Summer 2012 Check-in

July 25, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, Season Reviews

About the best I can say about Summer 2012 is that it’s probably no worse than I feared, and offers the potential to at least be represented in the year-end Top 10 list.

Once again I’m forced to ask myself whether I’m pre-judging too much, because the two shows I expected to be the class of the season are head-and-shoulders above the rest of them in my esteem. I suppose the counter-argument to that is that I’ve simply become quite comfortable with my own tastes, and passably good at spotting quality based on source material, staff and style. In any case, it’s safe to say this season has gone more or less how I expected it to, with no major surprises (good or bad) so far. Sadly, that means it’s exceedingly heavy on generic formula series that offer very little that’s distinctive, interesting or original. Every season has them, every Summer has a higher percentage, but this one seems to have an awful lot.

The positive spin is that this represents a much-needed breather for me as a blogger, as well as the fact that there are several strong shows carrying over from Spring or earlier to keep me occupied. It was always plain that this was going to be a major step down from a very strong Spring – Summer anime seasons almost always are – and at least I’m not going to have to leave any really good shows off the blogging schedule this season. The one real annoyance to this season is that it’s very heavily weighted toward the weekends, so Saturday and Sunday feel as busy as ever while the rest of the week (to some extent excluding Thursday) feels quite slow.

Here’s my take on the new series gracing our screens:

The Best of the Best

Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A
Comments: This was the series I picked as the likely standout of the season, and it’s actually exceeded my expectations. The first two arcs have been stylistically very different but both brilliant – the most recent episode (a blistering dissection of the manga industry) was peerless satire, and one of the best anime episodes I’ve seen in years. So far this is a flat-out great series – visually striking with its storybook art, hilariously funny, energetic, and stunningly smart. Any season with at least one great series can’t be a total loss, and thank goodness for Jinrui.

Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: A-
Comments: Right in the NoitaminA sweet-spot. The start has been subtle but involving, with the emotional impact ramped up significantly in episode 3. This one has a “tortoise vs. hare” quality that I think is going to serve it well as it gradually builds in impact, with the potential for a huge emotional payoff at the end. Nothing exactly blows you away, but the overall package is very effective.

The Best of the Rest

Sword Art Online
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B
Comments: The most-anticipated and discussed series of the summer by far. I’m trying very hard not to get dragged into the ugliness with the angry LN readers and the general SAO haters (not easy) and focus on the show itself – which so far is quite good. It’s not an especially original conceit but the premise does have some bite to it, and A-1 has done a pretty good job of world-building in the first three eps. The premiere was the best of the three, which isn’t the most encouraging sign, but I’ve found all the episodes entertaining and competently produced.

Tari Tari
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: If Hyouka is pure time-wasting fun and Kokoro Connect is pure plot and character development, Tari Tari is trying to be Goldilocks and get it just right – and so far, mostly doing so pretty well. It’s not as lavish as HanaIro but still has that lovely stylized P.A. Works look, and the overall tone is whimsical with just enough story to keep you hooked. I don’t see anything all that complex or challenging here, but there’s enough edge to this familiar premise to make the show entertaining.

Kokoro Connect
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B
Comments: I was pretty pessimistic after the first ep, but the last two have been much, much better. There have been stumbles and the visuals from Silver Link are average at best (though refreshingly free of SHAFT imitation), but this has the makings of a pretty interesting character study. And there are elements here that are potentially quite original, which is always a plus.

Worth Watching

Kingdom
Episodes Watched: 8
Grade: B-
Comments: If the animation were even average, Kingdom might rank much higher. As is, the first few eps were almost ruined by the overuse of bad CGI – which has thankfully been less of a problem since – and the animation in general is very lackluster. And that’s a shame, because it’s a good show – very well-written, with a good old-fashioned historically epic quality to the story of empire-building and betrayal in ancient China.

Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B-
Comments: It’s no Chihayafuru, but Kasai Kenichi’s 100 Poets adaptation has had some very fine moments as it takes a turn at interpreting the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu through a cast of nobles at the Heian Court. I’m not crazy about the animation and the ED may be the worst of 2012, but on balance there’s a lot of good here if the subject matter is of interest to you.

Binbougami Ga!
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B-
Comments: This is the show that takes on Haiyore! Nyaruko-san’s mantle as the screwball, fourth-wall breaking comedy of the season. I ‘d rank it about on par with that show so far – it hasn’t made me laugh quite as hard, but it seems to have a better grasp of the character dynamics when it chooses to go into “serious” mode.

