Like a fresh spring breeze, the new season has really blown away the stank of that horrific winter slop. It was right at the opening of Utawarerumono (as I was trying to figure out how to say the title) that my faith in the goodness of the world was reaffirmed and my will to blog anime blossomed anew. Seriously, last season took a lot out of me, but the lineup is looking so so fresh this month. Soul Link is this month’s anime Jesus, sucking so badly so that others won’t have to.
Top Five This Month:
- Utawarerumono: This series feels like a real overachiever. Faced with simple source material (from an H-game no less!), an incredibly dorky looking hero, and a cliche RPG plot, everything still comes together so perfectly. Even the fanservice doesn’t feel too forced, and the cast really works well together. I also love the OP.
- The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi: Although I’m not as high on this series as some others, it’s a really amusing, odd little show. Any series that spawns an inside dance craze deserves major props. I really like the art style in this series, too.
- Ergo Proxy: Mystery and machinations! Ergo Proxy continues to draw me along without getting too dense to follow. Keep that Pino screen time coming!
- Nana: I thought this series would have more focus on sweet music instead of sweet friendships, but either one can catch my attention. This series is also turning out to be a lot funnier than I thought it would be. The clothing changes are impressive.
- School Rumble 2nd Semester: The comedy has picked up right where it left off (in spite of those un-funny OVAs), but Eri seems to be getting marginalized. As long as they keep Tenma from being the focus, this series is a winner.
Rising:
- Fate/Stay Night: Nothing like fanservice and engrish to spice up the ratings. FSN is almost keeping pace with the new season.
Falling:
- Disgaea: What a cheap disappointment.
As a final thought to ponder, Ender and I both want to know: is your wireless router a Meyrin router or a Lunamaria router (or something else)?
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.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
tenma almost never gets to be the focus … it’s almost always harima O_o
I gotta say I’m enjoying season 2 too … but hthat whole deal with the butler cross dressing freaked me out…I knew it was coming… but that has to be the most disturbing reminder (to keep the room bright while watching anime) ever O_O;;
altho I wouldn’t say soul link is the only anime that’s sucking badly… theres that one about the dog ( Massugu ni Ikou) … what the heck is with the talking dog animes coming out all of the sudden?!
oh yeah .. I almost forgot about the fan service in F/SN … course that was pretty much overshadowed by the whole ” don’t look at my man body” act saber pulled
turned it into a joke 
adn I still don’t get where the fanservice in Utawarerumono is … I mean unless ppl are referring to the tail flipping and the dog ears I can’t see it … mauybe i’m just blind O_o
Doh! I totally forgot about Nana! Still amassing Ergo Proxy eps for a marathon though, otherwise it would probably be on the top of my list.
Btw, posting comparison pictures of your router paired with character would probably make the parallel more clear. The tri-horned router is whack though.
>Btw, posting comparison pictures of your router paired with character would probably make the parallel more clear.
Ask, and ye shall receive. Finding pictures of a nice Meyrin figure was surprisingly difficult!
Argg, figurine models? Noooooooooooo…
I got a Lunamaria Wireless-G USB Network Adapter, and a Meyrin Wireless-G Router. Linksys Hawke Sisters for the win. :Þ
Used to be Lunamaria here. But I swapped it for an el-cheapo black box named “Billion”. I’ve changed about…. 7.543 pieces of router/wireless gear , just for the fun of it. The Lunamaria one sometimes hanged tho’.
Hmm… for me, the list will most probably go something like this. Since I have watched 1-4 episodes of each new series, I shall refrain from ranking them. In alphabetical order,
Note that I am only listing shows that started this Spring 2006.
..) Black Lagoon:
This may sound strange, but ever since Futakoi Alternative, I have felt deprived of COOL action anime. It may sound strange that I got my action fix from an anime that was based on a harem story from a magazine, but then again… Futakoi Alternative was just that cool.
FMP:TSR was close, but it was a different kind of cool from what I was looking for. I am not sure how to best put it in words, but to me, FMP:TSR was professional cool, while Futakoi Alternative and Black Lagoon are gung-ho cool.
There is just something romantic in having an ordinary everyday Joe being thrown into totally crazy situations and having to fight for what he wants. The antithesis of the doormat harem male lead so to speak. He may be ordinary. He may be usually nice. But damn… if you push him just a liiiittle too much.
I mean… that scene of Rock flipping the bird to an enemy gunship after a torpedo slammed into its’ cockpit was just too cool. Too cool to ignore.
..) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni:
Psycho sweeties for the win. ^_^
If there is one thing I find very endearing in anime, it has to be females that are… unhinged. Of course, this does not apply to real life( at least I think/hope so), but in anime, I just find it… irresistable.
Flipped Flay? Not too bad.
Scheming Suigintou? Very much so, but I still prefer sly Suisei Seki
Mental Maika? Yes! Yes! Yes!
Killer Kaede? Oh sweet lard, YES!
Anyway, Rena in Higurashi is warming up along very nicely, even though I have only seen two episodes so far. I am glad to have discovered this gem through the help of others( mucho thanks to all those who pointed this series out to me).
Additionally, due to the nature of Higurashi’s plot, it shares processing power in my brain with Haruhi when it comes to anime speculation. I am currently revelling too much in Rena’s aura to speculate much, but I expect to think more about it once I settle down.
Finally, I still wish the art was better.
This is one anime where the plot thus far really justifies an art upgrade. The power of psycho compels me to shrug it aside though.
..) Ouran High School Host Club:
Another potential winner with a female lead named Haruhi. :p Some of the jokes are starting to get repetitive, but the zany humour of the host club is infectious.
