Anime You Might Not Have Tried/Heard Of #6

Posted by Revolurt on October 18, 2012 10:55 pm 15

To be honest, many people might think I have watched a lot of new anime and catch up to every single one of them in new seasons, but the truth is that I barely watched any new ones this year, and there are many stuff I still haven't watched beyond that either. If you have noticed, most of the stuff I wrote about is from at least last year. Not that this year didn't interest me, but it's more of a backlog issues. Anyway, here are more last year anime:

By the way, if you haven't checked out the old ones, but interested, here they are:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/19/3252665/anime-you-might-not-have-try-heard-of

http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/24/3264181/anime-you-might-not-have-try-heard-of-2

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/18/3345230/anime-you-might-not-have-tried-heard-of-3

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/2/3443468/anime-you-might-not-have-tried-heard-of-4

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/4/3457242/anime-you-might-not-have-tried-heard-of-5

Tiger & Bunny

Genre: Action/Sci-fi

Studio: Sunrise (Mobile Suit Gundam, Code Geass, Mai-Hime)

Director: Sato Keiichi (Karas)

Adapted From: Original

Localized By: Viz Media

Cast:

Hirata Hiroaki/Wally Wingert as Kotetsu T. Kaburagi/Wild Tiger

Morita Masakazu/Yuri Lowenthal as Barnaby Brooks Jr.

Kotobuki Minako/Kari Wahlgren as Karina Lyle/Blue Rose

Inoue Go/Patrick Seitz as Keith Goodman/Sky High

Tsuda Kenjiro/John Eric Bentley as Nathan Seymour/Fire Emblem

Ise Mariya/Laura Bailey as Huang Pao-Ling/Dragon Kid

Kusunoki Taiten/Travis Willingham as Antonio Lopez/Rock Bison

Okamoto Nobuhiko/Michael Sinterniklaas as Ivan Karelin/Origami Cyclone

Story:

Takes place in NC 1978, Sternbid City, a fictional city modeled after the NYC. 45 years ago, a mysterious incident happened and caused many people different people start gaining super powers. Those people are known as "NEXT". After the incident, super heroes started to appear and fight crime, with big big company sponsoring them. The story begins with Kotetsu, a hero goes by the name Wild Tiger, transfer to another company due to his previous company was closed. Not wanting to lose his job, he was forced to work with another hero he hates, Barnaby Brooks Jr., in the same company. Thus, the best yet the worst team of heroes is created.

Impression:

Story

• The story itself was nothing new. It's a typical super heroes action story, but a good one. The fighting crime part is pretty much a medium being used to develop the characters. There are episodes that are dedicated solely for a specific character in the story, while most of the other time are about Kotetsu and Barnaby's relationship. Other than that, Kotetsu also have other problems that he has to deal with by himself, like being with and take care his daughter without letting her find out his other identity. My one complaint will be the final arc of the story, which has a pacing that is way too slow. But other than that, is a very good story.

Visual

• The heroes are done mostly in 3DCG, except Blue Rose and Dragon Kid (who are not masked and armored). Both the 2D and 3D part of the show is very well done. One unique thing about the 2D art is the color of the outline. Rather than black like every anime you have seen before, it use a brown color to create a very light color feeling to it. The other thing worth praising is the art direction and design for the city. It really brings out the culture and feeling the Sternbid City is supposed to have.

Steins;Gate

Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller/Mystery/Romance

Studio: White Fox (Jourmungand, Tears to Tiara, Katanagatari)

Director: Hamasaki Hiroshi, Sato Takuya

Adapted From: Visual Novel by 5pb. (Ever17) and Nitro+ (Chaos;Head, Saya no Uta)

Localized By: Funimation Entertainment

Cast:

Miyano Mamoru/J. Michael Tatum as Hououin Kyouma Okabe Rintaro

Imai Asami/Trina Nishimura as Christina Makise Kurisu

Hanazawa Kana/Jackie Ross as Shiina Mayuri

Seki Tomoazu/Rinehart as Hasida Itaru "Daru"

Goto Saori/Jessica Cavanagh as Kiryu Moeka

Kobayashi Yuu/Lindsay Seidel as Urubarashi Ruka But he is a guy

Momoi Haruko/Jad Saxton as Feris Nyan-Nyan

Tamura Yukari/Cherami Leigh as Amane Suzuha

Impression:

Story

• I have not played the original game, but by the end of the show, I can pretty much tell that it's a perfect adaption that flawlessly translate the whole game into anime form, which is something we don't always see in today's entertainment industry. The story itself start off very slow, to the point that it feels more like a slice of life show about a self-claimed mad scientist and his happy idiotic friends. While I personally enjoys it (mostly due to Miyano's excellent and hilarious performance), I can see there will be people get turn off by it. But all I have to say is keep watching it, because those are all necessary setup for the serious parts later on. The story itself is very typical (especially the ending), but it was very well done and reinforce by the unique main character, by the end of the story you won't even care that it's cliche and predictable, in fact you will want to witness the ending that you have been expecting with your own eyes.

