Fall Anime 2012 Season First Impressions Continued Yet More:

Fall season premieres are winding down, but it's senseless waiting another week for Aoi Sekai to come out when there's other series I've already seen and can give a judgment on now.  So let's cover what we can cover and save the last series for another post:

Aikatsu:  This story looked good for a bit, until it changed into really cheapo computer graphics and looked comically bad.  There's also the problem where the toy the anime is trying to sell is pushed far beyond its necessity in the plot, and the plot really would have been better off without the toy dress-up cards in the first place.  I loved Idolmaster and AKB0048, but this is asking too much even of me.

Gyrozetter:  Same as Aikatsu, this anime was made solely to sell toy cars.  They feature the cars and keep talking about how cool they are, when they really aren't that cool and it really doesn't make me want to play with them.  It's a shame the plot is so absurdly simple, good guys vs. bad guys with transforming car robots, because the art is by A-1 Pictures and the series really looks pretty.  The character designs are great too, and the characters are even likable.  It's just the plot.  The plot is so very lacking.  The show reminds me most of Gundam Age, it seems pitched to the same audience, and I gave up on that series, so there's no point repeating my mistake by watching this one any further.

Robotics;Notes:  Robotics;Notes looks gorgeous.  You can tell the animators figured they were working on a hit and upped their game accordingly.  The setting is pretty fun, a world where building giant robos and having them fight each other isn't impossible even for a high school club.  Since it's a semicolon series, you know it's going to have some massive plot twists disrupting this idyllic beginning, so we'll just have to wait and see.  The characters aren't as cool as the ones in Steins;Gate though, so I've already toned down my expectations from this series.  Most of all, I can't stand the 'reluctant hero' stereotypical male lead.  If a boy is going to do something, he should do it with all the passion in his soul.  Half-assedly participating while not caring is really lame.  Likewise, people may think being cynical and sarcastic makes you cool, but it actually just makes you annoying and shallow.  It means you don't care about anything, so why should anyone care about you?  The girl is likable, but the boy should go die in a ditch somewhere, that would instantly improve the story and be a great plot twist!

Medaka Box Abnormal:  Medaka Box was a real bubble anime the first time through.  I almost dropped it multiple times, but kept getting dragged back out of my respect for the creator, Nisioison.  I was rewarded with a very cool speech at the end by the disciplinary committee, who said that people are innately evil, and therefore society requires rules to collectively restrain an individual's evil impulses, which in the end makes the community of said individuals good.  That's such a paradoxically cool idea.  I don't think it's true of genuinely cool people, but it is true of the vast majority of people, who I find to be incredibly lacking in morality.  But the idea that the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and that by coordinating a bunch of riff-raff you can end up with a productive, happy, peaceful society is just so cool.  As a result, with a strong enough leader, innately evil people can actually end up doing nothing but good all their lives, managing to be happy and make others happy despite their lack of potential if left to themselves.  It goes completely against liberalism, but I think everyone secretly knows it's true in their hearts.

Anyway, that's why I ended up liking Medaka Box.  So now the story continues with a season 2 and I'm left wondering why I should continue to watch this series.  It immediately makes another great point -- some people are far superior to others.  Not only that, but there is currently no known way to mass manufacture these 'abnormal' samples.  There is no university which can give you the 'become Steve Jobs' degree.  Nor can any school teach you how to write music like Beethoven.  The abnormals are therefore not a product of their environments.  At the same time, they don't seem to be the product of purely genes, either, because Bach had many children and none of them became as great as Bach, though many did compose music like their Dad.  There seems to be a gene-environment interaction going on, that requires specific impetuses at specific times for someone to become truly great.  Apparently this school is seeking to find a way out of this impasse and create a mass manufacturing method of creating super-geniuses.  This is a cool idea for a plot.  Yet again I'm intrigued, and that's all a story requires in order to be good.  Like Bakuman's head editor said, "if it's interesting we'll publish it."


