Sukitte ii na yo

For me, this is the season of shoujo: three promising new shoujo anime are coming. But there is also plenty of shounen adventure, and enough moe to drown a city. Here are a few interesting titles:

• Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! -- KyoAni combines the moe of K-On with the comic madness and magic of Haruhi. The trailer looks great. Ka-ching!
• Code: Breaker -- Hikasa Youko, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Yukana, Nakata Jouji, Saiga Mitsuki, Miki Shinichirou, and Kaida Yuuko (whew!) star in this adaptation of a good shounen manga, directed by the director of FMA Brotherhood and Kurau Phantom Memory.
• Girls und Panzer -- More girls with weapons: this time, it's tanks. Stars Fuchigami Mai (excellent as Maekawa-san in Denpa Onna). Directed by Mizushima Tsutomu, the director of Genshiken, Squid Girl, and Joshiraku.
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) -- Can this new adaptation revivify an old franchise, as the Lupin III franchise was revivified earlier this year?
• Jormungand: Perfect Order -- I loved the first season of this dark adventure, which is somewhat in the style of Black Lagoon.
• K -- Bishounen urban combat with Sugita, Sawashiro, Miyano, Horie, Sakurai, OnoD, and rising young star Komatsu Mikako.
• Kami-sama Hajimemashita -- Daichi Akitaro (Fruits Basket) directs Mimori Suzuko in one of her four shows this season. She rescues a young man from dogs and goes to live in a shrine.
• Litchi De Hikari Club -- I'm not recommending this, I just wonder how they can make the queasy-making ero-guro of the manga into something acceptable on TV.
• Little Busters -- The visual novel from Key (Kanon, Clannad) is so popular that its fans may never accept the anime. But Horie Yui stars. Uguu.
• Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne! -- The director of Hayate and Yutori-chan and the writer of Maid Guy and Ben-tou animate a comic manga about a younger sister who wants into her brother's pants and won't take no for an answer. Could become a classic of its genre.
• Psycho-pass -- A dystopic future adventure written by Urobuchi Gen (Madoka Magica), animated by Production IG, and starring Hanazawa Kana, Seki Tomokazu, Itou Shizuka, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nojima Kenji….
• Robotics;Notes -- A high school boy and girl (Kimura Ryouhei and Nanjou Yoshino) build robots to save the world. Adapted by Hanada Jukki (Steins;Gate) from a visual novel.
• Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo -- Moerrific story of a high-school boy who has to look after a cute genius girl so devoted to art she can hardly dress and feed herself. Adapted by Okada Mari from a novel, and starring Kayano Ai, whose voice is beyond perfect in the trailer.
• Seitokai no Ichizon: New Anime (Provisional Title) -- Season one was one of the funniest anime I have ever seen. But a new studio, director, and writer have taken over for season two, so I await with both eagerness and concern.
• Shinsekai Yori -- Creative future world and good-looking design. From an award-winning science fiction horror novel.
• Suki-tte Ii na yo -- Good shoujo manga could become a good shoujo anime. You can't do any better than starring Sakurai Takahiro and Kayano Ai. Directed by Satou Takuya (Ichigo Mashimaro, Steins;Gate).
• Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun -- Another good shoujo manga, in which our heroine is befriended by a guy who is an innocent monster, always beating people up. Starring Tomatsu Haruka and Suzuki Tatsuhisa. Directed by the director of Kimi ni Todoke. Written by the writer of Durarara.
• Zetsuen no Tempest: The Civilization Blaster -- Ando Masahiro and Okada Mari, the director-writer team who made Hanasaku Iroha, adapt a manga involving magic and world-destroying evil for Bones.

Full previews below for all 36 new series: pics, trailers, cast, staff, stories, and links to more info. Click through from the alphabetical list, or scroll down to go through the shows chronologically in order of first broadcast.

● Aikatsu!     ● Bakuman. 3     ● Btooom!     ● Busou Shinki     ● Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter     ● Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!     ● Code: Breaker     ● Gintama     ● Girls und Panzer     ● Haitai Nanafa     ● Hayate the Combat Butler: Can`t Take My Eyes Off You     ● Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb     ● Hiiro no Kakera 2     ● Ixion Saga: Dimension Transfer     ● JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012)     ● Jormungand: Perfect Order     ● K     ● Kami-sama Hajimemashita     ● Litchi De Hikari Club     ● Little Busters     ● Magi     ● Medaka Box: Abnormal     ● Monsuno     ● Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!     ● Oshiri Kajiri Mushi     ● Psycho-pass     ● Robotics;Notes     ● Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo     ● Seitokai no Ichizon: New Anime (provisional title)     ● Shinsekai Yori     ● Suki-tte Ii na yo     ● Teekyuu     ● To Love-Ru: Trouble - Darkness     ● Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun     ● Wooser no Sono Higurashi     ● Zetsuen no Tempest: The Civilization Blaster     

Notes:
-- dates and times may change, and will be updated in my anime calendar, which should come out in two weeks' time. 
-- information from official sites, MoonPhase, AniDB, Anime News Network, Japanese Wikipedia, et al.
-- English titles link to the Anime News Network encyclopedia; Japanese titles link to official sites. "forum" links to AnimeSuki forum.
-- click images to enlarge. 

Autumn 2012 Shows in Chronological Order:

Hiiro no Kakera 2
  (jp: 緋色の欠片 2)   jpWiki

shoujo supernatural reverse harem adventure
This second season is where things start to really move. Tamaki gains the use of her powers. The sword is unsealed. Takuma is infected with demon essence. The Tamayorihime shrine princess and her bishounen guardians meet more supernatural dangers together, with little help from her grandmother, who knows more than she tells.

Miyake Marie is getting more roles: in Jewelpet and Pretty Rhythm, as well as in Acchi Kocchi. The trailer link is to the OP for the first season.

director: Bob Shirohata   writer: Nakamura Yoshiko. From a game by Otomate.
seiyuus: Miyake Marie, Sugita Tomokazu, Okano Kousuke, Namikawa Daisuke, Hirakawa Daisuke, Shimowada Hiroki, Nomiya Kazunori, Aikawa Chihiro, Kubota Tamie, Nagano Yoshikazu, Mimori Suzuko, Isomura Tomomi, Yasumoto Hiroki, Kawahara Yoshihisa, Oohara Sayaka, Yamaguchi Rikako.
animation: Studio Deen. OP Fujita Maiko.
trailer. forum. sun 28 sep 22:00


Shinsekai Yori
  (jp: 新世界より)   jpWiki

sci-fi adventure
"From the New World." In Japan a millennium from now, people live in peaceful rural towns. An incident reveals to our heroes/heroines the reality behind the facade of their lives, and they learn the bloody history of their utopic world. They throw themselves into a fight to protect their friends and save a world on the brink of collapse.

The world is ruled by people with the "gods' power" of telekinesis, who monitor children, erase memories, and remove children who do wrong. And humans share the world with large, intelligent rats. From Kishi Yuusuke's award-winning 2008 science-fiction/horror novel.

I see the name Kudou Haruka in the cast: she was the young model who got the role of Hagumi in Honey and Clover in 2005, and a role in Noein in 2006. She returned with some minor roles last year, and now here she is with something more substantial.

The show has an interesting look, lots of drama, and apparently at least one actual sex scene. Experienced animator Ishihama Masashi is directing his first show. Experienced writer Sogo Masashi has done Fairy Tale, Snow Queen, Bleach, Prince of Tennis, Gantz, and Yukikaze. Promising.

director: Ishihama Masashi   writer: Sogo Masashi. Kishi Yuusuke (novel).
seiyuus: Taneda Risa, Toujou Kanako, Hanazawa Kana, Kudou Haruka, Toudou Mai, Kaji Yuuki, Takagi Motoki, Murase Ayumu, Namikawa Daisuke, Hirata Hiroaki.
animation: A-1 Pictures.
trailer. forum. fri 28 sep 24:30


Litchi De Hikari Club
  (jp: ライチDE光クラブ)   jpWiki

ero-guro comedy shorts….
The manga is perverse, violent, grotesque, involving torture and murder. How can the anime make this acceptable on TV? The official blog says it will be a "short comedy anime." How short each episode will be is unknown.

Nine students at a boys' school form a club whose head leads them into unspeakable acts. Eventually they create a god-like AI, who lives on leechee fruits, to help them seek out the beautiful women of the world. However, the AI falls in love with a girl captive…. The original anime ran in Manga Erotics F magazine, and has been released in English.

writer: Adachi Motoichi. Furuya Usamaru (manga).
seiyuus: Nakao Akiyoshi, Kimura Ryou, Tamaki Yuuki, Satou Hisanori, Hiranuma Norihisa, Hirose Daisuke, Oreno Graffiti, Tomioka Kouichirou, Katou Mao, Miyashita Yuuya.
animation: Kachidoki Studio.
manga. forum. mon 01 oct


Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
  (jp: となりの怪物くん)   jpWiki

shoujo manga
Capable, emotionless Shizuku is interested in nothing but schoolwork. One day a teacher gets her to deliver print-outs to Haru, a boy who has been suspended for fighting. She is the first person to visit the friendless "monster" and he decides she is his friend and eventually confesses to her. Hilarious romantic comedy manga could make a great anime.

Written for anime by Takagi Noboru (Durarara) and directed by Kaburaki Hiro (Kimi ni Todoke). Stars Tomatsu Haruka, who also sings the OP. I felt the Kimi ni Todoke anime moved too slowly, so I hope this has a bit more pace.

director: Kaburaki Hiro (Kimi ni Todoke).   writer: Takagi Noboru (Durarara, Sankarea). Robico (manga).
seiyuus: Tomatsu Haruka, Tanezaki Atsumi, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Higuchi Tomoyuki, Hanazawa Kana, Terashima Takuma, Nakamura Yuuichi.
animation: Brains Base. OP Tomatsu Haruka, ED 9nine.
trailer. manga. forum. mon 01 oct 25:35


Kami-sama Hajimemashita
  (jp: 神様はじめました)   jpWiki

shoujo supernatural romantic comedy
Nanami's father runs away from his gambling debts and she is evicted from her home. On the street, she protects a young man from a dog and he offers to let her stay at his house -- which turns out to be a shrine. She becomes the new god of this rundown shrine, and the god of the diistrict. The young man then is revealed as a fox who somewhat reluctantly becomes her familiar.

From a fairly enjoyable shoujo manga by Suzuki Julietta. Veteran director Daichi Akitarou directed Fruits Basket. Seems like a match to me.

director: Daichi Akitarou (Fruits Basket).   writer: Suzuki Julietta (manga).
seiyuus: Mimori Suzuko, Tachibana Shinnosuke, Kishio Daisuke, Ishida Akira, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Satou Satomi, Namikawa Daisuke, Horie Yui, Takahashi Hiroki, Ookubo Chika, Atarashi Natsuyo, Morishima Shuta.
animation: TMS Entertainment. OP/ED Hanae.
trailer. manga. forum. mon 01 oct 26:05


Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter
  (jp: 超速変形ジャイロゼッター)   jpWiki

mecha adventure for kids and teens
"AI Cars" and "Gyrozetter" robot cars race through the streets of Yokohama. Our heroes and heroines attend a school for drivers, and are pressed into service against invaders. A strong staff and cast settle in for a potentially long-running mecha show for kids. A long list of top mecha designers includes Kawamori Shouji and Thomas Romain. Based on Square Enix's Gyrozetter arcade card game.

director: Mori Kunihiro (Shounen Onmyouji, SD Gundam),Takamatsu Shinji (School Rumble, Gintama; supervising dir.)   writer: Satou Dai (Eureka 7, Battle Spirits), StoryRiders. Square Enix (game).
seiyuus: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Iguchi Yuka, Inoue Marina, Tanaka Rie, Nakata Jouji, Tamura Mutsumi, Kuroda Takaya, Fujita Saki, Miyake Kenta, Seki Tomokazu.
animation: A-1 Pictures.
trailer. forum. tue 02 oct 18:00


Jormungand: Perfect Order
  (jp: ヨルムンガンド PERFECT ORDER)   jpWiki

violent dark adventure
More episodes of the excellent adventure show starring Itou Shizuka, Tamura Mutsumi, Ishizuka Unshou and Oohara Sayaka. Shizuka-sama play a cool and daring young lady who runs her father's arms-dealing company, flying from adventure to adventure with a tough but human crew. Tamura plays a young ex-child-soldier who is after the arms dealers who helped kill his family.

The first series was well written by Kuroda Yousuke (Requiem for he Phantom, Hayate) and surprisingly well directed by Motonaga Keitarou (School Days). I enjoyed every episode, and the same staff is back.

director: Motonaga Keitarou   writer: Kuroda Yousuke (script). Takahashi Keitarou (manga).
seiyuus: Itou Shizuka, Tamura Mutsumi, Ishizuka Unshou, Hatano Wataru, Shinomiya Gou, Konishi Katsuyuki, Koshimizu Ami, Yanai Hitoshi, Katsunuma Kiyoshi.
animation: White Fox. OP Kurosaki Maon, ED Yanagi Nagi.
trailer. manga. forum. tue 02 oct 25:30


Wooser no Sono Higurashi
  (jp: うーさーのその日暮らし)

comedy shorts
These 3D short episodes center around Wooser, a mysterious mascot character whose charming appearance belies a corrupt heart. (Anime News Network) Sounds good to me.

director: Yamada Toyonori (first-time director, long-time director of photography)   writer: Fudeyasu Toyonori (Maid Guy, Milky Holmes). Usa Yoshiki (manga).
seiyuus: Miyano Mamoru.
animation: Sanzigen. OP Tia (written by supercell ryo).
tue 02 oct 25:35


Monsuno
  (jp: 獣旋バトル モンスーノ)   jpWiki

young shounen battle adventure
US-Japan coproduction has already appeared in USA on Nicktoons

director: Yoshiaki Okumura 
seiyuus: Kenn, Kanada Aki, Tano Asami, Suzuki Chihiro, Shimozaki Hiroshi, Iwasaki Masami, Kokuryu Sachi.
animation: Larx Entertainment. OP Rey, ED SV Tribe (both Lantis).
trailer. forum. wed 03 oct 18:00


Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
  (jp: 中二病でも恋がしたい!)   jpWiki

moe romantic comedy with special characteristics
Chuunibyou means "second-year middle-school disease," and refers to a kind of sophomoric pretentiousness, where someone imagines themselves to be things like smart, cool, tough, magical, etc. A boy who used to suffer from chuunibyou becomes the boyfriend of a girl who is still drenched in the "disease."

