Girlish Number Episode #07 Anime Review

Your father's not always going to be well, you know.

What They Say:

No one wants to get stuck in a boring profession, so when college student Chitose Karasuma storms into a voice acting training facility, she thinks that her future is poised for awesomeness. However, this bad-mannered beauty is in for more than she bargained for as she gets accepted into the talent agency “Number One Produce.” Together with her coworkers, including a girl with a Kansai accent and a cunning airhead, Chitose charges into the competitive world of professional voice acting.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of this review may contain spoilers)

After last week's episode ended with Kazuha slipping into an alcohol-induced coma, this week's episode picks off the same exact way! And what makes being drunk for an entire week even better? A sporadic visit from your mother! Once Kazuha returns home (Escorted by Momoka and Chitose), she's unable to find the key to her apartment. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, good ole' mama-san shows up and welcomes the three girls inside. After saying a bunch of mom-like things like, "Where are the tea cups you use for guests?" Momoka and Chitose leave and Kazuha is left to fend off her mother all by her inebriated self. It's immediately evident that the reason Shibasaki has been so off-putting of her mother is simply because said mother is such a...well, mother.

The next day begins just like all of the others -- our heroines are promoting Kusure with yet another fan-oriented segment. This time, however, Shibasaki's mother tags along as well. The only catch is that she wasn't necessarily invited. Now, the conflict becomes the difficult task of Kazuha hiding her embarrassment while performing in front of her mom. Of course, this doesn't work, but Shibasaki trudges through anyway because she's such a professional. That is until her father's disapproval of the swimsuit shoot is brought up. And who is better to soothe the worries of a concerned father than...Kuzu-P? Oh god, this isn't going to end well.

And, of course, it doesn't end well.

In order to remedy this entire scenario, the Kusure staff devises a plan to send Shibasaki back home in order to smooth things over. This seems like a completely normal, logical plan...until Kuzu-P decides that it would be best if he came as well. And with Shibasaki's home city being the hot spring capital of Japan, you can bet your bottom dollar that Chitose wants to come as well. And thus begins Operation: Meet Shibasaki's Dad. Unfortunately for us, that's going to have to wait until next week.

On the opposite side of the playing field, things for Momoka aren't going all that well either. Anytime anyone even mentions parental relationships, you can basically feel her cringe. The thing is, the relationship she actually has with her mother isn't necessarily a bad one. I think Momoka's problem is that she wants more of a relationship. Throughout all of her life, Momoka has viewed her mother as not only a star but a sort of consult for her own seiyuu-related doings when all she really wants is just a mother. It isn't the whole 'living in her shadow' thing after all. She simply wants her mother to treat her like a daughter and not another professional voice actor.

In Summary:

This incredibly mom-oriented episode of Girlish Number successfully furthers character development for both Shibasaki and Momoka. With Shibasaki's family being remarkably traditional and Momoka's family being remarkably untraditional, we get to see two completely different sides of the seiyuu-spectrum that ultimately winds up shaping a consistently entertaining and diverse seventh episode. As is the norm for most recent industry-based anime, the characters of Girlish Number are going to be the driving force for the success of the series. Considering how much care is being put into each of the heroines' backstories (With Yae and Koto still on the backburner), I'm very excited to see more Girlish Number in the future. Thanks to an onslaught of subtle, sarcastic humor and an increasingly lovable roster, this is easily one of my favorite shows this season.

Grade: B+

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

Top 10 Cutest Anime Girls Of Fall 2016

Greetings and salutations, avid readers. Now that we've passed the halfway point of the season and given plenty of different heroines sufficient time to shine, it is time for us...well, me to rank them! As you can see, I've switched back to the Top 10 format because frankly, last season just had way too many cute girls. But can the girls from this season harness their respective cuteness and surpass those from last time around? Probably not! But let's do this thing anyway!

Girls will be judged based on appearance, personality, voice, and random other aspects of them that I see fit.

I also want to thank everyone for the very limited hate mail regarding the omission of Rem from last season.

Let us begin!



10) Hinata Kawamoto

Anime: March Comes In Like A Lion

CV: Kana Hanazawa

So, like always, Kana Hanazawa has found her way into my seasonal top ten. This time, however, she plays a someone exceedingly more innocent than last season's Kagari from Rewrite. Hinata isn't the type of cute where you're like, "Yo, I hope she gives me a love letter." But instead, she's the little sister type of cute where everything she does basically makes your heart melt into a puddle of weird organic mush on the floor. And while much of her appeal comes from Hanazawa's performance, she's adorable nonetheless and surprising addition to this season's roster.

9) Makoto Noro

Anime: Trickster

CV: Ibuki Kido

Makoto is a little...odd. And if you've watched Trickster, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't watched Trickster...well, honestly, don't bother. Anyway, if you've read any of my other countdowns you will know I'm a sucker for girls that rock pink and red. I'm also a sucker for thigh-highs. Well, as you can see, Makoto adheres to both of these tastes and, when you toss in the fact that she is a literal shut-in a super tech-geek, you've got yourself a contender for not just my heart but a plethora of sweaty otaku hearts out there. It's too bad that she's a part of such a mediocre anime. That might have hurt her score a little bit. Either way, I'd date her. We could, like, Skype call each other and stuff.

