Retrospective Look – July 2011

Divine: Some of the humor is definitely lost in the Flash-based shorts about the Traditional Arts & Crafts Preservation Club, as I distinctly recall the manga being a lot funnier. I have fairly reserved expectations of Yuruani’s latest “anime” when it was added to the season preview, and the main reasons for that were its brevity and style. I can’t actually recall an overly hilarious scene from the first five episodes, so that’s never a good sign. Funnily enough, I can from the manga, which to me suggests there’s something wrong with the delivery of the material. It’s a bit of a shame because the cast is pretty awesome and it looks like the series would’ve been better with a more “traditional” format.

Takaii: Five minutes of trying to save the ancient arts of Japan — from etching in the ends of toothpicks to preserving the ancient style of drawing old-fashioned manga. We follow Usami and her friend Sayo as they venture into the mysterious Cultural Activity Preservation Club. While it feels like we’re watching a visual novel rather then an anime, I was surprised with how many popular seiyuu are hiding in this show. From Taketatsu Ayana and Kato Emiri to Omigawa Chiki and Kobayashi Yuu, it’s a shame that Double-J is so short since it’s basically voices over a static image and even if the images aren’t great, the voices ARE! At this point, I believe the ending song is what has me coming back each week.

Divine: I somehow went from not blogging this show — not even the first episode — to making time for it amidst several others I picked up, so that should say something about this easily misperceived series. By far and large, the most impressive episode was the second one, which had better drama than every other show airing right now. I was pleasantly surprised by the character dynamic between Subaru and Tomoka, which may have dwindled in recent episodes, but is still far beyond my expectations. Ro-Kyu-Bu isn’t shy about the whole lolicon bit either, poking fun at misunderstandings fairly frequently. The difference is, it’s aware of how it comes off and maintains a fairly innocent air, allowing the bits of drama to drive the story. Nothing has been quite at the level of episode two, but I’m still impressed overall.

Takaii: I’m afraid that if people saw me watching this in public, they might call me some loli-con freak. Fears aside, this show is actually pretty entertaining. Middle school girls playing basketball, getting coached by the ace of a local High school team which had to disband after people found out their captain had been toying around with an underage girl. If that last sentence didn’t scare you off, then the idea of this show probably isn’t bothering you too much. To which I say, give this show a shot. Sure the basketball aspect isn’t terribly strong and I’m not sure if I’d even call certain scenes fanservice, but I can say that it isn’t boring.

Enzo: I’m not normally bothered by fanservice, but I knew when the premiere of Ro-Kyu-Bu featured an extended scene of five 6th-grade girls showering that this series was going to test the limit. Mostly, I just find the service here really pointless and unnecessary. The premise is fairly thin to begin with, and while the characters have a certain amount of charm there just isn’t enough here to keep me hooked in. It’s as if the show can’t quite decide if it wants to be a service show or a sports series or something else altogether, trying at many and succeeding at none. I didn’t find the girls first game (against the boys team, for control of practice time in the gym) especially realistic as a basketball fan, and I didn’t find male lead Subaru’s tactics as coach especially admirable.

Divine: I really liked the direction Sunrise’s superhero anime was heading in recent episodes, shifting from Barnaby avenging his parents to Kotetsu’s powers fading. Because of that, I’m actually a little disappointed that the story dialed back to Barnaby’s problem and made Kotetsu’s one take a backseat. I really wanted to see everyone’s reaction when our veteran hero finally broke the news to them, but now it looks like we won’t be seeing that happen until the very end of the series. While the story may have concluded prematurely as far as Wild Tiger goes, it felt like the right way to go about it after watching him return home to see his daughter, Kaede. Regardless, the overall story has picked up in a really good way, from the revelation on who Lunatic’s father is to what’s happening to Barnaby now, so T&B remains one my favorite shows in the past two seasons.

Enzo: July was the month that Tiger & Bunny got serious. It began by confronting the issue of Ouroboros and Barnaby’s parents head-on, and ended by dealing with Kotetsu’s difficulties with his daughter Kaede. In between it (apparently) killed off the man who (apparently) killed Mr. And Mrs. Brooks, and introduced a new dilemma – Tiger losing his powers. Kotestu is what drives this series for me – he’s one of the great lead characters in recent anime largely because there are so few like him. He’s a single Dad, approaching middle-age, with no romantic prospects but still has the admiration of the young heroes he mentors. I think his struggle with what it means to be a NEXT is a metaphor for the aging process, and I hope the rest of the series really explores this side of his story and doesn’t pull any miracles out of the hat. I’ve loved blogging this series at LiA and I look forward to the final couple of months.

Divine: Last season I favored A-Channel over Nichijou, and while I enjoyed the former more for its slice-of-life humor, the latter has really taken shape with its sheer comedy. In the first half of the series, it was a combination of the humor not appealing to me and me not getting accustomed to its style, but since then, I find this show ridiculously amusing. It’s like Kyoto Animation’s influence just took over and inexplicably made it all work. Things got even better when Nano started going to school and met Yuuko, who is still my favorite character because of her stupidity. Yuuko’s over-the-top argument with Mio was absolutely insane, in a good way. It’s hard to believe that I was considering dropping this show a couple of months back. That would’ve been a mistake.

Prooof: Damn this show can be funny; I burst out laughing and I’m not even sure why. This month’s episodes have been ridiculously random and unique, which is what makes it interesting. I especially love Minakami’s antics, even if she can be pretty heartless, but the random bits featuring all sorts of characters are also very refreshing. I don’t always understand everything, and this can be hit and miss for people, but I’m still enjoying my weekly dose of utter unpredictability.

