Author: AidanAK47

Violet Evergarden

Short Synopsis: An emotionless girl copes with new life after the war ends.

Mario’s review

By far the most anticipated title of this Winter season, I came out of the first episode of Violet Evergarden feeling a little underwhelmed. On the one hand, we have one of the most impressive technical production of TV format in recent years. Just look at the amount of actual movements this episode produced. Everything looks crisp and pretty. Even down to the facial expressions and characters’ small movements, and they blend CG mechanical hands seamlessly with its 2D character model. On the other hand, I’m worried about its characters and its narrative. Our main character, Violet, is a blank state by design in terms of emotions, and the series at its essence is about her learning and developing her own emotions through ghostwriting letters for those in need. I get the intend and I’m sure it will be a rewarding character’s journey, BUT I can’t help but feel the show tackles it a bit heavily. I can feel the show dictates my emotional response for Violet, “elevating” by their melodramatic score and her obsession with Major Gilbert. The latter especially is my biggest issue with the show so far. They repeat her blind love for the dead guy for way too many times and this Gilbert guy isn’t a real character, as he obviously serves as an emotional trigger for Violet. Then again, this episode alone has many wonderful moments that it’s easy to see why it’s hyped over the sky. A character-study at heart, with a god-send production values, this show is a “can’t miss” title of this season.

Potential: 75%

HelghastKillzone’s review

For a show that been hyped up to no end by the anime community, featured on biggest streaming sites like Netflix and having its source material be only winner of the grand prize in the novel category in the history of the Kyoto Animation’s Awards, Violet Evergarden falls flat in its opening debut. No amount of jaw-dropping visuals, soaring orchestral score and attractive character designs can cover up the ham-fisted introduction into Violet’s journey of discovery. I haven’t read the light novel itself (I plan to read it in the near future), but I do know that the anime make liberal changes when compared to its source and takes place in the latter chapters of the book. That in itself is fine but it could have taken a que from shows like Unlimited Blade Works by having an extended introduction to really flesh out the backstory of Violet and the unhealthy bond between her and Major Gilbert. Instead, all we only see are the disjointed aspects of Violet’s emptiness as a single-minded killing machine and repeats of the scene where the Major dies which ends up robbing the severity of  emotional impact it is intended to convey. While KyoAni trademark of small and cute moments continues to be extremely well done, the execution of this overall bold new direction is something left to be desired. Nevertheless, this is only the first episode and it has all the time in the world to dive into all the PTSD flashbacks of Violet and overcome them through the magic of the Auto Memories Dolls and become the show that I hyped up in my mind.

Note: From all the PVs, I thought that Violet was a robot but it turns out that she is just a former child soldier with prosthetic metal arms.

Potential: 70%

 

Märchen Mädchen

Short Synopsis: A girl celebrates getting Isekaied to another world by streaking

Aidan’s review

I am somewhat reminded of Familiar of Zero though it’s significantly less entertaining. I would like to be respectful considering that the author is no longer in this world but this is really not a good show. Some may enjoy it for yuri and what not but in my experience, first episodes with nudity in them don’t result in a good series.There are exceptions of course(Spice and Wolf) but I don’t see this being one of them. Mostly because in this case the main protagonist spends the second half of the episode streaking through another world for some pretty flimsy circumstances.(Why did the principal of the school offer her a bath, steal her clothes and proceed to ignore one of her students trying to commit open murder?) I do see some effort being put into the story as it’s not taken from a template but the writing really isn’t the best.For one our main protagonist decides that while searching for a magic portal that she will recount her history with her mother for no particular reason. And having a flashback to what just happened in the very same episode is generally bad padding. There is a possibly of this turning into a guilty pleasure but quite frankly I don’t see it being anything higher than that.

Potential: 15%

Mario’s review

Well, welcome to a cute girls/ isekai/ fantasy high-school LNs, all these elements that plague the anime industry in the last few years. Despite the narration tries hard to differentiate the main girl with other typical LNs lead; she is a boring bland typical LNs lead. All she does is run, with clothes or otherwise, and her only significant traits are her shyness and her love for books. Her interaction with basically everyone is annoying to watch and at the end of the day, her personally issues of not getting along with anyone and retreating herself to her own world are solved by her literally step in a whole new fantasy world, running naked?? Then despite she has no knowledge of the new world, apparently she’s awesome enough to already has her “Original”, an item of more advanced mage? No, this is a by-the-book fantasy fulfilling crap with a boring lead (and we have to follow her every step of the way) and so far generic cast. NOPE.

