4 week into Fall Anime – Final 4 picks

3Nov/0818

4 week into Fall Anime – Final 4 picks

4 weeks into the new season and I surprise myself by dropping 2 of my initial picks, yet usher in a new series to chalk up a final tally of 4 on my to-watch list. Indeed, Fall 08 is proving to be a pivotal season in restoring my flagging anime mojo. It's been quite a while since I've been so hyped over so many new series within the same season and I have high expectations that these babies would mature to become anime greats. Haruhi tells me that many of these lovelies would be bagging those numerous year-end blog awards (if they continue their excellent run that is).

In ascending order of love, here's my FINAL 4 Fall picks.

4. Ef ~ A tale of melodies (ep 4)

Doomed love, dead sisters and possibly psychotic brothers are just some of the plot elements that intrigue me. I have to admit my interest in the series is in part morbid since I suspect the series would be brutally upfront in portraying human relationships (the pain and broken-ness) and conclude as a tragedy.

3. To aru majutsu no Index (ep 5)

A shocking drop to 3rd place after an impressive 2 opening eps. Don't get me wrong, Index is still a great show. But for this tanuki, whose weekly thirst and anticipation compels him download the first raw available every Sat night, the series is not quite delivering enough. Maybe the verbose (although very crucial dialogue) and the lack of general Index/Komoe moe-ness is taking away some of the initial magic. Still I have no doubt it'd back in top place by week 5 now that much of the vital chatter is done.

2. Kannagi ~ Crazy Shrine maidens (ep 5)

I agree with almost everything that Evirus has to say in this post. (I only differ on the Da Capo and Shuffle bits.) Great character interaction, plot movement, humour and OP. There are fears that it'd degenerate into a generic harem series given that Jin seems to be collecting admirers virtually every ep. Rest assured. My Stripey sense tells me that these fears would be unfounded. Given the strong plot movement that undergirds every epsiode, we have a team of writers who're not forgetting the focus nor the thrust of the series amid the merrymaking and school-life hijinks.

1. Ga Rei ~ Zero (ep 4)

I was surprised that a few disliked ep 4. GR~Z has had a great run so far and ep 4 is not different. It grows the plot elements previously seeded and is preparing the viewers for bigger ticket items built on this steady foundation. Although I've to admit I'm not too big on the fight animation (have seen better), I utterly intrigued by the tale. Magnificent OP too.

Yes, I've finally dropped Toradora and Clannad AS. Will surely revisit Clannad AS when it completed.

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Comments (18) Trackbacks (2) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Xellos-_^
November 3rd, 2008 - 12:04

get real stripey, you are watching Ef because of Yuuko’s “onnichan” attack.

haven’t gotten around to watching index or Kannagi yet, probably won’t either. But i did catch up with Ga-Rei, so far i like the prequel anime more the the sequel manga.

only other show i am watching is Tytania, not a lot of stuff to watch this season.

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Sixten
November 3rd, 2008 - 12:48

In the case of Index, director Hiroshi Nishikiori and J.C.Staff are actually hurting themselves somewhat by being loyal to a fault when it comes to the source material. The original novels do indeed have the extensive dialogue and explanation time that people are complaining about in the anime. The dialogue becomes even more aggravating than in the novels because it’s on screen and people are expecting to see more than just people talking. And according to the forums I lurk on, the explanation time continues to drag the series down through the second of the three story arcs that are going to be animated.

I was on gush mode about how all the characters and situations in Index turn out to be more than they initially appear, but the downside of that is that many of the questions and contradictions that arise regarding those situations need to be explained away, and Kazuma Kamachi (the author) more often than not chooses to explain through character dialogue.

But as you have mentioned, the dialogue does give information critical to the advancement of the story, although the information could use to be presented with more appeal. I also know that because J.C.Staff is being loyal to the source that all the good points of the source are going to be preserved – and Episode 6 is going to rock like a mother.

I’m aware that it’s bad form to plug my own blog on your blog, but I have written a number of posts about the good and bad parts of Magical Index that contain stuff that I want you to read that are too long for comments. I haven’t written this much about a show since Potemayo, and despite the weakness in both the source and adaptation, I do think Index going to turn out to be something truly special eventually.

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Mentar
November 3rd, 2008 - 15:07

I agree with Sixten – I’d rather have a truthful conversion including the original flaws than a mellowed-up mishmash where scriptwriters try to “optimize” (and thus ruin) things.

It’s a show with a rare level of detail, both in animation and also in story. It may be a bit dry at times, and thus takes quite a bit to chew, but IMHO it’s rewarding. Particularly when we get into the upcoming arcs. And, preferably, when we see the crew around Biribiri Mikoto.

That’s a hidden hope for me: That the anime is successful enough to warrant a conversion of the Railgun submanga one day

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crimson
November 4th, 2008 - 02:40

Magical index….the outline of the white tenshi summoned in the healing was utsukushii

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Chaos2Frozen
November 4th, 2008 - 03:05

About Index as well… Wow everybody here is all over Index ^^;

*cough*

As I was saying- Don’t watch the raws damnit! Even if you have to claw yourself till it bleeds, don’t ever watch the raws.

I experienced the same thing when watching “Darker than Black”; I couldn’t wait for each episode every week so I went and gotten the chinese subs, faster than English, more understanding than raw. In the end I still couldn’t get the important points from the thick dialogue- but I ended up ruining the episode for myself.

Endure my friend, endure!

