It’s time for an Irregular Reconnaissance: Anime catch up. The holidays have provided some time to catch up on a series or two. Geek Native’s recently looked at part two of Blue Exorcist and Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere but what of those shows that are being watched one episode at a time?
In this column we catch up with two “trapped in a MMO” animes; Log Horizon and Sword Art Online, some classic One Piece and the vampire lord anime Strike the Blood.
Log Horizon
Episodes 5 to 7
Been enjoying Log Horizon and it seems to be getting better.
Our heroes are trapped in a MMO. Probably. There’s been no explanation but people who die come back at the respawn point in the Cathedral and food tastes of nothing.
This set of episodes step up the action around Guilds. We get some more insight into the power games going on and the Guild “Log Horizon” is created. It’s really a sly anime in how it appeals to gamers while telling a carefully paced story.
Where: Crunchyroll | Amazon
Status: Recommended
Strike the Blood
Episodes 5
If the first four episodes helped set up the premise, introduce the world and some of the characters then episode 5 feels like the start of the first true arc. We’ve got werecats – therianthropes – that have popped up in the warehouse district, sports events at school and someone taking shots at our hero, the Fourth Progenitor, again.
Strike the Blood peppers itself with short skirts, romantic misunderstandings and the trappings of Shonen anime. It’s a mix of ingredients that could go horribly wrong but doesn’t.
Where: Crunchyroll | Amazon
Status: Keep watching
Sword Art Online
Episodes 1 to 4
L. Meridian, a proper MMO gamer, has already taken a look at Sword Art Online for us here at Geek Native. Now, Manga UK has brought the series to the UK and I’m working my way through the discs.
It’s early days but the key thing about Sword Art Online in contrast to Log Horizon (another trapped in the game anime) is that we know much of the background. We know what happens to dead characters – the human controller also dies. We also know what’s happening – an insane designer. We know why the hero is special – he was a beta tester and one of the top performers.
Where: Crunchyroll | Amazon
Status: Recommended
One Piece
Episodes 84 to 88
One Piece remains a classic. It’s funny and dramatic at a whim. This is an anime I put on and watch a few episodes of whenever I don’t know what I’m in the mood for. Why? Because One Piece can usually step up and distract that restless feeling.
By now Nami is better and the pirates rather hope the Chopper will join them as ship’s Doctor.
Where: Crunchyroll | Amazon
Status: Classic, watch it if you get the chance
This issue of Irregular Reconnaissance is a summary of anime I’ve been watching recently. Some of these episodes have been provided for review and others I’ve bought. Opinions are entirely my own.
