Season's Summation - Winter 2011

Another season (or 3 months) has passed and, once again, it's bittersweet.
Bitter, cause all the good shows have ended but sweet since I'm on break and its Spring!

Finals has ended and yours truly is on a (short) spring break and I've been playing non-stop all the game titles that have built up and watching final episodes of series that has ended ever since. Been playing Shogun 2 and it's been a blast.

Truly, the path to ascension from the Daimyou (Clan Leader) to ultimately Shogun (Ruler of Japan) after toppling the previous Shogunate is indeed a hard and long path. The Date clan were impressive, but the shogunate deemed me too dangerous and sent the whole (or what's left of the clans after conquering 20+ provinces) nation against me. Tried out Chosokabe next and with their farm income bonus, funding my war plans was relatively smooth as I took the South and East Japan easily.

Also, if you've noticed, I've changed my banner and background image after playing around with some image editing tools to suit my current obsession, Hatsune Miku and Nendoroids, along with a few companies and figure series that I love. Funny part is I swore I would cut down on Nendoroids but alas, Evil Smile Company won't let me off the hook that easily. ( ´∀`)

Zero says theres too much cuteness here now and he'd like the previous banner back.
I say ( ゜∀゜)アハハ八八ノヽノヽノヽノ ＼ ／ ＼／ ＼
What do you guys think about the new banner and background image? ^^

But enough about conquest and figures. It's time to summarise the previous season's lineup:

This season's was smaller compared to Autumn 2010, but nonetheless, it was fun. Almost everything ended within the same season, with a couple riding on and joining Spring much to my delight. The number of interesting shows has plummeted but that shouldn't stop me from enjoying whatever the industry has to throw. Spring looks really promising so we'll have to see how that ends up later.

Time to sing out my youth!

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


Bakuman - Love the manga, so there's no doubt I love the show too. This season pretty much explained the hardships of "getting" serialised in a magazine company. Next season should continue off from where they left, this time trying to "maintain" a serialisation. Who knew creating manga was this hard and thrilling! Respects to all mangaka and wannabe-mangaka.

Beezlebub - Been following the manga instead. The anime has turned into some kinda manzai setting with so much tsukkomi (straight-man) comebacks. Sadly they didn't portray Oga as terrifying as the manga did (like head planting seniors in the ceiling which was a.w.e.s.o.m.e). The setting ain't following the manga plot but its enjoyable in it's own way. Hopefully in the later part of the series we'll reach the climax of an arc.

Dragon Crisis - Kugumiya going all "dere-dere" and finally "tsun" at the end. Iniitally watched it cause of the seiyuus involved (Shimono) but it was kinda...well, boring. Still, it was interesting till the end.

Fractale - If you took a look at the ratings of Aoitemina's latest show, Yamakan should be packing up his bags and leaving the industry but still stayed lol. I wouldn't say it was that "bad" but it could have been better. Next time, give us our purple, 'kay?

Freezing - Perhaps I'm comparing the manhwa and the anime too much, but the manhwa had much more gore and depth for the battles. I enjoy a good plot with the frill of art and storyline but it was kinda shallow if I may say so. Didn't feel for the characters as the whole thing was too fast, I was just expecting too much or I already knew the outcome. Still, could have been better- no, waaay better if they did it more on the darker side than offering papier-mâché clothings. Should have given it to UroG lol. 

GOSICK - Hardly sickening at all. Love the detective and mystery elements which I must say, kept me in suspense for quite a while, especially when they drag an arc for a few episodes. One of the few we'll see in Spring as it trots on to double digit episodes.
  

Haiyou Nyau-ani Remember My Love Craft-sensei - I wish there's a longer version of this or something. The manzai here was awesome and it kept me hooked, only to have the credits showing up after the first few minutes. But as a short flick, it was good.

Hourou Musuko - Another low rating show during the Winter season. Honestly, I love this show to bits just like most gender-bender, but this was more on an emotional level and personal scale. There's actually tons of people like these around but they're just too afraid since society deems them in a simple category: freaks. Truthfully, I'm pretty much open to such horizons as I've a friend who wished to be a girl. Now, he (or she) is one at the moment after much trials, hardships and raised or frowned eyebrows. Good luck to the rest of you cross-dressers ^^

Infinite Stratos - Another haremic show to please the masses. And to think a show like this made the Oricon Charts as one of the highest in sales of BD (or was it DVD). I'll admit it was pretty cliché but I guess thats another factor to watch. Nonetheless, omoshiroi desu (it was fun).

