I finally got around to starting Steins;Gate ...

And after watching episode 12 I am at a complete lose for words about what happened. I can say though that so far this is one of the most amazing series I've ever watched. Very few anime make me so curious that I search things like "John Titor" and "Time Travel", so shocked that I spend at least an hour after watching thinking about everything that happened, so fearful of the building atmosphere that I even had to minimize my window in episode 11 ... just in case, and so interested in every single character, even one who says "nyan". All the while also occasionally making me laugh, when just moments before things felt so intense.

Maybe I'm exaggerating, I tend to do that a lot, but it's just so amazing and I can't wait to continue on with the rest of the series ... but it's 1 AM and I'm really tired heh.

But first a question for you, have any anime series (or manga, or any form of media I suppose) impressed you so much that it lingered with you for hours, or even days, after? I guess for me the biggest example would be Grave of the Fireflies, which really struck me the first time I watched it, and even today I always think back to the initial feelings I had afterwards.

And I fully support the endorsement of Dr. Pepper, the greatest drink that ever was.

So, I finally started Nichijou ...

For a visual comparison, this was my reaction to, say, Tantei Opera Milky Holmes.

It's hilarious, maybe even as funny as Squid Girl and Ichigo Mashirmaro, which were the funniest shows I've ever seen in my few years of watching anime. I've never seen random done so perfectly. Maybe it's because I'm incredibly easy to make laugh, but almost every minute was spot on, except for maybe that Helvetica Standard skit that I didn't understand. The quirky characters, the fitting and stylish production, the jokes, everything just worked in the strangest of ways.

I'm only one episode in, so I don't want to get ahead of myself ... but oh my god was that funny. I had to close my door to avoid that awkward situation when someone peeks in on your strange, japanese animation and asks what's so funny. They wouldn't understand ... I'm not even sure I do, but I'm definitely sad I didn't pick up the series when it first started.

Also, my new response to anyone who tells me Happy New Year is going to be "Me too." I mean, I already forget that saying "You too." as a response to Happy Birthday makes no sense, might as well embrace my awkwardness.

What do you think of Nichijou? Does it get better, does it get worse?

And my reaction to Nichijou.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée The Animation 01 + 02: The girl behind the glass.

If these three don't make you smile, then I don't know what will.

Well, I caved. I was extremely reluctant to blog another series, but after watching the first two episodes of Ikoku Meiro no Croisée I couldn't help myself. Besides, I also realized all three series I'm blogging air on Thursday (and subs usually take until the next day), so covering a series on Sunday will keep things more lively during the week. At first Ikoku Meiro no Croisée may seem like just another moe, but what we have here is the most soothing and tranquil series of the season, and maybe of the year.

The setup is simple, a Japanese girl voluntarily thrown into the bustling world of a French gallery working as an assistant in a metal working shop. That may sound completely uninteresting to you, and at first I felt similarly, and the general reaction seems to be mixed (from what I've read online), but don't let that take you away from at least giving it a chance. What Ikoku Meiro lacks in exhilarating story, it makes up for with a stellar cast of down-to-earth characters, humor, and an unavoidable ability to make you smile. And if you're still not interested after that, then obviously this isn't the type of series for you.

NO.6 01: The flower and the rat.

This is the feeling I'm trying to avoid by only blogging 3
series during my first season.

Deciding on a third series to blog regularly this season was difficult for me. I'm a relatively new blogger and I don't want to scare myself away from the joy of blogging by putting too much on my plate at once. Blogging Mawaru Penguindrum was a choice I made long before it aired, and blogging Idolmaster was a choice I made because normally I don't have much to say about the genre (until now, that is). From the very large list of options this Summer I finally came to the conclusion that I would blog NO.6, because among all the shows airing this season I have the most to say about this Noitamina gem.

Initially I was turned off by the idea of another 11 episode fantasy-adventure series after the flop that was Fractale, but the first episode of NO.6 showed an important aspect of all great short series, and that's a setting that leaves the viewer questioning and a dynamic cast of characters. (and let's not forget the amazing VAs either) If NO.6 can manage to pull off what Fractale didn't, that being anything enjoyable, then it may prove to be the best series of the Summer.

Mawaru Penguindrum 01: Penguins do make everything better.

... and this is just the start of it.

Yesterday I said Idolmaster was one of the craziest first episodes I'd ever seen with it's unique point-of-view and large, all-over-the-place cast of characters, well, that was just completely topped by Mawaru Penguindrum. These first 23 minutes were packed with story and character developments, bolstered by the amazing animation and vibrant colors, which I'll talk about more later. Though I was expecting a light-hearted comedy, what I got was something far beyond that.

A major theme that carried the first episode, and kept me attentive, was family unity. Clearly the Takakura family has been through a lot, with two absent parents, a dying sibling, and pretty shabby (yet surprisingly colorful) home. But, if you were to only watch the interactions between Kanba, Shouma, and Himari and the way their optimistic personalities play off each other, you'd never guess that things are so bad. I'm a sucker for dynamic characters, so even with only one episode under my belt, it's safe to say we can expect a lot more from the Takakura siblings.

The iDOLM@STER 01: "Unity is Strength"

Meet the girls of 765 Production.

Coming into the Summer Season the last show I thought I'd ever watch, let alone blog about, was iDOLM@STER. Even now, I'm thinking that I must be a fool to even consider blogging a video game adaptation with more characters then I can count with my fingers. Not only was iDOLM@STER's first episode extremely fast paced and a little cliched, but it was also slightly annoying in some aspects, but something about the direction won't let me go, and by writing this post I'm hoping to figure out what that is.

"They are what girls aspire to be. However, only a handful are able to stand at the top ... Into that world, 13 girls set foot." There I was, seconds away from joining a Monster Hunter lobby when the quote flashed across the screen, soft piano notes playing in the background. My eyes were stuck to the screen from that moment, I set my controller aside, and focused on what might be the craziest ride a first episode has ever taken me on. The quote grabbed my attention so immediately because I could relate to it. Before I go any further, no, I don't want to be a pop idol, but I can understand the intimidation of difficult aspirations conveyed through the message. Writing is something I love to do, but can I ever be sure that I'll ever make it farther then a post on a blog the majority of the world will never see? But, as Ritsuko says below, as long as I continue my life not giving up does it really matter if I never make it big?