Let's Talk About Anime

[Aziraya Zhwan]

For me personally, I've gone many years going through the underdog stories where characters pull seemingly-impossible victories out of nowhere so seeing the main character win for actual reasons other than "They're the main character so they have to win" appeals to me greatly now. Really the only "OP main character" anime I didn't like was Danmachi, but that was turned around in the last one or two episodes of the first season. Although he honestly isn't that intensely overpowered due to his lack of experience. Either way though I couldn't seem to get past the idea of his ability.

Main Character's Ability:

Extremely fast progression? Alright, I can get behind that. He needs to not be a weakling forever. But when you have a skill that is literally explained as "You defeat any enemy in one hit", I have a problem. One Punch Man gets around it by treating it as a joke and to purposefully break the trope but Danmachi doesn't have that tongue-in-cheek outlook to it that lets One Punch Man get away with it.

Others like Overlord or One Punch Man who are so intensely overpowered still have something else going for them. Overlord, as was described, has other things going through his head and it's still interesting to see exactly what OP thing he does to win. One Punch Man has the humor aspect to go along with the moment he wins. Danmachi though? I know that's the only overpowered thing he does so I know that's exactly what's going to happen to win and it doesn't have any humor in that action to make it interesting in my opinion.

[Rednal]

Point of order on Danmachi:

Spoiler:

Argonaut actually isn't a one-hit success move. As I recall, there are foes that he can't beat with just one use of it. Think of it as being, oh, a Limit Break in certain RPGs. Probably going to wreck a normal mob, but rarely a one-shot-kill on bosses.

[Alzrius]

Aziraya, I disagree with you regarding Danmachi.

Bell isn't at all an overpowered character, to my mind. The series is largely predicated on him immediately getting in over his head (and, shortly thereafter, being humiliated when he overhears someone mocking his weakness to the girl he likes).

An overpowered character, to my mind, is one who's overpowered not only from the beginning, but never needs to put forward any attempt to grow in order to overcome adversity (in some cases, they don't even need to put forth any effort at all!). Bell, by contrast, suffers and pushes himself for his power.

Spoiler:

His battle against the minotaur is an excellent example of this, and it's not the only one (e.g. fighting that gorilla that was attacking Hestia).

That's leaving aside issues of his sometimes having to run for his life:

Spoiler:

Needing to carry Lili and Welf after another party throws them to the wolves, and running to desperately escape the respawned titan dungeon boss in front of the safe area.

Moreover, he's never the most powerful person in the series; one of his motivations is to catch up to Aiz Wallenstein, who's considered to be one of the strongest adventurers around (but not the strongest, something that Sword Oratoria puts on full display).

Overpowered characters are always in control of whatever situation they're in, whereas Bell is quite often not cognizant of larger forces around him (e.g. Freya).

Also, about his special power:

Spoiler:

The "Argonaut" power that he has isn't, as I recall, described as a "one-hit kill" technique. Rather, it's that when he's pushing himself to desperately protect someone else, he can put forth a burst of power.

[Grey Lensman]

I thought Argonaut was proportionally powerful to the opponent - basically, Bell gets a fighting chance no matter what. But it isn't assured.

[Aranna]

While all of this is fine in the end you still have to appeal to viewers. Obviously Overlord did... just not to me. I can't help but feel bored by his endless rationalization of why he does things the way he does. Lets face it if you went on a date with someone who spent most of the time rationalizing everything there wouldn't be a second date. Yes Alzrius you find it interesting and you probably aren't alone. I still think the reason it has mass appeal is the OP nature of it. There are a LOT of people who want to see someone crush all opposition mercilessly. Just look at Rambo. And yes don't take my geek cred but I wasn't a fan of that either.

[Alzrius]

Aranna wrote:

Just look at Rambo. And yes don't take my geek cred but I wasn't a fan of that either.

If that's a prerequisite for geek cred, then if they took yours they'd need to take mine; I've never watched any of those movies.