Potential: 10%

 

Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku

Short Synopsis: A game programmer finds himself within the game he’s debugging

Aidan’s review

Well, I’m bored. I will admit that Death March isn’t the worst Isekai I ever seen but it certainly embodied a lot of the problems that plague the genre. Such as throwing in video game elements because that means you don’t need to write interesting ways of showing the protagonists growing strength when you can flash up a stats screen every now and again. No need to design enemies with motivations or character either nor any kind of story structure at all. Instead you can just write it like a lets play of an RPG. The wish fulfillment is just disgustingly apparent. Get transported to another world with unfair advantages from the get go. Giving your teenage looks back despite being 29 years old. Get bumped from level 1 to level 320 in an instant.(That’s some terrible game design) And for the cherry on top here’s your waifu delivered by episodes end. Harem incoming as well so have fun you overworked programmer you. Look there’s nothing interesting about seeing someone get everything handed to them on a silver platter and already the story doesn’t seem to really have any direction to go. The main character just isn’t interesting enough to carry the series and the world is lazily thought out with poor CGI. Again I say this isn’t offensively bad but it’s just so bland that I can’t feel any strong emotions about it.

Potential: 0%

Mario’s review

You know something is wrong when you enjoyed its prologue section way more than the main storyline. At least in his mundane, busy, shit life he has to work for it. In the new world he’s already overpowered (the show isn’t shy from addressing it), a harem team that sure will appear in next episodes waiting for his approval. This is not much of how he gains the power, but more about how he manages it through gameplay console that feels just weird given he’s already in the fantasy world. Have to remind us he transports into his games, huh? The plot is generic, the main character is generic, the world building isn’t that special. “Generic” is pretty much what Death March is, and to put it frankly it’s just not good enough. Try harder guys.

Potential: 10%

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san

Short Synopsis: A boy tries to find ways to prank the girl that’s always making fun of him.

Aidan’s review

100% Certified fluff. Takagi-san is that show that make you believe that the world isn’t completely trash and fills you with that positive optimism that brushes away negativity until you see a news report or internet shitpost. Though it is true that this season is certainly not lacking when it comes to feel good anime, I would say it’s far too abundant, this is definitely one of the higher tier titles on the list. If you liked Tsurezure Children or Tonari no Seki-kun then this is most certainly up your alley. The big problem with this series is that it’s only got one gimmick and that’s all we are going to get for the rest of the series. So if you are fine with the content in this episode and don’t mind if it doesn’t develop beyond this then watch away. But if you are expecting more romantic development then I say you just aren’t going to get it.

Potential: 60%

Mario’s review

There’s one word to describe this show: “charming” and Takagi deserves to be crowned tiara-ed as the princess of moe girls in a season handful of cute girls. Not only is she smart that always one, two steps ahead of poor Nishikata, all her actions highly indicate her interest to the boy as well, making all their schemes funny and warming at the same time. The two mains share the most natural and dynamic chemistry of any pair this season and that chemistry certainly drives the show’s story. In addition, the show sure knows how to frame the girl in a classy and mysterious manner (she’s ALWAYS in the centre of focus, visually speaking). Her trollings never feel any ill will, but more that she teases him because she enjoys his company. I feel the magic in all the three skits from this premiere, although its issue still remains. With such a simple and predictable concept, how will the show stay interesting without repeating and patting its story too thin? I’m not okay with variations of the same concept because it will get dull fast, so I hope the show better have more tricks under its sleeve or more hearts under its trolling shenanigans. As for this episode alone, it totally win me over. ♪ You keep me under your spell (3x) ♪

Potential: 60%

 

Ryuuou no Oshigoto!

Short Synopsis: A little girl runs away from home to become a teenager Shogi players disciple

Aidan’s review

So, was anyone watching 3-gatsu no Lion and thought “This anime is good but it would be so much better if it had loli’s!” Well? Yes of course you didn’t but here you go anyway. I really hate that light novels have this reputation for being poor wish fulfillment tripe when there are notable examples of great works but it’s much more hateful that there is a large pool of works that justify this assumption. This is no exception. The only thing that really interests me here is the shogi(Where the undersides of Shogi boards actually used to catch blood from punishing misconduct?) and the rest is just really distasteful light novel cliche. Typical power fantasy with the main character being famous and getting girls without trying. Not to mention with loli fanservice and what looks like more lolis incoming. Comedy is just not funny, because I seen these jokes before. The minute the sister showed up at the door while the loli was showering I knew exactly what was going to happen and it happened exactly as I thought it would. Oh hey the loli is a yandere even though she hasn’t hit puberty yet, hahaha. Look, you want a anime about Shogi with drama? Watch 3-gatsu no Lion. You want cute girls playing a board game? Watch Saki. You even want something like Shogi with murder mystery? Watch Shion no Ou. Just don’t watch this.

Potential: 0%

Mario’s review

We have another product from popular Light Novel. As soon as I learn that this show is about a prodigee shogi teenager who eventually becomes a master of even more talented nine-year-old girl who only learned shogi for 3 months, I have a strong feeling that I – a pitiful commoner – would never get its appeal. Indeed. All the characters introduced are over the top right at the bat, which also mean they don’t feel like characters you can relate to. The shogi remains its most interesting part, but when we have a more powerful and thoughtful shogi alternative out there (3-gatsu), this one looks bland in comparison. Characters act absolutely ridiculous and flashy in a bad way as they shout at each other and sprout nonsense. The main protagonist is your typical Light novel main character, already talented and having a flock of chicks who keep making sheep’s eyes at him without having to lift his monkey paw (all those are Zodiac’s animal references, btw). And I haven’t mentioned the cringe-worthy moment involving the nude loli girl because that’s how they sell so well, I suppose? I keep defending for many years now, against all odds, that Light Novels are art/ not trashy but I’m shaking real hard with those poorly written and full of cliche LNs. Please save me from this miserable life God of Eloquent Light Novels.

