Interactive Chart via: http://anichart.net/winter
Synopsis credit goes to ANN & MAL.
Buddy Complex
Studio: Sunrise
Director: Yasuhiro Tanabe
Series Composition: BC Project
Genre: Mecha, Drama
Synopsis:
"The story will revolve around the friendship and coming-of-age of two boys. It begins with Aoba Watase, a boy who goes to high school in Tokyo and lives a carefree daily life. On the morning of his school's opening ceremony after summer vacation, he goes to campus as usual, but he has a chance encounter with another boy."
..........................Oh Sunrise...you should fire whoever came up with the title....Seriously?! Buddy Complex? At least Valvrave is kind of original. But thank you for making me laugh, because it's legit hilarious. Anyways, it sounds like a fairly generic mecha show from Sunrise, who in my opinion, hasn't produced anything worthwhile since the one-time wonder Code Geass. I'm way pass caring at this point when Sunrise dishes out their seasonal mecha report. And let's face it, Valvrave only attracted attention because of the staff responsible for Code Geass (...speaking of Valvrave, I need to catch up). All things considered, I don't think I'm going to bother with this one.
Expectation: low
Pupa
Studio: Studio DEEN
Director: Tomomi Mochizuki
Series Composition:
Genre: Horror, Psychological, Fantasy
Synopsis:
"The "life-and-death sibling" story follows Utsutsu and Yume Hasegawa, a boy and his little sister who find themselves all alone. One day, Yume sees a mysterious red butterfly and her body undergoes a strange metamorphosis—into a creature that eats humans. Utsutsu struggles to find a way to restore his sister."
Oh freaks...what da hell was that PV all about. So Pupa will finally be premiering this Winter. There is a lot of hype going into it, not only because of the delayed release, but also the fact we don't get a lot of the genre to begin with. It's a much welcomed addition to the flimsy winter lineup to spice things up. The director is a industry veteran whose name is unfamiliar to my ears, so I have no idea what forces he might exert. For sure, it's going to be a visceral experience, but I hope gore isn't the only thing it has to offer.
Expectation: medium ~ high
D - Frag!
Director: Seiki Sugawara
Series Composition: Makoto Uezu
Genre: Comedy, School, SeinenSynopsis:
"Kazama Kenji likes to believe he is something of a delinquent. Moreover, others seem to like to agree that he is. Of course, Kenji's gang finds their way to a group of four not-so-normal girls—Chitose, Sakura, Minami and Roka—and all at once, whatever reputation he may have is nothing compared to the outrageous behavior of the girls. Shanghaied into joining their club, what will happen to his everday life from that point on?"
I'm wary of romcoms in general and this one here doesn't really have the hook to have me absolutely invested. Though with Brains Base backing up the production and the duo from Kamisama Doll behind the wheel, it has a good chance of being at least watchable. Again, it is definitely not anywhere near the top of my priority list.
Expectation: low ~ medium
Go! Go! 575
[Game] ANN | PV1
Studio: Sega
Director:
Series Composition:
Genre:
Synopsis:
Nothing really to say here with the little information we have. Well, consider it skipped, my interest is not piqued.
Expectation: very low
Hamatora The Animation
[Manga] ANN | PV1
Studio:
Director: Seiji Kishi
Series Composition:
Genre: Game, Shonen, Superpower
Synopsis:
I'm getting a serious Gatchaman vibe from this, maybe with a little bit of Samurai Flamenco mixed in. Tiger and Bunny popularized the metropolitan superhero theme and we've seen it attempted many times in recent years. I can't say I'm a big fan but it can charming when rights decisions are made (Samurai Flamenco anyone?). The director on boat is one who has demonstrated a lot of competence in the past couple of years (Kamisama Doll, Humanity has Declined, Angel Beats!), but to me personally, he's a hit or miss director, so I'm not banking on it. I am a little sceptical of the production value since we don't even know the studio working on this.
Expectation: low ~ medium
Hoozuki no Reitetsu
Studio: Wit Studio
Director: Hiro Kaburaki
Series Composition: Midori Gotou
Genre: Comedy, Supernatural
Synopsis:
"The dark comedy revolves around the fierce god aide to the Great King Yama, Hoozuki. Calm and super-sadistic, he tries to resolve problems that often occur in Hell."
