Spring 2017 Season Preview

Wouldn’t you know it, we forgot to post a Season Preview for Winter, so this will be our first of 2017. If it seems early, it’s not; we’ve released previews as early as the beginning of February; this is actually the furthest into the month we’ve waited. And why is that? No real reason beyond we just “hadn’t gotten around to it.” (Also, it’s feeling very Springlike around RABUJOI HQ of late).

Below is the preliminary list of shows we’ll at least be taking a look at this Spring. The only Winter carryover we know of (so far) is Little Witch Academia. Note that there are many sequels to popular shows (ahem Attack on Titan) among the titles, and as always, authors for reviews of these shows are subject to change, depending on which shows appeal to which writer. Click on a title to learn more via MAL.

Shows we’re definitely reviewing are in bold. Six weeks to go. Can’t wait to dig in!

Braverade

Clockwork Planet
Shingeki no Bahamut: Virgin Soul (Rage of Bahamut)
Shingeki no Kyojin 2 (Attack on Titan)

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sesameacrylic

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat)
Sakura Quest
Tsugumomo
Tsuki ga Kirei (The Moon is Beautiful)

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MagicalChurlSukui

Alice to Zouroku (Alice & Zouroku)
Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka Gaiden: Sword Oratoria (DanMachi / Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Side Story)
Kekkai Sensen & Beyond (Bloodline Battlefront)
Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records (Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor)

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Oigakkosan

Little Witch Academia
Uchouten Kazoku 2 (The Eccentric Family)

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Up For Grabs

Re:CREATORS
Eromanga-sensei
Kabukibu!
Renai Boukun (Love Tyrant)
Sakurada Reset
Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho (Starting the Magical Book from Zero)

Fall 2016 Season Preview

The Summer season is halfway over. Time to start looking ahead to Fall!

Below is a list of shows we’ll be taking a look at this October. It’s a smaller list than usual, but no doubt Oigakkosan will check out as much of the entire Fall continuum as he dares and let the rest of us know if anything else is worth watching (if he isn’t running for Congress or something by then).

We’ve kinda fallen in love with screencaps of late, sometimes grabbing over a hundred for one episode. But this Fall we’ll be transitioning to a one or two image-per-review format and letting our words do the talking.

Click on a title to learn more via MAL. Note that several shows only have spotty details. Authors for reviews of these shows are also subject to change, depending on which shows appeal to which writer. Shows we’re definitely reviewing are in bold.

Braverade

Drifters
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 2nd Season
Kuromukuro (14-26)
Shuumatsu no Izetta (Izetta, The Last Witch)

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sesameacrylic

3-gatsu no Lion (March Comes In like a Lion)
Fune wo Amu (The Great Passage)
Gi(a)rlish Number
Hibike! Euphonium 2nd Season
Nanbaka (The Numbers)
Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (Poco’s Udon World)
Watashi ga Motete Dousunda (Kiss Him, Not Me)

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MagicalChurlSukui

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku (Magical Girl Raising Project)
Occultic;Nine
Sousei no Onmyouji (third cour, eps. 26-37)
Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru
Trickster: Edogawa Ranpo “Shounen Tanteidan” yori

Summer 2016 Season Preview

You know the drill: We list ’em now, We watch ’em later, then whittle the season down to something we can handle, dropping the stuff that doesn’t cut it, while Oigakkosan wades through the rest (time permitting). Click on a title to learn more.

Braverade

Berserk
Kuromukuro (14-26)
Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin
Qualidea Code
Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars
Scared Rider Xechs
Tales of Zestiria the X

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sesameacrylic

Amanchu!
Fudanshi Koukou Seikatsu
Handa-kun
Hatsukoi Monster
Mob Psycho 100
ReLIFE
Shokugeki no Souma: Ni no Sara

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MagicalChurlSukui

91 Days
D.Gray-man Hallow
Orange
Re:Zero (14-24)
Rewrite
Servamp
Taboo Tattoo

Spring 2016 Season Preview

We’re now halfway (~six weeks) through the Winter of this new year, so we thought it was about time to take a look at what’s on the horizon once things warm up a bit and the deciduous trees start to bud.

Below is a list of we’ve found that might interest us so far, using MAL as a guide (all shows link there for more details). Note that as always, we have not consumed any of the source material for these shows, be it manga, novels, or games. We’ll be reviewing and rating purely on the merits of the anime adaptations, where applicable.

If we know a show is really bad (or just not our thing) from just the first ep, that show will be dropped. However, we typically give shows 3-4 eps to prove themselves worthy of our limited and very important time. A show below may also change if it turns out to be, for example, more up Zane’s alley than Preston’s. By week 5, we’ll be reviewing no more than twelve (12) shows, which means 9 of the shows below will be cut.

If you believe we’re missing out on an upcoming Spring show, let us know in the comments and we’ll take it under advisement.

* = carryover/second season/sequel.

Braverade

Safe

1. Macross Δ (Delta) – Satelight (Action, Mecha, Military, Music, Romance, Sci-Fi) Anime Original (Preview Special review here.)

