As promised, I have been spending my free time on my all time unhealthy hobby of anime. I now keep track of my latest entires on my Anime List page, by the way. There are a few new series I’ve just started. Of the latest anime this season, I’ve chosen these three to sample:

Awakara Under the Bridge
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11188

I found this little oddity while I was searching for some new romantic comedies. I’m trying to replace the hole left in my heart after Ouran High School Host Club, and it is still empty. I’m only a few episodes in, but I’m being distracted by the style. It’s a 2010 production, but it seems to have a few throwbacks to the early 90s in terms of coloring and saturation levels. Aside from the two main protagonist, everyone just looks plain weird and mismatched. I don’t mind weird, but give it a purpose and some consistency, please. I’m not grasping what the artist had in mind at all. Other than that, I’ve gotten a few good chuckles so far, and the girl is adorably stoic.

Katanagatari
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10765

This one is unusual in that each episode is 50 minutes long, rather than the customary 20-30, and episodes are aired each month. The style is fresh and interesting, and the characters are absolutely lovable. (I shudder when I think of the cosplay that could arise from this.) It doesn’t get hung up on cliches, and the story moves forward at a good pace. The only exceptions to this are the “fight scenes.” There is WAY too much talking. They literally sit there and talk for 5 minutes in between each slash and dash, and half of it seems unnecessary. Despite it’s title, it was probably not meant to be an action anime, but so much talking during and before a fight is really annoying. Despite this, the 50 minutes go by quickly. Very promising!

House of Five Leaves
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/ anime.php?id=11176

I love the style. The picture doesn’t do it justice. The scenery is gorgeous and the people are a sort of ugly-pretty. The colors are both vibrant and relaxing to look at. Admittedly the pacing is slow, and probably more for the older crowd. But the story and characters are very intriguing, so far. I want to know what motivates them, and how they came to be where they are. Besides, who doesn’t like a good feudal Japan story?
You can stream it on hulu (subtitled).

I have also finished a few older series, and will probably review them sometime soon.