Today we bask in the memories of anime past. And by past we mean the last nine weeks.

This week’s challenge: We’re already over half way done with Simulblast! Tell us about your fondest memory so far in your review.

Meganebu! (Episode Nine)
Player: Kanashimi
Class: Boss

Apparently the older members of the Glasses Club are on a field trip, but Hayato and Mitsuki are left behind to attempt to be normal students. Obviously that’s a great pair to leave together, considering Mitsuki hates Hayato’s guts. On the other side of the pond (and by pond I mean they’re just in Okinawa), Takuma, Yukiya, and Akira are taking tourist-like pictures that result in hilarity. The trio wants to go underwater, but what about their glasses?! Well, now you can wear one of those huge astronaut helmets to walk around underwater. Fabulous.

Mitsuki is left counting all of his creepy stalker pictures of Akira. He counts up to 999, but finds he is missing the one to get to a 1,000. Hayato attempts to be the nice guy and call them, but they obviously don’t answer because they’re about to frickin’ go underwater. How can they afford that anyway? I’m seriously curious. That can’t be cheap…

I was so distracted by the antics that I totally didn’t realize this whole episode is pretty much fanservice. Man, when’s the last time I saw shirtless guys in this show? Oh well, it’s always a plus!

Mitsuki is sulking home, and we find the glasses the president picked for him broken. Hayato grabs them and states he’ll fix them, but obviously Mitsuki is apprehensive. He follows after him and runs into a smaller Hayato, confused for a moment that he’s… turned into a child? He finds that he’s named Ikuto and the glasses belong to an older Hayato. How many bothers does Hayato have? Well, his older brother is named Yuta. At this point Hayato has fixed Mitsuki’s glasses, but he states he would have liked Akira to have fixed them.

At this point Yuta begins outright hitting on Mitsuki and pinching his cheeks. So, Hayato’s older brother is a pedophile. Perfect.

Back on the fanservice vacation, the three boys are stuck on a deserted island because they derped and herped until they couldn’t anymore. They find a raft, however, and head in the opposite direction.

On land, Mitsuki continues to be depressed, and Hayato actually tries to cheer him up. Mitsuki confesses he used to hate glasses, but that, due to the president, he began to love them. Hayato tells him he should prove himself to the president and finish those X-Ray glasses, which seems to perk up the cuter shota. However, in the morning, he makes their project fail, and suddenly Mitsuki turns into a heartless wrench killer.

This wasn’t my favorite episode by far just due to the fact that I’m really not fond of the idea of Mitsuki and Hayato together. The series has pretty much made me dislike Hayato as a character, which is kinda interesting. He was obviously the outsider from the beginning, but his carefree attitude and sometimes poor decisions make it hard to pity his situation. Either way, Meganebu! has been fairly consistent in terms of punishing the fake glasses wearer. In fact, I think my favorite moments tend to be Mitsuki whipping him into shape. I once thought it was so mean, but that was another time and place before I was aware of how senseless the show was. I think that, by this point, I’ve accepted that fact, for better or for worse.

Watch Meganebu! on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Diabolik Lovers (Episode Nine)
Player: Midnight
Class: DJ

Oh holy mother lord… I have bad news for everyone. I might be sick; I actually genuinely and sincerely sort of liked this episode! Insert screams of horror here. I’m scared! I might be dreaming; something actually sort of interesting is happening. Alright, alright, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Let’s talk about Diabolik Lovers episode nine.

We start the episode to find Yui sleeping, without Ayato. One has to wonder where he went, or if time passed and this is a different day altogether. I’m not entirely sure; I’m never entirely sure of anything in this show. She wakes up with chest pain. Probably onset from all of the blood loss from the brothers constantly sipping her blood. You know, realistically, she should be anemic by now. I mean, a couple of episodes back, she had two of them feeding on her at once; that’s a lot of blood lost. Logistics of vampires aside, she gets up and heads out of the mansion.

