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Summer 2017 - The New Shows That I'm Trying [message #348399] Fri, 14 July 2017 17:14 Go to next message
Dave Baranyi is currently offline  Dave Baranyi
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Registered: January 2012
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Well, the Summer 2017 Anime Season is here, and after two weeks I've tried out two new series. Yes, only two. Well, so far that is one more than I was expecting to try out a few weeks ago. I guess I could go ahead and try out more as something of an exercise in masochism but I'm not seeing any indications from any of the “usual suspects” that there are any sorts of diamonds in the rough out there. Never-the-less, if you believe that there is a new series that I should try out, tell me, and tell me why. (“So Bad that it's funny” is a viable reason.)

Ok, the two new series that I'm watching are “Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou” and “18if”. “Youkai Apartment” is based upon a light novel and “18if” is based upon some sort of game.

“Youkai Apartment” is the story of a high school student who goes to live in a strange apartment when his school dorm burns down. The apartment building happens to contain both humans and various youkai who coexist happily. The concept reminded me of the manga series “Magetsukan Kitan”, except “Magetsukan” was an echi seinen comedy and “Youkai” is turning into a slice-of-life with youkais. The animation is minimal, the pacing is leisurely and the characters are pretty dull, but given my other choices for this season it's not bad, so I'll watch it for a while. My rating after 2 episodes is “C+”.

“18if” has surprised me in its first two episodes. A teen appears to be trapped in a dream world in which he goes to sleep and enters other peoples dream worlds where he can influence things. There is a lot of splashy graphics and it generally has a “morality tale” feel to it. But at the end of the second episode it suddenly and unexpectedly became very amoral, which holds the promise that this could become something different from what I was expecting. My current rating is “B” and I'm hoping that I find more surprises in this show.

So that's it for now other than the continuing shows that I'm watching. Once again, if you have suggestions for other shows let me know. Otherwise this will be a very skimpy summer for new anime for me.

Dave Baranyi
Re: Summer 2017 - The New Shows That I'm Trying [message #348405 is a reply to message #348399] Fri, 14 July 2017 20:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris Buckley is currently offline  Chris Buckley
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On 2017-07-14, Dave Baranyi <davebaranyi@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, the Summer 2017 Anime Season is here, and after two weeks I've tried out two new series. Yes, only two. Well, so far that is one more than I was expecting to try out a few weeks ago. I guess I could go ahead and try out more as something of an exercise in masochism but I'm not seeing any indications from any of the “usual suspects” that there are any sorts of diamonds in the rough out there. Never-the-less, if you believe that there is a new series that I should try out, tell me, and tell me why. (“So Bad that it's funny” is a viable reason.)
>
> Ok, the two new series that I'm watching are “Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou” and “18if”. “Youkai Apartment” is based upon a light novel and “18if” is based upon some sort of game.
>
> “Youkai Apartment” is the story of a high school student who goes to live in a strange apartment when his school dorm burns down. The apartment building happens to contain both humans and various youkai who coexist happily. The concept reminded me of the manga series “Magetsukan Kitan”, except “Magetsukan” was an echi seinen comedy and “Youkai” is turning into a slice-of-life with youkais. The animation is minimal, the pacing is leisurely and the characters are pretty dull, but given my other choices for this season it's not bad, so I'll watch it for a while. My rating after 2 episodes is “C+”.
>
> “18if” has surprised me in its first two episodes. A teen appears to be trapped in a dream world in which he goes to sleep and enters other peoples dream worlds where he can influence things. There is a lot of splashy graphics and it generally has a “morality tale” feel to it. But at the end of the second episode it suddenly and unexpectedly became very amoral, which holds the promise that this could become something different from what I was expecting. My current rating is “B” and I'm hoping that I find more surprises in this show.
>
> So that's it for now other than the continuing shows that I'm watching. Once again, if you have suggestions for other shows let me know. Otherwise this will be a very skimpy summer for new anime for me.

I'm taking a look at 3 new series this summer - much reduced from the spring.

_Made in Abyss_ gives me some of the same vibes as _Clockwork Planet_
did in the very beginning (ie, positive ones!). Kid protagonists are
in an unexplained, non-understood impossible world, with their goals
of exploration and self-discovery being much more natural than
_Clockwork Planet_ (at least so far), so there's hope it won't
self-destruct. The main character remains appealing after 2 episodes.

_Kakegurui_ is a completely different beast while remaining as far
from reality as _Made in Abyss_. It promises a wild ride as a
super-aggressive transfer student invades a high school devoted to
gambling (sons and daughters of movers and shakers are supposed to
learn negotiating, tells, and how to deal with people who want things
from you). In the first two episodes she faces down two notorious
gamblers by taking advantage of how they are cheating. It's the sort
of over-the-top show that will either be strongly liked, or, more
likely, crash and burn for folks. I'm willing to gamble on it for the
time being - the main character remains, hmm..., I guess fascinating
is the best word I've found so far.

_Princess Principal_ has a setting of a London-analog in the 1930s,
with a group of female students serving as spies. The general setting
doesn't thrill me at all, but there may be enough quirky characters to be
worthwhile. The first episode had a nice character and there may be more.

I'll also take a look at the fourth season of _Hell Girl_, though I was
somewhat bored with it by the end of season 2. I'll watch
_Owarimonogatari_ when it comes out. I continue to watch
_Re:Creators_, _Sagrada Reset_, _Rage of Bahumut_, and _Nobunaga no Shinobi_.

I might take a look at _18if_ based on Dave's description after another
episode or two come out and it can be see where it's headed.

