Fall Animu (PART I)

[saltprince]

001) Shinsekai Yori [2/5] - I didn't understand anything in the first episode. Story telling is very dubious, the series itself made me end up like ??? It's possible it'll increase in gooditude in time, but right now it's very much not leaving a strong impression.
--> EPISODE 2 upgrades it to [3/5] because it actually started to make sense. That said, it's still confusing, just not completely uncomprehensible
--> DROPPED before Episode 3. It was rising in prominance but with so many other series that I'm still on-the-fence watching, this one is going to the wayside because I just did not have a strong attachment to it.

002) Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun [4/5] - The plum opposite of the above, this series has left a *very* strong first impression. It's funny, endearing, and just gimmicky enough to hold my attention through the entire first episode. Story of a girl who obsesses about study and some delinquent weirdo who she ends up stuck with. However, it is precisely because it's weird that I have my reservations - a lot of those weird series end up falling flat after the first arc, be that 1 episode or 3 episodes. I'll just hope for the best.
--> EPISODE 2 remains a solid [4/5] and this pleases me greatly.
--> EPISODE 3 remains a solid [4/5] still. I really like this show /desu
--> EPISODE 4 keeps at [4/5]. Nothing much to note here other than my continued enjoyment.
--> EPISODE 5 is still [4/5]. See episode 4. I sort of fell behind on reviews, I'm getting lazy. It shows.

003) Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! [4/5] - Probably even weirder than the above, it's a story about a guy who was super weird (like, LARPing in public) in middle school who is trying to be normal in high school. However then he encounters a girl who is as weird as she was in middle school! Looks like a themed harem anime, might be promising but might end up dull despite funny first episode.
--> EPISODE 2 remains a solid [4/5] and deeply charms me to this series. It's incredibly cute and funny.
--> EPISODE 3 I still can't fairly make higher than [4/5], but I think this is now in the top three or maybe even top two for series this season. I know how wrong! this is because it's basically K-ON moe meets Haruhi tropes. But it's do damn funny.
--> EPISODE 4 sadly is still in a holding pattern at [4/5] but it's still very fun. It's stil la moeshit show at heart, but unlike other moeshit shows it does have long periods of being boring or too many annoying voice actresses.
--> EPISODE 5 Holds still at [4/5]. It's actually slowing down now, so it's possibly it'll devolve entirely into the moeshit show that it frankly is, but I'm hoping that the gimmick will stay strong and keep it interesting, because it's a very fun gimmick

004) Kami-sama Hajimemashita [3/5] - Heavily an officially mediocre show so far, it's pretty middle of the road. Girl inherits the power of being a local deity and then Inuyasha's a fox demon to be her minion who is a hot guy. Shoujo-y.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5] but it's beginning to charm me more. It's still pretty Generic Shoujo but it's sort of funny too... I'm keeping it for now despite unloading some other series
--> EPISODE 3 was cute. Still [3/5]. It's stil lcharming and cute, still heavily shoujo, but it's sort of in a good way? It's promising.
--> DROPPED before Episode 4. I just wasn't that into it, honestly. It's cute, but that's about all it is.

005) Zetsuen no Tempest [3/5] - Also mediocre but with cool fight scenes, the show seems to be about two douchey fiends united under weird circumstances the unite and save the world with magic. They get Charlie Angel'd out by some girl on a deserted island and one of them is looking to kill the murderer of his younger sister.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5] and both of these guys are still douches. Seriously, they're insane or something gosh.
--> EPISODE 3, still [3/5]. I want to be more into this show than I am, but it's just really surprisingly bland despite the neat fights and interesting premise, sigh. If I fall too behind I suspect it'll be one of the first to go.
--> EPISODE 4, still [3/5]... Nothing much to note here. It's still potentially promising but still seems sort of mediocre.
--> EPISODE 5, still [3/5] - we're actually finally getting some intrigue. Secrets between the douche friends, some weirdness with their benefactors, and questioning the motivations of their enemies. It's still just really generic over all though, despite some neat quirks.

