Fall 2007 Preview!

With October finally here, the new fall season is set to begin with a lot of promising shows including a new Gundam and a new Da Capo. As usual, I’ll watch the first episode of most shows within certain parameters (in other words, not the kiddie shows), and what I list here are the chances of me actually blogging something based on my initial impressions from promotional material. However, even if I list the chances for a show as good or guaranteed, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll stick with it for more than a few episodes.

By no means does this list reflect every single anime series that is going to be aired, though I did try to be as comprehensive as I could. Check out MOON PHASE for an entire listing, syoboi’s calendar for specific air-times, and AndrewLB’s Fall 2007 Wiki for who’s tentatively subbing what.

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

Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun
http://pc.webnt.jp/ninomiya/
Premieres October 3rd, 2007
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Thursdays at 27:13
Airtime in U.S. (EDT, GMT-4): Thursdays at 14:13
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, syoboi
The title character here finds himself – thanks to his own sister – living with a pair of siblings who are incubus and succubus, and it turns out that the succubus is afraid of men, so the main character has been chosen to help her get over it. But that’s not all! The rich and popular student council president is also his live-in maid. The whole succubus aspect sounds like it could have potential, but having not read the light novel that this is based on, I can’t vouch for how good the story is since at first glance it sounds rather haremish.
Note: This is premiering on a Wednesday, but normal weekly first airings are on Thursdays on a different channel.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
http://www.gundam00.net/
Premieres October 6th, 2007
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Saturdays at 9:30
Airtime in U.S. (EDT, GMT-4): Saturdays at 20:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, syoboi
The newest title in the Gundam franchise is about a group that wants to stop war on Earth, and they have (in a bit of an ironic twist) the power of four Gundams piloted by Gundam Meisters. It feels like it’s been way too long since I’ve watched a Gundam series, and since this isn’t taking place in the Cosmic Era, there’s no reason for me not to be excited about it. The promos have thus far shown lots of action, and I look forward to seeing how popular director Mizushima Seiji influences the show. It should be also noted that although this series totals a year’s worth of episodes, half of it is going to be shown in the next two seasons, and the other half will be reserved for a later date. Popular speculation right now is that CODE GEASS will replace Gundam 00 in the spring of 2008 before Gundam 00 comes back in the fall.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Guaranteed

Note: This is a rather long and fairly comprehensive list of the shows coming in October. Much much more after the jump, including the torrent link for promotional material.

Summer 2007 Preview!

We’re now just two weeks away from the new season, so it’s time for another preview! This summer is filled with plenty of new adaptations along with several sequels including fan favorites Zero no Tsukaima and Higurashi. In fact, I think the only new show this season that is not based on a manga, game, novel, or previous anime is CODE-E. Anyway, before we get started, a few notes. As usual, I’ll watch the first episode of most shows within certain parameters (in other words, not the kiddie shows), and what I list here are the chances of me actually blogging something based on my initial impressions from promotional material. However, even if I list the chances for a show as good or guaranteed, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll stick with it for more than a few episodes.

By no means does this list reflect all of the anime that are going to be aired, though I did try to be as comprehensive as I could. Check out MOON PHASE for an entire listing, syoboi’s calendar for specific air-times, and AndrewLB’s Summer 2007 Wiki for who’s tentatively subbing what.

