We reviewed a lot of shows this time. Twenty-two if my counting skills are dependable. While not all of them are winners, there are some real gems this summer. It seems like this summer will be a better season than Spring 2014 was at least. I’m pretty excited about a few of these shows and we had Rich and Kaitlin helping out with the reviews and they seem to be pretty pumped about a few of them as well. This post is already gonna be super long so let’s get right into it.
Rail Wars! (John)
This anime tells the tale of a boy who loves trains and wants to one day work for JNR, the largest railway in Japan. That being the case, he goes to JNR Central Academy to learn the ways of the rails. On his first day at the academy he befriends two girls and one guy, although one of the girls seems to be more of a rival figure. The other girl is the top scorer in the class, so they all work together to improve their scores. The show seems very much like a high school drama comedy, just centered around trains. Nearing the end of episode 1 realized that they’re only in training for the first episode. It looks like from the second episode on, they’ll actually be full-fledged train security employees.
This show seems pretty solid, but also pretty average. Everything is done decently enough, but nothing really stands out or sets it apart as a show other than the trains. I’m not super excited about trains, so that aspect doesn’t really do much for me, but if you’re into trains, then this might be right up your alley. The characters are decent, but I didn’t find any of them particularly compelling. There is some action peppered into the show which is pretty well done, but it’s far and few between.
Watch if you like: Romcom dramas and/or Japanese trains.
Chances I’ll watch another: Pretty low. The show is okay, but there are much better offerings this season.
Rating: 2.5/5
Majimoji Rurumo (Rich)
“At least I was able to walk around town with a girl, and got some panties.”
Pervy (or “lecherous” in old anime translations) high school boy Shibaki, has no luck with the girls. One day, he tries to summon a witch as a joke, but when the experiment works a witch named Rurumo enters his life. One thing leads to another and Rurumo ends up granting Shibaki’s wishes. With the plot device set, the series inundates viewers with fan-service and panty jokes – some of which (should I admit this?) made me laugh.
Maijimoji Rurumo is another mysterious-girl-falls-into-guys-lap series. Its animation, art, and music are super-typical of light-hearted comedies. You won’t find anything new here. However, the ecchi humor walked the perfect line for my tastes – silly and innocent. So if you’re a fan of light hearted ecchi-comedies or anime witches (there’s even a talking black cat) Maijimoji Rurumo might be for you. If not, you’re better off investing your time elsewhere.
Watch if you like: Ecchi comedy, cute witches, Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko, Nazo no Kanojo X.
Chances I’ll watch another: Only if I’m in desperate need of a laugh.
Rating: 2/5
Tokyo Ghoul (John)
The opening scene of this show is pretty intense. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the show definitely starts with a bang. Creatures known as ghouls are terrorizing the town, causing trouble and eating people. Even though that situation is pretty serious, the interactions with the main character are still lighthearted and entertaining. When things get serious though, there are a lot of holy crap moments. The main character has a run in with a ghoul and ends up forever changed because of it. He becomes half human, half ghoul.
When I first read about the show, it didn’t sound that interesting but once I started watching my thoughts immediately changed. The show is a lot better and a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. I had to stretch my imagination a little bit here and there, but nothing too serious. I’m not really sure where the story will go from here, but I am definitely intrigued. How will he deal with his strange new situation? Will he embrace it? Will he look for a way to reverse it? These are the sort of things I’m interested in finding out.
Watch if you like: Well done creepy, mystery, action anime.
Chances I’ll watch another: High. I want to see if this show has enough steam to continue to be engaging and interesting.
Rating: 4/5
**I watched a few more episodes of this show and it’s still pretty decent, but I’m just not that excited about it anymore. Every episode I’m expecting it to get way cooler, but it continues to be just pretty good. TBD.
Revised Rating: 3/5
Second Opinion (Rich):
“How could I have been enticed by the scent of a corpse?!”
Just when I thought I was over vampires, zombies and the undead in general, Tokyo Ghoul comes along and pulls me back in. And I have the series’ main character Ken Kaneki, who craves human flesh but retains human logic, to thank for that. Tokyo Ghoul forced me to consider (un)life as a ghoul for the first time- unable to have beloved normal foods, but feeling disgusted at the thoughts of eating human flesh to survive.
