Another year has come and gone, which means that it’s time for a new season to begin! Unlike Fall, which had a ton of shows, this upcoming Winter season is relatively light on new titles, though hopefully not on quality titles. As usual, I’ll watch the first episode of most shows within certain parameters (in other words, not the kiddie shows), and what I list here are the chances of me actually blogging something based on my initial impressions from promotional material. However, even if I list the chances for a show as good or guaranteed, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll stick with it for more than a few episodes.

By no means does this list reflect every single anime series that is going to be aired, though I did try to be as comprehensive as I could. Check out MOON PHASE for an entire listing, syoboi’s calendar for specific air-times, and Fansub Wiki’s Winter 2008 page for who’s tentatively subbing what.

Technical Note: All times are given in a 24-hour, relative-day format where times are extended to show which day they belong to. For instance, Friday morning at 1:30AM would become Thursday at 25:30 to show that the episode aired late Thursday night.

Sisters of Wellber Zwei
http://avexmovie.jp/lineup/wellber/index.html
Premieres January 1st, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Tuesdays at 26:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-4): Tuesdays at 13:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
After a half-year break, Sisters of Wellber has returned with a new season. Since the first one wrapped up without much about the guy who killed Rita’s parents, that’s apparently what the new one will focus on. The entire cast and crew is back, so if you enjoyed the first series, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. However, I never personally got a chance to watch the entire first series (saw the first episode and then heard some mixed reviews about the rest of it), so odds are low that I’ll watch the second one.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Poor
Rosario to Vampire
http://www.rosa-vam.com/
Premieres January 3rd, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Thursdays at 23:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Thursdays at 10:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
As the name suggests, this series has vampires (and a rosario!). The hapless main character is a human who accidentally starts attending a school for monsters, and he quickly makes friends with a beautiful girl who turns out to be a vampire. Add some more monster girls, a lot of fanservice and fighting, and you get Rosario to Vampire. Having read a good deal of the manga, the main problem I have with it is that the beginning is very formulaic monster-of-the-week (new monster, main character finds himself in trouble, girl saves the day with her vampire form), and it takes a fairly long while for all the characters to get introduced and the plot to really get going. The anime adaptation, which is being produced by GONZO, runs the same risk, and to complicate things, even if I really wanted to watch this, it’s airing on Thursdays, and I’m very happy with the current Clannad & Shana II lineup.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Poor
H2O ~FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND~
http://anime.webnt.jp/h2o/
Premieres January 3rd, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Thursdays at 12:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
“H2O Rocks Your Soul!” As I mentioned in my earlier post, if I could give out an award for the most unintentionally funny promotion video ever, this series would get it. I was laughing for a good five straight minutes when the narrator suddenly started spouting random phrases designed to make the series sound exciting. I don’t know why they decided to have the trailer in English, but it certainly made my day. As for the series itself, H2O is about a (blind) boy who loses his mother and ends up moving to her hometown to recuperate. PV aside, I think the show has a lot of potential, and if I weren’t already watching Clannad and Shana II on Thursdays, I’d make room for this. As it stands though, I probably won’t have time to follow this.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Hatenkou Yuugi
http://hatenkouyugi.com/
Premieres January 4th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Fridays at 26:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Fridays at 13:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Hatenkou Yuugi (known by the name Dazzle in English for those of you who might be following the Tokyopop releases) takes place in a world with magic. The series is about a powerful girl who one day gets kicked out by her father because he wants her to go on an adventure and see the world. She ends up meeting and partnering up with a strong guy who’s looking for his father’s murderer, and the story is about their journeys together. I could never really get into the manga, but maybe the anime version will fare better for me – the commercial looked decent at least, and Studio DEEN is animating this.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
MAJOR 4th season
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/
