Shokkeru here. Back after a long hiatus with a mini review of various shows of the Winter Season. Keep in mind that these are merely my impressions based on the first episodes of these series.

Today’s Menu:
Baka to Test to Shokanju
Dance in the Vampire Bund
Durarara!!
Ookami Kakushi
Seikon no Qwaser

Baka to Test to Shokanju
Students are divided into six different classes based upon their placement exams. Each class serves as a ranking within the school ranging from rank A all the way down to rank F. The facilities in each class are also a reflection of their rank with rank A being the luxurious suite and rank F being the run-down shack. Classes may also battle other classes in order to have their classrooms changed using summoned avatars. The power level of these avatars are based upon the student’s test scores, thus motivating the student to do better theoretically.

The Good:
-Test scores are the key to victory!: I kind of like the idea behind this series. Having students’ battle powers be based on how well they score on tests certainly does seem like an interesting idea. If only our education system was like this, maybe some people would be more motivated to do well in school… maybe.

-Transformation!: While some of the character archetypes are rather cliché, I still find them enjoyable. Hideyoshi being the obvious trap character even has his own “mahou shoujo” transformation scene. My favorite characters so far have to be the clever Yuuji, who appears to always have a plan and the perverted Kouta, who tries so desperately to sneak a peek.

The Bad:
-Idiot Main Character: I understand that these guys are supposed to be the “worst” students in the school (one of them being the obvious exception) but Yoshii is a little too dumb for my tastes. Not to mention, his summon seems to be a bit useless as well.

Verdict:
Not too shabby even though the first episode did seem a little rushed… well maybe not. Regardless, this is a show that I probably will continue to watch if not for the character interactions then for the interesting battles.

Dance in the Vampire Bund
Thanks to a series of murders where young females are left with bite marks on their necks, rumors begin to surface of the actual existence of vampires. The rumor makes its way onto a TV show where five judges decide whether or not it’s true based on discussions and evidence presented to them. Despite the notion that vampires are not real, one of the judges turns out to be a vampire himself. He is then pursued by other vampires as well as the vampire princess herself. After disposing of the “criminal”, the princess, Mina Tepes, officially announces the existence of vampires and their new home.

The Good:
-It’s SHAFT: I’ll be honest, if it wasn’t for the fact that SHAFT is producing this, I probably wouldn’t have given this a chance. The first episode was a bit slow paced, character designs are a little bland and I wasn’t sure what to think during the whole TV show portion of the episode. But, in the end, it did turn out to be something interesting and I’ll have to check out the next episode for sure.

The Bad:
-What is that, an iguana?: Vampires are cool an all, but transforming into lizards wasn’t something I expected. I understand that this guy happens to be one of the lesser vampires, but I hope not all of them turn into lame animals.

Verdict:
It wasn’t a spectacular first episode, but I’ll be checking out the second for sure.

Durarara!!
Mikado Ryugamine moves to Ikebukuro to attend a new school with his childhood friend Masaomi Kida. When he arrives, Masaomi takes him around town showing him the sights and introducing him to a few acquaintances. While taking his tour of the city, Mikado happens to be “lucky” enough to see the appearance of what appears to be a modern day headless horseman (except that it’s female and rides on a motorcycle).

The Good:
-Awesome OP: The OP for the series is just so cool. It’s probably my favorite of this season so far. Very hip indeed.

-So many characters you won’t know what to do with.: Just judging based on the OP sequence, the amount of characters that would appear in this show is just amazing. Some may see it as a bad thing just by having to keep up with all the names and such, but I for one think it opens up a lot more possibilities with character interactions. Let’s just hope I’m right.

-We’re just so hip and cool.: I just absolutely love the character designs but then again I am a sucker for a lot of things urban themed in anime.

The Bad:
-Are we there yet?: This seems to be a trend amongst shows recently. The first episode just seemed to go by so slowly for me. It seems that they spent a lot of time explaining things while not really explaining anything at all. We got to meet a few of the characters and the modern day headless motorcyclist in action, but despite all that, I’m still not sure what this whole show is about. In short, I kind of feel annoyed by having to wait till episode 2 to fully understand the basic flow of the series.

Verdict:
Definitely a candidate for one of the best shows this season. I’m watching this show till the end and may even end up blogging it if I find the time to.

Ookami Kakushi
Hiroshi Kuzumi and his family move into the town of Jouga (seems to be a popular opening to a story) where everyone seems to be more than welcome of his arrival. The town is divided into the old town and the new town and apparently residents of each are not too fond of each other. At night it seems that people are killed off by a strange wolf cult just before going mad.

The Good:
-Something’s strange in the neighborhood.: I got to admit, I can’t say no to a good mystery. Despite the mood the beginning part of the episode conveyed, you could feel the eeriness of the entire town especially when all the of the students were drooling over our main protagonist. It had a very “Twilight Zone” feel to it. However, I have a feeling that it’s going to take a majority of the series to find out just what the hell is going on in this town.

The Bad:
-Too sweet for my tastes.: I’m not a fan of the character designs at all. They’re much too cutesy for me and I find it very hard to watch the show because of it.

Verdict:
I don’t know if I’ll be watching this show for very long. The only thing keeping me attached to it is simply the mystery itself. Once that’s solved, I may not care for the rest of the show… if I even make it that far.

Seikon no Qwaser
Alexander “Sasha”, a Qwaser, is able to manipulate metal (Iron I think) and use it however he wishes. He does this in order to chase down a criminal who can control magnesium. What fuels their powers, you ask? Why it’s Soma of course… in other words, breast milk…

The Good:
-At least the main character is kind of badass?: The only reason why I decided to even try this show was because of the main character and just how badass he looked. I also liked the idea of alchemy. But sadly, this alone won’t save this show.

-Ending theme is catchy.: The ED song is actually kind of good even though the visuals are quite questionable… well nothing compared to the actual content of the show.

The Bad:
-Seriously? Breast milk?: I heard that breast milk as a main plot device for the series, but I never imagined to this extent. Now it just seems to be an excuse to show as much boobies as one possibly can and still try to take itself seriously. I mean breast feeding to power up just seems a bit wrong does it not? Not to mention all the other fanservice in this show just disgusts me and I’ve watched and read To-Love-Ru all the way through.

-Censorship is bad ‘mkay?: Fanservice is one thing, but I absolutely cannot stand censorship. If the show is bad enough that you’d have to censor 1/3 of it then you might as well not show it at all. Not to mention that the censoring job on this was so terribad. However, I do hear that there will be an uncensored version airing 2 week after the censored version. So, if you still want to feel a little hot and bothered, you can get your jollies there.

Verdict:
A big no thanks on this one. I may just watch the uncensored version just to see how bad it is and for a few laughs, but other than that, I’m staying away from this one.

Winter seasons this year is, shall we say, not the most widely anticipated season ever. But with that said, there are some shows that looked like they could have promise back during preview time. With a couple first episodes out (and the Baka to Test Christmas Special short), I thought I’d take a look at the first three that I got my hands on and see for myself. In this post I’ll be taking a look at Baka to Test to Shoukanjyuu (Christmas Special short), Ladies vs Butlers, and Sora no Woto in a ‘liveblogging’, stream of consciousness style. Comments are as I wrote them down on a notepad while watching each episode, so they may change as more info became available later in each episode.  Let me know if you like or dislike this style, it’s a bit of an experiment. (Full credit for influencing to me to use the format goes to the Democracy in America blog on The Economist’s website, for the multi-commenter liveblogging they did of the primary and general election debates and later presidential speeches. I’m sure others have done it, but DiA is where I saw it first.)

Baka to Test to Shoukanjyuu – Christmas Special

-DAAWWW at pink haired girl. Such a romantic.

- Christmas Klux Klan or robed minions of Sauron? Either way, WTF?!

- Ugh oh, girl #2 (Tomo) is taking a cue from Minmay with that scarf tactic.

- Kuroko’s little sister! Miharu love for her oneesama will not be denied.

- Hmm, could be  a bit of a rip off character idea though.

- [EDIT] Originally took as girl by character design, but absolutely FAILED to think when I wrote down the name, as pointed out by Sunao in the comments. Boy #1 named Hideyoshi. Still, those are some girly boots he’s got there, never mind the haircut and clothes. [EDIT]

- SHAFT-esque footprint sequences.

- Fourth person is a guy, BL option, something for the ladies.

- Final Verdict - Has promise as decent but probably not amazing comedy, still need full episode to tell.

Ladies vs Butlers – Episode 01

- Expecting this to be HORRID.

- Animation is pretty crisp looking, at least.

- OH GODS! Her giant insect pupae hair is straight out of Kafka!

- Character designs otherwise pretty generic.

- Her name is Flameheart-san? Seriously?

- At least the other girl is a good troll (Tomomi).

- Green haired clumsy maid girl? Never seen that before, nope, no sir.

- Sigh, completely random, unnecessary panty shot as camera pans across classroom.

- Slight laugh out of principle trying to figure out her OTP in dating sim.

- Big sigh, protruding nipples.

- “I don’t have time to be playing around with you.” Me neither.

- Look out! Those things are going to hatch!

- aaaaand there’s the inevitable fall-grope.

- Oh god dammit, AND a pantyshot?

- Eyecatch. You mean this is only half over!?

- Apparently this is the Community School for the Easily Fainting.

- Obligatory loli in high school who’s sensitive about being called a kid? Check.

- Yes you’re nineteen. Nine….teen.

- And panty shot on her. Literally facepalmed.

- Nugi-onna ripoff character.

- Dear god it’s just pathetic: maid trips, falls, lands on male lead, rides his face.

- Is that Index? How much is this show going to rip of the To Aru shows?

- Or is it supposed to be a burqa? Hope you like death threats, producers.

- Kind of like troll, yandere childhood friend character. The one bright spot in all this crap.

- Lots of censored bath scene stuff. Go on otaku, buy the DVDs for it. OBEY YOUR MASTERS!

- And a crossdressing character too.

- Overall episode statistics (by my count) : Panty shots – 12. Fainting – 6. Groping – 4. Falling onto other character – 3.

- Final verdict – Had one good character. Otherwise only good for making fun of it while watching it.

Sora no Woto – Episode 01

- I like the limited use of colors for emphasis on the mostly gray background in opening scene.

- OP sequence is pretty good, song is too.

- It’s like postwar Valkyria Chronicles.

- Mix of languages is a bit weird.

- Please don’t say she is Mio, datte hontou wa Rio.

- ‘Douse the moeblob’ festival.

- The cat sees all!

- Sneezing bit has crossed the line into annoyingly moe.

- Legend of maidens of the flame protecting the city? This is Valkyria Chronicles!

- That’s some tank you’ve got there. Or is it some sort of mecha hybrid?

- White flag raising in midpoint eyecatch. WWII French or Italian army?

- Nice landscape shots, this cliff scene especially. Animation in this show is at its best when frames are mostly empty.

- Wreckage seems to indicate something more advanced than just tanks.

- Wow, a plot in a moe show. Hard to believe, I know!

- Don’t stop BELIEVIN! (re: advice to young Kanata in flashback.)

- More nice visuals with the horn in the chasm shot.

- Visuals are nothing really special in style/design, but when they do the sparse shots with just one character and a wide open background they really work. Especially when combined with playing instruments. Reminds me a little of some shots in Last Exile.

- Complete breakdown of discipline, no one uses their ranks to refer to each other.

- Sorry, incompetent moe doesn’t do it for me. Practice moar!

- I want to like the ED with it’s ska elements, but I just don’t like the vocals at all.

- Final Verdict – Has potential due to plot elements and occasionally nice visuals, but I’m having a hard time meshing what I like with the moe comedy concept, generally like the two separate. Will give it another episode or two before making final watch/won’t watch decision.

(NOTE: for those interested in a more thorough review of the first Sora no Woto episode, Crusader should have a post on that up sometime soon.)

Welcome to another edition of our seasonal anime preview. A bit later than we normally put it out, but hey, at least this way most of the shows have trailers to link to.

A Message from the NKVD: Well its time once again to point out this is a preview, and not a review. That “p” makes a difference a very big difference in fact. On another note many of us are old grouchy mean spirited cynics and not wide eyed idealistic fat cat communist NEETs. If you are part of the “animu is SRSfkn business” part of the fandom do yourself a favor and just read the summary from ANN so you can preserve your fragile optimism for your harem animu. Other than that Liberty Prime is watching and ready to initiate directive 7395, destroy all communists. All info is from ANN, MAL, or wikipedia. Also I got my hands on some heavier ordinance complements of Uncle Sam…

Click on link to jump to the series: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Owari Naki Unmei | Chu-Bra!! | Sora no Woto | Seikon no Qwaser | Ladies vs. Butlers | Omamori Himari | Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu | Dance in the Vampire Bund | Durarara!! | Hidamari Sketch×☆☆☆ (Hoshimittsu) | Ookamikakushi | Nodame Cantabile Finale | Katanagatari | Hanamaru Kindergarten

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Owari Naki Unmei

Animation Studio: Yumeta Company (Neo Angelique Abyss, Miracle Train)
Website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/neoromance/tv/haruka/destiny/
Source: Third anime in the Haruka -Beyond the Stream of Time- series and is the second franchise in KOEI’s popular Neoromance line of games for female gamers. (The other Neoromance franchises are Angelique and La Corda D’Oro.)
Summary: Akane Motomiya and her friends Tenma and Shimon are pulled by a demon into another world, where Akane becomes the Priestess of the Dragon God. The people of this world tell her that she is the only one who can stop the demons from taking over; meanwhile, the demons want to use her power for their own ends. Luckily, Akane has the Hachiyou, eight men with powers of their own who are sworn to protect the Dragon Priestess. (Summary of the first anime series)

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: Oh baby, man harems, and it’s no Ouran.
Crusader: Mabdese FRONT AND CENTER!
ExecutiveOtaku: Nothing here for me, moving on.
Mabdese: I feel strangely compelled to watch this because I watched the OVAs…and I own the games…
Reverse Vampire: Ooo, pretty boys, but definitely no substance by the looks of it.

Possible Bloggers: Mabdese

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Chu-Bra!!

Animation Studio: ZEXCS(Da Capo, Chrome Shelled Regios)
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/chuubra/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Adaptation of the manga by Yumi Nakata.
Summary: The story centers on Nayu, a middle school girl who shocks her schoolmates on the first day of school by wearing black lace panties. She likes this kind of underwear, and she tries to “spread the word on the merits of [these kinds of] underwear” via an underwear club with her schoolmates, who are worried about their bodies’ development and which underwear to choose.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: It’s like they aren’t even trying to be clever or subtle about it anymore. If you look at some of the images from the manga floating around you’d think it was a relatively docile show, but the animation character designs are rather smut-like.
Crusader: Bypassing, I suspect that this will not be allowed viewing when in country.
ExecutiveOtaku: It felt wrong of me just to find and add info/trailer for this one. No thanks. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to purify myself in Menoth’s eyes by spending some time on the wrack.
Mabdese: Wow. This passed subtle and left it in the dust. PASS. Try harder.
Reverse Vampire: Die, ecchi, die…

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Sora no Woto

Animation Studio: A-1 Pictures (Fairy Tail, Kannagi)
Website: http://www.sorawoto.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Original work by Aniplex, series composition by Hiroyuki Yoshino (Mai-Hime, Mai-Otome, Macross Frontier).
Summary: The story is set in the future on a land that, after being scarred by long-lasting wars, has settled into quiet decline. The protagonist is Kanata Kumika, a 15-year-old girl who fulfills her dream of enlisting in the army and joins a unit of five girls who protect a fortress. The girls also play music that reverberate across the skies over towns without people and seas without fish.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: Many have noted the “K-ON-ification” of this series as we went from this very attractive original character design to the moe-fiction above. Now I enjoyed K-ON and I like moe anime generally, but I like some variety. That being said, A-1 Pictures is A quality studio production wise so I expect it will be good.
Crusader: Ah a 15 year old who knows what she wants in life…sounds like something fluffy to watch in country without pissing off the locals.
ExecutiveOtaku: ‘K-ON Joins the Army’ isn’t exactly thrilling me with its concept, it sounds like a very gentle post conflict situation. Still, I’ll give it an episode at least.
Mabdese: I might have to watch this just to figure out how they’re going to slant it but it doesn’t look like it will be that great…
Reverse Vampire: Looks promising, it better not turn out be crap or some typical moeblob.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

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Seikon no Qwaser

Animation Studio:Taki Corporation
Website: http://www.qwaser.jp/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Adaptation of Hiroyuki Yoshino and Kenetsu Satou’s manga.
Summary: The mature supernatural action story follows the students of the privately-run St. Mikhailov Academy — in particular, a boy named Aleksander who is a qwaser, or a manipulator of the element of iron. The story is known for its heavy emphasis on fan service, especially with breast milk as a plot device.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: When ANN mentions breast milk as a plot device, how can you not watch? And ANN gives the manga a rating of “Mature (May contain sex, drugs, and extreme graphic violence).” Sounds like my kind of show.
Crusader: Breast Milk as a plot device? I am sure the the local clerics would love this…
ExecutiveOtaku: Too bad about the gratuitous fanservice, it almost sounded like they had something going there with the whole Imperial Russia influences thing. Will give it one episode but likely do not want.
Mabdese: I literally got half way through this thing with high hopes and then they crashed but…I kind of want to watch it, is that wrong? MC looks a bit like Blackjack in I squint too.
Shokkeru: Despite how horrible the fanservice sounds, the promo art and character designs look fairly interesting. Might be work checking out, but I’m not expecting much from this.
Reverse Vampire: One glowing eye, white hair…another D.Gray Man to be, with 120% more fanservice and boobs.

