Posts Tagged ‘gainax’

Where ya been?

 

Sorry for such a long absence everyone. Between the day job, a local center that I was helping to open and working on the season wrap up, it’s been a very hectic few days. I’m also posting a lot more over at ani.me so be sure to hop over there and follow me (this is also where this season’s wrap up will be posted).

So news! There is some! Last night, the series of magical girl anime shorts titled Hokago no Pleiades (Afterschool Pleiades) made its debut on YouTube with the first four episodes being uploaded to the official channel. The series is the collaboration between animation studio Gainax and car maker Subaru (the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster). Ever since the first PV hit the internet, fans around the world have had one burning question at the front of their minds. Now, with the first four episodes, up we can all get the answer to the one question that we all want to ask: How exactly do magical girls and cars have anything to do with each other?

Via ANN

Well, we’re now a couple of days into the primary part of the new season and I’m already exhausted (for various reasons on top of the new anime)! But there are still a ton of new titles to talk about plus more simulcasts from Crunchyroll! Whew, it’s going to be a busy month!

Beelzebub
Studio: Pierrot
Premiere Date: 1/9
Genre: Action Comedy
Adapted From: Manga
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

Considered to be the strongest juvenile delinquent, first year high school student Oga Tatsumi is constantly being targeted by other gangs. While beating up one gang by the river, he sees a man floating down river. After pulling him to shore, the man splits in half and reveals a baby boy who is the son of a demon. Seems that Oga has been chosen (as the baddest and most evil) to raise the baby along with his personal nurse.

Why You Should Care

This actually has a slightly interesting concept and, from what I understand, is told from Oga’s perspective which will make for a slightly different narrative than usual.

This is the second series this season for director Nobuhiro Takamoto (Starry Sky is the other), Miyuki Sawashiro (also playing Ayane in Kimi ni Todoke 2) as Beelzebub and Studio Pierrot (Level E).

Kore wa Zombie Desu ka
Is It a Zombie?
Studio: Studio DEEN
Premiere Date: 1/10
Genre: Comedy
Adapted From: Light Novels
Trailer
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

So one day high school student Aikawa Ayumu is killed by a serial killer (don’t you hate when that happens?). Luckily for him, he is brought back by the necromancer Eucilwood Hellscythe. When he wakes up however, he finds that he is a zombie in a new world filled with magical girls and vampire ninjas doing battle. Finding that his existence is a drain on the magical girl Haruna, he is ordered to join the ranks of the magical girls to fight in her stead against the evil Magalo system.

Why You Should Care

Beyond Studio DEEN (by the way, this is series two for them this season), I don’t recognize hardly anyone amongst the cast and crew. Director Takaomi Kanesaki has only directed one other title (Magician’s Academy in 2008) although writers Shigeru Morita (Linebarrels of Iron, Seikon no Qwaser) and Touko Machida (Amagami SS, Lucky Star, Jellyfish Princess) have a healthy mix of drama, action and ecchi in their work histories.

Dragon Crisis!
Studio: Studio DEEN
Premiere Date: 1/10
Genre: Action
Adapted From: Light Novels
Trailer
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

While out  with his second cousin Eriko, Ryuji acquires a box from a black market dealer. Inside he finds a young, blue eyed red dragon girl named Rose. Instantly taking a liking to Ryuji, she starts to follow him around which leads him into the role of de facto bodyguard that must protect her from the black market dealers who want her back and others.

Why You Should Care

For those keeping score, this is the third (and last) series from Studio Deen this season.

Kurata Hideyuki is writing this series and has been writing great scripts for years: Battle Athletes, Magical Witchland, most of OreImo, The World God Only Knows and Kamichu just to name a few. Plus character designs from Masashi Ishihama (Kite, Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Honey and Clover, Welcome to the NHK, Welcome to the Space Show). PLUS Rose the dragon girl is played by Rie “Tsundere Queen” Kugimiya, Yukana will be the second cousin Eriko and Yui Horie will be in the supporting cast as Maruga and singing the OP theme.

I know the temptation is there but don’t write this one off too quickly.

Level E
Studio: Pierrot/David Production
Premiere Date: 1/10
Genre: Alien Slice of Life
Adapted From: Manga
Trailer
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

First year high school student Tsutsui Yukitata finally convinces his parents to let him move into his own apartment. When he gets there, he finds a beautiful man already there who claims to be an alien with a lost memory. It turns out that the man is actually Prince Baka from the planet Dogra and he lost his memory by crashing into Earth… and there are thousands more just like him all over the world. What follows is Tsutsui quickly losing his normal life as Baka moves in.

Why You Should Care

Lots of good reasons to check this series out but we’ll start with it’s based on the manga from Yoshihiro Togashi whom you might know better as the creator of Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter x Hunter.

As for the rest of the crew; director Toshiyuki Kato has done a bit of everything ranging from Code-E (supernatural romantic comedy) to Full Moon (shoujo) to Maria Watches Over Us Season 4 (Slice of Life Yuri). The music is coming from the very talented Ryo Kunihiko (Victorian Romance Emma, Letter Bee, Story of Saiunkoku, Twelve Kingdoms) and character designs from Itsuko Takeda (Galaxy Railways, Mirage of Blaze, Ristorante Paradiso) means angles so sharp you could cut yourself.

