Tag Archives: Play It Cool Guys

Mid-Winter 2023 Anime Ranking

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01. VINLAND SAGA SEASON 2 (Ep. 1-12) – Definitely a slow burn compared to the first season, but still riveting. Einar is a really likeable main character. All I know is, when each episode ends, I want more.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

02. TRIGUN STAMPEDE (Ep. 1-12) – Darker than the 1998 anime series and with a greater focus on the sci-fi origins of Vash and Millions Knives. STAMPEDE tells a different aspect of the story and is more of a companion piece than a replacement. The CG animation looks good too; it’s obviously quite a departure from the previous designs, but it doesn’t take long to get used to it.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

03. IDOLiSH7 Third Beat! Part 2 (Ep. 27-30) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

04. Tomo-chan Is a Girl! (Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko!) (Ep. 1-13) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

05. Play It Cool, Guys (Ep. 13-24) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

06. BLUELOCK (Ep. 13-24) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

07. KAINA OF THE GREAT SNOW SEA (Ooyukiumi no Kaina) (Ep. 1-8) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

08. REVENGER (Ep. 1-12) – Historical setting, sword fights, samurai, intrigue, vengence, Urobuchi Gen on composition, and Umehara Yuuichirou in one of the lead roles! I should be all over this stuff. But I’m not. And it’s because REVENGER is a bit too dry and humourless for my taste. I would have liked some Thunderbolt Fantasy-type levity, but there’s none. Meanwhile, some of the more outrageous aspects are played so seriously, that I can’t tell if it’s okay to laugh.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

9. HIGH CARD (Ep. 1-12) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

10. UniteUp! (Ep. 1-12) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

ALSO STARTED:

BUNGO STRAY DOGS 4 (Ep. 38-44) – I was really thrilled when this season started off in prequel mode. I enjoyed the origins story for Rampo and wondered why I hesitated to watch. But then the narrative returned to the present storyline, and I started to lose interest again.

(Streaming at Crunchyroll)

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a (Ep. 1-4) (Streaming at Crunchyroll)

Mid-Autumn 2022 Anime Ranking

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The main takeaway point that I got this season is this: Stalkers are evil incarnate; I would not wish one on my worst enemy. (Re: Romantic Killer, Human Crazy University)

01. Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These – Intrigue (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These – Sakubou) (4th Season) (Ep. 37-48) – Well, the Galactic Empire has the momentum and they’re on the attack, and things are not looking great for the Free Planets Alliance. Their leaders are over-confident that one man, ‘Miracle Yang’ will always be able to protect them, which is extremely short-sighted on its own. Yet at the same time, they constantly undermine him because they fear his political popularity. I’m definitely concerned that this is not gonna end well for Yang’s side.

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

02. Romantic Killer (Ep. 1-12)

(streaming at Netflix)

03. Chainsaw Man (Ep. 1-12)

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

04. IDOLiSH7: Third BEAT! (Ep. 14-26)

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

05. Raven of the Inner Palace (Koukyuu no Karasu) (Ep. 1-13) – Ghostbusters of the Chinese imperial court. Can’t say I fully understand some of the more mystical stuff, but I am fond of the main characters and the show is seriously gorgeous.

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

06. Play It Cool, Guys (Cool Doji Danshi) (Ep. 1-12) – There’s one word that always comes up in regards to this show: “relatable.”

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

07. BOCCHI THE ROCK! (Ep. 1-12) – As far as band anime go, this one is top notch. So many original songs, great animation, great attention to detail – in the live performance scene, when they mention errors, it’s even possible to hear the misses in the music!
It’s not quite anime-of-the-year material for me though, since I surprisingly did not find the characters to be that relatable; and the humour sometimes did not click.
In fact, one of the fundamental things I found hard to believe was that a gloomy rocker chick like Bocchi would sport a pink tracksuit as her daily outfit.

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

08. BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War (Sennen Kessen-hen) (Ep. 1-13) – I’m kinda surprised and disappointed that all these Soul Society elites have become so complacent and dependent on their bankai that they have no alternative strategies for dealing with the invaders. I’m trying to cut them some slack; I mean it is do or die, and the bankai is their ultimate weapon. But after learning that it’s foolish to bring it out, surely they could at least try some other tactics.

09. BLUELOCK (Ep. 1-12)

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

10. Human Crazy University (Human Bug Daigaku) (Ep. 1-12)

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

11. SPY x FAMILY (Ep. 13-25)

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

12. I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss (Akuyaku Reijou nano de Last Boss wo Kattemimashita) (Ep. 1-12) – Obviously, I like that Aileen is a strong and independent woman, but there’s little development for the characters. Aileen meets the demon lord; next thing they’re already in a committed relationship and she’s fixing up his house. The narrative flow is just lacking.

(streaming at Crunchyroll)

ALSO STARTED:

Akiba Maid War (Akiba Meido Sensou)

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo) – The first episode was great! But then after the time skip, I was a bit disappointed at the small-world school setting, and focus on economics instead of space drama.

(streaming at Crunchyroll)