Announcing My Spring 2009 Season Watchlist
Author: nova
Naoyuki approves this season.
The winter 2009 season is grinding towards its end and as such I thought it would be a good time to start having a look at what the soon starting spring season has to offer. The series listed here are the ones I mainly have my eye on but as was the case last time, the list ended up undergoing quite a few changes once the shows started airing.
Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!! (Studio Hibari)
Description (Unknown source):
The story revolves around Puragu or Juuden-chan, a mysterious officer lady (OL) who came to our world from a parallel world to “charge” up dejected people.
Personal points of interest:
Directed by Kimura Shinichiro whose speciality seems to be lightweight love comedy (Mahoraba, Hand Maid May, Karin, Popotan), there is little doubt about what kind of show Juuden-chan will be. But hell, Akikan! is ending soon anyway so there is a vacancy.
Hatsukoi Gentei / Hatsukoi Limited (JC Staff)
Description (Unknown source):
The story begins when middle-schooler Arihara Ayumi receives a love letter from a very large and intimidating high-schooler, Zaitsu Misao, asking her out. It also follows the stories and everyday lives of high and junior high school girls in her life.
Personal points of interest:
Another show from JC “Adaptation” Staff about high school lovelife, Hatsukoi looks a lot like a second attempt at KimiKiss. The series is an adaptation of a manga by Kawashita “Ichigo 100%” Mizuki which explains the striking similarity in art style. Granted, I’m pretty much bored of the high school setting at least now that Toradora! is reaching its conclusion, but I do have good memories of Ichigo 100% anime despite Madhouse’s lame graphical work. Tuning in for now, but will likely bail out if the series feels too generic.
K-ON! (KyoAni)
Description (AniDB):
Adaption of kakifly’s seinen yonkoma manga series K-ON! (pronounced “kei on”). The story about four high school girls that try to sustain their school’s popular music club despite being unable to read music or play instruments has been serialized in Manga Time Kirara magazine since 2007.[sic]
Personal points of interest:
KyoAni’s another shot at 4koma adaptation. Since pretty much everyone and their moms remember how it turned out last time, there is little reason in missing K-ON! As much as I hate to say it, the show has a strong chance of falling into the category of “to watch so at least I know what the heck everyone’s talking about all the time“. However I must point out that I didn’t enjoy Lucky Star much at all – although at least K-ON! is focused on something less overused subject than an otaku reference parade. In any case I do not intend to repeat my childhood experience of being the only kid in town without a He-man toy – K-ON! is on the list.
Natsu no Arashi! (SHAFT)
Description (AniDB):
Thirteen-year-old Yasaka is a boy staying at his grandfather’s house during his summer vacation. One day he entered a store and met Arashi, a beautiful sixteen-year old girl working there. After trying to protect her from a man who claims to have been hired by her family to take her back by force, Yasaka ran away with her and now she stays at his grandpa’s place with him. It didn’t take much time for Yasaka to figure out that his new friend is far from an ordinary girl, as she possesses mysterious powers. The plot thickens when he finds a sixty-year-old picture of Arashi and another girl named Kaja, and to the surprise of all Kaja suddenly appears, and just like Arashi, her appearance hasn’t changed at all since then.
Personal points of interest:
Adapted from a manga by Kobayashi “School Rumble” Jin. And what is a watchlist without a SHAFT show? The plot description for the show is vague as hell but it looks like a typical setting for slice-of-life style mystery comedy (Kannagi anyone?). All the better if you ask me, I’ve been dying for a relaxed summer show recently.
Queen’s Blade: Rurou no Senshi (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:
Oh that’s simple. A total of two of them. Per character. Har har, but let’s be serious. Not much to explain; it’s hot girls, fighting and hot girls fighting. The production house ARMS’ previous works include Ikki Tousen so most of you probably know the drill. Since the voice cast is filled to the rim with high-profile names, Queen’s Blade is pretty much a wet dream of any modern seiyuu nerd – only Horie Yui is missing.
Ristorante Paradiso (David)
Description (Unknown source):
A restaurant in Rome is visited by Nicoletta, who lives in the countryside with her grandparents. Her divorced mother abandons her after remarrying, and so Nicoletta goes to the restaurant owned by the new husband of her mother, and ends up apprenticing there among a kitchen staff of colorful characters.
Personal points of interest:
A very fresh-sounding idea for an anime show – definitely on the list.
Saki (GONZO)
Description (Unknown source):
The story centers around Saki Miyanaga, a timid freshman girl who has never enjoyed the Asian tile game of mahjong. However, another freshman brings her into their high school’s mahjong club and into the competitive world of mahjong tournaments.
Personal points of interest:
Looks like a typical cute-girls-doing-cute-things-show with mahjong mixed in. I know next to nothing about this board game and as such I guess this is a good opportunity to learn something about it. Also, in b4 durr Gonzo SUKKXS gais.
Senjou no Valkyria: Gallian Chronicles (A1 Pictures)
Description (AniDB):
In the 1930’s EC, Europa is split by the Empire and the Federation, the two dominant military powers that divide the continent. The two powers struggled for ultimate supremacy, inevitably starting the E.W.II (Second Europan War) involving all of Europa. Gallia, a small independent nation situated between the two super powers now faces attacks from the Imperial Army due to its availability of Ragnite. The Gallian Army is overmatched by the Imperial forces and must retreat quickly. But just when the nation was about to surrender its capital city, one squad leader’s unusual strategy defeats the Imperial Army. The name of that young lieutenant was Welkin Gunther and this is his story.
Personal points of interest:
Sound familiar? A little TOO familiar? I can’t help but to see Valkyria as a WWII-version of Tytania. However the starting setting wasn’t the reason why Tytania failed as miserably as it did, so I will do my best to refrain from judging the show just yet. As Valkyria is an adaptation of a Playstation 3 game, it hardly comes as a surprise that the anime project has been entrusted to Sony’s subsidiary’s subsidiary A1 Pictures. Some may remember A1 for doing a quite nice job with Kannagi just lately and hopefully the studio intends to maintain that level of quality in Valkyria. Military and WWII are some of my favorite themes so despite the nasty Tytania-vibes I will be tuning in on this. It’s a Sony!
Shangri-La (GONZO)
Description (AniDB):
The story takes place in the middle of the 21st century when global warming has turned Tokyo into a tropical city. To reduce the temperature at the heart of the city by 5°C (9°F), the city is being reborn as the world’s largest forest city. However, despite the flow of refugees to the new city of Atlas, there are not many residents who can actually live there. Moreover, anti-government guerillas are attempting to stop the forestation.
Personal points of interest:
Well, I happen to study the field of forestry and have also taken a course in forestation of urban areas. The story sounds interesting too, so I guess I’ll be checking it out for at least to be able to point out all the factual inaccuracies. Will the dynamic duo GONZO & Range Murata manage to push out another Last Exile? Let’s hope so.