006) K [4/5] - This season's made-for-anime mysterious pretentious show. Like almost all of these sorts of shows, it doesn't explain a goddamn thing in the first episode. Sometimes this means it'll be a learn by doing show (Star Driver) or an "exposition later on" type show (Eden of the East). These sorts of shows are hit or miss, ranging from awesome (those two) to mediocre (Fractale) to just plain bad ([C]). Strongish first episode so far but that might not mean much ultimately. We'll see.
--> EPISODE 2 still [4/5] ... Still not understanding much.
--> EPISODE 3 is [4/5] still. It's finally explaining a bit what's going on, but lol at this cast. KURO and SHIRO and NEKO. It's so gay too, rofl Really, the absolute high point of the show so far is the music. Which is gorgeous even if basically everything else is so-so except the animation (not as sure on the art style, but the animation is not lazy so far).
--> EPISODE 4 is still [4/5] but I'm considering downgrading it. It's finally made sense, but it's entering a holding pattern and threatening to get dull.
--> EPISODE 5 I'm keeping at [4/5] - Nothing is really happening, or if it is it's happening slowly. It's selling itself on being pretty, and while it's accomplishing that both visually and even more so in its music, can that really last?

007) BTOOOM! [3/5] - Grimdark "video game made real" show. Some kid is a pretentious prick who refuses to get a job and plays this game which is basically a FPS except with only grenades all day. As soon as he makes international top ten, someone kidnaps him and makes him play it in real life. Not super engaging, but conceptually... not interesting but curious? Might fall in grimdark tropes like rapeonautics by the looks of it though.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5] and yeah, I was right. Episode 2 was All Rape, All The Time as the backstory for the female lead. Yep. Sigh.
--> EPISODE 3 I want to upgrade, but it's still basically [3/5]. On the plus side, they went out of their way to humanize the protagonist a little more, which is really helping things. Even if it's still stupidly grimdark.
--> EPISODE 4 [DROP]: It's too grimdark. I can't handle it anymore, the first midboss is a 14 year old who killed 3 women and raped their corpses. The male protagonist reversed his humanization to conclude reality is a game. Sigh.

008) Busou Shinki [2/5] - Creepy. It's a moe series about 15 cm tall fembots who go around being all "master!! Master!!!" and doing chores for some dude. Though they can apparently be used for battle too. It's just sort of weird. Semi cool robot fight scenes but it's the same as like IS or Strike Witches in that it's moe girls in armor more than giant robots. ...and 15 cm tall ones in this case.
--> DROPPED before episode 2. In light of all the other series I care to see where they go for, I decided I can't be bothered here.

009) Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne! [3/5] - Yet another spawn of OreImo. For those of you who don't know OreImo it's a novel series whose name is obscenely long about a little sister in love with ehr big brother who is basically like "UHH...!!!" This one is the same formula, and like OreImo there's a harem effect going on with non-his-sister girls too. Unlike OreImo, this one is more direct harem by the looks of it and based around a student council which all lives in a dorm together and whoops, he's the only guy. So haremshit, basically.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5] but it's even more raunchy than I thought. Plus the main character apparently writes rbocon novels??? It's weird. It's also approaching a level of uncomfortably raunchy
--> EPISODE 3 [DROP]: It's still funny, and I so like the art and character design. I even like the premise, but the lewdness is really getting to me. It's too completely over the top for me to want to keep this series up while there's so many better options this season

010) Jojo's Bizarre Adventure [3/5] - This is one of those hugely memetic series that almost no one has read/seen I feel like. Or anyway, a remake/new anime of it. And I have to say, it is *weird*. It is really weird. Super stylized, super direct, the exact opposite of subtle (in fact, it says everything so right out it's basically devoid of subtly). It's just. Insane. Not that I dislike it but it takes some serious getting used to. It helps/doesn't help that gg is subbing it, and because it takes place in England, they're using posh language in the subtitles.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5]. I liked episode 2 a lot as well and it sort of reminds me why I like something like say, Toriko. Except it feels even more blunt and old school.
--> EPISODE 3 I'm upgrading to [4/5]. The series finished its first arc (already) and that was completely insane. I'm eager to see where it goes from here.
--> EPISODE 4 keeps at [4/5]. This show is really charming once you get used to how it's set up stylistically.
--> EPISODE 5 keeps at [4/5]. Nothing really to showcase here in particular...

