Wooper: Summer’s barrage of trend-chasing fantasies and midseason disappointments has nearly reached its end, which means it’s time to look ahead to Fall 2021! This is one of the longer previews we’ve written in recent years, owing to some much-needed diversity among this season’s offerings. We’ve got fewer isekai adaptations airing than usual, and more original series (including a cluster of mecha titles that feels like a limited time revival). There are a handful of tentpole shows to ensure mainstream engagement, including new seasons of Kimetsu no Yaiba, 86, and Lupin III, with JoJo Part 6 beginning this December. Vampire fans will be eating (or should I say drinking?) good this fall, with three bloodsucking series to choose from. And there’s potential for an all-time classic in an adaptation of feudal Japanese literature, the first episode of which has already aired. If you’re intrigued by any of the above, read on to see what the upcoming season has in store (and drop your watchlist in the poll below!).

Middling Expectations

Deji Meets Girl

Studio: LIDENFILMS
Director: Ushio Tazawa
Series composition: Akane Marubeni
Source: Original

Short synopsis: An Okinawan hotel receptionist witnesses supernatural happenings after meeting a handsome tourist from Tokyo.

Wooper: I ended up overhyping last season’s “Ore, Tsushima” before learning it was a series of one minute shorts, and I’m not going to make the same mistake twice; I made sure to confirm that Deji Meets Girl had super small episodes before including it in the Fall Preview. There’s something pure about watching a director’s vision boiled down to such short runtimes – less anime bullshit to deal with, probably (unless you’re watching Teekyuu). This new show comes from occasional Makoto Shinkai collaborator Ushio Tazawa, who’s clearly taken some inspiration from his boss if the concept is anything to go by. Girl meets boy and starts to witness supernatural happenings? Sure, I’m down for some light romance paired with weird phenomena. I like the approachable solidity of the character designs (also provided by Tazawa) and the lifelike animation given to ordinary tasks like mopping and using an air pump in the PV. Deji Meets Girl is highly unlikely to imprint itself on the memories of more than a couple hundred people, but it does have a lot more promise than the average anime short, so I’ll happily give it a whirl.

 

Mieruko-chan

Studio: Passione
Director: Yuuki Ogawa
Series composition: Kenta Ihara
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: A high school girl can see supernatural horrors, so of course she…tries to ignore them completely.

Amun: I like this premise. But upon looking into it, there’s nothing else that’s giving me hope for this project. Studio Passione has animated some real duds, with Rokka: Braves as probably their best work. The staff isn’t really suited to the material – Ogawa has done plenty of smutty shows, with FLCL Progressive as the only “standard” work that I can see. Ihara’s only bright spot is Tanya – their other work is subpar, with the most recent flub being Tsuki ga Michibiku from this summer season. Not good. Finally, the source material is listed as “horror comedy”, but honestly, it’s just “ignoring horror.” I read a good bit of the manga, and while there are some decent moments, it’s pretty standard jump-scares and grotesque presences – it’s not going to translate well into animated form. I don’t see a path to success for this one.

Platinum End

Studio: Signal MD
Director: Hideya Takahashi and Kazuchika Kise
Series composition: Shinichi Inotsume
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: 12 beings have descended to Earth in order to select the God of the world. The only logical way to do this? BATTLE ROYAAAAAAAAAALE.

Lenlo: If I’m being totally honest, I know absolutely nothing about Platinum End beyond the bare basics. Everything about it leads me to believe it’s going to be another bog-standard death battle series, like this season’s Battle Game in 5 Seconds or past stuff like Juni Taisen: Zodiac War. Every fact but one: it’s written by Tsugumi Ohba, the writer of Death Note and Bakuman. One of these is a landmark series from the 2000’s while the other is a great character exploration of being a mangaka (the manga is, anyway – we don’t talk about the adaptation). Ohba’s authorship alone gives me hope that there will be some kind of twist, some kind of deconstruction of the format to elevate Platinum End above its peers, and that at least is enough for me to check it out. Hopefully I’m not disappointed.

