Kore wa Zombie desu ka? OF THE DEAD: First Impression

This is a direct follow on from the first series so I think no introduction is required. The first episode does that for you, with a quick reintroduction of what the first series was about, ie the interesting cast.

This season takes everything that was awesome about the first season and puts it all together. It's hilarious. All the original characters are back with a few new cool additions. The only thing that irks me is it's so short! With only 10 episodes, I'm curious as to what they are doing with this series. What I definitely know is, if you loved the first series, you will surely love this. I don't know how I managed to catch onto a series like this since I'm generally not a comedy kinda girl.

Quick character reintroductions aside, the first episode gets right into it with all the hilarious jokes all over again. Everything is so silly and exaggerated, and I can't help but laugh. I'm definitely going to be enjoying this series.

Accel World: Preview + First Impression

Title: Accel World
Type: TV Series
Episodes: 24
Producer: Sunrise
Genre: Action, Romance, Sci-Fi
Airing: April 07, 2012

Synopsis
The year is 2046. Haruyuki Arita is a young boy who finds himself on the lowest social rungs of his school. Ashamed of his miserable life, Haruyuki can only cope by indulging in virtual games. But that all changes when Kuroyukihime, the most popular girl in school, introduces him to a mysterious program called Brain Burst and a virtual reality called the Accel World.


PV




Pre-thoughts
I never really watch PVs. I usually just skim over the chart a couple of times and whatever catches my eye then I'll watch it. I actually did watch the PV for this and I loved the character design for Kuroyukihime so... I was sold on this series. Sunrise have also done a lot of series that I like so there's also that.

First Impression
I love the concept of this show. Futuristic world with fancy technology, male lead with an inferiority complex noticed by the most popular girl in school, multiplayer fighting game, add a jealous girl into the mix and voilà! It just feels like a super mindless but fun show to watch. I like Kuroyukihime's character. She's rather interesting and I can't wait to find out what the story is actually all about. And... nice art is nice. Everything is so ~pretty~. Extremely appealing to the eye. I like that.

Hiiro no Kakera: Preview + First Impression

Title: Hiiro no Kakera
Type: TV Series
Episodes: 26
Producer: Studio Deen
Genre: Romance,
Airing: April 01, 2012

Synopsis:
Based on otome game of the same name.

The protagonist is a teenage girl (Tamaki) who revisits a small village, she remembers from her childhood and gets caught up in her family's history and supernatural dangers surrounding it.While walking along the hillsides waiting for the person who her grandmother sent to fetch Tamaki to the village, Tamaki comes across a small, white round object with sticks for limbs and talks. It runs off soon after, with Tamaki chasing after it. Soon Tamaki finds herself in a place where ‘it doesn’t feel like the world I came from’. She gets attacked by three slime creatures, and a male comes charging in to save her - by clamping his hands around her body and mouth and telling her to be quiet.


PV


Pre-thoughts
REVERSE HAREM? SIGN ME UP. That was literally the only thing I thought of before deciding I would watch this. I really don't mind the idea of watching a heroine surrounded by a bunch of bishounen, no matter how cliche it can possibly be.

First Impression
Studio Deen is still lame but the artwork by Kazuki Yone is pretty awesome. If you're not watching this though, what are you doing with your life? 100% made for a young female audience. It's too early to tell whether this show is going to be more plot or romance orientated by I'm hoping for the romance side since otome games aren't exactly popular for their revolutionary storylines. The pacing feels a little slow at the moment. Studio Deen seems to be going for a more mysterious atmosphere to the show. Hopefully it balances well with the lighter moments. 26 episodes seems a little long but again it's too early to tell. Either way, I'm pretty sure when this ends, I'll say I liked it. Reverse harem never fails me!

Inu x Boku SS First Impression

I see a light. What is it? IS THAT HOPE? I think it is.

The first episode is not a masterpiece. It's not even close to being close to a masterpiece but it's by far better than what I've seen so far (except Another). The main character was like a tsundere except she acknowledges her 'tsuntsun' side and wants to change it. Can't say I've ever the name for this archetype before but it's apparently 'tsunshun'. In any case, the premise of this series is unbelievably silly. She's moving away to live in isolation because she wasn't to learn how to better interact with people. Where is the logic in that?

I already feel like this series is not for everyone. The key to enjoying it is probably in being able to relate to Ririchiyo and the idea of wanting to change for the better, and I can, so I have a feeling I'll enjoy this show despite how.... strange.... it sounds.

Ano Nattsu de Matteru First Impression

This is the 3rd last premier that I'll be watching this season and frankly I am thoroughly disappointed. It was boring. It felt extremely uninspired. I've read that it's exactly like Onegai Teacher which I personally haven't seen. I'm really not entirely sure what is stopping me from enjoying this but I was really bored during the episode. The art bothered me sometimes. I can't say I really like the characters or their interactions. Sadly, I didn't like the premier as much as I'd hope too but I'll keep going in hopes of something better.

