A couple of quick anime related updates – last month Zac and Justin were kind enough to invite me back on to ANNcast, where you can hear me twittering on about Doctor Who, scifi movies and techno. Oh, and we do spend some time talking about anime as well. I think.

Also over at ANN, last month saw me back in the saddle for the Spring Season Preview. Have a wander over there and see what I thought about some of the new shows, there’s more than a couple that are worth checking out.

This year I was honoured to be asked to contribute to the Anime News Network guide to this season’s new TV shows. Well, I say honoured – it’s going to be quite a bit of work, and will involves me watching a lot of shows that I’d usually avoid like the plague. But hey, that’s what being a critic is all about – no one ever said it would be fun or easy.

I should be posting something up just about everyday, usually within 24 hours of the shows first airing in Japan, so remember to keep checking the link below on a regular basis – as well as what the other critics have got to say.

• Anime News Network: Spring 2010 Anime Preview Guide

The Spring 2009 anime season marches on, and as always time is my enemy. Trying to keep up with the shows I am interested in is hard enough, let alone taking time out to sample the season’s other offerings. But sample I have, and here I present my findings on the first episodes of four shows that, while I may not follow them, you may want to check out.

K-On! (2009)

There’s no denying that Kyoto Animation’s K-On! is the fan favourite this season, with the internet buzzing with enthusiasm and otaku bed-wetting glee. And it’s easy to see why – the story of four girls who join their high school’s music club to stop it from being shut down is a beautifully animated, professionally polished, and occasionally genuinely funny production. Sadly (for me at least) the things that make it appeal so much to foreign otaku – the moe fetishism, the over-kawaii character design, and the use of unsurprising, very established archetypes for all the main protagonists – are exactly the same things that bore me about current, mainstream anime. While I can see the attraction, but I can’t ever shake the feeling that I could just be watching yet another US high-school drama – the sort of thing that as a fully grown man just doesn’t appeal. The fact that it’s set in Japan and (admittedly very well) animated just isn’t enough for me sadly – but I’m sure I’m very much in the minority amongst the hardcore anime fans, so check it out yourself and make your own mind up.

Saki (2009)

Another teen drama about girls in a high-school club, Gonzo’s Saki seems at first sight to be very similar to K-ON! in it’s premise and characters – and in many ways it is. However this isn’t the music club – it’s Mahjong club, something that makes the show seem – to non-Japanese viewers at least – seem gleefully insane at times. The way the Mahjong games are portrayed in the show has to be seen to be believed – tiles are thrown like they were Pokemon balls, J-Pop-techno pumps away in the background, and the ‘action’ is frequently interrupted by cut-scenes explaining the rules of the game or particular special moves. It’s so exhilarating and colourful – like the traditional game has been transformed into a battle sequence from a Japanese RPG – that it feels like the whole thing is a marketing exercise by some Mahjong Society of Japan to lure new recruits. Apparently it’s not, but it is baffling, kinetic and surreal enough to almost demand my attention for the rest of the series.

Unfortunately, Saki does one thing – and does it a lot – that will probably stop this from happening: fan service. Regular readers will know this is one of my bugbears, and again maybe this makes me an outsider from the otaku-hardcore, but watching barely teenage schoolgirls wearing skimpy clothes being soaked in the rain does nothing for me. In fact, it makes me feel pretty damn uncomfortable and party to exploitation. But that’s just me, and if that’s your cup of green-tea then you’ll love this, and I’m pretty sure I’ll probably check out some more episodes, if I can manage to avoid cringing and flinching between the Mahjong action sequences.

Ristorante Paradiso (2009)

I was drawn to Ristorante Paradiso primarily because of it’s subject matter – an anime show about a small restaurant in Rome is unusual enough, but even more so when it’s staffed by mature gentlemen rather than scantily dressed young waitresses. In fact, that’s spectacle wearing mature gentlemen to be precise – the secret of the establishment’s success. It seems the clientele – also slightly mature, well-to-do Roman women – like that sort of thing. Yeah, Ristorante Paradiso is an unusual one.

Intriguing as the plot is again I can’t help thinking that as I’m not a Japanese housewife, perhaps I’m not exactly the target demographic here. Mildly erotic soap opera has never really been my bag, to be honest. That’s not that I’ve ruled the show out completely – I’ll probably be back again to check in on the elegant artwork, European art-house vibe and gentle pacing, plus as it’s the first solo outing by outsourcing studio David Productions I feel like I owe them a chance to show what they can do.

