CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Look forward to anime to comfort us during the cold winter months as we come to the realization that this, the Year of Luigi, has ended.



Much like the threads before it, this is a thread I created for the discussion of new anime that will be airing on TV in Japan in the Winter 2014 season. Anime typically gets released and runs for a number of seasons. The year is divided up into four seasons: January to March is winter, April to June is spring, July to September is summer, and October to December is fall. Each season is approximately 13 weeks.

Here, we can talk about what shows look interesting, what we plan to watch, and generally get giddy and excited for things that we've been anticipating for a while.

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Seitokai Yakuindomo ＊
http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/seitokai2/
Sequel

The second season of a show I’m pretty sure no one here watched.


Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga.
http://www.imocyo-anime.com/
Manga by Matsuzawa Mari
Studio: Project No. 9, Director: Hata Hiroyuki, Cast: Hiashimoto Chinami, Majima Junji

Look, it’s got a long title with imouto in it.


NobunaGun
http://www.vap.co.jp/nobunagun/
Manga by Hisa Masato
Studio: Bridge, Director: Kondo Nobuhiro, Cast: Muto Shiori

High school student on a trip to Taiwan gets attacked by monsters and there’s a gattling gun with the soul of Oda Nobunaga imbued with it involved somehow.


Witchcraft Works
http://www.witch-cw-anime.jp/
Manga by Mizunagi Ryu
Studio: J.C. Staff, Director: Mizushima Tsutomu, Cast: Seto Asami, Kobayashi Yuusuke

Boy sits next to the prettiest girl in the school. Turns out she’s a witch! and is sent to protect him, such convenience.


SPACE☆DANDY
http://space-dandy.com/
Original
Studio: BONES, Chief Director: Watanabe Shinichiro, Cast: Suwabe Junichi

Space Dandy is about a dandy guy in space. Brought to you by a guy named Shinichiro Watanabe and his merry band of dudes who worked on some cowboy bibimbap anime a decade ago.


Noragami
http://noragami-anime.net/
Manga by Adachitoka
Studio: BONES, Director: Tamura Kotaro, Cast: Kamiya Hiroshi, Uchida Maaya, Kaji Yuuki

Sad girl gets help from a minor deity in the form of a boy who’s trying to make it big and get his own shrine.


Buddy Complex
http://buddy-complex.jp/
Original
Studio: Sunrise, Director: Tanabe Yasuhiro, Cast: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Giant robots and a star-crossed pair of boys fated to clash in a war between two great powers. Another day at Sunrise.


Nobunaga the Fool
http://www.nobunaga.tv/
Original
Studio: Satelight, Director: Sato Eiichi, Cast: Miyano Mamoru

Weird sci-fi alternate history where you might find your favourite historical figures like Jeanne Kaguya D’arc. A unique gift given to us by one Mr. Shoji Kawamori.


Saki: Zenkoku-hen
http://www.saki-anime.com/
Spinoff

Now that Achiga-hen is over, our favourite high school magical mahjong manga is getting another anime in the main series.


Tonari no Seki-kun
http://www.t-sekikun.jp/
Manga by Morishige Takuma
Studio: Shin-Ei, Director: Mutoh Yuji, Cast: Shimono Hiro, Hanazawa Kana

A girl gets distracted by the boy next to her in class. The boy is very good at constructing distractions.


To Aru Hikuushi e no Koi-Uta
http://koiuta.tv/
Light novel by Inumura Koroku
Studio: TMS, Director: Suzuki Toshimasa, Cast: Yuuki Aoi, Taketatsu Ayana, Ishikawa Kaito, Hanae Natsuki

Turns out this is a prequel to the movie Toaru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku from a few years ago. Anyway, pilots, love, revenge, royalty, etc.


D-Frag! -D-FRAGMENTS-
http://www.d-fragments.net/
Manga by Haruno Tomoya
Studio: Brains Base, Director: Sugawara Seiki, Cast: Hanazawa Kana, Konishi Katsuyuki

Wannabe delinquent falls into a club of weird girls.


