[Fall 2010 Anime] OP/ED Overview Part 2

Fall 2010 Anime: OP/ED Quick Impression Part II

I didn’t think I’d get the chance to continue with this little review but here I am with the 2nd Part of my Autumn anime op/ed run through. Again, the selections are based on what I’ve watched and naturally, it’s not everything. Of this batch, there are some likable ones but that’s just it, really. More of the same and none too memorable except for an old Ghibli classic. I also included the new sets of op/ed from the continuing Summer anime that had premiered their new themes in Fall. Um yeah, loved Shiki’s new op/ed combo. Too bad, no Shiki episode this week. It’s back on air again next week. 😉

Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai ED – Koi no Shirushi
Artist: Ayana Taketatsu
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Hmm, I don’t really feel much for this ED at all. It’s just so-so among a batch of average sounding themes. 

Oreimo OP – Irony
Artist: Claris
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Well now, ‘Irony’ doesn’t sound all that ironic. On the contrary, it is a very bubbly j-pop tune that is quite a fitting theme for ‘Oreimo’ given the lead character’s chirpiness and flare for fluorescent nail polish *lol*. The opening animation reflects just that. Nothing too special.

Preview the full song ‘Irony‘ here.
Love it, Buy it at: cdjapan, yesasia

Shinryaku! Ika Musume OP – Shinryaku no Susume☆
Artist: ULTRA-PRISM
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Another show with a moe character. Squid Girl OP is…how shall I put it… annoyingly cute, kiddy-like theme song. None of the VAs singing it are kiddies. They just pretend to sound like one. The visuals complement the theme but ya, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.

Shinryaku! Ika Musume ED – Metamarism
Artist: Kanae Ito
Vodpod videos no longer available.
I do not like Kanae Ito’s singing. It sounds like she’s trying too hard to stay in character and came off sounding terrible. ED visuals aren’t much either.

Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru OP – DOWN TOWN
Artist: Maaya Sakamoto
Vodpod videos no longer available.
You gotta love Maaya’s double A-side single which includes the intro themes to both ‘Soredemo’ and ‘Tamayura’. I know I’ve gone on about how much I enjoyed KiKi’s ED theme ‘Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara‘ which Maaya covered as the opening theme for ‘Tamayura’. Maaya’s breezy interpretation is simply lovely especially when backed by Depapepe’s deft acoustic arrangement. I love the instrumental interlude where Depapepe shines with their melodic guitars. It’s quite a contrast from ‘Soredemo’s OP ‘Down Town‘ which has a ‘show-tune’ arrangement. It’s a cute, playful song which is further complemented by the animation visuals where the casts perform a show and dance routine on stage. I thought that was brilliant. This made Soredemo’s OP one of my favourites from the Fall season. There’s also a 3rd vocal track on the single titled ‘Kanashikute Yarikirenai‘, an old Japanese song from way back when. Maaya’s introspective jazz rendition is such an enjoyable listen. All in all, a worthy single from Maaya.

Preview the full version of ‘Down Town‘ here and Tamayura’s OP ‘Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara‘, here.
Love it, Buy it at: cdjapan, yesasia

Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru ED – Maze Sanjou!
Artist: Maze
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Whoa, the ED animation sequence are just hilarious but the song and the singing…borders between drunk funny and atrocious. Yup. Enka-rock anyone?

To Aru Majutsu no Index II OP – No Buts!
Artist: Mami Kawada
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Ha, remember PSI-missing by Mami Kawada? Well, she’s back singing yet another OP song for Index II and this one is called ‘No Buts!‘ which I initially misread as ‘No Butts’…ehehehe! Imo, this one isn’t as good as ‘PSI-missing’ but still works well with Index intro sequence that is similar to Season 1.

To Aru Majutsu no Index II ED – Magic∞world
Artist: Maon Kurosaki
Vodpod videos no longer available.
I clearly prefer Index ED theme ‘Magic World‘ which could easily stands as an OP theme. It’s stronger and edgier of the two. The outro visuals are much like the intro’s.

Yosuga no Sora OP – Hiyoku no Hane
Artist: eufonius
Vodpod videos no longer available.
I don’t necessarily like every single song from ‘eufonius‘. ‘Hiyoku no Hane‘ comes off rather average and sounds similar to a song they contributed to ‘Munto‘. ‘Reflectia‘ is still my favorite song from them. The best bit of the opening visuals is where the twins ride on the bike against the blue sky backdrop. Other than that, not much.

Yosuga no Sora ED – Pinky Jones
Artist: Momoiro Clover
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Hah! This is another one of those idol group singing effort where they all try to sound their cutest best. (@_@) The chibi forms of the cast are cute though.

Alright, we’re now on to the new sets of op/ed themes for continuing series from Summer.

Nurarihyon no Mago OP2 – Sunshine
Artist: Monkey Majik
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Despite it’s title, ‘Sunshine‘ isn’t as catchy and vibrant as ‘Fast Forward‘, Monkey Majik‘s 1st OP theme for ‘Nurarihyon’. In fact, ‘Sunshine’ is quite a laid back song which I reckon is fitting in projecting the mood for the 2nd half of the series as the lead character shows his growing acceptance of his ‘Nura’ half. However, I thought the song doesn’t fit part of OP visuals or vice- versa.

Nurarihyon no Mago ED2 – Symphonic☆Dream
Artist: Katate Size
Vodpod videos no longer available.
I always thought the 1st outro sequence as cute and freaky with the dancing chibis. Well, ED2 is more of the same and even freakier 😆 and the theme is catchier than the 1st one too.

Shiki OP2 – Calendula Requiem
Artist: Kanon x Kanon
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Notwithstanding the awesome animation visuals, ‘Calendula Requiem‘ does not exactly cut it as an OP theme. Wish it sounded more edgier to fit in with the visuals more, much like what ‘Buck-Tick‘ did with their OP contribution ‘Kuchizuke‘. Now, that one was so much win. The song on its own is listenable, a mix of classical pop & j-pop.

Shiki ED2 – Gekka Reijin
Artist: BUCK-TICK
Vodpod videos no longer available.
The ED theme I love! ‘Gekka Reijin‘ works much better with the animation sequence, haunting and fill with a sense of hopelessness. Well, I’m probably biased because I love Buck-Tick‘s musical contribution to anime-music thus far. (^o^)
Preview the whole song ‘Gekka Reijin‘ here.
Love it, Buy it at: cdjapan, yesasia

So that brings me to the end of my rather short look at the Fall OP/ED. What will the Winter batch bring in? Let’s wait and see.