Another season, another post.

Like I said in this post, I’m going to try to review episodes for Summer 2017. However, I will also try to limit myself to 200 words per review to streamline things and tighten up the post. Hopefully I can pull it off.

I’m also going to try to watch a few non-yuri shows, too. Should I do episodic reviews for those series, as well? Please vote in this poll!

But yeah, onto the list, which is sorted from best to worst (in terms of my own expectations). I kind of hate doing it this way, but it certainly makes it easy to know where I stand on these shows, doesn’t it? Since I’m very behind on the Symphogear franchise, I won’t be reviewing this show. Sorry!

Edit: I forgot to include New Game!! oops. Well, there was no PV I could find at the time of this post…

Yuri (Or Possibly Yuri) Shows

Kakegurui

Also known as: Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler; 賭ケグルイ

Summary: Rich kids attend a private school where they learn how to gamble. The winners live like kings while the losers are treated like dirt.

Impression: Thanks to my friend, I at least know that the yuri subtext is really strong. The fact that the narrative revolves around gambling could be interesting, too. After all, many people break down when gambling is involved. This could lead to some very memorable moments. What kind of twisted mindset do characters have to develop in order to thrive in such an environment? I guess we’ll find out.

Princess Principal

Also known as: プリンセス・プリンシパル

Summary: Five highschool girls become involved with spy activities that involve disguises, infiltrations, car chases, etc.

Impression: It seems very atmospheric like most shows that are set in 19th century Europe. It’s also an anime original that’s animated by Studio 3Hz, the studio behind Flip Flappers. Maybe this project will fare better. Yuri levels remain unknown.

Netsuzou TRap

Also known as: 捏造トラップ―NTR―

Summary: Two childhood friends end up fooling around with other despite the fact they both have boyfriends.

Impression: Hm. I am reading the manga but I’m just not a fan of netorare/NTR as a whole. Because this series is essentially cuckolding, alright? You know, when a girl cheats on her boyfriend with someone else. Except this time it’s with a childhood friend. And the childhood friend is doing it, too. The author has confessed that she’s very fond of these messy situations that wouldn’t be out-of-place in a racy soap opera and that’s what you’re getting here.

The yuri is obviously very prominent, but I don’t know. It all just seems off to me. What happened to characters not rushing it with the intimate activities? The girls just jump into those straight away. Call me a boring, vanilla guy, but I don’t like how I think this show is caught between Sin: Nanatsu no Taizai and Sakura Trick with all of these seemingly pointless instances of kissing and fingering.

Battle Girl High School: Battle Girl Project

Also known as: バトルガール ハイスクール BATTLE GIRL PROJECT

Summary: highschool girls fight these monsters that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Impression: it’s based on this Japanese RPG. Both the premises and the title seem to lack originality but I could be wrong. Also we’re introduced to 15 girls in this PV alone. While we have seen schoolgirl shows with a large character cast succeed (Girls und Panzer and Hai-Furi!, for instance), we have also seen shows that received a more mixed reception (such as Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku). Will Battle Girl High School belong with the former or the latter? Yuri levels remain unknown.

Centaur no Nayami

Also known as: Centaur’s Worries; セントールの悩み

Summary: In a school where all the students are supernatural creatures, a shy and sweet centaur has fun with her friends.

Impression: Another schoolgirl SoL anime but with a gimmick. The kiss in the PV gives me life. The PV also lets us know there will be at least a little fanservice. But my hopes are not that high for this show.

Action Heroine Cheer Fruits

Also known as: アクションヒロイン チアフルーツ

Summary: Nine highschool girls attempt to become local heroines and produce “action live events.”

Impression: Apparently the manga is going to start being published a month before the anime airs. So I guess both the manga and anime are going to work together to create a coherent series? Other than that, it’s another SoL series. Yuri levels remain unknown.

Hina Logi ~from Luck & Logic~

Also known as: ひなろじ~from Luck & Logic~

Summary: A pure princess attends a school that trains Localists, who help defend the world.

Impression: It’s a sequel to Luck & Logic, which was based on a trading card game. Admittedly, Luck & Logic had a fair amount of yuri, but the show was pretty terrible. I didn’t even bother putting a review for Luck & Logic up on The Lily Garden, which probably says a lot. I don’t have much hope for this show, either. Even though I’m on the fence about this, I might just give this a hard pass.

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Non-Yuri Shows

Knight’s & Magic

Also known as: Knight’s and Magic; ナイツ&マジック

Summary: An isekai series where the world features mecha and magic.

Impression: I’m a lowkey fan of mecha shows. Especially when they’re not using guns over and over (I did like Code Geass). I’m not against isekai shows. So sign me up?

Ballroom e Youkoso

Also known as: Welcome to the Ballroom; ボールルームへようこそ

Summary: A complete novice stumbles into the world of competitive ballroom dance.

Impression: A shy boy with a skewed mindset and confidence problems? Maybe Ballroom e Youkoso could be the next Sangatsu no Lion or Yuri!!! on ICE. There’s a lot of drama, I’ve heard, and a lot of potential analysis about gender to be had with the inherent system of ballroom dancing. There’s also 4 PVs out! I’m showing this one because it introduces characters that don’t show up in the other PVs.

Tsurezure Children

Also known as: Tsure*Dure Children; Tsuredure Children; 徒然チルドレン

Summary: Clumsy depictions of young love that is chock full of misunderstandings and blotched confessions.

Impression: I’ve been following this 4koma for over 3 years. It’s pretty funny, but I’m worried about its transition to the anime medium. Apparently it’s also 15 minutes per episode!

Fate/Apocrypha

Also known as:  Fate/Apocrypha (the same)

Summary: Anothe Fate spin-off.

Impression: Based on a light novel. I’ve kind of spoiled myself for this series and I’m actually mildly impressed with the angsty complex characters. I’m not exactly caught up on every Fate series, but I don’t hate the franchise too much so I guess I’m for it.