SEASONAL PRATTLE

It’s that time already? Yes, yes it is. Once again we have a fresh new pile of airing anime to enjoy, and as usual, we’ll be reviewing a large chunk of them. If you’re new to these blogs, here’s a quick heads up on how this works: The first show covered (which directly follows this intro) is what we deem here as our “lead” – essentially a featured episode review for reasons that could be good or bad but deserve higher recognition either way. From there, the quality of the anime we’re covering typically decreases as you scroll down the page – thus the last anime listed tends to be what we consider “the worst” of that week.

Now with that out of the way, let’s dig into what we have!

 

Leading us off is  Horimiya, offering an initial episode glossed in storytelling attributes that you want to see from a work in its niche. Characters are consistently expressive in ways that make them feel like active individuals and their culminating actions provided suitable emotional responses – Hori and Miya’s more devoted conversations especially contribute to this, steadily feeling purposeful to their early growing chemistry and growth. The first episode also has an applaudable aesthetic personality beyond just “good looking” – there’s notable sense of purpose in key shots, resulting in a script that consistently nails its illustration of the cast’s uncertainty, unhappiness, and small victories. There’s nothing too inventive currently about the course of its actual narrative and some of the plot beats presented do come off as fast-paced, but the good vastly outweighs the bad here overall.

SK8 the Infinity (1)

“Bones gifts key sequences a tangible sense of weight and urgency that’s easy to embrace, efficiently crafting tension with each twist and turn”

SK8 the Infinity is off to a promising start, elevating itself through pleasing composition and a floor of storytelling with little fuss – all which largely fills in for what episode one lacks in outright narrative prowess. Simply watching Reki and Langa race is its own reward: This team from Bones gifts key sequences a tangible sense of weight and urgency that’s easy to embrace, efficiently crafting tension with each twist and turn as our characters skate on. And that’s beautifully complemented by the fluidity and passion behind it all!! The jury is still out on how this show will hold up textually, but it’s very clear that those in charge want this project to succeed, and the vigor and labor shows.

Kemono Jihen (1)

“A number of incidental lines and intimate shots to physically present snippets of the behavior of the monsters that inhabit its world in addition to the culture concerning them”

Kemono Jihen commences with a positive turnout that demonstrates a decent grasp of storytelling fundamentals and a good affinity for its supernatural tenets. Episode one uses a number of incidental lines and intimate shots to physically present snippets of the behavior of the monsters that inhabit its world in addition to the culture concerning them, all of which smoothly enhances the mystique it’s pining for and makes Kabane’s role at this early stage of the narrative and the latter half ghoul encounters much more appealing. Ajia-Do offers respectable support as far as production goes, and the cast so far holds its weight. Another non-sequel Winter newcomer that appears to have potential.

Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu (1)

“Patience, detail and a level of production acuity that’s readily expressive when it needs to be for its character acting and impactful on its bigger narrative strokes”

Adding to the ever-growing sea of isekai adaptations, Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu airs, surprisingly defying the typical degree of quality these types of shows tend to carry lately. Yes, the writing here is nowhere even close to fresh: Our lead, Rudeus, is immediately painted as a cliche otaku pervert as he takes us through the opening phases of being reincarnated into a fantasy world with absolute adherence to all of the hallmarks and flows much of the anime community has become thoroughly accustomed to in isekai. Despite this, the show succeeds in its execution of these aspects, taking the thoroughly beaten and abused riffs of writing and conceptualization and marrying it with more patience, detail and a level of production acuity that’s readily expressive when it needs to be for its character acting and impactful on its bigger narrative strokes. Isekai can really be prone to spitting out some clunkers, so it’s nice to see one that’s not just outright falling on its face. Good job.

Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun (1)

“Squeezing a bit more value out of its gamer schtick than anticipated”

Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun checks in as fairly sturdy, squeezing a bit more value out of its gamer schtick than anticipated mainly on the back of its pensive moments. Episode one’s scripting isn’t winning any awards for being unpredictable, and the core sell of the story is virtually on the cover – but Tomozaki is fair enough in leading viewers through his circumstances and Hinami isn’t a slouch either when complementing that to carry this episode home. Genuinely wanting to improve in life is good and the drive to push that desire forward is a nice change from the usual long time sulking leads in Tomozaki’s portion tend to do. It has yet to be seen of course if the show can live off that base long term, but for now, it’s workable.

