Spring 2013 – Week 8 Anime Review

Last week: the re-sensitization to death in Kakumeiki Valvrave, the complexities of saying ‘farewell’ in Suisei no Gargantia, individual versus team karuta matches in Chihayafuru 2 and a thrilling, informative look inside the police department in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S.

Winter 2013 – Week 3 Anime Review

This week: issues of diplomacy in Magi, unintended hilarity in Robotics;Notes, questions of love in Shin Sekai Yori, Speedwagon’s unappreciated knoweldege and observation in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the two distinct art styles of Sasami-san@Ganbaranai, and some remarkably brilliant writing and storytelling in Kotoura-san, Senran Kagura, and Zetsuen no Tempst.

Because I Caved In To Peer Pressure… (ABT Round 3 Group 5 Whatever)

Curious about the three other blogs in Group 5 of Round 3 of the AniBlog Tournament?  Well, you’re in luck.  It just so happens they were all featured in the most recent episode of Generic Fanservice Harem Magic-Fighting School the Anime.  Here’s a rundown of what you may of missed but probably already know because it’s the same thing you’ve seen a thousand times before…

Moments after the final bell of the day had rung but before the students could rise from their desks, stretch, and mingle among each other, Taro Every Lead (TEL) jumped from his seat and raced toward the library.  Rather than hang out after class with his Sweetheart Childhood Friend (SCF) and Perverted and Unlucky Best Male Friend (PUBMF), TEL needed to finish his summer homework assignment that he was unable to complete.  The reason you ask?  Just last night while returning home from trip to the convenience store, TEL was magically warped to an alternative dimension where he found out the most Beautiful, Popular, Intelligent, Athletic, and Unobtainable Girl in his school is actually some sort of Magical Witch Nekomimi Princess (BPIAUMWNPG) of some magical kingdom.  Not only that but TEL meet two other magical girls in that world, a Scandily-Dressed Tsundere Knight (SDTK) and a Shy, Motherly, Friendly Maid Girl (SMFMG).  After TEL learned he, too, is a magical knight and easily defeated the first boss in one blow at the end of the previous episode (along with an accidental groping of BPIAUMWNPG), the four teenagers were warped back to Earth on the morning before his first day of high school.  Oh, and SDTK and SMFMG also transferred into his class, too, can’t forget that.

“What luck. I was going to finish my summer homework before school this morning but that strange, magical dimension really messed things up,” TEL thought to himself as he raced to the library. “Thankfully our new teacher, Busty Dreamy Seductive Meganekko-Sensei (BDSM-S) will allow me to turn it in before 5.”

Before long, TEL arrived at the school library and opened the door. “Ya~hhoo~!” a voice called out to him.  Why, standing at the first table in the library was Blonde Busty Senpai (BBS), complete with a pose and a wink. “Whatcha doing TEL-kun?” she asked with an almost too cheerful and playful tone.

“No time to chat BBS, I’ve got to finish my summer homework before BDSM-S punishes me!” TEL explained in the most plainly way possible.

“Hoo~?” the curious BBS said, “First year summer homework?  That’s the one on the anime bloggers right?  Who did you get stuck with this time?”

“Baka-Raptor, Metanorn, and Ambivalence , or is it ambiguity?” TEL said, settling into the seat at the table and opening his textbook.  But before he could begin reading about these legendary anime blogs, BBS slammed her fist onto the book and drew TEL’s attention first to her unreasonably low-cut serafuku and then to her face.

“You don’t need a textbook to help you with that, I’ve got all the answers right up here,” BBS said as she pointed to her brain.  TEL had an uneasy look on his face but didn’t have enough personality to stop her.

Dog Days – 6

Despite being in a medieval-type setting, Dog Days doesn’t feel like a fantasy anime.  When you compare the setting of Dog Days to other anime, who also have married the concepts of kemonomimi girls and a medieval setting like Spice and Wolf or Utawarerumono, you begin to draw some similar results.  All shows have castles, villages, soldiers, and other stereotypical fantasy elements which provide a solid base for their stories.  But there are some evident elements that separates Dog Days from the others.