Cobra the Animation - 01
Story: Into every life a little trouble must fall. For Cobra, that trouble fortunately seems to be accompanied by beautiful women with little on. Cobra's going for a leisurely drive on Venus during Christmas Eve, when a truck being chased by the Pirate Guild suddenly barrels toward him. A girl on the truck named Secret is the spitting image of Cobra's old flame, Dominique. She gives Cobra the Key of Shiva and asks him to take it to a professor Toporo on planet Galon...
Genre: Scifi in Spaaace...
Comments: (Jean-Paul) Belmondo in space, similar to Lupin III.
Light-hearted fun. The animation is sometimes good, sometimes sloppy. To be watched for the fun, not for the (goofy) science.
Chu-Bra 01
"The story revolves around Nayu Hayama, who embarrasses herself on the first day of middle school by accidental showing her "adult" panties. As two other students hear rumours of her having a 'sugar-daddy', they investigate. They soon learn that Nayu is an 'underwear monitor' who tests new underwear products, and has great insight on what underwear people should wear. Nayu hopes to help everyone get through the vital stage of their life by opening an underwear club."
Edumacational anime.
Zzz... I got incredibly bored halfway through.
Well-animated, probably fun for very young girls who want to learn about that kind of stuff.
Ladies versus Butlers 01
Hino Akiharu lost his parents when he was small and was adopted into his uncle's family. But he noticed his uncle is after the inheritance of his parents, so he decides to enter a boarding school, Hakureiryou high school. However his delinquent boy-like appearance frightens the girls, who make up the majority of the students.
Ecchi comedy.
It's the return of The girls With No Noses, aka Kanokon.
Lots of fog again...
I'm not sure this is going to be any good in the TV version, or even in the DVD version.
Sora no Woto - 01
The plot revolves around a girl named Kanata Sorami. When she was all alone at a young age as a result of war, she found inspiration in a trumpeter she met. She decides to join the army and become a trumpeter herself, hoping to learn well since she is quite bad at it. She is assigned to the town of Seize, where she is taken care of by Rio Kazumiya, her trumpet instructor, and the rest of the squadron.
Trumpeters in the army after the war.
Bucktoothed baby-faces? No guys? Retarded behavior? A typical K-On clone. I like the scenery, but I'm afraid this is going to be as shallow as all the other clones.
This is supposed to be in some French-speaking Switzerland, but the prices are shown in Yen, and she bows like a Japanese... An alternate reality? Or localization for the Japanese viewers? Either way, I get the feeling it's not for me.
>>4
Shouldn't it be romanized as So Ra No Wo To? Since the title in Japanese is ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト, with every syllable apart.
>>5
On Pixiv, I see that both tags, "ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト" and "ソラノヲト", are being used, tho the first one has more currently (46 vs 28).
Methinks this naming is confusing the Japanese too.
Should we romanize "Sounds of the Skies" as "So-Unds-Of-T-He-Ski-Es"? :)
>>6
I suppose you're right. It really is an odd title, though. Eh, Sora no Woto looks better.
And there seems to be confusion within the anime itself too, with those Japanese things (like using a seal to sign a marching order), the French stuff (the OP song and other marks), the reported location being in Switzerland, and the village which apparently is based upon a Spanish town (Cuenca).
Oh well.
Baka to Test to Shokanju 01
Akihisa Yoshii attends an academy where the students are split based on their tests. Class A has high scores students so their class has many luxury items, while Class F has none. But they can summon virtual battles to challenge the order.
Virtual School Battles.
Episode 1 was fun. But the studio is SHAFT, so it could go anywhere, from very good to very boring.
Anyway, so far so good.
>>9 Ah no, it's not SHAFT, it's SILVER LINK.
Last major production was "Tayutama -Kiss on my Deity-"... Mh.
Dance in the Vampire Bund 01
The entire first episode was a pseudo-episode of a game show debating about whether vampires exist or not. Then vampires show up and wreak the show.