Premieres January 5th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 18:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Saturdays at 04:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Since I’m not familiar with the series, here’s what (die-hard fan) Patrik had to say:
“Picking up where last winter’s 3rd season left off, our pitching protagonist Gorou is now all grown up and decides to move to America to break into Major League Baseball. The manga’s already up to 65 volumes, of which I’ve read 59, and let me just say one word for season four: romance! That’s right, actual romance in a show that I’ve most likened to “Bleach with Baseballs”. There’s also a bunch of epic battles and a national team competition coming up. If you haven’t started watching yet, best start now so you can be caught up when the best sports anime/manga resumes its story in 2008. Still, it’s a sports anime and it’s already had a bunch of seasons, so no one will be blogging it. “
Odds I’ll Blog This: Poor
PERSONA – trinity soul –
http://www.persona-ts.net/
Premieres January 5th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 22:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Saturdays at 08:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
The story of the Persona 3 game involved the investigation of the mysterious Apathy Syndrome and the creatures called Shadows that you had to fight with the help of the Persona that you summoned by shooting yourself in the head with a special gun. The Persona anime takes place ten years after the game when it seems that the Apathy Syndrome is back, and it’s up to three brothers to get to the bottom of it. From the trailer and the information released so far (which talks about corpses being turned inside out), it appears to be a dark series, but the animation quality looks fairly good, and it’ll be on MBS (meaning that there’s a good chance it’ll air in pretty high quality). Plus music is being composed by Iwasaki Taku, and I thought his Gurren Lagann soundtrack was one of the best of last year.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/zetsubou2/
Special Program January 4th, 2008
Premieres January 5th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 24:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Saturdays at 10:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is about a teacher who tends to have a very negative outlook and his class of very unique students (except for Nami – she’s normal). SZS was the favorite comedy series for a lot of people in 2007, and the second season promises to have more of the same kind of humor. I liked the first series, but it wasn’t quite as off-the-wall funny as some of my friends made it out to be (more of a clever funny). Anyway, mewmew had originally wanted to blog this, and hopefully he’ll be back from the holidays in time to do so.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Good
true tears
http://www.truetears.jp/
Special Program January 4th, 2008
Premieres January 5th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 25:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Saturdays at 11:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
true tears is a visual novel game released in 2006, but apparently that doesn’t matter much because the anime adaptation is an original story with original characters. It’s about a high school boy who wants to become a picture book author and meets a girl who can’t cry because of some childhood trauma. I find it hard to get excited about a series with a premise like that, and there’s no particularly big names on the cast or crew either except for maybe director Nishimura Junji (he also did Simoun) or eufonius singing the OP. The promo videos don’t look too bad though and probably warrant watching at least the first episode.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Shigofumi
http://www.shigofumi.com/
Premieres January 5th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 25:35
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Saturdays at 11:35
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
true tears might not have an interesting premise, but Shigofumi certainly does. Shigofumi are letters sent to loved ones after a person dies, delivered by a girl and her talking staff (which was apparently changed from being male to being female for the anime). My first reaction was that this was like the Shinigami no Ballad show from almost two years ago because of the similarities with a white-haired girl dealing with issues surrounded death. I wasn’t a big fan of Shinigami no Ballad though because of its episodic nature, and the light novels on which Shigofumi is based are unfortunately episodic too. However, J.C.Staff appears to be using an anime original story to start, so who knows how the show will proceed.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
http://kimiaru.jp/
Premieres January 5th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 26:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Saturdays at 12:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
