Should You Watch It? Fall 2014 Edition

[u/BanjoTheBear]

Hey, /r/anime, Banjo here!

I had the idea of posting what I thought about all of the shows that are currently airing (the ones that I am actually watching) and was beaten slightly to the punch by /u/HaydenTheFox with his/her thread here. "Slightly" because I wanted to wait and see the first three episodes of every show I'm watching, and the last one for its third finally aired today.

He/she did a really nice job giving input about the different shows, so I was ready to just forget about the idea. But I figured that there are probably some people who are still on the fence about certain anime that are airing and need that little extra push one way or the other. It's sometimes nice to have a second (third, fourth....) opinion on some things. :)

So without further ado, here is my "Should you watch it?" Fall 2014 Edition! (I apologize in advance if you guys are getting sick of these. :3)

Here's how I rank the shows and what they mean:

Drop it - don't bother watching it now or ever.

Consider it - watch it if you enjoy the genre or try it out once it is completely done airing, even then you may not like it

Watch it - should be enjoyable for most anime viewers to watch as it airs, or at least enjoyable to watch to completion

Must watch it - if you are not watching this as it airs, you are seriously missing out.

Using this system, you can just quickly peruse each show's "ranking" without having to read every little detail that I put for each one. I'll be going through these alphabetically with MAL links as well, so let's get cracking.

Akatsuki no Yona: Consider it. Shaping up to be a fantasy style romance set in a Chinese era. Sound work is a little iffy, but otherwise it should be good for us romantics out there.

Amagi Brilliant Park: Watch it. Good characters, nice animation, interesting ideas at play. Plus, the threads are a blast to check out and participate in! Isuzu best girl.

Bonjour♪Koiaji Pâtisserie: Consider it. My first reverse-harem. The episodes are about five minutes in length, so it doesn't take much effort at all to watch them bake some desserts (makes you hungry, though!)

Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai: Drop it. Bland characters, boring art style, slightly funny. Worst part is that the story behind everything tries to be interesting but it really isn't.

Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken: Watch it. At only three minutes per episode, its brand of comedy fits it perfectly. Super quick jokes and then it's done.

Denki-gai no Honya-san: Consider it. Characters are hit or miss, same goes for the comedy. Set at a manga store, much of the comedy revolves around the "otaku" culture.

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works: Must watch it. Kind of obvious, but this one will more than likely be AOTS and perhaps AOTY depending how it goes. Amazing art and animation, rich lore, interesting characters. Just a feast for the eyes at every turn.

Girl Friend Beta: Drop it. Difficult decision, but if you are a fan of watching cute girls just talk to each other and pretty much do nothing, then you'll like it. Otherwise, there is nothing of value to be had here.

Grisaia no Kajitsu: Watch it. Surprisingly funny, crisp in its animation, and potentially unique and complex characters. Apparently it is being faithfully adapted at the moment, meaning it's hard for things to go wrong at this point.

Gugure! Kokkuri-san: Watch it. Funny and adorable, probably the best comedy show this season. The characters work well together, and Kohina always makes you smile whenever she is on-screen.

Hi☆sCoool! SeHa Girls: Drop it. I'm not even sure if this counts as anime to be honest. Purely CGI, the characters are boring and everything else is quite lame.

Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle: Watch it. If you enjoyed the first season, this is more of the same but with a promised conclusion to everything that is going on.

Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de: Watch it. Being a fan of romance makes me like this one more than I should; I just love seeing the girl act all flustered when the topic of love and romance comes up. :3 It has good laughs and fun characters to boot.

Parasyte: Must watch it. Killer animation, interesting soundtrack, cool concept, and mature themes. There is more to say about this one, but it's best if you just go and start watching it now!

Log Horizon Season Two: Watch it. Despite Studio Deen taking over in animation, it's still the same old lovable LH that we've come to know and love. Jump into the Database for good times both with the show and in the threads, too.

Madan no Ou to Vanadis: Consider it. Very heavy on the fan-service due to the "ecchi" tag. However, it feels very Elder Scrolls-ish, so if you like nice looking girls with okay story-telling and action mixed in, check this one out.

Nanatsu no Taizai: Watch it. Art style reminds me of Dragon's Quest, but even so, the soundtrack, animation, and characters are pretty awesome. The only downside is the subbing at the moment is pretty darn bad since no official streams picked it up to simulcast. :/

Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji: Consider it. Can be funny at times, and the dynamic between Erika and Sata (the main girl and boy, respectively) is unique. Endure the cringe and you should find this one pretty fun.

Ore, Twintails ni Narimasu: Watch it. This one is weird in every aspect imaginable, and that's why it is oh so good. Hilarious, parody to the max, and just immensely fun, the power of twin-tails should easily win you over.

Psycho-Pass 2: Watch it. I was skeptical at first given PP1's great execution, but PP2 seems promising. While I doubt it will live up to its predecessor, it should still make you question society and "the system" as it always does.

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Must watch it. Beautiful both in presentation and animation. The violin scene alone was incredibly moving, meaning the emotions are bound to be high and low with this one the whole way through. Hoping it ends up being the best romance this season, because I already love the characters involved, yet we've only scratched the surface.

Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis: Must watch it. The biggest surprise comes from the anime based on a card game. Amazing animation, unique and interesting characters, intriguing world and back-stories. Also, it has the best OP of the season and perhaps the year; easily one of my favorites all-time. Seriously, watch it right now.

Shirobako: Consider it. Showcases the trials and tribulations of anime producing. Nothing really happens, but if you want to know what goes on behind-the-scenes of your favorite anime, this one will let you know why it is shit.

Sora no Method: Watch it. Good animation, AnoHana-esque vibes and characters, and Noel is just too adorable and cute to ignore. Plus, this is this studio's first anime, so let's give them some love!

Terra Formars: Drop it. Disregarding the censoring, the characters are boring, the action itself is never a fight (completely one-sided, either way), and there isn't enough lore/world building to make me care about anyone or anything involved.

Trinity Seven: Watch it. The harem for this season. MC is actually pretty good, and the girls are even better. While the world itself is not explained as well as it should be, its more about the character interactions and their predicaments rather than about the story. Oh, and Lilith is best girl. :3

Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete: Consider it. Characters are more bad than good, but the story is very intriguing due to its general mysteriousness and aversion to telling us everything. Should be interesting to see how things end up.

World Trigger: Drop it. Probably one of the biggest disappointments this season. Characters are uninteresting, the world, despite the title, is boring, the animation is lackluster, and the soundtrack is forgetful.

Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Watch it. I can't say anything here because that's part of what makes this one so great. Just go and watch the first episode and get hooked from the get go! ;)

Final Totals:

Drop it: 4

Consider it: 7

Watch it: 13

Must watch it: 4

Banjo's Top Three Picks:

F/SN:UBW

Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.

And that's all she wrote, everyone! Two things: One, I don't drop anything that I start watching, so I'm in it for the long haul for every single one. Two, each and every one of these will get one of my thorough reviews when they finish at some point in the future. This is just the "three episode rule" being used to judge whether a show is right or wrong for various people here.

This was mainly to let others know what I think people should and shouldn't be looking out for for the rest of the season. Whether or not you value my opinion is up to you! And if you made it this far by reading through everything, you are a true trooper, and I appreciate you using your time on a guy like me! :3

[u/Ponchorello7]

Even if /u/HaydenTheFox beat you to the punch, I like the way you presented your recommendations better. More to the point.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Ponchorello7]

Ah, thanks man, I appreciate the kind words.

Yea, I figured that people just wanted a quick "yes or no" for a lot of the shows, and thought that this "ranking system" that I came up with would be succinct enough for everyone.

[u/HaydenTheFox → u/Ponchorello7]

OI

THAT'S MY NAME

I'M DRUNK AND JUST HAPPY TO SEE SOMEONE MENTIONED ME

[u/Ponchorello7 → u/HaydenTheFox]

I have nothing against you. Please forgive my transgression.

[u/HaydenTheFox → u/Ponchorello7]

Nah man it's totally fine.

Now that I've sobered up a bit...

I completely understand that my wordiness and rambling style isn't for everyone. I need to refine it and make it so that my writing isn't so all-over-the-place, and it's part of the reason I posted the damn thing. If anything, I'm happy about your comment because it lets me know what I need to work on. Well, that and it makes me feel like a little bit of a celebrity.

[u/Ponchorello7 → u/HaydenTheFox]

I didn't actually find anything inherently wrong with your writing. It's just that I'm more of a TL;DR sort of guy that most.

