#studio doga kubo

[persephone-damnedqueen]

Final Thoughts on Winter 2017 Anime Season:

Winter is over and the Spring season is starting.  Overall, I’m genuinely happy with this season.  It was a fairly good season.  Anyways, here are my thoughts on the shows I watched, shows I loved, and shows I dropped this past season.  Keep in mind these are my thoughts, and these are the shows that I watched.  There were a ton of shows airing, so for obvious reasons I couldn’t get to all of them.  

Masamune-kun no Revenge:  Silver Link Studio

Dropped.  I’ll be completely honest, it bored me.  I gave it five episodes before I dropped it.  The art style is good, but since that was the only thing that really kept me watching, I had to drop it.  It was really predictable, and overall not really remembered.  Do I recommend it?  Honestly, unless you really like harems, or romance anime, then no. 

Fuuka:  Diomedea Studio 

Dropped.  Fuck.  I hate this show.  What started out as promising turned into utter crap by episode 3.  You’d think from a show with good visuals the story would be better right?  I could not stand watching more than I did and I gave it four episodes.  I mean I can’t for the life of me understand how this is one of the more popular this season.  You have a show with cringe worthy forced drama, and overused tropes with the very predictable forced love triangle.  Would I recommend this?  No, unless I truly hated the person, and even then it might be too harsh.  And for fuck’s sake, put some damn pants on.  The amount of panty shots are insane.   

Little Witch Academia: Studio Trigger

Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the first half of the series so far.  This series is based off an OVA/Movie, and honestly, while it isn’t as vibrate as the series counterpart is, it’s still really wonderful to have.  I really like how you get more development throughout, and get to see more interactions with other characters that you weren’t able to get with the Movie/OVA.  Studio Trigger is doing a really good job animating it, and it definitely has that signature Trigger style.  The plot is definitely unique, and the characters are all lovable in their own way.  Seriously, if you haven’t picked up this anime yet, do it.  You are missing out.  

Kobayashi-san Chi no Dragon Maid:  Kyoto Animation

(Based on Episode 12, since at the time of posting this, episode 13 hasn’t aired yet).  This show quickly became the Slice of Life show that I never knew I needed until I got it.  I heard about it as the season started, and the praise it was/still is getting from the community, so I picked it up around episode four or so, and literally, it’s the cutest thing in the world.  From the stunning visuals, adorable and unique characters, an almost all female cast, and the genuine warm hearted feeling you get from watching this show, it’s very easy to see how this became so beloved in the community, (also, let’s face it here, Kanna is the main reason everyone watches).  I also find it very entertaining that the Slice of Life show has literally some of the best fight scene animations this season, but that’s nothing less than expected from KyoAni.  Seriously, Kyoto Animation really went above and beyond with this one.  I recommend this to everyone, because these gorgeous dragons with yuri tendencies will make you fall in love with this series.  (Seriously though, Kanna is Best Girl Winter 2017 and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise).  

March Comes in like a Lion:  Studio Shaft

Okay, I have a couple things to say about this anime.  First: WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS?!?!?!?!   This anime is spectacular.  It’s phenomenal.  It’s fucking fantastic.  It’s easily one of the best, if not the best, anime airing this season.  For anime about Shogi, I honestly was not expecting to love this anime as much as I do.  Holy shit, this is an emotional trip.  This is a slow building character heavy show, so it’s not for everyone, but I recommend it to anyone, regardless on if you know the game or not, because they teach you that throughout the anime.  Side note:  This animation is fucking breathtaking.  Studio Shaft is the best animation studio, and everything they do is fucking spectacular, (And I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise).  IT’S GETTING A SEASON TWO AS WELL LATER ON THIS YEAR, SO THANK YOU STUDIO SHAFT!  YOU ARE AMAZING AND I LOVE YOU!  

Gabriel DropOut: Studio Doga Kubo

I needed this show more than I thought I would have this season.  This was a great show where I can just turn off my mind and enjoy the moe blob.  In all honestly, it’s a pretty generic show with the only major difference between this and any other moe show is that this has angels and demons.  Whatever, it’s cute and enjoyable.  Plus, Gabriel is so relatable.  I recommend this to anyone wanting a cute show to turn off their minds and enjoy.  

Koro-Sensei Quest:  Studio Lerche

When I saw a spin off of Assassination Classroom coming out for the season, you better believe that moment, I was all over that.  I absolutely love anything Assassination Classroom related, so obviously, I died at this.  This is one of the few anime where I kept up with the moment it came out, for both the sub AND the dub. By the end of the season, I can honestly look back and say “Yes, I fucking loved this damn show.”  The dub was a little disappointing, especially right around episode 5 and especially in episode 7 and 8, and they changed a lot of lines and context, but it’s watchable nonetheless.  Chibi versions of the assassins, as well as their “bugs”  make this show a riot.  I never thought I needed a Chibi Friendly Terasaka in my life, but oh my god am I glad it’s a thing.  Also, the amount of Karma x Nagisa moments in this anime made my fucking life.  The episodes are 10 minutes long, and there are twelve total.  I recommend this to EVERYONE, especially if you like Assassination Classroom.  

Kuzu no Honkai: Studio Lerche

This anime fucked me up.  The translated title for this is “Scum’s Wish,” and oh my nonexistent gods did it make me feel like scum after watching it.  I loved every moment of it.  I watched it religiously as it was airing because of how intense it was.  It is a very, very, VERY dark side of romance, and it makes it completely unique compared to every other romance anime out there.  It shows the very dark, very twisted side of romance that no one likes to talk about, but it’s very real; often times, it gets too real.  I love how this show was able to show the twisted and desperate things that an unrequited or forbidden love drives us to do.  It manages to portray the struggle of purity and corruption in a way that is nothing short of amazing.  I could go on and on about the symbolizing and just the depth and fantastic development this show does.  The characters themselves are very flawed, and struggle in so many different ways.  Without a doubt, Akane-Sensei is the best villain of the Winter Season.  Period.  She pushes Hanabi into changes so much throughout the series and as much as I hate the character, she is AMAZINGLY WELL WRITTEN.  Every character in this series is very well written, and gets development in some way, which is very nice to see.  The art style is incredible, and is easily one of the best, if not the best, animated series of winter.  I cannot recommend this to everyone though because this is a very, very dark show, and there’s a lot of sex, and sexual tension throughout, but if you want to see a phenomenal show and don’t mind the dark themes, then please, watch it.  It’s easily one of my favorites, if not my favorite, this season.  

Super Lovers 2: Studio Deen

This is a guilty pleasure anime.  Honestly, it’s soo much better than it’s first season, and I’m so fucking sad there was only ten episodes this season.  I want a season three.  I love where this season goes, and I love the addition of Natsuo to the dysfunctional group of brothers already.  I’m a sucker for BL stuff.  Don’t judge me.  

Gintama:  Bandai Namco Pictures

Fuck, I can’t believe the season is over.  In all honestly, this was the best season of Gintama period, and that ending was fucking amazing.  I really hope they don’t stop here, and they animate the final arc of the manga.  I really loved the even more development you got from Zura, and Kagura and hell just every character.  You can really tell that the studio took their time and gave it a lot of effort in animating this season, because it’s beautiful.  The fight scenes are awesome; ugh and this season makes you fucking feel, especially with Kagura.  This was fucking amazing, and I literally can’t say anything bad about this season.  One of my favorites from this season without a doubt.  It deserves all the hype.  

So there you have it; these were my thoughts on the winter 2017, and if Spring is anywhere near as good as this past season was, then I’m going to be an incredibly happy person.  Thoughts?