Friday, November 29, 2013

Winter 2014 Anime

The fall anime season is over half-way over, which means it's about time to take a look at the new anime to start off 2014. The winter season looks absolutely incredible for me, because of 3 adaptations of manga I'm reading (wowza), two sequels to anime I absolutely loved (yesss), and...well......you'll see.

The chart can be found here:

As usual, I have them listed in order of interest:




SPACE DANDY

SYNOPSIS:Space Dandy is a dandy in space! This dreamy adventurer with a to-die-for pompadour travels across the galaxy in search of aliens no one has ever laid eyes on. Each new species he discovers earns him a hefty reward, but this dandy has to be quick on his feet because it's first come, first served! Accompanied by his sidekicks, a rundown robot named QT and Meow the cat-looking space alien, Dandy bravely explores unknown worlds inhabited by a variety of aliens. Join the best dressed alien hunter in all of space and time as he embarks on an adventure that ends at the edge of the universe!

OPINION:Ever since I saw the preview for this series, I've been in love. It looks like it has flair, it looks fun, and the staff working on it is absolutely incredible!



CHUUNIBYOU DEMO KOI GA SHITAI! 2

SYNOPSIS:Second Season of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!.

OPINION:The first season of this series was absolutely amazing. It only makes sense that one would look forward to the sequel. I look forward to more delusions, more (hopefully) progress in the romance department, and the new character addition.



NISEKOI



SYNOPSIS:

As a child, Raku Ichijo made a secret promise with his childhood sweetheart, keeping a pendant as a memento while his love took the key. He dreams of one day meeting his past love, but years later, reality smashes his hopes when Chitoge Kirisaki accidentally knees him in the face...



Though Raku's a normal high schooler, his family heads the notorious yakuza gang the Shuei-Gumi faction! And he's dragged into family affairs when he's forced into a relationship with Chitoge, the daughter of a rival gang's boss!



OPINION:

This is the first of the manga adaptations that I had mentioned earlier. First off, I love the manga, it is a bunch of fun with a lot of really dense people (and smart people like Shu and Yuri). Also, the fact that Shaft is doing the adaptation catches my interest quite a bit. The combination of Shonen Jump and Shaft is just...not something I expected.



MIKAKUNIN DE SHINKOUKEI



SYNOPSIS:

Yonomi Kobeni, an ordinary girl, finds out on her 16th birthday that she is betrothed to Mitsumine Hakuya, a boy the same age as her. Hakuya moves in from the countryside and starts living with her, bringing his younger sister who is still a primary school student with him. The three (and Konbeni's older sister Benio) start living together underneath the same roof, and hilarious happenings occur.



OPINION:

I absolutely adore this concept. It sounds like an adorable romantic-comedy, but I have an awful hunch that it might be a short series, and that would just be wasted potential.



D-FRAG!



SYNOPSIS:

Kazama Kenji likes to believe he is something of a delinquent. Moreover, others seem to like to agree that he is. Of course, Kenji's gang finds their way to a group of four not-so-normal girls--Chitose, Sakura, Minami and Roka--and all at once, whatever reputation he may have is nothing compared to the outrageous behavior of the girls. Shanghaied into joining their club, what will happen to his everyday life from that point on?



OPINION:

Ever since I started reading the manga, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like as an anime. Well, I guess my curiosity will finally be satisfied! It's a pretty funny gag manga, but I can't help but think it'll be so much more entertaining in anime form. Let's see if I'm actually right...



WIZARD BARRISTERS: BENMASHI CECIL



SYNOPSIS:

The story takes place in Tokyo in 2018, where normal humans and those who can use magic coexist. As a result, there are laws against using magic, and a "magic courtroom" exists to preside over lawsuits regarding magic use. In these cases, "Benmashi" or wizard barristers defend those who use magic. The anime follows Cecil, the youngest Benmashi in history, and her associates as they defend clients in these cases.