Brought to you by the director of two wildly famous shojo adaptions – Kimi ni Todoke and My Little Monster – and charioted by Wit studio, whose last appearance happens to be the head-turning anime blockbuster Shingeki no Kyojin. So the ingredients are pretty good to say the least. Going by the amount of strange antics showcased by the PV, it doesn't seem to be a show that takes itself seriously, so I'm prepared to sit back and enjoy the silliness as it comes.
Expectation: Medium
Expectation: Medium
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.
[Manga] ANN | PV
Studio: Production IMS
Director: Toru Takahashi
Series Composition: Touko Machida
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural
Synopsis:
"Fushimi Inari is a shy, not-so-bright middle school girl living in Kyoto's Fushimi ward. She has a crush on her classmate Tanbabashi, but cannot express her feelings. One day, as thanks for helping a fox pup, the deity Ukanomitamanokami grants her the ability to change her form"
Fairly uninspiring stuff adapted by a completely newbie studio. What has me interested is the director on board – he directed the first episode of Otona Joshi, which I reviewed here. Of course, one episode is not an good indicator, but hey, I'm trying to find a reason to give this thing a go.
Expectation: low ~ medium
Expectation: low ~ medium
Mahou Sensou
Studio: Madhouse Studios
Director: Yuzo Sato
Series Composition: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Magic
Synopsis:
In this modern magic action story, Takeshi Nanase is an ordinary high school boy who has a somewhat dark past. Due to certain circumstances, he formed a "fake" couple with his childhood friend Kurumi Isoshima, but otherwise, he lives a normal life. However, one day, he comes across a girl named Mui Aiba, in a uniform he has never seen before, collapsed on the school campus. This encounters changes Takeshi's destiny completely. Mui tells Takeshi that she is a magician, and she apologizes, for she turned Takeshi into a magician, too. What Takeshi once knew as one world is actually two—the world where magicians live and the world where humans live."
I'm sure by now we are pretty sick and tired of the ordinary high school boy with a somewhat dark past, though chaperoned by an intriguing (and ambitious) premise, I hope he surprises us with some extraordinary performance – not to mention the intense expression he wears in that poster reminds me a lot of a certain anti-hero from a certain mecha show produced by Sunrise. Other than the Lelouche look alike, the biggest lure here for me is studio Madhouse. Madhouse may not be the most consistent studio in the industry, but you never know what they can accomplish when they are in the groove every now and then. The director and script writer are both long time collaborators with the studio and they each have a considerable number of decent series under their name. Now, Mahou Sensou isn't the exactly the type of show the studio known for, but I think with their glorious track record, they've earned themselves enough reputation to get me checking out any production branded with the Madhouse name.
Expectation: Medium
I'm sure by now we are pretty sick and tired of the ordinary high school boy with a somewhat dark past, though chaperoned by an intriguing (and ambitious) premise, I hope he surprises us with some extraordinary performance – not to mention the intense expression he wears in that poster reminds me a lot of a certain anti-hero from a certain mecha show produced by Sunrise. Other than the Lelouche look alike, the biggest lure here for me is studio Madhouse. Madhouse may not be the most consistent studio in the industry, but you never know what they can accomplish when they are in the groove every now and then. The director and script writer are both long time collaborators with the studio and they each have a considerable number of decent series under their name. Now, Mahou Sensou isn't the exactly the type of show the studio known for, but I think with their glorious track record, they've earned themselves enough reputation to get me checking out any production branded with the Madhouse name.
Expectation: Medium
Mikakunin de Shinkoukei
Studio: Dogakobo
Director: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
Series Composition: Fumihiko Shimo
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Synopsis:
"Yonomi Kobeni, an ordinary girl, finds out on her 16th birthday that she is betrothed to Mitsumine Hakuya, a boy the same age as her. Hakuya moves in from the countryside and starts living with her, bringing his younger sister who is still a primary school student with him. Also added is his older sister who is already living with Kobeni and is two years older.
The story revolves around these four people and their identities as "couples" and "sisters-in-law"."