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

Moetan
http://www.ink-chan.com/
Premieres July 8th, 2007
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Sundays at 25:30
Airtime in U.S. (EDT, GMT-4): Sundays at 12:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, syoboi
Moetan was originally an English language study aid aimed at teaching otaku by using game and animated related phrases. It included gems like “When I fell in love with the her, I thought that the girl was my stepsister. I bet if I had known she was my real sister, I would not have fallen in love with her.” and “My friend found the picture I was hiding, so I tricked him by saying I have a sister that is a primary school student” and “All guys who like small breasts have large ones themselves.” Of course, there’s no guarantee that phrases like those are going to make it into the anime, but I think this show has the potential to be hilarious in so many different ways if executed correctly. Popular voice actress Tamura Yukari will be taking the lead role, and I’ve heard her English isn’t that bad, so I’m quite excited to see this.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Guaranteed
Baccano!
http://www.baccano.jp/
Premieres July 26th, 2007
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Thursdays at 24:30
Airtime in U.S. (EDT, GMT-4): Thursdays at 11:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo, syoboi
Baccano! is a show that intrigues me quite a bit because it has such a wide and diverse cast of characters. Although the back-story involves a group of alchemists who received a liquor of immortality from a demon in the 1700s, the main story takes place in America in the 1930s during Prohibition and involves those alchemists along with mobsters, thieves, terrorists, delinquents, murderers, and even a ghost. Having such a large cast probably wouldn’t work so well for a short series, but if this manages to be longer than 13 episodes, I think it could be a lot of fun. The trailer certainly had plenty of energy and music, and interestingly enough, several of the key staff positions (director, character designer, series planner, sound director, and music composer) all worked together in the past on Koi Kaze. In any case, I’m looking forward to this quite a bit.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Good

Note: This is a rather long and fairly comprehensive list of the shows coming in July. Much much more after the jump, including the torrent link for promotional material.

Winter 2007 Preview!

Though there may not be much going on this and next week as we celebrate the new year, things will get busy again once the Winter 2007 season kicks off. Before we get started on all the upcoming shows, a few notes. I am once again not specifically saying what I am and am not going to watch. As usual, I’ll watch the first episode of almost every show within certain parameters (in other words, probably not the kiddie shows like Pokémon or Pretty Cure). What I will say is what the odds are of me blogging a show. However, even if chances are good that I’ll blog the first episode of a series, that doesn’t mean I’ll stick with it for more than that. Certain days of the week – Thursdays and Saturdays – have always had too many interesting shows, and I have to ultimately make a decision on what to follow and what not to. Because I have so many shows that are continuing from the fall, there can only be so many new series that I can afford the time to pick up.

By no means does this list reflect all of the anime that are going to be aired, though I did try to be as comprehensive as I could. Check out MOON PHASE for an entire listing, syoboi’s calendar for specific air-times, and AndrewLB’s Winter 2006/2007 Wiki for who’s tentatively subbing what.

Kyoushirou to Towa no Sora
http://www.kyoshiro-sora.net/
Premieres January 5th, 2007
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Fridays at 13:30
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Thursdays at 23:30
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo
You may remember me talking about it earlier this month and the Kannazuki no Miko connections that it has. That alone is enough to get me to watch it, but Megami magazine spreads like this or this don’t hurt either. The story is about a girl named Shiratori Ku who has a dream about a prince and then actually meets that prince in real life. Somewhere along the line they’ll likely work in plenty of fanservice/semi-yuri and mecha action. I’m honestly trying to keep my expectations low so that I don’t disappoint myself in case this doesn’t live up to KnM’s legacy. It’s just a shame that KOTOKO isn’t doing the OP or ED, which are apparently being handled by CooRie and Ceui, respectively.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Guaranteed
Venus Versus Virus
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/vvv/
Premieres January 11th, 2007
Airtime in Japan (JST, GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:55
Airtime in U.S. (EST, GMT-5): Thursdays at 11:55
Information Links: ANN Encyclopedia, AnimeNfo
This show is about two girls who fight demons called Viruses. The girl with the eyepatch Lucia runs an antique shop called Venus Vanguard, hence the show is named Venus Versus Virus. The commercial for it – the one from the end of Rozen Maiden Overture – shows some pretty good looking animation courtesy of Studio Hibari, and it gave me Karin and Black Cat vibes for whatever reason. For what it’s worth though, VVV has some of the same staff as Tsuyokiss – director Kimura Shinichiro, character designer Agata Yoshimi, and Yamada Yasutomo in charge of series composition. Under different circumstances (ie. Thursdays without CODE GEASS, Kanon, and potentially Nodame Cantabile), this would get pretty high odds at getting blogged, but since this is airing on Thursdays, I can only say it’s got a decent chance.
Odds I’ll Blog This: Decent

Note: This is a rather long and fairly comprehensive list of the shows coming in January and February. Much much more after the jump.