Winter 2011 Anime Preview

To me, a good anime blog keeps up with their seasonal previews.  That’s how I came upon myself – I simply typed up ‘2010 winter anime’ on Google and came upon Bokutachi no Blog.  That being said, this post essentially marks my one-year anniversary.  I have racked up 280 posts and covered more than 20 series this year.  Not as much as RandomC or some other sites, but still good enough I feel for my first year of anime blogging.  Blogging has been fun and with its ups and downs, I feel myself ready for yet another year and have decided to do something that I have been thinking about: I am leaving Bokutachi no Blog and joining CSW.   It was a hard decision to make but I give to you all my final and perhaps greatest post I have done.

Unfortunately, I do not have a guest commentator with me nor any of the other Team Zero members having the time to help me with this post.  No matter!  It’s now my time to shine!!!  Watch out, Yurripe-chan – SPIRAL is going to stomp on your little SSS ground.  Speaking of Angel Beats, I’m hungry for some mapo tofu, among the many of things this year.

Beezlebub

Studio: Studio Pierrot

Website: http://www.beelze.jp/

Summary: The story follows the “strongest juvenile delinquent”, Oga Tatsumi, a first year in Ishiyama High school for delinquents. One day while fishing by the river he sees a man floating down it, he pulls him to shore and the man splits in half revealing a baby boy. This boy is the son of the demon king and he has been chosen as the one to raise it with the baby’s maid Hilda. The story follows his life with the child at the delinquent school.

SPIRAL IT: Dunno.  It’s a shounen show done by arguably the master of the shounen anime (Bleach, Naruto, among other things) but the story is pretty interesting… for an anime.  It’s a popular manga so I’ll have to give it a try.  Don’t expect me to like it though.

Dragon Crisis

Studio: Studio DEEN

Website: http://dragoncrisis.jp/

Summary: A high school boy Ryuuji is dragged by his cousin Eriko to rescue a girl from black-market dealers. The blue-eyed “girl” turns out to be a dragon who is inexplicably fixated on Ryuuji – following him even when he is bathing and sleeping. Ryuuji has to protect the girl from the black-market dealers and others.

SPIRAL IT: Well, at least it’s a dragon.  Not a succubus or a cat-alien.   I have a PS3, and I think Dragon Age is going to be better

Fractale

Studio: A-1 Pictures and Ordet

Website: http://fractale.noitamina.tv/

Summary: In the future, the world is managed by a network called the Fractale System. A boy named Crane is living an aimless life with his parents, who are actually computer-generated “Doppels”. One day, he runs into a pretty girl named Furyune, who is being pursued by someone. When he rescues her and helps to keep her hidden from her pursuers, he is pulled into her troubles as well. After meeting her, his life will never be the same!

SPIRAL IT: Fired from Lucky Star and ruined my Black Rock Shooter, I’m not expecting much but it’s got an interesting story.  It’ll be ruined by the studio, mark my words.

Freezing

Studio: Media Factory

Website: http://freezing.tv/

Summary: Set in a slightly futuristic world where Earth has been invaded and is at war with aliens from another dimension called the Nova, the story follows the adventures of a Japanese boy named Kazuya Aoi who enrolls for training at a special school for genetically modified girls called Pandoras who battle the aliens, and their male partners, called Limiters, who use a special power called “freezing” to limit their opponent’s mobility. The protagonist makes the acquaintance of an unusual older girl named Bridgette L. Satellizer who appears to be the most powerful Pandora in her class, but has not yet chosen a male partner to be her Limiter, and in spite of the warnings of all his friends, he decides to be her Limiter.

SPIRAL IT: Sci-fi battles with ecchi boob bouncing?  I feel like a lot of people are going to watch this.  I’ll see about blogging it but it’ll probably be for the fan service.

Gosick

Studio: BONES

Website: http://www.gosick.tv/

Summary: The year is 1924, the place, Sauville, a small European country neatly tucked beside the Alps.  Kazuya Kujo has been studying abroad at the prestigious Saint Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. Most Kazuya ignores but the story of the Queen Berry, a mysterious ghost ship, really gets to him. Of course, his brainy friend Victorique is much more intrigued by true stories, and she uses her unrivaled logic to solve mysteries even the town’s famous detective can’t. Ironically, it is Victorique’s inquisitive nature that leads the duo to board a ship that matches the Queen Berry’s description to a tee, a ship that might just hold the key to solving a sinister mystery…

SPIRAL IT: I read too many mysteries in my life and I basically know all of Holmes’ mysteries.  And usually these anime mysteries are stupid and sickening.  I liked SAW don’t get me wrong, but I like my anime being on the bright side.

