KeyAni fanboy, reporting in.
Once again I have taken on the responsibilities of creating the monstrosity known as THAT’s various season previews. At least since I’m doing it from the start Impz can’t whine and pawn it off on me halfway through. Plus, I’m OCD about getting everything exactly right and consistent. I have not changed anything about the format since the last two previews, so it should look fairly familiar to most of you.
Much of this info is pulled from Fansub Wiki, AniDB, AnimeNfo, ANN, Wikipedia and random blogs. So thanks to those fine sites for their databases.
Notice from the Office of the NKVD: Just so that there is not misunderstanding like last time this is a preview not review that “p” makes one hell of a difference. These are our initial expectations final thoughts will not be up until the show is over and done with. Again preview not review. That is all.
Click on link to jump to the series: Akikan! | Zoku Natsume Yuujin-chou | Viper’s Creed | Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger | Kemono no Souja Erin | Genji Monogatari Sennenki | Konnichiwa Anne | Minami-ke Okaeri | Kurokami the Animation | Asu no Yoichi! | Major 5th Season | White Album | Maria†Holic | Shikabane-hime Kuro | Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season | Slayers EVOLUTION-R | Birdy the Mighty DECODE:02 | Hetalia Axis Powers | Ride Back | The Tower of Druaga ~the Sword of Uruk~ | Chrome Shelled Regios | Sora o Kakeru Shoujo
Akikan!
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.melomelomelon.com/
Japanese Air Date: January 3
Animation Company: Brains Base (Baccano, Kure-nai)
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Sayaka Narita
Summary
Based off the light novel series by Riku Ranjō and Hiro Suzuhira.
The story revolves around a typical high school boy named Kakeru Daichi and the can of melon juice soda that he bought from a vending machine. The can suddenly transforms into a beautiful but standoffish girl that Kakeru nicknames “Melon,” and more “Akikan” (“empty can”) girls appear. However, Akikan girls need to be infused with carbon dioxide from kissing to survive. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Everything about this show seems to scream out “so-so/bad.” The story premise is rather ludicrous, and the character designs middling. Also, Brains Base has never really impressed me with their animation (Kure-nai was a good show, but it had spurts of terrible animation quality). Finally, the seiyuu cast has some all-stars (Jun Fukuyama, Mamiko Noto) as well as a bunch of newbies. I’m thinking this is going to end up somewhere in between average and total failure.
Impz: If even the fanservice-loving Calawain is getting fail vibes from this, it is almost impossible for this show to redeem itself. For my opinion, blatant stupid fanservice is a way of full retard. No thanks, I am avoiding this very eagerly.
lelangir: Eh, no thanks. Actually, the beach episode from Kanokon was so over-the-top it was hilarious (“this is my swimsuit”) but I’ll have to see if it follows in a similar vein.
Crusader: I suppose that there is a lot of kissing to be had given the premise, but harem is not my thing.
Shokkeru: If an idea like this was actually approved then there has to be something actually good about it. Aside from that overly optimistic comment, I doubt I’ll be interested enough to check it out.
Zoku Natsume Yuujin-chou
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.natsume-anime.jp/
Japanese Air Date: January 5
Animation Company: Brains Base (Baccano, Kure-nai) Seiyuu: Hiroshi Kamiya
Summary
Second season of the adaptation of Yuki Midorikawa’s manga.
Since she could see monsters, Natsume Reiko was alienated by normal people. In order to escape from the loneliness, she challenged monsters to fights. She took away their names, binding them to obedience, and put the names in a contract book, “Yujin-cho”. Her grandson, Natsume Takashi, has inherited Reiko’s ability to see monsters. He obtains Yujin-cho, an article left by his only relative, Reiko, and he resolves to return to the monsters their names which were taken away from them. Since then, various monsters begin to gather around him… (AnimeNfo)
Thoughts
Calawain: I’m kind of in an anti-spirit/supernatural funk right now so it’s doubtful that I’d start this one.
Impz: Didn’t watch the first season. Maipeisu?
lelangir: Hmmm, this could prove to be interesting. I hope it focuses more on Natsume and his social problems rather than him helping spirits.
Crusader: Maipeisu your series calls, will you answer?
Shokkeru: I’m glad they gave Natsume another season since the first season felt really short and unsatisfying. I doubt I’ll be able to blog this one, but I’m sure Maipeisu will take it if he wants to.
Viper’s Creed
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.animax.co.jp/10th/special/vc.php
Japanese Air Date: January 6
Animation Company: Sony Pictures
Seiyuu: Megumi Toyoguchi, Takaya Kuroda
Summary
The story revolves around the members of a private military company (PMC), and the uneasy tension between them and the regular military after a war that caused massive environmental destruction. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: I dig the story premise, I could use some edgy action this season. However, the fact that they are using the director of Appleseed makes me cautious. Sure, that movie looked wonderful and was nice and pretty in its action, but the story was pathetic. I had to fast forward through most of the dialogue scenes it was so bad. Megume Toyoguchi (Revy in Black Lagoon at least gives me some hope because she knows how to voice a tough woman.
Impz: I realize that my interest in action shows often deteriorate within five episodes due to the stereotypical cliches within that genre. It just does not rub me the right way, and I do not think that I will be watching this at all. I might just peek at the first episode just to confirm my suspicions.
lelangir: Anime Captain Planet? Not really, but I’ll definitely check out the first few episodes if the political undertone takes priority over banal action, though banal action is always good.
Crusader: Is the bike cooler than the one from Akira? Sounds interesting, but I hope that bike is bad ass and made of pure win and awesome.