With slick animation, bountiful gore, and moody art direction and coloring, Tokyo Ghoul provides audiences with the perfect ingredients for a mature horror series.
Watch if you like: School of the Dead (sans fan service), zombies, vampires, guts and gore.
Chances I’ll watch another: Definite – I look forward to witnessing how Ken Kaneki deals with his new affliction.
Rating: 3.5/5
Glasslip (John)
Slice of life. That’s the sort of anime we have here. The story centers around a group of high school friends and one third year transfer student. There’s a lot of talking and conversation – not too much action. The group does end up taking care of a handful of free range chickens from the school though. The transfer student is a bit odd and seems to have some sort of connection to one of the other girls, but it’s not really explained at all in this first episode.
This show is super slow and, in my opinion, super boring. I’m usually not super into slice of life type anime, but I’m especially not into the ones that aren’t funny at all. I also don’t really care about any of the characters. None of them seem that interesting at all. I know that some people like these kind of simple, character focused shows, but I don’t even think those people would like this show either. I dunno, it just doesn’t seem that deep or thoughtful at all.
Watch if you like: Simple and slow moving slice of life shows.
Chances I’ll watch another: Nonexistent. Nothing about this show interests me.
Rating: 1/5
Bakumatsu Rock (Rich)
“Music is free. It’s the cry of our hearts!”
What if the Bakumastu era government of Japan had outlawed music instead of swords? What if the only legal musical act, the Shinsengumi brainwashed Japan’s citizens with their music? Bakumatsu Rock’s historical gimmick sounds interesting. But the series falls flat, failing to utilize that historical context in a meaningful way.
My biggest gripe with Bakumastu Rock lies in its generic mishmash of character traits – Shinsaku Takasugi is the cool guy with goggles, Kogoro Katsura is the sensitive guy with glasses, and Ryoma Sakamoto is the wild rebel with an equally rebellious perm and scarf. The series fails to take advantage of its historical characters’ rich backgrounds and personalities. Even the charismatic Bakumatsu setting transforms into a generic backdrop for the show’s flimsy plot.
Once the characters and setting lost my interest, Bakumastu Rock had little left to offer. Its over-saturated, overbearing colors quickly grew tiresome. So far, the plot has only served as a buffer between the grating pop-rock songs. And the climax, where everyone rocked out shirtless in a mix of tradition animation and horrible CG, assaulted both my eyes and ears. Though Bakumatsu Rock had some funny moments, it didn’t take long to realize I’m not the show’s target audience.
BUT, if you’re part of the target audience – a fan of Japanese pop-rock, cartoon male idols or the trending sexualized Shinsengumi – then Bakumatsu Rock is for you! Call it Maji LOVE 1000% Idol Song with a historical twist.
Watch if you like: Sexy Shinsengumi, Maji LOVE 1000% Idol Song, Japanese male idol rock groups.
Chances I’ll watch another: Zero. Beyond a few laughs this series did nothing for me.
Rating: 2/5
Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen (John)
Military conflict with plenty of robots. That’s what this show is all about. It kind of reminded me a bit of Full Metal Panic at times, if you’ve ever encountered that show. There are two warring nations, one is naturally resource rich, and the other is rapidly expanding and growing its military might. The main guy is a new pilot of one of these military mechs.
This show was much less exciting than anticipated. With all the robots, you’d think there’d be more action, but the show is pretty much a snoozefest the first half of the episode. Most of the second half as well. The action that does happen isn’t that compelling either. I wouldn’t really say I had high hopes for this show, but I was still disappointed. Most all of the battles are slow moving and fought with firearms. While this may be more “realistic”, it’s certainly not all that exciting considering how awesome we all know good mech fights can be. It gets a little more exciting near the end, but it doesn’t feel like enough to save the show.
Watch if you like: Shows about war, military conflict, and the robots involved in them.
