SanaeK10's Blog

Anime Relations: Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku?, Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete, Girls Band Cry, Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern, Mayonaka Punch

I went to Comiket twice this year.

Anime of The Year

5. Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern

Magnificent bait and switch (though obvious in hindsight given who's working on the show) and incredibly fun and homoerotic to boot. Points docked for no KISSU and lack of Miyu focus.

4. Girls Band Cry

I did not expect this to be this good or even this popular. It was so good it brought back the concept of fansubbing, and got me to watching Bang Dream and Love Live for real. Points docked for non-ending.

3. Mayonaka Punch

Very original, very wacky, and very stupid. More shows need a complete asshole as the MC.

2. MahoAko

The other homoerotic show from Winter 2024, but this one actually has kisses and sex.

1. Shuumatsu Train

Girls Und Zug brought to you by the madman from Girls Und Zeichentrickfilm and Girls Und Jagflugzeug ended up being a COVD metaphor was something I did not expect. Bravo. Also I rode the Seibu Ikebukuro line thanks to this.


Honorable Mentions

Thunderbolt Fantasy S4

Weak plot but Butcher's puppet show still has his hallmarks

NigeWaka

Deranged animation. Never doubt Cloverworks.

KamiErabi

That Madman Yoko Tarou did it again.


Stinkers

Metallic Rouge

Why BONES why.

Nanare


Was MYGOMUJICA a fluke or something? This was shockingly poor.

Kamigame something something

Forced to watch, but I did dig that I Wanna Be The Guy reference.


Toodles.

Anime Relations: Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu 2, The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: U149, Oniichan wa Oshimai!, Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei, Hoshikuzu Telepath

Welcome to my annual AOTY list, the only list worth reading in the space year 2024. Now on with the show:

Anime of the Year

5. Tenten Kakumei

The show that ushered in the Yuri Revolution. There has been a massive uptick in yuri shows last year, and I want to attribute it to MagiRevo. Not all of them were up to par, but MagiRevo delivered and then some.

4. Hoshikuzu Telepath

I came in for Esperanto gayliens and ended up with the Matataki show, and I liked it that way.


3. Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu S2

There were quite a few vampire shows, and it may seem out of character for me to give it to this instead of any of the yuri stuff I've watched, but fuck it, KyuuShinu is so good it deserves it. Every scene is a laugh out loud moment and the show just keeps inventing new ways to torture and humiliate the two protagonists. It's wild, it's inventive, and I'm glad I gave S1 a chance all those years ago.

2. Oniichan wa Oshimai!

Otaku-bait and Nostalgia-bait were popular in 2023, but none done it with quite as much earnestness as Onimai. It's really a trip down memory lane and could very well have been a show from the late 00s. Coupled with top tier animation and a passion for ecchi, it's near the top of my list, were it not for...

1. The Idolm@aster Cinderella Girls: U149

This show made me a fan of Idolmaster. It is CGDCT mastered to a T. I have had 0 interest in the franchise prior to this, and this show just took me in for a hell of a ride. And for its short length, it manages to thoroughly explore the characters and their personalities, their goals, their shortcomings, and what drives them to become idols. This is how you make an idol show.


Honorable Mentions

Hyakkano

Just barely missing the list, it's a harem comedy from what must have been ages past that gives each harem member enough time to develop, and crucially, doesn't drop anyone as more new girls are introduced. Can't wait to see what's in store for S2 as Rentaro must spin more plates.


KamiKatsu

A pretty normal isekai fantasy, but what makes the show special is its audacious MC and the audacity the production committee has. Not the most creative, or well thought out budget saving methods, but it's definitely up there with the GOAT episode from Nora Neko.


Older stuff I've enjoyed


Amagi Brilliant Park

KyoAni was at its peak when it was adapting off kilter comedies like these. Can't believe it took me this long to finally catch it, but at least I did it before its 10th year anniversary.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners

I did not expect the show to be as good as it is. And this had everything going against it for me, and it still worked in the end somehow.

Kaminomi (1st 2 seasons only)

Somewhat serendipitously I watched this before knowing 16bit was to be animated, and I just loved the love letter it is to bishoujo-ge. It's also a pretty good harem with interesting girls and great story arcs.

Idolm@ster 2011

Fucking hell a song made me cry. And it was a happy song no less.

D-Frag

I'm surprised this came out as late as 2014, you'd expect to see something like this in the mid or late 00s. A ton of charm, many creative scenarios on par with the best wacky school comedies, plus an actually interesting MC to follow.

