First Impressions / Mawaru Penguindrum / Series Introduction

Mawaru Penguindrum – 01

「運命のベルが鳴る」 (Unmei no Beru ga Naru)
“The Bell of Fate Sounds”

The premiere of Revolutionary Girl Utena/Sailor Moon director/writer Ikuhara Kunihiko’s original new series makes its way to television airwaves and leaves a very mysterious and promising first impression. All the mention of bearing sins and fighting fate in the commercials comes front and center almost immediately, yet raises just as many questions as I had originally.

Update: I incorrectly deduced that the possessed Himari is Oginome Ringo (Miyake Marie) based on the episode credits and how she’s been described as heroine who’s just as important as Himari. In reality, Ringo is actually the schoolgirl who walked by Shouma. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused.

Final Impressions / First Impressions / Retrospective Look

Retrospective Look – June 2011

With Kiiragi’s recent departure, I figured I’d better take part in this season-end monthly post so that there isn’t a sharp decline in the amount of shows being discussed. Some readers also expressed interest in hearing my thoughts on the shows that I’m only watching (a good 16 of them), so it was now or never if I was going to say anything about them at all. Of the 30 shows I was personally watching, 22 of them concluded this month. Along with Prooof and Takaii’s input, this is a hefty post full of final impressions. I hope you find it insightful in some way.

Changes since last month are as follows:

  • Prooof dropped Nichijou.
  • Takaii is behind on Deadman Wonderland, Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko, and Hidan no Aria.

    • Note: Once again, 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. There will be little to no tolerance for anyone intentionally spoiling the enjoyment of others.

    First Impressions / Kami-sama Dolls / Series Introduction

    Kami-sama Dolls – 01

    「神は来たりて」 (Kami wa Kitarite)
    “God Arrives”

    The adaptation of Yamamura Hajime’s action fantasy manga may not have ranked very highly in the seasonal poll, but I was pretty sold on what I read in the early parts of the manga. The promo material left me with a good first impression, and Brain’s Base delivers impeccably with this premiere episode, quickly reminding me of all the potential that I saw.

    First Impressions / Series Introduction / Yuruyuri

    Yuruyuri – 01

    「中学デビュー！」 (Chuugaku Debyuu!)
    “Middle School Debut!”

    I’m never opposed to a series about cute girls doing cute things, so I’m always up for a slightly different spin on it. To that end, we have a trio of trio of middle school girls, Akaza Akari (Mikami Shiori), Toshinou Kyouko (Ootsubo Yuka), and Funami Yui (Tsuda Minami), and the unofficial “Fun Club” they run in the ex-tea ceremony clubroom.

    First Impressions / Ikoku Meiro no Croisée / Series Introduction

    Ikoku Meiro no Croisée The Animation – 01

    「入口 “Entrée”」 (Iriguchi)
    “Entrance”

    To most viewers, this will undoubtedly be the slowest and most uneventful new series of the season, and be quickly written off as “boring” or “dull”, but for Aria fans such as myself, it’s one of my most anticipated adaptations of the season, featuring a heartwarming 19th century story about a young Japanese girl named Yune (Tooyama Nao, Kanon in Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai), who travels to Paris, France to work.

    First Impressions / Kami-sama no Memo-chou / Series Introduction

    Kami-sama no Memo-chou – 01

    「彼女について知っている二、三の事柄」 (Kanojo ni Tsuite Shitteiru Ni, San no Kotogara)
    “Two, Three Things You Should Know About Her”

    J.C. Staff’s latest adaptation kicks off with an hour-long special, providing ample time to introduce the premise and characters, and wrap up the first case so that we have a better idea of what this series entails.

    Season Schedule / Series Introduction

    Summer 2011 Schedule

    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
    Ao no Exorcist
    17:00 MBC TBS (4/17)    		 Natsume Yuujin-chou San
    25:30 TX (7/4)    		 Bleach
    18:00 TX    		 Nyanpire The Animation
    22:54 Kids Station (7/6)    		 Usagi Drop
    24:45 CX (7/7)    		 BLADE
    22:00 ANIMAX (7/1)    		 Nekogami Yaoyorozu
    08:30 AT-X (7/9)
    D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E
    Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou
    17:30 MX (7/3)    		 Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel
    25:45 tvk (7/4)    		 Kami-sama Dolls
    25:30 TX (7/5)    		 NO.6
    25:15 CX (7/7)    		 Ro-Kyu-Bu!
    23:00 AT-X (7/1)    		 Uta no Prince-sama Maji LOVE 1000%
    24:00 MX (7/2)
    D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E
    Hanasaku Iroha
    22:00 MX (4/3)    		 Yuruyuri
    26:00 TX (7/4)    		 Double-J
    25:29 NTV (6/28)    		 THE IDOLM@STER
    25:25 TBS (7/7)    		 Ouran High School Host Club Drama
    24:20 TBS (7/22)    		 R-15
    25:00 tvk (7/9)
    D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E
    Ikoku Meiro no Croisée The Animation
    24:30 CTC (7/3)    		 Morita-san wa Mukuchi.
    25:30 KBS (7/5)    		 BLOOD-C
    25:40 MBS (7/7)    		 Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi
    25:05 TVS (7/8)    		 Nichijou
    26:20 TVA (4/2)
    D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E
    Manyuu Hikenchou
    25:00 tvk (7/10)    		 Steins;Gate
    26:05 TVS (4/5)    		 Mayo Chiki!
    25:55 TBS (7/7)    		 Dantalian no Shoka
    25:23 TX (7/15)    		 Sacred Seven
    26:28 MBS (7/2)
    D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E D P T E
    Mawaru Penguindrum
    26:10 MBS (7/7)    		 Kami-sama no Memo-chou
    25:30 MX (7/8)
    D P T E D P T E
    Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!
    26:15 TX (7/7)
    D P T E
    Legend: 8 Divine 2 Prooof 6 Takaii 5 Guardian Enzo Not covering/watching

    First off, Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian readers and an early Happy Fourth of July to all our American ones. The summer season is upon us now, so it’s time to give a quick overview of what the writers and I will be watching, and more importantly, what we’ll be covering. As always, please note that this is a tentative schedule and shows may be shuffled around after the first week. Any changes will be noted on this post as they’re made.

    …More after the break.