Following up on my previous post, here are some thoughts on the ongoing shows from past seasons…
Hayate no Gotoku - When I first learned this show would run for 52 episodes, I asked myself, “How can a show with no trace of a plot run for 52 episodes?” I’m still watching, so I guess I’ll find out.
Idolmaster XENOGLOSSIA - You can still count me among the small group of people who actually think this show is one of the year’s better offerings. Ultimately, however, I think the final episodes will decide its legacy. I’ve appreciated the bite-sized storytelling approach, but at some point, everything will have to come together. Given that it’s a Sunrise show, I really don’t know what to expect.
Lucky Star - This has turned into quite the “hit and run” show. That is, I really enjoy watching new episodes when they air, but I don’t think much about the show otherwise. Or do I? My current desktop wallpaper suggests otherwise…
Bokurano - After falling several episodes behind, I’ve decided to stop watching for the time being. It’s not a bad show, really… I’ve just lost interest.
Lovely Complex - You know, I wasn’t expecting this show to be anything particularly special. In fact, the only reason I started watching it initially was because the premise looked vaguely interesting and I was hungry for some shoujo. I wasn’t particularly motivated. However, it turns out I’ve been hooked on the show from the very beginning. It’s shoujo comedy done right.
Saiunkoku Monogatari - I’m actually not watching this at the moment, but since it’s currently airing, I thought I should at least mention it. For now, I’m looking forward to marathoning the second season at some point in the (probably) distant future.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS - No comment. Seriously… I gave up a few episodes in. I hear it got better, and I am a Nanoha fan, so I’ll give it another chance. Eventually.
Indeed, Nanoha does get better. You could technically skip some of the episodes, but then you probably won’t get some of what they’re talking about.
Xenoglossia is an interesting case; it’s not really world-class, but it’s good enough to keep watching even when you sometimes find yourself wondering, “Why am I still watching this?” Maybe I’m just a Sunrise addict. (There’s a horrifying thought… says the man who will probably end up watching the rest of the Otome Zwei stuff some day. Le sigh.)
Nanoha does improve, though the quality has its ups and downs - inevitably, the good episodes always seem to be followed by a fairly lousy one. If you are a stickler for animation quality, or at least consistency, I’d stay away, though. In some episodes it almost looks like they used different character models between cuts. Annoys the hell out me.
I do love my Xenoglossia. It’s been getting really good with the last few episodes as well…
I think Nanoha StrikerS would have been so much better with just 13 episodes. That was the fatal flaw for the show.
I tried to watch LoveCom at least twice, maybe three times now. It’s just doesn’t click–it doesn’t make me laugh or intrigue me. Hearty Kansai folks are in of itself, a hook, but they don’t do anything for me. I guess I’m doomed to Kenichi Kasai-style direction for shoujo, and this “normal” stuff just doesn’t do me any good anymore.
Honestly, I can’t imagine why you would have given up on StrikerS so fast. The major complaint early on was that it was “slow”, and…thats not something I’ve ever felt you had a problem with.
And now as of 19 its clear it would NEVER have worked as a 13 episode show.
You can’t effectively screw over a character if you’ve only had a couple of episodes to get to know them.
Hayate is going to be 52 episodes? I had no idea. Alas, the lack of central plot works for Keroro, so I’m not concerned about it, but it definitely doesn’t feel like a 52 episode show.
I’ve no problems with it being one, however. It can get picked up for longer than that, for all I care. I’m enjoying it alongside Lucky Star, Gintama, and Keroro. These episodic shows have been the shows I’ve been enjoying the most recently, especially after the disappointing, needlessly drugged out, and epic finale of Hitohira.
My problem with StrikerS isn’t so much the slow start (in fact, I actually found myself defending the slow start in conversations with other people), but rather the fact that it didn’t “feel” like Nanoha to me. The adult characters and the unusually serious tone changed the dynamic a little too much. I was worried about that going in, however, so it’s not like it was a surprise… just a disappointment.
Another factor to consider, I think, is that several good shows started airing around the same time AND I was entering into a busy period in real life, so it could be I just didn’t have time to bother with it.
