Aiming for the [Summer 2011] Koshien anime

[blkmage]

That is, after all, our goal.

[SIZE="1"]「オレたちの夏に」/「のえな」[/SIZE]

Much like the threads before it, this is a thread I created for the discussion of new anime that will be airing on TV in Japan in the Summer 2011 season. Anime typically gets released and runs for a number of seasons. The year is divided up into four seasons: January to March is winter, April to June is spring, July to September is summer, and October to December is fall. Each season is approximately 13 weeks.

Here, we can talk about what shows look interesting, what we plan to watch, and generally get giddy and excited for things that we've been anticipating for a while.

No chart because all the ones that have been made so far are ugly and incomplete.

It's summer, which has traditionally been the off-season (along with winter). In addition to having a lower yield, I guess it's the reason why we're seeing a bunch of shows with rookie directors all of a sudden. Things I'll be watching out for: Natsume 3, Usagi Drop, No. 6, Ikoku Meiro no Croisée, Nekogami Yaoyorozu, Kamisama Dolls, and Kami-sama no Memo-chou.

---

[SIZE="4"]Mayo Chiki![/SIZE]
Studio: Feel
Director: Kawaguchi Keiichiro (Hayate the Combat Butler!, Nyan Koi!, Zettai Karen Children)
Cast: Kitamura Eri, Hino Satoshi, Iguchi Yuka

Your standard light novel adaptation, this time about a guy who finds out his butler is actually a girl. Studio and director don't exactly inspire confidence, so this'll probably turn out to be a low-budget romantic comedy dealio.

[SIZE="4"]The IDOLM@STER[/SIZE]
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Nishigori Atsushi (debut)
Cast: Hasegawa Akiko, Imai Asami, Nakamura Eriko, Nigo Mayako

Japan loves them some iM@S and it looks like this anime is a tie-in for the sequel, appropriately named The iDOLM@STER 2. The game places you in the role of a manager of an aspiring idol. I imagine most people here are uninterested and there's really not much for you unless you're already into iM@S anyway.

[SIZE="4"]Blood-C[/SIZE]
Studio: Production I.G.
Director: Mizushima Tsutomu (Ookiku Furikabutte, xxxHolic, Shinryaku! Ika Musume)
Cast: Mizuki Nana

idk much about Blood, but this seems to be a new original story or something by CLAMP? It looks like the director has worked mostly on comedies and less serious stuff.

[SIZE="4"]Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2[/SIZE]
The sequel to the moderately successful comedy that aired a few seasons ago. Not bad, but there's really no reason to look into it unless you're already in.

[SIZE="4"]Natsume Yuujinchou San[/SIZE]
Studio: Brains Base
Director: Omori Takahiro (Baccano!, Durarara!!, Kuragehime)
Cast: Kamiya Hiroshi, Inoue Kazuhiko

The third season of the really awesome Natsume Yuujinchou series. I like to characterize it as a cross between Kamichu and Mushi-shi, except with more character and relationship growth. Really, really good.

[SIZE="4"]Usagi Drop[/SIZE]
Studio: Production I.G.
Director: Kamei Kanta (debut)
Cast: ???

A single dad manga. I've heard lots and lots of good things about it. It's a noitaminA show and I'll be expecting good things from I.G., especially after Kimi ni Todoke. We'll also be seeing a rookie director who's worked on a bunch of stuff as a key animator.

[SIZE="4"]No. 6[/SIZE]
Studio: BONES
Director: Nagasaki Kenji (debut)
Cast: ???

The other noitaminA show. Based on a novel, it's set in a futuristic city where a kid who is being raised to become an elite encounters another kid who's running away from the city's special security area. Another rookie director who's done some storyboarding and episode directing. The author has some other novels that've been turned into anime as well, like Telepathy Shoujo Ran.