If I haven’t been talking much about voice actors or actresses so far, it might be because a lot of the voice talent is going towards this show. With the likes of Gotou Yuuko, Itou Shizuka, Seki Tomokazu, and Tanaka Rie, Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de (KimiAru for short) is about a boy who runs away with his sister because of their father’s abuse, but the two have a hard time finding work when they’re out on their own. After a chance meeting with one of the three sisters of a rich family, the siblings get jobs as servants. It’s noteworthy that the story-writer of the original game that this is based on is also working on the series composition for the anime version, unlike a previous game he worked on that also got turned into an anime (Tsuyokiss) with less than stellar results. Anyway, the commercial for this didn’t exactly stand out, but I’ll give this the benefit of the doubt because of the strong cast.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Good
Porfy no Nagai Tabi
http://www.nippon-animation.co.jp/porfy/
Premieres January 6th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Sundays at 19:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Sundays at 5:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Replacing Les Misérables: Shoujo Cosette in the World Masterpiece Theater timeslot is The Long Journey of Porfy. For all five of you who care, this takes place in Europe in the 1950s, starting with an earthquake that ravages a poor Greek town and separates a brother and sister. The title character subsequently goes on a journey to look for his sister whose dream it had been to become a singer. The story will probably appeal to some people, especially if you appreciate the series Nippon Animation works on, but it’s definitely not my kind of show.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Poor
Minami-ke ~Okawari~
http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/minami-ke/2/
Premieres January 6th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Sundays at 25:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Sundays at 11:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
As I noted back in the Fall 2007 Preview, Minami-ke – a humorous look into the lives of three sisters – is taking the unusual route of having two halves, each with completely different staff, but with the same voice talent. The new director is Hosoda Naoto, and with him are several members of his SHUFFLE! team. It’s an interesting idea to say the least, and since Minami-ke is already a funny show, I’m curious to see what kind of changes a different staff will bring. According to advance Newtype and TV Tokyo spoilers, the first episode will involve a trip to a hot spring.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Good
ARIA The ORIGINATION
http://www.ariacompany.net/
Premieres January 7th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Mondays at 26:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Mondays at 12:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
The popular series ARIA, which is the slice-of-life story of the female gondoliers of the canal-filled Neo-Venezia, is also back with its third full series. As the name ORIGINATION suggests, the theme of this season is going to be “beginnings,” though with the manga ending soon, this could very well be the final one. If Jaalin were around, he’d want to blog this, but I may end up doing it in his absence unless Gunslinger Girl’s second series ends up being really good.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Good
GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-
http://www.gunslingergirl.com/
Premieres January 7th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Mondays at 27:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Mondays at 13:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
And speaking of which, after a four-year period, Gunslinger Girl is getting another anime series too. For those who might not be familiar with it, Gunslinger Girl is about a group of cybernetically enhanced girl assassins who work for an Italian counter-terrorism agency. Now, it’s easy to dismiss this as another girls-with-guns show, however there are actually a lot of interesting themes explored here, including brainwashing and the relationships between assassins and their handlers – it can be a pretty dark series at times. In any case, the first anime more or less covered the first two volumes of the manga, and the sequel looks to pick up right where that left off. It should be noted though, that pretty much the entire cast and crew have been changed (Artland will be animating it instead of Madhouse), so the sequel will likely have a different feel to it.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Good
Ookami to Koushinryou
http://www.spicy-wolf.com/
Premieres January 8th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Tuesdays at 25:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Tuesdays at 11:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