Takaii: Every time I think about Nichijou ending, I feel this strange urge to run and yell at the closest living person near me. I hope I’m not the only one sad that this series is going to end this season! After a whole season of watching Mio, Yukko, Mai, Nano, Hakase, and Sakamoto live their ordinary lives, I can’t imagine a Saturday where I don’t join them on their silly, random adventures. The skits that are normally way too far left field haven’t appeared in a while and anytime a side character appears they are fundamental part to making a joke hilariously hilarious. It’s going to be a sad day when I don’t get to watch Hakase and Nano take part in some fun activity as an eyecatch.

Divine: Unlike Tiger & Bunny, Sunrise’s new original series didn’t leave a very strong impression in the first couple of episodes and was fairly formulistic in its approach. In recent episodes, things have improved by changing up the pace with the school-life side of things though. We still have an Ashi to defeat every week, but the foreshadowing of Alma and Ruri’s past gives me something to look forward to. The characters have been amiable as well, so it’s been enjoyable watching them get into various situations together. I suspect the plot will come together in a more significant way once we past the halfway point, especially now that Night, Fei, and Kenmi are coming back into the picture. For now, I’m pretty content with watching all the Alma x Ruri moments, even though I don’t think they’ll amount to anything in the end.

Enzo: I confess that I was on the fence about this show for quite a while. I was never quite sure just how seriously it was taking itself. It’s a pretty absurd premise, and the dialogue is ridiculous, but there was enough charm in Hellbrick and the kind of earnest seriousness with which all this nonsense was presented to keep me interested for a few episodes. But this is a busy season, and there just wasn’t enough in Sacred Seven that interested me to keep me hooked in. It’s an incredibly intricate plot, but it just never grabbed me – I don’t find Alma or Ruri especially charismatic leads and there’s not enough emotional investment to make me want to go to the hard work of keeping up with the plot.

Divine: The more I watch this long-running shounen series, the harder it is to let slip wayward until I can’t be bothered to catch up. That’s partly because the story has shifted to St. Ishiyama High already –something that I didn’t expect to happen so soon. As a result, all the key characters from differing grades are thrown into the same class, allowing them to interact more. I’ll be quick to say it feels like a cheap way to get everyone in more scenarios together, but it actually works really well. In addition to the likes of Toujou, there’s plenty of Aoi to go around. The new St. Ishiyama characters Kazuya and Azusa are nice additions as well, since they’re voiced by Asanuma Shintarou and Hikasa Youko. Then there’s the third ending sequence, which makes me wish they’d make an entire anime with that style. I love the song by “Tomato n’ Pine” too, so it doesn’t look like I can drop Beelzebub just yet. See below.

Divine: In hindsight, it doesn’t seem accurate to compare AoEx to Fullmetal Alchemist beyond the first couple of episodes. Once Rin entered True Cross Academy, the series became more of a high school-like affair where exorcism was merely a plot-device to give it a unique twist. I didn’t particularly mind because of the character development involved, but the progression in the first half was a lot more “peaceful” than I imagined. In recent episodes, that’s clearly changed with Amaimon’s involvement, turning AoEx more into the kind of show I was hoping for — a shounen series full of action. Shura’s revelation served as an awesome start to it all, and now with the newly-appointed Paladin in the picture, it feels like we’re finally making some headway toward a climactic finish.

Prooof: After a dry spell, things are getting pretty exciting again as Rin’s secret is revealed and some big fights are starting to ramp up. Mephisto’s behind-the-scenes scheming is pretty awesome too and he reminds me of Urahara from Bleach, though I have no idea what his agenda is. I don’t follow the manga so I can’t make any comparisons about the plot on that front, but I’m fairly interested now even if this goes for an anime-original ending. It still suffers from common shounen-genre flaws and the themes are generic, but the fights are cool and story development is picking up.

Takaii: One of my favorite shows from last season, I’m always excited when Sunday comes around. I don’t know how this show captured my attention, but I’ve never felt disappointed after any episode. With all the emotional moments, the past few episodes have more then made up with enough action scenes to satisfy anyone. It’s like the show managed to strike the perfect balance between story and action — something I don’t really expect from shows that get the original ending treatment. I have to give a A-1 pictures a pretty big thumbs up for doing such a great job with this show.

Enzo: It’s not as if Ao no Exorcist has done anything to blow me away, but it’s definitely a series that’s offered as much consistency as any series currently airing. It’s unusual in that the most interesting relationship in the show features a deceased character – Shiro, whose relationship with stepson Rin is the heart and soul of the series. There was a wonderful flashback episode that covered that this month, but for the most part it’s been a slow build to the moment when Rin’s dark secret would be revealed to his classmates. We’re at a turning point for the series now, with things having fundamentally changed forever, and I’ll be interested in seeing where things turn from here, especially between Rin and Shiemi. If you’re looking for a solidly entertaining shounen that doesn’t break much new ground put covers old ground brilliantly, this is the show for you.

Enzo: I wasn’t a huge fan of the first season of Nurarihyon, but there were some real highlights and the strength of the characters shone through the sometimes awkward direction. S2 has brought us a new director and a snappier pace, along with a harder edge to the material from the manga. Things just seem more focused and on-point now. A large chunk of time has been spent in flashbacks, but I think this is necessary to set up the epic Kyoto Arc to come. All in all it’s a substantial improvement and quite entertaining. The long-awaited first manga chapter was finally adapted, and Grandpa Nurarihyon is finally getting his turn in the spotlight. Manga fans say the Kyoto Arc is awesome, so I’m looking forward to it. Shipping wars are heating up too, with Yura definitely having punched her ticket.