On the Fence

Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C+
Comments: I don’t like it as much as I did Mashiroiro Symphony at this stage, but there’s enough that’s unpredictable in Koichoco to keep me interested, at least for now. Interestingly for a VN adaptation, the plot is more interesting than the characters (and non-existent romance) so far.

Moyashimon Returns
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C+
Comments: I didn’t like the first season as much as I feel like I should have, and I don’t like this season quite as much as the first. Something about this premise and cast just doesn’t quite click with me – the comedy is only mildly amusing and I don’t really feel anything for the characters. It’s an interesting conceit and that keeps me watching, but I never miss it when it’s over.

Oda Nobuna no Yabou
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C
Comments: It’s better than I expected, but – and I know this sounds odd to say in a medium where selling shows about cute girls on Blu-ray is the primary creative imperative – I find Oda Nobuna oddly sexist, or at least chauvinistic. I dislike the notion that if the Sengoku warlords were kawaii girls – even the ruthless Oda himself – they’d be prone to crying and unwise decisions driven by emotion, and that it’s up to a modern male to make sure things don’t go off the rails. It’s better than most Sengoku alternative histories and “cute girls as…” shows, but it just doesn’t sit right with me.

Ebiten
Episodes Watched: 1
Grade: Incomplete
Comments: Subs are a dicey proposition, the only available versions are horrendously bad quality, and the first ep was a mixed-bag comedically. But at least it didn’t come out of a cookie-cutter, and it does have those great Inugami Kira (Seitokai no Ichizon) character designs. I want to see at least one more episode before I decide.

Dropped

La Storia della Arcana Famiglia

Campione

Muv-luv Alternative

Kono Naka ni Hitori

Joshiraku

Hagure Yuusha no Estetica

Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai

Only two top-category series and five that are of real interest isn’t exactly a haul, but with the strong carryover from earlier seasons things aren’t a total loss. This is what the blogging schedule looks like at the moment:

Monday:
Definitely Blogging: Kingdom (generally late due to subbing schedule), Uta Koi

Tuesday:
Definitely Blogging: Ginga e Kickoff (on broadcast hiatus till 8/25)

Wednesday:
None

Thursday:
Definitely Blogging: Eureka Seven Astral Ocean, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Shirokuma Cafe
Probably Blogging: Binbougami Ga!
May Blog/Digest: Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate

Friday:
Probably Blogging/Digest: Accel World

Saturday:
Definitely Blogging: Kokoro Connect, Sword Art Online, Hunter X Hunter 2011
Possibly Blogging/Digest: Ebiten

Sunday:
Definitely Blogging: Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, Uchuu Kyoudai, Hyouka, Tari Tari
Definitely Blogging, possibly Digest: Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
Probably Dropping: Oda Nobuna no Yabou

Watching but Not Blogging: Fairy Tail, Area no Kishi, Kuroko no Basuke, Poyopoyo, Kuromajo

Guardian Enzo

51 comments

A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 1:44 am
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well give all in for jinrui really 4eps of this YES YES YES me want more.

also watching yuru yuri 2, dog days 2, chocolate, hagure, Kono Naka ni Hitori, Natsuyuki, Binbougami, & 2nd version of DxD aka Dakara Boku wa, H

give still on hmm on chitose & muv luv
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 1:54 am
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Hmm … you haven't "dropped" Hyouge Momo and Showa Monogatari, I hope?

– Flower
admin
July 25, 2012 at 2:31 am
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No, but the subs are so rare (I'm assuming Hyouge is effectively dead) that they hardly seemed worth mentioning.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 3:27 am
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Utakoi lower than Sword Art?
Come on, that's just stupid.
admin
July 25, 2012 at 3:28 am
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Yes, anyone who disagrees with your anonymous opinion is, by definition, stupid.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 3:37 am
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Like you wouldn't think something is wrong with a guy if he ranked say, Major higher than Oofuri.
I'm sorry if I offended you but it was my natural reaction to what I perceive as lack of good judgment on your part.

And what does being Anonymous have to do with anything?
admin
July 25, 2012 at 4:22 am
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I rank Major S1 higher than Oofuri, actually. The other five seasons, it's a mixed bag.

