Anime Thoughts
Fall 2024
Dropped
Note - These are organized by the season I watched the show in. So there will be some shows that aired at a different time than I watched them. As for the dropped shows, I'll probably only write about the ones that I watched at least half of.
Fall 2024
Vampire Dormitory
Genre: Romance, supernatural
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Spring 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: This one was pretty addicting. I ended up binging this in two sessions lol. It got a little tiring halfway through though - I just genuinely didn't understand why Mito didn't tell Ruka that she's a woman. I did however relate deeply to Mito, and this is exactly why I love these kinds of stories. Just like.... that feeling of being so deeply lonely and wanting someone to love you and choose you above all else. Idk. It hit me right in the feels and I def cried throughout the story.
Ren was a very annoying character though. I liked him at random times, but overall it just felt like he kept forcing his will on Mito and assuming he knew what was best for her, just based on his own trauma and past. I also just don't know why a character who so deeply hates vampires and his own father would go along with his father's plot...? I guess it was to "save" Mito, but it still felt a little forced imo. Maybe if they had time to build it up a little bit? I don't know how it is in the manga. But it just seems too quick of a turnaround for me for him to go from absolutely hating his father to going along with his obviously shitty plan????
I actually didn't even really hear about this one, but I was listening to Mother's Basement's video on the best and hottest trash of 2024 and this was on the trash list LOL. He mentioned it as being a cross of Vampire Dormitory and Ouran and I was totally sold (I love Ouran). So yeah! While this wasn't perfect, I definitely cried and ugh now I want to find more romance shows to watch that I can cry over.
I'll Become A Villainess Who Goes Down in History
Genre: Comedy, fantasy, romance, isekai
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Length: 13 episodes
Thoughts: Hmm this one was okay. I think it started off really strong, petered out a bit, and then got a tiny bit interesting at the end? It feels a little convoluted but idk.. I guess it works. I do wish that she took Gill with her at the end. And idk. I wish that the light novels were already out in English because I would have happily picked them up to find out more of what happens in the story lol. Right now it looks like there's just one and then volume 2 is coming, but it doesn't look like the second one covers where the anime left off. Anyway yeah... idk. I do love villainess stories but yeah, Liz's character annoyed me so much that it got a bit annoying for a couple of episodes. I'm glad she dropped her goody two shoes act by the end.
Natsume Yuujinchou, Season 7
Genre: Slice of life, iyashikei, drama, fantasy, supernatural
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: Love! I actually didn't feel like watching this at the beginning of the aseason, but I'm glad I changed my mind. I kind of forgot who some of the characters were, but overall it wasn't too bad. Some of the episodes made me cry a lot. UGH ESPECIALLY THE EPISODE WITH REIKO. I am SO FUCKING SAD. I wish so so so hard that she knew that Morinaga came back and waited for her. It breaks my heart that she never found out. Ugh, it hurts my heart and I'm crying again just thinking about it lolol. Anyway, and as usual Nyanko Sensei remains the best character ever. I love him so much.
Yakuza Fiance
Genre: Romance, comedy, drama
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: Oh my god I think this might be my favorite of the whole season. I was a little skeptical of the animation, but UGH I LOVE IT. Everyone is so toxic and it's completely unhealthy and totally unhinged but my god do I love all of the characters and the drama of it all. Yoshino is best girl and I hope she comes out on top in the end. All of the supporting characters are cool as shit too. I actually went and read the manga halfway through this one too, and I'm so devastated that it's on hiatus because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. Once I figure out how to draw people, Yoshino is going to be top of the list of characters I want to draw a shitload of fanart for. I would definitely let her destroy my life too 😅
365 Days To The Wedding
(from here on out I don't think I'm going to rate them anymore)
Genre: Romance
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: Meh, I didn't love this one. At first I thought it was cute, but man the characters got to be a little grating for a few episodes there. Just because it felt like there was zero progress and zero communication, and that shit drives me nuts sometimes. I understand that yeah, there are tons of people out there who just don't communicate their real feelings. But my god, it felt like it dragged on for like 3 or 4 episodes and I was just so sick of it. I'm glad I kept with it though because it ended on such a good note. I'm glad they got to come clean to all of their coworkers, and then decide like... yeah actually let's get married for real LOL. I also really liked some of the side stories. I hope Gonda gets the chance to properly apologize.
As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World, Season 2
Rating: ★★★★✭
Genre: Fantasy, isekai, adventure
Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: Noooo I'm so sad this is over. I love all of the characters so much! Tbh I'm getting a little tired of the war setting and hope that it resolves itself in season 3, but who knows. I don't read the light novels for this one, but I'm almost tempted to (depending on how good the writing/translation is) just so I can know what happens next lol. This season had so many great moments though! I def cried a bunch throughout, including in the last episode. I LOVE that Pham is now a retainer! Pham is probably my favorite character of the series so far. I love that even the minor antagonists get humanized, so we actually understand some of their motivations (or at the very least, they don't feel cartoonishly evil). I hope we see more Lycia in season 3 as well, as she's grown on me a lot and she's a really fun character to watch work. Anyway, will definitely be watching season 3!! I saw that it got added to Anilist so I can't wait! I haven't yet tried to look up if there's already a date for it.
