Summer was a great season.
I’ve loosely ranked the season’s shows from worst to best (rough guide to my rankings: A=awesome, B+=great, B-=good, C=decent, D=bad, F=fail). The numbers in parentheses are how I ranked that series’ first episode at the start of the season. Let’s see how much things have changed. Note that the numbers don’t exactly correspond, since the two-season shows were not included in the ranking at the start of the season.
I’ve tried to keep this post concise since I’ve already written full reviews for most of the shows. So let’s start!
Not Included: Hyouge Mono (only two eps. translated), Natsume Yuujinchou San (8) (haven’t watched second season)
Dropped After one Episode: Manyuu Hikenchou (24), Double-J (23), Morita-san wa Makuchi (22), Nyanpire (21), Twin Angel – Twinkle Paradise (20), Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi (16)
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23. Blood-C — Dropped (13)
I watched another episode or two, and they were the same as the first episode.
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22. Nekogami Yaoyorozu — Dropped (19)
I just don’t find this funny. It’s more inclined to give me a headache than make me laugh.
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21. Mayo Chiki — F (15)
Our standard harem of the season, with cross-dressing butlers.
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20. Kamisama no Memochou — D- (10)
Generic and dull. I can’t stand any of the characters.
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19. Ro-Kyu-Bu! — Not Finished (18)
Surprisingly decent for a lolicon show. But it’s still a lolicon show.
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18. The iDOLM@STER — Still Airing (12)
There isn’t anything I can point to with this show and say “this is bad.” It’s actually very well made. It’s just that I have no interest whatsoever in idols.
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17. Kamisama Dolls — D (4)
A cool setting, but utterly aimless.
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16. Sacred Seven — D+ (11)
Fun and dumb.
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15. Baka Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! — C- (14)
The jokes are getting old.
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14. No. 6 — C- (2)
Had potential, but forgot about the main plot until the end, which was disastrous.
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13. R-15 — C (17)
A solid and unique fanservice comedy.
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12. Ao no Exorcist — C+
Standard shounen fare, but well made.
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11. Gintama’
A good season, especially the prison arc.
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10. Ikoku Meiro no Croisée — B- (7)
Undeniably adorable.
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9. Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou (6)
A vast improvement over the last season.
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8. Dantalian no Shoka — B- (3)
Very creative, but it got stale.
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7. Hanasaku Iroha — B
Great when it sticks to the drama.
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6. YuruYuri — B (9)
Hilarious yuri hijinks.
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5. Tiger and Bunny — B+
Great characters (especially Kotetsu) but a somewhat weak ending.
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4. Usagi Drop — B+ (5)
Lovable characters in roles we don’t often see, beautifully animated.
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3. Steins; Gate — B+
Great fun with time travel and speculation (and a badass lead character).
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2. Nichijou — A-
One of the best comedies in recent years. It’s left me laughing every week.
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1. Mawaru Penguin Drum (1)
By far my favorite series of the season. This show has a pacing and intensity that none can match, is always full of surprises, and gives plenty of food for thought every week.
What did you think of this season’s shows? Feel free to share in the comments!
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Great season. The best were obviously Nichijou, Gintama, Kaiji, Steins; Gate, Penguindrum, and Usagi Drop (in no particular order)
I actually completed Manyuu Hikenchou, Twin Angel, Itsu-Ten, and Ro-Kyu-Bu.
Itsu-Ten’s plot was a catastrophe (worse than Hidan no Aria’s). Himea was selfish and annoying. I liked the Mirai/Gekkou interactions, though. Twin Angel was decent. It had the best (least annoying) Rie Kugimiya tsundere ever.
Dropped Hanasaku Iroha, Dantalian no Shoka, Ikoku Meiro no Criosee, R-15, Blood-C, and Mayo Chiki….
I love your concise thoughts :p
Looks like we were both late exiting the summer season, but what matters is the finish! I’m sad to see yet another viewer who didn’t like Nekogami Yaoyorozu; its seems like the majority of reviews I read about it just don’t seem any charm in its characters or simple stories. I am pleased, however, to see such a high rating for Nichijou. That was the one show that I honestly and excitedly looked forward to each week, since I could always guarantee some good laughs out of each episode.
Nekogami was just too hyperactive for me. I couldn’t get in the mood to watch it. Nichijou was great though.
That’s a lot of shows, I only watched 7 I think 😮
10 shows this season though… it’s refreshing to follow a season since you don’t know what to expect.
Nice list with short but concise thoughts!
Considering I only really like about ten of them, that may have been a smarter choice. 🙂
This was a great season, plenty of fun stuff.
I totally agree with your top 4 (though not necessarily in that order), Dantalian and Hana Iroha were also great. I heard good things about Tiger and Bunny, but I didn’t watch much of it, maybe some other time.
I also didn’t watch Ikoku Meiro no Croisee. I should really watch it, especially since I am a big fan of cute things.
I only saw like one or two episodes of the new Nura Season, but if it’s anything like the manga, it’s bound to be great.
I actually liked Kamisama Dolls, I found Utai to be really funny with her faces, and in general, I liked the overall tone of the show, especially the comedy. My only gripe with Kamisama is Hibino. God dammit, I hate Hibino so much, why, why does she exist, and why are her boobs so big.
I really like iDOLM@STER. It’s not the greatest show, but in my opinion, it was the summer seasons most consistent performer.
Hibino… Gah. I want to strangle her. She needs breast reduction surgery.
iDOLM@STER is very consistent, but I just never want to watch it since it’s about idols and I don’t really care. It’s never disappointing when I do though.
I think, when your breasts are that big, a breast reduction surgery is a silly idea.
No, her breasts need a Hibino reduction surgery.
Sure, they would still be big, but a bunch of silent, floating melons would add some nice mystery to the show.
That would be preferable. 😉