So after a short delay Im here with part 2 of my anime winter season review 2011 here are my impressions about the shows I haven’t talked about in part I of the winter season review 2011. As always I will give you a short discription and a few of my thoughts about them.
Kimi ni Todoke Second Season
Info – Op Theme – Ed Theme not found 🙁
I watched the first season of Kimi ni Todoke, and loved it so much, that I made a post for it.
So it was no question if I should pick up this second season of Kimi ni Todoke. The show starts soon after the events of the first season, Sawako has more or less mastered her socializing problems with other people and is accepted in her class. Now she has a new problem, because of a new seat order a distance between her and Kazehaya is growing and misunderstandings between them appear, additional to that other people interfere in their relationship.[singlepic id=2044 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2047 w=320 h=240 float=none]
On Valentines day for example Kurumi was really mean to Sawako that she wasn’t able to give Kazehaya her selfmade chocolate afterwards, I really wanted to punch her for that.
Kazehaya thinks that his feelings for Sawako are only onesided and Sawako is a bit of a blockhead when it comes to love and such stuff. Some scenes were really nerve wracking and forced me to shout at the TV a few times >_>
[singlepic id=2048 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2049 w=320 h=240 float=none]
Aside from the up and down rollercoaster there a lot of funny scenes, I always loved these chibi scenes in Kimi ni Todoke.
[singlepic id=2051 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2046 w=320 h=240 float=none]
As to be expected this show has a nice and cozy happy end, we all wished for.
The animation quality is nearly as pretty as in the first season, but I’ve noticed that from some angles the faces of the characters really looked a bit strange.
[singlepic id=2050 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2052 w=320 h=240 float=none]
This season was half as long as the first one, but it’s still long enough to conclude the whole Kimi ni Todoke story in a very good way. One point for complaining is that the lovey dovey scenes fell a bit too short I followed this anime 36 episodes and then I want an overdose of romance at the end please, not only a few minutes in the last episodes. Anyway Sawako looked great in her yellow dress ^^.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
When a studio like Shaft decides to make a magical girl anime you can always expect something different. The story centers about a girl named Madoka, a kind girl who grew up in a happy family. Together with her best friend Sayaka she lives an ordinary life like most middle school girls.
[singlepic id=2054 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2028 w=320 h=240 float=none]
One day she mets a magical animal Kyubey, Kyubey is who offers to grant wishes, but in return he’ll turn them into magical girls who have to fight witches when they find them.
Sayaka and Madoka can’t decide about what they want to wish for so Kyubey gives them more time to think about. There are also other magical girls in the city who contracted with Kyubey.
[singlepic id=2026 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2027 w=320 h=240 float=none]
Madoka befriends with one, named Mami, a very skilled magical girl who knows how to kill witches, she takes Madoka and Sayaka along during her missions and explains them the tasks and possibilities of a magical girl. Because of Mami’s spectacular performances Madoka and Sayaka are Madoka became very interested in becoming magical girls themselves. At first it seems like Madoka was mainly impressed by the possibility to wear fancy costumes and in advance she designs her costume on a notepad.
[singlepic id=2022 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2025 w=320 h=240 float=none]
As the story progresses Kuybey eagerly tries to convince Madoka to form a contract with him, but another Magical Girl named Homura permanently ruins his plans, because he is no fighter he can’t get rid of her.
At first being a magical girl to fight witches appears like a fair deal, but as the story progresses more and more of the cruel details are revealed which the magical girls have to accept in exchange for their powers. Kyubey seems to be a coldhearted villain, for doing such cruel things to them, but in my opinion he has just has a lack of common sense and is self centered, he’s not really the bad guy. Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica is a very cool looking show, the cute character design stays in contrast to the things which are happening in the show, the surreal and dark look of the witches and their hideouts is done in a very creative and also creepy way.
In this show there are shown very depressing things which can really drag you down.
[singlepic id=2023 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2029 w=320 h=240 float=none]
Most of the time when the ED started the show left me speechless and sometimes even in despair, btw the song fits perfectly to this show probably the best ED Theme I’ve heard in a while. Respect to the trio from Kalafina ^^. Madoka’s experiences with, Kyubey, the witches the other magical girls and her friends, leads to her final decision at the grand finale of this show …
[singlepic id=2031 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2032 w=320 h=240 float=none]
The ending is a bit complex I really had to think about some things which were happening and the meanings behind them, using your brain after watching an anime won’t hurt, I think. Theres also a very detailed Wiki page for Madoka. I admit that I prefer the “random magical girl anime”, with cute girls in cute dresses, but Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica which has a much more darker tone was also a show I really liked, the story of this anime is very well written and the show is full of creepy suspense and interesting ideas. I could also given it a rating of 9, but Im not a big friend of dark drama.