Promising

2. Koutetsujou no Kabaneri (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) – Wit Studio (Genres TBA) Anime Original
3. Kuromukuro (Chrome Black) – P.A. Works (Mecha) Anime Original

Maybe

4. Boku no Hero Academia ( My Hero Academia) –  Bones (Sci-Fi) Anime Original
5. Kiznaiver – Trigger (Action, Adventure, Comedy, Shounen, Supernatural) Source: Manga

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Safe

6. Gakusen Toshi Asterisk 2nd Season* (The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water)  – A-1 Pictures (Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Supernatural) Source: Light Novel

Promising

7. Gyakuten Saiban: Sono “Shinjitsu”, Igi Ari! (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)  – A-1 Pictures (Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Police) Source: Visual Novel
8. Sakamoto desu ga? (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto) – Studio Deen (Comedy, School, Seinen) Source: Manga
9. Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is always languid) – Silver Link (Comedy, School, Slice of Life) Source: Web Manga

Maybe

10. Bakuon!! (Roar!!) – TMS Entertainment (Cars, Seinen, Slice of Life, Sports) Source: Manga
11. Hundred – Production IMS (Action, Ecchi, Harem, Mecha, Romance, School, Sci-Fi) Source: Light Novel
12. Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta? (And you thought there is never a girl online?) – Project No.9 (Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School) Source: Light Novel
13. Sansha Sanyou – Doga Kobo (Comedy, School, Slice of Life) Source: 4-koma Manga
14. Shounen Maid (Boy Maid) – 8Bit (Comedy, Shoujo, Slice of Life) Source: Manga

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MagicalChurlSukui

Safe

15. Ushio to Tora 2nd Season* – Mappa (Comedy, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural) Source: Manga

Promising

16. Flying Witch – J.C. Staff (Comedy, Shounen, Slice of Life, Supernatural) Source: Manga
17. Kuma Miko (Girl meets bear) – Kinema Citrus / EMT² (Comedy, Seinen) Source: Manga
18. Mayoiga (It is lost) – Diomedea (Drama) Anime Original

Maybe

19. Bungou Stray Dogs – Bones (Mystery, Seinen, Supernatural) Source: Manga
20. Sousei no Onmyouji (Twin Star Exorcists) – Studio Pierrot (Action, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural) Source: Manga
21. Sword Gai – DLE (Seinen) Source: Manga

Winter 2016 Season Preview Appendix

While we’re not taking in-depth looks at the upcoming Winter anime themselves, we thought it might be instructive to learn who’s involved in them.

Below we’ve listed past works we’ve seen from the directors and writers, as well as the past (and present) characters of note the seiyuu involved have voiced. Note that we’re only listing shows and characters from shows we’ve watched here at RABUJOI.

Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei

Directors of: Junketsu no Maria, Bakuman, Joukamachi no Dandelion
Writer of: Jinsei, Maoyuu Maou Yuusha, Spice and Wolf, Ore Twintails ni Narimasu, Yosuga no Sora
Key Seiyuu: Ishigami Shizuka (Stella Vermillion, Kajou Ayame, Mito Ikumi)
Ozawa Ari (Kurumi, Toudou Kirin, Sakura Chiyo)

Ajin

Assistant Director of: Sidonia no Kishi
Director of: Sidonia no Kishi 2

Boku dake ga Inai Machi

Director of: Sword Art Online I/II

Dagashi Kashi

Director of: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai I/II
Writers/Series Compositors of: Black Bullet, Bleach, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, Gintama, Hanasaku Iroha, Kobato, Naruto, Natsuiro Kiseki, OreShura, Red Data Girl, Rokka no Yuusha, Shinryaku! Ika Musume, Sore ga Seiyuu!, Witch Craft Works, Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo

Dimension W

Director of: OreShura, Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin, Saekano, Usagi Drop
Writers/Series Compositors of: Darker than Black 1/2, Eureka Seven, Eden of the East, One Week Friends, Oregairu 1/2, Rinne no Lagrange 1/2, Uchoten Kazoku
Key Seiyuu: Ueda Reina (Sekiya Naru, Ootori Ouka), Ono Daisuke (Handa Seishuu, Heiwajima Shizuo)

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar  

Director of: Nerawareta Gakuen
Key Seiyuu: Hosoya Yoshimasa (Wataya Arara, Kirishima Haruto) Komatsu Mikako (Shiodome Miuna)

Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru

Script/Series Composition of: Bakuman 1/2/3, Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince, Girls und Panzer, Hanayamata, Kimi no Iru Machi, Kobato, Tamayura Hitotose 1/2, Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta, Witch Craft Works
Key Seiyuu: Sara Emi Bridcutt (Bell Hydra, Yuubari), Saito Soma (Adlet Meyer, Twelve)

Macross Δ

Director/Creator of: Ao no 6-gou, Aquarion Evol, Escaflowne, Various Macross Works
Script/Series Composition of: Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou, Steins;Gate (eps 7, 8, 17, 19, 20)

Musaigen no Phantom World

Director of: Chu2Koi 1/2, Hibike! Euphonium, Suzumiya Haruhi Yuuutsu/Yuutsu (2009)/Shoushitsu
Script/Series Composition of: Amagi Brilliant Park, Golden Time, Kokoro Connect, Suzumiya Haruhi Yuuutsu/Yuutsu (2009)/Shoushitsu
Key Seiyuu: Uesaka Sumire (Dekomori Sanae, Fubuki), Uchida Maaya (Takanashi Rikka, Ichinose Hajime), Hayami Saori (Hiiragi Shinoa, Ononoki Yotsugi) Shimono Hiro (Kuronuma Aoba, Katsuraki Keima)

