‘Tis the season for romcom. A development I only partially caught going in – in the preview I talked about ‘lots of school/romance/SoL”. But this goes beyond that – the schedule is just packed with romance series. Some of the ones I’ve blogged I previewed and some I didn’t. I do appreciate the genre, though good examples of it have become less common in recent years. Looking at this batch as a whole, I’d have to describe it as something of a mixed bag. Which is (as is more often the case than not) true of the season as a whole.
Once more it’s a season that mostly bunches up in the middle. The bubble is pretty crowded (though maybe less than I thought a week ago). Nothing is really great apart from Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi and Sengoku Youko, but we have had a couple series really exceed expectations so far (including Nige Jouzu, ironically). That’s partially offset by a couple of shows I had pretty high expectations for underperforming, with the net result being a season that’s tracking pretty close to what I expected.
One of those underperformers was one of my sleepers, but so far both Rising Impact (yes, I know it was dumped in full but I’ve only watched 6 episodes) and Katsute Mahou Shoujo to Aku wa Tekitai shiteita. look like they deserved that tag. It’s hard to rate a season with so few series in the top three categories as a good one, but I think the book on the summer ultimately comes down to whether the overperformers can keep the magic going, and whether one of the disappointments steps up and claims a place at the table.
Onward, then, to Summer 2024:
The Elite
Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: A
Comments: It’s weird to have one of my top-ranked shows in terms of expectations also be one of the biggest surprises of the season. But that’s the case with The Elusive Samurai, which has exceeded every expectation I had for it. CloverWorks is doing for this series what Production I.G. did for Tengoku Daimakyou in delivering an adaptation that maximizes the appeal of the source material in every way. The difference is that you kind of expect that with I.G.. That, and in this case it seems to be giving Nigewaka a new lease on life commercially, offering it the chance to level up in a big way as a money-maker for Shueshia. If CW can keep it up this could be one of the great success stories in animanga of recent years.
Outstanding
Sengoku Youko
Episodes Watched: 2
Grade: A-
Comments: Only not higher because it started so late, frankly. It’s nice to know Sengoku Youko is going to be with us for 22 more episodes, tbough I’d actually hoped it might be more. The next several weeks are going to be a cavalcade of memorably character introductions, and a chronicle of Senya growing into his role as the best protagonist of the season. If the adaptation follows the source material Sengoku Youko really should wind up atop the pile for summer anime, but the sheer brilliance of Nige Youzu no Wakagimi’s adaptation will make that an interesting battle to watch.
Very Good
Make Heroine ga Oosugiru!
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B+
Comments: Along with Nigewaka the biggest upside surprise of the season. It’s also an A-1 production (CloverWorks is a sub-studio) so it’s clear good things are happening over there. Makeine is based on a light novel and character designer Imigi Muru is really the only name involved with the production that I knew going it, but the results have been absolutely gorgeous (no less than Shinkai Makoto has praised the series’ visuals). I find the writing to be pretty decent thus far too, though as with any LN adaptation that represents a huge risk to Makeine’s staying power.
Worthwhile
Katsute Mahou Shoujo to Aku wa Tekitai shiteita.
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B
Comments: Pretty darn close to cracking “Very Good”, Katsute Mahou Shoujo has performed admirably for a half-length series. It has elements of Inu x Boku SS to it unsurprisingly, and also Kyuujitsu no Warumono-san. Bones is delivering on the visuals as you’d expect (the transformation sequence is one of the most beautiful in mahou shoujo). And with Fujiwara Cocoa writing it’s hard to pin down exactly what we’re seeing in terms of the story. Soon enough though the anime will be transitioning to original material, so that constitutes a real test for the production.
Rising Impact
Episodes Watched: 7
Grade: B
Comments: 2024’s second golf anime makes quite a contrast with Ooi Tonbo!, but I rather like Rising Impact too. It’s fun and silly in a very shounen sort of way, without making light of its chosen sport in the fashion of something like Prince of Tennis or Kuroko no Basuke. Gawain is a very likeable protagonist and the supporting case both of youngsters and adults is a good one.
Ramen Akaneko
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: Red Cat Ramen has hit pretty much as I expected, with quirky workplace humor and lots of cute cat minutiae. I’m enjoying it a lot, and it certainly represents the leading “that niche” candidate for this season. But damn, I want to go to a cat-run ramen-ya so damn bad…
Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: In the absurdly crowded pack of summer romcoms, Alya-san stands out as one of the more promising players. I’ve liked the interactions among the main characters in the main, though Yuki has raised some yellow flags to be sure. I’ve started to get a bit of a Mashiro-iro Symphony vibe with Roshidere (thanks to Masha mostly), though nominally they have little in common. As much as I liked that show I consider that a good thing.
Shoushimin Series
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B-
Comments: Hyouka it’s not. But in fairness, it doesn’t have to be. Shoushimin Series is the classic Yonezawa Honobu slow build, but the third episode saw it starting to grow on me a bit. I’m curious what the deal with the two leads and this whole “being ordinary” obsession is, but as characters they’ve yet to really make much of an impression on me. I’d feel better if the series had more than ten episodes to make its case.
Oshi no Ko Season 2
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B-
Comments: I recognize that Oshi no Ko is very good at some things. It excels at the how the sausage is made side of the Japanese entertainment industry, and as such the “Toyo Blade” arc would seem to give it a good chance to be at its best. But knowing Akasaka will hedge his bets and wind up going the apologist route takes some of the bloom off the rose for me. OnK has no obligation to fulfil my expectations of what sort of series it ought to be. But likewise I have no obligation not to be disappointed by that.
