2015 Spring Anime Review, Part 2! The First Episodes Impression!
1st episode impressions!
So, the first week of spring anime ran smoothly. This season's shows are more enjoyable than I thought it would be. As per usual, it started with a bang, but also as per usual, only few will end with also another bang. This list is ordered in ascending order, based on how much I enjoy each of their first episodes. Without holding back, let us start the countdown!
9. Gunslinger Stratos
Even when I put no expectation into this, I’m still disappointed. The art was far downgraded from its trailer, voice mixing and voice acting quality is downright below average, and the story is over too vague without proper hook. OP and ED—although brought by artist that is prospered in game soundtrack—lack the moxy. What I expect to be another A-1 deliverance turned out to be a flat cola. Status: Still following, with a grain of salt.
8. Houkago no Pleiades
It’s more beautiful than I thought. The voice actresses detains its original casts, even sounds better than the ONA. The art and story is improved, and contrary to any other magical girls show in the last four years, the girl with pink hair “awakened” on first episode. It just compels me to keep watching. Although the ED is yet to be heard, the OP is both cute and spirited in one package. I can’t say this is my favourite OP of the season yet, but it is a head-on contender. Status: Keep watching.
7. Punch Line
Noitamina hasn’t impressed me for almost a year—although it’s might me because of my hiatus in watching anime—but the story of Punch Line gives a good hook (No pun intended). There are too many mysteries thrown into one episode, but still easy to be followed, and it piqued my interest to keep following the series. The bgm’s are also quite groovy, it matches the futuristic—yet comically naughty—theme. The OP—while the ED is obviously served as fanservice—also sounds spirited. One of the ED’s I enjoy to listen a few times. Also, I counted at least 19 panchira— sans OP—in one episode, totally lived up to its jargon “there will be enough panchira to end the world.” Status: MOAR PANTSURVICE!!
6. Owari no Seraph
I have mixed feeling about the first episode of this show, the same feeling I felt when I read the first chapter of the manga a few days after it got scanlated; a simple “eh.” It does tell many things about the premise, but it’s too slow-paced; it tries to explain the premises while also setting up an origin story. While it’s a good approach, it also boring. Even Sawano’s bgm fail to patch up the atmosphere (High string on sad scene? Fucking seriously...), it made me think Sawano agrees with me; that the first episodes/chapters should have focused on human vs vampire wars instead of the protagonists small worlds—like seriously, it should be recapped. OP only good at riff onward, the intro was dead note, while the ED is not a good Emo. Status: Eating this fujo/danbait, waiting for it to reel me in.
5. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka
With the protagonist’s position as a commoner, I can relate to his struggle as a novice adventurer. But fuckk, he’s too fucking alpha a goddess cling to him he feels irritated irritates me. It’s like Accel World MMORPG, I mean like literally; the protagonist is way to excellent at his role, girls are craving for him, although he is more good looking. Status: An anime spawn two memes on first episode? I have a bad feeling, but hell, let us see what’s coming.
4. Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu
“What the fuck was that?!” “What did they do to mai waifu?!” “God fucking dammit, what is this shit?!” This is what Haruhi franchise has become, no turning back. Holy shit, Yuki is FUBAR. Even Asakura who I despise in the original series feels like a better character despite what she has done in the original Disappearance. While I’ve read this’s source material, I just can’t even. The only thing that is keeping me from dropping this deuce to shithole it should be is the eponymous arc, which must be happen last in this adaptation. OP, ED, and bgm are low class, none of them leave any effects. It’s worth mentioning that Asakura mimics her stabbing scene from Melancholy and Disappearance, Asakura also hummed the ED of original series, and a student which at first glance really looks like Kyonko appeared. Kimidori-san also made a cameo, but he’s from another spinoff. And lastly, I’d like to say “FUCK YOU” to kadokawa. Status: Moved to “unironically watching” list.
3. Arslan Senki
You know what’s in Hiromu’s mind when he writes the opening story for Arslan Senki? “Hey, that opening story of NO6 is pretty gay. I can top it!” And he did; instead of a civilian, the eponymous hero is a prince. Except for the foreshadowed gayness, it also foreshadows the downside of slavery. Yes, there’s that. But one thing that this series fail to do; it’s to make the audience “care” about all the characters it introduced. Like really, I don’t even bother to remember them, except for the eponymous hero and those who appears in OP/ED, hopefully the series will just keep reintroducing them. The OP while fail to leave a mark and while I’m not a fan of Aoi Eir, the ED is quite heroic—I’d say epic, but it’s not that good. Also, extra point worth mentioning is, the official translation of this is the best translation I read; it’s just archaically exquisite. Status: Quite enjoying, will back for more.
2. Hibike Euphonium
Come to think of it, this is the only other school anime I followed this season, other than Nagato Shoushitsu. I might dare to say this show has the best graphical effect than anything else this season. The colouring quality is so high, it practically is the moefied gradient toning that was used lastly in early 2000 animes. The story established its premises and characters strongly, I even cared for the other characters in the brass club and Asuka-senpai. The OP must be the most uprise song I heard this season, while the ED is typical KyoAni normal school live anime ending sung by its cast (Red string? High treason yuribaiting!). Status: There is no reason to stop.
1. Kekkai Sensen
Top of my first week in this season. What I expected to be something light-action, chuunibyo-like anime turned out to be a mindblowing experience. The premise—although extraordinarily ordinary—is illustrated in rich manner. I’m quoting someone who says that if “Baccano and Kyousougiga has an offspring, this would be their heir” because they are right. The action is elegantly packed, and the OST managed to deliver the same atmosphere, making watching this show over-absolutely and lavishly recherché. The OP I deem normal, but the animation—especially the “stage” part—is grand. And the ED, it’s just über-fancy, must be the best ED of the season if not in something I don’t follow. Status: Masquerade and Sugar Song! Everybody come out and join in! Blah-blah-blah keep on partying! (Note: this was before the official lyrics came out and I thought the transcript was “Masquerade and Sugar Song. 皆さぁ飛び出して。甘くて苦くて目が回りそう出す”)
It's not the best season I've encountered, but to be honest this season has been slow. Not enough hype to begin with. I hope that despite the lack of spirit that started this season shall be overturned by the end of season. Which is when I will be doing another review: the post-finale aftermath!
Facebook comments

No comments:

Post a Comment