[SIZE="4"]Ikoku Meiro no Croisée[/SIZE]
Studio: Satelight
Director: Yasuda Kenji (Shugo Chara!, Noein)
Cast: Toyama Nao, Kondo Takashi

Or if you're a francophone, it's La croisée dans un labyrinthe étranger. It's another one of those Japanese person doing stuff in 19th century Europe manga. This time, it's a Japanese girl who goes to France and works a craft store. This could be pretty neat, although the female lead appears to be a complete newbie.

[SIZE="4"]Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi[/SIZE]
Studio: ZEXCS
Director: Yamamoto Takashi (Nanatsuiro Drops, Jewelpet Tinkle, Final Approach)
Cast: Takamoto Megumi, Tachibana Shinnosuke

Another light novel adaptation about a guy who forgot he made a promise with a vampire as a kid and I don't really feel like trying to parse the rest of this plot synopsis. Terrible studio and a director who hasn't worked on anything particularly good are other signs to look elsewhere.

[SIZE="4"]Nekogami Yaoyorozu[/SIZE]
Studio: AIC Plus+
Director: Sakurai Hiroaki (GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class, Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, Cromartie High School)
Cast: Tomatsu Haruka, Horie Yui

Based on some comedy manga about cat goddesses. Pretty good voice cast, decent studio, and a director who's done some pretty good comedies. Looking good.

[SIZE="4"]Dantalian no Shoka[/SIZE]
Studio: GAINAX
Director: Uemura Yutaka (debut)
Cast: Ono Daisuke, Sawashiro Miyuki

Another light novel adaptation. Something about a guy inheriting a personal library which happens to have a girl guarding it which happens to be because the library also contains some demon books. This rookie director has a surprisingly thin resume, but man, Ono Daisuke and Sawashiro Miyuki? Hells yeah.

[SIZE="4"]Nurarihyon no Mago Second Season[/SIZE]
That Jump manga adaptation's second season.

[SIZE="4"]Blade[/SIZE]
lol Marvel

[SIZE="4"]Kamisama Dolls[/SIZE]
Studio: Brains Base
Director: Kishi Seiji (Angel Beats!, Tentai Senshi Sunred, Seto no Hanayome)
Cast: Kayano Ai, Fukuen Misato, Okamoto Nobuhiko

Based on a manga. People can control dolls that are supposed to be the empty shell of gods. It starts off with the main character finding a guy dead in an elevator. This one should have some buzz and should be one to watch out for.

[SIZE="4"]Sacred Seven[/SIZE]
Studio: Sunrise
Director: Ohashi Yoshimitsu (Galaxy Angel, Witchblade)
Cast: ???

Another Sunrise original project. There's very little information on it, other than that it's a school battle anime. Don't know much about the staff involved either.

[SIZE="4"]Kami-sama no Memo-chou[/SIZE]
Studio: J.C. Staff
Director: Sakurabi Katsushi (Tsukihime, Gunparade March)
Cast: Kayano Ai, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Ogura Yui

It's another mystery light novel adaptation. This time, the genius girl is a NEET. I've been told that this deals with more modern city crimes, like drug dealing and money laundering and gang-related shenanigans as well as the fact that our NEET is also (of course) a hacker. So, modern-day GOSICK, I guess. The director isn't amazing, the cast is really new, and I doubt that J.C. Staff are going to be putting their good team on this.

[SIZE="4"]Ro-Kyu-Bu![/SIZE]
Studio: ?
Director: Kusakawa Keizou (Asura Cryin', Inukami!, Sekirei)
Cast: Kaji Yuuki, Hanazawa Kana, Itou Shizuka, Hikasa Youko

A light novel adaptation. A guy joins the basketball team, which is disbanded soon after because the captain is a lolicon or something. So the guy ends up coaching a elementary school girls' basketball team. I have no idea if this is supposed to be a comedy or serious and I've never heard of the studio. Pretty decent cast though.

[SIZE="4"]R-15[/SIZE]
Studio: AIC
Director: Nawa Munenori (Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, Kiss x sis, D.C.S.S. ~Da Capo Second Season~)
Cast: ???

