Anime Winter 2010 Anime Season

[Shinmaru]

Yep, it's that time again! The winter season is upon us, and while there are way fewer shows than fall, winter has no shortage of shows that at least look interesting. Plus, there's no way it could possibly suck as hard as fall did, right? Right?? Right?????

Season previews for those who are still in the dark about what is airing: [URL="http://brianandrew.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/winter-2010-anime-season-preview/"][b]Bokutachi no Blog[/b][/URL], [URL="http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2009/12/05/winter-2010-preview/"][b]Sea Slug Team![/b][/URL] and [URL="http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2009/12/30/winter-2010-preview/"][b]Random Curiosity[/b][/URL]

[b]Series I am definitely interested in watching[/b]:

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10947"][b]Durarara!![/b][/URL]: Adapted from light novels written by the creator of [b]Baccano![/b]? Check. Produced by the studio that animated [b]Baccano![/b]? Check. Great seiyuu cast? Check. Crazy sounding story with possibly interesting characters? Check and check. If this does not end up at least being solid, then I give up on anime forever.

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10948"][b]Dance in the Vampire Bund[/b][/URL]: Already stirring up a bit of controversy because of the whole "lol loli vampire" thing, but the story has an interesting premise (a vampire negotiates with the government to create a kingdom for her people), and with SHAFT at the helm, you know it will at least look damn good. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt for now.

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10950"][b]Nodame Cantabile Finale[/b][/URL]: I heard the manga did not end in an especially satisfying way, but hell, after watching the great first season and the solid second season, there's no way I'm not going to watch this final season of [b]Nodame[/b], ****** ending or not. My only hope is that the story gets back some of the complexity that made the first season so surprisingly interesting.

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10765"][b]Katanagatari[/b][/URL]: Interesting animation style to a series of stories penned by the author of [b]Bakemonogatari[/b]. Apparently this will be a series of 12 50-minute episodes released once a month over the course of the year. Hopefully that means consistently high quality work throughout the show's run.

[b]Series I am kind of interested in watching[/b]:

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11023"][b]So-Ra-No-Wo-To[/b][/URL]: lol k-nagi! Truthfully, I'm not really sure it sounds interesting at all, but I'm willing to give it a shot just to fend off the stink of certain other series.

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11045"][b]Ookami Kakushi[/b][/URL]: Mainly because of Ryukishi07 x Peach Pit, which could be a potentially interesting combo.

-- [URL="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10896"][b]Hanamaru Kindergarten[/b][/URL]: Mainly because Seiji Mizushima trolling people at Anime Expo with a preview of this series was hilarious, and thus I believe I owe it to him to at least watch one episode of this series.

So there we have it. What are you all tuning in to watch this season?

[Sangome]

[FONT="Microsoft Sans Serif"][SIZE="1"]... Okay, after looking over the preview on Random Curiosity, I'm just kinda stone-faced at some of the titles. In a bad way. Most of it's more of the same...

...but what on God's green earth greenlit something like [B]Seikon no Qwaser[/B]?! I just...I...I should expect this from Japan, but at the same time...there...there really are no words. And then I made the mistake of clicking on the other promo image and [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bx27i807eg"][U]DEUUEAUGH[/U][/URL] I need to learn not to give into link temptation.

But, um, yeah. Doubt I'll be watching any of this, I'll just stick with [I]Monster[/I] for this winter.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Ikillion]

[COLOR=#35160f][SIZE="1"][FONT="Trebuchet MS"]Okay leesee what we got here, Durararararararara looks kinda cool
[QUOTE] Replacing Darker than BLACK in this Thursday MBS timeslot is a series based on a light novel written by the same guy who wrote the Baccano![/QUOTE]
I'll take twenty.

Yeah well okay, lets see what Katanagatari is all about
[quote]From the author of Bakemonogatari comes a[/quote]
I'll take thirty.

Dance in the Vampire Bund does look kinda interesting but HNNG Japan stop trying to turn me into a lolicon I like my women healthy not loli and stick like. [color=#ededed]I'll take ten[/color]

I'll probably fall into any others as the season countinues, or atleast that strategy worked out really well in the fall season.

Aaaand I'm done
[color=#ededed]I am 99% sure that Seikon no Qwaser will probably become my new guilty pleasure this season replacing kampfer. Dem tits man.[/color][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[rotlung]

I actually looked through most of the trailers. I hate the fact that most of the series were based around fanservice....