As for the cast, the leads will be an interesting pair to listen to as Daisuke Namikawa (resume a mile long but Rock in Black Lagoon, Kei in Gantz, Shota in Kimi ni Todoke) is the prince and Yoshimasa Hosoya (Shichika in Katanagatari) will be opposite him as Tsutsui.

Fractale
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Premiere Date: 1/13
Genre: Drama
Trailers

What It’s About

Taking place on a distant island, the mysterious “Fractale system” is on the verge of collapsing. While exploring one night, a boy named Crane finds a girl named Phryne under a cliff. After she eventually disappears, she leaves behind a pendant which Crane decides to take along with a girl shaped avatar named Nessa on a journey to find Phryne. Along the way, he discovers the secrets behind the Fractale system and why it is collapsing.

Why You Should Care

This would be the first of two new series are joining the Noitamina time block this season.

Another really strong cast and crew are behind this series including A-1 Pictures (Black Butler, Sora no Woto) and Studio Ordet producing animation, a story created by otaku scholar Hiroki Azuma, and Yutaka Yamamoto (Haruhi Suzumiya, Kannagi, Lucky Star… up to ep 4) as director. In the cast there’s Yu Kobayakawa (Nice in Baccano, Setsuna in Negima, Maria in Maria Holic) as Crane and Kana Hanazawa (Angelica in Gunslinger Girl, Nadeko in Bakemonogatari, Lana in this season’s Freezing, Mikan in To Love Ru) as Nessa.

Hourou Musuko
Wandering Son
Studio: AIC
Premiere Date: 1/13
Genre: Coming of Age/Drama
Adapted From: Manga
Trailers
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

Starting the story in grade school, the story centers on Shuichi, a transgender boy, who meets a girl named Yoshino who is also transgender. Finally finding friends that accept them, the series follows the pair as they begin to enter puberty and discover who they really are.

Why You Should Care

Even if this series isn’t the best of the season, it’s already the most important for openly bringing up such an important subject.

This is the other series which will be appearing in the Noitamina block.

I have concerns that I’m hoping are unfounded. The man who directed Ga Rei Zero and Girls Bravo is helming this one. I’m hoping that all my fears will be proven wrong.

There is one place that I have full confidence in: the music. Background score is being composed by Satoru Kousaki (OreImo, Lucky Star, Kannagi, Bakemonogatari) and the ending theme is the new single from Rie Fu titled ‘For You’.

Suite Precure
Studio: Toei Animation
Premiere Date: 2/6
Genre: Magical Girl
Sequel

What It’s About

In season 8 (!) of the magic girl series, two new cures named Cure Melody (Minamino Kanade) and Cure Rhythm (Houjou Hikibi). While initially polar opposites, over the course of the series the two will have to learn how to bring their hearts into harmony.

Why You Should Care

Seriously, it’s up to season 8 which is the main reason why I haven’t tried to catch up to this one. Oh and by the way, the 10th Precure movie is being released to theaters in Japan next March.

Houkago no Pleiades
Afterschool Pleiades
Studio: GAINAX
Premiere Date: 1/2011
Genre: Magical Girls with Cars?
Trailer

What It’s About

I’ll be honest, I’ve yet to find someone who can figure out what this series is supposed to be about. Five cute magical girls? With cars perhaps?

Why You Should Care

The character designs from Mai Otsuka (Shakugan no Shana) and the fact that Gainax and Subaru have teamed up for a streaming anime has me way too curious. I’ll be watching if for no other reason than to find what it’s about and what it has to do with the cars or stars even.

Mai no Mahou to Katei no Hi
Mai’s Magic and Family Day
Studio: PA Works
Premiere Date: 2/2011
Genre: Family

What It’s About

In this short anime, an eight year old girl uses magical powers in order to understand the feelings of her family members.

Why You Should Care

PA Works is producing this 30 minute release for the Toyama government to raise awareness of how important family bonds are. It sounds rivit…. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

OVAs

Kaibutsu Oujo OAD
Princess Resurrection OAD
Studio: Tasunoko
Premiere Date: 12/9
Genre: Supernatural Comedy
Adapted From: Manga

Why You Should Care

I’m not sure if this is a sign of how bad the TV series was but every single cast and crew member from the TV series has been replaced for this release.

Mirai Nikki OVA
Future Diary
Studio: asread
Premiere Date: 12/9
Genre: Fantasy
Adapted From: Manga
Trailer

What It’s About

Middle school student Yukiteru is content to watch life pass by and write in his cell phone diary. He even imagines a friend named Deus Ex Machina who is the lord of time and space which is fine until his friend comes to life. Giving Yukiteru the power to write events in his diary that will happen in the near future, he’s also forced to participate in a game to determine a successor for Deus Ex Machina.

Why You Should Care

It’s 7 minutes long so it’s easy to knock out when you just have a few minutes to spare.

Interesting names that stand out from the crew include Naoto Hosoda (Koe de Oshigoto, Shuffle) is directing, Katsuhiko Takayama (Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Demonbane) is doing the screen play,

Isshoni Training 026: Bathtime with Hinako and Hiyoko OVA
Studio: Primesta
Premiere Date: 12/24
Genre: Bathing?

What It’s About

Hinako and friend show viewers how to stretch in the tub.

Why You Should Care

Really?

Armored Trooper Votoms: Koei Futatabi OVA
Studio: Sunrise
Premiere Date: 1/8
Genre: Mecha

What It’s About

After 32 years, Chirico will reunite with characters that he was once separated from at an oasis.

