Fall 2018 Preview!

Preview by Passerby

In a world much like Earth, at a time not far from the present, humanity was on the cusp of the space age. Rocket launches had become a regular event, even as the Japanese government considered fully regulating space and banning civilian flights. None of that affected Koumoto Kana (Miyama Karen). She’s just a normal high school girl. She hung out with her friends. She worked part-time at a noodle shop. She crushed on some guy. It seemed like those good times would last forever, but one day an unidentified object fell from the sky and spawned a giant mecha that seemed intent on devouring Kana and her friends. To the rescue leaps one Haruhara Haruko (Shintani Mayumi), an eccentric, pink-haired woman who introduces herself as a space investigator of the space police. She has an in interest in Kana — or rather, an interest in the inter-dimensional portal inside Kana’s head.

Back in the Noughties, we had FLCL (pronounced, for whatever reason, ‘fooly cooly’). It was, in a word, anime: weird, fun, and it managed to speak of the chaos and confusion of adolescence in a visual way only this medium can. I’m not sure it ever needed a sequel, but now it’s gotten two, with Alternative being the third in line to bear the FLCL name. That said, unlike season 2, Progressive, which was quite conscious of its sequel status, Alternative does not seem to be as concerned. Besides the ever present Haruka, there is not that much that links this third season to the first. Perhaps it understands that it’s cut from a different cloth. The new cast are, comparatively, low key, mostly sane, and without quite same manic energy that possessed the original cast. Perhaps that’s to be expected; this is a new generation, and after all these years the face of our youth will naturally be different. Indeed, none of the (not one, not two, but) three directors in charge of Alternative were involved in the original FLCL, and their take on the new Zeitgeist should prove to be a worthwhile watch. In fact, some of you have probably had a sneak peak already; the first episode of Alternative was leaked for April Fools a while ago, and our very own Choya had a take on it. If you want more information on FLCL Alternative, give that a look, though I’m sure if you’re a fan of FLCL already it shouldn’t take much convincing to add Alternative to your list.

Preview by Zephyr

Following a series of delays and intermissions, Beatless returns for its last arc in Beatless Final Stage. The series’ finale will continue the story of Endou Arato (Yoshinaga Takuto), a 17-year-old student who stumbled upon a highly intelligent hIE (a humanoid robot a.k.a. humanoid Interface Element) named Lacia (Touyama Nao) . As one of five unique hIEs released into the world, Lacia is a “Red Box,” possessing abilities exceeding what was thought possible by humanity. Upon accepting his role as her owner, Endou’s fateful decision sets into motion a series of events that begin to change the world. As the other Red Boxes find owners of their own, a symbolic clash begins between humans that envision a future where AI and humans can co-exist and those unwilling to have their lives taken over further by machines. As the smoke begins to settle, Endou takes Lacia’s hand once more in order to craft the future they envisioned.

Given the series’ dreadful start, it would be easy to dismiss Beatless as just another series that tried and failed miserably at crafting a sci-fi universe worth delving into. Having finally caught up to the first season’s last few episodes though, I’m glad to say the series does eventually fulfill some of the expectations placed on it. At the very least, things become more interesting as the big picture comes into focus and we see what the Red Boxes’ abilities are and the reasons behind their (and their owner’s) actions. What results is a decent commentary on the possible issues a future with full automation and highly intelligent AI would have, even if having a bunch of ultra-powerful AI fight it out to determine the future seems a bit ridiculous, and a generic protagonist combined with cliché developments took away from the series’ initial engagement. Thankfully, they do eventually explain the choice of making the protagonist who he is and why some of the developments happened in the first few episodes, but it’s understandable that many viewers ditched the series long before it could get to that point. Beatless wasn’t quite a total disaster, but rather wasted potential due to its lengthy development time (especially when combined with all the delays and intermissions), and ultimately the last few episodes did get me interested enough to see what Final Stage has in store. I suspect I’ll be one of the few people to actually watch the series to its completion, though.

Preview by Passerby

Lisvaletta. On the surface, it’s a peaceful city state, but in actuality it’s a regular hive of scum and villainy. It wasn’t always this way; the chaos came when a new drug called ‘Anthem’ floated up from the underworld. Not only was it highly addictive, it also had the curious side effect of turning habitual users into crazed mutants. With drug-fueled violence sweeping across Lisvaletta, the military was called in to tackle this drug wave. A special task force is set up to combat this problem. Christened ‘SEVEN-O’, this agency is tasked with fighting both superhuman criminals and a drug epidemic, so it recruits from all quarters. Agents work in pairs nicknamed ‘double deckers’, and are made up of everybody from accomplished detectives to ex-cons. Kirill Vrubel (Amasaki Kouhei) is neither of these things; he’s just a lowly constable with delusions of grandeur. But he’s drawn into the fight against Anthem and ends up being partnered with veteran agent Doug Billingham (Mikami Satoshi) to form SEVEN-O’s newest double decker.

Double Decker! is apparently set in the same universe as TIGER & BUNNY, which would be a positive association, but the extent of that association is hard to tell. The setting seems to be based on the Mexican drug wars (only very, very loosely based, or else Double Decker wouldn’t be able to be a comedy), and while there’s that buddy cop dynamic going and some references to TIGER & BUNNY may pop up now and again, for the most part Double Decker! should not require any prior knowledge and can be judged on its own merits. In fact, you can probably do some of that judging right now; the first episode is already out there for your previewing, and you might want to give it a look. Double Decker! seems to be largely a comedy and comedy is the most subjective thing. Only you will know whether its brand of irreverent parody is for you. Otherwise, it’s got some style, it’s got some flair, and will probably be a fun time. Sure, most of the staff don’t have a load experience (with a notable exception of a score by Hayashi Yuki, which can’t go wrong) but you don’t need much for an action comedy romp to be entertaining, and Double Decker! should dish out plenty of that.

Preview by Stilts

October, 2018. In a certain city in a certain provincial area, a group of high school girls perform a ritual. They’re part of the Crystal Radio Club, a group the cheerful Tsuchimiya Asuka (Kurosawa Tomoyo) started with her friends. The ritual was supposed to be an urban legend, but after several conditions were coincidentally met, it stops being fun and games. They slide into an alternate world, and a harrowing adventure begins.

The Animax channel is about to ring in its 20th anniversary, and they’re celebrating in the usual way: launching an anime and smart phone game multi-media franchise. The 20th is the franchise anniversary, after all. The Girl in Twilight stands out from some of the other (much shiftier) originals I previewed this season by being tight-lipped with the plot details, even though there’s plenty of information available overall. There are five girls, there’s a ritual, they’re transported to an alternate world (maybe), and then … something will happen. An alternate version of one of the characters, perhaps, but it’s unclear. It seems we will have to wait for the premiere to find out. What I can say is the seiyuu cast is stellar, the animation looks pretty darn nice, and the staff is a mixed bag, with some having only short resumes, while others are more like Yasukawa Shougo, who has done series composition/script writing for half of everything. I’m cautiously optimistic, because even if Akanesasu Shoujo doesn’t end up being good, it’s clear a great deal of work and consideration has been put into this story. It doesn’t feel generic, is what I’m saying, so even if it sucks, hopefully it won’t be boring. I know I’ll be checking it out, and I suggest you do too. I’m curious where it will take us.

Preview by Pancakes

Another day, another life, another isekai. Or at least that’s what Mitami Satoru (Okasaki Miho) probably thought while perusing the latest such story, before chaos overtook his life. When a robber on the run interrupts Satoru’s daily salaryman routine by stabbing him to death, he finds himself whisked away to another world by the Great Wise One, a being who interprets Satoru’s mental regret at dying a virgin as a call for redemption. There’s just one catch: Satoru’s reincarnation lands him in the body of a slime. Now stuck as one of the weakest monsters in a world full of deadly threats, all Satoru has going for him is his contact with the Great Wise One and a special ability to steal the skills of his opponents, but he’s not about to let such an awkward new start get him down. With salaryman smarts, Satoru will succeed with his new slimy existence, one way or another.

And the isekai train keeps chugging along. While everyone and their waifu loving grandfather has a strong opinion on this latest genre craze by now, there’s nothing stopping a bit of ingenuity from yielding an entertaining story, and Slime Datta Ken makes the most of this fact. Having your (male) protagonist as an actual monster is a pretty big (and risky) shakeup after all, though it’s one the series utilizes to its utmost by wholly focusing on Satoru’s adaptation to and overcoming of the challenges of his new life. Likewise, harems and cliché love interests are pushed to the side, as Slime Datta Ken, much like Death March and Isekai wa Smartphone, goes all in on upbeat slice of life and simple (and fun) adventuring. Not to say there won’t be any of the typical isekai shenanigans (there is), but anyone with a taste for the genre’s more “natural”, laid back stories will find lots to love here. While Slime Datta Ken could still wind up being just another isekai, particularly with Kikuchi Yasuhito of Comet Lucifer fame handling director duty, with two confirmed cours and plenty of material to adapt, this series has all the pieces needed to stand out from the alternate world crowd.

Preview by Stilts

Ken En Ken: Aoki Kagayaki is based on the Xuan-Yuan Sword series, a long-running franchise of fantasy RPGs created by Taiwan’s DOMO Studio. It is set in a magical and mystical version of ancient China, and involves the struggle of various factions among the rising and falling dynasties of the day. Matsuoka Yoshitsugu will star as Pú Zhāo, alongside Mizuki Nana as Fú Yīn and Kugimiya Rie as Fú Níng. Venerated Slayers director Watanabe Hiroshi will helm the production for Studio Deen, while industry veteran Takayama Katsuhiko will be on series composition.

There is almost no information available for this series. Which is odd, because this isn’t a shifty original thing, it’s actually an adaptation of a well-known (in its locale) action fantasy RPG series, so you’d think there’d be plenty of information to distribute. I ended up having to peek into the games themselves, and what I found was something very much like a Final Fantasy or Tales fantasy RPG, only without being too crazy complex (hi Square Enix) and with a marked Chinese flair. It seemed like a good RPG series, and I felt an old itch that could use some scratching. I deliberately evoke the Tales series there, because that’s one of the rare video game series that has actually yielded decent anime. Xuan-Yuan Sword is of that genre, so while I don’t specifically know if its story is worth a damn, it’s clear the characters and story is thick enough on the ground that I’d be surprised if it wasn’t. Plus the staff we know of is surprisingly strong. I’ve got my eye on this, there could be something here, though it remains that there’s little actual information about this show, so I could be grasping at straws. I guess we’ll see when the anime airs.