Danganronpa 3

So bad it's good. Kodaka, please never stop taking whatever it is you take and never listen to your editors. Write whatever nonsense that comes to your mind. At the very least I'll enjoy the memes.

Sengoku Collection

Unironically kino


Why oh why did I finish these

Liar Liar

An interesting premise that turned out to be a complete waste of time. I could feel the energy seeping out of me as I watch this.


Yohane's show

See above. Both boring shows that just drag on forever and waste their interesting premises.

Anime Relations: The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: U149, Oniichan wa Oshimai!, Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei, Hoshikuzu Telepath

Continued from last season:

• Isekai Ojisan:
  
  
  Mabel a best.
  
  8/10
  

Winter

• Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu S2:
  
  8/10
  
  
• High Card: The episodic stuff is fun but the more serious stuff later on ain't that good. Still looking forward for 2nd season though. 6/10
  
  
• EiyuuOu: Invincible protags aren't fun, and I'm not sure if the show is taking itself seriously or not. If it is it's not campy enough, if it's not it's not fun enough. 5/10
  
  
• MagiRevo:
  
  The Yuri Revolution has begun...
  8/10
  
  
• Meipuru's show S2: Novelty's worn off. 6/10
  
  
• OniMai:
  
  
  Onimai...wa Oshimai...
  
  9/10
  
  
• Revenger: Miserably mediocre. 5/10
  
  
• Haha...: I guess it's time I stopped holding back...
  
  Haha/10
  
  
• Spy Classroom: Bad, but fun. 4/10
  
  
• Tsunlise: Lousy animation but was kinda interesting at points. 5/10
  
  
• Tonari Tenshi: I don't want to get the wrong idea about this, but I think Mahiru likes Fujimiya in a friendship type respect kind of way. 5/10
  
  
• Benriya Saitou-san: Miserably mediocre. 5/10
  
  

Spring

• Alice Gear Aegis: Fun CGDCT except what the fuck was that final episode. Character assassination... 6/10
  
  
• The Marginal Service: Shit animation aside, this was pretty fun. 6/10
  
  
• Idolmaster U149:
  
  
  10/10 gooddamned m@sterpiece
  
  
• Schwestern in Liebe: This ended before the big drama moment started, but at least I still got to see schizo Kanoko. 6/10
  
  
• Kaminaki:
  
  I kneel.
  
  Also Koshimizu plays a pathetic hag show #3
  7/10
  
  
• Oshi no Ko:
  
  
  7/10
  
  
• Yuri Gundam (Birdie Wing): Eh, it really teetered out in the second half. 7/10
  
  
• Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers: You know what, I admire its creativeness and willingness to experiment, in spite of its lousy visuals. 7/10
  
  
• Edomae Elf: Koshimizu plays a pathetic hag show #1 7/10
  
  
• Isekai One Turn Kill Oneesan: Koshimizu plays a pathetic hag show #2 6/10
  
  
• Yuusha ga Shinda: Really funny wacky comedy that falls flat nearer to the end. 7/10
  
  
• Megami no Cafe Terrace: Unremarkable but otherwise fun to watch in a group 6/10
  
  
• Bokuyaba: Who knew the secret to making a good romance would be to have an actually interesting non-self insert MC? wow! 7/10
  
  
• Yuri Gundam (Witch from Mercury):
  
  
  
  Wow! Cool Robots!
  6/10
  
  
• World Dai Star:
  
  
  I can't believe this was the only show this season with a (non-rape) yuri kiss.
  
  5/10
  
  
• Tengoku Daimakyou:
  

Summer

• Lv1 Maou to One Room Yuusha: I did like the urban fantasy twist, but otherwise it's just fine. 6/10
  
  
• Undead Girl Murder Farce: Fun mystery show although the overarching plot with Moriarty and the Jobber Lloyds squad is a waste of time 6/10
  
  
• Spy Kyoushitsu S2: Maybe it's Stokholm Syndrome taking over... 5/10
  
  
• Genjitsu no Yohane: Interesting premise wasted on a boring anime with too much dog 4/10
  
  
• Nanatsu no Maken: Now I remember why I don't watch Battle Academies... 4/10
  
  
• Liar Liar: The real lie was the show we watched along the way... 2/10
  
  
• Atelier Ryza:
  
  Soulful but incomplete. 6/10
  
  
• Eiyuu Kyoushitsu: Very hit and miss but the funny parts were still fun, though the serious parts were bullshit. 6/10
  
  
• Zom100: Unfinished...
  