Chances I’ll watch another: Very low. I’m hoping there are better robot shows this season because this one isn’t that great.
Rating: 1.5/5
DRAMAtical Murder (Rich)
“What the hell is this?”
And I thought Bakumatsu Rock’s characters and outfits were overkill. The two series seem to be competing for the most annoying visuals of the summer season. But DRAMAtical Murder comes out on top thanks to its main character’s giant jacket and aqua-colored mullet.
DRAMAtical Murder’s story, which takes two episodes to get anywhere, seems to be about gangs that duke it out in virtual reality video games (called Ryhmes) using robot pets. The series’ characters and setting are littered with deliberate eccentricities and over-the-top styles. But the wild colors, tattoos, hairstyles, outfits, piercings and masks do little to hide the series’ generic underpinnings. Other than a fleeting moment where the main character cared for his injured robot dog, nothing about this show struck me as interesting. The insipid cast should turn away even the most dedicated shoujo/yaoi action fan, which seems to be the target audience.
Watch if you like: Modish fashion, virtual reality battles, mullets.
Chances I’ll watch another: Two episodes was more than enough – no chance at all.
Rating: 0.5/5
Aldnoah.Zero (John)
In the future, people are living on both Earth and Mars. Space travel is a regular thing and space ships are large and in charge. The moon has been destroyed. Tensions are high between the Martians and the Earthlings. There’s also a people known as the Vers who left Earth long ago and developed their own customs and technology. And of course there are also mech units. The show has a space opera kind of feel to it.
The show feels pretty well done and interesting, laying some solid groundwork. That being said, it also feels a bit slow. Not in a really bad way, because the show remains engaging throughout, I just hope that things start to pick up momentum and get going sooner than later. The show seems to center around the Vers princess and some high schoolers from Earth. The princess seems to be trying to make nice with the Earthlings but terrorists get involved and screw everything up.
Watch if you like: Epic space operas with cool mechs and tech.
Chances I’ll watch another: Higher than average. I feel like the show is really well done, but I’m not sure how confident I am that it will remain intriguing throughout. I kinda want to find out though.
Rating: 3.5/5
Second Opinion (Rich):
“Those Martian jerk bastards really went crazy, huh?”
Apollo 17 lands on the moon where astronauts uncover a hyper gate to Mars and advanced Martian technology. The resulting Martian colonies form the Vers Empire, a civilization buoyed by Mars technologies. One thing leads to another and Mars and Earth become embroiled in repeated wars. The series starts with the Vers Empire declaring war on Earth – only this time they aim for a full take over.
Aldnoah Zero features a varied cast, including military members and a group of school kids swept into the war. These subtle, realistic characters are proving to be the series’ strong point so far. Although the plot relies on a tried formula – ancient relics create a technology gap that fuels a space colony’s war with earth – it’s well executed and interesting. With average animation, coloring, and mecha designs, Aldnoah Zero’s visuals are nothing special. The outdated CGI fails to impress and will turn off many viewers.
Overall, Aldnoah Zero has nothing new to offer, but fans of serious military and mecha drama should be pleased.
Watch if you like: Gundam (particularly Turn A), Last Exile, Suisei no Gargantia and other “realistic” mecha/war series.
Chances I’ll watch another: Medium – it’s a solid series, but I think I’ve already seen what it offers.
Rating: 3/5
Space Dandy 2 (John)
This is the second season of Space Dandy which was covered two seasons back in this article here. Season 2 doesn’t seem to add anything out of the ordinary from last season, but the quality is still up to that old Dandy standard. If you liked the first season, you’ll enjoy this one as well. If you didn’t like the first season, there’s nothing here that will change your mind.
That being said – I really like Space Dandy. If you haven’t checked it out already, you definitely should. There really isn’t that much of an ongoing story, so if you’re unable to start from the beginning, you won’t be missing much by jumping right into the second season.
Watch if you like: The original Space Dandy, or just goofy space shows with animated and entertaining characters.
Chances I’ll watch another: Super high. I watched all of the first season and see no reason why I wouldn’t continue with this one.
