Merisa (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} merisa) wrote,@ 2006-07-11 16:02:00 |
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Summer 06 Anime Impressions
Yes, it's that time again. For my only posts I ever make. But hey, it's the new season, I can't help but do it. As usual, I'll have a new format this time.
New Shows
NHK ni Youkoso (Welcome to the NHK)
Synopsis:
Satou is a hikkikomori (shut-in) who hasn't left his room for four years. One day, a young girl, Misaki, visits him and invites him to join her 'project', claiming that she can cure him. The manga is a black comedy that explores the darker side of Japan's youth culture, the anime takes a decidedly more dramatic take on things.
Impressions:
This is the one I'd been looking forward to the most, but also fearing the most because I love the manga so much. The verdict is, it's quite good. And quite different from the manga. Sure, the events are mostly the same, though some of the racier elements (the drugs, for instance, probably the lolicon chapter) have been cut. I still suggest everyone read the manga, because it's probably one of the funniest and most twisted things I've read in a long time. And it's not weird in the normal "Wow, Japan is weird" sense. Anyone can relate, to some extent, to the sense of alienation and disaffectation that pervades this series.
Animation and Art:
Gonzo is known for blowing their animation wad on the first episode... luckily NHK isn't an action show, so it can pass with decent animation. Still, it was good this this time. My biggest problems are with the character designs. Particularly Misaki, who loses a lot of her charm with a cuter more anime-style design.
Sound, Music, and Voices:
Satou and Misaki's voices aren't what I expected. In particular, Satou sounds off, too old, too gruff, not the manic and uneasy Satou of the manga. The music is excellent, though. The opening is done by Round Table (think Chobits). It really seems more suited to another show, though... it almost makes it seem like a romance, which... well, it's not. Ending theme is a bizarre metal song about dancing baby humans. Pretty awesome and more along the lines of the manga.
Watch if:
You like the manga. You like shows that mix drama and black comedy.
Avoid if:
You like the manga. You dislike shows that are weird or lack action.
Coyote Ragtime Show
Synopsis:
Hot investigator, Angelica Barns, along with her plucky sidekick, Chelsea, chases the enigmatic Mister and his gang of thieves along the galaxy all the while the Criminal Guild and their 12 gothloli robot assassins come after them. In other words, pure awesome.
Impressions:
Pure awesome. Do you like explosions? Gothloli assassins? Explosions? Badass glasses-wearing mature babes? Explosions? Basically, it's not a show that takes itself seriously. Brought to you by UFOTable, known for Futakoi Alternative, Coyote Ragtime Show mixes action and intrigue and a general sense of fun. Don't expect a deep and moving plot, though.
Animation and Art:
UFOTable's quality animation shows itself here. The sequences with the 12 Sisters in partcular are quite good.
Sound, Music, and Voices:
Voices are decent, music is decent, but nothing is really standout.
Watch if:
You like having fun. You like gothloli assassins.
Avoid if:
You're a dour, humorless person.
Mini Impressions
Tsuyokiss coolxsweet
An all-tsundere harem show? Basically, it's stupid, the characters are dull and the animation is passable.
Watch if:
You like harem shows with tsunderes, I guess.
Avoid if:
You have other things to do.
Zero no Tsukaima
Louise, a girl attending Hogw-a magic school summons a boy from our world. Hijinx ensue. Louise is pretty cute, though. Imagine if Becky Miyamoto, Shana, and Hermione had a baby. Ok, that'd be pretty hot to watch, but Louise is the result.
Watch if:
You like non-harem shows with tsunderes.
Avoid if:
See above. But I'll probably keep watching because Louise is cute.
Chokotto Sister
Boy gets a little sister from Santa. She doesn't wear much as far as clothes go. I read some of the manga, the biggest problem is that Choko, the little sister, is cute, but dull and the story doesn't really go anywhere. I can stand the tons of 11-year-old crotch shots if it actually went somewhere. But it doesn't.
Watch if:
You like seeing 11-year-old crotches. A lot.
Avoid if:
You don't.
Continuing Shows
Ouran High School Host Club
You're not watching this? Why not? The quality hasn't let down, it's still funny and charming. Are you scared because it's based on a girl's manga? Because of the fake yaoi twincest? Don't be. It's funny. Watch it.