  

Fall

• Hikikomari Kyuuketsuki no Monmon:
  
  8/10
  
  
• Helck:
  
  Incomplete mediocre adaptation of a pretty good manga...
  
  5/10
  
  
• Dekoboko Majo no Oyako Jijou:
  [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/434758886252347393/1176092104049577994/image.png[img]
  
  Cute show with a lot of soul, but animation is very lacking.
  
  6/10
  
  
• Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou:
  
  Not sure I know what to expect, pretty mediocre adaptation of an LN that goes pretty batshit near the end.
  
  5/10
  
  
• Hoshizuku Telepath: Even though it became the mttk show, it was still good and mttk is great.
  
  
  8/10
  
  
  
  
• 16Bit Sensation: Another Layer:
  Nostalgia bait, but good nostalgia bait.
  
  8/10
  
  
  
• Rail Romanesque S2: Ask me when fansubs are done
  
  
  
• Hypnosis Mic S2:
  I mean, it's more of the same, though I do wish there were more episodic stuff.
  7/10
  
  
• Shy:
  What more can I say? I just love cute girls doing cool things.
  7/10
  
  
  
• KanoKano S2:
  More of the same as S1, though with marginally better animation
  6/10
  
  
  
• Hyakkano:
  
  8/10
  
  
  
• Tearmoon:
  Sasuga Mia-sama!
  6/10
  
  
  
• The Idolm@ster: Million Live:
  Kinda soulless. I hope Shinymas doesn't get an adaptation as mediocre as this.
  5/10
  
  
  
• Dark Gathering:
  
  HEY KEI-KUN
  LET'S ENJOY!
  KAGAWALIFE!
  
  6/10
  
  
  
• Jashin-chan Sekimetsu-hen:
  
  
  Never change, Jashin-chan
  
  7/10
  
  

Older stuff I've watched

• Amagi Brilliant Park :
  
  
  
  I can't believe I missed out on this back in the day...
  
  8/10
  
  
• Million Arthur:
  
  It's like Neptunia but gayer.
  
  7/10
  
  
• Wataten Precious Friends:
  
  An excellent slice of life film. Low on the comedic side but high on the iyashikei factor.
  
  8/10
  
  
• Cyberpunk Edgerunners:
  
  A surprisingly engaging and gripping story with incredible action and heartfelt moments. The David x Lucy romance was paced too quickly for my tastes, but a short runtime means no filler. The show really starts to get going from episode 6 though. That and being set in the hypercynical world of CP77 is a turn off.
  
  8/10
  
  
• Shakunetsu Takkyuu Musume:
  
  
  
  Lesbian Ping Pong is indeed TANOSHII and makes my heart go DOKIDOKI to the tune of some pretty sick beats.
  
  7/10
  
  
• Suzume no Tojimari:
  
  It's a Shinkai film. What did you expect?
  
  6/10
  
  
• OreImo:
  
  An insightful and nostalgic look at otaku culture back in the late 2000s and early 2010s before mobage killed off everything...
  Also the drama is so stupid and trashy it ends up being immensely entertaining.
  I never knew I wanted a Ritsu-Azunyan bitch fight, but here I am.
  
  7/10
  
  
• Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai
  
  
  
  What happened to S3...
  
  8/10 (S3 is 7/10)
  
  
• Idolmaster : Xenoglossia
  
  Starts out kinda fun but goes too self serious later on
  
  6/10
  
  
• Idolmaster 2011
  
  
  
  Needs more AmiMami and Iorin episodes, but otherwise incredible. Would have preferred more episodes with them as burgeoning struggling idols as opposed to being successful all of a sudden in second cour.
  
  9/10
  
  
• Idolmaster Movie
  
  
  
  
  I don't want it to end...
  
  9/10
  
  
• ef
  
  A good combination of comfy and melancholy turning into misery, all in Shaft's signature style, which works really great for dramas actually.
  
  7-8/10 (Second season was far better than first)
  
  
• Idolmaster Cinderella Girls / SideM:
  
  Grouping the two because they are fairly similar at the end of the day. Have the same issue of having Producer be essentially a non-entity, when that was what made the OG Imas so great to begin with. CG especially has an issue with cast bloat, but both shows run into the same problem of never really developing any characters they have unlike OG Imas, just a spotlight episode here or there (or not at all in CG's case when it gets hijacked by someone else).
  
  6/10
  
  
• D-Frag:
  
  Another pillar in the Joshimuda/Nichibros style of wacky high school antics. Why did this genre die out...
  
  8/10
  
  
• Kisekoi:
  
  
  
  
• Danganronpa 3 and 2.5:
  
  
  
  Glorious trashfire.
  
