The 2008 Spring Season Preview, Pt. 2
Long story short: was supposed to post this sooner but came across some… maintaining issues. Sorry, everyone. This is the second post for the spring season. You’ve probably noticed now that we’re quite interested in blogging many shows. It’s really no surprise to me that we all wanna have out eyes-on review for R2 and SOUL EATER. You’ve seen the first 11 previewed, now here’s the next 11. Hard to say what we’ll wanna blog from this. Maybe we chose the good ones early? Don’t be so shocked to see my comments waver though. Oh yes, I’m just THRILLED.
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 6th
OP: “Over The Future” by Aya Hirano, Ryoko Shiraishi, and Haruka Tomatsu
ED: “絶対love×love宣言！！” by Aya Hirano, Ryoko Shiraishi, and Haruka Tomatsu
Production: Synergy SP
Based on a shounen manga by Takashi Shiina, serialised in Shounen Sunday.
In the future, people with ESP are becoming more widespread. The Japanese government has hired three of the most powerful ESPers in Japan to work for B.A.B.E.L. (Base of Backing ESP Laboratory), but all three are ten year old girls with questionable attitudes.
Thoughts
Leon: I’ve been interested in this since it was first announced. The premise sounds sweet and the old-school art really hooks me in. On top of those, Hirano Aya is also starring!
Youko: One of the more astract titles I’ve read about. You know that little kids with psychic powers isn’t a very safe issue. In this show’s case, it might get a little shaky, perhaps fun too.
Blade: I won’t lie, I am not the biggest Aya Hirano fan in the world, mainly because unlike most of you, I don’t consider Haruhi Suzumiya the funniest thing ever. That being said, I am setting my eyes on this one. It is probably the only show that’ll last for 52 episodes and it involves Esper girls. I wonder what this’ll have in store for us.
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 5th
OP: “PHOSPHOR” by Ui Miyazaki
ED: “Koi no Honoo (恋の炎)” by Yui Sakakibara
Production: Xebec
Kanokon’s story revolves around Kouta Oyamada, a young first-year high school student who moves from the country to the city and thus transfers to Kunpo High School. On his first day at his new school, a beautiful second-year female student named Chizuru Minamoto asks him to meet her alone in the music room. When he arrives, she reveals her that she is in fact a fox deity and from that day on the two hang out together. Nozomu is a first year female student at Kouta’s school, she is in fact a wolf deity and in love with Kouta, and a rival of Chizuru for Kouta’s affections.
Thoughts
Leon: A fox and a wolf deity? Boobs and loli-goodness? Is there really anything more that I need say to convince myself to watch this? Of course not. I’ll be watching. I also find it interesting how Mamiko Noto will be playing the guy in this…
Youko: I have a thing for foxes (hence the name) and seeing Kanokon drew me in immediately. There seems to be a school approach to this too and it has many favorite seiyuu of mine so I’m officially game for this.
Blade: What’s funny about Kanokon is the fact the girl is voiced by Ayako Kawasumi and the boy by, believe it or not, Mamiko Noto. It’s the first time they’ll perform main roles together, with the same gender as well, since Girls Bravo, that turned out mediocre at best. Now to Kanokon, Fox Deity? I don’t know about that,
but it has a strong cast, so I’ll give it a chance, but it’s going to be a slim chance I’ll follow this one religiously.
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 7th
OP: -
ED: -
Production: ZEXCS
A long time ago, a sacred fox was deified as the guardian of the Mizuchi Family. Kugen the Fox was very wise and it could use various magics. However, because it was too mischievous, it was sealed into a small shrine in the hill behind the Mizuchi house by a priest.
During the present, Takagami Toru, a Mizuchi descendant, often dreams of a woman seems like a monster. The head of the Mizuchi household deduces that some sort of danger looms over Toru, and she releases the sealed Kugen in order to protect him. Contrary to what Toru imagines based on the legends, “Ku-chan”, as Kugen is affectionately referred to, is not a dignified creature. Not only can it turn into a woman of great beauty, but it can also assume the form of a man.
Thoughts
Leon: Okay. I’ll say this from the start: The female form is SUPER CUTE. I’m really looking forward to her having most of the screentime. My thoughts on the male form depends on his demeanor. My curiosity is screaming at me to see how this one turns out so I guess I’ll be watching.