Preview by Zaiden

Once upon a time, Urobuchi Gen attended a comic convention in Taiwan. An exhibition booth happened to be showcasing a traditional Taiwanese puppet show, resulting in love at first sight. Urobuchi immediately flew back to Japan and made it known how eager he would be to create a series inspired by Taiwanese puppetry. Almost no other person could have convinced Nitroplus and Goodsmile Company that the risk of collaborating with a Taiwanese Puppet company was well worth taking for such an unproven venture. But then again, Urobuchi is by no means an ordinary person. The rest is history, and the Thunderbolt Fantasy Project was born.

Set in an Eastern fantasy continent, where flying swords, martial arts and magic are the disciplinary focuses for spiritual practitioners, Thunderbolt Fantasy marks a radical departure from anything you’ll ever see in modern anime. Is this a good thing? Hell yeah! First off, it’s a puppet show. You definitely don’t see those every day. Secondly, it is utterly shameless in proceeding with its free-spirited and unorthodox style, making way for a completely unpredictable watch that will entertain you to no end. Thirdly, the show is heavily character driven, with each character possessing their own unique ideals and hyperbolic traits which make them stand out in a ridiculously entertaining fashion. And last of all, though it might look really shallow at face value, the show actually possesses significant depth when it comes to the symbolism behind swords and their representation as an apparatus of destruction. Now how does this sound to you? Despite being available on Crunchyroll, the lack of exposure has been such a shame because Thunderbolt Fantasy is hands down one of the greatest shows to come out in recent years. The imminent arrival of a second season is certainly worthy of jubilant celebration. What kind of chaotic schemes will Lin Setsu (Kousuke Toriumi) be hatching? Will Shofukan (Suwabe Junichi) get reluctantly caught up in them yet again? I honestly can’t guess. But buckle up your seatbelts because based on how the first season went, I know for sure we will be in for an epic ride.

Preview by Guardian Enzo

Production I.G. always seems to make time for a literary title or two every year (bless their hearts) and you can pretty much assume excellent production values when they’re involved. This time around it’s an adaptation of a novel by Miura Shion, whose Fune wo Amu was adapted by ZEXCS for NoitaminA last year. The director this time is Nomura Kazuya, who counts Ghost in the Shell’s 2015 movie and the vastly underrated Robotics;Notes among his directorial credits. The writing is handled by Kiyasu Kouhei, equally well-known as a writer and a seiyuu, and music is by the excellent Hayashi Yuki. With a top-shelf staff list and this source material – not to mention two cours to work with – I have high hopes.

The story of Kaze ga Tsuyoku (like that of The Great Passage) sticks out like a sore thumb in modern anime. The focus is on the Hakone Ekiden, a crazy 135 mile college marathon between Tokyo and Hakone (and back) held every January 2-3. College settings are rare enough in anime, but a serious exploration (and with Miura it could hardly be otherwise) of the psychology of running is a potentially fascinating topic to say the least. There’s not a lot that sounds really challenging on this schedule, but Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru certainly bucks that trend.

Preview by Stilts

This Chinese-Japanese coproduction of a Chinese webcomic stars Daisuu (Uchida Yuuma), a manga creator who grew up in an orphanage, and whose comics don’t sell very well. Every day he lives a lonely life, until one day when he meets Myou (Murase Ayumu), a young man who has cat ears. Daisuu’s life changes completely. Enjoy a heartwarming story of how Myou gets into trouble every day, but how for the first time in Daisuu’s life, his heart experiences warmth.

Anime adaptations with any source material and/or production links to the great country of China tend to go poorly, but this one doesn’t look bad. The animation is soft in a way that exudes warmth, while the lines and colors look like they’re drawn with chalk. I can’t speak to whether the gags are good since I was unable to sample the source material, but you’re probably going to need to enjoy (or at least not mind) shounen ai, because I’m getting those vibes from this catboy story. Not much is known about the staff, and those who have been named are light on experience. And then there’s that China link. Still, eventually a Chinese source material is going to render a good anime, and while I don’t think this one will be a world-beater, it could yield a competent little show. Slice-of-life is the name of the game, so if you’d like to see one with a catboy, give this one a shot.

Preview by Choya

Set in the Onomichi-city, Hiroshima Prefecture, during an era where people venture out to space on the hunt for wildlife, the main story focuses on six girls who dream of becoming Space Fisherman. The party consists of Soramachi Haru (Takahashi Karin), a bright and cheerful girl who has great physical strength and a noble sense of justice; Murakami Namino (Tachibana Rika), a descendant of a pirate family with weaponry and pride to spare; Azumi Ruby (Inoe Honoka), the daughter of the fishery’s board of directors who is a moody genius that’s both innocent and curious; Sakura Maiko (Momoko Suzuki), an intelligent girl who is strong willed yet lacks physical strength; Mitsurugi Makoto (Kousaka Ao), the daughter of a swordmaster with a cool and boyish personality; and Maki Makiko (Komeno Maori), the main promoter of the space fishery who acts as everybody’s arbitrator. Together, they aim to capture monsters that leave fish vulnerable, as well as outfox any enemies they may encounter.

Starting out as a smartphone game coming out in unison with the anime, as well as future stage projects, the evolving nature of this series is no surprise given how appealing it sounds as a game where you’re fishing in space! Combine that with the hometown appeal of representing Onomichi, Hiroshima, and you have a series that pays homage to the city’s luscious waterfront in a fun, inventive way that taps into the booming field of smartphone gaming. Not only does the story sound like it would be an engaging way to capture futuristic fishing as an intergalactic hunt for aliens, but the characters all have personality and depth based on their backgrounds alone. With each character encapsulating their own mindset and a specific expertise in space fishing, the potential for them to bond further through their interactions with one another can be easily realized.

Preview by Passerby

Thirty-two years in the future. 2050. Mankind is on the cusp of mastering robotics. Young engineer Derrida Yvain (Ono Kensho) gains worldwide recognition for his development of autonomous machines at his father’s manufacturing company. However, just before this groundbreaking technology is to be rolled out Derrida and his colleague, Nathan Bilstein (Sakurai Takuhiro), discover a flaw in the automata, but their warnings about the potential danger are ignored. The decision is taken out of their hands regardless; mere days later, the two are attacked by unknown forces. Derrida only survives by being frozen in a cryonics machine. Nathan does not make it. Ten years later, in 2060, Derrida is thawed out and awakens to a world devastated by war and mankind ravaged by out-of-control robots. Even amidst the chaos, Derrida remembers the final promise he made to Nathan, a desperate plea to take care of Nathan’s daughter, Mage (M.A.O). But she is gone. There’s only one thing Derrida can do: there is technology by which he can go back in time, back to 2050. What had happened on that fateful day in 2050? And is there any way to prevent it?

Some of you may have wonder why Steins;Gate director Satou Takuya didn’t return for Steins;Gate 0. Well, here’s the answer. Take a look at the trailer. It reminds me a lot of the old-school, sci-fi smorgasbord that anime was fond of; there’s robots, time travel, dystopia, and perhaps something more (Jacques Derrida was the father of deconstruction). A great part of this nostalgia must surely come from the character designs by ABe Yoshitoshi, who after 15 years away is still instantly recognisable from his work on shows like Habane Renmei, Serial Experiments Lain, and Texhnolyze. All sci-fi, as you might have noted, and in fact ABe-sensei did contribute to RErideD’s story. Satou and ABe both have great passion for sci-fi, and their collaboration can only lead to great things (and NieA_7). Alas, it is my duty to proffer words of caution. New studio Geek Toys lacks both size and experience, and even the Crunchyroll dollars may not be enough. If you were expecting RErideD to be a visual blockbuster, it’s best to abandon that now. From a narrative viewpoint, original anime like RErideD, rich in ideas but little else, have a tendency to implode. But though I speak from a place of cautious pessimism, I really, really hope I’m wrong. From the interviews I’ve read with its creators, it’s obvious RErideD is a passion project, with a foundation of love for the genre by two greats of the industry, and I wish it all the best. As long as one goes into it with the proper expectations, it could well give us more of that hard sci-fi that anime is ideally suited for yet never has quite enough of.

Preview by Choya

Azusagawa Sakuta (Ishikawa Kaito) is enraptured by a bunny girl who briefly allured him in the library before suddenly disappearing. She is revealed to be Sakurajima Mai (Seto Asami), a teenage actress who is currently an inactive high school senior that people have no longer been able to see for the past few days since her encounter with Sakuta. Wondering if this is linked to a rumored “Puberty Syndrome”, where teens undergoing puberty are able to experience mysterious sightings, Sakuta sets out to learn about the puzzle behind Mai’s appearance. Along the way, he gets to know her and finds himself evaluating his own feelings towards Mai as he starts to experience newer, unexpected surprises every step of the way. Set in a city where the skies and seas shine together, Sakuta aims to reveal the mystery behind the Puberty Syndrome’s role in his bizarre encounters with Mai, all while the situation develops in ways he couldn’t have imagined.

Presented by the Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo original creator combo of Kamoshida Hajime (story) and Mizoguchi Keiji (art), the premise of this series offers a plethora of secrets to keep audiences on their toes. With the light novels being described as a combination of supernatural romantic comedy, slice-of-life, and psychological drama, its classification alone provides as much intrigue as the story’s Puberty Syndrome. The lengths it goes to create a compelling mystery within a love story itself provides material that goes far beyond your standard romcom. Because the relationship between Sakuta and Mai developing acts as the backbone of the series, its efforts to create chemistry between the two and see how they complement each other are some of the treats we can expect when the anime adaptation debuts this fall.