Potential: 10%

 

Dame x Prince ANIME CARAVAN

Short Synopsis: A princess attends a treaty-signing ceremony and meets lots of cute princes.

Mario’s review

We have an otome adaptation and this opening episode tries its hardest to cram up as many male characters who act like rock stars as possible, while introducing its thinnn premise so the story could go somewhere. For its credits, it has two beneficial factors that I can give. First, I like the slightly feminist view over its female characters, as the main heroine is aware full well of the absurdity those Princes and other boys behave, and her witty comments clearly show that she wouldn’t care less. The depiction of how her kingdom works: papa is a muscle and mama is a brain, gets a thumbs-up from me. Second, this show breaks down all hot boys’ archetypes, making them utterly ridiculous by tuning up their tropes to 11. Being said all that I can comfortably say that this show just isn’t for me. Reverse-harem story doesn’t appeal to me much and introducing roughly about 7, 8 hot males (and more to come) results in too much of boys doing weird poses and talks lame lines than actual plot development. Still not worth your time is my final verdict.

Potential: 20%

Wooper’s review

Dame x Princess strikes me as the work of a creative team that watched Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun in 2014, and figured that sort of humor can be successfully applied to any production, no matter the level of effort that goes into it. Unfortunately for DamePri, its many faults pollute the stab it takes at comedy, to the point that “Comedy” isn’t even listed as one of its genres on any of the major anime databases. Studio Flad does try their hand at making people laugh with their debut work, though – there’s a prince who’s a total airhead (lol), a prince who loudly and repeatedly assumes that the heroine is in awe of him (heh), a prince who strikes funny poses (haha), and a laughably shallow setup for conflict between three neighboring kingdoms that serves as the series’ plot (hahaha!). That last one probably wasn’t supposed to be funny, but on the off-chance that this entire show is some meta-commentary on otome adaptations, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. “Jokes” aside, Dame x Princess’s premiere was boring and bland-looking, though it earns a point for featuring a protagonist who doesn’t act like a lovesick puppy from the word go. Recommended for former fans of the bishounen genre who want to see its tropes mocked, but also still kind of love it enough to overlook drab visuals and a silly plot.

Potential: 1%

Kokkoku

Short Synopsis: A woman, her father and grandfather stop time in order to rescue their kidnapped family.

Lenlo’s Review:

Anime about Time and Time Travel are not particularly rare. Good anime about time travel though… I can count those on one hand. In its first episode, Kokkoku shows it has promise and the opportunity to make that list. The characters, while not exactly lovable for the most part, feel like good ones, like people with problems that can be resolved by the end of the season. The time stop appears to have layers to it, with bloodlines and extended powers, appearing to have more of a magic and spirits aspect than the science of Steins;Gate. Kokkoku also lays the groundwork for an exploration of ethics in stopped time, with our new favorite grandpa’s explanation. What is going to make or break Kokkoku for me is the use of this “Herald” and how the magic works. For now though, I am very hopeful. Also best OP so far, its already on my playlist.

Potential: 80%

Aidan’s review

We have the winner of the best opening of the season. Kokkoku is a really weird show whose premise is so out there that even the show itself seems to realize how insane the situation is. Upon stopping time one of the characters begins to question how they could breath and move if air is also stopped in time, only for the grandfather to just say he can’t explain it. Neat way of acknowledging the flaws with stopping time as well as side stepping the obvious pitfall of trying to explain it. When it comes to time related things like this, you either put laborious effort into making a time travel rule set that makes sense and adhere to it religiously or you just handwave it away as magic. Attempting something in between always has disastrous results and is a plot hole generator. Much like my preview, I still find myself at odds with how to judge this story. The characters, while not necessarily likeable, at least feel realistic. The stories concept is pretty amazing and there is intrigue to be had but as to whether I enjoyed this episode or not that would be a…maybe? I find it very interesting but I think I need to know more of where exactly the plot is going to decide whether this is for me or not. Still I highly recommend checking this out because it’s a unique concept and also it’s not slice of life/cute girls doing cute things.

Potential: 75%

 

Mitsuboshi Colors

Short Synopsis: Three little girls play heroes in a city as they try to solve mysteries

Lenlo’s Review:

BOOM Poop joke right out the gate. Mitsuboshi Colors is, if nothing else, the essence of high brow comedy. On a legitimate review note though, Colors is the only cute-girls-doing-cute-things show with a legitimately good premise that I have seen so far. Children playing their make-believe games in the park? I can buy that. Animation to make those make believe games come to life? Oh boy we have a good reason for basically any setting/scene. Adults who actually exist in this world and care for their children?! It has everything! Now, personally I was bored by Colors as this isn’t really my genre, but I didn’t have any complaints. Animation was solid, characters fit together well they even have a little kitty mascot. Way I see it, if you enjoy moe, than Colors will be a nice break from the high-school drama of literally every other anime of its genre.