Aquarion EVOL First Impression

Someone tell me why I watched this? I'm not even sure why I thought for a moment that I would actually like and enjoy this. As far as I could gather, since it's set 12000 years after it's prequel, there was really no need to watch the previous series for any sort of understanding about what was happening. I understood perfectly. That doesn't mean I liked it though. Over all I found the whole concept really silly with the Type-F, Type-M and forbidden Union etc etc. I didn't really like the characters. The mecha looked out of place with the background sometimes. I don't know... I just really wasn't feeling it unfortunately so I won't be continuing this series at all. ~dropped~

Another First Impression

I really love horror. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was so scared and creeped out it wasn't even funny. I watched this in broad daylight but I was still too scared to watch it in full screen most of the time. It seemed like a fairly standard introductory episode. It introduced a lot of characters, had a little back story but for the most part, it raised a lot of suspicion and questions for me. The art is great. The scenery is beautifully detailed making this anime really nice to look at. It's really no surprise coming from PA Works though. What I really loved about this episode was the atmosphere created by the eerie music that played during casual conversation as well as the random cut scenes of the dolls. There were a lot of subtle hints regarding Mei's death and I'm definitely interested in continuing to see what happened as well as it's relation to Kouichi. Hopefully this show delivers and doesn't disappoint.

Brave 10 First Impressions

For lack of a better term, I thought this was kind of ~fun~. It was really kind of amusing and entertaining. It reminded me a lot of Basilisk (which I haven't finished) especially with the mentions of the Iga and Kouga clans.  I don't love it but I do like it and will probably be sticking around for the remainder of the 12 episodes. It definitely is the better of the 3 premiers I've seen so far. I really liked the art. The OP and ED sounded really odd but I never really pay them much attention. The story so far hasn't left as much of an impression as the characters but everything seems very average..... Average, but I liked it.

Mouretsu Pirates First Impression

This is the first space opera I'm watching so I didn't really know what I should expect coming into it. I really wasn't feeling it at the start and the temptation to stop half way was great. The slow pacing is indicative of the 26 episode length. The episode just introduced a few of the seemingly large cast of characters. Nothing really stood out for me in this episode at all. I haven't latched onto any of the characters or any sort of potential plot line yet. All the action begins in the next episode so it's really too soon to tell if I'll like this or not. The last 30 seconds were enough to keep me coming back and I'll definitely be sticking around for a while because of familiar VA Hanazawa Kana (Angel Beats, DRRR, Haganai, IS).

Kill Me Baby First Impression

Well I kicked off Winter 2012 anime with the anime adaptation of 4-koma manga "Kill Me Baby". There really isn't much to say about anything. It's very ~average~. There isn't anything fancy in terms of art or animation. It's all fairly simple. There doesn't seem to be any sort of ongoing story but this episode was funny. For a while. I got tired of the humour mid-way into the episode. You'd probably enjoy it if you're into this kind of genre but I'm more of an action or heavy drama kinda girl. The characters were great but they really weren't enough to rescue pulling the same gag a hundred times in one episode. It wasn't downright terrible, just mediocre. I'll stick around for a few more episodes I suppose but whether I stay until the end will definitely depend on how long this series runs for. Any more than 12 episodes and I'm out.

Dantalian no Shoka Preview and First Impressions

Airing
June 16, 2011 @ 0123
Every Saturday.

Producer
Gainax

Genre
Fantasy, Supernatural

Synopsis
Hugh Anthony Disward inherits an old mansion and a personal library from his grandfather. In the basement of the mansion, he meets a mysterious girl, Dalian. She is a Dantalian and a gateway to "Dantalian's bookshelf", which stores the prohibited books of the demons.

"Gensho (Illusory Books)", the prohibited books, endanger the balance of the world, but people are fascinated by the taboo. Hugh and Dalian solve the cases involving Gensho with their ability to access the Dantalian bookshelf.

Pre-season Thoughts

"I see a gun, fire, and Victorian era style. Disregard everything because this is the most necessary thing to pick up this season." 

As you may or may not know, I choose anime by the art style first. The ones I pick are always usually not the best but I have a far better chance of being able to finish it. Plot wise it sounded pretty original. I'd never heard of anything like it before so I wouldn't be expecting much coming into this series, albeit it seems like the typical anime I'd watch.

Typical anime for me = tsundere girl + boy + some sort of magic + MacGuffin

Considering the prospects as a whole, I wasn't expecting a masterpiece. I was just looking for a bit of fun.