Yumekui Merry
The main character Yumeji Fujiwara, on first look a normal teenage boy, but he has the ability to see what kind of dreams the people around him had the in last night. One day Yumeji finds himself trapped in a surreal Dreamworld called Daydream, where he is hunted by a gang of cats and a misterious masked man. In the last moment a girl in a fancy looking dress, called Merry comes to his rescue, even though she doesn’t know him at all. Later she tells Yumeji that she lost her memories and for some reason is trapped in the human world. Yumeji offers her to stay at his house.
[singlepic id=2034 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2041 w=320 h=240 float=none]
A refreshing change in this show is, that the main characters Yumeji and Merry have no love relationship, it is more like a friends or siblings relationship.
[singlepic id=2036 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2042 w=320 h=240 float=none]
So lets head to the frame story setting, because of certain circumstances Nightmares(Mumas) are coming to the real world and need a vessel to stay in our world, Later we learn that there a bad and good Nightmares, the bad Nighmares who overtake their human vessel and the friendly Nighmares who coexist peacefully with their vessels, Merry consideres herself as a Nightmare, but she needs no vessels to stay in the human world.
[singlepic id=2035 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2037 w=320 h=240 float=none]
Yumeji and Merry can enter Daydreams of other Nightmares, together both are fighting evil nightmares who posesses humans and send them back to the Dreamworld. One day they meet the Nightmare Engi who gives both of them doubts if the things they’ve done so far were right, which adds a nice twist to the plot.
[singlepic id=2039 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2038 w=320 h=240 float=none]The characters in this show are fleshed out very well, Yumeji and his group of friends are portrayed as young teenagers which still believe in their hopes and dreams, they are hanging around, playing games and are having fun. I must admit that I fell for the lovely Merry and her characterdesign, she has a super stylish looking dress, the hat, the coat and the striped stockings…such a great combination, I also liked her personality and her voice. Merry’s voice actress Sakura, Ayanae made her debut with giving Merry her voice she also performed the ending Theme of Yumekui Merry, she’s very talented and that at the age of 17 ^-^
Yui was also a good character, I nearly liked her as much as Merry ^^
[singlepic id=2040 w=320 h=240 float=none] [singlepic id=2043 w=320 h=240 float=none]
The show was more on the serious side, but it also had a lot of funny comedy moments.
The animation style looks great, the surreal Daydream worlds are very creatively designed, the Nightmare characters also had an interesting design and the environment in the real world looked very nice as well.
The main idea behind this anime are dreams and how they influence humans and their lifes. This show could have been my favorite in this season, but in the second half the plot got random and uninspired. Unfortunately at that time the anime was made the manga this anime is adapted from, hadn’t enough plot to cover up 13 episodes, so JC Staff filled it with self written content, which maybe not have been the best idea for Yumekui Merry, the end felt unsatisfying and half assedly done. There is no Mistletine, Lestion or Chizuru Kawanami in the manga, they were place in the story quite well, but the one sided and overpowered Mistletine wasn’t that suited to become the endboss in this show. They should have waited with making this show, the manga content is a lot better in my opinion.
Final Thoughts
Overall I liked the shows which I’ve picked in the Winterseason 2011, my favorites were
Toaru Majutsu no Index II, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?, Kimi ni Todoke Second Season and the Mahou Shoujo Madoka ★Magica anime, even though I don’t like too dark drama anime in general^^ A show I also liked to watch is Gosick, a show about a loli detective and her japanese Watson, but because it isn’t over I haven’t wrote about it in my review, maybe on a later date.
Still on good but more on the more disappointing side for me are Fractale and Yumekui Merry, I don’t like to say it, but the second half and the end weren’t that great, sorry Merry 🙁
I knew that Rio Rainbowgate would turn out trashy, but on the positive side my expactations were a bit exceeded, but honestly it is still no very good show.
So that were my thoughts about the Winter Season 2011.
Do you also had favorite shows in the Anime Winter Season?
What were your favorite character or favorite OP and ED songs do you had in this season?
I would like to hear your opinions.
related post
Anime Winter Season 2011 review – part 1
Anime: Kimi ni Todoke
luth
Oooh, I watched Madoka and Kimi ni Todoke S2 but for I jumped into them very late so I was able to marathon my way through most of the angst except the last 2 eps of Madoka. Otherwise I would have been screaming at the computer screen too. By the way, KnT2 OP = my fave for the season. I could watch it over and over.
wieselhead
I did marathoning with KnT 2 as well, I wanted to watch it like that, I guess if I had watched it with 1 ep a week I would have gone crazy ^o
Yeah these songs there were so nice, im really sorry that I couldn’t find the right videos on youtube.
Zai
Kimi ni Todoke second season was my favourite anime. I miss watching it and want a season 3, haha. It’s one of those rare animations that I find even better that the manga.