DAN DA DAN, Season 1
Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Action, comedy, scifi, supernatural, shounen
Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Dates: Fall 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: Maybe a controversial rating to not rate it five stars? I feel like this is a beloved show. And don't get me wrong, I surprisingly enjoyed it. I don't watch much shounen nowadays, and I also don't love shows that are super action heavy. However!!!! This show just reeled me in. I reeeeeeeeally liked the animation. It was so interesting and unique and I especially love the way that they drew/animated the faces. They just look so crisp and clear and I love it. Momo and Okarun are also just SUCH great characters. I love them and their friendship/relationship SO MUCH.
With this one, at one point I actually went and read a bunch of the manga just so I could know what happened LOL. I basically finished the current arc where the anime leaves off at the end of the season. Tbh I'm surprised they just stopped in the middle of an arc, but I guess it'll get pepople to watch the next one lol. At this point though I think I'm just reading/watching for the romance between Momo and Okarun and less for the action. I don't really find the humor to be to my taste too, and my god did I really hate Aira. I hope that things chill out with her and she and Momo become friends? Because as it is right now, I just find her really grating. Jiji is also a bit annoying, so... lol. I like him better in the manga though than the anime, but it could just be that his jokes and overbearing personality are just... less annoying in the manga.
Anyway! And of course, ugh I forgot what episode it was in the middle of the season... episode 7 or something? That was a huge fucking gut punch. I sobbed so hard. Definitely a highlight of the whole season. I really hope there are more moments like that in the future! I plan to keep reading the manga, but probably very sporadically. I'll definitely be watching season 2.
Negative Positive Angler
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Iyashikei, slice of life, fishing
Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Dates: Fall 2024
Length: 12 episodes
Thoughts: SO MUCH LOVE!!!! This was such a wonderful show and I cried several times throughout the season. I've had depression for more than half my life at this point, so I related to Hiro maybe a bit too much at times. But that's what made it so emotional and heartwarming for me. Seeing how low he starts off at the beginning of the season, and then watching him slowly take an interest in something and actually make friends and start to feel comfortable around other people? Ugh, my heart strings. I thought it was really nice that he gradually changed throughout the season - it's not like he met Takaaki, started fishing, and then his life was automatically better in two episodes. I think the only thing that slightly disappointed me was the ending. It felt a little bit rushed but also so bittersweet. I wanted him to keep living with Takaaki forever, or at least make plans to move back in with him after treatment. But the ending does make sense for the show and character, and I'm glad that we at least got to "see" him meet up with Takaaki and Hana at the very end.
Oh, another thing I liked throughout the series were the side characters. I really liked learning about them and I liked that they felt random. In a sense that they weren't all the same age - they seemed like they were just a collection of random people who happened to come together because they liked fishing. So I liked seeing them and learning more about their backstories. Machida was probably my least favorite, but even then he had such a nice side story with his son that felt so heartwarming to watch.
In terms of the visuals and whatnot, I really liked the art style. So much that it makes me want to draw some of the characters! I like that it felt like all the characters were very distinct. Hana's eyes and hair were completely different than Hiro's or Takaaki's, and I really liked that the characters were so unique looking.
It looks like this was an original series? I don't see any indication on Anilist that there's a manga or light novel, so that's kinda sad. I mean, it's cool that they made something like this! But I wish there was more. Anyway! I'll probably rewatch this again. It felt very peaceful and healing and that's exactly my jam.
DNFs
The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Episodes Watched: 9/12
Thoughts: This one... tbh I was skeptical about it from the start. I cannot stress enough how creepy it felt to have the main character (Jill) be so young, even if the actual age gap isn't that huge between her and Hadis. I think if they at least made her look older it would have been not as bad to watch? Jill is technically older because she has been reincarnated, but yeah... I really don't understand WHY they had to make her look like a child and then make Hadis look like a grown man. That aside... idk. What kept me interested was just seeing how Jill would change the future and solve her problems. It reminded me a lot of 7th Time Loop and I was hoping it was going to be closer to that. But yeah, idk after a while I just got tired of the characters and tired of the age gap. I thought about trying to finish it, but I'm also just not interested in the action/battles, and that's what the last three episodes seemed like they were going to be about.
Nina the Starry Bride
Genre: Fantasy, romance, politics, josei
Date/Season Watched: Fall 2024
Original Air Date: Fall 2024
Episodes Watched: 9/12
Thoughts: (Manga spoilers here too) Maaan. So like halfway through this one I decided I couldn't wait any longer and went and read the manga up to wherever it is now. And I really liked most of it tbh. It made me cry at times, and idk it was really moving. Until it wasn't. Until it started feeling like the author was going to start the cycle over again. The cycle being thus - Nina falls in love with tragic boi, then something happens and they get torn apart for one reason or another. Then she falls in love with another tragic boi, and then the cycle repeats. It seemed like things were finally going well with Sett, and then she found out that things were even MORE tragic with Azure, so it feels like it's going back in that direction. Anyway, once I started feeling like that, it became hard to watch the anime. Knowing that nothing is really resolved, that she's just going to keep flipping back and forth between two tragic boys and that Azure is being annoying as fuck, I just couldn't do it anymore.