so why do i love Working!!? as with my other anime favorites, the thing that made the deal sweet for me was its quirky characters whose weird predilections and warped outlook enliven the series (and to a lesser extent, the minor characters who stamp in their own brand of mayhem) more than they should.

Wagnaria — a restaurant where laughter abounds

Wagnaria is a family restaurant that provides a fitting backdrop to a cast of kooky characters who seem to bring out the worst (or best) in each other. from its lazy, food-loving manager (Kyoko), its male cooks (Sato, whose deadpan delivery of biting sarcasms can scarcely hide a bruised heart; Souma, a junior cook who cheerfully blackmails people into doing his bidding), its new waiter (Souta, with his inordinate love for cute and small things), its colorful waitresses (Yachiyo, a charming but otherwise oblivious, sword-wielding server; Popura, a 17-year-old HS student who looks far too young and small for her age; Mahiru, a man-hating shy girl who has a crush on Souta; Aoi, a runaway who manages to cadge a job at Wagnaria), and an often-absent manager (Otoo-san, who is forever searching for his lost wife), life at Wagnaria is never dull or predictable.

right now, my favorite characters are Popura (for her unflagging spirits and indomitable hope that she will soon grow bigger/taller) and Aoi, whose unwitting actions and shrewd-but-wacky view can accomplish things that others can only marvel at. however, this could change as more endearingly zany characters are ushered in and add their own distinctive flavour to the mix.

a new look at things, great characters and snappy dialogue

there’s nothing terribly original about Working!!. Most of the episodes are a mishmash of other shows, but what its makers do well is to present a new twist — or sometimes a new angle — at the way characters deal with their dilemmas. this is often helped by a snappy dialogue, deft characterization, and an occasional look of utter befuddlement in the characters’ faces that the audience can totally relate with. sometimes that look of hapless stupefaction is all it takes to make a scene even more hilarious.

and now, the second season — Working’!!

after watching the first episode of this newest season of Working!!, i knew there was no way i could wait for the official copy of this series (that can wait later). i had been spending precious time downloading each episode (uploaded and subbed by some kindred souls who tirelessly make it their life’s mission to share these goodies with the rest of the world). i am now on episode 7 (which left me gasping for breath early this morning) and can’t wait until the next one comes out.

the advance press on Hanasaku Iroha offered a tempting glance as to how this series would turn out to be, but i’d been before by high expectations before, so i tempered my enthusiasm.

“we’ll see how it goes…,” cautioned my noncommittal, logical side. anyway, after watching the first episode of Hanasaku Iroha (Hanairo), i think i can now safely put my doubts to rest. Ohana Matsumae, the sassy 16-year-old protagonist of this series, isn’t downright irritating nor gratingly noble (which is a huge relief) — she seems well grounded despite her slightly unfortunate circumstances. the other characters have yet to make their mark, but they’re already shaping up nicely.

it’s too early to tell yet, but i’m hoping this series will live up to the standards it has set for itself. i have a feeling that there’s going to be a lot of dramatic moments in Hanairo. hopefully, the producers will counteract this with well-placed humor every now and then.

Gosick, on the other hand, was a bit of a pleasant surprise because it didn’t really appear in my radar until about a couple of months ago. reaction from various critics is rather mixed (although leaning more towards the positive side), but i’ve been in Gosick‘s bandwagon 5 minutes into the first episode.

the lush, incredible design and animation alone would have been enough to lure me in, but i’m glad the producers made the storyline interesting (although it could use some tweaking). and the characters sparkle in a way that’s hard to ignore. i mean, who can resist a pipe-smoking, irascible, prepubescent girl (Victorique) with a weird laugh and a precocious propensity for solving crimes? Kujo, a japanese student who plays her loyal and protective sidekick does well enough to nudge the story along, but it’s Grevil (Victorique’s half-brother and the local police chief) — and his incomparable hair — who really grabs your attention. when he’s not onscreen, you can’t help but fret and hope that he’d come back soon!

Grevil’s secret weapon — his magnificent hair!

Gosick is slated for 13 episodes, so it looks like there are only 2 episodes left — which is a pity (i’m really going to miss Grevil’s hair *sigh*) — just enough to gear up for a big finale for this enjoyable series. there are so many strings that need to be tied up in the series, so hopefully the writers are up to the task.

let there be a second season, please.

that is, until i stumbled into Yotsuba — or rather, after hearing (reading) so much about how critics loved it.

during a slow day at work, i decided to check it out (as stealthily as i could manage it). it took me a few pages to actually appreciate the whole setup. after that i had a difficult time stifling my giggles — my shoulders shook and tears even leaked out, for cryin’ out loud.

finally a concerned office mate asked if i was okay. trying to convince someone you’re fine while wiping tears surreptitiously is harder than it looks, but after seeing my foolish grin she rolled her eyes and shook her head.

okay, so what is it about Yotsuba that just grabs me? oh i don’t know — maybe it’s her earnest, curious view of the world and her reactions, and the way she inadvertently affects people around her. most of all, i love the way she interacts with things and people around her. i can’t recall how many times i’ve said to myself, “wow, i used to do that too” and “oh no, she did not just do that, did she?“

my favorite scenes involve Yotsuba and her hapless dad and her interactions with the towering Jumbo, whose gentle and laidback demeanor is a perfect foil for 5-year-old Yotsuba’s quirky and energetic approach to life.

