmosphere in it scenes, but the music swells with emotion and personality. And who doesn’t love orchestrated tracks, especially for a fantasy anime? Michiru Oshima is the composer for Rokka no Yuusha and has composed the music for a number of memorable and remarkable anime, such as Full Metal Alchemist, The Tatami Galaxy, Zetsuen no Tempest, Sakasama no Patema, and many more. I need to keep an eye out for his name in the future since he is probably one of my favorite anime composers and I don’t give her enough attention and respect.  Just go back and rewatch the final scene of the third episode and focus on the track playing during Adlet’s reunion with Nashetanya. Not only is it a beautiful song, but it is perfect for the passion, the excitement, and the drama of the scene. Really, if I’m taking the time to write about the music in an anime, you know that it’s left a positive impression with me.

Sore ga Seiyuu! (Episode 2)

For an anime that heavily depends on its cuteness as its main appeal, Sore ga Seiyuu! does a number of things right. And when talking about the cuteness of an anime, chibi and comical faces are of the utmost importance. And for that, look no further than Ichigo, who undoubtedly leads Sore ga Seiyuu! in this department. Ichigo’s character seems to demonstrate the widest degree of emotions, which makes it easier for her to have a higher number of cute facial expressions, especially compared to Rin who is rather quite calm. Notable examples of Ichigo’s expressions in the second episode are when she learns of her audition at the food prep factory and when eating strawberry shortcake at the diner with Futaba and Rin. Those scenes are noteworthy because they don’t provide much substance or depth to the anime or characters – in fact, they’re actually quite dull – but they’re charming because of how Ichigo is depicted, with cute, chibi expressions. The cuteness of Sore ga Seiyuu! helps support these slower scenes with some entertainment value, helping to keep the anime watchable throughout, and Ichigo does an excellent job for this considering that she seems to be the least serious of the three primary cast members.

Working!!! (Episode 3)

What? It’s not even the final episode of the season and Maya already has an appearance? And LINES? And she’s not the punchline of a joke, too? Wha… what’s going on?

Maya is my favorite character in Working!!, so to see her do something outside the final episode is an encouraging sign, especially since she now has had two episodes that have developed her character. Although it’s routine to see her in the background being “normal” and never associate with the staff, she does seem to have a pretty decent relationship with a number of the other female employees, like Yachiyo, Popura, and Mahiru, so hopefully she can continue to make appearances and have decent comedy this season. And though Maya doesn’t want to associate with the staff at Wagnaria, as we saw, she’s willing to make an appearance and joke for the advancement of being normal and normalness. Someday, I wish it’ll be normal for Maya to be included in normal episodes of Working!!.

Hello again. For Week 12: my ideas on where I wanted Rokka no Yuusha to go following the mystery, thoughts on the erased timelines in Charlotte, issues with the classroom in Classroom Crisis, and appreciating Hotaru’s character more in Non Non Biyori Repeat.

Best episode of the week: Gakkou Gurashi

Anime trending up this week: Non Non Biyori Repeat

Anime trending down this week: Classroom Crisis

Working!!! (Episode 12)

I’ve always enjoyed Working!! as a franchise, but my biggest complaint with the series is that nothing ever progressed or was resolved. All the storylines and character quirks were never addressed and everything felt unfinished. The third season of Working!! has done an outstanding job at tackling this issue, and I’ve actually felt very satisfied with how the series is progressing. The only issue now is that I don’t want the series to end!

Rokka no Yuusha (Episode 12 [Finale])

I think Rokka no Yuusha is the first mystery anime where I correctly solved the mystery at the very beginning. But rather than gloat about my awesome detective skills, I’d rather discuss where I think the anime should’ve gone instead of the ending we received. During the series, I was always pondering where the anime would go once the Seventh was revealed and they either were killed or escaped. The obvious answer would be that they continue on their way and go fight the demon king, but that would be too easy for a series of this caliber. If it were up to me, the focus of the series would be on the characters rebuilding their trust with each other. The whole ordeal with the Seventh essentially fragmented each character with everyone questioning who was the villain, so it seemed logical to me that once the mystery was over, that they’d need to repair or rebuild their relationships. In fact, I think it’d be a greater mystery for Adlet to forge new relationships with each of the characters and for him to reconnect all the characters, too. Remember how Fremy and Chamo almost tried to kill each other… several times already? Why not focus on making those two friends? Or Hans and Mora, how those two are opposites? Why not try helping Goldof open up to the other Braves, too? Of course, the series didn’t end exactly the way I wanted, but if the series continues with this in mind, I’ll be content.

Non Non Biyori Repeat (Episode 11)

Hotaru never really felt like a fifth grader until this episode. Her character always felt much older given her maturity, her humble mannerisms, and her height. More often than not, it felt like she was the oldest character in the main quartet rather than the second youngest. I was thrilled to see the skit where she acted her age at home with her mom, but it also really shook up how I view her character. The skit was intended to be humorous because we never see her acting like this, but it also speaks volumes about her self-control in public and how she behaves around others. In fact, I think of Hotaru as more mature now after seeing how she usually acts at home and thinking that she corrects herself to act polite and modest in public. That, and I’m also happy to see Hotaru have fun and excitement for once in the anime.

Gatchaman Crowds Insight (Episode 11)

So, why exactly was Hajime disguised as Gel and attacked? I mean, I understand what they’re doing in terms of the story, but why did they put Hajime in such danger? Couldn’t they have faked the whole thing with their Gatchaman technology and shown a battle against a fake Gel? Was this really the only way they could’ve shown them battling Gel was to have Hajime disguise herself as him? I don’t get it, but there’s probably a thousand better ways to do this than to put Hajime in a near-death situation and in a coma for most of the episode.