011) Sukitte Ii na yo [3/5] - A romance series about a girl who's not here to make friends!! because she gets bullied and some popular guy. Based on the animation and plot thus far it's a shoujo series but thus far is not really standing out.
--> EPISODE 2 is [3/5] still. The thing is, it seems to have resolved most of the conflicts existing in Ep1 by the end of ep2... so I'm wondering if it'l lend up convoluted next episode. It's already pushing nerves I don't like (toeing the line of forcing people=love and all) so I'm giving it one more episode because the characters are sort of cute.
--> DROPPED before episode 3. Not that I dislike it, I just like it the least and I'm falling behind on the fall anime, so it gets the ax

012) Code:Breaker [3/5] - Ogami is a blue haired, blue eyes guy who uses blue flames to "take out the trash" - that is, mercilessly burn punks and thugs to death. He also believes in "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, evil for an evil." There's also other people and some chick. Kinda seems like the spiritual sucessor of Zetman, but I was laughing at the minor Blue Exorcist parallel there.
--> DROPPED before episode 2. Just don't care enough tbh.

013) Little Busters! [3/5] - Moeshit harem(???) with a side of ahilarious guy friends. In fact, in episode one, the Hilarious Guy Friends totally dominated the episode and the protagonist is really gay for the break out character guy friend. Based on the OP though, the moeshit will get bigger? Also baseball.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5] - I really, really like the group of friends, but I also really and not fond of the new moegirls. Riki's also a little generic too... also Narcolpsy is Serious. So serious.
--> EPISODE 3 is still [3/5] but I considered upgrading it briefly because this bombastic boobtacular girl is really making the show. But... not sure if she'll keep it up.
--> EPISODE 4, [3/5]. She didn't. WHY IS THIS SHOW SO GODDAMN BORING SOMETIMES. This is endemic in all KEY things I think, to have arcs/extended perios of a given episode reiterating stuff we already know, and it just makes me want to go to sleep.
--> EPISODE 5 I'm downgrading to [2/5] BECAUSE THIS SHIT WITH KOMARI IS THAT FUCKING BORING ON MY GOD I WANT TO GO AND DIE IT IS SO FUCKING BORING JESUS FUCK

014) Magi [4/5] - I'm not yet sure if this is a Great Show or not, but it's easily the strongest thing this season so far. A young mage with a djinn friend named Aladdin befriends a guy name Alibabba and now they're starting off on an adventure. Funnier than it sounds.
--> EPISODE 2 I'm upgrading to [5/5] because that was awesome. This thing is easily the strongest thing of the season so far. Inventive, fun, strong cast, nice little thematic touches to fit in with the mood it's trying to make. I hope it keeps it up.
--> EPISODE 3 is still [5/5] - we're not growing a plot, though it's still imprecise so far. Magi (Aladdin, for example) choose a king, and in every age a king is backed by a Magi. Aladdin apparenrently chose Alibaba. Good times.
--> EPISODE 4 is clarifying the international nature of this fantasy world, and as such keeps the [5/5] going strong. I'm very pleased.
--> EPISODE 5 confirms this show is basically an expy of A:tlA. [5/5]

015) Ixion Saga DT [2/5] - This was *bad*. It was really bad, but I laughed so much that chances are if the season episode is as strong it'll be my guilty pleasure show. It's basically a massive parody of RPG tropes involving the standard "dude ends up in a fantasy world" thing. I mean, it has a cross dressing guy in the main party and the main character wins his first major battles by falling on top of the first guy and kicking the other guy (dubbed ED) in the nards while he charges up his super attack. ...And his motivation is not dying a virgin.
--> EPISODE 2 [DROP] It turns out the main villain got testicular tortion and had to lose a ball as a result of that fight last episode. This threw off his balance to allow the heroes to win this episode. Wow. Okay. No.

016) Girls und Panzer [DROP] - Title says it all. Boring and faux-Germanglish in the subs. Kill me now.

017) Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo [4/5] - Some guy because of habitual cat adopting ends up in a dorm for misfit geniuses at his school. The people in the dorm are eccentric to the point of absurdity, and the crowning weirdness is the new girl who ends up his personal responsibility. Very gimmicky, but very funny. It looks promising.
--> EPISODE 2 is [4/5]. This show really is just getting better - weirdo girl is a genius too and a whole lot of people in the show are all sorts of talent and/or eccentric
--> EPISODE 3 is still [4/5]. Yep, yep. Nothing to comment on here.
--> EPISODE 4, [4/5]. However, it is at this point that it finished it's first "arc" - so where it goes as a series, if it remains solid or not, really remains to be seen *next* episode.

