Okay, a few statistics first: this season has 18 tv-series. In comparison, the previous season had 31 of them while the past winter-season had 17. Out of these 18, there are five sequels. Nine (!) shows are going to focus a lot on moe and fanservice. Yeah… it’s going to be another dry and meagre season.
What strikes me the most about this season however is that from first glance, series either look extremely interesting, or extremely shallow. There’s hardly any in between. We have a number of really strong titles and strong staff making their appearance… while in the meantime AIC just surpasses itself with its sheer amount of mindless moe shows. I’ll probably be able to blog six of these series, which thankfully should still be possible.
Leaving the moe for what it is, this seems to me a season of action, horror and the supernatural. Horror finally returns, while action also is present in a ton of flavours, from the light-hearted and stupid to intense zombie-slaying to hot-blooded samurai duking it out.
Studios that are surprisingly absent are Sunrise, Bones (who’ll only have Heroman this season…), Bee-Train (Usually they go for one series a year… not this time though and I wonder why), Satelight, Shaft (the first time in what feels like ages in which Shinbo isn’t spamming something).
La campanella della benedizione
Summary: The original fantasy adventure game from Windmill Oasis is set in a port city known as the “treasury of the world” for the great riches that pass through it. The city is in the middle of preparations for a special harvest festival for the mysterious energy source known as Ēru, as a “Day of Shooting Stars” lights up the night skies. Leicester Maycraft is a young item technician who lives in the city as part of the Oasis adventurers clan. On the “Day of Shooting Stars,” one shooting star lands near a party that Leicester attends. When Leicester searches for where the shooting star landed, a girl appears before Leicester and says, “You are my Papa!” – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: Watch this one for the awesome background artist: Yuuko Sugiyama. She worked on Millennium Actress, the xxxHolic Movie, Nausicaa, Kemonozume and Ghost in the Shell’s second gig.
Why you should not look forward to it: It’s basically AIC and its cute girls again, and the rest of the staff doesn’t really promise anything to deviate from the many stereotypes that plague the genre. It’s directed by Mariko Fujita, whose previous character-designs were just forgettable moe. It’s only going to have 12 episodes, so there’s also hardly any chance of it developing into something interesting along the way.
First-Glance Potential: 10%
Seitokai Yakuindomo
Summary: Takatoshi is a new student in the recently gender-integrated high school. He’s asked to join the student council as the vice president. Thus begins his days as the only normal boy among 3 female student council officers… – (Taken from Myanimelist)
Why you should look forward to it: Again, the show may seem like crap, but at least it’s going to have awesome backgrounds: Masanomu Nobura previously worked on series as Arjuna, Boogiepop Phantom, Gad Guard, First Squad, the Tsubasa OVAs, Votoms and Now and Then, Here and There.
Why you should not look forward to it: From the creators of Princess Lover, we get an new show that sparkles with originality as brightly as its predecessor. It’s yet another one of those silly school comedies that probably won’t even be funny.
First-Glance Potential: 10%
Asobi ni Iku Yo
Summary: The story centers around Kio Kakazu, a high school freshman living in Okinawa. During a memorial service for one of his family ancestors. A mysterious girl with cat ears appears before him indroducing herself as Eris and claiming that she is an alien. However She be more troubling than he first realizes. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: The series composition seems solid here: Katsuhiko Takayama was behind some of the most solid shaft series, along with Ga-Rei Zero and Hantsuki. He doesn’t seem to be good with long series, but there’s no way that this show is going to run past 13 episodes anyway.
Why you should not look forward to it: AIC, for crike’s sake. Try doing something else than recycling those shallow romantic comedies of yours. I mean, in the past four seasons how many of them have you churned out by now? Looking at the staff, this doesn’t seem like the director is going to be able to make this one stand out. I predict that it’s not going to be funny and instead just mindlessly annoying.
First-Glance Potential: 10%
Strike Witches 2
Summary: The year is 1939 – it was then that the Neuroi appeared. Nobody knows where they came from or what their ultimate agenda is, but the fact remains that their attacks drove people out of their towns and cities. In order to take arms against them, humanity develops a new anti-Neuroi weapon called the “Striker Unit.” Using the power of magic to fight against the monsters, this new device enhances and amplifies the power of female magic-wielders. To use this device, young witches from all over the world have been brought together to form an elite task force unit called the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, commonly known as the “Strike Witches.” – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: What’s a Striker Unit and why is it behind the series composition? The director, Kazuhiro Takamura in any case is still the same, so you should expect much of the same.
