Spring 2009 Anime - You mean there's stuff besides FMA2?? (like K-ON! apparently)

Same thread, same sources, and a little late since most of the shows have already started. I figured that the talk on new anime this Spring should take place here and not just in Tails's journal.

Originally Posted by ADTRW

Spoiler:

Spring TV series

03/06: Candy boy episode:06
Continuing shoujo-ai OVA. Webcast.

03/20: Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari Episode 01 (Otherworldly Story of the Seikishi)
Fantasy-ish OVA that is some kind of alternate universe spinoff of Tenchi Muyo, if you remember that.

03/26: Gin'iro no Corda ~second passo~
Special episode of what basically amounts to a shoujo harem show with lots of pretty boys and music. Original show was in 2005.

03/27: Lupin the 3rd VS Detective Conan
Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. OVA that airs on a PPV channel, if I understand it correctly.

03/30: Cooking Idol Ai! Mai! Main!
Kids show about cooking.

03/30: Chi's Sweet Home S2
KITTY!

03/31: Star Wars/The Clone Wars
just take a look at the homepage and you'll pretty much get it.
e: Not_Log says this is a rebroadcast of a western show. The more you know!

03/31: Marie & Gali
Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei and others teach kids about science with jokes, dance and music. 5 minute episodes.

04/01: Mainichi Kaa-san (Everyday Mom)
Anime adaption of a gag comic strip that runs in one of Japan's largest daily newspapers.

04/01: Charade no Joke na Mainichi (Joke of the Day Charade)
I have no loving clue.

04/01: Sengoku Basara (Devil Kings)
Production I.G. does an anime adaption of the Capcom PS2 game. Directed by that guy who was responsible for masterpieces like Rental Magica and Chrome Shelled Regios. On the other hand, it has Wakamoto Norio as Oda Nobunaga, Paku Romi (Ed in FMA) as Uesugi Kenshin, Nakai Kazuya (Zoro in One Piece) as Date Masamune and Noto Mamiko is also in there somewhere, so it can't be all bad.

04/02: Queens Blade Rurou no Senshi (Queen's Blade - Wandering Warriors)
About as close to porn you can get without quite being there.

04/02: Asura Cryin'
Shounen fantasy thing about some guy who is haunted by the ghost of girl who was his childhood friend. The director was also responsible for Nanoha A's and StrikerS, not sure what that means. Saji Crossroad (Irino Miyu) of Gundam 00 fame as the protagonist; OP and ED by angela.

04/02: Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
The "rebroadcast" of Haruhi. Moonphase is listing it (despite usually never listing rebroadcasts), and lists it as airing on 15 different stations, so I'm listing it too. Will it be anything new?

04/02: Basquash!
Satelight does a show about basketball-playing mecha; Nike is credited with "shoe design". Kawamori Shoji and some other Macross people are involved somewhere too. I really don't know if I should bold this or not.

04/02: Pandora Hearts
Shounen fantasy show about some spoiled kid who gets spirited away to some other world from which he can only be rescued by the female protagonist who is some kind of magical being. You've seen it before. Directed by the Busou Renkin guy, music by Kajiura Yuki (with an OP by FictionJunction), female protagonist voiced by Kawasumi Ayako. Oh, and Fukuyama Jun is in this too. A busy man, that one.

04/02: K-On!
Kyoto Animation does a moé music show based on a 4-panel manga about some musically inept girls that nevertheless want to rescue their school's music club. Not bolding, kyoani sucks now.

04/02: Phantom ~Requiem of the Phantom~
Detective/mystery/action/girls with big guns series based on the visual novel with the same name. There was an OVA a few years back which everyone agreed was poo poo. The likelihood of this being much better is very low, since it's a Bee Train show directed by that Noir/Madlax/El Cazador guy and thus guaranteed to put you to sleep. Amusingly stars Saji Crossroad and Feldt Grace (Irino Miyu and Takagaki Ayahi respectively) as the two main characters.

04/03: Higepiyo
Anime adaption of a 4-panel manga about an angry chicken.

04/03: Hayate no Gotoku S2 (Hayate the Combat Butler)
Another season of reference jokes, terrible puns and Santa punching. Previous season got really repetitive after a while, hopefully they start to add some of the manga's drama parts in this one.