The story revolves around these four people and their identities as "couples" and "sisters-in-law"."
I may be jaundiced, but I don't sense any greatness in the making with a premise like that – it's pretty much what it would sound like if you throw love triangle, incest, harem into a pile and drown it in tropes. I may be completely blinded by my biases, but the track record of the studio on the job isn't very flattering. Well, alright, they are mostly an in-between studio assisting with productions from other companies, but the few shows they did produce are all in the vein of fanservice and harem – the two things I tend to avoid when choosing my entertainment. The director hasn't done a whole lot but the script writer penned many well respected Key's creations – Clannad, Kanon and Air. While it doesn't do much for me – I have never been a Key's fan – I suppose the presence of an acclaimed script writer does lend it some credibility.
Expectation: very low
Nisekoi
[Manga] ANN
Studio: SHAFT
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Series Composition: Naoshi Komi
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Synopsis:
"As a child, Raku Ichijo made a secret promise with his childhood sweetheart, keeping a pendant as a memento while his love took the key. He dreams of one day meeting his past love, but years later, reality smashes his hopes when Chitoge Kirisaki accidentally knees him in the face...
Though Raku's a normal high schooler, his family heads the notorious yakuza gang the Shuei-Gumi faction! And he's dragged into family affairs when he's forced into a relationship with Chitoge, the daughter of a rival gang's boss!"
Though Raku's a normal high schooler, his family heads the notorious yakuza gang the Shuei-Gumi faction! And he's dragged into family affairs when he's forced into a relationship with Chitoge, the daughter of a rival gang's boss!"
Another harem romcom, but this time brought to you by the director of the much raved-about Madoka franchise, and pretty much all other popular Shaft titles. Shaft is a studio you either love or hate – and I'm squarely in the second camp, though I can't deny they are innovative and extremely daring with their visual gimmicks. There are very few studios stand out the way Shaft does and the aforementioned Madoka, being the flagship show, propelled them to a level of commercial success envied by the rest of the industry. Sadly, I just can't find myself enjoying most of their works for one reason or another – I do think there is such thing as relying too much on style. But of course, any form of creativity is better than none and I hope Shaft once again wow the fans with their latest addition.
Interest lvl: very low
Nobunaga the Fool
[Original] ANN | PV
Studio: Satelight
Director: Eiichi Sato
Series Composition: Shoji Kawamori
Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi
Synopsis:
"The planets of the East and the West were once connected by the Ama-no-Hashidate. The culture that built it was destroyed countless years ago, and the two planets have had separate histories ever since. On the Western planet, ancient culture is experiencing a renaissance after a long period of war. Jeanne Kaguya D'Arc, a girl from the Western Planet, was prophesied to be the Savior of the World at her birth. With Leonard Da Vinci, she lands on the Eastern Planet, where Nobunaga "the Fool" longs for the power to change the world, as his planet is still locked in a war where many heroes vie for supremacy. When these two people meet, the culture of both worlds will be transformed."
Woah, we may have something real epic to look forward to this season. It is definitely the most ambitious premise yet and I pray to the god of anime it doesn't dissolve into a puddle of nonsense. I like what I'm seeing so far – an original work scripted by the immensely talented Shoji Kawamori and with an veteran director holding it in check. Satelight is a studio that has more misses than hits, and I'll be very honest, I find it to be an easily missed presence that doesn't stand out in any particular way. I think their two most popular shows are Shugo Chara and Fairy Tail. Anyways, maybe Nobunaga will make a difference and finally give Stelight the leverage to shine.
Interest lvl: medium ~ high
"The planets of the East and the West were once connected by the Ama-no-Hashidate. The culture that built it was destroyed countless years ago, and the two planets have had separate histories ever since. On the Western planet, ancient culture is experiencing a renaissance after a long period of war. Jeanne Kaguya D'Arc, a girl from the Western Planet, was prophesied to be the Savior of the World at her birth. With Leonard Da Vinci, she lands on the Eastern Planet, where Nobunaga "the Fool" longs for the power to change the world, as his planet is still locked in a war where many heroes vie for supremacy. When these two people meet, the culture of both worlds will be transformed."
