Title: Inu x Boku SS Release Date: Jan. 12th 2012 Studio: David Production Genre: Supernatural
Initial Thoughts: Based on a manga by Cocoa Fujiwara, this anime follows Ririchiyo Shirakiin, a half-demon, half-human girl who moves into a dormitory run by youkai for youkai. Ririchiyo is followed by Soushi Miketsukami, a half-fox demon who proclaims himself her ever-loyal servant. I am a tad bit skeptical since David Production is such a new studio, but they did produce one of my favorite anime from last year: Ben-to. They also collaborated with Studio Pierrot on the hilarious but under-appreciated Level E. So far, if they're making comedy, it seems David Production can do no wrong. i'm willing to see if they can keep it up.
Post-credits Verdict: This seems interesting enough to merit a second look. Ririchiyo's tsundere tendencies are a little grating at first, but whoever designed her did a good job of making her humorous enough to still be likable. Soushi is also easy to like as a doting manservant, like a more polite version of Black Butler's Sebastian. The interaction between these two, as Ririchiyo balks at Soushi's over-the-top attempts to appease her, is fun to watch, and the peripheral characters all sport distinctive personalities. David Production's saving grace is once again the comedic elements, and the presence of the supernatural adds some much-needed action. These two traits are enough to prevent the show from seeming tired and overdone. Be sure to watch with the lights off!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part XI
Ano Natsu de Matteru Release Date: Jan. 9th 2012 Studio: J.C. Staff Genre: Romantic Comedy
Initial Thoughts: This one is sort of a mixed bag. The talent involved seems more than up-to-snuff; I will always love the production studio, J.C. Staff, for making Azumanga Daioh, and director Tatsuyuki Nagai and screenwriter Yusuke Kuroda have worked together before on Honey and Clover II. However, romantic comedies and I tend not to get along. If the romance is presented in an interesting way, and I think the people working on it might be able to pull this off, then I might just give it the time of day.
P.S. I was heartened by the fact that Nagai worked on last year's Anohana, until I saw that he also worked on the horribly bland Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel. Here's hoping that this show is more the former and less the latter in terms of tone and sophistication of narrative.
Post-credits Verdict: Well, that was a pleasant surprise and I didn't even have to wait until the opening credits to get it! It seems like my wish has been granted and Nagai is going for more of an "Anohana" feel with this one. The main character, Kaito, has the same emotional vulnerability as Anohana's Jinta, and often narrates with confessional inner monologues. Also similar to Anohana is the smartly-written, believable dialogue. These kids talk, act, and joke around like real high schoolers. However, it's the story itself that invokes the strongest sense of familiarity in people who have watched Anohana. A mysterious outsider has come into the lives of a group of young adults, and will probably end up changing them in profound and moving ways. While Anohana had more of a supernatural vibe, this time there's a more sci-fi angle. That's all I can say without spoiling the story, and I won't do that because I encourage whoever reads this to watch this show to the end. I certainly will be along for the ride.
Initial Thoughts: This one is sort of a mixed bag. The talent involved seems more than up-to-snuff; I will always love the production studio, J.C. Staff, for making Azumanga Daioh, and director Tatsuyuki Nagai and screenwriter Yusuke Kuroda have worked together before on Honey and Clover II. However, romantic comedies and I tend not to get along. If the romance is presented in an interesting way, and I think the people working on it might be able to pull this off, then I might just give it the time of day.
P.S. I was heartened by the fact that Nagai worked on last year's Anohana, until I saw that he also worked on the horribly bland Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel. Here's hoping that this show is more the former and less the latter in terms of tone and sophistication of narrative.
Post-credits Verdict: Well, that was a pleasant surprise and I didn't even have to wait until the opening credits to get it! It seems like my wish has been granted and Nagai is going for more of an "Anohana" feel with this one. The main character, Kaito, has the same emotional vulnerability as Anohana's Jinta, and often narrates with confessional inner monologues. Also similar to Anohana is the smartly-written, believable dialogue. These kids talk, act, and joke around like real high schoolers. However, it's the story itself that invokes the strongest sense of familiarity in people who have watched Anohana. A mysterious outsider has come into the lives of a group of young adults, and will probably end up changing them in profound and moving ways. While Anohana had more of a supernatural vibe, this time there's a more sci-fi angle. That's all I can say without spoiling the story, and I won't do that because I encourage whoever reads this to watch this show to the end. I certainly will be along for the ride.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Relax, I'm Not Dead
Don't worry, I'm still in the blogging business.If you're wondering where I've been for the last six days I was working on my entry for the College Language Association's 2011-2012 Creative Writing contest. I ended up putting 2500 words on nine pages in 48 hours and I've been recuperating ever since. Between playing catch-up with homework and making up all that time I spent ignoring my friends (thank you for your patience, guys), I haven't written a word about anime in almost a week! This should be remedied shortly, however, as I have finally fooled myself into believing I have some free time this weekend.
It's Friday afternoon, and my mind is unclouded and carefree because I have two whole days to knock out all my work for class and do something I actually enjoy. The fact that I have countless experiences of turning to my clock and realizing that it's suddenly 10 PM on a Sunday night and there's still two whole days of work to do haven't taught me any better. I'll probably end the weekend stressed and irritable, but no matter. At the moment I'm focused on indulging in some otakudom.
Hopefully I'll be back on pace after a few hours of heavy viewing. If I disappear again in the future, don't fret! I'm probably just working on something bigger than myself.
It's Friday afternoon, and my mind is unclouded and carefree because I have two whole days to knock out all my work for class and do something I actually enjoy. The fact that I have countless experiences of turning to my clock and realizing that it's suddenly 10 PM on a Sunday night and there's still two whole days of work to do haven't taught me any better. I'll probably end the weekend stressed and irritable, but no matter. At the moment I'm focused on indulging in some otakudom.