She meets up with Shu, reading and listening to his music. Seriously, what is he listening to all the time? This is going to bother me. Does he listen to songs about vampires? Is it emo music? Linkin Park? Evanescence? What is on that iPod? Oh yeah, there’s a scene going on. He bites her; not much more I can say about that other than all the things I’ve said before. He tells her that the reason she’s having heart problems is that she is awakening. What does that mean? Well, he doesn’t say, but he does tell us that none of the sacrificial brides have lived through it before though.

The black haired guy who has been wandering around not doing anything all series is apparently their uncle Richter. He comes in and begins talking to Yui. She asks again how her father and the church are related to all of this. This is when I get the most disappointed; her father and the church had nothing to do with this. This is kind of a let down in a strange way, considering that she’s been looking into it and trying to figure it out all series. I was sort of hoping for some kind of church conspiracy. It would have been really neat.

She falls to her knees in chest pain and then seems to look sort of possessed. Richter takes her up into the mansion and, saying she won’t need them anymore, turns her diary and the picture of her and her father into ash. Is that a vampire power? What are these vampires’ powers anyway? Do I honestly care? He takes her into a room, and we see that bloody dress from before.

Okay. Stop. Spoiler warning here. If you actually plan to drudge your way through the other eight episodes to get to this, you’d might as well hold yourself off from knowing the only truly and honestly interesting thing to happen in this show. She enters the room with the bloody dress, which belonged to Cordelia. Yui is taken over by Cordelia. That’s actually really cool. The moon turns a blood red, and we cut to each of the brothers as they notice what’s going on. The last one to notice being Ayato, who runs into Yui’s room to find it empty.

Overall: I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m genuinely interested in where this is going. It took a bit more than half of the series, and, up until this point, I was pretty hard pressed to think of anything good that had come from watching this series… except watching it with my friends. Since the challenge to watch it with someone else, I’ve been dragging all my friends down this rabbit hole with me and watching them suffer. I’d say, until now, that’s been the best memory attached to this show. This episode however, came a little too late in the series. I mean, yeah, It’s super interesting, and I can’t wait to watch episode ten, but you can’t polish something this bad near the end and call it a good show. Now excuse me while I grab my friends and we go watch episode ten!

Watch Diabolik Lovers on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Gundam Build Fighters (Episode Nine)
Player: Elk
Class: DJ

Yo, Elk here with another episode of Gundam Build Fighters! This is the episode we’ve all been waiting for. Or at least, the episode I’ve been waiting for. For that reason I’m going to choose “longing for this moment” as my fondest memory.

IT’S BEARGGUY TIME!

Ahhh, the memories.

Yes! This episode is focused almost completely on China and her new rival Caro-chan (CAROLINE!). She’s an ojou-sama character who sees China as her eternal rival, though China sees Caroline in more of a friendly light.

Meanwhile, China is helping Rinko by taking Sei’s mind off his Gunpla building. Of course, Rinko is more interested in getting the two of them together, and China has no problem with that either. So she gets his mind off his own Gunpla by showing off her Beargguy, Beargguy III. Iori notices something odd about the Beargguy, but, before he can speak up about it, Caroline appears. Caroline, who was completely defeated in the art department by China’s Beargguy painting, challenges her to come to the All Girls Gunpla Tournament.

Normally, China wouldn’t want to fight with her Gunpla; however, to keep Sei’s mind off his own Gunpla, she asks for his help in getting ready for this tournament. Reiji was napping in a nearby tree and, hearing the whole thing, wants to help as well. This leads to an absolutely hilarious montage training scene with Beargguy III. It’s the best training montage in the history of training montages. Rocky would be jealous. I have to say, though, considering Sei is so terrible at fighting, it’s kind of funny that with just a small montage it seems China (who has apparently never fought before) is now on a level greater than Sei was against the Gyan in episode one.

At the same time, as Caroline’s father owns the company that is sponsoring Nils Nielson (The genius from last episode who defeated the Tallgeese Valkyrie), she demands he helps her train for the tournament, ensuring her victory. Both Reiji and Nils are confident in their pupil’s chances at victory.

And now it’s action time. China’s first enemy is someone who looks a lot like the girl from G Gundam, using a custom Sailor Jupiter coloured version of the Nobel Gundam. It’s a quick fight. Remembering the aiming techniques Reiji told her about, she takes careful aim and takes out the Nobel Gundam after only a few misses.

