New Anime Season Sept/October 2006

redwolf · Post by **redwolf** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:04 pm

Asatte no Houkou #1 & #2
The first episode is very slow but never crossed the line into making me want to turn it off...and the ending was worth it. Nice transformation scene, if only because I never quite saw the appeal of the extremely flashy magical girl ones. This one...just happens...amidst cuts to shots of the night sky and scenery. I love the image of their feet: evidence that the change has occured...sandals too small, pants too big. Good thing Karada wasn't wearing closed-toe shoes! The second episode was much more interesting...lots of quiet humor due to the situation and Shouko's underreactive personality. Realistic grief, too...growing up is hard enough when it is done at a normal pace. As always, be careful what you wish for... This looks like a series I'm going to enjoy.

Kanon #2
I'm glad it's been so long since I've seen the first version of this show; this is almost like watching everything anew. I hope KyoAni maintains this quality of presentation (I think I heard this was their first 24 episode show?)...I'll get to love the characters a lot more. Favorite moments...the clocks, Yuuichi lost, Ayu is too damn cute, more references to future Kanon as well as Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu.

It's weird how the stairs were empty and suddenly Nayuki falls into Sayuri and Mai. It's almost like they teleported there...

Pumpkin Scissors #2
The PS unit is an enjoyable bunch! The dog-who-bites-heads makes a great mascot. This show is starting off with an episodic "tank of the week" feeling...(and the antagonist this time gave me Dilandau vibes). It works while we're getting to know the members of the unit and the world they are in, but I hope when GONZO switches to the real plot that it is an improvement on the enjoyability of the show, not a disintegration.

I DL'ed Ghost Hunt #1, but I didn't give it a chance because I couldn't get through the first episode. Impossible to truly tell from 15 minutes, but it doesn't seem like my type of show... The OP and esp. the END music are beautiful, though.

I take back what I said earlier about what I think of Negima!?'s artwork. After watching a clearer, wide-screen, improved color version of episode 1, I like the artwork two steps better than I did before. Someone said that the director (or was it the art director?) is in love with stain glass window shots in the anime they've done.

Stained glass? Makes sense, and I'll have to keep my eye out as I continue to watch the show. I'm patiently waiting for #2 subbed...

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:53 am

It'd be great if "Asatte no Houkou" is a "longer" series, but who knows how long it will be?

It's weird how the stairs were empty and suddenly Nayuki falls into Sayuri and Mai. It's almost like they teleported there...

I think it was due to a temporal anomaly.

I seen Bartender 1 this morning:

Bartender 1 (okay - 5.25):
http://www.bartender-tv.com/
http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3841 ... ender.html
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclo ... hp?id=6816
As others have already said, it appears that Bartender might be about character's problems that the Bartender will hear about each week. They did a good job at giving the anime atmosphere and piano bar music often plays in the background. I rather liked that. It almost makes me feel like going to an upscale bar.

You also get to learn about various bar drinks. People who want action will get none from this anime. The first episode of Bartender even made "Gallery Fake" feel action packed.

For what it was and for what it was trying to be, I think they did a good job. The Closing sequence with a real life bartender mixing a drink was a nice touch. I'm not sure if you need to have much knowledge in drinks in order to translate this, but I'm sure it would help.

Unfortunately watching an anime like this untranslated if you don't understand much Japanese is rather pointless. So until someone translates this...and I don't expect a big stampede to translate it, I don't think I'll watch any more of this. Maybe I'll skim through future episodes, but that's about it until it gets translated. This anime is supposed to be only eleven episodes long so who knows...maybe someone might actually try to finish the whole thing. Even translated, this series is not really my thing, but the atmosphere is nice, mellow and different.