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Ladies vs. Butlers

Animation Studio: Xebec (To Love-ru, Heroic Age)
Website: http://www.ladies-vs-butlers.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Adaptation of the light novel by Tsukasa Kozuki
Summary: The school  romantic comedy revolves around Akiharu Hino, an ordinary high school student who unfortunately looks like a juvenile delinquent. He enrolls into an academy that was once a school for upper-class ladies, and he is placed in the school’s newly established servant training department. The students there are raised to be either maids or butlers, and Akiharu finds himself in the middle of the bickering cliques.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: I dig the tsundere-looking girl with gigantic drill hair. Oh yeah, and the main character grabs her boob by accident in the preview, never seen that before. That aside I usually give most of these harem lovecoms a shot at least. Sometimes they do have enough charm to keep me around. Plus with Ayako Kawasumi and Mai Nakahara as leading ladies you are on solid ground. Giggled a bit at the Kanokon-inspired character designs too (same director).
Crusader: Were the mission to Troll and Flame the locals rather than win hearts and minds…
ExecutiveOtaku: You readers know me, you’ve seen my posts and my comments. You know I’m not some bitter old malcontent. But frack me if this season doesn’t have some utter crap in it. Moe, moe, fanservice, pantyshots: I want the three minutes of my life I spent watching that preview back! I literally facepalmed…twice. Perhaps if I feel the need to scourge myself in anime viewing form I’ll watch this.
Mabdese: I just want to know why there is always one tiny one. ALWAYS. Ugh before watching the trailer I almost wanted to watch this but now I’m not as sure…probably will since I’m a sucker for horrible things.
Reverse Vampire: Zzz…someone help me get out of this world of maidos and buttlers…I’ve seen ENOUGH!

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Omamori Himari

Animation Studio:Zexcs (Mushi-shi, Rental Magica)
Website: http://anime.webnt.jp/omahima/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Based on the manga by Matra Milan.
Summary: The slapstick romantic comedy centers around an ordinary 16-year-old high school boy named Yūto Amakawa who is protected by a spirit — specifically, a beautiful, sword-wielding cat girl spirit named Himari. Yūto is descended from a family that has subjugated demons since time immemorial. The charm that once protected him is now impotent, but fortunately, at that same moment, Himari appears before him as his new guardian.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: Extrange previously covered this wickedly delicious manga drawn by a former ero-mangaka. Needless to say, it is one sexy harem romp with one of my favorite character archetypes- the sword-wielding chick, and the male lead even occasionally grows a set. though I don’t think I like the anime version of the character designs as much as the manga version. Probably going to be placated by the fact that Ami Koshimizu is voicing the sultry Himari, nya.
Crusader: I think the locals and the Turks at the ECPs will not take to these harem shows. I suppose Calawain will have all the fun this season.
ExecutiveOtaku: Eh, sounds a little generic, but maybe I’ll give the first episode a shot in the hopes of at best some ok comedy.
Mabdese: Definitely the plot of a dozen other animes. No thank you, maybe if it was like…an evil cat girl or a bunny or a fish or anything else…but no.

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Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

Animation Studio: SILVER LINK (Tayutama -Kiss on my Deity-)
Website: http://www.bakatest.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Based on the light novel series by Kenji Inoue.
Summary: The story centers around a boy named Akihisa Yoshii also known as the idiot or the baka of the title. He attends an academy where they rigidly divide the student body based on the result of the tests taken. Students summon beings that are used for battles and wars between the classes, with their power based on the students’ scores or grades. On the day of the placement test, a smart girl named Mizuki Himeji had a fever and couldn’t complete her test and was pigeonholed into the F class. Akihisa, who pitied her, pitched an idea to his class to rule over the higher level classes by doing a summoned being wars for both Mizuki’s sake and to get more and more prestigious items.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: I’ve read the translated volume of this (the translator has a bit of trouble with his English at times, but I appreciate the effort) and it’s been drop-dead hilarious. Studio and director are a bit new, but they have a great source to work off. I hope they are able to pull off the quick-fire lines that would take this over the top.
Crusader: Finally a comedy, will do recon hope it doesn’t offend the locals or get the FOB brass all bent out of shape.
ExecutiveOtaku: Sounds ridiculous and over-the-top dramatic enough to possibly work. Will give a three episode test.
Mabdese: I’ll probably try to watch this because I really like this sort of stuff (like School Rumble where everything is ridiculous).
Reverse Vampire: I wish school was like that…but real life doesn’t work that way.

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Dance in the Vampire Bund

Animation Studio: SHAFT (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Bakemonogatari)
Website: http://www.vampirebund.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Based on the manga by Nozomu Tamaki.
Summary: The story revolves around Mina Tepes, princess-ruler of all vampires, and her “protector,” Akira. Like other vampires, Mina has been in hiding with her people for many years. Seeking to end centuries of isolation, Mina gains permission to create a special district for vampires, “The Bund”, off the coast of Japan by paying off the national debt of the Japanese government. Mina then reveals to the world the existence of vampires and her desire for both races to live together. Tensions, however, run high as fearful humans and extremist vampire factions begin to interfere with Mina’s wish for peace with the human world.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: One of the more entertaining manga in my collection, there are a couple of non-TV friendly scenes that I’m curious as to how they will handle. However, the vast majority of material is nothing too extreme, and you never know what you are going to get with SHAFT and Shinbo. Not quite sold on Aoi Yuki as Mina, but we’ll see.
Crusader: I’ll let the civilians enjoy SHAFT’s latest work some how I think the locals would deem it blasphemous and might take the loli service to be a jibe at some aspects pertaining to their Prophet.
ExecutiveOtaku: All the loli fanservice and rivers of blood stuff is a turn-off, but it is SHAFT so I am required by law to give it a shot. The story sounds interesting too. Will three episode test it.
Mabdese: Why are vampires so vogue this season? Don’t say Twilight. Anyway I’m so over vampires so I’ll skip this.
Shokkeru: This doesn’t look like an anime that SHAFT would normally produce, but then again they do have many faces (see Hidamari vs Zetsubou). Being a SHAFT fan, I’ll give it a look see.

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Durarara!!

Animation Studio: Brain’s Base (Baccano!, Yatsume Yuujin Chou)
Website: http://www.durarara.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 and Trailer 2
Source: Based on the light novel series by Ryogo Narita.
Summary: Ryuugamine Mikado is a boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro. Masaomi has warned him about people he doesn’t want to cross in the city: a champion fighter, an informant, and a mysterious gang called “Darazu.” Nervous from Masaomi’s stories, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Turbans will rise to the surface, and Ikebukuro will pushed to the breaking point.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: Brains Base and this director tend to make very strange series, few of which I care for. Probably going to be one of the few that avoid this one.
Crusader: Seems to have sexy violence instead of sexy fanservice so seeing as how I get slim pickings in country I might as well do recon on this.
ExecutiveOtaku: Hell yeah, finally something this series that I can actually get excited for! Will watch, might blog.
Mabdese: Hm, it looks like it could be okay but somehow the music and the scenes of the trailer didn’t go together so I’m concerned for the anime itself…maybe watch the first episode just to check it out.
Shokkeru: I thought the art style looked familiar and then I found out that it’s the same artist that did Yozakura Quartet. Another show I’ll have to check out.
Reverse Vampire: Woot, another Baccano! But it wouldn’t hurt to watch the first episode and get a feel of it.

Possible bloggers: ExecutiveOtaku, Crusader

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Hidamari Sketch×☆☆☆ (Hoshimittsu)

Animation Studio: SHAFT (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Bakemonogatari.)
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/hidamari/
Source: Third season of series based on the manga by Ume Aoki.
Summary: Centers around a young girl named Yuno who finally is able to get accepted into Yamabuki Art High School, which she has longed for. To attend the school, Yuno moves and starts to live in a small apartment building named the Hidamari Apartments located near the school. Once there, she starts making new friends like her classmate Miyako and the second year students, Hiro and Sae. The events of the characters’ everyday lives are shown as they attend the school together and get to know each other better.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: I’ve watched the first two seasons, it takes a certain kind to enjoy…OH GOD YOSHINOYA IS HOT…er sorry about that. It’s definitely lighter faire, you would classify it as slice of life comedy.
Crusader: Not my cup of tea, might watch out of desperation…
ExecutiveOtaku: Doesn’t seem like my cup of tea, and I didn’t watch the earlier seasons anyway.
Mabdese: No. That is all.
Shokkeru: I’ll have to admit that I’m guilty of watching this show. However, it is a good thing that SHAFT is producing this series otherwise I don’t think it would have been as interesting to watch as it has been.

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Ookamikakushi

Animation Studio: AIC (Seto no Hanayome, NyanKoi!)
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/okami/
Source: Based on the mystery novel PSP game by Konami which was directed by Ryukishi07 (Higurashi and with character design by Peach-Pit (Shugo Chara, Rozen Maiden).
Summary: A 16 year old boy, Hiroshi Kuzumi, has recently moved into a new town in the mountains. The town is separated into new and old streets by the river, and many mysterious local cultures still remain. Although confused and enjoying his new life, one person kept her distance from him: class committee member Kushinada Nemura. In their few encounters she gave him a word of advice: “Stay away from the old streets”

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: AIC is an A-grade studio, so I almost always will watch a show merely because they are in on it. I don’t really care for Peach-Pit works, but they sure know how to draw amazing character designs, and Ryukishi07 is a brilliant writer, so all in all it has a good foundation.
Crusader: Been a while since I saw a good mystery series, as long as it is tame there should be no local offense to this.
ExecutiveOtaku: May have potential for an interesting mystery show. Will give it at least one episode.
Mabdese: This looks really good to me.I’m always up for a good mystery anime. Plus I actually tend to  like anime made from games…

Possible bloggers: Mabdese

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Nodame Cantabile Finale

Animation Studio: J.C. Staff (Honey and Clover, Toradora!)
Website: http://www.nodame-anime.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Third and final season adaptation of the manga by Tomoko Ninomiya.
Summary: At a top music academy in Japan, Shinichi Chiaki’s arrogance is matched only by his top-notch piano playing. But when Chiaki and the teacher get into a fight, he’s demoted to the reject class. Chiaki is left to pursue his dream of being a conductor while surrounded by a bunch of loser musicians and one annoying girl, Noda, who has proclaimed herself Chiaki’s girlfriend. It doesn’t help that Noda, who insists on being called Nodame, lives right next door to him. (Summary from season 1)

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: I think you would find it difficult to show me a josei show that I actually enjoyed.
Crusader: Despite the flaws of the second season I might give this one a try.
ExecutiveOtaku: I liked the first season, but just not quite enough for the second and this one. Though I’m sure there are many fans looking forward to this.
Mabdese: I never made it through the first season and basically slept through the live action, I’ll leave this one to the fans.

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Katanagatari

Animation Studio: WHITE FOX (Tears to Tiara)
Website: http://www.katanagatari.com/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Adaptation of light novel by NisiOisin (Bakemonogatari)
Summary: A swordfight story taking place in Edo era (17th – 19th century). Yasuri Shichika is the seventh head of the Kyotou school of Japanese sword martial arts and lives in Fushou Island with his sister Nanami. With the order from a female samurai general Togame, he sets out for a trip to collect the twelve treasured swords created by a legendary swordsmith Shikizaki Kiki.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: The strange character designs are a real turn off, and I didn’t care much for NisiOisin’s other work, nor the animation studio involved.
Crusader: I can tolerate weird art if the adventure story is decent enough, looks like minimal local friction with this at any rate.
ExecutiveOtaku: I have mixed feelings about the art style for this (backgrounds, great; characters, not so much) but the story sounds cool. Definite three episode test.
Mabdese: WANT NOW. This thing, this anime is such a strange mixture of things that I really want to see it. It reminds me of Okami in a strange way and the art is so clean and distinctive that I’m hoping it reflects the story.
Reverse Vampire: Might want to do this, all because of its unique art style. But I’ll judge it if it’s watch-worthy when the first few episodes arrive.

Possible bloggers: Mabdese, Reverse Vampire

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Hanamaru Kindergarten

Animation Studio: GAINAX (FLCL, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/hanamaru/
Available Trailers: Trailer 1
Source: Based on the manga by Yuto.
Summary: Anzu goes to a preschool with her friends, the shy Koume and the eccentric Hiiragi. Together they try to attract attention from their caretaker Tsuchida. However, he is clearly more interested in the pretty Yamamoto who supervises the class next door.

Writer’s Commentary
Calawain: What.
Crusader: Great lolis…I deference to the locals I shall pass, even if they are a boring teetotaling society that can’t laugh at their own religion. If only we invaded North Korea instead…
ExecutiveOtaku: Gainax, creators of Evangelion, TTGL, and numerous other memorable series are doing this? Surely this is a sign of the End Times.
Mabdese: Why is this one last. I didn’t even make it through the trailer. What are you even doing Gainax? Did you run out of bunny girls that were fueling your dreams? Oh god we’re all going to die!
Reverse Vampire: Ohh, teaching us how to handle little rascals in adulthood or in preschool? Please, don’t let it be another Kodomo no Jikan…

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With the rest of the premiers for this season done, here’s some quick thoughts on some shows we didn’t have a chance to do a full work-up on.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu- Purezza

Holy steam censoring. I don’t even think this was an attempt to boost DVD sales a la Strike Witches because this show really isn’t a fanservice show per se. Instead I think it was plain old censoring, because hints of boobies are scary. The show itself was alright, although I felt it slid a bit too much into the tired lovecom cliches that the first season managed to largely avoid. The opening Lacross anime was pretty hilarious, they’ll make a sports anime out of almost anything, they did it with mahjong~ Still, I like the main characters a lot (oh, let me express my love for Mika again) and I watched the first season, so I’ll be watching this one through.

Sasameki Koto

More mopey than I thought this was going to be, but then again the first chapter of the manga was sort of like that. This episode even comes with depressing piano music. I hope they don’t turn the lighter parts in future chapters into melodrama as well. Other than that, Kazama’s voice was rather annoying and doesn’t seem to match the character very well. The rest of the voice casting was decent. One positive note, Murasame kicking the crap out of that box was pretty wicked. Where’s my happy yuri anime dammit?!

Persona 11eyes

It may have a rediculously large number of parallels to the Persona series (in the last scene I was totally waiting for him to pull out an evoker), but imitation doesn’t necessarily mean the show is crap. In fact the first episode was pretty decedent decent (Freudian slip? My job slipping into my blogging? You decide!) , the protagonist isn’t some milquetoast clown like we see so many of these days, and there’s plenty of different types of bishoujos around. Lets see if we don’t allow ourselves to get bogged down in 10 minute bursts of expositions like so many of these shows and perhaps we’ll have a winner.

Sacred Blacksmith

Ugh, this one seems to pull all the bad cliches out of JRPGs and sticks them into one show. I also wasn’t a big fan of the direction, sometimes the split cliffhanger at the beginning and the end just doesn’t work. Plus, Luke comes off as more of a douchebag than just some aloof cool guy. Many have likened him to the widely despised top JRPG protagonist of emo douchedom, Squall from FF8. Reports from the second episode of long expositions make for a possible quick-like drop of this one.

Two more first episodes down, but unfortunately I’m not much more excited for the new shows this season than I was before. Miracle Train isn’t quite the comedy I had figured it would be, but it’ll probably sell to fangirls like pocky to con-goers. Nyan Koi on the other hand could have some potential if you’re really looking for rom-com/possible harem show.

Miracle Train – Welcome to the Oedo Line

Characters: Chinatsu, the protagonist for this episode (sounds like they might have a girl-with-a-problem of the week) loses track of her dog at Roppongi Station and happens to board the Miracle Train. There the human incarnations of six stations greet her and attempt to solve her problem. Shinjuku fits the place to a T, full of himself and trying to be suave. Roppongi is rather calmer than I expected given my experiences with that part of the city. I was expecting him to be the playboy/party animal trying to hit on Chinatsu. Ryogoku talks about the Tokyo-Edo Museum being in his area but that’s about it. Tocho, being the terminus of the Oedo Line, is the leader that tries to act cool but hates to lose or disobey the train rules. Shiodome is there to appeal to another fangirl niche, the youngest and most effiminate station-character. Then Tsukishima seems to be really into fishing. There’s also the train conductor with the Commander Kreuze look-alike mask and the moe-sidekick Akari.