Urasekai Picnic (1)

“Having a natural sense of wonder and thematic lace with its delivery but also being too secretive with relevant information”

First episode of Urasekai Picnic arrives with a mixed performance, showing enough fundamentally to be interesting but having some structural rough patches that will hopefully be smoothed out as the show grows. Storytelling as a practical application is both the primary high and low of episode one – having a natural sense of wonder and thematic lace with its delivery but also being too secretive with relevant information on the otherside and the leads to the extent that it can come off as overly loose. Toriko and Sorawo are functional so far as characters and Liden and Felix do a fine job collectively with the production. There are reasonable signs of upside here.

2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu (1)

“Seems to be straight-up lifted from elsewhere in the genre space all the way down to certain character design choices, plot beats, and behavioral tics”

While “discount Haikyuu!!” feels like a lazy interpretation, it’s pretty accurate, and 2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu opening episode isn’t really helping its cause to fight off that assessment. Much of this premiere’s content seems to be straight-up lifted from elsewhere in the genre space all the way down to certain character design choices, plot beats, and behavioral tics among the cast. This is not to say Seiin Koukou Danshi is completely copied and pasted, it has its attributes here and there throughout the first episode that don’t feel like a clear reskin of better material now past – but it’s fairly obvious this series is going to have to distinguish itself and create separation from its peers by the time the ED kicks in. No one likes living in a shadow, let’s see if this series can break out of that.

Project Scard: Praeter no Kizu (1)

“Same ups and downs that are associated with the studio’s unmistakable style and quality tendencies”

There’s no other way to say it, Project Scard: Praeter no Kizu is very much a GoHands product and thus, comes pre-equipped with some of the same ups and downs that are associated with the studio’s unmistakable style and quality tendencies. On that note, a good chunk of Scard’s debut has pleasing craft in isolation, doing well with certain vibrant color palettes and lighting that elevate good character designs. However, as nice as that is, motion remains to be GoHands’ killer: Different components on screen will hover around at varied speed, visual shifts can be abrupt for certain sequences, and its background art becomes way more suspect especially when depth quickly changes. As for the story itself, it isn’t anything too compelling, but it’s currently not a liability and the sound design actually lends a noticeable hand here. Decent.

Tatoeba Last Dungeon (1)

“Fair share of stock-quality attributes, and it’s easy to envision this show’s core formula wearing thin sooner rather than later”

Tatoeba Last Dungeon begins, rolling out design elements and narrative cues at a level that makes for an okay watch with nothing really propulsive yet to rise above genre standard. It’s a bit concerning that the ceiling appears to be limited here: The fantasy world we find ourselves in is hardly imaginative, having its fair share of stock-quality attributes, and it’s easy to envision this show’s core formula wearing thin sooner rather than later. Lloyd’s schtick has been done to death and is narrow on paper, so it will likely be up to his supporting cast to display some versatility and color to keep things fresh and fun. That might not be a steep uphill challenge based on this first episode alone, but it’s something to keep an eye on nonetheless moving forward if this show is going to succeed.

Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? (1)

“Falls back on C-rate Isekai hallmarks”

Between the terrible CG and stuffy self-aware Isekai rhetoric, what Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? offered for an opening performance basically hamstrings itself. Most immediate aspects of episode one are drenched in Kumoko’s overt narration as she feeds the audience seemingly every passing thought that goes through her head, and when not in that mode, our content falls back on C-rate Isekai hallmarks for weaving a story completed with generic monsters, unimaginative skills, and an equally bland level up system all washed in its spider gimmick. Ironically enough, the non-spider material in the second half shows the most polish – more conventionally balanced in its telling as it actually presents a cast to bounce discourse off each other, and not suffering from the horrendous pot of visual choices like its other half. Okay all in all.

Kai Byoui Ramune (1)

“Built well enough where it’s easy to get its gimmick across”

Episode one of Kai Byoui Ramune is a self-sufficient installment, whimsical in tone with some darker implications here and there and built well enough where it’s easy to get its gimmick across. Character-wise, Ramune as a lead is eccentric enough out of the gate to be moderately engaging and when it comes to the narrative, episode one is served with its own peculiarities and light thematic lining to maintain interest till credit roll. A fair addition to the Winter season.

Gekidol (1)

“Chugs along smooth enough as it paves the show’s foundation with relative confidence”

Gekidol has launched into the Winter, quickly proving to be completely unexpected in everything it offers if you weren’t anticipating a functional idol anime with a theater slant. For the most part, episode one isn’t troublesome – it chugs along smooth enough as it paves the show’s foundation with relative confidence, not shying away from letting its lead in Seria carry key beats solo. However, it finds itself in trouble in the actual underlying material itself. Since episode one is primarily just straightlaced groundwork, there really isn’t anything flavorful to dig into or compelling to invest in. With more time that’s likely to clear up, but for now, it’s reasonable to feel this series is bland so far.