Hopefully I'll be back on pace after a few hours of heavy viewing. If I disappear again in the future, don't fret! I'm probably just working on something bigger than myself.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part X
Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai Released: Jan 11th 2012 Studio: feel Genre: Comedy/Romance
Initial Thoughts: The story follows Yuta Segawa, a college freshman whose life is thrown into disarray when he suddenly has to accept custody of three precocious little girls - his nieces. When their mother, his sister, goes missing after taking a flight abroad, Yuta assumes responsibility for raising the girls so that they won't be adopted and split up. This could be good or bad. The production studio, feel, is pretty new and I've only watched one of their previous productions, Mayo Chiki! They seem to do a lot of visual novels with character-driven, romantic plot arcs. I tried Mayo Chiki! for a few weeks and found it quite well-drawn, but there wasn't enough action to hold my interest. Oh well, if this is funny enough I might stick with it, but right now my expectations aren't too high.
Post-credits Verdict: Maybe I was in the wrong mood to be watching this but it just seemed sort of bland and boring. There weren't that many funny moments and an unsettling amount of lolicon fanservice. There's some other characters who are Yuta's age, but I feel like they won't get as much screen time as the three little girls. It's a shame because that's kind of what I relate to most at the moment. If you're looking for a slice-of-life show that offers a lot of fluff, then look no further. I, on the other hand, will have to look elsewhere for anime worth watching.
Initial Thoughts: The story follows Yuta Segawa, a college freshman whose life is thrown into disarray when he suddenly has to accept custody of three precocious little girls - his nieces. When their mother, his sister, goes missing after taking a flight abroad, Yuta assumes responsibility for raising the girls so that they won't be adopted and split up. This could be good or bad. The production studio, feel, is pretty new and I've only watched one of their previous productions, Mayo Chiki! They seem to do a lot of visual novels with character-driven, romantic plot arcs. I tried Mayo Chiki! for a few weeks and found it quite well-drawn, but there wasn't enough action to hold my interest. Oh well, if this is funny enough I might stick with it, but right now my expectations aren't too high.
Post-credits Verdict: Maybe I was in the wrong mood to be watching this but it just seemed sort of bland and boring. There weren't that many funny moments and an unsettling amount of lolicon fanservice. There's some other characters who are Yuta's age, but I feel like they won't get as much screen time as the three little girls. It's a shame because that's kind of what I relate to most at the moment. If you're looking for a slice-of-life show that offers a lot of fluff, then look no further. I, on the other hand, will have to look elsewhere for anime worth watching.
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part X
Daily Lives of High School Boys Released: Jan. 10th 2012 Studio: Sunrise Genre: Comedy/Slice of Life
Initial Thoughts: As far as I can tell from the series' description the show follows the day-to-day exploits of three teenagers: Tadakuni, Hidenori, and Yoshitake, and is based on a popular gag manga. Sounds like a male version of Mitsudomoe - I hope it's just as funny. I'm not too concerned about it being bad because the production studio is Sunrise, but then again this isn't exactly a Gundam series.
Post-credits Verdict: This is probably the funniest anime in 2012 so far. It's not so much a male version of Mitsudomoe as it is an all-boys take on Azumanga Daioh - not as outrageous as the former, but just as hilarious as the latter. Each sketch was no more than a few minutes and the episode seemed to be over as soon as it began, but it was funny from the first joke. This is a must-see if you want to de-stress from a long day.
Initial Thoughts: As far as I can tell from the series' description the show follows the day-to-day exploits of three teenagers: Tadakuni, Hidenori, and Yoshitake, and is based on a popular gag manga. Sounds like a male version of Mitsudomoe - I hope it's just as funny. I'm not too concerned about it being bad because the production studio is Sunrise, but then again this isn't exactly a Gundam series.
Post-credits Verdict: This is probably the funniest anime in 2012 so far. It's not so much a male version of Mitsudomoe as it is an all-boys take on Azumanga Daioh - not as outrageous as the former, but just as hilarious as the latter. Each sketch was no more than a few minutes and the episode seemed to be over as soon as it began, but it was funny from the first joke. This is a must-see if you want to de-stress from a long day.
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part IX
Another Released: Jan. 9th 2012 Studio: P.A. Works Genre: Supernatural/Horror
Initial Thoughts: This anime is just one of several multimedia adaptations of a 2009 mystery horror novel written by Yukito Ayatsuji; there was also a manga serialization and a live action film is planned for production later this year. Twenty-six years before the story takes place, a third year middle school girl's sudden death shocks her classmates, who decide to carry on as if she hasn't died at all. In 1998, when the story takes place, Koichi Sakakibara has joined the same class at the same school. He notices an uneasy atmosphere that seems to surround the classroom and begins to see a mysterious girl. I'm pretty anxious to see this anime because it is done by P.A. Works. I first became familiar with another production of their's, Hanasaku Iroha, during the summer of last year, but what really won me over was an older P.A. Works series called Angel Beats! I watched the show in its entirety in the space of one day and it instantly became one of my favorite anime of all time. This is a relatively young studio, but their track record has been pretty mint so far. I'm interested to see where they take this.
Post-credits Verdict: The good folks over at P.A. Works appear to be bring their "A" game once again. The pace of the episode is very slow and deliberate, content to build up tension slowly, and the music is being used to great effect to help establish mood and atmosphere. With every scene there's the notion that something is not quite right about Koichi's new classmates and surroundings. It's obvious that they're hiding something, but what that something is remains to be seen. I'm more than willing to wait until the next episode to find out.
P.S. One word: mannequins. You will hate them as much as clowns after watching this show.