Preview by Passerby

Minamoto Sakura (Hondo Kaede) is a teenage idol. She sings. She dances. She dreams of stardom. But then, suddenly, zombies! Isn’t that how it always goes? By some unknown, evil force the dead are somehow rising from their graves in pursuit of brains. You’d think if it’s brains they’re after, they would be attacking neither teenagers nor idols, but, alas, not even unholy spawns of darkness in defiance of the laws of man and God can tolerate pop music. So, bad news for Sakura. But she’s not going to just roll over and die (…undie? Whatever). And neither are six other of her fellow idols. They are all joined by a simple wish: they want to live, and are resolved to survive in this horrifying new ‘zombieland’. And perhaps their shared wish will be the miracle that will save humanity.

So, we’ve known for a while that Cygames, the Japanese mobile game giant, is making anime now. But it seems they’re not just content making anime, they want to make weird anime with novelty marketing potential, hence they’ve partnered with studio Mappa to bring us Zombieland Saga. Honestly, I don’t really know what to make of it. On the face of it, it’s just zombie horror. Zombies have always been popular, and we all know the formula well enough. On the other hand, the trailer for it is so very over the top and tries so hard to be a ridiculous B movie that it feels more like a parody of horror than actual horror. It doesn’t help that zombies are already amorphous horror monsters in the first place. They’re horror tofu, always taking on the flavour of their time. Zombies can be created by occult magicks, or radiation, or corporate greed, or superviruses — any kind of social fear can spawn zombies. What I’m hoping for, though, is that Zombieland Saga is secretly an idol show, just with zombies. Idols vs zombies, or zombie idols, both sound good to me. In any case, any anime that goes out of its way to call itself a ‘saga’ must be taking itself very seriously, or not seriously in the slightest. Either way, Zombieland Saga should prove to be an interesting watch, if only to uncover what it truly is.

Preview by Choya

The Warring States period is an era from 1467 to 1603 that has made a tremendous impact on the cultural landscape of Japan. Many works of fiction have been inspired by the Sengoku period and the warlords who defined the era, but none have brought audiences as close to the action and intensity of the battlefield as the Sengoku Basara games by Capcom. Inspired by the Dynasty Warriors series, Sengoku Basara allows you to select an ultra-stylized version of renowned warlords to take into battle, mowing through hordes of warriors to destroy other warlords in pursuit of glory. In Gakuen Basara, the warriors of the Sengoku era are dropped into a contemporary high school setting where Masamune Date (Nakai Kazuya) and Yukimura Sanada (Hoshi Soichiro) battle to replace Hideyoshi Toyotomi as the next student council president. With both figures heading the sports clubs, their transition toward student government is being paved with the same sweat and tears as the olden years.

A high school parody of a Sengoku-era story may seem like an out-of-this-world idea, but given the popularity of the video game franchise, spin-off potential was always on the table. If you have enough fun with the characterizations of the game’s warlords, it would be amusing to see how they adapt when placed in a modern school, and how they deal with the conveniences of being in a setting where conflict is settled through diplomatic means or sporting events. With Shingeki no Kyojin’s school spin-off being a surprisingly great time, Gakuen Basara too has the potential to be extremely funny as well. The spin-off lasted from 2007 to last year, so they are adapting it at just the right time for us to see the full vision they had for a warlord high school.

Preview by Takaii

Bakumatsu is a sci-fi action show revolving around key historical players during the aforementioned Bakumatsu period in Japan. It was a period that not only marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate but also a vast shift of the mindset and everyday lives of people in Japan. Directed by Watanabe Masaki with the help of the ever-notorious Studio DEEN, Bakumatsu is poised to be a show full of action and emotion.

With otome dating games on mobile all the rage, I doubt it surprises anyone to see another game-to-anime adaptation. With the lure of even more money and notoriety, I wouldn’t fault any gamemaker for trying to expand their IP’s universe through other media. However, I must say that in Bakumatsu’s case, I’m rather surprised to say that the show seems to be going in a slightly different direction by creating a whole new premise based around the characters from its game’s universe. Straying from its original story revolving around the heroine (aka the player’s character) who is given a magical watch that takes her back 150 years ago to the Bakumatsu period, the show is instead creating an action-y sci-fi show that revolves around the main historical figures that pop up in the game. From legendary swordsmen to high ranking officials of the period, there’s a whole slew of material to draw on for a show that’s based during the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate finally ended. In a nutshell, it’s tough to say what Bakumatsu is going to give us. But for any show that’s willing to take risks by shaking its core story up, you can bet I’ll be willing to at least check out whether or not things went well for it.

Preview by Takaii

Have you been looking for a slice-of-life to replace all the joy you’ve been missing from your life? If so, look no further than Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san! Based on a 4-koma sharing the same name, this show follows the lives of Amano Akari (Sasahara Yuu) and Sophie Twilight (Tomita Miyu), the former being a high school student who loves cute things (and dolls) and the latter being a vampire who’s been around for over 300 years or so. Through a random series of events Akari ends up moving in with Sophie, and the two spend their days learning more about each other. Or rather, learning about how some things about vampires are true and how some things are comically over-exaggerated.

Like most shows that are based on 4-komas, Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san will have to do some work adapting its material to an anime format. However, if the show runners are successful, I think we may have one of the best slice-of-lifes of the season on our hands. Be it the fantastic characters or the wonderfully relevant material, it’s tough for me to not just gush over how much I loved the source material. Toss in some fantastic humor that ranges from dry all the way to gut-busting laughter and I think you have something that’ll definitely leave an impression for anyone who watches it. If I were to be more specific, I think it’s all the little things the material does that really helps sell the story. Because if you really think about it, life for a vampire in modern Japan shouldn’t be all that difficult, right? With just about anything available on the internet and the ability to protect yourself from the sun easier than ever, I was absolutely loving how the story completely embraced this simple fact. That and one of the best parts for me was whenever Sophie took the time to dispel a common vampire myth that was actually super false. All-in-all, I think Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san is going to be a fantastic slice-of-life for anyone who likes an easy to watch show that’ll definitely get them laughing a few times per episode.

Preview by Pancakes

For Koito Yuu (Takada Yuuki), love is a strange beast. Ever since discovering shoujo manga she has eagerly awaited the day she would receive a sparkly, heart-racing confession all her own, but when a junior high classmate finally provides her one on graduation day, Yuu is unable to respond, feeling nothing at all. Confused and disappointed with no clear answer as to why, Yuu’s mental predicament follows her into high school where she catches the stunning student council president Nanami Touko (Kotobuki Minako) gracefully turning down a potential suitor. Desperately wanting assistance, Yuu asks Touko for advice regarding her romance issues, but after a bit of friendly bonding, Yuu winds up with more than she ever bargained for: Touko confessing her own feelings for Yuu. Now truly confused with emotions swirling all over, Yuu is about to get the first taste of the teenage romance she’s always desired.

No, your eyes do not deceive, another yuri series is here to grace our presence. As far as adaptation quantity goes, girls love has been riding high of late with multiple adaptations making up for a period of near non-existence. While none have been particularly noteworthy overall thus far (*cough* citrus, Netsuzou TRap), something good always comes with enough effort, and Yagakimi is arguably that first diamond in the rough. Unlike the recent wave of fan service and teenage melodrama, this one is firmly vanilla and “traditional”: adorably awkward moments, hand holding, and cutesy kisses are Yagakimi’s romantic bread and butter, with the story emphasis firmly on Yuu exploring her emotions and understanding and accepting the feelings of Touko. It’s simple, tried and true (yuri) romance at its finest which, with the venerable Hanada Jukki handling both script and series composition, is very likely to yield some choice entertainment. While Yagakimi certainly sports a few flaws, those with a thing for girls love should give it a shot. This is likely to be the best yuri show we will have seen to date.

Preview by Pancakes

Based on one of Japan’s most popular light novel franchises, Toaru Majutsu no Index is set in the technologically advanced Academy City. Being 30 years ahead of the world in R&D, Academy City is dominated by students wholly focused on developing their psychic talents as espers. And smack dab in the middle of it all is one Kamijou Touma (Abe Atsushi). Possessing the lowest psychic rank possible, all Touma has going for him is his Imagine Breaker, an inexplicable ability allowing him to negate any esper power he encounters. This quirk isn’t enough to make Touma famous, but it’s plenty to let him be an ordinary teenager—at least until he encounters the young girl Index (Iguchi Yuka). With a mind containing knowledge of numerous forbidden and powerful supernatural grimoires, Index is sought after by many dangerous foes, and now it falls to Touma to help ward them off. The poor kid may not know what he’s gotten himself into, but with a heart of gold and a stubborn attitude Touma will do whatever it takes to defend his new companion in the face of a strange and new supernatural world.

Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes, for the prodigal son returns. It should need no mention that Index is probably one of the most well-known and beloved light novel adaptations, if not the one which sparked the modern light novel adaptation craze. It was a true gateway for its time, featuring a large and deep character cast with a strong story reinforced by the excellent—and arguably better—spin off series Toaru Kagaku no Railgun. Simply put, Index and its universe is modern anime distilled, which makes its return now six years later all the more impressive; many, including me, had written any more Index (and Railgun) off for good. While nostalgia will inevitably be riding high here, it’s anyone’s guess just how well Index will hold up after all this time, but considering JC Staff is retaining the signature art style and all main cast are reprising their roles, I don’t see much changing at all. The show could wind up rushing like a madman or prove challenging for newcomers to get into (watching the first two seasons beforehand will be mandatory), but I’m sure few of us will be disappointed at seeing Academy City and its motley cast return to continue what they started.

Preview by Takaii

I can’t be the only one who has always thought about how interesting it’d be to be a sumo wrestler, am I? From Shounen Jump comes a new entry into the martial arts anime ring called Hinomaru Zumou, and boy does this one feel like it’s going to be fun to watch. Revolving around the life of Hinomaru Ushio (Abe Atsushi), someone who on the outside looks completely unfit to partake in the sport known as sumo, we get to see his rise to fame as he tries to claim the highest title a professional sumo wrestler can get.