Shokkeru: I’m not too into the art style, but that body suit looks kinda cool. Another pass for me.
Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.vap.co.jp/ippo/
Japanese Air Date: January 6
Animation Company: Madhouse Studios (Chaos;Head, Trigun)
Seiyuu: Kohei Kiyasu
Summary
Newest anime adaptation of George Morikawa’s long-running boxing manga. The following is a general summary of the series not specifically related to this adaptation:
Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn’t get to enjoy his younger years like most teenagers. Always a target for bullying at school (the family fishing business grants him a distinct odor), Ippo’s life is one of hardship.
One of these after-school bullying sessions turns Ippo’s life around for the better, as he is saved by a boxer named Takamura. He decides to follow in Takamura’s footsteps and train to become a boxer, giving his life direction and purpose. Ippo’s path to perfecting his pugilistic prowess is just beginning … (AnimeNfo)
Thoughts
Calawain: If you’re a fan of the series I’m sure this is the show for you. However, while I’m an avid fan of real life sports, I don’t really care for anime sports.
Impz: I care for anime sports, but I have not watched any of the earlier sequels. It’s obviously a legendary show, so you know who you are if you are watching it. If not, not for you. Hence, not for me.
lelangir: Eh pass.
Crusader: Never started the older ones, have no plan to start now. I am sure someone else out there will pick it up though.
Shokkeru: Great news for the fans. Not so great for me.
Kemono no Souja Erin
Details
Number of episodes: 50
Website:
Japanese Air Date: January 10
Animation Company: Production IG (Ghost in the Shell, xxxHolic ), Transarts (Prince of Tennis, Chocolate Underground)
Seiyuu: Nanase Hoshii
Summary
Adaptation of the novel series written by Uehashi Nahoko, of Seirei no Moribito fame.
The story is about a young woman who is drawn into a war between kingdoms. She has the ability to command animals, including dragons, as if she was playing a musical instrument. (AniDB)
Thoughts
Calawain: A lot of folks dug Moribito but I never really did. While I’m a real fan of fantasy in general, I’ve found that anime pure fantasy like Moribito or Twelve Kingdoms just didn’t quite feel right to me. Can’t really explain the reason, just doesn’t work.
Impz: Production IG tends to take on the really nice mythical series and this seems to be no exception. If the writing is just as good as Seirei no Moribito, this might be the hit of a rather dry winter season. That shows you how weak this season seems to be after the crazy fall offerings.
lelangir: Hm, I’m not really into high fantasy, and since it’s a 50 episoder I’d have to wait until around the 10th to see where the direction is headed, though by E7’s standards you’d have to wait ’till the last third of the series or so…This one’s up in the air.
Crusader: Seirei no Moribito was pretty good I will conduct recon, but like lelangir said it will be a while before we know where it is headed.
Shokkeru: I can never get into fantasy themed anime for some reason so that makes this another pass for me.
Genji Monogatari Sennenki
Details
Number of episodes: 11
Website: http://genji-anime.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Tezuka Productions (Hi no Tori), Tokyo Movie (Aishiteruze Baby)
Seiyuu:
Summary
Adaptation of Murasaki Shikibu’s classic novel The Tale of Genji. It was originally planned to be an adaptation of Waki Yamato’s shouji manga series Asakiyumemishi ~ The Tale of Genji, but that idea was scrapped by the director. The following is a short plot introduction of the original classic novel:
The work recounts the life of a son of a Japanese emperor, known to readers as Hikaru Genji, or “Shining Genji”. Neither appellation is his actual name: Genji is simply another way to read the Chinese characters for the real-life Minamoto clan, to which Genji was made to belong. For political reasons, Genji is relegated to commoner status (by being given the surname Minamoto) and begins a career as an imperial officer. The tale concentrates on Genji’s romantic life and describes the customs of the aristocratic society of the time. (Wikipedia)
Thoughts
Calawain: My handle on Japanese history is weak at best, I generally find shows set in Japanese antiquity kind of boring. I mean, would Japanese otaku enjoy watching Glory?
Impz: The only show I care about. It is a classical Japanese romance classic, and there is no way in hell I am not going to watch this. Blogging might be a yes too.
lelangir: Actually I had ordered a copy and it’s sitting at home. I guess I’ll read it over winter break so I can watch this and know wtf is happening. Does seem intriguing to me. Will watch, hope it doesn’t suck.
Crusader: Loli-cons prepare to be schooled, Genji was the original loli-con who raised a little girl (10 years old) to be his waifu, disturbing? Yes, and HOW! If you thought School Days was seedy just wait until you read the original, Genji will make Itou look like a novice, unless they keep the tally low and ignore much of the source material and I mean the original before print from the Heian Period. Possibility of lots of lurvin…SIGNIFICANT.
Shokkeru: Not sure if this is the kind of show I’d like. I’d have to see more previews for it before I can decide to watch it or not. Other than that, I’m fairly indifferent about it.
Possible Bloggers: Impz
Konnichiwa Anne
Details
Number of episodes: 26
Website: http://www.akageno-anne.jp/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: ( )
Seiyuu:
Summary
Adaptation of Budge Wilson’s new children’s novel Before Green Gables, a prequel to Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables
Before Green Gables (translated as Konnichiwa Anne by Akiko Usagawa) describes the early life of the Canadian orphan girl Anne, before she meets her adoptive family Matthew and Marilla in the first Anne novel, Anne of Green Gables. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Unfortunately there is a dire lack of information on this series, and the supposed website isn’t up yet. I’ll update it if I can find anything.
