First Episode Impressions
- Black Rock Shooter: Dawn Fall: The plot is only there to provide the barest context for the robots girls fighting the other robots. The first BRS anime was like that too, but for some reason even with the graphical upgrade, Dawn Fall seems a lot less bombastic. Granted, this is only the first episode. The CGI is decent, but it does not fit well with the painted backgrounds. Trying until episode three.
- Birdie Wing: Exactly what I wanted— an over-the-top take on golf, and not only in the way the sport is played. Eve is some sort of golf gambler-slash-mercenary and I'm all for it. She's a power player with enough precision to hit a target even if it's obstructed by a speeding train. We don't get to see much of Aoi, who will presumably be the deuteragonist, but she has crazy skills too. Hopefully the elite of pro leagues are all equally as bonkers. One thing that was off was that Kevin bloke getting surprised by Eve's playing even though he's apparently challenged them several times already. Aside from that, good premiere. P.S. Gunpla and Pac-Man references. Neat. Definitely continuing.
Initial Reactions:
RPG Fudousan: Very fluffy, cute, and pretty relaxing with a touch of comedy. Can't wait to see more!
Deaimon: Nagomu is just adorable, Itsuka's backstory is pretty dark, and the OP is pretty relaxing! Perfect after the slightly-comedic anime before this one! Can't wait for more wagashi, Kansai-ben, and more of Nagomu and Itsuka!
First Impressions
- The Greatest Demon Lord is Reborn as a Typical Nobody: One of those comedies revolving around an overpowered MC, but this time there is one thing he isn’t good at— making friends! Unfortunately the show is as trite as the title makes it sound. Dropping.
- RPG Real Estate: I don’t like the character designs, and main group’s personalities are painfully generic. It’s aiming for that chill, comfy vibe but to me it’s more dull and plodding. The exploration of the fantasy-world real estate industry is unfortunately underbaked, which is another negative in my book. To its credit it had that one good joke and in general the humor is better when it’s parodying JRPGs. But not funny enough for me to stay. Dropping.
- Deaimon: I must admit the star of the show for me was the elegant confectionery. The food looked gooood. I can already tell I won’t be as endeared to the dynamic between Itsuka and Nagomu compared to similar old guy-young kid pairs (such as in Barakamon and Amaama to Inazuma). Yeah, we needed more emotion and less exposition, I think. For example, it would have been better to first focus on Itsuka’s desperation to become independent and reliable, before showing us her tragic backstory flashback. Trying until episode three, likely shelving.
Rising of the Shield Hero S2: I guess I liked the first season well enough? Though I have absolutely no recollection of the green-haired girl that's now in the party, and still could not remember her presence when I looked for some S1 clips to make sure nothing was skipped. Probably not a good sign. Otherwise, things are moving on to some new threat that's messing with these Waves, the heroes still need to actually work together, Raphtalia still cute and a tad messed up in the head. Not entirely sure I'll stick with this, really.
RPG Real Estate: Extremely cute, colourful, silly and mildly lewd. Hello, Doga Kobo. Not entirely sure how seriously the darker sections of the OP should be taken, but either way I expect it'll be a fun time.
Healer Girls: It is refreshing to see a series about girls singing that isn't either idol or school club. The setting is an alternate present where everything is apparently the same except that in addition to Western and Eastern style medical treatments, there's sound-based "healing" as well. It's not "magic" by that world's terms, but a scientifically based skill that people can learn. Nor is it a thing that happens by accident, you have to specifically choose the effect you want, so our heroines' habit of breaking into song randomly isn't a danger.
It's taught by apprenticeship, so our three young songstresses learn their potential trade from a master who is apparently tops in the field. They're still in the early training stage, so are not supposed to actually heal people. (Plot point, and I am pretty sure it will come up again.)
Some things not yet clear: The exact limitations of "healing"; whether there can be male healers; whether the skill can also be used to "harm."
So far it's inoffensively cute, but will it be more than Cute Girls Doing Cute Things and Breaking Into Song? Remains to be seen. And at least there is 100% less chance of rape happening than that other Healer show. Edit: Whoops, I was thinking of that other other Healer show, not the one this season which should also be free of that kind of thing, but in a different way.
Edited by SKJAM on Apr 6th 2022 at 4:03:52 AM
Paripi Koumei episode 2 feels like the litmus test. It perfectly sells what the anime is about. I love that the Stone Sentinel Maze gets referenced. And Kongming’s stratagem for getting Eiko’s area packed was indeed cunning and wily. The songs still aren’t my cup of tea but the animations for the performances are excellent.
Initial Reactions:
Shachiku-san wa Youjo Yuurei ni Iyasaretai: In this latest indictment of Japanese overwork culture, we are greeted with a ghost so cute that even I am healed!
Gaikotsu Kishi-sama: What the fuck was that opener!?? That was pretty shocking... It was more shocking when it served as an in medias res for the episode, which was a mostly standard protagonist-finds-themself-in-an-isekai intro plot. I'm staying for the light-hearted moments, but I swear if that happens again...
