Series Synopses

New feature here at Eternity, the Series Synopses page will hold quick summaries off all the shows I've completed, for those who want to research a series without spoiling themselves.

Or for those who just want to argue about how I gave something a 4.75 / 5 instead of a 5 / 5.

Hit the jump for the synopses.
UPDATES:
10/11/2007: Da Capo Second Season and Lucky Star synopses added.
10/3/2007: AIR, Azumanga Daioh, Cardcaptor Sakura, Code-E, Da Capo (first season), D.N.Angel, Kagetsu Tohya (visual novel), Kanon 2002, Kanon 2006, Lunar Legend Tsukihime, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, School Days, Shuffle!, Shuffle! Memories, sola, Tokimeki Memorial ~only love~, Tsukihime (visual novel) synopses added.
-CCY



AIR
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 plush dinosaurs
Length: 12 episodes + 1 recap + 2 bonus episodes
Similar Series:: Kanon 02/06, sola
Defining Traits::
* Three-character harem-alike
* Protagonist with guts and purple hair
* Emotional plot with lots of manly tears
* A touch of supernatural for a full-circle plot
* Gao~ and Nihaha~
In a Sentence:: The short length hampers the full power of its storyline, but given the time it does AIR will rock the world of anyone who can handle the sad, yet triumphant story of the thousand summers.

Azumanga Daioh
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Osakas
Length: 26 episodes
Similar Series:: Lucky Star, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Defining Traits::
* Slice-of-life comedy
* Five 5 minute segments per episode
* Insane characters in a sane environment
* Spacey Osaka
In a Sentence:: Azumanga is the show about nothing and everything at the same time, about a group of friends and their wacky antics as they progress through the years of high school together; a great show to turn your brain off and watch.

Cardcaptor Sakura
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 camera-wielding obsessive friends
Length: 70 episodes + 2 movies
Similar Series:: Nanatsuiro Drops
Defining Traits::
* Magical girl, collect-em-all anime
* Relationships for both genders of fans to enjoy
* A sense of really seeing the characters grow
In a Sentence:: The defining magical girl show, Cardcaptor Sakura can even resonate with older or male viewers, as long as they are romance lovers; a show that is simple to digest yet can be dissected deep under the surface.

Code-E
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 inept German spies
Length: 12 episodes
Similar Series:: ...Cardcaptor Sakura? (but not really), possibly Aria
Defining Traits::
* Romance slash comedy slash slice-of-life with a touch of mystery
* Character who are adorable, but not flooded with moe, that act realistically
* A balance of not only a typical romance but also of a supernatural premise from 2017
In a Sentence:: Code-E is one from the old school, a new anime with the feel of one from the 20th century; it's a slow yet precise anime that one can really warm up to...until it ends far too soon.

Da Capo (First season)
Rating: 4 out of 5 cherry blossom trees
Length: 26 episodes, many not full length
Similar Series:: Shuffle!, Da Capo Second Season (sequel-ish), Tokimeki Memorial ~only love~
Defining Traits::
* Full-on six-person harem show
* Fanservice first half and emotional second half
* Siscon drama times two, or maybe three
* More confessions than you can shake a school idol at
In a Sentence:: Da Capo takes longer to get going than an antique car, but once it kicks into gear the show is a worthwhile watch with lots of likable characters and a strong overarching theme.

Da Capo Second Season
Rating: 4 out of 5 mages
Length: 26 episodes
Similar Series:: Shuffle!, Da Capo First Season (prequel-ish), Tokimeki Memorial ~only love~
Defining Traits::
* Harem show with a gigantic, perhaps double-digit harem
* More of a focus on the relationship part of love rather than the confession part
* More siscon drama, more Kotori drama, more annoying characters
* Both a turn away and toward the themes and people of the first season
In a Sentence:: Da Capo Second Season arguably has a misguided focus at times, with a large emphasis placed on the less interesting characters, but the show does have a decent emotional impact with some of the characters' struggles near the end of the show. A good watch if you liked the first, but not a good stand-alone.

D.N.Angel
Rating: 3 out of 5 yaoi-bait guys with wings
Length: 26 episodes
Similar Series:: ???
Defining Traits::
* Romance-type show with a complex love triangle/square between a schoolboy, his alter ego, and two twin girls
* More blue-haired guys with glasses
In a Sentence:: It'd be nice if I remembered something about D.N.Angel, but that alone should say a lot; one of the more mainstream shows for the American anime audience but still passable for romance fans who can't take it straight.

Kagetsu Tohya (Visual Novel)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 time loops
Length: About 20-30 hours
Similar Series:: Tsukihime (prequel)
Defining Traits::
* Groundhog Day scenario with tons of content
* Basis in vampire/action anime but strong focus on moe characters and serious plot
* Balances the funny and the serious; with a repeated day, you can pick which
* Two maids, a contract killer, a hax vampire, the little sister, a silent loli, and Sacchin~
In a Sentence:: Played Tsukihime? Play Kagetsu Tohya. It's not quite as serious but it's still very enjoyable and amusing, especially once you understand the in-jokes; not to say it's all fun and games.

Kanon 2002
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 red hair bands
Length: 12 episodes + 1 bonus episode
Similar Series:: Kanon 2006 (ya rly), AIR, sola
Defining Traits::
* More endgame drama than in the 2006 remake
* More ugly faces than in the 2006 remake
* It's Kanon. (see Kanon 2006 as applicable)
* Nyuu~
In a Sentence:: Kanon 2002 offers a bit of a different ending and an after episode for those unsatisfied with how certain characters got shafter in 2006, but 2002's biggest enemy is its remake, which obliterates it.