Potential: 30%

Mario’s review

Another day, another cute girls show. This time, all they do is to play children games in the park. I might sound dismissive but it’s exactly the reason why this show is a whole lotta fun. In a same vein with shows like Squid Girl (and one of the main cast has similar design too), the show’s main strength lies in its fun and bright atmosphere while we witness the girls enjoying themselves with whatever stupid, childish games they could think of. From catching a cat thief, declaring war with the police or cracking a safe, these activities sound like the kind WE used to love pulling when we were younger. Extra point goes to the main cast who has diverse personalities and they play off well with each other. Extra extra point goes to the adults who actively encouraging the girls to have fun. This show understands kids and their make-believe games and it’s a nice contrast to many high school-oriented moe shows so far. I can’t wait for more.

Potential: 40%

 

Gakuen Babysitters

Short Synopsis: A boy is taken in by a headmistress of a school to run a school daycare

Aidan’s review

Another anime to combat declining birth rates in Japan so it seems. Look how adorable these kids are? Don’t you want to have one of your own? Well how’s about to get out there and get goddamn busy! Well this episode works well in establishing the brothers relationship as well as the recent tragedy to hit their family. Though I got to say that these two had some horrible parents that seems to ditch them often to run away on holiday while the brother had to do the job of actually raising their kid. In comparison there new caregiver may be strict but at least she shows she cares in her own way and even does some bloody parenting unlike the kids actual parents. There is a heavy abundance of shows with this appeal in this season but I would rate this one of the better ones for at least having a more unique aspect.(Aka, caring for children) Still I wonder why all the babysitters are male, not to be sexist here but I just find it odd that in a school filled with students that the only people who stepped up to take care of these kids happened to be guys. Just hope they aren’t trying to target the female demographic by throwing in a bunch of cute boys. Of what I seen so far this is a fairly decent show and if you have the time for it then it could be a worthwhile watch.

Potential: 40%

Mario’s review

TODDLERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, this show starts with many issues but as the episode continues to the end, it just gets better and better. The premise is pretty forced when you think about it, the brothers lost their parents, goes to live in a stranger’s house and become a babysitter in such short span of time. Problematic as well as many people could accuse the Chairwoman as child abuser (giving the kid a job as a payback? NOOO), but somehow they get away with it in the end. There are many things that this show does right: the natural charms of those toddlers, the great bond between the brothers, the realization that your lost loved ones will never come back (in one of the episode’s best moment), and the message of “you don’t have to fight alone” all blend into a satisfying conclusion. The show’s main appeals coming forward, however, are how the main kid forms a babysitter club and deal with the toddlers in everyday situation so I suppose this show will resonate the most to those older fans who have their own kids (I’m ten year behind from that group) or viewers who love kids. While this show seems pale regarding the strong line-up of slice of life shows this season, with the amount of “feels” this first episode produces, if it goes in the right direction it could very well be a sleeper hit of the season.

Potential: 30%

Citrus

Short Synopsis: A girl transfers to a new school and finds herself fascinated with a another girl

Aidan’s review

I feel like Mario below is being a bit harsh on this show but there are aspects of this story that have taken on a new tone with animated adaptation. For one it seems they upped the fanservice here as what was relatively low key scenes with kissing have well become….sexual assault. Maybe I somehow ignored this while reading the manga but I certainly don’t remember this being so graphic. I personally think it’s a decent watch and yuri fans are certainly going to get a kick out of it but be warned that when the first initial act is over, things are going to slow down fast. Admittedly the situation is a bit on the contrived side with our protagonist somehow getting involved with this girl at every turn. And the teacher aspect is rather distasteful though he isn’t going to be around for long. But otherwise it’s a decent watch and I give points for having a boob joke that was actually funny.

Potential: 30%

Mario’s review

I had hope citrus concerns more about coming to term with your own sexuality but nope, this is a fan-service forbidden yuri love story through and through. It ticks all the boxes of a softcore hentai plot with admittedly attractive art designs. We already have a girl who has her first kiss stolen by a new girl she just met who happens to (holding my breath here) study-in-the-same-class, kiss-her-homeroom-teacher, is-a-step-sister-by-some-bizzare-plot-development. Any subtle about the romance between those two is thrown out to the window with too much touching, feeling, kissing for its own good. “Deep” isn’t the word in its dictionary here, same goes with “realistic”. So ultimately what we have here coming forward are scenarios about those girls, and their harem, having intimate (AKA horny) moments together that surely will be a pleasure for our eyes and ears. To its credits though, it knows exactly how pulpy it is and the girls are (again) attractive and likeable enough for this type of story and the anime translates well from its source. There’s nothing inherently wrong with trashy fun show so if you can suspend your disbelief enough and take it for what it is then this show will certainly make you excited. For me though, my yuri train stops right here.

