Spring 2012 Impressions~ Part IV

This is the part 4 of the Spring 2012 Impression, though it is already in the 4th week. LOL!
Anyway, there are about 2 more parts to go. I guess this season is indeed one of the largest season ever. Okay, enough craps and time for the main content.

Those that are crossed out in the title image above are not included in the impression. I know that Kuroko no Basuke is quite an awesome series but it is just that I rarely touch sports anime. For those who don't mind Sports Anime, you can try it out.

First up on the list is Upotte!! This is an Original Net Animation (ONA) so I am guessing it will be less than 12 episodes? Anyway, it is about guns, or should I say girls who are guns.

So far after watching the fourth episode just a few days ago, I don't think this series have a plot. Maybe a few episodes are related but that's all. Basically, you will be seeing guns battle almost on every episode. If you are interested in guns as in what are their specifications, history, etc., you will be able to see it here. Some of the major characters are Funko (FNC), Ichiroku (M16A4), Eru (L85A1) and Sig OR Shigu - depends on how you pronounce it (SG550). Out of the four, Sig is the most skilled and Eru(L85A1) being a defect product is probably the least skilled.

The first episode was about a new normal teacher who got transferred into the 'guns school' where everyone including the instructors are all guns. He met Funko the day before he officially became a teacher in the school. As they bid farewell, he saw Funko's pantsu without her knowing. The next day, as the teacher had forgotten Funko's name, he called her the thong girl. Funko obviously got embarrassed and pull out her FNC and shot at the teacher. He wasn't shot but was hospitalized.

Episode 2 was about a make up practical test for cheating in an assignment. The girls had to challenge their high school senpai in a gun battle. Eru got knocked out early almost right in the beginning. Overall, I would say that the gun battles is quite decent, though you may need to pause and rewind the video a little to get some of the explanation of the guns. I personally loves the sniper battle, perhaps because I am quite a sniper-tard myself. And in the end since Eru was the only one who didn't do anything, she had to go for the extra classes.

Episode 3 was much dull as compared to the previous two as it doesn't have much plot, though the fan-service made up for it.

Episode 4 was the start of the climax in my opinion. I wont be spoiling it as this impression was supposed to go only until episode 3.
 

Left is in the TV series and right the original

I found out that FNC or Funko in the original production had a completely different look from that of the series as seen above, where the rest still have a slight resemblance. But nevertheless, I still think it is acceptable.

I personally feels that this series' battle scenes are quite awesome and guns and girls are really a very good combination. My rating for the series is a 7/10.

Fate/Zero was another of my anticipated series after it stopped halfway in one season previously. The episode continues from where it last stopped, the co-op destruction of Caster. Since this is a continuation, I will not be doing the episode summary.  But still, the plot is just as epic-licious as ever. You may want to re-watch the first part if you have forgotten about the previous plot.

[Spoiler - Read on if you want]
Also, for those who have watched Fate/Stay Night, this series is the 'prequel' of the events that took place in Fate/Stay Night. It is what happen 10 years ago in the previous Holy Grail War. Therefore, if you do remember, Gilgamesh appeared in Fate/Stay Night as the 8th Heroic Spirits near the end. It is also mentioned that he DO NOT BELONG in that Holy Grail War but the previous which means in Fate/Zero. This also means that the winner for the awesome battle in Fate/Zero have already been pre-announced. Gilgamesh will most definitely be the winner and Kirei will definitely betray Tokiomi(already did in the latest episode), unless something unexpected happen like for example, Kirei stole the Holy Grail from the winner and wished that Gilgamesh will return forever or something like that. I was kind of shocked myself and pissed off with myself for remembering this fact. Now I can't enjoy the show to its best. :(
[/Spoiler]

Personally, this is a very awesome series. You will definitely lose out for not watching it. Forget about Fate/Stay Night if that's what made you think that the Fate series sucks. This will definitely changed your mindset overall. This is also one of my highly recommended series and my rating for it is a whooping 8.9/10. Not giving it a 9 and above because I realized the 'pre-planned conclusion' as stated in the spoiler.

Nazo no Kanojo X is an extremely unique Romance series in my opinion. One may be disgust in the first episode (me personally almost dropped it because of this), but if you can just ignore the main 'element' in this series, it is a good romance anime. You will either be the fan of it or simply hate it. I personally get hooked onto the plot as in how will the relationship develop.

