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February always feels like such a short month, even though it’s only missing a few days. There’s Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year and despite how some people say that this winter season isn’t the best, there’s still a handful (or more) shows that interest our staff. That’s enough to keep us busy so we’re sorry for the delayed post but without further ado… Enjoy! Keep in mind that even though we’re not watching or posting about a particular series, you are free to talk about it in the comments. You never know, it might entice us to pick it up as well!
This post could not be completed without the help of a few awesome individuals. The impressions below are brought to you by Enzo, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr and myself. Each of the shows include our impressions of the episodes that have aired this month (the episode count is indicated). Please note that this not representative of all the writers on RC but only those participating. This also means that each of us are not necessarily blogging each of the shows that we’re writing about below. The post is not comprehensive of what each of us are watching but highlights a good selection of shows that are currently airing. If you would like to hear our daily impressions of shows, we all update regularly on twitter:
As always, this new concept is a work-in-progress and any suggestions are welcome. Please let me know what you’re liking, disliking, and hopefully I can make accommodations for it next month.
Housekeeping Notes:
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
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| World Trigger 6:30 EX (10/5) |
Yuri Kuma Arashi 24:30 MX (1/5) |
Akatsuki no Yona 23:00 AT-X (10/7) |
Gundam Build Fighters Try 18:00 TX (10/8) |
SHIROBAKO 23:30 MX (10/9) |
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 25:20 AT-X (1/9) |
Log Horizon 2 17:30 NHK (10/4) |
| Ace of Diamond 8:30 TX (10/6) |
Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road 25:35 TX (10/6) |
Binan Koukou Chikyuboueibu LOVE! 25:40 TX (1/6) |
Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu 25:29 NTV (10/8) |
Tokyo Ghoul √A 24:00 MX (1/8) |
Garo: Honoo no Kokuin 25:35 TX (10/3) |
Sailor Moon Crystal 19:00 Niconico (7/5) |
| Nanatsu no Taizai 17:00 MBS (10/5) |
Shinmai Maou no Testament 25:35 MX (1/7) |
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso 25:20 CX (10/9) |
Death Parade 25:58 TX (1/9) |
Durarara!!x2 Shou 23:30 MX (1/10) |
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| Absolute Duo 20:30 AT-X (1/4) |
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata 24:50 (CX) (1/8) |
ALDNOAH.ZERO 2 24:00 MX (1/10) |
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| Yoru no Yatterman 22:00 MX (1/11) |
Koufuku Graffiti 25:46 TBS (1/8) |
THE ROLLING GIRLS 25:58 MBS (1/10) |
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| Junketsu no Maria 22:30 MX (1/11) |
| World Trigger Episodes 16-19 |
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Samu: World Trigger has been in a very good place recently now that we’re into the Border Enlistment arc. The fights from before are settled and the moments of individual training from our main trio are being put to use, with all three of them attaining buzz from what they can do. Yuma is the standout performer, of course, with his incredible skills that we’ve seen on display so many times already, as well as his experience with neighbour combat, but it’s still very satisfying when other characters underestimate him only to end up biting the dust. As my favourite character, Chika’s display of power in the sniper training was up there as one of the top moments in the anime so far. It’s been said multiple times that she’ll end up being a great asset to Border, and with time she’ll only get stronger, and I completely agree with that and can’t wait to see that growth. Finally there’s Osamu, who despite being a higher rank than his two partners, has no unique skills that distinguish him from others. His fight with Kazama may have only ended in one draw, but it was an important time for him to get his much earned character development. It’s refreshing to have a protagonist who isn’t gifted or special or destined for power, but instead has to use tactics and logic to win his battles. |
| Ace of Diamond Episodes 68-71 |
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Samu: Recently, Ace of Diamond has been a painful watch, and that’s just as it should be. The biggest talking point is Sawamura’s yips; he has been left emotionally scarred from the last big game where he his the batter and essentially cost the team their win. Seeing him try and fail to bat over and over was excruciating to watch, so that was certainly conveyed as intended. The thing is, though, Sawamura has never been an outstanding main character (none of the characters in Ace of Diamond really have, since it’s not really its strong point) so when we get these moments focused on him where we as the audience are meant to feel sympathetic for him… I just can’t. On the other hand I’ve grown to like Furuya more than ever despite him taking what Sawamura is aiming for. I know others that hate him, some that love him, but even I’m surprised that I’m sympathising with him more than Sawamura right now. Every time Sawamura missed his pitches I felt like screaming at the screen to get him off the mound. What I’m curious about right now is where in Sawamura’s character arc is going to end in its first season. If I were to place a bet, I’d say it’ll work out positively in the next few episodes. |
| Nanatsu no Taizai Episodes 17-20 |
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Stilts: Nanatsu no Taizai is a good example of a story that constantly ups the stakes, ups the danger, ups the power, and it works—all without forgetting that it’s characters that make a story work. (Note: Spoilers ahead.) King was the biggest example, who used to be my least favorite Sin, but now … well, he might still be, but it’s close. His backstory, his history with Helbram, and most of all, how he wiped Diane’s memory of their past together … King, you baka! You deserve happiness too, you baka fairy! But that wasn’t all, and it was a month of reversals. First was Hauser and Guila, and I cheered—literally cheered! Then was Gilthunder, which was confusing at first, but Gilthunder’s “charm” is a rare instance of retroactive foreshadowing working. All of this was done through the lens of pulse-pounding battles where the titular Sins are not overpowered anymore. Powerful, yes, but two were brought to the brink of death, and I’m not talking about Ban. Finally, we have the appearance of Merlin. After the pump fake with Gowther, I figured the masked mage wasn’t a Sin, and Arthur being there made it easy. That didn’t make it any less awesome when she revealed herself, though. |
| Absolute Duo Episodes 05-09 |
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Cherrie: So I wrote off Absolute Duo pretty quickly in its premiere because it felt so generic and any attempt at action and comedy felt dead to me. However! I may have to take that all back now because Absolute Duo is not the abysmal show that I envisioned it to be. Sure, it starts off like any other action, romcom, harem type of show should… but the rest of it, actually has substance. It’s not the best thing since sliced bread and I wouldn’t tell everyone and their grandmothers to watch it, but it’s better than I gave it credit for. This month expands on the idea of “duos” and who is really compatible with whom. A new girl (Lilith) is added to Thor’s harem but her appearance only helps bond Julie and Thor more. I couldn’t care less about the romance in this story because it pains me to see people like Miyabi blush every time she talks to Thor; however, the plot thickens every week as the dangers posed on the students gets real. I wouldn’t say Absolute Duo is on the top of my to-watch list, but one to look out for in its final stretch. |
| Yoru no Yatterman Episodes 05-08 |