Wooser no sono Higurashi -Kakusei-hen-
http://wooser.tv/
Sequel

Whoever thought to pay Miyano Mamoru to play a hedonistic plush rabbit is a genius.


Hamatora
http://hamatorapj.com/
Original
Studio: NAZ, Director: Kishi Seiji, Cast: Ohsaka Ryota

Detectives pursue a serial killer with special powers.


Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai Ren
http://www.anime-chu-2.com/
Sequel

More awkward chuunibyou antics.


Mi Kakunin de Shinkou Kei
http://mikakunin.jp/
Manga by Arai Cherry
Studio: Dogakobo, Director: Fujiwara Yoshiyuki, Cast: Matsui Eriko, Terui Haruka, Hatanao Wataru, Yoshida Yuri

Girl finds out on her 16th birthday that she has a fiancee and moves in with him.


Mahou Sensou -Magical Warfare-
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/mahosen/
Light novel by Suzuki Hisashi
Studio: Madhouse, Director: Sato Yuzo, Cast: Miyano Mamoru, Toyama Nao

The characters are in high school and there are magicians and there is magical warfare.


Houzuki no Reitetsu
http://hozukino-reitetsu.com/
Manga by Eguchi Natsumi
Studio: WIT Studio, Director: Kaburaki Hiro, Cast: Yasumoto Hiroki

This follows an aide to Enma, the great king of Hell, as he solves various problems, probably in Hell.


Z/X -Zillions of Enemy X- Ignition
http://zxignition.tv/
Original
Director: Yamaguchi Yuji, Cast: Shimono Hiro

Fighting ZILLIONS of enemy using cards.


Sakura Trick
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/sakura/
Manga by Tachi
Studio: Studio DEEN, Director: Ishikura Kenichi, Cast: Tomatsu Haruka, Iguchi Yuka

Based on a 4-panel strip about two girls who fall in love with each other.


pupa
http://www.pupa-anime.com/
Manga by Mogi Sayaka

I described this in the last thread, but it’s actually airing next season, whoops (broadcast got delayed).


Nourin
http://www.no-rin.tv/
Light novel by Shirow Shiratori
Studio: Silver Link, Director: Oonuma Shin, Cast: Asanuma Shintarou, Tamura Yukari

Idol quits the biz, breaking biggest fan’s heart, but not to worry because she transferred into his class.


Wake Up, Girls~
http://wakeupgirls.jp/
Original
Studio: Ordet, Director: Yamamoto Yutaka, Cast: Nagano Airi, Okuno Kaya, Yoshioka Mayu, Tanaka Minami, Takagi Miyu, Yamashita Nanami, Aoyama Yoshino

Yamakan descends from his mountain to direct an anime about agency who tries to produce an idol unit.


Nisekoi
http://www.nisekoi.jp/
Manga by Komi Naoshi
Studio: SHAFT, Director: Shinbo Akiyuki, Cast: Hanazawa Kana, Uchiyama Kouki, Toyama Nao

Son and daughter of rival yakuza are forced into a fake relationship to preserve the peace between their gangs. Also something about a lock pendant and childhood promise, but what this manga is really great for is the faces.


Sekai Seifuku ~Bouryaku no Zvezda~
http://www.sekaiseifuku-zzz.com/
Original
Studio: A-1 Pictures, Director: Okamura Tensai, Cast: Kuno Misaki

Little girl leads secret society to world conquest.


Wizard Barristers
http://wizardbarristers.com/
Original
Studio: ARMS, Director: Umetsu Yasuomi, Cast: Tanabe Rui

As you can probably guess, this is about wizard lawyers.


Inari, KonKon, Koi Iroha
http://inarikonkon.jp/
Manga by Yoshida Morohe
Studio: Production IMS, Director: Takahashi Toru, Cast: Kuwashima Houko, Oozora Naomi

Middle school confessions go bad and a girl runs to a shrine where she wishes to be the girl that the guy she’s crushing on likes.