Youko: Only another show with a hot fox! This time played by the bodacious Yukana herself. Seems like another perfect role to me, which gives me no worries. I’ll check this out too though I’m not quite sure if I wanna blog it just yet.
Blade: OH GREAT, CLEVER! From one “Fox Deity” show to the next, eh? This one seems more serious, but what’s this? My god it’s like Ranma where the main character changes genders. I don’t know about this one, but I think it’ll be the superior one.
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Airdate: April 3rd
OP: “forever we can make it!” by THYME
ED: “Lucky Tune (ラッキーチューン)” by SANTOS ANNA
Production: XEBEC
The story is about Yuuki Rito, a high-school boy who cannot confess to the girl of his dreams, Sairenji Haruna. One day when coming home and sulking in the bath-tub a mysterious, nude girl, appears out of nowhere. Her name is Lala and she comes from the planet Deviluke, where she is the heir to the throne. Her father wants her to return to her home planet so she can marry one of the husband candidates, but she decides that she wants to marry Rito in order to stay on Earth. Commander Zastin has been ordered to bring Lala back and has already battled Rito. He reports to the emperor that Rito would be suited to marry Lala, after hearing Rito say that marriage is impossible unless it is with the person you love (Rito was actually defending himself but Zastin and Lala thought he was defending Lala). With this speech, Lala truly falls in love with Rito and decides that she wants to marry Rito. Her father decides that, if Rito is able to protect Lala from her fiances, then he can be her fiance, but if Rito cannot protect Lala from her other fiances, Lala’s father will kill Rito and destroy Earth.
Thoughts
Leon: I was pretty surprised to know that To LOVE-Ru was being animated. I honestly was expecting this in 2009 rather than this year but hey I’m not complaining. While it’s nothing epic I do enjoy the comedy and seeing Lala, Sarenji, and Rito as well as their other friends cause all sorts of chaos.
Youko: I used to love reading this but I haven’t been keep up for a long time. I think now with an anime it might rekindled that and I’ll fall in love with it all over again. IIRC, it was quite funny with ecchi on the side. Hopefully it won’t suffer from what I call the Jump Anime Syndrome. Basically what you see in nearly all of adapted Jump titles: filler. Now of course, it’s not like this is headed by Pierrot anyways so rest assured, gang.
Blade: Now where have I seen this before? A girl escaping from her parents in order to avoid marrying a dastardly groom? This is pretty much the premise of To Love-Ru, and it’s a cliched one, but I think it’s the first time I seen it in an anime. No matter how bad it can be, it has Takehito Koyasu, and his presence can make this
a great show… can it?
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Airdate: April 7th
OP: “Metamorphose” by Asriel
ED: “Awake ~my everything~” by Daisuke Ono and Hiroshi Kamiya
Production: A.C.G.T.
Akira Nikaido is a typical slacker high school student who thinks he has a normal life–until a mysterious man called Shirogane appears and tells him to meet him at the school that night. He is skeptical but goes anyway…and gets attacked by a shadow monster! Shirogane convinces him that the balance between the human world and the shadow world has been distorted, and that Akira must become a shin–a creature of the shadow world–in order to help restore the balance.
Thoughts
Leon: This seems like standard shounen to me. The images I’ve seen so far don’t really excite me but I’ll give it the first episode a watch.
Youko: Mm, I saw the PV for this but nothing special about it. Reading the summary gave me no feeling whatsoever as well, sad as it is to say. No wait, maybe it’s not sad after all. Anyways, it’s a no.
Blade: Another action show in which the protagonist meets a mysterious character that grants him powers to fend evil. Since the last season lacked action shows besides Gundam 00 (that’s not over) and the mediocre Dragonaut, I guess I’ll whip myself for any desire of following this.
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Airdate: April 10th
OP: “Never” by Seira
ED: “Carry Me Away” by Seira
Production: MADHOUSE
A sci-fi love story set in a world where digitization of memory made physical death obsolete. A world where memories can be stolen and altered, and replaced in a new human body.
Kaiba wakes up in a room wthout knowing who he is. He has a pendant with the photograph of a woman he does not remember. After being attacked all of a sudden, he has to flee to space, meet various people, and rediscover the world.
“Even without my memories, I love you…”.