Vampires.
Okay, this one is actually from SHAFT. Good for a few minutes, then it turns ugly, then quite boring for most of the time, then it finally picks up some speed... but then it just ends. I don't know, this episode has probably no relation to the actual anime besides being an introduction.
Omamori Himari 01
The story revolves around a boy who has a unique bodyguard: a sword-bearing catgirl spirit to ward demons away.
Demon slayers and humans.
Cute, but I seem to have seen this before? Oh yes there was a manga... Did that manga even go somewhere with a real plot? No, I think it was mostly ecchi situations... The anime seems to go the same way. Standard shounen, standard trite dialogs, standard ecchi situations, it's a bit tiredsome if one has seen those before a few hundred times. I'm not sure I'm going to keep an interest.
Ookamikakushi - 01
A 16 year old boy, Hiroshi Kuzumi, has recently moved into a new town in the mountains. The town is separated into new and old streets by the river, and many mysterious local cultures still remain. Although confused and enjoying his new life, one person kept her distance from him: class committee member Kushinada Nemura. In their few encounters she gave him a word of advice: "Stay away from the old streets."
Animated visual novel, school life, supernatural.
This is a hodgepodge, with a disabled little sister, a yandere stalking cute tomboy, a vanishing harrassing classmate, a tsundere bossy classmate, a masked girl with a scythe, etc., etc.
I dunno, at one point I stopped paying attention to the story... Maybe because those blurry effects "for realism" annoyed me? Or is it because it looks like they are trying to appeal to too many things without any real focus? I haven't the foggiest...
Durarara 01
Ryu-gamine Mikado is a young man who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro. Masaomi warns him about people he doesn't want to cross in the city: a violent man dressed like a bartender, an information merchant, and a mysterious gang called "Dollars". And to top it off, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city: the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle.
The legends of Ikebukuro.
Not bad. The OP song was horrible, and they were blabbing for a long part of the episode, but when the action kicked in, it was interesting.
Hanamaru Kindergarten - 01
The story follows Tsuchida's first day at his first job as a kindergarten teacher. He meets Anzu, a cute little kindergartener, who probably has been watching too many dramas and thinks he's hitting on her. He arrives at the school to find that he's the only guy teacher (apparently male kindergarten teachers are very rare in Japan) amongst the all-female staff, including the especially pretty Yamamoto - a co-worker he instantly takes a liking too. And also happens to meet his old high school senpai, who happens to be Anzu's mother. Oh, and Anzu proposes marriage to Tsuchi, and her mother approves.
Slice of life as a teacher in a kindergarten.
Cute, well animated, and well done.
Then why did I fall asleep after 10 minutes of watching? Is it because it's too perfect and syrupy to be believable? Or is it because nothing of importance ever happen?
Let's see.... Wiki says "It is mainly about a kindergarten girl who is in love with her teacher and tries to win his affection but always fails."
I dunno...
Seems to me like Hanamaru is really the toddlercon version of Kodomo no Jikan.
I disagree about Durarara's OP being horrible. I thought the animation was interesting and the song fit the series.
Dance in the Vampire Bund 02
Ok, most of the episode was filler, with crap like real life scenery (??), and then a quick action scene at the end that didn't really fill me up, it was weakly patched together. It was not bad but it was not great either.
Some parts were well animated but they were sparse.
As for that vampire child... she was super-powerful in ep1, and now she is nearly powerless in front of the monster-of-the-week and had to be rescued? It didn't make sense, so I checked the manga for an explanation, and lo and behold, all that transforming monster stuff is not in the manga!
It doesn't bode well for the rest of the series....
Katanagatari 01
A girl named Togame arrives on the island where Shichika and his sister lives with a favor to ask from him. She tells him that she is on a mission to find and collect the final twelve swords forged by a master swordsmith and she needs his help.
(Semi-)animated light novel.