Maken-ki! Two
http://maken-ki-two.com/
Sequel

This is for you, people who watched the first Maken-ki.


Silver Spoon Season 2
http://www.ginsaji-anime.com/
Sequel

The second season of farming school adventures, taking over for the ahistorical Galileo anime in the noitaminA slot (the other one is still Samumenco).


Soni Ani -Super Sonico The Animation-
http://soniani.jp/
Original
Studio: White Fox, Director: Kawamura Kenichi, Cast: Goto Mai, Ozaki Mami

Nitro+ managed to convince someone to fund an anime about their mascot.


Strange+
http://www.ichijinsha.co.jp/special/zerosum/stpl/
Manga by Mikawa Verno
Studio: Seven, Director: Nishikawa Takashi, Cast: Fukuyama Jun, Okiayu Ryotaro, Yukino Satsuki, Seki Tomokazu

Kid looks for his older brother who went missing but it turns out he became the head of a detective agency.


HappinessCharge PreCure!
Another year, another PreCure. Contrary to rumours spread by certain individuals, it turned out not to be a HeartCatch sequel.


Also of note are a new Mushi-shi special episode and a special episode of Sword Art Online, which is heavily assumed to contain a second season announcement.

Oh blkmage, I always love your descriptions.


Aside from the stuff I'm continuing from the Fall season that's 2-cour, I for sure plan on checking out:

* SPACE☆DANDY, for obvious reasons.
* Hamatora-- I actually put this on my plan-to-watch list a while ago. The trailer and synopsis I'd seen seemed interesting, plus something about it kinda reminded me a little of Durarara!! for some reason. Hopefully it's good.
* Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren, because I loved the first season and look forward to more.
* And the Mushishi special, because Mushishi.


And stuff that seems somewhat interesting that I'll keep watch on the response to before deciding on:

* Wizard Barristers - Not gonna lie, the first thing I thought of when I saw this was "Phoenix Wright with wizards" -- and if I hear that it ends up being even half as good as that idea seems in my mind, I'll watch it. Since I'm kinda skeptical that it will be, though, until then I'll just watch the response.
* Tonari no Seki-kun - Someone-- in fact, IIRC I think it was actually you, blkmage-- mentioned this series in the manga reading thread a while back, and never having heard of it before, I looked it up. Seemed kinda interesting, and I've had a sort-of low-level awareness of/interest about it since, so this'll be another one I might just check out.
* And, as usual, anything else that also seems to be good from the response.

Stuff I'll be looking forward to:

SPACE☆DANDY - maybe. I liked parts of Cowboy Bebop, so that's probably worth a look.
Tonari no Seki-kun - maybe. The description sounds interesting to me.

(re: Inari, KonKon, Koi Iroha)
"Middle school confessions go bad and a girl runs to a shrine where she wishes to be the girl that the guy she’s crushing on likes."
Oh, that'll end well. *smh*


Silver Spoon Season 2 - Yes! Probably the only anime I will watch as it airs this season.

a new Mushi-shi special episode - This might be worth a watch, too.

Seitokai Yakuindomo - I have watched s1. It got boring with repetition though.
Saikin, imouto somethingsomething - long title and imouto got it k sure why not.
NobunaGun - they just don't get tired of throwing Nobunaga stuff at us huh.
Space Dandy - I'll watch because hype but I was never a big Shinichiro fan.
Buddy Complex - Can't be worse than Valvrave right? Also looks like this Hina girl already has a deathflag.
Nobunaga the Fool - nope, they don't. hey look robots. Also Minorin OP.
Saki: Zenkoku-hen - as long as they don't bother showing Achiga miracle their way through the tournament, I'm happy. Saki is about monsters, not normals.
Tonari no Seki-kun - best anime of the season. except Silver Spoon.
To Aru Hikuushi e no Koi-Uta - something about the movie lost the appeal of the original novel. depends what they plan to cover I guess.
Chuunibyou S2 - KyoAni stop. please.
Mahou Sensou - sounds so generic. which means it's generically average. which means I'll watch it.
Pupa - lol after the debacle of this season, I'm kinda curious how bad this really is. The seiyuu had some fun voicing certain scenes.
Nisekoi - I still can't get over the fact that SHAFT and Shinbo of all people are doing this.
Silver Spoon S2 - bacon, suffering, pizza, and suffering. excellent.
Sonico - lol N+ has too much money. can't they like give us a Muramasa adaptation instead.

