FIRST LOOK: Blood-C, No. 6

 Blood-C (1-3)

Blood-C is the latest installment in the Blood series. This time, the CLAMP, of Cardcaptor Sakura and CodeGeass fame, is giving this old franchise a face-lift with the group's trademark limber, narrow-eyed characters. The story revolves around Saya, a shrine maiden who lives alone with her Dad, whom she idolizes to a fault. She has a neighbor, a young gentleman who owns a cafe where Saya regularly has breakfast. By day, Saya divides her time between her duties as a shrine maiden and as a high school student. But at night, she wields the Holy Blade to fight with monsters.

COMMENTS:

Oh, was I ever so wrong about this show. What I thought was a Victorian dress is just a school uniform...so yeah, it's the same old high school girl with a sword stuff that the Blood series is known for. Also, Saya is a total klutz. Uh, since when? I admit, I never saw Blood+ properly so all I really know about the series is from the anime movie, Blood: The Last Vampire. (Let's not mention the live-action version -_-). Anyhoo, the show has some potential but I don't think I can wait 5 more episodes for the show to get its stride. Maybe, I'll come back to this series some day. But for now, dropping it from my watchlist.

No. 6 (1-3)

No. 6 is set in a futuristic world, particularly in a futuristic city-state where people live under the protection of a totalitarian government. The story begins when our two protagonists are still boys -- Shion is one of the elites chosen to study in the Special Course as well as live in Chronos while Nozumi is an escaped prisoner, hunted by the authorities. Serendipity leads the two to meet up and strike up a friendship. However, when the authorities discover Shion's harboring a known fugitive, he is stripped of all privileges and sent off to live in Lost Town. Years later, Shion, now working as a park attendant, discovers the dead body of a man who died of a mysterious disease. After voicing out his suspicions that the authorities may be trying to manipulate information, Shion finds himself captured and carried off to a correctional facility. However, an old friend shows up just in time to save him. Reunited with Nozumi, Shion learns more and more about No. 6 and the secrets its authorities are desperately trying to hide.

COMMENTS: 

Is this yaoi? If it is...not sure I want to watch it. But the mystery is kind of getting to me so I'm probably staying around to see this through.

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Blood-C PV

DDL PV [MF]

Saya is a sword-wielding miko mega-ne? I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Anyhoo, I was totally misled by the promo poster for this. I really thought the setting was going to be Victorian because of the frills and lace dress that Saya was wearing. That somehow kind of diminishes my interest in this. However, since this is Production I.G., and they make such pretty anime, I'm willing to check this out.

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2011 Summer Anime Line-Up

A few interesting titles.

click on image to enlarge

Appleseed XIII
Jinni's Animation Studios & Production I.G.
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

I've seen only one of the movies and I remember it was about this cyborg and his girl partner. The movie featured lots of CGI, which I don't care for. I'm only putting this on the short list because of the names involved: Production I.G., Masamune Shirow, Sakamoto Maaya. We'll just have to see if it's any good.

Natsume Yuujinchou-San
Brain's Base
OFFICIAL | ANN

Jute watched the first and second seasons and seemed to enjoy them. I had no idea there was going to be a third season and if I watch it, I'll be a total newbie in the series. However, I have to follow blog tradition so here it is.

Usagi Drop
Production I.G.
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

It's another one of those helpless tool of a guy who gets a wake-up call when he finds himself having to care of a little kid. Probably some mild lolicon undertones in this one. However, it gives me hope that it's in the noitaminA time-slot, although after two or three duds, it's beginning to occur to me that the legendary time-slot is finally showing some signs of slipping. The anime is based on a josei manga, btw.

No. 6
BONES
OFFICIAL (Kodansha)

Apparently, this is based on a children's book series set in a futuristic city called No. 6 and is about a boy, Shion, who is supposed to be an elite. Well, whatever. The poster looks attractive and it's by BONES so it's probably going to come on strong before the story scatters about like a headless chicken. Or it could be good. I enjoyed Xam'd, despite the headless chicken bit.

Blood-C
Production I.G.
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

There are a bunch of vampire tropes in this line-up. There's Blade and that other vampire series. I thought if I had to pick one for this season, I'd rather go with this. The Blood franchise gets a face-lift. The designs are now by CLAMP, who are also writing the story, so it's probably going to be interesting. I don't know. Did I like CodeGeass? I know I liked Cardcaptor Sakura way back when. One thing I can say though is that I am liking the Victorian-goth frilly dresses that Saya is wearing in the promo poster.

Dantalian no Shoka
Gainax
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

It reminds me a little of GOSICK (which I dropped by the way). I don't know if this is going to be better or worse. There are demons though and the male character is holding a gun in the promo poster, so maybe this is a lot celebral and more visceral? Not that GOSICK was very cerebral.

ADDENDUM: I liked none of the OVA, OAV, ONA and Specials this season. Well, except for Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail. As for the movies, only two titles leap off the page for me. Towa no Quon, which is a six-part theatrical movie release by BONES, and Studio Ghibli's Kokuriko-Zaka Kara. 

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