Druaga no Tou ~The Aegis of Uruk
Well, this episode turned out to be something entirely different than expected. You can say a lot about Gonzo, but I don’t think that anyone can say that they don’t know how to create a bad game-adaptation, and they use this perfectly to their advantage for this episode to create a hilarious RPG-parody that also takes the Mick out of popular series as Haruhi and Gurren Lagann. I was throwing all kinds of curses at Gonzo before I found out. 😛 On the other hand, however, this series still has a 16-year old male protagonist, so there’s still enough room for screwing this up. Still, it’s a good thing that Gonzo knows how not to do this series; now let’s hope that they do know how to do it properly. One hint that points in a positive direction is that none of the characters we saw in this episode, apart from the main guy and his rival, seems to be a major character. Are they going to get killed off or something? Now that would be a great opportunity for character-development.
Amatsuki
Seriously, why do so many series suddenly have first episodes of this quality!? I’ve been used to the fact that nearly every series starts out mediocre, and here series after series suddenly sparkles with potential. Really, apart from To Love-Ru and Kyou Kara Maou, I have yet to see a series this season that didn’t deliver for its first episode! In any case, Amatsuki turned out like I hoped it would: a wolf in sheep’s clothing. On one side, it’s reminiscent of a Kyou Kara Maou-clone without any sexual innuendo, and then suddenly the main character sees a huge beast slaughtered in front of him. Don’t make the mistake that this will be an ultra cheerful series, because this series isn’t afraid to deal with the darker topics.
Itazura na Kiss
The past Autumn- and Winter-season featured an unexpected wave of good shounen-romance series, though this really seems to be the turn for the shoujo-romances to shine again. It’s felt like ages since a good one popped up, after the disappointing Shugo Chara and all. For Itazura na Kiss, the character-designs look very simple, but that’s the beauty of it: neither the males nor the females feel exceptionally beautiful, like you see in so many other series. Heck, our main female lead is befriended with a couple of punks. The story for this series isn’t anything special, and it’s just meant to get another boy and girl in one house, but what really shines in this series is its lovable cast of characters. It’s just been one episode, and already the characters feel diverse and have shown the viewer multiple sides. Now all that’s left is to hope that this series won’t delve into useless fillers, but I’m pretty confident with the director and the music composer of Toward the Terra and the animation-company of Kaze no Shoujo Emily.
No matter how good the ones doing the animu are, it won’t be any good if the manga sucks.
The Tower of Druaga’s first episode was totally hilarious.
“Jill… I’m your father !”
omg aegis of uruk was ageis of the shit – there are no words to describes its awfulness…….. gonzo stop wasting money damn it
I disagree Druaga was actually entertaining and funny, personal bias I suspect?
I would say Druaga first episode is the first fantasy style parody anime done right. lol, more slayer love.
I never laughed this much reading a review like i did with Druaga 😛
Many lols at Psgels ^____^
Druaga was fantastic. Absolutely brilliant, and I don’t often praise Gonzo. I laughed alot.
Still, was it just a hook to grab viewers and lead them into a serious plot, or an actual view of the genre the show is taking?
man i wasn’t expecting humor at all in druaga. lol but there was so much references to stuff, i think even ashita no joe, but i haven’t seen that so i’m not sure. i don’t know about being first done right tho, mahoujin guruguru was really good
Got the chance to watch Tower of Druaga since Gonzo has allowed the subtitled version to be viewed for free on crunchyroll 🙂
I must say that the first episode was, interesting. While watching it I wasn’t sure if the episode was horrible or poking fun. I will watch the next episode and decide whether this is worth my time or not.
Druaga was pretty amusing, I don’t think I’ll keep up with the show but hopefully it keeps the same level of humor.
Amatsuki did have a little shounen-ai going on but it didn’t overdo it like in other series (Ookiku Furikabatte) and it just made the series a bit unique actually. The animation is really good, attractive character designs, cool music, and the fight scene was interesting, I think I’ll give the series a shot.
I’m still worried about giving Itazura Kiss a shot because I really disliked the live action version, but with the director from To Terra I think I may need to give it a shot 🙂
In reference to your question:
“Seriously, why do so many series suddenly have first episodes of this quality!?”
I think it’s nothing abnormal. Anime really tend to have screwed up last episodes. I can name only a few that didn’t. Apart from those series which seem to have no end, like Bl**ch(yuck), Nar*to(puke), O*e Pi*ce(do not touch).
E.G.: Fate/Stay Night had a potential(at the beginning), but turned out to be a disaster. A Censored Disaster. I mean, the game was good, partly because there was violence, self-parody, sex, twisted characters… and the anime managed to become a complete crap. Alas, it’s not the beginning that matters, but the end.
Wow, I’m becoming really optimistic about this season. I’ve been out of the anime loop for a few months now , and I’m hoping that this season will ‘bring me back.’
This has to be my favourite blog. I trust your opinions, and you seem to give everything a try. Keep up the good work.
This season is just gonna be awesome.
the first episode of druaga was average , but hopefully the next ep will be serious 😉
From a friend of mine on LiveJournal:
“For those who watched an episode of Tower of Druaga and was like “WTF???” at it, please be aware that there are two versions of the first episode with COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORYLINES. XDDD”
Apparently, there’s an “omote” (front) and an “ura” (back) version of the same episode. I’m… not really sure how that works, but it’s kind of intriguing me. (:
Also, zaeris: “I would say Druaga first episode is the first fantasy style parody anime done right. lol, more slayer love.”
Have you seen Mahoujin Guruguru? It’s an older show, from 1994, but it’s seriously amazing. Really, really funny RPG parody anime that also manages to tell a totally unique and decidedly innovative story. One of my favorites, because it’s like the best of both worlds: brilliant satire, plus surprisingly excellent storytelling! (And you gotta love any anime where one episode’s plotline centers around our RPG heroes going on a quest to RUIN A MERMAID’S WEDDING. And it makes total sense in context!)
(:
-Tom
Mahoujin Guruguru? Ahahah! The first season aired even on Italian TV. It was really funny to watch. (PS: it’s super deformed style)
So I finally watched ep 1 of Druaga… and while it wasn’t half bad, I was definitely thinking to myself the whole time, “man, Guruguru did this SO much better!”
Seriously, Guruguru and Druaga seem to have virtually identical styles of humor… but Guruguru’s is just a LOT funnier. Better timing, better delivery, better reactions… it’s like Druaga is trying (too hard) to BE Guruguru, and kinda missing the mark.
If anyone watches Druaga and thinks to themselves, “hey, that wasn’t bad, but it could’ve been SO MUCH BETTER”… then seriously, download Mahoujin Guruguru. You won’t be sorry. (:
-Tom