A to B - wish it were shorter

[seichan]

Hm, here's some backlog of new shows.

Umineko no Naku Koro ni (Umineko) 1! This was one I wanted to watch because the author of the original story is Ryukishi07 who is somewhat praised as an interesting writer. Right away, the opening theme song sounds like Yuki Kajiura created it while the ending feels like a song from Utena, a positive thing, but the animation looks like Studio Deen, a deeply negative thing.

+ Intriguing mystery story
+ Attractive opening/ending theme songs
- Cheap Studio Deen animation
- Awful child character

Quick summary and impression~ The Ushiromiya family arrives on an island where their wealthy grandfather has asked them to gather. The main character/narrator, Battler Ushiromiya, is a teen who likes boobs. He explains that the family wealth comes from a witch, Beatrice, that their grandfather met. The family then bickers over how that wealth will be split, but of course, they have to find the gold first. Mysterious things happen. This had potential, but the whiny child, and bad animation kinda killed the first impression.

Aoi Hana 1! Lovely, lovely animation. I think the last anime with an overtly yuri subject matter (that I actually watched) was Utena of which the opening reminds me, but without the cool edgy style.

+ Great animation by JC Staff (think Hachikuro-style)
- Sleepy story

Quick impression~ It is a new school year at a couple all-girls' school. Fumi Manjoume is a shy megane-type girl, and at another nearby school is the loud Akira Okudaira who used to be Fumi's childhood friend. In the first episode, they get reacquainted. Eh, despite the pretty animation, the crush on the female cousin...ew Japan and your family romances.

CANAAN 1! Maaya Sakamoto voices one of the main characters, Alphard.

+ Nice color palette
+ Decent animation
- but generic character design
- Another female assassin/gun-toting action story

Quick impression~ There's Canaan running around with a gun, guys in masks dying from some kind of drug, random reporter/photographers, random naked female, gun fighting, and so forth. This really has some nice action scenes, but there's nothing new that makes you want to know the characters. They seems like castoffs from Baccano actually. I also think that those familiar with the original game might enjoy it more because it feels like it starts in the middle of something already established.

Comments

[duowolf.livejournal.com]

I give you the kid in Umineko no Naku Koro ni was really annoying but I didn't think the animation was all that bad at all.

[nokiirat.livejournal.com]

compared to the other two, it wasn't very good. studio deen can do better. hopefully the story will hold up so the animation doesn't become an issue.

[duowolf.livejournal.com]

I hope so as this was the only new show I was looking forward to this season.

[kaqueski.livejournal.com]

I think aoi hana was pretty as well. Maybe i'm biased because it reminds me too much of Honey and CLover, and i love that series.
I'm really fond of canaan as well. Only 13 episodes, hopefully it will be a great ride :)