There are 4 stories listed up there. Therefore, this anime sucks.

“Mahjong Story”, of course, refers to Saki. Sea Story is the English name for Umimonogatari, and Ghostory is the English name for Shinbo’s other work this season, Bakemonogatari. Three of the very popular shows this season showing up here on the board. So let’s walk through with the latest on each of these. Oh right, “Leopard Head Story” is not an anime this season, sorry :/

The last two episodes (15 and 16) of Saki has been some kind of combination of awesome and badass. It really gets into the crazy shonen style mahjong with the yuri kind of repressed into only 2nd most important to dramatic lightning effects and lines like “I WILL BE THE FLOWER BLOOMING ON THE PEAK!” Knowing and playing Japanese mahjong a lot, I know just about every single little nuance in each character’s hands and I usually understand all the crazy strats in the show. Regardless, seeing crazy over the top special effects and the overboard reactions of characters to the events and actions in the game is a strangely savory mixture of hilarity and catharsis. If Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was about mahjong, it would be something a lot like Saki. Episode 16 of Saki was basically purely awesome as Koromo rips the shit out of everyone with her giant mahjong penis and tears people’s still-beating hearts out of their chests in glorious victory. (Ok, not really, because that would be strange even by this show’s standards)

If you are still reading and still have not seen this episode, I have no idea why you are still reading. Any episode with flaming tsumos and lightning rinshan kaihou needs to be watched immediately. The whole episode was basically a roller coaster of intense mahjong action. I knew Koromo was being too quiet in the last episode, so now she unleashes her true inna powah. I would summarize what happened but unfortunately I cannot make my writing spew lightning out of the screen at you.  I’m curious how the show will end from here, namely who wins the tournament and moves into Nationals. Regardless, I’m excited for the next episode, especially after I saw the episode preview.

This is by far the most GAR I have ever seen Saki. Time to go super saiyan.

I snuck into Gonzo’s office last night and learned that in the next episodes there will be a crazy development where all the girls in the show have to team up and play a game of mahjong against alien invaders that decides the fate of the earth itself. There will also be magical transformation scenes and the heart of the tiles. Oh dang I spoiled it.

I’m not caught up to Umimonogatari, sorry. I find the story massive amounts of “not interesting” but I will give this show a watch and see if it gets cool. I’m not the biggest fan of the art but the anime has Horie Yui so I can listen and pretend I’m watching Kanon.

The third episode of Bakemonogatari was basically meh until the end, which had me doubled over laughing. Now that Hitagi no longer has crabs, she stops being a cold hearted bitch spewing awesome one-liners and dissing Araragi, she becomes a strangely mellow bitch spewing awesome one-liners and dissing Araragi. Hitagi is the only reason I would consider fixating the “comedy” genre onto this show. Hitagi feels that she owes Araragi something for introducing her to Oshino and solving her problem. In this episode, character development reveals that Araragi is a bit of a pussy when it comes to women, basically being too scared to take up any of Hitagi’s offerings, despite undoubtedly being attracted to her. Hitagi is a very interesting character herself, and the relationship between our two protagonists will be fruitful. This show also introduces a loli (see left), who has twintails AND fangs. Formulaically, I assume (which is probably a nono with a Shinbo anime) she also has a mysterious problem/power to be fixed. In conclusion, show rules bye.

Oh right. Apparently, we have to wait until freaking August until we can torre- buy the ending theme in stores. What is this evil. Here it is in all its awesome glory, regardless. Fear the awesome piano intro.

The lyrics (in case you have seen this subbed or speak Japanese) are retarded. How can you not find Altair after finding Vega? It’s called the summer triangle for a reason, you know. It’s the “tip” of the triangle, and Deneb should be just as easy to spot. In case anyone is inspired by the anime, it’s summer now and the summer triangle should be high up in the sky (almost overhead) if you’re in a mid-northern latitude. It’s a pretty cool sight, I recommend getting away from bright city lights and taking a gander sometime, maybe while playing this song. Man, I should totally pick up Sora no Manimani and turn this into an anime astronomy blog.