Impressions on 2010 Winter Anime

January comes with a new anime season : here what I’ve watched so far, what I’ll continue to watch and what I’ll definitely drop.

The Good List

Starting with the anime that I really liked and that I’ll continue watching !

Hidamari Sketch x Hoshi Mittsu

I’ve been a Hidamari Sketch fan since the first season, and this third one is a default win for me.

Hidamari Sketch is a slice-of-life type anime, following the life of 4 young girls living in the Hidamari residence which is in front of their art school. Fresh, funny, and cuuuuute anime. Each episode brings its dose of happiness ! So great to watch an episode after waking up from bed ! ^o^

Third season is as good as always, bringing up two new characters (which makes the Hidamari residence full now), and continuing with the girls’ schoolife (Yui and Miyako are now second year).

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Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

Probably the anime I laughed the most at.

Story takes place in a school where classes are separated by students’ level, ranging from A to F. Class can upgrade in level by challenging upper classes in courses’ duel (mathematics, literature, etc), but Yu-Gi-Oh style !

This anime is so greatly stupid, but this is what makes it so funny ! Standard and trap fanservice, dumb protagonist, etc… Everything is here to make you laugh your ass out. The « pace » of the anime kinda reminds me of Bakemonogatari (ie succession of short scenes in a weird speed) !

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Dance in the Vampire Bund

Because loli vampire are loli.

Vampires decided to stop hide themselves from human. Their Princess, Mina Tepes, wants Japan to make a district where vampires would reign, and so became the target of rival factions and terrorists. Akira Kaburagi, the main protagonist, a werewolf of the Earth Clan, has promised to protect her.

The story may looks a bit stereotyped, vampires wanting to dominate the « world », but it’s actually a pretty good anime, quite interesting in a way, with good animation and art design. I never got bored a single second watching it, so why would I drop it ?

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Hanamaru Youshien

« No, I’m not a lolicon !!!! »

Following the life of Anzu, 4 years old, who had a crush at first sight for Tsuchida, her teacher at Hanamaru Kindergarten, way older than her.

Like Hidamari Sketch, Hanamaru Kindergarten is fresh and fun to watch. Not among the greatest anime though. It’s a weekly dose of cuteness and peace in my harsh student world. .___.

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Durarara!!

Black Leather Motordrivers are cool. Period.

I don’t know how to summarize Durarara!! with only three episodes, because the story seems to be really deep and interesting. I didn’t get bored a single minute : the narration is quite well done, catchy and all. Animation and chara-design are simply gorgeous, putting on a dark atmosphere. People say Durarara!! to be the best anime of this season, and they are probably right.

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The Bad List

And now the anime I will drop because of a lack of time (thanks school !) or because they are too bad to be worth watched (in my holy opinion).

Chu-bra!!

One hell of a stupid anime, not even funny, with too much free fanservice (not even that good for eyes). Minorin plays the main heroine, but uses a « cute » voice (you know,  high pitched annoying fake-moe one). And seriously, since when breasts talk ?!

Ladies vs Buttlers

First though : oh… Kanokon design…

Second though : ok, not as worse as Kanokon, but it’s also a stupid fanservice anime. And boring too. Dropped.

Don’t get me wrong I do like fanservice, but not when it’s the main purpose of the considered anime. For example, Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu makes a good use of fanservice !

So-Ra-No-Wo-To

I was expecting some greatness from So-Ra-No-Wo-To… but hmm, I really got bored while watching it. Did not find anything interesting except for the backgrounds which are beautiful.

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The « I don’t know whether this one is bad or good, omfg » anime :

Seikon no Qwaser

What. The. Fuck.

I was so interested in Seikon no Qwaser… but… well, it’s just too weird of an anime. The story and background are so interesting, but it’s definitely a free fanservice anime : breasts free graping, sucking, leeching, OK OK STOP ! And actually those scenes are censured (which makes the story even worse to understand). A very bizarre anime. I was really confused. But I may continue watching it for curiosity, Minorin using her Yuki’s voice and Hirano Aya voicing a Yuri-Loli abuser are simply awesome XDDD.

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Pending List

I have yet to watch Omamori Himari and Ookami Kakushi (actually I watched the first episode of each, but I don’t remember anything of them (this is a bad sign)). I’m still waiting for Katanagatari, which looks good on the paper !