Almost TOP 50 material

I have been working on my Top 50 anime recently. I realized just how hard this is, especially when you get to the 40s and 50s. You start to choose which ones to include and which ones to drop. To make it easier for myself, I’ll just make this post about these really great anime that just went short of making my Top 50.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

Hilarious stuff, especially on its first half. You have to be honest with yourselves, you’ve always wanted to see classes fight each other and which ones would come on top. Baka to Test makes use of this hilarious nonsense setting and play it to the max creating laughs that only a few anime ever managed to bring to me. The only reason it didn’t get into my Top 50 is because it dwindled a bit towards the end, but hey even those parts were still hilarious!

Blood +

I have to admit it to myself, Blood + had terrible parts. But the emotional investment I gave to this was more than enough to cover those holes. The series had A LOT of character development (Contrary to that crap Blood-C), something you rarely see with shows that have themes like this.  When it comes to pure fanboying, this is a shoo-in for my Top 50 but the basic aspects really stop me from doing so.

Durarara!!

This is just damn fine amazing writing. The creativity in its execution is really something to behold. The way it shows a segment of the story, then slowly builds the bits and pieces of information turning that certain segment from great to amazing. The only reason this didn’t make it to my Top 50 is because it ended terribly and I really want my second season . . .

Evangelion

I love Evangelion and its unique take in robot piloting. Usually it’s just wish fulfilment but what Eva did which really redefined the mecha genre was to put realistic acting into the whole robot business and see how does it really feel to pilot one. Didn’t make it to the Top 50 because of that craptastic ending (and in no way did the movie help).

Hanasaku Iroha

Iroha had its ups and downs. When Hanasaku Iroha was good, it’s amazing TOP 20 material but when it’s bad, just lol. Mari Okada (script writer) went wild with this whole Inn business, giving us amazing scenes (Tokyo arc, the last few episodes) and rather bland ones (did we really have to use so much episodes on Takako and Enishing). Still the drama in Iroha is top notch and that’s why it almost got in my Top 50.

Kannagi

Yamakan should just stick to comedies. Kannagi’s a gold mine in comedy. Its jokes are well executed and well timed while at the same time develops each and every one of the characters. The only reason it isn’t in my Top 50 is that it hasn’t aged very well, especially with the whole BRS Fractal crap. I really want a second season of this.

Kara no Kyoukai

One of the most visually stunning anime movies I’ve seen. Kara no Kyoukai is dark, gritty and confusing (being Type Moon and all) but it really works well in such a way that I don’t really care that it’s confusing. Sure they just skip timelines here and there but it really does fit when you think about it. Shiki is one badass female and her story is really well developed through the time skip format (very reminiscent to Haruhi).

Kare Kano

If Kimi ni Todoke is the shoujo of 2010 then Kare Kano is the shoujo of 1990′s. Half the time its wish fulfilment with the whole “we’re all smart and popular couple” sort of thing but Kare Kano makes use of this cliché and turns a realistic twist to it. I still clearly remember that episode in which the principal asked the main leads to break up but then Yukino’s dad steps in and tells this awe inspiring speech. “One day in high school is like a month in adulthood” I still get goosebumps when I remember that scene. The only reason it isn’t in my Top 50 is because of those goddamn terrible last few episodes (mostly because of losing budget).

Moshidora

You know why Moshidora almost made it into the Top 50? Moshidora’s a good anime but it’s nothing special especially with only 10 episodes to work with (very restrained development, forced acting). But my god a certain scene in episode 9 just wow’d me. Minami sees the guys playing the finals (they’re about to go to Koshien at this point) and there she realized how much of a bitch she’s been the whole episode (understandable though). She finally opens her mouth and says “ganbatte!” and I must’ve let up a tear watching that scene.

Occult Academy

It’s messy but it did continuously keep up the whole mystery/comedy balance. The first few episodes were hilarious while the last few had some awesome crazy twists (slightly stupid but amazing nonetheless). My only complaint is that the series was so messy especially towards the end, that it almost broke off and cracked.

Ika-Musume

Genuinely light hearted fluff. Ika-Musume is one adorable squid human and that alone almost makes this series Top 50 material.

Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations

I hate the first two seasons with a passion. It did no justice to the manga besides create a rather amazing soundtrack. Tokyo Revelations though, decided to scrap that TV series shit and stick to the manga. Result? So much badassery win!

