Well, I felt that it will be good if I keep track of the series that I do not blog, but still have a view so that I can keep up with a bit of the thoughts that each episode gave me. With that, let’s go straight to the various impressions to the various series that I have kept up for now. I do realize that some of these series in the small screenshots above! No time to waste, the week’s review is on hand!
The episodes analyzed includes: …
Claymore Episode 4: Click here
Overdrive Episode 4:Click here
Lovely Complex Episode 3: Click here
Nanoha StrikerS Episode 4: Click here
Kamichama Karin Episode 3: Click here
Hitohira Episode 5: Click here
I totally was bowled over by the compelling story telling in this episode. Compared to Seirei no Moribito, the battle in Claymore for this episode is not the most spectacular by any standards. However, the graphics of this episode held well if anything, and I really like the humanizing of Clare. Considered to be a demon by most, she has finally showed that beneath that half demon blood, there is in fact a human and she is battling hard every single second to protect the human race.
Gark and Sid really annoyed me at first, especially Sid because of how ungrateful he is toward the help of Clare who has saved them despite being hurt and getting damaged. However, it is perhaps not that wrong of them to do it, since it is really their town that they are protecting and the concept of demons in any town is often very negative. Claymores are also seen negatively as demonic people without emotions, which is clearly not the case as well. Still, they fully redeemed themselves at the end when they use their own bodies even if they know that they are too weak to win in order to allow Clare a chance to have a good shot at the monster.
It’s also a very smart choice to use the corpse as the body of the monster that they are fighting, which really makes it way better rather than disguising as one of the priests or guards. It shows the intelligence of the monster and Clare’s huge injuries despite winning gives that notion of being easily defeated, even though the sudden switch from full demon to a calm state after the hug and crying of Reki makes it a tad cheesy and breaking from the system. Still, they really cannot let Clare die at Episode 4, if not we will have no main character. I do not have any suggestions on how to make it smoother, so I guess it will work. Still, Episode 4 is an excellent closure for this arc.
Over Drive Episode 4 sent my pulses rising with the little training race when Mikoto started going faster and faster. You have to really be impressed because it is for once that he is a genius that does not look like one or have the talent at all, yet having a strange style of arrogance. His arrogance is really cute since it is generally to impress Fukazawa that often turns out to be a really bad job at it.
Still, it seems that Fukazawa has a little liking at least for Mikoto, since he is rather adorable when he works so hard. He does need to work on his self-esteem but it’s probably his charm as the main character. For one, I am liking this series because it is not that hard on the cycling but is a decent mix of shoujo and sports genre. I also find that the sudden growth of Mikoto from a non-cyclist to someone who can cycle so well within a few days can be a tad unrealistic, since it is not that easy to be riding a cross country or race bike as the balance is way hard for a newbie. He is a genius, I guess.
I love this episode. Lovely Complex has just about the best shoujo couple in this season, with the chemistry of the tall Risa and the really short Atsushi being totally great. Every single interaction between the two of them never fails to make me laugh and the silly jealously between the two when one gets hounded by the opposite sex is just classic. The way they deny any bit of romance just tickles my bone, even though it is clear for the third person that they are meant for each other. Still, the denial of feelings can sometimes be annoying in many shoujo series, but in Lovely Complex, it seems to be done excellently.
I also like the introduction of Haruka, who is really a way overboard character with a really pretty face but amazingly, when Haruka confessed his feelings, Risa did not go into full love bloom. I guess her heart is already given somewhat to Atsushi but the feelings and the emotions felt by Risa is way stronger than Atsushi feels for her at least. I also feel that Atsushi has a very weak mental strength compared to Risa, and even though he’s admired by others, he somewhat has a much obvious inferior complex.
It is little wonder though, why there is such a difference even though both of them are often teased being together as the tall-short combination. I mean, girls being too tall is not that bad but a guy being short is a harder and more painful stigma. I do think that this is the most funny series that I am watching other than Kamichama Karin for this season and I really enjoy it. Next episode please!