It’s really tough to describe the feeling the source material gives off. Coming from Shounen Jump, you have your typical shounen elements of a simple but likable protagonist who has something that helps him stand above the rest. Except behind the simple guise of a show with protagonist who’s trying to “power up”, there’s this overwhelming sense of fun and silliness that shines through even when you have less important characters doing dumb things that would normally infuriate most people. It’s something that I think manages to work since the strongest part about Hinomaru Zumou is its characters and just how over-the-top they are without going into the realm of too unbelievable. On the adaptation side of things, it looks like the art style managed to stay faithful to the source by going with a slightly more realistic look. Besides that and a couple seiyuu announcements, there isn’t much else out there yet. All that said, if you’re looking for a fun to watch show that has memorable characters that’ll definitely leave a lasting impression on you, or if you’ve ever wondered just what the heck makes sumo such a popular sport, you won’t go wrong picking up Hinomaru Zumou.

Preview by Stilts

Hu Li (Kawanishi Kengo) is a poor high school boy who dreams of becoming a popular singer. And he has the voice to do it, but he has neither the good looks nor financial means to pursue said dream, so instead he becomes the ghost singer/songwriter for the popular and narcissistic male idol Kong Que (Suganuma Hisayoshi), who can barely sing, but boy is he pretty. Though the two don’t get along, together they challenge their rivals in their quest to claw their way to the top of the idol world. The title Voice of Fox comes from the fox mask Hu wears to hide the large facial scar he got in a traffic accident, as well as the screen name he uses to publish his music online, Mr. Fox.

This is an adaptation of a Chinese manhua, from a studio that’s only produced one other anime (Akkun to Kanojo) since 2010, by a staff that largely hasn’t been active since the early aughts as well, and featuring a cast of seiyuu I’m largely unfamiliar with. That, along with the key visuals looking dated and bland, doesn’t inspire confidence. I’m trying not to rag on this one, I’m totally ready for a manhua adaptation to actually be good, but this show just isn’t doing a lot to suggest itself. My kingdom for a promo video! Rumor has it each episode will only be 15 minutes long, so perhaps it will be good enough for small doses, and the premise isn’t without potential. I just haven’t seen anything that suggests Kitsune no Koe will break the track record of manhua adaptations.

Preview by Guardian Enzo

Watanabe Ayumu’s “other” baseball series from the spring season provided a perfect complement to the superb Major 2nd. Where that series is all about baseball as a game, Gurazeni is a deconstruction of it as a sport. Not so much the boys of summer as the men of locker rooms, izakayas and team buses. In that sense it reminds me of Giant Killing, another manga/anime that attempted to provide a comprehensive take on the experience of a professional sport (in that case, soccer).

I’m not surprised Gurazeni didn’t generate a huge following in the West – it’s not as though sports anime not ticketed for Comiket generally do anyway, but this may be the most “inside baseball” of all baseball anime (I almost fainted in joy at seeing “LOOGY” as a subtitle). It really helps if you love the small details about the game of baseball – the things that make it so quirky and unpredictable. But if they give this show a chance I think almost any viewer could grow very fond of Natsunosuke Bonda (Ochiai Fukushi), Gurazeni’s immensely likeable journeyman southpaw middle reliever protagonist. A star he isn’t and will never be, but no one is more aware of that than Bonda – and his hopes and dreams are extremely relatable as a result.

Preview by Pancakes

After losing her mother at a young age, second grader—and half Russian—Takanashi Misha (Shiraishi Haruka) moves in with her Japanese father in Japan. A total recluse with a stubborn streak of recalcitrance, Misha refuses in general to listen to anyone, including her father who, thanks to his work, barely has any time to spend with his daughter. All attempts by him at helping care for Misha by hiring housekeepers has failed in the face of her bellicose resistance, but that is only until Kamoi Tsubame (Numakura Manami), a former Air Self-Defense Force sergeant, takes on the task. Misha may be used to getting her way, but with Tsubame molded in the culture of rigid military life and sporting one voracious lolicon fetish to boot, this is one housekeeper little Misha is going to have a hell of a time dispensing with.

Before anyone asks, yes, Uchi no Maid is definitely a comedy. This story at its core is simple: Misha tries to avoid and/or disrupt Tsubame, the lolicon housekeeper upsets her ingenious plans, and hilarity ensues. Or in other words, your usual slice of life gag comedy with a smidgen of yuri flair. This simple setup shouldn’t discredit Uchi no Maid though; in terms of humour, the series is gut busting from the manga chapters I’ve read, with Tsubame’s hilarious (and often horrifying) antics acting as a perfect counter to Misha’s solidly tsundere attitude and her father’s deadpan obliviousness. Even the minimal fan service keeps with the crazy theme by going all in on Tsubame’s chiselled abs and the always mandatory bath time scenes. While adapted comedies can often wind up being hit or miss, considering Doga Kobo is handling animation and comedy master Oota Masahiko is doing director duty, expecting plenty of tear-inducing hilarity is a pretty good idea. Uchi no Maid may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re in need of a good laugh this season look no further than this.

Preview by Takaii

As someone who has been diving into some genres I normally wouldn’t in order to try to empathize more with my friends, let me say that I went into Dakaretai Otoko 1-i-ni Odosarete Imasu with a totally different mindset than I previously would have. For the uninitiated, this show is about two guys who are basically in a rat race with one another for the rank of number one in the modelling industry. That is, except the one who started out as rank one, Saijyo Takato (Takahashi Hiroki), goes a little too hard on the bottle after losing his position as number one, and the newcomer Azumaya Junta (Ono Yuuki) just so happens to catch him doing it and holds it over his head in order to blackmail Takato for physical affection.

Okay, so, while I may not be the best person to introduce a series like this, let me admit there’s a few things going for it. In typical BL fashion, you have two guys who have something that brings them together that establishes one as the clear top and the other as the clear bottom. There isn’t an overabundance of smut, which typically means the story won’t have to be changed up all that much when the material makes its leap into anime form. And last but not least, the staff behind the show has big names who’ve worked on shows like Nisekoi, Itsudatte Bokura no Koi wa 10 cm Datta., and Kuroshitsuji. All things considered, it sounds like a good enough combination of things to create a show that fans of the genre should enjoy. So if you’re looking to take a peek at a BL show that revolves around male models and the slightly darker side of that industry, give this one a peek!

Preview by Choya

Naples, 2001. A young man named Giorno Giovanna (Ono Kensho) is identified by the Speedwagon Foundation as having an enigmatic connection to the Joestar bloodline. Although he is a small-time thief with the dream of becoming a “Gang-Star”, his moral code goes against the harmful affairs that come with the mafia’s effects on his community. When he meets Bruno Buccellati (Nakamura Yuuichi), a Stand user from the gang Passione, they bond over ideals, influencing Bruno to help him reform Passione by allowing him to join the gang and overthrow the boss. With Giorno, Bruno, and his friends Guido Mista (Toriumi Kousuke), Pannacotta Fugo (Enoki Junya), Narancia Ghirga (Yamashita Daiki), and Leone Abbacchio (Suwabe Junichi), they plan to take on other squads with wavering loyalties, unpredictable caliber, and a mysterious boss who is as elusive as he is puzzling. With their respective Stands, they are all set to embark on a trip across Italy for le bizzarre avventure di GioGio.

Otherwise known as Vento Aureo or Golden Wind, Part V marks a positive turning point in Araki’s storytelling. Although Diamond is Unbreakable was the perfect balance of action, suspense, and drama as Josuke encountered Stand users and unearthed murder mysteries in his hometown, Part V is where Araki improved on Stardust Crusaders’ formula, creating a string of fight sequences that are complex, entertaining, and fun to follow. With a plethora of unique Stand abilities and tag team combinations, the solutions for life-or-death combat go beyond just knocking someone out, and the kill-or-be-killed nature of Passione results in fights with higher risks as the Stand users who survive must place their bodies on the line to come out on top. The creativity of many of the fights and Stand users ensures that the shift back to a combat-centric storyline is entertaining, pulse-pounding, and engaging. Combine that with the likable personalities of Giorno’s new crew, the quirky yet lethal villains they face, the funnier music references this time around, and the possibility of finding out how a certain Stand works, and you have another dynamite entry in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Arrivederci!

Preview by Pancakes

From the manga of the same name, Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet centres on the prestigious Dahlia Academy. Designed to educate the next generation of leaders, the academy is attended by students from the two rival nations of Touwakoku and Western Principality, with the animosity felt through their diplomacy carrying over into Dahlia’s daily function. The students of both states are largely segregated into two dorms, and while contact between them isn’t forbidden, quarreling and rivalry between them is the name of the game—except for Juliet Persia (Kayano Ai) and Inuzuka Romio (Oono Yuuki), the leaders of their respective dorms. Having fallen in love with each other and now having committed to dating, Romio and Juliet have to do everything in their power to keep their relationship secret, because if anyone discovers them, it’ll be more than their love which winds up on the line.

As a self-professed lover of more experimental romance series, KGJ is a prime example of what hooks me so hard. Why? Because this story at its core follows the usual romance script, except in one key area: no courting. Boy meets girl and spends 12-24 weeks (read: an eternity) actually closing the deal? Not in this drama love fest, as right from the get go Romio and Juliet (yes, KGJ is Shakespeare influenced) are already together, with the challenge here being actually keeping them together. It’s a surprisingly refreshing premise all things considered, and one the series utilizes to maximum effect, inserting shounen-inspired battles and similar forms of action to highlight the hilarious degree to which our couple must act to try and throw their friends off their scent. Of course, KGJ does retain certain staple romance tropes—i.e. competing love interests—but much like Busou Shoujo Machiavellism, the fun of the premise largely overshadows any conventionality. While KGJ may have its share of problems (particularly later in the story), should it stick close to the manga and avoid any rushing, it’s likely to be one fun and memorable romance ride.

Preview by Passerby

Nagasaki. Known for the unwelcome visit from a fat man back in the War. Nowadays Nagasaki is a vibrant port city, but more importantly it’s the setting of Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara, the newest original anime series courtesy of P.A. Works. In the Nagasaki of Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara, there are still people who practice magic. Not just illusions and sleights of hand, but honest to goodness magic, which still exists in small ways in that world. For example, we have Tsukishiro Hitomi (Ishihara Kaori), the 17-year-old scion of the Tsukishiro family. She would just be an average high school student if she wasn’t of an old family of magi, and the granddaughter of the great witch Kohaku (Hondo Kaede) herself. In truth, though, Hitomi has grown to hate magic. When Hitomi was young, magic cost her the ability to see colour, and since then she found her world dull and lost her zest for life. In an attempt to help her granddaughter, Kohaku uses magic to send Hitomi back in time, to meet with a 17-year-old Kohaku, hoping that she and her friends can help Hitomi find the magic again.

