Its time to evaluate shows I watched, giving them a short impression and a grade, while going a little in-dept with ones I just watched. So let get started.
Overview
X-Men
So finally, Madhouse gets something right with X-Men. While the plot isn’t anything special, it’s the characters I kinda remember from either the comics or the cartoon. Adding good visuals and fitting Japanese voices and you got yourself a good adoption of a western series.
4 out of 5
Dog Days
While the premise is straight out of Zero no Tsukaima, characters are simple at
best, and lack of tension due to the war being an event, this show is pretty
harmless to watch and how can you not like energetic guy who is also the
Galactic Pretty boy. Supported with solid animation and a colorful pallet,
you'll be able to have an enjoyable time with Dog Days. Just hope you don't
mind Cats and Dogs ears and tails.
3 out of 5
Tiger & Bunny
Obviously a show that isn't about cute girls, Tiger & Bunny set the stage
with a unique twist on superheros, along with a cast of interesting characters
with possible back-stories, Wonderful art style, animation, and good use
of CG.
5 out of 5
Nichijou
An incredibly funny show with lots of strange gags, puns,
and humor. Top it off with great art style and animation from Kyoto Animation
and you go yourself a solid comedy.
5 out of 5
Hanasaku Iroha
P.A.Works 10th anniversary project that showcase their talent of a strong
story, interesting characters, and overall beautiful art style and animation.
5 out of 5
Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai
What a mess. It is never a good idea to compile multiple stories with poor pacing, unlikeable characters from idiots to sluts, and flat jokes.
1 out of 5
Sengoku Otome ~Momoiro Paradox~
Who comes up with these ideas? Dumb characters, bland visuals, fan-service in the most immature ways.
1 out of 5
Steins;Gate
A strange mystery tale involving the theories of time-travel, murder, and odd
ball characters. Able to set an atmosphere that makes you question what’s going
on. However, the lengthy dialog may be a negative to some, many will enjoy the
goofy conversations and the intellectual ones.
4 out of 5
A-Channel
While I agree that this is very much a K-on! clone, it is really doesn’t make it bad. A-Channel makes solid use of the usual slice of life formula with a steady pacing, basic but likeable characters, simple character design, and gorgeous backgrounds and environments.
4 out of 5
Maria Holic Alive
Very much like the first season with strange designs, wacky comedy, and odd premise of a lesbian living with a cross-dressing boy, in a all girl school dorm.
4 out of 5
First Impressions
C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control
So what is money? Does it have any other use then just a way to purchase items? What if you have to fight for it? These are the question that C makes its audience ask and a lot is riding on that premise. Our main character, Yogi Kimimaro (Uchiyama Kouki), is a university student who is barely getting by with a scholarship and a few part-time jobs. One day, a mysterious man offers him a chance to get limitless amounts of money if he is will to venture in to a parallel world call the Financial District. This series has the possibilities to be a interesting tale. However, what doesn’t have the potential is the visuals. They are flat out ugly. Very lack luster colors, bland backgrounds, and odd character designs makes for a rough experience to watch the show at times. Visuals, good or bad, won’t degrade the quality of the story and its direction.
Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai
Man, this title is long but that is the least of this shows problems. However, the problems this show has doesn’t effect the plot of this new noitaminA show too much. The story goes that a group of friends, Jintan ( Irino Miyu), Anaru ( Tomatsu Haruka), Yukiatsu ( Sakurai Takahiro), Tsuruiko ( Hayami Saori), and Poppo ( Kondou Takayuki), all want their spread ways after six years. However, Menma ( Kayano Ai) asked Jintan to grant her a wish which involves getting the group back together. While this set up is kind a weird and it would led to a typical journey of convincing old friends to get back together, what makes it interesting is the possible reason these characters changed and it all centered around Menma in some ways. However, it’ll be tough at times to watch these characters exaggerate themselves a bit too much. The visuals are pretty similar to Sora no Woto of blobby character designs, heavy detailed backgrounds, and lots of animations. Some stuff I have to scratch my head at with the some hair designs and comedic scenes but it doesn't hurt the show too much for now.
Hidan no Aria
I feel like J.C.Staff are starting to run out of ideas. Let see, a male lead who’s in danger by some force and has abilities to fight back, a short female lead who is protecting him, always angry at him, and is voiced by Kugimiya, Rie. I feel like I’m watching Shana but without the magic and replaced it with real life weapons. Characters are pretty one dimensional with lots of cliché moments like the girl offering food to the main character who has the hots for him and the usual tsundere character that Kugimiya plays a lot. Visually, the shows looks nice but it isn’t anything to write home about but fight scenes are mostly made up of lots of still images and speed lines. Overall it wasn’t an interesting show and I can’t see if its going anywhere with its simple story.
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
If the visuals aren’t the strange part of the show, it is usually what’s happening in the show. It’s pretty much our main character Niwa Makoto ( Irino Miyu) living with his aunt Touwa Meme ( Nonaka Ai) and cousin Touwa Erio ( Oogame Asuka), a delusional girl who believes she is part alien. And so he goes out of his way to help her while finding out if she really is an alien after hearing reports that she want missing a long time ago. While the story is pretty simple, it is the dialogue that makes thing interesting with humorous moment of Makoto’s aunt asking him how she should respond to him in a cute way or the serious but strange way Erio explains things about her alien mission. The visuals are pretty strange with odd lighting designs, art style, and the cleanliness of it which all comes together in the end. It’s a strange show that any fan of Shaft may enjoy.
Deadman Wonderland
Talk about a mess up show. It didn’t took long for Deadman Wonderland to set its tone by murdering a class of 20 plus middle school students, with only Igarashi Ganta ( Paku Romi) surviving and being accuse of for that event. From there, he is sent in to an odd world of violence and conspiracy. I won’t give too much away as many small events reflect on what’s to come later on in the series. It would make sense for the visuals to reflect with the shows tone from the detailed character designs to the dirty colored environment and palette. This could be an interesting show but I do question will they be able to hold out for 12 episodes? We will have to see.
Ao no Exorcist
It’s a usual Shounen
but with a nice twist with demons from, an international group of exorcist,
and the fact that our main character, Okumura Rin ( Okamoto
Nobuhiko), is the son of Satan. To make things even more interesting,
Rin is will to become a exorcist, despite being part demon, to fight against
Satan and avenge the death of his past guardian, Fujimoto Shirou ( Fujiwara
Keiji). It’s a nice set up despite being a typical Shounen in some
places. However, the development of Rin character and the fact that he is
pretty likable from the beginning help move things along a lot easier. Visuals
have a nice style to them with lots of animation from fights to the just normal
conversations between characters. Both colors and lighting work well together
to help flesh out scenes. So far things are looking good with this series and
can only get better down the road.
Picture Highlights
