- WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS -
Yet another season has come and gone, and while this summer didn't seem exceedingly spectacular, there were some diamonds in the rough. Shows that started off on a bad note managed to pick up later on during their respective runs, and this time around we were given three absurd shows. This all makes for what will be an exhilarating (and dreadfully extensive) review on the summer 2015 season.
This Season:
Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
Aoharu x Kikanjuu
Charlotte
Classroom Crisis
Danchigai
Gakkou Gurashi!
GATE*
God Eater
Jitsu wa Watashi wa
Aoharu x Kikanjuu
Charlotte
Classroom Crisis
Danchigai
Gakkou Gurashi!
GATE*
God Eater
Jitsu wa Watashi wa
Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (12/12)
One Sentence: A heartwarming and exciting fantasy depicting the growing friendship between Shirayuki, a "commoner", and Zen, the prince of a neighboring nation.
When first watching Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, I was absolutely blown away by the exquisite art. And this still stands true, to the very last episode. Besides wonderful art, the story line was engaging and fun, featuring delightful characters left and right. This airing was most definitely one of the better ones this season, and while it obviously had some flaws, it was an entertaining watch.
If you didn't get the gist of it in the starting paragraph, the art is really pretty. All the colours were soft and neutral, making for an effective contrast with Shirayuki's hair. Essentially the show was super easy on the eyes. Moving onto the soundtrack, it's all very standard stuff. Both the opening and ending pieces match the tone and genre of the show, but that's to be expected.
The largest flaw of the show was in the story, which tended to be sporadic and jumpy. My largest bone to pick is the fact that Zen's older brother is introduced as a sort of conflict, but is never confronted later on. There was the one scene in the last episode where Zen confesses to his brother that he loves Shirayuki and plans to defy social standards, but that felt meek. I thought there should have been more of the brother, as he was an interesting character. I couldn't tell if he was simply toying around with Zen, or if he was an actual antagonist (maybe even both).
All in all, Akagami no Shirayuki-hime was an airing better than most, especially when compared to other anime in the season. If you are a fan of fantasy and not particularly picky about things, you'll actually find the show quite likable.
Best Girl: while there's nobody else to choose, it'd still be Shirayuki
Link to MyAnimeList page
Aoharu x Kikanjuu (12/12)
One Sentence: Pretty much the closest thing you'll get to a new sports anime this season, just throw in some survival games and gender traps and you have Aoharu x Kikanjuu.
Oh boy, where do I even start with this one? Aoharu x Kikanjuu, in its simplest form, is an anime about a group of three who play survival games as a hobby. There are three main characters; Tachibana, the justice-obsessed girl who is mistaken as a boy for the whole show, Matsuoka, a suave and handsome host who is the captain of the team, and Yukimura, a lonely and quiet doujinshi artist.
Aoharu x Kikanjuu leaves a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, as it doesn't have a whole lot to it. Everything felt very bland and unimportant, and overall made for an uninteresting watch. Let me break it down piece by piece for you.
OP and ED are perfectly fine, no problems on my side. I actually found the art to my personal liking, with everything clear and sharp. The premise of a survival game anime is engaging enough for the curious viewer, and there was some potential for the show. As for the characters, well, to an extent, the characters pull their own weight and don't degrade the show. However, there's one vital aspect that the anime really dropped, and that is the story.
While this review might seem harsh, I don't mean to completely bash on the anime. It was a fun watch to fill up those Friday evenings, even if I did kinda lag behind an episode or two. So, if you're looking for something slightly different, and you don't care too much about what you're watching, then give Aoharu x Kikanjuu a shot. Granted, it won't be anything that will stick in your mind for a long time, but it is something.
Best Girl: Kanae because she's the best friend around
Link to MyAnimeList page
Charlotte (13/13)
One Sentence: Gaping plot holes and a hyperbolic time chamber ruin an otherwise great anime about adolescent teens gaining supernatural powers.
Charlotte was definitely one of the most anticipated anime coming out this season, being only the second original series coming out from Key (the first being Angel Beats!). There are certainly some elements that are from Key, including a promising idea, supernatural themes, and a lot of dying and (not so much) reviving, however it is evident that Charlotte leaves much to be desired.
