Once more, it’s been a great month of anime. This roaring summer of my youth has brought back the fiery love of anime that I feared lost during the cold, boring winter. Quite a few shows have been excellent, and I’ve yet to even watch all the series that have come out!
Top Five This Month:
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Gainax really knows how to make a splash with their odd series, and in spite of my misgivings, TTGL has been awesome this month. While episode 8 was especially notable, the whole show has been distilling the essence of shounen and manliness throughout, and I hope they can keep it up.
- Kaze no Stigma: Here’s another show that I was not expecting to be great, but Kaze no Stigma has me hooked. Kazuma is a fantastic lead, keeping all those Kannagi braggarts in line. Each time Kazuma tells Ayano that she sucks, I cheer inside. Kazuma’s angsty past and fights against various yoma have cunningly put up a smoke-screen around his true purpose: to amass a harem!
- Claymore: The flashback arc has been strong, as we learn a lot about the Claymore universe through the telling of Clare’s childhood. The one mystery that is still unanswered, however, is why do Claymores wear shoulder armor? The armor is completely pointless, and probably slows the user down slightly.
- Seirei no Moribito: I guess I can’t be surprised that the choreography in episode 3 was not repeated this month. In spite of a lot of episodes being mostly Balsa talking, I enjoyed the strategizing that allowed the duo to hide in plain sight (with the help of a large mystical wolf). Even the hunters sat down and had a brainstorming session!
- Lucky Star: Many of the jokes in this series are rather esoteric, but the four girls of Lucky Star still do silly things that the majority of us can relate to. I’m surprised they managed to have some funny Miyuki-centric bits in the latest episode, as she was MIA for a while.
Rising:
- Simon’s Drill to the Heavens: Maybe. We’ll see.
- Naruto Manga: OMG, Hinata time??? I stand by my prediction that Sakura is going to end up old and alone, just like Tsunade. It isn’t right that in anime/manga spineless guys have harems, but the nice girls always finish last. Also, there is a good chance that a villain will get doused with urine in the next battle.
Falling:
- El Cazador de la Bruja: It hasn’t really been bad, and in fact Ellis and L.A. have been pretty funny, but this series is clearly in the boring, kinda pointless, Thelma & Louise middle-period that plagues most Bee Train series. I’m sure once the flashbacks and techno music start up en masse, the series will ramp up again.
- Lucky Channel: I know some people think that it is the comedy gods’ gift to otaku, but I seriously hate the Lucky Channel segment. Every time it starts up, I feel this deep sense of disappointment and resentment that this one-trick pony keeps eating up time from the real show. I especially dislike Akira, as the whole bipolar thing ceased to be funny many episodes ago.
- Heroic Age: I didn’t really like the monkey-dog routine that much in Sousei no Aquarion, and I was never a Starcraft fan. Also, Bellcross reminds me too much of Hakuoro’s true form in Utawarerumono.
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12 Comments
Shoulder armor is just soldier moe. Then again, haven’t you noticed they’re all blondes as well? I wouldn’t be surprised if this was actually meant to be breast armor… The cape on their backs is likely the well-known madlaxative protective gown. As we can see though without the right music it’s utterly useless.
The shoulder armor is there to tell them apart (slightly different for each claymore). Anime Hairs are so colourfull to tell people apart easier.
Kabitzin, you sexist! Ayano is fun in bundles ^_^ … without her and her antics, the show wouldn’t be half as enjoyable as it is.
Besides – she is hot!
I like Ayano, it’s just that I like listening to Kazuma put her in her place =).
Hats off to Kabitzin for telling it like it is…Akira is the worst part of Lucky Star.
What about Rock Lee? Wouldnt he chase after Sakura?
I’d have to agree with you there regarding Kazuma (being the fangirl that I am =P) He’s quite a ladies’ man, and certainly the type of guy who can amass a harem if he likes, but amazingly enough, he ’sticks to one’
I love it when he teases Ayano~ and all the Kazuma x Ayano antics ^-^
)
(You’re going to love Ayano more once you see episode 7… she got the chance to say some ‘powerful’ words to Kazuma, for a change
Ah… good point. He hasn’t appeared in the manga for a while so I admittedly forgot about him. They haven’t mentioned any Rock x Sakura sparks since the timeskip, though.
Can you imagine Sakura ending up with Rock? And having Gai-sensei over at their house constantly? Mwahahahahaha.
Woo, you’ve finally learned to kick reason to the curb and watch Gurren-Lagann! Who needs logic when you’ve got burning manly spirit?
Very much agree re Heroic Age. The animation was appalling too.
No one else think that Lucky Star is a poorly drawn knockoff of Azumanga Daioh?
Kaze no Stigma FTW!!!! After seeing ep 7, I love it even more. Ayano is my grrl. Her simple design is dee-licious, even her schoolmates Yukari and Nanase are soo classic, but soo nice.