So since pretty much every aniblogger on the planet is talking about this, I figure I should too.
I've been complaining about how K-ON!! season two has little to do with music in a show that is supposed to be about a band. While episode 20 was finally a concert episode (Indeed, their last concert), it didn't win me over again for that reason. Instead, it made me realize something about K-ON!! as a whole.
I'm not sure why I didn't realize this before, but K-ON!! isn't about music. It's not about a band; music honestly plays a very small role. Instead K-ON!! is a slice of life show about the people in a high school band. There is a very small difference there, but it causes the show to go from just "okay" to "great". A very large part of what makes the show so great was episode 20, and the fact that every major character had a role to play made the episode that much better. As http://enryoshitaino.tumblr.com/ said, episode 20 of K-ON!! was good because of all the episodes leading up to it. For me though, episodes 1-19 of K-ON!! were also made better because they led up to episode 20. Before that, they were a lot of random episodes that didn't seem to build towards anything. That's fine for, and expected from, a slice of life show, but all of them were somewhat validated at the end of episode 20. For me, the first 19 episodes of K-ON!! were simply there to endear the characters to me, which is why I nearly cried at the end of episode 20. (I really wish I could cry at anime/movies. Even when I feel like I should, or even want to, I can't.)
However, no matter how good episode 20 was, the next few episodes will help to make or break the show. They'll have to be a good balance between the regular slice of life episodes and episodes like this last one. If they're all just slice of life, the show feels like it will fizzle, but too many like 20, and the emotional impact of them will become expected, even boring.
I'm pretty sure I didn't express myself as well as I'd like to, but I think I got my point across.
Edit: I should clarify some of those statements. First, everything I wrote about K-ON!! was referring to the second season, hence the "!!". Episode 20 of K-ON!! can't compare to episode 12 of K-ON!.
I would argue that K-ON! is about a band that happens to be made up of high school girls, whereas K-ON!! is more about high school girls who happen to be in a band, which as I've said in the past is not a direction I liked. My point was that K-ON!! 20 redeemed the second season somewhat, not that it made it as good as or better than the first.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Summer Anime Part 2
So now that I've had a chance to watch a bit of the various shows airing this season, I can make a better call on what is any good, so here we go:
K-ON!! Season 2: Continuation of what aired last season, as of episode 16 they still haven't done much with music, despite the fact that it's a music show. Seen in that light, it's boring, but as far as moeshit goes, it's pretty good. Keep watching if only because it's one of the few non-shit shows this season.
Highschool of the Dead: After watching five episodes, it's still following it's winning formula of boobs, blood, and zombies. The storyline itself isn't bad. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it good at times. Each character has been a little better developed, and Hirano has just been getting more badass. Definitely watch.
Seitokai Yakuindomo: I've honestly only been able to make myself watch 2 out of the 4 episodes I have, which is not a good sign. The 4-koma-esque style of the show essentially prohibits any real storyline progression, the characters are flat and uninteresting at best. It tries to have a perverted sense of humor, but all it really manages is to elicit a giggle here and there. All in all, I'm going to agree with others when they describe it as "Seitokai no Ichizon" or "B Gata H Kai" without the funny. Don't watch.
Cat Shit One: There's only one episode of this out, and I've only heard rumors that a 2nd will ever be airing, and that is supposed to be in January. That's really unfortunate, because the show is amazing. If you like military/war movies or shows at all, you'll love this. It's probably one of the most accurate military shows ever made, right down to the model of guns used, the tactics the "Americans" and "Terrorists" use against one-another, even the way the characters walk correctly. There is one exception: all of the characters are animals. This is not a complaint though, because they make what would be the war equivalent of a procedural cop show very interesting. Definitely watch.
