Every once upon an Age, a story comes along that is timeless.  Its content, lessons, and characters transcend time and location to reach the hearts and minds of generations of people.  But then there is the ever-present possibility of degradation, when the message telegraphed so long ago becomes little more than a cosmic game of Telephone, and the joy once experienced in previous incarnations is forever lost to those in the far future.  These are the Never-Ending Anime.

Yeah, it’s that most dreaded time of year once again.  You know the kind.  It’s the type of showing that actually makes you slightly ashamed of being an anime fan.  Yet while this evening is usually devoted to the garbage water that exists beneath the bottom of the barrel, this year’s Blacklist Night is by far the tamest in at least 5 years.  Then again, we’ve already shown Aquarion Evol, Symphogear, and Kill Me Baby, so it’s mathematically impossible to do worse (way to program by theme, Jack!).  That said, the evening is instead filled with fan service, enough that the club no longer provides tissues (a lot of people had allergies this spring).  Read on to find out why so many of our members died during the drinking game.

For whatever reason, it seems like young teenage girls can rarely live a normal life.  Whether it’s due to invaders from another dimension, invaders from space, or even other angsty teens, girls can’t just be girls.  As such, the only way they are permitted to earn that simple freedom is to fight using some giant robot or another (or fight to the death in a parallel universe).  Either way, there is usually a malevolent mechanized force at work, and only those with strictly X chromosomes can stop it.  Read on for more mechanical mayhem.

You know, in this day and age of epic stories and trashy harems, sometimes it’s easy to forget about the regular people.  These are the average Joe’s that have no special stories, but they are still entertaining enough to deserve our respect.  This review is for you, the everyman, and your daily life.

With so much injustice in the world of anime, the time has come to act.  Strike at the heart of lame shows and stand for truth, justice, peace and love, friendship, piracy, and underage women.  Grab your collectible action figures, decoder rings, and plastic utility belts.  All together now!  Tenshin TIIIIGHTS!  Tenshin GLŌŌŌŌVES!  Tenshin MA-AHH-AHCCHchhchchc…….

It’s the first week of major exams, so it’s time once again for the obligatory movie night.  Unfortunately, Jack never got the memo that the movies shown should actually be good and/or entertaining.  Instead, we have whatever he dredged from the bottom of a couple abandoned forum threads.  On the plus side, this showing also begins this semester’s repeater anime (you might recognize it from our website banner): Black Rock Shooter.  Settle in, this review is as painful as it is long.

So there I am, sitting in the front row at Anime Club, expecting the same obnoxious drivel that I’ve had to endure for the past…ever.  The lights dim, the projector runs, and indeed, it’s the same obnoxious drivel, or so it seems…

Suddenly, a freak accident occurs, and I am left with a horrifying realization: the best anime in the past 3 years are all as equally lame as the other crap out there, except for one key difference.  These “superior” anime have a twist that turns conventions on their head.  In fact, every one of the shows in front of me has a plot twist that threatens to make them actually bearable.  Am I to bear witness to what may become the greatest night in the history of CSMAC?  Doubtful, but you may be surprised by reading this week’s review.

The world feels rather unique in the dead of winter.  Everything is quiet, colors are muted, and the cold forces everything to grind to a halt.  However, when the sun emerges, bright white light reflects off of every surface, and colors become vivid and reveal everything’s true nature.  The same can be said for much of the anime in Winter 2012, which is either forcibly muted or blindingly noticeable.  Bring some snowshoes and some sunglasses, preferably too dark to see the anime through.

Submitted for your approval: A reviewer of anime is lost in the desolate netherscape of Winter 2012.  Amidst the droning plots and uninspired voice acting, he spots an anomaly.  It is revealed to be a discrepancy in space and time where shows are interesting, budgets are obscured, and humor is relatively intelligent.  He also finds a weird mirror and some sort of ghostly story of impostors.  Dare you venture further, there’s a sign post up ahead (watch out or you’ll hit it).  Your next stop: the Twilight Review.

The Fall 2011 season was the oasis in the desert of awful anime which comprised Summer 2011.  Then, like all good things, the season drew to a close.  That’s when the dark times began, an era with easily some of the worst shows in recent memory.  These series seem specifically designed to mock the intelligence of the modern anime viewer, and it makes your heart grow cold.  Down your warming beverage of choice, because a shit storm is fast approaching.