UlasanAnime.com – This season might be considered a turning point where anime itself is revitalized. As an avid viewer, while I can usually find a good number of TV anime worth watching each season, it’s rare to encounter a show that I can confidently recommend to the average anime enthusiast, even one who follows a few titles themselves. When such a series emerges, those discerning viewers tend to take notice and seek it out.
This perspective partly stems from having friends who, despite enjoying specific titles like Final Fantasy 7, found the anime offerings over the past decade to be quite limited. It’s with a touch of irony that I can suggest Fate Zero or Guilty Crown to them. Perhaps a slight sliver of irony is indeed present.
More compellingly, shows like Hourou Musuko and Madoka Magica, both released in 2011, were excellent but are considerably harder for those individuals to access. It seems the typical overlap demographic for video games and anime, generally over 28 years old, doesn’t lean in that direction. I even wonder if Redline falls into this category. However, 28 is quite an age for this medium. Younger audiences might have a greater tolerance for more elaborate chuunibyou material that lacks the solid foundation of Steins;Gate or the lighthearted sense of adventure found in 90s anime.
Is this why Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple is receiving an OVA?
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There’s an intangible quality, a certain feeling that shows like Guilty Crown evoke. It’s akin to sinking your teeth into FF7 and immersing yourself in those initial hours of that landmark game.
Despite the mind-blowing brilliance of Mawaru Penguindrum, I’m not entirely sure it fits this mold. Adorable and humorous penguins can certainly help break down barriers, but it feels as though the show wasn’t specifically crafted for an overseas audience.
This sentiment extends to the new Last Exile. While I am less critical of it than some, that intangible feeling is noticeably diminished in the pilot episode. It might be a case of nostalgia misremembering the past, but it’s the first time Maaya Sakamoto’s vocals haven’t felt entirely welcome in a show. The song itself is great, but it simply doesn’t suit the series. This is without even mentioning the animation quality.
TL;DR: Having a prominent feature is good, but it’s how you utilize it that truly makes a difference.