Visual Prison

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Jouji Furuta / Tomoya Tanaka
Series composition: Noriyasu Agematsu
Source: Original

Short synopsis: A teenage boy gets caught up in an intense musical battle between two vampire bands (yes, you read that right).

Mario: Visual Prison is one of the three anime that feature vampires this season, but it’s going for the “musical battle” route rather than fleshing out any mythical creatures. It says something about the show that there are a whopping eight theme song performances already announced, and that it was originally conceived by Agematsu – the president of the music production group Elements Garden. He was the original creator of Uta no Prince-sama and Senki Zesshou Symphogear (no, I wouldn’t have guessed that), plus he provided music to a dozen other shows like Bang Dream, Girls Bravo and the like. Meanwhile, Visual Prison’s dual directors previously worked together on ēlDLIVE (a lame show if you ask me). This is the kind of anime that puts more effort into music and character designs – yes, they have four character designers – rather than story and writing, so in truth I don’t think they can pull this off.

Gyakuten Sekai no Denchi Shoujo

Studio: Lerche
Director: Masaomi Andou
Series composition: Makoto Uezu
Source: Original

Short synopsis: A militaristic parallel Japan invades its real world counterpart and cracks down on otaku culture. In response, a group of rebels hop into some mechs and fight back.

Wooper: My first thought upon reading the premise of this show was, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Gyakuten Sekai plans to sell itself by preying on the fears of dumb anti-censorship otaku, and it’s not even playing coy about it (which means it’s nearly guaranteed to succeed). An alternate Japan turns Akihabara into a “special enforcement zone” in an effort to control the flow of information in their new territory? I’d ask who wrote this trash, but that’s public information: Makoto Uezu, whose loud and obvious scripts have powered some of modern anime’s biggest comedies (Konosuba, Assassination Classroom). The more I thought about it, though, the more I saw a glimmer of potential in Gyakuten Sekai – it reminds me a bit of Concrete Revolutio, and not just because the character designs are similar. The use of alternate history and culture, plus the strange inclusion of mecha tropes, gives it a kitchen sink quality that might just lead to something worthwhile (as was the case in Revolutio). This PV is the main driver of my optimism here, with its fast pace and comic book style – I’d challenge even the most jaded anime fan to watch it without detecting a whiff of promise.

Saihate No Paladin

Studio: Children’s Playground Entertainment
Director: Yuu Nobuta
Series composition: Tatsuya Takahashi
Source: Light Novel

Short synopsis: A skeleton, a mummy, and a ghost come together to raise a kid.

Amun: I am a sucker for unusual premises. It usually comes back to bite me (see: The Detective is Already Dead), but every once in a while, I strike some original gold. That’s…probably not what this show is. The source material (at least the first couple volumes) is fine – nothing too surprising, the story and art are within expectations, but no red flags. The problem comes with the studio and staff. Children’s Playground Entertainment worked on Citrus with Passione, but that’s the highest profile project they’ve done. The director and composer have done plenty of C-tier material (think teenagers being battleships or something). Now, I’ve been proven wrong by unknown staff before – see Odd Taxi – but that won’t be the case here: we know exactly what this staff will make, and it’s not good. I just don’t see this premise overcoming the inevitable corner-cutting and tired tropes. Saihate No Paladin, make me eat my words!

Shikizakura

Studio: Sublimation
Director: Gou Kurosaki / Shinya Sugai
Series composition: Naruki Nagakawa
Source: Original

Short synopsis: High school student Kakeru Miwa, by a strange turn of events, winds up being an irregular member of a power suit team tasked with battling Oni.

Mario: Geez, can you find a more generic synopsis than this? Animated by a new studio named Sublimation, who are most well-known for their Netflix-backed work Dragon’s Dogma last year, this original series sadly looks just as weak as it sounds on paper. The 3DCG is muddled, the character designs are uninspiring and the action scenes are unexciting. The staff list is nothing to speak of either, having been involved with the studio’s previous works and nothing else. When it comes to original shows, I tend to give a bit of leeway since there’s always an unknown factor that could bring something fresh to the medium (look no further than Odd Taxi and last season’s Sonny Boy), but all signs here tell me that Shikizakura doesn’t have much leg to begin with.

Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu

Studio: Arvo Animation
Director: Akitoshi Yokoyama
Series composition: Keisuke Makino
Source: Light novel

Short synopsis: A vampire girl trains to join the first manned mission to the stars during an alternate 1960s space race.

Wooper: This will probably go down as the shortest preview blurb I ever write, because I’m planning to watch this show solely for the ridiculousness of its premise. Seriously, check that synopsis again and tell me you’re not intrigued. It’s based on a light novel and directed by a no-hit wonder, but I don’t care; “vampire astronaut” was all I had to read before giving Tsuki to Laika a three episode commitment. Join me, won’t you?

Amun: Private Amun is here with you, sir! I am here reporting for unit vampire astronaut waifu!

86 2nd Season

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Toshimasa Ishii
Series composition: Toshiya Oono
Source: Light Novel

Short synopsis: A continuation of the first half of Eighty Six, following Vladilena Milize as she simultaneously works to right the wrongs of her genocidal dictatorship and protect it from an invading AI army.

Lenlo: Alright everyone, we all knew this was coming. For those that haven’t read my review of the first season, I recommend you do! If only so I get more views. For those of you that have read it, you already know how I feel about Eighty Six and its first season’s cliffhanger ending. Suffice to say, it was alright – and I expect this season to be more of the same. It’s directed by the same people, made by the same studio and team and is adapting the same story. The best parts will no doubt be the individual character stories within the world as Lena struggles with her authoritarian government and the 86ers with not dying. But the overarching plot will probably leave much to be desired. Hopefully with the introduction of new characters, and presumably a new kingdom, Eighty Six will be able to shake that up a bit. If nothing else though I hope to see some more of Toshimasa Ishii’s stunning shot composition. If I’m being honest that’s probably the only reason I’m still watching it.

Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu

Studio: Madhouse
Director: Hiroshi Koujina
Series composition: Yukie Sugawara
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: A vampire hunter forms an alliance with a pitiful version of Dracula and moves into his castle.

Wooper: I sampled the Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu manga (literally “The Vampire Dies in No Time”) and quickly determined that it wasn’t for me – too few gags repeated too many times in too few chapters. Comedy is subjective, as the saying goes, so this material is sure to land with a decent-sized audience, even if it’s being adapted by a writer whose primary anime experience comes from the Overlord franchise. Why preview it, though, if I don’t personally like its chances of success? For one thing, it marks the return of Hunter x Hunter 2011 director Hiroshi Koujina to TV anime – but that wouldn’t be enough to make KSS noteworthy on its own. It also boasts staff like composer Ryou Takahashi (whose work on ACCA was instrumental in that series’ success) and art director Hitomi Yoshida. It’s Yoshida’s involvement that most interests me, since her recent Iruma-kun has proven itself to be a vibrant supernatural comedy – precisely the same lane in which this new project will exist. On top of all that, Kyuuketsuki looks like a zany distraction from our dull, non-vampiric lives. Even if I’m not likely to enjoy it myself, its existence is worth signal boosting.

 

Shows We’re Anticipating

Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen

Studio: ufotable
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Series composition: TBA
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: Our heroes, aided by the Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, travel to Yoshiwara’s red light district to hunt down a demon that has been terrorizing the town.

Mario: When it comes to big boy series like Kimetsu no Yaiba, the question isn’t if they’ll get a second season, but when. “Fall 2021” is the answer in this case, however the exact date hasn’t been confirmed yet. In regards to my reception towards Kimetsu no Yaiba, I fall into the middle ground. It’s gifted with an incredible production and compelling themes, but God do these characters’ antics get on my nerves sometimes. The sequel movie released last year and became the Next Big Thing in anime (it’s even in the imdb top 250 now), so it goes without saying that expectations for this second season are sky high. This “Entertainment District” arc was well-received in manga form, and it introduces one of the franchise’s fan favorite characters, Uzui. Whether Yuukaku-hen will cover only one arc is uncertain, but it’s highly likely considering its one cour length. Let’s strap in for some action, shall we?