Urabe Mikoto, the new transfer student in the school has a peculiar character. She dislike interactions and naps during lunch breaks. She hates it when people wakes her up from it. Soon, after sometime later, she was outcasted by the class. She did not really care much about it though. One day, Tsubaki Akira, the guy beside her seat came back to the class on the evening to retrieve something he had forgotten to. He saw Urabe still napping in the class and decides to wake her up. Urabe got up and left after exchanging a few words with Tsubaki. Tsubaki noticed some liquid on Urabe's desk. He presumed it as Urabe's drool and tried licking it. He had a fever the next day and was down for five days. Urabe then suddenly came to visit him. She forces him to consume some of her drool. He instantly became better. It is mentioned by Urabe that Tsubaki is actually 'love sick'. The two later have a strange relationship. Though they are now a couple, Urabe will feed Tsubaki with drool everyday to prevent the same thing from happening. I find it hard to believe that it actually became a norm for them. Also, it seems that the drool have a hidden ability. Urabe and Tsubaki are able to exchange thoughts(and physical pain as in the 4th episode) through the consuming of each others' drool.

If you think that is disgusting, sick, etc. and just can't stand it, this series is totally not cut out for you. I personally feels that it is a little inappropriate, but without the drool, this series won't be this series anymore. You can perhaps say that the drool is the foundation of this series. Also, the art looks quite old and I know that some people just can't stand it so if that's you, this series is also not for you.

This is the 2nd season of Phi Brain and it continues from where the story have stopped. After the constant battle with P.O.G. in the God Scroll arc, Daimon Kaito now faces off with Orpheus Order.

Orpheus Order

Phi Brain is an original anime produced by Sunrise and after the first season, I am excited about how the second season's plot will go. It seems a lot more simple but interesting than the first. It is like your usual battle shonen anime except the fact that they battle with puzzle. If you have watched the first and liked it, I am very sure that you will love the second season as well.
Still, as mentioned by one of my friend, I do wish that they would give the audience sometime to attempt to solve the puzzles. However, that way, the series may not be as interesting as it is. Another thing that I must mention about the second season is that, you finally have Bishoujo(Sorry Nonoka! xD) in the series as seen below.

Mizerka on the left and Melancholy on the right

Melancholy looks so kawaii~ and Mizerka looks so hawt! (>/////<) Really love all of the character art of the Orpheus Order! They look so awesomely badass! Okay, going back to the main topic, I believe this new season of Phi Brain will awe you with the leveled up puzzle and plot! My rating for the series is a 7.4/10.

Another one of my anticipated series this season is Tasogare Otome x Amnesia! This is a Horror Romance series with themes of supernatural. The reason that it is one of my anticipated series is because firstly, I am a horror fan and you don't see much Horror and Romance series around, so this should be interesting.

Teiichi Niiya

After 3 episodes(4th this morning), I am really in love with the series. In episode one, it started abruptly with the first half in the view of Okonogi, someone who can not see the ghost of Yuuko, a girl who died 60 years ago in the school and than the second half of what really happened in the eyes of those who can see Yuuko(Niiya and Kirie) and finally a little about a certain rumor of a ghost haunting the lunch cart elevator in the old abandoned school building. It was actually Yuuko using the lift as it was convenient to get around.

Okonogi Momoe

In the next episode, we went back in time a little for some character introductions. We saw how Niiya met Yuuko and a little about Yuuko and than Okonogi appearing to seek the Paranormal Investigation Club for help, where Niiya is the member and Yuuko is the president. They managed to 'solve' or should I say deceive her and in the end, she joined the club.

Kanoe Kirie

The third episode was the introduction of Kirie, a descendant of Yuuko. In the beginning was some teasing of Niiya by Yuuko and than Kirie approached Niiya to tell him that he is in danger. She claims that Yuuko is an evil ghost who is trying to seek revenge. After some mushy scenes, as Niiya gradually believes in Kirie's words, Yuuko 'transformed' into a hideous monster. They ran and than Kirie decided to destroy Yuuko's corpse so that she will be able to rest in peace. In the end, Niiya decided to show Kirie the truth and Yuuko returned to normal. It seems that Yuuko's appearance will change according to what someone sees her as.

Kanoe Yuuko

Another thing I loves about the series is that it is full of Yuuko service~ Especially in episode 2, I was really in a 'Yuuko HHHNNNGGGGGG' mode! Yuuko may look average but her strong point isn't the looks but her bubbly character. Go watch the series and you will know what i mean. I really love everything about Yuuko including her voice. I believe Hara Yumi-san did a great job in voicing her as her voice fits Yuuko's childish character perfectly!










So far, there hasn't been anything too frightening so I am guessing that romance will be the main genre of the series? This is a really decent series for everyone. However, having only 12 episodes makes me wonder whether the series will be cut halfway before the end, especially when the Manga is still ongoing. My rating for the series is a 8.2/10 currently as I believe the first 3 episode was just some "warming-up" before the actual plot begins.

P.S - I know that it is already in the 4th week of the season, I will try to speed things up this week.



パートフォー！