Reiji and Sei are late to the tournament, and show up just as China and Caro face off. Caroline has an SD Knight Gundam with exquisite build quality. It seems like it will be impossible for China to win as the Knight Gundam transforms and gains the upper hand, but, as the Knight Gundam lands what would have been the killing blow, the sword seemingly bounces off. Her next attack removes one of the Beargguy’s arms, and the secret of its long life is revealed. The Beargguy III is stuffed with cotton! According to China, the Beargguy’s backstory is that he was a stuffed animal who turned into a robot. China counters Caro’s next attack by spraying cotton out of the mouth cannon, enveloping the body and making it unable to move. China finishes the battle by ring-outing the Knight Gundam.

Unfortunately, China only get’s second place because she had no replacement parts. You see this happen often in tournaments like this, where the true final match happens before the grand finals, because the two strongest fighters are set to meet up earlier in the bracket. China’s novel use of cotton inspired Sei, and he rushes back to the shop to work more on his Gunpla. Rinko calls China, now that Sei is working harder than ever, but China tells Rinko not to worry because Sei knows what’s up.

It was everything I wanted and more; I just hope we get to see more of Beargguy III in the future. I kind of also hope that Sei gets piloting lessons from Reiji as well; maybe after this tournament? I mean, if this is going to be 52 episodes, we’re going to have more than the world tourney. And the ending theme makes me think perhaps Reiji will take over full time piloting the Build Gundam Mk.II, while Sei would be piloting the Build Strike. Perhaps we’ll get some more serious Gundam fights with the research Nils, the PPSE, and Nemesis are doing. I could see this going from small scale to actual-size Gundams, with this Reiji-alien-side-plot thing. That’s where I’d take it, anyways.

Watch Gundam Build Fighters on Gundam.Info or talk about this episode on our forums.

Galilei Donna (Episode Nine)
Player: Christmas
Class: Guest Relations

This player did not turn in their episode summary for the week. As such, they will not be awarded 50 flat points or the additional 20 for doing a challenge. Christmas is considered a no-show and as such has lost a dollar of his original bid. He has two more chances before he will be kicked out of the competition.

Watch Galilei Donna on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Log Horizon (Episode Nine)

Player: Siege

Class: Content Provider

Before we start, I’d like to deal with the challenge. My fondest memory for Simulblast is a touch competition, but I’ve got it down to two memories. My first choice is the moment when my show actually started being good; for those not paying attention, that was just last week. My second favorite memory is that time I got voted for and didn’t ask anyone too.

Yeah, that was a good time. It’s been a fun ride so far.

Oh right, an anime summary. So, episode nine of Log Horizon. It’s time for the meetings with major guilds to begin. WE’re treated to an introduction to each of the guilds and their representatives before the opening credits roll, so I expect this to be a politics-heavy episode. And since, post credits, we see a round table with all of the leaders around it, I’m going to keep assuming so.

And at last, the secret of the meeting is revealed. Shiroe wants to improve the overall quality of life in Akihabara. He wants to gather all the powers of the city for the greater good. This instantly causes one of the guild leaders to leave. Apparently his guild is a combat guild and couldn’t care less about the state of the city. He has long blonde hair and ominous music, so I assume this isn’t the last we’ll see of him.

Still, the meeting continues, and they further discuss the issues of the city. This is exactly what I wanted out of Log Horizon. We’re seeing the human aspect behind being sucked into an MMO world and what people would do in that situation.

They begin by discussing the practice of guilds trapping lower-leveled people and basically keeping them as slaves. Basically guilds are getting out of control, and there’s nothing keeping them in-check.

Shiroe is basically setting up a United Nations here, and I’m excited to see how it works out. And, to enforce his authority, Shiroe has used the massive profits that Crescent Moon gained in order to buy the Guild Building, which was previously a public guild meeting place. In fact, it’s the only place to bank your money or form a guild. Shiroe has taken over all commerce in Akihabara by force, using this power to create peace in Akihabara. He’s definitely living up to the “Villain in Glasses” name.

