Winter 09 Top Anime Picks

Shows To Watch This Winter:

This is not a Derailed by Darry thin slicing post although it is inspired by the lack of one. I’ll make no claims that it could ever live up to such high expectations. This post is mainly for the many loyal readers who have been devastated by the lack of thin slicing left by Jason’s hiatus. I cannot hope to fill the massive hole in your hearts but I can at least throw a little dirt in it by providing my picks for the top animes of Winter 09. This list isn’t comprehensive and is based entirely on my personal opinion. If the show is on this list that means that it already passed the test of what I viewed worth my time. I hope that you can also garner a little look into what you’ll judge worth your time this anime season. Without further ado, I bring you My Anime Watch List in increasing order of shows I enjoy the most:

Gundam 00 Second Season:

What more can honestly be said about this series. If you’ve seen one Gundam series you’ve seen them all. Fortunately it’s not boring. The characters are interesting and have believable motivations. Part of the attractiveness of this series (along with Code Geass) is the creation of many unique characters all with valid reasons for doing what they’re doing. The plot is a constant escalation of new mecha part and hidden mecha powers but that shouldn’t stop you from the enjoyment of the series. If you can’t suspend your disbelief at all you probably won’t like this series or just about any other type of anime besides slice of life.

Shikabane Hime Kuro:

Shikabane Hime Kuro is a continuation of the events of Shikabane Hime. The most positive thing I can say about this series is that it is Gainex. Although they are known to have strange endings their previous title Tengen Toppen Gurren Lagann captured my emotions and imagination with the character’s bravado and beat all odds attitude. Although this is, so far, no Gurren Lagann, I believe that it does an adequate job of creating a fun story. Since it’s Gainex you should have no doubt about the animation quality; it is fantastic. I love the fight scenes and the awkward angles the producers choose for this show. The story for the first few episodes is not amazing. Many of you will probably be or have already been bored to tears by Makina, the heroine of the series, constantly repeating the same line “Corpses that have strong regrets become Shikabane. Living corpses they curse living beings and take their lives.”

Although I feel that Shikabane Hime has gone away from the initial premise of a girl killing ninety-nine corpses so she can go to heaven, I do feel like it’s heading in a positive direction with Kuro. The lead male is no longer just a spectator and is starting to become an actual presence in the battle between monks and shikabane. I think this series is definitely getting better. The other awesome thing about it is Funimation, in an attempt to stop piracy, is releasing subs for this online three weeks after the episode is aired. Although it’s a long wait the high quality of the release on Hulu and professional subbing is really nice. You should check it out here. If you want Jason’s reaction to the first episode of this series you can read it here.

To Aru Majutsu No Index:

I had much higher hopes for this series before it started airing, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good series. The animation is pretty good and most of the characters are likeable and interesting. Toma exists in the fantastical place called Academy City which is the pinnacle of scientific discovery and psychic advancement. The story centers on the protagonist who, through his extreme misfortune, winds up meeting a girl who has memorized every magic book in existence. This puts him in the middle of a fight between psychics and magicians leading to epic battles and fun comedy. With the power of his right arm the imagination breaker, the power to stop all things supernatural, Toma must protect index and walk his own path of moral justice in this complicated world.

The premise as you can see pretty much paints it as a Battle Anime. Toma has a unique ability that makes him fight other people with unique abilities every week. There really isn’t anything new or super exciting about this series but they do try their best to incorporate scientific principals in their explanations of psychics. It’s really a very watchable series and if you’re bored and want entertainment it’s definitely better than a lot of stuff airing this season. The animation quality is good and the fights are pretty cool.

Maria Holic:

This was a surprise hit for my viewing list. When I first read about the concept I thought it was going to be a really dumb harem comedy. Alright it’s still a really dumb harem comedy, but it’s a hilarious harem comedy. The story follows the life of Kanako Miyamae who breaks out in rashes anytime a boy touches her. Due to this intense negative reinforcement and other extraneous factors she transfers to a Christian, all girls academy to find a romantic partner. Her initial joy upon transfer is immediately destroyed when she discovers Maria, a cross dressing boy, who has forced himself into Kanako’s life: Comedy ensues.

So the premise isn’t that exciting but the characters really drive this story. Kanako doesn’t have a thought in her head but her continued struggles against her own short comings are admirable and hilarious. The interactions between Maria’s brutally honest maid, Matsurika, and Maria also add a sadistic and cruel humor to the mix. I highly encourage everyone to watch the first episode of this anime. I think you’ll be surprised.

The Tower of Druaga – The Sword of Uruk:

This series is a continuation of The Aegis of Uruk and is just as comedy filled as the original. I went ahead and wrote about this series already here. I really enjoy this series and I think lots of other people will too. Not bad for Gonzo.

Clannad After Story:

This is a continuation of the original Clannad story and is better than the original in my opinion. The original story was a typical harem comedy with better animation, thanks to KyoAni, and trying to outdo Kanon in terms of tragedy. Although the second part of that equation hasn’t changed the first part has. This is the first series I’ve seen that follows the lives of the characters after they leave high school. The change is so different it’s a compelling reason to watch the series alone. Most shows end with the happy ending boy gets together with girl. What happens next? What challenges do they face? I like Clannad After Story a lot more than I liked the original Clannad for exactly that reason. The tragedy is still there so be prepared, but I think you’ll like where it goes.

Minami-ke Okaeri:

If you’re familiar with the original Minami-ke or Minami-ke Okawari you probably already know a lot about this series. It follows the lives of the three Minami sisters: Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki. Their exploits are funny and quite often absurd. They draw on many slice of life themed events to show us the ridiculousness of our own habits. I know there is a lot of complaining about the animation group that did both Okawari and now Okaeri but quite frankly the animation style and the pace of the humor doesn’t offend me in the least. It’s just different. My favorite was the first season but this new season has tantalizing new Hosaka fantasies, Mako-cakes, and other levels of brokenness so loved by the Derailed readers. If you’re looking for a nice slice of life comedy this series is a must. It’s high enough on the list that you can tell I get a rather large amount of enjoyment from it.

Finally coming in at the top of my list is Toradora:

I’ve already written quite a bit about why I love this show in the Toradora = Love post and I recommend that you read that for information on why you should watch this series. Basically the characters are wonderfully believable and I found myself emotionally attached before the fifth episode. Sure if you watch the first few episodes you’re going to think it’s another Rie Kugimiya (Taiga Asaka) series, but I can assure you (besides Baka Inu being said often) that it’s not. Overall I think it will provide a nice break for those tired of the typical harem romance series.

With that said I hope you enjoy the Winter 09 anime season and if you see any shows that I didn’t include here that you believe are an absolute must see go ahead and leave a comment. I might go watch it and edit this post to include it. On a side note this blog got over 100 views yesterday (not including mine) which is pretty awesome for me. It was only getting on average around 15 per day before. If Jason doesn’t return by the spring anime season I will do another similar post like this, but if he does return I doubt I will. Sorry to any of you who experienced slow load times or internal server errors today. The webhosts experienced a pretty hefty error in their server and had to fix it annoying me to no end.