Otakon 2015

Dawn of the First Day - 72 Hours Remain

Stab, stab, stab

Something about this guy really bugged me

Bringing the pro-PAIN!

Are you squidding me?

The hero you want on your side when you have a body that needs to disappear

Jimbo's Anime Season - Spring 2015

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!
a.k.a. Making Anime Titles is Hard
Genre: political drama (okay, not really)

The character in the foreground is technically walking toward the side,
but it sure doesn't seem like it when this frame is taken out of context.

Okay, maybe I'm making fun of the title too much. Maybe it's because it's in English. According to Google Translate, the Japanese title is more along the lines of "Again my youth romantic comedy is wrong. Continue". Well, it doesn't really change the fact that the title is basically the genre. Oh sure, they claim it's wrong, or that situation normal is all fncked up, but if we're all honest we can admit that it's a romantic comedy anyway.

Putting aside the title, I'm liking the series. I enjoyed the first season and was surprised to see a second. Usually for these types of things they'll make one season and then abandon it. I'm glad they decided to continue this one. The characters have interesting personalities without being overwhelming. Meanwhile, the conflicts and goals between them seem deeper than the veneer of comedy lets on.

Nisekoi:
a.k.a. No More Mr. Nisekoi Colon
Genre: romcom

Thankfully, this series has no shortage of silly faces.

Again with the title shenanigans? Seriously, what does the colon even mean? Are anime series just too cool to use numbers? Or, hell, just use the same name from the first season. People will realize that it's a new season when they see it and say, "hey, new episodes!"

Anyway, this is season two, and in traditional harem-comedy style, each episode is a loosely connected crisis that seems to slightly advance the plot while, in fact, not moving anywhere. While I do find the characters fun, I am kinda hoping this will be the last season. It's good and all, but lets put this series to bed before it overstays its welcome.

My Love Story!!
a.k.a. My Love Story Exclamation Point Exclamation Point
Genre: romcom

Pop quiz: Which character do you think is the main character?

That's two exclamation points in the title. Two. You'd think this was a second season of the series. But you would be wrong. This is the first season. First world anarchists right here.

I actually started reading the manga before I even learned an anime series was coming out. Admittedly, the story is really dumb, but it's just so darn adorable. It's the aspartame of anime series. Sure, it'll probably give me cancer, but it's so delicious that I've convinced myself I'm okay with it.

Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan
a.k.a. Hey, Still Technically Better than Endless Eight
Genre: romcom

The money shot

How can you betray me like this? Yuki Nagato is my favourite anime character of all time. Of all time. She was a calm and cool badass with effective omniscience and omnipotence.

This "Yuki Nagato" is not that. Now she's just a boring, bespectacled library girl. I mean, I know the external circumstances to this scenario's existence (see The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya), but that doesn't make things any less dull. I feel like this series would've been a complete non-starter if it wasn't riding on the (admittedly flagging) popularity of the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise.

On the bright side, this series may usher in a new wave of Yuki Nagato collectibles, which I whole-heartedly endorse.

Otakon 2014

Dawn of the First Day - 72 Hours Remain -

Achievement Unlocked: Avoid Friday registration line by picking up badge on Thursday

Fighting the good fight

Black Widow is totally jealous about Tony's higher popularity

Jimbo's Anime Season - Spring 2014

Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
a.k.a. Mahouka? I hardly know hah!
Genre: fantasy/scifi

Tatsuya never changes facial expressions

I'm still trying to decide if this counts as fantasy or scifi. It takes the idea that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic and runs with it. In this world, magic is synonymous with advanced technology. As usual, this advanced technology usually takes the form of weaponry.

I must admit, I have a soft-spot for direct, analytical main characters with little regard for social norms. The male protagonist in this series tickles that little region of the brain, and explains why it's my top anime for the season. My only worry is that it'll take itself too seriously as the series progresses and just become a chore to sit through.

Nisekoi
a.k.a. No More Mr. Nisekoi
Genre: romcom

You can tell which one is the main character. Hint: It's the guy surrounded by the most women.

