Autumn 2013 Thoughts and Clippings and Thoughts: NYCC Edition

Part 1 and Part 2 are what I’m after.

I am going to be at NYCC for a day, just because there are still too many interesting industry guys. Some notes about that at the bottom. First, anime!

The surprise hit of the season at one episode has to be NouCome. Confession: of all the shows I rewatched this new season at this point, only NouCome was done just because. I rewatched parts of Kill La Kill to partake in internet arguments. I rewatched Arpeggio to cap. And that’s it. It’s a riot all the way through. I mean, your mileage will definitely vary but it had me at the handstands. It had me with the TV show in a TV show. It had me with the coodere. It had me with the maggot candy. It had me when the girl fell out of the sky and landed with a bridge. It still had me by the time Kohime was talking it up. I mean, it’s not perfect, but it’s at least a 9. From what I read it is also just the intro part of the first novel that was in episode 1. Well, don’t take my word for it.

There was a weird problem for Crunchyroll viewers with the audio. I’m not sure if it’s because of a surround sound stage issue or what. Listened to it on stereo, it wasn’t as bad as when I was playing it via the PS3 through my surround sound system.

Arpeggio is surprisingly military action stuff. It’s not a fun time at the tankery field but I like how this is serious in a full-of-holes kind of way. Scratches my Guilty Crown itch I guess? Actually it’s just playing up fanservice in the normal way. As much as I enjoyed Vividred Operations that was too much of a fetish in comparison. In a way, despite the extensive use of computer-generated animation and graphics, it felt normal. Well, there were still quite a bit of 2D stuff put on top. So it isn’t all uncanny.

Unbreakable Machine Doll… Yeah. Not bad but not much of a hook for me. Yaya comes off as a fun and slightly appealing character, and that goes a long way. Especially when she is the type of character that “pushes” it.

Yowapeda is a fun show. I like the main guy but I can’t take the rest of the bikers seriously.

Freezing is Freezing. Ironic bonus points for taking place in Alaska.

NoitaminA left! And VVV!

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NYCC 2013 – Generally speaking, this year’s con spells death for NYAF in its entirety. There are still anime-related programming but it’s basically all sponsored material, basically whatever Aniplex, Viz, FUNi or Daisuki is throwing up there. There are actually a cool list of guests from Wikia, featuring some big names. Crypton will be there. Sunrise will be there. Ryu Moto will be there. The usual vendors will be there. Getting a sketch from Ryu Moto/Bkub and GSC’s booth are the two things that excite me at all for NYCC. It’s real sad.

Food: Some local highlights this year include this pretty simple deli near my office on 35th between 7th and 8th. It’s not super special but it’s good stuff for lunch and breakfast. For more special deli stuff, try any of the 9th Ave specialty places. Sergimmo Salumeria is really good, for example. Not a sit-down place though. Well, speaking of Italian, there’s now this to scratch your crazy pizza itch.

If you have a small group and want to go to Ippudo, the Midtown West location is a good choice. But if you have more than 4 in your party then go to one of the larger places, unless you want to wait a while. I haven’t been to Totto in a while, maybe it’s time. Ramen is the one food scene that changed rapidly between last year and this year. So many quality options now.

Anyone up for dinner tonight? LOL.