Lenlo: Time passes, leaves grow, allergy season fades and first world nations descend into civil war. Yet still my barber is closed due to COVID-19. Hard times, huh? He isn’t the only thing closed though, as studios continue to postpone series, with only 19 new anime airing this season, 6 of which are sequels. But oh, what big sequels they are. We have two of the biggest Isekai currently on the market, the return of literal fire fighters, and everyone’s favorite high school based romantic drama. Needless to say, just because there aren’t many series airing doesn’t mean we will be lacking for good choices. So strap in, as we here at Star Crossed Anime break down the 2020 Summer Season.

ALREADY AIRED

Great Pretender

Studio: Wit
Director: Hiro Kaburagi
Series composition: Ryouta Kosawa
Source: Original

Wooper: What if I told you that fansubbing isn’t dead? This Netflix Japan series made its way online at the start of June, and a whopping 10 episodes have been translated at the time of this writing. I’ve seen only two of them, but they were good enough to make me optimistic about the show’s expected run of 23 episodes. Actually, “good enough” is doing this thing a disservice, so let me rephrase; Great Pretender’s first pair of episodes was an unqualified success. From the hard bop jazz score to the multiple layers of its con artist-centered story, this is a series that never takes its foot off the “style” pedal. Director Hiro Kaburagi has attracted a bunch of the industry’s top talent to the project, including Yuusuke Takeda (of Eccentric Family fame) as art director and Gainax legend Yoshiyuki Sadamoto on character designs. This thing looks and sounds like an absolute dream, and the characters are all career criminals whose banter and one-upmanship give them undeniable personality. Honestly, Great Pretender is the whole package. It’s ten whole packages. And if you’re still on the fence about watching it for some reason, look for its OP and ED on YouTube (the latter of which is performed by Freddie fuckin’ Mercury), and prepare to groove harder than you’ve ever grooved before.

MIDDLING EXPECTATIONS

Gibiate

Studio: TBA
Director: TBA
Series composition: TBA
Source: Original

Mario: Gibiate is an anime original project, but it’s much trickier than normal to pin down how this one will turn out. On one side, it’s a project helmed by renowned character designer Yoshitaka Amano and producer Ryo Aoki, and aimed at the foreign audience. And as of now their focus on the marketing side has been… unconventional to say the very least. Doesn’t it feel weird that the personnel credited on the PV are character designer, monster designer and music composer, but there is no mention whatsoever of the director or even the studio? It’s a passion project at best, but I have doubts that it can transfer Amano’s vision across.

Kanojo, Okarishimasu

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Director: Kazuomi Koga
Series composition: Mitsutaka Hirota
Source: Manga

Mario: I read the first two chapters and yup, they ticked many boxes of what cliche romance is like in anime. Without spoiling too many details, let’s just say we have another potato-kun MC (he ticked me off several times) with a mildly interesting love interest in a mildly interesting concept (girlfriend-for-hire) with lots of tired tropes. TMS Entertainment is no stranger to romance/slice-of-life anime (Orange, Re:Life, Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, Kamisama Hajimemashita), but the director is unfortunately inexperienced as he’s only handled a couple of shorts before. The visuals look alright, although nothing really stands out. This series seems to be targeting the same audience of Nisekoi and Masamune-kun no Revenge, so if you like those shows you will find yourself at home here.

 

SHOWS WE’RE ANTICIPATING

Ikebukuro West Gate Park

Studio: Doga Kobo
Director: Tomoaki Koshida
Series composition: Fumihiko Shimo
Source: Novel

[EDIT: This series has been delayed until October 2020 due to COVID-19.]

Mario: My gut feeling on Ikebukuro West Gate Park is mixed as a whole. One good thing is that the concept reminds me a good deal of Durarara – a show that has a lot of style. One bad thing is that it also reminds me of Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens – a similar show that left a sour taste in my mouth. One good thing is that the novel it’s based on is popular in Japan, and there is a live-action series that adapted the novel exactly 20 years ago. One bad thing is that the staff doesn’t look that promising. Koshida directed Doga Kobo’s Zoku Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru and Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san before. They are not terrible shows, but they’re nothing to write home about either. There is no PV whatsoever at this point of writing so I can’t really get a sense for its visual style or whether the production is on par or not. This show is a big question mark, which for me is appropriate given the state of this coming season.

