aloe, dream

Behind schedule, but my top series in given categories for the year behind, 2008:

Over-the-top

Without a doubt, the second and final season of Code Geass takes the cake with it’s completely illogical left-field plot twists. Was it fun to watch, I guess it was involved, but simply pissed me off to a point which I could not relate anymore… there was no rebellion, just crazy characters spiraling the plot with unrealistic and unreasonable decisions. This was most apparent when they staged a battle using Freya weapons over a well-populated city; never would happen. It’s like saying a government is going to annihilate a large urban area of their own because a terrorist is hiding there.

Notables

The Daughter of Twenty Faces was no Lupin.
The Ruler of Nabari for ninjas with eyedropper and slingshot weaponry.

Surprising

Kurenai was rather serious, but I was surprised by it’s dynamic tone, touching lighter matters, such as the musical episode, to darker matters, such as the family where Murasaki did not exist. Not only did the series pack an emotional punch, it went far beyond the potential I took from the premise; kid has to bodyguard a kidnapped girl from her plutocratic family. Murasaki’s development was truly something special.

Notables

Library Wars for building a solid romantic aspect which didn’t disappoint.
Shigofumi it’s a letter from the departed, enough said.

Character Designs

Last year I went with Code Geass over Kanon, this year I’m going with Clannad over Code Geass. I felt Clannad stepped up a notch from Kanon, though these characters are originally from Key, the KyoAni lens seemed to give the characters more details. The Fubayashis’ hair tassels, Fuuko’s hairstyle and large seifuku, Kotomi’s dazed beauty+twintail appeal, and a simple Nagisa with super-cute expressions and antenna hair. I’m a sucker.

Notables

Code Geass and Clampesque.
Kurenai for a touch of realism.
The Ruler of Nabari, where just about everyone is pretty.

Concept

Though I did place Macross Frontier best overall partly because of it’s concept, it was more for the power driven through the concept (the use of the concept). Detroit Metal City could not be more fresh and ironic. A young man wishing to play gleeful pop music has lost himself in the world of satanic death metal, and the most ironic detail is that he does it extremely well. The ironic comedy is brilliant, and though it was heavily used and possibly worn out, the early episodes of DMC all rely on the concept to set things off.

Notables

Macross Frontier for song power.
Shigofumi for Fumi-Mika’s existence.
Bamboo Blade for showing the enjoyment which comes from mixing girls and kendo.
Library Wars with it’s Farheinheit 451 twist, mixing militia matters and romance.

Comedy

Kannagi felt a warm reception among bloggers, as it was cute but often packed with many situational and physical laughs. In terms of characters, the comedic strength is stunning with Nagi, Takako, Akiba, and often Zange all managing to evoke a good amount of laughs, and the series wins in comedy because it isn’t just one or two comedians in the series. Kannagi held comedic balance across characters who were pulling full-time comedy rolls, and that spelt a ton of laughable enjoyment.

Notables

Detroit Metal City with A-class ironic comedy.
Minami-ke ~Okawari~ driven by Kana’s awesome ideas and perceptions.
Bamboo Blade featuring Kirino, Saya, and お茶.
Library Wars for Kasahara’s extreme slip-ups and head-holding frustrations.

Romance

true tears was nearly my number one selection, and it’s quite possibly the best balanced series of the year for it’s level of emotional prowess. It didn’t overpower Macross Frontier, but it did hold it’s romance better and with resolve. Noe’s transformation with love, the trials of Hiromi and Shin finally to be together, and the way these issue interact was marvelous and truthful.

Notables

Library Wars for it’s subtle development and building of Kasahara and Doujo’s relationship through to the end.
Macross Frontier for the unresolved triangle which held awesome chemistry between the trio.
kimikiss felt a lot like watching first loves blossom from multiple perspectives, two which collided in the end.

2008 Opening Theme Favorites

Kannagi
motto☆Hade ni ne! (motto☆派手にね！) by Haruka Tomatsu
video

Library Wars
Atashi no Machi (あたしの街、明日の街) by Hitomi Takahashi
video

xxxHOLiC: Kei
Nobody Knows by Shikao Suga
video

Detroit Metal City
Satsugai by Detroit Metal City
video

Ga-Rei -Zero-
Paradise Lost by Minori Chihara
video

2008 Ending Theme Favorites

Gundam 00
Wana by The Back Horn
video

Macross Frontier
Diamond Crevasse (ダイアモンド クレバス) by May’n
[especially episode 20]

Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Marionette (マリオネット) by ROLLY and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
video

Clannad
Dango Daikazoku (だんご大家族) by Chata
video

Nodame Cantabile - Paris Chapter
東京 et 巴里 (Tokyo and Paris) by Emiri Miyamoto x solita
video

Vampire Knight
still doll by Kanon Wakeshima
video

Kannagi
Musuhi no Toki (産巣日の時)” by Haruka Tomatsu
video

Library Wars
changes by Base Ball Bear
video

…and so on

So there it is, late due to New Year’s travel, unstable internet, and a 500gb hard drive crash, yippie. There is one more post in the bag, 2008 Characters, the content is set but formatting and images will take some time.

These ratings are solely my own opinion, and may be changed after fully experience more of the past year.