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Samu: It’s a shame how things can turn sour so quickly. Early on I labeled Yoru no Yatterman as one of the best of the winter season, because of its balance between emotional backstories, likeable characters, and timely humour. As it turns out, these past few episodes have been a backpedal, focusing almost entirely on unfunny gags, one-off characters that we never see again, and having far too many side stories to even care about the main plot right now. You could say that I should have saw it coming, since the original Yatterman series is a comedy after all, with gags similar to what we’re getting here, but Yoru no Yatterman’s first episode was so different that I thought we were in for something special. It’s still possible that the closing episodes will put the story back on track and once again deliver what it is best at, but that doesn’t make these current episodes any less pointless. However, one plot point I am looking forward to being revealed is Goro being Alouette’s father, which is sure to carry the emotional weight that was felt with Leopard and her mother early on. |
| Junketsu no Maria Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: Some interesting developments in Junketsu no Maria this month as we learn more about Maria herself, but also other secondary characters. The more I see Archangel Michael, the more that dude just gets on my nerves… along with all these priests and knights and mainly Garfa whom I actually liked and slowly started to detest. The characters are not unrealistic though in their motives and when all’s fair in love and war, what can you really expect? In the midst of all this, I find Maria, Joseph and Anne all refreshingly innocent people. They only want peace in their lands and it’s interesting how these “kids” interpret the actions of men at war surrounding them. They see things very differently and almost in a naïve way but it’s clear to me that that is why the story is called Maria the Virgin Witch because it’s more of a metaphorical title. It’s also sad to see that the very people Maria wants to protect, almost literally killed her. Humans can be so narrow-minded sometimes and never see the bigger picture; but I too, am guilty of that. |
| Yuri Kuma Arashi Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: I’m completely mind blown by the advances that Yuri Kuma Arashi has made this month. This was a show that I put on my back burner for a while and then when I finally caught up, I was shocked for the amount of progress and revelations it’s had. For an anime filled with symbolism and out-of-the-box thinking, this month has made Yuri Kuma Arashi very easy to follow. A lot of things like the Invisible Storm, Ginko’s necklace and the mysterious boxes in Yurika’s office are all given further explanations that help fill in those gaps that turned people away earlier. The story actually makes sense now! And although the bears, are still bears, and there are still random court trials (which are still random), the anime is easily watchable now. The cliffhangers are the end of each episode keep me on edge and the surprises that come up, are actually good plot twists that help the audience understand what’s going on. The more I watch this one, the more I’m enjoying it. |
| Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road Episodes 16-19 |
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Samu: After last month when everyone was dropping like flies, this time around we’ve stuck with the few characters that are left and been rewarded with some fantastic races. The Inter High finale is closer than ever, and it’s gone on for so long that I’m just waiting for that reward at the end of the line. I don’t know who is going to win, but all three teams have a chance. That being said, Onoda is still the star of the show and it’s impossible not to love him. Watching him catch up with the others was inspiring and touching, with the cherry on top coming when he opened his eyes for the first time. Yowamushi Pedal isn’t realistic at all, but it rocks it. It knows what it’s doing and doesn’t masquerade as anything else. We still got our fair share of monologues and characters going into crazy-mode (which is to be expected with Midousuji returning), but it’s all been in good fun and building up to an epic conclusion. I’ve not always been a fan of Sohoku, but I do hope they win now. |
| Akatsuki no Yona Episodes 17-20 |
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Enzo: Akatsuki no Yona has already done enough to establish itself in several ways – as one of the best series of 2015 (Top 10 unless it’s a stupendous year). As one of the of the best shoujo adaptations in recent memory, and another feather in the cap for Studio Pierrot in what’s been a mostly under-the-radar run of excellent manga adaptations. The only downer here is what happens next – there’s plenty of manga for at least four more cours, but will that happen? I would describe myself as pessimistic but not resigned, but whatever happens this has been a great ride. Like all great fantasy anime this one succeeds with both scope and intimacy, telling a sweeping story of politics and power that’s thoroughly driven by the superb cast. I like pretty much all of them, but I find Yoon to be especially refreshing because male characters like him – fiercely proud and capable despite lacking physical strength – are rare in anime. Plus, the squirrel. |
| Binan Koukou Chikyuboueibu LOVE! Episodes 05-08 |
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Enzo: I’ve been enjoying Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love! with remarkable consistency – it almost never achieves flat-out brilliance, but it rarely fails to connect with most of the comedy. As a satire of mahou shoujo I would say this show is tart but generally affectionate – the silliness of the genre is certainly the point, but there’s no malice here. At this point the boys seem to have progressed to treating their power-ups and battles like any teenaged boy’s arubaito, and the fact that form is more important than content in most shows like this is openly acknowledged. There’s definitely some edgier stuff on the fringes – that Yamato’s “cuddling” of Wombat is euphemistic is clearly reflected in his face afterwards, and rigor mortis has set in for Tawarayama-sensei (Yamato uses him as a rack in the latest episode). But mostly this is just extreme silliness for its own sake – bad puns, ridiculous monsters and the most hapless gang of baddies since Team Rocket. I’m curious to see what role Goura-nii is going to play (maybe next week) and whether the real villain of the piece is the goldfish. He’s certainly the most evil-looking. |
| Gundam Build Fighters Try Episodes 17-20 |
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Samu: One thing I’ve enjoyed in the recent batch of episodes are the extended length of the tournament fights. I’ve like it when we’re left with a cliffhanger and it takes us another episode to conclude the action – it gives more time for the characters to show off and in turn gives us those impressively animated fights that Try always delivers. As a fan of Fumina, I’m over the moon with her involvement recently, and not just when it comes to her romance with Sekai and her new destined rival, but also her showing in the past two fights that she is a force to be reckoned with. She’s certainly the brains of the operation and her tactics and skills are great to see. But Sekai continues to get the most focus, tying together his past in an emotional battle to take them to the semi-finals. Now that the chairman’s grandson is on the scene, I’m sure that’s going to stir some more drama. What I do wonder though is if the plot is going to go further than the tournament, like it did in the first season. Truthfully, I hope it doesn’t, because I can’t see any good coming from these characters being involved in a ‘save the world’ storyline. |
| Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu Episodes 17-20 |
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Cherrie: Sh*t is getting intense on Kiseijuu as we’re winding down into our final few episodes. I can’t believe we’re almost at the end because it feels like there’s so much more potential out of this world that the author has created. I wonder if that means that all the parasites will be killed off by the end? Will the world return to normal? Anyway, this month has had me glued to the screen as I impatiently waited for hump day every week. I’ve never been this anxious to watch Kiseijuu until this month but with the further involvements by Reiko, Uragami (whom I’m starting to like because I love watching profiling of criminals), and Gotou, this anime has me hooked. Of course, this means that Shinichi has taken a backseat approach to the problems he used to meet first hand (pun unintended!) and I’d like to see him play the role of the actual protagonist again. In recent episodes, I’m excited to see humans winning this fight against the parasites. It’s a massacre no doubt, and human lives are lost along the way, but it’s awesome seeing humans taking a stand and actually making progress. |