Humour, romance, moe, and some real or imagined magic and violence. This new KyoAni show appears to graft the moe of K-On onto some of the basic plot of Haruhi. Despite the calculation of it all, this looks like a winner.

The director of Haruhi and the writer of Rozen Maiden, sola, Nichijou and Steins;Gate. Young seiyuu Uchida Maaya (Rea in Sankarea) gets her big break. Here's another trailer.  Based on a light novel series by Torako with illustrations by Ousaka Nozomi.

director: Ishihara Tatsuya   writer: Hanada Jukki. Torako (novel).
seiyuus: Uchida Maaya, Uesaka Sumire, Akasaka Chinatsu, Asakura Azumi.
animation: Kyoto Animation. chara-des: Ikeda Kazumi, Ousaki Nozomi (orig). ED seiyuus.
trailer. forum. wed 03 oct 24:30


Hayate the Combat Butler: Can`t Take My Eyes Off You
  (jp: ハヤテのごとく！CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU)   jpWiki

comedy with moe characteristics
A new season of the popular comedy about a very capable young man who becomes rich tsundere Kugimiya Rie's butler.

director: Ueda Youichi, Kudou Masashi   writer: Oshika Rie. Hata Kenjirou.
seiyuus: (the recently married) Shiraishi Ryouko, Kugimiya Rie, Itou Shizuka, Tanaka Rie, Fujimura Ayumi, Takahashi Mikako, Yamazaki Haruka.
animation: Manglobe. OP eyelis, ED Yamazaki Haruka.
trailer. manga. forum. wed 03 oct 26:05


Gintama
  (jp: 銀魂 新作エピソード + 特選再放送)   jpWiki

samurai comedy
New episodes and selected repeat episodes.

director: Fujita Yoichi, Takamatsu Shinji (supervising editor).  writer: Yamatoya Akatsuki. Sorachi Hideaki.
seiyuus: Sugita Tomokazu, Kugimiya Rie, Sakaguchi Daisuke.
animation: Sunrise.
manga. forum. thu 04 oct 18:00


Btooom!
  (jp: Btooom!)   jpWiki

violent adventure
Sakamoto Ryouta is an unemployed 22-year-old who lives with his mother. But online, he's one of the world's top players of the combat game Btooom!!

One day, he awakens in what appears to be a tropical island. He sees someone and calls out for help. The stranger throws a bomb at him. Ryouta realizes that the game has become his reality. Will Ryouta be able to survive long enough to figure out how and why he ended up here? Will Himiko avoid being raped?

First-time director Watanabe Kotono directed episodes of Chihayafuru, Madoka Magica, and Aoi Bungaku. Hongou Kanata, who plays the lead, is a TV actor who played leading roles in the live-action versions of Prince of Tennis, Nana, and Gantz.

director: Watanabe Kotono   writer: Kuroda Yousuke (Infinite Ryvius, Hayate, Jormungand). Inoue Junya (manga).
seiyuus: Mimori Suzuko, Hongou Kanata, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nakamura Yuuichi, Ookawa Tooru.
animation: Madhouse. OP Nano, ED May'n.
trailer. manga. forum. thu 04 oct 23:00


Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb
  (jp: ひだまりスケッチxハニカム)   jpWiki

moe comedy
Yet another series of Shaft's take on Aoki Ume's popular manga. That makes a total of four series and four specials. It even led to Aoki-sensei doing the original character design for Madoka Magica.

director: Hachise Yuuki, Shinbou Akiyuki  writer: Hasegawa Nahoko, Ooshima Miku. Aoki Ume (manga).
seiyuus: Gotou Yuuko, Mizuhashi Kaori, Omigawa Chiaki, Harada Hitomi, Shintani Ryouko, Matsuki Miyu, Asumi Kana, Chou, Sawashiro Miyuki.
animation: Shaft. OP seiyuus, ED marble.
trailer. manga. forum. thu 04 oct 25:25


K
  (jp: K)   jpWiki

bishounen urban combat +?
Starry cast includes Sugita, Sawashiro, Miyano, Horie, Sakurai, and OnoD, with rising young star Komatsu Mikako (Bodacious Space Pirates) as heroine Neko ("cat"). First-time director did charades/animation on Mardock Scramble, key animation back to Fatal Fury 1994.

Writer "GoRA" is actually a group of well-known writers, who are collaborating. Rumours mention Nasu Kinoko of Type-Moon and Narita Ryougo of Durarara, as well as Arakawa Naruhisa (Steel Angel, Yosuga no Sora, Spice and Wolf). But no-one seems to have much idea of the story yet, except as we can infer from the trailers. Another trailer.

director: Suzuki Shingo (first-time director, experienced animation director/key animator)   writer: GoRA.
seiyuus: Namikawa Daisuke, Sugita Tomokazu, Komatsu Mikako, Tsuda Kenjirou, Ono Daisuke, Sawashiro Miyuki, Miyano Mamoru, Nakamura Yuuichi, Sakurai Takahiro, Horie Yui.
animation: Go Hands. chara-des: Suzuki Shingo. OP Angela, ED Komatsu Mikako.
trailer. forum. thu 04 oct 25:30


Zetsuen no Tempest: The Civilization Blaster
  (jp: 絶園のテンペスト ~THE CIVILIZATION BLASTER~)   jpWiki

mystery fantasy adventure
Magic and world-ending events across time. Yoshino's friend Mahiro has disappeared. As he searches for him, he is threatened with death. But Mahiro suddenly appears and saves him. Mahiro has made a deal with a great witch for powers that will enable him to take revenge on his parents' killers. Oh, and the witch is imprisoned on a hidden desert island at the time, just as the vampire queen was imprisoned in Shirodaira Kyou's other hit manga, Vampire Juuji Kai.

Director Andou Masahiro and writer Okada Mari did Hanasaku Iroha. But this is a very different kind of show. Bones. Solid cast.

director: Andou Masahiro (Canaan, Hanasaku Iroha)   writer: Okada Mari (True Tears, Canaan, Gosick). Shirodaira Kyou (manga).
seiyuus: Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Uchiyama Kouki, Mizuki Nana, Nojima Hirofumi, Sawashiro Miyuki, Suwabe Junichi, Koyama Rikiya, Yoshino Hiroyuki.
animation: Bones. OP Nothing's Carved in Stone, ED Hanazawa Kana.
trailer. manga. forum. thu 04 oct 26:00


Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!
  (jp: お兄ちゃんだけど愛さえあれば関係ないよねっ)   jpWiki

ecchi harem comedy
After 6-years' separation, Akito reunites with his twin sister Akiko and they start living together once more. She is all over him, wanting to sleep together…and won't take no for an answer. Gradually more girls move in, and Akito's days are a troubling paradise.

The director did Hayate no Gotoku, the writer Ben-tou, Maid Guy and Milky Holmes. There's some comic talent there. The show stars 14-year-old Kido Ibuki as the sister, and Ousaka Ryouta (Yuki in Tsuritama) as the brother. They are supported by solid pros: KitaEri, Shimoda Asami, Chihara Minori. "Whether it's deep or superficial, love prevails over everything." Another trailer.

director: Kawaguchi Keiichirou (Hayate, Sket Dance, Yutori-chan)   writer: Fudeyasu Kazuyuki (Maid Guy, Milky Holmes, Ben-tou).
seiyuus: Kido Ibuki, Ousaka Ryouta, Chihara Minori, Kitamura Eri, Shimoda Asami.
animation: Silver Link. OP Chihara Minori, ED Liliana Sisters.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 05 oct 23:00


JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012)
  (jp: ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 (2012))   jpWiki

shounen supernatural adventure fighting
The long-running shounen manga finally gets a TV series. "The story of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure centers around the misadventures of the Joestars, a powerful family with English roots. Each member of the bloodline has a star shaped birthmark above their left shoulder blade.

"Dio Brando, the original nemesis of the Joestar family, and his descendants, have this distinguishable mark also, a result from Dio's 'theft' of Jonathan Joestar's body and inheriting the Joestar genes as well. The series spans several generations, with each part featuring a descendent of the Joestars as the main protagonist, along with a large cast of characters." (Wikipedia)

Written by the writer of Claymore and Casshern Sins. Directed by the director of InuxBoku. With Koyasu Takehito, Okitsu Kazuyuki, Kawasumi Ayako and Ueda Youji. Here's hoping this can revive an old franchise the way the recent Lupin III series did.

director: Suzuki Kenichi   writer: Kobayashi Yasuko. Araki Hirohiko (manga).
seiyuus: Koyasu Takehito, Okitsu Kazuyuki, Kawasumi Ayako, Ueda Youji, Shioya Yoku.
animation: David Production. OP Tommy Tominaga, ED Yes.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 05 oct 24:30


To Love-Ru: Trouble - Darkness
  (jp: To LOVEる -とらぶる- ダークネス)   jpWiki

ecchi comedy with aliens
A TV series to follow the OVA, centering on Momo (Toyosaki Aki). The highly successful ecchi franchise rolls on. Director Ootsuki Atsushi came on board with Motto To Love-ru, and he was a perfect choice, having previously directed Kanokon and Ladies v. Butlers.

director: Ootsuki Atsushi   writer: Ootsuki Atsushi. Hasemi Saki (manga story), Yabuki Kentarou (manga illus.).
seiyuus: Toyosaki Aki, Fukuen Misato, Watanabe Akeno, Tomatsu Haruka, Yahagi Sayuki, Itou Kanae, Hanazawa Kana, Nazuka Kaori, Yuzuki Ryouka, Arai Satomi, Noto Mamiko.
animation: Xebec. OP Ray, ED Wakeshima Kanon.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 05 oct 25:00


Busou Shinki
  (jp: 武装神姫)   jpWiki

moe mecha slice of life
This slice-of-life battle story is set in a future that has neither World War III nor an alien invasion — just an ordinary future age. In this world, robots are part of everyday life. "Shinki" are 15-centimeter tall (about 6 inches) cute partners made to assist humans. Equipped with intelligence and emotions, they devote themselves to serving their "Masters." Shinki equipped with weapons and armor to fight each other are "Busou Shinki" (literally, "armed divine princesses"). The Shinki Ann, Aines, and Rane serve high school freshman Masato. Then a new Shinki, the bellicose Staarf, joins them. (Anime News Network)

Nice cast includes Mizuhashi Kaori, Asumi Kana, and Katou Emiri, among others. The writer and director are capable pros.

director: Kikuchi Yasahito (Macross Frontier, Infinite Stratos)   writer: Yokotani Masahiro (Keroro Gunsou, Reideen, MariaHolic). From a Konami game.
seiyuus: Mizuhashi Kaori, Asumi Kana, Chihara Minori, Nakajima Megumi, Katou Emiri, Mizushima Takahiro.
animation: 8-bit.
trailer. forum. thu 05 oct 25:55


Bakuman 3
  (jp: バクマン. ３)   jpWiki

shounen hard work with a touch of romance
NHK and JC Staff knew they had a hit on their hands before they started, since this is such a popular manga. But here we are in a third 20+ episode season. Our heroes have reached their first goal of having the most popular manga of the month. But more challenges lie ahead of them.

This show never clicked with me, perhaps because I'm not really a shounen fan. But it seemed to develop slowly. Perhaps, having liked the first few chapters of the manga, I was impatient for new developments I hadn't read. Great cast. Top-notch staff.

director: Kasai Kenichi, Akitaya Noriaki   writer: Yoshida Reiko. Ooba Tsugumi (manga).
seiyuus: Abe Atsushi, Hino Satoshi, Hayami Saori, Yahagi Sayuri, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Suwabe Junichi, Shimura Tomoyuki, Kawasumi Ayako, Fujimura Ayumi, Tone Kentarou.
animation: JC Staff. OP nano.RIPE, ED Sphere.
manga. forum. sat 06 oct 17:30


Haitai Nanafa
  (jp: はいたい七葉)

supernatural Okinawa slice-of-life
An energetic middle school girl named Nanafa lives in Okinawa with her grandmother, who runs a soba noodle shop; her beautiful older sister Nao, who is in high school; and her younger sister Kokona, who is in elementary school and has a strong ability to sense the supernatural. One day, Nanafa sees three spirits released from their imprisonment in a sacred banyan tree. As spirits start appearing, the peaceful life of Nanafa and her family begins to change.

5-minute episodes. The anime is intended for an Okinawa audience, and much of the cast was chosen in auditions there.

director: Kimura Hiroshi (Recorder and Randsell)   writer: Konuta Kenji (Library War).
seiyuus: Igarashi Hiromi, Toujou Hisako, Inoue Nana, Matsuzaki Rei.
animation: Passione. chara-des: Ueda Kazuyuki, POP (orig).
forum. sat 06 oct 17:55


Little Busters
  (jp: リトルバスターズ!)   jpWiki

romantic comedy drama from a visual novel
Popular visual novel from Key (Kanon, Clannad) gets an anime. Excitement is running high: the AnimeSuki Forum thread is almost to 2000 posts, 5-10 times as many posts as other new shows.

