Expectations - Fall 2011 Anime (September/October)

Fall 2011 is turning out to be a pretty hefty season. That's not to say that it just has 2 good series and then we go home though. Not at all. This could be a pre-cursor to - dare I say it? Seasons full of anime that don't actually suck. Well....I can dream, can't I. Anyways, here they are. ExtraCareful is in blue, NotMoe in green, and MorningLescue, red (Hopefully the others will update this after I'm done with it.) WARNING: THIS POST IS IMAGE-HEAVY.

Busou Shinki: Moon Angel (9/22/11)

Infinite Stratos piggybacking? I think so. Actually it has the mecha girl sidekick, so it's more like a mix between Kikou Shoujo wa Kizutsukanai and IS. Besides, it's a marketing ploy for the toys/figurines, right? So...at best eyecandy, at worst complete crap.

Marketing? I'm not so fond of that.

I always skip the animes that have really short eps. Except Hetalia.

Shinryaku!? Ika Musume (9/26/11)

I mean...it's Ika Musume. Spontaneous, cute, squid-girl-filled action. I suggest reading the manga first and then watching the hilarity in animated format though. It's a great series, so don't skip out on it!

Didn't watch the first season, not going to watch this one.

This is a rarely seen successful comedy series. Season 1 was a pleasant surprise, and I have been awaiting a season 2 ever since. It is indeed moe, but don't let that steer you away from the lolz.

Bakuman 2 (10/1/11)

I actually haven't read through this series, but it seems pretty good. However, as before, manga series is suggested before any adaptations. I won't comment on this further because I don't have the qualifications to comment on the series as a whole.

I read through the first 100 or so chapters of the manga for this series, and I have to say that while the original concept was pretty interesting, the plot got stale quickly. After the third manga the pair wrote, the same basic plot ended up repeated. For that reason, while the anime will probably be decent, I can't see it staying interesting for a second season.

I've been meaning to read this. However, I don't like reading Shounen Jump series before they reach ~200 chapters. I've heard it is good, but it's my policy not to watch Shounen Jump animes anyway (after Nurarihyon no Mago....fuck that animu adaptation of a perfectly good mango).

Working'!! (10/1/11)

Essentially the same thing as Bakuman 2. I've actually wanted to read this series but I have a dislike of 4-panel strips for some reason. No comments for now, but from what I've heard it's a decent series.

Didn't watch the first season, so not going to watch this one.

I've been waiting for this one too. When I heard that this one was getting a season 2 also (and what's more, in the same season as Squid Girl!), I was so happy I could have forgiven all the feeders from the last month of League of Legends. Episode 1 has aired already, and I realized how much I missed this.

Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere (10/1/11)

Is this going to be the Dantalian successor for the fall season? It seems somewhat like the Sora o Miageru series...my instincts tell me it's going to be somewhere between decent and mediocre, as are many others in this genre. I've read the summary though, and I'm not really getting what the hell actually happens. This does not bode well.

While the concept of this series sounds nice, I once again am suspicious at how it will be executed. I'll probably take a look at this, but will most likely drop it after being disappointed.

This does not sound interesting enough, I'll wait to hear about it after it gets a few eps as usual. Another reason to not watch is that that guy's face pisses me off.

Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle (10/2/11)

Smart guy solves puzzle set up by bad guys. Not too shabby of a concept, as long as they show the smart guy actually being smart. I don't want any of this "yeah I've already solved it" into shiny-light-the-puzzle-is-solved-before-viewers-can-even-look-at-it bull. As long as that's followed, I guess this series will be decent. Probably won't have time to watch this series though.

Is this supposed to be YuGiOh! with puzzles? Original story from Sunrise? Shonen? I'm not convinced. Dropped.

Fuck Sunrise and their lame looking school adventure shows.

Tamayura ~Hitotose~ (10/3/11)

Seems like this fall's Hanasaku Iroha successor. Nice and gentle, the way I like it. I expect this to be ok, as long as it doesn't just lapse into a comatose state. Watching this series.