Quick Recap: Chinatsu finds her way onto the Miracle Train where the train-characters say they are there to serve her and solve whatever is troubling her. Apparently being a girl in distress is the only way to board. They then go from station to station looking for her lost dog, talking a little in between. Roppongi finds out that Chinatsu’s dog is all she has, not having family or friends. In the end the y find the dog in Roppongi station and go their separate ways.

Animation/design: Very bishonen, calculated to appeal to every kind of female viewer. Despite the show having the director of Honey and Clover on board (pun intended), I didn’t see anything like the artistic ‘camera’ angles, uses of music, or other touches seen in H&C. Though a huddle-discussion scene had a neat rapidly moving change to each character’s face as they talked.

Potential: The show isn’t badly done for what it is (Weiss Kreuz-esque female fanservice), but I was expecting the Hetalia of Tokyo train stations so the lack of significant comedy disappointed me greatly. Seems like every week some girl will board the train with a problem, you’ll find out about whatever is causing her despair, and then the train station-characters will solve it, with a few jokes and yaoi innuendo along the way.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for bishonen to squee over and/or are a fujoshi then this is the show for you. If you’re looking for comedy, go elsewhere. Personally, I’ll give it one more shot to deliver on the comedy, and if it doesn’t then I’m dropping it.

Just for Fun: blush count: 6.

Nyan Koi

Characters: Kousaka, the male lead, dislikes and is allergic to cats, but lives with a family who loves them. His love interest Mizuno also loves cats, though she can’t have one herself due to her family’s dogs. But one Kousaka accidentally knocks the head off of a small shrine statue of a cat, allowing him to hear the thoughts of cats but condemning him to carrying out 100 good deeds for cats or else turn into a cat and suffocate from his allergies. Mizuno loves cats so much that she lures and pets the local strays, and is also oddly enough a big Yakuza novel fan.

Quick Recap: Kousaka wakes up from a dream about his crush Mizuno to find his family’s cat in his room, causing him to sneeze. But then he can hear it speaking to him somehow. After freaking out about being able to hear and talk to cats he retraces his steps to the shrine where he knocked over a cat statue. After hearing from the enthusiastic monk, his family cat, and the temple cat he figures out the nature of the curse put upon him. Trying to ignore it, he finds himself turning into a cat and unable to breathe until he agrees to help. He’s told about a vicious human luring and trapping cats in the neighborhood, but pays it no mind. Then, on the way back from a shopping trip he runs into Mizuno and finds out that she’s the one luring in cats and then hugging them to neurosis. Trying to be delicate he tells Mizuno to let the cats go, but when that doesn’t work his house cat and the temple cat force him to yell at Mizuno by attempting to trigger his allergies. Luckily for him Mizuno doesn’t take it to heart. 99 good deeds now remain.

Animation/design: Nice animation and pretty good character design. Nothing amazing, but it’s well done.

Potential: This will probably go either the rom-com or harem route. Possibly the latter given the fanservice shots of the female characters in the OP. Didn’t hook me, though I can’t really say there was anything wrong with it per se.

Bottom Line: If you want a harem or harem/rom-com then this might be for you. Definitely beats out Kampfer.

No plot, lots of references. That’s the short of it. But who needs plot when you have, at my count, 7 references, 8 meta-jokes, and 3 self-depreciations before the OP? The basic setup is the student council meetings each day after school, made up of four girls fitting various anime stereotypes (with some sort of additionally seen before hidden hobby/interest for most of them) and one guy who got in because he’s the valedictorian. It doesn’t seem to have much of a plot or character advancement, though it seems like they have something to (likely weakly) move events along. But I’d probably be content to watch it as long as they keep the references coming.

Characters: Ken, the valedictorian is obsessed with eroge, referring constantly to the student council as his ‘harem’. Mafuyu, the ditsy blond who takes updating game walkthroughs online as Serious Business. Minatsu the twin-tail tsundere older sister of Mafuyu, Chizuru the tall beauty who secretly wants to do “this…and that” with the club president, and club president Kurimu ‘Akachan’, plus Mahiru-sensei give us the cast.

Quick Recap: This first episode starts off before the OP as the council meeting to discuss themselves being made into an anime and how and what they might have to change. Later Ken keeps hitting on all the girls and makes a lot (probably a few too many) eroge/harem jokes, the group discusses how he got into the student council, and then they start working on approving club requests and sorting supplies, making jokes and references all the while. At the end Ken pretends to condense the piles of requests into one form and the girls go home, while later on he does them all himself to make everyone happy and work towards his desired ‘harem end.’

Animation/design: ExecutiveOtaku haet character design! It’s not terrible, exactly, I just hate that style. And those uniforms are just fugly, especially the male version (red/black/pink plaid sort of pattern on long pants?!) That said, I can live with it if the jokes stay good.

Potential: While I  enjoyed the first episode, it’s going to take another episode or two to see if they can sustain the in-jokes and references in a decent setting or not. The end of the episode had Ken trying to secretly work for the girls, the council president seeing through it, and it kind of awkwardly implied how ‘caring’ this pervert really is. Please don’t try to have any semblance of drama in this writers, it’s just not made to be serious. Implied feelings on the part of the president towards Ken seems like a less believable version of the Nagi and Hayate relationship.

Bottom Line: While not having much character of its own at the moment, this thing spits out referential humor like bullets from a C-RAM.  Will keep watching and hope it doesn’t exhaust itself too quickly. No Lucky Star or Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, but good enough to get my interest.

Just for fun, my references, meta-jokes, and self depreciation counts.

References: 30 that I could identify (including: Kuroshitsuji, DBZ, Dragonball Evolution, Lucky Star, Haruhi, Higurashi/Umineko, Kannon, K-ON, Mobile Suit Gundam, Akikan, Tenchi Muyo.)

Meta-jokes: 17

Self-depreciation (”a drama CD would be enough” etc) :6

I found three references, might be more.

With the summer season over and the fall coming up shortly, some reflections on the series this blogger has watched (and in one case, dropped). Done in a short format, your own thoughts and comments on these or other summer series are very much welcome. While two of these series have yet to have their last episodes out subbed, I thought I should include them now before everyone gets caught up in the new season and a post like this become irrelevant.

Bakemonogatari

While I was a little put off by the flow of the first episode, by episode two I was really hooked and the show only got better. I’ve loved everything SHAFT since I started watching the first season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and in this series they took their unique art style to unconventional and interesting new heights. Very minimalist backgrounds in most cases, repetitive objects (all the cars except for Senjogahara’s dad’s were SR 311 Nissan Fairlady 2000 convertibles, one of my favorites of all time), and scenes with only a few colors/cut ‘card’ scenes with just a color and a few words on it. The characters and monster/spirit stories were all unique and interesting. Dialogue and character relationships were always interesting, quirky,  and well done.  And the ending conversation between Araragi and Senjogahara was just so sweet <3

Notable things: Awesome ED (and to a lesser extent, fun/catchy OP), stuttering (“Ararararagi-kun” ), very unique art style, mythology tie-ins, custom OP for certain episodes.

Sora no Manimani*

*still waiting on last ep subs.

The very enjoyable rom-com centered around a high school astronomy club was so much fun to watch and blog this season. While the show isn’t the most revolutionary in terms of setting or style, it does the basics very well that I ended up enjoying it more than a lot of higher concept shows I’ve watched. Comedy was great, drama was very good but the show probably could have used a little bit more. The real-life astronomy information was accurate and presented well, and not to sound like a huge nerd (though I am one), it restarted my own interest in astronomy. The shipping was also a fun side event, with RabbitPoets, Scamp, and myself raising the banners of Mihoshi, Hime, and Fumie respectively. Though we all (unfortunately) know who is the author’s intended OTP. I’m very much looking forward to the last episode and DVD episode. Another season or some OVAs would be great too.

Notable things: accurate astronomy info, nicely animated night sky scenes, our Queen Fumie!, simple but solid.

Canaan

More than just an action show, though not the deepest thing you’ll ever see. Characters and motives, even after seeing the ending, are still somewhat fuzzy in some respects, but if you just enjoy the interestingly developed characters and their motivations set against a fun action background you’ll find it worth watching. I’m not as big a fan as Crusader, but the central motivation for Alphard, combined with how she carried it out was very interesting and made for a nicely complicated pair of characters. Add in some fun side characters and I had a fun, if not amazing time watching it.

Notable things: SUGOI SUGOI, strong yuri undertones, very accurate and well-researched weapons/vehicles (with the exception of the B-2), very crisp animation.

Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei*

*still waiting on last two eps subs.

The continuation of my favorite comedy anime evar (and there’s at least one more season to come too!), ZSZS has probably been my favorite, tied with the first season, yet. Who would have thought something with so much social and political humor would last this long? More numerous and more scathing social commentary and political jokes, new situations for characters, and some interesting new art styles in one episode. More needs to be done with Tsunetsuki the stalker, but other than that things didn’t get stale. And the tinted glasses segment was A+ good. Lots of Chiri in new outfits in the two most recent episodes didn’t hurt in this blogger’s opinion either

Notable things: current events humor especially about the recent Japanese election, still more paranoia about China and North Korea (“that country”), experimental animation.

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

This is the series that I ended up dropping, but since I’m commenting on it for three reasons. Firstly, I had great expectations for this show’s premise; second, it seems to have developed a pretty strong following with bloggers; and lastly because I watched half of it so I may as well comment. The premise made me think this was going to be my favorite show of the season. But it felt so sanitized the way that the government response to the earthquake went so well, so quickly. It was like the Japanese government sponsored it to reassure people. I also didn’t like or get into any of the characters, they also just felt unnatural to me or one-dimensional. I’m sure many will disagree, especially with that second point given the cult-like following Yuuki gained. FYI, I continued to follow what happened after I stopped watching via We Remember Love and Scrumptious. Credit where credit is due: I do have to say that the OP animation was eerie as hell for someone who lived in Tokyo for a year and went to many of those places on a regular basis. Big points for that.

Notable things: great premise, great OP song/animation, Cult of St. Yuuki.

Final Thoughts: - Either Bakemonogatari or Sora no Manimani is going to claim the prize for my favorite show of the season. Bakemonogatari had a super-solid last episode, but I’ll wait for the last SoraMani to make my decision. I enjoyed Bakemonogatari more on a technical level (concept and art) but SoraMani is just so much fun even if a much simpler show in artistic terms.

- Of those two favorite shows, I’d love to have more of both. SoraMani is at least getting a DVD extra episode.

- Can SHAFT do no wrong in my eyes?

- I started watching Aoi Hana and fully intend to finish it. But for whatever reason I just wasn’t in the mood after episode 3. Plan to finish by New Year’s at the latest.

Welcome to another edition of the T.H.A.T. anime preview! Out of a total of 26 series covered in this preview (I excluded the kiddie shows/educational stuff as usual), the statistical breakdown goes like this (some categories overlap):

Sequels: 8
Spin-offs: 3
New Shows: 15
Manga Adaptations: 9
Light Novel Adaptations: 6
Eroge Adaptations: 3
Original Shows: 2

Note: I am aware that Shugo Chara is getting a “new” season, but all they did was add a second “doki” to the title, it’s a continuation of the same thing without a break or anything. Feel free to talk about it in the comments, but I didn’t include a new show entry for it.

Much of this info is pulled from Fansub Wiki, AniDB, AnimeNfo, ANN, Wikipedia and MAL. So thanks to those fine sites for their databases and other information. I’m no longer going to list a source after each summary because many sites share amongst themselves. Figure it came from one of them.

A Message from the NKVD: Well its time once again to point out this is a preview, and not a review. That “p” makes a difference a very big difference in fact. On another note many of us are old grouchy mean spirited cynics and not wide eyed idealistic fat cat communist NEETs. If you are part of the “animu is SRSfkn business” part of the fandom do yourself a favor and just read the summary from ANN so you can preserve your fragile optimism for your harem animu. Other than that Liberty Prime is watching and ready to initiate directive 7395, destroy all communists.

Click on link to jump to the series: Queen’s Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugumono | Kämpfer | Nyan Koi! | Tatakau Shisho – The Book of Bantorra | The Sacred Blacksmith | Letter Bee | Sora no Otoshimono | Natsu no Arashi! Akinaichuu | Miracle☆Train ~Ouedo-sen e Youkoso~ | Koihime†Musou- Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi | Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza♪ | Kobato. | Kimi ni Todoke | 11eyes | Sasameki Koto | Fairy Tail | Winter Sonata | Kuuchuu Buranko | Asura Cryin’ 2 | Darker Than Black: Ryuusei no Gemini | Inuyasha- The Final Act | Romance of the Three Kingdoms | To Aru Kagaku no Railgun | Seitokai no Ichizon | Kiddy Girl-and | White Album Final

Queen’s Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugumono

Details
Website: http://queensblade.tv/
Japanese Air Date: September 24
Animation Company: ARMS (Genshiken 2, Elfen Lied)
Seiyuu: Atsuko Tanaka, Aya Hirano, Ayako Kawasumi, Mamiko Noto
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Second season of acid lactating boobies. The subtitle apparently translates to “Heir to the Throne,” although I really doubt anyone watches this for any story. Due to laziness here’s a copypasta of the lazy summary I did for the first season of the show:

Based off of Hobby Japan’s combat picture book game series. C.A., a poster on AS, described said books as “Visual Combat books, each book a girl. And within each book are CGs of attacks and actions where you flip them and play with a dice, fighting against an opponent with another book. Its basically a stripping game, the more damage you do to the opponent, the less covered she ends up.”

The summary on ANN looked like it was rammed through Google translator, so I’ll summarize: there’s a competition to decide the next queen and a bunch of chicks with huge racks and few clothes will fight to the death over it.

Thoughts
Calawain: I made most of my snide comments in the summary above, but suffice it to say this show really isn’t my style. No hate for anyone who digs it though, I bear no ill will toward fellow pervs.

Executive Otaku: I could do this as a HAET BLOG feature, but could never watch it seriously.

Crusader: No, but I know why it is still chugging along.

lelangir: Doesn’t anyone here understand the true genius of this show? I’ll tell you, but you have to keep secret, that I actually directed a large portion of this show. No, not those awful last episodes where the lack of budget was clearly visible, but I did the awesome of this show. That’s correct, I am responsible for the awesome here. I enjoyed deploying a postmodern Marxist deconstructionist semiotics in order to fully utilize all the glory of Hirano Aya and Mizuki Nana-sama. In fact my directing of this show was so superb I got a threesome. Well, I kind of just pushed Aya off the bed and ravished Nana like no other, but you get the picture. So yeah, watch this show, I will show you what true directing is! Believe it!

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Kämpfer

Details
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/kenpu/
Japanese Air Date: October 1
Animation Company: Nomad (Rozen Maiden, Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou)
Seiyuu: Marina Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Yui Horie, Yukari Tamura, Megumi Nakajima

Summary
Adaptation of Toshihiko Tsukiji’s (Maburaho, Umi Monogatari) light novel series, which has also been adapted into a currently-running manga.

Senou Natsuru is your normal, everyday high school student. However he’s been chosen to be a Kampfer, whose objective consists on fighting other Kampfer with either guns, swords or magic. But there´s a catch: first you can’t chose if you´re a Kampfer or not, and second, you must have the body of a girl to use your powers.

Thoughts
Calawain: Cross-dressing/gender transformation, close-quarters combat, multiple personalities, and bishoujos (delicious-looking character designs). This shit is cash. Also good to see several top seiyuu on the cast, as well as relative newcomer Megumi Nakajima (many of our readers will remember her as Ranka Lee). It may be a bit strange to hear Hocchan try to pull off Akane’s alternate personality, but Nomad is a pretty solid studio who has brought in a similarly solid director with experience. So I’m looking forward to this one.

Executive Otaku: So far from my cup of tea it may as well be coffee.

Crusader: Alright I guess they did do an IGLOO for the MS-18E Kampfer oh wait…hey there is a trap that makes it obligatory. I did like Umi Monogatari so here’s hoping for much hugging, confessions, and affirmations of protecting love in someone else’s heart. Bonus if we also get something similar to Marin’s patented tackle. You are sweet. Oh let me love you sooooo…

lelangir: I basically had to give Horie Yui rough buttsex for her not voice this show. She wanted me to direct this show, but I had to decline, otherwise Nana-chan wouldn’t service me for White Album. I don’t think this show will be very good, to tell you the truth.

Possible Bloggers: Calawain, Crusader

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Nyan Koi!