50 minutes for 12 "talking" episodes? Ouch.
Anyway, the art is ok, but... The music doesn't fit at times. The directing of the scenes is unpolished at times.
And a kind of a weak voice acting, it sounds like a recitation at times. All this talking breaks the rule of "show the action, don't just talk about it". If the art is minimalist then use it for action; if the action is minimalist then improve the art. But both were minimalist, so where did the extra care went to? In the swords that got flashed on screen a couple of times? Meh.
It's not dull, but it's lackluster.
A lot of these reviews seem to be a bit hard on the animes.
I enjoyed most of them being that their all nearly finished.
1st Rate, well done:
~ Dance in the Vampire Bund
~ Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
~ Durarara
~ Sora no Woto
2nd Rate (mostly "ecchi enhanced"):
~ Chu-bra
~ Omamori Himari
~ Seikon no Qwaser
~ Ladies vs Butlers
Some closer details. I'd say "Ookami Kakushi" was initially very poor as the main character isn't lovable at all and the whole story was EXTREMELY vague. While eventually the pace picked up as more and more was revealed but overall the whole thing was directed without much action.
As for "Hanamaru Yoichien"... I'd say that was quite good, everything went a bit slow paced though so I'd say it be better for lolicons that get excited over kindergartners or people who enjoy "soft", slice of life animes like that.
Seikon no Qwaser was a huge disappointment I'm sure for everyone. It had soo many of the famous and popular seiyuu including Aki, Aya and Yoko and various other ones that I forgot about, but in the end the animation was not right and the story was very weak.
Durarara was also quite vague from the start, but the slice of life style and the way it was done kept it interesting as opposed to Ookami Kakushi.
On the other hand, the two animes done by SHAFT atm, (Excluding last season's Bakemonogatari - My current fav) are pretty good. With dance in the vampire bund being for mild slasher, part romance viewers and Baka Test for more of the otaku fanbase similar to that of Lucky Star except a bit more "immature and fun".
In the case of Sora no Woto, I'd say it being like K-On is actually quite an interesting point. In this case I'd have to object to the fact that it is like K-On other than the art style. There aren't any slapstick phases in Sora no Woto. I'd describe it more like some excellently done slice of life "movie" style anime. In my opinion the whole thing felt like a movie from the first episode, it has humor, but not in the style that K-On portrays theirs in.
Other than that Omamori is this seasons number 1 harem ecchi cheap anime that still gets lots of viewers thanks to fanservice. "Genericism" xD
I must say that Ladies vs Butlers was a surprise for me. Before watching the first episode I didn't realize it was done by the same person who did Kanokon. Lots of fanservice involved as is his speciality while on the other hand I didn't enjoy this as much because it didn't have as strong a storyline and the whole thing wasn't directed aswell with all the characters being generic and very linear.
Chu-bra was a very second rate anime. The style and everything isn't very good but obviously again, there was a lot of ecchi themes. In my case, I'd describe it as an rate mature but made by immatures.
And thats what I see on this season's anime. Mostly all of them picked up by the end and are a lot better by then.
Working!! episode 1 came out recently btw. Part of this year's spring selection.
>A lot of these reviews seem to be a bit hard on the animes.
Yeah, maybe...
>~ Dance in the Vampire Bund
Well I still don't like it, too loli for me. Low pixiv fanart follow-up.
>~ Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
That one was ok. Not excellent -there's no story- but ok. Fanart on pixiv is mostly about the trap.
>~ Durarara
Very good. Huge pixiv fanart follow-up.
>~ Sora no Woto
I dunno. Story is sparse, and mostly moe filler. Very little pixiv fanart, and mostly about mocking the anime, or just about the scenery.
>~ Omamori Himari
Watchable, but not great. The main guy is useless.
>~ Seikon no Qwaser
Porn on TV with a budget. I didn't even want to review that one, but as porn it's not my cup of tea either, too sadistic.