Divine: The drama in Hanairo seems to come and go on a whim, which is my main gripe with this series. I’d like to believe that P.A. Works has everything thought out, but the episodes about filming at Kissuisou were a really weak follow-up to Ohana’s trip to Tokyo and even her school. I don’t really care about Enishi and Takako, especially if they’re screwing up. It’s just not a pleasant thing to watch, plus it takes screen time away from the main girls. I really question why their subplot deserves so much attention when Kou is completely neglected every chance he gets. If he’s too far away, there’s always Minko and Tooru’s relationship that hasn’t gone anywhere. Also, instead of focusing on what outsiders bring, I’d like the problems stem from within the inn. Nako’s episode was a step in the right direction, so hopefully things continue that way.

Prooof: I’m actually enjoying the fact that each arc shifts the focus and development among the various characters, even secondary ones. There was the unique premise of filming a movie at the inn, and though things didn’t pan out, Enishi and Takako got a decent amount of screen time, which I wasn’t expecting but still found enjoyable. I know a lot of people felt this arc was mediocre, but I thought the fresh story made things quite interesting. Yuina, one of my favorites in the show, and Nako also had their own mini-arcs which suited me just fine. My main complaint is that the target audience is too obvious at times and the little bits fanservice feel distracting and unnecessary.

Takaii: Another show that’s pushing right along from last season, things have been a little hit or miss the past few arcs. Something just hasn’t translated right ever since the focus changed to the side characters. While some arcs (Nako’s) have been better than others (Enishi’s), I’m not sure what I want to see from this show anymore. The conflict between Ohana, Ko, Minchi, and Tohru is just sitting there and Ohana’s relationship with her mom has gotten a bit better but is also still just, sitting there. Come on P.A. Works! I know you have the ability to create something that can get my eyes bawling. Using Angel Beats as a measurement, I wouldn’t be surprised if P.A. Works is just slowly breaking us down for a spectacular finale.

Enzo: No series irritates me more than HanaIro. Why? Because it can be so damn fantastic when it wants to be, but it seems content to waste entire episodes on irrelevant side stories and generally weak slapstick comedy. This feels like some of the laziest writing Okada Mari has ever done, and July was not a good month for the show. Neither the school trip arc or the film arc was well-conceived or well-executed. Things perked up a little with the most recent ep, focusing on Nakochi. It was still irrelevant to the main storyline, but at least it was entertaining. There’s so much wasted potential here, and I have a great deal of trepidation about where these last 8 episodes will take HanaIro. It’s a series that for me unquestionably has the widest gap between it’s best and worst episodes of any 2011 series, and that makes it a frustrating and difficult series to follow.

Divine: I almost feel compelled to promote this heartwarming series at every opportunity, even if slice-of-life shows generally aren’t your thing. If you’ve seen the ARIA series and enjoyed it, then this should be an absolute shoo-in. The premise is simple yet unique, and provides us with a cultural clash that makes Yune and Claude’s interactions so interesting to watch. That’s even before I take into account how adorable and hardworking Yune is, which makes me want to see her showered with affection. However, I like how Claude is relatively hard on Yune when she accidentally messes up, since it tends to lead to some emotion-filled scenes where they grow closer. Claude teaches her a lot of things about France, and in return learns a lot about himself and how to be a better person, which is the most rewarding part of this show. Yuuki Aoi as Alice is a big plus.

Takaii: I’ve wanted to ask this question for the longest time: When everyone is speaking Japanese, isn’t it a bit difficult to accept that the entire French population is “supposed” to be speaking French? I normally don’t have a problem with this, but I know that in the beginning when everyone assumed Yune couldn’t speak French (even though they were speaking Japanese the entire time) it was driving me crazy that you couldn’t tell when you were supposed to assume when someone was speaking what. My tiny little gripe aside, everything else has just been a pleasure to watch. The interactions between Yune and Claude have progressed from socially awkward to something almost family like and I love all the little culture clashes that occur between the two. Overall, it gives off this warm family feel with some humor slipped in here and there.

Enzo: In a very strong summer season, Ikoku Meiro no Croisée may just be my favorite among the new shows. There are so many things this manga adaptation has done well, starting with presenting the cultural divide between the Japanese and the European mind. The setting – late 19th-Century Paris – is lovingly detailed by the team of French and Japanese animators at Satelight, and in fact you can see that a great deal of love has gone into this series, right down to the linguistics. Of course Yune is beyond kawaii, absolutely adorable – but it’s never overbearing. She wears it well, because she’s a tough little bird and an honorable girl. I love Oscar and Claude as well, especially Claude – he’s such a proud and decent kid, but he lacks his Grandfather’s social graces. Romance may or may not be coming down the line, and the introduction of side character Alice could go either way, but there’s no series I anticipate more and none that can make me feel so happy.

Prooof: Recent fights have been ultra fast-paced and high-adrenaline, but they are starting to feel a bit repetitive as they consist of different combinations of shinigami and clones one after another. As the arc approaches the climax I’m hoping for some more interesting fights, and now that Nozomi has her powers back as well she may be able to contribute in that regard. Her abilities seem extremely overpowered and difficult to believe, but that’s just a natural flaw that comes with a shounen show that goes on for too long.

Enzo: My love affair for Natsume Yuujinchou is hardly a secret, so it’s no surprise that the third season has been a big win for me. The series has been amazingly consistent in each of its incarnations, relying on one-shot storylines with memorable supporting characters to shed light on Natsume’s situation and the human (and youkai) condition. If anything, the first month of “San” has focused a little more on Natsume’s childhood, with several flashbacks to his elementary days and to the life of his Grandmother Reiko. We’ve also seen an evolution in Nyanko-sensei’s character, in that he seems to have become even more “domesticated” and content to share Natsume’s company and partake of the varied culinary and gustatory pleasures of the human world. But there are some darker manga chapters out there, and I expect to see a little more of Madara as the weeks progress.

