I may not like the posters, but the anime themselves are okay.

I’m still liking the current season of anime. So people who thought I was weird for getting excited about it, nyeh-nyeh and all that immature stuff. Like I said, it was looking perfect for me. And it is~

This season I’m watching more anime than I usually do and I’m not really losing interest in anything. Usually I love a season in a preview and hopefully at the beginning before it kind of wears out. Series can start out good and then just run out of steam.

The anime I picked up this season at any point are attacked/praised in alphabetical order. Though I really didn’t have much to say that was bad. Shocking even if I do particularly like this season.

Ah, what’s happened to me? I want to be overly critical and pick on everything again! (Really though, it seems like lately I’ve become such an optimist. Right around when fans stopped bothering me about blogging because they stopped caring about a certain series because of its spin-off. I wonder if that would have anything to do with it…)

I also just flat out got lazy and didn’t include screencaps for a couple of anime because I didn’t talk about them much. I don’t think it’s a big deal. Even so, I keep feeling like something is horrible wrong with this post. I’ll owe it to my obsession with images, but it’s overall a sort of throwaway post. I wanted to make up for not getting to a First Impressions collected post, so Mid-Season post instead!

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11eyes

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 5

Yeah. Five episodes in. About time. Training = Boring.

Yeah, I really don’t think the fanservice was that bad after everyone was going on about it. The first episode was certainly bad and Yuka still seems to get camera angles and sitting positions purely to show off her underwear. But really, it’s a decent anime. It has exactly what I was hoping for based on any reviews I saw of the game.

I mean the constant “I’ll protect Yuka” gets kind of annoying, but now that Kakeru can back it up I guess it’s okay. Still, despite all of the adorable situations Yuka and Kakeru end up in that get my fangirling going, they still leave a lot to be desired as a couple. Bring on the drama!!! (Though apparently episode 6 is taking care of that…)

At this point I am kind of liking the cast of side characters better, though like I said, Kakeru being able to back up his declaration to protect Yuka gives him bonus points. Also, now that we’re heading into the second half of the story, all those hints I saw about Yuka should be leading her to become a very interesting character. A come from behind favorite. As of right now she should be my favorite since I have no others and I find her generally adorable, but knowing the hints about her combined with her not having much to do with the story just makes me feel unsatisfied with her current state.

So, as I said in my preview, I’m watching this to the end. Because I have to know Yuka’s secret. I expect to be disappointed with my own hype though. Though I have the basic idea of it and that basic outcome is nice.

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Fairy Tail

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 6

Sweet. Got a group shot without the “main character” (in shounen main = lame)

This actually became one of my favorites of the season. The fact that a bunch of fans of the manga hated it just confirmed to me that I had to watch. It lead me to believe that it would be the classic shounen anime adaptation because shounen fans never like their anime adaptations at first. Especially the seiyuu choices. Memories of Soul Eater occur to me…

Really though, I don’t like Kugi-san as the cat thing or Hirano-san either. But at least I got used to them.

Overall it’s a fun anime and I never get bored while watching it. Though my attention was certainly completely fixed in place in the second episode when a certain character appeared and became an instant favorite.

And if you can’t guess which one then you don’t know me well enough! Actually…since it’s a guy this time I think that distinction deserves a mention. Usually I’m a fan of the girls~ …Wait that didn’t come out right.

But yeah, Yuuichi Nakamura voiced character ftw. Obviously. I have a theory that any character with even one good line will become an incredibly awesome force to be reckoned when they’re voiced by Yuichi Nakamura. Because seriously you guys, seriously. (Yes, that does sell my point.) Also, bonus points if their hair is blue. (Seriously! There are four roles someone can easily connect to Yuuichi Nakamura and three of them have blue hair! Now it’s four! It’s gotten to the point where I see blue hair and I think anyone but Yuuichi Nakamura is a miscast! Even for women!)

That said, Gray would have been a cool character anyway (random loss of clothes does that), but you know, Rule of Yuuichi Nakamura makes him that much better. Seriously. (Erza is second favorite even after just one episode though. Secondary Characters > Main Characters…like almost every other shounen out there.)

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InuYasha Kanketsu-Hen

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 6

This screencap is relevant for having the two main characters! And that’s it.

Nostalgia~ Nostalgia~ So far this season though I’ve liked the first two episodes best. The recent episode too for having a scene with real interactions between all three women/girls of the show. Overall this season is good for that stuff, having characters interact that normally don’t (they tried some bullshit fillers like that near the end of the last series which were all thoroughly lame).

I also always enjoy it whenever there’s adventures in Kagome’s world, which there really aren’t many of in this season (except fluffy shippy interludes…ohoho~). I really like Rumiko Takahashi doing romantic comedy better than doing big long stories.

