Viper's Creed

Description on AnimeDB.net

Viper's Creed is an unexpected treat for me this season. There is action, none of the characters get on my nerves (flags set off by meddling Sakurako have been taken down by the third episode) and each episode looks to have some direction. It's not some episodic mecha that gets high and mighty defending the universe or saving mankind. I'm three episodes in and I have to say the third episode has won me over, and I'm filling up my playlist with the available rest of the series.

The episodes zippily introduce us to the main handful of characters, who are part of a company-owned unit that earns money by the types of trash they are contracted to bring in/take down. For example, the "trash" can be a few mechas sent out by rebel groups that just go berserk and attack or destroy things that our characters are paid to fetch or stop. There is action, sure, but there is also the interest that is stirred up between the public, these hired guns, the rebel groups and the environmental situation that the city is in (kinda screwed, so they built roads).

The main character, Saiki, with an eyepatch and a history is enough for me to watch these episodes. He puts people in their place and doesn't bother me at all with his aloof ways. He's the kinda guy I'd like to have guarding my city. The "other" character is Sakurako, his operator that he "technically" needs to have hanging around at work, but we just use her to find out more about Saiki.

If your playlist is shallow this season, give Viper's Creed a try. It's not too deep, not too simple, and it has room to get even better, once you see that the Viper group isn't just as plain as they seem. If you are missing a little action and a little big of CG mecha, you'll get some doses with this one. The mechas are really cool. They can skate and transform into branded bikes, it's the dream!

I had a hard time with recommendations because I tried to think of mecha-infused anime that had more political influences and character-driven stories. I don't keep interest with political-driven animes with military factions at each other's necks, but have watched a few episodes of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, which might be a good fit. I didn't finish it or really watch it, so I can't fully recommend it. I will probably return to finish it someday.

Recommendations:

• Gun X Sword...main guy controls big mecha and doesn't talk much, chatty younger gal tags along asking questions, more comedy, "western" feel
  
• Eureka Seven...transforming mecha with a little personality, some "bigger than us" philosophy, young couple and their rebel sky-high "family" face challenges
  
• Neo Genesis Evangelion...young man asked to pilot a mecha, his life is turned upside down, works to accept huge responsibility to protect others

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Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou

Description on AnimeDB.net

Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou is the second season of a great series that follows the story of young Natsume, his "bodyguard" Nyanko-sensei, and the youkai that they gets tangled up with, regardless of the Yuujinchou/Book of Friends' involvement.

For those who have seen the first season and wondered if it's the same, yes, it's pretty much the same great stuff. You won't see too many wierd arcs or new directions taken with this second series. You'll get to see new youkai and some exciting interaction with less cooperative ones that give Natsume a pain in the neck, or put him in danger.

His friends and family don't have much to do with the stories, but are a welcome appearance because otherwise we'd be stuck with a crazy loner and his cat (just kidding). They make him a little more human. We're treated to a few "appearances" by his late grandmother via flashbacks and it's great to see the contrast with how each dealt with the ability to interact with youkai and what each did with it.

The summer feel is dropped for more cold-weather episodes that appear to take place in fall and winter.

I'm currently nine episodes in, and I am happy to watch the rest of the season with interest. The opening and ending themes are both pretty good, but I miss the ending music theme that I loved so much from the first season.

If you haven't seen the first season, it's still enjoyable and understandable to watch starting from season two. I'd still go back to watch the first season, because knowing where Nyanko-sensei came from can only add to his charm and how they interact in this second season.

Recommendations:

• Natsume Yuujinchou...the first season, shows how the characters meet and what the deal is with that book (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Earl and Fairy...more romance, chivalry and action involving folklore and a fairy doctor to guide the way
  
• Telepathy Shoujo Ran...helping creatures and spirits with their powers, a mismatched duo uncover mysteries with a light heart
  
• Inu Yasha...more youkai, more characters and more action and romance, popular with kids old enough to see some blood

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Himitsu: The Revelation

Description on AnimeDB.net

Himitsu: The Revelation seems simple enough, and if you can get over the initial believability bump -- Solving crimes using the brains of the deceased. Sounds a bit like Pushing Daisies, but this series uses the brains and refers to their use with more technology and computers, rather than supernatural reason. Just that bit of difference introduces differently types of challenges that the Section Nine team (a special team assembled to deal with this form of research for police investigations) have to deal with.

It's not just "let's look in his brain and we can see who dunnit". The brain has to be intact, retrieved within a certain amount of time, the victim's family has to release the brain, they can only retrieve the visuals (no audio), and there's the obvious weird fact that to solve a victim's mystery, they're basically taking a little something that was otherwise going to go into a coffin/urn with the rest of the body.

This anime doesn't focus too much on how they do it, but more about how they use it to solve these mysteries. It's incredibly interesting how it seems the series could just be the same scenario over and over again, but different scenarios are quickly delved into, skipping parts you are familiar with and really getting down to business. Later on, there is a tad more of the team's members and also the past behind the section leader.

One big draw is being able to see into the minds of victim's last moments, and sometimes seeing into the minds of killers. It can get violent, bloody or graphic quickly, so this one isn't to watch with the kids. Give it a try if you're not afraid to get into some crime-scene-like messy memories, and see how Section Nine can overcome the challenges of the technology and others involved in the cases.

Recommendations:

• Shigofumi...psychological messes can be uncovered in even the simple anime premises of letters from the dead
  
• Antique Bakery...a little more comedy and pastries, but the underlying mystery is there (See Anime Spotlight)
• Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo...less mystery, more action, and some strange cases tackled by a sassy protagonist and her right-hand man (See Anime Spotlight)
• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro...comedy, otherworldy creatures and finishing moves aid a young pawn and the demon that guides her through juicy mysteries (See Anime Spotlight)
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...before the sun rises, a rich family at each others' necks over an inheritance must solve a riddling epitaph or become the victims of a mercilous witch (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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