Divine: For a relatively low-key starring cast and a studio that I don’t really associate with comedies, Yuruyuri has been a truly pleasant surprise. Four episodes in, I can easily see why the light touches of lesbianism made the manga so popular. All it really takes are Kyouko and Chitose to take over with their fantasies and have Chinatsu and Ayano on the receiving end. With a cast of eight main girls, the possibilities really open up, and there are slight parallels between some of the pairings, such as Kyouko/Yui and Sakurako/Himawari. I thought it was a bit redundant at first, but they all add something different to the group. I love the character designs and overall look of this adaptation too. I just wish it didn’t have me doing so much extra work every post, piecing together full-length images every other screenshot. *shakes fist*

Takaii: I don’t want to admit it, but I really like this show. Unlike another slice of life I was covering last season, this one’s quirky premise and interesting cast of characters rocketed this series pretty high on my “do not get behind” list. If you’ve been holding back on watching because of the show’s yuri aspect, there’s nothing too serious except for some delusions from Chitose. All of which are still pretty tame in all respects. I’m not sure what the allure of this series is, but there’s just something about the cast which makes me coming back for more. I know that I’m a bit predisposed as someone who likes these slice-of-life types of shows, but there isn’t anything to complain about. How can you not love Akari and her lack of a presence?!

Divine: I pegged this as the new title I was looking forward to the most this summer, and while it hasn’t really disappointed, I can’t say I’m completely sold on it either. The premiere was a strong showing, introducing Aki and raising a lot of questions about his past with Kyouhei, but since then, there hasn’t been too much else. Granted, I already came in with the understanding that Aki’s trying to provoke Kyouhei into realizing his “true” nature, so that wasn’t really new to me. I’m still happy with what I see so far, even without anything substantial to go on just yet, hence why I’m optimistic things will get better once we learn more of Karakami village’s dark secrets. I’m also holding onto hope that Kyouhei will be a Seki again after seeing how knowledgeable he is about Kukuri. That doesn’t mean I want less of Utao though, nor Hibino for that matter.

Prooof: For me, Utao’s moe-ness is really standing out because of her hilarious facial expressions, bro-con, immature antics, and total inexperience controlling Kukuri. The quality of actual plot is yet to be seen. It’s definitely on the darker side, as Aki tries to provoke Kyouhei for his own goals and they both get caught in the pace of twisted village politics. Though Aki is a crazy murderer, white-haired bishies tend to end up becoming the tormented anti-hero, so I have a feeling the actual villian is someone/thing else, probably something from the village. Isolated villages with dark histories and deep-rooted traditions tend to provide an easy source of conflict.

Takaii: This show still hasn’t managed to grab my full attention and I can feel myself starting to slowly grow bored of it while watching each episode. The Gods that the Seki control are pretty nifty, but I still don’t care for the main cast of characters. Be it Kyouhei’s “I don’t want to get involved” attitude to Aki’s blatant disregard for human life or the crazy college girl who’s obsessed with the supernatural. If anything, the saving grace for this show falls upon Utao and her carefree attitude and the hundreds of different faces she makes throughout each episode.

Enzo: I pegged Kami-sama Dolls as a sleeper going into the season, and though it hasn’t been a masterpiece I think that prediction has borne out. Excellent studio (Brains Base) solid director (Kishi Seiji) and an interesting premise were enough to catch my attention. There have been flaws, most notably an annoyingly self-aware fixation with little sister Utao’s moe levels. But on balance, there’s been something genuinely interesting every episode and Seiji-sensei has been brilliant in doling out new information and characters at just the right pace. Male lead Kyouhei is an interesting character with a dark past we know only snippets of, and Aki is a real mystery – presented as a psychotic villain early on, I’ve felt strongly that he’s more victim than baddie. One gets the sense that we’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg with this story – there’s a lot more out there, and I’m anxious to see it unfold. I’m never “wowed” after an episode of Kami-Dolls, but it always ends up being one of the series I’m most looking forward to.

Takaii: Between Double-J and Morita-san, I’m not sure I see the point in having a five minute long anime that airs once a week. Besides not having enough time to really do anything, the humor that Morita-san claimed it would have just doesn’t come off that funny. Like Double-J, it was surprising to hear someone like Hanazawa Kana voicing someone in a show like this. Unlike Double-J, Morita-san has been slowly growing on me. Double-J tends to rely on being completely ridiculous and random to get laughs out, whereas Morita-san manages to use its characters to make those five minutes as memorable as possible.

Divine: I’m quite amazed by how Steins;Gate was able to take the tense atmosphere from Kyouma’s repeated attempts to change the past and with a flick of a switch, go back to how things were before (for the most part). I definitely didn’t expect to be laughing again when the situation looked so dire, but one “sonuvabitch!” later and things weren’t so bad anymore. Be that as it may, the second half is very different from the easygoing first half. I still get goose bumps thinking about what Suzuha went through in one attempt, considering the amount of time that passed for her. It was probably the first time in this series that I really felt the impact that time travel has on the characters. The feeling of regret was overwhelming and contrasted heavily with the uplifting moment just prior when Suzuha learned who her father is. At the same time, it was an absolutely riveting scene that I can’t wait to see more of as Kyouma tries to go beyond 1% with everyone’s help.

Takaii: Another show continuing on from last season, I’d say that love isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I feel about this show. The implication of time travel is a rather difficult topic, and I love how the show is attacking this problem in the easiest manner — undo what’s already been done. As Okabe continues his rampage to prevent a certain event, it’s been an amazing ride watching every side character get at least an episode to explain how they think and why they sent their specific D-mails. With a general game plan in mind, there’s one thing I’m left wondering — the first D-mail he sent saved Kurisu’s life, right? In all honesty, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it if Kurisu ends up undoing her second chance at life. This is one of those rare moments where I wouldn’t mind a well played deus ex machina since you can fix anything with time travel, right?

