Dantalian no Shoka / First Impressions / Series Introduction

Dantalian no Shoka – 01

「仕掛け絵本」 (Shikake Ehon)
“Pop-Up Picture Book”

Whenever a new GAINAX series hits the airwaves, that’s still an event for me – though not as much as it used to be. And I suspect the number of us who feel that way is no longer as large as it was. Whatever it means now, this is still the studio that gave us Evangelion, FLCL and Tengen-Toppa Gurren-Lagann, and even if I’m chasing ghosts, I still get a little thrill of excitement at the prospect of something new from them.

First Impressions / Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate – 15

「亡環上のネクローシス」 (Boukanjō no Nekurōshisu)
“Missing Link Necrosis”

Thank goodness, the humor is back in Steins;Gate, even if it’s been suitably scaled back to reflect the gravity of the situation. But I definitely know the way I’m going to introduce myself the next time I’m in Akihabara:

“Hello, I am mad scientist. So cool. Sonuvabitch!”

First Impressions / Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate – 14

「形而下のネクローシス」 (Keijika no nekurōshisu)
“Physical Necrosis”

I’ve felt from the beginning is that this series has been exceptionally smart in the way it dishes out information. There’s always enough exposition every week to keep me from feeling completely at sea, but each bit of new information seems to raise two questions for every one it answers.

First Impressions / Natsume Yuujin-chou / Series Introduction

Natsume Yuujin-chou San – 01

「妖しきものの名」 (Ayashiki Mono no Na)
“The Name of a Monster”

Years ago, Roger Ebert (from my hometown of Chicago) wrote the following review of the abysmal film “North”: “I hated this movie. Hated hated hated hated hated this movie.” Well, I love Natsume Yuujinchou. I love love love love love Natsume Yuujinchou.