Categories
February 1st, 2014
Rankings for Winter 2014, Week ending 1/31
Anime Relations: Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
Toriko [1] - Tommyrod meets his end, supposedly. The Toriko wiki (Because of course that's a thing) lists him as "deceased", for whatever that means in a shonen jump series. He was probably my favorite villain, so that's unfortunate.
Score: 8.3
Space Dandy [3] - So Space Dandy isn't going to be particularly episodic, that's fine. That's two out of four episodes where he's straight up died at the end of it. We can work with this. I was a bit bored with the zombie gimmick halfway through before it occurred to me that no, they weren't going to get cured, at which point it became funny.
Score: 7.8
Golden Time [2] - Kouko could have killed everyone, and she ended up getting Chinami hurt, and now can't forgive herself. I seriously can't figure out where her dad is coming from on anything, but he seems alright. I don't actually know which direction this series is going to go with Kaga/Linda (both of whom are inferior to Minori, personality-wise), so it'll at least be an interesting finish.
Score: 7.7
Mahou Sensou [6] - This is more what I was looking for with this show, as opposed to school shenanigans. Still not sure what anyone's motives are, and this being a 13-episode series probably means the eventual explanation won't be that enlightening. Miyano Mamoru's voice continues to irk me.
Score: 7.5
Nisekoi [4] - Not as many silly facial expressions this week, though Onodera going full on blob when she dropped her "old bookcase key" almost killed me. SHAFT seems to like Chitoge's thighs a lot, but I don't want that to sound like a complaint.
Score: 7.4
D-Frag [7] - Sillier this week with the leader of the band of 14. I'm not sure I want to play Super Porn Mag Adventure Scramble In Space, even if Funaboori's picture is on the line. Poor Funaboori.
Score: 7.3
Saki [5] - You know who would have made a better Kataoka Yuuki? Anyone. A dead fish. Nothing hugely out of the ordinary happened in this match either, by Saki standards. I wonder if there's a Saki minus Saki out there like Garfield minus Garfield, it might be better.
Score: 7.0
Magi [8] - So Magnostadt has a connection with Al-[S|Th]amen, does it? Did it really make sense to announce you connected those dots to a teacher? Probably not. Elsewhere, Titus is running out of time, as Scheherazade (which I have never been able to spell) doesn't have enough energy to keep him going for very long. Also he's not a real human. I guess that's kind of important.
Next time, the War begins, though it was really more of a really large battle than a straight up war. Whether that's next week or in two weeks, it'll happen eventually.
Score: 6.6
Tokyo Ravens [10] - Another solid episode, again not featuring the actual main cast in any significant capacity. It's for the best.
Score: 6.2
Strike The Blood [9] - Welp, Natsuki died. Except she was immediately revived as a six-year old girl accompanying Asagi, because why wouldn't she be? For some reason, we can't get through an episode without Himeragi walking in on Kojou with perfect timing, but it stopped being funny after about the third week, and after sixteen weeks, just feels forced.
Score: 6.1
Seki [11] - Go gets a new twist. It's tough to carry a show with just one character, but man, is some of this stuff creative. Can never go wrong with gattai.
Score: 5.6
Silver Spoon 2 [13] - Taking a horse around on an obstacle course was surprisingly entertaining.
Score: 5.0
Chuunibyou [12] - I'm pretty tired of Dekomori at this point. I really don't know what she adds.
Score: 4.8
Yakuindomo 2 [14] - More Suzu, more Satomi Arai school newspaper lady, less Shino, less Aria, less Tsuda's sister, less teacher, less maid please. Do you know how bad you have to be to make me ask for LESS MAID? I didn't even know that was possible!
Score: 2.9
Score: 8.3
Space Dandy [3] - So Space Dandy isn't going to be particularly episodic, that's fine. That's two out of four episodes where he's straight up died at the end of it. We can work with this. I was a bit bored with the zombie gimmick halfway through before it occurred to me that no, they weren't going to get cured, at which point it became funny.
Score: 7.8
Golden Time [2] - Kouko could have killed everyone, and she ended up getting Chinami hurt, and now can't forgive herself. I seriously can't figure out where her dad is coming from on anything, but he seems alright. I don't actually know which direction this series is going to go with Kaga/Linda (both of whom are inferior to Minori, personality-wise), so it'll at least be an interesting finish.
Score: 7.7
Mahou Sensou [6] - This is more what I was looking for with this show, as opposed to school shenanigans. Still not sure what anyone's motives are, and this being a 13-episode series probably means the eventual explanation won't be that enlightening. Miyano Mamoru's voice continues to irk me.
Score: 7.5
Nisekoi [4] - Not as many silly facial expressions this week, though Onodera going full on blob when she dropped her "old bookcase key" almost killed me. SHAFT seems to like Chitoge's thighs a lot, but I don't want that to sound like a complaint.
Score: 7.4
D-Frag [7] - Sillier this week with the leader of the band of 14. I'm not sure I want to play Super Porn Mag Adventure Scramble In Space, even if Funaboori's picture is on the line. Poor Funaboori.
Score: 7.3
Saki [5] - You know who would have made a better Kataoka Yuuki? Anyone. A dead fish. Nothing hugely out of the ordinary happened in this match either, by Saki standards. I wonder if there's a Saki minus Saki out there like Garfield minus Garfield, it might be better.
Score: 7.0
Magi [8] - So Magnostadt has a connection with Al-[S|Th]amen, does it? Did it really make sense to announce you connected those dots to a teacher? Probably not. Elsewhere, Titus is running out of time, as Scheherazade (which I have never been able to spell) doesn't have enough energy to keep him going for very long. Also he's not a real human. I guess that's kind of important.
Next time, the War begins, though it was really more of a really large battle than a straight up war. Whether that's next week or in two weeks, it'll happen eventually.
Score: 6.6
Tokyo Ravens [10] - Another solid episode, again not featuring the actual main cast in any significant capacity. It's for the best.
Score: 6.2
Strike The Blood [9] - Welp, Natsuki died. Except she was immediately revived as a six-year old girl accompanying Asagi, because why wouldn't she be? For some reason, we can't get through an episode without Himeragi walking in on Kojou with perfect timing, but it stopped being funny after about the third week, and after sixteen weeks, just feels forced.
Score: 6.1
Seki [11] - Go gets a new twist. It's tough to carry a show with just one character, but man, is some of this stuff creative. Can never go wrong with gattai.
Score: 5.6
Silver Spoon 2 [13] - Taking a horse around on an obstacle course was surprisingly entertaining.
Score: 5.0
Chuunibyou [12] - I'm pretty tired of Dekomori at this point. I really don't know what she adds.
Score: 4.8
Yakuindomo 2 [14] - More Suzu, more Satomi Arai school newspaper lady, less Shino, less Aria, less Tsuda's sister, less teacher, less maid please. Do you know how bad you have to be to make me ask for LESS MAID? I didn't even know that was possible!
Score: 2.9
Posted by Anise_Punter | Feb 1, 2014 4:37 PM | 0 comments
January 26th, 2014
Rankings for Winter 2014, week ending 1/25
Anime Relations: Toriko, Golden Time
I'm beginning to think this is a lost season.
1. Toriko [1] - Sani is not messing around. He's gone gold. That's not good news for Tommyrod. Then again, Sani being a close friend of the main character of a shonen series is generally not good news for Tommyrod in the first place.
Score: 8.3
2. Golden Time [2] - Banri's depressed ghost is getting pretty tiresome, especially now that he's almost killed everyone. How do you try to ruin an episode with swimsuit Kouko? There are few things better, if anything.
Score: 7.8
3. Space Dandy [3] - Space Dandy willingly leaving behind his rabbit/cat/whatever pal to be devoured by that monster would have been pretty awesome (and he was definitely considering it). Still missing something, though I'm not sure what.
Score: 7.7
4. Nisekoi [6] - Chitoge and Onodera continue their never-ending battle as to the best one (there are no other competitors). Chitoge has blondeness and ass-kickery, while Onodera is a force of pure blobulicity matched by few others. Marika is voiced by Kana Asumi and I already hate her even though she hasn't appeared yet.
Score: 7.6
5. Saki Nationals [7] - Yuuki's match is ready to go, leaving me to wonder why Banri's ghost didn't try to drive her off a bridge. She's up against three characters whose names I don't even remotely remember. Well, one of them is Komaki or Kasumi out of Eisui, I can't tell them apart. This franchise has a buttload of characters, of which only Momoko Touyoko really counts.
Score: 7.1
6. Mahou Sensou [4] - I don't want a school life hijinks show here, a rare change of pace. I'd like to see some actual fighting going on. Tokyo Ravens is already filling my quota of "should-be-action-shows filled with school antics" and Strike the Blood still has no idea what it's trying to do other than the occasional fanservice shot.
Score: 7.1
7. D-Frag [5] - I was kind of bored this week. I thought Takao would improve things, but I seem to have been mistaken. There are funny moments, but there aren't any laugh-out-loud moments. The easiest solution is probably to add more characters.
Score: 7.1
8. Magi [8] - Magi aired this week, I'm pretty sure. I suppose we learned old man Mogamett's motivations (or DID we?). Has just not adapted as well as I would have hoped.
Score: 6.4
9. Strike The Blood [9] - Very few things in this episode made sense. What was the point of the witches? Why only two episodes of Yuuma? We knew her for all of 48 minutes of real time. Could be in for a big correction next week, and not in a good way.
Score: 6.1
10. Tokyo Ravens [10] - We're finally, mercifully getting somewhere. I'm not sure how helpful of a tip Saotome Suzu is, as Suzu seems like a relatively common name. Ohtomo is the best character, and I don't know who the second-best is, but it's a distant second.
Score: 6.1
11. Seki [11] - Still has Kanahanas. Enough to keep it ahead of the last three. Especially when things explode at them for no reason.
Score: 5.5
12. Chuunibyou 2 [12] - Rikka has a rival in love! Okay, no she doesn't, but that doesn't mean we can't use denseness and misunderstandings to get ten episodes out of it with our fair share of unnecessary crying. Don't get me wrong, misunderstandings are fine as long as they're used for comedy. Nisekoi's going to make use of that all season, hopefully.
Score: 4.8
13. Silver Spoon 2 [13] - Hey, only eight more episodes to go! Just super boring, instead of actively infuriating, so no worries of dropping down to last here. The baseball story is my least favorite of all my least favorite stories in the series. Oh boy.
Score: 4.7
14. Yakuindomo 2 [14] - Remember last week when I said the show had made the same tissues joke six times in nine weeks? Of course they made it again. I understand what the show's gimmick is, but they've literally run out of new jokes. It's not too late to change things up by shooting Aria into the sun, guys. The same advice is always available for Chuugaku Akamatsu and JC Staff, as well.
Score: 2.8
1. Toriko [1] - Sani is not messing around. He's gone gold. That's not good news for Tommyrod. Then again, Sani being a close friend of the main character of a shonen series is generally not good news for Tommyrod in the first place.
Score: 8.3
2. Golden Time [2] - Banri's depressed ghost is getting pretty tiresome, especially now that he's almost killed everyone. How do you try to ruin an episode with swimsuit Kouko? There are few things better, if anything.
Score: 7.8
3. Space Dandy [3] - Space Dandy willingly leaving behind his rabbit/cat/whatever pal to be devoured by that monster would have been pretty awesome (and he was definitely considering it). Still missing something, though I'm not sure what.
Score: 7.7
4. Nisekoi [6] - Chitoge and Onodera continue their never-ending battle as to the best one (there are no other competitors). Chitoge has blondeness and ass-kickery, while Onodera is a force of pure blobulicity matched by few others. Marika is voiced by Kana Asumi and I already hate her even though she hasn't appeared yet.
Score: 7.6
5. Saki Nationals [7] - Yuuki's match is ready to go, leaving me to wonder why Banri's ghost didn't try to drive her off a bridge. She's up against three characters whose names I don't even remotely remember. Well, one of them is Komaki or Kasumi out of Eisui, I can't tell them apart. This franchise has a buttload of characters, of which only Momoko Touyoko really counts.