Gakkou Gurashi! (Episode 11)

Although Gakkou Gurashi is one of my favorite anime of the year, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have flaws. And the one flaw I want to focus on for this episode is that I don’t like where the story is progressing. The whole development with the girls learning about the zombie outbreak and the survival resources at the school aren’t things I’m too keen on. To me, I’d rather have the whole zombie apocalypse be unknown to them and something out of their mind. Instead, I’d rather see the anime keep the reason why the zombies are around a complete mystery rather than finding documents in the school and a potential vaccine within the building. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t say I’ve been too excited to see the girls finding these secret documents and an anti-zombie vaccine scattered throughout their school.

Classroom Crisis (Episode 12)

For an anime named Classroom Crisis, you’d think they’d focus more on the classroom and the students in the class. Outside of Nagisa, Mizuki and Iris, I’m not sure you needed any of the characters. Really, none of the other students added anything to the series. None of them changed, were relevant to the story, or added anything of value. It didn’t matter if the classroom had a size of 3 students or 30 students… the classroom essentially did nothing for all of Classroom Crisis.

Charlotte (Episode 12)

One thing that irks me about jumping timelines in Charlotte is that all the development between Yuu and Nao after Ayumi’s death in the original timeline is essentially lost. Those events are long gone, almost as if those episodes never occurred. And while Yuu still retains memories of his past self with Nao, the same can’t be said for the girl he fell in love with during this time; Nao has no recollection and no way to experience what it was like pulling Yuu out of depression or going to the ZHIEND concert with Yuu. You can’t help but feel bad for the old Nao, who put in all that effort and who was so happy, to lose it all. Looking at this timeline’s Nao feels different, especially after all that Yuu has gone through. Then again, they were able to save Ayumi’s life as a result, so I’m sure Nao would happily part with her memories with Yuu in order to save his little sister.

This might seem like an odd topic for a 12 Days of Anime post, but it’s a topic worth discussing given how it continues to grow on me every year and with every new anime. In fact, it’s routine for me now, something constant and universal that occurs every time I watch an anime. And it’s a subject that can be entrusted quite easily by the number 123,714. So, what exactly does 123,714 mean?

Why, quite simply, 123,714 is the number of screenshots of anime I’ve taken since January 1st, 2015. In the 347 since then (as of December 14 when I wrote this post), I have averaged 357 screenshots a day… or a screenshot of anime every 4 minutes… and that even includes all the days I am not watching anime (which, unfortunately, is quite often now). I’ll agree, it’s an astronomical number, especially since the number of screenshots per year has quadrupled since 2013. It’s quite remarkable, really, to think about how much anime I’ve watched and how many times I felt the need to capture the image for use later. And what began as a fun, little way to enhance the visuals and appeal of my blog (including the primary way I obtained viewership), has become the only way I watch anime now.

Again, it’s a weird topic, but it’s something that fascinates me given how this year has gone and how many screenshots I’m taking of anime now. And while this first began as a means of adding screenshots to my posts to break-up the paragraphs, it has become a method for me to archive all the anime I’ve watched that I no longer have easy access to. Remember that Tuba-kun costume scene in Hibike! Euphonium? Or the big reveal in the first episode of Gakkou Gurashi!? Yeah, you’d probably find images or video of that online in a second or two. You don’t need over 120,000 screenshots for that…

But what about a specific cute face, but you can’t remember the time, from Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi!? Or a cute face in Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen? Or maybe one of the scenic landscapes a cute face in Non Non Biyori Repeat? Or what if you want to relive an episode of Shirobako or Rolling Girls or Anime de Wakaru Shinryounaika but only have 30 seconds? These screenshots have become so much more for me than just images to post on my blog. And as a result, I’m taking more and more screenshots with every new anime I watch. What began as maybe 10-12 back in 2011 (when all but a few would make it in a blog post), quickly became 20-30, and from there to 40-50, and, as it evolved, reached up to 250-300 screenshots per episode. Now, maybe 1-2% of the screenshots I take per anime end up being used on my blog… but that’s not to say I’ve seen my use of these screenshots evolve as I’ve taken more. For example, these screenshots have even percolated into how I communicate with my friends and others online. Almost every conversation, when possible, is aided by one of these screenshots or the thousands (almost 10,000) already on my blog. Want to reference a funny joke? Screenshot. What about questions on the story? Screenshot? What about a cute face? Probably 8 screenshots in a row? It’s quite fascinating, to see just how an afterthought back in 2010 became such a dominant aspect of my life in 2015.

So, yeah, even though this isn’t something that originated this year or even is exclusive to 2015, it is something that needed to be addressed for my 12 Days of Anime for 2015. It really is one of the more remarkable aspects of the year and is ubiquitous throughout all of anime, or at least when I have the chance. It has become an essential part of the anime-watching experience for me, so now seems like an appropriate time to mention my addiction to anime screenshots.

Today, December 20th, marks the 5 Year Anniversary of Avvesione’s Anime Blog. As I’ve done with every anniversary post, I reflect upon the previous year and provide my input on the most valuable lesson I learned in terms of watching anime and writing for this blog. This year has been quite turbulent and chaotic, with countless new transitions, obstacles, responsibilities, and challenges – easily the busiest year of my entire life to date. As a result, I’ve had very little time to watch anime and even less dedicated to this blog. It pains me that I haven’t had as much time or energy this year to keep up with currently airing anime or write my weekly or seasonal posts, but it has helped me realize a valuable lesson, one that I may have overlooked since I started writing for this blog back in 2010. So, with that in mind, I’d like to share with you the most important lesson I learned in 2015 which is to make sure you’re having fun with anime.

For me, 2015 has been tremendous and rewarding, yet demanding and stressful. Almost every major aspect of my life has changed since the first sunrise on New Year’s Day, and consequently, I’ve had much less time for anime and this blog than in previous years. In order to make everything work, I’ve had to budget my time appropriately which meant sacrificing “anime time” for less fun but more important alternatives. However, anime and this blog have always been a source of enjoyment, entertainment, and intellectual experiments. One of the reasons why I started this blog 60 months ago is that I wanted to challenge myself as a writer, to see if I could defend my thoughts and opinions on anime in a public space. I felt that if I could develop arguments and critiques that I would better understand myself as an anime fan and my love for these shows. And once my blog took off, I began to explore other ways to improve my writing, to inform other fans about particular quirks or oddities in anime, or for me to just post pictures of cute girls a dozen times every week. Whatever the reason, this blog had always been a place for me to better understand myself and the anime I watch. But as I’ve had to scale back this year, I’ve felt that this aspect of me has faded.

