Wooper: It’s crunch time in Japan right now. Schools are closed as a measure against COVID-19, people are discontent with the lack of testing facilities for the virus, and the fate of the Tokyo Olympics remains uncertain. In times like these, people turn to entertainment to forget their troubles, and the spring anime season has over 40 potential distractions to choose from. Among them are a slew of popular sequels (including Kaguya-sama S2, which needs no elaboration), a Netflix-exclusive Trigger series with a 99% chance of getting fansubbed, the highest-profile manhwa adaptation ever, and a couple of promising detective shows. Even if we limited the preview to just those series, though, that wouldn’t cover all the good stuff in store for us beginning this April. You’re sure to find something interesting on the list, so read on and we’ll break down the upcoming season for you.

MIDDLING EXPECTATIONS

Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro

Studio: LIDENFILMS
Director: Shinpei Ezaki
Series composition: Taku Kishimoto
Source: Novel

Wooper: I have good news and bad news regarding this literary detective series. The good news is that it’s based on a novel, so it’s unlikely to get bogged down in delivering an otaku-friendly product. The bad news is that it’s being adapted by Taku Kishimoto, whose previous stab at detective fiction was Kabukichou Sherlock (a show I dropped midway through its interminable two cour run). Even before that, his mystery-centric scripts for Erased and Joker Game hobbled their respective stories. In spite of his involvement, however, I’m excited to try at least one episode of Kitsutsuki. The idea of an early 20th century poet opening a detective agency opens all kinds of doors for his character, and the PV’s aesthetic looks a lot like Concrete Revolutio. Making use of that comic book style to adapt a work of historical fiction is an intriguing decision, so I want to see whether it pans out, even with a saboteur like Kishimoto as head writer.

Tamayomi

Studio: Studio A-CAT
Director: Toshinori Fukushima
Series composition: Touko Machida
Source: Manga

Mario: I hope I don’t sound off when I say one of the main reasons I’m looking forward to this show is because of an all-girls cast. Now, CGDCT is a dime a dozen at this point, but for me when girls step into sports territory that’s usually reserved for boys, the gender reversal is something I can get behind. Another reason I’m looking forward to Tamayomi is that director Fukushima is the main force behind the Major series, so he’s more than capable of handling another baseball anime. The trailer gives off the usual sports vibe so there’s not much else to say. I don’t think this show will break any new ground, but for someone craving a new sports show to watch, you might have a good time here.

Houkago Teibou Nisshi

Studio: Doga Kobo
Director: Takaharu Ookuma
Series composition: Fumihiko Shimo
Source: Manga

Wooper: I’m mostly previewing this one for the “might be similar to Yuru Camp” factor. That 2018 series was deceptively good at building friendships between its female characters, and there’s plenty of room for that to happen here, as well. The main character is coerced into joining a club that doesn’t interest her, so where else can she go but up? Neither the first couple manga chapters nor a glance at the staff’s anime history have me particularly jazzed, but the character designs made a graceful transition to animation, and the backgrounds look great. I guess it’s worth noting that Fumihiko Shimo handled series composition for both Clannad series, since a lot of people seem to like those. Personally, I think his work on Engaged to the Unidentified would be a more accurate barometer for how successful Houkago Teibou Nisshi will be. That was a cute ‘fish out of water’ story, and hopefully this will be, too.

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045

Studio: Production I.G
Director: Kenji Kamiyama / Shinji Aramaki
Series composition: TBA
Source: Manga

Mario: Any new property in the Ghost in the Shell franchise should be immediately added to the “highest expectations” list, but boy does the full CG look appalling. Netflix is producing this anime in April and upon hearing the name “Netflix,” I thought that this is exactly the title they would love to back: a prestige old-school franchise with two directors who have done Netflix titles before (Ultraman). The concept of this new series, about Makoto and Batou fighting against the “post-human” race is kinda… meh for me. In fact, Kenji Kamiyama’s involvement is the biggest wild card for me at the moment. This show might create an opportunity for newcomers to watch and experience the complex world and politics of GITS, but I don’t see it winning the loyal fanbase of the original.

