Spring is finally here and I’m so delighted that the weather has warmed up ~ I love the spring season because not only is it one of my most anticipated seasons, but the workload is generally lighter so I have more time to indulge in my hobbies. Admittedly, this season features a ton of sequels and for good reason – it just shows what a hit the original anime was. For all the new adaptations this season, there’s a lot of potential out there that I urge you to give it a shot. There’s nothing to lose by giving the first few episodes a chance and I hope our impressions below will help you decide what is and is not right for you. As always, your opinions are welcome too!

This post could not be completed without the help of a few awesome individuals. The impressions below are brought to you by Samu, Stilts, Zephyr and myself. Each of the shows include our impressions of the episodes that have aired this month (the episode count is indicated). Please note that this not representative of all the writers on RC but only those participating. This also means that each of us are not necessarily blogging each of the shows that we’re writing about below. The post is not comprehensive of what each of us are watching but highlights a good selection of shows that are currently airing. If you would like to hear our daily impressions of shows, we all update regularly on twitter:

  • Cherrie@RCCherrie
  • Samu@its_samu
  • Stilts@StiltsOutLoud
  • Zephyr@ZephyrRC
  • As always, feel free to leave any comments or suggestions of what you’d like to see. Please let me know what you’re liking, disliking, and hopefully I can make accommodations for it next month.

    Housekeeping Notes:

  • Please be considerate of others who may be interested in picking up a series after reading about it here by placing discussion of any major spoilers in <spoiler></spoiler> tags.
  • Just like the season previews, the list is ordered by the day of the week and time that the shows air.
  • For your convenience, the header for a series links to its post archive if it’s being covered. Simply mouseover the title to see if it’s clickable.
  • Refer to our Spring 2015 schedule for a list of all the shows that RC will be blogging on a weekly basis this season.
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    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
    World Trigger
    6:30 EX (10/5)
    Hibike! Euphonium
    24:30 MX (4/7)
    Ore Monogatari!!
    25:29 ntv (4/8)
    Punch Line
    24:55 CX (4/9)
    Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ViVid
    22:30 MX (4/3)
    Sailor Moon Crystal
    19:00 Niconico (7/5)
    Arslan Senki
    17:00 MBS (4/5)
    Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken 2 Sure-me
    25:00 TVS (4/2)
    Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darouka
    25:05 MX (4/3)
    Denpa Kyoushi
    17:30 ytv (4/4)
    Grisaia no Rakuen
    23:00 AT-X (4/19)
    Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru. Zoku
    25:46 TBS (4/2)
    Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
    25:20 AT-X (1/9)
    Owari no Seraph
    22:00 MX (4/4)
    Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic
    24:00 AT-X (4/5)
    Re-Kan!
    26:16 TBS (4/2)
    Sidonia no Kishi: Dai-kyuu Wakusei Sen-eki
    25:55 TBS (4/10)
    High School DxD BorN
    23:00 AT-X (4/4)
    Shokugeki no Souma
    26:40 MBS (4/3)
    Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season
    24:00 MX (4/4)
    Plastic Memories
    24:30 MX (4/4)
    Kekkai Sensen
    26:58 MBS (4/4)

     

    World Trigger
    Episodes 24-28

    Samu: Ever since the anime was announced, it was the current material that I was most looking forward to seeing adapted. And sadly, it’s just not living up to my expectations. This arc is packed with action and strategy, and so far only the strategy is carrying over successfully, as it has done fairly consistently up until this point. It was neat seeing a multitude of side characters work together and use the university grounds to lure Ranbanein into their trap. However, none of the past few episodes have delivered in what I’d hoped we’d get with the action. Sometimes it’s dragged out far too long, or we get some cringeworthy repeated frames to save time; other times the shots are too quick to even take in what’s happening, resulting in a very amateurish adaptation of what is otherwise some very enjoyable material. At least the we’ve got a flashy new opening, so I can’t complain too much. I just wish now more than ever that World Trigger was getting the adaptation it deserved.