However, as I’ve had to adjust, so too have I found a way to compensate for this aspect of me… and that is to enjoy the anime as I am watching it. Now, that’s not to say I wasn’t enjoying anime when I was watching it before, but I’ve lost the freedom to go back and review screenshots or scenes again as I’m writing posts. In a sense, it was like I always had the ability to go back and relive bits and pieces of an episode whenever I was writing about it… able to catch new things that I missed the first time around, or go back and really appreciate the animation or writing in a scene. However, I don’t really have that opportunity now, unless I want to fall even further behind on the anime I’m currently watching each season. To me, I’ve had to adapt and learn to better enjoy the anime in the moment. It isn’t to say that I can’t go back and enjoy these shows over again, but I can’t afford to go back and relive these other anime at the expense of not watching, and not enjoying, new anime. And if the situation is confusing to read about, that’s probably because it’s confusing to me to think about. It isn’t something that’s defined or scientific… rather, it’s quite the opposite, given that I don’t know how much I would enjoy an anime until I watch it versus going back and looking at screenshots and thinking about what I’d write about. In fact, you could say it’s very chaotic and uncertain… much like 2015 has been to me overall.

Nevertheless, I’ve learned a useful lesson in terms of watching anime and my blog in 2015. That is to say, when I have the time, it’s good to go back and enjoy reliving these anime as I look at screenshots and write about my impressions, opinions, and observations… and when I don’t have the time, to enjoy the anime as much as I can in the moment and try to watch as much anime as I can in order to maximize my enjoyment… but even that is hard. And that brings me to one other important lesson that’s always true for everyone no matter whom and no matter the situation… to have fun with anime. Because, after all, isn’t that why we watch and read about anime? So let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy another fulfilling and satisfying year of anime.

This post reviews: Tabi Machi Late Show, Koukaku no Pandora, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, Dagashi Kashi, Bubuki Buranki, and Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R.

Winter 2016 is turning out better than I imagined, though only slightly. As you can see from this post, I had a rather positive experience with this batch of anime. The real question will be on how this season performs beyond this first week, but it seems to be in good shape going forward. I hope to have the third and final First Impressions post out soon.

Watching:

Tabi Machi Late Show

I’m not sure whether I should comment on short anime or not, but considering the lack of attention on Tabi Machi Late Show, why not give this anime some acknowledgement? Tabi Machi Late Show is one of the three 7-minute anime that airs alongside Oshiete! Galko-chan and Sekkou Boys, but unlike those two, Tabi Machi Late Show is a slow-cooked and heartwarming series of mini-dramas. There’s not much substance to the anime, as the primary theme is on “journeys” and “farewells”, so it doesn’t have a strong, central narrative to build off of. However, what it lacks in content, it makes up for with its style, given its aesthetics and picture-book animation style. There’s not much going for Tabi Machi Late Show; it’s not like you’ll miss anything significant or remarkable if you don’t watch it. However, it’s a light, simple, and easy watch that might go well when paired with a blanket and some hot cocoa, if you think that might be your style this winter.

Koukaku no Pandora

Please don’t judge me.

Koukaku no Pandora is the kind of brainless, stupid, fun anime that I typically enjoy. There’s no groundbreaking story or inspiring characters in Pandora, but the anime is incredibly cute and charming given its female robot cast and predominately chibi art style. It could do without the ecchi fanservice, such as the location of the F port by Clarion’s panties (so that’s why they’re so low), but it does capitalize off some of these scenes with halfway decent jokes. The overall comedy is rather mediocre, but it fits in with this lighthearted setting and art style. I don’t think I can really comment on the storytelling or character development at this point because… I don’t think there’ll be any. I’m not expecting much from Pandora over the course of this season, but as long as it continues to be a cute, chibi comedy about robot girl best friends… fighting for world peace or something? (I honestly wasn’t paying attention)… it’s worth watching.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu bleeds brilliance and magnificence in this sincere drama about an ex-con restarting his life as a rakugo performer. What inspired me the most about this first episode is that, rather than be bound by the chains of traditional TV anime, Shouwa Genroku extended its length from 24 to 48 minutes, to complete its story. Really, there were no good stopping points in this first episode, so rather than splitting it into two and ruining the pacing and storytelling, Shouwa Genroku opted to continue seamlessly, providing an uninterrupted experience. From that alone, you can tell that Shouwa Genroku is dedicated to its story and its characters. And of note, each of the three primary characters has their own individual story or purpose worth following, with each seeking a defined and different goal that will interweave with the others. Not to mention, the art and aesthetics are solid, especially with this color palette and use of lighting. And though I do have some things to nitpick about this first episode, such as Yakumo denying Yotarou but then almost immediately accepting him back three times, they’re trivial matters in the grand scheme of things. The first episode of Shouwa Genroku was nothing short of magnificent, but I can’t help wonder where it’ll go from here. Still, this first episode was more than reason enough to want to continue this anime, and I certainly hope everyone gives this first episode a try.

Dagashi Kashi

Comedies depend greatly on the humor, but also on the delivery, and what makes Dagashi Kashi such a delightful anime is that it has the right style of delivery with Hotaru as the lead female. Really, Hotaru carries the anime with her childish, colorful, and loud style, which is a bright and brilliant contrast compared to the dull, rural townsfolk like Kokonotsu and Saya. And it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t mention the father, too, You, but his involvement in the first episode wasn’t as inspiring as Hotaru. I do wonder how well the anime will perform if Hotaru or You are gone for any extended duration because it was only “okay” without them versus “hilarious” with them. As for the content of the comedy, the candy store-themed story is nice, but it’s a bit difficult to appreciate considering that all the snacks and candies are ones that I am not familiar with. Still, I smiled and laughed watching the first episode and that’s usually the criteria I go by when picking out comedy anime. As far as the other criteria, Dagashi Kashi has quite a pleasant aesthetic choice, and I’m always interested in a rural setting, so those are obvious positives. I do wonder how ecchi the anime will be considering the fanservice in the first episode, but it really isn’t a problem right now. Dagashi Kashi is an easy decision for me this season. This might actually evolve into one of my favorite anime of the season depending on how the comedy develops.