Durarara- looked really solid. Street punk with a biker ghost sounds like a good original story with something other than cookie cutter chararters. I'll be checking this one out for sure

Dance with a Vampire Burd- As much as i like Blood + I'm not 100% sold on this anime yet. It looks good but random naked loli running around kind of turned me off.... If there is a enough action and quality storyline I'll most likely end up watching it.

Katanagatari- I liked the differant style in artwork. (and for the record I loved Samuri Jack) I feel this will be a refreshing differant look on anime. A far cry from what else is coming out.

Seikon no Quasar- ok I liked and hated this one all at once. I like the action scene in the preview. The main character look terrifying and kick ***. However, the bouncing boobs, panty shots and something about him needing to drink breatmilk ?!?!?! WTF I'm half tempted to watch this to see what happens and I feel i'm going to be dissappointed.

The rest of the seris either didn't appeal to me or were really really bad...

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Posted in rough order of interest...

[b]Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu[/b]
Oh hay, it's another season of that show I've been plugging to death lately. Seriously, why haven't you watched it yet?

[b]Hanamaru Youchien[/b]
This show just looks like it'll be a lot of fun and full of crazy kindergarten antics. Not really much else to say.

[b]Dance in the Vampire Bund[/b]
Normally I'm not big on vampire stories but hey, it's SHAFT. And Bakemonogatari also ended up being one of my favorites of its season despite my lack of interest before watching it. The vampire being a loli also helps.

[b]Katanagatari[/b]
Like I mentioned above, I really liked Bakemonogatari so I'm definitely checking this one out as well. The art style grows on me each time I see more of it.

[b]Sora no Woto[/b]
I've seen the first episode of this and it looks like it'll be enjoyable. Everyone seems to be bashing it over its similarities to K-ON – and there are a number of them, to be fair – but it looks like it'll be more than just a cookie-cutter knockoff. Also, I'm really liking the soundtrack; while writing this post I've had the OP theme playing in the background.

[b]Ookami Kakushi[/b]
I don't know much about this beyond the plot summary on MAL, but that along with some of the people involved in the series is enough for me to at least check it out.

[b]Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu[/b]
My stupid, mindless fun for the season.[/color]

[rotlung]

[B][COLOR=#4b0082]ok so I've been checking on the first episodes of these series as they have been coming out. Some were rather surprising and other left me scratchin my head...[/COLOR][/B]
[B][/B]
[B][COLOR=#4b0082]Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu- I thought I'd hate this show with a passon due to the fact that they had the little avatar (chibi) things running amuck. I found out that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Could turn out to be a decent series.[/COLOR][/B]


[B][COLOR=#4b0082]Dance in the Vampire Bund- I was really excited about this show. Vampires always will have a nice place in my sci fi heart. The only thing that made ask WTF was the whole game show thing that led to the vampires introducing themselves. It was kind of weird but to it's credit that little girl is scary powerful... [/COLOR][/B]


Seikon no Quasar- I just finished watching the first episode of this and I was actaully impressed. The guy with the giant scythe is actually an alchemist (at least that is what I think they are called him) I'm still a little creeped out by the whole breatmilk thing they called Soma but if the action stays at the intesity and they aren't too hardcore on the fanservice I can forgive it.

Durarara- I was really impressed by this first episode. Kid being shown around the city by a friend and he get to see everything including the headless rider. I have a good feeling that this is going to be the breakout show of the season.

Katanagatari- This is the only show I haven't seen yet.... if anyone find a site that has up the first episode pls post it. It's my guess it isn't out yet...

[Shinmaru]

OK, aside from [b]Nodame Cantabile[/b] and [b]Katanagatari[/b], I've seen just about everything I am interested in this season, so I might as well contribute a bit more to the conversation!

[b]Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu[/b]: Much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. It's not much more than a simple, crazy comedy that looks great (director of [b]ef - a tale of memories[/b] is leading the way), but with anime comedy being relatively barren, you take what you can get. Plus, the reluctant trap is traptastic.

[b]Dance in the Vampire Bund[/b]: Contrary to most of the 'net I actually enjoyed ep1, but ep2 seemed more like a regular anime episode with vampires inserted into the equation. Not really sure if I am liking this series quite yet (and it's only going to be 12 episodes, apparently, so it's not as if there is a lot of time to get things together, haha).

[b]Durarara!![/b]: Solid first episode and an interesting second episode (with great mood-setting music and visuals) = the best show of the season so far. It seems to be taking the approach of slowly peeling away the layers of craziness in the city, and if that's how it continues to develop, I won't be complaining. I need to watch the next episode badly; the weeklong wait in between episodes is going to be rough.

