T.H.A.T's preview to the coming Fall season anime~ *updated*

*Updated list* Added website for Mokke, schedule date for many anime and added new anime showing for fall~

As everyone is caught up with the furore of Summer’s offerings, the new Fall season is already upon us in a month’s time. As such, T.H.A.T starts off today with a short review of all the shows that will be coming up. This is possibly not exhaustive, but we will be trying to look at each anime in a short paragraph to help everyone here have a better understanding of the offerings in this season.

In addition, if I do not carry out the review today, I will have little time to write it in the future, hence I hope that everyone can enjoy this. The sequencing of preview is by chronological order as listed by PukiWiki decided to change it to interest level currently. Do take note that interest level is mine, and does not really fully co-relate with the actual quality of the show. I mean, I consider Darker than Black to be above average, but nothing more. I am sure many people will disagree with me on that count. This list will be updated when more details are available on the site.

This review does not cover sequels, OVAs and series where I cannot find any darn information. Since people have asked, I will definitely watch Shakugan no Shana II cos Shana is hot, Da Capo no, because I didn’t watch the first season and no for Genshiken because the show bores me. Many credits to AnimeDB, ANN, animesuki forums and Star Crossed Anime Blog for information on these series.

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The Must Watch at All costs!

ef -a tale of memories

Summary

The story revolves around the protagonist Hirono Hiro, a poor high school boy who draws shoujo manga for his living. One cold Christmas night after meeting a very strange woman in a church, who tells him that he’s going to meet someone he has to meet, his bike gets stolen by another strange girl. He runs after her and finds her collapsed on the street. Her name is Miyamura Miyako and her bag got stolen by a man on a motorbike. Soon after, they start hanging out together, enjoying high-school life. Miyako falls for Hiro pretty quickly but naturally finds a rival in his childhood friend, Shindou Kei, who has been dictating Hiro’s life since ever

Thoughts

Another possible big hit, if you ask me. Ef – A tale of memories is a very successful game, with Makoto Shinkai (the director behind 5cm) in the works for the game. I have no clue whether Shaft, the animation company for this series will live up to the hype, but if it is of any quality to the game, this will usurp Clannad easily. This is MY top anime for the season, and I will be waiting eagerly for the first episode to come out. It is romance, but it is also a very deep story according to sources who have played the game. I can only wish now.

Website: Click here
Trailer (for game): Click here
Interest level: 10/10
Date: October 6th

BLUE DROP~Tenshitachi no Gikyoku~

Summary

In 1995, all 800 habitants of the isolated Kamikakushi Island vanished in one night, all but a single girl who lost her memory. The cause of the disappearances was never identified. Four years later, that girl, Mari, transfers to a girl’s dormitory school, Kaihou Gakuen, leaving behind her grandmother who had been her guardian ever since the incident. There, she meets Hagino. Hagino is the school idol and completes her student council responsibilities flawlessly. The moment she touches Mari’s hand, however, Hagino freaks out, straddling atop Mari, hands around her throat. Mari is afraid of and angry at Hagino, who pretends as if nothing had happened while in front of other students, but at the same time, somehow, she is attracted to Hagino too.

In reality, Hagino is actually an alien who was sent to Earth in order to reconnoitre prior to an invasion. The event on Kamikakushi Island occurred when the 200-member crew of a battleship, the Blue, whose captain was Hagino and the island’s inhabitants had killed each other. The Blue was seriously damaged and hidden. Hagino had since blended into human society and continued her reconnaissance. Within her school life, while fighting with fellow students, Mari begins to come out of her shell. Hagino has been living a double life, but her encounter with Mari makes her face human beings, and gradually she begins to have doubts about her mission. While the invasion and war draws closer unnoticed, the girls begin to understand each other

Thoughts

Anyone having some deja vu over this concept with Simoun? I personally like the whole theme of war, invasion and the influence of school life as a layout for something deeper. I do like shoujo-ai too, since I have a great love for Simoun, Maria-sama but well, not Strawberry Porn Panic. I do like the concept about the alien, and it’s definitely more serious from how it is presented. I hope that this does not turn into some lame comedy, but Natsuko Takahashi is dealing with the composition of the series.

