2 Cents On A Platter

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Winter 2009 First Impressions — Disappointed or Satisfied?

Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by jusuchin85 in Anime, Winter 2009

When I first found out about the winter 2009 lineup many weeks ago, I was really disappointed that none of the shows planned interest me. Even when I thought about watching Seikon no Qwaser, I was dissed by the fact that breast milk was involved! But after a friendly chat with Gargron did my mind changed; he recommended me to give these shows a try and write an impressions post about it. So, how did the shows that I've watched fared? Read on to find out.

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So-Ra-No-Wo-To (A-1 Pictures)

When the series was first announced, many people dubbed it "the new K-ON!; with guns!". After watching the first episode, I doubt that the tag would be placed on it for a long time. So-Ra-No-Wo-To has the music element in it, but the series doesn't spew moeness like how K-ON! first did. The character designs are not even close to what K-ON! had!

So-Ra-No-Wo-To talks about Kanata Sorami and how she got herself enrolled to the 1221st Time-Keeping Platoon in Seize, where she would learn trumpeting. That's about the gist of it based on the first episode. Although we are presented with a legendary tale about a winged demon and flame-induced maidens, I doubt that will play a part as we move on in the series.

So instead of dubbing it "the new K-ON!; with guns!", how would I call it? I would say "similar to ARIA (how Akari learns to be a undine and the stories in the series is of a slice-of-life genre and has moralistic values)", but soon So-Ra-No-Wo-To will make its own name in the anime folklore; providing it maintains its stead in the question of storyline and not fall prey to the moeness factor.

Other blogs that covered this:

• Solaninism: Sora no Woto 01: This is a top-tier show
• Random Curiosity: So-Ra-No-Wo-To - 01
• The Deathseeker: Sora no Woto / ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト
• Blogging about Anime: Winter 2010 First Impressions: Sora no Woto
• Otaku-Dan: Winter 2010 Anime Season Part 1
• The Cart Driver: Sora no Woto episode 1 metablogged | First Impressions: Sora no Woto, Baka to Test to whatever, Dance in the Vampire Bund, Onamori Himari
• NotCliche: Sora no Woto — First Impressions: Kanata Is Like Akari The Second!

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Dance In The Vampire Bund (SHAFT)

Okay, the first episode got me stunned for a moment. Despite this being the second SHAFT series (after Bakemonogatari), I didn't expect them to pull a stunt for this one as well. Let's say that in the end, I was pretty much satisfied and want more in the coming weeks.

The episode started off with a talk show trying to prove the existence of vampires in this day and age after reports of attacks by the public. As the show progresses, we are presented with various judges who determine whether vampires are real or just a myth. After the appearance of a vampire queen (of whom she was having a frozen specimen of a vampire arm found during one of the attacks), one of the judges implicitly turned out to be a vampire in disguise. He collected his "arm" and began running amok. This went on until an appearance of a girl who happened to be an heir to a vampire lord, and she used her power of authority to order the vampire to kill himself. She then declares to the recording studio (who, incidentally, was recording the conversation the entire time) that a new breed of vampires are appearing in Tokyo.

Potentially, it could be a good series. Mixing fantasy with the modern society could turn out to be a good mix after all. Taking Bakemonogatari into the picture somehow illustrates this point. However, I do feel that the planned 12 episodes is too short for a series of this caliber. Well, I may be wrong but I'll be keeping a keen eye on this.

Other blogs that covered this:

• Random Curiosity: Dance In The Vampire Bund - 01
• The Cart Driver: First Impressions: Sora no Woto, Baka to Test to whatever, Dance in the Vampire Bund, Onamori Himari
• Otaku Dan: Winter 2010 Anime Season Part 3
• Blogging about Anime: Winter 2010 First Impressions: Dance in the Vampire Bund
• We Love Maids: Dance in the Vampire Bund, or the failed Vampire District

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Durarara!! (Brain's Base)

After watching Durarara!!, I never really understood what the series is going to be about. The introduction of a slew of characters and a dialogue that tends to bore me at some corners pushed me to the edge of dropping this series right away. Yet, the action sequence where the black rider kicks the kidnappers' butts was what drew me back to the show. Given some time to digest the entire episode, I actually am pretty perked up to continue watching.

Ryuugamine Mikado has just moved to Ikebukuro to attend high school. At the train station, he met up with his childhood friend Kida Masaomi, who then introduced him to live in Tokyo and also introduced his friends. At the same time, a kidnapping plot was running smoothly until a black rider foils their plan. The black rider is apparently a living urban legend that roams around Tokyo.

There seem to be one apparent connection while I was reading posts from Scamp, Kabitzin, RabbitPoets and Omni regarding this series: Baccano!. All of them pointed out that this first episode is very similar to how Baccano! introduced itself many moons' back. Using that and the series in general as a guideline, all of them recommended that this is the series to watch.

