This post reviews: Yuri Kuma Arashi, Kantai Collection (KanColle), Junketsu no Maria (Maria the Virgin Witch), and Koufuku Graffiti.

Since this season is light in terms of new anime, and there aren’t too many shows I am planning on watching this season, there will only be 2 installments of my first impressions posts. Since the anime in these posts are always grouped by the dates they are released, I think all that will be needed are two for Winter 2015.

Watching:

Yuri Kuma Arashi

The highlights of Yuri Kuma Arashi are its storytelling and its visual presentation. The execution in this first episode was brilliant, and helped lay the foundation for what should be an intriguing story about love between two conflicting and divided sides. In terms of the characterization, there isn’t much to say beyond identifying each girl’s primary personality, but it’s how they’ll change that will intrigue me. The content of the first episode did little to inspire me, but the storytelling was remarkable in how it constructed this delicate situation. But perhaps the most imposing fact about this first episode is its visuals. It won’t have the best art or animation this season, but its cinematography was superb in how it diversified its shots and scenes. A great example of this is how it positioned its characters with Ginko and Lulu were walking down the spiral staircase. In all, about what I expected given the pedigree of the production staff, though I will admit that I am not as enthused on this anime as I originally thought.

Kantai Collection (KanColle)

I might have a think for military-themed, all-girls anime like Strike Witches, Girls und Panzer, and now Kantai Collection. What immediately stood out to me with this first episode was the duration and quality of these naval battles. It helped that the 3D animation was both gorgeous and smooth, but it was the length and complexity of the battle (18 ships were shown, not to mention countless Zeros) is what I’ll remember the most from this first episode. Unfortunately, I don’t know how often the anime will be able to present naval warfare like this, but at least it was a demonstration of its skills, and it provides me with some hope for a grand finale. With regards to its cast, I’m conflicted. In a sense, I’m happy to see a diverse cast of characters, but the breadth combined with the short course of the anime means each girl will be shallow or one-dimensional except the handful of primary characters like Fubuki, Yuudachi, and some of the aircraft characters. I wish I could see each character developed, but they’d need to make KanColle about 100 episodes for that to happen. Hopefully the anime focuses on some of the more interesting characters. The content of the first episode was a bit of a cliché, but that weakness was fortified by its distinctive setting. Sure, outside the naval themes and alien invaders, it’s pretty much a school setting, slice-of-life anime, but that is never a negative if those aspects are performed well. And, well… the school aspects in this first episode were satisfactory. It wasn’t anything exceptional, but it wasn’t anything terrible either. I’m looking forward to seeing how this anime develops, though I expect the content in the next few episodes to be primarily on school and mock battles against other girls. I am kinda curious if the anime will ever have a beach episode…

Junketsu no Maria (Maria the Virgin Witch)

From the creator of Moyashimon, comes Junketsu no Maria, an anime about a witch who hates warfare in medieval France. But perhaps more significant than the story are the underlying themes of the anime, perhaps most notably are the two main characters, Joseph and a virgin named Maria… huh. Not only that, but there is also some conflict between the church and Maria, as well as the church’s role in the war, and there are some underpinnings to this anime that are laying a solid foundation for a fascinating story. Outside of that, the setting is spectacular in how it mixes its fantasy and realism. The soldiers of Gaul were a ragtag bunch of peasants, which is counter to most fantasy anime, where every soldier has full plate armor, a longsword, and at least 3-months training at the local military academy. There’s also the realism in the peasant village and how the battle progressed (although the number of arrows was exaggerated). Then there are the fantasy elements with Maria and Artemis, performing their magic and transformations and whatnot with ease which provides a pleasant contrast to everything else. I don’t have much to say on the characters at this point other than that Maria and Artemis feel a bit more cartoony than everyone else, even the little peasant girl, Anne. The art and animation are easily some of the strongest this season, given its attractive character designs and fluid battle animations. It is worth noting the anime is a bit ecchi with having Maria naked a few times and Artemis’ outfit, but it’s blended in fairly naturally and not in-your-face or distracting. Overall, one of the most impressive first episodes this season and on its way to being perhaps one of the top anime of the season.

Undecided:

Nothing here, which means…

Dropped:

Koufuku Graffiti

Although the individual elements of Koufuku Graffiti were fine, the whole product as an anime failed to hook me. What interested me the most was that cooking was a focal point of the anime, yet it felt underserved compared to the characters and their stories. In fact, besides the opening scene with Ryou cooking and describing her directions, the cooking felt like an afterthought, and the theme transitioned to general “food” and “eating” themes rather than “cooking”. To me, “food” wasn’t a problem, but the orgasmic eating scenes were ridiculous and served well to fragment the scenes between slice-of-life and erotic fanservice. It didn’t help that the characters felt shallow with their problems (one wants someone to eat their food, the other wants to go to art school), but their behaviors were fine given the topic of this anime. The art and animation were enjoyable, and helped create a pleasant personality for this anime. But what keeps this anime from inspiring me to watch more episodes is that I really don’t care about the characters, their issues, and how the theme of food, cooking and eating is presented. I will say that this first episode wasn’t terrible – in fact, it was mildly enjoyable – but there isn’t enough in this anime to keep me going. So, given this judgment, I’m dropping Koufuku Graffiti.

This post reviews: Death Parade, The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls, Assassination Classroom, The Rolling Girls, Soukyuu no Fafner – Dead Aggressor: Exodus, and Yoru no Yatterman.

Most of the anime I’m watching this season are sequels which explains why these First Impressions posts are so light and infrequent this season. However, this season appears to be about as busy as any other, in terms of total anime, considering the number of sequels I’ll be watching in addition to all the new anime. If you were curious, here are some quick thoughts on the sequels that I’ve elected to continue during Winter 2015:

Aldnoah.Zero (S2): Completely ignoring the finale of S1 will mean a quick decline in S2. So disappointing.

Dog Days” (S3): A vast improvement over S2, likely to the reappearance of an actual story.

Durarara!! X2: A reintroduction to our memorable cast with new elements merged nicely throughout.

Gundam Reconguista in G: The most consistent thing about this anime is that I don’t understand anything.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders (S2): I knew I was going to dread Iggy, so at least I was able to prepare myself. JJBA is best when there is a strong antagonist, so until Dio appears, the series might struggle. Still, the Egyptian Deity series of Stands should be better overall than the Tarot series.

Kamisama Kiss S2: …were there always this many males? All I remember, or that I want to remember, from the first series is Nanami and Tomoe disguised as Nanami.

Watching:

Death Parade

For those who watched Death Billiards, the first episode of Death Parade provided a warm welcome back to the series by reminding us again of its shocking concepts, sophisticated setting, and stoic protagonist, Decim. For those who are completely new to this franchise… well, how was that for a first episode? I will admit, I did enjoy how closely this first episode mirrored Death Billiards, though I am thrilled they took the situation in a separate path this time. The key difference between the episodes is that this featured two sides cooperating in their game versus the standard competition in the OVA. And that leads me to my main thought with this series… where will it go? What does it want to do with its characters? With Decim? With Onna? Whatever it is, I’m certain it’ll be intriguing and stimulating considering the content of its episodes, but it does have a larger cast than I was expecting as shown in the OP. Still, with its superiority in storytelling, its appealing design, it’s curious characters, those gorgeous visuals, and that elegant setting, I must say that Death Parade is gonna be a fun anime to watch this season.

