Kantoku > Christmas hats.
I’ll be pushing out my season overview shortly but before I do, I thought I’d finally take the effort of composing my hitlist for the next season. Winter 08/09 doesn’t have an awful lot of names that say much to me but nevertheless there are a few that have caught my eye. I’m quite lazy as an anime watcher so I can’t be bothered to simply check out everything out there – I’d rather select a promising few and stick with them to the bitter end. But enough talk and let’s take a look at what I got.
Ride Back (Madhouse)
Description (AniDB):
Based on a manga by Kasahara Tetsurou, about a young girl who joins university in 2020, a tumultuous time of oppression and anti-government student riots, and comes across the weird Ride Back Club devoted to “Iron Horse” robot motorcycles.
Personal points of interest:
Seeing “university” instead of “high school” is always a positive factor to me. Honestly, I’m fed up with all the series about high school teens doing stuff high school teens do. Not to mention that I have a strong interest in political elements and science fiction. Mizuki Nana in the main role isn’t bad news either.
Viper’s Creed (Sony Pictures)
Description (Unknown source):
The story revolves around the members of a private military company (PMC), and the uneasy tension between them and the regular military after a war that caused massive environmental destruction.
Personal points of interest:
Mecha, military, science fiction, possibly politics – need to say more?
Chrome Shelled Regios (ZEXCS (sure, why not))
Description (AniDB):
The world was infected by “Pollutant” years ago – world cracked open and generally screwed up. This Pollutant spawns nasty “Pollutant Beasts”, but it’s also resulted in people gaining special powers. The towns that now litter the world are protected by alchemists and are mobile – these are the “Regios” of the title.
The story follows a guy named Lei-Fon Alseif who starts at a new school following the disappearance of his childhood friend and gets recruited into the special 17th Platoon in order to combat Pollutant Beasts.
Personal points of interest:
Don’t really know much about this one except that it’s adapted from some light novels (there was a time when I thought this was a positive thing. Time before ZnT and Shana). Looks like a steampunk-ish adventure series and there seems to be a bunch of cute girls too. Why not.
Kurokami (Sunrise)
Description (Unknown source):
A game programmer named Keita is caught up in a battle with Kuro – a guardian of the coexistence equilibrium. Kuro saves Keita’s life and regenerates the arm that Keita loses after their first meeting.
Personal points of interest:
From the looks of it I’m guessing this is a super-power martial arts battle series of some kind. Provided with slick animation I see a high potential for brainless entertainment. Is this going to be the weekly medium 300 gram steak served with fried potatoes and dark beer? Do not disappoint me, Sunrise.
Akikan! (Brains Base)
Description (AniDB):
Akikan (”Empty Can”) is the unlikely story of high school boy Kakeru Daichi, whose can of melon juice soda magically transforms into a human girl. Naturally, more “akikan” girls begin appearing, each of them needing to be infused with carbon dioxide from kissing to survive.
Personal points of interest:
If this isn’t going to be at least twice as retarded as it sounds as black on white, I’m going to start doing the lottery. But having one retarded show in the bunch brings a bit of diversity in the mix – at the very least it makes the other shows look better. Also, Suzuhira Hiro.
UPDATE: After seeing the pre-release of the first episode I must say that for once I’m left speechless. So let me quote my buddy Morpheus here: “Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Akikan! is. You have to see it for yourself.”
Queen’s Blade (ARMS)
Description (ANN):
In 4 years time the competition that will decide who the next Queen shall be will start. The strongest warrior will continue to rule the country according to tradition and expand it. The contestants need only be older than 12 years. They need not be human, intelligent or even of that country. The rules for the tournament are simple: murder is allowed. Any weapon can be chosen. The winner is decided when one of the participants flees or can’t move anymore. Such event is broadcasted trough a crystal sphere by the court’s magic teacher to all population to see and enjoy.
Personal points of interest:
Hot girls, fighting and hot girls fighting. Might rival Akikan! in sheer retardedness but its all-ace seiyuu cast is hard to ignore – especially when it includes my all time favorite Mizuhashi Kaori. Not very surprisingly the production company has previously been in charge of Ikki Tousen, so there’s very little doubt about what to expect.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei (OVA, Studio DEEN)
Description:
The long awaited return to Hinamizawa is at hand!
Personal points of interest:
I’m a higutard. Enough said.
I will also pick one of these shows for episodic blogging as my experience from blogging Chaos;HEAd was mainly positive. More about this later, I doubt I can make the decision before seeing the pilot episodes.