And of course the Mushishi special. SAO S2 was practically guaranteed while S1 was airing so it's only a matter of time.

I'm trying to be good this season since I overloaded in the fall and am carrying over 7 shows. However, it was hard. I literally want to try 10+ shows on the winter list.

We'll see how long this lasts.

I'm picking up (for now):

1) Hamatora The Animation - Like MangaRocks! said, I immediately thought it looked similar to Durarara!!... and boy did I love that show.
2) Mahou Sensou - The synopsis sounds really interesting and the main character looks like Shana. This could take an interesting course.
3) Nisekoi - I have heard that this manga is amazing and very popular. Also, it's been quite some time since I have come across a good romance show. To have the paired people be from two different gangs definitely sparks my interest!
4) Noragami - Sounds like it could possess some of the good qualities from The Devil is a Part-Timer. It's from BONES = one of my favorite studios who has made Blast of Tempest, which I adored. This sounds good, looks good, and hopefully will end up being good.
5) Witch Craft Works - Let me start by saying I'm not crazy about the title. The synopsis sounds good though. It sounds like the reversal of Noragami... but with a better protector.
6) Z/X IGNITION - Now, I am totally hyped for this. When you have five people battling each other to gain a future, chaos, strategy, masterminds, fights, courage, and fun abound!!!!!!!!!!!

I was also somewhat interested in: Buddy Complex, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren, D-Frag!, Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha., Nobunaga the Fool, Nobunagun, Pupa (it's so weird - I shouldn't want to watch this, but I do), Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga., Saki: Zenkoku-hen, Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda, Strange+, Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta, Tonari no Seki-kun, Wake Up, Girls!, and Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil. Yet, as you can see, I restrained myself... A LOT. I do have a habit of taking more than what is reasonable for my schedule though. We'll see - we'll see.

As for the ones that I am carrying over:

1) Golden Time - It's fine. I'm not crazy about the romance in this series though. It seems sort of forced.
2) Kill La Kill - I'm loving this so far even though it's not deep, has a cliched plot (revenge), and has a good amount of fan service.
3) Log Horizon - This show definitely likes to take it's time. It does not wow you like SAO or Accel World. Also, the people don't seem too concerned about being stuck in a game (and we're ten episodes in). It's all strategy, explain, strategy, explain, strategy, explain... Not that this is bad, but this show definitely is not one to over-excite a viewer.
4) Nagi no Asukara - It seems interesting, but I'm not sure where it's going.
5) Samurai Flamenco - This show... what can I say? There have been so many times where I wanted to put it down, but Goto saved me from doing such a thing. Now, I think that continuing on is definitely worth it. Everything is starting to make sense and come together now. That's Takahiro Omori for you.
6) Strike the Blood - The MC's past seemed interesting, so I decided not to drop it. Now that I'm pretty much halfway, I just want it to be over. It would really be amazing for this show to turn itself around enough to earn an average score. Too much fan-service, the plot isn't centered, and the characters are not memorable at all.
7) Tokyo Ravens - I love this one. I love this one. I love this one. I love this one. The character development is great, the action is enjoyable, and the plot is still in the works (there's some organization that's plotting evil - not sure where it's going yet). I've really enjoyed this one a lot.

I'm working my way through the first season of Magi (an amazing and very enjoyable series by the way) and will probably get to Kuroko soon, but I probably won't catch up before they finish airing.