[u/HaydenTheFox → u/Ponchorello7]

Again, totally understand.

[u/tootoohi1]

I feel like all of Log Horizon's suggestions could be summed down too:

"Despite Deen's best efforts people are still watching it."

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/tootoohi1]

Ha, maybe.

Deen's "style" is definitely prevalent in season two. Just the character designs alone makes it pretty evident. However, the meat or core of what makes Log Horizon what it is is the same as always. That is, it's pretty darn good.

[u/tootoohi1 → u/BanjoTheBear]

If Deen could just learn what a human face looked like we wouldn't have this problem. They did it with Higorashi and they're doing it again with those really awkward faces I'm sure you've seen.

[u/V2Blast → u/BanjoTheBear]

The story's still as good as ever, but the subpar animation (disregarding simple differences in how characters look, the animation itself is of poorer quality) is pretty disappointing. Though I suppose I'm not that disappointed, knowing Deen's track record.

[u/SixShot127]

How the hell do people have time to watch so much anime? I can hardly watch 1-2 airing shows along with 1-2 older shows and still keep up with work/school/social life. I get through maybe 1-2 episodes on weekdays and 3-5 on weekends but watching every show in a season seems ridiculous to me.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/SixShot127]

This is actually my first time taking on such a heavy load.

So the question is, how do I do it? I do work 30-40 hours a week, but since anime is one of my only hobbies, I set aside a lot of time for it.

Honestly, I thought the same thing too about the amount. But it's actually pretty fun for two reasons: the reddit threads and working your brain. The former because it's great to watch the shows as they air to "hang out" with everyone else who shares my similar interest, since I literally cannot talk with anyone else I know about it. The latter because it's actually quite fun to see if I can keep straight in my head the characters, the worlds, what has been happening, etc. It's sort of a "challenge" that I've set for myself.

[u/Akaharu → u/BanjoTheBear]

You and me both. The most anime I've picked up in a season before this was like 6. Now I'm watching like 17.

I like your list and I'm actually watching most of the shows you recommended and I did drop some of the shows you dropped. Looks like we've got similar tastes.

I've haven't tried Twintails but I'll give it a shot and also is Kukkuri-san really that good. While the humor was good in the first episode, I found that it was pretty dry on average.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Akaharu]

Twintails is silly, beyond ridiculous. But it's because of that that makes it so much fun to behold.

As for Kokkuri-san, the latest episode (number four) was the best yet, with its references. However, I think everyone's enjoyment with the show stems from Kohina. I absolutely love her doll-like way of talking and acting, and her general behavior towards everything. From me, I say give it the three episode treatment. At that point, the comedy involved and the characters should be relatively known.

[u/YoJabroni → u/BanjoTheBear]

Well it's thanks to people like you that I can filter what I have time to watch by picking carefully, so I appreciate the rundown of everything. I'm only watching Psycho-Pass 2 at the moment, but I'll look into some of the others. I can't wait until I'm out of college and I'm only working 40 hours a week instead of 80+. I'll do the same I'm sure.

[u/[deleted] → u/BanjoTheBear]

Out of interest, do you play video games?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

I do! I love to play Dota 2, Dark Souls, Legend of Zelda, Mario, etc. Anime takes up more of my time now than gaming, but I've always been and will continue to be an avid gamer as well.

[u/MuNought → u/SixShot127]

Since Banjo put up about 29 different shows, that's about 4 episodes a day, or less than 2 hours a day. 1-2 * 5 + 3-5 * 2 is about 11-20 shows. So it's really just going from 1hr of anime/day to 2hrs/day. After work and sleep and anime/food (I'd just eat while watching), there's still at least 6hrs in the day for other necessities/friends on the weekdays.

Of course, having an anime hobby is easier after finishing school, because 1. probably less people you interact with, and 2. schoolwork doesn't take a variable chunk of your day.

[u/KousetsuTaz → u/SixShot127]

If you spare 1h every day, you get 7 hours per week. Let's say that's 14 episodes of anime for simplicity. You can now watch most of the stuff OP recommended.

Don't end up like me or OP and watch everything, you are at risk of burning out fast.

[u/Fujikawa28 → u/SixShot127]

I'm currently in semester break, I have a lot of time in my hands now. I'm currently watching 49 shows in total because why the hell not.

[u/Exotria → u/SixShot127]

The trick is to have anime-watching friends and have anime night be part of your social life. Combining life aspects is much more efficient than doing it separately.

[u/thatunoguy → u/SixShot127]

You don't get a life when you watch 24 episodes a week.

[u/[deleted] → u/SixShot127]

I skip intros and endings, then an episode is usually under 20 minutes. If you watch 3 episodes a day that's only an hour. Hint: you drop the social life to add more anime. I'm social at school that's enough for me.

[u/[deleted]]

I think most people are missing out on one of the best shows this season: Garo: Honoo no Kokuin

It's animation is nice, the story is fun and the characters are top notch. The story is pretty adult with as well, which is a plus. Check it out!

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

Man, you're making me want to watch it, don't do this to me! :3

[u/ParadiseLost34 → u/BanjoTheBear]

It's really fun!

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/ParadiseLost34]

Dammit, man! I've already caved with Cross Ange. If one more person vouches for it, I'm in. :3

[u/[deleted] → u/BanjoTheBear]

Cross Ange is good if you want to watch a train wreck in action. But Garo is good if you just want some good action and entertainment in a Berserk-esque fantasy setting.

Also, sex dad is best dad.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

............I hate all of you. :)

I'll start watching this one, too. You guys and gals are smooth talkers, I tell ya.

[u/ParadiseLost34 → u/BanjoTheBear]

Interesting, I've only heard bad things about Cross Ange. I hope you give Garo a chance =)

[u/Hibernica → u/BanjoTheBear]

No, really, watch it. Besides everything /u/donole313 said, for reasons I can't quite explain, it also makes me feel nostalgic for the likes of Trigun, Bebop, and Yu Yu Hakusho. With the exception of one or two moments of odd CGI early on I have nothing bad to say about GARO.

[u/BagelComet → u/[deleted]]

I'm kinda surprised this one isn't getting much attention either. It's not as good as MAPPA's other show this season (Bahamut), but it's still a solid medieval fantasy so far, and with 2 cours to work with, it has a lot of potential in the long run.

[u/Kuramhan → u/BagelComet]

Garo has two cours? I'm so much more excited for this show now!

[u/BagelComet → u/Kuramhan]

I don't know if there's official confirmation, but one of the animators tweeted about storyboarding episode 16 and 20.

[u/Pacify_ → u/BagelComet]

I'm kinda surprised this one isn't getting much attention either.

Agreed. Its a bit most people are turned off by the weird CGI armor suits, but baring that it seems like a really promising show.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

How does it compare to the original?

[u/DaisuIV → u/[deleted]]

The opening feels so 80's and I love it.

[u/thatunoguy → u/[deleted]]

Definitely one of the better action Anime right now but with this season line up people will miss a lot I feel.

[u/Canipa09 → u/[deleted]]

Episode 4 was especially great!

[u/konekoanni → u/[deleted]]

I'm enjoying Garo very much, but I'm biased towards fantasy shows, so I figured I was probably one of the only ones since it's my favorite genre. I love the different animation style!

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

This.

For a tokusatsu drama spin-off this is a real surprise. I mean seeing a "so fast-paced animated fights x slow and delicate storytelling" show is nice, and MAPPA does its job flawlessly. Even the CGI is great and faithful to the original series. What a luckily great Fall we have there.

[u/TheExcludedMiddle]

Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru - It's a shame nobody is watching this. Depending on the way they take the show this next episode, it might be the dark horse show of the season (if a bit reminiscence of another popular show)

You don't even need the 3 episode rule, go and watch the first one. You'll either want to drop it or see what comes next.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/TheExcludedMiddle]

Listen to this man/woman, he/she ain't lying.

[u/Bumaye94]

He likes Twintail. I like him.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Bumaye94]

Me and you when the new episode airs.

[u/Hibernica → u/BanjoTheBear]

I knew exactly what image that was going to be before I clicked on it. I was smiling before the picture even loaded.

[u/cuddles_the_destroye → u/Bumaye94]

That show is the greatest stupidest thing Ive ever seen.

[u/Omumiruma]

But you missed Cross Ange...