I am not impressed at all with Nanoha StrikerS. Yes, there is good fanservice in the bathing scene for Subaru but I really think that the third installation of the Nanoha Series is riding on the huge success of the previous two. The graphics quality seems to have dropped quite a bit from the transition from the second series to the current third series. The story wise, granted that it is given 26 episodes to fully develop the characters, is still way too slow for my liking.
I am not sure for now the status of this series. I know that I really like Fate still, even though she’s older and somewhat, the older characters has left quite a mark with me since I really like them. The new characters bored me big time though, and I am really disappointed by the franchise. Since the battle will start soon, let’s hope that it has good action scenes to reignite the raging heart of my fanboy behavior toward this series before it extinguishes to a small and fading flame.
Way too cute. Way too cute. This is like the cutest series for the spring season, and to put the icing on the cake, it is also a very well done series, with Karin being totally adorable. The deformed shapes of Karin, Himeka and Kazune are just so cute and hilarious, that I cannot stop myself from laughing. The mahou shoujo transformation is also pretty impressive to see, what if with the excellent graphics that makes the characters just so adorable. To me, Kamichama Karin really usurps StrikerS for the best in its genre, and it’s sad that it can be a bit too cute for non-loli loving anime viewers.
I also laughed heartily whenever Karin goes “I am God!” before her transformation, as well as the hideous God Thunder call, which is clearly a huge parody on all the lame mahou shoujo commands that have been seen in other series. I also like how Kazune saves her at the end, and Karin really no longer feels lonely. Still, the “trap” goddess disturbs me quite a bit, and he seems like a badly bishie form of Suigintou (sorry, my goddess). I do have a complain with the OP by Ali Project, which is really too queer.
They usually do it well with downright creepy tales, but sorry, this OP just does not work for me. Still, it is an excellent episode, and Himeka’s appearance makes it worthwhile. Her smile is good enough because that Tomoyo style of smiling is just too endearing.
This is a series that is quietly going through the rounds, and I am surprised that few people have touched this. I like the main character, Mugi, a lot because she is a very shy and cute girl that is forced into the forefront. Rather than embracing it, she often runs away, like how she did in this beach episode. Still, Nono’s insistence for her to work hard makes it really painful for such a weak minded girl like Mugi. I am somewhat glad that Nono did what she did, simply because it is for the good of Mugi.
Yes, you can be soft toward Mugi and give her time to progress. However, for a weak minded girl like her, you sometimes have to be really tough in order to make sure that she understands. Hence, I agree with Nono’s harsh words for her, which is appropriate, even though the other characters such as Risaki felt otherwise. I feel that Nono is the one that knows how to truly handle Mugi. Still, I am concerned that Nono might be imposing her will way too much in order to force Mugi to satisfy her own disappointment for being unable to explore herself fully in the theater.
It is a selfish thought, but I believe that it’s perhaps the best for Mugi, to realize her own deficiencies, and to work on it.
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Comments (12)
NO FOR HUMANIZING! Clare must be a sexy silver killing machine. I serioulsy hope Raki turns into a Yoma one of these days .. that would be totally awesome episode ..
you know why no one is watching hitohira? … simple .. only 1 subbed episode .. i for one liked the first ep alot .. but alas … the two groups gave up i guess .. what a shame ….
Rednights added these pithy words on Apr 27 07 at 6:57 pmI have only watched Claymore out of these animes… I really do have a thing for shounen animes, huh.
But. The thing I like most about Claymore is that up until episode 4, this anime follows the fairly traditional (and often cliche) shounen storyline. Then episode 4 really impressed me in that there is a lot more depth than I expect, so it’s a very pleasant surprise.
Gark is pretty cute (in the non-literal sense of the word) and Sid stays true to himself and his personality, so I enjoyed both of their characterization.
Briar added these pithy words on Apr 27 07 at 8:40 pm@Rednights: Why not! I just think that the very fact that she borders between humanity and demonic blood makes it really interesting, simply because it does pop in the question of the struggle in her own self. Arr, I understand why now. I didn’t expect that there is so little fanfare for it. Sure, it is not the most exciting series ever, but it is not that bad too.
@Briar: arrr, yes, there is definitely a lot of depth, particularly with the annoying Gark and Sid, before you realize that they simply care about protecting their town and the very fact that the strong stigma of the demonic blood Claymore is conflicting inside. For them to admit at the end for Clare to stay alive is a really big step forward.