When Riki was little, his parents passed away. What saved him was his group of friends. They called themselves the Little Busters, and wanted to right the world's wrongs. His grief gradually faded away. Now the friends are in the second year of high school. Horie Yui stars. Uguu.

director: Yamakawa Yoshiki (Hatsukoi Limited, Kill Me Baby)   writer: Shimada Michiru (Emily of New Moon, Before Green Gables). Visual Art's/kEY.
seiyuus: Horie Yui, Tamiyasu Tomoe, Kanna Nobutoshi, Yanase Natsumi, Tanaka Ryouko, Oda Yuusei, Midorikawa Hikaru, Tatsumi Yuiko, Wakabayashi Naomi, Suzuki Keiko.
animation: JC Staff. chara-des: Iizuka Haruko. OP/ED Rita.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 06 oct 22:30


Suki-tte Ii na yo
  (jp: 好きっていいなよ)   jpWiki

shoujo romance
Tachibana Mei has spent her 16 years without making friends, or having a boyfriend. One day, under a misunderstanding, she drop-kicks a popular boy in school. For some reason, he takes a liking to her and one-sidedly says they're friends. Furthermore, he not only protects Mei from a stalker, but does it with a kiss….

Good "ugly duckling" shoujo manga could become a good shoujo anime. You can't do much better than put Sakurai Takahiro and Kayano Ai in he leading roles. This is one of the shows I am most looking forward to.

director: Satou Takuya (Ichigo Mashimaro, Steins;Gate), Kuroyanagi Toshimasa   writer: Satou Takuya. Hazuki Kanae.
seiyuus: Sakurai Takahiro, Kayano Ai, Kotobuki Minako, Uchiyama Yumi, Shimazaki Nobunaga, Taneda Risa, Maeno Tomoaki.
animation: Zexcs. chara-des: Okuda Yoshiko. OP Okazaki Ritsuko (deceased), ED Suneohair.
manga. forum. sat 06 oct 25:00


Code: Breaker
  (jp: CØDE:BREAKER)   jpWiki

shounen action romance
Directed by Irie Yasuhiro (Kurau Phantom Memory, FMA Brotherhood). Starring some terrific seiyuus: Hikasa Youko, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Yukana, Nakata Jouji, Saiga Mitsuki, Miki Shinichirou, Kaida Yuuko. Hikasa sounds great in the trailer, and Okamoto's gentlemanly strength is perfect for the role.

Sakura appears gentle, but is skilled in martial arts. One day she glimpses a young man burning people with a blue flame -- then he shows up as a transfer student in her class. She follows him and eventually discovers that he is not the evil person he seems, but is punishing evidoers himself. "An eye for an eye, and evil for evil." Good manga, with a chance of being well adapted.

director: Irie Yasuhiro.   writer: Irie Yasuhiro. Kamijou Akimine (manga).
seiyuus: Okamoto Nobuhiko, Hikasa Youko, Sendai Eri, Yukana, Nakata Jouji, Saiga Mitsuki, Kimura Subaru, Miki Shinichirou, Kaida Yuuko, Tsujitani Kouji.
animation: Kinema Citrus. OP Granrodeo, ED Suzumura Kenichi.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 06 oct 26:58


Oshiri Kajiri Mushi
  (jp: おしりかじり虫)   jpWiki

gag comedy
"Bottom-biting Bug." A gag comedy about Oshiri Kajiri Mushi XVIII, a 10-year-old insect who goes to Biting School to inherit his family's Biting Shop business. (ANN) Super-high-voiced Kaneda Tomoko stars as the bug.

director: Kojima Masayuki (Piano no Mori, Busou Shinki Moon Angel), Kozutsumi Pon (17 eps of Rita et Machin)   writer: Pierre Sugiura.
seiyuus: Kaneda Tomoko, Ise Mariya, Saitou Kimiko, Han Megumi, Hamazoe Shinya, Suzuki Takuma, Tokuyama Yasuhiko, Uchida Naoya, Toda Megumi, Sakuma Rei.
animation: Kinema Citrus. chara-des: Uruma Delvi.
20eps. sun 07 oct 07:55


Magi
  (jp: マギ)   jpWiki

shounen magical fantasy
In a strange faraway land lies the mysterious labyrinth called The Dungeon. A young boy, Aladdin, and his companion Alibaba, attempt to penetrate the secrets of The Dungeon and obtain the treasures rumored to be hidden there. Within The Dungeon, Aladdin meets many different people, and eventually discovers his destiny. (anidb)

A director who has done only a small number of shows, and a writer who has many hits, including Mai-HiME and Accel World. Attractive character design by Akai Toshifumi (Sora no Woto, Kokoro Connect). Cast to be announced at a live event 30 Sept. Ishihara Kaori is rumoured to be involved.

director: Masunari Kouji (ROD the TV)   writer: Yoshino Hiroyuki (Mai-HiME, Macross F, Accel World). Ootaka Shinobu (manga).
seiyuus: Ishihara Kaori...?
animation: A-1 Pictures. chara-des: Akai Toshifumi. OP SID, ED Nogizaka 46.
manga. forum. sun 07 oct 17:00


Teekyuu
  (jp: てーきゅう)   jpWiki

moe comic slice of life
Moe comedy featuring a girls' tennis club that hardly plays any tennis at all. The manga only started in March. This may be the fastest anime conversion ever.

The only one of the three announced seiyuus whom I know is Mimori Suzuko, who was Sherlock in Milky Holmes and is in four shows this season.

Director/writer Itagaki Shin did Ben-tou -- which is enough of a recommendation for me.

director: Itagaki Shin (Ben-tou, Black Cat)   writer: Itagaki Shin. Roots (manga).
seiyuus: Mimori Suzuko, Watanabe Yui, Narumi Kyouko.
animation: Mappa.
sun 07 oct 22:27


Ixion Saga: Dimension Transfer
  (jp: Ixion Saga: DT)

shounen fantasy adventure
Hokaze Kon is an otherwise normal boy who one day receives an inter-dimensional summons to the world of Mirror. He appears just in time to save the life of Princess Ecarlate, whose enemies are trying to prevent her political marriage. Kon, who knows nothing about Mirror, or how to get home, attaches himself to Ecarlate's entourage. (anidb)

Three rising young seiyuus (Mikami Shiori, Eguchi Takuya, Hosoya Yoshimasa) are backed by a strong cast of older stars (Nakai Kazuya, Shintani Ryouko, Kamiya Hiroshi. Suzumura Kenichi, Saiga Mitsuki, Yusa Kouji, Sugita Tomokazu). Top director and writer did Gintama. Promising show.

director: Takamatsu Shinji (School Rumble, Gintama)   writer: Yamatoya Akatsuki (Simoun, Gintama, To Love-ru). Capcom (game).
seiyuus: Mikami Shiori, Eguchi Takuya, Hosoya Yoshimasa, Nakai Kazuya, Shintani Ryouko, Kamiya Hiroshi, Suzumura Kenichi, Yusa Kouji, Saiga Mitsuki, Sugita Tomokazu.
animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Takeuchi Shinji. OP Golden Bomber.
trailer. forum. sun 07 oct 25:05


Aikatsu!
  (jp: アイカツ!)   jpWiki

shoujo idol competition
A tie-in to a Bandai card game in which players collect clothing cards to help their idols pass auditions. Of course this sounds pretty childish, but that doesn’t mean the anime will be worthless. Yumeiro Patissiere had a similar commercial basis, as does Jewelpet.

Director Kimura Ryouichi has directed episodes of Zettai Shounen, Hanamaru Kindergarten, and Natsuiro Kiseki, but this is his first full show. He will work under the supervision of Mizushima Seiji (FMA, Gundam00, Hanamaru Kindergarten). Writer Katou Youichi wrote Miracle Train, as well as episodes of Space Brothers, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, and Shangri-la. The cast is a mix of newcomers with well-known names such as Kotobuki Minako, Seto Asami, and Noto Mamiko.

director: Kimura Ryouichi, sup. Mizushima Seiji   writer: Katou Youichi.
seiyuus: Morohoshi Sumire, Tadokoro Azusa, Oohashi Ayaka, Kotobuki Minako, Seto Asami, Noto Mamiko, Yasumura Makoto, Matsutani Kaya.
animation: Sunrise. OP/ED Waka, Fuuri, Risako (and Sunao in the ED).
forum. mon 08 oct 19:30


Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
  (jp: さくら荘のペットな彼女)   jpWiki

ecchi romantic comedy
After being kicked out of the main dorms for bringing in a stray cat, Kanda Sorata is forced to live in the smaller Sakura Hall, with the problem students. Although he doesn’t mind his roommates, Sorata can’t wait to move out.

But when Shiina Mashiro moves into the dorm, everything changes. Mashiro is an artistic genius who, at a young age, has won many awards for her art. But due to her childhood being so focused on art, she has no common sense or social skills. Forced to take the role of looking after Mashiro, Sorata learns about himself and begins on a path of self-improvement. (Mangafox, vyc)

This is Ishizuka Atsuko's first full series as director. She did several eps of NANA, and eps of Aoi Bungaku, Supernatural, Mouryou no Hako, Chihayafuru, etc. Okada Mari is adapting the original novel.

Kayano Ai and Matsuoka Yoshitsugu star, backed up by Horie Yui, Takamori Natsumi, Sakurai Takahiro, Toyoguchi Megumi, and others. In the preview, Kayanon sounds amazing. A group of the seiyuus does the OP, and the ED is sung by outstanding teenager Suzuki Konomi, who belted out Choir Jail, the ED for Sankarea.

director: Ishizuka Atsuko   writer: Okada Mari. Kamoshida Hajime (novel).
seiyuus: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Kayano Ai, Horie Yui, Nakatsu Mariko, Takamori Natsumi, Sakurai Takahiro, Toyoguchi Megumi.
animation: JC Staff. OP seiyuus, ED Suzuki Konomi.
trailer. manga. 24eps. forum. mon 08 oct 24:30


Girls und Panzer
  (jp: Girls und Panzer)

moe comedy
In this world, "Sensha-do", the military art of using battle tanks, as important to a young lady as flower arrangement and tea ceremony. Tank battles are a school sport. Nishizumi Miho is a new transfer student who just wants a normal school life. But she is forced into Sensha-do, with the goal of becoming part of the school's team in the national tournament. To make matters worse, every single member of the team is quite weird. (anidb)

Top staff includes director Mizushima Tsutomu (Genshiken, Squid Girl, Joshiraku) and famous writer Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, K-On, etc.). The cast includes some well-known names (Iguchi Yuka, Kayano Ai, Fukuen Misato, Sendai Eri) and some lesser knowns. One of the latter is Fuchigami Mai, whom I have been waiting to hear again since she was so good as Maekawa-san in Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko. She is the main character here.

director: Mizushima Tsutomu (Genshiken, Squid Girl, Joshiraku)   writer: Yoshida Reiko.
seiyuus: Fuchigami Mai, Kayano Ai, Ozaki Mami, Iguchi Yuka, Nakagami Ikumi, Sendai Eri, Moriya Satomi, Kikuchi Mika, Fukuen Misato, Kirimura Mari.
animation: Actas. OP Choucho, ED seiyuus.
trailer. manga. forum. mon 08 oct 25:00


Medaka Box: Abnormal
  (jp: めだかボックス アブノーマル)   jpWiki

school comedy
A second season for the poorly received adaptation of a good manga written by Nisio Ishin. The good source and great cast were somehow wasted by Gainax and director Saeki Shouji. I could just never believe Toyosaki Aki in the role of Medaka. But hope springs eternal….

director: Saeki Shouji   writer: Nishio Ishin, Akatsuki Akira.
seiyuus: Ono Yuuki, Toyosaki Aki, Namikawa Daisuke, Kayano Ai, Katou Emiri.
animation: Gainax.
trailer. manga. forum. wed 10 oct 25:20


Psycho-pass
  (jp: Psycho-pass)   jpWiki

dark adventure in dystopic future
Okay, strap yourself in. Here comes a dark adventure written by Urobuchi Gen, animated by Production IG, and starring seiyuus at the top of the craft: Hanazawa Kana is almost the least of them, compared to Seki Tomokazu (who actually teaches seiyuus), Itou Shizuka, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nojima Kenji….

The only possible fly in the ointment is director Shiotani Naoyoshi, whose only previous directoral credits are Tokyo Marble Chocolate OVA and the Blood-C movie. Posters on AnimeSuki worry that this could fail like Guilty Crown. Time will tell, but Urobuchi Gen (Madoka Magica, Phantom, Fate/Zero, Nitroplus games) should be able to inject something powerful and unique that could carry it.

In the future, people are tested for various psychological factors, including a "criminality coefficient." If the coefficient is high, they are refused a "psychopass" and taken out of circulation before they can commit a crime. But if it is very high, they are offered the chance to train as police detectives. Each is assigned to an executive officer -- one of society's elite, with low criminality and high intelligence -- who monitors them to prevent them slipping into crime. noitaminA

director: Shiotani Naoyoshi, (chief dir) Motohiro Katsuyuki   writer: Urobuchi Gen.
seiyuus: Seki Tomokazu, Hanazawa Kana, Nojima Kenji, Itou Shizuka, Arimoto Kinryuu, Sawashiro Miyuki.
animation: Production IG. chara-des: Asano Kyoji, Amano Akira (orig). OP Ling Tosite Sigure, ED Egoist (ryo, chelly).
trailer. 22eps. forum. thu 11 oct 24:45


Robotics:Notes
  (jp: ロボティクス・ノーツ)   jpWiki

sci-fi from a visual novel
It is the year 2019. On the island of Tanegashima, Central Tanegashima High School's Robot Research Club, which has only two members, is on the verge of being disbanded. Yashio Kaito is fully absorbed in developing his robot fighting game. Club president Senomiya Akiho is a girl who is determined to save the club by completing construction of a giant robot.