Potential: 10%

 

Slow Start

Short Synopsis: A girl who attended school one year late makes friends

Aidan’s review

There is nothing particular wrong with this show but I fear it is really bad timing to have it air now, for it is a cute girls show that offers nothing new in a season which has an avalanche of these kinds of shows. One thing I can say is that this show is surprisingly well animated. The character designs may be simplistic but we do have moments of very expressive animation and body language which is rather impressive. But well you could have the most beautifully animated Peppa Pig show in the world, doesn’t change the fact that it’s Peppa Pig. And in this case there really isn’t an effort to make any real story, it’s just a girl going to school and making friends. Even with just that there are far better alternatives. If the other shows in this season didn’t do it for you, or if you really need another slice of life show then you can check out this. Otherwise don’t bother.

Potential: 10%

Mario’s review

Another cute girls show in the big wave of slice of life cute girls shows this Winter season, this time those cute girls absolutely do nothing. We have a contender of the worst first impression so far, since the show offers nothing new to the table. There is no real story except those four girls chatting to each other, and somehow the main lead remains the most unremarkable character out of the bunch. The other girls simply drag her along, while she’s too busy worrying about all the nervous stuff, despite (and because of) she has a late start. I don’t even get why she feels that nervous despite she’s technically a year older than the other cast. Sigh. The production is alright with again, cherry blossom but overall this is a harmless, toothless show that comes and goes quickly without leaving any impact.

Potential: 0%

 

Pop Team Epic

Short Synopsis: Two girls star in a bizarre sketch comedy show.

Wooper’s review

This will almost certainly go down as the strangest premiere of the season, and perhaps of the year. Pop Team Epic is an adaptation of a kooky, irreverent 4-koma manga, which leaves it very little material to work with. Many of the pop culture gags in this episode were anime original, and not all of them were winners. (Your mileage may vary, of course, since the success of reference-based humor depends largely on the audience.) The show flips between several art styles, including moe, CGI, 16-bit, and deliberately crude “Bob Epic Team” segments, all while using the faithful manga designs pictured above as a home base. This visual craziness helps the show stay fresh throughout its runtime, as does a surprising mid-episode “twist” that I don’t want to spoil here. It wouldn’t feel right to give PTE a numerical grade, since it’s more of an assault on one’s comedic sensibilities than a traditional anime comedy, but I plan to keep watching, at least for now. Recommended for fans of Nichijou and Teekyuu.

Potential: ???

Aidan’s review

Yet another boring anime about a plank of wood that goes out with idols from planet jupiter while they fight off the forces of space mecha cats. Personally I just don’t feel anything about standard situations like having the main character admit he’s a pansexual lebanese tiger. And having pancakes show up as the true main character was just a left field development. Don’t get me wrong, I like my pancakes but I treat my pancakes like I treat my video games. With a face full of bacon and a laptop on reddit. But enough of that, what’s truly important is whether this anime can be used as a sledgehammer to break down walls and I can safely confirm that it cannot. It cost me a 2400 euro laptop but I knew this had to be done. Durability needs to be a factor in anime going forward and each anime must be tested by being bashed over a bears head and then thrown on a saucepan. With some cheese, a tiny bit of butter and a boatload of mayonnaise sauce. Pop team epic fails to reach the chewy heights of K-on or Mars of destruction but with enough fermenting I am sure it can used as a nice side drink.

Potential: 10 out of 5 ducks. It had a Chrono Trigger reference.

Grancrest Senki

Short Synopsis: A mage and Knight take over as lords of a land

Aidan’s review

Unfortunately I missed out on a bit of info that I should have included in the preview but this show is actually written by the same author who wrote Record of the Lodoss War. Considering that Lodoss war was apparently inspired by a Dungeons and Dragons session between the author and his friends, it does make sense that Grancrest feels like the beginnings of a RPG rather than a anime. I still stand by my comments in the preview about this story being rather alright and it does improve when the characters start working towards building a country. However I do admit that this is a fairly mediocre start to this anime and bad tidings for what is to come. Part of the problem lies in the direction which is quite sporadic and confusing. As an example the start of this episode featured a demon cutting off the heads of kings with a giant sword but the scene featured so many close ups and some many quick scene transitions without any real flow that you only realise what happens when you see the kings heads hit the floor. It’s like filming a boxing match and constantly having nothing but extreme closeups of the fighters eyes and punching gloves. Fairly certain the large use of close ups is an animation saving effort but it really is hampering the experience. Otherwise I would say this is a solid meh. I at least appreciate the female lead having an excuse as to why she is wearing skimpy attire(The lord she was to serve as a mage was a pervert who pushed the uniform on her) but it really doesn’t excuse her wearing it for the remainder of the show. Fans of SRPGs like Fire Emblem might get a kick out of the setup. Could get better later but right now it’s mediocre.