Score: 7.1
6. Mahou Sensou [4] - I don't want a school life hijinks show here, a rare change of pace. I'd like to see some actual fighting going on. Tokyo Ravens is already filling my quota of "should-be-action-shows filled with school antics" and Strike the Blood still has no idea what it's trying to do other than the occasional fanservice shot.
Score: 7.1
7. D-Frag [5] - I was kind of bored this week. I thought Takao would improve things, but I seem to have been mistaken. There are funny moments, but there aren't any laugh-out-loud moments. The easiest solution is probably to add more characters.
Score: 7.1
8. Magi [8] - Magi aired this week, I'm pretty sure. I suppose we learned old man Mogamett's motivations (or DID we?). Has just not adapted as well as I would have hoped.
Score: 6.4
9. Strike The Blood [9] - Very few things in this episode made sense. What was the point of the witches? Why only two episodes of Yuuma? We knew her for all of 48 minutes of real time. Could be in for a big correction next week, and not in a good way.
Score: 6.1
10. Tokyo Ravens [10] - We're finally, mercifully getting somewhere. I'm not sure how helpful of a tip Saotome Suzu is, as Suzu seems like a relatively common name. Ohtomo is the best character, and I don't know who the second-best is, but it's a distant second.
Score: 6.1
11. Seki [11] - Still has Kanahanas. Enough to keep it ahead of the last three. Especially when things explode at them for no reason.
Score: 5.5
12. Chuunibyou 2 [12] - Rikka has a rival in love! Okay, no she doesn't, but that doesn't mean we can't use denseness and misunderstandings to get ten episodes out of it with our fair share of unnecessary crying. Don't get me wrong, misunderstandings are fine as long as they're used for comedy. Nisekoi's going to make use of that all season, hopefully.
Score: 4.8
13. Silver Spoon 2 [13] - Hey, only eight more episodes to go! Just super boring, instead of actively infuriating, so no worries of dropping down to last here. The baseball story is my least favorite of all my least favorite stories in the series. Oh boy.
Score: 4.7
14. Yakuindomo 2 [14] - Remember last week when I said the show had made the same tissues joke six times in nine weeks? Of course they made it again. I understand what the show's gimmick is, but they've literally run out of new jokes. It's not too late to change things up by shooting Aria into the sun, guys. The same advice is always available for Chuugaku Akamatsu and JC Staff, as well.
Score: 2.8
Posted by Anise_Punter | Jan 26, 2014 12:18 PM | 0 comments
January 21st, 2014
2014 Completion Log
Anime Relations: 11eyes
Last year's stats: 139 completed entries, average score 6.21, I'm getting lenient in my old age :(
1. Tonari Seki OVA, 1/14, [4]
2. 11eyes picture drama, 1/18, [3] - Why do I keep watching these picture dramas that are never any good? I was seemingly the rare person who liked the original series, but still.
3. Tamako Market Specials, 1/18, [6]
4. Hidamari Sketch 2 minute special, 1/22, [7] - Miyako would be the best if it weren't for Hiro, but Miyako is still pretty awesome.
5. Hataraku Maou-sama, 1/27, [6]
6. Star Driver the Movie, 1/27, [5]
7. Kakumeiki Valvrave s1, 1/27, [6]
8. To aru Majutsu no Index-Tan Movie Special: 1/29, [7]
9. Railgun S specials, 2/11, [7]
10. Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma-Ilya Specials, 2/12, [5]
11. Takanashi Rikka Kai: Chuuni movie, 2/20, [5]
12. Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin, 2/21, [5]
13. Chuunibyou Movie Lite Special, 2/27, [4]
14. Symphogear SD specials, 3/7, [6]
15. Fate/Kaleid Liner Gym Shorts Fanservice Special, 3/9, [3]
16. Kakumeiki Valvrave s2, 3/10, [5]
17. Level E, 3/13, [7]
18. Mikakunin Bathhouse OVA, 3/19, [3]
19. D-Frag, 3/24, [7]
20. Tokyo Ravens, 3/25 [6]
21. Mikakunin de Shinkoukei, 3/27, [6]
22. Ano Hana movie, 3/28, [7]
23. Silver Spoon s2, 3/28, [4]
24. Chuunibyou s2, 3/28, [4]
25. Strike The Blood, 3/28, [6]
26. Mahou Sensou, 3/28, [7]
27. Golden Time, 3/28, [7]
28. Space Dandy, 3/28, [7]
29. Seitokai Yakuindomo s2, 3/29, [2]
30. Magi: Kingdom of Magic, 3/30, [6]
31. Toriko: Human World Arc (Let's be serious, this is not over), 3/30, [8]
32. Mikakunin de Shinkoukei special episode, 4/1, [6]
33. Railgun S Fanservice Special, 4/2, [4]
34. Saki National Tournament Quarterfinals, 4/6, [8]
35. Nyaruko W OVA, 4/11, [5]
36. Shingeki no Kyojin, 5/18, [7]
37. Persona 3 Movie, 5/23, [5]
38. Tonari no Seki-kun, 5/25, [5]
39. Nisekoi, 5/25, [8]
40. Fist of the North Star - Raoh Gaiden, 6/4, [8]
41. Fist of the North Star (1986), 6/5, [7]
42. B Gata H Kei, 6/7, [4]
43. Tamayura OVA, 6/13, [7]
44. Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, 6/21, [8]
45. Hitsugi no Chaika s1, 6/26, [6]
46. Gochiusa, 6/27, [6]
47. Kamichu, 6/29, [5]
48. Gokuoku no Brynhildr, 6/29, [6]
49. Puchimasu II: Puchimasu Boogaloo, 6/30, [7]
50. Soul Eater NOT, 7/1, [4]
51. Black Bullet, 7/2, [8]
52. Kamichu specials, 7/3, [6]
53. Ghost in the Shell Border 3, 7/4, [7]
54. Kyoukai no Kanata episode 0, 7/4, [6]
55. Record of Lodoss: Is It Delicious? 7/6, [5]
56. Mushi-Uta, 7/12, [6]
57. Kyoukai no Kanata Mini-Theater, 7/18, [5]
58. Kyoukai no Kanata Idol Saiban, 7/18, [3]
59. Durarara!, 7/21, [7]
60. Durarara! Specials, 7/21, [6]
61. Non Non Biyori OVA, 7/25, [6]
62. Hanamonogatari, 8/18, [4]
63. Sora Otoshimono Final, 9/1, [6]
64. One Piece 3D2Y special, 9/1, [7]
65. Chuunibyou Ren special: The Rikka Wars, 9/16, [6]
66. Attack on Titan specials, 9/16, [6]
67. Index 10th anniversary PV, 9/17, [7]
68. Tokyo Ghoul, 9/18, [3]
69. Scrapped Princess, 9/20, [6]
70. Monthly Girls' Nozaki, 9/21, [8]
71. Hanayamata, 9/22, [7]
72. D-Frag OVA, 9/23, [6]
73. Gokuoku Brynhildr Special, 9/25, [6]
74. Glasslip, 9/25, [6]
75. Persona 4 Golden, 9/26, [7]
76. Kamisama Kazoku, 9/27, [5]
77. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousai, 9/28, [6]
78. Sengoku Basara Judge End, 9/28, [6]
79. Rokujouma no Shinryakusha, 9/28, [4]
80. Space Dandy S2, 9/28, [4]
81. Aldnoah Zero, 9/28, [7]
82. Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance, 9/29, [4]
83. Chuunibyou Ren specials: 10/4, [5]
84. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works Prologue: 10/5, [9]
85. The Idolm@ster Movie: 10/9, [6]
86. SAO II: Debriefing (Recap), 10/11, [6]
87. Minami no shima no Dera-chan, 10/11, [5]
88. Tamako Love Story, 10/11, [7]
89. Nogizaka Haruka Purezza, 10/19, [3]
90. Nogizaka Haruka Finale, 10/30, [3]
91. Not Popular OVA, 10/31, [6]
92. Steins;Gate - Effective Computing, 11/12, [3]
93. No Game No Life, 11/14, [9]
94. Yozakura Quartet: Tsuki ni Naku, 11/14, [7]
95. Sword Art Offline s1, 11/26, [6]
96. Shinryaku! Ika Musume S2 OVA, 11/27, [9]
97. Infinite Stratos World Purge OVA, 11/27, [6]
98. Hitsugi no Chaika Avenging Battle, 12/10, [7]
99. Persona 4 Accomplice Ending, 12/12, [5]
100. Psychopass 2. 12/18, [6]
101. Sword Art Online II, 12/20, [6]
102. Hayate the Combat Butler OVA, 12/20, [6]
103. Katanagatari, 12/21, [7]
104. Inou-Battle, 12/22, [4]
105. Magi: Sinbad OVA, 12/22, [6]
106. Trinity Seven, 12/24, [7]
107. Expelled From Paradise, 12/24, [6]
108. Sekai Seifuku: Shin Zvezda Daisakusen, 12/26, [4]
109. Isshukan Friends, 12/27, [6]
110. Sekai Seifuku, 12/27, [5]
111. Yuuki Yuuna, 12/27, [7]
112. Gugure Kokkuri-san, 12/27, [9]
113. Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works s1, 12/27, [8]
114. Space Dandy Picture Drama, 12/29, [6]
115. Sword Art Offline Extra Edition, 12/30, [5]
1. Tonari Seki OVA, 1/14, [4]
2. 11eyes picture drama, 1/18, [3] - Why do I keep watching these picture dramas that are never any good? I was seemingly the rare person who liked the original series, but still.
3. Tamako Market Specials, 1/18, [6]
4. Hidamari Sketch 2 minute special, 1/22, [7] - Miyako would be the best if it weren't for Hiro, but Miyako is still pretty awesome.