Hmmm, perhaps there is a fairly traditional shounen storyline but it still shines for me, especially when the two hug. Cool stuff.
Impz added these pithy words on Apr 27 07 at 9:43 pmHehe, I’ve been watching Kamichama Karin also, and I just realized that her old hairstyle with the braids makes her look older, compared to her new pigtails. So cute!
mokokits added these pithy words on Apr 27 07 at 10:52 pmbeing really into drama myself, i kind of was looking at how they perceived drama more than the characters when watching Hitohira. although i found the first few episodes a tad unrealistic when it came to portraying how the stage feels like and what people do in rehearsal, this episode captured perfectly the pain and struggle people feel when they are trying to embrace another self, which is exactly what people have to do to act well at ameteur levels. so Mugi is like an embodiment of everything that people have to overcome when making a play, and then exaggerated by ten.
noblsheep added these pithy words on Apr 27 07 at 10:57 pm@Mokokits: Karin is awfully cute, isn’t she? I went into shocker mode after seeing her. She’s just about the cutest character in the cutest anime in this season!
@Nobisheep: Ya, the very fact that Mugi is an exaggeration makes it good because the show does not make her look totally queer, yet it is still good. I always like such a different lead, where she is so wimpy yet forced into a situation. Rather than the typical shounen (bad e.g.), she just gets wimpier and wimpier 
Kamichama Karin’s really cute~ but more than Karin, I found the cute little blond-haired guy with the bunny cap (?) much more cute… also Kazune~ lol (sorry… shotacon acting up… hehe xD) ^-^
as for OverDrive, I’ve been enjoying watching each episode of the anime… I find Mikoto cute, especially when he gets all serious (and says cheesy things to Fukazawa), despite his dorkiness ^^;;; I think I’m going to continue watching this series, though I don’t think the interest I have (+lack of time) will be enough to make me continue on blogging this… >.
usagijen added these pithy words on Apr 28 07 at 8:17 pm@Usaji: hMM, you are perhaps the first person I have heard around that is currently watching over drive. The whole part of his dorky and cheesy behavior makes me laugh, but I can somewhat understand why it is so under blogged, simply because there is very little depth in the anime. It is bordering on grade B shoujo + sports, and it’s a pity that it landed itself in huge dangerous territory among the huge heavyweights this season.
The bunny cap @_@? I do not remember who the bunny cap person is…and shotacon huh. I never do understand the whole concept of shotacon to gals, actually. Mind if you explain it a little if you see this ? 
yeah, there are many shows this season that came to have little attention than they really deserve, simply because of other shows that people poured all their attention to. =/
as for the cute little guy I’m talking about in Kamichama Karin, he’s the one who appeared in the first episode, who was with Karin that time ^^ (before the flashback event happened, as far as I can remember) o__o Anyways, I know what relation this little guy has with Karin (saw it in Hinano’s blog)… but I won’t mention it here coz it’s a HUGE spoiler ^-^
as for the shotacon… hmm… it’s like an automatic reaction when I see cute and adorable guys that makes me want to *gyuu* glomp and hug it XD (then the inner fangirl within me will go all moe~ >o
usagijen added these pithy words on Apr 29 07 at 2:41 am@Usagijen: Hah, it’s part of the herd moving logic, and it shouldn’t be surprising since there are always series that will be low profile until a certain stage when others pick it up. Ghost hunt is one example. Hah, Don’t spoil me for the Kamichama Karin, I will be glad to you forever because I am the silly anime watcher that never reads any manga or novels, for fear of hating anime. I have seen it happen.
Is it @_@;;;; for the shotacon. I seeeeeeee~
Impz added these pithy words on Apr 30 07 at 9:38 amhmm… looks like the latter part of my comment got cut off… coz I mentioned “…I don’t understand the entire loli concept as well, so it must be some gender preference (hormones?) or something” :p
and I also mentioned:
“Impz, it’s actually a good thing that you don’t understand the entire shotacon concept, because it simply shows you’ve never experienced it before…” hehe ;D
I think i’m going to start watching all of these 
