Wow, is really the end of July already? It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in front of my laptop being really excited about Anime Expo and the start of the new season. Then week 2 started and things took a nosedive in a hurry. It seems that this season the standard for good wasn’t set at which series could be the most awesome and instead settled on which anime could be the least annoying. Even in a weak season like this however, there were still a few standouts that managed to catch my attention. Some of them weren’t even horror! As usual I watched the first three episodes of as many new series as I could and have listed all of the highs (and very lows) that I found in my travels through the world of new anime.

Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi
Mr. Wolf and Seven Companions
Studio: JC Staff
Genre: Romantic Comedy / Fairy Tale parody
Premiere Date: 7/1

Where I Started: So yeah, there was something mentioned about a fairy tale parody series?

Where I Ended: Wow did that concept get dropped in a hurry. What was billed as a fairy tale parody series quickly turned into generic romantic comedy that vaguely references fairy tale each week. While I’ve heard others insist that the comedy in this series is gold, I’ve yet to see it. After 3 episodes the jokes were already repetitive while the characters didn’t have any real originality to begin with. It’s a comedy that occasionally elicits a chuckle but there are much better (and funnier) ways to spend your free time. The moral of this story: Plot summaries can’t be trusted.

Verdict: For fans who need a cheap Taiga Aisaka replacement.

Summer Spotlight Amagami SS Studio: AIC Genre: Romance Premiere Date: 7/1 Where I started: This could be awesome if it just had some facial expressions. Where I Ended: No matter how you feel about Amagami SS in the beginning, that opinion could still completely change once the second arc starts. While the artwork reminds me of a 90’s visual novel, the series itself is surprisingly intriguing to watch thanks to a structure that forces things to move at a much faster pace than what you might normally be used to from a romance. Told in short arcs, each story attempts to get an entire series’ worth of flirting, courting and secret trysts in a much smaller space of time. With the first heroine, Haruka, almost done I’m already left wondering if there is going to be a constant sense of annoyance at having to start over with someone new every couple of episodes. For fans who are looking for the latest romance in the vein of White Album (with less singing and emo voice overs) or Suzuka (with less sports) this is the series that you want to pick up. Verdict: Don’t like it now? Check back every few episodes and eventually there will be a heroine you’ll find to be worth sticking around for.

Legend of the Legendary Heroes
Studio: ZEXCS
Genre: Fantasy
Premiere Date:
Available via Funimation

Where I Started: Oh right, I did watch this.

Where I Ended: It took way too long for me to stop feeling like I was watching a fantasy series trying to be every other fantasy series instead of something new and unique. While it’s nice to look at, Legend of the Legendary Heroes spends so much time establishing history and setting that it forgets to create memorable characters or lasting impressions. While fantasy fans might recognize this as building towards something, spending so much time in the past doesn’t do much to get me excited about the future.

Verdict: If you liked Record of Lodoss War, Tales of the Abyss, Tower of Druaga, etc. this will feel like a visit back home.

Shukufuku no Campanella
Studio: AIC
Genre: Harem Romance
Premiere Date: 7/2

Where I Started: One of the purest definitions of empty, moe trash.

Where I Ended: No clever quips here; the story of Shukufuku no Campanella is about as empty as the space inside each of its characters heads. It’s very pretty to look at but if you’re entering this series because you want a sweet moe story filled with cute romantic twists you’re better off saving your brain cells on ANYTHING else. It will never, EVER be referred to as a shining example of any genre but if you’re willing to turn your brain off for 25 minutes each week than this could be something to kill time with.

Verdict: A possibly guilty pleasure but I wouldn’t advertise it.

Mitsudomoe
Studio: Bridge
Genre: Comedy
Premiere Date: 7/2
Available via Crunchyroll

Where I Started: It’s kind of funny now but do they really intend to keep up this pace all the way?

Where I Ended: Taking the worst parts of Kodomo no Jikan and Azumanga Daioh, Mitsudomoe tried really hard in the beginning to be edgy with its fast paced physical comedy that never stopped. If only they hadn’t used all their best jokes by the end of the first episode. Going from slightly clever physical comedy to pee and snot jokes, Mitsudomoe took a nosedive and crashed spectacularly. No longer trying for clever, the staff now seem content with being gross or dumb just for the sake of doing so. Hint for aspiring anime writers: Just because the characters are yelling doesn’t make the jokes any funnier. Also, pee is usually only funny for a few seconds, not a few minutes.

Verdict: For fans of toilet humor and Ben Stiller movies.

Summer Spotlight High School of the Dead Studio: Madhouse Premiere Date: 7/5 Available via The Anime Network Where I Started: This is awesome! Where I Ended: High School of the Dead has earned all of the praise that it’s gotten from fans and so much more. Calling back to the bloody zombie films from decades ago, HSotD takes the genre to a new level with its willingness to spend time inside the characters minds. While other entries into the genre are content to use every second to just scare its audience visually, this series gets into the audience head by visiting the characters emotional depths and motivations. This is the horror series of the year. Verdict: Horror fans have no reason not to watch this series.