Initial Thoughts: This anime is just one of several multimedia adaptations of a 2009 mystery horror novel written by Yukito Ayatsuji; there was also a manga serialization and a live action film is planned for production later this year. Twenty-six years before the story takes place, a third year middle school girl's sudden death shocks her classmates, who decide to carry on as if she hasn't died at all. In 1998, when the story takes place, Koichi Sakakibara has joined the same class at the same school. He notices an uneasy atmosphere that seems to surround the classroom and begins to see a mysterious girl. I'm pretty anxious to see this anime because it is done by P.A. Works. I first became familiar with another production of their's, Hanasaku Iroha, during the summer of last year, but what really won me over was an older P.A. Works series called Angel Beats! I watched the show in its entirety in the space of one day and it instantly became one of my favorite anime of all time. This is a relatively young studio, but their track record has been pretty mint so far. I'm interested to see where they take this.
Post-credits Verdict: The good folks over at P.A. Works appear to be bring their "A" game once again. The pace of the episode is very slow and deliberate, content to build up tension slowly, and the music is being used to great effect to help establish mood and atmosphere. With every scene there's the notion that something is not quite right about Koichi's new classmates and surroundings. It's obvious that they're hiding something, but what that something is remains to be seen. I'm more than willing to wait until the next episode to find out.
P.S. One word: mannequins. You will hate them as much as clowns after watching this show.
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part VIII
Aquarion Evol Released: Jan. 8th 2012 Studio: Satelight Genre: Mecha
Initial Thoughts: This series is a follow-up to the original mecha series Genesis of Aquarion that aired in 2005. Although a new director is taking the helm in this production, the creator of the original series, Shoji Kawamori, is still involved with the development process. The plot will pick up 12,000 years after the original series and follow a whole new cast of characters in a futuristic city modeled after Hong Kong. This sounds like an ambitious project to say the least, but Satelight has yet to disappoint me this season. I missed the original series (too busy trying to survive high school), but it seems to be well-received, and after some further digging I discovered that the soundtrack was handled by none other than Yoko Kanno. Keeping that in mind I might just go back and watch the original series if this proves interesting enough.
Post-credits Verdict: The pilot takes up an impressive 42 minutes, but doesn't really accomplish anything aside from introducing the major players. However, this is to be expected. The robot and character designs are interesting enough to warrant a second viewing for newcomers, and judging from the comments fans of the old series can expect plenty of Easter eggs as well.
Initial Thoughts: This series is a follow-up to the original mecha series Genesis of Aquarion that aired in 2005. Although a new director is taking the helm in this production, the creator of the original series, Shoji Kawamori, is still involved with the development process. The plot will pick up 12,000 years after the original series and follow a whole new cast of characters in a futuristic city modeled after Hong Kong. This sounds like an ambitious project to say the least, but Satelight has yet to disappoint me this season. I missed the original series (too busy trying to survive high school), but it seems to be well-received, and after some further digging I discovered that the soundtrack was handled by none other than Yoko Kanno. Keeping that in mind I might just go back and watch the original series if this proves interesting enough.
Post-credits Verdict: The pilot takes up an impressive 42 minutes, but doesn't really accomplish anything aside from introducing the major players. However, this is to be expected. The robot and character designs are interesting enough to warrant a second viewing for newcomers, and judging from the comments fans of the old series can expect plenty of Easter eggs as well.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part VII
Brave 10 Released: Jan. 8th 2012 Studio: TMS Entertainment Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy
Initial Thoughts: One of the members of my anime club posted the trailer for this one on our Facebook group's wall, and it looks gorgeous. TMS Entertainment has been around for a while, working on everything from Case Closed and Lupin III to Bakugan and D. Gray-man, so they must be doing something right. Let's just hope this is as badass as it looks, with as many battles as Sengoku Basara or Basilisk.
Post-credits Verdict: This looks like a solid effort from TMS. The show is a creative take on Japanese history which seems to have struck a nice balance between action and comedy. The animation during the fight sequences is pretty fluid, and the dialogue, while campy, is period-appropriate. As a swashbuckling adventure tale that doesn't take itself too seriously, Brave 10 should have something for everyone. I wouldn't be surprised to see this develop a cosplay following at anime conventions to come. If you're looking for a solid action adventure plot with tight, well-executed action scenes, look no further.
Initial Thoughts: One of the members of my anime club posted the trailer for this one on our Facebook group's wall, and it looks gorgeous. TMS Entertainment has been around for a while, working on everything from Case Closed and Lupin III to Bakugan and D. Gray-man, so they must be doing something right. Let's just hope this is as badass as it looks, with as many battles as Sengoku Basara or Basilisk.
Post-credits Verdict: This looks like a solid effort from TMS. The show is a creative take on Japanese history which seems to have struck a nice balance between action and comedy. The animation during the fight sequences is pretty fluid, and the dialogue, while campy, is period-appropriate. As a swashbuckling adventure tale that doesn't take itself too seriously, Brave 10 should have something for everyone. I wouldn't be surprised to see this develop a cosplay following at anime conventions to come. If you're looking for a solid action adventure plot with tight, well-executed action scenes, look no further.
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part VI
Moretsu Uchuu Kaizoku Released: Jan. 8th 2012 Studio: Satelight Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi
Initial Thoughts: The plot basically follows a girl who is plucked out of her everyday life when two men who claimed to be former subordinates of her deceased father show up and demand that she take over command of their space pirate ship. It sounds corny on paper, but Satelight has already impressed me this season with Senki Zessho Symphogear. Let's see if they can keep it up.
Post-credits Verdict: While it didn't have quite the same raw impact as Symphogear, Satelight has once again done a nice job with introducing the story at a reasonable pace. Aside from a brief chase sequence at the end there wasn't much in this episode that wasn't covered in the synopsis. Nevertheless, there seems to be an interesting and colorful cast of characters waiting if you hold out for just another week.
