(no subject)
It’s pretty late into the fall season, but I didn’t want to let it end without writing about what I’m watching.
Yowamushi Pedal is back for a new season. It literally picks up right where the last season left off, and since it was only gone for the summer season, it almost feels like it never stopped. Since I already talked about it back when it began airing, and it’s still basically the same thing, I’ll just repeat that the show is fun and charming and most of that charm rests on the shoulders of its adorably sweet and nerdy protagonist, Onoda. The only thing I can add is that antagonist Midousuji is just a joy to watch.
Akatsuki no Yona is a historical adventure type shoujo series (one of my favorite kinds of shoujo). It reminds me somewhat of Fushigi Yuugi, just in terms of the setting, clothing, and the “travel around and gather handsome male companions” theme. The story is definitely interesting (though so far nothing has matched the excitement of the first two episodes) and the art is lovely. The music is a little “meh” for me though. The heroine is great, even if her character arc isn’t all that original (pampered princess forced to toughen up and learn how the common people live). From the opening, and from recent developments, it seems like she’s going to be a strong physical fighter at some point as well, which is always nice. Recommended to anyone who likes a little action in their period-piece shoujo.
Rage of Bahamut is one of two medieval fantasy series I’m watching this season. I watch them both on Hulu and I started them on the same day, so to be honest I got a few of the minor plot points confused between them in the early episodes. However, they distinguished themselves primarily in their protagonists. Rage of Bahamut’s trio of lead characters are very fun to watch because they’re fairly light-hearted (and all of them could accurately be called idiots at one point or another), even though they’re tossed into the midst of a terrible war between angels and demons. It’s kind of like what would happen if you had a couple of bumbling fools (who are really only good at fighting) as the stars of Game of Thrones. The contrast between the characters and what’s going on around them is pretty stark, but it’s certainly entertaining. The show also has one of the best opening themes of the season and an attractive art style.
Chaika: Coffin Princess is also back for a new season after only being absent for the summer season (there are several of these, actually). This is a show I came close to dropping a few times during its first season because of a few problematic scenes (to recap, there was a scene where the heroes tied up and stripped an underaged girl to nearly nothing, for example). I also wasn’t very keen on what appeared to be a harem setup forming. I kept watching for two main reasons: I love the art and I love the new ideas about magic and fantasy that the show brought to the table. Also, the harem thing never really happened (there are at least three girls who have feelings for the protagonist, but one of them is rarely seen and the story pays little attention to the romantic feelings of the other two and wisely focuses on the actual plot instead, plus there are several other female characters who have zero romantic interest in him). This new season is more exciting, as it’s had to spend less time on setting up the world and characters of the story and can now spend more time on well-done action scenes and genuinely surprising plot twists. Much improved since last season.
Parasyte is a series I was somewhat familiar with, since I read the first few volumes of the manga. It’s a very interesting and unique sci-fi/horror series with some great animation and music. Protagonist Shinichi is easy to root for and care about (though I remember him looking quite a bit different in the manga, his personality is the same). The story can be violent and brutal, and definitely has some body horror elements, but it also has its share of understated humor and some surprisingly touching emotional moments. Definitely worth watching if you can handle some gruesome imagery.
Psycho Pass 2 is something I was looking forward to very much, more than anything else airing this season. The first season of Psycho Pass was one of my favorite anime of the past ten years, and so far season two is keeping up the quality. Protagonist Akane is a fantastic heroine because she relies on her wits. She’s not a physical power house (though give her a sturdy helmet and piss her off enough and she will take you DOWN). She’s intelligent, cool-headed, and knows how to take charge of a situation. While she was a little green in the first season, she’s really grown into her job in season two. We also get a new villain. Season one’s Makishima left some huge shoes to fill (he became one of my all-time favorite villains) but Kamui is doing a good job of stirring things up. I still think Makishima was much more interesting (and far more threatening) but Kamui has a creepiness all his own. The other new characters are great. I even like the bratty and entitled new Inspector, just because she has such great reactions to everything and makes some hilarious (yet borderline disturbing) facial expressions. The opening and ending themes are of course amazing and the art is a perfect fit for the story. Definitely one of the highlights of the season.
