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I’ve actually been checking out some of the new premieres this anime season, so I might as well stick all my thoughts into a thread.
Cells at Work: CODE BLACK
I can’t believe it’s not an extended metaphor for toxic work culture and how workers at the lowest levels suffer when higher ups refuse to take responsibility for their actions.
I can’t believe it’s not an extended metaphor for toxic work culture and how workers at the lowest levels suffer when higher ups refuse to take responsibility for their actions.
Much raunchier and more fanservicey than the original series, and the second episode depicting the red blood cells as overworked salarymen going to a club (the liver) to unwind (detox) by drinking with and ogling over the hostesses felt kind of slimy. Not really for me.
LBX Girls
I only checked this one out because Rikako Aida voices the MC, but somehow they managed to make a show about girls in mechanized suits of armor fighting monsters painfully bland and dull, so I won’t be continuing this one. (Sorry, Rikako.)
I only checked this one out because Rikako Aida voices the MC, but somehow they managed to make a show about girls in mechanized suits of armor fighting monsters painfully bland and dull, so I won’t be continuing this one. (Sorry, Rikako.)
Heaven’s Design Team
Cute and funny even though the humor can be crude at times, and I do love fun facts about animals.
Cute and funny even though the humor can be crude at times, and I do love fun facts about animals.
One of the characters is a transwoman (or at the very least heavily trans-coded), and while she is treated well, others have pointed out that having a cis man voice her reinforces harmful stereotypes.
Back Arrow
I checked this one out because LiSA and Shuka Saito are doing the OP and ED and was pleasantly surprised to discover this one was actually pretty fun and charming.
I checked this one out because LiSA and Shuka Saito are doing the OP and ED and was pleasantly surprised to discover this one was actually pretty fun and charming.
Between the character designs, mech battles, and cheesy sincerity, it feels reminiscent of anime from the early-to-mid-2000s, but that might largely be because this one is from the same director as Code Geass.
(This is a total sidebar, but swapping the ED and OP in the first episode was a nice little touch because it gave Shuka a chance to shine without being overshadowed by LiSA.)
So I’m a Spider, So What?
I’m only accepting new isekai if they include empty-headed but golden-hearted protagonists and/or Aoi Yuuki going completely off the rails and screaming ‘OH JESUS’ in horror.
I’m only accepting new isekai if they include empty-headed but golden-hearted protagonists and/or Aoi Yuuki going completely off the rails and screaming ‘OH JESUS’ in horror.
The segments focusing on the human cast had some gorgeous animation but felt far more standard for the genre, so they didn’t interest me as much. However, the concept of an entire class getting isekai’d and working together to get home (?) could be an interesting premise.
Otherside Picnic
Step aside, trashy isekai, it’s time for portal fantasies and decent scifi worldbuilding to shine again. The romance seems fairly slow-burn (though we are only two episodes in), but the two girls already have a nice dynamic going on.
Step aside, trashy isekai, it’s time for portal fantasies and decent scifi worldbuilding to shine again. The romance seems fairly slow-burn (though we are only two episodes in), but the two girls already have a nice dynamic going on.
Horimiya
Easily one of the best premieres of the season. Gorgeous animation, tight pacing, and a likeable cast, and the MCs had more chemistry in a single episode than most couples have in an entire series. Excited to see more of this one.
Easily one of the best premieres of the season. Gorgeous animation, tight pacing, and a likeable cast, and the MCs had more chemistry in a single episode than most couples have in an entire series. Excited to see more of this one.
Wonder Egg Priority
Holy CRAP, what a first episode. I’ve honestly been thinking about it for days at this point. It’s rare that a premiere lives up to the hype like this, so the expectations for this one going forward are high. Hopefully they can maintain this quality.
Holy CRAP, what a first episode. I’ve honestly been thinking about it for days at this point. It’s rare that a premiere lives up to the hype like this, so the expectations for this one going forward are high. Hopefully they can maintain this quality.
The Naoko Yamada-inspired direction, gorgeous animation, subtle show-don’t-tell approach to the story, and the care and grace with which the sensitive topics were handled made this a near perfect first episode.
I might talk about this one more later, but for now, I’m excited.
I might talk about this one more later, but for now, I’m excited.
(I feel like I watched something else too, but I can’t remember. Maybe I’m thinking of one of the second seasons that came out.)