Enzo: Steins;Gate certainly works as a thriller, as a mystery and as a science fiction series. But the reason it works so well overall is how good it is at portraying the characters and making us care what happens the them. The show took its time setting things up, peppering the first 13 eps with lots of humor and great dialogue, but that all paid off when it stepped on the gas this month. The show has (by necessity) gotten much more serious and much darker this month but it’s still a joy to watch. It’s also loads of fun to try and guess where things are going and riddle through the various clues – in fact, some folks have gone back and re-watched the early episodes with a jaundiced eye. But I’d rather not – I prefer guessing and being surprised. I rank episode 16 as one of the two or three best of any series in 2011.

Divine: As a series that depicts the hardships of raising a child and the sacrifices that have to be made, Usagi Drop doubles as a life lesson of sorts. There’s been some emphasis on contacting Rin’s mother and finding out how she could possibly abandon such an adorable and well-behaved child, but to me this show will always be about Daikichi and Rin first and foremost. The two of them are really cute together and I love how Daikichi is turning out to be a great father even without realizing it. It’s amusing when he complains a bit, because he’ll eventually make the sacrifices needed to raise Rin on his own. There isn’t a bad thing I can say about this series, since it focuses on realism and tells a very heartwarming story. Nine-year-old Matsuura Aya’s performance as Rin has been simply amazing and gives the impression that Daikichi is really dealing with a child who’s very mature for her age. Everyone should be watching.

Prooof: The drama series aired on NoitaminA have really been on a roll the last few months, and Usagi Drop is holding its part as a great heartwarming show. Though I suspect a lot of people are watching this show mostly because of how adorable Rin is, that characteristic is certainly true. Watching Rin get peeved at Daikichi and talking back at him provides a lot of humor, and no episode so far has failed to bring a smile to my face. The cast is slowly expanding, Daikichi is slowly learning about being a father, and their relationship as a family is slowly growing. Family values are promoted, the characters and their interactions are realistic, and the story is engaging, so I’m eager to see where this goes.

Takaii: The show that I really wanted to cover this season, but probably wouldn’t have enjoyed as much if I had actually covered it, ended up being one of my favorites of this season. With the draw of a salaryman who discovers the joys and hardships of raising a child, I had already marked this show as a must-watch. I’m a big sucker for shows that deal with a broken family and how their relationships eventually bring them closer together. Sure Daikichi and Rin aren’t a broken family, but there are still so d’aww moments that it still gives off that same fuwafuwa feeling.

Enzo: Usagi Drop has kept it simple so far, and it’s worked like a charm. The premise of this series – single salaryman Daikichi takes in 6 year-old Rin, daughter of his recently deceased Grandfather whose mother is AWOL – is so loaded with potential emotion that it needs very little help. It’s a can’t miss, and so far it isn’t missing. Rin is adorable, and I like the fact that all of the child roles are being played by actual kids. But the real wonder of this series is Daikichi, who’s played by Tsuchida Hiroshi. A 30-year-old single male taking in a kid he barely knows simply because it’s the decent thing to do? Sign me up to watch that. I’ve enjoyed the supporting cast and the very realistic focus on how challenging the basics of caring for a little girl prove to be for Daikichi. As long as the show doesn’t push too hard for the waterworks, it should continue to be a huge winner. NoitaminA strikes again.

Divine: The sci-fi aspect hasn’t been as predominant as I thought it would be, yet still serves as a terrific contrast to the dire state of the world outside the utopia and the supposedly conspiracy that it’s hiding. To that end, the pacing of this adaptation has been quick but by no means rushed, giving me hope that we’ll see parts from all nine light novel volumes that it’s based on. I’m still indifferent on what to make of Shion’s relationship with Nezumi, as I really don’t care to read too heavily into it. What I do like is how different the progression’s been compared to anime lately. From the initial four-year time-skip to Shion escaping to West Block, we’re given quite the runaround on the truth of the world that Nezumi intends to show him. I can’t really tell quite where they’re headed to make a point of what I mentioned in the preview, but the uncertainty is what makes this series so engaging.

Takaii: A show that has an interesting dystopia as its base, NO.6 grabbed me with its promise of a strong plot. Sure Shion may be the stupidest protagonist of the season right now, but for someone who was sheltered and brainwashed into mindlessly following any order the state gave him, I didn’t expect too much. Then there’s the mysterious Nezumi who is a total badass around everyone except Shion, probably out of respect for saving his life. The two make a good team that is giving the world of NO.6 a realistic and rather chilling feel to it. You have the one who’s stuck living off of ideals and one who’s living by experience.

Enzo: NO.6 is a throwback. It feels like a series I might have rented on DVD (or VHS) from my local library or the little video place in Japantown back when I was first really getting into anime, a decade or more ago. In hindsight BONES was a perfect choice to adapt this YA novel. Their series always seem to have an earnest, adolescent way of treating the absurd seriously. A large portion of the discussion surrounding the show has focused on the shounen-ai undertones, and they’re certainly there. I confess I do find some of the scenes between protagonists Shion and Nezumi hilarious when I suspect they’re not supposed to be, but their relationship is really pretty innocent. I love the way the dialogue in this series is dramatic and larger than life like the way it used to be in the bygone days of late ’90s anime. The plot of the series is also quite interesting, a blend of dystopian future angst and sci-fi elements.

Divine: I honestly didn’t see this highly anticipated producer simulation adaptation turning into a slice-of-life series that’s reminiscent of K-ON, yet here I am four episodes later blogging it for that very reason. Production values by A-1 Pictures have been excellent, making it easy to get into IM@S, whereas the easygoing atmosphere with a bunch of different character types is another case of cute girls doing cute things — something I’m not the least bit opposed to. Much like how I imagine the game goes, some of the girls’ personalities immediately stood out from the rest, and I found myself watching just to see those particular girls interacting with others. e.g. Miki. There are some cute moments, some quirky moments, and some serious moments, which together make for a surprisingly entertaining series whether you’re familiar with the game or not.

