The Winter 2011 Season for Anime Thread

[Tengukami]

Well, now that many of our favorite series this fall are in episode 10 or 11, it is coming near the time to bid adieu to the fall season. So I decided to head on over to Cart Driver and take a look at what the Winter 2011 season had in store.

Ye gods what a mess. I see literally nothing here that interests me at all. Gosick maybe, and possibly Houkago no Pleiades, if for no other reason than it's the brainchild of Gainax and car manufacturers Subaru. But beyond that, the pickings are so slim I might end up watching Season 2 of Kimi no Todoke.

There's also apparently going to be a DVD special of Baka to Test in February, which should be fun.

Discuss series you're looking forward to and/or following for the Winter 2011 season here. Fire away!

[Matsuri]

Both of the noitaminA shows look like they're worth checking out. Then again, I'm awfully behind on everything

[JT]

It's not a series, but this looks like it might be cool. Cars! Explosions! Yelling! Heavy shading! Dinosaur on rollerskates!

[theshirn]

Ye gods what a mess. I see literally nothing here that interests me at all. Gosick maybe

This.  My god.  I hate all of humanity a little bit more just for seeing the lineup.  Gosick at least looks like it might be interesting.

[Reddyne]

There's a handful of things I might check out. Even if things just aren't suited for my tastes, I'm quite satisfied with how the current season is going, so I'll be thankful for what I've been able to enjoy recently.

[Tengukami]

Both of the noitaminA shows look like they're worth checking out. Then again, I'm awfully behind on everything

And to be sure, noitaminA has never let me down. Which will be the only reason why I'll be giving those two shows a shot, because they're synopses didn't really make me sit up and take notice.

On the other hand, I love being surprised. The way I see it, when you have a season like this, where you don't see much that really stands out, you can't go wrong just watching ... everything. Worst case scenario, you lose 24 minutes of your life. But that's going to happen anyway, and in the best case, you might find a hidden treasure. Hell, Bakuman sounded dead boring to me until Jigglypuff here asked in the Fall 2010 thread why it wasn't getting more attention, so I check it out and surprise - it's one of the five series I'm following.

[Drake]

Fractale's two stills look like the art for Mushi Futari and Ghibli respectiveily, so there's no way I'm not watching the first episode at least. noitaminA is a good sign, Yamakan is not necessarily a good sign. Hopefully he won't "ruin" it, and hopefully he kicks it if this series flops because it's one of the only things I'm currently intrigued by.

Gosick would interest me if it weren't done by all the wrong people.

Tailenders doesn't look interesting whatsoever and I'm not fond of the coloring but it looks so over-the-top and Gainax-y that I'm bound to check it out. I'm seeing various tones of F-Zero in there too. Looks like it'll be the popular-by-hype-but-not-actually-popular show of the season.

Wandering Son looks pretty in terms of artwork but probably will be really boring and have lots of blank space and generally won't be interesting to me.

My friend will go bonkers about Quantum so I'll probably end up watching that.

[Jana]

Fractale and Gosick look a bit interesting, but for the most part, I think this season will be the season for me to catch up on old anime.

[♛ Apher-Forte]

There is plenty of interesting shows, what you all prejudxxks about?

I am looking forward to Is It A Zombie, for the sole reason of asking: "Well, is it?!"
"LOLIDUNNO"

[Tengukami]

Catching up on old shows is always a good idea. I finished Let's Nupu Nupu, Trapeze and was apparently the last person to see the Black Rock Shooter OVA while following this fall's stuff. Granted, the LNN is only 88 minutes long.

I still need to finish Bakemonogatari, too (I've only gotten as far as ep 3). So, there's that. And at least there's noitaminA.

[noodles]

Wandering Son is my favorite manga ever, so :V

also Kimi ni Todoke 2  :*

[Jana]

Well, I've had Arakawa Under the Bridge recommended to me about a million times, and I know you liked it too, Ammy.
After that, I'm not sure what else I want to watch, but there will be time.

[trancehime]

Winter season?

IS A PIECE OF GARBAGE. Mostly.

First of all, why the hell did they decide to give Rio her own anime?
Secondly, they're continuing Queen's Blade?
Thirdly, what's with the 2nd season of Mitsudomoe? It's not needed.

Indeed, this season looks like a piece of shit. Only a bunch of things from there I can find interest in, I'm definitely checking out Fractale and Gosick, and I want to see if Tailenders is worth watching, but that's about it. Beelzebub and Nyaruko are both things i have mixed feelings on but ehhhh. Not enough to counteract the garbage.

[♛ Apher-Forte]

Nyaruko is.... not even an anime as far as I am concerned that a 4 minute in joke flash animation done in classrooms.
seriously.


but I am somewhat interested in that Stratos thing, looks like cool mecha, and doesn't smell quite Strike Witches.

