Rank	Anime	Studio	Episode	Change
1	Sakamichi no Apollon	Tezuka Productions	1	New
2	Tsuritama	A-1 Pictures	1	New
3	Fate/Zero 2	ufotable	2	–
4	Uchuu Kyoudai	A-1 Pictures	2	3
5	Lupin the Third: Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna	TMS Entertainment	2	3

On the cusp: Mirai Nikki, Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, Nazo no Kanojo X (3), Jormungand, Shirokuma Cafe (6)

Last week’s results, about the Anime Power Rankings

I know only the top 5 of this make the official ballot, but I put all 19 in because I think if this were any week in the winter I would have put any of the top 14 in and been happy. This was easily the best single week of shows I’ve watched in the last 3 years and probably longer.

Emperor J (Lower Mid-Table)

This week saw the beginning of what will undoubtedly be one of the strongest seasons in recent history. While last season was full of desperation and clinging to the few shows that appeared entertaining, this season is characterized by a cornucopia of watchable anime. I’ve began losing track of all the anime that I look forward to every week. This week has been especially bloody, with really promising anime like Eureka Seven AO, Sankarea, and veteran Mouretsu Uchuu Kaizoku not even making the top 10. Despite a record number of participants voting this week, Medaka Box received zero points. Meanwhile, the two noitaminA shows this season have obviously gotten off to a spectacular start.

…the noitaminA pair hit the sweet spot this week with a pair of debuts that hit on similar territory in different, interesting ways. I slightly prefer the colorful, crazy style in Tsuritama (for now), but Sakamichi no Apollon’s cool, down to earth style is good, too. It actually uses its background music intelligently! My heart is all dokidoki~

Shinmaru (Unmei Kaihen)

I was really impressed by Sakamichi no Apollon‘s opening theme. It was visually stunning with a great song. While the main character annoyed me slightly, he is at least interesting. I eagerly look forward to some hardcore jazz and character development in this coming season.

It’s noitaminA back in action with one hell of a colorful show. I’m not usually one to care about animation itself, but when it’s done and implemented in the ways that Tsuritama did, I can’t help but admire it. It also helps that it gave us some very interesting characters that I’m curious to see more of.

Riyoga (Riyoga’s Ramblings)

 

At first I was a little confused as to why Sanada was suddenly plunged underwater in the middle of the classroom like that but, then I was all like, “Ooh, it’s a visual metaphor representing the drowning feeling he experiences whenever faced with an uncomfortable social situation, very clever.”

Ty-chama (Watashi wa bucho!!)

This week’s Fate/Zero 2 was also riveting. Between Berserker and Archer dogfighting like a History Channel documentary and Saber unleashing the fury of hell, this show is just damn cool. I always wondered how Fate/Stay Night could make history’s greatest warriors fighting with magic seem so boring. Fate/Zero is how it was supposed to be done the first time.

Tis’ the season of many, many flip-flopping! There are a ton of good to great shows this Spring, meaning all the hype coming in has currently been justified. Let’s just say any anime that makes the power rankings one week might disappear the next, and any on the cusp could be in the rankings next week! Heck, an anime not on either one week can make it the next. Seems like fun times are ahead this Spring!

Justin (Organization of Anti-Social Geniuses)

Notes

For the second week in a row, the scoring record has been broken. Additionally, this week’s episode of Sakamichi no Apollon became the first episode to receive more than 100 points.

psgels (Star Crossed Anime Blog) won APR bingo this week — his ballot for this week contained all 5 top anime.

I have received generally positive feedback concerning my clarification of how episode numbers work.  The episode number reflects the progress of a show as of Saturday in Japan. Two anime that air on Sunday morning in Japan are also “moved up” because they air early enough to have subs available and give voters plenty of time to watch them by the voting deadline. These anime are Mouretsu Uchuu Kaizoku and Nazo no Kanojo X. As of this week Uchuu Kyoudai will not be “moved up” a week. Fate/Zero technically airs 1 minute before midnight on Saturday, so it is not counted as an anime that is “moved up”.

Starting this week, Fate/Zero 2 will be known as Fate/Zero, and the episode number will be adjusted accordingly. Next week’s episode will be known as Fate/Zero episode 16.

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