So far, Kotoura-san is the best new show of this winter season. If you pick up anything new this season, at least choose Kotoura-san. But look up the summary to see if the show suits you. Something lies underneath the romantic comedy label and fluffy opening theme, and I'm liking it. A lot.



Brief recommendations of what I'm watching, in no particular order:
  • Maoyuu Maou Yuusha tries to bring the nostalgic medieval backdrop in this season. And the big chested demons. This show resembles Spice & Wolf on many levels. But so far, wolf goddess > demon queen. But yeah, if Spice & Wolf and comically big chests interest you, this is up your alley.

  • Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Next is everything you would expect from its first season. Escalated. Haganai dives straight back into its jokes.

  • Did you like K-On!? Then you will enjoy Tamako Market.

  • Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru can fill this season's basic harem quota. Your generic setup: Transfer-student-from-out-of-country (overseas for the past 9 years) character. Check. Transfer student is now the most beautiful girl in school. Check. Said girl kicks off the harem with unlikely lead. Check. Osananajimi (childhood friend) character. Check. Dense lead character. Check. Four episodes in, waiting for the two other girls of the harem to join. Although I say it's generic, it doesn't demotivate someone like me. So far, OreShura is a solid and fun title to watch.

  • Sasami-san@Ganbaranai... is one crazy show. Being from the same studio, it matches Bakemonogatari. What happened to "Koi to senkyo?" Still chuckling from that... I'm not entirely sure what's happening yet, but imagine Shaft getting a hold of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Cut Kyon's awesome narration and delegate Haruhi's powers to a character who has Jiraiya's voice (Naruto). Oh, and Haruhi is now a hikikomori. From genki to ganbaranai. Now she's really feeling melancholic.

  • Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?. More or less, supernatural creatures and deities or humans with supernatural abilities fight it out in an alternate universe in "Gift Games," betting their lives and powers. Can't recall any show that reminds me of this one right now. Comes complete with a bunny girl. Off track, but I am still scratching my head at the fact that the character who looks and sounds like Rin Tohsaka (with powers superior to Lelouch vi Britannia to boot) is voiced by a white girl. Swear to Madoka I was listening to Kana Ueda.