It feels like every season I preview a P.A. Works original, and every season I make fun of them for making Glasslip. A bit mean-spirited, perhaps, but you can tell where I would be coming from with this one, right? A slice-of-life/romance mixed of the supernatural, maybe a dash of time shenanigans. Yeah? The point is, even the most promising sounding shows can end up as flops, sometimes felled by their own ambition. But for every Glasslip, there’s a chance for a Nagi no Asukara, and for Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara that seems at least the closer pedigree. At least, that’s what I think of when I see a theme song by Yanagi Nagi and Shinohara Toshiya directing. Of course, it also matters a great deal who’s actually going to be writing an original anime like this, and on that front we also have good news; we have Kakihara Yuuko on series composition, and after a plum job on Tsuki ga Kirei we should be in good hands. On the visual front, it should go without saying; P.A. Works is on production, and from the little we’ve seen of Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara it looks to be a gorgeous show. So, basically, everything is good, right? While I also hesitate to get overexcited about original shows and cautionary tales abound, for Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara a bit of hype would not be amiss.

Preview by Passerby

More Phoenix Wright? More Phoenix Wright. Last time we were here, budding lawyer Naruhodou Ryuuichi aka Phoenix Wright (Kaji Yuuki) was thrust suddenly into the national spotlight after the murder of his mentor drags him into a world of conspiracy and intrigue where he must ferret out dastardly criminals while at the same time defending the innocent framed for their crimes. Now, after a modest career bluffing his way through impossible cases, Phoenix can consider himself a seasoned attorney, but the past will just not let go. The loose ends of his mentor’s old cases start to unravel. Said mentor’s sister and Phoenix’s assistant, Maya (Yuuki Aoi), is once again accused of murder. A new opponent with a taste for coffee (Hirata Hiroaka) steps up to the prosecutor’s bench. And Phoenix’s old flame suddenly re-emerges — despite rightfully being dead. Truly, these will be the greatest trials and tribulations Phoenix has had to face yet.

Gyakuten Saiban is better known as Ace Attorney in the West, but best known as ‘those Phoenix Wright games,’ where the titular lawyer collects clues, solves crimes, and battles prosecutors in biased courts. It’s part visual novel, part point-and-click adventure, and all fun, filled with vibrant characters and quirky humour that help offset the serious subject matter (invariably, murder). If you’re an actual lawyer it’ll drive you mad, but for laymen it made for thrilling legal drama full of twists and turns that should be a perfect fit for anime. But it’s never that easy, is it? Fine games though they may be, video games always seem so hard to adapt properly to a different medium. Anime has its own spotty record and, indeed, the first season of Gyakuten Saiban was decidedly mediocre. It wasn’t a bad show, per se, it simply did not reach the heights of its source and never really managed to impress. Unfortunately, this new season keeps the same staff as the first, so perhaps we can’t expect much better. At the same time though, it’s adapting the third game of the Phoenix Wright trilogy, arguably the best game of the series and definitely the most climactic. So perhaps there will be some extra resources for it, or perhaps some extra effort, but even failing all that it’ll have a strong story core to carry it forward. If you had no problem enjoying that first season, there’s nothing to worry about. We’re going to have the same, but better. As long as we go in with proper expectations, it should prove to be an entertaining watch.

Preview by Pancakes

Once upon a time the world was lush and peaceful, but everything changed when a race of monstrous creatures called the Nemesis descended from the sky to ruin everything. After the young and brash Seth (Hanamori Yumiri) witnesses his hometown—and own home—ravaged by the Nemeses, he vows revenge, swearing to find and destroy the land of Radiant where the Nemeses are thought to originate. Helped along by his Infection (a status borne by those few fortunate enough to have survived a Nemesis’ touch), Seth sets his sights on becoming a magician skilled in Nemesis extermination, but the training and life of one dedicated to hunting Nemeses isn’t easy. Between the harsh education and even stricter scrutiny of the Inquisition overseeing the war against the Nemeses, it will take everything Seth has to survive and see his mission of a world free from the Nemesis through.

Radiant is arguably one of the more interesting experiments for anime these days. This series is neither anime original nor Japanese, but rather a shounen-inspired French comic which found good success in the Japanese market. It’s not the first time Western franchises have seen anime adaptations, of course—i.e. Ninja Batman—but an originally non-English comic, and fantasy based at that? Definitely out of left field. The good (or bad) news though is that Radiant doesn’t stray too far from the well-trodden path, featuring all the tropes and ubiquitous character archetypes populating recent shounen works, but in a manner which runs more along the lines of D.Gray-man than Black Clover. Need a slightly deeper and more thematically complex Nanatsu no Taizai? You’re in the right place. While it’s unlikely Radiant will rival the likes of the Boku no Hero Academia juggernaut anytime soon, given it’s already scheduled for two cours under Lerche’s animating hand and Kishi Seiji’s good directorial skill, the series is certainly well set to start making its mark in one of anime’s most competitive fields.

Preview by Takaii

After a long break where both a spin-off and a movie aired, Sword Art Online makes its return this fall by kicking off the next big arc after Mother Roselia, commonly known as the Alicization Arc. For those out of the loop, Sword Art Online is a future-based earth where virtual reality has become a truly immersive experience. With advanced technology, Players are able to dive into a completely immersive virtual world where just about anything is possible. On the flip side there’s also strong AR or augmented reality technology that’s brought a majority of the virtual world into the real one by being able to paint over real life terrain and environments to simulate VR in the real world. Together, these advanced technologies have created various settings and situations where our main character Kirigaya “Kirito” Kazuto (Matsuoka Yoshitsugu) manages to find himself in some sort of shenanigans whenever any of the aforementioned technologies are involved. However, with this upcoming Alicization Arc it looks like things are taking a slightly different turn with a new type of full dive machine known as the STL and its ability to do things your typical full dive machine can’t.

As polarizing as this show can be, I will never refuse to admit that I’m a huge SAO fan. Be it ALFheim Online to Gun Gale Online Alternative, I’ll always accept the opportunity to consume media related to this IP. So you can only begin to imagine how excited I was when I was gently reminded that we have a 4-cour long new iteration coming up. When it comes to the actual content of the upcoming arc, I’ve seen various discussions talking about how Alicization can/will give the Mother’s Rosario arc a run for its money. Which, for anyone who’s watched the arc, should know it’s pretty high praise. That said, I have no intentions of spoiling myself since I’ll be there every single week with my eyes glued to the screen as we’ll be diving into Alicization together. But let me leave you with a few thoughts for uninitiated viewers since I’m fairly sure any veteran viewers will already know if they’re in or not. If you’re looking for a fun-to-watch show that manages to handle the whole idea of “power-fantasy” well and has enough varied material to change things up every now and then, you can’t go wrong giving SAO some of your time.

Preview by Passerby

Hibiki Yuuta (Hirose Yuuya) awakens. He doesn’t remember who he is. He doesn’t remember where he came from. But he can see things. Disturbing things, that nobody else seems able to see. Strange lights in the corner of his eye. Giant monsters on the horizon. And in the screen of his friend’s computer, a curious costumed warrior calling himself Gridman (Midorikawa Hikaru) tells Yuuta in a voice only he can hear that he must ‘remember his calling’. But of course, he can’t. He will soon, though, because Yuuta’s visions quickly stop being visions. A monster attacks. It seems unstoppable. But then, Gridman somehow transports Yuuta inside the computer, and manages to transform Yuuta into a physical version of Gridman, in which Yuuta can fight the monster. And he will have to fight. Yuuta still can’t recall what his calling is meant to be, but one thing’s for sure: the monsters will keep coming, and the only one who can stand up to them is Gridman.

Before there was SSSS.Gridman, there was Tsuburaya Productions’ Denkou Choujin Gridman. If you’re familiar with the live-action special-effects genre the Japanese call tokusatsu then you’d know how it goes. Kaijuu attack, costumed heroes grow big to fight them, and sometimes, Gojira. Perhaps you’ve even watched it, though more likely under the name of Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad (hence the ‘SSSS’) by which it was localised for the West. Now, Tsuburaya and Trigger are teaming up to bring us an animated version of Gridman. However, apparently SSSS.Gridman does not intend to be a reboot of the franchise; it seems what they’re going to do is plagiarise the ideas they liked from the tokusatsu shows and use them to spin a brand new anime property. From what we’ve seen so far it does seem that SSSS.Gridman will be heavily influenced by tokusatsu, even a love letter. Or it could just be an excuse for Trigger to experiment with 3D CGI animation. SSSS.Gridman will be director Amemiya Akira’s first full-length project, and in it he seems to play around with blending 2D and 3D animation. Most shows would stick with 2D monsters or 3D monsters, but SSSS Gridman mixes it up depending on the scene; it’s a technique that’s actually common, funnily enough, in idol anime. So at least visually it should be interesting enough. SSSS.Gridman could be a weathervane for the future of both anime and the tokusatsu, and it’s well worth giving it a look just to keep up with what’s going on.

Preview by Pancakes

At the edge of civilized land lies a frontier town home to the Guild, an adventurer’s cooperative handing out jobs—and fame—to anyone eager to take on its contracts. For one young and inexperienced Priestess (Ogura Yui) it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and as she joins her first party to begin her new adventuring life she expects the riches and rewards to quickly follow. If only. When Priestess’ first job ends in disaster with her entire party slaughtered by goblins, she escapes only with the timely appearance of the Goblin Slayer (Umehara Yuuichirou), an enigmatic adventurer who lives for one sole purpose: to kill goblins by any means necessary. Where did he come from, and what are the origins of his intense hatred? Priestess certainly doesn’t know, but when word of Goblin Slayer’s feats start circulating through the Guild community and new threats begin to appear, she’ll quickly find out just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Oh boy, do we have a fun one here. While synopsis and promotional art may make Goblin Slayer look like the next seasonal isekai contender, rest assured it is anything but. Oh is it ever. Besides being pure and unapologetic fantasy (no reincarnation shenanigans here), Goblin Slayer is best related to Berserk: the suffering is widespread, the gore is plentiful, and the edge is sharp enough to split baby hair. Murder, slaughter, excruciating death? All on vivid display as our goblin-hating badass goes through life on his self-imposed crusade. Needless to say one’s enjoyment of this will heavily depend on one’s love for all things grimdark, but if you ever need a break from the current isekai deluge, Goblin Slayer is it. While censoring will inevitably make or break things, given White Fox is animating and the show features both a strong staff and good cast, expecting something amazing is entirely within reason. We may not know how well it will work in practice until the first episode drops, but Goblin Slayer is without a doubt one show to pay some serious attention to this season.