Usagi Drop

Parenting is hard and the Usagi Drop really emphasized this by showing what Daikichi had to give up and sacrifice just to raise Rin. This in turn showed how many rewards parenting gives and the sweetness it can create. Rin is one helluvan adorable kid.

//whew! I’m almost done with my Top 50 anime (not really) and when I’m finished, expect some tweaks in the site. Also I have a special big announcement coming up (and unfortunately it’s not about going on hiatus).

September Roundup

My roundup’s get screwed up because I haven’t catched up to everything. But I do have a solid TOP 5 this season so here it is:

5. Usagi Drop – 42/50

It ended on a very reflective note, something that really reflects the series. Just please no sequel!

4. Nichijou – 44/50

It somehow also ended in a reflective mode, but still had its jokes intact. I really do think that Random comedy is the best type of comedy for me.

3. Hanasaku Iroha – 45/50

Unlike Ao no Exorcist, Hanairo really redeems itself in its last stretch. Everyone was busy in Bonbori and grandma really became one of the top characters of the series.

2. Mawaru Penguindrum – 47/50

This series was glorious this month. The library episode was fantastic. The plot started cutting through. The mysteries started pounding. There’s even relevance to reality. PingDuramu will really end up one of the best anime this year if this keeps up.

1. Steins;Gate – 50/50

It ended very sweet but very deserving. After all those hardship Okarin went through, I think he deserves a happy ending. Ending aside, this month was a perfect Steins;Gate month. It ended earlier than others, but it left one of the biggest impact to me. Bravo S;G, Bravo!

—————————–

Well there you have it. A short, not concise, not satisfying Roundup. Hahahahahahaha!

Usagi Drop (END) – 90 points

Its Bunny Drop Time!

Bunny Drop is about a 30-year old man named Daikichi who after some weird turn of events, becomes the guardian of Rin, a 6-year old who is by blood relation, his aunt. They start to live together, him raising her as a his child.

This series is so feel good. It does everything right for me to smile. It’s so cute. IT’s so DAWWWWWWWWWWWW. The realism can be seen. The elements of parenthood are there. Its almost the perfect “how to raise a 6-year old” show.

Execution is great. Its all laid out there. Starting with Rin being adopted by Daikichi, things really started shaping. It’s has quite a nice atmosphere wherein you can see how things grow slowly and how Daikichi and Rin’s father-daughter relationship develops.

I LOVE THIS ANIME. I think that explains how engaged I was to this series.

Characters are very realistic. Daikichi shows how his life changed when he met Rin. Rin herself is just the cutest little thing! Everyone in this show has a sense of nice-ness in them that I really like.

The production is pretty good. There’s not much to animate but its fairly flowy. Plus OST is good.

So rating time. . .

Execution: 36/40

Engagement: 28/30

Characters: 18/20

Production: 8/10

Rating:90/100 (Legendary Status)

Usagi Drop Manga

Oh my god I feel shameful.

I mean seriously. . . did they really have to put the incest/daddy complex/wahtever line there? The feeling became really different than when Rin was a child. Daikichi should have just adopted her. Well at least they did the entire thing without any sense of perversion. Actually the whole series is amazingly G-Rated if you don’t count the topics being tackled near the end. Though if I was Daikichi, I’d be totally awkward with what happened between him and Rin.

Rin should have just sticked with Kouki. IT WAS REALLY AWKWARD SEEING RIN FLUSTERED OVER DAIKICHI. Well, overall this manga is really REALLY good and a must read. Even those daddy complex parts that I felt awkward with was pretty good.

(Now I suddenly feel like I don’t want a sequel because that’s gonna be pretty bonkers. The sweet reflective mood the anime gave will be totally gone since the Time Skip was heavily Rin-centered than Daikichi)

Priceless. . .(Usagi Drop Chapter 35)

LOL PRICELESS DAIKICHI FACE

So Kouki-kun had sex with that senpai, and Rin still kisses him? My gahd it would be so lol if we get an Usagi Drop anime sequel.

Usagi Drop Manga Art. . .

Lol Doujin mangaka’s draw better than this. Oh well at least its really good.

(Started reading Usagi Drop cause the anime’s awesome + there’s a timeskip.)

(Oh wait I need to review that and No.6)

AUGUST ROUNDUP

Magazine cover thanks to ahelo- oh wait that’s me.

