After a lackluster winter season (though Japes and Goldy found some bright spots in it), the spring is offering some really enjoyable series of it’s own. Usually, I’m able to cull out all but 3-4 series immediately, focusing on just those, but this season promises to make it hard on me to decide which shows to watch!
Captain Earth
Art by 狐憑き
Well, I have to say – my curiosity is definitely piqued. The first episode of this sci-fi series from BONES (and the creators of Star Driver) was thick with content, so much so that I swore I was watching something an hour long. And yet, the episode never lost me. I was almost beside myself with how much this series seemed to rely on excellent ones from the past, like Eureka 7 and RahXephon, but by the time it ended, Captain Earth had taken a host of familiar elements and offered something compelling – the feelings of adventure, which I find so rare in anime.
Verdict: I’m in!
Isshuukan Friends
Art by coma
Boy tries to make friends with girl. Girl says no. Boy works hard to become friends. Girl befriends boy. Girl forgets boy. On Mondays, repeat.
With a storyline similar to 50 First Dates, Isshuukan Friends looks like it’s going to be a very emotional series. It’s the only one I was really looking forward to this semester, and based on the first episode, I don’t expect to be disappointed. I really enjoyed the art style, the characters, and the way the series is already hitting the right emotional notes. I can’t wait to see episode two!
Baby Steps starts us a year after the events of the series, showing our hero playing well in a tennis match. Then the episodes moves back in time to show him as the overachiever who does his best at school without passion or meaning, only with discipline. But meeting a beautiful girl and trying out her passion, tennis, is seemingly going to change him. The first episode was a lot of fun – it hit all the right strokes (har har) without going overboard in any of the ways that would turn me off (see my discussion of the steely bodies in Haikyuu!!).
Verdict: Will be watching episode 2
Art by ジョン
The opening episode of this futuristic action-thriller was almost jarring as it jumped between an almost epic story to a silly romcom. But it all kind of worked together well, matching the demeanor of the main character, who seems to be trying to develop in his own right, out of bitterness toward a more normal life. That normal life, of course, includes an underage girl whom he protects (and who is in love with him). This is anime, after all…
Verdict: Will be watching episode 2
Haikyuu!!
Art by 豚カツ
I did not expect a whole lot lot from this series, but found myself really enjoying the opening episode. I haven’t watched more than maybe half a dozen sports series, so I don’t have a great feel for the conventions of such shows, but it looks like they’re in full force here, with volleyball taking the place of baseball. The twist at the end of the episode feels Cross Game-ish (not to worry – it’s not that twist), and the main character is similar to Mihashi, but with far more confidence (and a little more gas). Also, there was a really lovely montage showing our protagonist training and gaining his teammates. I don’t like how the characters go crashing all over the court and rise like they’re DBZ characters, but otherwise, color me intrigued.
Verdict: Will be watching episode 2
Gokukoku no Brynhildr
A boy haunted by guilt from an event that led to the death of his childhood friend, Gokukoku no Brynhildr focuses on the mystery of a similar-looking girl, with her own strange past, coming into his life years later. I can see this moody and dark series becoming something compelling and interesting, but it’s not up my alley. As I’m want to do when I know I won’t be completing the series, I didn’t even finish the first episode.
Verdict: Nope
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
Art by SBS
Also known as The Irregular at Magic High School, the concept of the series, featuring a brother and sister that attend Hogwarts a school for budding magicians, seemed fun to me. But the first episode wasn’t so compelling – I didn’t find myself attached to any of the characters that were introduced. And beyond that, it’s just hard to sell me on a series where the sister has romantic feelings for the brothers.
Verdict: Nope
Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
Art by おおかわ
I was really looking forward to a shoujo series, as I haven’t watched one in ages, and this one, also called The World is Still Beautiful, has a nice setup: a magical and spunky princess travels from one kingdom to a larger one to marry a prince, who she finds out is younger than her. There should have been a sense of wonder to this show as it showed off the world of princes and princesses, but all I found was boredom. Again, I didn’t complete the episode.
Verdict: Nope
Those are the opening episodes I’ve seen thus far. I also have three more shows on my “To Watch” list for the season: Ping Pong, Mekakucity Actors, and Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin.
Of course, I’m not the only member of the team watching the new episodes – most of us have jumped right in, including R86. Here are some of his recent tweets:
What about you? What series have you enjoyed so far this season? Which opening episode did you like best?
Hi could i get an anime recommendation? (Though i've got a lot to watch already) my MAL is Smashbrah
Sure!
I noticed that you liked Spirited Away, but you otherwise haven't seen many other Studio Ghibli films. I think you'd like Princess Mononoke and Whisper of the Heart, at the very least. Also, you've seen Mamoru Hosoda's 1st and 3rd films, but not his second - Summer Wars, which is awfully good as well. Finally, I recommend you watch the second Evangelion movie. As I told Muge a few days ago, it's my favorite part of the entire Evangelion franchise.
As for series, you might want to check out Honey and Clover. It's a really well-done show and shares staff with AnoHana (though I think Honey and Clover is the better show, though it's slower and less emotional).
This isn't really a question, but I wanted to thank you for posting things about Golden Time! I hadn't really heard about it, and I've just been watching Nagi no Asukara and Kyoukai no Kanata. They've been ok, but aren't things I'll remember years from now. I'm only 3 episodes into Golden Time and I know it'll be in my memories for a long time. Thank you!
Thank you for the thanks, haha! I’m glad you’re enjoying it - I’m so happy with how the series has turned out so far!
Oh, so many selfish, selfish people, hehe. This was a fun question!
By the way, I used to be all about trying to get both armrests. Now I typically use neither.
Here are your responses:
alec6895 answered: Both ones, the ones to my left AND right (hehehe >:D)
2ota4ku answered: All of THEM
japesland answered: Neither ;-;
astralheat said: All of them
somewhatggolden answered: The one with the cup!
thisissimplyjess answered: I always sit at the end…so I get the right armrest but I usually take over the left too. XD
laniusdirge said: Both, but I usually ask first. If it’s someone I’m particularly chummy with then I usually go for cuddles.
caminc said: The whole row, for you see, a king must have his royal buttock satisfied. But I am a fair king, as I let the commoners see me, enjoying the film. Then my boss tells me to get back to work, and I leave awkwardly. Royal awkwardness.
autumnnnromeee said: The left!
thathilomgirl said: Neither
strawberry---fields said: Both! But I usually make sure it’s okay with the people I go with! I’m tiny so it’s usually unnoticed apparently.
