Hey, look at that! It’s the middle of an anime season again, which means it’s time for me to share my thoughts on what I have been watching. This will cover long-runners, stuff that debuted from the previous season and the shows that started in this current season.
Aldnoah.Zero 2
So, Earth is still at war with Mars – sorry, I mean Terra and Vers, respectively. Slaine Troyard doesn’t seem to have many fans, and I guess that it is easy to see why.
Watching the Terrans take on their technologically advanced enemies is fun to watch, particularly as they have to come up with some clever strategies.
Assassination Classroom
Easily the best comedy anime this season. Koro-sensei makes a great teacher, even if he is planning on destroying the Earth if none of his students can assassinate him before they graduate. There’s some good characterisation in there as well.
Fairy Tail Series 2
The filler arc has ended, and now we’re getting episodes based on bonus chapters from the manga. Not much to say here, but I would really like to see the anime get back to the main plot.
Go! Princess Precure
This is only three episodes in, so this is more like a first impression. Still, it’s not been too bad from what I’ve seen. The yuri subtext is right there from the first episode, and that’s the reason I’m watching Pretty Cure. Oh, and the fight scenes – quite funny, considering fisticuffs isn’t typically the first thing that comes to mind when you think of princesses.
Gourmet Girl Graffiti
Now, here’s an anime you don’t want to watch on an empty stomach. Also, the way in which Ryou and her friends eat… well, the eroticism of it has been lampshaded at least twice so far. Still, this is a fairly enjoyable slice-of-life series that might just encourage viewers to try cooking.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Battle in Egypt
So, Jotaro and his companions have arrived in Egypt, gradually getting closer to Dio. They have encountered new enemies, using Stands based on the Egyptian gods. Since Stands possess varied powers, watching Jotaro and the others overcome their enemies is great.
KanColle
This show has a strong Strike Witches vibe – though the characters in this one are able to dress more appropriately. I like the naval battles, and the slice-of-life stuff at the base is decent enough. Also, there has been a lot of pandering to yuri fans – you’ll hear no complaints from me.
Log Horizon 2
The second half of this has focused on the younger players, who have set off on their own adventure. They encounter players who are so desperate to go back to the real world that they are constantly dying, convinced that that is the solution for going back. This has led to some great characterisation for the younger players.
There is still the mystery of the incident involving Krusty, and I would like to see more from Kanami – maybe later on in the season.
One Piece
Still in the Dressrosa arc. The action is pretty much due to kick into high-gear, with Luffy and his allies being hunted down by everyone else in order to end Doflamingo’s game. Dressrosa has been a decent arc so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the fights animated.
The Rolling Girls
I really think Studio Wit were inspired by Kill la Kill when creating this. Nozomi and her three companions travel from place to place, trying to help out others in the place of downed hero Maccha Green. They also want to collect heart-shaped stones, but significance of those stones has only been hinted at. I love the soundtrack for this anime, and the animation style is great.
Shirobako
The second half of Shirobako focuses on producing an anime series from the beginning – production was well underway for the series produced in the first half. This is still interesting, as it shows many of the challenges a company faces when it comes to creating an anime series. More characters join the cast, as well.
Yurikuma Arashi
A strong contender for my favourite show of the season. The symbolism is well done, and the bears are great characters. Ginko is easily the best bear, but that’s just my opinion. There’s a lot more to this show, but I won’t get into that here.
So, overall, a pretty good season. Nice to see that the yuri is still going strong, and there’s plenty of action and comedy to keep me sated as well.
Rory Muses 