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「日常」 (Nichijō)
“Everyday”
Slice of life is basically split into two parts, comedy-based and ..not comedy-based. I’m not a huge fan of “not comedy-based” types. People argue that there aren’t “points” to slice of life. I disagree. A good slice of life always has a point somewhere. Nichijou however, is a comedy-based slice of life, so this discussion is moot.
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GAINAX’s unusual joint anime project with Subaru makes its debut on YouTube, and the only real connection to the Japanese car manufacturer is the Pleiades star cluster that its name and logo are based upon. (Subaru is the Pleiades’ name in Japanese.) Much like the later promo videos suggested, this is actually a magical girl anime at heart, in the more traditional sense than SHAFT’s offering this season.
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「出会い」 (Deai)
“Encounter”
After director Yamamoto Yutaka made a big fuss about putting his career on the line with this original anime project, the start of Fractale may come off a whimper to most. For me, the immersion into a fantasy world and the visual introduction to what I’ve read about has me looking forward to what’s in store, with the only real disappointment being that the series doesn’t look anything like the promotional art.
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「おんなのこって なんでできてる？ ～01＊Roses are red, violets are blue～」 (Onna no Ko-tte Nande Dekiteru?)
“Girls, What Are They Made Of? ~01*Roses are red, violets are blue~”
On the surface, it seems like the uplifting calm palette and art style of Hourou Musuko will tell a tale of happiness, life, and a little bit of love. While the latter two might still be true, happiness is nowhere near to be found for the protagonists in this series, leaving only a growing desperation for acceptance.
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「An alien on the planet」
I had a feeling that Togashi Yoshihiro’s decade-old sci-fi comedy would be in the running for the funniest show of the new year, and after this first episode had me laughing just as much as the manga I skimmed through, I’m starting to think it may just come out on top. While Mitsudomoe Zouryouchuu and Kore wa Zombie Desu ka bring the slapstick laughs, LEVEL E focuses on humor of the deadpan variety, and I like it!
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「はい、魔装少女です」 (Hai, Masou Shoujo Desu)
“Yes, I’m a Magic-Equipped Girl”
Masou-Shoujos. Zombies. Necromancers. Pantsu. Talking crawfish. At this moment in time, if I had the power to do so, I would make every single person in the world watch this show. If not for the previously mentioned reasons, maybe just because of how ridiculously awesome this show is.
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「さらわれた少女」 (Sarawareta Shoujo)
“Kidnapped Girl”
So Taiga’s been trapped in a box for about a couple years, and it caused a little memory alteration due to the brain damage she sustained from being in a coma for so long. Somehow the box she was encased in let her jump the dreams of Ryuuji’s to find the right one, and she somehow confused this Ryuuji for him. Will she find the right Ryuuji? Will this replacement be enough? Dragon Crisis. The unofficial secret sequel of Toradora.
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p>「兄と妹のヨコシマな日常」 (Ani to Imouto no Yokoshima na Nichijou)
“A Brother and Sister’s Wicked Days”
The romantic comedy that plays up the incestuous angle without being incest is surprisingly more entertaining than its manga counterpart. I attribute that primarily to Kitamura Eri bringing out all the perverted silliness in Takanashi Nao, along with with relatively high production values on ZECXS’ part. With Inoue Marina as the childhood friend rival Tsuchiura Iroha, who’s slated to arrive next episode, things should get even more out of hand… in a good way.
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「魔王拾いました」 (Maou Hiroimashita)
“Picked Up a Demon Lord”
There are really only two things that set Beelzebub apart from the waves of shounen series out there. One is the off beat humor, and two is that it doesn’t exactly take itself very seriously. It’s like Three Men and a Baby, except with only one man, and the baby will one day destroy humanity. It’s also kind of like Gintama. Yeah. It’s that kind of show.
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「狙われた子供たち！日本滅亡カウントダウン！」 (Nerawareta Kodomo-tachi! Nihon Metsubou Kauntodaun!)
“The Targeted Children! Countdown to Japan’s Destruction!”
A series that needs no introduction, we are finally graced with the second season of everyone’s favorite comedy, Mitsudomoe (Zouryouchuu)! After a whole season without Hitoha’s evil look, Futaba’s ridiculous love for boobs, and Mitsuba’s stuck up attitude, I was so excited to finally be reunited with my favorite trio of siblings. But instead of giving me a triple dose of Marui madness, I get a full episode of the Gachi Rangers!