Light novel adaptation about a high school student who is trying to keep a secret the fact that he is a serialized porn writer. What could go wrong?

[SIZE="4"]Manyuu Hikenchou[/SIZE]
"In this current era, breasts mean everything." Stopped reading there. Okay, I lied, but there really is nothing else to say.

[SIZE="4"]Uta no Prince-sama — Maji Love 1000%[/SIZE]
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Kou Yuu (Zero no Tsukaima, Giant Killing, Chrno Crusade)
Cast: Shimono Hiro, Suwabe Junichi, Suzumura Kenichi, Taniyama Kisho, Miyano Mamoru, Terashima Takuma

An adaptation of a PSP otome game, this has the main character go to idol school and meet several guys. As usual, they've got a pretty stacked cast, presumably the same cast as the game. Other than the fact that it's an otome game, that the director is responsible for the bad parts of Zero no Tsukaima (yeah, I know) is not a good sign either.

[MightiMidget]

The only one that sounds particularly, specifically interesting to me is No. 6. I'll probably check out:

Kamisama Dolls
Dantalian no Shoka
Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
Kami-sama no Memo-chou

[Atria35]

My plan for the summer?

Usagi Drop
Usagi Drop
Usagi Drop

....Did I mention Usagi Drop?

[goldenspines]

Mayo Chiki! - While I liked Hayate: The Combat Bulter, the studio and the director don't give me hope, same as you, Blkmage. :\
The IDOLM@STER - American Idol! In Japan!
Next!
Blood-C - For the studio(s) alone, I may watch this. I'm a sucker for CLAMP art *one of the only reasons I watched Code Geass. XD;;*
Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2 - I recall watching like, the first episode of the first season. It was....I'm not really sure. XD; Next!
Natsume Yuujinchou San - Back the train up. How do I keep missing this? I thought for sure I noted to watch it. Need to start at season 1 and stop forgetting this!
Usagi Drop - A very firm "maybe" on this one. Most likely a first episode watch.
No. 6 - This looks quite promising. BONES usually does a great job.
Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - Oh, one of these types of stories again. But! It's made by the director who did Shugo Chara, so it may be all cute and fun. So I'll give it a watch.
Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi - IT'S THE REVERSE TWILIGHT, YOU GUYS.
Moving on~
Nekogami Yaoyorozu - Looks slightly interesting.
Dantalian no Shoka - GAINAX, huh? Sure, seems nice enough.
Nurarihyon no Mago Second Season - Oh, this thing. Pass.
Blade - Really? o.O
Kamisama Dolls - While this does look interesting, I have an irrational fear of dolls coming alive. I will have to pass on this one.
Sacred Seven - The title seems samurai anime-ish, but school battle? Probably pass.
Kami-sama no Memo-chou - While it doesn't look super exciting, I do love a good mystery. I'll give it a first episode watch.
Ro-Kyu-Bu! - This premise with the concept art looks really odd. Probably a pass.
R-15 - Uhhhhh, no.
Manyuu Hikenchou - Uhhhhhhhh, really no.
Uta no Prince-sama — Maji Love 1000% - If you're love is over 100%, it means you're trying too hard. Pass.


Yeah, looks like a low season this time around. Maybe I'll have time to get caught up on previously released series while I'm waiting for Fall.

[blkmage]

I liked Hayate too, but I'd give the manga the credit for that, especially since I found the original bits in the first season to be pretty tiresome. I've been enjoying the manga and the second season of the anime was quite fine (and not directed by the same director).

Speaking of Hayate, that reminds me that there are a bunch of movies coming out in the summer, but that doesn't matter because we won't see them until months later! The ones that people probably care about are:

Sengoku Basara
Fullmetal Alchemist (maybe not)
Hayate the Combat Butler (A-tan arc maybe?)
Negima (Negi vs. Rakan?)
Towa no Quon (original film series by Bones and the director who did 08th MS Team)

[goldenspines]

Fullmetal Alchemist

*w*

(maybe not)

D8

Hayate the Combat Butler (A-tan arc maybe?)