Let's start off with everything that I thought was completed well/decently. As always, Key never fails to provide a captivating premise, and that was probably the greatest part of Charlotte that I enjoyed. Music and soundtrack are also up to par, with both the OP and ED done beautifully (the electro-esque ED in particular was different in a nice way). Animation and art were both solid, especially considering that they come from P.A. Works (the same studio that did Angel Beats!).
Unfortunately there are no other praises that I can give for this anime.
The first five or six episodes were used (I assume) as a way to introduce characters and help create depth in them. But the problem is it didn't work. Hell, even after a whole series with him, I know literally nothing about Takajou, while Yusa is the equivalent of a useless sidekick (which is unfortunate, seeing as there was a lot of potential here). In fact, the two disappear for half the series, a testament to how much they didn't bring to the show. So in the end, three or so episodes that could have been for the main conflict and story, were wasted.
Still, while the show is stupid and nonsensical at times, it still has its enjoyable and powerful moments. Personally, I found Charlotte entertaining, and enough to capture my attention (which isn't saying much by the way). Sure, it isn't as profound as Angel Beats! (which it will be compared to as a sister anime), but it provides a satisfying watch.
Best Girl: Nao turns really cute and girly near the end, so I've got that going for me
Link to MyAnimeList page
Classroom Crisis (13/13)
One Sentence: Not so much a crisis in the classroom, but more a story of power, greed, and friendship?
As a bit of a confusing watch, I seriously don't know what to say when it comes to the anime known as Classroom Crisis. I detested the first two episodes, found the third tolerable, and gradually warmed up as the series continued. Simply put, it had a slow start, and I didn't like it for that reason.
Now, that doesn't solve everything, and Classroom Crisis is still only a mediocre anime. There is nothing noteworthy about it, and it will be flushed down the drain like other series of its caliber. All of the characters are boring and dull, excluding Nagisa, who actually has a pretty interesting backstory. Story is somewhat interesting, but it is not expressed in such a way that it will have an impact on the viewer.
One nice aspect of the show is the art, which is pretty and pure, featuring a sort of pastel set. OP and ED both are norm and expected. Ultimately, I would recommend you pass on Classroom Crisis when looking for your next anime to watch. There are much better shows out there, but if you do decide to watch it, it is somewhat decent.
Best Girl: Hattori Hanakooooooo (largely because she's a tsundere)
Link to MyAnimeList page
Danchigai (short, 12/12)
I Rate: 7.0/10.0
One Sentence: My guilty pleasure of the season; something is just super cute about the show.
There is nothing else to Danchigai except the trivial and random events in the lives of five siblings. Lot of "wow this is basically incest" stuff, but for some reason it's kinda funny and nice to watch. Pretty good way to take up about 45 minutes of your time if you decide to watch it all in one go (each short is about four minutes). Nothing else to say here.
Best Girl: Mutsuki onee-chan (I'm terrible)
Link to MyAnimeList page
Gakkou Gurashi! (12/12)
One Sentence: An interesting, yet somewhat unsuccessful take on the moe genre, throwing in a zombie apocalypse and the tensions that come with survival.
If there was ever a curveball to start off a season in a strong manner, it would definitely be from Gakkou Gurashi!. The first episode plays the part of your standard moe anime, with an abundance of cute girls with absurdly high pitched voices. We're introduced to the main characters, and catch a glimpse of their daily school lives. Essentially the whole first episode proceeds this way, until the very last few minutes. Over the course of the episode there have been subtle hints that point to something dark, and it's at this point when all of the hints come together. Yuki (the deranged and delusional pink haired girl) goes to close a window, and it's shown that the window is broken. Yet she continues to do so as if the window is perfectly fine, and it is revealed that the school is overrun by zombies.
Certainly the premise is enough to hook pretty much anybody, but how does the show actually fare after?
I believe that the plot for Gakkou Gurashi! was decent. Of course, this anime is the first in uncharted waters, so it's hard to find anything to compare it with. However everything seemed to work in a reasonable order and manner, and I commend the show for trying to create an interesting and engaging story. It's notable that I was somewhat on and off with the anime. At times it felt very well paced and intense, with the other times feeling dreary and boring.
To me, the characters were all likable and they definitely grew on me. I liked the way that each character was assigned a group role of sorts, creating a mutual dependence of every person. It sure isn't a whole lot, but it's something.
