[caraniel]

Aah Summer; that wonderful season that actively encourages us to get out the house by scheduling a load of lacklustre titles - and this season looks to be no exception……….

No! Bad Cara, at least attempt to be positive in the intro!

*Ahem*

For previous Season Summaries click here

Spring 2012
Winter 2012
Autumn 2011
Summer 2011
Spring 2011
Winter 2011
Autumn 2010
Summer 2010
Spring 2010
Winter 2010
Autumn 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008/9
Autumn 2008
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2007/8

As usual this is all my own conjecture and we all know I’ve been repeatedly proven wrong – something that I actually enjoy when it happens, it’s no fun being right all the time! So let’s get to the preview already.

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Kingdom

Website: http://www9.nhk.or.jp/anime/kingdom/
Animation Studio: Pierrot (Naruto, Polar Bear Café)
Japanese Airdate: 4th June 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Masakazu Morita, Koji Yusa, Rie Kugimiya
Director: Jun Kamiya (Blue Seed, Hikaru no Go)
Series Composition: Naruhisa Arakawa (Legend of Black Heaven, Elemental Gelade)
PV: http://youtu.be/_gIxkfoH8Fo

(Original post by Summary: )
Based on Yasuhisa Hara’s historical manga series.
In the Warring States Period of ancient China (475-221 BCE), Shin and Hyou are war-orphans in the kingdom of Qin. They dream of one day proving themselves on the battlefield. One day, however, Hyou is taken to the palace by a minister. Winding up on the losing side of a power-struggle, Hyou manages to return to the village, barely alive. Shin then meets a boy who closely resembles Hyou, Ei Sei. For now he is the king of Qin; later he will become the emperor Shi Huangdi.

Not overly convinced by this – these historical Chinese shows rarely pan out well. That being said, it’s a good cast, Pierrot are old hand at shounen shows (although the animation looks fantastically dodgy in the PV) and the director can do good things occasionally, so you never know……I’m still not overly interested though.

Tari Tari

Website: http://taritari.jp/
Animation Studio: PA Works (Another, True Tears)
Japanese Airdate: 1st July 2012
Seiyuu: Asami Seto, Ayahi Takagaki, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Saori Hayami
Director & Series Composition: Masakazu Hashimoto (Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa, Professor Layton & the Eternal Diva)
PV: http://youtu.be/TqK_dmWitW0

(Original post by Summary: )
The story centres around five Japanese high school students who are too young to be called adults, but who no longer think of themselves as children. Wakana Sakai once took music lessons, but she withdrew from music after losing her mother. Konatsu Miyamoto is a positive-thinking girl who loves singing and spends time after school at the vocal music club. Sawa Okita is a spirited archery club member who dreams of becoming a horse rider. Taichi Tanaka is a chronically late badminton team member who lives with his college student sister. "Wiin" just transfered into Wakana's class after 12 years abroad in Australia. Music brings Wakana, Konatsu, Sawa and the others together into an ensemble during their last summer in high school.

No getting away from the Hana-saku Iroha comparisons here – basically looks like the same show with a few tweaks. Now I didn’t particularly like HanaIro, and in general I haven’t much liked PA Works back catalogue, as even though they always turn out a fantastically pretty show, they’ve yet to deliver on the story/character side for me. Just from looking at the PV and reading the synopsis, I’m getting those same shallow vibes again – hopefully I’m wrong, I really want to like something by PA Works!

Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashi-ta (Humanity Has Declined)

Website: http://www.maql.co.jp/special/jintai/
Animation Studio: AIC ASTA (Bamboo Blade, Persona 4)
Japanese Airdate: 1st July 2012
Seiyuu: Mai Nakahara, Unshou Ishizuka
Director: Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats, Seto no Hanayome)
Series Composition & Script: Makoto Uezu (School Days, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?)
PV: http://youtu.be/AwP3A9ARW4E

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Romeo Tanaka’s light novel series.
The story is set several centuries into the slow decline of mankind. Earth has now become the realm of "fairies" — 10-centimeter-tall (about 4-inch-tall) creatures with remarkable intelligence. The human protagonist of the story serves an important duty as the international arbitrator between the fairies and humans, and she returns to her former hometown of Kusunoki. She chose this job because she thought it was an easy job she can do, even when she is as old as her grandfather. However, she learns that her job is anything but simple when she meets the fairies.

