Sleepy Impressions: Etotama
Etotama looks so much like it started off as a fighting game, but it actually started off as a manga in December 2013.
The anime is all over the place. It's annoying how the characters explain the story instead of letting the viewers figure it out naturally. It's also annoying how a different point of time keeps popping up in the first episode. That doesn't make any sense, and I fail to see how it can boost ratings or viewers in any way.
There's too much description, despite the plot being simple. It's about a cat girl who wants to become a part of the Chinese zodiac. Simple, right? It sounds like an alternate background story for Fruits Basket. But we apparently need explanations on every little thing related to it. Information overload! That just sucks out all the fun.
And look at that cutesy art style! This is clearly supposed to be a fun show. It's not really unique in terms of comedy, and it's actually pretty bland humour... But we have this cute style, with these cute animal girls and a guy who accepts random deities entering his house... That is a typical trope for comedy! But instead we get loads of details about things nobody cares about. At least they don't take their show seriously, but somehow it all just falls flat.
First Impressions: Poor