I will probably look into this.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

[SIZE="4"]Blood-C[/SIZE]
Studio: Production I.G.
Director: Mizushima Tsutomu (Ookiku Furikabutte, xxxHolic, Shinryaku! Ika Musume)
Cast: Mizuki Nana

idk much about Blood, but this seems to be a new original story or something by CLAMP? It looks like the director has worked mostly on comedies and less serious stuff.

Why not?

[SIZE="4"]Natsume Yuujinchou San[/SIZE]
Studio: Brains Base
Director: Omori Takahiro (Baccano!, Durarara!!, Kuragehime)
Cast: Kamiya Hiroshi, Inoue Kazuhiko

The third season of the really awesome Natsume Yuujinchou series. I like to characterize it as a cross between Kamichu and Mushi-shi, except with more character and relationship growth. Really, really good.

I was ready for this when I finished the second season. The entire thing is highly recommended.

[SIZE="4"]Usagi Drop[/SIZE]
Studio: Production I.G.
Director: Kamei Kanta (debut)
Cast: ???

A single dad manga. I've heard lots and lots of good things about it. It's a noitaminA show and I'll be expecting good things from I.G., especially after Kimi ni Todoke. We'll also be seeing a rookie director who's worked on a bunch of stuff as a key animator.

I was going to check out the manga but I guess I'll watch this first. It looks really good.

[SIZE="4"]No. 6[/SIZE]
Studio: BONES
Director: Nagasaki Kenji (debut)
Cast: ???

The other noitaminA show. Based on a novel, it's set in a futuristic city where a kid who is being raised to become an elite encounters another kid who's running away from the city's special security area. Another rookie director who's done some storyboarding and episode directing. The author has some other novels that've been turned into anime as well, like Telepathy Shoujo Ran.

It's noitaminA, so I guess.

[SIZE="4"]Ikoku Meiro no Croisée[/SIZE]
Studio: Satelight
Director: Yasuda Kenji (Shugo Chara!, Noein)
Cast: Toyama Nao, Kondo Takashi

Or if you're a francophone, it's La croisée dans un labyrinthe étranger. It's another one of those Japanese person doing stuff in 19th century Europe manga. This time, it's a Japanese girl who goes to France and works a craft store. This could be pretty neat, although the female lead appears to be a complete newbie.

Sure?

[SIZE="4"]Dantalian no Shoka[/SIZE]
Studio: GAINAX
Director: Uemura Yutaka (debut)
Cast: Ono Daisuke, Sawashiro Miyuki

Another light novel adaptation. Something about a guy inheriting a personal library which happens to have a girl guarding it which happens to be because the library also contains some demon books. This rookie director has a surprisingly thin resume, but man, Ono Daisuke and Sawashiro Miyuki? Hells yeah.

This looks pretty cool.

[SIZE="4"]Kamisama Dolls[/SIZE]
Studio: Brains Base
Director: Kishi Seiji (Angel Beats!, Tentai Senshi Sunred, Seto no Hanayome)
Cast: Kayano Ai, Fukuen Misato, Okamoto Nobuhiko

Based on a manga. People can control dolls that are supposed to be the empty shell of gods. It starts off with the main character finding a guy dead in an elevator. This one should have some buzz and should be one to watch out for.

BRAIN'S BASE!

[MightiMidget]

Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi - IT'S THE REVERSE TWILIGHT, YOU GUYS.

LOL! xD That comment alone makes it tempting just for giggles.

[MasterDias]

Blood-C: I'm not particularly a Blood fan (or a CLAMP fan for that matter,) but this sounds pretty neat. It apparently has a much stronger staff attached to it than Blood+ did.
Sacred Seven: Because it's a Sunrise action show.
Dantalian no Shoka: Because the premise sounds interesting.
Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi: The studio leaves a lot to be desired, but this is the other major series by The Legend of the Legendary Heroes author, so I'll basically give it a try based on that alone since I did enjoy TLoLH. We'll see.

