There is no such thing as dropping an anime forever (been a long time since I last copypasted this line). When I use the term ‘dropped’ that does not mean that’s the last I’ll see of that anime in my life. Dropping a show means that I don’t have the enthusiasm to watch this show currently and at a later date I’ll return to that anime. This later date may be the time when I’m stuck in a foreign country because of a volcano in Iceland (pfft, what are the chances of that happening~) with nothing other than a portable dvd player and a ‘Lucky Star’ boxset, but I will one day return and give the anime another shot. With this in mind, combined with the fact that I’ve passed the 100 anime mark on my MAL account for anime I’ve dropped, I’ve decided that I’m going to take a look back at all those series I’ve dropped, recognise why I dropped them and evaluate when I should give them another go.
Macross Frontier
Dropped After: 5 episodes
Why I dropped it: I remember seeing the first episode of Macross Frontier and being totally bowled over by it. It was an absolutely fantastic start to an anime. OK, Ranka was kind of annoying but the animation quality and the general shininess of the thing had me fangasming over it. However once it moved beyond that it just never grabbed me. I was watching the episodes without enjoying them. The story never interested me, the characters never interested me. It was far from ever being a bad anime but it gave me the same vibe as Rental Magica: an anime I continued watching simply because it never was bad. To quote myself from a post from Ye Olde Days
The ones that you can’t really muster much enthusiasm to watch the next episode. The anime where you can’t really remember the characters names. The one where, if someone asked you if it was any good, you would reply with a resounding ‘meh’.
Rebirth Chances: Above average. Most people seem to agree that Frontier is a very solid series so it makes me wonder what I was missing from it. It wasn’t that I was approaching it from the wrong angle or anything like that so it’s a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe I’ll try watching one of the earlier Macross series before returning to this.
Mahoromatic
Dropped After: 10 episodes
Why I dropped it: Ah yes, yet another anime on that torrid pathway known as ‘the search for a half-decent seinen romance series’. This was not it. Like many of the other crappy attempts at seinen romance, this was a bunch of unfunny slice of life episodes after an introductory episode that set up the plot. And it had boobs. Lots and lots of boobs. The more of these crappy seinen romance series I come across doing these posts, the more I come to respect those that did it right.
Rebirth Chances: Low. I actually thought this was a 2-cour series but apparently it only has 12 episodes in. I could have just watched the last two episodes to see what happens, especially since it has a Gainax ending. But it’s been too long since I originally saw it and all I can remember was the boobs and the countdown so I just don’t see the point.
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto
Dropped After: 5 episodes
Why I dropped it: Because it was DULL. This is slice of life in its purest form. It’s so unextraordinary in so many ways. Characters have the most banal conversations possible with the occasional hint at some possible other thoughts they might be having. Actually I’m making it sound worse then it was. It wasn’t actually that bad and the music was really nice (when they decided to play it that is. Normally it was just background city noise) but my interest in watching any further just petered out. I guess I’m just not a fan of humourless slice of life.
Rebirth Chances: Average. As I said, it was far from actually being a bad show and its not like you’d have to hold a gun to my head for me to watch it further. Humourless slice of life though, I just can’t think of an anime I enjoyed that fits that genre. Flicking through my MAL account the ones I could come up with didn’t exactly fit the genre that well. Haibane Remnei, Beck and Clannad After Story were the best I could come up with, none of which exactly fit the bill. There’s one series that will tell me if I’ll ever like this genre: Aria. If I fail to see the appeal in that anime then I’m afraid there’s just no hope for me.
Michiko to Hatchin
Dropped After: 9 episodes
Why I dropped it: Oh godz, I blogged this show back in Ye Olde Days because I was seriously looking forward to this show. The same team that worked on Bebop and Champloo? How could you not get hyped for this! Reading back over my old posts, I can see why nobody ever commented on them. My excuse for the quality is due to the total lack of enthusiasm for the series. My main complaints seemed to stem from terrible script writing and generally being pissed off at Michiko. Not matter how much attention to detail they had, when the episodes were as dull and frustrating as they were there was no way I could continue watching it.
