Anime I’m watching this Winter Season

Well, this Winter (or Summer over here in Aussie land) Season has gone long enough now, that I’ve got a fairly clear list of shows that I’ll be watching. Figures and Fanfiction is great and all, but without good source material to become a fan of, or write about, the world of Figures and Fanfiction (Anime) would be quite dull indeed ^_^;;

My strategy is thus – watch absolutely everything for a couple of episodes, and then choose to stick with the ones that interested me the most. What’s your strategy?

Anyway, it doesn’t look as strong as last season, but there are still a few new shows that I’m really liking so far. We’ll see… below is my list ranked in order of how much I’m liking them so far.

1: Rideback

Ballet on a Mecha Motorbike? WIN

  

The animation in this is nothing short of outstanding, and even if it had a crappy story I probably would have still continued to watch it for the eye candy. However, the story and premise is no slouch either. Imagine a professional ballet dancer, who loses interest in it, then goes on to study at college looking for a normal life … then becomes hooked in the world of mecha motorbike racing, and uses her ballet moves to pwn?

Cute chick – check. Mecha Motorbike action – check. Awesome choreographed dancing/martial arts moves – check. Definitely the dark horse of this season I did not know existed until I watched it like I watch every new show in every new season.

Currently up to the second episode, and the last sequence had my jaw dropping. Recommended.

 

2: Kurokami the Animation

No this isn’t Shana. Instead it’s her more serious kickboxing twin

  

Another nice surprise. And also very good animation. The character designs somewhat remind me of Shakugan no Shana, and if you look at the pics you’ll see why. I think the OP somewhat reminds me of Shana as well.

However Kuro is not a tsundere this time. This time it’s the cute character design, who kicks ass. The fighting moves she does are very fluid, smooth, and realistic (at least until her hands start glowing lightning ^_^;;). Instead of sword fighting, Kuro looks like she uses a mix of some type of kick boxing style. Looks very very cool.

Anyway the premise of this one is that we have a main guy character, who at first glance, seems like the typical shounen variety. However as the first episode goes on, you begin to see beneath the outer layer, and see that he is not as typical as it seems.There is also a fair lot of shock scenes in the first episode that seriously made me go WTF. I won’t say more in case of spoilers however.

The gist though is about the concept of “doppelgangers” that is every person has another person who looks exactly like them. And if they were to meet, the “weaker” one would suddenly die of either disease or an accident, and that person’s power would transfer to the stronger one. And then you have Kuro (the red haired chick) who has some kind of power and joins up with the main char.

You may find it hard to find this series however, as it is already liscensed (that was fast). But definitely another series I recommend.

 

3:  White Album

An 80s School Days?

  

And now for something different, here is the romance / drama show of the season. Has Hirano Aya and Mizuki Nana as the voice actresses, who also sing in the show, so just from them along, this show will already have some pull.

Even after watching 3 eps, I still don’t know too much about this one. But from what I’ve read, it will be a love triangle type story of some sort.  Touya the main char has been going out withYuki since high school. However Yuki is now becoming an idol, and is losing touch with him. In comes Rina, another idol, who becomes friends with Yuki. It seems the triangle will involve these three somehow … the pace is kind of slow, so not much has happened yet, but I’m curious to see what happens.

So if you like romance dramas, then this might be the show to watch this season. I’m not really sure if I should be ranking this 3rd on my list yet … it’s just this high because of the animation and the voice actresses. And the fact I’m a sucker for love triangle type dramas.

 

4: Chrome Shelled Regios

Meichi, cutest anime chick this season?

  

Another Action Anime, and if you’re the type who likes the main character to be bad ass from the beginning, then this one is for you. I do get kind of sick of the shows where the main character starts off  really weak, then progresses very slowly from there (e.g. Naruto, who is still weak and why I’ve dropped that show after getting sick of Sasuke stealing the spotlight, but I digress and gomen to Naruto fans).

In this one, it is some sort of post apocolyptic future (I love these stories) where civilisation now lives in secluded bases in the desert which is ruled by huge bug monster things. Humans have evolved to have some sort of super powers, at least some of them, and it is their job to defend their cities from the bugs.

