Anime Sunday: Losers of Fall 2017

Hey all for this week’s Anime Sunday I’m covering the less successful shows, in my opinion, of the last season. It’s my Losers of Fall 2017!

Juni Taisen: It was somewhat interesting, but frankly it was just too bloody with little to no reason about the why being explored. Sure there’s the Wish granted at the end, but I feel like there is just so much backstory of the actual Zodiac Wars that could’ve been explored that it was overshadowed by the incredibly messed up lives of the participants we got to see in flashbacks each episode.  This is possibly the closest series in this post to actually not being on it. That being said it seems like it was just an overly violent series for the sake of shock and awe. So that’s why I’m putting it on this list.

UQ Holder: I expected that it’d devolve into Fan Service-laden sequences frequently, although that is what Akamatsu is known for so maybe that’s not a surprise. But I just couldn’t enjoy the series all that much. Something was lacking compared to the original Negima Manga and just wasn’t conveyed through this Adaptation. That’s why I’m putting on this list.

Black Clover: Like I said in my impressions post of this series, it could just be called SCREAMING the Anime. This lack a lot of the charm that has been so prevalent in other series prior to this like Bleach (with it’s snappy musical soundtracks) or the emotional rollercoaster that is One Piece. Frankly this was a huge disappointment, and I’m probably not going to look into reading the original source material because of how off putting this adaptation was.

That’s it for this week’s Anime Sunday. Did I miss a series that you felt deserved to be on it, or disagree with what I put in it? Leave your responses in the comments below!

Anime Sunday: Most Anticipated Fall 2017 Anime

Hey all I’m back with a look at this seasons offerings for Anime Sunday. It’s my Most Anticipated Fall 2017 Anime!

Mahou Tsukai no Yome: I love the Manga, so I’m looking forward to watching the Anime of this. I know I’m not alone in this since it’s been repeatedly in the top 5 most anticipated on various sites around the world and Japan. It’s a romance, so don’t expect a lot of high tension action.

Juni Taisen: This is an adaptation of a Light Novel by Nisio Isin, creator of the Monogatari series so I’m expecting this to be just as crazy. It’s probably going going to be more action filled, given the nature of the name which literally translates to Great War or Battle of 12, or Zodiac Wars as it’s been localized by others.

Dies Irae: This is an adaptation of a Visual Novel so I haven’t experienced the source material yet. That being said I might be interested depending on how well the Anime draws me in.

Kujira no Kora: This is an adaptation of a Sci-Fi Manga, which I haven’t read, so I’m looking forward to watching this as well. Like with Dies Irae I might take a look at the source material if the Anime gets me hooked.

Honorable Mentions:

Fate/Apocrypha: I’ve always had a soft spot for the Fate series, so I’m looking forward to watching the 2nd cour of this.

3-gatsu no Lion: The second season of this airs this season as well, and I loved the first season.

Ballroom e Youkouso: This also is continuing, so I’m looking to watching more of the series.

UQ Holder: This is an adaptation of the Manga sequel to Mahou Sensei Negima, a series I started reading way back in 2008 so I’m a bit excited for this Anime. That being said I’m afraid it’ll fall into the trap of going full Rom-com instead of focusing on the action. We’ll see.

Yuuki Yuuna: This was a pretty good series based purely off the first season, so now that the second season is airing this Fall I’m hoping the second doesn’t disappoint.

Extra Honorable Mention:

Fate/Stay Night [Heaven’s Feel Film 01: Presage Flower]: This is a ufotable production, and while there are two more movies before they finish the adaptation of the third and final route of Stay Night, I’m still going to give it a shout out. If you feel really adventurous you might want to look to see if there are any screenings in your area (There are some in the US).

That’s it for this week’s Anime Sunday. Any series you are looking forward to watching? Leave your answers in the comments below!

Manga Monday: UQ Holder by Ken Akamatsu [Major Spoilers for Negima]

 

This week is the week of sequels for my written and drawn series posts. This week I’m covering the sequel to Mahou Sensei Negima. Major spoilers after the jump.

Manga Monday: Mahou Sensei Negima by Ken Akamatsu

This week I’m going back to Shonen with Negima by Ken Akamatsu. It’s pretty good, and if it weren’t for executive meddling it could’ve been one of the better series of all time right along with One Piece and the others.

Plot: Negi Springfield is a ten-year-old wizard from Wales, who dreams of becoming a Magister Magi (Approximate Latin translation: “Master of Magic” or “Master Mage”), a special wizard who uses his powers to help normal people, using covers such as working for NGOs.

Negi’s reason for becoming a Magister Magi is to find his father, Nagi Springfield, the legendary mage also known as the “Thousand Master”, who is believed to be dead.

After graduating from the Merdiana Magic Academy in Wales, Negi is given a duty as a cover in the real world, and training, before he actually becomes a Magister Magi. That duty is to become an English teacher at Mahora Academy in Japan. The task will not be easy, however, as Negi will become a teacher to a Middle School class of 31 older girls, each very special in her own way. The series details his time and adventures in Japan as he gains acceptance and respect from his students, helps them in their problems, and faces magical threats from inside and outside Mahora Academy. Although each of the girls has her own back story and personality, Negi’s main relationship is with Asuna Kagurazaka, his student and roommate, who dislikes him initially but later accepts him as a friend and becomes his partner, helping find clues about his father and his life.

Plot: It starts off as a Romantic comedy because Akamatsu’s editors would not let go of his success at Love Hina!, and wanted him to continue the Romantic Comedy series, but he really wanted to do an action series. It becomes less and less rom-com and more battle series over time and while there are huge plot holes due to executive meddling a good part of the class’s students get their time to shine. Nodoka in particular is my favorite character, not just cause she’s a ridiculously cute bookworm, but because she grows the most over the entire series and it’s fascinating to see her grow up from a very quiet shy nobody to a bad ass.

Artwork: Expect lots of panty shots, or disrobing, but it’s purely pg for the most part. The main character is after all only 10 years old.

Overall: If you like battle-series and can get over the crap of the first arc it get’s really interesting after that.

For those who like: Shonen Battle Series, Magic, Adventure, Romance comedy scenes actually being funny.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.