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April) was being talked about as being possibly similar to last season’s Glasslip, in that it’s a very pretty series about a small group of young friends who inevitably develop crushes on each other. Since I dropped Glasslip out of sheer boredom, I was a little wary of this show. Thankfully, Shigatsu is not boring at all (though it does take a few episodes to really hook you). Though I wouldn’t call it exciting, it’s engaging and heartfelt enough to make you care about these characters and their interactions. The main focus of the show is on young pianist Arima, and without spoiling anything, I will only say that his backstory (when revealed in all its horror) really hit home for me and was almost painful to watch. The main female character, Kaori, comes across as a bit of a Mary Sue (she’s beautiful, talented, free-spirited, and all signs point to her being totally tragic in the most melodramatic of ways), but she’s not nearly as annoying as she could have been. My only complaint is that the show hasn’t given much attention to the other two main characters, Tsubaki and Watari, who seem like they would be very interesting if they got a little more development.
I Can’t Understand What My Husband is Saying is one of three series I’m watching this season that have very short (around five minutes each) episodes. This show is very cute and endearing, focusing on a young married couple, the wife being what appears to be a normal office lady type (with a wild, perverted side that appears when she’s drunk) and the husband being an anti-social otaku who struggles to find work that doesn’t involve him leaving the house. The show works because the couple is so adorable and sweet. The wife is endlessly patient with her husband’s supreme geekiness and tendency to throw countless anime and video game references into their conversations. On the flip side, the husband is devoted and dedicated to her, doting on her when she collapses at work and seemingly cooking all their meals. It’s a humorous, light-hearted look at a sweet and healthy relationship between adults. We need more of this in anime.
Selector Spread Wixoss is yet another series that aired in the spring season and was gone for the summer (it was called “Selector Infected Wixoss” back then though). Not much is different about the show, except that it’s far less mysterious as this season keeps dropping one reveal after another about the nature of the game these girls are playing. It’s fairly interesting stuff, though it does sort of feel like they’re doing a big information dump every other episode or so, and I wish they’d paced things a little differently. Akira is still a fantastic villain (and this season has given definite reason to find her threatening) and the actual Selector battles are still fun but sadly underused. A couple of interesting subplots from the first season have been all but forgotten so that the series can focus on the main plot, which is kinda sad. Overall, it’s still worth a watch.
Garo The Animation is something I was not familiar with at all. Apparently there’s a popular live-action Garo series in Japan but I’d never even heard of it before now. Anywho, just judging it on this anime series alone, it’s pretty good. It’s the other medieval fantasy series I’m watching this season, this time with Ishinomori-esque character designs and a father-son duo as the lead characters. It definitely has an old-school vibe to it, from the design work to the concept of the characters transforming into magical armored knights (something that was very popular in anime in the 70‘s and 80‘s). The series would feel pretty bland, however, if not for the relationship between German and Leon (the father and son respectively). They compliment each other well and lend the series some desperately needed humor, despite the story being serious and at times cruel.
Donten ni Warau reminds me of shows like Hakkenden and Karneval in that it’s an action-oriented show about attractive guys that’s aimed at a female audience and isn’t yaoi (though there is some subtext, as is usual in series like this). The show has a nice look to it, with the three main characters (who are brothers) having a very striking image due to their black and red clothing and black hair with red tips. It’s interesting how color plays a role in the character designs. The Yamainu group all sport earthy tones while the Fuuma ninja are all in purple/white/black. Little touches like this make the show very interesting, visually. This, combined with the constant cloudy/rainy weather (which is a plot element) makes for some great imagery. The show also has fantastic opening and ending themes and what’s shaping up to be a twisty plot (though it looks like it’s only getting twelve episodes, I’m gonna go ahead and predict a season two). All in all, it’s one of the better shows this season.