    Arslan Senki
    Episodes 01-05

    Stilts: I had high hopes for Arslan Senki going in, and I have not been disappointed. Not in the least. The first episode took great pains to let us know who Arslan is as a character, and the following ones have both let us get to know his growing cast of allies (Daryun, Narsus, Elam, Gieve) as well as give us a front row seat to the total destruction of Pars. This is a smart show, both in politics, war, and in human nature, and the problems the people of Pars and Lusitania face—those who aren’t total sociopaths, that is—speak to some of the ones we’re still dealing with today. Add onto that Arakawa Hiromu’s character designs and the deliberate two-cour pacing of Abe Noriyuki’s team, and there’s every reason to expect good things going forward. This is a good story, well told—it can be predictable at times, but then again, it’s a tale of kings, princes, and the rise and fall of civilizations. It’s an old story. That doesn’t mean it can’t be a good one as well.

    Grisaia no Rakuen
    Episodes 01-03

    Cherrie: Talk about a wild ride with this one. After I finished Grisaia no Kajitsu last year, it definitely left an impression on me. That final arc just proved how crazy and messed up people can be – especially in times of desperation. Now we’re going back to look at Yuuji’s past and trust me, it doesn’t get any prettier. This is broken up with a one-hour special called Grisaia no Meikyuu and the actual series called Griasaia no Rakuen but it’s honestly just one long continuous story. It starts off with a terribly fast-paced look at Yuuji’s past that is actually horrifying but leaves you little time to digest it all. Yuuji should be so psychologically and physically damaged that I have no words to explain how he’s still a functional teenage boy. This past month has been fully of tragedy and despair week after week and it’s all very interesting… but leaves me to wonder how someone can end up with so much bad luck in his lifetime. Suddenly I realize why he just wants a “normal life” with regular students surrounding him and why he shouldn’t take for granted what he has with the other girls.

    Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic
    Episodes 01-04

    Stilts: I’ll begin with the conclusion: If you liked the first season of Kiniro Mosaic, this is more of the same fluffy, funny, yuri-tinged slice-of-life. Not that this season’s additions aren’t improvements—Kuzehashi-sensei in particular has been a great, with her Shinobu-level gushing, her Aya-level blushing, and her frenemy relationship with Karen. Rather than another student, I appreciate that Kuzehashi-sensei expands the story, allowing for more teacher-specific skits that have been a lot of fun so far. Likewise, Yoko’s younger siblings open up whole new avenues of jokes, along with giving us our only male character so far (no worries, though—he’s a kawaii shouta, so he’s no threat to the yuri paradise). Ditto with the Isa-nee episode. By the way, am I the only one who thinks the yuri has been dialled up this season? Especially Aya x Yoko, which I heartily endorse! I feel like Kiniro Mosaic’s yuri used to be mostly subtext, but with Aya it’s pretty much the text at this point. I also like shipping Kuzehashi-sensei x Karen, because why not. Like I said, Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic is more of what the first season gave us, only more. Thank the fuwa-fuwa slice-of-life gods for that.

    Hibike! Euphonium
    Episodes 01-04

    Cherrie: Completely unrelated to K-On!, Hibike! Euphonium stands out on its own as another anime about music but focuses on a school ensemble group rather than simply “cutes girls doing cute things”. I know it’s going to be hard to convince you with all the screencaps that make it look like just another Kyoto Animation series, so I urge you to try it yourself before judging. I won’t lie, there’s still a great deal of KyoAni’s signature touches everywhere – with the backgrounds and character designs and the attention to detail – but that’s the style that they’re known for and I personally love it. The goal of the series is simple enough – the school band wants to relive its former glory and make it to the National competition this year. Our main characters play different brass instruments within the band and inevitable, there is drama and tons of characters in general to keep track of. Luckily with the cast, there’s tons of potential for great characters development as well and I think that’s one of KyoAni’s strong suits when it comes to slice-of-life series. Can’t wait to see how far they actual make it into the competition.

    Ore Monogatari!!
    Episodes 01-04

    Cherrie: I weep and cry every week when I watch Ore Monogatari!! because I’ll never have the chance to blog this amazing series. *tear tear Hands down, it’s probably the top series that I look forward to the most every week – not only because it’s on hump day, but it’s the only shoujo series I’ve seen recently that exceeds my expectations (the last one was probably Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji). Although the story looks plain Jane on the surface with a weak attempt to defy the romcom stereotypes, it does all that in a refreshing and atypical fashion. I was blown away by how quickly I loved each of the main characters, not only because they’re different than their usual anime counterparts, but they’re actually realistic people. They’re realistically good people with kind intentions. I would also expect this anime to drag on and on for episodes about “the chase” but it proves me wrong again by illustrating post-confession scenes. This is what I’m waiting to see and I love any romcom/shoujo series that talks about the ups and downs of relationships as they progress. I’m excited to see what the road has waiting for Takeo and Yamato.