Rating: 4.5/5
Ao Haru Ride (Rich)
“I can go back to the happiest days of my life.”
Or can you? Tired of being haunted by a former crush, Yoshioka Futaba decides to start life fresh as a high school freshman. But just when she’s ready to move on guess who re-appears…
What makes a good slice-of-life series? For me it starts with the small nuances of everyday-life and Ao Haru Ride excels at the details. From the way Futaba and her peers wear their hair and clothes, to the school cafeteria, to the teachers’ office – everything about the show radiates a realistic vibe. And that includes its characters. Ao Haru Ride avoids the trap of relying on the empty archetypes many other student-centered series parade around.
Next the series must be engaging and Ao Haru Ride accomplishes this with a worthwhile theme and engaging conflicts. As Futaba attempts to make friends she is forced to explore the very definition of true friendship. As for conflicts, sometimes life’s minor problems are the ones I relate to most. A simple scene where a cafeteria lady accuses Futaba of stealing made my blood boil. Add believable voice acting, subdued coloring, and reasonably sized eyes (by today’s standards) to the mix and you have all the makings of a quality slice-of-life series.
Watch if you like: Slice of life, high school romance, Kimi ni Todoke, Kare Kano, Sukitte Ii Na Yo.
Chances I’ll watch another: So far this is the most enjoyable school romance series I’ve seen since Kare Kano, so I’ll be back for more.
Rating: 3.5/5
Barakamon (John)
A little kid and a calligrapher who made a blunder are the main characters here. Due to said blunder, the calligrapher guy is hanging out in the countryside for a while to lay low and collect himself. The little kid is the village scamp, really cute, and absolutely hilarious. In other words, this little girl makes it incredibly hard for the main dude to concentrate on calming down and working on his calligraphy.
This looks like it might be the funniest show of the season. I mean, it’s no Hozuki no Reitetsu, but it’s pretty good. The dynamic between the two main characters is very entertaining. I laughed out loud quite a few times during this first episode. The little kid is definitely the best character. I think the voice acting and animation really add a lot to it as well. I’m not sure how profound or deep the story will end up being, but the show itself is very well done.
Watch if you like: Hilarious shows with excellent character dynamics. Or calligraphy.
Chances I’ll watch another: Great. This show is a guaranteed laugh.
Rating: 4.5/5
Second Opinion (Rich):
“What’s wrong with my calligraphy?!”
Young professional calligrapher Seishū Handa flips out when an elderly gentlemen criticizes his work. As penance, he heads to a remote island to cool off and hone his calligraphy style. There he befriends a colorful cast of locals, including the show’s other focus and mascot of sorts, an expressive little girl named Naru.
I started Barakamon hoping to learn more about Japanese calligraphy, but the show’s depiction of the Japanese “inaka” or country-side is my favorite aspect so far. Since many series, dramas and movies focus on Japans urban centers, Barakamon provides a welcomed change of setting and pace. The show’s charming music, characters and setting helps facilitate its light, easy-going atmosphere. Only time will tell if Barakamon evolves beyond a run-of-the-mill coming-of-age tale, but it’s off to a good start.
Watch if you like: Silver Spoon, Usagi Drop, slice-of-life, calligraphy and Japanese inaka (country) culture.
Chances I’ll watch another: Good, I want to learn more about Naru and see how Seishi develops.
Rating: 3.5/5
Himegoto (John)
The main reason I wanted to check this show out was because how weird it seemed. The genre I saw it listed under was “cross-dressing”. That alone was enough to confuse and intrigue me. Plus the show is only 4 minutes long, so I figured I might as well. It’s a high school show with one cross-dressing guy and three normal girls in the student council.
This show was actually not as terrible as I was expecting. I’m actually kind of surprised they went with the short show format for this one because it moves along like a normal show. And then it just kind of ends abruptly. I’m used to the short shows being very quick and fast paced, but this one seemed just like any other full length show. I almost feel like it’s hard to judge due to that. The story they’ve set up so far doesn’t really interest me, but the show definitely seems better than expected.
Watch if you like: Short doses of cross-dressing comedy.
