Well the winter season is a good ways in now and as I usually do I want to go over the series I picked up and say how they’re doing. I did take a rather light load this season, as there were several shows from last season still going on and I was rather busy. Plus, two shows that were likely some of the better ones I didn’t watch because I’ve yet to see their preceding seasons (Aria and Gunslinger Girls)
Anyways, here they are: (after the jump)
Normal Series:
H20 – Footprints in the Sand
ROCKS YOUR SOUL! Ok, not really, but I have to say that because that phrase will forever be engraved in my mind and associated with this show. This show certainly seems to be getting some mixed opinions. I don’t really think the show is bad, but its not really as good as I had hoped. There are some rally interesting things going on with it, some dark and serious back stories to the characters, but the way they are handling it isn’t the best. They build up to some important parts and then kind of forget about them almost. This is defiantly a story I could see being good if told a little better, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see a bit. So far I would say it’s interesting but has some definite flaws that get in the way of it really being that good.
Rosario + Vampire
This show is pretty much how I pictured it. It’s completely filled with fanservice and ecchiness, stupid slapstick comedy abound. However even though its definitely not a “quality” show and I have no hope or thoughts that it will rise and become anything more, its still rather fun to watch as long as you don’t really hope for it to be anything more then that.
True Tears
I would have to say this is my favorite of the new season. The show seems to be done so well, it’s a wonderful romance series. They have three girls and the one guy but it doesn’t fall into any harem clichés really. I would hardly call it a harem at all, seeing as how everyone’s feelings are rather well developed and mysterious the show is much more interesting then your average harem. The girls aren’t fawning over the guy or anything, they all have real feelings and there are some rather serious topics and a continual metaphor about giving away your tears that makes this series engaging and just draws you in. It’s wonderful.
Quick Post Series:
Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga
This is probably my least favorite show I’ve picked up for the new season. However it’s pretty much what I thought it would be. I knew going into it that it would be a stupid slapstick like comedy with stupid happenings. However partially because of lack of things to watch…well mainly just because of lack of things to watch, I picked it up.
Minami-ke: Okawari
I was a bit skeptical about this. I absolutely loved the first series but I, as well as pretty much everyone, was unsure of how this new series would be handled. This wasn’t just a second season but it was made by another studio. Luckily it turned out great. In fact it actually takes off where the other series ended, same time of year, same things have happened such as Makoto cross dressing, so it really feels like a second season. This being more or less a second season is great because this show wouldn’t have done well if it just re-did the content from the first series, apart from the animation they are pretty much the same.
Shigofumi
I wasn’t originally planning on blogging this. Hell, I wasn’t even going to watch it. However it was recommended to me so I decided to pick it up and give it a shot. I’m so glad I did. I’ve only seen up to episode two for this, which comprises the first story. It seems like it will be broken into two episode long segments that tell pretty much different stories. I really thought this was going to be some touchy feely show but it’s really so much darker and more serious, touching on some moral questions. It really just blew me away as something that is unlike any other show I’ve seen.
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True Tears is my favorite in this season..
I don’t like Rosario Vampire much..(too many fanservices..)
The other animes that I watch this season,
Persona, Zetsubou Sensei, H2O, Minami-ke, and Hatenkou Yugi
are ok..I guess..
Well it’s been an interesting season at least. Obviously with some shows ending was a good chance to replenish the supply. Maybe not an overwhelming amount of great shows, but definitely some selected good ones to enjoy along the way.
Top Picks:
Ookami to Koushinryou (Spice and Wolf)
Easily my favourite of the season after checking out quite a few series. On one side just a good break from a ton of school based shows. (True Tears, Shana, H2O, Rosario Vampire, Kimikiss, etc) I don’t mind school, but good variety helps. But the strong part really comes down to the leads. Horo is one of the best characters out there right now. Not just locked into a stereotype or one personality she is a well rounded person who shows a lot of depth. Able to display cheerfulness, guilt, teasing, lonliness, and just a lot of emotions that make her a solid character. Great voice work just adds to it. Lawrence may be unusual just as the male lead who is about 25. Reactions to Horo are a big part of what makes the show enjoyable. Plus get to see some of his merchant work that isn’t as boring as one might guess at the start. A journey that is as much about how the characters grow as to what they encounter along the way. Show getting pretty serious and will be one that I wouldn’t stop watching for anything.
True Tears
While it would accompany the second spot in terms of my favourites its still a really good show. Had a very different feel than usual in terms of the seriousness. A lot of characters had some problems that were visible. Had an early tragedy with animal death (and yes animals have red blood, scary I know) and personal problems (loss of family for one of the heroines). Girls aren’t flocking over the lead and have problems that will need to be resolved. Just the different tone this series gives is worth notice of. A solid series in displaying character development and should be one of the good ones this year has to offer.
Middle Series:
Persona – Trinity Soul
Since I played the game this was one show I looked forward to. Have been trying to get into it and while not bad it hasn’t quite hit me yet. Probably because they really are going with new characters and leaving questions I have unanswered. But picking up things like music from the game or how small pieces fit together is pretty worthwhile. Think they are doing poor with the Persona’s themselves since they are much less solid than they were in the game and not a lot of variety away from the humanoid ones. Still looking forward to connections with the game and what will be resolved.
H20 – Footprints in the Sand
Here is a series that feels in the middle area. Has shown off some pretty shocking stuff early like with some violent bullying of one of the heroines. But also some things you aren’t that happy with. Like not addressing important changes with the lead and having everyone act like nothing major happened. Throwing curve balls that didn’t seem to have a purpose and were more for shock value (Hamaji….). But do have some nice moments and Hayami is a really good character. Has been through terrible times, but her interactions with Hirose have been good and so this show could work out alright in the end.
Holding out Hope:
Rosario Vampire
I’m hoping Gonzo doesn’t really kill this one. Doing some minor comparisons with the manga they have really ramped up the fanservice for this one. I’m not sure what would be defined as good fanservice, but having skirts that seem to serve no purpose because they hide nothing or when facing down the enemies doing it from a super low angle so you look up the lead girls’ skirt just seems off to me. Haven’t really done much to the story other than push some things back to introduce more girls so we’ll see how it goes. Just a show that has been hit by a lot of needless distractions.
Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
Oddly a show that isn’t too dissimilar. At least in terms of the main part being the fan service. Though in this case it isn’t a bad distraction or something stupid like 50 panty shots an episode. Not that sold with the lead Shinra at least in terms of her treatment of family members. Like kidnapping her younger sister and molesting her in the room….maybe some call it funny, but I’m just disappointed. Though not like the sister doesn’t pull her own stuff at times so no one is completely innocent here. Will probably keep following though it hasn’t been one I’m constantly on edge to see the next episode for.
Couldn’t get into:
Shigofumi
Really have heard a lot of great things about the series. Even went to check out a couple episodes to see if I had pegged this one wrong. But in the end just couldn’t fall into it. Maybe things were too depressing and the whole letters from those who are dead doesn’t seem to call out for pleasant conclusions. Maybe its just too dark that there isn’t much to enjoy from it. Just didn’t end up being my thing, maybe after its over I’ll check the whole thing out and see how that goes.
So that’s how the winter season looks to me so far. Maybe for a comment went a little long, but might as well get my thoughts out there.