[TriOmegaZero]

Never watched Rambo either. I think the big thing that kept me interested is waiting to see if anything would actually challenge Ainz. Not having read the novels yet, the anime has so far answered with no. However, there is still a bit of mystery around the answer, considering the effect that turned Shalltear against him. So the hint of possibility still remains, but I can see how that doesn't appeal to everyone.

[Alzrius]

TriOmegaZero wrote:

I think the big thing that kept me interested is waiting to see if anything would actually challenge Ainz. Not having read the novels yet, the anime has so far answered with no.

You didn't think the last arc of the anime, where he fought Shalltear, qualified?

Quote:

However, there is still a bit of mystery around the answer, considering the effect that turned Shalltear against him. So the hint of possibility still remains, but I can see how that doesn't appeal to everyone.

Actually, that was supposed to be explained (at least somewhat) during the sequence when we saw what happened to her; it's just that the novel's expository narration didn't make the transition to the anime.

What we were told is that:

Spoiler:

The Slane Theocracy, having been monitoring Nigun via divinations - but not able to directly see Nigun thanks to Ainz's protective enchantments - knew that something had wiped out him, his men, and even the Dominion of Authority angel single-handedly. They'd decided that it must be the work of the resurrected "Dragon King of Calamity," and so sent a team bearing an artifact of the gods (e.g. a world-tier item) called Downfall of Castle and Country, which looks like a cheongsam, to subdue the beast.

This group ran into Shalltear, and immediately determined that she was a being of monstrous power. So Kaire, the operative wearing the item, used it on Shalltear right then. However, Shalltear struck back as it happened, severely wounding Kaire and killing one of her guards. Since Kaire was out of commission and unable to give orders, however, the mind control left Shalltear in a default state (she killed one more guard who subsequently attacked her, thinking she was defenseless), and the group from Slane retreated.

[TriOmegaZero]

Alzrius wrote:

You didn't think the last arc of the anime, where he fought Shalltear, qualified?

Nope.

[Greylurker]

Well the new deal betweeen Crunchyroll and Funimation has given CRunchy access to Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. If you have not seen this wonderful series you should. It is a great portrayal of starting adventurers in a fantasy world.

[Alzrius]

Greylurker wrote:

Well the new deal betweeen Crunchyroll and Funimation has given CRunchy access to Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. If you have not seen this wonderful series you should. It is a great portrayal of starting adventurers in a fantasy world.

Ah, it's finally up! I was checking for a while, and kept finding a message saying to please be patient, so this is a nice development.

[Caineach]

Greylurker wrote:

Well the new deal betweeen Crunchyroll and Funimation has given CRunchy access to Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. If you have not seen this wonderful series you should. It is a great portrayal of starting adventurers in a fantasy world.

I've started it and thoroughly enjoy it

[Sundakan]

I watched it a while back, up to about episode 8.

I found it pretty boring, and laughably predictable myself.

Actual Spoiler:

Me and my brother were taking bets on how long it would be before the Cleric ate it. I was closest.

[Caineach]

Sundakan wrote:

I watched it a while back, up to about episode 8.

I found it pretty boring, and laughably predictable myself.

** spoiler omitted **

I have enjoyed a lot slower series than this. I mean, I love Hanbei Renmei and I think the most action that series has is a bike falling over.

[Sundakan]

I can appreciate a slow series, but usually there's something that keeps me coming back Interesting characters (which Grimgar doesn't have), an interesting plot (which Grimgar doesn't have), an interesting setting (which, admittedly, Grimgar DOES have, but not enough to keep me coming back), touching character interactions (which Grimgar attempts, but I can't care because I don't care about anyone in the show), etc., etc.

The only thing that really made me want to continue watching was the mystery of how they got where they were and if they were ever getting their memories back, but I eventually dropped it and just decided I'd read a synopsis of the plot later. Which I never got around to doing.

Maybe it's better as a binge? I was watching it as it came out weekly.