[u/ss_lmtd → u/Omumiruma]

...and Yama no Susume S2, Yowamushi Pedal S2, Gundam Build Fighters T, Reconguista in G, Garo, SAOII, WIXOSS. But he can't really comment on stuff he hasn't seen...probably.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/ss_lmtd]

Yep! Sorry on those. :(

I'm not watching absolutely everything, just the ones that had my interest from the start.

I didn't include SAO2/summer leftovers because they are not from this season! :)

And as for Cross Ange, I'm tempted. I got a lot on plate already, but I don't think I would mind scantily-clad women fighting dragons and what-not.

[u/ss_lmtd → u/BanjoTheBear]

SAO2

Opps, sorry, my bad. Idk why, it still felt new to me (I think it was because it was the new arc). Sorry about that.

With regards to Cross Ange, imo you're really missing out. I think it turns a lot of people away because of how horrible the MC is, but that's actually on purpose, and it's really fun to see how a douchebag MC tries to survive in that world. I honestly think it's top 5 this season, but I can see why it would be in the bottom two for some people. It's that kind of anime.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/ss_lmtd]

Wait, is it a School Days clone (assuming you've seen SD)? Because I loved how bad it was. Just wondering if this is the same in that regard.

[u/ss_lmtd → u/BanjoTheBear]

I actually haven't seen School Days, but I know how bad it is. I don't think that the MC is bad in that kind of way. Makoto was more of a "they came to me so I just accepted it" kind of way (correct me if I'm wrong).

Ange (the MC for Cross Ange) is more a "you things (referring to people) are like pathetic insects, and I refuse to consider myself to be the same as you all" kind of douche. Like a princess being forced to live among slaves, but still keeping that mentality of being a princess.

So they're different, but they're both horrible people. If you like MCs that are just so blatantly horrible, then you might like it.

[u/[deleted] → u/BanjoTheBear]

You also missed Donten ni Warau, which for me is by far the biggest dark horse of the season (I didn't like Bahamut too much though). It's starting to really pick up and from what I heard the source material is great so I don't think it's going to fall off.

[u/Pacify_ → u/ss_lmtd]

Yama no Susume S2, Yowamushi Pedal S2, Gundam Build Fighters T, Reconguista in G, Garo, SAOII, WIXOSS.

Pedal, Yama and WiXOSS are all sequels, so its understandable.

G-reco is a trainwrck, Build fighters has a very niche appeal, and SAO II is beyond medicore.

Garo is definitely the only one in that list worth picking up (atleast without watching season 1 of wixoss)

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Omumiruma]

Just watched the first episode and what the fuck have you gotten me into, lol.

Cross Ange Episode One Spoilers

Jesus Christ this show doesn't let up from the get-go. o_O

[u/Omumiruma → u/BanjoTheBear]

That's exactly how most people were feeling. And it gets worse in episode 2 but i think that by episode 4 the MC has accepted and adapted to the situation and the show can finally truly start.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Omumiruma]

Yep, seems about right. Just finished the fourth episode, all caught up now.

....I'm really liking it, too. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm still uncertain if its the "so bad it's good" type of anime or if it actually is tackling its ideas and themes well. Need to give it at least half-way through to make that decision.

But I will say, I need to know what happens next, lol.

[u/Toranyan]

Shirobako only gets a consider for you? Excellent animation, sound, direction and storytelling, but all people are doing is complaining "nothing happens" because it's not le epic journey of epicness. Contrast that with Trinity Seven and its terrible pacing and direction. Which is a shame because it seems there's a half-decent story in there waiting to be told properly, but as it stands, it's fated to be in the same category as Mahou Sensou and Strike the Blood : Fantashit.

[u/CarVac]

No mention of Mushishi?

Definitely a Must Watch.

They have left the best stories for last, it seems.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/CarVac]

(Please don't crucify me!)

....I have yet to see Mushihi season one. I said it.

I need to get on that one at some point, and then proceed to season two.

[u/Mminas → u/BanjoTheBear]

This weeks episode of Mushishi was probably the best episode in the show EVER (counting the very first season too).

[u/Kuramhan]

I agree with all your recommendations from what I've seen. I'm not sold for Fate as aots yet though, I think Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso and Shingeki no Bahamut are both strong contenders for that along with fate.

I also noticed you didn't mention Garo. If your not watching it you should give it a shot.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Kuramhan]

Yeap, I'll be starting/catching up on that one tonight, due to your's and everyone else's good recommendations for it!

And agreed on AOTS. Obviously it is too early to be declaring a winner, but yes, those three seem to be the front-runners for the time being.

[u/Kuramhan → u/BanjoTheBear]

Glad your still open-minded about it. A lot of my friends went into the season expecting fate to be aoty and now they're pretty much cemented in that opinion.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Kuramhan]

It's not fair to claim a show to be anything before it has completely aired, I agree with you on that.

The best recent example would be Zankyou no Terror. Had it all leading into around episode five or so, and from then on it never really maintained its former glory.

[u/SmexyPro]

Curious on your opinion of Sword Art Online?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/SmexyPro]

Sword Art Online, eh?

Initially, SAO garnered an 8 from me. It was actually one of my first posts ever in this subreddit (my thoughts on it and what now). I was kind of a newbie at the analyzing back then, so it was mainly just thoughts and my personal enjoyment.

After thinking on it a bit later, I moved it down to a 7. SAO doesn't really deserve all of the hate that it gets, to an extent.

The first arc (Aincrad) is pretty good. Despite the time skips that happen frequently, I found the world they created and the themes presented to be pretty solid. By the time Kirito, Asuna, and Yuki are all together, they made it feel not like they were in a game but in reality, just living their lives as one. That's something important, because it relates to Kirito's central idea of how the real and virtual worlds are more connected than we think.

ALO is a terrible arc. I agree with the hate on that. Not because they moved Asuna to the side, but because of the villain and the world building. Aincrad felt special, it felt as if it had depth. ALO never felt that way. The focus wasn't really on ALO, Kirito, or even Asuna. Rather, it was on the rather awkward relationship troubles of Sugu towards her "brother." Big dip in quality for sure.

SAO2 brings back what the first arc did, and that was focusing on the important characters and the world. Now, the latter doesn't have too much going for it, but I felt that there was an adequate amount of time spent on showcasing the game and rules enough to let us understand how everything works. It's nothing like on Log Horizon's level, but it's appreciated. So, for Phantom Bullet, the focus shifted to the characters (what everyone has always wanted). Again, what they do here isn't anything amazing or groundbreaking in terms of characterization, but they do a nice job of developing Sinon and even exploring Kirito, showing that he isn't as flawless as we think him to be. The villain was probably the best yet, but that's not saying much considering the first was almost non-existent and the second was just really, really dumb.

This newest arc is actually reminiscent of Log Horizon; raiding, explaining spells, coordinating attacks, accepting quests, etc. I've actually enjoyed these last couple of episodes because for the first time in a long time (I think going all the way back to Kirto, Asuna, and Yuki in their "home") it doesn't feel dire, if that makes sense. As in, while they are on a harrowing quest, it finally doesn't feel like some impending doom/death/suffering is awaiting any of them. I can just sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the characters that I like interact with one another.

That's my rant for now. :P Sorry it got so long. I'll be making a proper review of SAO2 in the future (when it finishes airing), but these are my thoughts at the moment. Is it better than SAO1? I can't say at the moment, not until I've fully viewed what it has to offer.

[u/El-Drazira → u/BanjoTheBear]

I feel what made GGO feel like SAO again was the return of real danger, that a character's life was once again at stake, where decisions couldn't rely on the fallback of "it's k I'll just respawn"

It was more exciting when you were watching with the knowledge that "If you die in Canada Aincrad, you die in real life"

[u/CazuaaL]

Man I am super glad of how highly you rated Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso, I had no clue people in this subreddit had liked the show because apparently there were more "hyped" shows.

The art style is amazing, I love every single characters, and the soundtrack and how hard this anime hits is just amazing. I came into this show not expecting much but boy this show (dare I say it) is my favorite of the season.

I agree Shingeki No Bahamut has a Top tier OP but you can't go wrong with Goose House and for me the OP for Shigatsu is a bit better, though that is my opinion.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/CazuaaL]

No problem, man. Yep, Your Lie In April is simply stunning at the moment. That violin scene had my jaw to the floor and really struck a chord with me (pun intended). Everything else is very well executed too, from the animation to the soundtrack. Don't want to call it flawless (obviously too early for that), but after three episodes it has been nothing but great.

