What anime are you watching?

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Still watching Penguindrum...

Coincidentally, my mom made nuts and bolts as part of her Christmas baking. Instead of goldfish there were.... (wait for it)..... PENGUINS. O.o

[KhakiBlueSocks]

[font="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="4"][color="RoyalBlue"]I'm currently watching Episode 23 of "Death Note" with the commentary track on. I have to admit, this has to be the funniest and most informative set of commentaries for anime I've heard in a long time. I also love the behind the scenes stuff with all the actors talking about their characters, and the director explaining his thought processes during the ADR sessions. He's a very thoughtful fellow.[/color][/SIZE][/font]

[Juliannesan]

Kimi to Boku episode 11 This show just gets more and more random. It's almost similar to Ouran, but I still enjoyed Ouran far better. We'll see how it ends though.
Chihayafuru episode 11 Loving this series more & more. [spoiler]Waiting for Arata's return.[/spoiler]
Bokura ga Ita episode 17 This show is such a soap opera, but it's interesting enough to finish, I guess. lol.
Moribito episode 13 I love this show, its very adventurous and mysterious at the same time. Can't wait to see more.
Full Moon wo Sagashite episode 22 I had a hard time really getting into this show, but now I'm liking it more, though I guess the manga is way different. Ah well, about to switch to subs though, because the Eng dub is annoying and going to finish up soon anyway.
Durarara!! episode 16. Meh, I like the suspense aspect of this show, but the violence that's popping up more and more isn't my fave. It's definitely much darker than the first half of the series.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Durarara!! episode 1 - yep, I'm starting it. Really not sure what I think of it so far; like the random episode from the middle I saw one time, I just don't get the tone. We'll see how my opinion develops over the course of the story. I watch for the rumored appearance of Isaac and Miria.

[JesusFreakGamer]

Vision of Escaflowne! Also, Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle and Rozen Maiden. All fairly good so far :-).

[KeybladeWarrior]

From Sunday to today:
Idomaster ep 21
Fate/Zero episode 12
Mirai Nikki ep 11
C3 ep 12
To Love-ru episodes 9-12
Gintama

Movies: Professor Layton: The Eternal Diva

[CrystalChalice]

Finished watching the 12th episodes of Kimi to Boku and Chihayafuru.

[ABlipinTime]

watched Last Exile 2, ep 10, as expected. summary episode, :p

i got started watching Usagi Drop. Qute unique for an anime: [spoiler] the opening episode mainly involved interactions between adults in such a way that, imo, it appeals to more adult audiences in ways other anime do not[/spoiler]

[Juliannesan]

Finished watching the 12th episodes of Kimi to Boku and Chihayafuru.

Same here! I like Chihayafuru a lot better though.
I also watch Shugo Chara ep 1. So kawaii! I was smiling throughout the entire episode, no joke. It's adorable.

I also watched Bokura ga Ita, episode 18. SOO dramatic! But interesting.

[Atria35]

Finished Rev. Girl Utena, watched all of Ikoku Meiro no Croisee, and finally saw Redline.

[Neane]

Currently I am kicking it old-school and watching LOGH and Rose of Versailles. I am loving both of them.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Durarara!! episodes 2-10

Okay, so I'm enjoying this anime now It's not as crazy, convoluted, or cool as Baccano!, but still worthwhile and interesting. I like how everyone's interconnected, just like in Baccano! I still can't tell sometimes whether I'm supposed to be laughing or thinking it's dramatic, so usually I just laugh anyway. And I still don't really like Shizuo much, though for some reason I'm finding myself most strongly attracted to Izaya and Kida.

Speaking of Kida, I scared myself today when I recognized Mamoru Miyano's voice. If I'd known he was in it, I would have expected him in a different sort of role.

It also feels like it ought to be building up to the climax now, like Durarara!! should be a 13-episode deal.

[Winry]

I have started watching Durararararararara!! too, but I am only on episode 6. I really like the opening song.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

So now, as the Fall season begins to wrap up, Guilty Crown is halfway done. I think I should probably write about it. It's a show that I think definitely deserves being written about.

On the surface, Guilty Crown certainly shares a lot with Code Geass, and the comparisons made between the two are certainly well-deserved in that respect. However, once you dig a little beneath the concepts, they're fairly different shows. Shu is a scared teenager, Lelouch is a lolgenius. C.C. is mysterious waif who is kind of playful, Inori is an emotionless teenager who likes to stare blankly. Shu wins his battles by beating things with whatever void he has, Lelouch wins by using loltactics.

