Azarius: Summer 2009 anime overview
Well, I thought about doing a brief overview of the shows that have begun this summer. And so I will do. The following list is not meant to be in any way exhaustive, and even less objective.
High Priority
CANAAN:
At the beginning of the first episode (which is the only one aired as I write these words), I wasn’t expecting much since I am not a big fan of the “thriller” genre in anime. However, as I met the characters, my interest for the show increased exponentially. And the animation was of such quality that it truly stood out. Then, there was Canaan’s fight. (From about 1:05 to 3:30 in the following video). I fell in love with both the character and the show. I just hope that it will remain that great…
Needless:
The characters are ridiculously badass, the fights are awfully stereotypical, the fanservice is everywhere… Seriously, that show is hilarious. Its awesomeness level is definitely Over 9000!!! The OP gives a good idea of its atmosphere:
Then, there’s the ED, and I go “LOLWUT!?”:
I believe that it is worth a try, be it only because of that…
Medium Priority
Umineko no Naku Koro ni:
Even though that anime is the adaptation of a visual novel of the same series as Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, which I didn’t like, I decided to give it a try anyway. And I was pleasantly surprised. The animation quality is very good, and the linear storyline as well as the supernatural elements make up for many aspects that lacked to Higurashi. I will keep watching it without doubt.
Zan: Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei:
I’d have put the third season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei in my “High Priority” list… if I had watched the second season >.<
Anyway, it makes no doubt that I will watch that one as soon as possible, as I enjoyed the first season a lot.
Low Priority
Bakemonogatari:
I might try this one… it just doesn’t seem to appeal to me. Yet another fantasy anime in high school setting?
Spice and Wolf II:
I’ll have to try the first season first. But I highly doubt that I will like it. It looks too “calm and peaceful”.
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Princess Lover, Taishou Yakyuu Musume, Aoi Hana, Umi Monogatari…
I don’t really care about these.
Others
A few animes that started last season are still airing. I think that a few of them are worth mentioning here:
Shangri-la: My favourite from last season. I am eager to see how it will develop.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2: Endless Eight is pissing me off.
Hayate no Gotoku 2: Still a world apart from the first season, but worth watching.
Wej
Avalon
shortman818
camarilla
haganehare
Wow, I happen to be on right when you post this. I guess I should make mine soon as well in that case since I think the last of the anime I plan on watching has been released, though I still need to watch them.
Interesting list though…a little different than mine, but that’s to be expected.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei was waaaaay to random for me. I don’t remember even finishing the first season, but I might have… mind numbingly boring.
I like where The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is going right now. And just to tell you, it isn’t “2″ it is adding episodes onto the first season. I loves it. The thing I hated about the original first season was the video they made. I like it better when Haruhi shows off her god powers when she doesn’t even know it.
Umineko no Naku Koro ni does not have more supernatural things then Higurashi. In Higurashi, time repeats because one of them is a god and can’t stop it (don’t want to spoil too much). In higurashi, the characters are more to my liking. In Umineko, they are all a bunch of spoiled fucking rich bastards, who I have had my share of meetings with people of that type. I hate all but the red hair guy. The loli is beyond annoying as well. Characters so far: 2/10…. The story is interesting no doubt, and it will be a good anime. But no where near better then Higurashi. I like the mystery and confusion of what is going on instead of who is spoiled enough to kill their own family for money.
The other animes, I can see as being good. I do have different tastes when it comes to which ones I am looking forward to, and I have even more as well.
“I’m in despair! The great difference between our tastes in anime has left me in despair!”
Randomness was what made me like SZS. It is one of the shows that made me laugh the most. I must say that I like black humour, though.
I know that it isn’t TMoHS “2″, but I everyone calls it that way to avoid confusion
I didn’t watch Higurashi past three episodes, so I only based my remarks on what I had seen. And that rant of yours just made me acknowledge once more that our preferences in anime are fundamentally different, let alone a few similarities…
I already know our tastes are different. But I still watch most of the animes you do, and then some. I don’t really have a problem with any specific genre except stuff like love triangles and complete randomness. So I am looking forward to Bakemonogatari and others like that. I look for likable characters a lot too. Always makes the anime better.
If our tastes were the same, this blog would be boring…
Oh, and the reason why I wanted to watch SZS was because of the black humor. The reason I hate it is because of the complete randomness.
I have to put Spice and Wolf in my at least top 3 favorite shows ever. My mind is still blown by the NEEDLESS ed… I’d have to put Aoi Hana on my High Priority list. Wait, wej you like Haruhi right now… Endless Eight I hate you KyoAni!!! Also, I am with you Azarius, I loved the first season of SZS, but I haven’t got to the 2nd season and therefore won’t be watching Zan. Umineko is more of a think tank, whereas Higurashi was entirely mystical. In Umineko there is/will be a big question as to whether or not the supernatural exists, it was pretty well defined in Higurashi that the supernatural does exist right from the start. Depending how they pull off the battle of wits in Umineko, it might be significantly better than Higurashi (you have to admit that Umineko has a better plot line). Though character choice will not be as good. Another show that is now on my high priority list is Taisho Yakyuu Musume, it is a very cute show, where I feel like rooting for the character throughout. Princess Lover looks significantly better than I thought. Umi Monogatari is terrible… I should make a post… Going to do that now.
Like I said, I like the whole not knowing what is going on and have one hell of an explanation that explains every happening, instead of a murder mystery. I love Higurashi’s plot, therefore I find it better then Umineko. Not saying Umineko isn’t going to be good. Because it is made by the same people, it will be great, but I still like Higurashi better.
If they change the endless 8 enough for me to be interested, then I will still like it. I have seen only 3 eps from it, as I am waiting for Yuki to sub it. If it repeats the same thing over and over and over with very little change, I will not like it as much. But the first episode of it was good. Second made it better. Third was just there. So I will see where it goes from there.
***********Haruhi spoiler maybe****************
(Won’t let me make my normal spoiler tag)
Also…I just heard a rumor that will piss me off about Haruhi if it is true. I thought I would love to see an arch where Haruhi disappears and Kyon realizes how shitty his life is without her. Apparently there is one. But they said the were not going to animate it. That better be a lie dammit!!! I didn’t want that spoiler, but it popped up in the middle of nowhere when I was reading stuff…god damit!!!
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I recently watched Spice and Wolf so I could watch the 2nd season if I wanted and I can honestly say that I wasn’t very impressed. Nothing stood out for me and I’m still not sure I’m going to watch the 2nd season.
Wej and I pretty much agree with SZS. I watched the 1st season and started the 2nd, but wasn’t able to finish it. For me they just seemed to be trying way too hard.
As for Umineko, I’m not going to say whether it is better than Higurashi or not until I see more. Obviously the characters are better in Higurashi, but I can honestly say that I do like the idea behind Umineko better, but that doesn’t mean I will like it as much as Higurashi.