Honey and Clover II
You're not watching this? Why not? This is probably one of the best shows in years. Each episode packs sweet, funny, and sad moments into it with excellent production quality and an unmatched set of songs. Go back and watch the first season, then jump in. It doesn't get much better than this.
Finished
The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
God dammit, go watch this one too. Now. I swear to god. Personally, I think this beat out Ouran for last season's best show. Sure, Ouran is funny, but Haruhi manages to be deeper, too while maintaining awesome production and tight direction.
Disgaea
Man. If the rest of the show had been like the last four episodes, which more closely followed the game, it would've been far better. Instead, let's just reflect on how cute Flonne is.
Princess Princess
How unexpected, here. It was cute and funny if pretty brainless. I actually hope for a second season since it never really went anywhere. The live action drama is just freakish, though. Couldn't they have gotten cuter boys?
Himawari!
I haven't finished watching it. Maybe it gets better in the last four episodes. Okama's character designs are pretty much the entire attraction. How come this got picked up for a second season?
Coming to US Shores
Pani Poni Dash!
A pretty bizarre choice due to the sheer number of japanese culture references it throws at you. Still, it's really funny, the character designs are cute, and the cast is great. I can't see how anyone could ever possibly watch this dubbed. How?
Law of Ueki
Sure, it's a kid's fighting show. But Ueki's got the magic factor called charm. Give it a rent, though, it's not for everyone.
Strawberry Marshmallow
HOLY GOD SO CUTE. Yeah, it's got the occasional bath scene, but you shouldn't feel like a perv for watching it, because it really is funny.
Kamichu!
Charming little show, good music, sweet stories, definitely check this out. It moves slow and there's no real plot, but that's ok. Yurie is adorable.
Mai-Hime
How do you make a show that features fighting schoolgirls, mecha, magic powers, and fanservice into something that actually works? Watch and see.
Yet To See
Bokura ga Ita
The absolutely minimal production values call to mine Kare Kano immediately. Unfortunately, my japanese is not so good that I can watch this unsubbed. Someone please sub this...
Yes, it's that time again. For my only posts I ever make. But hey, it's the new season, I can't help but do it. As usual, I'll have a new format this time.
New Shows
NHK ni Youkoso (Welcome to the NHK)
Synopsis:
Satou is a hikkikomori (shut-in) who hasn't left his room for four years. One day, a young girl, Misaki, visits him and invites him to join her 'project', claiming that she can cure him. The manga is a black comedy that explores the darker side of Japan's youth culture, the anime takes a decidedly more dramatic take on things.
Impressions:
This is the one I'd been looking forward to the most, but also fearing the most because I love the manga so much. The verdict is, it's quite good. And quite different from the manga. Sure, the events are mostly the same, though some of the racier elements (the drugs, for instance, probably the lolicon chapter) have been cut. I still suggest everyone read the manga, because it's probably one of the funniest and most twisted things I've read in a long time. And it's not weird in the normal "Wow, Japan is weird" sense. Anyone can relate, to some extent, to the sense of alienation and disaffectation that pervades this series.
Animation and Art:
Gonzo is known for blowing their animation wad on the first episode... luckily NHK isn't an action show, so it can pass with decent animation. Still, it was good this this time. My biggest problems are with the character designs. Particularly Misaki, who loses a lot of her charm with a cuter more anime-style design.
Sound, Music, and Voices:
Satou and Misaki's voices aren't what I expected. In particular, Satou sounds off, too old, too gruff, not the manic and uneasy Satou of the manga. The music is excellent, though. The opening is done by Round Table (think Chobits). It really seems more suited to another show, though... it almost makes it seem like a romance, which... well, it's not. Ending theme is a bizarre metal song about dancing baby humans. Pretty awesome and more along the lines of the manga.
Watch if:
You like the manga. You like shows that mix drama and black comedy.
Avoid if:
You like the manga. You dislike shows that are weird or lack action.
Coyote Ragtime Show
Synopsis:
Hot investigator, Angelica Barns, along with her plucky sidekick, Chelsea, chases the enigmatic Mister and his gang of thieves along the galaxy all the while the Criminal Guild and their 12 gothloli robot assassins come after them. In other words, pure awesome.