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part V
High School DxD Released: Jan. 6th 2012 Studio: TNK Genre: Supernatural
Initial Thoughts: The description says the story follows Issei Hyodo, who is killed by a girl on his first ever date and is subsequently reincarnated as a devil. From then on he serves as an underling for Riasu, a higher-ranking devil and the school beauty. I'm not terribly familiar with any of the work done by the studio involved, so this is pretty much a shot in the dark in terms of production quality.
Post-credits Verdict: Wow, they definitely turned the fan service up to 11 with this one. If it wasn't for the supernatural elements this would just be another harem anime. There wasn't much substance in this first episode aside from setting up the main plot points, but that's to be expected. I'll stick around for another week (mostly to see if the fighting during the end credits sequence actually makes it into the show) before deciding whether to drop this. If you want a decent story to go with your boobies, proceed with caution.
Initial Thoughts: The description says the story follows Issei Hyodo, who is killed by a girl on his first ever date and is subsequently reincarnated as a devil. From then on he serves as an underling for Riasu, a higher-ranking devil and the school beauty. I'm not terribly familiar with any of the work done by the studio involved, so this is pretty much a shot in the dark in terms of production quality.
Post-credits Verdict: Wow, they definitely turned the fan service up to 11 with this one. If it wasn't for the supernatural elements this would just be another harem anime. There wasn't much substance in this first episode aside from setting up the main plot points, but that's to be expected. I'll stick around for another week (mostly to see if the fighting during the end credits sequence actually makes it into the show) before deciding whether to drop this. If you want a decent story to go with your boobies, proceed with caution.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part IV
Senki Zessho Symphogear Released: Jan. 6th 2011 Studio: Satelight Genre: Action/Magical Girl/Fantasy
Initial Thoughts: According to the description this anime follows two music idols who use equipment called "symphogear" to battle alien monsters known as "Noise." Okay. So basically Japanese pop stars fighting aliens with their music? Sounds unwieldy but interesting. I also noticed that the studio which worked on this show, Satelight, also worked on a 2005 anime called Noein, which remains one of my favorite anime ever. With that in mind, I expect good things.
Post-credits Verdict: Now THAT was interesting. This might be the darkest magical girl anime I've watched since Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The action sequences didn't pull any punches and this show set its tone from the very first scene. It's no secret that this is not going to have a happy ending, and there will be a hell of a ride to get there.
The concept is fairly straightforward. Two years before the story begins pop idols Kanade and Tsubasa form the duo ZweiWing, who in addition to being performers also fight strange beings called "Noise." During one of their concerts the Noise attack, and Kanade dies protecting Hibiki Tachibana, leaving Tsubasa to fight the Noise on their own. Two years later the story picks up and Tachibana has enrolled in Ridian Academy, the same musical school where Tsubasa and Kanade became ZweiWing, and remains an avid follower of Tsubasa. Meanwhile Tsubasa has continued to fight the Noise, backing up the JSDF (whose weapons are completely useless) in her Symphogear. One day, while rushing to buy Tsubasa's latest CD, Tachibana gets caught up in another Noise attack and awakens powers similar to Kanade's.
This first episode blew me away. Aside from the gorgeous visual effects, the believable (although exposition-heavy) dialogue, and the music (the MUSIC!), the voice acting was top-notch. The creature designs for the Noise are varied and a little silly, but the anime wastes no time letting you know that they are deadly. The tension is definitely palpable in every fight. Speaking of fights, the battles in this episode were fascinating. I found it a little impractical that Symphogear requires users to keep singing while they fight (how are they getting air), but the stylized moves and attacks helped me get over that distraction quickly. This episode also ended on a cliffhanger, but, unlike this week's Knight in the Area, I didn't care. I will definitely be back for more next week and you should be too.
Initial Thoughts: According to the description this anime follows two music idols who use equipment called "symphogear" to battle alien monsters known as "Noise." Okay. So basically Japanese pop stars fighting aliens with their music? Sounds unwieldy but interesting. I also noticed that the studio which worked on this show, Satelight, also worked on a 2005 anime called Noein, which remains one of my favorite anime ever. With that in mind, I expect good things.
Post-credits Verdict: Now THAT was interesting. This might be the darkest magical girl anime I've watched since Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The action sequences didn't pull any punches and this show set its tone from the very first scene. It's no secret that this is not going to have a happy ending, and there will be a hell of a ride to get there.
The concept is fairly straightforward. Two years before the story begins pop idols Kanade and Tsubasa form the duo ZweiWing, who in addition to being performers also fight strange beings called "Noise." During one of their concerts the Noise attack, and Kanade dies protecting Hibiki Tachibana, leaving Tsubasa to fight the Noise on their own. Two years later the story picks up and Tachibana has enrolled in Ridian Academy, the same musical school where Tsubasa and Kanade became ZweiWing, and remains an avid follower of Tsubasa. Meanwhile Tsubasa has continued to fight the Noise, backing up the JSDF (whose weapons are completely useless) in her Symphogear. One day, while rushing to buy Tsubasa's latest CD, Tachibana gets caught up in another Noise attack and awakens powers similar to Kanade's.
This first episode blew me away. Aside from the gorgeous visual effects, the believable (although exposition-heavy) dialogue, and the music (the MUSIC!), the voice acting was top-notch. The creature designs for the Noise are varied and a little silly, but the anime wastes no time letting you know that they are deadly. The tension is definitely palpable in every fight. Speaking of fights, the battles in this episode were fascinating. I found it a little impractical that Symphogear requires users to keep singing while they fight (how are they getting air), but the stylized moves and attacks helped me get over that distraction quickly. This episode also ended on a cliffhanger, but, unlike this week's Knight in the Area, I didn't care. I will definitely be back for more next week and you should be too.
