I share your comments too. I love BONES as a studio for releasing a large amount of enjoyable anime. Xam’d is presently the top of my list as the most pleasing anime I can relate to since it discusses topics like self exploration and the current worlds affairs.

Paranoia Agent was an interesting series, very unique, but I’d love to see him try something a little more dramatic again, like Millenium Actress. That’s my favourite movie of his, if just because I felt a tad more attached to the characters than usual (I still need to see Paprika!)

@Celeste: Ahh, it’s a wise choice to avoid anime blogging if you’re building up to a heavy semester, this is most definitely a time consuming little hobby. Even still, I’d a subscriber to your blog!

truthfully Xam’d flew under my radar (oh lord, pun not intended) until i saw it here; but Bones was enough to convince me to give this one a shot, just like Kaiba’s visual style was enough to convince me to try it.

but Xam’d is good stuff; if i had more time i’d join the anime blogging madness and ramble about it a little more :p but the next semester beckons..

Studio 4C is by far my favorite studio. I enjoy Bones and Madhouse, too. Personally, I hope that Satoshi Kon will do another series. His ability to twist the real and imagined is wonderful.

[Sorry about the length of this comment, guys.]

@Outlawstar: Yes, Xam’d is on-going, but so far, it’s only being released via PS3 in North America, everyone else is locked out. Hasn’t even started in Japan yet, but it’s worth seeing for sure.

@Hei: It’s cool that you have the option to rent it. Do try to stick with that for as long as possible, if just because this release method is probably the best alternative we have to fansubs. I mean, for once, it’s the fansubs that are lagging behind the official releases! And by all accounts, the HD quality is fantastic too. Just a shame it’s rental-only.

@Kabitzin: I got to about the end of episode two before I started thinking, “So, who is attacking who, then?” and suddenly I realized I had no idea what was happening. No doubt, we’ll get something of a head-spinning exposition dump sooner or later; either that or the reliable chaps at Wikipedia will be happy to help out!

@Sagacious1: Xam’d was so good that I almost didn’t write about it. Watching it was kind of like gazing straight into the sun, so blinded was I by its quality that I didn’t think I could do it justice. I suppose it’s risky to have such a pure confidence in the pedigree of a show, but I’m utterly sold on Xam’d.

@Hige: There is no escaping Japanese animation. Just when you think you’ve got it pegged, something else turns up. Not to mention The Backlog.

@Lupus Inu: I was trying to fit that song title into this post, somewhere, but I settled for the lyrics in the title instead. Both the OP and the ED are suitably excellent!

@coburn: I laughed at the Studio Bones analogy in your latest Do20F post; the idea that the staff working on this and Soul Eater are sitting in their canteen pointing and laughing at the unfortunate people working on a shoe-string budget for Do20F is amusing! To be honest, I lost some faith in Bones over the last few years (Darker than Black wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be), but 2008 sees them back in top form. Only Madhouse is challenging them at the moment.

@Matte: I wonder what the Japanese public is making of North America getting to see such highly-rated anime before them?

@qwertypoiuy: Thanks for reminding me, I still haven’t seen Sword of the Stranger. I’ve heard it’s a really good, straight forward action movie.

Also, the idea of more Fullmetal Alchemist is positively salivating, but I think it might be a few years off yet. Since the anime diverged from the manga canon, it will be interesting to see how they handle any future storylines.

@Martin: Spill is a nice word for my style of blogging, I guess! And same to you with regards to Eve no Jikan. I have to admit, I’ve been surprised at the reaction its evoked from the blogging community; I had no idea Yasuhiro Yoshiura was so popular, especially since Pale Cocoon wasn’t exactly easy to understand.

@Ivy: I totally agree with you, especially with regards to how it reminds us of what it feels like to be an anime fan. That’s exactly how I felt too, reminded of how it felt to sit in awe in front of something like Escaflowne and feel like I needed to tell the world. It’s above and beyond what I expect from anime and exactly what I’ve been missing since Gurren Lagann ended.

@Celeste: I must admit, this is the only summer anime I’ve bothered with, though I’m intending to take looks at both Blade of the Immortal and Birdy[...]. Most of it doesn’t feel vital enough for me to make time for, which is sad, but then the summer and winter seasons have always been hit or miss (the spring and autumn seasons contain the major players, so no need to worry just yet).

Anyway, I’m glad you’re enjoying Xam’d. I must admit, I was curious about your opinion of it because, like me, you’re attracted to things that are experimental and unique. Xam’d is very mainstream, but it’s also very good!

Also, I do find it fascinating to watch such a fast and profession subtitling job, along with the Gonzo anime that airs online, it’s interesting to note the differences between these and fan translated anime. For example, I totally prefer OP and ED sequences without flashy karaoke and credit sequences.

@blissmo: You don’t have to watch everything I recommend That you went and had a look at Shigurui was awesome of you, and one day, I’ll return the favor!