Author Topic: What Anime are you watching? (Read 1376696 times)

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2490 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 10:37:15 PM »

Onto my end of season verdicts. Unexpectedly, I'm not as down on the season as I thought I'd be at the outset. Maybe it's a better season; maybe I did a better job in picking up shows.

Shokugeki no Soma season 3 was reliably entertaining, though it's become somewhat stale. My understanding is that the next season picks up on a turn of events that is hinted at but not spoiled by this season. I'm on-board. Fun show is fun.

Garo Finishing Line was a ball, but I got a bit bogged down IRL and curtailed my TV watching, so I haven't watched the last five or so episodes. It is a standard action show, but with enough hook to keep one's attention, so it's not as dull as I thought it'd turn out being.

Ancient Magus' Bride was a show that never really got good and geared up, it seemed...like the season was just too short. I'm looking forward to the next season, as there is a depth that's alluded to and hinted at throughout that has my direct interest. I can't really say anything bad about the show other than the short shrift of a season it got.

Dragon Ball Super (which is actually on-going, but it's worth a visit) has been probably the best the franchise has ever been. Were 5 minutes on Namek too long? What about 48 minutes in this tournament? At least we got some good looks at OG DB characters and some classic maneuvers (Mafuba, Multi-Form, Demon Screw Attack, Final Flash, etc.) that really haven't been relevant in years. It's been good to see Goku have his back firmly against the wall throughout and have to battle for survival and face some actual threats from unforeseen places. Hopefully they'll wrap it up soon as it's starting to wear thin, but it's been good stuff.

Frankly, I started watching Imouto sae Ireba Ii because it looked trashy, but it turned out to be a good character-driven romcom based on five friends. I'm only half-way through it, but it's been enjoyable. And, yes, more than a bit trashy.

And here are some thoughts on stragglers from previous seasons:

I still haven't finished Re-Creators (should, though, it's good) and Kakegurui (probably won't; it's joyless). The second season of New Game! was good. Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e never really got to the point, and I don't care if it gets another season or not. Gamers! was a harem that had promise but never delivered. I downloaded Made in Abyss but haven't started it yet...it doesn't look like a typical show I'd like, so I'm not really sure I ever will watch it. Same with March Comes In Like A Lion. Oh, and if you care at all for the old SNK fighting game characters, King of Fighters Destiny has been fair to middling.

B E C K · « **Reply #2491 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 11:29:41 PM »

Quote from: joerammstein on Dec 28, 2017, 03:22:51 AM

Shows I will try and fail to watch this coming season:

Junji Ito "Collection"
Kokkoku
Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls

Yeeeeeeeeah, I'm not sold yet on new Basilisk. I took one look at the art and it appears they just jacked the appearances of the two leads from the prior Basilisk series. Ehhhh.....

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<insert Squirrel's post above>

King of Fighters Destiny... dat CG.
I won't touch Made in Abyss. Saw some spoilers and it's something I think I'd just as soon not bother with any further. (Although I've heard good things about it.)
March Comes In Like A Lion is probably something I'll try when I have nothing to watch and am looking for something comfy. I don't know if it's actually comfy or not but it seems that way from the promotional images.
Dunno why I thought Magus was a full 26 instead of just 12 or whatever.
Agree with you 100% about Garo Finishing Line. Might pick it up again in the future.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2492 on:** Dec 29, 2017, 10:38:33 PM »

I've probably gone on about this enough in the past, but my critique of Kakegurui is probably my chief metric as to my opinion of a show. Or movie, game, anything. That show was cruel-spirited. Kind of like the Prison School anime from a year or two ago, which hit a lot of my main anime buttons (physical humor, nutty characters, an actual plot progression, and fanservice) but it was primarily driven by meanness. It's a good thing I saw Evangelion when I was younger and could tolerate stuff like that better, because depression anime is very much not my thing. It's why I never watched Attack on Titan and wasn't particularly fond of Fullmetal Alchemist in either form.

For instance, I like the Flash show not because of its brooding angst or romantic relationships or even because of its comic book ties (though that was the main draw), but because there is a joy and heart to it that pervades even the darker turns of the show. It's why I gave up Arrow: while the Saturday morning special episode on gun control last season was the straw that broke this camel's back, I was already tired of the same formula over and over with no real fun involved in the proceedings to keep me satisfied with it.

