Sunday, June 29, 2014

Spring 2014 Season wrap-up

How about instead of lamenting my lack of writing, I just get right into it?

As another anime season comes to a close, I figured I would share with you all my impressions of what was presented to us, ne? As with every season, there are titles that surprised me, both positively and negatively; shows that disappointed me; music that stuck in my head; standard tropes that worked and didn't; overall fantasticness and cringe worthy moments. Let me go over what I felt were the highlights and the low lights.

This time around, let me go over the let downs, and the next entry will cover the rest.

Shows I stopped watching within the first couple of episodes, and wonder why I started

Is the Order a Rabbit?
As cute as this show is, it is essentially another one of those moe sleepers with no action. We've already had K-on, folks, placing it in a German coffee shop where there just HAPPEN to be a shit tonne of folks who HAPPEN to speak fluent Japanese and just HAPPEN to have the same cultural habits... ugh. If you like cute girls who look far younger than their age serving coffee and being clumsy, then feel free to watch. I will pass, thank you very much.

Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara (If Her Flag Breaks)
A standard boarding school harem with a supernatural twist. I lasted five episodes, then the harem part just started to develop too quickly. The extremes of the story also kind of detracted from the plot and felt really gratuitous. I was hoping for something similar to the recent Henneko (Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat), but was disappointed. It just felt like it was trying too hard to be too many things. Pass.

Riddle Story of the Devil
Apparently this show is about a classroom full of teenage girl assassins whose target is another student in the class. I say apparently, because despite giving it three tries at different times, I could not stay awake through even the first episode. If someone has watched it, and it was good, please let me know why, and maybe I'll give it another go. Or I might just save it for those nights I can't get to sleep...

Blade and Soul
Been there. Seen that. Two episodes in and I just kept thinking those two phrases over and over again. Done.

Shows I was looking forward to that didn't live up to expectations

Dai Shogun Great Revolution
I am actually a fan of these overly shonen/seinen shows with mecha, samurai, ninjas, and lots of fan service. I found the premise promising, considering the altered Edo period, familiar historical names getting bounced around, manly men and curvy women piloting mystical mechs, and a little of the harem aspect. However, I seem to have slept through over half of the season. I couldn't tell who was attacking behind the revolving femme fatales, and I couldn't tell who I was supposed to be rooting for as the love interest. It all seemed a bit convoluted, which is a real shame. I had high hopes. I might finish it (as in, go back and stay awake while watching it), but only might.

Mekakucity Actors
From the brilliant mind who brought us the Bakemonogatari series this one had a lot of hype. An original story about a group of super-powered shut-ins who all seem to be linked to this one girl who died and her father. The visuals, as to be expected, are fantastic. The play with colour is well done, and the story seems pretty decent... and I'm sure I'll finish it sometime... maybe soon... but it just...
... yeah...
Yeah. I don't know what it is, but it just isn't grabbing me. Maybe there are too many characters getting shoved into too few episodes? Maybe the timing is weird? I mean, the pacing is very odd, and the bouncing back and forth between past and present feels disjointed.

Shows that were nothing more than what you'd expect

La corda d'oro - Blue Sky
The third installment in the "corda d'oro" dating sim adaptation. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the show. The music was fantastic, and kudos to the instrumentalists they got to play the pieces specifically for the show. The voice acting - for the most part - was really good. Fukuyama Jun, Miyano Mamoru, and Kionishi Katsuyuki are some of my faves, and they didn't disappoint. The boys were good looking and there was plenty of BL undertones ripe for shipping. But, that's all it was. Nothing that made it stand out, nothing above and beyond, nothing unexpected. Also, the lead sieyuu - Takagi Reiko - was just horrible. An overly high pitched voice to make her sound more helpless, timid and young, with no real emotion portrayed. There was a real chance there - the story had potential, especially for her, and I felt like she could have done something amazing with it.

Worst OP:
Kamigami no Asobi - Loved the show, and the ED was awesome, but the opening never really brought it together.
Nanana's Buried Treasure - Didn't feel like it fit the show at all. Also, the beginning is the only thing that sticks in my brain and it is somewhat abrasive.

Worst ED:
The World is Still Beautiful - Again, loved the show. The ED was just kind of trite and boring.

Okay, so that's it for the downers. Next time, we go over the stuff you should not have missed! And if you did, you should go and watch it as soon as you get the chance!

Until then, ja ne!