Springtime: it’s the season of the birds and the bees and the time to enjoy the sunshine conspicuously absent during those long winter months. Except we’re all stuck inside thanks to viral pandemic as hand sanitizer runs off the shelves and the global economy burns; fun times right? Never fear though, because spring also heralds the start of a new batch of anime, and while some heavy hitters were postponed at the last minute (*cries in Re:Zero*), there’s plenty to tide you over while Corona-chan does her thing. Several major fan favourites are making their return, from the likes of Sword Art Online and Shokugeki no Souma to beloved romcom powerhouses Kaguya-sama and Oregairu, and even the second seasons of supernatural comedy Tsugumomo and sci-fi smash hit No Guns Life. New adaptations aren’t neglected either, as the widely popular Korean webtoon Kami no Tou sees its first anime appearance, alongside the acclaimed otome isekai twister Otome Game and mystery thriller Gleipner, while slapstick comedy Jashin-chan resurrects for a surprise sequel. And if that wasn’t enough, P.A. Works returns with adventure-esque Appare-Ranman alongside a new Ghost in the Shell ONA while brand new seasons of Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh help keep those childhood memories alive. The world may be falling apart around us, but at least we have anime to help save the day! This is Random Curiosity’s Spring 2020 Preview.

As a quick reminder, most entries are divided into two paragraphs:

  • A brief introduction to the series and its premise, often with the starring cast of characters.
  • The writer’s impressions, expanding on the plot and highlighting specific points of interest.

This season we’ll continue using the Excitement Levels we introduced a while back. You know how this works by now, right? Every new anime is a cacophony of hype, and rather than pretend to objectively prognosticate, we shall embrace the spin and give you our visceral gut reactions instead. For more information, check out the Overall Impressions section at the bottom, which includes an expanded explanation of each category and a list of all shows by excitement level.

 

Disclaimer: Back in the ancient times of 2012 (it’s the RC catchphrase!), previews were done by a single writer, Divine. But the RandomC preview is a substantial task, so we’ve divided it up among our active staff (Choya, Guardian Enzo, Iskendaris, MissSimplice, Pancakes (yours truly), Passerby, Stilts, Takaii, Zaiden, and Zephyr) in order to maintain the quality of this preview. We will try to point out what appeals to us in each series, in the hope it will help you determine if it coincides with your tastes.

Disclaimer #2: Please note that this list does not reflect all the series airing this coming season. It is meant to be as comprehensive as possible, but omissions have been made for shows that stray from the anime norm or seem to be oriented toward young children. Please check out MOON PHASE for complete listings, syoboi for specific air times, and Fansub DB for a list of potential sources for each series.

And finally let me take this chance to seriously thank the entire Random Curiosity team for their monumental work on this preview. With job changes consuming the time for some of us and first responder pandemic duties requiring another to hand off writing tasks entirely, it’s been a wild and ridiculous ride getting this one out, but we all did our jobs fantastically. Special thanks go to Zephyr for doing early prep work; Stilts for editing and people wrangling; Takaii for gathering the images and last minute html; Zaiden for laying the groundwork; and Pictor for doing the encodes. Also, thank you to everyone who wrote previews and helped with the formatting, you know who you are! For a more Enzo-centric point of view, check out the LiA spring preview for a second opinion on many of these shows.

Finally, and as always, thank you to the entire Random Curiosity community. Whether you read every posts and yammer in the Discord channel or a quiet lurker who just stops by for the season previews, thank you so much for giving us your time and attention. With the world going crazy and everyone in need of some fun, let’s sit back and enjoy another season of anime together!


TV Series


Technical Note: The chart below is ordered by the date and time that the shows premiere. The links in the schedule will take you to a series’ corresponding entry and the “Top” links on the right will bring you back. You can also use the back/forward buttons in your browser to jump between links you’ve clicked. 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.

Saturday

Yu☆Gi☆Oh!: Sevens
07:30 TXN (04/04)

Digimon Adventure:
09:00 Fuji TV (04/04)

Major 2nd (TV) 2nd Season
17:35 NHK (04/04)

Arte
22:00 BS Fuji (04/04)

Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma
23:00 AT-X (04/04)

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen
23:30 Tokyo MX (04/11)

Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld 2nd Season
24:00 Tokyo MX (04/25)

Gal to Kyouryuu
25:00 Tokyo MX/BS11 (04/04)

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta…
25:30 Tokyo MX (04/04)

Yesterday wo Utatte
25:30 AbemaTV (04/04)

Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan
25:43 Prime (04/04)

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season
26:10 ABC TV (04/04)

* Jump to OVA/Movies or Short Series List.

Tamayomi | 球詠Top
https://tamayomi.com/
Animation: Studio A-CAT Premiere: April 1st, 2020
Genre: Sports, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 22:00
Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @tamayomi_PR or #tamayomi

Preview by Miss Simplice

Baseball is by far the most popular sport in Japan, so it’s no surprise that combining cute female protagonists and Japan’s favourite sport right before the Olympics is going to draw a lot of attention. The timing to produce this manga couldn’t have been more right. Tamayomi follows a pair of friends who reconnect in a high school and aim to reboot the female baseball team. This show is going to cover a lot of ground, including baseball try-outs, learning the scope of the sport, and watching this team of young women take on the challenge of reaching the national high school tournament together.

The story follows Takeda Yomi (Maeda Kaori) and close friend Yamazaki Tamaki (Amano Satomi), both enrolled in Shin Koshigaya High School. They become the founders of the new Shin Koshigaya High School baseball club, sharing their contagious passion for the sport with others. The team will be made up of eleven total members, all with their own sets of skills. But there’s nothing like Yomi’s fast pitched “miracle ball” that no one else but Tamaki can catch. The series has the potential to become as great as Diamond no Ace or Major, two classics of the sports genre. I’m loving this spring season. Alongside Hougako Teibou Nisshi, Tamayomi serves as an important piece of cultural work bringing women to the forefront, and more importantly, creating presence in areas that are widely male dominated (like fishing and baseball). Let’s keep this wave of shifts coming.

Watching This: No one yet Excitement Level: Limited
Show Tamayomi Promotional Videos ▼

Kami no Tou -Tower of God- | 神之塔Top
https://tog-anime.com/
Animation: Telecom Animation Film Premiere: April 1st, 2020
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 24:30
Episodes: Pending Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_ToG or #神之塔

Preview by Zephyr

From Telecom Animation Film comes the adaptation of Korean webtoon Sin-ui Tap (Kami no Tou in Japanese). Also known as Tower of God, the series was first published in 2010. Since then it became one of the first webtoons to be officially translated, making its way into 8 different languages and receiving over 4.5 billion views. The series follows 25th Bam (Ichikawa Taichi)—“Bam” for short—a boy who has lived his life trapped beneath a Tower with his close friend Rachel (Hayami Saori). Seeking passage into the outer world, Rachel makes a decision to enter the Tower. Following suit, Bam also enters the Tower—not as a chosen one, but as an “irregular” who has managed to open the Tower’s doors by force. There he begins his journey, navigating each of the tower’s floors in an attempt to find his closest companion. Challenges await Bam on each floor, as do temptations from the Tower itself, which is said to be a place capable of granting any desire.

It isn’t often that you see people get as excited as when Tower of God was announced for adaptation. A look into the first few chapters and it isn’t hard to see why. The series gets rolling a mere few pages in, and you can tell from Bam’s first challenge how much potential it has to develop. I remember thinking the art style was a bit rough initially (likely due to series creator SIU working on the entire thing by himself early on), but as many have said, it improves in leaps and bounds over time, which further heightens the series’ dark fantasy atmosphere. I don’t want to spoil anymore, so I’ll just say that out of all the fantasy series this season, this could very well be the one to watch. This is a series whose source material seems strong enough to carry the adaptation on its own, so Telecom Animation Film and director Sano Takashi really only need to make sure things stay consistent throughout from an animation standpoint and they’ll have a winner on their hands. Thankfully, they’ve worked together before—both the studio and Takashi have worked on various Lupin series together—but this’ll be Takashi’s first director gig, so let’s hope he’s up for the task.

Watching This: Choya, Guardian Enzo, Pancakes, Stilts, Takaii, Zaiden, Zephyr Excitement Level: High
Show Kami no Tou -Tower of God- Promotional Videos ▼

Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! | 八男って、それはないでしょう!Top
http://hachinan-anime.com/
Animation: Shin-Ei Animation Premiere: April 2nd, 2020
Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 22:30
Episodes: Pending Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation https://twitter.com/Hachinan_PR or #hachinan

Preview by Zephyr

From Shin-Ei Animation comes the adaptation of Y.A’s fantasy light novel series Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou!. Originally serialized in June 2013, the series revolves around Ichinomiya Shingo, a run-of-the-mill employee at an unnamed Japanese trading company. After a long day of work, Shingo goes to sleep only to wake up in the body of a five-year-old boy named Wendelin (Enoki Junya). As he gradually gets used to his new surroundings, he finds himself in the unenviable position as a poor noble’s eighth son, destined to receive nothing in regards to territory and forced to fend for himself upon becoming an adult. Fortunately for Wendelin, he finds himself one of few people capable of utilizing high-level magic, a talent that could become a boon for himself and his family … or a source of impending disaster.

Having read the first twenty or so chapters of the light novel, I can’t say Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! really stuck out in any significant way. The backdrop fits your generic isekai with a small twist, as does the fact that the main character possesses a unique talent that differentiates him from everyone else. If there’s one redeeming factor about its initial chapters, it’s that it takes the time to really build up its world prior to anything significant happening, following Wendelin as he grows older and slowly grasps the concepts behind magic and the politics surrounding his family’s territory. The way it’s presented worked quite well in a light novel format, but I’m concerned as to how it will carry over to an adaptation, and it’s an open question whether subsequent developments will be enough to engage viewers or appeal to them in a way that makes this series different from others in the genre. Still, I can see where this appeals to fans of the fantasy or isekai genres, so I’ll likely take a look myself when it airs. I’d just temper my expectations accordingly.

Watching This: Pancakes, Zephyr Excitement Level: Limited
Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! Promotional Videos ▼

Kakushigoto | かくしごと Top
https://kakushigoto-anime.com/
Animation: Ajia-Do Premiere: April 2nd, 2020
Genre:Comedy, Slice-of-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 23:30
Episodes: Pending Station: AT-X / BS NTV
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @kakushigoto_pr or #かくしごと

Preview by Choya

Gotou Kakushi (Kamiya Hiroshi) is the writer and illustrator of a vulgar, disreputable manga series. His success would be admirable if not for the fact that he’s also a father. Because Kakushi loves his daughter Hime (Takahashi Rie) more than anything, he doesn’t want her to discover that he has created such filthy manga. Fearing her resentment, he goes out of his way to ensure that she knows nothing of his profession. Now that Hime is in the fourth grade, Kakushi enlists the help of his editors and assistants to help him keep his profession a secret in this father-daughter tale of love and laughter.

Kakushigoto’s mangaka Kumeta Kouji has had an illustrious career of his own as he’s brought despair to our world with Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and brought the world of Uchouten Kazoku to life through his character designs. At this point, Kumeta and Kamiya Hiroshi have been a power duo with how many times Kamiya has lent his voice to Kumeta’s characters. But despite the lack of Studio Shaft’s presence, Kumeta’s influence shines through with the quirky humor that comes from Kakushi’s attempts to cover his tracks and prevent his daughter from finding out his painful secret. With the numerous off-the-wall obstacles that threaten to spill Kakushi’s secret, he’s got a handful to deal with as he finds new, practical, and impractical ways to cover his tracks. Will he be able to keep up his elaborate ruse, or will he spill the beans at some point? Find out when Kakushigoto airs this spring.

Watching This: Choya, Stilts Excitement Level: Average
Show Kakushigoto Promotional Videos ▼

Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation | 新サクラ大戦 the AnimationTop
https://sakura-taisen-theanimation.com/
Animation: SANZIGEN Premiere: April 3rd, 2020
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 22:00
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_sst or #アニメ新サクラ大戦

Preview by Miss Simplice

Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation emerges from a larger established game and anime series dating back to 1996. The franchise has found a fresh reboot with its recent game release in Asia earlier in 2019. The anime is planned to air after SEGA’s release as a compliment to the story. The events fans have played through took place in Ginza, Japan during the Taisho period as protagonist Kamiyama Seijuro (Azakami Youhei). However, this spring series shifts the perspective from Seijuro to Tamamiya Sakura (Sakura Ayane). After his reassignment to Europe, Seijuro becomes the new Captain of the Imperial Combat Revue Flower Division made up of a team of women ready to take their mechas into battle.

