Fall 2014

Well, it’s time for me to make the list of stuff that I’m watching this season. Here’s the what and why.

Fumoffu Holy Grail Shocking Truth Tier

Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works – An anime version of the second route in the VN, in some ways replacing the earlier Fate/stay night anime due to (hopefully) being more coherently put together. Apparently reworked a bit so it flows better from the Fate/zero anime. Very well done, and the first time that the actual introduction to the game has been animated. CR
Now, wouldn’t it be nice if ufotable followed this up by making a Tsukihime anime? No way that could be anything short of awesome. I mean, I’m surprised nobody else has already made one.
Amagi Brilliant Park – Although the first episode was a bit blah, the second really picks up with the large ham main character finally kicking things off properly. This could have a lot of heart if KyoAni pulls it off well.
Annoyingly, none of the legit streaming sites have picked this up (yet).
Chaika – AVENGING BATTLE – More Chaika. If you watched the first season, then you are already watching this. If you didn’t, then go back and watch the first season first? CR

DENKI-GAI – A bunch of strange folk with character designs of ambiguous age working at a bookstore that sells dojinshi in a slice of life/light comedy. CR
Gonna be the Twin-Tail!! (Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu) – I’m pretty sure they’re just running out of ideas now. Aliens attack Earth to somehow steal the power associated with loving the twin-tail hairstyle. But it doesn’t take itself seriously, character designs are cute, and the fighting animation is surprisingly well done. Funi
Bonus points if you spotted the Kugimiya Rie cameo.
Orenchi no Furo Jijo – Guy has a merman in his bathtub. It’s only 4 minutes long, can’t hurt. CR
When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace – When a studio known for over the top ridiculousness makes a show with a mundane setting, something weird is going to happen. Or… maybe not? Some students get supernatural powers with apparently no reason behind them, but there might just be something else going on. CR
Celestial Method – A group of former friends in a town below a flying saucer. Looks to be mostly drama, and with one of the writers from the Kanon visual novel on staff it’ll probably be a tear-jerker. CR
These anime producers really need to stop hiring the onion-chopping ninjas.

The Fruit of Grisaia – Based on an adult VN, and it definitely shows it. Pretty much only made my list because of the brilliant tsundere deconstruction that is Michiru. The VN is apparently pretty popular, and there are indications that a more dramatic storyline is hiding in the background. I guess I’ll see how it pans out.

Yuki Yuna wa Yusha de Aru – Apparently the obligatory cute girls show for the season. But it doesn’t air until next week.

And now for the things that I’m not watching.

World Trigger – In theory, there’s nothing wrong with this show. A somewhat generic shounen action, where a group of teenagers with special powers fight invading aliens. In practise, the low-quality animation (for the bits that are animated at all), wooden character designs, and bad CG aliens really kill it.
CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon – A disgraced princess fights invading dragons on a flying motorcycle that transforms into a mech. Don’t watch it for the excessive fan disservice.
Karen Senki – Presenting the latest tech in CG magic skirts, this series of shorts goes easy on things like plot and characterization in favour of disconnected bits of action featuring a heroine with the magic power of not being able to be hit by bullets. It could have been a neat post-apocalyptic story about AI, but it’s not pulling it off.

I don’t care enough about these shows to actually bother listing them here or making comments about them. Meh.

Do let me know if there’s something particularly interesting that I don’t have on the list, of course.