Whew, it’s been one hell of a winter hasn’t it? I am more than happy to see the end of it. But are we also so eager to see the end of the Winter 2014 anime season? That’s the question posed to our regular season reviewers, Bryan Morton and Greg Smith.
BM: Well, safe to say (IMO) that Kill la Kill has continued to conquer all this season, and its presence alone has made it a good season, for me at least. Its combination of over-the-top action and frankly insane “storyline” have made it essential viewing for me. Since that was pretty much what people seemed to expect of it, though (given its lineage), no surprises there – the only real worry I had was the chance of a Gainax ending, and that was avoided in rather spectacular fashion. In contrast, though, Space Dandy came with similar levels of hype and expectation – and while it does seem to be becoming something of the elusive ‘crossover’ hit, it failed completely to fire with me (apart from the zombie episode). But more of that later…
GBS: Yeah, hard to argue with any of that. Kill la Kill has been an express train of drama, tension, and action. The fact that the simulcast seemingly kept on getting delayed every week just heightened the tension. Those final episodes were just exhilarating. It was so satisfying that it even overrode my slight disappointment over the small crop of new shows that managed to impress me. Only a few of them captured my attention: Witch Craft Works, Wake Up Girls! and Hozuki no Reitetsu. Otherwise, it was the sequels and continuing shows that sustained my desire to watch.
Unexpected Pleasures
BM: Two shows this season that I really looked forward to each week, but that I knew zero about before they aired: The Pilot’s Love Song, and Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha. Pilot’s Love Song, with its intriguing setting and set-up-for-tragedy backplot between lead pair Kal and Claire has been a joy, with the developing relationship between the two wrapped in what at times has been a brutal air war where no character is really safe – and all through the first half of the season, the knowledge of what will eventually trip Kal and Claire’s relationship up & having to wait for it to happen. Really enjoyable to watch their story unfold, even if the ending was frustratingly left hanging. Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha, on the other hand, was less overtly romantic (although it was always bubbling under the surface between some of the characters) and more about its own little take on youth and friendship, with a light dash of magical girl as an added bonus. Lightweight, sure, but totally charming from beginning to end.
GBS: I liked Inakon, it was cute and sweet. I’m not sure I was all that keen at the start, but it did a good job of steadily improving with each installment. With a little more time to mull over my thoughts about it, it may yet find a way to break into the small rank of shows that left a good impression now that the season is over. Inari is cute, but somehow her romance with the somewhat bland Tanbabashi did not do too much to excite. On the other hand, Uka and Touka were an adorably cute nerd gaming couple. Uka would be so much better off dumping the divine gig and living out a normal life with him.
My top unexpected pleasure for this season was Witch Craft Works. It’s just so wacky, so wild, so unashamedly bonkers that it brings a smile to the face. All of the witches, heroines and villains, are completely overpowered, but since the fights in general are not serious, it’s been a fun ride. It’s really only disappointed me with the final Weekend arc, as the last villain was by far too serious compared to the others. This turn towards the dramatic was something of a mistake, in my opinion, but it didn’t in the end undo all the fun of the show.
BM: I could never decide what to make of Witch Craft Works. One week I’d love it, the next it’d be meh, but either way I could never seem to put it down. Needed more Tanpopo, I suspect. I’ll give it one thing, though: the most insanely earwormy ED song that I’ve heard in quite some time. Once I hear WITCHY WITCHY, it’s stuck in my head for days.
GBS: Oh, you can never have enough Tanpopo. And that ending can’t be divorced from the animation that accompanies it. It’s the “I can’t quite believe they went there” animation combined with that song that makes it utterly unforgettable.