Woah, we may have something real epic to look forward to this season. It is definitely the most ambitious premise yet and I pray to the god of anime it doesn't dissolve into a puddle of nonsense. I like what I'm seeing so far – an original work scripted by the immensely talented Shoji Kawamori and with an veteran director holding it in check. Satelight is a studio that has more misses than hits, and I'll be very honest, I find it to be an easily missed presence that doesn't stand out in any particular way. I think their two most popular shows are Shugo Chara and Fairy Tail. Anyways, maybe Nobunaga will make a difference and finally give Stelight the leverage to shine.
Interest lvl: medium ~ high
Nobunagun
[Manga]
Studio: Bridge
Director: Nobuhiro Kondo
Series Composition: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Genre: Action, Shonen, Supernatural
Synopsis:
"Shio Ogura is a Japanese high school student, who is visiting Taiwan on a school trip when she is suddenly attacked by monsters. Agents known as "E-Gene Holders" from the government agency DOGOO also arrive, who wield weapons infused with the spirits of historical figures. Shio is revealed to also be an E-Gene Holder when the soul of Oda Nobunaga awakens after she tries to rescue a friend."
Ha, we have yet another Nobunaga-inspired show, two in the same lineup too. And the similarity doesn't stop there – even the promotion posters look ridiculously alike, right down to the color scheme and arrangement. From the production studio to the director, everything about this show is kind of obscure, which means I have no idea what to expect on the production side of things. Luckily, the script writer on the job boasts a resume not too shabby – especially going by his large presence on Zetsuen no Tempest. All in all, I'm on the fence, please surprise me.
Expectation: Medium
Expectation: Medium
Noragami
Studio: BONES
Director: Kotaro Tamura
Series Composition: Deko Akao
Genre: Action, Adventure, Shonen
Synopsis:
"Yato is a minor deity who lacks even a single shrine. In order to build his own shrine, he scrawls his cell number on the wall of a downtown bathroom telling people he will help them in exchange for a 5-yen offering, becoming a self-styled "delivery god." Hiyori, the daughter of a respectable family, is almost in a traffic accident, but is rescued by Yato. This causes her to become a "hanyou," a person who can easily lose her soul. She chases Yato down, and they begin to work together. Yato also finds a boy named Yukine who becomes a "sacred treasure" that can be used by a god. The three of them battle "you" who bring harm to humans as Yato's hidden history is gradually revealed."
I really only need one incentive to watch this show – Bones. It's no secret I love that studio to pieces. To test the water, I've read about 5 chapters of the manga and found myself enjoying every bit of it. The story and the characters it contains are all quite charming. Bones, you have succeeded in teasing me – the two PVs are simply exquisite – and I can't wait for it air. Granted, only 7 volumes are out, so we should expect a relatively short show (I think it's already confirmed to be one-cour?). If it fares well commercially, we might get a second season when the manga progresses far enough – at least, it's what I'm hoping for. As much as I appreciate Bone's ambitious mind, a one-cour show doesn't give them enough leeway to exercise their usual vigour. So let's stick to the manga and try not to go for the deus ex machina route, yeah? The director has a full-on Bones resume and I'm interested to see how he handles his very first directorial role. What's catching my attention here is the script writer, the very person who did the series composition for two of the most perverse shows in recent memory – Arakawa under the bridge and Mysterious Girlfriend X. I've tried both and I've unfortunately dropped both as the over-the-top bizarreness didn't really strike a cord with me – though by no means these are bad shows, any form of originality deserves to be celebrated in my opinion. Anyways, I just find her to be an odd choice for a shonen adaption, but I guess we'll see how it goes.
Expectation: very high
Nourin
Studio: SILVER LINK
Director: Shin Oonuma
Series Composition: Michiko Yokote
Genre: Comedy, School, Romance
Synopsis:
"When the national idol Kusakabe Yuka suddenly retired from the entertainment business, it shocked the world and it devastated teenager Hata Kosaku. Kosaku was Yuka's biggest fan and her departure left him depressed. His classmates at the Tamo Agriculture School finally are able to get him to leave his room and attend his class, but to everyone's amazement, Kusakabe Yuka (her stage name) comes into the class under the name Kinoshita Ringo as a transfer student. Kosaku realizes he has the once in a lifetime opportunity to get to personally know his dream girl and, together with his group of friends, try to find out why she is here and become closer than just classmates."