Why You Should Care

This is a complete OVA retelling of the original novel. Author Ryousuke Takahashi will be returning as director along with original character designer Norio Shioyama and original cast members.

Ah! My Goddess OAD
Studio: AIC
Premiere Date: 2/23
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Sequel

What It’s About

Belldandy and Keiichi head to an amusement park for a date but Urd and Skuld have other plans in mind for them.

Why You Should Care

AIC returns to do a second OAD. All of the crew and cast remain the same as previous series.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu: Matsuri OVA
Studio: Silver Link
Premiere Date: 2/23
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Sequel

What It’s About

The school is supposed to be in the middle of a festival but summoning wars are getting in the way.

Why You Should Care

Silver Link returns to deliver this before the second season later this year. Funimation simulcast the first season so keep this one on your radar.

Morita san wa Mukuchi
Studio: Studio Gram
Premiere Date: 2/26
Genre: Slice of Life
Adapted From: Manga

What It’s About

Based off the slice of life manga, the story centers on Mayu Morita who is a misunderstood turtle character. It’s not that she doesn’t want to speak up, she just spends such a long time thinking on her words that she always loses the opportunity.

Why You Should Care

The cast includes fan favorites Kana Hanazawa (in her third role this season) as Miyu and Haruka Tomatsu (Nagi in Kannagi, Lala in To Love Ru) as Miki.

Negima! Ariadone-hen
Studio: Studio Pastoral/Shaft
Premiere Date:
Genre: Magical Harem
Sequel

Why You Should Care

Yet another fun filled Negima release filled with all the characters that you’ve grown to love (or tolerate in some cases).

And that’s it for another season! As always, keep checking back as I watch as many of these new series as I can possibly manage in one month! If you miss something along the way don’t worry because the end of the season wrap up is fast approaching as well… well, at least a wrap up written by what’s left of my pale body by the time February rolls around.

Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt
Studio: Gainax
Premiere Date: 10/1
Available via Crunchyroll

The Story

Panty and Stocking are two angels sent down to Earth to fight ghosts. These aren’t really your typical angels however. Panty will sleep with anything on two legs possessing a penis then rags on them for not outlasting her. Her partner, Stocking, is a gothic lolita who only wants to eat sweets. Their mission is to rid the city of the evil ghosts causing havoc to collect Heaven Coins and return home. The first episode of Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt (that’s gonna get shortened) is told in two short stories. In the first half, the angels are on a mission to solve the mystery of toilets eating humans. After Panty gets eaten while taking a dump, they find out that they really are up against the shittiest monster ever.

In the second half, the partners are after a ghost with a desperate need for speed. Caught in a high speed chase, the girls will chase after the ghost no matter what vehicle he possesses including cars, trains and trucks. Unfortunately in the middle of the chase, Panty loses her panties which leaves without her attacks.

Good and the Bad

I don’t like toilet humor so maybe I’m not the right guy for this series. After ragging on it for days, I wanted this series to be good though so that I would have to eat my own words. That so did not happen here. Not by a long shot.

P&S thrives on its crass gross out humor. Panty is a slut whose primary jokes revolve around sex, orgasms, nudity and all the things that go with it. Stocking revolves around sugar and making fun of her partner. Throw in a black stereotype for the priest, a dog named Chuck (which is really just Gir from Invader Zim only not as dumb) and you have 23 minutes of character doing or saying whatever sounds remotely funny at the time. And that’s where the series lost me.

Every joke in this premiere takes the easy route. While it cleverly makes its point about being a toilet humor series by literally pitting the girls against a toilet ghost right away; it’s all just really lazy humor. It’s always right from hip, point blank humor with no subtlety at all. Which isn’t necessarily bad if you’re really into that type of humor. If you’re not into those types of jokes, it’s going to come across as juvenile or just plain annoying before the episode even has a chance to get warmed up.

Comparing the look of the series to what I saw in the preview, I can at least say that it’s hard to be disappointed with how P&S looks visually. Going along with the the humor, a lot of the jokes are visual which managed to catch me off guard a few times (a transformation sequence with stripper poles will do that to you). If there’s one thing you can stay positive about here it’s that there will be no other series this season that looks anything like this and I do mean that as a compliment.

Music

Trust me, you’re not watching this series being of the banging tunes coming out along the way though there are some good background tracks regardless. Composed by Taku Takahashi (from hip-hop group, m-flo), there are a lot of strong club tracks that play along with the action. Admittedly these aren’t exactly jaw dropping action sequences but the nice beats that go along with the stripper transformation sequence and car chases were nice additions.

Overall

Alright, I won’t use the word terrible to describe this series anymore. It’s not entirely terrible but I really didn’t like it. This is a series for the ones who appreciate and actually like toilet humor. Does the idea of a giant shit monster terrorizing a city while two really bad angels try to fight it off make you giggle? This series might be right for you. Anyone who requires just a hint of maturity from their humor is going to walk away from this wanting 23 minutes of their life back. If I’m bored and desperately need something to watch I might pick this up again sometime. Unless I find something amazing in the next couple of episodes this is going to get dropped like a bad habit once the month is over. Save your free time for something else this season.