Chances I’ll watch another: Medium? I don’t dislike the show, but I imagine I’ll be too busy with other, better, full length shows to spend much time pursuing this one.
Rating: 3/5
Nobunaga Concerto (Rich)
In Nobunaga Concerto a boy named Saburou time-slips off his high school’s roof into a poorly animated CG version of Japan’s past. As Oda Nobunaga it’s his duty to follow his textbook and try to take over the country.
If Nobunaga Concerto’s visuals provide an accurate measure, CG animation hasn’t advanced since Shuhei Morita’s Freedom debuted almost a decade ago. Although Nobunaga Concerto’s still-screens look great, the CG appears incredibly awkward when animated – an unfortunate problem for an animated series.
But Nobunga Concerto’s CG isn’t the show’s only awkward aspect. The series moves at a haphazard, school textbook-like pace – although it covers a lot of ground, it’s hard to feel anything for the story or characters. To make matters worse, Saburou’s unrealistic, matter-of-fact acceptance of the time skip (and entire situation) makes him impossible to relate to.
But if I ever find myself time traveling I might not be surprised either, thanks to the growing library of time-skip titles. With dated visuals, poor pacing, and unnatural characters I won’t be watching to see if Nobunga Concerto ever becomes a worthy addition to the sub-genre.
Watch if you like: Japanese history, Jidaigeki, or time-slip stories.
Chances I’ll watch another: Zero, Nobunaga Concerto failed at everything.
Rating: 1/5
Sword Art Online II (John)
I did first impressions on the original SAO two years ago and now SAO2 is here. The original run was two seasons/halves and I thought the first half was brilliant. It was exciting, different, and fun. The second half though – a colossal disappointment, especially compared to the first half. I’m hoping that SAO2 will be more like the first half of the first run and not the second, but only time will tell.
There’s a new game in town called Gun Gale Online. GGO is about what you’d expect – an MMO relying heavily on gun combat. The thing is, people are mysteriously dying while playing the game. The main guy from the last season is called upon to help solve the mystery. The first episode is pretty much all setting the scene, so while it’s intriguing, it’s not necessarily exciting. Looks like I’ll have to watch another episode of this one to get a real feel for it.
Watch if you like: The first SAO, or well done VR/MMO anime with good action.
Chances I’ll watch another: High. I pretty much have to. This first episode doesn’t really give me a good feel for where the show is going this time. But GGO already seems a lot cooler than that stupid elf game they were playing for the second half of SAO, yeesh.
Rating: 4/5
**I watched a few more episodes of SAO2 and I’m no longer excited about it. It seems to be a lot more like the second half of SAO (disappointing and stupid) and not at all like the first (awesome and exciting).
Revised Rating: 3/5
Shonen Hollywood (John)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an idol show with guys instead of girls. A handful of guys are in a boy band/idol group trying to become the next big thing. The show focuses on these five guys and their trainer and manager and how they grow both as people and performers. They are inheriting the name of a super famous idol group from 15 years ago, so they have some big shoes to fill here.
I like the art style in this one. The characters have more of a realistic feel to them – I think it’s mostly the eyes and the noses. Other than that the show doesn’t really hold much interest to me, but I think that’s mostly due to the subject matter. The show itself does seem really polished and decently done, I’m just not that into idol shows. I feel like this show is geared more towards the female audience and those who are really excited about behind the scenes idol type stuff.
Watch if you like: Pretty boys or idols in general.
Chances I’ll watch another: Low. The show seems like a decent one, it’s just not my thing.
Rating: 3/5
Love Stage!! (John)
So, I definitely did not realize what this show was about before I started watching – but anyway, it seems to be a romance between two dudes. The one is an otaku who comes from a family of entertainers who are disappointed he doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing with his life. The other guy is a famous idol. The first episode sets up their reunion after 10 years apart. But due to circumstances, the idol thinks the otaku is actually a girl.