I tried out Madoka simply because of Shaft and I’m glad I did. I don’t enjoy the magical girl genre but the dark imagery and story were enough to draw me in and make me a fan of the show!
Yumekui Merry was great, also another favourite! I wish it stayed as strong as it started also, I felt a bit let down by it at the end..
I’d say I’d look the manga but my backlog of stuff to check out is already so big. >.<
Hope to hear from Merry's voice actress again soon, she sounds so adorable!
My fav OP, hrmm.. probably Yumekui Merry OP! Fav ending is the KnT one.
wieselhead
Ah I see it was a very nice show, I agree .
season 3 ? is the manga still ongoing?
Yep also a nice show, but scary XD
Yumekui Merry could have been such a nice show, only the 2 half was not so good.
I know what you mean, I want to read this I want to play that, but can’t really find the time and mood -_-
Ah a nice op song as well as the KnT 2 ed ^^
Aya
I want a Kyubey Figure and Bully him till death >_<
wieselhead
haha kill him good XD
Yi
Agreed with the ratings. I gave both Madoka and KimiTodo 8/10 on MAL.
Also, the reason I didn’t give Madoka a higher rating is the same too. I thought as good as the story is, the angsty darker aspects of the anime is a bit overbearing. It’s essential to the incredibly complex story, but just not something I enjoyed.
“Kurumi was really mean to Sawako that she wasn’t able to give Kazehaya her selfmade chocolate afterwards, I really wanted to punch her for that.”
… 🙁
I loooovveee Kurumi.
wieselhead
Oh really, glad I wasn’t totally off with the ratings ^^.
Yeah, that were really too dark episodes one after another, one or two good mood episodes would have been nice, even though it would have been hard to manage this.
It isn’t really suited for enjoying it, but it offers an interesting plot to think about 😉
Muhaha, I know that you love her ^_^ I actually refrained myself from writing more mean things about her.
anonymous_object
Heh, I’m behind as usual. I’m currently watching Madoka with friends and have KimiTode 2 on my list. I watched the first series and really liked it so I have high hopes for the new series 😀
wieselhead
Ah I see have fun, your picks are very good 😉
tabetaiii
Wow, a great detailed review as usual.
I was really disappointed with Yumekui merry, although I had high hopes, since J.C staff produced it right? (unless I’m wrong^^”)
My favourites were, kore wa zombie desu ka, kimi ni todoke, Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, Index, Gosick
I also did find Kimi ni Todoke to be a bit too short on the romance, like you said! but it was a good end, I don’t know what else they could of added. I did feel they were over using the lovey dovey, bubble effect in season 2. I enjoyed that effect in season 1, since it wasn’t over used and was used to show sadakos smile XD
wieselhead
I wrote a few days on it and making all the screencaps orz ^^
Yeah they made it, but messed it up somehow
KnT was a bit short and I missed the length from the first season a bit.
Didn’t really pay attention to the bubbles, but its a nice effect though.
tabetaiii
Wow, lots of effort! normally I spend 3-4 hrs + 2 hrs for photos^^”! (It takes long due to the uploading)
haha yeh, is the manga still continuing? Really? they bubbled so much and blushed XD
wieselhead
You know I always write a lot, especially at such topics XD I can finish a figure review text in one day, but puuting my thoughts about anime is still a bit difficult ^^
Yeah as far as I know its still ongoing 😉
they haven’t kissed in the anime if Im not wrong.
Nopy
I would’ve liked some more romance at the end of Kimi ni Todoke too, but when you think about how long it took Sawako and Kazehaya to finally get together, I think it would’ve taken a really long time for them to do anything really romantic.
I’m surprised you only gave Madoka an 8/10, I thought it was excellent. I guess I like deep brain-wracking stories more than most people though, so that makes me biased.
The character designs in Yumekui Merry were by far the best of the season, but I was very disappointed with the story. It had a lot of potential at the beginning, but the end was not climactic and it didn’t feel like they had accomplished anything.
wieselhead
I guess that wasn’t the last thing we’ve heard from KnT.
Oh thats mainly because Im not into dark and depressing things in anime, life is dark enough ^^ I give Madoka high credits because it was well made and very interesting, but just not my kind of show 😉
Yeah the end of Yumekui Merry was really a waste, makes me a bit angry torwards JC Staff
Miette-chan
Kimi ni Todoke is nice, it goes on to where the protagonists actually start a relationship. Still, if I hadn’t read the manga this would have driven me insane. That bit with the apparent mutual rejection was even more heart wrenching animated. I do hope for a second season some time in the future.
Madoka was nice, not at all what I expected. I was surprised that the last two episodes presented a fulfilling closure. Although I would have been happy if it ended in episode 10.
wieselhead
Yeah that part was cruel for the viewer XD
I guess there will be a second season
Ah I see that would have been a very open end ^^
Danial Detro
Every time I come back here again and don`t get disappointed