The anime is definitely targeted toward fans of the franchise and the recent game, as the story is set shortly after the events in SEGA’s 2019 release. Those fortunate enough to have played it before the series airs will get to enjoy the scope of the story with characters they’ve encountered before. The Flower Division (for short) is tasked with protecting the peace on earth from new demon invasions, and going up against other similar mecha-filled divisions in tournaments. All the while, they must make efforts to keep their home at the Imperial Theater open. I can’t say for certain that I’ll be watching this as the plot doesn’t instill much confidence, but I might watch it out of sheer curiosity.

Watching This: Choya Excitement Level: Limited
Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation Promotional Videos ▼

Nami yo Kiitekure | 波よ聞いてくれ:Top
https://namiyo-anime.com/
Animation: Sunrise Premiere: April 3rd, 2020
Genre:Comedy, Drama Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 26:25
Episodes: Pending Station: MBS / TBS
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @namiyo_official or #波よ聞いてくれ

Preview by Choya

Love’s biting sting can inspire some of the most emotional and gripping material for an artist. For Koda Minare (Sugiyama Riho), being duped and ditched by her last boyfriend caused her to go out for a night of heavy drinking. After unleashing a passionate, spirited, and angry tirade to a radio station worker, she wakes up to the news that her drunken rant was recorded and played live over the airwaves. She storms into the studio in anger, placing her job at a curry soup and bread restaurant at risk, but when she becomes involved with an impromptu talk show appearance, Minare’s eccentricities make her a popular and viable choice to work at the radio station as a personality. Armed with her sharp wit and natural charisma, Minare aims to take the airwaves of Sapporo, Hokkaido by storm as the newest and freshest voice in talk radio.

The concept alone is fascinating as an anime centered around talk radio and shock jocks. But one variable that comes out of left field is how the manga was made by Mugen no Juunin creator Samura Hiroaki. It’s easy to see his influence in the art style of the series, but it’s most interesting to see how he was able to adapt to a contemporary comedy after becoming renowned for the brutality and violence that defined some of his most popular manga. Nonetheless, the story makes for a wickedly funny seinen that demonstrates the empowerment and strength that can come from being mad as hell and refusing to take it anymore. It’ll be fun to see the full extent of Minare’s newfound success when Nami yo Kiitekure goes on-air this April.

Watching This: Choya, Stilts Excitement Level: Optimistic
Nami yo Kiitekure Promotional Videos ▼

Yu☆Gi☆Oh!: Sevens | 遊☆戯☆王SEVENSTop
https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/yugioh-sevens/
Animation: Bridge Premiere: April 4th 2020
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 7:30
Episodes: N/A Station: TXN
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @yugioh_anime or #SEVENS

Preview by Guardian Enzo

A confession – I don’t really know much of anything about Yu☆Gi☆Oh!: Sevens. I know YuGiOh was a manga about gaming, and that there was a card game as well as a manga – but I don’t know which one came first. I know there have been any number of anime series and movies connected with the series over the years. And I think there was a video game at some point too (or maybe several).

In point of fact, about the only thing that comes to mind when I hear “Yu-Gi-Oh!” (I believe that’s the correct spelling) is that the MC or one of them has floofy yellow hair, and that the mangaka Takahashi Kazuki got in trouble for blasting the Abe government before the 2017 election and telling his readers to be “ready to vote for justice”. Well, that earned him some points in my book (though he was forced to apologize of course, because Japan) and I thought at the time I really ought to check the manga or anime out as a tribute to Takahashi. But I never did, and I feel bad. So maybe “Sevens” is a chance to take a version on, though I suspect I’ll have no idea what’s happening or why. It’s apparently an adaptation of one of the franchise’s many spin-offs and has a new protagonist, who can safely assumed to be an elementary schoolboy with floofy hair. Anti-nationalist commentary would be a plus, but I’m not really expecting it.

Watching This: No one yet Excitement Level: Established
Show Yu☆Gi☆Oh!: Sevens Promotional Videos ▼

Digimon Adventure: | デジモンアドベンチャー:Top
http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/digimon/
Animation: Toei Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 09:00
Episodes: Pending Station: Fuji TV
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @toeianime_info or #digimon or #デジモン

Preview by Zephyr

Following in the footsteps of various 20th Anniversary additions to the Digimon franchise is Digimon Adventure:, a reboot of the original series. Advertised as a new adventure in modern times, the series will feature a brand new plot set in 2020. Fifth year elementary school student Yagami Taichi (Sanpei Yuko) is in Tokyo when a system malfunction occurs, stranding his mother and younger sister on a train that cannot be stopped. As he heads to Shibuya in an attempt to sort out the situation, he finds himself caught in a strange phenomenon that takes him into the Digital World. As a fated meeting brings him in contact with his partner Agumon and the other DigiDestined, a journey to safeguard the future of both the real and digital worlds begin. Toei Animation will produce the series, Mitsuka Masato (Digimon Fusion) will serve as episode director, and long-time Digimon franchise producer Sakurada Hiroyuki will return after contributing to Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Fusion, Digimon Xros Wars, and various Digimon movies over the past two decades.

As someone who grew up following the original series back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s (those were good times), I’m excited to see how this series ends up. The fact that they’re doing a reboot is a pleasant surprise given the option of a plain remaster, and it’s a positive move that allows them to capitalize on characters we already know and love while building another (hopefully) memorable adventure for us to get to know them with all over again. Having staff members that have worked with the Digimon franchise previously will be a definite plus, although none of them worked on the original Digimon Adventure or Tamers, my two personal favorites. Interestingly enough, the main staff that worked on the recent 20th Anniversary sequels aren’t here either, so there’s a lot of potential question marks in terms of what to expect. The little kid inside me wants to think this’ll be a smashing success, but the older part of me is cautiously optimistic more than anything.

Watching This: Pancakes, Zephyr, Zaiden Excitement Level: Optimistic
Digimon Adventure: Promotional Videos ▼

Major 2nd: 2nd Season | メジャーセカンドー:Top
http://www6.nhk.or.jp/anime/program/detail.html?i=major2nd
Animation: OLM Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Shounen, Sports, Baseball Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 17:35
Episodes: Pending Station: NHK Educational
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @toeianime_info or #メジャーセカンド or #デジモン

Preview by Guardian Enzo

Thus far Mitsuda Takuya’s Major (I you consider “2nd” a continuation of the same series) has seen everything adapted eventually. A true institution in Japan, Major will probably continue to receive adaptations for as long as Mitsuda-sensei can produce new chapters. He’s not getting any younger and he’s already had a couple of health-related (though relatively brief) hiatuses, but he’s only 54, so he figures to finish this series eventually. And it’s hard to imagine any part of it not eventually coming to the screen when he does.

Major 2nd is quite a contrast to the original – Goro’s son Daigo (Fujiwara Natsumi) is no generational talent like his father, but a normal boy with insecurities about how he stacks up (or fails to stack up) against his father’s legacy. This series also focused on girls baseball quite a bit, a rarity for a shounen with a boy hero. I love the dynamic here (even the acknowledgement that Goro sucks as a dad) and with Watanabe Ayumu in charge, there’s almost no way for this series not to get the very best out of the source material. Pretty much as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get in anime – if this series is your bag, you’re going to be a very happy camper.

Watching This: Guardian Enzo Excitement Level: Established
Major 2nd: 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼

Arte | アルテ:Top
https://arte-anime.com/
Animation: Seven Arcs Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Seinen, Historical, Romance Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 22:00
Episodes: Pending Station: BS Fuji
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @arte_animation or ##arte_anime or #デジモン

Preview by Guardian Enzo

Novelty is definitely an arrow in Arte’s quiver. A historical seinen set in Florence during the 16th Century, the series focuses on the appropriately-named title character Arte (Komatsu Mikako) and her request to overcome the imposed limitations she faces due to her age and station and become an artist. Renaissance Florence isn’t exactly an everyday theme for anime, nor the struggles of a painter, so that’s a big plus. I visited Florence once and had the best wild boar sandwich of my life from a literal hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop, so there’s that too.

There’s always a leap of faith involved when you don’t have any history with the source material an anime is based on. But the staff and cast look pretty good, and Ookubo Kei’s manga is generally well-regarded, so this is a pedigree bet for me. As a seinen with these themes Arte by default is one of the most interesting prospects of the season. The manga is ongoing and not obscenely popular, so figure this one to be a one-cour advertisement for the source material.

Watching This: Guardian Enzo Excitement Level: Optimistic
Arte Promotional Videos ▼

Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma | 文豪とアルケミスト 〜審判ノ歯車〜Top
https://anime-bungo-alchemist.com/
Animation: OLM Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 23:00
Episodes: N/A Station: AT-X
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi
Join the conversation @BunAl_Goods or #文アニ

Preview by Pancakes

From the PC browser (and later mobile) game of the same name, Bungou to Alchemist is a tale about writing. Aggressive writing. Thanks to an insidious and persistent phenomenon known as Taints, numerous famous and important Japanese literary works have begun to be stained black, with peoples’ collective memories of these books erased and their authors forgotten. To combat this incessant disease, the National Library began recruiting Alchemists, individuals with the ability to summon the souls of writers of these works and use their power to fight against the Taints. With Taints born from negative emotions and their numbers growing by the day, it’s anyone’s guess whether the Alchemists will succeed in their mission, but with Japanese history on the line they will do whatever it takes to see this challenge through.

Bungou to Alchemist certainly is a funny one at face value. Ignoring the coincidental similarity to Bungou Stray Dogs (hey, the aesthetics and character choices are similar!), Bungou to Alchemist is best thought of as a game version of a Type-Moon-influenced Trickster (or a less militaristic Senjuushi): agency bands together a group of misfits, said misfits utilize powers to summon bigger misfits, and fun ensues. Of course Bungou to Alchemist has the benefit of actually adhering well to the histories and personalities of its writer characters (at least from what I’ve seen of the game’s story and cast), but make no mistake, anime perfection isn’t likely in the cards. Between the series’ game origins (already a red flag) and Tokyo Ghoul:re’s Watanabe Odahiro on director duty, anything from superficial promotional material to a chopped and rushed disaster is entirely possible, but provided Bungou to Alchemist sticks to what it knows best—i.e. its historical writer cast—there could be a good deal of fun to be had. We’ll just have to see what the first episode brings, but Bungou to Alchemist is one show it would be wrong to count out before it’s had its chance in the spotlight.

Watching This: Takaii Excitement Level: Average
Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma Promotional Videos ▼

Gal to Kyouryuu | ギャルと恐竜Top
http://galkyo.com/
Animation: Kamikaze Douga, Space Neko Company Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre:Comedy, Slice-of-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 25:00
Episodes: Pending Station:Tokyo MX / BS11
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @galkyo_info or #ギャルと恐竜

Preview by Choya

In this comedic series, Kaede (Shimabukuro Miyuki) is a gyaru who encounters an adorable blue dinosaur. When Kaede decides to keep the dinosaur and let it stay with her, she introduces it to all of the joys and pleasures of being human. While the dinosaur stays in Kaede’s room, it starts to eat human food, watch TV, and share Kaede’s interest in being fashionable. This short comedy depicts their daily lives together while Kaede, her colleagues, and her boyfriend interact with her new dinosaur in a tale of cohabitation that transcends time and space.

One thing that’s noticeable right away with Gal to Kyouryuu is how poppy and cute the artstyle is. The original story is an amusing gag comedy, but what elevates the material even further is how simple yet expressive the character designs are. Her interactions with her new pet make for some amusing fish-out-of-water comedy as the dinosaur is introduced to human culture. But this anime’s secret weapon is Aoki Jun, the director and staff member that helped bring the manic world of Pop Team Epic to life. That series might be in a class of its own as far as its brand of comedy goes, but with how well Aoki Jun was able to adapt such abstract material into a gag comedy, it is easy to come to the conclusion that Gal to Kyouryuu will be in good hands when it premieres this spring.

