Yeah, I’m not even going to pretend anymore. Here’s a season preview from me, and now I expect to see a bunch of people doing the above chant towards me after this post.
I’m not really sure what popular opinion on the upcoming anime season is, but I’m browsing the charts as of right now and it’s packed with potential stuff. Every big studio with the exception of KyoAni and Shaft are in this time, and more than half of them are bringing the big guns for their new output. How you may ask? Well let’s just say as of this writing, there are only four light novel adaptations amongst the upcoming stuff. That’s right. Only four, and they’re from the usual suspects to boot. I would never go so far as to say the curse is finally lifted, but thank god people are eyeing manga again as a viable form of source material. Too bad most of them are doomed for failure.
Personally, I’ve never experienced a season where I ended up liking more than two anime (3-4 if you include stuff I find alright) when it ended, and that in itself is pretty damn rare. In fact, the last time I loved two anime at a time (carryovers don’t count, but sequels do)…I want to say Fall 2014 because that had Garo and Mushishi, but the latter was kinda hit and miss in its closing stretch, I don’t like Shirobako, and there’s no way I’m calling Psycho-Pass 2 good even though its constant incompetence did amuse me at the time…was Fall 2013 with Kill la Kill and Samurai Flamenco. Whilst a lot of Spring and Fall seasons (mostly Fall) start off with a lot of promise, most of the shows can’t keep up their momentum and wind up disappointing me by the time the season ends. Hell, most of them don’t even have momentum to begin with, betraying the initial promise of their summaries and staff. Remember the mystery shows last season? Actually, it’s probably best to forget about them.
And it’s a shame, because I was looking forward to a lot of the shows that were coming out in Spring back when their airing dates were yet to be announced. Bungo Stray Dogs looks cool. Araki’s “Attack on Titan with trains” thing looks camp. PA Works’ mecha anime…well okay it looks terrible, but I want to see what they do with it anyways. And like I said, I’m open to being surprised, because I’ve been screwed by anime that looked good in the past and the reverse has happened as well.
But it helps to be optimistically (and pessimistically) prepared. So let’s go through all of Spring’s upcoming anime, starting with what grabbed me based on what I’ve read about them and predict how they’ll inevitably let me down in the future. Now keep in mind, I don’t think a good chunk of these anime will be good. I just think they look interesting enough to write about given how unique they seem whilst being potentially enjoyable.
Bungo Stray Dogs
Synopsis: Nakajima Atsushi was kicked out of his orphanage, and now he has no place to go and no food. While he is standing by a river, on the brink of starvation, he rescues a man whimsically attempting suicide. That man is Dazai Osamu, and he and his partner Kunikida are members of a very special detective agency. They have supernatural powers, and deal with cases that are too dangerous for the police or the military. They’re tracking down a tiger that has appeared in the area recently, around the time Atsushi came to the area. The tiger seems to have a connection to Atsushi, and by the time the case is solved, it is clear that Atsushi’s future will involve much more of Dazai and the rest of the detectives!
Why I’m Interested: Now that Bones is on my good side again, I’m willing to forget that Blood Blockade Battlefront exists and dive into their high-concept manga adaptations with reasonable expectations. And this premise they’ve got is ripe for all kinds of rich storytelling. I’ve heard the manga is decent, but Bones doesn’t exactly aim low when it comes to manga, so that doesn’t surprise me.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: It’s the Star Driver/Captain Earth team doing this show. Be very afraid.
Boku no Hero Academia
Synopsis: What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested extraordinary superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Becoming a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? U.A. High’s Hero Program of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?
Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all gives him a chance to change his destiny…
Why I’m Interested: I have some friends who like the manga for this and whilst I’m wary that it’s only been out for less than two years and is already getting an adaptation, I’m willing to give it a chance given how nice it looks along with the classic feel I’m getting from it. They’re also roping in the music guy who did Haikyuu and Death Parade’s soundtracks (and Robotics;Notes, but let’s forget that) if you guys care about that sorta stuff.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: It looks too kiddy/shonen for my taste, plus trying to go for a classic feel can turn into shallow nostalgia-bait if not handled properly. Also doesn’t help that it’s airing alongside another superhero Bones show that’s way more my speed, plus Bones doing three anime at once doesn’t seem right to me, even with the different teams. Add in the fact that I still remember the disappointment that was One-Punch Man…
Kiznaiver
Synopsis: The fictional Japanese city named Sugomori City is built on reclaimed land. But as the years go by, the city’s population is decreasing. One day, Sonosaki tells her classmate Katsuhira: “You have been selected to be a Kiznaiver.” The Kizuna System, which allows Katsuhira to share his wounds, connects him to the classmates whose lives and personalities completely differ from his. The Kizuna System is an incomplete system for the implementation of world peace that connects people through wounds. All those who are connected to this system are called Kiznaivers. When one Kiznaiver is wounded, the system divides and transmits the wound among the other Kiznaivers.
Why I’m Interested: Trigger doing something that looks like a super angsty take on superpowers? Sure that’s backfired in the past (hi there Charlotte), but…yeah I’ve got nothing. I still want to see it though. Until Trigger gets too mediocre to even lambast like Shaft has been lately, I’ll continue to keep up with their stuff.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: When was the last time Mari Okada wrote a show that wasn’t shit? And I’ve yet to be impressed by any of Imaishi’s experience-less director colleagues in regards to his new studio, so the show’s got that going against it too.
Big Order
No PV for this one yet, so have the OVA with Spanish subtitles
Synopsis: 10 years ago a child wished for the destruction of the world. Now a Group of people has the ability which grants their wishes depending on their power. They are called “Order User”.
Before these great people who has the power of “Order”, One person excels most, with the ability to rule and conquer the world and turned people into puppet when it is on his Jurisdiction, that power belongs to Hoshimiya Eiji, who is also responsible with the destructive phenomena happened exactly 10 years ago.
Why I’m Interested: I read some of the manga for this back when I was big into Future Diary, and it’s basically Code Geass except cranked up to this particular writer’s sensibilities. Lost track of it because the translations were slow and I’ve stopped caring about manga as a medium bar Ken Akamatsu’s stuff these days. I watched the OVA that came out a while back and it had its moments (middle-schoolers having sex? No!), but god was the pacing slow and the direction bad. Hopefully the actual series doesn’t have that, because whilst I’m not nearly as crazy about it as Scamp, I kinda want to see if the writer learned from the mistakes he made with his last work.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: One thing that hasn’t changed from what I remember of the manga is the writer’s constant craziness and disregard for logic, which can get really wearisome if that’s all you have. Also, asread is a pretty shitty studio, animation-wise. It’s been years since I’ve seen Future Diary, but I remember its look being pretty hit-and-miss back then.
Kuromukuro
Synopsis: An original anime by studio P.A. Works in celebration of the studio’s 15th anniversary. It will debut in 2016. That’s literally all the synopsis tells me.
Why I’m Interested: PA Works doing a mecha anime? This, I gotta see.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: When you don’t even give me a synopsis, you know your show isn’t in good hands. It’s Tensei Okamura doing the directing as well, and I really haven’t cared about the dude since he left Bones. Then there’s the standard “I don’t enjoy PA Works anime” argument along with the “holy shit, those character designs look horrendous” one shortly after.
Kidou Senshi Gundam RE: 0096
Synopsis: U.C. 0096. Three years after Char’s rebellion, Banagher Links, a boy who lives on the manufacturing colony Industrial 7, meets a mysterious girl named Audrey Burne. She claims to seek to prevent a potential war by interfering with the transfer of “Laplace’s Box” from the Vist Foundation to a Neo Zeon remnant group known as the “Sleeves”.
However, when a Federation squad also sent to prevent the transfer clashes with the Sleeves, the colony is plunged into battle.
As Banager races through the flames in search of Audrey, one other fateful encounter awaits him—the Unicorn Gundam, a pale white mobile suit that’s the key to Laplace’s Box.
What is Laplace’s Box? What are the secrets that it holds? I don’t know and I don’t care.