Everyone recovered from the summer? Good because it’s time for another couple dozen titles to start premiering. While AIC has been busy this year, this season it’s JC Staff that is blowing everyone away with five different titles premiering made up of four TV series and one OVA (Otome Youkai Zakuro, Tantei Milky Opera Holmes, Bakuman, A Certain Magical Index S2, A Certain Scientific Railgun OVA). Staying busy themselves, Studio Deen, Studio Pierrot, Xebec and AIC are busy with two series each of their own while a number of others are contributing one each to the new season.

As for the spread, there’s no one genre that seems to be dominating. There are still a healthy number of moe titles proving that even if the genre is dying it’s not going down quietly. A couple of eroge adaptations are certain to catch the attention of a few (including the yaoi shippers who will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on Toaigu no Chi).

All of the information, images, credits, etc have been gathered from various sources including Anime News Network, My Anime List, AniDB, official websites and more. All information and images retain original copyrights and I claim no ownership over anything on this page but the words I typed. But enough with this long drawn out introduction, let’s get into the breakdown!

Note: A few series were purposely excluded from this list for various reasons: Shaun the Sheep, You Are Umasou TV, Tachi Yumaru Gekijou, Pocket Monster: Best Wishes and Agriculture Girl

Hetalia Axis Powers Fourth Season
Studio: Studio Deen
Premiere Date: 9/10
Genre: Comedy

Story

The countries are back and I bet Italy is still yelling about pasta every once in awhile too.

Why You Should Care

The new season features two new characters joining the cast: Norway and Denmark.

Battle Spirits: Brave
Studio: Sunrise
Premiere Date: 9/12
Genre: Action
Adapted From: Card Game
Sequel

Story

The return of the action card battle game which only lasts for 13 episodes this time around.

Why You Should Care

This series marks the first appearance of Daisuke Ono as Clackey and singing the ending theme.

Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector
Studio: Asahi Production
Premiere Date: 10/1
Genre: Mecha
Available via Crunchyroll
Trailer

Story

The DC War starts again as aliens from space arrive to finish the job. With a new war breaking out, characters will be forced to choose loyalties and fight for their survival once again.

Why You Should Care

Masami Obari has never worked on the Super Robot Wars franchise but he has directed other decent mech series like Gravion.

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Studio: GAINAX
Premiere Date: 10/1
Genre: Ecchi Action/Comedy
Available via Crunchyroll
Trailer

Story

A city is invaded by weird ghosts and so heaven sends down two angels, Panty (the blonde idol) and Stocking (the gothic lolita) to exterminate them. What they (and the world) don’t realize is that they were actually kicked out of heaven for being bad.

Why You Should Care

Believe it or not, the same man who directed Gurren Lagann, Hiroyuki Imaishi, will be sitting in the director’s chair for this one as well.

Sora no Otoshimono: Forte
Heaven’s Lost Property: Forte
Studio: AIC ASTA
Premiere Date: 10/1
Genre: Harem Comedy
Sequel
Available via Crunchyroll
Trailer

Story

A new season of ecchi comedy featuring a perverted, pacifist boy, the pet class angelroid living with him and the various other females in his life creating misunderstandings.

Why You Should Care

For the most part the cast and crew remain the same. Two new animation directors are joining the crew along with two new characters; Daidalos (Asuka Ogame – Lizleat in Omamori Himari) and Astrea (Kaori Fukuhara – Tsukasa in Lucky Star).

Second change from season 1 is that there will be only 1 OP/ED theme performed by Hitomi Yoshida and Saori Hayami (Ikaros). Hopefully that doesn’t completely eliminate the chances of a second flying panty sequence since that was one of the few highlights of the first season.

Iron Man
Studio: Madhouse
Premiere Date: 10/1
Genre: Action
Adapted From: American Comic
Trailer

Story

Tony Stark comes to Japan to attend the opening of a new peace station. During the ceremony, he is attacked by a mysterious organization called the Zodiac and he must don the iron suit.

Why You Should Care

The first of four Marvel anime adaptations, this one could will set an interesting tone for what fans should expect from the next three as well.

It’s not quite a simulcast but the series will be airing next year on G4.

The animation is being produced by Madhouse but the script is being created by award winning writer Warren Ellis who worked on the Iron Man comic in 2005-2006 but has been with Marvel since the mid 90′s.

Bakuman
Studio: J.C. Staff
Premiere Date: 10/2
Genre: Comedy
Adapted From: Manga
Trailer

Story

A junior high school student named Mashiro is pursued by his best friend to start a manga together. After his famous mangaka uncle died from overwork, Mashiro is hesitant to follow in those footsteps. After getting some friends together who agree to also create an anime once the manga is finished (including his crush who also agrees get married and live together with Mashiro once it’s done) he begins his trek to becoming a famous mangaka like his uncle.

Why You Should Care

I am REALLY intrigued by this concept!

One of the directors, Kenichi Kasai, directed Kimikiss pure rogue, Honey and Clover, Aoi Hana and Nodame Cantabile (he also directed Miracle Train but try not to hold that against him).

Tegami Bachi Season 2
Letter Bee Season 2
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Premiere Date: 10/2
Genre: Action/Drama
Sequel
Available via Crunchyroll
Trailer

Story

At the close of the first season, Lag Seeing thought that he had found the one he was searching for. In the second season, Lag’s search for answers regarding his hero and his mother continues as he delivers more letters across dangerous terrain.

Why You Should Care

Letter Bee season 1 was surprisingly well done in terms of writing, story and animation making this worth picking up if you haven’t already.