Watching This: Choya, Takaii Excitement Level: Average
Gal to Kyouryuu Promotional Videos ▼

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta…
乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…Top
http://www.ichijinsha.co.jp/special/otomegame-anime/
Animation: Silver Link. Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Romance Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 25:30
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @hamehura or #はめふら

Preview by Pancakes

For eight-year-old Katarina Claes (Uchida Maaya), life couldn’t be better. As the only daughter of a well-positioned duke, she has the run of the neighbourhood, doing what she likes with little care in the world—including bothering Prince Gerald (Aoi Shouta), whom she has an inexplicable desire to harass. At least until she trips, face plants a rock, and gets swamped by random memories. Her real memories. As Katarina discovers, she’s actually an otaku who died on her way to school, and in death was reincarnated in her favourite otome game Fortune Lover. Not only that, but Katarina was reincarnated as the game’s villainess who just so happens to die or be exiled once the heroine beats the game. To avoid this unpleasant end Katarina sets out to use her game knowledge to save herself, but as the girl will quickly learn, avoiding fate is not the simplest of tasks.

No, you’re not seeing things, isekai has now invaded the otome realm. Rest assured though, it’s not entirely as you think, because outside of premise Hamefura has no intention of following the alternate world script. Much like the structurally similar Gaworare or Kaminomi, Hamefura is pure romcom: Katarina does what’s necessary to claim her desired ending, winds up with completely unexpected (and hilarious) outcomes, and continues, only to dig herself an even deeper (and more hilarious) hole. It’s your textbook play on dating sim mechanics, and while unabashedly otome-themed, there’s plenty to like here for all romance lovers, especially once the designated heroine Marie (Okasaki Miho) gets involved (*cough* yuri baiting *cough*). Considering Silver Link is producing alongside the romcom experienced director Inoue Keisuke, you can expect an entertaining romance anime, and with a stacked cast to boot, there should be plenty of hilarious love triangle situations to enjoy. Hamefura may not be the absolute best the romance genre has to offer, but it’s certainly set to be one of this season’s most entertaining offerings.

Watching This: Pancakes, Stilts, Takaii Excitement Level: Average
Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta… Promotional Videos ▼

Yesterday wo Utatte | イエスタデイをうたってTop
https://singyesterday.com/
Animation: Doga Kobo Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Drama, Romance Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 25:30
Episodes: 12 Station: AbemaTV
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_yesterday or #イエスタデイをうたって

Preview by Miss Simplice

Now that Chihayafuru 3 is complete, the coming of spring introduces us to a new love triangle, and Yesterday wo Utatte takes the stage as the romance of the season. The series follows a not-so-motivated Uozumi Rikuo (Kobayashi Chikahiro), a university graduate in dire need for direction in his life. His lack of motivation has left him in a state of limbo, working a lowly convenience store job four days a week. But things are looking a little less grim after he meets eccentric high school drop-out Nonaka Haru (Miyamoto Yume), whose closest friend is a crow. Except, it isn’t Haru that Rikuo is pining after, but an old university acquaintance, Morinome Shinako (Hanazawa Kana), who has baggage of her own.

The manga by Toume Kei was published in 1997, and only found its end in June 2015. The story he created carries themes with a lot of weight, implying serious tones. Rikuo’s character is living with symptoms of depression, Haru has unstable relationships with those around her, and Shinako, after so many years, is still grieving the loss of a loved one. There’s no doubt interesting character shifts and growth will come from these various relationships and emotions. The teaser for the series depicts a nice style to it as well, one that compliments these darker tones the series aims to convey.

Watching This: Choya, Guardian Enzo, Miss Simplice Excitement Level: Optimistic
Yesterday wo Utatte Promotional Videos ▼

Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan
やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。完Top
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/oregairu/
Animation: feel. Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Romance, Comedy, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:43
Episodes: 12 Station: Amazon Prime
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_oregairu or #oregairu

Preview by Zaiden

Oregairu Kan is the third season of a franchise which completely deviates from your typical romcom, and that mostly comes down to its unique and compelling protagonist. Hikigaya Hachiman (Eguchi Takuya) is an extremely jaded high-schooler – the black sheep of the flock, proverbially speaking. To be more exact, he’s a nihilistic loner with no sense of self-worth who doesn’t care about other people. An outlook that no doubt resonates with many western anime fans for having such a quirky hobby compared to their peers. But over the previous seasons, he’s very much changed, thanks to spending time at the Going Home Club with Yukinoshita Yukino (Hayami Saori) and Yuigahama Yui (Touyama Nao). Seeing him come to enjoy his time at school is really heartwarming, and his declaration at the end of season two roused something within my heart. And probably the hearts of many others. Who doesn’t relate with the desire to search out and create genuine connections with other people? But a dark shadow has fallen across the series. With his dedicated selfishness and the realisations he’s come to over the course of his personal development and maturation, can he rescue Yukino from the vague predicament that threatens to consume her well-being? Will he be able to finally find the ‘genuine thing’ which he so desperately seeks out?

Here it is, folks. The final season of Oregairu – the swan song for the hero we all need, but don’t deserve. Sure, Hachiman’s views and methodologies might be deeply flawed, so much so that I can recognise I’d struggle to get along with that kind of person in real life. But that relatable imperfection is the beautiful charm that hooks us in, and reveals a brave character who is unafraid of standing out against a sea of conformity. Supporting him is a wonderful cast of varied and interesting characters with chips on their own shoulders, highlighting the struggles that young people face in trying to become members of modern society. Alongside the returning voice actors, Studio Feel has come back with their usual staff, including Ooikawa Kei returning as director. With a consistently brilliant track record even outside of Oregairu, including Minami-ke, Outbreak Company and Hinamatsuri, as well as the talented voice actors at his disposal, I’m extremely confident the staff will bring us the incredible ending Oregairu deserves.

Watching This: Pancakes, Stilts, Takaii, Zaiden Excitement Level: High
Show Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan Promotional Videos ▼

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season | 本好きの下剋上 ~司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません~ 第2期Top
http://booklove-anime.jp/
Animation: Ajia-Do Premiere: April 4th, 2020
Genre: Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 26:10
Episodes: 12 Station:ABC TV
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_booklove or #本好きの下剋上

Preview by Takaii

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen—or Ascendance of a Bookworm as it’s known in English—follows the journey of Main (Iguchi Yuka) and her insane passion to recreate her favorite object in the world: books. However, after being reincarnated in a fantasy-like world as a young child to a family with a less-than-stellar financial status, it was near impossible to even find something resembling a book. Not one to let obstacles stop her, with a little bit of luck Main was able to recall all of her memories as an adult during her time as Motosu Urano in a world just like ours, the first season dove into Main’s various attempts at creating paper to lay the foundation of one day creating affordable books. Along the way, we got a close look at the medieval world Main lives in, as well as what it really takes to build bonds when you just so happen to get thrown into the body of someone else.

Leaping into season two, the story continues right after Main’s streak of successful moments. Having successfully formed the Main Studio (with Lutz in tow) and bartering with the church to address the annoying problem of constantly worrying about dying due to an overflow of mana, it looks like we’re about to see just what this new life situation has in store for Main. Between her duties as a Blue Robed Priestess at the church and her passion for wanting to create books to read, it looks like the story is finally about to pay off with its original promise of showing us Main creating the books she so dearly desires. As with all sequels, I would highly recommend catching up with the first season before starting this. One word of advice from someone who has made handfuls of others watch this show would be make it through the first few episodes of the first season, since it takes some time for the story to really find its groove. The moment it does, though, you’ll want to have snacks ready since you’ll want to finish all of it before getting back up.

Watching This: Takaii Excitement Level: Average
Show Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼

Tsugu Tsugumomo | 続・つぐももTop
http://tsugumomo.com/
Animation: Zero-G Premiere: April 5th, 2020
Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 21:30
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @tsugumomo or #つぐもも

Preview by Zaiden

From a third person perspective, Kagami Kazuya (Sanpei Yuko) is a fairly pedestrian and forgettable high school boy, if you don’t account for his singular eccentricity – the fact he goes everywhere with his precious Fukurobi, a keepsake left to him by his deceased mother. One day, he’s attacked by a monster and his Fukurobi transforms into a young girl named Kiriha (Oozora Naomi), who explains that she’s a Tsukogami, a sentient spiritual weapon that can be wielded to fight off monsters. Because this is one of those old school ecchi shows, her introduction is quickly followed by a varied swathe of female characters who all become hot and bothered by Kazuya – interspersed with supernatural shenanigans and ridiculously raunchy moments.

First off, because it isn’t obvious in the naming, this is a second season to the original one that aired. Prospective viewers will need to be familiar with the preceding story before diving in, as Zero-G return to take another shot at this passion project of theirs, having gained a lot more experience as a studio since Spring 2017 – though it isn’t exactly clear whether Kuraya Ryouichi will be returning in a directorial capacity. Anyway, Tsugumomo is a rare breed of ecchi action show that has been dying out over the last decade. Back in the days, adaptions from manga like Sekirei or Sora no Otoshimono were commonplace. However, they are being slowly superseded by the likes of ecchi action light novel adaptations. And even those have fallen by the wayside in recent years as anime seeks to expand its global profile, which includes toning down the fanservice. So, what sets Tsugumomo apart from its dying brethren? It takes generic, puts an unconventional twist and ends up providing a pleasantly unique experience. That said, Tsugumomo won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. But I can promise you that it becomes something really special, which we may see getting adapted in this second season. The best parts are yet to come, where Tsugumomo plunges down a dark rabbit hole. Gruesome shock plot twists are weaved in and complex moral dilemmas are introduced, giving ample opportunity for people to introspectively contemplate on various themes and ideas. Specifically the Tsukogami’s nature as sentient creatures, with an application similar to tools. Whether you’re willing to wait and see what it’s all about is entirely up to you.

Watching This: Guardian Enzo Excitement Level: Average
Show Tsugu Tsugumomo Promotional Videos ▼

IDOLiSH7: Second BEAT! | アイドリッシュセブン Second BEAT!Top
http://idolish7.com/aninana/
Animation: TROYCA Premiere: April 5th, 2020
Genre: Idol, Music Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 22:30
Episodes: 15 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @id7_anime or #アニナナ

Preview by Takaii

Returning for its second season, IDOLiSH7 is bringing even more groups into the fray as the titular group tries its best to grasp success against an even tougher playing field. For those out of the loop, IDOLiSH7 is a show based off of a mobile game sharing the same name. Revolving around the main group named Idolish7, the show dives into the journey of a group of seven idols who all have wildly different personalities but bring their own unique charm and traits to the table.

Diving into the show’s second season, Idolish7 is running off a great high having taken the win in a competition over three-man rival group TRIGGER. Landing a spot on television, the group gets a chance to learn about another rival idol group named Re:vale. Comprised of two members who give off an overwhelmingly heavy aura as they unleash their powerful performances, it’s revealed that they’re surprisingly relaxed. Learning from the pair, Idolish7 learns of an opportunity to perform at an event called Zero Arena where Re:vale will also be performing. With an open spot waiting to be filled, Re:vale invites them to try and take this chance to perform. If you like the IP and/or idols, IDOLiSH7: Second BEAT! is definitely a show that I recommend. While the usual caveat of “go watch the first season” is there, I think this show’s strength comes in the form of its unique characters and how their conflicting personalities manage to bring the best out of one another. Plus, episode one is already available so you can get an early start!

Watching This: No one yet Excitement Level: Average
IDOLiSH7: Second BEAT! Promotional Videos ▼

Shachou, Battle no Jikan Desu! | 社長, バトルの時間です!Top
https://shachibato-anime.com/
Animation: C2C Premiere: April 5th, 2020
Genre: Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 23:30
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @schbt_anime or #シャチバト

Preview by Pancakes

Entrepreneurship is a hard and arduous path, but in the face of the unknown that adage can quickly go out the window. After a large number of interdimensional gates appear across the world and open portals to innumerable monster-laden dungeons, the shrewd and savvy figure out how to start reaping the rewards. With newly minted adventurers in all their various RPG classes eager for a chance at loot and glory, numerous companies are founded to employ this talent, building parties of various skill to explore these new worlds and return (hopefully) with the riches beyond. There’s never a guarantee a dungeon will return the investment made in it, but for many of those involved in this rapidly growing industry it’s all about the friends and fun to be had while exploring the great unknown.

