Need more info on bag-on-head-chan.

Aquarion EVOL First Impression Grade: B-

Uhh, what am I watching? Didn’t watch much of the first season, but the first couple episodes make me want to. Very silly show with gattais everywhere. Character designs remind me a lot of Oreimo. Yet another show this season whose art I’m very impressed with, but not entirely sold on. Well, I don’t feel like putting much effort into this review, so let’s just end it here.

Insert innuendo with making lemonade or something.

Zero no Tsukaima F First Impression Grade: C-

My interest in Zero no Tsukaima isn’t so much in the show itself—which continues to not be all that interesting—but what it could mean for other long-running, multiple season, generally light novel-based anime. Somehow, Shana and Zero got final seasons, seemingly because it was inevitable rather than for any merits of their own. You might take this as a good sign that well established, once popular shows will eventually get to see their conclusions in animated. However, how much interest is there even left for them? As a moderate fan of both series, almost all interest faded in the 3-4 year gap since their previous seasons. Without much passion left for them, the shows feel anachronistic; relics of times when you couldn’t make a show without Kugimiya Rie.

If these shows fail (Shana doesn’t look like it’s doing so hot), what does it mean for their light novel brethren that are currently in limbo? Shows like: Full Metal Panic! (an episode last aired in 2006!), Haruhi (2009, 2010 movie, perhaps for reasons beyond their control), or Index (2009, 2010 if you count Railgun)? You might scoff and say: certainly at least Haruhi and Index will get continuations, if not completions, but who really knows? Perhaps I’m just worrying too much, but with each passing year I get more anxious for announcements.

Well, at least Seitokai no Ichizon, the show that itself proclaimed would not get another season, is getting another. Perhaps it really is too early to worry about things.

Off the top of my head, other light novel-based shows I’d like to see continued: Infinite Stratos (2011, and yeah I went there), Durarara!! (2010), Kure-nai (2010, do-over please), Spice and Wolf (2009), Denpa teki na Kanojo (2009), Maria-sama ga Miteru (2009), Baccano! (2007), Kino no Tabi (2003 anime, 2007 movie), Banner of the Stars (2005), Twelve Kingdoms (2003 ;_;). May as well throw Ben-to in there too, since a sequel seems highly unlikely.

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Daily Lives of High School Boys First Impression Grade: A-

The first episode was quite funny, but the whole riverbank sequence blew me away. I totally know that feeling of being happy that a cute stranger paid you attention, but feeling totally awkward because you have no clue what to do or say. Not to mention Sugita Tomokazu’s voice acting was brilliant. Who knows if the show can keep making me laugh out loud, but I’m surely going to keep watching to find out.

I’d let her talk dirty to me.

Inu × Boku SS First Impression Grade: B

I had no idea what this show was about beforehand, just that “×” in the title had me very wary and the Inu, Boku and SS weren’t doing it any favors either. Then I saw one my favorite character design archetypes: long, black hair, impossibly thin, modest bust. Even purple eyes. Then Soushi is introduced. I instantly think back to the problems I have with the title and conclude: this going to be some fujoshi shit. Well, even if it was intended for fujoshi, that impression appears to be wrong. There weren’t really any other bishounen introduced and they do seem to be focusing on character development and not just romance. I am quite delighted that there is some supernatural Japanese stuff going on too. It doesn’t hurt that all the characters are beautifully designed, either. I like what the first episode had to offer; I’m hoping I can enjoy the rest of the series just as much.

Cute, not pedo…maybe.

Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai! First Impression Grade: C

I erroneously assumed this show would be centered around a father trying to get along with his daughters (perhaps I watched Oni Chichi a few to many times..). Disappointing that we once again must surrender to the whims and follies of another generic protagonist. I was not pleased when they revealed that the eldest had feelings for the protag, but I was still hopeful they could play it off as a cute, youthful crush kinda thing. However, dreams were crushed and palms were planted into foreheads when he walked in on her changing. I did enjoy black Takane’s hijinks so hopefully she gets her fair share of screen time. I’m willing to watch a couple more episodes on the off chance it becomes a guilty pleasure, but I doubt it will become anything more than that.

Ichigo and Mizuho.

Ano Natsu de Matteru First Impression Grade: B-

Onegai Teacher! ended. But its soul chose to go back in time, the time it was happiest, which was the season 1 first episode. The AnoHana staff which loved Onegai Teacher! wanted to work on it, but since it already had a staff it loved, they decided to travel to an alternate universe where they became its staff.

It looks like we are going to have another awkward teen romance, but after AnoHana you have to wonder what the catch is going to be. And it can’t just be “doh-ho-ho I’m your space waifu curing your illnesses” shenanigans because we’ve already been through that once before. There are some blatant references to Onegai Teacher!, but what comes of it remains to be seen. Well, everything about the show is beautiful, the staff is reputable and Tomatsu Haruka is delicious, so just from that standpoint I’ll probably watch this to completion.

Also, Remon will be the best character as Ichigo was in Onegai Teacher! and as Tamarua Yukari characters in their respective shows tend to be. Remon is to lemon as Ichigo is to strawberry; any connection there besides the superficially obvious? I sure hope so.

Brave 10 First Impression Grade: B-

I guess there are some advantages to not doing an anticipation list. I would’ve written this show off as fujoshi bait, but it actually turned out OK. I’m always down for some ninja action, so if Brave 10 can fill that desire I’ll definitely watch it. It does not hurt having Satou Rina voicing one of the few female characters either.

So hot. Please don’t die or something.

Another First Impression Grade: A

Itou Noizi character designs really are the best, aren’t they?

Not to be insulting to Another, but this show really gave me an Okamikakushi vibe: small town, secrets, high school, etc. It’s also coinciding with my play of Corpse Party and my continued reading of the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni manga. Well, it’s not like high school supernatural horror is anything new, but the first episode made me expect great things. The atmosphere is just creepy enough, enhanced by the color palette, sound and character idiosyncrasies. The character designs are delicious. Production values seem high. The tension is just palpable enough. Did I mention the characters look beautiful? I mean, you kinda know Itou Noizi worked on an anime when the side characters and even the background characters look great. Probably the show I’m looking forward to the most this season.