Tag Archives: anime

2012 Year in Review: TV Anime

The final entry in my 2012 Year in Review. Previously we discussed music and characters. This time, I’ve gone ahead and ranked all the anime of 2012 from worst to best (loosely). This list only includes shows that have finished.

Dropped: Acchi Kocchi, Arashi no Yoru ni: Himitsu no Tomodachi, Brave 10, Busou Shinki, Code Breaker, Ebiten, Folktales from Japan, Gon, Hiiro no Kakera, Kuroko’s Basketball, Kuromajyo-san ga Touru!!, La storia della Arcana Famiglia, Gakkatsu, Kamisama Hajimemashita, Kill Me Baby, The Knight in the Area, Litchi DE Hikari Club, Naruto SD, Pabu and Mochizu, Recorder to Randsell,  Saint Seiya Omega, Shibainuko-san, Sukitte li na Yo, Teekyu, ToLoveRu Darkness, Zetman

Incomplete: AKB0048, Chihayafuru, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, Mysterious Girlfriend X, Natsuiro Kiseki, Natsuyuki Rendezevous, Sankarea, Shakugan no Shana III, Utakoi

Ongoing Series: GIRLS und PANZER, Hunter X Hunter, Ixion Saga DT, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Little Busters, Magi, Polar Bear Cafe, PSYCHO PASS, Robotics; Notes, Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, Shin Sekai Yori, Space Bros, Zetsuen no Tempest

Continue reading 2012 Year in Review: TV Anime →

Shin Sekai Yori 17 — Application for Intercolonial War

shin_sekai_yori_17_3

Now that Saki is a member of the Department of Queerat Control, we get to see the inner workings of their relationships to the colonies. It’s quite a fascinating peek. Saki is in charge of breeding naked molerats, accepting applications to go to war, and observing the battlefield itself.

It’s a pretty disturbing system. The queerats need to fill out an application to go to war. The department goes to the battlefield to observe. And they do absolutely nothing to prevent the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of queerats. Continue reading Shin Sekai Yori 17 — Application for Intercolonial War →

Robotics; Notes 14 — A Romantic Comedy

robotics_notes_14_7

You know, if Robotics; Notes were a romantic comedy, I think I would like it. Look at that screenshot above: replace the next Onii-chan whatever show with this and everyone would love it. Robotics; Notes has a perfect setup for shipping wars in Akiho vs. Frau, and a non-contentious romance between Subaru and Frau. Add the teacher hitting on Nao and it would be perfect. Continue reading Robotics; Notes 14 — A Romantic Comedy →

Zetsuen no Tempest 15 — Asking his Body Directly

zetsuen_no_tempest_15_1

Oh man. This episode was amazing.

So many comedy shows start out well, and then decide they have to add some hackneyed serious drama at the end. It seems like Zetsuen no Tempest is taking the opposite approach: do the tedious, serious stuff first to get it out of the way, and then turn the show into a romantic comedy. Continue reading Zetsuen no Tempest 15 — Asking his Body Directly →

PSYCHO PASS 14 — The Lives of Livestock

psycho_pass_14_6

PSYCHO PASS’ villain wants people to stop living lives like livestock. This is a good idea: I’ve said the exact same thing in previous posts. What makes him a villain is not his objective, it’s the fact that he uses violence to accomplish it.

Which raises an interesting point: in supporting the PSYCHO PASS system, Akane and friends also rely on violence, willingly and frequently. The punishment for any crime— or for even thinking of any crime in the wrong place— is to get shot with a gun. Continue reading PSYCHO PASS 14 — The Lives of Livestock →