More new-ish stuff

Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World 1! is a new version of the 2003 anime which was based on the light novel series written by Keiichi Sigsawa. While I didn't recognize the first episode's story, it appears that some of the other stories that were animated in 2003 will be remade in this new series. Kino travels with his motorcycle, Hermes, to different countries. The 2017 anime captures the same tone of the original, but with new seiyuu and updated production. Episode 1 is about a county where murder is not prohibited, the clue being not prohibited...not meaning that it is permitted.



Mahoutsukai no Yome 1! The three OADs that were released in the past year basically cover's Chise's pitiful childhood, so this jumps in where she sells herself to slavery. She is purchased by a powerful magus who will train her to become his apprentice. At the end of the episode, he also casually mentions that she's to be his bride, too. Yep, a story that only works in anime. Despite the so-so Beauty and the Beast-like plot, it's rich in fantasy and Elias has a dry sense of humor.



Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou 1! superficially looks like it should have the same tone as Kino no Tabi, but the SD character design doesn't do it any favors. Two small girls are traveling in a post-war country. In episode 1, they search for food and it's all cute until the blond one pulls a rifle on the other for the last chocolate bar...and then it's all cute again. Not sure if I can get past the cheap SD faces enough to get into whatever story they are trying to tell.



Houseki no Kuni 1! is about a small race of extremely thin, genderless, humanoid beings who are made of natural crystals. They have an enemy that tries to take them for their bodies. Episode 1 is about Phosphophyllite who tries to find his purpose in life. As he is too brittle to fight the enemy, their master assigns him the task of writing a natural history encyclopedia. Pho isn't too thrilled about that. The cgi is interesting; sometimes bad, sometimes pretty. Dropped anyway.

Shoukoku no Altair 13! The end of the civil war arc concludes with Mahmut successfully ousting the sultans who had underlying loyalties to the 'empire', allying himself with the successor sultans, and being promoted to Pasha again. Because he looks like he is missing an arm in the ending theme visuals, I thought he was going to lose that arm. Anyway, looking forward to new theme songs and new story arc in next week's show.