10. Ao no Exorcist: 32/50 (4)

Ao no Exorcist has taken quite a dip this month. I guess I just don’t like the way it handles original material since characters like Konnekomaru get ruined. The easy-going pace it has that I actually quite liked disappeared with the twists and turns too. But I still like it, and by the looks of where its headed, we might get a good finale.

9. Hanasaku Iroha: 36/50 (6)

It managed to save a little more face than AnE, but it surged down a lot too. Why is Minko annoying again? Why does Tohru keep showing up and making love triangles everywhere when I clearly don’t like him? Who the hell cares about Enishing and Takako? The only thing is has going for it is Grandma which is getting a lot of great lines.

8. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Nii: 38/50 (14)

It may not be as funny as the first season, but its doing a lot of things right. The “trying to find who was taking the pictures” arc went a tad bit too long, but it had its moments. The main gist of my praise though is the Minami-centric episode which was perfect in every way.

7. No. 6: 39/50 (8)

Well I don’t get the hell what’s going on most of the time, but hey I’m having a lot of fun with it. I love the overly metaphorical dialogue everyone has, the getting-gayer-by-the-second relationship of the main characters, and the overall story they are telling. It never changes feel and its firm with its grip on its story.

6. Kamisama Dolls: 40/50 (7)

I really like Kamisama Dolls, if you haven’t noticed. Its storytelling is very solid, and completely flaunts it off in the flashback episode. Man, that episode with the teacher was awesome, albeit a bit creepy (the teacher’s actions). It also sets a more darker edge to the series (well not really, haha episode 8) but. . . OH WHATEVER I JUST LIKE IT.

5. Dantalian no Shoka: 42/50 (10)

Unlike Memochou which never got out of the “I think there’s something missing” and is slowly getting worse, Gainax’s Dantalian no Shoka just gets better and better in my eyes. Of course the beautiful animation helps, but the story it presents, the little mysteries, have quite a soothing feeling to them. Some have relevance to today’s otaku society (too much sometimes) like the fujoshi who keeps killing the writer because he’s not writing the end the fujoshi wants, or the followers of that Frankenstein Girl. Also they’re putting a lot of Gainax trademark, like the lovers who turned into a new being (fujoshi episode), some fight scenes that utilizes that black color, and more.

4. Mawaru Penguindrum: 45/50 (5)

It just gets more awesome doesn’t it. From Penguin Queen trash-talking Ringo, to Kanba’s moment of manliness, to Ringo making a frog lay eggs on Shouma’s back on hot temperature to her trying rape, and Fabulous Max,. . . god I love this anime. I am getting worried that I like way too much anime this season.

3. Usagi Drop: 46/50 (3)

Usagi Drop is DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. This is why I don’t blog it.

2. Nichijou: 46/50 (1)

There was no moment that reached Mio’s wrestling episode, but there are a lot of skits that came close. Did I mention that I also LOVE THIS ANIME.

1. Steins;Gate: 49/50 (2)

I think its appropriate to put this on first. It started slow with the Rukako episode, but quickly picked up pace with Moeka’s and to Mr. Braun’s. It got really dark and creepy, death toll went up, and finally we see Kurisu leave. Well not after a kiss and confession. Also after she leaves, Suzuha reveals that World War III will happen in the future. I don’t know about you, but that’s plot talkin’.

JULY ROUNDUP

So it’s July and it’s time for a roundup! I decided to screw the Mid-month impressions since I realized it was a bad idea so I just tried to stick with the traditional monthly impressions. The total score per month would be 50 and by the end of the season, I’ll add everything up and do a seasonal ranking. I love rankings btw.

16(new) BLOOD C – (15/50)

The fourth episode was very interesting, a step up from the disappointment of the first three. It’s still a disappointment though, these four episodes, and CLAMP needs to give better execution for me to rate this any higher.

15(new) Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi – (18/50)

I think I’m gonna hold this for a while. While it has an interesting story, it doesn’t execute it well. The characters are bland, there’s the bad type of fanservice, and it has a problem of telling and not showing. For now, I’d consider this dropped.

14(new) Baka to Test To Shoukanjuu Ni! – (22/50)

I love the first season a lot. I guess this one is much of the same but those first two episodes were very lukewarm and boring in terms of making me laugh. I just hope it doesn’t go to the same pile as Maria Holic.