(Besides, the subs come out relatively quick for this series ^^)

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usagijen
November 4th, 2008 - 07:01

Sad to see you drop ToraDora, but oh well Taiga was too violent for your taste? Or did the naysayers ruin it for you ;___;

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Steven Den Beste
November 4th, 2008 - 10:20

Sob, Tanarotte gets no love…

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Vexx
November 4th, 2008 - 11:58

What? No Kurozuka?

Aye, I guess I’ll keep Toradora! to myself (though its still on probation if they fall into cliche loli-tsundere gags rather than track the source better).
That kitchen scene with Taiga and Ryuuji had my wife rolling on the floor while simultaneously saying it was so sad to watch someone so assertive just fall apart so easily.

Tanarotte is still on tap though I consider it mostly throw-away humor so far.

Kannagi is still very good though I suspect it is going to drop away from its spiritual roots to something more mundane. Tsugumi and Nagi are both sweet.

Continuing to watch Kyou no go no ni though it really is a pale shadow of the OVAs.

Dropped Akane-Iro — despite the gorgeous Minato path potential, all the other characters and plot devices are just annoying.

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crimson
November 4th, 2008 - 15:43

I just tried a few dose of Kannagi. Watched it from start till ED. It has a good sos brigade feel to it. I think I’m settling with Kannagi

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Haesslich
November 4th, 2008 - 16:37

usagijen: I think the violence did it for most of the people who dropped it. Of course, if they thought Taiga was violent to Ryuuji… they needed to watch Episode 5, or even Episode 4 and how she nearly throttled Sumire. There’a a reason she earned the title ‘Palmtop Tiger’ – and it’s not for abusing boys she may or may not like.

Episodes 4 and 5 brought the momentum back in, especially with Ami being introduced to add friction.

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Crusader
November 5th, 2008 - 03:06

Needs moar mecha.

Kannagi is a good pick nonetheless.

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Stripey
November 5th, 2008 - 08:09

Xellos-_^: Speaking of Yuuko and onii-chans, I have very very BAD vibes about this Amamiya bro character. Hope it’s siscon and not incest that series will dabble in. XD

Sixten: Hmmm with the verbose dialogues, it does look like the source material is not very well paced. Still I continue to be impressed with JCStaff’s anointed touch in ep 5, seeing how they transformed the moelicious Index into a being so dreadful. I cringed a little looking into the once alluring green eyes of index then. Will drop by your blog for Index resource soon.

Mentar: Heh, the man who inspired Zyl to get the railgun manga! Personally I’m more into Kuroko. Lolicious and twin-tailed had nothing to do with it! *tweedle-thumbs* XD

crimson: Contrast that with devilish Index in ep 5… And Kannagi is an excellent choice! Zange chan!!!

Chaos2Frozen: Can’t. resist. Index. raw…. XD You’re probably right. Index is a show I enjoy a lot more subbed. That seems to be the case with anime with good and focused dialogue

usagijen/Haesslich: Actually I’ll probably picking Toradora up again after the surprisingly entertaining ep 4. It’s not groundbreaking but I really enjoy Kugimiya Rie’s voice work. Stuttering tsundere protest FTW!

Steven Den Beste: heh, will check that out.

Vexx: Felt the same about AkaIro. Was desperately clinging on for the Minatsu goodness but there’s just too many noteworthy shows this fall to squander time on anything less than spectular. That said, I’m still giving it another 2 eps in hope that the siscon levels will hit new heights XD

Crusader: Actually needs more siscon… XD Oh wait…. Maybe I’m just waiting for that announcement that the vessel that Jin crafted for Nagi was the elder sister XD

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crimson
November 6th, 2008 - 18:15

side mentions, let’s learn english with macross!
http://alafista.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/images/november08/024.jpg

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Rawr
November 13th, 2008 - 22:14

You haven’t checked out akane iro somaru saka, I presume. If you have, I’m surprised you dropped it because Minato is awesomest imouto ever.

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Vexx
November 15th, 2008 - 16:15

Update on my remarks above — Toradora is probably my favorite series of the season (with Kannagi right next to it). Hyakko keeps trooping in a close 3rd.
But Kurozuka is running its own race – not usually a fan of heavy violence works.

ep 7 of Toradora managed to be adorable, touching, quietly tragic, and hilarious all at once. This has left simplistic “loli-tsundere” labeling far behind in its character development.

@rawr: actually he has (and I have). I dropped it (though yes, she’s quite spectacular) — it just had too many other fail points for her to carry it alone.

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Rocky
November 16th, 2008 - 22:39

Well, i feel that the only 2 anime really deserving this season is Clannad and EF. I watched the other stuff, but found nothing too interesting……….

I feel its mainly because im a fan of EEEEEEMMMMMOOOOOO stuff

Anyway, i like to thank the author of this website, really enjoyed reading it.

FirST poST ever…

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Stripey
November 18th, 2008 - 08:41

crimson: Hmm that’s odd, the link’s dead XD

Vexx: I’ve picked up Toradora again though I’m still not liking Taiga one bit XD Minorin/Ami and the fabulous male leads are what keeps me going. Lookng fwd to ep 7!

Rocky: Thanks for leaving your thoughts! I’m digging Ef a lot since I’m really into Mizuki. Haven’t caught up with the latest eps though.

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crimson
November 19th, 2008 - 04:48

mmm, yeah…its dead… anyway, do a google search on “learn english with macross”

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