Summer 2016 Anime Series Guide

Handa-kun

Handa-kun, as the title implies, told the story of Handa Seishu in his High School, six years prior to the story in Barakamon took place. At that time, Handa was a school idol with many excellences, especially his calligraphy skill, that made him has both many fans and enemies. But, he mistook his friends act while admiring him as bullying, while actually he himself just wanted a peaceful life. Then, Handa tried his best to avoid any “bullying” act or to avoid his friends who wanted to take his position as the school idol. Unfortunately, what happened next was that his enemies turned to become his fans, while Handa was still in his fear and confusion about it.

I think that this anime is under my expectation. The first part that told about the making of Handa-kun anime seems like additional part  that is not really important. Besides that, it is not explained what is relationship bertween Handa-gun (fan club of Handa) with Handa himself, so that the story become a little unclear. Some of comedy scenes, that are focused on Handa’s misunderstanding on his friends’ behaviour, indeed seems fun, but it can’t be said interesting. Summary, if we compare it with its predecessor Barakamon, the comedy is stil far behind. Aside from that, at least Handa-kun is still interesting enough to be watched by those who have watched Barakamon before. (M Razif Dwi Kurniawan/ The Indonesian Anime Times)

Hatsukoi Monster

Kaho Nikaido is a daughter from a rich family who chose to move into a boarding house to live independently without her parents help. But in her first day living alone, she was almost hit by a truck. Fortunately, a mysterious good looking man named Kanade Takahashi saved her. Falling in love at first sight, Kaho confessed her feeling to him, and Takahashi gladly accepted. But on the next day, Kaho found a shocking fact about Kanade Takahashi: he is still a 5th grader!

What happens when a good looking bishounen character acts like a child? That is what this show is about. This is a heavily comedic show that revolves around that theme. Takahashi’s handsome guy appearance really does not fit with his childish act, especially when Takahashi and his friends make some jokes about wiener. Some viewers may think this show is too dumb. But if you are looking for an anime that play with bishounen character trope and satirize it, you should try this out. (Dany Muhamad/Indonesia Anime Times)

Hitori no Shita: The Outcast

One day, Zhang Xillin’s grave which is located on a village suddenly robbed by a mysterious man. After that there’s something mysterious occurs in that graveyard. The next day police come to investigate the case of Zhang Xillin’s grave robbery. Informed about the case, Cho Soran, grandson of Zhang Xillin immediately come to that village. But in the middle of investigation, there come a girl who claim to be Zhang Xillin’s granddaughter. Cho Soran then meets with that girl which brings him to series of unpredictable events.

In this season there was an anime which is produced by Japan and China, Hitori no Shita the Outcast. Being co-produced by Chinese company, this anime really showed some mandarin series atmosphere in it. This anime presented the mystic and horror theme with some zombies (jiangshi) in the first episode. Although being a horror anime, but there’s also some comedies in this anime. With some jokes and comedies here, it could be some entertaining part but in other side it could also disrupt the horror theme in this anime. (Rafly Nugroho/KAORI Newsline)

Kono Bijutsu-bu niwa Mondai ga Aru!

There is an art club in a certain middle school that has some weird members. Subaru Uchimaki is a genius in drawing faces, but he insists to only draw his 2D-wife. Collete is  a troublemaker and of course, he keeps making mistake while doing his job. The Club President is worse: he dedicated his time only to sleeps all over the day. Only Uzuki Usami who is willing to do the club activities, and it makes her always troubled with her friends’ attitude.

School life story added with romance has always to be mainstream yet interesting theme to be watched, and I think this anime brings that theme well. First episode filled with Usami who wanted to make her love being recognized by Uchimaki, but Uchimaki himself still busy with his 2D-waifu. There are some funny moments when Usami commented on weird habits of Uchimaki, but in this first episode there is also a sad scene, which it becomes an interesting point of this anime. Although the first episode seems to be focused on relationship between the two main characters, and also there isn’t a good first introduction, I think the story in this anime still could be followed easily by anyone. (M Razif Dwi Kurniawan/ The Indonesian Anime Times)

Love Live!! Sunshine!

Taking place in Shizuoka, this is a story about Uranohoshi Academy in Numazu town. Uranohoshi Academy is a small school surrounded by orange farms with less than 100 student. Inspired by µ’s, the nine girl student of Uranohoshi Academy formed an idol group named Aqours to participate in the Love live tournament to make their school great again.

Fresh is the right word to describe this first episode of Love Live! Sunshine!!. The new characters in this series has attractive personalities that can incite the audience’s affection towards the characters. Take Yoshiko, for example, who is uniquely presented as a chuunibyou. The opening theme gives a fresh feeling in this anime. The 3DCG animation are better than the previous series with a good sense of timing and spacing. The rendering of the 3D model do well to give an impression of characters made with traditional animation drawn by pencil. The story of Love Live ! Sunshine!! delivers its comedy not by the jokes made by the characters, but by the way the characters are interacting with each other and how they deal with a given situation or problem. (Andira Indrawan / KAORI Shop)

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