Category: Seasonal

Autumn 2009: From Me To You

Posted by Ryan A - October 22, 09

Reach
Standing affectionately, face-to-face, one would think it were Spring.

There is nothing here, or rather, there is nothing extraordinary. From Me To You is a simple beauty1. I am amused by the generic shoujo exposition; girl thinks about boy, boy silently thinks about girl, a tender relation begins. Given typical roots, why is this series particularly special?

Production… no, this isn’t the answer. While the production values are particularly appealing, I beg to differ that this is a specialized attribute which brings the series to another level2. It cannot be said that the same experience would be achieved with less production, so I do consider it essential, but there is more, or less to this blossoming experience.

Subtle, is that which renders From Me To You my season gem.

Given all attributes of composition, I feel it is the little notions which bring an array of shifts and feelings to the viewer. The amount of effort is not excessive, and the resulting atmosphere is coupled with a completely natural tone. Fluent in human.

While I highly enjoyed the first episode, this realization of the smaller pieces did not occur until the second episode, where I was taken by surprise at how a minor event of ‘Changing Seats’ could manifest such a compelling presence of heartwarming emotion.

Shocked. It was safe to smile, and so I did. Perhaps I shed a tear as well, I don’t remember3.

Reach
Do you remember their faces?

Expression Bump 2

_

watched 君に届け (episode 02)

I has been touched! Poked right in the heart. Again, subtle, and the presentation is just brilliant. Emote! Quite possibly my season pick, just as Nodame Cantabile was in Winter '07.

on 君に届け 15d ago

I stand by that micro reflection, and with that I feel From Me To You is the series of the season4. While the premise is simple and perhaps childish, the presentation thus far is practically perfect; there is no excess, and the composure is brilliant.

Enjoy. Small. Things.

Liveblogging on Melative

More…

Autumn 2009: Kobato.

Posted by Ryan A - October 18, 09

Obligatory Autumn short on one of the cutest things this season.

Kobato
Starfish Bankai comes later

It is quite cute, but at the same time, there is fluff and retarded moe. Let’s face it, Kobato has starfish powers, and I am fine with that. Personally, Kobato’s disposition isn’t a detractor, and I feels her follies and expressions are a simple pleasure to enjoy, especially her expressions <3.

Of course, there is little reward in the experience thus far, except for the bite-size pieces of kyaa, but with the character-chemistry and hitsuzen of the first two episodes, I think something slightly more meaningful is brewing1. I won’t go so far as to suggest the series as an “Autumn essential”, or even suggest giving it a chance, but I feel that the viewers aboard after two episodes aren’t going to be displeased; easy to enjoy one episode at a time2.

Smiles are healthy.

Liveblogging on Melative

More…

Autumn 2009: Nyan Koi!

Posted by Ryan A - October 8, 09

Nyaaa
Cat Service

Super quick impression:

_

watched Nyan Koi! (episode 01)

Nyaa~! Amusing ^^ Premise is w/e, but the cat chatter is a nice element. Slight harem? Can deal. Mizuno's infatuation is just peachy xD

on Nyan Koi! 24d ago

Enjoyable enough. No issues. Moving along.

Autumn 2009: The Student Council’s Discretion

Posted by Ryan A - October 6, 09

uguu
And so we try…

This series premiered over the weekend. I watched the first 15 minutes late one evening, and finally watched the full episode very late last night (two nights ago). I haven’t said anything proper about this episode, other than ‘lol’ or ‘it was quite funny’. I did have a few good chuckles, and within the abyssal depths of Google Reader Shared Items (GRSI), I did make a statement that the series wasn’t on the level to grasp the hearts of the ye diverse blogosphere. I stand by it.

Personally, I found the episode to be illegitimate, an episode 0. For the majority of the first 15 minutes, the viewer is presented with a number of anime references and source material references, while the characters trot along the fourth wall. The latter half of the episode felt more reasonable and less like it was dare I say, servicing itself.