Fantasy, isekai, and the usual collection of cute faces: yup you know exactly where this one is going. Or maybe not, because Battle no Jikan isn’t entirely all it seems. Adapting a relatively recent mobile gatcha game (it was only released October 2019), Battle no Jikan at face value could be thought of as a Working / Watashi Nouryoku hybrid, where a bunch of really adorable moeblobs (seriously, just look at that promotional art) are hired to go raid dungeons and succeed (or fail) in the process. Personally I wouldn’t be expecting too much; mobile game adaptations are more miss than hit given their promotional nature, and it’s wholly unclear just what sort of story Battle no Jikan will aim for in the first place—i.e. serious plot versus episodic slice-of-life. Provided the show sticks to the upbeat and lighthearted atmosphere plastered all over its material I can see it proving to be a good bit of weekly fun, but until we see the results keeping any expectations in check is a pretty good idea.

Watching This: Pancakes, Stilts Excitement Level: Limited
Shachou, Battle no Jikan Desu! Promotional Videos ▼

Gleipnir | グレイプニル恐竜Top
http://gleipnir-anime.com/
Animation: Pine Jam Premiere: April 5th, 2020
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Horror Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 23:30
Episodes: Station: Tokyo MX / BS11
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @gleipnir_anime or #グレイプニル

Preview by Choya

Shuichi Kagaya (Hanae Natsuki) is an intelligent, friendly high school student who was satisfied with his ordinary life up until he discovers he has the power to become a mascot suit. When he sees a mysterious girl named Claire Aoki (Toyama Nao) trapped in a burning building, he decides to use his power to save her. Although he’s been trying to keep his powers a secret, Claire’s knowledge of what Shuichi’s power entails has her interested in using him to hunt down her sister and avenge her family. With the threat of both having his secret revealed and being hunted down by other mutated people, Shuichi is roped into helping Claire exact her revenge by letting her climb into his body to fight her way to the bloody end.

One unsung genre that is abundant in manga yet rare in anime is Mascot Horror. Manga is the perfect medium for creating edgy cartoon fursuits that devour humans and tear them to shreds, but it also exponentially lowers their chances of getting an anime adaptation. Because of this, it’s a pleasant surprise to see Gleipnir receive a chance to show off its grotesque monster suit violence in all of its glory. There are other factors that could make Gleipnir a popular anime such as its dark material, its fanservice peppered about, and its high octane action sequences. And for a high concept idea like having a girl use a classmate as a super suit to get revenge, it’d be hard not to resist the boldness and tenacity that will be on full display when Gleipnir unzips itself this season.

Watching This: Choya, Miss Simplice, Pancakes, Stilts Excitement Level: Average
Show Gleipnir Promotional Videos ▼

Kingdom (2020) | キングダム (2020):Top
https://kingdom-anime.com/
Animation: Studio Signpost Premiere: April 5th, 2020
Genre:History, Action, Drama Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 24:15
Episodes: Pending Station: NHK
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @kingdom_animePR or #キングダム

Preview by Choya

Set during the Warring States period in Ancient China, the series centers around a war orphan named Xin (Morita Masakazu), who dreams of becoming a great general for the state of Qin and unifying the country. After his friend is abducted for an undisclosed purpose, he is left alone as a household slave until he meets the current king of Qin, Ying Zheng (Fukuyama Jun). In a turn of events, Xin finds out that his friend was mortally wounded because he was used as a body double for Zheng. Although he was furious at Zheng for his role in his friend’s death, his ambition pushes him to ally with Zheng to help reclaim his throne. In the process, Xin begins a new illustrious life as a Qin commander where he can work towards his dream of becoming the “Greatest General in the World”, bringing China together, and ending the long, brutal wars that plague the country. Season 3 covers the manga’s Alliance Arc where Qin-Zhao relations are put to the test when they form a shaky pact with one another to work together towards their mutual interests.

As a shounen inspired by feudal Chinese warfare, Kingdom has had its fair share of popularity as the long-running manga has inspired two previous seasons in 2012 and 2013. The six year time gap between Seasons 2 and 3 can be quite daunting and unpredictable as far is what caliber the animation and overall quality will be like. The changing times are all the more present now that the production is going to be helmed by Pierrot’s subsidiary company St. Signpost. But with the inclusion of veteran actors Morita Masakazu and Fukuyama Jun, it’s far more hopeful that it will be able to retain the same spirit that the series carried through two seasons back in the early 2010’s. Although it’ll be kicking off its third season this spring, the news of a new season serves as a good reminder of how much of a nice surprise it is to see a grand war epic show up in an anime season. It should help to give fans of Kingdom the satisfaction of seeing the story continue and give newcomers the right incentive to get started on witnessing tremendous, bloody warfare when the new season picks up where it left off.

Watching This: Guardian Enzo Excitement Level: Established
Show Kingdom (2020) Promotional Videos ▼

Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle | 白猫プロジェクトZERO CHRONICLETop
https://colopl.co.jp/shironekoproject/animation/zero_chronicle/
Animation: Project No.9 Premiere: April 6th, 2020
Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 22:00
Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_wcatpj or #anime_shironeko

Preview by Takaii

Based off of a mobile game sharing the same name, Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle is an anime adaptation of the game’s third anniversary event which was a prologue to the already ongoing story. Starring Kaji Yuki as the Prince of Darkness and Horie Yui as the King of Light Iris, we will get to see the story of what events ended up kicking off the conflict that lead to what players experienced in the actual game.

One fun fact if you thought that the art or characters looked familiar is that the game had a westen release under the name Colopl Rune Story. In any case, this show is a tough one to talk about when the material is out there for anyone to see if they really wanted to. That said, the previews and people behind the scenes make this adaptation feel like it’ll be something really solid if you’re judging it on how fun and exciting it’ll be to watch. Toss on that this is covering a prequel to Shironeko Project’s story and I can see how this could lead to more adaptations to the game’s story. Overall with its fun character designs and classic story of light and dark, I don’t think you’ll go wrong giving this show a shot.

Watching This: Takaii Excitement Level: Limited
Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle Promotional Videos ▼

Princess Connect! Re:Dive | プリンセスコネクト! Re:DiveTop
https://priconne-redive.jp/
Animation: Cygames Pictures Premiere: April 6th, 2020
Genre:Fantasy, Adventure Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 24:30
Episodes: Pending Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @priconne_redive or #プリコネR

Preview by Choya

This sequel to the original Princess Connect! mobile game acts as a hard reset for the franchise as our main protagonist, Yuuki ( Abe Atsushi) wakes up having forgotten about his previous adventures with the series’ staple princess knights. Although he is plagued with amnesia, he aims to begin his life anew in this new world to start another adventure. He is welcomed into his new journey by three new princess knights. Together, they venture off to go on magical quests, fight beasts, and possibly help Yuuki restore his lost memories.

The jaded outlook of Princess Connect! Re:Dive’s origins serves as an amusing selling point for the reboot. It makes no secret of the fact that it was reupholstered to cut their losses from a failing mobage (mobile gacha game) and restart from scratch to wipe off the bad taste left behind by its predecessor. Such stunts have worked out well for some properties, like the Final Fantasy XIV MMORPG that was rehauled enough for it to go from a miserably flawed disaster to one of the most popular MMOs to date. The mobage industry is far riskier as properties come and go after the initial novelty of a game wears off quickly thanks to lack of content or predatory practices. Princess Connect! might not have had the right ingredients to make it a bona fide hit when there’s so much competition on the market, but Princess Connect! Re:Dive should be a step in the right direction for the game by giving it enough of a fighting chance to inspire an anime adaptation. With several manga adaptations released or coming out soon, it should be interesting to see how the series develops once the anime premieres in this season.

Watching This: No one yet Excitement Level: Limited
Show Princess Connect! Re:Dive Promotional Videos ▼

Jashin-Chan Dropkick | 邪神ちゃんドロップキック’(ダッシュ)Top
http://jashinchan.com/
Animation: Nomad Premiere: April 6th, 2020
Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 25:15
Episodes: 11 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @jashinchan_PJ or #jcdk

Preview by Pancakes

As a spunky little half-snake demon girl, Jashin (Suzuki Aina) has a challenge like none other. Abruptly summoned to the human world by university student (and zealous horror-loving gothic lolita) Hanazono Yurine (Oomori Nichika), Jashin finds herself permanently stuck in Yurine’s dilapidated apartment as both girls struggle—and fail—to figure out a way to send the demon girl back home. At least until Jashin gets the bright idea to kill her unintentional roommate in the hope that’ll solve the problem. Now locked in a constant fight against demonic death, it’s up to Yurine to find a way to ship Jashin back where she came from before her cute yet malicious summoning experiment ends up blowing her to hell.

Credit where credit is due: Jashin-Chan certainly has a loyal following. While the first season back in summer 2018 wasn’t the absolute best supernatural slapstick comedy we’ve seen of late (Binbougami ga! has my heart), and had some seriously bad initial sales numbers, it accomplished what few of these series have by actually acquiring a sequel in early 2019 thanks in part to a staff pitch and audience response. Now over a year later we finally get to see the results of that impressive crowdsourcing in action. If you’ve seen and/or like the original there’ll be no major surprises: all major cast and crew are reprising their roles and studio Nomad again resides at the production helm. Expect plenty of additional goth-infused chainsaw slaughter, gut busting (literally) skits showcasing the wide range of potential Jashin suffering, and further focus on the wholesome and enjoyable antics of Jashin-Chan’s growing (and ever ridiculous) secondary cast. There’s no better place to look for some good laughs this season, because with plenty of source material left to adapt and passionate staff on call Jashin-Chan is primed to be one of this season’s standout comedies.

Watching This: Pancakes Excitement Level: Average
Show Jashin-Chan Dropkick Promotional Videos ▼

Fruits Basket 2nd Season | フルーツバスケットTop
https://fruba.jp
Animation: TMS Entertainment Premiere: April 6th, 2020
Genre: Romance, Supernatural, School Life Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 25:30
Episodes: 25 Station:TV Tokyo
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @fruba_PR or #フルーツバスケット

Preview by Miss Simplice

It’s no surprise that Fruits Basket’s second season, a series some would say is at the helm of the shoujo genre, is one of the most anticipated sequels of spring 2020. The story follows Honda Tooru (Iwami Manaka), who, after losing her mother to an illness, found herself homeless. Through a weird series of events, she moves into the Souma household, which means she needs to adapt to living with a most particular male-centric family, made up of her schoolmates Souma Kyou (Uchida Yuuma) and Souma Yuki (Shimazaki Nobunaga), as well as their older relative Souma Shigure (Nakamura Yuuichi). However, there’s a little more to this story. With her presence in their house, the men are at risk of divulging their deepest secret, a curse that has ‘plagued’ their family for generations. Keeping that in mind, the manga, the original adaptation, and this recent release has left fans laughing, crying, and cheering for the most eccentric family that has ever existed. If you’ve not yet picked up this classic, it’ll be a worthwhile discovery and a treat for your eyes, ears, emotions, and all other senses.

The continuing second season comes after the remake’s first season that aired in the summer of 2019. The original series was adapted from the manga of the same name by creator Takaya Natsuki, which found its own fanbase back in 2001 (original release). Fruits Basket isn’t your typical shoujo revolving around a love triangle. Yes, that’s part of the picture, but it doesn’t make up the whole. It’s about so much more than romance between lovers. The manga, as much as the two adaptations, captures the essence of what it is to be a friend, a relative, a family. As we navigate the relationship between Tooru, Yuki, and Kyou, we discover the stories of so many different characters, all carrying their own weight within the overall plot. If you’re a fan of the manga, you’ll be happy to learn that this adaptation’s finale will follow the storyline very closely. It’ll serve as a nice stroll down memory lane as well (I know it will for me!). But either way, whether you’ve read the original work or have only just come across this story in recent years, you can expect a whole swell of emotions as you take in every episode.

Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Miss Simplice, Takaii Excitement Level: Optimistic
Show Fruits Basket 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼

Houkago Teibou Nisshi | 放課後ていぼう日誌Top
https://teibotv.com/
Animation: Doga Kobo Premiere: April 7th, 2020
Genre: Comedy, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 22:00
Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @teibo_bu or #teibo

Preview by Miss Simplice

This adorable coming-of-age story comes at a time where I find myself nostalgic for cute anime shows centered around friendship, adventure, and comedy. Set in a remote seaside town in Japan, the teaser initially brought back images of Nagi no Asukara, but the premise is nothing alike. Tsurugi Hina (Takao Kanon) moves back to her hometown in the countryside where she reconnects with old friends while making new ones. As a bonus, she ends up as a member of her school’s only female-led fishing club “Teibou,” whose three other members are all weirdly passionate about fishing.

You heard right. A group of four girls encourage each other to learn more about fishing and improve their skills. No other series has ever come close to bringing ocean and high school girls together unless they were mermaids. Houkago Teibou Nisshi offers an interesting story about young women’s connection to the ocean, without diving into the mysteries of the underwater world. Instead, I expect this show to offer an even, grounded, and refreshing take as to how young girls fall in love with their environment, and find confidence within themselves to follow through in a realm not often open to women. What awaits at the end of the line? Possibly a lot of laughs, some small hurdles, and a generous amount of salty fresh air. Don’t let this one slip past you this season if you’re looking for the feel of sea breeze with your coffee.

Watching This: Choya Excitement Level: Average
Houkago Teibou Nisshi Promotional Videos ▼

BNA | ビー・エヌ・エーTop
https://bna-anime.com/
Animation: Trigger Premiere: April 8th, 2020
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 24:55
Episodes: Pending Station: Fuji TV
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @trigger_inc or #デジモン

Preview by Choya

In the 21st century, humans have discovered the existence of humanoid animals who have spent centuries in hiding. Michiru (Morohoshi Sumire) was a high school student who led an ordinary life until she suddenly transformed into a tanuki person on one fateful day. Upon running away, she seeks refuge in the humanoid animal town of Anima City where she meets a wolf man named Ogami Shiro (Hosoya Yoshimasa). Through her experiences with Shiro, she begins to understand the lifestyle and concerns of humanoid animals. But as she investigates why and how she transformed into a tanuki person, she is mixed up in a large incident that gets Michiru and Shiro further enveloped into a series of strange circumstances. Soon, the question of how Michiru transformed will end up burrowing a deeper rabbit hole (or rather, a tanuki hole) that leads to a deeper understanding of the existence of humanoid animals.

It’s always exciting to see a Studio Trigger anime come around the corner, because expectations are either to watch some of the most creative anime within the past decade, or some of the most spectacular trainwrecks to air on television. With BNA director Yoshinari Yoh, his contributions steer more toward the former with the Little Witch Academia OVAs and TV anime giving us a glimpse of the quirky, colorful, and imaginative world of magic. If Yoshinari uses the lessons learned from LWA’s TV anime to its greatest extent, it’ll be interesting to see the world-building behind BNA’s humanoid animal city and their origins. But above all else, the series will definitely deliver on impressive visuals and engaging animation if the studio’s past efforts have any indication. With how much they’ve thrived off of high concept ideas, an anime like BNA not only feels like a natural fit for the crew, but it could definitely excel as a strong title this season.

Watching This: Choya, Stilts, Takaii Excitement Level: Optimistic
BNA Promotional Videos ▼

Listeners | リスナーズTop
https://listeners.rocks/
Animation: MAPPA Premiere: April 9th, 2020
Genre: Music, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 24:55
Episodes: Pending Station: MBS
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @listeners_pr_info or #リバチェスタ or #リバチェスタ

Preview by Stilts

From the mind of Jin (Kagerou Days, MEKAKUCITY ACTORS) and Satou Dai (Kaitou Joker, Eureka Seven) comes a new music-focused original anime from studio MAPPA. Set in a world where the very concept of music ceases to exist, the story begins when a boy named Echo Rec (Murase Ayumu) comes across the mysterious girl Myuu (written as “μ”) (Takahashi Rie), who has an audio jack in the middle of her back. When she is plugged into an amp, something happens which will change the world. Thus begins a journey of music and sound that will never be forgotten.

Listeners is this season’s entrant into the “original anime with an unnecessarily obtuse premise” category. What’s it going to be about? What genre is it? What will the episode-to-episode experience of watching this show be like? No clue, other than it will be stylish as all hell and it’ll be heavily focused on music. I remember MEKAKUCITY ACTORS being kind of a mess (before I dropped it), and Jin has the air of an “auteur” that triggers warning signals in my mind. But you know the thing about auteurs? When you let them do their weird thing, sometimes you get something truly special. (That’s true of everybody, by the way. The result’ll probably just be weirder with an auteur. Looking at you, Kojima Hideo). I definitely know the concept art for Listeners looks exciting, and the cast is absolutely stacked with top-tier seiyuu voicing 25 different named characters. Director Andou Hiroaki is a question mark, he has experience but it’s mostly with odd shows I’ve never heard of and/or Polygon Pictures CGI series, and this ain’t CGI. But MAPPA is a good thing, and originals are good things, even if they don’t always yield a good product. The usual advice with regards to original series that are holding their cards close to their chests is apropos: if you’re curious about any of this, watch the first episode to see what it’s about. None of us will have more than a guess until episodes start airing.

Watching This: Choya, Guardian Enzo, Miss Simplice, Takaii Excitement Level: Optimistic
Show Listeners Promotional Videos ▼

Fugou Keiji: Balance:Unlimited | 富豪刑事 Balance:UNLIMITEDTop
https://fugoukeiji-bul.com/
Animation: CloverWorks Premiere: April 9th, 2020
Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:10
Episodes: Station: Fuji TV
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @fugoukeiji_bul or #富豪刑事

Preview by Choya

Kambe Daisuke (Ounuki Yuusuke) is the heir to one of the wealthiest families in Japan. He is also a detective assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Task Force at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Using his vast family wealth, this millionaire detective spares no expense in solving cases that would be seemingly impossible for anyone else to crack. He has the tendency to evaluate everything in terms of their monetary value, from items to human lives, due to his upper crust upbringing. This fundamental belief on Kambe’s part is put to the test when he is partnered up with Kato Haru (Miyano Mamoru), a compassionate detective who is repulsed by materialism and believes money isn’t everything. Although their ideologies are worlds apart, the two join forces to tackle complex crimes and mysteries.

For the most part, noitaminA’s main goal has been to create a television block for animation that is geared toward those who want to watch anime that is geared toward a more mature, somewhat sophisticated audience. While some choices have been out-of-left-field, Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited is definitely within their wheelhouse as an adaptation based on a beloved detective novel series from 1978 that had since inspired a successful TV drama in 2005. As icing on the cake, the stories were written by Tsutsui Yasutaka, the original author behind Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. The premise has an interesting class dynamic as Kambe’s privileged background and Kato’s down-to-earth morality strike a rocky balance between the two, since they are the antithesis of one another. At the same time, it’ll be neat to see how they are able to come to terms with their differences if they are going to be an effective team at solving any mysteries that come their way.

Watching This: Guardian Enzo Excitement Level: Optimistic
Show Fugou Keiji: Balance:Unlimited Promotional Videos ▼

Appare-Ranman! | 天晴爛漫!Top
http://appareranman.com/
Animation: P.A. Works Premiere: April 10th, 2020
Genre: Adventure Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 21:30
Episodes: Pending Station: B.S. Fuji
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @toeianime_info or #メジャーセカンド or #デジモン

Preview by Stilts

P.A. Works’ original series for this spring season is shaping up to be a wild ride. Set during the waning years of the 19th century, the story stars the genius (yet socially awkward) engineer Sorano Appare (Hanae Natsuki) and the wise (yet cowardly) samurai Isshiki Kosame (Yamashita Seiichirou). After a mishap, the two find themselves drifting on a boat from Japan to America. After landing in Los Angeles, bewildered and broke, the pair decide to enter the Trans-America Wild Race to win the prize money and use it to return to Japan. From the starting line in Los Angeles to the finish line in New York, they’ll battle crazy rivals, outlaws, and the great outdoors itself as they fight to take first place in the steam-powered car they built.

Some ideas are just good. A squirt of lime on tacos is good. A fried egg on a bánh mì is good. Soy sauce with sushi is good. (I may be hungry as I write this.) And pitting a couple of fish-out-of-water Japanese eccentrics against a bunch of larger-than-life American drag racers in the (presumably less violent) anime version of Twisted Metal? That is a very good idea. The character designs are evocative, the promo videos are full of style and panache, and they even managed to give the non-Japanese characters real-sounding names! They even avoided giving the black character big lips, which is a legitimate concern. (Great character, but damn y’all.) Of course, P.A. Works original series can be excellent and they can be god awful, and you never know what you’ll get until it happens. At least director Hashimoto Masakazu has some chops, so it doesn’t look bleak off the bat. Appare-Ranman! looks wild and crazy, and most of all, it looks like a lot of fun. I’ll definitely be watching to see whether this race stays on the tracks, or if it explodes in a tragic fireball of ambition and style.

Watching This: Choya, Pancakes, Stilts Excitement Level: Optimistic
Appare-Ranman! Promotional Videos ▼

Argonavis from BanG Dream! | アルゴナビス from BanG Dream!Top
https://anime.argo-bdp.com/
Animation: SANZIGEN Premiere: April 10th, 2020
Genre: Music Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 24:25
Episodes: Pending Station: TV Tokyo
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @toeianime_info or #アルゴナビス or #アルゴナビス

Preview by Stilts

From the same people who brought us BanG Dream!—but, and this is important, not set in the same continuity as the girls from that project—comes a new singing idol anime in Argonavis from BanG Dream! The story begins with Nanahoshi Ren (Itou Masahiro), a lonely college student who isn’t good at communicating with others. He remembers the thrill of watching a live band perform when he was young—a memory so vivid he can’t forget it. Now he spends most of his days searching for his own identity. One day, while Ren is singing karaoke alone, he is overheard by Goryou Yuuto (Hyuuga Daisuke) and Matoba Wataru (Maeda Seiji), who marvel at his wonderful singing ability. The two agree: “This is fate. Let’s start a band!” Though Ren tries to run away, fate steps in nevertheless, and their journey begins.

Argonavis is a mixed-media project of the “brand extension” variety. Cashing in on the BanG Dream! franchise while remaining totally distinct—this takes place in a different world than the original series, and there will be no crossover between this band and that girl band—Argonavis seeks to raise another idol group from nothing to super stardom! Or at least a marketable mid-level status. The titular band, which is filled with young seiyuu with few (if any) credits to their names, will be joined by at least two others: GYROAXIA, which has more of a rock’n roll flair, and Fantome Iris, which is a visual kei band. Their seiyuu? Pretty much the same. This is about harnessing cheap talent and using anime as promotion for their music, and it shows in the cost-cutting cgi animation style they chose. Doesn’t mean it can’t be good! It totally could be. It’s just paint-by-numbers, so be aware of that going in. It’s a male idol show, the music is peppy and inoffensive, and they’ll definitely try to make us like these characters enough for an earworm or two to help extract a few more dollars from our collective wallets. Go in with eyes open, and you may still find a story here to enjoy.

Watching This: Takaii Excitement Level: Limited
Show Argonavis from BanG Dream! Promotional Videos ▼

Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara | 食戟のソーマ 豪ノ皿Top
http://www.shokugekinosoma.com/
Animation: J.C. Staff Premiere: April 10th, 2020
Genre: Drama, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 24:30
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @shokugeki_anime or #shokugeki_anime

Preview by Pancakes

As the premiere foodie shounen, Shokugeki no Souma returns for its fourth (or sixth, depending on your split cour categorization) and final season. Centered around the elite Toutsuki Culinary Academy, Shokugeki no Souma follows the trials and tribulations of young Yukihira Souma (Matsuoka Yoshitsugu), whose grit and determination to succeed at the school sees him overcome insurmountable challenges and learn more about cooking than he thought possible. Having recently helped defeated the attempt of upstart academy director Nakiri Azami (Hayami Shou) to monopolize control over school and global culinary standards both, Souma’s attention now turns towards helping pick up the pieces—and deal with the appearance of one shady Saiba Asahi (Fukuyama Jun). As Souma and friends will quickly discover, not all cooking is imbued with good intentions, and plenty of chefs exist who are more than willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead of the game.