Haiyoru! Nyaruani: Remember My Love (craft-sensei)

Studio:DLE

Website: http://ga.sbcr.jp/bunko_blog/nyaruani/

Summary: The story centers around Nyarlko, a formless Cthulhu deity who can take on the shape of anyone it wishes, but particularly the shape of a seemingly ordinary silver-haired girl. Mahiro Yasaka is a normal high school student who is chased by aliens one night, until “Nyarlko” saves him.

SPIRAL IT: There are only four minute episodes, and it’s already started.  Looks like I missed it.  Nice promotional picture though.

Houkago no Pleiades

Studio: GAINAX

Website: http://sbr-gx.jp/

Summary: [To be updated.  Yes, it’s unknown]

SPIRAL IT: MWAHAHAHAHAHA GAINAX YOU FOOLS!

Hourou Musuko

Studio: AIC

Website: http://www.houroumusuko.jp/

Summary: Shûichi Nitori is a 5th grade student who likes to bake and has always been something of a feminine boy. When he transfers to a new school, Shûichi is mistaken for his 6th grade sister on his first day. Then he ends up sitting next to Yoshino Takatsuki, a tall, boyish girl who everyone calls “Takatsuki-kun.” They both have secrets they can’t let anyone know… The series deals with issues such as transsexuality, gender identity, and the beginning of puberty.

SPIRAL IT: Interesting, I might just watch this for LOLs, and not the crappy League of Legends LOLs (yes, I’m a DOTA/HON player).  I actually think that this anime is going to have serious topics and it’ll be funny and “awwww” to watch.  Thumbs up!

Infinite Stratos

Studio: 8-Bit

Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/is/

Summary: Japan engineered an armed powered exoskeleton “Infinite Stratos” (IS) and it became the mainstream of weapons. Since only women can operate IS, women dominate the society over men. Orimura Ichika is a 15 year old boy and accidentally touches an IS placed in the IS pilot training school. He is found to be the only man who can operate IS and forced to enter the training school. Ichika’s busy school life surrounded by girls has begun.

SPIRAL IT: Mecha + surrounded by girls + action = iLove.  And not the song by azusa.  I’m watching this for my own enjoyment and probably will be blogging this since you all love female-dominant societies.

Kimi ni Todoke Season 2

Studio: Production I.G.

Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/kiminitodoke/index.html

Summary: You’ve been watching anime.  You should know the plot.

SPIRAL IT: Sadly, I haven’t enjoyed the first series because I’m a heartless bastard who actually has a life and a girlfriend to know that girls act nothing like this in the anime.

This is a MothaF* Zombie!?

Studio: Studio DEEN

Website: http://newtype.kadocomic.jp/zombie/

Summary: Aikawa Ayumu is a normal high school boy. One day he is killed by a serial killer and revived as a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood Hellscythe. He starts to serve Eu as her guard but he happens to deprive the mahou shoujo Haruna of her magic power. Haruna orders Ayumu to fight against the anti-mahou shoujo system “Megalo” in her place.

SPIRAL IT: What the… I thought zombie shows were actually supposed to be scary and fun but this is just getting silly.  Only a few zombie movies were good and probably the last good one was Shawn of the Dead, but now the zombie genre is on par basically with the vampire genre.  (By the way, the actual title is “This is a Zombie?”).

Level E

Studio: David Production and Studio Pierrot

Website: http://ani.tv/level-e/

Summary: Tsutsui Yukitaka was a freshman who had just entered a high school, and he was hoped to be a good baseball player. When he moved to a new apartment, there was a man in the room. He said he was an alien and lost his memory. Actually, he was the first prince of Planet Dogra, and he was the man who had the best brain and the worst nature.

SPIRAL IT: What does his biography of being a baseball player have anything to do with an alien showing up in his room?  Comedy genre?  We’ll give it a shot but I don’t fancy myself in these anime shows.

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magicrap

Studio: SHAFT

Website: http://www.madoka-magica.com/

Summary: Madoka is an kind, friendly, but ordinary second-year middle school girl. She wonders aloud what she should do if she can grant whatever you may wish through magic.

SPIRAL IT: SHAFT, what the hell are you doing!?   It’s more magic girls!!!!  RAGEEEEEEE!!!!!