Preview by Stilts

Release the Spyce is an original spy action thriller from the mind of Akame ga Kill and Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru original author Takahiro. It follows Minamoto Momo (Anzai Yukari), a girl who attends high school in the city of Sorasaki. She’s also a member of the secret organization Tsukikage, an intelligence agency which protects the peace of the city. As a new member, she works alongside her sempai Hanzoumon Yuki (Numakura Manami) and others to defeat the criminal organization known as Mohryou, which currently holds the city in its evil grasp.

While some people are claiming I’m only previewing this series so I can make Dune references—the spyce must flow!—the truth is it’s the Princess Principal vibe that got my attention. This appears to be firmly ensconced in the Hollywood action version of spy thrillers, which have almost nothing to do with how real spies operate but are so much stinking fun. The girls wear mini-skirts in the spy/ninja outfits, fer chrissakes! I love it. From the goofy school life scenes to the mascot animals to the explosive action, I’m all on board for a spy show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The biggest question is director Satou Akira, who has never held the top job before. Plus this is an original, which always entails a fair amount of uncertainty. Regardless, I’m excited for this one, which has all the hallmarks of a fun show. As we all know, he who controls the spyce controls the ani-verse, so let’s see if this show has what it takes.

Preview by Zaiden

Fairy Tail’s manga finished a year ago. However, the anime remains unfinished business and seeks to pick up where it last left off. A year after the Fairy Tail guild disbanded, following the disappearance of guild master Makarov Dreyar, Lucy Heartfilia (Hirano Aya) became an intern for the Sorceror Magazine. However, the bonds she had with everyone forces her to endlessly question the fate of her missing friends. So she tirelessly pursues information that will give her any kind of lead regarding their whereabouts – to no avail. But as luck would have it, the Grand Magic Games take place and reward her efforts. A mysterious stranger gatecrashes the tournament and single-handedly defeats all the participating guilds, before revealing he’s in fact Natsu (Kakihara Tetsuya)! After a tumultuous and joyful reunion, Natsu, Lucy and Happy set off on a new adventure, in the hopes they might rediscover lost friends and ultimately revive their beloved guild.

From what we know, Mashima-sensei has announced this will be the final season to wrap up everything that’s left of the manga’s story. With the previous instalment having left off partway into the Avatar arc, the penultimate one to boot, it makes sense that we’re heading down the final stretch. As with most big shounen serialisations, I felt that Fairy Tail’s story tapered off towards the end. But that won’t stop it from making one last harrumph in the name of friendship – a power which no other thing can exceed. The usual folks are in charge of this venture, with the series retaining the same director in Ishihara Shinji, series composer in Sogo Masashi and music coordinator in Hata Shouji ’til the very end. This more or less ensures we will be getting much the same in terms of what we got before. So expect Fairy Tail to be fun and magical like it always has been, and we can certainly hope it will deliver an outstanding finale!

Preview by Pancakes

In the early 15th Century at the height of the Hundred Years War, France is under siege. Henry V, after victory at Agincourt, forces a treaty out of the mad Charles VI, positioning Henry’s sons as heirs to the French throne, all the while continuing the conquest of France’s vassal states. In this chaos the young Frenchman Montmorency (Osaka Ryota) had hoped to become a registered alchemist, but after Paris is occupied and his royal school is closed down, this nobleman’s son is left with nothing but a warrant to his name charging him with using black magic. With few places to run and even fewer friends to turn to, Montmorency makes for the countryside for a chance at survival, but it is here he finds the most unlikely source of salvation. In a small village at the edge of the fighting is a young shepherd named Jehanne (Oono Yuuko), and Montmorency’s chance meeting with her will do more for his situation—and France’s—than he ever thought possible.

Let’s get the obvious out the way: Ulysses is not going to be setting any records for historical realism. The light novel series might broadly follow the history of the Hundred Years War, as shown by the synopsis, and feature some of its most iconic figures—i.e. Jeanne d’Arc—but beyond first impressions this one is firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy. There is magic and sapient fairies are featured, and if the promotional art wasn’t a give-away, oh yes there is fan service too. And plenty of it. Like the similarly themed Junketsu no Maria, Ulysses firmly embraces the idea of artistic liberty, but whether it can match up to the former’s surprising quality and charm remains to be seen. Considering Berserk 2016’s divisive Itagaki Shin is directing, Ulysses has quite a bit to prove before it can aspire to greatness, but should its fantasy flair properly complement its historical base, this series could certainly turn into one of this season’s more entertaining adventure-esque shows.

Preview by Stilts

Anima Yell! stars Hatoya Kohane (Ozaki Yuka), an absolute airhead of a high school girl who loves to be helpful to others. Right before she enters high school, she becomes fascinated with cheerleading, and decides to join her school’s Cheer Club. Only, there isn’t one! So she sets out to start one, with her childhood friend (and resident tsukkomi) Sawatari Uki (Izawa Mikako) and the overly-serious cheerleading veteran Arima Hizume (Yamada Yuina) as her first recruitment targets.

This is a cute-girls-doing-cute-things anime by Doga Kobo. And that should tell you all you need to know, because while I don’t put a great deal of stock in the studio (they’re often simply corporate vessels into which are poured staff of varying quality), Doga Kobo has built a culture that knows how to turn a 4-koma source material into solid CGDCT anime. It’s cheerleading this time, which means the cute is going to be easy to come by. I checked out the manga, and the main character is doofy in an adorable (and so far not annoying) way, while the others have their own quirks that feed into the comedy. I do question what a cheerleading anime will actually be about once the club is formed, but this is a comedy anime. It doesn’t need to be about much. And even if it falters down the stretch, there should be enough to get one good season of anime out of it. I’m expecting this to be exactly what it seems, so if you need a relaxing cute-girls-doing-cute-things anime in your life, Anima Yell! has you covered.

Preview by Choya

When it comes to working in a bookstore, there are no bones about it. That’s the lesson that Honda (Saitou Souma) knows all too well in Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-San. The titular character is a skeleton who finds himself working at the bookstore’s manga counter. Hilarity ensues when he is confronted with obstacles a skeleton often faces when trying to make an honest living behind a cash register. He is not alone, however as he is accompanied by other oddities and skeletons who help him pass the time as he makes ends meet at the bookstore.

This adaptation came from humble beginnings as a manga on the pixiv comic site, but the spotlight it’s getting now with a new anime on the horizon aims to catapult it to new heights the likes of which a skeleton hasn’t seen in a while. The manga’s creator, Honda, shares his skeleton counterpart’s sense of humor as his skeleton-related jokes permeate into the promotional material. With the premise already offering up fodder for great jokes tied toward Honda’s skeletal anatomy, the anime is bound to provide fans of spooky scary skeletons material that will tickle their funny bones during the Fall festivities.

Preview by Passerby

Over 100,000 soldiers died in the Russo-Japanese war. But not Sugimoto Saichi (Kobayashi Chikahiro). His ferocity in combat and willingness to go to extremes to survive earned him the sobriquet ‘Immortal Sugimoto’. Unfortunately, his comrades didn’t share his preternatural constitution, and after the war Sugimoto takes it upon himself to honour a promise to a slain friend to take care of his widow. For that he will need lots of money, and coincidentally Sugimoto comes across a story of hidden treasure. Apparently, the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido had hoarded a great trove of gold in preparation for a war against the Japanese, only to have the gold’s keepers murdered and the gold stolen. An Ainu girl named Asirpa (Shiraishi Haruka) corroborates the story, and the two set out on a journey to both avenge Asirpa’s father (presumed killed), and to find the gold, its location lost after the murderer was imprisoned. But they are not the only ones. A group of disgruntled soldiers seeks the treasure to fund a coup de tat, and a relic of the Shinsengumi wants to use it to overthrow the post-Restoration government. And perhaps all that glitters is not gold; there is a reason why the Ainu consider the gold to be cursed, and perhaps the great wealth will not prove to be great fortune.

If we’re being honest, there’s not much reason to preview this second season of Golden Kamuy. The first season ended not long ago, and it didn’t end so much as stop. So this is not so much a sequel as a continuation; all the staff are back, we’re going to pick up where we left off, and if you watched the first season you’ll want to watch the second. So, rather than previewing, let me try to sell you on why you might want to go back and watch Golden Kamuy. If you’re an anime fan, and a RandomC reader to boot, you probably have some interest in Japanese culture. Golden Kamuy is nothing if not cultural. It’s a period piece that fully engages with its setting, and of particular interest is its exploration of the Ainu people. Watching it, one can tell there’s a good deal of research behind it, or at least enough to require an ‘Ainu Language Supervisor’ on the payroll! Japan’s indigenous population is not a topic that comes up often in anime (a bit of a touchy past, as I’m sure folks living in the colonies like me will understand), and is one perhaps even Japanese viewers will be unfamiliar with. But if you don’t go for the highbrow stuff, Golden Kamuy will still serve as a gritty adventure story that, while never being the best looking show, still has plenty of hardened badasses doing violence on each other. Both educational and entertaining, if you’re looking for value from your anime time, Golden Kamuy is an excellent deal.

Preview by Zaiden

There was once a man named Kenshiro, who was famed for saying ‘Omae wa mou shindeiru‘. If we delve into the specifics of things, we can trace everything back to his namesake: Kasumi Kenshiro (Yamadera Kouichi). Known as ‘The King of Death’, Kenshiro Senior roams the streets of 1930s Shanghai, poking down any villains who dare to cross his path. This became a frequent occurrence, since a power struggle is playing out between various factions in Shanghai, each seeking to carve out their own brand of laws and ways of governance. As the 62nd successor of the Hokuto Shinken, Kasumi Kenshiro will restore peace and justice to his troubled locality.