Orenchi no Furo Jijō is the second series I’m watching with mini-episodes. It’s primarily a comedy series following a young man with a merman living in his bathtub. It has some pretty strong BL subtext (when the man, Tatsumi, takes a bath, he has to climb in with the merman), but so far nothing serious has happened. The show is very cute and humorous. Each episode is basically centered on a specific joke or situation, and the short length works well here. The characters are attractive and the opening theme is nice (though it’s rather grim and serious, which makes for an odd fit with the light-hearted and silly show).
Log Horizon is back after being gone for a few seasons, and it’s better than ever. While the first season was all about world building and setup (which were necessary and entertaining in their own right), this season has the main characters divided into two parallel plotlines, both of which are very exciting. It’s already answered some questions (like what actually happens when the characters die in the game - the answer is breathtaking) and some characters that were only seen briefly in season one have been given much more development. The result is one of the best shows to come out in years, easily topping Sword Art Online (which feels like a popcorn flick compared to Log Horizon’s surprising depth).
World Trigger has a very simple art style that works well for it, a super catchy opening theme, and an earnest but unlucky protagonist. It also has a unique take on the alien invasion story and some fun battle sequences. And that’s the most accurate way I can sum the show up: fun. It’s not too serious (yet) but not too silly. The lack of angst so far is very refreshing, and the frank way characters speak about things from their past seems more realistic to me. The show could stand to have a few more female characters, but it’s trying at least (the two major female characters so far are pretty neat, and there are more in the opening theme). I don’t know how long this show is supposed to run, but it’s building up for something that could last a while.
Bonjour♪Koiaji Pâtisserie is the third series I’m watching this season with mini-episodes. It’s an otome series focusing on a young girl attending a special culinary school that happens to employ some incredibly handsome instructors. Though I wasn’t sure how the mini-episode format would work for an otome series, it actually turned out well. The crunched time and quick pace effectively trimmed out all boring buildup and let’s the show get straight to the good stuff. We get a crash course on each guy, getting to know them very quickly and then moving on to them flirting with the heroine (who is cute but a little bland). The art style is very pretty. It looks a lot like Diabolik Lovers (I haven’t read up on the series so I don’t know if it’s by the same artist or same creators or whatever). The music is a little generic but overall the show is cute and sweet, just like the desserts the characters are so fond of making.
Mushishi is yet another returnee from the spring season. Since I’ve written about it twice before, there’s not much more to say about it. Mushishi relies on subtlety, beautiful scenery, and a handsome yet practical protagonist. It’s a gorgeous and haunting episodic story. If I had one criticism to throw at the show, it would be that it doesn’t lend itself well to marathon viewing. I found this out when I was a little behind on starting the new season and had to watch an extended-length special plus two episodes in one night to catch up. The show’s incredibly slow pace (to the point that at times it almost looks like the character are moving in slow motion) can make you a little drowsy if you try to watch too many episodes in one sitting. But on a weekly basis? This series is a dream.
Wolf Girl and Black Prince (I’m too lazy to look up the Japanese title right now) is the only high school shoujo series I know of airing this season. It’s in the same vein as shows like Ao Haru Ride and My Little Monster before it, though with less rape-attempts-are-romantic hijinks, which automatically makes it better than the previous two. Still, the love interest is tsundere to the extreme, and often comes across as a huge asshole. What makes it easier to stomach is that his “sadistic” antics are so exaggerated that it comes across as silly. Also, the heroine actually calls him out on his bullshit (after he did something particularly awful, she threw her drink in his face in front of an entire restaurant, told him to go die, and stormed out, then refused to contact him until he came crawling back to her - behavior that is sadly rare in shoujo heroines). Anywho, the art is nice (it reminds me of the Peach Girl manga, not really in terms of style, but in how effortless and natural the poses and clothes look). It’s a fun show that I’m enjoying a lot this season.