I skimmed through the forty eight minute special of Kekkaishi:

Kekkaishi - Airing October 16th, 2006 7:00PM:
http://www.ytv.co.jp/kekkaishi/index.html
http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3823 ... aishi.html
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclo ... hp?id=6806
Genre: Shounen, Comedy, Fantasy, Historical,

The animation seems decent, but the story doesn't interest me that much. Supernatural stories where the characters are fighting monsters each week usually don't interest me that much unless if I enjoy something other than the fighting parts (for example: the characters and non-supernatural activity). I'll watch it later though just to be more sure that it's something that I'm not into.

I've narrowed my current Watch List to these shows. The ratings are only there to show how much I like an anime in comparison to the others. The ratings numbers tend to get higher the longer I watch the show:

1. BLACK LAGOON The Second Barrage 1 (okay/decent - 5.50)
2. Kanon (2006) 1-2 (okay/decent - 5.45):
3. Death Note 1-2 (okay - 5.38 ) :
3. Asatte no Houkou 1-2 (okay - 5.38 ) :
4. La Corda D'Oro ~primo passo~ 1-3 (okay - 5.37):
5. Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo! 1-2 (okay - 5.35):
7. Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club Season 2 ep. 1-2 (okay - 5.34) - unfortunately it's going in a direction I don't want it to go.
8. Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro na 1-2 (okay - 5.32):
9. Negima!? 1-2 (okay - 5.30):
9. Tenpo Ibun Ayakashi Akashi 1 (okay - 5.30):
11. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru 1-2 (okay - 5.29):
12. D.Gray-man 1-2 (okay - 5.27):
12. Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~ 1-2 (okay - 5.27):
14. Yamato Nadesico Shichi Henge 1 (okay - 5.25):
14. Bartender 1 (okay - 5.25)
16. Happiness! 1-2 (okay/fair - 5.21):
17. Pumpkin Scissors 1-2 (okay/fair - 5.20)
18. Busou Renkin 1-2 (okay/fair - 5.15):
18. Sumomo mo Momo mo 1-2 (okay - 5.15):
20. Tokimeki Memorial ~Only Love~ 1-2 (so-so - 4.75) - I think I'll only skim through this.

Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto - dropped
Ghost Hunt - dropped
Gin-iro no Olynsis - dropped
Katekyo Hitman REBORN! - dropped
Marginal Prince - dropped
Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi - dropped
Shounen Onmyouji - dropped
Super Robot Taisen OG Divine Wars TV series - dropped
Oct. 13th, 2006: Dropped "Black Blood Brothers"
Oct. 14th, 2006: Dropped "Kujibiki Unbalance TV series"

kira · Post by **kira** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:39 pm

normally i dont pay attention to these kind of things.

i'll have to go look back through that list. some sound very interesting.

redwolf · Post by **redwolf** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:42 pm

kira wrote:i'll have to go look back through that list. some sound very interesting.

Hope you find some that are jewels to you...there's a number of promising shows this time around.

Keropi wrote:It'd be great if "Asatte no Houkou" is a "longer" series, but who knows how long it will be?

Does it have enough material to be a longer series? I'll always prefer a shorter, well-done series to a longer (drawn out too long) mediocre series.

It's weird how the stairs were empty and suddenly Nayuki falls into Sayuri and Mai. It's almost like they teleported there...
I think it was due to a temporal anomaly.

Ah hah! They are actually time travellers!!!

I might give Bartender a spin since there is a sub out now...sounds different than the average anime. I was hoping the second season of Jigoku Shoujo wouldn't get the same erratic subbing treatment as the first, but that is looking less and less hopeful (this is another show I'd rather wait for subtitles--though I did watch the first few minutes, which looked pretty interesting).

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:06 pm

redwolf wrote:Does it have enough material to be a longer series? I'll always prefer a shorter, well-done series to a longer (drawn out too long) mediocre series.

I don't know, but judging from the pace the second episode moved I would prefer a longer series at that pace than a squashed down, abruptly ended thirteen episode series.

This season is working out better than the April season as far as subbing goes. The huge number of anime coming out during the April season came at a bad time with college tests and graduations coming out. A lot more shows are getting picked up pretty fast this year. I don't like the direction that Sasami ~ Mahou Shoujo Club's second season is moving. But all the other shows I want to see so far have had at least one episode English fansubbed. That's a big change from the April season.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:34 am

So Redwolf, Kymaera, anyone?

