 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「私の力、海賊の力」 (Watashi no Chikara, Kaizoku no Chikara)
“My Power, A Pirate’s Power”
Mouretsu Pirates is still very well in the worldbuilding process, taking things slowly and not rushing Marika into the captaincy role that we all know she’ll eventually take on, and I continue to find myself swept up in its mellow pacing — in a good way.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「雑音と不協和音と」 (Zatsuon to Fukyouwaron to)
“Noise and Dissonance”
My Mizuki Nana/TWO-MIX anime has been taken over by Yuuki Aoi! As much as I like Aoi, it’s a bit of a downer that I may not get to hear Nana and Minami as Zwei Wing anymore.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「A Stormy Summer Vacation 2/2」
Price of Lovely’n umbrella: $104 USD. Price of Neo Featherman: $884 USD. Price of combining five social links into one episode?
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「人間、やめました！」 (Ningen, Yamemashita!)
“I Stopped Being Human!”
I must admit that I came away from this episode liking several characters less. There was still plenty of Issei being ridiculous, Rias-senpai being sexy and Issei’s friends being hilariously jealous, but there were undercurrents to their actions that I found off-putting.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「絢辻詞 後編 ケッセン」 (Ayatsuji Tsukasa Kouhen – Kessen)
“Ayatsuji Tsukasa, Second Chapter – Showdown”
I know I said that Tsukasa was probably going to see right through Noriko’s ploy, but I never anticipated that Junichi would have it so good right after she did. The infamous Amagami shed where kinky miracles happen makes its return!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「再誕 the lost christmas」 (Saitan)
“Resurrection”
Did I just watch the finale? Because it sure felt like I watched the finale. Every subtle development that’s been built up so far culminated to a finale-worthy conclusion — and in ways that were fairly satisfying too.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「いぬとぼく」 (Inu to Boku)
“The Dog and I”
This is the story of a disagreeable young woman and a stupid young man…but not in the same way as most anime.
The spin-off to CODE GEASS, “Akito the Exiled” (literally, “Akito of the Ruined Country”), is finally gaining some steam on the production side of things with a 90-second promo video — three and a half years after the second season finished airing. Along with it came the starring cast announcment: Irino Miyu as Hyuuga Akito and Sakamoto Maaya as Reira Markale (official English spelling pending).
The side story takes place in 2017, around the time Lelouch took on the alter-ego “Zero” and built up his “Black Knights” rebellion army (i.e. season one). The setting is Europe, where the Euro Universe (E.U.) allied nations are being invaded by the overwhelming force of the Britannia Empire. On the verge of defeat, the E.U. army forms a special division known as “W-0”, which a young pilot named Hyuuga Akito is a member of. Coming to the E.U.’s aid is a former Britannia aristocrat named Reira Markale, who commands the “Wyvern” Knightmare corps comprised of Japanese teenagers. They recklessly plunge into a battlefied where the survival rate is extremely low to fight for their freedom and have a country they can return to that feels like “home”. Thus begins their fight against the adult world.
The premise has been more or less laid out (translated above), but it’s still relatively unclear on whether Boukoku no Akito will be a full TV series, an OVA, or a film. What we do know is that it will be screened in theaters this summer and that it will be directed by Akane Kazuki (Tenkuu no Escaflowne, Noein: Mou Hitori no Kimi e) and once again feature original character designs by CLAMP. Judging from the screening date, we’ll likely see this long-awaited spin-off in either summer or fall of this year.
Update: A movie project for the original “Hangyaku no Lelouch” story has also been announced.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「はなよりほかにしるひともなし」 (Hana yori Hoka ni Shiru Hito mo Nashi)
“For There Is No one Else Out There”
It was always obvious that we weren’t going to get anything like a complete telling of this ongoing manga in two cours, but it’s becoming quite clear now that what we’re getting is only scratching the surface.