| Shinmai Maou no Testament Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: I’ve never been a fan of ecchi anime but I’ve always managed to sit through them for whatever reason it may be. Usually it’s because the level of fanservice is not so blatant or used as the driving force of the plot. Keep in mind, I normally don’t watch many ecchi anime at all. Shinmai Maou no Testament is an anime that I had a lot more hope for at the beginning because the premiere was interesting enough that I was expecting moderate-ish fanservice. After two months, I think I see what all the warnings signs were about. The show doesn’t have a plotline that I even care to recall; all I know is that it has a silly premise that is totally uncalled for, yet it’s the whole basis of this story. It’s completely absurd, but I won’t bash it too hard because it doesn’t take itself seriously. Let’s just say that I don’t remember a single episode that doesn’t feature the bathroom or the guy’s bed or sexual references. Yes, it’s that type of anime so if you fancy lots of steamy censoring, then you’re missing out. |
| SHIROBAKO Episodes 17-20 |
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Samu: SHIROBAKO continues on the same path it’s been going on throughout its second cour – having each episode focusing on different aspects of the production process and raising questions along the way – and it’s still working wonderfully, albeit in a much more stressful way. First was the PV that they had to make in a rush; the episode felt kind of like filler, but it still gave us great character interactions and allowed us to see more of Third Aerial Girls Squad in action, which is always a treat. Other than that we have Aoi’s overload of stress, which felt very real and very uncomfortable to watch, but thankfully things worked out (even if some of their key animators have terrible work ethic). Tie all that content in with the touching flashback and questioning what drives each of the staff to make anime, and we’ve gotten some very content-packed episodes of SHIROBAKO. I saw that apparently the original plan was for this to run for 50 episodes, and I wish that were the case now. We’re reaching the end of the season but I feel like Aoi’s personal journey of realisation is only just beginning. |
| Tokyo Ghoul √A Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: After a disappointing reunion last month, I’m glad to see Tokyo Ghoul take a different direction in February. Tokyo Ghoul has slowed it down a bit and started really getting into the history of some of our new and old characters. I love seeing where these ghouls came from; what made them who they are and how did they even became a ghoul. Yoshimura and Juuzo are the two which I’m particularly pleased to learn about this month and if you’re curious too, you’ll have to catch up with these few episodes. For an action, thriller and horror-type story, Tokyo Ghoul surprisingly shines the best when it’s not about the fights and feasts, but more when it slows down to tell you why you should care about these characters. After all, these characters make up the backbone of this series and asides from Kaneki himself (who is meh to me), everyone is quite fascinating in their own way. Fascinating – deranged, it’s all the same, but what I want is more and hopefully they’ll use this time to their benefit in the final month. |
| Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso Episodes 16-19 |
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Cherrie: Ups and downs continue with KimiUso this month because what I love about this series seems to be a lot of people’s complaints. And what I don’t particularly care for… seems to be what people like! So hey! Let’s agree that everyone just has different tastes. What I liked about this month was its continued focus on Kousei and his relationships with Tsubaki and Kaori. I’m not on the Kaori ship, but I still think that pairing deserves to have its say and it needs more focus in order to convince me that Kaori and Kousei are meant to be. Then there was that whole ordeal with Nagi which wasn’t necessary drama or added value to me. I understand that this is an anime with a musical theme but long episodes playing one classical song does not hold my attention. Seeing the characters grow and come to realizations when you’re not playing piano all the time would be more realistic. However, I do get my fix of romance and slice-of-life watching Tsubaki and Kousei so there you have it, my ship this season. |
| Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Episodes 04-07 |
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Cherrie: The plot thickens as Tomoya officially groups his harem together to bring to life his dream of creating a visual novel. We spend a little more time with Eriri and Utaha and get some background scoop on their relationship with Tomoya. These two girls are definitely the highlights for me in Saekano. They’re unique enough so that they have their own distinguished personality traits, but they’re not so out-of-the-box that they still fit into their character archetypes. I like being able to predict what’s going to happen in this romcom, but it’s definitely leaning more com than rom at the moment. The comedy isn’t something that makes me laugh out loud, but the show is still amusing enough; I just wish there was more substance in plot whether it be romantic or not. Megumi and Tomoya’s chemistry (or lack of) falls flat to me and even though Megumi is supposed to defy all tropes for a protagonist muse, sigh*, she’s just too bland for my taste. I like my girls with spunk, motivation and drive! |
| Koufuku Graffiti Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: Some great episodes this month about summertime in Japan and the beauty of noodles, sanma and bento boxes. As always, there were some mouth-watering moments late at night which I couldn’t help but crave eggs, or noodles and Koufuku Graffiti only makes me want to visit Japan more. There is some fanservice here and there (especially episode 6) but it’s honestly not called for in a series with this many foodgasms already. I enjoyed the latter episodes this month which featured more of a focus on Kirin and her development. She learns to cook for herself and even prepares dishes for Ryou which is a sweet gesture. She still has a lot to learn but I appreciate her attempts because I know how difficult it is to pick up cooking from nothing; at least she has good teachers surrounding her. From grilling fish to creating a whole bento box, these are skills that I wouldn’t normally pick up anywhere else if not to impress someone or if I had an abundance of time. Definitely makes you appreciate those that cook for you if you don’t cook for yourself. |
| Ansatsu Kyoushitsu Episodes 04-07 |
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Cherrie: Another continued favorite this month is none other than Ansatsu Kyoushitsu or AssClass which apparently a lot of people know it as. Each week has a touch of an episodic feel, but that’s because we’re still being introduced to characters, villains or not. There’s still an overarching plot line though which talks about the approaching D-Day and how the students have to murder the best teacher they’ve had. I honestly believe that Koro is the most memorable character I’ve seen this season and that’s being said without knowing what his motivation for teaching is. He is so forgiving and understanding of his students even though he knows that they’re trying to kill him. Plus, he genuinely tries hard to help them succeed and exceed the expectations of the E-Class. Asides from Karma, none of the other characters even come close to shining like Koro does. I’m glad that the series is taking the time to properly give more characters depth and breadth with this storytelling approach though. We’re only familar with the staff members so far and maybe a handful of the students so an extension of the cast is expected. |