Continuing from where the first cour left off, Souten no Ken REGENESIS carries on with the story of Kenshiro Kasumi (a.k.a. Yan Wang). There isn’t much to divulge about this series that my first cour preview hasn’t covered. However, I can only say this: I wouldn’t recommend Souten no Ken REGENESIS as an entryway into the franchise, considering it starts off in the middle of the final arc, bypassing 90% of the series. As for why, the director views REGENESIS as a continuation from the 2000s series which went on a permanent hiatus before it could finish. So if you are new to the franchise, go and read the glorious manga – I can vouch that it’s incredibly good! And even if you are familiar with the story, it could be preferable to go back and read the manga. While the manga’s art looks dated, the 3D CGI is a cantankerous sight that might induce damage your vision. My advice? Unless you’re the most avid of Hokuto Shinken fans, avoid this adaptation like the plague.

Preview by Zephyr

Led once again by Studio Pierrot, Tokyo Ghoul:re returns for its second season, continuing a story about man-eating beings known as ghouls. Indistinguishable from humans, they blend into society and hunt humans for food. In response, the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG) is formed to investigate and exterminate the threat. In an attempt to turn the tide against a group of ghouls calling themselves Aogiri Tree, a group of humans are implanted with parts that allow them to use ghoul abilities. Known as the Quinx Squad, they are led by a half-human, half-ghoul named Sasaki Haise (Hanae Natsuki). As various events cause Haise to slowly regain the memories he lost prior to joining CCG, Haise finds himself caught in a dilemma as he realizes the recovery of his memories could spell the end of his peaceful life with the squad. Mikasano Chuji will return for series composition and Watanabe Odahiro as director.

When you get down to it, :re’s first season was a mixed bag. On one hand, you had an adaptation that ignored any of the changes √A made to the story line while remaining generally faithful to the source material. Unfortunately, this was overshadowed by dreadful drops in animation quality, and the pacing was affected by a clear attempt to end the first season at a specific point in the story. The fact that they ended things there combined with a multiple month wait left a bitter aftertaste, and what we received in return was a series that was better than √A but falls short of the original Tokyo Ghoul. I’d love to say this second season is where the series will truly shine (multiple twists work their way into the story and things really get rolling in the source material), but Pierrot’s handling of things doesn’t inspire confidence, and tweets hinting that the second season will culminate the series only makes things worse given how many more chapters they’d have to adapt if they try to fit everything into another single cour run. I’d watch this just to see some of the series’ best moments animated, but it’s likely that many viewers will have to turn to reading the source to experience the series as it was meant to be.

Preview by Passerby

Yuuge Itsuki (Ono Yuuki) was just your average high school student, and he almost made it through his entire school term as one. Alas, he’s also an anime protagonist, so on the day of his graduation he receives shocking news: his cousin, Konatsuki Mahiru (Katou Emiri), tells him she’s pregnant. He doesn’t know why. She doesn’t know why. An immaculate conception? Who would believe that? But at that moment, a gate to another world opens out of nowhere and the two are summoned to the land of Granvania, where they are called upon to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Granvania is currently gripped by darkness, with ‘impurities’ spawning monsters that terrorise the populace. Only 12 ‘Star Maidens’, each styled after a constellation of the zodiac, can cleanse these impurities, and Mahiru is one of them. Itsuki’s fate is to find the other 11 Star Maidens and combine his supernatural energies with theirs in a sacred ritual to create ‘Star Children’, diminutive warrior spirits with the power to fight monsters.

The original Conception game was, ahem, conceived at around the time the PS2 Persona games were spiking in popularity. At that time a bunch of industry executives must have decided Persona was the future of JRPGs, because they spawned a wave of second-rate bandwagoners, and Conception was one of them. So if you’re familiar with the Persona games you probably have a pretty good idea of Conception already; it’s part dungeon crawler, part visual novel, and part dating sim, though much more dating sim than anything else. You woo women, build a harem, engage in PG-13 babymaking, i.e. it’s, ahem, conceptually not too different from the other isekai wish-fulfillment fantasies already on the market. I’m not sure exactly what about Conception compelled this anime adaptation, but, surprisingly, it actually sounds legit. Motonaga Keitarou has a fairly respectable record as director, as does Kakihara Yuuko on scripts. That’s still no guarantee of Conception’s quality, but perhaps it’ll at least raise the floor. Plus, the original Conception game never made it over to the West, so if you’re interested in it at all this anime adaptation may be the easiest way to experience it.

Preview by Stilts

Nagami Suzuka (Kondou Reina) is a beautiful third-year middle school student with excellent grades who’s also the student council president. She’s also an effortless super imouto, the kind of serious little sister who does all the cooking, cleaning, and basically everything else for her older brother, Nagami Yuu (Hatanaka Tasuku), a light novel fanatic who wishes to become a light novel author himself. Suzuka is pretty aloof to ol’ Yuu, and the two don’t get along particularly well. That’s why it’s surprising that it was Suzuka who wrote a light novel about a little sister who dotes on her older brother, and for that novel to win a light novel award. After they discuss the matter, it’s decided that Yuu will be the one who debuts as a (proxy) light novel author instead of Suzuka, under the pen name Chikai Towano.

This is your regularly scheduled light novel imouto thing. The little sister is perfect but secretly a lot nerdier than she seems; the big brother is exactly as nerdy as he seems, but is secretly more dependable than he first appears. Also, the little sister is a total brocon. The end result is (inevitably) that the two will grow closer together as they navigate the unique circumstances brought about by the little sister’s not-so-secret crush on her older brother. Not that these things can’t be fun, I just don’t expect this to rise above its genre, since its premise is so well trodden. The promo video does look decent though, so we can probably expect some solid animation, and the two leads seem likable at first blush. To me it will all pivot on how much humor comes from the big brother’s personality, and I get the sense he’s open about his nerdery and just shameless enough to really get a rise out of his overly-serious (usually) imouto. That could be fun, so if you’re up for some light novel-style imouto antics, ImoImo is the show for you.

Preview by Stilts

Beelzebub (Oonishi Saori), the formidable right-hand of Satan who rules over millions of demons in her lord’s absence, commands fear and respect throughout the demon world of Pandemonium. Mullin (Yasuda Rikuya) idolizes Beelzebub, and so decides to serve as her attendant. Only it turns out the great Beelzebub is a laid-back airhead with a love for all things fluffy and adorable, though she may enjoy teasing her new attendant even more than that. Thus begins the daily-life comedy about a cute, silly demon lord and her tsundere attendant.

The manga for Beelzebub-jou no Okinimesu mama. is a lot of fun. Beelzebub is a superb airhead, and her pursuit of flufficity knows no bounds. Seeing her tease Mullin is a constant delight, especially since Mullin is that rare male tsundere who can go from blushing like a maiden to doing an inadvertent kabedon (wall slam) that can make even a demon lord blush. It’s a delight! What remains is how well this translates into anime. The staff is all pretty light on experience, and the promo videos don’t have the uber fluffy animation I was hoping for. The seiyuu cast is damn fine though, so if they can nail the comedic timing, that might be all that’s needed to make this a success. I can vouch for the source material, so if a flirty comedy between an airheaded demon lord and her tsundere attendant sounds fun to you, give it a whirl. Hopefully the anime can live up to its charming source material.

Preview by Choya

Saiga Masaru (Ueda Chihiro) is a fifth grader who dreams of being a puppeteer. He inherits 18 billion yen after his father, the CEO of a home telephone company, passes away. His newly inherited wealth makes him the target of hitmen and thieves out to steal from him, but he is saved by two people, Katou Narumi (Koyama Rikiya) and Saiga Shirogane (Hayashibara Megumi). Narumi is knowledgeable in Kung-Fu and has a weird illness named “Zonapha Syndrome,” while Shirogane controls the puppet Arurukan, or Harlequin. Together, the three are thrown into multiple situations where they must fight their way out of the traps set for them by those conspiring to steal Masaru’s inheritance.

Creator Fujita Kazuhiro has recently seen his previous manga Ushio & Tora reach new success with its recent adaptation, so fans are bound to enjoy what’s to come from a new anime based around his more recent work. Its supernatural trappings bring a sense of wonderment and fascination to the premise of Karakuri Circus, as the three learn more about the Saiga family, the automation that gives power to the puppeteers, and the Zonapha Syndrome that Narumi lives with. Additionally, its roots in action and mystery add some flair to the fantastical elements as the three navigate to find their way out of the clutches of the more nefarious members of Saiga’s family that want to rob and/or kill Masaru. The original series ran from 1997 to 2006, so the anime has 36 episodes preplanned to tell its story. With this in mind, Karakuri Circus is shaping up to be a solid anime with the foundational material needed to do justice to its source material.

Preview by Choya

This fantasy anime is set in a world where humans and monsters co-exist. The main story in this smartphone game adaptation involves Yujutsushi (Tamura Mutsumi), otherwise known as Yuu, who is a healer apprentice with the ability to tame monsters. After finding a girl named Merc (Minase Inori) trapped in a bottle, Yuu goes on a journey across several countries to restore her memories. Each country has significance as different events expand the plot to create a web of lore-expanding material to learn about the nations, magic, and properties within Yuu’s world as he seeks out Merc’s memories.

As with many recent anime adaptations, Merc Storia is derived from a game that launched for iOS and Android devices. While some smartphone stories have paper thin premises as a means to make it accessible for anyone who wants to throw down on some quick gaming, this series aims to flesh out its world and lore further through the many countries that Yuu visits in his travels. Each destination on his map isn’t only to restore Merc’s memories, but also to offer audiences more information on the world surrounding him. With each nation holding some significance to Yuu and Merc, the anime intends to bring these worlds to life and breathe fresh air into the settings that surround them. With a staff that is highly experienced in adapting phone games, fans of the game will be delighted to see how the anime is able to do justice to the magic and wonderment of the terrain that Yuu traverses.