Chris
Re: Summer 2017 - The New Shows That I'm Trying [message #348442 is a reply to message #348399] Sat, 15 July 2017 08:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
E. Liddell is currently offline  E. Liddell
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Registered: August 2012
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On Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:14:48 -0700, Dave Baranyi wrote:

> So that's it for now other than the continuing shows that I'm watching.
> Once again, if you have suggestions for other shows let me know.
> Otherwise this will be a very skimpy summer for new anime for me.

I would have thought Isekai Shokudou (slice-of-life about a
restaurant that connects to a fantasy world one day a week)
would be right up your alley--was there a reason you skipped
it?

Other than that, it's difficult to suggest anything because
I know my tastes are pretty much the opposite of yours.

E. Liddell
Re: Summer 2017 - The New Shows That I'm Trying [message #348508 is a reply to message #348442] Sun, 16 July 2017 06:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dave Baranyi is currently offline  Dave Baranyi
Messages: 1057
Registered: January 2012
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Senior Member
On Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 8:30:14 AM UTC-4, E. Liddell wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:14:48 -0700, Dave Baranyi wrote:
>
>> So that's it for now other than the continuing shows that I'm watching.
>> Once again, if you have suggestions for other shows let me know.
>> Otherwise this will be a very skimpy summer for new anime for me.
>
> I would have thought Isekai Shokudou (slice-of-life about a
> restaurant that connects to a fantasy world one day a week)
> would be right up your alley--was there a reason you skipped
> it?
>
> Other than that, it's difficult to suggest anything because
> I know my tastes are pretty much the opposite of yours.
>
> E. Liddell

That slipped by my radar. I'll try it.

Thanks -

Dave
Re: Summer 2017 - The New Shows That I'm Trying [message #348617 is a reply to message #348442] Mon, 17 July 2017 16:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dave Baranyi is currently offline  Dave Baranyi
Messages: 1057
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 8:30:14 AM UTC-4, E. Liddell wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:14:48 -0700, Dave Baranyi wrote:
>
>> So that's it for now other than the continuing shows that I'm watching.
>> Once again, if you have suggestions for other shows let me know.
>> Otherwise this will be a very skimpy summer for new anime for me.
>
> I would have thought Isekai Shokudou (slice-of-life about a
> restaurant that connects to a fantasy world one day a week)
> would be right up your alley--was there a reason you skipped
> it?
>
> Other than that, it's difficult to suggest anything because
> I know my tastes are pretty much the opposite of yours.
>
> E. Liddell

Okay - I've tried out the first episode. Here are my thoughts:

I just watched “Isekai Shokudou” on a recommendation. This fantasy about a restaurant that has a weekly link to an alternate dimension full of fantasy characters has plenty of food porn and fan service, but it is badly lacking in plot and characterization.

A chef runs a pseudo-western style restaurant in Japan where once a week the restaurant is closed to the public but is open to a fantasy world where various fantasy characters come through a magical door and eat at the restaurant. All of the fantasy characters love the food in the restaurant without exception. A poor demon girl wanders into the restaurant one evening after it has closed, eats some leftovers, and then falls asleep only to be found by the Chef the next morning. The Chef invites the demon girl to stay for breakfast and then offers her a job once a week to serve the fantasy world patrons. The demon girl is thrilled and accepts the offer.

This anime works very hard to be sweet, cute and adorable. But it only succeeded in causing me to lose lots of brain cells while I watched it. This show has as much “edge” as a bowl of plain cold oatmeal. The preview promises more of the same, but I won't be watching any more of it. My final rating is C-.

Dave Baranyi
Re: Summer 2017 - The New Shows That I'm Trying [message #348634 is a reply to message #348399] Mon, 17 July 2017 22:33 Go to previous message
Dave Baranyi is currently offline  Dave Baranyi
Messages: 1057
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On Friday, July 14, 2017 at 5:14:50 PM UTC-4, Dave Baranyi wrote:
> Well, the Summer 2017 Anime Season is here, and after two weeks I've tried out two new series. Yes, only two. Well, so far that is one more than I was expecting to try out a few weeks ago. I guess I could go ahead and try out more as something of an exercise in masochism but I'm not seeing any indications from any of the “usual suspects” that there are any sorts of diamonds in the rough out there. Never-the-less, if you believe that there is a new series that I should try out, tell me, and tell me why. (“So Bad that it's funny” is a viable reason.)
>
> Ok, the two new series that I'm watching are “Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou” and “18if”. “Youkai Apartment” is based upon a light novel and “18if” is based upon some sort of game.
>
> “Youkai Apartment” is the story of a high school student who goes to live in a strange apartment when his school dorm burns down. The apartment building happens to contain both humans and various youkai who coexist happily. The concept reminded me of the manga series “Magetsukan Kitan”, except “Magetsukan” was an echi seinen comedy and “Youkai” is turning into a slice-of-life with youkais. The animation is minimal, the pacing is leisurely and the characters are pretty dull, but given my other choices for this season it's not bad, so I'll watch it for a while. My rating after 2 episodes is “C+”.
>
> “18if” has surprised me in its first two episodes. A teen appears to be trapped in a dream world in which he goes to sleep and enters other peoples dream worlds where he can influence things. There is a lot of splashy graphics and it generally has a “morality tale” feel to it. But at the end of the second episode it suddenly and unexpectedly became very amoral, which holds the promise that this could become something different from what I was expecting. My current rating is “B” and I'm hoping that I find more surprises in this show.
>
> So that's it for now other than the continuing shows that I'm watching. Once again, if you have suggestions for other shows let me know. Otherwise this will be a very skimpy summer for new anime for me.
>
> Dave Baranyi

Well, I've given up on "Youkai Apartment" after the third episode. It's just too painfully ordinary and way too sincere. This is paint-by-number story writing at its worst. Oh well, I'm hoping that 18if stays interesting.

Dave Baranyi
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