Posts Tagged ‘sunrise’

Available via Hulu

Tiger and Bunny Eps 1-13 Released By: Viz Media Released: 4/1/11 Reviewed: 7/14/11 Rated: 13+

In Sternbild City, people with extraordinary powers are referred to as NEXT and a select group of these people are protectors of the people keeping criminals in check. Heroes, however, are not made of money and so they have corporate sponsors and compete on a reality TV show for points and the prestigious MVP award given out at the end of every season.

In the latest season, a veteran hero named Wild Tiger has lost his sponsorship and is left with a choice. He can either walk away entirely or he can team up with a brand new hero named Barnaby who shares his exact same power and none of his same ideals. As the two pair up as the very first super hero team, the two must learn how to coexist and work together for the good of the city.

 

Good and the Bad

I initially went into this series pretty certain that I was going to hate it. The concept sounded silly and I really didn’t see how anyone was going to manage to pull it off and make it live up to this ‘best of the season’ wrap that it was getting early on. Well, I’m here to just put it to rest now: this isn’t the best of the season but it’s a damn good impression of one.

Imagine that all of your favorite super heroes have been turned into Japanese counter parts and you have a good example of this series. This is a series that deals deeply with super hero tropes and the obvious plot holes that they leave behind and does it well. The series opens with an introduction of all the heroes interrupting a crime already in progress. One by one, the heroes make their entrances in appropriately flashy ways. The crime also goes appropriately over the top with one criminal stealing three vehicles of increasing magnitude (all the way up to an airship!) and even features a near death or two as characters are shot at and dropped from very large heights. What we realize about this right away however is that these heroes aren’t just rushing out to save the day, they’re all competing for points on the city’s reality TV show which features their exploits live to a cheering audience.

However all of these heroes also have real lives that they must handle as well. Some are students trying to get through their studies and make it to their real goals while also being a hero while others are all about saving the day and having to hide it from their families. I loved watching these characters lives come into sharper focus as their hardships came to light one by one.

The real story here is all about Kotetsu/Wild Tiger and his new partner Barnaby Brooks Jr. As the veteran hero, Wild Tiger is past his prime and now without a sponsor. With his contract picked up by another company, he must either partner with a newer, younger version of himself (who shares his exact same power) or retire and walk away entirely. This leaves the two very opposite personalities trying to figure out how to trust each other and work together.

What has always kept the series such a work however is that it never takes itself too seriously. The stories that it tells are dark and sinister (Barnaby fills the Batman role by having parents who were tragically murdered in front of him) but the light hearted banter between the heroes and over the top personalities keep Tiger and Bunny grounded along the way.

Music

I’ve been particularly impressed by the music throughout this series as while the animation rarely goes particularly dark, the music isn’t afraid to deliver on the sullen such as when Barnaby is alone going over the records of his parents death. In other moments however it’s lighthearted and captures the hardships that these heroes face in their real lives.

Overall

Another strong series that caught me completely unaware, I’m unsure about where the series is going to go for the rest of the season. I like this feeling and am giving this one a pass with flying colors. From action to comedy, the buddy cop interaction between Barnaby and Kotetsu makes this series a strong winner of the spring season. Looking forward to seeing more!

Tiger and Bunny
Studio: Sunrise
Premiere Date: 4/2
Reviewed: 4/3
Genre: Super Heroes
Available via Viz Anime

 

First Impression: Maybe not the next big thing but certainly a good first step!

 

In the city of Sternbild, the people have the police for small crimes but when things become epic they count on a band of real super heroes. All sponsored by a different corporation (all of which are real in Japan, one of many fun smaller details), the heroes compete against each other for the citizens entertainment on a popular reality program called Hero TV. Their mission is to be the best and most popular in order to keep bringing in those sweet sponsorship dollars with life or death stakes on the line.

One veteran hero, Wild Tiger, is the only one to still work for a small company. With the changing of the seasons however, that changes as the man with a daughter to raise is sold to a larger corporation. Now Kotetsu Kaburagi, not Wild Tiger, has to decide to go along with the offer to team up with a younger hero who shares his same power or walk away entirely.