    Punch Line
    Episodes 01-04

    Stilts: This show is utterly bonkers. I can’t decide whether it’s so bad it’s good, it’s lazy, or … or other option. I don’t know! The plot is a mess, they handwave lazy writing away with such aplomb that it almost works, and new things happen so constantly that I never have a chance to get a handle on what’s going on. The bizarre thing is that I like the characters, eve if I’m just not entirely sure who they are. One’s a superhero, one’s a robot, strange pets are introduced, death sentences are foretold, random (extra) masked heroes appear … I have no idea! It’s compelling, in a way—I wouldn’t call it a trainwreck so much as operating on a level of “logic” that I don’t understand. I don’t know y’all, I really don’t know. It’s fun for now, if bewildering, but I can’t see this building to a satisfying conclusion. It’s entertaining enough for now. Also, insane.

    Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken 2 Sure-me
    Episodes 01-05

    Stilts: Danna ga Nani wo etc was a pleasant surprise when its first season aired, because it focuses on mature relationships that have already consummated rather than budding love between of a bunch of high schoolers, as is the anime norm. Sure-me continues that tradition, and has been packing a surprising amount of oompfh into each episode. These first five episodes have been dominated by Mayotama, with three of them starring or heavily featuring him. His “relationship” with Miki-san is a one-note joke to me, better spread out than used repeatedly, so I’m hoping the focus will shift soon. I also like how all the other married couples are getting into the fun, because going out with married couples is what you do at that stage in their lives. Something important to note: These episodes aren’t airing in order. I kept wondering why they weren’t mentioning Kaoru’s pregnancy, until a kindly commenter clued me in. As of the latest Sure-me episode, it hasn’t happened yet! Which gives me hope moving forward, because as pleasant as the first five episodes have been, I want to see how Kaoru and Hajime deal with a third player entering the game.

    Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku
    Episodes 01-05

    Zephyr: Following a two year break, Oregairu returns with a second season led by not only a new director, but a new studio overall. Given the major production changes, there were definitely questions in regards to whether this new season would be as well done as the first, and thankfully that seems to be the case. The new character designs take a little bit of getting used to and there are animation quality drops from time to time, but the series remains generally the same—echoing its name sake by being a RomCom that’s both wrong as expected and filled with aspects that go against the genre’s conventions. This season in particular, raises the stakes by presenting our Volunteer Service Club members with situations directly linked to their respective pasts and personal issues. What results is a falling out caused by differences in ideals and methodology, and this season is one that truly explores each character, how their past caused them to become who they are, and the potential results that will come from their actions and way of life. Hachiman—as expected—becomes the center of almost every situation here, and the fact that he now has people that he cares about (and vice versa), puts him in a quandary that seems unlikely to be solved easily in the near future. They’re not holding back here, and it’s a heavy hitter—from an emotional and philosophical standpoint—filled with cliffhangers that leave you wondering what comes next, make you question what you would do in a similar situation, and have you thinking about your own ideals and views on the subject matter. Just a word of advice—if you’re someone who has forgotten bits of the first season, it’d be a good idea to either skim or re-watch it, lest you be caught off guard by how this new iteration starts literally moments after the events of the original.

    Re-Kan!
    Episodes 01-05

    Stilts: There’s no shortage of yuri-tinged slice-of-life this season. What separates Re-Kan! is the touching plotlines each episode delivers. It’s not all fluffy ghost-tinged goofing about—Hibiki’s supernatural sense is used to draw the characters together and deliver aesops. Probably my favorite was the third episode, with Narumi’s bratty cousin who really just missed his dad … I-I’m not used to these feelings in a slice-of-life show! There’s also the extreme forwardness of the yuri subplot, with a minor character even hanging a lampshade (trope!) on Hibiki x Narumi in the first episode. Slice-of-life and yuri are the lowest hanging fruit on the anime tree, but they work, and Re-Kan! is executing better than I expected. It’s a solid offering, and maybe even great, depending on what you’re looking for. Bonus: There’s actually a male character in the main friend group, and while he is token, he’s a fun guy in his own right. For a series with a main yuri couple, that’s practically revolutionary!

    Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ViVid
    Episodes 01-05

    Stilts: The first five episodes have been mostly introductions and reintroductions. The weight of the Nanoha cannon is showing, as three seasons worth of existing characters—including all the StikerS Numbers, most of which didn’t stand out as characters when they first appeared—all required reintroduction and updates on what they’ve been up to lately. Nostalgia is still the primary driver of enjoyment here, which is a shame since the new protagonist in Vivio offered an opportunity to welcome new viewers. But if ViVid is primarily aimed at existing fans, it’s at least doing that pretty well, with a plot that’s taking its time rather than rushing through the action, even if the animation isn’t up to Seven Arcs level. Plus, the new characters are quite fun—the first arc was all about introducing Vivio’s future waifu, Einhart Stratos, and this next one is developing their friends, Rio and Corona. All good things! But it’s the big Nanoha-style battles that we’ve been waiting for, and it looks like they’re starting next week. That’ll be the real test for this story, both source and adaptation.

    Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darouka
    Episodes 01-05

    Cherrie: An interesting series that I went in with low expectations but has turned out to be quite fun. And when I say ”interesting”, it’s not a series that reinvents anime, but there’s nothing wrong with taken a tried and true formula and changing it up a bit. DanMachi still has many of the typical aspects of anime that people love – the action, the ecchi and the sense of adventure – but that’s what people like and I think it does it well. It’s not perfect because I’ll admit, some of the characters irk me, but the MC keeps me coming back. He’s not your average overpowered protagonist (like Sword Art Online), but he has a lot of leveling up to do. The story also follows what I would expect life would be like if I were in a RPG, leveling, finding romance and then seeking stronger avatar/weapons. Like I said, the series is not perfect and although I enjoy some episodes more than others, I still find the overarching story worth sticking around for. Oh, and although I’ll never really understand the appeal of harems, there’s a ton of that too.

    Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
    Episodes 12-15

    Cherrie: Regardless of the end game for Koro-sensei, I still love watching each episode of Ansatsu Kyoushitsu. The series may have its good vs. great episodes, but overall it’s a pleasure to watch the kids grow and develop. I loved the episodes in April because each one was actually individually funny but heart-warming. From the baseball tournament to the private pool party, I enjoyed every moment; especially when it focused on Koro-sensei’s attachment to his kids. It still has an episodic feel to it, but the most recent week featured a new “enemy” for Class 3-E and that’s Class A. It’s the first time I’ve seen a cliffhanger as well and with the stakes so high, I can’t help but wonder how they’re going to get around this predicament. So far I’ve been pretty satisfied with the solutions for the students’ problems… I know they’re unlikely but they’re not completely unbelievable either and I like seeing them succeed. Karma is the most likely student to end up at the top next week and I hope he does because he’s my favorite! However he’s not the MC so he may already be getting too much screen time.

    Sidonia no Kishi: Dai-kyuu Wakusei Sen-eki
    Episodes 01-04

    Zephyr: After a one year break, the Knights of Sidonia are back. Tanikaze once again leads the last remnants of humanity in the fight against the Gauna scourge, and it’s business as usual for the most part. There’s never a dull moment when it comes to this series, and the second season picks up where the first left off—mixing in emergency deployments, sinister internal plots and conspiracies, new threats, big plot twists, and comedic moments. The addition of a new character in Tsumugi comes in as a welcome treat due to her nature and awesome personality, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the first four episodes have revolved around her, the interactions she’s had with the crew, and the impact she’s had on the fight against the Gauna. Given her ability to single handedly turn the tide in battle, it’s no wonder Tsumugi’s been constantly referred to as “the best girl,” and her arrival comes in as the perfect counter for the Gauna’s newest armor and weapon packages. With that said, there’s honestly not much to say here. The series is unnervingly consistent overall, fans of the original will love the newest iteration, and it’s an early contender for best Sci-Fi of 2015.

