Should You Watch It? Fall 2015 Edition

Summer 2015 Edition’s ThreadHey /r/anime, Banjo here!Another season of anime is upon us, and people are currently asking themselves: what is good that is out right now? This is where I come in!Something that I do when I am not critiquing anime, composing an essay, or crying about Chu2Koi is what I have titled “Should You Watch It?” It started as a fun side project to showcase my initial thoughts on the shows I was watching, but has become something that people like to use to make informed decisions about what to watch, what to consider, and even what to drop.How does this work? Essentially, for most airing shows, I have seen the first three episodes and have made a judgment call for people looking to pick up an anime or not. In order to help streamline the process, I have created rankings to help with both clarification and ease of use. To reiterate: this is the “three episode rule” at work, meaning that these conclusions are not infallible. However, it is a simple, early indicator for how the rest of the anime will generally proceed.Whether you put stock into such a rule or like my view on the matter is entirely up to you. However, for this iteration (and hopefully for all subsequent iterations), a new section has been included entitled “Dissenting Perspective.” For each anime, I have acquired a quote (with the user’s permission!) from the discussion threads that contradicts my own views in order to provide more thoughts on the show in question. Hopefully with two contradictory ideas, you can make a more informed decision as to whether or not the anime being investigated is worthwhile.As always, this is just to help people figure out if a particular anime is right or wrong for him or for her. If you or anyone happens to disagree with my judgements (or the dissenters), please voice your own perspective below since the more varying viewpoints that are had, the better the conversation and therefore the better a decision can be made.No more rambling! Let us start my "Should You Watch It?" Fall 2015 Edition!Here is how I rank the shows and what each ranking means:Drop It - do not 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 and forego it.Watch It - should be enjoyable for most anime viewers to watch as it airs or at least enjoyable enough 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 check out each show's "ranking" without having to read every little detail that I put for each one. I will be going through these alphabetically with MAL links as well.(NOTE: Due to timing issues, the following anime are judged based on their first two episodes and not their first three episodes: Garo: Guren no Tsuki, Is the Order a Rabbit??, Owari no Seraph 2, and Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid. Apologies! :3)(NOTE: The “Dissenting Perspective” quotes received total permission for usage before being written here!)Comet LuciferConsider ItBanjo’s Perspective:Comet Lucifer has this really sweet (sweet as in endearing, heartfelt, etc.) family motif going on. Sogo is the dad, Kaon is the mom, Felia is their child, and Maura is their pet. The dynamic is sincere but realistically is not the focus. And that is the problem: there is no immediate focus. The show is setting up its antagonists, its world, and its characters but is not doing much with any of them at the moment. Still, the setting and the premise is enticing, and alongside the family dynamic, the show is poised for greatness. Plus, given that the work is original (not an adaptation), this one should at least be given a shot.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/little-lion:“Half way through the episode, I went into my fridge and slammed the door against my head repeatedly so I could enjoy the rest of the episode. Nothing better than killing some brain cells to get with the slow pacing of this series.”Concrete Revolutio: Choujin GensouConsider ItBanjo’s Perspective:Revolutio (yes, it is “revolution” but missing the “n”) takes quite the convoluted approach to its narrative. The story flip-flops between the past and the present, showing scenes years ago, to then what the characters or world is like now, then backwards again, and so on and so forth. It is somewhat confusing, but that is the appeal of the show. Trying to figure out what happened, understanding the motivations of the cast, and the blurred lines between good and evil are all present. However, due to the complexity, it may be better to marathon this one in order to keep the information contained in one or two sessions rather than spreading it out week by week.