With the crazy antics of the guys, and the occasional death glare of Haruhi, it is hard not to enjoy Ouran High. I also love how they insert visual metaphors throughout the show. It all adds to the charm of the show.
..) The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi:
I can’t imagine anyone not having this in their top five. Well, actually I can, but then that would mean he/she and I do not share any common brainwaves( and if he/she had a blog, one I would most probably disagree with).
Of all the shows this season, this one has made me the most frantic speculator and over-analyser with each episode. EVERY FRAME must have a meaning! THAT WINK must mean something! OMG I think I must rewind and rewatch that scene… again. BY THE GRACE OF SOMETHING, looks like I need to endure Ep00 again… to reflect upon its’ relation to the latest episode… again.
Not since Air have I had it this bad.
This is actually a bad thing too. All my inner speculating is distracting me from the comedy aspects of Haruhi. It is only on a second uninterrupted( must resist the pause button) viewing do I get to appreciate the fast-paced comedy. Then I watch it a third time to see what I missed; then I read summaries to further fill in the gaps( like the wilted flowers in Ep04). I have this NEED to know( without spoiling myself) on what goes on in each episode.
Oops… this post is starting to get too SHaruhi-centric, moving along…
..) Utawarerumono:
I am placing A LOT of faith in Utawarerumono to satisfy my fill of fantasy anime. The last non-modern fantasy anime to make me happy was Ragnorak the Animation and Scrapped Princess( Raquel is still my anime avatar).
Thus far, Utawarerumono has not disappointed me. The pace has been slow but steady in the first three episodes. Something which I can appreciate if Utawarerumono lives up to be the epic it seems to promise to be.
Quite frankly, the animal traits of the people do not bother me, even though I am not a fan of furries. I just see it as an artstyle to set Utawarerumono apart from its’ peers.
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Pending(aka Maybe List):
..) School Rumble:
Never watched the first season before, so this is still on the to-watch-in-the-future list.
..) Ray the Animation:
The first episode was coming along nicely… until the director turned into the Tasmanian Devil…
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Others:
..) Aa Megami-sama: Sorezore no Tsubasa
It’s Belldandy!
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Guilty Pleasures:
..) Strawberry Panic:
I just find it funny. No, I do not know why either.
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Abandon All Thy Hope:
..) Soul Link:
My soul died a little watching the first episode.
..) Kiba:
I endured all the way to Ep03, and I was still enduring, so I decided to drop this.
..) Air Gear:
Made it to Ep02 just for Simca, but Simca alone cannot save this show.
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Cheers.
[quote]Finally, I still wish the art was better. This is one anime where the plot thus far really justifies an art upgrade. The power of psycho compels me to shrug it aside though.[/quote]
nah … seeing as it’s loli this is probably about the extent of the quality they can achieve .. and theyre probably trying to accomplish something by having such an otherwise dark show have such a cute style…
I guess I am alone in this crowd, but my wife and I highly recommend Saiunkoku Monogatari. My wife is extremely displeased with sexual harrassment and exploitations in Suzumiya Haruhi.
I must agree that while Haruhi is okay so far, what she did to the computer people wasn’t really funny – I felt rather sorry for the computer dudes and really quite annoyed at Haruhi. Yeah yeah, I’m taking a comedy anime too seriously, but still, it was a really annoying bit and I couldn’t enjoy the rest of the episode. I guess I have a deep dislike of people who exploit people like that.
To me, Haruhi’s ‘crimes’ are a glee to watch because it is only in fiction where you can embrace the dark side without suffering any of the ill-consequences.
Not just in SHaruhi in fact. Black Adder, Ocean’s Eleven, the pirates in Black Lagoon, the Sopranos, etc… All the main characters in those shows were committing crimes, but it sure does not affect their ratings. If anything, people loved them, because it is escapist fare.
So when Haruhi was tormenting the computer folks, I was not going-
“I wish she wouldn’t do that.”
I was thinking more along the lines of,
“I wish I was doing that.”
Cheers.
kidna got the idea that Kyon was thinking the same exact thing as skane
Skane, what you mention is exactly the reaction my wife predicts and is troubled by. Haruhi is doing things to Mikuru what guys would not dare yet secretly wish to do so. The issue of sexual harassment is actually much greater in Orient compared to the western world for most female are afraid to report it fearing backlash from the majority. I like to mention that there are many anime which my wife likes and enjoys while containing things she doesn’t endorse.
That’s your wife’s choice, and I will not ask her to change it.
To me again, this is escapist fare, much like how people like to torture their Sims. A chance to enjoy something one normally cannot get away with in real life.
I make it sound more disturbing than I intended to. :p
I dunno about Japan, but thus far over here, men are more often than not living in mortal fear of their female co-workers( unless they were already friends, but the apprehension will still be there). In the times that I have work, there is always this invisible barrier between the men and women, because may the powers help you and your tender butt if you get accused of improper behaviour by a woman( or worse, by women).
Your reputation will be dragged through the mud and throttled to death, regardless of whether you are innocent or not.
In any case, short of one being a Saint/Deity, there will always be a dark side to everyone; and it is up to oneself to see to it that he/she can differentiate between fantasy and reality, know when it is right or wrong.
So in the end, while I do sympathise with the Computer Club guys, I can only offer them my condosolences that they are not the main characters.
Cheers.
[quote] So in the end, while I do sympathise with the Computer Club guys, I can only offer them my condosolences that they are not the main characters.
[/quote]
Hahaha. Yes, 15 minutes of fame for Computer Clubguys has come and gone by.