Amagami SS: I was worried about this one. While I, unlike most, actually like the toned-down artstyle and character design, the first couple episodes were somewhat boring. However, the third episode showed the show for what it is: An attempt to turn the classic shoujo romantic comedy genre on it's head, or at least make it more interesting. The first character arc was 4 episodes long, and ended up being pretty enjoyable to watch. The girl that was the main subject of the show was somewhat boring, but she had a lot of cute points. (Seriously, who didn't love her random Wow!'s?) The new arc focuses on a much more energetic girl, and it looks like it's going to be much more interesting. Watch, if your into this genre.
Strike Witches 2: It's still Strike Witches, and seems to be developing more of a plot than the first season, which is good. Honestly, this show has been talked to death, and I don't feel like ranting about how it's not just a bunch of fan service. Watch it and decide for yourself, just make sure you actually pay attention to the plot, and not just the character's asses.
Asobi ni Iku Yo: The best way to describe this show is: "Who put all this filthy plot in my harem show!?". It is definitely a classic harem-type show, but it also has a plot that is completely separate from the "Who is he going to end up with?" plot. It is very fan service-y, so avoid it if you don't like that. Otherside, it's a fun show if nothing else. Watch it.
I was going to add more shows to this, but I honestly don't care enough about things like Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin and Nurarihyon no Mago to write much about them. I like Mago, and not Occult Gakuin, so there's that.
K-ON!! Season 2: Continuation of what aired last season, as of episode 16 they still haven't done much with music, despite the fact that it's a music show. Seen in that light, it's boring, but as far as moeshit goes, it's pretty good. Keep watching if only because it's one of the few non-shit shows this season.
Highschool of the Dead: After watching five episodes, it's still following it's winning formula of boobs, blood, and zombies. The storyline itself isn't bad. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it good at times. Each character has been a little better developed, and Hirano has just been getting more badass. Definitely watch.
Seitokai Yakuindomo: I've honestly only been able to make myself watch 2 out of the 4 episodes I have, which is not a good sign. The 4-koma-esque style of the show essentially prohibits any real storyline progression, the characters are flat and uninteresting at best. It tries to have a perverted sense of humor, but all it really manages is to elicit a giggle here and there. All in all, I'm going to agree with others when they describe it as "Seitokai no Ichizon" or "B Gata H Kai" without the funny. Don't watch.
Cat Shit One: There's only one episode of this out, and I've only heard rumors that a 2nd will ever be airing, and that is supposed to be in January. That's really unfortunate, because the show is amazing. If you like military/war movies or shows at all, you'll love this. It's probably one of the most accurate military shows ever made, right down to the model of guns used, the tactics the "Americans" and "Terrorists" use against one-another, even the way the characters walk correctly. There is one exception: all of the characters are animals. This is not a complaint though, because they make what would be the war equivalent of a procedural cop show very interesting. Definitely watch.
Amagami SS: I was worried about this one. While I, unlike most, actually like the toned-down artstyle and character design, the first couple episodes were somewhat boring. However, the third episode showed the show for what it is: An attempt to turn the classic shoujo romantic comedy genre on it's head, or at least make it more interesting. The first character arc was 4 episodes long, and ended up being pretty enjoyable to watch. The girl that was the main subject of the show was somewhat boring, but she had a lot of cute points. (Seriously, who didn't love her random Wow!'s?) The new arc focuses on a much more energetic girl, and it looks like it's going to be much more interesting. Watch, if your into this genre.
Strike Witches 2: It's still Strike Witches, and seems to be developing more of a plot than the first season, which is good. Honestly, this show has been talked to death, and I don't feel like ranting about how it's not just a bunch of fan service. Watch it and decide for yourself, just make sure you actually pay attention to the plot, and not just the character's asses.
Asobi ni Iku Yo: The best way to describe this show is: "Who put all this filthy plot in my harem show!?". It is definitely a classic harem-type show, but it also has a plot that is completely separate from the "Who is he going to end up with?" plot. It is very fan service-y, so avoid it if you don't like that. Otherside, it's a fun show if nothing else. Watch it.
I was going to add more shows to this, but I honestly don't care enough about things like Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin and Nurarihyon no Mago to write much about them. I like Mago, and not Occult Gakuin, so there's that.
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