5. Hataraku Maou-sama, 1/27, [6]
6. Star Driver the Movie, 1/27, [5]
7. Kakumeiki Valvrave s1, 1/27, [6]
8. To aru Majutsu no Index-Tan Movie Special: 1/29, [7]
9. Railgun S specials, 2/11, [7]
10. Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma-Ilya Specials, 2/12, [5]
11. Takanashi Rikka Kai: Chuuni movie, 2/20, [5]
12. Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin, 2/21, [5]
13. Chuunibyou Movie Lite Special, 2/27, [4]
14. Symphogear SD specials, 3/7, [6]
15. Fate/Kaleid Liner Gym Shorts Fanservice Special, 3/9, [3]
16. Kakumeiki Valvrave s2, 3/10, [5]
17. Level E, 3/13, [7]
18. Mikakunin Bathhouse OVA, 3/19, [3]
19. D-Frag, 3/24, [7]
20. Tokyo Ravens, 3/25 [6]
21. Mikakunin de Shinkoukei, 3/27, [6]
22. Ano Hana movie, 3/28, [7]
23. Silver Spoon s2, 3/28, [4]
24. Chuunibyou s2, 3/28, [4]
25. Strike The Blood, 3/28, [6]
26. Mahou Sensou, 3/28, [7]
27. Golden Time, 3/28, [7]
28. Space Dandy, 3/28, [7]
29. Seitokai Yakuindomo s2, 3/29, [2]
30. Magi: Kingdom of Magic, 3/30, [6]
31. Toriko: Human World Arc (Let's be serious, this is not over), 3/30, [8]
32. Mikakunin de Shinkoukei special episode, 4/1, [6]
33. Railgun S Fanservice Special, 4/2, [4]
34. Saki National Tournament Quarterfinals, 4/6, [8]
35. Nyaruko W OVA, 4/11, [5]
36. Shingeki no Kyojin, 5/18, [7]
37. Persona 3 Movie, 5/23, [5]
38. Tonari no Seki-kun, 5/25, [5]
39. Nisekoi, 5/25, [8]
40. Fist of the North Star - Raoh Gaiden, 6/4, [8]
41. Fist of the North Star (1986), 6/5, [7]
42. B Gata H Kei, 6/7, [4]
43. Tamayura OVA, 6/13, [7]
44. Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, 6/21, [8]
45. Hitsugi no Chaika s1, 6/26, [6]
46. Gochiusa, 6/27, [6]
47. Kamichu, 6/29, [5]
48. Gokuoku no Brynhildr, 6/29, [6]
49. Puchimasu II: Puchimasu Boogaloo, 6/30, [7]
50. Soul Eater NOT, 7/1, [4]
51. Black Bullet, 7/2, [8]
52. Kamichu specials, 7/3, [6]
53. Ghost in the Shell Border 3, 7/4, [7]
54. Kyoukai no Kanata episode 0, 7/4, [6]
55. Record of Lodoss: Is It Delicious? 7/6, [5]
56. Mushi-Uta, 7/12, [6]
57. Kyoukai no Kanata Mini-Theater, 7/18, [5]
58. Kyoukai no Kanata Idol Saiban, 7/18, [3]
59. Durarara!, 7/21, [7]
60. Durarara! Specials, 7/21, [6]
61. Non Non Biyori OVA, 7/25, [6]
62. Hanamonogatari, 8/18, [4]
63. Sora Otoshimono Final, 9/1, [6]
64. One Piece 3D2Y special, 9/1, [7]
65. Chuunibyou Ren special: The Rikka Wars, 9/16, [6]
66. Attack on Titan specials, 9/16, [6]
67. Index 10th anniversary PV, 9/17, [7]
68. Tokyo Ghoul, 9/18, [3]
69. Scrapped Princess, 9/20, [6]
70. Monthly Girls' Nozaki, 9/21, [8]
71. Hanayamata, 9/22, [7]
72. D-Frag OVA, 9/23, [6]
73. Gokuoku Brynhildr Special, 9/25, [6]
74. Glasslip, 9/25, [6]
75. Persona 4 Golden, 9/26, [7]
76. Kamisama Kazoku, 9/27, [5]
77. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousai, 9/28, [6]
78. Sengoku Basara Judge End, 9/28, [6]
79. Rokujouma no Shinryakusha, 9/28, [4]
80. Space Dandy S2, 9/28, [4]
81. Aldnoah Zero, 9/28, [7]
82. Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance, 9/29, [4]
83. Chuunibyou Ren specials: 10/4, [5]
84. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works Prologue: 10/5, [9]
85. The Idolm@ster Movie: 10/9, [6]
86. SAO II: Debriefing (Recap), 10/11, [6]
87. Minami no shima no Dera-chan, 10/11, [5]
88. Tamako Love Story, 10/11, [7]
89. Nogizaka Haruka Purezza, 10/19, [3]
90. Nogizaka Haruka Finale, 10/30, [3]
91. Not Popular OVA, 10/31, [6]
92. Steins;Gate - Effective Computing, 11/12, [3]
93. No Game No Life, 11/14, [9]
94. Yozakura Quartet: Tsuki ni Naku, 11/14, [7]
95. Sword Art Offline s1, 11/26, [6]
96. Shinryaku! Ika Musume S2 OVA, 11/27, [9]
97. Infinite Stratos World Purge OVA, 11/27, [6]
98. Hitsugi no Chaika Avenging Battle, 12/10, [7]
99. Persona 4 Accomplice Ending, 12/12, [5]
100. Psychopass 2. 12/18, [6]
101. Sword Art Online II, 12/20, [6]
102. Hayate the Combat Butler OVA, 12/20, [6]
103. Katanagatari, 12/21, [7]
104. Inou-Battle, 12/22, [4]
105. Magi: Sinbad OVA, 12/22, [6]
106. Trinity Seven, 12/24, [7]
107. Expelled From Paradise, 12/24, [6]
108. Sekai Seifuku: Shin Zvezda Daisakusen, 12/26, [4]
109. Isshukan Friends, 12/27, [6]
110. Sekai Seifuku, 12/27, [5]
111. Yuuki Yuuna, 12/27, [7]
112. Gugure Kokkuri-san, 12/27, [9]
113. Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works s1, 12/27, [8]
114. Space Dandy Picture Drama, 12/29, [6]
115. Sword Art Offline Extra Edition, 12/30, [5]
Posted by Anise_Punter | Jan 21, 2014 10:13 PM | 0 comments
January 19th, 2014
Winter 2014 Rankings: First Two Weeks
1. Toriko - Starjun, Grinpatch and Tommyrod continue their battle with Toriko and the other heavenly kings. We got to a good part of a good fight.
Score: 8.3
2. Golden Time - Quite possibly my favorite fanservice episode of any show ever for Kouko alone. Good lord, screencaps where. Nothing else actually happened. Now would you just put her in high socks JC Staff? Seriously, if you want an 8 that's all you have to do. You could get it the hard way by being a good show with a good finish, but it would just be so much easier to do it my way. Do both and you probably finish top of winter.
Score: 7.9
3. Space Dandy - Still could stand to be campier. Yes, even Dandy himself. He's a Dandy Guy in space, that's a good start (the narrator does a good job), now talk that up some more. Also, what's the gorilla wearing the powdered wig trying to accomplish, and are his evil subordinates just as bizarre? I hope so. For what it is though, it's still stupid fun. I just want it to be MORE stupid fun.
Score: 7.7
4. Mahou Sensou - Alright, we've had two episodes and we've gotten the exposition out of the way, and we're still in good shape. Likeable enough characters, magic-y enough magic. Next week's preview doesn't look like the most encouraging thing in the world, but it does look very Madhouse. We appear to have some kind of antagonists, but at only 12 episodes, what will they be able to accomplish? Can we get a good school supernatural action show? That would be silly, those don't exist.
Score: 7.6
5. D-Frag - Has gotten off to a rougher start than I expected. Sure, Kanahanas help, but they can't do everything by themselves. Takao appeared this week (and had some JC-staffworthy impossible physics moments), and we'll probably get Funaboori in here soon enough. The more characters in this kind of show, the better. You don't want to be Kill Me Baby or Going Home Club, I hope.
Score: 7.3
6. Nisekoi - Was moderately SHAFTy but not overly so. They seem unsure of Chitoge's design and proportions, as they seem to vary between scenes, it's kind of weird. Nisekoi is really good up to the point where Marika enters the picture, at which point it is merely good. (And then the amnesia thing happens and we reach the point where it's just there to sell volumes, but the anime won't get that far)
Who's voicing Marika anyway?
/checks MAL
...God dammit.
Score: 7.2
7. Saki Nationals - It finally occurred to me that we're not nearly as far in the manga as I thought we were, it's only chapter 67. Holy crap. I also realized I don't know the name of the green-haired girl in Kiyosumi's mahjong club, which is kind of embarrassing. I want more Teru. And more Momo. And more Fukuji. Definitely my favorite three. New season, new profile pic, but which one will it be? (Momo, clearly)
I am reminded, going through episodes 14 and 15 of season 1 to get a picture of Momo to use, how bad the original series was. It was really the manga that convinced me to pick it back up again - what convinced me to pick up the manga after strongly disliking the first series is something I don't remember. Perusing my blog archives gives no indication of my reasoning. Maybe Akagi was involved, or Kanahanas being in Achiga, who knows.
Score: 7.1
8. Magi - Infiltrate the 5th block, see that the non-magicians are being used as fuel to power the existence of magic in the city. That's some Tales of Symphonia "fantastic racism" stuff right there. Takes me back.
Score: 6.4
9. Strike The Blood: It could have been an interesting idea to swap Yuuma and Kojou's bodies, but instead we use it for fanservice and it will probably be all wrapped up by next week. This is getting reminiscent of a less outlandish Ichiban Ushiro that had a solid foundation and just decided to have scantily clad girls instead of stuff happening. I am displeased.
Score 6.1
10. Tokyo Ravens - Actually a better episode than most, but it was irritating in a way because the main characters weren't actually involved. You had one of your better episode when you took Harutora, Natsume and Suzuka out of the fight entirely. That's not quite an accomplishment.
Score: 5.9
11. Seki Messes Around At His Desk - If not for Kanahanas I wouldn't be watching this. You could probably say the same about Tokyo Ravens, really. Nisekoi and D-Frag I'd be watching anyway, but she probably adds a good half-point to their scores. Something that works better as a manga by quite a bit.
Score: 5.4
12. Chuunibyou 2 - Is this the worst Kyoani franchise? I guess there's that manservice series I didn't watch, that's probably the worst. The "lite" specials are way better with Rikka abuse (and funnier in general).
Score: 5.2
13. Silver Spoon 2 - Yawn status, very yes. I did get a laugh when Hachiken got stepped on by the horse, despite -someone's- reassurances that doesn't happen.
Score: 5.1
14. Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 - Suzu is the best one and everyone knows it. Well, everyone except the author who keeps giving the same tired jokes to Aria and Shino. Oh hey, it's something that resembles a vibrator! Oh, it's something I can make a terribly strained segue into sex toys with! Here's the same "box of tissues" joke we've done six times in twenty-three episodes! It was funny for about 9 episodes, guys.
Score: 3.7
Score: 8.3
2. Golden Time - Quite possibly my favorite fanservice episode of any show ever for Kouko alone. Good lord, screencaps where. Nothing else actually happened. Now would you just put her in high socks JC Staff? Seriously, if you want an 8 that's all you have to do. You could get it the hard way by being a good show with a good finish, but it would just be so much easier to do it my way. Do both and you probably finish top of winter.
Score: 7.9
3. Space Dandy - Still could stand to be campier. Yes, even Dandy himself. He's a Dandy Guy in space, that's a good start (the narrator does a good job), now talk that up some more. Also, what's the gorilla wearing the powdered wig trying to accomplish, and are his evil subordinates just as bizarre? I hope so. For what it is though, it's still stupid fun. I just want it to be MORE stupid fun.
Score: 7.7
4. Mahou Sensou - Alright, we've had two episodes and we've gotten the exposition out of the way, and we're still in good shape. Likeable enough characters, magic-y enough magic. Next week's preview doesn't look like the most encouraging thing in the world, but it does look very Madhouse. We appear to have some kind of antagonists, but at only 12 episodes, what will they be able to accomplish? Can we get a good school supernatural action show? That would be silly, those don't exist.
Score: 7.6
5. D-Frag - Has gotten off to a rougher start than I expected. Sure, Kanahanas help, but they can't do everything by themselves. Takao appeared this week (and had some JC-staffworthy impossible physics moments), and we'll probably get Funaboori in here soon enough. The more characters in this kind of show, the better. You don't want to be Kill Me Baby or Going Home Club, I hope.
Score: 7.3
6. Nisekoi - Was moderately SHAFTy but not overly so. They seem unsure of Chitoge's design and proportions, as they seem to vary between scenes, it's kind of weird. Nisekoi is really good up to the point where Marika enters the picture, at which point it is merely good. (And then the amnesia thing happens and we reach the point where it's just there to sell volumes, but the anime won't get that far)
Who's voicing Marika anyway?
/checks MAL
...God dammit.
Score: 7.2
7. Saki Nationals - It finally occurred to me that we're not nearly as far in the manga as I thought we were, it's only chapter 67. Holy crap. I also realized I don't know the name of the green-haired girl in Kiyosumi's mahjong club, which is kind of embarrassing. I want more Teru. And more Momo. And more Fukuji. Definitely my favorite three. New season, new profile pic, but which one will it be? (Momo, clearly)
I am reminded, going through episodes 14 and 15 of season 1 to get a picture of Momo to use, how bad the original series was. It was really the manga that convinced me to pick it back up again - what convinced me to pick up the manga after strongly disliking the first series is something I don't remember. Perusing my blog archives gives no indication of my reasoning. Maybe Akagi was involved, or Kanahanas being in Achiga, who knows.
Score: 7.1
8. Magi - Infiltrate the 5th block, see that the non-magicians are being used as fuel to power the existence of magic in the city. That's some Tales of Symphonia "fantastic racism" stuff right there. Takes me back.
Score: 6.4
9. Strike The Blood: It could have been an interesting idea to swap Yuuma and Kojou's bodies, but instead we use it for fanservice and it will probably be all wrapped up by next week. This is getting reminiscent of a less outlandish Ichiban Ushiro that had a solid foundation and just decided to have scantily clad girls instead of stuff happening. I am displeased.
Score 6.1
10. Tokyo Ravens - Actually a better episode than most, but it was irritating in a way because the main characters weren't actually involved. You had one of your better episode when you took Harutora, Natsume and Suzuka out of the fight entirely. That's not quite an accomplishment.