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/MonochromeGuy:“I really like this show. Seeing the beginning and the outcome for each superhuman of the week is just fun to watch. And with each episode, you come to piece out what exactly was happening between those two time periods from the beginning and how it became to be, as well as Jirou's role in the future.”Dance with DevilsDrop ItBanjo’s Perspective:A reverse-harem (many guys chasing after one girl), Dance with Devils includes devils, danger, and dancing. Yes, that is right. The anime, at least once per episode, has a specific character break out into song and dance, be it for battling or for seducing. Truth be told, it is as bizarre as it sounds. The “haremers” include a super-serious man, a bad-boy, a playboy, and a dual sadist and masochist, as well as an older brother and a guy who can turn into a dog. That said, the plot is silly, the characters are lackluster, and the different songs, one of the draws of the anime, are not even entertaining. In short, this is one dance worth skipping.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/toomuchtoomany:“This show is making up for how shit season 3 of UtaPri was for me. It's really fun even though it's slightly creepy and all that. The songs are great too. I for one am enjoying this show a lot.”Gakusen Toshi AsteriskConsider ItBanjo’s Perspective:The Asterisk Wars is a battle harem. The MC ignores the obvious advances of the women, the fights are boring to watch, and the storyline needs a lot of work from where it stands. The art and animation is nice, as is the nearly all-English ED, but the overused formula bogs down the majority of the show’s content. More “haremettes” have yet to be introduced, meaning more fun and more action is still on the way, so it is not completely lost. But there are definitely better options at hand.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/DarkenedSpear:“I don't feel like I need to state this, but my own verdict regarding the series is that I'm definitely sticking through with it. It has some really interesting settings and characters, and it seems deeper than most similar shows, it's also executed far better than most similar shows, like they actually put effort and thought about everything, and it's just fun.”Garo: Guren no TsukiDrop ItBanjo’s Perspective:Garo is a fantasy show, following the Makai Knights and Makai Alchemists as they rid the land of Horrors. The first Garo, which aired last year, had a mediocre first half that gave way to a stellar second half. This second, alternative Garo is starting off even worse than the other one. The art and animation is grating to stare at, the comedy is lame, and the characters are dumb. The anime is already a huge and disappointing step down from the original. Comparing it to the original means that the second half should be amazing to watch unfold, but if these first few episodes are anything to go off of, having to sit through twelve horribly constructed episodes just to get to the good stuff is not enough justification to sit through them.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/jacified:“And that's it, I thought it was a strong episode overall, could be better but I don't really mind waiting especially since it's a two-cour show.”Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka??Watch ItBanjo’s Perspective:With more “moe” than there is coffee in the world, Is the Order a Rabbit?? returns for its second season. Rize, Chiya, Sharo, Chino, and Kokoa are the “cute girls doing cute things” once again, now cuter, funnier, and better than ever before, making the sequel a worthy continuation in the series. “Moe” is certainly not for everyone, but if someone is looking for a show that will undoubtedly make him or her smile for twenty-five minutes straight, one has to look no further than this fun slice-of-life outing.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/boqqtzz:“The pace of the show seems to have picked up a little bit from last season, or I might be mis-remembering it. But the comedy style is the same, which is good. God I love this show. It's not moeblob, and it doesn't try too hard to be funny, it just flows pretty naturally on its own. I might do a re-watch of S1, this show is way too good.”Heavy ObjectDrop ItBanjo’s Perspective:Giant balls collide with each other. This more or less describes Heavy Object, an anime centered on future warfare aimed at minimizing human involvement and maximizing technological superiority. Coincidentally, the anime’s dialogue is heavy-handed, telling rather than showing its ideas. And while the constant setting shifting is interesting, the annoying characters, the boring action, and the blatant fan-service, combined with the aforementioned subpar writing, sours the entire show. The only worthwhile aspect is Frolaytia, and even then because she happens to be gorgeous. Otherwise, this anime has next to no worth.