Da Capo II: Better than the First Impression

Currently finished: Episode 3

Just like all the other new animes from October, the first episode of D.C. II did not leave me any good impression at all. Then it changed. Something in the next two episodes grabbed me. D.C. II is not like the previous series. It didn't start as a full comedy like the original Da Capo did. So far it's a light light comedy at best. With the track record of all previous Da Capo anime series, I'm pretty sure it's going to either end tragically or become very very heavy towards the end. Without starting up with too much comedy,it sure won't build up as much constrast as the original Da Capo did. But maybe this is a better way.

Recommendation level: Moderate

New rating (out of 5): 3.75 (net gain: +1.25) Not Bad

Minami Ke: Lucky Star + Kyou no Go no Ni + Azumanga Daioh

Currently finished: Episode 2

After I watched episode 1, I didn't think it has much potential. After episode 2, my opinion completely changed. I guess because episode 1 is jut setting up the environment, so it didn't quite go into its intended plot foramt. I was laughing almost non-stop while watching episode 2.

It has a very similar format to Lucky Star/Kyou no Go no Ni (Today's Class 5-2)/Azumanga Daioh: the whole episode is made up from random events that occured in the school or at home. It's more like Kyou no Go no Ni then Lucky Star or Azumagna Daioh, in terms of art, layout, and comedy. Fan of Kyou no Go no Ni should not miss this one. Fan of Lucky Star or Azumanga Daioh would also find this anime very entertaining.

New rating (out of 5): 4.25 (net gain: +0.75) Excellent

Recommended to: People liked Lucky Star or Kyou no Go no Ni or Azumanga Daioh, or people just want to have some good laugh.

Recommendation level: Recommended

Baccano: A Very Very Complicated "Snatch"

Currently finished: Episode 10

Earlier in the series, some sub plots of Baccano occasionally bumps into each other. Now almost all plots crosses over at least one other plot. It's like the movie Snatch, except this is a much much more complicated version. The way sub plots are crossing each other, is just as brilliant as in Snatch if not more.

The openning theme, where it lists all major characters with a picture and a name actually serves some purpose: 17 main characters are a lot to remember, more than 10 different sub plots interleaving throughout the series make it even harder to have a face with matching name sink into the memory. The opening theme actually reinforces that memory which helps to identify the characters in the sub plot.

New rating (out of 5): 4.7 (net gain: +0.2) Brilliant

Shugo Chara: Why am I liking this anime?

It's so childish and magical girl style, but... somehow I'm liking it. Normally I wouldn't even think twice before I throw away any magical girl anime. But not only I'm not disliking Shugo Chara, I think it's quite fun to watch. What's wrong with me?!

I guess it's like Mermaid Melody all over again: something in the anime have me hooked and I can't quite tell what, and I couldn't shake it off either. In fact, in the case of Mermaid Melody, the only reason I stopped watching is the sub group stopped putting out new episodes.

On the bright side, if the sub group does stop before the series finishes, I wouldn't feel too bad because while it's available, I like to watch it; but when it's not available, I won't really miss it either.

Mokke: Mushishi Light

Currently finished: Episode

Just like Mushishi, Mokke is an anime about spirits, ghosts, and other traditional Japanese supernatural beings. What it differs is that Mushishi is almost always in a dark or heavy tone, where Mokke mixes light and dark tone together, and even thrown in some comedy once a while.

If Mushishi is knowledgeable, then Mokke is both knowledgeable and entertaining at the same time.

New rating (out of 5): 4 (net gain: +0.8)

New recommendation: Follow along

Baccano: Bloody Hell!!!

Currently finished: Episode 9

F*ck!!!!! There is no such thing called censoring in this anime, head shot, beheading, decapitation, you name it, this anime has it, in full frontal and side angle shot, none of the camera trick crap. I'm surprised this anime didn't get taken off the air after the girl with an axe incident.

Aside from that, the plot of Baccano finally start to come together. It's no longer in random pieces any more, the big picture start to show up. Very interesting piece of work.

New rating (out of 5): 4.5 (net gain: +0.5)

Da Capo II: Um...chocolate banana...