Why I’m Interested: Actually, I’m not. I’m just putting the show in this category because I guffawed at the fact that not only are we getting yet another Gundam, it’s a fucking light novel adaptation. As if Gundam’s legacy wasn’t tarnished enough. I’ll be sure to keep up with the reactions to this though. And to be fair, the director’s resume isn’t bad. (edit: according to fgfdfh, this is a recut of the Unicorn OVA and the information I read was complete bullshit. After careful consideration, I decided this does not help the anime in any conceivable way)
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: I won’t be. Because I’m not going to watch it. Gundam hasn’t been good in over two decades and I don’t see this being the exception to the rule.
Joker Game
Synopsis: In 1937, before World War II begins in earnest. Lieutenant Colonel Yuuki of the Imperial Japanese Army forms the “D Agency,” an army intelligence outfit under his command and tutelage. Army General Staff attaches Lieutenant Sakuma to observe the unit’s performance. D Agency casts a wide net to find agents beyond Japanese military personnel, and Yuuki establishes D Agency’s tenets, which go against IJA doctrine: “Don’t kill, don’t get killed, don’t get captured.” With this, Yuuki trains a team of operatives who conduct missions against domestic and foreign powers.
Why I’m Interested: Mostly for how unusual the premise is.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: Although they’re one of the better studios, Production I.G. have always been a bit hit-and-miss. Also, even if the show is well-written, there’s a good chance my military bias will prevent me from enjoying it. Just like how my fantasy bias prevented me from enjoying Moribito. Or how my “cast consisting entirely of badass” bias prevents me from enjoying Ghost in the Shell these days.
Sakamoto desu ga?
Synopsis: First year high school student Sakamoto isn’t just cool, he’s the coolest! Almost immediately after starting school, he began attracting everyone’s attention. The girls love him, and most of the boys resent him. There’s even a boy in the class who works as a model, but who is constantly upstaged by Sakamoto! No matter what tricks the other boys try to play on him, Sakamoto always manages to foil them with ease and grace. Though Sakamoto may seem cool and aloof, he helps others when asked, such as in the case of the boy in his class who was being constantly bullied. No matter what difficulties Sakamoto encounters, he moves through his high school life with confidence and…oh fuck me this synopsis is stupid.
Why I’m Interested: Actually I’m not really interested in this one at all. I just know a bunch of manga fans who like the thing and that Deen is putting Shinji Takamatsu, the guy who did stuff like School Rumble and Gintama, on to direct the thing, thus am putting it here just to see what all the fuss is about. Honestly, the premise looks retarded to me. Don’t see what’s funny about these sort of Gary Stu-ish cool guys. Would Great Teacher Onizuka have been as funny if Onizuka didn’t have his monkey-like goofiness?
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: While the new Lupin’s existence shows that it’s still possible for me to laugh at anime, it’s not a gut-buster. And I can’t remember the last time a gut-buster ever showed up in anime.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Synopsis: As the world is in the middle of an industrial revolution, a monster appears that cannot be defeated unless its heart, which is protected by a layer of iron, is pierced. By infecting humans with its bite, the monster can create aggressive and undead creatures known as Kabane. On the island Hinomoto, located in the far east, people have built stations to shelter themselves from these creatures. People access the station, as well as transport wares between them, with the help of a locomotive running on steam, called Hayajiro. Ikoma, a boy who lives in the Aragane station and helps to build Hayajiro, creates his own weapon called Tsuranukizutsu in order to defeat the creatures. One day, as he waits for an opportunity to use his weapon, he meets a girl named Mumei, who is excused from the mandatory Kabane inspection. During the night, Ikuma meets Mumei again as he sees Hayajiro going out of control. The staff on the locomotive has turned into the creatures. The station, now under attack by Kabane, is the opportunity Ikoma has been looking for.
