{"id":10340,"date":"2020-07-23T22:00:38","date_gmt":"2020-07-24T05:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/?p=10340"},"modified":"2024-10-16T22:47:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T05:47:27","slug":"anibitez-summer-2020-anime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/2020\/07\/23\/anibitez-summer-2020-anime\/","title":{"rendered":"AniBitez: Summer 2020 Anime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summer 2020 is here amidst the global pandemic, but don’t fret as you won’t be bored with the anime titles this summer! Here’s a compilation of our writers’ first impressions for this season’s AniBitez. Check them out and see what you’d like to add to your watchlist!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Deca-Dence: <\/b>Slicin’ n dicin’ with pipes<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Funimation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a die-hard sci-fi fan, the anime I’m most excited to watch this season is hands down <\/span>Deca-Dence<\/span><\/i>. It\u2019s an original anime set in a world where humans on the verge of extinction have to fight for their survival while inhabiting a mobile fortress named Deca-dence, due to the alien, human-devouring animals called Gadolls. With dieselpunk and steampunk elements, the show focuses on Natsume, an ardent Tanker who wishes to become a Gear warrior alongside the pragmatic Kaburagi, an armor repairman Tanker. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deca-Dence<\/span><\/i> has many things going for it, namely its storytelling, world-building, and characters. The visuals and colors are captivating with each action scene, along with some surprisingly adorable Gadolls. At first glance, the show might look like your typical kaiju anime set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where humans have to beat up giant alien monsters. However, by episode two, <\/span>Deca-Dence<\/span><\/i> will make you question your expectations and perception of the world, and the show altogether. In addition to the intricate narrative, the characters are very likable. Although Natsume and Kaburagi are polar opposites, the way they interact with each other, the Gears, Tankers, Gadolls, and the Deca-dence fortress only makes me hope that <\/span>Deca-Dence<\/span><\/i> will be a rollercoaster worth riding till the end. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Isabelle<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gibiate:<\/b> Reverse-isekai\u2019d samurais in an apocalypse <\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Anime Expo 2019, Yoshitaka Amano, best known as Final Fantasy\u2019s character designer, announced his newest work, featuring an apocalyptic Japan and humans who are mutated into monsters from a mysterious virus. Combating these \u201cGibias\u201d without military aid is ill-advised, but the arrival of time-slipping samurais and the need to complete a vaccine will completely change the game. It\u2019s a very\u2026 interesting concept to say the least, and I dove into it with little to no expectations at all. <\/span><\/p>\n

My overall impression of the anime is \u201cokay\u201d at best. Yes, the series sports an A-list voice cast and some notable staff, but the execution is sorely lacking. There isn\u2019t enough world-building to really make sense of things, and a startling lack of reaction from the characters towards their situation undercuts any possible drama. However, my biggest peeve so far is the dialogue. Anything that comes out of anyone\u2019s mouth seems incredibly vapid, and the characters do not seem to fully process new information. There\u2019s this air of constant confusion or stagnation, as if each character\u2019s remaining brain cell short-circuited mid-way into the discussion about samurais or Gibias. I\u2019m not sure if this is due to poor writing or inability to work at full capacity due to COVID-19, but <\/span>Gibiate<\/span><\/i> is rapidly falling off the radar for me at this rate. I can only hope that episode two literally picks up the pace. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Agnes “Iniquiate”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Japan Sinks 2020:<\/b> Activate survival HARD mode<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After achieving great success with <\/span>Devilman Crybaby<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, <\/span><\/i>Science Saru\u2019s latest effort, a modernized adaptation of the popular <\/span>Japan Sinks <\/span><\/i>novel, looks to be another hit. In the summer of 2020, a massive earthquake hits Japan and Southeast Asia, the first of several that will lead to the sinking of the Land of the Rising Sun. All major cities are dismantled, there is limited access to the internet for answers, and the Japanese government can only sit on their hands and cry for help. Among the survivors are the Mutoh family and their friends who are desperately maintaining their sanity in this broken new world. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are very few series that illustrate Japan\u2019s natural disasters, if not the terrifying reality of its aftermath. Science Saru wastes no time depicting people being crushed to death, speared by metal and wood, and pelted in the back of their heads due to the unpredictability of the earthquake. Meanwhile, areas of Tokyo and its surrounding countryside are shown in complete shambles with broken asphalt, upheaved roads, and flooded streets. Surrounded by such a horrific and surreal environment, the characters barely keep it together, which makes the series remarkably more realistic. Our high-school protagonist, Ayumu Mutoh, illustrates that perfectly with her whiny and childish mentality that serves as her means to cope with the situation. She\u2019s in denial, but denial will only get her so far in this quest for survival. <\/span><\/p>\n