Impz You know, the first thing I think about after reading this preview and checking out the site was Psgels. He seems like the perfect person who would definitely be interested in such a series. Me? I think I might watch a few episodes to see what this is about. If it gets too slice-of-life to the point of dryness, I will be ridding myself of it.
lelangir: No idea.
Crusader: Same here no idea.
Shokkeru: I’ve never read either of them so I have no idea what to expect from this.
Minami-ke Okaeri
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/minami-ke/3/
Japanese Air Date: January 4
Animation Company: Asread (Ga-Rei -Zero-, Shuffle!)
Seiyuu: Marina Inoue, Minori Chihara, Rina Satou
Summary
Third season of the adaptation of Coharu Sakuraba’s manga.
This school-aged slice-of-life comedy follows the lives of the three Minami sisters: Haruka (oldest), Kana (the middle child), and Chiaki (youngest). This will be the second season produced by Asread, the first having been handled by Doumu.
Thoughts
Calawain: I absolutely loved the first season of Minami-ke, but the second season soured me. I dislike the character designs used by Asread for the 2nd and now the 3rd season, as well as the inordinate amount of time spent on that irritating kid Fuyuki. I’m sure I’ll watch this season anyways, but I may be grumbling along the way.
lelangir: Definitely watching. First season was badass…second season sucked at first, though I’ve grown to like it, hopefully this one will be good (though I do miss the art of the first season).
Crusader: Problem with the second season was that the studio was broken too early by Mako-cakes assuming subs are regular I might take this up as school and work allow. Still much broken-ness will be spread the legend of Mako-cakes shall not perish from this Earth. Haruka is AMAZING!
Impz: I got bored by second season. I will wait for Crusader and his drunken posts about it. I somehow feel that I am not likely to follow this through for some reason. I guess my interest of the Minami Ke sisters is waning.
Shokkeru: Yay another season. Can’t say that I like the art style, but I’ll be checking this one out definitely.
Possible Bloggers: Crusader, might conscript lelangir and Calawain if the aesthetics are up to par.
Kurokami the Animation
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.kurokami-anime.net/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Sunrise (Gundam, Code Geass)
Seiyuu: Daisuke Namikawa, Noriko Shitaya
Summary
Adaptation of the Korean manga authored by Dall-Young Lim, with art by Sung-Woo Park. The title is licensed for the English market under the title Black God.
Keita Ibuki is an independent and struggling freelance computer programmer who had a chance meeting on one night with a high Mototsumitama named Kuro. He gives her his dinner, a bowl of ramen, and tries to protect her when she is attacked in an ambush by an unknown Mototsumitama. Keita loses his entire left arm during the fight between the Mototsumitamas, but Kuro was able to save his life by exchanging the decapitated arm with her own left arm since she has enhanced healing abilities like all Mototsumitamas. This creates a contract between them, which makes her more powerful than before. However, Kuro warns Keita that they need to be together all the time in order to be at their strongest. (Wikipedia)
Thoughts
Calawain: I have the first couple of volumes of this manga, and I found it pretty enjoyable. It’s one of the few series these days where the main character is not in high school first off. Second, he’s pretty damn tough and doesn’t go around emo’ing or blushing at panties. One caveat though, I don’t know what time Sunrise plans to broadcast this, but the original has fairly graphic violence. I hope they don’t try to cut it all out, I think it would take a lot away.
lelangir: Hmmm, a computer programmer than isn’t schizophrenic or have possibly incestual relationships between two long lost sisters that have a rare eye color? I’ll watch the first few episodes to see where it’s going.
Crusader: Looks like we have a recon patrol for this one.
Impz: Ok, if Calawain actually likes it enough to blog it, I will be particularly cautious. Treading carefully. Jokes aside, Sunrise is making this. Sunrise and me generally have a very uneasy relationship. I probably will avoid it.
Shokkeru: It sounds interesting enough, but it’s Sunrise so I’m not sure how I feel about this one.
Possible Bloggers: Calawain
Asu no Yoichi!
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/yoichi/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: AIC (Special A, Seto no Hanayome)
Seiyuu: Nobuhiko Okamoto, Rina Satou
Summary
Adaptation of Yū Minamoto’s romantic comedy manga.
The titular character Yoichi decides to leave his family’s mountainside home after his father tells him there is nothing more he can learn in martial arts there. The teenaged boy ends up in a martial arts dojo in the city with four girls. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Some of the preview materials I’ve read indicate that one of the main character’s defining traits is that he commonly gropes the girls accidentally and is called a pervert (and one assumes, is beaten). How original ladies and gentlemen. On a less sarcastic note, I rarely enjoy martial arts anime (I was turned off by shows like Kenichi and Tenjho Tenge) so this one looks doubtful for me.
lelangir: Lots of girls, martial arts, romance….it reminds me vaguely of Sekirei or Koihime (no, I swear I didn’t watch those two!).
Impz: Groping? No thank you. I have enough of fanservice, and Koihime nearly killed me.
Crusader: Pass.
Shokkeru: Meh. (Sorry I really tried coming up with something to say… I really did.)
Major Fifth Season
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Studio Hibari (Kashimashi, Moonlight Mile )
Seiyuu: Masakazu Morita, Motoko Kumai, Showtaro Morikubo
Summary
The 5th season of the adaptation of Takuya Mitsuda’s long-running baseball manga.
Shigeharu Honda is a Major Leauge batter on the rise. His son Goro is a Little League pitcher who one day hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps. Momoko Hoshino is Goro’s schoolteacher, and the first woman Shigeharu has been interested in since the death of Goro’s mother. The destines of these three individuals will become intertwined as father and son experience both heartbreak and triumph on the baseball diamond. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: See comments on Hajime no Ippo~
lelangir: Ew baseball.