Meanwhile, the kids we’ve seen constantly have finally staged a revolt on the guild that held them captive, all according to Shiroe’s plan.

After a hard fight from both the kids and Shiroe, the kids retreated to the safety of the Guild Building, their captor brought to justice. In addition, Shiroe has control of the room and is about to make one more statement as the credits roll.

I’ve gotta say, I’m hooked at this point. Forget what I said at the beginning; this is my favorite Simulblast memory so far: finally looking forward to next week.

Watch Log Horizon on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

I Couldn’t Become A Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided To Get A Job (Episode Nine)
Player: Bobby Henshin
Class: DJ

This player did not turn in their episode summary for the week. As such, they will not be awarded 50 flat points or the additional 20 for doing a challenge. Bobby is considered a no-show and as such has lost a dollar of his original bid. He has four more chances before he will be kicked out of the competition.

Watch I Couldn’t Become A Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided To Get A Job on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Outbreak Company (Episode Nine)
Player: Kayarath
Class: Content Provider

I have a hard time picking a fondest memory, but I do enjoy a vacation, which is the plot of this week’s Outbreak Company. If you paid attention to last week’s preview, you should know what’s coming: a swimsuit episode! The justification given is that Minori has vacation time she needs to burn, so obviously everyone else needs to join her for R&R. Don’t think a lack of ocean will prevent a swimsuit episode! Pentralka conveniently has a vacation house nearby; complete with a lake.

As swimsuit episodes go, it’s a basic-but-effective affair. Shin’ichi is quite ecstatic to be in one, and really enjoys the skimpy swimsuits worn by Minori, Myucel, and Elbia. You get to see the cast have fun and stuff. As always, Shin’ichi edges his ship ever closer to Myucel’s port, and references to popular anime sneak their way in. Sadly, Pentralka was yet unable to join in due to work obligations. To prepare for when she can, she delegated the responsibility of picking a swimsuit to her council of sages. Old men debating about which swimsuit to put a little girl in; That is comedy gold right there.

All goes well until a mysterious invader appears! Oh snap! Time for some drama, action, and potential self-sacrifice to save other cast members! Oh, wait. Turns out it was some of Minori’s work associates who wanted to mine that vein of fanservice. Can’t expect anything too serious during a swimsuit episode. There were a few small but very important things like Myucel’s teaching debut and one of the elves and dwarves hanging out with each other outside of class. If those army guys wanted some nice pictures, they could have just gone to a convention. I get nice pictures all the freakin’ time there. I had some real fond times there, but I don’t have to tell you that.

A swimsuit episode is like a convention in many ways. Even if you’ve seen it a million times, it’s still enjoyable, because fanservice never gets old. Will the next episode contain more then five minutes of plot development? Will Shin’ichi get to second base? What will happen next? Because it always throws me for a loop! Find out on the next episode of Outbreak Company!

Watch Outbreak Company on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Kill La Kill (Episode Nine)
Player: Knightshade
Class: DJ

Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls and others! I can’t believe we’re already half way through Simulblast already! Well, Kill la Kill episode 9 is out, and I’m stoked to get to telling you all about it! As Ryuko waits for her battle against Ira, Aikuro asks her to drop out of the match, warning that she is not ready to face the Elite Four; of course, she naturally says no because that wouldn’t be cool. The battle soon begins, and Ira activates his Shackle Regalia, attacking himself in order to provide the power needed to transform into Scourge Regalia. This is probably one of the coolest looking suits in the show, and the only one it hasn’t beaten in my opinion would be back in episode 6 when Uzu transformed Blade Regalia.

Ryuko soon learns that the Shackle Regalia also serves as an armor, protecting its life fibers. This puts Ryuko into a corner, as she is unable to damage the Shackle Regalia without powering up the Scourge Regalia form. Not fazed, Ryuko keeps on attacking, forcing Ira to bring out Scourge Regalia’s full power in an attempt to forcefully mold Ryuko into a model student. However, Senketsu gets an idea and, by pulling Ryuko out of her synchronized mode, allow her to use Senketsu’s fangs to break into Ira’s uniform and destroy it from the inside using a new form, Senketsu Senjin, winning the match. With Ira defeated, Ryuko prepares to face up against her next opponent, Houka Inumuta.