Good and the Bad

On its very first day, critics were hailing this series as the next big thing. I remained unconvinced of this as I started the episode. In the first half, Tiger and Bunny establishes exactly what type of action you can expect. Introducing all of the heroes breaking up a crime in progress, the action in the first half reaches epic proportions. Escapes, multiple foiled heroes and hijacked vehicles (which get progressively larger from a taxi all the way up to an airship). Buildings are destroyed, special powers are used and some come very close to checking out of the competition permanently. And I was left rolling my eyes, still completely unconvinced that this could possibly be the next big thing. The eye candy in this series is a welcome treat but the powers and explosions were just not pulling me in as questions started to rise. Why would a criminal even bother working this city? Why aren’t these heroes at each others throats trying to get the arrest points?

But then the second half started. The heroes who were a few moments earlier acting strong and brave are mingling at a cocktail party. The heroes who were a few moments earlier all about the people are standing around timidly doing everything in their power to curry more favor with the presidents of companies.

Once the cameras are off, these heroes are nothing more than marketing gimmicks for their companies. They are there to boost the profits and keep ratings high, they all know it and they all play their roles in order to keep their jobs. And that’s the brilliance of this series. This is an amazing satirical look at the inner workings of every major entertainment field put into the context of super heroes.

What makes this series fun to watch however are the larger wrinkles and smaller details that keep the second half just a much more entertaining watch. When he’s not saving lives, Wild Tiger lives as Kotetsu Kaburagi. While Wild Tiger is dashing and brave, Kotetsu is a man who has a daughter to raise and gets to watch his own trading cards literally given away by children. Now he’s working for a corporation or end his career. To put that into perspective, imagine having a successful indie band suddenly being given to a larger corporation. Now there are many more demands, none of which are flexible. Do you give up what you’ve worked so hard for or do you sell out and play ball with your new president?

Getting into the finer details, what keeps Tiger and Bunny looking fresh are the great characters designs from Kenji Hayama and Masaki Yamada. Really selling the big city aspect to the series, the cast of characters are all so different from the standard mold that you’ve grown used to. There are characters of different races scattered throughout the series and no one is used as a comedic stereotype. Everyone feels like they could be a genuine person, even the heroes who are just trying to keep the cash coming in.

Music

Playing into the entertainment TV vibe, all of the music in this episode is fairly generic. During the first half, the music was a high tension full orchestra piece complete with horns to mark the rising tension moments. Later though, these themes started to shift into much softer pieces as we started to get to know Kotetsu Kaburagi. Now, as much as I’d like to bag on this series for using such generic music I can’t think of a better time than now to use exactly that. When you’re specifically aiming for the cheesy reality entertainment genre, that’s the music you go with.

Overall

I was impressed with this. It took me awhile to get to that point but impressed is the right word to describe how I feel. There were a lot of questions that I want to have answered regarded these heroes but the human element is what pulled me in. Is there an easy answer for the hero who barely gets to see his daughter as it is? I can’t call this the next big thing yet but this is going to be a stand out this season.

This one will just a quickie but Sunrise has announced a new anime at Comiket via a banner hanging at a train station. Keep it classy. (I kid, I kid)

The new series will be a school battle series called Sacred Seven and is, as far as I can tell, an original work. I know you can’t really see the character designs too well but the tag line reads: People’s memories change the world. Yes, I suppose they do. So there you go, another series on top of Sunrise’s current 2011 queue which already includes robot series Tiger and Bunny (which premieres in the spring).

Via MyAnimeList

While most of the news this week was centered on the mountain of controversy regarding the Youth Protection Act in Tokyo, the rest of the anime world kept turning. Between TV series and OADs, this was a very busy week for anime announcements! I’ve been trying to have this up by Friday each week but even with me trying to keep this list updated periodically I still managed to find myself completely falling behind. This week will be better but for now, let’s starts things off in Okinawa.

 

Okinawa Tourism Anime: the southern prefecture is teaming up with anime studio Soratia to create an anime titled Shimanchu MiRiKa to promote their local businesses. The series will center on three girls who are interested in music and dance, local stage productions and karate. Soratia, producing a series on their own for the first time, is aiming to be done with the series by March which could mean a spring or summer release date. – I already want to visit Okinawa but I might watch this one anyway.