On the basis of the first episode itself, the plot seems simple. But I'm sure that there will be more expansion to this in the near future, and judging from the quality that this episode produced, I think I'll be in for a very thrilling ride! (no pun intended)

Other blogs that covered this:

• Random Curiosity: Durarara!! - 01
• The Cart Driver: Durarara episode 1 | First Impressions: Durarara, Ookami Kakushi, Hanamaru Kindergarden
• Otaku-Dan: Winter 2010 Anime Season Part 3
• Blogging about Anime: Winter 2010 First Impressions: Durarara!!
• Oishii Anime: Durarara!! - 01
• Sea Slugs! Anime Blog: Durarara!! 01
• The Deathseeker: Drrr!! / Ookami Kakushi / Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

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Ookami Kakushi (AIC)

As I finished the first episode, one question got into my mind: am I watching a harem or a mystery? The way the episode started makes me go "Yeah, this could be some series to watch" but during the opening theme, there were as many as 5 girls and a boy shown. Makes me wonder; because normally I'm not a fan of harem + mystery/psychology/supernatural.

Hiroshi just moved into town and Isuzu (who happened to be pasing by, and his new neighbour) took a liking on him and declares him to be her boyfriend. On the first day of school, his class made him feel at home and he was introduced to everyone. While he was having a friendly batter with Ogasawara, a quiet girl (Nemuru) interrupted this and told Hiroshi that he brings trouble to the town. Towards the night, we are shown Ogasawara running through back alleys in order to escape a person with a scythe but couldn't, and he got slashed by her in an instant. The next morning, Hiroshi wonders where Ogasawara went. Nemuru entered the class and reported that he moved out of town.

The entire episode itself doesn't do enough justice to convince me to continue watching. Thin plot, weak characters, weak dialogue. Furthermore, I'm not a fan of a crossbreed harem anime. Yes, the underlying hints may give out potential for expansion, but I couldn't care less with such a way to introduce a first episode. That said, I'm giving this series just two more episodes to impress me...or else.

Other blogs that covered this:

• The Deathseeker: Ookami Kakushi 01 Impressions | Drrr!! / Ookami Kakushi / Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
• Blogging about Anime: Winter 2010 First Impressions: Ookami Kakushi
• We Love Maids: Ookami Kakushi — 01: Fun With Stereotypes
• Random Curiosity: Ookami Kakushi - 01
• -ALPHANoX PROJECT: Ookamikakushi ~ 01

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Hanamaru Kindergarten (GAINAX)

I can simply put one phrase to describe GAINAX's latest offering: ubër cute! You can't define cute other than be amazed by how Hanamaru Kindergarten turned out to be. I actually place this second to last in my expectation list for the Winter 2009 lineup (before Seikon no Qwaser), but after watching the first episode I cannot be more amused than I ever was (even Lucky Star's first impression was not this funny)!

To simply put, it's sort of like a slice-of-life series that takes place in the vicinity of a kindergarten. Think Kodomo no Jikan on a lighter and less-ecchi scale. Tsuchida (the main character; Tsuchi for short) is a new male teacher assigned to teach in a class where Anzu, Hiiragi (Hii-chan) and Koume are designated to. At the end of the episode, Anzu proposed to Tsuchi that she will be his future bride. How cute!

Looking beyond the pedophilia Tsuchi and the cute Anzu, the series does shed some light on the everyday stuff that kids face and how they go about solving the problems or making a fun out of it. The part where Anzu got Koume's ribbon back is a look on how friends can help one another despite the differences.

Loli is a word some may use to describe the series; another would be "a moeblob series". Unlike other moeblob or loli series, Hanamaru Kindergarten an innocent take on a slice-of-life series that sprouts cuteness in the whole of 20 minutes (spread over 2 chapters per episode). Don't take my word for it; watch it and be the judge yourself!

Other blogs that covered this:

• The Cart Driver: First Impressions: Durarara, Ookami Kakushi, Hanamaru Kindergarden
• Blogging about Anime: Winter 2010 First Impressions: Hanamaru Kindergarten
• Otaku-Dan: Winter 2010 Anime Season Part 4: Wild Card

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In short, I'm on the fence with this season. So-Ra-No-Wo-To amazed me with its originality; Hanamaru Kindergarten is a series that I'll watch for a good laugh; and Durarara!! has the potential to have an exciting plot to present. I'm a bit skeptical with Dance In The Vampire Bund and Ookami Kakushi due to its poor first impression in its pilot episode, although I'm giving the former a chance to redeem itself in the next couple of episodes. Since I'm not really a fan of harem + supernatural series, Ookami Kakushi is really making me push the series to the recycling bin.

Either way, I'll be watching the next couple of episodes for the ones I rated as a "disappointment", whilst I'll continue my enjoyment for the rest. I would not be blogging episodically for any of the series mentioned here, but if anything interesting occurs from these series, you'll know that I'll be blogging that up!

Related Posts

1. 2009 Series Roundup — Watchlist and Wishlist

Tags: Dance In The Vampire Bund, Durarara!!, Featured, First Impressions, Hanamaru Kindergarten, Ookami Kakushi, Series, So-Ra-No-Wo-To