I felt the same in regards to Nanoha not feeling like the previous ones. I guess we’ll just have to trust the scriptwriters for the story, right?
I can’t really get motivated to watch Bokura No anymore. Each time new episodes comes out, it sometimes takes me a week or so to get around to watching them. I always come out liking it, but for some reason I just don’t want to watch it.
Well, is it really a surprise that StrikerS didn’t feel like the first two seasons?
Its a radical change in setting, with the returning characters having more than doubled in age.
I would have been upset if it HADN’T had a radically different feel.
But a large amount of the enjoyment you get out of StrikerS will depend on how much you like the new characters in general, and Subaru in particular. And I LOOOOOOVE Subaru.
My think Strikers leads a new and more interesting plot than the previous. Im a Nanoha’s Fan and i liked a lot the first two seasons. In Strikers there are new characters. Lets see if everything gets better… (i hope so..)
Phossil.
^_^
Regarding Idolmaster’s. Shoot me but I think its a good show. Its production quality is quite good and the story is getting interesting. I don’t understand all the bashing and hating towards the show I mean people should just go in with no expectations..they’ll be pleasantly surprised, really.
I went in with no expectations…and found it pretty mediocre.
I went in with no expectations…and found it pretty mediocre.
…And I thought you liked StrikerS :p
Seeing the list of anime(s?) I wonder, where do you get those titels from? Is it from the internet or is it from somewhere else? What are your sources if you can reveal them.
Further on, I have been slacking off incredibly, I haven’t seen any of the new anime in the past two months I deeply apoligize. Not to it as an excuse, but I didn’t know where to look for new anime. I really miss it now, now that I talk about it. Anime that is. I’ve only been watching older Anime, and rewatching others, the famous Suzumiya being one of those.
So I guess I’ll have to watch overtime to get up-to-date so I know what you are all talking about.
Sincerely again today,
Jasper
(PS: this was a sort of call for help)
…And I thought you liked StrikerS :p
StrikerS met and exceeded my expectations.
Jasper, I generally don’t respond to requests asking where to find anime episodes online, but I’ll make an exception in this instance and point you here.
I ditto you on Idolmaster and Lucky Star both. I still like it…not sure why, but it’s just entertaining to me, but I agree, the final episodes will decide how good it ultimately is (isn’t that usually true?) And Lucky Star - yeah, I agree. Plodding along, with individual episodes being individually entertaining, but the entertainment of the series when seen as a whole…hmm…the jury is still out.
That just about looks like the only things I’m watching on your list. The only other thing I can say is that Moetan is gunning for the first sub-50% rating on my blog at the rate it’s going.
hey lawson, can you upload that wallpaper somewhere? i’ve been using lucky star wallpapers ever since episode 1…….
Jeff,
Although my gratitude is high I think you misunderstood me, I was looking for a list of where you find your titels, where you see which is new and which have yet to come. Not a place to.. well snatch? grab? or planely download them from. Regret is based on assumptions and I don’t think we should have any.
I apoligize for the mistake made. Perhaps I should have been clearer.
Though, thanks.
Jasper
PS
Is there a certain point you hold into interest when selecting anime you like? Is there a place to ask you such questions? So I won’t be bothering people with it here.
Jaalin, here you go. If you need a larger version, the original scan is here.
Jasper… sorry I misunderstood your question. As for knowing what’s airing, I just keep up with news and promotional material as it comes out. I don’t keep an eye on a list, although I’m sure such a list exists somewhere.
As for your other question… obviously, I have a preference for certain genres and keep up with certain studios and directors, but I mostly watch what looks interesting. When soliciting other people’s opinions, it’s perfectly normal to ask around, read blogs, visit discussion forums, etc. No need to feel bad about asking questions.
thanks!
found some interesting pictures on that site too… dunno if i should be turned on or appalled that my fav anime would be desecrated like that.
Everything’s been desecrated by now.
There used to be a “no porn” rule there… I don’t know if the rules have been relaxed or what. One reason I always liked the site is because the content was never more questionable than the average Megami spread. Clean imageboards can be hard to find, so I hope the rules haven’t changed.