Chihayafuru - 09

I know this is just an anime, and the way we interpret it is a matter of opinion and subject to personal tastes.  But I’ll say this – anyone who wants to argue that Chihaya doesn’t belong with Taichi, I’ll fight you right now.  Name the time, name the place – I’ll be there.  And in true shounen style, I’m willing to battle to the death.

Shinryaku!? Ika Musume - 08

After a retro-styled episode last week, Shinryaku Ika Musume returns to its normal S2 pattern by giving us three more conceptual and linear chapters, but they did retain that twisted element that was somewhat more subdued until last week’s episode.

Mirai Nikki - 08

For Amano Yukiteru, it’s a mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up world, except for Yuno. Well - mostly because of Yuno.

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Maykou - 21

Well, the pieces have certainly all come together but I’m still nowhere near certain how they all fit together.  As big as this arc is, I’m not sure even two cours is going to be enough to finish it properly.  Rurouni Kenshin needed 30+ episodes for its Kyoto Arc, after all.

Weekly Digest: 11/27/11–Shakugan no Shana III, Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

Hunter x Hunter 2011 - 09

A couple things have now been established in H x H – first, that this series is capable of being highly entertaining even without Hisoka.  And second, it’s a really, really bad idea to piss off Kurapika.

Bakuman 2 - 09

It’s ironic that Bakuman is a series that was constantly criticized for having a slow pace in it’s first season, because so much happens in just about every episode that it’s leaving me exhausted now.

Hourou Musuko - 103

“Mii-tan’s Father”

Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam - 07

It’s funny, but the one character in this series that still does absolutely nothing for me is the one whose name is in the title.

Ben-To - 08

We’re back to full on WTF mode this week on Ben-To, and that’s a good thing.  This is a show that does much better with comedy than drama.

Fate/Zero - 09

I continue to marvel at the ability of Fate/Zero to make 22 minutes seem like 10.

Working’!! - 09

I guess it’s only fitting that an anime starring anime’s ultimate troll, Souma Hiroomi, would seriously troll its own audience.

Yozakura Quartet - Hoshi no Umi (OVA) - 3

It’s amazing how an anime made so obviously on the cheap can look so cool.

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai - 08

On balance, I’d say this episode of Haganai had just about everything you’d want – humor, irony, fanservice and even a little pathos.

Mawaru Penguin Drum - 20

Episode 20 of Mawaru Penguin Drum was cryptic and full of mysteries, and as always raised new questions with every one it answered.  But as a whole, the emotional impact was as powerful as any episode in the series’ entire run.

UN-GO - 07

There’s no Fall anime that guards its secrets as closely as UN-GO, and none that makes you think so hard almost every week. Whether you consider that a positive or a negative probably determines how much of a fan of this series you are.

Guilty Crown - 07

I don’t know what’s more remarkable – that Guilty Crown keeps finding ways to get stupider, or that it continues to by oddly entertaining in spite of it.

Towa no Quon - 03

Towan no Quon continues to traverse some pretty dark territory, and still feels very much at home smack dab in the middle of the BONES tradition.

Poll - Complete This Sentence: Chihaya x..."

Complete this sentence: "Chihaya x..."

Finishing order: Taichi winning comfortably, and Arata edging out Karuta for second place. Poor Harada-sensei finishes a distant fourth... It didn't surprise me to see Taichi come out on top, though the margin did. I was surprised to see "Karuta" fare as well as it did. I like all of them and I suspect we're not going to get a romance ending anyway...

Mashiro-Iro Symphony - 08

Subtlety and understatement pretty much went out the window in this week’s ep of Mashiroiro Symphony.  Cute kittens abandoned, angelic Miu working herself to collapse – Manglobe pretty much went straight for the hard stuff.

Chihayafuru - 08

Romance takes a back seat this week, as it’s all about the club and the sport itself.

Weekly Digest: 11/22/11 – Tamayura, Kimi to Boku

Slice of life Tuesday time again...

Shinryaku!? Ika Musume - 07

There have been some wonderful chapters this season on Ika Musume, but with a somewhat different tone than last.  Finally, we have an episode that strings three solid sketches together and feels pretty much indistinguishable from that first season.

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou - 20

The last four minutes of this episode probably explained more about what’s really happening this season than the previous 19 put together…

Mirai Nikki - 07

It’s another triumph for gritty, hard-headed realism in episode 7 of Mirai Nikki.

Weekly Digest: 11/19/11 – Shakugan no Shana, Gundam AGE, Maji de Watashi ni Koshinasai

OK, you can start the series now - Khamsin has arrived.

Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam - 06

Psychopathic, eyepatch-wearing commanders aside, I’m still wondering how seriously we should take the threat of an empire that has eight ships stolen by a little girl so easily that the thefts didn’t even make it onto the screen…