The Rolling Girls

The phenomenal art and magnificent animation of the Rolling Girls is reason enough to watch it, but it’s the absurdity of the setting and its ridiculous characters that will keep the anime fresh and exciting every week. However, that remains to be seen given the peaks and valleys in this episode. The fight at the beginning and the ramen-eating race were easily the twin pinnacles of this episode (I might be biased to the ramen scene myself) and the anime was running on a sugar high. The rest of the episode… well, that’s the crash. That’s not to say these scenes were bad, but just a completely different flavor, a different energy than the action scenes. I really wonder if this anime will be like a rollercoaster, cycling between peaks and troughs depending on the quality and quantity of its action sequences. If it’s anything like this first episode, great. If it’s anything less, that’d still be fine because the visuals are as equally impressive. Use of lighting and color have always been two of my favorite aspects of aesthetics in anime and this probably has the best use of color of any anime this season. Add in its charming animation, and this anime is certainly pleasing to my eyes. And yes, the absurdity of its world is certainly encouraging too, being as wacky and senseless as it wants to be. I’m still a bit weary of how the characters and the story will turn out, but the anime is no-doubt entertaining and meaningful to watch. It has a few areas it can improve upon and it should once this anime finishes these introductions.

Soukyuu no Fafner – Dead Aggressor: Exodus

Perhaps the most crucial, most valuable lesson learned from this first episode of Soukyuu no Fafner – Dead Aggressor: Exodus, at least from my perspective, is that you don’t need to sit through the originals to watch and enjoy this anime. Without having watched the TV anime from 2004 or the movie from 2010, I was able to understand and appreciate the background, the setting, and the characters. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a number of references and other tidbits that hinted back to the original series that I completely missed, but I’m fine with watching Soukyuu no Fafner without it. However, I will admit that this first episode was a bit underwhelming. If I were to give this episode a review in a single word, I wouldn’t have any qualms with saying, ‘mediocre’. But this mediocre isn’t bad… it’s not mediocre in the overall field of anime, just mediocre in my personal field… which means it’s actually pretty good. In fact, I think I enjoy just about every aspect of this anime from its art, to its action, to its characters, to its story, its setting, its everything. But what gives it that mediocre tag is that nothing blew me away. It was underwhelming in that nothing stood out to me about this anime to make it exceptional or memorable. Fafner is an enjoyable anime, one that I will likely enjoy watching each week, but there’s nothing special about this anime… yet.

Undecided:

Assassination Classroom

First, this was a markedly improved product over the Assassination Classroom OVA that debuted in 2013 (although this was expected). However, the leap in quality might not be enough to warrant keeping this anime. While I did enjoy the dazzling art and cinematography and found the storytelling and comedy a plus over the OVA, I worry about the story, the characters, and the comedy for the remainder of the series. This first episode did a sufficient job of introducing the background, the main character, Nagisa, his motivations, and the antagonist, Koro-sensei. Really, that’s all it needed to do. But the middle of the series will likely be like that of the OVA… some sentimental stories that’s heavy with absurd comedy and failed assassination attempts. I figure a few episodes here and there might be fun, but this pattern will likely get tired pretty fast. This style of shounen comedy really didn’t work for me before, and it probably won’t work for me now. Still, I do want to see what the content of the second episode is like and whether the comedy improves or if the other characters are as interesting as Nagisa. In fact, if either is true, then this anime might be saved. Until then, consider the anime doubtful, though it deserves another episode at this point.

Yoru no Yatterman

Yoru no Yatterman might eventually be one of the best anime of the season, but it’ll need one more episode to convince me it’s worth watching. Even though it had one of the best opening episodes of Winter 2015, I realize the content of the episode is not representative to how the rest of the series will perform. Still, just about everything about this episode was impressive, especially its art, animation and cinematography. At the very least, I know Yoru no Yatterman will be one of the most delightful aesthetically this season with outstanding visuals like these in every episode. What I’m worried with the series is the story. Given the storytelling of this first episode, I’m sure the narrative of the story will be fascinating, seeing as that we’re witnessing this world through the eyes of its supposed anti-heroes. However, I am not sure if this will be standard hero vs. villain battles or if the series will be creative in how the story and the world develop. However, I am fairly confident that the character development will be handled carefully and skillfully given what this first episode demonstrated. That being said, I don’t really care for any of the characters right now, but I care what they stand for… and that’s actually pretty big for me to say this early in an anime. There’s a high probability that I will keep this anime after watching the second episode, but it has to go in the direction I want for its story, its characters and its setting. If not, I wouldn’t mind dropping Yoru no Yatterman, but given that this first episode greatly exceeded my expectations, I think that the chances of that are unlikely.

Dropped:

The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls

I’ve never been big on idol anime. In fact, the only idol anime I’ve watched as it aired since the inception of this blog has been the original The iDOLM@STER (as well as its spin-off chibi comedy, Puchimas!). What’s the difference, you might ask, considering the two anime are virtually twins of each other minus the characters? Well, it’s that the first episode of the original series had a hook. This one didn’t. What the first episode did was introduce the entire cast through an interesting method of interviewing each and demonstrating to the audience what the series had to offer. Cinderella Girls focused on only three. The original iDOLM@STER offered more diversity in its cast to start, featured a number of different stories (why each girl wanted to be an idol), and presented it in an innovative way. This one did not. Cinderella Girls took a fairly standard anime approach to opening its story, and it fell flat. And while I did enjoy the original anime, I can’t say the same for this one. There was no hook, and as a result, there is no real motivation for me to keep watching.

This week: analyzing the delicate balance between entertainment and realism in Shirobako, questioning the subjectivity of evidence and judgments in Death Parade, justifying what makes the setting so successful and vibrant in Durarara!!x2 Shou, and gushing about the unique personality in The Rolling Girls.

Best episode of the week: Death Parade

Anime trending up this week: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Egypt Arc (S2)

Anime trending down this week: Yuri Kuma Arashi

Aldnoah.Zero (S2) (Episode 14)

Inaho’s new robotic eye is pretty great, right? I mean, with this new robotic eye, he can create 3D images of girls (I’m assuming he’s been spying on Inko for a while now with that eye), he can calculate mass by watching something move, he can zoom with his eye (which must be really disorienting if he has his other eye open), and he can use it to detect fluctuations and variations in sound waves or some bullshit. It was essentially the difference in the most recent ‘Inaho-saves-the-day’ battle by being able to track the movement of these mecha by calculating the changes in wind (?) and the gravitation pull of tiny space rocks (???) to blow shit up. So tell me, if these robot eyes are so useful, why doesn’t everybody have one? Hell, why doesn’t everybody have two of these things? Imagine if everyone had these god-like robotic eyes that can pretty much do everything. The war would essentially be over now. Princess Asseylum would probably be cured by now. And the rest of the anime would probably fanservicey beach episodes, just like the creators always wanted.

Death Parade (Episode 2)

Is Decim really wrong? Did he really make a mistake? Considering how subjective the evidence is and considering how the material is presented to these arbiters, you could make an argument that Decim is correct in his judgment between Takashi and Machiko. In fact, I’m surprised that Decim did not explain his rationale further after Onna, his new assistant, countered him with her rationalization of Machiko’s actions. For example, Decim could have retorted that Machiko’s latest actions were only after she realized she is dead which then changed her behavior, her subsequent actions, and ultimately ended the evaluation period. Then again, that isn’t to say that Onna and Nona are wrong either; in fact, they’re probably more correct than Decim in this case. Still, I would have figured that Decim would rationalize his thoughts further, but I suppose that’s just the way he is. And who knows, maybe that’s the real story that this anime wants to tackle with introducing Onna to Decim.

Dog Days’’ (S3) (Episode 2)

The first season of Dog Days was dedicated to Shinku’s adventures as the Hero of Biscotti. The second season of Dog Days had a special focus on Becky, elaborating on her relationship with Shinku and also becaming the Hero of Pastillage. So, if the pattern continues, perhaps the third season will place a special emphasis on the third human hero, Nanami? The first two episodes of Dog Days’’ seems to be leaning that way, at least for now.   Each episode has put Nanami in a central role, pairing her with Shinku at the start, having them travel to Flonyard together, and then beginning the first adventure of this sequel with them immediately getting lost in the Dragon Forest. Nanami was never featured this much before, and was never seen alone with Shinku besides a couple of fights early on in Dog Days’. Perhaps the creators are shaping this season with Nanami as one of its primary characters? After two episodes, it certainly seems like this is Nanami’s season of Dog Days.