[Greylurker]

One Punch 2nd Impact incoming

[Alzrius]

Caineach wrote:

Greylurker wrote:

Well the new deal betweeen Crunchyroll and Funimation has given CRunchy access to Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. If you have not seen this wonderful series you should. It is a great portrayal of starting adventurers in a fantasy world.

I've started it and thoroughly enjoy it

Having just finished this a few hours ago, I'm not that impressed. It's a good series, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a great one.

Spoiler:

The show's central themes - appreciating your friends, putting in the work necessary to cultivate those relationships, and being able to rely on them when things get bad - were all executed very well. The problem I had with the show is that it had nothing else to say besides this.

The problem with any message, no matter what it is or how well it's presented, is that if you hear it over and over and over and over again, it eventually wears thin. I can understand the group being devastated by Manato's death; but having them struggle with that and try to get past it for virtually the entirety of the series - switching things up only to then focus on Mary's inability to deal with the deaths of her teammates, and in doing so propagate the same ideas in essentially the same way - made me feel bored with the same moral being broadcast at me again and again.

Notwithstanding its initial setup - and, to be fair, the climactic fight at the end of the series - the show is entirely inward-focused, presenting character exposition rather than moving any particular plot along. That's not inherently bad by itself, but the characters were further restricted to how we saw them dealing with Manato's death (or, in Mary's case, her friends'), which made their characterization fairly shallow.

Beyond that, the show had a fairly gritty appeal in that these guys were the rookiest of rookies, initially struggling to take out lone goblins. But while we did see them grow over the course of the show, and their improved prowess was well-earned, it didn't feel like a significant point, since it was always portrayed as a backdrop to how they felt about themselves and each other.

I also rolled my eyes at the initial presentation of the group - when the six of them are struggling to take out two goblins (but to be fair, those guys were like little green ninjas), why on Earth does Manato feel the need to remind them of how high-stakes a fight to the death is, and that that's true for the goblins they're fighting as well? Is that supposed to do anything but make them more nervous, as well as create empathy for their enemies?

In fact, that kept on throughout the series. The show kept flirting with the idea of the equivalence between humans and the goblins (and later kobolds) that they were fighting, and then never going anywhere with it. Instead, it usually just seemed to end with a shrug, in that they were on different sides, but this came off as unpalatable because the humans were the only ones to act as aggressors; at no point do we see goblins or kobolds attacking human settlements the way the humans do theirs.

Ultimately, Grimgar wasn't a series I enjoyed because it refused to move past itself. It's insistence on waxing eloquent about the character's feelings excluded everything else, and that was to its detriment. Issues like who the No Life King was and why he cursed that area, or the true nature of that light-trail that Haruhiro sometimes saw, or how the group ended up there in the first place and what happened to their memories...these were all plot-threads that the show should have resolved, or at least touched upon more. But instead, all were dealt with as minimally as the show could afford to do, sacrificed on the altar of pathos.

It's not a bad show, but that's the most charitable I can be towards it.

[atheral]

Do folks have anything they are looking forward to for the Fall season.

There looks to be a couple that are somewhat interesting announced so far that I think I'll pick up

Nanbaka- looks to be an bizarre prison comedy, may be worth a watch.

Izetta: The Last Witch- This sounds really interesting, I like that it sounds that they may be taking a "necessary evil is still evil, no matter how good the cause" approach.

[Caineach]

I finished it last night, and I just have to say, Sundakan and Alzrius, that your criticisms about the series are the reasons I fell in love with it. I disagree that the characters aren't interesting. I find them much more so than most series, because they actually seem like real people.

[Sundakan]

We'll have to agree to disagree on that. I found them to be pretty clear anime cliche characters, unless there's some major character development they go into in the last 5 episodes (which, to be fair, is distressingly common for these one cour shows. They like to dump everything interesting at the end).

The only one who seemed to have "hidden depths" was the black mage and her obvious set-up for depressing rape or abuse backstory.