Score: 5.9
11. Seki Messes Around At His Desk - If not for Kanahanas I wouldn't be watching this. You could probably say the same about Tokyo Ravens, really. Nisekoi and D-Frag I'd be watching anyway, but she probably adds a good half-point to their scores. Something that works better as a manga by quite a bit.
Score: 5.4
12. Chuunibyou 2 - Is this the worst Kyoani franchise? I guess there's that manservice series I didn't watch, that's probably the worst. The "lite" specials are way better with Rikka abuse (and funnier in general).
Score: 5.2
13. Silver Spoon 2 - Yawn status, very yes. I did get a laugh when Hachiken got stepped on by the horse, despite -someone's- reassurances that doesn't happen.
Score: 5.1
14. Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 - Suzu is the best one and everyone knows it. Well, everyone except the author who keeps giving the same tired jokes to Aria and Shino. Oh hey, it's something that resembles a vibrator! Oh, it's something I can make a terribly strained segue into sex toys with! Here's the same "box of tissues" joke we've done six times in twenty-three episodes! It was funny for about 9 episodes, guys.
Score: 3.7
Posted by Anise_Punter | Jan 19, 2014 7:33 PM | 0 comments
December 31st, 2013
2013 Punt Awards
Only shows ranked in the four main seasons is eligible for the awards marked with an asterisk (*). Shows that aired partly in 2012 or will air partly in 2014 may or may not be eligible for certain awards at my choosing. For example, a show that started in 2012 but ended in 2013 will be eligible for show of the year, but characters who first appeared in episode 1 will NOT be eligible for character of the year.
The following shows are eligible: Railgun S, Tamayura: More Aggressive, Teekyuu 2, Toriko, Monogatari Second Season, Servant x Service, Love Lab, Rozen Maiden III, Symphogear G, Going Home Club, Fate Kaleid/Liner Prisma Ilya, Kiniro Mosaic, Kami Nomi III, Silver Spoon, Milky Holmes III, Watamote, C3 Airsoft Club, Hayate Cuties, Oreimo II, Nyarlko W, Yuyushiki, Devil Survivor, Muromi-san, Robotics;Notes, Minami-ke 4, Little Busters, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Tomodachi Sukunai NEXT, Psycho-pass, Rock Lee and his Ninja Pals, Tamako Market, Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited, Mondaijitachi, Shinsekai Yori, Maoyuu, Good Job Club, Vividred Operation, Little Busters Refrain, Golden Time, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, Kyoukai no Kanata, Teekyuu 3, Blazblue, Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta, Infinite Stratos 2, Non Non Biyori, Tokyo Ravens
All in all, a weaker year than 2012 anime-wise.
This post is generally better when BBcode functions properly.
*Most Puntable:
Karen Kujo, Kiniro Mosaic - Kana Asumi tried to come on strong again at the end of the year through Non Non Biyori, but it just wasn't enough to knock off the Golden Karen, who annoyed me less than the first time on a subsequent rewatch.
*Best MISAKA: 10032
Honorable Mentions: 9982, 19090
*Best Hair: Kaga Kouko, Golden Time - Last year I said "If they ever animate Yuyuko Takemiya's "Golden Time" this award is probably retired." And so it is.
Grossest: Tomoko Kuroki
Honorable Mentions: Furugoori Kona (Robotics;Notes) - if all 26 episodes were this year, she would have won; Kuroko Shirai (Railgun) - Satomi Arai makes the best gross noises.
*Best Hat: Tsubaki Yayoi
*Best Tager: Iron Tager
*Most ~Desu: Suiseiseki, ~desu.
*Best Kanahana (yes, this is an award again): Nadeko
*Best Facial Expressions: Misakas, Railgun S
Honorable Mentions: Morgiana, Magi
Yui Hirasawa Memorial Blob of the Year: The Ayaya, Kiniro Mosaic
Most Ice Cream Cone-y Antagonist: Devil Survivor 2: The Animation
Fattest Bird: Dera Mochimazzi, Tamako Market
Twisteriest game of Twister: Good Job Club, episode 2, did you think I had forgotten this happened?
Dishonorable Mention: Little Busters
------------------
Show I Totally Don't Remember Watching But I Know I Did:
Contenders: Maoyuu, Going Home Club, C3-club
*Worst Surprise: Milky Holmes not actually being about Milky Holmes
*Most Disappointing Sequel: Milky Holmes III
*Most Unnecessary Use of Fanservice: Vividred Operation
Not-so-Honorable Mentions: Muromi-san, Yama no Susume
*Worst Use of Drama Bomb: Stella C-3 whatever it was
*Most Pretentious: Shinsekai Yori
Why Did I Do That? Award: picked up Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II
*Least Intimidating Antagonist: Take your pick of Devil Survivor 2's Septentriones.
Ran out of Gas there at the end: Devil Survivor II
------------------
*Most Improved Sequel: Hayate Cuties - Had to come a long way from the pit of despair that was Hayate III.
Honorable Mentions: Tamayura 2, Oreimo 2, Monogatari Second Season
*Most Pleasant Surprise: Monogatari Second Season
Honorable Mention: Tamayura 2, Love Lab, Hayate Cuties
Best Chibi Specials: Puchimasu
Best off-year movie I watched: Hokuto no Ken: Raoh Gaiden Gekitou Hen
Best off-year show I picked up in 2013: Sakurasou (I miss you Mashiro)
Honorable Mentions: Persona 4, Pandora Hearts
Best Manga I picked up this year: Yozakura Quartet is the only one that even mustered a "9".
Best Three-Minute Whatever: Teekyuu 2
Best Movie: Madoka Rebellion
Best OVA: Minami-ke Natsuyasumi - A less than stellar year for OVAs.
Honorable Mention: Magical Girl Rolling Nyaruko
*Episode of the Year: Railgun S episode 24, Eternal Party (technically Breaking Bad's Ozymandias, but these are anime-only awards)
*Character of the Year: Not a winner of a "Most Memorable" award in the past year, but that award is for the ones that stick with you for _any_ reason, not just because they're awesome. Nobody likes Shinji, but everybody remembers Shinji.
Maki, Love Lab - A delightful airhead / spaz combination. Nowhere near Hidenori's class from last year, but very few are.
*Show of the Year: My spreadsheet says it's Railgun S, though I could honestly justify giving it to Robotics;Notes. I'm going to go with Railgun S though, because all of it aired in 2013, whereas only some of R;Ns great parts did.
At some point during 2014, I will reach 1,000 completed entries. That is both amazing and depressing at the same time.
The following shows are eligible: Railgun S, Tamayura: More Aggressive, Teekyuu 2, Toriko, Monogatari Second Season, Servant x Service, Love Lab, Rozen Maiden III, Symphogear G, Going Home Club, Fate Kaleid/Liner Prisma Ilya, Kiniro Mosaic, Kami Nomi III, Silver Spoon, Milky Holmes III, Watamote, C3 Airsoft Club, Hayate Cuties, Oreimo II, Nyarlko W, Yuyushiki, Devil Survivor, Muromi-san, Robotics;Notes, Minami-ke 4, Little Busters, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Tomodachi Sukunai NEXT, Psycho-pass, Rock Lee and his Ninja Pals, Tamako Market, Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited, Mondaijitachi, Shinsekai Yori, Maoyuu, Good Job Club, Vividred Operation, Little Busters Refrain, Golden Time, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, Kyoukai no Kanata, Teekyuu 3, Blazblue, Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta, Infinite Stratos 2, Non Non Biyori, Tokyo Ravens
All in all, a weaker year than 2012 anime-wise.
This post is generally better when BBcode functions properly.
*Most Puntable:
Karen Kujo, Kiniro Mosaic - Kana Asumi tried to come on strong again at the end of the year through Non Non Biyori, but it just wasn't enough to knock off the Golden Karen, who annoyed me less than the first time on a subsequent rewatch. *Best MISAKA: 10032
Honorable Mentions: 9982, 19090
*Best Hair: Kaga Kouko, Golden Time - Last year I said "If they ever animate Yuyuko Takemiya's "Golden Time" this award is probably retired." And so it is.
Grossest: Tomoko Kuroki
Honorable Mentions: Furugoori Kona (Robotics;Notes) - if all 26 episodes were this year, she would have won; Kuroko Shirai (Railgun) - Satomi Arai makes the best gross noises.
*Best Hat: Tsubaki Yayoi
*Best Tager: Iron Tager
*Most ~Desu: Suiseiseki, ~desu.
*Best Kanahana (yes, this is an award again): Nadeko
*Best Facial Expressions: Misakas, Railgun S
Honorable Mentions: Morgiana, Magi
Yui Hirasawa Memorial Blob of the Year: The Ayaya, Kiniro Mosaic
Most Ice Cream Cone-y Antagonist: Devil Survivor 2: The Animation
Fattest Bird: Dera Mochimazzi, Tamako Market
Twisteriest game of Twister: Good Job Club, episode 2, did you think I had forgotten this happened?
Dishonorable Mention: Little Busters
------------------
Show I Totally Don't Remember Watching But I Know I Did:
Contenders: Maoyuu, Going Home Club, C3-club
*Worst Surprise: Milky Holmes not actually being about Milky Holmes
*Most Disappointing Sequel: Milky Holmes III
*Most Unnecessary Use of Fanservice: Vividred Operation
Not-so-Honorable Mentions: Muromi-san, Yama no Susume
*Worst Use of Drama Bomb: Stella C-3 whatever it was
*Most Pretentious: Shinsekai Yori
Why Did I Do That? Award: picked up Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II
*Least Intimidating Antagonist: Take your pick of Devil Survivor 2's Septentriones.
Ran out of Gas there at the end: Devil Survivor II
------------------
*Most Improved Sequel: Hayate Cuties - Had to come a long way from the pit of despair that was Hayate III.
Honorable Mentions: Tamayura 2, Oreimo 2, Monogatari Second Season
*Most Pleasant Surprise: Monogatari Second Season
Honorable Mention: Tamayura 2, Love Lab, Hayate Cuties
Best Chibi Specials: Puchimasu
Best off-year movie I watched: Hokuto no Ken: Raoh Gaiden Gekitou Hen
Best off-year show I picked up in 2013: Sakurasou (I miss you Mashiro)
Honorable Mentions: Persona 4, Pandora Hearts
Best Manga I picked up this year: Yozakura Quartet is the only one that even mustered a "9".
Best Three-Minute Whatever: Teekyuu 2
Best Movie: Madoka Rebellion
Best OVA: Minami-ke Natsuyasumi - A less than stellar year for OVAs.
Honorable Mention: Magical Girl Rolling Nyaruko
*Episode of the Year: Railgun S episode 24, Eternal Party (technically Breaking Bad's Ozymandias, but these are anime-only awards)
*Character of the Year: Not a winner of a "Most Memorable" award in the past year, but that award is for the ones that stick with you for _any_ reason, not just because they're awesome. Nobody likes Shinji, but everybody remembers Shinji.
Maki, Love Lab - A delightful airhead / spaz combination. Nowhere near Hidenori's class from last year, but very few are.
*Show of the Year: My spreadsheet says it's Railgun S, though I could honestly justify giving it to Robotics;Notes. I'm going to go with Railgun S though, because all of it aired in 2013, whereas only some of R;Ns great parts did.
At some point during 2014, I will reach 1,000 completed entries. That is both amazing and depressing at the same time.
Posted by Anise_Punter | Dec 31, 2013 6:36 PM | 0 comments
Adios fall, You were forgettable
Anime Relations: Golden Time, Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta
1. Monogatari 3: Kaiki Deshuu was the best non-Nadeko part of the original Monogatari series (which I loathed), and he's been a really good part of this one too. While I would have preferred some sort of confrontation between Araragi and Nadeko, this was a fine conclusion as well.
Score: 8.5
Status: Above expectations. Seriously, *Monogatari finished in first place. That's... what?
2. Toriko: The season was mostly concerned with the Cooking Fest arc, which is a problem because most of that is Komatsu-centric. Still, Toriko v Starjun finished it up and while it wasn't the fight Toriko v Tommyrod was, it was still pretty solid.