13(new) Sacred Seven – (23/50)

It has an interesting premise but not executed well. I’m very engrossed to the series but it has a lot of glaring faults. There’s still a lot more episodes to fix that though.

12(new) Mayo Chiki – (27/30)

It would’ve made it to the passing mark but the third episode sucked. I think this is my guilty pleasure series this season though so I’m tentatively positive about this one.

11(new) It’s the NEET thing to do – (34/50)

The dialogue and the mystery is the main hook for me. It’s well done and it’s just so witty. There’s still something lacking though and I can’t point my finger at it but it’s a nice start for this series.

10(new) Dantalian no Shoka – (34/50)

The GOSICK this season, Dantalian doesn’t disappoint at all. Animation-wise it;s the best this season, and the plot is also pretty good. The main characters have great chemistry (the fact that they’re both smart is already a win factor) and its building up to something interesting. Again though like the other mystery-solving series before it, there’s something lacking that I can’t point my finger at.

9(new) Moe in Paris – (35/50)

It has a solid start for a heartwarming, educational, and cultural story. It is very laidback, the soothingness creeps to you slowly making you go AWWWW and Dawwwww. I realized though “WHY THE HELL AM I BLOGGING THIS?!!?”. It didn’t cross my mind until now that it gives me the same feeling as Usagi Drop and would be hard to blog. AHAHA I’m dumb.

8(new) No.6 – (36/50)

This is the BL Dystopia fantasy anime of the season. One moment everyone’s serious and then the next moment everyone’s hinting BL undertones on each other. Not that it’s a bad thing since it’s so LOL and they are chugging in an awesome plot. . . I’m very excited for this!

7(new) Kamisama Dolls – (38/50)

This series is completely appealing to all my Anime tastebuds. Interesting story: Check!, Interesting Characters: Check!, You know it will explode sometime soon: Check!, There’s the intrigue you really like in anime: Check!. This is how awesomely Kamisama Dolls rolls.

6(4) Hanasaku Iroha – (38/50)

I think I went overboard in praising this. Episode 16 I was all like, “It reminds me of Toradora! This is the shit!”. Then episode 17 came in to ruin he day. Damn episode 17, Hanairo was getting really consistent! I do hope they start tackling the main characters again now. It seems that the series is at its best when they put Kou-chan (though I personally lost interest in him when he dissed Ohana). Besides it was gonna be hard topping last month’s awesomeness.

TOP 5

5(new) Mawaru Penguindrum – (40/50)

There’s actually two new series I’m in love with this season. This is the one of them. Now that I’ve watched Revolutionary Girl Utena, I totally get why people are so excited about this. It’s very layered with symbolisms (not as bombarding as Utena) and there’s a good story to be told. It seems that the series is concentrating on beliefs; Fate or no fate. It’s not technically bltantly pointed out, but it’s something to realize. Also, those penguins are awesome.

4(5) Ao no Exorcist – (42/50)

It had an awesome mid-season climax; not to mention how it’s getting more and more exciting with the plot starting to finally roll. Big-boobs is a great addition to the cast. The awesome thing about this series that differentiate this from other Shounen action is the focus. It’s very character-oriented. Friends are a dominant team as also is teamwork. Also one must note that this series is really coll. Saying it’s not cool means your blind or something.

 3(new) Usagi Drop – (42/50)

When I watch this series, the thing that keeps coming out of my mouth is the word “DAWWWW”. Damnit the parenthood being shown in this series is so realistic and down to earth. It can really attack anyone who’s watching this. Rin is the most adorable thing ever and I’m glad 2ch isn’t into boning her because if they did, Imma kill all of them. Nice to know that sometimes, people like the idea of parenthood. Afer a long meditation, I realized I liked this quite a bit more than Penguindrum, thus the high score.

2(3) Steins;Gate – (49/50)

The series is completely chugging the plot. . . it’s getting more and more interesting as the episodes progress. I love the idea that Okarin and co. is trying to reverse engineer everything to the point that Mayuri wasn’t endangered at all. But yeah “No hope goiys” so far. . . SUZUHA!!!!!!!!! L

1(1)Nichijou (50/50)

So it manages to be funnier than it already is. . . WHATTUP! I think Mio’s wrestling spree propelled this into a perfect 50.

Addendum:

It seems that the gap between second and third place is getting bigger. Steins;Gate and Nichijou just keep on getting better and better! The new series are sure to challenge that though, especially Ping Duramu and Usagi Drop. So far no disappointments besides BLOOD CLAMPYCLAMPCLAMP.