Norn9: Norn+Nonet  

Script/Series Composition of: Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, Gundam SEED Destiny, Nijuu Mensou no Musume, Nurarihyon no Mago
Key Seiyuu: Ono Daisuke, Shimono Hiro, Kaji Yuuki, Seto Asami (Ayase Chihaya, Laffinty Fin E Ld Si), Takagaki Ayahi (Erika Karisawa, Mizukoshi Saki)

Prince of Stride: Alternative

Director of: Hanayamata, No Game No Life
Series Composition of: Haikyuu!!, Usagi Drop
Key Seiyuu: Kimura Ryouhei (Braz D. Blood, L-elf Karlstein), Hanazawa Kana, Okamoto Nobuhiko (Okumura Rin, Saotome Yoichi)

Schwarzesmarken

Series Composition/Script of: Cross Ange, Toradora! (eps 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 20)
Key Seiyuu: Yamamoto Nozomi (Misono Senri, Kusunoki Yukimura), Nanjo Yoshino (Hashiri Nio, Aoi Risa), Tanaka Minami (Hana N. Fountainstand)

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu

Director of: NieA Under 7, Steins;Gate, Sukitte Iinayo
Series Composition/Script of: Bakuman, Denpa Onna, Natsuiro Kiseki
Key Seiyuu: Akesaka Satomi (Esdeath, Kurokawa Mari), Toyonaga Toshiyuki (Ryuugamine Mikado, Nagachika Hideyoshi), Hanazawa Kana, Sato Satomi (Chitanda Eru, Tamura Manami)

Winter 2016 Season Preview

We’re now about halfway through the Fall (the colorful foliage has largely fallen) so we thought we’d take a look at what’s on the horizon once the nights start to frost.

While one could chalk it up to overzealously generous rating on our part, Last Winter featured the only three shows of 2014 (so far) with averages of 9 or higher (Yuri Kuma Arashi, Saekano, and Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso). Four shows, if you count our Winter retro reviews of Steins;Gate.

Subsequent seasons have come close but failed to field a “Niner”: Fate-UBW, Ore Monogatarii!!, and Sidonia in the Spring; Gakkou Gurashi! and Charlotte in the Summer, and Gundam IBO, Noragami and One Punch Man this fall.

Assuming the Fall shows also come up short, will the coming Winter season be the one to break that streak? Not that it matters, all those shows were excellent and we’d watch them again given the time.

Here’s what we’ve scrounged up so far, using MAL as a guide. Note that as always, we have not consumed any of the source material for these shows, be it manga, novels, or games, so we’ll be going in as pure as an arctic fox’s coat (sequels to anime we’ve watched excepted).

If you believe we’re missing out on an upcoming Winter show, let us know in the comments and we’ll take it under advisement.

* = carryover/second season/sequel.

Braverade

1. Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei (Active Raid: Special Public Security Fifth Division Third Mobile Assault Eighth Unit) – Production IMS, Orange (Mecha, Police, Sci-Fi) Anime Original

2. Durarara!!x2 Ketsu* – Aniplex of America, Studio Shuka (Action, Mystery, Supernatural)

3. GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri – Enryuu-hen* (Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There! Fire Dragon Arc) – A-1 (Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Military)

4. Gundam IBO*

5. Macross Δ (Delta) – Bandai Visual, Satelight, flying DOG (Action, Mecha, Military, Music, Romance, Sci-Fi) Anime Original

6. Schwarzesmarken (Black Brands) – SANZIGEN, ixtl, LIDENFILMS (Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi)

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7. Dagashi Kashi (But…but…) – Feel, Pony Canyon, TBS, BS-TBS (Comedy, Shounen)

8. Dimension W – Square Enix, FUNimation Entertainment, Lantis, Orange, Studio 3Hz (Sci-Fi, Seinen)

9. Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru – Lantis, P.A. Works, Glovision (Mystery, Romance, School, Slice of Life)

10. Prince of Stride: Alternative – Madhouse (Sports)

11. Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu Girls beyond the youth KOYA – Project No.9 (School)

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MagicalChurlSukui

12. Ajin – Polygon Pictures – (Adventure, Horror, Mystery, Seinen, Supernatural)

13. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime* (Second Season) – Bones (Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo)

14. Boku dake ga Inai Machi – A-1 (Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural)

15. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar   (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash) – A-1 (Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy)

16. Musaigen no Phantom World (Myriad Colors Phantom World) – Kyoto Animation (Action, Fantasy, Supernatural)

17. Norn9: Norn+Nonet   – Kinema Citrus, Orange (Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo)

Fall 2015 Season Preview

We’re now about halfway through the Summer (sniffle), so we thought we’d take a look at what’s on the horizon once the leaves start to change color.

Last Fall was way too huge and sprawling and stressful for all involved (410 total reviews!), so we’re going to try to be a little—hell, a lot—more judicious with our final picks this year.

Here’s what we’ve scrounged up so far. If you believe we’re missing out on a show, let us know in the comments and we’ll take it under advisement.

* = carryover/second season/sequel.

