Dog Days’ (S2) – 10

As with any fighting anime, clashes between the characters are the most fundamental and exhilarating aspect to watch.  Whether it’s a simple duel or a rousing team battle, a strategic melee or a super-powered, special attack shout-a-thon, witnessing these fights are what makes the anime sensational and satisfying.  Of course, to make the brawl more appealing and meaningful, the outcome cannot be predetermined nor the conflict be completely one-sided.  And given the lack of a power ranking system, fighter taxonomies, and the presence of a multitude of fighting styles and unique abilities, Dog Days’ has an ideal structure in place to make every battle as captivating, invigorating, and gratifying as possible.

Dog Days’ (S2) – 9

Fraudulent and insufferable, notorious and unforgivable, the most infamous and loathed thing of anything anime (or if not, well within the Top 3) is something I’ve come to dub Shounen Fight Syndrome.  Shounen Fight Syndrome (SFS) is perhaps the worst offender when it comes to anime, a collection of mismanaged, inferior, and pathetic clichés bundled together for an unsatisfying, worthless conclusion.  Based on lethargic writing and devaluing its character, SFS has plagued numerous anime within the fighting genre and Dog Days’ is no exception.  With nearly a textbook-definition of SFS in this episode, now’s the ideal time to cover a topic I feel passionate and enraged about.

Dog Days’ (S2) – 8

Although the realm of Flonyard appears to be incredibly peaceful, exceptionally pleasant, and irrefutably safe, it’s essentially a world plagued with horrifying demons, merciless highway bandits, and innumerable crimes and destruction.  Even with respect to the lighthearted, friendly, and optimistic themes that Dog Days’ constantly upholds, Flonyard is beleaguered with threats and menaces.  While a world perfect for fun and adventures to any traveling hero or super-solider, it must be entirely the opposite for the citizens who inhabit these lands and call Flonyard home.

Summer 2012 – Mid-Season Review

These middle weeks of the Summer anime season serve as a highly appropriate period to provide evaluations, grades, and rankings on each of the anime we’re following.  Here, you’ll find my reviews for each of the anime I’m following for the Summer 2012 season.

Dog Days’ (S2) – 7

Though I have been singing the praises of Dog Days’ since about the start of this second season, it’s time to mention some of the negatives of this series seeing as they’re often ignored or overlooked in recent posts.  And while the anime has been a step up of the first season in many key components, there are still some aspects of the original series that outclassed this sequel in additional to other questionable differences.  Here, we’ll look at some of the areas where Dog Days’ is inferior or subpar to first season or general subjects where there’s room for improvement and growth.

Dog Days’ (S2) – 6

The central theme of Dog Days is that of friendship.  Through every episode, the characters enjoy their magnetic relationships, comprised of delightful conversations, enticing groomings and pettings, and satisfying, light-hearted combat that leaves every character feeling safe and with a smile on their face.  In the off chance something “bad” is happening, it’s usually a simple conflict between friends that quickly resolves itself with each side realizing their errors, understanding each other, and strengthening their bond to an even greater level than before.  It’s how Dog Days’ remains so cheerful, charming, and peaceful all the time.  So consider myself overjoyed for the appearance of the Demon King, a selfish, perverted renegade who does not care about friendship or anyone’s feelings and came to disrespect everything about friendship and those considerate, compassionate impressions in Dog Days’.  Finally, someone brave enough to challenge this theme and provide that spark of conflict which can allow for Dog Days’ to change or progress.

Moyashimon Returns – 5, Dog Days’ (S2) – 5, Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita – 6

Returning home after a lengthy vacation always means a pile of responsibilities waiting for you, in addition to the even larger pile of anime that needs to be watched.  Because of this, among other oddities and obligations, let’s revisit the episodes from the previous week and see what significant or interesting events ensued.