Why I’m Interested: I’ll level with you guys, out of all the non-sequel anime coming out this season, this looks to be the most enjoyable of the bunch. It’s Wit Studio doing a bombastic shonen action anime (aka another Attack on Titan), which despite the studio’s desire to branch out, is pretty much the only time when they’re in their element. It’s Araki, whose resume is generally solid directorial-wise. The last time he did an original anime with a Geass writer, we got Guilty Crown – which I enjoyed and so did a lot of people even if they don’t want to admit it. Yeah, this looks to be pretty fun.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: The line between enjoyable camp and un-enjoyable camp is pretty damn fine, especially when you’ve got a Geass writer onboard.
Ushio and Tora 2
Synopsis: The apparently “epic” conclusion to MAPPA’s foray into old-school shonen action.
Why I’m Interested: I thought the first installment was alright. It showed its age and didn’t become consistent in quality until it got past the whole episodic structure, but it was several times more enjoyable than most shonen action stuff these days. Definitely interested in seeing its epic conclusion.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: MAPPA not having the resources to properly adapt the conclusion. That’s pretty much always been their problem since their conception and Crimson Moon is proof that they just can’t come through all the time in regards to visuals.
Concrete Revolutio 2
Synopsis: Second half where we actually see the future stuff hinted at in the show’s first half.
Why I’m Interested: I liked the first installment so I’ll watch this.
How I Expect To Be Disappointed: Bones has three shows this season and whilst Revolutio’s animation has always been kinda bad, it was energetic when it needed to be, so I’m worried they’ll give this the same treatment they gave Red-Haired Snow White’s sequel. Also, they’re bringing in more talented writers on board, including Gen Urobuchi, and that’s not always a good thing.
****
Now that all that’s established, let’s take a quick look at the rest of the bunch. Before we start, I should point out that I’m just going to ignore giving attention to the shorts and kiddy stuff like Kaitou Joker because I have nothing interesting to say about them. The next thing we should make clear is that the chances of me enjoying any of the anime listed below are less than 1%, but I’ll still check out some of them to see if they’re worth reviewing on the blog, as well as to keep up with popular discussion. However, I am flat-out ignoring a few because they’re not worth writing about at all, starting with…
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable
Synopsis: None. Because if you don’t know what Jojo is by now…
Why I’m Not Interested: Hell. Fucking. No. Go ask Bobduh or gedata or those Cart Driver guys for praise on this, because as far as I’m concerned, this franchise can stay the hell away from me.
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal – Death Busters-hen
Synopsis: Apparently, someone thought it was a good idea to green light more Sailor Moon.
Why I’m Not Interested: Does anybody like this show?
Macross Δ
Synopsis: Macross Δ (Macross Delta) is set eight years after the events of Macross F aka the Macross series people only remember for the love triangle shit.
Why I’m Not Interested: You guys already know why.
Terra Formars: Revenge
Synopsis: The sequel to the anime “Terra Formars” which adapts the manga by the same name.
Why I’m Not Interested: I didn’t keep up with the first season when it aired. Not interested in going back to it given how no one really cares about this adaptation.
Magi: Sinbad no Bouken
Synopsis: Is Magi really that popular a shonen action show?
Why I’m Not Interested: I can only think of like two people who keep up with this show. And I’m not one of them.
Kyoukai no Rinne 2
Synopsis: The shinigami Rinne Rokudou, and Sakura Mamiya, the girl who can see ghosts, attend the same school. The two spend their days solving the worries of spirits. Rinne is so poor that he is forced to borrow money from Sakura to buy shinigami tools to solve their cases. Rinne and Sakura care for each other, but their relationship is not progressing. However, with the appearance of a new contracted black cat, a beautiful damashigami, and a person with whom Rinne shares a special circumstance, the situation becomes even more chaotic! Rinne and Sakura’s after-school time wrapped up in the world of spirits continues!
Why I’m Not Interested: I don’t remember this show.
Shounen Maid
Synopsis: The manga revolves around Chihiro Komiya, an energetic elementary school student who was living with his mom. Chihiro is very good at doing housework and chores, and his mother’s motto is “No work, no food.” After his mother suddenly dies, a man named Madoka Taketori who claims to be his uncle shows up, and asks Chihiro to come live with him. Chihiro initially refuses, but when seeing the horribly dirty state of Madoka’s rich home, he decides to start cleaning it. Then Madoka makes another offer to Chihiro: that he comes to live with him, but in exchange Chihiro will do the housework. Chihiro accepts this deal, but suddenly finds himself in a maid uniform.
