Summer 2016 Preview!

Summer is in the air, and it’s a time of change. Or at least it is for some people. You know what’s not changing? Anime, and the previewing thereof. We’ve got some big-name shows returning with sequels, including the cooking battle mega-hit Shokugeki no Souma, the sword-and-horses warfare of Arslan Senki, and the by-now-traditional new season of Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya. Not to be left out, several popular properties are getting their first shot at adaptation, including the breathlessly awaited drama orange, a science trip back to high school with ReLife, the next big Key visual novel adaptation in Rewrite, and not one but two DANGANRONPA series. A few popular authors are getting anime for their newer works, including a healing/diving anime from the ARIA author, Amanchu!, and the next offering from One-Punch Man’s author in Mob Psycho 100. Sports anime fans will be especially pleased with Battery and DAYS on the docket, and though original series are thin on the ground this summer, at least the Prohibition-era thriller 91Days and the new era of school idols in Love Live! Sunshine!! are looking promising. No, that’s not sweat you’re dripping with, it’s anticipation for these new anime. This is Random Curiosity’s Summer 2016 Preview.

07/05: Added over 30 new promotional videos!

Summer 2015 Preview!

Summer has returned, and like (slightly delayed) clockwork, it’s time for another season preview. There are some strong contenders for your anime watching hours this summer. There are plenty of exciting sequels, such as the perennially popular Durarara!!x2 Ten, the triumphant return (and conclusion) of the aptly named workplace comedy WORKING!!!, the slice-of-life countryside antics of Non Non Biyori Repeat, and the third summer in a row of the magical girl spin-off Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya Zwei Herz!. New adaptations include the Eastern European flavored GANGSTA, the JSDF invasion of a fantasy land in GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri, the ufotable video game adaptation of God Eater, and the apocalyptic emotional roller coaster Gakkou Gurashi!. There are even some great promising originals, such as the romantic comedy set on Mars, Classroom Crisis, and the likely Maeda Jun tear jerker in Charlotte. There’s even a very special guest in the long-awaited fantasy of a new Dragon Ball anime, Dragon Ball Super! Some say summer is no good, but if even a few of these pan out, it could be a great season. This is Random Curiosity’s Summer 2015 season preview.

* This preview will be kept at the top for the next while, so be sure to scroll past it, check the slider on top, or the Recent Entries on your right for new posts.

Spring 2014 Preview!

It’s that time of year again! While the snow’s melting outside and everyone’s out watching cherry blossoms bloom, the folks at RC have been busy preparing this spring’s anime preview. It features a total of 42 new shows, and many of them might sound familiar. There’s the long-awaited Mushishi Zoku Shou, a new season of FAIRY TAIL, the last saga of Dragon Ball Kai, and Soul Eater Not!, a spinoff of the original Soul Eater. Along with the familiar old shows, there always seems to be a new trend every season. This time I couldn’t help but notice the number of shows about NEETs (Mekaku City Actors, No Game No Life), and a healthy dosage of sports anime (Baby Steps, Haikyuu!!). There’s no shortage of different genres this season either – with not one, but two reverse harems, some great original mecha, and some much needed romance. It’s definitely not a season to be skimping on your watch list, so be prepared for a season of high expectations. Oh! And of course, a special thank you to you for reading!

* This preview will be kept at the top for the next while, so be sure to scroll past it, check the slider on top, or the Recent Entries on your right for new posts.

The Best of Anime 2013


Now that 2013 is officially over, it’s time for our yearly foray into annoying everyone with our crappy opinions, the Best of Anime 2013 post! As with last year this post is a collaboration between the writers who watched the most series this year (and who didn’t say “Not it!” quickly enough), Zephyr and Stilts (that’s me!). We each watched upwards to…I don’t know, a lot of anime this past year, so while I can’t promise you we’ll be totally objective (such a thing is impossible), at least we’ll be well-informed about whatever we’re wrong about.

More after the jump.

Disclaimer: As always, disclaimers abound. Please keep in mind that “best” is subjective. What’s best for us isn’t necessarily best for you, and that’s okay. This list shouldn’t be taken as some kind of inviolable truth, but rather the opinions of two guys who watched a lot of anime and then argued about it for about eight hours until a list appeared. Naturally our choices will be influenced by our own tastes, experiences, and personal impressions. Before you go bashing one of our choices, please make sure you’ve at least seen it and know where we’re coming from. Finally, all we ask is that you respect our opinions, just like we respect yours. Thank you.