Braverade

1. GATE* (Summer Carryover)

2. Heavy Object – J.C. Staff (Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi)

3. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans – Sunrise (Action, Drama, Mecha)

4. Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider – A-1 (Mystery)

5. Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen – White Fox (Action, Drama, Fantasy)

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6. Gakusen Toshi Asterisk (The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water) – Aniplex, A-1 Pictures, flying DOG, Aniplex of America (Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Harem, Supernatural)

7. Owarimonogatari* (Endstory) – SHAFT (Comedy, Mystery, Supernatural)

8. Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry (A Chivalry of the Failed Knight) – Silver Link, Nexus (Action, Fantasy, Romance, School)

9. Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai (AntiMagic Academy 35th Test Platoon) – Silver Link (Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, Harem, Supernatural, Military)

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MagicalChurlSukui

10. Ushio to Tora* (Summer Carryover)

11. Comet Lucifer – 8bit (Adventure, Fantasy)

12. Garo: Guren no Tsuki* – MAPPA, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (Action, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural)

13. Noragami Aragoto* – Bones (Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural)

14. Owari no Seraph 2nd Season* (Seraph of the End) – Wit Studio (Drama, Shounen, Vampire, Supernatural)

15. Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru  (A Corpse is Buried Under Sakurako’s Feet.) – TROYCA (Mystery)

Summer 2015 Season Preview

“summer sun” by Schneeengel on DeviantArt

July is still over seven weeks away, but that’s no reason not to plan ahead! With Oigakkosan sadly out of commission for the foreseeable future, the remaining three of us are pressing forward.

Our Spring is pretty much set, and we don’t forsee any more drops, with more drops possible. We’ve kept the field for Summer under twenty, including Shokugeki no Souma, which will be continuing for sure (not sure about Hibike!, but it might have a second cour as well). Like Spring, several of our selections are sequels of shows we’ve watched, while we’ll be skipping other sequels to shows we missed in the past.

Obviously, the list below is subject to change. As usual, we most of our info from MAL and try to go into shows without knowing too much. We’re also aiming to drop 5-6 of the shows below, ending up with our typical baker’s dozen, if not less.

Braverade

1. Aoharu x Kikanjuu (Aoharu x Machine Gun) – Studio TBA (Action, Comedy, Shonen)

2. Aquarion Logos – Satelight, C2C (Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mecha, Romance, Sci-Fi)

3. Durarara!!x2 Ten– Aniplex of America, Studio Shuka (Action, Mystery, Supernatural)

4. Gangsta.– Manglobe (Action, Drama, Seinen)

5. Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri– A-1, Genco

6. God Eater– ufotable (Action, Demons, Fantasy, Supernatural, Military)

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7. Classroom☆Crisis – Aniplex, Lay-duce (School, Slice of Life)

8. Danchigai (Uneven) – DAX Production, Dream Creation, Creators in Pack (Comedy, School, Slice of Life)

9. Joukamachi no Dandelion  (Dandelion of the Castle Town) – Production IMS (Action, Comedy, Slice of Life, Seinen)

10. Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai  (A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist) – J.C.Staff, Genco (Comedy, Ecchi, School)

11. Shokugeki no Souma (Food Wars) – J.C. Staff (Ecchi, School, Shounen) – Episodes 14-24.

12. Sore ga Seiyuu! (Food Wars) – Gonzo, Evil Line Records (Comedy)

13. Working!!! – Aniplex, A-1 (Comedy, Slice of Life)

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MagicalChurlSukui

14. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (Snow White with the Red Hair) – Bones (Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Shoujo)

15. Charlotte – Aniplex, Key, P.A. Works (Genres TBA)

16. Gatchaman Crowds insight – Tatsunoko (Adventure, Sci-Fi)

17. Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan (The Instructor of Aerial Combat Wizard Candidates) – Diomedea (Action, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, School)

18. Rokka no Yuusha (Hero of the Rocker) – Passione (Action, Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy, Magic)

19. Ushio to Tora – MAPPA, Studio VOLN (Comedy, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural)

Spring 2015 Season Preview

Spring is coming. Here’s what will air that interests us. Promo art and info from MAL. Eventually you can check out countdowns to first episodes over at Anichart.net.

Amusingly, the initial batch of Spring show’s we’re either interested in or at least going to give a look is 19, the exact number of shows we’re currently watching (not including Steins;Gate retro reviews). Certainly a less ridiculous field than the 42 of last Fall (of which we reviewed 17 to completion).

We’re not sure yet if we’ll be going back with brackets, or just taking shows as they come, and as always, the choices below are subject to change.

Braverade

1. Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki (Knights of Sidonia: The Battle for Planet Nine) – Starchild / Polygon Pictures (Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Space, Seinen) Second season of the best anime of Winter 2014 (reviews here). Unlike Aldnoah.Zero, I was actually hoping for a second season. It happens to have an awesome sci-fi title, to boot.

2. Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation – A-1 Pictures, Square Enix, Nitroplus (Action, Sci-Fi) Anime adaptation of Square Enix’s arcade action game Gunslinger Stratos. Urobuchi Gen planning.

3. Plastic Memories  (Plamemo) – Aniplex, Doga Kobo, Mages (Sci-Fi) My first thought: “promo art looks like Infinite Stratos.” Which makes sense because as it turns out they have the same original character designer. Amamiya Sora voices the heroine.

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Braverade + sesameacrylic

4. Gintama’ – Sunrise / TV Tokyo / Aniplex (Action, Comedy, Historical, Parody, Samurai, Sci-Fi, Shounen) – We’ll be taking a short glance at this new version of a wildly popular show. If it’s good, and we have time, we might review it…but we’ll be tourists. Our only exposure to the franchise is when the three main characters had a cameo in SKET Dance 26.

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5. Denpa Kyoushi (He Is an Ultimate Teacher) – A-1(?) (Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen, Harem) Genius-turned-NEET-turned-teacher, thanks to his sister. Ono Daisuke will voice the male lead; Asumi Kana will voice his sis.

