Monday, August 20, 2012

Oda Nobuna no Yabou: the Better Adaptation


Currently finished: Episode 6

Honestly, after a string of bad sengoku transformed animes such as Sengoku Collection, Samurai Girls, I almost scratched Oda Nobuna no Yabou off my list before I watched the first episode. Fortunately, I decided to gave it a try, and I have to say I'm glad I did.

While it's nowhere near the caliber of Sengoku Basara (I don't believe any sengoku adaptation could top Basara), it is far better than any other sengoku based animes I've seen lately. While it has its fair share of silliness, its plot remains mostly on the serious side and it's rather well built. While I can't predict what it would eventually become, I'd say at least it's a worth a while anime up to this point. So you're you're dismissing it on the basis of "female transformation of Sengoku story is bad", then I'd recommend you give it a try. You may end up liking it.

Hyouka: the (Somewhat) Lighthearted Detective Story


Currently finished: Episode 17

The Olympic delay is finally over, now I'm back full in anime mode. Hyouka is among the first couple on my list. Having seen a recent surge of the detective animes, it's hard to image there'll be another anime that could beat GOSICK or Kamisama no Memochou or UN-GO from last year. But Hyouka has proven me wrong.

The biggest difference between Hyouka and conventional detective anime, is that conventional detective anime, including those mentioned above, usually either extremely dark and heavy, or just out right silly (like Lupin the Third). It's hard to actually find a detective series that is outside those two extremes because by nature detective animes are dark and twisted, and usually brutal silliness is the only thing that can pull it out of that. Hyouka on the other hand, struck nearly perfect balance to not let the series fall too dark, yet be able to maintain a suppressed feel when it needs to be. This so far has been an exceptional series. If you are not watching it, I would highly recommend to start watching.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Natsuyuki Rendezvous: Love Story of the Grown Ups


Currently finished: Episode 4

While my interest level for my other top 5 seeds has been on a steady drop, Natsuyuki Rendezvous is about the only one that is on a rapid climb. In a way, this feels very much like the grown up version of Ano Hana: it has the very similar slow paced plot with quick mood swings, though the ghost in this story is playing a rather drastically different role. Also, since it's the love story between adults, it doesn't have the typical immature teenager's problem we've become so familiar with in high school love dramas.

While it's still a bit too early to judge what will eventually become of this, but if I'm to re-do my season's top 5 seeds now, this would most likely occupy the No.1 spot instead of the No.5 spot I gave it earlier. Being a bitter sweet story about love and the deceased most definitely have helped since I am a huge fan of sad stories, especially love tragedies.

p.s. Oddly enough, I find short-haired Rokka rather attractive, more so than she was when she had longer hair. Anybody else feel the same?