Guilty Crown is also definitely trying to be a great show. It clearly wants to be Eden of the East or Stand Alone Complex. However, it trips up in a lot of ways. Shu doesn't come across as an annoying teenager, Inori isn't even a character, and Gai has to be the most idiotic terrorist leader. Ayase and the other girl in the skintight suit are mildly enjoyable, but then it's oh, he's looking at them for fanservice, isn't that funny because we've never had fanservice jokes before. Inori is a singer, apparently, but she has one song that gets played on rare occasion, and nothing is ever actually made of it. Heck, until episode eleven, it had been completely irrelevant to the plot, and it was used in the most terrible manner, as someone who thinks Macross is the coolest thing ever.

What's really infuriating about Guilty Crown, to me anyways, is that it is on the cusp of being a fantastic show like Eden of the East. The plot could easily be salvaged into something wonderful, and there are moments that remind you of how great a show Guilty Crown could be. Shuu occasionally mans up in a way that isn't out-of-character and is really awesome, and then the next episode he'll be back to being really aggravating. The production on the show is absolutely wonderful, and it's an incredible shame that such a high budget is being wasted on the mediocre plot of Guilty Crown. It's really disappointing to me, because I would love to love Guilty Crown if it was about Inori inspiring Shu with THE POWER OF SONG~ and love, and Shu using Inori(and just her, because his power is terribly broken because it basically allows him to have whatever power Shu needs for the current problem). The last episode reminded me the most of this, where the events taking place could be incredibly awesome with tweaking, except they just fall really flat on me.

It also killed the best villain over nothing and I mad.

[JesusFreakGamer]

Currently I am kicking it old-school and watching LOGH and Rose of Versailles. I am loving both of them.

There's a rose of Versailles ANIME!? I never knew! Do tell! Where are you getting it?

[MangaRocks!]

Mawaru Penguindrum finale.

Thoughts in the "Let's Watch!" thread.

[Atria35]

There's a rose of Versailles ANIME!? I never knew! Do tell! Where are you getting it?

Yeah, there's an anime. You have to illegally download or stream it, though, since it's not licensed.

Chihayafuru 1-2- I am so sad that I didn't start this earlier. It's really awesome that there's a "sports" anime that focuses on a girl instead of shoving her as a side character in favor of the guys, and manages to be really awesome- Hikaru no Go in it's intensity.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

It clearly wants to be Eden of the East

This is always the impression that I got since the first episode. I sort of get the Geass comparisons, but Guilty Crown just feels more like (a poor, poor man's) Eden of the East to me.

There's a rose of Versailles ANIME!? I never knew!

It is a fantastic show, the second half of which is directed by the late, great Osamu Dezaki. Well worth watching.
---
Macross Frontier: The False Songstress and The Wings of Goodbye

Shoji Kawamori did it again. These are two compilation films for the Macross F TV series, retelling the story while trimming the unnecessary fat (the high school hi-jinx). "Retelling" might be the wrong word, though. While the first movie sticks reasonably close to the TV source material, changing bits here and adding bits there (and by bits, I mean lavishly animated, jaw-dropping spectacles of concerts), the second film is essentially completely new territory. A few of the most basic plot points remain, but the reason they are and the way the story/characters get to them completely change. A lot of major stuff, however, is just different, including the ending which is spectacular and accomplished a certain something that the TV ending didn't have the guts to do.

As much as I heart the TV series, the films are actually better. Yup. I said it. Wings of Goodbye in particular was just freaking amazing in every conceivable way. The story was better, the animation was better, the awesome characters were awesome and the previously-not-awesome characters got awesome.

Anyone could theoretically watch these movies and get a coherent story out of them]another [/I]level of appreciation. Those who are familiar with the rest of the Macross universe will be able to wring every last referential drop out of of these lovingly-crafted films. Go watch the TV series if you haven't, and if you have, why the heck haven't you seen these movies yet? Seriously.

Super Dimension Century Orguss

Speaking of Macross, Orguss is a 80s mecha show made by essentially the same team that worked on the original SDF Macross TV series, directly after they finished it up. Director Noburo Ishiguro is in good form here. Orguss retains a bit of that Macross feel, mostly due to the character designs; however, it is well and truly its own beast, though production values are pretty similar to Macross and other 80s mecha TV fare.

I found the story to be pretty unique. Our protagonist, Kei, sets off an experimental bomb that mashes together a bunch of parallel universes. After orienting himself in a new world (which is also in the future), Kei eventually discovers that pieces of universes are popping into and out of his current dimension. This instability basically means that the different universes will annihilate one another at some point. There are various races vying for supremacy in the para-dimensional space, and, also, Kei is somehow key to restoring order to everything (shocker!).

Kei's character adds a bit of a twist to the whole thing: he is a pretty irresponsible guy who'd rather engage in dalliances with attractive ladies than think about tomorrow. He runs away from his duties, not because he wants to be left alone or in his own world like a lot of modern otaku-sympathetic leads; rather, Kei wants to enjoy himself and isn't in a hurry to grow up. Watching him gradually moving to a place in which he can accept the mantle of savior of the universe is a pretty cool experience.