| Garo: Honoo no Kokuin Episodes 17-20 |
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Samu: Last month I complained that Garo was slipping into its monster-of-the-week ways again, but these recent episodes have been a complete switch, packed with plot shifting content and twists and turns along the way to keep the audience on the edge of their seat. If there was one thing I did appreciate about the slow pace it was the development it allowed between Leona and Lara; their relationship was believable and cute and it brought the best out of the Leon’s personality. And after all that happened in that village, Leon is yet again a deserving main character. Seeing his powers returned to him and teaming up with Alfonso is a relief, to say the least. Lara’s death was powerful, but the switch to Leon and Ema seemed desperate and without much thought – which is what I think was the intention. It’s not a pairing that I think many were expecting and I doubt it will last that long. Going forward there’s Mendoza’s return to anticipate, but Octavia is showing herself to be another very interesting character with great cunning. I’m really excited to see how all these characters come together in the final act. |
| Death Parade Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: An interesting twist on Death Parade this month as it switches its focus on the individuals dying, to the reoccurring cast within purgatory. For a while I was wondering if the focus of this show would be more on Decim and Nameless Girl or be more episodic with the new individuals dying every week. It turns out that Nameless Girl, along with Nona each have their own agendas and background stories; it’s just how they all coincide in the end. Not to mention that our cast widens with other folks from our opening sequence – Ginit, Quin and Mayu. Death Parade is totally hitting it this month and on-point with what I expect out of an anime with this much potential (it is our right shark!). It’s trying to balance out the development of Decim with the unveil of Nameless Girl’s past, and I think the two have a lot of chemistry on screen. With the recent episode of potential murderers, I can’t wait to see what the last month has in store for us. |
| Log Horizon 2 Episodes 18-21 |
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Stilts: Some of the plot points in the latest arc were long overdue. During the first season, many viewers were surprised that no one seemed concerned about returning to Earth. Finally we have adventurers rebelling against this world, in the Odyssey Knights and Londark. Which is good, but maybe a little late? This arc was, if not bad, not as focused or interesting as other arcs. I won’t say Log Horizon needs Shiroe to work—I liked the Akatsuki arc earlier in the season—but it needs a sense of scale, and though there were hints of that here (the nightshade servants, Plant Hwyaden’s meddling, etc), it just wasn’t the same. Even the newbie arc during the first season was only elevated to something amazing after Shiroe stepped on the stage. There was also a strong subplot concerning Isuzu and her music, which was neat, but it didn’t strike an emotional chord and ended up falling flat. The last arc looks like it will be returning to the exploration of the world stuff we like, so I’m optimistic that this second season will end strong. |
| Sailor Moon Crystal Episodes 15-16 |
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Cherrie: Sailor Moon Crystal finally gets a new start and I’m super excited to see it enter a new season with fresh villains and characters. I’ve always liked the latter seasons of the original series more so I’m hoping that the Dark Moon clan will prove to better antagonists. No doubt, we finally see Chibi Usa and what she’s up to – which isn’t a lot, but her character is also very different from the original Sailor Moon R. She behaves exactly how you would expect a lost, parentless child to act and you can’t blame her for her attempts to fit in. Asides from Chibi Usa though, the rest of the Sailor Scouts are also making good progress in terms of character development and plot advancement. The villains are still typical “monsters-of-the-day”, but the cliffhangers after each episode leave you hanging! And not in the Queen Metalia final battle type of way. This actually shows more continuity in the series and I like how Sailor Moon Crystal gets straight to the point of what the Dark Moon is trying to accomplish. |
| Durarara!!x2 Shou Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: This arc has been all about the Russians I tell you. New characters, new histories and a few more complexities to add to the spider web of Ikebukuro’s underground connections. It’s incredible how quickly this story has spun out to include all these newbies who feel kind of critical and yet out of place at the same time. I love Durarara!!, don’t get me wrong, but I also find myself attached to the old characters more than the new. It takes me a while to familiarize myself with so many names and faces and before I know, a ton of other sh*t is layered on top to link everyone together. All I know is that somehow it all works out in the end and there’s all the ”A ha!” moment. I hear a lot of complaints about the animation and inconsistencies between episodes, but personally it doesn’t bother me much because I still love the series as a whole. I also love Mikado (because I still can’t get over how much I loved season 1), so to me, I hope this side story about Dollars is going to be worth the ride. |
| ALDNOAH.ZERO 2 Episodes 05-08 |
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Zephyr: The climax of ALDNOAH ZERO is fast approaching, with Slaine continuing his rapid rise at the expense of the VERS hierarchy and traditions. An old-fashioned duel to settle the score ends as expected and events are set in motion that—unlike the first season—possess a genuine gravitas to them. The tragic nature of everything becomes abundantly clear as Asseylum awakens at the worst time possible (for Slaine anyway), and it’s a season characterized by twists and turns that were unexpected and generally well executed. Even the Inaho led demolition runs have come to a temporary halt due to Slaine’s machinations, and it’s not without a sense of irony that the latter’s been developed so well, he’s overcome the former as the centerpiece of the show. In many ways, it’s shocking how much they’ve managed to change our views regarding the VERS side of the question, and it’s a testament to how much better this second season is from a narrative perspective. If they can carry this this streak over to the remaining four episodes, we could very well have one of this year’s more memorable finales here. The only question is if they’ll finally agree on someone to kill off permanently… |
| THE ROLLING GIRLS Episodes 05-08 |
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Cherrie: This is not the anime that I should be watching absentmindedly. When I started THE ROLILNG GIRLS, I thought it was very light-hearted and easy to watch with some action and barely any plot. The plot didn’t come easily to me and even to date, I still get confused who is who and why certain things happen. That’s the thing about this anime though and I understand why some people can be frustrated with its storytelling. It’s not straightforward, there’s a lot of implied facts that you should know just from the brief conversations or interactions between people. If you miss a single moment, you might miss a lot and it might never be brought up again. Unfortunately, THE ROLILNG GIRLS is also not the most interesting or original anime that I’ve seen and it takes away from the experience for me. What makes it easier for me to watch, is knowing that there are different arcs and different sets of characters you meet along the way. You never know what you’re going to get as these girls journey through Japan; Tomoki and Himeko were alright, but even so, the show is simply alright. |
Junketsu no Maria is by far most underrated shows this season, you guys should have covered it 🙁
Why no love for Kuroko? That’s the only anime being blogged here that isn’t in the Monthly Impressions.