Crusader: Not a baseball fan, not a fan of sports genre, but I am sure it was good enough to warrant another season.
Impz: Baseball fan, didn’t watch first four seasons. Easy choice. Hint: I ain’t gonna marathon the last four seasons.
Shokkeru: You would figure, this being the 5th season, that I would have at least heard about this series. Does that make me a bad person?
White Album
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.whitealbum-tv.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Seven Arcs (Nanoha, Sekirei )
Seiyuu: Aya Hirano, Nana Mizuki
Summary
Adapted from the Leaf eroge.
The White Album game centers around Tōya Fujī, a college student dating a rising idol singer named Yuki Morikawa. The game deals with the challenges to the couple’s relationship from the other people at Fujī’s college, Morikawa’s work, and elsewhere. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Way to rip off a Beatles album title you damn Elevens. That being said, as he was reading this I’m sure Impz was thinking “hey its porn, that’s Calawain’s for sure.” One would generally be right, I am a porn supporter of sorts, and Aya Hirano and Nana Mizuki having the primary female roles will certainly help its chances. But I’ve been soured on some of these as of late so I will be a bit careful. On the other hand, I have found Akane-iro to be somewhat interesting, and not just because the imouto has a huge rack.
lelangir: If this has lesbians, Aya Hirano and Aya Hirano as a lesbian, I’m in.
Impz: LOL, EROGE. LOL! LOL! I feel like putting myself as a possible blogger, blog it for 1 episode, flame the living shit out of it (yes, already getting ready to waste my time) and then say I GONNA DROP IT. I hope to eat my words but few eroge adaptations do well. Seven Arcs does not inspire any confidence too.
Crusader: Only in if there is confirmed yuri.
Shokkeru: Uh, I don’t know. I’ve had enough guilty pleasures recently. I’m kind of tired of it.
Maria†Holic
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.mariaholic.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: SHAFT (ef, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei )
Seiyuu: Asami Sanada, Marina Inoue, Yu Kobayashi
Summary
Adaptation of Minari Endo’s manga.
The story centers on a sophomore named Kanako who enrolls in all-girls school because she has a phobia of men and wants to find her destined yuri partner. She meets a captivating freshman named Mariya who fits her criteria — except her seemingly ideal mate happens to be a cross-dressing sadistic boy. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Traps, yuri, and maids. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my type of show. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series and is one of the shows I’m looking forward to the most. I am just giddy over the seiyuu cast, with the top three characters being voiced by my favorite girls from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Definitely a possible blogging candidate for me.
lelangir: Looks like a really bad version of Strawberry Panic (wow it must be really bad) just ’cause it has a cross in its title. On the other hand, SHAFT + lesbians + traps = …wow.
Impz: MINE too! Yuri with traps? I am adding my name into the mix.
Crusader: Some one say yuri? Tally-ho gents!
Shokkeru: The recent ef series was hard for me to get into so far (I will have to watch it eventually). Maybe this series will help me return to being the SHAFT fanboy I was previously. Despite having that said, it seems that there’s enough of the all-star cast having interest in blogging the series already.
Possible Bloggers: Calawain, Crusader, Impz
Shikabane-hime Kuro
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/shikabanehime2/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Gainax (Gurren Lagann, Neon Genesis Evangelion) and Feel (Nagasarete Airantou, D.C. II: Da Capo II)
Seiyuu: Nana Akiyama, Tatsuya Hosome
Summary
Second season of the adaptation of Yoshiichi Akahito’s supernatural manga.
The story is about an exorcist girl called “Shikabane Hime” (Corpse Princess). Her name is Makina Hoshimura, an undead girl who hunts down 108 corpses in order to go to heaven.
Thoughts
Calawain: I watched the first two episodes of the first season and found myself thoroughly unimpressed. The voice acting was flat and the story did nothing for me. On the other hand, it’s nice to see that Funimation is streaming them online fairly quickly after airing.
lelangir: No, just no.
Impz: Didn’t even watch one episode of this. So I guess you know what I am thinking.
Crusader: Sorry.
Shokkeru: Wasn’t interested enough in the first season. But I do want to ask if the 108 corpses thing is a reference to Shui Hu Zhuan’s 108 heroes or the more commonly known Suikoden’s 108 stars of destiny.
Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season
Details
Number of episodes: 13
Website: http://www.gokigenyou.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Studio DEEN (Fate/stay night, Simoun)
Seiyuu: Kana Ueda, Miki Itou
Summary
Fourth adaptation of the light novels written by Oyuki Konno.
Maria-sama ga Miteru’s story revolves around the students of the Lillian Girls’ Academy (a Catholic school), and can be considered character-driven, focusing on interactions between the characters rather than any sort of ongoing plot or goal to attain. At Lillian Girls’ School, there is a tradition known as the sœur system (sœur being French for “sister”), in which a second, or third-year student, the grande sœur (“big sister”), will give her rosary to a junior student, the petite sœur (“little sister”), and promise to look after them and guide them. (Wikipedia)
Thoughts
Calawain: Ah, the shows you will watch when you are desperate for any and all yuri-ish content. I’ve watched all of the previous incarnations of Marimite because of the yuri subtext, the absolute absurdity of the stupid things they have drama over, and Sei (she is my favorite kind of lesbian). Gentlemen, make sure you fap elegantly, otherwise it would be inappropriate.
lelangir: DAMN I’ve been waiting for this, at long last.
Impz: Watching this, but not blogging. Need more Sei.