And "You like this better than that, so you're stupid" is not a reasoned argument – it's a dismissal of someone that disagrees with you. There's nothing there to have a discussion about.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 2:05 pm
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I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm pointing out the obvious here.
Only in terms of budget and whole animation quality does Sao surpass Utakoi. And Utakoi actually manages to be more aesthetically pleasing but that's actually a matter of taste,I won't judge you for a difference in opinion on that matter.

However in terms of actual writing and thematic content Utakoi is obviously leading by a great margin.And that's what actually maters right? That's not a matter of taste.There are objective qualities that put them miles apart such as the quality of the writing,character interactions and the masterful way it portrays historical characters both in a lighthearted and serious tone among others.Even comparing the two series is a joke.

And yes Major s1 was good and emotionally engaging.But not as good as Oofuri. What I meant to say is that there are obvious differences in quality that one should notice when judging a series. If everything was a matter of taste then your "there's nothing to have a discussion about" would actually be true. But it's not like that.Unfortunately for some.
admin
July 25, 2012 at 3:45 pm
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"Obvious differences in quality" is a fancy way of saying "I can't possibly be wrong."
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 5:04 pm
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Well of course everything I write is true until proven otherwise. I dont see much effort on your part in proving me wrong though. Besides the whole "you don't respect my tastes so I can't talk with you". But how can I respect an opinion if I think it's wrong on all possible levels? There are some things that no matter how you spin it are incorrect and I find myself itching to correct them.
a

anon
July 25, 2012 at 5:29 pm
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>opinion
>wrong
Start at this part.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 7:16 pm
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1+2=8
Dogs are green.
Respect my opinions plz
I

Ishruns or Anonymous
July 26, 2012 at 4:52 am
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Do you remember the good ole days when people argued about whether K-ON or A-channel was crap or not.

Now it seems we argue about which anime has more thematic content. Wow what a 180 backflip.

Otaku and Fujoshi, I give you the Otaku trap.
R

Rita
July 26, 2012 at 11:46 pm
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I am always infinitely amused and slight perturbed by people who believe an opinion about a subjective matter such as what type of show a person likes more can be inherently "right".

Maybe if we were all part of some hive-mind colony with sense of individuality or differing preferences, sure.

For the record, Utakoi doesn't stand out that much more that SAO to me either. Both of them are firmly in the "enjoyable to watch but nothing mindblowing" section. In other words, slightly above average.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 3:28 am
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And why did you drop Joshiraku?
It's up there with the greatest this season
admin
July 25, 2012 at 3:29 am
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Didn't find it particularly funny. Slightly xenophobic and trying too hard. Comedy is personal – it either works for you or it doesn't.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 3:47 am
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Well,I disagree with the whole "comedy is just a matter of taste" thing. I mean clearly, there are some stuff anyone with a brain can appreciate or at least realise the amount of thought that gets put into it. Joshiraku is one of these shows and I think you should give it another shot. Dont let, the language barrier scare you.The tons of references on almost every part of japanese culture is much more overwhelming I think.
I

Ishruns
July 25, 2012 at 4:20 am
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I'm somehow guessing you haven't been a regular on LiA.
admin
July 25, 2012 at 4:24 am
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If you don't think comedy is a matter of taste, I don't see a lot of middle ground to be found there.

The language barrier isn't the issue with Joshiraku – I just don't think it works that well. I know what's supposed to be funny – I just don't normally find it funny myself. And there's a slightly ugly undertone to some of the humor, at least for me. Maybe that got better after the first couple of episodes.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 1:41 pm
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The ugly undertone that you mentioned, is there all right. But that's actually a merit for the series cause the satire reaches places not usually explored. It's actually the closest thing to your favorite this season. I'm talking about Jinrui wa. Both shows have a constant barrage of witty dialogue and meta humor and tend to surprise you by taking apart various different japanese/world related topics.