Odd not to see KnB here while Binan Koukou, a show that’s not blogged and one of the least popular shows of the season is here.
\,,/(◕_◕)\,,/ No Kuroko, No Life \,,/(◕_◕)\,,/
Kuroko no Basket is here but you can’t see it. Misdirection Overflow activated.
These monthly impression posts are only a compilation of a subset of writers here on RC. Therefore, we do not claim that this is a complete list of all the shows airing this season (similar to our previews), but a list of all the shows that we’re watching (mainly mine >_> everyone else is probably watching more lol). We do miss shows along the way because these posts are time-consuming to create and not everyone will choose to write something about everything but what interests them instead. That’s not to say that the shows we’ve missed are bad, but we’re either just not watching it or don’t have anything to say.
Luckily, Kuroko is being covered on a weekly basis by Takaii so you’re not short of somewhere to discuss the anime. You can always read his impressions there.
It’ll probably get a review when it’s over though.
About Shirobako
WHAT!? They really should make this 50 ep show. I feel they can expand more after Aoi gains enough experience working as production desks then move to become Director or something later to work on her own show with her friends. With the current pace, they will probably end up with just finishing Third Aerial Girl Squad.
It was going around twitter last week or so. I definitely retweeted the link/image at some point, but what it basically said was that the initial plan was for it be 4-cour, with each cour focusing on a new anime and Aoi rising in rank with each one. Frankly, I could watch 100s more episodes of SHIROBAKO, but I think season 2 is a big possibility now since the sales are one of the best of the past season.
… given how I am an animator myself more of less, how this anime is ABOUT the struggles of producers, and how I just really love the show… I really DO feel like I should shell in the money to get the imported Japanese releases!!
You forgot to add World Aria onto the list. Not the best series but should be mentioned since it was a winter show and aired in February.
Just wondering, have any of the writers considered watching Fafner Exodus? I mean, there is really no point watching it if you haven’t at least seen the film but I’m just curious.
No love for Fafner and Jo Jo?
Same for Dog Days” and Kantai Colletion, the latter being better than some people give it credit for.
I agree. Why cover these shows and not others? Kancolle is one of the anime I am following this season and it will be great to see your opinion on it.
Time, the Writes here do posting on their free time. And they cannot cover and write of all Shows they are watching
For me, i try to express mine First impressions of Anime Episodes with my Appetizers, like Kantai Collection, Maria the Witch and Exodus, these Season. I know i am little tiny stone compared to the real Writers here, but i do enjoy writing them. In the Past i real enjoyed the Animesuki forums, there i cam in contact with Omni’s page here, yes. When he still was “green” behind his ears
@ Zoneflare, Goodwill Wright, thepotatoehead, Tassadar, & all others:
We have never claimed that the monthly impressions would be comprehensive. They’re not intended to be. The only thing they’re comprehensive of is Cherrie’s watch list, with a few additions of shows a few of us are super excited about and/or have a lot to talk about.
We did not forget anything. We just don’t watch everything. Though personally, I’m trying to watch up on Dog Days so I can talk about it at the end of the season (if I even have internet where I’ll be then, lol)
Sorry if my comment sounded disrespectful. I know you guys don’t/can’t cover everything, that’s why I asked because as I thought that you may be watching the show but not blogging it.
Speaking for myself, my comment was more like a slight personal disappointment about those particular shows not being covered (regularly or in monthly impressions). I don’t expect the writers to have the same tastes or priorities in shows as I have of course, which is why I am just a bit disappointed and nothing more than that 😉
@ Goodwill Wright
You comment didn’t seem disrespectful, no worries.
@ Tassadar
I understand what you mean, and I know you meant no umbrage. Just think of things from our point of view … every time we hear someone say they’re “disappointed” in something we’ve done, it sounds judgmental. Doesn’t mean it is! You said you just you wish they had gotten “some love”. But that’s not how it sounds on the other end, especially since I happen to know that Zephy loves him some Jojo, he just hasn’t had time to watch as much anime as he’d prefer.
Instead, might I suggest giving a quick 2-3 sentence blurb on your own impressions? Or maybe pitch the show to us a little? hearing that Kancolle is better than expected without elaboration isn’t liable to help either us or anyone else know whether they want to pick it up.
Like I said, I wasn’t insulted by any of you. A short flash of annoyance quickly squashed, nothing more.
The shows I am enjoying most this season are Fafner Exodus, World Trigger, Binan Koukou(this was so much better than I expected) and Death Parade. Nanatsu no Taizai is also fun, and just when I was doubting whether I should drop Yuri Kuma Arashi things got better(started making sense)…
Have to catch up with Garo, Gundam and other sports anime…
Best anime this season (in no order): JoJo, Junketsu no Maria, Aldnoah Zero, Death Parade, Garo, Durarara, and Kiseijuu.
And honestly, Cross Ange, while the plot is lol, it’s still pretty entertaining and the cast is always funny.
Everything else is meh.
Cross Ange can be pretty cringe worthy… but for some reason, I love watching it. Can’t wait for the 2nd OST to come out. I want those El Ragna character songs,
Agreed on Cross Ange, it’s simply a train wreck so spectacular you just cannot turn away; I’ve stuck with it just to see how far it’s going to push things. Can’t fault Sunrise, they sure know how to take a crazed concept with ridiculous execution and make it go all the way. All the way.
Angelise-sama is love, Angelise-sama is life. In Cafe Ange we trust.
Unless you end up getting… “bodywashed” by Embyro, then you’ll be singing a different tune.
Midousuji….sigh. Yowapedal has been enjoyable, but Midousuji’s character design just detracts from my enjoyment. He’s something I would expect to see in Full Metal Alchemist instead of a bike racing anime. I have no problem with the concept of a protagonist like him, just that he doesn’t fit stylistically IMO. He’s an outlandish caricature even in a show where a bike racer will give a monologue in the middle of a tight race and three rookies are fighting it out for first place. Right now it looks like each episode will cover 1km of the final leg.
Sure is disappointing that neither Crunchyroll nor Funimation picked up Nanatsu no Taizai. Kind of surprised, honestly.
Here I am, 4 or 5 episodes behind, waiting for the sub group to actually release a new episode.