Details
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/nyankoi/
Japanese Air Date: October 1
Animation Company: AIC (Seto no Hanayome, Tenchi Muyo)
Seiyuu: Shintaro Asanuma, Yuka Iguchi
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Sato Fujiwara’s manga.

Junpei Kōsaka is a second-year high school student who despises cats and has an allergy to them. It just so happens that his high school crush is Kaede Mizuno, a girl who adores cats. One day, while walking home from school, Junpei kicks an empty can and unfortunately beans the local neko-jizō-sama (guardian deity of cats). He finds he can now understand what cats are saying, including his family’s own ill-tempered cat, Nyamusasu. However, if he does not grant 100 wishes from cats, he will turn into cat himself.

Thoughts
Calawain: Well it’s a show about cats and presumably the chick with the huge rack on the left side of that image. High schoolers these days…

Executive Otaku: Huh. I like cats and all, but it seems like an odd premise. Borderline if I’ll even do recon on it.

Crusader: I hate cats, nasty little bastards… As there is no mecha to make up for the cats I’ll pass, doubly so since there seems to be non trappy Y chromosome in this series.

lelangir: Unlike some fools of this world, I am not possessed by a crab demon god that steals my weight. Nor can I communicate with cats – who would want to? Therefore, based on my experience, I know this show will suck, because I cannot talk to cats and do not want to. But do you know what? I can talk to onions and socks. Now what?

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Tatakau Shisho – The Book of Bantorra

Details
Website: http://www.bantorra.com/
Japanese Air Date: October 2
Animation Company: David Production (Dogs: Bullets & Carnage)
Seiyuu: Romi Paku
Available Trailers: Trailers 1&2

Summary
Adaptation of the Tatakau Shisho (Fighting Librarians) light novel series written by Ishio Yamagata.

All the dead people of the world have been turned into “books” stored in the Bantorra library. A boy named Koria Tonisu has had his memories erased and his chest embedded with a bomb. He is sent to kill Hamyuttsu Meseta, the world’s most powerful armed librarian. However, he falls in love at first sight with this beautiful woman in charge of the “books,” and he gets enveloped in the great war over the library.

Thoughts
Calawain: The best part of this show has got to be another original and completely unique Ali Project OP, I’m so suicidal excited! More seriously, ROD 2.0 at least has Ayako Kawasumi, Haruka Tomatsu, and Miyuki Sawashiro, but who knows how prominent their roles will be.

Executive Otaku: I’ll pass, one season of ROD was enough for me thanks.

Crusader: I’ll put this under maybe since I think I will be otherwise occupied…

lelangir: I told the guys over at Toshokan Sensou to ju…OHSHI

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The Sacred Blacksmith

Details
Website: http://www.blasmi.com/
Japanese Air Date: October 3
Animation Company: Manglobe (Ergo Proxy, Samurai Champloo)
Seiyuu: Ayumi Fujimura, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Aki Toyosaki, Megumi Toyoguchi
Available Trailers: Trailers 1&2 (bottom right after the intro)

Summary
Adaptation of Isao Miura’s fantasy light novels.

The story takes place after an abominable war that foisted a “devil’s contract” upon a land. Cecily Campbell, a former noble’s daughter who joined a knighthood, encounters a man who dispatches some hoodlums with one sweep of a mysterious sword. The man possesses the power of the same “devil’s contract” that has become taboo, now that peace has been restored. Cecily has been searching for a blacksmith who can repair an old sword she inherited from her father, and that mysterious young man happens to be blacksmith named Luke. This encounter launches their adventures together.

Thoughts
Calawain: This sounds like half the JRPGs I’ve played, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Character designs look pretty decent, although that red haired girl reminds me a lot of Alicia from Valkyria Chronicles. Manglobe is a fairly decent studio, and amusingly enough the director here also directed Pokémon. Ayumi Fujimura is pretty good at voicing tsunderes, but I have no idea whether her character in this actually is.

Executive Otaku: Will investigate. Hopefully it will keep my interest better than Tales of the Abyss.

Crusader: Sounds like high fantasy stuff might look into it.

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Letter Bee

Details
Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/tegamibachi/
Japanese Air Date: October 3
Animation Company: Studio Pierrot (Bleach, Naruto)
Seiyuu: Ayumi Fujimura, Miyuki Sawashiro
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Hiroyuki Asada’s manga.

Gauche is a governmental employee, given the task to deliver any letter to it’s destination. Meeting a young boy who is the letter to be delivered, Gauche makes friends with Lag and inspires him to take up the job. Five years later, Lag Seeing finally becomes his dream, that of a Letter Bee. However, the one who inspired him has gone missing and only there does the mystery start.

Thoughts
Calawain: I want to make some post office jokes, because the US Post Office is having a rather difficult time of late. A few seiyuu in the cast I’m a fan of, although it appears a good chunk of them are voicing males, mostly shoutas I assume. That tends to turn me away.

Executive Otaku: I’m not thrilled about those character designs, but the premise sounds like it could have potential depending on how serious/intrigue they go with it. Will watch first episode, three episode test if that goes well.

Crusader: I am surprised that there is still snail mail, surely Fedex can deliver anywhere right? Still not my kind of postal.

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Sora no Otoshimono

Details
Website: http://anime.webnt.jp/soraoto/
Japanese Air Date: October 4
Animation Company: AIC ASTA (Bamboo Blade)
Seiyuu: Saori Hayami, Souichiro Hoshi
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Suu Minazuki’s Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven’s Lost Property) manga.

The story centers around Tomoki Sakurai, an ordinary middle school boy whose motto is “Peace is the #1 priority.” However, a strange girl often appears in his dream to ask for his help — only he cannot remember her face when he wakes up. Then, his life gets more complicated when an unidentified mysterious animal (UMA) falls out of the skies. The “animal” turns out to be Ikaros, an angel.

Thoughts
Calawain: It amazes me how Souichiro Hoshi can voice one of the most emo, rage inducing male protagonists (Kira Yamato) as well as one of the manliest (Keiichi Maebara). I hope he does the latter because the story material revealed in the trailer is your run of the mill childhood friend waking up her friend who has morning wood and calling him a pervert. Doesn’t mean it will definitely suck, there are some shows that were able to rise above it, but the chances remain somewhat low (although, my interest was shamelessly piqued at the fact that one episode was declared too hot for TV).

Executive Otaku: Premise isn’t enticing me and those character designs aren’t doing it for me either.

Crusader: I have made clear my hatred for all things Cosmic Era, so hell no, fuck no, and shit no.

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Natsu no Arashi! Akinaichuu

Details
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/natsunoarashi2/
Japanese Air Date: October 4
Animation Company: Shaft (Bakemonotogari, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
Seiyuu: Ryoko Shiraishi, Yuko Sanpei

Summary
Second season of the adaptation of Jin Kobayashi’s (School Rumble) Natsu no Arashi (Summer Storm) manga.

The story centers on a boy named Hajime Yasaka who meets an older high school girl named Sayoko “Arashi” Arashiyama in an old town coffee shop. “Arashi” happens to have a secret that Hajime learns one fateful summer vacation. Arashi makes a bond with Hajime, enabling them to travel back through time, sometimes to rescue those who died in WWII.

Thoughts
Calawain: I never got through the first episode of this anime with strange belly buttons. Perhaps I’m still bitter over what happened to School Rumble, but I don’t see myself having the slightest urge to pick this up.

Executive Otaku: Definitely watching. The first season started off a little weird but became very fun and interesting and even pretty touching. The characters played well off each other, the time travel was done interestingly, and I’m always interested in shows that actually talk about WWII instead of pretend it never happened. SHAFT animation is always a plus in my book.

Crusader: EO called it.

Possible bloggers: Executive Otaku

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Miracle☆Train ~Ouedo-sen e Youkoso~

Details
Website: http://www.miracle-train.tv/index.html
Japanese Air Date: October 4
Animation Company: Yumeta Company (Neo Angelique Abyss, La Corda D’Oro)
Seiyuu: Hiroshi Kamiya, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Kenn, Kouki Miyata, Miyu Irino, Ryotaro Okiayu

Summary
The Miracle Train project anthropomorphizes several heavily travelled train stations in Tokyo into young handsome male characters. This television series will feature a different cast of characters inspired by the Ouedo subway line — specifically, Fumi Roppongi, Rintarou Shinjuku, Izayoi Tsukishima, Iku Shiodome, Saki Tochou, and Itsumi Ryougoku.

Thoughts
Calawain: There are way too many gay jokes I could make with a cast of bishounen in a show called Miracle Train. I’m going to resist though, because it’s too easy. Also, I don’t think this is supposed to be yaoi.

Executive Otaku: Hey, the concept works very well for countries in Hetalia and I’d love some nostalgia for Tokyo and all those subway/train lines I absolutely did not dodge fairs using my student pass on. Will preview, potential for blogging.

Crusader: A Happy Ending after every ride! I sit on the opposite side when it comes to relations between folks of the same gender, this one isn’t for me. If it were up to me I’d probably try and derail this thing.

Possible bloggers: ExecutiveOtaku

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Koihime†Musou- Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi

Details
Website: http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/shinkoihime/
Japanese Air Date: October 5
Animation Company: Dogakobo (Myself; Yourself)
Seiyuu: Hiroka Nishizawa, Nami Kurokawa
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (low quality cam)

Summary
Second season of the adaptation of the BaseSon eroge. This anime is loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Having lost her family to bandits during night raid, Kanu swears, she will not let others share the same pain. She quickly becomes a well-known and feared by villains bandit hunter. During her journey she comes across others, who wish to join her cause. One of them is a girl named RinRin, who had similar experience with bandits in the past.

Thoughts
Calawain: This show was actually less stupid than I thought it was going to be, if only for the blonde lesbian with what I believe was an armpit fetish. Apparently this show was pretty popular over in Area Eleven, enough to warrant a second season when I really didn’t expect one.

Executive Otaku: A second season of this? I’m also quite surprised. Not for me, thanks.

Crusader: Even if this was popular in Area 11 I am no Eleven and I think I will pass. This second season suprises me as well.

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Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza♪

Details
Website: http://www.nogizaka-haruka.com/
Japanese Air Date: October 5
Animation Company: Diomedea, formerly Studio Barcelona (Kodomo no Jikan, Nanatsuiro Drops)
Seiyuu: Mamiko Noto, Wataru Hatano
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (low quality cam)

Summary
Second season of the adaptation of Yuusaku Igarashi’s Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Haruka Nogizaki’s Secret) light novels.

The story centers around Yuuto Ayase and Haruka Nogizaka. Yuuto is seemingly ordinary, but Haruka is attractive, intelligent, and rich, which prompts other students to idolize her and even give her French nicknames like “Nuit Étoile” (The Silver Star of the Night) and “Lumière du Clavier” (The Shining Princess on the Piano). One day, Yuuto wanders into the school library in order to return a book and accidentally stumbles upon Haruka’s deepest, darkest secret: she is a diehard fan of anime and manga, in other words, a regular otaku. Promising Haruka to keep this a secret, Yūto becomes her advisor and confidante.

Thoughts
Calawain: The first season of this show was wickedly awesome, and one of the few shows loaded with cheesy blushing moments that I could stomach. The repressed inner shipper in me came out on multiple occasions. Oh yeah, and this show gives us by far the greatest imouto of all time in Mika. She is the personification of the “I like you, come fuck my sister” meme. The second season promises to introduce a few new characters so it should keep things fresh.

Executive Otaku: I haven’t seen the first season and it’s probably not for me anyway.

Crusader: Calawain called it and I never got into the first season though it was largely due to a lack of trying, will see what I missed out on though.

Possible Bloggers: Calawain

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Kobato.

Details
Website: http://www.kobato.tv/top.html
Japanese Air Date: October 6
Animation Company: Madhouse Studios (Black Lagoon, Monster)
Seiyuu: Kana Hanazawa, Tetsu Inada

Summary
Adaptation of the manga by CLAMP.

Kobato is a young girl that for unknown reasons, needs to fill a mysterious bottle with the feelings of people with a heart in pain. For that she needs to “cure” other people’s hearts and make them happy, but this could become even more difficult than she thought. Her companion for this task is a grumpy plush dog she calls Ioryogi-san.

Thoughts
Calawain: Kana Hanazawa may have a sexy voice, but I’m one of those rare individuals who doesn’t much care for CLAMP material. The art is always great, but the stories are way too out there in many ways.

Executive Otaku: On the one hand I generally think well of Clamp. But on the other the premise sounds like some of their more childish shows. I’m gonna call myself out for this one.

Crusader: I could use a dose of shoujo this time of year will do recon. I am hoping said bottle is from Noe and the principle protagonist must also find True Tears. Oh and there is a dog which is superior to a cat in every way.

Possible bloggers: Crusader

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Kimi ni Todoke

Details
Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/kiminitodoke/
Japanese Air Date: October 6
Animation Company: Production I.G. (Eden of the East, Ghost in the Shell)
Seiyuu: Daisuke Namikawa, Mamiko Noto
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Karuho Shiina’s shoujo manga Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You).

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine… for a horror movie. With her jet-black hair, sinister smile, and silent demeanor, she’s often mistaken for Sadako, the haunting character from Ringu. Unbeknownst to but a few, behind her scary facade is a very misunderstood teenager. Shy and pure of heart, she just wants to make friends. But when Kazehaya, the most popular boy in class, befriends her, she’s sure to make more than just that – she’s about to make some enemies, too!

Thoughts
Calawain: Mamiko Noto and Miyuki Sawashiro can’t change the fact that most shoujo makes me nauseous. Neither can Production IG.

Executive Otaku: Production I.G. gives it a point, and half of that description makes me hope it will be something other than run-of-the-mill shojo, but the ‘most popular boy in class’ part makes it lose points. Have been hearing some good things about the manga though, enough for me to commit to a three episode test.

Crusader: Will do recon considering it’s lineage, besides there seems to be a crazy chick in this one, maybe she will knife some one along the way.

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11eyes

Details
Website: http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/11eyes/
Japanese Air Date: October 6
Animation Company: Dogakobo (Koihime Musou, Myself; Yourself)
Seiyuu: Daisuke Ono, Emiko Hagiwara, Mai Goto
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (low quality cam)

Summary
Adaptation of Lass’ 11eyes -Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shoujo- eroge.

The story centers on Kakeru Satsuki, a boy who has been mourning the loss of his last remaining family member, his older sister, for the past five years. Satsuki, his childhood friend Yuka Minase, and four other Kōryōkan Academy schoolmates are suddenly transported to the world of “Red Night,” where a giant black moon hangs over the skies. The six can only return home after dealing with the six black knights of this alternate world.

Thoughts
Calawain: Dogakobo has a rather small resume of being the lead studio, but so far nothing crater-worthy. I was actually halfway pleased with Myself;Yourself. I assume this will have action in it, although I can’t say anything in the story premise strikes me as must see. Perhaps some of those who have played the eroge can shed some light on the flow.

Executive Otaku: The premise does kind of sound interesting, despite my skepticism due to its eroge roots. Will recon.

Crusader: I was kind of hoping for this to be a spin off centering around AWACS Thousand Eyes, but alas. The Black Knights never lose! Have at YOU!

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Sasameki Koto

Details
Website: http://www.sasameki.com/
Japanese Air Date: October 7
Animation Company: AIC (Seto no Hanayome, Tenchi Muyo)
Seiyuu: Ayahi Takagaki, Megumi Takamoto

Summary
Adaptation of Takashi Ikeda’s yuri manga Sasameki Koto (Whispered Words).

The story revolves around Sumika, a popular high school honors student who has a secret she does not reveal to anyone: she loves her classmate Ushio. Sumika hears that Ushio is also “a girl who likes girls,” but Sumika’s feelings have yet to be reciprocated.

Thoughts
Calawain: One of my favorite yuri manga for sure, and a show I’m looking forward to. It spends a lot more time on comic relief and less time on serious themes than say Aoi Hana, and has decidedly less melodrama (at least in the first 3ish volumes scanlated into English). Sumika is an awesome lead character, a black belt tomboy of sorts madly in love with a blonde bishoujo. If you like yuri, and are looking for something on the lighter side, I think you’ll dig it.

Executive Otaku: I tend to like my yuri serious, and I’ve had my fill from this season so I’ll have to leave this one to Calawain and Crusader who are obviously looking forward to it.

Crusader: Alright yuri. Recon effort confirmed. Girls who like girls WOOOOOOOOOO!

Possible bloggers: Crusader

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Fairy Tail

Details
Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/fairytail/
Japanese Air Date: October 12
Animation Company: A-1 Pictures (Kannagi, Valkyria Chronicles), Satelight (Macross Frontier, Shugo Chara)
Seiyuu: Aya Hirano, Tetsuya Kakihara, Rie Kugimiya, Sayaka Ohara,Yuuichi Nakamura
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Hiro Mashima’s (Rave Master) manga.