Kimi ni Todoke 2 - And the great drama has ended! Finally, those two can be together, get married, have kids, grow old and live happily ever after. It's pretty much the end of the line for these two since I can't see anymore hurdles for the two lovebirds. It fine if they end it there and then, both anime and ongoing manga.

Kore wa Zombie Desuka? - Hilarious most of the time, I kinda forgot it was based on a dark setting. Another  cliché theme: zombies but it was interesting as it wasn't the usual decapitation or gory blood scenes (okay, so there was a few) but it was hilarious at a certain point. Definitely a try as long you don't expect too much.

Level E - This has got to be one of the greatest manzai acts I've seen in anime. The level of deception and tricks played by both sides too was mind boggling till the very end, catching me off guard and forcing me to watch that part twice before fully understanding the situation. A definite recommendation to all comedy lovers ^^

Mahou Shoujo Madoka ★ Magica - I don't think an explanation is required to express how good this show is. In fact, the only reason its popular was it defied the "norm" or expectations of what or how a "mahou shoujo" should be. So twisted in fact, that I pretty much lost myself halfway into the show, which can be reminisced here. If it followed the usual "norm" of "mahou shoujo", I can pretty much guarantee it would have been overlooked by many just as another magical girl fighting off evil to save the day. The fact is, its not. Madoka Magica has claimed the No.1 spot in the most talked about topic in 2ch, surpassing Nanoha and many others, represented in a chart here.The darkness is strong in this one and it shall strike back with the last two episodes in late April.

Mitsudomoe Zouryouchuu! - Kinda glad they ended it at 8 episodes as it wasn't as funny as the first season. Kinda lacking the factor which was humorous but glad it was put down before anymore damage was done.

Onii-chan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara Ne! - My lovely Kitamura Eri has been reduced to a pile of brother-complex-perverted girl. Seiyuu have to either choose their works more carefully or are just too good at jobs to fit a certain role for the character.

Rio - Rainbow Gate - Gambling element was interesting but it was rather predictable as it was going at a pace everyone was familiar with. Kinda like déjà vu.

Starry Sky - I know, I know. Its a reverse harem series, so shoot me. Heck, sue me. I've watched and read my fair share of shoujo themes, perhaps more than the average girl reads (my cousin has read more shounen titles than I have anyway) but I've found reverse harems interesting. If anyone remembers Fruits Basket ("Furuba" for the old guys/gals), it's pretty much like that. Episodes as split into all guys based on the horoscope signs, divided into 2 part episodes. Each characters has quite alot of depth and I'm impressed they could reveal so much about a character in a short 10 minute episode.

Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto - Ah yes. This. Where do I start... Maybe I should start with it being hopeless. Yes, hopeless. It was hopeless indeed. As hopeless as kid refraining himself from getting another from the cookie jar. As hopeless as water droplets falling from storm clouds. As hopeless as sun shining the very next day. The final episode was as much as I hoped for or even more as I watched it through tear filled eyes; an epic battle, the struggles of overcoming the finale and the bonds of friendship conveyed, not through words, but the understanding each others hearts. The timing, the play up to the end of everything, and music arrangement: perfect. The message at the end of the day was conveyed through the actions of Takuto; take everything and anything and shine tomorrow brighter than today. This one goes into the archives forever. May everyone continue to shine, in your own special way!
KIRABOSHI!

Suite Precure ♪ - I know this ain't exactly something that suits everyone's taste or would normally pick up in their normal state of mind, but after Puella Magi, I needed some normal "mahou shoujo". Seeing as I grew up with Cardcaptor Sakura, this is no different (or maybe it is) and its quite entertaining if you look at it at a whole and not nit pick it. I might watch the new movie thats coming out, starring all the Precure characters ^^

Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspectors - Coming from a Gundam fan, this was quite enjoyable. As I'm quite new to the whole Super Robots history, I'm still a trainee pilot but I've got Zero whose's quite knowledgeable in SRW.

To Aru Majutsu no Index II - It was, once again, an awesome novel adaptation. People complained how it was too fast but for someone who didn't read the novel at first, I found it paced pretty well. Got to see more of Misaka, Misaka Imouto, Last Order and Misaka's mom. I'm a happy man indeed ^^. As I'm sure most of you know (or at least those following the novels), this season might be the very last of those "peaceful days" from the Index novels, cause everything from here on, will plunge into war and chaos. Check out the novels if you've the time ^^

Yumekui Merry - The concept of dreams, humans and drea-mons is quite thrilling in a sense. The suspense was just right to keep me hooked. Hopefully, season two will be considered seeing as the response and ratings were favourable ^^