UlasanAnime.com – As the Winter 2014 anime season progresses, a comprehensive report card is being compiled, acknowledging potential omissions like Buddy Complex. The author notes a trend of formulaic reviews, often deviating from logical sense, and observes that this season is considered relatively weak compared to previous years, possibly due to a shift in late-night TV anime programming. Ranking anime is deemed a futile exercise, hence the decision not to place Nisekoi in the top spot.
A specific instance highlighted is the misclassification of the Wake Up Girls movie as an OVA by another blogger.
New shows (and long-absent sequels):
World Conquest Zvezda Plot has captured the author’s interest with its unsettling magical reality. The show is considered too well-executed to drop and too complex for a casual viewing experience, despite raising warning signs upon deeper analysis.
Wake Up, Girls is identified as the author’s favorite of the season. While the author is undecided about the group as an idol entity, the anime itself is praised for fulfilling its purpose. The subtle inclusion of a Tohoku disaster reminder is also appreciated. This show is also being blogged about elsewhere.
Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 was preceded by a marathon of its OVAs, leading to a fresh perspective on the first episode. The author speculates that the book publisher’s ownership of episodes 13-18 might be the reason for its lack of international licensing, questioning if this is the new “licensing hell.”
Wizard Barristers is off to a promising start, with Miss Piggy being a notable addition. The nickname “Hachi Mitsu” is questioned, humorously suggesting a connection to Honey & Clover.
Witch Craft Works is a welcome surprise. Despite the manga being described as “terribly boring,” the anime adaptation is a blast to watch due to its great comedic timing and direction. The author notes how anime adaptations can significantly exceed their source material, attributing this to the larger teams and experienced veterans involved in anime production.
Nisekoi is similarly praised for its well-executed character drama, drawing a parallel to Bakemonogatari and acknowledging Shaft’s distinctive style.
Sakura Trick is surprisingly engaging in its yuri fanservice. However, the author wonders if there’s enough depth to maintain interest unless the relationship escalates, though this is not seen as a problem.
ImoCho offers a somewhat fun viewing experience, focusing on a timid and traumatized girl’s journey and the depiction of the communication gap between step-siblings. The author is curious about the target audience for such a story.
Nobunagun is surprisingly fun but feels like a relic from the 1990s.
Nobunaga the Fool would be more appealing with a faster pace. Currently, it’s compared to the slow start of Log Horizon Season 1, lacking the shock factor and trope pandering. While Jeanne is attractive, she hasn’t been integrated into anything compelling yet, and the show needs to pick up the pace to retain viewers.
Space Dandy presents a viewing challenge due to the author’s canceled DVR service, resulting in a week-late Hulu viewing. This delay, however, allows for a more “normal” viewing experience, as the author notes that their age group doesn’t typically watch Toonami. The show is considered “okay,” and the author will likely continue watching if an easy viewing method is available.
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Noragami would be highly recommended if available on Crunchyroll. While giving props to Funi’s EVS for a decent lineup, the author questions how to regain trust, referencing a past holiday sale. Piracy is considered a last resort to avoid missing out on the show, especially since the author generally avoids purchasing shows they haven’t seen.
Nourin is a show the author can take or leave, likely to watch if it were on Crunchyroll, perhaps next year or during a sale.
SoniAni is a show the author might drop if not for the need to watch all EVS shows. It’s considered far from the worst anime, even described as “model anime.”
Pilot’s Love Song is a show that feels acceptable while watching but regrettable afterward. It would likely have been dropped sooner if not for the EVS situation, as it’s a Crunchyroll show.
D-Frag, despite being an EVS problem, is a decent show described as very “bro.” Its convoluted nature and reliance on internal logic make it less enjoyable if missed.
Chuunikoi Ren, or 2chuu2koi, offers a welcome change and is more interesting from the outset than its first season.
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha is a show the author would happily pirate.
Mahou Sensou was dropped due to time constraints but seemed okay.
Hamatora was also dropped for lack of time but appeared okay, with episode 2 being particularly fun, albeit a bit predictable.
Houzuki no Reitetsu is a good, solid comedy. It was dropped because the author has moved past the “Dilbert phase” of the 90s, finding it akin to remaking Dilbert for a younger generation entering the workforce. Watching Hozuki is considered a waste of time.
Saki is a magical girl meets mahjong series, presented in a compressed format to cover skipped content between Season 1 and Achigahen. This is also a J-Tor item.
Ongoing:
Nagiasu elicits a strong emotional reaction from the author.
Ace of the Diamond is a decent koshien baseball anime, quite literally.
Samurai Flamenco remains interesting enough.
Silver Spoon continues, with one season hardly feeling like a break.
Magi also continues.
Gundam Build Fighter is deemed the Gundam of the current generation.
Tokyo Ravens is met with a neutral reaction.
Log Horizon is finally delivering on its story.
Golden Time was dropped due to lack of time and disinterest in the “Ghost Banri” storyline.
Shorts:
All short anime are being enjoyed, including Pupa, which features an OP with a “Fantasista Dolls” effect. Strange+ and Seki-kun are considered neck and neck in terms of enjoyment.
And that concludes the current update!
PS. Several blogs have praised Space Dandy after its initial episodes, echoing the author’s sentiments. The core message is that it’s just a TV show, and viewers are free to pick and choose what they watch. Only dedicated fans would feel compelled to watch everything. As long as viewers are aware of the usual disclaimers and understand what they are getting into, it’s acceptable. The author suggests that 11:30 PM is too early for Space Dandy, proposing a 2 AM slot for “proper late-night anime,” humorously imagining watching an anime about inserting an arm into a cow’s anus at that hour.
