Michael is Low on Hit Points

1  tj_han

No surprise that you don't like most shows, because you are obviously misguided. 07 Ghost is a fucking shoujo shit that has some action, it's nowhere near shounen. It's implied yaoi as well.

Tears to Tiara looked awful right from the start. Phantom is debatable but I think it's pretty good and far superior to Noir and Madlax thus far, not to mention the ugh El Cazador.

2  ghostlightning

I had put Basquash and Valkyria Chronicles on hold, keeping Sengoku Basara, Shin Mazinger Z Hen, K-ON!, Eden of the East, and Dragon Ball Kai.

I had recently discovered Souten Kouro, making me feel like this season is rich with brofistilicious manliness.

3  Nazarielle

07 Ghost is a concentrated dose of FABULOUS. It's definitely not shounen. It's not really shoujo either, but it's clearly aimed at BL fangirls.

I share your feelings on Tears to Tiara. I made it to the second episode before I just kinda lost interest. Same with Hatsukoi unfortunately. I liked the first two episodes but I haven't had the motivation to keep going with the next two.

Re  Michael is LoHP

@ tj_han

Hmmm, I was getting those shounen vibes from 07 Ghost. It definitely has some mixed in there somewhere. I had heard about the yaoi implications before the season began, but I thought that was people overreacting like they did back during Code Geass. Turns out, nope!

I started up Tears because I had liked the White Album adaptation last season. And it's not that I'm saying Phantom is horrible or anything of the such. I just can't get past a few things I'm having trouble buying into.

@ ghostlightning

"brofistilicious": that's a new one.

@ Nazarielle

Yeah, the only shows that are screaming out to be watched right away this season are K-ON! and Eden. Though I do like Hatsukoi, it has only a mild sway over me.

4  glothelegend

I just dropped Shangri-la....I just couldn't take it anymore. Episode 4 actually showed some signs of life, but it was too little too late. I may pick it up again in the future (doubtful).

K-ON rules, and Sawa-Sensei is the greatest character in the show. I never actually liked Mio that much, or I should say that I thought she was overrated, which goes against every single other person on Earth who's seen the show, but I don't care. Before Sawako Sensei showed up, My favorite character was either Ritsu or Yui. Either way, this show is great.

I'm not really feeling 07 Ghost. The only girls I've seen in it were Nuns, so they don't even count. The plot is not really there either, although I hear at episode 4 the plot gets better. I'm going to decide whether or not to drop it or hold it after 4. I'm watching a lot of shows, so I've become a bit more lenient on giving shows the axe.

I'm actually enjoying Phantom, mainly because a lot of corny stuff doesn't really bother me. I mean, some of the plot/fighting is corny and unimaginative, but overall I've been pleased with it. I should mention that I love assassins (but I'm not in love with them).

FMA, the only other show on your list that I'm watching....well...it's FMA. Enough said.

I'm seriously debating picking up Eden of the East. I've heard that it's awesome from several sources. All of whom, I forget.

5  CCY

What interests me, as you seem to notice yourself, is that you're a bit humble about liking Hatsukoi but not at all about K-ON. I wonder if this is this contrast in quality / interest in the two, or some sort of innate distance between moe and romance in terms of embarassment. Always thought the former would get the worse rap, but then again I'm used to not being a MANLY MAN or whatever people actually are these days.

I would suggest Kimikiss (from a year-old ago) is worth a shot if you want to test if you like all the embarrassingly sweet romance of Hatsukoi without all the panties; both of them are fairly down-to-earth, although Kimikiss is even more grounded than Hatsukoi. But that's it's charm.

6  kadian1364

I'm 5 of 12 this season. Kinda surprising, since I avoided most of the JRPGs adaptions and romance this season, but who knew they would all stink! And Gonzo... what's a word for an expected disappointment? I'm also down on K-ON! and Guin Saga, both not nearly as good as their pedigrees made them out to be, but I'm still following them.

So that leaves Hayate being Hayate, Dragonball being Dragonball, East of Eden, FMA, and Cross Game. What does it mean when 2 of the 5 new shows I like aren't really new?

