Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Review

Un-Go Review

2012 Fall Anime - Final Watch List

Yeah I know I never posted the second part of "First Impression", I really got lazy here. But here is the watch list!
Three weeks into the season, I think I have enough information to finalize the list. The stats is based on the first three episodes (two in the case of Robotics;Notes and Psycho-Pass). It really hasn't changed all that much from what I planned from the start. Some of these shows I will follow on a weekly basis, others I will probably marathon once they are finished. The rating is relative rather than absolute. This season is pretty strong on the whole, so the competition is quite fierce.

Psycho-Pass
Rating: 9/10
Keywords: futuristic, technologically advanced world, police and guns, criminals, criminals hunting criminals, right vs. wrong, psychological, psychopath meter (in other words, psychopathic mentality can be quantified, a little too convenient for my taste, but I sense there are problems associated with it, which are already apparent in the first episode), fluid animation  (few studio are capable of combining CG seamlessly with traditional animation, and Production I.G is at the top of the ladder, truly breathtaking stuff), solid directing, interesting cast, hope won't turn as depressing as Fate/Zero
Interest Level: High

Zetsuen no Tempest
Rating: 8/10
Keywords: dramatic, Shakespeare, mysterious, magical powers, kickass actions, fluid animation, world on the verge of collapsing, interesting character dynamic, Bones to the core (did I mention world on the verge of collapsing? You can't get more Bones than that...lol)
Interest Level: High

Magi
Rating: 7.5/10
Keywords: exotic settings, magic, adventure, very likable characters, fast-paced plot, very shonen
Interest Level: Medium ~ High

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
Rating: 8.5/10
keywords: stylish, quirky, things that actually make me laugh (hooray), refreshing, interesting characters, great directing, Brains Base is at it again
Interest Level: High

Btooom!
Rating: 8/10
Keywords: dark, twisted, battle royale, violent, psychologically intense, inner demons, survival of the fittest, geeky (smart) dialogues
Interest Level: High (with a degree of discomfort because of the content, but it could still be very good)

Shinsekai Yori
Rating: 9/10
Keywords: post-apocalypse, suspense, suspense and suspense (this show really knows how to crank up the suspense, the atmosphere is creepy despite little to nothing is actually happening in the big picture), supernatural, unspeakable secrets, great character development, excellent pacing, top pick of the season for now
Interest Level: High

K
Rating: 6/10
Keywords: polished animation but too much CG for comfort, style over substance, flashy by inconsistent, messy directing, fanservice, fantasy, bishies with swords in blue uniform, eye candies, a stellar cast of seiyuu, oh and finally CUTE CLEANING ROBOTS, no really, they are awesome
Interest Level: Low ~ Medium

Robotics Notes
Rating: 8/10
Keywords: slow start, light hearted, great character dynamic (very down to earth), school club, carefree, chasing dreams, subtle and warm, main character has Elephant and Mouse Syndrome (say what? but it's rather intriguing to say the least, finally we have a syndrom other than "spirit perception".)
Interest Level: High

Code:Breaker
Rating: 7/10
Keywords: generic shonen, main dude has a stone heart oh so cold, boring/irritating female lead too naive for her own good, supernatural (fire power, ice power.....like oh so original..but on the whole it's a pretty violent show, more than I thought it would be)
Interest Level: Medium

Suki-tte Ii na yo
Rating: 7.5/10
Keywords: Shojo, romantic tragedy (not quite, but it's not a happy go lucky either, it's just a show wanting to be taken seriously and I'll give it the benefit of the doubt), self-esteem issues, socially awkward girl meets popular boy, good directing, very artsy in style, surprisingly well adapted 
Interest Level: Low ~ Medium 

From highest score to lowest 
Shinsekai Yori
Psycho-Pass
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
Zetsuen no Tempest
Robotics;Notes
Btooom!
Magi
Suki-tte Ii na yo
Code:Breaker
K

Well, that's it. Someone shoot me now. This season is very packed and I suspect most of these shows, with the exception of K, is going to be more than one cour. I haven't had a season this busy in ages. The lineup is above average in terms of quality and potential, so much so that I have trouble deciding what to drop. Maybe I won't end up dropping any at all (again, someone shoot me). Right now, K is in the red zone, one more episode and I'll decide. So rest assured that even if none of these shows turn out to be masterpieces, the season as a whole should be decent and enjoyable. Oh right, Chuunibyou and Little Busters!.....what can I say, I'm not particularly into those types of shows in the first place, but I'll see at the end of the season whether I'll give them a try.

