Summer 2012 Anime Season Thread.

[Cantih]

So, I've just gotten around to finishing Campione.

It's not horrible, but it's not excellent. Not enough development, a little too light and silly, and yeah, that bit of ep 12 was dumb. I haven't and don't plan to read the LN, but I think there was a degree of mucking about done.
That said, it WAS better done than Daimaou. The handling of the non-mainstream bits of mythology was done well enough.

Also, I'm not going to try and start watching Arcana Famiglia again. Interesting concept, but the execution is just, meh. It's not even bad.

[Cantih]

Ok, finished Horizon S2 now.

This show is indefensible. The pacing is wonky (even though it's now clear the show is in it for the long run), there's a severe lack of exposition (not everyone can piece things together, and apparently the light novels aren't light, the second one is as big at LotR, so it was a near impossible task), it's a kitchen sink, and often utterly ridiculous.

But god damn it, it's fun. It has it's good and awesome moments, the strategic jockeying, some of the fights.
And Toori is just such an amazing retard.

Onward to season 3!

[Zilong]

i still can't get over the whole bullshit of the first season's finale being resolved via bugs bunny's duck season wabbit season gambit

[Cantih]

And now I'm through with Oda Nobuna no Yabou. (I'm in a binge mood.)

I can't really compare it to sengoku shows, or genderflip shows (like Koihime Musou, Sengoku Otome) since I haven't really watched them. And I'm not enough of a history buff to speak to the events. But on it's own, it stands up. The characters are good enough (though a few could use more development), Sagara has a good balance of being both a boss and a buttmonkey. Silliness and fanservice is present, but it doesn't overpower and kill the show. Pacing is fine, and the visual quality is good.

Also

Spoiler: show

Trap reveal transition to reverse-trap double reveal surprise, did not expect that.

And it needs to be said
SUBMIT TO THE BUST OF SHIBATA KATSUIE, ITS MIGHT IS SUCH THAT EVEN METAL YIELDS BEFORE IT.

It's an absolutely solid series, at least Ben-To good (but not Fate or Katanagatari good).

[Cantih]

Rinne no Lagrange cleared.

It's better than Campione, but I don't want to say it's as good as Nobuna (in some ways it is, or better even, though some of it comes from what it takes to be a full season show), however there isn't really anything wrong with it.
As one of those shows where friendship and good intentions triumph over all it was always going to be hokey and not quite truly great. There were some passes at being serious, but it never really went full for it, so it didn't end up as a trainwreck like Guilty Crown did. The split season kind of hurt it, the plot and run time used to tie up S1 and start up S2 could have been used for better things.
It's a watchable show though, once you start you can easily keep going. The production value was good, and the 3DCG does need to be complimented, it wasn't that horrible jerky type you get at times (like with that Iron Man anime, and many older shows).

Binbougami-ga is the last one for summer, then I just have a few spring shows and I'm caught up for the year (though the backlog remains as imposing as ever).

[Cantih]

Hokay, last one.

Binbougami-ga is a decent comedy, and a quality otaku reference show (though it doesn't quite have the insanity and brilliance of say, Excel Saga).
The main characters are unsympathetic jerkasses, but it is nice to see thoroughly unladylike ladies. The supporting cast is pretty good, Ranmaru pulls quite a bit of weight though.

Also, of all the shows I've seen this season, this one has the catchiest OP and ED.