Yesterday wo Utatte

Studio: Doga Kobo
Director: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
Series composition: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
Source: Manga

Wooper: I’ve tried to cultivate a love for many genres during my years as an anime fan, but I must confess that I’m an indie bro at heart. Give me a hipster male protagonist with a dead-end job, render him in a sketchy visual style, throw in a cute love interest and some snarky dialogue, and I’m in there like swimwear. That certainly seems to be Yesterday wo Utatte’s M.O.; the main dude can even be seen wearing a safety pin in his ear during the PV. So why do I expect the show to land around the middle of the pack this season? That would be director Yoshiyuki Fujiwara, whose previous stuff at Doga Kobo has underwhelmed me. His comedies have been too airy, and his only serious project (Plastic Memories) dislocated both shoulders in its attempts to tug my heartstrings. He’s not just the director here, either – he’s also overseeing the scripts, which leads me to predict that Utatte’s emotional impact will be hit-or-miss. The anime’s 18 episode length might give the story enough room to breathe (the final six will only be available via streaming), but with 113 chapters to adapt, I rather doubt it.

 

SHOWS WE’RE ANTICIPATING

Fruits Basket 2nd Season

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Director: Yoshihide Ibata
Series composition: Taku Kishimoto
Source: Manga

Mario: The first season came and went with a muted response from fans. Many have pointed out how this adaptation is a more faithful and conservative one than the 2002 version, but “more faithful” doesn’t always translate in this medium. For me, I found that the first season produced many affecting moments, but the pacing drags and there are many episodes that aren’t that engaging compared to its best material. That being said, this second season adapts newer chapters, so if you want to see this story to its completion, then this 2nd season will be worth it.

 

Appare Ranman!

Studio: P.A. Works
Director: Masakuza Hashimoto
Series composition: Masakuza Hashimoto
Source: Original

Wooper: A concept like “racing steam-powered cars across the American wild west” is pretty hard to screw up, but this is P.A. Works we’re talking about. They’ve botched plenty of original projects over the last few years, leading me to lose faith in their brand. It’s important to remember, though, that each of a studio’s projects is assembled by different staff, which means that no losing streak will last forever. On that note, one of the reasons to be optimistic here is the presence of Yurie Ootou as both chief animation director and character designer. After a decade of key animation work, plus designing clothing and props for a few recent productions, this is her big break. The characters in the PV really pop, with highly accessorized outfits and emotive facial expressions as their signatures. Director Hashimoto has a lot of past storyboard experience, so I’m hoping that he and Ootou will make the most of each other’s talents on this project. Elevating Appare Ranman’s crazy concept would make for good TV, but just as importantly, it would put some respect on P.A. Works’ name heading into a new decade.

Kakushigoto

Studio: Ajia-Do
Director: Murano Yuuta
Series composition: TBA
Source: Manga

Armitage: This is as much a shot in the dark as anything on this list. So many factors relating to the production of this series come off as red flags. A director with no major works, a relatively unknown studio in Ajia-do, the lack of an extensive staff list. Yet still, a part of me believes that this can pull off a real surprise this season (although that’s all pure conjecture at this point). I don’t know much about the story apart from the fact that it’s about a mangaka who draws ‘adult’ works but keeps it a secret from his daughter. But what I am really basing my confidence in the series’ potential on, is the story’s original creator, Kumeta Kouji, who also drew one of the most darkly cynical (and hilarious) comedies of the medium, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. If Kakushigoto hits many of the same beats, it should be an enjoyable watch.

Nami yo Kiitekure

Studio: Sunrise
Director: Tatsuma Minamikawa
Series composition: Shouji Yonemura
Source: Manga

Mario: The synopsis sure is unusual (a woman is duped into becoming a radio talk show host) and certainly hooks me in a good way. The fact that it was written by the mangaka of Blade of the Immortal raises my level of anticipation a notch. Immortal is a violent samurai revenge drama, and you make a comedy seinen story as your next project? Count me in, dude. The production looks standard, but it’s not the type of show that needs big production. The director handled Fairy Tail Movie 2 and the series composer was responsible for a lot of Pokemon and One Piece, so I am really not sure if they are suitable for this material. All things considered though, I could see this as a sleeper hit of the season.

