First Impression: Love Live! School Idol Project

Those who are close to me know that this is definitely not  my kind of anime but guess what, I ended up liking it.

Yeah, I surprised myself sometimes too.

Maybe because none of the girls annoyed me yet.

(c) Yui (Rogusouku)

Anyhoo, it is pretty much about girls  trying to save their school from closing down by getting together and created an idol group so that their school become popular, get more enrollment and BAM!

I dunno what that BAM! is supposed to be.

But yeah, I'm watching this whenever I feel like killing ponies.

Episode: 13
Aired: Winter 2012
Producers: Sunrise

arts & animation 8/10
story 7/10
characters 7/10
sound 7/10
enjoyment 7/10
overall 7.2/10

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First Impression: Tari Tari

After watching Tari Tari, this show is definitely going to be included in my MUST WATCH list for this season. Having said that I still have no idea why. I just like the overall feelings I get from watching it and the fact that in this episode, the choir sang Reflectia by Eufonius, was totally made of win.

Tari Tari is somewhat a musical based show where the focus of this first episode is pretty much about how certain characters want to sing while the others don't. I am pretty sure half way through this show, they will manage to put aside their differences and end up having the choir group that Miyamoto works hard for. The interesting part about Tari Tari is that the only two characters that seem to know each other pretty well are Miyamoto and Sawa. Looking at the OP, looks like they both need to bond with the other three characters including the exchange student from Austria, who is pretty unique character himself since he learned what needed to be learned about Japanses culture through book and hence acting quite weird. Then there's Sakai who is the emo of the group which we will eventually learn why. Last but not least is Tanaka who to be honest, the character that I am interested in the most.

I can't find fault with any of the characters since they are all very strong individually. I don't even find Miyamoto annoying but instead thought that she is actually inspirational for she pretty much takes her life in her own hand and do what she must to achieve what she wants.

We all know P.A. Works can be exceptional when it comes to the art and animation and for Tari Tari they do not disappoint and deliver what is expected of them.

A good solid start indeed. I want more.

Episodes: 13
Aired: Summer 2012
Genres: School, music

art & animation 9/10
story 8/10
characters 9/10
sound 8/10
enjoyment 10/10
overall 8.8/10

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First Impression: AKB0048

My understanding is, this series might be pretty similar to the iDOLM@STER. And then I heard that it was inspired by a real life group idol that I don't give a shit about hence can't remember their names. So basically, I think this series is going to sucks. BAD.

 

The story is indeed as bad, or perhaps worse, as I predicted. A bunch of girls in a planet where any sorts of entertainment is forbidden, created a guerrilla group which supposedly will inspire the people. Sounds reasonable but is poorly executed. It just doesn't compute for me, especially when I see old guys fapping cheering for them.

I feel sorry for the mecha fans. I really am.

I dropped this shit after 9 minutes and 11 seconds. I was raging. No big surprised.

art & animation 7/10
story 4/10
characters 5/10
sound 7/10
enjoyment 3/10
overall 5.2/10

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First Impression: The iDOLM@STER

Like I said in the preview, the only reason I am looking forward to this show is because my favorite animation studio, A-1 Pictures, is producing it. I know that the game hit it big and I understand why they pick this up. I just hope that this is not as bad as I thought it would be though. Girlish anime isn't really my thing.


In the first minute of the show I was a tad confused, thinking who the hell do these girls talked to. All I see if subs of questions asked and then it hit me that this is a show about girls wanna be idol and thus it is as if we, the audience, are the one interviewing the girls about their routine etc. I can't really say that the idea is appealing because I think it's kinda stupid and pretentious.

That's pretty much how the show goes. We get to meet the wanna be idols and see their activities at home or at the 765 Production studio. It appears that these girls are "aware" of us scrutinizing their daily life to become an iDOLM@STER. Some are more forwards while the others are camera shy. Some even play around trying to enter-frame at every chance they got. It may add to the 'realness' of the situation but I still think it is stupid.

Since there are 12 idols plus the producer, etc, I can't keep up with the characters or their names. Some stands out more than the others like the girl with stuffed usagi or the girl who sleeps a lot. The place is a havoc since each and everyone of the idols have different personalities. They don't exactly get along well with each other either. I certainly DO NOT WANT to be in that closed space with any of them. I just might bite their head off for being too annoying.

This is just like watching a reality TV searching for an idol. We had one in Malaysia called Akademi Fantasia who used the same format as this anime showing everything from them eating their meals to practicing their vocals and dance. I hated it too.