Crusader: Some one seems awfully happy…
Shokkeru: Sounds like I’ve missed out on something amazing. Oh well…
Slayers EVOLUTION-R
Details
Number of episodes: 13
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/slayers_revolution/er/
Japanese Air Date: January 12
Animation Company: JC Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Toradora!)
Seiyuu: Megumi Hayashibara, Yasunori Matsumoto
Summary
Fifth TV season of the adaptation of Hajime Kanzaka. This season will continue the anime original storyline from the fourth season, Revolution. The following is a summary of Revolution:
Having lost the Sword of Light in the previous battle, Lina and Gourry continue their journey in search of a replacement weapon. On the way, the two of them meet up with Amelia and Zelgadis in the kingdom of Luvinagard while taunting some pirates. Lina is happy to reunite with her old friends, but appearing before her is Luvinagard’s Inspector of the Special Investigative Unit; a man called Wizer. However, Lina is amazed at his unusual behavior… (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Never got into the series, started way before my anime time and the old animation style turns me off.
lelangir: No, just no.
Impz: Just to be silly, YES I AM SUCH A BIG FAN. Not. What is with the number of sequel series this winter season. We should call this review THAT SEQUEL SEASON ANIME PREVIEW!
Crusader: I’ll watch, but it is hard as hell to blog, and my meager skill set is not up to par.
Shokkeru: Slayers is great and a classic. However, I’m just not into reincarnations of older shows. Don’t even get me started on all the Square-Enix remakes and ports.
Birdy the Might DECODE:02
Details
Number of episodes: 13
Website: http://www.birdy-tv.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: A-1 Pictures, Inc. (Kannagi, Persona ~Trinity Soul~ )
Seiyuu: Miyu Irino, Saeko Chiba
Summary
Second season of the newest adaptation of Masami Yuki’s manga. An OVA adapted from the same was released in 1996.
Birdy Cephon Altera is a Federation agent chasing interplanetary criminals to the planet Earth. While in pursuit of one, she accidentally kills a high school boy named Tsutomu Senkawa. Fortunately for Tsutomu, there is a way to keep him alive, although he ends up merged into Birdy’s body and must remain so until the repair of his body is complete.
So Tsutomu is stuck sharing a body with an attractive, strong – if impulsive – space police agent, while trying to keep his family and friends from finding out about about Birdy. In the meantime, Birdy continues her investigation. Together, they take on a secretive group of evil aliens planning to perform experiments on the unsuspecting inhabitants of Earth. (Wikipedia)
Thoughts
Calawain: I’m getting rather tired of typing out “*second, third, fourth, fifth* season of *blank.*” Where are the piles of new shows dammit! Sigh~
lelangir: No, just no.
Impz: Birdy is not a bird. Yes, what am I supposed to say about this?
Crusader: Here we go, again. However, I am so yuri starved that I have to decline.
Shokkeru: I heard the first season was pretty good. I can’t watch this until I’ve seen the first one so I’ll have to pass on this for now.
Hetalia Axis Powers
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://hetalia.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Studio Deen (Fate/stay night, Simoun)
Seiyuu: Daisuke Namikawa, Hiroki Takahashi, Hiroki Yasumoto
Summary
Adaptation of Himaruya Hidekazu’s bishonen comedy web manga.
The “cynical gag” story mainly recounts the era between World War I and World War II, with the stereotypical characteristics of each country or region (particularly northern Italy) anthropomorphized as bishounen. For example, Italia Veneziano is into pasta and women. Deutsch (Germany) loves potatoes and sausages, and Nippon is an otaku boy. Installments of the manga have jumped back and forth in setting from the ancient times to modern-day geopolitics. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: What…the…hell…Will the Japanese stop trying to ruin my glorious history. I shall avoid saying something really nasty here for the sake of peace, love, and harmony.
lelangir: If it turns out to be funny I think it will be hilarious. Will watch for a bit. But I think the chances of it being good are slim to none, though that’s just prejudice.
Impz: This is so strange and quirky how they bloody butchered the history of so many countries that I got to watch it.
Crusader: I heard that this was fairly tongue and cheek and faithful, will do recon.
Shokkeru: Am I the only one who misread the title as “Hentai” at first? I’m a bad bad person. Anyways, if the comedy is well done, then I’ll have to check this one out.
Ride Back
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.rideback-anime.jp/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Digital Frontier, Madhouse Studios (Chaos;Head, Trigun)
Seiyuu:
Summary
Adaptation of Tetsuro Kasahara’s mecha manga.
Ride Back tells the story of a girl a her “Iron Horse” robot motorcycle in 2020, a tumultous time of anti-goverment student protests. (ANN)
Thoughts
lelangir: Robot Bikes and Civil Rights? Hmmm. The art style suggests a Millenium Actress vibe, though it’s up in the air. Probably won’t bother with this one, but will read what other people have to say.
Crusader: If the mecha throws nukes and wishes to Liberate Alaska from a communist invasion I am in. Otherwise peaceniks with mecha might make for more angst than I am willing to bear.
Impz: I got immensely distracted by the word Ride. What is it that I wanted to say? oh yes, MECHA – no.
Shokkeru: Nice bike.
The Tower of Druaga ~the Sword of Uruk~
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.druaga-anime.com/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Gonzo (Last Exile, Rosario + Vampire)
Seiyuu: Fumiko Orikasa, Kenn
Summary
Second season of this original animation based on Namco’s The Tower of Druaga game franchise.