[Edible]

Kimi ni Todoke 2  :*

Noto! : :toot:

[noodles]

There's enough anime on my TO-WATCH list to last me until the industry picks up again

w-which it will

[Suikama]

I guess if the Japanese government doesn't kill off anime, it will just do so itself :smug:

[Grand Octopus]

Nothing there I'll bother watching until the season's over. Wandering Son has a nice aesthetic style but will probably bore the bollocks off me. May keep an eye on Houk?ago no Pleides because Gainax. Tailenders looks like Wacky Races on steroids and may therefore also be worth a look at some point.

Ugh, it's depressing to see so much crap get released without issue while Despera hangs in limbo.

[Moerin]

Gosick looks somewhat
Interesting.  Other than
That, though... Nothing.  Sigh.

Also that is NOT
Wolverine.  Who do you think
You're kidding, Japan?

[Tengukami]

I guess if the Japanese government doesn't kill off anime, it will just do so itself :smug:

I know you're probably kidding, but as I've seen a number of well-meaning people flogging this meme, I feel the need to clarify:

THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TRYING TO BAN ANIME AND MANGA. A city ordinance was passed in Tokyo that prohibits anyone under 18 from being able to buy anime, manga and games that fall under an open-ended definition of "depicting violence".

THAT'S IT. LET THIS MISINFORMATION DIE HERE.

[noodles]

except that alone can deter a lot of old and new mangaka from making something at all, if it means they will be losing so many customers.

But the industry is already in decline so who knows if we will even see a difference

[Drake]

Basically it means NO FANSERVICE EVERRR.

[jigglyppuff8]

It's only in Tokyo, it doesn't go into effect until July, so there's time to repeal it, nothing of value was lost, maybe they'll start making good anime now, etc. etc.

I wanted to say that most of these shows looked pretty dang neat-o, but I want to be in the cool kids club, so they all look like pretty dang boring now. BV

[Tengukami]

Yes, let's talk some more about the thread's subject.

I've given it some thought and I now believe Fractale looks like it will be very good. If I can somehow manage to wring two series out of this pile, I will be very happy.

[Silent Harmony]

Fan of Hourou Musuko, so I'll keep an eye on that. Other than that I have no idea what these series are about so I'll wait to hear some reactions.

Meanwhile I really need to start looking into catching up on anime. For some reason I just can't bring myself to do so (probably because I tend to prefer manga for whatever reason).

Speaking of old series I remember liking what little I've read of Kimi no Todoke; maybe I'll check out the first season and then see about the second if it holds up.

[noodles]

Fan of Hourou Musuko, so I'll keep an eye on that.

I'm curious to how well Chiba is gonna transfer into animation. Part of why I love her is the way her facial expressions are drawn. Her eyes <3

[Alice★f]

Anybody got a chart?

Damn, Japan amazes me each time. I haven't even seen half of what I was supposed to during the Fall Quarter!

No matter what happens, I must at least finish MM, PSG and Ore no Imouto ^_^

[♛ Apher-Forte]

half of the summer season will be 18+ shows struggling to finish before the new broadcast measures in April.
I think.

well, I hope at the very least this will not damage the aspiring animation newcomers from making their debut in the industry.
I see hope in that Stratos show, and most of all, because Anathe mentioned it, I think I will check out Wandering Son to see how it is. The artstyle reminds me of Soramachi, so I guess it should be worth checking out.
Meanwhile, Seikon no Qwaser apparently signed on a second season of SM abuse and boob sucking.

[Tengukami]

Anybody got a chart?

Damn, Japan amazes me each time. I haven't even seen half of what I was supposed to during the Fall Quarter!

No matter what happens, I must at least finish MM, PSG and Ore no Imouto ^_^

Here's a chart, but the link I posted in the OP has better synopses, and trailers.

[trancehime]

I've given it some thought and I now believe Fractale looks like it will be very good. If I can somehow manage to wring two series out of this pile, I will be very happy.

That doesn't seem like it'd be very hard, but only if you really tried. I mean, I don't see a lot of good coming out this season. A lot of anime that didn't need it got second seasons and/or continuations. They don't really seem to me like they have room or potential to carry on the original first season. Secondly, there's a bunch of generic crap that immediately gets a "no" from me, things like Freezing, Dragon Crisis and Merry Dream Eater. Thirdly, who decided it would be a good idea to give Rio her own anime, again? She's just some poster girl for a bunch of pachinko and casino games. Occasionally, people make hentai flashes or doujins of her. Big deal. I guess Japan must like her a lot. Lastly, I think I find it sad that out of those that do already interest me (Fractale and Gosick mainly), Usagigoya seems like it'd be the most endearing and nice to me out of the lot. Too bad I probably will never get an opportunity to sit down and actually watch it, though.

It's only in Tokyo, it doesn't go into effect until July, so there's time to repeal it, nothing of value was lost, maybe they'll start making good anime now, etc. etc.

Given the current trends in what kinds of anime people like and watch, and also the massive influence fujoshi have been having recently, I don't think it's safe to say that people will start making actual quality (and not QUALITY) anime any time soon.