Having said that, I have warm up to Makoto. Her personality shines through. Miki seems to be among the most popular one though and I can see why.


The cast for this show is huge, given the nature of the game and the genre itself. Since it is mainly featuring female seiyuus, I am not really familiar with any of them except for Rie Kugimiya who is doing Iori Minase. I guess Glo has a solid reason to watch this show now.

As expected, the idols performed the ED and as expected the song is typical idol song that isn't really my cup of earl grey tea. The dance training is nice though, thanks to the fluidity of the animation.

I am on the fence with this show. It's not bad. It is just terribly boring unless you are into the games, or a nerd who jerks off to these 2D girls as hobby. Thankfully they introduce the producer at the end of the episode. At least it has a male cast now so I won't be feeling too neglected. Maybe I'll end up enjoying this. Maybe I don't. *shrugs*

A-1 Pictures did a splendid job with the adaptation. Though I think the approach is stupid, I have to admit that it's different. Even I was taken for a ride with this documentary way of doing this show. The weakness of this show show is also the selling point of this show: the content (read: iDOLM@STER).

art and animation 7/10
story 5/10
characters 6/10
sound 6/10
enjoyment 5/10
overall 6/10

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Sora no Woto

(c) akai toshifumi

Plot? Story? Does it even have one? If it does, I certainly have missed it. It should have been about military stuff. At least they need to toughen up and not to be so nonchalant. It certainly lack the urgency of a war. They ARE still at war, right? They don't even wear their uniform like they should to. Just look at Rio's and you'll know what I mean.

After the first episode, I sincerely thought that they will dwelt more on the trumpet shit. I was so far from the truth. That's how much this anime has deviate from the first episode. Was it bad? Well, I certainly don't like it but I do know some retards out there that think Sora no Woto is a masterpiece. Ah how we have degraded ourselves and succumb to emoe-blob-shit. I blame it all on K-ON!

Sure, they attempted to make the last few episodes to have a tiny little bit interesting development but it was too late because I can already tell what's coming. Even with the small usage of trumpet cannot salvage this series, in my opinion. For example, the typhoon episode... we all knew that Kureha and Claus will make it. Where was the excitement in that >_>

Most of the episodes bore me to death and I would have fallen asleep. In one episode, all Kanata ever did is sit in front of a phone and waited for it to ring. Speaking of waste of time, that.

The characters themselves are extremely ordinary (although with too much moe). The only character that stands out imo is Kureha. I found her annoying at first but gradually she grew on me. She's the only one who take her duty as a soldier seriously. Like when they met the Roman's spy, she had the right mind to report her but the rest of them were all about being humane. For fuck sake, she's a fucking spy invading the enemy's territories! *sigh*

The sound and music. Hmm, not really a fan of its OP or ED. Too much of moe. I mean, at least they could try and make it seems like they are really in a war or something. The good news is I kinda like the Amazing Grace trumpet song. It kinda grow on ya without you realizing it. Brainwashed? LOL



No complained for the seiyuus either although I do think that Rio sounds like a man sometimes.

I would have dropped this series if not for the art and animation. They were amazingly details and fluent. The background is one of the most gorgeous looking scenes I’ve seen in a while. It is breath-taking. Even the CG usage was a success. I guess at least there's one thing that A1-Pictures did right.

At the end of the day, I couldn't appreciate this show because the similarities to K-ON! is too much. I might have missed a lot of things because of my cynical view but I can't help it and I don't give a damn really. Some says that it has lots of potential but I think they wasted it trying to shift to moe. Don't do it again, A1-Pictures.

Arts & Animation 10/10
Sound 9/10
Story 5/10
Character 6/10
Enjoyment 6/10
Overall 6/10

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First Impression: K-ON!!

Yes, I am watching K-ON!! for the same reason I watched Sora no Woto. And also for Ritsu. Lets just established the fact that I am gay for Ritsu.


The second season started off with Yui playing the guitar. Solo. So I hope this is the sign that they are taking their music seriously.

But who am I kidding right? This is most definitely going to be another moe-blob invasion.

I guess if you have seen season 1 of K-ON! you have seen all the upcoming shit >_>

art & animation 8/10
story 5/10
character 6/10
sound 7/10
enjoyment 5/10
overall 7/10

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First Impression: Sora no Woto

Meet Kanata,Yui's twin sister. Well not really but you can probably see where this is going. Yeah, it's the serious version of K-ON!