Which group are you waiting for? There’s decent quality subs out for Taizai within 24 hours currently from two groups (ISS and FBI Fansubs).
As for why it wasn’t picked up it has to do with Netflix (IIRC) licensing the show sadly.
I’ve been watching Chyuu, but I guess I’ll have to watch one of the other groups. Thanks for the info.
No mention of Fafner? This week’s episode was fantastic, I’m really glad that it’s back after so long.
Well, Shinmai might not be a good ecchi show but it is also one of those shows where you can just have a few laughs out of if you don’t mind the ecchi stuff.
Honestly, anyone who expected the show to have no ecchi when there is a succubus in play who seems to have a knack for screwing up needs to change their expectations for shows with a succubus in general ^^”
As for cross ange, while it is still an entertaining one for now, i can’t wait until that little sister of ange finally gets killed of. Silvia was her name if memory serves me right, but she is just terrible for a character… The big brother got already killed so why they are taking so long with the little sister who is even more deserving of a gruesome death…
Don’t know if it’s right pleace to ask but are you going to do any podcast in the near future?
Zani was organizing the podcasts, and I would occasionally lend him a hand, but we both got too busy to deal with them. They’ll return if we ever get more free time. Since they’re more of a passion project, they’re lower priority than things like weekly posts, previews, and monthlies.
Touching one the few that were (sadly) skipped over: (and I need to sleep – work day in 6 hours)
Reconguista in G – Some of the episodes I somehow managed to follow, some parts of others went over my head in reasons of complete random remarks or snarks. Still, both main and sub plots (the whole reoccupation of earth & the Rayhunter siblings(?) ) had me rethink what are actual facts and what are complete throwaways multiple times. But gosh the fleet battles, they’re getting better (either that or the art style is not suited for small scale battles…)
Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus – Really, I still can’t get enough of the
alienmech vsaliensfestum action. And the series so far haven’t been as tedious to watch without the benefit of having watched the first season than I previously been afraid of…Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo – For the past few episodes, I thought the whole thing would seamlessly head off into the conclusion. Then that … entity spammed time travel to keep himself alive and wreck havoc on everything and everyone. Still, it’s still a hoot to watch (drizzled with extra cheese).
ps. still hyp(er)ing on ALDNOAH.ZERO and BFT still.
Crud, forgot something:
Kantai Collection -KanColle- – It is still worth watching just for the fan-service (in-jokes and all). It is ultimately an anime dedicated to streamline Kancolle THE GAME for the Japanese audience, not us international viewers (some unnoticed stuff – ie. fuBUK(K)I, or “Bucky”). Oh well, we can’t win them all, right?
Wow, I’m surprised at how many people have mentioned Fafner? I nearly thought it was a dead anime.
Fafner is stil here 🙂
I adore Fafner but I seriously I thought that the movie was the last thing, never expected another season. You can’t imagine how excited I was (and still am) 😀
i am surprised, not knowing the first Anime of them (i think there must be someone or?) and just watched because the Char Design remembered me of an Black Horse Mecha Anime with some Xenosaga Vibes (sorry name forgotten, i am really bad in memorizing names), that this Anime is full of Tension and the actually Episode Bad Ass Actiongasmus… If i was not a fan, i would it be now…
Yeah, I’m glad the film wasn’t the end of it. Was absolutely beside myself when Exodus was greenlit.
And the animation for Exodus… it nearly looks like the same quality as the film.
I feel like they haven’t done much with Fafner, I mean, they should have followed up with a proper season a lot sooner.
Ya I replayed that Nanatsu no Taizai battle a few times over. THat Merlin intro was sweet. They always find a intresting way to introduce the sins: ban destroying a jail, gowther catching an arrow, etc. Really enjoying this romp, but they already killed Hendrickman…and the other great knight mind is broken and Gilthunder is free…what the hell is left?
I dropped Maria and was pretty dissapointed w Yatterman. Its been a pretty good winter.
Great post as always, thanks Cherrie! (And Stilts, Samu, Enzo and Zephyr too)
Samu once again reminded me to pick up World Trigger manga and makes me think of continuing Garo, while Cherrie makes me consider repicking Yuri Kuma Arashi.
Here’s some comments on the two series I’m watching not covered here:
Dog Days: Standard Dog Days, in its full animal-eared glory. This month was actually darn good with Show Spoiler ▼
‘s arranged marriage episode and Adel telling a story from when she became a hero. The was some much-needed world building too. But the biggest plot twist was the fact that there are more than three countries in Flonyard. Oh and good news for Stilts: Adel’s story brought back loli-
Hinad’Arquien.Juuou Mujin no Fafnir: The second arc focused on one of the most annoying lolis in recent memory and was overall a royal mess. Seriously considering dropping it. It gets some good points for developing the tsundere ojou on the side and actually making her into a rather likable character though. Anyways, the series uses some staple LN ideas, but executes them on the scale of mediocre to bad. At least the consequences of the MC losing his memory when using his real power finally came up. Kind of. Also, the beach episode was just bad, focusing on all the wrong things or the right things in wrong ways, depending on what one likes. “Things” in this case mostly refers to girls or girl parts in swimsuits.
I find that the problem with Yuma Kuma Arashi was that it was way too out-of-the-box when it aired and turned a lot of people off. Unlike Mawaru Penguindrum (omg those penguins are adorable =3) that started off semi-normal and then threw in all these twists and randomness, Yuma Kuma Arashi does the opposite. It sets this premise about bears and yuri and killings and stuff… and it makes sense but personally I didn’t like it because I tried too hard to over-analyze everything. Since then I think the story has made huge efforts to explain things to people. I mean, bears are still human-eating bears and the girls are still in love with other girls… but the overarching story about why the bears are there, who killed the MC’s mom, and everyone’s backstory is being clearly laid out. There’s no more confusion as to “what does that mean?” or “why did she do that?”, it’s just straight-up, “what’s going to happen next”.
World Trigger: I like how the trio was getting attention from their performances. Especially Yuma’s record breaking kill. I do hope that Osamu continues to be better. Losses are still losses even if he managed a tie. True, it’s nice to see a protagonist who isn’t gifted or special but he needs to put up more effort to live up more to his teammates.
Oh and dere Kitora is olev.
Nanatsu: I always say that the author Nakaba likes to make King suffer. He’s always getting the short stick of things. His whole history/flashback says a lot about that. Forgot about his original mission, killed his best friend, made the woman he loves forget everything and get blamed for all that Helbram did. Being King is suffering. Though that didn’t stop him from taking #1 in the recent popularity polls in the manga.
