For the second season in a row, anime seems to be bunching up in the middle.

As I always do when I prepare one of these Season Review posts, I started by making a list of all the series I’d watched and grouping them into the familiar categories ranging from “Elite” to “Dropped”. And the most noticeable thing was the lack of shows at the top and bottom – nothing at all made it into the “Elite” box, and only two shows have been dropped (though that’s partly due to not having started several I’d likely have bailed on after the premiere).

The flipside of that is that most of the series I’ve stuck with are clustered in the “Very Good” and “Worthwhile” categories – so at least Fall 2017 has a decent volume of watchable shows. Autumn tends to have a pretty large schedule to begin with, so that result is pretty predictable. I want one really great show every season, even the mediocre ones – a Made in Abyss or Tsuki ga Kirei – and while Mahoutsukai no Yome is superb I don’t put it quite on that level (though to be fair, I didn’t rank Made in Abyss as “Elite” at this point either, though that was a closer call). But by no means are we looking at a historical low ebb.

On balance, then, Fall 2017 seems to be a season of continuity – a generally so-so year, certainly a step down from 2016, but not a write-off (and maybe better than I would have predicted six months ago). I suspect that this is going to be a top-heavy year-end countdown – a pretty good top 5, but relatively weak at the lower checkpoints. There are just a lot of shows this year that probably should be #10-25 in a really good year – which inevitably means a number of them are going to be ranked higher than they should be.

On the genre and demographic front, there too we’re looking largely at continuity rather than a dramatic shift. As with most of 2016 the small quadrant of the schedule not dedicated to formula is distributed pretty evenly – a good bit of shounen, a couple of good comedies, a smattering of other demographics. And it also continues a trend I’ve noticed of late, which is that fantasy is on the ascendancy in anime at the expense of sci-fi. Is that a reflection of the dominant genres in light novels, or are other factors at play?

Onwards to Fall 2017:

The Elite

None

Outstanding

Mahoutsukai no Yome
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A-
Comments: There have been few secrets in these first four eps of Mahoutsukai no Yome for me, since I saw the first three in the theatrical run a few months back. But they hold up – this is a very good adaptation of a very good manga. I don’t think the series is going to have too many moments on the level of Episode 3’s magnificence, but there’s plenty of firepower in the source material to produce a solid Top 10 show for 2018 (depending on how good a year it is, of course). Wit has done some very good work, but I don’t think anything as visually impressive as Mahoutsukai.

Kekkai Sensen and Beyond
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A-
Comments: There was good reason to be concerned as Kekkai Sensen transitioned from the singular genius of Matsumoto Rie to the more orthodox stewardship of Takayanagi Shigeo. This was a big change – but I think Blood Blockade Battlefront has survived it virtually unscathed. It’s a somewhat different show under Takayanagi, but not worse. His visual stale is more traditional, favoring depth and texture over flat backgrounds and quick cuts. And there’s already been more focus on the secondary members of Libra, especially Steven and Chain. But it’s working just as well for me as it did the first time, and continues to be a pretty unique entry on the schedule.

Very Good

Hoozuki no Reitetsu 2nd Season
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B+
Comments: There was every reason to believe we knew what to expect from Hoozuki no Reitetsu despite a change in studio, and it’s delivered. This is a literate, irreverent and visually beautiful anime comedy, a real treasure. If I rank it a quarter-step behind the first season it’d only be because we haven’t had a light-out hilarious episode yet (though #4 came pretty close), and the production quality under Studio Deen is down just a hair from what it was under Wit. But it’s still the best comedy of the season, and one of the best of the year.

Inuyashiki
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B+
Comments: Is there an opposite of the phrase “with a bullet”? Because while Inuyashiki fully deserves this grade after two episodes, I’m extremely leery about where it’s going from here. The second episode was extremely effective and skillfully executed, but also profoundly disturbing in ways both good and bad.  I’m withholding judgment on whether Inuyashiki is exploitative or not, but it danced about as close to the line as it could without crossing it (and did, for some) last week. Mangaka Oku Hiroya’s track record on this score is not entirely encouraging, but I’m willing to give this show every chance.