Sounds like blatant wish fulfilment to me. The moe pandering, bouncing boobs and useless cardboard cutout male protagonist – I don't see anything new worth exploring here. It will find its audience like it always does. Skipped.
Expectation: very low
Onee-chan ga Kita
[Manga] ANN
Studio: C2C
Director: Yoshihide Yuuzumi
Series Composition:
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Synopsis:
"The story revolves around Tomoya Mizuhara, a 13-year-old boy who suddenly gains a big sister when his father remarries. 17-year-old Ichika is a little strange, and her affection for Tomoya is rather overwhelming, if not scary. On top of things, Ichika's friend Ruri is the ultimate sadist. Then there is Ichika's big-breasted quarter-Japanese friend Marina."
With all this hype over Bones' comeback, I almost forgot how bleak winter lineup tends to be and this thing here is the perfect reminder. Yup, it is winter season alright, with all its signature mediocrity and above average amount of pandering intact.
Expectation: very low
Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga
[Manga] ANN
Studio:
Director:
Series Composition:
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Synopsis:
"In the romance comedy, a girl named Mitsuki Kanzaki lives with her step-brother Yuya after her mother remarries. One day, Mitsuki is possessed by the self-proclaimed spirit of a young girl, Hiyori Kotobuki. Hiyori (in Mitsuki's body) must fall in love with Yuya to move towards the "Gates of Heaven.""
We have two shows in a row where a parent a remarries and the protagonist finds themselves in a romantic situation with their step-sibling – very original, yeah?
Expectation: very low
Expectation: very low
Sakura Trick
Studio: Studio DEEN
Director: Ken'ichi Ishikura
Series Composition:
Genre: Romance, School, Yuri, Slice of Life
Synopsis:
"The story revolves around Haruka and Yuu, two girls who go to a high school that is slated to be shut down in three years.
To share something special between them, they share a kiss, and their relationship deepens from that moment onward."
Believe it or not, I would give yuri a try if a good one actually comes along. I would like to see a homosexual relationship not just exploited for fanservices, but supported by a structured, sincerely-written plot (No.6 is the only one that comes to mind). My gut feeling tells me Sakura Trick is just another series targeted at the niche fandom, nothing more and nothing less.
Expectation: very low
Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Tensai Okamura
Series Composition: Meteo Hoshizora, Tensai Okamura
Genre: Action, Fantasy,
Synopsis:
"The story follows Zvezda, a secret society bent on glorious world conquest—and led by a little girl."
Okay, this is pretty interesting, here we have an original production from A-1 Pictures. What's more is Tensai Okamura, the much acclaimed director of Blue Exorcist and Darker than Black is steering the ship. He's not only on director duty this time around, but will also handle the script. A-1 Pictures is not the most consistent studio production value wise (I think Magi did a fantastic job raising angry fists), but they do have a knack for picking the right materials to adapt. This being an original work, which is a rarity for A-1, I want to see how they take on the creative challenge. I can't really say much in regards to the premise – it's a little too basic for any meaningful speculation – but the characters look highly stylized and full of quirks. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited to see what it has in store.
Expectation: medium ~ high
Expectation: medium ~ high
SoniAni: Super Sonico The Animation
Director: Kenichi Kawamura
Series Composition: Yousuke Kuroda
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life, fanservice
Synopsis:
"A series featuring Super Sonico, the mascot girl of Nitroplus."
Now this is what I call a booby trap for which I'm clearly not the intended prey. I don't know what White Fox was thinking when they chose this to be their next project – it's a tad disappointing given their rising status in the industry. Both the director and script writer has an blazing track record, so I consider this a huge waste of budget and talent.
