Welcome to a new feature known simply as Second Opinion where I take stuff I have already reviewed and add a new perspective to it, I will go through four titles at a time and the feature will show up occasionally to offer fresh opinions should I rewatch a series or watch more of an ongoing series, so without further delay lets begin.
Super Sonico
I originally said that Super Sonico was a mixture of really good and really bad episodes depending on what the episodes focus on, while I still think that is the case I have a bigger appreciation for Sonico being one of very, very few anime characters with a real life body type and while it's easy to criticize the fan service, you get the sense that the writers were being very sensible with the character, you also don't notice at first but you see a cameo from another Nitroplus idol as she grows more confident from shy girl to idol, it's not immediately obvious but the more you look, the more you see her and that makes for a very impressive easter egg.
Despite it's shortcomings with some episodes, even those episodes being not terrible, Super Sonico is a really good anime to watch.
RWBY
I originally said that RWBY was a great spectacle within a mediocre story, but upon viewing more of the series it really starts raising the stakes and the story just improves within a short amount of episodes, maybe a little too dramatic but it gives me great hope that Season 4 can really bring everything full circle, also I'm really enjoying RWBY Chibi as it's extremely funny and always makes me smile.
RWBY just keeps improving and I hope it really comes together in Season 4.
Steven Universe
I originally said that Steven Universe was not as good as it should be, while I still maintain that opinion I also expand on it more by saying, there's really a lot I don't like about Steven Universe, again it boils down to Steven himself but the ever expanding cast never really drew me in either, Peridot, Lapis Lazuli, Ronaldo, Onion and Lars are just a list of characters I really don't like and while I do see a lot of the great work done into the writing, I feel distracted by a handful of really bad characters that really damage the spectacle.
So I find myself hating it more now than I did before, sorry to other fans, I really don't like this show.
Wander Over Yonder
I originally said this show was okay but I actually really like this show now, it's full of boundless fun and optimism and the villain is actually really hilarious, it's like the Kooky Lego Villains with much better writing. Wander himself is a well balanced character, he's not so generic that he's boring but equally he's not so annoying that he out stays his welcome and Sylvia makes for a great companion that can really create a nice universal balance to the show.
Wander Over Yonder is a good cartoon border lining great and needs more support than it got, maybe Cartoon Network should buy it but then again it hates it's old creators seeing as the same guy did Powerpuff Girls and look how that turned out on the remake.
Wow it has been a while since I last did a top ten, hopefully this will jump start my inspiration as it's been a bit lacking lately. This is the top ten best anime teams.
Honorable Mentions
Team Anglerfish from Girls Und Panzer: A small unit among a much bigger team which aren't all good.
501st Joint Fighter Wing from Strike Witches: Suffers from Miracle Rookie Syndrome.
Vividred Team from Vividred Operation: Also suffers from Miracle Rookie Syndrome.
The Blitz Team from Zoids: Yep also suffers from Miracle Rookie Syndrome.
The Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon: Bettered by Smile Precure.
Mew Mews from Tokyo Mew Mew: Bettered by Smile Precure.
Class 2-F from Baka + Test: Despite rattling better teams they still have a low success rate.
InoShikaCho from Naruto: Spent much of Naruto separated when Shikamaru was promoted to Chuunin.
The Knight Sabers from Bubblegum Crisis Old & New: Simply overlooked.
Nadesico Crew from Martian Successor Nadesico: Would collapse without Ruri Hoshino.
The Slayers from Slayers: Couldn't operate without Lina Inverse.
Imperial Floral Assault Unit from Sakura Wars: Too many moments of internal conflict and bullying when Sakura Shinguji joined.
Masamune Date's Army from Sengoku Basara: Date has a tendency to get distracted fighting Yukimura.
10. Inazuma Eleven from Inazuma Eleven
A team forged by a charismatic goalkeeper, the Inazuma Eleven took underdog and ran with it becoming the best of the best, there are plenty of player switches throughout the series run but Endou's spirit is what makes the team work and anyone including former rivals can join no problem.
9. The Original Digi-Destined from Digimon
A group of kids united with their Digimon to save the Digital and Human worlds, while many teams have followed from season one, it's the original that's always been the strongest and best although some kudos for Digimon Frontier's team for coming closest to the original formula.
