Feb2
MetaVerse Episode 38: MetaVerse Bowl XXXVIII
Which Winter ’14 anime are top of the table and which ones end up in the relegation zone?
Indeed, a new episode of MetaVerse is here and we hope you enjoy our short yet sweet discussion on the early portion of the Winter ’14 anime season. Emperor J from Lower Mid-Table joins us to talk some sports, the two Nobunaga-based series, what the Unidentified means, if Sakura Trick has too much yuri going on and more from the season.
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:25 — 49.6MB)
SHOW NOTES
01:15 – MetaASK w/ Emperor J
04:38 – Winter 2014 Discussion
- “Garbage of the Season”
- “Early Favorite”
- “I Tried, But I Couldn’t”
- “Better Than I Thought”
38:12 – Overall Thoughts in Winter 2014
Music
OP: “Click” by Claris from Nisekoi
ED: “Divine Intervention” by fhana from Witch Craft Works
Mashiro dancing, too cute
About Meta Cast
The team behind Metanorn's Podcast, MetaVerse. Our aniblogging experience gives us the expertise to dish out detailed opinions on which series to watch and ones to drop. And remember, we take fangirling seriously!
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Re Nobunaga: If Tarot themes are going to be prominent for each ep, can I post their meanings and association to each ep here?
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Re Zvesda:
A translated interview with Zvesda’s series writer Hoshizora Meteor(of Type-Moon Co.)reveals among others:
-ep 5 WILL have f**s**v**ce, courtesy of Type-Moon guest writer OKSG
-Yasu(aka #1)confirmed as series’ buttmonkey
Link: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4997471&postcount=206
PS. The names Zvesda and the official minion names are Russian, right?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
The mecha cut a cake! You have no reason not to watch this…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Wizard Barristergs: Magic Court is just a kangaroo court; it’s almost like they always go for the death penalty. I don’t know if it’s a bad drama angle where they focus on serious cases; why spend time on magic jawalking! Or…if the court is just there to kill whomever it can under authority of law. The society does have a prejudice against wizards.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I think of Magic Court as similar to the one for the Salem Witchcraft trials.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Meaning they’re basically prejudiced, biased trials. Honestly, I don’t think much ever got acquitted in those processes.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It’s a good thing that I don’t cover Wizard Barristers, because I could NOT refrain from talking about prosecutors, either the terrible ones in the show or in real life. It’s not about justice, it’s about winning, although that they’re showing how craven the cops and prosecution are is probably good.
The other problem with Magic Court is that there’s basically one charge: Did you use magic? Then it’s a death penalty case unless mitigation circumstances. As said, the society is highly prejudiced against wizards, although wizards also seem to have a very high social cost, if every time Cecil uses magic she destroys everything made of metal around her.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well this is quite a weekend. First my birthday was yesterday and now you guys have me scrambling to decide which are my favorite animes this season. That hot seat sounds dangerous. Imagine all the fallen victims. 😀
Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil has an interesting set up and the animation went out of the box by trying some different character designs as opposed to the usual stuff. So far, it’s like a dystopian world for wizards, making you want to defend them and kick the asses of the regular humans. I mean, even the characters in Zettai Karen Children THE UNLIMITED: Hyoubu Kyousuke didn’t suffer that degree of prejudice. It’s like the use of magic itself is punishable by law (death) but I have a good feeling Cecil is going to change it.
One of the “Early Favorite” is Gin no Saji (Silver Spoon) Season 2. I know I was rough with the first two episodes of the first season (Fosh and Jrow scarred me for life reading my comment out loud. It always pops into my mind watching the show) but later got warmed up to it as it went along and was definitely waiting for the story to continue in the second season.
Along with Highway, there’s Witch Craft Works. From the very start, it’s been nothing but entertaining and I don’t even mind the main guy always being rescued and held up basically like a damsel in distress because the main girl Ayaka is badass. A character I’ve also taken a liking to is the Tower Witch bad girl Chronoire. Playful and vicious, the charismatic types instantly leave a lasting impression.
My “I Tried, But I Couldn’t” show is Space Dandy. Despite all the hype around it, it just didn’t appeal to me but in its defense, it’s not as insulting to watch as Samurai Flamenco. My problems are they’re trying too hard to be cool with their random antics and the jokes feel forced. For me, the story isn’t solid at all, nothing to leave an impression that would make me want to continue and it’s easily forgettable. I watched two episodes but can’t remember a thing what they were about. By comparison, I’d go more for Hamatora.
There are multiple choices for this one. My “Better Than I Thought” shows are D-Frag, Hamatora, Nobunagun, Noragami, Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda, Witch Craft Works, Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil and Z/X IGNITION.
D-Frag is absolutely funny. Here’s a show that doesn’t bother with over the top facial reactions and the lead guy is full of them, especially when it dawns on him that he’s been trapped into sort of loony bin with these girls who take their stuff seriously to the point you’d think they have Chuunibyou. The surprise is that the club leader Roka, the most moe thing in the area and played by Kana Hanazawa, is the school’s secret ruler whom our delinquent lead has been striving to be. Talk about a spirit breaker.
Where Hamatora is concerned, I like the superpower trend that’s why I easily went for shows like [K] and Zettai Karen Children. Because it makes you think what you could do if you had this ability. The detective part is so-so and doesn’t bother me. On MAL, it’s been getting slight comparisons to Psycho-Pass, especially the bad guy Moral who some would say is a combination of Shougo Makishima and Orochimaru (and Kisame Hoshigaki in my opinion if the guy’s teeth are taken into account). Not to mention it has a catchy OP.
Z/X IGNITION is a lot closer to Devil Survivor 2 than Yu-Gi-Oh and honestly, I hardly see any similarities to the latter.
As usual, the Winter season is weak but 2014’s is slightly better compared to the last year or maybe the year before that. Overall, it’s always the lackluster season to start the year off whereas the good ones always turn out to be Spring and Fall. Out of the lot, I’m following 22 animes. Like Emperor J says, I could have Stockholm syndrome with them.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Happy Birthday, BB. Hope you had a nice one.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Thanks, Highway. It was a good one.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
I do rather like the Hamatora OP, as it features the vocalist from Galileo Galilei, a favorite of mine.
And Happy Birthday, my Rival. I wish you to be hearty and full of vigor as we must inevitably face each other on the field of battle.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeah, the vocals go well with the techno beats.
Thanks for the wishes as we must always confront each other on the battlefield.