T3h Animes: stuff I've watched

[tacticslion]

So! Recently on Crunchy Roll, and the first time I've had an easy time getting it to work. No, I don't know why, and I'm really sick, so...

- Madoka Magica: I finally watched this to see what all the fuss is about. And... it was good. Very good. Second most difficult and harsh Magical Girl genre thing I've ever been through, but the shock-value was relatively tame, as I went in knowing it was there and all the shock-value and uber-depression for the Magical Girl genre was already stolen by Sailor Nothing (see the bottom of every Krylo post ever, if you're curious: it's... really good, but exceedingly harsh). It was a solid examination of the genre, it's flaws, and potentially depressing elements, while still, in the very end, being ultimately uplifting and hopeful, despite it's own dark premise and bitter moments throughout.

- Occult Academy: a kind of surprisingly funny show about a girl searching for her father's murderer, and a time-traveler seeking to change the future. The final battle/moments had me absolutely certain that either the Tick was coming, or I was watching his origins. The love quadrangle angle was... strange, to say the least, as the male lead (though he wasn't the protagonist) held no definable qualities to make me think that he'd be such a desired commodity. That said, at least one of the attractions was explained at the end, and one could be sort of explained by the... impression... he made upon arrival. Still, it felt a little "male gaze"-y to me. That said, it was a fun ride, that didn't go where you expected, and had fun times throughout, and I generally liked the characters, despite the surprisingly slapstick violence.

- Kill la Kill: the finest piece of nonsense I've ever been privileged to watch. (I am, in fact, planning on watching Guerren Lagan soon enough, however, so that will likely displace it based on my understanding, but haven't gotten to it yet.) It... it... it's kind of poetic in the way it just... doesn't... care. I mean, it embraces the nonsense to a ridiculous degree. Another story ostensibly about a girl finding out who murdered her father (weird that I ran across two of those so close together?), it's filled with ludicrous (and highly-acknowledge) fan-service... but I enjoyed it nonetheless, and that daggum hero theme became incredibly effective by the end. Dang it. "Where the fanservice is plot, and style is the substance" indeed, internet. Indeed.

- Ozuma: it was... okay. It certainly had all the elements for a great and engaging story, and the art was exceedingly impressive: every character was thoroughly unique, and well animated. Additionally, the entire thing was tightly plotted with several "reveals" (though I saw a couple coming a mile away). But... I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I should be enjoying it. I found myself bored or distracted during the show, and didn't really get as invested as I thought I should. Because it was predictable? Maybe. Still, if you're up to it, give it a try.

- The Princess and the Pilot: excellent. It's a slower film (movie, not series), that follows a young pilot mercenary who is part of a country with a deeply ingrained caste system who is of low birth. His country and another are both at war with a third... who is kind of winning. Due to his extreme skill, despite his detractors, he is given the enviable position of flying a princess across the ocean (and through enemy lines) to bring her safely to her prince in another country. It hits every cliche you'd expect, but it had me loving the characters and their interaction the whole way, so much so that I didn't really care. Well written, well animated, simply lovely. Looks a lot like Studio Ghibli production, though I don't believe it was.

- I Can't Understand What My Husband is Saying: it's... well, it's purposefully excessively silly, but also really touching in it's own way. The plot is a slice-of-life about a perverted nerd without a job and his newly married (much more "normal") wife. By the end, you can buy that they ended up together, why, and how, and why she chose to marry him even though she shares no direct interests, and he's rather weird. They deal with really, really weird family (many of whom disapprove), and normal life troubles as well, and run into problems understanding where they other is coming from often enough. And the thing is: they make the marriage work, and it's really beautiful. Good series, exceedingly sweet, despite it's supposedly absurd premise. Relies a lot on Japanese culture and understanding, however, to get many of the jokes or implications (which often flew over my head until I read comments). In 13 episodes of three minutes each, it's a total of 39 minutes, and it's... nice.

... aaaaand that's about it.

What about you all? Anything interesting?

EDIT: changed tags!