Yowamushi Pedal is back for a new season. It literally picks up right where the last season left off, and since it was only gone for the summer season, it almost feels like it never stopped. Since I already talked about it back when it began airing, and it’s still basically the same thing, I’ll just repeat that the show is fun and charming and most of that charm rests on the shoulders of its adorably sweet and nerdy protagonist, Onoda. The only thing I can add is that antagonist Midousuji is just a joy to watch.
Akatsuki no Yona is a historical adventure type shoujo series (one of my favorite kinds of shoujo). It reminds me somewhat of Fushigi Yuugi, just in terms of the setting, clothing, and the “travel around and gather handsome male companions” theme. The story is definitely interesting (though so far nothing has matched the excitement of the first two episodes) and the art is lovely. The music is a little “meh” for me though. The heroine is great, even if her character arc isn’t all that original (pampered princess forced to toughen up and learn how the common people live). From the opening, and from recent developments, it seems like she’s going to be a strong physical fighter at some point as well, which is always nice. Recommended to anyone who likes a little action in their period-piece shoujo.
Rage of Bahamut is one of two medieval fantasy series I’m watching this season. I watch them both on Hulu and I started them on the same day, so to be honest I got a few of the minor plot points confused between them in the early episodes. However, they distinguished themselves primarily in their protagonists. Rage of Bahamut’s trio of lead characters are very fun to watch because they’re fairly light-hearted (and all of them could accurately be called idiots at one point or another), even though they’re tossed into the midst of a terrible war between angels and demons. It’s kind of like what would happen if you had a couple of bumbling fools (who are really only good at fighting) as the stars of Game of Thrones. The contrast between the characters and what’s going on around them is pretty stark, but it’s certainly entertaining. The show also has one of the best opening themes of the season and an attractive art style.
Chaika: Coffin Princess is also back for a new season after only being absent for the summer season (there are several of these, actually). This is a show I came close to dropping a few times during its first season because of a few problematic scenes (to recap, there was a scene where the heroes tied up and stripped an underaged girl to nearly nothing, for example). I also wasn’t very keen on what appeared to be a harem setup forming. I kept watching for two main reasons: I love the art and I love the new ideas about magic and fantasy that the show brought to the table. Also, the harem thing never really happened (there are at least three girls who have feelings for the protagonist, but one of them is rarely seen and the story pays little attention to the romantic feelings of the other two and wisely focuses on the actual plot instead, plus there are several other female characters who have zero romantic interest in him). This new season is more exciting, as it’s had to spend less time on setting up the world and characters of the story and can now spend more time on well-done action scenes and genuinely surprising plot twists. Much improved since last season.
Parasyte is a series I was somewhat familiar with, since I read the first few volumes of the manga. It’s a very interesting and unique sci-fi/horror series with some great animation and music. Protagonist Shinichi is easy to root for and care about (though I remember him looking quite a bit different in the manga, his personality is the same). The story can be violent and brutal, and definitely has some body horror elements, but it also has its share of understated humor and some surprisingly touching emotional moments. Definitely worth watching if you can handle some gruesome imagery.
Psycho Pass 2 is something I was looking forward to very much, more than anything else airing this season. The first season of Psycho Pass was one of my favorite anime of the past ten years, and so far season two is keeping up the quality. Protagonist Akane is a fantastic heroine because she relies on her wits. She’s not a physical power house (though give her a sturdy helmet and piss her off enough and she will take you DOWN). She’s intelligent, cool-headed, and knows how to take charge of a situation. While she was a little green in the first season, she’s really grown into her job in season two. We also get a new villain. Season one’s Makishima left some huge shoes to fill (he became one of my all-time favorite villains) but Kamui is doing a good job of stirring things up. I still think Makishima was much more interesting (and far more threatening) but Kamui has a creepiness all his own. The other new characters are great. I even like the bratty and entitled new Inspector, just because she has such great reactions to everything and makes some hilarious (yet borderline disturbing) facial expressions. The opening and ending themes are of course amazing and the art is a perfect fit for the story. Definitely one of the highlights of the season.