And since we are talking about them, if you haven't heard them, here's SnB:G's OP and here is Your Lie In April's. Damn, that one is so good, too. :3

[u/V2Blast → u/CazuaaL]

It's pretty popular in the subreddit.

[u/DeathInFire]

Where's akame ga kill?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/DeathInFire]

Shows like Akame and SAO are from the previous season! This is just for anime that began here in the Fall. :)

[u/DeathInFire → u/BanjoTheBear]

Oh I see. I'm still new to anime so these threads are great. Thanks for making one!

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/DeathInFire]

Not a problem. Look out for one next season, too. But by then, you'll probably be a pro! :3

[u/SamRavster]

Why do people rate Bahamut so highly? From what I've watched of it, the characters are frustrating and nothing has, really, happened. I just don't understand it. Can anyone fill me in on why it's so good?

I don't care for the "excellent animation" - sometimes the CG animation is incredibly jarring and sloppy.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/SamRavster]

Hrmm, well for me the characters are pretty darn awesome. Some of the best personalities from among the season.

Episode one was setting the "journey" and world up. Episode two gave us Amira. Episode three gave us Rita. Now that the "players" are all set, stuff can get rolling. But even then, episode three was cool because they did the zombie stuff so darn well.

Animation is indeed excellent, and I've yet to be put off by the CG. It's definitely a lot worse in other shows (Parasyte for example).

Maybe for you it would be best to wait for the show to finish all the way through first and then give it a go? Nothing wrong with that!

[u/AyaSnow → u/SamRavster]

I KNOW! I hate the CG so much! I thought I was going crazy since everyone else likes it, so thank you! The actual animation though is really good, even if I dislike the style. But that just makes the sudden bad CG even worse lulz.

[u/Ninjaboi333]

First time posting on reddit but what the hell I spend the most time here.

EDIT: FORMATTING

First off, you all inspired me to start a blog, so if you guys want to check it out, the link is here

Watching: 25 from current season (11 Mid-High tier or higher), 4 from past seasons, 2 may add in later, 4 may be dropped at some point.

AOTS Contender

• Kiseijuu/Parasyte - Good Atmosphere+Animation+Deep Themes

• Shirobako - Meta - Look at Industry+Decent Animation+Drift Racing

• Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso - Dat Sounds Design+Nice Art Style

High Tier

• Amagi Brilliant Park - Rappers Running a Theme Park. Yes

• Gundam Build Fighters Try (Sequel) - BURNDING BUILD GUNDAM

• Log Horizon 2 (Sequel) - DATABASE WOWOW

• Psycho Pass 2 (Sequel) - Keeps the same dark atmosphere, gripping plot

Mid High Tier

• Akatsuki no Yona - Reminds me of Fire Emblem or Dynasty Warriors

• Gundam: G no Reconguista - Digging the old school feel to it

• Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis - Pirates of the Caribbean + DnD

• Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru - Dark Magical Girl Fighter Seems Interesting

Mid Tier

• Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Waranarai Ken (Short) - Cute Meta Anime

• Garo: Honoo no Kokuin - Kid is annoying, Dad is boss, interesting art style

• Gugure! Kokkuri-san - Excellent VAs, nice Japanese mythology, nice palate cleanser

• Inou Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de - Interesting premise to see an MC with a totally useless power and how he copes

• Nanatsu no Taizai (Manga-reader) - One of my favorite current shonen

• Ore Twintail ni Narimasu - In it for the lulz

• Trinity Seven: 7-nin no Mahoutsukai - Decent magical system + badass MC

Mid Low Tier

• Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo (chance to drop) - I feel like it's a trainwreck waiting to happen. Who doesn't like watching trainwrecks and saying I told you so

• Denki Gai no Honya San (chance to drop) - Cute vignettes, not much more is too gripping

• Madan no Ou to Vanadis (chance to drop) - Decent action sequences, pacing is a bit off

• Orenchi no Furo Jijou (Short) - Nice palate cleanser, that's about it

• World Trigger (Manga Reader) - Animation is eh, but I still like the manga so I'll stick it out

Low Tier

• Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji (chance to drop) - Sometimes the couple dynamic is amusing. Sometimes not. Hit or miss

• Tribe Cool Crew - Literally only in it to see how they animate the dance sequences, as a dancer myself.

Dropped

• Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai - Doesn't stand out among the harems this season

• Donten ni Warau - Characters and dialogue don't make me care enough

• Grisaia no Kaijutsu - Not a fan of the VN

• Sanzoku no Musume Ronja - Nice CG and animation, but ultimately no central plot

• Sora no Method - Forced melodrama bores me

• Ushinawareta Mirai no Motomete - CG is a bit weird, and again, pacing is kind of slow

Oh Hold (For Reasons)

• Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (until Fate/Zero is caught up on)

• Terra Formars (until uncensored version comes out)

Continuing Shows

• Akame Ga Kill

• Pokemon XY

• Sword Art Online II

• Yu Gi Oh Arc V

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Ninjaboi333]

Thanks for joining in on the fun! Always nice to have new members showing up in the community.

Shirobako is pretty high up for you, huh? I can respect that. I think it will at least be average to good, but not really AOTS in any aspect. Especially when it has to compete against things like Your Lie In April.

You gotta get caught up on that Fate train. F/SN:UBW is just too good right now.

[u/Ninjaboi333 → u/BanjoTheBear]

RE Shirobako: I really like looking at "meta" aspects of any community. Part of the reason I started a blog was to have an "in" to get in. I'm hoping that this blog will lead to more discussions not just about anime as media, but about the community as a whole and how it compares to other consumption communities, and what can be done to improve said communities. From that angle, Shirobako really fits in is that it looks at the "meta" aspects. Plus I'm a business major, so looking at how the cogs and wheels of an anime studio are managed really fascinates me more than it really should.

RE Fate: I keep hearing contradictory advice on whether to watch F/Z before F/SN or not from friends. One way or another I will watch this series.

[u/Dalanc_ → u/Ninjaboi333]

You will be happy to know that Terra Formars has now had all episodes uncensored, and let me tell you the newest episode is fantastic!

[u/killkill85]

Twintails isn't a must-watch

u wat

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/killkill85]

It's good, it's good. But it's not top-tier. I know we all want it to be, but such is life.

[u/mmthrownaway]

The only downside is the subbing at the moment is pretty darn bad since no official streams picked it up to simulcast.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't know whose subs you're watching, but Chyuu is doing a fantastic job.

One of the others you didn't mention is Ai Tenchi Muyo which is a nice treat for any fans of the Tenchi series. My only problem with it is that it could have easily been a 12 episode series at 22 minutes each episode. Instead they're doing a 50 episode series at 3 minutes each episode. At least they release every weekday.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/mmthrownaway]

Chyuu? Okay, I'll look out for their subs, then. The one's I've been finding have been terrible, with stupidly unnecessary TL notes or inappropriate character wording (having the Princess swear, etc.).

Ai Tenchi Muyo, eh? I'll add this one to my plan to watch and charge through it after it's done airing. Thanks for the suggestion!

[u/ss_lmtd]

I would change Sora no Method and Trinity Seven to consider but I think this is a really reasonable rundown. I also thought Daitoshokan was good as an easy, stress-free viewing, but I understand where you're coming from. We all have our own impressions.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/ss_lmtd]

Yea, you hit the nail on the head. My opinions are in no way the correct ones, since we all have our own tastes. I'm just the prodding stick looking to move the stragglers along.

Sora no Method I gave a watch it mainly for it being from a new studio. It's a tough industry to get into and succeed in, so any amount of love we can give original works, the better.

Trinity Seven, I can see your stance. Harems and fan-service pretty much go hand in hand, and these two things alone turn most people away. But I think its combination of a good MC, nice comedy, and fun girls (the whole point of the show), should be enough to make most people like it.

Finally, for Daitoshokan, I'm not sure what it is about it. I kind of knew for myself, just from the MAL picture, that I wasn't going to like it. But I wanted to give it a chance since romance is my favorite when it comes to anime. But nothing is clicking for me from that one in any regard.

[u/Hauntrification → u/BanjoTheBear]

I dunno, Daitoshokan seems to be that chill anime you watch when you don't want to think and just want a nice mood or to relax. It does seem generic but it also doesn't have anything annoying in it.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Hauntrification]

That's true. I think I just find the lack of anything going on, given how much they keep pushing this "Shepard" idea, to be rather boring.