For OVA / ONA / Special:
1) Double Circle - Looks similar to Gatchaman.
2) Kikou Shoujo wa Kizutsukanai OVA - I've at least enjoyed the series - even though the pacing is horrid.
3) Kyoukai no Kanata Mini Gekijou - I've enjoyed this darkening series as well. Can't get enough of the main characters.
4) Natsume Yuujinchou: Itsuka Yuki no Hi ni - I've liked what I've seen of this series. It definitely is a very calming piece that is perfect for relaxation.
5) Noragami OVA - I'm watching this because I'm watching the series.
6) Shingeki no Kyojin OVA - I already saw it. It was really good.
7) Sword Art Online: Extra Edition - These episodes seem really, really dull. However, I am hoping for an announcement for a second season that outshines the first.
8) Yozakura Quartet: Yoza-Quar! - I love this series. It has Kyousougiga vibes. Of course, it's not better than Kyousougiga - it just has a lot of similarities.

Surprise surprise, there's only one or two shows I'm interested in. Space Dandy is a given, and I'll try out To Aru Hikuushi e no Koi-Uta. The latter because planes, and I'm always looking for good anime involving planes.

It's all about the Space Dandy, the the Buddy Complex and the Nobunaga the Fool.

Hmmm not many titles catch my eye, except....

SPACE DANDY. Just the title alone wants me to give it a look...
Hamatora. "Detectives pursue a serial killer with special powers" YES, I WANT TO SEE THIS! TOP OF MY LIST!!!
Nisekoi. Probably one of the most interesting plots so far on the list, aside from the one I mentioned above.
Wizard Barristers. This sounds kinda cool, I'll take a look!
Silver Spoon Season 2. I still need to finish Season 1, but yay more!!!

Only show I'll try to keep up with (and inevitably fall behind on) will be the second season of silver spoon. I really enjoyed the first season and I am looking forward to the second.

I am so excited! I just realized that Noragami has an amazing group of voice actors lined up:

1) Kamiya, Hiroshi - He's done Levi from AoT, Izaya from Durarara, and Natsume from Natsume
2) Kaji, Yuki - He's done Eren from AoT, Shu from Guilty Crown, and Alibaba from Magi
3) Uchida, Maaya - She's done Hajime from Gatchaman and Rikka from Chuunibyou
4) Fukuyama, Jun - He's done Lelouch from Code Geass, Togashi from Chuunibyou, Shinra from Durarara, Lawrence from Spice and Wolf
5) Toyosaki, Aki - She's done Uiharu from Railgun, Momoka from Mawaru Penguindrum, Nagase from Kokoro Connect, and Yui from K-On!
6) Imai, Asami - She's done Makise from Steins;Gate
7) Ono, Daisuke - He's done Shizuo from Durarara, Sebastian from Black Butler, Shintarou from Kuroko Basket, and Sinbad from Magi
8) Komatsu, Mikako - She's Neko from K, Ulla from Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi, Marika from Mouretsu Pirates, and Miuna from Nagi no Asukara
9) Sawashiro, Miyuki - She's Celty from Durarara, Inaba from Kokoro Connect, Shion from Psycho Pass, and Shinku from Rozen Maiden
10) Ookawa, Tooru - He's Nyx from Neo Angelique Abyss, Heathcliff from SAO, Kondou from Hakuouki, & Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist
11) Kugimiya, Rie - She's Happy from Fairy Tail, Koto from Kyousou Giga, Shana from Shakugan no Shana, and Aisaka from Torardora

Also, the director, Koutarou Tamura, was the assistant director in Wolf Children.

Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/20507/Nora ... IOtfsCK.99

I had a reply that took me a while to write and then my internet blurped and it disappeared. :<

Yes/Sure Why Not, Looks Interesting/If I Have Time:
- SPACE DANDY: hype hype hype hype hype
- Noragami: Studio Bones
- Chuu2^2: Boy I love having memories of 8th grade brought up again after I tried to repress them.

Maybeh/Looks mildly interesting/If I Have More Time:
- To Aru Hikuushi e no Koi-Uta: The movie was p cute. Airplanes.
- Nisekoi: Meant to read the manga a while ago but never got around to it/never had time.
- Hamatora: Cool designs.
- Strange+: Could be decent.