Why I’m Not Interested: Looks too gimmicky for me. It’s also being animated by 8-bit, which isn’t a plus here, there, or anywhere.
Super Lovers
Synopsis: A high school boy named Haru and his mother are living overseas. His mother orders him to take care of and “civilize” his adoptive brother Ren, a wild young boy who dislikes talking with other people. While their relationship is adversarial at first, they grow closer as they begin to understand one another.
Why I’m Not Interested: I’m better off watching one of those homosexual Asian films if I ever feel the need to watch something like this.
Bakuon!!
Synopsis: The story revolves around high school girls who discover the appeal of motorcycles. Sakura Hane is a high school student who looks a little bit like an airhead. On the way to her all-female high school one day, she is worn-out climbing a hilly road with a bicycle, but she sees a girl named Onsa Amano who is riding a motorcycle. Sakura immediately becomes interested in motorcycles, and she and Onsa join the motorcycle club at the school. Then, Sakura sets out to get her license.
Why I’m Not Interested: I don’t think I’ve ever read a more snore-inducing synopsis in a long time.
Kuma Miko
Synopsis: The story follows Machi, a middle school student who serves as a shrine maiden at a Shinto shrine enshrining a bear in the recesses of a certain mountain in Japan’s northern Touhoku region. Machi’s guardian is a talking bear named Natsu, and one day Machi says to Natsu, “I want to go to a school in the city.” The worrywart Natsu then gives Machi — who is ignorant in the ways of the world — a set of trials that she must pass in order to be able to survive in the city.
Why I’m Not Interested: Looks too safe for me. The bear is cute I guess, but overall I don’t see the appeal in these slice-of-life shows or Kinema Citrus in general.
Hai Furi
Synopsis: Japan, 100 years after plate subductions caused many other countries to be submerged. To save the remaining countries, the coastal cities that had been built up were launched into the seas, and the seaborne routes between them expanded. With this expansion, a need for personnel that could safeguard the seas arose. Women began to seek employment in this new industry, and soon, the “Blue Mermaids,” those who keep the sea safe, began to be a source of admiration for many. The childhood friends Akeno Misaki and Moeka China sought to become Blue Mermaids themselves, and together with others who shared their dream, they enrolled in Yokosuka’s Marine High School.
Why I’m Not Interested: Unless someone can give me a very good reason for it, I will never watch a little girl show. Especially when it’s made by Production IMS.
Onigiri
Synopsis: The MMORPG Onigiri thrusts its players into mystical Japan, a land filled with mythical creatures of Japanese legend. Starting as a lone Oni…okay I’m done reading this.
Why I’m Not Interested: Fuck off.
Pan de Peace!
Couldn’t find a PV of this, so here’s the first video that showed up when I tried searching it on Youtube.
Synopsis: The 4koma centers around Minami, an airheaded girl who is starting high school and who loves eating bread for breakfast. Baked goods bring happiness everyday to her and her classmates — the reliable Yuu, the pastry-baking Fuyumi, and the independent Noa.
Why I’m Not Interested: Goddamn, how many cute girl shows are there this season? I guess old trends die hard, don’t they?
Sansha Sanyou
No PV for this either. So here’s a clip of my reaction to this show.
Synopsis: The comedy manga follows the everyday life of three very different high school students. Futaba Odagiri is incredibly energetic but is also a glutton. Teru Hayama looks like an angel but she is really a demonic class president. Youko Nishikawa is the daughter of family that used to be a member of the upper class, but after her father’s company went bankrupt, they became poor.
Why I’m Not Interested: There is absolutely zero chance I am going to find this show funny.
Unhappy♪
Synopsis: Oh for fuck’s sake Shin Oonuma, are you even trying?!