One day Kaito is in a park, working on his computer game as usual. He hears a girl's voice and discovers a report describing a plot with world-wide implications. (anidb)

My initial interest in this show was to hear Nanjou Yoshino in a lead role. She played Koko in Da Capo 2, and plays Gankyou in Joshiraku. She is also the vocalist for fripSide.

Then I noticed that the anime adaptation is by Hanada Jukki, who wrote Rozen Maiden, sola, Kuragehime, Nichijou, and Steins;Gate. Director Nomura Kazuya, on the other hand, has only done Sengoku Basara. This and Psycho-Pass are this season's two offerings from noitaminA.

director: Nomura Kazuya   writer: Hanada Jukki. Mages (visual novel).
seiyuus: Nanjou Yoshino, Kimura Ryouhei, Hosoya Yoshimasa, Nazuka Kaori, Tokui Sora, Kugimiya Rie, Inoue Kikuko, Honda Takako, Ueda Youji, Sawasa Toshiko, Fukuda Nobuaki, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Koyama Takehiro, Miki Shinichirou.
animation: Production IG. OP Zwei, ED fumika.
trailer. forum. thu 11 oct 25:15


Seitokai no Ichizon: New Anime (provisional title)
  (jp: 生徒会の一存 新アニメ (仮))   jpWiki

absurd comedy
A second season for the enjoyable absurd comedy series. I considered the first season my second favorite comedy anime of all time, after Ichigo Mashimaro. The comedy was leavened with some touching serious emotion.

Kondou Takashi's character is intent on making all four of the girls with him on the student council into his harem. They are not so interested, and are able to put him off in their various ways: the girls are played by Honda Mariko, Nomizu Iori, Togashi Misuzu, and Mina. Four good performances without a well-known name among them.Togashi is also a vocalist with Lia's group, Veil.

Directed by Imaizumi Kenichi (Hitman Reborn). Adapted from Sekina Aoi's novel by Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, etc.). I am looking forward to this series with some trepidation, since the first series was directed by Satou Takuya (Ichigo Mashimaro) and written by Hanada Jukki (Steins;Gate)…. Some people do like AIC's animation better than the first series' animation by Studio Deen.

director: Imaizumi Kenichi   writer: Yoshida Reiko. Aoi Sekina (novel).
seiyuus: Mina, Honda Mariko, Nomizu Iori, Togashi Misuzu, Kondou Takashi, Furuya Shizuka, Tamaoki Youko, Horikawa Chika, Kobayashi Motoko, Sadohara Kaori.
animation: AIC.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 13 oct 23:30

This is shaping up to be an excellent season. After three episodes, Shinsekai yori is looking to me as if it could become a masterpiece. Kyo-ani's Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai is engaging and funny and out-moeing K-On. Suki-tte Ii na yo may be one of the most satisfying shoujo romances I've seen. And those are just the beginning.

I'm a couple of weeks late with this, but here is a calendar showing what's on each day of the week, including both new and continuing shows, with some info about cast and staff. Click here or on the image to go to the full schedule:


And here is a list of the new shows, day by day, with brief comments about the ones I've seen:


sunday
Oshiri Kajiri Mushi
Magi – Excellent so far. A well-constructed shounen fantasy world, and the wonderful voice of Ishihara Kaori.
Hiiro no Kakera 2
Teekyuu 
Ixion Saga: Dimension Transfer 

monday 
Aikatsu! 
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo– Naked moe, starring Kayano Ai as an artistic genius who is so absorbed in her art that she can’t even dress herself. Worked for me. Brilliantly directed.
Girls und Panzer
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun– Good shoujo in which the nose-to-the-grindstone girl falls in mutual love with the good-guy wild man.
Kami-sama Hajimemashita– Another well-done shoujo show, in which our heroine loses her home to her father's gambling debts and ends up as the goddess of a local shrine, in constant conflict with her tsundere bishounen familiar.
Litchi De Hikari Club

tuesday 
Chou Soku Henkei Gyrozetter 
Jormungand: Perfect Order– More of the same excellent dark adventure that the first series provided
Wooser no Sono Higurashi

wednesday
Monsuno 
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!– Kyo-ani out-moes its own K-On with a cute little middle-school girl who is sunk in her own fantasies and drags the lead boy with her.
Medaka Box: Abnormal 
Hayate the Combat Butler: Can`t Take My Eyes Off You

thursday
Gintama 
Btooom!
Psycho-pass– Well-done dystopic-future police adventure with violence.
Robotics;Notes– A dying school robotics club saves itself by building a robot to defend the Earth. Started well, for me.
Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb
K– Weird and wonderful combination of bishounen urban violence with humorous fantasy, featuring another girl who likes to go naked (and is really a cat).
Busou Shinki– Flying fights among beautiful six-inch female robots, three of whom form our hero’s mini-harem. Didn't do much for me.
Zetsuen no Tempest: The Civilization Blaster -- Director Andou Masahiro gives this story of world-threatening magic great style, and Uchiyama Kouki, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Sawashiro Miyuki, and Hanazawa Kana hit a lot of the right notes.


friday 
Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!– Bro-con fantasy that may outdo Kiss x Sis for the intensity of the sister's desire, but stars a 14-year-old seiyuu as the sister. The seiyuu is promising, but I'm not sure about the show.
Shinsekai Yori– Outstanding through three episodes. High-school students' adventures in a brilliantly conceived strange future Earth. Could become a masterpiece.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012)
To Love-Ru Trouble - Darkness

saturday
Bakuman 3
Haitai Nanafa
Little Busters– Some people love this highly-awaited game adaptation, but the first episode fell flat, for me.
Seitokai no Ichizon Level 2
Suki-tte Ii na yo– Wonderful straightforward shoujo story of the average girl with whom the school bishounen falls in love. Well directed by Satou Takuya and starring the outstanding duo of Sakurai Takahiro and Kayano Ai.
Code: Breaker– Clumsy but engaging story of a strong black-belt girl and a guy who uses special powers to eliminate evil-doers.

Through three episodes, the new anime Shin Sekai yori is outstanding. It could even be heading for masterpiece territory, in my opinion. The anime very adeptly tells the story of a group of mid-teens in the Japan of a thousand years from now.

This is not a technological wonderland, but a fairly agrarian country in which human adults possess varying degrees of telekinetic powers. Our heroine, Saki, is worried that she is not showing the powers her friends do. In episode three, the group is on a sort of Outward Bound expedition, just a group of teens alone in the wilderness. On the trip, they may be beginning to find out things about their world that they never suspected. From the first episode on, we have been kept on tenterhooks, feeling that everyone is living on a knife-edge, with death and disappearance everyday facts that people seem to accept as the norm .

I have made a characters/seiyuus page showing pics of each main character and their seiyuu, as well as some info about each seiyuu. Click here or on the image to go to the full page:




There are some well-known seiyuus in the cast -- Hanazawa Kana, Kaji Yuuki, Hirata Hiroaki, Namikawa Daisuke, Endou Aya (the narrator), Itou Miki (Saya's mom). But there are a lot of relative unknowns in major roles, too.

Only a couple of seiyuus are playing their characters at both ages (12 and 14) shown in the story. Those are Kana-chan (Maria) and our apparent star, Taneda Risa (Saki). Shun at 12 is played by a woman, Toudou Mai; but at 14 he is played by a young man who appears to be around 14 himself, Murase Ayumu.

I've included a couple of characters who haven't appeared yet, and could be considered spoilers (although it's pretty clear characters like them are about to appear). Anyway, don't click through if you are extremely spoiler-phobic. Otherwise, it's no problem. I didn't feel they spoiled me at all, personally.

I got some of my info from Japanese Wikipedia, however, and had to look lightly to avoid seeing outlines of the full plot, lol.

On its birthday, Yuuki Aoi gave her cat Ashubel a little Kyuubei stuffed animal. She thought they could be friends. But Ashubel had other ideas:






In the end, Yuuki added later, the two have become friends, and the cat even sometimes grooms little Kyuubei. Perhaps she recognizes their common vicious nature, lol. (I'm a cat-lover, but realistic.)

Here is a recent drawing of Kyouko Ao-chan posted. She's says Kyouko is so cute: she eats a lot, is lonely, and strong. She's almost like a big puppy. Ao-chan says she's weak against characters like this. She says Kyouko is even cuter in the movie.



On the other hand, some weeks ago at the time of the release of the movie, Ao-chan posted a drawing she made of Madoka in despair:

We are coming up to the school festival season at Japanese colleges. There will be over sixty seiyuu events at college festivals in Japan over the next few weeks: Yuuki Aoi, Hirano Aya, Yukana, Kobayashi Yuu, Inoue Marina, Fukuhara Kaori, Katou Emiri, Gotou Saori, Itou Shizuku and Nabatame Hitomi, Nanjou Yoshino, Asumi Kana, Taketatsu Ayana, Komatsu Mikako, Satou Satomi, Wakamoto Norio, Yamaguchi Kappei, Hirata Hiroaki, Morita Masakazu, Taniyama Kishou...on and on the list goes.

Many events appear to be short talk shows, and I think the college departments and clubs putting them on are sometimes making a nice profit. Some are already sold out -- although sometimes that "sold out" may just mean that the web pre-order period is over.

One of the ones to watch is an appearance by Terashima Takuma, one of the Kokoro Connect bullying incident perpetrators. The fact that it is at a women's college may keep some of the potential trouble in check.

Here is a link to a list of them all, in Japanese, with some details and links to more info. And here, just to make all of us who live outside Japan feel bad, are a number of highlights:

Sat 20 Oct
Wakamoto Norio
Takushoku University Hachiouji Campus 14:30 free


Sun 21 Oct
Kitta Izumi, Sasaki Mikoi
12:00 Tokyo University of Art and Design ¥2000


Sat 27 Oct
Taketatsu Ayana
Kyouto Gakuen University 15:00 free
Sun 28 Oct
Fukuen Misato, Uesaka Sumire
Tokyo Univeristy of Information Sciences 14:30

Imai Asami, Ootsubo Yuka
Osaka Kankou Daigaku ¥1500 (sold out)


Fri 2 Nov
Hirano Aya talk show
Nihon Kougyou Daigaku 17:00 free


Sat 3 Nov
Satou Rina
Waseda University 11:00 ¥1500

Shintani Ryouko
Capital University Tokyo, Minamioosawa Campus 12:00 ¥2000

Asumi Kana, Gotou Saori
Meiji University, Izumi Building 12:00 ¥1800

Hirata Hiroaki, Kusunoki Taiten
Meiji Gakuin University 12:00 ¥500

Takeuchi Junko, Shomoda Asami, Toyonaga Toshiyuki
Taisho University 12:00 free

Suara
Tokyo Computer Academy 12:00 ¥1500

Kayano Ai, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Nakatsu Mariko, Talamori Natsumi (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo discussion)
Nihon University Art Dept. 12:50  free

Yuuki Aoi
Aoyama Gakuin Daigaku ¥1000 (apply on web by 21 October)

Yonaga Tsubasa, Satou Takuya
Senshuu Daigaku 13:00 ¥1500 (sold out)

Kaida Yuuko, Saiga Mitsuki, Fujimura Ayumi
Houshou Daigaku 13:00 apply on web by 21 Oct

Nanjou Yoshino, Shikura Chiyomaru (music producer)
Houshou Daigaku 13:00 free (apply on web by 19 Oct.)

Komatsu Mikako, Satou Satomi
Waseda University 14:00 ¥2000 (apply on web by 21 Oct)

Yukana
Nihon University Economics Dept. 14:00 ¥1500 (sold out)

Taketatsu Ayana
Chuou Daigaku Tama campus 15:00 ¥1500 (sold out)

Asumi Kana, Matsuki Miyu Meiji University 15:00 ¥1700 (sold out)

Onosaka Masaya
Meiji University 15:00 ¥2000 (sold out)

Inoue Marina
Gakushuin University 16:30 ¥1500 (apply on web by 19 Oct)

Hirata Hiroaki, Morita Masakazu
Nishogakusha University 16:30 ¥500 (before 20 Oct)

Hirano Aya, Shiraishi Minoru
Nihon University Commerce faculty 17:00 ¥2500

LiSA
Kougakukan University 18:00 free


Sun 4 Nov
Uchida Maaya
Waseda University 11:30 ¥1000-¥1500 (sold beginning 10am 17 October)

Asano Masami
Hosei University Ichigaya campus 13:00 ¥1000 (presales over)

Okiayu Ryoutarou
Okayama Kenritsu Daigaku 13:00 ¥1500 (sold out)

Itou Shizuka, Nabatame Hitomi
Hosei University Ichigaya campus 13:30 free (sold out)

Kano Yui, Katou Emiri (old friends from high school)
Yokohama Kokuritsu Daigaku 13:30 ¥2000 (sold out)

Yukana, Inoue Marina
Waseda University 14:00 ¥2000 (standing room sold on the day)

Shimizu Ai, Sasaki Nozomi
Tokyo Denki Daigaku, Hatoyama Campus 14:00 ¥2000

KENN, Maeno Tomoaki
Hosei University Ichigaya campus 14:30 ¥1200 (sold out)

Marble, MOSAIC.WAV, +
Waseda 14:30 ¥1000 (apply on web before 28 Oct)

Akesaka Satomi
Waseda 15:00 ¥1600 (apply on web by 21 Oct)

Kobayashi Yuu
Waseda 15:00 ¥1000-¥1500

Yahagi Sayuri, Sakura Ayane
Chuou Daigaku Tama campus 16:30 ¥1800 (sold out)


Sat 10 Nov
Taniyama Kishou, Shimono Hiro
Ochanomizu College for Women 10:30 ¥1500


Sun 11 Nov
Terashima Takuya (involved in Kokoro Connect bullying incident)
Ochanomizu College for Women 14:00 ¥800 (sold out)

JAM Project
Kobe University 16:00 free (sold out)


Sat 17 Nov
Hirano Aya (concert)
Momoyama Daigaku Gakuin 17:00 ¥1500 (sold out)


Fri Nov 23 (holiday)
Hyadain
Tokyo U 17:00 free

Fukuhara Kaori
Keio University (time not set) free (apply on web 26 Oct-9 Nov)


Sat Nov 24
Hirata Hiroaki, Yamaguchi Kappei
Denki Tsuushin University 13:00 ¥1200

Arai Satomi, Harada Hitomi
Doushisha University 15:00 free (apply on web)


Sun 25 Nov
Yukana, Kobayashi Yuu
Denki Tsuushin University 14:30 ¥1200

Asumi Kana
Kyushu Technical University Dept.of Technology 16:30 ¥1500 (sold out)









That event featuring Yukana and Kobayashi Yuu looks pretty interesting, as does the one with Shizuka-sama and Nabatame. I'm not sure how much precedence each group gives to their own students.

