Rank	Anime (First Place Votes)	Studio	Episode	Change
1	Hyouka (4)	Kyoto Animation	15	1
2	Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita (1)	AIC ASTA	5	1
3	Uchuu Kyoudai (4)	A-1 Pictures	18	3
4	Natsuyuki Rendezvous (6)	Dogakobo	5	1
5	Kokoro Connect (5)	Silver Link	4	1

On the cusp: Binbougami ga!, Yuruyuri ♪♪, Shirokuma Café, TARI TARI, Moyashimon Returns

Last week’s results, about the Anime Power Rankings

This week, Kyoto Animation appears atop the Anime Power Rankings for the first time. Kyoto Animation is the 11th different anime studio to be featured at the #1 spot since the weekly Anime Power Rankings began a little more than a year ago.

Hyouka has grown on me a lot over the last few weeks – I’ve found myself completely reversing my original opinion that the show was shallow and filled with dull, over-used archetypical characters. The way Hyouka has very subtlety built up its characters has been excellent, and this episode was filled with little hints that continue to add new layers to the cast.

Space Bros easily has the most natural and well acted character interaction of any show currently airing, and that really showed in this weeks episode which switched it’s focus to the B-team.  The entire episode was just wonderfully written and acted.

[Natsuyuki Rendezvous] took a turn for the whimsical this week, and I’m not entirely sure if I liked that or not. I did enjoy watching how Shimao coped with being in Hazuki’s body and getting a lot more information on his character, but the whole thing with Hazuki & a tiny fairy Rokka in the sketchbook has me a bit bemused.

Kokoro Connect took a rather disappointing turn into harem territory, where Taichi went around “fixing” the female protagonists. The show still continues to throw out really fascinating questions and issues, but it’s refusal to dwell on them in favor of grooming Taichi as the latest bland MC is somewhat frustrating.

Caraniel (Caraniel’s Ramblings)

Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita fell to second this week after a more reserved episode and surging Hyouka. However, it remains uncannily entertaining and a boatload of fun to watch!

Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita took more of a back seat this episode, as we are not bombed with mountains of jokes, 4th wall breaking, references to yaoi etc… but instead seems to creating the settings for the coming episodes. Still, the comments, reactions, voicing of Watashi continues make this show a joy to watch.

And Olympics preventing me from having my weekly fill of rainbow colored middle-school magical girls and jan ken pon? How dare they!

FNZNA (FNZNA Side Dish)

Uchuu Kyoudai makes a return to the top 5 this week as well.

Aw man! It feels good to catch up to some anime after being away from it consistently. Now that I’m all caught up, I’m still pretty much enjoying all that Space Bros has to offer. The drama with the exam is well executed; Episode 18 however, mostly makes the episode about Kenji and his decision whether to really continue becoming an astronaut. There hadn’t been quite the level of focus on Kenji before Ep 18, and when it did, we got to see his side of the story, and not only did it provide some laughs, but it also provided some heartfelt emotion. Deciding to become an astronaut while knowing you won’t get to see your family again is a decision one must think of carefully. Kenji knew the risks already; but thanks to the “prodding” of a fellow team member and the green card issue, the risks all became magnified, and I felt thanks to all the building up in the earlier episodes, the impact was felt here. Really good episode.

Justin (Organization of Anti-Social Geniuses)

The more I watch Natsuyuki Rendezvous, the more its heartfelt monologues, believable characterization, and solid dialogue and interaction warms my heart. It’s beginning to give me the “Honey and Clover” tingle down my spine, with its ability to handle comedy and drama competently. Kokoro Connect has stumbled somewhat for its seemingly simplistic handling of character drama by comparison, though there is time yet for it to redeem itself. Jintai continues to be original and intriguing, though not as funny this week due to a more plot-heavy arc, while, for me, Moyashimon finally started regaining its sense of humor. Finally, Tari Tari’s “sad” episode was sensitively directed and relatively restrained, but is wholly unoriginal and predictable.

gendomike (Anime Diet)

Binbougami-ga! climbs to 6th this week, a surprise for one of the more fringe anime this season.

An easy win for Binbougami ga! this week. Aside from one hiccup, the series has been a great source of hilarious physical comedy. Even the drama has been OK rather than straight-out terrible like it is in most comedies. Sakura may be softening, much to my chagrin, but she still has a strong, clear comedic personality and meshes well with the weirdos who surround her.

Shinmaru (The Cart Driver)

 

Sengoku Collection remains a tragically-overlooked gem. Its stories are often at their best when they’re quick of wit and light of heart, but two weeks in a row now it’s shown it can pull off heartfelt emotion just as well. Episode 17 was heartfelt and charming, but 18 is intensely tragic. The somber, oppressive tone, matched with spare direction and a gorgeously-realized setting, is incredibly affecting. Every week, within the space of an episode, Sengoku Collection instills in its characters as much charisma and pathos as many of its peers can manage in entire cours.

8C (Girl Cartoons)

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