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/Totenkopfgitarrist:“So... that's the end of the first Arc/Chapter. Some minor changes to the source material, but after all a great adaptation and a good anime itself. I really like the ending of this first arc, because we have both our ‘asshole MCs’, who are earning everything they dreamed of on their selfish way to luxury and women. And just because they have done something good and nonselfish, they won't earn that, but will go into the same hell again and again and again... talk about karma :D”Komori-san wa Kotowarenai!Consider ItBanjo’s Perspective:Komori-san Can’t Decline! is an interesting show. It stars a girl who is overly mature for her age (personality- and body-wise) who, no matter what, helps the people around her. In other words, she never refuses to aid those in need. At two minutes per episode, the characters currently have (and probably never will) no meaningful development. This is fine if its comedy and “story” can carry their weight, but unfortunately they are not. However at two minutes an episode, it takes very little effort to watch this anime in full.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/MrLameJokes:“I wish this wasn't so short, i really like the character designs.”Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded OrphansMust Watch ItBanjo’s Perspective:A classic and historic anime, Gundam is a global phenomenon that has sold millions, leaving its mark not just on the medium but on the hearts and minds of those that have seen it. Iron-Blooded Orphans is another iteration in the series, bringing with it child neglect, political scandals, and class conflict that put this gritty tale in gear. The characters are promising, the music and art is beautiful, and the robots are cool. To put it differently, its iron does not look to be rusting anytime soon.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/buakaw:“Maybe I'm just getting old but I can't quite agree with the glorification of Mika that's going on here. He's a child soldier cold bloodedly and ruthlessly committing murder. Granted, there's a lot of anime with teens committing violence but this show really stresses out the concept of child soldiers and really put emphasis on Mika's numbness towards execution style killing. Hopefully he develops to more than just a badass killer since the subject matter of child soldiers being used for that novelty would be completely tasteless.”Noragami AragotoWatch ItBanjo’s Perspective:It is time to rend once more! Hiyori, Yato, and Yukine are back, but technically they are not the (immediate) focus. Instead, Bishamon takes center stage, her current arc creating a lot of strong tension plot- and character-wise, giving the show nice drama. Still, the series’ signature ability to inject comedy at just the right moments has not been lost. The ED is homely, the romantic undertones are present, and the antagonists are infuriating (in a good way), giving Noragami’s second season a rather promising start.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/chronolynx:“I'm not really liking how this Bishamon arc is developing, but goddamn if this show doesn't know exactly what I want out of Yukine. Give me more screaming Yuki Kaji pls.”One Punch ManWatch ItBanjo’s Perspective:The title says it all: a dude literally defeats his opponents with a single punch. And it is as fun as it sounds. However OPM’s best feature, which is practically unmatched, is the animation, the anime containing sequences that rival the best in the medium. For that alone it is worth picking up. But beyond the flair, the anime does not have a whole lot going for it. The comedy has jokes that sometimes go on for too long, the characters are not impressive thus far, and the concept – a superhero that hates how strong he is – while interesting has yet to be used or explored appropriately. Still, it is amazing to watch the spectacle on-screen, even knowing that each encounter always ends with a singular muscle extension.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/DanteKirigaya:“BRUH. Saitama's fucking glorious. I LOVE this show. Waiting a week is painful, I wish I could binge this show immediately.”Ore ga Ojousama Gakkou ni "Shomin Sample" Toshite Gets♥Sareta KenConsider ItBanjo’s Perspective:Technically speaking, the main protagonist of ”Shomin Sample” just might have the largest harem of all-time, the only male student at an all-female school. The twist: he is a “commoner” whereas the girls all come from higher society. Thus they vie to understand this completely foreign person who, to them, is unique, interesting, and amazing. The first couple of episodes are nothing special, but now that each main “haremette” has arrived, the comedy has started to pick up. Nevertheless, other, better choices are offered this season.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/NineSwords:“I enjoy this anime a lot. It's like easy listening for the eyes.”Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-henDrop ItBanjo’s Perspective:Owari no Seraph bares its fangs once more, the humans and the vampires still fighting both within and without their own clans. Shinoa’s smugness, Yuu’s determination, and the rest of the gang are still going, but already the show is performing poorly. Critical information is being dropped nonchalantly, the scenes portrayed are silly rather than dramatic, and the characters are still subpar in execution. There are too many problems from the get-go that Owari no Seraph’s second season has to surmount, leaving it in a state of disrepair.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/Northern_decay:“Those weapons have some damn awesome abilities. Show is worth picking up just to see what they can pull off with them :).”OwarimonogatariMust Watch ItBanjo’s Perspective:Monogatari is back again…again. The juggernaut series that seems as if it will never end returns with more Arararararagi, more new characters, and more strings of dialogue than what is considered the norm. The overly artsy direction returns as well. The mathematics, mystery, and malignant motifs for this iteration, though, both separate this season from the others and make this season stronger than the most recent offerings (Hana, Tsuki, and portions of Second Season). It remains to be seen where Owari will stand among the entire series, but suffice it to say that, for now, this anime is still a force to be reckoned with.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/AmethystItalian:“I really hope this was the last Ougi and Araragi super discussion for a bit, not sure if I can handle many more. It's interesting and needed but I'd rather see Sodachi or the rest of the cast, just getting boring but I guess it's the setup!”Rakudai Kishi no CavalryWatch ItBanjo’s Perspective:The Asterisk Wars is a…wait a minute. “Beating a dead horse” jokes aside, Chivalry of a Failed Knight differentiates itself with a higher focus on a singular romantic interest rather than spreading the love per se. That alone makes this one enticing enough to watch. Still, it is not afraid to lean on common harem and “ecchi” tropes. Sure, Ikki is practically infallible and self-insert-able. Sure, Stella is a “tsundere” with large breasts and drop-dead looks. And sure, the “imouto” and other, soon-to-be archetypes surround them. But there is no denying how much fun this one comes off as being.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/ynwa_2865:“Idk, I like the characters' personalities and quirks, it's just really hard for me to like his ‘blade steal’ technique. I mean I get that it's based off his skills of observation and swordplay but it's still a copycat ability and I've never liked those kind of powers. Would rather something creative from the MC himself rather than the creativeness come from opponents and rivals just to have their own abilities turned against them.”Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga UmatteiruWatch ItBanjo’s Perspective:Bad to the bone. A Corpse is Buried Under Sakurako’s Feet is an anime about Sakurako, an adult woman that loves bones, and Shoutarou, a high school teenager who tags along. The dynamic is strange – she sees him as nothing more than a boy or at most her younger brother whereas he is more or less her “guardian”. However the strangeness of their relationship fits snuggly among the bone inspecting that permeates the events. The show is mostly setting up its characters and ideas, so it is not too enticing at the moment, but it is evident that, like the bodies they find, there is a lot left to uncover.Dissenting Perspective, couresty of /u/-tuhbakee-:“So far this show feels like a cheap knockoff of Bones, but I'm not entirely invested in it for the whole mystery (which is more or less self-explanatory) nor the bone scavenging aspects anyways. I already know that I'm going to be disappointed from the extent of our two main characters' relationship progression, but that is the main draw for me at this point. This episode just didn't do anything for me, unlike last week's.”Shingeki! Kyojin ChuugakkouMust Watch ItBanjo’s Perspective:Attack on Titan: Junior High should be stupid. It should be absurd. It should not work. But the show is somehow doing everything right. A massive parody of the Attack on Titan series, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the rest of the Titan-fighting gang star in this silly show that pokes fun at their main series. The comedy is always on point, the references are off the charts, and Mikasa’s “Eren!” and Eren-related feelings and musings are immeasurably hilarious every single time without fail. Again, this anime should honestly not be good. But it is, and it is glorious.