This might just turn out good. I am holding my breath for this.

Website: Click here
Interest: 9/10
Date: October 1st

GHOST HOUND

Summary

Little information is known about this supernatural horror show. It’s a “Spiritual Animation” with themes of occult and spiritualism.

Thoughts

Made by Production I.G. and an established director in the form of Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed), this show captures my attention almost immediately. It’s sad that there is little information for this, but this is one show I will be hugely looking forward to for the first episode. Come on, come on, give it to me! I like freaky, mind freak shows like this.

Website: Click here
Trailer: Click here
Date: October 18th
Interest: 9/10

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The possible great stuff for me

Dragonaut ~ The Resonance

Summary

Placed in a futuristic setting, Dragonaut ~The resonance~ seems to be about a battle royale among various groups of people. Little information is known, but the trailer is impressive. Read below.

Thoughts

If the story and graphics looks as good as what it is in the trailer, we are in for a good series. It seems like a good action series, with the many magical powers, and a Berserker look-a-like in the trailer as well. There are little details in this Gonzo flick, but we have to see how it goes. For now, it looks like that it has some promise, with fanservice galore. The collection of A-star seiyuu in this series including Aya Hirano, Yuko Goto, Daisuke Ono and Minori Chihara as some of the names I recognize, this might be a hit. Who knows.

Website: Click here
Trailer: Click here
Interest: 8/10
Date: October 3rd

Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji

Summary

The main character Ito Kaiji is a lazy guy who is practically a slacker in life. He works part time, gambles and is a born loser in gambling. He often gets depressed over the lack of money, yet never find any motivation to work. His hobbies are to steal various car parts from expensive imported parts. One day, he had a visit from Endo, and it was clear that Kaiji had a huge debt due to being a guarantor. The interest rate for this loan (practically a loan shark) was huge, and he was convinced to go to a gambling ship called “Espoir”, and pay off his debts. It was then that he found out he is not that of a loser in gambling…

Thoughts

Initially, when I saw the front page of the website, I immediately thought it was shounen fodder. How wrong I was. A more decent check on the background series made me realize that it is a story about gambling. Boy, I am rather interested if it is something to do with gambling, and the little reviews I have heard from this manga-turned-into-anime series are pretty good as well. The games they play in this gambling anime is likely to be fictional, yet simple enough to understand. It’s worth a watch for merely the alternative factor. Hence, it is way high here, since I have love for quirky things.

Website: Click here
Interest: 8/10
Date: October 2nd

Minami-ke/Minami-ke ~Okawari~

Summary

Minami-ke is a manga following three sisters, Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki in their lives at home and school. It’s a funny series that depicts how these characters interact with each other and their classmates. It’s a story about ordinary girls and their ordinary adventures told in an extraordinary manner.

Thoughts

I really like the artwork of this show. I am always a huge fan of shoujo, and it seems that it might be another of those series that will be interesting. As long as they manage to do this well, it might have a good chance, even for me to blog it. I got a feeling that it’s a psuedo comedy that can keep itself from the lame jokes, and go for the subtle part. Of course, if you know me, a slice of life series is a must for me to at least catch the first episode.

Website: Click here
Interest: 8/10
Date: October 7th

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Possible hits, I think

Rental Magica

Summary

The basic premise of the show is about a kid named Iba Itsuki who inherits his father’s company, called Astral. Its business is commissioning magicians for various jobs asked of them by their clientele. The characters listed on the page correspond to the various magic fields that are shown in the show, Celtic, King Solomon (the 72 demons), Shinto, and Onmyodou.

Thoughts

I have mixed thoughts about this. On one hand, I really like shows with a bit of magic, but on the other hand, there are quite a few good shows in the season, and it’s hard to get any of them easily without going into a huge loop of things. I am still very interested on the variety of magical abilities that I have seen from the animesuki forum. I guess that this just means that I have to take a look at the first episode to make any decision.

