The second season of To Love-Ru Darkness has finally been green-lit. Thank you based Santa-san for giving me more Momo and Gintoki on this glorious day. All I can say about this momentous occasion is:
http://i.imgur.com/Lyvbd6t.gif
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-20/to-love-ru-darkness-gets-2nd-season-new-ps-vita-dating-sim/.82452
Seirei no Moribito (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit) is just a fantastic series and one hell of a fulfilling adventure. After watching this series, I know one thing for sure and that is that Moribito is the definition of an anime journey. From start to finish, I was completely absorbed into the diverse and intricate fantasy world and mythos that Moribito created along with all the lovable and deep characters that were fleshed out over 26 strong episodes. And the driver behind all this was without a doubt the sensational developing relationship between Balsa and Chagum which correlated with and paralleled the realistic growth of Chagum from a naive and sheltered young prince into a hero truly worthy of leading an entire country (much more so than his clown of a father and mikado).
I particularly loved how this show had a little bit of everything. Action, a well developed fantasy universe, fantastic characters, romance, and slice of life aspects. The list can go on and on. While the pace was a little inconsistent at times, you can't expect every episode to be full of excitement like the beginning or end of the series. Moribito is definitely an underrated series and should be watched by all fans of quality fantasy adventures.
Just confirmed that the Fate/stay night 2014 series will cover the Unlimited Bladeworks route and there will also be a Heaven's Feel movie released later on. Whoa. That's a whole lot of Fating to come. Take a bow, ufotable. You deserve it.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-27/new-fate-stay-night-tv-anime-is-unlimited-bladeworks/.77058
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-27/fate-stay-night-heaven-feel-route-gets-film/.77059
BASED DAIZ/OPPAI/PANTSU. A new To Love-Ru Darkness OVA has been announced for release on December 4th. One step closer to To Love-Ru Darkness Season 2 but that may not come until the current arc in the manga is over. Anyway, Mo' Momo please.
On the actual OVA, I don't know if it can top the Kyouko faucet scene from the last one but, honestly, what can (other than the Momo popsicle scene perhaps)?
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-06-30/to-love-ru-darkness-manga-gets-new-original-video-anime-dvd/.76129
Sick look. Third season has just been confirmed for the king of basketball anime (sorry Slam Dunk). This is great timing right as the NBA playoffs are getting a bit boring :) I kid, kid.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-05-28/kuroko-basketball-anime-gets-3rd-season/.74977
http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1188451
YES!! A second season has been green-lit and is coming (although we don't know when). This was one of my favorite shows from the past spring and 8man is one of my favorite male MCs to come around in a while. I've already read some of the next light novels and, rest assured, there is plenty of goodness to come.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-16/my-teen-romantic-comedy-snafu-anime-gets-2nd-season
http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1147499
If you love infinite panty shots, uncensored breasts and hundreds of tentacle scenes (with a splash of spectacular raunchy comedy), then To Love-Ru is the perfect ecchi show for you. To Love-Ru and High School DxD are probably the two best ecchi anime that I've seen and if you're a fan of the genre at all, this is a must watch. To Love-Ru is an ecchi comedy SOL harem that involves aliens and creatures of all sorts who lead our fateful protagonist, Yuuki Rito, into countless jaw-dropping and cringe-worthy situations over and over again. I never got tired of Rito falling headfirst into the breasts of an unsuspecting female student. And thanks to Lala's countless inventions (and the help of many alien friends/foes), the scenarios keep coming and always seem fresh. The greatest strength, by far, of the series is the cast of female characters. This is one BIG harem. There are easily 10+ women at the end (each with varying affection levels for Rito) and I can honestly say that I love them all. Each girl has a very distinct personality and ability along with different motivations and background. And they interact marvelously with each other as they try to chase Rito or fend off his unwitting sexual harassment. My personal favorites are definitely Yui, Yami, Momo, Lala, Mikan and Oshizu.