And from the small Q&As in the manga, Nakaba is a fan of Maaya Sakamoto so he must be very glad to have her voice Merlin. Another top tier seiyuu added to the impressive cast.
Garo: For someone who has only been doing farming for the past month or so, Leon sure didn’t rust as much as I thought and went toe to toe against Alfonso who’s always fighting Horrors.
And so much for Lara being in the key poster of the second half of the season if she was gonna die like that. She was even prominent in the ED. Meanwhile, German got laid with the woman he loves. Sure is unfair treatment there.
And I see Leon and Ema spending the night as wounded persons licking each others’ wounds. I certainly don’t expect a relationship to bloom but Leon does care more about Ema like when he went first before her in their investigations.
World Trigger – I loved Episode 19 especially the scene where Yuuma stuck up for Osamu. He looked so awesome.
Cherrie, I’d actually disagree with you that Kato from Heroine is flat. Her personality is very interesting and is a major reason why I watch Heroine. When she becomes the focus, like in the latest episode where she’s disgusted that all these people could be like Tomoya, her real personality comes out. Or when she got jealous, her real self came to the forefront.
I don’t know why she hides who she really is, hopefully that’ll become a plot point of the show. It is a fact though, that Tomoya may be the first person to notice her the way she was and she became interested in him because of it. It probably isn’t romantic – at the moment – which is why we aren’t getting any advances, but she wants to know more about him.
After all, if you made sure that the world more or less ignored you and it followed through with ignoring you, yet someone came along and not only noticed you, but wanted you to be everything, wouldn’t you be at least intrigued? I’m sure I would.
*breath* Okay, I gotta stop with the long winded sentences. I’ll knock myself out.
Also, I’d say that the entire point is that Kato and Tomoya shouldn’t have chemistry. Chemistry with a person you just met is very chancy to obtain right away. You need to build and cultivate on it. You begin to see this when Kato tells the um… Oh cod suckles, I forgot her name, Tomoya’s kouhai, why Tomoya is doing what he is. Sure, you’d get why he’s doing it, but it was the speech before he came back I am meaning. In which she tells the young girl why Tomoya is about to help her out. That does take some chemistry or at least knowing of someone to say that and to not only mean it but to convince another person what you say is truthful.
So her personality and chemistry with Tomoya are there, just they are being built on (so to speak) so that when we get to the finality of the show, she’ll have both.
…and yikes, I hope this doesn’t come across like I’m arguing you, Cherrie. Just wanted to say why I disagreed and think she has an interesting personality and why she doesn’t have chemistry with Tomoya yet. Sorry if it comes across like that. ^_^;; Got a little passionate about the subject.
Reasonable minds may differ, though I do feel that Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata needs all the plugging it can get (I’m biased, I’m blogging it).
I won’t call Katou Megumi bland either (you shouldn’t, it hurts her feelings). And I do feel that she and Tomoya do have chemistry. It’s just that it’s all very subtle. The strength of the anime, I feel, is all the little details in the characterisations. It’s a cleverly written show, and there are many nuances if you look for them.
Haha, it’s okay – you just sound very passionate in your argument, which you should if you like Megumi. I’m not going to say you’re wrong for having different opinions so fill free to express yourself however you like. As long as it’s not in the violent way o_O
I find Megumi bland because she pales compared to the other characters that I think have more personality and attitude in the anime. Like I said, I prefer girls with more confidence and defining traits and I like that they stand out for whatever reason that may be. Megumi seems like the type of girl that WANTS to fit in and blend in (for some reason, like you said) and we don’t know why, but why? And unless there’s a good story on her background, I don’t think it’s as entertaining as say – the girl that draws manga or writes novels. Not to say that Megumi is a bad or emotionless character, but I don’t think she’s going to change much either because she is who she is. If she does grow and change throughout the show, it’s only because she’s becoming something else someone wants her to be and I wouldn’t like that much either =X
I think chemistry can be cultivated for sure and I do thing over time, people can develop a chemistry between them. But that’s not the type that I was expecting out of this show… and even more than halfway in, I still don’t find them that amicable as a couple. Personally I like the couples that start off with a spark and you just know that these two are meant to be because there’s something that pulls them together. Sometimes you meet someone and you know right away, this is it. Megumi and Tomoya are the type that remind me of friends that will be friends for so long that they’re like, why not? And they have chemistry because they’re friends and they get along but it’s not the fiery romantic chemistry that makes me think “Awwww” or “Oooohhh”. They’re just lukewarm and that’s okay… there’s still time for them to grow on me.
I don’t want you to think that I think this show is horrible or something because of two people that don’t interest me. I’m still watching it and I intend to finish it… but everyone has different takeaways from anime so those are just my impressions.
“like in the latest episode where she’s disgusted that all these people could be like Tomoya”
I don’t remember seeing such a scene in the latest episode? I thought she was just surprised that all.
First thanks for the shows you cover whether I watch them all or not. I like reading the reviewes!
World Trigger a lot of people wrote thos off early especially the first couple of episodes but they quiclky fixed the problems and the 2nd cour is just fun!Just think this is going to be 50 eoisodes?
Also Nanatsu no Taizai .,Gundam Build Fighters Try, SHIROBAKO,Ansatsu Kyoushitsu Death Parade and Durarara!!x2 Shou are my top favorites!
Ronja is one that is missing whicj for me is competing with Akatsuki no Yona,Nanatsu no Taizai,and SHIROBAKO for my top spot!
Rolling Girls is one of my favorites too > I think if you ride motorcycles / scooter you tend to appreciate it more!The color, animation and music are very nice! The biggest complaint is that the 4 girls arent getting more explanations but that may be comin!
Oh yes you must remember every detail as they come back later!But that is sort of fun though and dont bother me!
So just my silly thoughts but thanks !
Winter wasnt no where bad as prediciated IMO and Spring looks loaded!
ENZO…. are you gonzalo ordoñes ?
Maybe I’m the only one but the anime that I’m enjoying the most is THE ROLILNG GIRLS. I don’t think it’s the best of this season, but I enjoy it the most.
There are 7 billion people in the world. I’m sure you’re the only one.
