Sakurasou’s struggle with itself might just be more interesting than anything its characters are struggling with. OP2: “Yume no Tsuzuki” (夢の続き) by Konomi Suzuki Cour 2 (or more accurately, what feels like season 3) of Sakurasou kicks off with an episode that takes us squarely down the RomCom path, complete […] Read more
At last, the pace of premières really kicks into high gear. Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited – 01 I must confess the original Zettai Karen Children didn’t make too much of an impression on me. To the point, in fact, where I don’t remember a whole lot about it except […] Read more
There’s more than a little about this episode that has an air of finality to it. OP2: “23:40” by Hyadain With a new cour comes a new OP and ED for Bakuman – quite probably the last we’ll ever see. And they set that tone, especially the OP sequence, which […] Read more
My God, it’s like being in 2007 again. Pinch me. Does this mean Seirei no Moribito will be back in the Spring and Ghost Hound in the Fall? OP: 「Shiawase☆High Tension↑↑ 」 (Happiness High Tension) by (Rina Satou, Marina Inoue, and Minori Chihara) A word of qualification before I begin: […] Read more
Though there’s still plenty of mystery, that was an episode that clarified an awful lot of things in my mind. I made the mistake of applying Occam’s Razor to the riddle of Nishizono Mio last post, but I should have known better – Occam’s Razor simply doesn’t apply when it […] Read more
A new season, a new OP and ED, and to some extent, a different sort of Space Brothers. OP4: “Small World” by Fujifabric Thanks to “Hugo” a lot more people thatn used to know about “A Trip to the Moon” and Georges Méliès – then importance of both to the […] Read more
Series this good really shouldn’t run as long as Hunter X Hunter. I’m running out of new things to say when I sing its praises. Things great shounen can be about: Friendship Adventure Growing stronger Fighting evil “Where are you, Dad?” I’m going to have to repeat some of […] Read more
Now there’s one that’s significantly more intriguing than I expected… OP: “Girlish Lover” by Chinatsu Akasaki, Yukari Tamura, Hisako Kanemoto and Ai Kayano At first glance, Oreshura seems like a series that could hardly be more formulaic. To be honest, at second and third-glance too, and maybe after staring at […] Read more
That was an interesting mix of the conventional and the not-so-much. OP: “Mukaikaze (向かい風; Headwind)” by YOHKO I don’t think there’s any question that Maoyuu Mao Yuusha goes into the season with extremely high expectations. In a schedule mostly lacking in really interesting new shows (though heavy on good carry-overs […] Read more
This is the sort of series for which the phrase “The plot thickens” was invented. I’ve lavished a lot of praise on this series over the first 13 episodes, which is fine because I think it’s deserved all of it. But I’m still finding myself struck by new things that […] Read more