Fire Force 2

Studio: David Production
Director: Tatsuma Minamikawa
Series composition: Tatsuma Minamikawa
Source: Manga

Amun: To be honest with you, this season looks like S-tier sequels, ecchi, and random crap – with some shows spanning several categories. Fire Force 2 is, at worst, the first two. Let’s start with the story – I took a peek ahead in the manga and it seems like the action continues where the first season ended. Basically, it’s Shinra’s continued tour of the companies, with each giving a piece of the world’s larger mystery with the Evangelist’s forces interfering! From the PV, it looks like the anime will focus on the new Adollah Burst and the human connection/cost. Now, there have been some staffing changes: Tatsuma Minamikawa is now at the helm as director. Interestingly enough, he directed episode 12 of last season, which I felt was… all the good points and all the bad points of season 1, in one episode. Minamikawa’s body of work is highlighted by directing the second Fairy Tail movie, which was met with generally positive reviews. Other than that, he’s mostly an episodic director on shounen series. I’m a little concerned that he’s also been given control of the writing, with the rest of the staff remaining mostly the same. I would have felt better if his directed episode didn’t suffer from the strange fight choreography that plagued the season sporadically. That said, there’s a lot of material available to adapt, and really – Fire Force only has to look good to be a success. Just please go light on the catgirl this season. ^_^

The God of High School

Studio: MAPPA
Director: Seong-hu Park
Series composition: Kiyoko Yoshimura
Source: Manhwa

Mario: With the current success of Tower of God, manhwa adaptations are on a roll now with a second consecutive seasonal offering, this time set in Korea with a Korean director. MAPPA helms this project and I figure that if you like this season’s Tower of God then this one will scratch a similar itch. While I applaud the fact they appointed Seong-ha Park as director (he can provide some Korean flavor to the show), it hurts that both his and the series composer’s resumes are unimpressive. He (the director) is known more for his key animation, having directed only Garo: Vanishing Line before – a show I am mixed about. She (the series composer) also wrote Garo: Vanishing Line and a few little-known anime like Legend of the Legendary Heroes and Dogs: Bullets & Carnage. Putting their filmographies aside, though, The God of High School manhwa is popular among certain circles, who in particular highlight its (first) tournament arc. For a sparse season it looks most likely to be a big hit.

 

HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS

No Guns Life 2

Studio: Madhouse
Director: Naoyuki Ito
Series composition: TBA – probably Yukie Sugawara
Source: Manga

Amun: If you were around for the last time No Guns Life aired, you’d know I’m a fan. I’d love to give a preview of what’s to come, but sadly the English translation of the manga seems to be quite behind. What I can tell you is that this is a Madhouse second season! I thought those didn’t exist! Mixed reports on the staff, but given the director has stayed the same, the rest are probably back onboard. This is also one of the COVID delays, so I hope the extra time gave the animators a chance to really polish this season up. If you’re down for some gorgeous 3D rendered background, conventional foreground animation, great characters, and a sizzling steampunk setting – join me in welcoming back our loveable metal hard boiled egg and his motley cast of (mostly) humans!

Deca-Dence

Studio: Studio NUT
Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa
Series composition: Hiroshi Seko
Source: Original

Mario: In this grim future of another thin anime season, I’ll grab any opportunity to celebrate some promising projects – and this one seems to fit that bill. It’s being headed up by Yuzuru Tachikawa, after Death Parade (which he conceptualized, wrote and directed) and Mob Psycho 100 (which he directed). The premise of a mismatched duo in a mecha-heavy setting doesn’t really excite me much – see this season’s Listeners – but the teaser looks pretty cool visually and design-wise. The script is being handled by Hiroshi Seko who was responsible for Vinland Saga, the recent Dorohedoro, and Ajin, but the better point of reference would be Koutetsujou no Kabaneri which is also an original show. For now, there is little info about the plot and the PV likewise doesn’t tell us much, but I prefer that vague sense of what the show is truly about. This is a “you have to see it to experience it” anime and I am all in for that.

Japan Sinks

Studio: Science Saru
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Series composition: Toshio Yoshikata
Source: Novel

Wooper: Director Masaaki Yuasa recently retired as president of Science Saru, the studio he co-founded with Eunyoung Choi in 2013. Japan Sinks isn’t his swan song (that will be 2021’s theatrical “Inu-Oh”), but it may be the last TV anime he ever directs, which catapults it to the top of my summer watch list. (Technically it’s not a TV anime, since it’s premiering on Netflix, but we won’t be dependent on fansubs due to its worldwide release on July 9th.) As an adaptation of a disaster novel, it’s far from Science Saru’s usual fare – even Devilman Crybaby, which depicted a literal apocalypse, approached its story with supernatural camp. Japan Sinks will be closer in tone to Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, right down to the focus on familial themes. The unfulfilled promise of that 2011 series makes me apprehensive about Japan Sinks, but with Yuasa directing and Kensuke Ushio providing the soundtrack, there’s a very good chance this will be AOTS.

Re:Zero Season 2

Studio: White Fox
Director: Masaharu Watanabe
Series composition: Masahiro Yokotani
Source: Webnovel/Light Novel

Aidan: Here comes the show to pull me out of retirement, originally intended for the spring season but sadly moved down to summer due to the ongoing pandemic. In normal times I would say that this show has no real things holding it back. The source material is really solid as the translations I read had me hooked for more at the end of every chapter. The only real issue there is that in the Webnovel the pacing was a bit too gradual, though I hear the light novel adaptation sped that up considerably. Also depending on the number of cours this season may not address the loose ends of the previous one and might set up even more to be resolved – otherwise known as the common problem that second seasons have of spending their screen time building things up for a third season that may not even happen. But much like the first season, while there are loose ends the content here is still great.