Fans do not have to be familiar with Science Saru\u2019s other works to understand the level of gore and seriousness in <\/span>Japan Sinks 2020<\/span><\/i>, but be warned: this show is not for the faint of heart. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Agnes “Iniquiate”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mr Love: Queen\u2019s Choice<\/b>: <\/span>Hoping this isn\u2019t just another otome anime<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My expectations for otome anime have never been high, but the first episode of this anime has given me some hope that the protagonist won\u2019t be too useless. Our dear protagonist is your typical wide-eyed, slim, and fair-skinned beauty that works as a producer for her late father\u2019s show (sound familiar?). She is trying to manage her father\u2019s production studio when she stumbles upon rumors of \u201cEvolvers\u201d \u2014 hyper-advanced humans with evolved genetics and superpowers, the very thing her late father had been investigating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frankly, the premise of supernatural humans is interesting enough to be an anime on its own, but it is the backdrop of the original otome game so there\u2019s nothing much we can do about the upcoming \u2014 and expected \u2014 romance. I\u2019m not exactly impressed with the main protagonist since she feels like a very typical otome game heroine, but her challenge to a business empire\u2019s CEO makes her a bit more interesting. To make it big in five years is a massive challenge because of the lack of funding and fresh ideas she has. I\u2019m interested enough to watch the next two episodes just to see how the heroine tries to turn her business around while living up to her words. To sum it up, I\u2019ll quote one of the male protagonists\u2019 words:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d absolutely love to see you try.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Crystal<\/span><\/p>\n

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My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU<\/b> Season 3<\/b>: <\/span>Well-worth the wait.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU<\/span><\/i>\u2019s third season kicks off with the last few seconds of <\/span>Season 2<\/span><\/i>\u2019s final episode. Even so, it takes a bit of time before Yukino\u2019s request is finally revealed. When it does, it doesn\u2019t feel as big of a moment as the five-year cliffhanger might\u2019ve led viewers to expect, but it\u2019s a development that makes sense in terms of Yukino\u2019s growth. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the reasons I loved the second season of <\/span>SNAFU <\/span><\/i>was its complicated relationships and depth, but I also found some of its conversations, as fascinating as they were, to be a bit opaque. In this premiere, Yukino\u2019s expression of what she wants is pretty transparent, with helpful flashbacks to boot. Visually, the show clearly conveys the care that Hachiman and Yui both feel towards Yukino, particularly with Yui\u2019s physical actions. Of course, Yui has always been openly affectionate, but it\u2019s still pleasing to see how she and Hachiman are there for Yukinoshita, and how much the bond between the three have strengthened since we first met them. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The best parts of the premiere, however, are actually the ones <\/span>without <\/span><\/i>Yukinoshita or Yuigahama. Another reason I loved <\/span>SNAFU <\/span><\/i>Season 2<\/span><\/i> was its entertaining character interactions, and Season 3\u2019s premiere doesn\u2019t disappoint with Hachiman\u2019s conversations with Kawasaki and Komachi respectively in the second half. Hachiman and Komachi\u2019s sibling relationship is as endearing as ever, and it provides the end of the episode with an incredibly heartwarming moment. <\/span>SNAFU <\/span><\/i>is finally back, and it looks like it was well worth the wait.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Melvyn <\/span><\/p>\n

