AnimeSaiko

Only a small preview this time. Because I really only want to inform of the shows I personally like the style of or have been anticipating or I just have a feeling about their greatness. Before they all really kick off this time and although the Season has already started; I present my top 5 picks for this season.

Hidden God

Ookami Kakushi ( おおかみかくし )

Synopsis

The story follows Hiroshi Kuzumi, a 16-year-old boy who has just moved to the seemingly serene village of Jogamachi. Nestled in the mountains far away from the city, the village is divided by a river that separates old Jogamachi from new Jogamachi. Young Hiroshi soon discovers that the village’s ancient as well as mysterious traditions and customs have been kept alive over the ages. Although a bit bewildered by the new environment, Hiroshi begins to settle into his new life. While he has never been the type to win any popularity contests, he quickly earns the affection of his classmates. That is with the exception of aloof class president, Nemuru Kushinada, whose only words to Hiroshi are a warning to stay away from old part of town. It is there that terror and mystery await him.

Thoughts

This is another project by Ryukishi07, who brought us Higurashi and Umineko. Adapted from the PSP game of the same name, it is not (apparently) a continuation in the When they Cry series but a new IP, and coincidentally is not animated by the same studio. This time instead of DEEN, Peach-Pit is animating it which may be interesting. I personally had no idea about this franchise until there was a fabric clothing based PVC sculpted of the “Mysterious Girl”. As with the two franchise predecessors, they are a combination of eccentricities, moe, murder and mystery; and it’s hard to imagine the new studio improving on the current standard. Regardless; It’s similar, hopefully it isn’t a let down.

Hype/Anticipation 4.5 / 5.0 (Excited)

 

Dance in the Vampire Bund

( ダンスインザヴァンパイアバンド )

Synopsis

After millennia in hiding, Mina Tepes, the Princess of the ancient covenant and ruler of all vampires, wants change. Using the vast wealth of the Tepes line, she has paid off the entire gross national debt of Japan and in so doing, gained the authority to create a “special district” off the coast of Japan that is to become the future haven to vampires the world over!
Now, on the eve of the landmark press conference announcing the existence of vampires to the world, terrorists and rival factions are plotting to assassinate Mina Tepes before she has a chance to make her world-changing announcement.

Thoughts

Massive fan of SHAFT. That’s really all there is to it. I saw the preview clip to this months ago and liked it’s visual style, as I always do with SHAFT, and decided to “keep an eye on it”. The main character, Mina Tepes, seems to be their exploitable loli moe which I really don’t have any problems with. I really can’t hold back saying “them thighs” in the picture to the right. As much as it’s a breath of fresh air to see SHAFT doing this; This diverges from their regular comedic style to a more political and gore filled genre, and it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Hype/Anticipation 4.0-4.5 / 5.0 (Overly Excited)

 

 

Durarara!!

DRRR!! ( デュラララ!! )

Synopsis

The story takes place in Ikebukuro, a district of Tokyo. Teenage punks gang up and fight against each other. The gangsters are afraid of an urban legend called “Dullahan”, a headless rider, who rides a black motorcycle without head lights or engine sounds. Ryuugamine Mikado is a normal high school boy who seeks peculiar beings. When he moves in to Ikebukuro, a mad scramble for Dullahan’s missing head breaks out.

Thoughts

If you enjoyed Baccano, you will enjoy this. Same author, same director, same studio, I think the character design is pretty much the same too. This one seems like a more psychotic and fantasy driven story though, which is a good thing for me. Seeing as I missed the whole hype over Baccano and only watched it recently, I don’t intend to miss this one. Don’t know why, but before I even looked at production I had strong feeling that it had similarities to Bleach x Baccano *shrug*.

Hype/Anticipation 4.0 / 5.0 (Anticipating)

 

 

 

 

Katanagatari

Katanagatari ( 刀語 )

Synopsis

A swordfight story taking place in Edo era (17th – 19th century). Yasuri Shichika is the seventh head of the Kyotou school of Japanese sword martial arts and lives in Fushou Island with his sister Nanami. With the order from a female samurai general Togame, he sets out for a trip to collect the twelve treasured swords created by a legendary swordsmith Shikizaki Kiki.

Thoughts

I have to admit, without seeing any pictures to this when I first heard about the title, I thought it was going to be something completely different. But the animation style in this looks really crisp and different. I just hope it doesn’t have the same flow as the americanized “cartoons” and actually brings something interesting to the table. That being said without bringing into detail the production, this is an OVA (I’m pretty sure) and it’s going to span over a year of 12 episodes of an hour each. I guess it’s worth the wait.

Hype/Anticipation 3.0 / 5.0 (Interested)

 

 

 

 

So-Ra-No-Wo-To

Sound of the Sky ( ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト )

Synopsis

A long war brings a gradual decline to the world. People disappear from towns, and fish cease to exist in the sea. In a town called Seize five girls guard a fortress and play brass vividly.

Thoughts

Military + K-ON. Just seems that everyone is coming along to milk off of that success which I don’t feel deserves the attention it’s getting. Anyway, this seems like the slightly less retarded moe blob show of this season, even though I generally like the more retarded ones anyway. There’s not much to say about this, look at K-ON; Replace popular culture instruments with Brass, replace their dull school life with a dull military job of defending a castle (mid terms will probably be the assault). The characters even look identical, except Tsumugi is tall and has boobs. This sounds like a rant but it isn’t.

Hype/Anticipation 2.5 / 5.0 (Considering)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts

Another not so amazing season, but there are a few good ones. Anime is dying, and I blame certain shows in particular, but I can’t really do anything about it. I’m not too impressed with Ookami Kakushi being done by Peach-Pit, their character designs just really don’t sit well with me, but I could be convinced otherwise. Shaft doing Bund might be a mistake considering their past projects. Durarara looks hit or miss, it could be the best show this season or it could be terrible, I don’t believe there to be a median. Katanagatari seems to be fresh but I’m afraid the animation will let it down. Sound of the Sky is undecided for me on its outcome. AT LEAST this year I have to look forward to Eden of the East movies, the Nanoha movie, the Gundam 00 movie, as well as future Shana OVA’s.

I would have commented on other things but it may bite me in the ass, if I did 10 shows to preview that would have been literally the entire season. I’ll make mention of another show that MAY be good, that being Hanamaru Kindergarden (play on words, orz), it looks like a Potemayo clone and I loved that show. Other then that, there’s some show about a guy who gets stronger from breast milk and another one which looks like the inverse of Zero no Tsukaima.
Sorry also for this post being late and having the season already started, it was written up and stuff but yeah; no real excuse.