Potential: 50%

Mario’s review

Grancest is your typical high fantasy RPG anime without an isekai settings (thank God!), so naturally everything feels traditional and old-fashioned here like what we had few years ago. I couldn’t care less about its world building, a world where the assigned Lord gaining more power level by draining other Lords’ crest, and then managing to claim his castle and mage on top on that? Why creating a world that obviously feel like a game, and not even that original? One point off. The decision to start the entire series with a confusing prologue about the failed attempt to reconcile two nations we literally have no idea about? Another point gone. The characters are even worse, they speak their lines and behave like some silly action figures that carry no personality, nor charms whatsoever. One more off. Despite all that, the show still hadn’t lost me until the main girl’s miniskirt uniform appears so out of context it completely destroys all my goodwill for this series. If you are a fantasy buff, an action-oriented viewer or you have a special interest in girls’ belly then this is for you.

Potential: 10%

 

IDOLiSH7

Short Synopsis: A woman works as a manager for a new male idol group

Aidan’s review

I was ready to bemoan the experience of going through yet another boy band anime as I started this episode up but even i have seen enough bad Male Idol anime to recognise when something is actually trying. There is the problem that they pretty much throw the characters at us right off the bat but there is an effort to actually characterise them past the bland stereotypes I too often see in these series. The conflict presented in the first episode didn’t really have weight behind it considering the shows very name but it did provide an opportunity to flesh out the group. I can’t say I will ever be won over by this kind of show(Considering my disdain for Idol anime in general) but if you are a fan of these kinds of shows then this is on the higher quality end and i would recommend this to you.

Potential: 20%

Mario’s review

Like most of you guys, male idol is one of my least favorite new genre in anime, so I came to this double-length episode based on a mobile game with little to no expectation. To my surprise though, even with its 40 odd minutes, the show still maintains my attention throughout. Despite run comfortably into its established formula: we have the formation of the group, their CG live concert, each member has their own color code… it helps that the production and the story is solid enough to hold everything together. Its biggest achievement has to be the chemistry between each member of the group and their manager. I see the intent of the first episode to flesh out the members of the band through otherwise a forced conflict, but through that each of them gives their own voice and their own opinions that flesh them out far better than most of other idol shows. This show is by no mean a breakout hit but within its idol genre I would heartily recommend it.

Potential: 30%

 

Sanrio Danshi

Short Synopsis: Pretty boys are not ashamed to like Sanrio™ Mascots™

Aidan’s review

If you like something, it doesn’t matter if it’s appropriate for your gender or not. That message is good but this feels like promotion in the disguise of anime. Hey girls, we got your product promotional hunks ready! Do you want sporty spice, playboy spice, bookworm spice, class rep spice or nice guy spice? Well come buy Sanrio™ products and meet he boy of your dreams!(Disclaimer: Buying our products does not guarantee success in your love life. Depression and a lightened wallet are expected symptoms.) Other than that this is pretty unremarkable and i find the main protagonists little trauma(Featuring Pompompurin which you can buy in retail stores right now!) to be utterly ridiculous. What you threw a hissy fit at your grandma because you get mocked for liking plush toys and couldn’t bring yourself to apologize for years until she died? So, what happened when your parents forced you to come to grandma’s? Did you just sit ignoring her? Or were your parents cool with you not being there on your grandmas deathbed? This is just dumb and I find the other characters to be rather obnoxious with how they pander to the audience. This isn’t worth your time.

Potential: 0%

Mario’s review

It’s pretty telling when the show’s brightest moments aren’t about the show itself. The play right at the beginning is visually arresting with a clear influence of Utena that is easily the best part of the episode, and then it goes downhill from here. First, these guys are obviously products to lure young girls into watching this show, as each of them is over the top with their archetypes. Second, I think the show’s message is problematic when they view the guys’ standard through sparkling aura, or whatever it is. And lastly, only morons would ignore a crying lost child so all of this not only add nothing to flesh out the main guy, it feels stupid. Then those hot guys apparently love Sanrio/ Hello Kitty mascots? Give me a goddamn break, you’re trying too hard to get them as cute as possible. The production is amongst the most inappropriate I have seen so far this season with those uncanny character designs.and somewhat limited animation. “Don’t afraid with what you love” is a solid theme but when it gets lost amongst prefect species boys collecting cute mascots, I’m pretty I’m not within this show’s target audience.

Potential: 0%

DEVILMAN crybaby

Short Synopsis: A high school athlete joins his friend on a devil hunting mission and transforms into a half-demon himself.

Wooper’s review

Masaaki Yuasa returns to the small screen with an adaptation of Go Nagai’s landmark 1970’s manga, Devilman. I haven’t read the source material, but I have seen nearly all of Yuasa’s directorial efforts, and the first episode of Crybaby fell mostly in line with my expectations. The one aspect of this premiere that disappointed me was the breakneck speed of its script, which felt as though it were missing a few crucial details. The protagonist’s total willingness to embroil himself in a devil hunting mission smacked of plot convenience, for example, but his resulting transformation more than made up for it. Akira first becomes Devilman in a wildly colorful, sexual, and violent club scene that screams excess, and the series’ loose, almost gleeful animation fit that segment like a glove. Elsewhere, a cast of supporting characters lend Crybaby some much-needed charm, and the episode’s first few minutes promise much more than a beat-’em-up action show. The premiere drags in a couple places, but if you’re a fan of distinct animation and don’t mind violence and nudity in your anime, this series is well worth a look.

Potential: 80%

Lenlo’s Review:

Oh boy where to start? Devilman is, one episode in at least, my favorite anime of this season. It has its problems no doubt, from ludicrous pacing to convient plot contrivances, yet still I was engaged the whole way through. The animation style changes every few scenes and aside from some stills, there was always something to draw my attention. The adult themed acid tripp’ed visuals of the end in particular stood out, both delighting and disturbing me at the same time. Though they are very different, Ping Pong the Animation comes to mind for being similarly engaging, in a completely different way. As far as characters go, the side characters are more engaging than the main pair. Ryo is confusing and psychotic, while Akira is (as the name implies) a crybaby. Their interactions with the rest of the cast promises more down the line however. All in all, if your ok with a 17+ animation showcase, with graphic displays of both sex and violence, then I think we’re in for a good time.

Potential: 85%

 

Itou Junji: Collection

Short Synopsis: A petty boy casts curses on his classmates

Aidan’s review

I wasn’t really sure what I would get when I started this series but it certainly started odd as the first story was mainly a black comedy. I can’t really figure out my feelings on it but I guess it was rather unique, if odd. Junji Ito isn’t a stranger to comedy, though his horror is what makes him iconic.That horror was nicely displayed in the small four minute short at the episodes end which depicts a disease that’s both immensely unsettling and terrifying. Though I feel the anime dampened the impact of the sort tale with a downgrade to the art due to animation constraints and just rather lacking animation in the final reveal. And even though the story is short, they still cut bits out of it that made it more involving. Still I applaud the effort to bring Ito’s style to life and truth be told it’s not to bad a way to show his stories. If they can adapt it well, then the only real issue would be which stories they choose to adapt. If they pick wisely this could be quite interesting.

Potential: 65%

Mario’s review

Itou Junji has become such a household horror figure that any attempt to transfer his genius successfully on animation format has been non-existent. This first episode, however, brings some of his spirits to the table and overall it was an wickedly fun ride. Goofy, twisted and I’m sure as hell had my eyes glued on the screen the whole time. I also like the aesthetic of the show, while not much actual animation in it, still bring the styles of Itou to life. The characters are the battle between madness vs insanity characters aka not the types we particularly care about, and so far it’s the weakest component of this first episode. I suspect that later episodes will be creepier and more serious in tones than this one. The short 4-minutes second story actually fares better at giving the creepy chills down over the spine, and frankly I would love a whole-episode length slow-burned treatment of it. I’m still a bit wary about the actual presentation but as long as it keeps the spirits of the source, be it goofily black humor or disturbingly unsettling, we have for ourselves something to look forward for this Winter season.

Potential: 60%

 

Toji no Miko

Short Synopsis: Magic sword fighter girls fight in a tournament

Aidan’s review

This show appears to be doing a balancing act between being slice of life fun and a action show about sword fighting girls. An act I don’t think is panning out too well. The character designs lack any real imagination to them and while watching I feel like I have seen these characters before in other shows. The fighting animation is fairly lackluster and the fact that the girls have some magic shield that prevents them from taking any real damage kills any tension the action has. The plot so far at least seems somewhat intriguing with what looks to be a conflict between one of the girls and the leader of the sword fighting Mikos. But I can’t help but notice how utterly irrelevant the monsters they are supposed to be fighting have become by episodes end. The opening doesn’t even show them, just featuring the girls fighting each other. This series just feels manufactured, like a product designed specifically to appeal to a mass audience and sure that may be the intent of most anime but here I fail to see any real creative force attempting to push it beyond that. Case in point, it’s only the first episode and already we have seen the girls bathing with panning shots. I am afraid I lack interest for this one.

Potential: 10%

Mario’s review

This season gonna be loaded with cute girls in action, as this show is the 4th consecutive show I’ve watched with the majority of cast filled with girls. Too bad that while I can see this show’s many strengths, ultimately it just falls short for me. Taking the show in parts individually, I can get behind the “girls with swords fighting monsters” premise and I don’t even mind the tournament that presented to be this episode’s central plot, but damn everything just goes so fast and incoherent. It doesn’t help that the world isn’t that flesh out and too often many terms just drop randomly like fallen leaves without proper explanation. The characters aren’t bad, but I can’t hardly call them well-developed either. The fighting styles are interesting (I have a soft spot for sword fight) but it was held back by the subpar production. Overall,  while I can see some ambitions over the show, it ultimately isn’t something special that could hold your breath here.

Potential: 20%

Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho

Short Synopsis: Two girls decide to travel to the south pole

Mario’s review

As the very first offering for the new year 2018, I’m happy to report that we start with a very decent title (a rarity if you ask me). Aside from big, pearl-side tears and somewhat questionable characters’ facial expressions (that creepy smile in the end), this is a very solid premise for what would be an enjoyable and intimate journey of experiencing life. The lead character, Kimari, isn’t that original and I can’t say I’m fond of her character traits, but it helps that she has a relatable issue that most of young adult had struggled before in their lives. The fear of leaving your comfort zone and try something different is something I can connect all too well. The show sells that insecurity well and ties it together neatly with the premise of the show: the trip to Antarctica. The whole idea of going there sounds implausible in concept, but that’s exactly the point. What I’m looking forward to is that the show doesn’t sell its concept short: don’t make it easy for our girls to reach their goal (note that One million yen is already a self-fulfilling plot device). The chemistry between our girls is solid all around, coupled with detailed, albeit a bit conservative, art and background designs and an excellent voice cast. Sora Yori is endearing and while I don’t necessary consider it as a breakout hit of this season, for fans of slice-of-life this is a perfect title for you.

Potential: 70%

Lenlo’s Review:

A decent, if fantastical, slice of life to start the season off. I like the design and general art style, with the bright color palette in particular standing out to me. The lighting however makes all of the characters look shiny, which throws me off. For characters, I find myself agreeing with Mario. Kimari isn’t anything new and I often found her annoying, but her interactions with Shirase, Antarctica, were solid. I don’t want to make any calls about chemistry just yet, since we have really only “met” two-three of our central girls though. The bit that has me most concerned though is the story. The concept of being afraid to do anything, to change anything, is so familiar and personal I immediately connected with it. But one million yen, chartering a boat and going on an expedition to Antarctica? This just seems ludicrous and really takes me out of the story, reminding myself I am watching a made-up anime and not someone’s childhood story. I understand anime needs to be more than a mundane slice-of-life, but this is taking it a bit far. However, Sora Yori can make this work if they just make the trip itself interesting. They have chosen this boat trip, so they need to truly commit to it. Explore life at sea, have stories not about boyfriends and clubs but storms, navigation and food. If Sora Yori dives headfirst into its premise, I can see it becoming an interesting standout in the Slice of Life genre. Also, I demand boat and snow-scape eye candy, or I riot.

Potential: 60%

 

Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san

Short Synopsis: A girl that loves ramen, goes out to eat ramen

Aidan’s review

The appeal of this show is lost to me. It’s not funny nor is it all that cute and there is pretty much no story. Just seems like one big advertisement to go out and eat ramen. Only thing I can comprehend as a story is that some girl desperately wants to make friends with our ramen loving protagonist. Well at least I believe that’s the intention but this girls obsession with her seems to go far into sexual territory. Though of course like any cute girls show, any gay subtext will remain just that and never provide any evidence confirming it. Either way this is a cute girls show in a season with plenty of alternatives. I say you are better off watching something with more substance.

Potential: 0%

Mario’s review

It’s exactly what it says in the title, a tsundere girl who loves ramen. End of story. Maybe it’s the subgenre “slice-of-life food porn” never appeal to me that much (like last year’s title Restaurant from Another Dimension did very little to me), but even within that sub-genre, Ramen ends up unremarkable. The girls share zero chemistry and what we have instead is one girl actively stalking the other girl, and the said girl wouldn’t care less. The only appeal of Ramen is cute girl’s “in heaven” reaction towards eating her ramen, and it feels more creepy than inviting. The production isn’t much to offer, all the girls are thin paper cardboard with no dynamic. This show is an easy skip.

Potential: 10%

 

Yuru Camp △

Short Synopsis: Cute girls go camping

Aidan’s review

It’s hard for me to get behind a show like this. A show that wants to take things slow and let you just relax in the atmosphere. Not a whole lot happens here and these cute girls shows tend to blend into one another for me. Still on my scale of good to bad with these kinds of shows, I can say this is one of the better ones. Camping is a concept which can create some better situations and the show does have some nice background art.It’s a passable show for what it is. However there is the question of just where this show is going from here as it already foreshadowed that the camping group would get much bigger. But once the girls are gathered for camping, then all that will really remain is just more camping. So it will be a challenge to keep that interesting.

Potential: 20%

Mario’s review

Camping has never been that fun and comforting huh? Truth be told I’m not that fond of camping (would prefer to play sports rather than camp). What we have here is another cute girls doing outside activities show and so far they set up the appeal of camping quite nicely. The weakest part of this show, however, is the lesson about camping tips that make this show feel more educational than it needed be. In addition, why do the show make our characters high school students again? Sora Yoni has its merits for doing so, not so much with this settings. Apart from those issues, however, we have quite a good time here. The setting of a remote forest in its off-season, plus the view of Fuji Mt and full moon in bloom, is as gorgeous and quietly beautiful as it can get. The two girls have a rock solid chemistry and I do want to spend more time with them. Individually, each of them still falls within an established archetype, but this kind of show is never about character development but more about dynamic, and so far it succeeds on that. Another show in the same vein of Sora Yoni (albeit lesser), this first episode builds a solid foundation about the appeal of camping and its cast. Next episodes are going to be about gathering the cast together and although I can see the plot fairly predictable, I’m sure as hell that it’s going to be a fun walk in the park.

Potential: 40%