I’m having such a difficult time just keeping up with episode reviews on this little outpost in the backwaters of the anime blogosphere. I can’t even imagine trying to maintain the “conversations” all those cool power-bloggers hold from time to time. Instead, I’m resorting to the batch summary of the anime I’ve watched since the last post.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutso 19-22: I’m getting the same feeling that I got when I watched the first season in the novel order: there just isn’t that much that really wowed me. The plot’s sticking to the novel’s, but there isn’t much in the animation or direction that is keeping me interested. Let’s hope Disappearance is different (should it actually be animated).

Umineko no Naku Koro ni 8-9: The lack of impact continues. So many big moments completely subdued by subpar directing and animation. And I really don’t understand the censorship, since they’re showing the blood anyway. Haven’t really picked up anything new the mystery in these episodes, although the emphasis on the Wolf and Sheep puzzle was nicely handled. I’m just worried that the censors are going to ruin the later parts of the arc.

Bakemonogatari 6-8: I enjoyed this last arc, if only for Miyuki Sawashiro’s smexy tomboyish charms. The love triangle was somewhat intriguing, but it looks to be pretty much resolved at this point. Supposedly things will start tying together soon, but knowing SHAFT / Shinbo, it’ll just continue this facade of an underlining plot for the rest of the season. Which would be perfectly fine with me. And on a side note, it seems odd that so much violence and ‘gore’ was shown while Umineko has to censor every little cut. I guess being artistically styled makes it tasteful.

Aoi Hana 1-9: Got caught up with this one over the past two weeks. It is a beautifully done J.C. Staff show with very elegant nuances. Too bad there’s only two more episodes left, as I wouldn’t mind following the shoujo-ai slice-of-life adventures of Fumi and Acchan for a couple more months.

Goku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 1-3: Finally finished this OVA on my PSP at the gym. Not much to say other than it was standard SZS fair, which I’ve gotten slightly bored of. Will probably start Zan sometime soon, probably on the PSP as well (it’s a good distraction while running).

One thing I’m particularly proud of is that I am watching all the shows this season raw. And for the most part, I’m able to follow along, especially since for Haruhi and Umineko, I’m already familiar with the plot. I think it came initially out of not wanting to wait for fansubs that vary in release time, and just going directly for the raws which are much more regular (except for the random sporting events messing things up like with Bakemonogatari). However, it does take some of the enjoyment out as I usually have to go dig for a blog with an episode summary to fill in the gaps. Still, I was going to do it eventually anyway, and better sooner than later.

In weaboo news, my quest to collect all the Clannad LE DVDs got a push forward with Season 1 volumes 1&2. Also got K-On Vol.2 on Blu-Ray along with Maddy Caddy. Would like to be able to collect the Haruhi DVDs this time around, but we’ll see.

And lastly, I am seriously looking into applying to the JET program for 2010. Everyone that I’ve talked to who’s gone has had nothing but great things to say about it.

Congrats to the ladies of  Ho-Kago Tea Time for reaching the Oricon Weekly #1, the first fictional band to do so. Goes to show that in economic hard times such as these, there’s nothing like a little saccharine love-pop to warm the hearts (and credit cards) of depressed otaku around the world. Can’t wait to see the VH1 Behind the Music where Azusa overdoses on chocolate fudge, Ritsu gets kicked out because she’s just the drummer, Mugi and Sawa-chan sensei elope after having some spiked tea, Mio has a shimipan malfunction, and Yui commits suicide after Gee-tah breaks a string.

Or I could just wait for C76.

Man, I hope KyoAni does a Budokan tour with the K-ON VAs like they did for Haruhi. I WILL fly to Japan just to experience it.

Source, via Japanator, via ANN.

Omo’s post on K-ON pretty much hit all the same points I thought of after seeing the polarization of K-ON’s audience over the past few episodes (although it probably started since Episode 1). I think being the latest KyoAni show proper after Clannad, with rumors of Haruhi 2nd season going around definitely created a lot of hype around K-ON before it aired. There were a lot of expectations (unfair or otherwise) placed on the show based on the previous blockbusters of Haruhi, Lucky Star, etc. And, given just how big the K-ON tag was on AnimeNano since pretty much the minute after the first ep ended, it was easily one of the most watched series of the season. And with that level of noise, the signal is bound to go down.