Definitely an interesting little show that warrants a watch. While it fails to live up to the excitement and huge twist of episode one, Gakkou Gurashi! is a fascinating anime, and something that will get your brain going.
Best Girl: Rii-san, who seems to face the most inner turmoil and carries heaviness in her heart
Link to MyAnimeList page
GATE (dropped, 9/12)
One Sentence: Another fantasy-action anime, although in a different tone, which follows the actions of the SDF after a mysterious portal to another dimension opens in Japan.
If the fact that I didn't have enough willpower to get through the last three episodes of GATE didn't already tip you off, let me just say this: GATE isn't an interesting anime. As much as the setting might attract a viewer, the actual anime itself falls flat on its face. All of the characters are jokes and feature zero individuality, with no redeeming traits. To add on, the plot flatlines immediately after the first episode; harshly put, the plot is little more than random and insignificant stories jammed together.
The more I write about GATE, the less I seem to like it. While watching the nine episodes I did manage to swallow down, I thought that I was getting to like the show, but it's apparent that those feelings have long gone. Like Re-Kan!, it joins the infamous (and short) list of anime that I've put on hold (essentially things I'll most likely never finish).
Art was decent, music kinda weird and out of theme. Undoubtedly something that isn't worth your time to watch.
Best Girl: Tuka Luna (aka the blonde elf character), for novelty value
Link to MyAnimeList page
God Eater (ongoing, 9/13)
One Sentence: While not super original, the story and art are captivating enough to lure watchers in and keep them there.
I'll admit it, God Eater is just super fun to watch. This is why my rating might be skewed towards the higher end. It appeals to me because the main elements of the show are all the things that I admire and want. It stars Utusgi Lenka, a badass main character who battles monsters called aragami as an act of revenge (I would assume, we haven't been told his full backstory yet). While traveling at a slow pace compared to the other shows of the season, God Eater seems very quick and intense, and leaves me longing for more.
Let's start off with the elephant in the room: ufotable's bold and striking art.
It's definitely a given that I have gotten used to the art, but what you may not know is that I actually quite like the style in God Eater. Something new and exciting was exactly what I needed to kinda "cleanse my palate" and now it has grown on me. The colours are bleak and blue-ish, locking in with the whole dismal situation of the world, and the art is clear and beautiful. I'd also like to add that the electro music is great and thrilling.
Now for the story. You might say that it is plain, but I believe that's only how it appears on the first layer. What I see is a game of cat and mouse developing, especially with what's been going on with Lindow the past few episodes. There are hints of corruption in Johannes, and it's obvious enough to see that Lenka will be caught up in the middle of all of this, torn between his morals and beliefs and his responsibilities as a God Eater. The best part about all of this is that there is a reason behind it all. Lindow has morals that push him to perform acts that may be considered treason, Johannes lost his significant other to the Oracle Cell, and Lenka just wants to fight aragami.
It's all becoming an intricate web of deception and personal actions, and I can't wait to see how this all fares. The latest episode has also picked things up remarkably, with the last few minutes displaying an Alisa who has been brainwashed to kill Lindow. Things like this are what really keep watchers interested, and I am no exception.
Best Girl: Alisa (so much fan service), but looks like she's gonna get a lot of action next episode
Link to MyAnimeList page
Jitsu wa Watashi wa (13/13)
One Sentence: Dumb slapstick comedy prevails, helping push Jitsu wa Watashi wa to an adequate anime.
There is something off-putting when it comes to the art in Jitsu wa Watashi wa, something that can probably be traced back to the weird colours and eyes. Once again, this took a while to get accustomed to, but once I did, it wasn't a big deal anymore. OP and ED are alright in their own respects, but definitely could have been better.
Really isn't any story in Jitsu wa Watashi wa, except the slight romantic development between all the girls and Kuromine, our spineless main character. At the very end of it, we're given the typical "the guy will probably go with this girl after all, but we're not going to signify anything that confirms this" ending. Nothing outstanding at all.
However the anime did make me chuckle at times, and that has boosted my personal enjoyment, which in turn raises my overall rating of the anime. Something about dumb characters doing dumb things has always been humorous in some way. As for my recommendation, I would say skip it, but hey, it's bearable.
Best Girl: really all of the other ones besides Youko I dislike
Link to MyAnimeList page
- CONTINUED IN PART 2 -
No comments:
Post a Comment