Undecided:

Bubuki Buranki

Bubuki Buranki is an anime with two halves: the first half with the family isolated in a fantasy world with menacing robots and magical powers and the second half with a quintet of teenagers in a modern Japanese setting fighting with mecha-monster-things against an adult with a mecha-monster-thing. First, I’d be lying if this didn’t immediately evoke images of Kamisama Dolls, and second, why did Bubuki Buranki have to leave that fantasy realm? As I mentioned, Bubuki Buranki’s first episode had two distinct halves, and though you could label them by their settings or before-and-after, I think of them as the “good” half and the “meh” half. The start of Bubuki Buranki was outstanding and impressive, showcasing the struggles of a growing family in a bleak and desolate world filled with sleeping killer robots. If the anime were just that, I’d be watching it, no question. However, the second half of the episode is what I expect the rest of the anime to be, about a group of kids fighting society as the kids try to return home or something shounen-sounding like that. It… it really failed to inspire me and I wonder whether Bubuki Buranki can recapture the magic it lost with that dazzling first half. I’ll need to see another episode to determine whether it’s worth keeping or not, so I’ll be interested to see where it goes from here and what it tries to do. However, given the direction it’s heading in, I probably won’t keep it around for much longer.

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R

So… this is nothing like the original Komugi-chan anime. Whereas the original anime had passionate comedy and cuter, moe characters with personalities, Komugi-chan R has neither and feels like a watered-down and bland reimagining of Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte. Like, in the original, they had an episode to Komugi-chan getting killed by a truck and spending the episode as a ghost watching as how everyone’s lives improved after she was gone. …I don’t see that here. I also don’t see the otaku humor, like parodies of 2chan and other anime like I did in the original. And the animation… I know Akio Watanabe did the character designs for both, but the original was so much brighter and more appealing… while this one just feels boring and generic. And where are all the references to The Soultaker, the original anime that allowed for the spinoff of the Nurse Witch Komugi-chan franchise? I seriously doubt that I will keep this considering that I enjoyed the original so much more, 8 years ago, and I’d recommend going back and watching that instead of this. I’ll give it one more episode to see where this goes since it does have some significant changes from the original, like Tsukasa, but I don’t think it’s worth my time this season.

Dropped:

Nothing from this batch, though a final decision remains for the two in the Undecided category.

For Week 4: adoring the transformation and westernization of the setting in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the authenticity, weight, and significance of battles in Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, why the letterbox formatting is my favorite directing decision of Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, and disruption in the sense of community in Durarara!!x2 Ketsu.

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Anime trending down this week: Dagashi Kashi

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 4)

Among all the remarkable directing and aesthetic choices in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, none are more prominent or ubiquitous than the 2.35:1 letterbox format for the 1988 scenes. Whereas most anime are now produced in the ordinary 16:9 widescreen format, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi alternates between the conventional 16:9 format for scenes in the present (2006) and the unfamiliar, cinematic 2.35:1 format for the past (1988). Furthermore, there are other directing and aesthetic changes that occur between the two settings, but none are more anchoring or pronounced as the aspect ratios. While countless anime take a similar approach in alerting colors, lighting and cinematography between differing timelines, none has taken the same novel approach as Boku Dake ga Inai Machi and used a cinematic format to differentiate between eras. Without the letterbox format, I’m certain that Boku Dake ga Inai Machi would have been successful in representing the past, but the unusual aspect ratio gives it an entirely different feel and helps cement the difference between the past and present. To me, the letterbox format in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is the most striking and significant aspect of the directing to me. Given how underutilized this cinematographic element is, I am ecstatic to see it being used here and used with a purpose. Boku Dake ga Inai Machi certainly has many other directing and aesthetic elements worth discussing, but none are as fascinating to me as the widescreen formats that we’ve seen between the settings of 1988 and 2006.

Dagashi Kashi (Episode 4)

So…. is that it? Is Dagashi Kashi just one joke, repeated a handful of times each episode, with miniscule variations in delivery but the same swing-and-a-miss conclusion? I get it. Hotaru loves candy, Kokonotsu misinterprets everything Hotaru does as sexual, Saya is jealous, and Tou is an idiot. Is there anything else this anime can do besides candy-related humor? Don’t get me wrong, I’m still enjoying Dagashi Kashi, but the question is how much longer will I enjoy it? I found the first two episodes to be enjoyable, but I’ve noticed my interest and engagement wearing with these last two episodes, and I don’t think Dagashi Kashi has anything planned to recover from this downward trend. It’s almost like the beginning of the series was a sugar high, and now the rest of the series will be the sugar crash.

Dimension W (Episode 4)

I’m not really sure what to think of Dimension W now, what with the gradual change in its comedy and fanservice. After the first episode, I set myself in for a serious, sci-fi, action-adventure between a misfit combo of an old guy who hates technology and a cute, robot-girl sidekick. I didn’t expect that Dimension W would have more naked robot girls than all of Koukaku no Pandora, but it managed to do that in just this episode alone. Now that’s not say that Dimension W is awful; I still and watching it and enjoy it, but these last two episodes of Dimension W feel like a completely different anime than the first two episodes.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (Episode 4)

One of the most brilliant aspects about Durarara!! is the size of its cast and its sense of community and social structure. Durarara!! is entirely about a living, breathing city that’s half-populated with weirdos and half-populated with monsters. But as the series has progressed, the characters are starting to feel more and more isolated, as if they’re being grouped into islands with little contact with the other cohorts in Ikebukuro. That may be true given the progression of the story and what is entirely necessary from the storytelling perspective, but I would like to see more interactions between these groups, even if it were merely to be the characters walking past each other on the street during scenes or being in the same restaurant. Of course, that might seem odd considering the size of Ikebukuro and the number of people everywhere, but it would be nice to see some of the other characters who have played smaller roles be featured more considering that this anime is about community and society in general.

