Category: Anime

Today on the Anime Cliché Corner, I’ll be discussing one of the most prominent of filler episodes: The Beach Episode!

Almost every anime has filler episodes: The episode where nothing meaningful happens as the animators wait for the manga source to be finished. Although some filler episodes can be interesting, most of the time they draw from a pool (pun!) of cliché scenarios. The Beach Episode is usually just an excuse to show the females of the series in bathing suits (not that I’m complaining!).

The Beach Episode has been so refined that I can simply explain what happens without ever mentioning a particular series. Pretty much every Beach Episode is the same (with different characters of course), so here is a brief rundown of a typical Beach Episode:

Happy New Year to all. At least, I think the whole globe has gotten into the new year by now. How did everyone use their extra second? I used mine to sleep (I can use all the sleep I can get).

As the new year draws upon us, I have one anime-related New Year’s resolution: to finish the series I’m watching! Seriously, I’ve gotten pretty far in a bunch of anime, but haven’t completed them.

I think it’s partly a fear that unfinished series will be dropped by whoever’s subbing them, and I’ll never know happens (unless the series gets licensed). I also have this problem with RPGs (because I don’t want the experience to end), where I’ll stop right before the final boss (I did this in FF7).

Here’s a list of complete seasons of anime on my hard drive I resolve to finish watching(+ all the new ones I’ll watch this year):

• Bakuretsu Tenshi
• Full Metal Alchemist
• Futakoi Alternative
• Mahou Sensei Negima (on episode 19)
• Mahoraba (Only 2 episodes to go anyway!)
• Maburaho (Might’ve gotten this one confused with Mahoraba on occasion)
• Mezzo DSA (Why not? It’s short!)
• Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo (I just kinda started this one)
• ROD The TV (Kind of got uninterested in the plot, I’ll try again)
• Rozen Maiden (Season 1!)
• Sensei no Ojikan (I don’t want this one to end!)
• Tenjou Tenge (haven’t watched this in a while)
• Tsukuyomi Moon Phase (I need to get in the neko mimi mood)
• Ultra Maniac (Did someone say shoujo?)

Pretty big list, huh? I also didn’t include series that haven’t been fully subbed yet. Add those to the list, and I have a monumental amount of work ahead. Wait, did I say "work"? I mean anime enjoyment…

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, or Hantsuki for short, seems like it’ll be one of the more dramatic anime of the new season. The story (or what I gather from the translation at anidb) is about a guy with hepatitis (b?) and a beautiful girl he meets at the hospital. Problem is, she doesn’t have that much time to live. This kind of story reminds me of those Korean soap operas that my mom loves to watch. Inevitably, someone is always sick with some terminal disease, has weeks to live, and dies at the end. Still, the girl is really cute (I have a weakness for girls with hairclips), so I’ll probably end up watching the whole thing and crying at the end. Also, the music during the promo sounds pretty good too.

Check out my first impressions on Hantsuki here. 

Lemon Angel Project

Lemon Angel Project is an anime about an idol group who mysteriously disbands and then reforms 10 months later. That’s pretty much all the info I have about it. I guess the plot of this anime could be compared to Wandaba Style, except without the whole flying to the moon part. I’m not too sure I’ll like this anime, but the character designs seem cute and unique enough to keep me watching for at least the first episode. I don’t even know what the plot will be about, really, so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see on this one.

Read about my first impressions of Lemon Angel Project! 

Rakugo Tennyo Oyui

Rakugo Tennyo Oyui is about six girls who have been given magical powers to fight evil. Wait, haven’t I already heard of this plot a billion times before? There’s nothing really noteworthy about this anime, besides the fact that it’s by m.o.e (Master of Entertainment). That said, you can probably expect the girls to fight evil by showing evil their panties or something to that effect. I really loved Rizelmine (another m.o.e. production), but lately, m.o.e. has built a reputation of producing utter crap. I might give this a shot due purely to loyalty to Rizelmine. Please, m.o.e, win one for the Old Gipper!

Now that my quadrilogy is complete, why not head over to the ol’ forum to vote for your favorite new anime of the season? Do it!

Kagihime Monogatari Eikyuu Alice Rinbukyoku

From what I know of Kagihime Monogatari Eikyuu Alice Rinbukyoku, it has a really long name. It also has some cute bunny-mimi characters. From the official trailer, and the not so official animenfo story translation, it kinda seems like this anime will be about a fight to the death between bunny-eared girls for pages from a magical book! It doesn’t seem like the most original plot, but hey, it could be good! And plus bunny ears!

Read about my first impressions of Kagihime here!

Continuing my coverage of Winter 2006 anime, here are some more possibly noteworthy anime to check out in the new year:

Ergo Proxy

Another highly anticipated anime, Ergo Proxy features smooth, high-quality animation (or at least that’s what I saw in the trailer). I think one of its main selling points is that it’s the first anime to be released in 1080i resolution. The trailer seemed to hint a plot sort of like Elfen Lied or something. I’m not too sold on the style of this anime yet, although it does look pretty cool as eye candy.

REC

REC appears to be a love story involving a normal guy and a female seiyuu. I’m kind of surprised about how many characters in anime are aspiring voice actors. It seems like a weird subject, since the people voicing the characters are voice actors themselves! Anyway, I’m looking forward to this anime because the girl in this picture looks pretty cute, and that’s all the info I have about this series!

Binchou-tan

Binchou-tan is this cute girl with a log strapped on her head. I think she’s a mascot for a game company or something like that. I believe the episodes are going to be 15 minutes long or so, based on the first episode (available on animate.tv). I found the first episode to be pretty mellow. Binchou-tan just kinda starts her day and does everyday stuff (if riding on ducks is your idea of everyday stuff). She is super omega kawaii, so I’ll give her props for that.

(hey, remember you can vote for your favorite in the forums!)