This is one of those shows that likes to only draw extras in single shades and outlines. Yeah, I know that they’re really not important, but I still view it as lazy. I do like the art style and animation for everyone else, so it’s too bad that not everything is given this attention. From the OP of the show, I really thought this was going to be a boys-love show, and I still feel like it’s going to be like that – just none of it really shows up in the first episode until the very end. Overall I think the show is just okay. Nothing really stands out but there isn’t really anything I particularly dislike about it either.
Watch if you like: BL, cross-dressing, or the entertainment industry.
Chances I’ll watch another: Low. I would probably like this show a lot more if it were funnier.
Rating: 2.5/5
Psycho-Pass Extended (Rich)
I’ve often heard the phrase “it’s better late than never,” but Psycho-Pass Extended proves sometimes it’s better late than on time. Originally airing in Autumn 2013, this season’s Psycho-Pass features, according to message boards, extra scenes and crisper visuals. Whatever the differences, Psycho-Pass Extended is one of my favorite series of the 2014 summer season.
Psycho-Pass Extended’s story centers around a future where a person’s state of mind, intentions and criminal propensity can be measured in what is called his/her “psycho-pass.” Through this psycho-pass, potential criminals can be judged before a crime even takes place. Although the technology has the potential to lower crime, it also which poses all sorts of moral dilemmas.
Everything about Psycho-Pass Extended is top-notch. Its animation and backgrounds are beautiful. The characters are lively and memorable. The music and palette create the perfect dystopian atmosphere for the story. Everything is very Masamune Shirow-ish (think Ghost in the Shell), but perhaps more accessible to the casual viewer.
The first episode was perfectly paced and balanced – one moment I was learning about Psycho-Pass’s world, the next I was shocked by it. Each character’s viewpoint on the psycho-pass system and the moral dilemmas it poses is the series’ most interesting point. Crime prevention is a blessing, but at what cost? I look forward to exploring that question with each new episode.
Watch if you like: Dystopian sci-fi, fans of Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), Patlabor, Paranoia Agent.
Chances I’ll watch another: Great. It’s one of my favorites this season.
Rating: 4.5/5
Rokujouma no Shinryakusha (John)
A high school student, now living on his own, is surprised to learn his new abode is haunted. Well, not that surprised – he’d known of rumors that the place is haunted, but it was so cheap he didn’t care. The story seems to be a typical high school show but with the addition of ghosts, but not the scary kind. It has a similar feel to that other ghost show from last season, Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin, only without the treasure hunting. In the second half of the show, more and more weird girls pop into his apartment/life. A ghost, a magical girl, an underground person, and a mystical knight from the future. There were definitely a lot of wtf moments in the second half of this show, and not in a good way.
After the first 5 minutes, my hopes for this show dropped pretty low. I just got a bad feeling about it. And things didn’t get any better from there. It just felt slow and boring and uninteresting. And since it felt so similar to Nanana I just kept thinking about how much more well done it could have been. I felt like the show was really trying to be funny and quirky and entertaining, but I also felt like all of its attempts fell flat. Maybe it just doesn’t jive with my sense of humor, but I didn’t feel like it was all that well done of a show. Plus I have absolutely no idea where the story is going here.
Watch if you like: Haunted apartments and weirdos.
Chances I’ll watch another: Nonexistent. This show is just ugh.
Rating: 1/5
Zankyou no Terror (John)
The show starts off without really explaining much at all what’s going on, but that’s okay because it’s still very interesting and compelling. There are two guys in high school who go by numbers instead of names (when addressing one another) and are attempting to blend in as normal high school students. The opening sequence also shows them stealing something important from a facility. Who these people are and what was stolen, we don’t really know. There are a lot of unanswered questions but everything is presented so well that you can’t help but look forward to learning more about what’s going on. These kids are definitely terrorists though. And smart ones.
I got goose bumps a lot during this first episode. It’s pretty awesome and really, really well done. I had no idea what to expect but I really enjoyed this first episode. The two main characters have a good dynamic and the style of the show reminds me of some of my favorite anime from the past. Sharp, well done, intelligent anime. I know I haven’t really said much about what the story is, but the truth is I really don’t know yet – which is impressive considering how much I already like it. This just might be the best new show of the season. The show just oozes style and I’m hoping that the veiled substance revealed in this first episode starts to take hold and stays on par with how good this first episode is.