Lastly this season will have new characters jumping in, which does mean that some personal fan favourite characters will unfortunately be pushed to the sidelines for a bit. Indeed, if there was anything I would be truly worried about it would be the production, as even with the same staff returning, current times make things difficult for anime production. To me this is the season where the effect of Covid-19 could hit the hardest which makes me deeply concerned as to whether this show’s production could fall because of it. I hope things go well and wish the production team all the best. May my worries be unfounded so I can once again relish in the absolute despair of Re:Zero.

 

DELAYED SERIES

Wooper: Here’s a miniature list of shows that were originally scheduled for spring. Note that the dates in parentheses are for the first new episode of each series, not the beginning of their rebroadcasts (which will start with episode 1 in early July).

Oregairu S3 (July 9)
SAO Alicization: War of the Underworld S2 (July 11)
Food Wars S5, ep 03 (July 17)
Appare-Ranman, ep 04 (July 24)
Houkago Teibou Nisshi, ep 04 (July 28)
Fugou Keiji – Balance: UNLIMITED, ep 03 (July 30)

 

Anime Movie Previews

Mario: With the pandemic going on, it’s not at all surprising that the cinema, and thus movie scheduling, suffers the most. Many films from the previous spring season have been delayed indefinitely (the long-awaited final Evangelion Rebuild film; Violet Evergarden; and Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare among others), and this season looks to be on the same path. My most anticipated movie – “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish” by Studio Bones – has postponed its release until further notice. Another highlight, Aya to Majo, is named as one of the official selections in Cannes, but it remains to be seen when it will open in Japanese theatres. At the moment, there are only a few films that are staying on schedule, albeit in September when it’s supposedly safe to play again. Theaters are starting to open in some countries now (mine included), so I hope that the worst is already behind us and we can look forward to more movie releases soon.

Shika no Ou

Studio: Production I.G.
Director: Masashi Andou, Masayuki Miyaji
Script: Taku Kishimoto
Source: Novel
Release Date: 18 Sep 2020

Mario: Despite a slim season, the inclusion of Shika no Ou here will be enough to satisfy some anime fans. The source material comes from the mind of Uehashi Nahoko, who is also an author for (only) two other works: Seirei no Moribito and Kemono no Souja Erin. That aspect alone is already a big selling point for me. Veteran animator Masashi Andou (Dennou Coil, Pom Poko, and Paprika just to name a few) gets his first big directorial role with this one, pairing with series composer Taku Kishimoto who is behind many hits like Haikyuu, Silver Spoon, 91 Days, and Usagi Drop. While there isn’t a PV so far – which raises doubts about its release date – the personnel involved are too good to pass on this project.

Expectation Level: High

Umibe no Étranger

Studio: Studio Hibari
Director: Akiyo Oohashi
Script: Akiyo Oohashi
Source: Manga
Release Date: 11 Sep 2020

Mario: Like any crazy anime fan out there I’ve long hoped for good yaoi/yuri anime – when done right, even those niche materials can transcend their boundaries to resonate with mainstream audiences. There are many that have succeeded on that front in recent years, from crowd-pleasers like Wandering Son, Dokyousei, and Bloom into You to those with more limited appeal like Super Lovers and Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (no, I don’t regard Yuri on Ice as one). Umibe no Étranger seems to scratch the former itch, as there are plenty of positive signs regarding its production. The art looks crazy attractive, most notably the bright, vibrant color palette. The director Akiyo Oohashi is the director of my beloved Houseki no Kuni, which is hands down one of the best directed series in recent memory, and the source material has received strong critical response. Plus, it’s short and sweet enough to translate to a full length movie. Even if this turns out to be a dud, the very fact that more yaoi/yuri anime will be released in theatres is an encouraging sign that we need more of.

Expectation Level: Medium-High

Kud Wafter

Studio: J.C. Staff
Director: Kentaro Suzuki
Script: TBA
Source: Visual Novel
Release Date: Sep, 2020

Mario: So it’s a Key adaptation, and a spin off from Little Busters (to celebrate the franchise’s 10th anniversary). I’m not familiar with Little Busters at all, but it has amassed quite a dedicated fanbase over the years. Key adaptations typically contain too much CHEESE for my taste, but I can understand why they grab audiences like none other. As for Kud Wafter itself, the director was involved with Little Busters so he’s more than familiar with its world-building. Looking at the trailer, it feels nostalgic – it’s the sort of 00s anime with slightly dated sensibility and humor, although the main character’s dead eyes just bug me like crazy. I’m not too sure if it’s newcomer-friendly or not based on the PV, making it a tough sell, but if you are fans of Key or the original series then it’s a no brainer.

Expectation Level: Medium