First things first, I can’t help but be amused whenever I look at the URL of the official website. The series’ Japanese name translates to “Wolf and Spices,” but seeing spicy wolf just makes me laugh. Anyway, the show is about a traveling merchant who one day finds a wolf harvest goddess stowing away in his wagon. The two start traveling together, and she ends up helping him with his work. I haven’t read the light novels (here’s a review of someone who has), but supposedly they focus a lot on Middle Ages economics and trade, which sounds unique, however I don’t know how interesting that’ll turn out to be. The biggest draw to this show for me is actually the combination of Fukuyama Jun (Lelouch) and Koshimizu Ami (Kallen) voicing the two main characters. Plus, aside from Sisters of Wellber Zwei, Ookami to Koshinryou is the only other show airing on Tuesdays this upcoming season, so there’s a pretty good chance I’ll watch it. Oh, and ROCKY CHACK is performing the ED, and since I haven’t heard them since ZEGAPAIN, I’ll be looking forward to that too.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Guaranteed
Noramimi
http://noramimi-anime.jp/
Premieres January 9th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Wednesdays at 25:45
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Wednesdays at 11:45
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
In the world of Noramimi, children can have special “characters” who keep the children company through their elementary school years. These characters look like human-sized hamsters, caterpillars, or lions. The title character Noramimi is not wanted by anyone, so he ends up having to stay at an agency that matches characters with kids. I suspect this show probably won’t be very popular, but it’s got a very cute and fun story (heartwarming even), so it might be worth a look.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Hakaba Kitarou
http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/hakaba/
Premieres January 10th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Thursdays at 24:45
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Thursdays at 10:45
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Replacing Moyashimon in Fuji TV’s Noitamina block is another adaptation of the popular Hakaba Kitarou manga about a youkai boy born in a cemetery who gets caught up between humans and other youkai. The animated versions of it thus far (including the most recent one in 2007) have gone by the GeGeGe no Kitarou name, but this new one will use the original title and be supposedly closer to the original work. The interesting thing is that the 2007 version hasn’t ended yet, so there’ll be technically two adaptations of the story airing at once. Nakagawa Shouko fans should also pay attention to the fact that she’ll be voicing a character and singing the ED. Regardless though, I don’t have space in my schedule for another Thursday show, so I doubt I’ll be watching this.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Poor
Moegaku★5
http://tv.moegaku.jp/
Premieres January 14th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Mondays at 17:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Mondays at 3:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, syoboi
Moegaku is a new series based on a 2005 PC title that was designed to teach English using moe characters. In the animated version, which will air five days a week, they’ve expanded that to include Korean (on Tuesdays), Spanish (Wednesdays), Chinese (Thursdays), and French (Fridays) as well as English (Mondays). The extra gimmick here is that each 15-minute episode is half animated and half live-action, and the life-action halves will feature Hirano Aya (she also voices a character in the animated half, though not the main character). Sad to say, all that makes me really curious, so I might watch an episode or two of this just for shits and giggles.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Yatterman
http://www.ytv.co.jp/yatterman/
Premieres January 14th, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Mondays at 19:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Mondays at 5:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Yatterman is a remake of an old series from the late ’70s a boyfriend/girlfriend duo who are both mechanically talented and work to battle against a group of villains who were after a mysterious stone that could show the location of the largest gold vein in the world. In the new version, the villains are after five rings that grant wishes, and it’s up to the heroes to stop them. It doesn’t sound all that appealing, and the trailers for the new series don’t look particularly special either, so I’ll likely skip this.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Poor
Mnemosyne – Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi –
http://www.rin-asougi.com/
Premieres February 3rd, 2008
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Sundays at 24:00
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Sundays at 10:00
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, AniDB, syoboi
Coming in February is a set of six-episode series, with each episode being an hour long, about a woman who finds a young man with memory problems and tries to help him get them back. She eventually finds a connection to a pharmaceutical laboratory and ends up being hunted by an assassin in what promises to be a dark and mature (nudity and violence) sci-fi series. Noto Mamiko, Tanaka Rie, and Kugimiya Rie are all in this, and it looks like XEBEC did a fairly good job on the animation quality, but I’m not exactly sold on the story yet. Hopefully when February comes I’ll have time to check this out.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent

The list above has the 19 major series premiering in January, plus Mnemosyne in February, and doesn’t include the kiddie shows (like Zenryouku Usagi or the newest Pretty Cure). You may notice that I’ve only got one series marked “Guaranteed” this time around when normally I have at least a few. I think that’s a sign that there’s not a ton of upcoming stuff that interests me greatly at first glance, though of course most of these shows have the potential to be good. Whether they are or not we’ll have to wait and see.

Like last season, I’ve uploaded a torrent with the promotional videos and commercials of many of the shows I’ve just talked about. Included in the pack – 19 files total – are: ARIA The ORIGINATION (CM), H2O ~FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND~ (PV), Hatenkou Yuugi (CM), Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de (CM), Mnemosyne (PV), Ookami to Koushinryou (CMx2), PERSONA – trinity soul (CM, PV), Rosario to Vampire (CM, PV), Shigofumi (CMx2), true tears (PVx2), Yatterman (CMx2), and Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (CMx2).
Note: CM = Commercial, PV = Promo Video.

Torrent Link

As always, comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome.

111 Comments

  1. When I’ve noticed the different (and poor) character designs on the new Gunslinger website, I couldn’t help but become disgusted

    What is Aria Origination about, by the way? A continuation of the series? A tangent time-line?

    Crev
  2. Aria is no.1 for me, must have.
    Ookami to Koushinryou looks good too, will take a look. As for the other series, Gunslinger Girl (1st series) was so tragic and sad that I dunno if I’ll watch the second series. Another argument against it is, that the sequel isn’t done by Madhouse anymore (and they did a really good job on the 1st series).
    Then the sequels to Minami-Ke and Sayonara Sensei. But as for the rest, no real interest.
    Here’s a short news about visual novel related anime:
    http://www.visual-novels.net/vn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=620&Itemid=2#jc_writeComment

  3. Thank you so much for the PVs Omni! ^^
    Hatenkou Yuugi is pretty interesting, but I worry about how it’s going to turn the confusing manga into a decent and solid show.

    aside from that, I’m definitely looking forward to Persona. H2O, true tears and Shigofumi as runner-ups.

  4. My Goddd!!!!…… the animation on Minami-ke is soooooo not goooddd….!!!! just seeing on the three sisters animated face on the -Okawari- season very creeps me out. I like it better with the old version and its even funnier…

    Kubaru
  5. Well i’m going for:
    Minami-ke ~Okawari~ (since i have been watching the 1st season)
    GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO- (suddenly a 2nd season but diffenrent cast what’s with that?)
    Ookami to Koushinryou (just read the manga not bad i say starts off with some nudity)
    Finally H20, i mean it ROCKS YOUR SOUL MAN
    Since there’s not much mind as well take Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de, ARIA The ORIGINATION and PERSONA – trinity soul – if it’s good

    setsuke
  6. Hmm none of these titles really catch my interest. I’ll prolly watch gungslinger because I did enjoy the first season, and I’ll watch Shigofumi because I like the art style, but none of these… look like shows to die for. I wouldn’t mind not seeing any of them.

    Anryu
  7. i’ll go for Aria the Origination! 😀 though i have’nt watch the past series but this time i will! XD
    m……it really cought my attention is the Ookami to Koushinryou with you saying that wolves being spicy LOL and KimiAru!

    but i also want to watch the Persona -trinity soul- since its was the sequel of the game Persona 3 which it become it in best games in 2007 but oh well better check it in 1st episode if it is good.

    zai_shana
  8. KimiAru with the hope that THIS time, with the original author directing, it won’t be butchered like Tsuyokisu was 🙂 … also, ojousamas for the win, particularly when voiced by Shizuka Itou.

    Other than that, no must-watch show other than GSG2. Indeed, a kinda bland season, it seems – but then again, very often the unknown shows turn out to be better than the “big name” animes which disappoint.

    Mentar
  9. Funny how the one thing on this list that is “Guaranteed” is also the only one out of these that’s especially interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m probably going to check Minami-ke Okawari. I’d also try the second season of SZS if I had actually watched the first season, which I should probably go do.

    Tokkan
  10. Kimiaru – Shinra-sama!
    H2O – I won’t watch this… I’ll play the game.
    Rosario to Vampire – Sounds interesting, lets see
    Persona – Never played the game, but looks promsing
    Zetsubou-sensei – Doh.
    Gunslinger Girl – Double doh.
    Ookami to Koushinryou – Definitely interesting premise
    Mnemosyne – Sounds at least interesting enough to look into.

    Gloranor
  11. Rosario!!!!! There are quite a number of ’em I wanted to watch but I doubt I’ll have the time to actually watch them all. Rosario will most probably be the only series I’ll watch even with my busy schedule. The manga has been great so far and hopefully the anime adaptation won’t disappoint us.

    dward
  12. Well… the only one that caught my eye was Shigofumi, i hope it doesnt turn out shit! ^^U Uhm… I guess i`ll use this winter season to catch up with the series I couldnt download til now, such as: shana II, Ef, and Darker Than Black! XD!

    (sorry, for my english… u_ú)

    Sunohara!
  13. What a poor season. I’ll be watching Hatenkou Yuugi and Persona -trinity soul- for sure… and I might somehow find the time to take a peek at True Tears and Shigofumi.

    Ah, only two shows I really want to see, opposed to about 10 shows for spring… I can only hope this season passes quickly.