For the most part, the cast and crew are completely the same beyond a new face in charge of series composition, Masanao Akahoshi.

Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan Season 2
Studio: Studio DEEN
Premiere Date: 10/2
Genre: Historical Action
Sequel

Story

The return Chizuru and her reverse harem made up of the Shinsengumi during the Edo period as they search for answers and battle evil oni within the city.

Why You Should Care

Studio DEEN is only producing 2 shows this season; this and Hetalia Season 4. This makes me sad.

Only a few crew members have been revealed but so far it’s all the same as season 1.

MM!
Studio: Xebec
Premiere Date: 10/2
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Adapted From: Light Novels

Story

A high school boy named Taro Sado discovers that he’s a masochist but must keep this a secret from the girl he has a crush on. To get help, he joins the 2^nd Volunteer Club at school which consists of a girl who thinks she’s god and another who caused Sado’s masochism in the first place.

Why You Should Care

The second of 4 roles this season for Jun Fukuyama playing the role of Taro Sado (other roles are in Battle Spirits, Togainu no Chi and Tegami Bachi Reverse) and the first of 2 for Sayaka Ohara (Tamayura) and Rie Tanaka (Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge).

Amongst key crew members; this is only the second series Tsuyoshi Nagasawa has directed with the other being Kyo no Go no ni. The writers, Naoko Marukawa and Rie Oga, have written D.I.C.E., Kanokon OVA and The Sacred Blacksmith (or 3 episodes of it) which suddenly fills me with a little less confidence.

Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai
My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute
Studio: AIC
Premiere Date: 10/3
Genre: Comedy
Adapted From: Light Novel
Availabie via Aniplex USA
Trailer

Story

A high school boy has a very strained relationship with his professional model little sister that involves little more than exchanging pleasantries even though they live together. After he finds a moe anime DVD in her bag, she eventually reveals that she’s actually a closet otaku which changes their relationship dynamically.

Why You Should Care

This is the first series of the season that I’m already thinking will be impossible to resist once it starts.

Interesting to note: The director, Hiroyuki Kanbe, has only directed one other series, Viper’s Creed. Writer Hideyuki Kurata, on the other hand, has written everything from classics (Battle Athletes, Excel Saga) to more recent hits (Bamboo Blade, Read or Die, Sasameki Koto).

Additionally, this is one of three series with music composed by Satoru Kousaki (Bakemonogatari, Haruhi Suzumiya). Dude is popular this season.

If the leads sound a little familiar you might be recognizing Ayana Taketatsu as Azusu in K-ON or Yuuichi Nakamura as Akira in Dance in the Vampire Bund or Tomoya in Clannad.

Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls
Studio: ARMS
Premiere Date: 10/3
Genre: Ecchi Action
Adapted From: Novel
Available via The Anime Network
Trailer

Story

In an alternative Japan where the Tokugawa shogunate remained in power, schools are now places where students are deeply oppressed. In an act of rebellion, a high school boy named Yagyuu teams up with a team of female students who were all named for famous samurai and swordsmen to take on the student council.

Why You Should Care

Trailers and an early first episode preview have confirmed that this series is going to be this season’s Queen’s Blade. No shock since it’s from the same studio, ARMS.

The first of only 2 series this season for Aki Tokosaki (she’s also performing in Otome Yokai Zakuro) and the only appearance this season from Rie “Tsundere Queen” Kugimiya.

Best news (?) is that the opening theme is sung by Faylan (CANAAN, Seikon no Qwaser).

Shinrei Tantei Yakumo
Psychic Detective Yakumo
Studio: Bee Train
Premiere Date: 10/3
Genre: Supernatural Mystery
Adapted From: Novel
Trailer

Story

A college student said to psychic powers is enlisted by a girl to help a friend who is possessed by a spirit. After dealing with that, the psychic named Yakumo will solve other mysteries related to ghosts in the city.

Why You Should Care

Not everyone is a fan of theirs but anytime Bee Train puts out something new, I always encourage people to check them out.

Hiroyuki Kawasaki has some duds in his past but he also has some hits including Sakura Taisen, Hell Girl season 2 and Irresponsible Captain Tylor.

Fan favorite Daisuke Ono makes his first appearance of the season here as Yakumo while also singing the opening theme.

Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto
Studio: Bones
Premiere Date: 10/3
Genre: Mecha
Trailer

Story

On an island, a giant robot called a ‘Cybuddy’ (kind of like My Buddy?) is found buried deep underground. A mysterious group kidnaps a girl determined to be the key to activating the robot when a young boy named Takuto arrives with his own Cybuddy to rescue her and prevent war from breaking out.

Why You Should Care

Studio Bones can do giant mech series and to prove it you only need to look at Eureka Seven, Heroman and RahXephon.

The writer for this series is Yoji Enokido who penned FLCL and Redline (one of which I know is bat shit insane and the other I’ve heard as much). Backing that up is music composed by Satoru Kousaki (second series this season for him).

Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge
Studio: Shaft
Premiere Date: 10/3
Genre: Comedy
Sequel

Story

The very weird stories continue about Riku who now lives under the bridge with his fiance Nino and the very weird people they call neighbors.

Why You Should Care

Cast and crew are remaining entirely the same from the first season.

