Anime Summer 2009: First Impressions on Watchlist.
Posted by Honoo on July 10, 2009
I see j00. And I will fire at will.
So we have seen all the stuff in my previous list already aired, I don’t know whether I should add more or not; but for now I’ll try to give my first impressions of what I’ve seen up to now And of course, I’m copypasta-ing content from that previous list, and what next? Rewrite them, that’s what I’ll do! Anyway, I don’t want to waste much time so I’ll start right away.
Believe me or not, but she actually weighs less than a paper. Why? Watch this and you'll know.
What is it about?
So Mr. Wikipedia told me: “Bakemonogatari centers on Koyomi Araragi, a third year high school student who is almost human again after briefly becoming a vampire. One day, a classmate named Hitagi Senjōgahara, who infamously never talks to anyone, falls down the stairs into Koyomi’s arms. He discovers that Hitagi weighs next to nothing, in defiance of physics. After being threatened by her, Koyomi offers her help, and introduces her to Meme Oshino, a middle-aged homeless man who helped him stop being a vampire. The series tends to introduce only one new heroine per chapter, each involved with a different “apparition”. The events of the previous chapters play an important role in the subsequent ones. The series primarily focuses on conversations between characters; it contains a fair number of parodies of other series, as well as Nisio Isin’s trademark wordplay and metahumor.”
My impressions after it has started:
As I have predicted with Nisio Isin’s involvement in this series, SHAFT+Shinbo+Isin somehow managed to turn this show into something you’d never expect; with the use of somewhat idiosyncratic style ranging from the style of presentation, the flow of the story and of course, the eyecandies – no, I don’t mean Tsubasa’s (sorry, got that mixed up earlier) panties.
I’d love to see those who watched this show and expected something really generic, but then finishes with a feeling of intrigue… well, they do bear in mind that this show is a SHAFT+Shinbo (which I hear a certain someone complaining), but I think most of the time everyone seems to forgot the name Nisio Isin. Although I only had all but a chance to see a box of Nisio Isin’s “Nisemonogatari” (somehow a continuation of the Bakemonogatari novel) but… well, yeah. So far my best bits of information about this guy comes from Wikipedia, and I have no plans to explore it further.
I don’t want to go into detail since I prefer generic explanations unlike other anime bloggers who tend to blog in-depth details of most series by episodes (and heck, I don’t consider myself an anime blogger at all), so here’s what I think about this anime so far:
“Very untypical, has a style that can make you question ‘What the hell did I just watch,’ contains lots of wordplay which would be sweet for you seeking to make your weeabo tongue knowledge in Japanese better (albeit somehow confusing), throw away the fact that this is a Shinbo+SHAFT show if you really don’t like them much. Consider this as a Nisio Isin show.”
2. CANAAN
I want to look beyond Alphard's jacket. No, not beyond her tank top, because I have no interest for the removal of that little clothing she has to cover her chest.
What is it about?
So Mr. Wikipedia told me: “Canaan is an anime television series, conceptualized by Type-Moon co-founders Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi, based on the scenario that they created for the Nintendo Wii visual novel 428: Fūsasareta Shibuya de, which is noted for being one of the few games to be have been awarded a perfect score by games publication Famitsu.”
My impressions after it has started:
The first episode was awesome, and thanks to a certain someone at a certain anime forum who told the rest of the forum lurkers to “You don’t need to actually play 428 ~Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de~ to enjoy this.” And I wholeheartedly agree, the animation was awesome thanks to PA Works, and also I heard the animation character designs were made by the same designer for True Tears – which simply means, “HELL YEAH!”
But if I want to digress on one thing here, though, is the constant talk that “this is a Type-Moon anime.” And that’s how I see it is generalized. Sure, Type-Moon did make a scenario in 428, it’s Nasu and Takeuchi who were behind the scenario, and Canaan is somehow a continuity for the said scenario.
Even then… I do believe, in all honesty, the credits for making the Canaan-featured route possible in the VN is actually Chunsoft. CHUNSOFT. YEAH. And bear in mind that Nasu and Takeuchi works for the scenario and not the entire VN.
Well, logically, if Chunsoft did not make 428 happen, would there be Canaan? I don’t think so.
With that said, here’s what I think for Canaan.
“Awesome visuals, character design by same designer for True Tears, animation done by PA Works which also made True Tears; nice detail of Canaan’s sniper rifle at the start of the episode, may I ask what model it is since I’m not very familiar with it? No Canaan, Maria, and Alphard for Nasuverse, you guys!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!! This won’t be included in the Nasuverse even though Nasu wrote it, Alphard looks… uh, delicious, no I’m not going to eat her; also “Maria Oosawa” looks so cute and sounds so hot, I had confusion with “Maria Ozawa” it seems; wow Mystic Eyes of DeathPerception no, wait, Mystic Eyes of Sensory Perception uhh wait WTF this is not Nasuverse so Synesthesia, it is.”