  7/10
  
• Watamote:
  
  A great show from back when Silver Link still cared. It's also surprising to see how much the series has changed compared to now where it's basically a yuri harem.
  
  8/10
  
  
  
• Sengoku Collection:
  
  Unironically Kino.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Anime Relations: Bocchi the Rock!, Kunoichi Tsubaki no Mune no Uchi, Poputepipikku 2nd Season, Lycoris Recoil, Estab-Life: Great Escape, Akiba Meido Sensou

Welcome to my annual Anime of the Year list, where I've started wageslaving and things ain't that great but I've stopped being a NEET at last...
Now on with the list.

Anime of the Year

It has been an exceptionally outstanding year with several great original shows and plenty of high quality Kirara adaptations. But the following shows have stood out, even in an incredible year. All CGDCT shows in fact.

5. Cute Girls Doing Counter Terrorism - Lycoris Recoil

Just when I thought the year would be bereft of Cute Girls with Cool Guns, this showed up and blew me away with its first episode. While subsequent episodes don't quite live up to the hype, a consequence of having sky high expectations for an original show, I still had a ton of fun with LycoReco and am glad its popularity would lead it to having more entries to explore its unique world.

4. Cute Girls Doing Cargo Trafficking - Estab Life

The one show no one else watched but me because 3DCG, but ended up being incredibly endearing to me. Lovable characters with a crazy unique premise and great comedic timing, Estab Life rewards those who enjoy taking a plunge into weird shows with wacky premises.

3. Cute Girls Doing Criminal Things - Akiba Maid Sensou

It's Ryuu ga Gotoku with lead bullets. Talk about another shocker of the season. Cygames ended up making a better LycoReco than LycoReco itself. I'm looking forward to their next non-mobage anime original.

2. Cute(?) Girls(?) Doing(?) Cute(?) Things(????) - Pop Team Epic S2

It's fucking PTE. That Kami Shibai episode truly was kami. But the lack of French-kun knocked it down to second place.

1. Cute Girls Doing Cute Things - Bocchi the Rock!

As much as I value anime originals for their creativity and risk taking, you just can't beat a well polished adaptation at times. And that's Bocchi the Rock. I initially picked it up because it had a cameo in Slow Loop and I generally love Kirara shows, but man, the sheer creativity on display is astounding. All while being incredibly faithful to its source material! This is easily rising up to be one of my top three Kirara shows, and I hope future seasons can cement it as one of the all time greats.


Honorable Mentions

Almost made it to my top 5, but I still gotta give a special shoutout to these shows...

Fabiniku

I generally hate Isekai, but for some reason I'm always drawn to Isekai shows with a weird twist. Fabiniku also benefits from having strong characters and great writing, which truly elevates it beyond the norm.

Kunoichi Tsubaki

Another home run by Cloverworks. A very cute cast ensemble with a ton of variety and fun scnearios.

Summertime Render

Between this and Odd Taxi, OLM really struck it out with their non-Pokemon shows. The MONACA OST also really complements the action scenes.

Isekai Ojisan

Somehow SEGA fans are some of the most dedicated people on the planet. Kudos to actually bringing in major brand names without having to skirt around them like the manga. The many delays definitely dampened the show though.



Irredeemable Garbage

Why do I do this to myself every year...I could be going through my backlog...

Muv Luv Alternative

They couldn't be bothered to end it properly. What the fuck Kouki.

Hataraku Maou Sama S2

What the fuck 3Hz.

Renai Flops

What the fuck Passione.




Old Shows I've enjoyed

Next season's looking pretty dry. Maybe I should just stick to some older stuff...

Megalo Box/Nomad

A pretty good revival(?) of an old series that mixes things up especially in its second season, creating a very fresh approach to the otherwise predictable tournament sports genre.

Made in Abyss (all)

I can't believe it's taken me this long to get into the franchise. What is wrong with me...

Slow Start

I liked it more than Comic Girls, which I also watched this year.

Thunderbolt Fantasy (all)

Make no mistake, this is the greatest thing Urobuchi ever wrote. Absolutely none of his shortcomings that I have had gripes with in his previous works. A true passion project and one that oddly, perfectly fits that Symphogear sized hole in my heart.


There's my annual report! Some surprising wish fulfillment stuff, especially in the second half of the year after a slow start. And I was shocked the two otherwise niche shows I was looking forward to the most, Lycoris and Bocchi, ended up being the most popular shows of the season. Go figure. Gotta keep looking out for those hidden gems.