Well, I know that I always figured this thing would be sporadic. Would a post every couple of years count?
In any case, the muse has struck, and I thought I'd write a bit about some of the anime I've watched in the semi-recent past (call it the last year or so.)
It's kind of odd, I'd started watching back in the mid 90s, but really drifted away for an extended period of time, only to return in the last couple of years. I'm not sure what drew me back, but the ease of watching stuff on Crunchyroll and Hulu (and not paying big bucks to buy a series on hope) certainly hasn't hurt any. I consider both of those subs to be money well spent. Otherwise, blame it on a midlife crisis. So sue me.
Maybe I'll take a post or two at some point to get into these in depth, or maybe not. We'll see. No promises. However, let's get the show rolling. (I'll try not to drop big spoilers, but do beware.)
Lost in the MMO-verse
Two of the anime that got me back into things are a pair that came out more or less at the same time. I know that the respective fandoms have tended to snipe at one another, but I like them both. Neither is without flaws, but both are enjoyable.
Sword Art Online: I imagine that this one is a bit more famous. It certainly didn't hurt it any that it was shown on Cartoon Network. A fun show with appealing characters, but one that's also perfectly capable of grabbing you by the throat and squeezing the life out of you.
In short, it's set in a not terribly distant future, where virtual reality has improved to the point that the VR headset is able to supply a full 5-senses experience to the player. A new game opens up, and it turns out that it's all a horrible trap. It gives "permadeath" a whole new meaning. The opening concept is strong, and it gives the series an enormous amount of weight right from the start. That said, the initial problem is solved halfway into season one, and ever since, the show has been a bit uneven to my mind. It has some incredible moments, and I think that the biggest tearjerker in the whole series is the ending of Season 2, but it can struggle a bit. Well worth a watch to my mind.
Log Horizon: While in some ways the pretext sounds the same as SAO, they are very different shows. Even after two seasons, we're only beginning to get a sense of how the players of the game got sucked into their game.
Like SAO, I think that the show can be a bit uneven, especially in season 2. That said, it's never quite as serious as SAO, and really does seem to be a "love letter" to MMO players. The main characters are fun and appealing, and it's well worth a watch.
Magic and Mayhem
The Irregular at Magic High School: Another fun show that does a nice job of slowly but surely sucking people in. The cast of characters is extremely interesting, and it does a good job of building a world where magic and technology have begun to bleed together.
If I have a concern with the show, it's with the protagonist and his sister. In short, the main character may be the most OP Gary Stu I've seen in a long, long time. His sister? If you think that the relationship between Kirito/Kazuto and Leafa/Sugu in Sword Art could get a bit troublesome, then hold on to your hat. Still though, well worth the watch.
Fate/Stay Night: I'll have to admit, I've not seen all of this. I've seen the original series and Fate/Zero. It's got an intriguing premise and some pretty interesting characters. That said, be prepared for it to take half the season for you not to want to throw things at the screen whenever the main character is on. He's not exactly the brightest bulb in the box.
Maoyu: A short series by the same guy that wrote Log Horizon. Who knew that an extended lesson in economics could actually make for a fun anime? That sounds odd, but it's true. The premise is a bit odd. The Demon King (who is actually a very busty girl) marries the Hero so that they could work together to bring peace. By the way, that's their names. One of the little odd touches.
Slice of Life:
This category is the one that's surprised me the most. One nice things about the growth of streaming anime is that some stuff has gotten brought over that might not have made it back in the DVD only days. Even if it did come out, I probably wouldn't have taken a chance on it, considering the price tag. That said, these have grown to be some of my favorite shows.
Your Lie in April. Remember how I said that Sword Art can grab you by the throat and squeeze? Your Lie will grab you by the throat, rip it out,stomp on it, and leave it lying in the dust. It is incredibly powerful, incredibly beautiful and incredibly hard at some points.
The main character is Arima Kosei. He was an up and coming pianist, easily considered the best in Japan in his age bracket, until it all fell apart. The story begins a few years later, and Kosei is still suffering from some extreme mental blocks that keep him from playing the piano. Then, he meets the world's weirdest violin player. I just can't give this enough thumbsup. It's utterly fantastic. Probably the best series I've seen in the last decade. Bring kleenex.
Sound! Euphonium Another musical anime, but without the emotional baseball bat. It's the story of a High School Concert band, and how they deal with their new director (among other things.) A very appealing cast of characters, and while my band days are long past, I do relate. This is one that will sneak up on you, and I was very glad to see a second season announced.
Out of Left Field.
I don't have a better description for this last series, because it's not something I'd have ever expected myself to like on so many levels.
Saki (including Achiga Side A) Um, yeah. An anime about Japanese style mah-jong. It gets wierder, because the series has some not exactly subtle Yuri overtones, so really not my thing. Yet somehow, it sucked me in. The short form is that it's set in a universe where Riichi Mah-jong is incredibly popular, with High School tournaments being televised nationwide, and people watching in giant screens on the street. Further, many of the players come equipped with various superhuman powers (the ability to influence luck, see the future, and the like.)
So, the story begins with Miyanaga Saki, a first year at Kiyosumi High School. She used to play mah-jong at home with her family quite often, but that has actually left her with something of a distaste for the game. Well, she got suckered into playing a few games with the club, and as you'd expect, she's good. Really good. She's one of the superhuman "monsters." She ends up making friends and joining the club, finally finding the ability to enjoy the game. She also gives the team the 5th member they need to compete in team tournaments. Those tournaments become the heart of the plot, as the team begins to march towards the nationals.
There is also a side story which focuses on Achiga Girls High School, which is one of the others in the tourney, and in some ways, I like it better than the main series. You get a whole new set of characters, and they also are on their way to nationals.
I can't say why, but I just like the silly thing.
I may poke up more, and explain a bit more on some of these, or even mention a few other things, but this is enough of a start I expect.
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