Why you should not look forward to it: The thing is that while it was serviceable, it was also extremely forgettable. I don’t want to sit through the same thing again. And seriously, AIC. FOUR freaking moe shows in one season?
First-Glance Potential: 20%
Legend of Legendary Heroes
Summary: The story revolves around Raina Ryūto, an apathetic student who always dozes off at the Roland Imperial Special Academy. One day, Raina and his classmates get caught in the war waged by the opposing Kingdom of Esutabūru, and he loses many friends. After the battle, Raina goes on a quest on behalf of the Roland Empire and Emperor Shion Asutaaru, even as the darkness that has enveloped the land has begun to consume the empire. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: Under a capable staff, this show would rock.
Why you should not look forward to it: But alas… ZEXCS is running away with this one. Itsuro Kawasaki is the epitome of mediocrity: his shows area all completely forgettable, have a few nice points here and there but only stand out in their shallowness. I feel that this is going to end up like Chrome-Shelled Regios: full of potential that he refuses to focus at.
First-Glance Potential: 20%
Mitsudomoe
Summary: The story centers around the comedic misadventures of the Marui triplets of sisters in sixth grade. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: Bridge, the animation company is completely new. It’s always interesting to see fresh blood amongst the anime producers.
Why you should not look forward to it: It’s from the creators of Minami-ke and *gulp* Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na -Crescent Love-. Gah, run away!!! Seriously though, it’s another slice of life comedy. With those shows being a dime a dozen, I’m only giving this show a chance if it proves that it’s actually funny.
First-Glance Potential: 20%
Kuroshitsuji II
Summary: One of the noble families of England – Phantomhive, has a butler, Sebastian Michaels. He has unquestionably perfect knowledge, manners, talent with materials. martial arts and much more. But for some reason, he serves a 12 year old master… – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: Wait, didn’t the lead character change compared to the first season? The director and series composition guy also changed. The series composition guy doesn’t even seem to be listed at Anime News Network, while it’s going to be the director’s first job at directing a full blown anime. It can go either way now.
Why you should not look forward to it: But I got bored of the series anyway. I found the first few episodes that I sat through formulaic and boring, the characters weren’t that appealing and I had little reason to keep watching. Was I wrong?
First-Glance Potential: 20%
Digimon Xros Wars
Summary: Story currently unknown, but seems be revolved around theme of Digimon armies, set to unveil battles like those of the Sengoku period[2]. – (Taken from Wikimon)
Why you should look forward to it: Nothing is known about it, however we should note that Toei has been in an interesting trend this, in which it revitalized its franchises like what happened to Heartcatch Precure. If it’s executed as well as the first season, then we could be in for something interesting.
Why you should not look forward to it: But yeah. It doesn’t really help that it looks like your average Beyblade promo. If you weren’t familiar to the Digimon franchise you’d just dismiss this another one of those silly shounen series. I liked the first season, but really did not like how the second season butchered it, so I want to see this work first before getting enthusiastic.
Update: Okay, the staff has been announced, and it’s… average. Riku Sanjo will be doing the series composition, and he’s the manga artist of Dragon Quest, Beet the Vandel Buster and MD Geist. The interesting part is the director, though: it’s the guy behind the Master of Epic anime, the director of Hikaru no Go, and a whole bunch of random adventure series. Can he bring this series to life?
First-Glance Potential: 30%
Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~
Summary: Minato Sahashi is extremely intelligent, yet due to his inability to cope under pressure has failed the college entrance exam twice. As a result he has been branded an idiot and loser by many. One day after talking to his yet again disappointed mother he comes into contact with a girl named Musubi who was under attack. The girl runs but takes him with her and soon finds that Minato, while unknown to him, is an Ashikabi, one of the mysterious set of masters that have the genetic trait that can become partners with some of the 108 cute girls, buxom women, and bishōnen called “Sekirei”. The reason for the partnership allows the Sekirei to use all their power to win in the competition held by the mysterious MBI corporation. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: The same staff, so it should be pretty much the same as the first season. The director has had his hits and misses, and Sekirei was somewhere in between: often not funny, but it had its charms.
Why you should not look forward to it: But yeah, that’s the problem. After two years, I nearly completely forgot what this show was about. Everything about it was forgettable, so I’m not sure whether I want to watch more of it.
First-Glance Potential: 30%
Amagami SS
Summary: The original game centers around a second-year high school boy who find himself uneasy during Christmastime due to an experience in the past. However, this year at Christmas, he gets his last chance to ask out a graduating female senior named Haruka Morishima — or one of several other classmates. The story of the anime will be arranged in an omnibus format, with each heroine getting her own version of the story animated. Each heroine will sing her own version of the ending theme song. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: The director: Yoshimasa Hiraike; while I didn’t like Working, I liked some of the other shows he did (Kaleido Star’s second season, Solty Rei) a lot. The script writers also seem solid, having worked quite a few different series ranging from bad to good. AIC’s moe series either don’t try at all, or are actually quite interesting. My guess is that this show is going to belong to the latter category.