Komi-san wa, Komyushou desu.

Studio: OLM
Director: Kazuiki Kawagoe
Series composition: Hitomi Mieno
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: A totally average and timid high school boy befriends the most popular and beautiful girl in school simply by talking to her. The twist? She’s even more socially awkward than he is!

Lenlo: In case it wasn’t obvious, Komi-san is less of a romance and more of a gag-comedy show. The central conceit, that Komi has crippling social anxiety and can’t talk to her peers despite being seen as the most popular girl in school, is entirely a vehicle for that. Each episode we are going to meet various weirdos around the school and slowly add them to the main cast, all the while getting some situational comedy and light hints of romance. If that isn’t your jam, if you came here for a pure romance with the occasional gag, best to leave now, because the gags are the focus. That said, the romance we do get isn’t terrible, just slow. It moves at a “will they won’t they, they obviously will so get on with it” kind of pace and the two do have some cute moments together. All in all I would say this is a show carried by its lead relationship, and since Tadano is kind of a wet blanket, it really comes down to Komi herself. So ask yourself before you start this show: how thirsty are you for this season’s primary waifu? Personally, I think she’s kinda cute.

Deep Insanity: The Lost Child

Studio: Silver Link
Director: Shin Oonuma
Series composition: Kento Shimoyama
Source: Original

Short synopsis: A new disease is steadily overtaking humanity, originating from the huge underground realm “Asylum” that appeared beneath Antarctica.

Mario: Deep Insanity is an original Silver Link sci-fi directed by Shin Oonuma, one of the studio’s most famous directors. He’s been linked to many of the studio’s most popular works: Baka to Test, Watamote, Kokoro Connect… so his involvement in this ambitious project is already a good sign. The anime is scripted by Shimoyama, who hasn’t headed up an original anime before, but he did publish a one volume soccer manga called Tokyo Wonder Boys! Yeah, he’s more of a question mark, but the premise (about a mysterious illness that slowly kills people) is so similar to our modern experience that he ought to be able to make something of it. The PVs so far haven’t done much for me, sadly – they focus more on human/monster battles than the intrigue of the “new disease” set-up. This kind of concept could play out in any number of ways, but with the participation of a reliable director I am more willing to give Deep Insanity a chance.

Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha,
Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru

Studio: Silver Link, Studio Palette
Director: Masafumi Tamura
Series composition: Katsuhiko Takayama
Source: Light Novel

Short synopsis: “The world’s greatest assassin is reincarnated to genius nobility.” That’s the title’s literal translation.

Amun: (Ugh, quit with the title sentence synopsis already.) I’m going to be cutting down my isekai consumption per season, and this is the chosen offering. Let’s see…Silver Link is fine (although I always worry about their animation capabilities in terms of frames per second). Studio Palette seems new, so I’m assuming they’re doing grunt work, with Silver Link headlining. Director Masafumi Tamura has done a lot of forgettable isekai/fantasy shows that I’ve secretly enjoyed, as well as the Strike Witches Movie. Series composer Katsuhiko Takayama did Mirai Nikki and the “ef” series, so that’s a steady hand I can trust. The source material is…okay. There is a lot of normal “isekai” nonsense – goddess explanations, learning magic, assembling harem, etc. The fights seem pretty good, but there is a lot of politics and pandering that goes along as well (at least in the first ten chapters). I expect this to be an isekai of average enjoyment – which for the genre these days, is high praise.

Taishou Otome Otogibanashi

Studio: SynergySP
Director: Jun Hatori
Series composition: Hiroko Fukuda
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: An underage bride suddenly appears in this sad dude’s life and both of them experience first love and grow together.

Mario: Okay, my synopsis might sound like a red flag but there are many positive elements in this anime. First, the manga is well-liked, with some noting the sweet central love story. It’s not strictly a wish-fulfillment show by any means since the main guy is struggling with low self-worth. The trailer looks pretty and arresting at the same time with a soft color palette, plus I have always enjoyed how the Taisho era is depicted in anime. The staff unfortunately is unproven – this is Jun Hatori’s first work as a director and Fukuda the series composer did Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san before. Her experience on that show could be an asset: this one also has a romance at the centre with two loveable leads.