Valkyria Chronicles (2009)

Based on the popular Sega tactical RPG of the same name, Valkyria Chronicles is set in a alternate, fictional 1930s Europe. and is centered around the story of militia group defending their quiet Germanic town from an approaching army of invading enemies. The first thing that strikes you about the how is it’s visuals – not only do they stick very closely to the graphics of the game, but they also ape it’s water colour art style, right down to being able to see the texture of the canvas below. It’s a similar technique as used in 2007′s Mononoke – although to create a far softer, less radical look – but it is no less aesthetically pleasing.

After watching and enjoying the first couple of episodes, I’m still not sure how closely I’ll follow the rest of the series – while the plot and artwork are interesting, so far the characters seem quite flat and basic, and the setting and historical background feel like they need more fleshing out. Hopefully the latter will come with time as the story unfolds. Oh, and it also features tanks. Big, bold, cool-looking, almost steampunk, stylised WW2 era tanks. Which, I have to admit, usually equals quick-win for me.

It’s the same old story: too much anime, not enough time. The new spring season kicks off in Japan this week, and here I am still trying to catch up with last season’s offerings. Well at least I can save myself – and maybe you – some time; this month’s first episodes round up features two shows I might watch more of and two I’ll shortly be dragging to the trash can. Still, that’s not to say you might not enjoy them.

Kurogane no Linebarrels (2008 – 2009)

What do you do when one tired, creaking, over-milked anime formula just isn’t enough? Why, get two of course, and force them to mate and reproduce yet more dull, retarded spawn. Like Gonzo‘s Kurogane no Linebarrels (Linebarrels of Iron). Based on the shōnen manga by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, it combines both the magical girlfriend and mecha genres in the most painfully obvious way possible. Kouichi Hayase is a 14 year old schoolboy who, surprise surprise, is being bullied by some of his school mates, while some of the others, apparently meant to be his friends, just patronise him. That is, of course until a mysterious girl falls on top of him from the sky (they do seem to have a nasty habit of doing that), and somehow gives a giant mech to pilot. Or something.

This show really has nothing to recommend it. The art is at best generic, and at times just nasty – the CGI mechs in particular are hideous to look at, failing completely to sit realistically in front of the 2D backgrounds and looking like they where rendered on a Sega Saturn. The plot is, well, minimal in the first episode, and the characters apparently just another collection of overused stereotypes. The whole thing feels like someone left it to the last minute, panicked, and then just tried to rip off Neon Genesis Evangelion yet again, but with all the clever and beautiful bits left out. Shame, as I had heard interesting things about the manga in the past, and while I might still check that out I won’t be coming back to the anime again. Next.

Kurokami (2009)

Produced by Sunrise and based on Dall-Young Lim and Sung-Woo Park‘s manga, Kurokami (Black God) is, thankfully, much more interesting. While it again plays with established ideas like magical girlfriends and the supernatural, it does so in a more intelligent and challenging way. The plot is based around Keita Ibuki, a young computer programmer haunted by the death of his mother at an early age, and obsessed with discovering to truth about her doppelganger that somehow seems to be responsible. One night, while eating alone at a Ramen stand, he encounters a young homeless girl Kuro, who transpires is actually a Tera Guardian/Mototsumitama – a God-like being charged with maintaining the balance of existence.

The art is better than average, with some nice, moody depictions of Tokyo and some attractive, if not highly original character designs. The dark-edged script is where the show really shines though, with the first episode delivering a shocking, jaw-dropping ending. Worth checking out.

Kuroshitsuji (2008 – 2009)

Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) looks interesting at first – yet again based on a successful manga and the fact that it’s set in Victorian era London certainly grabbed my attention. Sebastian Michaelis is the butler to 12 year old Ciel Phantomhive, the head of an aristocratic family and their sweet and toy producing empire. But, of course, Sebastian isn’t just your average butler – that wouldn’t be in anyway interesting enough. He is in fact – guess what! – a demon.

I’ll be completely honest with you; I didn’t make it past the advert break in the first episode. While the artwork looks interesting at first with it’s kind of moe-goth take on Victorian England, I just couldn’t see past the childish humour and stereotypical characters I’m afraid. Granted, I’m probably not the target demographic for this one – I’m guessing 13 year old emo girls will be loving swooning over the enigmatic Sebastian – so if you fit that description give it a go and let me know how wrong I am.