Misc.
- pupa: Was definitely going to try this last season when it was announced. Then the first trailer came out and...euuhhhh.
- Silver Spoon 2: If I ever finish the first season. (Still love the manga.)

Will probably watch:

-SPACE☆DANDY
-Noragami
-Tonari no Seki-kun
-To Aru Hikuushi e no Koi-Uta: I'll hopefully be watching the movie soon
-Hamatora
-Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai Ren
-Houzuki no Reitetsu
-Silver Spoon Season 2


Will possibly watch:

-NobunaGun
-Nisekoi
-Sekai Seifuku ~Bouryaku no Zvezda~
-Strange+

blkmage wrote:Wooser no sono Higurashi -Kakusei-hen-
http://wooser.tv/
Sequel

Whoever thought to pay Miyano Mamoru to play a hedonistic plush rabbit is a genius.

Yesssss.

This season looks pretty okay, but I'm just waiting for the Spring season and Jojo~ *_*


SPACE☆DANDY - This looks like a lot of fun, as expected from its creator. (*w*)
Noragami - Looks interesting enough for a first episode watch.
Tonari no Seki-kun: After watching all the mini PVs for this, I have no idea what this is about but it looks great.
D-Frag! -D-FRAGMENTS- - I want see this just to see this scene:
Plus it looks pretty fun, I guess. XD
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai Ren – Yaaay, more fun times and reminders of my past. XD
Nisekoi – Read some of this manga and it seemed pretty good, so I will give this a watch.
Wizard Barristers – Even after the PV I still have no idea, but it looks interesting. Props to them for a cool website that's slightly trippy.
Inari, KonKon, Koi Iroha: Save fox, go to shrine, get guy you like to fall in love with you. Seems simple enough.
Strange+: This looks like a thing. Might give it a look.
HappinessCharge PreCure!: Like always, I will be checking this out, sharing in the fandom happiness and never finishing the series. ;.;

Nobunaga the Fool is worth a try
boddy complex if sunrise decides let some one license it for the states.
SPACE☆DANDY way too much fan service so no.

Tonori no seki-kun looks really cool, I'm excited

SPACE☆DANDY - because it looks crazy, well made, it's on TV and therefore convenient to me (crosses fingers for a tolerable dub), and a bunch of people who's opinions I respect are all for it.

Sadly that's I'll I expect to be able to get to for awhile, things have been busy here and I've still got to finish up stuff from last few seasons (Kill la Kill, Silver Spoon...), as well as some other shows I've started (Lupin III pt1, this arc of One Piece, Gurren Lagann,...maybe Redline again,...). Though I plan to keep an eye on this thread to see what's worth going back for in the future. Though if past events are anything to go by, my anime habits are nothing if not malleable.

Winter anime start!


Mushishi special/OVA:

Well, as expected, that was a fantastic 45 minutes. (...That is, its being fantastic was expected, not its length-- I was pleasantly surprised at that. )

I'd read the manga series a while back and thought it very good indeed, but had no real impulse to watch the anime adaptation until this OVA-- and the special manga chapters that it's adapting-- were announced (since no translations of the chapters have been released yet, at least that I can find , so in this case I had to watch the anime OVA first ). Now, however, I am *definitely* going to check out the rest of the anime as well (especially after the announcement that they're going to make another season, which {I would assume} will finish adapting the rest of the volumes they hadn't yet ).

As for the special itself: SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Y'know, the moment Ginko ran across the kid with the white hair-- before they even mentioned the whole sun-reaction thing-- I instantly went "Oh crap..." because I figured she had to be the 'root' (or had at least been possessed by it). But I wasn't quite correct, and it all worked out well. Actually, I was quite pleased that the end of this story was so happy, since that is something that is not guaranteed in Mushishi; but that, of course, only makes the happy ends like this one even more potent, and also perfectly accentuates this episode's theme of not taking things for granted.
In other words, I loved this.

Watched Space Dandy last night. Too much fan service in the beginning, but the whole episode was pretty funny. Thought the dub was well done. The characters seem pretty funny, and the whole show looks good in a goofy way, so I will keep watching. I really liked the narrator. Let's just hope we see a little less of the "breastaurants," though.