OPINION:

Magic and lawsuits! What an unexpected combination we have here! I actually like this concept, and the preview made me like it even more. It looks exciting, and plus, there's a mascot character voiced by Norio Wakamoto (yes!).



INARI, KONKON, KOI IROHA.



SYNOPSIS:

Fushimi Inari is a shy, not-so-bright middle school girl living in Kyoto's Fushimi ward. She has a crush on her classmate Tanbabashi, but cannot express her feelings. One day, as thanks for helping a fox pup, the deity Ukanomitamanokami grants her the ability to change her form.



OPINION:

The manga is one of my favorite romantic-comedies. I am indeed very excited to see it adapted, but I'm a little bummed that my favorite parts of the manga are probably not gonna be adapted (the latest chapters are great).



SAKURA TRICK



SYNOPSIS:

The story revolves around Haruka and Yuu, two girls who go to a high school that is slated to be shut down in three years.



To share something special between them, they share a kiss, and their relationship deepens from that moment onward.



OPINION:

Wow, an actual, legitimate series about lesbians (and this time it's definitely not a mistake!), I haven't seen one of those in a very long time. I also like how it sounds like it'll be an actual romance, and not just goofing around like in Yuru Yuri (even though that show was pretty good).



WITCH CRAFT WORKS



SYNOPSIS:

Takamiya Honoka is a regular student whose only problem seems to be that he sits next to Kagari Ayaka, the school's #1 beauty. They have never spoken to each other before and any small interaction between them immediately results in her fanclub beating him. Yet when a falling part of the school's building is about to send him to the afterlife, it's Kagari that comes to his rescue. Only... she's dressed as a witch, carrying him in her arms and floating on a broom?! Kagari tells him it is her mission to protect him and that now she can finally protect him openly rather than undercover.



OPINION:

Witches...witches are cool. I mainly like the idea because I saw how bright and colorful the visuals were (bright and colorful visuals = fun series). I also like it when there's a guy playing the role of damsel in distress (though I wonder what makes him worth protecting). So needless to say, I have my eyes on this one.



ONEE-CHAN GA KITA



SYNOPSIS:

The story revolves around Tomoya Mizuhara, a 13-year-old boy who suddenly gains a big sister when his father remarries. 17-year-old Ichika is a little strange, and her affection for Tomoya is rather overwhelming, if not scary. On top of things, Ichika's friend Ruri is the ultimate sadist. Then there is Ichika's big-breasted quarter-Japanese friend Marina.



OPINION:

I know it's a strange thing to have a series like this so high, but damn it, I missed these (potentially) raunchy non-supernatural harem series. I also like step-sibling romances (even if the girl is a total creeper/pedo), so that's also a plus.



NORAGAMI



SYNOPSIS:

At the boundary between this realm and another, there live eight million gods, dead spirits who serve the gods, and other assorted spirits who help and meddle in the affairs of humans. A sweet middle school girl named Hiyori Iki has been enduring bullying from her classmates, and she goes to the restroom by herself to cry. Scrawled on the bathroom wall is a phone number and the message, "I solve your troubles."



After Hiyori calls the number, she encounters a homeless boy wearing a jersey who calls himself a god. The boy, named Yato, is rough, moody, lazy, and never listens to anyone's wishes, but he had the power to be a god... that no one knew of.



OPINION:

Godly assistance for a bullying victim....what? Despite the strangeness of the concept, after seeing the preview, I believe this series has a great amount of potential. Also, it's a series by Bones, and they have yet to disappoint me.



HOOZUKI NO REITETSU



SYNOPSIS:

The dark comedy revolves around the fierce god aide to the Great King Yama, Hoozuki. Calm and super-sadistic, he tries to resolve problems that often occur in Hell.



OPINION:

A strange combination of a sadist and a problem-solver, this can't help but pique one's interest. I mean, can you imagine someone like that helping out around town? Sounds strange, but at the same time very interesting. Also, the style of animation looks quite unique, like a combination of old style and new.