7  A Day Without Me

The problem with 07-Ghost is that it HASN'T crossed into yaoi... its just a boring bit of generic shounen fare that seems to be going nowhere fast. If it went the yaoi route it would at least have a distinguishing characteristic to separate it from every other show like it.

Re  Michael is LoHP

@ glothelegend

Yeah, I saw your post on Shangri-La. Must be still going pretty bad if even you -- the denouncer of all droppers -- dropped it.

Mio is my favorite character, but now that everyone else likes her I feel a bit too unoriginal. All the girls are good though, so I only really like Mio just a bit more than the rest. It's just that kickass ED that has me hooked so much.

I just read over at Oballer that the episode to watch for in 07 Ghost is number 5. I've seen 4 and it didn't really do a lot for me. It'd be nice if 5 changed that.

With Phantom, I think I'll come to turns with it eventually and then come to really like it.

Ah FMA... I'm holding off until tomorrow (or the day after, if I'm really lazy).

And it shouldn't come as a surprise after the post above, but I give my full recommendation for Eden.

@ CCY

You know, I find that weird myself because I'm usually not afraid to say that I like gooey romantic shows. I love Bokura ga Ita and Kare Kano. Those are two amazing anime, no matter how you look at them. But something about me caved as I began to write the entry for "First Love" Limited. I'm not even sure myself why I did that. Really weird.

@ kadian1364

I should've known Shangri-La would be bad. No, I did know it would be bad. I just ignored my own common sense on that one. I wanted it to be good. That's what I get for going against instinct.

Hayate! Totally forgot to mention that in the post! I knew I was forgetting something. Yes, Hayate is the same as ever. And that's both good and bad. The series had so much potential, but it seems to want to go nowhere with it.

@ A Day Without Me

lol. But would you rather have it be full-on yaoi or would you rather it be a good series overall?

8  glothelegend

I know I hate dropping shows. I dropped Shangri-la early, so I gave it a 3 (the highest grade I give any dropped show, usually 2 is the norm. D.-Gray Man got a 2).

I hope 07 Ghost gets better, but with that show I will wait till 6 before I make a decision. I don't like dropping shows.

I think Oballer meant episode 4, not 5. at least that's what he told me the other day...either he's lying and increasing the "changer" episode. Or it was a typo.) Either way, it doesn't matter much.

Also, yes, Hayate! is awesome. Time to finally start this paper. Finals week rules.

9  Michael Flux

Haven't seen either Tears to Tiara, Requiem for the Phantom or Shangri-La yet, probably will take a look at them sometime in the upcoming weeks.

FMA never did like, and K-ON just is iduno, meh, don't like it at all, much too cartoony and with a relatively stupid plot, the animation quality is very much so meh also.

I agree with you about the Eden of the East, well, maybe not agree to such an extent, but yes, it is a great series, probably the best one this season. Am looking forward to seeing more but doubt it'll top Production IG's other series such as GitS and IGPX.

My mind still isn't made up about about 07-GHOST, as you say, the story seems to be MIA, but I guess the animation kinda makes up for it.

I am however still enjoying Basquash very much, looking at those backgrounds is like going though a museum ^_^

Oh and thanks for stopping by the site :)

10  Kairu Ishimaru

I never expected that K-ON! would be on your list..

11  Seantaku

I LOVE K-ON!! And yes, Mio is my favorite.

Seems I've come in late on this conversation. lol...

East of Eden rocks too!

12  jp_zer0

Michael, we have frightfully similar tastes. Season after season you echo my thoughts and opinions.

I'm going to drink to our enjoyment of K-ON and Eden.