And I note that Yuuki Aoi, who apparently attends Waseda University, is doing her event at another school (Aoyama Gakuin).

Kayano Ai

Here are character/seiyuu pages for three more new shows: Sukitte ii na yo, Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, and Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai.

The pages show pictures of the main characters and their seiyuus, with a bit of info about each seiyuu (age, previous roles).

Sukitte ii na yo is simply excellent shoujo, starring Kayano Ai and Sakurai Takahiro. Kayano is the ordinary girl who falls in love with the school's top player (Sakurai), who is nice to her and may like her for being different from all the other girls. Great performances by the two leads.

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai is Kyoto Animation's popular new moe showcase. Fukuyama Jun is as good as the lead, an ex-chuuni (sophomoric fantasist) who is glommed onto by a moe current chuuni (played by rising young voice Uchida Maaya, who was Rea in Sankarea). Also in the cast is popular seiyuu personality Uesaka Sumire, who dresses goth-loli and may be a bit of a chuuni herself.

Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo is about a guy in a mixed dorm who is forced to look after a new girl student who is a brilliant artist, but so incapable in daily life that she can't even dress herself. It's a moe fanservice comedy that is slated for 24 episodes, and has more to it than just fanservice.

New star Matsuoka Yoshitsugu (Kirito in Sword Art Online) plays the male lead, with the brilliant and now ubiquitous Kayano Ai as the fey artist. Lots of good supporting actors, including Horie Yui, Toyoguchi Megumi, and Sakurai Takahiro (again). Former TV actress Nakatsu Mariko, and Takamori Natsumi (Misaki Mei in Another) round out the main cast.

Here are character/seiyuu pics and info for two more new shows. One features a performance that may be Hanazawa Kana's best. The other features a new 14-year-old seiyuu who may be something very special.

Hanazawa Kana

Psycho-pass is a police drama in the noitaminA time-slot. It is set in a future Japan in which psychological tendencies can be identified and potential criminals locked up before they commit a crime.

Our heroine, played by Hanazawa Kana, is a brilliant newly graduated police inspector who finds that the real world is a bit more complicated than she expected. The story is by Urobuchi Gen, who writes for Nitroplus and did both Madoka Magika and Fate/Zero.

I was lukewarm to the first episode, but episode 2 bowled me over. Terrific direction and storyboarding, and an amazing performance by Kana-chan, whose tone of voice just drove the episode forward. Her co-star is Seki Tomokazu, who was also at his best.

Add Ishida Akira, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nojima Kenji, Itou Shizuka, and the gravelly maturity of Arimoto Kenryuu (Patrick Zala in Gundam Seed) and you really have something -- with Sakurai Takahiro yet to come.

OniAi (Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankei Nai yo ne) is a full-on harem show featuring the long-lost bro-con sister who comes to live with her brother, the live-in manager of a residence for women. Get it? I resisted, but resistance is futile: the performances and the humour just work.


It's very different kind of cast, featuring  14-year-old new seiyuu Kido Ibuki as the bro-con sister. Remember that name. Her big voice is a terrific instrument, she uses it very well, and she can be funny.

The harem lead, Ohsaka Ryouta, is 26 and got his first big role as Yuki in tsuritama. His road to the profession wasn't easy: he had wanted to be a seiyuu since he began high school, but after going up to Tokyo from his home in Tokushima and graduating in acting from a community college, then attending courses at an agency's seiyuu school, he failed the school's final audition. Fortunately, the Early Wing agency had a special audition and they selected him from that.

Chihara Minori uses her soft voice well as a dry-witted ojou-san who is also enamored with the brother. Shimoda Asami is his childhood friend, who has transferred schools to be with him. She has played the Futami twins in Idolm@ster, and the male role of Yuuki in Asa Made Jugyou Chu. As a personality, Asa-pon is all over TV and radio. She has done a lot of stage plays, and dubbing, and her voice samples are used for the Vocaloid singers Rin and Len Kagamine. And that's not to mention Kitamura Eri; or Takamoto Megumi, who was Ushio in Sasameki Koto and Saitohimea in Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi.

And there is not just one 14-year-old seiyuu, but another who is 13. Young Morohoshi Sumire, however, is not a newcomer: she has acted in over 20 TV dramas and over 20 animes, as well as dubbing an even larger number of foreign TV shows and films. She currently has her first starring anime role, in Aikatsu. Paku Romi once said that she was such a sensitive actress that the adult seiyuus on the set realized they had to do their best just to keep up.

Check out the cowboybibimbop blog for more pics of Kido Ibuki. Also see the official site for the radio show that she and Asa-pon do. There's a nice little video of her there, showing her powerful voice. She doesn't turn 15 until November 14, but she is clearly no shrinking violet:


Her delivery is a lot better in the anime, lol.

fripSide is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a CD/DVD/BD called Decade, featuring both its original vocalist Nao and its newer vocalist, Nanjou Yoshino. Release date December 5th. The short version of the PV has been released. Yoshino is the one wearing a belt:



fripSide began in 2002 as keyboardist/composer Sat and vocalist Nao. Nao left for a solo career in 2009 and seiyuu Nanjou Yoshino took her place.

fripSide Nao began doing game themes in 2007, with the OP for Koihime Musou, "Flower of Braery." fripSide Yoshino's first release was "Only My Railgun," the theme for To Aru Kagaku no Railgun. This became the group's best seller ever. fripSide went on to do a second Railgun theme ("Level 5: Judgelight"), the theme for a Hayate series ("Heaven is a Place on Earth"), and a theme for a Railgun game ("Way to Answer").

The dancing man who makes a brief appearance is eccentric comic Ruu Oshiba, who I think hosts the live show that is on the DVD/BD.

There are plenty of fripSide videos on YouTube.

As you would imagine, Japanese fans have been busy identifying, touring and photographing the real places used as backdrops for this new Kyoto Animation anime.

The show is not set in one particular place, but its backgrounds are based on locations in and around the city of Otsu 大津, at the south end of Lake Biwa, just northeast of Kyoto.

Here is one fan's Google Map, which I hope will continue to be filled in. Here are one blog's pages for the OP and ep1, and for eps 2-3. I hope that blogger will continue as the episodes progress. And here is another blog's compendium of scenes.

For example, here is a montage of the scenes at the end of the OP, along with a photo of a real place, the double railway bridge over the Setagawa River 瀬田川 at Ishiyama 石山, in the eastern part of Otsu:




Now here is a scene from episode one, with its real-life location on the platform at Anou Station 京阪穴太駅, northwest of Otsu:



The school scenes use the Old Kaigake Elementary School 旧鎌掛小学校 at Hino 日野町, in the countryside southeast of Otsu:




From the overview of the school, you can see how the artists just use photos as a basis, but make whatever changes they want:



Here's a scene from the OP, with its location at Karahashi Park 唐橋公園, next to the Setogawa road bridge at Ishiyama:



And here is another scene from Karahashi Park:



Even surrounding residential streets get into the action. Here is a street east of the railway crossing north of Anou Station:



Finally, here is a video posted October 8 of one fan's visit to the area:



For no particular reason except my love of The Tale of Genji, I have to add that Lady Murasaki is supposed to have started writing that novel in August 1004 AD, when she was living at the Ishiyama-dera temple, on the river about a mile south of the big bridges shown in the anime.

There are some striking differences in the popularity of this season's anime in Japan as opposed to in the English-speaking world.

Chunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai is popular in both, but in the West, Little Busters is ahead of it at #1, at least for the moment. In Japan, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is second to Chuuni, and Little Busters is in sixth place. Jojo is halfway down the chart, in the West.

Girls und Panzer ranks quite high on 2channel, whereas Psycho-Pass is high on AnimeSuki. Shin Sekai yori is quite popular on both.

Other differences are of detail, so here is the list for you to ponder, first in the Japanese order, then in the Western order. Some shows are missing because they are new seasons of older shows, and 2channel often just continues on rater than starting a new forum for the new show. Of course, TV ratings will tell a different story: Magi is by far the most watched new show on Japanese TV.

New shows in order of thousand-post threads on 2channel:

	2ch	AS
Chuunibyou	42	2042
JoJo	33	391
Girls und Panzer	26	679
Busou Shinki	23	213
Shin Sekai yori	22	1009
Little Busters	19	4748
Magi	17	818
Psycho-Pass	17	1420
K	14	950
Sakurasou	13	626
Ixion Saga	8	314
OniAi	8	509
Gyrozetter	7	62
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun	7	345
Robotics;Notes	6	459
Zetsuen no Tempest	6	371
Btooom	6	340
Kamisama Hajimemashita	5	168
To Love-ru Darkness	5	426
Sukitte ii na yo	5	156
Code:Breaker	4	215
Teekyu	3	31
Aikatsu	2	24
Aoi Sekai no Chuushin	1	52

New shows in order of number of posts on AnimeSuki forums:

	AS	2ch
Little Busters	4748	19
Chuunibyou	2042	42
Psycho-Pass	1420	17
Shin Sekai yori	1009	22
K	950	14
Magi	818	17
Girls und Panzer	679	26
Sakurasou	626	13
OniAi	509	8
Robotics;Notes	459	6
To Love-ru Darkness	426	5
JoJo	391	33
Zetsuen no Tempest	371	6
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun	345	7
Btooom	340	6
Ixion Saga	314	8
Code:Breaker	215	4
Busou Shinki	213	23
Kamisama Hajimemashita	168	5
Sukitte ii na yo	156	5
Gyrozetter	62	7
Aoi Sekai no Chuushin	52	1
Teekyu	31	3
Aikatsu	24	2

Figures as of a couple of hours ago.

If you've ever wondered why the singing duo YuiKaori is popular, this video may give you part of the answer. It's the video of last Monday's episode of their weekly radio show. You don't have to understand Japanese to enjoy their attractiveness and playful personalities.




YuiYui is on the left, Carrie on the right. As usual with NicoNico videos, the video will take a while to appear. To get rid of the crawling comments, click the (...) balloon at the lower right.

I was directed to this video by a Japanese headline that said: "It's bad, Hanazawa-san! Ishihara Kaori is in Heaven Sexually Harassing Ogura Yui." Over the past few months, Kana-chan has several times expressed her fondness for Yui.

There's a bit of touchy-feely throughout the show, but the part referred to in the headline starts around the 20-minute mark, when they are doing a game where first Yui and then Carrie tries to distract the other while she is reading. Yui gets pretty close, but Carrie touches Yui in many places and then appears to kiss her (she denies she actually did).

The duo got its start doing the ED for the rather explicit bro-con anime Kiss x Sis, and the erotic undertones continue to be part of their image.


Yui is the fool in the duo, and Carrie the straight man. Carrie often glances at the camera as if to say: "Isn't she cute and silly?" The two are both good-looking, but somehow they always make me think of crocodiles. Maybe it's their large mouths. And maybe they both give me a bit of a predatory feeling. But not in a bad way, lol.

Yui is 17, Carrie 19. They have been singing together for over two years. Yui was already a well-known young idol, and had done dancing that was digitized for Hatsune Miku. She is getting better as a seiyuu, for instance as Alice in Kami-sama no Memo-chou and as Yuzurina in NakaImo. Carrie has recently become a real seiyuu star, starring in Rinne no Lagrange and Magi, and co-starring in shows such as AnoNatsu and NakaImo.

They are both part of the Happy Style idol agency, and they also sing with two other agency members as the group Stylips.

The news has been out for a couple of days, but I wanted to add my own voice congratulating Itou Shizuka on her marriage. She was married on Wednesday, the day she turned 32.

Shizuka-sama continues the 2012 rush of seiyuu weddings: Tanaka Rie married Yamadera Kouichi earlier this year. Shiraishi Ryouko also married.

Personally, I think this should be an even bigger year for Shizuka: I voted her performance as Koko Hekmatyar in Jormungand the top leading actress performance of the year.

In her blog post announcing the event, Shizuka  posts the picture to the right, which was taken by her "beloved darling" (Nabatame Hitomi). The two are very close friends and themselves went through a fake marriage ceremony a few years ago.

Many other seiyuus have congratulated her in their blogs, or by Twitter: Ueda Kana, Tanaka Rie, Sendai Eri, Yuzuki Ryoka, Tamura Mutsumi, Hidaka Rina, Komatsu Mikako, Okiayu Ryoutarou, Asanuma Shintarou, Koyama Tsuyoshi.

Takatsu Karino, the author of Working, in the anime of which Shizuka plays one of the protagonist's sisters, Takanashi Kozue, drew a congratulatory illustration alluding to Shizuka's self-proclaimed reputation as a heavy drinker:



The inscription tells which part she plays in Working and congratulates her on her marriage. In the pic, Shizuka talks about drinking during the service. Just so we know what she looks like, here is a fairly recent pic showing her as she really looks:



In her blog post Shizuka says that her marriage will make no difference to her work, that she thinks it will just make her stronger and more able to take on new challenges.