Noragami - Episode 1

This has gotten off to a really good start. It hasn't surpassed my expectations, but it's something new and fresh. I hope that this turns out well because I'm really enjoying Kamiya's roll (and I don't want it to end up like Galilei Donna).

I'm really pleased that all the series I'm interested in are licensed... expect for Buddy Complex. Why isn't anyone picking it up??? :/

EDIT: Funimation picked up Buddy Complex. I'm now perfectly happy.

New series comments, in airing order:



THE DANDY IN THE SPACE-- er, I mean Space Dandy -- ep. 1 (subbed version):

I wasn't feeling this at first-- actually, to be perfectly honest, I was really 'meh' on the entire first half of the episode -- but I did find the second half pretty amusing, especially once SPOILER: Highlight text to read: they finally got to that planet and it all went delightfully haywire -- *that's* the kind of thing I had expected the show to be like. (...Also: I really liked the art style.)

In all, while I didn't end up being quite as impressed with this as I'd been hoping/expecting given its creators + premise, the latter half of the ep. was worth it , so let's see how things go from here...



Tonari no Seki-kun ep. 1:

Well, I said I'd keep a watch on this one to see how the response was first, but in the end I was curious enough to just go ahead and dive in (and besides, the ep.'s are only a few minutes long, so it's not like I had much to lose there, LOL ). Anyway, this ended up being a fairly charming little watch , and I certainly won't mind spending 8-or-so minutes on it every week. (...Oh, and I just have to say: That ED... )



Hamatora ep. 1:

LOL-- I really enjoyed this. The characters were quite likeable (and quite amusing ); the various 'Minimum Holder' powers (and how they're activated) were pretty unique/cool; and I quite liked the (also in-the-end rather amusing) mysteries, as well. (Plus, I'm quite interested to see how the serial-killer arc will develop in the background behind the smaller mysteries they take on...) In fact, out of the Winter series I've currently started, this actually ended up being my favorite premiere-- and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the show!



And Chuunibyou Ren ep. 1:

I quite enjoyed season 1 of this series, and the first ep. of season 2 here was just as funny and cute as I'd been expecting (and was thus my second-favorite winter premiere, after Hamatora ). SPOILER: Highlight text to read: BTW, ROTFL at Isshiki's new hairdo. And it was pretty neat to see everyone team up to (imaginarily) 'fight' against Rikka's sister, too, since that's something we hadn't seen before (though of course it didn't work anyway, LOL ).

Not much to say about the new shows yet except

Space Dandy episode 2: this series continues to be supremely silly. I like it, but I could see getting impatient with the silliness if we don't eventually start seeing more plot. OTOH, it might just be one of those shows that primarily IS silliness. And that's okay with me. Also, episode 2 made me want to eat ramen. Anyone else?

Space Dandy episode 2:

LOL, what? SPOILER: Highlight text to read: The explosion thing wasn't even attempted to be explained? ...Okay, then.

Also: Galaxy Street View, LOL. Plus, the (apparent) bad guys stalking them via Meow's social media posts was pretty hilarious. And then that story at the end with the ramen-making alien-- to my surprise, it was actually kinda genuinely touching, yet still wickedly ridiculous/funny at one point (...that backstory 'death'-- oh my gosh, I felt kinda terrible for laughing at it , but that was just too ridiculous/perfectly-timed for me not to LOL... ).

Anyway, overall I liked this ep. quite a bit better than the first, and I'm rather looking forward to more now.



Tonari no Seki-kun episode 2:

Okay, so as previously posted, I thought the first episode of this series was fairly charming, and that I certainly wouldn't mind spending a few short minutes on it every week... but that was about all I thought of it. With this second episode, however, I have now become completely hooked-- because oh my gosh I was grinning and outright laughing all the way through it! I loved this ep., and can't wait for more now.



Hamatora episode 2:

LOL! I really like this series' brand of humor for some reason. And I'm still loving the main characters, too.

