The Impression Series: Spring 2012 [Part 1]

Should have posted these weeks ago, but shit happened and it got delayed more and more. It’s tough trying to balance work, games, dota and anime -___- Better late than never I guess. Anyway, time for the not-so-early impression, now for the recently started Spring 2012 series.

Fate/Zero S2
MAL/OFFICIAL SITE  
Genre:action
Studio Production:ufotable
Number of Episodes:12

Comments: It doesn't make much sense that the first season ended last month and right off the bat, the 2nd season begins this season. Taking a breather before continuing with the rest of the production? Regardless, Fate/Zero S1 exceeded my expectation and I was looking forward to how it's gonna continue in this 2nd season. And right away, episode 1 alone was bloody entertaining. It restarted right where it stopped at the end of season 1, and now all the servants temporarily abandon the Holy Grain war in order to defeat the greater hindrance that is Caster. 4 episodes so far, things are looking great for the series, I'm glad that we finally got to see the much anticipated Saber's Noble Phantasm. The animation retained its high standard despite not having many flashy special effects, the bgms remained a classic from Kajiura Yuki, and though I love both S1 and S2's OP song, the current OP song by Kalafina was much more favorable in my playlist. Overall, like its predecessor, Fate/Zero S2 had the potential to be enlisted in my favorite shows this year.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Sankarea
MAL/OFFICIAL SITE  
Genre:comedy, romance
Studio Production:studio DEEN
Number of Episodes:12
Comments:

The first thought in my head when I watched the first episode: The unique animation, the random scenes appearing every now and then....SHAFT? Then I checked the anime information, and I was surprised to see that the anime was actually produced by the last studio I would have thought of - DEEN. Now that is something coming from DEEN, but overall I am quite satisfied with the series so far. Last year I randomly download the manga into my iphone, yet until today I haven't even touch the manga but the first chapter. I guess now that the anime is aired, I can just set the manga aside. Back to the story, Sankarea tells a story of a high school boy, Furuya Chihiro, whose obsession with the undead (or to be exact, cute zombies) brought him an unexpected meeting with Sanka Rea, a sheltered, innocent girl whose freedom was limited by her strict father. Things happened and she ended up turning into something that Chihiro exactly looks for, a girl zombie.. From production value, DEEN did quite a good job in giving the best animation and musics, along with great choice of dialogues/seiyuus to voice Chihiro and Rea, and scenes selection that sometimes tries to mimick shaft's style. Nevertheless, this is gonna be one of my favorite show this season, and probably this year too.

Verdict: 5/5














Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? of the Dead
MAL/OFFICIAL SITE  
Genre:comedy, romance, supernatural
Studio Production:Studio DEEN

Number of Episodes: 12 

Comments: The second season. Initially I don't have much things to expect from the sequel,  and having watched 3 episodes so far, I would say that my impression didn't change by much. Continuing straight from where it left in season 1, the story still retained the same recipe of fanservice+harem comedy mixed with some action/thriller (Ayumu in action with his Masou Shoujo persona as usual), with more side/new characters (classmates, Sarasvat, Kris etc) now getting involved, though so far the plot was more comedic than the second half of the first season. I used to like the anime a lot when it was first aired, but after a while, for some reason the impact kinda lost, even after watching this 2nd season. So for now, I guess I would put it on my watchlist just for the sake of having some laugh.

Verdict: 3.5/5














Kuroko no Basuke
MAL/OFFICIAL SITE  
Genre:sport/basketball
Studio Production:Production I.G.
Number of Episodes:25

Comments: I am by no means a basketball fans (much less a player) and as far as basketball anime goes, the only series I've got some attachment to was Slam Dunk (duh) and to a certain degree, Buzzer Beater. Having watched 4 episodes, I had to say that I am immensely fascinated with the series. 5 players plus 1 "invisible" sixth player from a generation of extremely talented middle school basketball team, now scattered around the best of high school basketball team, with the story focuses on that sixth player, Kuroko and his teammates. Simple premise, yet nicely done to highlight the 2 main characters Kagami and Kuroko - 2 players of completely different ability yet complement very well to each other and together, the vows to beat the rest of the Generation of Miracles and become the best team in Japan. The basketball game was intense, lots of fast paced basketball action involved, yet it was easy enough to follow for people with minimal basketball knowledge like myself. And even better, they provide in depth strategy and analysis about the game/formation that a football/rugby fan like myself can relate to and understand. The BGMs are also as intense as the action in the court, and that only helped get my excitement going. Overall, it was one of the better sports anime I've watched in recent years, and no doubt I'm gonna watch the anime all the way to the end.

Verdict:: 4.5/5 (must watch)














Natsuiro Kiseki
MAL/OFFICIAL SITE  
Genre:drama, slice of life
Studio Production:Sunrise
Number of Episodes:12

Comments: At first I was a bit skeptical about the story (particularly because I'm less inclined to watch an all-girl slice of life drama). Skimming through the first episode didn't really get me all impressed, until that last "miracle" scene, which surprised me in many way (because I thought it was strange to have that bit of supernatural element infused to the story).  Then I watched the next episode, and the next, and the next; and I have to say that my impression changed, to the better. I sorta feel the same way as when I watched Hanasaku Iroha, and indeed the story did feel similar - a slice of life series focusing on summer life of the 4 main girls, each with different personality: Natsumi, Saki, Yuka and Rinko; and the best part of it is probably watching all of them getting caught in different kind of "miracles"granted by the big rock at the shrine in each episode. I'm all in for the rest of the episodes.

Verdict: 4/5 (must watch)

Shining Hearts ~Shiawase no Pan~
MAL/OFFICIAL SITE  
Genre:fantasy, romance
Studio Production:Production I.G.
Number of Episodes:12
Comments:  I've been a fan of the Shining Series since the introduction of Shining Tears game quite a few years ago, and although Shining Tears x Wind was average overall, I am still looking forward to the third of the series, Shining Wind (how I wish the game was translated). 3 episodes in, I'd say that the pace of the story was way too slow. In the first episode we were introduced with Rick, his job a the bakery and the 3 pretty girls who assisted him, then the 2nd episode didn't differed by much, and only at the end of it we got the gist of the real deal of the story. It's crazy that it took more than 2 episodes to arrive to the focal point, huh? How are they gonna cover the whole plot in 12 episodes is beyond me, I just hope I can see enough actions to satisfy my needs for Shining series. Other than that, I don't really have much to comment. The graphic is awesome but that was a given since the original characters were designed by one of my fav artiste Tony Taka. Nevertheless, it was still a must watch for me because, well, I'm a fan of the series.
p/s: The first time I saw Lana, I totally thought she was Elwyn (Shining Tears). Totally look alike.
Verdict: 4/5


part 2 coming a bit later