I have no idea what the hell the manga is doing right now throwing out beasts with capture levels in the thousands like fifty chapters after the four beasts arc. We kind of let that gimmick get out of control and should _probably_ scrap it.
Score: 8.2
Status: Shonen Jump Longrunner, expectations whatever
3. Golden Time: We've established that Kaga Kouko is a terrible person and clingy, and Banri has no sort of self-control, and that JC Staff has finally decided to stop putting their main heroines in thigh highs now that they have a show where it would make sense. There's also been an abundance of manservice. I have more faith in Yuyuko Takemiya putting together a satisfying ending than I do Key. Who wins? I don't particularly care. Maybe it's Mitsuo. That would be unusual.
Score: 7.7
Status: Met expectations
4. Blazblue: An self-styled action show actually delivering on action is not common enough these days. The plot was hashed out rather poorly, as the studio couldn't decide if they were marketing towards fans of the game or fans of the anime medium. If you're looking for people kicking butts though, a fine choice. Also a fine choice - Noel Vermillion and Tsubaki's hat.
Score: 7.4
Status: Met expectations, great hats.
5. Yozakura Quartet: I have no idea what was going on with the series this time around. They started off on the right foot by leaving off from the first set of OVAs and introducing Lila... and then they decided to reboot the series starting from episode 3, but skip one of the best arcs because the OVAs already did it, with no indication when you're supposed to watch those (between episodes 7 and 8). Just a sloppy job all around.
What they actually did manage to include was still alright, it's a franchise with a very solid base. Hime is still wonderful.
Score: 7.1
Status: Well below expectations
6. Non Non Biyori: Slightly above average blob fare, primarily thanks to Hotaru and Komari. Yes, I know I've said on multiple occasions I don't know how Kana Asumi keeps getting work, but watching Komari's failed skiing attempt was comedy gold that might have been enhanced by that whine. The author and studio both seem to like Ren the most of all the girls, but her skits generally aren't all that funny except when she goes full non-sequitur. Would watch another.
Score: 6.8
Status: Above expectations
7. Little Busters: I never liked Riki as a main character, he always seemed ultra-generic except he was more effeminate than standard, which just makes him less likeable. Then they wrote out the fun characters in like the second episode and spent seven episodes dallying around before Riki finally figured out something was weird. The last couple of episodes were good and the sort of thing you expect from Key games.
~wafuu
Score: 6.6
Status: Below expectations with the exception of the last three or four episodes.
8. Magi 2: The Aum Madaura arc was the worst one, I completely forgot that was coming up when the season started. Magi and Alibaba just aren't that interesting when they're not exploring dungeons, I guess.
Score: 6.3
Status: Below expectations.
9. Strike The Blood: It's got action sequences and it's got fanservice, but something about this show seems really off. I don't find myself caring about the characters at all.
Score: 6.0
Status: Below expectations.
10. Tokyo Ravens: I was kind of hoping this Light Novel adaptation would have stuff happen, but instead it had two episodes of stuff happening and now we're up to 9 or 10 episodes of padding. The characters are better than StB, so I feel like it has a better chance to move up, but things actually need to happen.
Score: 5.9
Status: Below expectations.
11. Infinite Stratos: Your first mistake was actually expecting anything to happen in Infinite Stratos. IS's first mistake was the student council president character having such a big role to play while essentially being a less likeable Cecilia (and making the first one superfluous)
Score: 5.3
Status: Slightly below non-existent expectations.
12. Kyoukai no Kanata: While KnK was better at having action sequences than Tokyo Ravens, it was also more nonsensical. Was Kuriyama supposed to be a warrior, an angsty teen, a blob mascot character? It changed from week to week, and I honestly never found her all that enjoyable. Would have been a better show focusing on the siscon guy, and that's never a good sign.
Score: 4.6
Status: Well below expectations.
For Winter 2014:
Toriko (continuation): Standard expectations of a shonen jump longrunner.
Golden Time (continuation): Moderately high expectations, can we get Kouko in thigh highs at least once? [Projected winner]
Magi 2: Moderately low expectations - "Be interesting."
Strike The Blood: Moderately low expectations - "Get a real antagonist."
Tokyo Ravens: Moderately low expectations - "Have stuff happen, don't suck."
D-Frag: Moderately high expectations - "Be funny."
Saki 2: Moderately high expectations - "Be more like Achiga than the first season."
Nisekoi: Moderately high expectations - "Be funny, don't SHAFT yourself."
Space Dandy: Moderate expectations - "Be weird, don't take yourself too seriously."
Mahou Sensou: Moderate expectations - "Don't suck."
Soul Eater Not: Moderate expectations - "Don't suck."
Seitokai Yakuindomo 2: Low expectations - "Change things up a bit."
Chuuni2: Very low expectations - "Don't suck, don't drop poorly written drama bombs."
Gin no Saji 2: Extremely low expectations - "Don't bore me."
Five most memorable characters:
Hotaru, Non Non Biyori - Make Komari plushies, win the grand prize.
Komari, Non Non Biyori
Kaga Kouko, Golden Time - As tops as one can get, aesthetically.
Taokaka, Blazblue
Ragna, Blazblue
Score: 8.5
Status: Above expectations. Seriously, *Monogatari finished in first place. That's... what?
2. Toriko: The season was mostly concerned with the Cooking Fest arc, which is a problem because most of that is Komatsu-centric. Still, Toriko v Starjun finished it up and while it wasn't the fight Toriko v Tommyrod was, it was still pretty solid.
I have no idea what the hell the manga is doing right now throwing out beasts with capture levels in the thousands like fifty chapters after the four beasts arc. We kind of let that gimmick get out of control and should _probably_ scrap it.
Score: 8.2
Status: Shonen Jump Longrunner, expectations whatever
3. Golden Time: We've established that Kaga Kouko is a terrible person and clingy, and Banri has no sort of self-control, and that JC Staff has finally decided to stop putting their main heroines in thigh highs now that they have a show where it would make sense. There's also been an abundance of manservice. I have more faith in Yuyuko Takemiya putting together a satisfying ending than I do Key. Who wins? I don't particularly care. Maybe it's Mitsuo. That would be unusual.
Score: 7.7
Status: Met expectations
4. Blazblue: An self-styled action show actually delivering on action is not common enough these days. The plot was hashed out rather poorly, as the studio couldn't decide if they were marketing towards fans of the game or fans of the anime medium. If you're looking for people kicking butts though, a fine choice. Also a fine choice - Noel Vermillion and Tsubaki's hat.
Score: 7.4
Status: Met expectations, great hats.
5. Yozakura Quartet: I have no idea what was going on with the series this time around. They started off on the right foot by leaving off from the first set of OVAs and introducing Lila... and then they decided to reboot the series starting from episode 3, but skip one of the best arcs because the OVAs already did it, with no indication when you're supposed to watch those (between episodes 7 and 8). Just a sloppy job all around.
What they actually did manage to include was still alright, it's a franchise with a very solid base. Hime is still wonderful.
Score: 7.1
Status: Well below expectations
6. Non Non Biyori: Slightly above average blob fare, primarily thanks to Hotaru and Komari. Yes, I know I've said on multiple occasions I don't know how Kana Asumi keeps getting work, but watching Komari's failed skiing attempt was comedy gold that might have been enhanced by that whine. The author and studio both seem to like Ren the most of all the girls, but her skits generally aren't all that funny except when she goes full non-sequitur. Would watch another.
Score: 6.8
Status: Above expectations
7. Little Busters: I never liked Riki as a main character, he always seemed ultra-generic except he was more effeminate than standard, which just makes him less likeable. Then they wrote out the fun characters in like the second episode and spent seven episodes dallying around before Riki finally figured out something was weird. The last couple of episodes were good and the sort of thing you expect from Key games.
~wafuu
Score: 6.6
Status: Below expectations with the exception of the last three or four episodes.
8. Magi 2: The Aum Madaura arc was the worst one, I completely forgot that was coming up when the season started. Magi and Alibaba just aren't that interesting when they're not exploring dungeons, I guess.
Score: 6.3
Status: Below expectations.
9. Strike The Blood: It's got action sequences and it's got fanservice, but something about this show seems really off. I don't find myself caring about the characters at all.
Score: 6.0
Status: Below expectations.
10. Tokyo Ravens: I was kind of hoping this Light Novel adaptation would have stuff happen, but instead it had two episodes of stuff happening and now we're up to 9 or 10 episodes of padding. The characters are better than StB, so I feel like it has a better chance to move up, but things actually need to happen.
Score: 5.9
Status: Below expectations.
11. Infinite Stratos: Your first mistake was actually expecting anything to happen in Infinite Stratos. IS's first mistake was the student council president character having such a big role to play while essentially being a less likeable Cecilia (and making the first one superfluous)
Score: 5.3
Status: Slightly below non-existent expectations.
12. Kyoukai no Kanata: While KnK was better at having action sequences than Tokyo Ravens, it was also more nonsensical. Was Kuriyama supposed to be a warrior, an angsty teen, a blob mascot character? It changed from week to week, and I honestly never found her all that enjoyable. Would have been a better show focusing on the siscon guy, and that's never a good sign.
Score: 4.6
Status: Well below expectations.
For Winter 2014:
Toriko (continuation): Standard expectations of a shonen jump longrunner.
Golden Time (continuation): Moderately high expectations, can we get Kouko in thigh highs at least once? [Projected winner]
Magi 2: Moderately low expectations - "Be interesting."
Strike The Blood: Moderately low expectations - "Get a real antagonist."
Tokyo Ravens: Moderately low expectations - "Have stuff happen, don't suck."
D-Frag: Moderately high expectations - "Be funny."
Saki 2: Moderately high expectations - "Be more like Achiga than the first season."
Nisekoi: Moderately high expectations - "Be funny, don't SHAFT yourself."
Space Dandy: Moderate expectations - "Be weird, don't take yourself too seriously."
Mahou Sensou: Moderate expectations - "Don't suck."
Soul Eater Not: Moderate expectations - "Don't suck."
Seitokai Yakuindomo 2: Low expectations - "Change things up a bit."
Chuuni2: Very low expectations - "Don't suck, don't drop poorly written drama bombs."
Gin no Saji 2: Extremely low expectations - "Don't bore me."
Five most memorable characters:
Hotaru, Non Non Biyori - Make Komari plushies, win the grand prize.
Komari, Non Non Biyori
Kaga Kouko, Golden Time - As tops as one can get, aesthetically.
Taokaka, Blazblue
Ragna, Blazblue
Posted by Anise_Punter | Dec 31, 2013 4:07 PM | 0 comments
December 5th, 2013
Oh Right, I guess I should toss this out there, Fall rankings and somesuch
Anime Relations: Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta
Welp, I've totally forgot to write up blurbs for these shows, probably because so many of them are just forgettable.
1. Monogatari - The Monogatari series is seriously going to win a season. I don't believe it. After how hugely overrated Bakemonogatari was, and how Nisemonogatari kept interspersing flashes of good stuff with pure SHAFTitude and bathtub Shinobus, this show is the best this season has going for it. The focus on Nadeko (who was always my favorite) has played a big part in that.
What I really think turned around the series for me was reading Medaka Box, and discovering the guy really could write an interesting story if SHAFT got out of their own way (hint: they can't)
Score: 8.6
2. Toriko - Toriko keeps on keeping on, with the four beasts arc mercifully over and the moderately better Cooking Fest arc on display. The current arc in the manga has been the best one in quite a long time.
Score: 8.2
3. Golden Time - Kaga Kouko may be a terrible person with serious issues, but if JC Staff finally figures out to put her in white high socks next week, my head will explode. Apart from that, it's still a very solid show. Yuyuko Takemiya knows what she's doing.
Score: 7.9
4. Blazblue: Not much to add, as I haven't actually played the games, but I've been sufficiently entertained by what I've watched to this point, outside of that weird Tao swimsuit debaclery.