I remember you dismissing the series before it even aired as "the same show with a different name" probably referring to the 5 girls or something.I dont know. I'm just saying,maybe you were a bit negative towards it without realizing it. Cause your above criticism such as it "trying too hard" can be said for Jinrui Wa as well. Both series are actually funny but you dont exactly laugh while watching them.Your brain is too busy processing all that stuff for your mouth to start throwing saliva at the screen.And that's good of course. The problem with many series is that they don't "try too hard" actually.
�

†Croos†
July 25, 2012 at 2:13 pm
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Joshiraku is good. Explaining that gag and saying if this gag was good or bad is harder than I thought. The pun just dies when I explain it to them. 🙁
-Person who tried explaining the gag in IRC.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 2:23 pm
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There are hundreds of gags in each episode of Joshiraku.
Every comedy genre is covered, from satire and breaking the 4th wall to puns and pop culture references. It actually has something for everyone. Enzo I see you didn't even cover it in your preview of the summer season. Why's that?
I

Ishruns
July 25, 2012 at 3:41 pm
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Throwing out a hundred gags per episode is not really that funny as you simply have no time to actually laugh at them, they go by without any real impact. Plus the jokes aren't even very creative and a bit of a copy of plenty of shows before it (Lucky Star, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei).

That's why its trying too hard, because it does too much without thinking, while Jinrui carefully crafts its scenes, characters and jokes to maximum satire. Example Joshiraku has a room to make fun of the world outside it and Jinrui has a magical world to do it in. Rather than just making fun of the manga world they obliterated it by literally going into it in the last episode.

Creative and original = Jinrui, Done before and better = Joshiraku.

I love comedy but even I think that Joshiraku is just boring, because it plays it too safe and you can't do that in a comedy.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 5:11 pm
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I was about to agree with you on the impact part. There are actually far too many jokes and go by too fast indeed. But then you lost me.

The amount of thought that goes into creating and fitting together this huge string of gags is phenomenal.This takes skill or you are left with nothing but a mess. I have seen lots of comedies and no I don't think that Joshiraku is neither a copy not something done before.

Then you actually said that it plays it safe? How so? It's the exact opposite of playing it safe. It takes a big risk by seeming (not being) inaccessibe and also politically incorrect on more than one account.
I

Ishruns
July 26, 2012 at 12:27 am
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Its safe because it does the same jokes that have been done a hundred times before it. Its like a Top 100 hits compilation without any hits.

My point on it being uncreative is because numerous shows have used the exact same format or had mostly female casts or a number of just been stuck in one room.

That's why I think it plays safe because it just takes what other did successfully and copies that. I bet you've never seen a comedy like Jinrui before, which is why its safe.

Also being politically incorrect and inaccessible is not a really a deal breaker for anime, with its lolis and most comedies rely on metahumor these days anyway. Watch Seitokai Yakuindomo to see a ton of gags poured around if you haven't seen that kind of anime before.
I

Ishruns
July 25, 2012 at 3:31 am
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Most of my interests rank the same as yours except for Kingdom (nice story or not I'm gonna need glasses if I watch it) and Koi to Senkyo (just feels the same as every other galge/eroge and I expect it to end in a very predictable fashion).

Dropped the same stuff as well except for Muv-Luv because unlike Aquarion it hasn't been too silly in its first few episodes and has had some interesting action and world building. Plus no rainbow coloured hair is a plus.

I hope you don't drop Nobuna just because episode 3 was cringe worthy, with a pointless marriage proposal and tsundere tendencies and the obvious sexism on display. But this is a harem, so having the male OTAKU lead save all the damsels is the way its gonna work. BDs will be sold, but I guess the story is probably better in Kingdom, even if the animation will be a problem for those of us blessed with the gift of sight.

Can't believe you're still watching AnK though. I checked in on the last episode and didn't even make it before the opening.

Not bad compared to last summer and there are a number of good shows from spring going on.
admin
July 25, 2012 at 4:19 am
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I'll watch Oda for a couple more eps, and it might hang on – I never really thought I'd have enough to say about it to blog it, though.

AnK was especially bad this week, but it's been sort of OK for a while.
C

Click
July 25, 2012 at 4:11 am
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Moyashimon is sort of flailing around. Something which helped make the first series so beloved was the contrast in art styles between the bacteria and the characters, and that's no longer there. Also, Microbe Theater was tossed aside and was instead thrown into the middle of the show when explanations were necessary. The problem with that is that it disrupts the flow of events and makes the series lose momentum.