Anyway, yes, the King of Fighters CG is pretty blah. It looks like it's 15 years old and trying to one-up Beast Machines or something. But I've been watching those characters in a round-about way for over twenty years now, and it's nice to see that they're still doing something with them.

I really have little clue about the upcoming season. I do know I'm down for another round of Seven Deadly Sins, and a new season of Dagashi Kashi should be nice, as I unexpectedly enjoyed the first...it was so playfully weird! And there's a Macross Delta movie coming out...IIRC the show wasn't a favorite. That's all I got for now.

joe · « **Reply #2493 on:** Dec 30, 2017, 02:19:00 AM »

I don't know anything about the new Basilisk. The only reason it caught my eye is because I enjoyed the old show so many years ago.

Am I going to have to watch Dragon Ball Super? I really don't want to, but I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out. I was positive the show wouldn't last, but it's still chugging along at 120+ episodes. I guess it must be doing something right.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2494 on:** Dec 31, 2017, 02:28:30 PM »

It's a guilty pleasure thing: you watch it for nostalgia, which is the driving force behind this show. But then you get to kinda liking it. They've done a good job lately of not letting it drag, which is key for this series. If you watch the last two movies, you can skip the first two seasons pretty much in their entirety. The Future Trunks season was good but too long. The Champa season was meh (a few good battles) but too long. This season had a slow opening but had a lot of fun fights in the tourney, but overall it's too long. It's a time honored DB tradition: everything goes for at least five Namekian minutes.

joe · « **Reply #2495 on:** Jan 01, 2018, 01:20:27 PM »

What constitutes a "season"? 13 episodes? 26?

B E C K · « **Reply #2496 on:** Jan 02, 2018, 04:27:37 AM »

Quote from: Rodent of Unusual Size on Dec 29, 2017, 10:38:33 PM

I've probably gone on about this enough in the past, but my critique of Kakegurui is probably my chief metric as to my opinion of a show. Or movie, game, anything. That show was cruel-spirited. Kind of like the Prison School anime from a year or two ago, which hit a lot of my main anime buttons (physical humor, nutty characters, an actual plot progression, and fanservice) but it was primarily driven by meanness.

That's actually the reason I don't really watch anything to begin with. Not specific to anime, mind you, but a lot of stuff. Like American comedies. Or even, like, procedurals. My dad and his gf were watching "Law & Order," which is a show I've watched on my own probably twice in my entire life. And the only purpose of that show is to indulge on how horrible and cruel mankind is. There's no other reason involved. It doesn't invite you to solve the mystery or get too caught up in the main characters, at least not in any of episodes I've seen.

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It's a good thing I saw Evangelion when I was younger and could tolerate stuff like that better, because depression anime is very much not my thing. It's why I never watched Attack on Titan and wasn't particularly fond of Fullmetal Alchemist in either form.

I'm not sure I follow the depression aspect in either one of those shows. AoT leans more on action and the horror of titans and less so "woe are we, we live in a shit world." But I've only seen the first season and never picked it up again, so maybe after that it gets more "might as well slit our wrists now." And FMA, I mean, if I'm allowed to be a bit spoilery since it doesn't seem that you intend to watch either version, for the stakes of what was involved--war and the destruction of the country--it never got as dark as it could've. Most of the main characters live and are all happy in the end. But maybe a few bummer pieces are enough to go "meh" and pass on it. That's fair.

Quote from: joerammstein on Dec 30, 2017, 02:19:00 AM

I don't know anything about the new Basilisk. The only reason it caught my eye is because I enjoyed the old show so many years ago.

So did I but do they have anywhere else to go but 'down' here? I liked Basilisk, too, but it feels like they're milking us for feels. Milking us like Luke milked the titty-monster. The first Basilisk series was actually based on a book written by a dude who made a career out of writing ninja stories. This one's someone else's sequel story involving the same clans. So they're using someone else's work here even though the original author supposedly already did a "sequel" that involved different people... well, for the obvious reason. And I'm getting Muppet Babies vibes from the two leads. Gennosuke and Oboro weren't terrible characters, but they weren't the best or most compelling ones in the story either so I'm not jazzed at seeing a mini-me for each of them. I would prefer to see completely different characters within the same universe instead of them having any connection to the Kouga and Iga clans.

B E C K · « **Reply #2497 on:** Jan 03, 2018, 08:04:14 PM »

Wow, I started watching Ancient Magus' Bride and it's surprisingly... boring. I hate how it does that Fullmetal Alchemist shit where it does these simplistic chibi-esque designs as a punchline to a joke. Third episode in and it's like they do this every freakin' episode. Oh, oh, I'm about to tell a joke everyone...

...and I've been drawn all simplistically! Derp! Ha ha, isn't that funny? No, really, look, they drew me with a bubble-head and my eyes are all beady and shit. That's funny! Laugh!

Bleh. I feel like the show could have more levity without sticking this dumb crap in it. I guess this was in the manga but it doesn't work here. It's obnoxious.

There's also a bunch of sameface going on. Three different blonde characters and I swear they all look like the same person to me. I was freakin' confused. That's what I get for half paying attention.

Now I'm on episode 6 and here's TITania. Jeez. And more deformed jokey crap. Yeah, the "humor" in this show has completely fallen flat for me. I haven't laughed at a single joke.

The music's really, really cool tho'. Thumbs up to at least that.

Chise's also, well, mostly engaging. So I'm encouraged to follow her journey if only for her.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2498 on:** Jan 03, 2018, 09:43:57 PM »

It's slow. Chise gets more interesting, and then the season stops in its tracks. It desperately needed a full season.

B E C K · « **Reply #2499 on:** Jan 05, 2018, 06:45:21 AM »

Okay, okay, so Ancient Magus merely finished the first cour and took a small break. Second cour begins this week. After my earlier post, I just kept playing through to the next episode and blitzed through all of the available episodes already. I thought I was gonna like Elias far more than I actually do, but, no, the girl's the superior character. And I know a lot people liked Lindel's singing but I just wanted him to stop. Renfred interests me so I'd like to see more of him. But him reappearing probably means Joseph would as well. MEH.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2500 on:** Jan 05, 2018, 06:21:30 PM »

Quote from: B E C K on Jan 05, 2018, 06:45:21 AM

Okay, okay, so Ancient Magus merely finished the first cour and took a small break. Second cour begins this week.

Did not know this. Awesome!

joe · « **Reply #2501 on:** Jan 08, 2018, 08:48:21 PM »

I read somewhere that Devilman Crybaby is pretty good. Anybody watch that?

B E C K · « **Reply #2502 on:** Jan 09, 2018, 06:08:12 AM »

I had never heard about that until a week or so ago and, looking it up, I don't think it's for me. Merla and I saw the old Devilman OVA and liked it. I liked Akira's appearance in Shin Cutey Honey and watched the Cyborg 009 vs Devilman. But this one goes more raw and high gore and some raep and while I ain't exactly clutching my pearls here, that kinda stuff's not what I seek out in my entertainment. Plus, they got rid of the sideburns!

I'll pass. If you see it, tell us what you thought of it.

joe · « **Reply #2503 on:** Jan 09, 2018, 03:20:38 PM »

Crybaby is on Netflix so I'll chell the first episode for sure.

Didn't realize Trigger has a new mecha anime called Darling in the Franxx, so I'll give that a look.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2504 on:** Jan 09, 2018, 06:16:54 PM »

I should have the Devilman show pulled down soon. I actually have a boxed set of Devil Lady, which I barely remember watching. But it's my understanding this is completely unrelated.

I'm looking forward to Dagashi Kashi season 2 and the long-delayed third season of Seven Deadly Sins. I'm going to sample a few others here and there, but there's not much that appeals to me this season. But I said that about Fall 2017, too.

B E C K · « **Reply #2505 on:** Jan 09, 2018, 06:45:54 PM »

Quote from: Rodent of Unusual Size on Jan 09, 2018, 06:16:54 PM

I should have the Devilman show pulled down soon. I actually have a boxed set of Devil Lady, which I barely remember watching. But it's my understanding this is completely unrelated.