Kanon 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5 cups of vanilla ice cream
Length: 24 episodes
Similar Series:: Kanon 2002 (no kidding), AIR, sola
Defining Traits::
* Visual-novel adaptation of a five-girl "harem"
* Pioneered the term "sad girl in snow"
* Less of a fanservice harem and more of a moe harem
* Hugely emotional and grippy plots
* Animation is awesome like Shiori
In a Sentence:: Gold standard for visual novel adaptations. Well-planned, touching story with deep, or at least fleshed-out, characters that will grab your heart and not let go. Can you handle a one guy, many girls (not harem) show? Then watch Kanon 2006.

Lucky Star
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 bottles of balsamic vinegar
Length: 24 episodes
Similar Series:: Azumanga Daioh, Hidamari Sketch
Defining Traits::
* Slice-of-life show featuring relatively normal characters doing relatively abnormal things
* Very relatable for normal people and especially for avid anime fans
* Wide range of entertaining and moe, if not mildly flat characters
* Mixes down-to-earth life with a large otaku flavor
* Special bonuses like a recurring show at the end, and random live-action EDs
In a Sentence:: Lucky Star is one of those shows that you'll either like or hate; the characters might not be the most realistic, but from an anime fan's point of view they're very likable and relatable, with one you'll like in there somewhere. A very 'fun' kind of show, with a focus on the verbal rather than physical humor.

Lunar Legend Tsukihime
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 pocketknives
Length: 12 episodes
Similar Series:: Tsukihime (Visual Novel), Kagetsu Tohya (Visual Novel)
Defining Traits::
* Adapted from Tsukihime visual novel
* Poorly.
* Excellent mood-setting music
In a Sentence:: It's interesting to see the visual novel in animation, but once you read the visual novel you won't go back to Lunar Legend Tsukihime.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (First Season)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Yuki Nagatos
Length: 14 episodes
Similar Series:: ???
Defining Traits::
* Transcends genre; but there is romance, slice-of-life, comedy, and a touch of the supernatural
* Interesting premise with how the characters are set up; many could stand on their own as the lead of the series
* A little bit of everything...
* ...but mostly Yuki Nagato.
In a Sentence:: The 500-pound gorilla of most anime corners, Haruhi is a breakout title for good reason; it reaches to a wide audience with both the fanservice, the funny, and the heartwarming, and it does this all well.

School Days (Anime)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 nice boats
Length: 12 episodes
Similar Series:: Kaede arc of Shuffle!
Defining Traits::
* Harem show that turns the definition of harem on its head
* Characters made to be hated by fans instead of loved
* Plot treads line between drama and ridiculous drama
* Story will inflame emotions, one way or another
In a Sentence:: School Days is different, and handles itself unlike any other harem show; it takes the dark side of romance and school life. Watch if you can learn to be detached from the characters.

Shuffle!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 boxcutters
Length: 24 episodes
Similar Series:: Da Capo, Shuffle! Memories (clip show), Tokimeki Memorial ~only love~
Defining Traits::
* Standard 5-harem/visual novel adaptation
* Fanservicey first half follows with a hard-hitting, dramatic second half
* Mild magical premises and strong character interaction
In a Sentence:: A very slow show in the beginning that picks up steam tremendously once the plot gets going in the second half. Shuffle! is a great example of a show with strong characters, and it might even pull one over on you with regards to the harem as well.

Shuffle! Memories
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 heterochromiacs
Length: 12 episodes
Similar Series:: Shuffle! (original)
Defining Traits::
* Clip show of Shuffle!
* One new episode; the final one in the series
In a Sentence:: Watch the last episode, then watch the real deal instead.

sola
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 origami swans
Length: 12 episodes + some OVAs
Similar Series:: AIR, Kanon 02/06
Defining Traits::
* Three-person harem-like visual-novel-like show with a touch of action
* Strong supernatural premise
* A lot of characters aren't what they seem with a twist-filled plot
In a Sentence:: sola is an anime-original show which handles its characters and plot like it's been around the visual novel block once or twice. A gripping plot with in-depth characters is only hampered by a few large plot holes.

Tokimeki Memorial ~only love~
Rating: 4 out of 5 bread ladies
Length: 25 episodes + some bonuses
Similar Series:: Da Capo, Shuffle!, To Heart 2
Defining Traits::
* Bread and butter three-way school life harem
* Characters prone to breaking stereotypes
* School that doesn't take itself seriously with lots of insanity
* Well-defined side characters
In a Sentence:: TokiMemo does nothing different, and so fans of the harem genre will eat it up, especially with characters that aren't as flat as you might be led to believe, both main and side. But, it won't change your mind.

Tsukihime (Visual Novel)
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 twin maids
Length: About 30-40 hours
Similar Series:: Kagetsu Tohya (Sequel VN), Tsukihime (Anime, watch at discretion)
Defining Traits::
* Harem-type visual novel with a serious plot and a touch of action
* Touching stories for every character, even the cliched-looking ones
* Long and complex storyline, not to mention storytelling
* Two maids, a contract killer, a hax vampire, the little sister, no silent loli, but still Sacchin~
In a Sentence:: An epic written work with a unique style and unique characters who won't cease to surprise you. Not just straight romance, not just straight action, Tsukihime is a thriller with secrets and, yes, a lot of moe characters, behind every corner.