UlasanAnime.com – This post offers a collection of random observations about anime, stemming from a desire to watch more shows involving alien-shooting and a slight disappointment with “Konya wa Hurricane.” Any show not mentioned here has likely been dropped or is on hold.
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! – This series is more enjoyable than Hyouka because it doesn’t demand deep analytical thought, making it an easier watch. However, it’s arguably inferior in many aspects, which might explain the presence of characters like Dekomori and Kumin. Much of the author’s thoughts on this show were previously shared in a prior post.
Teekyuu – The expectation was “Sofuteni,” but what was received felt more akin to “Zero Punctuation.” It’s noteworthy that Mappa is behind this production. The complete series is available on Amazon for approximately 3000 yen. Interestingly, the pagerank for Crunchyroll on this particular keyword is quite poor.
Seitokai no Ichizon & Ebiten – These two shows are grouped together as both are initially screened on Nico before a subsequent TV broadcast. The hope is that Crunchyroll will stream them starting in January 2013. The new season of Seitokai no Ichizon is generally well-received after adjusting to the new voice for Akaba. While Mafuyu’s voice is easier to manage due to its neutral tone, there’s a missed subtle tonal acting that previously added a melancholic edge. Seizon Lv.2 Episode 0 was particularly praised, evoking nostalgia for Houko.
Oniai – On its own merits, Oniai is likely inferior to NakaImo, sharing a similar premise of aggressive female characters pursuing the male lead. The entertainment value comes more from over-the-top antics than overt fanservice, with plot and character development taking a backseat. Notable aspects are the young voice actresses, Ibuki Kido (as the main sister) and Sumire Morohoshi (the prodigious 12-year-old manager). Kido is younger than Akiko, and Morohoshi is a year older than Arisa. The T-shirt gags are a highlight, surpassing even “Primary schoolgirls are great” in their humor, allowing for wear without social repercussions.
Zetsuen no Tempest – This series is intriguing but not consistently engaging. The mysterious and hard-to-read characters make it difficult to grasp the unfolding plot. The narrative relies on fantastical elements like characters turning into metal and giant eyes emerging from the ground, alongside a love triangle with complex interpersonal dynamics. The show’s execution is precise, reminiscent of a Shakespearean play, yet it can feel distant and less visceral. The dialogue, filled with thoughtful explanations, can sometimes lead to a dull experience due to its sheer volume. The author’s fondness for this type of show, coupled with Bones’ involvement, makes it appealing and potentially attractive to viewers drawn in by superficial elements, drawing parallels to “Book of Bantorra.”
Hidamari Sketch S4 – The current season is highly enjoyable. However, as noted by others, unless the new first-year characters play a significant role, the series might simply continue with its established formula for the remaining episodes. Episode 6, in particular, demonstrated the necessary development for Nazuna and the girl with the PC.
Jormungand S2 – This season is satisfactory, though much of the suspense from the first season has dissipated. The author considers writing a blog post comparing sequels and Hidamari Sketch.
Space Bros – The anime has reached a point where a single misstep would prompt a switch to the manga. While minor errors occur, the series consistently redeems itself in small ways, preventing the author from dropping it. The author admits a reluctance to transition to manga consumption due to routine.
Psycho-Pass – This series is watchable, offering interesting ideas and a notable performance from Ayanyan.
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Robotics;Notes – This anime marks a significant moment for Yoshino Nanjou’s career. Currently, the plot remains obscured, making it difficult to offer detailed commentary beyond its consistent seeding of important narrative details, typical of non-linear storytelling. The author is following the story passively, alongside the character “Tall Robot Nerd Poplar,” and questions Kai’s characterization.
Magi – This is considered the author’s top show of the season. It’s appreciated for its excellent quality but not to the extent of obsessive collecting, though it might evolve into something more collectible.
Busou Shinki – This series is deemed rather weak, lacking impact. It’s compared unfavorably to “Strike Witches” and more closely resembles “Infinite Stratos.” The appeal lies in the mecha battles, animation, and the technological setting, but its connection to the “cute girls doing cute things” demographic is uncertain, leading to a potential drop.
K – The music is highly praised, evoking a desire to play “Persona 4 Golden.” The show might be dropped. It functions effectively as a comedy, but its appeal seems limited to that aspect.
JoJo – This adaptation meets expectations for David Production’s work.
Girls und Panzer – This show is considered brilliant, not only for capitalizing on its concept but also for adding enough of a twist to make the endeavor worthwhile. The ensemble cast structure, while focusing on a select few, is a gamble, and the success hinges on the effective portrayal of the main five girls among a larger group.
Medaka Box S2 – The series appears to have taken a “Negima” turn, which is not disliked by the author. Medaka is a strong protagonist, and the show is largely centered on her and Zenkichi’s dynamic against the world.
Shin Sekai Yori – This is the “different” anime of the season, though its distinctiveness is not immediately clear. It’s seen as potentially interesting for a more mainstream audience (despite not being truly mainstream) but is also considered overrated. Criticisms include a poor pace and clumsy direction and scripting, which usually lead to dropping a show. However, the setting offers some redemption, or perhaps the depiction of underage sex is a contributing factor. It’s predicted that some viewers will lament the underutilization of the setting by the season’s end.
Muv-luv Alternative: Total Eclipse – The first half features significant BETA action, while the second half shifts focus to more personal themes.
Little Busters – This adaptation evokes memories of past Key/VA anime events, highlighting how far the industry has come. While the transition from visual novel to anime may have improved, “Little Busters” was an original concept now realized. Its primary flaw is its release after “Angel Beats,” and despite this, it suffers from severe boredom-inducing moments.
Initial D Fifth Stage – The author notes the intensity of Tokyo nights fueled by love and money, and expresses a desire to test drive an FR-S/BRZ.
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo – The series’ approach of featuring a house full of eccentric characters is enjoyable, successfully focusing on character development. While the author finds it harder to fully invest, the numerous otaku references make the low production values more palatable. The author admits to having forgotten about this show initially but has since included it.
The author expresses a strong desire to continue watching “Kamisama Kiss” but acknowledges the need to drop another show in exchange.
Funimation appears to be promoting a significant number of new titles this season, which is a positive sign after a perceived slowdown in new acquisitions over the past 18 months. However, the author finds the quality of their premium service to be lacking, even when compared to embedded Hulu streams from The Anime Network. Improvements are noted, but the experience can be inconsistent, with issues like dual stream playback in Chrome when changing resolutions.
In such situations, the author wishes they were an otaku who exclusively watched anime through official channels, allowing them to fully commit to paid services.
There are three prominent shoujo series this season: two on Crunchyroll, one on Funimation, and The Anime Network is carrying one of Crunchyroll’s offerings. The distribution is considered fair.
Overall, this season is described as relatively mild, lacking a breakout hit, unless the Urobuchi show proves to be exceptional or “Sakurasou” achieves the success of “Toradora.” Continuing series remain strong and entertaining, while new shows may take time to find their audience. At the halfway point, series like “Garupan” and “Oniai” may not yet have a firm grasp on their audience, which might be acceptable for their nature.
PS. The author feels compelled to mention “Joshiraku” as a great show from the previous season that wasn’t thoroughly reviewed (a review is planned after “Sencolle”). The subbing for “Joshiraku” was recently completed. The author wishes to share two translated radio dramas from “Joshiraku” for those who haven’t seen them.
PPS. The author questions whether The Anime Network engages in any page rank SEO practices.