The long awaited “Summer of Anu” has come. It is a season that comes but once every few years and during which the powers of the monsters within the Tower wane thanks to the grace of the great god Anu. Each Summer of Anu, the armies of the Uruk Kingdom secure their strongholds within the Tower, aiming to eventually conquer the upper floors. Decades of re-fortification and battle have passed since the infamous adventures of Gil and Ki. Their story has now become a legend. Now, finally, the third Summer of Anu has arrived. (Crunchyroll)
Thoughts
Calawain: Animation Company: Gonzo. Hohoho, nonono.
lelangir: Didn’t bother with the first, nor, now, the second.
Crusader: I heard that this was good, but again my desperation for yuri forces me to decline.
Impz: What is with your craziness over yuri. Never bothered, couldn’t be bothered, won’t be bothered too.
Shokkeru: Don’t worry, I’m sure someone will pick this series up. Well, maybe not.
Chrome Shelled Regios
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://anime.webnt.jp/regios/
Japanese Air Date: January 10
Animation Company: ZEXCS (D.C. ~Da Capo~, Rental Magica )
Seiyuu: Nobuhiko Okamoto
Summary
Adaptation of the light novel series written by Shūsuke Amagi, with illustrations by Miyū.
The world was infected by “Pollutant” years ago – world cracked open and generally screwed up. This Pollutant spawns nasty “Pollutant Beasts”, but it’s also resulted in people gaining special powers. The towns that now litter the world are protected by alchemists and are mobile – these are the “Regios” of the title.
The story follows a guy named Lei-Fon Alseif who starts at a new school following the disappearance of his childhood friend and gets recruited into the special 17th Platoon in order to combat Pollutant Beasts. (AniDB)
Thoughts
Calawain: The story concept sounds interesting, but with the exception of Mai Nakahara, there isn’t much amongst the voice cast to get excited about, despite the fact that many of them are old hands. I don’t have particular confidence in ZEXCS either, they have yet to produce a series that really grabbed me. The title sounds really neat however, maybe I’ll at least try it out.
lelangir: This sounds like Genesis Climber Mospaeda + Blue Gender….which equals no thanks. Will be surprised if it is good…will randomly watch episode 5 or so to see what’s up.
Crusader: Sounds like a concept, but so little time…
Impz: Hmm. I actually think that the idea is particularly interesting but this is the exact type of series that gets my attention for a few episodes before I get bored of it. Let that cycle replay itself again when the season comes.
Shokkeru: This could be worth checking out. I’m not going to get my hopes up though.
Sora o Kakeru Shoujo
Details
Number of episodes:
Website: http://www.sorakake.net/
Japanese Air Date: January
Animation Company: Sunrise (Gundam, Code Geass)
Seiyuu: Aya Endo, Mako, Yui Makino
Summary
An original creation by Sunrise.
The story is set in the year 311 of the Orbital Calendar, when humanity has migrated to countless colony clusters in space. A space colony girl named Akiha Shishidō encounters a malevolent artificial intelligence named Leopard that has been installed on a colony. Akiha is joined by an Inter-Colony Police officer named Itsuki Kannagi, a taciturn young girl named Honoka Kawai, and a robot named Imoko “Imo-chan” Shishidō. (ANN)
Thoughts
Calawain: Before we all decide to hate on Sunrise, remember that most of their great stuff is original content, especially the old school hits Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Big O, and Gundam. More recently it’s been hit or miss, but I dig Mai Hime and Code Geass. As for the show itself, the concept isn’t particularly original, but Sunrise always puts a lot of cash into animation quality so it will look good. Plus with rising stars like Aya Endo (Sheryl in Macross F, Miyuki in Lucky Star ) doing the voice work it may be something great.
lelangir: Watching. Just kidding.
(maybe if the oh-so-important advertisment image didn’t reek of suck)
Crusader: Once in a while Sunrise will surprise you, if this is by one of the underfunded competent teams I’ll probably stick with it, otherwise force recon for possible yuri vibes. In fact it seems that if the character page is anything to go by there are only women, with exception to the non-human thingie, gives me reason enough to hope for at least some yuri. Not sure if there will be any mecha but we shall see I suppose. I hope it is as good as VOTOMS Pailsen Files if not better as long as it is short and simple that ought to prevent things from going south. Here’s hoping the team doing this is VOTOMS class and not Geass class.
Impz: Sunrise with source content: Decent. Sunrise with no source content: TOTAL fail. Yes, I might be way off here but Sunrise’s attempt for a convoluted plot tends to fail dramatically in the series. In addition, please do not add romance into the story. Sunrise cannot do proper romance to save anyone’s life.
Shokkeru: “An original creation by Sunrise.” I think that says it all pretty much. Jokes aside, that body suit is a little bit too revealing. I can’t help but stare… I don’t know. I might check it out for the lulz if anything.
86 Comments
Natsume Yuujinchou was ‘unsatisfying’? Huh? When every episode was filled to the brim with bittersweet melancholy and pathos? Okay, I have to disregard that opinion personally. Natsume was one of the BEST 2008 shows in my opinion because each episode brought something.
Also, you guys are the typical ’sports anime, ewwwwwww’ ilk. Whatever. Both Major and Ippo should be legendary from the way they’re heading. People who are missing out, I don’t envy them if they don’t ‘get’ sports anime.
Regarding Minami-ke, I still liked the comedy-lite aspect of the sequel. I’m just happy to get a new season, even if they should have continued with the same team from the first season.
As for Slayers, the problem isn’t the ‘old animation style’. Stop talking out of the ass if you aren’t even a fan. The older shows actually had more detail and were simply better told as stories. The newer season just seemed to pander to the idea of a ‘Slayers fan’ instead of bringing something new and also bringing it up to the standards of the first three seasons. IMO it did neither. That’s where the problem is. Not because it has ‘old animation style’. Get real.