PV


First Impression
It started off nicely, clearly explaining the situation. It wasn't overly poetic or beautifully done or anything but it set the premise for the story so you kind of actually know where the story was heading. I guess that denotes predictability in a way, but hey, it's the first episode. In a way, I found it a little boring at the beginning. I mean, I knew what was going to happen but at least it didn't confuse me. The art was somewhat mediocre. It was a bit strange seeing how insanely pale Dalian was. What I wasn't expecting was that it was a little scary. (Maybe it's just because I watched it in the middle of the night. Who knows.) Yes, I was thoroughly creeped out. Not to mention that ED. How freaky is the girl in the ED? I was scared watching that during the day.

Overall, the first episode was a bit rushed. It did introduce the story but everything happened way too fast and too much  happened in a short time span. It didn't seem to flow very well. Hopefully this show won't become episodic. There are only 13 epiosdes.

And another thing. I've noticed a lot of people comparing this to GOSICK. I guess Hugh and Dalian are somewhat similar to Kujo and Victorique in that they're a male and a female. Oooh, what a striking resemblance. The leads are of the same gender. Wonderful. Seriously though, the only similarity I've noticed is the Victorian era style. Really.

Can't say I minded the start too much really. It's obviously not ever going to be the best anime in the world and I'm honestly not expecting much more out of it. I mean, if it did offer more, I wouldn't be complaining but I can enjoy it just the way it is.

Usagi Drop Preview + First Impression

Airing:
8th July 2011 (Yes, that was last week.) 0045

Producer:
Production IG

Genre:
Slife of Life

Synopsis:
Going home for his grandfather's funeral, thirty-year-old bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover! The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin. In a fit of angry spontaneity, Daikichi decides to take her in himself! But will living with this overgrown teenager of man help Rin come out of her shell? And hang on, won't this turn of events spell doom for Daikichi's love life?!

Fansub:
I do believe I'm watching Doki Fansubs. (Why is the fansub important? I've got no idea. In any case, anything is better than HorribleSubs ripped of Crunchyroll. To be honest though, after watching all these Korean shows, any Japanese fansub is way better.) 

Thoughts:
At first, I didn't really notice this show because the art really isn't too eye-catching. That's an understatement really. I had a look at the chart for the 100th time a few days before the season started and actually read all the synopses and thought it sounded really interesting and really felt like it was something I had to watch. So I ditched my plans of watching Blood-C (which I heard isn't too good) and went with this instead. 

PV:


First Impression:
Truly and completely honestly, my first thought was 'the art is weird'. The colours aren't that nice and it takes a bit to get used to. Well, for me it did. I didn't really like the way the scenery was done, but hey, each to their own. Story-wise, it was a good introduction episode. Nothing too extraordinary but it was nice. The story isn't extra special or different but I'm looking forward to a heartwarming series.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée First Impression

This first episode completely defied my expectations. Having not read the manga, I was expecting a moe-fest but what I saw was quite different. The animation features the story of a young girl who travels to France to work. While it may seem slow to some, I find the story really nice and heartwarming. Yune is a really respectable character, portrayed as the ideal Japanese woman. She's really adorable, it's hard not to fall in love with her immediately. The character dynamic between Yune and Claude is really cute. I also really liked the classical background music.

Apparently, this show has Aria vibes. I haven't seen Aria yet so I wouldn't know. What I do know is this is a good show to enjoy after a long day or before bed. I don't like giving away plot in these things so that's all I'll say. The first episode was a nice start to the show and to the season for me. 

Moshidora First Impressions

Ignoring the fact that I forgot to include this in my previews for the spring season, it was actually the first anime that caught my eye and was added to my spring list. Honestly, I really have no idea why. After a while I started to doubt why I even decided I would watch it, because sport related anime aren't my thing, and even considered not picking it up at one point. Eventually, I decided otherwise because it was already on my list and I did say I would watch everything I add to my list. I feel obligated to.

Moshidora was surprisingly refreshing. It's really something different. It just has this nice relaxing effect and it's rather interesting. It is aimed at older men and women (business people) but really, I think anyone could enjoy this. It's not absolutely perfect in any way, shape, or form, but it's one of the better ones this season. It's not your average anime that's aimed at pleasing the fans. The art isn't too flashy or anything but this episode is a nice start to the series. The first episode is really worth a try. 8/10

Hanasaku Iroha First Impression

I think I'm utterly in love with the art. It has the most beatiful, intricate, detailed art I have ever seen. It's absolutely amazing. I can't even express how much I like this. I was honestly that breathtaking.