Why you should not look forward to it: I don’t think this show will stand out in the production-values though. Toshiyuki Omori may have worked on a ton of soundtracks, none of them were really memorable. The character designer also doesn’t have a lot of great designs on his name, same with the art director And yeah, it remains another one of those romance shows. I’m getting tired of those, unless they’re done really well like some of the current season’s series.
First-Glance Potential: 40%
Tono to Issho
Summary: The manga follows the humorous exploits of generals during Japan’s tumultuous sengoku (Era of the Warring States) period. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: I thought that this was just going to be a one-shot OVA. This really changes things, though we still don’t know anything about what this show is going to look like. The director, Mankyuu is also a complete mystery.
Why you should not look forward to it: But is it really going to be a good comedy that will be funny for more than two episodes? I really have no idea.
First-Glance Potential: 40%
Osaka Hamlet
Summary: “Osaka Hamlet” tells the story of the Kubo family and their life in Osaka. The mother (Keiko Matsuzaka), a hospital attendant by day, a club hostess at night — raises three sons with their uncle (Ittoku Kishibe). There is Hasanori – the skinny-but-spunky sixth-grader who likes to cross-dress, Yukio – the punkish junior-high-schooler who becomes fascinated with “Hamlet,” and Masashi – the high-schooler who falls for a an older woman with a father fixation. – (Taken from AsianMediaWiki) – Sorry, but at the time when I wrote this, the official website was down… so the images from the movie that was made about this will have to do. ANN has a small screenshot of the character-designs.
Why you should look forward to it: Hardly anything is known about this show at this point, other than that the manga it’s based on won a bunch of awards. Sounds promising!
Why you should not look forward to it: These character-designs can either be good or bad. It’s either a sign for a cheap series in which the creators aren’t even trying, or an attempt to move away from the mainstream of anime and instead focus on the characters. The acting is going to make or break this series.
First-Glance Potential: 40%
Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi
Summary: The story centres around Ryouko Oukami, a high school freshman girl known for her fierce looks, unusual canine teeth when she smiles, and wild demeanor. (Her family name is homonymous with the Japanese word for “wolf.”) Ringo Akai is a short high school freshman girl with seemingly cute, angelic looks but a dark demeanor. (Her name is a Japanese wordplay on “apple” and “Red Riding Hood.”) Together with their odd friends, the two fight to change the world, one issue at a time. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: It’s a red riding hood parody. It’s going to be just another moe show, but at least it’s going to be a solid one with the direction of Yoshiaki Iwasaki; he’s very experienced and worked on shows as Bottle Fairy, Love Hina, Sky Girls and Wagaya no Oinarisama, which I actually quite liked.
Why you should not look forward to it: I’m not that sure about the series composition though: Michiko Itou. Her works range from Letter Bee to Queen’s Blade and from Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou to Kimikiss. They were all quite flawed.
First-Glance Potential: 70%
Sengoku Basara Two
Summary: In the bloody Warring States period of feudal Japan, many generals fought in an endless struggle for power, but one man proved to be too big a threat – The dark lord Oda Nobunaga. Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune, two young warriors from different regions who become heated rivals, begin to form an unlikely alliance with the rest of the generals to take down the Devil King. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: A new director, this sounds promising. The problem with the first season was that it was just too forgettable. However, with the prime-time slot of anime, and Kazyua Nomura who will be directing for the first time, my interest is piqued again. This guy is someone who can do everything: writing, planning, animating, drawing. He’s been behind some amazing episodes. Plus, he was the animation director of some episodes of Mahou Shoujotai. I just can’t ignore that. ^^;
Why you should not look forward to it: The thing remains however, that I expected better from Production IG. Such a hot-blooded series is nice and all, but the first season was completely forgettable. Will the second season really be better?
First-Glance Potential: 70%
High School of the Dead
Summary: The world is over taken with a deadly “disease” that turns people who get bitten into the living dead. In Japan, a group of students and the school nurse stick together and try to survive the wide spread chaos. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: The director of Death Note? Okay, that’s the last thing I saw coming from a fanservice show like this one. Still, I’m very glad with this: this guy is unique, and he’s bound to make this into a ride that’s even more intense than Rainbow is at the moment. Sure, it’s brainless zombies, but this guy can make that awesome. And god, the series composition also is amazing: Yousuke Kuroda, who did the series composition of shows like Phantom, Infinite Ryvius, Ookiku Furikabutte, Honey and Clover and the script of Tribun. I was NOT looking forward to this show before writing this preview. But now, I’m eagerly anticipating it.
