Fall Season First Blush Part 3

Parasyte the Maxim: A mysterious worm like creature is invading people and eating their brains through out Japan.  Once the host body is taken over the parasite controls them to further it's life, usually feasting on living things around it.  Shinichi was lucky and the parasite that came for him was only able to bore into his hand.  Now the sentient creature has struck a bargain for mutual survival with his host.  The creature leads him to search out others of his kind in order for both of them to figure out what going on.

    This is a straight action horror series.  I found out that it is based on a manga from the late 80's, early 90's, which is a bit unusual these days as most everything that is coming out is fresh and new.  Regardless, this comes from the same time period that spawned some of anime's most notable and infamous horror titles; Guyver and Genocyber.  I have never been a fan of those shows but won't let that determine my thoughts on this show.  Still, as it stands, I am not too interested in this one as I have little taste for this style of horror.  The main character is being dragged around by the creature inside of him, which has unlimited shape changing abilities.  Likely it will just be a series of gruesome battles inter-cut with scenes of savagery enacted by the parasites that ate their victims brains.  Already the opening sequence showed one devouring someones head.  So we will see after a few episodes if this breaks out of the plot devices I foresee and becomes interesting.

Shirobako: Five girls who make up their high schools animation club promise to one day work together in Tokyo for an anime production company.  The first episode skips ahead a few years to focus on one of the girls who is working hard as a production assistant for an anime company.  The episode details the drama and hardships faced with trying to get a new series completed on time for all of its release dates.

    I think I am going to enjoy this show, I always like the series' that have behind the scenes looks at the industry, regardless of how overly dramatic they can be.  It looks like its going to be a fun and somewhat informative view into the crazed life of those in the anime industry.  Already the show has shown that it can muster up a large cast of support characters with varying personalities and backgrounds.  As a bonus there are some comical and smile inducing nods to Initial D in the episode.  It will be interesting to see how they bring in the other girls and if there will be that push to see them fulfill their dream of working together.  In the end I think this will be light and fun and easy going.

Shigatsu wi Kimi no Uso: Tsubaki and Kosei are childhood friends and neighbors but live opposite lives.  Tsubaki is bright, energetic and full of life.  Kosei on the other hand is depressed and uninspired, living in a world of loneliness and doubt.  Kosei was a child prodigy at the piano, due in part to his musician mother and her strict training.  After his mothers death Kosei found that he could no longer play the piano and without that one thing in his life found that there was little left for him in the world.  He now spends his days floating through a gray world.  Tsubaki invites him on a group date in which she is trying to hook up two of her friends.  Kosei is instantly mesmerized by Tsubaki's friend, Kaori, who is filled with more energy and life than even Tsubaki.  Kaori plays violin and her energy reignites something in Kosei.

    This one might be entertaining, especially given the dark undertones and the less than sparkling character backgrounds.  It feels like it will be similar to Nodame Cantabile but less happy go lucky.  I can sense the love triangle that will cause friction.  There seems to be some pain and sadness in Kaori's life as well that could be interesting once it bubbles to the surface.  I'm not a fan of the character designs on this one, classic shojo big eyes with detailed eyelashes (even though the manga is apparently classified as shonen)

Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai: At Shiomi Academy all of the best and brightest students in Japan gather to challenge themselves.  The campus is incredibly large; with classes being close to 600 students.  Kyotaro can sometimes sense when major incidents are going to happen.  In the process of saving a new student from death he ends up grabbing her breast.  The scene of him doing this goes viral and he can't escape the label of molester now.  The girl seeks him out and they apologize over the misunderstanding and work to clear things out.  She along with her friend convince him to join their small group effort to make her less of an introvert.  Things are moving in the shadows of the school though and they all seem to have their eyes on Kyotaro and his abilities of premonition.

    Its tough to tell how this show is going to end up.  On one hand its a set up for a glaringly obvious harem based on a galge, but the supernatural elements and 'people working from the shadows' aspect adds another layer that may or may not suck.  So far though, not very impressed.  The animation is pretty boring and annoying and the main lead is a whiny bitch.  So, five episodes then we see whats up.