As for the elements, comically it was fine, though I don’t think the references were hilarious. However, I question if the early part of the episode was even in the source material, or was this perhaps the adaptation’s way of saying “Hello, let’s be friends.” What do we know?

First, the episode was trying to break the ice with viewers by referencing franchises most up-to-date viewers would acknowledge. Second, it was totally servicing itself. Third, it displayed popular elements like harem, moe, and fan-service.

Intimacy is a concept rooted in closeness and familiarity, and this is precisely where I see the “bad” part of this episode trying to connect. I see nothing wrong here. While I did find illegitimacy, I found enjoyment as well.

uguu
Bishis, so what?

My enjoyment came mostly from the energy, lightness, tone, and the glimpse of a school life series that might have tried too hard early on. It was cute, with cookie-cutterish characters I was able to smile at here and there.

I have no doubt this ship is definitely sinking could capsize, but at episode 0 1, my foresight is shot. No, this is definitely not “the next best thing,” but for now, I’ll be modestly optimistic.

More…

Autumn 2009: A Certain Scientific Railgun

Posted by Ryan A - October 3, 09

Railgun

Fanboyable

A Certain Scientific Railgun is one of the more anticipated series this season, largely around the Mikoto-factor or the Mikoto-Kuroko-factor. In any case, it’s surely fun… and so much > Index, or so I’ve heard.

The group of girls very cute, individually and in their mutual chemistry, but the most intrigue comes from Kuroko and Mikoto being quite ESP’d up (especially the 電撃姫). J.C. Staff shows some effort in the action scenes, and the production quality reflects it.

Personally, Mikoto’s grand scene was a little corny at the start, but it fittingly serves to introduce her awesome powerlevel. On the other side of the core duo, Kuroko owned the episode a number of times… twice at once even.

Railgun

hu~

*cough* ごめん〜

I’ll be following along, but (because there’s always a ‘but’) I figure it might be good to blend the experience in a similar fashion as I did with Hayate the Combat Butler!! So I will likely be queuing some of my Index backlog as Railgun proceeds.

Liveblogging on Melative

Autumn 2009: Kampfer

Posted by Ryan A - October 3, 09

Note: most Autumn series are listed on the Autumn 2009 page, more info and resources can be found by hovering a title.

Kampfer didn’t do it for me. Given, the last few minutes left a slightly intriguing cliff, so I’ll at least give it one more episode, but the fluff outweighs the goal imo.

kampfer

One positive aspect has to be Akane, the moebrarian with a serious persona shift after she Kampferizes or whatever, but it isn’t enough.

kampfer

aa~tehe~

Can’t say Sakura isn’t that typically cute main girl either. The girls aren’t the problem.

We Can Haz Haremus

The issue being, a harem needs to float on more than simply nice, big busts. Watch the first ep, or RAEGQUIT like ghostlightning… the results are inconsequential I believe.

Packy Master Hayate

Posted by Ryan A - September 28, 09

PACKY

I was impressed

Congratulations! You Are a Champion

Hayate the Combat Butler, the second coming, recently ended. Overall, it was great, but the merit is restricted to a select number of episodes (let’s say 3-8, 10-13, 15-17, 18, 23-24)1. Hmm…

Wow, actually that’s a good 75% of the series being at awesome-level lovecom. Given, the general power of the franchise are the subtleties between the main quattro, Ayumu, Nagi, Hinagiku and of course Hayate, but this is precisely where the 2009 version brought out it’s A-game. Although…

As with most of these long-running series, the episodic nature offers a mixed bag of relevant and non-relevant material, but one thing I enjoyed with Hayate is the distinction between these episodes; it was easy to determine on and off-track episodes.

Comparatively2, the 2007 version was like a scattered slice/comedy affair with less relevant lovecom accentuation3. With 20 episodes left in my first season marathon, I feel I can safely say S2 was a delight. Despite the positive attributes, I do not think S2 can stand alone without most of the first 17 episodes of the season one.

Side stories and irrelevant episodes aside, Hayate the Combat Butler is quite charming4.

Liveblogged on Melative

More…