Preview by Choya

The story of Senran Kagura focuses on Asuka (Harada Hitomi), a girl who happens to be a part of the Hanzo Academy for ninjas. Along the way she gets to know her friends at the academy, and also gets involved with the school’s rivalry with Hebijo Academy. The rivalry is mended after the events of the first serason as Hebijo’s Homura (Kitamura Eri) starts to form a bond with Asuka, and eventually defects from Hebijo to form her own squad. This new season continues Asuka’s story as she encounters Gessen Girls’ Academy, who find the unprincipled manner of Asuka and her friends to be unbecoming of a ninja. Lead by Yumi (Hara Yumi), a girl who seems icy on the surface but is actually cute and easily flustered around her friends, Gessen aims to shake things up as they teach Hanzo what it means to be disciplined. Yumi’s relationship with Fubuki (Asumi Kana) will also be revealed as we learn about what exactly their connection is.

Senran Kagura is a series that always finds itself in awkward positions. For the most part, it prides itself on fanservice, celebrating both life and hometown on handhelds, home consoles, PCs, and television. But once you start getting into the game’s stories, at least with the 3DS releases, the veil is lifted and you are able to see a much deeper story that goes beyond its eroticism, outfits, and physics. Although its hard to tell where this season is starting off since Yumi doesn’t show up until the PS Vita and PS4 games, and the first season covered the first 3DS title, the anime is promising much of the game’s former attributes, with the appeal being about unearthing Yumi and Fubuki’s bond and giving audiences some of the best fanservice that TV anime can offer (without getting in trouble). The game’s famed designer Takaki Kenichiro has his input as one of the anime’s producers, ensuring that viewers won’t be disappointed as we see the game’s characters fleshed out in more ways than one.

Preview by Zaiden

When an archer perfects his technique and his bow is pure of heart, the soul of the arrow is released, producing a beautiful resonance. In Japanese, there is a specific word for this sound – ‘tsurune‘. And it has a beautiful secondary meaning; the expression of truth. Namely that the proficiency of an archer as well as the quality of their shot can be ascertained through the truth of their bowstring. Narumiya Minato (Uemura Yuuto) was a prodigious archer throughout his youth, yet an incident in middle school made him turn away from the sport. However, a turn of events in high school causes him to reconsider. And thus, with a reinvigorated soul, he picks up the bow once again.

Tsurune and Free! seem to be conceived along similar lines, given how they’re both about a group of boys partaking in competitive sports together. That said, I think the PVs have brought up interesting implications that deserve attention. You could non-ironically say KyoAni are following through with the recent ASMR fad, and that bishounens are thrown into the mix. Criticise KyoAni all you want, but they sure know how to please their target demographic! At least I got the impression that KyoAni were emphasising sound over visuals, in what could be described as a natural succession from Hibike Euphonium. Though I would continue to distinguish these two shows, because the endeavours of a full-on orchestra cannot be compared to the mere twang of a bowstring. That said, I have to admit that the twang of the bowstring we heard in the trailer was extremely crisp and immaculate – borderline eargasmic! Perhaps this experimental deviation into sounds while maintaining stellar visuals can be explained by the new blood involved in Tsurune’s production. Yamamura Takuya is from Animation Do, and this will be the first anime project he presides over. Meanwhile, Yokote Michiko will be in charge of the series composition, but her portfolio looks like a coin flip at best, maybe inclined towards mediocrity. Hopefully our rookie director and his fellow staff can step up big time. Otherwise, we’ll have to hope the strength of the premise will be enough to see this adaptation through.

Preview by Choya

A gritty story about persevering in this high stakes game we call life. Bren Parker (Migo Adecer) was inches away from stardom in his favorite game of basketball when tragedy struck his family. He sets his dream aside, vowing never to play basketball again, when he goes on a journey to the Philippines to find his way back to himself and his passion. While he’s in Manilla, he comes across legendary basketball coach, Coach B (John Arcilla), who demands justice for his son’s death, and is using the game that took his son from him to find the culprits and take down the syndicate that killed him. To gain his vengeance, however, he needs a captain to lead his ragtag team of players to victory. Connected in their mutual tragedy surrounding basketball, Bren agrees to be the leader of Coach B’s basketball team in pursuit of peace, forgiveness, love, redemption, and justice.

As a massive media project from the Philippines, TV Asahi is collaborating with Filipino game developer Synergy88 in bringing Barangay 143 to life. It’s a highly ambitious project with this anime and a webcomic series in the works after a smartphone game tied to the project launched last year. Most multi-media ventures from abroad in current years have tended to be either collaborations with staff from other foreign production companies or shows which acted as tie-ins for preexisting material, and while this series has a phone game released, its story shows far more ambition. Creating a gritty crime story with basketball as the backbone of the main characters’ pursuit for truth and justice is a concept that stands out. It will be interesting to see how its roots in Filipino culture and production lend itself to the direction that TV Asahi is helping to capture to its fullest. With plans to extend its reach outside of the Philippines and Japan, seeing how far it goes will be intriguing.

Preview by Pancakes

While the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2013 was a major breakthrough for CERN, in its shadow a more secretive project was taking place: the investigation of Exotic Matter. Believed to have existed since prehistoric times, Exotic Matter directly interfaces with the human brain, capable of influencing not only individual minds, but the progress of entire societies and civilizations. Its discovery unleashed a monumental struggle between states and corporations, each determined to harness the power of Exotic Matter for their own purposes, although all falling largely into two groups: the Enlightened who seek to use the matter to enhance humanity as a whole, and the Resistance who view it as little more than a hostile subjugation of free will. Now, in the modern year, in Tokyo and across the entire globe, these various forces will collide as the debate on the future of mankind and the purpose of Exotic Matter is settled once and for all.

If you were part of the Pokemon Go craze back in 2016, you might have heard of Ingress. Before Niantic hit liquid Pokemon gold it developed a similar experience with Ingress, another augmented reality game which played in real time in the real world through an app on your phone. Ingress never reached the same lofty heights as its younger sibling, but with a 2018 game revamp ready to roll out, nothing says day one advertisement like an anime series, so here we are. As with all game adaptations of late, it’ll be a crapshoot of what quality of a product we’ll wind up with (particularly with full 3D CGI animation on order), but considering Niantic is producing and Netflix is directly involved—and we all know the power of that Netflix dosh—expecting quality along the lines of B: The Beginning seems reasonable. While it would be wise to hedge any bets here, should Ingress properly capitalize on its interesting, thriller-esque premise, it could very well become this season’s top sci-fi hitter.

Preview by Stilts

Square Enix’s mobile card battle, virtual reality, arcade, and MMORPG Million Arthur franchise is finally making its anime debut! What? You aren’t familiar with the Million Arthur franchise? It’s that venerated (since 2012) video game series about the King Arthur myth in Japan, where players get to choose from one of many Arthurs to play. (Why does this sound familiar…) That will be true of the anime as well, as it headlines six different Arthurs: Dancho Arthur (Amamiya Sora), Tekken Arthur (Kakihara Tetsuya), Yamaneko Arthur (Taketatsu Ayana), Renkin Arthur (Minase Inori), Kakka Arthur (Hanae Natsuki), and Rurou Arthur (Nakamura Yuuichi), each of which has pulled Excalibur out of the stone, which rather did a number to the time/history stream. Now these various Arthurs—some use swords, some use guns, some punch real good, some are lolis—are all trying to guide history down the right path in order to defend the future. Possibly fantasy RPG-style action will ensue. We can only hope.

This is an adaptation of a video game franchise, which triggers alarm bells for most people. As it should! Video game adaptations have a … fraught track record. Where games can make up for flat characters and shifty plotting by being interactive and fun to play—save for visual novels, a genre no Million Arthur iteration belongs to so far—anime has no such luck. It’s like the Assassin’s Creed games (fun stabby action) versus the Assassin’s Creed movie (a joyless slog). Will that be the case with Million Arthur? …I mean, probably. There are no trailers released as of this writing, but the premise is overly complex, the character designs look merely okay, and the staff doesn’t give me a lot of optimism. It could always buck the trend, but I would be surprised. Check it out if something tickles your fancy, or if you just need to fulfill your quota of blonde women screaming about Excalibur in fluent Japanese. I may do the same, but it will depend entirely on how bored I am the day it comes out, because as someone who’s not in the market for a Japanese-language mobile MMORPG, I don’t think this anime has much to say to me. My Fate/Grand Order-playing friends, on the other hand…

Preview by Pancakes

In 1476 the small country of Wallachia is under siege. Count Dracula (Uchida Naoya), enraged over the wrongful execution of his wife for witchcraft, has declared war on the people, promising to eradicate everyone as atonement for their sins against one of his own. As Dracula’s legions of demons and monsters overrun the countryside and terrorize Wallachia’s few urban centres, the disgraced vampire hunter Trevor Belmont (Okiayu Ryotaru) winds up caught in the middle of the chaos. With his family blamed by the people for Dracula’s wrath, and feared by the church for his power, Trevor is content stay to out of things, but a chance meeting with a young mage named, Sypha (Shimoyamada Ayaka), soon forces his hand. With demons all around and a mage now his unlikely sidekick, Trevor has no choice but to face off against the very monster he hoped he could avoid for good.

As one of Konami’s most iconic franchises, Castlevania needs little introduction. These widely played games helped define platform gaming, taking simple but well-thought-out stories on the Belmont family’s perpetual fight against Dracula and pairing them with fantastic console gameplay. Why it took so long to see the franchise adapted is anyone’s guess (*cough* production hell), but when Netflix came out with a four episode “season” for Castlevania III last year, it certainly lived up to expectations. While script and animation weren’t as perfect as Netflix money more recently would lend one to believe, Castlevania featured some impressive fight sequences and voice acting with hints of greater things to come. The good news is this season should fulfill those hopes, as with eight episodes to work with and introductions largely finished, there’s nothing but action from here on out as Trevor and friends make their way to Dracula. Absolute perfection shouldn’t be expected given the first season’s quirks, but as pure popcorn entertainment Castlevania is very unlikely to do any wrong. It might not be “true” anime, but if you’ve got a thing for vampires or gritty action, Castlevania definitely deserves a watch. You won’t be disappointed.