Best prepare yourselves boys and girls, because Shokugeki no Souma is headed for rough waters. While having remained a relatively fun and enjoyable romp asIron-Chef-gone-anime, it’s hard denying Shokugeki no Souma dropped in quality with its last couple of arcs, and that’s before touching on the upcoming material. As any manga reader will emphatically tell, the BLUE arc is arguably the worst and most controversial part of the series, dispensing with much which defined this food porn series and providing an ending that only left a bad taste in many fans’ mouths. It’s not to say the anime will be the same, of course—we’ve had plenty of decent, source-material-deviating adaptations of late—but with likely only one cour to work with and given Shokugeki no Souma’s recent seasons, we probably shouldn’t go in expecting a face-saving anime original ending. It’s anyone’s guess how well Shokugeki no Souma’s last hurrah will play out, but I firmly recommend keeping expectations in check. After all, this season may not be predestined to fail, but pleasant surprises are always preferable to shocking disappointments.

Watching This: Pancakes Excitement Level: Established
Show Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara Promotional Videos ▼

No Guns Life 2nd Season | ノー・ガンズ・ライフTop
http://nogunslife.com/
Animation: Madhouse Premiere: April 10th, 2020
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-fi Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 25:28
Episodes: 12 Station: TBS
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @noguns_anime or #ノーガンズ

Preview by Miss Simplice

No Guns Life returns with a second season this spring, following cyborg protagonist Inui Juuzou (Suwabe Junichi), who is what is known as an Extended. The appeal of the show stems from Inui’s particular ‘build.’ He has a gun for a head. In this world set in the future, Inui’s role has shifted from being a soldier to a ‘resolver.’ He uses his newfound time to solve crime, and oftentimes comes to other Extended’s aid. With no memory of his past life, he uses the best of his ability, his sense of justice, and his compassion to help those who seek him out. In the first twelve episodes which aired in fall 2019, Juuzou meets a young runaway, Arahabaki Tetsuro (Yamashita Daiki) who carries the weight of this action-thrilled futuristic world on his shoulders. He’s sought out by larger corporations, by special agents, and anyone who can take advantage of his special ability. It’s with Juuzou at his side that he’s made it through this far.

Madhouse produced a steady quality animated series with the first twelve episodes. However, No Guns Life’s first half left viewers feeling underwhelmed. Even with an interesting world, the first season fell short in providing a gripping story and solid character arcs. Rather, it was charged with establishing the roles of larger players in the series and the conspiracies within the overall story, which might have required a little more patience from viewers, establishing a very ‘film noir’ tone to the show. With this second season, fans are hoping for an evolution in character development, in relationships, and in resolutions. That isn’t to say Madhouse won’t meet fans’ expectations. They have a whole other season to turn things around and create the series they aspire for the community.

Watching This: Pancakes, Takaii Excitement Level: Average
No Guns Life 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen
かぐや様は告らせたい?~天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦~Top
https://kaguya.love/
Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: April 11th, 2020
Genre: Romance, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 23:30
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @anime_kaguya or #かぐや様

Preview by Miss Simplice

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen is back! Need I say more? As the first official series I ever covered for RandomC, expect nothing less from me than an extremely biased interpretation of the upcoming season. The story follows the most elite of elite high schoolers of Shuchiin Academy, the student council body, which also make for the most eccentric bunch. However, it’s the relationship between Shinomiya Kaguya (Koga Aoi, the Vice President, and Shirogane Miyuki (Furukawa Makoto), the President, that really brings out the best in the series. Behind their very stern and cold faced exteriors, the two hold immense feelings for one another. However, with very little experience in the romantic realm, their ‘expressed’ emotions come off as calculating, manipulating, and sometimes outright vicious. All is fair in love and war, is it not?

Last we saw Miyuki and Kaguya, they had just returned to school after having spent a small part of the summer holiday together. But this last encounter ensured that their comedic-duo dynamic returned to normal, with Miyuki assuming Kaguya is out to ridicule him. I’m eager to jump right back into the story with my all time favourite characters. Fujiawara Chika (Kohara Konomi) returns with her air-headed intuition (or lack thereof), Ishigami Yuu (Suzuki Ryouta) comes back with his internal dark moods, and Hayaska Ai (Hanamori Yumiri) returns as Kaguya’s faithful friend and servant. If Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai wasn’t on your radar before, it’s time to either pick up the manga or watch the first season. You won’t want to miss this premiere. It’s going to be full of cringy and uncomfortable moments, belly laughs that make you want to have something to spit out your nose, and inevitable frustrations that’ll have you yelling out at the characters. It’s a great series and it’s a major contender this spring season with fans and new viewers alike.

Watching This: Choya, Miss Simplice, Pancakes, Stilts, Zaiden Excitement Level: High
Show Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen Promotional Videos ▼

Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro | 啄木鳥探偵處Top
http://kimikoe.com/kitsutsuki/
Animation: LIDENFILMS Premiere: April 13th, 2020
Genre: Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 23:00
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @kitsutsuki_DO or #啄木鳥探偵處

Preview by Guardian Enzo

Woodpecker Detective’s Office (anime is incredibly obsessed with detectives lately) is based on a 1999 novel. In the novel real-life poet Takuboku Ishikawa (Asanuma Shintaro) runs a detective agency in 1909 Tokyo, and partners with real-life linguist Kyousuke Kindaichi (Sakurai Takahiro) to investigate ghost sightings in Asakusa’s Juunikai (Japan’s first skyscraper and the most famous place in Tokyo at the time). This is a complete shot in the dark for me, but the Juunikai has always fascinated me for the elemental hold it had on the Japanese psyche. Kitsutsuki Tanteidokoro strikes me as this season’s most likely candidate for that eponymous Housekishou/Mayonaka/Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo no Holmes/Youkai Apato/et al slot on the schedule – the series which no one you know watches but quietly engages you with good storytelling and a strong cast.

That cast is indeed well-packed with big names – the one budgetary splurge these sorts of niche shows seem to indulge in (and they need to). Sakurai Takahiro is pretty much a given in this sort of series, and Tsuda Kenjirou is in every series it seems like. Neither series director is an especially big name, but the writing – always more important in series adapted from novels than from manga – is in the hands of the very capable Kishimoto Taku. I don’t see a tremendous amount of sleeper potential on this schedule (more like uncertainty) but Kitsutsuki Tanteidokoro definitely qualifies.

Watching This: Choya, Guardian Enzo, Miss Simplice Excitement Level: Optimistic
Show Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro Promotional Videos ▼

Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld 2nd Season
ソードアート・オンライン アリシゼーション War of UnderworldTop
https://www.swordart-online.net/
Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: April 25th, 2020
Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 24:00
Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @sao_anime or #sao_anime

Preview by Takaii

After teasing us with another gigantic cliffhanger, Sword Art Online returns to close out the Alicization arc that has been running for over three cours now. For the uninitiated, Sword Art Online is the premiere VMMORPG anime that took the world by storm many years ago. Currently working through the Alicization arc, the story has entered an interesting spot as protagonist Kirigaya “Kirito” Kazuto (Matsuoka Yoshitsugu) is stuck in a virtual world where after a shocking series of events had his brain in the real world slightly fried. Luckily his girlfriend (fiance?) Yuuki “Asuna” Asuna (Tomatsu Haruka) has raised hell infiltrating a secret military base and is currently trying to save both the world that Kirito is stuck in and Kirito himself.

Skipping out on a lot of specific plot points that would take pages to explain, the second Season of War of Underworld is shaping up to be a high stakes battle for both the virtual and real world. Alice Zuberg (Kayano Ai) has been set up as the key piece the bad guys want, and it looks like our heroes are in a pinch since scary psychopath Gabriel Miller (Ishida Akira) is currently escorting her to the edge of the world where they’ll presumably eject her fluctlight into the real world. On the other side of things we have Suguha (Taketatsu Ayana) and Shino (Sawashiro Miyuki) diving into The Underworld to help out Asuna, plus the possibility of thousands of ALO players providing backup. Honestly, it’s tough to really talk about Alicization since it’s been going on for over a year at this point with all the breaks the arc has taken. Long story short, if you’re a Sword Art Online fan and have been keeping up, this is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. If you’re not a fan, I would like to say that this arc is one (in addition to Mother’s Rosario) that definitely makes keeping up with the show worth it.

Watching This: Pancakes, Takaii, Zaiden Excitement Level: Established
Show Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 | 攻殻機動隊 SAC_2045Top
https://www.ghostintheshell-sac2045.jp/
Animation: Production I.G. Premiere: April 2020
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Pending
Episodes: 24 Station: Netflix
Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, Wikipedia
Join the conversation @gitssac2045 or #攻殻機動隊 or #sac2045

Preview by Zephyr

Led by Production I.G. and Sola Digital Arts (and airing on Netflix), is the newest iteration of the Ghost in the Shell franchise. Given its SAC (Stand Alone Complex) designation, the series arrives not as a sequel to the recent ARISE movies (2013-2015) but rather to the Solid State Society movie that premiered in 2006 and the two seasons of the Stand Alone Complex TV series (1st GIG and 2nd GIG respectively) that preceded it. As a quick refresher, the franchise stems from a cyberpunk manga created by Shirow Masamune in 1989. The general story focuses on a cyborg named Kusanagi Motoko (Tanaka Atsuko) and her exploits as a member of a counter-cyberterrorist organization called Public Security Section 9. Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 takes place after an economic disaster called the “Synchronized Global Default.” With the world now stuck in a state of “sustainable war,” Kusanagi and her team of now-former Section 9 members are called into action as mercenaries. Arriving on America’s west coast, they find themselves engaged with a new threat: “post-humans” with extreme intelligence and heightened physical prowess. The series will have two 12-episode seasons, with long time Stand Alone Complex director Kamiyama Kenji returning to helm the first half and well known Appleseed director Aramaki Shinji helming the latter half.

By now, the Ghost in the Shell franchise is something that needs no introduction. Of its many iterations, its Stand Alone Complex line has been one of its most successful and far-reaching, with 2nd GIG being so good that it’s on my short list of all-time favorites. Fans have been clamoring for a “3rd GIG” sequel for over a decade, and now that it’s arrived, I’m not quite sure how to feel. The presence of heavyweight cyberpunk/sci-fi directors Kamiyama Kenji and Aramaki Shinji, as well as the original cast, bode well for the series’ content and character personalities, but the release of its trailer showcased 3DCG and a drastically different art style that proved divisive for the franchise’s fan base. Given the cyberpunk aesthetics’ role in making Ghost in the Shell what it is, this could be a significant issue for some viewers, especially when combined with the fact that Kanno Yoko and her superb soundtracks will not be returning either. The untimely passing of Origa in 2015 made me worry whether any Stand Alone Complex sequel would ever be quite the same, and given the many stylistic changes here, there’s a part of me that wonders if the window of opportunity for a great sequel may have passed. Given its pedigree though, it’s still a must-watch and I’ve never wanted a series to succeed more than this one. I just hope its many changes won’t outweigh its positives.

Watching This: Choya, Miss Simplice, Pancakes Excitement Level: Average
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Promotional Videos ▼


Short Series List


Technical Note: As of the Fall 2016 Preview onward, short one-cour series that are being broadcast with irregular duration times (under the 24 minute per episode norm) have been separated from the main preview into their own section. This is to account for the increasing number of short series and to allow for ease of viewing for those who have a preference for one type of series over another. While the list should be complete, there are short series that have been announced very close to the start of a season, in which case they may not have made it onto the list. If you notice an anything missing, incomplete, or incorrect, please feel free to point it out in the comments or e-mail Passerby directly.

Air Date Title Series Synopsis
4/08 Komatta Jii-san | 困ったじいさん
AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
Adapted manga
Flirty men charming women
But with old people.
4/20 Bessatsu Olympia Kyklos | オリンピア・キュクロス
http://bessatsu-olympia-kyklos.com/
AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia
When an ancient Greek
Isekais to ’64
Sports hijinks ensues.

