In sports journalism, the term goat is often used to refer to a monumentally bad player. However, it often gets confused with the newer term G.O.A.T. – Greatest Of All Time. When I think of villains in comedy series, my first thoughts inevitably turn to Violinist of Hameln due both to the sheer breadth of villains exhibited in that show and specifically how amazing Vocal was. While he’s not quite at that level, Don Valentino is undoubtedly a capital G goat.
Author Archives: torisunanohokori
First Reactions: Psycho-Pass Episode 21
Seeing as Psycho-Pass had the first real final battle episode of the season, I went into it pumped. Stayed that way for most of the episode, too; it did a very good job of keeping tension on a knife’s edge.
First Reactions: Blast of Tempest Episode 22
This show continues to be a little caught up in its own terminology, but as usual makes up for it with a combination of rational strategizing and character development. It is nice to see characters have real time to plan and reflect before the final battle.
First Reactions: The Unlimited – Hyoubu Kyousuke Episode 10
We’ve got ourselves another lull episode. True to form, this show spent its downtime efficently, focusing on the relationships of several key players in this game with the titular one.
Final Review: Seitokai Yakiundomo (8/10)
Seitokai Yakuindomo (SYD, for brevity’s sake) is a very strange beast. At a glance, it looks like a fairly run-of-the-mill comedy, and describing the bathroom humor-littered source material probably won’t win you many fans. As a novel, it probably wouldn’t have many. But, thanks to a combination of ultracompetent soundtrack and excellent comedic delivery, the series actually ends up being quite an entertaining ride.
Now let’s dissect those layers
First Reactions: Space Brothers Episode 48
If the past two episodes were about making Vincent Bold a huge jerk, then this one was all about making him a great, well-rounded character with surprising charm and principle. I’m impressed to the extent that Space Brothers always impresses me.
First Reactions: Cuticle Detective Inaba Episode 10
The characters in this show are basically the inverse of characters like Desert Punk’s Mizuno Kanta and GS Mikami’s Yokoshima Tadao. While those guys are tight in the clutch and useless everywhere else, these guys are clever strategists who manage to screw up at the most critical juncture. I have an overall preference for the former apprach; it works better for all-around shows that mix comedy and drama. Still, the latter approach definitely works for comedy.
Final Review: Giant Killing (9/10)
Giant Killing is an anime about professional-level soccer that aired in the run-up to the 2010 world cup, which should really be everything you need to know about the savvy IQ level of the ones making it. Being from America, I didn’t follow a particular professional team, and had a passing interest in the upcoming world cup. This anime changed that attitude, mainly by building a large-scale fun cast and integrating realism to a level I’d never before seen from a sports anime.
My image of soccer, post-Giant Killing
Animetics Podcast: The Winter 2013 Season
Live from what may or may not be a filing cabinet, we bring you the Animetics Podcast, a (presumably) monthly recording of our panelists jawing over various topics. If the very thought doesn’t scare you, you can download it from the following link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?dtwsd2810g366d0 (94 minutes, 85 MB)
In this inaugural episode, we’ll be talking about the Winter 2013 Anime season. This discussion is a two-pronged assault. First, we cover the shows we’re watching, trying hard but not too hard to stay on topic. Second, we discuss the season in historical context with recent previous Winter seasons, taking on the oft-disseminated “worst season of all time” rumors.
If you’re strapped for time or only want to follow a certain portion of the podcast, you can find each particular segment at the times listed below:
Tamako Market [0:50]
Maoyuu [5:58]
Blast of Tempest [12:13]*
Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman [17:05]
I Don’t Have Very Many Friends Next [20:07]
Sasami-san@Ganbaranai [26:42]
Cuticle Detective Inaba [32:38]
Senyu [35:40]
GJ-bu [41:12]
Koutoura-san [44:12]
Mangirl [54:00]
Problem Children [55:24]
Puchimas [58:32]
Vividred Operation [60:56]
The Unlimited [63:30]
Comparison with past Winter seasons [72:47]
Seasonal Charts We Used:
Winter 2011 full chart (w/ Madoka)
*Blast of Tempest is technically a Fall 2012 show. It’s in there mostly because Sam and I wanted to hash out a topic we had argued over the past week. One that I proved myself wrong about 2 days after emphatically declaring that studios didn’t really matter.
First Reactions: Psycho-Pass Episode 20
No matter what happens in the ending of Psycho-Pass, Urobuchi Gen and his star power will get too much credit, and the director, Katsuyuki Motohiro, will get too little. Considering this episode was almost all dialogue, half of it internal, it’s easy to see how the things it’s doing visually right will be overlooked.