8. Smile Precure Team from Smile Precure
I had a hard time choosing from several magical girl teams and eventually settled on the Smile Precure team, while most teams in the Precure Universe has a tendency to build a team around it's leader the Smile Precure team compliment each other much better as none of it's members really had any trouble joining, they didn't suffer with 6th Ranger syndrome (A character and possible former enemy joining the team and being stronger than the others) and up to the finale they finished with probably the most epic group attack in the series.
7. Warrior Strike Team from Burn Up Franchise
If there was any team with emphasis on balance and specialist skills it's the Warrior Strike Team, led by a tough boss and filled with the most crazy yet highly skilled officers, law doesn't stand much of a chance in Police Town.
6. Bladebreakers from Beyblade
Despite splitting up during Season 3, the Bladebreakers are probably the best team in terms of sports and competitive toys, in fact it was the split that made their bond that much stronger as they led teams that they formerly defeated into glory, followed by a reunion for a final battle no one will forget anytime soon. Wish their successors had the same credentials.
5. Team Natsu from Fairy Tail
A team consisting of Fairy Tail's strongest was always going to be something incredible and Natsu and co certainly don't disappoint. Backed up with an option to add extra members depending on season is a nice bonus to keep this team strong, it would be higher except recent chapters have shown the team separated more often.
4. Kogarasumaru from Air Gear
A team built on respect is difficult especially when Ikki had a tough start to life as a Storm RIder but not willing to give in and very keen to stick to a set squad of riders, Kogarasumaru has managed to conquer the Roads and their kings.
3. Team RWBY from RWBY
Because the show is a web series and not released on a major tv network, I do not judge RWBY as a cartoon but since it has a Japanese home release I will judge it as an Anime which is how all cartoons are judged in Japan anyway, confusing yes but it means I can put it on these lists.
Beacon Academy's most famous team is a little bit shaky with their interactions but their team play is only surpassed by number 2 on this list, as some of the most incredible feats in the series have only been possible through team coordinated attacks making them one of the hardest teams to defeat in any series let alone RWBY.
2. Strawhat Pirates from One Piece
Luffy's handpicked crew is impressive, each with their own backstory and options to have guest members, Luffy has never been short of power; even separated Luffy can still forge powerful alliances to topple the World Order and still continue with his crew even after losing his brother which nearly broke his spirit. Many complain about One Piece's length but it's only backed up by a great team and I still have good memories of the Strawhat's team beatdown on Thriller Bark.
1. 11th Division from Bleach
Now a team has to be three things, strong, command respect among it's members and has to have a steady order, while most teams in the Gotei 13 have their issues the 11th Division doesn't. Led by the fight loving Zaraki Kenpachi, the 11th Division is the only team led by a non Bankai user, yet still has members who can use Bankai that are below Captain and Assistant Captain, despite the obvious gains of it's lower members only a couple of characters have left for bigger things, two notable ones being Renji Abarai and the other being Retsu Unohana (Retsu's association with the 11th Division is spoiler so I won't continue) everyone else respects the way the current Zaraki Kenpachi runs things and are happy not to change that order. The other teams on this list and in the honorable mentions have faults and moments which question the effectiveness of the teams while the 11th Division is consistent and always commands respect and earns you more kudos as a lower member as it gears you up for better things the only known team to do that without being a so called "Miracle Rookie".
My final review on Shojo week is RWBY, while not a Shojo series per-say it does bring to the table the type of female characters that girls should really like rather than what the toy companies think you should like.
This impressive web series is about an academy called Beacon for hunters and huntresses of the "Creatures of Grimm" the main enemy of the RWBY universe; the characters we focus on are Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long as they fight to destroy the Creatures of Grimm while pursuing their own personal goals and objectives.
If this is known for anything it has to be the insanely awesome fight scenes, choreographed to perfection well played out by the four leading ladies. You have great comedy from the same group that made Red vs Blue, you have characters that would feel right at home in an anime universe, the soundtrack is addictive and suits the setting and while you do get the obvious pitfalls of doing this as a web series, I'll let it slide as the art style suits it and I'd take this over the garbage certain networks are digging up that do get big company funding any day.
Being honest, there's nothing RWBY have brought to the table that's any different to the likes of Soul Eater or even high school shows but it's not important, everyone saw how awesome the four trailers were at the beginning and everyone wants to see where it goes. You can forget Elsa the Snow Queen, if you want real strong female characters take a page out of the book of RWBY.
Final Verdict: It's done everything right and keeps enticing me to keep going after season one. Living proof that you can make strong female characters.
RIP - Monty Oum, "thank you for being awesome"