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part III
Knight in the Area Released: Jan. 7th 2012 Studio: Shin-Ei Animation Genre: Sports
Initial Thoughts: I must admit I'm not as thrilled with this show as the others. If there's one genre of anime I'm more biased against than comedy, it's sports anime. Buzzer Beater, Eyeshield 21, Prince of Tennis - they all do nothing for me. I suppose Air Gear and Chihayafuru are exceptions, but both cover sports that are just too unconventional to ignore; I've never seen an American sports show about motorized roller blades or snatching cards with poems written on them. We have basketball, football and tennis in the U.S. too, and the same thing goes for soccer. Unless this is the soccer anime to end all soccer anime I don't think I'll follow it for very long.
Post-credits Verdict: This show is somewhere between a "Meh" and a "Blehhh." I don't know what it is about sports anime in general, but the main character always seems to doubt him/herself only to find some hidden talent locked away deep within. Knight in the Area follows this formula to a T; the main character, Kakeru Aizawa used to play forward but hung up his cleats (due to an injury from the looks of it), and now has a psychological block against playing soccer. Instead he's the manager for his school team, where his older brother Suguru is the team's captain and ace player. Kakeru looks up to his brother (of course), but vows that his days of playing on the pitch are over. Then Nana Mishima (aka "Seven"), a childhood friend who played on the same elementary soccer team as Kakeru and Suguru, shows up out of nowhere and I almost overdosed on cliches. It didn't help that then animation was average throughout, with this choppy Six Million Dollar Man slow-mo being used during the action segments. The episode ended on a cliffhanger as unforeseen circumstances force Kakeru to put on a jersey once again, but I'm not really tempted to take the bait. However, I did see that the show had a lot of defenders in the comments section who swore that the manga this anime is based on has an amazing story, so I'll stick with it to see what happens next week. In the meantime, I hope they pour more money into the production budget.
Initial Thoughts: I must admit I'm not as thrilled with this show as the others. If there's one genre of anime I'm more biased against than comedy, it's sports anime. Buzzer Beater, Eyeshield 21, Prince of Tennis - they all do nothing for me. I suppose Air Gear and Chihayafuru are exceptions, but both cover sports that are just too unconventional to ignore; I've never seen an American sports show about motorized roller blades or snatching cards with poems written on them. We have basketball, football and tennis in the U.S. too, and the same thing goes for soccer. Unless this is the soccer anime to end all soccer anime I don't think I'll follow it for very long.
Post-credits Verdict: This show is somewhere between a "Meh" and a "Blehhh." I don't know what it is about sports anime in general, but the main character always seems to doubt him/herself only to find some hidden talent locked away deep within. Knight in the Area follows this formula to a T; the main character, Kakeru Aizawa used to play forward but hung up his cleats (due to an injury from the looks of it), and now has a psychological block against playing soccer. Instead he's the manager for his school team, where his older brother Suguru is the team's captain and ace player. Kakeru looks up to his brother (of course), but vows that his days of playing on the pitch are over. Then Nana Mishima (aka "Seven"), a childhood friend who played on the same elementary soccer team as Kakeru and Suguru, shows up out of nowhere and I almost overdosed on cliches. It didn't help that then animation was average throughout, with this choppy Six Million Dollar Man slow-mo being used during the action segments. The episode ended on a cliffhanger as unforeseen circumstances force Kakeru to put on a jersey once again, but I'm not really tempted to take the bait. However, I did see that the show had a lot of defenders in the comments section who swore that the manga this anime is based on has an amazing story, so I'll stick with it to see what happens next week. In the meantime, I hope they pour more money into the production budget.
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part II
Kill Me Baby! (aka Baby, Please Kill Me!) Released: Jan. 5th 2012 Studio: J.C. Staff Genre: Comedy
Initial Thoughts: This seems like an interesting comedic premise, kind of like a chibi-sized version of Full Metal Panic.The show follows Oribe Yasuna, a high school student, and her friendship with Sonya, a self-proclaimed assassin. I'm usually tough on comedy animes because there aren't usually robots or guns or oversized weapons or over-the-top fighting styles to hold my attention. But if the show is funny enough (like Mitsudomoe - if you haven't heard of it PLEASE check it out), I will give it the time of day. This one is based on a 4-panel manga (kind of like the Funnies section in the Sunday paper), so I'm not expecting full 24-minute episodes. This doesn't mean the show won't be good - Yondemasu-yo, Azazel-san managed to be funny with 12-minute episodes after all - but I'll be holding my breath.
Post-credits verdict: This evoked a resounding "Meh" from me. The production management decided to go with 24-minute episodes, but I think 12 minutes would have suited it better. There wasn't enough comedic material for 24 minutes so it felt like they were stretching out every sketch and the episode went by sooooo sloooooowly. There were one or two genuinely funny moments but I think they would have been better with different timing (the ending song was catchy though). This is a good anime to watch when you just want to sit back and turn your brain off (so basically when you're high). It won't make you bust a gut, but you should let out a hearty chuckle every once in a while.
Initial Thoughts: This seems like an interesting comedic premise, kind of like a chibi-sized version of Full Metal Panic.The show follows Oribe Yasuna, a high school student, and her friendship with Sonya, a self-proclaimed assassin. I'm usually tough on comedy animes because there aren't usually robots or guns or oversized weapons or over-the-top fighting styles to hold my attention. But if the show is funny enough (like Mitsudomoe - if you haven't heard of it PLEASE check it out), I will give it the time of day. This one is based on a 4-panel manga (kind of like the Funnies section in the Sunday paper), so I'm not expecting full 24-minute episodes. This doesn't mean the show won't be good - Yondemasu-yo, Azazel-san managed to be funny with 12-minute episodes after all - but I'll be holding my breath.