Psycho Pass:  Within the first ten seconds of the opening episode, I decided I was going to hate this series, as it had all sorts of stereotypical 'I'm a badass' bullshit I've become hyper-averse to ever since Code:Breaker was shown.  But I dutifully kept watching, waiting to see confirmation of my initial biases.  And then something strange happened.  The story drew me in, the setting was intriguing, and suddenly I was looking forward to what would happen next.  The central question in this series is, "What is the nature of evil?"  "Is evil something people are, or something people do?"  Currently our criminal justice system says there are only evil acts.  But in this world, people's minds can be read so clearly that it's possible to simply state 'x person is evil and is thus a criminal, just for who they are.'  What makes this so much fun is I agree with this dystopian techno-society.  I think people are evil before they do anything bad, I think they have evil souls just by thinking evil things, just by feeling evil things, without ever having lifted their hands to act out any of it.  For instance, if someone fantasizes about raping children all the time, but hasn't actually raped a child yet, I'd totally be okay with arresting said person and locking him away, or just summarily killing him, on the basis that he's just an evil person and there's no point waiting around for him to verify it by hurting someone.  On the same basis, we already have laws against 'hate speech,' public drunkenness and drug use.  These acts in and of themselves  don't harm anyone, but they indicate a diseased mind which is likely to go on and harm others, so why not just arrest them now and nip their personality disorders in the bud?  Maybe the laws aren't phrased that way, but isn't that really what we're doing?  We're arresting people before they hurt anyone, on the suspicion that they might, and punishing them preemptively, only we aren't even using as sophisticated a mind-reading device as the people in Psycho-Pass are.

This reminds me of yet more cultures which follow the Psycho-Pass tradition.  In the past atheists were arrested and judged as evil before they had actually done anything, using the exact same reasoning as in Psycho Pass.  If you're an atheist, you have no incentive to be moral, because God will neither reward virtue nor punish vice.  Since that will inevitably mean the atheist will turn to crime, because who could possibly be moral without the fear of God, why not just arrest and execute him immediately before he goes about his wickedness?  Or in Muslim territories, women are summarily punished in the streets for wearing revealing clothing.  These women haven't actually become sluts yet, or committed adultery, but it's evident through their skimpy clothing that they inevitably will and possess diseased minds, so why not arrest them now or throw acid in their faces while we have the chance?

It seems to me that most people are already firmly in the camp that people are evil for their inner nature, not their external deeds, and therefore we would all jump at the chance if given a tool that could reveal that inner nature so we could jump ahead to the punishment of evil already.  Everyone's always afraid that such a system would be inaccurate and end up punishing the innocent, but really we do this all the time.  We punish drug users who would never hurt a fly alongside drug users who kill and steal.  So obviously a certain amount of inaccuracy is acceptable, so long as it allows us to cast a wider net and catch more guilty fish alongside the innocent.  The question is how inaccurate can we be?  Where is the moral tipping point?  I don't know.  There's just so much to think about in this series, it's such an infinitely interesting puzzle.  I give this series an A+ for creativity and maturity.

 After watching the second episode of Btooom, I still have things I dislike about it, and I still have things I like about it.  I can never pin down whether this series is bad or good, so I'll just have to watch episode three and keep waiting to find out.  Episode 2 of Hayate no Gotoku was even worse than episode one.  I'm convinced this series is going to suck, but I'll continue watching it anyway out of loyalty to how great the real manga series is, and how great the anime adaptations of said manga series were in the past.  The TV version of To Love Ru Darkness is going to be censored of all salacious material, so there's no excuse not to watch the series now.  Prudishness has been accommodated, so now just enjoy the heartwarming story of love and friendship instead.  It doesn't look like Backstage Idol or Haitai Nana will ever be subbed, so we can safely ignore those series.  Kamisama Kiss reminds me too much of Suki-tte, which I hated, so I'm dropping it too.

All that's left is Seitokai no Ichizon, which I assume will be around as good as the original season, and Aoi Sekai, which I know nothing about.  Ignoring those two series for now, what is my ranking of the fall anime series relative to each other, of those that are watchable?  And by this I mean, of the series that are airing, which one am I looking forward to the next episode most?  This does not mean that these series are better than the ones below them, just that I expect the very next episode will be better than the very next episode of the series they're above.

1.  Little Busters.
2.  Girls und Panzer.
3.  Smile Precure.
4.  Naruto.
5.  Bakuman.
6.  Fairy Tail.
7.  Sword Art Online.
8.  One Piece
9.  Ginga E Kickoff
10.  To Love ru Darkness
11.  Chuunibiyou
12.  Psycho Pass
13.  Hunter x Hunter
14.  Magi
15.  Robotics;Notes
16.  Space Brothers
17.  Medaka Box
18.  Shin Sekai Yori
19.  Sakurasou
20.  Btoooom
21.  Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
22.  Hayate no Gotoku

22 series with the possibility of two more.  Not bad!  Isn't it nice having non-filler Naruto, Fairy Tail, and One Piece all in the same season together?  Plus Ginga E Kickoff is back and being subbed again, so a lot of stars have aligned for this fall.

