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Sunday
Starting April 6th

Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch R2
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6600296WNKz6jmB?searchId=753795832323853729&rank=1

Well, this one's one of the highlights of the new season, only overshadowed by Macross Frontier on my list. So far, it's a bit subdued compared to the climax of the last season, but I suppose that's to be expected. Also with the new mainstream primetime airing slot, the early episodes need to do a bit of recapping (but in the context of the story in progress) as a significant percentage of viewers will be new (and oh my, what they have missed...including one of the more evil surprise twists I've seen in a series in recent memory). I'm eagerly awaiting each installment of this show, though not to the extent that I need to see the raws, especially as the subs are pretty quick.
Verdict: Following to the bitter end.

Nabari no Ou
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6600296WNKz6jmB?searchId=753795832323853729&rank=1

This is probably my fourth favorite of the busy season so far. Aside from being an enjoyable contemporary ninja tale (enough so to draw inappropriate Naruto comparisons, as if Naruto *invented* jutsu hand gestures and the like), the show features a not-overly-so bishounen cast and the lead male character's mock-submissive charms have to be seen to be believed (screenshots don't do the series any justice), making the series instantly popular with a number of fujoushi (yaoi fangirls)--Miharu is devilishly cute. But in any case, it works great as a good ninja action series.
Verdict: Following eagerly.

Neo Angelique Abyss
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=H1mtvs9H80A

Speaking of bishounen series, this is the latest anime series spinoff of a series of popular so-called "reverse harem" fantasy dating sims (okay, I'm not sure if it's technically a dating sim, RPG, visual novel, or what, but whichever) that have been around for years. The intial setup was okay, though the animation direction flat and uninspired, and the fact that the main character's magical powers comes through prayer left me pretty put out.
Verdict: Dropped.

Net Ghost PiPoPa
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZT6F_PXo35w

Didn't check this one out, looked too cartoony/gimmicky/childish from what I've seen. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, though!
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.

Wagaya no Oinari-sama
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6987108Cb2PBhf7?searchId=6448720819260778496&rank=2

An interesting-looking if somewhat average-feeling and somewhat slightly kidsy series involving notable Japanese gods and mythical creatures in a modern context and a fair amount of Shintoist magic. The title character is the incarnation of Inari, the fox god, who is interestingly indifferent about hir gender in human form, thankfully without much of the wacky hijinks usually associated with that sort of thing. It's interesting to see Shinto magic working as its believers visualise it, portrayed in a somewhat "realistic" if not very believable manner.
Verdict: Casually following for the present time.

Zettai Karen Children
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v10116268CF5BcCKN?searchId=7402401701831256064&rank=1

Ah, here we go. One of the first really big disappointments of the season. I should have known as it's based on a manga by the artist that did the early 90's Ghost Sweeper Mikami, which was usually more miss than hit, but I had hoped their writing might have improved by now, and knowing it was to be handled by the excellent staff of Hayate no Gotoku, I suspected this might be a hit in the making. Unfortunately, it's a twee Japanese recontextualization of the PowerPuff Girls, admittedly closer in humor and spirit to it than the actual official Japanese remake PowerPuff Girls Z--which was all fluff and zero cleverness, lacking the self-conscious humor of the original. This one's not quite that bad, but at the same time, after two episodes, I could not find a single character I cared about, the humor was too heavy handed, and often simply offensive: stereotyping plus other issues, such as Aya Hirano's Buttercup-like character behaving like a dirty old man which just seemed in questionable taste (not to mention it's the first time I didn't like her voice acting). It's okay for her to act like that as ota-queen Kona-chan in Lucky Star, but as a 10 year old, it's just crass. I was going to give it a couple of more episodes, but after reading other reviews of the next couple, I dropped it.
Verdict: Dropped.


Monday
Starting March 17th

Gyagu Manga Biyori 3

Never watched the first two of this series of random gag shorts, but maybe I'll check some out soon of the original series. Doesn't seem to have an established opening animation.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched for now.

Starting March 31st

Chii's Sweet Home
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RVzboTYau6c

Cutesy shorts about a cat. No relation to Chobits, in case you thought otherwise. Airs Monday through Thursday, actually.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.