Devil Lady aka Devilman Lady takes place within the same universe. The protags actually meet in the manga. Never saw the anime. The anime apparently didn't use Akira Fudo but created another guy that's kinda supposed to, uh, be him? Don't really get why they did that.

joe · « **Reply #2506 on:** Jan 10, 2018, 04:22:27 AM »

Any interest in that new Cardcaptor Sakura? Don't know that I could go back to a staid magical girl show after Madoka.

B E C K · « **Reply #2507 on:** Jan 10, 2018, 12:10:28 PM »

Nah. I tried to get into it way back when. Saw the butchered dub while it aired on tv and bought the first dvd release that I recall as being a sub-only version. (As they couldn't use the dub track because it was made for the edited version only.) It was cute, looked interesting, but the sheer length really put me off. Because, well, back I'd had to have waited for and bought every single fricken DVD that came out to watch the entire thing and frankly I wasn't that interested in sinking money into that.

Then as I got older and more familiar with CLAMP's other works, it occurred to me that CLAMP's just weird, which also lowered my general interest. Once Merla and I saw Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and I realized it's, like, this vast shared universe filled with dopplegangers and bullshit, I just baked a Quit pie.

Faye Valentine · « **Reply #2508 on:** Jan 12, 2018, 01:34:31 AM »

Quote from: joerammstein on Dec 28, 2017, 03:22:51 AM

Shows I will try and fail to watch this coming season:

Junji Ito "Collection"

Waaaaaat!?!? A Junji Ito anime??? You're blowing my mind, Joe. (btw link isnt working on my comp so can you give me stats?)

So I dont remember if I mentioned it before but I want to watch "Oniisama e" , which sounds like a fucked up anime (heard the author of Utena got inspiration from it) and was created by Riyoko Ikeda (and a lot of characters in oniisama E look like the ones in Versailles, including Oscar and Andre, yaaaaaas)

Also will rewatch Yuyu Hakusho since last time I watched it was more than 16 years ago and in portuguese.

joe · « **Reply #2509 on:** Jan 12, 2018, 04:10:41 AM »

Not sure what you mean by stats. Are you wondering who is working on it? I think there's only been one episode so far, the second should air today.

B E C K · « **Reply #2510 on:** Jan 12, 2018, 08:23:36 PM »

Quote from: Faye Valentine on Jan 12, 2018, 01:34:31 AM

Quote from: joerammstein on Dec 28, 2017, 03:22:51 AM
Shows I will try and fail to watch this coming season:

Junji Ito "Collection"

Waaaaaat!?!? A Junji Ito anime??? You're blowing my mind, Joe. (btw link isnt working on my comp so can you give me stats?)

12 eps that adapt multiple stories, 2 ovas will be done that specifically adapt Tomie, airs on Fridays, started a week ago.

Faye Valentine · « **Reply #2511 on:** Jan 14, 2018, 06:14:27 AM »

Wow thats awesomeee! Do any of you have a link to watch the eps?

Tomie agaaaain? They did a movie of her already

B E C K · « **Reply #2512 on:** Jan 14, 2018, 09:07:44 AM »

I never realized they've actually done a whole series of movies.

Try watching here.

joe · « **Reply #2513 on:** Jan 14, 2018, 02:10:37 PM »

Darling in the Franxx is Pacific Rim! First episode was good, I'll keep watching.

joe · « **Reply #2514 on:** Jan 15, 2018, 01:26:36 AM »

I binged Devilman Crybaby today. Yuck. I liked it less and less as it went on. The second to last episode was just sickening. It's practically pornographic in its depiction of violence. I'd have to be deranged to ever recommend it to anyone. Avoid!

I also watched the first episode of Violet Evergarden, which was nice and didn't leave me feeling ill.

I'm gonna have nightmares about Devilman, God damn it.

Faye Valentine · « **Reply #2515 on:** Jan 15, 2018, 02:01:00 AM »

Quote from: B E C K on Jan 14, 2018, 09:07:44 AM

I never realized they've actually done a whole series of movies.

Try watching here.

Thank you so much!

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #2516 on:** Jan 15, 2018, 07:38:03 PM »

Quote from: joerammstein on Jan 14, 2018, 02:10:37 PM

Darling in the Franxx is Pacific Rim! First episode was good, I'll keep watching.

