What Current Anime Are You Watching Version v4.0

[M'Kyuun]

Started watching GQuuuuuux, a rather nonsensical appellation (yeah, I realize it's a placeholder, but certainly they could've come up with something better) and after four episodes I find it a bit lackluster thus far relative to other Gundam entries. While many entries in the franchise are a bit contrived to ensure the featured pilot finds their way into the cockpit of a Gundam, this one stands out as particularly ham-handed as well as her ability to unlock its other abilities where the intended pilot, a Newtype no less, failed.

Thus far, and it's still very early into the series, there hasn't been much character development with more time allotted to setting up the alternate UC timeline and the clan-fighting subplot. 

Spoiler

Shuji, a mysterious pilot of a Red Gundam, claims to hear his Gundam speaking to him. Beyond piloting the Red Gundam, he appears to be a bum with no apparent occupation to support the upkeep of his Gundam. His weird proclamations and directions from the Gundam, which no-one else perceives, coupled with his lifestyle, or want for one, are just a few of the big question marks of this series. Machu, the main female protagonist is a student with apparent Newtype abilities with the usual Mary Sue like quality of jumping into a machine she's never seen before and magically piloting it with an inexplicable prowess. Judging from the opening sequences, it appears that she and another character, a parts courier named Nyaan who introduced her, by writers' contrivance, to the Pomeranians, a group of young engineers who maintain a mobile suit for clan battles, will eventually share digs. As of ep 4, that hasn't happened yet but I'm curious to see how that relationship unfolds.

 

[Seto Kaiba]

10 hours ago, M'Kyuun said:

Spoiler

Machu, the main female protagonist is a student with apparent Newtype abilities with the usual Mary Sue like quality of jumping into a machine she's never seen before and magically piloting it with an inexplicable prowess.

Spoiler

Machu actually has a better excuse/explanation for her prowess operating the Gundam QuuuuuuX than most Gundam protagonists who fell/jumped into the cockpit do.

The Gundam QuuuuuuX she Gundamjacked from Zeon's space assault force in the sublevels of Side 6's Izuma colony at the start of the series is equipped with the "Omega Psycommu"... a prototype fly-by-thought control system similar in principle to the Intention Automatic System on the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and MSN-06S Sinanju in Mobile Suit Gundam UC.  As long as she can muster up a Newtype brainwave strong enough to activate the Omega Psycommu, she doesn't have to worry about the QuuuuuuX's physical controls since it'll obey her thoughts instead.

 

[Hikaru Ichijo SL]

I watched Aldnoah.Zero: Ame no Danshou - The Penultimate Truth .  I can sum up this OVA with one line. Why was it made.

[M'Kyuun]

3 hours ago, Seto Kaiba said:

  Hide contents

Machu actually has a better excuse/explanation for her prowess operating the Gundam QuuuuuuX than most Gundam protagonists who fell/jumped into the cockpit do.

The Gundam QuuuuuuX she Gundamjacked from Zeon's space assault force in the sublevels of Side 6's Izuma colony at the start of the series is equipped with the "Omega Psycommu"... a prototype fly-by-thought control system similar in principle to the Intention Automatic System on the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and MSN-06S Sinanju in Mobile Suit Gundam UC.  As long as she can muster up a Newtype brainwave strong enough to activate the Omega Psycommu, she doesn't have to worry about the QuuuuuuX's physical controls since it'll obey her thoughts instead.

 

Spoiler

 First, I commend you on your ability to recount facts and figures concerning so much of the media you watch. I've never remotely had that level of recall, and I find as I enter my mid-fifties, things slip away even quicker and more permanently than ever. I both envy you that capability and laud you for it. I always enjoy reading your posts for the sheer amount of detail you're able to supply and for your prolific contributions. That said, even her ability to access the 'Omega Psycommu', via the HARO unit it seems, gave her an advantage over poor Xavier, the assigned pilot to the GQuuuuuux who, by virtue of that position, probably should have been able to tap into that ability as well. (raised eyebrow) But, you know, Machu's the hero of this series and there needed to be some excuse for her ability to just jump in and tap into its special abilities without training or something as intrusive as IBO's Alaya-Vijnana system. Then again, how many wannabe pilots have just jumped into a Valkyrie in any number of Macross series and managed to effectively pilot their highjacked machines? It's an anime trope, but it's fun to nitpick it at least a little. Coming out of the aviation world (retired AF plane mechanic), I see the parallels and the absurdity of it and my skepticism is somewhat unfettered. 😉 Gift an old fart a touch of levity, kind Sir.