Starting April 7th

Monochrome Factor
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=QEfVfgGt-Mg

A bishounen/yaoi action fantasy series that had some of the worst and most predictable writing I've seen in some time, and a not particularly likable cast.
Verdict: Dropped.


Soul Eater
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6605277ncxwYQQD?searchId=3982184869441947648&rank=5
Ending: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v10159998waWCAGNK?searchId=50183524502545408&rank=1

This one has me a little bit perplexed. I absolutely loved the first episode, but the second two, while all right, weren't nearly as engaging. The fourth one was okay, but a bit simplistic. The fifth was a bit better, but still I'm a bit underwhelmed by the writing. I think I'm mostly fond of the pairing of Gorillaz-band-member-look-alike Soul Eater, and the ever-so-badass Maka in her outfit that looks like a mix of Giant Robo/Cyborg 009 sensibility with oh, I don't know, Gad Guard or something, along with her very non-moe shounen style facial contortions and scowls and her lanky Jack Skellingtonesque frame (her awkward adolescent-sounding voice--a common indicator of using non-voice-actor talent--really suits her harsh gawkiness, too). That along with the Tim Burtonesque setting and expressionistic art style, the weird, wholly contrived mashup of reimagined real world and fictional baddies in a comic-bookish world, and some strong animation by the character designer from Full Metal Alchemist, and well, yeah, there's a lot to like. The other main characters didn't click quite as much for me though (Death the Kid was kind of interesting, especially how he wields his twin pistols upside down, pulling the triggers with his pinkies, but his exaggerated obsessive-compulsive disorder over symmetry could get old fast), but now the show has finished their individual intros, so I'm curious to see how everything fits together next, and there is certainly a lot of potential for good old shounen series action done in a relatively novel fashion. If it can pull that off, I'll probably be hooked. If not, I'll probably maintain some casual interest at least. Also, what is it with Japan and shinigami (death gods) lately? I assume it's largely due to the popularity of Bleach and Death Note, but it is getting rather out of hand and seems like a rather morbid obsession, particularly for one of the most largely non-religious countries on the planet. That said, I don't mind it if it's being used in a good show like this (assuming it can keep things going well). Oh, and the opening and ending animations are great stuff!
Verdict: Following.

Special A
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6980578A2zKcGqb?searchId=8670628867415007232&rank=2

Meh. The style is taking a page from post-Utena Ouran High School Host Club shoujo anime design, but the characters and direction had me snoring before the episode was over, and a review of the following episode showed recycling of gags that were already overdone in episode one.
Verdict: Dropped.

Vampire Knight
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6607561YgyAn7cK?searchId=6376937645648937984&rank=3

Another series showing some of that Ouran vibe, but a little more entertaining with the vampire theme. However, it does feel a little bit trite and tired, and I've heard reports that the manga gets pretty muddled rather quickly, so this is a probable drop. I'll give it a little longer though, I think.
Verdict: Tentatively dropping.

Tuesday
Starting April 8th

Himitsu - Top Secret
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=sk1XS_9XcOY

A sort of Sci-Fi CSI, where memories can be extracted from a brain for a short period after one's death, however the investigation group doing so also has to cope with the stigma of concerns over invasion of privacy. The first episode was pretty good, but I'm not sure if it will hold up in episodic format.
Verdict: Casually following, but probably dropping later.


Real Drive
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=HmC-3Di_WjA

Hard SF series by Masamune Shirow and Production IG with much overlapping technology with the Ghost in the Shell universe. Has an interesting Vernor Vinge-like feel to it (and some early Bruce Sterling), with strong transhumanist themes and a rather bizarre ocean/diving metaphor for what is called the "Meta-Real" (or just "Metal" for short), a semi-post-Technological Singularity realm of shared consciousness similar perhaps to the sublimed in Iain M. Banks' Culture novels. At first I was concerned about it getting too metaphysical, but we'll see...so far everything is still rooted in a hard SF explanation. Episode 2 was a bit of a drag for the most part (except the last portion), but episode 3 picked things back up again. 4 was kind of hit and miss, so I am kind of wondering about the writing consistency at this point. The character animation seems a little ungainly and drawn in a rather weird style. Does Shirow prefer his art style NOT to be used in anime? I'm starting to wonder.
Verdict: Probably following until it ends or I am uploaded, whichever comes first.