Score: 7.6
5. Yozakura Quartet: I'm really disappointed with what's happened here, from the panty shots to the decision to reboot to the panty shots to the decision to reboot while still considering the OVAs (which I liked a LOT) as canon, without telling people that they need to watch them between episodes 7 and 8. Just... not a good effort all around by the production team. Still, they've got good material to work with, and that stops the score from falling too low. Also that nothing else is all that good, that helps.
Score: 7.4
6. Non Non Biyori: Komari would be adorable if Kana Asumi wasn't voicing her. Four characters really isn't enough for a school in this setting. If they just had those other two girls that stop by from time to time be series regulars, there'd be a lot more room for humor and more likely than not a successful series.
Hotaru's creation of Komacchi plushies is dubious, at best. Cree. P.
Score: 6.7
7. Magi 2: Out of the Aum Madaura arc, which was the worst one in the series, and onto Magnofhwqhgads, which trailed off at the end, but that's a while away. Manga-wise, Magi's been struggling for about 30 chapters now.
Score: 6.5
8. Little Busters Refrain: They haven't dropped the "EVERYONE BE SAD NOW" bombshell on us after 9 episodes, which is pleasant. Getting rid of Kud and Yuiko is very not pleasant. Riki absolutely cannot carry a show on his own. His weekly confrontations with Kyousuke have gotten old, I just want somebody to tell him the secret and be done with it.
Score: 6.2
9/10. Tokyo Ravens/Strike the Blood - I can't really decide which of these shows is more mediocre than the other. Tokyo Ravens has horrid CG overuse, but it also has Kanahanas, while StB is even more of a non-descript super-powers show. There's potential in both of these scripts, but they don't look like they're going to reach it this season. Oddly, they're both going 24 episodes so they'll stick around for next time... where MAYBE one of them will decide to be good.
Score: 6.1
11. Infinite Stratos 2: I just cannot get into this series apart from when Charlotte is involved (have I mentioned Kana Hanazawa is awesome? Three series this season where she's the most notable part). The episode with the disappearing panties was very Sora no Otoshimono-esque, and it might be better if IS was like that all the time instead of powered suit fights.
I'm quite tired of the kaicho's character, she's pretty much what I thought Cecilia should have been from the beginning. The show seems to be leaning heavily on Kubo's Maxim, "When you hit writer's block, add more characters." (And boobs, another one of Kubo's writers' block antidotes)
Score: 5.5
12. Kyoukai no Kanata - Now this show, this has just been mishandled from the very beginning. We were promised dark fantasy action (kind of like what Tokyo Ravens and StB are supposed to be delivering also), but instead Kyoani decided to turn Kuriyama into a mascot character and that's all the show has been about. Well, that and her angst and bizarre idol judge mishmash specials starring some side character I don't care about.
It's occurred to me that Kyoto Animation has struck out on 6 of their last 8 shows, with Hyouka being the best of the bunch since K-On 2 (and Hyouka was good but not great by any stretch). With another round of Chuu2 coming up in January, prospects for improvement do not look good.
Score: 4.7
So I guess there are only 3 weeks left until new stuff starts, already. Let's see what's on the docket for Winter 2014.
Continuations:
1. Toriko (what will this be, cour #11?)
2. Strike The Blood (I feel like this is more likely to turn things around than Tokyo Ravens)
3. Tokyo Ravens (please lower the amount of CG if possible)
4. Golden Time (projected winner)
New Stuff:
5. Mahou Sensou (know absolutely nothing about this show)
6. Nisekoi (could be hilarious, could get SHAFT'd)
7. Chuu2-2 (please just do comedy and no whiny stuff)
8. D-Frag (gag comedy + kanahanas, of course, BANANA BAKUDAN)
9. Saki Zenkoku-hen (PLEASE HAVE STEALTH MOMO CAMEOS SHE'S THE BEST)
10. Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 (why do I do this to myself?)
11. Gin no Saji 2: (why do I do this to myself?)
12. Space Dandy (projected Dandiest, so 80's...)
1. Monogatari - The Monogatari series is seriously going to win a season. I don't believe it. After how hugely overrated Bakemonogatari was, and how Nisemonogatari kept interspersing flashes of good stuff with pure SHAFTitude and bathtub Shinobus, this show is the best this season has going for it. The focus on Nadeko (who was always my favorite) has played a big part in that.
What I really think turned around the series for me was reading Medaka Box, and discovering the guy really could write an interesting story if SHAFT got out of their own way (hint: they can't)
Score: 8.6
2. Toriko - Toriko keeps on keeping on, with the four beasts arc mercifully over and the moderately better Cooking Fest arc on display. The current arc in the manga has been the best one in quite a long time.
Score: 8.2
3. Golden Time - Kaga Kouko may be a terrible person with serious issues, but if JC Staff finally figures out to put her in white high socks next week, my head will explode. Apart from that, it's still a very solid show. Yuyuko Takemiya knows what she's doing.
Score: 7.9
4. Blazblue: Not much to add, as I haven't actually played the games, but I've been sufficiently entertained by what I've watched to this point, outside of that weird Tao swimsuit debaclery.
Score: 7.6
5. Yozakura Quartet: I'm really disappointed with what's happened here, from the panty shots to the decision to reboot to the panty shots to the decision to reboot while still considering the OVAs (which I liked a LOT) as canon, without telling people that they need to watch them between episodes 7 and 8. Just... not a good effort all around by the production team. Still, they've got good material to work with, and that stops the score from falling too low. Also that nothing else is all that good, that helps.
Score: 7.4
6. Non Non Biyori: Komari would be adorable if Kana Asumi wasn't voicing her. Four characters really isn't enough for a school in this setting. If they just had those other two girls that stop by from time to time be series regulars, there'd be a lot more room for humor and more likely than not a successful series.
Hotaru's creation of Komacchi plushies is dubious, at best. Cree. P.
Score: 6.7
7. Magi 2: Out of the Aum Madaura arc, which was the worst one in the series, and onto Magnofhwqhgads, which trailed off at the end, but that's a while away. Manga-wise, Magi's been struggling for about 30 chapters now.
Score: 6.5
8. Little Busters Refrain: They haven't dropped the "EVERYONE BE SAD NOW" bombshell on us after 9 episodes, which is pleasant. Getting rid of Kud and Yuiko is very not pleasant. Riki absolutely cannot carry a show on his own. His weekly confrontations with Kyousuke have gotten old, I just want somebody to tell him the secret and be done with it.
Score: 6.2
9/10. Tokyo Ravens/Strike the Blood - I can't really decide which of these shows is more mediocre than the other. Tokyo Ravens has horrid CG overuse, but it also has Kanahanas, while StB is even more of a non-descript super-powers show. There's potential in both of these scripts, but they don't look like they're going to reach it this season. Oddly, they're both going 24 episodes so they'll stick around for next time... where MAYBE one of them will decide to be good.
Score: 6.1
11. Infinite Stratos 2: I just cannot get into this series apart from when Charlotte is involved (have I mentioned Kana Hanazawa is awesome? Three series this season where she's the most notable part). The episode with the disappearing panties was very Sora no Otoshimono-esque, and it might be better if IS was like that all the time instead of powered suit fights.
I'm quite tired of the kaicho's character, she's pretty much what I thought Cecilia should have been from the beginning. The show seems to be leaning heavily on Kubo's Maxim, "When you hit writer's block, add more characters." (And boobs, another one of Kubo's writers' block antidotes)
Score: 5.5
12. Kyoukai no Kanata - Now this show, this has just been mishandled from the very beginning. We were promised dark fantasy action (kind of like what Tokyo Ravens and StB are supposed to be delivering also), but instead Kyoani decided to turn Kuriyama into a mascot character and that's all the show has been about. Well, that and her angst and bizarre idol judge mishmash specials starring some side character I don't care about.
It's occurred to me that Kyoto Animation has struck out on 6 of their last 8 shows, with Hyouka being the best of the bunch since K-On 2 (and Hyouka was good but not great by any stretch). With another round of Chuu2 coming up in January, prospects for improvement do not look good.
Score: 4.7
So I guess there are only 3 weeks left until new stuff starts, already. Let's see what's on the docket for Winter 2014.
Continuations:
1. Toriko (what will this be, cour #11?)
2. Strike The Blood (I feel like this is more likely to turn things around than Tokyo Ravens)
3. Tokyo Ravens (please lower the amount of CG if possible)
4. Golden Time (projected winner)
New Stuff:
5. Mahou Sensou (know absolutely nothing about this show)
6. Nisekoi (could be hilarious, could get SHAFT'd)
7. Chuu2-2 (please just do comedy and no whiny stuff)
8. D-Frag (gag comedy + kanahanas, of course, BANANA BAKUDAN)
9. Saki Zenkoku-hen (PLEASE HAVE STEALTH MOMO CAMEOS SHE'S THE BEST)
10. Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 (why do I do this to myself?)
11. Gin no Saji 2: (why do I do this to myself?)
12. Space Dandy (projected Dandiest, so 80's...)
Posted by Anise_Punter | Dec 5, 2013 12:50 AM | 0 comments
October 4th, 2013
Summer 2013 Wrap-Up & Assorted Things
Anime Relations: Kiniro Mosaic, Golden Time
1. Railgun S: Was consistently in first place through the entire season and ended it that way. We went from the Sisters arc to an ITEM filled arc, and ITEM is one of my favorite parts of the entire franchise. Taking into account the fanservice filled finale episode (Shokuhou cameo!), we've got a contender for the show of the year on our hands here.
Final Score: 9.5
2. Tamayura 2: Tamayura: More Aggressive (while still not particularly aggressive) did just what it set out to do - be exceptionally cute and relaxing. They even made Potte likable. I hated Potte the first go-around. Somehow the introduction of Kanae and the interactions with the other characters worked out for her. Good job, Potte. Feel free to come back again.
Final Score: 8.8
3. Monogatari 2nd Set: It took until the final two weeks to get us some Nadekos, but even before that, this show was actually... really good. The Hanekawa arc was solid, but the Shinobu-centric Mayoi Jiangshi story was closer to standard shonen stuff than the empty wordy nothings I've become accustomed to from *Monogatari.
Score: 8.4
4. Toriko: This season was all about the Four Beast, one of the manga's weakest arcs. It was adapted about as well as one could hope. I think the Cooking Fest comes next. I really don't know what the manga is trying to accomplish with its direction recently.
Score: 8.2
5. Love Lab: Slapstick is always a great way to go. The characters (except for square-glasses) grew on me as the series progressed. I liked meeting Riko's family and their interactions, not so much the newspaper club. My feelings on Dakky are... mixed. He's the kind of guy that generally steals a show, instead he just stood there and took it. Poor... guy?
Final Score: 7.7
6. Servant x Service: Started out around a 7.5 and pretty much ended around there too. I thought I would like Hasebe more than I did, same with the talking pink rabbit. Nope. Lucy was the best part. That surprised me.
Final Score: 7.7
7. Kiniro Mosaic: This year has been light on blob fare, so we'll take it where we can get it. Shino, Alice and the red one never really did anything for me. Ayaya was my favorite, with the silly teacher in second. Karen was the puntable one. If they come back, I think this could be a very enjoyable sequel. Just... less Shino and less Alice.
Final Score: 6.6
8. Fate/Kalied Liner Prisma/Ilya: Had potential but never quite put everything together. I think they're bringing it back and adding Dark Ilyas.
Final Score: 6.4
9. Going Home Club: The bizarre airing schedule didn't help. GHC tried to be this season's slapstick and boke/tsukkomi extravaganza but it just never went anywhere. The characters were static, flat, and wholly uninteresting, and none of the situations really lent themselves towards actual humor. For some reason, this show is not actually done airing yet, and could see itself drop a little further. Natsuki's the only one I particularly like watching.
Score: 6.3
10. Rozen Maiden 3: This season was light on the bizarre comedy that made Rozen Maiden what it was, and that is because of criminally underused Suiseisekis. If a ~desu count doesn't even reach triple-digits, did you guys even try? Kanaria did her best to bring levity, but Kanaria isn't very interesting. I also thought they managed to undersell Kirakishou's batshit craziness somehow.
Final Score: 6.3
11. Symphogear G: Symphogear's biggest problem was the lack of a good villain. Dr. Ver was so outrageously cartoony and impossible to take seriously, that it made for a straight up bad viewing experience. I never really liked Chris but Hibiki was never an issue for me, she was a watchable heroine.
