Check-in Station Year in Review: 2013 (Summer)

There are some anime seasons that are just good.  There are seasons that are memorable.  And then there are seasons that are legendary.  The Spring 2006 season saw the debut of the most influential anime since Evangelion, Haruhi.  On top of that, it had Higurashi, Ouran High School Host Club, Gintama and Aria!  The Fall 2006 season aired the beginnings of Death Note and Code Geass, two juggernaut series at the same time!  Fall 1995 saw the debut Neon Genesis Evangelion and the first Ghost in the Shell movie.  And yet, I look at this Summer 2013 season and wonder – does this rank as one of the best seasons of anime ever?!  It’s insane to think about how low the expectations were going into this season.  My own expectations were near rock bottom.  When it came to what hype I had, it was all regarding the two returning series and nothing else.  Even then, Bakemonogatari‘s second sequel was getting a lot of hype from the anime community because of the mixed reactions Nisemonogatari received (I loved it).  And there was no telling if Symphogear G was going to be able to live up to the hype,pacing and expectations set by the first season.  But what we got this season was an ever rolling, ever growing ball of quality, memorable anime.

Summer 2013 was the little engine that could.  It was the nerdy kid turned super star.  Summer 2013 was the best of 2013!  And I’m proving it here!

Check-out Station: C3-bu eps12 & 13

Can I just enjoy a show for being fun? Can I enjoy it just for the way it feels? Sure it makes me seem like a bit of a hypocrite, most every post I have probably gushes over a show with what I think is a good “plot” and narrative. While if I hate a show it is generally because it can’t maintain a focus when it comes to those things, and I end up hammering a show for that weakness. but too often I think I ignore another important element of a story, besides its ability to tell you what happens from start to finish, or tits style and persistence in doing such a thing. I think I’ve ignored character. And I believe this show has a very good one.

C3-bu ep11: the self-centered will certainly suffer

This is really starting to get frustrating, which means this really, truly is a GAINAX production. Sonora has informed her teammates (finally) of her decision to go overseas, and they predictably take it very hard. The part I find frustrating is how nonchalant she is about the whole thing. She seems to clearly care about the situation, but is terrible at communicating her feelings towards her friends. I don’t actually think she communicates at all in this scene. As they just whine and beg her to reconsider, they even challenge her to a match (which they’d surely lose) to force her into staying. But Sonora doesn’t fall for any of that.

On Holiday: Labor Day Anime Special pt2 (Majestic Prince ep22 & C3-bu ep10)

Majestic Prince ep22

I’d say it’s rudimentary to declare that things aren’t going as planned as we start this episode. Think of it as a matter of just plain bad timing. As the operation commences, Team Rabbits bumps right into the Wulgaru mega force just as they leave the gate. It’s a bit close for comfort, but the Wulgaru are incidentally right in the way of the operation. On the positive side for Earth though, they’re hardly expecting a fight, and this is looking possibly like a game of rugby, with the roughest and toughest attempting to push their way to the goal.

On Holiday: Labor Day Anime Special pt1 (Majestic Prince, C3-bu & Love Lab)

I’m going to do something a little different this week, since I planned on having fun on Labor Day – a day to celebrate working people.  I decided to take it easy this past weekend, and cover the usual anime in shorter fashion.  Well, I won’t totally stick to that. If i’m particularly inspired then some of these may be longer. But for now, I’m gonna do a “Week in Review” type of post for this weekend for some shows. Starting with Majestic Prince episode twenty one.

C3-bu ep7: my heart will pierce the heavens

Another beautiful day, another light episode of C3-bu to ease my mi– Look out! Sniper fire! Good god!  The person sniping is firing bb shots from an illegally modified rifle that the characters were just talking about! (Isn’t this all just a little too convenient, even for story telling purposes?)  What the hell? Since when did this show have snipers, assassins and thugs?  I thought everyone who played paintball was a good person?!

C3-bu ep5 & 6: not above sex appeal

What a hot week it’s been for me. It’s times like this that beach episodes in anime make me jealous. I’m especially jealous this episode, because they start off having so much fun.

C3-bu ep3 & 4: no resolve, no victory

My, aren’t we moving fast? On the third episode, and we’re already entering a tournament. This is Yura’s first dip into the really competitive world of airsoft. And i suppose this is where the show is really supposed to shine.

C3-bu ep2 (cool and warm, soft yet firm)

It feels good to be back!  After a weekend of fighting game goodness, I need to get my beak wet again.  And I’m terribly behind on the second week of Summer anime.  So I think it’s best I start with something light and easy to get into.  And since I’m literally a week behind, these posts are going to be a tad shorter than normal.  No synopsis.

Check-in Station: C3-bu ep1 (so we’re all agreed?)

*groans* I don’t know how I’m gonna do this guys. I avoided Free and stepped into this. This show is pretty embarrassing. And it’s so weird, especially regarding how taboo real guns are in Japan. Then again, I’m hard-pressed to avoid things that are unique. And though I’ve seen plenty of shows with girls with guns, this one is a bit different. I’m guess I’m gonna have the swallow the awkwardness of all this. Besides this is Gainax, or some form of it anyway. I have to see what comes of this.  So let’s all just agree that I’m gonna give my best to give this show a chance, while still acknowledging that in a season full of my personal favorites, it’s very likely gonna be the runt of the litter.