Gal to Kyouryuu

Studio: Kamikaze Douga
Director: Jun Aoki
Series composition: Jun Aoki
Source: Manga

Wooper: I was originally interested in this one because it’s in the same vein as Pop Team Epic: a short-form absurdist manga directed by Jun Aoki. It’s even got the same producer and studio behind it, so this is a follow-up to PTE in some respects. What I quickly discovered upon reading a bit of Gal to Kyouryuu, though, was that it’s very sweet despite its strangeness. Main character Kaede has a Galko-chan thing going on – people assume she’s scary due to her sense of fashion, but she’s actually a warm, agreeable person. She even takes in a dinosaur after falling into bed drunk and discovering it in her apartment the next morning. Kaede’s human relationships are fun to watch, but the dinosaur is the real star of the show. Round, exuberant, and perpetually open-mouthed, he’s a perfect roommate and friend (though he might eat all your ramen without asking). Gal to Kyouryuu is guaranteed to be cute and fun, but indie animator Jun Aoki’s involvement means it’s very likely to be good, as well. Despite being a niche property, this is one of my most anticipated spring series.

Gleipnir

Studio: Pine Jam
Director: Yoneda Kazuhiro
Series composition: Inotsume Shinichi
Source: Manga

Armitage: Gleipnir is a story in which the main character, Shuichi, discovers the ‘super-cool’ power of turning into a giant furry dog with a zipper at his back. He teams up with his classmate to help her track the monsters who killed her family and find her sister, unbeknownst to the fact that she is a sadistic little rascal. Seems like a classic revenge tale but the question needs to be asked: Why a giant furry dog? To which Gleipnir casually replies: Why NOT a giant furry dog?! As someone familiar with the manga, I can attest that it’s a fun time with lots of action setpieces but one needs to turn off the rational part of their brain to fully enjoy it. Now, I know stories like this tend to not lend themselves that well to adaptation but the only reason I placed it in the ‘Anticipating’ category is because of the Director, Yoneda Kazuhiro, known for directing the 2nd season of Hoozuki no Reitetsu and the pitch-perfect adaptation of Akatsuki no Yona. If he can bring the same level of quality to Gleipnir, it might just end up being a keeper.

LISTENERS

Studio: MAPPA
Director: Hiroaki Andou
Series composition: Dai Satou
Source: Original

Mario: I normally look forward to anime originals more than adaptations, given how they don’t stick to any template and use the TV format to its fullest potential. MAPPA’s output has been hit-and-miss for me lately, but their original projects have fared far better (Yuri on Ice, Sarazanmai, Terror in Resonance). Granted, these originals are more from great auteurs’ visions, but on the staff front Listeners is equally impressive. From the writer of GITS, Eureka Seven and Wolf’s Rain, and the director of the CG anime Ajin, Listeners has its merits. The teaser’s tune would fit nicely on FLCL soundtrack, and for me that’s a plus. The comedy though, even within the PV, is grating. Let’s be honest: this is an anime about a girl… that has an audio jack in her body. With this type of premise (and the promise that it features the history of rock & roll), it could go in any direction, but I am certain it won’t be bland like your typical anime out there.

Tower of God

Studio: TMS
Director: Takashi Sano
Series composition: Erika Yoshida
Source: Korean Web Comic

Amun: It’s no secret that I adore DanMachi (recent season notwithstanding) – I had vaguely heard of Tower of God being mentioned as a cousin in the dungeon adventure genre, written as a Korean webcomic. Having read a few chapters, I’m hooked – crisp character introductions, good setting, and clearly defined conflicts. I’m also a sucker for characters in absentia (see Natsume’s Book of Friends) – such a powerful literary device that adds incredible depth to a story when used well. TMS is a venerable studio, with the Dr. Stone collaboration being one of their many recent works. Where I start to get nervous is the staff. Director Sano is a 20 year veteran – but his only solo directing credit is one of the Sengoku Basara sequels. Composer Yoshida most recently worked on Double Decker, but is fairly inexperienced overall. I hope that TMS is able to give proper support and that this show a breakout hit (as the first season of DanMachi was for many). The source material is solid and plentiful – as long as the execution and animation go well, this may be redemption for the genre after the disaster second season of DanMachi.

 

HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS

My Teenage Romantic Comedy SNAFU 3rd Season

Studio: feel.
Director: Kei Oikawa
Series composition: Keiichirou Ohchi
Source: Light Novel

Armitage: The fact that we’d eventually get a third season of Oregairu was more a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’, considering how immensely popular the light novel is. That it took 5 whole years for the ‘when’ to happen is frustrating, yes, but better late than never, right! *cries in No Game, No Life*

With the original story about to wrap up in the upcoming Volume 14, it seems like the third season of the anime is being produced with the intention of providing us viewers with a definitive conclusion. And the fact that almost all of the staff who worked on the previous two seasons is returning makes me feel certain that they will stick the landing. Our favorite trio of Hachiman, Yukino and Yui have come a long way over the course of the previous two seasons. They have learned to embrace their feelings and grow up over time. And although I am five years older than I was when I last hung out with them, and unsure as to how much I would be able to relate with them now, I still am pumped as hell for their long-awaited return. Even though, this time around, the possibility of a final farewell is also looming on the horizon.