Senpai ga Uzai Kouhai no Hanashi

Studio: Doga Kobo
Director: Ryouta Ito
Series composition: Jin Tanaka
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: Short salarywoman meets large senpai boi.

Amun: I have a vague awareness of this manga, and from what I’ve seen it’s pretty good. There are quite a few chapters, so something’s working, right? I have confidence studio Doga Kobo can pull this off, as their New Game (season one, at least) was a great template for success. Staff is a wildcard – Ryouta Ito was assistant director on Yesterday wo Utatte, which I’m mixed on (I’m also not sure how much responsibility he bears for that show’s screwups). Jin Tanaka handled Yuru Camp, but that’s a slower burn than is needed for this kind of comedy. I foresee a few different sketches per episode, but this is going to come down to execution and chemistry, since the material’s there. I’ve got high(ish) hopes for this one.

Lupin III: Part 6

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Director: Eiji Suganuma
Series composition: Takahiro Ookura
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: The world’s greatest thief returns for a sixth season, only this time he’s pursued by the world’s greatest detective: Sherlock Holmes.

Wooper: All the recent Lupin III TV series have had a central gimmick. Part 4 introduced a new love interest for Lupin and brought Leonardo da Vinci back to life; Part 5 focused extensively on how the criminal underworld had adopted social media for its own purposes; and now Part 6 is set to pit Lupin against Sherlock Holmes, who’s making his billionth anime appearance of the last few years. I expect this incarnation of Conan Doyle’s detective to be one of the better ones, though I do wonder how the murder of Dr. Watson (for which Lupin will be framed) is going to mesh with the general lightness of the blue jacket series. Not everything will revolve around Holmes, of course – the show will be set in London, where a shadowy organization pulling the strings of the British government will need tending to – but his name is likely to dominate conversation surrounding Part 6 at the start. Even more than any detective crossovers, though, it’s the heists, the car chases, and the killer theme songs that make Lupin worth watching. I have no doubt that the series will deliver in those departments once again.

Takt Op. Destiny

Studio: Madhouse / MAPPA
Director: Yuuki Itou
Series composition: Kiyoko Yoshimura
Source: Original

Short synopsis: After a black meteorite collided with Earth, it produced grotesque monsters called D2 that control the world. Only music can destroy them.

Mario: Well, Madhouse might not be the powerhouse studio they used to be, but their collaboration with MAPPA for an ambitious original sure has me interested. There has been a small trend of original sci-fi anime where the power of music becomes an integral part of the story: Listeners, Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song, Hosoda’s recent film Belle. It’s certainly interesting in a vacuum, but whether or not they can make full use of that theme is another story (Listeners failed miserably, for example). The main staff here aren’t too exciting, as the director is best-known for Granblue Fantasy and the series was conceived by Ouji Hiroi, the original creator of Sakura Wars. This being a music-themed series, however, the composer will bear a lot of responsibility for its success; thankfully the job went to Yoshihiro Ike (Ergo Proxy, Dead Leaves, Inuyashiki, Dororo), so on that front I remain hopeful. The trailer looks good with flashy fight scenes and red and blue hues that remind me of the Fate franchise’s recent entries. All in all, this is one of the more hopeful original projects of the season.

Isekai Shokudou 2

Studio: OLM
Director: Masato Jinbo
Series composition: Masato Jinbo
Source: Light Novel

Short synopsis: An ordinary restaurant on Earth is open to other dimensional visitors on the weekends.