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Episode 4)

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is quickly becoming the surprise of the season given how genuine and heavy the anime feels. While I still have a few issues with the series, the positives are overshadowing the negatives, especially in regards to the fights between the characters and the goblins. Not only do the fights feel honest and authentic, with kills coming from hitting vital points rather than reducing hit points to zero, but the scenes feel heavy, with a sense of purpose and being. That and those swords actually carry weight, with how they swing them and how they defend in the fights. You would actually guess they’re made of a heavy, durable metal and not light as a twig, as you might guess from other fantasy anime. But perhaps the greatest aspect of Grimgar, to date, is that death feels substantial and significant… no, let me start over: every death feels substantial and significant. What strikes me as remarkable about Grimgar is that even the monster deaths feel weighty and meaningful. It’s not like other fantasy anime where no one really reflects on the monsters they just killed, there is legitimate thought and feeling behind every action on the battlefield. As a result, Grimgar is astonishing me with its unexpected detail and complexity in battle, and is becoming one of the better anime this winter.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 3)

After being introduced to Megumin and Darkness, numbers 3 and 4 of our main quartet, I’m beginning to wonder if I’d prefer the anime with just Satou and Aqua together than the four main characters together. To me, I enjoyed the simple chemistry between Satou and Aqua, especially with how the two were dysfunctional together at best. Now with Megumin and Darkness, there are more connections, jokes, and material between the characters, but it lessens the wonderful and blessed relationship that Satou and Aqua shared. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t necessarily remove Megumin and Darkness (well, I’m lying, I would remove Darkness), but I wouldn’t have them be part of the main group and just be axially helpers who follow them around and join in their misadventures from time to time. Then again, I’m only three episodes in (in reality, I’m up to date, but for the purposes of reviewing this episode), so I’m not really sure where this anime is going or what it hopes to achieve with these characters. All I know is that I miss the engaging relationship and humor between Satou and Aqua from the first episode and hope that we get it again soon.

Koukaku no Pandora (Episode 4)

I love Clarion’s chibi design. It is the best thing about Pandora, and every week I will write about it will be an excuse for me to post pictures of everyone’s favorite chibi, robot catgirl.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 4)

Easily my favorite aspect of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is seeing the gradual yet radical transformation that Japan experienced from pre-WWII to post-WWII. The change in the setting is beautiful and mesmerizing, and particularly how nonchalant the characters are over the westernization. Take a look at the backgrounds and you’ll notice changes in architecture, advertising, transportation, and clothing. Take a look at the technology and the modernization of Japan, with electricity and mechanics becoming widespread. Look at just about everything in the setting of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu and you’ll see the shift from traditional Japanese society to a pre-modern Japanese humanity. It’s absolutely breathtaking, especially for someone like me who adores the settings of anime more than just about every other aspect. I honestly can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a setting as much as this, and I am truly thankful that Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu has depicted such an important and momentous era in Japanese and world history.

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen (Episode 17)

Oh right, this had a story.

What I’ve been hoping since the beginning of Utwarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen is that the sequel will provide answers to the original Utawarerumono. The original anime certainly had a more engaging story and narrative than this sequel, but the ending felt chaotic and rushed, and never left me satisfied or appreciative of the story, setting, or characters of Utawarereumono. Since finishing the finale of the original almost a decade ago, I’ve always wanted more to the anime, and in a way, a proper conclusion to one of my favorite anime of the 2000s. To say this sequel has been disappointing would be an understatement, but there is still hope it can achieve this very simple and significant goal to me. And with this episode dedicated to the setting, history, and story of Utawarerumono, my faith is restored just enough to think it might actually achieve what I truly want from it. Whether it meets that goal or not still remains, but there are plenty of episodes to address and answer my questions that were left unanswered from the original anime many years ago.

Back during Week 9: the symbolism of clothing in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, questioning whether anyone else is ‘special’ in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, praising the tsukkomis in Dagashi Kashi, and posting pictures of Clarion from Koukaku no Pandora because why not?

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Osomatsu-san

Anime trending down this week: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 9)

Fashion and apparel in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu has been used brilliantly as symbolism to both connect and contrast Yakumo and Sukeroku. Given that anime is a visual medium, clothing has always played a significant role in defining characters and is often used to enhance them by supporting or augmenting their personality, profession, or general appeal. In Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the clothes play an important yet reserved role in the relationship between Yakumo and Sukeroku. Yakumo has adopted a modern, sophisticated, chic western-style wardrobe, as seen by his clean dress shirts, charcoal grey suit, and black tie. Sukeroku, on the other hand, wears traditional Japanese clothing, such as his typical jinbei. Another inherent difference between the styles is the impression that these clothes give, with Yakumo appearing to be wealthy and upper-class while Sukeroku appears as an ordinary commoner. Not only does it symbolize a contrast between their personalities, but their clothes also denote the success that Yakumo is realizing in the world of rakugo whereas Sukeroku appears to be crashing, especially with the developments in this episode. And while their casual outdoor-wear shows great, significant contrasts between the characters, clothing also unites these characters together. When performing rakugo, Yakumo and Sukeroku wear the same haori and hakama. Not only does wearing the same clothes connect them both to the profession they love, but it connects them to each other, as best friends. That is to say, while they are different in just about every category, they are the same when it comes to their passion for rakugo. And you can clearly see it, visually, with their connection via their same clothing when performing rakugo together.