Otoboku Gets Second Anime: Announced officially on the GA Bunko blog, an anime adaptation will be made for romantic comedy eroge Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru 2 Futari no Elder. If the name sounds even vaguely familiar you might be remembering the adaptation of the first game released in 2006 (Media Blasters released it in the US as Otoboku – Maidens Are Falling for Me). In the second game, the setting remains in Seio Girl’s School but takes place two years after Mizuho has graduated.  The new hero is Chihaya who faces the same problem of being a male transferring into an all female school and having to hide his identity. – Hm, this actually sounds like something I’d like.

 

Hyougemono Announced for Spring: The first manga adaptation of the week to be announced belongs to historical title Hyougemono by Yamada Yoshihiro. The series takes place during the Sengoku (Warring States) period and follows a man working under Oda Nobunaga. At one point, the man has his soul taken over by greed and a love of tea. –  The manga is an award winner and has been running since 2005. Am I alone in thinking it sounds like it should be running in the Noitamina block?

 

ufotable, Newtype and Type Moon Team Up for Anime: In the next issue of Newtype it will be announced that the magazine will team up with animation studio ufotable and visual novel producer Type Moon for a new anime project to be released next year. No further details are available but the magazine goes on sale in early January so we should be getting some news leaked out around the new year. – Mangajet seems pretty sure that this is actually going to be the Take Moon anime adaptation (titled Carnival Fantasm) previously announced. That sounds plausible at least.

 

Ago Nashi Gen to Ore Monogatari Animation Announcement: Wow is that another long name to type. Regardless, the gag manga AgoNashi will be getting a streaming anime premiere later this month with the first two episodes being uploaded to BeeTV on December 20th. Episodes will premiere once a week after that. The manga series follows a 32 year old shipping manager who possesses absolutely zero skills, talents, ability, money or anything else to be proud of beyond his thick coat of body hair as he tries to make it in the world. – Um, no. Next please?

 

Friends: Mononoke Shima no Naki: Based on the fairy tale Naita Aka-Oni, a new movie is being written by Takashi Yamazaki (director of Baldr Force EXE Resolution and the live action adaptation of Always: Sanchoume no Yuuhi) which will star SMAP member Shingo Katori and Kouichi Yamadera (Briareos – Appleseed, Spike in Cowboy Bebop, Kaji in Evangelion). The movie is set to be released next December. – ANN describes as Naita Aka-Oni as a ‘tear jerker’ which strikes me as the equivalent of describing water as ‘wet’.

Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle: Sunrise will be putting out a new series next year titled Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle which centers on a high school freshmen that is a genius at puzzles. After his student council president helps him find the hidden Philosopher’s Puzzle, freshman Kaito defeats it only to find himself now working with other ‘solvers’ in puzzle matches around the world to defeat the mysterious group, POG. The series will be directed by Junichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Aria the Animation, Princess Tutu) and premiere on NHK next fall. – I kind of wish Junichi Sato would do another big, elaborate magical girl series.

 

Fairy Tail OAD Bundled with Volume 26: An original anime episode will be packaged along with the 26th manga volume of fantasy series Fairy Tail. In the new episode, Lucy will get a mysterious request to find a ‘shining treasure’ hidden within the Fairy Tail girl’s dorms. The episode will be produced by A-1 and Satelight (just like the TV series) and will hit shelves April 15th. – I gave up on this series after 2 episodes and haven’t looked back since.

 

Princess Resurrection OAD: Speaking of series that I gave up on and no longer care about, an OAD will also be packed with the 14th manga volume of Princess Resurrection. The disc will tell three stories from the 9th volume and ship on March 9th.

 

Showa Monogatari: The first series to be ‘aimed at senior citizens’ (and families) will launch next month. Taking place in 1964 (when Japan hosted the Summer Olympics) and following the Yamazaki family in Tokyo, Showa Monogatari (Showa era Story) is a work that has taken 4 and a half years to see the light of day. Plans for the series include a movie which will be released in January, a 13 episode TV series released in April and an animated special which will air at the end of the year.  – Could be interesting.

Anohana: Finally, another new animation project has been announced for Aniplex and A-1 Pictures. The new series has no real information yet but solving a puzzle on the official website reveals that a commercial and new information will debut during the final episode of Shiki on December 31st. – A-1 Pictures? Aniplex? Anime no Chikara?

Fans of Gintama (including one certain boss-like individual currently living it up in Japan) rejoice as the historic parody series is returning to television! Based on the manga of the same name, the Sunrise produced anime first made its debut on television back in 2006 and ran for OVER 200 episodes before coming to an end earlier this year. Luckily after the series went off the air, one of the primary directors Shinji Takamatsu, was quick to console fans with a promise that the series would return and that it wasn’t over yet. And it turns out that he wasn’t lying, who would’ve thought?

In the latest issue of Shonen Jump magazine (to be released this coming Monday), it will be announced that the popular series will be returning. No specific date was given for when Gintoki would be back to take on more jobs but my anime senses are telling me that it will probably be sometime within the next 12 months. Call it a hunch.

If you’re one of the many (like me) who have yet to watch this series, now is probably a good time to get caught up. Crunchyroll has all 201 episodes uploaded for fans to watch while Sentai Filmworks has been releasing it to DVD since April (Collection 3 will be available on December 28th).

So someone sell me on this series. I’ve heard quite a bit about it over the last few months and while no one has had anything particularly bad to say about it, I’m still not entirely convinced that I want to sit through 200 episodes. Is this one really worth picking up?

<Via ANN, Image via Pixiv>

So if you’ve been sticking with the blog for awhile you may remember me putting up weekly catch up posts to cover stories that I couldn’t get to. Then I got bored with that idea and let it kind of fade away. But now I’m finding myself in need of something regular to post again and thus have resurrected my weekly game of catch up. It’s been slightly rebuilt but is all the stronger for it. Getting into the real reason why you’re reading this, six new anime were announced this week including 2 movies and a Type-Moon adaptation that has already has me ready to give up a few hours of my life to see.

Take Moon: Out of all the releases announced this week, this is the one that made me sit up and take notice. In the latest issue of Comic Rex magazine was an announcement an anime adaptation of Take-Moon. Created by Eri Takenashi (creator of Kannagi), the manga series creates humorous side stories featuring characters from various Type-Moon games including Fate/Stay Night, Melty Blood and others. Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!) has already been chosen as director. – Seriously, just reading the initial announcement was enough to make me look forward to seeing this.

 

Prince of Tennis Movie: Jump Square magazine announced via their January issue that a new Prince of Tennis movie is in production. The movie will follow the manga which ran from July 1999 to March 2008 though which parts of it are going to be animated is yet to be seen. – Never got into this one but I’m sure there are tons of fans out there who are excited to hear this.

 

Ao no Exorcist: Speaking of the January issue of Jump Square, it’s also been announced that manga series Ao no Exorcist (Blue Exorcist) will be getting a TV anime adaptation. The story follows a boy raised by a famous exorcist who discovers that he is actually the son of Satan. Refusing to follow that path, he enters an academy to learn how to fight demons until a dark power is unleashed from inside of him. – Interesting story idea, might have to check this one out when its released.

Tiger and Bunny: I wish that I could make this kind of thing up but Sunrise beat me to the joke by making it real. Now set to premiere in April of next year is a new mech series from Sunrise called Tiger & Bunny. No word on the story but the crew already has Keiichi Sato (creator of Karas and The Big O, director – Wolf’s Rain) as director, Nishida Masafumi handling script and composition and Katsura Masakazu (DNA², Video Girl Ai, I”s) doing character designs. Also mentioned in the initial report is a new form of advertising which will allow companies to place their logo on the characters (I presume during broadcasts). If I’m understanding properly that means this could literally turn into a weekly series of 20 minute long commercials. – I think it’s going to be awhile before I feel like I’m ready to stop making fun of this one.

 

Fuse the Movie: Getting back into movie adaptations, the second one to be announced this week is for the mystery novel Fuse: Gansaku Satomi Hakkenden from Kazuki Sakuraba (who also created Gosick which will be getting a TV anime adaptation in January). The novel follows a female hunter who is after human/dog hybrids called Fuse which have been attacking people in Edo until she hears more about their fates from one of Fuse she’s after. – Sakuraba seems to be on fire right now, keep your eye on this name over the next year.

 

Kyo Koi o Hajimemasu OVA: wrapping things up, a new OVA has been announced based on the manga series of the same name. The series follows a high school girl who loves to give people cute hairstyles even though she’s indifferent to fashion herself. On the first day of school, she meets a boy who keeps teasing her so she cuts off his long hair as payback beginning their relationship troubles. This is actually the third animated release based on this series after two OADs produced by JC Staff were bundled with the 9th and 10th manga earlier this year. The new release will hit shelves on February 25th. – This has two OADs? Wow, how did this one manage to sneak past my radar? Will have to correct this oversight in the very near future.

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!

So as part of my ‘taking time off/stepping back a bit’ I vowed to myself that I’d start putting more an emphasis on things that I enjoyed rather than try to cover every single anime news story that happened all by myself. So with that in mind, Bandai announced two licenses from the production studio Sunrise at their Otakon panel today: the 3 episode prequel to My-Otome released in 2008 My-Otome 0-S.ifr (which is a seriously annoying title to type) and the 2009 Sci-Fi action/comedy The Girl Who Leapt Through Space (Sora Kake Girl).

Moving onto more important things, Bandai also announced two cast members for their upcoming dub of K-ON! While there are still three primary roles to be revealed it has been confirmed that the dub will be handled by Bang Zoom and Stephanie Sheh will be playing Yui and Christina Vee will be playing Mio!

So how long do we have to wait to find out who will be playing Ritsu, Tsumugi and Azu-nyan?? Anyone want to take guesses or have wishes? Personally I would love to hear Karen Strassman as either Tsumugi or Azu-nyan and I really have no preference at the moment for Ritsu. I’m just excited that K-ON is coming that much closer to being added to my personal DVD collection.

Call me a bad geek but I’m not haunting the Comic Con news nearly as much as I do other conventions. I do however keep my eyes peeled for any anime announcements that happen to sneak out and this year Bandai is the first out of the gates with two new acquisitions.

The first to be announced this year is the 2008 fantasy series Tales of the Abyss. The hero of this story is a lazy nobleman’s son named Luke who has been sheltered from the outside world for most of his life. While training one night, he is transported to the outside world with a woman who attempted to take the life of his mentor. Now stuck in the outside world, Luke and the woman named Tear are forced to team up and work together to figure out why they were transported and what mysteries are hiding in Luke’s past. I vaguely remember checking out this series when it first premiered but all I really remember is deadly teddy bears and Luke being really irritating so yay I guess?

The second title to be announced is the 50 episode Gundam series from 1999, Turn A Gundam created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise. Release dates weren’t readily available for either series but keep checking back in the coming weeks as Bandai releases more information about both announcements and their first scheduled release dates.

<Via ANN>

Briefly mentioned when the teaser site was originally opened, new details have finally been made public for the upcoming Love Live. A joint project between animation studio Sunrise, music subsidiary label Lantis and magazine Dengeki G’s; essentially the project is going to feature a number of animated school girls competing to be the new school idol and I’m pretty sure singing and dancing will be involved. Fans will decide where the competition goes by voting on their favorites and even have a hand in picking their outfits, accessories, etc through online and mobile voting. The project will officially launch on August 25th with a CD/DVD bundle but advance copies will be sold at Comiket 78 in the middle of the month.

So basically this is Moe Japan Idol with virtual school girls. Not only do otaku get to vote their favorite girl further into the series but they get to vote on how she dresses as well? I’d like to see American Idol try to give that kind of power to their voters! Though are otaku going to start demanding credit when they manage to vote their choice into the winning spot? I’m assuming that there will be a winner and that we’ll all be listening to their generated bubblegum J-Pop soon afterwards.

<Via ANN>