Anime Short-Episode Series

[densuke]

Although they don't necessarily have much in common except that they run for 10 minutes or less per episode, I almost always enjoy short-episode series - in fact, I only ever ran into one I didn't like.

Lots of people may not have seen any of these - or [i]think[/i] they haven't. [b]Azumanga Daioh[/b] originally consisted of 130 5 minute episodes, which were later rolled up into standard-sized "episodes" - that's why every 4 minutes or so there is a new subtitle at the top of the screen naming the segment.

Azumanga Daioh has been licensed for awhile now, and so has [b]Adventures of the Mini-Goddesses[/b] (original title translates to: Oh My Goddess! Small is Useful), my favorite adaptation of the well-known manga. This cheerfully silly show ran for 48 episodes and managed to cover pocket histories and parodies of other anime along with simpler sketches concerning Skuld, Urd and Gan-chan the rat, a friendly but gullible sidekick.

[b]Di Gi Charat[/b] is another series only recently licensed. The original show and several epilogues set the super-cute main characters off against each other and brought in quirky side characters - the character interactions are most of the story.

There are plenty of other series covering various genres. A few are new or recent and are being fansubbed. Hopefully other members have seen and enjoyed some of these shows.

[Dagger]

Out of curiousity, what's the one short-episode anime that you dislike?

I haven't really been following [b]Tweeny Witches[/b], but it has an interesting premise and solid animation. I'll probably end up downloading a batch when the series is fully fansubbed; while I don't mind 9-minute episodes, I'd still like to have the option of watching two or three of them in one sitting.

Let's see... [b]Risky/Safety[/b] has fairly brief episodes, if I remember correctly. It seems like a cute, heart-warming kind of show, although it's so far down on my "to buy" list that I might as well just wait for a brick or a box set.

[b]Mouse[/b] is the only other title which immediately springs to mind. Then again, I don't think anything could convince me to venture near it--simply [I]looking[/I] at the female characters' assets makes my back hurt.

~Dagger~

[densuke]

Hrm, Mouse makes 2 actually - I had conveniently forgotten about it. Mouse's plot is as slight as its main female characters are, um... It does have an amazing OP song though. The title I was thinking of is [b]Panda Z[/b], which is so undercooked as to be indigestible.

I like the other two series you mention. Omishi Magical Theater - Risky & Safety is charming and funny, and pulls off some interesting storytelling tricks. Mahou Shoujotai (Tweeny Witches) gets by on very little animation, but piles on the attitude.

A current series from NHK called [b]Nanami-chan[/b] has an interesting look and feel. It's fantastic in a quiet way; the episodes manage to come off as fresh and new, even compared to each other.

[Okita]

Galaxy Angel was a nice comedy that while relatively plotless, was enjoyable to watch, it's humour has been overused but for some reason I couldn't fault it's execution despite my critical opinion of it.

The only other series that sprung to mind and is not mentioned is 'Ground Defence Force Mao' an extremely silly parody on the whole alien invading earth scenario where the aliens are so gosh darn cute that they could only ever be combated by small girls in marching band uniform of similiar cuteness.

Not precisely my cup of tea but I laughed alot at the first 'monster of the week' which exploded from a capsul that looked like a giant kindersurprise toy that are inside choc eggs.

[Syk3]

The only other short-episode anime that I can think of at the moment is.. <_<.. >_>.. [b]Colorful[/b]. :o If you know anything about the show, you'll know that it was created primarily for straight guys, as it sets out to show men's fantasies of women during an ordinary day. We actually watched it in anime club one time, and all of the girls were huddled in the back complaining about it the whole time, and eventually just left, haha. It kind of sounds like the same sort of premise that Mouse is, from what you've mentioned.