Yumeiro Patissiere Professional
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Premiere Date: 10/3
Genre: Shoujo Cooking
Sequel
Available via Crunchyroll

Story

This sequel picks up 2 years after the first season left off. Ichigo is now in high school and making new friends while still pursuing her dream of being an amazing pastry chef.

Why You Should Care

The writing staff has decreased by one but other than that, everything remains the same for the second season.

Yosuga no Sora
Studio: feel
Premiere Date: 10/4
Genre: Romance
Adapted From: Eroge
Trailer

Story

After losing their parents to an accident, two siblings go to live with their grandfather. As the two start to remember things from their childhoods and the summers they spent there, the pair’s ulterior motives for moving start to surface.

Why You Should Care

“Quick, we’re producing a sibling romance… get the Aki Sora guy!” – yeah, same director: Takeo Takahashi.

This one will be premiering on Satellite station AT-X, a mostly safe haven for perverted. This doesn’t necessarily guarantee an ecchi series… but it is an eroge adaptation so yeah, draw your conclusion here.

Shinryaku! Ika Musume
Squid Girl
Studio: Diomedea
Premiere Date: 10/4
Genre: Comedy
Adapted From: Manga
Available via Crunchyroll
Trailer

Story

A squid girl from the ocean comes onto land to take over the world but wrecks the first headquarters she moves into. Now indebted to the sisters who own the house, she has to start working to pay it off.

Why You Should Care

The second series this season that I’ve largely given up hope of being able to resist once it premieres.

Squid Girl is directed by Tsutomu Mizushima who has done lots of cute comedies such as xxxHolic, Magical Witch Punie Chan, Hare+Guu, and Genshiken.

The cast is led by Ayumi Fujimura (Misaki in Kaichou wa Maid sama, Cecily in The Sacred Blacksmith), Rie Tanaka (Minna-Dietlinde in Strike Witches, Nyx in Queen’s Blade) and Hisako Kanemoto (Kanata in Sora no Woto) as Squid Girl.

Otome Youkai Zakuro
Studio: J.C. Staff
Premiere Date: 10/4
Genre: Alternative History
Adapted From: Manga
Available via Crunchyroll
Trailer

Story

In an alternative version of the Meiji era, humans and yokai live side by side but not entirely harmoniously. To combat this, a group of young, fox eared, female yokai are recruited to work with young human soldiers to create a peaceful coexistence.

Why You Should Care

Directing this series will be Chiaki Kon. You might already be familiar with her style without even realizing it since she directed Junjo Romantica, Nodame Cantabile: Paris and the first season of Higurashi: When They Cry.

Names like Mai Nakahara (Nagisa in Clannad, Rena in Higurashi: When They Cry) as Zakuro, Aki Toyosaki (Yui in K-ON) as Hozuki and Yui Horie (Tsubasa in Bakemonogatari, Yuki in Vampire Knight) as Bonbori will make this a fun cast to listen to.

Watching the trailer makes me feel like this series is going to be a cross between Strike Witches and Moeyo Ken.

Motto To Love Ru
More To Love Ru
Studio: Xebec
Premiere Date: 10/5
Genre: Fantasy Harem Comedy
Sequel
Trailer

Story

More adventures with Rito and his fiancé from the planet Deviluke, Princess Lala.

Why You Should Care

The popular harem comedy returns with a new director (Atsushi Ootsuki – Kanokon, Ladies vs. Butlers), an entirely new set of writers and a new voice for Peke (Aki Toyosaki – Yui in K-ON). Everything else is staying the same.

Opening theme is sung by veteran singer KOTOKO!

Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru
Studio: Shaft
Premiere Date: 10/7
Genre: Maid Comedy/Slice of Life
Adapted From: Manga
Trailer

Story

A series about the happenings within the Seaside Maid Cafe which features one worker who wants to be a detective, one who is a super perfectionist and one who is an old woman that just enjoys maid cosplay.

Why You Should Care

The opening theme is being performed by Maaya Sakamoto which means watching just the opening animation is worth your time.

There’s an entirely good chance that you’ve already enjoyed one series from director Akiyuki Shinbo already: Arakawa Under the Bridge, Bakemonogatari, Hidamari Sketch, Negima or Sayonara Zetsubou sensei just to name a few.

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes
Studio: J.C. Staff
Premiere Date: 10/7
Genre: Fantasy
Adapted From: Card Game
Trailer

Story

In a fantasy city where world class private detectives battle evil phantom thieves, four young girls work hard to catch thieves. Collectively they work for the agency Milky Holmes and seek to solve their own cases and mysteries.

Why You Should Care

Cute girls with special powers solving cute mysteries.

Want to know just how cute this series might actually get? It’s being directed by Makoto Moriwaki who also directed LilPri, Onegai My Melody and a 1999 series of shorts about a hamster titled Oruchuban Ebichu.

Togainu no Chi
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Premiere Date: 10/7
Genre: Action
Adapted From: Manga/Yaoi Eroge
Available via Aniplex USA
Trailer

Story

At the close of a war, the city of Toshima (formally Tokyo) is taken over by Viscio crime syndicate. In another area, a man named Akira has been falsely accused of a crime and the only way for him to regain his freedom is to go to Toshima and destroy the crime syndicate

Why You Should Care

A dark action series produced produced by A-1 Pictures? Already sounds like fun.

Bishounen alert: the series may be adapted from a manga but it was originally a yaoi eroge created by Nitroplus.

Jun Fukuyama (Lelouch in Code Geass) is staying busy this season with the lead role here along with appearances in MM! and Tegami Bachi Reverse.

As always, I’ve double and triple checked this list to make sure that I’ve corrected any errors. I’m not perfect though and so if you notice any, feel free to point them out so that I can make the fix. Be sure to keep checking back over the course of the month as I post up my early impressions from as many new series as I can squeeze into my schedule and next week when I post up Part 2 of the season preview which covers the second week, OVAs and beyond!

Gainax, the anime studio responsible for bringing us such FLCL, Gurren Lagann and Haramaru Kindergarten amongst others, is teaming with car maker Subaru for an anime series that is set to drop this winter. So far the studio is teasing fans with only vague details such as this silhouetted website and a teaser image that went up on the official Twitter account earlier today. A few staff members have been announced so far though which include Shouji Saeki (Mahoramatic, FLCL, He Is My Master) as director and Mai Otsuka (Hanamaru Kindergarten, Shakugan no Shana) providing character designs.

So what could possibly bring these two forces together? Well, looking at the recent history of Gainax I see that the last three TV series they’ve worked on have been Corpse Princess in 2008, Hanamaru Kindergarten earlier this year and Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt which premieres tomorrow. Using my brilliant (not really), deductive logic that is based on no evidence whatsoever I’ve determined that this is going to be a series about magical girls who turn into cars. It’s genius I tells ya! It’ll be the next big thing and soon we’ll be seeing cross promotion everywhere with people driving their very own maho shoujo mobiles!

<Via MyAnimeList>

Can you believe that we’re only a month away from the fall anime season? Man, time flies when you’re desperately trying to forget about how miserable the summer has been.

Seikon no Qwaser: A 91 second fan service fest… trailer I mean has gone live on YouTube for the upcoming Seikon no Qwaser OAD. The new release will feature a special 10.5 episode and ships in October along with the new manga volume. – I didn’t care about the breast feeding anime when it premiered earlier this year and I don’t care about it now.

Hana Saku Iroha: Need to cleanse your palette after that? Yeah I don’t blame you so here’s the new 100 second trailer for the PA Works upcoming 10th anniversary project which started streaming recently on the official website. Ah, so much cuter and less poisoning to the mind.

Star Driver: From Studio Bones comes this new series in October featuring a young boy who washes ashore on an island but houses a secret: a giant robot deep underground. – Eh, it looks pretty but sorry… it just looks like another boy with a giant robot story.

Tamayura: The third ‘healing’ anime from director Junichi Sato (Sailor Moon) has had its new 15 second PV posted to the official website. It really only shows some character art and features the OP in the background but eh, it looks cute enough I suppose. The series will be released straight to DVD starting in November.

Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt: Filed under the Gainax, fall anime and cannot unsee categories comes this new trailer for their upcoming series Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt. I have no idea what this series is about but it looks terrible and if this trailer is an accurate depiction of what the series is like I hope that it dies a very quick death and is forgotten about before the animation can even grow cold. Don’t hit play unless you really, really mean it.

Tegami Bachi Reverse: Ooh finally we get to see the truth behind Gauche Suede in the second season! After being simulcast last year, the sequel to the fantastical mail delivery series has released its first trailer to the TV Tokyo website. The new season premieres October 2nd. – Anyone else think it would’ve been kind of cool for the series to be named something a little more bad ass like Tegami Bachi: Return to Sender? Anyone?

July 1st; usually known as the day that I’m up early and waiting for news to start filtering out of Anime Expo. A quick note that this year I am going to be at the day job for most of the weekend so there won’t be any (or hardly any) live coverage of the event. I will try to get news up as soon as I can but it’ll likely be in the form of nightly wrap up posts.

But alright, let’s get this game of Catch Up done so that I can get back to waiting for Google Reader to light up with updates!

NEW ANIME

Arakawa Under the Bridge Season 2: At the close of the Arakawa season 1, an announcement went up for a second season. – Yay I guess. Really didn’t like this one.

Beelzebub Special Episodes: Two special anime episodes will be made based off the manga Beelzebub. The two episodes will be shown at major cities around Japan in September as part of the Jump Super Anime Tour. – MyAnimeList notes that premieres of this nature are usually followed by online premieres to stay tuned for further updates.

ToHeart2 Bonus OVA: The first release of ToHeart2 is now scheduled to include a special bonus episode which will focus on the character Manaka. The disc will be released on September 23rd and will also have a special edition which includes other goods such as a pillow cover and drama/character song CD. – Are they STILL making ToHeart???

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi ~Onodera Ritsu no Baai~ OAD: The last anime announcement to squeak out this week is for the boys love manga Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi. In the announcement, it was revealed that the fifth volume would be bundled with a 20 minute anime episode when it is released next year. – Two male shoujo editors becoming romantically entangled? Is this as common a theme in BL as it sounds?

Getting away from new anime and into the news that slipped through the cracks this week, we see some new DVD releases and a delay that can’t be blamed on Bandai!

Black Butler DVD Release Date: Like last week, Funimation has sneakily opened another official website with a brand new DVD announcement. According to the new official site, Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) will be released January 11th 2011. – I’m curious to know why Funimation hasn’t been announcing these with a bit more fanfare.

Gainax Working on Dantalian no Shoka: Originally announced at the beginning of June, it’s finally been revealed that Gainax will be the studio working on the anime adaptation of Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian. The light novel series takes place in 1920’s London when a man meets a girl in charge of protecting the forbidden books of demonic wisdom.

Future Diary (Mirai Nikki) Delayed: The DVD release of Mirai Nikki has been delayed from September to December for an unknown reason. – Disappointing after they released a cool trailer only a few days ago.

Lightning Warrior Raidy 2 and Moero Downhill Night 2 Shipping: In a quick dip into the eroge news, the newest localized eroge from JAST USA are now shipping from J-List. Physical copies of Lightning Warrior Raidy 2 and Moero Downhill Night 2 are heading out to everyone who preordered first with download versions being made available to everyone next week. – Really want to play both of these games!

Six Ghost in the Shell Features at Viz Cinema: Stuck in No. California this weekend? Viz Cinema is offering something for you as well by showing six different Ghost in the Shell movies from July 3rd to July 8th. – Wow, can you imagine what kind of shape your brain would be in after watching 6 GitS movies over 5 days??

A few years ago when I was first getting into visual novels, eroge, Japanese games, etc. I became familiar with a little series called Princess Maker created by Gainax (which was later adapted into the anime series, Petite Princess Yucie). Essentially the point of the game is that you are a noble in a fantasy kingdom who has been given a daughter by the gods. After receiving the new daughter, you must raise her from the age of 10 to her 18th birthday. Along the way, you make her work various types of jobs, take her on vacations, and generally be a father to determine what her life will be like an adult. Unfortunately only one version of the game was ever translated into English and made available as freeware by Gainax. By the way, you can ignore that ‘Adult’ tag; there is actually little to no objectionable material in this title unless you count its notorious difficulty and an occasional vacation picture which are about as bad as old Coppertone sunscreen ads.

Since then, a few more versions of the game have been released (and completely ignored by just about everyone outside of Asia) and now Canned Dogs is reporting that there is going to be one more. According to the report, a Korean game company called Mgame will be working on a brand new online version of the game. Unfortunately that’s about ALL they’ve decided and the company isn’t even sure what platforms the game will be made available on. I know that odds of this getting an English translation are pretty slim but still, come on… please?

Hanamaru Kindergarten
Studio: Gainax
Premiere Date: 1/10
Genre: Comedy
Available via Crunchyroll

The Story

It’s the first day of kindergarten for everyone but it’s getting off to a rough start for one in particular. Oversleeping on his first day of being a teacher, Tsuchida runs into a girl named Anzu on the way who thinks that he’s hitting on her. When he gets to school he finds out that parents aren’t wild about having a male teacher, the female teacher next door is cute and Anzu wants to marry him.

Good and the Bad

For the last couple of months, I’ve been operating under the idea that Hanamaru Kindergarten was going to simply be ‘Kodomo no Jikan + kindergarten’. After watching the first episode, I’ve changed that idea to ‘Kodomo no Jikan + Azumanga Daioh + kindergarten’.

The basic premise behind the series is the new male teacher has a crush on a female teacher and has a student who thinks she’s in love with him. If you stop right there, yes this series is another creepy loli series. If you dig just a little bit further, you’ll find that while the premise may tell one story, the tone and presentation tell another all together.

Keeping a light tone throughout the premiere, Hanamaru Kindergarten does a great job of setting up the story while keeping laughs going the entire way. The aim of the premiere isn’t to make the audience laugh with any sort of uncomfortable feeling. Instead the humor is much more aimed towards the awkwardness of the situations. Yes, Anzu and her mother are slightly odd but are introduced into the series with such outgoing (and yes, peculiar) personalities that the humor far outweighs whatever it is you’re imagining. The only way this episode could have made me uncomfortable is if I had forced myself to feel that way.

That’s not to say that the series doesn’t occasionally toe that line however. Ironically though, they’re all things that involve Anzu’s mother, Sakura, rather than Anzu or any of the other children. Within the first episode, a few things are revealed about Sakura’s past which actually a few seconds to wrap my head around. While I won’t spoil what exactly I’m talking about, once you get to the flashback scene around the halfway mark and dinner in Anzu’s house you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to. It will be interesting to see where this character is taken into the future and how far they are willing to go with it.

Music

One of the things that kept the tone of the series laugh and humorous is the background music. While the sound effects give a constant Azumanga Daioh feel, the background music is mostly xylophone based which produces a very childish feeling, especially when the kindergarten building is first presented. Watching the episode, it was easy to let myself keep a light, childish frame of mind with the simple background melodies playing.

Overall

There’s a real light hearted charm to Hanamaru Kindergarten’s first episode. While the humor is mostly rooted in one awkward situation after another, the characters are already starting to show some strong personalities. If you like school comedy, this is a series worth looking at.

Getting it in just before Funimation made their big announcement; Crunchyroll has continued their hot streak today by announcing the kindergarten school comedy, Hanamaru Kindergarten as their next winter simulcast. Premiering Sunday at 10am Pacific, the Gainax animated series takes place in a kindergarten taught by a male teacher, Mr. Tsuchida. The real story behind this series is in the adventures had by three of his students: Anzu (who loves her teacher), the smart Hiiragi and the sweet Koume. Not exactly a title I was really looking forward to this season but still one that I planned to check out just to satisfy my curiosity. What I’m really waiting for is for them to say the magic words: ‘We will be streaming Okami Kakushi‘ but something tells me that’s not going to happen.

Anyone else out there excited for this one?