It seems that my GUITARZ will ever be on standby as long as this series still run; but looks like for this anime I'm sold.
What is it about?
So Mr. MAL (MyAnimeList.net) told me: “Saku Ooyagi returns to his hometown after seven years and is soon reacquainted with his childhood friend, Mihoshi Akeno. The reunion is far from merry since the last memory they have of each other is of her falling off a tree and him saving her. In any case, Mihoshi is determined to improve their relationship and forces Saku to join the astronomy club she founded.”
My impressions after it has started:
I somehow found myself pretty liking this anime at the start of it, because for some reasons that really fit into my interests.
Yeah, relevant to my interests.
Let’s see what in my interests list that made me watch this show. And by this list, you’ll see that I’m a total sucker who can’t resist seeing these things happen in an anime.
- Girl likes boy very much, glomps him and chases him around even if he is against it. CHECK.
- Girl’s older while the boy’s younger. CHECK. (If only Akeno is taller. But the age range fits nicely to this requirement of mine, so yeah.)
- Boy snaps! CHECK! KEEP SNAPPING, BOY! I need to see more male leads like you. And you’re one of the very lucky few!
- Nice way to cool down whenever girl gets the boy snapped. CHECK. But I’m too ego to accept that the following scenes were so heartwarming that I fear I might lose my beloved manliness. No, seriously.
- Girl’s not gonna get him easy – more girls are going to get him! CHECK!
But my oh-not-so-accurate “Spider Sense” still warns me about a potential tearjerker which is going to happen – or has it happened already? If yes then I’m in woe.
Anyway it seems that this anime really loves pushing stuff from this “3D world” or from other se**es (censor intentional. Get used to it) into it as references, although not so… uh, VIRAL as how a few certain anime titles do.
So the wall of text which summarizes my even greater walls of text for this one:
Probably even better than the show I’m going to talk about next right below this line, somewhat educational (yes I didn’t know we could use such a technique to see black spots on the sun), LOL ASTRONOMY MAGAZIEN IN MY ANIMU? (Google 「星ナビ] for those of you who doesn’t know), and what else should I say? Oh, everything’s up there in my “can’t resist to happen things” up there.
I'm already having black ops on standby, will deploy at will.
What is it about?
So Mr. MAL (MyAnimeList.net) told me: “Arima Teppei lost his parents in a traffic accident. His grandfather Isshin adopted him by force and ordered him to succeed the head of Arima Group Corporation. At Shuuhou Gakuen, a high school only for wealthly students, Teppei’s new life as a celebrity starts.”
My impressions after it has started:
Ugh, aristocrats, “royalties,” whatever. Just die, if you’re not using your money to help the society and the poor or are busy flaunting your social status while demeaning the society of commoners and the poor, or are just too busy being in love with another aristocrat or a royalty. I’m getting strong urges to call for black ops to kill ‘em.
And I DID NOT and won’t change my decision after seeing the episode. Assassin lead this is Reaper, lock and load. I repeat, LOCK AND LOAD. Be on standby until further orders are given. Reaper out.
You see, I’ve this certain grudge against nobleties, royalties whatever they might be. The real problem is that they’re rich. Yeah, because they’re rich.
Especially if a peasant came across one and you know what will be in his mind? “This rich man is useless, he looks like he has lots of money but I don’t think he can help me out of poverty or even enhance my small business of selling dumplings and ramen by the roadside; which is already small and being used for the expenses of my OVER 9000 family members which I must support for our daily survival.”
Okay now back to the anime. I’ve seen quite a number of anime adapted from eroge and honestly, I am not very pleased with what I can get from them so far. So what I thought was, “why does every single eroge adaptation give me this very bland and generic feeling?” and that statement includes this series. No, do NOT ask me to play the eroge or I’ll find you and punch you in the face, whoever you are. Unless if I’m kind enough to keep my fist stay low, though.
Without further ado, here’s the simpler wall of text.
Rich people, princesses and carriages (USE A FUCKING LIMOUSINE INSTEAD YOU SPOILED HAG), people wanting to kill them (go ahead, or if they have something nice I can spend on, I’ll kill you guys first then proceed to annihilate everyone else and that includes your targets), YET ANOTHER EROGE ANIMU ADAPTATION disregard that, I suck straws; I wish a downer ending for this series where… well, if key characters die, it’ll be awesome.