BNA (Brand New Animal)

Studio: Trigger
Director: Yoh Yoshinari
Series composition: Kazuki Nakashima
Source: Original work

Amun: Studio Trigger is creating a Brand New Animal…that looks exactly the same as any other Trigger project ever. But from a studio that’s produced such a solid string of hits, starting with Kill La Kill and most recently Gridman, I have high hopes for this. Since this is an original work, not much is known about the story – given the trailer, I would say we’re looking at the setting of Strike the Blood (autonomous monster region that’s inevitably being used for some nefarious experiment), the characters of Killing Bites (toned down a bit) and the wacky humor of…well any Trigger show, honestly. Trigger, and specifically Yoshinari, who cut his teeth on Evangelion and Gurren Lagen, have produced such a string of hits, I see no reason to expect anything less than the same greatness from this Brand New Animal.

Arte

Studio: Seven Arcs
Director: Hamana Takayuki
Series composition: Yoshida Reiko
Source: Manga

Armitage: A story set in Florence during the Renaissance era, featuring a female protagonist who goes against unfair gender biases to pursue her passion of becoming an artist. I don’t think any other series coming out in 2020 would come close to being so tailor-made to appeal to my tastes. Arte is an adaptation of a seinen manga which almost surely won’t be as popular among the mainstream, shounen-crazed anime fans but I am so very glad that a project like this was green-lit in the first place. It gives me a reason to be excited in a Spring season which looks to be rather thin when it comes to series showing signs of high-pedigree. The art in the PVs looks great and the director is known for supervising production of series like the perpetually popular Crayon Shin-chan and the criminally underrated masterpiece that was Kemono no Souja Erin. To top it off, we have Maaya Sakamoto performing the OP song! *opens purse to take out her money* I truly can’t wait for this to premiere!

 

Anime Movies

Mario: The spring season is normally a good one for anime movie releases. It’s the time where kids have their school break and annual movie franchises like Detective Conan usually play in theatres. This year might be different though, due to the coronavirus outbreak, and I do think that will affect the anime industry, especially theatrical movies in the long run. This season we have a fair share of big releases, as Rebuild of Evangelion reaches its final movie, as does Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel. We’ll also see the release of a Violet Evergarden film, KyoAni’s first project since the fire, along with a couple of promising originals and darling manga adaptations. As you already know, it usually takes a good six months or even a whole year for these movies to be screened outside of Japan, making this Movie Preview a secondary part, but I enjoy talking about them and making the preview helps me to keep track of these upcoming movies. For you readers, I’d suggest looking them over to see what interests you, then when the films come out, read back again to know what to expect. Enjoy!

Violet Evergarden Movie

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Director: Taichi Ishidate
Script: TBA
Source: Light Novel
Release Date: Apr 24, 2020

Mario: All eyes are on Violet Evergarden Movie, Kyoto Animation’s very first project after the devastating incident that occurred last year. This movie was delayed for 3 months, understandably so, but the trailer looks underwhelming to me – it’s more a collection of screenshots than a fully-realized preview. Personally, I found the original series too over-dramatic and conventional, but it’s still one of the most solid visual productions of the last few years. There is real concern whether or not KyoAni could ever return to their glory days, and a blow like this is hard, but if there is one country that is best known for overcoming their disaster and growing stronger out of it, it’s the Land of the Rising Sun.
Expectation Level: Medium

Dounika Naru Hibi

Studio: LIDENFILMS
Director: Takuya Satou
Script: Yasunori Ide
Source: Manga
Release Date: May 8, 2020

Mario: I had no idea about this film until I read the synopsis: “a collection of short stories that take a refreshing and humorous look at the sexual relationships between young people in Japan.” You know what, based on that, it already had my attention. And then I looked further and realized that this film is based on a manga penned by Takako Shimura. If the name doesn’t ring any bells to you, she’s the original author of Wandering Son and Aoi Hana, two of the best coming-of-age / romance stories dealing with LGBT issues. The director also handled yuri themes before with the under-the-radar Asagao to Kase-san, along with the hardly-seen anime that was Steins;Gate. The PV looks alright with different and sadly more plain character designs, but in all honesty, with Takako Shimura name involved, you bet that I am excited for this project.
Expectation Level: High