6. Hibike! Euphonium (Sound! Euphonium) – Kyoto Animation, Lantis, Pony Canyon, Rakuonsha (Music, School) That this is the latest work by the director of Suzumiya Haruhi and Chu2Koi, makes it worth an automatic close look, despite its similarities to A-1’s Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.

7. Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu  (The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan – Satelight / Lantis / Kadokawa Shoten / The Klock Worx (Comedy, Romance, Shounen, Harem) – This spin-off of the beloved and extremely popular Suzumiya Haruhi series has all the voice actors returning, but isn’t being produced by KyoAni. That being said, Nagato Yuki cemented her place as my favorite character in the franchise after the movie, so the fact she’s the main focus here (and Chihara Minori will voice her) makes me hopeful the change of studio is of no concern.

8. Nisekoi: – Shaft (Comedy, Romance, School, Seinen) – Will Raku end up with Kosaki (or any one girl) at long last? Ehh…Doubtful. But I’ll watch anyway, without committing to any particular pairing, because that’s not really the point of this kind of harem show.

9. Shokugeki no Souma (Food Wars) – J.C. Staff (Ecchi, School, Shounen) – Sounds like a higher-stakes Koufuku Graffiti and Chihayafuru. involves cooking so I’ll be taking a look.

10. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku (Oregairu 2 / My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU 2) – Feel / TBS (Comedy, Romance, School) – Like Nisekoi, I’m familiar with this franchise and it wasn’t bad, so I’ll be watching. Its first season got off to a slow and uninspiring start but got much better.

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11. Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story!!) – Madhouse, Nippon Television Network Corporation (Comedy, Romance, Shoujo) A “big awkward guy gets some love” in an industry full of “regular-sized guy gets some love” shows. Worth a look.

12. Punchline – MAPPA (Comedy, Slice of Life) – “follows Yūta Iritatsu, whose spirit has been separated from his body.” Studio and promo art suggest this won’t be a bad-looking show.

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13. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka (DanMachi / Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?) – J.C.Staff / Genco (Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance) This has a long an obnoxious title, but I will be watching this along with Zane (not sure who’s reviewing). The director has comedic chops (Kill Me Baby!) but that was a short. Here’s hoping it’s not terrible?

14. Owari no Seraph – Wit Studio (Drama, Shounen, Vampire, Supernatural) – Pros: Those genres are up my alley…and it co-stars Hayami Saori. Con: There’s already a second season planned, so this will be a long commitment.

15. Re-Kan! – Pierrot Plus (Comedy, School, Seinen) – Kido Ibuki voices the lead.

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Oigakkosan

16. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV) 2nd Season – Ufotable (Action, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen, Supernatural) Like regular blade works, only unlimited. Having lost Saber, Shirou will retire to Okinawa with Rin and they’ll spend their days working on their tans.

17. Triage X – Xebec, DAX Production, Nippon Columbia (Action, Adventure, Ecchi, School, Shounen) – Boob Hospital.

18. Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo – Lidenfilms (Comedy, Mystery, Ecchi, Romance, School, Shounen, Harem, Supernatural)

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Braverade + Oigakkosan

19. Ninja Slayer From Animation – Trigger (Action) – Trigger’s third TV show after Kill la Kill and InoBato. Will have future ninjas in it, and a theme song from Boom Boom Satellites.

Winter 2015 Season Preview

Brrrr….

Yes, we know, we’re early; nearly a year earlier than our last Winter Preview. But the charts are out there, populated with new shows and sequels to old shows and such, so we’re getting a head-start on this. Winter isn’t going to be a huge and unwieldy as this Fall has been…hopefully. (Hopefully it won’t be as cold and nasty round these parts, either!)

Not listed here yet are all of the miscellaneous shows Oigakkosan will be reviewing in a new bracket format, taking your feedback into consideration of what gets reviewed. If there are lots of major changes between now and this time next month, we’ll release an amended preview. Until then, here’s what’s on the menu come January:

Braverade

1. Aldnoah.Zero 2 – A-1 / TROYCA (Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi) Second season of the Summer 2014 series (reviews here). I wish the show had been able to resolve everything in one 12 or 13-ep run, but when does that ever happen?

2. Durarara!!x2 Shou – Aniplex/Square Enix/Brains Base/Mainichi/Movic/ASCII Media Works/Sakura Create (Action, Mystery, Shounen, Supernatural) First of an ambitious three-cour sequel to the 2010 hit. I loved the original, having watched it just before we started RABUJOI.

3. Gundam: G no Reconguista – Sunrise (Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Space) Second cour. Fall carryover (unconfirmed). Yeah, it’s not that good, but short of a Nobunaga the Fool-esque precipitous loss of interest, I’m continuing with this.

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Braverade + Oigakkosan

4. Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo – Sunrise (Action, Sci-Fi) Second cour. Fall carryover. Plenty more wringers to put Ange through!

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sesameacrylic

5. Koufuku Graffiti (Happy Cooking Graffiti) – Shaft (Comedy, Seinen) A cooking-centric series by Shaft? I’m on board.

6. Rolling☆Girls (Happy Cooking Graffiti) – Wit Studio (Slice of Life) I loved the four-episode One Off, and while there’s no guarantee this is anything like that, it does seem to be about girls on bikes.

7. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata – A-1 (Comedy, Drama, Romance, School)

8. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso – A-1 (Drama, Music, Romance, School, Shounen) Second cour. Fall carryover.

