Summer 2015 Overview

Another season's gone, a season full of surprises both good and bad.  Luckily there were some continuing shows I could cling to for sanity.  Let's get right to it!

The Heroic Legend of Arslan

Well, at least it tried to tell an epic story. But then, so does your average elementary school play. A combination of bad animation and gimmicky characters robbed me of any enjoyment the story may have given, padded though it may have been. Definitely look up the old OVAs instead; they're far from perfect, but much more memorable.

Ore Monogatari!

I know this show is nothing but comfort food. Conflicts are few and far between, while the stakes are always the same. But the characters are just so enjoyable to watch, dammit! I can't help but want things to go well for everyone, just like I can't help but hope there's a second season in the future.

Ninja Slayer

Once you get used to the idea that this show is not, and was never intended to be, the second coming of Kill la Kill, Ninja Slayer can be a fun little series. Sure, its sense of humor is on the weird side, the action intentionally inconsistent, and the designs way over the top (in a good way, I'd argue). But all in all, the half-episode length works with that oddness to keep things from getting to be too much.

Monster Musume

Probably one of the season's more hotly anticipated shows, this was a fun fanservice romp for the most part. Having already read the manga, I knew pretty much what to expect, and kind of wished the director would branch out from the source material a bit. What I saw was good, but the show could have taken the concept and really run with it. The sub-species descriptions after the end credits were a nice touch in that respect.

Gate

I wrote a brief article describing why this show, or rather its rotten, irresponsible message pissed me off so much. It hasn't changed its tune since; the good guys are still perfect because they're perfect, and their actions are never presented as anything less than morally righteous. I'll still watch the second half when it starts next year, but just to see how bad it gets.

Gatchaman Crowds: Insight

I'd have to classify this series as a guilty pleasure. Like the first season, this show was a little too sure of its own message, dismissing opposing arguments a little too readily. Also, its real-world applications are a bit limited; succumbing to groupthink is dangerous, but dissenters are not likely to get eaten by striped thought-bubble monsters. Still, it's always visually interesting. And I like how carefully plotted it is, how every episode has a purpose. You've got to respect the amount of thought and effort going into the series, at least.

Overlord

Another guilty pleasure; I love the idea, but damn is Overlord light-novel-ey. The main character's invincible, and the exposition-to-action ratio really favors the talking. I won't lie, it's slow as hell when it shouldn't be. What saves it, in my eyes at least, are characters that are more or less fun to follow. The world's nice, too, and the show has a sense of humor about itself that saves it from being garbage. I'd have to call this a miss, though, unless there's an upcoming season that lives up to the concept's potential.

Gangsta

Well, that was underwhelming. Gangsta had a lot of characters, with a lot of tragic backstories, but I have no idea what the show wanted us to care about. I guess everyone was sympathetic in one way or another, but very little is actually done with anyone; they all feel like darts thrown haphazardly at a wall to see which ones stick. As for me, I'll stick with Black Lagoon.

Prison School

This show is trash. And it is brilliant. Festering shit. And I love it. Whenever this show didn't have me at the edge of my seat in suspense, it had me laughing. It's like if Alfred Hitchcock ever decided to direct a porno, or an exploitation film. The resulting film would still be garbage, but it would still be the most competent, gripping, entertaining garbage you'd ever seen, goddammit!

Jitsu wa Watashi wa

Though it had its moments of genuine hilarity, they were few and far between. I suspect it wouldn't have stood out even without the similar premise of Monster Musume as direct competition, because the characters just suck. They're all dumb stereotypes turned up to eleven, they don't have enough good traits to compensate, and the drama feels forced since it focuses on inexplicable attractions and stupid misunderstandings. Can't say I'm a fan.

Gakkou Gurashi

Probably one of the smarter shows of the season, this one knew exactly how to get to you; I can't remember the last time I've rooted for a do-nothing-at-school club. Although it can be a little too dramatic or silly at times, there's always a great atmosphere that usually helps sell the world. Also, there are some harsh twists. You'll know by the end of episode one if this show is for you.

Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace

Again, my review more or less sums up my thoughts. A disastrously confused show that tricked the Noitamina timeslot into thinking it was smart with its eccentric visuals and respected source material, only to end up as dumb and pandering as anything I've seen. At least it was only eleven episodes.

Charlotte

Though I enjoyed this show for the fun characters and found the drama passable, the plot could be a bit odd. Several times throughout the show some crazy serious thing will happen out of nowhere, and shit will get very real for a while. But then the situation gets resolved, with surprisingly little fallout, making me feel like I'd veered into a different show for an episode or so. Not that the series was bad by any means, but I think it would have benefited from a gradual, consistent buildup of tension rather than game-changing surprises.

Ushio and Tora

Proof that the most worn-out of concepts need only a fresh coat of paint to work again. Despite being about as generic-90s-shonen as you can get, the sheer passion put into the animation and design is undeniable; I don't know the last time I've enjoyed a monster-of-the-week show so much. Just watch the opening credits and you'll have a good idea of the manic glee that went into this production.

Rokka no Yuusha

Boy, what a letdown that last third was. Until then, some good characters and designs made up for the subpar animation. Some may have been disappointed this wasn't a fantasy action show, but the closed-room mystery aspect totally worked. Until we got to the answers; that payoff was terrible, and we couldn't have solved the mystery with the information given. What is it with the so-called “mystery” shows this season?

Shimoneta

I started this show just a few weeks ago; the buzz around it had slowly built up after a lukewarm initial reaction. Good thing, too. I had a great time watching it, appreciating the somewhat thoughtful social commentary, and laughing at the very raunchy jokes. Too bad Prison School is its direct competitor, one-upping this show in almost every respect. I'd hate for Shimoneta to slip through the cracks like it almost did for me. 

And that's the shape of things!  What will the fall season have in store for us all?  Can't wait to find out!