8) Aria Kurenaino

Anime: Occultic;Nine

CV: Miyuki Sawashiro

Okay, back to little sisters. Despite that adorable headband and cute little Santa coat, Aria's a complete psychopath. This, of course, makes her even more attractive. The fact that her obsession with her brother was so immense that, even after his passing, she kept his body in her house...well, I mean, how can you not be turned on by that?...No? Is it really just me? Anyway, Aria's sections in Occultic;Nine are definitely some of the more interesting ones -- and it wouldn't be that way if she weren't such a great character. And while she didn't lock in the best position on this countdown for Occultic;Nine (Insert drumroll), she's got a tight hold on second place.

7) Koto Katakura

Anime: Girlish Number

CV: Yui Ishikawa

Ahh, Girlish Number -- Yet another anime about anime. Koto Katakura is a bit older than that of the average on most of my countdowns, coming in at a still-young 26. It isn't often that a girl older than me earns my love, but when you've got cute Kansai accent and great fashion sense, that doesn't really matter, now does it? Not only do these attributes land her at a decent rank, but look at her hair. What kind of shampoo do you guys think she uses? Aussie? I do have a question about Katakura, though...Why is she wearing three hoodies? It's brave wardrobe choices like this that make me fall for girls...You heard it here first.

6) Ortfiné Fredericka von Eylstadt

Anime: Izetta (The Last Witch)

CV: Saori Hayami

And the award for longest name on the countdown goes to...yeah. So, Princess Ortfiné (Or just Finé for short) is just as badass as she is utterly adorable. Being the figurehead of the principality of Eylstadt's army, Finé is no stranger to harsh circumstances. But even though she is locked in a losing battle, she never gives up hope. OH, and she is probably the only person in the world who can wear a fedora and not look like an idiot. I'm really never the kind of guy that goes for the princess-type, but Finé is different. Instead of being a typical princess, she's like this tomboyish, queenlike crossbreed that gets cuter and cuter as the series goes on. Also, I love Saori Hayami. That is all.

5) Miyuu Aikawa

Anime: Occultic;Nine

CV: Hitomi Yoshida

(Drumroll from earlier ends). If there's anything that says, "I make a great girlfriend," it's being able to tell the future. Okay, maybe not really, but that's not a bad quality to have. Miyuu (Or Myu if we're going by Internet aliases) isn't really as bizarre as her outfit makes her seem. In fact, she's pretty darn normal apart from her freakishly long hair. But it's these average girl qualities and above-average looks that make her so down-to-earth that it's hard to look past her. She's just flat out cool, there's no other way to put it. Being cool scores attractive-points. We all went to high school -- we know that by now.

4) Chitose Karasuma

Anime: Girlish Number

CV: Sayaka Senbongi

So here we are at the Final Four, where Chitose Karasuma makes her debut as a still-untalented seiyuu with an ego the size of the Empire State building. However, that ego is exactly what landed her so high up in this ranking. Chitose is not only the most sarcastic and oblivious protagonist this season, she's the funniest. And even though she isn't necessarily trying to be funny when she thinks she's the greatest thing since sliced bread, it's still a complete joy to watch. Mix that in with, you guessed it, pink hair and you have a fiery bundle of cuteness that you'll want to stuff inside of your pocket for three hours before remembering that the bundle is actually a total bitch and must be thrown into the nearest trash can. In a good way.

3) Izetta

Anime: Izetta (The Last Witch)

CV: Himika Akaneya

"Wow, this guy really does like red hair". You're damn right I do. But don't worry, Izetta here is the last girl on the countdown with that hair color. Being the counterpart and best friend of Finé from earlier on in the countdown, Izetta manages to bust her way in here during the latter stages of her aptly-named anime series. And while she isn't as headstrong and direct as Finé, she can 'effing fly. Think about the places you'd be able to go together! Apart from the whole magic thing, I'd probably go as far as saying that Izetta is the most physically attractive girl of the season. But cuteness isn't skin-deep, guys. And while Izetta's personality doesn't necessarily work against her, the next two girls really had her beat in that aspect. It's okay, Izetta. We still love you.

2) Momoka Sonou

Anime: Girlish Number

CV: Eri Suzuki

You know, I was almost 100% certain that Chitose was going to be my favorite heroine in Girlish Number after the first couple episodes. But honestly, Momoka is just perfect. And even though she also has an incredibly large ego, she's at least polite about it -- something Chitose can't even fathom. Momoka, being an established seiyuu at such a young age, still has her own inner struggles in living in her mother's shadow. And even though the wait of said shadow gets her down at times, she still puts on an energetic and composed front at all times, making her an ideal choice for the runner-up of this season's countdown. Also, twintails.