Durarara!!x2 Shou (Episode 2)

Durarara!! has one of the most dynamic and enthusiastic settings in anime, thanks principally to how well it manages its enormous cast. Not only do each of these characters have some degree of depth and a definable personality, but they continue to remain relevant to Ikebukuro even when they’re outside the primary storyline. That is to say, they continue to have an influence on Durarara!! despite not being in the immediate focus of the story. The reason for Durarara!!’s success here is that it continues to tie characters together for relevant reasons. Mikado and Anri are unsure in Ikebukuro to show Aoba, so they enlist help from Walker and Erika. Namie Yagiri, the main antagonist for the first part of Durarara!!, is still the underappreciated secretary for Izaya, but she provides an opportunity for exposition through openly spying on her boss and his twin sisters. Furthermore, the anime is continuing to build connections between characters even now, such as Emilia with Shingen, Shinra and Celty or even between Anri and Shingen in this episode. The way Durarara!! utilizes its cast is nothing short of exceptional and it gives the anime a unique feel to how the city lives and breathes. And as the series continues to grow, so does Ikebukuro, and the setting only continues to improve as a result.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Egypt Arc (S2) (Episode 26)

Jotaro is a dick. Did he really just spend all afternoon and into the early evening digging a grave for N’Doul instead of going back and telling his friends that he successfully defeated the Stand user and that they could move and make sounds again and get out of the desert sun? Like, shouldn’t the first thing you do is go back and make sure your friends that are bleeding to death are okay? Or maybe tell Avdol that the Stand was ‘Geb’ an Egyptian god and seek clues about the other possible Stand users? Don’t get me wrong, digging a grave is respectful and honorable, but couldn’t he have done that after helping his companions?

Kamisama Kiss S2 (Episode 2)

From here, Kamisama Kiss can go in a number of directions, such as developing Nanami’s spiritual powers or continuing the romance between her and pretty much every guy in the series. The direction that intrigues me the most, however, is the one on Tomoe’s past, specifically his relationship with Akura-ou (his demon buddy you see with Tomoe at the start of episode 1) and his romance with Yukiji. I am thankful to see that Akura-ou is back in the anime, in the body of Kirihito, since this means that the anime is intending to explore Tomoe’s past this season. Whether that is the main storyline or just a tangent remains to be seen, but I am looking forward to learning about Tomoe’s past and how he has evolved as a character throughout his life and throughout the series.

Kantai Collection (KanColle) (Episode 2)

It might not be a surprise to some, but it’s a surprise to me how much fanservice there is in Kantai Collection. Considering its premise and its setting, I expected there to be some fanservice, such as damage shown by torn or ripped clothes and the inevitable bathing scenes, but not in this volume or in the form of numerous pantyshots. In fact, the main broadcast version for episode 1 was somewhat ‘censored’ compared to other versions with a comparison between the two below:

Still, despite the fanservice, Kantai Collection manages to maintain its somewhat-serious and militaristic themes. Again, I suppose that’s not a surprise to some when there are pseudo-military anime like Strike Witches, but I expected something more thoughtful and mindful than that with KanColle. Then again, there have only been two episodes, so maybe the anime will mature as the story and the characters progress.

Shirobako (Episode 14)

One of the paramount aspects of how Shirobako appropriately represents the anime industry is how it manages to skillfully balance realism with entertainment. Without the value of amusement, scenes describing the industry in Shirobako would become monotonous and lackluster, concentrating on disclosing as much information without any flare or character to lighten the mood. Without it, these scenes would feel heavy and dense, and leave the audience feeling tired or bored after a while. And this is where entertainment or amusement comes in. Shirobako uses these variables to its advantage, and it’s able to create scenes that are humorous to watch while still being educational and realistic.

A great way to understand this is by examining two scenes with differing amounts of entertainment to demonstrate how well Shirobako uses this key feature. For example, when Miyamori and Kinoshita met with Atsumi in the restaurant, the scene had a low amount of entertainment, thus giving it a serious and heavy feel, while the audition meeting scene had extensive comedy while still being representative of the industry. Both scenes are realistic, to a certain degree, but this is more difficult to manage when the scene is meant to be hilarious. The audition meeting scene was rampant with jokes and parodies about the axillary industries, thanks primarily due to some phenomenal work by Takehito Koyasu, but because the scene captured how these other influences are attempting to sway the anime industry to promote their own profits, it made the scene both hysterical and informative. By contrast, the scene with Atsumi was highly informative, describing how an artist values and appreciates his work, but the scene was not nearly as entertaining, making the balance less noticeable. Then again, the scene was never meant to be amusing, so it’s important to factor in where high amounts of humor can be used and cannot be used. The scene with Atsumi was meant to be serious, so Shirobako used an appropriate mood to supplement the content presented. That isn’t to say the balance between realism and entertainment is unimpressive when compared against the comical scenes, but it does demonstrate how well Shirobako manages the two in serious scenes, only using humor in small doses, careful not to tip the scale in the wrong direction. The point is, Shirobako is outstanding with handling these elements, and it’s able to use it to its fullest advantage. Because of how well Shirobako is directed, Shirobako is able to be both entertaining and realistic in how it describes the many features and aspects of the intricate and amusing anime industry.

Soukyuu no Fafner – Dead Aggressor: Exodus (Episode 2)

To me, the most important feature of any mecha anime is that the mecha are distinctive and memorable. Without it, the central element and the main selling-point of the anime are virtually lost. The best the anime can hope for at that point is to simply be mediocre. Thankfully, for Soukyuu no Fafner, the mecha are notable and have a pronounced effect on the anime. Compared to other mecha anime, the Fafners as a whole have their own defining characteristics through their appearance, their interfaces, and their fighting styles, to create a style that is unique to this anime franchise. It may not be my favorite style, but it’s a step in the right direction for Fafner, and it’s a step that’s essential for every mecha anime to me.

The Rolling Girls (Episode 2)

The Rolling Girls bleeds personality. The entire anime is an imposing statement of its individuality. Its vibrant aesthetics, enticing motifs, charismatic animation, enchanting characters, ridiculous setting, delightful comedy, and sensational fights are all an integral part of this wonderful anime’s charming personality. Sure, you might try to make comparisons or try to find analogous examples between other anime, but everything about The Rolling Girls in these first two episodes is really its own. It’s distinctive. It’s in a category all by itself now. And it’s only just the beginning. The introductions set an exceptional foundation for this anime to build from, and it will only grow up from here. The creativity, imagination and artistic ingenuity have been incredible in these first two episodes, and I am excited to see what happens with the main storyline of this fantastic anime.

Yuri Kuma Arashi (Episode 2)

Given what we’ve witnessed in the first two episodes of Yuri Kuma Arashi, it seems that there are two methods of eating. The first, and probably most remarkable, is the “eating” that’s done in the human-bear form, popularized as ‘lesbian lily-licking fellatio’. The second form of eating is actual eating, performed in the chibi-bear form where the bears actually kill and devour the humans. It’s interesting to note how the two styles contrast each other at this point. On one hand, you have the yuri style of eating which is strictly reserved for successful completion of a sexy bear trial while the other one is without the prior consent of Life Sexy and bearkind. On one hand, you have a form of eating that is analogous to love, and the other is genuinely hate. I’m curious to see if these two styles will eventually overlap or share elements with each other, given how they share a few similarities at this point. However, given the fact at how differentiated they are at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two forms of eating eventually evolve into separate entities, becoming more like love and hate.

This post reviews: Shokugeki no Souma, Re-Kan!, Owari no Seraph, Gunslinger Stratos, and Plastic Memories.

This is the first blog post I will have written while I am out of town on business. Forgive my delay in watching and writing about these anime. When I return home, I will finish reviewing all the new anime and adding in one or two more First Impressions posts.