>~ Ladies vs Butlers
I'm only watching the occasional nudity parts, I don't watch the story. As mild porn it's ok.
>Hanamaru Yoichien
Still 50-50. Some parts are very very good, other parts are Valium on Quaaludes. Probably written by two different scenarists.
>Working!!
I hesitate to review this one, as nothing important happens in the first episode, it was very episodic. I'm holding for the season to start before I give an opinion.
How exactly does Pixiv art follow-up factor into the quality of a series?
>How exactly does Pixiv art follow-up factor into the quality of a series?
It's an indicator, it gives a general idea of the response level for artists.
What do you propose? Anime polls? Sales?
I propose that the popularity of a series among some demographic shouldn't influence anyone's personal judgement of it.
I mean, judging by Pixiv art follow-up, Touhou and Hetalia are the finest works of art ever created. Is this also your opinion?
>I propose that the popularity of a series among some demographic shouldn't influence anyone's personal judgement of it.
Ok, then disregard my comments above about pixiv.
>I mean, judging by Pixiv art follow-up, Touhou and Hetalia are the finest works of art ever created. Is this also your opinion?
Touhou is not an anime, and reportedly never will. From what I can see Touhou is spoofing and stealing from all other anime, so it's more like a meta-troll.
Hetalia, I didn't see too much fanart originally. It was a political gay satire which was badly animated. Then fan artists started to branch out on their own spin-offs, working on the (neglected) women, and created real good artworks. It's not really representative of the anime at all, it's more about Personified Countries.
I have never seen Tortov Roddle pixiv links no wonder it must suck
Heroman 01
Upon hearing of a new toy robot, Joey believes that getting one will make his life better, turning him into a hero to protect his friends and family.
Robot vs Aliens.
Intro song start ok then degenerate quickly in horribly bad singing. (Well ok, at least it's not ALI Project!)
Nice animation. Story is on the simplistic side -- hopefully they will come up later with an good explanation why a thunderstorm can transform a toy in a giant hi-tech sentient robot with blue eyes.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama 01
Misaki Ayuzawa is the feared school president. But she secretly works part-time at a maid cafe in order to support her family. Unfortunately, the handsome and popular Usui Takumi discovers her secret by accident one day.
Tsundere in love.
Shojo. Will she fall in love with that handsome and popular and intelligent and everything guy?
B Gata H Kei 01
Yamada is a high school girl, and a virgin, who aspires to have 100 casual sex partners. But she finds herself pursuing only one boy.
Edumacational(?) comedy.
Last season we learned how to dress sexy as a girl in Chu-Bra. This season we'll learn how to have sex with 100 men (maybe.) But... what about love? Well, we don't care about that!
Ok, it was pretty funny overall, but the girl is not interested in love, her mind is only in the gutter. I feel sorry for the guy.
Angel Beats 01
In the afterlife, rebels battle against angels... with guns!
Afterlife shooter.
Some kind of purgatory, a la Haibane Renmei? But where did they find the guns? In some kind of Gantz ball or what? Huh... I need more info.
Ok, the concert was nicely animated.
Arakawa Under the Bridge 01
"Ichinomiya Kou has always lived according to the creed of his wealthy, successful family: never be in debt to anyone. But one day, under the Arakawa Bridge, his life is saved by a homeless girl named Nino. In order to pay her back, Kou promises to be her boyfriend; and thus begins his new life under the bridge."
Comedy.
Hilarious! ...for the first half of the episode, that is. I found the second part less funny. Hopefully the next episodes will be good.
Hakuouki 01 (raw)
Yukimura Chizuru is the daughter of a doctor who moves to Kyoto. One day, she decides to search for him, but is attacked. The Shinsengumi saves her, and discover that she's the daughter of the one they are looking for.
Pseudo-historical romance with 1 girl+many guys.
The girl looks very delicate and fragile. For the shoujo fan.