Told you 😉
I’m enjoying it too honestly
I just don’t really know what they are trying to do lol
Ange & Maria, it’s a good season for awesome blonde female leads.
what about Cross Ange 🙁
I haven’t kept up with shows very well the past month, but I’m now almost caught up. Junketsu no Maria and Ansatsu Kyoushitsu remain near/at the top of my watch list. Not much to add to the summary comments other than I’m wondering how “grim-dark” things might get with Maria given recent developments, and Koro-sensei definitely makes the show for me with Ansatsu Kyoushitsu. Comments on some other shows:
– Aldnoah: Have to agree with Zephyr here. Season 2 IMO is a noticeable improvement over Season 1 though frankly I could do without the whole “all seeing” (almost literally) cyborg eye plot device (bleh). I think by far the biggest reason for the improvement is due to Slaine & the VERS side of things. Love him, hate him, or somewhere in between, to me Slaine’s remarkable rise to power built upon a powder keg of lies and deceit has been both entertaining and almost frightening when you consider how big the explosion could be once it all blows up on him… and it will blow up. Looking forward to watching how things play out.
– Absolute Duo: Still watching though I don’t share Cherrie’s enthusiasm. It’s still very much just there for me, and Miyabi’s continued insecurity is starting to get on my nerves. I get Tor/Toru (however it’s spelled) and Julia’s revenge motivation, but for me there’s still something lacking in the story in terms of an overarching plot/reason behind the whole blaze/duo thing.
– Log Horizon: Another show I finally caught up on, and frankly, I think this last arc was the worst one of both seasons. Though I wouldn’t describe it as “strong”, like Stilts, Isuzu’s music plot line failed to strike a chord with me (no pun intended – right Stilts :P). Meh. IMO, greater attention to what’s going on with Plant Hwyaden would have been a better use of time. As Stilts mentioned, the show did finally “address” the issue of some adventurers wanting to return to “RL”. However, the bulk of that was done from (IMO) a somewhat odd and extreme viewpoint with the Odyssey Knights. Short version = I still think the issue has not been sufficiently explored, but at this point, whatever. With the “newbie” arc over, I’m just hoping the story picks up again for the last arc of the season.
– KanColle: After some early rough seas, the show has managed to right the ship and sail on a mostly even keel. Bad nautical puns aside, IMO Ep. 05-08 were an improvement over previous episodes. The anime is still geared towards the core fan base (game players such as myself), but I do think game reference integration has improved somewhat along with execution in general. On the downside, to me Ep 09 represents a step backwards. :/ Hopefully that will prove to be an aberration going forward. With three episodes remaining, I think the big question for most viewers is whether we get a Battle of Midway inspired finale or not. Overall, for what it is, I think KanColle anime has done a pretty good job thus far.
To clarify, I didn’t think Isuzu’s subplot was strong as in good or well done. It was strong in that it was a definite focus. It wasn’t handled well enough to earn those other descriptors.
And don’t you know you’re not supposed to point out the puns? Just let people groan when they catch them, nyahaha!
I love Log Horizon
But how they are delivering the story for season 2 is -.-
That’s more the fault of the author instead of the anime. It’s very much a slow burning series, although the story does climax, things take time to set up for the payoff.
My favorite show is still Gundam G no Reconguista by far. We’re in the final battle now and instead of making things more serious, they made things even more hilarious. Episode 23 was the funniest yet with the Mashner swimsuit pics or Gusion having dry skin, Show Spoiler ▼
After that comes Cross Ange, and I think it’s genuinely good and funny. I don’t watch it “ironically” or “to see how bad it is”. It’s tongue-in-cheek, it’s fun, it’s good. It blends that all with the serious things perfectly.
Show Spoiler ▼
Both are going strong, specially Cross Ange, though its last twist was way out of the expected.
Reconguista’s last chapters feel very lively. It’s natural banter just keeps getting better (for me at least). I would have appreciated seeing this one covered here, as each week it’s difficult to remember which ship belongs to who and the state of affairs of all the groups. Too many interests, names and temporal alliances to keep track when you see it weekly.
Yeah, since we haven’t seen Genius Klim, Mask and the others for a few episodes, seeing them all again with their different ships made me pause a few seconds the time to remember again whose ship is who.
OH MY GOD, where is Jojo’s coverage guys, Jojo fans are going to go all ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORRAAH if their show keeps getting ignored even in monthly coverage/impressions XD
I’m watching it, but in my opinion JJBA may just be the most difficult anime to blog or write about on a regular basis. It’s fantastic… but what you see is what you get. There’s not much to write about other than whatever meme-worthy thing happens next. But I will say that seeing the Avdol/JoJo fence scene animated was every bit as perfect as I imagined.
Uhm…. Isn’t the last sentence on the Yoru Yatterman review a crazy huge SPOILER?!
Granted, this show is losing my interest. I feel the same as the reviewer. Insanely good first episode then … Welll….
But that really did take away something from a show that needs as much story punch as it can get.
Well since it’s anime original it’s purely my speculation, but I think it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? But I agree that that we need something more like the very first episode again.
Since RC doesn’t have a place for general discussion, I thought I might ask this here: Are you guys planing on doing a review of Gandum Origins I OVA?
So Shinmao and Absolute Duo have more or less switched places? Interesting, since I pegged Shinmao for the hidden potential of the season. Time to give Absolute Duo a try then.
also, The rolling girls may be not be that good, but the fight animation is pretty high class. it has to be said
Initially I thought the two would be quite similar in terms of uh… enjoyment factor but after the latest episodes, I think Absolute Duo is better. It’s more targeted towards what I would expect to see in a harem/fantasy anime whereas Shimao is too ecchi for me =X More Stilts thing I think haha!
How many times do I have to say this? I-I’m not the ecchi blogger! *tsuuun*
YGO Arc V is the only airing anime I care about right now.
I agree that Shiroe makes things interesting, things happen around him and people gravitate to him. He was a bit underused this season.
Cherrie, I’m sorry that you don’t like Archangel Michael in Junketsu no Maria. He’s my favorite character and they absolutely nailed him! Michael is not a sunshine and rainbows angel in traditional Catholic teaching. He is the warrior who expelled the fallen angels from heaven and who will destroy the world at the end of days.
I think it depends on how his character is portrayed that makes me like/dislike him. In Genenis Bahamut last season, I thought he was good because he wasn’t preventing the protag from doing what he wanted to do. Here, it looks like he’s being quite unfair to Maria and I feel bad for her T_T
I missed Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis. Thanks for the tip, I’ll check it out.
Wow cherrie you sure are busy! 13 animes?! OTL
I noticed that World Break didnt even get an impression.
Mind you, I didnt watch it and still have no intention of watching it. But i did hope that atleast someone would give me a reason to give a damn about it…. I guess World Break was so bad that no one gives a f*ck about it.
I guess it will remain in my Ignore-this-crappy-anime list