It’s
past the halfway point for the summer season, time to do a quick overview of
the shows currently being viewed.
Ald.Noah
Zero:
In 1969 a gateway to Mars was discovered on the moon. The humans who
emigrated to Mars discovered more alien technology and considered themselves
heirs and lords or the planet. Going under the name of the Vars Empire
their contempt for Terran humans is well known. Fifteen years after an
accident that destroyed half of the moon along with the gateway a young Vars
princess travels to Earth on a goodwill mission. Unfortunately she is
assassinated leading to the Vars nobles who live in orbit around Earth to
declare war. A group of students in Japan are caught up in the defensive
as Vars mechs continue to descend around them. They have to use their
compulsory military training beyond its limits to survive long enough and get
to safety.
Even with its annoying character designs this is a really enjoyable
series. Interesting world building and excellent mecha combat. This
show along with Argevollen has made me contemplate the styles I enjoy when it
comes to mech anime. Regardless, this is a fun series that I look forward
to finishing, even with the annoying Victorian characters designs of the Vars
nobles.
Argevollen:
Taking
place on a fictional world as two nations battle each other for territorial
control. The story focuses on a small expedition mech force that ends up
rescuing and acquiring a new and untested mech design. The mechs pilot is
a rookie soldier whose main goal is to learn why his sister died years earlier
in her military service. As he and his squad become more entangled in the
workings of the current conflict they start to realize they are pawns in a game
of political deception.
This is the second mech series for me this season and it is also incredibly
enjoyable and quite different from Aldnoah.Zero. This is a straight
forward military anime that I greatly welcome. It reminds me a little of
Pumpkin Scissors in its intrigue and politics. It has also been dividing
the mecha fan base though...
Barakamon: Professional calligrapher Handa Seishu moves to a remote
fishing village in order to focus on his work following a disastrous rejection
of a display piece. The simple and friendly locals do their best to make
him feel at home but their quirks and customs rubs him the wrong way. His
time on the island serves as both a centering of his profession and a blunting
of his criticism towards others.
A fun slice of life comedy I have been waiting for since 2013. It reminds me ofYotsuba&! with the little girl who glom's onto Handa. As the story progresses he continues to become familiar with the residents of the town and takes away life lessons from them. The series isn't sappy though. It's filled with quick comedy and some word play. Ultimately it's an enjoyable show with a clear direction and conclusion.
Glasslip:
Fukami
Toko and her friends are enjoying their last summer as children in their quiet
seas side town. That peace and happiness starts to crumble when a
transfer student arrives and causes discord between the friends. he has
come, seeking Toko, as both of them have the ability to glimpse fragments of
the future. He wants to help her and work with her so they both can
understand what the visions mean.
This is an interesting and dry romantic drama. The conclusion of
the series is still a mystery but its fun to see the dysfunction grow between
the group as they let their petty jealousies come to the surface. The
clairvoyance thing is interesting but it hasn't materialized to much as of
yet. Secretly I'm hoping it will more go the way of Toki o Kakero Shojo
and the transfer kid is from the future!! But I doubt that will be the
case.
Nobunaga
Concerto: Slacker
high school student, Saburo, suddenly finds himself in the Warring States
period of Japan, (mid 1500's). The first person he comes across is a
young Oda Nobunaga, one of the future unifiers of the nation. The young
warrior convinces Saburo to take his place as they look identical. He
wants to do this in order to rest from his duties to become healthier.
Saburo eagerly agrees not really having anything else to do.
Impersonating a 16th century noble isn't as easy as he would expect. The
only thing keeping everyone from executing him due to his bizarre antics is
their respect for their liege. Saburo begins to fit into the role of
Nobunaga and with the help of his history text book works to make sure history
stay on course.
There
have been a number of anime recently with Nobunaga in their titles. This
is would probably be the best as its part history lesson and part fish out of
water antics. It’s a wonder he isn't executed for witch craft at times as
he references his book, uses English words and other general modern quirks that
befuddle those around him. There are two problems with this one though;
the character animation is sloppy motion capture CG and Saburo's general
personality is a bit hollow. he just floats along blissfully ignorant of
what his situation really is; only believing that the course of history will
follow its path. Also...he got really good at riding a horse, like
immediately...what the hell... Still a fun show.
Tokyo
ESP: People
begin developing psychic powers. A group of them band together with
ambitions to become the leaders of the world through terror and
subjugation. Other psychics decide to work to stop the oppression of
normal humans.
This is half super natural action series and half slice of life comedy...at
least based on the first few episodes. I like part and am bored by the
other part. The animation is really slick though but it’s a tired and
played out story. In this one there is a mysterious savior, the White
Girl, who unwittingly fights for justice and peace. She ends up grouping
together with other people to help protect normal humans from being exploited
and ends up becoming a sort of figure of hope.