Mitsudomoe Zouryouchuu (aka Season 2)

Studio: Bridge, Lantis

Website: http://www.mitsudomoe-anime.com/

Summary: This is pretty recent, you should know that it’s a funny slice-of-life.

SPIRAL IT: Meh, I’m not feeling it.  Let’s get out that boat that sails away randomly away from silly series!  [Takes out the boat]

Big Brother, I don’t wish to have an incestual relationship with you

Studio: Zexcs

Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/oniichan/

Summary: Junior High student Nao’s brother complex is so strong, it’s almost at the point of incest. She’s determined to make her brother, High School student Shuusuke, see her as a woman. So determined, that she goes as far as going into his room to throw away all his non-incest related porn. But as she’s looking for his porno stash, she finds a photo album… and she’s not in any of his childhood pictures. What is going on?

SPIRAL IT: Oreimono is looking good now.  Kiss x sis?  Incest?  Porn?  HELL NO.

Onii-chan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Jya Nai Dakara Ne~

Studio: Zexcs

Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/oniichan/

Summary: Junior High student Nao’s brother complex is so strong, it’s almost at the point of incest. She’s determined to make her brother, High School student Shuusuke, see her as a woman. So determined, that she goes as far as going into his room to throw away all his non-incest related porn. But as she’s looking for his porno stash, she finds a photo album… and she’s not in any of his childhood pictures. What is going on?

SPIRAL IT: Bashing this show once wasn’t enough.  HELL NO.

Rio –Rainbow Gate-

Studio: Xebec

Website: http://riorainbowgate.com/

Summary: Rio -Rainbow Gate- is an anime featuring Rio, a character from slot machines.  It takes place in the Howard Resort, a resort hotel which draws custom from around the world with the lure of the possibility of winning a fortune.  Within the resort is a casino and one of its dealers is the beautiful Rio Rollins, following in the footsteps of her famous mother. To achieve her goal, she is working to gather together the legendary “Gate” card-set, for the person who gathers all 13 Gates is bestowed the title “Most Valuable Casino Dealer”.

SPIRAL IT: Please tell me there’s a backstory.  The only gambling I do is on soccer games.  No.  Cute girl though… NO SPIRAL!  STAY AWAY FROM SIMPLE MARKETING PRODUCTS!

Starry Sky

Studio: Studio DEEN

Website: http://sta-ska.com/

Summary: The heroine, Tsukiko, enrolled to a school that was recently changed from all-boys school to co-ed. Since the area where the school is conveniently rural and the rather exclusive curriculums the school has, up until now the heroine is the only one female who enrolled to the school. In Starry Sky, the 12 constellations of the Zodiac are personified into handsome young men. The anime will be directed by Kiyomo Sayaka who worked with Vampire Knight. Similar to Hetalia – Axis Powers, Starry Sky’s anime will be distributed through the Animate.tv website and other means.

SPIRAL IT: I don’t watch 12 guys around 1 girl because I’m a healthy straight male.

Suite Precure

Studio: Toei Animation

Website: http://asahi.co.jp/precure/

Summary: Latest continuation in the long-running Pretty Cure/Precure franchise.

SPIRAL IT: I don’t even understand why I put some shows on the previews.

Wolverine

Studio: Madhouse

Website: http://bd-dvd.sonypictures.jp/marvelanime/

Summary: Adaptation of the American comic book series.

SPIRAL IT: I really didn’t like the Iron Man adaptation, I don’t know why.  Maybe it’ll be worth it, or more likely not.  Good bye.

Yumekui Merry

Studio: J.C. Staff

Website: http://nightmare.ponycanyon.co.jp/

Summary: Hujuwara-kun is your ordinary adolescent boy , but 10 years ago he noticed he had a power to see multicolored auras surrounding the persons body which he looks upon through his fingers. Every so often Huju-wara has dreams about a war with cats , but one day a girl fell on top of him …. what will happen now with his incoming feline enemies?

SPIRAL IT: They have been having good series lately, and maybe this will surprisingly be the dark horse of the season.  You heard from here first.

Overall Thoughts

I mean, I’m fairly disappointed at the lack of big projects but nobody likes working through the holidays.  That begin said, some of these shows have great potential and it’ll be fun to see who’ll bring out their best and who’ll just suck.  Couple of OVAs and movies, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Looks like we’ll have a somewhat chilly season of… barren frozen shows.  Thank you all who have read my posts, and best of luck to the rest of my Team Zero crew.