Koukaku no Pandora (Episode 9)

I have nothing new to say about Koukaku no Pandora, but I wanted to post pictures of chibi Clarion so that I can find them easily online.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 8)

With Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! ending in two episodes (the finale has already aired, whoops!), I will admit I am kinda sad we didn’t see more of the characters before their star-crossed journey together. What I mean is, I wish we saw how much of a dick Aqua was prior to meeting Kazuma, how Megumin was shunned by society due to her name, behavior, and explosive magic, and how everyone felt weirded-out by Darkness before she was accepted by Kazuma and others. However, given that there is a second season already announced, this topic is really a moot point now since we’re likely to get some backstory for these characters whenever the next season airs.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (Episode 9)

Given the immense size of the cast and the length of Durarara!!, I am curious if I missed cameos in the original seasons of characters that were formally introduced during these latter seasons. And though many of these newer characters have vibrant and obvious designs, I still wonder if I may have missed Chikage standing in a crowd, Akane walking by on the street, or Mikage waiting outside her dojo for Mairu and Kururi. Part of me wants to go back and scan around a few of the episodes to search for these fascinating Easter eggs, especially since there have been numerous instances of actual characters being a part of the crowd throughout the series. But, realistically, I don’t think it’s worthwhile given that such brief cameos won’t hold any significance to the story or their own development. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed how Durarara!! has incorporated these individual characters as functioning parts of Ikebukuro and have featured them throughout, even when their time in the spotlight has long been over.

Dagashi Kashi (Episode 9)

One of the very most essential aspects of a comedy anime, or at least in a manzai or gag anime, is that the tsukkomi (or straight man) does not scream or shout or yell too much. Thankfully, Dagashi Kashi meets that necessity with Kokonotsu and Saya being entirely reasonable tsukkomi with their reactions and punchlines. Dagashi Kashi really seems to understand how to use their personalities and comedic timing well, as the anime has a pleasant balance between normal and loud jokes. And, because of that, Dagashi Kashi has really started to grow on me despite having virtually no experience or understanding of what it’s like to grow up with these candies and snacks.

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 9)

Will Satoru’s time traveling ability ever be explored? Or rather, and what interests me the most, does anyone else have the ability to go back in time, too, to fix their mistakes like how Satoru saves the lives of others around him? For example, does the killer have the same ability as Satoru and the two are using their two time traveling abilities to counter each other and do their best to save or kill as they please? I’m expecting something else from Boku Dake ga Inai Machi given that Satoru has been able to ‘Groundhog Day’ himself three times now, and am curious if someone else (the killer or maybe Kayo) has something unique going on with them as well.

This post reviews: Joker Game, Sousei no Onmyouji, Bungou Stray Dogs, Anne Happy, Koutetsujou no Kabaneri, Sakamoto desu ga?, and Shounen Maid.

I am not sure when Part 4 of the Spring 2016 First Impressions series will be published since a number of shows still haven’t aired.  I am debating whether I to post it without covering a couple of shows or whether I should wait and post it when the final show is out.  And given that I am planning on changing my writing format for this season, I’m not sure if or when I’ll ever get around to writing my thoughts on some of these late, late shows.

Watching:

Joker Game

My first admiration with Joker Game begins with its ability to fine-tune its tension and to manipulate its suspense.  Scenes that seem certain are revealed to be deceptions, relationships that seem genuine are dishonest, and the promise of drama, espionage and mystery are already paying off in just one episode.  To build off that first point, my second admiration with Joker Game is its setting and aesthetics.  As Joker Game is an espionage anime, and one set in urban Japan in 1937, there needs to be an astute level of detail in the setting to really capture the moment and atmosphere of the period.  But beyond the clothes, architecture, and technology, Joker Game captures the political and social feel of Japan just after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.  Not only that, but I adore the use of lighting and shadows in Joker Game.  Given the setting, it is understandable that Joker Game is dark, but it’s the use of light and shadows that has me enchanted.  It aids in the visuals and style of the series and helps complement the earthy, wooden tones that the anime utilizes well.  And though I could continue with my respect for this series, I do, actually, have some reservations.  For one, I do worry about the spies as characters.  I am fully aware they won’t have any backstories for which to base their roles on, as they are spies, but I am curious how or if they will develop and potentially turn against each other.  Joker Game may not necessarily be character-driven, but espionage stories depend heavily on the spies themselves as characters.  That isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with what happened in the first episode, but it is uncertain at this point.  Still, Joker Game has been one of the most delightful and impressive new anime this season, and one that I am eager to continue for the rest of this spring.

Anne Happy (Unhappy Go Lucky!)

And now for an endearing, colorful, and heartwarming anime about cute girls with terrible, dreadful, abysmal luck.  Anne Happy is a charming comedy/slice-of-life anime that matches my individuality well.  When evaluating a slice-of-life anime, I look for enjoyable, engaging characters that work well together.  Anne Happy certainly demonstrated that with its first episode, presenting the five main girls with deeper dives into An and Ruri.  And when judging a comedy, I don’t necessarily need to smile or laugh right away, as it is the potential and scenario of the anime that often result in the best humor.  I will admit I was a bit disappointed with the humor in this episode – mild at best – but it was the visuals of Anne Happy that wins out for me.  It may have been a while, but I will remind you again that Shin Oonuma is my favorite anime director.  Not only does he have an amazing talent to improve upon the source material for an anime adaptation, but his use of light, color, and chibi character really compliments the characters and comedy of Anne Happy.  I particularly enjoy the uplifting pastel palette of the anime, one that gives the impression of fortune and good luck which contrasts well with the girls’ misfortune and bad luck.  Simply, Anne Happy had an enjoyable first episode, and it has brilliant visuals.  I’m not expecting this to be near the top for Spring 2016, but I am expecting to be somewhat lucky by picking up Anne Happy this season.  Then again, it might also be bad luck considering that they introduced a mascot character at the end of episode 1…

Koutestsujou no Kabaneri (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress)

Given that Shingeki no Kyojin and Koutetsujou no Kabaneri share the same director, studio, and primary staff, it shouldn’t be surprising that Iron Fortress will be viewed as the little brother to the titanic blockbuster that was Attack on Titan.  In fact, Iron Fortress has earned itself the nickname ‘Attack on Trains’ given the unprecedented number of similarities between the two.  And while this may seem like a negative to many, viewing the anime as derivative or a copycat, I am actually thrilled and excited to see it parallel Titan in so many ways.  The main reason why I am delighted is that Koutetsujou no Kabaneri is an original anime, not an adaptation, and will allow Tetsurou Araki and his staff to experiment on a series with creativity, origination, and imagination that was otherwise limited with Shingeki no Kyojin.  Iron Fortress is the payoff for such a masterful and magnificent job with Attack on Titan, and I am eager to see what they will attempt to do with their own story in their own hands.