    Shokugeki no Souma
    Episodes 01-05

    Cherrie: I’ve been waiting for Shokugeki no Souma since I heard all the hype when I was blogging Koufuku Graffiti. And let me tell you, the hype is real and the show delivers. After hearing all the warnings from manga readers, I’d have to say that Shokugeki no Souma is just what I need – if what I needed was some action, some ecchi and some foodporn all wrapped up in one show. It’s honestly entertaining, with that signature strong (almost undefeated) protagonist and his strive to be at the top of this elite school of wannabe chefs. There’s a ton of overexaggerated scenarios that make it funny but thrilling to watch and even if I wasn’t a foodie, I think this would make me crave some umami. This is not a show to take lightly because it’s not your average slice-of-life fluff, it means serious business – with food. There’s already a divide amongst the established ships which are Souma and Erina vs. Souma and Megumi so even though romance is a not a prominent aspect at all, I’d like to see what all the hype is about.

    Sailor Moon Crystal
    Episodes 19-21

    Cherrie: This month proved to be a huge step forward in plot for Sailor Moon Crystal. It also featured one of my most memorable episodes in the past week and although it’s still not perfect, there’s definitely more substance than before. On a whole, the series is still quite choppy when it comes to animation and quality, but at least the plot still makes sense and the villains actually have a motive. I don’t want to spoil too much, but I think a lot of the revelations were rather obvious even if you weren’t a Sailor Moon fan. There’s not a lot of secrets when it comes to this series, but predictability isn’t always bad. There’s only a few more episodes left for the Dark Moon clan and I think we’ll see the emergence of Wiseman’s powers soon. We’ll also see Chibi Usa play a more important role and I have to say, her character is much easier to tolerate in this remake than the original. At least she’s not terribly bratty and with her history, it’s clear why she is the way she is.

    Denpa Kyoushi
    Episodes 01-05

    Cherrie: Compared a lot to Great Teach Onizuka, I have (unfortunately) never seen that series to provide any reasons why or how. But! I am watching Ansatsu Kyoushitsu and if I had to make a comparison, it would be to our lovable Koro-sensei. Denpa Kyoushi gives off the same general atmosphere that Ansatsu Kyoushitsu by focusing on a teacher that helps his students either realize their potential or become better people. Unfortunately I think where Denpa Kyoushi fails is its cast that is not nearly as exciting as I was hoping it to be. Jun is not a bad MC by any means, but the secondary characters and students surrounding him only show progression in the short screen time that they get. They neither leave a strong impression or a desire for me to keep watching. The animation is also lacking and seems to be dated – so for an A-1 Pictures production, I’m disappointed. It can be improved upon if the series shows any signs of continuity between episodes, but so far, it just focuses on Jun and what he wants to do.

    Owari no Seraph
    Episodes 01-05

    Cherrie: I was excited but wary of this series when I first heard about it months ago. I’ll admit that the premiere had me completely hooked and I absolutely love any series with vampires and time skips already. The next two episodes didn’t go the way I expected but regardless, it still provided good context for the setting and world that the anime is based on. Yuu is your typical strong-willed and passionate MC with this tragic past that makes him hate vampires. However, the vampires have a system and hierarchy of their own and it works in contrast with the way humans control to rule over themselves. It’s a battle between two intelligent races that each have their own weapons for destruction and we’ll have to see how the main characters come into play. As of lately, the focus has shifted more towards Yuu and his training to join the Army which I’m mildly amused by. I’m waiting for the day that we can see him in action and what he’ll do when he sees Mikaela again. That may be a pivotal moment for the end of the season…

    High School DxD BorN
    Episodes 01-05

    Stilts: I had high hopes going into this season, and they’ve been—well, they haven’t been dashed, per say, but they have been lowered. I’m an anime only viewer, so I can’t verify that everything is better in the light novels (though enough commenters are saying as much that I’m willing to trust y’all), but I can feel the rush, and see the seams in the story. The episodes feel stitched together, which they are since they’re apparently jumping around in the source. It still has all the things I love about High School DxD—the ecchi, the fighting, the haremettes, the plot, the PLOT—but they’re rushing faster than the two seasons, and I’m not sure why. It’s been nice to see Koneko get some love, and Akeno too, and the introduction of Rosseweisse—plus the reintegration of Ravel and Irina into the story—bodes well on the harem front. I just wish they’d slow down, so weird disembodied sky-breasts seem merely strange, instead of totally out of left field. Wow, I can’t believe I just typed that sentence.