Out of curiousity, what shows did you guys decide to stick with from the current season?

Me:

1. BLACK LAGOON The Second Barrage
2. Death Note
3. Kanon (2006)
4. Asatte no Houkou
5. Negima!?
6. La Corda D'Oro ~primo passo~
7. D.Gray-man
8. Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo!
9. Bartender
10. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru
11. Sokou no Strain
12. Tenpo Ibun Ayakashi Akashi
13. Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club Season 2 - Mai Sasami

14. Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~
15. Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro na
16. Happiness!

I decided to stop watching "Sumomo mo Momo mo", "Busou Renkin", "Tokimeki Memorial ~Only Love~", "Yamato Nadesico Shichi Henge", "Pumpkin Scissors" and "Kekkaishi". They just weren't quite for me.

I'm skimming Kujibiki Unbalance TV, but not wholeheartedly. I kinda liked the Koyuki episode though.

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:32 am

I don't know if I'm going to stick with them all, but I am currently downloading:

Deathnote (really does a great job adapting the manga)
Red Garden
Assate no Houku (more interesting than I expected)
Bartender
D-Gray Man
Ghost Hunt
La Corda D'Oro
Pumpkin Sissors
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge
Tenpo Ibun Ayakashi Akashi
Shounen Onmyouji

The 4 at the top are the ones I am unlikely to drop.

Can't find Black Lagoon II or I would watch it.

I'm still getting shows from last season too that haven't finished running. so I have a lot of stuff to watch!

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:13 pm

vapalla wrote:I don't know if I'm going to stick with them all, but I am currently downloading:

Deathnote (really does a great job adapting the manga)

I like the anime a lot. Sometimes he just looks so evil.

Red Garden

What is Red Garden about anyway? I've been skimming the episodes to see if I still want to get them or not, but I really can't tell what's going on.

Assate no Houku (more interesting than I expected)

I like it...except for Lunar's speedy subtitles. Lunar's episodes aren't leaving in slight pauses before taking down the subtitles after someone gets through speaking. I often miss what someone says and I have to go back and read them. Froth-Bite leaves in a slight pause so I'm going with their version now. It's funny what a 1/4 second pause does for my reading ability.

Bartender

I've only watched the first two episodes so far. I was hoping to watch another version besides Lunar's. As when they used to work on Bleach, sometimes their translations are a little too slangy for me. They distract me from the anime and make me think of the translation instead. In the first episode Lunar used the line "Bartender Schmartender". As a whole though I don't have a problem with them. They're doing "Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi" and Yoake so I can't complain about that.

Well I'll see how it goes. The first two episodes were rather relaxing.

I'm still getting shows from last season too that haven't finished running. so I have a lot of stuff to watch!

I'm still stuck on School Rumble 2 ep 19, Higurashi 9, Ouran 20, The Third 14, Strawberry Panic 20, Bokura ga Ita 4, Night Head Genesis 4, Project BLUE Chikyuu SOS 1 and Chevalier 1. I need to finish some of those before the next anime season begins in six weeks.

That's the only good time to catch up - near the end of a current season.

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:44 pm

Keropi wrote:

What is Red Garden about anyway? I've been skimming the episodes to see if I still want to get them or not, but I really can't tell what's going on.

I don't think it is possible to just skim Red Garden to figure it out. I don't think that I can explain the plot without ruining the twists in the story. It follows four girls often separately in the first 2 episodes. It is quirky enough to intrigue me. I hope it keeps me off-balance, there are hints that it could follow the same story-line as TOKKO. I am glad to see that with Welcome to the NHK and this one that Gonzo is still doing interesting things.

I couldn't get any of the downloads for Bartender to work on my Mac until a new group called ideology started to sub it. I hope they are planning to actually see the project through.