Uchi no 3 Shimai
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CYedwIn3SLk

Cartoon family show.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.

Wednesday
Starting April 2nd

Junjou Romantica
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v70090122zN3dMXn?searchId=8602542002998039552&rank=1

This is about as shounen ai/yaoi as it gets without being outright gay porn (and as it is, it is borderline soft porn). From what I understand, there are three storylines that are told in this one. The first one so far is entertaining me, I like Usagi-san and his toy-collecting hobby, lol. I don't know if this will devolve into the usual angsty abusive stuff common to the genre, but I'll watch it for now.
Status: Currently following.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=56IrI6Js3Qc

Ahahaha. No.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.

Starting April 23rd

Da Capo II Second Season
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6978313KHrTw4jf?searchId=2581567721234200576&rank=1

Confusing title, given this is the third (or is it fourth now? *shrug*) anime series of Da Capo. I was intrigued with the visual novel-based original, but as I've never gotten far in it, I don't have any reason to watch the sequels yet.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched, possibly for a future look.


Thursday
Starting April 3rd

Allison & Lillia
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v926726662MBHXDP?searchId=291409040919626752&rank=1

Initial reports have this pegged as too bland and NHK animation-ish (not to be confused with Welcome to the NHK, lol) for my taste.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched unless convinced otherwise.

Kure-nai
Promo video: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6809928yjJ6pxB6?searchId=268779453489362944&rank=9 (the opening animation is awful, totally in a different style, and I didn't want to link it...this promo still is a bit misleading but at least reflects the look of the show)

The sleeper hit of the season. Probably my number 3 show this season after Macross Frontier and Code Geass R2. The animation was filmed after the voiceover was recorded, allowing for some really nice subtle facial animation, and the directing style is reminiscent of the kind of Italian neo-realist cinema in films like The Bicycle Thief http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bicycle_Thief . Others have made comparisons to Leon: The Professional, and I can kind of see where they are coming from. It's hard to explain without seeing it, but the character interactions between Shinkuro and Murasaki are very lifelike and authentic feeling, and the story takes kind of a backseat to it all, nicely understated, and with much to be explained as it progresses. I'm really digging it, and it's a marked contrast for Brain's Base, who also made the more over-the-top, novel style-faithful (with its helter-skelter continuity) anime adaptation of Baccano!
Verdict: Definitely following.

Kyou Kara Maou! 3rd Series
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=TXj1JRgRwPw

This show's still running? I saw some of the original series and it looked fun, but didn't complete it, so no reason to watch this second sequel.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.


Macross Frontier
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6740914R5GcZpbC?searchId=3344201881242864640&rank=3

Yahk deculture!! The true hit of the new season, exceeding all expectations so far as the new installment in the classic Macross saga on it's 25th anniversary. This show does so many things so right so far, it's hard to even know where to start. I'll probably save my gushing for another post, but whether you are a classic Macross fan, a fan of Macross Plus, or even of the Macross 7 series (which I didn't care for), or completely unfamiliar with Macross, this is the show to check out this season, in my opinion. Don't miss this one!
Verdict: Following the raws and subs as I can't wait for my next Macross fix.


To-LOVE-Ru
Opening (probably NSFW): http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6956728fNQKj5RC?searchId=8855577887325578240&rank=1

Lame, exploitive moe fluff show, derivative (once again) of Urusei Yatsura but with none of its class.
Verdict: Dropped.

xxxHolic - Kei
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XbEs-0V8uDw

While I was semi-interested in the original CLAMP manga, the first anime series left me really, really flat with its awful animation and simian-armed interpretations of the character designs. This one is supposedly better, but I've lost interest by now.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.


