Autumn 2012 – Week 2 Anime Review

This week: heart failure or a broken heart; a phenomenal use of a literary device in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, issues with explaining the setting rather than exploring the setting in Psycho-Pass, questioning the reality and extent of Koko’s network in Jormungand: Perfect Order, and questioning the enjoyment and pleasure in Rikka’s actions in Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!

Autumn 2012 – Season Preview

Seeing as the Autumn anime season is already upon us, a number of anime having recently aired with fervent discussions trailing closely behind, there’s no better time than now to provide a brief overview to the assembly of anime premiering this season, primarily composed of my thoughts, opinions, and general hype for each show.  So what anime am I keeping my eye on that might be wise to do the same?  Come and let’s explore what is to be the Autumn anime season of 2012!

Spring 2012 – Season Review

With the conclusion of the Spring anime season comes a period of evaluation and judgment based on everything that was watched.  In the end, a final mark is given that encompasses our thoughts and feelings on the series and is the assessment we return to when looking back at the series.  Though this closure for an anime series may seem shallow compared to the experience we had over the past twelve or so weeks, it does feel like a way to properly finish a series before we fully immerse ourselves in the Summer anime season.  And with that, here is the final review for the Spring 2012 anime season.

Jormungand – 12

While the story of Jormugnand documents the adventures of Koko and her select crew of proficient bodyguards, there are considerable flaws in the storytelling that otherwise inhibit the anime from thriving and fulfilling its vast potential.  Though the characters and content have been stimulating and effective thus far, considerable faults exist in how these affairs progress and ultimately how the characters react and change under these intense conditions.  Though there have been challenges and obstacles for the characters to overcome in these various events, there are hardly any challenges or obstacles in their stories.  That is, there are virtually no complications or resistance in Jormungand in regards to how the stories unfold and resolve themselves.

Jormungand – 11

Within Koko’s team of bodyguards, interpersonal communication is a rarity.  Often minimal and infrequent or limited to the mission at hand, we hardly ever see the bodyguards converse with each other even during their times of peace and relaxation.  Rather, they fragment themselves to be alone or thereabouts and remain that way until they’re required to assimilate again for their next objective.  But when Koko is communicating with any of her bodyguards, they stand attentive and respond diligently.  The use of communication in Jormungand certainly reveals an interesting dynamic given the structure of Koko’s team and how they associate with each other.

Jormungand – 10

Despite the constant presence of humor throughout the series, Jormungand is an anime founded in a serious nature.  Without this essential backbone providing structure to the entire series, the whole setting about an arms dealer and her band of bodyguards would feasibly collapse.  And due to this relationship linking the setting, story, and characters together, the main cast can partake in only limited amounts of comedy before it starts to undermine what the anime originally stands for.  But Scarecrow and Schokolade are immune from this restriction and are able to flourish where others cannot.  What is it about this duo that allows them to contrast with the rest of the characters in Jormungand so greatly?

Jormungand – 9

What is it about the action in Jormungand that causes it to be tedious and unsatisfying?