The Wrap-Up: Winter 2014

It’s that time of the year again when all of our contributors get to shine a spotlight on the show they thought to be the very best of the past Winter season, as well as reflect back on the preview to see which shows let us down the most.

Unbelievable! You Thought The Red Wedding Was Shocking? Anime’s Got You Covered!

You know how certain blogs tend to come up with a gazillion different variations on a list with the “Most Shocking Deaths in TV History” just so they can keep reminding you how outrageous the Red Wedding scene in Game of Thrones was? Well, of course, they’re in way over their heads, because anime, the objectively superior form of entertainment, just made that scene look like an episode of Blue’s Clues. Judge for yourself!

OP/ED Op-Eds: The Best of Winter 2014

It’s the end of yet another anime season, so amidst all the final impressions, we also try to choose our favourite anime theme songs of the season. As usual, we get a wide variety of crazy songs from a wide variety of crazy shows, but to my giant distress there’s an awfully scary amount of weird early noughties synth metal. Oh my.

Nobunagun Episode 12

The Battleship class Invasion Object isn’t out of the fight just yet. With Sio in its clutches and the rest of the E-Gene holders struggling against the endless onslaught, things aren’t looking as good as planned.

Nobunagun Episode 10-11

We gain a brief glimpse into the past DOGOO’s enigmatic commander and her origins. In response to the battleship class Invasion Object’s odd behavior, Sio formulates a plan to take it out in addition to halting their advance.

Nobunagun Episode 9

After barely fending off the battleship class Invasion Object, an injured Sio is sent back to Japan to rest and recover. Not only does she get the chance to catch up with Asao, she also gets to deal with another Invasion Object incursion on the Japanese coast.

Nobunagun Episode 8

DOGOO deduces that the Invasion Objects are using a hidden tunnel under South America to quickly move between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Their suspicions confirmed, the tunnel is guarded by a gigantic Invasion Object. Thus the First and Second Platoons are brought together to bring the beat down, assuming their own lack of team solidarity doesn’t bring them down first.

Space Dandy Episode 6-7

In the first episode, Dandy finds himself on an alien planet where two aliens have been locked in an eternal conflict over underwear vs. vests. Desperate to get the two to the alien registry, he and Meow get caught up in the war.

In the second, Dandy decides to enter the galactic grand prix, determined to show up Prince, the uncontested racing champion.

Nobunagun Episode 7

Recap The Invasion Objects seemingly revive the lost Imperial battleship the Yamato, and make an assault on the Panama Canal, intent on invading the Atlantic. Anime America, being the trigger happy blowhards they are, decide to nuke the hell out of it if DOGOO can’t stop it before it reaches the canal.

Nobunagun Episode 6

Recap Instead of the usual cast, we get to see another team in action, this time the focus on the First Platoon, consisting of Geronimo, Cyx, and Gaudi. Tasked with transporting a live specimen to DOGOO headquarters, things go awry after their plane crashes due to the blizzard.

Nobunagun Episode 4-5

DOGOO discovers that the next Invasion Object plans to ride the winds of a hurricane until it makes landfall in the inland of America. Sio along with a couple other E-Gene holders are mobilized to deal with the threat. However, Sio is the only one with a ranged attack, meaning the entire operation’s success comes down to her ability to perform under pressure. Afterwards, she meets some more E-Gene holders part of Jack’s main squad. They’re weird.

Space Dandy Episode 5

On the hunt for an alien that’s been taking down other alien hunters, Dandy tracks it down, finding out it’s just a little girl. Initially in it for the huge reward, he begrudgingly listens to the girl’s request before taking her to the alien registry.

Nobunagun Episode 3

Sio is taken to DOGOO’s training facility to prepare her for the struggles that lay ahead. While her E-Gene ability is powerful, she lacks the training and discipline to utilize it correctly. Despite the crippling loneliness of the situation, she ends up befriending the soldiers who have been stationed there.