Summer Season Rankings

Time to find the best, the worst, and the moe.

High Tier:

Mawaru Penguindrum

A highly imaginative and surprisingly layered, Mawaru Penguindrum leads the new season of anime. Brains Base (studio) is collaborating with Sailor Moon, Utena director, Ikuhara sensei to make this series. So far the only thing I can give this series is praises. It’s just so. . . FABULOUS and AWESOME and just. . . HELLYEAH!

Usagi Drop

My most highly anticipated series this season, Usagi Drop doesn’t disappoint. While the art isn’t at Hourou Musuko level, Usagi Drop counts on the DAWWW and the realism. Like Hourou Musuko it shows some of society problems. Usagi Drop is showing how people would treat an illegitimate child. It was really DAWWW when Daikichi took Rin in because all of his family was being bitchy. The second episode was just wonderful. While I won’t be blogging this, I am definitely watching.

No. 6

Dystopia is an interesting concept to tackle and this is what No. 6 is presenting (Well besides the obvious fujoshibait). I could just see this series go crazy in the future episodes, with episode 2 revealing what the real world truly looks like. I’m very excited for this series.

Kamisama Dolls

This is reminiscent of Higurashi, with a secluded village hiding a secret and all and it’s really interesting. It’s fast paced and like No. 6, I could see this get crazy in the next few episodes.

Dantalian no Shoka

This is hands down the prettiest this season. Background art looks almost real and the action scenes are crisp. Plot-wise it’s like an Index-Gosick mesh but it’s actually pretty good. The two leads have an interesting chemistry (A lot more than Victorique and Kujo’s nyandering). I’m expecting a lot from this one.

It’s the only NEET thing to do

This is the mystery of the season. Mysteries really do follow the 1 Loli requirement huh? This series however has crisp dialogue and very interesting mysteries that don’t just get solved by handing the lead the script. Again I’m also expecting a lot from this one.

MOE in Paris

The MOE this season. It’s just so very DAWWWWW and MOEEEEE and I love every minute of what I’ve watched so far. And forgetting the Moe, it still has the interchange of different customs, culture and mannerism of both Japan and France. In a way its very educational.

Mid-Tier

Sacred Seven

While not exactly the best, it has a lot of really interesting concepts in it. Very rushed and unpolished, the one thing Sacred Seven has is the engagement. It’s never boring. It just chugs on the interesting concepts it has and you go “HAHAHA Lol that’s cool”.

Mayo Chiki

Full of reused tropes and tomatoes in the first few minutes of its first episode, it doesn’t mean this series is bad. Hell it’s fun! I would call it my guilty pleasure of the season. Konoe is just. . . MOEEEEEE. People should utilize their seiyuus more, I mean who knew Index’s voice could be this interesting?!?!?!

Baka to Test

While I do believe it will get better soon, the double outside of school episodes was a bit bland. It’s good for recap but so far, the awesome laughs I got from the first season aren’t there yet. Oh well at least I got to see all the guys turn into TRAPS.

Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi

This show could be a lot better. I hate it that ZEXCS is using its “Turning everything into average” power. The plot is really good, though it has a problem of telling and not showing. It could get really interesting, but the PANTY FLASHES WILL SAVE ANIME is just. . . heh.

Low Tier

BLOOD-C

What happened?!!?!?!?! CLAMP WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT?

Yurururruruyuri

Well at least it didn’t offend me as much as A-channel did.

Addendum:

Well this season is 56 times better than last Summer Season’s. Last Summer the only series that I thought was good was High School of the Dead, Shiki and Occult Academy (The rest was mediocre to pure shit). Now there’s only BLOOD-C to disappoint. 2011 is a really great year so far.

Why I can’t blog Usagi Drop

DAWWWWWWWWWWW

The only comment I can say to this series is DAWWWWWWWWW. It’s not the ARIA in Paris type of Dawwwww, this series is really more of the realistic type. Its those type of series that can easily be adapted to a live-action series(it already is). I definitely think this series is on par with the likes of Penguindrum and No.6 in terms of “What’s the best this season?” but those two series can easily be blogged. This one only had me going DAWWWWW the whole episode and while I don’t want that DAWWWWW feeling to be gone, its not a good prospect for blogging.