Amun: “Restaurant to Another World” is back, four years after its original run. I consider this one of the forerunners of “normal occupations in supernatural settings” – a trend that has been beaten to death ever since. This isn’t a heavy show or one that’s going to win any awards – instead, it’s a pleasant break from the drudgery of isekais or idols…and is just a nice, relaxing meal. Masato Jinbo has done well on plenty of shows (we’re going to ignore Dokyuu Hentai HxEros, since that was doomed from the start). OLM has risen in my eyes ever since Odd Taxi, so I have no complaints there. One weird issue with this second season is the source material – I’m a bit confused what it’s adapting, since there’s really only been one light novel released since the first season. There’s also strangely a manga series, but that looks to be partially a spin-off? Someone can correct me, but I’m suspecting we might have some anime original material here – that’s about the only thing that concerns me, as most of the original staff is returning. Stick with the original formula, bring in some new characters, and I’ll be a customer for life!

Star Wars: Visions

Studio: Various
Director: Various
Series composition: Various
Source: Tatooine

Short synopsis: A nine-part anthology series with stories set in various places and periods within the Star Wars universe.

Wooper: Star Wars: Visions is ten times bigger than any of the other shows listed here, so rather than talk about whether you should be excited for it, I’ll offer some details about its production. Its nine episodes (which range from 13 to 25 minutes in length) will be animated by nine directors at seven distinct studios. The first is by Kamikaze Douga, and will feature an action-heavy 3DCG style informed by their work on the early JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure OPs. Geno Studio’s “Lop and Ocho” will feature the furry-baiting rabbit in the banner above. Colorido’s segment is an apparent “rock opera” starring Boba Fett and, more importantly, Boba Fett’s jetpack. Trigger’s two entries will be set before Episode I and after Episode IX, respectively – at least one will make use of Promare’s visual engine, so get ready for a mind-blower there. Kinema Citrus’s contribution looks to be a character piece about a Force-sensitive woman in a remote village. Eunyoung Choi is FINALLY directing something at Science Saru with “Akakiri,” the details of which are still under wraps (but nearly everything Choi touches is worth watching). Abel Gongora is handling the adorable “T0-B1” at the same studio, about a droid who wants to be a Jedi, and Production I.G’s final entry will imagine a distant future where the Jedi Order has completely died out (except not really). Star Wars fans, bon appetit.

Sakugan

Studio: Satelight
Director: Junichi Wada
Series composition: Junichi Wada
Source: Novel

Short synopsis: Imagine Gurren Lagann, but instead of piercing the heavens, the characters explore the underground territories and make maps.

Mario: This anime is an adaptation of the amateur novel Sakugan Labyrinth Marker and the first entry in Project ANIMA – a competition wherein Satelight, J.C.Staff and Doga Kobo will each adapt a fan-submitted work. (It was originally called “Sacks&Guns!!” before they decided to go for this simpler soundalike title.) The story is about a father and daughter team exploring a deep underground world in search of their lost wife and mother, respectively, and I must say it’s not the quest, but rather the worldbuilding that intrigues me. They must pass through several colonies with severe characteristics such as insanely high temperatures and deathly creatures, but also lodes of gold and silver. In addition, I trust Junichi Wada, who’s taking double-duty as both director and writer for this project – he’s directed SukaSuka and Caligula before this, both of which I respect. The trailer aims for a “dangerous adventure” edge a la Made in Abyss, so if it’s even ten percent as gripping as that series I’ll be a happy man.

Amun: This is the best trailer of the season for me. I don’t expect the show to be nearly as good.

 

Highest Expectations

Ousama Ranking

Studio: Wit
Director: Yousuke Hatta
Series composition: Taku Kishimoto
Source: Web manga

Short synopsis: A deaf mute prince befriends a sentient shadow and trains to become the world’s greatest king.

Wooper: Ousama Ranking is based on a somewhat crude web manga with characters who look like this, but it only took two chapters to charm the pants off me. It’s an underdog story at heart – one that throws disability, public scorn, and political treachery at its hero and dares you to root for him anyway. That’s an easy task thanks to his perpetual smile and brave attitude, plus the wonderful animation designs he and everyone else have received for Studio Wit’s adaptation. We’ve got something of a Mob Psycho situation here, where a novice artist’s simplistic style has been both preserved and upgraded in the move to anime. Ousama Ranking looks like a storybook come to life, but it doesn’t skimp on the animation, either – its multiple PVs are packed with swift-moving cuts that are sure to delight action fans (assuming their caveman brains can process the show’s childlike aesthetic). I don’t have a strong sense of where the story is going yet, but I assume that Prince Bojji will eventually leave his home behind and see the world; given Wit’s worldbuilding expertise, I’m keen to make the journey with him.