Of course, many of the elements of Kabaneri are the same as Titan, but that is more a positive than a negative to me.  With that in mind, we already understand and appreciate a number of aspects of the anime, such as the astonishing fight sequences, the dystopian and dehumanized setting, and the bold and thorough art and animation.  Really, what’s not to like with a series such as this, especially if you were a fan of Shingeki no Kyojin or anything with steampunk technology or gigantic trains that run over hordes and hordes of zombies every day?  Koutetsujou no Kabaneri should be one of the most impressive anime of the season and one of the most spellbinding, too.

Sakamoto desu ga?

The PV for Sakamoto desu ga? was promising, an encouraging video with snazzy, jazz tunes playing over a flamboyant highschooler posing and flying around and doing all sorts of ‘cool’ things.  But, as is often the case with anime, you have to wait until the first episode or two to really know what you’re getting yourself into.  And, with Sakamoto desu ga?, you’re getting easily one of the best comedies of the year.  It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the humor of this series (hint: it was the bird skit) and I am sincerely interested to see where this bizarre comedy will go next.  The other elements of the anime, such as the characters, art, story, sound, blah blah blah, don’t really matter when the comedy and humor is this good.  And fortunately for us, the characters, art, story, sound, and even the blah blah blah are all great, too.  Sakamoto desu ga? is already a strong choice for Spring 2016, and I am expecting the series to continue on this positive trajectory.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, allow yourself to be charmed and swayed by Sakamoto.

Undecided:

Bungou Stray Dogs

Ok, before I begin, why did they call it a ‘man-eating tiger’ when the tiger never killed or ate any people?  Am I the only one that caught that inconsistency?

Anyway, Bungou Stray Dogs is a problematic anime for me because while it technically passes the basics for keeping an anime, I never really found myself enjoying it at any point in the first episode.  Stray Dogs certainly has the visuals to be a watchable anime, given its design, direction, color and lighting, not to mention great animation that complements the humor and the action.  Too bad the humor is banal and bland.  The animation tries so damn hard to make the scenes funny but you can’t make the audience laugh when the jokes are just… awful.  And considering that fact, I don’t think I’ll want to keep it given that I don’t see the comedy ever improving in this anime.  However, given that Bungou Stray Dogs is here, I am willing to give it another episode since the ending introduced three new main characters and there is a faint hope that they can replace the three that ate up most of the screentime in this episode.  I am leaning on dropping it, but I’m feeling benevolent and am curious where the series will go with its superpowers and detective story elements.

Dropped:

Sousei no Onmyouji (Twin Star Exorcists)

Sousei no Onmyouji is a decent anime, but it doesn’t have the intangibles to keep it, especially in light of all the other anime airing in Spring 2016.  Whereas Twin Star Exorcists bedazzles with its gorgeous art and exquisite fighting, perhaps one of the better examples this season, the core of the anime feels incredibly weak and generic.  The most incompatible aspect of Sousei no Onmyouji is its characters, where Rokuro and Benio mix like oil and water.  Separate those two parts and you’re left with pretty decent characters, but not together like this.  It just doesn’t work for me and the story and scenario don’t help either.  And according to my notes following the episode, there was only 1 good joke, but I can’t even remember it now which shows how much of an impression it left on me.  Overall, the first episode was underwhelming, uninspired, and clichéd.  And with so many other shows outperforming this in week 1, this is an easy choice to drop it now.

Shounen Maid

I, uh… I wasn’t expecting this to be 24 minutes.  I also wasn’t expecting a story and characters with backstories or anything.  I probably should’ve done more research on this anime and prepared myself accordingly, but I was expecting a simple, short comedy instead of a full-length TV anime.  I found myself bored and tedious about halfway through and didn’t even finish the first episode.  If this were 3 or 5 or even 10 minutes per episode, I’d be willing to give this a try, but there is no way I could sit through a full season of 24-minute episodes of this, especially when I couldn’t even complete one 24-minute episode.

This post reviews: Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge, Kiznaiver, Hai-Furi, Flying Witch, Sansha Sanyou, Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou, Kuromukuro, and Big Order.

It has taken me much longer than I expected, but I finally have the time to write down my thoughts on the first (and sometimes second) episodes for the remaining eight anime that premiered last week. At last, it’s time to close out this introduction to the Spring 2016 anime season and begin work on a more manageable list of shows to stay current with. Below are the last few shows to make or miss the cut and a couple that I am still undecided on.

Watching:

Kiznaiver

Kiznaiver is an easy choice for me given the vibrant and eccentric personality of its primary cast. I’ve enjoyed stories like these where a band of misfits is formed for some arbitrary reason and they get to know each other, work together, and accomplish whatever asinine goals depend on them and only them. With Kiznaiver, the characters are all very extreme and romanticized stereotypes that are masking deeper issues, and I’m interested in seeing these characters change and grow as the series progresses. And, in the meanwhile, it’ll be fun to see these conflicting and opposing personalities work together. In fact, it reminds me of a sillier, more comical (and thus, more enjoyable) version of Kokoro Connect. The decision to keep this is further supported by the aesthetics of the series, especially with the vivid colors and enthusiastic animation. If there is a disappointing with this, it’s that I can’t speak too highly of the setting, which doesn’t seem to have the same care and development as the characters or the story, but perhaps that will change once more is revealed. Nonetheless, Kiznaiver really impressed me with its first (and second) episodes, and it will be one to follow closely this season.