For myself, the show started very much engrossed in its 4-koma roots. And to use Omo’s terms, it had the Girls, and the High School club, but I felt it was lacking a bit in the Music. After 12 episodes, I no longer feel that way, as KyoAni has beautifully captured the saccharine love-pop of an all-girl high-school band. I’ve been listening to EP 12’s insert Fude Pen, Buro Pen nonstop for the past 72 hours. Similar thing happened with God Knows. KyoAni sure knows how to do music animu, and give it some dimension along the way.

The thing is, what KyoAni does best is give each show it’s own identity, it’s own style. The animation techniques might be the same, but their purpose is to bring out the heart and soul of the source material in the best light (both figuratively and literally) possible.. And they are religiously devoted to the subtle. Even the obviously fanservice stuff, e.g. Ui’s undying worship of her older sister, is often a mask for the deeper heartwarming message. And it also makes for a pretty hilarious scene of mistaken identity. And look at the (translated) lyrics of Fude Pen, Buro Pen: instead of using the traditional ball point pen, Mio wants to use the calligraphy pen because this time she’s serious. KyoAni does not mess around, it knows what it’s doing and doesn’t just fall back on the “old ways” just because it worked before. Those who complained about how K-ON isn’t like show X, Y, or Z, missed out on the fact that that was probably the intent.

or Re: K-On! Sucks (rant rant rant). Mimi’s post was both somewhat surprising and expected. Moe-blob shows typically embellish and exaggerate the cuteness of the characters, and for the most part, it works. On male viewers, at least. Shows like Hidamari Sketch, Manabi Straight and Lucky Star have huge loyal fanbases of guys who are taken in at the clumsy, embarrased, overly-innocent, even otaku-esque behavior of the leading women. However, it’s not a huge shock that those very same traits that us moe-loving guys find incredibly irresistable would be major points of contention for the female crowd.

It’s probably like how guys can’t understand the fascination with all the girly bishounen emo guys that the girls drool over. And how would you feel if a show contained four or more of those types of characters and zero female characters? Probably the same.

Aside from the gender debate, K-ON! has many merits. First, it’s not plot-driven (which Mimi considers as a flaw). There is no inter-dimensional epic battle between the Fender and Gibson races. There is no love-hexagon between second cousins and their class presidents. Basically, it’s different and unique than what’s been airing every season the past decade (although I whole-heartedly concede that this argument is somewhat moot with the emergence of moe-seinen as sub-genre that’s been present pretty regularly the past few years). Second, Mio, ’nuff said. Third, the comedy is very first-rate and executed with superb timing. I still chuckle at the thought of Yui’s “saa…” and the harmonica bit.

I do admit there are flaws with the show. For example, take the picture above. Almost 90% of the picture is moe. The remaining 10% is of a guitar sitting in the corner, still inside the case. My only greivance with the show is the lack of music. The BGM feels very generic at times. I’m not expecting Beck’s musical numbers (and would prefer not seeing anything like it), but the music has been a bit too “light” so far. Hopefully that will change as the season progresses. And the somewhat stereotypical character roles does get a little old at times, but the seiyuus do a pretty decent job of keeping the characters fresh.

Lastly, as I commented, it’s KyoAni show, so the polarization isn’t so much of a surprise. The gender difference is, however (with admittance of a fairly non-existant female pool). In any case, all this SERIOUS business boils down to is people will love the show or hate the show, and usually for the same reason.

P.S. One other thing that K-ON! is doing pretty well is getting me to pick up the guitar again. And I’m looking to purchase my own Gibson Les Paul Standard, Heritage Cherry-Burst (although I think in the manga, it’s a Honey-Burst). I swear, Gibson is gonna show up in one of those sponsor eye-catches, and sales of the Standard are gonna go through the roof.