[Alzrius]

I didn't think that the characters were uninteresting. I just think that their presentation was far too limited, and so made the narrative uninteresting. There was clearly more to those characters, and we were continually denied anything more than the occasional glimpse, which I found frustrating.

[NenkotaMoon]

RWBY Vol. 4

[Caineach]

Sundakan wrote:

We'll have to agree to disagree on that. I found them to be pretty clear anime cliche characters, unless there's some major character development they go into in the last 5 episodes (which, to be fair, is distressingly common for these one cour shows. They like to dump everything interesting at the end).

The only one who seemed to have "hidden depths" was the black mage and her obvious set-up for depressing rape or abuse backstory.

Funny, I thought she was most stereotypical, but liked the way they slowly developed her. I didn't get the vibe you are describing at all, mostly because she fit so neatly into the typical can't talk to men trope, which I have seen used very frequently and almost never because of some dark and tragic backstory.

[Caineach]

Alzrius wrote:

I didn't think that the characters were uninteresting. I just think that their presentation was far too limited, and so made the narrative uninteresting. There was clearly more to those characters, and we were continually denied anything more than the occasional glimpse, which I found frustrating.

Interesting, because I felt the opposite. I felt that we saw way more of what and who these characters are than pretty much any other fantasy series I can think of. They had minor hobbies that were shown on screen. They had things they did for fun. They didn't dwell on them and make them the sole focus of the character, which I found very refreshing.

[Greylurker]

atheral wrote:

Do folks have anything they are looking forward to for the Fall season.

There looks to be a couple that are somewhat interesting announced so far that I think I'll pick up

Nanbaka- looks to be an bizarre prison comedy, may be worth a watch.

Izetta: The Last Witch- This sounds really interesting, I like that it sounds that they may be taking a "necessary evil is still evil, no matter how good the cause" approach.

Izetta certainly looks interesting and alternate histories are always interesting to watch.

Other ones I've got my eyes one

Drifters - I love "transported to a magical world" stories and this one using historical warriors is a new twist. Plus I love the style of the series (Big fan of Hellsing)

Luger Code 1951 - Werewolf is all I need to hear to get me interested enough to check something out

To Be Hero - basic premise appears to be Homer Simpson becomes Ultraman. I gotta at least check it out

ViVid Strike - Always up for more Nanoha universe stories

[Alzrius]

Caineach wrote:

Interesting, because I felt the opposite. I felt that we saw way more of what and who these characters are than pretty much any other fantasy series I can think of. They had minor hobbies that were shown on screen. They had things they did for fun. They didn't dwell on them and make them the sole focus of the character, which I found very refreshing.

I agree that those were there; I just don't think that that made the actual story very interesting or engaging to watch. Knowing that Moguzo liked to whittle, for instance, did little to make me want to know what was going to happen next; characterization works best (to my mind) when it's mingled with the plot - this felt like it was trying to use it to replace the plot.

But I'm not surprised that you and I don't see eye-to-eye on this; this is far from the first time that you and I have had very different takes on things.

[Alzrius]

A question to everyone: with the new cour about to start, what were some of the best anime of the cour that just concluded?

I like to wait until a series is completely done before I start it, so that I can watch it at my own pace. Given that, what among the recently-concluded shows should I turn my attention to?

(Bearing in mind that I only have Crunchyroll, and already watched Re:Zero and Grimgar of Ash and Fantasy.)

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

Nothing really grabs my attention of the normal shows. I'll check some stuff out and see if I stick with it.

The specials and OVAs are another matter. Sakamoto desu ga?, Bikini Warriors and, most importantly, Tenchi Muyo Ryo-ohki.

[John Benbo]

Alzrius wrote:

A question to everyone: with the new cour about to start, what were some of the best anime of the cour that just concluded?

I like to wait until a series is completely done before I start it, so that I can watch it at my own pace. Given that, what among the recently-concluded shows should I turn my attention to?

