GARO: Honoo no Kokuin: surprisingly good. Solid action with well established characters. This anime is on the mature side of the spectrum. They don’t shy away from gruesome deaths and violent imagery. But this show is one of the few that does a good job of being mature. It doesn’t come off as shock value to uphold a lazy narrative. The premise is good. We’ll be following two demon hunters as they fight to bring justice to those who’ve committed an unjust genocide of their kind. Another thing to note is the CGI integration with battle scenes: it’s quite good. While it does contrast with the normal animation, it’s very polished and fluid which helps to make the battle scenes quite intense. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai: a thin premise that’s saved by wonderful comedy. The premise has a chance to bloom into something significant, but for now the comedy will be enough to have viewers coming back. The characters play off each other very well making for entertaining scenes even when it could be bogged down by cliché. This is a comedy to follow with high hopes for an interesting end. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Ore, Twintails ni Narimasu: ♪GO! GO! TWIN-TAIL RANGERS!!♪ Someone needs to write that remix. My goodness is this show dumb. It’s not enough that the premise is about the forced removal of the twin-tail hairstyle; why not throw in some gender-bending transformations and a perverted alien with a twin-tail fetish on par with our lead. If you believe in the power of twin-tails, this show is for you...and me. Verdict: GUILTY PLEASURE
Yuki Yuna wa Yusha de Aru: hmm...well, that was unexpected. If you have no idea what this show is about, then you’re in the perfect position to watch it. The characters are decent enough. The story is...well I can’t really say. This is a show that’s best experienced with zero prior knowledge. I will say that it involves cellphones and mobile apps. And it will keep you nervously on the edge of your seat. Have fun. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Whew! Thirty two first impressions. These seasons are getting longer. As of this posting, there are still three open spots in Crunchyroll's Simulcasts. Sorry for any absent shows. I skipped many sequels since I hadn't watched the first season, and one or two are absent due to lack of legal streaming. Hope you're enjoying the Fall season.
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis: A fun, well-paced action adventure with a promising mythological background (seems predominantly Nordic). The characters, while not well explored, are fun and keep the narrative going. The action scenes are enjoyable and at times over-the-top. It will be interesting to see where this show goes. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Laughing Under the Clouds: boring. The characters are either dull or annoying. And the plot is so vague that there isn’t even a sense of curiosity to get the viewer to the next episode. The action is subpar at best with all the potentially good fighting done off screen while the viewer is stuck watching the weaker fighter try to prove himself a competent fighter. The dialogue is bland and boring and gives nothing worthwhile about the story. No silver lining here. Verdict: SKIP
Girl Friend BETA: hmm...I don’t know what they’re trying to do with this show. Nothing happens to indicates much of a plot. It’s just a bunch of girls talking. 80% of the first episode is the lead trying to return a photo and constantly getting flustered at EVERYTHING anyone else says. As of right now I can’t recommend a show that has no inferrable direction. And seeing as this is based off of a mobile dating-sim, I’m left perplexed at the noticeable lack of potential male leads. Maybe this is going to be this season’s shoujo-ai. Verdict: SKIP
BONJOUR♪Sweet Love Patisserie: a charming, funny rom-com that takes place in a confectionery school. Our lovely lead is going to have a tough time focusing on her studies with so many attractive instructors around. Unfortunately this show suffers from the dreaded short-form anime syndrome. Many displeased viewers thought the stream screwed up only to find that it only had a five minute run time. This feels as if it should be a normal twenty four minute show. I don’t know why the creators chose differently. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Madan no Ou to Vanadis: one word to describe this show: farce. But that doesn’t make it bad. The absurd nature of the premise and the handling of it by the characters is nothing short of stupid. Though it can be fun to watch at times. The viewer just cannot expect a well-written, dramatic narrative. The characters are bland with no engaging story to back them up. Just watch it for some mindless fun. Verdict: GUILTY PLEASURE
In Search of Lost Future: an unclear plot peppered with a clichéd romantic subplot. The lead is uninteresting while the other characters are equally boring and unexplored beyond their one-note eccentricities. Without a clear plot I can’t recommend it. And any guesses a have as to where the narrative will go don’t feel promising. There are some nice moments, but they can only do so much for the overall blandness. SKIP
SHIROBAKO: this show gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at some of what goes into the creation of the shows the love so much. While an interesting premise and setting, it felt plodding. The characters aren’t overly interesting so far. Though that may be due to a lack of development. We are given next to nothing about the individual personalities. The dialogue fails to enthrall the viewer. It seems realistic, but it’s not impossible that some flair could be added. The premise is neat and there’s potential to take the viewer on an entertaining and educational ride. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Your lie in April: a musical-romance-comedy that has a fun contrast between toned down scenes and zany comical outbursts. But the comedy is all that really entertains. The show sets up the male protagonist that has a troubled past and the female contrast. All the contrasting, while not unentertaining, makes the show come off as a bit unfocused. But the potential is there for a good show. GIVE IT A SHOT