Sword Art Online is pretty decent, but everyone's sort of throwing a sissy fit over how the LN's are adapted. But in all honesty, we shouldn't forget that just because it was in a book, doesn't mean that it's the greatest piece of literature ever made. In the end of the day, a show has to be judged by it's own merits, since certainly a book isn't video or an animation; they're different mediums.
s

shirayuki75
July 25, 2012 at 4:55 am
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Tari Tari kind of bores me. I'm not sure what direction it's heading in, but I'll continue watching it nevertheless. As a non-light novel reader, I say that the pacing for episode three of Sword Art Online is poor. However, the conflict over "faithful adaptation" should stop; if there's one thing that I learned from Yumeiro Patissiere, it's to strive to be even better than the predecessor. Copying is a waste of talent. Who knows if Sword Art Online (TV) will be better than its light novel source? Besides, if it's exactly the same, the source material won't be as valuable anymore.

And I'm confused on your use of the word "conceit." I thought it meant an extended metaphor, but you seem to be using it in place of "concept" or "premise."
admin
July 25, 2012 at 5:17 am
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a : a fanciful idea
b : an elaborate or strained metaphor
c : use or presence of such conceits in poetry
d : an organizing theme or concept
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 5:26 am
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Hagure Yuusha no Estetica

Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai

LOL o yes, GE, these are totally not the shows for you =P
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 6:22 am
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Hmph.

Nor me. 😛

– Flower
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 8:19 am
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They are anime for fappers, nyaa
B

Beckett
July 25, 2012 at 6:24 am
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I agree with your rankings of most of the shows except that I'd put Campione into the "on the Fence" C+ range category and Muv Luv into the "worth watching" B range category. Been a while… a LONG while… since a mecha show did anything at all for me but I find myself liking this one quite a bit. I'd also put Moyashimon in the B rank category except that this season has had a positively criminal lack of Hasegawa, who is the character that I'm really watching it for, so for the time being the C rank category suits it.

Only other difference between you and me this season is that since I don't blog I have more time to actually watch stuff so I don't usually drop anything unless I really really hate it. My brain compels me to finish whatever I start watching even if I find it pretty meh.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 8:30 am
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The failure of Campione is… the girls are whores, and the narrator sounds like a braindead idiot. I can't if he's trying to be funny or to be cool. 🙂
Muv-Luv started out great, with a sense of tragedy & hopelessness as the humanity is on verge of destruction. But starting from episode 3, it becomes a let down. A male lead who's already very common in mecha anime, and a racist on top of that.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 10:32 am
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At least Bridges is something than nothing compared to other male protagonists of the season.
A

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 at 10:20 am
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How is Hyouka pure "time-wasting" fun?… It's part slice of life, part mystery and part coming of age drama and features pretty much the best character development we've seen this year along with Tsuritama.
It is pure fun but no time is wasted in watching it. It's a meaningful show.

Also, I have to agree with the previous anon. Utakoi should be way higher. Seeing the list now, I think it's actually the best by a very fan margin. I guess it's a matter of taste regarding Jinrui, but all other shows have obvious flaws, whereas Utakoi doesn't.
The ending would be awesome if not for the engrish. Music wise it's fine.
e

elianthos
July 25, 2012 at 11:57 am
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@Anon: if you were a regular reader you would know that those considerations about Hyouka are all in the appreciation camp. Enzo likes Hyouka very much actually XD, or he wouldn't wasting his time blogging about each episode both regularly and in-depth.
S

Seishun Otoko
July 25, 2012 at 2:02 pm
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My favorites this season are Rinne no Lagrange 2, Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II, Muv-Luv, Binbougami, Hagure Yuusha no Estetica, Yuruyuri ♪♪ and Jintai. I hope you'll continue blogging Binbougami Enzo, that show is hilarious and probably the best comedy I've seen so far this year.
admin
July 25, 2012 at 3:48 pm
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Not much overlap between us this season, is there?
H

Highway
July 25, 2012 at 2:10 pm
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I haven't dropped any shows I'm watching (19 current shows), but mostly because I feel like I have plenty of time to watch them. I do concur that the weekends are a little overloaded, so maybe I'll shift some into the mid-week, since Tuesdays and Wednesdays are pretty barren.

As for relative rankings, I am hopeful that the story that's lurking in KoiChoco will elevate it a bit as it seems like it has the potential to add quite a lot to what could otherwise be an ordinary harem show (Yuuichi seems a skosh better than the ordinary harem lead, tho). I actually really like Boku H, and not only for the clothing optional fights, but mostly for the low-class humor. It is what it is, and so far I like it.