Divine: I wasn’t looking forward to this remake of the Blood concept as much as other people were, and partly gave into that hype when I decided to blog it, so I’m not all that displeased with how uneventful it’s been so far. CLAMP’s story definitely leaves something to be desired, after seeing Saya slay ancient monsters every episode without any real significance. Nothing has really come together because it feels like barely anything has started. The most recent episodes made some good strides on changing that, with talk about a “contract”, Saya treated like a monster herself, and glimpses of an earlier Saya. The small town setting doesn’t really open the door to a lot of possibilities though, unless they’re really going to pull one over our heads where nobody is who they seem. That may not be such a bad idea, because at this point, it does feel like Blood-C needs a major turn of events to redeem itself.

Prooof: The story is mediocre at best, though it’s also somewhat non-existent for the most part of the first few episodes. Right now, it just feels like a slice-of-life with a battle scene mixed in each episode. The two sides, the lighthearted daytime and the darker bloodier nighttime, make an interesting contrast though, and the fights give off the appropriate creepy atmosphere. Saya’s an awesome fighter, except I have no idea how she could be so clumsy and dull at the same time. The tongue-in-cheek humor is pretty funny, though the school life antics don’t really contribute much else yet. I’m not impressed yet, but the plot seems to be picking up so it’s worth watching casually.

Enzo: No other show seemed to carry as heavy a weight of expectations as CLAMP and Production I.G’s Blood-C, and for the most part it’s failed to deliver. What this show feels like to me is a “Blood” doujin brought to the screen, and not necessarily in a good way. CLAMP was a doujin circle before they were anything else, and even their successful series maintain some of that quality – but perhaps because this is an adaptation of a well-known property it feels more self-indulgent than ever. The pacing has been atrocious, the slice-of-life scenes abysmal and the transitions between that and the bloody combat blocky and awkward. Some of that was certainly intentional, as CLAMP was attempting to show a village where things clearly weren’t what they seemed. For all that, though, delivering four basically mediocre episodes is a very risky start. There are small signs of life in that episode 4 was the best yet – largely because of an absence of dialogue and reduced roles for the annoying supporting cast – but if this were a show with a lesser pedigree I’d likely have dropped it already.

Divine: I watch this show for Konoe Subaru — it’s as simple as that. In fact, I think everyone should just watch it for the reverse trap butler. Iguchi Yuka blows my mind with a voice I’ve never heard her used before and in a role that’s very unlike a typical tsundere. As far as a romantic comedy goes, Mayo Chiki has been everything that I want to see from one. The support cast of a sadistic master and an overzealous younger sister works as great catalysts to spark things between Jirou and Subaru. The one qualm I do have with this series is that the drama feels incredibly forced and jarring. It’s almost cringe-worthy at times because it feels so far out of left field. I appreciate the added dimension the series is trying to provide, redefining Subaru’s character ever so slightly, but there needs to be some better build-up to make it believable.

Takaii: Besides Usagi Drop, Mayo Chiki is my other favorite of this season. With a strong lineup of seiyuu, a ridiculous high school romcom involving girls dressed up as butlers, and more girls doing whatever they want to, what else could you ask for? Oh wait, there’s also the blossoming love between our two protagonists — Kinjirou and Subaru. Like Toradora where Ryuuji and Taiga had some really cute couple-like moments, I have high hopes that Jirou and Subara eventually make it to that point. Even though this is slated as a single cour show, there have been tremendous amounts of growth in the relationship department between the two — something I couldn’t be happier about.

Divine: I probably failed to spark much interest in Ikuhara Kunihiko’s 24-episode original series back in the season preview, as I figured most people would be as curious as I was based on the staff involved. To Japanese fans, there was a lot of anticipation toward it, much like the highly successful Madoka Magica. After getting a feel for what Mawaru Penguindrum actually entails, I have to agree that the anticipation was well warranted. Brain’s Base and Ikuhara have produced a very unconventional series that I have no idea where it’s headed, but never fails to keep me hooked with its Sailor Moon-like transformation sequences and invisible penguin antics. Let’s not forget the stalker girl with a diary that supposedly has the future written in it. So far, there’s a lot of potential with the way it keeps me guessing, so I feel like this is the must-watch show of the season.

Enzo: If Blood-C was the most talked-about series before the start of the summer season, Mawaru Penguindrum seems to have taken the honor now that we’re a month in. I get more feedback on this series than any other at Lost in America, and it seems to have sparked lots of lively discussion everywhere you look. This show is clearly the work of a massively talented director – I can’t think of a show since FLCL that’s been as striking and original in terms of visuals, and the storyline is jam-packed with interesting ideas and pop culture and classic cultural references. But I’m not ready to jump on the bandwagon proclaiming that Ikuhara has given us a masterpiece yet. The fourth episode started to feel a bit repetitive, the humor wasn’t as sharp and I still haven’t found much to empathize with in any of that characters except perhaps Shouma. Ikuhara has something fascinating and worthwhile here, but he hasn’t closed the deal in making it a classic.

Divine: Just when I starting thinking that Bakatest’s sequel was too much of a rehash of the first season, the latest episode brought back the summons and left me amused to no end. The only things better than cute summoning beasts are talking summoning beasts that spill all the characters’ secrets. Don’t get me wrong; I was thoroughly amused by Akihisa and Yuuji’s failed attempts at picking up girls and Hideyoshi pretending to be Yuuko. It’s just a completely different level of hilarity when the guys try to keep a cool front in front of the girls only to have their summons speak their minds. The same goes for Himeji and Minami when it comes to Akihisa, which was so predictable yet so awesome to see. That episode single-handedly re-sparked my interest in this entire sequel, even though there wasn’t actually anything bad about it per se. This is just more akin to the Bakatest that I know and love.