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April) was being talked about as being possibly similar to last season’s Glasslip, in that it’s a very pretty series about a small group of young friends who inevitably develop crushes on each other. Since I dropped Glasslip out of sheer boredom, I was a little wary of this show. Thankfully, Shigatsu is not boring at all (though it does take a few episodes to really hook you). Though I wouldn’t call it exciting, it’s engaging and heartfelt enough to make you care about these characters and their interactions. The main focus of the show is on young pianist Arima, and without spoiling anything, I will only say that his backstory (when revealed in all its horror) really hit home for me and was almost painful to watch. The main female character, Kaori, comes across as a bit of a Mary Sue (she’s beautiful, talented, free-spirited, and all signs point to her being totally tragic in the most melodramatic of ways), but she’s not nearly as annoying as she could have been. My only complaint is that the show hasn’t given much attention to the other two main characters, Tsubaki and Watari, who seem like they would be very interesting if they got a little more development.
I Can’t Understand What My Husband is Saying is one of three series I’m watching this season that have very short (around five minutes each) episodes. This show is very cute and endearing, focusing on a young married couple, the wife being what appears to be a normal office lady type (with a wild, perverted side that appears when she’s drunk) and the husband being an anti-social otaku who struggles to find work that doesn’t involve him leaving the house. The show works because the couple is so adorable and sweet. The wife is endlessly patient with her husband’s supreme geekiness and tendency to throw countless anime and video game references into their conversations. On the flip side, the husband is devoted and dedicated to her, doting on her when she collapses at work and seemingly cooking all their meals. It’s a humorous, light-hearted look at a sweet and healthy relationship between adults. We need more of this in anime.
Selector Spread Wixoss is yet another series that aired in the spring season and was gone for the summer (it was called “Selector Infected Wixoss” back then though). Not much is different about the show, except that it’s far less mysterious as this season keeps dropping one reveal after another about the nature of the game these girls are playing. It’s fairly interesting stuff, though it does sort of feel like they’re doing a big information dump every other episode or so, and I wish they’d paced things a little differently. Akira is still a fantastic villain (and this season has given definite reason to find her threatening) and the actual Selector battles are still fun but sadly underused. A couple of interesting subplots from the first season have been all but forgotten so that the series can focus on the main plot, which is kinda sad. Overall, it’s still worth a watch.
Garo The Animation is something I was not familiar with at all. Apparently there’s a popular live-action Garo series in Japan but I’d never even heard of it before now. Anywho, just judging it on this anime series alone, it’s pretty good. It’s the other medieval fantasy series I’m watching this season, this time with Ishinomori-esque character designs and a father-son duo as the lead characters. It definitely has an old-school vibe to it, from the design work to the concept of the characters transforming into magical armored knights (something that was very popular in anime in the 70‘s and 80‘s). The series would feel pretty bland, however, if not for the relationship between German and Leon (the father and son respectively). They compliment each other well and lend the series some desperately needed humor, despite the story being serious and at times cruel.
Donten ni Warau reminds me of shows like Hakkenden and Karneval in that it’s an action-oriented show about attractive guys that’s aimed at a female audience and isn’t yaoi (though there is some subtext, as is usual in series like this). The show has a nice look to it, with the three main characters (who are brothers) having a very striking image due to their black and red clothing and black hair with red tips. It’s interesting how color plays a role in the character designs. The Yamainu group all sport earthy tones while the Fuuma ninja are all in purple/white/black. Little touches like this make the show very interesting, visually. This, combined with the constant cloudy/rainy weather (which is a plot element) makes for some great imagery. The show also has fantastic opening and ending themes and what’s shaping up to be a twisty plot (though it looks like it’s only getting twelve episodes, I’m gonna go ahead and predict a season two). All in all, it’s one of the better shows this season.
