Summer Successes and Slip-Ups: Summer 2016 Anime Recap

As the summer season ends, I have to state my thoughts. This was, after all, the first season I've ever watched all the way through.

I'll be ranking the top three animes as well as giving out other awards and recognitions to the animes I liked the most. This means that, of course, there will be repeats. If you want a quick review of all the animes I've watched this summer, don't forget to check out my mid-seaosn recap. I went over the animes I was watching and the ones I wasn't. I might even write a few short reviews on the animes that impacted me the most this season on a different post. But until then, let's review the season.

Top 3

Mob Psycho 100

Honestly. I am so surprised. This anime was crazy amazing. The animation style stuck out. I haven't seen anything like it before. The main character Mob was so unlike any other main character. He was cute in a quirky way. And he definitely didn't have the charisma of a typical super-superpowered guy. He was humble about it. It was...refreshing. One (The original webcomic's writer) continues to defy the current standards of anime with amazing characters who are kind and caring. He breaks the conventional norms in a way that makes me realize how wrong anime is sometimes. We have bishounen boys, and, while I do love a nice Free-esque, six pack, we take people such as Mob and Saitama for granted. Definitely a 5/5. 

Re:Zero

Okay. I admit, I didn't watch this until the summer. It is technically a spring anime that is 20+ episodes long. But I wasn't interested. It seemed like another fish out of water anime. But it isn't. Subaru isn't the most likable character. He goes through an amazing character arc. And it's not just him. Rem is fantastic too. (Ehem...Best Girl in the house.) She's so kind and loving. She cares for Subaru and Ram. Her love is open and vast. I know she'd never let Subaru get hurt. This anime had vivid colors and unforgettable OPs. The story was a little boring in the middle, but the beginning and ending were awe-inspiring. It's a new take on the reincarnation story. (Unlike ERASED and its take with Revival.) I want to see another season of this. After there is more light novel/manga material.

Amanchu

This is another anime that surprised me. It was so moving. I wanted it to be a yuri anime, but, instead, I got a new take on friendship. And I'm not upset by the lack of yuri. Teko and Pikari's story of acceptance and love is just fantastic. The colorful world underwater takes my breath away. And Teko changes too. She starts out demure and shy, but she turns into a mildly confident person. She begins the process of coming out of her shell. I want to see more of her. I want to see her dive with Pikari. But, currently, I know that Teko's starting an amazing, life-changing journey.

Best Story

Orange

I can't be the only one who doesn't particularly like episodic animes. Orange is one of the only animes of this season with a non-episodic arc. All the events in this anime are leading up to Kakeru's death, or near-death experience. We know it's going to happen. But the journey between Point A and Point B is what the story is about. We follow a typical high school journey, but there are unexpected bumps. And, truly, as someone who hasn't read the manga, that twist in the middle was not expected.

Best Male Character

Natsuki Subaru: Re:Zero

Subaru, as stated before, has an amazing change. He's snarky at first. Even a little cocky. But he sheds this self-absorbed exterior and lets his inner strength shine. He does care for people. Deeply. And Re:Zero is the story of him realizing how far he'll go for the people he loves.

Kageyama Shigeo: Mob Psycho 100

Kageyama Shigeo or Mob is amazing. He's unassuming. You'd never realized the amazing power within. Honestly, I was surprised how much I liked him. He's so quiet; if I went to his school, I'd never notice him. (I can't say the same for his brother, though.) He is truly kind. I'm happy we have an anime about a different sort of main character, one who isn't in the spotlight often. Because, often, the best heroes are the ones we don't even know about.

Best Female Character

Rem: Re:Zero

Rem is Best Girl. Honestly. She's so sweet and so kind. She seems aloof at first, but then you realize she's just an adorable puff ball of puff and sweetness. With a mace. (Not Mace. But A mace. The medieval weapon.) I would love to meet Rem in real life. She loves so deeply. She fights in Subaru's honor even after being ---------ed. (Fill in your blank. Though, this is a correct answer.)