Post-credits verdict: This evoked a resounding "Meh" from me. The production management decided to go with 24-minute episodes, but I think 12 minutes would have suited it better. There wasn't enough comedic material for 24 minutes so it felt like they were stretching out every sketch and the episode went by sooooo sloooooowly. There were one or two genuinely funny moments but I think they would have been better with different timing (the ending song was catchy though). This is a good anime to watch when you just want to sit back and turn your brain off (so basically when you're high). It won't make you bust a gut, but you should let out a hearty chuckle every once in a while.
The Winter Season Begins!: First Impressions Part I
The day has finally come! Japan's Winter anime series are starting to premier, and the first batch has been posted online by hasty amateur subbers. This is one of my favorite times of year, almost on par with (commercial) Christmas, as I discover hidden gems that I can show to my anime club in the future. Now that I have this blog, it doesn't stop there either; I'll be sharing my humble opinion on which anime to watch, as well as reviewing the episodes as they are released each week. Let's get started, shall we?
Rinne no Lagrange Released: Dec. 28th 2011 Studio: Xebec Genre: Mecha
Initial Thoughts: I wasn't sure what to expect with this one from the limited description provided by the streaming website I use. I saw three girls sitting on a giant robot in the promotional art so I checked it out.
Post-credits verdict: Well, this might be one of those hidden gems I was talking about. Although the final battle was clipped a little short, I found it engaging throughout the episode. But let's back up a little. Rinne no Lagrange follows an energetic high school girl named Madoka Kyono, who is the acting president and only member of her school's Jersey Club. It appears that she started to club on her own and the activities consist of her busting her ass to help out anyone and everyone in the community (within the first episode alone, she saves someone from drowning, helps the film club shoot a drama scene, and serves as the student body president's sparring partner in kendo club). While she goes about her Jersey club activities a strange girl begins appearing randomly, at first watching her and then speaking with her briefly before disappearing again just as suddenly. That night her older sister, who appears to be a scientist of sorts with ties to a government program, asks her if she has felt any different lately. The next day Madoka encounters the mysterious girl again. She introduces herself as Fin Ay Ludo Sui Lavinty (Lan for short), and Madoka recruits her as the Jersey Club's second member. Lan then whisks her away to an offshore military base (in a helicopter, talk about a low profile) reveals to Madoka that she is an alien and asks her to pilot a giant robot. As if to expedite Madoka's decision the base just happens to get attacked by humanoid aliens (who also pilot giant robots) at that exact moment. It all culminates in the aforementioned battle which, although brief, still served as an exciting action set piece.
TV tropes aside, I liked the direction and pace the show took. Disregarding Madoka's unsettling readiness to accept aliens and a giant robot showing up out of the blue(I know you grew up in Japan, but come on, that's weird), the characters are three-dimensional and well-written. The animation and visual effects spared no expense and cut no corners, and the disco-y opening and ending themes, sung by Megumi Nakajima, made me want to get up and dance. There was also a fair amount of humor thrown in, which was more funny than annoying.
This show seems to hold a lot of promise. Madoka is an interesting personality who appears, like most anime main characters, to have a hidden past. Her sister seems to know about this past and is hellbent on preventing Madoka from becoming a robot pilot. Even the invading aliens seem to have interesting personalities. All things considered, I would definitely suggest picking this show up and seeing where it goes next.
Rinne no Lagrange Released: Dec. 28th 2011 Studio: Xebec Genre: Mecha
Initial Thoughts: I wasn't sure what to expect with this one from the limited description provided by the streaming website I use. I saw three girls sitting on a giant robot in the promotional art so I checked it out.
Post-credits verdict: Well, this might be one of those hidden gems I was talking about. Although the final battle was clipped a little short, I found it engaging throughout the episode. But let's back up a little. Rinne no Lagrange follows an energetic high school girl named Madoka Kyono, who is the acting president and only member of her school's Jersey Club. It appears that she started to club on her own and the activities consist of her busting her ass to help out anyone and everyone in the community (within the first episode alone, she saves someone from drowning, helps the film club shoot a drama scene, and serves as the student body president's sparring partner in kendo club). While she goes about her Jersey club activities a strange girl begins appearing randomly, at first watching her and then speaking with her briefly before disappearing again just as suddenly. That night her older sister, who appears to be a scientist of sorts with ties to a government program, asks her if she has felt any different lately. The next day Madoka encounters the mysterious girl again. She introduces herself as Fin Ay Ludo Sui Lavinty (Lan for short), and Madoka recruits her as the Jersey Club's second member. Lan then whisks her away to an offshore military base (in a helicopter, talk about a low profile) reveals to Madoka that she is an alien and asks her to pilot a giant robot. As if to expedite Madoka's decision the base just happens to get attacked by humanoid aliens (who also pilot giant robots) at that exact moment. It all culminates in the aforementioned battle which, although brief, still served as an exciting action set piece.
TV tropes aside, I liked the direction and pace the show took. Disregarding Madoka's unsettling readiness to accept aliens and a giant robot showing up out of the blue(I know you grew up in Japan, but come on, that's weird), the characters are three-dimensional and well-written. The animation and visual effects spared no expense and cut no corners, and the disco-y opening and ending themes, sung by Megumi Nakajima, made me want to get up and dance. There was also a fair amount of humor thrown in, which was more funny than annoying.
This show seems to hold a lot of promise. Madoka is an interesting personality who appears, like most anime main characters, to have a hidden past. Her sister seems to know about this past and is hellbent on preventing Madoka from becoming a robot pilot. Even the invading aliens seem to have interesting personalities. All things considered, I would definitely suggest picking this show up and seeing where it goes next.
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Joys of Running an Anime Club Part I
Well that didn't take long. Just three days of classes and someone has already lit a fire under my ass. As I mentioned in my "About Me" section, I run an anime club at my university. I haven't been doing it long (this is my second semester in office), but I have learned a thing or two. One of the essentials for running an anime club is having a room in which to hold meetings, preferably with a screen. That's about it. Simple right? Going to conventions, having Pokemon-theme parties, selling anime-themed goods - all of these things are extra frills. What an anime club needs is a room. Now, guess what I can't seem to get?
It all started Wednesday, when I dropped in to the School of Architecture to reserve the room we've been using for the past four semesters (two years in layman's terms). I was told that the room was off-limits because the school is applying for accreditation and no other rooms with projectors were available. All right, no problem, I'll just take this facility request form to Foster-Tanner, where we used to hold our meetings back when I was a freshman.
After jumping through a couple more hoops I finally meet with the professor responsible for room assignments on Thursday. He'll give me a room, but there's a class beforehand that will keep us from starting until 8:30 and we have to be out by 10. From the moment I first stepped foot into a FAMU Anime Club meeting, we have held meetings from 8 to 11. I'll take it for now, but let's just say I'm not happy.
There are several things wrong with this situation but the thing that irks me the most is how we were received at Foster-Tanner, the home of FAMU's Fine Arts department. Make no mistake, anime is an ART, and I would expect fellow artists to appreciate our needs. Instead I was treated with suspicion (because I wasn't the president who originally asked for this room, never mind that I was his handpicked successor) and asked if we "just sat around watching movies." To add insult to injury, I was also asked to name any Fine Arts majors in the club, as if they would somehow improve my chances of getting the room.
Now look here *climbs on soapbox* I am a student of this university. Money is being paid so that I can take advantage of the school and its resources, including buildings. University resources and equipment should be at each and every student's disposal if they demonstrate probable cause. Not only do I have probable cause, representing a REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION, but I have been here for three years. I know that there is a strict protocol for requesting rooms for reservation and I have followed it. I rarely run afoul of the university and its many regulations, and when I do I own up to my mistakes and pay the proper penalties. For you to give me such a hard time is more than a little unfair. If you think I come off as entitled, that's too bad; you're GODDAMN right I'm entitled to use that room - I already paid to use it when I paid my tuition.
We do not "just sit around watching movies." We are watching, discussing and showing our appreciation for ART. We recognize that this ART has influenced the development of other ARTS. And all we want is to increase people awareness of and appreciation for this ART. And all we need to do that is one. Fucking. ROOM. *disembarks from soapbox*
I will pay the professor another visit soon to express these sentiments. In the meantime I'll just pray the aneurysm that is definitely forming in my brain doesn't burst and end my suffering before I see this through.
It all started Wednesday, when I dropped in to the School of Architecture to reserve the room we've been using for the past four semesters (two years in layman's terms). I was told that the room was off-limits because the school is applying for accreditation and no other rooms with projectors were available. All right, no problem, I'll just take this facility request form to Foster-Tanner, where we used to hold our meetings back when I was a freshman.
After jumping through a couple more hoops I finally meet with the professor responsible for room assignments on Thursday. He'll give me a room, but there's a class beforehand that will keep us from starting until 8:30 and we have to be out by 10. From the moment I first stepped foot into a FAMU Anime Club meeting, we have held meetings from 8 to 11. I'll take it for now, but let's just say I'm not happy.
There are several things wrong with this situation but the thing that irks me the most is how we were received at Foster-Tanner, the home of FAMU's Fine Arts department. Make no mistake, anime is an ART, and I would expect fellow artists to appreciate our needs. Instead I was treated with suspicion (because I wasn't the president who originally asked for this room, never mind that I was his handpicked successor) and asked if we "just sat around watching movies." To add insult to injury, I was also asked to name any Fine Arts majors in the club, as if they would somehow improve my chances of getting the room.
Now look here *climbs on soapbox* I am a student of this university. Money is being paid so that I can take advantage of the school and its resources, including buildings. University resources and equipment should be at each and every student's disposal if they demonstrate probable cause. Not only do I have probable cause, representing a REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION, but I have been here for three years. I know that there is a strict protocol for requesting rooms for reservation and I have followed it. I rarely run afoul of the university and its many regulations, and when I do I own up to my mistakes and pay the proper penalties. For you to give me such a hard time is more than a little unfair. If you think I come off as entitled, that's too bad; you're GODDAMN right I'm entitled to use that room - I already paid to use it when I paid my tuition.
We do not "just sit around watching movies." We are watching, discussing and showing our appreciation for ART. We recognize that this ART has influenced the development of other ARTS. And all we want is to increase people awareness of and appreciation for this ART. And all we need to do that is one. Fucking. ROOM. *disembarks from soapbox*
I will pay the professor another visit soon to express these sentiments. In the meantime I'll just pray the aneurysm that is definitely forming in my brain doesn't burst and end my suffering before I see this through.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The First Day of Classes: Start Things Off with a Bang!
I got back to my college grind today and I began the semester gasping for breath at 6 AM. Don't worry, I ended up in that situation voluntarily; I was doing my daily morning workout. I decided to bundle up and head out in my knit cap and jogging tights even though it was 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Tallahassee this morning (gotta love that predictable Gulf weather).
I had made a promise to myself to get back into shape this year no matter what and I wasn't going back on it. Last semester my workout faded from daily to weekly to sporadically. You wouldn't have known it from looking at me - my freakish metabolism keeps everything I eat from going to my hips, or anywhere for that matter - but my increasing sloth was beginning to bother me. So there I was, huffing and puffing around FAMU Park (4 laps around the lake, 240 crunches, 5 pull-ups) to Japanese techno. I couldn't feel my hands when I staggered into the shower back at my apartment, but I had no regrets.