Website: Click here
Interest: 7/10
Date: October 7th

Shion no Ou – The flowers of Hard Blood

Summary

Yasuoka Shion lost her parents, and her voice, when she was young. In a murder. She was found amidst a blood-soaked room, and the only hint for the suspect was a Shougi board and one piece: the King. Now, Shion steps into the world of female professional Shougi players. As her popularity and fame slowly rises, so do the questions about her past, particularly the murder case that was never solved.

Thoughts

IThis series is added before I saw it the last time. From what I can see from this, I find it a very intriuging mix. I mean, shogi with murder? Wow, this is a very interesting mix of things, and I might be watching this since it looks rather offbeat. If it is quite the murder-thriller that is perhaps more mind-intensifying than a game of shogi, this might be a sleeper hit.

Website: Click here
Interest: 7/10
Date: October 13th

CLANNAD

Summary

Clannad follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters. According to Jun Maeda, the main scenario writer of Clannad, the title means “family” or “clan” in Irish. Clannad is set in a high-school located in some Japanese town. Okazaki Tomoya is a third-year student who doesn’t take his studies seriously. Always late for class, he’s seen as a delinquent by the rest of his classmates who are busy preparing for their entrance examinations. Needless to say, he hasn’t too many close friends either. Tomoya seems not to mind too – until one day he meets a girl, Furukawa Nagisa, who is left alone without friends on this school, because everybody she knew already graduated.

Thoughts

Clannad, the next big hit for sure without a doubt for many Kyoto Animation and Key fans throughout the world, is finally coming down to the anime realm. To be honest, I am not that excited over this, but it is still the work of Kyoto. I will definitely be looking at it, and see if the hype for this series is warranted. Since it seems to be slow starting series, I will at least give it a chance up to the fifth to sixth episode before making any judgment. It looks like it will be the main hit of the season already from the various offerings, but the harem premise does not lure me in just yet.

Website: Click here
Trailer: Click here
Interest: 7/10
Date: October 4th

Mokke

Summary

A fantastic story about two sisters. Shizuru is a high school student who can see monsters which ordinary people can’t, while her little sister, Mizuki, is easily haunted by these monsters. They are living with their grandfather’s home separately from their parents because of their abilities. The theme for each story is not horror-centric, but rather, of a heart-warming nature.

Thoughts

I wonder how this series will be like. In a way, since it is a slice of life with horror induced in it, it really cannot go wrong. I will definitely look at this series with more details. For now, I cannot even find the site for this series, so I am practically gasping air at saying more about this series. However, with the mix and reviews from some online views, this might be the sleeper hit of the season. I will be looking forward to this. The low score is due to the lack of information.

Website: Click here
Interest: 7/10
Date: October 2nd

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Mid-level dwellers

BAMBOO BLADE

Summary

This sports manga is about a teacher, Kojirou, who is also the Kendo instructor at a high school who decided to take on a bet by his senior, as he is totally broke. The bet requires him to send a team of five female kendo students against his senior’s team. For the sake of his empty tummy, he has to win the match! This first volume starts off by having Kojirou trying to get more female kendo students (at the moment, there’s only one female kendo student at the kendo dojo). The first female he had set his eyes on, has absolutely no interest in joining the kendo club, despite displaying great kendo skill, while welding a broom. However, he won’t give up that easily

Thoughts

Hmm, a sports anime on Kendo. This is quite interesting, even though I am not too impressed with the graphics in the main page currently. I really have no clue how this will turn out, but I will definitely take a quick look at this if I have some time on my hands. I do know that my exams will come very bloody soon during this period of time, so I have to be rather selective. Sports does give me a huge lure though, and Kendo with females is actually quite the sexy thing.

Website: Click here
Interest: 6/10
Date: October 1st

Shugo Chara

Summary

Everyone at Seiyo Elementary thinks that stylish and super cool Hinamori Amu has it all: But nobody knows the real Amu, a shy girl who wishes she had the courage to truly be herself. Changing Amu’s life is going to take more than wishes and dreams–it’s going to take a little magic! One morning, Amu finds a surprise in her bed: three strange little eggs. Each egg contains a Guardian Character, an angel-like being who can give her the power to be someone new. With the help of her Guardian Characters, Amu is about to discover that her true self is even more amazing than she ever dreamed

Thoughts

Someone asked for Moe yet? This is definitely your fix for Moe, and it is clearly a mahou shoujo for the cute lolis, and for those who cannot stand the powers of pedophilia in Kodoma no Jikan. Nevertheless, it will be interesting how this turns out, because there is really little information about this series other than the site. Nevertheless, the story synopsis from AnimeDB looks like this might be a slightly deeper series than the usual fluff that we have (which is good too, anyway). I will be looking forward to seeing the first episode of this series.

Website: Click here
Interest: 6/10
Date: October 6th

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Not too good, but not really too shabby

Goshuushousama Ninomiya-kun

Summary

It seems like two meidos are taking care of that chibi? Or something. Goshūsh�?-sama Ninomiya-kun (�?��?傷�?��?�二ノ宮�??ん, Goshuushousama Ninomiyakun?) is a light novel series by Daisuke Suzuki, with illustrations by Kyourin Takanae. The light novel started serialization in Gekkan Dragon Magazine in April 2005. That’s the only details I can hunt down for now.

Thoughts

It looks fanservice and moe. It’s a watch for me, immediately. I got a feeling that I will also drop the series within five episodes after getting the initial thrill, or when it goes way too fanservice. I am sure it will be that way.

Website: Click here
Interest: 5/10, 2/10 after three episodes (speculated)
Date: October 3rd

Sketchbook ~full color’s~

Summary

Heroine: A very quiet high-school girl. Likes: Taking a walk, cats, sketchbooks, school’s Sui-mountain, relaxing at the art, picnic, neighbourhood cats on the way to school, strange surroundings, the art room during after-school hours, senpais that are just a bit strange, really odd creative works, rainbows, fireworks, sunsets, discovering tiny things that happens to anyone, any day, drawing quickly, quickly. Lots of laughs, just a bit of heartfelt emotion…? A faint smile, nostalgia slowly taking over. A high-school girl animation you’ve never seen before (taken from Psgels’s site)

Thoughts

This seems to be in the same mold of Hidamari Sketch, a decent piece that is sadly easily forgotten after a while. If anything, this will be a nice piece in the slice of life genre. However, since 4komas and slice of life that isn’t produced by Kyoto Animation is not going to be anything popular, only watch out for this anime if you like artsy, relaxing type of anime. If not, possibly avoid it. I might just take 1-2 episodes of this to see whether its premise might be better and more exciting than Hidamari Sketch. Nevertheless, the graphics just do not really impress me. Maybe it might change.

Website: Click here
Trailer: Click here
Interest level: 5/10
Date: October 1st

Moyasimon

Summary

“Moyashimon�? is about a college student who can see bacteria/fungus with his naked eyes. He enters Tokyo Agriculture College and enjoys a campus life with strange professors and friends. Bacterias are very cute and manga is filled with facts/knowledge about bacteria (Mainly about fermentation – like how alcohols are made)

Thoughts

Ermm, what in the world is this? I have no clue what in the $#^#$^@#$#$^$ this is about, but the story premise and the graphics in this series looks rather interesting. I do not know, but I will want to look at this series for the first episode to see how it goes. I do not think I will keep this though, since it is a bit way too out there for my liking. Who knows.

Website: Click here
Interest: 5/10
Date: October 11th

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Close to purgatory, not quite

Night Wizard -The Animation-

Summary

The anime will talk about a transfer student named Ellis and her good friend Kureha who’s president of a run-down astronomy club. At first they seem to be getting along well, but something happens to Ellis one day on the school grounds. Kureha witnesses how Ellis’ eyes turn blue while she starts chanting some mysterious words.

Thoughts

Hmm, I do wonder about this series to be honest. I have little information (as always) about this, and I have no clue whether I will even have any interest in this at all. This does look like a shounen series, so I might just give this a miss. The graphics look rather decent though, but I never like RPG adaptations. Nevertheless, the animation company that is dealing with this series has done Aria before, so I will at least give this a decent three episode test run to see how it goes. Yes, I can be biased when it comes to Aria.