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Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2<\/b>: <\/span>A stunning return to another world<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thanks to its <\/span>in media res<\/span><\/i> opening,<\/span> Re: Zero Season 2<\/span><\/i>\u2019s premiere feels like a smooth and natural continuation to the first season, like continuing a book after stopping in the middle. Those with dusty memories of the first season may be a bit lost here, but in my case, it felt exciting to jump straight into things, although we don\u2019t start off with a fight. <\/span>Re: Zero Season 2<\/span><\/i> begins with a familiar scene for those who watched the first season\u2019s Director\u2019s Cut: Subaru\u2019s conversation with Emilia in a wagon, following the battle with Petelgeuse. It starts off light-heartedly but ends with the revelation that Emilia has forgotten Rem, everyone\u2019s favorite Oni-maid. Then comes the storm: a flashback showing Rem and Crusch\u2019s caravan encountering two dangerous new foes \u2014 the Sin Archbishop of Greed and the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, things don\u2019t go well; aside from scores of soldiers being killed, Crusch loses her memories and an arm, while Rem has both her memories and name eaten by the Gluttony Archbishop, leaving her in a comatose state and erasing other characters\u2019 (sans Subaru) memories of her. We all know that Subaru\u2019s suffering is never-ending, but this is the first time that a previous victory has been offset by a disastrous event, and it’s one that Subaru can’t avert with his Return by Death ability. It\u2019s a heck of a way to start the new season. While the second half of the episode revolves around conversation rather than action, the gravity of the situation that Subaru and the others now find themselves in makes it no less engrossing, although the storyboarding and soundtrack deserve some credit too. I\u2019m incredibly excited to see what happens next. <\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Melvyn <\/span><\/p>\n

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Rent-a-Girlfriend:<\/b> Better than your average rom-com, except when it isn\u2019t<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rent-a-Girlfriend<\/span><\/i> follows Kazuya Kinoshita, a college student whose life becomes entwined with a rental girlfriend he hired after an unceremonious breakup with his ex<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>I used to be a fairly avid reader of the manga it\u2019s based on, but I ended up dropping it because of my vigorous dislike of the protagonist. Even so, I thought I\u2019d give this adaptation a chance.  <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the positives. I <\/span>love<\/span><\/i> most of the show. Rental girlfriend Chizuru Mizuhara\u2019s clashing \u201cwork\u201d and \u201ccasual\u201d personalities provide all the endearing gap moe of the classic anime tsundere, but without needing to rely on the same tired tropes. As expected, this comedy anime nails its humor, and the clean animation enhances the experience while still retaining the fun art style that originally got me interested in the manga. The catchy opening song by The Peggies \u2014 who almost always make an anime hit \u2014 and its playful selfie animation also illustrate the anime’s pleasing visuals and youthful energy.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side, I hate Kazuya even more than I did in the manga. Now that he has a voice, Kazuya’s spineless, selfish, and sophomoric personality becomes even more irritating. He also inherits his manga version\u2019s irritating lack of development. At the end of <\/span>Episode One<\/span><\/i>, we see a slight indication that Kazuya might start down the path to self-improvement, but <\/span>Episode Two<\/span><\/i> fails to follow through \u2014 he ends up in the same place that he started. I still intend to watch the series, but I fear that my disdain for Kazuya might sour the entire viewing experience.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @James<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Part 2<\/b>:<\/span> Er, what\u2019s with the tentacles?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s start with the good stuff. Like the previous Alicization seasons, <\/span>Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Part 2<\/span><\/i> looks good, and the action is still well-animated. We get to rewatch Sinon\u2019s awesome arrival, and Ronye, upon meeting Sinon, amusingly mutters that all of Kirito\u2019s real-world friends seem to be girls. Bercouli begins to square off against Vecta, and Klein makes a cool entrance. I wasn\u2019t hyped the way I was when I watched <\/span>Re: Zero Season 2<\/span><\/i>\u2019s premiere, but these still made for a good watch. So, what\u2019s holding my praise back? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, here\u2019s where the bad stuff comes in. Unlike Sinon and Klein\u2019s badass entries, Leafa falls inelegantly into the Underworld and, shortly after, proceeds to get assaulted by magical tentacles conjured by the Dark Arts user D.I.L. It\u2019s not that D.I.L.\u2019s attack serves no purpose \u2014 the wounded spellcaster plainly wants to absorb Leafa\u2019s health. D.I.L.\u2019s attitude also results in the last surviving Orc chieftain, Lilpilin, standing up against her, potentially opening the door to an alliance between him and Leafa. The problem is how the scene feels like something you\u2019d see in an SAO doujin, except that this isn\u2019t the first questionable scene in the SAO series. It also doesn\u2019t help that the scene where Leafa gives D.I.L. her comeuppance feels like a mere footnote compared to the tentacle stuff. <\/span><\/p>\n