Rebirth Chances: Average. One thing I’ve noticed that watching anime weekly vs marathoning is that the great moments become more pronounced, as do the crap moments. This becomes even more noticeable when you’re blogging a series. In that sense, maybe I’m harsher on Michiko to Hatching than I should be because I was blogging the thing. Perhaps detaching myself from the characters would result in a more enjoyable experience watching the show? I won’t know until I try I guess.
Miracle Train
Dropped After: 1 episode
Why I dropped it: You know, I never actually watched episode 1. They showed episode 2 in the anime club I went to for about 3 meetings before giving up because of the participants apparent lack of knowledge in the area of hygiene, most notably in the subject regarding underarm perspiration judging by the stains. They thought this show was the funniest thing in existence. Personally, I think it went right out the other side of laughably terrible.
Rebirth Chances: Are you kidding me? Maybe if I really really really wanted to learn about the Japanese train stations. Or stuck on a desert island with nothing but a dvd player and a Lucky Star box set and this. Or a drinking game. Anything that could be otherwise interpreted as possible attempts at gang-rape, take a drink. Or homosexual undertones. Why do I have this rated as a 2 on MAL anyway? *changes score to 1*
::Edit:: STOP VOTING MIRACLE TRAIN!!! ::Edit::
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23 Comments
Frontier takes a little while to pick up. I had actually dropped it around episode 7 or 8 or so until a friend of mine convinced me to go back to it. I’m glad I did, it’s definitely a good series, though I wasn’t amazed by it like I was with the original series.
As for order, I watched Macross Frontier before any of the other series, and I actually liked the sort of ‘discovering the history’ of the universe by watching the show farthest in the future first. Watching the older stuff lets you see references and technological and cultural evolution in Frontier, but it’s definitely not necessary.
I say Macross F but I voted Miracle Train in hopes you actually will watch it. Is that Someday’s Dreamers: Summer Skies you are talking about or just Someday’s Dreamers. The screenshot looks to be from Summer Skies.
Macross F I would say go for just for some yoko Kanno goodness and some enjoyable song and dance routines. It certainly has it’s moments.
Someday’s Dreamers: Natsu no Sora — if you just watch like 1 episode in a blue moon before bed it can be a nice soothing show. That’s how I got through Mushishi. The OST for Natsu no Sora is really good some of Haketa Takafumi’s best work. Only one or two episodes follow an actual multi episode plot.
Miracle Train for the lulz. I can’t phrase it any other way. Some secret part of me believes they know just how ridiculous the show is. It was also actually kind of funny intentionally a few times as well. The final plot arc was kinda boring for me tho. It’s only 1cour so eh.
I personally want to pick up Michiko e Hatchin again. I woulda finished it but those few people who subbed it had it in an HD format I couldn’t watch on my puny laptop.
lol Miracle Train isn’t that bad but it is totally and i mean TOTALLY aimed at girls.
Michiko to Hatchin is a great show and entertaining so i vote for that one.
I still need to get around to Macross Frontier as that’s the last Macross I have to finish
Miracle Train has one good episode.
The episode where they accidentially pick up a male passenger, and they’re all like WTF to do. It was amazing.
Heh, unfair comparisons.
Macross F is pretty much already a must-watch modern classic. Donno about Michiko, but the other ones simply aren’t your genres [shrug].
*votes Miracle Train to spite the request*
Wait, don’t kill me, I didn’t really…!
Seeing as I’m only vaguely familiar with all of these, I voted Macross Frontier, since I kind of think I should watch that too, and I wouldn’t mind seeing what you had to say about it. Fufufu.
Macross F definately — although I’m utterly biased as I currently have it in my Top 10 mecha series. Its shiny and fun — plus the soundtrack is ridiculously catchy, I listen to it when I want cheering up after a crappy day at work.
Haven’t seen Mahoromatic or Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto — not particularly interested in them either. I don’t do well with slice-of-life at all.…..and know that I’m hopeless since I just found ARIA ‘meh’.
Michiko to Hatchin was all about the style, there isnt a whole lot of substance beyond that. Its still worth a look though — its got some really great episodes in the later half.