04/03: Slap Up Party -Arad Senki- (Slap Up Party - Arad War Chronicles)
Gonzo does an anime adaption of some Korean MMORPG. I wouldn't expect anything Druaga-ish out of this one but who knows.

04/04: Gokujou! Mecha Mote Iinchou (The Best! Extremely Cool Student Council President)
Not a mecha show, quite the contrary. Seems to be some kind of sugary sweet shoujo show about doing your best and making friends.

04/04: Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-hen (True Mazinger SHOCK! Chapter Z)
No words should be necessary, especially not since it's directed by the man who directed Giant Robo and G Gundam.

04/04: Otenbo Lulu (Tomboy Lulu)
Show based on a comic book from 1956 by fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. No other info available.

04/04: Senjou no Valkyria -Gallian Chronicles- (Valkyria Chronicles)
Anime adaption of the PS3 game, which kinda like an alternate reality WW2 thing. Pretty nice voice actor list, female protagonist is voiced by Inoue Marina (Yoko in Gurren-Laggan) and yep, Fukuyama Jun is in this too.

04/04: Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica Crimson S
I have no idea why anyone would ever think giving this a second season was a good idea.

04/05: Metal Fight Beyblade
I was hoping this franchise was permanently dead but apparently not.

04/05: Dragonball Kai
Remastered version of DBZ to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series! The latest HD technology, new versions of the opening and ending themes! Re-recorded audio and re-edited animation! Less episodes! A new voice recording led by Son Goku's voice actor! If you ever wanted to get in on DBZ this is your chance!
(lol)

04/05: Jewel Pets
Sanrio's latest merchandise gimmick.

04/05: Cross Game
Baseball anime based on the manga with the same name (by this guy, who seems to do nothing but write baseball manga). No one will watch this. More people will watch this than anything else on this list, but no one will talk about it in English.

04/05: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi FULL METAL ALCHEMIST
Complete remake of the original series, possibly closer to the manga. Lots of the original staff including voice actors are returning, it seems. Confirmed (?) for 51 episodes.

04/05: Konnichiwa Anne (Before Green Gables)
Delayed from winter season. From that thread: Part of the World Masterpiece Theater series of adaptions of various children's novels. Based on a prequel novel to the famous Anne of Green Gables; the anime is created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original Anne novel.

04/05: Hanasakeru Seishounen
Reverse harem show; normal girl gets involved in international big business, gains pretty-boy suitors. Impressive staff/cast list though; the director has both Higurashi and Nodame Cantabile Paris on his CV, the female protagonist is voiced by Endo Aya (Miyuki in Lucky Star, Kinue Crossroad in Gundam 00) and the prettyboys are voiced by people like Fukuyama Jun (Lelouch) and Morikawa Toshiyuki (Sephiroth, Griffith in Berserk).

04/05: Guin Saga
Berserk-ish fantasy show based on a 120+ volumes long and still ongoing novel series about a man with a leopard mask. Music by Final Fantasy superstar Uematsu Nobuo. See the thread.

04/05: Shangri-La
Gonzo (apparently still alive) adapts a sci-fi novel where global warming has turned Tokyo into some kind of tropical forest city. Circles around some girl who leads an anti-government guerilla trying to stop the forestation. Character designs by superstar Murata Range (probably most familiar from Last Exile).

04/05: Tayutama -Kiss on my Deity-
Generic harem show #512262 with the standard issue dumb premise (fox spirit girl promises to marry- gently caress this you know the deal) and standard issue dumb name. Does star Wakamoto Norio, though.

04/05: Natsu no Arashi! (Summer Storm)
SHAFT and our old friend Shinbo does an anime adaption of the School Rumble manga author's other romantic comedy manga. Impressive voice cast (Nonaka Ai (Kafka), Horie Yui (Minorin, Eri in School Rumble, etc etc), Shiraishi Ryouko (Hayate the Combat Butler), Sanpei Yuko (Nakiami in Xam'd)) that for some reason also has Omigawa Chiaki (Maka from Soul Eater) in one role.

04/05: Tears to Tiara
H-game-based (game in question by the guys that did Utawarerumono) mix between shounen fantasy and generic harem. Same director as Utawarerumono, too.