Why you should not look forward to it: There’s not going to be any eye candy here though. Most of Madhouse’s best visual people are currently working on Yojou-han and the Marvel trilogy, which is reflected in the character-designer, Masayoki Tanaka, who did the character-designs for shounen flicks as Hitman Reborn and Toradora.
First-Glance Potential: 80%
Occult Academy
Summary: The horror and school comedy story of Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin revolves around mystery and supernatural cases at Occult Academy, a fortress-like academy city. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: As the third Anime no Chikara series, this is a show that can go in any direction. A relative newbie and inexperienced director (Tomohiko Ito) will lead the project. The series composition will be amazing: it’s done by Seishi Minakami, whose works range from beyond awesome (Birdy the Mighty Decode 2(!!), Shigurui, Asatte no Houkou, Paranoia Agent, Rescue Wings, Boogiepop Phantom, Paprika) to surprisingly mediocre (Railgun… G-On Riders…). Takahiro Chiba will direct the animation, like what he did with a bunch of episodes of Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, Baby Blue, Kamichu, Naruto, Read or Die and Otogizoshi. The art director will kick even more ass: Yusuke Takeda produced some beautiful backgrounds at Real Drive, Seirei no Moribito, True Tears, Eden of the East and probably Standalone Complex as well. A-1 pictures will animate it, with Xebec as assistance.
Why you should not look forward to it: It really screams an incredibly solid cast. But will it be the right premise for it? I mean, it’s going to be a horror comedy on a school between a bunch of teenagers. These people should be working on something much more interesting.
First-Glance Potential: 80%
Shiki
Summary: During a fiercely hot summer in Sotoba, a peaceful and quiet village with a population of 1300 people, a series of bizarre deaths begin to occur. At the same time, a strange family moves into a long abandoned mansion in the region. Hospital dean Toshio Ozaki cannot figure out the cause of death in the deceased, initially suspecting an epidemic. As investigations continue between the hospital staff and the residents, it turns out that the village is being attacked by vampires. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: Noitamina. For 22 episodes. Finally the timeslot goes for two seasons again! Finally we get some good horror again. The original source material was written by Fuyumi Ono of the Twelve Kingdoms and Ghost Hunt, which is bound to rock. The promo art here realy looks gorgeous. Daume as an animation company doesn’t look the most solid, but the rest of the visual staff certainly does: Masanori Sakaki (of the cinematography of Petit Cosette) will be the director of photography and the art direction will be done by Ichirou Tatsuya of Chevalier and Zettai Shounen. The music will also be excellent with the composer of the soundtrack of Toward the Terra, Mononoke, Jigoku Shoujo and Wagaya no Oinarisama behind the wheel.
Why you should not look forward to it: The problems are going to be the main staff members though. The director Tetsuro Amino has worked on a lot of series, but none really stand out; especially the ones he directed. The series composition guy (Kenji Sugihara) also just worked on a bunch of mediocre series aside from Minami-ke and Sola where he just did the script for a few episodes.
First-Glance Potential: 80%
Nurarihyon no Mago
Summary: Rikuo Nura, is 3 parts human and a quarter Demon, lives in a house of spirits with his grandfather, The current clan head of the Nura youkai. Rikou is set to be the next clan head, despit the fact he dilikes his demon side. He soon come to terms with his demon blood and decides to take his position as young master of the Nura house. However there are those who will certainly not allow it to be easy. – (Taken from ANN)
Why you should look forward to it: With Studio Deen it’s always a bit of a question whether they can get the right staff or not. But this show actually has the DIRECTOR OF SIMOUN behind the direction! It’s still one of my favourite series out there, so I just have to look forward to this. Natsuko Takahashi is a very prolific and talented writer who really is at her best with a great series, and as for the music: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a composer with more soundtracks done than Kouhei Tanaka (includiging Angelic Layer, Betterman, Gad Guard and Overman King Gainer, this could be interesting). As for the visuals, the character-designs are going to be done by one of the best designers of the unrealistic ones: Mariko Oka: she also did the character-designs of Jigoku Shoujo, King of Bandits Jing, Ragnarok and Ghost Hound).
Why you should not look forward to it: It’s a shame that they couldn’t get to tackle an original story though, but the manga has potential if it’s going to continue past 13 episodes. It will, RIGHT?!
First-Glance Potential: 90%