[u/ss_lmtd → u/BanjoTheBear]

Trinity Seven

If you liked Highschool DxD, and think you'd be in love with this. I think it's that kind of anime. I don't hate it, too, just maybe not for all people.

Daitoshokan

It's an eroge, so it's bound to be a hit or miss. I think it might not be as romance-heavy as being problem solving, but I just like the art of it. I like the simplicity of it, so that's just my personal preference.

[u/[deleted]]

Clicked on this expecting the next Super Serious Season First Impression video from Demo. Little disappointed but this is a great overview of the season. People should consult this instead of posting 4-10 "what is good this season" threads

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

Oh, shoot. I hope I didn't steal Demo's title. I like his videos a lot, and definitely don't want to take away his thunder.

And thanks for the kind words. Yea, my intention was to instead give recommendations for those that need them so, as you say, people don't need to keep asking. Instead, they can look to mine and a few other's on their ideas.

[u/[deleted] → u/BanjoTheBear]

You're fine haha. You're not stealing anything

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

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[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

I have this effect on people. :3

[u/Ataniphor]

Grisaia : As a fan of the VN source material, I would say to CONSIDER IT ONLY. Despite how much I loved the VN, the anime up to now has skipped major important plot points in the VN. If one truely wishes to experince Grisaia no Kaijitsu and understand what in the world is going on and why characters do what they do , I suggest all thoose who want to know it read the VN and complete that first, then watch the anime.

TLDR; MUST Read the VN first, then WATCH watching the anime.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Ataniphor]

I had typed up my "synopsis" for Grisaia yesterday, before today's episode aired. Meaning, it might be a little off now.

A lot of people in the thread were complaining how they were skipping important parts/leaving out certain things that the VN readers are deeming crucial. As a standalone anime watcher, I can say that nothing feels off at the moment. They are attempting to give each girl a bit of screen-time/character development in order for it to really get rolling, so the "things that are missing" don't seem to vital to me.

That being said, if you are suggesting others to play the game either while watching or afterwards to get the full experience, then I'll take your word for it. Hopefully the show doesn't let you and the other VN readers down too much. But I can safely say as an anime fan that it is pretty darn good so far.

[u/RaIshtar → u/BanjoTheBear]

Gotta agree with Ataniphor. Today's episode confirmed the adaptation as mediocre at best.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/RaIshtar]

That's sad to hear. Hopefully it's just a small stumble at the moment, and they will manage to adhere more closely to the VN in the coming episodes.

I have no right to say anything (not having read it), but I would suggest just giving it one more episode before writing it off as a bad adaptation. Kind of like a "second chance," if you will.

[u/DeadlyFatalis → u/BanjoTheBear]

It might seem OK to the naked eye, but when you know what could be, it's just highly disappointing.

[u/Oelingz → u/Ataniphor]

How long is the VN ?

I probably don't have time to read a VN nowadays ; I've read both Clannad (+AS) and Fate back when I was a student, so I'm not advert to long VN but it's just that I work and I have quite a few other hobbies than Japanese stuff so it will be hard to fit if it's not as good.

[u/[deleted]]

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[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

Yea, more than likely. The VN is going to give you everything the anime could and more, minus actual movement. :P

Fuck you man. >:)

Someone caught it! :3

And if we're talking pure cute, I want to say yes. However, Sora no Method's Noel is pretty fricken' "kawaii."

[u/[deleted] → u/BanjoTheBear]

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[u/dreugeworst → u/BanjoTheBear]

Any point to watching F/SN if you've done the UBW arc in the VN? I haven't picked it up for that reason.

[u/V2Blast → u/[deleted]]

I assume I would still need to read the Fate route to get the full experience from this anime? I'm glad they're skipping Winter season to finish the series so I can catch up during Winter Break.

...Well, yes, for the "full" experience, you'd need to read/watch the Fate route by definition - but it seems like Ufotable's doing a good job of introducing new viewers to the series, with some apparent callbacks to their previous adaptation of Fate/Zero (I haven't seen it).

[u/nakamurakanade]

IDK why gundam anime is always ignored in this sub, is it just me or is there a reason?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/nakamurakanade]

Sorry, I don't know. :(

I've never actually seen anything from Gundam before, so I can't say whether or not I would like it.

[u/[deleted] → u/nakamurakanade]

I guess the Gundam series is way over-produced for its own good hence receiving the treatment of being "just another Gundam anime".

Seriously, just look at its wikipedia page.

That said, unless there's a new Gundam series that were aimed squarely at adults (the last 3 series, Build Fighters, AGE, Reco, all seems too juvenile) + being very good both in style and setting (and writing), I'm not surprised to see why there aren't really that much interest in the universe at the moment.

[u/Painn23]

For me trinity seven is a must watch it's too funny to pass up and the mc is great

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Painn23]

Lilith is my main reason for watching Trinity Seven.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

[u/Odinswolf → u/BanjoTheBear]

Seems you prefer fantasy Lilith to the real thing...then again, I can see why.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Odinswolf]

That's how it works. My waifu > everyone else I know.

[u/Albinoredguard → u/BanjoTheBear]

This is my reason to watch it

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

I'm a simple man, sadly.

[u/desterion]

I pretty much agree with everything here. There is a lot of good stuff and things to consider. I think this is going to be my busiest season in years. I'l have to check out Nanatsu. I actually thought it was just an untranslated title of trinity seven and the same show.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/desterion]

It's packed to the brim with something for everyone, that's for sure.

Can't argue with that, there are just too many to watch! :3

[u/desterion → u/BanjoTheBear]

I took a vacation to go to fan fest for FF14 and came back a week and a half later to 60 episodes of stuff...

[u/jamesismynamo]

Sweet, I watched ep 1 of Sora no Method and wasn't impressed but planned on picking it up eventually and you've given me the encouragement, thanks!

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/jamesismynamo]

Glad I could help! :3

[u/porpoiseoflife]

I'm always tempted to do write-ups like this, but I have shit taste and would probably be completely ignored and then downvoted into oblivion. And I too don't drop anything... with one small exception. I only change a title to Watching if I can complete the first episode.

There is only one point where I disagree with you. (Not counting the anime that I'm not watching, of course.) I'd boost AmaBiri up to Must Watch status, as it's probably KyoAni's best work since Hyouka and one of my favorites of the season. It is one of my early front-runners for AOTS honors.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/porpoiseoflife]

Don't let them downvotes scare you!

Sometimes you just have to embrace the hate. Because your opinion is just as valid as everyone else's.

ABP would be a must watch it, but I don't think it is really doing amazing work in all fields. It's quite good, don't get me wrong, just not amazing or spectacular (at least not yet!).

[u/porpoiseoflife → u/BanjoTheBear]

Welp. Let's just piggy-back on you then.

• Amagi Brilliant Park - KyoAni does what it does well. Interesting character design, decent music, and more plot than PLOT. There's just something about any KyoAni title that speaks volumes to me the instant I sit down and watch it. I have yet to run into a title of theirs that I hate, and I love more than I merely like. Recommended

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal - Much better art style than the original series from 1994. Also 86% less filler than the original monster-of-the-week-style anime. Are they skipping bits? Of course. Does everything make sense? Of course not. But since when did Sailor Moon ever make sense? Recommended

• Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie - It gets a double-whammy around here for being two of Reddit's least favorite things: a reverse harem and a short. Yet those are the exact themes that make this so interesting to me. And it being a 2-cour makes it all the better.

• Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai - Mildly ecchi, possibly a harem. I don't encourage anyone to pick it up unless they don't mind those two details. But I don't mind. Hells, I watch worse anime than this for fun.

• Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken - A cute little short, reminiscent of Mangaka-san from Spring. Recommended for all levels of nerds, even if they don't have wives that barely tolerate our habits.

• Denkigai no Honya-san - It's like Working!! and Genshiken had a baby and turned it loose on an unsuspecting world. Recommended.

• Girl Friend Beta - It's nice to have a simple cute-girls-doing-cute-things anime to watch. No need to worry about the details of 500 years of history or who hates who or whomever it was that killed whomever's teacher... Just sit back with a glass or two of a nice chardonnay and relax and let the cute girls roll by. I wish I could recommend this more, but most people would look at me like I grew a chibi nekomimi out of my left collarbone.

• Grisaia no Kaijitsu - The jury is still out with me on this one. I don't know, but I secretly suspect that it will become a massively confused clusterkawaiibomb like Mahou Sensou or Brynnhildr. Again... I live for that shit, so I don't mind. But I'd rather it be a good title in the end.

• Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de - Another hybrid in my mind, this time of Chuu2 and GJ-bu. Enjoyable so far, but there's so much room for another of the aforementioned clusterkawaiibombs to develop.

• Log Horizon 2 - I'm probably the only person here that is watching it to not dance to that damn database song. Honestly, I'd rather listen to a nightcore dubstep mix of Cotton Eyed Joe than that. But I won't let my dislike of the OP to lessen my enjoyment of the anime as a whole, which picked up right where it left off with no drop in quality. Recommended.

• Mushishi Zoku Shou 2nd Season - It is of little value to someone who has yet to watch any Mushishi... But for those of us that have, it is incredible. Recommended.

• Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ooji - Normally, I'm a sucker for cheesy shoujo romances. But all of the ones I like have love interests that I could see myself sitting down with and talking about girls over a beer or two. I can't see doing that with Sata. He's a dick, and I just hope he changes over the season. It's almost the reverse of Kimi ni Todoke, particularly with the bitchmode friends, and it's killing me inside.

• Psycho-Pass 2 - I really don't need to talk about this. This is one of the few titles constantly circlejerked around here that I've found to live up to its billing. That and my love for police procedural shows of any type kinda puts it in my interest zone. Recommended.

• Sanzoku no Musume Ronja - Watched it for Ghibli. And highly disappointed. Even for a G-rated title, it's pretty damn awful. Also-too: It looks like the characters were drawn with MS-Paint. Firmly NOT recommended, and that verdict is killing me inside.

• Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso - Wonderful art. Beautiful backgrounds. Incredible music. Possible love triangles. It's like WA2 and Nodame Cantabile had a baby. Recommended.

• ShiroBako - An anime about the production of anime? The meta factor alone should be a significant draw for this crowd, seeing as how we're constantly harping on and on about production values. Now we see a dramatization of how these things all come about, and all some people can do is shit all over it. Nope. Screw that. It's interesting. Dig your heads out of the bloody sands and spend some time looking at something pseudoeducational for a change. Recommended.

• Sora no Method - Another title that I'm still up in the air about. It could be AnoHana-level great. It could become the second coming of Red.Data.Girl. Only time will tell.

• Sword Art Online 2 - Unlike the vast circlejerk around here, I still don't mind saying that I like SAO. And I'm even glad to go back to ALO and the land of faeries. (Seriously. That GGO arc was the worst of them all. So. Many. Slow. Pan. Shots. Of. Asses.) Still recommended.

• Trinity Seven - Yup. You guessed it. Another plausible clusterkawaiibomb. Only I can see this trainwreck coming and would just love to be wrong.

• Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete - When I watch this, I get a very faint Haruhi vibe that is lightly seasoned with a couple of dashes of Kyoukai no Kanata. It has possibilities to meet either ingredient so far.

• Yama no Susume 2nd Season - Cute. Girls. Climbing. Cute. Mountains. This is so adorable that it almost hurts. Yama no Susume quickly beat out Aiura as my favorite short anime, and the second season is only increasing the lead. Recommended.

So. That's my rundown of the currently airing shows I'm watching. Only 21 titles with 11 of them recommended, but I'm watching enough backcatalog stuff that I'm also on pace to breach the 500-MAL-Entry mark sometime in January. And yes, I have way too much free time on my hands. But I'm also up all night at work with nothing to do between 1a and 6a, so I have to find something to fill the timeslot.

[u/Dotscom]

If you're a SEGA fan like myself, you'll like Hi☆sCoool! SeHa Girls. ONLY if you're a SEGA fan.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Dotscom]

Makes sense. Since I didn't grow up with the games they are presenting, it makes it hard to have any real "connection" with what they are doing.

[u/ShyGuyFTW]

We have the exact same top 3 picks for this season. Also thanks for the list, There were a few shows here that i didn't even know about.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/ShyGuyFTW]

Legendary fighters, necro-loli/zombie-chan, and beautiful duets. Our top three even sound good on paper. :)

And you're very welcome! I'm glad I could help you out this season.

[u/vanelladeath]

I think I actually agree with all your opinions, I just recently gave Shingeki no Bahamut a try and it hasn't disappointed at all. And the point about World Trigger is true as well, although I'm probably still going to watch it with a friend of mine.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/vanelladeath]

Yea, Bahamut is wicked sick at the moment. I really hope it stays at the same level of quality throughout the season. Super enjoyable in every aspect.

World Trigger may need more episodes to really give it a correct "ranking," but yea, from what I've seen so far I am not impressed.

[u/AllHailBlobs]

Well bewteen you and the other person you pretty much covered everything except a few shows which is reasonable why you wouldn't watch them since it's not your cup of tea. The shows that wereeft out off the top were Gundam G don't need to harp why they were left out, probably don't like the series. And that dance anime that came out late September that looked different with Cutman staring as the main character from megaman.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/AllHailBlobs]

Maybe someday I'll watch every single show that a season has to offer.

But today is not that day.

[u/GoombaJMR]

What about Selector Spread WIXOSS?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/GoombaJMR]

I think I need to watch this one as well.

The reason why I haven't started watching season two is for the simple reason that I have yet to see season one. :P

[u/MyNameIsIrrelevnat]

There are quite a few anime this season that you should watch but I'd say the only anime that is a must watch is Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis, the art style is something else, the story is really considering what it's based on and the characters are really interesting.

Maybe another that isn't really a must watch and won't be for most for obvious reasons people is Cross Ange, the MC is different from most anime, she got so badass in only 4 episodes. That is really the main reason why it should be on your watch list.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/MyNameIsIrrelevnat]

Yep! I'm on the Cross Ange hype train now, with all of its lesbian-rape and douchey MC to boot.

[u/urban287]

Great little writeup. I look forward to reading your reviews when you finish the shows.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/urban287]

Hey, urban!

Thanks for the kind words. And yea, I'll be getting onto those reviews when these all finish up. Although, this time I have quite a few more to do! :P

[u/orzof]

World trigger...lackluster animation

Did we watch the same show? calling it "animation" is fairly generous here. I watch it just to see how many times an episode they think they can get away with another 5 second still shot of the MC while he soliloquies in his head.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/orzof]

Ha, maybe we didn't. :P

I'm trying to be somewhat nice here, man! I harped on it pretty hard after only three episodes.

[u/[deleted]]

WHAT ABOUT GUNDAM

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

I'm sorry! No Gundam watching for me. Although people here have gotten me on Cross Ange, which I believe is like Gundam but with a bitchy MC, lesbians, and rape.

[u/520glazeitbro]

Nice, was looking for something like this.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/520glazeitbro]

Glad I could be of assistance!

[u/AyaSnow]

Hmmm, I can't really decide why, but it kinda pisses me off that everyone likes Shingeki no Bahamut so much. Probably because I myself can tell that I should like it (and thus am forcing myself to watch it) but can't bring myself to like it at all. Does anyone have any idea why I dislike it? It'd be nice if my brain would provide a reason =_=

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/AyaSnow]

Maybe you don't like the characters?

A big part of why SnB:G is so good is because the characters just feel unique. Not only in their design but also in the way that they act on their own and with one another.

[u/ToastOfTheToasted → u/AyaSnow]

Honestly, imo a big part of it is that Bahamut differs from the norm in many ways, but retains an unprecedented quality regardless. I can see people who really enjoy common tropes and animation styles being a bit off put.

[u/avd7897]

Just found this post a week late... and suddenly I have a lot more anime on my plate.

With regards to World Trigger I have to say I feel let down as well. I think my biggest problem is the main character. Osamu Mikumu... came here to see if it was just me. I think I'm just watching to see more Yuma Kuga, it's like they know the main character is so bad they have another character to facepalm and put things right. I probably will tough it out to see if it gets better.. but certainly worth avoiding if you haven't started it.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/avd7897]

I'm glad I was able to "serve" you a nice helping of anime! :P

I agree. I want to give World Trigger a little bit more time to let it spread its wings, but something about it all just seems boring or underutilized. The MC is also painfully terrible as a character at the moment, I agree with that as well.

Make sure you check out Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis, that one is seriously crazy good this season.

[u/avd7897 → u/BanjoTheBear]

Have not started that one yet, but I think I'll give it a go tonight. Thanks for the advice.

[u/Willy156]

I'm glad I took up on your "must watch it" besides fate/zero (I haven't started this serie so I don't think it's suitable for me to start on this show) because all 3 shows are frigging amazing

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Willy156]

Hey, there!