This episode was awesome, Scourge Regalia kind of reminded me of Iron Man but with more bondage gear. The fight scenes were awesome, if not a little uncomfortable and funny. Though this was a great episode, it’s probably not a favorite as of yet, or my favorite review. My favorite episode and review so far would be Simulblast 006. We got to see that Ryuko can, in fact, lose, and not everything ends well at the end of an episode. It also had a bit of mech fight, due to Blade Regalia looking like a robot. This show has a bit of everything, and I was worried it wouldn’t translate well, but lo and behold, it translates extremely well! Episode 10 can’t come soon enough! Til next time, everyone!

Watch Kill La Kill on Crunchyroll & Daisuki or talk about this episode on our forums.

Beyond The Boundary (Episode Nine)
Player: Zero Gravity
Class: DJ

A fond memory of this series is hard to pinpoint, especially when your love of the series is simply the art and effects. But I suppose that, if I had to base a fond moment on a moment that had these qualities, then I would have to say it would be a scene during Episode 4, where Akihito and Mirai are fleeing from Sakura’s onslaught. The effects surrounding them from the maze-like insides of the Hollow Shadow really brought out a creative side of this series.

Now that the Calming has begun, youmu who are typically too powerful even for A-Ranked Spirit Warriors can now be easily defeated by simple B or C-Classed Spirit Warriors. This has the unfortunate side effect of Akihito’s human half being weakened, as well as his youmu half. But, with his human half weakening worse than his youmu, he begins to turn fully Youmu. Now Mirai has been tasked with the unthinkable. She must kill Akihito while he temporarily has lost his immortality, in the potential event that, once the Calm is over, his human half is fully suppressed by his youmu half, turning him into an immortal youmu.

With Miroku’s attack on the Nase family, Akihito’s uncontrollable youmu urges are just the beginning, as what appears to be the main antagonist’s plan begins to slowly reveal itself, with the intent of gaining “Beyond the Boundary.” Since Hiromi doesn’t wish for Akihito to be killed, he begins to look in the Nase family files, trying to figure out why Akihito is so important to the Nase family. Meanwhile, overcome by grief at the task she has been handed (as she is the only one who could defeat Akihito in his youmu state), Mirai manages to track down Akihito’s youmu in the mountains.

As Hiromi breaks into the library and looks through their files, he begins to unravel a truth: Akihito’s youmu is part of something called “Beyond the Boundary.” He theorizes that it’s a terrible youmu or a terrible power that could destroy the world. However, because Hiromi broke Izumi’s barrier, Miroku, manages to also infiltrate the library, unbeknownst to Hiromi. Miroku then proceeds to steal the stone left behind from the Hollow Shadow and escapes. Hiromi tries to call Mirai, but before he can tell her what he found, he is attacked by Akihito. It’s during the battle that we see Akihito’s youmu has grown stronger, able to nullify Mirai’s blood power (in a sense that it doesn’t burn or melt him, since he managed to grab it with his bare hands).

Mirai backs off and removes her glasses, crying as she screams and charges Akihito. The last frame of the episode ends with the tip of her blade a mere half an inch from Akihito’s chest. Leaving us with an epic cliffhanger, I dared not view the preview for the next episode; I can only hope we learn more about “Beyond the Boundary” in the next episode.

Watch Beyond The Boundary on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Nagi No Asukara (Episode Nine)
Player: MakiMaki
Class: Content Provider

This player is officially out of the competition, but can join again for the Winter season.

Watch Nagi No Asukara on Crunchyroll or talk about this episode on our forums.

Week 009 Tally

1. Kanashimi: 1,367
2. Midnight: 1,121
3. Elk: 988
4. Siege: 740
5. Christmas: 660
6. Bobby Henshin: 650
7. Kayarath: 510
8. Knightshade: 370
9. Zero Gravity: 290
10. MakiMaki: 70

Next week’s challenge: Review/preview/promote official merchendise from your show during your summary. If there’s no merch that suits you, make one up!

Make sure to vote for your favorite review below! You can give your favorite an extra 30 points.