(Bearing in mind that I only have Crunchyroll, and already watched Re:Zero and Grimgar of Ash and Fantasy.)

The Anime News Network critics pretty consistently picked both Re:Zero which you've already watched and Mob Pyscho 100 as the top shows of the Summer season. I wasn't a big fan of One Punch Man but I thought Mob was terrific mainly because of the premise of the main character who has tremendous psychic power but just wants to be "normal" like everyone else.

Two others that are very good which conclude today are the Prohibition-era, mafia drama 91 Days and the pseudo-fantasy war drama Aldermin of the Sky. Give the latter a couple of episodes because what seems like at first glance is going to be another run of the mill, haremy teens with powers show, actually gets quite serious and introspective as the show progresses. Definitely a show which consistently got better as it went along.

And all are available on Crunchyroll.

[Caineach]

Alzrius wrote:

Caineach wrote:

Interesting, because I felt the opposite. I felt that we saw way more of what and who these characters are than pretty much any other fantasy series I can think of. They had minor hobbies that were shown on screen. They had things they did for fun. They didn't dwell on them and make them the sole focus of the character, which I found very refreshing.

I agree that those were there; I just don't think that that made the actual story very interesting or engaging to watch. Knowing that Moguzo liked to whittle, for instance, did little to make me want to know what was going to happen next; characterization works best (to my mind) when it's mingled with the plot - this felt like it was trying to use it to replace the plot.

But I'm not surprised that you and I don't see eye-to-eye on this; this is far from the first time that you and I have had very different takes on things.

I didn't really care what was going to happen next from a plot perspective. Then again, I think plot is overrated. This story isn't about its plot, which is a toned down version of tons of similar stories, and I think by dropping the plot focus they were able to tell a very different story than we usually see.

This story is about focusing on the characters, their interactions, and watching them grow, which I think it handles very well. From describing why characters level up the way they do to actually changing their models throughout the show, to the very subtle movements they make in combat, not all of which they point out, we get to see way more depth of the character than almost any other show I can think of. And the fact that we aren't beaten over the head with it just adds icing for me.

The fact that I describe this show as a slice of life fantasy anime both boggles my mind and makes me want more.

[TriOmegaZero]

NenkotaMoon wrote:

RWBY Vol. 4

I've been so busy the past couple months of wait have sneaked by...

[NenkotaMoon]

TriOmegaZero wrote:

NenkotaMoon wrote:

RWBY Vol. 4

I've been so busy the past couple months of wait have sneaked by...

Vol. 2 is getting a dub in Japenese and the Manga adaption is slowly progressing.

[Greylurker]

Alzrius wrote:

A question to everyone: with the new cour about to start, what were some of the best anime of the cour that just concluded?

I like to wait until a series is completely done before I start it, so that I can watch it at my own pace. Given that, what among the recently-concluded shows should I turn my attention to?

(Bearing in mind that I only have Crunchyroll, and already watched Re:Zero and Grimgar of Ash and Fantasy.)

Really enjoyed Thunderbolt Fantasy. Gen the Butcher directing, Wuxai plot and Taiwanese puppetry. SO Much Awesome and so gorgeous to watch

Mob Psycho 100 was kind rough art wise but it turned out to be quite interesting. Really good metaphore on the instability of Teenager emotions

Arslan season 2 was short but good

Prisma Illya 3rei was amazing. the Fate elements of the series are at full strength now and the climax was just Epic.

Fudanshi Koukou Seikatsu is my guilty pleasure. Really fun little short series

Berserk...kind of torn on this one. Was not thrilled by the CGI animation, felt too stiff and awkward but the strength of the orignal material really shines through as the series progresses. By the time we got to the end of the Season complaints about the CGI tappered off. Still didn't like it but it no longer mattered I was so wrapped up in the strength of the story.

[Freehold DM]

HOLT SHIT ARSLAN SEASON 2 WHERE?!

