Winter 2012 Preliminary Rankings
This season looks to be mirroring Winter 2011: SHAFT show dominating with little competition. Sad, considering the lineup seemed to hold so much promise. Let’s hurry up and get the rankings out of the way, shall we?
Misete Ageyou ka? Tier
- Another - The only show so far that makes me wish the week would go by faster. Not much to say here as I plan on posting about every episode. P.A. Works, don’t let me down!
Initial Grade: A
Pretty Good Tier
- Nisemonogatari - Didn’t think any other show would come close to taking the #1 spot from Nisemonogatari. Perhaps expectations were unfairly high due to Bakemonogatari, but since it dragged for the first couple episodes it will cede the top spot. For now. I expect great things, if episode 3 is any indicator.
Initial Grade: B+ - Natsume Yuujinchou Shi - Consistently a great show, season after season.
Initial Grade: A- - Daily Lives of High School Boys - While the second episode was not as good as the first, I still have high hopes for this show. Most people can look back on the stupid stuff they did in high school with fondness and this show capitalizes on it.
Initial Grade: A-
Worth a Watch Tier
- Ano Natsu de Matteru - With episode 3, Ano Natsu demonstrated that it has the potential to be a great show; that closing scene was just done so well. However, I’m reluctant to promote it to the next tier as I’m not quite convinced this is the real deal. I really think the whole Onegai Teacher tie in hurts the show more than helps; what they decide to do with it could decide whether this show is great or merely good.
Initial Grade: B- - Chihayafuru - Finally caught up with the first cour and I’m enjoying it. It’s like Saki without the lesbian fanservice and more dynamic character interactions. I do feel that the soundtrack is overdramatic, like I’m watching some corny made for TV movie.
- Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing - Probably the show show I look forward to the most week to week after Another. I’ve given up on getting any decent character development, so at this point I’m looking forward to some more awesome battles, drama and, of course, Dio.
- Rinne no Lagrange - Of the shows I was initially on the fence about (this, Pirates, and Symphogear), this is the only one that I think has a chance to be a decent show. Unlike Symphogear, the concept and characters are not horrible. Unlike Pirates, it is not incredibly boring. I’m not sold on Madoka, but Lan seems like she’ll turn out to be a nice character.
Initial Grade: C+ - Inu × Boku SS - Ririchiyo is so damned cute. I’d probably watch just for her and her outfits, but the rest of the show is not bad either. The show will be strong if they keep focusing on Ririchiyo’s development and the supernatural element will always keep me interested.
Initial Grade: B - Aquarion Evol - So much silliness. I like all the females in the show and the males are not bad either. Hopefully the focus shifts back onto Amata as they haven’t really addressed how he feels about being an element.
Initial Grade: B- - The Knight in the Area - I was not so happy with the way they “resolved” the Suguru-Kakeru thing, but the show manages to keep me entertained. I’m hoping Kakeru will how me some awesomeness in the future.
Initial Grade: C+ - Kill Me Baby - I watch it for the stupid ninja gags.
Initial Grade: C - Guilty Crown - Really? A school festival? Really?
- Shakugan no Shana III (Final) - Ugh. Why is J.C. Staff so bad?
- Persona 4 The Animation - The series always feels so fragmented. Probably because the transition from Persona-action to school life is not handled gracefully and the pacing is horrible. The show is still a boon for fans of the game, but do not let that trick you into thinking this is a good anime.
- New Prince of Tennis - Pretty much the original all over again. This is not a bad thing.
Initial Grade: B- - Recorder and Randsell - Yeah, the whole five minute thing is killing me, but I still find it entertaining.
Initial Grade: B+ - Thermae Romae - So is this just a placeholder until Black Rock Shooter starts? It’s an interesting concept, at least.
Initial Grade: N/A - Amagami SS+ - They started the Rihoko arc. Dropping this show until they are done with her, at least. Well, it’s not entirely her fault since the Tsukasa arc wasn’t so great either. No matter what they did, there was no way SS+ was going to be as good as the original since it’s more about fellating established fans rather than gaining new ones.
Initial Grade: B - Brave10 - It’s not a terrible show, but it’s getting hard for me to stay interested.
Initial Grade: B- - Mouretsu Pirates - I really want to like this show, but it is unbearably boring to watch. On the cusp of being dropped. SOMETHING needs to happen soon, PLEASE.
Initial Grade: C+
Dame Dame Tier
- Tantei Opera Milky Holmes - How did this get a second season again? I guess the fact I’m still watching and liking it answers that question.
Initial Grade: C
Shit Tier
- High School D×D - This show got a lot more bearable with episode 3, but it’s still stuck in shit tier until it shows me something more besides tits and pole dancing.
Initial Grade: D - Familiar of Zero F - Way worse than Shana, but I’ll still watch it until the end. Sad.
Initial Grade: C-
Beyond Shit Tier
- Senki Zesshou Symphogear - If Pirates is boring, this is just plain bad. Dropped.
Initial Grade: C+ - Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai!! - This is the stupidest concept for a show ever. Did I really give this a C grade? Dropped.
Initial Grade: C
Notes