OVA / Movie


 

Technical Note: OVAs are sorted by the date they are released. For series that have multiple episodes coming out over the course of the season, please refer to the Notes column for additional dates. More information on each OVA can be found on their respective websites, including promotional videos in some cases. Movie premiere dates are not included since they don’t mean a whole lot to viewers outside of Japan. For the most up to date North American theatrical release schedule, please visit Fathom Events or Funimation Films. BD/DVD movie releases are included in this list. This list is likely incomplete and will be updated as more titles surface (usually by the next season’s preview). If you notice anything missing or incorrect, please feel free to comment below or send me a quick tweet/DM @ZephyrRC.

Release Date Title Notes
03/10 Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen OVA
本好きの下剋上 ~司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません~ OVA
http://www.tobooks.jp/booklove_ova/
BD/DVD Release. Episode 14.5.
03/18 One Piece Movie: Stampede | 劇場版 ONE PIECE STAMPEDE
https://one-piece.com/comicsanime/movie/detail/14.html
BD/DVD Release.
03/18 Violet Evergarden Gaiden: Eien to Jidou Shuki Ningyou (Side Story: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll)
ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン 外伝 -永遠と自動手記人形-
http://violet-evergarden.jp/sidestory/
BD/DVD Release.
03/19 Altered Carbon: Resleeved | オルタード・カーボン: リスリーブド
https://www.netflix.com/title/81001991
Netflix Release.
03/23 Hoozuki no Reitetsu 2nd Season OVA | 鬼灯の冷徹 第2期 OVA
http://www.hozukino-reitetsu.com/oad2/
Bundled w/ manga Vol. 30. OVA 2 of 3.
03/23 Sol Levante
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecr_02W2Csw
Hand-drawn 4K HDR anime by Production I.G. w/ Netflix.
03/25 Chuubyou Gekihatsu Boy OVA | 厨病激発ボーイ OVA
http://chubyou.net/
Bundled w/ BD/DVD Vol. 4. Episode 12.
03/25 Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai (2019) | 岸辺露伴は動かない
http://jojo-animation.com/ova/rohan/
BD/DVD Release. Episode 3 of 3.
03/25 Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!: Kurenai Densetsu
この素晴らしい世界に祝福を!紅伝説
http://konosuba.com/
BD/DVD Release.
03/25 Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de 2-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki desu ka? OVA
通常攻撃が全体攻撃で二回攻撃のお母さんは好きですか?OVA
https://okaasan-online.com/
BD/DVD Release.
03/26 7 Seeds 2nd Season
http://7seeds.jp/
Netflix Release.
03/27 ACCA 13-ku Kansatsu-ka Regards | ACCA13区監察課 Regards
http://acca-anime.com/regards/
BD/DVD Release.
03/27 Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken OVA | 転生したらスライムだった件 OVA
https://www.ten-sura.com/
Bundled w/ manga Vol. 14. OVA 3 of 5
03/27 Gundam: G no Reconguista II: Belry Gekishin
劇場版 ガンダム Gのレコンギスタ Ⅱ ベルリ 撃進
http://www.g-reco.net/
BD/DVD Release. Recompilation Film 2 of 5.
04/01 Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – Hyouketsu no Kizuna
Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活『氷結の絆』
http://re-zero-anime.jp/hyoketsu/
BD/DVD Release.
04/03 Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai OVA | ぼくたちは勉強ができない OVA
https://boku-ben.com/
Bundled w/ LE manga Vol. 16.
04/08 Hello World 2027 | ハロー・ワールド
https://hello-world-movie.com/
BD/DVD Release.
04/08 Strike the Blood IV | ストライク・ザ・ブラッド IV
http://www.strike-the-blood.com/fourth/
OVA 1-2 of 12.
04/09 Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise 2nd Season | ガンダムビルドダイバーズRe:RISE
http://gundam-bd.net/
Sunrise’s Gundam Channel.
04/22 Free! Dive to the Future Movie -Road to the World-Yume
劇場版 Free!-Road to the World-夢
http://rw.iwatobi-sc.com/
BD/DVD Release.
April 2020 Zashiki Warashi no Tatami-chan | ざしきわらしのタタミちゃん
https://tatamichan.com/
05/08 Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi OVA | 魔術士オーフェンはぐれ旅
http://ssorphen-anime.com/
Bundled w/ BD/DVD BOX Vol. 2. Episode 14.
05/27 Heya Camp△ Special Episode: Sauna to Gohan to Sanrin Bike
へやキャン△「サウナとごはんと三輪バイク」
https://yurucamp.jp/heyacamp/
Bundled w/ Heya Camp△ BD/DVD.
05/27 Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – THE BEYOND | 蒼穹のファフナー THE BEYOND
http://fafner-beyond.jp/news/20200327.html
BD/DVD Release. Episode 4-6.
05/27 Tenki no Ko (Weathering With You) | 天気の子
https://tenkinoko.com/
BD/DVD Release.

Overall Impressions


 

While talk of anime’s decline is beating a dead horse these days, it isn’t hard to feel concern over the upcoming season. Between a middling show number and the looming threat of further pandemic-induced delays, it’s anyone’s guess just what to expect, but if there’s one thing you can bet on it’s the heavy hitters (and there’s a bunch this time) helping carry the day. Not to say other series won’t help liven springtime up, of course (positive thinking people!), but I think we all know by now to be cautious when it comes to hyping up certain shows. Nevertheless, there’s always a surprise or two in every anime season, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing which this one brings—and how well they match up to our Excitement Levels!

That’s right, we’ll be continuing with our now-customary Excitement Levels, which includes four main levels plus Established for special cases. Our goal is to make it easier to use the top and bottom of the scale, and to take away the incentive to hedge our bets—after all, we’re not saying these shows will be good or bad, we’re just saying how excited we are. Exciting things can be flawed, and unambitious things can be fun! Hopefully this guide will help those of you with limited time understand which shows to try first, based on our preliminary examination of each show’s staff, seiyuu, and source material. Failing that, it’ll give you another reason to laugh when we get all hot and bothered about a show that ends up falling apart.

As usual, these levels were arrived at by our regular (and reliably shady) “Excitement Council” of Stilts, Zephyr, and, filling in for one slacker this season, Guardian Enzo. While we’ve gone to great lengths to consider multiple viewpoints and not get swept away by our own proclivities, these aren’t predictions, and shouldn’t be taken as such. Take these with the appropriate amount of salt.

Note: Lists are sorted in alphabetical order.

 

The Rundown:

High excitement shows are the ones we’re truly pumped about. These are the shows we want to watch the most, and which we think have a good chance of being exemplars of their kind — or at least come close. Shows in this category might be sequels to excellent anime, adaptations of highly regarded source material, projects with stellar pedigrees, or even originals that just light up our minds. They don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to feel like something special. If you consider yourself a casual fan who only gets your toes wet every season, then these are the shows we feel you should most keep an eye on.

Optimistic shows are ones that we’re hopeful will be really good, and which we have good reasons to think they might be. The underpinnings of these are generally strong, with a lot to suggest in each of them, but with one or two elements that give us pause and keep our enthusiasm from boiling over. They still have most of the makings of very strong series, though, and many stellar anime will arise from this category. If you’ve exhausted all the High shows, or want to delve deeper into your favored genres, check out these as well.

Average excitement shows look middle-of-the-road to us. They could be good or they could be bad, but they don’t provide much immediate indication that they’ll be amazing in retrospect. This is often the case with shows that are firmly ensconced in their genres’ tropes, or which overly rely on some of anime’s overused plot devices. It can also apply to shows that seem deeply flawed, with elements that could make them amazing, but with so many potential pitfalls that we’re not getting hyped up. However, in many of our experiences these shows still provide a great deal of entertainment, and may turn out a lot better than they appear. Personal taste comes heavily into play, so your mileage will vary.

Limited excitement shows are ones that we simply aren’t all that excited about. They often don’t seem to be striving for much, and choose to focus on more frivolous aspects such as senseless humor and fanservice. Other times they’re doing the same thing we’ve seen a thousand times, with few mitigating signs that they’ll rise above their tropes. That doesn’t mean they’re the bottom of the barrel and shouldn’t get any consideration, but simply that they’re not doing a lot to suggest themselves. Keep in mind what kind of show they are, though, and you might find something you enjoy amid this cohort.

Established shows are any series that has aired for more than 40 episodes or has been previewed three or more times. This can include anything from never-ending shounen and decade-spanning dramas to that quirky comedy that keeps getting renewed season after season. The only commonality is that they’ve aired a lot of episodes, and that they’re the kind of show that most viewers will want to catch up on all the previous content before watching the new. Spin-offs and remakes don’t automatically qualify, since they’re considered new series.

74 Comments

  1. Thank you as always, each time I’m trying to wait for your list, bc its made so throughly and with so many details. You guys are the best!!
    I counted my must-watch shows and it seems i will have busy spring with at least 16 shows to watch…. i wonder why sword art online is so late to premiere, usually its opposite.

    Shirocat
  2. You included Digimon (and Yu-Gi-Oh Sevens). I’m surprised… you don’t usually include kids shows. Thanks…. I’ll be watching it!
    I’m, also, excited for Fruits Basket, SAO, and Kami no Tou -Tower of God.
    Thanks for the excellent preview info. Good entertainment always and especially during lockdowns.

    anifani
    1. Usually kids shows are relatively limited in reach to, well, kids, but Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh (and Pokemon) are kind of in their own league at this point considering so many of us grew up with them. Plus Digimon being a reboot makes it really hard to ignore 😀

  3. Since BNA is a Trigger Anime, I wonder what excuse they’ll use to end up in space… maybe weird space beams are responsible for making these animal humans and a dino human has to be used to fly into space…

    NaweGR
  4. Sequels
    Oregairu S3
    Jashin-chan Dropkick S2
    Kaguya-sama S2

    Interested
    Tamayomi
    Arte
    Yesterday wo Utatte
    Houkago Teibou Nisshi

    Give it an episode
    Kakushigoto
    Otome Game no Hametsu Flag

    Arche
  5. I know I haven’t been as active on here for the last year or two, mostly because I’ve mostly migrated over to Reddit and Discord for anime discussion, but I still value all the hard work you guys put into this every season.

    GoukaRyuu
  6. Kind of sad there’s not much to watch this season, maybe there will be something that’ll suprise me, right now its just Tower of God in my watch list for being a korean anime, not often you see one being adapted.

    CatBaron
    1. Really? Looks a ton better than this winter season to me. Only good things were eizokuken ni te wo dasuna! and Boku no Hero Academia is still holding me, but I usually burn out on never-ending shounen’s around ep. 100.

      This season for old softie’s has Sakura Taisen and even if new GitS is boring I’ll probably enjoy it. As long as it’s not complete trash. I still enjoy shokugeki no souma although the next arc in the manga was kinda boring…

      Then most of anime fandom is going to be incredibly excited about Ore no Seishun Love-come ha machigatteru’s return. Who knows how the new ones will turn out but there’s a handful of fresh stuff too, I’m cautiously optimistic but positive it’ll be a better season than this one was.

      Rentarou
  7. Honzuki, Tsugumomo (never thought this would get a sequel, but I’m soo happy it did!), Fruits Basket and No Guns Life for me.

    A strong spring season imo, with some returning series and a couple of newcomers that could be good ^_^

    Ninjasyao
  8. Mostly sequels for me this season, but looking forward to the PA Works, Trigger and MAPPA originals, as well as the did-not-think-it-was-possible adaptation of Tower of God!

    Fanlightiron
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  10. €Tsugu Tsugumomo

    I dunno, right now the Manga is all about show Lewed and Hentai stuff. I dunno how they will bring this to screen

    i have not high hopes for that, to be honest

    worldwidedepp
  11. Hi. As always, thank you for this preview. This is my go-to preview every season! =)

    Will watch:
    – Kami no Tou
    – Yesterday wo Utatte
    – Yahari Kan
    – Honzuki no Gekokujou 2nd Season
    – Gleipnir
    – Fruits Basket 2nd Season
    – Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara
    – Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai?

    Will check:
    – Nami yo Kiitekure
    – Fugou Keiji: Balance:Unlimited
    – Appare-Ranman!
    -Kitsutsuki Tantei Dokoro

    By the way, I noticed some errors on the airing days of the following anime:

    – Kami no Tou -Tower of God – Sunday, should be Monday
    – Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan – Thursday, should be Saturday
    – Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season – Sunday, should be Saturday

    sygnl_
  12. As usual, thank you for these previews. I’m sure I’ll be back to check it time and time again as the new series are released.

