The one thing that can be said for Shin Sekai Yori (From the New World), is that many expect the show to be one of the best of the season. Based off of a hit novel in Japan, it'd be fair to say that anime fans have approached this series of roughly 25 episodes with very high hopes. However, like many shows in recent times, Shin Sekai Yori is starting to suffer from pacing problems.
When it first started the series seemed to be fairly slow paced in introducing us to this world and these characters, up until we hit the fourth and fifth episode. The fourth episode saw us gain a massive amount of information to do with the history of the, now peaceful, world in which our characters live, but over allowing its viewers to absorb all this history, the show sped forward into some monster rat war. The fifth episode really doesn't allow viewers the time to breath either, with battles afoot, the kids split up and without their powers, and a whole heck of crazy stuff going on, you'd be forgiven for feeling somewhat lost.
Another interesting (and somewhat distracting), aspect of the fifth episode is the changes to the shows art style. The characters suddenly look more mature and less childlike, but in that change it feels like we've lost a lot of their emotion too. About halfway through the episode there is a very intimate moment between Saki and Satoru after they've been caught by one of the monster rats, but there really is very little emotion in the characters faces, which leads you to instantly dislike these changes to the overall designs. Especially when all the effort towards design has seemingly been put towards the characters, considering how bland the rest of the show looked this week. For a show that should be one of the best of the season just judging by its source material, you can't help but feel cheated by an art style which looks quite low budget even if it wasn't.
It isn't to say I disliked this episode, nor has it put me off continuing with the series, but I still felt like we haven't had time to breath and really take everything in from the fourth episode. We're trying to play catchup while being thrust into even more action packed episodes. I really wouldn't mind the character designs going back to what they were either.
Yeaaaah. Meant to update this blog more often, but I haven't watched that many of the shows I'm following this week, or just haven't wanted to ramble about them. I have, however, watched the latest episode of Magi and I sat and watched the K-ON! movie last night, but I like to keep my full reviews on Anime-Planet, so if you wish to read that then head off to here. Right, on to Magi.
So far the show hasn't managed to grab my attention. I can't really fault it mind you, but I've struggled to click with it all the same. I sat down to watch this episode hoping that it would -finally- grab my attention and keep hold of it. Thankfully, it has kinda managed to do that.
This episode sees Aladdin and Alibaba finally complete the dungeon the two were exploring (rescuing the girl slave Morgiana and trapping the royal noble forever by the end), and both answers many questions that fans had about the characters and leaves us with many more. From this episode it's clear that Alibaba has had a much better up-bringing than the state we find in him during the first episode, it's also clear that there is much more to Aladdin than meets the eye. The adventure in the dungeon has brought Aladdin and Alibaba closer in the long run, so whatever fate that awaits the two is at least a fate which will always be shared.
For the most part the show is showing interesting characters and an interesting story. It hasn't quite grabbed my attention just yet, be it because there are stronger shows this season, or just because it's lacking in something that I haven't caught onto yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it surprise me somewhere along the line. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.
A whole sixteen episodes into Sword Art Online and I'm still enjoying it as much as when it started. It has had its ups and downs (arguable the ups are enough to make up for its down), but for the most part it has proven to be an enjoyable show for the summer and now autumn season. Now the sixteenth episode marks the second episode of the shows second story arc (and our adventure into a brand new MMO), and it's fair to say I was very excited to see where we'd be going with this arc. The last episode showed us a somewhat shady character who plans on marrying Asuna before she wakes up from the events of the Sword Art Online game; we met Kirito's younger sister/cousin properly, and the episode closes by revealing Asuna is trapped in a cage somewhere. So, yes, fair to say I was really looking forward to this episode of Sword Art Online.
This episode throws us right into the action and reveals that Asuna is trapped inside the game which is Sword Art Online's successor; Alfheim Online. The game, conveniently, works with the same video game system as Sword Art Online did, meaning once Kirito obtains a copy of the game he can jump right into the action. One of the things you will likely enjoy most about this episode of the show is watching how Kirito reacts to being back in a virtual world, you can tell it fits him and he feels at home (although, he still brings up the menu to check he can logout, something which is both amusing and shows he cares about the danger of being stuck here). We quickly learn that the game shares the same servers as Sword Art Online did, and conveniently when Kirito is thrown into Alfheim Online a lot of his date from Sword Art Online is returned to him, such as stats, sword skills, and even the design of his character, which should have been given at random. He also has the Yui heart item, which, when used brings the young character back to life who goes on to act as his guide on his quest to save Asuna. In some respects it saddens me that we won't be watching Kirito starting from the beginning (something we never truly got to see in early episodes of his adventures in Sword Art Online either with the shows strange pacing), as with being all trained up all he needs to learn is how to fly. The overall story will probably, and hopefully, make up for that though.