Flying Witch

The more I watch of anime in general, the more I realize that I truly appreciate simple and relaxing slice-of-life shows. Flying Witch is exactly that, a very pleasant and tranquil slice-of-life/comedy about a young witch adjusting to a new life in a new location. The setting of Flying Witch strongly reinforces the intended atmosphere and theme, given that Makoto moves from metropolis Yokohoma, near Tokyo, to rural Aomori in northern Honshu. There doesn’t seem to be much depth in the characters right now, though we’re getting to see how Makoto is different than her cousins, but it does seem the humor and story will focus on more than just the witch given the attention to Chinatsu and Nao in the first episode. The scenic landscapes and backgrounds are astounding and easily a personal favorite this season. The characters do seem rather plain, but the expressions and reactions are conveyed clearly and it fits with that simple, easy mood. Overall, Flying Witch seems to fill that void of an easygoing, peaceful, and amusing slice-of-life anime this season, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting this satisfying anime each week this spring.

Undecided:

Hai-Furi (High School Fleet)

Hai-Furi follows in the wake behind other popular moe-military combinations – “moelitary” or some other awful portmanteau – but seems to be lagging behind in some of the areas that made those other franchises successful. Girls und Panzer and Kantai Collection both saw success with cute, moe anime girls in dangerous military situations for a number of reasons. For me, it was the whole absurdity of the situation, the personalities of the characters, and the humor present in the series. High School Fleet really only has… well, none of those things. The situation seems fairly commonplace in this setting, the characters are very flat, tame, and not necessarily creative, and the humor was drowned out by the melodrama of their teacher trying to kill them for whatever reason. However, the first episode did capture my interest, and I am somewhat invested to see where this goes. I think another episode should be enough to decide whether I want to keep this or not, so hopefully it goes in an exciting direction after what transpired in the first episode.

Sansha Sanyou

After one episode of Sansha Sanyou, I am faced with both positives and negatives. The good news for Sansha Sanyou is that the characters are cute, the animation is flashy, and the scenario seems decent for a comedy. The bad news for Sansha Sanyou is that I never really enjoyed any of the jokes or humor in the first episode and am wondering if this is worth keeping with so many other comedies this spring. I feel another episode is necessary before deciding whether to drop this or not given that 4-koma style comedies are often hit-or-miss depending on the content of the episode and often, the introductory episodes where everything is established is the worst in terms of content for comedy. Given that observation, plus the fact that all the positives are long-term qualities, I think I’ll need one more episode to see if it can prove itself to be funny or not. If not, I might consider keeping this around as an option to 4x this season.

Dropped:

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is Always Listless)

Speaking about 4x-ing an anime, I will be 4x-ing Tanaka-kun (and that is essentially dropping an anime to me). The first episode of Tanaka-kun not only left me feeling listless (a joke probably used a thousand times by now, sorry that you have to put up with it more than once), but I don’t see it ever really improving given that the whole anime is about Tanaka-kun being bored and tired. I mean, the anime seems to be about one joke, and if I know the joke isn’t funny, why would I bother continuing with it? At least Tanaka-kun has a saving grace, which is that I find the female characters to be cute and amusing when they’re involved. Also, there are two girls with short, blue hair (but are so unpopular, they don’t seem to have names credited to them and only really appear in the OP and ED), so I think I’ll just skim through the episodes for just those two reasons. Yes, it is incredibly shallow, but I don’t really see any other value in keeping a series I don’t expect to enjoy otherwise.

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou is another comedy that failed to produce any laughs or smiles and is one that I don’t see much change in the long-term. The anime does poke humor at the similarities between cooking tonkatsu and being a DJ, but… that seems to be it. The anime kinda boxes itself in with this title and this premise. Sure, it might go places with these themes, but it really failed to impress me with this first episode. I don’t mind the atypical or strange art style… in fact, it was because of the art style that I gave this first episode a try. However, it’s the content and comedy that ultimately flop with this anime.

Kuromukuro

Had I only finished one episode, Kuromukuro would have placed in the “Undecided” category, but after two episodes, I feel as though Kuromukuro should be dropped… and, well, is being dropped. Kuromukuro certainly has a breathtaking amount of animation in the first episode, especially in the minor details like how the characters walked and moved. It certainly impressed me, especially with the variety of angles and with the mecha fight animation. Where Kuromukuro loses me is with its characters and the story. I felt disconnected from everyone and no amount of walking animation was going to make up for that. The characters felt more and more stiff and shallow as the episode went on, going from the main character (Yukina), to the UN director (Hiromi), to the scientists, and finally to the samurai dude (Ouma) who, unfortunately, is the secondary lead in this. The story didn’t do much to inspire confidence either, with these various alien mecha being the oni that Yukina’s father alluded to a decade prior. Yes, I realize the anime will be much, much more than what was shown in these introductory episodes given the extensive cast of characters, but I struggled through two episodes and know I can’t make it through twelve or whatever. And it’s a shame, because I really, really, really liked watching those characters walk around.

Big Order

If I could ignore some of the faults and displeasures with this first episode, I’d be keeping Big Order. Fortunately, the uncomfortably heavy emphasis on the almost-but-not-quite incestuous relationship between the main character and his little sister and the tentacle bondage and moaning during the credits were enough of a warning to realize that this isn’t the anime for me. It’s a shame, really, since Big Order was decent all-around, given its scenario, its setting, the characters themselves, and their superpowers. In fact, if you just cut out the scenes with the sister and the very ending, I’d strongly consider keeping it… but given that these are two elements that are likely to last throughout the series, I can’t really see myself putting up with an anime knowing that I’ll irritated or annoyed with a scene or two every episode. So, with that, it’s probably best to drop it now rather than try to balance enjoying the elements I enjoy with the bits and pieces I don’t.