Anime Briefs – What, More 2013 Spring Anime?

Really?  There’s more?  Yeah, and this isn’t even half of it!

Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W – the misadventures involving high-schooler Yasaka Mahiro and his freeloading alien housemates Nyaruko, Kuuko, and Hastur continue in this second TV season.

risu – the first TV season was a significant jump in quality from the original flash animated shorts, so in comparison, they seemed outstanding, but objectively, the animation quality is actually just above average.  The story and setting is a bit manic and random, but the end product is still entertaining.  I was originally wary of the whole property since it borrows from H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos, and he was a raging racist, but I guess this in a way is “sticking it to the man”, since here is an Asian franchise taking from his work, but paying no royalty to his heirs since the work is already public domain.  B+

root – for some reason I lost interest partyway through the first season so haven’t watched this one yet.

Date A Live – following a series of so-called “spacequakes” that have devastated Asia, the seemingly normal Itsuka Shido lives his ordinary high school life in ignorant bliss until the appearance of a mysterious armored girl at the center of a localized spacequake in his hometown that is built in the crater of the previous, devastating spacequake that hit Japan.  He is inducted into the secret organization, Ratatoskr, to subdue these “Spirit” girls, as only he has the ability to do so – with his kiss!

risu – the horribly goofy storyline sounded like something straight out of a b-grade galge, but it comes from a light novel series.  The animation quality is average, but some of the storyline is actually not horrible.  I guess I’m so jaded that I don’t even have to consciously suspend belief when combat armor covers less than a one-piece swimsuit.  It’s better than Kampfer, maybe about on par with Maken-ki!, Asu no Yoichi, or Omamori Himari.  I’ll watch it (grudgingly?) all the way through to find out what happens.  B-

root – this one is totally not doing it for me for some reason, and I actually watched all of Kapfer!

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S – the long-awaited second season of the Toaru Majutsu no Index spin-off series arrives, entering the “sisters” part of the story arc, placing it in chronological context with the timeline of Index.

risu – the quality has remained unchanged from the previous three full seasons of both the Index and Railgun properties.  The balanced mix of dark drama and comedy is still there, which is one of the best parts of this franchise.  Even if you don’t buy into the whole magic/religion/science backstory, the franchise is very enjoyable and consistent.  I look forward to the “last order”!  A

root – yup, continues off much exactly like the previous Railgun season, which I enjoyed more than the magic focused Index that it’s a spinoff from. Although the “science” is pretty much magic. You do probably want to see the first season as familiarity with the characters and situation is assumed.

Go watch some!