Yotsuba&! is a comedy manga series created by Kiyohiko Azume.

after episode 7 (i struggled to maintain my interest), things began to kick in and in a matter of hours i finished the whole series. the next day, i started the whole thing again.

i even converted (just in case you’re actually having doubts about my enthusiasm) all 26 Lucky Star episodes into .mp4 format so i could play them in my iPod Touch whenever i wanted.

what can i say? i guess Konata‘s zany otaku-flavored zest for life got to me. that, and Kagami‘s hilarious and exasperated reactions, Tsukasa‘s spaced-out cuteness and Miyuki‘s highly refined outlook. heck, after a while, even Soujiro Izumi’s (Konata’s dad) dorky personality and weird tendencies started to seem reasonably normal (and that’s when i knew i had to step back a little to regain my perspective).

among the minor characters, i liked Yutaka Kobayakawa (name’s rather a mouthful for such a cute little thing); Patricia Martin, the show’s version of an anime-addled gaijin; and Misao Kusakabi, whose laid-back and slyly playful approach to life is guaranteed to drive Kagami nuts.

and oh, the Lucky Star OVA was simply a delight and should not be missed.

so, which shows have made this year special for me? i can’t really recall all the shows i’ve watched, but those that deserve special mention are Lucky Star (TV series and OVA), k-ON, Summer Wars (film), Trigun Bandlands Rumble (film), Shinryaku Ika Musume, and Kaichou wa Maid-Sama.

although it starts at a slow pace, Lucky Star just grows on you and never lets go. no wonder it was such a massive hit among viewers, especially among hard-core otakus and anime fans who have lolicon preferences. after having succumbed to Lucky Star‘s charms, i can’t say i blame them.

k-ON (ssn 2), on the other hand, is satisfying on many levels: storywise, visuals and its quirky characters. as for its soundtrack though, i think i prefer the one they put out in the first season. there are a couple of scenes here that really stand out for me: (1) when the girls were goofing off in a supermarket aisle and (2) when they were discussing the pros and cons of owning a pet turtle (Ton-chan!).

i loved Summer Wars. it took me a while to find a copy of this film, and boy am i glad that all my frantic attempts to see it were amply rewarded. i love the superb animation, the sweeping panoramic shots, and the way both virtual reality (modern) and family dynamics (old) were interwoven tightly into the plot. i wish there are more movies like this (both live action and anime).

Trigun Badlands Rumble was a nostalgic thrill ride to the wacky space western world of Vash the Stampede (one of my all-time favorite) and his friends. i really miss this goofy gent and it was nice seeing Nicholas Wolfwood again. this short film feels like an extended but well-rendered episode in the Trigun (TV) series, but no matter. it felt good to be back.

Shinryaku Ika Musume was a blast! i watched the first episode with no idea what it was about (this time, i preferred to be surprised), and it wasn’t long before i started giggling. the giddy premise alone — a clueless squid girl bent on global invasion — should immediately tell you where this thing is going. the only downside i can think of right now is that it’s too short (13 episodes). hopefully, there will be a second season. and please let it be soon.

if you’re a fan of shoujo anime, Kaichou wa Maid-Sama is right up your alley. occasionally, it suffers from the bane of predictability and it stretches the viewer’s credulity to ridiculous limits, but basically i enjoyed the series and i hope they’ll start season 2 asap. nice characters and many swoon-worthy moments to drool over.

rather than spew them out randomly, i will list these shows based on how much i liked (or, in certain cases, loathed) them.

Shows that will probably make my List of Favorites:

• Ichigo Mashimaro (series & OVAs)
• Skip Beat
• The Girl Who Leapt through Time (film)

Great finds

• k-ON
• Natsume Yuujinchou
• Kannagi
• Toshokan Sensou
  
• Bamboo Blade
• Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea (film)
• Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (ssn 1 & 2)
• Ghost Hunt
• Paprika(film)
• Minami-ke (seasons 1, 2 & 3)
• Noein
• Detective Conan films 9 to 13
• Genshiken

Shows that were basically OK

• Higurashi no Naku Koro
• Moyashimon
• Natsu no Arashi
• Shugo Chara
• Vampire Knight
• Earl and Fairy
• Special A
• Slayers Premium
• Himawari
• The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok
• Tales from Earthsea (film)