Cute girl wizard Lucy wants to join the Fairy Tail, a club for the most powerful wizards. But instead, her ambitions land her in the clutches of a gang of unsavory pirates led by a devious magician. Her only hope is Natsu, a strange boy she happens to meet on her travels. Natsu’s not your typical hero – he gets motion sickness, eats like a pig, and his best friend is a talking cat. With friends like this, is Lucy better off with her enemies?

Thoughts
Calawain: After the first few volumes of this I lost interest, the loveliness that is Erza could only keep me into it for the duration of her story arcs. Its got heaps of shounen action cliches and the like, so if that’s what you dig I’m sure you’ll like it. I may indulge to see Erza kicking some ass, but I don’t see myself slugging my way through the 50+ episodes I’m sure it will get.

Executive Otaku: Shonen action shows have to be really outstanding to get my attention, and this doesn’t really sound like it’s for me.

Crusader: I think that for me this is a no go. I have another Shonen series on my itinerary already.

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Winter Sonata

Details
Website: http://anime-wintersonata.com/index.html
Japanese Air Date: October 17
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 and Trailer 2

Summary
Adaptation of Winter Sonata (also known as Winter Love Song), the blockbuster 2002 Korean drama television series that helped launch the “Korean wave” of pop culture in Japan.

The drama follows two childhood friends — a boy and a girl — and the tragedy and angst that befalls them and those around them in the years between high school and young adulthood.

Thoughts
Calawain: K-Dramas aren’t really my thing, nor do I really go for serious melodrama like this.

Executive Otaku: I have seen Korean drama influence spread to J-dramas, upping the level of angst, terminal illnesses, and generally stuff way too over the top for me. Will do recon but as it looks now probably a pass for me.

Crusader: I missed the boat on the live action one, might as well watch it since it is a rather infamous franchise. I did like my fair share of Korean Dramas so this shit is like the smell of cordite to me anyways. I anticipate much weeping and DORAMA.

Possible bloggers: Crusader

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Kuuchuu Buranko

Details
Website: http://www.kuchu-buranko.com/
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Toei (Monoke, One Piece)

Summary
Adaptation of Hideo Okuda’s Kuuchuu Buranko (Trapeze) short story collection.

The collection is Okuda’s second book featuring the psychiatrist protagonist Ichirō Irabu and his various patients — the title refers to the first story about a circus artist who can no longer perform. In modern Japan, people visit “doctors of neurology,” rather than therapists. Dr. Irabu is an eccentric neurologist with an injection fetish, an Oedipus complex and a green Porsche, known for making patients much worse before they get better.

Thoughts
Calawain: There’s always a couple of really strange shows each season technically qualifying as “anime” and I debate with myself on whether or not I should include them in the preview. This time I said, “hey why not?” But this is definitely a strange one.

Executive Otaku: Strange enough to get my attention. Will give it the three episode test and decide then.

Crusader: Odd enough to warrant recon in force I suppose. I did like Monnoke despite it being largely bypassed by the main stream viewership, if the excellent story telling is there the odd art style won’t matter as much.

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Asura Cryin’ 2

Details
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/asura/
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Seven Arcs (Nanoha, Inukami)
Seiyuu: Miyu Irino, Ai Nonaka, Haruka Tomatsu, Rie Tanaka

Summary
Second season of the adaptation of Gakuto Mikumo’s light novels.

Tomoharu is a normal high school student… except for he’s not alone. Haunted by the ghost of his dead childhood best friend, he moves into a new home in time for the new school year. That becomes a little more difficult than anticipated when his house becomes overrun with various female occult users. Even worse than that he has been pulled into a fight to protect a trunk within the house that others want to steal.

Thoughts
Calawain: This was one of those shows that illustrates the occasional difficulty in finding accurate preview info, because this show was not at all like what I imagined it to be. Thankfully it was even better that my preconceptions, and I was treated to flaming hau haus, mechas, ghost girls, and sexy cyborgs. Definitely a fun show to watch, even if most of the exposition material made absolutely no sense. And Seven Arcs knows their way around bishoujos and action, so it shouldn’t dissapoint.

Executive Otaku: I watched the first 5 episodes of the first season, didn’t hold my interest though. I make no claim on this show.

Crusader: Calawain has got this. Didn’t get into it during the first season.

Possible Bloggers: Calawain

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Darker Than Black: Ryuusei no Gemini

Details
Website: http://www.d-black.net/
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Bones (Eureka 7, Fullmetal Alchemist)
Seiyuu: Hidenobu Kiuchi, Kana Hanazawa, Misato Fukuen, Nana Mizuki
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (embedded bottom left)

Summary
Second season of the Bones original created by Tensai Okamura.

Hei and Yin are now on the run after betraying the Syndicate in the previous season. After leaving Japan, Hei encounters Suou Pavlichenko, a 13 year old Eurasian girl who becomes embroiled in the war and politics of the various factions and Contractors vying for power. Meanwhile, Hell’s Gate remains standing in Tokyo, after Hei’s efforts to stop the Saturn Ring anti-Gate particle weapon from activating. Although Contractors are safe from the danger of having their existences erased, this does not prevent new and old Contractors from abusing their powers. As Misaki Kirihara and her team in the Public Security Bureau deal with the increasing Contractor cases, she also has to keep the Syndicate at bay, who has major positions in the Japanese police and intelligence bureaus around the world.

Thoughts
Calawain: This is probably the biggest deal for western fans, and you can count me as a member of that group. Bones has a great record with original shows, providing a good storyline, fascinating characters, and quality animation. Also, my favorite lolis are deadpan lolis.

Executive Otaku: YES YES OH GOD YES! The first season was one of the best things I’ve seen in some time. The large but still well developed cast, the stories, the pacing, it was so well done.

Crusader: Fuck I missed this boat, will try and catch up but I will let these two have their fun.

Possible bloggers: Calawain, Executive Otaku

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Inuyasha- The Final Act

Details
Website: http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/yasya-kanketsu/
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Sunrise (Gundam, Cowboy Bebop)
Seiyuu: Houko Kuwashima, Kappei Yamaguchi, Kouji Tsujitani, Kumiko Watanabe, Satsuki Yukino

Summary
Sequel to the adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s manga.

Higurashi Kagome, after being pulled down a well by a demon, finds herself in Feudal Japan, where she learns that a powerful jewel has been reborn inside her body. After the jewel shatters in an attempt to retrieve it from one of the many demons who was after its power, Kagome must join forces with the half-demon Inu Yasha (also after the jewel’s power) to track down the shards of the jewel before its power falls into the wrong hands.

Thoughts
Calawain: The many ways in which this anime/manga is horrid would fill a page, yet it gets another set of episodes after a run of 150+ while so many true gems toil unfinished. I guess that’s the power of fangirl legions.

Executive Otaku: I actually really liked Inuyasha. I’m almost afraid to say so for fear of being associated with ‘those’ Inuyasha fans, but while it wasn’t the best series ever it’s pretty good and I enjoyed watching it. I may be interested in blogging this.

Crusader: I fucking loved this shit despite there being fillers out the ass. Even after 167 odd eps and four movies I still come back for more. I am crazy enough to attempt to try and keep up with this and it will be nice to see Sunrise do something non-mecha.

Possible bloggers:Executive Otaku, Crusader

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Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Details
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Future Planet Co., Beijing Glorious Animation Co.

Summary
A joint Chinese-Japanese adaptation of the classic novel depicting the tumultuous warring period of second-century China and the political intrigue between the different factions. Sorry about the lack of additional information, but those commies are pretty good at keeping it close to the vest.

Thoughts
Calawain: I could care less about anything Three Kingdoms, but the Chinese studio in on this is called Beijing Glorious Animation Co. That is so communist, I love it. I almost fell out of my chair when I first read it. It should come as no surprise that it’s a subsidiary of a state-owned broadcaster.

Executive Otaku: Beijing Glorio….HAHAHA…ok, Beijing Glorious Animation Co. AHAHAHAHA. *phew* Now that that’s out of the way, I will do recon but unless it’s really great I’m not likely to blog it.

Crusader: Oh shit commies are going to make propaganda, shit is going to be awesomely bad like those shit plays from the Cultural Revolution.  I am expecting ballet dancing soldiers with little red books and fabulous red banners. Chairman Cao and little red books in Wei is imminent.

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To Aru Kagaku no Railgun

Details
Website: http://www.project-railgun.net/
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: JC Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima)
Seiyuu: Rina Satou, Aki Toyosaki, Atsushi Abe, Kanae Itou, Satomi Arai
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (embedded bottom left)

Summary
Adaptation of To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Railgun), Motoi Fuyukawa’s manga spinoff of Kazuma Kamachi’s To Aru Majutsu no Index (A Certain Magic Index) light novels.

In a world where science clarifies supernatural powers. In a huge college that has power development in its curriculum. To a resident high school student, Kamijou Touma, a pure white sister appears. She calls herself “Index” and says that sorcerers are chasing her. Thus, Kamijou Touma enters the world of the occult.

The spinoff focuses on Mikoto Misaka, one of the Level 5 psychics in the To Aru Majutsu no Index light novels.

Thoughts
Calawain: One of the few spinoffs that actually focuses on by far the best character in the show (Biribiri). The original Index was certainly entertaining (if you forget the silly exposition and how it often took Touma 5 minutes to cross a room during a fight), and this spinoff focuses on a delicious tsundere and her teleporting lesbian roommate who constantly tries to jump her bones. I approve of this show.

Executive Otaku: Not really my thing.

Crusader: I heard something about a teleporting and a girl trying to jump another girl for some yuri lurvin. That is all I need to know and that is all I care about. FUCK YEAH YURI!

Possible Bloggers: Calawain, Crusader

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Seitokai no Ichizon

Details
Website: http://anime.webnt.jp/seitokai/index.html
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Studio DEEN (Fate/stay night, Umineko no Naku Koro ni)
Seiyuu: Mariko Honda, Takashi Kondo
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Sekina Aoi’s Seitokai no Ichizon (Student Council’s Discretion) light novels.

The series, revolves around a private high school whose student council is chosen entirely by popularity vote. Because of this, Ken Sugisaki is the only male representative, in the otherwise all bishoujo student council, that may enter the “sacred sanctuary” of the council’s meeting room. At the behest of Council President Kurimu Sakurano, Sugisaki records the minutes of the council meetings, which devolve into daily conversations about the students’ lives and interests.

Thoughts
Calawain: This kind of reminds me of a new 4-koma, Seitokai Yakuin-domo, but I don’t think this one is going to aim for deadpan humor and dirty puns. All of the female seiyuu listed are basically brand new, but Studio DEEN usually does a halfway decent job of things, and they brought in the fellow who directed Strawberry Marshmallow. I’ll dabble for the cute bishoujos.

Executive Otaku: Hmm, tough to say from the premise, but my instincts tell me it’s not my kind of show. Will try the first episode though.

Crusader: Student councils…pfffffffttt. Unless one of them turns out to be a Sulla this probably won’t pique my interests.

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Kiddy Girl-and

Details
Website: http://www.kiddygrade.com/
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Satelight (Macross Frontier, Shugo Chara)

Summary
Spinoff of Kiddy Grade, created by gímik and Gonzo.

ES members Éclair and Lumière once were involved in a battle to decide the fate of the galaxy. They prevailed and peace was restored to the galaxy. Now, 50 years later, the galaxy once again stands on the brink of chaos. This conflict will see the dawn of two new heroines; Ascoeur and Q-feuille.

Thoughts
Calawain: Those sexy character designs reminded me that I always meant to watch the original series but never got around to it. Silly naming sense aside, it sounds somewhat interesting. Satelight is pretty busy this season, hope we don’t see a corresponding drop in quality.

Executive Otaku: I’ll have to decline.

Crusader: I actually watched Kiddy Grade and found it to be passable…since I have shit taste I might as well do recon on this. It’s Satelight so I expect a bit of wobbliness in the animation though if they do have a few good dog fights I will be thoroughly impressed.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

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White Album Final

Details
Website: http://www.whitealbum-tv.com/top.htm
Japanese Air Date: October
Animation Company: Seven Arcs (Asura Cryin’, Nanoha)
Seiyuu: Aya Hirano, Nana Mizuki, Tomoaki Maeno

Summary
Second season of the adaptation of the Leaf eroge.

The White Album game centers around Touya Fujii, 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.

Thoughts
Calawain: An exceedingly silly premise, even for an eroge. Nana Mizuki and Seven Arcs can’t save this atrocious show. I’ll stick to my other Seven Arcs shows, thank you very much.

Executive Otaku: I would enjoy seeing Crusader rip into this second season too much to even think of blogging it.

Crusader: I actually need to make a post on the last ep of the last season…It will get done in good time but how can I say no to shitty Harem Animu with such a loser like Touya. Here is hoping the Haruka puppy pounds on his door like a lost dog and the girls, with the exception of Rina,  embarrass themselves for my sadistic amusement.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

Not so fun now is it Zeke? Now the Feddies got GMs you are so FUCKED.

So I was stuck in Virginia until Saturday for another C-School in the same ratty old barracks. At least though I finally got a hold of episode 3 of IGLOO 2 after multiple tries on a slow connection. While IGLOO will never get a grade A story it still matters little as all of them are about the best damn mecha action you will ever see in 30 minutes, the stories are simple and straight forward. This time it was about another crop of lunatics that drive guntanks as part of a penal legion. This time the fucking Zekes are on the run after the humble GM along with they mighty Type 61 with ample Big Tray and air support have been kicking Zeke ass across whole continents.

Ah the RGM-79[G] Ground Type it feels like 8th MS Team again.

No longer does the Zaku hold dominance as Feddie combined arms tactics have been kicking the shit out of the one trick pony Zeke strategy of “Send Zakus There.” While it was about the RTX-440 I was giddy at how much love the GM got, even after all this time I still have a weak spot for the workhorse of the Federation. It was fucking magical to see core fighters downing Zeke transports which hopefully full of Zekes and  badly needed supplies. While Yandell maybe dead the Type 61 soldiered on and helps the new GMs reap a fearsome toll on the hated forces of the corrupt and genocidal forces of the Principality of Zeon.

I like how artillery was critical in this episode as it is about as gritty as you can get for artillery is King of the Battlefield and can knock anything dead. Things like that are all but absent in AU Gundams. That is why UC for me will remain superior to every thing AU except for G Gundam. It is rather sad to see that while Sunrise has a talented team in IGLOO, the IGLOO team along with the Pailsen Files team labor away in obscurity while Jihad-kun gets undue praise as Yandell goes unsung.

Good to see that the Type-61 is still around killing Zekes, Yandell must be happy that his old warhorse is still rolling.

So the lead this time is a technical officer (I’d just call her a warrant officer) Arleen Nazon whose beloved weapons project was scrapped after her former test pilot and lover went traitor she and her team get thrown in the brig while their funding goes away. She swears revenge and is allowed to form a penal unit to avenge her loss, it seems death likes Nazon a lot more than Yandell but it seems that Death is strong with the yuri and starts hitting on Nazon right away.

Major giggles makes a return and constantly gets shown up, at first he is derisive of the Guntank but soon he realizes the error of his ways as the RTX-440 platoon makes a dramatic breakthrough with the help of some GMs and a Big Tray strike group. No Zaku, Gouf, Dom, or any Zeke are a match for their might and they amply prove their superiority over the despicable Zekes. After taking out one Dabude Major Giggles tries to order Nazon to call off her attack but the fires of revenge were burning bright as her anguish over the untimely demise of her beloved RTX-440 program demanded satisfaction. Despite her erstwhile non-mecha lover begging for his life, Nazon loved the RTX-440 more and blew them all to hell.

Hey look no beam spam!

Death in the mean time constructed a wonderful story a out Nazon’s former non-mecha lover was actually a double agent. Certainly it seems quite possible as Major Giggles did order her to back off, but I think it was just a ploy by Death to get Nazon to give up on men so that she could have a night of her and Nazon that went on forever and ever… I have to say it worked perfectly.

Still it’s hard to put into words how awesome this episode was hopefully the screen caps will convince non- believers of how much WIN IGLOO 2 is and why UC is still better than any of that new CE crap.   I hope they will have more Feddie centric IGLOO stuff somewhere down the line, certainly other things could use the same treatment, GM, Guncannon, Magellan, Salamis, and let’s not forget the big boys, Big Tray and Heavy Fork…

In the end I am going to miss this since this is probably the last dose of Real Robot I am going to get for a while since the Gundam Franchise has largely moved away from gritty killing and burning of Zekes to beam spam. Still there is hope once Gundam Unicorn arrives but that is a bit ways off, even if UC is just a faint memory these days at least there is still a team at Sunrise slaving away while their deeds largely go unsung as IGLOO 2 did not get as much love as the accursed Jesus Yamato and Jihad-kun. I liked this episode the most since it had the most combined arms mecha action of the OVA series and it was a rare treat that I can watch ovber and over again. The roster of models taking to the fight was pretty impressive, and even if IGLOO will not be remembered for being the greatest or deepest story told I did like simply because it was about the poor Feddies who died and lived only to kill Zekes, kill Zerkes, and kill more Zekes surely they would have made Halsey proud. Certainly it does reflect the fact that a person can run largely on hatred alone without having to have a shred of sympathy for the other side. As such it avoided the “Let’s All be Friends” bullshit that is spouted out these days and spoon fed to a whole generation that cannot appreciate the whole horror or war and can only see it as a place for moralistic platitudes and soap box preaching of the obvious.