Chuunibiyou reminds me a lot of Hyouka, which also started in the middle of the pack and seemed a disappointment for a work by Kyoto Animation.  Hyouka eventually upped its game and became great.  Maybe Chuunibiyou will do the same?

Hunter x Hunter hasn't gotten worse recently, it just finally has some competition this season, which is why it's so far down the list.

In other news, the good people of Pretty Cure Splash Subs have finally finished subbing the last episode of Yes Pretty Cure 5, so everyone should take advantage of this opportunity and watch one of the greatest anime classics of all time, now available for the first time in English.  (I liked it so much I just watched it in raw Japanese.  I couldn't bear to wait, even if I missed some things in translation.  That's just how good it is.  But I'll definitely be rewatching it now that I have the chance to see it with subtitles this time.)

The only unsubbed Pretty Cure left is GoGo.  Even GoGo is half done.  So someday, we're sure to get that series too.

Meanwhile, Nagi lost in her Saimoe round, no doubt because of how awful the current anime season featuring her is.  Kobato lost in her group -- it's an ironically fitting match between Saki and Koromo for the Group A final.  Akari won and will face Touki in the group B final.  Cure Peace won and will be facing a surely beatable Hisa for the Group C final.  Louise will be facing Hinata from Ro-Kyu-Bu in the group D final.  Yuu of the scarf will be facing Sanya from Strike Witches in the group E final.  Her little sister Kuro will be facing the nobody Kirame in the group F final.  In Group G Nodoka will face Ako, both from Saki.  And in group H Shana will be facing Sena from Haganai.  6/8 of my picks have therefore won so far and entered the sweet 16.  Not bad, huh?

And while we're at it, now that the fall season has aired, I can update my top 120 anime rankings as well:

1. Clannad (2007-2009) 
2. Pretty Cure (2004-2012+)
3. One Piece (1999-2012+)
4. Code Geass (2006-20012+)
5. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha/Triangle Hearts (2000-2012)
6. Naruto (2002-2012+)
7. Dragonball (1986-2011+)
8. K-On! (2009-2011)

9. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005)
10. Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2012)
11. Fairy Tail (2009-2012+)
12. Kanon (2002-2007)
13. Haruhi Suzumiya (2006-2010)
14. To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun (2008-2011+)
15. Angel Beats (2010)
16. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011-2012+)
17. Da Capo (2003-2011+)
18. Katanagatari (2010)
19. The Idolm@ster (2011-2012+)
20. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2006)
21. Bakuman (2010-2012+)

22. Kobato (2009-2012)
23. Working! (2010-2012)
24. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998)
25. The World God Only Knows (2010-2012)
26. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2012+)
27. Sora no Woto (2010)
28. Toradora! (2008-2011)
29. Basilisk (2005)
30. Saki (2009-2012+)

31. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006)
32. Major (2004-2012)
33. Vandread (2000-2001)
34. Inuyasha (2000-2010)
35. Ranma 1/2 (1989-2008)
36. Sailor Moon (1992-1997+)
37. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007-2009)

38. Air (2005)
39. Evangelion (1995-2009+)

40. Prince of Tennis (2001-2012)

41. Hanasaku Iroha (2011+)
42. Usagi Drop (2011-2012)
43. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2012+)
44. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
45. Ef (2007-2008)
46. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2011+)
47. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003)
48. Utawarerumono (2006-2010)
49. Summer Wars (2009)

50. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai (2012)
51. Angelic Layer (2001)

52. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2012)
53. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001)
54. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)
55. Bleach (2004-2012)
56. Bake-(etc)-monogatari (2009-2012+)
57. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003)
58. Strike Witches (2007-2012)
59. AKB0048 (2012+)

60. Nichijou (2011-2012)
61. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2012+)
62. Fate/Stay/Etc (2006-2012+)

63. Claymore (2007)

64. Macross (1982-2012)

65. Amagami SS (2010-2012)

66. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2012+)
67. Card Captor Sakura/Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (1998-2009)

68. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2012)

69. Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011-2012+) 
70. Mononoke Hime (1997)

71. Berserk (1997-2012+)

72. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011)

73. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)

74. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011+)

75. Gundam (1979-2012+)
76. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1998)
77. Natsuiro Kiseki (2012)

78. Hyouka (2012+)  
79. Break Blade (2010-2011)
80. Kimi ni Todoke (2009-2011)
81. Spice and Wolf (2008-2009)
82. To Heart (1999-2012)

83. Bastard! (1992)

84. Mahoromatic (2001-2009)
85. Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009)  
86. Azumanga Daioh (2002)
87. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
88. Scrapped Princess (2003)
89. Steins;Gate (2011-2012+)
90. Ghost in the Shell (1995-2011)

91. Flame of Recca (1997-1998)
92. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (2010-2012)

93. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2012)
94. Tamayura (2010-2012+)

95. Baccano (2007-2008)

96. Sword Art Online (2012+)

97. Lucky Star (2007-2008)
98. High School of the Dead (2010-2011)
99. Hikaru no Go (2001-2004)
100. Tari Tari (2012)

101. Yuru Yuri (2011-2012)

102. Gunbuster (1988-2012)
103. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)

104. Soul Eater (2008-2009)
105. Moshidora (2011)

106. Gosick (2011)

107. Fatal Fury (1992-1994)
108. Akira (1988)

109. Guyver (1986-2006)
110. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

111. Spirited Away (2001)

112. Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994)

113. Alien Nine (2001-2002)

114. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)

115. Death Note (2006-2008)

116. School Days (2007-2008)

117. Ninja Scroll (1993-2003+)

118. Ginga E Kickoff (2012+)

119. Little Busters  (2012+)

120. Girls und Panzer  (2012+)

As promised, I've removed Negima and Read or Die for their shortcomings.  In their place are two new fall season series, Little Busters and Girls und Panzer.  I assume that with additional episodes, these two series will continue to shine and will move up the rankings, but as they've just started it's impossible to judge where they belong relatively yet.  The surprise addition is Ginga E Kickoff.  I've always liked this show, but it never struck me as great until the match with Aoto's Heavens.  That game was so epic and so well done that I thought to myself, finally, here's a soccer sports series I can fully get behind.  The fact that our heroes actually lost a match also makes me feel like the story has more depth and is more interesting than before.  The chance to see everyone playing together, a thin and pretty Reika, Erica, Aoto, the triplets and our hero Shun, as shown in the series opening, really does excite me.  They're just such a lovable cast.  I especially like Erica's role in the series.  She is a woman who wants to play with the men and beat them in elementary school soccer, which is entirely possible as boys' and girls' bodies aren't that different at that point.  But she gets along with the boys in her team and is friends with both Shun and Reika, regardless of their gender.  She doesn't grandstand as a woman, or take offense as a woman, but she does wear a beautiful pony tail as a woman, blush as a woman when romance is brought up, and so on.  She's a girl I can genuinely respect.  A feminine girl who isn't a feminist, but certainly isn't a doormat and has her own dreams and ambitions independent of the boys she's around.  This sense of equality is really what gender relations should be striving for.  If nothing else, Ginga E Kickoff is great just for showing how a modern woman doesn't have to be a harridan from hell, or a wilting flower, but can, just imagine, be something in-between.

Saint Tail was just my traditional placeholder at 120, so it's no surprise it's been knocked off again.  With Saint Tail's luck, it'll probably be back on the list again later.  Fatal Fury was demoted because it's old, the art is pretty bad, and the plot is pretty thin.  I still like the characters and the action though, and it's still a fun, exciting romp through the fighting game genre.  Sword Art Online got another upgrade after its badass episode of Kirito waking up a dessicated hospital patient and immediately getting up and struggling over to see his beloved Asuna, despite how pathetic and weak his body now was.  That scene is amazing, and the true definition of a badass.  Someone who pursues their goals with relentless ferocity, and who through sheer determination achieves their dreams when everyone else would have given up.  I liked it in Tengen Toppa, and I like it here too.  The rest has stayed largely the same, but that's subject to change as this fall season proceeds.  In total, 32 of the top 120 series have some material awaiting release, which is to say 1/4 of my rankings are still 'alive.'  So long as they keep releasing more anime, I have to keep updating their rankings.