The continuation to my previous list so no more lengthy introduction, let's get this one started!

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4. Zombieland Saga

Genres: Comedy, Music, Supernatural

Studio: MAPPA

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Who thought this is a good idea? WHO. THOUGHT. THIS. IS. A. GOOD. IDEA? This is not a good idea, not in the least. Why you ask? Because this is a genius idea born from a ridiculous concoction of starring zombies to “revive” a town by popularizing them as an idol group. Ok let me say that in a simpler way, zombie idols…Nani!?

Just when I thought anime can’t surprise me anymore I was reminded once again that I haven’t seen past the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what idea creators can come up with. This one without a doubt has the most surprising opening episode all year long and it was a serious critical “hit” for me that it didn’t took me more than 3 minutes to dive, head first into the concrete world of Zombieland saga.

This one is the dark horse of the season and it is going strong despite being aired alongside a solid line up and as for how the show is doing it, it can be credited to how simply fresh and fun this show currently is. Yes, zombies and fresh doesn’t sound good together but that is the reason why there is the word “idol” there. The show is as weird as it sounds but just hearing that combination is enough to set my curiosity ablaze and this is the weirdness that I would keep coming for more for sure.

Zombies are not uncommon in anime, in fact anime has a pretty good history with zombies, there is High School of the Dead for instance that has a pretty solid story and direction that demonstrated anime’s amazing jiggle physics that garnered it great support from the community but sadly we won’t be seeing to its completion. There is also Sankarea that has set the standard to how a female zombie should look and act like, blame Japan when a zombie apocalypse break outs because of people that desires to have a zombie girlfriend. And Gakkougurashi! that is the predecessor into mixing cute animation with the theme of zombie and was known for bamboozling its viewers by shifting from a cute girls doing cute things setup to a game of survival in the snap of a finger.

So what does this show have to offer aside from the new mix that they’ve come up with? That is a hurdle that the show has to pass because if they are only going to do what normal idol anime do then them being zombies is nothing but just a gimmick to rope people up at the onset, but I am glad this isn’t a normal idol anime and that is not just because the girls are zombies but because they did everything different. The first episode alone made that clear cut difference by going heavy metal on us, then came the second episode bringing that sick rap battle that has taken the internet by storm, the third episode scared me with that CGI but the fourth episode picked up the pace and made use of the show’s quirk - zombies to deliver a good laugh and the next episode didn’t let up on the comedy, Asobi Asobase is going to have a tight competition if this continues lol.

Other thing that completely shines in this anime is how well the voice actors/ actresses are doing their job which is one of the reason why I am on the sub side, just watch the rap scene or any clip with Koutarou (voiced by Mamoru Miyano that also did the voice of Okabe) in it for that matter and I am pretty sure you will understand my point, he is making up for the lack of mad scientist lines last time with this one and it more than make up for it to be honest.

And one last thing, never skip the opening. Thank me later.

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5. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime)

Genres: Fantasy, Shounen

Studio: 8bit

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Speaking of first episode gimmick, we have here a show that used the most generic start for an isekai anime and turn it over to a brand new ride by making the protagonist, just as the title said, a slime, the most basic among the basic mobs in most fantasy world, even more basic than goblins.

The show definitely took an uncharted path by having a slime as the lead but I am honestly not sold with the idea until I saw the opening song, and believe me that opening sequence is all it took for me to have this added to my watch list this season because despite having that unique idea of having a non-human character as the lead, there really isn’t anything else that intrigued me enough for me to continue watching after its first episode, that is at least before the OP drops.

The opening is a spoiler fest but I am thinking that it was made that way to show that there is more to the show than meets the eye and it was really effective for me and in turn allowed me to continue to the succeeding episodes, finally hooking me with its plot and the world that it presented.

Fantasticplotandworld.jpg

Like most shows under the genre, this one also didn’t escape the fate of having an overpowered MC albeit in the form of a measly slime. If you have watched quite a number of shows under the genre you can find a lot of elements from this show that overlaps with any other isekai/ fantasy show like the existence of a Demon Lord, Heroes, Dragons (although a tsundere dragon is unheard of) and creatures like elves, dwarves, and goblins (too bad, I don’t have a Goblin Slayer joke prepared); there are adventurers as well and different towns that is a staple of the genre, add equipment artisans there and you got yourself an isekai show with a slime as the lead. That is how the show appears on the surface, but if that is all there is to it then I need not include it here because that is just plain old generic isekai all over again. However, here it is, so let me tell you the reason why I included it, it is that story telling that made the MC being a slime not just for uniqueness sake, the way the story moved and the world expanded using the unique point of view of a non-human being and the one regarded as one of the weakest monster at that is what made this show a completely different experience from all the other isekai shows that required the aid of harem and ecchi genres to gain a following and contend in the saturated isekai genre.

If Goblin Slayer is too edgy for your sophisticated taste and you hate Sword Art Online too much that you can’t see it as anything other than a complete failure, then at least try this one out because it has that fantasy game feel to it less the brutality and the “r-word” scenes and of course it is Kirito free so you can enjoy it guilt free as well.

Well the decision still lies with you so feel free to do as you please, you can pass on this one for all I care.

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6. Release the Spyce

Genres: Action, School

Studio: Lay-duce

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Yuri yurararara yuruyuri… Hmm? This isn’t Yuru Yuri season 4? I see.

Supappa pparappa... are you sure this is not Yuru Yuri? No? Well if you say so.

Akarin~

Ok I will put aside the fact that the character designs are way too close to Yuru Yuri’s since the person behind it is the same anyway. Let’s go to the story proper, this is about a group of high school girls that works in the shadows as spies, sounds familiar right? Yes it is not Yuru Yuri season 4 after all because it is Princess Principal season 2 guys… or not? The mix of moe and spies without a doubt would lead to a comparison between the two but if you are diving into this show with the expectation of catching the Princess Principal vibe again then I would suggest you’d rather not since aside from sharing the same quirk of mixing moe and spies, there is hardly anything that merits a comparison between the two because they traversed completely different directions.

Yeah, scratch Yuru Yuri and Princess Principal, this is what the show really is all about!

Release the Spyce focused more on the action aspect by giving the characters different weapons suggesting that fighting would be an inevitable part in their line of work and by introducing Spyce that boosts their physical capabilities, the show’s reliance to battles to settle confrontations is further hinted. Another focus of the show is in the slice of life aspect that shows the girls everyday lives and their struggles, that is why it is really easier to relate this show to cute girls doing cute things shows than to a serious mystery/ thriller show despite revolving around spies fighting against organizations lurking in the shadows.

The show is entertaining so far and there is also an ongoing mystery about a possible traitor among their ranks so there is something else to think about aside from “how are these girls beating the crap out of all those strong looking grown up goons and that loli that can break the floor with her stomp?” and “What is up with Spyce? Is it some kind of a new drug ?” and “Is this really not a sequel to Yuru yuri?”.

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Two out of three done, guess I will be able to finish it on time and maybe proceed to the OP/ ED list next. Anyway that is all from me today and thanks again for reading this far! See you again next week!

Ciao~