Thoughts
Leon: This screams “I don’t need to be conventional to be awesome!”. The premise really intrigues me and the animation and character designs are obviously beyond unique. The first sentence of the story synopsis already guarantees that I will be watching this. There is also some awesome seiyuu talent in this which include Mamiko Noto, Kawashima Houko, and Romi Paku.
Youko: I’ll admit, even I thought for a second this was about the billionaire jackass Seto Kaiba. So if not, then what… seahorses? Jokes aside, the presentation definitely gives off a kiddish look. Nonetheless the look isn’t really what determines what makes the show good. It’s an interesting concept, one that isn’t all that original but similiar to others. It might turn out good, might not. We’ll see soon enough.
Blade: When I think “Kaiba”, I think: “Screw the rules, I have money!” But it’s actually a show that shows a lot of potential. Now I know I said this a lot, but this actually pulls me in. The idea of altered memories sounds ineteresting and even the amnesia cliche doesn’t bother me that much. Houko Kawashima and Mamiko Noto are playing Kaiba and the girls he falls for Neiro, so we do have a nice cast from the get go. The art style is
akin to Osamu Tezuka, which I bet will repel some thinking it’s childish and too much like Astro Boy, but I
bet that if the writers do everything right, we’ll have a gem.
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 6th
OP: “Special Days” by Yuko Goto
ED: “Hidamari no Gate (陽だまりのゲート)” by Jun Fukuyama, Hiro Shimono, Tsubasa Yonaga & Kazuma Horie
Production: AIC, Gonzo
Hikari Hanazono, the main character, has always been second to Kei Takishima. While Hikari considers Kei a rival and somewhat of a friend, Kei loves Hikari. Everyone knows this, but she is too dense to notice. Their wrestling loving fathers first introduced them to one another when they were 6 years old. Assuming that she was the best in wrestling, young Hikari challenged Kei to a wrestling match only to be thoroughly defeated by him. Ever since that fateful incident, Hikari swore to beat Kei in school grades, a sporting event – anything. To do this she has enrolled in the same school as Kei since elementary. Now she attends Hakusenkan, an ultra elite school, that costs her carpenter father a lot of money. Hikari and Kei are the top two students in the school, with Kei holding firmly to that number one position.
Thoughts
Leon: A school comedy! I think I can use one of these after being without one for so long. I’ve also heard good things about the manga so this one should turn out to be a winner. Fukuyama Jun is also the male lead in this. Man, he’s everywhere this season!
Youko: Hah, “special” class, huh? Good one. Alright well, I’m not all that much of a school series watcher save for a few, and this one doesn’t seem all too different in the long run. Of course, it includes a bunch of favorites like Gotou and Fukuyama, though that’s one factor that I’d actually say is what caught my eye.
Blade: It’s going to be hilarious if we had a “Special K” anime that involved cereal! Unfortunately Special A seems like another school rumble knockoff. The story is a love story of a girl who always wants to beat the boy at anything he does better, even though she is unaware his feeling towards her. This, of course, leads to many situations of competition on one hand, and sexual tension on the other. Jun Fukuyama from the Lelouch fame will voice Kei, the male lead, whereas the girl will be voice by Yuko Gotou… ah, great…
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 9th
OP: -
ED: -
Production: Studio Fantasia
S&A Detective Agency is a jack-of-all-trades in Lags Town placed on the outskirts of Diver City. Shu used to be a hot-shot police detective and fought for justice. He stood up against state authority but lost everything he had as a consequence and drifted into this town. Now he lives an easy life with his right-hand man (Akira), two assistants (Manami and Ayaka) but feels empty inside.
One day, an incident leads Shu to come across the mysterious heroine, Sara, who has no memory of her past. The unprecedented truth is about to be revealed as he investigates the incident, and it will provoke a crisis involving the entire Diver City…
Can Shu and his buddies protect what they cherish?
And what is the future of Diver City…?
Thoughts
Leon: Oh! What’s this? A mystery, is it? The PV I saw really impressed me even though it really didn’t show much beyond some people turning into glass and shattering. Still, I really want to see this one as I love mystery and detective stories.
Youko: Based on what I saw in the PV, it looked pretty interesting. A little intense, some dark tones, but nothing I’d probably like. I may catch the first episode to see it.