    Fate stay/night Unlimited Blade Works
    Episodes 13-17

    Cherrie: The series continues right where we left off – in the middle of all the fights and schemes that people are plotting. With Rin and Shirou left to fend for themselves, they hold up pretty well as a duo. Obviously with some help along the way, but there’s definitely some good moments between the pair as well. I’m a huge Rin fan and have been on that ship for decades now so don’t mind me if I’m biased. The most memorable episode for me (and many others I’m sure), has to go to episode 15 hands down. It’s not about Rin and Shirou but instead deals with two secondary characters that finally get some well-deserved screen time. I love this pairing as well and not in the romantic sense, but in an older bro/younger sis type of relationship. I sympathize them and their situation and knowing what was inevitable at the end, just made it that much harder to watch. It was incredibly well done so I applaud ufotable for nailing that music, tone and mood of the scene so beautifully. Makes me sad just thinking about it.

    Plastic Memories
    Episodes 01-05

    Zephyr: When it comes to technological milestones, the creation of an AI and robots indistinguishable from humans are high on that list. What Plastic Memories does is explore a universe in which we have accomplished that feat, asking of viewers the question of what it means to be human and how we’d react to such entities. The perspective taken by the story—that of a new employee tasked with recovering “Giftias” close to their expiration date—adds an interesting touch to the topic at hand, and there’s much to be said about how the series balances out serious, comedic, and tear-jerking moments relating to the separation stories of Giftias and their human companions. Plastic Memories came in to the season with high expectations, and it’s no stretch to say that it’s met them so far—making me tear up in record time with just its first episode, laugh out loud at the silly interactions between the main pair, and making me fear for future episodes at the same time. Whether the ultimate conclusion of the series will leave us with the emotions we expect it to is up in the air, but there’s certainly a lot to this series, especially from a Sci-Fi perspective. This could very well be one of those short and sweet stories that show up once in a blue moon, airing over the course of only one cour but leaving an impact that lasts far longer.

    Kekkai Sensen
    Episodes 01-05

    Cherrie: Whatever I was hoping for when I read about Kekkai Sensen goes out the window. Instead it’s replaced with this comedic, episodic action series with supernatural elements. However it’s far from boring. The setting is right up my alley with unique creatures and all these “underground” operations that resemble the mob but not quite. The story does not have the continuity that I was expecting, but the approach is still intriguing. The introductions across the board give a good feel as to what this new world looks like and I’m sure some of these characters may end up being recurring ones later on. I like the style that each episode is told – it’s a backward perspective by showing the results before the how and why. So far, Klaus tops my list as one of the more intriguing characters and the boss behind the Libra team (that’s my horoscope!). There’s not much else that I know about the other individuals except maybe Leo (because he’s our MC) but even so, I’d like more history and context for some of the other cast members.

    51 Comments

      1. I’d imagine it depends on the audience. In the Japanese popularity polls from Shonen Jump, Erina is the 2nd most popular character, Megumi the 3rd. (Soma is 1st of course, and most of the rest haven’t shown up in the anime yet.)

        mongoose22
      2. I think the ships depend on how far along in the story you are.

        Megumi gets a ton of development as the series progressed, becoming more independent and capable while still maintaining her innocence.

        Erina, on the other hand, has been almost stagnant in her development since her first appearance, still haughty and prideful with almost no hint of changing her attitude.

        People who initially bashed Megumi as being weak and dependent are letting up after her development, while people who initially liked Erina for her tsundere personality are getting tired with too much tsun and not enough dere.

        Freya
      3. I believe that, as Freya as said, the ships do depend on how far you are in the story (to a certain extent). However, another thing we have to take into consideration is the medium used to communicate the story to the audience.

        With the Manga, there is still an overwhelming amount of support for Erina (see MangaFox). However, people have taken an instant liking to Megumi when it comes to the Anime, which is drastically different from the initial response of the Manga readers.

        This probably has to do with how the only way you can interpret the characters in a Manga is through visualization. On the other hand, Anime offers a variety of ways to increase the appeal of characters. Megumi was simply a 2D character in the Manga, which means there are less appeal to her. Rather than choosing what they would prefer in real life, they would obviously go for the more stubborn and unrealistic character (otherwise, why else would you read a Manga? Isn’t it for entertainment? For things you can’t do in real life?).

