Although several series have shown a great deal of potential this month, only Futakoi Alternative really impressed me in May. As usual in the beginning of a new season, it’s hard to separate the real ninjas from the Bunshin and logs, but here are a few points to think about this month:
Top Five This Month:
- Futakoi Alternative: The series may be a bit schizophrenic with its combination of hyper and slow episodes, but there’s no denying that the mystery of Rentarou’s relationship with Sara/Souju is much more engaging than it should be. When’s the last time anyone cared this much about twins?
- Sousei no Aquarion: I’m not sure that I like Fudo or the monster/lesson of the week format, but I’m holding out hope for a real storyline to develop. This one still feels like a work in progress, but the combination of cheese, angst, and gattai give SnA strong potential.
- Mahou Sensei Negima: I know everyone dumped this after the original animation team deliberately sabotaged the art, but the strong voice acting, music, and direction have kept me intrigued. I’m impressed that even though I follow the manga, I still eagerly watch each episode. While others may disagree, I don’t really have a problem with the changes from the manga, and I think the series has been pretty good when it counted most.
- Speed Grapher: I find Saiga and Kagura’s chemistry very interesting, but the inconsistent art can be jarring at times. I hope the series doesn’t devolve into a “Where will Saiga hide his camera next?” exercise, because I don’t think I could handle shoe-cameras or periscope cameras.
- Naruto: You know they always pull out the stops for the arc finales, and this time was no different. Very strong choreography mixed with tight animation combined for a shounen fightravaganza. I feel like I can handle a whole month of crappy filler episodes now!
Rising:
- Bleach: At some point this month it actually became worth watching again! For some reason, I am willing to accept all the DBZ powerups mid-fight that have no logical explanation. I think it has something to do with the cat that can talk and break supernatural katanas with his mouth.
- Evil White-Haired Bishies: It’s not Aion, but it sure looks like him! While Suitengu is clearly evil from the evil Sharpie drawings on his hand, we are left to infer that Abel Nightroad is secretly evil from his occasional Vash-esque and communistic vampire of vampires outbursts.
- Matthew: Do people realize he is quietly becoming like the Google of the anime blogging world? It’s like every time you visit, there is another free and powerful feature. I can’t be the only one who sees this (I feel like I’m taking crazy pills)!!!
Falling:
- Production Values: Arrrrg, shouldn’t the final episode of 2×2 = Shinobuden be required viewing when planning the budget for an anime series?
- Tsubasa Chronicle: I think we can safely say that “Bee Train” was not the correct answer when the powers that be asked, “Who would be a good choice to animate this series?” Unless of course, they were actually the powers that Bee.
Tease:
- School Rumble: Haha, very funny. Now seriously, where’s the real last episode?
This post was written by...
Kabitzin – who has written 1970 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the founders of Sea Slugs, I handle most of the blog admin tasks while wearing my I AM BOSS shirt. I like my action series well choreographed, and my romance series extra trashy. I also have a soft spot for puns.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
They’re break-dance fighting!
Geez, Kabitzin, I don’t deserve that much praise
Only in my wildest delusions of grandeur would I think myself the “Google” of the anime blogosphere, lol.
Hehe, I like the new category for School Rumble ^_^
You’re perfectly right, though — I can’t believe they had the gall to reveal Karasuma’s true identity at the end of the second-to-last episode, and then *switch it back*! Stop playing games with my mind!
Searching for the true ending is so hot right now.
There, I think that addresses all three comments =D. Triple Thunder God Answer GET!
Well, Matthew’s page is a definite multiple-check for me each day. Checking each day in the morning and evening. So I think that Kabitzin is on to something here
His list is great too. I agree that FA is the only series right now which is really exciting to me, and which I watch raw immediately as soon as I can. Maybe I’ll overcome my severe bias, but after the horrible trailer I couldn’t touch Aquarion. Maybe I should after all. But…
I was too late to get on the “Futakoi Train” since it looked like it was going to the same place along with the other “loser male lead” shows…
Seriously, though: Negima’s the only anime out there that has a mentaly “strong” male lead, focuses on said male lead despite having +31 girls, and is pretty decent for a “harem show that threatens to end all harem shows.”
They only way Gundam Seed Destiny can save itself as a Gundam series is to have Shinn Asuka trade places with the other male lead that guy’s voicing in Ichigo 100%.