Random Video of the Day

Every time I see a rerun of "The Inner Light" on BBC America or SyFy, I'm reminded of what a beautiful piece of TV is it.  This is the orchestral suite that was written based on the flute melody Picard played in the episode.

New NoitaminA Spring Trailers

I'm officially psyched by these.

NoitaminA Titles Through Fall Revealed

NoitaminA has revealed its lineup for Summer and Fall.

Amagami SS+ plus – 13 (End) and Series Review

OK, I really have to know – just what the heck is in the ramen bath?

Inu X Boku SS –12 (End) and Series Review

What a strange trip watching Inu X Boku SS turned out to be.

Spring 2012 Season Preview

On paper, Spring 2012 looks like the best anime season since 2007.  There are quite a few extremely high-profile projects, several niche series of interest, and a theoretical return to form for NoitaminA after by far its worst season ever.  Full previews and detailed analysis are below the fold.  As always, please share your most anticipated Spring series in the poll.

Spring Series Poll Part II

"What Spring Series" Poll, Part II

Surprised to see Kore wa Zombie do so well here. The non-anime series spark big interest, too. Thanks for voting!

Spring Series Poll Part I

What Spring Series Are You Most Looking Forward To?

Fate/Zero wins big, no surprise there - Sakamichi 2nd, with Hyou-ka surging late for third place.

Chihayafuru – Series Review

Maybe I'll start re-watching this series next Tuesday...

Chihayafuru – 25 (End)

I don’t want it to be true, but it is – this is the last Taichi Tuesday. I’m grateful to have had the chance to watch such a superb, heartfelt and thoroughly wonderful anime as Chihayafuru.

Bakuman 2 – 25 (End) and Series Review

The anime community as a whole seems to take Bakuman almost entirely for granted, but I promise you, I never will.  And with episodes as spectacular as the second season finale, hopefully more and more viewers will clue in to what an underappreciated gem this is.

Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou – Series Review

I really want to thank Sunrise for producing this series, because I honestly have no idea what they were thinking.

Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou – 12 (End)

Happily, Danshi Koukousei ended with a terrific episode that reminded me of all the reasons why I adored the series so much.

Ano Natsu de Matteru – Series Review

To say Ano Natsu was an easy series to like is an understatement.  For me, it was impossible not to love.

Ano Natsu de Matteru – 12 (End)

Nagai and Kuroda-sensei have been spending most of this series making difficult tasks look easy, so it’s no surprise that they should prove more than up to that last great challenge – the ending.

Natsume Yuujinchou Shi – Series Review

There’s not another manga writer out there with the emotional accuracy of Midorikawa Yuki, and no director better suited to communicate her vision than Omori Takahiro.

Nastsume Yuujinchou Shi - 13 (End)

If you add it all up cumulatively, I’m sure there’s no series that’s inspired as much genuine emotion in me as Natsume Yuujinchou.

Another – Series Review

There’s little doubt in my mind that Another will stand as a great series for me, but it will be as one with serious flaws as well.

Another – 12 (End)

Arrggh… Another, I love you as a series – but this feeling I have right now isn’t what I was hoping it would be when you ended.

Brave 10 – 12 (End) and Series Review

For a show that was so far off my radar screen that I forgot it was even on the schedule until the first episode aired, Brave 10 turned out to be pretty good.

Mirai Nikki - 23

Well, give yourself a cookie if you figured it out…

Shakugan no Shana III – 24 (End) and Series Review

So in the end, Shana III was true to its grandiose, bloated, histrionic, frustrating and oversized self.  But I guess that’s not all a bad thing.

Weekly Digest: 3/25/12 – Ozma, Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

Hunter X Hunter 2011 - 24

Between Hunter X Hunter and Chihayafuru, Madhouse is having one amazing season.  I don’t know if I’ll put it on a par with its Spring of five years ago with Oh! Edo Rocket and Dennou Coil, but it’s damn close.

Senki Zesshou Symphogear - 12

Never a dull moment with this show, that’s for sure.

Area no Kishi - 12

I’m sort of hoping that the medical profession in Japan isn’t using Area no Kishi as a reference, because some of the stuff that happens to human bodies in this series seems a little hinky to me.

Amagami SS+ plus - 12

Oh Haruka, if I were ever to marry a fictional character…

Guilty Crown – Series Review

Where do I begin trying to summarize the unique experience that was watching Guilty Crown…

Guilty Crown - 22 (End)

Loud, messy, and pretty – that about sums up the finale of the most maligned NoitaminA series ever.  What, you were expecting anything else?

Inu X Boku SS - 11

If I was to point to one Winter series that’s less like any other, it might be Inu X Boku.  It’s certainly unique, for better or worse.

Hourou Musuko - 107

“Positive Dance”

Hyouge Mono - 12

Yes, I’m still at it – as long as there are subs of this show, I’ll keep plugging away at blogging it.  Simply put, there’s nothing else remotely like it out there.

Chihayafuru - 24

As I’m sure someone will try and blame me for not mentioning Arata more in this post, let me get it out of the way – he appeared for about 10 seconds and had no lines. It isn’t my fault – I call it like I see it.