Blue Period

Studio: Seven Arcs
Director: Kouji Masunari and Katsuya Asano
Series composition: Reiko Yoshida
Source: Manga

Short synopsis: A listless young man discovers who he is and what he wants from life through a newly discovered passion: Painting.

Lenlo: Blue Period is simultaneously my most anticipated and most dreaded adaptation of the season. I love this manga. Its exploration of passion, talent and art is truly breathtaking at times, and it pulls no punches with the characters who turn on or fall too deeply into their passions without considering those around them. And yet… the show’s PV takes so much that was special about Blue Period’s visual storytelling and abandons it for a standard anime aesthetic. Hopefully that’s just the PV! I want to see rich blues, vibrant reds, and clever use of watercolors and surreal imagery to convey how the characters are feeling at the time. Those are what initially drew me into Blue Period! It would be a shame not to have them here. If nothing else though, I will get to relive some of the narrative again like it was the first time. And that, at least, is worth the price of admission.

Heike Monogatari

Studio: Science Saru
Director: Naoko Yamada
Series composition: Reiko Yoshida
Source: Classic literature

Short synopsis: In 12th century Japan, a feudal lord adopts a prescient orphan girl, who grows up amidst a power struggle between rival clans.

Wooper: Having seen the first episode of Heike Monogatari, I’m ready to stake my reputation as an anime snob on it becoming one of this decade’s landmark works. Naoko Yamada’s cinematic eye was always trained on the present at Kyoto Animation, but this new series has afforded her the opportunity to visit the past, and what she brought back with her is truly incredible. What most impressed me about this premiere was how much information it managed to convey while keeping a measured pace. There were pillow shots of both flowers and flames to break up the dialogue, nocturnal musical performances set among fireflies and snowflakes, and long closeups of court figures whose glances said just as much, if not more, than their words. These meditative shots were balanced by gobs of information about provincial governors and shrine construction plans, all of which were delivered with gravity and enthusiasm. And then there’s the precocious adopted daughter Biwa, whose grief at the murder of her biological father is beautifully entwined with her prophetic ability to see the deaths of her new family members. Though it contains an appropriate amount of levity, Heike Monogatari is most definitely tragic in nature, so I’m predisposed to love it – but I love nearly everything else about it, too. As a work of historical fiction set over 800 years in the past, this series won’t have a lot of reach among modern anime fans, but based on its first episode, it’s built to stand the test of time.

 

Anime Movie Previews

Mario: It’s a shame that The Deer King was delayed yet again due to the current lockdown in Japan – it originally aimed for a 2020 release and now might not see the light of day until 2022. Those sorts of stories have become commonplace in this confusing era, but I am here to say that the upcoming anime movie season still offers many promises, with a healthy number of original projects and a film based on one of the most popular series in recent years. Read on to see what’s coming out this fall.

Kamiarizuki no Kodomo

Studio: LIDENFILMS
Director: It’s complicated
Script: Toshinari Shinohe (among others)
Source: Original
Release Date: Oct 8, 2021

Short synopsis: 12 year old Kanna, born as a descendant of the Gods, suddenly loses all motivation when her mother dies. Her family has a mission to deliver offerings from all over Japan to the Gods’ gathering in Izumo. Kanna is prompted to finish the task, hoping she could reunite with her dead mother at the end of her journey.

Mario: Crowdfunded film Kamiarizuki no Kodomo is poised to fulfill the wishes of coming-of-age SoL / fantasy fans this year. When it comes to this particular subgenre, comparison to Ghibli classics is unavoidable and I would say that the more thoroughly a film can escape that big shadow, the better it will be. Films like A Letter to Momo or Okko’s Inn managed to do just that, telling charming stories with enough emotional resonance about growing up and dealing with loss and grief. Kamiarizuki no Kodomo treads that same path somewhat, and the trailer so far looks decent enough to pique my interest. The lack of a clear director announcement (there’s a “representative director” and a “creation director” attached to the project) and the fact that this is the writer’s first work do worry me a bit, but in truth I don’t expect this to be a big hit. As long as it can be its own self I am happy to go along for the ride.

