Four years into the blog has taught us, to a degree, what works and what needs changing. When we started the blog the season reviews were some of the most popular posts but as time went on we have seen a distinct decline in interest. A large part of that has to do with Anime News Network now doing a seasonal review and in a very timely fashion. In response, we sat down to decide how to revamp the seasonal review to stay relevant. Our idea is to do micro-podcasts instead of a whole article. The premise behind the S.W.A.T. (Season Watching Anime Taskforce) reviews is simple: watch the first episode of a series and then immediately sit down a record a review podcast. The reviews are five- to ten-minutes long and entirely off the cuff. The reviews have been going up on Anime3000 but in case you missed them there we collected them here for your listening pleasure.
Blade: We review the classic tale of a half-vampire VS. vampires. Now with extra Marvel/Madhouse blandness.
Blood-C: We review the OTHER vampire vs vampires anime. Now with CLAMP. Which sadly does not help.
Bunny Drop: We review the tale of an ace sniper and pathological lair who is a brave captain of the sea. Sorry. That is Usopp Drop.
Croisee in a Foreign Labyrinth: We review (up soon!) an anime about France that is not The Rose of Versailles. We are as shocked as you are.
God’s Notebook: We review the spiffy keen NEET detective agency. The main character is a Speaker for the Dead.
The IDOLM@STER: We review a show about idols in training that is better than you would think it would be. That does not make it good.
Mawaru Penguindrum: We review the new Kunihiko Ikuhara anime. In fact, we are wondering why you are not watching this RIGHT NOW!
Mayo Chiki!: We review what proves that on all lives a little rain must fall. If you watch this, there shall be a downpour of sadness on your heart.
The Mystic Archives of Dantalian: We review (up soon!) the autobiography of Otaku USA’s Caleb Dunaway.
No. 6: We review the most obtuse remaking of Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner.
Sacred Seven: We review (up soon!) a Tokusatsu show cleverly disguised as an anime. But with maids, butlers, mecha, and Greek mythology.
Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000%: We review a show about idols in training that is better than you would think it would be. But is also actually good. We cannot forget to mention: Norio Wakamoto. ‘Nuff said.
Yuruyuri: We review a show of boy-friendly lesbians in training that is just as bad as you would think it would be.
Reverse Thieves 
Wait, timeout, why aren’t you reviewing Twin Angel :D
Because the reverse thieves are smart and value their sanity.
…Good point^^
Good idea. I noticed a bunch of them showing up in related links when I listened to one of your other podcasts. If you went as far to see Mayoi Chiki why not go for the gutter and watch Manyuu Hikenchou?
That is far far too down in the gutter. I think Narutaki wanted to take a gamble and hope that JUST maybe Mayoi Chiki was not utter trash. Titty Cut is just an anime that could never ever be good. There is no reason to open the door on that horrible darkness.
– Hisui
Ok, I finally listened to all of your podcasts. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t watch Blade^^ I did not like Mayo Chiki’s first ep at all–however, it did get more hilarious in 2 and 3. And I was tempted to watch Akikan since you said that it was horrible, but after actually looking up reviews, and already dealing with the trauma of watching one anime that I will no longer mention it’s name, I said, “No. Nuh-uh.” Your memo-chou thoughts were interesting–but you guys missed it–the ice was actually revealed as evidence early in the show. Satoshi (one of the suspects) stopped at the store early to buy it while he was texting that girl. Kind of made me realize, “I…need to focus on everything in this show, huh?”
Finally, I’m not sure where I’m going with Penguindrum! The journey looks like a lot of fun, but it also seems to have a lot of twists and turns! I’m worried about my sanity after watching^^
Blade was not super bad. It was just mondo blah. Mayo Chiki was flat out bad.
The screen shot where it looks like the butler girl is giving someone a golden shower pretty much confirmed that I NEVER need to watch another episode of that.
Even if that was not exactly what was happening in that scene.
You watch Akikan at your own risk. Like the surgeons general’s warning, just know that we warned you. Any damage you do to your body and soul after that is not our fault.
Penguindrum is super fun but has a deeper story underneath. If that all comes together has yet to be seen but I am cautiously optimistic.
– Hisui