New Year, new anime season, less HDD space. The winter season has brought not just cool weather, but a slew of new anime series as well. Some of my faves from last season include Fate/Zero and Un-Go. While the current crop of anime will not need to compete with one of Type Moon’s most popular series (the creators, wisely, splitting the series into two seasons), they will still have to go against other series like Last Exile – Fam the Silver Wing, Guilty Crown and Persona 4. So let us check out the series’ which I think will stand out from the pack this season…
As usual, all information in this preview is taken from AniDB.net / Anime News Network.
Anthony’s winter selection
Rinne no Lagrange – Kamogawa is a seaside city in the Chiba prefecture. There lives Kyouno Madoka, a student at Kamogawa Girl’s High School, and the only member of the Jersey Club. Madoka prides herself on being bright and energetic, and spends much of her time helping people. However, her life changes one day when the mysterious girl Ran asks her to “pilot a robot”. In order to protect the citizens of Kamogawa, Madoka agrees and engages in battle against extraterrestrial invaders. (Japan broadcast date: 01/08/2012)
Thoughts: My personal choice for mecha anime this season. At first glance, it does seem to be an all-female version of Eureka 7, which I personally enjoyed very much. The trailer seems to indicate that its a school life/mecha anime. Animation duties belong to XEBEC, which generally do a good job when it comes to animating robots (eg: Fafner). Mecha designs, interestingly, have been done by Nissan.
Senki Zesshou Symphogear – Since the dawn of time, humanity has been threatened by the disaster called “Noise”. When it occurs, people die, and there are no countermeasures. Except one. The top-secret Symphogear System, capable of eliminating Noise, has been deployed in Japan. Unknown to the general public, a pair of girls wielding Symphogears strive relentless to protect society from the ravages of Noise. It would surprise people even more to know that their protectors are none other than chart-topping singing duo “Zwei Wing”, Amou Kanade and Kazanari Tsubasa. (Japan broadcast date: 01/06/2012)
Thoughts: Having previously assisted with OreImo and Ika Musume, Symphogear will be Encourage Films’ first full anime production. With a certain Nana Mizuki playing one of the lead roles, Symphogear is sure to get a lot of attention and could possibly “make of break” Encourage Films. Aoi Yuuki, whose stock has risen since voicing a certain magical girl, plays Hibiki Tachibana, a student who encounters the singers at a concert and is eventually drawn into the battle against the Noise.
Amagami SS+ – The sequel to 2010′s Amagami SS will once again feature high school student Junichi Tachibana and his relationships with seven of his schoolmates. (Japan broadcast date: 01/06/2012)
Thoughts: I really enjoyed the omnibus format of the show, which featured each girl getting her own “route” (Nanasaki Ai FTW!). My pick for romance anime for this season.
Kill Me Baby – Kill Me Baby follows the comedic life of a typical school girl Yasuna and her assassin classmate Sonya. Sonya’s attempt to fit in often fails when her natural assassin instincts kick in and Yasuna’s attempt to be more friendly with Sonya often gets her hurt or intimidated. (Japan broadcast date: 01/06/2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRmpmU92rAA
Thoughts: A hilarious and refreshing spin on the “child/teenage assassin” concept. First came across it while looking for some 4-koma manga to read online. The manga is pretty good and should probably translate well onto the small screen. My pick for comedy anime this season.
Zero no Tsukaima F – After successfully rescuing Tabitha, Saito and gang return to the Magic Academy and their normal, everyday life. However, a secret order from Henrietta sends Saito and Louise to Romalia, with Tiffania also tagging along. (Japan broadcast date: 01/07/2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIQYf6k1SJk
Thoughts: By the end of the 2012 winter season, the two anime roles (namely Louise from Zero no Tsukaima and the titular character of Shakuga no Shana) which established (and/or typecast, depending on how you look at it) Rie Kugimiya’s seiyuu career would come to an end with the finales for their respective series. While Zero no Tsukaima night not have been a particularly good anime series, I’ll still be watching this final season as I had followed the previous seasons. With the author of the original light novel, Noboru Yamaguchi, taking charge of scripting duties, this will likely provide some form of closure for fans of both the novel and anime.