Takaii: The return of what some people call the funniest comedy of 2010, Bakatest has rightfully lived up to its name. The first few episodes may have been a little slow, but they still worked really well as catch-up episodes giving old and new viewers a chance to see what Bakatest is all about. Starting with episode four, it really feels like main bulk of the show has finally kicked into gear. Bringing back the trademark jokes and lawl moments are exactly what I’ve been waiting for — like Himeji’s dark drunk side.

Enzo: I was a huge fan of Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu – it was #6 on my “Best of 2010” list. It was one of the most visually amazing comedies I’ve ever seen – and genuinely, consistently funny. For whatever reason, “Ni” has not made me laugh to the same degree. It’s still gorgeous – the character designs are amazing, and director and Shinbou protégé Oonuma Shin does a fantastic job using edgy visuals to support the story rather than overwhelm it, something I can’t always say about Shinbou himself. But somehow the humor seems more sadistic this season, and I’ve missed the original impetus that drove most of the comedy – Class F’s usually fruitless efforts to fight the social injustice that made them the castoffs of the school. Mind you, Voyeur still makes me laugh with every appearance and there’s been plenty of Hideyoshi, so things are still pretty good. Now that the setting has moved back to the school I’m hopeful things will pick up.

Divine: There must be something about Kagami Takaya’s writing that doesn’t adapt easily, because I’m starting to feel that Itsuten is suffering from the same problem that Denyuuden did — they’re trying to cram too much material into every episode. It’s not often that I find myself wishing a series would slow down so that it’s less ambiguous to follow. It looks like I wasn’t too far off the mark about this being the most story-filled offering of the season at least, as suggested by recent developments about Himea’s ties with Ba’alskra and Haruka’s other self. Normally I’d give a series the benefit of the doubt that everything will come together at the end, but it’s hard to when it’s ZEXCS. Despite my reservations, I’m still cautiously optimistic about this adaptation turning out better than it seems. I still prefer the manga’s female character designs, but I really like the color palette used in the anime. It has a lot of “pop”.

Takaii: ZEXCS once again manages to make me have dirty thoughts when watching anime. With fanservice, pantsu shots, and naked bodies lying around everywhere, it’s a good thing this show doesn’t take itself too seriously. I’m not too sure why I still watch this show (oh wait, I’m covering it!) but looking at this one with a critical eye will probably just give you a headache. If you take it as it is — a show with a very strange plot and a lot of cute girls fighting over the same guy — the random situations that everyone gets thrown into become quite funny.

Divine: As mentioned in the season preview, I don’t really have anything against J.C. Staff’s work and it was Kamimemo’s manga that left me on the fence about this adaptation. There really wasn’t anything in the early chapters that grabbed my attention, except for Alice for a short while. However, the appeal of her character quickly diminished when I see more of her superiority complex. In the anime, there was an immediate draw from the way it reminded me of Shigofumi, but since then the mystery aspect has dwindled. Alice just solves cases without much effort and Narumi is taken along for the ride. None of the cases have been as particularly interesting as the first one either. I do like the urban setting and how the other NEETs are surprisingly reliable though. What I’d like to see are darker cases like the first one, where they provide enough clues to keep me speculating. Without any hints, it’s just Alice whipping out answers and that’s no fun.

Prooof: Nothing really stands out, making Kamimemo very mediocre. Most characters are uninspiring, the protagonist is annoying, interactions aren’t unique, and the plot is simple but fails to be engrossing. Things on the detective/mystery front have certainly failed my expectations too, in part because of the case of the week (or two weeks) format, and there’s not that much else going for it. As for the cast, Alice is amusing, but mostly just in the area of cute fanservice. Min and the Yondaime are cool characters, but otherwise the pacing is messed up and the writing is sub-par.

Takaii: Even if the mystery side of things isn’t that strong right now, I’m still really enjoying this show. Don’t get me wrong; I’m just a huge fan of anything related to the mystery genre. But in spite of the fact that all the mysteries thus far haven’t been anything mind-blowing, the characters more then make up for it. Not everyone in the world is born a leader, including Narumi, and I think it feels pretty realistic how he isn’t Mr. Macho yet still quickly leaves his comfort zone to do what he thinks is right. With team NEET, I’m impressed that this series gives them a rather cool persona since I’m guessing normal people wouldn’t ever want to be considered a NEET.

Enzo: I liked Kamimemo right out of the gate. The premiere episode looked and sounded great, with some really thoughtful and deep dialogue from Alice and a sense of style that pervaded the whole affair. I felt like it combined some of the best elements of Durarara!, Gosick, and Eden of the East while still carving out its own identity, right down to the use of “Colorado Bulldog” as the ED. Well, three weeks later and I find the show to be pretty generic and somewhat dull. Maybe J.C. Staff has found their level here, but nothing seems as sharp or interesting as it did in the premiere – and symbolically, “Colorado Bulldog” is gone too. What’s interesting is that the premiere was an anime-original episode, and the next three were taken from the LN – which makes me wonder if the source material is the weak link here. I think there’s potential in this premise and these characters (though Narumi being a doormat isn’t helping), but I don’t think this studio and staff are the ones to bring it out.

Divine: The female cast is still the best thing that this cute-looking comedy has going for it. The lighthearted comedy works a lot better with the voices delivering it, especially when Tomatsu Haruka is flipping out as Mayu because she’s deemed useless. Part of Nekogami’s appeal is that it’s relatively easy to get into, given that there really isn’t much of a plot to begin with. Lately, we’ve had local deities reacting to new “problems” that arise when another god shows up. It’s been fairly straightforward and mildly amusing so far, plus there were some more sentimental moments from Yuzu’s past. Not exactly the type of material to move you to tears one way or another, but ample to make this series inexplicable amusing to watch. It helps that Horie Yui and Tomatsu Haruka are two of my favorite seiyuu and this is one of the few times I get to see them starring together.