    Katapan
  14. vampire huh? damn too many manga to anima adaptions next year…
    well – more moe harems with monsters. aliens and co – why not?
    miname-ke zwei? give it to me ^^
    Spicy wolf or rather spice and wolf – just read the manga chapters and the hen douji – suppose to be good ^^

    but the true stuff starts in summer: mai – otme/hime zwei + ovas, geass 2,some remakes of old stuff (birdy the might) some sick series – like an offspring hayate…maid man something else…whoever made this – plz die ^^

    well 2008 to come

    anotheronebitestehdust
  15. Nothing in the list that really jumped out for me, but I will probably pick up Wolf and Spices for the sake of having sthg to watch for the season… otherwise, I think I will just stick with those ongoing series from the previous season.

    shojo
  16. @anotheronebitestehdust
    The only stuff that will come from Mai Otome is Silfr, and that will be an OVA with just 2 episodes or so. Not sure if it’ll have 4 episodes, but not more, and they’ll release 1 episode every 3 months, same as with Mai Otome Zwei.
    As for Mai Hime, didn’t hear anything about an OVA whatsoever.

  17. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is the only one among the list that I’ll be watching. I would watch the others by intuition.

    Hopefully subs won’t send us in despair just like the first one.

    sadakups
  18. uuhhh…yet another very weak season…only three shows interesting…

    Will watch: Mnemosyne, Persona and that one about fox-lady >.>

    gotta hope next season will be stronger(with geass and hopefully more better shows)

    Unknown Voice
  19. i am surprise you want to blog Aria…..too bad that most of the animes i am intending to watch seem to be just “decent” to you.Oh well,at least i could watch all animes to kill time.i am going to do nothing but stay at home this 6 months or so

    polar bear
  20. NUUUUUU!!! I wanted to play the game before Persona trinity soul came out =(. Stupid cashier guy wouldnt sell it to me cuz i was “underage” and didnt have “ID” proving i was old enough. Well w/e. Looking forward to it along with H2O, Rosario to Vampire, and Ookami to Koushinryou.

    SomethingLeft
  21. I’ll give H20 (just because of the trailer) and True Tears a try…other than those shows, nothing interests me, and even those two don’t look like they’ll really be good or anything…

    Story
  22. wow this season really sucks in my opinion. Nothing to watch!!!!!

    I’ll check out Ookami to Koushinryou, Shigofumi, and Persona, cause
    that ps2 game was so awesome. =P Wish next season has better anime though

    Terry-Kun
  23. Ugh I hate how people condemn an anime because its “monster of the week” style. Not all anime need to have a deep plot, its all a different style that someone enjoys. Its anime it can be anything within its description not Ani-soap operas.

  24. Initially I was very offended by the idea that a series was going to propose yet another excuse to overexpose the already overexposed Aya Hirano as a gimmick, but I guess if it’s educational then this Moegaku 5 can get away with it. Still I see it descending into an over commercialized abomination meant to sell Seiyuu Singles and as little more than a commercial for Aya Hirano.

  25. Persona Trinity Soul and the second season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei seem like what I’ll be watching. I’ll probably watch the second half of Minami-Ke, as I absolutely love the first half, but the change in art style is making me more than a bit apprehensive. The current art style is so good..

    Heiae
  26. Sorry but “monster of the week” just indicates poor writing. The premise has potential but the whole terrible manga writing and Gonzo production sort of kill any hope R+V has.

    However I look forward to more haughty ojou-sama from Itou Shizuka in KimiAru.

    Eh
  27. Persona is far and away my most anticipated release this season, since I absolutely loved the game (The game is only a decent RPG, but in reality its an amazing anime in game form). I hope this sequal lives up to its name, though I must say I am a little dissapointed that it takes place ten years later, since we probably won’t see any of the game’s characters (maybe a few cameos, but they’d all be very different now). Almost wish they were doing a straight-up adaption of the game’s story, although there is a manga thats doing that. Worth checking out if your interested, only bad part is the manga only has aobut 6 chapters out, and I beleive it is a monthly release.

    Tryptomine
  28. strange animes…and a few interesting…BUT!!..let´s see what this new year will bring us!!It´s a shame that no megami sama and no full metal panic the third strike came up….but hope is the last to die!!” ZETSUBOUSHITA!!!!!!!!!! ” ^_^

    Tensai Otaku
  29. Gunslinger Girls it is for me! not your average girls with uns show for certain… The ending of the 1st season almost made me cry – Ode to joy sung as anathem against death, despair and cruelty of the world ppor gils live in.

    ewok
  30. gunslinger girl?? didnt they all expire?! “four year shelf life and all”.. rest of the season looks BEEEEEH! WHERES THE GODDESS!!!!!!!!! i already got first ep ,killer arc!