I don't know what to make of this anime, but if people say that the first few episodes are interesting, I might start watching. I generally don't watch slow series, but then again, Usagi Drop turned out well.

I'm not a big fan of these slow, slice-of-life stories. People like the two above me enjoy stuff like this, I just don't.

Kimi to Boku (10/3/11)

I haven't read the manga....but is this series really not a series at least somewhat related to boys' love? If it isn't, then it has my respect and I'll check it out soon. If it is...into the trash bin it goes.

Assuming the series isn't overrun with BL, I can see this going somewhere. A comedy without a cast full of moe might be end up as excellent. Will watch.

The synopsis doesn't really suggest any yaoi, maybe it's just a funny story? I will wait to hear about the first few eps.

Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers (10/4/11)

One of the obligatory visual novel adaptations of this season. As usual, everyone has the same hairstyle and looks exactly the same, so they must needs be differentiated by hair color. Delightful. For some reason or another though, this one has appealing enough graphics for me to at least go through a few episodes of it. I know that most adaptations, limited by the number of episodes, end up being utter crap, but I guess I should be brave and try it anyways...maybe it'll end up being decent >____>;; or not. Wish me luck.

Moe. Dropped.

Unlike NotMoe, I'm not a hater. I always like to give these VN adaptations a chance. Sometimes they're ok, usually they're so bad (Fortune Arterial...). Will watch just because I need a harem every few weeks.

Maken-Ki! (10/4/11)

Ok fanservice manga series, but it slows and becomes irretrievably convoluted towards the recent chapters. Obviously it won't reach that stage, so I guess enjoy the eyecandy this fall. But I'm probably not gonna watch it for too long unless it becomes surprisingly good - whenever I read the manga I want to punch the main hero in the face for being such a dumbass. I'm afraid to see how this translates over into anime.

Moe. Dropped.

I have read this mango. When I reflect upon this series, I remember a lack of character development and I forget everything that happened. Not super.

Chihayafuru (10/4/11)

Apparently this is some kinda Saki with boys. Oh, and that makes it a shoujo series too. lol. I'll probably watch 1 episode then end up dropping it. Anyways, I just remembered something much more important than this:

SAKI 2 IS COMING OUT OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

That will be all.

This series is actually josei. I'm interested now.

Hm. I can't really get much from the synopsis. I don't feel like it would appeal to me though.

..but in other news, SAKI 2 IS GREEN-LIT AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Notice how NotMoe hates moe shit.

Persona 4 The Animation (10/6/11)

According to 4PlayerPodcast, a gaming podcast, Persona 4 was pretty good. I'd like to trust them (go to their website and listen to some...they're pretty awesome) and think that the characters will be good. It's also gonna be pretty popular (especially in the Western Hemisphere due to the popularity of the game), but is the anime actually going to be any good? I'm hesitant to say. Probably not gonna watch this. I just don't get a good vibe from it.

On first glance, this anime looks pretty interesting. I've heard good things about the game, so I will be watching this.

People tell me to play this game. I'm not watching very many series nowadays, so I'll probably not watch this animu.

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (10/6/11)

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Pretty much the main thing I've been waiting for this season. This series is excellent. The three things I'm worried about are:

a) the series becoming stale to me due to the fact that I've already read the light novel and the manga,

b) the overly harsh interaction between Sena (above pic, left) and Yozora (right) at the beginning and

c) the terrible voice selection (Inoue Marina) for Yozora - she sounds like she's losing her voice in the preview vid...ugh. It's going to ruin my viewing experience.

b and c might turn some people off, but it's a great series overall and you shouldn't miss it. I certainly won't.

Why does the cover of the first light novel for this look almost exactly like that of OreImo? Looks like moe. Dropped.

Looks like a very delicious moe-fest. And ExtraCareful insists how good this series is. I have been waiting for this, and almost considered reading the LN. But then again, it's reading, so fuck that shit. Anime is how I read LNs.

Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing (10/7/11)

Another sequel to something that I haven't read or watched (the first was Last Exile). I don't think it looks too shabby, although steampunk settings are always interesting due to the fact that you're able to combine characters with 19th century-ish village backgrounds and conveniently-placed futuristic weaponry that can be fixed with a bit of elbow grease. Not watching it, but if you're into this kinda stuff I suggest starting from season 1.

Haven't seen the first season, so am not watching.

Didn't watch season 1, so nope.

Shakugan no Shana III (Final) (10/7/11)

Shana is Shana. What more can I say? However, I have a dislike for Shana because personally I don't think the plot really goes anywhere or does much other than defeating a few monsters and then having Yuji (the main hero) perfect some more flame-related powers because he's special. Or something. It just has too many flashbacks and not enough advancement, although it's supposed to be an action series. Not watching it, but MorningLescue probably will.

Moe. Dropped.

Shana is indeed moe. However, that does not make it shit. I was shown episode 1 by someone from school, right before winter break. When I got home, I started season 1, watched up till ep 9 or so, then had to leave for vacation. I yearned to watch this every day of that vacation. I came back and devoured the rest of the eps, then was sad. I watched that dumb ova, all the while expecting a season 3. They give it to us at last, and I get my conclusion.

Mirai Nikki (10/9/11)

Ah, the infamous Mirai Nikki. The series that made the term "yandere" famous. Nothing like a girl with an axe with eggs on the side to wake you up in the morning. I'm not going to watch the series though until maybe much, MUCH later; the reason is that Mirai Nikki is a relatively complex series and I don't think the anime adaptation will do it much justice. So, I'll head to the translated manga series and save the adaptation for later.

Finally we get our adaptation of Mirai Nikki (after that little teaser released last year). I'm looking forward to this, so hopefully it goes well.

Mirai Nikki, one of favorite mangas. I would recommend it to almost anyone. There isn't much point to watching the anime though, so I won't watch it. If you don't know about the series, I suggest reading the manga just so you can finish the entire story in one go. It's very worthwhile.

Chibi Devi! (10/10/11)

LOLWTF IS THIS. Some shoujo crap dug out from the depths of the Earth, apparently. I just mentioned it here because it was weird enough for it to catch my eye. However, I'm definitely not watching this. Maaaybe I might read it someday, but if it looks bad with the original, then why would a shorter, less explanatory adaptation be any better?

Shoujo. Dropped. Hopefully I'm not wrong.

Shoujo, gtfo. After Maid-sama, I give up on this demographic.

Un-Go (10/13/11)

Nobody knows what this is about. It looks like a psych/supernatural Darker than Black imitation. Gtfo it's gonna be mediocre like Blood C was last season.

And here we are, the first of the two NoitaminA shows this season. This is supposed to have an original story and involve mysteries of some kind, so hopefully this will have a good plot. I'm a bit suspicious of BONES handling an 11 episode series given last season's disaster with No. 6, so I'm a bit worried about the series length. Will watch.

It's a mystery series, and it's plot is one as well. Can't really tell what this is about, so I have no impression.

Ad Lib Anime Kenkyuusho (10/15/11)

I'm genuinely interested in this. Apparently what's going to go on is that the voice actors that voiced the Hiiragi twins in Lucky Star (Emiri Katou and Kaori Fukuhara) + a guest VA will ad-lib an entire script for each episode. The animators will then create an animated show based off that script. Holy God. Definite thumbs up for creativity. It has a solid cast and I'm really looking forward to how this will end up. Good step towards enticing the audience with something out of the norm.

An adlib anime. What. I'll have to look at this.

This actually sounds like a very fun show. Never heard of anything like it. Definite watch.

Coppelion (10/2011)

A horror/supernat/action in a post-nuclear world where the main characters are immune to radiation. Weird concept, haven't read the manga, but it's relatively popular. I like the premise, so I'll see through 1 or 2 episodes to see if I should just read the manga or whether I should get into the adaptation.

Haven't really heard of this, but if the first few episodes are good, I might end up watching this.

I have no idea what this is about and am too lazy to find a synopsis.