That PV……..what the feck did I just watch? This show will either be genius or horrible – there can be no middle ground, and it will depend entirely upon what kind of mood the director, Seiji Kishi, is in. The promo art for this show is really pretty, and the bizarre concept will lend itself well to comedy, but whether this actually pans out is debatable given the staffs track-record! I’m not overly fussed at the moment since the tiny fairy things are creeping me out, but I’m strange like that anyway. This is a wait & see show.

Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse

Website: http://muv-luv-te-anime.com/
Animation Studio: Satelight (Aquarion EVOL, Guin Saga)
Japanese Airdate: 1st July 2012
Seiyuu: Daisuke Ono, Mai Nakahara, Mamiko Noto, Atsuhi Ono, Rie Tanaka
Director: Takayuki Inagaki (Marginal Prince, Rosario + Vampire)
PV: http://youtu.be/2ekgtWOSPgg

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of a light novel spinoff of the original eroge by Age.
This side story follows the test pilots and mechanics in the United Nations Forces' Tactical Surface Fighter Testing Unit in Alaska. Japanese-American Yūya Bridges is the Argos Test Team's main pilot for "XFJ Project," the initiative that is developing the newest Tactical Surface Fighter. Yui Takamura is the head of development for the project from the Japanese Empire's side.

The only positive thing I can say here is that with Satelight providing the animation, this will at least look pretty good. Other than that, things aren’t so good. I’m particularly worried about the crap director and the fact that this is based on a spin-off novel of an eroge – not the most promising of source materials. Much as I like mecha, I’ll be passing on this – what kind of name is Muv-Luv anyway!?

Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi.

Website: http://www.anime-utakoi.jp/
Animation Studio: TYO Animations (Ginga e Kickoff!, Tamayura)
Japanese Airdate: 2nd July 2012
Seiyuu: Aya Endo, Junichi Suwabe, Saori Hayami, Yuuki Kaji
Director: Kenichi Kasai (Bakuman, Honey & Clover)
Series Composition: Tomoko Konparu (NANA, Kimi no Todoke)
PV: http://youtu.be/wMSuUUWwe8o

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Kei Sugita’s josei manga series.
The story is a “super-liberal interpretation” of the Hyakunin Isshu anthology of poems that were written between the 7th and 13th centuries in Japan. The anthology features 100 romantic poems from 100 different poets such as The Tale of Genji’s Murasaki Shikibu. The poems are also used as the basis for the karuta card game.

I’m actually looking forward to this – this is the kind of josei series I’d have traditionally expected to see in noitaminA. The staff and cast are top notch, and do their best work on this kind of show, so I am expecting good things. I quite like historical shows, and the manga this is based on is very popular – hopefully this will turn into something worth checking out.

Yuruyuri♪♪ (S2)

Website: http://yuruyuri.com/
Animation Studio: Dogakobo (11 Eyes, Koihime Musou)
Japanese Airdate: 2nd July 2012
Seiyuu: Minami Tsuda, Rumi Ookubo, Shiori Mikami, Yuka Otsubo
Director: Masahiko Ohta (Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe)
Series Composition & Script: Takashi Aoshima (Miname-ke, Mitsudomoe)
PV: http://youtu.be/BlsyQ_nCkck

(Original post by Summary: )
Second series of the anime adaptation of Namori’s manga series.
Right after starting middle school, Akari Akaza joins the Amusement Club which is composed solely of her two childhood friends, Kyouko Toshinou and Yui Funami. Chinatsu Yoshikawa, Akaza's classmate, becomes a member after finding out about the dissolution of the Tea Club. The Amusement Club, situated at the tea room facility since the Tea Club disbanded, has no clear purpose, being free for the girls to do whatever they want.

