Behind schedule, but my top series in given categories for the year behind, 2008:
Tag: Gundam 00
The CM Appeal: Autumn
Based on the commercials I’ve seen, my current AMPINGS (with bias, duh):
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Gundam 00 Second Season

Previews were a little abstract, but we know where this is going. Play point, the new Celestial Being. -
Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter

Only wondering if the “recent” drama special will be mixing substance. Nodame’s VA does really good anyhow. -
Toradora!

This wasn’t going to be in here, but I managed to come across a real preview, with voices and art. Yes, I want it NAO~! The light novel does a very nice job, and I hope this series comes off a little different than other tsundere-trademarked shows (Zero, Shana, etc); there is no magic and fantasy! -
A Certain Magical Index

The designs and production appear solid. In terms of assurance, I think I can rely on it *saran wraps his words for a later date* -
Michiko to Hatchin

Very stylish, hot, fun. Is this really my second Autumn gear-up post? Do I even have time for all these series? -
ef - a tale of melodies

Okay, biggest question. While a tale of memories centered around Chihiro, who had memory issues, is this one centered around a deaf girl? Are we aiming for new moe modes, or what? -
Kannagi

This was the series that bumped me to write this post. I cannot ascertain what genre this may dominate, but it surely looks like 1) slice-of-life 2) mahou 3) shoujo 4) not mahou-shoujo. -
Corpse Princess
Oh My God, what studio is this?
Notice: Yozakura Quartet were not included, because I didn’t see any decent CM on them. So what’s that 9 series? Also, previous Autumn dabbling was here.
At the Core :: Gundam 00
Yes, I am truly over-amping G00, but I think this will be my last post on it [and relations to Code Geass].
In short, I think the reasoning I find G00 stronger than Geass comes from the production core, specifically Hajime YATATE (Sunrise collective* responsible for Cowboy Bebop, 1999), Seiji MIZUSHIMA (director, Full Metal Alchemist, 2003),and Yousuke KURODA (screenwriter, Honey and Clover, 2005). Which, I hadn’t looked up but makes sense when I look at the points where G00 wins over Geass. Also, glancing at the associated* works, there is no sign of Code Geass.
Sure G00 has less than Geass characterization, but it’s not horrible, and really is brought up a bit by 00’s strong attributes.
*edit: thank you wanderer.
Finally Gundam 00

Yes, I managed to finish this super-solid first season in light of the coming sequal. Why the hell didn’t I finish it until now? Not sure, but, I’m glad to be amped for next month.
Most of my Gundam 00 episodic impressions can be found at melative, but I will say this about Gundam 00: It surpasses Code Geass by a big margin. Which sort of redeems the Sunrise in my eyes, after R2… but doesn’t G00 predate R2 O.o
My real beef is that, Code Geass S1 was quite a good series, and ended decently, but G00 had a much better first season than Geass. Now, if Sunrise decided to take to R2 form with this second season of G00, I will be _______. Right!
Simply, here are some points G00 has over Geass, which Sunrise could totally FFFF:
- Composure (G00 was well-oiled, Geass was shredded tranny)
- Beauty (Space-Beautiful vs ugly persona, or die)
- Resolve (G00 has a handle to grasp, Geass is excite bike on acid)
- Identification (I can feel for members of Celestial Being, Geass everyone has un-human decision-making skills)
- Meaning (Eradicate war vs the world as a chess board)
- Justification (sound flow to Geass’s inverse variant of logic)
- Romance (mine as well, even if it is faint… Setsuna and Marina have a deeper relationship than everyone in Geass except Lulu X Suzaku)
Har Har. Whether I exaggerate or not, I still believe Gundam 00 has more wholesome attributes than Geass, and by far a more invigorating watch, without the eyerolls and doggie bag.