Orenchi no Furo Jijō is the second series I’m watching with mini-episodes. It’s primarily a comedy series following a young man with a merman living in his bathtub. It has some pretty strong BL subtext (when the man, Tatsumi, takes a bath, he has to climb in with the merman), but so far nothing serious has happened. The show is very cute and humorous. Each episode is basically centered on a specific joke or situation, and the short length works well here. The characters are attractive and the opening theme is nice (though it’s rather grim and serious, which makes for an odd fit with the light-hearted and silly show).
Log Horizon is back after being gone for a few seasons, and it’s better than ever. While the first season was all about world building and setup (which were necessary and entertaining in their own right), this season has the main characters divided into two parallel plotlines, both of which are very exciting. It’s already answered some questions (like what actually happens when the characters die in the game - the answer is breathtaking) and some characters that were only seen briefly in season one have been given much more development. The result is one of the best shows to come out in years, easily topping Sword Art Online (which feels like a popcorn flick compared to Log Horizon’s surprising depth).
World Trigger has a very simple art style that works well for it, a super catchy opening theme, and an earnest but unlucky protagonist. It also has a unique take on the alien invasion story and some fun battle sequences. And that’s the most accurate way I can sum the show up: fun. It’s not too serious (yet) but not too silly. The lack of angst so far is very refreshing, and the frank way characters speak about things from their past seems more realistic to me. The show could stand to have a few more female characters, but it’s trying at least (the two major female characters so far are pretty neat, and there are more in the opening theme). I don’t know how long this show is supposed to run, but it’s building up for something that could last a while.
Bonjour♪Koiaji Pâtisserie is the third series I’m watching this season with mini-episodes. It’s an otome series focusing on a young girl attending a special culinary school that happens to employ some incredibly handsome instructors. Though I wasn’t sure how the mini-episode format would work for an otome series, it actually turned out well. The crunched time and quick pace effectively trimmed out all boring buildup and let’s the show get straight to the good stuff. We get a crash course on each guy, getting to know them very quickly and then moving on to them flirting with the heroine (who is cute but a little bland). The art style is very pretty. It looks a lot like Diabolik Lovers (I haven’t read up on the series so I don’t know if it’s by the same artist or same creators or whatever). The music is a little generic but overall the show is cute and sweet, just like the desserts the characters are so fond of making.
Mushishi is yet another returnee from the spring season. Since I’ve written about it twice before, there’s not much more to say about it. Mushishi relies on subtlety, beautiful scenery, and a handsome yet practical protagonist. It’s a gorgeous and haunting episodic story. If I had one criticism to throw at the show, it would be that it doesn’t lend itself well to marathon viewing. I found this out when I was a little behind on starting the new season and had to watch an extended-length special plus two episodes in one night to catch up. The show’s incredibly slow pace (to the point that at times it almost looks like the character are moving in slow motion) can make you a little drowsy if you try to watch too many episodes in one sitting. But on a weekly basis? This series is a dream.
Wolf Girl and Black Prince (I’m too lazy to look up the Japanese title right now) is the only high school shoujo series I know of airing this season. It’s in the same vein as shows like Ao Haru Ride and My Little Monster before it, though with less rape-attempts-are-romantic hijinks, which automatically makes it better than the previous two. Still, the love interest is tsundere to the extreme, and often comes across as a huge asshole. What makes it easier to stomach is that his “sadistic” antics are so exaggerated that it comes across as silly. Also, the heroine actually calls him out on his bullshit (after he did something particularly awful, she threw her drink in his face in front of an entire restaurant, told him to go die, and stormed out, then refused to contact him until he came crawling back to her - behavior that is sadly rare in shoujo heroines). Anywho, the art is nice (it reminds me of the Peach Girl manga, not really in terms of style, but in how effortless and natural the poses and clothes look). It’s a fun show that I’m enjoying a lot this season.