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「私の力、海賊の力」 (Watashi no Chikara, Kaizoku no Chikara)
“My Power, A Pirate’s Power”
Mouretsu Pirates is still very well in the worldbuilding process, taking things slowly and not rushing Marika into the captaincy role that we all know she’ll eventually take on, and I continue to find myself swept up in its mellow pacing — in a good way.
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「雑音と不協和音と」 (Zatsuon to Fukyouwaron to)
“Noise and Dissonance”
My Mizuki Nana/TWO-MIX anime has been taken over by Yuuki Aoi! As much as I like Aoi, it’s a bit of a downer that I may not get to hear Nana and Minami as Zwei Wing anymore.
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「絢辻詞 後編 ケッセン」 (Ayatsuji Tsukasa Kouhen – Kessen)
“Ayatsuji Tsukasa, Second Chapter – Showdown”
I know I said that Tsukasa was probably going to see right through Noriko’s ploy, but I never anticipated that Junichi would have it so good right after she did. The infamous Amagami shed where kinky miracles happen makes its return!
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「再誕 the lost christmas」 (Saitan)
“Resurrection”
Did I just watch the finale? Because it sure felt like I watched the finale. Every subtle development that’s been built up so far culminated to a finale-worthy conclusion — and in ways that were fairly satisfying too.
The spin-off to CODE GEASS, “Akito the Exiled” (literally, “Akito of the Ruined Country”), is finally gaining some steam on the production side of things with a 90-second promo video — three and a half years after the second season finished airing. Along with it came the starring cast announcment: Irino Miyu as Hyuuga Akito and Sakamoto Maaya as Reira Markale (official English spelling pending).
The side story takes place in 2017, around the time Lelouch took on the alter-ego “Zero” and built up his “Black Knights” rebellion army (i.e. season one). The setting is Europe, where the Euro Universe (E.U.) allied nations are being invaded by the overwhelming force of the Britannia Empire. On the verge of defeat, the E.U. army forms a special division known as “W-0”, which a young pilot named Hyuuga Akito is a member of. Coming to the E.U.’s aid is a former Britannia aristocrat named Reira Markale, who commands the “Wyvern” Knightmare corps comprised of Japanese teenagers. They recklessly plunge into a battlefied where the survival rate is extremely low to fight for their freedom and have a country they can return to that feels like “home”. Thus begins their fight against the adult world.
The premise has been more or less laid out (translated above), but it’s still relatively unclear on whether Boukoku no Akito will be a full TV series, an OVA, or a film. What we do know is that it will be screened in theaters this summer and that it will be directed by Akane Kazuki (Tenkuu no Escaflowne, Noein: Mou Hitori no Kimi e) and once again feature original character designs by CLAMP. Judging from the screening date, we’ll likely see this long-awaited spin-off in either summer or fall of this year.
Update: A movie project for the original “Hangyaku no Lelouch” story has also been announced.
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「男子高校生と放課後、スカート、怪談、同伴少女、文学少女」
(Danshi Koukousei to Houkago, Sukaato, Kaidan, Douhan Shoujo, Bungaku Shoujo)
“High School Boys and After School, Skirts, Ghost Stories, a Female Escort, the Literature Girl.”
I don’t often try to force a new show on readers, but if you’re not watching “The Daily Lives of High School Boys” even after all the good things I said about it in the Winter 2012 Preview, you should start asking yourself why. “Do I not like good shows? Do I not want to watch the funniest show of the season? Do I not want to laugh until it hurts?”
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「困ります、先輩。」 (Komarimasu, Senpai.)
“That’s Troubling, Sempai.”
I was hoping to be reminded of the Onegai Teacher/Twins in screenwriter Kuroda Yousuke and producer Ogura Mitsutoshi’s new romantic comedy, but wow, I wasn’t anticipating almost an exact copy of Teacher, right down to the alien girl. This should be interesting.
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「宇宙要塞アンバット」 (Uchuu Yousai Anbatto)
“Space Fortress Ambat”
While I’ve always given Gundam AGE the benefit of the doubt, it still manages to surprise me with its flair for the dramatic. The lead-up to this “final battle” at Ambat was extremely well-done on several character fronts, making it seem like anyone could bite the dust, and then the battle itself proved to be all kinds of awesome starting with the Diva’s transformation.
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「終末を抱いた神話的禁じられた合体スペシャル」 (Owari wo Dakiita Shinwateki Kinjirareta Gattai Supesharu)
“The Mythical Forbidden Union that Embraces the End Special”
The sequel to Kawamori Shouji’s Sousei no Aquarion arrives seven years later and kicks off with a one-hour special of the first two episodes. Things took off at a feverish pace with the reawakening of the legendary robot Aquarion, complete with the orgasmic-like “gattai” combinations that the original was known for, and quickly shattered the premise where male and female unions are forbidden.