Zenkyou
no Terror:
Two young men enact a plan to terrorize Tokyo for unknown reasons. After
stealing radioactive material from a reactor facility and bombing half of the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building they begin a deadly game of cat and
mouse with the police.
This
is the second new series by Watanabe Shinichiro (the other being Space Dandy)
and it is nothing like his typical style. This is a straight forward
drama closely resembling cops vs. bad guy Hollywood movies. It’s a fun
ride so far and even though I don't expect anything ground breaking I enjoy
seeing this other side to Watanabe's writing.
Tokyo
Ghoul: In
an alternate version of the world flesh eating creatures coincide with normal
humans, hidden in the shadows and passing off as normal people in the
day. College student, Ken Kaneki, finds himself thrust into the world of
the ghouls when a doctor performs a radical transplant to save his life after
he is attacked by one. Now he must come to terms with being a part of
both worlds.
I
am still unsure if I will continue to watch this, I haven't caught up with it
yet, but the few episodes I have watched really have not grabbed me. I
also fear the inevitable direction the story will go based on the series
imprint on the interwebs. There is some significant cosplay associated with
this title and it looks like it’s going to end up being a horror shonen battle
series, which I have little interest in. This one may get dropped sooner
than later.
Ao
Haru Ride: This
is a slice of life comedy romance about a girl who lost her boyfriend when he
moved. When he comes back 3 years later they have both changed and she
tries to reclaim what was lost and/or fall in love with the new man before her.
This
is a sweet and enjoyable that goes back and forth between moments of comedy and
moments of drama. The only complaint I really have with it is the
characters designs. I am not a fan of the 90's shojo style. This
doesn't bring anything new but it isn't bad either.
Maido!
Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku: Crazed antics of a misfit family and their associates.
This one still has not been picked up by anyone and is not being subbed so I
can only follow some of what is going on. This is a spinoff of an Urayasu
Tekkin Kazoku anime from the late 90's and is also derived from a popular gag
manga. All I can say is this is the best looking anime adaptation of a
gag manga I have ever seen and the parts I can understand make me cackle.
This is a blast and I eagerly away each weeks' short episode!
Himegoto:
An
androgynous high school student is saved from debt collectors by the notorious
student council. The punishment for his help is to be their cross
dressing slave until the end of his time at school.
This
is a ridiculous and perverted anime short series. There is nothing of
value in it and it plays on worn out fan service tropes. Yet, I think
it’s an amazing piece of protest to the current trends in anime.
Each episode is loaded with panty shots and precarious panty revealing
situations...but every single one is of the male lead and his younger brother
while in gag. I don't know the authors original intent, but aside from a
stupid comedy, I see this as a thumb in the eye to the rampant and unneeded fan
service in anime these days.
Sabagebu:
Sonokawa
Momoka is forced to join the Survival game Club at school y the clubs president
and school idol. At first reluctant to participate she soon gets into the
groove with the odd ball members as they run through fantastical gun toting
romps of fantasy and speculation.
The
best way I can describe this series is if Keroro Gunsou was about semi-lesbian
war game otaku. It doesn’t take its self seriously, with the 4th wall
constantly being broken down and all sorts of gags and absurdities. It
picks fun of otaku, modern anime tropes while at the same time worshiping them.
Not the best of the year but still worth spending 20 minutes a week
with. Some episodes are hit or miss though.
Re:_Hamatora:
This
follow up to the original Hamatora series from the beginning of 2014 picks up 6
months afterwards and deals with the fallout from the events of the first
series. While at first hesitant with the original episodes, this one was
more than welcomed to return!
Still
full of ready for cosplay characters with impossible names, the drama and
comedy syncs together well as the members of the Hamatora detective agency try
to figure out what’s going to happen with them and others who have their
special Limit powers.
Gekkan
Shojo Nozaki-kun: Chiyo
Sakura has a crush on her classmate Nozaki-kun. A misunderstanding leads
her to become his newest manga assistant instead of her boyfriend. She's
now part of a small team of classmates helping the stoic and oblivious Nozaki
make his popular shojo romance series.
This
would be one of my favorite shows from this season. It’s funny and paced
similar to School Rumble. A much welcomed slice of life comedy.
There is no real central plot or course of direction and I hope it goes for
more than 13 episodes. The characters are fun and I get good
laughs with each new episode.
Shin
Strange+: The
return of this short gag anime which initially aired in the beginning of 2014
follows the misfits of the Mikuni Detective Agency. With no coherent plot
or general direction of any sort of story you just sit back and take in the
insanity.
At just a few minutes a pop, this is a fun and odd gag series. Worth the
time if you have a taste for pointless butt jokes and gender bending oddities.
Dropped
Shows:
DRAMAtical Murder
Shonen Hollywood
Hanayamata
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