PoyoRoRomae [First Impressions]

Usually for the impressions header, I mash pictures of hot girls. This time? True sexiness. You’re welcome.

Let’s commemorate the end to this soulless season with the season’s cheapest shows. Seriously, a five-minute commercial for a 4-koma and a fifteen-minute commercial for a live-action movie? Talk about a whimper. Or maybe not because I maybe sort of, kind of like these shows.

Alrighty, PoyoRoRomae (say that five times fast). Hit it!

Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki

You'd think that anime characters would realize, at this point, that anime cats are round.

Dawww. Sorry, Nyanko-sensei, I love you, and Imma let you finish, but Poyo is the cutest mascot this season (that’s Puffy for you non-Weeabos). And no, don’t even bring up that “dog” from Inu x Boku SS.

Hmm, come to think of it, I’m more of a dog person. But this show finally made me realize the point of these five minute shorts, which are only four minutes if you count the OP/ED. I don’t think I could take this much cuteness for half an hour. But five minutes? Sure. It’s sweet premise that cranks out a few easy jokes. It’s also relatable if you’ve had pets (why does the pet like her more?) and an inside-joke if you like anime (what’s the difference between an average anime cat and an average anime girl? Nothing! They’re both blobs).

Poyo steals the show's budget with those lightning fast moves!

Should you watch this? It’s a five-minute comedy about a spherical cat. If that’s sounds appealing, you’ll love this. If that doesn’t sounding appealing, you won’t. Me? Poyo looks like my Pikachu Gravatar. It’s a return to my motherland.

Thermae Romae

That would be the actor in the live-action movie. And the poster of the live-action movie. Shameless self-promotion at its finest.

I thought I’d have to start this post with “stupid, cheap, flash commercial for a live-action movie,” but I’ll be damned if Thermae Romae isn’t a well put-together stupid, cheap, flash commercial for a live-action movie. The comedy isn’t obnoxiously in-your-face and SHOUT THE PUNCHLINE like it sometimes is in Daily Lives of High School Boys and always is in Kill Me Baby. This is a flash show, but the visual gags are meticulous; there’s stuff going on in every frame. The writing isn’t that funny, but it’s clever. You know a show does something right if it makes me grateful for today’s technology.

That said, this is still a stupid, cheap, flash commercial, and I’m pissed it got a slot in Noitamina. Had this been a full-length, non-flash series, it would have fit into Noitamina’s old line-up, unlike say, I Still Hate Typing the Name of that Show or Guilty Non-Pleasure. It’s got a Moyashimon vibe. But it’s still a flash commercial, and it’s still not as funny as Guilty Crown, which, with its twelfth episode, earned comedy of the year.

At least he didn't talk about the eyes, amirite?

Should you watch this? It’s a stupid, cheap, flash commercial for a live-action movie. The highlight is its superb soundtrack. If that hasn’t turned you off, go for it. If that does, wait for the live-action movie. I’ll be there with you. Should be aweso–shoot, I’ve been suckered in by a commercial!

Maybe I’ve been too harsh on the season. Because here are two dismissible, unremarkable shorts, and I enjoyed them both. Or maybe I’ve lowered my standards to the point that even Togainu no Chi would appeal to me. Either way, I’ve finally started to like winter’s crop of shows. Wonderful, because I hate being a grouch.

Since this will be my last impressions post for winter, here’s an outline of future plans. Blogging? Thermae Romae. Possibly another show (but not Another show–that’s Bass’s). I’d love to hear suggestions. Watching? I’ll do a full-length post on that. After that? I have a few editorial posts planned, such as a guide to Pixiv.

Oof, got a little off-topic. More importantly, what did you think of these shows? Dumb? Cheap? Actually funny? Also, what do you think of these blogging plans? Is there any show you’d like to see covered here by me or anyone else?

Thanks for reading!

/ 4 Commentsleave a comment /

• Hogart says:

  January 13, 2012

  If you really do end up finding Togainu no Chi as entertaining as these two, you should embark on a journey through the worst of anime to see where your standards have petered out ;)

  All jokes aside, these weren’t so bad. Poyo probably hits it’s niche hard, though not as hard as Chi’s Sweet Home did. As for Romae.. well, if you can’t appreciate it on some level then you’re simply too young to be watching it.

  But.. Guilty Crown as comedy of the year? Is that a formal challenge to others to watch it and see how amusingly terribad it gets? Because such a statement piques my curiosity.. after 3 episodes I didn’t think it had that kind of potential..

  Reply
  • Renn says:

    January 13, 2012

    Whoa, that sounds brilliant and more entertaining than studying. I'm a bit scared to see how low I've fallen though. xD

    Yeah, exactly. Chi's Sweet Home is a little sweeter than Poyopoyo, so it's much better for the target audience. I did think Poyopoyo was a bit funnier though.

    Hmm… Comedy may be too kind, but Guilty Crown is definitely this year's biggest joke. The newest episode reached a new low. It's clear everyone involved is embarrassed it exists.

    Reply
• pp-otakurean says:

  January 14, 2012

  I like Romae a lot, reminds of me Astro fighter SunRed simply because of the animation..

  will be following Romae this season XD.

  Reply
  • Renn says:

    January 15, 2012

    Sweeet. :D I haven't seen Astro Fight Sunred yet, but I've heard good things about it. Another for the to watch list. xD

    Reply