Currently finished: Episode 2

Um...yeah, that's chocolate coated banana...moving on...

Denno Coil: When SciFi becomes Fantasy

Currently finished: Episode 19

The latest episode of Denno Coil doesn't feel like a SciFi anime any more, it feels more like a traditional fantasy. The transition however, is almost unnoticeable, and the blending is almost perfect. You can map everything found in this SciFi world into something that would normally appears in a traditional fantasy world. The anime itself is really a fantasy that is translated into SciFi "language". Very interesting and unique idea.

New rating (out of 5): 4.95 (net gain: +0.15)

Award: Best SciFi Anime of 2007

Although it's not the end of 2007, nor is the end of the series, I'm still going to award Denno Coil best SciFi anime of 2007. Like I did to Darker than Black. By now I have seen all the new animes that came out in the last season of 2007, and there is none that could beat Denno Coil. Even though the ending of Denno Coil could still be disappointing, what I have seen so far is already enough to earn it the best SciFi of the year status regardless how it's going to end.

Lucky Star: Hit or Miss...

Recognize this scene?

Hit or miss, that's how I feel while watching Lucky Star. I think it's largely due to the wide range of animes/mangas/games/novels it references to. The range is so wide I can pick out probably less than half of them. When I understood what they're referencing to, it was funny as hell. But when I don't get what they're referencing, the whole episode just flew by like running water. But that's not the anime's fault.

Also, Lucky Star seems to have taken the entire voice acting crew of Melancholy of Haruhi as either main character or guest characters.

Anyway, here is the score card for Lucky Star:

(Full score is 5)

Drama: N/A
Comedy: 4.5 (The ones I understood, they're great; the ones I didn't, well...I assume someone did)
Action: N/A
Art/Animation: 4.5 (It kept its original 4-panel comic style art, quite refreshing)
Sound/Music: 4.5 (Music from lots of animes, and some original as well)
Character: 5 (It's one of the reason this anime is so funny)
Plot: N/A

Re-watch value: 3.5 (Maybe re-watch some of the really funny scenes, but can't image to re-watch the entire series)

Overall (not average): 4.5

Recommendation: If you haven't seen lots of animes or you're not familiar with Japanese culture, this is definitely not for you. Otherwise, you'll find it very amusing.

Sketchbook ~ Full Colors ~: Boring

Currently finished: Episode 2

The amusement of retardation lasted only as long as the first episode did. Second episode came along, everything just seems so...stupid. In a sense, it's very similar to Lucky Star, except, it's not nearly as good as Lucky Star.

New rating (out of 5): 2.25 (net gain: -1.25)

Verdict: Into the trash

Lovely Complex: All ends well

Finally, after the first round of October new animes, I got some free time to finish up the animes from previous seasons.

At last, everybody resolved his/her problem with the significant other. Though the tone for the last several episodes are rather heavey, there are still enough outrageous comedies that made me spray water out of my nose.

Animes like this are not going to have a clear ending. But I am satisfied with what they did to wrap up all the loose ends. All major issues are resolved. There is almost no unanswered questions. Very well done.

(Full score if 5)

Drama: 5 (There is no lack of that)

Comedy: 5 (One of the best I've seen)

Action: N/A

Art/Animation: 4.8 (Great use of deformation)

Sound/Music: 4 (Not bad, but didn't leave me much impression either)

Character: 5 (Great character development)

Plot: 5 (Lots of turns and twists)

Re-watch value: 4.5 (It's still fun to watch it again)

Overall (not average): 4.9

Recommendation: If you haven't seen it, go watch it NOW! It is on my all time favorite now. One of the best comedic dramas I've ever seen.

Dragonaut: Dragon's operator

Currently finished: Episode 2

I said in the previous post about this anime that I have not been impressed with any of the GONZO's new animes lately. After I watched the first episode, I thought Dragonaut would be another one of GONZO's anime that is going into my sub-standard category. The second episode, however, completely changed my mind.

Though I still think there are improvements can be made in the presentation, the plot makes up what it's lacking. The new twist that is added into the plot immediately grabbed me. Now I'm really interested to find out what's going on.

New rating (out of 5): 4 (net gain: +1.0)