Impressions:
Pure awesome. Do you like explosions? Gothloli assassins? Explosions? Badass glasses-wearing mature babes? Explosions? Basically, it's not a show that takes itself seriously. Brought to you by UFOTable, known for Futakoi Alternative, Coyote Ragtime Show mixes action and intrigue and a general sense of fun. Don't expect a deep and moving plot, though.
Animation and Art:
UFOTable's quality animation shows itself here. The sequences with the 12 Sisters in partcular are quite good.
Sound, Music, and Voices:
Voices are decent, music is decent, but nothing is really standout.
Watch if:
You like having fun. You like gothloli assassins.
Avoid if:
You're a dour, humorless person.
Mini Impressions
Tsuyokiss coolxsweet
An all-tsundere harem show? Basically, it's stupid, the characters are dull and the animation is passable.
Watch if:
You like harem shows with tsunderes, I guess.
Avoid if:
You have other things to do.
Zero no Tsukaima
Louise, a girl attending Hogw-a magic school summons a boy from our world. Hijinx ensue. Louise is pretty cute, though. Imagine if Becky Miyamoto, Shana, and Hermione had a baby. Ok, that'd be pretty hot to watch, but Louise is the result.
Watch if:
You like non-harem shows with tsunderes.
Avoid if:
See above. But I'll probably keep watching because Louise is cute.
Chokotto Sister
Boy gets a little sister from Santa. She doesn't wear much as far as clothes go. I read some of the manga, the biggest problem is that Choko, the little sister, is cute, but dull and the story doesn't really go anywhere. I can stand the tons of 11-year-old crotch shots if it actually went somewhere. But it doesn't.
Watch if:
You like seeing 11-year-old crotches. A lot.
Avoid if:
You don't.
Continuing Shows
Ouran High School Host Club
You're not watching this? Why not? The quality hasn't let down, it's still funny and charming. Are you scared because it's based on a girl's manga? Because of the fake yaoi twincest? Don't be. It's funny. Watch it.
Honey and Clover II
You're not watching this? Why not? This is probably one of the best shows in years. Each episode packs sweet, funny, and sad moments into it with excellent production quality and an unmatched set of songs. Go back and watch the first season, then jump in. It doesn't get much better than this.
Finished
The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
God dammit, go watch this one too. Now. I swear to god. Personally, I think this beat out Ouran for last season's best show. Sure, Ouran is funny, but Haruhi manages to be deeper, too while maintaining awesome production and tight direction.
Disgaea
Man. If the rest of the show had been like the last four episodes, which more closely followed the game, it would've been far better. Instead, let's just reflect on how cute Flonne is.
Princess Princess
How unexpected, here. It was cute and funny if pretty brainless. I actually hope for a second season since it never really went anywhere. The live action drama is just freakish, though. Couldn't they have gotten cuter boys?
Himawari!
I haven't finished watching it. Maybe it gets better in the last four episodes. Okama's character designs are pretty much the entire attraction. How come this got picked up for a second season?
Coming to US Shores
Pani Poni Dash!
A pretty bizarre choice due to the sheer number of japanese culture references it throws at you. Still, it's really funny, the character designs are cute, and the cast is great. I can't see how anyone could ever possibly watch this dubbed. How?
Law of Ueki
Sure, it's a kid's fighting show. But Ueki's got the magic factor called charm. Give it a rent, though, it's not for everyone.
Strawberry Marshmallow
HOLY GOD SO CUTE. Yeah, it's got the occasional bath scene, but you shouldn't feel like a perv for watching it, because it really is funny.
Kamichu!
Charming little show, good music, sweet stories, definitely check this out. It moves slow and there's no real plot, but that's ok. Yurie is adorable.
Mai-Hime
How do you make a show that features fighting schoolgirls, mecha, magic powers, and fanservice into something that actually works? Watch and see.
Yet To See
Bokura ga Ita
The absolutely minimal production values call to mine Kare Kano immediately. Unfortunately, my japanese is not so good that I can watch this unsubbed. Someone please sub this...