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

Favorite show of the current/last season: Sweetness and Lightning.
Macross Delta was a disappointment, the magical pretty boys were awesome but slightly less so than their last series, and the other things were not as good as this.
Amanchu was a good show, but it lacked the excessive cuteness that made S&L my favorite of the season.

[Greylurker]

Freehold DM wrote:

HOLT S#~~ ARSLAN SEASON 2 WHERE?!

Same place as last time, over on Funimation...although with the new deal with Crunchy I suppose it might show up there too eventually. Unfortuinately it was really short compaired to the first season, only about 8 episodes I think.

Still awesome though but Cliffhanger ending

[Greylurker]

Woo HOO! Thunderbolt Fantasy, Sequel in production.

[Blayde MacRonan]

Caineach wrote:

Alzrius wrote:

Caineach wrote:

Interesting, because I felt the opposite. I felt that we saw way more of what and who these characters are than pretty much any other fantasy series I can think of. They had minor hobbies that were shown on screen. They had things they did for fun. They didn't dwell on them and make them the sole focus of the character, which I found very refreshing.

I agree that those were there; I just don't think that that made the actual story very interesting or engaging to watch. Knowing that Moguzo liked to whittle, for instance, did little to make me want to know what was going to happen next; characterization works best (to my mind) when it's mingled with the plot - this felt like it was trying to use it to replace the plot.

But I'm not surprised that you and I don't see eye-to-eye on this; this is far from the first time that you and I have had very different takes on things.

I didn't really care what was going to happen next from a plot perspective. Then again, I think plot is overrated. This story isn't about its plot, which is a toned down version of tons of similar stories, and I think by dropping the plot focus they were able to tell a very different story than we usually see.

This story is about focusing on the characters, their interactions, and watching them grow, which I think it handles very well. From describing why characters level up the way they do to actually changing their models throughout the show, to the very subtle movements they make in combat, not all of which they point out, we get to see way more depth of the character than almost any other show I can think of. And the fact that we aren't beaten over the head with it just adds icing for me.

The fact that I describe this show as a slice of life fantasy anime both boggles my mind and makes me want more.

I have to agree with Caineach. Grimgar, in its current state, is more of a fantasy slice of life series than anything else. I enjoyed it immensely, and this, strictly speaking, comes from someone who really isn't into slice of life (its something that has over-saturated the market for some time now). I'm hoping for a second cour, which will expand things more. Which I think is what this cour was a set-up for. My understanding is that the light novels from which its based on are a fairly good read, so its not like there isn't more material for A-1 to draw from.

[Greylurker]

New Anime report

Time Bokan 24 It's silly and fun but I'm too old for it. Basically in the 24th century mankind gained time travel and discovered, the History books are full of lies. So a couple of kids are travelling through time to learn the "True History" Trying to stop them a sinister organization that dose not want the true history know. This organization is....the people who sell History books, if the True history gets found out they have to do massive edits to the books and that's way too much work for them.

Bloodivors: Too early to tell, looks interesting but could degenerate into a cliched mess. Big Pharma released a drug to treat a disease only instead of a cure it caused a mutation creating vampires. Big Pharma got it's way out of leagal punishment but "Bloodivors" are now persicuted minority.

www.working New cast of characters but same Working humor. great for laughs.

[Rednal]

Watched the first episode of ViVid Strike, the latest animated entry in the Nanoha franchise (although I don't think it's subtitled... maybe because Nanoha's not really present?).

Somehow, the method that the characters use to befriend each other does not surprise me. XD

[Greylurker]

Checked out some more New shows

NanBaka: Pretty boys in prison, trying to escape prison....I got nothing else here

Magical Girl Raising Project: Kyubey MK2 is using video games to recruit magical girls and a sweet youngling who always dreamed of being one finally gets the chance. She is the 15th magical girl in this town.

But they have decided to downsize to about 8. Fight to the Death begins
F*&K you Kyubey F*&k you

All Out High School Rugby in japan focusing on a very peaceful kid who is huge and a very violent kid who is short. Actually looks like it'll be a lot of fun

Keijo!!!............Should I be ashamed for watching this...Yes. Am I going to watch it anyway....yes.....Is it actually any good....it just might be.

Seriously once she broke out the Butt Cannon I was hooked.

[Alzrius]

Greylurker wrote:

Keijo!!!............Should I be ashamed for watching this...Yes. Am I going to watch it anyway....yes.....Is it actually any good....it just might be.

Seriously once she broke out the Butt Cannon I was hooked.

Get the title right, philistine. It's Keijo!!!!!!!!, with eight - count 'em, eight - exclamation points. And those girls earn every one of 'em.

[Freehold DM]

Greylurker wrote:

Keijo!!!............Should I be ashamed for watching this...Yes. Am I going to watch it anyway....yes.....Is it actually any good....it just might be.

Seriously once she broke out the Butt Cannon I was hooked.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Rednal]

This was the best description of Keijo I could find:

Spoiler:

...by the halfway point, they've introduced the sadistic rival character who's KOing jobbers with phantom a**-shots to the chin while grinning like a murderer.

It's... uh... really quite something. XD

[Greylurker]

Rednal wrote:

This was the best description of Keijo I could find:

** spoiler omitted **

It's... uh... really quite something. XD

One of them seems to be using Gate of Babylon in the OP. I think it's the shy roomate with the magazine

[NenkotaMoon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9URcYCDH0KA

JoJo coming to Toonami!!!

[Sundakan]

Tiger Mask W is a lot of fun, at least just from the first episode. I needed me some 80's martial arts cheese, and I'll take it with a Japanese masked wrestling skin on it.

[Here4daFreeSwag]

Re: Fall 2016 anime

Although the entirety of the Fall 2016 anime offerings have yet to be released, I do believe I've found the winning qualifiers for two of the things out so far.

The This is...Man-Service Award goes to Yuri!!! on Ice; 'Cause of all the talks (and screenshots, possibly) of Bare Eastern European hindquarters.

Conversely, The I am no...Man-Service Award goes to Keijo!!!!!!!!; for obvious reasons...

Honorable mentions (that have naught to do with both of the above) to come later. ;)

[Here4daFreeSwag]

And as promised, the Fall 2016 honorable mentions:

The Do You Remember...Hooked on Classics Award goes to ClassicaLoid; Wasn't quite sure what to expect initially but was won over by Not-Beethoven and his struggles with fate and gyoza, the fantastical power of spielen wir unsere musique (I've no idea what it translates to but it has to be seen to be believed), and the hint of Not-Bach being the head of some sinister cabal. The music is highly reminiscent of not only K-Tel's Hooked on Classics series but also this gets called to mind too.

The 'Cause in the evening, it's... Kaiju Girls Award goes to KAIJU GIRLS; clocking in at a healthy 5 minutes, our three main characters aren't just your average magical girls. All the Kaiju being referenced are part of the Ultraman franchise. As a special bonus, these are the 3 main Kaiju that they're "referring" to.

The Has Puella Magi Madoka Magica, RWBY Vol. 3, and Magical Girl Raising Project Got You Feeling Down? Try this Pick Me Up Award goes to Mahou Shoujo Nante Mouiidesukara; now in it's second season. With each episode being about 4 minutes or so, the only really violent moments get usually aimed at the hapless cutesy mascot that accompanies the most sensible of loli moe blobs. Otherwise, things are fairly sedate and peaceful- even if the camera shots does pan over the magical girl costumes a bit overmuch at times.

Finally, The CG Like You Wouldn't Believe Award goes Nyanbo!; truly aliens (extraterrestrial, mind you) are among us. Look for the cameo of one green haired and quadruple pig-tailed character at the end credits sequence.

Of course, there are other promising titles, including Flip Flappers and Izetta for all your parallel reality needs. ;)

[Dragon78]

Has anyone seen "Show by Rock"? Is it any good?