Posted by Earlier this week, a friend asked me what my favorite show this season was. My answer was “Negima.” If I had to say my top-three series for this new season, they’d be:
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Negima!? is number one because it wowed me like no other show did. Maybe it’s because I didn’t have very high expectations or maybe it’s because Shinbo Akiyuki‘s style and approach to the series appeal to me so much. The animation production by Gansis/Shaft is also better than almost every other series out there. The show is weathering a lot of vocal criticism, but I personally love it and eagerly anticipate the type of alternate retelling that future arcs of the story will get.
CODE GEASS is a close second partially because I have a soft spot for Sunrise mecha shows, but mostly because I think the show just kicks ass. I mean, it has a questionably evil main character, a female lead who gets shot in the head in the first episode and hasn’t been heard from since, plenty of mecha battles, and a large cast with tons of story potential. And as I said in my second episode entry, Lelouch is becoming one of my favorite characters this season.
Rounding out the list is the surprisingly good Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, OtoBoku for short. Good is of course a relative term. While Negima’s first episode had the wow factor, OtoBoku’s first episode was pure mindless entertainment that left me with a smile on my face. If Strawberry Panic was any proof, yuri and relationship drama can carry a show pretty far, though with OtoBoku it’s more like pseudo-yuri since the main character merely looks like a girl.
And since I’m talking about what I’m enjoying the most, I’d also like to point out how good some of the OPs and EDs this season are. The best new OP, hands down, is YUI’s Rolling Star from Bleach. ED-wise, my favorite new one is OtoBoku’s Beautiful Day by Sakakibara Yui – it’s really catchy and has been stuck in my head all week. Other notables include FLOW’s COLORS from CODE GEASS and Atsumi Saori’s Ai from Kujibiki Unbalance, and Porno Graffiti’s Winding Road from Ayakashi Ayashi.
I’d also like to take this chance to semi-finalize the shows that I’ll be blogging about:
Mondays: Pumpkin Scissors
Tuesdays: D.Gray-man and DEATH NOTE
Wednesdays: Negima!? and Bleach
Thursdays: Kanon and CODE GEASS
Fridays: Catch-up
Saturdays: Ayakashi Ayashi and OtoBoku
Sundays: Tsubasa Chronicle and Catch-up
I currently have Fridays and Sundays marked as “Catch-up” because I need to have a bit of breathing room during the week. Part of the reason I’m doing this for Sundays is because I didn’t feel like taking on La Corda D’Oro or Galaxy Ange-Rune, so I’m just sticking with Tsubasa Chronicles (albeit a day late) for Sundays until it ends in a little under a month. But the bigger reason is that Sundays usually end up being group meeting days for my numerous school and work-related projects, so I’m fairly occupied. As for Fridays, I decided not to pick up Kujian since it didn’t leave me with that favorable of an impression. I’ve considered maybe blogging another Thursday show or even NANA on Fridays, but as of right now I’m not sure what I’d add, if anything.
In closing, I’d like to say that the above list is only 10 series strong – with one soon ending – which is significantly less than the number I’ve been taking on in past seasons (~13). For days like Monday, I’d love to take on a second show (Lovely Idol), but I just don’t have the free time. Hopefully once this hellish semester is over, that won’t be so much of a problem.
kewl
Dang, you’re not gonna blog Yoake =[
Excuse me for not catching up with the happenings of this site, but what happened to the guys that were helping you with this site ? Are they taking up any shows this season ?
I miss your NANA entries!!! So if you’re considering another series NANA gets my vote =D
But if you’re not, no worries!Thanks for all the your efforts!
it’ll be good if someone blogged about la corda d’oro though… sad sad…
Judge is thinking about blogging a new series, but we’re still working out the details.
Seleria was only helping out for the rest of Honey and Clover II, and I haven’t talked to her in a while.
Stacy was only helping out for the rest of Ouran and has a busy job now.
Kenn has been missing for the past two weeks, and has half-finished entries on Inukami still waiting to be completed.
I’ve almost given up on getting help because people just either don’t have the language skill or dedication to do this. But if you’re reading this and you think you’re qualified, send me an email with a sample write-up of your choice of show.
You should give Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~ a try. Probably blogging it on Friday even though it airs on Thursday, but I guess you do need a breather during the week since you are very busy most of times now with work and all the other shows you have already decided to blog this season.