"Cowboy Bebop Helmer Shinichiro Watanabe, BONES Plan New TV Anime"

For full article, link here --> Anime News Network

We got some great news today! The legendary director Shinichiro Watanabe (Director of Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope) is going to be working with Bones on a new original series. I should point out that Watanabe was part of Studio 2 at Sunrise, which split from the company after completing Cowboy Bebop in order to establish BONES. So considering the numerous connections he has with the personnel at BONES, having him back with the studio is really something to look forward to. Put the two together, I think we should expect something stylish, innovative, and lushly animated. Now I'm actually wondering if this new series is related to CB in any way, because Bones announced a couple of month ago that they were working on a new version of a "familiar" title. It's really hard not to draw parallels with Watanabe on board. But either way, I'm just happy we have the talents reunited. I can't wait for more updates!

On a second note, Watanabe is also working with MAPPA on a new series. Kids on the Slope, also directed by Watanabe, was MAPPA's first project after the studio was established by the co-founder of Madhouse. My initial surprise at how well Kids on the Slope was produced subsided when I found out MAPPA's origin. I want to talk a little about the parent company Madhouse. Madhouse hasn't been doing all that well financially, probably as an impact of taking on less mainstream projects that are well praised but not popular within the general market, and this led to the loss of its independence last year when NTV became its biggest stockholder. While being under another company buffers the financial situation and ensures that the studio receives enough budget to carry on, it also raises a lot issues. As we saw with the case of Studio 2 splitting from Sunrise as a response to the increasing pressure from Bandai, Madhouse also risked losing a lot of creative freedom by being under NTV. Let's face it, an artist's unique vision might not give rise to works that actually sell, and the boss company probably sees making a profit as the more important objective. When there is a conflict of interest, guess who wins? So MAPPA was established as an effort to preserve the creative freedom. Works that can't be produced at Madhouse will be produced at MAPPA. Well, that sounds better than nothing, and I hope with the help of many talents, such as Watanabe, the studio will continue to shine.  

2012 Fall Season - First Episode Impression Part I

For detailed season preview click here 

With the new season in full swing, I thought I would do a "first episode impression" post to get started. I will only be previewing series I'm absolutely interested for, that's about 7-8 show if I get around to put together my thought. Here is Part I. 

Zetsuen no Tempest

Synopsis: 

"Mahiro Fuwa, a teenager whose family was mysteriously murdered a year ago, is contacted by Hakase Kusaribe, a young woman who stands against her clan since they left her stranded on a deserted island. As the two decide to help each other, Hakase's quest to oppose her clan brings to light that the Kusaribe clan intends to awaken the "Tree of Zetsuen" whose power can bring chaos upon the entire world."

My Thought: 

That was definitely a great opening, better than what I had in mind. Besides depicting the first chapter of the manga, Bones introduced a couple of original scenes that really enhanced the overall feel of the characters. The pacing is fast, but not incoherent, demonstrating solid directing from beginning to end. The highlight of the episode is probably not the plot, as it's still in its initial stage, appearing somewhat generic and perhaps a little over the top in the drama department,  the animation and music is what took my breath away. With beautifully choreographed action sequences, which exude both energy and grace, Bones once again flaunts its expertise and confidence in the domain. Similarly, the landscapes are equally crafted with detail. The orchestral soundtrack in the background compliments the scenes perfectly, setting the kind of atmosphere that's essential for successful story telling. Given the premise, I could not have asked for a better execution for an opening episode.

Interest Level: High