13  Minnie

Oooh. I'm glad you're at least watching and giving Hatsukoi Limited. I've been promoting that anime since it came out. XD Anyways, I believe I'm watching 6/8 on your list and blogging 3/8 (Eden of the East, Hatsukoi, Phantom [sort of]). 07-Ghost is not a bad show but it's obviously a show that's aimed at girls like myself. :P

I read somewhere up there in the comments that you are a fan of both Bokura ga Ita and Kare Kano. You really have great taste in romance anime. It's nice to find a fan of those two anime like myself. There are a lot of romance anime out there and none of them come close to those two (+NANA but that one is more drama than romance at times) when it comes to realistic romance.

I look forward to reading more posts from you! ^^

Re  Michael is LoHP

@ glothelegend

Damn, I had an inkling in the back of my mind that he might have meant 4 since that seemed to be the episode with the most progression so far. Hopefully 5 is still good. I'm still holding out for the series to pick up eventually.

Ahh, finals week. I remember those days. I was the guy who corrupted all of my friends as they tried to study and got them to play video games with me. It was too easy. Looking back, I was kind of like Light from Death Note with manipulation in my epic breaking of people's motivation to study.

@ Michael Flux

I find that shounen anime takes some time before they finally pick up. I know other people have said that 07 Ghost isn't shounen, but I feel it shares some elements and I'm hoping that this is one of them.

Good luck with Tears, Phantom, and Shangri-La. May those series treat you better than they seem to be treating everyone else.

And Basquash looked pretty from the trailers. But is the actual show worth watching so far, outside of the visuals?

@ Kairu Ishimaru

Highly original and unique. I know...

@ Seantaku

Eden and K-ON! seem to be the big hits of the season. K-ON! seems to be even better received than Lucky Star, which I guess means KyoAni is improving? Or maybe the source material is simply better?

@ jp_zer0

I think I'm just pretty open to stuff. I like quite a lot of different anime, and I usually stick around long enough to give anime I'm not too keen on at first a chance.

But if I'm disliking the same exact shows you dislike, then it's just telepathy...

@ Minnie

I'm hoping 07 Ghost is one of those shows that plays it down the line, like Escaflowne. I remember hearing (I could be wrong here) that the creator of Escaflowne had made the love triangle for the girls and the action for the guys.

Bokura ga Ita and Kare Kano are two amazing anime, for slightly different reasons with me. Bokura has to be one of the most realistic high school dating anime ever. I've been in that exact relationship before... back in high school, actually.

Kare Kano has that deep introspection that director Hideaki Anno is legend for. Plus, he seems to be in his directing prime right then and there. Both series have a good look and great soundtracks, too.

What other romance shows would you recommend? I've seen people say some good things about Lovely Complex and Honey and Clover, though I don't know enough about each to say they fit that bill exactly. I try not to read too much about an anime before picking it up. Anything high on your recommendations?

14  Martin

I haven't started watching many of the new season's shows (for reasons I hope to explain in the next week or two) but I can't not comment on the two I have seen some of: K-On and Eden of the East.

K-On is a funny one - I got into it for guitaku reasons, but found it has the same slice-of-life comedy I appreciate in Lucky Star and Hidasketch. Most viewers seem to dig the moe thing but since I'm too old to have an interest in school girls in the same way they do (I'd be very concerned if I did) I'm enjoying it for being fun, inoffensive fluff. There isn't much to it but what I've seen is sweet and undemanding after a long day.

Eden of the East is, as you say, excellent. I've seen some criticism for Saki's character (I personally think she's awesome) but the chemistry between her and Akira holds the zillions of plot threads stemming from the zillions of questions together. It has a wonderfully grown-up mystery thriller feel to the background though, but despite the fact that I haven't a clue what's going on I'm having too much fun to care.

Re  Michael is LoHP

@ Martin

There's nothing better after a long day than a bit of fun fluffy anime. And K-ON! is tempting me to pick up a guitar. If only I had more free time!

I too feel that the relationship between Saki and Akira in Eden helps with both the plot and the pace. I can't wait to see what they do with it thematically.

15  Omisyth

"The plot feels pretty weak so far, even for a shounen series."

Ha!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/07_Ghost

Re  Michael is LoHP

@ Omisyth

Alright, I'll never refer to 07 Ghost as a shounen again! Sheesh. Just playin'.