Now, granted, the mystery in this episode seemed a bit more shallow and rushed than the first ep.'s (particularly with the SPOILER: Highlight text to read: bomber aspect); however, since it's not like this series takes itself entirely seriously in the first place , and a good portion of this ep. was actually meant as setup for the series' overarching plot, besides, I didn't mind.

Speaking of which, though: SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Holy crap, the serial-killer was insane/creepy as heck. *shiver* (Also: I have a really bad feeling about what happened to those poor "Failed" Minimum Holder kids in that facility... )

Quite looking forward to seeing where this goes from here!



And Chuunibyou Ren episode 2:
It is so incredibly cute how Yuuta and Rikka talk with and act around each other! Also, LOL at Nibutani trying to get them to be more romantic SPOILER: Highlight text to read: (and actually succeeding, thanks to the help of the 'love expert' girl). Oh, and it looks like everyone's hair is back to the way it was before, too, LOL. Finally: Ha, nice Rikka-duplicate intro to the new character!

Apparently Sekai Seifuku is written by Hoshizora Meteor, who's currently at Type-Moon working on Girls' Work. Also responsible for Forest, a crazy postmodern visual novel involving classic English literature by Liarsoft.

No Space Dandy for me this week because Funimation apparently decided to start delaying their simulcasts by a week for their free users; which is fine, but it would've been nice if they had just gone with that policy from the beginning rather than starting it partway through the season, LOL. Anyway...



Tonari no Seki-kun episode 3:
Oh my gosh, this series is just so darn funny and adorable! I'm loving it!!



Hamatora episode 3:

As I expected, this was much better than the second episode-- in fact, I liked it *almost* as much as episode 1. SPOILER: Highlight text to read: They're already dealing out a few bits of info on that shady-looking Academy-- plus rather a lot on the bad guy, too. Actually, I was a bit surprised that Art discovered him so quickly-- that sure made for some intense and interesting conversation , and that also brings a somewhat different dynamic to it now (rather than before, when Art didn't know who the killer was). Also, there seem to be some interesting connections between Nice and said baddie, and the fact that the baddie is actually intending *not* to kill certain Holders (Art for sure {though he supposedly has no power}, and apparently Nice as well?) but is rather trying to 'save' them (in some really twisted way ), is interesting as well. Oh, and the case this time was also entirely main-arc-based, so that was a good bonus-- and it brought out a little different side to Nice in the process, too.



And Chuunibyou Ren episode 3:

SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Gotta admit I lost it at the magical girl costume ( + explanations thereof), and the reactions as he was wearing it, too. Also: While at first I thought the new (but-actually-old-friend) girl was going to be introduced solely to throw a love-triangle dynamic into the Yuuta x Rikka relationship, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was actually a slightly different twist to it. (And I actually ended up really liking her. ) Finally, the end of the ep.: LOL, KyoAni really are trolls when it comes to kisses, aren't they? The nose-thing was still a really sweet moment, though.

As it happens, I haven't watched anything from this season, yet. I'm mired in several old series, so it may be a while before I get around to checking out the things that interested me.

The only two that look interesting are Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai Ren and Tonari no Seki-kun. I already started Chuunibyou, but have yet to start Tonari, seeing MangaRocks reaction though, makes me think that I will like Tonari.

Well, this season was more exciting to me than I thought it would be.

Hamatora
I really like this one, though I've only taken the time to watch the first episode. It's very intriguing and reminds me of Durarara (which I think someone already mentioned). And SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Hajime really reminds me of Yuuki from Code: Breaker. Anyone else getting that impression?

Tonari no Seki-kun
Yeah, I love this one. I'll definitely be keeping up with it.

Noragami
I was skeptical of this one at first, mostly because of the plot, but it's growing on me. I imagine I'll keep watching it and loving it.

I feel like there's another one I started, but I don't remember. And there's a handful from this season that I'm definitely going to check out once I get a chance.

Don't smoke.

Finally watched Tonari no Seki-kun Ep. 1... They made an anime about me...