Naho: Orange

Honestly, I put Naho on this list because she's hesitant. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. She doesn't immediately act when she gets her letter. She doubts it. And that's what would happen in real life. No one would immediately trust a letter from your supposed 'future self'. No one. Her hesitance to react and hesitance to love Kakeru is what truly makes her stand out. She's not a typically, froofy shoujo girl. She's human.

Teko: Amanchu

Teko's character development is what I love about her, much like why I love Subaru. She starts out shy and standoffis (Seeing a trend?) And becomes this beautiful butterfly. (I'm kidding...maybe?) But she's such a sweet character. I love seeing her develop with Pikari. I love seeing her learn more about diving and life and living and fun. She might be mentally in Tokyo at first, but she moves to the ocean. (This is me trying to be funny.) 

Best Couple

Rem and Subaru: Re:Zero

Okay. These two aren't really together. But I count them as a couple. Rem loves Subaru unconditionally. Even if he doesn't love her. Subaru's love for Emilia doesn't waver. Ever. It's quite amazing. Rem would do anything for Subaru. And Subaru does know that. He loves Rem for that. Not romantically. But as friends. And that's just...amazing. 
Rem x Subaru FOREVER.

Teko and Pikari: Amanchu

Is it weird that I actually thought that Amanchu was a yuri diving anime at first? Because...that's what I wanted. What I got was a complex friendship that definitely surpasses yuri. Their friendship is amazing. I want what Teko and Pikari have. I want it. You never forget a friend like Pikari. Never. 

Ko and Rin: New Game

If anything's yuri, it's these two. They work so well together. There was one episode where they were basically playing out. I swear, the studio WANTS us to think they're a couple. Rin cares so much for Ko. And Ko might not see it. (She's kinda...daft in matters of the heart.) But she's loved. It's such a cute relationship. Relationship goals.

Best OP

Amanchu

This is such a peaceful anime. It makes me want to smile whenever I think about it. The OP does reflect that. It's a song that starts out tentative and cautious before diving right in. The animation that goes along with it is just breathtaking. I feel like I'm plunged into the ocean every time.

Mob Psycho 100

1. 2. 3. 4. 
The counting part of this OP is a bit confusing to most at first until you realize that the resounding 99 is when Mob is about to explode. Thankfully, we get enough scenes of Mob reaching his breaking point. This song pumps you up. Soon enough, you'll be singing along. Mostly to the counting parts. And the animation is confusing. It's as if you're on an acid trip, but the snapshots of the Body Building Club or Teru or Reigen eating takoyaki all up in the anime. So it's an interesting peek into the going-ons.

KonoBi

Okay. This is my guilty pleasure song. It's so cute and pop-y. I love it. Plus, the animation is pretty amazing. (Except for that one creepy part when we're ogling at the teacher's body. Not that she's not cute or anything. I just...feel awkward. She's a teacher. Geez.) I love the beginning when Usami is running with a paintbrush. Amazing. It really sums up what this anime is about: art and cute middle school kids doing cute things.

Best Art Style

Mob Psycho 100

I'll say it once. I'll say it twice. Mob Psycho 100 has a unique animation style ever. It's a different art style. I constantly complained...until I got used to it. It's flashy and constantly moving. It's so unique which makes it memorable. I won't forget Mob's 100% explosions. Or Teru's insane hair. Or...anything about the art. 

Re:Zero

I love the colors. So much. And the realism. Subaru and Rem look fantastic. Not to forget Emilia or Puck. The entire anime is in this up-and-coming style which is focused on details and colors and just...ahhh. It's so amazing. I love this style. It's so good. 

Underappreciated Anime

Morose Mononokean

Okay. Truthfully, I loved watching this anime. It's cute and kinda lackluster, but Ashiya was such an interesting character. I loved how sweet he was, how compassionate. One of the few things I disliked, though, was the lack of character development. Fuzzy was cute and all, but that doesn't overshadow the lack of plot or character development. Cute but not amazing.

What was your favorite anime of the season? Who was your favorite character? 