And maybe the noitaminA shows, I guess...
But yeah, this does seem like a much weaker season than Spring.

[R86]

*sees the Oofuri fanart*
*gets super excited*
*scans the anime titles and descriptions over 9000 times*

So am I to conclude that the third season of Oofuri is NOT REPEAT NOT amongst the summer lineup? :eh::waah!:

Ah well. There's always Moshidora.

I'll be looking out for the following:
Natsume Yuujinchou San [SIZE="1"](once I can remember whether I've seen the second season as well as the first)[/SIZE]
No. 6
Sacred Seven
R-15

...

OK, just kidding on that last one.

(goes back to consoling himself making up captions for the Oofuri fanart pic)

[Cadence]

Here, we can talk about what shows look interesting, what we plan to watch, and generally get giddy and excited for things that we've been anticipating for a while.

giddy and excited

anticipating for a while.

[SIZE="4"]Natsume Yuujinchou San[/SIZE]

Giddy and excited is quite the understatement when it comes to Natsume 3 and myself...Natsume has become my favorite anime ever, and the manga chapters that follow the Kai arc are some of my favorites. I am really, really, really looking forward to this. I hope Brains Base and Omori Takahiro keep up the amazing job they did with adapting this story to anime form. As much as I love the manga, I feel like the anime adds an extra bit of special...something.

If I can stop freaking out over Natsume 3 long enough, I'll definitely be watching Usagi Drop (which is an awesome manga) and maybe Kamisama Dolls or Dantalian no Shoka. I'll be out of school (finally!) in July, so I might have time to watch even more.

Isn't Last Exile 2 airing in the summer as well? I'll probably be watching that too, lololololololol.

*sees the Oofuri fanart*
*gets super excited*

Another Oofuri fan?! We should be best friends! =)

[MasterDias]

Isn't Last Exile 2 airing in the summer as well?

Oh, yeah, I think so.
I'll probably give that a shot too.

[Nanao]

Blood-C: Most looking forward to this one ^___^
Natsume Yuujinichou San: will probably end up watching this with roomie
Nurarihyon no Mago: will check out
Dantalian no Shoka: might be interesting

[Maokun]

Isn't Last Exile 2 airing in the summer as well? I'll probably be watching that too, lololololololol.

What? For Real? Since I've been away for so long fromthe New Anime scene, this are the only news that manage to excite me from the whole batch.

SPIT-TAKE EDIT: Wait... Isn't Gonzo dead?

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

What? For Real? Since I've been away for so long fromthe New Anime scene, this are the only news that manage to excite me from the whole batch.

SPIT-TAKE EDIT: Wait... Isn't Gonzo dead?

And Maokun sums up in a single post how he's been completely removed from CAA for a long time.

Also, Goldy you need to watch Natsume.

[MasterDias]

SPIT-TAKE EDIT: Wait... Isn't Gonzo dead?

They had always been technically still in operation as a company, but they hadn't actually done anything since 2009 (except something for a game I think) ever since financial issues forced them to be delisted from the TSE.

With this new Last Exile, they are clearly attempting to get back on their feet.

[blkmage]

That and, what was it, Nyanpire?

[Fish and Chips]

That and, what was it, Nyanpire?

Hey, Nyanpire could actually be good.

[R86]

Another Oofuri fan?!

Goodness yes. I am right up there in Oofuri geekdom, have guest-written two columns on that show for TWWK's blog, and am currently planning an Oofuri doujinshi for the CAA contest. I really did think the fanart above meant that season 3 was on its way. I think it will happen eventually, as from what I read the manga is selling well in Japan. Though such statistics are always contradicted by other statistics, and whatever the case may be, the day for season 3 has not come, not yet at any rate. ]Manyuu Hikenchou[/i] for not leaving any of us wondering, "I wonder what that show will be about?"