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/needyspace:“lame”Shinmai Maou no Testament BurstConsider ItBanjo’s Perspective:Testament of Sister New-Devil returns with its second season, bringing with it its signature and funny censorship bars. New women, new situations, and of course new sexy scenes are found within, as is a new plot that, while emphasized, more or less takes a back seat to the lewdness. At least, it should. As of right now, the anime is not putting a whole lot of attention on the sex-driven escapades, making the show feel like “every other harem.” Truthfully everything but the sensual scenarios is not worth much of anything – Yuki, Chisato, and the rest fight to protect each other and the world – so not focusing on the sexual-related content is nothing but a bad move. Still, when those kinds of scenes come about, they make it hard to think about anything else.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/kidstandout:“shinmai is really stepping into it's own as a series. the political tension among the three factions actually makes it a lot different from dxd.”Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect InsiderMust Watch ItBanjo’s Perspective:The Perfect Insider does something fantastic, and that is use its art and its animation to characterize the people on-screen. Facial expressions, reactions to situations, and subtle body movements make the characters real and therefore believable; a refreshing change of pace from recent anime. The narrative is taking an interwoven approach, the mystery is tricky yet deducible, and the relationships between the cast create an interesting set of dynamics. The anime is hitting high marks in all categories, making it quite the treat this season.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/MelodyOfIce:“I didn't mind the slow pace of this episode. Better now than later. Otherwise I do hope the pace picks up as it's looking like just a basic isolated island mystery.”Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no KamenMust Watch ItBanjo’s Perspective:Spice and Wolf vibes for sure. Following Haku, the amnesia-having, labor-deploring, intelligence-wielding man, and Kuon, the tail-wagging, food-loving, herb-using woman (by the way, Kuon is amazing), the pair find themselves aiding one another, all the while traveling the land. The Chinese atmosphere fits perfectly, the writing is witty, and the rest of the cast supports without taking away from the main duo. Right now, the anime is heading down the path of success and does not seem to be getting lost anytime soon.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/ObtuseMelon:“This show is the definition of nothing happening.”Valkyrie Drive: MermaidConsider ItBanjo’s Perspective:Imagine the following: a lesbian sexually stimulates her lesbian lover – through kissing, touching, and groping – in order to literally turn the receiver into a weapon designed for battle. Thus surmises Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid, the “yuri” anime of the season. It is mandatory to view the show uncensored because that is where all of action happens – at least, the action worth watching. These lewd scenes are heated, but otherwise this anime has nothing else worth mentioning.Dissenting Perspective, courtesy of /u/HiImAkame:“I love this show”Final Totals:Drop it: 4Consider it: 7Watch it: 5Must watch it: 5Banjo's Top Three Picks:1 Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider2 Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen3 Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded OrphansBanjo's Beginning Awards:Strongest First Episode: Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no KamenCharacter with Highest Potential: Araragi, of OwarimonogatariThe Underdog: Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga UmatteiruBest Girl of the Season: Yuki, of Shinmai Maou no Testament BurstSequeliest Sequel: Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka??Rockin' OPs:1 “THE HERO !! ~Okoreu Kobushi ni Hi wo Tsukero~” of One Punch Man; The high note the vocalist reaches at the end!2 “Talking” of Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider; Such a cool-looking effect!3 “Raise Your Flag” of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans; I do not even own a flag and I am raising mine!Jammin' EDs:1 “Tokimeki Poporon ♪” of Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka??; Literally death by “moe” induced diabetes!2 “Nirvana” of Noragami Aragoto; Notice how it mirrors the first season’s ED!3 “Waiting for the rain” of Gakusen Toshi Asterisk; The rising and falling background sound-effects!(Except for Is the Order a Rabbit??, all OPs and EDs are courtesy of /r/AnimeThemes. Go check them out! :3)And that is it! As always, I do not drop anything myself; when I complete the anime here, I will be reviewing them in full. But that is for another day. For now, I am appreciative towards any and all who perused what I have written. Also, a huge thank you to everyone who gave me permission to use their quotes here in my post. Doing so has elevated this thread beyond what it normally is, and for that I am truly grateful.I hope that the community continues to enjoy this Fall 2015 anime season to its fullest! :3 http://ift.tt/1MbesKb