Blade: Nothing like a pessimistic story to keep my hopes up. Shinichiro Miki takes up the lead role is this dystopian future world of Crystal Blaze. When it comes to him, you know we are going to have a tough guy that you can hate when he does something inconsiderate, but more so a cool guy you should admire (Lockon from Gundam 00 or Urahara Kisuke from Bleach). I have to say that despite his inclusion, the premise of the show can warrant my attention if lives up to the hype I’m making out of it.
The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 5th
OP: “Swinging” by Muramasa☆
ED: “Tōchōsha-tachi (塔頂者たち)” by KENN
Production: Gonzo
In a summer once every five years, demons in the mysterious Tower of Druaga lose their powers due to the magic spell cast by a god named “Anu”. King Gilgamesh, ruler of the kingdom Uruk, uses the appearance of demons as an excuse to invade the tower and find out the construct’s secrets. As 80 years passed, the Uruk army managed to fight back the demons and built a fortress city and safe haven on the very first floor of Druaga – Metz Kier. Thus begins the story of a warrior named Gil who, finding companions along the way, embarks on a quest for the fabled Blue Crystal Rod, a powerful artifact rumored to be in the highest floor of Druaga. However, other competitors, including the kingdom of Uruk itself, want the treasure, all for their own reasons.
Thoughts
Leon: It’s been a long while since I’ve seen anything combining adventure and fantasy as its genres. That said, Druaga really shows promise in its plot description and the character designs are looking rather good. I’m hoping that the good GONZO team and not the OTHER one that just finished Dragonaut and R+V are in charge of this though since I really want this to be good.
Youko: Okay, it’s probably just me but I think there’s just too much futuristic settings, which I’m getting pretty sick of. That aside, I don’t find it particularly appealing so safe to say I’m skipping.
Blade:
Finally a fantasy series. I love those who take you to faraway locals and allow you to venture the unknown. This
one is based upon an old game released by Namco in the 80’s, but it has nothing to do with it. Little is known about
the anime, which is the only reason why I’m not that stocked.
D.C.II S.S. ～Da Capo II Second Season～
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 6th
OP: “Sakura Amaneku Sekai (サクラアマネクセカイ)” by yozuca*
ED: “Bokutachi no Yukue (僕たちの行方)” by CooRie
Production: Feel
Does this really need a summary…?
Thoughts
Leon: Well I haven’t seen any of the previous ones so I won’t be watching this.
Youko: I’ve only seen the first season but that was it. I would’ve gone to the second but I heard it was really bad and Sakura doesn’t even show up until nearly the end of the show. That didn’t cut it for me. I never continued from there so looks like we’re all passing on this.
Blade: Let’s see, I gave the two seasons of the first Da Capo mediocre scores, what do you think is going to be the fate of this one?
RD Sennou Chousashitsu (Real Drive)
ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Airdate: April 9th
OP: “Wanderland” by 9mm Parabellum Bullet
ED: “Katahiza no Yogore (片膝の汚れ)” by Last Alliance
Production: Production I.G
The story takes place in 2061, 50 years after humanity developed the “Net society” that depended on information networks despite their security issues. To improve security, a new network called Meta Real Network — or “Metal” for short — was developed. People’s personal memories are reduced to information and placed within “protected virtual stand-alone organic cyber enclaves” called bubble shells online. The result was a virtual “explosion” of creative freedom as people felt safe enough to explore instincts and desires on Metal that they would not otherwise explore in real life. This “friction” between the Metal’s alluring lack of restrictions and rules-bound reality led to trouble and incidents that investigators known as “cyber divers” must handle. Masamichi Haru is one such cyber diver.
Thoughts
Leon: Ah, yet another Production I.G. title. It’s reasonable to expect most things to be of high quality in their productions and Real Drive seems to be no different. I’m a sucker for stories dealing with technology and the evolution of society in the future so I’m definitely watching RD and quite possibly blogging it as well.
Youko: Another show that presents itself in advanced modern times…. okay, greattttt. You know, it’s usually something invovled with humanity and something. Sorry, I don’t think I can stand this anymore…
Blade: This is a Production I.G. show, and I think they became everyone’s most respected animation studio out there, so it’s safe to say most people will follow their shows, including the sequel to xxxHolic. It does show great potential so I’ll watch the first episode. It better be good, I.G!
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Can’t wait for the tower of druaga~