9. Tsukimonogatari (Possesstory) – Shaft (Comedy, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural) Latest 4-episode Monogatari special, focusing on Ononoki Yotsugi. While they’ll all fit together as one long movie, I will do seperate reviews like I did with Hanamonogatari.

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MagicalChurlSukui

10. Isuca – Arms/DAX Production/Mages (Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School, Supernatural, Seinen) 11.

11. Kamisama Hajimemashita◎ – Dentsu/TMS (Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo, Supernatural) Sequel to the Fall 2012 series (Reviews here). I’ve seen sequel titles with stars, apostrophes, question marks and exclamation points…but what the heck is that symbol at the end?!

12. Sailor Moon Crystal – Episodes 13-18 of 26. Summer 2014 carryover.

13. Tokyo Ghoul 2 – Sequel to the Summer 2014 series (Reviews here).

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MagicalChurlSukui + Oigakkosan

14. Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu (Parasyte – the maxim) – Madhouse (Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Seinen) – Second cour. Fall carryover.

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Oigakkosan

15. Sanzoku no Musume Ronja (Ronia the Robber’s Daughter) – Studio Ghibli, NHK, NHK Enterprises, Dwango, Polygon Pictures (Adventure, Fantasy) Second cour. Fall carryover.

Fall 2014 Season Preview

It feels like this Summer’s gone too fast, but when is that not the case? Some of you are heading back to school; some have the odd feeling that they should be, because it’s that time of the year and it’s been ingrained in us. Regardless, In a month’s time we have a whole new brace of shows to get into. Here are our initial picks. Note that just because a show’s listed here means we’ll watch more than one episode, and just because a show’s not listed here doesn’t mean we won’t pick it up if it’s good.

Braverade

1. Sword Art Online II – Second cour. Summer carryover.

2. Donten ni Warau (Cloudy Laugh) – Doga Kobo (Action, Historical, Shoujo) Cool promo art. A bit confused by the “shoujo” genre, as the three main characters are brothers. Abit reticent about the “historical” part after Nobunaga the Fool, but I like the sound of “inescapable lake prison.”

3. Gundam: G no Reconguista (Reconguista in G)– Sunrise (Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Space) Produced in part to celebrate Gundam’s 35th Anniversary, it’s got suitably retro promo art, the same director as the very first Gundam, and the Eureka Seven character designer. All good. Not so good? The name of the protagonist: “Bellri Zenam.” Gesundheit.

4. Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis (Rage of Bahamut) – MAPPA (Action, Fantasy) Very little known; based on a card game. Director of Tiger & Bunny; Gantz character designer. Dude with an afro who could be Dandy’s cousin.

5. Terra Formars – Warner Bros./LIDENFILMS (Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Space) Director of Steins;Gate and Texhnolyze. “Formars” may be spelled wrong, but straight-up “sci-fi horror” is something we haven’t seen in anime since…well, can’t even remember (not counting Sidonia).

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sesameacrylic

I have no carryovers, but I plan on limiting my final picks to four, so I have some work to do. New shows will get one episode, two tops, to convince me to watch them.

1. Ai Tenchi Muyo! (No Need for Tenchi Love!) – AIC (Comedy, Sci-Fi, Shounen) 20th Anniversary of a show we’ve never watched, but this is a reboot and thus a good entry point (like Sailor Moon). That said, this looks like an Earth Boy with Alien Harem setup, so I probably won’t go too far with this.

2. Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai (A Good Librarian Like a Good Shepherd) – Hoods Entertainment (Romance, School) Same series composition guy as Last Exile GNF and Akuma no Riddle. Near-upskirt and chibi in the promo art? Not encouraging. Dumb title suggests girls are sheep to be shepherded. They are not. Also a long shot.

3. Denki-gai no Honya-san (Electric Town Bookstore) – Pony Canyon/Shin-Ei Animation (Comedy, Seinen) Little known; promo art and store setting reminds me of both Kill me Baby! and Working!!. Keeps things simple with single-name characters.

4. Girlfriend (Kari) (Girl Friend BETA) – Silver Link (Romance, School) – Looks like a non-harem sequential romance in the vein of Amagami SS. Probably nothing special.

5. Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji (Wolf Girl & Black Prince) – TYO Animations (Comedy, School, Shoujo) – Director of Aoi Hana, Bakuman, and Love Stage!!. Now here’s an anime to show your Feminist Studies professor: vain girl lies about having a boyfriend, then the guy treats her like his dog! Inspiring stuff. I couldn’t stomach Dog & Scissors, where the guy was the dog (albeit a literal one). Watching this to see if it’s as horrific as it sounds.

6. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (April is Your Lie) – A-1 (Drama, Music, Romance, School, Shounen) Accel World’s character designer. Shades of Shinkai’s The Place Promised in Our Early Days or even Whisper of the Heart. Guy is a former piano prodigy with a psychosomatic tone-deafness, who meets a beautiful violinist who I assumed changes his world. Certainly has more promise than some of the crap above!

7. SHIROBAKO (Whitebox) – P.A. Works (-) Director of Another, Blood-C, and Girls und Panzer. Little known, but judging from the studio, should be good-looking show combining drama and slice-of-life. Centers on five girls  “chasing their dreams” in the anime industry.

8. Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete (A la Recherche du Futur Perdu/In Search of Lost Future) – Feel./Starchild Records (Romance, School) Director of Hataraku Maou-sama! and Mirai Nikki; writer of Cowboy Bebop, Kino no Tabi, Natsuiro Kiseki, and Sidonia. This one looks promising due to its staff, despite its “school building closing”/ “last festival” premise.

