Gunslinger Stratos
Short Synopsis: Our protagonist falls into an alternate world full of trigger happy people.
I am fairly certain that Gen is not writing this. You can see part of him in the concept but not anywhere else. The episode gave me a mixed impression. I hate the characters and find the main to be too much of a “Ordinary highschool student.” The action of the episode was quite good and I like the matter of dealing with alternate worlds even if in practice it’s a very bad idea. The art felt off at points as there were points when the protagonist turned his head and his face just looked strange and not proportionate. One thing that assures me that Gen is not the writer is the few lines which were embarrassingly awful. Two examples of which being when the main and female love interest encounter a blood soaked body and proceed to ask it if it’s ok. And this funny exchange of words
“No, that was an explosion!”
“An explosion? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.”
I would like to think of this as a translation error. Or at least I hope it is. I am willing to give it another episode but I don’t see this becoming something worthwhile.
Potential: 40%
Seraph of the end
Short Synopsis: Our protagonist wants to kill all vampires
This show has a number of parallels to attack on titan. It would be a lie to say it was exactly the same as it does at least differentiate itself enough in setting and story. However if there is one thing I wish this show would have avoided that was a major negative of Attack on titan. Namely the lack of subtlety. Seraph of the end is told so heavy handed with pretty much everything shoved in your face. So much so that the ever so predictable tragedy that came at episode’s end left me sighing. But while I feel the execution is poor I do like the ideas here. There is a good bit of potential in this story. However there are harbingers of decay in the future, namely this “Prophecy” mentioned and the worst thing that always cripples story potential, a school setting. Though really I am rather cautious because this was essentially the setting up episode and the next episode is likely the true beginning. I have a firm suspicion that this will go downhill very fast. But provided that it can restrain itself a bit and move the story as far away from that school as possible this could be something.
Potential: 50%
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku
Short Synopsis: The cynical adventures of captain buzzkill and his crew
There is a noticeable upgrade in art and animation. Though one complaint I have in that department is that Hikigaya looks like he’s been bishied up a bit. The pacing does look quick and I noticed moments were it seemed that scenes were cut out altogether. That said I don’t think anything cut out looked significant. One of my major concerns about this season has not yet been put aside. That being that harem antics overtaking the plot. I question as to why these girls pretend to show disdain for hikigaya despite their affection for him being maxed out. But admittedly not much has changed from the first season. Hikigaya’s cynical disposition and snark is delightful as ever as how the other characters play off him. (Though for once I would like to see a fujoshi character whose main purpose is not a one note joke) The first episode at least promises more of what made the first season enjoyable which is fine by me.
OP: The guitar riff is catchy and the tune is pleasant. The visuals colours are somewhat washed out but nice use of geometric shapes and stripes.
Potential: 80%
The translation seems to be accurate. I think I can buy it. They’re inside a building so the distant sound may have sounded like a structure collapse caused by an earthquake rather than an explosion, especially when you’re not used to hearing explosions. But yeah, the animation quality is definitely on a budget. Especially for a pilot. I guess Gunslinger Stratos isn’t doing to well. I think it’s popular but fairly rare. I only found them in the major arcades in Tokyo like Akihabara. I popped into arcades in cities further out and they didn’t carry them. Might be an expensive set. Need like 8 machines for a 4 vs 4 team to set up although you can use networking to join teams and play against players elsewhere.
About the Seraph tragedy scene, I have a feeling we might see those people again in a different form. I mean, especially blondie. He took waaaay too much damage to be able to shout that loud. And I seriously doubt that one shot took out pointy ears. They were referred to as experimental subjects and right at the end, there are examples of non-vampire people older than 13 who can survive the environment. Just speculating.
About Hikigaya, I get the two girls kind of liking him but I’m not sure if he likes them. I mean, he only seems to have the hots for Totsuka? He still overeacts to all the usual boy-girl tropes like 2nd-hand kisses and close contact but he doesn’t look happy, just uncomfortable. Two girls and a yaoi boy still works as a harem? Then again, Totsuka does seem to be working overtime putting the “ko” in otokonoko. (eg. the train eye-batting scene)
As someone who has read the light novels for Oregairu, I don’t see how it’s harem at all. So 2 girls makes it harem? And no the plot does not get overtaken by it. The plot becomes a whole lot deeper and complex. They cut out a whole lot of what happened in the novel in the first episode. They missed some important things such as a couple of lines or a scene. That ramen scene had a lot more detail in the novel, and the scene where Hiratsuka says that its not a bad thing to be scolded they omitted Yukino’s line about how she has never done anything that she could be scolded for. It digs deep into her character. The source content is very well written. I’d recommend reading it. You’d be surprised how it exceeds your expectations. I just hope Studio Feel doesn’t fuck this up.
The novels are pretty meh to be honest.
Oh and why is this under “currently watching” when it should be in the “Seasonal Previews”?
Meh, don’t worry about the school in Seraph of the End. Yu hates being in it as much as we hate seeing him in it, so he gets out of there pretty fast. The whole subtlety situation doesn’t begin to improve for, like, forever though. I have enjoyed the manga more as I’ve read it, though.
Does it get really dark and gruesome? I like the OP and elements of comedy between the kid and the chu-sa but I’m also getting some Ga Rei Zero like vibes. I’m pegging the distinctively designed foursome behind the chu-sa who don’t show up in the OP as prospective trauma-inducing vampire fodder. =.=; The dancing loli vampire I’m pegging as the leader of the vampire faction, possibly an Original. She kinda reminds me of a dark version of Rachel Alucard. Too bad. Kinda cute. :/ Love the OP. 2nd best this season behind UBW.