    BROOKLYN otaku
  31. You’re right. Not much spice in this season. Here are my opinions about blogging them anyway.

    Sisters of Wellber Zwei – I’d have to say skip this one. Since you really never did the 1st season, it wouldn’t make much since to do this one. Plus the story really isn’t that interesting.

    Rosario to Vampire – Although the stroy sounds like it will be a bit on the formulaic side, as you put it, it still looks to be an interesting series. Of course as you said you would be blogging Clannad and Shanna II so not much cance of blogging this one. But it would be interesting to blog to say the least.

    H2O ~FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND~ – blog it. It look interesting, and it’s not everyday that a blind man is the main protagonist of an anime. Though the story does appear to be a bit on the boaring side, we could be surprised. We have been in the past.

    Hatenkou Yuugi – I was going back a forth trying to decide if this would be good enough to blog or not but i finally decided that no this wouldn’t be worth it. nice sounding story but just doesn’t grasp my attention.

    MAJOR 4th season – GOD! Will this madness never end! Do NOT blog!

    PERSONA – trinity soul – no. This looks to be more of a yaoi anime than anything else. even if it’s about 3 brothers.

    Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei – personally i haven’t watched the 1st season yet but i have been meaning to. Blog this if you want. I would read the blogs.

    true tears – yes. I’d say watch the 1st couple of episodes and blog it then read reviwers posts to decide to continue or not. The story does indeed sound a little lame though.

    Shigofumi – no. don’t bother blogging this. It’s doesn’t make any since.

    Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de – hate to say it but even with the mass of talent lined up in this anime it doesn’t look it will be very good. might as well skip it.

    Porfy no Nagai Tabi – just a flat out NO with this one. what kind of animation is that? This isn’t the 80’s people!

    Minami-ke ~Okawari~ – please DO blog this. If Hosoda Naoto, and several members of his SHUFFLE! team are there, this will be even better than the 1st season! And i may just watch it this time!

    ARIA The ORIGINATION – since I’ve never seen any other other ARIA series i can’t make a ruleing on this one but i’d say skip it since i never found the intrest to watch them.

    GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO- – blog please. I’d like to see what happend after the 1st season!

    Ookami to Koushinryou – unless this has a mass of fanservice i can’t see the appel of this one. skip it.

    Noramimi – no

    Hakaba Kitarou – no

    Moegaku★5 – Oh look! A live action version of Moetan! I’d be interested in seeing the blogs you put of for this one!

    Yatterman – no

    Mnemosyne – Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi – yes do blog this. I’d be very much interested in seeing where this goes!

    And that’s my list.

    Hudson
  32. My picks for winter 2008
    sayonara zetsubou sensei ( I want more more of this one)
    h20 footprints in the sand (Anoter main character with eye problems)
    Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de (Haven’t got enough with the Ninomiya-kun)
    minami-ke (hope it would retain the same flavor …)
    Ookami to Koushinryou (need to watch it thoroughly….)

    arigatou
  33. good to see you’ll be blogging wolf and spice, as it’s one of the few that has really caught my eye. mnemosyne also looks pretty good to me for one reason alone. noto mamiko, such a sexy voice.

    ruffles
  34. Is there a possibility that omni and the staff can sub one series every season in the future?

    btw h2o,Mnemosyne – Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi -(preview looks like yuri),Rosario to Vampire r really appealing to me. thnx a lot for the winter list.

    i hope u can consider my question.

    p(_)shke
  35. Hmmm…Ookami to Koushinryou and the new Minami-ke are pretty definite.

    On the maybe list are Porfy no Nagai Tabi (The art style and story look like they might be something of an interest for me. It’s just a matter of subs….), PERSONA – trinity soul – (A way maybe because I haven’t played the games. If it something that can’t be watched without playing the game, forget it)Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de and Shigofumi (The plots seem kind of interesting)

    Like 2007 what I watch will ultimately be based on the free time I have (which is getting tighter and tighter btw)

    KLolita
  36. i dont think that this is all that’s coming out this winter is it?Or are these just the ones that look interesting?0.o
    well i don’t see anything new/worthwhile that i already know.Thanks anyway.

