Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 8 - Runaway, Maze and Summoned Beast Instrumentality Project

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Well, that was a surprisingly good parody of Neon Genesis Evangelion. That show has been parodied/copied so many times already, but this particular instance of it was impressive in just how true to the source it was, and how consistently it kept up the parody. In fact, the entire structure of the episode felt just like that of an Evangelion episode.

Bakemonogatari 14 - Tsubasa Cat Part 4

Well, thanks to the great Korean subber CORAN , I had the pleasure of watching the 14th episode of Bakemonogatari, titled Tsubasa Cat Part 4, last night. Of course, this is just the 3rd episode in the Tsubasa Cat arc, as Tsubasa Cat Part 2 was dedicated to the relationship between Koyomi and Hitagi (an excellent episode, if you'll recall). This episode felt very much like an in-between episode, like Tsubasa Cat Part 3, with not a whole lot happening plot-wise, but the conversations, as usual, made it an entertaining one anyway.

Dance in the Vampire Bund 07

Well, being the Shaft fanboy I am, I've been watching this show. The premise, of vampires outing themselves in order to establish a human-recognized society, seemed interesting enough. Of course, the economics of them paying off Japan's entire debt is a bit ridiculous - a sudden injection of that much money into an economy would most certainly lead to hyperinflation, which, even in the presence of real economic growth, would be a very bad thing. With no knowledge of the source material, I found the story to be a bit cryptic. There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that are only mentioned in brief. I've heard that the manga went deeper into the political intrigue, and I sometimes found myself wanting to see more of that.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

To be perfectly honest, I started watching this series mainly because I read some comment saying that it was a Shaft show not created by Shaft. I'm a self-proclaimed Shaft fanboy, so I decided to give it a chance, despite the fact that the premise didn't interest me in the slightest. A school where students are put in classes according to academic rank, and can use videogame avatars of themselves to fight for better facilities? A little too silly, and not in a good way.

But I've always been of the belief that the premise is the least important part of a show's quality; it's all in the execution. And after 5 episodes, the execution has been... mixed.

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun - 01

I haven't seen To Aru Majutsu no Index (A Certain Magical Index), the show off of which To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Rail Gun) is spun. In fact, I had never even heard of it. I was just interested by the title, because I'm a huge physics geek, and rail guns turn me on. The premise and setting were interesting, and the characters were likable enough, but some of the anime conventions the show followed held it back for me.

Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 12

It seems that Shaft decided to make the first two segments thematically similar. Hiding and the ways in which it can be counter-productive was the highlight of both of the first two segments. The first had a good take on Schrödinger's cat. While the possibility for multiple outcomes exists if something is hidden, when someone hides something deliberately, it's sometimes obvious exactly what it is he's trying to hide. Eventually, everyone ends up in boxes, so that none of their potential is taken away. And Nozomu's older brother Kei (the artist) turns out to have quite a... unique wife.

Canaan 13 - Land of Hope (Finale)

A passable but disappointing finale. The dénouement was well done and one of the most satisfying in recent memory, but the climax was too subdued.

Bakemonogatari 12 - Tsubasa Cat 2

"We're going on a date. No, that's not right... Date... Would you please go on a date with me? What if you went out on a date with me? ... Then let's go on a date, Araragi-kun."
- Senjougahara Hitagi, opening minutes.

A truly romantic episode. It had nothing to do with the title, but that ends up not mattering even a little bit. This episode provides us with a wonderful, deeply emotional finale to the TV airing of Bakemonogatari.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya S2 - 25

The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina Episode 00. A retrospective.

This past week's episode was from the first season (as I expect the rest to be), so I thought it was a good opportunity to look back at it.

Canaan 12 - Seasonal Train

Wow. This episode was the one that I was waiting for. Well animated fight scenes, more insight into Alphard's motivations, and an intense (even if cliche) set up that leads to the cliffhanger for the final episode. It had its slow and needlessly dramatic moments as well, but those were few and forgivable.

Bakemonogatari 11 - Tsubasa Cat 1

More artfully drawn and directed conversations, slapstick comedy, fanservice, and a flashback sequence with disturbing revelations about our new heroine.

Canaan 11 - See Saw

The theme of this episode was love. Some shit does go down in this episode, but I felt that it was a bit of a transitional episode.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya S2 -24

This was the most satisfying new episode of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in this second season. It's a shame that (I think) it will be the last new episode.

Bakemonogatari 10 - Nadeko Snake 2

New OP this week, for the new heroine, as to be expected. Renai Circulation (or Romantic Circulation, I guess, if you translate it) sung by Kana Hanazawa, the voice actor for Sengoku Nadeko.