Generally though, right now I’m not enjoying the series as much because we’re in the basic shounen upgrade BS and still tying up some loose threads. Apparently after all of that is done, they’re going to slow down the pace because that’s when the important stuff is coming up.

I’m really looking forward to the arc with Kagome and Kikyou (which is now coming up next). Plus that mini-arc about Kagome’s powers. And then the last two chapters being adapted. Plus the shippy stuff I mentioned. So basically anything involving Kagome who still manages to be my favorite character again now that it’s animated. Bonus points for a Kagome and Kikyou combination. Triple super special bonus points for Kagome x InuYasha shippy times.

Ah~ Once you hit a certain age, you just embrace your past fandom loves that much more I think. (Though enjoying this series so much has a negative side effect of making me feel old-ish when so many young fans don’t even know it. Terrifying!)

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Kobato.

Episodes Aired: 5
Episodes Watched: 4

Shame on you if you don’t know how I feel about this. The episode 2-4 post explains in full detail me getting used to it being an adaptation but basically deciding that it’s doing a good adaptation. Some things don’t really live up to expectations, but it’s impossible to do everything right.

Especially when this fangirl is a shipping fangirl and adapting the short manga into a 24 episode series requires you to mess with events of said fangirl’s shipping.

Anyway, as you can see by the episode counts, there’s an episode I would have posted about before now, but my brother got in the way. The post should be coming on Saturday unless I continue to be derailed by…other things. *been watching a game’s videos to “tehe~” at cutscenes*

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Miracle Train

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 4

These guys dressed up way too much. Not even mentioning that other outfit from episode 4.

I don’t care what other fangirls say, I’m on the side of those who are highly amused by this series.

Some girls are pointing at it and saying it’s sexist, but I just don’t connect to that at all. Growing up in a very liberal equal part of the US I just don’t experience that sort of bullshit ever. So I see fiction as just harmless fiction…though there are certain tipping points that offend me as a girl. Miracle Train just isn’t one.

That said, I still don’t think Miracle Train should be at all sexist, even to the most sensitive girl. The reason the bishies help out girls instead of guys is quite simple you see. If they helped out guys, they’d be gay. And being a man harem with no lead female they already have all the signs of being a gay gathering of gay men. If you just have them go out and help guys then there’d be no doubt. It would turn into the anime edition of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” which is literally gay. So there.

Really, it’s a series that knows it’s bad. It’s kind of pointless to take it serious in any way. And by not taking it seriously, I find it highly amusing.

Now with all that said, of course being a bad episodic series, it really does wear thin. I only pick it up and watch it when I’m really bored. And if it wasn’t streaming I wouldn’t bother at all.

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Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 2

I’m actually behind with this one. When I come back to it I’ll post on it, so you’ll just hear about it later.

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Nyan Koi!

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 2

I kind of dropped this for the moment even though I found it quite simply entertaining. It just didn’t really have anything new to offer me that I want at this point in time. It looks like things have gotten cuter, but I don’t know…I just don’t get my usual motivation for that stuff.

It seems these days I like romance on the side. Or…thinking about Nogizaka Haruka…I’m just not willing to have two series like that in one season. Haruka gets the love because it’s a sequel to a series I already liked.

Still…I miss the kitties. But time is valuable and if I just don’t fell satisfied by each episode, it’s time to give it up. If I get even more bored this season though, I’ll definitely go back to this one. I cycle through my bonus anime pretty easily anyway.

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Seiken no Blacksmith

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 6

At least if this loli ojou-sama bitch was voiced by Rie Kugimiya someone would like her.

I still enjoy this anime, though my enjoyment noticeably fell during the Lisa filler. So damn boring. Then I just went “wtf?” when the next episode started with Aria and Cecily being chased. Overall, a dislikable episode because we introduced a loli princess. Entirely unnecessary because we already have more than enough loli than the world could ask for in an Aki Toyosaki voiced Lisa.

I still get interested again whenever Luke and Cecily interact for any period of time because these interactions entertain me in numerous ways, especially when Aria and Lisa are around too. (I don’t know why, but the “Cecily’s boobs” jokes just aren’t wearing on me like they should especially considering I’m a girl)

The mood whiplash is kind of annoying though. I didn’t mind when it was the original four so much, but with the addition of the loli-princess and her three guards, it’s annoying.

At least Cecily’s gotten to be a better fighter with Aria as her sword. Even if Cecily is still pretty average without her, they can at least justify her being good with Aria because of their bond of friendship and all that stuff. She’s improving, but she’s still not improving too fast. So you have to give the anime credit for that.

It’s decent for what it is. The plot is fairly decent for a fantasy anime. It just isn’t really noticable with all of the other bullshit going on. Even so, I like that bullshit when it’s the four main characters. The addition of new characters made it cross that thin line between fun and annoying for me though.