The second episode is, thankfully, free of such material, making it easy to wholly enjoy the epic clash between Bercouli and Vecta. Still, this wasn\u2019t a great way to kick off the final part of the Alicization arc. <\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Melvyn <\/span><\/p>\n

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The God of High School<\/b>: <\/span>Time to whack people\u2019s asses!<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first impression I got was, \u201cWow, is this politics?\u201d and \u201cThe art for the males\u2019 bodies look so weird.\u201d The anime starts off with (probably) corrupt politicians trying to flex their power and the masseuses had their eyes drawn weirdly, but that really isn\u2019t the story. The \u201cGod of High School\u201d martial arts tournament involves selected high school students from all over South Korea, where, if they dominate the main battles, they will have their wish granted no matter what. Our protagonist, Jin Mo-ri, is almost late for the preliminary tournament, but even then he tries to help an old grandmother get her purse back from a thief. It is through this crazy thief chasing that he meets two of his future comrades: Han Dae-wi and Yoo Mi-ra. Frankly, the first ten minutes of episode one had me wondering how sturdy Mo-ri\u2019s bicycle must be to make all those crazy Hollywood action-like turns!<\/span><\/p>\n

After watching two episodes, though, I\u2019m left with many questions. For example, what\u2019s Park Mujin\u2019s purpose for organizing such a tournament? He definitely seems shady and I\u2019m already wary of him. Also, what is up with the <\/span>Hunger Games<\/span><\/i>-style tournaments? This also doesn\u2019t feel right. There\u2019s so much I don\u2019t know, but one thing is for sure: I\u2019m rooting for the three newly-bonded friends because they\u2019re super awesome when they\u2019re together!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Crystal<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Misfit of Demon King Academy: <\/b>The devil is an old-timer?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Crunchyroll<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rejoice, for the mighty Demon King has been reborn! The only problem is, no one seems to recognize him for who he is. 2,000 years have passed since Anos Voldigoad, Demon King, last walked the land. His followers and their descendants have built a society intended to honor his legacy, including the titular academy for training the next demon king. After reincarnation, though, the original demon king himself is labeled as a misfit at the academy meant to mold people in his image in the first place. <\/span><\/p>\n

Anos is billed as an overpowered protagonist, and the anime doesn’t disappoint! I also expected this anime to be funny, and funny it is.  With its quirky protagonist, intricate world, and intriguing early plot, <\/span>Misfit<\/span><\/i> proves to be a hilarious and genre-subverting ride. I also didn’t expect Anos to be so charming and endearing, and it\u2019s a welcome surprise. You’d expect a demon king to be a cold and cruel tyrant who only cares about power. While Anos does regard raw ability over a superficial status like lineage, he’s still incredibly kind and caring toward his new birth parents and his fellow student, Misha. If a power trip that is as relaxing as it is exciting sounds like your cup of tea, then I recommend giving this overpowered demon lord misfit a shot.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By: @Mehdi<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summer 2020 is here amidst the global pandemic, but don’t fret as you won’t be bored with the anime titles this summer! Here’s a compilation of our writers’ first impressions for this season’s AniBitez.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1053,397],"tags":[290,998,974,994,851,888,951,241,831,965],"class_list":["post-10340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-feature","category-reviews","tag-anibitez","tag-deca-dence","tag-gibiate","tag-japan-sinks-2020","tag-my-teen-romantic-comedy-snafu","tag-rezero-starting-life-in-another-world","tag-rent-a-girlfriend","tag-sword-art-online-alicization","tag-the-god-of-high-school","tag-the-misfit-of-demon-king-academy"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ANITZ.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8n4QV-2GM","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10340"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10340"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12865,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10340\/revisions\/12865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anitrendz.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}