Also, I like Jintai, but it really seems to me that I don't get nearly as much out of it as other people do. I haven't figured out if it's that I don't really recognize satire as much, or because I don't have enough genre-savvy (especially with manga) so far. UtaKoi I also find enjoyable, but just as romantic vignettes (poetry does about zilch for me).

As for your other rankings, I'm pretty much in about the same order, I seem to like Tari Tari and KokoKo better than you. And some shows I'm still watching, mostly to complain about how amusingly bad they are: Hagure Yuusha and Muv-Luv primarily.
b

belatkuro
July 25, 2012 at 5:10 pm
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Out of the 14 shows I'm currently watching for this season, my top 3 are SAO, Natsuyuki and Jinrui. Yeah, I'm an LN reader for SAO but that doesn't stop me from liking it. Natsuyuki just tugs at my heart in all the right places and Jinrui is just amusing, hilarious and unique.
I guess Kokoro Connect would follow and then Horizon. The rest are watchable enough. Dropped 2 shows already(Famiglia and Dakara H) which will be followed by a third(Binbougami) if the next episode fails.
Tari Tari confuses me as to what it wants to do but it's still okay. I guess things really don't work well for me and PA Works.
Dog Days', Nakaimo and Koichoco are my guilty pleasures. They're stupid but very enjoyable. Campione, MuvLuv, RnL and Hagure are still fine. So yeah.
b

belatkuro
July 25, 2012 at 5:13 pm
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PS. Yay for watching PoyoPoyo. I love that show. I watch that first before watching HxH.
And you're still watching FT, AnK and KnB huh. Nice.
Y

Yumichan
July 25, 2012 at 10:49 pm
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Not Yuruyuri *music*music* ?
They are so funny and adorable *_*
admin
July 25, 2012 at 11:00 pm
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Sorry – love the director, absolutely bored by the show.
�

†Croos†
July 26, 2012 at 12:47 am
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Try to hold on to Oda Nobuna, Enzo. We don't know what's in it yet. I know that its oozing some harem and boob bouncing but hey, parallel world and tactical/strategical battles are fun thing to watch. Please hold this on for at least 2 episode. OTZ
S

Steelman
July 26, 2012 at 1:49 am
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I find it very interesting that the Spring 2012 season, which was so beloved by western anime blogger, completely failed in terms of sales. No single new show in Spring 2012 has so far managed to sell more than 10k DVD/Blue-Rays in its first volume. Kuroko's Basketball will probably do so (and obviously the second season of Fate/Zero will sell tons), but that is still one show, against at least 4-5 per season in the previous year. This summer season appears comparatively stronger (Horizon and SAO are locks, and other shows stand a good chance).

Clearly the tastes of Japanese otakus and western bloggers are very different – something that could potentially be quite problematic, since DVD/Blue-ray sales are what drives the late-night anime market (read this series of articles on ANN if you are not convinced: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2012-03-05).
admin
July 26, 2012 at 2:06 am
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A very good observation – and a depressing one as it relates to the future of anime.
R

Rita
July 26, 2012 at 11:51 pm
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Holy crap what is up with the influx of anons (I'm almost tempted to say the same person) trying to incite annoyance against everyone that doesn't agree with them. I think I remember why I have the urge to ignore people who can't find the courage (or can't be bothered) to simply put a name to their voice.

That being said, Jinrui is about the only show I keep up with during the Summer, unfortunately. Oh, and Ginga e Kickoff (that's your fault Enzou XDD). The other shows, which I've maybe seen the first two episodes or so for most, just don't keep my attention. They're not bad, none of them really are, but even the ones ranked higher on your list, I just don't have the desire to keep up with. They'll probably be backburner shows which I go through on my free time instead of actively watching when they first come out.

But then again, it's rare for me to keep up with a series as it's released unless I REAAAAALLY love it XD
admin
July 27, 2012 at 12:02 am
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Don't forget, GeK is taking a month off (though we don't even have 16 subbed yet). With the two-week AO break, summer's looking even more lonely.
A

Anonymous
August 4, 2012 at 11:57 pm
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don't drop Muv-Luv, it gets really good ):

Guardian Enzo

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Anonymous

Anonymous

Beckett

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Anonymous

Anonymous

elianthos

Seishun Otoko

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Highway

belatkuro

belatkuro

Yumichan

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†Croos†

Steelman

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Rita

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Anonymous

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