UlasanAnime.com – Before diving into the new season, here are some reflections on the previous one.
Sore ga Seiyuu! was a good watch, though its appeal might be more pronounced for those who enjoy the niche of underground idols. It raises an interesting question about the line between fantasy and reality, and where consumption transitions into something else entirely.
Overlord was my personal favorite of the season, but it felt somewhat rushed, lacking sufficient breathing room for its narrative.
Charlotte was another top contender for me, yet it truly could have benefited from an additional cour to fully flesh out its potential.
Classroom Crisis served as my guilty pleasure, but this show also desperately needed more time to develop, ideally another cour.
It’s a bit disappointing that Japan produced only two original anime series in this batch, especially considering the quality of some of them.
I’ve continued to enjoy Ace of Diamond and am keeping up with its extensive episode count. It’s a positive sign that it hasn’t faltered like some other long-running shows, maintaining its quality.
Monmusu was excellent. Fanservice-harem anime are always welcome when they are executed with this level of quality.
Non Non Biyori remains a standout, possibly even surpassing its first season in terms of quality and charm.
Rokka no Yuusha, on the other hand, was a disappointment. I found it to be terrible, and I question the taste of those who enjoyed it.
GATE was merely okay. Honestly, it wasn’t particularly good, but it had enough highlights to make it worth watching.
Food Wars was a delightful experience, and I sincerely hope for more of it in the future.
I still need to catch up on Million Doll (two episodes behind), Working!! S3, Gatchaman Crowds, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, and Shimoneta. I’m not entirely sure why I stalled on Ilya; perhaps it’s the lack of personal drive. Following this specific group of girls doesn’t resonate with me, and Rin’s storyline isn’t much more engaging, especially after the extensive exposure from UBW. (How can anything top that last episode?) Shimoseka presents a peculiar viewing experience, making it difficult to categorize as either a comedy or a serious narrative work. The first half, where I stopped, felt like a natural conclusion, and I’m uncertain if it improves significantly. I might pick it up again if I’m traveling. Working!! tends to make me sleepy, which is why I’m behind, and Gatchaman Crowds suffers from a similar issue.
Well, there’s still more to discuss.
Now, let’s talk about the new arrivals…
Osomatsu-san and One-Punch Man are two series that likely won’t maintain the initial impact of their first episodes. Therefore, I won’t elaborate extensively on them, other than to recommend watching the premiere. I also see them as valuable entry points for exploring these cultural phenomena, even if just for a single episode.
I enjoyed both The Asterisk War and Chivalry of a Failed Knight, but not enough to continue watching beyond three episodes. Chivalry is perhaps more interesting due to its distinctiveness and self-awareness, though that might just be the perspective of a jaded viewer. What I found problematic, however, was the execution of the fanservice elements in Chivalry; it felt peculiar, and I struggled to pinpoint why. The Asterisk War, in contrast, feels more sterile and tepid, reminiscent of Mahouka but without the obvious narrative setup.
The true excitement for me lies in Lance N’ Masques. The series features Suwa Ayaka as a horse with speaking lines, named Shirohime. This alone is enough to capture my attention. There are other compelling aspects to the show so far, even though at its core, it revolves around a potato and a group of girls. I’m holding my breath, hoping it doesn’t devolve into a chore to watch rather than an enjoyable experience.
The standout anime of this season has to be Utawarerumono: The False Faces. The revival of “Underwater Ray Romano” is delightfully self-aware and carefully crafted to please its audience. It’s hard to ask for more.
The new Gundam series appeals to older fans. I wonder why people dislike 8th MS Team? Perhaps we’ll find out soon. For the record, I enjoyed all those older Gundam installments, including 00 and Wing. I genuinely like Gundam.
I attempted to watch DD Fist of the North Star II, but I simply couldn’t grasp its appeal.
Comet Lucifer is the first show in a long time that reminded me of Bones’ original IPs. However, this also means I haven’t yet seen Concrete Revolutio. Perhaps tonight.
Heavy Object: How could this go so wrong? Oh, wait, never mind, it’s the Index heritage. Sigh. The concept is intriguing, but only because it engages my inner Mechwarrior logic.
More Yuruyuri is always a welcome addition.
K: Hahaha, that action sequence was something else.
Thanks to this post, I can’t stop making “boner” jokes about that Bones detective anime, Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru. It wasn’t bad, but I’m not sure I’m in the mood for this type of story. Maybe.
F (Kūsen Madoshi Hōsenshi Wizard Barrage), the one about the Insider? It’s very hip, but I suspect it will ultimately become frustrating, in a way similar to Nisioisin’s tendency to write poorly. I’ll remain open to its interpretation of murders and mysteries, as the production quality is good, and it has a distinct Noitamina feel.
The slightly hard-boiled anime with Ueshama as the lead female? It’s not entirely terrible, but I think this exemplifies what I dislike about otaku-database-driven stories. I thought we had moved beyond this, so when it’s presented so straightforwardly, it bothers me immensely.
I’ve mostly avoided mentioning the short anime in this post, but I want to end with Hackadoll. It’s great, and the WUG fan club is even selling the OP/ED single, LOL.
And we’re still not done.
P.S. Is Sakurako a woman who gets excited by esoteric bones?
You might also be interested in : Faking It Until You Make It: A Guide for Aspiring Stars
P.P.S. I forgot to mention, but we’re also working on a DereSute wiki. Thanks to Rop & co!