[b]Hanamaru Kindergarten[/b]: Cute, fun first episode. Like [b]Baka to Test[/b], more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

[b]Ookami Kakushi[/b]: Hopefully it becomes more than [b]Higurashi[/b]-lite soon (haven't watched the second episode yet, so maybe that's where it happens).

[b]Sora no Woto[/b]: I don't think I've read a middle of the road opinion on this yet; people either despise it, or they're splooging themselves over it. I'm liking it right now, but I think some of the fans are going a little crazy. Maybe settle down for a moment until the girls do more than look for ghosts.

[rotlung]

Another series that has come out and I actually watched the first 2 episodes is Ladies vs Butlers.

If u hate fanservice don't watch this show cause that is all this show is. If your looking for some softcore porn however it's right up ur alley. lol

[Magus]

[size=1][color=darkred]Man, where's the action at? Like rotlung said, all or most of these shows are geared towards fanservice, and that's just not my thing. It's like that's been the case throughout the entire year of 09. I really hope there will be a little more variety in genres come this spring, and continue onward for the rest of the year.

In any case, I'm gonna catch up on more shows I've yet to see. Baccano, Gundam 00 (2nd season), Code Geass (finish up on it anyway) and Tales of the Abyss.[/size][/color]

[Shinmaru]

So, [b]Durarara!![/b] is far and away the best of what I've seen this season. It brings something different and interesting to the table with each episode. While I enjoyed [b]Baccano![/b] I think by the end I'll like [b]Durarara!![/b] more; the characters, setting and story just seem more thoughtful and interesting to me, whereas [b]Baccano![/b] is a ton of fun but ultimately not much more than that. (Not that I think there is anything wrong with that.)

A level below that are [b]Hanamaru Kindergarten[/b] and [b]Sora no Woto[/b], both of which are more enjoyable than I expected them to be. The former is light, cute and funny, and done well enough to separate from the normal pack of comedies. Hiiragi is one of my favorite characters of the season. I also love that the teacher already has his own posse of kindergarten dudes. [b]Sora no Woto[/b] is presenting a fairly interesting, compelling world that may be going through the aftermath of some sort of disaster, and is in the middle of a war. It's contrasting well the placid daily lives of the girls at the fortress with the potentially deadly challenges they may have at some later date.

All bunched up together are [b]Nodame Cantabile Finale[/b], [b]Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu[/b], [b]Ookami Kakushi[/b] and [b]Katanagatari[/b]. [b]Nodame[/b] is solid but so far doesn't have quite the same bite as the great first season (which is the same problem [b]Paris Chapter[/b] had). [b]BakaTest[/b] is a good deal funnier than I thought it would be; however, I think it also straddles the line between being really funny and going with "safe" anime humor. The art style is fun, though. There's a compelling horror story deep within [b]Ookami Kakushi[/b], but there's a bunch of cornball stuff at the top of it, too. Haven't watched ep5 yet, so hopefully it makes more progress. First ep of [b]Katanagatari[/b] isn't bad. A lot of talking and exposition, but hey.

[b]Dance in the Vampire Bund[/b] seems to be evoking the most extreme reactions across the 'net. I think the quality has fluctuated from OK to laughably bad, but there are also people seeing things that I am not seeing at all, so I'm not really sure what to think of it at this point, haha.

[rotlung]

[B]Dance in the Vampire Bund- has definatly been interesting... I'm slowly disliking the vamps more and more. One thing is the story keeps u guessing but I've been a little turned off by it...[/B]


I have to agreed with Shinmaru that [B]Durarara is the breakout of the season. The Headless Horseman is awesome and the characters are so interesting and the way that everyone crosses paths is interesting and unbelieveable. [/B]


[B]Katanagatari[/B] looks like it's going to end up being solid but I have a feeling that with it released at a slower pace people are going to not like it as much.... I like the basic storyline and the characters are interesting but don't have a lot of depth yet...


Seikon no Quasar has also impressed me. I thought it was going to be fanservice to no end and it turns out that other than an odd joke here and there about Him needing his breastmilk, it has good battle scenes and an interesting plot. If u haven't checked it out I definatly recommend it


Ladies vs Butlers has just made me crack up. I almost want to take back my softcore comment but then they show boobs for no apperant reason... so my comment must stand... I did laugh at the when clumsy girl was cooking and got white stuff all over herself. Her next line was "it tatse sweet" rofl