Anime Spring 2016, Week 7

Academia-2016-05-18-20h01m39s925Gosh this week was so amazing… it’s mind-boggling that none of these series are hitting their climax yet.  Well…. okay, half at best.

  1. Ushio to Tora
You know it's the end of the world when a giant, pale naked woman shows up.
You know it’s the end of the world when a giant, pale naked woman shows up.

Ushio to Tora knocks it out of the park and shows us all what true despair looks like.

It looks like this.
It looks like this.

Everything that could go wrong for Ushio went wrong this week, all according to Hakumen’s plan.  His friends are killed or lose their memories of him, his mother slapped him, an inhabited island gets destroyed (and they go out of their way to show us that kindergartners are caught in the blast), and the Beast Spear gets destroyed.  Get.  Fucking. Rekt.

Honestly, when it comes to affecting emotions, this episode is as good as it gets.  Easily the top choice, and it’s not even close.

2. Boku no Hero Academia

We're never going to learn what that phrase even means.
We’re never going to learn what that phrase even means.

Intense, epic episode with plenty of character development for Deku and Kacchan.  As is the case with the rest of the series, this is pretty much a perfect, superior adaptation of the manga, especially since the music adds so much to every scene.  I especially appreciate the ominous music playing when young Bakugou realizes he’s awesome.

You'd be messed up too if everyone around you pretty much treated you like the second coming of Jesus.
You’d be messed up too if everyone around you pretty much treated you like the second coming of Jesus.

I originally thought that with only 12 episodes, we’d only get as far as the tournament.  Now it looks like we won’t even get that far.  Fuck it, guys.  They should just approve of a shitload of filler and make this a long-runner.  It’s too damned good.

Anyway, perfect balance of comedy and action here.  Villain Iida was perfect.

Wait, how does he pull that off with glasses?
Wait, how does he pull that off with glasses?
I now ship Uraraka x Bomb.
I now ship Uraraka x Bomb.

3. Sailor Moon Crystal Infinity

When the game throws an unfair difficulty spike your way.
When the game throws an unfair difficulty spike your way.

Inners vs. Outers action up in here!  Sure, they were brainwashed, but hey… it won’t be the last time.  I’ll count it.

The meat and potatoes of this episode was the Hotaru backstory.  I’m glad we finally get to see animated cyborg Hotaru.

She's a Boomer!
She’s a Boomer!

It was rather heartbreaking to see Chibi-Usa run away after seeing Hotaru’s body.  Also, dat surgery scene.

I don't think I'd trust a surgeon with impaired depth perception...
I don’t think I’d trust a surgeon with impaired depth perception…

The episode ended in the most fantastically trollworthy way: just before a Super Sailor Moon transformation, and having the cliffhanger cut right into the Chibi-Usa ending credits.  Bravo, Toei.  Bravo.

4. Sousei no Onmyouji

And don't come back!
And don’t come back!

Surprisingly fun, if formulaic, episode.  Arima takes Rokuro and Benio away for some special training…

…by which I mean he’s forcing them to live in his former vacation house.

I gotta admit, the living conditions are much richer than they usually are for this setup.
I gotta admit, the living conditions are much richer than they usually are for this setup.

In addition to the new arrangement, Arima also forces the couple to undergo a teamwork exercise so they can grow closer.

Benio, just accept the fact that your destiny is to be forced into embarrassing situations from now on.
Benio, just accept the fact that your destiny is to be forced into embarrassing situations from now on.

For no reason, they’re called out to help out in an exorcism, then they return to their new house and grow closer.

Oh, and that guy that was introduced in that other episode showed up briefly.  Maybe whatever he’s involved in will be relevant one day.  Until then… quit wasting my time.

5. Kuma Miko

This week, Machi learns how to use a rice cooker.

You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented this.

Same old, same old.  Cute miko does cute things.  Machi is hopelessly pathetic when it comes to the most basic of technological advancements.

To be fair... she's REALLY cute.
To be fair… she’s REALLY cute.

But hey, we get gloomy Yasuda content, so all as well.

I'm starting to wonder if she's related to that little girl...
I’m starting to wonder if she’s related to that little girl…

6. Ace Attorney

It's time I finished you, Wright.
It’s time I finished you, Wright.

It’s bizarre how much this case has improved the show, and vice versa.  The case was shortened considerably, we saw some great moments with Cody and Oldbag, and we got to see how fans of the Steel Samurai are bonded by it.  We even got some anime-exclusive Phoenix/Edgeworth character development with their toku keychains.

AceAttorney-2016-05-18-19h59m42s997

Well, then... who are the three other members of Team Persona?
Well, then… who are the three other members of Team Persona?

Lack of Penny is still unforgivable though.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *