The leaves are changing, the days are growing shorter, and the nights are growing colder. That must mean Autumn is almost here. Looking at the approaching anime season, there are quite a few shows that have my attention. More than usual, at least. It’s been a good year for new anime…
Clannad - Last year, it was Kanon. This year, it’s Clannad. Compared to this time last year, my excitement is somewhat tempered. That’s not to say that I’m not looking forward to Clannad; rather, because I have little experience with the original visual novel, I won’t be going in with stratospheric expectations. I expect it to be good, of course, and I’m excited to see something new from Key, but I’ll be taking it one episode at a time. Don’t be surprised if I start gushing about the show one episode at a time, however.
You’re Under Arrest: Full Throttle - I keep expecting someone to wake me up and tell me it’s all a dream. You’re Under Arrest has long been one of my favorite anime franchises, but I always figured it was over and done with back in 2001. What’s next? More Patlabor?
Sketchbook ~Full Colors~ - Jun’ichi Sato is one of my favorite anime directors and slice-of-life is (clearly) my favorite anime genre (now you understand why I’m such an Aria fan), so I’m definitely jazzed about this show. Granted, Sato is supervising the production as opposed to directing, but it’s still the same basic production team that brought us Aria. Aria-shachou even makes an appearance in the trailer. Clearly, this show is relevant to my interests.
Blue Drop ~Tenshi-tachi no Gikyoku~ - Will this be this year’s Simoun? Yes, I know that the presence of yuri does not necessarily a Simoun make, but damn if I’m not feeling that same vibe. I suspect this may be turn out to be the surprise of the season, and it’s for that reason that I’m counting the days until the first episode. And, on a side note, it’s funny how I’m paying more and more attention to sci-fi anime nowadays. Used to be, I didn’t give it much thought. As always, the power of yuri compels me.
Genshiken 2 - More of the same. Well, hopefully not more of the same crappy animation. Ah, who the hell am I kidding? It’s Genshiken. It’s supposed to look like ass.
Mokke - I love shows that are set in rural Japan. Supernatural themed shows that are set in rural Japan are even better. It’s the main reason I enjoyed Zettai Shonen (well, the Tana arc, at least). It’s one of the many reasons Higurashi no Naku Koro ni continues to hold my attention. The Japanese countryside is really the perfect setting for such stories.
Kimikiss Pure Rouge - The Kimikiss character designs rock. JC Staff rocks. Honey and Clover team rocks. End of story.
ef -a tale of memories - I think this show has a lot of potential, but the fact that it’s based on a Minori game concerns me somewhat. I’ve always found the overall aesthetic of their work attractive, but I’ll be honest: the scenario writing stinks. The trailer sure looked pretty, though. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Da Capo II - Let me tell you my dirty little secret: I’m a Da Capo fan. Yup. I even enjoyed the oft maligned second season (in fact, I might have enjoyed it more than the first season). And even though the newest entry in the franchise introduces an entirely new cast, it’s still Da Capo. I’ve long felt that the first two seasons of Da Capo were bishoujo game adaptation done right, so I have high hopes for this season as well.
Minami-ke - Slice-of-life sure is in style these days, isn’t it? No real idea what this show is about, but I’ve been around long enough to recognize whether or not something is up my alley. This looks to be up my alley. Hopefully, I’m right.
Bamboo Blade - Looks an awful lot like a harem show that isn’t quite a harem show. Those tend to be a lot of fun. I don’t worry quite so much about the number of brain cells I’m killing.
Gundam 00 - ???????
I was browsing around on the anidb calender the other day and some of those caught my eye, definately looking forward to move Genshiken after the new character in the OVA… good laugh.
Also that full color thing looks right up my alley, Canvas 2 was far too much drama for me.
I’m pretty much with you on You’re Under Arrest. This one, Clannad and Genshiken are the ones that are on my will absolutely watch list. And I probably die happy if they brought out Patlabor again…with my luck before the show would air.
Couldn’t agree more on You’re Under Arrest…I never thought I’d see more of it, but I’m thanking the Anime Gods that I’ll get to. I just hope this time Nakajima finally manages to propose without losing the ring…
No shame in being a Da Capo fan, I’ve been looking forward to D.C. II since…well, since I heard the game was announced. I’d recommend avoiding spoilers on it though, because done right I think the central plot will be done very well, and I’m kind of regretting letting myself get spoiled now. I’m a little worried if only one cour will be enough time to do the story justice…but I guess at least the pacing won’t be slow.
I think you’ll like Minami-ke–I read the manga a while back and enjoyed it, good, solid slice-of-life.
And +100 aniblog status points to you for putting Multi in a post. Finished watching To Heart on region 1 DVD a couple weeks ago, that’s another good example of bishoujo done right.
I’m about a hundred times more excited about Kimikiss hearing it’s from the Honey and Clover team. I’ve been desperate for a harem comedy that isn’t the visual equivalent of bird flu for a while now. As for Clannad, I feel like I should be more excited about it. I think the problem is that at least on the surface it appears very similar to Kanon, and with how busy I’ve been it seems like Kanon just came out. Seems a little soon, I guess; one more show in between (maybe some Haruhi or FMP) would have helped, I think. I’m sure it’ll be good though. I just Kanon hasn’t stolen its thunder.
I’ve never played any Minori games but Wind ~ A breath of Heart (a Minori game adaptation) is easily the worst anime I’ve seen. Of course it’s probably the anime studio’s fault but unfortunate that Minori has been tagged with its catastrophic failure. Still I’m looking forward to ef since the PV looks promising with a good score and dramatic confrontations.
ef looks fucking gorgeous, but the story they set up in the promo is pretty laughable. I’ll watch it for the pretties, but I have a feeling it’ll turn into a School Days style train wreck.
Argh, haven’t had time to read in detail in to many of the new shows. Time to really go check out all those posts.
Still, I agree with Gundam 00… ???????
I look forward to CLANNAD, but I’m only scared tat it’ll be just another bishoujo game-turned-anime but then again, Kanon and Air were very different from each other, so there is hope…
Mokke looks awesome and for some reason I can’t help but get a Figure 17 vide from it. Sketchbook will also be great if it’s as adorable as Hidamari Sketch ^_^
Shows I’m looking forward to the most are Blue Drop, Genshiken season 2, and Kodomo no Jikan/
oh, and I forgot one. Bamboo Blade - i don’t know much about it at all, but the chrater designs are great and from the description of the story, it could be anything. M initial impression was something like Hitohira, but that’s only what I can hope~
Jeff missed the bacteria show. I am sad :(
But I get the feeling we have to do our share of promo to get enough attention on Moyashimon so people will actually sub it. Not sure it’s a show I can watch without subs.
i’m all over sketchbook, it’s gonna be greaaattttt
kimikiss looks like it’s got some real potential too, with a good staff and a good cast of koshimizu ami, noto mamiko, tanaka rie, etc etc… not to mention the OP is done by marble, the same group that did ‘mebae drive’ (the hidamari ED you mentioned in a previous post)
as for clannad, well… kanon burnt me out and i ran out of bad things to say about it. i want my lucky star back, lol
Minami-ke was made by the manga-ka for Today in Class 5-2, though the former has nothing that latter contained. It’s more of a Ichigo Mashimaro type of deal from what I remember from the manga I read, which was pretty enjoyable. Obviously this is also something I’m going to watch. :P
Moyashimon and Ghost whatever (directed by Ryutaru Nakamura (Lain, Kino’s Journey, Armitage III) are the series I’m looking forward to most, with sketchbook and Blue Drop likely to follow, if I have time. Oh, yes, and probably Genshiken.