Enzo: Nekogami Yaoyorazu may have the most impressive female seiyuu cast of any series I’ve seen – it’s truly astonishing how many huge names are lined up for this show. Even more astonishing when you consider it’s not a big-money production from a platinum-class studio, but a very small and humble comedy adapted from a manga by Flipflops. This isn’t a show that will change your life but it’s still good fun to hear the likes of Tomatsu Haruka, Horie Yui, and Sanpei Yuko cutting up with this material. While the show is mostly an exercise in putting the very kawaii chibi Gods in ludicrous positions – often caused by lead character Mayu’s constant screwups – there are some very clever jokes scattered here and there and the whole exercise is good-natured and approachable.

Enzo: I don’t have a lot of company in liking this series, but be that as it may, I do. I went into it with very low expectations and was genuinely surprised to enjoy it as much as I do. The censor bars are some of the most blatant and annoying ever, and the mostly inexperienced seiyuu cast isn’t always polished. But there’s a surprising amount of heart to R-15. The lead, Taketo, is a genuinely nice guy who just happens to be misunderstood because he’s been a successful porn writer since middle school. The really interesting part for me is how the series itself is misjudged in much the way the protagonist is – as a cheap, shallow and perverted waste of time – when in reality it’s a good-hearted and surprisingly complex story about the internal struggle between the desires for love and for lust.

Divine: With the way that the comedic aspect has picked up, Manyuu Hikenchou reminds me a lot of Hyakka Ryouran. It even sounds like it with fellow K-ON stars Kotobuki Minako and Toyosaki Aki starring. Setting it apart is the use of breasts as a central part of the story, which quickly deteriorates things even when they’re used in a comedic sense. Recent episodes have been primarily about Chifusa and Kaede’s getting caught up in various situations, rather than overturning the Manyuu clan’s cruel influence on the world. It’s not all that unexpected given the nature of this show, but it is worth noting that it doesn’t really take itself seriously when breasts are being flaunted. We basically have adult humor in an Edo period setting. Between the ludicrous premise and all the nonsensical developments, I actually find myself somewhat amused. If you’re only in it for the boobs, you’re better off waiting eight days for AT-X’s broadcast. It’s mostly uncensored. Better yet, go find some real p…

Divine: The parallels between Asura Cryin’ creator Mikumo Gakuto’s dark fantasy and GOSICK are still valid in my mind, especially when I see how childish and demanding Dalian can be. Huey doesn’t get pushed around as easily as Kazuya though, providing a noticeably different dynamic. The anime hasn’t been quite as graphic as the early parts of the manga, but the episodic progression thus far has worked well in easing me into the setting and the characters. Presentation-wise, there’s little fault to be had, which in combination with the idea that more Biblioprincesses out there, provide enough visual appeal and plot to keep me hooked. I don’t mind how cases are wrapped up within a single episode, since they’ve been progressively getting better. Dalian is still a bit of a marvel too, so there never seems to be a dull moment when she’s put into different scenarios. Sawashiro Miyuki <3.

Prooof: Dantalian no Shoka is off to a solid start. There’s the interesting premise of mystical books, the BGM and OP is good, and the characters are smart and likeable, albeit a bit flat. The story is just meandering from one phantom book to another so it’s not particularly exciting, and the esoteric knowledge required to understand some of the dialogue makes it easy to lose track. The epic gate-opening transformation sequence is a little cheesy, and Dalian is a clichéd tsundere, but these aren’t breaking points, and I’m hoping the plot heads somewhere intriguing.

Takaii: GIVE ME MORE ONO DAISUKE RIGHT NOW. After hearing his voice in multiple shows this season, I’ve been slowly growing fond of the characters he plays. In Huey’s case, I don’t think the casting could have been any better. His voice resonates well whether he’s fighting the beasts of a phantom book or making fun of Dalian’s sweet tooth. I don’t know if I’m weird, but I think it’s pretty cool that Huey and Dalian fight by pulling phantom books out of Dantalian’s bookshelf and reading them to their enimies. It’s almost like they get to live out the stories a book tells!

Enzo: I’m a huge GAINAX fan, so it’s a surprise to me that I’m not more disappointed that Dantalian no Shoka doesn’t feel more like a GAINAX series. This is the most “conventional” show I can recall them doing, and it even looks much more like a BONES or A-1 effort than a GAINAX series to me. But I’m enjoying it, especially the third episode. The author of the original LN series is clearly someone who loves books, and esoteric knowledge for its own sake – and those are qualities that I appreciate. As well, I like the fact that the characters on the show are all smart and spend very little time acting stupid, and that this is a show that treats the audience like they’re smart too. Until this last episode I wasn’t sold on the characters, who seemed so remote as to project no warmth at all, but this week’s show did a lot to humanize them and make them likeable. Also features my favorite OP for a long, long time.

Divine: Jdramas aren’t for everyone and intentionally wacky ones based on manga/anime are even less so. With Ouran’s drama, it even took me a good portion of the premiere to get accustomed to all the actors and actresses in their roles. After that, it’s been nothing but a blast with Yamamoto Yuusuke in the lead role as Tamaki though. The second episode was absolutely hilarious at his expense, and all the key scenes had me thinking of the anime counterpart when I saw them. A lot of my amusement actually comes from those unconscious comparisons. The Hitachiin twins are a bit much with real actors, but Haruhi’s knack for bringing Tamaki down is portrayed really well by Kawaguchi Haruna. I came into this drama hoping that it would capture the essence of the original material and so far it’s done just that. Good times.