Fall 2010 Quickies

By TheBigN

So I figured that because I haven’t been writing here recently, if I couldn’t think of anything to write substantially about regarding anime at the moment, I might as well write some quick impressions on the shows that I’ve been following during this season. I guess I should also mention some of the things I notice in what others write about these series as well. That’s in terms of ones that I’ve been keeping up with lately (at least only a week behind in episodes), as there’s always a list of shows that I want to see/put off watching for some reason or another.

Novel: The disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

by dm00

Kyon awoke one morning from uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a mundane.

Haruhi disappears and a familiar face returns

The sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya nearly drove me away from the Haruhi novels.  In it, Haruhi’s personality was so awful, and so unavoidable, that it was unpleasant to read about her. But that’s the way Haruhi is, at least in that point of the story, and portraying her that way is the right thing to do, even if it is unpleasant to read.

Hoshi ni negai wo — another independent studio to watch

by dm00

All you folks kvetching about the on-again/off-again sequel to Black Rock Shooter should just relax.

The second episode of Hoshi ni negai wo, a pair of OVAs that are part Lain, part Matrix, and maybe a little bit of Clannad, showed up a few days ago.

Hunt it down and watch it!

The first episode, Cold body x Warm heart introduces us to Hikari Stellamaris, her mother (a sentient computer that runs her ship, the Armadillo), and their world.  While surfing cyberspace, Hikari encounters a floating blob, which she loads into a bit of spare hardware, to discover that it’s the preserved consciousness of a forgotten video-game programmer.  They have a few adventures, dodging the firewalls and antivirus software of their universe.

In the second film in the Hoshi no negai wo series, Fantastic Cat, Hikari meets the doll-jointed Lily,

The girl was all alone in the world.

encounters a cobbled together plush Cheshire Cat,

Nyaa.

and brings about the end of za Waruldo.

Negima!? 8 — first sighting of the “Zetsubou-shita!” visual trope

by dm00

11:26 into episode 8 of Negima!?, suddenly:

I like to think of this visual trope as the Zetsubou-sweat-drop.

Negima!? aired from October 4, 2006 to March 28, 2007; the first season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei followed a few months later, starting July 7, 2007.  Maybe I should take another look at Pani poni dash — perhaps there’s one there, too.

Ages ago, Love Hina so disappointed me that I’ve avoided anything Akamatsu, particularly Harem Potter, but the lure of Shinbo being Shinbo tempted me to take a look at this series.  From the very first moments, Shinbo makes it worthwhile.  It may be some of his finest visual work.  It’s more relaxed than either Pani poni dash or Zetsubou Sensei, and more sparing in its Shinboisms than Soultaker.  And it’s actually animated!  I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying this series.  Are the characters as charming as this in the manga?