best of 2013: #9, #8, #7
Categories: best of 2013
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A demon hunter. An alien hunter. And a sister hunter.
#9: Kyoukai no Kanata
Also wins for 2013:
- Best Musical Number
- Most Glasses
- Least Helpful Mom
- Most Snow
Kyoukai no Kanata had one of the season’s greatest episodes with episode 6, Shocking Pink, where the gang tries to capture a stink eye spirit using song and dance. Everything was perfect that episode and showed the range of what the show (and Kyoto) could pull off. The rest of the series is typical Kyoto. That’s not a bad thing. The animation is gorgeous (one of the best of the year), the action sequences are some of Kyoto’s best outside of the Full Metal Panic franchise, and the romance isn’t as helpless as Tamako Market or hopeless like Chu2 2. The series is a nice, compact Kyoto-style anime that watches fast, and leaves the viewer satisfied– especially if the viewer loves cute schoolgirls in glasses.
(OH. MY. GLOB. With both other Kyoto shows already out of the way, does this mean Free! is #1?)
#8: Gatchaman Crowds
Also wins for 2013:
- Best Superhero Theme Song
- Most Ridiculously Happy Heroine
- Most Evil Social Media Baron
- Most Crowds
I didn’t know what I expected with Gatchaman Crowds, but the result from Tatsunoko is a highly enjoyable show that has style. While the 3D CGI graphics are only so-so, the colorful palettes (and characters!) makes the show interesting to look at. The use of social media and modern concepts also propel Gatchaman into the modern age while keeping some of the traditional aspeects, like the Moleskin notebooks and the birds are a nice touch. But what really makes the show and puts it at #8 is the heroine, Hajime. She is incessantly happy, and she never gets down or feels sorry for herself (a welcome change from typical brooding anime heroes), and she solves all her problems by bruteforcing happiness on others. It sounds strange, like picturing a girl backing up a truck filled with happiness, but that’s what it is. There are other characters who brood, but Hajime overpowers them all with her positivity and happiness.
#7: Rozen Maiden Zurückspulen
Also wins for 2013:
- Very Desu
- Very Junk
- Very Hikikomori
- Very Space Time
I want to see a Neil deGrasse Tyson version of Cosmos where they explore the space time of Rozen Maiden because it makes no fucking sense. Oh well, as long as I get to enjoy my Desu~ and Junk for another season, I’m happy. While I was a bit skeptical of another season, the pseudo reboot using an alternate Jun who did not meet Shinku into later in life ended up being an excellent idea. It’s interesting to see how Shinku was such a positive effect on little Jun, and how even big Jun benefited from the time spent with Shinku. I also liked how some of the dolls seem to be maturing, even Suigintou. This season seemed to be more of a complete story and dark drama rather than the original Rozen Maiden which felt like a harem comedy at times. While the show does work as a harem comedy (including the “Delicious strategy,” one of the greatest anime episodes ever), it also works as a darker drama. The series is that flexible, and it even manages to mix up both worlds towards the end. Great job by Studio Deen, and Rozen Maiden slides in at #7.
5 Responses to “best of 2013: #9, #8, #7”
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I thought that despite the battle animations which were its saving grace, Kyoukai no Kanata was the largest turd KyoAni has produced for some years. Awful characters in a awful story with an awful idea of humour.
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Free! all but confirmed as #1. Jason can’t resist all those abs.
I’m probably wrong but I don’t think that there will be a #1 this year. It was a pretty weak year with only a few really good shows but none of the felt as good as a #1 should. #1 should be something we should wait week after week with baited breath and not something that could be marathoned in a day or 2. And I think that none of the shows this year we’re that good.
Kyoukai no Kanata was definitely the worst (or at least most disappointing) thing Kyoto has turned out in recent memory. While there were some interesting elements, they completely biffed execution with atrocious storytelling and character/world-building. Episode 6 was pretty good…because it actively disrespected the work thus far and showed some degree of self-awareness. That evaporated quickly though.
(I wonder if Chu-2 Ren was worse than Kyoukai hmm)
Tamako’s my personal #1…and it’s out of the running already. Perhaps Gargantia will take it, though I wouldn’t agree with that choice.
I wish a cute hyperactive girl bruteforces happiness into my life.
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What I mean to say is that I’m waiting expectantly for the Blu-Ray only special OAV episode of Gatchaman Crowds.
Pretty sure Gatachaman has the best OST of the year as well.