Oh, and Sora o Kakeru Shoujo is an interesting project. Love them or not, Sunrise at least brings a lot of weird and ambitious projects into the mix. Fanservicey or not, I’m watching. Sunrise seems to have amped up their production values in the past few years and I don’t expect to be disappointed as long as the actual ANIMATION aspect is concerned.
@Shippoyasha: By “unsatisfying” I, of course, meant that it felt way too short. I loved that series and don’t get me wrong about it, but I felt that it should have been much longer of a series (which is why I’m glad they’re bringing out another season).
Doesn’t look very promising. Lots of cheesecake and not much substance to be found.
Genji? Probably the only one I will take a look at, otherwise, I am not interested in any of it and have plenty of other stuff to deal with… lol
And, yeah one last thing, no good male lead to look at (totally my opinion)..
@Shokkeru: True, true, there’s that aspect of it. I do remember people being scared that Natsume Yuujinchou had only a small lifespan and that it would end up unfinished. Glad it’s not the case.
As for all the negative speculation on retro-remakes and the like, the few there are up there, at least some of them ends up being a totally intriguing revamp like Casshern. Admittedly they are rare though.
I’m really excited about Genji Monogatari Sennenki; I’ve read the translated novel several times, and it is stunningly beautiful. I just hope they have good artistic direction and take the material seriously. As for everything else, I got a headache while reading about it; though I laughed when one show was listed as a ’sunrise original creation’ and then went on in it’s description to drag out another tired old generic cliche like almost everything else on this list.
Zoku Natsume Yuujin-chou is the only definite watch on my list. The first season was the best show of the 2008 summer season, IMO. Will likely try Hetalia Axis Powers, Genji Monogatari Sennenki, and Kurokami the Animation. Mostly out of curiousity more than anything else. I really wonder how Hetalia will turn out since I hear that the episodes will only be 5 minutes long.
Tower of Druaga was definitely good stuff! I don’t know why no one in the crew gave it a shot. because the whole season was worth watching. If something was not worth watching in that same season, it was the other Gonzo offering, Blassreiter. Damn, that was a horrible experience.
I rather like Blassreiter personally. It was pretty straightforward, but Gonzo showed they could do serious storytelling if they wanted to. It had its moments, despite the wonky 3D animation as always.
As for Druaga, I’d say it’s easily the most engrossing fantasy anime I’ve watched in maybe a decade. It could use more depth, but what is there was a lot to take in. I just hope they go places with the comedy, new characters and the overall world-story of the game.
Wasn’t there supposed to be Haruhi 2 now that I think of it? Just wondering. I also think that I heard something about Hayate no Gotoku (even though I haven’t finished the first season…)
This is a summary of what Konnichiwa Anne will probably be about. It’s for the book though.
This book is about the death of Anne Shirley’s parents and the resulting struggles of Anne’s pre-Gables youth. The book shows how deeply in love Bertha and Walter Shirley were. The book also tells details about the fever that killed Anne’s parents. The book tells in detail the emotions Anne feels, the people in her life, and the way she connects with other people till she is on the train to Green Gables. The Thomases are bizarrely bitter.(Wikipedia)
An okay book but I don’t think it’s something that would be animated well…
@Shippoyasha
I thought Blassreiter wasn’t nearly as bad as people made it out to be, but I felt like it definitely lagged toward the end. The second they gave up that urban feel for a more military one, I felt it start to loosen. Not to mention, they felt some bizzare obligation to kill lots of named characters, which is an impulse I can respect– if done well. I thought it was rushed in this case. In particular, Josephs sister I didn’t give a fuck about. Or the cult-leader dude.
Then there were the moralistic overtones, ‘blah blah blah atomic bomb’. Speaking of which, using overwhelming force of ordinance to quarantine a country ravaged by a horrible plague that turns you into a cyber zombie seemed pretty reasonable to me….
Anyway, it still had slick animation, and I loved the snipers, though they both wound up pretty dead. Their deaths in particular is the /right/ way to do a dramatic death. Sunrise could learn a thing or two. But again, they lost their mojo toward the end.
@skoll
Oh definitely, Blassreiter had its faults. You really can’t take the plot progression too seriously since it’s so nihilistic (even at the end where everyone ‘comes back’, it’s a bit silly since they are still dead). I guess it just shows that they could do serious stories, because when they concentrate on those, it was at times a compelling watch. I just wish they get more consistency on it and be more original and purposeful with the plot. You’re right. They need to worry about killing off main characters correctly if they want to do so. The again, you can blame the Blassreiter manga for quite a bit of that too.
Listening to those 4 people that commented on each anime, you’d think that everything sucks… what losers they are. Go watch some emo, romance, love story crap
@Shippoyasha
Whether you believe the animation style of older shows is good or not, you can’t really argue that it’s significantly different than the modern style. This is due to various changes is technology and style. I don’t care for that old style, I’m not saying that it’s ugly, or has poor attention to detail.
@J
For people such as you that can’t read, I’ll repost what I said a few comments up:
Just like in every other type of media, 80% of the shows suck. I mean think of how many movies and TV shows are out compared to how many of them are actually any good? So of course the majority of the shows are going to be bad, just the facts of the medium. That being said I generally try to give some sort of additional commentary on what I think based on the little information available. But in all odds again, most of these shows will frankly, suck ass.
@calawain: if/when your toradora 10 post comes out, can I append a few words at the end?