No word on who her husband is, or what he does.

Last season was one of the best I can recall. So perhaps it's fair that this season doesn't look very promising.

The show I'm most looking forward to is Sasami-san@Ganbaranai, a new offering from Shinbou and Shaft about a female hikikomori who only sees the outside world through a camera attached to her brother.

I'm also intrigued by Kotoura-san, which is about a high-school girl who happens to be able to read minds: stars Kanemoto Hisako, Fukushima Jun, and Hanazawa Kana.

And I'm looking forward to Koshimizu Ami and Fukuyama Jun teaming up again to lead an anime made by the director and writer of Spice & Wolf and also involving economics: Maoyuu Maou Yuusha.

• Ai Mai Mi -- 4-panel comic with an ero edge, starring Uchida Maaya, Kayano Ai, Ootsubo Yuka and Uchida Aya.
• Amnesia -- Our heroine wakes up and realizes she does not know where or who she is. A boy who calls himself a "fairy" guides her on a journey of discovery through her past life.
• D.C.III: Da Capo III -- The fifth series of a classic harem anime, made by a new studio with a new cast.
• Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun -- shoujo supernatural mystery with a nice cast including Okamoto Nobuhiko and Takagaki Ayahi, and made by a new director who directed episodes of Penguin Drum.
• Love Live! -- Idol anime that is part of a large project that has already produced a series of music videos for which fan feedback determined costumes and the precedence of the stars.
• Mangirl! -- That's "manga girl," not "man-girl." Cute but inexperienced manga editors try to make their new magazine the best in the world.
• Minami-ke Tadaima -- A new season of the popular comedy that I may like more now that a new studio and director is producing it.
• Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru -- Maybe it's just the title of this harem comedy that entices me: "My girlfriend and my childhood friend in too much of a battlefield."
• Senran Kagura -- The director of Shakugan no Shana and Ichiban Ushiro no Dai Maou brings us a super-ecchi comedy featuring names like Harada Hitomi, Iguchi Yuka, and Kobayashi Yuu.
• Senyuu -- These are just five-minute episodes, but they mark the return of ex-KyoAni director Yamamoto Yutaka to anime comedy.
• Tamako Market -- KyoAni unleashes a new moe comedy by the director and writer of K-On.
• Vivid Red Operation -- The director of Strike Witches creates another show featuring moe girls fighting alien invaders.

Click on title or scroll down for full preview of each show:

● Ai Mai Mi     ● AKB0048 next stage     ● Amnesia     ● Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman     ● Beast Saga     ● Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Next     ● Chihayafuru 2     ● Cuticle Tantei Inaba     ● D.C.III: Da Capo III     ● Ganbare! Lulu Lolo -- Tiny Twin Bears     ● GJ-bu     ● Gudaguda Fairies 2     ● Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun     ● Hetalia: The Beautiful World     ● Ishida to Asakura     ● Jigoku Youchien     ● Kotoura-san     ● Love Live!     ● Mangirl!     ● Maoyuu Maou Yuusha     ● Minami-ke Tadaima     ● Mondai-ji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?     ● Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru     ● Sasami-san@Ganbaranai     ● Senran Kagura     ● Senyuu     ● Tamako Market     ● The Unlimited - Hyoubu Kyousuke     ● Vivid Red Operation     ● Yama no Susume     

Notes:
-- dates and times may change, and will be updated in my anime calendar, which should come out in two weeks' time. 
-- information from official sites, MoonPhase, AniDB, Anime News Network, Japanese Wikipedia, et al.
-- English titles link to the Anime News Network encyclopedia; Japanese titles link to official sites. "forum" links to AnimeSuki forum.
-- click images to enlarge. 

Winter 2013 Shows in Chronological Order:


Yama no Susume
  (jp: ヤマノススメ)   jpWiki

moe girls friendship
A girl who loves mountains and a girl who fears heights decide to climb a mountain together to see sunrise from the peak, as they did when they were young. A series of five-minute shorts directed by the veteran director who did Aquarion Evol. Nice group of voices: Iguchi Yuka, Asumi Kana, Hikasa Youko, Ogura Yui.

director: Yamamoto Yuusuke   writer: Shiro (orig).
seiyuus: Iguchi Yuka, Asumi Kana, Hikasa Youko, Ogura Yui.
animation: 8bit.
forum. wed 02 jan 25:30


Mangirl!
  (jp: まんがーる!)   jpWiki

moe comedy with manga editors
Four cute but inexperienced manga editors struggle to launch what they hope will be Japan's #1 manga magazine. The original manga began in the first edition of the manga magazine Comic Earth.

Director Nakanishi Nobuaki did Koihime Musou and Kasimasi Girl Meets Girl. Writer Yoshida Reiko did K-On.

The four main characters are played by comparative newcomers, but they are supported by some big young names: Kayano Ai, Taketatsu Ayana, Kitamura Eri, and Yuuki Aoi. Kayanon and Ao-chan may keep me around even if the show isn't as interesting as I hope it will be. Miyamoto Kanako, who plays the lead girl, Hana, has been a TV and film actress and has a number of CDs and an album, but has turned to seiyuu work in recent years.

director: Nakanishi Nobuaki   writer: Yoshida Reiko. Tamaoka Kagari (manga).
seiyuus: Miyamoto Kanako, Komagata Yuri, Otaka Moemi, Ohashi Ayaka, Kayano Ai, Taketatsu Ayana, Kitamura Eri, Yuuki Aoi.
animation: Douga Koubo. ED seiyuus.
manga. forum. wed 02 jan 25:35


Ai Mai Mi
  (jp: あいまいみー)   jpWiki

4-panel comic with school club and alien invaders
Four girls in a high-school manga club draw manga (maybe) and fight other clubs and alien invaders. From a four-panel comic. Typical dry, crazy 4-koma humour, with an ero edge.

 Good young cast includes Uchida Maaya and Kayano Ai, along with Ootsubo Yuka and Uchida Aya. This is director Imazaki Itsuki's first full show, but he is a long-time storyboarder and episode director, having done episodes of Haibane Renmei, Lovege Chu, Vampire Knight, etc. He is also the character designer and scriptwriter here.

The animation company is Seven, which did Recorder and Randsell and Morita-san Mukuchi. Narration by charmingly harsh otaku comic Tenshin Mukai (Mukai Seitarou).

director: Imazaki Itsuki   writer: Imazaki Itsuki. Choboraunyopomi (orig).
seiyuus: Ootsubo Yuuka, Uchida Aya, Uchida Maaya, Kayano Ai, Tenshin Mukai (narration).
animation: Seven. OP seiyuus.
trailer. manga. forum. thu 03 jan 23:00


Cuticle Tantei Inaba
  (jp: キューティクル探偵因幡)   jpWiki

shounen fantasy action comedy
Red-haired detective Inaba has wolf genes and can identify a criminal from a single hair. He works with his assistants -- one of them a cute trap. But he is less than thrilled at having to work with the police again.

This is the first directorial job for Mitsunaka Susumu, a multi-talented key animator who has also done scripts, storyboards, and episode direction. Lead writer Nakamura Makoto did Seitokai Yakuindomo (good) and Telepathy Girl Ran (not so good). The fine voices of Ookawa Tooru, Suwabe Junichi, and Hikasa Youko head the cast.

director: Mitsunaka Susumu   writer: Nakamura Makoto. Mochi (orig).
seiyuus: Ookawa Tooru, Suwabe Junichi, Hikasa Youko, Kosugi Juurouta, Irino Miyu, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Shimoda Asami.
animation: Zexcs.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 04 jan 23:30


Maoyuu Maou Yuusha
  (jp: まおゆう魔王勇者)   jpWiki

demons, fighting, economics
The best cast of the season: Koshimizu Ami, Fukuyama Jun, Saitou Chiwa, Tomatsu Haruka, Touyama Nao, Sawashiro Miyuki, Kamkya Hiroshi…need I say more?

The director and writer of Spice and Wolf bring us another show with strong underpinnings of economics. Humans and demons are continuously at war. The Humans' greatest hero invades the Demon King's castle determined to kill him. But the King is actually a Queen, and she proposes an alliance with the Hero. She explains how a sudden end to the war could lead to chaos as humans turn from fighting demons to fighting each other. The Hero joins forces with the Queen and together they execute a plan to bring prosperity and lasting peace to both Humans and Demons.

It's a show based in economics, like Spice and Wolf, and starring the same great duo: Koshimizu Ami and Fukuyama Jun.

director: Takahashi Takeo   writer: Arakawa Naruhisa. Touno Mamare (orig).
seiyuus: Koshimizu Ami, Fukuyama Jun, Saitou Chiwa, Tomatsu Haruka, Touyama Nao, Sawashiro Miyuki, Kamiya Hiroshi, Fukuen Misato, Hirakawa Daisuke, Kaji Yuuki, Itou Shizuka, Terashima Takuya.
animation: Arms. OP Yohko, ED Arai Akino.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 04 jan 25:00


D.C.III: Da Capo III
  (jp: D.C.III ~ダ・カーポIII~)   jpWiki

supernatural harem romantic comedy
The fifth series (not counting two specials and a movie) of this classic harem show. The series is something you either love or hate, but I'm a fan. How my affection for the franchise will stand up to a complete change in cast and staff, however, I can’t be sure.

Interest in the English-speaking world is low, and in Japan the 2channel thread was only recently created and has only a few posts. Director Ishikura Kenichi is doing his first show, but has previously done a lot of work as an episode director for Shaft (ef, Hidamari, Natsu no Arashi), and was assistant director on Showa Monogatari and MariaHolic Alive. No production company is named. It seems that staff has been assembled and/or subcontracted specifically for this show. I do look forward to hearing Ono Yuuki, Nitta Emi, and Miyazaki Ui in lead roles.

director: Ishikura Kenichi   writer: Ishikura Kenichi. Circus.
seiyuus: Ono Yuuki, Nitta Emi, Miyazaki Ui, Sasaki Mikoi, Ousaki Chiho, Kaiho Erika, hitomi.
animation: OP seiyuus.
trailer. forum. sat 05 jan 22:00


Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru
  (jp: 俺の彼女と幼なじみが修羅場すぎる)   jpWiki

harem comedy
Top student Eita is determined to get into medical school and refuses to have anything to do with romance. But then the school beauty confesses to him and his childhood friend steps in to make his life a battlefield of love.

Interesting cast features Akasaki Chinatsu, Ousaka Ryouta, Tamura Yukari, Kanemoto Hisako and Kayano Ai. Director Kamei Kanta did Usagi Drop. Writer Urahata Tatsuhiko did Saki and Horizon. Promising all-out harem comedy.

director: Kamei Kanta   writer: Urahata Tatsuhiko. Yuuji Yuuji.
seiyuus: Akasaki Chinatsu, Ousaka Ryouta, Tamura Yukari, Kanemoto Hisako, Kayano Ai.
animation: A-1 Pictures. OP seiyuus, ED Tamura Yukari.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 05 jan 24:00


AKB0048 next stage
  (jp: AKB0048 next stage)   jpWiki

idol music science fiction drama
Kawamori Shouji (Macross) and writer Okada Mari (AnoHana, true tears, etc.) bring us the second season of an anime inspired by the tremendously popular idol group AKB48. Under Kawamori, Hiraike Yoshimasa (AmagamiSS, Solty Rei, Sketchbook) is doing the directing.

In the 21st century, a world war erupts and devastates the Earth, forcing humanity AKB48 group that was so popular just before the Earth was destroyed. In their new world, almost fifty years after leaving Earth, singing and dancing are strictly forbidden. But they dare to put on their own guerrilla performances.

Special auditions were held to choose AKB48 seiyuus for the cast, which was filled out, however, with a bevy of top names. Just as with the real AKB48, the backstories and relationships among the girls are as important as the performances themselves.

director: Hiraike Yoshimasa (Amagami SS, Sketchbook, Solty Rei), chiefdir: Kawamori Shouji (Macross Frontier, Basquash)   writer: Okada Mari (true tears, AnoHana). Kawamori Shouji (concept).
seiyuus: Nakaya Sayaka, Satou Amina, Hata Sawako, Satou Sumire, Sawashiro Miyuki, Ishida Haruka, Yagami Kyuumi, Noto Mamiko, Watanabe Mayu, Iwata Karen, Tamura Yukari, Mita Mao, Nakahara Mai, Kawasumi Ayako, Kakazu Yumi, Ono Daisuke, Shiraishi Ryouko, Ueda Kana, Tamura Yukari, Nakahara Mai, Horie Yui, Kanda Akemi.
animation: Satelight.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 05 jan 25:00


Minami-ke Tadaima
  (jp: みなみけ ただいま)   jpWiki

comedy
A fourth series of this popular comedy franchise is upon us. Satou Rina, Inoue Marina, Chihara Minori, Mizuki Nana, Ono Daisuke, Kitamura Eri…. How come I've never really liked these shows?

In any case, the humour just never did it for me. But I'll try again, especially since yet another studio (feel) tries its hand at the franchise, and top comedy director Kawaguchi Keiiichirou (Hayate, Yutori-chan, OniAi) takes over as director. Lead writer Kouno Takamitsu moves up from having been an episode writer on the very first series.

director: Kawaguchi Keiichirou   writer: Kouno Takamitsu. Sakuraba Coharu (manga).
seiyuus: Satou Rina, Inoue Marina, Chihara Minori, Mizuki Nana, Morinaga Rika, Kakihara Tetsuya, Ono Daisuke, Kitamura Eri, Oohara Momoko, Gotou Saori.
animation: feel. OPED seiyuus.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 05 jan 25:00


Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun
  (jp: 八犬伝 -東方八犬異聞-)   jpWiki

shoujo supernatural mystery
A marvellous cast takes on a supernatural mystery involving a magical sword and survivors of a plague. Lead seiyuus include Kakihara Tetsuya, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Hino Satoshi and Takagaki Ayahi, with names like Miki Shinichirou and Kamiya Hiroshi in the supporting cast.

New director Yamazaki Mitsue has done storyboards and directed episodes for Penguin Drum and Natsuyuki Rendezvous. He is working under chief director Yamasaki Osami (Hakuouki, Itazura no Kiss, Toward the Terra). This looks like the good Studio DEEN.

director: Yamazaki Mitsue; Yamasaki Osamu (chiefdir)   writer: Yamazaki Mitsue, Yamasaki Osamu. Abe Miyuki (manga).
seiyuus: KakiharaTetsuya, Hino Satoshi, Takagaki Ayahi, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Maeno Tomoaki, Terashima Takuya, Miyake Junichi, Miki Shinichirou, Kamiya Hiroshi, Namikawa Daisuke.
animation: Studio Deen. OP Faylan, ED Kakihara Tetsuya.
trailer. manga. forum. sat 05 jan 26:58


Senran Kagura
  (jp: 閃乱カグラ)   jpWiki

ecchi action comedy
Super-ecchi comedy set in a school for female ninjas. Directed by the director of Shakugan no Shana and Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou. Adapted by the writer of Elfen Lied and Sekirei.

Excellent cast includes the underrated Harada Hitomi, who plays Nori in Hidamari Sketch and Himeji in Baka to Test.

director: Watanabe Takashi   writer: Yoshioka Takao. Takaki Kenichirou (orig, planning).
seiyuus: Harada Hitomi, Iguchi Yuka, Imai Asami, Kobayashi Yuu, Mizuhashi Kaori, Toyoguchi Megumi, Shiraishi Ryouko, Kitamura Eri, Gotou Saori, Kayano Ai.
animation: Artland. OP Sasaki Sayaka, ED seiyuus.
trailer. manga. forum. sun 06 jan 20:30


Love Live!
  (jp: ラブライブ！)   jpWiki

idol comedy/drama
A Tokyo high school faces closure, so nine of its female students decide to become idols to boost attendance and protect their school. This is the anime series of an idol project that has already produced several animated music videos. Fan votes influenced the idols' wardrobe, and even which idols would get center stage. Dengeki G's magazine, Lantis music, and Sunrise have worked together on the project.

The anime is created by Sunrise's Studio 8, which did both Horizon and Accel World. New director Kyougoku Takahiko is an increasingly busy storyboarder and episode director. Top hand Hanada Jukki does the writing.

The cast includes singing seiyuu such as Nanjou Yoshino, Mimori Suzuko, and Uchida Aya, along with what appear to be quite new seiyuu and a couple of idols. The videos and the trailer all suggest this should be a well-produced show, transcending its cliches.

director: Kyougoku Takahiko   writer: Hanada Jukki.
seiyuus: Nitta Emi, Nanjou Yoshino, Uchida Aya, Mimori Suzuko, Iida Riho, Pile, Kusuda Aina, Kubo Yurika, Tokui Sora.
animation: Sunrise.
trailer. forum. sun 06 jan 22:00


Ishida to Asakura
  (jp: 石田とあさくら)   jpWiki

surreal gag comedy with hints of BL
The surreal comedy centers around the friendship of two high-school boys, one of whom wants to become a teacher in a girls' school, while the other wants to start a florist shop with the first.

Director Pippuya has directed nothing but the OVA Kachou no Koi. Writer Yamashita Kenichi wrote numerous episodes of Yumeiro Patissiere and of Ginga e no Kickoff.

Stars two lesser-known seiyuus: Morishima Shuuta was Opera in Milky Holmes. Nakamoto Nobuhisa was Takeshi in Weiss Survive.

director: Pippuya   writer: Yamashita Kenichi. Masao (manga).
seiyuus: Morishima Shuuta, Nakamoto Nobuhisa, Sakurai Tooru, Nakano Saima.
animation: Hotline.
manga. forum. sun 06 jan 22:27


Amnesia
  (jp: AMNESIA)   jpWiki

amnesia romance from an otome game
I love the set-up: heroine regains consciousness in an unfamiliar cafe, with no memories of the past. Where is this place? What am I doing here? Who am I?

A boy appears before her. His name is Orion. He calls himself a fairy. Under Orion's direction, she searches for clues about herself. She eventually meets people who know her: a childhood friend, a senior, a lover.

Director Oohashi Yoshimitsu did Witchblade and Sacred Seven. Writer Machida Touko did Lucky Star and Idolm@ster. Based on an otome game (game for girls) from Otomate.

I love the situation, the character design, and the cast (Nazuka Kaori, Kakihara Tetsuya, Taniyama Kishou, Ishida Akira and others). I'll give this myth a chance.

director: Oohashi Yoshimitsu (Witchblade, Sacred Seven)   writer: Machida Touko (Lucky Star, Idolm@ster). Idea factory (Otomate).
seiyuus: Nazuka Kaori, Kakihara Tetsuya, Taniyama Kishou, Ishida Akira, Hino Satoshi, Miyata Kouki, Igarashi Hiromi.
animation: Brains Base. OP Yanagi Nagi, ED Ray.
trailer. forum. mon 07 jan 23:30


The Unlimited - Hyoubu Kyousuke
  (jp: THE UNLIMITED -兵部京介-)   jpWiki

paranormal powers fighting
A spin-off from Zettai Karen Children, but by a new studio, with a new director (doing his first full show), new characters, and more guys than girls. The writer did Ristorante Paradiso and Sket Dance, as well as the script for the ZKC OVA.

I didn’t have much use for ZKC, but I will definitely give this new show a look., if only to hear Suwabe Junichirou and Touyama Nao.

director: Igarashi Shishou   writer: Inotsume Shinichi. Shiina Takashi (manga).
seiyuus: Yusa Kouji, Suwabe Junichirou, Touyama Nao, Ochiai Hiroshi, Oohara Sayaka, Hatano Wataru, Taniyama Kishou.
animation: Manglobe.
trailer. forum. mon 07 jan 25:35


Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman
  (jp: 幕末義人伝 浪漫)   jpWiki

comedy-drama from a pachinko game
Roman is a phantom thief who steals from the rich the things they have stolen from the poor. Set at the end of the Edo period, in the mid-19th century.

Original character design by Monkey Punch, who does Lupin III. Directed by the director of Knight in the Area.

Starring Nakai Kazuya, Kitamura Ei, Suzumura Kenichi and Uchida Maaya (Rikka in Chuunibyou).

director: Oogura Hirofumi (Knight in the Area)   writer: Higuchi Tatsuto. Takao (novel) 高尾, Monkey Punch (orig).
seiyuus: Nakai Kazuya, Kitamura Eri, Suzumura Kenichi, Uchida Maaya, Suzuki Chihiro, Sudou Saori.
animation: TMS Entertainment. OP Yukino, ED Hige.
trailer. forum. mon 07 jan 26:05


Jigoku Youchien
  (jp: 地獄ようちえん)   jpWiki

flash-animation comedy with little demons
Kiichi has the unfortunate habit of drawing demons and misfortune to himself and those around him. He loves Sakura-chan, but it's his fault that she comes to bear a huge debt. For her sake, he agrees to work at a kindergarten for little devils who are plotting to overthrow humanity.

Flash animation shorts, streamed once a month, every third Tuesday. Twelve episodes.


seiyuus: Ono Yuuki, Asumi Kana, Ookubo Rumi, Honda Mariko, Ishida Haruka (AKB48), Inoue Shinichirou (KDS53).
animation: Kasuga Soft. OP seiyuus.
mon 08 jan 23:00


Senyuu
  (jp: 戦勇)   jpWiki

shounen comedy
Having declared not so long ago that he was through with anime, Yamakan and his Ordet studio return with a series of five-minute shorts based on Robinson Haruhara's manga.

A gigantic hole opens up in the world, and demons issue forth. The king thinks this signals the return of the demon king, who was sealed away by a hero a millenium ago. The king decrees that the descendants of the hero must take on the threat, and 75 people show up. Hero No. 45 (Aruba) and a sadistic palace warrior (Ross) team up for the fight.

The one female in the main cast, Kayano Ai, is surrounded with great voices: Nakata Jouji, Suzumura Kenichi, Nakamura Yuuichi, Shimono Hiro. Yamakan and comedy? I'm in.

director: Yamamoto Yutaka   writer: Yokote Michiko.
seiyuus: Shimono Hiro, Nakamura Yuuichi, Suzumura Kenichi, Nakata Jouji, Kayano Ai.
animation: Ordet. OP/ED JAM Project.
trailer. forum. tue 08 jan 25:35


Tamako Market
  (jp: たまこまーけっと)   jpWiki

"healing" moe slice of life comedy
The director, writer, and character designer of K-On bring us a new moe comedy set in a shopping district. As someone who dropped K-On after half a season, I'm not as thrilled as many people are, but I'll certainly be there to see how this goes.

Once again, KyoAni gives us a cast of relative unknowns…who may become better known because of this show. But the main cast is supported by several experienced hands, including Fujiwara Keiji, Yukino Satsuki, and Ono Daisuke.

director: Yamada Naoko   writer: Yoshida Reiko.
seiyuus: Suzaki Aya, Kaneko Yuki, Nagatsuma Juri, Yamazaki Takumi, Hidaka Rina, Tamaru Atsushi, Yamashia Yurie, Fujiwara Keiji, Nishimura Tomomichi, Tachiki Fumihiko, Yukino Satsuki, Ono Daisuke, Tsujitani Kouji, Narita Ken, Hikasa Youko.
animation: Kyoto Animation.
trailer. forum. wed 09 jan 24:30


GJ-bu
  (jp: GJ部)   jpWiki

school comedy
Within the old school building of a certain high school, is the clubroom of the GJ (Good Job) Club, into which Kyouya finds himself conscripted. The other members are: Mao, the short and egotistical president; Megumi, Mao's sister, who is as generous as an angel; Shion, a genius lacking in common sense; and Kirara, who is perpetually hungry. (anidb)

Uchida Maaya, fresh from her triumph as Rikka in Chuunibyou, leads the cast. Mimori Suzuko is also here, as is Shimono Hiro. First-time director Fujiwara Yoshiyuki did storyboards for Ao no Exorcist and SAO. From a novel.

director: Fujiwara Yoshiyuki   writer: Koyasu Hideaki. Araki Shin (novel).
seiyuus: Uchida Maaya, Miyamoto Yume, Arakawa Chika, Shimono Hiro, Mimori Suzuko.
animation: Douga Koubou.
trailer. wed 09 jan 25:29


Gudaguda Fairies 2
  (jp: gdgd妖精s 2)   jpWiki

comedy with moe fairies
A second season of bizarre humour from a group of three little fairies played by Mimori Suzuko, Mizuhara Kaoru, and Akesaka Satomi.

Entirely 3DCG, but with good art design. Character designer Sugahara Souta takes over as director for this second series of 15-minute episodes.

director: Sugahara Souta   writer: Osabe, Kazuyuki, Yamamoto, Taizō.
seiyuus: Mimori Suzuko, Mizuhara Kaoru, Akesaka Satomi.
trailer. wed 09 jan 25:40


Sasami-san@Ganbaranai
  (jp: ささみさん@がんばらない)   jpWiki

comedy with romance and hikikomori
Shinbou returns, with an unusual romantic comedy about a hikikomori who is unmotivated about even changing clothes or eating. Her elder brother slavishly takes care of her, and she views the outside world only via a Brother Surveillance Tool on her computer.

 In the outside world, the three weird but beautiful Yagami sisters -- including a big-breasted nine-year-old and an eroge-loving 31-year-old loli -- are involved with Brother in what is apparently not a romantic comedy. Adapted from a novel.

Lead writer is Takayama Katsuhiko, who did Hantsuki, both ef shows, Machi ga Mawatteiru, and Dusk Maiden Amnesia. As an abject Shinbou fan, I will be all over this one, especially with Chiwa and HanaKana in the cast.

director: Shinbou Akiyuki   writer: Takayama Katsuhiko (Hantsuki, ef shows, Machi ga Mawatteiru, Dusk Maiden). Akira (novel).
seiyuus: Ootsuka Houchuu, Asumi Kana, Hanazawa Kana, Nonaka Ai, Saitou Chiwa.
animation: Shaft. OP ZAQ.
trailer. forum. thu 10 jan 25:25


Vivid Red Operation
  (jp: ビビッドレッド・オペレーション)   jpWiki

girls fighting aliens
In a future world, Earth's energy problems have recently been solved by new technology and the world enjoys peace and plenty. Suddenly, an unknown invader appears, targeting Earth's technology. But our young heroines step up to defend the planet. "Friendship is the key to defending the Earth."

Directed and written by the director of Strike Witches, with the help of writer Yoshino Hiroyuki (Mai-hime, Magi, etc.).

Rising star Sakura Ayane leads the cast, supported by more young stars: Ootsubo Yuka, Uchida Aya, Uchida Maaya, et al.

If this resembles Strike Witches, it will be very popular and I will not watch more than a couple of episodes. But it is one of the most anticipated shows of the season.

director: Takamura Kazuhiro   writer: Yoshino Hiroyuki, Takamura Kazuhiro.
seiyuus: Sakura Ayane, Murakawa Rie, Ootsubo Yuka, Uchida Aya, Uchida Maaya, Terasoma Masaki, Oogame Asuka.
animation: A-1 Pictures. OP earthmind.
trailer. forum. thu 10 jan 25:30


Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Next
  (jp: 僕は友達が少ないNEXT)   jpWiki

harem comedy
Second season for the popular and entertaining harem comedy. The official site promises a new character (a little nun) and great changes in the relationship among the club members. The first season was fairly enjoyable, and the cast alone -- Kimura Ryouhei, Itou Kanae, Inoue Marina, Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, et al. -- are enough to make this worth a look.