Also this is clear proof that when you have a girl as the main pilot that great things can happen. While it may not tug on heart strings nor impart the treagedy that Gundam 0080 did, at least with Nazon we got the best damn combined arms slug out knock out fight that every mecha fans dream of. My only complaint was that it was not some hours longer…

Your point defense MGs only work in a box formation…Also I hope that Gaw was full of Zeke wounded and badly needed supplies, preferably medical supplies.

Our Core Fighter proves it’s superiority once again.

Zekes have piss poor aim and can’t sight their guns for shit. and how could you miss three GMs coming at you…?

Dang where are the GM Snipers?

Dabudes have broadsides made of weaksauce.

RTX-440s are here at this OK Corral, their names are Virgil, Morgan, and Wyatt…

Tank platoons usually come in fours these days but I’ll take what I can get and I guess Nazon here counts as two…

I see Major Giggles is back…

The GM found it so funny that he had to ROFLMAO on Giggles’ ride.

FUCK YEAH Yuri in my IGLOO!

She is Chikane and you are Himeko in this rolepay…hell you already have the corresponding hair colors.

Well a moon shines because of the sun…

A Night of Nazon and Death that went on forever and ever…

Man this is a beautiful sight the only thing missing is the air support…

Land Battleship Squardron FUCK YEAH! Big Tray in the lead and two Heavy Forks bringing up the rear.

But seriously how did they miss that huge defensive ditch?

That one’s for ranging…

This one is for you…

Not that is MOBILE

RTX-440 literally blows the Zaku II away…

Hey look a Norris Packard wannabe…

Shot in the ass by a GM…

Shot in the balls by RTX-440…No Zaku amirte?

The GM is only here to help…

Fixed defenses are a monument to the stupidity of Zeon, what a Zeke can build a Feddie can blow up…

So many Type-61s…if only Yandell were still here to help.

For a moment like this… some people wait a lifetime…for a moment like this…

Because he is a Man of Destiny…and guess what he’s not in love with a Nina Purpleton…

Organic artillery support included!

Stupid Zeke MLRS would have sufficed…we Feddies call it Gird Square Removal System

Now you see them…

Now you don’t…it’s so…magical.

Magella Attack Tanks eh?

Feel the Fires of Retribution Zeke scum! These are the fires that cleanse your souls of your impudence and stupidity. ZEUS AKBAR!

I love the smell of burnt Zeke in the morning…

The Magella Attack Tank is not match for the RTX-440’s might.

Much more effective than a burning bag of dog shit…

How did you like them Valentine’s chocolate motherfucker?

Steven Hawking helped make the the RTX-440 possible, he even voiced the computer…

That is some GLOMP…

And then the Zaku I pilot shat himself…

He’s a Black one eyed Scoittish Cyclops…

Order now and you get this free Itano Circus!

Ima anata no koe ga kikoeru
“Koko ni oide” to
Samishisa ni makesouna watashi ni
Ima anata no sugata ga mieru
Aruite kuru
Me wo tojite matte iru watashi ni
Kinou made namida de kumotteta
Kokora wa ima…

Oboete imasu ka  me to me ga atta toki wo
Oboete imasu ka  te to te ga fureatta toki
Sore wa hajimete no ai no tabidachi deshita
I LOVE YOU SO

The shaft is ray sheilded so you will have to use proton torpedoes…

Nazon trust me…

Oh they brought three Magella Attack Tanks…

This one is for Yandell.

Hey it’s Robosaurus…

Best Monster Tank Rally EVAR!

No Shadow Kick!

Always two there are…

Too Fast, Too Furious, Too Weeabo…

Dom Jedi…?

More lIke Dom the Star Wars Kid…

Here have a can…

…of WHUPASS.

Damn Zekes only coming out when the RTX-440 is wrecked…

Woah there was a big RED BUTTON on this thing?

Arleen will not let him kill her softly with that song.

Zekes have trouble finding the proper words to beg for their lives…

ZEUS AKBAR!

For getting her beloved Nazon to leave her mortal coil I guess that makes Death the Winner of IGLOO 2.

The best thing about episode was the SCALE.

Gorgeous, Delicious, YAKKK DECULCHA!

I guess I can thank Uncle Sam for making all my traveling arrangements for me, though I wish the crabby old man would have given me a better flight than one at 0600 on a Sunday. Ah well as such I have much ground to cover but not a lot of time to do it. Well here goes a quick recon report on Aoi Hana – 01, Mazinger Z – 13, Sora no Manimani – 01, and Umi Monogatari – 02.

Aoi Hana – 01: Kawamori Strikes Back

Beware of sis-cons driving cars…though he might as well get a pedobear suit with accompanying van.

It certainly seems to be much more slice of life than other yuri series I have seen and as such there doesn’t seem to be a tall dark and bishojo to act as the Chikane-class alpha female. Instead in an interesting reversal the super tall Fumi Manjome-san is the cry baby with the washboard. In contrast her designated life partner Akira “Achan” Okudaira seems to be the brave one. Incidentally it seems that Aoi Hana seems to have it in for dudes with sis-con as Shinobu is a butt monkey who likes his imouto a little too much. I suppose that Zyl will have a field day drawing comparisons between Shinobu and Stripey as is the way of Red Zakus. Both may go to different schools but it seems that both go to all girl schools. Achan’s school seems to also have an attached loli-school whose students are simply criminally cute. Even if Fumi is no Katie, she still gets three admirers off the bat who assume that she is Chikane-class and hope to get her into their drama club so they can yuri tea parties. A-chan gets no yuri harem or fan club, but it seems that Kyoko Ikumi has locked S-Foils in attack position and is ready to make a milk run on Achan. I wonder if Kyoko is going to aspire to become Chikane-class because that would be fucking sweet. To be sure there probably were other embarrassing incidents for Fumi, but why they chose her wetting herself is beyond me…In any case Fumi’s cousin and long time yuri pal Chizu gets a pineapple cakey and is sent off to marry some dude. Fumi is understandably distraught that it was time for Chizu to marry and pretend to be heterosexual.

All in all I will watch because it is yuri, and that cakey thing was like a FALCON PUNCH to the gut.

I dawwwed.

Achan would totally hit that…

If only she were Kati II…

Now now Fumi this not time to be picky or monogamous…

That book could be you in few days Achan…

Nice to meet you too…may it be that she is Chikane II?

It is time…

Oh shit it’s a pineapple cake…

Chizu-chan no BAKA!

Mazinger Z – 13: Up Your Arsenal

Woah there what do you mean “IF” Mazinger Z wins…?

I suppose the moral of this story is that the Right to Bear Arms is a fundamental right. Simply put, what kind of self respecting person would pass up an arsenal made by Kabuto? No one, that’s who; well, except for pansy girly men who fear weapons. Ankokuji is still loyal to the memory of his beloved Gamia, and who could blame him as Shiro turns to the loli path and suspects everyone but his mother of being a loli-con. Ankokuji put it best though, no rack = no interest, even if Lorelei is probably mecha too. While Baron Ashura was a huge butt monkey it seems that against Mazinger Z even Count Blocken becomes one too, though at least he did manage to blow up the Jet Scrander. Still Mario N7 was not long for the world as his Marionettes were no match for Ankokuji’s new arsenal. Unlike other mecha series guns are used liberally here as any mecha pilot ought to be able to fight competently outside of the cockpit like the Great Prince Ali. Ah how I miss the old days before this faux righteousness fad of more talking and less shooting took hold. So old man Stronheim seems to have a thing for Tsubasa, who is now revealed to be Kouji and Shiro’s mom, ah well I suppose coming back from the dead is as good a declaration of love as any. Still the poor man waited all his life only to find that his one and only already had two kids…ouch.

Welcome my fellow /k/ommandos.

I think Tesla just jizzed in his grave.

Ronin Warriors…

Now we need a Mazinger Z ODST

It’s part of Juuzo’s back taxes…

Ah the power of love…

And mecha…

I dub thee loli-Gamia.

Yeah I miss her too.

Gamia-hime :3

It’s me, MARIO N7!

This is my rifle, this is my gun…this is for fighting, this if for fun…

Ah the old days when arsenals were okay and there was none of this “pistol only” nonsense.

Fucking BADASS.

The power is in the armor…

Way to go puss cake.

What about dad?

Tsubasa you gots some esplaining to do…

Dude look at that chin…

Wait kids? Two of them…?

Yeah FML indeed…

Sora no Manimani – 01: Astrology in my Astronomy?!

I did not know the Wii could make something like this…

Well not really but while the first ep was well animated, pretty, and filled with bright colors; it seems to be a bit lacking on the comedy side. Moreover I think as time goes one people will find Mii-chan to be irritating, she reminds me of Tenma of School Rumble though it seems there will be little need to reset the relationships given the male to female ratio. It’s pretty clear that Saku-chan is doomed to be the bride of Mii-chan so hopefully this will be more romantic comedy than hateful harem. I hope the comedy picks up because otherwise it will probably get old quick. The episode itself was alright it had its moments though I think Saku-chan should have imagined his nemesis Mii-chan as a fat yaoi fan girl with a paddle, but a missed opportunity I suppose. At the very least it seems to have no panty shots though they probably should go more over the top. Still I suppose as long as the animation is crisp there is still hope for this. The manga is ongoing so there is some people out there who like it. If it’s going to stay more on the romantic side that’s fine though I was hoping that I would have busted a gut laughing.

Still Fumin  is superior, that is all.

In Soviet Russia Miyamoto’s Miis makes you!

Quick get your your Sony Home Avatar ready!

It’s kind of great…if you happen to be a loli-con.

Saku-chan getto!

My advice get a cardboard box…and learn CQC.

Sayo-chan is embarrassed for you…

There’s always two sides to a story…

Uhh Mii-chan it was already a uniform…

I like megane-chan more…

:3

GO MEGANE PAIR!

Dood Mii-chan’s dad looks like Saku-chan…

Yuri shot GET!

Umi Monogatari – 02: Kanon’s Ultimate Techinique…

Thank goodness at least Marin is a card carrying lesbain.

For a first mahou shojo battle it wasn’t too bad as there were fewer speed lines than anticipated and the sequence where Marin was dodging and taking pot shots was mildly Macrossian. If only Kanon called her attacks and said attack was SEKIHA TENKYOKEN, ah well I suppose this isn’t slated to be a series where Marin and Kanaon’s blood will be BURNING RED. Not much happened in terms of story but it seems that Kanon is getting some guests to her home next week. I wonder how young Kanon’s mom was if Kanon is not hitting 18 years of age, but is suppose anime being anime that it’s only a minor detail. It’s kind of funny how the turtle was mocking Kanon for not being chaste when it was Marin who actually wore something even skimpier. Still I suppose the highlight for me was predictably when Marin confessed her yuri love for Kanon who should join the yuri side after her dip shit boyfriend reneged on his promise. Not that it was the only yuri moment, it seems that the servants of Sedna take the guise of women and have a penchant for wrapping around Kanon and go all out in trying to take her first kissu. In the end I probably won’t be dropping this until 7 eps later if it starts dragging. Nevertheless I enjoyed this one much more than the first.

Chuuuu…

Ep 2 and already a confession, how about that.

And what a friend you found!

Give it time… you’ll change your tune.

Suggestive pose is suggestive…

I wonder if Kanon will age as well as her mom.

I guess Mrs. Forever 21 here wasn’t simply born that way…

More inbound…seems they all want to give you a big wet one.

She wants to love you…tenderly

The only thing that really changed was her hair…

Hehe slimy…

I think that Kanon will have many female suitors in the future…

Well you should get a load of what Marin has to wear…

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE

The power of yuri heals all wounds…

Don’t worry Marin will steal it first.

Welcome to the 2009 Summer Anime Preview. I hope everyone is enjoying the time off, because I have none -_- (damn Bar review). Regardless, enjoy our seasonal preview, the format is the same as last time.

Much of this info is pulled from Fansub Wiki, AniDB, AnimeNfo, ANN, Wikipedia and MAL. So thanks to those fine sites for their databases and other information.

A Message from the NKVD: Well its time once again to point out this is a preview, and not a review. That “p” makes a difference a very big difference in fact. On another note many of us are old grouchy mean spirited cynics and not wide eyed idealistic fat cat communist NEETs. If you are part of the “animu is SRSfkn business” part of the fandom do yourself a favor and just read the summary from ANN so you can preserve your fragile optimism for your harem animu. Other than that Liberty Prime is watching and ready to initiate directive 7395, destroy all communists.

Click on link to jump to the series: Element Hunters | Cobra the Animation -Rokunin no Yuushi- | Princess Lover! | Kanamemo | Sora no Manimani | Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou | Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 | Aoi Hana | Needless | Umineko no Naku Koro ni | Spice & Wolf II | Bakemonogatari | Taishou Yakyuu Musume | Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei | Hetalia Axis Powers Second Season | GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class | Canaan | Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~

Element Hunters

Details
Website: http://elementhunters.com/
Japanese Air Date: July 4
Animation Company: HeeWon Entertainment, NHK Enterprises
Seiyuu: Atsuko Enomoto, Houko Kuwashima, Yuutaro Motoshiro
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
An original production from a Japanese and Korean studio combination. The anime will be a science-fiction adventure aimed at children to teach chemical elements. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: Apparently this isn’t going to be your average educational show, it’s going to have an actual adventure/story of sorts. Still not a likely watch, but you never know.

Crusader: I’d be surprised if they some how managed to make the periodic table fun without teaching kids how to make meth or gunpowder.

Shokkeru: Looks a bit childish, but the art style isn’t too bad and the story could be somewhat interesting.

Impz: I have been totally drained out by anime, and I am not going to bother with a series that looks like it is made for 10 year old kids. I do need to see if the premise will work, but I doubt so.

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Cobra the Animation -Rokunin no Yuushi-

Details
Website: http://www.cobra30th-anime.com/
Japanese Air Date: July 4
Animation Company: Magic Bus
Seiyuu: Nachi Nozawa, Yoshiko Sakakibara

Summary
Newest adaptation of Buichi Terasawa’s 1978-1984 space opera manga. This TV series is a remake of the 1980 anime series.

The series features the infamous space-pirate Cobra who was once forced to hide from enemies by surgically altering his face and erasing his own memory. At the start of the story he is living an ordinary life but after going to a trip-parlor where ordinary people live out their fantasies as powerful implanted dreams he starts to regain his true memories. With his android partner Lady Armaroid literally ‘bursting’ out of the bulky domestic robot she impersonated in his years of ‘vacation’, and his old ship The Turtle, he now faces foes both old and new. (Wikipedia)

Thoughts

Calawain: I have not watched the original series, but the concept seems pretty badass.

Crusader: I missed out back in the day though if Shin Mazinger Z is anything to go on, then retro is usually solid.

Shokkeru: Not exactly my cup of tea.

Impz: I don’t watch old school adaptations. They don’t run well with me, but those who know what this is about should tune in immediately.

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Princess Lover!

Details
Website: http://www.prilover.tv/
Japanese Air Date: July 5
Animation Company: GoHands
Seiyuu: Emiri Katou, Megumi Toyoguchi, Ryoka Yuzuki, Yuki Matsuoka
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (scroll down to the two yellow buttons, doesn’t work for me)

Summary
Adaptation of the PC eroge by Ricotta (why a Japanese porn game company would name themselves after an Italian cheese I do not know).

In the original game’s story, Teppei Arima is a second-year high school student who lost both of his parents in a traffic accident on their way home from a family trip. His grandfather, Isshin Arima, happens to wield the puppet strings in Japan’s vast economy and demands that Teppei becomes his successor as the head of the Arima Group. To prepare for his debut into high society, Teppei enrolls in an elite academy for the scions of the rich and powerful. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: Well, the storyline has been done about a thousand times before, but the bishoujos in the promotional material look pretty damn delicious. And they’ve got a damn good seiyuu cast, highlighted by several Lucky Star cast members, Megumi Toyoguchi, and even Emperor Wakamoto. Probably going to watch it just to hear the voices of Patty and Misao again.

Crusader: I find ergoe to be a bit off putting… I find rich people to be intolerable, things must be great if they want to do a series on some rich kids with this level of unemployment, but hey I guess it worth living in a fantasy land where the Japanese economy doesn’t suck so bad. Maybe Calawain will have found a gem in this one.

