August 10th, 2014
Summer Anime 2014 - Impressions
Anime Relations: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal, Haikyuu!!, Tokyo ESP, Hanayamata, Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus, Free! Eternal Summer, Barakamon, Zankyou no Terror, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Re:␣Hamatora
So we're about 5 weeks into the summer anime season. This is pretty much the halfway point for most anime, and so now I present - my summer 2014 anime impressions! Please note that these are just my opinions, and if you disagree, to say so politely.
Warning: not spoiler free.
Sailor Moon Crystal - I'm honestly not quite sure how to feel about this one. On one hand, I'm super excited cause I get to revisit part of my childhood, and on the other... well, let's just say it didn't quite meet my expectations. The story itself is following the manga, so no complaints there, but the artwork isn't quite as good as it could be. There are some really awkward shots of their faces, and some of their poses just aren't natural. And their legs are even longer in the anime than in the manga. You'd think with two weeks per episode, they'd step up their game.
As well, I'm very disappointed that Usagi's seiyuu is the only one that hasn't changed. It's super high and grating. I can barely stand to listen to it. Their animation for transformations is that sort of 3D animation (not quite sure what it's called) and I really don't like that style. But other than that, I really liked the opening and ending songs/animation! For old time's sake, I going to continue watching.
Free! Eternal Summer - So, second season of Free. Just about what you'd expect, I suppose? Lots of stripping and friendship stuff and swimming. A couple new characters are introduced, and of course, lots of drama as usual. Even more than the first season! Because, of course, the third years are graduating. And the ships are abound more than ever. The ending sequence is adorable!
Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus - I've already read the manga, but it's so nice to see it animated! Has nice animation and a great story! It completely ignore the second season of Kuroshitsuji (thank god) and I'm looking forward to the Book of Murder. I really like the circus like (duh) opening, and the ending was very pretty!
Re:_Hamatora - The highly anticipated second season is here! After the cliffhanger of the first season, I was looking forward to this. For some reason, the artwork seems slightly different in this one? I honestly liked the first season's better, but it's so slight that I'm pretty much just nit picking. The story's really great - definitely intriguing. In fact, the plot is completely opposite of what it was in the first season. And now, side effects of Minimums are introduced, so I'm looking forward to more episodes! One last thing that I didn't like was the transitions; it makes the scenes really short, and they're just too jarring. The flow isn't smooth at all.
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - //breathes deeply. EVERYONE GO WATCH THIS ANIME. Honestly, I think it's the best in this season. It has pretty much no plot, but what it /does/ have is comedy, and it executes it beautifully. My first thoughts upon reading the summary was 'Oh. Not another cliche shoujo.' I was WRONG. Completely and utterly. Seriously. Watching the first episode was the best decision I ever made, because I then proceeded to finish all the chapters of the manga while giggling like an idiot to myself. I think I may have sprained a thing or two. The characters are all so unique and they all have their own comedic value to the show. Comedy gold. In five weeks, this show has completely taken over my life.
Barakamon - //breathes deeply again. EVERYONE GO WATCH THIS TOO. This was an anime I checked out because of the artwork, but soon jumped into my favourites as well. Ranking just below Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, this show is, surprise, surprise, another comedy. Within it's comedic moments is little moments of drama and plot. It's overall very cute and funny and you'll be laughing at every episode I promise. The opening and ending are both gorgeous!
Zankyou no Terror - Now, this was a fascinating little gem. The characters are so wonderfully developed and interesting, and the plot is beautifully constructed. It definitely leaves me wanting to know more. To me, Nine looks sorta like Midorima, from Kuroko no Basuke (which may explain why I like him so much). Opening and ending both have a ethereal feel to them.
Tokyo ESP - First episodes are soso important, I don't know how much I can empasize it. This one just didn't cut it for me. It was kinda just... boring? Dropped at the first episode.
Hanayamata - Uh, it's not good, and it's not bad? Pretty much, it's not good enough to love, and not bad enough to drop. It's just... normal, which is funny because that's the description of the main character. I find the character's blushing and stammering really kinda annoying. So. If you don't mind middle school girls blushing and stammering at each other every episode, here's the anime for you! Oh, and they dance sometimes.
Haikyuu!! - So this was a spring anime, but it's still airing into the summer season, so I figured I might as well do one more. It's, simply put, a sports anime. Honestly, that's all you need to know. It's very cool, of course! It always gets my blood pumping, especially when they pull out their moves. Go watch this!