Disclaimer #2: The choices in this post are not necessarily reflective of the opinions of all Random Curiosity writers. They are solely the opinions of myself (Stilts) and Zephyr, save for where otherwise noted. Thank you for your understanding.

Winter 2014 Preview!

With winter already upon us and the third year of the Tyranny of Stilts set to begin, it’s time to introduce you to the upcoming anime season. Last season was strangely weak for fall, with many of the most highly anticipated series ending in disappointment while only a few dark horses stepped up to pick up their slack. Can winter, traditionally one of the weaker seasons, do any better? I think it may be able to, and that’s not just my eternal optimism talking. This season is pleasantly plump with original series, including the anime-saving space adventure SPACE☆DANDY, the ridiculous interplanetary mecha brawl Nobunaga the Fool, the world dominating loli fantasy Sekai Seifuku ~Bouryaku no Zvezda~, and the magical courtroom procedural Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil. Notable adaptations include the magical fantasy mish-mash Witch Craft Works, the airborne epic Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta, the Shaft harem romcom Nisekoi, and another ridiculous Nobunaga-based sci-fi romp in Nobunagan. There are encouraging sequels as well, including a second season of the perverted slice-of-life comedy Seitokai Yakuindomo, another season of ridiculously awesome mahjong with Saki Zenkoku-hen, the second cour of the deep agriculture coming-of-age story Gin no Saji, and the second season of KyoAni’s delusional romcom Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! There’s a lot of enjoy this winter, so join me for Random Curiosity’s Winter 2014 Season Preview. Read on to find out what you should be watching.

* This preview will be kept at the top for the next while, so be sure to scroll past it, check the slider on top, or the Recent Entries on your right for new posts.

Fall 2013 Schedule

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Ace of Diamond
8:30 TX (10/6)
Gundam Build Fighters
18:00 TX (10/7)
Tokyo Ravens
24:30 MX (10/8)
COPPELION
21:00 AT-X (10/2)
Nagi no Asukara
22:00 MX (10/3)
Freezing Vibration
21:30 AT-X (10/4)
Log Horizon
17:30 NHK-eTele (10/5)
Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
17:00 TBS/MBS (10/6)
Unbreakable Machine-doll
20:30 AT-X (10/7)
HUNTER x HUNTER
25:29 NTV (10/2)
Kyoukai no Kanata
24:30 MX (10/2)
Galilei Donna
24:50 CX (10/10)
Strike the Blood
23:30 AT-X (10/4)
Little Busters! ~Refrain~
20:30 AT-X (10/5)
Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle (Season 3)
17:30 NHK-eTele (10/6)
DIABOLIK LOVERS
23:30 AT-X (9/16)
BLAZBLUE ALTER MEMORY
25:30 MX (10/8)
Kyousougiga
25:30 MX (10/2)
Samurai Flamenco
25:20 CX (10/10)
Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku o Ketsui Shimashita.
25:30 MX (10/4)
Monogatari Series: Second Season
24:00 MX (7/6)
Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai!
20:30 AT-X (10/6)
Yowamushi Pedal
25:35 TX (10/7)
Miss Monochrome The Animation
25:35 TX (10/1)
Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Lovecome o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru
25:50 MX (10/9)
Outbreak Company
25:28 MX (10/3)
Super Seisyun Brothers
25:53 TX (9/13)
WHITE ALBUM 2
25:30 MX (10/5)
Teekyuu Season 3
22:27 MX (10/6)
Non Non Biyori
26:05 TX (10/7)
Kakumeiki Valvrave 2nd Season
25:35 MBS (10/10)
Hajime no Ippo Rising
25:35 NTV (10/5)
Yozakura Quartet ~Hana no Uta~
23:30 MX (10/6)
Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio ~Ars Nova~
26:55 MBS (10/7)
IS: Infinite Stratos 2
25:58 TBS (10/3)
Kuroko no Basuke 2
25:58 MBS (10/5)
Meganebu!
24:00 MX (10/6)
Kill la Kill
26:05 MBS (10/3)
Tesagure! Bukatsumono
26:20 NTV (10/5)
Walkure Romanze
24:30 MX (10/6)
Golden Time
26:35 MBS (10/3)
Gingitsune
25:05 TX (10/6)
Legend: 1 2 3 1 2
3 1 1 2 Not covering

You’ve seen the fall preview, so now it’s time to tell you what we plan to cover for the coming season. This is Random Curiosity’s Fall 2013 blogging schedule.

As always, this is a tentative overview of our plans for the new season. We’ll also be doing introductory posts on many of the shows we’re not covering, so if something catches our eyes, things will be shifted around to accommodate. The schedule will be updated to reflect any changes.