Shokkeru: I’ll admit that the image caught my attention, but I doubt I’ll investigate any further.

Impz: Cute girls but the boobs are too big. I like my Petanko/flat chested girls (Thank you to 13sugars for introducing me to Hinagiku), thank you very much. No deal.

Possible Bloggers: Calawain

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Kanamemo

Details
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/kanamemo/
Japanese Air Date: July 5
Animation Company: Feel (Nagasarete Airantou, Shikabane Hime)
Seiyuu: Aki Toyosaki, Aya Endo, Eri Kitamura, Kaoru, Rie Kugimiya, Ryou Hirohashi, Yui Horie

Summary
Adaptation of Shouko Iwami’s 4-koma.

The story centers on Kana Nakamichi, a middle-school girl who had already lost her parents and just recently lost her only remaining relative, her grandmother. As a result, she ends up living and working at a newspaper delivery office. Everyone else living at the office are all charming, self-assertive bishoujo. The manga follows Kana’s daily life in the fast-paced yet joyous environment. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: The character designs are decent, and I like some of the seiyuu cast (mostly Eri Kitamura, KugaRie, and Hocchan), but I’m not sure I can handle high dosages of Aki Toyosaki (Yui, K-ON!) as the lead character. Feel has also not particularly impressed me in the past. I’m doubtful overall.

Crusader: At least there is not loser harem animu male, will watch for lesbian undertones if present.

Shokkeru: Art style is decent and if it’s at the least bit humorous, I’ll give it a try.

Impz: The cast of this show is pretty cool, and I have to say that I might watch the first episode to see the artwork. Due to my screwed up life in general, I cannot really watch more than 3-4 shows now.

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Sora no Manimani

Details
Website: http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/soramani/
Japanese Air Date: July 7
Animation Company: Studio Comet (School Rumble, Suzuka)
Seiyuu: Kanae Itou, Tomoaki Maeno
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (embedded on the front page)

Summary
Adaptation of Mami Kashiwabara’s manga.

In the story, Saku Ōyagi is a quiet bookworm who moves back to his former hometown as a high school freshman. He meets his childhood friend, Mihoshi Akeno, although a traumatic incident long ago had left their friendship in an awkward state. Despite this, Mihoshi brings Saku into the astronomy club she founded, and this sets the stage for the slapstick romantic comedy that ensues. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: This one has rather bland looking character designs, but at least the story concept isn’t too cliche. Kanae Ito is relatively new, the only big role she’s done so far is Amu in Shugo Chara, which I haven’t watched. The director is fairly experienced though, aside from doing all of the School Rumble adaptations, he’s done some work on various Gundam shows. And more important then all of that, he’s directing Gintama, which I feel I need to write a post dedicated to how fucking awesome it is (I’ve only recently started watching it, and I’ve been marathoning it in chunks)

Crusader: I like astronomy enough to do a recon patrol for this, hopefully it will be gut busting funny.

Shokkeru: Yay, astronomy!

Impz: Astronomy was …so old school. Ermm, I am not too sure if I will bother with this. I like a shoujo-style of romance rather than this type.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

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Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou

Details
Website: http://www.gendaimahou.com/
Japanese Air Date: July 11
Animation Company: Nomad (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki, Rozen Maiden)
Seiyuu: Ai Nonaka, Haruka Tomatsu, Hitomi Nabatame, Minako Kotobuki, Shintaro Asanuma
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s light novels, with the title translated as “Properly Learned Modern Magic.”

The story revolves around Koyomi Morishita, a clumsy high school freshman girl who is often mistaken for a grade-schooler because of her shortness. Koyomi becomes a disciple of Misa Anehara, a 25-year-old graduate student who happens to be one of the most powerful modern-day magicians. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: Light novel adaptations seem to have a much higher success rate for me than manga, I tend to enjoy most of them. I also really enjoy the way the Japanese do modern magic fantasy stories of this nature (think Type-Moon stuff, JC Staff light novel adaptations, etc.). I could do without Ai Nonaka as the lead, but lets hope we get to hear a lot of Haruka Tomatsu. Finally, Nomad usually does a pretty solid job in the animation quality department, and keep their designs pretty colorful. Looking forward to this one.

Crusader: It has a magical cell phone…okay I’ll do this one for laughs. The iPhone cannot be defeated by your pitiful Sony Erickson! Feel the the wrath of my 3G network! Your Verizon Legion shall not avail you!

Shokkeru: Calawain and Crusader got this.

Impz: I got burned once after trying to follow through with To Aru Majutsu, just to get extremely bored with it. Let’s see what Calawain and Crusader have to say about it.

Possible Bloggers: Calawain, Crusader

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Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Details
Website: http://tokyo-m8.com/index.shtml
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: BONES (Eureka Seven, Fullmetal Alchemist), Kinema Citrus (Higepiyo)
Seiyuu: Satomi Hanamura, Yuko Kaida, Yumiko Kobayashi
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (click the “PV” button on the right)

Summary
A BONES original production.

The premise of the project is the 70% or higher possibility that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake will occur in Tokyo in the next 30 years. The anime will depict what would happen if an 8.0 earthquake took place, attempting to realistically portray the consequences of such a tremor after collecting data on actual earthquakes and interviewing people.

The story will center on Mirai, a middle school freshman girl who goes to Tokyo’s artificial Odaiba Island for a robot exhibition with her brother Yutaka at the start of summer vacation. A powerful tremor emanates from an ocean trench, the famed Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge crumble and fall, and the landscape of Tokyo changes in an instant. With the help of a motorcycle delivery woman named Mari who they meet on Odaiba, Mirai and Yutaka strive to head back to their Setagaya home in western Tokyo. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: Leave it to BONES to come up with something completely unique like this. I’m at least very intrigued as to how this could go.

Crusader: It sounds intriguing but if there was a giant monster shooting out nuclear fire or some such I would be sold on this. Still I am curious.

Shokkeru: Looks pretty epic, but it’s not what I look for in an anime show.

Impz: BONES always do something so queer. I might be up for this

Possible Bloggers: Impz

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Aoi Hana

Details
Website: http://www.aoihana.tv/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: JC Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Toradora)
Seiyuu: Ai Takabe, Yuko Gibu, Chiemi Ishimatsu, Yui Horie
Available Trailers: Trailer 1 (click “Play” on the front page)

Summary
Adaptation of Takako Shimura’s yuri manga (the title translates to Sweet Blue Flowers.

Fumi Manjoume, an introverted, bookish teenage girl, is beginning her first year of high school at Matsuoka Girls’ High School. She enters the school year with her heart broken by a previous relationship. At about the same time, she reconnects with her best friend from ten years ago, Akira Okudaira, who is now attending Fujigatani Girls’ Academy as a first-year high school student. As they reconnect, they both deal with their own respective romantic problems, and help each other get through them. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: Ohohoho, finally another real yuri anime, they seem way too few and far between. I’ve read the translated parts of the manga and the story is so-so, along with the rather lame character designs. I’m much more excited for Sasameki Koto, due sometime this year I believe. However, when it comes to yuri I’ll take what I can get.

Crusader: It’s YURI that makes it a must watch for me I am sure that between this and doing retro blogging of VOTOMS it will be good times while in garrison doing E-5 stuff like being the poor bastard on call.

Shokkeru: Crusader’s all over this one (useless comment).

Impz: Are you sure it’s yuri? It says it’s romance unless the romance is with girls… Well, yuri is always good but I am not too sure how much yuri I can take. The image art does not impress me at all too.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader (Hell YEAH, FUCK YEAH, THERE IS A GOD AND HE IS ENLISTED!)

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Needless

Details
Website: http://annex.s-manga.net/needless/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: Madhouse Studios (Black Lagoon, Hellsing)
Seiyuu: Aya Endo, Eri Kitamura, Takehito Koyasu

Summary
Adaptation of Kami Imai’s manga.

The action gag comedy with “bishōjo x violence” is set in 2130, when large swaths of Japan have been quarantined as polluted “Black Spots (BS)” in the aftermath of World War III. However, there are people who have settled behind the massive walls of the Black Spots, where they have developed mysterious powers. The city people on the outside have a label for the Black Spot people they have ostracized: “Needless.” (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: Masayuki Sakoi is a solid director (Kamen no Maid Guy, Princess Resurrection, Strawberry Panic), but I cringe every time I hear “gag comedy” when it comes to anime. I just can’t get into that type of comedy for the most part, especially the type you often find in shounen fighting anime (see Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood). Low probability for me on this one.

Crusader: Needless to say it better bring laughs or this one is sunk.

Shokkeru: I’ll watch if the comedy is good.

Impz: Wow, this is eccentric stuff. I am quite sure I will catch the first episode. I do know one thing about this though: It either becomes above-average B-grade fodder or will be absolutely impossible to watch. The premise is not helping itself.

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Umineko no Naku Koro ni

Details
Website: http://umineko.tv/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: Studio DEEN (Fate/stay night, Maria-sama ga Miteru)
Seiyuu: Daisuke Ono, Marina Inoue, Sayaka Ohara, Yui Horie

Summary
Adaptation of the visual novel by 07th Expansion (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni), with the title translated as When Seagulls Cry.

Umineko no Naku Koro ni takes place primarily in the year 1986, during the time frame of October 4 and October 5 on a small, secluded island named Rokkenjima, owned and lived on by Kinzo, the head of the wealthy Ushiromiya family. Kinzo is near death, and eight of his family members arrive on the island for the annual family conference, where the adults plan to discuss how Kinzo’s assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo’s servants, and his personal physician. After the eight family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island, and shortly after, strange things start to happen and people start dying. (Wikipedia)

Thoughts

Calawain: There’s a translation in progress for the visual novel, but I’ve been waiting until it’s completely finished before diving in. Ryukishi07 is a pretty creative guy, and I enjoyed Higurashi, so there’s a decent chance I’ll enjoy this. Doesn’t hurt to have mai waifu Marina Inoue along with Hocchan voicing parts of the cast.

Crusader: I heard that there will be people dying, I hope they will expire most slowly and painfully…

Shokkeru: Kind of a cliched murder/mystery premise, but based on what these guys have said, it might actually turn out pretty good.

Impz: Wow, conspiracy theory time. I’m in.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

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Spice & Wolf II

Details
Website: http://www.spicy-wolf.com/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: Brains Base (Baccano!, Kurenai)
Seiyuu: Ami Koshimizu, Jun Fukuyama

Summary
Second season of the adaptation of Isuna Hasekura’s light novels. For the second season, the former animation studio (IMAGIN) has been replaced by Brains Base as the studio primarily responsible for animation production.

Craft Lawrence is a peddler who trades in various kinds of goods, visiting every village by cart. After he leaves the town of Pasroe, which was in the midst of a harvest festival, he finds a girl sleeping on a pile of fur in his cart. She is a beautiful girl, but she has the ears and tail of a wolf. She calls herself Horo – the Sage Wolf Horo – god of the harvest. Her craft is the art of conversation, and even Lawrence, an experienced peddler, is outmaneuvered by her. Although he doubts her identity as a god, he is moved by her wish to return to her home in the north, and so he promises to go with her. (AnimeNfo)

Thoughts

Calawain: What I remember from this show was economics and a really bad Engrish ED. That being said, I didn’t finish the show not because I thought the show was bad by any means, I just found it uninteresting.

Crusader: Yeah economics, maybe they can do a whole arc on unemployment, and why Das Kapital is relevant.

Shokkeru: I’m not really into furries.

Impz: Or me for that matter.

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Bakemonogatari

Details
Website: http://www.bakemonogatari.com/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: SHAFT (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Maria+Holic)
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of NisiOisin’s supernatural comedy light novel series.

The short stories in the two volumes of Bakemonogatari deal with a high school boy named Koyomi Araragi and strange students he encounters. (”Bakemonogatari” is a wordplay on the Japanese term bakemono for supernatural creatures and the term monogatari for stories.) One student, a girl named Hitagi Senjougahara, almost literally falls into his lap, only to have him discover she has no weight. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: A supernatural comedy seems right up SHAFT and Shinbo’s alley. I don’t always enjoy his works, but I always try to give them at least a chance.

Crusader: I am very tempted to make a snarky remark about women and weight, but I won’t. Will watch if it is funny.

Shokkeru: Sh-sh-sh-SHAFT!

Impz: Just the name SHAFT attracts me enough. I am not too sure about the premise though. Are they going to go into straight comedy or will this be a more serious affair at the later stages of this series. The art style does not look like something that will be fluffy all the way, and I do wonder how Shinbo will treat this if it is serious drama. Comedy is generally all ok with Shinbo but he tends to struggle a little when it comes to serious drama.

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Taishou Yakyuu Musume

Details
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/taisho/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: JC Staff (Zero no Tsukaima, Slayers)
Seiyuu: Kanae Ito, Mai Nakahara, Kana Ueda, Mamiko Noto
Available Trailers: Trailer 1, Trailer 2

Summary
Adaptation of Atsushi Kagurazaka’s two historical slice-of-life novels (translated as Taishou-Era Baseball Girls).

The story is about two 14-year-old Japanese high school girls named Koume and Akiko who decide to start a baseball team in Japan in 1925. At the time, few baseball teams — male or female — exist in the country. First though, the two girls have no clue where to find nine players, how to use the equipment, and what even the rules are. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: I know people always react negatively when I say that I’m a huge sports fan, but I can’t get into sports anime for the most part. Sorry, just the way it is folks. That being said, this doesn’t exactly look like your average sports anime, but it has a tall hill to climb.

Crusader: I actually watched Princess Nine and liked, will do recon.

Shokkeru: I don’t watch baseball shows, even if it’s full of girls… wait.

Impz: So cute! Me want.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader, Impz

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Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Details
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/zetsubou3/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: SHAFT (Maria+Holic, Hidamari Sketch)
Seiyuu: Hiroshi Kamiya, Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue

Summary
Third TV adaptation (4th overall, including an OVA) of Kouji Kumeta’s manga.

The anime revolves around a very pessimistic high school teacher named Nozomu Itoshiki who, at the very beginning of the series, tries to hang himself on a sakura tree. Despite this effort of self-destruction, he is saved by an extremely optimistic girl known only as Kafuka Fuura. After having enough of the strange girl, Nozomu bolts to the school and starts his homeroom class, but the attempt to escape was in vain as he finds that the girl is one of his students. Not only that, but Kafuka is just the tip of the iceberg: each and every student in his class represents a new personality quirk or bizarre obsession, posing challenges that the suicidally-inclined teacher must overcome in spite of himself. (Wikipedia)

Thoughts

Calawain: I love this show, I’m a sucker for puns and satire even when it’s not really my culture. But the beauty of this show is that you don’t need to live in Japan to enjoy laughing along with the general “themes” of the episodes. SHAFT’s best work has a massively talented and diverse seiyuu cast that features most of my favorites. I just finished the second volume of the English-translated manga (just arrived in the mail yesterday), I’m ready for more Zetsubou-sensei anime.

Crusader: Will watch but it’s hard as hell for me to write anything about it.

Shokkeru: Yeeeesss! There is a god.

Impz: But the God doesn’t like me.

Possible Bloggers: Calawain

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Hetalia Axis Powers Second Season

Details
Website: http://hetalia.com/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: Studio DEEN (Fate/stay night, Maria-sama ga Miteru)
Seiyuu: Daisuke Namikawa, Hiroki Takahashi, Hiroki Yasumoto
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Second season of the web adaptation of Hidekaz Himaruya’s gag manga.

The story is set in Europe in the years between WW1 and WW2 (1915-1939), and uses exaggerated caricatures of the different nationalities as portrayed by a gaggle of bishounen boys. For example, the Italia Veneziano character is into pasta and women. The Deutsche (German) bishi 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. The manga’s title comes the Japanese words for “useless” (hetare) and Italy (Italia).

Japan’s Kids Station television network has officially canceled its planned broadcast of the Hetalia Axis Powers anime series “due to various circumstances.” The series was distributed by Japanese retail anime chain Animate, via cell phone delivery and internet streaming. (AniDB)

Thoughts

Calawain: I found the controversy surrounding the show to be somewhat amusing, but I had no interest in the show itself.

Crusader: I watched a few eps, but I find history to be funny enough as is with out bishies.

Shokkeru: The first one wasn’t that great so I doubt I’ll watch this one.

Impz: I only remember this simply because of the real life Korean dorama. Other than that, I never bothered to watch a single episode.

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GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class

Details
Website: http://mv.avex.jp/ga/
Japanese Air Date: July 6
Animation Company: AIC (S.A., Seto no Hanayome )
Seiyuu: Haruka Tomatsu, Ai Tokunaga, Miyuki Sawashiro, Yui Horie, Kaori Nazuka

Summary
Adaptation of Satoko Kiyuzuki’s slice-of-life manga.