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Seitokai no Ichizon

Episodes Aired: 7
Episodes Watched: 5

Favorite girl based on a one-scene hairstyle. I think that’s rational.

I have nothing to say here. It is what it is and that’s all there is to it. (Lies. I always have something to say. Especially about anything that should be labeled as crap.)

I am liking it more than I thought I would though. It was my seasonly “pick up a crap anime” anime and…while it’s still not good, it is pretty legitimately funny. It actually gets funnier the more it goes on because you become more familiar with the characters and thus character-based humor becomes an option. Episode four I believe (the one with all of the light novel delusions) was especially great for this. Combining the parody elements with the character humor.

Also the overall pacing works excellently for a comedy anime. Being fast (and occasionally loud) makes things funnier. I’m wondering how well that works in the light novels of this series, because as I know, humor becomes a lot harder to specifically write out and keep a good pacing or timing to it. Plus a lot of the humor in this anime is visual.

I could point out some obvious flaws in the show, but since the flaws are there for other people to enjoy the show, there’s not much point to it. Plus, shows that poke fun at themselves and seem to acknowledge being what they are always just seem exempt from criticism for me. Because what’s really the point, right? It’s not something they have to improve, because it’s part of their joke and what makes the show work.

Also…I’m routing for Sugisaki to get his harem end. I think he deserves it if he can earn it in the face of so much outright disdain. As for a favorite girl…gee I wonder…

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Shakugan no Shana S

First OAV was funny. Bring on the next one. What? No I don’t care if it’s related to the plot. There’s plenty of time for JC Staff to screw that up in the third season!

Of course, I kid. I’m always willing to give animation studios some slack, even if I really think Shana would have been better off as 12-13 episode seasons to reduce the boring filler bullshit.

So in the meantime, shut up the fanboys crying about how the anime hasn’t been as good as the novels and therefore the third season will suck as well. Did it ever occur to them the reason for the OAV was to stall for time so the novel can finish? Which it’s actually pretty close to doing. Yashichiro Takahashi does things quick and he follows his schedule. Truly something to be admired by writers everywhere.

Truly, this a decent series. Doesn’t deserve too much praise, but it doesn’t really deserve all the bashing either. I think it just gets that for being the true birth of the Kugi’s tsundere loli.

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Shugo Chara! Party!

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 4

So this scene I’ll take…I’ll leave the babysitting adventures thanks.

I still stand by the idea that it’s not as bad as most of the fandom makes it out to be because nothing is as bad as this idiotic fandom makes things out to be.

Still, the novelty of it has worn off and I really don’t feel like watching it anymore. Rikka just doesn’t make a very compelling protagonist and she shouldn’t, since she’s not the real protagonist of the show. I enjoyed the Utau episode, which got a lot of flack for introducing the fact that Ikuto left off-screen, sadly taking attention away from it actually being a good episode. I liked the secretive smiles Amu and Utau shared over their own past together and Ikuto.

Especially after that episode and seeing the sort of titles since then, I want to stop watching and have someone else tell me when to watch it. But since I gave myself that job for the other fans, it seems that I’ll keep watching it just the same. The fact that unlike other fangirls, I still like the manga helps a bit I guess. Still planning a post on that by the way. And now an official closer for the last season of the anime too.

However, I do enjoy Party! sucking because it means I get to watch all of the one-interest fangirls that piss me off writhe in pain.

The rest of you smart girls, watch Yumeiro Patissiere. It has all of the cute charm of Shugo Chara!, just without the awesomer characters and broad appeal..and instead replaced with even more cuteness. But if the characters aren’t as awesome you don’t have to worry about them being ruined for fillers! It’s like right now they’re perfectly designed for fillers! (Wow, YumePati fangirling is the new invading force for me)

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Yumeiro Patissiere

Episodes Aired: 6
Episodes Watched: 6

We already did the six-episodes in impression (though it was actually written after five episodes, but still published after six where I still felt the same) and my opinion on it hasn’t changed a bit. It’s the best shoujo for the younger age group on TV right now.

Granted, I don’t watch Mecha Mote Iinchou, but that show got disqualified when they started off with 3D bullshit. It still makes me sad since every time I do see something about it, it looks so cute.

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And that’s it!

There’s a noticeable absence of Kimi ni Todoke, but that’s quite simply because I haven’t watched it yet. Before anyone thinks they should throw something as me, I’ll explain why. Every time I start thinking about giving it a go, the hype on it starts right up again and I just can’t bring myself to watch it.

See, I don’t watch things with hype when I think said hype will lead me to becoming disappointed. I want to find my own love for the series, thank you very much.

When I do watch it though, expect a post of some sort to make up for the delay. Unless, you know, I just don’t have anything special to say.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Anime & Manga. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.