Seitokai Yakuindomo
Studio: GoHands
Genre: Ecchi School Comedy
Premiere Date: 7/3

Where I Started: Wow, did they really just say that?… and that?… and that???

Where I Ended: I don’t hide how much I enjoy comedy that is willing to be at least a little different. Even before it premiered, fans have been comparing this season to last year’s Seitokai no Ichizon which isn’t entirely unfair. They do share some key elements: a single male landing a position within an all female student council and much of the comedy relies on sex jokes and that’s about where the comparisons end. While Seitokai no Ichizon relied on a perverted male lead and parody jokes; Seitokai Yakuindomo is happy to let their perverted female leads take the ball and run with it while taking turns being the straight man to the others. Unlike other comedies relying on gross comedy, this series succeeds in turning dirty comedy into dry wit. The hardcore references will limit its appeal to many but I’ll be watching through to the end at least.

Verdict: The other choice for those who find Mitsudomoe to be a little too blunt or crass.

Occult Academy
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Premiere Date: 7/5
Available via Crunchyroll

Where I Started: Maya makes me laugh!

Where I Ended: At first Occult Academy was a delicious dip into refreshing that walked a very tight line between mysterious horror and comedy. Somewhere along the way however that balance became terribly tipped towards the comedy side almost ruining the atmosphere that it had worked so hard to create. Using jokes and humor that made me flashback to old Looney Toons shorts, the series has already shrunk into a shell of what it was mere episodes earlier. It has its charm but this season is packed with horror and most of it a lot better than this.

Verdict: It lost me at episode 3.

Nuraihyon no Mago
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
Studio: Studio Deen
Premiere Date: 7/5
Available via Viz Media

Where I Started: I feel reminded of 3 different series already.

Where I Ended: Along the lines of Buso Renkin or DNAngel, Nura never comes across as a particularly weak shonen series. It also never comes across as a particularly original shonen series. Filled with story elements and designs that feel or look borrowed, this is one of the weakest efforts from Studio Deen in a long time (which pains me to say because I like Studio Deen). There’s nothing else like it this season because it was all done over the last few years.

Verdict: Pick a random shonen from the last 3 years and you’ll probably get the same effect.

Tono to Issho
Studio: Gathering
Premiere Date: 7/5
Available via Crunchyroll

Where I Started: So it’s 90 seconds of Japanese puns?

Where I Ended: I take that back; it’s 90 seconds of Japanese puns and historical references. If you’ve ever studied the Warring States period of Japan or the Japanese language in general you might find something to watch here. I can’t help but look at this and become confused at everything I’m not getting.

Verdict: Huh?

Summer Spotlight Shiki Studio: Daume Premiere Date: 7/8 Available via Funimation Where I Started: It’s Higurashi – When They Cry without the moe. Where I Ended: It’s all in the details. Moving at a very slow pace, Shiki is amazingly adept at biding it’s time to tell its story. If you’re the type that has trouble keeping up with stories that are slow to develop on a weekly basis you’re covered with name tags and literally having major events and places mapped out. A very slow build, you’ll have to give this series a bit of time to warm up but once you realize you’ve been sucked in it will be far too late to even think about turning back. Verdict: Another horror highlight for the summer. Pick this one up.

Asobi ni Iku Yo
Studio: AIC Plus
Premiere Date: 7/10
Available via Crunchyroll

Where I Started: No, just no.

Where I Ended: If you enjoy busty heroines and moe alien love comedy, this is the summer premiere that you knew about ahead of time and were waiting for. Asobi ni Iku Yo delivers exactly what you’re expecting: fan service, mostly mindless humor, government conspiracies and a bit more that you weren’t expecting. Regardless, if you enjoyed To Love Ru this is your next big thing.

Verdict: This will have absolutely no problem finding an audience, I just won’t be among them.

Cat Shit One
Studio: Anima
Premiere Date: 7/17

Where I Started: I thought it’d be bloodier.

Where I Ended: Essentially a 25 minute action sequence starring a grizzled bunny war veteran with his much younger bunny recruit. What makes this release special are the use of animals to replace people which completely alters the audiences perspective on how one should feel. It’s easy to filter out war violence you’re used to but bunnies blowing away camels and almost getting turned into bunny bits themselves? Not so much. Should Anima turn this into a full TV series or OVA I would watch without a moment of hesitation.

Verdict: Another one that everyone should check out just to watch something different.

Summer Spotlight Black Rock Shooter Studio: Ordet Premiere Date: 7/24 Where I Started: A glorious 52 minute commercial with a story. Where I Ended: There was really no reason for me to be excited about this release but I was and now I want more. A great looking self contained story that tells one story in two entirely different ways, this is another highlight of the summer. Verdict: Watch it, love it, don’t expect a clean cut ending.

So there are my views of the month. Obviously your experiences may vary but let’s face it, there just wasn’t a lot of great original series to get excited about this month. But the fall season is just around the corner and with that will come more Letter Bee, To Aru Majutsu no Index and To Love Ru along with new series such as Panty and Stocking and the first Marvel anime, Iron Man. But what got you excited this month? Disagree with any of my assessments? Share your favorites in the comments below!