Watching:

Plastic Memories

Although I was originally pessimistic over Plastic Memories based on the synopsis and PV, I feel as though it has a strong chance of being my favorite new anime of the season. The charming and lighthearted palate of comedy blends pleasantly with the heavier, melancholy scenes, satisfying my appetite for an entertaining and endearing anime. The two outlooks of this anime complement each other, helping to alleviate the depressing moods with soft jokes and assisting in the humor by adding some weight or significance to the setting. Really, I am impressed with the presentation of the main themes of this anime and am excited to see where it goes. The one deficiency I have with this anime is that the characters seem rather plain and mediocre outside Isla. Not only does this demoralized robot carry the story, but she’s also the most amusing character, too. What will take this anime to the next level is how it manages to improve its cast and how well it develops Isla’s character beyond being discouraged and anxious. If it manages to do so, this could end up being one of my favorites of the year. If not, it should end up being a solid anime to watch for Spring 2015.

Undecided:

Owari no Seraph (Seraph of the End)

I’ll admit that I am impressed with the first episode of Seraph, but only the first episode at this point. Based on my knowledge of the series, and what I’ve gathered from the next episode preview, the flashback is over and everything from here on out is at the end of a timeskip. Yuuichirou is now enrolled at some school and… I don’t really need to continue, do I? I am treating the first episode as a foundation for the series to build off of, but unfortunately, that series seems to be at a school where he hunts vampires with his katana. So… I can’t really judge the heart of the series until I see how the school setting goes, so it’ll be another episode before I can decide. What is encouraging about this anime are the aesthetics and animation, both among the best this season. The painted backgrounds are remarkable details for an anime of this caliber, and a memorable positive for an anime like this. The characters and story didn’t really leave a lasting impression with me, which does not bode well now that the flashback is over, but I believe the directing covered for the weaknesses in the content with this first episode since it could’ve easily been boring and bland otherwise. Really, I feel mixed about this series at this point, which is better than I expected, so it’ll take another episode or two before I can decide whether to keep or drop Owari no Seraph.

Dropped:

Shokugeki no Souma (Food Wars)

I expected Shokugeki no Souma to be subpar before I watched it, so I wasn’t prepare for the anime to take an immediate nosedive before the first scene concluded. Every food-induced orgasm scene was bad. Like, the worst. And like, that’s it. Without those scenes, Shokugeki no Souma isn’t much more than shounen fighting clichés with foods and ecchi eating scenes instead of superpowers and interesting fights. I will admit that there is some thought and detail into the culinary science of the dishes, such as the scene with the bacon-wrapped potato dish was served, but otherwise, this anime has nothing for me.

Re-Kan!

I really want to like Re-Kan!, but I just can’t. The anime is just too low of a quality for me to enjoy. Just… everything about the anime seems deficient. The main character, Hibiki, is just too nice and innocent that she comes across as flavorless and unexciting. Narumi is only slightly better, but her personality breaks at the first hint of a ghost, meaning that she breaks down in every scene. The story might be interesting, but the writing and dialogue in each scene was too straightforward and simple. The humor, outside of the perverted cat that always wanted to look at their panties, was weak, and the perverted cat that always wanted to look at their panties was absolutely the worst. The art and animation was very basic – maybe even a little too basic – but the CGI background were a nice touch, though it did make it feel like the characters were out of place in full-body shots. Really, there’s nothing terrible about this anime (outside the cat), but there’s nothing great about this anime either. I can’t really find a reason in continuing to watch this, so I guess I’m done with Re-Kan! for now.

Gunslinger Stratos

Gunslinger Stratos has a fascinating idea and an appealing setting, but it lacks the execution and quality to convey these aspects properly, thus leaving the anime to be poor in just about everything. There’s no putting it nicely, the character art of the anime is just bad, even becoming a distraction as early as the first school scene. The animation wasn’t much better, but that isn’t necessarily saying much given the quality of the art in the first place. I still enjoy the idea of the doppelgangers from an alternate reality fighting against the present one, but the characters were never interesting enough to make me care about them or their issue. Maybe, once the cast expands, I’d find someone I like, but I doubt it at this point given the characters shown at the battle at the end. And that art… wow. For a first episode, that was the quality of the art? That leaves me with a haunting question, how bad will it become as the season progresses? I’d love to find out, but there is no way I’m watching another episode of Gunslinger Stratos.

This week: concerns over the content and direction of Plastic Memories, determining a time and place for Arslan Senki, censorship in Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, and the wonderful return of Kakyoin in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Egypt Arc.

Best episode of the week: Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV)

Anime trending up this week: Arslan Senki

Anime trending down this week: Plastic Memories

Arslan Senki (Episode 3)

Whenever an anime is situated in a somewhat historically-accurate setting (think about the difference between Maria the Virgin Witch (Hundred Years’ War) versus Magi (One Thousand and One Nights)), it’s always fascinating to guess what era and geography they’re from. The easiest way to do this is to examine the various technologies of the anime, such as weaponry, mobility, and occupations. Architecture and scenery combine to play a significant role in determining the geography that the setting is based on, and food, government, and social policy aid in this area as well. For Arlsan, nomenclature plays a major role in helping determine the history and location for this anime, with Arslan being the title of several sultans in present-day Turkey. Pars, the homeland of Arslan, is likely derived from Persia. And given the symbolic patriarchal crosses on the backs of invading nation of Lusitania (the name of a very famous British ocean liner), I’m leaning heavily on the idea that Arslan is set in the era of the First Crusade in modern day Turkey. To confirm it, that setting seems to match well with the technologies, architecture and scenery seen thus far in the anime. Of course, given that this is a fictitious setting, not all of these elements will align truthfully, and there are sure to be some liberties taken within this anime. Still, it feels as though we can safely pinpoint which events in history have come to inspire or, at the very least, heavily influence Arslan Senki.

Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV) (Episode 15)

One of the events at Sakura-Con this year was the premiere of the first three episodes of the second season of Fate/stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works. And as such, the last episode we saw was the one that aired this week. However, when rewatching these episodes, I’ve noticed a few differences between the version aired at the anime convention and the ones shown on Japanese television. For one, the bloody scene at the end was censored. Of course, most of that scene was left unmodified, but I do remember two cuts being altered for the television broadcast. The most obvious is when Gilgamesh turned to Illya, with one of the sword scenes cutting to black before showing the gruesome details. It doesn’t really take away from the impact or weight of the scene, but it was a bit odd, for me, considering I was expecting it again and not a cut to black. For those interested in what was censored, it’d probably be best to wait until the Blu-rays are out since I expect them to be included there.

Hibike! Euphonium (Episode 2)

I had never really considered this for a school band, but it strikes me as odd as the students are free to pick their own instruments. Although on one hand, I suppose it’s fair and right to allow the students to pick the instruments they want to play, especially if they have experience with those instruments… but wouldn’t that lead to an unbalanced orchestra? Doesn’t it matter how the students distribute themselves within the band and don’t all the new students flock to the popular instruments? To be honest, I was expecting this process to be similar to a sports team where coaches put people at certain positions for the best of the team, but maybe an orchestra is different. Then again, maybe once the students have their instruments and the director knows what they have, maybe then they decide what type of music to play since the instruments present will dictate what genre of music they can perform. Still, it’s a bit surprising to me.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Egypt Arc (S2) (Episode 39)

Although one of the main characters, Kakyoin never felt as strong or as bold of a character as some of the other prominent characters, often falling into the background during group scenes and having fewer stories than the others. Nevertheless, his absence in this Egypt Arc has provided us a perspective of how valuable his character is to Stardust Crusaders, and his return should be met with praise and fanfare. Perhaps Kakyoin’s greatest asset is how well he acts as an anchor for Polnareff and the others, rather than as an antagonist like Iggy. Whereas Iggy would wander off and be a total dick about it, Kakyoin was legitimately helpful and was respected by the others. His stand, Hierophant Green, also had use outside of battles, unlike most, though it’s this ability that allows him to extensively search areas, such as Cairo for Dio’s location, which likely was the reason he was left out until Dio’s mansion was discovered. I am excited to see Kakyoin back again and am looking forward to what he does as Part III is coming to its close.