So no OtoBoku? 🙁
Ohhh man, i’m gonna love tuesdays! D Grey man and Death Note!!!!!! >_
Please blog Nana!!!
If your refering to if OtoBoku is getting blogged Gil, it’s on the Saturday slot 😛
I saw the first episode of Gift. Spent the entire time thinking about how much it was like DC with. To name a few, Gift has:
-A Nemu-lookalike
-A Sakura-lookalike
-Junichi’s voice actor as the male lead
-Aisia’s voice actress
-A Suginami character
I couldn’t get past the DCSS stigmata, and Thursdays were already so crowded.
@Omni
Do you watch any of the other anime for a season besides the ones you blog??
Only ones that i watch that you are blogging is
Negami
D-Gray man
Otoboku
Found these 4 to be quite enjoyable also might want to watch them even if your not blogging them =)
Busou Renkin
Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo!
Asatte no Houkou
Sumomomo Momomo
Happiness! is alittle weird. So Ren is a guy dressed as a girl eh, thats alittle much lmao.
Aww…what about the second season of Jigoku Shoujou??
Thanks Omni! I like your list!
Good list, IMHO. If you can pull this off, you’ll do people alot of favors 🙂
Personally, there are two shows which I’ll add to my menue: Yoake gives me some very good vibes, with a kind gentle romance undertone which is all but missing in most shows of this kind nowadays. Also, Asatte no Hokou as a VERY interesting slice-of-life show and good characters so far. However, both shows should be available as subs very quickly, so they should be fine even without Random Curiosity’s care.
You have great taste in quality anime Mentar. Asatte is by far the best show I’ve seen this season with Yoake a distant second. As of right now there are three groups subbing Asatte so it has to make you feel good that if one or two groups gets lazy and slacks off Saiunkoku Monogatari and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni you can fall back on another 🙂
Do NANA, Tokimeki and Sumomomo on Friday please. None of the other blogs follow these.
What about Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto? So far I found it pretty enjoyable, the visuals are, from what I could tell from my not-so-good wmv/wma .wmv raw pretty good, the music is nice (esp. OP song), and the story has potential (besides, I’m getting Blood+ vibes – maybe because of the blue eyes and the whole “2 ancient forces battling” background…). And its on late thursday/early Friday to boot! 😉
(And its also, as far as I can see, the most unnoticed series so far – it hasn’t even an entry on blog好き – the only mention I’ve found so far was in a summary for all episodes that week)
It’s too bad Bleach had to move to Wednesdays, I’ll miss the NANA entries (are you sure you don’t feel like giving up on the fillers and blog the upcoming drama instead? :p)
I totally agree with Negima!? being the best thing this season. Code Geass also seems to be doing well (here’s hoping it gets as good as ZEGAPAIN), and OtoBoku doesn’t look bad, although I’m not a fan of yuri. Kanon and Death Note would be on my top 3 with Negima!?, but you’re already blogging them so it’s all good 🙂
Thanks Omni, for the Pumpkin Scissors and OtoBoku posts!
Really looking forward to these. Although I thought that Asatte no Houkou was quite good, didn’t you like it?
About the number of series, take the minimal number of series. As much as it suits you. Just don’t stop writing again~ (that was one hellish week, I tell you)
I’m glad you’ll be blogging Negima?! and OtoBoku 🙂
I’m glad you’re blogging Negima!?, D.Gray-Man, Death Note and Kanon. I’m gonna start watching Code Geass soon.
Omni, I wanted to ask, when is the single of Negima!? going to be avaliable for pre-order (was checking yesasia but couldn’t find it there ~_~, does it have another name)
@Omni
Do you watch any of the other anime for a season besides the ones you blog??
I want to know too. I’m thinking about offering help to blog Gift, Yoake, or Tokimemo, but if you aren’t watching any of them, well the offer would be pointless. -_-;
Missing Nana, please don’t stop with nana this is the only blog(i know) that keeps following nana, please don’t leave it!!!!
I hoped for Jigoku Shoujo Second Season to be blogged though. Anyways thanks for season one though..
Forget Nana Bleach is much better plus the filler arc is only a 2 – 4 episodes from the end, then the fun begins with the current manga arc.
