Otaku Digest: Destroyers/Otaku/Samurai
Welcome one and all to another instalment of Otaku Digest where we take the current anime season and give it a good going over to see if all the newest of releases make the grade and are worth watching past that first episode, first opinions are key here. Up to the plate this week is Kantai Collection: Kan Colle, Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata and Sengoku Musou.
Kantai Collection: Kan Colle
First up this week was Kantai Collection: Kan Colle an action and science fiction anime that first aired on the 8th Of January. Based in a time where humanity is facing off against a fleet known as “the Abyssal” a fleet that has taken over the seas and maintains control. Humanity’s only hope is a bunch of human girls who happen to possess weaponized outfits and the spirits of historical naval vessels, these are known as the Kanmusu. The series centres around Fubuki and her point of view of the goings on after she arrives at the naval base where the Kanmusu all live out their normal lives till they are called for war. Will Fubuki survive and will they manage to launch a counter attack strong enough to save humanity and the seas?
No lie I was worried about this anime, mainly in the sense that this structure has been done a million times before. A strange army invades earth leaving humanity devastated and in need of protection leaving usually a young generation born with special abilities to help defend earth. I will give this anime credit however I enjoyed the naval twist there was in there, it was a bit out there but it gave a new meaning to being special as these girls are literally used as machines in war. I give it credit also to the animation style, it was really captivating turning from traditional 2 dimensional animation to CG style when the girls are in battle making them flow smoothly along the ocean. There is quite a lot going for this anime but unfortunately at the end of it all the story does not hugely help matters, it borders on cliché far too often for my liking but I did enjoy the animation and the naval aspect.
Will I Continue To Watch: Oddly, yes I am giving it a chance for the story to improve.
Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata
Next up to the plate was slice of life, comedy, romance and school anime Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata or Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend that originally aired on the 9th of January. The series follows our protagonist Tomoya Aki, an otaku who works part time to support his otaku lifestyle while also attending high school until the day he encounters the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. This encounter inspires him to create a game, where he will create a heroine based on the girl he saw, in hopes to make that a reality. First he must recruit some creators to help him, he enlists the arty Eriri Spencer Sawamura and literary genius Kasumigaoka Utaha. However Tomoya is not prepared to find out who his dream girl actual is, boring even!
Will I ever escape the dreaded slice of life anime? I know people really like them but I just do not see the appeal of them, they tend to be boring and uninspiring. Saying that the main character in this anime is an exaggerated version of people I know (*cough* myself) someone who finds themselves in debt due to a certain interest, in my case much like the main character Tomoya anime is my love but also my vice but there is truly an otaku nature in everybody whether it be movies, TV, books or even cosplay. For that I give the anime some good points in its favor. I think, I may have found a slice of life anime I actually like. The characters in this series are not boring, they each have their own aspirations and personalities which shine when needed. The story itself although simple is actually cute in its execution where although Tomoya thinks he has found the girl of his dreams finds out she isn’t quite what he thought, that’s how close to real an anime can get.
Will I Continue To Watch: Yes! I have finally found a slice of life anime I am willing to watch!
Sengoku Musou
Finally this week we have Sengoku Musou or Samurai Warriors which is an historical, action and samurai anime that started airing on the 12th of January. This anime is mainly centered on the Sengoku era in Japan and in particular the Sanada brothers. In a world ripped apart by civil war which is coming to an end all that is left is one final battle, a battle that will have once allies stand off against one another. Amidst the battle are the Sanada brothers. Who will walk away victorious in a battle with no real winners.
First off, what a confusing intro – to the point I had no idea whether it was bringing in back-story or starting the anime at the end so the series would be a retelling, saying that the opening theme to this anime was brilliant even after the confusing intro. A slow mover at first but even in its slow start it was quite captivating, it was interesting partly because of the confusing beginning because if you’re like me you need to know what was happening there and interesting from the sheer amount of characters and story being thrown at you. The sheer majesty of some of these samurai characters is outstanding although we know nothing about them bar the fact they are in a war to unify Japan, each is original in design with their own attributes like the girl who randomly ha a flying squirrel companion. We only got to see a handful of the samurai in this episode and if the others are like what we saw in this anime then we are in for some exciting anime.
Will I Continue To Watch: Yes it’s a three for three this week, all anime are definitely worth watching past the first episode. Also, more flying squirrels!
What have you out there been watching? What did you think of this week’s anime? Let me know in the comments!