@J: Actually, there were 5 of us commenting on those shows, but who’s counting? Certainly not you, that’s for sure! Ho ho ho.
HOLY CRAP, I can’t frickin wait for Hetalia!!!~ <3
(especially after the major disappointment when Heart no Kuni no Alice got delayed… ;_;)
Personally, I don’t think the summary at ANN does it this series any justice, it’s a great parody that’s not afraid to make fun of each countries’ stereotype. I’m actually learning more about history than I ever did in school, while enjoying it too. XD
Also, I think Kemono no Souja Erin and Maria+Holic seem pretty interesting (although I HATE yuri, but LOVE genderbending, lol).
Otherwise, not really much to say about this season. Which strangely enough, I can’t help feeling a little relieved because I usually have very little time to watch anime anyway.
Meh… this season doesn’t look so good… that aside, I’m definitely watching Natsume 2, Druaga 2, Kurokami, and Slayers. I’ll try out a few episodes of Chrome, Viper’s Creed, Maria Holic, Sora o Kakeru Shoujo and Kemono no Souja Erin.
i saw 1 or 2 that i like. But other than that, nothing peeks my interest. Due mostly to the annoying 2nd seasons of shows i never watched cause my conciousness gave up after watching the 1st to 2nd episodes.
But 1 thing I can’t wait for is maria holic. Looks and sounds awesome.
Hahaha, reading this again I find it intriguing that somebody could have never heard of Anne of Green Gables. On the one hand I can see how that might be, but on the other, growing up Canadian and having it constantly rammed through my skull it seems incredible just the same.
Basically it’s about life growing up on Prince Edward Island (Canada’s least populated province) and how a girl named Anne Shirley who is something of a prodigy (and who is also clearly Montgomery’s insert character) manages to make something of her life there. The funny part is that this comes as the CBC is gearing up to do yet another Anne of Green Gables miniseries. Talk about your saturation bordering on full revival.
Is Maipeisu still on the blogging team? His Druaga writeups were excellent; I’d really like to read his commentary on Season 2, when it comes out.
@Kaioshin: Hah! I only know it’s a classic text but not much other than that. I don’t come from the US of A or Canada, so it is not exactly a common text sadly. It’s a World Masterpiece series though, so it will be a story with good plot. Graphics will be mediocre sadly.
^_^ keyani fanboy reporting !! ^_^ lol season really reeks of yuri and sequels ^_^ something i’ve heard from somewhere though but i’m not sure if its true ^_^ minamike 3 has been reverted to its original creators from 1 ^_^ i’m expecting a lot ^_^ other than that i’m all for….. MUNTO !!!!!
Sunrise makes some interesting original series. If you have never watched Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, it’s one of their best. The OAVs only add to the TV series, especially the third one.
man, you guys don’t like any shows do you.
Uhh Im just guessing but…You guys are all guys right? So what the ****? Don’t critisize animes that you haven’t seen -_- That’s just stupid at least give it some thoughts before saying oh wow a sports/MECHA/ blah blah NO IM NEVRE WATCHING IT Ughh gosh idiots like you makes ppl no interested in it anymore…sheesh and yeah the part where i said you guys are boys yeah wow you find it interesting when it comes to all girl animes(by that i mean ecchi ****) only what the hell you guys don’t deserve to even critisize other ppl’s work…God idiots(guys these days)!
my thoughts on
Birdy the mighty decode…the title is well really awful for one thing it doesn’t make any sense(at least in english) Birdy is a stupid name and what the hell is a decode, secondly for the most part the whole body switching thing is a gimmick and the show would of been better if they hadn’t used it. Since all of the situations its accually a plot device, feels forced and could of been done a different way. However I got caught up on all the other anime I was currently watching and since the title was soo awfully bad and all the synopsis I read seemed to reinforce that idea, all the reviews I read where positive soit perked my curiosity, I picked it up and I am in the middle of the second season currently.
What I found was surprisingly good, which was a real surprise since my expectations where rather low. It has great action and doesn’t follow the perverted anime cliche, that you would expect from a boy/girl body swap. Though why this isn’t is a bit of a mystery since most guys would get a little bit of a reaction on seeing(and due to the body swap/sharing I asume also feeling) a hot chick take a bath. But the good news is it doesn’t let the pervy take over the show and thus the overall feeling of the show has a somewhat bitter sweet feel to it.
so yah I would give it a 9/10 if you like a of action with your storyline you might want to take a look. the only problem I have had is the subs for this take a painfully long time to come out. And are backlogged quite a bit.
anyway
You guys should really get off your “slice of life trip”, it’s annoying reading good things about series like maria holic and ppl saying shikabane hime is shit. Shikabane hime is one of the best Animes out there, can’t be compared with any shitty animes yuo listed there
I hate to say it but you guys really have bad taste, by the look of it you’re all girls or else gay
Gawd nothing interesting in here … I better go to walk my dog. Right I don’t have one… -__- laggggggg… I’ll go to eat some cookies then i have at least a life. Baii all xD
Shouldn’t the title of this post be 2008?
I was starting to think I was the only one turned off by these new animes… Thank God I found YOUU!!!’I think ama get hooked on this site {:)
Wow… most the critics must not be teens… Im a 15 year old boy, and I find most of these interesting, and Ill probably watch most of them, and Calawain… I have no idea of what I would say to you.
The Thoughts part of the previews are pathetic, get rid of them and simply list the anime’s and their synopsis.
How about trying to watch a couple of episodes, and telling the people visiting your website your thoughts on it?
I know its “preview” but
lelangir: No, just no.
Is just plain retarded.
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