Considering that almost no enemies have been defeated, I can hardly see the fillers ending anytime soon (I give it at least 20 more episodes, seeing how they seem to be avoiding fights). I don’t really mind though, if Omni prefers blogging Bleach then it’s fine, I at least have the manga to understand Nana RAWs.
Do you watch any of the other anime for a season besides the ones you blog??
Sometimes, but other times it’s hard to get myself motivated. It really depends on how engaging/entertaining the series is. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to watch any more of Tokimemo, but I’m hoping to get some time to watch more Yoakena. Not sure about Gift.
Rasmiel, if you’re offering to write about something, send me an email and we can work out the details. I’d love to get coverage for some of those series, but I just personally don’t have the time to do it these days.
Jigoku Shoujo 2nd isn’t going to get blogged because I didn’t end up being happy with the first series. I really just don’t wanna sit through another one of those, even if it does have Noto Mamiko.
I’ll consider Bakumatsu, but that’s all I’ll say for now because I’ve only flipped through the first episode without really watching it.
Bleach is not going to get dropped. It’s my sole serial “super-shounen” series (though D.Gray-man may eventually count depending on how long it goes), and regardless of whether the anime original stuff ends or not, I’ll still watch it.
As a final note, I’m not going out of my way to do popular shows or to do not-as-popular shows. The bottom line is usually that I blog stuff I enjoy that I have time to write up.
No Galaxy Angelrune. =(
I’ll be enjoying your blogs of Kanon, Death Note, and Negima!?. =D
o.O pretty neat. I’ll haave to check your top 3 out. Right now though, I’m really hooked on strawberry panic and death note.
oh man.
i’d like it if someone could blog this show, La Corda D’Oro.
Omni, do u know anyone who might be consistently blogging this show?
i haven’t seen anyone release the translated ver. of this yet… so, i’d really like to see how this show goes.
Omni, I can’t believe you haven’t seen Asatte no Houkou. It’s clearly the best show of the season so far!
Congrats on the short list. I know there will obviously be some criticisms, but I think your choices are way above whatever many of us were expecting. Good luck with your semester, by the way!
Pumpkin Scissors all the way! Monday night for the win.
th only show omni isnt blogging that i can blog is NANA…but i dont hav a good way of getting screen caps…T.T.
Go awesome Lineup!
When time is a constraint its tough to carry a load, so that’s still a lot to blog with a heavy school/work schedule.
In don´t like Yuri, but when we have a formula Girl+AttractedxGirlWhoisaBoyDisguiseAsGirl=SOMUCHFUN!
Something like I my me! Strawberry Egg, but so much more interesting. I`ll watch this one.
Thanks Omni!
(Otome wa boku ni koishiteru)
(乙女はお姉さまに恋してる)
(The maiden is falling in love with the elder sister)
I miss you Nana entries so much… and no other blog talks about Nana so I’m sad T_T
Please !!! Blog NANA 🙁 I miss it a lot, and right now even more because there are no fansubs who have gone beyond Episode 21.5…
I do miss your NANA entries.Ive been waiting since last week for that.Sigh…
anyways.I am going to enjoy tuesdays because of Death Note and D. Gray Man
i didnt think that otoboku would b better than kanon on omni’s top 3 choice.
only new anime watching are happiness!,negima!?,sumomo mo momo mo,tokimeki memorial.
death note didnt appeal to me much cus I THINK it looks similar to the anime shown this summer.
kanon seems another shit of the first season so wats the point on watching this kanon 2006.
code geass looks interesting but i’ll wait till its in da middle so i know wat i’m supposed to expect.
Good thing you decided to blog Negima!?, although you have to get the 4:3 version. I even think it is even better than the first incarnation. I have to be honest I haven’t seen this and the first incarnation (only through screenshots), but I follow your blow the same way I did with Shuffle! because I keep abreast with what happens next in the soonest time possible.
I’ve also read the comments about episode 2 of Negima!? and there are really some really vocal haters posting comments on the show, but I don’t think it is good to create flames, if you catch my drift. On a related note, I used to HATE Kaitou Saint Tail when I first few episodes, but I grew enough to like it. So let’s hope Hudson (the very vocal hater) would eitehr change his mind about “Negima!?” or just shut up because he annoys other users.