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.

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 / 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.

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.

First Impressions / Ro-Kyu-Bu! / Series Introduction

Ro-Kyu-Bu! – 01

「小学生がやって来る ヤァ！ヤァ！ヤァ！」 (Shougakusei ga Yattekuru Ya! Ya! Ya!)
“The Grade Schoolers Have Come, Ya! Ya! Ya!”

I suspect a good measure of how you’ll like Ro-Kyu-Bu! is going to be tied to the question of how you feel about a series that introduces itself with an extended scene of five 6th-grade girls in the shower.

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.