17 different shows from the summer ‘09 anime season, analyzed and ranked from the bottom up.

Disclaimer: These rankings are purely a reflection of our own opinions and tastes, which are admittedly rather different from your average anime fan. Just because we don’t like a particular show doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. Your mileage may vary, etc etc. However, if you do have a different opinion about a show, by all means post a comment so that people reading have more than one opinion to go by.

Summer often gets a bad rap as the “filler” season in between the generally much more packed spring and fall anime seasons. This season, however, summer boasts an excellent crop of new shows for fans of all different genres. Although I’m ranking these shows numerically according to my favorites, almost all of them are enjoyable in at least some respects.

Almost all. Read the rest of this entry »

After Endless Eight (Episode 1)

After Endless Eight (Episode 2)

After Endless Eight (Episode 3) Read the rest of this entry »

One thing I’ve always liked about KyoAni is that they never skimp when it comes to outfits. In fact, this episode alone has Haruhi & crew sporting a total of 12 different outfits, which is more clothing variation than you get over the course of some entire series. Except for Yuki, that is, who wears her normal school uniform in every single scene except the Obon festival.

And of course, every single one of Itsuki’s outfits is either completely flaming or totally preppy. Yes sir, par for the course with this show.

Speaking of which, it really seemed like Itsuki stepped up his game in this episode. Whatever that “game” might be. I’m trying not to think about it too hard.

I believe the “game” in question is officially referred to as “extreme feminizing”, in which the practitioner in question makes unnecessarily girly hand gestures in everyday speech while moving uncomfortably close to other males. Points are awarded for awkwardness, style, and flamboyant dancing.

/facepalm Read the rest of this entry »

After a few weeks of re-run action, now we’re finally back to new Haruhi animation! And according to the broadcast schedule, we’re going to get mostly fresh material from here on out.

Of course the first notable thing in this episode is the new OP. Perhaps I’ve just been spoiled by all the amazing OPs Kyoto Animation has put together over the years, but I was a bit disappointed by this one. While the animation is a lot of fun, the song itself is decidedly meh.

And what’s KyoAni’s sudden obsession now with group running? Did they suddenly get tired of making dancing animus and decide to switch to something a little easier on the animators?

Have to concur with your observations; the OP is decidedly underwhelming.

Actually I kind of enjoyed the whole SOS-Dan roster introduction in that it captured some of that Cowboy Bebop kind of flavor, with the glaring exception that “Tank!” is one of my favorite OPs of all time, and the current Haruhi OP is an entirely generic J-rock anthem. Oh well… Read the rest of this entry »