One thing that does bother me about this episode is that the Crunchyroll subtitles refer to the character known as 'Lyfa' in the Light Novels as 'Leafa', which for anyone who has read through a good number of the books will quickly find annoying as I did. Lyfa is meant to be one of the main characters in this arc, so it'll be interesting to see if Crunchyroll stick with calling her Leafa, or if they'll meet the fans demands and change it to Lyfa. I'm probably being quick picky here, but it's the sort of thing which can jerk you out of the moment and make you go "huh, I thought this character was called Lyfa?..." which no anime fan wants when they're so into the story.
So far this arc is looking good, I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes and I'm glad it's still managing to prove itself each week.
Now, I've picked up quite a few comedy shows this season, and while I'm enjoying all of them, The Pet Girl of Sakurasou certainly stands as my favourite currently. It isn't really because it's pretty to look at (it's a very colourful show, but quite average for animation), it isn't really for the soundtrack, nor the plot; it's because the characters, while completely insane, are interesting. We have Sorata Kanda, who can't help himself from helping cats which have been left on the streets, and so got himself kicked out of the normal school dorms and forced to live in the Sakura Dormitory. The Sakura Dormitory is by no means a normal dormitory, however. This is where the talented kids of the school live, something Sorata doesn't fit into having no talent whatsoever.
As far as the second episode goes, it follows on nicely from the first. It keeps the same level of crazy, but like the first it always manages to tone itself down enough for the moments which demand at least some sense of seriousness from these characters. Although it does make me wonder how this series ever worked as a light novel series, when so much of it demands you be able to see every small thing - the series is by far at its best when playing with the reactions of the characters to certain events. It isn't just crazy though, this episode at least showed us some character development in Mashiro and it's a bit easier to understand her. While she has extrema talent for art (although, maybe not so much manga at this point in time), we've reached the point where it's clear common sense is nowhere to be found. However, the character works well with Sorata and it's much more of an "awww" matter than it is annoying, and as you watch the episode progress it becomes clear that Sorata's teachings have at least some impact on her.
So far the series works well and I can't fault it too much. It's nice comedy relief when you want it, and although it may not end up being outstanding, I can't help but grow fond of it regardless.
K. The one anime this season that grabbed my attention from the very first episode. The soundtrack and animation for this series is by far the best of what I've watched so far this season, and you can't help but end up holding very high hopes for the show from the first second you set eyes on the thing. Now, as it stood after watching the first two episodes I was intrigued by the characters and everything that was happening around them; in love with the music and animation, and generally really enjoying the show, but (and it's a big but), I needed one more thing from this show to make it perfect - It had to explain the plot. It's all well and good being thrown into the action and just giving us a few small comments to explain why certain things are happening, but if a show continues like that you end up with the viewers being lost and struggling to keep up.
Thankfully K doesn't fall to this problem and spent the majority of the episode explaining the main details we were missing, and anything not explained fully is the kind of thing we can pick up as we go along. Although we are left with a few questions, like for example; who the heck is Neko and why does she suddenly transform from a cat into a human? But these are the sort of things we can have fun learning as we go along. For now we finally understand that there are many different gangs working throughout Japan, and Shiro's lookalike killed one of the leaders leading to people coming after him. For now though Shiro has managed to talk himself out of being killed (after a friendly breakfast with the guy who wanted to kill him, yes, you did read that correctly).
I think I'm just happy the show stepped up to the mark and gave us what we needed. So many times a show throws you into the action, but doesn't take the time to slow down and bother to explain things properly. I loved K before, but it always played on my mind that it wouldn't explain itself and I'm glad it finally did. Now I can watch this show completely content that it's doing everything right, so far at least.
The Start of Great Things to Come
With this first entry I am marking the beginning of what I hope will be an interesting and great little project. I often find myself with a lot to say about anime; be it something to do with an episode of a certain show, a show in general, the latest season, or just some random stuff. I have a lot to say, but more often than not I don't have many outlets for my rambling. And thus I've started this little blog. It might be a small project now which will be shared mostly with friends, but hopefully in the months to come it'll grow into something quite interesting.
The image posted above is from my favourite show of the summer anime season: Kokoro Connect. Alongside Sword Art Online it quickly grew to become my favourite show for a number of reasons, one of which being one of the main characters, Inaban. I grew more and more fond of her as the series went on, mostly because I could easily relate to her thoughts and feelings. Needless to say, the image is here to represent the fact I am a lot like her (and just because I love that moment in the show).
As for what you can expect from this blog.... I have a keen interest in mostly anything and everything to do with anime, so I expect I'll be writing about all kinds of things as the months go on. I just hope you enjoy reading the rambles. :)