I realize that I didn't cover all the summer anime, but these are the ones I've watched. If there's an anime here that you /know/ was on the Summer 2014 list, it's because I've chosen not to watch.
Warning: not spoiler free.
Sailor Moon Crystal - I'm honestly not quite sure how to feel about this one. On one hand, I'm super excited cause I get to revisit part of my childhood, and on the other... well, let's just say it didn't quite meet my expectations. The story itself is following the manga, so no complaints there, but the artwork isn't quite as good as it could be. There are some really awkward shots of their faces, and some of their poses just aren't natural. And their legs are even longer in the anime than in the manga. You'd think with two weeks per episode, they'd step up their game.
As well, I'm very disappointed that Usagi's seiyuu is the only one that hasn't changed. It's super high and grating. I can barely stand to listen to it. Their animation for transformations is that sort of 3D animation (not quite sure what it's called) and I really don't like that style. But other than that, I really liked the opening and ending songs/animation! For old time's sake, I going to continue watching.
Free! Eternal Summer - So, second season of Free. Just about what you'd expect, I suppose? Lots of stripping and friendship stuff and swimming. A couple new characters are introduced, and of course, lots of drama as usual. Even more than the first season! Because, of course, the third years are graduating. And the ships are abound more than ever. The ending sequence is adorable!
Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus - I've already read the manga, but it's so nice to see it animated! Has nice animation and a great story! It completely ignore the second season of Kuroshitsuji (thank god) and I'm looking forward to the Book of Murder. I really like the circus like (duh) opening, and the ending was very pretty!
Re:_Hamatora - The highly anticipated second season is here! After the cliffhanger of the first season, I was looking forward to this. For some reason, the artwork seems slightly different in this one? I honestly liked the first season's better, but it's so slight that I'm pretty much just nit picking. The story's really great - definitely intriguing. In fact, the plot is completely opposite of what it was in the first season. And now, side effects of Minimums are introduced, so I'm looking forward to more episodes! One last thing that I didn't like was the transitions; it makes the scenes really short, and they're just too jarring. The flow isn't smooth at all.
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - //breathes deeply. EVERYONE GO WATCH THIS ANIME. Honestly, I think it's the best in this season. It has pretty much no plot, but what it /does/ have is comedy, and it executes it beautifully. My first thoughts upon reading the summary was 'Oh. Not another cliche shoujo.' I was WRONG. Completely and utterly. Seriously. Watching the first episode was the best decision I ever made, because I then proceeded to finish all the chapters of the manga while giggling like an idiot to myself. I think I may have sprained a thing or two. The characters are all so unique and they all have their own comedic value to the show. Comedy gold. In five weeks, this show has completely taken over my life.
Barakamon - //breathes deeply again. EVERYONE GO WATCH THIS TOO. This was an anime I checked out because of the artwork, but soon jumped into my favourites as well. Ranking just below Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, this show is, surprise, surprise, another comedy. Within it's comedic moments is little moments of drama and plot. It's overall very cute and funny and you'll be laughing at every episode I promise. The opening and ending are both gorgeous!
Zankyou no Terror - Now, this was a fascinating little gem. The characters are so wonderfully developed and interesting, and the plot is beautifully constructed. It definitely leaves me wanting to know more. To me, Nine looks sorta like Midorima, from Kuroko no Basuke (which may explain why I like him so much). Opening and ending both have a ethereal feel to them.
Tokyo ESP - First episodes are soso important, I don't know how much I can empasize it. This one just didn't cut it for me. It was kinda just... boring? Dropped at the first episode.
Hanayamata - Uh, it's not good, and it's not bad? Pretty much, it's not good enough to love, and not bad enough to drop. It's just... normal, which is funny because that's the description of the main character. I find the character's blushing and stammering really kinda annoying. So. If you don't mind middle school girls blushing and stammering at each other every episode, here's the anime for you! Oh, and they dance sometimes.
Haikyuu!! - So this was a spring anime, but it's still airing into the summer season, so I figured I might as well do one more. It's, simply put, a sports anime. Honestly, that's all you need to know. It's very cool, of course! It always gets my blood pumping, especially when they pull out their moves. Go watch this!
I realize that I didn't cover all the summer anime, but these are the ones I've watched. If there's an anime here that you /know/ was on the Summer 2014 list, it's because I've chosen not to watch.
Posted by Chikkoi | Aug 10, 2014 8:10 PM | 1 comments