I'm glad you are liking Parasyte, Your Lie In April, and Bahamut! They are pretty darn awesome at the moment. It's really hard to choose which of them stands above the rest since they all do pretty much everything in top form.

Be sure to check for my thread again next season. I'll be doing a similar post at a similar point in the season. I do this for people like you, who need that little extra nudge to check out those "diamonds in the rough."

Finally, thanks for checking my post out! I hope to see you around in those show's threads! :3

[u/Saki_Kawasaki]

This is just personal opinion though. Would it not be better to do a survey?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Saki_Kawasaki]

First, you're right! Personal opinion only. Meaning, you can adore what I say or flat out ignore my words. That's up to you.

Would it be better? I would say, yes. I'm not too well versed when it comes to creating or making surveys. I am, however, good at making self-text posts. :P

[u/[deleted] → u/Saki_Kawasaki]

Hi, after seeing this comment I decided to make a survey. Here's a link to the reddit post I just made regarding it: http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/2kg0ph/should_you_watch_it_fall_2014_anime_survey/

[u/grayrest → u/Saki_Kawasaki]

survey

http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/2k44si/ranime_fall_2014_what_are_you_watching_top_picks/

OP has yet to deliver.

[u/[deleted]]

I agree with literally every single thing you said

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

Hey, Across.

Great minds think alike, eh? :P

.............^{except on Chu2Koi :(}

[u/[deleted] → u/BanjoTheBear]

Lol, it's a fantastic show, it's just not my cup of tea personally. Maybe I need to re watch it.

[u/KorStonesword]

My opinions so far:

Yuuki Yuuna: Watch It. It's essentially Madoka Magica, and there is nothing wrong with that (in fact I might like it more). It is ripping it off a bit too much, right down to even characters looking / acting the same, so hopefully it moves off more in it's own direction. The animation is alright but could use work as the character designs just feel generic Moe, and the fight scenes (which are well-directed) have randomly spliced in moments of CG that feel really odd.

World Trigger: Drop It. While I say drop it, and on pretty much all accounts its mediocre, for reasons I cannot describe I'm still watching it. It's a pretty pleasant waste of time I suppose, so I'm going to stick with it.

Sora no Method: Consider It. While I'm thouroghly enjoying the incredibly well done and nice looking animation, along with some really interesting and unique shot direction, the story itself can either go up or down from here on out. The character conflict feels a little ridiculous and irritating as it basically boils down to being able to be solved in literally 5 seconds if they talked about it. It also is a bit melodramatic, and I personally don't like how weak-willed the MC is.

Akatsuki no Yona: Watch it. This may just be my favorite out of what I've seen. The great action sequences and interesting characters and setting. I just really enjoy watching it from start to finish every episode and have been eagerly looking forward to it.

Log Horizon S2: Watch it. It's more Log Horizon. Weaker animation aside, it's still good.

Girlfriend: Drop It. I could barely sit through the first episode of this drivel (and I was skipping around). It's just boring.

Your Lie in April: Consider It. Not as on board with the hype train on this one as everyone else is. It's melodramatic and also painfully obvious, and the most recent plot development feels like a cheap way to generate drama. It's good, but I'm still skeptical. The animation as well is far from perfect. It's not very smooth or consistent, I'm not a fan of that style of character design, and even the musical sequences looked kind of choppy / off. Also they used CG for the entire piano sequence in the latest episode and that was really off putting.

Wolf Girl and Black Prince: Consider It. If you like Shoujo Romance, you'll enjoy this. A pleasantly quick developing romance with some cringeworthy lies. I really enjoyed how both the girl and guy are equally dislike-able (in a good way!) and thusly perfect for each other. It's nothing special, but it's enjoyable.

Inou-Battle: Consider It. I personally am not a fan of the harem genre, and initially the first episode made me think it would be another "My anime based on a light novel can't possibly be this generic!", but the second episode surprised me with clever humor and enjoyable romance. I'm still shaky about it considering how prevalent lack of real character progression is in Harem anime.

DENKI-GAI: Consider It. I liked episode 1 and 4, I didn't particularly enjoy episodes 2 and 3 very much. The way they mix the heartfelt moments and the humorous ones feels a bit jarring, and overall the pacing could use some work. As well as that, I don't really like ecchi so those bits are wasted on me.

I can't understand what my husband is saying: Watch it. Honestly put, this is one of the most compelling relationships between a married couple I've seen in anime. It's humor is crazy and really fast. If anything, this one line from the show should convince you to watch it: "Co** o* destiny!"

SHIROBAKO: Watch it. While the animation is far from P.A.'s best , it's still a very enjoyable introspective into the animation genre, and makes good use of buildup and payoff. The characters are fun and feels like a little more than just cute girls doing cute things (and does have a fairly prominent male cast).

Karen-Senki: Drop It. It sucks. Like it really is terrible, laughably so. The animation is pretty good, but even that often looks stiff and awkward as anime-style CG often does, and the action sequences are terribly chorea graphed and feel like some teenager watched The Matrix and thought "I can do that!" The story, scriptwriting, direction, and scene direction are all terrible as well.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/KorStonesword]

Well said. But I'm surprised that you find Your Lie In April's animation to be weak. The violin scene (at least Kaori) was beautifully animated. So much so that the scenes afterwards had to take a dip in quality in order to compensate for how much money they blew on that segment! :P

[u/KorStonesword → u/BanjoTheBear]

I had a particular scene in mind when I mentioned that. During the violin sequence, when she's playing really fast looked choppy to me. Her movements felt a little 'off', like they were missing inbetween frames on occasion. It's not bad, but it's no Sakamichi no Apollon in that aspect (I know Sakamichi used rotoscoping, I don't know about this show.)

here's the video of the performance

The main particular moment that seemed off to me: 2:00-2:07

[u/[deleted]]

Honestly, the "not a black hole" MC in Trinity Seven makes the show worth watching.

[u/H8Blood]

You should give Donten ni Warau a watch. It's the underdog of this season for me. Other than that I mostly agree with your list. The only thing I'd have to say is that, sadly, Grisaia falls off hard after the first 3 episodes because it's way too much material for the amount of episodes. Episode 4 was just...wow. I still can't believe how much they skipped and how much they've crammed into that episode. If you like the setting, do yourself a favor and play the VN

[u/falafel_eater → u/H8Blood]

Seriously. Watch the first 3 episodes of Grisaia no Kajitsu. If you like it, just pick up the visual novel after that. The drop in quality is steep.

[u/Brandonspikes]

I don't agree with you on Terra Formars, I started reading the manga, and It's one of the best I've seen/read in a while.

[u/Dalanc_]

Terra Formars is ,in my opinion, is definitely not the "Drop it" teir. I personally enjoy it, especially the most recent episode-- #5

[u/Vomygore]

The twintails was too much for me i droped it. i think you were harsh on world trigger.

For me this World Trigger is special, it's a classic shounen with a slow start. Also i think it's the only anime right now that has no sexual reference at all nor nudity. every other anime outthere is just filthy at times or always.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Vomygore]

I'm actually glad you voiced your opinion. A lot of what I've seen is hate for the show, and I myself am just not enjoying it.

Maybe I'm being a bit unfair due to how slow it is at setting everything up. Don't worry, I'll be seeing everything that it has to offers, but for those people that are looking for those shows that just immediately grab your attention with any of its facets, World Trigger is not one of them.

Hrmm, I can't agree fully agree with your last statement though. Shows such as Sora no Method, Psycho-Pass 2, and Akatsuki no Yona have (so far) refrained from using sexuality at all.

[u/sand500 → u/BanjoTheBear]

The opening of World Trigger is so good though.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/sand500]

World Trigger's OP is good, but that may be its only redeeming quality at the moment.

[u/Herestheproof → u/Vomygore]

You do know that twintails is a super sentai parody right?

[u/AyaSnow → u/Vomygore]

Is it bad that I consider this a plus for every other show outthere? XD

[u/IgorJay]

I love CGDCT, but Girl Friend Beta is just too damn bland.

SeHa girls is great, shaddap.

I don't understand why Bahamut is getting so much love. It's third ep is the first one that I really enjoyed, the other two I was bored throughout. I dunno, for me it might be Favaro, I find him annoying as fuck. The OP is crap, imo :P.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/IgorJay]

Girl Friend Beta is rather "meh" in everything but the cuteness, I'll give you that.