Didn’t watch the first season; not interested.

Binbou-gami ga!

Website: http://www.binbogamiga.net/
Animation Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, Daily Lives of High School Boys)
Japanese Airdate: 4th July 2012
Seiyuu: Yumi Uchiyama, Kana Hanazawa
Director: Yoichi Fujita (Gintama)
Series Composition: Kento Shimoyama (Bleach, Rock-Lee & Pals)
PV:

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Yoshiaki Sukeno’s manga series)
Sakura Ichiko is a 16-year-old girl who leads a charmed life and is blessed with beauty, brains, and health. She has an abundance of "Happiness Energy", which can make people happy, but at the cost of absorbing all the Happiness Energy from her surroundings. She has caused the energy balance of the world to become unbalanced, and because of this she becomes the target of a Poverty God named Momiji. Momiji goal is to remove Ichiko's power of absorbing other people's Happiness Energy and to return all the energy she has taken to its rightful place.

Okay this could be excellent if it’s handled well as the concept sounds strange enough to be funny and interesting. The director of the latter half of Gintama gives me hope, but I’m quite worried about the series composition since Bleach & Rock-Lee were both rubbish on that front. Will be checking out.

Moyashimon Returns

Website: http://kamosuzo2.tv/
Animation Studio: Shirogumi Inc. (Antique Bakery) / Telecom Animation Film (Oji-san no Lamp)
Japanese Airdate: 5th July 2012
Seiyuu: Daisuke Sakaguchi, Sayaka Ohara, Katsuyuki Konishi, Mitsuki Saiga
Director: Yuichiro Yano (Uninhabited Planet Survive, Moyashimon)
Series Composition: Natsuko Takahashi (07-Ghost, Gankutsuou
PV: http://youtu.be/fFR12n77U8U

(Original post by Summary: )
Second series of the anime adaptation of Masayuki Ishikawa’s manga series. Airing in the noitaminA timeslot.
Moyashimon follows the life of Tadayasu Sawaki, a first-year college student at an agricultural university, who has the unique ability to see and communicate with micro-organisms and bacteria. Additionally, these organisms look much different to him, and much larger, than what can be seen under a microscope by normal people. This ability has brought him a bit of fame as when he entered the university, Tadayasu discovered that one of the professors there, Keizō Itsuki, already knew about his gift via Tadayasu's grandfather. Professor Itsuki's coworker Haruka Hasegawa has trouble believing what Tadayasu claims at first, but later comes to accept it. Tadayasu enters the university with his good friend Kei Yūki whose family runs a sake brewery.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! !! I am so fecking excited about this – even if the rest of the season is pure ****e, I will be happy since I have my Moyashimon sequel! I love this series to bits – it just did everything right for me and I can not wait to watch more. If you haven’t seen the original yet – get on that now, it’s only 11 episodes and it is genius. Lets Brew~!

Natsuyuki Rendezvous

Website: http://natsuyuki.tv/
Animation Studio: Dogakobo (11 Eyes, Koihime Musou)
Japanese Airdate: 5th July 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Sayaka Ohara, Yuichi Nakamura
Director: Kou Matsuo (Rozen Maiden, Red Garden)
PV: http://youtu.be/6oDCox3Izl8

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Haruka Kawachi’s josei manga series – airing in the noitaminA timeslot.
Ryosuke works part-time as a florist. He has bad eyesight, a pure heart, and a secret crush on the store manager, Rokka. Unfortunately for him, Rokka swore off love 8 years ago. But when Ryosuke goes up to her apartment on the second floor, he runs into a good-looking half-naked man. At first upset, he learns that this isn't Rokka's live-in boyfriend; he's the ghost of her late husband, Atsushi. She can't see him, and Ryosuke decides not to give up on her, even with a dead husband standing in the way.

Holy god the flowers – looks like a hayfever suffers worst nightmare! Anyway, this looks like bog-standard josei, and I can’t say I’m massively excited about it. I am very impressed by the cast, and the director is also very talented – so I’d imagine this will be a very well done and polished show. However it still seems to lack that something extra that most noitiaminA shows have – I would have expected Uta Koi to here instead if I’m honest.

Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate (Love, Election & Chocolate)

Website: http://www.koichoco.com/
Animation Studio: AIC Build (Haganai, Oreimo)
Japanese Airdate: 5th July 2012
Seiyuu: Eriko Nakamura, Yuichi Nakamura, Asami Imai, Kenichi Suzumura
Director: Toru Kitahata
Series Composition & Script: Katsuhiko Takayama (Mirai Nikki, ef: A Tale of Memories)
PV: http://youtu.be/zRNvRDzpJmk

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of sprite/fairys’ eroge.
Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate follows the protagonist Yūki Ōjima, who attends Takafuji Private Academy a large school with over 6,000 students. Yūki is a member of the Food Research Club along with seven others, including his childhood friend Chisato Sumiyoshi. The members leisurely spend their time in the club not doing much activities. When the election of the next student council president comes up, the front runner Satsuki Shinonome proposes that clubs that have no merit should be sorted out and abolished. The Food Research Club seeks advice from the current student council president Yakumo Mōri, who suggests Yūki run in the election as an opposing candidate. Yūki learns about the issues facing the school and decides to run in the election.

Pretty much the same team as for Haganai and Oreimo, so fully expecting a nice polished looking show with the all the depth of a puddle on a sunny day; although saying that the character designs are fecking horrendous looking so it may not even have that going for it. Otherwise this is about as by numbers as you get for eroge adaptations. Not interested in the slightest.

Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru! (One of them is my younger sister!)

Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/nakaimo/
Animation Studio: Studio Gokumi (A-Channel, Koe de Oshigoto)
Japanese Airdate: 5th July 2012
Seiyuu: Asuka Ogame, Ayana Taketatsu, Ayane Sakura, Kaori Ishihara
Director: Munenori Nawa (Fortune Arterial, KissxSis)
Series Composition: Go Zappa (Chocotto Sister, Koihime Musou)
PV: http://youtu.be/gcFq7K340r4

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Hajime Taguchi’s light novel series.
The story centers around Shōgo Mikadono, the son of an industrial magnate named Kumagorō Mikadono who passed away. As a final wish, Kumagorō gave Shōgo a condition before Shōgo can inherit the family legacy — find a female mate at school. Shōgo transfers into a school to fulfill that condition. However, he learns that he has a younger sister who was separated at birth. He does not know what his long-lost sister looks like, but she happens to be one of the students at his new school.

Looks like we’re starting to scrape the bottom of that barrel labelled “incest flavoured light novel crap”. Looking at the studio & staff involved, I have absolutely no hope for this show – doubt it would even make a good drinking game.

Joshiraku

Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/joshiraku/
Animation Studio: JC Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Kimi to Boku)
Japanese Airdate: 5th July 2012
Seiyuu: Ayane Sakura, Kotori Koiwai, Nozomi Yamamoto, Saori Goto
Director: Tsutomu Mizushima (Another, Ika Musume, xxxHOLiC)
Series Composition: Michiko Yokote (Genshiken, Princess Tutu, xxxHOLiC)
PV: http://youtu.be/OwZP02bXLeg

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Koji Kumeta’s (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei) manga series.
The story follows the behind-the-scenes dressing-room conversations of a group of female (joshi) Japanese verbal show (rakugo) performers as they discuss random things and usually reach an unusual or humorous conclusion that's far from the initial discussion topic.