First Episode Test: Summer Anime 2016 Pt. 2 ('Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga aru', 'Amanchu!', 'New Game')

Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! focuses on an art club in a certain middle school, and its members: Subaru Uchimaki, who is a genius at drawing faces, but only wants to draw the perfect 2D wife; Colette, a rich troublemaker who never stops making mischief; and the club president, who sleeps through sessions and collects sleeping aids. Mizuki Usami is the only person in the club who wants to do art club-like activities, and constantly struggles to do so.

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1) Did I enjoy the episode?
Not really? It was fine. Not the best or anything.

2) Did I get something out of this episode? Did I laugh or cry or smile? 
Not particularly. I didn't even smile really. The jokes weren't too funny or anything.

3) Does the plot seem promising? Is there good rising action and a possible conflict? Or is just mindless blah blah?
This anime seems to be broken up into sections. From what I see now, things will be episodic. Which I'm okay with, but I'm just not sure what the plot is exactly. 

4) Do I like the characters? Do they have interesting backstories? Do they have interesting personalities and motivations?
Does anyone else feel like Usami is Luluco from 'Space Patrol Luluco'? 

She has wild feelings for a person (Uchimaki in this case) and has a hard time telling him. Plus, her seikyuu just SOUNDS like Luluco's. I didn't like her or hate her. She was just meh for me.
Uchimaki seems interesting. He's into 2D girls. A lot of people are like that, but I want to know why. Why did he get into that? Why doesn't he liked 3D girls?
And there's an unseen third member. So I'm intrigued. Who is this person? And why aren't they there?

5) Do I like the art style?
Yeah. It's very cute. The faces are all round. And the characters are all very cute. But...not much other than that. (But doesn't it feel a little meta for them to draw manga style in their art? I don't know. It feels a bit meta to me.)

Verdict:

I'm going to continue watching. I want to see what happens. But I have a nagging feeling I'm going to drop it. 

Hikari Kohinata is a cheerful 15-year-old girl who lives near the ocean and she spends much of her time diving as a result. On her first day of high school, she meets a teacher who also likes scuba diving. There's also a 16-year-old classmate, Futaba, who gets dragged along in Hikari's maelstrom as soon as they meet at school. Most of the manga so far details the relationship between the two girls, which quickly seems to move into romantic two girl friendship-territory.

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1) Did I enjoy the episode?
It was cute. Not too interesting otherwise.

2) Did I get something out of this episode? Did I laugh or cry or smile? 
I smiled. A little. Hikari was pretty cute. And Futaba's worryings were kinda funny.

3) Does the plot seem promising? Is there good rising action and a possible conflict? Or is just mindless blah blah?
It seems like a friendship story. Which can be great. But I just feel a little...disappointed by the lack of scuba diving. Maybe they bond over it? I didn't actually read the premise. I started this anime because of hype.

4) Do I like the characters? Do they have interesting backstories? Do they have interesting personalities and motivations?
Hikari is all cute. And energetic. But I got tired of that. She was too peppy for me. 
And Futaba is pretty...introverted. She had friends at her old school but moved and has to adapt to that change. I want to see her change, but if it takes too long, I'll be bored.

5) Do I like the art style?
It was fine. Not the best. Their eyes were a tad creepy for me. And their school uniforms look impossible to walk in. They're basically mermaid tails. But with a hole for feet. 
And I wasn't a fan of the whole chibi thing. Sure, it looked fine, but Hikari stayed in that chibi state for a long time. Which got old...fast. Her chibi face looks like a frog's...

Futaba is on the left; Hikari is on the right.

Verdict: 

I'm going to cautiously watch this. People say it'll be the cutest anime of the season, but, for that title, I'm leaning towards 'Morose Monokean'. This anime is cute. But nothing special to me. 

The main character Suzukaze Aoba graduates from high school and joins a game company. The person who made the game that Aoba loved as a grade-schooler just happens to be Aoba's senior at the company. The story follows girls who work and aspire at the Eaglejump company.