Starting April 10th

Kaiba
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EVmQqyqyYOw

Generally speaking, I'm something of an anti-fan of this director's works (he also did the popular art film "Mind Game", which was a stream-of-consciousness, navel-contemplating avant-garde surreal work that I enjoyed early pieces of and was left put out well before the ending). This series is a surrealist mashup of classic Tezuka art style and Fleischer Bros. Popeye/Betty Boop era animation that has its moments and some interesting themes. I'll probably drop it after a while, but there was enough whimsy and interesting post-human thematic stuff in the first episode I'll give it some more time.
Verdict: probably should be watched as a recreational drug. Following for now, may drop later.

Toshokan Sensou
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nne1FNDVIRc

The first episode was pretty decent, if a little fluffy. I'm wondering how it will play out, but it's an interesting premise that doesn't seem too far removed from the Bradbury-esque/Orwellian contemporary climate of late, with its ultra-conservative media moral watchdog group act versus the liberal-spearheaded countermeasures giving libraries self-jurisdiction and special rights over protection of free expression. The mix of lighter character drama with a strong political backdrop reminds me a bit of Patlabor.
Verdict: Tentatively following.

Starting April 17th

Crystal Blaze
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=S1SNTeljvfM

Mixed feelings so far. Not really sure what it's about just yet, other than a private detective agency that gets sucked into something big and mysterious that involves people being turned to glass. The characters are entertaining, but the show is fairly average. Will see how it progresses.
Verdict: Tentatively following.

Friday
Starting March 14th

Bus Gamer
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6561599NF6Zscqd?searchId=4733156816627831808&rank=1

"Bus" in the title of this OVA series is short for "Business". Initial reports I've heard of the first episode were not very encouraging, so I'll pass.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.

Starting April 4th

Amatsuki
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6595857j2hbHFHK?searchId=7317566230288982016&rank=2

Eh...it's okay. A bit "edutainment"-ish, but with some potential. Apathetic high schooler visiting an Augmented Reality recreation of period Edo gets sucked back in time somehow, to the real Edo, except with monsters. Not exactly original or innovative (though the AR tech was cool, similar to Denno Coil's technology), but could still be a fun watch, if the main character can just find a clue soon...
Verdict: Very tentatively watching.

Itazura na Kiss
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6801436QEWsM7qD?searchId=1430775994923638784&rank=1

Shoujo romance melodrama soap opera, similar in feel to Marmalade Boy. Looked really boring, honestly.
Verdict: dropped.

Tower of Druaga - The Aegis of Uruk
CrunchyRoll official full episode downloads: http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/CRSeries_-_The_Tower_of_DRUAGA

Very loosely inspired by the ancient video game, Gonzo's new RPG fantasy-comedy series actually pulls off an interesting setting, likable characters, and some good humor so far. Has a similar feel to the original .hack, but other than the opening animation there's been no hint that the fantasy world should be taken as VR (if it is to be at all--the opening animation is very likely a clever joke). What's particularly neat about this show is that it is being streamed subtitled for free on the web concurrent with the Japanese broadcast with Gonzo's blessing (along with Blassreiter) and is being offered in higher-quality for cheap downloads at more than one site in a licensing deal (Crunchyroll offers the downloads in exchange for user-determined donations in a mostly simple, user friendly method). This is Gonzo's first effort to fight against online piracy, and I really hope it works out. I watched it on YouTube (slightly better streaming than CrunchyRoll's free streams, and just as official) long enough to determine I wanted to keep the show and see it in better quality. I would gladly use this service were it available for any of my favorite shows currently airing, and it's nice knowing the money goes directly to Gonzo. My only complaint is that the resolution of the downloads is close to broadcast/VHS quality, but the show is widescreen and clearly meant for HD video quality--and watching shows like Macross F in full res really drives home how much nicer that is. But I can't say getting VHS-quality official downloads for, say $2 an episode is unfair. Perhaps they could offer higher quality downloads at a set price point later (or just leave that as incentive for the DVD version).
Verdict: Following.

Starting April 11th

Golgo 13
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=s-GdPsjzTkg

I've given Golgo's animated incarnations enough chances before and can't say I'm really that curious this time around. Maybe someone will convince me later.
Verdict: Leaving unwatched.