Watch if you like: Intriguing, well-paced and intelligent anime with plenty of action too.
Chances I’ll watch another: Absolutely. This show blew me away.
Rating: 5/5
Second Opinion (Rich):
Zankyou no Terror hooked me from the get-go. The opening scene, depicting the daring robbery of plutonium from a nuclear facility featured intense action and gorgeous, fluid animation. Although the action slowed as the episode continued, its pace did not – introducing the series’ main players, setting, and plot without missing a beat.
Two young terrorists with mysterious backgrounds baffle police with their first attack. A troubled school girl present during the bombing is tricked into becoming an accomplice. Why are these attacks taking place? How will the school girl respond to her predicament? How will the police and citizenry react? What are the terrorists’ backgrounds? I’m not sure where Zankyou no Terror is going, but count me in for the ride!
Exceptional in every respect, Zankyou no Terror is this season’s most impressive series. It features great, personable characters that never come across as gimmicky or cheesy. Each setting and background is lush with beautiful art and great attention to detail – a rarity these days. The cool soundtrack only adds to the experience, melding with the onscreen action to draw viewers in without becoming a distraction. Zankyou no Terror conjures the feel of a high budget suspense movie – it’s an experience.
Zankyou no Terror’s terrorist theme makes it a very relevant and thought-provoking series. That being said, anyone sensitive to the subject matter may want to avoid the series which contains some realistic imagery. But to miss out on Zankyou no Terror is to miss out on the most intriguing, provocative, and most beautifully constructed series in recent memory.
Watch if you like: Suspense, crime/police drama, Higashi no Eden, Coppelion, Psycho-Pass.
Chances I’ll watch another: No doubt!
Rating: 5/5
Tokyo ESP (John)
This show kind of reminds me of like a Japanese X-Men. But the main mutants in this show are definitely the bad guys, giving most ESPers a bad name. The show is very action oriented and bloody with plenty of mutant versus human and mutant versus mutant fights with swords, guns, and special powers. It seems similar to Magneto’s group in X-Men with them using violent means to fight for mutant rights and subject the normal humans. The first episode introduces A LOT of characters. I’m not even entirely sure who the main one(s) are yet.
I wanted to like this show more than I did. The ideas seem cool, but I’m not so sure about the execution. A lot of stuff happens in the first episode, but most all of it felt forgettable to me. It might have something to do with me watching this one right after Zankyou no Terror, but probably not too much. The animation and art style and everything are very well done, but the story and characters just aren’t all that interesting to me yet. I’m hoping it gets better, but I’m not getting my hopes up too high.
Watch if you like: Mutants with superpowers and lots of action.
Chances I’ll watch another: Pretty low. The show is just okay and there are plenty of other shows I’d rather spend my time on.
Rating: 2.5/5
Gekkan Shojo Nozaki-kun (John)
Here we have another show about the creation of manga. The main dude is a manga artist and the main girl has a massive crush on him. Apparently he’s pretty popular as his work is featured in a monthly manga magazine. She’s pretty enamored with him. He ends up recruiting her for doing beta (coloring in the black areas of manga), and they end up bonding during their work. The show focuses almost exclusively on these two characters and their interactions with one another centering around the manga they’re working on. The only problem is that the guy is totally oblivious to the fact she has a thing for him.
I really thought this show was going to be funnier. It has a few moments, but overall I felt it was kind of dull. The characters are fine, I just didn’t feel a real spark or anything from them. The story itself isn’t that interesting either. I feel like the story was put on the backburner though as it seems the characters are the most important thing about the story. Too bad I didn’t find them all that intriguing.
Watch if you like: Romcoms centering around manga creation.
Chances I’ll watch another: Low. This one was kind of a disappointment.
Rating: 2.5/5
Sailor Moon: Crystal (Kaitlin)
Usagi Tsukino may be a clumsy crybaby with bad grades and an even worse sweet tooth, but by night, she transforms into the courageous and capable Sailor Moon, protector of love and justice. With the help of her devoted friends and the mysterious Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon fights the forces of evil. Also, there are super sparkly transformation sequences.