Presentation

• The visual itself has nothing stands out in terms of style, but it does manage to maintain the overall quality. Though my one nitpicking will be the artstyle. Huke, the original character designer was known or a very unique style and coloring, and the anime itself doesn't seems to translate that well. Though I guess it's a bit forgiven, since it's not an easy artstyle to animate. I watched it in the original Japanese dub, and they are fantastic. The main character, played by Miyano Mamoru (who I had previously praised in my Zetman impression) just translate the character extremely well. And you get to hear his maniac laughter he did in Death Note again too!

Overall, go watch it if you just want to watch something good, as it was labeled as one of the must watch last year along with Puella Magi Madoka Magica. If you gave it up before it gets good, keep watching it anyway, because, well, it gets good, and you won't be able to understand it without watching the beginning.

Durarara!!

Genre: It's, uh, some action, and fantasy, and... uh... some slice of life... I don't know.

Studio: Brain's Base (Natsume's Book of Friends, Penguin Drum, Spice and Wolf II)

Director: Omori Takahiro (Bacanno!, Natsume's Book of Friends, Hell Girl)

Adapted From: Light Novel by Narita Ryohgo (Bacanno!, Vamp!)

Localized By: Aniplex America

Cast:

Toyonaga Toshiyuki/Darrel Guilbeau as Ryugamine Mikado

Miyano Mamoru/Bryce Papenbrook as Kita Masaomi

Hanazawa Kana/Michelle Ruff as Sonohara Anri

Sawashiro Miyuki/Kari Whalgren as Celty Sturluson

Ono Daisuke/Crispin Freeman as Heiwajima Shizuo

Kamiya Hiroshi/Johnny Young Bosch as Orihara Izaya

Fukuyama Jun/Yuri Lowenthal as Kishitani Shinra

Story:

Ikebukuro, Tokyo, a place full with all different kind of weirdos. We have Ryugamine Mikado, a boy who just moved in from countryside under the invitation of his best friend, Kita Masaomi, a cheerful boy who seems to be laughing no matter what, Sonohara Anri, a gloomy girl in Mikado's class who always try to avoid people for an unknown reason, Celty Sturluson, a headless Irish dullahan who came all the way to Japan to look for her head, Heiwajima Shizuo, a angry and violent bodyguard dress like a bartender, Orihara Izaya, a Shinjuku resident who sells information for a living, always hanging around in Ikebukuro for some reason, and Kishitani Shinra, an underground doctor who is living and obssessed with the headless Celty. Each of their lives intersect with each others, creating the craziest tale ever.

Impression:

Story

• Very unique storytelling. The story, as you can tell by the description above, it's all about the characters, and they are pretty damn interesting. There are no true protagonist in here, each episode starred a different character as the main character, and the story is told and narrated through first person by each character. How the story set itself up is pretty good too. There are moments that make you feel like you don't understand jack, but then it was soon explained right away in another episode from a different character's view. The way and timing that they reveal the true identity of the gang DOLLAR's leader is just simply awesome.

I assumed this is one of those anime where everyone has heard of, but many have yet to watched. Highly recommended and do expect a story that is so unique that it can't fall into any genre. For those of you who had watched/read Baccano!, yes, it's the same author, and the anime adaption have the same director as well.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée/ Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth

Genre: Historical/Slice of Life

Studio: Satelight (Macross Frontier, Aquarion Evol)

Director: Yasuda Kenji

Adapted From: Manga by Takeda Hinata (illustrator of Gosick)

Localized By: Sentai Filmworks

Cast:

Toyama Nao as Yune

Konda Takashi as Claude Claudel

Tanaka Hideyuki as Oscar Claudel

Yuuki Aoi as Alice Blanche

Yahagi Sayuri as Camille Blanche

Story:

The story takes place in 1800s in Paris, the time when Japanese culture has a great interest in the West. A Japanese girl Yune offered to go the France along with the traveler Oscar Claudel in order to help out in his grandson Claude's store. As Claude accepted to take care of Yune, the two start learn and understand each other and their culture more.

Impression:

There won't be much words because the story itself is rather simple. Yune comes to Paris, and she learn about the culture. For me, what I like is what the story is addressing, and how they handle the way two different cultures intersect. But that's not saying there are no story at all in here. In fact, there lots of detail put into the story in order to address about the topics, such as Yune's past about her sister. Nearly everything happened in the story has at least something to do about understanding without overly exaggerating and or being too repetitive. The whole story is just so peaceful, and watching how Yune and Claude understand more about each other is pretty heartwarming, since it's something you definitely won't see in real life these days. The music is amazing as well:

Anyway, I usually just tell everyone to go watch this anime, and hope that they can just learn a thing or two from it, as understanding about each other and their culture seems to be something that what everyone is not doing these days. Just go watch it, and you will feel like you don't want to hate on anyone or anything anymore.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku Tachi wa Mada Shiranai/Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Genre: Drama/Romance

Studio: A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Kannagi)

