Renn’s Roundup: First Impressions for Winter 2012
I am a tsundere for this season. I complained about it for two posts, but for this one, I’ll bring out my ‘dere side. Well, mostly my ‘dere side, as I give the once-over to the premieres of all the new shows.
Like the fall season, there are no real stand-outs. No Steins;Gate’s, Madoka’s, or Penguindrum’s. Unlike the fall season, these shows take less risks and are of lower quality for it. There’s a lot more fanservice, pandering, low production values, and bad writing. Four of the shows share the same premise (ahem, Mouretsu Pirates, Aquarion, Symphogear, and Rinne no Lagrange).
But these shows are also on equal ground. From the second episode of the fall season, I knew what my top five anime would be. Here? It’s debatable. I-I’m kind of looking forward to it. It’s kind of fun. Or at least it should be for two more weeks when the crap shows show their true colors–okay, back to ‘dere.
Also, this season marks the first where I watched all the premieres to all the new, non-sequel shows. Please note that I didn’t watch the premieres to all the sequels since I did try the first episodes of their prequels and didn’t really like them. So, there’s no Amagami SS+, Tantei Opera Milky Holmes, or Zero no Tsukaima F. Sorry.
Not Watching
(3) The New Prince of Tennis is likely better than Papa Icky, but as I can’t vouch for that, it gets last place. Yeah, I lied. If you don’t count The New Prince of Tennis as a sequel show (since I don’t think you need to have seen the original to see this one?), I missed one premiere.
(2) Papa Icky is the obligatory anime this season that makes me pray for the souls of those Japanese otaku. And I’m not religious.
(1) Kill Me Now is the most soulless, unambitious show this season. And as this is a season with High School DxD, Area no Kishi, Inu x Boku SS, and Rinne no Lagrange, that’s a new low. But not only is it unambitious; it’s unwatchable, too.
Maybe Watching
(3) I tried to watch reverse harems in the past, but the stories and characters are just as vapid as those in harems. And without boobs, what’s the point? Brave10 is okay for its kind–the fight sequences are alright, I’ll give it that–but its target audience could elaborate on those good points with more passion than me.
(2) This is an easy one to poke fun at, but I like High School DxD way more than I thought I would. It’s awful, but the redhead is really hot, and the story doesn’t engage in pretension, unlike its predecessors, MajiKoi, OreTsubasa, and generic harem #23451. But I’m worried the story will take a turn for “serious,” and the second-episode is a step-down. I expect it’ll only get worse, too.
(1) Chihayafuru and Area no Kishi both have solid, sporty source material of roughly the same quality. They’re well-planned, well-written, and include more drama than they deserve. But Chihayafuru is animated beautifully by Madhouse and helmed by veteran Morio Asaka. Area no Kishi is slapped together by a no-name studio and directed by a no-name director. It’s not a terrible anime, but why would I watch Area no Kishi when Chihayafuru airs at the same time?
Probably Watching
(3) Rinne no Lagrange embodies my biggest problem with anime these days. On one hand, it’s pretty, ambitious, and grand-in-scope. You can tell Studio Xebec wants this to be their break-out. On the other hand, it feels that it needs to cater to otaku with stereotypical characters, extraneous fanservice, and a generic plot. Come on! Go big or go home! Don’t cater to some losers glued in front of their computer! Listen to me–oh wait…
(2) Inu x Boku SS confuses me. It’s a magical boyfriend anime, so why does it shove the girl’s pantsu in our face at least once a minute? Not that I’m complaining. I’ve long been an advocate of equal opportunity fanservice, so I’ll be sticking with it. Besides, I like the chemistry between the two leads. Corny as heck, but I can appreciate a dude getting stomped on by the woman he whole-heartedly loves… Err, I’m making my life sound sad, huh?
(1) Tatsuyuki Nagai (Toradora, AnoHana, Honey and Clover II) is a polarizing director. Some love his weepy dramas; others hate them. His newest work, Ano Natsu de Matteru–an old-fashioned, sleazy, shameless romcom with extraneous fanservice and overwrought monologues–will further divide these camps. Since I like his style, I’ll be sticking around. I’ve never seen an old-fashioned, shameless anime romcom, so one by a favorite director looks like a good place to start.
Likely Watching
(3) Senki Zesshou Symphogear marks the first real rip-off of Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (and another rip-off of Macross, but that’s been done, so I won’t go there). Since Madoka is one of my favorite shows, Symphogear does a lot of stuff I like: imaginative villains, breakneck pacing, comedic bloodshed, Aoi Yuuki in the exact same lead role. But the stuff I really like about Symphogear is what it doesn’t do right. Mainly, this thing is a stupid, poorly-written trainwreck, and it’s hilarious to watch.
(2) I’m more of a dog fan, but Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki is adorable, covetable, and looks a lot like my Pikachu Gravatar. I’m not a fan of five-minute shorts (notice Recorder and Randall isn’t even on here), but for spherical cats, I’ll make an exception.