Hi-sCool! Seha Girls: pretty entertaining for an 11 minute anime about anthropomorphic SEGA game consoles. And it automatically gets bonus points for having the SEGA Genesis (Mega Drive in the show) represented. They effectively work in subtle humor alluding to various aspects of the different consoles represented. But the CGI animation might not be pleasant for a number of watchers. It does look and feel more like an online web series than a studio anime. All in all, the show has creativity and a good sense of humor. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Parasyte -the maxim-: not bad. While plenty grotesque and gory it won’t leave its viewers feeling disturbed as some other horror anime I’ve seen. Though the final 20 seconds are utterly deplorable. But I’ll have to get into that in another article. The biggest problem this show faces is the lack of any true horror. It’s more grotesque than horrifying. But it is only the first episode and there’s PLENTY of potential for some truly disturbing imagery and narrative. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Akatsuki no Yona: a fantasy action with perhaps a bit too much comedy considering the dark tone the episode builds up to. Though, for a first outing it’s acceptable. Our lead is a mildly annoying entitled princess, but they way she interacts with the other characters is wonderful. The ending, while almost surprising, feels a bit predictable. And it left me more than a bit irked. But I can understand the show’s creators wanting to keep certain character motivations secret. I hope they have good reasons to back up their actions aside from the clichéd power grab. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
TRINITY SEVEN: And here I thought “Karen Senki” had erratic plotting. This show isn’t going to be the best for those not familiar with this genre. Major plot points feel glanced over, leaving the viewer with a muddled conception of the plot. And the pacing of the plot is too fast. It could've easily been filled out to better effect with two episodes. The characters are far too upfront about their personalities. While this may please some fans, it gives the dialogue a feigned delivery. And the majority of the interactions between the characters are either humdrum or tasteless. Perhaps interested viewers would benefit from checking out the manga first. Verdict: SKIP
Wolf Girl and Black Prince: my first shoujo of the season. And it is hilarious! The lead is a habitual liar, and it makes for wonderfully comedic situations. Plus, the comic timing is spot on. There are so many laughs coming at you, but it never feels overwhelming. The dynamic between our female protagonist and the “prince” in question is wonderful. The reactions she has to his character are nothing short of comic gold. There are some moments bordering on romance, and they are quite nice. But the heart of the show is definitely the comedy. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
The Fruit of Grisaia: our brooding protagonist heads the cast of this seasons first glaring harem anime. Full of tropes, this anime offers nothing new when it comes to archetypal characters. And the majority of the character interactions are awkward and stilted. That doesn’t make it wholly unenjoyable, but there’s little realism or entertaining flow. From the beginning the show hints at plot much deeper than the shallow surface to which we’re introduced. And the ending, while a bit hasty in delivery, provides the viewer with ample curiosity to catch the next episode. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Gugure! Kokkuri-san: awkwardly cute little fantasy show about an unexpectedly affectionate fox spirit who takes it upon himself to care for a little girl who summoned him through Kokkuri-san, a Japanese version of a ouija board. The shows gets most of its entertainment from the contrast between the fox spirit’s emotional expressiveness and the little girls expressionless doll-like face. The first time in my life I’ve thought something doll-like cute. It’s a bit cliché and predictable at times, but that shouldn’t keep anyone from enjoying it with these fun characters. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
JOKER: step aside magic girls! We have a Magician Boy...who is also a miraculous phantom thief. (^w^) While certainly meant for a younger audience, it’s a great deal of fun for an older crowd. The lead is grandiose and unwavering in his confidence to be the most fantastic thief ever. It’s enjoyable to watch him taunt the police and intended targets of theft. Just when you think he’s cornered...BOOM!! Miracle! Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Orenchi no Furo Jijo: a cute short form anime that thrives on the immature nature of our beloved merman as he seeks to solidify his stay with a less than enthusiastic host. The facial expressions of our aquatic friend are wonderfully humorous and expertly amplify the comedic impact of any given moment. There’s not much to say about story with such a short time to work with. So, you can consider it a short watch for a few laughs. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace: an incorrigible chuunibyou takes it upon himself to bring enthusiasm to his group, but one day it’s discovered he’s not so delusional as they would like him to be. Despite the potential of the show’s supranatural premise, it’s the character interactions that drive the show and provide the entertainment. The cast is comprised of standard anime club fare, but they come off as being their own character. The mystery underlying the gain of their unusual talents and the likeable characters will surely bring back viewers for future episodes to come. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Fate/stay Night [Unlimited Blade Works]: Amazing! Ufotable has done a brilliant job to update this semi-remake of the 2006 hit “Fate/stay Night.” I say semi-remake because the visual novel from which both shows are adapted had multiple routes the player could take. This incarnation has chosen to adapt a different route than the ‘06 show. I mainly bring this up to allay new viewer’s hesitance to check out this show without having seen the original. Having seen “Fate Zero” is equally unnecessary. The animation is already the best of the season. And it will likely remain the best. The dialogue is top notch. It has a predominantly Slice of Life feel with all the dialogue, but it does not disappoint with the action. And this show is anything but Slice of Life. The fights are energetic and filled to the brim with excitement. The characters interact well together which further enhances the dialogue as a major part of the entertainment value. The only thing that could take this downhill would be to take the focus off the current protagonist. I was not a particular fan of the protagonist is the ‘06 show. Verdict: MUST WATCH!!