Follows five first-year senior high students in an art focused school as they play and learn. Offers some basic art information and color theory, with color pages spaced throughout. (MAL)

Thoughts

Calawain: Hocchan is certainly busy, and so is Haruka Tomatsu. I think I’ve had my fill of slice-of-life art anime over the years though, not sure I can handle another one.

Crusader: Unless it is full of wonderful surprises, I have a Union Flag to paint.

Shokkeru: Sounds kinda like Sketchbook, but more educational and less cute.

Impz: Art, to me, is as fun as watching paint dry. Nuff said.

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Canaan

Details
Website: http://www.canaan.jp/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: PA Works (True Tears)
Seiyuu: Maaya Sakamoto, Miyuki Sawashiro
Available Trailers: Trailer 1

Summary
Adaptation of Sega and Chunsoft’s 428 ~Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de~ visual novel for the Wii, titled CANAAN.

It tells a present-day story about a detective, a young man, a virus researcher, a freelance writer, and a cat mascot character who are brought together by bizarre events with worldwide implications in the Tokyo neighborhood of Shibuya. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: I had no idea the Wii had visual novels for it. That being said, the character designs look pretty slick for this one. This is the second work PA Works has been the primary animation studio, with True Tears being the first. While I thought the story for True Tears ended up being pretty retarded, the animation quality was extremely high, and it was complemented with a solid musical score. Now this is certainly a different genre, but I’ve got confidence.

Crusader: I loved True Tears to pieces and I will follow this one mostly due to wanting to see if PA Works can work miracles.

Shokkeru: Might be worth watching. We will see.

Impz: PA works is becoming the next Kyoto animation, only that it is more diversified. Let’s watch one episode of this before any proper verdict. A detective show is always welcome though, if they manage to make it smart.

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

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Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~

Details
Website: http://www.sea-story.tv/
Japanese Air Date: July
Animation Company: Zexcs (Chrome Shelled Regios, Sister Princess)
Seiyuu: Kana Asumi, Minako Kotobuki, Yui Horie
Available Trailers: Trailers 1&2

Summary
The “transforming magical girl action” story centers on Marin and Urin, two “pure” sisters who live alongside the fish in the sea, but yearn to be in the world beyond the water and above ground. One day, a beautiful ring falls in the middle of the sea, and Marin and Urin retrieve it. The two decide to leave their waterbound world for the first time to deliver the ring. After an arduous journey, they come across an isolated island where a high school girl named Kanon lives. The encounter between Marin and Kanon — the maiden of the sea and the maiden of the skies — awakens a hidden power as the world is threatened by an enveloping darkness. (ANN)

Thoughts

Calawain: I really like the character designs here, with bright, solid colors that match well with the ocean theme. Bring your nutbladder protection, as the co-lead is voiced by Kana Asumi, who voiced Yuno in Hidamari Sketch (the other lead is Hocchan, again!). Apparently Umi Monogatari (Sea Story) is some sort of pachinko line (lol?), maybe they paint delicious bishoujos on their pachinko machines to get otakus to gamble? Regardless of its origins, it’s being handled by an experienced bishoujo studio, and has Junichi Sato at the helm, a big shot director who’s done everything from Aria to Sailor Moon and Sgt. Frog.

Crusader: The Big Shot Director has quite a resume…association with Zeta Gundam can only be a plus. Will do recon.

Shokkeru: And that’s the end of the demo folks. (No one is going to get that)

Impz: I find Zexcs a very poor animation company in general. Yes, I am very biased. I am not going to go close. However, Junichi Sato did Aria and he’s not helping me (I am a huge fan of Aria, you see).

Possible Bloggers: Crusader

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And you better. If not, he will haunt you with supremely great Engrish for twenty four minutes.

This is a story of a traveler who decides to collect some heroes so that he can see his two friends smooching each other. The big bad overlord seen in episode two needs to be killed, but the heroes have to meet each other through various quests. Of course, they need to gain enough retarded experience to level up. I mean, this is a freaking grinding Japanese game after all.

Hence, first stop: Gay man and horny female ninja. Flag time.

However, the traveler knew that the world is in chaos and will collapse soon if he does not collect all the stars of change. The traveler obviously fears the day that he won’t get enough sex and everyone won’t have time to make love. Oh, and his monkey friend will become puffy ball. He needed more help, especially from someone who can kick ass while looking completely ridiculous. Of course, it will be great if his horse can actually climb vertically. A good logical realistic bonus, if you ask me. Still, since gay man and horny female ninja are peace-loving (read: sit down and look pretty) people, it’s always good to get some useless help.

It was said that his ability of persuasion can make all females going into rosy orgasm. One down.

…and even persuade a gay-dressing man who generally did nothing other than teasing his barely-fanservice ninja to agree with him. What’s the purpose of persuading this gay man when he does not even look like he can defend a single hit? Anyway, two down.

Random sky shot with traveler to add word count.

Of course, there are people who are unhappy that the traveler forgot to visit them.

So, as expected of the extremely stupid warrior type and the muscle man…

They engage in some violent S&M action to provide some fanservice to those with acquired taste. They do try hard to please you sickos after all.

Next stop to collect heroes: Eye patch man. So, the traveler decided to flirt with the eyepatch’s subordinate.

Obviously, the eye patch man does not agree. It’s surprising how this egoistical man goes from totally emo (I mean, rain, swinging the sword alone is so cliche!) to fight this random traveler. I bet the eye patch man only has two modes in his brain: Engrish and Violence.

…And they keep fighting.

In the end, three down. Mission accomplished. Please press START to continue.

I have not been covering the spring anime for a whole week due to a bad bout of cold and fever. After that, I got very lazy. It’s really bad weather these days (like it will ever be good), and people are dropping faster than popcorn being released into the open. Anyway, I have the fortune to finally make up my mind on the shows I am going to watch. That said, I am still ambivalent whether to follow a series through and through due to my inability to follow a commitment to the very end. If you notice, I have not finished blogging a complete series for ages, and I am not sure if I can do it well too due to time commitments.

Still, here is a quick look at the top five shows that I might be following to the very end for the spring season after the first two/three episodes.

5th place – Sengoku Basara

I have no idea why I like this show. I still cannot remember a single character’s name. The plot is so flimsy and done to death. Even the characters are hardly revolutionary. There’s the arrogant Engrish speaking general, the hot-headed but expected to be a great warrior guy, the typical gay-looking (I still don’t know if he/she is supposed to look androgynous) guy with the huge boob assassin. Cue on for many other cliches. I actually took fifteen minutes of quiet time to figure out why this show is attracting me, since it is not exactly the type of show I care about.

After some thought, I realize it is the sheer over-exaggeration that actually makes the show a rather lighthearted series to follow. You can go in with your head completely empty, look at all the silly crazy fighting that makes almost no sense and just laugh along. It is not deep, nor is it anything meant to be deep. Yet, I realize that it is good because it balances the usual diet of slice-of-life/romance series I watch. If you want something shounen and war-based, and does not treat it seriously at all, Sengoku Basara is one to catch.

4th place – Full metal Alchemist

I have been a huge fan of FMA, so it is unsurprising that it will be included in this list. However, it might be a little surprising how I only placed it in the 4th position. One of the major issues I had with the current series is its voice actors. It is probably how I am pampered with the previous series, particularly the voice actor of Mustang. It just feels a little strange that the arrogance feel of Roy is missing. I am not even sure why, but it just didn’t feel right. It is perhaps just me being picky over the voice acting.

However, there is almost nothing you can really hate about this franchise. BONES, as usual, makes animation look great and cool. The OP by Yui is excellent, as with her many other works. The ED is so unorthodox but it works perfectly fine, with a more wistful and relaxing vibe. My favorite character in FMA, Mr “Super-exhibitionist” Armstrong is also back in a vengeance. What’s not to like about it?

3rd – Asura Cryin

The first episode was clearly exciting. The second episode confused me so much that I wonder if I should drop the whole darn show. I didn’t need the fanservice too that was rather abundant in the second episode. However, they manage to save it and actually make it awesome by the third episode. Many things were immediately apparent, and it saved the show from being dropped to becoming one of the shows I am waiting for.

One thing I like about the show is how all the characters manage to be extremely interesting. For one, we do not have a wimpy, whiny piece of crap for the main male character. He is decently timid but he is just a normal balanced guy. Anime like this, particularly mecha shows, tend to make the male character either abnormally brave or totally gutless. It’s refreshing to see a typical guy going around trying to figure out what is going on. He is not trying to save the world or anything, just protecting his friends. Asura Cryin manages to do what good anime generally does: Keep it simple, keep it tangible and keep it real.

2nd – Souten Kouro

Souten Kouro is obviously one of the shows that I have been keen to watch ever since Calawain’s spring post. I mean, a show with Cao Cao as the main character is something I have to catch at all costs. It did not disappoint me with a very unique way of introducing Cao Cao. The first episode deals with his youth, and the motivation to protect the weak in an era of trouble just before the Three Kingdoms period. The second episode slows down a little with the quick introduction of his first love, and how it has shaped his beliefs over corrupted officials who abuse their power against commoners.

This is something not everyone can enjoy for sure. It is not exactly funny, and I am not sure if someone who is not interested in the Three Kingdoms Era can appreciate such a show. However, the story plot is very strong in my opinion, and I am amazed how it projects a very different feel to most other adaptations of that era. It’s a definite must watch and Madhouse has a clear winner.

1st – Ristorante Paradiso

I actually watched the first two episodes of Ristorante Paradiso with my girlfriend today, and man I was completely hooked. I didn’t expect myself to enjoy it and delayed my viewing for this series. After a long period of annoying persuasion by my naggy girlfriend, I decided to finally watch the series on streaming. After the first episode, I can totally understand why she liked it. It’s like the old man’s version of Aria.

It’s relaxing, it has romance vibes in the first episode. The guys are generally very different from the usual assortment of guys in anime series. For one, they are old/middle aged and that provides very different characters from the norm. The setting of the series is a restaurant with only old gentlemen with glasses serving the customers. I am not sure if this is for everyone but the interactions between the characters will soothe the heart of those that are stressed out after a long day at work or school. This is the type of show you will watch while sipping a soothing cup of earl grey tea in your comfort. Since I have been looking for a good slice-of-life romantic series, this has to be first place in my rankings.

So there you have it, the top five picks for the spring season. The next edition will present the top five drops of the spring season for me. Yes, after the compliments, it’s time for the hate! So, before that entry appears, so long and have fun! Do tell me if I am missing out some gems in this spring season.

I accept Zeus/Mazinger Z as my personal savior.

I confess I am utterly lost about what the hell was going on save WE MUST DEFEAT DR. HELL despite watching 3 times. Other than that it seems to have been a huge fan wank for those old enough to remember, but sadly I was unable to fangasm as much as I would have liked. Still for an intro ep it was fukken AWESOME with 20 plus varieties of win. If super robot is not your thing I advise you stay clear otherwise I hereby declare that the we have a new Patron God for Spring 2009, his name is Zeus but you may call him Mazinger Z!

Can’t you see the resemblance?

Dr. Hell is way tougher than a mere Innovado.

Now that…

is a proper Super Attack.

Only the truly badass ride Lions into battle.

YESSSS TWIN DRILLS MOTHER FUCKERS!

The OG Geek Squad.

He’s a Count because he has a monocle.

How do they stack up against the Demon Armies of Zaibach?

I always wanted a Submarine Fortress.

Now that is how you customize mecha.

All Hail Dr. Hell!

Oh sounds like fun…

He/she came.

Look who’s talking…

I so need Dual Gatling Guns…

In the old days we used our manly fists to deliver justice.

Ah yes this is what I miss most, non-bishie ugly looking men ready to kick ass WHILE SMOKING A CIGAR!

I think you dropped this…

COOL this guy has best set of legs I have ever seen.

That’s right no FEAR in this one oh how I lament the cowardice of today’s mecha pilots.

Suck on that Renge.

And he’s ready to rebuild his temple.

Now that is a name.

Now that is the face of a true God of Mecha.

Taken out of context this sounds so wrong…

FUCK YEAH GIRL TWINS!

Can’t say I blame the guy I would have done the same thing…

Let me guess you’re looking for Lupin…

I approve of her twin tails.

Unlike today there was no bitching about using chemical warfare.

Who needs morality when you have something…special.

I told you not to move…

This Blade cuts real close…

Oh yeah we can always use more of those.

Out of the way peck!

LETS!

These guys have balls.

No sir he’s on the level…

We’ll have none of that nakkid shit here.

You know that the spring season offering is pretty poor for now, when I find a bishie-filled show more charming than all the other pathetic stuff out there. Hanasakeru Seishonen is the story of a half-Japanese heiress transplanted from her ordinary high school days in Japan to a life in America filled with intrigue involving international oil and wealth distribution. Well, they have mixed politics along with romance. It can’t really go wrong for me, can it?

Edit: After finishing the show, I cannot call this bishie. It’s more shoujo than bishie. In addition, most of the thoughts section belong to 13sugars. Her thoughts are in red.

Episode summary

Kajika is a transfer student from America. Her silver eyes and blond appearance was extremely interesting for her Japanese classmates. One of them, Yui, mustered the courage to talk to her, and became good friends with Kajika. The other classmates also asked for her love life. Kajika started to mention about a beautiful “man”, only to reveal that Mustafa is a white leopard. Yui warned Kajika that she was mean to tease those girls. With time, the closeness of Yui and Kajika was starting to annoy the other classmates. This all boils over when Kajika was taunted by her classmates by being lovey dovey with her friend. Yui asked why they were bullying Kajika, and wanted to protect Kajika. However, Kajika managed to dispel the tension through feeding a strawberry to one of the bullies. She then shared her strawberries to everyone in the class.

Yui was a little annoyed that her efforts were seen as “meddlesome.” Kajika did not understand Yui’s behavior, and she explained that she was surrounded by adults since she was young. Hence, she was glad to find a friend in Yui. Just then, a senior bumped into Yui, but Yui was the one to apologize. Kajika asked the woman to apologize, and her stare stumbled the senior a little as she backed off. Yui later told Kajika that senior’s boyfriend was a gangster, and she might have antagonized someone powerful. On their way home, Kajika decided to walk with Yui, and she was waylaid by the gangsters. Brought back to their base, the gangsters tried to intimidate her. The gang leader even wanted to take Kajika as his own, and he was scoffed at for his insolence. They were infuriated and was going to attack Kajika, when her aide Lin Ren came to her rescue.

It turned out that Lin Ren was asked to bring Kajika back to America. Kajika was annoyed that she was called back when she was promised six months for herself. Lin Ren explained that it was the orders of her father. When she returned home, she remembered to give her father a tight slap for bringing her so abruptly. It turned out that he had a game for her. It was a game for her to choose a husband out of three men. These three men would not know about this game, but her father would simply let her have a chance meeting with them. He explained that those men have to choose her, and she had to choose one of them. Kajika asked what would happen if she did not pick any of the guys. Her father said that it meant he lost the game. Later on, her father asked Lin Ren to look after Kajika, and see if the man she chooses is suited for her. Lin Ren accepted the mission, but it seems that there was some quiet resentment over the decision when he left the room.

Thoughts

13sugar’s thoughts

All in all, this is a show for all shoujo-fans. The first episode is worth the watch. And I’m definitely going to follow this.

I actually stole her content from a forum post she made about the first episode of Hanasakeru Seishounen. To add on to her views, I think that it is really good to have female leads like Kajika. I do not know why shoujo series have the issue of having mousey, wussy or damsel in distress female leads that cannot decide what to do on their own.

Sure, I do not mind times of weaknesses when they weep and cry, but not a situation when they cry like a bloody river. They do not have to look like they will die if a wind just about blows at their face. That is why the spunky, straight forward Kajika attracts me to the show almost immediately. She faces up to anyone without any fear, and her ability to state exactly what she thinks makes me fall in love almost immediately. Still, I see her as a girl who has hardly discovered the love side. Let’s see if she’s the thick headed or the gooey type when faced with imminent love. I hope for something in between.

I actually laughed when 13sugars told me that she did not kyaa a lot over the bishie (Lin Ren is her type of bishie). I actually find that the characters are not really that bishie. In fact, it fits more into a shoujo style, even though there’s an obvious josei touch to the show. Nonetheless, the plot of “arranged marriage” is hardly revolutionary, but it is understandable that the source material was a 1980s manga. To be precise, it was released in 1987. Nonetheless, this manga’s story plot and character seemed to age pretty well, and Kajika is like a breeze of fresh air from the annoying little girls that plague our anime screens. All in all, I have to agree with 13sugars that this is extremely interesting, and I am keen to watch this. If you like shoujo, this might be a very good series to feed your addiction for love.

Impz’s recommendation: Great for shoujo lovers, others try at your own risk.