04/05: Saki
darkgray says: "It's kinda like Akagi, but moé and with special attacks. Actually, it's Nanoha meets Akagi." Not sure how it's like Akagi other than the Mahjong part, but whatever. Incomprehensibly good voice cast list including Fukuyama Jun (Lelouch), Koshimizu Ami (Horo from Wolf & Spice), Ueda Kana (Tohsaka Rin in F/SN, Yumi in Marimite), Rie Kugimiya (Taiga in Toradora and all other tsunderes ever) and Itou Shizuka (Rei in Marimite). Doesn't have much else speaking for it though, especially since it's Gonzo.

04/06: 07-Ghost
Boy in a gothic fantasy world goes to military academy, is top student, gets pursued by mighty empire for <reasons>, seeks shelter within a church with some magical "ghosts" protecting him, ends up important to the entire world and <stuff> etc. Seems like a shounen series but isn't; on the contrary it's shoujo and has vaguely gay vibes.

04/06: Sugarbunnies Fleur
More Sanrio merchandise stuff.

04/07: Souten Kouro (Azure Sky Route)
Two oldschool gentlemen with experience from things like Fist of the North Star and Legend of the Galactic Heroes direct a historical drama based on a 36-volume Romance of the Three Kingdoms-based manga that ended in 2005. Should be a very manly show.

04/08: Ristorante Paradiso
Girl is abandoned by her mother and ends up apprentice in a resturant in Rome. Lots of gratitious Italian expected. Gives Antique Bakery vibes and has some kind of gentlemen-with-glasses gimmick.

04/09: Higashi no Eden (Eden of the East)
Most of the GitS:SAC team plus the Honey & Clover character designer does what seems to be a mystery/action series involving terrorism, memory loss and a cell phone charged with 8.2 billion yen (around 82.5 million USD) in digital cash. Confirmed for 11 episodes, airs in the somewhat famous Noitamina timeslot.

04/11: Hatsukoi Gentei (First Love Limited)
Generic romcom/harem show based on a manga by the woman who did Ichigo 100%.

04/13: Lilo and Stitch the Series
oh disney-tan

May: Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!!
Some kind of gimmicky comedy show where an office lady from an alternate reality tries to cheer people up.

Spring: ROBO CROSSER
Disney does some kind of motorcycle pseudo-anime.

Spring: Bakugan Battle Brawlers: New Vestroia
Some TCG/merchandise selling gimmick show funded by SEGA.

Spring: RAINBOW Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (RAINBOW: The Seven Boys of Dorm 2, Room 6)
Anime adaption of an ongoing manga set in the 1950's, following the lives of seven boys who get confined together in a room at a school for delinquents, and their lives after they leave.

Spring: Mikuni Engi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
I have been completely unable to determine what this is, other than that it's going to be 52 episodes long and is some kind of Chinese-Japanese co-production.



Spring OVA's and movies

03/06: Hayate no Gotoku S2 Episode 0
Special 0th episode OVA.

03/17: Tsubasa Chronicles OVA 1

03/25: Ichigo Mashimaro ENCORE Vol 2

03/25: Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Rei Saigoroshi-hen (When They Cry Rei - Dice Killing Chapter)
Episode 2. Episode 1 turned out to be some pool fanservice thing so I dunno about this one.

04/03: To-Love Ru OVA 1

04/17: Tsubasa Chronicles OVA 2

04/24: ToHeart2 adplus OVA 1

04/24: Yurumates

04/24: Cobra The Animation: The Psychogun
kickin' it oldskool

04/25: Gurren-Lagann movie 2
yase

04/25: Eureka Seven the movie
double yase, funny that these two are on the cinema screens the same day (see the E7 thread for details)

05/01: Denpa Teki na Kanojo (My Lunatic Girlfriend)
Mystery OVA set in the same universe as Kure-nai.

05/15: xxxHOLiC OVA 2

05/19: DOGS: BULLETS & CARNAGE Vol. 1
Assassins, guns, genetic manipulation, crime, underground organizations, dystopia, etc etc.

06/27: Rebuild of Evangelion: movie 2

Early summer: Kara no Kyoukai 7 - Satsujin Kousatsu (Go) (A Study in Murder - Part 2)
The final KnK movie. This is the cinema date, add another 6 months or so for the DVD

Season is again going to be pretty huge and I'll probably sample around a bit before fully committing to any new series. So while I'll say that I'll be watching certain shows, there's no doubt that I'll be picking up stuff on other people's watch list since GFF's gotten me to check out titles that I otherwise would have passed up. Before I ramble too long, my list:

K-ON! - Not a major surprise here since this series is pretty much relevant to my interests. Combining music in a comedic slice of life show is a good way to pique my interest and though I don't expect to be totally floored by it, I've got the feeling it'll be interesting enough to follow to the very end. It's already started on a better footing than Lucky Star, which is a very good thing.

Hayate no Gotoku S2 - Well, crap! The first season was entertaining enough on a consistent basis and though I'm not expecting the plot or romance to go anywhere, I'm interested in seeing how well the comedy can hold up this time around. Like with K-ON!, my expectations aren't very high at all, so unless it starts insulting my intelligence or suffers a major quality drop, I'll stick with it.

Valkyria Chronicles - Haven't played the game, heard good things about it, and heard that Sakimoto will be adding more to the soundtrack. Given the history of game -> anime adaptations, I'm not expecting much, but seeing how people have raved over the story, I hope the series can stick true to what made people rave over the story. Obviously adaptation decay will be a threat. We'll see.

FULL METAL ALCHEMIST 2 - So I can see whether the manga readers are justified in their whining and moaning.

Guin Saga - Uematsu at the helm. Inspired the Berserk manga writer/artist. We shall see. Aroduc at Tenka Seiha didn't seem too pleased, but he's cynical about everything, so whatever.

Ristorante Paradiso - Here's hoping for something Bartender-ish.

Asura Cryin' - Could be good. Only one way to find out.

Eden of the East - EPIC trailer pretty much clinches and combine that with Production I.G. and it'll be above average at worst. The designs only add to the awesomeness because of how much they resemble Honey and Clover. Either way, it's been awhile since I've seen a good politics-oriented series (and no, I've not yet finished Rideback).

So yeah, it's a long list. Some of these shows will be dropped as time goes on, but for now, anything is game unless it enters suck territory. Anyhow, please continue with the KyoAni/4 schoolgirls, 1 show snipefest or just list out other shows that you'll be taking a look at.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I think that Saki's mahjong experience has been overshadowed by the likes of Washizu Mahjong in Akagi which, when you make the comparison, shows that Akagi's brand of mahjong is definitely much more intense and riveting. Furthermore, I do miss Washizu's insane rantings as well as his RONNN ROOOOOOON ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNN!!! that he'll throw around on occasion.

Saki is enjoyable enough as a guilty pleasure, but I wouldn't put it on the same level as some of the better game-based anime out there.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well, this post is long overdue, so here's my synopsis:

Cross Game
Episodes seen: 3
Like I told Saka, I hadn't heard of Adachi nor am I a big fan of sports anime, but I have to say that I loved the character interactions and the storytelling in this one. The characters themselves are charming and though I've got a pretty good idea how the relationship will work out, it'll be fun to watch all the same. Oh yeah, and that plot twist in episode one was a bit unexpected.

FMA: Brotherhood
Episodes seen: 4
Like I voiced in the thread, I'm not sold on this series because I don't like the fast pacing and how it leaves no time for you to savor the character drama. Here's hoping it slows down once the series reaches the diverging point.

K-ON!
Episodes seen: 5
It's silly, it's not brilliant, and filled with too much in the way of forced moe. Unfortunately, I'm enjoying it just enough to keep up with it because it can be amusing when it wants to be.

Eden of the East
Episodes seen: 4
The clear standout this season. The last episode had a bit of believability issues since I'd expect more paranoia out of the main character, but overall the experience is delivering in both the story and the way the mystery is advancing (unlike Chaos Head's shoddy delivery which turned into a hilarious comedy of errors at the end). Again, the impact of the character drama in the latest episode could have been played up, but that's a minor point since we're diving further into the mystery.

Valkyria Chronicles
Episodes seen: 3
It's Marina Inoue voicing a character who makes funny faces. She's also hitting the tsundere bit really hard, which is making the gaming faithful less than pleased with how it's turning out, and understandably so from my standpoint since that archetype has been over-saturated.

Saki
Episodes seen: 3
It's moe mahjong. Expecting any sort of depth is futile at this point since the series professes to be nothing more than a story about a girl with incredible luck with some yuri undertones tossed about. I'll just enjoy it for what it is and move on.

Will probably post the rest of my roster once I reach the 3-episode point for those shows.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.