Yeah, this was fun. They of course neglected to give any insight into the world, which I assume comes later, but it looks like it's going to be fun at any rate. Has that old Gainax vibe (which figures based on the fact that Studio Trigger's behind it).

Quote from: joerammstein on Jan 15, 2018, 01:26:36 AM

I binged Devilman Crybaby today. Yuck. I liked it less and less as it went on. The second to last episode was just sickening. It's practically pornographic in its depiction of violence. I'd have to be deranged to ever recommend it to anyone. Avoid!

The first episode didn't draw me in. I'm probably going to delete it, as everything I've read says it's basically a violence orgy. I don't care for those.

Quote from: joerammstein on Jan 15, 2018, 01:26:36 AM

I also watched the first episode of Violet Evergarden, which was nice and didn't leave me feeling ill.

It is very pretty. It looks like a "watch the pitiful girl learn to live her new life," kind of like Ancient Magus' Bride, which I also like. Sticking with it.

So, here's my cursory pull list:

Darling in the Franxx - explained already
Violet Evergarden - explained already
Garo Vanishing Line - explained already, but I need to start watching again, as I only got up to episode 6 before stalling to marathon watch the season which didn't end as expected.
Killing Bites - this season's guilty ecchi pleasure...well-built chicks showing their breasticles and Animorphing into battle. How can they mess this up?
Dagashi Kashi S2 - I enjoyed the first season. It's the definition of light viewing, but I found it harmless fun.
Ancient Magus' Bride - explained already
Dragon Ball Super - explained already
Beatless - this show looks to be the high production value but vapid show of the season, but it looks neat. I'm always down to watch hot robot chicks put it on the line for their loser masters.
Seven Deadly Sins S2 - finding this show from decent fansubbers hasn't been easy, but it should be worth it. It's straight-up shonen fare, but very well done shonen fare.

B E C K · « **Reply #2517 on:** Jan 16, 2018, 07:55:30 AM »

Quote from: joerammstein on Jan 15, 2018, 01:26:36 AM

I binged Devilman Crybaby today. Yuck. I liked it less and less as it went on. The second to last episode was just sickening. It's practically pornographic in its depiction of violence. I'd have to be deranged to ever recommend it to anyone. Avoid!

I guess Devilman...

...made you cry, baby.

Quote from: Rodent of Unusual Size on Jan 15, 2018, 07:38:03 PM

The first episode didn't draw me in. I'm probably going to delete it, as everything I've read says it's basically a violence orgy. I don't care for those.

Yeah, pretty much. I actually saw a clip of it when joe first brought up the series in this thread and it was the scene where the friend gets killed and torn to pieces and that was just... nononono.

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Seven Deadly Sins S2 - finding this show from decent fansubbers hasn't been easy, but it should be worth it. It's straight-up shonen fare, but very well done shonen fare.

I'm kinda tired of series where it's just "shonen being shonen." I know that sounds funny. I'm probably not wording this right. I watched a bit of the first ep of Seven Deadly Sins dos and I was bored within the first minute and closed the window.

And I forgot about new Basilisk. Saw an episode and a half of it. Liked the music. The rest is garbage. They're supposed to be the last mcs' kids. And they're supposed to "do it" for teh clan because of pure blood or whatever. Also, the other ninja designs and abilities are fuckin' lame. I also hate shows that go out of their way to show us how "way c00l" the characters are by showcasing their abilities asap (usually through some dumb "training" scene) for no good reason. Like that fuckin' old guy in ep two wiggling like he's having a stroke so he can see his enemies in the dark. They were standing right in front of him. That was stupid! The firefly thing was interesting but the method and use of it was totally stupid.

Faye Valentine · « **Reply #2518 on:** Jan 16, 2018, 09:23:57 AM »

Yeah so I had to force myself to watch the whole first ep of the Junji Ito anime. Its EXACTLY like in the manga. I dont know if its because ive read most of his stories a million times, but I was bored after the first 15 minutes. Also for some reason the secondary characters' faces are different than in the manga (like Soichi's siblings). Will probably not watch the rest of the episodes.

B E C K · « **Reply #2519 on:** Jan 16, 2018, 03:11:16 PM »

Here, joe, wash out Crybaby with some of this: