Summer Menu, Part Two
July 20, 2006 | Television | No Tags
Continuing from last time…
Binbou Shimai Monogatari - Geez, how maudlin can it get? The premise is well-suited to drama, but we get flowers and teddy bears and candy canes and… ugh. Nothing wrong with that, of course. It’s just that it’s a bit… much. I have a soft spot for this animation style, however (it’s a shame Toei is trying to do it on the cheap), and it’s got Maaya Sakamoto. Cheap sentimentality is good for the soul, I suppose. And it’s only ten episodes. Might as well.
Tonagura - If you remove Honey & Clover from the equation (since it’s a known quality and all), this has the potential to be my favorite show of the season. Seriously. When it comes to these high school romantic comedy fanservice vehicles, it’s perfectly normal to have low expectations. So, even though I had heard good things about Tonagura from people I trust, I was still a bit skeptical. A few minutes into the first episode, however, and I was very much on board. I’m not entirely sure how to praise the show but to say it’s “well-done”. The direction is competent (despite it being the Director’s first show!), the fanservice is plentiful, but with purpose, and the characters are plenty likable. Even the pervy male lead. And Kazuki? I’m in love!
Zero no Tsukaima - JC Staff delivers once again. Initially, I was wary of the fantasy setting, but it’s played so tongue-in-cheek that I couldn’t help but get in to it. Goofy fun all the way around, with hints of a deeper story, and a touch of fanservice. Can’t complain about that, really. And Louise’s two parts tsun tsun to one part dere dere is just the right balance I look for in her sort of character. Oh, and it helps that Saito is a jackass.
Chokotto Sister - I need a shower.
So… quite a load I’m taking on this season. Honey & Clover, NHK ni Youkoso, Binbou Shimai Monogatari, Chokotto Sister (hey, I never said I didn’t like it!), Tonagura, Zero no Tsukaima, and Bokura ga Ita (most likely). And, of course, I’m still watching plenty of shows from last season. Looking on the bright side, the vast majority of this season’s pick-ups run for 13 episodes or less, so once October rolls around, I’ll be able to hit the reset button and take a breath.
Chocosis is turning me into Stripey. I have a real life imouto… but it’s like Sasahara’s one, so meh. *wishes for an imouto this coming christmas*… oops.. need to hide all those h-doujins.
As for Tonagura… well.. it wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. I’ve watched the first episode and I can say I agree with you about the likable characters and the fanservice is well.. tasteful :).
Zero no Tsukaima is winning for me as well… mostly thanks to Saito and yes, Louise’s perfect tsundere ratio.
Binbou Shimai Monogatari is doing OK for me as well… even with the sappiness, but then I’m being enraptured by Maaya Sakamoto and Shizuru.. err I mean Naomi Shindoh’s voices.
No love for Coyote Ragtime Show? ^,^
I think Jeff’s taste is slowing changing, partly because he’s getting pandered to more and more, but also there’s just more to choose from when most of us don’t have any more time to spare in comparison. That is well and good, but you see less and less funnies when people who aren’t meant to be watching a certain show was ranting about them.
Speaking of Saito…anyone keeping up with Blood ? She’s an odd but welcomed addition to the cast. I think she’s probably my favorite typecasted voice actress active on the scene today.
It’s a good year for tsunderekko.
I think I’ve been a fan long enough now to know what I like and where to find it. Ten years from now, I’ll probably be watching the same sort of stuff I’m watching now. I’m cool with that, of course, but I know most anime fans don’t have the same sort of stamina. Or patience.
Actually I think most anime fans, if we can talk about them as a group like that, like the same sort of stuff over time. It’s why every Shounen Jump-type anime/manga from DBZ to Inuyasha to Death Note sold by the oodles.
But you’re right. Anime is a heavily marketed endeavor but we all know there’s so much more beyond the mainstream. I just think the journey there is half the fun.
Well, burn-out is an issue. I’ve seen people go from “neophyte” to “anime fan for life” to “fuck this, I’m going home” in the course of a couple of years. I suppose there’s this feeling that anime fans (hardcore fans, at least) have a tendency to be displeased in some way with most everything available. Perhaps it’s because, once the new wears off and you realize anime’s not so special after all, it can be a real let-down. The question is, do you make peace with it? Or do you kvetch about it?
If I am to answer that question, I’ll just repeat that I think the journey there is half the fun. For me personally, it’s also hella long. For some people it would only take a couple years. I think subconsciously I always fear (and in a way I am prepared) that one day I’ll cease to be interested in anime, like how I may have weaned off from one MMORPG to another, or from one hobby to another. The end of the road. But it hasn’t come yet…and it’s been a long time already.
If I were to guess why that’s the case, it would have to be because I make anime interesting for me by reveling in the fandom aspects of it. I can speak its language, and it speaks mine. Other speaks likewise, and hey, I think I can keep going as long as there are people like myself, in a similar situation.
I’ve heard an interesting sermon one time detailing the difference between a consumer and a producer. It’s like a VW commercial: on the road of life, there are drivers and there are passengers.
I have a feeling the jokes in Tonagura will get very old very fast.
yup, based on the manga, the humour was pretty much one track. The perv is strong in that one, it is.
But I have to say Marie is a bit better in the anime than manga and her screen time is the only reason for me to watch this.