This one is a carry-over from last season. It's legitimately funny and not boring, and I look forward to every episode. The big thing that sticks out to me is how they introduce a new love interest halfway through the series, turning the love triangle into a love three-legged-stool. It just felt so sudden and unnatural, as if she was shoehorned in to pad out another half of a season. Still, this new character brought out some of the funniest moments, so I'm willing to forgive.

Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
a.k.a. The Engrish, It Burns! Anime
Genre: fantasy/comedy

Apparently, wives are chosen by rock-paper-scissors now. That must be what I've been doing wrong all these years.

I've been sitting here for about ten minutes trying to think of something clever to say about this, but I'm coming up empty. It's about a woman with the ability to summon rain with her voice getting married to the young king of a country with constant sunshine. It's a funny and interesting series, but all I can come up with is "something something stick it where the sun don't shine." That's all for tonight, folks. Good night, and good luck.


Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin
a.k.a. Ryuugajou Nanananananananananananananananana BATMAN!
Genre: adventure

Who would just throw away a perfectly good anime girl like that?

I kinda like the idea of friendly ghosts. They'd be useful. They can eavesdrop on people, check the weather outside, check if the milk is empty, and more! All without you having to leave the couch (I'd imagine spouses are similar).

Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yeah, this is a series about a friendly ghost. It has some sort of video game-like plot involving the acquisition of some collection of MacGuffins. I'm not really sure where this series is going yet, but it has potential. I'm still reserving judgment.

Dragonar Academy
a.k.a. The "I Can't Believe It's Not Rie Kugimiya" Anime
Genre: ecchi

"I hope Scuba Diver-kun notices my new ribbon~" doki doki

Oh tsundere characters, will you ever just die and never come back? Really, you've overstayed your welcome. It was funny the first time, but you can't just keep recycling the same character and expect the same reaction. And I truly mean the exact same character. Save for maybe hair colour, they are all interchangeable. It's old; it's tired; I don't want to see it anymore.

What, you want to know about the anime? It has tits, panty shots, and a budget of about two dollars. If it doesn't do anything drastically different, it is in serious danger of being abandoned.

Jimbo's Anime Season - Winter 2014

Golden Time
a.k.a. The Second Coming of Christ on Earth
Genre: romcom

Everybody's scared before trying something new and exciting

Golden Time is a return from last season. Perhaps its most defining feature is that it doesn't take place in high/middle school. It seems like you just can't have a romantic-comedy without setting it in grade school. I mean, I get it. It's a convenient setting. All of the characters are forced to meet in the same place every day. Lots of opportunities to get the main characters together. Golden Time decides to mix things up and have the story set during college. With that minor change, the characters are forced to meet in the same place every day, with lots of opportunities to get the protagonists together. Way to push the envelope, guys!

Laying aside the gripe hammer, Golden Time is still my favourite of the season. Basically, Male Protagonist (they're all basically the same character, regardless of series) has amnesia and has to wrestle with his current self and his forgotten self. In the process, he falls for Kouko, a psychopath. I cannot underplay this enough. The girl is bananas. Nevertheless, her attractive figure and long hair are enough to make Male Protagonist overlook her glaring personality flaws and get together. Then a bunch of stuff happens, and now we're here.

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren
a.k.a. Ero Eyepatch Anime 2: ElectRikka Boogaloo
Genre: romcom

I wish I had the ability to summon porn out of nowhere. Oh, wait, I have a laptop.

I'm not sure I get this anime. It seems like KyoAni's way of saying, "look at how much money we have!" On the outside, it's your standard high school romcom, but every episode seems to have a very expensive-looking fantasy fight scene. It's silly! The plot is nonexistent. It drips with moé nonsense. Male Protagonist sounds like Lelouch (after writing this, I looked this up and confirmed that they are, in fact, the same voice actor. Please feel free to ignore this gripe. Or this entire post, for that matter).

This series does one thing right. It gives geeks like me something to talk about. Ask a group of us to pick a favourite character and there will be gnashed teeth and rended garments (oh, it's Touka, by the way. For best character). For all of its faults, it is cute and funny and stupid enough to chit-chat about.