        With the Anime transforming the characters with voice, movements and color, you just can’t help but to choose one that is the most likeable in real life. Obviously, this doesn’t hold true in all scenarios. Another reason why this worked out for Megumi is because of the foundation of the character. She was already a strong character, only lacking a bit in confidence. Her appeal is strengthened with animations and the gap lengthens between her and Erina. In Anime, there are lots of actions within a limited amount of time. The more a character appears, the more people take a liking to them (especially when they are already popular). Fodder characters also appears to last longer in Manga because it spans out over chapters instead of 1-2 episodes.

        Cheerfulk
      4. I don’t know what you are saying, but the ErinaxSoma practically still exist with Erina still pose as a huge threat as she is. Soma is constantly improving skills in order to show how much his cooking meant to her, although it is not intentional. The dynamic between them is still there and with the recent chapters before the newest arc, Erina has shown some hinted potential changes in her opinion and her altitudes have as bitching anymore. The far the story goes, the farther we will get between their relationship as well as shipping goes as well.

        Guilty Slumber
        1. What lytterburg was saying is that, there’s a ship contest in /r/anime of Reddit, SS Megumi ship practically survived until 3rd round, but SS Erina didn’t even get in the contest itself.

          I’m SS Megumi all the way, but logically speaking, Erina route has been set in stone since the beginning anyway. So yes, apparently that ship exists even if it doesn’t.

          the great procrastinator
      5. There will definitely be a hint of romance, but it probably won’t be touched on until late or possibly the end of the series. This is due to what Soma’s father said in both the anime/manga, I won’t spoil it for people who haven’t started on the series yet (he says it as early as the first chapter).

        Azsurance
      1. I had 0 knowledge or interest in this show and it has turned out to be one of my favorite series this season. It has so much going for it and I look forward to DanMachi each week.

        Karmafan
      1. I was curious about the OP Music and watched some Episode. Well, the Music was good. But for the Anime? Well, i better should hold my mouth 🙂

        Not my Cup of Tea

        WorldwideDepp
      1. The twisted thing is that blogging anime leaves us with less time to watch anime. We’re also busy people, so we don’t have time to watch everything anyway. If there’s something we didn’t cover that you’d like to talk about, go ahead. You can get the conversation started.

    1. My own month-end one-or-two sentence impression (on a whim)(and from my own spring preview order):

      World Trigger – It’s tolerable, I guess, since I had been wanting to see how it was going to be converted. Needless to say, it’s straight as an arrow; The good, the bad and the ugly included.

      Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season – The expectation is still sky-high, and they’re still pulling it off with the animation with no quirky frame at all. Oh yeah, the emotes and the story, almost forgot about you 2, but you both are still better than most of the shows this season.

      Sidonia no Kishi: Dai-kyuu Wakusei Sen-eki – Dear Polygon Pictures, you somehow managed to right the glaring offs somehow regarding continuity with the manga. I applaud to your wits. *claps*

      Plastic Memories – Wow, I cannot believe this show can tug heartstrings, show-off it’s background art, AND cringe everyone with so-so comedy skits every single week without fail. BTW, did I mention the plot is still moving like a fore-coming train smashing into the station platform?

      Gunslinger Stratos Ninja Slayer From Animation – Do not ask why am I still watching this, I have no idea. A bland anime to wash down my expectation for the weekly dose of Saturday hype?

      Punchline – Boy, the (unexpected) wild horse for my Spring 2015. It’s not using the fanservice just for giggles as much as I thought, strangely enough.

      info600
      1. I wouldn’t call it the best yet, but it certainly is continuing season 1’s standard for excellence. We need to see how the show plans on wrapping things up for this season before that call can be made.

        Not to mention Zanibas needs to hurry up with posting the next episode so the discussion can continue anew 😛

        Pancakes
    2. World Trigger – I’d say it’s not bad, it’s still a show I look forward to every week, but some scenes are badly directed especially in the fight with Ranbarein. Seriously, what was all the screaming about and repeated scenes about. I enjoyed the first half of the show a lot more, but the latter half is losing some spark. Show Spoiler ▼

      Kuroko no Basuke – This is my favourite show of all time. I loved Seasons 1 and 2, but I have to say, what an impressive season the current one is. The animation quality, the stylistic artwork and soundtrack are a flawless combination. KnB is not a flawless story, but it is very enjoyable and I give credit to Production I.G. for making a top class show. Looking forward to the final match.

