A collection of mini-reviews and opinion. Irregular Reconnaissance is the forum for debate. I’ve dismissed some popular anime as not worthy of the hype in the collection below. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.
Are there any anime series you would recommend? Does your anime fandom lend itself to making recommendations? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Gurren Lagann
Episodes 1 to 4
A fan favourite. Okay; I get the skimpy bikini and the girl with the sniper rifle. What else is good about Gurren Lagann?
We’ve two brothers; one who seems to be a bit of a cry baby and who was actually happier tunnelling through rock as a life and another who seems stupid and mad. These two “escape to the surface” of the planet where they find themselves battling beastmen in mecha.
I just don’t like the two male characters. They’re just too weird. They don’t seem to deserve any of their successes. Why support them?
The anime is old enough that the illustration quality is sub-expectation. There’s nothing visually, other than bikini sniper, to save it. Gurren Lagann fell flat on the first episode and I watched three more; over two different sittings, just to give it a fair crack of the whip. It was still poor.
Status: I don’t see what the affection for this old anime is. I’m dropping it.
Where: Netflix | Base.com | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Kill la Kill
Episodes 1 to 4
After being disappointed with Gurren Lagann I let the wisdom of the crowd guide me to a new anime that would rescue the situation. I found Kill la Kill. I know the title through the cosplay and the drama the underboob costume has produced at conventions.
As far as I can see, the underboob skimpy college girl uniform is about the best thing Kill la Kill has to offer. The anime is set is a strange school, in an undefined future, where the ruling power seems to be the school girl president. A rebel like loner comes to the school on some mission of revenge and investigation. Our hero, the rebel, finds herself wearing a living bikini-skirt that sucks her blood in exchange for power, decides to keep on going to strange school as normal and battle where necessary.
The art style is simplistic and surreal at times. The only eye candy are in the transformation scenes.
I was disappointed. I watched a few episodes of Kill la Kill over a few days and wasn’t moved. There are better things to do with my time.
Status: I don’t see what the fuss is about. I’m dropping it.
Where: Netflix | Base.com | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Log Horizon
Season 2, Episodes 1 to 4
The end of the first season of Log Horizon was strong but there’s still so much story to tell. Season 2 kicks off with an odd problem – but one that’s typical for Log Horizon. Imagine if there wasn’t enough money in the world to pay your rent? That’s the scenario which could happen when your RPG built guild finds itself in a MMO turned real and when the economy suddenly matters.
I think Log Horizon season 2 takes some risks. The Villain in Glasses (that’s the hero, by the way) sets out on a secret mission to save things – to tap the source of all money – and in doing so leaves the characters we’ve come to understand and care about in season 1 behind.
The risks pay off. We don’t abandon our season 1 characters, in fact we care about them more, mean while there’s a whole host new characters and new MMO-turned-reality style drama to deal with.
Status: Strongly recommended
Where: Crunchyroll | Amazon UK | Amazon US
Parasyte
Episodes 6 to 10
Parasyte proves it’s an anime with some stamina. This isn’t a one concept wonder where we deal with the set up and then slowly simmer into disappointment. As the episodes clock in Parasyte gets better. There are other Parasytes.
The anime is an odd mix of people getting diced up into chunks of meat and an investigation into what it is to be truly human. The illustrations are stunning. The plot manages to be relentlessly predictable in terms of the escalation you might worry about and yet surprising at the same time. That’s impressive.
I’m watching Parasyte as episodes appear on Crunchyroll (this post was written a few weeks before publication) and find myself as excited for it as I would be for the next episode of a favourite TV show airing on live TV.
Status: Recommended, no, really!
Where: Crunchyroll
I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying
Episodes 1 to 5
I watched five whole episodes of I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying while over one meal from Pizza Hut and a glass of brandy. It didn’t take long. These are quick and quirky episodes.
Let’s call “I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying” a slice of life anime meets comedy. Our focal character is a loyal wife, a cutie, married to a geek who seems to edge towards the lazy side. As the audience we’re expected to relate to either the geek husband or the wonderful life who accepts him for all his foibles into her life. Oddly; it works.
Status: Not sure I’ll tune in to it again, won’t turn it off if it comes on
Where: Crunchyroll
Dragon Ball
Episodes 84 to 122
Goku’s rushing towards a showdown with a certain green character. This set includes the Tien Shinhan Saga and the King Piccolo Saga.
How has Dragon Ball changed through the 100+ episodes we’ve had since the beginning? The illustration quality is definitely better and the power levels keep rising. The clue, I guess, is in the latest movie being called Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods.
You’ll know if you’re a Dragon Ball fan by now or whether you can’t tolerate the super powered, martial arts, space opera. Me? I like to have it on the TV as a spectacle as guests arrive.
Status: A cult classic with plenty of super powers
Where: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Base.com
All reviews are based on real-life anime fandom. The titles here include some provided for review by Manga UK, some bought on disc and others streamed legally from Netflix and Crunchyroll.