    God~knows
  37. Well, I don’t know whether any of you ever heard about Kyou Kara Ma Oh!, but the 3rd season of it coming in April 2008. It’s already been confirmed (if I’m not mistaken). It seems the 2 new chara fro the OVA will join the anime. How about Higurashi!?
    To ox36, yes, it’s right, Kara no Kyoukai too.
    Don’t worry, there are so many promising new titles in 2008.
    P.S : Omni, can you blog Kyou Kara Ma Oh!? I can guarantee that this anime won’t let you down!

    KGFJ
  38. Totally pumped for more Gunslinger Girl; I’ll deal with the new character designs and voices if the animation is still good. Triela-focused season FTW.

    Besides that… Hatenkou is giving me Black Cat vibes (kinda crappy but fun random shounen-style action) so I might like it. And Kimiaru sounds okay to me for some reason.

    Is Kara no Kyokai this season? I have some kind of sick fascination with the Nasuverse.

    Kikaifan
  39. Giving Rosario to Vampire a shot…. though not expecting much.
    Ookami to Koushinryou looks to be pleasant enough to check out. Spicy wolf girls in middle-age settings —- European or Japan middle ages?

    hmmm, I’ve still got the original Gunslinger series to watch so I’ll just store #3 for later.

    Aria the Origination is probably a must-see.

    Otherwise, I’ll be continuing the Clannad, SZS, and Da Capo II escapades and catching up on some series I’ve downloaded but queued for later.

    Maybe… finally I’ll get a season to empty the “unwatched series queue”.

    vexx
  40. Here is what I plan to watch, I might try to watch Major, but the raws are hard to come by.

    Sisters of Wellber Zwei
    Rosario to Vampire
    H2O FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
    Hatenkou Yuugi
    PERSONA trinity soul
    Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
    true tears
    Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
    Minami-ke Okawari
    Ookami to Koushinryou
    Mnemosyne – Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi

    golthin
  41. One reason the coming line-up may appear “weak” is because the big shows from fall are still running, shows like Clannad, Shana, and Gundam. Come spring, when these shows will finish, other big guns will come to take their place, such as Geass2, Macross, and Haruhi2(or is it?). I’m kinda glad there’s not much new programs to pick up, cuz I don’t have much free time until spring. I plan to watch H2O, KimiAru, Spicy Wolf and maybe try True Tears. Also considering R+V, but the fact it’s from Gonzo is making me stay away lol.

    Happy New Year Everyone 😀

    CooKie
  42. Even though I’ve already played Persona 3, I’m not too sure I’m even going to bother watching the spin-off show. Maybe the first episode, but I don’t have too high hopes for it considering that I don’t know what can beat the awesomeness that is the game itself. So I guess it’s just Gundam 00 and (waiting for) Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations for me.

    Kazuhide Aeiji
  43. lets me say few thing about Major the anime.
    there isn’t few sport anime I like, but Major is different, I love it.
    it has slice of life in the first season. and although it’s anime.
    there is things cant happen in real life.
    in a way baseball is important sport in Japan.
    if you dig in the history, touch is also anime about baseball, still it is good (though I haven’t saw all epsiode)
    but anime Major is 1 of my list to watch, I have waited for a long time to it release, january 5th is on my agenda!!!

  44. Shigofumi ~Stories of Last Letter~

    Director: Tatsuo Sato (Martian Successor Nadesico, Stellvia)
    Series Composition,Script: Ichiro Okouchi (Code Geass, Planetes, Azumanga Daioh, King Gainer)
    Original Character Design: Kouhaku Kuroboshi (Kino’s Journey, Allison to Lillia)
    Assistant director: Katsushi Sakurabi (Tsukihime, Yomigaeru Sora – RESCUE WINGS -, Asatte no Houko)

    This is a original animation. Light Novel’s one is a link of media franchise.

    Dantekottai

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