First Impressions
- Heroine Taru Mono! Kiraware Heroine to Naisho no Oshigoto:: This might be strange to say… it’s better than I expected, but I still struggled to finish the pilot. I reckon anyone who likes shoujo stories will be more taken with this one, because it is competent. The protagonist Hiyori comes to life with a healthy variety of expressions, and it’s neat that she has aspirations, which distinguishes her from being just another average high schooler. Too bad she’s stuck with two stuck-up dudes. Trying until episode three.
- Skeleton Knight in Another World: What a tasteless opener. And this seems like this will be another Overlord. An isekai with a skeletal protagonist that a lot of people are excited about for reasons I don’t get. I wonder why MC still gets hungry and stuff. What’s the point of making him all bones then? Apologies to the friend who recommended me this, but dropping this hard.
I've been following Honeyworks for some years now and Hiyori is one of my favourite of the characters. I hate the LIP X LIP boys though, there's an explanation for both their behaviours but I honestly can't stand them regardless even if the shitty older brothers dynamic they eventually have with Hiyori is nice.
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boysAdapting the Stone Sentinel Maze like that was certainly pretty neat. Now I have to expect all of Zhuge's other stratagems and 5head trolling schemes to be used somehow.
Miss Shachiku and the Little Baby Ghost: Pretty unusual horror story here. A hard-working lady is harassed by some little hellion of a ghost that seems desperate to ruin her career for reasons beyond my ken. Try as she might, the ghost simply won't allow her to remain in the office, and even steals lunches. This should make for a thrilling spook.
Skeleton Knight in Another World: I can't help but feel the content warning comes a little too late when the show starts right at an attempted rape scene. A highly unnecessary one that drags on far too long before the super ultra overpowered MC shows up. Yeah, not gonna bother finishing this episode, if this is the tone to look forward too. I mean, Overlord is miles better, and that was already a massive disappointment.
Demon Girl Next Door S2: Been waiting for this one, and it's still as great as ever. I swear Shamiko's tail has more personality than most MC's these days, meanwhile Shamiko herself, and Momo are a fun pair. Definitely going to be a highlugbt of this season.
Healer Girl: It's like they had an AI analyze human music and churn out the blandest approximation of a real musical. Studio 3Hz aimed for whimsical, but the soundtrack is so insubstantial it disappears like a puff of smoke in the wind.
Machikado Mazoku S2: My enjoyment was hampered by the fact that Sakura Chiyoda is in the OP, yet Ugallu isn't. They haven't announced a VA for her either. That makes me think they're going to stretch volume 3 out over 13 episodes, which is insane. The fact that the first five minutes just repeat the last five minutes of season one deepened my suspicion this season is going to be stuffed full of padding.
I'm all caught up the on the manga, so it's not a big deal to drop this if it gets boring. I probably would've slept on this completely if I didn't need to get a HiDive subscription for Onipan!
Edited by WarriorsGate on Apr 7th 2022 at 1:43:20 AM
RPG Real Estate: So, it's trying to be a cute, relaxing series, but the source material is a pure comedy and it doesn't work very well. The source material is kind of mediocre to begin with, but I think the direction is most of the problem
Machikado: Now, this is good. The manga is above-average to begin with, but the excellent comedic sensibilities of the anime raise it to a whole new level. And it's been so long since I've read this part of the manga that it feels fresh to me
Shachiku-san: Boring. And there's part of my brain that keeps insisting that this is normalizing capitalist exploitation
Reimeiki: I normally like Loux's archetype, but man they did their best to make her annoying. And she's basically the main character, so, uh, going to be skipping this one
My enjoyment was hampered by the fact that Sakura Chiyoda is in the OP, yet Ugallu isn't.
Ugallu is in the ED, though, if briefly
Ito's story arcs always last 13 chapters, to fit inside a Tankobon volume. Mikan's curse is the focus of volume 4, which should logically be the second half of this season, unless JC Staff pad it with filler and stretch volume 3 thin to use the emotional closure from solving Sakura's disappearance as the cornerstone of the finale.
The ED also has the person in the plague doctor mask. I think that's supposed to be Gusion, Sion's creator, but that's volume 6 stuff, so I have no idea what kind of timeframe the ED is operating on. Are they padding out the Bureau of Darkness stuff to complicate the mystery of volume 3?
Edited by WarriorsGate on Apr 7th 2022 at 9:14:17 AM
It was pretty neat that they asked Pellek to sing a Skeleton Knight OP. I listened to a lot of his covers in past. But the show itself is not my cup of tea.
Had not much time to watch a new season because of constant moving but I settled at last for a month so I have time now.
Paripi Koumei looks good. It is not the best P.A. Works show production-wise but the plot and characters are good and when they actully animate the perforances, they look good also. And I like the music ulike some other guys here (waiting for the second girl, though as her group seems to be a metal idols(?)). Using this stratgem in the second ep. was pretty funny for me as FGO player.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story totally over the top spocon with predominantly female cast. Just the way I like it. Totally unrealistic but fun to watch. Looking forward to further eps.