Hanasaku Iroha was produced by P.A. Works as part of their 10th anniversary so it was apparently very anticipated but it really didn't catch my eye at all initially. I was just surfing the net, reading a couple of reviews about various anime when I came across screen shots from this show. I was so surprised. The art looked so beautiful that I had to watch it immediately... and that's when I fell in love.

The art aside, the story is actually a really nice coming-of-age drama which I actually found quite enjoyable. 

I'm hesitant in giving this a 10 so it'll be a 9/10 for the first 3 episodes but it's really something that I think everyone should watch.

Ao no Exorcist First Impression

It seems as if I'm the only one who didn't really find that this episode lived up to their expectations. It was one of my most anticipated for the spring season and it just really didn't impress me at all. It's a shame really. To put it simply, I just didn't feel that vibe from this episode (which is apparently non-cannon anyway). I got quite bored while watching this and paused several times to do other things. While the story is interesting and is a nice change from your typical shounen, the episode itself failed to capture my attention. I didn't find it awesome, epic or intense at all. Even during parts that had really good background music, it seemed so lifeless and emotionless to me. The way the events panned out, some of it was really predictable except the part where Rin is the son of Satan. Some of the events really should've triggered some sort of reaction inside me but I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was a big disappointment but I didn't hate it. I just hope it gets better. 6/10

The ED is also terrible. K-POP? SERIOUSLY? (Yes I'm mad.)

Deadman Wonderland First Impression

I was hesitant in picking this up. It wasn't something that appealed to me at the first glance like it did for many others nor have I seen the manga. In the end, I decided I would give it a go because of all the hype it received. Of course keeping in mind the fact that nothing with a lot of hype has ever really impressed me, namely Code Geass, Death Note, Gintama, Clannad, and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

Firstly, if you don't like or can't handle graphic violence, just don't watch this. Personally, I find this level of gore pretty disgusting and for me the censoring just made me imagine things that were probably 10 times worse that what it actually was. I find this sort of horror gross and scary but that's the whole point isn't it? Although if you enjoy watching this sort of graphic violence, you're a sadist or you have issues and you really need help.

The premise is pretty sadistic - prisoners who are subject to punishment for the viewer's enjoyment. It's original and interesting though. I'd like to see where it goes. The way the boy ended up in there is pretty unbelievable. What kind of normal person would believe that a 14 year old boy is capable of taking on 29 of his classmates? I don't think anyone would be able to decapitate 29 others unless they were superhuman or something.

For a 12 episode series, I think they should've explained a few more things in the first episode rather than leaving it for the next few. That way they might actually get more story in. I don't know. I was way to curious and felt as if they left me hanging a little too far off the edge so I looked up all the missing details like what the death sentence was and the significance of the collar and candy. This episode earns a 7/10.

AnoHana First Impression

Also goes by the name Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.

Yes, a long title may be long but there is no denying that this first episode was amazing. It was far from what I was expecting but in a good way of course. The OP, the ED, the art, the story.. everything was so beautiful. I think we can expect a lot of tears during the course of this anime. It's been a while since I felt something so real while watching an anime in terms of emotion. (Madlax has it) It was real, fresh and had no fanservice. I absolutely loved it and it joins my top 3 so far this season along with Hidan no Aria and Denpa Onna no Seishun Otoko. I'm expecting great things out of this series and I'll be very disappointed if it doesn't deliver in the end. 10/10 Highly recommend this.

Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL First Impression

I was expecting a lot out of this and in the end I was pretty disappointed in it. It kinda of reminded me of GX but I'm afraid I don't think this will ever live up to the greatness that was GX (in my eyes anyway).

Things that disappointed me:

• It seemed so childish compared to it's successors Duel Monsters, GX and 5Ds. Maybe it's because Yuma is 13 compared to Yugi, Judai and Yusei who were 16, 15 and 18 respectively or maybe it was something else.
• The D-Gazers make me think of the scouter devices in Dragon Ball Z.
• The character designs are horrific.
• Preparation for the duel seems very mahou shoujo-esque.
• Yuma can't duel. I mean I don't mind that he's losing. It makes it more realistic if the main character doesn't win all the time but what kind of duelist lays a trap card face down and TELLS THEIR OPPONENT?!
• Exceed Summon. I don't get it. I think my brain just stopped at Synchro Summon but that actually made sense.

What I did like:

• The backgrounds were beautiful.
• New duelling systems. It's pretty cool how you see the duel in some alternate dimension or something.

As an avid Yu-Gi-Oh! fan, I'm extremely disappointed but I'll keep watching to see where it goes. 6/10 right now.

Hidan no Aria First Impression

I absolutely LOVED it. I love J.C Staff, I love Kugimiya's tsundere voice and I love guns. This wins the best of the season for me hands down. I can't even express how much I love this in words so I'll just do it in numbers. I give this episode a massive 10/10.