A Koji Kumeta adaptation that isn’t by Shinbo/SHAFT!? Whatever next, a Key title not by KyoAni!?.......oh wait. I’m not sure about this, initially I wasn’t all that fussed because those Toradora character designs made me think it would be fluffy crap, but the author is zany enough to make people sitting around talking interesting. The director is great at comedy (he’s rubbish at horror though) but JC Staff just haven’t shown any creative flair recently, and you’re really going to need that to make a show with this kind of concept work. Whether this is worth watching can only be decided after I’ve seen the first episode.

Campione!

Website: http://www.campi-anime.com/
Animation Studio: Diomedea (Lotte’s Toy, Ika Musume)
Japanese Airdate: 6th July 2012
Seiyuu: Yoko Hikasa, Yo****sugu Matsuoka, Eri Kitamura, Kana Hanazawa
Director: Kezou Kusokawa (Inukami, Sekirei)
Series Composition: Jukki Hanada (Steins;Gate, Nichijou)
PV: http://youtu.be/4cv2hOw9jkQ

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Jou Taketsuki’s light novel series.
The "battle fantasy" story follows an ordinary high school student named Godō Kusanagi who kills a god and claims its powers. As a result, Godō becomes a Campione who slays other gods.

Another magical girlfriend light novel adaptation. Yay – just what the world needs. Pretty mixed bag on the staffing front and Diomedea haven’t really set the world alight with their creativity, so I can’t see this being anything other than painfully generic.

Hagure Yuusha no Estetica (Estetica of a Rogue Hero)

Website: http://kichiku.tv/
Animation Studio: ARMS (Elfen Lied, Ikki Tousen)
Japanese Airdate: 6th July 2012
Seiyuu: Nobuhiko Okamoto, Yoko Hikasa, Atsuhi Abe, Kana Hanazawa
Director: Rion Kujo (Asu no Yoichi, Mayoi Neko Overrun!)
Series Composition: Ryunosuke Kingetsu (Manabi Straight, Hyakka Ryōran Samurai Girls)
PV: http://youtu.be/KR7ZmPnvGuo

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Tetsuto Uesu’s light novel series.
The story follows an international training organization named Babel which protects the young people returning from another world. A wayward hero named Akatsuki has come back to the real world from a world of sword and magic called Areizaado, along with beautiful girl who is a demon king's daughter.

If only this wasn’t ARMS this could have been mildly interesting. But just looking at the PV puts all hopes that this could be interesting to bed – boobs and cheap fanservice, because that seems to be all ARMS seem to know how to do.

Dog Days' (Dog Days Dash) S2

Website: http://www.dogdays.tv/
Animation Studio: Seven Arcs (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Asura Cryin’)
Japanese Airdate: 7th July 2012
Seiyuu: Ami Koshimizu, Mamoru Miyano, Yui Horie, Aoi Yuki, Nana Mizuki
Director: Junji Nishimura (Kyo Kara Maoh!, Simoun)
Script & Original Creator: Masaki Tsuzuki (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha)
PV: http://youtu.be/iPcpp44a4cg

(Original post by Summary: )
Second series.
In the land of Fronaldo, the Republic of Biscotti has been aggressively attacked by the Lion Kingdom of Galette. Facing potential defeat, Princess Millhiore summons a hero who can save the country. What she gets is Izumi Shinku, a middle-school boy from Japan. Awaiting him in Fronaldo is the task of becoming hero enough to defeat his enemies while learning the peculiar rules of battle in this strange new world.

Didn’t watch the first season, won’t bother with this. Still, I’m slightly bewildered by why this has a second season in the first place, as I wasn’t aware this was popular!

[caraniel]

Oda Nobuna no Yabou (Oda Nobuna’s Ambition)

Website: http://odanobuna.com/
Animation Studio: Studio Gokumi (A-Channel) / Madhouse (Death Note)
Japanese Airdate: 8th July 2012
Seiyuu: Kanae Ito, Takuya Eguchi, Emiri Kato, Mamiko Noto
Director: Yuuji Kumazawa
Series Compostion & Script: Masashi Suzuki (Kanokon, Shuffle!)
PV: http://youtu.be/8te_7g9D-sA

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Miyage Kasuga’s light novel series.
Ordinary high schooler Yoshiharu gets pulled into a time slip to the warring states period. There he meets Nobuna Oda - not Nobunaga, Nobuna. In this world, all the famous warlords of the era are female. Nobuna recruits Sagara, who she dubs "Monkey," to help her in her quest to rule the world.

