#AA Presents: The First Three -- Winter 2015 Anime (Part 1)
Because my laziness knows no bounds whatsoever, I've decided to split this edition of The First Three into... well, three parts!
I thought a grand article on all shows would've been better, but I woefully underestimated the time I had on my hands to watch anime consistently. In regards to that, I've decided to revert to a general anime viewing night on the weekends where I stock up on the week's episodes, and go through them all.
Of course, considering how behind I am for a few shows, it'll take a few weeks of catch-up to really get started...
ANYWAYS, there's my apology for the lateness. On this edition of The First Three, I will start off with three of the nine new shows I've been watching for this, the 2015 winter anime season.
Of course, I'm inclined to say [SPOILER ALERT] only in the case that you have not watched any episodes of the shows I'll be discussing.
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend
I did have some thoughts posted earlier on the official AA Twitter as I watched, but to expound on them...
The show really has that kind of whimsy that seems to come back once every season - Episode 0 basically fed us a wealth of lies on what to expect from the show: that we'd see Tomo being caught up in a weird love rhododendron with Eriri, Utaha, and Michiru, all of whom are appealing in their own ways... almost too appealing.
To understand, you have to realize that Eriri is filling the role of a twin-tailed loli tsundere that doubles as the childhood friend, Utaha seems to act as the intelligent girl that is focused on her world, and Michiru (though she hasn't appeared in the space of the first three episodes) is definitely the wild, all about life, outdoors-y, sporty girl.
And then you realize, it's not about them... it's about Kato. Manages to slip in and out of presence, rarely has an air to her person, and she truly can be somewhat of a background character. And I doubt it's really her fault that she isn't written to fulfill a stereotype, which is the basis for Saekano - breaking said stereotypes.
Focusing on the first three, we realize that Tomo is indeed an otaku through and through, and after being a consumer for so long, decides that he wants to create the ultimate dating sim. His knowledge of doujin circles serves him well as he knows of the doujin personas held by Utaha (who doubles as a light novel author) and Eriri (who doubles as an 18+ artist of the highest quality). He tries to pitch the project to both of them, and they shut him down rather coldly, in a means to make him understand the "creator's plight", so to speak. Breaking it down further, it's more or less the refusal of the call, if we're bringing Joseph Campbell into the equation.
When all seems lost, the wind blows and carries a white beret with it, rolling down the incline into Tomo's hands, revealing his heroine that ends up to be Kato.
The focus of the first three episodes serves as to make you wonder why Kato? Why not Eriri? Why not Utaha? When on-screen, they command the attention, and manage to somewhat drive the plot. However, the focus on Kato is solely on Tomo's aspirations, as well as his affection for her as "the one". Also over the course of the episodes, we see Tomo being like me when it comes to doing things important: PROCRASTINATING! Even when he tries to lock up his games and novels, he slips into otaku mode and wastes the days away, leaving his project proposal somewhat blank. Poor him. It takes a combined effort from Utaha and Eriri (who hate the hell out of each other, mind you) to inspire Tomo through Kato to work on the game.
Three episodes in, and I feel that the show has a long way to go, and with these characters on board, it will be an enjoyable ride.
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu / Assassination Classroom
Assassination Classroom is an interesting case, because it really does take things and spins them to be rather insane. I mean, it isn't normal that the villain in the show who just ground 70% of the moon into space dust, and plans to do so to the Earth in the space of the year... becomes your teacher.
Not only that, but your class is tasked with the chance to kill him for a bounty of ten million yen. Of course, the E Class (as it's referred to) is a curious case. According to the protagonist, Nagisa, the class is a band of misfits who had poor grades and other issues which forced them to be sent down with others like them. The school itself is quite fabulous - priding itself on having the very best students, the very best teachers, and the opportunity to build future upstanding citizens of Japan. However, the way how this is being done is rather... sad. You see, with the existence of the E Class, there's quite a superiority complex that exists with the normal students of school which push them to study hard in order to avoid being in the E Class, which is quite the scarlet letter that brands you as worthless to the rest of the world... as the school sees it.
