After two relatively dry anime seasons in Japan, the sky has finally opened up and blessed us with more potential gems than there is time to watch them all. That’s my feeling, at least. And the timing couldn’t be any better.
As usual, here are the coming Summer season shows that catch my eye…
Zero no Tsukaima ~Miyoshi Hime no Rondo~ - Even though the second season left me a little disappointed, I’m still a fan of the franchise and its lead characters. If this third season revisits the humor and playfulness of the first season, I’ll be happy. If it tries to take itself too seriously, as the second season unfortunately did, I might not make it to the end. I can be plied with gobs of dere dere Louise, though.
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora - Not too long after the first Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto TV series ended, I remember hearing rumors that a sequel was in the works. Being such a fan of the show, the news got me to burning, but the “sequel” came in the form of a spin-off manga series that never received the anime treatment. It’s taken five years and an additional manga series for the franchise to return to television, and I’m still burning all the same. And since HAL Film Maker has been hitting one home run after another lately when it comes to slice of life shows, I fear I might set the curtains on fire any minute now.
Telepathy Shoujo Ran - What is it about NHK shows and their uncanny ability to appeal to the nostalgic feelings of aging anime fans, with their tried and true themes, understated productions, and eye for all that is good and right about the medium? These are the sort of shows I’ll be watching ten years from now. I just hope they keep making them.
Chocolate Underground - The premise is so goofy that I can’t resist. Bootlegging chocolate? Just the thought is amusing.
Natsume Yuujin-Chou - My interest in shows built upon Shinto mysticism, both genuine and perverted, has been growing in recent years. It’s such a wonderful construct for fantasy stories. At first glance, this series has the appearance of a Mushishi clone, but I’m also reminded of lighter fare in the same vein. Like Mokke, for example. Perhaps it’s somewhere in between? Sounds like a good place to be.
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu - I haven’t watched a good light romance series in awhile, as most of the recents entires in the genre have seemed a little too focused on fanservice and envelope pushing for my taste. This looks pretty good natured, though, and the fact that the female lead is an otaku (of all things) is a nice hook.
Hidamari Sketch x365 - You know, I’m really enjoying this, “let’s make more!” kick the anime industry is on. Shows like Hidamari Sketch deserve all the seasons they can get.
Really? Zero no Tsukaima third season over Slayers?
…REALLY?
I’ve never cared much for Slayers. It might be nice to hear Megumi again, though.
I agree, gia. I’ll take Slayers, please.
Hmm well my personal side wouldn’t necessarily call a Kaiba/Kure-nai/Geass/20 Faces/Library Wars season particularly “dry”, but the chocolate anime and x365 seem very cool.
While I should’ve been thinking about summer anime, all I could do is stare at Hei’s popsicle.
where is that picture from?
I must have stumbled across it at 4chan, because I can’t find it in the usual places. Here’s a copy. I’ll delete the file in a few days, so grab it while you can.
Relatively dry is probably a good way to describe the last half year, although I can’t really say that does the few gems any justice (Kurenai, Kaiba, I’m looking at ya)
I dunno, Spring season was p. good. That said, this one looks fairly strong as well. I’ve picked out 17 shows to watch! I don’t know how I’ll be able to hold my job and watch all those shows.
Wow! Thanks a lot!
I’ll take another 365 helpings of Hidamari with a side of chocolate thank you very much.
The header image seriously reminds me of Yotsubato! for some reason.
mmmm… This season seems promising.. LOL
however, for me, i might call it, winter season,.. hahaha
>_
Greetings,
I am considering to watch all but the first in your list. So not much to mention there. I saw a few responses here noting the last season was a bit off, I can agree with that (despite the fact it was a good time for me to catch up on some anime I have been willing to watch for ages). Most of the shows did not bring me enough to go watch them, for some I tried a few episodes and then it just fluttered away.
A good anime is an anime that gives me an undescibeable feeling. A bit odd to say, yes, but I am positive that I am not the only one, heck, you might all feel that way too! But anime still is a matter of opinion, and I like the way I can come here, and find some good quality anime. Aswell the people that come here often have sometimes interesting things to say. Which is a good thing.
So thank you for this, and those who commented here aswell, thanks for the tips and fuzzy feelings ^^ !
Sincerely,
Jasper
Hrm… Has more not been mentioned about season 4 of Marimite?
I haven’t really been paying attention to what the summer has to offer save for x365 and Natsu no Sora, so I guess I should pleasantly surprised with what will come out. :3
I’m with BigN… I’m so excited about another season of Hidamari Sketch that I may even get back into the blogging routine again…
Btw, I though the recent release of the manga in the UK/US as Sunshine Sketch was a nice little apéritif. If I wasn’t already so besotted, then I may have fallen in love with Yuno & Co. all over again.
I appreciate all the previews-of-summer, especially now that they’re getting as detailed as Jeff’s (and a recent one from Gia). I don’t know how you people do it — I look at the mass of oncoming anime and feel too overwhelmed to research what might be good and what might be interesting (I usually just rely on directors, studios, or — as in the case of the disappointing Allison and Lillia — novelists).
Natsu no sora and Hidamari I knew about. Now I’ll have to add Natsume Yuujin-chou and the next Maminoto vehicle. Maybe Chocolate Underground — it’s premise can’t be anymore goofy than institutionalized warfare between the departments of censorship and libraries.
Gia’s summary brought Ryouko’s strange case files to my attention, too.
Yes for Mahou Tsukai.
…but no Oofuri second season ;;
Help. From which Anime is the picture you published (hei_popsicle) from ?
Thx !
Denree, the name of the series is Darker Than Black.
Nice list to make my way through as usual, but more importantly id love to know what the picture for this entry is from? and if so where can i nab it at higher res! :3
Perhaps i should read all the previous comments in full before i make a complete fool out of myself! haha. Oh well, got the answer eitherway.