Moretsu Uchuu Kaizoku – Marika is a first year high school student living in a far away galaxy known as Uminoakeboshi. One day she finds out that her recently deceased father was once the captain of the space pirate ship called the Bentenmaru. More importantly, the only one to inherit the captain’s title has to be a direct descendant – meaning that Marika is next in line to become the captain of a pirate ship! (Japan broadcast date: 01/08/2012)
Thoughts: Looks like a fun, sci-fi adventure series – hopefully something in the vein of Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo, but with a more straight-forward plot. There’s a good mix of both big-name and upcoming seiyuus in the anime as well. Female lead Marika is voiced by Mikako Komatsu (Heroman’s Joey), with Kana Hanazawa, Yui Horie, Shizuka Itou and Haruka Tomatsu playing various roles. My personal favourite for this season.
Nisemonogatari – The sequel to Bakemonogatari. A black swindler Kaiki Deishu, who once deceived Hitagi, returns to the town and spreads the same spell which cursed Nadeko before. Koyomi’s sisters Karen and Tsukihi try to capture Deishu but… (Japan broadcast date: 01/08/2012)
Thoughts: While Bakemonogatari had a lot of potential, it was somewhat affected by the anime’s budget and animation studio SHAFT being understaffed. SHAFT’s recent works (Arakawa Under the Bridge, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica) seem to indicate that they have overcome these issues, so Nisemonogatari will likely have higher production values as compared with its prequel. Shinichiro Miki and Maaya Sakamoto join the cast, playing the roles of Kaiki Deishu and Shinobu Oshino respectively.
Another - Recently transferred to Yomiyama Kita Middle School, Kouichi Sakakibara gets the feeling something isn’t quite right with his class, who all seem to be afraid of something. He finds himself attracted to the strange yet beautiful Mei Misaki, but his efforts to get closer to her only confound things further. Then there is a horrible accident… What on earth is happening in this place? (Japan broadcast date: 01/10/2012)
Thoughts: Earlier previewed by Sheng Yang, Another is directed by xxxHolic and Blood-C director, Tsutomu Mizushima. This looks to be the only outlet for fans of the horror/thriller genre this season, so enjoy it while it lasts (Hopefully, we will get to see the Umineko sequel in anime form in the near future). This is also P.A. Works’ latest project after Hanasaku Iroha, which in my humble opinion is one of the best animated series in 2011. THe OP theme will be performed by Ali Project.
Inu x Boku SS – The high class mansion, Maison de Ayakashi, is better known by the name “Demon Mansion (Ayakashi-kan).” It’s said to boast the world’s greatest security system. Rumors about it abound, ranging from “nothing but weirdos live there,” to “It’s a haunted house inside,” but the truth is that the people who live in this mysterious mansion are all descendants of demons! (Japan broadcast date: 01/13/2012)
Thoughts: While I like the supernatural concept of the show, with all the different spirits and demons, that really is the only drawing point for me. The trailer doesn’t seem to indicate what kind of anime it will be, but Sentai Filmworks does list it as a “supernaturally-charged suspense drama”. I’ll at least give it an episode or two before deciding whether I’ll stick with it or not.
Black Rock Shooter (TV series) - Kuroi Mato just got into junior high school, and on the first day, someone catches her eye; her classmate Takanashi Yomi. While seemingly opposites, the time they spend together only strengthens a growing friendship. But as they go into their second year at the school, they get placed in separate classes, and they begin to grow apart. But somewhere simultaneously… in another world, a young girl, blue fire residing in her eyes, Black Rock Shooter faces another young girl; this one holding a jet-black scythe, Dead Master, and a battle to the death begins to unfold. (Original BRS synopsis)
Thoughts: For some inexplicable reason, I still have not got around to watching the original OVA yet. Nonetheless, it does look pretty exciting and it is being broadcast in the Noitamina (if it counts for anything nowadays). One can also look forward to the avalanche of new BRS merchandise flooding the market in the near future.
Considering: Area no Kishi, Ano Natsu de Matteru, Aquarion Evol
Got any other suggestions or comments? Feel free to drop a comment below!
Tags: Anime, Another, not enough HDD space, preview, Series, trailer