Ore Monogatari!! (Episode 2)

Is there some requirement of romance anime/manga to have misunderstandings or miscommunications in them? Because it seems like almost every romance anime I’ve ever watched has its central story or some heavy plot device that revolves around misunderstandings and miscommunications between characters. And just two episodes into Ore Monogatari!!, here we are again with another misunderstanding between characters.

Plastic Memories (Episode 3)

Given the stark contrast in the focus and styles between the first episode with the second and third episodes, I’m beginning to think that Plastic Memories is an anime with three episodes worth of content that’ll be stretched over 13 episodes. The reason why I believe that to be true is because there was a considerable drop in content from episode one to episode three, replacing anxiety and unease over robots’ deaths to generic rom-com bullshit. Additionally, this episode erased all of Tsukasa’s development from episode one, devolving his character from one that voiced concern over Isla’s behavior to a clichéd comic-relief clown. To me, the direction of the series is heading in the wrong direction with these recent episodes. In other words, much of the content from these last two episodes could be cut as well as any episode like this, too. To put it bluntly, I think Plastic Memories could be reduced from a series of 13 episodes to about three or four good ones revolving around Isla’s story. Plastic Memories doesn’t need all this foofaraw with Tsukasa needing to act dumb or for there to be episodes without any progression. In fact, if this were only a 3 or 4 episode OVA, Plastic Memories would probably be really special. Instead, the series felt the need to stretch out this story and fill the gaps with nothing special that, at times, feels like its detracting from the anime as a whole. Hopefully I’m wrong about this, but I have a sinking feeling there won’t be much enjoyable content outside of Isla’s story.

Whenever Week 5 was: zombie behavior and possible social criticisms in Gakkou Gurashi, disappointment with the setting for Classroom Crisis, thoughts on the barrier in Rokka no Yuusha, and questions about the potential invasion of privacy with the cameras in Joukamachi no Dandelion.

Best episode of the week: Rokka no Yuusha

Anime trending up this week: Gakkou Gurashi

Anime trending down this week: Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace

Charlotte (Episode 5)

Given the premise of Charlotte, how is it that Nao and her ragtag band of four high school students are the only ones actively seeking out and rescuing nascent espers from being kidnapped by evil scientists? Rather, who exactly is supporting them and why aren’t they sending out more people (and better qualified people) to save these kids? I mean, if these kids are discovered by evil scientists while out saving others, wouldn’t that jeopardize their safety and the safety of every other esper in their school? And why aren’t they trying to expose the truth about the evil scientists that are kidnapping teenagers and conducting experiments against their will? Is this really the most effective method for resolving the conflict at hand? Then again, maybe we’re not supposed to take this premise as seriously as these questions probe considering the amount of comedy and cartoon violence to date. Still, it seems rather silly that only 5 students are out to save these kids.

Classroom Crisis (Episode 5)

Of all the anime I’ve watched, I have yet to see a show with such an underwhelming use of its setting than Classroom Crisis. Remember that Classroom Crisis has an extraordinary setting, one takes place on Martian colonies, and is set in an era when space flight is a seemingly commonplace and ordinary occurrence. It’s a physical location that’s ripe with potential and possibilities, where technology and intergalactic travel can be utilized to enhance the narrative, themes, and characters. And despite the bait-and-switch of the first episode, which promised action and piloting experimental spacecraft, Classroom Crisis feels the need to park itself in yet another generic high school setting that seems devoid of all the aspects that this sci-fi setting would promise. For example, in this episode, we were treated to a vacation where all the students visited a beach, ryokan, and hot springs… you know, the stuff you’ll never find in Japan or anywhere else on Earth. If Classroom Crisis wanted to focus on the internal politics of multinational corporations, project timelines, balancing a budget, and union labor laws, why not have it on Earth? Why does this anime have to take place on Mars if it’s not going to use it in its story at all? Why not have the anime take place on Earth and be about experimental car or plane designs? Classroom Crisis has failed to capitalize on anything about its futuristic setting and seems to be content with wasting this potential. This is probably the worst space setting of any anime that I can remember.

Durarara!!x2 Ten (Episode 5)

Since the first episode of Durarara!!x2 Ten, we’ve seen hints and seen glimpses of Celty’s and Shinra’s day off. Through the first five episodes, we’ve seeing the daily lives of various subsets of characters, seeing them go about their afternoon with the usual amount of action and excitement that the residents of Ikebukuro are familiar with. And though these episodes have been about other characters, every episode has featured little snippets of Celty’s and Shinra’s day with their excursion out to see various occult oddities. Of course, we haven’t seen much since Shinra has been on his cellphone in every scene, but as we’ve come to expect, it’s sure to be a humorous episode that connects all these individual stories together through Shinra’s character. I’m not sure if it’ll be my favorite new Durarara!! episode, but right now, it’s the one I’m looking forward to the most.

Gakkou Gurashi! (Episode 4)

It amazes me that the zombies in Gakkou Gurashi behave like they were still human, in that the zombies follow set routines or schedules, like going from home to work or school and back home at night. To me, I always think of zombies as monsters that roam aimlessly looking for their next meal, fixated on nothing but brains. But here, in Gakkou Gurashi, the zombies are seemingly humanized and go about their day like they used to before being turned into zombies. Without any idea what caused this zombie apocalypse, I’m curious if there will be social commentary on Japanese citizens with Gakkou Gurashi and how it relates to their daily lives. Perhaps that’s something characteristic of Japanese zombies or the Japanese interpretation of zombies, using this setting and story to explore and critique Japanese social norms or social behavior with zombies as a negative stereotype. Then again, I guess the same thing could be said about American zombies or the American interpretation of zombie, with their sole purpose and obsession of eating.

Gatchaman Crowds Insight (Episode 5)

How many Gatchaman are necessary for the protection of Earth? At the start of the series, there were only 5 Gatchaman. Things seemed to be pretty okay with MESS. When Berg Katze appeared, I can see the need for a sixth, especially since the other 5 were no match for the chaotic and destructive alien. But with his threat neutralized and Earth in seemingly no danger, they’ve added two new Gatchaman for a total of 8. How many Gatcahman are needed? How many Gatchaman are too many Gatchaman?

Joukamachi no Dandelion (Episode 4)

One of the central aspects to Dandelion is the thousands of cameras placed throughout the country that monitor the daily lives of the nine candidates for the next election. But considering that these cameras are everywhere, always on, and monitoring the streets, shouldn’t there be some public backlash over the invasion of privacy present? I mean, these cameras are not only filming the King’s children but also everyone else in the country, too. I’m curious how the country was able to implement those thousands of security cameras without any opposition to their placement. Aren’t these people concerned about the government filming their daily lives too, especially considering the number of cameras in residential zones that could be pointed at windows at any given time? Then again, Dandelion is a rather silly comedy, so maybe I shouldn’t be putting too much thought into the social aspects of this imaginary country.

Rokka no Yuusha (Episode 5)

So how does one exactly survive living within a barrier? Considering that the barrier was constructed in such a dense jungle, far removed from civilization, there is likely to be little to no food storage or food sources in the area for the hero who activates the barrier. And considering that it was intended for only one person to be in the area, and not the seven that we currently see, how do they expect to feed themselves during the duration of the barrier’s activity? It doesn’t seem like anyone brought rations or supplies with them either, and I’m concerned about the lack of fresh water to drink, too. The scenario actually reminds me of an old TV show, possibly an episode of the Twilight Zone, where a group of men are sealed within a nuclear bunker deep under the Earth’s crust. In the episode, the men realize that they’re over capacity and calculate that there isn’t enough oxygen to keep them alive until help arrives. They decide that they must draw lots in order to see who must be sacrificed in order to save everyone else. Of course, I don’t think Rokka no Yuusha will go down such a path with its story, but the situation reminds me of that old episode of some resemblance. I’d love for such a scenario to occur, but I doubt it’ll happen considering the focus is trying to solve the mystery of the 7^th member.

