With most of the series in this season being aired, here's a look at some of the new series this year.
Among all the new series that I've taken a shot at, I would say that Noragami stood out quite among the rest. As the story goes, Yato, a god who wishes for a future where he will be worshipped by many, performs tasks at a cost of 5 yen, to 'earn' his worshippers. He does have an aid of a 'shinki' who is a spirit that can change into a sword for Yato to use. The antagonists for now are just devils that have drifted between the neighbouring world. In Noragami's world, there is a Near Horizon which represents our human world and a Far Horizon that represents the devil world. Our female protagonist on the other hand, tries to save Yato from being knocked down by a truck resulting in her developing a condition which allows her to separate her soul from her body at unpredictable times. And the main structure of the plot is for Yato to fix her condition so that she can be truly human again.
To me, this is quite an interesting plot, not forgetting all the awesome animations coupled with it. Has already been 2 episodes and now Yato has regained his Shinki and Hiyori finally learns that her tail which she has in her soul form isn't just a tail but a link between her and her own body. It was quite funny to see how Yato actually just yanked her tail to save her. Wouldn't it be bad if it broke? O.o So far it has been entertaining enough, with few short humour sections being inserted here and there making every scene as refreshing as it already is. As a 12 episode series, what I am worrying about now is the conclusion. Not exactly sure how the series is going to end since the manga its adapting from has not ended. So I would honestly find it weird if Hiyori's problem wasnt solved at the very end. Not forgetting this is a simple plot of a wannabe god trying to help people, I do hope that there will be good arcs in time to come.
We have Nisekoi next, beautifully adapted by SHAFT from it's manga. And I can only say that it was very well-animated. I do have a personal preference for SHAFT animations so I was just enjoying myself watching every minute and second of Nisekoi, watching their dialogue fly and all those small details that were focused upon. The story itself however is generic to some point but nonetheless entertaining. I don't expect the main protagonist to choose between the 2 girls at the end of the whole series since the manga hasn't ended, so I guess that's the only disappointment-to-be since I can expect a not-so-good conclusion already from the start.
Hamatora is another series that caught me off guard. It really seemed like a underdog in the season, but it actually does turn out to be quite good and as one of the few series I would actually look forward every week. At first look, the series reminded me of Durarara!! and Darker than Black, with the characters holding some sort of special ability that not every human has. Furthermore, the series seems to focus on solving problems with the help of their powers, I do however sense a possible shift in the plot to one just based on fighting with their powers with enemies of the same kind. I wouls hope that the series remains as it is, with the current assignments that the Hamatora group is assigned to help, rather than a typical shounen fighting series. I too, liked the concept of the abilities activating only with certain conditions or in Hamatora's case, items. What seemed disappointing however is the animation colours that they use when the characters utilise their abilities. How should I put it.. Too colourful? I don't think that is actually required so the series can continue without that. Do have high hopes for the series as well! :)
Next up we have the 2nd season of Chuunibyou and boy am I glad that it's back. Certainly KyoAni had disappointed us in the previous Kyoukai no Kanata, so hopefully this series does redeem itself and prove to be a good sequel to chuunibyou itself. And I am definitely pleased that they no longer add doubts between Rikka and Yuuta's relationship where right at the start, the characters already acknowledged that the duo were a couple. Due to certain circumstances Rikka is now living together with Yuuta and seeing the two interacting in a chuunibyou way, it's just sweet to see them together. Nibutani however seemed to have changed her appearance once again, definitely preferred her original design but looking at the ED song, there is a high possibility that her current style will not last.. which is good. From the preview too we do see another chuunibyou girl being added as Rikka's rival so this is gonna get interesting when the love triangle begins! :)
And of course we have Nobunagun, a rather interesting blend of ancient war heroes and modernized weapons. So basically our main protagonist is an reincarnation of Oda Nobunaga and apparently, all these old war heroes have been acquainted with modern technology (i'm guessing time manipulation here...) and to leave special powers behind for the one who will eventually inherit his bloodline. The reincarnated ones can harness the power of the old heroes in forms of weapons for which our main protagonist decides to make it a huge gun and thus, we have a Nobunagun. What comes as interesting as the plot itself is the animation. The style does seem to be quite unique, even SHAFT still feels different from this. A unique style with a unique storyline, I don't mind watching but I don't think the series will deliver as much of an impact as the rest, it is just interesting to watch IMO.
As good as some series might be, there are some that disappoints just right after their debut episode. One such series is Mahou Sensou. True to it's trailer, it did seem a little too "mainstream" and turns out it has an extremely generic plot that almost anyone could come up with. The way the characters sync to the plot itself is just too forced. It basically feels like in order for the characters to get magic powers, they must somehow get the power from a magician. And with the order of thinking being focused on the end rather than the start, the introduction to the series became a "doesn't matter how it happen, just make it so that they become magic users at the end of episode 1"and that is exactly what we got for the very first episode:
1. Unknown magical girl appears out of nowhere
2. Gets saved by main male protagonist
3. Gets alarmed by the unknown surrounding and shoots the guy
4. Misses
5. Due to the close proximity of magic from her gun, guy gets magic power
6. Becomes amazingly good at using magic
7. No longer a human, forced to go to the magic world
Tadah.... and the story of Mahou Sensou begins. If they were going to make it progress this way, I would rather they just make everyone a magician from the start and begin at the academy rather than putting this kind of forced plot and waste a very 1st episode. Very unlikely I will continue this series unless something really plot defining appears.
Another disappointment, or confusion I would say, is the series called Buddy Complex. It is an original series by Sunrise and a mecha series to boot. However, after watching the whole of the first episode, I was left with a huge truckload of unanswered questions and honestly, I didn't understand what exactly was happening or what the writer was trying to make us think while watching their first episode. As a disappointment, we have an extremely plain looking and a very normal male protagonist to begin with. He apparently is good in basketball and there is this girl who seems to pay attention to him, a lot. Turns out the girl is from the future (what?!) and she is here to protect the guy as she knows someone else from the future is coming to this time to kill him. Our male protagonist attempts to outrun a robot with a bicycle, the villain, in a robot, cannot take down a single bicycle, female protagonist saves the guy, forced to bring the guy into the future and then dies. ...
Just. What. Is. Happening?! @_@ I would definitely continue watching this, at least the 2nd episode since I don't exactly get whatever that was happening. Same scenario with Mahou Sensou, why is the intro required if like 99% of the series would be set in another time and space? Perhaps for Buddy Complex the time travel thing will be of a significant importance but if it does not, then this show is just plain... Oh well, at least it was entertaining in a way where the series just throws everything at you and you don't understand a single thing.
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