Ai no Utagoe wo Kikasete

Studio: J.C.Staff
Director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
Script: Yasuhiro Yoshiura / Ichirou Ookouchi
Source: Original
Release Date: Oct 29, 2021

Short synopsis: The beautiful and mysterious Shion transfers to Keibu High School where she quickly becomes popular due to her open-hearted personality and exceptional athletic talent…but she turns out to be an AI in the testing phase!

Mario: “Wonderkid” Yoshiura returns to the big screen with a sparkling new project. For those of you who don’t know, Yoshiura made his 9 minute short debut Mizu no Kotoba when he was only 22, all by himself. Since then, he has left quite a distinguished mark with works like Pale Cocoon, Time of Eve and Patema Inverted before taking a very low profile. Ai no Utagoe wo Kikasete (or Sing a Bit of Harmony) continues his fascination with human and AI relationships, but this time he’s collaborating with veteran writer Ichirou Ookouchi (who did Code Geass and Planetes amongst others) with a more mundane setting than his previous films. While Yoshiura might not be as big a celebrity as Shinkai, Hosoda or Yuasa, he’s still an anime auteur in the truest sense – his works are distinctively his so I’m hyped for this newest one.

Summer Ghost

Studio: Flat Studio
Director: Loundraw
Script: Loundraw / Otsuichi
Source: Original
Release Date: Nov 12, 2021

Short synopsis: Three lonely kids meet up to encounter the Summer Ghost – the specter of a young woman who appears when fireworks are lit.

Mario: Summer Ghost is so low-key it flew under my radar until recently and I am glad that I found it. It’s an indie-project through and through, as the young director loundraw is responsible for almost every aspect of the production – from writing and character design to storyboarding and art direction. Watching the trailer, it has this genuine and personal air to it, something that I felt watching early Shinkai films but rarely find in more recent stuff. He has made several 1-2 minute shorts before but they were more like complimentary materials for Summer Ghost, so you know this has been his passion project for quite a few years now. If you want an alternative to the big studio approach (which admittedly makes up about 95% of the anime industry), look no further than this.

Hula Fulla Dance

Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Director: Seiji Mizushima / Shinya Watada
Script: Reiko Yoshida
Source: Original
Release Date: Dec 3, 2021

Short synopsis: Natsunagi Hiwa, a novice dancer, jumps into the world of Hula Girl after her sister.

Mario: The subject matter of Hula Girl already slots into an appealing niche (Japan has tackled it before with the live-action Hula Girls in 2006), but what makes this project so promising is the experienced staff behind it. Yes, Hula Fulla Dance is directed by Seiji Mizushima (the master behind the original Fullmetal Alchemist, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Concrete Revolutio) and is written by none other than Reiko Yoshida (A Silent Voice, Girls und Panzer, K-On, etc). The trailer looks lightweight but colorful, which is apt since it’s got hula dancing at the centre of the story. This won’t be a breakout hit, but I expect a cheerful and whimsical story at heart.

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie

Studio: MAPPA
Director: Seong-Hu Park
Script: Hiroshi Seko
Source: Manga
Release Date: Dec 24, 2021

Short synopsis: Yuta Okkotsu is a nervous high school student who is suffering from a serious problem—his childhood friend Rika has turned into a curse and won’t leave him alone.

Mario: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 serves as a prequel to the main series, adapting the four-chapter prequel manga. The main protagonist this time is Yuta Okkotsu (one of the second-year students at Jujutsu High), who is cursed by his childhood friend Rika and learns the hard way to become who he is now. It’s interesting to note that Yuta was actually meant to be the protagonist from the beginning, but Akutami-sensei decided to make Yuji the main character. We don’t have many details about the film itself except for a 30 second teaser, but based on the TV series’ quality and the word of those who have read the prequel, we are in for a good time here.