We have the characters line up who looks the same, more or less, but maybe with a little bit more personalities. Not much but it definitely make a lot of difference. Kinda. Says a lot about K-ON now doesn't it?

Anyway, from what I have seen so far, they kinda have a story/plot. Looks like Kanata is looking for her mom, Rio (she's Mio in reality but with personality) has some very deep issue about something something that has to do with the bell, which by the way is the same bell that Kanata saw when she was a kid. They don't revealed much of anything. But they did introduced Phyllicia who looks like she's Tsumugi's twin sister and Kureha who looks like the hyper version of Azusa. There is only one character that seemingly has no relation to K-ON! and that is Noel. I like her right away.


These women/girls are assigned at the town of Seize. Their duty is to... blow the trumpet/horn in the morning? I don't fucking know man... but they kinda told the history of the village, something about the Fire Lady sacrificing herself to kill the wing demon. Rio was chosen to play the Fire Lady part in the festival.

Whatever.

Kalafina sings the OP song. Not really a fan of her but maybe the song will grow on me. I really like the insert song though and wasn't really paying attention to the ED.

I probably would continue watching So.Ra.no.Wo.To just like I did with K-ON! So far I am not impressed by what I have seen nor am I pissed about it. It really is just a feeling of indifference. The same when I was watching the episode. It just monotonous from start to finish *yawns*

art 7/10
story 6/10
sound 7/10
character 5/10
enjoyment 5/10
overall 6/10

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K-ON!

Taddaaaa!!! This is my version of K-ON! review because god knows how many reviews are out there about this show who has taken the anime wurado by storm. Hate it or love it, you must have seen it, or at least heard of it. If not, you are not deserving the animetard title.

Most of my guy friends who have seen it hated it. I can see why because K-ON! is definitely full of cuteness and girls stuff which only females or gay guys can relate too. Although I am not girly by all means, I still find some of the jokes funny. Yes, K-ON! makes me laugh... occasionally.

There isn't too much depth in K-On! storyline. It pretty much about girls doing girly cute things. 4 girls (will be 5 later on) joined the Light Music Club and having fun while trying to achieve their musical goal. Most of the time, it wasn't even about the music as they have teas and fucked around the club room doing nothing but discussing mundane thungs. These are the moments when the girls antics will either entertain you or makes you wonder why are you wasting your time watching this shit.

Each of the girls have their own distinct personalities. My favorite, Ritsu Tanaka is the lead of the group and the club president of the club who takes the role of energetic idiot. She plays the drum and pretty much dragged everyone else into the club to attain her own dream to play music. Mio Akiyama, the moe of the show, is Ritsu's bestfriend. She's the voice of sensibility in the group and always appeared serious but quickly turn moe/meek whenever someone teases her. Mio writes the song and play the bass. Yui Hirasawa, the main character of the show, is an airhead in every sense of the words. She is clumsy as well which only add to her adorableness. She plays the lead but has zero knowledge on music. She learns by listening to the music, which is quite impressive in my opinion. Tsumugi Kotobuki is the pianist, but since they don't have a piano, she ends up playing the keyboard. She is filthy rich and responsible for their tea breaks. Azusa Nakano is the latest addition to the group. At first I thought she was Mio's little sister because they are very much alike. She plays the guitar and the driving force for all the practice sessions.

Supporting characters like Ui, Yui's younger sister, Sawako, the club advisor and Nodoka help add more spice and humor to the show.

K-ON! is produced by the same Kyoto animation that did Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Kanon and Lucky.Star. You can pick up a hint of resemblance here and there throughout the anime. The character designs are really cute. It pretty much help exudes the cuteness level of the show. The background art is consistent with the animation which provides good fluidity. You can see another level of details being displayed whenever the group does a concert to the point you can lips read the lyric (given that you are excellent in Japanese, that is).

From the OP, to the ED to the songs that are sang at the concert, they are really light and fluffy, a perfect match for the overall theme of the show and they are pretty catchy as well. Fuwa-fuwa time...



Overall, I do enjoy K-ON! but I'm not like 'O-Emm-Gee!! this is the best show on earth evar!!!' because it is not. Watching K-ON! is like eating cotton candy, nothing more than a tasty treat. For a good meal, I watch something like Seirei no Moribito.

Art 8/10
Sound 8/10
Storyline 6/10
Characters 7/10
Enjoyment 7/10
Overall 7/10

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