 

[Big s]

19 minutes ago, M'Kyuun said:

That said, even her ability to access the 'Omega Psycommu', via the HARO unit it seems, gave her an advantage over poor Xavier, the assigned pilot to the GQuuuuuux who, by virtue of that position, probably should have been able to tap into that ability as well.

I kinda get a feeling that the red gundam may have been a trigger to her newtype abilities, but the initial activation may have been triggered by her emotional determination. She seems to want it more while the original pilot failed possibly by not being as strongly motivated. Newtypes are weird

[Seto Kaiba]

3 hours ago, M'Kyuun said:

Spoiler

That said, even her ability to access the 'Omega Psycommu', via the HARO unit it seems, gave her an advantage over poor Xavier, the assigned pilot to the GQuuuuuux who, by virtue of that position, probably should have been able to tap into that ability as well. (raised eyebrow) But, you know, Machu's the hero of this series and there needed to be some excuse for her ability to just jump in and tap into its special abilities without training or something as intrusive as IBO's Alaya-Vijnana system.

Spoiler

The Haro belongs to Kaneban Co., the illegal company running the Pomeranians team.  It offers some guidance on how to operate their Zaku, but it doesn't seem to have any role in her ability to operate the Gundam QuuuuuuX.

As you likely already know, Newtypes are by no means created equal.  You've got very strong Newtypes and weak ones.  There are Newtypes who can consciously control their supernatural abilities, Newtypes who unconsciously use them all the time, and ones with no control whose abilities activate sporadically and in moments of stress or danger. 

Zeon's Flannigan Institute believes Ensign Xavier is a Newtype, but this is an alternate timeline where Newtype research doesn't seem to have gotten quite as far thanks to the altered course of history and the Zeknova putting the kibosh on most psycommu research.  Xavier was deemed to be a Newtype by the Flannigan Institute, but it's not 100% that he is one.  The Flannigan Institute was kind of swinging for the fences back then even in the main timeline, and only identified three actual Newtypes during the One Year War in the correct timeline: Char Aznable, Challia Bull, and Lalah Sune.  That seems to still essentially be true in this timeline too, though Char is missing, Challia Bull's not dead, and Lalah Sune never fought in the war (and may have been under study at Granada and the cause of the Zeknova).  If Xavier is a true Newtype, he may be just a weak one or one who can't consciously tap into his powers.  Machu seems to be a lot stronger, given that she's resonating with other Newtypes without meaning to, making her a lot more able to use the fly-by-psycommu Gundam QuuuuuuX to its full potential.

 

 

3 hours ago, M'Kyuun said:

Then again, how many wannabe pilots have just jumped into a Valkyrie in any number of Macross series and managed to effectively pilot their highjacked machines?

... honestly, I can't think of any.

Macross is pretty good about establishing that anyone who jumps/falls into a Valkyrie's cockpit with the intent to fly it has at least some relevant training.  Thinking back to all the major Macross titles, I don't think we've ever had a totally unqualified person jump into the cockpit in the manner that so often happens in Gundam.  

Spoiler

• Hikaru Ichijo was an award-winning stunt pilot before he ever set foot in a Valkyrie.
• Hibiki Kanzaki had a Valkyrie pilot's license.  Every other VF pilot in the OVA is a soldier.
• Isamu Dyson and Guld Goa Bowman were both licensed Valkyrie pilots (and Isamu was an active duty military pilot)..
• Basara, Mylene, and Gamlin were all trained by ace pilots.
• Shiba Mido never pilots a Valkyrie.  Mahara Fabrio is ex-NUNS.
• The unnamed VF-X pilot is already a special forces ace when he first appears.
• Aegis Focker was already an ace in his own right before his first appearance, as were all the other pilots in his game.
• Moarmia Jifon is trained by Zentradi rebels before her first appearance, then by Max and Milia afterwards.
• Shin Kudo and Edgar La Salle go through model conversion training onscreen.  D.D. Ivanov, Nora Polyansky, and Roy Focker already have experience from test pilot duties.
• Alto Saotome, Michael Blanc, and Luca Angeloni are in their final year of the space flight program at a vocational school that feeds into the military's flight school, and have prior experience on trainer Valkyries.  Sheryl gets some of that training too while attending the school.  Brera is trained by the Macross Galaxy Corporate Army.
• Chelsea Scarlett is a trained SMS Valkyrie pilot at the start of her story, Hakuna Aoba and Naresuan are both ex-Macross 7 fleet special forces.
• Leon Sakaki is ex-NUNS, Rod Baltemar is current NUNS Special Forces, Aisha Blanchett is SMS-trained, and Mina Forte is implied to go through training and licensing offscreen by local authorities before operating her VF-11.  
• Vigo Walgria never pilots a Valkyrie.
• Kaito Kinjo is already a trained SMS Valkyrie pilot at the start of his story.
• Keith A. Windermere and the other Aerial Knights go through flight school together (in the prequel manga).
• Hayate Immelmann goes through flight school onscreen, though he already had qualifications as a Workroid driver (and enough talent to make his Workroid literally dance.)  Everyone else had prior military training.

I think that's just about everybody.

 

[MinmayMusicManiac]

i've been watching NicoNico Nonsence. it is an anime parody that's on Nico Nico (japanese site similar to youtube)

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

On 5/5/2025 at 1:06 AM, Seto Kaiba said:

Caught the latest episodes of The Gorilla God's Go-To Girl, Witch Watch, I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years, Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive, The Brilliant Healer's New Life, and The Too Perfect Saint.

This season is painfully light on talent.  No real standouts so far, just a lot of serviceable but unremarkable middle-of-the-road formula shows.  The only series I'm really waiting for every week is The Apothecary Diaries.

There are a few real stinkers, though.  Classic Stars is so incoherent I still don't know what it's even about five episodes on.  Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is exactly as poorly thought out as its literal placeholder title implies.  Yandere Dark Elf marketed itself like a romcom but it's basically softcore porn.

 

Kinda disappointed... but my watch group is getting a lot of mileage out of The Apothecary Diaries and our rewatch of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure in celebration of the announcement of Steel Ball Run.  

I might try to pick up one or two more simulcast titles to see if I'm missing anything good.  Maybe The Beginning After The End, Kowloon Generic Romance, or Shoshimin.

Yandere Dark elf is exactly as you described.  

 

As for good ones this season.. 

Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman -  good so far.   Not groundbreaking but its not isekai trash.. just sayin.

 

Kijin Gentoushou

Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentōshō -  this is very good.  seems to by flying under the radar on most places from this season.

 

[Hikaru Ichijo SL]

This season for me is just becoming tedious.  I like Witch Watch, Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru and Slime 300 (more Yuuki Aoi than the show). I keep on forgetting things are on.   

[M'Kyuun]

18 hours ago, Seto Kaiba said:

  Reveal hidden contents

The Haro belongs to Kaneban Co., the illegal company running the Pomeranians team.  It offers some guidance on how to operate their Zaku, but it doesn't seem to have any role in her ability to operate the Gundam QuuuuuuX.

As you likely already know, Newtypes are by no means created equal.  You've got very strong Newtypes and weak ones.  There are Newtypes who can consciously control their supernatural abilities, Newtypes who unconsciously use them all the time, and ones with no control whose abilities activate sporadically and in moments of stress or danger. 

Zeon's Flannigan Institute believes Ensign Xavier is a Newtype, but this is an alternate timeline where Newtype research doesn't seem to have gotten quite as far thanks to the altered course of history and the Zeknova putting the kibosh on most psycommu research.  Xavier was deemed to be a Newtype by the Flannigan Institute, but it's not 100% that he is one.  The Flannigan Institute was kind of swinging for the fences back then even in the main timeline, and only identified three actual Newtypes during the One Year War in the correct timeline: Char Aznable, Challia Bull, and Lalah Sune.  That seems to still essentially be true in this timeline too, though Char is missing, Challia Bull's not dead, and Lalah Sune never fought in the war (and may have been under study at Granada and the cause of the Zeknova).  If Xavier is a true Newtype, he may be just a weak one or one who can't consciously tap into his powers.  Machu seems to be a lot stronger, given that she's resonating with other Newtypes without meaning to, making her a lot more able to use the fly-by-psycommu Gundam QuuuuuuX to its full potential.

 

 

... honestly, I can't think of any.

Macross is pretty good about establishing that anyone who jumps/falls into a Valkyrie's cockpit with the intent to fly it has at least some relevant training.  Thinking back to all the major Macross titles, I don't think we've ever had a totally unqualified person jump into the cockpit in the manner that so often happens in Gundam.  

  Hide contents

• Hikaru Ichijo was an award-winning stunt pilot before he ever set foot in a Valkyrie.
• Hibiki Kanzaki had a Valkyrie pilot's license.  Every other VF pilot in the OVA is a soldier.
• Isamu Dyson and Guld Goa Bowman were both licensed Valkyrie pilots (and Isamu was an active duty military pilot)..
• Basara, Mylene, and Gamlin were all trained by ace pilots.
• Shiba Mido never pilots a Valkyrie.  Mahara Fabrio is ex-NUNS.
• The unnamed VF-X pilot is already a special forces ace when he first appears.
• Aegis Focker was already an ace in his own right before his first appearance, as were all the other pilots in his game.
• Moarmia Jifon is trained by Zentradi rebels before her first appearance, then by Max and Milia afterwards.
• Shin Kudo and Edgar La Salle go through model conversion training onscreen.  D.D. Ivanov, Nora Polyansky, and Roy Focker already have experience from test pilot duties.
• Alto Saotome, Michael Blanc, and Luca Angeloni are in their final year of the space flight program at a vocational school that feeds into the military's flight school, and have prior experience on trainer Valkyries.  Sheryl gets some of that training too while attending the school.  Brera is trained by the Macross Galaxy Corporate Army.
• Chelsea Scarlett is a trained SMS Valkyrie pilot at the start of her story, Hakuna Aoba and Naresuan are both ex-Macross 7 fleet special forces.
• Leon Sakaki is ex-NUNS, Rod Baltemar is current NUNS Special Forces, Aisha Blanchett is SMS-trained, and Mina Forte is implied to go through training and licensing offscreen by local authorities before operating her VF-11.  
• Vigo Walgria never pilots a Valkyrie.
• Kaito Kinjo is already a trained SMS Valkyrie pilot at the start of his story.
• Keith A. Windermere and the other Aerial Knights go through flight school together (in the prequel manga).
• Hayate Immelmann goes through flight school onscreen, though he already had qualifications as a Workroid driver (and enough talent to make his Workroid literally dance.)  Everyone else had prior military training.

I think that's just about everybody.

 

Rather comprehensive list; there are names of characters there I've never heard of, but then I've never played any of the Japanese games or read any of the manga. I was thinking of Hikaru since, although he's a pilot and proficient flying a standard aircraft, the VF-1 presented two additional configurations for which he was unprepared. And of course, he handled it clumsily thus crashing into Minmay's bedroom. That at least, in contrast to the usual prowess shown by first-time mecha pilots, was a more realistic portrayal of how things would actually likely play out. Concerning Alto, he'd trained via simulations and by flitting about in his flight gear; however, having never actually sat in a Valk until the Vajra attack, he acquitted himself quite admirably with William's VF-25 to protect Ranka, even if he only basically just stood there in GERWALK and pulled the trigger (I shall forever think of Shinji Ikari every time I hear that phrase). He also developed rather quickly into a very skilled pilot, as seems to be the case with most Macross protagonists regardless of background. Hayate initially raised a brow and a groan with his "Immelmann Dance". Pretty cheeky way of justifying his later skill in the VF-31; by virtue of his Workroid experience, I think it would have made for a more believable portrayal had he mastered the battroid, given the similarities, but struggled with the flying aspects. Instead, they gave that weakness to Mirage, both the progeny and student of ace pilots (isn't the whole Jenius family, though?) As for the rest, however, you make a good case for their skill, especially compared to the untrained Amuro Rays, Benagher Links, or Loran Cehacks of the Gundam universe(s).