(1) Both Guilty Crown and Aquarion EVOL are in the running for cheesiest mecha comedy of the year. The difference? Aquarion knows it’s a giant joke. The anime doesn’t just go with the premise of plot-less, rainbow-puking sex machines; it embraces it. I get more laughs from Guilty Crown, but I favor Aquarion. It’s more fun to laugh with an anime than to laugh at one, no matter how many laughs there may be.
Watching
(3) I planned to blog Thermae Romae, so it’s in the “Watching” section by default. And I planned to blog it because (1) it’s Noitamina and (2) it’s only three episodes. Notice I did not comment on the show’s quality. But now I plan to watch it because I like it. It’s this season’s smartest, boldest show. Shame it’s not full-length and properly animated; otherwise, it would be a top contender.
(2) Mouretsu Pirates should be the typical good anime of the season. Sure, it’s got the moe, the crazy hair, the drama, the mecha, etc, but it’s also got the director, studio, and writer that could make those cliche elements work. Granted, it could devolve quickly (like, in a few hours with the second episode), but it looks like the one of the most solid, if not the most enjoyable, new, non-sequel anime thus far.
(1) Have you ever seen Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, the geyser that goes off every twenty minutes? I’ll never stop appreciating its consistency and quality, but after seeing it four times, it loses some of its appeal. Natsume Yuujinchou Shi is the best show this season writing-wise, but it’s not my most anticipated. It’s soon gonna reach fifty episodes, so I’d rather acknowledge the (eh, not-so) shiny and new.
Looking Forward to Watching
(3) I like Another because it fails as a horror. It it had been scary instead of overwrought and not scary, I wouldn’t have been able to watch it, let alone dwell on its mystery. And that would be a shame because it grips me as a mystery. Is Misaki dead, or are her classmates bullying her? Is Misaki the same Misaki of twenty-five years ago? What’s Kouichi’s role? So bring on Another episode. Looking forward to it!
(2) Daily Lives of High School Boys is funny, especially in parody mode. But it’s an anime comedy. And anime comedies are plagued with SHOUTING THE PUNCHLINE even more than American comedies are plagued with canned laughter. And that ruins the joke. Also, when the show swaps from parody to slapstick, it’s only half as funny. Pretty sure I’ve seen that cross-dressing joke before, and not just in the pre-season airs, which are basically the first episode. But Daily Bros is still better than 90% of this season. Awesome.
(1) Since I exposed my tsun’ side to Daily Bros, I should bring out my ‘dere for Nisemonogatari, my number one show. Fitting since this show has plenty of tsunderes. Anyway, Bakemonogatari is back with better production values. The script is as annoyingly clever and self-absorbed as ever, but hey, it’s Bakemonogatari, and I like it. Bring on the head-tilts and hot girls (hopefully of-age)!
What do you think of the season? What are you watching this season?
Also, since I’m an indecisive nut, what would you like to see blogged alongside Thermae Romae? No promises, but I’d love to hear suggestions. As of now, Bass will blog Another and Tofu will blog some combination of either Ano Natsu de Matteru, Daily Lives of Highschool Boys, Inu x Boku SS, Natsume Yuujinchou Shi, or Nisemonogatari. I may pick up one of those shows myself, depending on what he blogs, so let me know if there’s any of those you’d really like to see on SJ.
Thanks for reading!
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ooo~ sounds very nice, would love to give it a try...
Tofu
Vivi
Suu
Thanks for the roundup! Looks like this season will be a breather to catch up on old shows for me. The only one that really hits my list is Nisemonogatari. A couple of the others I might watch if I get bored in some future slow season.
It's definitely a good time to catch up on old shows. xD I don't think most of these shows have potential in the long run.
Good roundup, gave me an idea of what the series had to offer. I've now dropped every show except Another (because it's good) and Nisenmonogatari (because it's unique). But after reading this post, I think I may be interested in Romae. Sounds off the beaten track.
I wouldn't call Another horror…it's just the kind of creepy atmosphere that M. Night Shyamalam brings out really well.
My recent post Anime Awards 2011: Best Anime
Thermae Romae isn't for everyone and the flash suuuucks, so let me know whether you like it! If you're looking for "off the beaten track," you couldn't do much better though.
What, you don't count the Last Airbender as a horror? :p I'd agree on Signs and the Sixth Sense though. I do think Another is trying to be a horror though (judging from what I've read in the manga), though I also think it'd work better as a thriller.
I like it.
My recent post Hating characters
Another, amagami and Nisemonogatari are the only ones on my list for the time being.
I have no time to watch as much as i use too.
My recent post Holo at The Merlion
Aww. Sorry about the time thing (or maybe that's a good thing?), but you're not missing out on much.
No real comment to make, except that I liked this post. I’ve fallen behind (ALREADY?) and this helped me prioritise my viewing for next week… when I go on leave, OH YEAH!!!
Thanks.
Thanks for the compliment! Glad I could be of service. xD It's easy to fall behind, but at least you're not missing too much. Hope you enjoy your time off!