First Impressions / Tegami Bachi

Tegami Bachi REVERSE – 11

Here’s the obligatory butt shot this week. It’s just too bad it’s Lag’s.

「カベルネの襲来」 (Kaberune no Shuurai)
“Cabernet’s Attack”

It wasn’t quite enough to invoke any real emotional response, but the human sacrifices in this episode worked towards one of those moments when Sunny fell victim along with the rest of the monastery nuns. The only thing overshadowing that was another run-in with Gauche, whom Lag was able to hit with his shindan and convey some of the memories they share.

First Impressions / Sora no Otoshimono

Sora no Otoshimono Forte – 11

Don’t mess with Tomoki’s first generation angeloids.

「幻想哀歌（ムサベツ）の果て」 (Gensou Aika (Musabetsu) no Hate)
“The Extremes of Illusionary Lament (Indiscrimination) “

The melodrama was in full swing, but this has to be easily the best Sora no Otoshimono episode to date. It even topped the emotion-filled climax to the first season when Nymph was freed from her sadistic master, as Ikaros, Nymph, and Astraea had to work together to stop Chaos in her grown up form.

First Impressions / To Aru Majutsu no Index

To Aru Majutsu no Index II – 10

「速記原典（ショートハンド）」 (Sokki Genten (Shootohando))
“Stenography Text (Shorthand)”

Some payback was in order after Oriana’s Shorthand nearly killed Seiri, and Touma gladly obliges by doing what he does best after preaching — punching girls in the face! They don’t call it the Imagine Breaker for nothing, as Touma’s right hand saves me from wondering what it’s like to put scantily clad anime girls in their place.

Amagami SS / First Impressions

Amagami SS – 23

「絢辻詞編 第三章 プライド」 (Ayatsuji Tsukasa-hen Dai Sanshou – Puraido)
“Ayatsuji Tsukasa Chapter 3 – Pride”

Holy crap Tsukasa snaps. This episode could have easily been titled “Faces”, as she gave us quite a few different looks afterward. Surprisingly, Junichi isn’t the recipient of her initial verbal onslaught this time, as a trio of classmates who like jumping to conclusions puts her over the edge.

First Impressions / MM!

MM! – 10

「サディスティック嵐子嬢」 (Sadisutikku Arashiko-jou)
“Sadistic Miss Arashiko”

After the most recent episode of Oreimo, I couldn’t help but picture Ayase when Arashiko starting taking the sadistic approach to try and win Tarou over. It sure doesn’t help when Mio is sounding more and more like Kirino either, and the only major difference at times being that the main protagonist here actually admits he’s a masochist.

PV / To Aru Majutsu no Index

Kurosaki Maon – Magic∞world PV (To Aru Majutsu no Index II ED)

[flv:Kurosaki_Maon_Magic_world_PV.mp4 550 310]

In what could probably be summed up with the phrase, “There’s no way my anime song singer is this cute”, Kurosaki Maon manages to appease a wide variety of fans with the PV for her first single, “Magic world”. In addition to featuring an overly geeky glasses look with her rooftop dance performance, Maon sneaks in brief cosplays of Index and Uiharu Kazari from To Aru Majutsu no Index, Kousaka Kirino from Oreimo, Shana from Shakugan no Shana, and Miyamoto Rei from HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD. Now how’s that for a PV for an anime song?

Of those, the last one is especially meaningful, considering she made her singing debut with her “H.O.T.D.” album that is comprised of all twelve ending themes for that fan-service/horror series. Even after getting signed by Geneon Universal, Maon is still a member of the Dear Stage live bar in Akihabara. As you can probably imagine, this means she’s also a fan of anime herself, with her favorite works including Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru, SEKIREI, Fushigi Yuugi, Strawberry Panic, Double Cast, Air, Kanon, Negima, Ayashi no Ceres, and Rozen Maiden. Quite a diverse taste if I do say so myself, which is always cool to see in an anime fan regardless of whether or not their songs get featured in the shows themselves.

… More after the jump, including the “making of” video.

First Impressions / To Aru Majutsu no Index

To Aru Majutsu no Index II – 09

「追跡封じ（ルートディスターブ）」 (Tsuiseki Fuuji (Ruuto Disutaabu))
“Pursuit Prevention (Route Disturb)”

Whether you care for long expositions not, they’re one of the defining points of this series and we’re given a big dose of it this week. Personally, I’m not a fan of it being overused for story progression, but surprisingly didn’t mind when a good chunk of this episode was devoted to explaining Oriana’s abilities and why she has the nickname “Route Disturb”.

First Impressions / Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai – 10

「あたしの中の……」 (Atashi no Naka no……)
“The Inner Me……”

Visually, Shiori’s arc is undoubtedly the slowest and most uneventful one thus far. However, despite the absolute dearth of things happening on screen, I still find myself amused by how long Keima will stand quietly in front of her, trying to figure out what she’s thinking, only for her to eventually walk off without a word.