      Ansatsu Kyoushitsu – Great animation overall. My favourite episodes are Baseball Time one and Talent Time, where we learn more about Karasuma and Nagisa. I only wish the soundtrack was better, because a lot of the time it feels like unwanted noise.

      Owari no Seraph – The animation is quite nice. I was very impressed with the action in episode 2. It had one of the most boring walking scenes ever in episode 3 (I don’t know how a studio can pull that off). Overall, I can smell more action coming and i look forward to it.

      Sailor Moon Crystal – I really appreciate the Dark Moon Arc a lot more than in the original anime series, though I grieve at the lack of screen time for the villains. Chibi-Usa is a lot more likeable and pitiable, I do feel sorry for her now. Surprisingly, Sailor Pluto has more character development in 3 episodes than the other Sailor guardians in the whole show.

      Arslan Senki – A great start with a great cast of characters. I do miss the classic fantasy shows, an Arslan Senki is a warm welcome. It’s going to be a complex story.

      WarriorsHeart
    3. Aww, no Houkago no Pleiades or Mikagura?

      Hibike! Euphonium, OregaIru, AssClass and Plastic Memories definitely have me hooked this season (as well as the above two being in my top three)~ 8D

      Crunchie
      1. The twisted thing is that blogging anime leaves us with less time to watch anime. We’re also busy people, so we don’t have time to watch everything anyway. If there’s something we didn’t cover that you’d like to talk about, go ahead. You can get the conversation started.

        Yes, I said the same thing above. Probably expect us to repeat this a lot each month 😛

        1. I heard the Nonomura Ryutaro parody in Ep 1 was a pretty big deal. All the editors and animators were scared they’d get defamation charges against them, like that one time they nearly got sued for parodying politician Murata Renho.

          zztop
      1. as Stilts wrote, they have only 2 Hands and their Private and Work Life on top of that

        You all could do the same as me, write your own Impressions. Just follow some rules to not break the Curiosity of others

        WorldwideDepp
    4. all I’m gonna say is NINJA SLAYER…what a P.O.S!!…for those that didnt get enough of the kaka that was inferno cop…..

      also dropped shokugeki no souma after i had a hunch about it and skipped to the manga…there is near ZERO development “at least in areas I’m interested in” all the way to the current translated material, just alot of boring back storys…such a shame.

      BROOKLYN otaku
      1. just alot of boring back storys…such a shame

        You mean like character development vs cardboard cutout villains?

        If you’re talking about romance, then yeah it’s not really there at this point in the manga. Kind of a shame as I’m really interested in that too, but the story is interesting enough for me to hang on for the ride.

        7godeohs
      2. Same feeling with Shokugeki.

        So far, I like the cooking battles and the foodgasms but I have never seen another cooking anime on par with Cooking Master Boy back in the early 00’s. That show was simply a masterpiece of its genre: Awesome food battles, romance, comedy, secret societies, great time skips, and a serious and overarching plot.

        Char
    5. Oregairu is probably my number 1 anime this season followed by FSN. It’s a great genre deconstruction and I love how Yuigahama’s design seem more vibrant.

      Hachiman=Batman

      Char
    6. “And sadly, it’s just not living up to my expectations.”

      I totally disagree here. To me World Trigger is simply one of the best anime on air right now.

      In fact, World Trigger has some the best fights I’ve seen in years. The animation quality is mediocre to decent at best, however, the battle are so clever and creative, the animation not being all being all that good becomes something irrelevant.

      Really really awesome. In the last few yeas, I think that only Hunter x Hunter had fights and characters that were as interesting as the ones I’m seeing in World Trigger.

      André
    7. World Trigger is really wearing my nerves thin, they may as well call it Recap/Exposition: The Series. Every episode has to start with a recap of the previous episodes and end with a recap of things that they just explained in the current episode. They must have wasted at least a third of the series total air time.

      qwert
    8. Not covering Dungeon, no Nagato Yuki-chan, no Etotama. I’m really bummed out this season some of my favorite shows are not being covered here. Obviously it’s the writers’ choices, but it’s just sad some of the most popular shows this time won’t be getting the normal analysis on each episode and have the opportunity for people to discuss and comment on them.

      Chen2

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