The way most people realize that it’s the beginning of autumn is that the days begin to grow shorter, the air begins to feel cooler, and the trees transition into a palette of warm yellows, oranges and reds. But for me, the only way I realize that it’s the beginning of autumn is when the autumn anime season begins! And yes, with the start of the Autumn 2015 anime season this week, it’s time again to look ahead to this new season of anime and project, speculate, and guesstimate which anime we should watch.

As always, the order of anime listed below is neither chronological nor alphabetic but are categorized into sequels and new shows, and then ranked in order of my personal anticipation and how likely I believe I will watch that anime this season. Every anime is evaluated and placed into one of five tiers ordered: Will watch, Likely watch, Maybe watch, Doubtful but it gets a shot, and No dice. Within each tier, the anime are listed alphabetically. Dates are not included because who knows when and where these shows will be subbed and available to watch.

As always, every season marks the return of a number of beloved franchises, in the forms of sequels, reboots, spinoffs, and other continuations. For me, Autumn 2015 looks particularly enticing with over a half dozen of my favorite anime franchises returning. In fact, this is easily the best season for me in terms of sequels as one of my all-time favorites returns after a 9 year hiatus.

Returning in Autumn 2015 are: Ame-iro Cocoa S2, Diabolik Lovers More,Blood, Garo: Guren no Tsuki, Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka??, Haikyuu S2, Hidan no Aria AA, Hokuto no Ken: Ichigo Aji, Itoshi no Muco 3, K: Return of Kings, Ketsuekigata-kun 3, Kindachi Shounen no Jikenbo Returns 2nd Season, Miss Monochrome: The Animation 3, Noragami Aragoto, Owarimonogatari, Owari no Seraph S2, Pokemon XY&Z, Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou, Shinmai Maou no Testament Burst, Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus 2nd Season, Teekyuu S6, Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen, Young Black Jack, and Yuru Yuri San Hai.

Seeing as I haven’t watched most of the originals to these anime, I will obviously skip them and recommend you check out the originals if you’re interested in any of these franchises. Instead, this section is reserved for the anime that I will be continuing this autumn, with PVs, thoughts, and assessments for each.

Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? (S2)

Opinion: One of my favorite anime from Spring 2014 returns with the second season of Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka??. One the surface, the anime appears to be nothing more than an ultra-moe slice-of-life comedy about cute girls working in various cafes in a quintessential European backdrop. However, the anime has charisma and chemistry, and kept me laughing and smiling throughout. If the anime can keep the same pace as it did last year, then this is an easy decision for me to continue this autumn.

Plans for this show: Will watch

K: Return of Kings

Opinion: The one fatal flaw with the original season of K was its lackluster story, but the anime made up for that with style, flare, and an uncomfortable amount of blue tint over everything. I absolutely loved K for its visuals, with its kaleidoscope of colors, its seamless fighting sequences, and wholly unique art direction. Combine that with an intriguing setting and fun characters, and it’s no wonder why K was one of my favorite anime of 2012. If the movie from 2014 was any indication, this second season should address my issues with the story, which might be enough for it to be one of my favorite of 2015, too.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Noragami Aragoto

Opinion: Noragami was one of my favorite anime of 2014 (do you see a pattern yet with the sequels this season?) and Hiyori one of my favorite characters of the year, too, so I gladly welcome the return of Noragami. Although I felt slighted at the ending of the first season, I found the story, character, comedy, and setting to be promising, and am excited to see where the series goes from here. I can’t wait for it to start again and reclaim its enchantment.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Owarimonogatari

Opinion: The Monogatari Series has been one of my all-time favorites, and I am still enchanted with the story arcs and character development from the last TV season. It’s a truly magnificent franchise, thanks in large part due to the elegant writing, the spellbinding visuals, and the exceptional cast of characters. I’m eager to what happens to all the characters. No doubt, this is one to watch this season.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus 2nd Season

Opinion: Again, another sequel that I am highly anticipating based on the astonishingly great first season last Winter. Fafner might be the biggest surprise of the year, chiefly because I almost never start new anime franchises in the middle, and I almost immediately fell in love with everything about the anime. I am hoping to see the anime challenge its cast of characters again with escalating difficulty as the mecha battles were, by far, the highlight of the series for me.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Teekyuu S6

Opinion: Teekyuu is my favorite short anime, so I am always happy to see another season of this outstanding and insane comedy.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen

Opinion: Utawarerumono was one of the first anime I watched when I began watching anime again in early 2006. It easily became my first new favorite anime and helped generate my interest in currently airing anime in Japan as well as other shows that I have missed. Utawarerumono played an integral part in helping me ease back into watching anime, and I’ve always had a fond memory of this franchise ever since. And in addition to that, Utawarerumono is one of my all-time favorite anime thanks to its captivating and intricate fantasy setting, its mesmerizing story, its phenomenal cast of characters, and its truly impressive battle sequences. I am thrilled that Utawarerumono is returning as a TV anime for the first time in 9 years. I will say I am a bit cautious that new season is an alternative setting to the original, but it appears to retain all the elements that made me fall in love with Utawarerumono the first time around. This anime will be magical.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Yuru Yuri San Hai

Opinion: How many times to I have to say that an anime is one of my favorite this season? No, of course, that isn’t a bad thing as Yuru Yuri is one of my favorite comedy anime, and I am delighted to see it return after 3 years off. The vibrant and hilarious comedy is certain to keep me entertained as I’ve dearly enjoyed the OVAs that aired this summer. This is definitely an anime I am excited for this autumn.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Miss Monochrome: The Animation 3

Opinion: While the first season of Miss Monochrome was charming with its silly comedy spanning 3 minute episodes, the second season disappointed with its generic non-stories that dragged out 8 minutes each time. I’m not too fond of the series stretching out its content like this, especially since it tries to fill the space with an actual story and not a silly wannabe-idol robot failing at everything she does. I wish the series had more of the style and comedy from the first season and not the second season, but it isn’t a deal-breaker for me.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

The following two sections of the preview contains a list of all the new, original anime that will debut during the Autumn 2015 anime season, with the first section on the anime I am planning on screening and the latter section the anime I have already rejected.  Autumn 2015 has quite a number of new anime, but I can’t say I’m terribly impressed with them, with hope that a small handful will be worthwhile in the end. Then again, I think this season will be carried by the sequels, so maybe it won’t matter too much how these anime perform. Still, I expect a couple to be good, and maybe a few others to be decent at best after that. As you might guess, I’m not terribly excited with most of the new anime this season, but hopefully the season can prove me wrong. My plans to start this season are as follows:

Lupin III (2015)

Opinion: I’ve only watched a dozen or so episodes of the original Lupin III anime, so I’m far from a fan of the franchise, but whenever I watched anything Lupin, I’ve enjoyed it. This reboot of the Lupin III anime, featuring a smooth and eye-catching animation style, certainly has appeal in terms of its visuals and presentation. I’m not sure whether the format will be episodic or follow a central storyline at this point, but it looks to be one of the better new anime this season regardless.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (Kidou Senshi Gundam: Tekketsu no Orphans)

Opinion: Beginning a new Gundam universe (Post Disaster), Iron-Blooded Orphans sets itself in a conflict between Earth and Mars. Often a fan of mecha anime, especially from the Gundam franchise, I’m curious to see how this universe uses its mobile suits, how warfare is portrayed, and how everything looks. The PV doesn’t really answer these questions, but I’ve typically been pleased with the newer Gundam anime that I’ve watched. At this point, I really can’t say too much more, but it looks to be worth a few episodes to start.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou (Attack on Titan: Junior High)

Opinion: This is a chibi, comedy spin-off of the poplar Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) franchise. I always welcome chibi, comedy spin-offs of popular franchises and find this promising after the lovely Shingeki no Kyoujin Picture Drama that was featured on the Blurays of the TV anime. If this is anything like that series, then this is definitely a keeper. If not, then we’ll see how it stands on its own and whether the comedy matches my taste or not.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Comet Lucifer