Miracle Train — now I actually watched all of it purely for the voice cast.…..it was just lulz, especially when it started attempting to have a plot!
Miracle Train…some anime should be dropped forever.
I’ve never seen Michiko to Hatchin, but from what I remember, it’s been rated higher than it probably should’ve been because it came out during a slow season.
Macross Frontier is the only one on the list I’ve seen. It has a fair mix of stupid parts and awesome parts. Consider rewatching it, but don’t make it a priority.
Yes! No anime is dropped forever returns!
Awwww…Scamp, Miracle Train’s genius. It is a series you JUST have to stick with, as it sucks at first, but then it all comes together in a moving…okay, okay, I’m kidding.
And stained armpits? Ew. Just ew. At least on the blogsphere, you don’t see people’s stains.
…actually, I believe in hygiene.
I actually enjoyed Michiko et Hatchin though I admit the ending wasn’t great. Did Michiko really irritate you that much? I thought she was pretty… cool (haha).
Trust me Mitchiko and Hatchin has,flat out, one of the best villains in satoshi batista and the episodes become more fun as the two get used to each other.
Miracle Train…I think the only reason I got through that series is because I was also cleaning manga at the same time on a different monitor. It was kinda-almost-sorta-not really-amusing, but definitely not worth the time/effort unless you REALLY want to watch it. >_>;;
I picked up Macross Frontier when it was halfway done its run, so I marathoned through the first 12 or so episodes. I can’t really comment much on the pacing either, since it bowled through that much. In the end, it was a solid series — the love triangle it set up became horribly slanted though. Though, for the most part, I stuck with it because of it’s music. ^-^;;
Mahoromatic… dropped… yeah, you haven’t missed anything.
When you say “Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto”, do you mean the first season or the second season? Because that screenshot was from the second season. Both series are dull, and this is coming from someone who really likes serious slice-of-life. Coincidentally, the second season was directed by the same guy who did Beck (which is brilliant), but it devolves into some rather pointless forced drama later on, and I didn’t find it too engaging. If you’re a fan of the genre (which you’re clearly not) it’s passable… otherwise, there are better examples of what makes the slice-of-life genre so good elsewhere.
I agree with EO; Macross Frontier takes a bit to pick up, but it’s pretty cool when it does. Not mind-blowing (though maybe I’d have a higher opinion of it with more Macross experience), but good.
BUT MIRACLE TRAIN IS AMAZ –shot–
I’d vote for Macross Frontier. I haven’t actually watched that many episodes, but the soundtrack rocks~
Miracle Train is a one if I’ve ever seen one. I skipped through the first episode, and even just that made me want to punch something really really really really really hard.
That being said, my interest has been piqued in Michiko to Hatchin.
Ah I’d forgotten how well these posts rack up the hits and the comments. It’s also strange how its the same people as well. It’s very similar to how the same people show up for one set of episodics
It looks like Macross Frontier is the victor this time around unless someone suddenly decides to flood vote Miracle Train or something.
Re: which Mahou Tsukai version? The 2008 ‘sequel’ that wasn’t really a sequel at all. I never knew there was another version until I looked it up on MAL
@ExecutiveOtaku
My knowledge of the two big mecha franchises are terrible. In fact I’m terrible when it comes to most anime franchises because I’m afraid to start something so massive. I’ve still only watched Gundam 00 out of all the Gundams and the only anime I’ve watched for more than 60 episodes are Monster and Gintama.
@Taka
I honestly can’t remember the music from Frontier. I think that was before I knew the name of Yokko Kanno (yes, there was a time!). Strangely I think it was Last Exile that first brought the name of Yokko Kanno to light for me. It was only then did I start to notice how many of the best soundtracks she did
@chii
totally aimed at girls
So is Hetalia
@luffyluffy
Seriously? Haha, I really have the urge to watch that episode now
@Aorii
The idea of a modern classic is something I’m finding really bizarre to experience. The idea that I watched an anime weekly that goes down in anime history as a classic that people cite as something everyone should watch in their anime lifetime, it just feels strange for some reason. I guess it’s just the mindset of a youtube generation member is that everything has already aired, I’m just playing catch-up
@mefloraine
I’m not sure what I would have done if Miracle Train won. Probably ignored it. Or drunk lots of alcohol while watching it
@Caraniel
You only thought Aria was meh? There are hoards of angry fanboys baying for your blood at the mention of that atrocity
@Baka-Raptor
Just flicking back through that seasons’ preview, it was actually a very solid season. Toradora, Casshern Sins, One Outs, Kannagi, Gundam 00 2, Clannad After Story, Nodame Paris, Index. Yup, there was a very good mix of anime that season so I don’t think you can pin the hype on that
@Jannette
At least on the blogsphere, you don’t see people’s stains.
