I'm getting stuck into anime yet again.
Most of the new seasons shows that I am planning to follow have aired, been subbed...and watched! I've pretty much seen episode ones of at least 12+ shows and still following two from last season. There are a few more still to air, so I'll just have to wait patiently for those to be released.
I pretty much watch a well-rounded range of anime, apart from a select few ecchi sketchy ones...but most of the time, it's unavoidable... Lately though, I've also started to read more light novels and will try to maintain that to at least one per season of anime. Last season I followed Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei after watching the first episode and this season I've caught up on Sword Art Online, of which I'm about to start on the seventh volume. Translated of course. xP
Anyway, I'll be posting a few brief thoughts and first impressions of my own on the anime series' listed below, in order of best to worse (IMO).
OH! And a word of warning!! Do not read past this point - Spoiler alert! Well, unless you don't mind spoilers, that is.
Barakamon
Akame ga Kill!
Tokyo Ghoul
Sword Art Online II
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Ao Haru Ride
Sabagebu!
Glasslip
Aldnoah.Zero
DRAMAtical Murder
Rail Wars!
Shirogane no Ishi: Argevollen
Bakumatsu Rock
Hanayamata
Locodol
Barakamon
I really enjoyed watching this one! The humour is sharp and rather intelligent - some were really small things but they made me laugh. I was probably smiling through the whole episode. xD There were quite a lot of flash backs but I didn't think it hindered the story too much but helped to explain the characters actions and reactions at times. The main character Handa Seishuu is a bit of a hothead and is an award-winning calligrapher following in his fathers footsteps, from what I gather. Punching one of the elderly award directors square in the face after he was criticised for being too conformist, he was sent away by his father to the countryside. Here, is where all the fun starts! Can't wait to see what happens in the next ep.
Akame ga Kill!
This episode, although started off on a strange note, really led me on. I didn't expect things to develop that way so that was a plus. At first I thought this would be just another comedy flop but slowly the world they lived in revealed some ugly boils and scars. It got quite freaky towards the end and the characters who I thought were the innocent ones turn out to be the worst criminals in town. This little twist has piqued my interest in this anime and I want to see how it goes from here!
Tokyo Ghoul
Psychological horror themed, and not for the weak of stomach. I guess I've gradually hardened the lining of mine over the years, but yeh, watch out. This anime is about some man eating monsters loose in Tokyo which they call ghouls. The title is pretty much self explanatory. The story on the surface is about an ordinary boy who confesses to the girl that he was interested in and goes out with her. However, she is not what she seems. The boy is attacked and almost dies, but is rescued by modern medicine. During the emergency, certain organs were transplanted into him and nothing is the same again.
Sword Art Online II
As mentioned, I've been reading the light novels for this series. I've read past what the first episode was about but I'm still looking forward to the visual interpretations. So far so good!
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
High school romance and comedy obviously, but it could get interesting. Being too flustered and failing to confess to the boy she likes, or rather botching the job, Sakura Chiyo tries to clear up the misunderstanding with Nozaki Umetaro, who had mistaken it to be her declaration of fandom for his manga publications. She unintentionally becomes his assistant instead. Hopefully this one keeps its good vibe from this first episode because I'm rather liking it!
Ao Haru Ride
High school romance, some comedy and feels like it could get emotional. I'm very sensitive emotional scenes and usually cry over the tiniest things, so if this one manages to make me bawl, I'd be happy (that's my way to tell if a show is good. LOL). I really liked the watercolour-like art style at the start, which signifies the main characters in the past as well. I'll be waiting for the next episode on the edge of my seat!
Sabagebu!
Comedy, high school themed. To me, most of the scenes where like the picture above. xP If your into guns you'll probably pick up some mistakes or incorrect usages perhaps? Well, I'm not in that category but its a fun kind of show. Most of the main characters are girls and probably intended for a more of a male audience with some of them fan service shots. Good to watch for a a bit of a laugh!
Glasslip
From what I gather from the title, this anime will be about glass making?? Well, from what I've seen from the first episode, its a high school setting, with some blatant jealousy from one of the girls, a hint of some potential romance or unrequited loves and dreams. Not much of the glass making was shown on screen as yet, though..so is this about glass or not? Anyway. Hopefully it will get there.
Aldnoah.Zero
Space mecha, sci-fi, warheads, missiles, life on Mars and ancient technologies...hmmm. Not really something I'd usually go out of my way to watch, but then, I'm someone who has watched Macross Frontier, Code Geass and FMP! Not that I'm saying those shows share too much in common, besides the mecha component, of course and the wars that are going on, but this one is slightly more far-fetched to a degree. Not too sure what to make of this show just yet, so I'll keep an eye open...for the moment.
DRAMAtical Murder
Male characters dominated with cute pet-like AI companions (they call them 'All-mates'). Set in a fantasy, futuristic Japan where virtual games and technologies exist alongside reality - I think... I hate to say, but I'm really falling for their costumes and oh, the pets! So adorable. I just hope it doesn't get too bishounen heavy, but by the looks of things, I could be disappointed. Despite this, I think I'll take a look at the next ep.
Rail Wars!
This one I can't say for sure if I'm going to like or not. It's about a group of young 'uns dreaming of joining the train and rail industry. In their world, the Japan they live in has total control of their train service on a national level and stands for job security. Before they become a full fledged officer they undergo rigorous training and so on. Being young and heroic, the group get up to do the usual things like fighting crime, showing off and working hard. The animation was really smooth, I found, but I'm going to have to keep going with this to see what happens in the next couple of episodes.
Shirogane no Ishi: Argevollen
This show is also mecha and really does seem like a cross between FMP and Code Geass, to me. Again, there is a war between two major powers - one party could be a reincarnation of the British Empire and the other the Asians. Then comes the appearance of a fighting machine that exceeds the current technology available, yadda yadda yadda. Well, that's what it seems to me. I could be wrong and this anime surpasses all my expectations, so who knows? I'll watch this if there's nothing else on. Sorry.
Bakumatsu Rock
Even I found this a bit borderline. The main protagonists are all male in this one too. Lots of shouting, head banging, ripped shirts and torso. Lots of torso. And bromance. See picture above xP This one has a period setting, but it has so many modern elements and technology, that it comes across as a little crazy. Supposedly about music, rock'n roll and opposition of the ruling authorities, I'm not too sure how this will pan out and if I will continue to watch. I'll set it aside for now, I think.
Hanayamata
This one I found a bit disappointing story wise, but I'm hoping it will improve. The scenes are quite pretty and fairy-like and to say the least..I'm weak against those xP It just seems this one is intended for a younger demographic perhaps. I guess I just didn't feel much excitement for this first episode and thus is in danger of being dropped by moi.
Locodol
Didn't have much love for this one actually. It was a flop for me, but don't be discouraged, it probably just wasn't my type of anime. It's set in a quiet, out of the way town, which just had its public pool renovated. In order to attract more people into the town, a businessman (main protagonist's uncle) comes up with a plan to promote the pool with local idols or 'locodol' for short. Originally wanting some cash to buy herself a new swimsuit the main character reluctantly agreed to her uncle's proposal but did not expect to perform to an audience. Things pretty much went downhill from there.
That's all from me, for now!
Probably the longest post ever written. If I've bored you, I apologise. Otherwise feel free to leave a comment if you like, dislike, agree, disagree..Well, just let me know!
Cheers,
- eenh