Deaimon A SOL anime with a bit of working envoriment and drama. Also my cup of tea. I jut hope it will keep the balance. Oh, and it was pretty funny to cast Matsuoka Yoshitsugu as M Hs father.
I plan to watch Healear Girl, new BRS anime and T&B2. And I am definetely watching Kaguya S3 and Spy x Family so the season is pretty stacked, especially comparing to the previous one.
UPD: Damn, almost forgot about Ascendance of the Bookworm S3.
Edited by Nachtwandler on Apr 8th 2022 at 3:49:08 AM
First Impressions
- Love After World Domination:: I’m happy to report that this show displays a lot of reverence for the sentai genre. The studio didn’t need to go so hard on the theming of the ranger team nor the combat animations, but they did and it’s all the better for it. The setup works even without the gimmick and that makes the gimmick stronger. While thee costume design of the main girl (and the accompanying fanservice shots) is not great, she is uber cute otherwise. The lead guy is also a huge dork, and together they radiate that idiot-couple energy I can’t help but smile at. Definitely continuing.
- The Dawn of the Witch: Wait, Albus was the one who offed Thirteen? And there was a war? Is that LN material? Because I don’t remember that from the anime. In any case, it was nice to see familiar faces. That’s about the bulk of my enjoyment of the episode though. Hort and Kudo are okay but the actual important characters Saybil and Loux are dull and annoying, respectively. Continuing, maybe skimming episodes to see what happened with Zero and Mercenary.
- Date A Live: New season, new Spirit to woo. I’m not really digging the new girl, but there’s time to warm up to her. “I can only love 2D” is a good start. Not much else to say aside from it’s classic Date A Live. Continuing.
- Tiger and Bunny: One of those anime that I’m surprised got a second season, and am I glad it’s back! The first episode of season 2 is a deliberate imitation of the first episode of season 1, and the parade of returning characters hit me with that joyous blast of nostalgia. I cheered when Rock Bison showed off his fancy new gliding equipment; hopefully that means he’s doing better in the rankings! Seems like there’s also new blood in the superhero pool and they are as haughty as Barnaby was. Probably gonna focus on the greenhorns learning to become better heroes from their senpai. Gosh, season 2 of Tiger and Bunny. I’m stoked. Continuing, heck, probably finishing the whole slate of episodes in the next week.
I was going to check out Dawn of the Witch, but I already have too many shows going on as-is, and I barely remember the previous anime, anyway. Also, watching Date a Live S4 even though I don't remember what's happened so far, I just like Kurumi.
Kaguya-sama S3 as well. Still as hilarious as ever. Still only the second best arm-wrestling competition I've seen though.
Initial Reactions: Dance Dance Danseur
So we got a boy that used to want to do ballet after seeing a performance of a man during his sister's recital only to switch gears to Jeet Kune Do after his father, a stuntman, died of a heart attack, the same boy who was thrusted back to ballet due to catching the interest of a girl whose mother runs a ballet house... I admit I was a bit lost with that opener of this anime of drama and breaking gender boundaries, but I guess I'll see what more it has to offer!
First Impressions
- Dance Dance Danseur: When it comes to anime tackling sports/hobbies I’m either unfamiliar with or uninterested in, I want the first episode to sell me on that thing. I wanted this show to persuade me that ballet was something pouring your life into. And it… didn’t. Not to say the pilot wasn’t good, because it was quite polished. Junpei faces that common dilemma of guys pursuing traditionally feminine activities, and ends up being amusingly tsundere towards ballet. The dancing sequences are very nice too. But ultimately my impression was’ “That was neat.” Continuing.
EDIT:
More First Impressions
- Ao Ashi: Another well-executed sports anime like Danseur, but it’s about football, so yeah I’m biased in its favor. It’s hitting all the right notes for me. The MC is initially portrayed as an idiotic but physically gifted protagonist, then it’s revealed that he actually has incredible spatial awareness. It also delved into a specific football technique, and I can probably expect good tactical plays in future matches. The animation and sound design are all rock solid. Had to stop myself from going ahead and binging the manga. Production IG looks like they have another sports hit on their hands. Definitely continuing.
Edited by fillerdude on Apr 9th 2022 at 8:23:35 AM
Initial Reactions:
Aoashi: Pretty standard opener for a sports anime save for the excessive grins. This'll be my anime before I watch Blue Lock next cour, so this'll be my bar for a while...
SPYxFAMILY: Pretty interesting 1st episode. Twili- I mean Loid was pretty awesome, and Anya was just the cutest! Next week will definitely be an explosive episode, or so I heard...

Initial Reactions: BIRDIE WING
Ohoho, definitely pretty solid, from the setting, a mix of lots of Western elements, to the main chara Eve's deal to even the Rainbow Bullet! Can't wait to see more!!