Director: Nagai Tatsuyuki (Toradora, A Certain Scientific Railgun)

Adapted From: Original

Localized By: NIS America

Cast:

Irino Miu/Tamura Matsumi as Yadomi Jinta/Jintan

Kayano Ai as Honma Meiko/Menma

Tomatsu Haruka as Anjou Naruko/Anaru

Sakurai Takahiro/Seto Asami as Matsuyuki Atsumu/Yukiatsu

Hayami Saori as Tsurumi Chiriko/Tsuruko

Kondo Takayuki/Toyosaki Aki as Hisakawa Testudo/Poppo

Story:

A long time ago, there are six childhood friends, and they play together happily everyday. But after high school, they have became further and further away everyday. Jintan, the protagonist become anti-social. Anaru hang out with the girls in her class just like every high school girl. Yukiatsu and Tsuruko went to a good high school out of town and starting to prepare for college, and Poppo quit school and start traveling around the world. One day, Menma, one of the six childhood friend appear in front of Jintan and tells him that she want to do something again like they did when they were still kids, and six childhood friends started to bond together once again.

Impression:

Story

• Yes, it's meant to be a touching story that's gonna make you cry like a b!tch by the end of the show, and it did (well, technically I didn't cry since I'm just not good at it, but close enough). The story, well, it's exactly what the description said above (though I left some part untold).The script is very well written, as it express what the character is saying and feeling pretty well, and you can really feel the character and want to know more about them. The whole pacing and flow is well thought out and planned unlike many other anime *cough* Guilty Crown *cough*. As the story progress, despite all the characters looks like they are living a normal life, you will soon realize that Jintan is not the only suffering from the "incident".

Visual

• Yes, it's made by the same team that made Toradora!, as you can tell by the unique animation style. The animation quality is great thanks to Sony's big money. One thing worth noticing is the background. Just like Tari Tari, which I had wrote about before, it directly used real place and photos as reference, so many of the background you see in the anime do actually exist in real life.

Music

• I personally don't remember any memorable tracks, but that's probably because the spotlight was snatched by ending song. It plays in the right moments in every single episodes. I can't post it here because it's not on Youtube, but you can listen to it when you are watching it. Fun fact about the song: The song is actually a cover version sung by the voice actresses. It was originally released in 2001, sung by a group know as Zone, which is disbanded in 2005. One of the line from the lyrics is "We will meet again 10 years later in August". Ten years later, this anime is aired, and it helped Zone revived. In order to celebrate their revival, they have a concert singing this song in August in the same year. Magical.

Oh yeah, I forgot which season, but it was labeled as the best anime "that season" by many people. Just putting it here for crediting it's accomplishment.

Ano Natsu de Matteru/Waiting in the Summer

Genre: Romance/Sci-fi

Studio: J.C. Staff (A Certain Magical Index, Shakugan no Shana, Toradora!)

Director: Nagai Tatsyuki (Anohana, Toradora!)

Adapted From: Original

Localized By: Sentai Filmworks

Cast:

Shimazaki Nobunaga as Kirishima Kaito

Tomatsu Haruka as Tatsutsuki Ichika

Ishihara Kaori as Tanigawa Kanna

Ogihara Hideki as Ishigaki Tetsuro

Asumi Kana as Kitahara Mio

Tamura Yukari as Yamano Lemon

Hidaka Rina as Rinnon

Story:

Kirishima Kaito is high school boy who has great interest in filming, and want to make an independent movie starring the mysterious transfer student Tatsutsuki Ichika as the heroine with the help of his friend Kanna, Tetsuo, Mio and his upperclassman Lemon. But what he didn't know is the true identity of Ichika, and Kanna, Tetsuo, and Mio's true feeling about each other, and the fact that this film is going to record down something precious to him.

Impression:

Story

• Watched Onegai! Teacher? Yes, it's written by the same scriptwriter, along with the same character designer. Apparently they can't make anymore sequels of the series, so their ultimate solution is this anime, an homage, and "possible-secretly-implied-sequel" to Onegai! Teacher. The story is extremely similar (or so I have heard, since I have never watch Onegai! Teacher), but there are also tons of references to the original as well (or so I have heard, though there are two references I actually understood, the character Lemon herself and her voice actress, and the other one is spoiler so I won't say it, but people who watched it should know what I am talking about right away). The scriptwriting is damn excellent. Take all the praise I have for Anohana's script, put it in here and take it to the next level, that should cover what I want to say. Basically, if you like Onegai! Teacher, you will most likely enjoy it (or so I have heard). If you haven't, go watch it anyway, because it's good, and it won't harm in any way.

Visual

• I know it's repetitive, but yes, it's made by the same team who made Anohana and Toradora! (He is just talented, I can't help it). The animation, as you can already tell, is very similar to Toradora! and Anohana. But for the animation quality, I have to say it's even better than Anohana and Toradora!.

So I guess that's it for today. I know, the writing is even more horrible than before. I don't know why but I can't write today, so let's stop in here before I write anything even more horrible.