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MagicalChurlSukui

1. Akame ga Kill! – Second cour. Summer carryover.

2. Sailor Moon Crystal – Next handful of episodes. Summer carryover.

3. Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle – Bones/Flying DOG (Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen) Second Season. Lots of Gaz parts left to collect. Vivi now apparently a Chaika.

4. Garo: Honoo no Kokuin (Mark of the Flame) – MAPPA, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (Action, Demons) Little known, but looks like a rather serious quasi-historical epic, complete with knights, priests, deposed monarchs and their progeny seeking redemption. We’ll take a look but would rather avoid a long (>13 episode) commitment.

5. Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu (Parasitic Beasts) – Madhouse (Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Seinen) FLCL storyboarder (!). Stars two seiyu titans in Hanazawa and Hirano. A dark, creepy Madhouse joint with FLCL roots? We’ll bite.

6. Sanzoku no Musume Ronja (Ronia the Robber’s Daughter) – Studio Ghibli, NHK, NHK Enterprises, Dwango, Polygon Pictures (Adventure, Fantasy) First TV anime from Studio Ghibli, directed by Miyazaki Gorou, based upon a story by Astrid Lindgren. Not missing this one.

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Oigakkosan

1. Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo (Rondo of Angels and Dragons) – Sunrise (Action, Sci-Fi)

2. Madan no Ou to Vanadis (The King of the Magic Bullet and Vanadis) – Satelight/Media Factory (Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, Harem) Director of Mouretsu Pirates and Rinne no Lagrange.

3. Nanatsu no Taizai (The Seven Deadly Sins) – A-1 (Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural) Director of Ao no Exorcist, Darker than Black, and Zvezda.

4. Sora no Method – Bandai Visual/Lantis/Studio 3Hz (-)

5. World Trigger – Toei Animation (Action, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Space, Supernatural) Screenwriter of Gundam Seed/Destiny, So Ra No Wo To, and Vividred Operation

Summer 2014 Season Preview

While we’ll be sampling the usual host of brand-new series, Summer 20134 will be a season of returns. Mahouka will return immediately for its second cour (Chaika is taking the Summer off). After a Spring hiatus, Space Dandy will return for a second season.

A season after perhaps their most sweeping, moving series to date, P.A. Works is returning with their tenth series, Glasslip. After two years off, Sword Art Online returns. And most notably, for the first time in seventeen years, a new Sailor Moon series will be airing on TV.

Needless to say, we’re quite excited about the promise of all these returns. Many of these shows have big shoes to fill, and while we can’t predict they’ll all succeed, we can at least hope for a better Summer season than 2013, which was, barring a few exceptions, pretty meh.

Oh, one more thing: We’re aiming to bring back Car Cameos, so all authors have been instructed to keep their eyes peeled for real-world vehicles that appear in this Summer’s shows.

Note: All picks are subject to change before, during, and after the Season starts.

Braverade’s Picks

1. DRAMAtical Murder (DMMd) – Nitroplus/NAZ (Action, Sci-Fi, Psychological) – Jul – Yeah, that’s kind of a silly (if memorable) title, but with its futuristic setting featuring AI and VR gaming, this looks like a grittier rival to SAO II.

2. Rail Wars! – Passione (Action) – Jul – I don’t know a lot about it or who will be doing the voices, but the idea of “an alternate world where Japan didn’t privatize its railways” sounds like it could be a lark. Also, I love trains, so hopefully they’ll be well-animated.

3. Space Dandy 2nd Season – Bones/Bandai/FUN (Comedy, Sci-Fi, Space) – Jul – Not sure exactly what’s in store for season two, but if it’s anything like the first, there will be flashes of inspired brilliance mixed with more pedestrian efforts.

4. Zankyou no Terror – Aniplex/FUN/MAPPA (Psychological, Thriller) – The promo art kinda reminds me of Tokyo Mag 8.0 and Coppelion, but this latest effort to blow up Tokyo looks like it will focus on those doing the blowing up.

sesameacylic’s Picks

5. Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) – Prod. I.G./TOHO (Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life) – Well, I certainly can’t fault this show for knowing what it is. The two leads will be Kaji Yuki and Uchida Maaya, two solid choices. If it can approach Sukitte Ii na yo levels of quality, I’ll be happy.

6. Glasslip – P.A. Works/Lantis (Slice of Life) – From a threatened world split between land and sea, P.A. Works shifts to…glass-blowing class? But while Nagi was overflowing with drama, this looks to tell a smaller, story focusing on the very specific dream of a certain girl (with a rookie seiyu).

7. Hanayamata – Madhouse/DIVE II (Slice of Life, Seinen) – The House of Mad counters P.A. Works’ extracurricular Slice of Life with one of its own. Instead of the girl pursuing her dream, she has the dream thrust upon her by a “foreign girl”, and instead of glass, it’s yosakoi dance.

8. Jinsei (Life)– Feel. (Slice of Life) – I don’t know who’s voicing anyone, but I do know this is being helmed by the director of SKET Dance, which is enough for me to give it a look. Like SKET, it will follow a club dedicated to “life consultation”, in the fields of science, literature, and sports.

MagicalChurlSukui’s Picks

9. Majimoji Rurumo – J.C. Staff (Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen) – Consider, if you will, a scenario somewhat similar to TWGOK, only the guy is into real girls, not just dating sims, and the demon he’s contracted with is a witch, or rather a fallen witch trying ot get back in the game. We’ll see if it’s smart or just irritating.

10. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei – Madhouse/Aniplex (Magic, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Supernatural) With a huge cast expanding ever outward and a relatively leisurely pace, Mahouka needed a second season to say what it wants to say. I’ve seen enough good things so far to afford it that chance.

11. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Crystal) – Toei/Starchild/Viz (Demons, Magic, Romance, Shoujo) – I have to confess: I’ve never read a single page nor watched a single episode of the Sailor Moon of yore, nor do I plan to. Crystal’s bi-weekly offerings will be my introduction into this iconic mahou shoujo universe, much as it will be for many younger anime fans. I don’t know the director (who helming his first full series), but I do know the all-star quartet of voice talent that will be backing up Sailor Moon (Mitsuishi Kotoro): Kanemoto Hisako (Mercury), Koshimizu Ami (Jupiter), Satou Rina (Mars), and Itou Shizuka (Venus).

12. Sword Art Online II – A-1/Aniplex (Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance, Shounen) – SAO had marvellous world and system-building, exciting battles, a decent, if simple, core romance, and strong female characters. It also had a very dull, overly-evil villain at the end and totally sidelined its female lead and focused too much on unrequited brother-love. But with a new online game to explore and the excellent Sawashiro Miyuki voicing the all-new female lead, I’m still looking forward to the sequel.

Spring 2014 Season Preview

At the end of Winter’s white and grey comes a fresh new batch of anime. HEY, THAT RHYMES! And this April we’re being super-selective: picking just seven new series for now. Nobunaga the Fool is confirmed as going another cour, but we’re still not 100% sure if three other Winter hows—Chuunibyou, Nisekoi, and Space Dandy—will carryover into the Spring. We’re operating under the assumption all three will, leaving us with a tidy eleven shows to keep track of.

We haven’t forgotten about Nagi no Asukara; we’ll be watching as much of the second cour in between seasons as possible, like we did with Sunday Without God. We may similarly place one of the four Winter carryovers on hold, saving it for the break between Spring and Summer. Right now, it’s looking like that’ll be Fool. But enough ado; here’s our upcoming April lineup:

1. Akuma no Riddle

(Riddle Story of Devil)
Studio: Diomedea
(Action, School, Yuri) – April

After the fun and often hilarious Kill Me Baby, we’re not opposed to school series featuring assassins, and this one has at least twelve, including Azuma Tokaku, Suwa Ayaka’s first main voice role. Kusakawa Keizo has directed a lot of stuff we haven’t seen. This is Minakata Sunao’s first anime doing original character design, which is on display in the promo art, which suggests a more serious tone than Baby.

2. Black Bullet

Studio: Kinema Citrus
(Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Seinen) – April

This looks to be a dark post-apocalyptic sci-fi/mystery action series, and helmed by a director of the much lighter Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, and fields a strong voice cast. It all sounds very promising…but, well, so did Coppelion, so we’ll proceed with caution.

3. Gokukoku no Brynhildr

(Brynhildr in the Darkness)
Studio: Arms
(Mystery, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Seinen) April

Boy loses the alien-crazed girl he loved in a tragic accident, but years later a very similar-looking girl with a similar name transfers to his class. It’s an enticing synopsis, and all those genres look good, though “romance” is conspicuous in its absence. Still, the promo art evokes a serious, quiet dignity akin to Red Data Girl, so we’ll bite.

4. Hitsugi no Chaika

Studios: Bones, Flying Dog
(Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen) – April

Both the promo art and synopsis reminded us a bit of Sunday Without God and Kino’s Journey. The idea of young people traveling around looking for their place in an big uncertain world always carries potential.

5. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei

(The Irregular at Magic High School)
Studios: Madhouse, Aniplex
(Magic, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Supernatural) – April

We’ve been burnt by many a magic school series featuring kids with cool uniforms (Freezing, Infinite Stratos, etc.) but we’ve also been rewarded frequently enough (Soul Eater, Blue Exorcist, Occult Academy) to at least give new ones a try when they come around. In addition to being a Madhouse series, Ishida Kana (who did the ladies in Aquarion Evol) is in charge of character design, Hayami Saori voices the lead female role, and Iwasaki Taku, who’s killed it so far with Noragami, handles the music. Here’s hoping it isn’t a boring harem!

6. Mekaku City Actors

Studios: Aniplex, Shaft
(Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Supernatural) – April

This could be the Spring series we’re looking most forward to, if for no other reason than it’s yet another Shaft series directed by the prolific but reliable Shinbo Akiyuki. We reckon four out of five of the shows he’s helmed have been pretty good, and a couple have been fantastic. The promo art suggests he’ll bring his usual visual style, flair, and quirkiness to the proceedings. No, not everything the dude touches turns to pure gold, but the cyber-NEET comedy sounds promising.

7. Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin

(Nanana’s Buried Treasure)
Studio: A-1
(Comedy, Romance, Supernatural) – April

WThis series goes squarely in our “maybe pile”, as we’ll be taking a provisional look to see if it’ll be worth an extended committment. Director Kamei Kanta has done good work in the past (Usagi Drop, OreShura), while Kurata Hideyuki has been behind a couple of franchises we’ve followed with interest (God Only Knows and Oreimo). The potential fun and playfulness of the series is apparent in the promo art and the people involved. Will it be any good? Like the other six Spring shows, we won’t know until we’ve watched!