Just Because
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: There are rumblings of trouble at new-ish studio Pine Jam, where Just Because is produced – massive production delays for which the director and studio are blaming the other. But so far they haven’t really intruded on my enjoyment of the series, which – while nothing spectacular in terms of production values – has been thoroughly enjoyable. Just Because reminds me very much of an old P.A. Works series from their glory days, which is a good thing – it manages to be engaging with an odd, meandering narrative approach that feels very true to life. Obviously caution is required going forward, but I applaud Pine Jam for being both contrarian and creatively ambitious, and I hope this series ends up being at least a break-even for them.

Osomatsu-san 2
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: As with Hoozuki no Reitetsu, this is a sequel to a massively popular and very good comedy (it’s even more popular and not quite as good) that’s delivered pretty much just what you’d expect. We haven’t had that jaw-droppingly brilliant episode yet here, either – though the premiere was pretty close – and I am a bit worried that Osomatsu-san will follow the path of lesser resistance in trying to be more outrageous for its own sake a bit too often. But Osomatsu-san is still consistently funny and never shy about pushing (obliterating) the boundaries, and I’m very glad to have it around.

Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B
Comments: So far so good with Food Wars’ third season. I haven’t found this show to ever be quite as interesting as it was when it was setting up the premise and mostly character-driven, but as a hopeless foodie I can’t help but be fascinated by its well-researched discourses an gastronomy. Gourmet and gourmand alike, Shokugeki no Souma has something for everyone – and even if sometimes underutilized this is still a strong cast with a likeable and interesting protagonist.

Worthwhile

UQ Holder
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: Honestly, if I were ranking as a new viewer UQ Holder would probably slip into the “Very Good” category because it’s, you know- very good. But I can’t unknow what I know from reading the manga, which means I know how much good stuff is being skipped in the interest of cramming this adaptation into a single cour. Akamatsu Ken just can’t buy a break with Negima adaptations, it seems – and compared to what the original suffered through UQ Holder is relatively faithful. It’s a good series, but it doesn’t scratch the itch for manga fans who have been craving a full and faithful adaptation since the Negima disaster.

Net-juu no Susume
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: It seems that these days I like having one show every season that I really enjoy but don’t blog. Last season it was Gamers, this time around it’s Net-juu no Susume – which has proved itself to be a pretty charming and sweet romance set amongst the world of MMO addicts. There’s nothing profound or revolutionary about this show, but it’s consistently entertaining and funny, and I find it a breeze to enjoy.

Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B-
Comments: I really want to like this series more than I do. It has a lot going for it – dark and substantial premise, excellent visuals, diverse cast. But somehow it’s just not clicking for me yet. There’s a certain falseness about the character interactions, a broadness to the writing, and perhaps even a hint of nationalism – all of which detract from my ability to really embrace Kujira no Kora. I’m still hopeful that will change, and I think the upside is big enough that I need to give this series more time to win me over.

Still Watching

Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World – The Animated Series
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B-
Comments: There seems to be some sentiment that the current version of Kino no Tabi is a bit more simplistic and rushed than the original TV series, though to be honest it pretty much matches up with what little I remember. Which is to say a pretty good, modestly entertaining exercise which seems to think it’s more profound and deep than it actually is. Which is perfectly fine – this version is well-produced and well-cast, and quite good for what it is. If it loses anything from the original I’m not enough of a fan to be bothered by that.

Dropped:

Houseki no Kuni, Black Clover

So with that, here’s this season’s blogging prospectus:

Monday:
Definitely Blogging: Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou, UQ Holder, Osomatsu-san 2

Tuesday:
Definitely Blogging: Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara

Wednesday:
Definitely Blogging: None

Thursday:
Definitely Blogging: Just Because
Probably Blogging: Inuyashiki

Friday:
Definitely Blogging: Shoukoku no Altair

Saturday:
Definitely Blogging: Ballroom e Youkoso, Hoozuki no Reitetsu 2nd Season, Mahoutsukai no Yome, Kekkai Sensen & Beyond

Sunday:
On the Bubble: Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau

Manga: Otoyomegatari

Watching For Now: Mahoujin Guruguru, Net-juu no Susume, Kino to Tabi: The Beautiful World