Final Score: 6.3
12. Kami Nomi III: The plan for this season was to minimize Elsie's screentime and up the seriousness. Why? Elsie is the best one and Haqua is just generic tsundere interest #11,440. Old Hell's plotting to overthrow New Hell to go back to the Hell we all know and love and I could not give a damn.
Final Score: 6.2
13. Silver Spoon: Managed to have moments of brightness and silliness interspersed into some generally dull material. Somehow they're getting another 12 episodes out of it, and I'm not exactly sure how. I really never learned anyone's names outside of Hachiken and the overweight capitalist girl.
Final Score: 6.1
14. Milky Holmes 3: Completely unworthy of the Milky Holmes name. It took place in the same universe and the girls made cameos, but that was it. I know this is closer to what the Milky Holmes staff had in mind to start with, but I mean... it's just not good, you know? I would absolutely welcome a comeback of the retarded girls Detective Squad, and not this Galaxy Angel Rune equivalent.
Final Score: 5.1
15. Watamote: Most of the time this show tried to be funny, it just ended up being cringe-inducing instead. Tomoko will have a shot at claiming the "Grossest" award at this year's awards post though.
Final Score: 4.6
16. C3 Airsoft Club: This show was about a club of girls who played airsoft. There is no reason drama or angst should be figuring into a show like this. That is a swift ticket to a bottom five finish in just about any season. I thought we had an interesting thing going with the reality-warping, if other people could sense it, but it was never heard from again after episode 5.
Final Score: 4.5
----------------------------
The five most memorable characters new to Summer 2013, keeping in mind BBcode still doesn't work on MAL.
Most of the shows this season were straight up sequels or spin-offs. Not a lot of room for new characters, and the ones that were new weren't really all that memorable.
5. Lucy, Servant x Service: None of the SxS characters really stood out all that much (not even Hasebe, who one would think would be my favorite). Poor Lucy, being forced into the outfit and sent on that date, probably gets the nod. Yes, even over the section chief.
4. Pork Bowl, Silver Spoon - Rest in peace, little pig, you were delicious.
3. Maki(o), Love Lab - The elegant princess of Fuji Girls High ended up being... well, a buffoon. I'm not sure what my favorite Maki moment was, but it was probably any time she was beaten repeatedly with a paper fan.
2. Karen, Kiniro Mosaic - Mostly credit for Pirate Karen in episode 12. Regular Karen generally annoyed me.
1. Aya(ya), Kiniro Mosaic - The twintailed blobular tsun frontrunner for blob of the year.
----------------------------
On tap for Fall 2013:
Blazblue: Alter Memory (Sure to win Best Tager Award)
Golden Time (Kaga Kouko: #1 most aesthetically pleasing design)
Infinite Stratos 2 (What countries will we meet this time around?)
Kyoukai no Kanata (No idea what to expect)
Little Busters Refrain (who is ready for angst and crying and wafuus?!)
Magi 2 (the return of Morgiana!)
Monogatari 2nd Season (continuing, more Nadekos)
Teekyuu 3 (more retarded than ever!)
Toriko (continuing, eps 124 and on)
Yozakura Quartet 2 (DADADADADADADADA...) [Projected Winner]
Wait? That's all? That can't be right.
Final Score: 9.5
2. Tamayura 2: Tamayura: More Aggressive (while still not particularly aggressive) did just what it set out to do - be exceptionally cute and relaxing. They even made Potte likable. I hated Potte the first go-around. Somehow the introduction of Kanae and the interactions with the other characters worked out for her. Good job, Potte. Feel free to come back again.
Final Score: 8.8
3. Monogatari 2nd Set: It took until the final two weeks to get us some Nadekos, but even before that, this show was actually... really good. The Hanekawa arc was solid, but the Shinobu-centric Mayoi Jiangshi story was closer to standard shonen stuff than the empty wordy nothings I've become accustomed to from *Monogatari.
Score: 8.4
4. Toriko: This season was all about the Four Beast, one of the manga's weakest arcs. It was adapted about as well as one could hope. I think the Cooking Fest comes next. I really don't know what the manga is trying to accomplish with its direction recently.
Score: 8.2
5. Love Lab: Slapstick is always a great way to go. The characters (except for square-glasses) grew on me as the series progressed. I liked meeting Riko's family and their interactions, not so much the newspaper club. My feelings on Dakky are... mixed. He's the kind of guy that generally steals a show, instead he just stood there and took it. Poor... guy?
Final Score: 7.7
6. Servant x Service: Started out around a 7.5 and pretty much ended around there too. I thought I would like Hasebe more than I did, same with the talking pink rabbit. Nope. Lucy was the best part. That surprised me.
Final Score: 7.7
7. Kiniro Mosaic: This year has been light on blob fare, so we'll take it where we can get it. Shino, Alice and the red one never really did anything for me. Ayaya was my favorite, with the silly teacher in second. Karen was the puntable one. If they come back, I think this could be a very enjoyable sequel. Just... less Shino and less Alice.
Final Score: 6.6
8. Fate/Kalied Liner Prisma/Ilya: Had potential but never quite put everything together. I think they're bringing it back and adding Dark Ilyas.
Final Score: 6.4
9. Going Home Club: The bizarre airing schedule didn't help. GHC tried to be this season's slapstick and boke/tsukkomi extravaganza but it just never went anywhere. The characters were static, flat, and wholly uninteresting, and none of the situations really lent themselves towards actual humor. For some reason, this show is not actually done airing yet, and could see itself drop a little further. Natsuki's the only one I particularly like watching.
Score: 6.3
10. Rozen Maiden 3: This season was light on the bizarre comedy that made Rozen Maiden what it was, and that is because of criminally underused Suiseisekis. If a ~desu count doesn't even reach triple-digits, did you guys even try? Kanaria did her best to bring levity, but Kanaria isn't very interesting. I also thought they managed to undersell Kirakishou's batshit craziness somehow.
Final Score: 6.3
11. Symphogear G: Symphogear's biggest problem was the lack of a good villain. Dr. Ver was so outrageously cartoony and impossible to take seriously, that it made for a straight up bad viewing experience. I never really liked Chris but Hibiki was never an issue for me, she was a watchable heroine.
Final Score: 6.3
12. Kami Nomi III: The plan for this season was to minimize Elsie's screentime and up the seriousness. Why? Elsie is the best one and Haqua is just generic tsundere interest #11,440. Old Hell's plotting to overthrow New Hell to go back to the Hell we all know and love and I could not give a damn.
Final Score: 6.2
13. Silver Spoon: Managed to have moments of brightness and silliness interspersed into some generally dull material. Somehow they're getting another 12 episodes out of it, and I'm not exactly sure how. I really never learned anyone's names outside of Hachiken and the overweight capitalist girl.
Final Score: 6.1
14. Milky Holmes 3: Completely unworthy of the Milky Holmes name. It took place in the same universe and the girls made cameos, but that was it. I know this is closer to what the Milky Holmes staff had in mind to start with, but I mean... it's just not good, you know? I would absolutely welcome a comeback of the retarded girls Detective Squad, and not this Galaxy Angel Rune equivalent.
Final Score: 5.1
15. Watamote: Most of the time this show tried to be funny, it just ended up being cringe-inducing instead. Tomoko will have a shot at claiming the "Grossest" award at this year's awards post though.
Final Score: 4.6
16. C3 Airsoft Club: This show was about a club of girls who played airsoft. There is no reason drama or angst should be figuring into a show like this. That is a swift ticket to a bottom five finish in just about any season. I thought we had an interesting thing going with the reality-warping, if other people could sense it, but it was never heard from again after episode 5.
Final Score: 4.5
----------------------------
The five most memorable characters new to Summer 2013, keeping in mind BBcode still doesn't work on MAL.
Most of the shows this season were straight up sequels or spin-offs. Not a lot of room for new characters, and the ones that were new weren't really all that memorable.
5. Lucy, Servant x Service: None of the SxS characters really stood out all that much (not even Hasebe, who one would think would be my favorite). Poor Lucy, being forced into the outfit and sent on that date, probably gets the nod. Yes, even over the section chief.
4. Pork Bowl, Silver Spoon - Rest in peace, little pig, you were delicious.
3. Maki(o), Love Lab - The elegant princess of Fuji Girls High ended up being... well, a buffoon. I'm not sure what my favorite Maki moment was, but it was probably any time she was beaten repeatedly with a paper fan.
2. Karen, Kiniro Mosaic - Mostly credit for Pirate Karen in episode 12. Regular Karen generally annoyed me.
1. Aya(ya), Kiniro Mosaic - The twintailed blobular tsun frontrunner for blob of the year.
----------------------------
On tap for Fall 2013:
Blazblue: Alter Memory (Sure to win Best Tager Award)
Golden Time (Kaga Kouko: #1 most aesthetically pleasing design)
Infinite Stratos 2 (What countries will we meet this time around?)
Kyoukai no Kanata (No idea what to expect)
Little Busters Refrain (who is ready for angst and crying and wafuus?!)
Magi 2 (the return of Morgiana!)
Monogatari 2nd Season (continuing, more Nadekos)
Teekyuu 3 (more retarded than ever!)
Toriko (continuing, eps 124 and on)
Yozakura Quartet 2 (DADADADADADADADA...) [Projected Winner]
Wait? That's all? That can't be right.
Posted by Anise_Punter | Oct 4, 2013 2:57 PM | 0 comments
August 7th, 2013
Show Scores n Stuff Week 5
Anime Relations: Servant x Service
A fifth show has decided it wants to try and be good this season. I'm thankful. I'm even more thankful that Breaking Bad is coming back in less than 100 hours. Yessssssssss.
1. Railgun S [1]: Kuroko remains ludicrous. ITEM returns complete with bosom-groping action. I don't remember that. One-off before moving into the next arc was better than I was expecting.
Score: 9.2
2. Tamayura [2]: Not as cute this week, but still super duper cute. I'd ask to give Kaoru a bigger role, but that would require more Kana Asumi, and I'm not sure I want that.
Score: 8.4
3. Toriko [3]: Did not air this week. Unfortunate.
Score: 8.2
4. Servant X Service [4]: Keeps being pretty good, but it doesn't have that thing to push it across that line to really good. I'm not exactly sure what they could do that's outlandish enough to get over that line. The characters don't really fit into really absurdist situations. There's no Yamada. If only there was.
Score: 7.7
5. Monogatari [5]: Big Damn Araragi entrance was very well done and totally out of place for this show. My second favorite arc of the entire franchise so far after Nadeko Snake. Come back soon, Nadeko. Outside of Tamayura, this is the next episode I'm looking forward to the most.
Score: 7.5
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6. Rozen Maiden [8]: Actually getting the Rozen Maidens in the damn show is a good start. Now if we could just get the ~desu count off of 14, where it's been since week 1. Megu is kind of an interesting character.
Score: 6.9
7. Fate Kaleid/Liner Prisma Ilya [7]: I don't like to talk about bad art in these shows, but this is one where it's just jarring. The action hasn't been all that spectacular either
Score: 6.7
8. Kitakubu [6]: A lot of the stuff has gotten stale already, which is not encouraging when there's eight weeks to go. The three one-note club members are just not making me laugh. Randomly plopping in seals is not sufficient.
Score: 6.7
9. Symphogear [9]: Poor Hibiki. Not sure how the power of friendship is going to save you this time. I mean, we all know it will somehow, but it's going to be really difficult to justify it with an alien monster. At least it was enough to distract me from the singing!
Score: 6.5
10. Love Lab [10]: I can't remember any of the gags from this show within a day of watching the episodes. They all kind of blend together. I'm fine watching the episodes as they happen, I laugh a few times, and then I just forget what happened. I should grade harsher.
Score: 6.5
11. Kiniro Mosaic [12]: I want to see more picking on Ayaya. I bet that would improve this show greatly. She's definitely the most fun to bully. I know the blondes are the focal point because they're exotic, but I want to see more Aya-teasing.