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

So, does any show look like it would be suitable for another Let's Watch?

[Atria35]

So, does any show look like it would be suitable for another Let's Watch?

I'm suspecting that the best chances would be Kamisama Dolls or No. 6, the latter simply because it's BONES.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

So, does any show look like it would be suitable for another Let's Watch?

Come oooooooooooooon Manyuu Hikenchou!!!

[Sapphire225]

No. 6 and Dantalian no Shoko look legit. Usagi Drop seems pretty unique so I'll give it a try as well.

[blkmage]

There's less than a month left to the start of the Summer season and I appear to have missed a few things that have since shown up on MOON PHASE.

[SIZE="4"]Nyanpire The Animation[/SIZE]
Studio: GONZO
Director: Yoshimatsu Takahiro (debut)
Cast: Koshimizu Ami, Fukuyamu Jun, Sugiyama Noriaki, Goto Yuko

Gonzo's first anime since their death two years ago is based on a merchandising line of cat vampires. Because of that, it'll probably be able to sidestep Gonzo's biggest problem of ending things well. Also, this has a cat version of the Sengoku era warlord Date Masamune, named Masamunya.

[SIZE="4"]Mawaru Penguindrum[/SIZE]
Studio: Brains Base
Director: Ikuhara Kunihiko (Revolutionary Girl Utena, Sailor Moon)
Cast: ???

Ikuhara of Sailor Moon and Utena fame revealed the project a while back, but it was unclear when it was airing and what it'd be about. So far, the only thing that's become clear is when it's airing. Anyway, this should be pretty good.

[SIZE="4"]Yuru Yuri[/SIZE]
Studio: Dogakobo
Director: Ohta Masahiko (Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe, Rozen Maiden)
Cast: Tsuda Minami, Ookubo Rumi, Mikami Shiori, Ootsubo Yuka

Something about one of those random high school clubs and has a high probability of containing yuri.

[SIZE="4"]Morita-san wa Mukuchi[/SIZE]
Studio: Seven
Director: Hayashi Naotaka (debut)
Cast: Sato Amina, Tomatsu Haruka, Hanazawa Kana, Hiraga Mie, Hayami Saori, Nanhou Yoshino

4-koma adaptation of some sort, in which the primary character has trouble talking or something. Had an OVA which no one seemed to care about.

[SIZE="4"]Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel ~Kyun Kyun Tokimeki Paradise!!~[/SIZE]
Studio: JC Staff
Director: Iwasaki Yoshiaki (Hayate the Combat Butler, Zero no Tsukaima, Love Hina)
Cast: Noto Mamiko, Kugimiya Rie, Yuzuki Ryoka, Horie Yui, Tamura Yukari

Looks like a low-effort magical girl show. Also had an OVA which no one has seemed to care about.

[Atria35]

Mawaru Penguindrum looks pretty slice-of-life. I'll check out the first episode, see what I think.

[blkmage]

There are three CMs out for Penguindrum so far [1, 2, 3]. They don't seem very slice of life to me and it doesn't seem likely given Ikuhara's past work either.

[Falx]

That last CM... some of those lines are very Gattaca.

Edit: Knew I spelled that wrong.

[Atria35]

There are three CMs out for Penguindrum so far [1, 2, 3]. They don't seem very slice of life to me and it doesn't seem likely given Ikuhara's past work either.

The description on MAL seemed slice-of-life. I was going off of that.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Three Brain's Base shows this season? This could be the best season ever.

[MightiMidget]

Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi: The studio leaves a lot to be desired, but this is the other major series by The Legend of the Legendary Heroes author, so I'll basically give it a try based on that alone since I did enjoy TLoLH. We'll see.

Oh? In that case....I will be trying this as well. Legend of Legendary Heroes was one of my favorite things that season.

Also going to try Usagi Drop due to Atria's super excitement and because I thought I would never really like drama before this season. Then I got sucked into Anohana and Hanasaku Iroha.