First Look: Winter 2012-2013

I’m not really sure how I feel about this season, I want to say that I enjoy it but at the same time I don’t. There are some anime that I picked up which I can’t wait to watch and others that were disappointing. I hand selected a lot of the anime this time around because everything else just looked like the same re-hashed story. It’s sad to say but I picked quite a few of my anime this season because they’re continuations. Either way here is my worth picking up, on watch, and dropped anime this season.

AmnesiaBakumatsu Gijinden RomanBoku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXTChihayafuru Second SeasonIshida to AsakuraKotoura-sanMaoyuu Maou YuushaMinami-ke TadaimaMondai-Ji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba SugiruPuchimas! Petit iDOLM@STERSasami-san@GanbaranaiSenyuuZettai Karen Children: The Unlimited

Amnesia

Episodes Watched: 2

I knew that Amnesia wasn’t going to be the anime I thought it was once I watched the first two episodes. It wasn’t that the characters bugged me, or that the story wasn’t well established yet (though that played a good part); it was just out right boring. I couldn’t get behind it at all. There was absolutely nothing that interested me. I would say that the art was the only thing that I thought was pretty neat but I’m already seen it before from Persona 4. I couldn’t take the time to sit and watch it because it was a real struggle. I knew that I couldn’t continue even for the sake of a review because I wasn’t paying enough attention for me to make an accurate review. However, I feel this should give you enough insight on my outlook of the anime.

Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman

Episodes Watched: 2

This was another series that I thought would be pretty interesting but turned out to be pretty boring. It had its ups and downs with comedy, but that’s about it. It wasn’t funny enough to keep going (especially with all the other alternatives) and the story didn’t catch me as interesting. I thought that I might try and keep going but I figured with all the reviews I still have backlogged and new ones coming out this season I wouldn’t have the time to review it anyway.

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXT

Episodes Watched: 4

I’m watching the second season because I actually really liked the first one. It had a pretty decent romance going on even though I know he wont actually pick anyone since it has a harem style. Unfortunately the second season isn’t quite as good. Why? Because they do still continue to build a romance between the characters, but it is lost in the heavy ecchi and awkward sexual tension between all the characters. It ranges now from vocally disturbing scenes of a little girl reading dialogue from a eroge to full on crotch grabbing (with complimentary sex noises). I’m still watching it, but for fans of the series I couldn’t see anyone finding this season to be better, or equivalent, to the first.

Chihayafuru Second Season

Episodes Watched: 4

I’m watching this season because I really enjoyed the first. I honestly forgot why I liked the first so much, but I remember really looking forward to this. I’m not disappointed and it has progressing very well. I still get tensed up during certain matches and I can’t wait to see how the romance unfolds (if it ever does). Thankfully everything seems to be as good as I remember, and with the introduction of new characters I can see some exciting turn of events later.

Ishida to Asakura

Episodes Watched: 2

I tried watching this but it didn’t have the comedy I was looking for. Even though the episodes aren’t that long I still wont be watching it because it lost to another one of my favorite shorts that I mention alter in this first look. I generally don’t review shorts anyway so I figured there is no point in continuing.

Kotoura-san

Episodes Watched: 4

Surprisingly this is one of my favorite anime this season because it does a great mix of comedy and drama. I absolutely love the characters and I’m happy with the direction they are taking it. You are slowly learning more and more about each person’s past and I’m hoping that keep things up. From what I can tell they will because I was almost certain that there would be very little drama once Kotoura met her first group of friends (boy was I wrong). I can’t wait to see how this anime turns out and for those of you still deciding I would keep an eye out for this one, it might turn out to be pretty darn amazing.

Maoyuu Maou Yuusha

Episodes Watched: 5

I’m actually not that big a fan of this anime because it doesn’t have the same appeal as a very similar anime I watched prior cough Spice and Wolf cough. However, it is keeping my interest and I want to see how things turn out. There seems to be a big war brewing in the background with a lot of ships in power and money so that’s something to look forward to. Probably the most appealing this about this anime are the characters. There is only one that I can think of which doesn’t suite my fancy, but I understand their role and couldn’t see the anime progressing as it is without them. Since all the main characters are enjoyable the anime is worth keeping up with but not quite picking up just yet.

Minami-ke Tadaima

Episodes Watched: 5

There isn’t much to say about this anime since this is already the fourth season. I’m sure if you watched the past seasons you are probably already watching this one. If you haven’t yet watched them, then I wouldn’t suggest picking them up just for this. It’s the same old gags and the same old characters. It has given me some laughs but for the most part it is the same on going this that I didn’t miss.

Mondai-Ji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?

Episodes Watched: 4

Probably another one of my favorites this season. It was one that I was looking forward to because of a certain someone I saw in the anime preview. I’m happy to report that the character didn’t disappoint. The anime is taking a new direction no character models with two strong female leads and a very strong male lead. The story is also rather interesting and so far I have no complaints. I didn’t give this a worth picking up because I’m still worried that it might tank. However, if you are feeling a little adventurous to pick something else up then by all means go for this anime.

Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru

Episodes Watched: 5

This anime has had its ups and downs as well. There have been some great scenes but I can already predict how it will end. If it doesn’t end in the fashion I’m thinking though, I will probably give it a pretty high review. Needless to say with a romance anime like this  someone’s heart is going to be broken.

Puchimas! Petit iDOLM@STER

Episodes Watched: 2

It wasn’t the shorts I was hoping it to be so I didn’t bother watching after the first two episodes. I might end up watching them all once they have all been released and I have some spare time. For now though I will leave it as a dropped anime.

Sasami-san@Ganbaranai

Episodes Watched: 4

I’m surprised that I didn’t put this anime as worth picking up since it is a SHAFT productions. It’s probably because I know that the anime isn’t suited for everyone and there are a lot of random factors that would make peoples’ heads spin. I think I like the quirky, fun bits that go on in the anime and I absolutely love the art style. The characters aren’t bad either, and the overall story is pretty funny. I’m not sure how they will keep things up though since it seems like most of it was resolved pretty early. Knowing SHAFT they will throw in another crazy twist to keep the audience entertained. I look forward to seeing how this ends.

Senyuu

Episodes Watched: 4

Not a lot to say about this short other than it because freaking hilarious. Probably some of the best comedy I’ve seen. I wish that they made the anime into full 30 minute episodes. If you haven’t check this out yet and want a good laugh I suggest picking it up. You wont be disappointed.

Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited

Episodes Watched: 5

This anime is turning out to be pretty interesting. Each episodes makes you wonder what side the main character is on and who trusts whom. The storyline keeps each episodes interesting while the mysterious backstory keeps you hooked. The idea of ESPers being hunted or used for the military is a pretty interesting outtake. Most of the time ESPers are the dominating force in an anime. This is a refreshing anime that is filled with good action, characters, and story. My fingers are crossed that it keeps up.