Idoly Pride (1)

“Heavy on standard idol trappings”

Another day another idol show – “Idoly Pride” is Winter’s latest affair into this saturated space, creating a faint distinction from similar seasonal works with a cleaner finish aesthetically in spite of its largely dull writing. This first episode was heavy on standard idol trappings, from its portrayal of upbeat Mana to the broader displays of performing and personnel associated with that – this mainly just runs like your ordinary idol show. The “twist” at its end, if you can really characterize it as such, winds up as too heavily telegraphed to be effective and inevitably drags down what appeared to be a more grounded show with supernatural shenanigans. Not the worst idol anime to debut from Winter, but still misses the mark in obvious ways.

Tenchi Souzou Design-bu (1)

“Has some attributes in place where it seems like the right kind of viewer would buy into giving it a second look”

Tenchi Souzou Design-bu experienced a modest debut, checking enough boxes structurally to make it a reasonable watch, but not offering too much beyond that threshold. There’s not a lot to unpack here as our twenty minutes spent are rather true to its synopsis and PVs – playing out its blend of honest animal facts and design hijinx at face value to spotty comedic success. Unfortunately, its start lacks real forward momentum, but has some attributes in place where it seems like the right kind of viewer would buy into giving it a second look.

Ore dake Haireru Kakushi Dungeon (1)

“Practically nothing commendable about episode one’s toolset”

In a display of shallow plotting and even thinner delivery, Ore dake Haireru Kakushi Dungeon enters the Winter with an unremarkable twenty-minute cluster of averageness that viewers will never get back in life. There’s practically nothing commendable about episode one’s toolset, as basically every facet is a trope or withered shrub of scripting that’s already been long tired in the fantasy light novel circle – only really having scant value so far for those that are thirsty for its small ecchi parts. We get a couple of shows like this every season.

Hortensia Saga (1)

“Not flashy enough in text or design to really stand out in a relatively crowded Winter season”

Hortensia Saga arrives without much noise, ultimately amounting to an effort that’s not flashy enough in text or design to really stand out in a relatively crowded Winter season. With that said this start is noticeably tepid, glazed with dialogue choices that are heavily limited to their character’s trope, recycled dynamics of warring fantasy kingdoms, and that overall stripped-down level of telling that tends to come with mobile game adaptions. If you’ve been masochistically punishing yourself through every seemingly run of mill series up to this point then this latest shallow offering should feel extremely familiar in overall value.

I★Chu: Halfway Through the Idol (1)

“Having some upside with a more pleasing visual effort than its idol peers”

I★Chu: Halfway Through the Idol gets started, not particularly creating a whole lot of separation in its brand of storytelling and delivery, but at least having some upside with a more pleasing visual effort than its idol peers courtesy of Lay-duce. Much of episode one’s material comes across as standard fare, feeling very reminiscent in flow for anyone even a little familiar with this genre space as viewers sift through an ensemble of characters telegraphing one-note personalities all while propped up by a school-aligned with their interest of performing. There’s no hard hook to sell its material further in terms of narrative or any real magnetic bits of writing for that matter on a whole, so raw interest will likely have to carry this until the show warrants otherwise. Okay episode one all in all.

Soukou Musume Senki (1)

“Trigger happy use of CG and clunky character designs once transformed make for remarkably jerky animation”

While Soukou Musume Senki’s introduction isn’t brutally bad, it’s transparently not good at anything, and its genre salad prominently featuring sci-fi is hardly appetizing once it’s actually served. Episode one’s writing is on the fringe of serviceable, but its visual style is frustratingly functional at its best – its trigger happy use of CG and clunky character designs once transformed make for remarkably jerky animation, and its limp vision dampens a lot of the action sequences that much of the content here concerns itself with. A pretty rough genre entry with some obvious flaws out of the box.

Back Arrow (1)

“You may want to sit this one out”

Back Arrow had a very good first episode if you adore blatantly poor storytelling and cheesy comedy all loosely wrapped in eccentric mecha paper. If you don’t, well you may want to sit this one out.

Ex-Arm (1)

“It’s actually a blessing the series is only scheduled for 12 episodes and nothing more than that”

Lastly, bringing nothing but regret and instant depression, Ex-Arm makes its way into the seasonal scene with an outing that’s twenty-three minutes too long. Nothing offered here is short of atrocious – The writing, animation, and overall delivery of this catastrophe, this “professionally made anime”, can only be rightfully described as garbage and an early eager candidate for worst anime of the season, and quite possibly the year. It’s actually a blessing the series is only scheduled for 12 episodes and nothing more than that.