Opinion: The primary appeal of Comet Lucifer is its use of color and light from the PV. The synopsis doesn’t really hook me in, and the PV seems decent though not very informative. Still, it did enough to catch my attention to give it an episode or two. After seeing what the anime is really like, then I’ll have a decision of whether I want to keep it or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou (Concrete Revolutio: A Superhuman Fantasy)

Opinion: Concrete Revolutio certainly looks like it’ll be fun to watch with this festival of colors, styles, motifs and visual details. And it certainly has a unique style given its superhuman characters, mecha battles, and giant, happy, suicidal clouds. The anime certainly has personality, but I’m curious if everything will come together and whether the anime is full of energy (like the PV) or whether it comes out flat. An episode or two should be sufficient to decide whether to keep this or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Fushigi na Somera-chan (Magical Somera-chan)

Opinion: From the director of Ai Mai Mi comes another absolutely crazy anime, this time about a magical girl who uses kenpo. I can’t say I was terribly happy with the second season of Ai Mai Mi, but this new anime appears to be a calmer and more focused anime, which should mean it’s an improvement. Still, this animation style is best when it’s absolutely crazy, so I’m curious to see if this is going to be in the same comical style as Ai Mai Mi or if it’ll attempt to tell a story with jokes scattered throughout. I’m curious to see how this performs, and will be giving it an episode to start.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Hacka Doll The Animation

Opinion: I’m not expecting much in the way of substance with this anime, but it looks bright, colorful, and full of energy (well, except the narcoleptic blue haired girl). I typically enjoy comedy anime with this style, but I’ll need to see if I can sit through an episode first before I can decide whether I want to keep it or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Heavy Object

Opinion: There’s not much to get excited about Heavy Object, given its generic synopsis and characters, but I am intrigued by its setting with snowy landscapes and sci-fi military weaponry. I don’t think the anime will get more than one episode, but I’m curious to see what an anime about the Technodrome is like.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

JK Meshi!

Opinion: Uh… JK-Meshi! doesn’t look terribly impressive, but it’s an anime about girls cooking simple meals. I’m hoping it’s a short anime, because this style and focus could work well if it’s only a few minutes each week. If it’s a long anime, I don’t know how well it’ll hold-up, especially if it’s just girls cooking the whole time or other ordinary slice-of-life activities. It’ll really depend on the length of the episodes whether this is a keeper or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Kagewani

Opinion: A mystery anime about a scientist who hunts down supernatural monsters. I’d be lying if I said the synopsis doesn’t sound somewhat interesting, but I am a bit concerned considering that the staff behind this anime were also behind Yami Shibai, a short horror anime from a few years ago that was really disappointing and forgettable. I’m willing to give this anime a try, but I don’t’ find myself too confident based on the lack of information about it and the staff working on it.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Komori-san wa Kotowarenai! (Komori-san Can’t Decline!)

Opinion: From the creator of Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken comes a new comedy anime about a junior high girl who is polite to everyone and can never decline a request. It… it really depends on the comedy, but I already like the visual style and find promise consider the creator’s other work. Also, if it’s a short anime, it’ll be easy to watch, even if it’s not very good. Still, it sounds like it’ll be fun.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan

Opinion: It’s really hard to get an idea for this anime without a PV, but it appears to be a moe slife comedy where an ancient fairy spirit is suddenly placed in urban Japan and must adapt to the drastic change in culture. Also, considering that the main character is a hot-springs fairy, I’m guessing there’ll be plenty of fanservice, so we’ll see how it goes. The one strong positive I’ve discovered about this anime is that the manga is short and it has concluded, so there’s a chance that this anime will have a real ending… but that’ll only matter if I’m actually keeping it.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

One Punch Man

Opinion: Probably the most hyped new anime of the season, One Punch Man certainly impresses with its visual style. And for good reason. Everything I’ve heard about the manga has been about the outrageous artwork and stunning perspectives, at times, giving the manga a flow of still images that mimic animation. I’m really curious to see how this translates as a TV anime. However, despite all the hype and celebration over this popular shounen manga, I’ve never really heard much about the characters or story – everything has been on the fights and a bit here and there on the humor. I’m definitely interested in this anime, but I don’t want to get myself too excited, especially if the series isn’t my style. I typically don’t fare too well with shounen anime, so I’ll be cautious heading into this one, but I certainly hope it blows away my expectations.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru (A Corpse is Buried Under Sakurako’s Feet)

Opinion: I feel really conflicted about Sakurako-san. On one hand, I am always curious about mystery anime, and this one seems to have a decent set-up given the bone-crazy ojou-sama at the center of the anime. On the other hand, it feels pretty generic and boring… and the PV doesn’t help with its visual style seeming as lackluster as I imagine it to be. I’ve heard second-hand that the series is popular, so maybe it’s worth a few episodes, but everything I’ve seen and read about it thus far fails to inspire much confidence.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider

Opinion: Again, another mystery anime that may or may not be worth watching. It really depends on the presentation of the mystery and the characters present… and at this point, that’s impossible to decide until after watching the first episode or two.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai (Anti-Magic Academy 35th Test Platoon)

Opinion: I usually immediately dismiss these magical academy anime… but this is something entirely different: it’s an anti-magical academy! Erm, no, the reason why I’m curious if this light novel-adaptation of an ecchi, harem in a fantasy-military-school setting is worthwhile is because I kinda like the art and animation of the PV. I’ll admit that the characters caught my attention when watching the PV and I’m curious if this anime might have some value to it. I’ll probably end up hating myself by the end of the first episode because these types of anime are banal and derivative, but I’d like to give this an episode to see if it’s watchable.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The first two sections confirm the lists of anime that I am planning on watching based on my knowledge and understanding of the shows. All that remains in this season preview are the anime that I have already decided against. The reason why these anime are slotted here is because they either appear to already be flawed, boring, or simply outside my demographic. While these anime may in fact be watchable to some, they do not appear watchable for me. I doubt I’ll examine these anime any more than the PV linked in their sections. However, there’s always a chance for me to pick one or two up every season, so not all hope is lost for these shows if you see one of your favorites down here. However, for most of them, there’s already zero chance I’ll even think about them after writing my opinions for each.

Dance with Devils

Opinion: I always like a PV where each guy they introduce is worse than the last.

Plans for this show: No dice

Gakusen Toshi Asterisk

Opinion: Congratulations! You’re the 1 millionth anime adaptation of a light novel about students in a magical academy this year!

Plans for this show: No dice

Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama

Opinion: This anime is too cute for me. I can only handle so much cuteness in a season.

Plans for this show: No dice

Koukou Hoshi Kageki (High School Star Musical)

Opinion: If I were to watch this anime, I’d play a game where I try to make sure I never see a single guy the whole time by looking at the background the whole time.

Plans for this show: No dice

Kowabon

Opinion: Real humans? In my anime? No, thank you.

Plans for this show: No dice

Lance N’ Masques

Opinion: I’m not going to watch an anime where there’s a romantic relationship between a 16-year old boy and a 6-year old girl.

Plans for this show: No dice

Monster Strike

Opinion: It’s based off a mobile card game and, yeah… already lost interest in it.

Plans for this show: No dice

Ore ga Ojousama Gakkou ni “Shomin Sample” Toshite Gets Sareta Ken (Story in Which I was Kidnapped by a Young Lady’s School to be a “Sample of the Common People”)

Opinion: I’ll admit, I am kinda curious to see how bad the story of this anime is.

Plans for this show: No dice

Osomatsu-san (Mr. Osomatsu)

Opinion: These types of shows really aren’t my style.

Plans for this show: No dice

Peeping Life Season 1??

Opinion: They’ve made a few of these, but this is the first to focus on peeping in on the lives of anime characters from various franchises. Doesn’t seem to be particularly interesting.

Plans for this show: No dice

Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry

Opinion: It’s hard to turn down an anime directed by Shin Oonuma, but everything about this anime seems awful. I might sneak a peek, but I haven’t been too happy with anything he’s directed lately.