Fate/Zero (10/2011)

For this Fate/Stay Night fans. Personally I've never gotten into the Fate series so much as I have, say, Tsukihime, so I won't be watching this, but if you're a fan of the Fate series this is an obvious recommendation. Personally I think this is gonna just be more of the same.

Don't really care for this, since I never played/watched Fate/stay night.

Fate/Stay Night was not really that good of an anime, but I like the basic idea. Plus I hear the VN was much much better. I will pick this up, it actually seems promising.

Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! (10/2011)

The OTHER obligatory visual novel adaptation. Apparently it's a comedy eroge, which means that if it's not funny in the first 3 episodes or so, it's going away unless it compensates with 10x the fanservice like Mayo Chiki! did.

Moe. Dropped.

Eroge AND comedy? Sounds new, maybe it'll be interesting.

Ben-To (10/2011)

Very interesting concept. I'll definitely hold out for this one. MorningLescue was actually the one who told me about this first, but after reading an excerpt from the light novel I really really like the premise. It's surreal comedy about discount lunchboxes. I approve.

Moe. Dropped.

I see NotMoe has learned to judge a book by its cover. W/e, this show sounds new, I'll look into it.

C^3 ~ Cube x Cursed x Curious (10/2011)

I read the light novel. Doesn't seem very good. In order to try to make it too suspenseful and mysterious, the author tries to throw 100 different completely random (and furthermore, unexplained) things at the main hero. Not a good idea. I want the plot to be unpredictable. This is different from arbitrary. Please get the point because this just seems like a bad psych version of Denpa Onna and I really don't want that. Watching 1 ep and then probably dropping.

Moe. Dropped.

I have no idea where ExtraCareful gets the time to read all these LNs. I myself am uninterested, so I probably won't watch it.

Guilty Crown (10/2011)

Supernat school-life series. I smell something along the lines of Itsuka Tenma coming along the alleyway. I hope it's better though because I actually don't dislike supernat series or disfavor them over slice-of-life series. It's just that so many of them just fail miserably at realistic plot extensions. I'm crossing my fingers for this one but it probably won't happen. G'luck though.

And here is our second NoitaminA series. I'm rather surprised that they're going for two sci-fi series in one season, given that there generally has been a realistic slice of life to accompany the obligatory sci-fi. Unfortunately, this is looking rather like Index, if anything (the main character's right hand makes me suspicious). This is actually written by the guys who wrote Code Geass, so I'm even more suspicious. I'll watch a few episodes (but only because it's NoitaminA) but will likely drop.

So this sounds exactly like Code Geass. Gonna watch it.

Zero no Tsukaima Kessakusen (rebroadcast) (10/2011)

LOL FUCK YOU ZNT ANIME STOP TRYING TO BE SO BAD

No.

Fuck you haters. Am I the only one who enjoyed ZnT?

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As a last note, I'd like to give props to Nichijou and Yuruyuri this summer season for being unexpectedly good/decent/epic despite its predecessors' failures. You guys should watch both - they're both watchable with good graphics and awesome plot (especially Nichijou :P). I'll probably do an ending impression post on Nichijou and maybe one for Yuruyuri as well.

Anyways, here comes the Fall. It's going to be one hell of a ride.

I think this last summer season had a couple of strong points, with the excellent Usagi Drop and the pretty amazing ending of Steins;Gate (though I have my reservations about the overall anime). Above and beyond both, however, was Mawaru Penguindrum, which has had an incredibly solid start. The fall season doesn't look too good at this point in my opinion, but even if these series fail I've got the second half of Penguindrum to look forward to.

Last season was better than expected, which isn't saying much cause I expected shit. I had some pleasant surprises with Carnival Phantasm, Penguindrum and The iDOLM@STER. Baka Test was good, as expected. Let's see, I also watched Ro-Kyu-Bu! (dat ending song) and Mayo Chiki! (those characters). Itsuka Tenma was balls.

I have high expectations for this Fall season.

Btw, I have been looping Renai Circulation (Bakemonogatari op 4) the entire time while writing this. Too good, everyone should listen to it right now.