Shows I’d rather forget

• Akikan
• Tokyo Marble Chocolate
• Hetalia Axis Powers
• a few more that i didn’t even bother watch after the first episode

as you can see, the shows that highlighted this year for me were Skip Beat (i hope they will air season 2 this year), Ichigo Mashimaro, The Girl Who Leapt through Time (first time i lined up for an anime film), Toshokan Sensou, Paprika, Bamboo Blade and Kannagi. overall, this has been a good year, because even though it was a challenge to sift through piles of really crappy stuff, i managed to find a few winners. i hope 2010 will be just as  good or — if my luck holds — even better.

the Ichigo Mashimaro girls — who can be adorably cute in varying degrees — are not placed in impossible situations so as to render them heroically fair and virtuous, nor are they denizens of some magical kingdom, endowed with superpowers and spiffy costumes. and no, they’re not from outer space either. Anna (11), Matsuri (11), Miu (12) and Chi (12) are your typical schoolgirls who more or less look up to Nobue (20), Chi’s older sister.

what makes these girls leap out of the screen and engage your attention right away is the manner in which they are portrayed: as real characters with their respective hang-ups and quirky personality issues.

oh. about that “cuteness” tag? you will find that quality entrenched in this series in a most unobtrusive fashion. these girls are cute alright — but in a funny, matter-of-fact, insidious, clever, and effortless way.

this coming-of-age film centers on Kiki, a young witch-in-training who sets out for a city/town of her choice and learn to live and manage her way around ‘normal’ people (sort of like a finishing school before young trainees can actually concentrate on the serious business of practicing their craft).

with her familiar (a spunky black cat named jiji) in tow, Kiki finally decides to live in a seaside city because she has never seen the sea before. after a shaky start, she finds lodging and part-time work with a kindly bakeshop-owning couple. meanwhile, she has her hands full as she tries to get her fledgling business off the ground: delivering packages/parcels by air — courtesy of her broom. at first, city folks are amazed to see a young witch at their midst, and would often watch in fascination as she goes off into of her delivery trips. eventually, they grow used to her presence.

after a while, kiki’s business begins to thrive. she also manages to form bonds with several people: ursula, a young reclusive artist who lives in a remote village; tombo, a young boy of her age who is passionate about planes and flying; oku-sama, a rich and elderly customer.

soon enough, however, kiki undergoes a crisis of confidence that shakes her to the core. at some point, her self-doubts begin to affect her ability to fly and this leads her to question her choices. how she resolves this setback and finally regain her confidence is handled by Miyazaki et al. (Studio Ghibli) with delicacy and bittersweet detail — it’s the kind of stuff that inexplicably tightens your throat long after ending credits had rolled.

with Kiki’s Delivery Service, miyazaki once again validates his deft touch in dealing with issues that confront young people who are in the brink of adulthood. nothing really earth-shaking or emotionally shattering happens in this movie, but you can easily empathize with the characters. the european setting has a comfortable, nostalgic feel to it. for some reason, there is something captivating about seeing life’s wonders and terrors from the vantage point of a young girl who is desperately trying to hold on to her broom as a source of comfort, security, and ultimately, strength.

to continue…

i’m now in ep. 7 of kamichu, and i think the series is shaping up well. first off, i like the way the writers developed the story and its characters (yurie, a klutzy but well-meaning teenage goddess to boot, and her high school friends). the sheer imagery and scope of its flowing rural scenes are a great plus. i almost feel like i’ve stepped into an extension of Miyazaki‘s Spirited Away — they exude the same aura. i have a feeling that in time this series is going to enter my list of favorites.

incidentally, Kamichu was awarded the Excellence prize in the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival, which should give you an idea what to expect.

i also managed to peek at the first episode of hatenkou yugi (Dazzle), and i like what i’ve seen so far. for one thing, the major characters just seem to leap off the screen: rahzel, a spunky and adventurous magic user; alzeid, a grouchy loner bent on revenge, and baroqueheat, a skirt-chasing adventurer. hatenkou yugi is a series that combines elements of adventure, comedy, drama, supernatural, etc.

coming up next: the film Paprika.

i was able to finish Night Wizard last night. all in all, i’d give it a fair rating i think. it’s rather a run-of-the-mill high school comedy/fantasy/magical girl mixture that would have normally bored me silly if not for the good quality of its graphics and occasional flashes of humor. it’s rather short (13 eps), which worked well in its favor because i would have gladly given up on it had the series been longer.

the main heroine (elis shiho) is rather bland and generic, but the support characters (mostly magic users like elis) are well-drawn and have distinctive traits that make them stand out a bit more: the hapless but loyal renji hiragi, the livewire kureha akabane, the laconic and formidable fighter akari himuro, and the youthful-looking (and brimming with wicked sense of humor, esp. where renji is concerned).

the plot isn’t all that challenging to understand. still series should appeal to younger anime fans, particularly girls, although there are several mildly violent scenes in it.

coming up: kamichu and hatenkuo yugi (aka Dazzle).