And yet, in the E Class, it seems that students are having fun with learning, and their teacher actually looks out for their well-being instead of generating a factory of what we expect Japan's future citizens to be. In a sense, they are anomalies which are kept away from the normal populace in order to maintain a sense of order. While I can't believe I just wrote all of that, it is confirmed by one of the characters in the third episode, an agent of the Ministry of Defense named Karasuma. You can also see it in action as we get glimpses of the school below. So here, we're grappling with the idea of a "perfect society" that seems to remind me all too much of Psycho-Pass and the Sibyl System.
As for the proceedings of the show, the E Class is given weapons that are to hurt their teacher, which they've named Koro Sensei (as a play on words, I suppose). However, he is not an easy target - he moves at speeds of Mach 20, he can be such a confident prick, and his alien abilities are truly odd. But what makes him such an interesting character is his human side - he loves to travel, he looks forward to payday for his job to buy the things he likes, and he tries to be less confrontational in the hopes that he is viewed not as a monster, but as a mentor. Even as the E Class tries to assassinate him in hopes that they'll have enough riches to no longer worry about grades or their status, most of them see Koro Sensei as quite a creature unlike anything they've ever seen.
Needless to say, his antics are hilarious and he really does tend to have the upper hand a lot, almost to the point of child's play. Within the first three episodes, we've seen interesting assassination attempts, new characters (Karma, a student who killed a teacher that he had once trusted, and Irina, a professional assassin who attempts to use her brand of feminine wiles to kill Koro Sensei), and moments where you say "aww!" then recoil when you realize that the bonds between the assassination target and the assassins are just too weird sometimes.
Assassination Classroom is a show that is rather appealing, and you should give it a watch!
And lastly, I am still in denial that Nagisa is a boy.
Like I've described before, this show is like a bizarre mashup of Trigger's Kill la Kill and Toei Animation's Kyousougiga being played out before my eyes.
To bring you guys up to speed, Japan as we know it has gone through war, and every prefecture has become independent. Furthermore, to keep the peace, there are various groups (or "mobs") which battle for territory under the leadership of a "mosa" or prophet. We are introduced to the RG world through the efforts of the Hiyoshicho Propellers mob and their captain (mosa), Masami Utoku (who is secretly the "peacebroker-for-hire", Maccha Green). Through her conflicts with the opposing Higashi Murayama mob, and their leader, a famous executioner named Shigyou Kuniko.
Also to note, the mosa/mob dynamic is translated as Best/Rest, which I found hilarious. It does make huge sense as the terms employed by the show just don't translate as well, but this concept of the best and the rest is thanks to the genius nature of localization.
So, to rephrase from earlier, Ma-chan (as she's affectionately called by her childhood friend, Nozomi) and Shigyou are of the pedigree of Bests that has exceptional power unlike any other, and their fight in episode 1 was nothing but pure poetry in motion. Here's a sample (pardon the subtitles).
However, did you know that the show isn't exactly about these two? No, no, no, this story is told from the perspective of Nozomi, as she is one of the Rest that serve to help keep the peace within their province under the leader of Masami, their Best. In the second episode, both Shigyou and Masami are gravely injured after their battle at the amusement park where the members of the Hiyoshicho Propellers are held hostage by Shigyou and the rest of Higashi Murayama.
Nozomi decides to take on the job of being peacebroker on behalf of Maccha Green, but not without help. Over the course of the first three, she meets the rest of the Rolling Girls crew: Yukina, who requests help from the Hiyoshicho Propellers, Ai, who was once a member of Higashi Murayama (but was kicked out after attempting to save the rest of the Propellers crew), and Chiaya, a girl who seems to have an uncanny knowledge of the girls by calling them by their childhood nicknames, as well as an uncannier knowledge of certain stone pendants which were held by the Bests, referred to in many different names by their holders.
The Rolling Girls travel across the country to help Chiaya find more of the stones in order to seek out its true nature, and end up in crazy situations that end up being greater than they are.
With great art direction, a plot that seems paper-thin at first glance, a great soundtrack, and endless possibilities to be the sleeper hit of the season, The Rolling Girls should definitely be on your radar.
And with that, that's it for Part 1 of The First Three: Winter 2015 Anime.
Part 2 will be ready by tomorrow evening, and that will be focusing on Kantai Collection: KanColle, Koufuku Graffiti, and Durarara!!x2 Shou.
Again, apologies for being so late, and I hope to see you guys here on Animeniacs Anonymous later!
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