Sailor Moon: Crystal is a reboot of the ’90s anime most people think of when they think Sailor Moon. This time around, the anime is intending to follow its manga counterpart much more closely. I’m reading the newly translated manga series right now, and the first episode of Crystal and the first manga chapter match nearly beat for beat.
I’ve been a Sailor Moon fan since childhood, so it’s hard not to view Sailor Moon: Crystal through nostalgia glasses. I love the story of Sailor Moon in pretty much any incarnation, and knew I would love this one as soon as the guitar riff started during the opening. But I’ll admit, the art style is mostly a miss for me. The anime is trying to mimic the manga’s look, but I think what works beautifully on the page doesn’t look as clean in motion. The lines are just a little too sharp, and the transformation sequence has a cheap CGI-look, which is disappointing. But even so, the Usagi Sailor Moon fans know and love is still here (complete with the original voice actor), and this first episode does an excellent job of foreshadowing some of the bigger story arcs of the series.
Watch if you like: Sailor Moon, obviously. But fans of the magical girl genre who’ve never seen Sailor Moon should check this one out, too, since Sailor Moon practically defined the genre itself.
Chances I’ll watch another: Very high. The anime is still setting the stage for what’s to come, and I can’t wait until all the Sailor Senshi are finally together.
Rating: 4/5
Second Opinion (Rich):
After long-time rumors and postponement, the anticipated Sailor Moon remake has finally debuted. So how does Sailor Moon Crystal compare to its previous incarnations?
Since the original manga and anime different greatly, that’s hard to say. On the surface, the art style is representative of the manga with elegant, girlish features (think big eyes, make-up, and thin, pointed faces). Crystal’s shoujo tone also differs from the previous anime’s very comedic, tokusatsu-influenced style.
As a fan of the 1990′s series, I enjoyed Crystal’s approach. Some fans of the old anime bemoaned the girly feel and BGM – but these aspects came as no surprise. The CG transformations aren’t eye-candy but are short and therefore passable. Crystal isn’t a visual feast, but neither were any of Sailor Moon’s previous incarnations.
My biggest complaint lies in Crystal’s visual tone, which is actually brighter and more colorful than the previous anime. Even the monsters are cute! This leads me to wonder whether Crystal will embrace the manga’s darker themes as rumored. Perhaps the bright tones of the early episodes will come to juxtapose darker themes and developments later on? Only time will tell.
Despite any differences in presentation, Usagi is still the clumsy, honest character fans have grown to love. I look forward to watching her character mature while struggling to strike a balance between her academic, romantic, and heroic lives all over again.
Watch if you like: Sailor Moon, school girl heroes, shoujo action.
Chances I’ll watch another: As a Sailor Moon fan I wouldn’t miss it.
Rating: 4/5
Recaps From Last Season
Chaika was the overall winner of last season but sadly it did not hold my interest. I don’t dislike the show, I just couldn’t get into it enough to have it be priority over other shows and activities. Oh well.
After the fact, last season seemed pretty bland to me. There’s a small chance that I’ll eventually go back and give Chaika another go, but I highly doubt it
Summary of this Season
Hands down the favorite of this season is Zankyou no Terror. No questions there. It made an incredibly strong first impression and really stood out from the crowd. I will be incredibly surprised if I don’t end up seeing this one through until the end.
Barakamon, Psycho-Pass, Sailor Moon, Tokyo Ghoul, and Space Dandy 2 are all strong contenders as well but they don’t hold a candle to Zankyou. This season I imagine I’ll be watching a lot of Zankyou, Space Dandy 2, and Barakamon. Zankyou will be my intense and serious anime and the other two will be my lighthearted comic relief. It should be a good summer of anime watching. I’m really looking forward to it.
*Bonus*
I just recently happened upon the Japanese duo Charisma.com and thought they were worth sharing. Hope you enjoy.
So how do you think this season stacks up to the last one? Any of these new shows look good to you? What’s your favorite one so far? Share your thoughts in the comments!