The quality definitely differs from each season by getting better and better. The first season is by far the weakest and has the least to do with the manga. It's still funny and a good introduction for most of the characters but don't drop the series just because you think the first season wasn't that great as there is plenty of quality to come. The first set of 6 OVAs after the first season revert back to the manga material and this is where the comedy starts to get good and we finally get introduced to the full set of characters (for the most part). The second season (Motto To Love-Ru) swings into full force and adopts a different format from the first where each episode is broken into 3 separate independent sections that are different stories entirely. I thought that this format really allowed the comedy to come alive and keep things fresher and interesting. Also, the ecchi really starts getting pumped up in this season. The third season (To Love-Ru Darkness) is absolutely fantastic and the best of the bunch. While Motto didn't really have an overarching story, Darkness does a great job incorporating that into the fray especially by delving into and really focusing on the characters of Yami and Momo (who are two of my three favorite characters). Also, Yui Kotegawa starts to get more and more screen time (which I love). And my god... The ecchi reaches borderline-hentai levels here and it is glorious. And the last set of Darkness OVAs just keeps on bringing the same goodness.
If you are an ecchi fan, you better watch To Love-Ru and don't drop it just because you think that the first season was a bit weak. Power on through. It only gets better. As the Darkness OVAs have just concluded, I hope that they announce a new season in the near future because I need my fill of the best harem in the universe getting caught up in tentacles.
Infinite Stratos is an alright mecha-SOL-harem that seems to waste a lot of the potential from its source material (the light novels). The best part of the show by far is the harem itself. All the girls are great (including Tatenashi and Kanzashi from season 2) and is definitely one of the better all-around collection of female characters out there which is why I'm sure this is so popular in Japan. They've each got a different side to them, interact/fight/revel in misery with each other well and are all cute as hell. The action sets are pretty solid but the story is almost nonexistent. They've shat on the source material as far as the story goes. And the MC Ichika... There has probably never been a dumber and more worthless male MC in the history of harems. If you basically ignore him, the experience gets much better.
I'd give the first season a 6/10 but the second season was just not good. It is a 4-5/10 at best. It's definitely not the best show out there but if you're out of harems to watch (as I was), it's not bad as the girls are great. Just don't expect too much.
Eureka Seven (only talking about Season 1, not AO) is another very well done series by BONES. E7 is a lot of things all put together in one 50-episode package from action-mecha to SOL to philosophical piece, but the true heart of this series is the developing romance and characterization between the two leads Renton and Eureka. This is the one thing that remains constant throughout the series entire run, gets developed very well and imo is the strength of the series (although Renton can get on my nerves at times). The rest of the large cast is excellently developed in particular Holland who serves as a dynamic and intriguing foil to Renton. The action and animation stand the test of time and still look great. I also like how Bones ambitiously incorporates tons of elements and themes from previous sci-fi and mecha franchises (hello EVA). The biggest weakness for the series is that there isn't a very clear overarching plot for the first half of the series and there are quite a few filler episodes dispersed throughout (even though they are enjoyable). Thus, if you don't keep at it, this is definitely not the easiest series to finish with its 50 episode length. Still, this series does a lot more things right than wrong and is very enjoyable to watch all the way through. Just avoid Astral Ocean...
Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai is a fantastic and heart-warming SOL that really hits home on the importance and strength of family. As Yuta's deceased sister says, "Family must not be separated, they must be together" and the show does a superb job of illustrating the struggles and joys that Yuta and the girls face as they try to stay together through all their hardships. This is very similar to Usagi Drop and a definite watch if you liked that at all. The story is relatively simple but this is all about the great characters. I loved all the girls but there is one that is heads and shoulders above the rest... HINA!!