Why I’m Not Interested: I just want to state right now that I don’t hate Shin Oonuma as a person before I start spouting obscenities at his continued existence in this medium. With that said, ^&#@#@^%%^^^^%#@$%%$$%.
Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge
Synopsis: Tanaka who is a high school student simply is a slacker and does not want to do anything at all. He loves to sleep during classes and prefers not moving to save energy. One day he meets his classmate, Ota who is exactly the opposite. Ota is energetic and leader in class. He becomes friends with Tanaka and tries to make him start moving. Based on a popular comic…really?
Why I’m Not Interested: This anime looks like it’ll turn me into its main protagonist if I ever interact with it. And as should be clear by now, I don’t watch anime to relax.
****
Wow, that turned out to be a lot more shows than I expected. Now let’s go through the list of shows that I either know are going to be shit but I’m gonna watch ’em anyways, or shows I’m unsure about regarding whether they’ll be fun to discuss and will watch one or two episodes of them to see if that’s the case. I’m pretty sure I’m going to drop the video game adaptations within the first episode at the very least.
Gakusen Toshi Asterisk 2
Synopsis: Second season of Gakusen Toshi Asterisk.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Because the first one was crap?
Ace Attorney
Synopsis: Probably the same as in the games
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Video game adaptation + A-1 Pictures = disaster.
flying witch
Synopsis: The story follows the 15-year-old witch Makoto Kowata and the other boys and girls in her daily life. With her black cat Chito, the somewhat aimless girl moved from Yokohama to live with her second cousin at Aomori in verdant northern Japan.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Looks like Kiki’s Delivery Service except needlessly stretched out and with Ghibli’s signature style replaced with JC Staff’s bland look. I’ll take a look at it, but honestly, you’re probably better off going to Marow for praise on this.
Endride
No PV, so have this Tropic Thunder clip instead.
Synopsis: The story is set on Endra, an unknown world beneath the surface of Earth itself. It is another world, where the giant Adamas shines above and seven-colored bands drift across the skies.
One day, Shun Asanaga — an ordinary yet positive and bright 15-year-old middle school boy who lived in the “Land Above” — lands in this place. He had discovered a mysterious crystal at his scientific businessman father’s company, and the moment he touched the crystal, he was transported to Endra.
He meets Prince Emirio, who strongly despises the current King Deruzain and had just turned 16 at Endra’s castle. He became of age to ascend to the throne, and he wields a weapon to seek his vengeance at last, but the difference in strength proves to be insurmountable. Captured and imprisoned by Deruzain, Emirio is heartbroken. But then, the walls of the prison suddenly become distorted, and Shun appears within them.
Two youths live in Endra — one to return his former world, and one to exact revenge. The future that is within the grasp of two youths raised in different worlds…
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: I can’t believe this show is two seasons long. Did you really need that many episodes to convey your epic BL fantasy love story, Brains Base?
Seisen Cerberus: Ryuukoku no Fatalité
Synopsis: The anime is set in a continent ruled by sword and magic called Kunaaan, where a power balance between the Holy Kingdom of Amoria, the Kingdom of Ishilfen, and the Vanrodis Kingdom keeps a peace so unstable that any tragedy that befalls any one kingdom will mean war for the entire continent. Another power, the evil dragon Daganzord, also resides on the continent, and no one is powerful enough to stop him from spreading destruction and charred land in his wake. Two individuals, Bairo and Kismitete, undertook a ritual alongside a party of wizards to seal Daganzord, but were foiled. This event was known thereafter as the Balbagoa Tragedy. Bairo and Kismitete’s son Hiiro is saved by Giiru, and Hiiro swears to avenge his parents’ deaths and trains himself with the sword. When Hiiro turns 16, he sets out on a journey to slay the dragon, and Giruu accompanies him, having no choice. Along the way, they meet many types of people, and gain companions on their journey.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Never heard of the game and I doubt Bridge is going to make me interested in it.
Hundred
Synopsis: The story begins with the Hundred, the only weapon that can counter the mysterious Savage life form attacking Earth. To become a Slayer (master of military arts) who wields this Hundred, the main character Hayato Kisaragi successfully enrolls in the marine academy city ship Little Garden. However …
“I wanted to meet you, Hayato!!”