Fall 2016 Champion: 1) Kumiko Oumae

Anime: Sound! Euphonium Season 2

CV: Tomoyo Kurosawa

This is something I never saw coming. In fact, back during the first season of Sound Euphonium, I didn't even put Kumiko in the countdown -- it was Asuka that represented the series. But now that Kumiko's character has developed and she's given various hints at her borderline yuri outlook on Reina, Kumiko has surpassed all expectations in the field of cuteness. Apart from just that, though, she's so damn chill. Normally, you'll look at anime character and they'll be...you know, animated. Kumiko, however, wears her head on her shoulders at all times and isn't just doing so in order to get by. She feels like an actual character with actual opinions on things instead of just a copy/paste Kyo-Ani heroine. The fact that she's held her ground and worked so hard at improving herself [easily] makes her not only the cutest girl of the season but the best girl of the season.



And there you have it, guys! These are your ten cutest girls of the Fall 2016 season. I'm sorry to anyone that had their favorite heroine omitted this time around, but maybe next time they'll wind up making it in! I mean, they probably won't, but there's still hope! Never give up. Believe in the me that believes in you!

Don't forget to check me out on Twitter @DJNOSTYLE and browse the rest of what this glorious website has to offer. You might just find something awesome. In fact, you will find something awesome.

Adios!

Girlish Number Episode #06 Anime Review

So...what are we going to do about the second season of Kusure?

What They Say:

No one wants to get stuck in a boring profession, so when college student Chitose Karasuma storms into a voice acting training facility, she thinks that her future is poised for awesomeness. However, this bad-mannered beauty is in for more than she bargained for as she gets accepted into the talent agency “Number One Produce.” Together with her coworkers, including a girl with a Kansai accent and a cunning airhead, Chitose charges into the competitive world of professional voice acting.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of this review may contain spoilers)

This week, Girlish Number has decided to adhere to the industry standard of incorporating at least one beach/waterpark episode in a multi-heroine series. That being said, you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be some slow-motion splashing and some good, old-fashioned fun in the sun as our girls unwind after a long [unsuccessful] season of Kusure. And even though we didn't get to see our heroines in the swimsuits Kuzu picked out for them (SIGH), we've still got a solid first-time fanservice scene for Girlish Number, albeit an incredibly tame one. But I'm not going to complain. Any amount of Momoka is enough Momoka for me.

Apart from the swimsuit montage (Which was only shot to provide "Bonus" material for those who purchased the blu-ray), we get to see a bit of the aftermath that follows ending an anime series. This aftermath, of course, includes new auditions, new faces, and enough alcohol to kill a horse. Not just a small horse either. Like, a full grown horse-sized horse. Regardless of several specific heroines sloping down an ever-increasing path toward alcoholism, this episode is honestly a ton of fun. We learn more about several of the girls as they begin to open up to one another. Kind of. Koto has a conversation with Shibasaki about how she was going to give up and head home if she wasn't able to land a protagonist role. On the other side of things, the weight of the world on Momoka's shoulders becomes apparent as she is simply living in mother's shadow. In the latter half of this episode, Momoka actually receives an offer to work alongside her mother and, instead of graciously accepting, she gets caught in a rut between real happiness and the facade that she's been working in for years now.

It's not all sadness and frowns in this episode, though. (And no, I'm not flashing back to the swimsuit montage). We get the pleasure of witnessing a couple anime wrap parties! These parties, however, are pretty damn bland in comparison to the ones we got to see back in Shirobako. Hell, in Girlish Number, the Kusure wrap party basically consisted of the girls doing the same thing they did during their stay in Okinawa -- sitting together and drinking away their sorrows. In the midst of this, Shibasaki's problems begin to show up through frequent, ignored phone calls from her mother. All throughout this episode, it's apparent that Shibasaki is pushing away...well, pretty much everything. She clearly has problems with her confidence and this is punched in even harder when she basically says to Chitose, "I have problems with confidence". Gee, you don't say?

After the Kusure wrap party...wraps up...(sigh)...we're brought back to the bar with Kuzu and friends where it is revealed that the second season of Kusure will once again rely on Towada doing literally everything. Poor Towada. Hang in there, man.

In Summary:

If we take all six episodes of Girlish Number and separate them into two baskets (One being the better half, one being the worse half), this episode would be in the better basket. And without transforming this review into a third-grade math problem, I think it's safe to say that Girlish Number has established somewhat of a consistency in what we're going to be getting from it. Character development is actually prevalent and, as the story inches further every week, we're learning more and more about not necessarily the anime industry, but the attitudes and feelings of those who work within it, albeit in an incredibly sarcastic manner. Regardless of the show's tone or even the story itself, every key ingredient that goes into the recipe for fun is located within the confines of this series. I've been reminded why I love it each week so far and will continue to look forward to it over the next month and a half.

Grade: A-

Streamed By: Crunchyroll