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1) Did I enjoy the episode?

It was cute... I mean, it was fine. 

2) Did I get something out of this episode? Did I laugh or cry or smile? 

I did smile a bit. The 'being left outside because of a lack of ID' was cute. (But it got boring after the second go.) And that pull-out snack table? AMAZING.

3) Does the plot seem promising? Is there good rising action and a possible conflict? Or is just mindless blah blah?

It seems to be a typical slice of life. There'll be some problems with the game and a lot of bonding. Nothing special.

4) Do I like the characters? Do they have interesting backstories? Do they have interesting personalities and motivations?

They seem normal. I'm mostly interested in how they draw. Haha. But the main character Aoba is cute and nervous, but I hope she comes out of her shell!

5) Do I like the art style?

It's very moe. VERY. The characters are all cute and adorable. I don't mind this particularly, but it started to get a bit old. 

Verdict:

I will watch this. But I might drop it

Have you seen the first episodes for these animes? Will you watch them?

Summer 2016 Animes I'm Excited For

Summer 2016 has started, and that means summer anime! If you check out Honeyfeed (my main source for all anime news), they've been releasing descriptions and all that fun information. 
I have a lot of summer animes I want to watch. But I'm super excited for the following ones. (Please note that they are not in order. It's mostly whichever one I put down on my spreadsheet first. And, yes, I have an anime spreadsheet. A book one too.)

ReLIFE

Who wouldn't want to repeat their high school life? Okay...me. (High school is so not fun.) Kaizaki Arata gets this chance to become a seventeen-year-old again. 
But this has an interesting sci-fi premise that I'm interested in. A lot of the world building really. How does the pill work? Does he still have the mind of an adult? Hm...let's wait and see.
Apparently, this came from a web manga, but I've never heard of or read this said manga, so I'm going in blind. (But who says going in blind is bad?)
Also, I'm getting bad 'Erased' vibes here. The 'older guy in a younger guy body', you know? Well, at least this is slice of life and not...say...mystery. Or I'd call copycat and be done with it.

ORANGE

I didn't read the manga of this. But I really am interested in stuff like this. 

The basic premise is a girl gets a letter from her future self, asking present day girl to make the right decisions.
Ah! The idea makes me shiver. I love this. I know there will probably be romance, but I honestly don't care. As long as it's a sweet and loving anime, I'm sold. 

Kono Bijustubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru!

I know I'm breaking my 'I'm not a fan of slice of life/school' anime streak here with this one. But it looks super cute. I love the visuals, and who doesn't want to know about a cute art club? I love the idea, and I can't wait to see this one with its eccentric characters. Especially Subaru Uchimaki because 2-D waifus FTW. 

Scared Rider Xechs

The second I see 'harem' in an anime, I skedaddle. I'm NOT watching another harem.
Except for maybe this one. 
I'm fighting my instincts on this one. Because RIDERS? I loved Celty from 'Durarara' (Try saying that ten times fast) and her badass bike. I would love to see how these riders match up to the Queen of Biking (That's what I call Celty anyways.) 

Fukigen na Monokean

Reason one why I want to watch this show: Abeno Haruitsuki. He's an adorable blond who is 'morose' (As seen in the show's name) and can see and help youkai.
Reason two why I want to watch this show: youkai. I love these Japanese spirits. They're so cute. I love their stories too. (Ehem 'Natsume's Book of Friends' anyone?) 
I can't wait to 
Also, look at that little ball of fluff on that dude's shoulder. Adorable. 

Tales of Zetiria the X

No, I haven't seen any of the other 'Tales' anime. Sorry. But this show has gorgeous art. I really love it.
Plus, it has some amazing fantasy premise. And with all the supernatural/slice of life/school anime I'm watching this season, a hardcore fantasy will definitely sate my appetite. 

These are my most anticipated summer animes, but who knows? Maybe another will join this list. I'll update you guys when the time comes. 

PS: Does anyone else see how many idol animes are coming out this summer? WAY too many if you ask me. WAY too many.