“W–who are you…?”
Me: “I am the guy who’s embarrassed to be reading this shit.”
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Do I have to clarify this?
Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta?
Synopsis: The story centers on Hideki Nishimura, a young man who confessed to a person he thought was a girl online, only for that person to turn out to be a boy. He keeps this “black history” secret and swears to never to trust a “girl” online again. However, one day a girl online confesses to him, and it turns out she’s actually a beautiful girl named Ako Tamaki. Ako cannot tell the difference between the online world and reality, and she is a loner who has trouble communicating. Hideki and his friends from his guild decide to work together to “correct” her.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Terrible premise, terrible artwork, and a terrible studio (Project No. 9 in case you guys were wondering). There is absolutely no way this show is not going to be terrible.
Mayoiga
Synopsis: 30 young men and women who came together on a shady bus tour. The tour’s destination: an illusive, possibly nonexistent village called Nanakimura. In Nanakimura, one can lead a utopian existence, free of the world’s obstacles … or so it was rumored, like an urban legend.
The rest of the synopsis is basically “we want to be Battle Royale“.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: I can’t think of a single thing trying to be Battle Royale that ever worked out. And you can bet your ass Diomedea isn’t going to change my mind on that.
Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
Synopsis: In the story, Subaru Natsuki is an ordinary high school student who is lost in an alternate world, where he is rescued by a beautiful, silver-haired girl. He stays near her to return the favor, but the destiny she is burdened with is more than Subaru can imagine. Enemies attack one by one, and both of them are killed. He then finds out he has the power to rewind death, back to the time he first came to this world. But only he remembers what has happened since.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: I’m not even all that positive on ERASED and Steins;Gate, two of the most critically acclaimed anime in recent memory, let alone ones about time travel. This looks to be those shows with all the stuff I enjoy about ’em removed in order to make way for light novel hijinks. Doesn’t help that White Fox have sucked major ass since Steins;Gate and I doubt this is going to be the show to bring them back into the spotlight.
Sword Gai
Synopsis: The story revolves around Gai, who was born beside a woman who met her death in a forest. He was adopted by the swordsmith Amon. A few years later, Gai becomes Amon’s apprentice, and during the forging of a sword, he loses his right arm. To help him, Amon crushes the demon sword Shiryuu (lit. Death Dragon) to form it into Gai’s replacement right arm. Gai then is able to fuse with the weapon on his arm, and fights against his enemies.
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Honestly, the premise doesn’t look bad. I’m just unable to summon up any energy for it given how it’s a studio I don’t know, adapting a manga I never read, and I can’t get a good grasp on what the story is about from the synopsis or even how long it’ll be. Also, it’s a CG show, so…
Sousei no Onmyouji
Synopsis: Rokuro dreams of becoming anything but an exorcist! Then mysterious Benio turns up. The pair are dubbed the “Twin Star Exorcists” and learn they are fated to marry…
Can Rokuro escape both fates?
When Rokuro’s best friend Ryogo goes missing, Rokuro is forced to ask Benio for help to enter Magano, the realm of the evil Kegare, to rescue him!
Goddamn, who goes around with two synopses?!
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: Because everything I see of it screams “RETARDED!”
Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou
No PV, but in regards to my reactions regarding everything around this show…
Synopsis: The manga follows Agetarou Katsumata, a stupid but honest guy whose family has run a tonkatsu restaurant for three generations. He’s also a beginner club DJ. Oh Deen, you and your high-larious comedies
Why It Doesn’t Look Good: I’m sure people are going to find that premise funny, but I think it’s gimmicky.
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I can’t wait for Spring. Can you?
Minor Quips
In addition to the anime above, the new seasons of Game of Thrones, Veep, Silicon Valley, and The Americans will be arriving in Spring (well, The Americans will be out two or so weeks before the Spring anime season starts) and I’ll be watching them, along with some serialized stuff that continues into Spring and whatever new show catches my eye during that period.
Thanks to Anichart.net for the information.