This show was just pure awesome. This is definitely the best entry of the Tenchi Muyo series IMO (Tenchi Universe is great too along with the original OVAs) although it is a bit different from the older series. Geminar is actually a mecha harem show with the Tenchi name attached to it. It does delve a bit into the Tenchi mythos but it is more of a separate entity. This is definitely a different world than anything we've seen so far in the Tenchi series and you really get immersed into it. I love harems and this is probably one of the best out there especially with the superb action (well-done mecha action) and story that is incorporated into it. Definitely give this a try even if you're not a fan of harems or the Tenchi series. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
NouCome has been a hilarious show so far that uses a great novel concept with the "absolute multiple choice" mechanism. Although a little like Date A Live (with the choices), NouCome takes it to the extreme as the 2 choices are usually completely insane, horrifyingly embarrassing, and raunchy at times. If Amakusa doesn't choose one, he gets a horrendous headache so it's literally do or die (of excruciating pain). Hilarity ensues not just from seeing Amakusa perform these acts, but also from the varied reactions from all the girls (and guys!!). The missions that are added later add even more interesting scenarios into the mix. I like the MC and the supporting females are solid but a bit stereotypical. However, this show is almost purely about the laughs. If you're looking for a solid comedy this season (with a tiny touch of romance), definitely check this out.
This is one of my favorite slice of life animes with cool twists with Haruhi essentially being a god and there being time traverlers, aliens and espers all in the mix. The first season is magnificent and while the Endless Eight is brutal to watch all the way through, the rest of season 2 is still great too. Just watch the first 2 and last 2 episodes of EE. Haruhi is probably one of the best female protagonists that I've seen with her energy, impulsivity and overall passion and Kyon is the perfect foil to her craziness. Each episode is entertaining and a joy to watch over and over again. And the movie, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, is just brilliant and makes up for the disappointment of EE. You'll need to watch the series (and make sure to watch it in chronological order, not the season order) to get the movie, but it's completely worth it.
Baka and Test is absolutely one of the funniest animes/shows that I've ever watched. I could literally watch multiple episodes over and over again and never get tired of them. The humor translates very well across the dub and for the most part won't be lost on American audiences. The voice acting and dialog are superb which is very important for a comedy like this. You'll fall in love with each of the characters (Kouta & Hideyoshi!!!) as each are very unique and fill a critical (and stereotypical) role. It's over the top and I love it. If you're looking for a great comedic anime, look no further than Baka and Test.
If I hadn't read the Light Novels already and been a fan of this series, I'm sure that I would have rated this show a bit higher, but I can't take back what I already know and have read. This anime adaptation is woefully inferior to the LN, and leaves us wanting more with so many details and explanations left unanswered. The pace is far too quick for its own good, and all developments and nuance from the original source are thrown to the wind due to that. 4/10 for the anime adaptation at best.
For any that enjoyed the show, I highly recommend reading a volume or two of the light novel. It's an infinitely superior experience for sure, and very enjoyable.
As a pretty big fan of Seo Kouji's works (Suzuka, Kimi no Iru Machi, Fuuka), I can't hate too much on any of his works getting an anime adaptation. However, I would definitely recommend to read the manga before watching this anime (and OVAs) as this adaptation rushes through the plot points at light speed. It also skips the first part of the manga in Hiroshima and instead presents it in broken up flashbacks in the various episodes. This actually doesn't work too bad for a previous manga reader as it put a different spin on the material and we are able to get through a lot of the important manga content, but you definitely don't feel quite as connected and invested in the characters and their relationships if you only watch the anime at its fast pace.
I definitely recommend checking out the OVAs though as they cover different parts of the manga not really covered too well by the show. The 4th/last OVA in particular covers the events of the final manga chapter from the point-of-view of Yuzuki and offers anime-original material that complements the story quite well.
tl;dr Read the manga first before watching this.
I really ended up enjoying this fun and quirky harem a lot more than I thought I would. While parts of it are a bit generic (as all semi-ecchi comedy harems can be), I really thought that each character had a nice unique spin to her. I'd love to get a second season for some more Miyuki and Eri goodness.
And, of course, we have the best saying/fad/sign-off of the season here: "Gets!"