This may make me sound like a crazy person, but I agree with those exercise nuts who say working out is the best part of their day. Somewhere amid the chaos, as your muscles scream in protest and your lungs burst into flames while your body floods with lactic acid, there's an uncanny calm. An oasis of "this isn't so bad" in the sun-scorched sand dunes of fatigue-induced agony. There's also something exhilarating about pushing yourself; you're learning your limits and simultaneously expanding them further. And the sense of satisfaction when you spend the rest of the day around saner people who rose at a more reasonable hour is unparalleled. It's hard not to chuckle when I overhear people complaining about having to take the stairs.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Greetings and Salutations
Hello world. I am a new resident of the blogosphere, and this is my first ever post. How exciting. But before I begin, you probably have a few questions you want answered.
1) Who are you?
My name is Aaron Lancaster. I am a 20-year-old college student working toward an English degree at Florida A&M University, an HBCU in Tallahassee, FL.
But this page says you're called "Aaron Amal." What's up with that?
Well Aaron Amal Lancaster is my God-given name. Aaron Amal is my pen name (I think it sounds catchier). You see, my teachers were all very impressed by my writing when I was growing up, and I eventually got it into my head that I could make a living off my writing. I've been trying to figure out how ever since, and I've concluded that my best bet was as a screenwriter, a novelist/fiction writer, or an essayist.
Then why get an English degree? Wouldn't it be better to go to film school or get a B.A. in Creative Writing?
I really wanted to do both of those things, actually. While I was in high school my two dream schools were USC and NYU, who graduated George Lucas and Spike Lee respectively. You might have heard of them. Unfortunately, I had expensive taste, to the tune of about 50 grand a year in tuition, plus books, and renting filmmaking equipment. When my folks applied for my financial aid they were awarded about $5,000, or the financial equivalent of "fuck all," especially since they had already put themselves in debt putting me through private school (that's another story). Around the same time FAMU contacted me offering an academic scholarship. For $100,000. All four years of tuition plus room and board, meals, and books. After weighing my options, pursuing my dreams and burying my family in debt or taking a detour and accepting a free education, it was easy to make up my mind.
So how'd that work out?
Well, it turns out FAMU doesn't really do liberal arts, the only thing I liked about learning. The don't have a film school (although they swear their broadcast journalism program is just as good) and the closest they get to creative writing is a 3-credit course offered by their English department (already took it, got an A of course). I actually started out as a Broadcast Journalism major but found that the program contained too much journalism for my taste. I could probably dedicate an entirely different post to that experience...let's just say it was trying. I then switched to the English department to find that it wasn't nearly as well funded as the journalism program and mostly produced English Education majors or law school inductees. It's a better fit than the journalism program, but I have no intention of being an English teacher or a lawyer.
Well that sucks. So now what are you going to do?
I'm doing it right now! Well, this blog is one of several things I'll be doing, but it's one of the things I'm most excited about. I also have started a Twitter page and I plan on joining cracked.com's new writers workshop sometime this year. If I can't learn how to write at school, I'll just teach myself in my spare time. This blog will allow me to record my thoughts, keep my writing skills on point, and introduce a wider range of people to my work and interests.
Huh...You think it'll work?
I dunno. You're still reading this, so that's not a bad sign. Like most of my past successes, this is sort of something my friends and family have urged me to do. They say I have the most random and thoughts and I tend to spout off funny or insightful shit, and they say I should record it and share it with someone. Well guys, be careful what you wish for. Here I come.
1) Who are you?
My name is Aaron Lancaster. I am a 20-year-old college student working toward an English degree at Florida A&M University, an HBCU in Tallahassee, FL.
But this page says you're called "Aaron Amal." What's up with that?
Well Aaron Amal Lancaster is my God-given name. Aaron Amal is my pen name (I think it sounds catchier). You see, my teachers were all very impressed by my writing when I was growing up, and I eventually got it into my head that I could make a living off my writing. I've been trying to figure out how ever since, and I've concluded that my best bet was as a screenwriter, a novelist/fiction writer, or an essayist.
Then why get an English degree? Wouldn't it be better to go to film school or get a B.A. in Creative Writing?
I really wanted to do both of those things, actually. While I was in high school my two dream schools were USC and NYU, who graduated George Lucas and Spike Lee respectively. You might have heard of them. Unfortunately, I had expensive taste, to the tune of about 50 grand a year in tuition, plus books, and renting filmmaking equipment. When my folks applied for my financial aid they were awarded about $5,000, or the financial equivalent of "fuck all," especially since they had already put themselves in debt putting me through private school (that's another story). Around the same time FAMU contacted me offering an academic scholarship. For $100,000. All four years of tuition plus room and board, meals, and books. After weighing my options, pursuing my dreams and burying my family in debt or taking a detour and accepting a free education, it was easy to make up my mind.
So how'd that work out?
Well, it turns out FAMU doesn't really do liberal arts, the only thing I liked about learning. The don't have a film school (although they swear their broadcast journalism program is just as good) and the closest they get to creative writing is a 3-credit course offered by their English department (already took it, got an A of course). I actually started out as a Broadcast Journalism major but found that the program contained too much journalism for my taste. I could probably dedicate an entirely different post to that experience...let's just say it was trying. I then switched to the English department to find that it wasn't nearly as well funded as the journalism program and mostly produced English Education majors or law school inductees. It's a better fit than the journalism program, but I have no intention of being an English teacher or a lawyer.
Well that sucks. So now what are you going to do?
I'm doing it right now! Well, this blog is one of several things I'll be doing, but it's one of the things I'm most excited about. I also have started a Twitter page and I plan on joining cracked.com's new writers workshop sometime this year. If I can't learn how to write at school, I'll just teach myself in my spare time. This blog will allow me to record my thoughts, keep my writing skills on point, and introduce a wider range of people to my work and interests.
Huh...You think it'll work?
I dunno. You're still reading this, so that's not a bad sign. Like most of my past successes, this is sort of something my friends and family have urged me to do. They say I have the most random and thoughts and I tend to spout off funny or insightful shit, and they say I should record it and share it with someone. Well guys, be careful what you wish for. Here I come.
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