Season's Summation - Autumn 2010

Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climate, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice. -Wikipedia

They forgot to mention Winter also entails snow-car pileups, grounded aircrafts, transportation crisis, strikes, billions of dollars loss, corporations tearing their hair out, the world ending, all while plunging further into the "minus" region deeper with every passing year.

Man, just what does January have in store for those poor bastards in the Northern hemi?

As you might not (already) know, I've returned to continue my semester, early last month. So it's back to paper-pushing and researching while rushing for the deadlines. Seems like my precious sleep time will be horribly murdered, sliced, spliced and diced (again).
Thankfully, our dean and lecturers agreed they desperately need a break from us wild undergraduates causing mayhem on campus once in awhile, so we've gone onto a 2 week Christmas hiatus. So if you've noticed my Twitter wasn't exactly up-to-date at times previously, apologies for that. Must remember to use Twitter more often...

It seems like only yesterday when I wrote the Summer version of this, and we're now only hours away from the new year. Funny how time passes by ever so fast, even if it it only has a 1-second interval of time stoppage.
Just where did my snooze alarm function go?!

Anyway, lets cut to the chase.
Same thing as Summer, here's Winter's overall grade;

The return and resurrection of older titles has been overwhelming. With 6 sequels/continuations, everyday was bliss. A few originals here and there but interesting nonetheless. Also, every title has used CG in some way, which is no surprise for the rest of this year as well. As ugly as it may seems, it's a necessary to speed up production.
Unfortunately, many shows abruptly ended this month and waaaay to many if I may say so. Only a couple of brave shows had the courage and will to trudge through the cold and into the icy months ahead.

Some personal opinions on what went down in Winter's lineup with, again, bold ORENJI on those particularity worth watching;

Amagami SS - All good things come to an end. All 6.... no, make that 7 girls were particularly charming in their own way. I don't think I've felt that much love and despair from a series. Those of you who have been afflicted with reality-despair syndrome, fear not as there's Junichi the punching bag to relieve out stress on. Tachibana Miya will be getting her own arc with the coming BD/DVD, so get ready for the 8th chapeter; wincest?

Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge - Just ended this Monday, and I'm still laughing from then. As always, great chemistry and voicing by respective seiyuus on their roles. Although we might have derailed from the original plot (again, was there any?) like the protagonist's spasms when owning someone, but I guess we progressed from that to reach the core of the show, everyday humor with under the bridge residents.

Bakuman - As portrayed in both the manga and anime, being a mangaka is serious shit and extremely tough. The effort that goes into producing the next chapter of any series you're currently reading is mind-blowing. I have a new sense of respect for those continue to deliver goodness with every page and every week.

Fortune Arterial - Akai Yakusoku - Again, we're back to the cliché topic; vampires. Taken from the eroge, I didn't really expect much with such a linear plot. Of course, the game has different ways you might want to end it but it was really boring to a point but interesting enough to finish it.

Hakuoki Hekketsuroku - Feels like they've been doing more talking that fighting in the first few episodes. Not what I was looking for. Season 1 of Hakuoki was awesome but this kinda eludes me. Still, samurai and slashing scenes are my weakness.

Hyakka Ryouren Samurai Girls - Interesting censorship method but helluva annoying. Just when you can see it, pop goes the ink mark. Grrr.... Storyline was surprisingly serious, as aforementioned by the seiyuus themselves in their interview video.

Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai - As I'm already reading the show, this anime make no difference, right? How wrong I was. It's great to review back the early chapters/captures with some pretty decent animation/art involved. Glad they managed to bring forth the protagonist's spirit and passion with a suitable seiyuu.

Kuragehime - I'm still waiting for the last episode, but it was interesting in it's own way. Pretty stand-alone with it's own genre and type of audience (shoujo IINM), but very interesting as well.

MM! - I don't know where to begin for this show... Are all K-ON members going into dominatrix and sadistic roles? Senhime had Tsumugi while this show had Azusa running about and beating the living shit out of poor Fukuyama Jun. But then, he's not complaining, so....

