Thursday, February 28, 2013

Amnesia: Reverse Harem in a Very Strange Way


Currently finished: Episode 8

At first glance, it feels no different than any typical reverse harem anime. But now it seems there's might be something deeper mixed in. I hope it's not just a stupid loop like endless 8...

While I kind of understand not remembering anything causes her to act the way she does, but I think the story overplayed that a bit now I start to get a bit annoyed by her indecisiveness...

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?: Plain, Yet Interesting


Currently finished: Episode 6

Mondaiji is like a strange version of Alice in Wonderland that is twisted out of shape. Even though the concept is rather simple, and the characters are simply overpowered, still, it has some strange attractiveness (no, I don't think it's the rabbit-ears...well, maybe just a little bit, consider I'm totally digging rabbit-ears over cats now...)

At any rate, even though all major characters has the "superman" ability that simply save the day when needed, the story's other elements keep them in check where they can't just simply punch their way to victory.

Simply put, if I'm to pick the top anime from this season I'm enjoying the most at the moment, this would be it.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Maoyuu Maou Yuusha: A Different Set of Principle


Currently finished: Episode 6

Ok, since I have time to blog again, now I'm back in the ranting mode.

People compare this series to Spice and Wolf because they're both supposed to be about economics. Having seen six episodes so far, I think that analogy is generally on target, but slightly off the bull's eye. For one, Spice and Wolf deals mostly with micro economy, where Maoyuu has more to do with macro economy. On top of that, you can technically call it economy, but more accurately, it should be described as a "how to" guide in effectively managing and running a medieval style country.

Having said that, however, I have to say that I'm definitely seeing the spirit of Spice and Wolf here in Maoyuu Maou Yuusha. The flow of the story, how characters relate to each other all have this pretty familiar vibe to it, though S&W is a bit more subtle whereas Maoyuu is just out right blatant when it comes to the subject of love and relation between the main characters. 

[New][January 2013] Kotoura-san


Japanese title: 琴浦さん
Info: http://myanimelist.net/anime/15379/Kotoura-san
Watch online: http://www.crunchyroll.com/kotoura-san
Genres: Comedy / Drama
I've watched: 4 episode

Summary: Kotoura is a girl who can read other people's thoughts. Everybody around her is afraid of her and her ability, until one day he ran into Manabe and the ESP club.
  
First impression score: 92 - Very Intriguing

Personal comments: First half of episode one is actually rather sad. Then it took a 180 turn to become a comedy. Then it has been constantly shifting in and out of funny and sad stories ever since. The anime I once thought is the king of sudden mood shift, Clannad, actually pales in comparison to this. It just keeps amazes me how quickly it can go in and out of a comedy or tragedy mode so quickly.

Since this is the last new anime from this season I'm reviewing, I can safely say, Kotoura-san is currently occupying the top spot among all new animes from this season. Yes, it is that good. If I can only recommend you one anime from this seaon to watch based on early impression, Kotoura-san would be it.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

[New (Well, not quite)][January 2013] Seitokai no Ichizon Lv.2


Japanese title: 生徒会の一存 Lv.2
Info: http://myanimelist.net/anime/10464/Seitokai_no_Ichizon_Lv.2
Watch online: http://www.crunchyroll.com/seitokai-no-ichizon-student-councils-discretion
Genres: Comedy / Drama
I've watched: 0+2 episode

Summary: The second season of the do nothing student council.
  
First impression score: 83 - Funny, to certain extend

Personal comments: It's been so long since season one, I hardly remember any of it. From this season, though, it still looks like a series of...nothingness and fourth wall breaking. Technically, this series was released online during October 2012 season. But it didn't actually get real TV time until this season. So I'm just count it as this season's new anime.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

[New][January 2013] Cuticle Tantei Inaba


Japanese title: キューティクル探偵因幡
Info: http://myanimelist.net/anime/15109/Cuticle_Tantei_Inaba
Watch online: http://www.crunchyroll.com/cuticle-detective-inaba
Genres: Action / Comedy
I've watched: 1 episode

Summary: A story about a private detective who can gain superpower from hair, and a Italian mob who is a sheep...
  
First impression score: 72 - It's rather...dumb

Personal comments: It looks really dumb. Unlike some of other similar comedy animes, something in this seems a bit off.

[New][January 2013] Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman


Japanese title: 幕末義人伝 浪漫
Info: http://myanimelist.net/anime/16211/Bakumatsu_Gijinden_Roman
Watch online: http://www.crunchyroll.com/bakumatsu-gijinden-roman
Genres: Action / Drama / Hisory?
I've watched: 1 episode

Summary: Lupin III in ancient Japan...(Not quite literally, but it's more or less what it is)
  
First impression score: 75 - Same O' Stuff

Personal comments: Both the art and plot are pretty much identical to Lupin III, which I never thought it was good to begin with...

Saturday, February 2, 2013

[New][January 2013] Tamako Market


Japanese title: たまこまーけっと
Info: http://myanimelist.net/anime/16417/Tamako_Market
Download available through: http://nyaa.eu/
Genres: Comedy?
I've watched: 4 episode

Summary: Tamako is the daughter of a rice cake shop. One day, she ran into a talking bird. Now she's stuck with it...
  
First impression score: 81 - Wut?

Personal comments: First, I'd like to apologize for disappearing for so long. I've been rather busy with some real life matters. Now things start to settle down a bit, I can get back into watching some animes and writing some reviews. First thing first, I'm going to wrap up with new series reviews real quick and get back into more of a scheduled rant (lol).

Anyway, about Tamako Market, right off the bat, you'd notice the characters looks very much like K-ON! Well, that's no coincidence because they're are done by the same director. Having said that, even though they look alike, this one is not nearly as moe as K-ON!, mostly due to the story and character that just isn't the moe type. 4 episodes in, I still don't have a clue what this stories is about. At the end of episode 1, however, there are some foreshadow that in my opinion hinting this could potentially become a light tragedy in the end. We'll see...