Starting April 25th

Naisho no Tsubomi
Opening: none

OVA series based on a popular shoujo manga with a strong, positive sex-ed theme. Not sure what to make of that, though I'll admit I'm mildly curious how the subject is handled in the context and from that point of view. I can have some rather strong opinions on the subject matter since I personally felt like the omission of some key data (or perhaps my failure to wrap my head around some of it), left me with some pretty wrong-headed notions at that age.
Verdict: Possibly watching.


Saturday
Starting April 5th

Blassreiter
Official CrunchyRoll download site: http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/CRSeries_-_BLASSREITER
Couldn't quite make it through the first episode. Motorcycling and boomers, more or less, but it's no Bubblegum Crisis, I'm afraid.
Verdict: Dropped.

Kamen no Maid Guy
Opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oEhd2NixJhA
Ending: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qqbsUvnzDi8

This one is kind of a paradox. On the one hand, the show is mostly outright awful, misogynist crap (if occassionally amusing for just being so blatantly off-color and so wrong) ...for example, one episode is pretty much entirely about the repeated "gag" that a female's mathematic capabilities are inversely proportional to their...um...proportions. Uh, yeah. Wacky hijinks ensue, including a bizarre, futile effort to, erm, harness the effect. Oh the humanity...
On the other hand, the title character, the masked "Maid Guy", a huge monolith of a burly man dressed in the traditional female maid costume and wearing a mask with eyeholes that look impossibly far apart for his own skull, is at once one of the most absurdly, independently funny and bizarre characters I've seen in a show, and in fact, I think his presence in *any* series of any genre would improve that series by a factor of 90%. I mean, imagine taking the Tick and sticking him in General Hospital, or Heroes, or the Price is Right---it's instantly pretty amusing, and probably better than how the show would normally be. This works the same way, taking an inherently funny, messed up character with totally random powers and tossing him into a show that is otherwise pure dreck. I could care less about the rest of the show, just seeing Maid Guy step in and being totally random just makes you instantly forget everything else that was going on. Oh, and the ending animation's song is pretty fun, too.
Verdict: Watching for teh lulz!

Kanokon
Opening (probably NSFW): http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7100284CnjG8hQt?searchId=6123975655546918912&rank=2

Another ecchi show I suppose I need to make some excuses for. This one seems to be determined to dip into just about every taboo it can think of, and on top of it all, it's pretty much harem fluff. Normally, I'd write off this kind of show in a few minutes, but I've enjoyed hearing Ayako Kawasumi and Mamiko Noto (playing the boy, lol) playing these roles that are so atypical of the kinds of characters they usually play, so I'm mostly deriving some amusement from that. I almost dropped it after the last episode I watched though, so I don't know how much more I'll sit through--I may well be about done with it. If it weren't for the pairing of these two voices--two of my favorites--I'd probably not even have made it through one episode.
Verdict: Tentatively following until the novelty factor wears off.
Starting April 12th

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6960893ZHMj2Gbk?searchId=4934615728866044928&rank=1

The bizarre orphaned lovechild of Dokkoida and Fairy Princess Reine. While neither Akitaro Daichi nor Nabeshin seem to have any hand in this series, it continues the tradition of the hyperactive motormouth lead character that fans of Reine, Kodocha, and Excel Saga should be well familiar with by now, and mixes it up with a totally random, mishmash adopted family setup that includes a catgirl mom, a Torchwood-type agent dad, and a biological weapon, a talking lion, a homosexual, a girl, and a jellyfish as the children. All with a "perfectly justifiable" reason that I'll just leave you to wonder over. It doesn't get much more random than that... So far, it's about as psychotic as you'd anticipate.
Verdict: how can I not watch this madness?

Nijuu Mensou Musume
Opening: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7057978FsgfJbfZ?searchId=3193846569717227520&rank=5

Still need to watch more. Semi-fantasy world setting, girl comes under the tutelage of the famous kaitou (phantom thief) 20 Faces (Nijuu Mensou) out of the pages of popular Japanese literature. I'm not usually a fan of Kaitou shows, they tend to be too formulaic and all too episodic, but I'll watch some episodes and see if this bucks the trend or not. Not really holding my breath.
Verdict: not sure yet. Tentatively following for now.