Motto ToLOVERu - Trouble - Possibly, the better ending compared to the sudden conclusion in season 1. This followed the manga right up to the end where both (I meant three) sides felt mutual love for one another. Are we going to see more of this? Who knows, but lets give the new ToLOVERu manga a head start....

Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai - I've noticed there's a particular rage for this show, but I can't seem to share that passion. Sure, the main female protagonist was cute but I found her really annoying at times. Loud mouth, constant tsun mode and dropkick from out of nowhere on the poor brother. I can pretty much emulate the brother as I've got an irritable sister myself, and this show just reminds of that fact. But still, the story was good, with an "alternate" ending route to be later aired in March.

Otome Youkai Zakuro - Youkai and humans and they're acceptance for one another. Supposedly set somewhere within the Meiji era, it seems foreigners were more acceptable than the local youkai. Although they took their time in getting to the main story, it was enjoyable to watch.

Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt - Not the anime everyone else was expecting but in the end, it was so horribly good that a season 2 was announced and I love it. Humorously sickening and very different from the standard moeblobs were quite used to nowadays. Can't wait for S2, somewhere in the near future, hopefully...

Shinrei Tantei Yakumo - Man able to see spirits proved to be more captivating that I imagined. Deep story and complex characters are good point here and really worth watching. My only issue with this show, is the OP. Someone, please strangle Ono Daisuke form doing OPs, ever!

Shiki - A dark horse since the last season and it's been a roller coaster ride. We've reach the point where massacring the undead is done over tea and onigiri. Really worth watching, tho I'm a few episodes behind thank to the overwhelming number of those this Autumn. Guess I'll collect it all then watch it in one go. 

Shinryaku! Ika Musume - Love this series and Ika-musume! Something about her just wants to make you squeeze and hug till she bursts. A very catchy OP help alot to set the mood needed to watch the show and they did this very well. 

Sora no Otoshimono Forte - It followed the manga to one point, but at the end, it kinda of very awry. Seems like they fast forwarded the plot, surpassing the currently mangas storyline. 

Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru - Some might have found the main protagonist's voice similar to nails of the board, but it was music to my ears. She doesn't actually sound like that IRL, but the character required such an irritable voice to give life to an irritable character. And yeah, the ending was perfect. Sad yet hilarious till the end. 

Stardriver - Kagayaki no Takuto - You have no idea how long I stayed up just to get the early edition of this show, every week. Miyano Mamoru is perfectly executing this role as a pretty boy yet saviour of mankind (not). It's come to the point where I've memorized those key phrases and song lyrics during the transformation sequence. This continues into Winter 2011, much to my delight.

Super Robot Taisen OG - The Inspectors - I pick this up thanks to provocation from a friend. Yeah, that mean you, dude. Hahaha. I'm still fuzzy from the sudden wrap jump to the sequel season as I have no clue what happened to the first season itself. But being true to the spirit of a mecha fan, I shall embrace and continue to watch this show. 

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes - 4 fail-tectives in pursuit of a master thief and their lost powers was hilarious. Enjoyed every bit of slapstick humor added in. Even in the end, it retained it's funny nature. Truly worth watching, even if it looks different. 

To Aru Majutsu no Index II - The revival of the series could only mean the novel is making a drastic advance or we have enough material for 6 months of goodness. I think it's the later. Bringing unexplainable magical powers while defying the concepts of science, it was a hands-down win from moment the sequel was announced. The battle of science and magic drags on to Winter 2011

Yosuga no Sora - True to the concept of eroge, it had many routes to end and live happily ever after with the female protagonist of your choice. That being said, you might as well label the main male protagonist as a dickhead, but remember!; it's all about arcs, just like that bastard Junichi. Grrrr...

Yumeiro Patissiere Professional - I literally despaired when I realized it ended with 12 episodes. "ONLY 12?" was my reaction, as I expected more like it's previous 50+ episodes season. Such disappointment, but satisfying at the end.