Expectation: very low
Expectation: very low
Space☆Dandy
[Original]
Studio: BONES
Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
Series Composition: Dai Sato, Keiko Nobumoto, Kimiko Ueno
Genre: Sci-fi, Comedy, Adventure
Synopsis:
"Space Dandy is a dandy in space! This dreamy adventurer with a to-die-for pompadour travels across the galaxy in search of aliens no one has ever laid eyes on. Each new species he discovers earns him a hefty reward, but this dandy has to be quick on his feet because it's first come, first served! Accompanied by his sidekicks, a rundown robot named QT and Meow the cat-looking space alien, Dandy bravely explores unknown worlds inhabited by a variety of aliens. Join the best dressed alien hunter in all of space and time as he embarks on an adventure that ends at the edge of the universe!"
Finally! Something I'm actually happy to rant about. Bones is kicking off its 15th anniversary party with Space Dandy and I must say, this is a truly great time to be a fan of the studio. If you have been paying any attention at all, you will know Space Dandy is the most anticipated show of the season, bar none – for good reasons too. It's impossible to talk about Space Dandy without paying homage to Cowboy Bebop. Having the old team reassembled is a dream coming true, but what I didn't expect is the sheer number of big names the project has managed to attract. Other than the stalwart Bebop team, it's also got talents such as Goro Taniguchi, Ichiro Okouchi (the Code Geass masterminds), Hiroshi Hamasaki (Steins;Gate), and even Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira). It's not every day we see a creator list so damn glorious and it is only the tip of the iceberg. In short, it's as high profile as it can get. As I rightly expected, Yoko Kanno is involved for music (like hell yah). The animation exuberates old school charm and is packed with fantastically colorful designs. Bones took the marketing to another level and struck a deal with Toonami to have SD airing in the U.S before it does in home-ground – though it is not entirely surprising given SD will likely raise more profit in the west and flop in domestic market by comparison. But commercial exposure is a double edged sword – hype comes with risks, for Bones, for Watanabe and every core-staff involved. If it doesn't deliver, the backlash will not be pretty. Space Dandy, please shine as you promised, there is simply too much at stake here for you to jump ship.
Expectation: very high
Strange+
[Manga] ANN
Studio: Seven
Director: Takashi Nishikawa
Series Composition: Takashi Nishikawa
Genre: Comedy, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Synopsis:
"Kou comes to a slum neighborhood in search of his elder brother Takumi and finds him to have become the head of a private detective firm. Kou is drafted by Takumi to do errands and chores in the detective firm, and they come to meet various interesting people..."
I think it has the potential to be a sleeper series, even without a recognized studio and director backing it up. Past experience tells me studio and director are two of the most important things in determining whether a show will succeed, but I'm always ready for surprises and Stranger+ seems like one of the only show this season, aside from the standard delivery of established studios, to be remotely interesting.
Expectation: low ~ medium
Expectation: low ~ medium
Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta
[Novel] ANN
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Director: Toshimasa Suzuki
Series Composition: Shinichi Inotsume
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Synopsis:
"This is a tale of a prince who lost everything who leaves for a journey with no guarantee of returning to his hometown safely. With hatred and revenge in his mind, he meets several people that teach him about friendship... and love."
Angsty boy with a dark past meets kind-hearted girl and finds himself a changed man. Well, it's not we haven't been there before, but I personally find novel adaptions interesting, so I'll give it a go. TMS is a studio as veteran as it gets, but I get the sense most of its resources and attention goes to the Conan franchise. I'm not expecting a colossal budget and there are no big names attached to the project, so the uncertainties has me on the fence.
Expectation: medium
Tonari no Seki-kun
Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
Director: Yuji Mutoh
Series Composition:
Genre: Comedy, School, Seinen
Synopsis:
"The original manga revolves around a girl named Yokoi who sits next to a boy only known as Seki-kun. During class, Seki-kun continues to not pay attention and instead creates amazing little distractions, such as a detailed golf course with the course's hole being a dent in his desk, or an entire dramatic war being played out by paper shogi pieces. Yokoi often finds herself getting reluctantly interested in his games, even though they always seem to end up getting HER in trouble with the teacher!"
Okay, I'll be honest, I don't know what to make of it. Going by the synopsis and the PV, there doesn't seem to much of a plot – it seems like one of those things that exist for laughs. I suspect it will be a short series relegated to the sideline and reserved for those with too much time on their hands. The animation looks extremely basic and another indication that the show isn't being produced to appeal to a broad audience. If you are desperate for some comedy, this may be something you want to check out.