NOBUNAGUN



SYNOPSIS:

Shio Ogura is a Japanese high school student, who is visiting Taiwan on a school trip when she is suddenly attacked by monsters. Agents known as "E-Gene Holders" from the government agency DOGOO also arrive, who wield weapons infused with the spirits of historical figures. Shio is revealed to also be an E-Gene Holder when the soul of Oda Nobunaga awakens after she tries to rescue a friend.



OPINION:

Big weapons are a no-brainer in anime. Big weapons with the souls of historical figures is most definitely...unheard of. This series is yet another one of those weird ones that can either be ridiculous or really good. Personally, I believe it'll be a bit of a combination of the two.



SEKAI SEIFUKU: BOURYAKU NO ZVEZDA



SYNOPSIS:

The story follows Zvezda, a secret society bent on glorious world conquest--and led by a little girl.



OPINION:

This show sounds really stupid, but it looks like it'll be fun to watch. Though, I'm just basing my opinion off of the character designs (they look real cute and colorful). How this show will turn out is anyone's guess, but I have a good feeling about this one.



STRANGE+



SYNOPSIS:

Kou comes to a slum neighborhood in search of his elder brother Takumi and finds him to have become the head of a private detective firm. Kou is drafted by Takumi to do errands and chores in the detective firm, and they come to meet various interesting people...



OPINION:

I tend to enjoy detective series, so that alone makes my interest in this series justifiable. There's also the animation. Like Hoozuki no Reitetsu, this series has a hint of older style animation to it, and I love it.



WAKE UP, GIRLS!



SYNOPSIS:

Green Leaves Entertainment is a tiny production company on the verge of going out of business in Sendai, the biggest city in Japan's northeastern Tohoku region. The agency once managed the careers of magicians, photo idols, fortune-tellers, and other entertainers, but its last remaining client finally quit. In danger of having zero talent (literally), the president Tange hatches an idea of producing an idol group. On the brash president's orders, the dissatisfied manager Matsuda heads out to scout raw talent. Matsuda makes a fateful encounter with a certain girl...



OPINION:

I generally like shows about idol groups, so this one's a no-brainer for me. However, seeing as they hired all amateurs for the main roles, the voice acting quality is anyone's guess. But, the music will be good, most likely anyway.



TONARI NO SEKI-KUN



SYNOPSIS:

The original manga revolves around a girl named Yokoi who sits next to a boy only known as Seki-kun. During class, Seki-kun continues to not pay attention and instead creates amazing little distractions, such as a detailed golf course with the course's hole being a dent in his desk, or an entire dramatic war being played out by paper shogi pieces. Yokoi often finds herself getting reluctantly interested in his games, even though they always seem to end up getting HER in trouble with the teacher!



OPINION:

This series sounds fairly simple, but amusing nonetheless. Seat neighbors are a surprisingly big part in one's school life, and seeing a series about a particularly quirky one could be quite entertaining. Then again, it could also get repetitive, or old at some point. Well, we'll see.



HAMATORA THE ANIMATION



SYNOPSIS:

This story unfolds on the stage of Yokohama in 2014, and centres around the special abilities referred to as "Minimum" or "Minor miracles".



OPINION:

Special abilities in the present day. Okay, that's simple enough, I guess. I have little to no knowledge on this show, but I like the character designs. The characters look like those people who are just too cool to approach.



MAHOU SENSOU



SYNOPSIS:

In this modern magic action story, Takeshi Nanase is an ordinary high school boy who has a somewhat dark past. Due to certain circumstances, he formed a "fake" couple with his childhood friend Kurumi Isoshima, but otherwise, he lives a normal life. However, one day, he comes across a girl named Mui Aiba, in a uniform he has never seen before, collapsed on the school campus. This encounters changes Takeshi's destiny completely. Mui tells Takeshi that she is a magician, and she apologizes, for she turned Takeshi into a magician, too. What Takeshi once knew as one world is actually two--the world where magicians live and the world where humans live.



