Don’t call it a comeback · 4:56pm April 10th
I watched seven episodes of anime for this new season which is the most I’ve seen in a single week since…I dunno, October maybe, probably longer. Still, as you can tell, this blog isn’t up to my usual standards, so I wouldn’t consider myself back to doing anime blogs just yet.
- I’m going to watch more -
Kowloon Generic Romance
What’s it about? A mystery set in a future where the Kowloon Walled City wasn't demolished.
The manga was good, and I have high hopes for the show. The animation here resembles a high-budget movie in the heyday of the ‘90s. Retrofuturism is kind of the whole theme.
Is it a romance? That’s part of the mystery.
A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof
What’s it about? Two girls - a ninja running away from home and an assassin - meet and realize they have complimentary skills to work together.
I liked the manga. The animation is pretty good, though I think a touch oversaturated. I saw a few references to Bocchi the Rock. There is some bloodshed in the plot, but it’s generally an upbeat comedy. Kind of peripherally yuri. Ecchi.
I think this is sure to be the standout comedy of the season, though it remains to be seen if it has the substance to pull off an overall win.
Bye Bye, Earth season 2
What’s it about? In a world of animal people, where weapons are living and war is music, the only human in the world takes her huge sword and goes on a journey of self-discovery.
If you saw the first season and liked it, it’s just the same as you remember. I still don’t know what the hell is going on, but I learned long ago that with this show, it doesn’t matter. It was my fourth favorite anime of 2024, and I’m glad to see it back.
- I may watch more -
The Gorilla God’s Go-to Girl
What’s it about? In a world where people recieve various blessings from animal gods when they come of age, a timid noble girl gets the strength of a gorilla and is recruited to be a knight against her wishes.
Typical victorian-esque magic school setting. Slice of life comedy. Kind of a reverse harem. Felt like the episode went by super fast. The animation is serviceable, nothing more, nothing less. Aside from the girl being super strong, this is fairly alike just about any fantasy school romcom, but that’s enough to set it apart.
Lazarus
What’s it about? In the future, a scientist develops an amazing painkiller and pretty soon everyone in the world starts using it, only for him to pull the rug that it will kill everyone who took it - unless someone finds him within a month to get the cure.
The animation here is strange. Great quality, especially in backgrounds, but somewhat stiff characters. Also doesn't really feel like anime. Honestly, I'd venture that it actually isn't anime: it's produced by Adult Swim and the creator of John Wick is involved. It's more like a western show that just happens to have some Japanese animators on staff. But John Wick? Yeah, the action is on point. As for the plot...I'm kind of underwhelmed by the villian. Plus, it's basically Suicide Squad: an angry older woman working for the US government recruits a ragtag gang led by a black guy with a big gun to save the world. Okay, maybe I'm stretching there, but overall this show didn't really do much I haven't seen before. It'll be a solid action series this season, but I doubt it'll be remembered next year.
- dropped -
Your Forma
What’s it about? A cop and her android partner solve crimes by diving into people's memories. One day, he gets accused of breaking the laws of robotics.
European setting. Good animation. Low cyberpunk world. Given the subject matter, unexpectedly human. Kind of boring, though.
Apparently the VAs for the two lead characters are married IRL. That explains the good chemistry, but doesn’t make up for the too-fast plot and low drama. Internet commenters are saying this is because the entire first volume of the light novel was skipped.
Kakushite! Makina-san!!
What’s it about? The old "popular girl moves in with introvert boy" plot except she's actually a sexbot.
I knew this was going to be trash, but I didn't expect nudity in the first frame.
And now down into the manga.
List organized in rough order of my most to least favorite.
Below are those manga that I recommend.
no strong recs
Below are those manga that I conditionally recommend.
Rosebuds
A slice of life about three sisters.
I discovered this in a printed newspaper, of all places. It’s apparently a western webtoon that made a very unusual career move. The difference between the early comics and later ones is notable, becoming more mainstream and less cartoony. Though from the beginning, the short format and light jokes made it a good fit for the newspaper. It’s not really ecchi, not at all by manga standards, but still a hell of a lot more than any newspaper comic I’ve ever seen.
Gokumama ~The Story of a Yakuza Who Became a Mom~
A male yakuza dies and gets reincarnated as a single mother.
Another in the growing genderbent reincarnation category of the yakuza redemption genre. Sort of a slice of life. This could have gone harder.
Below are those manga that I do not recommend.
no strong dislikes
Kowloon was enticing.
Ninja and Assassin was a lot funnier than I was expecting it to be. This could be good. Haven't seen any ecchi through the first ep.
Bye Bye, Earth still not letting me know what's actually going on, but I'm along for the ride either way.
Gorilla God was also better than I thought it'd be.
Lazarus is a mixed bag. Love the music, liked most of the characters, but nothing much has happened yet, and parkour is a poor fit for me. Haven't watched the second ep yet, but the one reviewer quoted on wikipedia saw a preview of the first 5 and only rated it 5/10.
Your Forma is fine enough, but it struck me as desperately trying to be Ghost in the Shell. Similar themes, mechanic, and atmosphere, and the lead even looks like a smaller Kusanagi.
Kakushite hasn't turned up on WCO yet. Oddly, neither has another I wanted to watch and that MAL says started 2 weeks ago.
I also noted that retro has turned up conspicuously a lot this season. Kowloon and Lazarus both use throwback art styles, and so do a couple others I started.
Of the others I'm watching, the only surprises were:
Sword of the Demon Hunter, Witch Watch, and The Too-Perfect Saint (better than expected)
The Dinner Table Detective, Once Upon a Witch's Death, Rock is a Lady's Modesty (disappointing)