I’m going to have to remember that quote
@blindability
My irritation with Michiko came from how irresponsable she was. I was hoping for some badass Mugen-esque character: dumb but someone you could aspire to. Michiko was weak-willed at that really got to me for some reason
@Gunslinger
Better than Johan Liebert? Not possible
@miken-chan
The music again eh? The draw of Yokko Kanno is really quite phenomenal. There’s still quite a few series with her name attached that I’ve yet to watch. Gotta watch me some Wolfs Rain sometime soon
@Sorrow-kun
I’m surprised at the lack of people talking about Mahoromatic. I thought that series had a lot of fans?
You know, I do like slice of life. I just don’t love the genre.
well yah yohan was seriously scary , more like psycho scary, but satoshi kinda oozes danger and really he is so much direct in this series. His charecter development is also quite good,he’s just not some super psychotic genius.
@ Scamp: Well ‘meh’ and ‘nice’. Aria kind of washed over me — I so don’t get why people seem to worship that series — nothing really happens. Its nice looking I suppose.…hmmm. Think I enjoy watching stuff blow up a bit too much to appreciate something as sedate as Aria
Someday’s Dreamers: Summer Skies was an anime I enormously enjoyed. With much in common with Beck and Paradise Kiss, I like the grounded, set-in-real-life perspective the narratives take into their shows. All three could easily be made into live action with hardly any changes, but I appreciate that anime doesn’t have to be so “anime LOLs!!” to deliver great moods and stories.
There’s a fine line between something that’s tranquil and soothing, and something that’s boring and dull. The s’life connoisseur is keenly in tune to that subtle difference so he can separate the good from the rest. That said, I recognize s’life is and always will be a niche genre. You have to watch “humorless s’life” differently than most every other shows, and a lot of people just don’t want from their entertainment of choice what s’life offers.
Macross Frontier seemed okay. I didn’t watch it, but I like the music.
Oh, Miracle Train. I’ve seem the bits of the first episode, it’s…uh…plain. There’s an gag manga coming up about personifications of HOLIDAYS. You heard me right! http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009–10-28/calendar-boy-manga-based-on-national-holidays Looks like Hetalia started a trend.
Wait til you see a manga about bishounen boys as goverment branchers around the worldDamn, late to the party.
I haven’t finished any of these. I got halfway through Michiko e Hatchin before internet problems stopped me from continuing it. I have the same problems with it as you; I find Michiko annoying at times, and perhaps my expectations were too high (Champloo is my fav anime after all).
I voted Michiko, but it looks like that will remain dropped for a while longer. I’m not interested in the mecha genre right now, so Macross is a no for me. Miracle Train? Lolololololololololol*shot*
@Caraniel
I think I’m gonna have to write a review on Aria when I finally get around to it. It really feels like there’s only one area of fandom that ever talks about it
@kadian1364
I can enjoy slice of life though! It’s not my preffered genre but at the same time it’s not like I actively dislike it like shojo. I know you’re not saying I don’t but it feels sometimes with these comments that the world is divided into like and dislike. I like action. I dislike shojo. I’m in the middle with s’life
@Maya
Yup, and then there’s starry sky, an anime about the zodiac characters turned into beatiful bishies. What have you done Hetalia!
@BlueYoshi
Get yo-self a google reader!
http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html
And never fall behind again!
The problem I found with MtH is that everytime I try lower my expectations there comes 5 minute scene that’s really good and I think ‘aha, here we go!’ only to turn crap again very quickly. It got immensly frustrating