Score: 6.2
12. Silver Spoon [11]: Well now I want pizza, and I can't have any. Thanks guys.
Score: 6.1
13. Kami Nomi [14]: Well, Yui certainly made this episode worth it. Not super worth it, but enough to get comfortably ahead of Milky Holmes and in range of 11th place. Keima-ko needs to stop happening though. Do not want.
Score: 6.1
14. The Feathers [13]: One of the town's detectives was a double agent for the Phantom Thieves? Say it ain't so!
Score: 5.7
15. Watamote [16]: I wish this show was about Tomoko's brother instead and his daily life living with a gross incompetent.
Score: 5.5
16. Class C-3 Airsoft Girls [15]: Welp, I guess last week was a one-off. Can't have things getting interesting, it would take away from the appeal of the show, which is... well, I'm not quite sure.
Score: 5.4
1. Railgun S [1]: Kuroko remains ludicrous. ITEM returns complete with bosom-groping action. I don't remember that. One-off before moving into the next arc was better than I was expecting.
Score: 9.2
2. Tamayura [2]: Not as cute this week, but still super duper cute. I'd ask to give Kaoru a bigger role, but that would require more Kana Asumi, and I'm not sure I want that.
Score: 8.4
3. Toriko [3]: Did not air this week. Unfortunate.
Score: 8.2
4. Servant X Service [4]: Keeps being pretty good, but it doesn't have that thing to push it across that line to really good. I'm not exactly sure what they could do that's outlandish enough to get over that line. The characters don't really fit into really absurdist situations. There's no Yamada. If only there was.
Score: 7.7
5. Monogatari [5]: Big Damn Araragi entrance was very well done and totally out of place for this show. My second favorite arc of the entire franchise so far after Nadeko Snake. Come back soon, Nadeko. Outside of Tamayura, this is the next episode I'm looking forward to the most.
Score: 7.5
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6. Rozen Maiden [8]: Actually getting the Rozen Maidens in the damn show is a good start. Now if we could just get the ~desu count off of 14, where it's been since week 1. Megu is kind of an interesting character.
Score: 6.9
7. Fate Kaleid/Liner Prisma Ilya [7]: I don't like to talk about bad art in these shows, but this is one where it's just jarring. The action hasn't been all that spectacular either
Score: 6.7
8. Kitakubu [6]: A lot of the stuff has gotten stale already, which is not encouraging when there's eight weeks to go. The three one-note club members are just not making me laugh. Randomly plopping in seals is not sufficient.
Score: 6.7
9. Symphogear [9]: Poor Hibiki. Not sure how the power of friendship is going to save you this time. I mean, we all know it will somehow, but it's going to be really difficult to justify it with an alien monster. At least it was enough to distract me from the singing!
Score: 6.5
10. Love Lab [10]: I can't remember any of the gags from this show within a day of watching the episodes. They all kind of blend together. I'm fine watching the episodes as they happen, I laugh a few times, and then I just forget what happened. I should grade harsher.
Score: 6.5
11. Kiniro Mosaic [12]: I want to see more picking on Ayaya. I bet that would improve this show greatly. She's definitely the most fun to bully. I know the blondes are the focal point because they're exotic, but I want to see more Aya-teasing.
Score: 6.2
12. Silver Spoon [11]: Well now I want pizza, and I can't have any. Thanks guys.
Score: 6.1
13. Kami Nomi [14]: Well, Yui certainly made this episode worth it. Not super worth it, but enough to get comfortably ahead of Milky Holmes and in range of 11th place. Keima-ko needs to stop happening though. Do not want.
Score: 6.1
14. The Feathers [13]: One of the town's detectives was a double agent for the Phantom Thieves? Say it ain't so!
Score: 5.7
15. Watamote [16]: I wish this show was about Tomoko's brother instead and his daily life living with a gross incompetent.
Score: 5.5
16. Class C-3 Airsoft Girls [15]: Welp, I guess last week was a one-off. Can't have things getting interesting, it would take away from the appeal of the show, which is... well, I'm not quite sure.
Score: 5.4
Posted by Anise_Punter | Aug 7, 2013 3:30 PM | 0 comments
July 31st, 2013
Summer 2013 Power Rankings 7/31
Anime Relations: Toriko, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya
Got caught up with all the shows in the last four days - there was another week's worth of shows to get through. The perils of hospitalization. Four shows are head and shoulders above the rest, and really one show is in the top tier, then the next two, then #4, and then everything else. Show #5 is as close to show #15 as it is the show ranked 3rd.
1. Railgun [last week: 1]: Touma vs Accelerator is absolutely the highlight of the entire franchise and JC Staff dominated it like they should have. They usually have trouble with stuff like this, so I'm proud of them. The only concern is what they do with the last eight episodes. Hopefully there's not a lot (hopefully there's none) of Kuroko in her dental floss, but I'm not optimistic about that point.
Score: 9.1
2. Tamayura [3]: Stop it. Stop being so adorable. All of you (okay, not you Norie), but mostly Potte and Mitani. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to take eight more episodes of this.
Score: 8.5
3. Toriko [2]: The more thought I actually give to the Four Beasts Arc, the less goddamn sense it actually makes. It was just a terrible, awful idea by the author to begin with. So many plot holes and things that don't make sense. That being said, the studio is adapting it just fine and I'm looking forward to seeing Toriko beat the hell out of a 30-story tall lion. Also LOL at Sani vs the Octopus Kong. "SO GROOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSS!"
Score: 8.3
4. Servant x Service [4]: This week introduces the last recurring character, the Section Manager, played by a stuffed pink bunny rabbit. This probably was expected to come off weirder and funnier than it did.
5. Monogatari [7]: I'll admit, I'm intrigued as to how this arc will play out. That's of course SHAFT's cue to do an episode with nothing but fanservice, less-than-clever wordplay and black frames and watch everyone call it amazing.
Score: 7.0
6. Going Home Club [6]: Off-schedule this week. I'm not exactly sure what happened there.
Score: 6.9
7. Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Ilya [5]: The show needs to focus on its magical battles and not "omg magical ilya so adorbs" (because she isn't). I mean, I suppose they could focus on Rin's thighs and get at least a 7, but if they're not going to do that, please have better battles.
Score: 6.8
8. Rozen Maiden [8]: Shinku is back and doing ojou-stuff, so we're in a better place than we were last week. Still though, we need other dolls to make their appearances, because Jun is about as dull as it gets.
Score: 6.7
9. Symphogear [9]: The fights are good bordering on really good, but it takes a hit because of the singing gimmick, arguably the dumbest idea in the history of these kinds of shows. I just can't get past it. Let's see how long it takes me to learn these two new girls' names. My guess? Never.
Score: 6.5
10. Love Lab [10] - We were headed for a mediocre episode where all I wanted to see was the annoying treasurer get what was coming to her... and then that song happened. Wow. We are all lingerie, indeed.
Score: 6.4
11. Gin no Saj [11]i: Not sure if it's possible to actually expect something from this show.
Score: 6.2
12. Kiniro Mosaic [12]: Watching Shino in ecstasy while the two little blonde girls fight over her isn't going to stop being funny. The rest of the show could stand to move a little faster. I think my favorite gag was calling Aya "Ayaya", but they only did it once and it was never heard from again. What's the deal with that? Start calling her Ayaya again.
Score: 6.0
13. Milky Holmes Spinoff [14]: It's not that this is a bad show, but it has no business using the Milky Holmes name. Why should I care about the Feathers, just because they're more competent than Milky Holmes?
Score: 6.0
14. Kami Nomi [13]: Kami Nomi's struggling, and giving us more generic tsundere Haqua and less adorable moeblob Elsie is not the way to stop struggling.
Score: 6.0
15. Airsoft Girls Club [16]: What on earth did I just watch? At first I thought Yura was going crazy, but then her reality-warping was noticed by the rest of the girls, which was completely unexpected. We might have a completely different show on our hands all of a sudden.
Score: 5.7
16. Watamote [15]: I know it's supposed to be cringe-inducing, but it's really, REALLY cringe inducing. But the cringes don't have accompanying laughs, and I don't feel particularly bad for Tomoko either. Not a winning recipe. The manga's the same way; I'd probably rank it among my bottom 20. The best part of the show is Tomoko's VA - she sounds _exactly_ like I would expect that character to sound.
Score: 5.5
1. Railgun [last week: 1]: Touma vs Accelerator is absolutely the highlight of the entire franchise and JC Staff dominated it like they should have. They usually have trouble with stuff like this, so I'm proud of them. The only concern is what they do with the last eight episodes. Hopefully there's not a lot (hopefully there's none) of Kuroko in her dental floss, but I'm not optimistic about that point.
Score: 9.1
2. Tamayura [3]: Stop it. Stop being so adorable. All of you (okay, not you Norie), but mostly Potte and Mitani. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to take eight more episodes of this.
Score: 8.5
3. Toriko [2]: The more thought I actually give to the Four Beasts Arc, the less goddamn sense it actually makes. It was just a terrible, awful idea by the author to begin with. So many plot holes and things that don't make sense. That being said, the studio is adapting it just fine and I'm looking forward to seeing Toriko beat the hell out of a 30-story tall lion. Also LOL at Sani vs the Octopus Kong. "SO GROOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSS!"
Score: 8.3
4. Servant x Service [4]: This week introduces the last recurring character, the Section Manager, played by a stuffed pink bunny rabbit. This probably was expected to come off weirder and funnier than it did.
5. Monogatari [7]: I'll admit, I'm intrigued as to how this arc will play out. That's of course SHAFT's cue to do an episode with nothing but fanservice, less-than-clever wordplay and black frames and watch everyone call it amazing.
Score: 7.0
6. Going Home Club [6]: Off-schedule this week. I'm not exactly sure what happened there.
Score: 6.9
7. Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Ilya [5]: The show needs to focus on its magical battles and not "omg magical ilya so adorbs" (because she isn't). I mean, I suppose they could focus on Rin's thighs and get at least a 7, but if they're not going to do that, please have better battles.
Score: 6.8
8. Rozen Maiden [8]: Shinku is back and doing ojou-stuff, so we're in a better place than we were last week. Still though, we need other dolls to make their appearances, because Jun is about as dull as it gets.
Score: 6.7
9. Symphogear [9]: The fights are good bordering on really good, but it takes a hit because of the singing gimmick, arguably the dumbest idea in the history of these kinds of shows. I just can't get past it. Let's see how long it takes me to learn these two new girls' names. My guess? Never.
Score: 6.5
10. Love Lab [10] - We were headed for a mediocre episode where all I wanted to see was the annoying treasurer get what was coming to her... and then that song happened. Wow. We are all lingerie, indeed.
Score: 6.4
11. Gin no Saj [11]i: Not sure if it's possible to actually expect something from this show.
Score: 6.2
12. Kiniro Mosaic [12]: Watching Shino in ecstasy while the two little blonde girls fight over her isn't going to stop being funny. The rest of the show could stand to move a little faster. I think my favorite gag was calling Aya "Ayaya", but they only did it once and it was never heard from again. What's the deal with that? Start calling her Ayaya again.
Score: 6.0
13. Milky Holmes Spinoff [14]: It's not that this is a bad show, but it has no business using the Milky Holmes name. Why should I care about the Feathers, just because they're more competent than Milky Holmes?
Score: 6.0
14. Kami Nomi [13]: Kami Nomi's struggling, and giving us more generic tsundere Haqua and less adorable moeblob Elsie is not the way to stop struggling.
Score: 6.0
15. Airsoft Girls Club [16]: What on earth did I just watch? At first I thought Yura was going crazy, but then her reality-warping was noticed by the rest of the girls, which was completely unexpected. We might have a completely different show on our hands all of a sudden.
Score: 5.7
16. Watamote [15]: I know it's supposed to be cringe-inducing, but it's really, REALLY cringe inducing. But the cringes don't have accompanying laughs, and I don't feel particularly bad for Tomoko either. Not a winning recipe. The manga's the same way; I'd probably rank it among my bottom 20. The best part of the show is Tomoko's VA - she sounds _exactly_ like I would expect that character to sound.
Score: 5.5
Posted by Anise_Punter | Jul 31, 2013 3:35 PM | 0 comments