Nisekoi
a.k.a. No More Mr. Nisekoi
Genre: romcom

This scene makes no sense out of context, but I don't care since the faces are so funny

I don't know why I even bothered adding the genres for this list. They're all the same. Nisekoi is a romantic-comedy from Shaft. Male Protagonist is forced into a marriage with a beatiful blonde girl to preclude a gang war. Naturally, they don't like each other. Hilarity ensues.

Sakura Trick
a.k.a. That Yuri Anime
Genre: romcom

Oh my, what kind of picture did you think I'd post?

So let me get this straight, it's a series about girls making out with each other. I'm pretty sure there are other Internet sites that... oh, it's not meant to be dirty? How does that even work? Oh, they made a slice-of-life series that just happens to feature girls kissing. Aww, look at them. They're adorable!

Sorry, it's impossible to write a fair review because this series gives viewers a sugar imbalance.

Mikakunin de Shinkoukei
a.k.a. The Anime That Will Be Forgotten a Month After It Ends
Genre: romcom

I'm not sure what the animators were thinking when they let this frame slip through

I'll be honest; I don't even remember what this series was about. I think it had something to do with an arranged marriage and some girl with a down-to-earth personality? I dunno. It goes in one ear and out the other. It's a series that fills the gap while waiting for episodes of other, more interesting series.

Otakon 2013

Dawn of
The First Day
-72 Hours Remain-

Achievement Unlocked: Survived Otakon registration line

 Cosplay goodness after the jump...

Summer 2013 Anime Season, a [early] review

Here's what I'm watching and what I think of it. I'll try and go easy on the poor thalidomide babies I have to work with.

Free!

Gonna need a cold shower when this is over

I honestly thought KyoAni was pulling everyone's leg with the trailer they released some time ago, but I suppose the joke is on us. They released the moé-blob anime with an all male cast. For better or worse, they went ahead and carried over the traditional ditzy character archetypes over to the male cast. Perhaps more surprising is that it's actually really good. Every episode removes more layers [of the plot] and I just want to tear through [the season] to see what matters with all these cutie pies. No homo.

Rozen Maiden [Season III: Rozen of the Sith]

Desu

After the whirlwind first episode, I was worried that this series would be a hurried remake. Fortunately, the second episode cleared things up and proved that it will travel its own path. And that path is apparently two paths: a split timeline plot. All it needs now is a bearded, over-zealous prophet and a floating city in the clouds. But, lets be honest here, every single person watching just wants to see more Suiseiseki, desu.

Blood Lad

Still a better vampire love story than Twilight

Let me say right from the start that this is a very dumb anime. However, it balances it out by not being something it's not. It's dumb, through and through. At least, for now. I have seen plenty of dumb anime screw things up by getting serious for the finale, and consistently failing miserably. This series is funny and doesn't require any brain power whatsoever, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaete mo Omaera ga Warui!

This theme song is awesome

Okay, seriously, what right does this anime have to get a theme song this bad ass. I don't understand a word of Japanese, so I usually skip over opening videos. Considering how they're usually goofy pop music, I still wouldn't watch them if I did. This song makes up for the language gap by being a guttural rock song. Who cares what the vocalist is trying to say? The sound is coming from so deep in the throat that it hardly matters. The loud guitar riffs, the frantic pace, the dark accompanying video. It all adds up to something amazing.

What? What about the anime? Its title is three miles long, so obviously it's going to be rubbish.

The World God Only Knows 3

Didn't feel like watching the episode again to get a screencap, so have a picture of Mio being adorable.

I have to admit that I'm not big on this series. I don't know why. I mean, it has all the trappings of a series I would like: lots of women. This anime, however, just never did it for me. I blame the hook. It's about a geeky guy who plays dating sims. That, by itself, deducts so many points that it may as well not even try. Really now, this is something so over used that it needs to stop. There's appealing to the fans, and then there's just trying too hard. The industry has reached a saturation point with this type of character and the idea just needs to be put to rest.

Sorry, got off track there. I'm watching this series because I watched the previous two for unknown reasons and figured I'd stick it through for another round of tedium.