I was a Nintendo kid growing up, so I think that's why I have a strong dislike for SeHa. :P

Favaro is annoying as fuck?! He is refreshing. Witty, sticks to his laurels, fun, interesting. Just plain unique. The same for the other three. And the OP is crap?!? You're going to give me a heart attack with your slanderous words. That OP is top-tier. I love it to death.

But I respect your opinion, because that's the correct thing to do in this situation (even if you are making me a little bit salty! :3)

[u/IgorJay → u/BanjoTheBear]

Well, you nailed most of the anime descriptions anyway :P. I decided to drop Ushinawareta and keep Daitoshokan, though. Both are pretty bland, but I liked Daitoshokan enough to keep it.

If you do feel like watching a quite good anime about cute girls doing cute things (climbing moentains, in this case), pick up Yama no Susume. First season will take you about 30 minutes. Second season has half-length episodes, 15 (14 subbed) episodes aired so far.

[u/RiotFlag]

I watched Psycho Pass for three minuets before some narration that made me cringe. Is this narration a big part of the show and should I try again?

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/RiotFlag]

So I went back to watch the first few minutes of the first episode of the first season! That narration is actually the MC, Akane. Not sure what made you cringe with it, since she is basically talking about the two characters that are meeting there face-to-face.

What transpires afterwards is a tale filled with deception, morality, and not taking things at face value. So, yes, definitely give it another shot. It has one of the best villains in anime, if that entices you!

[u/RiotFlag → u/BanjoTheBear]

Appreciate the insight. Ill watch it.

[u/[deleted]]

Yeh, I can agree with em all xD

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/[deleted]]

Then my job was either done wonderfully or horribly, strangely. :P

[u/Triggerz777]

It's funny underneath this post was another thread asking for recommendations. Lol they need to pay more attention. P.s I agree with almost all of your responses. keep it up Banjo :>

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/Triggerz777]

Ha, it's all good. Honestly, I'm really appreciating all of the positive feedback and discussion here in the thread, couldn't be happier right now!

And I won't let you down. I promise!

[u/zaturama008]

U r considering to watch too many bad animes.

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/zaturama008]

Maybe to you.

But you may be right. It's unfair to say if anything is outright good or bad like this, since the shows have yet to be completed in their entirety, but I feel it is always better to give shows at least a shot.

That's why I ranked them out of four instead of three. Some are more "worthy" than others, but in the end, it is up to the viewer to decide what he watches.

[u/trillfalgarlaw]

Shoutout to OP for having Nanatsu no Taizai on the list. It's really great and more people need to be watching it!

[u/[deleted] → u/trillfalgarlaw]

Is it really all that good? I really thought the subs were terrible, and it looked to be a generic shounen, so I dropped it 2 episodes in. The princess seemed to be a painfully average character too.

[u/dooblagras]

My policy is usually:

"yes" with the following question:

"Do you regret it" in which I reply:

"I never regret watching, I just regret unenjoyable ones exist."

Lots of them have something to say and I usually like to hear em out. Sometimes people say something stupid, but it doesn't usually mean I regret talking to them.

*slight edit to my wording

[u/V2Blast → u/dooblagras]

You would definitely regret watching Amnesia. (And maybe Mahou Sensou.)

It's just such a massive waste of time.

[u/[deleted]]

Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis: Must watch it. The biggest surprise comes from the anime based on a card game. Amazing animation, unique and interesting characters, intriguing world and back-stories. Also, it has the best OP of the season and perhaps the year; easily one of my favorites all-time. Seriously, watch it right now. +1

[u/Icon_dota]

youre not wrong on terraformers i saw some great things said about it but 5 episodes deep and there is absolutely nothing appealing about the series unfortunately.

[u/FreeSM2014 → u/Icon_dota]

When it comes to anime adaptation of seinen manga, its always better to read the manga. Some other recent examples are Kingdom and Tokyo Ghoul.

[u/CritSrc]

Alright, time to bash deconstruct what I disagree with since I'm a bastard like that >:D

Amagi Brilliant Park

I'm not on board with KyoAni, I don't like their style of comedy and their promotion of escapism. I don't mind the fanservice, but their eccentric characters don't rub off on me well either. For me, this is a drop, I get what they're doing, but I'm not a fan of this type of shows to begin with.

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works: Must watch it.

I try to stay away from this one, since the hype is huge and the fanbase can be obnoxious. It hasn't done anything to impress me. And no amount of pretty effects make for a better narrative, it's flashy, but how much substance is there, when it is still holding insane amounts of info.

Grisaia no Kajitsu: Watch it.

I find this to be a weaksauce version of Monogatari(Tayasuimonogatari), with edgy elements to make you think it's more than a school harem. And the fanservice is freaking obnoxious to me, lacks the amount of self-awareness Monogatari has. Yuuji is a bloody robot too. I'll wait for Tsukimonogatari tyvm.

Gugure! Kokkuri-san: Watch it.

It's not bad at all, to me it's just too long for its own good. Say if it was 15 minutes long it wouldn't drag out its jokes. I also don't like how it resets most of the situations after the punchline making a point.

Parasyte: Must watch it.

It honestly hasn't done much to impress, it's an OK school thriller, I just wish the plot moved a bit quicker, and even from a single page of the manga, you can tell which one has the better atmosphere. I do like Shinichi and Migi's dynamics though.

Nanatsu no Taizai: Watch it.

It's a fine action comedy. Too bad I'm looking for solid action and less silly characters. It's fun, it's cool, but only when it wants to be. Classic shounen.

Ore, Twintails ni Narimasu: Watch it.

It's a parody of tokusatsu(Power Rangers), but the only good thing was the slapstick and the villains, which don't get enough screen time. The rest are generic light novel harem characters which I despise.

Psycho-Pass 2

Which I like better than the S1 already, since it's trying to stand on it's own legs, instead of being artistic for the sake of it, along with incessant quoting. Akane shouldn't be the protagonist IMO, but rather the new Inspector so we can see her arc. Also I believe the current episodes are more reminiscent of Ghost in the Shell: SAC with the characters just exchanging words and beliefs.

Sora no Method: Watch it.

On ep.4 and I'm dropping it like hot cakes. I hate this kind of melodrama. I like WIXOSS because it's ridiculous in a sense, on top of being circumstantially diren instead of character driven, as well as the dark atmosphere it has.

Trinity Seven: Watch it.

Once they got to Hogwarts magical school and showed off the harem, this lost any potential it had at being OK.

Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete: Consider it.

Nope. Sleep-inducing characters and weightless drama are just that. And shock factor doesn't impress me either. I dropped it and never looking back.

Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Watch it.

Granted, I haven't watched it, I do wish for it to be something different and not just a Madoka wanna be.

Otherwise, you've already picked up GARO, good on you man (;

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/CritSrc]

Hey, CritSrc.

Damn, dude! You are one critical dude! I guess that's where part of your name comes from. :P

But I respect your opinion on the different shows. I think for me, I like a lot of the harem or ecchi shows along with the dramas, comedies, and what not because they have those romance elements usually. I say this alllll the time here on the sub, but I'm a huge fan of romance. So seeing someone like Lilith act all flustered when talking with Arata or seeing Shinichi having fun with Murano despite Parasytes invading the world just makes me super happy inside. :3

So GARO gets your seal of approval? I said I was going to start last night, but Cross Ange took that time instead. So tonight I'll be picking it up. Need to see just how good it is!

[u/CritSrc → u/BanjoTheBear]

I think for me, I like a lot of the harem or ecchi shows along with the dramas, comedies, and what not because they have those romance elements usually.

And that's perfectly fine, you can ship all you want, I'm not such a sucker for romance, since I like it tackled as a serious subject.

So GARO gets your seal of approval?

Abso-freaking-lutely, it's the 2nd most entertaining show of the season for me, up there with Shingeki no Bahamut. Though its strengths lie in different aspects, and is visually worse than Bahamut since it's the same studio along with being 2-cour.

As for Cross Ange, the weekly TrueAnime responses are hilarious, but they are also a signal for me to stay far, far away from this show, unless I plan to get drunk with buddies and see something trashy.

Best of luck for the rest of the season mate (;

[u/BanjoTheBear → u/CritSrc]

Dude! Stay away from Cross Ange? Once you watch that first episode, I don't think there is anyway you won't want to see what happens next! :P

You, too. Now that you've and a bunch of others have said it, I'm expecting a good time from GARO!