The director did Love, Election and Chocolate, but not the first series of Haganai (the nickname for this show). The writer did Strawberry Panic, Saki, and Horizon.

director: Kitahata Tooru   writer: Urahata Tatsuhiko. Hirasaka Yomi.
seiyuus: Kimura Ryouhei, Itou Kanae, Inoue Marina, Hanazawa Kana, Yamamoto Nozomi, Fukuen Misato, Iguchi Yuka.
animation: AIC Build.
trailer. manga. forum. thu 10 jan 25:55


Kotoura-san
  (jp: 琴浦さん)   jpWiki

four-panel comic
From a funny online four-panel comic. Kotoura Haruka is a pretty girl, but a slow student who loves sweets. However, she can read people's minds.

She transfers into a new high school, where she joins the ESP club. She drags the male main character in after her, despite the fact that the way he proved to himself she really could read minds was by imagining her in bed with him.

 Kanemoto Hisako, Fukushima Jun, and Hanazawa Kana head the cast. The director and writer worked together on Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe, and Yuruyuri. Promising show.

director: Oota Masahiko   writer: Takashi Aoshima. Enokizu (online manga).
seiyuus: Kanemoto Hisako, Fukushima Jun, Hanazawa Kana, Kubo Yurika, Shimono Hiro.
animation: AIC Classic.
trailer. manga. forum. thu 10 jan 26:00


Mondai-ji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?
  (jp: 問題児たちが異世界から来るそうですよ?)   jpWiki

ecchi comedy drama with violence
"So these problem children come from another world?" The moment bored teen Izayoi opens a letter he receives, he is transported to an alternate world. There, he meets two other "problem children" who have been transported there — a taciturn girl with a cat, and a girl who is beautiful and haughty. A bunny girl named Black Rabbit has summoned them to help overthrow the devil.

Directed by Yamamoto Yasutaka (Squid Girl 2) under chief director Kusakawa Keizou (Sekirei, Dog Days). From a popular novel. Writer Kimura Noboru did AmagamiSS+ and Haiyore Nyaruko-san.

A less distinguished cast includes Nakajima Megumi and Nomizu Iori, along with Asanuma Shintarou, Arai Satomi, and Mikami Shiori. The haughty beauty is played by newcomer Emi Sarah Bridcut -- who appears to be half Caucasian -- a seiyuu whose only previous credits are for dubbing (including Law and Order episodes) and a TV announcer's voice in Ebiten.

director: Yamamoto Yasutaka, Kusakawa Keizou (chiefdir)   writer: Kimura Noboru. Tatsunoko Taro (novel).
seiyuus: Nakajima Megumi, Emi Sarah Bridcut, Nomizu Iori, Asanuma Shintarou, Arai Satomi, Igarashi Hiromi, Mikami Shiori.
animation: Diomedea. OP Nomizu Iori, ED Sadohara Kaori.
trailer. forum. fri 11 jan 25:30


Chihayafuru 2
  (jp: ちはやふる 2)   jpWiki

josei comedy/drama with sports and some romance
Second season for the well-made comedy/drama featuring talented young seiyuu Seto Asami as an irrepressible player of karuta, the competitive card game based on classical Japanese poetry.

director: Asaka Morio   writer: Katou Ayako, Kakihara Yuuko; Suetsugu Yuki (manga).
seiyuus: Seto Asami, Hosoya Yoshimasa, Miyano Mamoru, Nara Tooru, Kayano Ai, Yonaga Tsubasa, Terasaki Yuka, Takagaki Ayahi, Han Megumi.
animation: Madhouse.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 11 jan 25:53


Beast Saga
  (jp: ビーストサーガ)   jpWiki

young-shounen battles
On a distant planet called Beast, three beast tribes -- the Sea Tribe, the Land Tribe, and the Sky Tribe -- do battle. Each of the tribes protects an infinite elemental power source called Godlot.

Director Ono Katsumi did Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's and the very different Hataraki Man. Lead writer Tsuchiya Michihiro did Kaikan Phrase and Nijuumensou no Musume.

director: Ono Katsumi   writer: Tsuchiya Michihiro. Takara Tomy.

animation: Synergy SP.
sun 13 jan 08:44


Ganbare! Lulu Lolo -- Tiny Twin Bears
  (jp: がんばれ! ルルロロ)   jpWiki

kids
Little twin girl bears try their paws at various kinds of work: cleaning, looking after babies, etc. Based on a popular picture-book, "The Bears' School."

The book's writer is lead writer on this show, with the help of Okada Mari. Director Kodama Tetsurou did a movie based on the book.

director: Kodama Tetsurou   writer: Aihara Hiroyuki, Okada Mari.
seiyuus: Shimizu Shion, Chikasada Tsukino, Hidaka Noriko, Suzuki Takuma, Kojima Ichika, Tsuda Shoko, Tsuji Shinpachi.
animation: Fanworks.
thu 17 jan 07:40


Hetalia: The Beautiful World
  (jp: ヘタリア The Beautiful World)   jpWiki

boys-love comedy
Watanabe Hiroshi takes over from Bob Shirohata to direct this fifth series of the surprise hit featuring bishounen representing various nations. Watanabe directed Ueki's Law, Shining TearsxWind, Cooking Idol Ai Mai Mine, etc. New writer Fudeyasu Kazuyuki wrote Milky Holmes and Kamen no Maid Guy. The strong cast continues.

director: Watanabe Hiroshi   writer: Fudeyasu Kazuyuki. Himaruya Hidekazu (orig).
seiyuus: Takahashi Hiroki, Yasumoto Hiroki, Namikawa Daisuke, Konishi Katsuyuki, Kaida Yuki, Onosaka Masaya, Sugiyama Noriaki, Takato Yasuhiro.
animation: Studio Deen. OP Namikawa Daisuke.
trailer. manga. forum. fri 25 jan

This show is no masterpiece, but it does amuse me every week with its subtle -- some might say simple -- humour.

It may be the seiyuus who make it work, from the capable Shimono Hiro, through the energy of Uchida Maaya, to Mimori Suzuko showing that she has some range. And now that I come to learn about all the seiyuus, I realize that this show has the highest concentration of young teen seiyuus I can remember: two 13-year-olds and others 14, 15 and 16.

Click here or on the image to go to the full page:



Thirteen-year-old child actress Arakawa Chika plays Kirara. Morohoshi Sumire, who is the same age and the star of Aikatsu, plays Mao's little sister. Another child actress, Aoi Wakana (14) plays Kirara's sister. Kido Ibuki (15) returns as Kyouro's sister, after her triumph as Akiko in OniAi. Miyamoto Yume (Monami in Capeta), who plays Megumi, is almost old at 16, and has far more anime experience than the young TV actresses.

Add to them the fascinating Uesaka Sumire (21) and finally Tsunematsu Ayumi (29), who was Marina Ismail in Gundam00 and does a terrific job here as the maid Mori-san.

Not all of the young seiyuus have yet appeared in the show. I'm waiting to hear them.

This is one of my favorite shows of the current season. Mainly for the outstanding drawing and animation, but also because the story moves at a nice pace and the characters are vivid.

The cast is a mixture of young seiyuus just now becoming stars, and idols doing their first seiyuu work. This show is the product of a real idol project that started in 2010 and has produced a number of music videos separate from the anime.

Click here or on the image to go to a full page with pics of the characters and their seiyuus, and some info about each seiyuu:



The star is Nitta Emi, who debuted as Kotori in last year's TP Sakura OVA. This season, she is starring both in this show, as Honoka, and in DC Da Capo III, as Ricca.

With her is Nanjou Yoshino (the student council president), whose role as Akino in Robotics;Notes proved that she has become a real seiyuu, as well as the singer she is with fripSide. The other two known names in the main cast are Uchida Aya (Kotori; Himawari in Vividred Operation) and Minori Suzuko (Umi; Sherlock in Milky Holmes).


But the unknowns are even more interesting. Iida Riho (Rin) was a teen photo-idol, with numerous DVDs and photo books to her name. She has also acted in TV dramas and films.

Kubo Yurika (Hanayo) was a teen model, then after 18 put out a series of fairly sexy (but not quite nude) DVDs. She actually does have a bit of seiyuu experience, with small roles in Sakurasou, Sukitte ii na yo and a couple of other shows.

Pile (Maki) is a half-Korean singer who had a single of her own out before she joined the Love Live project in 2010.

The other three members of the main cast have come up in a more normal way, as seiyuus. Kusuda Aina (Nozomi) had bit parts in Penguin Drum and Gon. Tokui Sora (Nico) was Nero in Milky Holmes.

It's called OreShura for short, but the full title of this show is Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru: "There's too much carnage between my girlfriend and my childhood friend."

It was one of the most anticipated shows of the season, and started with a bang, but it fell off for a few episodes and has only recently become one of my favorites of the season.

The coolest thing about the seiyuus is the presence of Tamura Yukari (now age 36) as a romantic heroine in the midst of a cast all of whom are at least ten years younger: Ousaka Ryouta (26), Akasaki Chinatsu (25), Kanemoto Hisako (24), Kayano Ai (25), Taneda Risa (24), Touyama Nao (20).

Click here or on the image to go to the full page::


Another cool thing is that Taneda Risa -- young Saki in Shinsekai yori -- is playing a teenage boy here. It's also cool to hear Kayano Ai as a full-on tsundere; and Touyama Nao as a nasty character.

And this is the next big role for Akasaki Chinatsu, who was so outstanding as Nibutani Shinka in Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai. There is a character here with chuunibyou, but she is played by Kanemoto Hisako (Squid Girl), who just gets better and better.

This show is fairly peculiar even by director Shinbou Akiyuki's standards. The first episode reminded me of Shinbou's 2004 gothic horror OVA, Le Portrait de Petite Cossette, in which his art-school origins first (?) revealed themselves.

The main cast is composed of Shinbou favorites: Asumi Kana, Saitou Chiwa, Hanazawa Kana, and Nonaka Ai. Sasami's brother is played by veteran seiyuu Ootsuka Houchuu, who had roles in Zeta Gundam, Slam Dunk, and Naruto.

Click here or on the image to go to the full page:



Sasami is the successor priestess to the shrine of the moon god Tsukuyomi, but she also bears within herself the powers of his sister, the great sun goddess Amaterasu. Wanting nothing to do with all this, she has fled to the life of a hikikomori, spending all day in her room, in her pajamas, on the Internet. Her brother -- whose face we never see -- slavishly devotes himself to looking after her every need.

The other recurring characters are three sisters whose names refer to the three sacred treasures of the Japanese Emperors: the mirror, sword, and jewel (Kagami, Tsurugi, and Tama). The smallest sister, Tsurugi, is the eldest; and the biggest, Tama, is still a grade-schooler.

I was entranced by the show's ultra-Shinbou visual fantasies in episode one, but since then its wonderful mood, pacing, and characters have taken over for me. The show does not appear to be popular either in Japan or abroad, but personally I love it. Seems like Art to me.

This is a show that inspires strong feelings, both pro and con. It barely registers on 2channel and has few posts on AnimeSuki, but posts in both places range from great enjoyment to ridicule. And the show's ratings on AnimeNewsNetwork range from excellent to awful.

Of course, this is normal for an anime based on an otome game (game for girls) in a fandom dominated by male otaku. But amnesia itself is a hot button for many people, especially con. And Nazuka Kaori's performance as the heroine is so intense -- weak, confused, in doubt, but carrying on -- that it is a bit of a divider, too.

Personally, I think Nazuka-san's performance is award-worthy: strong, consistent, emotionally powerful. Not as peculiar as her Frau Kojiro in Robotics;Notes, but just as intense and well thought out. Marriage and motherhood appear to agree with Kamosan. And I find the mysterious romantic resets intriguing and full of suppressed emotion.

The harem she is surrounded by is pretty powerful, too, especially Taniyama Kishou as Ikki. But Kakihara Tetsuya, Ishida Akira, Hino Satoshi, and Miyake Kenta are a good constellation of voices. And I like the fantasy character design all round: adapted for anime by long-time key animator, first-time character designer Yoshikawa Maho from Hanamura Mai's original designs for the game.

Click here or on the image to go to the full page, which gives an image of each character and their seiyuu, and some info about the seiyuu.

Koshimizu Ami and Fukuyama Jun are back in roles similar to those they played in Spice and Wolf, and they are just as good this time around.

But they are also surrounded by some big names: Saitou Chiwa, Tomatsu Haruka, Touyama Nao, Sawashiro Miyuki, Kamiya Hiroshi, Fukuen Misato, Hirakawa Daisuke, even the recently married Shizuka Itou in the latest episode.

I personally find this show a little ponderous, but I'm still enjoying it, and it certainly lacks nothing in the seiyuu department.

Click here or on the image to go to the full page:


Jun-chan and Amisuke work well together, and I can't help pondering the long-time rumours that they are more than friends in real life, too. Or are they both gay, lol? We at least know that they are actually friends.

The first episode of Kotoura-san was a big surprise. I expected a light comedy and got some fairly heavy drama, about a little girl who unintentionally drove her parents away and wrecked their marriage by the fact that she could read all their thoughts and innocently exposed them.

The show has settled down into that romantic comedy I expected, but continues to give us some depth of feeling, too.

Kanemoto Hisako does a nice job of the protagonist, as she does of Himeka in OreShura. Hanazawa Kana gives us yet another good version of her voice, as the determined president of the ESP society. And model/actress Kubo Yurika shows that her performance as Hanayo in Love Live! is no fluke. She can actually do this stuff.

Click here or on the image to go to the full page: