Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka
Short Synopsis: Our protagonist wants to be an RPG pimp
I am getting SAO reminders already. Let me talk about something for a moment. You see when I first played the game dark souls I was frustrated and angry at myself because of my own failings. But then I worked hard. I learned the enemy tells, figured out how to balance my stats, learned what was useful to what was not. I got good, nay, I got great. And when I struck the final blow on the last boss I knew that I got here from my accumulated effort, by challenging myself and now I could carry that experience into other games with pride. Now I imagine if I was given an ability that doubled my stat growth from the get go, handed all the best equipment and basically given regenerating health. Even if I steamrolled through the game my victory would be hollow. Because I didn’t earn it. I won not because of me, but rather because of what was given to me. It is for this reason that power fantasy such as this show does not interest me. Our protagonist has three girls already interested in him, an outright broken skill that gives him huge stat grown and the over powered equipment is coming. So with that out of the way, the writing is flimsy and contrived, that goddess girl is more annoying than I remember from the manga and the setting is just an rpg game. I will pass on this.
Potential: 0%
Denpa Kyoushi
Short Synopsis: A Otaku traumatises three girls for life to teach a life lesson.
Perhaps calling this a poor man’s GTO was a bit generous. It does have the same setup but the protagonist is certainly less likeable. Its hard to get on the side of the gifted prodigy who couldn’t care less about using his talent for anything besides otaku interests. Even worse when he’s a Gary sue who knows everything. It is odd that despite his actions being portrayed as heroic for giving bullies payback, his method seemed rather villainous. I mean the bullies did do something too far but threatening to publish all their personal information on the net, even as a joke, is going way too far. The character designs are not really pleasing and animation is fairly passable. But this is looking weaker than the manga. Or simply the flaws of the manga are getting illuminated.
OP: Very very annoying.
Potential: 40%
Arslan Senki
Short Synopsis: A young prince faces the task of inheriting his father’s throne.
This starting episode sets up a solid base for the remainder of the series. Two factions of different beliefs each with pros and cons. Motivations for what seem to be future important players. Excellent animation and art. Topped off with a persian arabic high fantasy setting. The main character is rather stereotypical but has much room for growth. The designs make it very clear that fullmetal alchemists author is in place though she didn’t write the original story. One negative however is the poor CG. Its understandable considering the number of people fighting on screen but it does look like rusty robots in motion at times. There are small pans which use CG as well which don’t look very natural. High fantasy is not often seen in anime nowadays so if this plays it’s cards right we may be looking at a potential highlight of the year.
Potential: 90%
I totally agree on Dungeon ni Deai, I think it reminds me more of Demon King Daimao than SAO on the whole “overpowered” thing.
Conflicts are only interesting if it seems like there is something worth fighting for/keeping from losing something precious, but being overpowered is not one of them. Which is why even someone like Superman isn’t all that interesting when you get down to it.
I am getting SAO reminders already.
LOL. Same voice actor? Same scream of despair scene right out of the first episode of SAO? This show is for SAO fans, especially Kirito fans. Needed cos there is a rabid fanbase and I doubt there will be anything new from the SAO franchise for a very long time. Haven’t read the manga so I’m not sure how overpowered he gets but this sounds like a shortcut for the show to hyperdrive the protagonist from newbie to endgame bosskiller in significantly less than 3 years so it will all fit into one, maybe two seasons, without having to timeskip or think about grinding, training, aging, etc. It is broken and might be terrible in a game if the developers forget to balance the challenge of his opponents to the broken abilities they give him but it still could be a fun ride for an anime. That said, from what I’ve seen, I’m not expecting anything groundbreaking or edge-of-your-seat so I doubt it’s something worth blogging every week. I’m kinda hoping I’m wrong though.
Denpa Kyoushi doesn’t look like it will ever sit in the same table as GTO. Whoever made the comparison never read GTO. Totally different level of impact, story, sheer outrageousness. XD There will never be another GTO.
I was the one who actually made the comparison in my spring season preview. Though I agree completely. On the surface it has a similar setup and formula but it lacks the things that made GTO truly great.
And when the hell is the rest of the manga going to get adapted? I demand Season 2 of GTO!
Mmm…similar formula? I dunno. I mean this Denpa Kyoushi guy kinda reminds me of all your arguments against DanMachi. He starts off with broken elite advantages and just shows them off to help his students in twisted ways. Totally the opposite of Onizuka, who was just a washed out former gangster who wanted to become a teacher to get some underage JK ass. A trainwreck of a plot on so many levels on the surface. XD
Many Toyota Crestas (and other vehicles) were destroyed to bring us this epicness.
Season 2 after 15 years. I guess we can dream. XD
However both are about an unconventional teacher teaching life lessons to their students while sticking it to the educational system. With each student having there own little arc. The formula is similar to that regard.
Yeah. I guess I’m just nitpicking. XD I do miss GTO.
Man, UBW and Plastic Memories are giving me the blues big time.
I thought his sister had the right idea…Denpa Kyoushi, just use a baseball bat and get it outta here.
Arslan Senki
I thought that was a very good first episode. They also did some ova’s based on the light novel first volume set. I’d like to check those out…anybody else see them?
I do worry a bit since this is looking to be based on…i.e. they will make story changes, to ‘improve the story’ Which i have to admit is one of the things that I find gets abused by directors. They are not writers and the improvements fix things that aren’t broken and mess up a good story.
Dungeon ni Deai…was really fun and I like it; the first round of Hestia fan art is pretty neat, we’ll see if the principle carries nicely.
Can’t believe you didn’t review Japan Anima(tor) Festival (even if the app makes you go use a browser if you want to watch Violence + Sex At Mach Speed (or the MeMeMe music video thing) at least for the very nice dragon dentist bit.
Just a plea for Arslan to have a reprisal of the India section that’s not a plothole in a bargain-wallah in a SV electrical safety PSA from 1983. As it was it’s like he gets a cold in the bush and decides Indochina’s boring absent any other actors. Sure pal.