Keropi wrote:

I'm still stuck on School Rumble 2 ep 19, Higurashi 9, Ouran 20, The Third 14, Strawberry Panic 20, Bokura ga Ita 4, Night Head Genesis 4, Project BLUE Chikyuu SOS 1 and Chevalier 1. I need to finish some of those before the next anime season begins in six weeks.

I am still downloading and watching Nana, Kiba, The Third, Nighthead Genesis (my daughter calls this the "Emo anime"

),Sainkoku Monogatari, Black Lagoon, Chevalier, and the aforementioned NHK. I have even more put aside for future viewing. AND I rent DVDs of series I either don't want to buy or want to check out before possibly buying.

Someone is actually doing Project Blue SOS? I need to look again. I thought it had been abandoned.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:06 pm

vapalla wrote:I couldn't get any of the downloads for Bartender to work on my Mac until a new group called ideology started to sub it. I hope they are planning to actually see the project through.

I hope so. I'd like to see what the other drinks are and watch them be made.

Someone is actually doing Project Blue SOS? I need to look again. I thought it had been abandoned.

I think it has.

Unfortunately I was thinking of the raws when I said that. It's not a good choice to watch untranslated, but I'd like to find out what happened after the first episode. I don't want this to be another title that disappears into the dustbin of history.

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:57 am

Keropi wrote:

think it has.

Unfortunately I was thinking of the raws when I said that. It's not a good choice to watch untranslated, but I'd like to find out what happened after the first episode. I don't want this to be another title that disappears into the dustbin of history.

I feared it wouldn't be finished when I first saw it. It has that retro-futuristic thing that most American anime watchers seen to dislike. I enjoy it. I think the plethora of series being offered as of late will virtually guarantee that some good series will be overlooked.

I always fear that I will invest a lot of energy into a series only to have it abandoned before I finish. The other thing that sometimes happens is that they change formats and I can no longer download them. I have sporadic problems with Lunar downloads not working and gg's NEVER work for me. (grumble) If they are licensed and removed, that bothers me less since I can see the end eventually, but I wish I had downloaded the last xxxHOLiCs before they were taken down, I was THIS close and I hate to wait a year or 2 to see those eps!

redwolf · Post by **redwolf** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:31 pm

Out of the new shows:

Black Lagoon 2: Kicks as much ass as the first season.

Asatte no Houkou: Very pleasant surprise this season as I only really knew about the following three shows going in...

Kanon: Hasn't disappointed yet. I wonder how this version will fare when the drama strikes.

Negima!?: I went from no expectations to high expectations (first couple episodes) to being disappointed (3 & 4) in the portrayal of the characters. Really, it's still too early, and I'm impatiently waiting for subtitles.

Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori: There's something about the atmosphere of this show that keeps me coming back no matter how episodic it is... By episode four the possible thread that will tie the show together has appeared...and I'm still hoping they manage to tie in some more backstory. Beautiful music, as always! The raw of the live action version was amusing, though they did a fairly good job of casting (appearance-wise).

Bartender: This show gives me a feeling very similar to ARIA. Edenhall is almost like entering another world, and both are shows about professions that service customers. I wonder what impression this show gives to people who are knowlegable about alchohol?

Pumpkin Scissors: Has had a couple of pretty weak episodes...supposed to pick up when it starts following the manga again, whenever that might be... The characters are still entertaining, so I'm holding on to it for now.

Death Note: As potentially interesting as the first episode was, I haven't watched any of the other episodes I've downloaded yet...

I picked up Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru (Is there a short form for this yet?) because some people were wondering if Mizuho would qualify for this female character popularity contest (*cough* I mean, most moe character tournament). The way in which it is surprisingly enjoyable reminds me of Strawberry Panic. I think I forgot that Mizuho was a guy after the first episode (even though they keep 'trying' to remind me).

=====

These are interspersed with continuing/being indefinitely stuck on older shows...and trying random shows. I am very easily distracted. I was reading a thread about Black Lagoon, and there was a link to the second opening (Balalaika) of Kirarin Revolution, which I found strangely catchy. The show is definitely aimed at kids, but it's pretty amusing...it's a shame only two episodes are subtitled.