Well, I can’t really explain it too well. However the main character, Layfon, used to be one of the badass powerful humans, if not the most powerful one, who joins a new city wanting a new life. But the people in charge know his past and direct him into once again fighting and once again he shows how much of a bad ass he is.

And of course, in among the bunch, you have the cute girls littering the show (seriously the one who gets a crush on Layfon, Meishen, is seriously one of the cutest – in the way she acts – anime girls I have seen in a show yet). Excited about this one!

 

5: Miname-Ke Okaeri

Kana is my Anime Waifu

  

The first season was one of my favourite shows ever – a day in a life of three sisters, all weird in some way. If only there was a Kana in real life, but I don’t think they exist o_0.

But they ruined that with the second season with the weird change of character designs, and unfunny plots.

So I didn’t have too much expectations for the third season. However it looks like they’ve somewhat gone back to their roots, as it now has the same feel as the first season somehow. Very much liking the transition back to the season one style. Although the quality STILL isn’t as good as season one, I still like it a lot better than two.

And Hosuka is back!!! YAY. So I’ve picked this one back up again. Recommended if you liked the first season.

 

6: Tower of Druaga – Season 2

Jil … and the Tower of Gilgamesh? *snort*

   

Little Kai … with her Spoon of Hell

Fatina receives Kai’s Spoon from Hell

Really liked the first season with how random some of the episodes were. And after that major cliffhanger at the end of it, I’m pretty much forced to watch this one.

IMO, Kaaya seriously needs to die >_>. Unless she has a REALLY good excuse about why she betrayed Jil. So right now I’m shipping for Fatina … she deserves it for taking care of Jil’s hikkomiri ass for the past year. however I have a feeling all will be forgiven for Kaaya -_-;;.

It really does look like Fatina has a genuine liking for Jil though. She is so cute. If she gets thrown aside by Jil later on for Kaaya (hate hate hate!) I will be quite annoyed!

However, the second ep with chibi Kai … with her spoon … has to be the FUNNIEST thing I have seen this anime season. This one upped my ranking on this show just from this scene lol! I’m not sure if this should be ranked 6 on my list anymore. I think it needs to be promoted.

 

7: Maria Holic

You know, I was fooled too

  

My LOL Anime of the season. Seriously couldn’t stop laughing at certain spots. The premise is that the main character, Kanako, joined a girl’s school because she wants to meet the love of her life. Yes, she plays for the same side of the fence. Of course, hijinks occur when she meets the antagonist of the show … the perfect Trap(tm).

It also doesn’t help that this Trap is the most sadistic, evil character you could even think of making – in a funny way!

 

8: Asu no Yoichi

I’m shipping for the blonde tsundere in this one

  

This one isn’t actually new to me because I’ve actually read the first few chapters of the manga. It seemed fairly typical, the samurai boy who has never learned to be part of society comes down from the mountains to learn the way of life in the city. He stays at a father’s friend’s family’s house, who all happen to be cute chicks.

Of course comedic hijinks occur when you have 2 of them the typical tsundere type, with one a violent one, the other the cute when she’s angry one. I’m liking Ayane so far, don’t really like the main female char as she kinda seems a tad too violent and unfunny.

Haven’t fully made my mind up on this yet, but for now it’s on my watch list.

 

9: Akikan

Too bad Melon-chan doesn’t have bigger Melons?

  

This has to be the most absurd idea for an anime yet. Basically certain types of drink cans can turn into girls when you drink them. And there has to be fight between the “steel” cans and the “aluminium” cans to determine which are the best types of cans to produce.

The girls also have special powers that depends on what type of drink they are. Still, as utterly ridiculous the story is, I found myself being entertained. From the utter ridiculousnes of the story, to the homosexual government agent guy, to the pervertedness of the main character (who has Lelouch’s voice from Code Geass, no less), guess that goes to show what kind of guy I am if I like this sort of stuff LOL.

 

Conclusion:

Not as many series that have hooked me in this time around, but still a few that I really like so far. Are there any shows that I’ve missed here, but you found to be a very good watch and recommendation?

And just like last time, here’s a poll! Please fill it out if you have the time ^_^