Summer 2016 Anime: What is Archmage still watching?

By: ArchmageThe summer 2016 season is well underway, and I just wanted to share some of the shows I'm keeping my eye on.

Re:Zero

Dude, can you not shine that right in my eye?Oh Re:Zero, I don't know what to do with you. So much promise, so much talent; wasted with a meandering plot and main character that as one of our reviewers has so eloquently stated "Should die in a fire." Right now the only thing keeping me here is the Animation, which is crisp in every movement of the characters, and the intrigue of the many many plot lines they've setup. We'll see, because I've been having PTDS flashbacks to Sword Art since Episode 13.

ReLIFE

Life is meaningless, let's do it again!!!!If you're a Crunchyroll Premium user, chances are you've already watched every episode. I watched the first 2 episodes and next thing I knew, I'd watched all 13. If you're watching episode to episode I would recommend you stick with it. I feel this series is going to be one that Season 2 is going to give me the payoff. Just don't think about the ReLIFE drug and what could be done with it too much, and embrace the story.

Food Wars

I'm so good at cooking, I make people's clothes explodeShokugeki, never change please. Over the top reactions, mouth watering food. They've toned down the Fan Service a bit in Season 2, but I think that's because there aren't any female judges for this arc. I do find the pacing of the last few episodes to be a bit off, however that's mostly due to them being in a Competition Arc where they're not stretching rounds like most Shounen series do. Still enjoyable every week and they're bringing some interesting things to the table (Pun completely intended). Stay Hungry!

Days

Stop apologizing...Sorry!I always have a soft spot for Sports Anime. I think it's just how uplifting the stories are, and they always include some kind of Underdog aspect. Days continues to be dramatic over the slightest thing that the characters do but they've also taken the time to show how the Main character, Tsukamoto, is growing. They spent an entire episode introducing a new character, Chikako, by showing her contempt with Tsukamoto trying to be on the soccer team, but in the end he proves himself to be getting better and in the end convinces her that trying is actually worth it. I save Days to watch after Re:Zero. Days is such a heart warming series; It's the Totoro to Re:Zero's (poorly done) Grave of the Fire Flies.

Orange

Highschool for, "Are you single?"I loved Episode 1. I haven't watched more yet as it's not a high priority. I know the manga is beloved my many and so far everything I've seen online has said it has stayed faithful to it. I do intend to finish it out before the end of the season.

Alderamin on the Sky

I like my wars how I like my women: easy to conquer and requiring the least effort possibleThis is a world centric story. They've set it up with an over narration the same as My Hero Academia did telling you that the Main Male Protagonist is going to become someone great and you get to watch his growth into that person. It's a Military Squad series that should fill the slot of series like Schwartzmarken. I finally sat down and caught up and I'm really glad I did. This series is really awesome to watch. If it keeps up like this, it might make my top 3 by the end of the season.

New Game!

Make money money make money money money!I really enjoyed "Shirobako", "New Game!" is just like it in that it shows you the inner workings of a Game company and how things work. Unlike "Shirobako" though, "New Game!" takes a micro look at only one aspect of Game Dev in Character Design. Where you had Aoi as a Production Assistant doing many different jobs in an Animation company in "Shirobako", you are instead watching Aoba as she learns the ins and outs of 3D design work for Characters in "New Game!". The series focus' heavily on the Main Character is EXTREMELY slow paced, though it's a relaxing series with distinct characters.

Taboo Tattoo

Surrounded by my haremThe Animation is really what keeps me coming back for this series. The story is marginal, the characters are flat, and the pacing is all over the place. The Concept has been done but there's an interesting enough twist on it, But my god... the animation during the action is wonderful. I really want to like this series more than I do, but my interest is hanging by a thread. Things have been picking up in the last episode, so hopefully we'll get something interesting to bring this series out of just simply eye candy.

Sweetness & Lightning

Tsumugi is lifeThis show is so cute. I'm fairly sure I appreciate this more because my youngest is the same age as Tsumugi. Kohei is such a good father albeit a bit over protective and doting to Tsumugi, but that makes sense for his character being a Widower. Tsumugi is one of if not the best written Child character I have seen in all Fiction. Most writers don't know how children act. They either write them too adult or make them nothing side characters with no character. Tsumugi and her Classmates are spot on. My only complaint is that Kohei is a bit too bumbling but at least it's consistent and not completely over the top. It just feels like they play up his hesitance in his own capabilities a bit too much.

Mob Psycho 100

This is the coolest pose I knowI'm really having a hard time getting invested in this series because I'm amazingly bored with it's main character of Mob. Unlike One Punch Man's Saitama, who at least shows some interest in the world around him, Mob has no goal or direction in his life. I get that it's part of his character and he's hopefully going to develop a bit, but right now he's just an Omnipotent MC with the most bland personality. I'll still watch it right now, but I've already fallen behind on episodes once in lieu of other things to do/watch, and that includes watching all of Steins;Gate again. The last episode has a few chuckle moments for me, but it's not enough to make me excited for the series.

Qualidea Code

LeLouche is a little BitchMindless Michael Bay Anime Junk Food. Thank Goku for this series. I can just turn off my brain and watch the tropes flow out of the screen. When I compare it to others, they're doing just enough to re-skin it and make the character interactions interesting enough. It's delivers that Combo #3 mediocrity I desire in a Junk Food series.And that's it for Summer 2016. We'll be having our Mid-season Summer Anime 2016 Podcast coming up soon so stay tuned!