    Damn, I didn’t know the adapation of Katarina’s story was here, perhaps because it didn’t click to me when I read Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta (such a mouthful). “Bakarina” is a more familiar name XD

    Loved the manga and the LN. It’s to Otome Isekai (yes, there’s a whole subgenre) what Konosuba is to the more shonen versions of the genre.

    Mistic
  13. Yeah, not too fond of SAC 2045’s art style. Those Tachikomas look like toys!

    Saw the three girls from Princess Connect! Re:Dive in a collaboration event. Seems like a fun bunch even though they don’t really stray far from archetypes. Could use sun light hearted fun in the current gloom of the world.

    Bakarina should be fun too.

    theirs
      1. Probably a case of someone with enough sway believing the old designs won’t be popular enough, because focus groups. Hell Psycho-Pass keeps things the same, there’s no excuse at this point when they know exactly what GITS fans want lol.

        1. I like Production IG, they’re generally a good studio in terms of show quality, but just what in the heck were they thinking making an all CG series? The trailer looks awful and low budget. They’re capable of so much better than this.

          Lyfe
  14. Idolish7, Princess Connect! Re:Dive & SAO Alicization will be the top 3 shows of the season in Japan.

    Idolish7 had a huge female following, Cygames have had tremendous luck with their anime adaptations and have had hit after hit. And SAO, need I explain more.

    Lyfe
  15. Looking forward to the antics of Bakarina in Hamefura, a fan of the LN.

    Digimon getting a reboot? Not sure about that since the original had such an impact on me as a child and hope it will retain the heart of the original; the coming of age and growth of the main cast. The opening theme “Butterfly” by the late Kouji Wada remains as my go to nostalgic trip nowadays.

    Thanks for the previews RC.

    Flappy
    1. Otome isekai WN/LNs have been on the rise for quite some time, although Hametsu Flag’s the 1st major one to get an anime. Most of them still are only at the manga adaptation stage, unlike their male counterparts that almost always get an anime.

      zztop
    1. I remember how the staff working on the show were very vocal in saying that they needed 500 more physical disc sales per release by a certain date for a second season to be greenlit. That stuck with me as its super rare for anyone to come out and say a show needs a certain number of sales to get another season. It was clearly one of those shows where the disc sales mattered to the studio lol.

      Lyfe
  16. Speaking of Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation. The game had poor sales in Japan on the PS4 which I would blame squarely on Sega neglecting the franchise. It used to be pretty massive, but they’ve let it rot away to virtually nothing. I don’t think a “reboot” was really needed, they should have done an updated entry with the any of the game casts from the Sakura Taisen era Dreamcast/PS2 titles. Sega after all were quick to remake the Yakuza titles and could have done the same here with Sakura Taisen and pushed a new anime series to go alongside.

    Lyfe
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  18. “Oregairu Kan is the third season of a franchise which completely deviates from your typical romcom, and that mostly comes down to its unique and compelling protagonist.”

    And that`s why it devolves into the usual harem with “just like me” self-insert for losers, kek.

    URGH
  19. Thanks as always for the previews! Counting on this season’s anime to pass the time…

    As a minor nitpick you seem to have some typos for Major 2nd: the japanese name, website and join the conversation tags are a mix of digimon & arte, while for arte the japanese name and join the conversation are those from digimon.

    Alpha
  20. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta
    Is on the top of my to watch list this season.
    I’ve read a couple of the LN’s This should be a lot of fun

    It is more a like full spectrum harem – comedy than a Romance genre

    Trunkm0nkey
  21. With Re-Zero delayed, my expectations are pretty low for the new season.
    I’m mostly looking forward to Gleipnir (looks like entertaining popcorn action flick) and the final season of Yahari, though a rewatch is in order for the latter, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to follow it from the first episode.
    I wonder what 2020 show will be last year’s Vinland Saga? Do I only have the next season of Shingeki to look forward to?

    boingman
  22. – About “Wave, Listen to Me”:
    “It’s easy to see his influence in the art style of the series, but it’s most interesting to see how he was able to adapt to a contemporary comedy after becoming renowned for the brutality and violence that defined some of his most popular manga”
    What made Samura’s reputation for brutality was his oneshots, because Blade always had a good dose of humor. Isn’t surprising to see Samura doing a “comedy”, but a comedy with his type of humor, never forget that.

    My curiosity with this adaptation is if this can be the “new Rakugo”, but in the end the anime will live or die by it’s seiyuu performances.

    – Arte
    I like the manga a lot but I expect nothing from the anime. That bright palete is so annoying… Looks like a very safe adaptation to help sell a bit more tankos.

    – Brand New Animal
    I looked those 6 episodes preview and dropped in episode 4.
    I couldn’t help but notice how the script was absurd and illogical, characters behaving and reactions that made no sense. But the worst was the protagonist. It’s hard to be convinced to watch when the main characters does everything to dislike her.
    And the themes… oh, the themes. This will be “Detroit Become Human – The Anime”.

    – Yesterday
    I still can’t believe that this exist, that someone is doing a series adaptation and putting effort.. That preview was so good!
    But it’s hard to recommend, the isn’t much in this story.
    Rikuo is a moron and Shinako is the worst of the worst girls.
    The only reason to watch is Haru and Kansuke, and maybe that’s enough.

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  24. I’ve got three anime picked out for definite watching: Appare-Ranman, My Next Life as a Villainess, and Gleipnir. I expect fun times out of all three of them (and for Appare to be a two-cour).

    PokeNirvash
  25. With the exception of Re:Zero, I’m honestly shocked the pandemic hasn’t impacted Spring’s anime production. Still a large number of anime this season. Saturday is especially ridiculous.

    Please stay safe, Japan.

    Mormegil
    1. Yeah~ I thought Plunderer (I know you’re gonna make an eyebrow raise towards me) was gonna be delayed but the show kept on time.

      Will be understanding if any new spring shows got delayed. Stay safe, Japan~

      RK
  26. “The CCP lied.
    People died.
    And thanks to those f**king douchebags, I can’t wander outside.”

    Well, this post was later than usual since I had to wait until April 1 passed so this wouldn’t be treated as an April Fool’s joke. I’m dead serious with that intro and what’s going on right now. It’s also the reason why I’ve been using the “CCPVirus” image as my avatar recently.

    Will definitely watch / Obligatory sequel watch:

    No Guns Life season 2 – Back when I saw season 1 back in Fall 2019, I loved how No Guns Life felt like a throwback to late-80s to 90s cyberpunk anime like Akira, Ghost In The Shell and Bubblegum Crisis (including the 2040 remake). I also loved how Juuzou’s character design challenges the traditional anime convention of “eyes are the windows to the soul” (read: anime eyes). And for a character that lacks visible eyes, Juuzou manages to express himself through body language (and the sudden art shifts during light-hearted moments). But more than that, what I really appreciated is how the series paints a possible crapsack future where corrupt megacorporations (most likely with the “government” under their thumb) lord over and exploit the overtoiled impoverished masses. I know it’s par for the course for cyberpunk works, but whenever I hear today’s news of white-collar crime and other corporate bulls**t (e.g.: the “Triple-AYYY” video game industry and Western tech companies eager to get rich with Chinese money/make damning compromises with the CCP), I can’t help but feel humanity is inching inexorably closer to such a future–even with some doubters who try and deny such a scenario will come to pass. Not without good reason does the adage “Corporations are not your friends” exist. Anyway, I’m also hoping season 2 is where the story arcs really get good.

    Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan – 8man Returns! (And so does the shipping wars for this series.) I can only hope this final season is faithful to the light novels with a dash of adaptation expansion.

    Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise season 2 – Despite not expecting much from the sequel to Gundam Build Divers, the twist at the end of season 1 deconstructs the initial “it’s only a virtual reality game” mentality of Build Divers and adds real-world consequences to an in-game “mission failed” scenario. Please make the spoiler tags work… Turns out that hidden GBN Mission Scenario leading to a world populated by furry characters and malevolent mobile suits might be an actual isekai.

    Will try out (three-episode rule) / Last-minute pickups thanks to this preview:

    Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara – After the conclusion of the Central arc in Shin no Sara, I was ready to treat this arc as if it never happened, based on the reactions of the manga readers. But I guess curiosity and bile fascination won me over. Now to see if it’s really as bad as the manga readers turned it out to be or if J.C. Staff can somehow salvage this last arc.

    Princess Connect! Re:Dive – Honestly, my basic knowledge of this series/franchise boils down to Kyaru (the black-haired catgirl) exclaiming, “Yabai wa yo!” (“That’s dangerous!”) That and seeing the main girls in this series (Kyaru included) also moonlighting as Virtual YouTubers. Anyway, I know I shouldn’t be expecting much out of a mobile game anime adaptation, but I don’t mind giving this a shot if only to stave off potential cabin fever.

    Carryovers, OVAs, shorts and movies:

    To Aru Kagaku no Railgun T
    Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai OVA
    Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de 2-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki desu ka? OVA – Beach episode! And the return of best girl Wise. That said, I’d love to see a crossover between Mamako’s party and BOFURI‘s Maple Tree guild. (Can Mamako’s two-hit multi-target attacks make a visible dent on Maple’s defense?)

    Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!: Kurenai Densetsu – Sadly wasn’t able to watch the fan-screening on February 29 after having a nasty stomachache during the wee hours of that day. So I had to do without the additional goods from the fan-sceening and settle for the regular screening last March 4. And this is in spite of the presence of a cinema rip of the movie–with Crunchyroll subs–that somehow made it to YouTube a couple of months before. That said, I would have loved to hear the audience reactions during the fan-screening. (There wasn’t much of a crowd during the regular screening, but it’s probably warranted with what went down a week later.)

    Violet Evergarden Gaiden: Eien to Jidou Shuki Ningyou – Man, I really, REALLY, REALLY wanted to legally watch this the week after the regular screening of KonoSuba: Kurenai Densetsu. And to top it off, I also wanted to make it an (advanced) White Day date with K-On‘s Mio (represented by her Nendoroid form, anyway) to show some love for KyoAni after that tragic arson attack last year.
    But then, the COVID-19 pandemic got worse in my neck of the woods and with a local quarantine commencing a day after White Day (probably the last chance I had to watch it in the cinema), I had to cancel that, which left me rather pissed. And with all the s**t the CCP’s already been doing, hearing news about the CCP’s attempt to cover up the new coronavirus as early as November 2019 just added ammunition to why they should NEVER be trusted.

    I’ll never forgive the Chinese Communist Party. (And to those pro-CCP apologists–you know who you b**tards are–there’s nothing to discuss, except ill words. #PlagueWorseThanCOVID19 #CCPVirus)

    Will probably watch along with season 1 / The ever-increasing backlog pile:

    Jashin-Chan Dropkick season 2
    Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen season 2
    Kyokou Suiri – What can I say? I heard good stuff (and saw some funny memes) about this show.

    Other notes:
    Managed to finish the first season of Re:Zero, after switching from Episode 9 of the Director’s Cut to the regular version. Might finish the rest of the Director’s Cut episodes, though. (Ditto the Memory Snow OVA and the shorts by Studio Puyukai.)

    Well, not much else to say except, “Stay safe, everyone.”

    P.S.: For those using Gravatar, you now have to log out properly via WordPress. For some reason, you can’t log out properly via Gravatar, which is a bit of a “WTF?” moment.

    Incognito
  27. Pingback: No Screening on Saturday 11th April 2020 – JAFWA

    1. Read the news on ANN and…ah, jeez… As if anime fans needed more reasons to be pissed off at the COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine.

      Hope both Studio Feel and Studio Madhouse staff can lay the groundwork for a similar work(-at-home?) setup as J.C. Staff. (*Flashbacks of Railgun T being delayed a few weeks earlier*)

      And speaking of J.C. Staff, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara will also face intermittent delays as well.

      Incognito
      1. Unfortunately we should expect a lot more delays with Abe’s recent federal state of emergency declaration. The status of pretty much any show not already completed in both animation and voice dubbing is up in the air.

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