So without further adieu......
NEW SHOWS FROM WINTER 2018
DARLING IN THE FRANXX
The shows art style is what I expect of Trigger studios. Soft lines which create a unique design to everything. A use of bold colour for the main characters even though the world around them is drab and dying. Odd-shaped yet endearing eyes with each character has a lot of attention put into their creation and personality even smaller side characters. Every character in Squad 13 is fantastic and has endearing qualities to them with my favourites being: Zero Two, Hiro, Goro, Zorome, and ____. The voice acting is fantastic and I love the voice of the girl who does Zero Two, she can be so cheery around Hiro and absolutely stone cold to everyone else in her voice. I can't really think of any flaws to the show right now except maybe that certain episodes I wish were quicker in pace to get to cooler plot points. Like right now I'm on such a cliffhanger it's ridiculous. It's a mecha, rom-com, with heavy drama, and lots of action. Darling in the FranXX was exactly what I was expecting from a Trigger production and more, the show is fantastic, it makes me want Saturday to roll around so a new episode is out and I can't wait for the second half starting in Spring 2018.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - 10/10 - ONE OF THE BEST OF THE SEASON
Also, when I said that Banba loves baseball, there are several times baseball is on TV, the ramen stand they always eat at sponsors the team they all play on the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens, and each episode is named after something baseball related (Shortstop, Pinch Hitter, etc)
Satelight Studios did an AMAZING job with this anime, if Darling In The FranXX wasn't out, this would be my hands down favourite actually I'd put them in a tie. Can I think of any flaws that it has ?? Other than the shortness of the series, nope, so I just have to hope for a Season 2 so this can go beyond 12 episodes. I've heard there's a manga and while I'm sure it's translated and I could read it online I'd prefer to have physical books so we'll see if I can find the volumes.
HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - 10/10 - IF YOU LIKE PERSONA OR COWBOY BEBOP YOU'LL LIKE IT
The thing I like the most about this show is how closely it follows the manga to the point where when the episodes stop for the week if you don't want to wait for next Saturday's episode you can pick up the manga and it carries on properly from there in almost a scene for scene showing. The art style for the anime is extremely well done and is so unbelievably close to it's manga source material that it is impressive to say the least; it's always great to see a well-done adaptation where you get to see the panels of a manga come to life through anime. All of the characters were done how I expected and the voice actresses nailed their dialogue, Yuzu can be serious but is more aloof and carefree, Mei is incredibly cold and straightforward, Himekino is annoying yet nice and caring, Sara is confident and caring, Nina is a doting little sister with a big heart, and even side characters like their grandfather, father, mother, and the other girl in the student council all are done well. Everything was done well and with the proper length 25 minute episodes they were able to convey the manga properly and get across the whole story, my biggest complaint is that they did up to 12 episodes, which leaves room for a 2nd season but like I said you can pick up the book and read it which I have and it only gets more heart-wrenching as a love story going forward. Why ?? Because you know that what they want is impossible to have, that both Yuzu and Mei are dealing with something they can't finish even though they both want it. I'm not always super big on romance shows but this one was done so well, yes it has some plot to "get past" for some, but if you can then just see how good a story it is.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - 9/10 - GREAT ROMANCE STORY
I like the art for the show, each character feels unique both as a human and while changed, I'm also a huge fan of the almost pencil crayon drawings of the animals during their cutaway scenes, the voice acting is good and the characters that needed to be put up to the highest level had a lot of care towards them. There was a total of 3 or 4 scenes that MAY make people incredibly uncomfortable so if you do get offended....I warned you. My biggest complaint was I loved every episode except the last one, I just sat there after it was over and was like, "that was fucking stupid". However I saw that it sets up Season 2 so overall I enjoyed it and am looking forward to next season.
RECOMMENDED - 8/10 - AWESOME FIGHT SCENES WITH COOL HYBRIDS & DID I MENTION ONE IS A HONEY BADGER
I love the characters in Grancrest Senki, both Theo and Siluca have redeeming personalities and are quality main characters they aren't one dimensional, all of the side characters each has their own strengths to them as well. I find the art is solid but there was a couple moments where it had an "off" moment where the 3D aspects that were put in didn't match the 2D, still a great looking show, very vibrant even though it is a middle ages setting. I also had a problem with Marriene's character because there were several times I just went, "huh ??", during things she did. It's a 24 epsiode show so I'm looking forward to the rest of it in Spring 2018.
RECOMMENDED - 7.5/10 - VERY FIRE EMBLEM-ESQUE
The show is very cutesy looking yes, with the art style reminding me of Senran Kagura (except a lot less mature themed), with a "high school girls save the world" trope to it, but despite that I think that each girl brings enough unique character to it to overcome those flaws. The girls don't have annoying voice actors which I tend to notice is either hit or miss with shows that are based around this age; the main characters are solid and done well. Even though it is a cutesy style it is well done and somehow suits the show, I liked it. It is also a 24 episode show so I've enjoyed the first half and am looking forward to the 2nd half in Spring 2018.
RECOMMENDED - 8/10 - COOL KATANA STUFF, GOOD BATTLES, INTERESTING IDEA
Is it good ?? I'm a Sword Art Online fan but between that and Isekai Wa Smartphone, the amount of stuck in a fantasy world with an overpowered protagonist surrounded by ladies that love him is getting old. I DO like it, it's good to watch, but it's a format of anime that is wearing itself thin and I can only give SAO a pass on the isekai genre at this point and Konosuba for making fun of the isekai genre.
SLIGHT RECOMMEND - 7/10 - IF YOU LIKE ISEKAI SHOWS & AREN'T BURNT OUT ON EM
The things I have to say are this: most of the voice acting is amazing, the animation takes some getting used to at first, the story is messed up. Also, the show is INCREDIBLY and I mean INCREDIBLY gory, violent, laiden with sexual content, it isn't something to watch around the family for sure. My best comparison for this show is to the Monogatari series, the animation, the violence, and weird story is also typical of those shows. If you've seen the Monogatari series and are a fan, watch this, even if not it's worth giving a shot and definitely something you can enjoy. Though I do remind you it is a very, very graphic show.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - 9.5/10 - IF YOU ARE A MONOGATARI FAN YOU'LL LOVE IT
RECOMMENDED - 7.5/10 - IF YOU LIKE SHONEN ANIME
RECOMMENDED - 7.5/10 - OBVIOUSLY IF YOU LIKE NARUTO
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - 9/10
Seven Deadly Sins 2 (I enjoyed Season 1 in dub so I have to rewatch it in Japanese in order to watch this first, I was looking forward to this most)
Beatless
Violet Evergarden
Dagashi Kashi Season 2 (I need to watch the 1st)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (stopped at Episode 6)
A Ryou's Work Is Never Done
Overlord 2 (need to see 1)
Fate/Extra: Last Encore (I need to sort out what Fate series I need to see still)
Ito Junji Collection (I heard it doesn't do his awesome manga justice)
March Comes In Like A Lion Season 2 (need to watch 1st season)
Koi Wa Amegari No You Ni