Winter 2013 Anime Pick
December 24, 2012
Chihaya is bringing karuta back!
Normally I make some semblance of putting together a list of picks for an upcoming season, and then predict one that will stand out. Frankly, this season I can’t be bothered. Almost every single new show is certain to be crap. There is one show that I would have predicted as the greatest show of the season, it is the second season of Chihayafuru. Season 1 was the best show of 2012 (it actually started in 2011, but it ended Winter 2012). If you haven’t seen season 1, by all means take the time to do so. It is a great series, with fun characters, lots of emotion, excellent music, and solid direction. I’m really looking forward to Chihayafuru, even if there is nothing else worthy of being broadcast this season.
Abandoned Factory Anime Review 
December 24, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Harsh 😉
I’ll need to get around to Chihayafuru one of these days.
December 24, 2012 at 8:15 pm
It may be harsh, but it’s real, man.
If you do get around to it, I bet you’ll enjoy watching Chihayafuru. It is very much a sports show, but the sport is such a weird one that it feels fresh. Also it flows so well. Quality entertainment.
December 24, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Ugh, there really isn’t anything else is there? Well, except for Minami-ke Tadaima, but that’s because I love these kinds of sitcom anime with such fun and eccentric characters. As long as it’s better than the second season of the series (not hard to do, sadly), I’ll be fairly happy.
Amusingly, I haven’t watched much this last Fall season. In fact, the last anime I watched as it aired was Hyouka. This is due to a weak Fall season for shows I was interested in (none of which really captured by attention) and by the Curse of the MMO, first returning to Aion and then moving to Star Wars The Old Republic. This resurgence might be due to finally getting an new graphics card capable of playing these games on a fairly high level of detail without killing playability.
I tried Chuunibyou, and it was funny for the first episode, but then I ran smack into the Fridge Horror that lurked in the background and it just turned my amusement into profound sadness. These kids needed help, they were desperately crying out for it, and everyone ignored or mocked them for it; or just shrugged it off. The worst being those that had “out-grown it”. I stopped watching at the third episode.
December 24, 2012 at 8:20 pm
“Curse of the MMO: ~ I hear ya. Lately I have been playing LOTRO, and that takes a lot of time.
I did enjoy the first season of Minami-ke, but after a while it really feels like beating a dead horse.
Several episodes in they did address the serious side, but I’m not current with the series, so I don’t know if that was successful or not.
December 24, 2012 at 7:13 pm
I’ve actually been enjoying a couple of the silly shows (“Girls und Panzer” and “Kamisama Kiss”) but I haven’t been able to get into some of the more serious ones that I thought I’d like (“From the New Word,” “Tempest”). But I’m REALLY looking forward to more Chihaya!
December 24, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Girls und Panzer really surprised me. I still think much of it is ridiculous, but I like the way the tank battles have some depth to them.
December 25, 2012 at 1:43 am
If this show tried being even just a little more realistic…it wouldn’t work. But it’s SO out in left field that the riduculousness doesn’t bother me (like the spectator cheering when his shop gets destroyed because now he’ll be able to redecorate). I just shake my head, roll my eyes…and laugh.
December 25, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Yeah, I can see that. I still think you can’t shoot cannon rounds at people and not expect someone to die, but they have managed to push things so far over the top that there really is no point in calling them on anything.
January 2, 2013 at 3:22 pm
I think Chihayafuru will be the best new anime this season but not the only good anime that’s new this season. There might be a few worth checking out once they begin airing, so it might turn out to be better than you expect. That and with a number of anime continuing from Autumn 2012, I think it’ll be a decent season.
January 2, 2013 at 11:00 pm
Well, we can certainly hope so!
January 4, 2013 at 5:05 am
Definitely excited to see this one! /o/ I’m a Taichi x Chihaya fan, but I’d love to see how things will go if/when Arata becomes more visible.
I believe Chihayafuru will come out this January. Can’t wait!
January 5, 2013 at 7:34 pm
I think Arata is going to be more in the mix this time, given how everything ended at the end of season 1. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the return of the whole gang.