Summer 2012 Impressions~ Part 3

I have decided to do half of the remaining series instead of everything. I believe this will allow me to consolidate the post much faster since I am quite occupied this few week. Similarly, greyed out are series I have not attempt this season. However, for Tanken Driland, I have actually tried out the first episode, or rather the first quarter of the first episode. I have decided to drop that right after due to several reasons.

Campione! - #campi_anime

I actually did not expect much from this series but it turns out to be the better ones of the current season. Well, there might be some redundant fan services (Not saying they are bad fan service, just not exactly needed.) in the episodes but overall I believe it is a good series.

Campione! is a Fantasy series with some romance and actions. To summarize the series, it is basically the fight between gods/gods slayer. A more in-depth summary would be that after defeating the Verethragna god, Kusanagi Godou became a Campione(God Slayer) and soon experiences a totally different life than before. Together with Erica Blandelli, Mariya Yuri and Liliana Kranjcar(Kraňčar), Godou has to battle other Campione and Heretical Gods.

I personally thinks this series isn't bad. There are awesome actions scenes, great fantasy ideas, quite a decent plot, pretty good animations and not forgetting, a harem! xP And well, yes, there are fan services too, some of them just around the broadcast-able limit on local TVs but I would not recommend watching for that obviously. The main thing that caught my attention in the first few episode would be the "Gate of Babylon"(Fate series - Gilgamesh's Ability) look alike. It is just too awesome.

The "Gate of Babylon" look-alike! Also, Erica and Godou

I think those who wishes to try something interesting, a series with a little bit of everything,  loves the mythology of the different gods or simply loves fantasy series should try this series out. Personally as a Fantasy fan, I really love the series and would rate it around 7 for the Fantasy-related content in the series. You should not watch this if you hates fan services, dislike irrelevant fan services, dislike time-to-time hard to understand information (History/Descriptions of certain Gods, etc. - the series do explain most of them, not in much detail though) or someone that only belongs in the moeblob world.

My score for the plot would be a 7(I actually spot a few loopholes in the series but won't be disclosing it or it would spoil the fun), 7.9 for the Animation/Art(The abilities has really awesome animation, especially the GoB look alike. - Forgotten the name. xD), a 7 for the sounds/audios(Nothing unique in the BGM/SFX, I personally thinks that the seiyuu cast are acceptable but there could have been better choices, ED and OP are average - Ogura Yui isn't that suited for a "mature" voice/song for the ED) and lastly a 7.2 for the Characters. My total average would be a 7.3

Sword Art Online - #SAO_anime

With the current pace of technologies advancing, the Sword Art Online MMORPG world isn't that distant anymore. Give it 5 - 10 more years, and you will probably see virtual avatars fully controllable by humans. Going back to the main topic, I had a feeling this series would not have a good ending. And after watching a few episodes, I still thinks the same... that is, until the previous episode where Kirito soloed a Boss monster with his dual blade skill. 

Sword Art Online is an Action Fantasy with minimum Romance. Personally I feel that the series started abruptly but was still acceptable overall. The game, Sword Art Online was created by Akihiko Kayaba along side the Nerve Gear. Kirito, who is the main protagonist, is one of the 'lucky' few who got a chance at both the Open Beta test and a copy of the software for the Closed Beta. Everyone was so hyped up when the official close beta stage of the game started. To start the game, players have to put on a Nerve Gear, which allows players to control their virtual avatars through their brain. Players are also able to experience the virtual world with their five senses with the help of the Nerve Gear. In the game, Kirito met Klein who did not know how the games worked. Kirito taught him the basics of the game since he was a beta tester. However, when night was nearing, Klein had to log out for dinner but they soon found out that there is no way of returning to reality except by clearing all the 100th levels of the game. Getting your HP to 0 would also mean dieing in real life. 

Actually, I do not dislike the idea of this series. It is just that such ideas(I am not referring to the Virtual Reality world), based on my experience, usually would not have a good ending (that easily). I was still worrying about that becoming real until the latest episode where Kirito slayed a Boss Monster with his dual blade skill. I found that something that managed to ease my uneasiness with the series' ending but won't be spoiling it here. Before that episode, everything just seems generic. 

Kirito vs. The Gleam Eyes

Believe it or not, this series actually has one of the biggest fanbase of the current season. Well, all in all, I would recommend the series to RPG lovers or just someone who likes watching action/fantasy series.

My score for the series's plot would be a 7.3(because I believe it has just past the warming up stages and will soon start to get much more interesting), 8 for the art(personally thinks that the special effects and animation are done pretty well. Loves the weapon design too.), 7.6 for the characters(Character equipments/accessories fits them well, but they are just too plain - especially for a RPG world) and 7.8 for the audio/sounds(Personally don't quite like the OP but it does have the series 'feel'. On the other hand, I love the Haruka *Fanboy Screams* ending! But... it doesn't fit this series. I personally thinks the Seiyuu cast of this series is a pretty good choice) Overall, I rate this series a 7.7 but surely it would get better as it just barely started to get interesting.

Kokoro Connect - #kokoroco

Sadly to say, I will be dropping the series not because the series is bad(it isn't that great either) but because partly of the recent Kokoro Connect Incident that caused quite an uproar... Will talk more about it later on and you can read a pretty detailed summary of this incident on this blog's main page under the "Announcement | Updates" corner. It's the pastebin link.

I would say this series runs heavily on character developments. Without it, it is like drinking ice water without the ice and that isn't cold anymore. Basically an empty shell without the character development. 

Kokoro Connect is mainly a Drama series focusing on the 5 friends(Taichi, Aoki, Iori, Yui and Inaba) of the Cultural Research Club. The first "arc" of the series is about them switching body randomly with one another. This was all done by and to please Fuusenkazura(Heart Seed), a mysterious being. After the first phenomenon died down as Fuusenkazura is satisfied with the "outcome", the five meets with another phenomenon, "Inner Desire Unleashing"! If they had a strong desire or thought about something, it will be unleashed uncontrollably. 

Well, personally I feel that the body switching incident isn't really that original as it has been used many many times. But I feel that the 2nd incident is more 'creative', though it is annoying to see them quarrel every single episode and avoiding each other. 

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For the Kokoro Connect Incident I was talking about previously, if you can't find the link, it's here -> [Kokoro Connect Incident] To summarize the event, basically the producer of the series, used Kokoro Connect as a 'tool' to prank a seiyuu named, Ichiki. This is probably a prank-gone-wrong incident but still, it is much too horrid for them to do that. By them I am referring to the producer, Yamanaka and a fellow seiyuu, Terushima(Aoki's voice actor) that laugh at Ichiki crumbling down. What I feel Terushima should have never did was not just that, but also the fact that he did further bullying(at this stage, it wouldn't be called a prank anymore) on Ichiki(probably because he "LOVES" seeing a human beautifully breaking down). The "further bullying" isn't in the pastebin link(if I am not wrong), but you should be able to find the details in about up to an hour of researching. For Yamanaka, what I feel that he has done wrong is the prank details(he should not have plan such a trick on Ichiki, organized the "punishment", publically shame Ichiki and further giving him 'impossible' tasks and walks away smirking and feeling it is enjoyable), not stopping everything when things starts to go haywire and lastly not clarifying in the end properly (i.e apologizing to the victim personally and sincerely). The other parties that are involved are indeed wrong too, but those are just mild as compared to the two(probably just out of human's ill nature). I do feel that Sugita(voice actor of Gintoki - Gintama) actions are indeed commendable and others should do the same to stop such things from happening. I have also dropped the series partly because of this incident and the other due to the official site of the series's supposed apology but pushing the blame and adding kerosene to the fire(you can find it under the news section of the series' homepage - last part of the so called apology). They had also followed up with a better apology and even have plan to really include Ichiki in one of the episode but I couldn't care less anymore. :( If they hadn't wrong that last paragraph previously in their apology, I would continue(even if they didn't give any apology at all I would continue). But pushing the blame on illegally doctored video and uploading a LIVE event is just... Though that being said, I might still continue the series after I am less occupied(Really too busy even for anime, so that's another reason for me dropping the series)

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Going back to the impression, I believe the show is suitable for those who loves series with a deep character development and doesn't really mind the plot(though Kokoro Connect doesn't have a bad plot, just too shallow). Not for those that hates too much dialogue in their anime or dislike drama series.

