NO.6 – 10

「奈落にあるもの」 (Naraku ni Aru Mono)
“What Lies in the Abyss”

For such an earnest and seemingly old-fashioned anime as this often seems to be, No. 6 has quite the talent for slapping the audience in the face occasionally. Seeing a baby being nursed by a dog is certainly a first for me, anime or otherwise – and that’s just for starters.

Yuruyuri – 10

「修学旅行というが、私たちは一体何を学び修めたのだろう」 (Shuugaku Ryokou to Iu ga, Watashi-tachi wa Ittai Nani wo Manabiosameta no Darou)
“It’s a School Trip, but Exactly What are We Supposed to Have Learned?”

Yuruyuri has always been a mildly amusing series, but this is the first time an episode had me laughing helplessly, stopping to catch my breath, and then laughing helplessly again. I mean come on, Chitose’s bleeding through her eyes! How is that not funny?

Steins;Gate – 23

「境界面上のシュタインズゲート」 (Kyōkaimenjō no Shutainzu Gēto)
“Open the Steins Gate”

I’m going to go against character and make this post a brief one, which is fitting I think in that this penultimate episode was one that pretty much speaks for itself. And I’ll start with a confession – I finally caved and re-watched the first episode before I watched episode 23.

Natsume Yuujin-chou San – 10

「割れた鏡」 (Wareta Kagami)
“Broken Mirror”

Over the course of three seasons Natsume Yuujinchou has consistently delivered superb examples of what is generally referred to dismissively as “filler”. Except that the filler for this series – such as the previous two episodes – is very often among the best the show has to offer.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! – 09

「僕と恋路と交渉術っ!」 (Boku to Koiji to Kousyoujutsuu!)
“Me, Romance, and Democracy!”

Akihisa, you are the biggest moron in the world. In terms of KY, or understanding how to read the situation, you score below zero points. Seriously, how dense do you have to be to miss the intense amounts of love being shot in your direction?

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée The Animation – 10

「魔術幻燈 Fantasmagorie」 (Majutsu Gentou)
“Phantasmagoria”

If the goal of this episode was to make Oscar out as a fun-loving grandfather with all the cool toys, it worked wonderfully in that regard. Enseignes du Roy sure has a different atmosphere to it when Claude isn’t around.