Winter 2012 – Week 7 Anime Review

Well, this is a bit overdue but better late than never.  As like the previous seasons, after hitting the midseason point, the order of the anime in this post have been flipped meaning it starts with Rinne no Lagrange and ends with Another.  Though it isn’t much, it does change the perspective by putting the anime in a different order, at least for me if not anyone else.

This week: looking for a better word than ‘pirate’ for Mouretsu Pirates, something else you can do with your diary in Future Diary, and a growing problem with the cast of BRAVE10.

Winter 2012 – Week 4 Anime Review

This week: Chihayfuru producing a recap episode the right way, two Takehito Koyasu appearances this week (Brave 10 and Mirai Nikki), and the charming art style of Thermae Romae.

Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam – 11

I really should start calling these ‘Late Exile’ rather than Last Exile since they always come out well after the episode aired.  Well, it’s more of the same from me this week but a number of curious surprises and praiseworthy developments coming from Last Exile which has the anime treading upward.  But instead of examining the ascending trend and the reasons behind this surge, there’s a theme that has been persistently reiterated in episodes like this that I just can’t ignore anymore and needs some much deserved notice.

Shinryaku!? Ika Musume S2 – 5

Our zany and simple-minded squid invader certainly enjoys the company of humans and our lifestyles and activities above the surface.  And she hasn’t receded her ambitions of conquering mankind either, still actively pursuing her goal in every episode.  But she never has any feelings of internal conflict or ambivalence over her simultaneous and contradictory opinions toward these subjects.  She can’t be friends with humans if she also wants to invade mankind.  So if Ika Musume had to choose between one or the other, which would she select?

Dantalian no Shoka – 9

I always like it when an art style drastically changes like this (and only for an episode, too).  For one thing, it’s amazing to watch an anime series through the eyes of another director/staff and see what they do with the material.  It also enchants you, catching you off-guard and grabbing your attention by providing the same anime but in a completely different and unfamiliar style.  And episodes like this also infuse a bit of vitality, a jolt of energy, or something lively into the series for doing something strange like this.  Not my favorite or best episode in the series but one of the more eye-opening, especially artistically, of the anime.

Steins;Gate – 20

Imagine for a moment that Kurisu, not Okabe, is the person adventuring through time to save Mayuri (or Okabe or whatever you desire) and restore order to this time-travel chaos.  Totally awesome, I know, but you have to wonder how different the entire series would have been if we were following Kurisu’s struggles rather than Okabe’s.

Usagi Drop – 4

How different would Usagi Drop be if Rin weren’t Rin?  Rather, instead of having this well-behaved, thoughtful, and intelligent girl be the one taken in by Daikichi following those extreme circumstances, what if the anime revolved around caring for a young child who’s personality and comprehension were completely different?