OPINION:

These "modern magic action" stories are getting far too common. This one feels like it'll bear a similar atmosphere to Strike the Blood and the Toaru series, and I'm not too sure if I'll like yet another one of those shows. I'd probably be more excited for it had it been scheduled for another season.



NOURIN



SYNOPSIS:

When the national idol Kusakabe Yuka suddenly retired from the entertainment business, it shocked the world and it devastated teenager Hata Kosaku. Kosaku was Yuka's biggest fan and her departure left him depressed. His classmates at the Tamo Agriculture School finally are able to get him to leave his room and attend his class, but to everyone's amazement, Kusakabe Yuka (her stage name) comes into the class under the name Kinoshita Ringo as a transfer student. Kosaku realizes he has the once in a lifetime opportunity to get to personally know his dream girl and, together with his group of friends, try to find out why she is here and become closer than just classmates.



OPINION:

An idol suddenly retiring from the entertainment business so she could go to an agriculture school? Okay, that's definitely different, but I'm not sure how something like this will turn out. It'll either be really cheesy, or really weird/funny (I'm hoping for the latter here), but we'll see.



NOBUNAGA THE FOOL



SYNOPSIS:

The Western Planet and the Eastern Planet.

Once upon a time, the two sides were bound by the "Dragon Pulse" spanning the heavens.



The civilization that once had prospered has now turned to a tale of dreams, as the inextinguishable flames of war tear the realm asunder. The two planets remain engulfed in endless battles.



The return of the super technology known as "sacred treasures" could revolutionize the world order, but no one knows of them but one person--a "heretical girl."



A girl from the Western Planet, Jeanne Kaguya d'Arc, saw heavenly visions of the birth of a "Star Messiah" who will save the world. She embarks on a journey to the Eastern Planet with Leonardo da Vinci, "the one who observes the world." They come across the heretic of the Eastern Planet and "the greatest fool of the day," Oda Nobunaga.



OPINION:

I have no idea what this is about. Is this some sort of combination of historical figures in a sci-fi wonderland? I don't understand...I think it's a reverse harem though...I think...Also, what's up with Oda Nobunaga? Is he everybody's favorite figure in Japanese history?



GO! GO! 575



SYNOPSIS:

Go! Go! 575 adapts the Project 575 games for PlayStation Vita and iOS, which allow anyone to create songs using the traditional Japanese 5-7-5-syllable meter found in haiku and tanka poems.



OPINION:

How does one achieve writing music using a 5-7-5 syllable meter? What's the point of doing that? It's a mystery, really. I have to admit, I'm a bit turned off by this idea. On the other hand, I like the character designs (as expected from the person who did the ones for OreImo).



Z/X: IGNITION



SYNOPSIS:

The story is set in the not-so-distant future. Five "Black Points" suddenly appeared around the world as portals to parallel worlds. Immediately after, strange creatures began their invasion from these portals. These creatures are the inhabitants of five worlds--the same worlds in different timeframes. In order to ensure their own future timeframe survives, each of the five invasion forces battle to wipe the other future timeframes out. The key is one card-shaped device.



OPINION:

This sounds....kinda ridiculous, like someone just took a bunch of different ideas and meshed them together. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but this sounds pretty bad. One the other hand, the art looks OK.



SONIANI: SUPER SONICO THE ANIMATION



SYNOPSIS:

A series featuring Super Sonico, the mascot girl of Nitroplus.



OPINION:

From what I've seen in the preview, it's pretty much the daily life of this robot (?) girl (who also seems to have like 5 cats) with obvious doses of fanservice (because when your heroine has boobs the size of Texas, who can resist?). I don't sense any deeper meaning to it, nor any outstanding comedy, so this one's probably gonna be just another meaningless fanservice series.



So those are my thoughts on the upcoming anime season. It looks pretty good so far, but then again, I'm not basing my opinions on much. There are quite a few things left out (due to the lack of a visual, or it being a series that is a sequel to something I haven't watched), but there will be updates to the list, so stay tuned for those!
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