Would give it a 6.7 for the plot, 7 for the art/animation as there's nothing strong about it neither is it bad, 7.9 for the Characters(character art isn't great nor is it bad. I need to also comment on the fact that Yui's character art stands out way too much than other main characters[she's not even the "lead-lead"] and this gives the series an unbalanced viewing, development between the characters is pretty good. The series is full of emotions and the characters' expression are well developed.) and lastly a 7.2 for the audio/sounds(character voice is just average, so is the background musics and sound effects. The OP by Eufonius isn't bad but isn't the best either. ED1 is quite good and I personally love ED2 more.) In total, that would give the series a 7.2

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II - #kyoukaisen

I finally get what the plot of this series is about, and will definitely rewatch when it ends. It is actually a very interesting series if you managed to understand it. The plot might not be that clear when you start the series but after some deep thoughts, you should be able to clear your doubts. Also, I believe it is the best to view each episode right after and not once a week.

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II is a Sci-Fi Action-Fantasy series and the second season of the Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon!(Well, Duh...) It does have a little fan service for those that are interested but that is seriously not what this series is about. I would say that the fan services in the series are meant to confuse your little minds. They make you unaware of what the heck you are watching as it 'covers' up the plot. I personally thinks the series would be better off without the slightest of those services. If i were to compare, I would say that the 2nd season is definitely much more exciting and action-packed. However, that is only because the first was use just as a setting for the character introduction and get the plot started. I have a feeling that the ending of the second season would not mean the ending of the series as there are so much more to tell. Would definitely wish for a 3rd season and even a 4th or 5th if it is possible.

Skipping the first season's plot, the second season continues from where it had previously stopped. After saving Horizon(Female Protagonist) from the Testament Union, the people of Musashi flees to their next destination, England. Now, Tres España decides to declare war on England. A huge battle will commence on the Fairy Queen's land as Tori(Male Protagonist) and the rest of the Musashi people quests for Horizon's lost emotions.

Personally I have not only begun to love the plot of this series, but also the exciting battles. It has been long ever since I had the "Oh... I can't wait for the next episode!" thought besides Accel World and excluding One Piece and Toriko. Well, this might be a weak season for Battle anime but Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon definitely stands out. I know that it might still be quite confusing for many and some have long dropped it due to its "poor" performance in the first season. I would like to say that you will definitely enjoy the 2nd season if you first started Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon because initially you thought it will have the most epic battle scenes ever. Though, I would recommend that while watching/rewatching, try pausing and rewinding the video(especially during the 'debates') to understand what just happened because that is what you need to understand the series and to love its plot. Overall, I would say that this is a series that you might need to put in a little effort, time and trouble to fully enjoy it. Will not recommend it to "simple" anime watchers who are just watching series for fun because they will definitely miss out many important details(which even serious watchers have trouble catching)in the series.

Don't really want to rate its plot until I have completed re-watching the entire series again, but for now I think the rating for the 2nd season should be a 7.2. Would rate the art/animation a 7.7(The animation is pretty well done actually. The special effects and character's accessories are pretty well done too. Also this rating do not include the character design), the Characters a 7.3 for the characters(I would say the character art is unique in the sense that they had 'exaggerated' features such as very very tiny nose [in fact I see no nose at all. ww], very very impossible 'curves' on some of the females, etc. that might not be appealing to some, though do note that this is a fantasy sci-fi so basically any character design is valid. The 2nd season has also better character developments, i.e. Tenzo x Bloody Mary. And the character's expression is not bad either.), and finally a 7.8 for the audio/sounds! (The OP 「ZONE//ALONE」 is pretty good. Really loves the ED2 「Sora no Uta」 too. A little weak but still thinks the ED1, 「Kanashimi wa Dare no Negai Demonai」 isn't bad. Seiyuu cast has done a really good job but I really dislike the Jun Fukuyama voice on Tori. The sound effects are quite detailed as well. Would definitely be much greater if they use a battle and clearer battle music). Overall I am rating it a 7.5!

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