018) Psycho-Pass [3/5] - Also Grimdark. I mean, the heroes are the thought police, basically - hunting down people who's latent criminal levels are high enough that the government wants them stopped before/after they commit crimes. Interesitng concept but I'm tiring of all the grimdark.
--> EPISODE 2 is still [3/5]. The cast is likeable or at least not *bad*, and the world is now being expanded on. This means the second episode was actually more confusing than the first (the whole world uses holograms? Or something??) but things are still too grimdark for my taste. We'll see.
--> EPISODE 3 still holds at [3/5]. It's gone very distopian future on us - more so than it already was. If this ultimately pays off or just makes things awkward remains to be seen.
--> Episode 4 is where we're hitting what I think is going to be the first sustained arc. The series is still [3/5], but we're coming at the point where things will make of break and thus far I'm still not sure which way I lean.

019) Aikatsu! [DROP] - An anime about a trading card game in which people use cards to dress up idols. In this world idols use these cards irl and go to an academy to learn idolship. It's sponsored by McDonalds, too. Hilarious first episode, but it's a Kids Anime, so it'll end up incredibly formulatic. So I'm just dropping it before it causes me suffering and while it's still funny.

020) Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter [DROP] - Anime about a world in which AI cars allow for everyone, even ten year old kids, to learn to drive. BUT WAIT these cars are actually transformers and people use them for robot fights. Wow, don't care. Dropping

021) Robotics;Notes [4/5] - Strong. Cute. About a robotics club in the near future trying to get a buget and finish a robot in time for an expo, but because it's a third in a series (Chaos;Head and Steins;Gate predate it) I suspect it'll end up in some time travelly plot eventually. I've seen S;G but not C;H. I've heard C;H's anime wasn't as good.
--> EPISODE 2 is still a solid [4/5]. The plus right now is the characters. Aki and Kai are both really cute and fun, particularly Aki.
--> EPISODE 3 keeps at a solid [4/5] but it's hitting that point (already) I remember in the early-mid parts of Steins;Gate were things are confusing and slow. I'm hopeing this doesn't last too much longer.
--> EPISODE 4 I'm going to downgrade to [3/5]. The boring period is really boring, salvaged only by some murky overtones and how endearing the cast is. Like I said though, Steins had this same thing, so I'm hoping it pulls up.

021) Aoi Sekai no Chuushin de [4/5] - For the five of you who haven't heard of this series, this is about a war between two countries representing Sega and Nintendo. It's set on the continent of Consume, a war between the Segua and Ninteldo empires. They used to be deadlocked in the Hard Wars, but the new emperor of Ninteldo (Marcus) changed the tied of the war and Segua (who are the heroes here) are losing fast. But then a boy named Gear (hot!human!Sonic) joins the Segua army because his frend Til was killed. It's actually set up a lot like a Fire Emblem game, which is ironic, because an expy of Fire Emblem is one of the Ninteldo generals. But I like it.

NOT WATCHING
To-Love-Ru Darkness - The manga To-Love-Ru was one of my favorite manga ever. Its (first) anime was solid-ish and the second one was... okay?? but To-Love-Ru Darkness (the sequel manga) just got too loli and too porny. I'm frankly not interested in how that gets animated
Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb - Obviously because it's a continuation of a series I don't follow :T
Bakuman (Season 3) - I don't follow the anime
Hiiro no Kakera (Season 2) - Didn't watch season 1...
Teekyuu - one of those weird two minute episode things and I almost never like those things.
Wooser no Sono Higurashi - another weird show of shorts, pass
Hayate no Gotoku! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Didn't finish the stuff before it
Litchi DE Hikari Club - Comical adaptation of a psychological horror manga. Paaaass.

CONTINUATIONS
Hunter X Hunter is still ongoing
Toriko is still ongoing
Sword Art Online is continuing from last season AND IT GOT TERRIBLE, SOBBING
Jormungand Season 2 - Watch S1 if you want to go for it :T [DROP] - I'm actually not feeling the moral ambiguity and grimdark right now. I've probably been grimdark'd out by Ultimate Marvel
Medaka Box Season 2 - Watch S1 if you want to go for it :T

DROPPED
- Girls und Panzer
- Busou Shinki
- Aikatsu!
- Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter
- Shinsekai Yori
- Code:Breaker
- Ixion Saga DT
- Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!
- Sukitte Ii na yo
- Jormungand Season 2
- Kami-sama Hajimemashita
- BTOOOM!