Still Watching
Giji Harem
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: C+
Comments: The biggest disappointment of the season for me so far, only because I had a strong sleeper vibe. But the third episode showed a spark of life I found lacking in the first two, so maybe there’s hope. I don’t dislike anything about Giji Harem, but it just doesn’t have enough to it that pops (and I would include Hayami Saori’s performance in that). A clever premise but pretty modest execution, so far at least.
Kami no Tou: Ouji no Kikan
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C+
Comments: Kami no Tou is certainly a piece of work. I enjoy it in spite (or perhaps because) of all its love of excess, but it doesn’t give me a lot of grist for the writing mill even before it jumps the shark. That won’t happen this season at least, but knowing it’s coming probably reduces the amount of credit the series has banked.
Atri: My Dear Moments
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C+
Comments: This one is about as VN as anime gets, with all that implies. I think Atri has its heart in the right place but I don’t see a lot of reason to think it’s going to hold my interest for an entire cour.
Tensui no Sakuna-hime
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C
Comments: Even if P.A. Works doesn’t have the lustre it once did, there are still an awful lot of big names involved with Sakuna-hime. As such it’s surprising just how mediocre it is so far. The premise is somewhat interesting to me and it’s not bad or anything, so I’m sticking around for the moment in the hope that the pedigree will start to assert itself.
Bye Bye Earth
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C-
Comments: Hanging on by a thread here, but truthfully I find Bye Bye Earth to be pretty vapid. Lidenfilms’ take on Guilty Crown (same writer) without quite as much flash.
Dropped:
Senpai wa Otokonoko, 2.5-jigen no Ririsa, Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan, Boku no Tsuma wa Kanjou ga Nai
Here, then, is this season’s blogging prospectus:
Monday: None
Tuesday:
Probably Blogging: Katsute Mahou Shoujo to Aku wa Tekitai shiteita.
Wednesday:
Definitely Blogging: Sengoku Youko: Senma Konton-hen
On the Bubble: Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san, Oshi no Ko Season 2
Thursday:
Definitely Blogging: Ramen Akaneko
On the Bubble: Giji Harem
Friday:
Definitely Blogging: None
On the respirator: Bye Bye Earth
Saturday:
Definitely Blogging: Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai, Boku no Hero Academia Season 7, The Fable, Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi
Probably Blogging: Make Heroine ga Oosugiru!
On the Bubble: Shoushimin Series
Sunday:
Definitely Blogging: None
On the Bubble: Kami no Tou: Ouji no Kikan
On the respirator: Atri: My Dear Moments
Manga: Otoyomegatari, Hunter X Hunter (hiatus ending?)
Watching For Now: Rising Impact, T.P. Bon, Tensui no Sakuna-hime
One more thing before I wrap. A special thanks to everyone who supports LiA financially – you’re the reason the site is still going. The “LiA Bespoke” commissions program is officially open and has proved to be a great addition to LiA, so please check it out.
Please check out the LiA YouTube channel for manga recommendations, from the vault anime, Japan journeys the My Taste is Better Than Yours podcast, and more!
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Nadavu
July 27, 2024 at 10:22 pmI really miss starting my Saturdays with Tonbo, but it is what it is…
By the way, Kimi ni Todoke season 3 is about to hit Netflix in a few days. Any plans to blog it?
Nadavu
July 27, 2024 at 10:27 pmAlso, Heroine episode 3 is still a few hours away, but you counted 3 episodes watched. Typo?
Guardian Enzo
July 27, 2024 at 10:59 pmI’m not a fan of KnT, I’m afraid. I gave it a good shot but it was a sleep-aid for me.
Yeah, typo but at this point I’ll just leave it…
Joshua
July 28, 2024 at 2:41 amDamning with faint praise, Sakuna is probably the PA Works show that I have the most optimism for as someone who did play the game. Although I think doing so instilled a bias that a non-fan like you doesn’t have. Narenare doesn’t seem confident enough in its audience to understand its characters (having to introduce chibi versions that represent their inner voices) beyond the cheerleading premise. And Mayonaka Punch is clearly aiming for acquired taste territory, oddly acting as the inverse Akiba Meido Sensou for me in that I am interested sorta in its vampire VTuber premise, but it’s something that’s going to turn off a lot of people, and I’m skeptical that they can conclude this well.
Also I know you didn’t cover it last season, but seeing Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai left me with very little optimism for Doga Kobo, especially considering how demanding OnK s2 is going to get with its performance. I consider YoruKura to be their Metallic Rouge, a disappointing milestone show that couldn’t excel in anything outside of visuals, and of course, had to blow it when it too introduced social commentary, namely on the idol industry featuring a former idol as one of its leads and how she was fired from her group.
Tien
July 31, 2024 at 1:19 amMany thanks for your review of Katsute Mahou Shoujo to Aku wa Tekitai shiteita! I really miss the air of Inu x Boku SS. It was so nostalgic watching it as like you have mentioned the humor of Fujiwara Cocoa again. Her sudden departure is a big loss.
Guardian Enzo
July 31, 2024 at 6:27 amYou’re very welcome. It is terribly sad to have lost her so young. I wish Katsute was full-length but it has her signature spark to it.
Bas
August 1, 2024 at 9:42 pmThat “Hiatus Ending” made me excited. It’s remarkable that you have always had Hunter X Hunter in the seasonal check-in post and never lost hope.
Guardian Enzo
August 1, 2024 at 9:47 pmI mean, they’ve always ended before, no matter how long it took. Togashi taking to twitter and the improved communication over his condition solidified my belief that there was a desire on all sides for this to continue somehow, no matter how intermittently.