Expectation: low
Wake Up, Girls!
Studio: Ordet, Tatsunoko Production
Director: Yutaka Yamamoto
Series Composition: Touko Machida
Genre: Music, Slice of Life
Synopsis:
"Green Leaves Entertainment is a tiny production company on the verge of going out of business in Sendai, the biggest city in Japan's northeastern Tohoku region. The agency once managed the careers of magicians, photo idols, fortune-tellers, and other entertainers, but its last remaining client finally quit. In danger of having zero talent (literally), the president Tange hatches an idea of producing an idol group. On the brash president's orders, the dissatisfied manager Matsuda heads out to scout raw talent. Matsuda makes a fateful encounter with a certain girl..."
I've never been interested in these idol anime, which has been an ever-growing presence in the seasonal lineup of the past few years, mirroring the uptrend of the real idol industry. I have little incentive to feel otherwise here. Like most products of this day and age, idols are mass produced to lure young people into investing in the superficial and constructed images that themselves aspire to be but can never achieve. At the end of the day, it's always been more about marketing strategy than cultivating real talents and anime like this only help to perpetuate the trend.
Expectation: very low
Witch Craft Works
Studio: J.C. Staff
Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
Series Composition: Tsutomu Mizushima
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Seinen, Supernatural
Synopsis:
"Takamiya Honoka is a regular student whose only problem seems to be that he sits next to Kagari Ayaka, the school's #1 beauty. They have never spoken to each other before and any small interaction between them immediately results in her fanclub beating him. Yet when a falling part of the school's building is about to send him to the afterlife, it's Kagari that comes to his rescue. Only... she's dressed as a witch, carrying him in her arms and floating on a broom?! Kagari tells him it is her mission to protect him and that now she can finally protect him openly rather than undercover."
A popular beauty with large boobs falls into the lap of an ordinary guy – it doesn't get more wish fulfilling than that. Can it break new grounds in a much exploited area? Sure, but I've been trolled too many times to have any real confidence. Tsutomu Mizushima is a fitting person for the job, though it doesn't mean much to me considering how little of his works I've seen. I did enjoy Another, but being a horror thriller, it's not exactly representative of his track record. Then there is J.C Staff, a studio I generally dislike. So unless this gets rave reviews, I don't see it making my watch list.
Expectation: low
Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil
Studio: ARMS
Director: Yasuomi Umetsu
Series Composition: Yasuomi Umetsu
Genre: Magic
Synopsis:
"The story takes place in Tokyo in 2018, where normal humans and those who can use magic coexist. As a result, there are laws against using magic, and a "magic courtroom" exists to preside over lawsuits regarding magic use. In these cases, "Benmashi" or wizard barristers defend those who use magic. The anime follows Cecil, the youngest Benmashi in history, and her associates as they defend clients in these cases."
Okay, the PV certainly made its point. I'm liking the fantastically animated explosions and gunfights. But of course, being an ARMS production, we aren't spared the fanservice, which is the source of my reservation. Let's not forget Queen's Blade is also well animated by ecchi-show standard. I think the premise has potential to develop into something worth while, that is if they keep a leash on the fanservices and go in with the attitude of producing a serious action anime. Again, it's the notorious ARMS, don't get your hopes up.
Expectation: low ~ medium
Z/X: Ignition
Studio: Nippon Ichi Software
Director: Yuji Yamaguchi
Series Composition:
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Game
Synopsis:
"The story is set in the not-so-distant future. Five "Black Points" suddenly appeared around the world as portals to parallel worlds. Immediately after, strange creatures began their invasion from these portals. These creatures are the inhabitants of five worlds—the same worlds in different timeframes. In order to ensure their own future timeframe survives, each of the five invasion forces battle to wipe the other future timeframes out. The key is one card-shaped device."
Nothing really to talk about here – it's a card game anime, what more is there to say. If you like this type of thing, then be my guest.
Expectation: very low
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Note-worthy sequel:
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren
Gin no Saji 2nd Season
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