No matter how I look at them, they reek of saltwater.
What is it about?
Marin and her sister Urin live in the sea. One day they find a ring fallen into the sea. They get out of the sea and meet a girl Kanon, the owner of the ring. Kanon tells them she doesn’t want the ring anymore because it was given by her boyfriend whom she just broke up with, and she throws it into the sea again. Marin thinks Kanon is still in love with him and looks for the ring. But she accidentally breaks a seal on the sea floor…
My impressions after it has started:
ARARARARARARRR I’M A SHARK I’M A SHARK SUCK MY D– yeah right as if that will ever happen. But who knows? But even if that’s going to happen I’m already losing faith of following this series. First, WHERE ARE MY MANLY MEN! Oh wait, the turtle is there. NO! THAT’S KAME ROSHI! Uh, nope.
But still. Where are the boys? Don’t tell me Kanon’s ex-boyfriend is going to the first and the last boy to have one of the main girls I am going to see (and miss) for this series. I don’t like shows who have too much of human girls and not even at least a human boy (KAME ROSHI, you’re not one, so thank you) to be inside the group. Don’t ask me why.
Also, everything – from fight scenes – to music – to pacing – makes me want to sleep. And all of this is bordering to make me drop this show and replace it with Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, and even that will go through my ‘challenge’ first to see whether it really fits with what some people have anticipated for like this certain someone whose I’ve only seen, skin and flesh, just once.
No shorter walls of text to simplify this. Just eat this wholesome plate of WALLS OF TEXT.
Wow, and I'm back in the 80's? Where's my Back To The Future car!?
What is it about?
So Mr. MAL says: “Umineko no Naku Koro ni takes place in 1986 during the time frame of October the 4th and the 5th on a secluded island named Rokkenjima (六軒島). The head of the wealthy Ushiromiya family, Kinzō Ushiromiya, who lives on and owns Rokkenjima, is near death, and eleven of his family members arrive on the island to discuss how Kinzō’s assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are five of Kinzō’s servants, and his personal physician. After the eleven family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island and shortly after people start to get mysteriously murdered. (Source: Baka-Tsuki)”
My impressions after it has started:
What turns me on to put this into list: Mystery.
And I get what I wished for.
Although I can’t do a sloppy work of watching this like, shortening the whole episode from 30 minutes to a mere 4 minutes or so. And man that isn’t fun, I want to make everything FAST! But yeah, I need to settle down a bit.
Unfortunately for some who I might think will read this and object, I can only see this below Canaan and Bakemonogatari. Well, yeah, this is one of the fun things about blogging. All we’re doing is just stating whatever we think, and it’s not like we are judges of a competition or something, right? If anyone says something is bad and we don’t like it, all we need to do is blog about how good that thing is, right? Ah, whatever.
So here’s your walls of text for this show.
Mystery even to the point of how the Ushiromiya head can get so filthy rich to why he wants to see this Beatrice person so much, OMG Itsuki Koizumi Battler is a pervert!, and gets smacked shortly by his tsundere cousin (who I must admit she’s hot in her own right), Nice boat? More like Nice Island, quite recommendable, and period. What? PERIOD. The sentence-ending dot punctuation mark.
Tomorrow morning, I shall induldge myself in business of how to get a certain site. Okay for those of you Malaysians near my vicinity who’re reading this, it’s Cyberjaya MMU’s DaiCon. So yeah, I’ll be out to get some kicks at said event. Till then, Honoo out.
Hangmen said
I wasn’t entirely happy that the SIG550 that Canaan was using as her sniper rifle had standard 5.56 x 45mm NATO box magazine instead of a semi-transparent magazine common with that type of rifle. Perhaps I’m just being nitpicky, because I’m an (desktop) OPERATOR.
PS: Those PMC soldiers escorting the yet-to-be-named Revy (see Black Lagoon) lookalike wear Plate Carriers like any real OPERATORS would. Too bad their OPERATORness won’t save them from imminent raep.
Honoo said
I think you’re just being nitpicky
… Wait, after I looked back at it I think it’s some sort of an animation mistake, or it’s just that hard to animate a semi-transparent magazine of the SG550.
All the SSG550 variants have a semi-transparent magazine, though, after I looked ‘em up. It’s not common, it’s a standard magazine type.
Anyway the said yet-to-be-named Revy has already a name if you look up at available sources. She’s Alphard.
… Wait, I already announced it up there.
Hangmen said
Alphard huh? The name sounds as bad as Canaan. Oh well.
Anyway, I already identified the type of handguns carried by the two female lead:
Canaan = Beretta Px4 Storm (thank you Sankaku)
Alphard = FN Five-seveN