Ring ni Kakero

Subtle Doctor-approved shounen fighting series, ahoy! This is a really fun twelve episode boxing series from the mid 2000s, based on a 70s Shounen Jump manga by the author of Saint Seiya (hey ladies!). The character designs have been slightly updated, but the anime retains a lot of the 70s manga craziness. Basically: this ain't Hajime no Ippo.

Dudes are boxing in a (fairly) realistic manner, when suddenly the connection of a right cross unleashes a sonic boom. People get punched through or over the ropes, get punched by auras, and are only able to hit "after images." It's that sort of show, but it plays all of this with a completely straight face, no parody. I personally love that kind of sincerity in my anime, so I totally dig this show. There was a lot cut out from the manga (some of it is told in quick flash backs), but that didn't bother me at all. It sets up well for a second season at the end. The true selling point for me is the theme of this series: hard work and dedication can trump natural talent; "effort can create a miracle," as they say. Again, the series is so earnest in its delivery that it's hard for me not to love this sort of thing.

Classic-feeling shounen goodness in an atypically small dose.

[blkmage]

This is always the impression that I got since the first episode. I sort of get the Geass comparisons, but Guilty Crown just feels more like (a poor, poor man's) Eden of the East to me.

It was the whole national malaise and naming of the tragic day that clued me in.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Started watching Hourou Musuko.

[wildpurplechild]

Watched the first five episodes of Baka and Test. It looked good, the art was nice, and the synopsis sounded interesting. However, upon watching it I realized it was not an anime for me. Fanservice, thin story lines and characters put this on my not to watch list. I got two disks from the library, watched the first one, and since it didn't get any better, decided I couldn't stomach the rest.

[AnimeGirl]

So Dad finally convinced me to watch Claymore. We watched a couple episodes last night, and I must say, I like so far! The only reason I was so hesitant before is due to the violence, but then I thought "I'm a fan of the Resident Evil movies, and if I can watch a live action film that slashes zombies, Claymore shouldn't be all that bad!" XD!!! Besides, I admit to loving stories about demon hunting, and Claymore has it's unique twist. The violence isn't mildness, either; it's not there just to be there, but all of it serves a purpose and is handled quite well. Episode 2 "The Black Card" was so sad at the end!! It made me tear up...

The animation and art style on this series is beautiful! I bought my dad volume 1 of the manga for Christmas. He's loving it so far! (This is his first manga!!!)

[Neane]

Watched the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou OVAs.

[Agloval]

After a year or two I (finally) finished watching Zambot 3, which the good Doctor discussed here. I don't have much to add to his assessment.

[Juliannesan]

[quote="TheSubtleDoctor (post: 1523230)"]
Ring ni Kakero

Subtle Doctor-approved shounen fighting series, ahoy! This is a really fun twelve episode boxing series from the mid 2000s, based on a 70s Shounen Jump manga by the author of Saint Seiya (hey ladies!). The character designs have been slightly updated, but the anime retains a lot of the 70s manga craziness. Basically: this ain't Hajime no Ippo.

Dudes are boxing in a (fairly) realistic manner, when suddenly the connection of a right cross unleashes a sonic boom. People get punched through or over the ropes, get punched by auras, and are only able to hit "after images." It's that sort of show, but it plays all of this with a completely straight face, no parody. I personally love that kind of sincerity in my anime, so I totally dig this show. There was a lot cut out from the manga (some of it is told in quick flash backs), but that didn't bother me at all. It sets up well for a second season at the end. The true selling point for me is the theme of this series: hard work and dedication can trump natural talent]

Hahahaha! I may just want to see this, but I think I want to finish Saint Seiya first though. Lol!

[rocklobster]

Restarted Durarara!! in Japanese. Maybe I'll get some of the stuff I missed the first time.

[softsubs]

Currently I'm watching Star Driver, Hetalia, and a few other shows, and rewatching E7 for the 6th time.

I've seen the first episode of Code Geass and some other ones that I forgot the names of.

[softsubs]

I've been watching Star Driver and Hetalia, and rewatching E7 for the 6th time.

I've seen the first episode of Code Geass and other shows I forgot the name of.

[Princess Kairi]

I'm watching D. Gray-Man (subbed), Soul Eater (dubbed), and the new HunterXHunter series (subbed).

[AnimeGirl]

Watched the first four episodes of Magic Knight Rayearth!!! Love it so far. Ahhh...classic CLAMP! I recognize so many characters who appeared in Tsubasa. Yay for Mokona!!! And the dub has two familiar Haruhi Suzumiya voices as Umi and Fuu. Matches them perfectly. And that Alycone lady is Sera from Robotech!