I'm absolutely loving this show so far. A great Rom-Com with a premise that does actually deliver imo. It may be slightly rushed compared to the manga but it still works well. Plus, Shiraishi = love.
This was my super shitty anime of the season that I watched for the hell of it and it was alright. My choice last season was Twintails but that was legitimately awesome, hilarious and much better than I expected (thanks Commie subs). World Break was clichéd as hell but that made it better in my eyes (aka "I remember..."). It definitely suffered from budget issues with some god awful animation at times but whatever.
4/10 from me but I enjoyed the shittiness. Wouldn't watch it again but I don't feel like I wasted my time.
Cross Ange is a masterpiece. AOTS. No scratch that... Anime of the Year.
http://i.imgur.com/LnHM5LS.jpg
Denpa Teki na Kanojo is a show that surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. Coming in with just two 40 minute OVAs. I wasn't expecting much but we get a solid intro to our characters and a great thriller mystery during each OVA. Also, I love me some crazy bitches and this show has absolutely no shortage of them. And by crazy, I mean batshit CRAZY. This is a show that absolutely deserves a full season or a few more OVAs.
The Kyoukai no Kanata movie has been confirmed for Spring 2015. Wooooot woot. I trust that KyoAni will handle this movie well as they've never really exploited the bitch recap method in the past (minus Chuunibyou). Kyoukai no Kanata definitely needed a movie to further explain a lot of the plot holes and lingering questions that were remaining from the end of the show and I think that this will handle things extremely well. My body is ready.
http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1215031
Now, just give me a second season or movie of Hyouka and I can pass on happily.
I really enjoyed this show a lot more than I initially anticipated. It was short, hilarious and knew exactly what it was: an ecchi comedy that was 13 mins long. Still, in that short amount of time, we got some solid moments beyond the comedy (who doesn't love endless jokes about panties?). All the girls/harem were great and Aito served as an awesome, perverted yet innocent MC who doesn't hide his love of panties. If you want a quick laugh with nothing too deep, definitely check this show out.
One outs is a freaking riveting sports anime unlike any other that I've seen so far. I got completely addicted to this series and was left wanting more after I marathoned this baby. This is literally a fusion between Death Note and baseball as the protagonist, Toua Tokuchi, is literally Light Yagami incarnated in a baseball pitcher with awesome hair. The battle of wits, banter and tactics here are very unconventional and go far beyond just basic to advanced baseball strategies. Toua doesn't have a godly fastball or ridiculous pitches so he has to use his mind to get things done. Cheating, psychological warfare, petty tricks and any back-alley knowhow are all utilized by Toua to get into the minds of his opponents (and his teammates) in order to win. And boy, does Toua like to gamble (you will realize this once you start watching the show). The craziness just never stops at any point.
I will say that the situations and conflicts did tend to get a bit too ridiculous towards the end (especially with the money-hungry owner) but it still added to the suspense, drama and overall excitement of the show. The only thing that I would have really liked would be a sequel or further continuation of this series because, honestly, things don't progress very far into the championship run. However, we do get very intricate and deep matches between opponents in the 25 episodes due to multiple episodes being focused on a single opponent. Unfortunately, a sequel doesn't seem too likely so I'll probably read the manga and become addicted to this One outs once again. This is a definitely a fun watch even for non-sports fans because a lot of the mindgames and strategies lie outside baseball. And Toua is just a god damn boss. Enough said.
This was a very fun and enjoyable series. The story and setting are excellent along with the action and characters. I absolutely LOVE the relationship between Ryner and Ferris as those two are just a perfect match for each other as they've each persevered and gone through so much hardship and pain to get to where they are yet still can put up such a positive outlook. I'd give this a show a 8/10 if it weren't for the ending. It is definitely a bit rushed and very incomplete. Obviously, there is so much more to the story with the LN material (which still isn't fully translated), but this never got (and will certainly not get) a second season so the ending can't really be remedied. I wanted to see more of what would happen with Sion since we finally got to the good stuff but it will never be... So I give it a 7/10 with the ending that leaves us kind of at the edge of a cliff begging for more. Still, what we do have remains a great show and I'd definitely recommend it for people looking for a great action-adventure anime with splashes of romance.
I liked the films and thought it was a cool nice take on a bit more realistic mecha war action. You really got to see how war changed people. The characters were well done and the action wasn't over-the-top with ridiculous powerups or abilities by the MC. But man... that ending was brutal. Anti-climatic and incomplete = essentially begging for a sequel (I can dream). But I guess that's what you get with an anime original ending at movie 6 when the manga material ran out. I could read the manga (and am considering it) but I'm not interested unless I know for a fact that Rygart and Sigyn end up together!!!
This was a fantastic series and Ufotable (of The Garden of Sinners fame) was really able to show off their animation skills to the max here. This prequel to Fast/stay Night (which was made by Studio Deen) was leaps and bounds better than its predecessor in every aspect from story and pacing to animation, art and choreography. I watched Fate/stay Night first as I was told that watching it after Fate/Zero would just make it pale in comparison and I think this may be the best option (of course if you have the time, play the visual novel of Fate/Stay night instead). Even though I knew of some of the events to happen, Fate/Zero still kept me on my toes with unexpected twists and surprises. I also learned a lot more about the Fate universe and things from FSN made A LOT more sense after watching FZ as Ufotable did a much better job of explaining things than Studio Deen.
All the masters and servants get their fair share of back story and development and over time I really started to emphasize with each one of them. The dialogue and writing is fantastic in both the dub and sub versions. I loved the soundtrack too especially the first OP, "oath sign" by LiSA. Everything moved at a great pace and I couldn't wait to watch the next episode. Most importantly, this probably had the best action scenes that I've seen in any TV anime series (the Eva Rebuild and The Garden of Sinners of movies are on similar levels) so try to watch this on a big screen.
This show is definitely a must watch for anyone that enjoys a deep and compelling action-adventure anime. I'm really looking forward to Ufotable's remake of the FSN series (following Illya's arc I believe) that will be released in 2014. And definitely watch The Garden of Sinners movies as ManicB says. You won't regret it.
My Bride is a Mermaid is definitely one of the best comedic romance/SOL animes that I've seen. It's primarily a parody based comedy and, my god, does it do a fantastic job at it. From Die Hard and Terminator to other anime shows, they really covered their bases here from Western & Eastern pop culture references. I can't even count the number of times the ROFLcopter set off. If a particular joke doesn't hit, don't worry. Another one is soon to follow. The characters are very memorable and the whole yakuza theme never gets old. The romance is there but not too heavy (which is a good thing IMO). The dub is also well done so watch it whichever way you like. It has a similar sense and style of humor to Baka to Test (also awesome) with a greater focus on parodies. I highly recommend this for anyone just looking for a straight-up LMAO comedy. Also, don't forget to watch the OVAs.
KyoAni strikes again. They've created a beautiful and immersive fantasy world based upon the hunting of "dreamshades" that really pulls the viewer in and almost makes it seem like all these things are possible. This is a bit of a darker anime compared to what we are used to from KyoAni (thankfully with a lack of half-naked gay swimmers) but they still manage to instill their patented charm and humor into it all. The animation, art and music (love the soundtrack) are top notch as with all KyoAni productions. The fight scenes are epic. I honestly love all the main and supporting characters in particular the four main leads (along with Ai-chan) especially with their "megame" (glasses) and "siscon" (little sister) personas. Kyoukai no Kanata may start a bit slow but stick around till about episode 4 for things to really heat up. Now, I can't wait for each week's new episode and what's going to unfold next. Watch it.
This is a great anime about true friendship and how the love of a single thing like jazz can spark something that will last a lifetime. The relationships that are developed in this show are amazing and I love how jazz is so intricately woven into everything. A must watch for sure.