From my list in the 'Questions on some series' thread: Sadly, the only series that I've significantly progressed with are Suzumiya Haruhi (finished), Black Lagoon (1-18 ), Last Exile (1-20), ARIA (I finally reached the NATURAL!). I think I've given up on all of my indefinitely paused list except for Witchblade.

I like it...except for Lunar's speedy subtitles. Lunar's episodes aren't leaving in slight pauses before taking down the subtitles after someone gets through speaking. I often miss what someone says and I have to go back and read them.

Hm, I haven't noticed this at all... Though now that you've mentioned it, I'm sure I'll take note of their timing next episode.

I need to finish some of those before the next anime season begins in six weeks.

Six weeks? ARGH!

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:34 pm

redwolf wrote: Negima!?: I went from no expectations to high expectations (first couple episodes) to being disappointed (3 & 4) in the portrayal of the characters. Really, it's still too early, and I'm impatiently waiting for subtitles.

Sayo (the ghost girl) had some really nice artwork drawn for her in episode seven.

The way in which it is surprisingly enjoyable reminds me of Strawberry Panic. I think I forgot that Mizuho was a guy after the first episode (even though they keep 'trying' to remind me).

I think it was extremely likely that the Otome game makers had Strawberry Panic in mind when they wrote that story. I don't know anything about the game though.

I think I've given up on all of my indefinitely paused list except for Witchblade.

How far did you get up to?

Hm, I haven't noticed this at all... Though now that you've mentioned it, I'm sure I'll take note of their timing next episode.

I noticed while watching Lunar's Yoake episode seven that the subtitles disappear right away there too. A bit annoying when the subtitles disappear so fast. Apparently leaving that pause is not a standard subtitling practice.

redwolf · Post by **redwolf** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:25 am

Keropi wrote:Sayo (the ghost girl) had some really nice artwork drawn for her in episode seven.

I just saw her preview! I couldn't help but think of how you said you were glad you don't read manga while I watched 5 & 6. After 1 & 2 I was thinking, "Wow, an anime I can enjoy without comparing to the manga." Then #3 & 4 blew that initial impression up. I enjoyed 5 & 6 until I realized they may have taken away Setsuna's

half-demon nature...and replaced it with the Negima!? version of the pactio.

It's impossible not to compare...

How far did you get up to?

I haven't gotten anywhere unfortunately.... However, I did finish downloading all of the Witchblade raws, so it's ready for me whenever I am.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:14 am

You know those last three Negima episodes (#8-#10) have been really disappointing to me. I'm about ready to put the series into my "Skipping" category where Kujibiki Unbalance TV is.

I thought there were some really good Episode Tens this week:

Kanon 10 I liked a lot. The arc had less emotional impact for me than the first Kanon series, but the message was more clearly and properly written out.

Asatte no Houkou 10 - well...that goes without saying. Cliffhanger ending again.

Black Lagoon Second Barrage 10 I thought was a lot of fun...and dramatic in the second half.

Death Note 10 - Liked that one. Kind of cool how the animators light up closeups of the character's faces.

Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru 10 - Yes!! Conflicting emotions! I've liked the last two episodes quite a bit.

Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~ 10 - A bit twisted...but I like twisted.

Kujibiki Unbalance TV 10 - I've liked both Koyuki episodes that I seen.

"You can't have it all" category:

Negima 10 - hmmm.

Happiness 10 - I thought it was alright. The backstory was finally revealed and there was a ton of it.

Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo! 10 - was just about all jokes. I'm rarely into all-joke episodes if I don't find the jokes too funny. I liked the character that appeared though.

Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro na 10 - was "okay" I guess.

I'm falling behind in La Corda D'Oro ~primo passo~, Bartender and Tenpo Ibun Ayakashi Akashi.

I'm going to have to create a new anime season listing pretty soon.