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This season is about Sasahara, who has inherited the Genshiken. The focus of the series shifts from simply enjoying manga to the actual production, leading to a lot of drama as the usually easy going Genshiken crew are faced with stress, deadlines and surprisingly, romantic intrigue!

This season doesn't have as clear a story as the first, but it actually spoke to me much more. The stress of job searching after college is a humiliating, heartbreaking experience, and this series captures that perfectly. It's nice to know I'm not the only one feeling frustrated.

My only complaint is with Angela: the "American" who could barely speak English. ... Needless to say, this was much better in the manga. Suzy does and will always rule, however.

Oguie is a masterpiece in characterization. She's the walking representation of every girl I've ever loved. I suspect she will be yours as well.

Favorite Character: Oguie
Crushing on: Oguie
Favorite Episode: 5, the most painful/funny episode in all of anime
Favorite Music: Ending, Clubhouse Sandwich by Yuumao

My first and favorite manga.

What makes this manga so great is the premise. What could have been a meandering slice-of-life kind of story about a college anime club, is transformed into something much greater by a very careful set up.

Although it takes a little longer to get there than in the anime, there is a definite story being told here.The manga doesn't just pull out random days for our amusement like most slice-of-life shows, it's building towards the conclusion of the conflict and the development of its characters.

Featuring some of the most three dimensional characterization I've seen, detailed and careful artwork and a story that ... actually has something to say, I can't do anything but recommend Genshiken.

I strongly recommend that you watch this anime only after you've seen a lot of other anime from different genres. The longer you've been in the fandom, the more impact this series will have.

A seinen classic, and essential viewing for college age anime fans.

This season of the series is not about Sasahara. It's about Kasukabe, a fashionable and sophisticated young woman who is pulled into the club due to her boyfriend joining. She acts as the antagonist in the story, either indirectly or outright criticizing the behavior of the rest of the group. She's opposed by Madarame, who is a walking parody ... of intense otaku. The struggle between his philosophy of accepting your otaku desires and her direct opposition to anything related to it forms the main source of drama for the series.

We find out what happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force.

Although it isn't groundbreaking, I can't think of anything actually wrong with this series. The music, art and sound are all excellent, the voice acting top notch. Don't be deceived by the laid back atmosphere into thinking that nothing is happening: it's a well structured story that drives forward towards its inevitable and satisfying conclusion.

Favorite Character: Madarame
Crushing on: Kasukabe
Favorite Episode: 9
Favorite Music: Ending, Biidama by Saori Atsumi

PS: The manga is superior in almost every way.

I started with the (ongoing) Bamboo Blade manga, so my review of the anime comes from that perspective.

All of the enjoyment of the show comes from the characters and the fights. Although that might make it sound like a shonen series, it certainly is not, but it dances on that line between shonen and seinen very well. Ostensibly about a kendo instructor and his struggles with a high school club, it's really about a young kendo prodigy named Tamaki who matures into a young woman through the course of the series.

The series is short on plot, and since this was my first real sports anime ... I'm not really used to that . They basically go from one tournament to another, with lots of training in between and little drama. It didn't have much to draw from, since the manga is also weak in this respect.

The art and sound are passable, the fight scenes are well done, but some reuse of material towards the end becomes conspicuous. I'm not crazy about the opening or ending, and I really don't like Tama's voice, which sounds way too young even for that character.

The characters obviously make the show, and all the girls are distinct and likable. It does a very good job of developing each personality, and is very patient introducing them.There's even a happy couple in the mix, which seems rather rare in anime these days.

Overall, a light anime with cute characters, it should leave you feeling happy after each viewing.

Favorite Character: Dan the Man
Crushing on: Saya
Favorite Episode: 22
Favorite Song: Track #19 Yugure