Website: Click here
Interest: 4/10
Date: October 2nd

Suteki Tantei Labyrinth

Summary

Manjou Meito & Wakayama Seiji’s mystery manga series Suteki Tantei Labyrinth is the name of this series. Little is known other than a few bits of graphics here and there.

Thoughts

Without any information, there is really little to describe. The decent graphics on the site means nothing. Remember Crescent Moon (…or was it love?). The graphics in the website is rather beautiful, but the actual anime graphics are not good enough for horse fodder. I am no huge fan of mystery and detective stuff, but who knows, I might catch the first episode for the fun of it.

Website: Click here
Interest level: 3/10
Date: October 2nd

Maple Story

Summary

If you do not know what Maple Story is, check out the game site for this

Thoughts

I laughed. Seriously. I use to play this game when I am younger (And I insist I am still young) and enjoyed this for like 2 weeks. I think I will watch this for the fun of it, and make a huge joke of how mmorpgs are always a failure when they transfer it to the anime realm. Prove me wrong, Maple Story, prove me wrong. It seems to be fitting in the comedy genre, so it might just work actually. Good stuff for parodies, if you ask me.

Website: Click here
Interest: 3/10
Date: October 7th

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No, I don’t like this anime at all

Prism Ark

Summary

The world of Prism Ark takes place in the equivalent of our world’s Crusade era in Western Europe. The geography is a little changed and there are stuff like magic and dragons.

The main players are Wind Land, Viella, and the Sablum Empire. Viella of Victaly is equal to Rome of Italy, and the Sablum Empire is equal to the Byzantine Empire. Sabus is the god of Islam and Rerihion is the god of Christianity. Like our world’s Christianity, Viella serves as the headquarters of the Pope and believers of Rerihion.

Wind Land is where the Holy Roman Empire would be. In Wind Land, it is always spring, and the greeting is “Good wind�? instead of “Good morning�?. Prior to the events that begin in Prism Ark, Viella has already called several crusades in the name of Rerihion to reclaim the Holy Land. However this was completely stopped after awhile and Rerihion and Sabus believers lived in peace and harmony from that day. The game begins with the King and Queen making a journey to Viella to get their one year daughter, the Princess of Wind Land, baptized. However, their escort was suddenly attacked by the Sablum Empire, who were supposed to be their good allies. At this battle was the first appearance of the Angels, a imposing being with wings and halo, whose height easily doubled men’s, and came wielding never before seen power.

Afterwards, the King, the Queen, and the Princess were all missing and were assumed either killed from the ambush, or in hiding. Outraged, the Pope immediately re-established the Crusades and ordered one to invade Sablum. From then on, Wind Land and the Sablum Empire were in war. However, this war has not ended years after years and continues on to this day, and still, there are no King or Queen ruling Wind Land…Finally getting the acceptance notice, Hyaweh travels to the Isle of Rozenberg, which is holded by the Rozenberg Family, the most powerful family in Wind Land, second to the absence Royal Family. In there is the best school for knights wannabes, privately funded by Duke Kizarov Rozenberg, the number one Knight in Wind Land. However, as it turns out, Hyaweh is actually two whole weeks late and from there on spirals his wacky journey to knighthood in the midst of a devastating war taking place, which will hit home closer than what anyone could’ve imagined.

Thoughts

It is ironic that I found the most information for a series that I am not really too keen about. As much as the poster screams out Moe for this eroge converted series, I am not interested. Nope, no interest at all. I have enough good shows in this list to bother about this one. People who like a harem-like series in a fantasy world with some moe might like this one. I do not like this context of moe.

Website: Click here
Interest: 2/10

Myself;Yourself

Summary

The story section tells us a bit about the setting of the game: Hidaka Sana is a 16-year-old boy who comes back to his old town from Tokyo after five years. His memories of the town do not fail him, the scenery hasn’t changed all that much. He starts attending the second year of high-school where he meets an old friend and his first love from his childhood. Life is what’s ahead of him, so he needs to jump over the gap between his memories and the reality in front of his eyes and move on.

Thoughts

This seems like standard romance/harem fare. Not for me.

Website: Click here
Trailer: Click here
Interest: 2/10
Date: October 2nd

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Don’t even bring this close to me

Kimikiss pure rouge

Summary

In Kimi Kiss, you play as a high school boy who’s just come back from a lonely summer break. Will you end your high school career having never known a kiss? You decide to spend the new school year making sure to get some lip action. Luckily enough, when you return to school, you find yourself in the company of six hotties. The game begins with the start of the new school year and continues over one month, cumulating in a school festival. Your goal is to have one of the above girls confess her true feelings for you at the festival and give you a little smooch. The game lets you move about freely throughout the school grounds, selecting your desired location from a map of the full school. When interacting with the girls, the game uses what it refers to as “Matching Conversation,�? a system where you select the topic that you think the girl is interested in discussing.

Thoughts

Another dating sim romance converted into anime. Another possible fanservice and harem situation. Another low coarse comedy. Another do you love me or do you not love me series. Another I confess but the guy does not seem to know that I actually confess to him. Another school romance series. Does this sound familiar to you? It does to me, which is why I am missing this.

Aroduc from Tenka Seiha gave me more information that this anime is from a ps2 dating sim that was wildly popular for a while. He also added that the VA for this series is in his words, “VA cast list reads like a who’s who of the crazy popular people from about a year and a half ago.”. His opinion is that “It’s a dating sim of some kind, but I have no bloody clue why it was so absurdly popular.”

Website: Click here
Interest: 1/10
Date: October 6th

Jyushin Enbu -Heros Tales-

Summary

A period piece, Jushin Enbu features Taitou, a young man who hates the empire that rules at the time, with his sister Laila as they learn of a mysterious power Taitou holds, unknown to him. Taitou is the incarnation of a mysterious star that grants him a huge amount of power that he has yet to fully master. Joining them is Ryuukou, who has a power that is similar to Taitou, just more honed.

Thoughts

I am not a big fan of Shounen and this looks like one. One to avoid for me. The story looks like every other shounen series that wants to go over 9000, or bankai, or some jutsu, or whatever magical power you want to add.

Website: Click here
Trailer: Click here
Interest: 1/10
Date: October 7th

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Just wrong to have such things on anime TV (Read: I am biased)

Gundam 00

Summary

It is the year A.D. 2307. Fossil fuels on Earth have been depleted entirely, with mankind turning to the next available power source: solar energy. During this time, 3 orbital elevators with solar power generation systems are built, each under control by the Union (formerly United States of America), the Human Reformation League (Russia, China and India) and the AEU (Europe). However, not all countries are able to enjoy the benefits of this system, leading to widespread resentment and war. Arising out of the conflict, a mysterious non-profit military organization known as Celestial Being appears, dedicated to end all warfare using Mobile Suits called Gundam. This begins the stories of Gundam Meisters (pilots) Setsuna F. Seiei, Lockon Stratos, Allelujah Haptism and Tiera Erde as they are thrown into conflict between the 3 superpowers and the other various factions.

Thoughts

Just no. Sorry. I have not gone bonkers yet. I do not like Gundam, period. However, it looks like Gundam fans will enjoy this new installation, and many mecha fans have attempted to kill me, telling me that “you bloody infidel, this one is the bomb!”.

Ouch.

Website: Click here
Interest: 0/10

Kodomo no Jikan

Summary

23-year old school teacher Aoki Daisuke has a huge problem. One of his precocious 3rd Grade students, Kokonoe Rin, has the hots for him?! Yes, mischievous Rin has proclaimed herself to be Daisuke-sensei`s girlfriend and is now on a warpath to win him over or cause him to lose his job…whichever comes first! Besides Rin, Daisuke`s got other problems to take care of — one of the students in his class, Mimi (one of Rin`s friends), hasn’t been attending school recently.

Thoughts

As a lolicon, I should like this right? Wrong, I am freaked out by this show. No way in hell will I watch this. I am not even giving this series any chance at all. If you want KnJ, you might as well watch loli hentai.

Website: Click here
Interest: 0/10