Plans for this show: No dice

Tantei Team KZ: Jiken Note

Opinion: This anime is based on a series of children’s detective novels. I don’t want to embarrass myself by getting mysteries wrong when they’re intended for elementary school kids.

Plans for this show: No dice

Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Opinion: I already miss Bikini Warriors.

Plans for this show: No dice

And with that said, there is nothing left to preview for the Autumn 2015 anime season. The next step will be to watch and assess each of the new anime coming out, which should be happening shortly. I’ll be providing my reviews and opinions for most of these anime in my First Impressions posts once each these shows debut. Until that time, I hope everyone enjoys the start of a new anime season!

This post reviews: Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge, Kiznaiver, Hai-Furi, Flying Witch, Sansha Sanyou, Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou, Kuromukuro, and Big Order.

It has taken me much longer than I expected, but I finally have the time to write down my thoughts on the first (and sometimes second) episodes for the remaining eight anime that premiered last week. At last, it’s time to close out this introduction to the Spring 2016 anime season and begin work on a more manageable list of shows to stay current with. Below are the last few shows to make or miss the cut and a couple that I am still undecided on.

Watching:

Kiznaiver

Kiznaiver is an easy choice for me given the vibrant and eccentric personality of its primary cast. I’ve enjoyed stories like these where a band of misfits is formed for some arbitrary reason and they get to know each other, work together, and accomplish whatever asinine goals depend on them and only them. With Kiznaiver, the characters are all very extreme and romanticized stereotypes that are masking deeper issues, and I’m interested in seeing these characters change and grow as the series progresses. And, in the meanwhile, it’ll be fun to see these conflicting and opposing personalities work together. In fact, it reminds me of a sillier, more comical (and thus, more enjoyable) version of Kokoro Connect. The decision to keep this is further supported by the aesthetics of the series, especially with the vivid colors and enthusiastic animation. If there is a disappointing with this, it’s that I can’t speak too highly of the setting, which doesn’t seem to have the same care and development as the characters or the story, but perhaps that will change once more is revealed. Nonetheless, Kiznaiver really impressed me with its first (and second) episodes, and it will be one to follow closely this season.

Flying Witch

The more I watch of anime in general, the more I realize that I truly appreciate simple and relaxing slice-of-life shows. Flying Witch is exactly that, a very pleasant and tranquil slice-of-life/comedy about a young witch adjusting to a new life in a new location. The setting of Flying Witch strongly reinforces the intended atmosphere and theme, given that Makoto moves from metropolis Yokohoma, near Tokyo, to rural Aomori in northern Honshu. There doesn’t seem to be much depth in the characters right now, though we’re getting to see how Makoto is different than her cousins, but it does seem the humor and story will focus on more than just the witch given the attention to Chinatsu and Nao in the first episode. The scenic landscapes and backgrounds are astounding and easily a personal favorite this season. The characters do seem rather plain, but the expressions and reactions are conveyed clearly and it fits with that simple, easy mood. Overall, Flying Witch seems to fill that void of an easygoing, peaceful, and amusing slice-of-life anime this season, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting this satisfying anime each week this spring.

Undecided:

Hai-Furi (High School Fleet)

Hai-Furi follows in the wake behind other popular moe-military combinations – “moelitary” or some other awful portmanteau – but seems to be lagging behind in some of the areas that made those other franchises successful. Girls und Panzer and Kantai Collection both saw success with cute, moe anime girls in dangerous military situations for a number of reasons. For me, it was the whole absurdity of the situation, the personalities of the characters, and the humor present in the series. High School Fleet really only has… well, none of those things. The situation seems fairly commonplace in this setting, the characters are very flat, tame, and not necessarily creative, and the humor was drowned out by the melodrama of their teacher trying to kill them for whatever reason. However, the first episode did capture my interest, and I am somewhat invested to see where this goes. I think another episode should be enough to decide whether I want to keep this or not, so hopefully it goes in an exciting direction after what transpired in the first episode.

Sansha Sanyou

After one episode of Sansha Sanyou, I am faced with both positives and negatives. The good news for Sansha Sanyou is that the characters are cute, the animation is flashy, and the scenario seems decent for a comedy. The bad news for Sansha Sanyou is that I never really enjoyed any of the jokes or humor in the first episode and am wondering if this is worth keeping with so many other comedies this spring. I feel another episode is necessary before deciding whether to drop this or not given that 4-koma style comedies are often hit-or-miss depending on the content of the episode and often, the introductory episodes where everything is established is the worst in terms of content for comedy. Given that observation, plus the fact that all the positives are long-term qualities, I think I’ll need one more episode to see if it can prove itself to be funny or not. If not, I might consider keeping this around as an option to 4x this season.

Dropped:

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is Always Listless)

Speaking about 4x-ing an anime, I will be 4x-ing Tanaka-kun (and that is essentially dropping an anime to me). The first episode of Tanaka-kun not only left me feeling listless (a joke probably used a thousand times by now, sorry that you have to put up with it more than once), but I don’t see it ever really improving given that the whole anime is about Tanaka-kun being bored and tired. I mean, the anime seems to be about one joke, and if I know the joke isn’t funny, why would I bother continuing with it? At least Tanaka-kun has a saving grace, which is that I find the female characters to be cute and amusing when they’re involved. Also, there are two girls with short, blue hair (but are so unpopular, they don’t seem to have names credited to them and only really appear in the OP and ED), so I think I’ll just skim through the episodes for just those two reasons. Yes, it is incredibly shallow, but I don’t really see any other value in keeping a series I don’t expect to enjoy otherwise.

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou is another comedy that failed to produce any laughs or smiles and is one that I don’t see much change in the long-term. The anime does poke humor at the similarities between cooking tonkatsu and being a DJ, but… that seems to be it. The anime kinda boxes itself in with this title and this premise. Sure, it might go places with these themes, but it really failed to impress me with this first episode. I don’t mind the atypical or strange art style… in fact, it was because of the art style that I gave this first episode a try. However, it’s the content and comedy that ultimately flop with this anime.

Kuromukuro

Had I only finished one episode, Kuromukuro would have placed in the “Undecided” category, but after two episodes, I feel as though Kuromukuro should be dropped… and, well, is being dropped. Kuromukuro certainly has a breathtaking amount of animation in the first episode, especially in the minor details like how the characters walked and moved. It certainly impressed me, especially with the variety of angles and with the mecha fight animation. Where Kuromukuro loses me is with its characters and the story. I felt disconnected from everyone and no amount of walking animation was going to make up for that. The characters felt more and more stiff and shallow as the episode went on, going from the main character (Yukina), to the UN director (Hiromi), to the scientists, and finally to the samurai dude (Ouma) who, unfortunately, is the secondary lead in this. The story didn’t do much to inspire confidence either, with these various alien mecha being the oni that Yukina’s father alluded to a decade prior. Yes, I realize the anime will be much, much more than what was shown in these introductory episodes given the extensive cast of characters, but I struggled through two episodes and know I can’t make it through twelve or whatever. And it’s a shame, because I really, really, really liked watching those characters walk around.

Big Order

If I could ignore some of the faults and displeasures with this first episode, I’d be keeping Big Order. Fortunately, the uncomfortably heavy emphasis on the almost-but-not-quite incestuous relationship between the main character and his little sister and the tentacle bondage and moaning during the credits were enough of a warning to realize that this isn’t the anime for me. It’s a shame, really, since Big Order was decent all-around, given its scenario, its setting, the characters themselves, and their superpowers. In fact, if you just cut out the scenes with the sister and the very ending, I’d strongly consider keeping it… but given that these are two elements that are likely to last throughout the series, I can’t really see myself putting up with an anime knowing that I’ll irritated or annoyed with a scene or two every episode. So, with that, it’s probably best to drop it now rather than try to balance enjoying the elements I enjoy with the bits and pieces I don’t.