Some Quick First Impressions: Citrus, Slow Start and Pop Team Epic

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.