I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying: a short form anime that delivers a satisfactory number of laughs despite its three minute run time. The characters have a passable relationship; though any sense of realism is a bit stretched. But it works. The dialogue is of little consequence since every part merely serves as a setup for a one-off joke, which is an obvious consequence of the adapted material and the short run time. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT (it won’t waste much time)
World Trigger: generic action anime without much to offer. The lead is an archetypal noble good guy character, and the other main character comes off as boring because he’s unfazed by everything around him. The dialogue is stilted and gives us nothing of true significance to the show’s background. All in all it’s not bad. But it’s not particularly good. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon: so much unnecessary fanservice. The lead is unsympathetic and reprehensible. Though, she is not without the possibility of redemption in future episodes. The show seems to take joy in the depiction of human suffering. It’s rather tasteless, and doesn't have a well delivered story to keep viewers interested on that merit alone. Verdict: SKIP
Celestial Method: vague and rather dull. I’m not quite sure what to think of this anime. First I thought it would be Moe-rific. Then it took a turn for the dramatic. And that note continues for the rest of the episode. It has some beautiful visuals that add a depth of realism to the show's setting. But, once again, I’m unsure of where this show plans to go. Though I imagine it will have a build up to a big dramatic end. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
TERRAFORMARS: A dark, depressing, boring slog of an anime with gratuitous censoring of the gratuitous gore. The first two episodes have nothing of interest to latch onto. The dialogue ranges from boring and of little significance to the ridiculously thin storyline to obvious techno-babble padding. Characters are either bland and forgettable or part of the absurd plethora of monster fodder. The story is erratic with both plot and characters; nothing and no one is well established. The enemy is anthropomorphic cockroaches and humanity needs a cure for a virus. That’s all you really get. It’s an unpleasant experience to sit through. It’s either boring or sickeningly violent. And the latter is pointless with the censoring. Many viewers have drawn the undeniable comparison to Hajime Isayama’s “Attack on Titan.” So, I suggest that instead of watching this AoT-on-Mars-with-cockroach-anthropomorphs rubbish, do yourself a favor and watch "Attack on Titan." Verdict: SKIP
Karen Senki: a vapid dystopian anime with some of the most erratic plotting I’ve ever seen in any show of any medium. It’s rendered entirely in CGI which gives it the look of a JRPG cut-scene. And that makes it look terrible for a mainstream anime, but I will give them credit that the CGI gave impressive fluidity to the action choreography. Though the spasmodic action scenes will leave a viewer either bewildered or frustrated at the completely nonsensical timing. The character establishment is laughably weak, and the villain’s is even weaker. And none of this is helped by the 10 minute run time. Verdict: SKIP
Tribal Cool Crew: a fun, simple shounen comedy about kids who love dancing. The characters are likeable, if bland. They bring a smile to the viewer’s face with their passion dance. Though it’s cliché it’s enjoyable. Nothing lost nothing gained. If you’re a shounen fan, take it as a nice easy wind down after a long day. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
DENKI-GAI: a quirky workplace comedy with a feel not dissimilar to "Wagnaria!!" Though this looks as if this will have a propensity for fanservice in future outings. The characters are quite entertaining with their respective idiosyncrasies, which give the show it’s true heart. And their workplace, a dōjin shop, provides a good setting for the comedy. It’s an amusing comedy that I look forward to continuing. Verdict: GIVE IT A SHOT
Log Horizon 2: “Log Horizon” was easily my favorite show of Fall 2013. And it does not disappoint with its second outing. All the aspects and characters we love are back and ready to give us another wonderful season. If you haven’t seen season 1, I recommend you do so ASAP. Verdict: MUST WATCH!!