Cider no You ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru

Studio: Signal.MD
Director: Kyohei Ishiguro
Script: Dai Satou
Source: Original
Release Date: May 15, 2020

Mario: Well, this “boy-meets-girl” romance might not be too appealing at first, and information is scarce regarding its plot, but look closer and there are some pretty positive notes involving this project. First, the art style has a Tsuritama vibe, especially in regards to the colorful background art. The story depicts “how words and music bridge the gap between two main characters,” and if you are like me it sounds a lot like a mix between FLCL and Your Lie in April. It makes sense then that the director of this film IS the one who directed Your Life in April, Children of the Whales and Occultic;Nine. But it’s the writer, Dai Satou (his second contribution this season) who is the biggest attention-grabbing name. In addition, the music is handled by Kensuke Ushio who is known for composing Devilman Crybaby, Space Dandy and A Silent Voice. This looks to be quite promising indeed.
Expectation Level: Medium

Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare

English Title: Love, Be Loved, Leave, Be Left
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Toshimasa Kuroyanagi
Script: Io Sakisaka
Source: Manga
Release Date: May 29, 2020

Mario: This Movie Preview does feature lots of romance, huh? And as far as romance goes, FuriFura goes full-on. The movie explores a group of high school students (of course, where else) who have different views about romance. It is written by young-adult romance mangaka Io Sakisaka (author of the popular Aoi Haru Ride) and the director Kuroyanagi has a fair share of experience with romance, such as key-animating many classics of the genre like Kimi ni Todoke, Toradora and directing Say I Love You. His greatest work so far, though, is directing the understated Fune wo Amu. Aoi Haru Ride was too cheesy for my taste (cheese makes you fat), but that show does have many effective moments and I can understand its large fandom There’s a live-action adaptation that will run in theaters around the same time, as well. I guess this is a new trend, since I Want To Eat Your Pancreas, Eizouken, and last year’s No Longer Human did the same. Can’t say I’m too excited for this one as romance is not my strong suit, but I am sure that fans of the genre will find a lot to enjoy here.
Expectation Level: Low

Nakitai Watashi wa Neko wo Kaburu

Studio: Studio Colorido
Director: Junichi Satou
Script: Mari Okada
Source: Original
Release Date: June 5, 2020

Mario: Mari Okada is usually attached to at least one anime film every year and NakiNeko is her first of 2020, after Her Blue Sky just 6 months prior. Whether her style is to your taste or not, Okada is one of the foremost anime writers that can create original stories, a whole lot of them, and people would go see the movie based on her reputation alone. For this project she teams up with the veteran Junichi Satou, who is best known for directing the Aria franchise and Princess Tutu (in a twist of fate, Lenlo will be covering Princess Tutu for his next Throwback Thursday column). The trailer looks decent, about a girl who has a crush on a boy and then turns into a cat, which earns his attention. The story is vintage Okada with a high school setting and romance so her fans will be right at home here. This marks the second feature film from Studio Colorido, and if their previous work Penguin Highway is any indication, NakiNeko should be in safe hands.
Expectation Level: Medium

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0

Studio: Khara
Director: Mahiro Maeda, Masayuki, Kazuma Tsurumaki
Script: Anno, presumably
Source: PS2 tie-in lore
Release Date: June 27, 2020

Wooper: I’ll believe that this movie exists once it starts playing in front of my face, and not a second beforehand. If we take Studio Khara at their word, though, it’ll be dropping in a few short months, bringing with it a cathartic release from the narrative imprisonment of the Rebuild quadrilogy. The previous installment, 3.0, was perhaps the most controversial anime film in history, but much of the hatred that it birthed has abated over the last decade. At this point in my life, I can at least view its take on a post-Third Impact world as a daring (if incomprehensible) work of speculative fiction. As for the upcoming movie, I saw the first ten minutes that screened at last year’s Japan Expo in Paris, and the game plan seems to be “turn planet Earth back to normal.” The sweeping 3D camerawork and soon-to-be iconic use of the Eiffel Tower looked awesome, but I doubt Anno can salvage the story after having twisted it into a pretzel eight years ago. This won’t be the masterful conclusion that some folks are hoping for, but you’d better believe I’ll be seeing it in theaters regardless.
Expectation Level: High