White Album (2009)

Seven Arc‘s White Album is actually based on a visual novel (or dating sim – a uniquely Japanese form of video game) and a subsequent manga. The central protagonist is university student Tōya Fujii, and the show is based on his angst ridden stumble through life, and in particular his relationship (or lack of it) with up and coming idol singer Yuki Morikawa.

Any show that opens with a dream sequence triggered by it’s hapless main character waking to the sounds of his girlfriend being interviewed on TV instantly gets my attention for some inventiveness with it’s narrative, and similarly the show is highly polished visually. The problem was as I followed it’s characters bumble around campus life, endlessly talking about relationships, I couldn’t help feeling that I might be watching the Japanese equivalent of the OC or Dawson’s Creek. Having said that the scripting is pretty tight, and – time permitting – it is quite likely I might be coming back to check out some more.

So there you go – as always, let me know in the comments below if you think I’m missing the point about one of these shows or just utterly wrong. And check back over the next few weeks to find out what I think about some of the new season’s premieres.

As you can probably imagine, I constantly have a lot of anime waiting to be watched. Some of it is brand new recently broadcast shows, others entire series from years ago that I’m still trying to catch up with. However, cursed as I am with a job and a life, decisions have to be made as to which shows I follow and review, and which I just reject straight away. Usually watching one or two episodes is enough to tell, but occasionally shows come along that although they don’t earn my full attention, I can see they may still have something to offer to viewers. So, in the first of a regular series, I present a round up of first episodes you might want to check out.

Soul Eater (2008)

Based on a manga published by Final Fantasy RPG video game giants Square-Enix, Soul Eater is about children at a school for ‘weapon masters’ set in a the fantasy world of Death City. it’s largely pure shonen fare, that is to say it’s aimed at teenage boys, and is much in the mold of stuff like Dragonball Z. In other words its not really my cup of tea – but I will say it does look pretty – if a little simplistic at times – especially in HD. Fans of Gorillaz will probably enjoy the character designs, for a start. It’s loud, brash, and probably worth watching before you take your daily Ritalin hit. If that’s your kind of vibe, then enjoy.

Kurozuka (2008)

Any Madhouse production usually gets my full attention, so I was looking forward to Kurozuka when I first head news of it. Based on the popular seinen novels and manga by Baku Yumemakura, it kicks of in 12th century Japan and deals with Highlander style immortal warriors, including a siren like women that lures traveling ronin to their gruesome deaths. Apparently at some point it fast-forwards to the future, but sadly I didn’t get that far. As a seinen work it is aimed at a more mature audience, but what that mainly seems to mean here is a lot of gore and misery. If you like anime about demonic rituals, graphic violence and stylish dismemberment then this may be for you, but sadly that sort of thing leaves me cold these days.

To Aru Majutsu no Index (2008)

To Aru Majutsu no Index is a magical girlfriend anime based on a series of light novels by Kazuma Kamachi and Kiyotaka Haimura. Set in the future in Academy City – a kind of urban Hogwarts for scientifically enhanced super-powered teenagers (and near Shibuya, according to some visual clues) – it’s main protagonist is Tōma Kamijo, who has the ability to negate others’ powers, who one day a young girl hanging on his balcony railing. She turns out to be a nun from the Church of England, obviously. Although a little too shonen for my tastes, it did do a few things that grabbed my interest. For a start it plays around quite knowingly with the conventions of the magical girlfriend genre, and is genuinely very funny. Also, it makes enough references to the occult, Aleister Crowley and Christianity to really upset that particular breed of Christian fundamentalists that get upset by children’s fantasy, and that’s never a bad thing. Animation is quite nice too, if the character design is a little too moe in places. Give it a go if you’re looking for something a little more light-hearted and colourful.

Nodame Cantabile (2007)

An ongoing shōjo manga by Tomoko Ninomiya, Nodame Cantabile has spawned a huge and successful franchise, with various live action TV shows and movies in various states of production, along with two already completed anime series and a third on the way in 2009. While shōjo material usually fails to appeal greatly to my personal tastes, NC seems to be one of the finest examples of the genre. The romance and drama driven story of two highly talented but very different music students, is well written and again frequently very funny. Worth watching if you love classical music and well paced soap opera, and if that was more my cup of tea I’d be watching the whole first run. As it is, I’ll just have to see what else, if anything, demands my time.

Think I’ve missed the point of one of these? Got it completely wrong? Tell me I’m mental in the comments section below.