Another season, more slop to ignore and a couple of shows to watch.
Manga:
Shibuya Near Family continues being good - it's the only ongoing manga I look forward to and seek out. Koji Kumeta's found his style a long time ago: social commentary + a hint of absurdism. Be it 1999 or 2025, it works well. A
Ariadne in the Blue Sky by Norihiro Yagi (known for Angel Densetsu & Claymore) is a real throwback in storytelling style. An old school fantasy adventure with sci-fi elements that does not care for RPG elements, immediate worldbuilding dumps or isekais. However, it is not as interesting as Claymore and definitely not as amusing as Angel Densetsu. Thus far at least. B- so far
I've also been reading the Evangelion manga and the fun but very slow to update Lies of the Sheriff Evans: Dead or Love - both good.
Anime:
The Twelve Kingdoms and Vision of Escaflowne are two shows that are very similar to each other in the beginning of the show, and I'm too early into them to judge, so I'll leave it at "I like them"
Tokimeki Tonight is a 80s shojo romcom with vampires that doesn't take itself too seriously and has delightful stylized backgrounds. I've only just started it, but it's fun so far.
Ranma 1/2, the 80s version. Having read some of the manga in the past, but dropping it because I lost track of what chapter I was on, the show is just as fun as I remember it being - and features the legendary VA Megumi Hayashibara. A
Dragon Ball Z - If I had 1 € for every legendary 150+ episode show from the Spring 1989 season I'm watching, and is actually holding up to the reputation it has... I'd have 2 €. A- (because it hasn't reached the peak of the original Dragon Ball imo... yet)
Katte ni Kaizou - Re-watched this adaptation of Koji Kumeta's early 2000s manga, and actually read what is available of it. It's fun... definitely a Shaft Adaptation for good and bad, and it's interesting to see the transition from the haha penis humor of the early part of the manga, into the more SZS style stuff later on. Shame it's a fairly short OVA for such a long and quality work, to the point where I feel like it kinda misrepresents the manga somewhat. B+
Western Animation:
Gravity Falls: I just started this, and is it just me, or does this show remind anyone of Spongebob in its humor? Either way, I like it so far.
Very slowly forcing myself to rewatch season zero of Yugioh. Not really digging it this time. It's fun but it's too formulaic each episode and the change in the characters and stuff is so fucking slow. I love all the games Takahashi invented for it though, pretty unique in that sense.
Also reading the Haruhi Suzumiya manga because I don't think I've ever read it before? I've read the books and watched all the anime but never the manga I don't think. I like it. The art is kinda' bad for the first 3-5 volumes but everything after looks pretty good. Wish the anime covered more of the story.