It wouldn’t be a new season without the prerequisite genderbent Sengoku era show. I kinda have to admire how completely this idea has been run into the ground at this point, and how it has never (in my experience) been done well. I am utterly perplexed by why Madhouse is working with Studio Gokumi of all people for this show – ****s and giggles?

Ebiten: Kouritsu Ebisugawa Koukou Tenmon-Bu

Website: http://ebiten.jp/
Animation Studio: AIC Classic
Japanese Airdate: 14th July 2012
Seiyuu: Iori Nomizu, Kana Asumi, Mariya Ise, Satomi Sato
Director: Hideki Okamoto (Sengoku Otome - Momoiro Paradox, Nagasarete Airantou)
Series Composition: Yuuko Kakihara (Persona 4, Sora no Otoshimono)
Script: SCA-ji (original creator)
PV:

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of SCA-ji & Kira Inugami’s comedy manga series.
The story centers around Itsuki Noya, a boy who wishes to join his school's astronomy club (tenmon-bu). However, he actually entered the similarly named Tenmon-bu — a club for fujoshi (female otaku) interests.

Christ almighty those character designs are terrifying! I can’t look away! Otaku pandering crap ahoy~!

Rinne no Lagrange Season 2

Website: http://lag-rin.com/
Animation Studio: XEBEC (Fafner, Ladies Vs Butlers)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Kaori Ishihara, Ai Kayano, Asami Seto, Hiroyuki Yoshino
Director: Tatsuo Sato (Moretsu Pirates, Cat Soup)
PV: http://youtu.be/jauks5bMPHs

(Original post by Summary: )
Second series.
Madoka is the lone member of her school's Jersey Club. She is one day recruited by a mysterious girl named Lan to pilot the robot "Vox" and protect her city from space invaders. They are joined by a third girl, Muginami, who has a different goal than Ran. Meanwhile, they still don't know their enemies' true goal, or what "Rinne" might be.

I got bored of the first season about 4-5 episodes in and dropped it. I thought the best thing about the show was the OP, so won’t be bothering with the 2nd season.

Sword Art Online

Website: http://www.swordart-online.net/
Animation Studio: A-1 Pictures (Ao no Exorcist, Tsuritama)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Ayana Tatetatsu, Haruka Tomatsu, Kanae Ito, Yo****sugu Matsuoka
Director: Tomohiko Ito (Occult Academy)
Music: Yuki Kajiura (Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
PV: http://youtu.be/7K0XPZjDIkY

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Reki Kawahara’s (Accel World) light novel series.
The story of Sword Art Online revolves around a genius programmer named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

“From the creator of Accel World!” isn’t really convincing me that this isn’t going to be the exact same as every other light novel adaptation on this list. Sure it all looks really pretty, A-1 Pictures do good work, and I do love Yuki Kajiura’s music; but that doesn’t really distract me from the fact the premise isn’t all that exciting and the director has only really done Occult Academy on his own. I’d really love to be proven wrong, but I think I’d be better off finally watching .Hack instead.

Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere II (Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II)

Website: http://genesis-horizon.net/
Animation Studio: Sunrise (Gintama, Cowboy Bebop)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Monori Chihara, Ao Matayoshi, Ai Shimizu, Ami Koshimizu
Director: Manabu Ono (Saki, Dragonaut)
Series Composition: Tatsuhiko Urahata (Cardfight Vanguard!, Ichigo 100%)
PV: http://youtu.be/0laxsGWaWqQ

(Original post by Summary: )
Second series of the anime adaptation of Minoru Kawakami’s light novel series.
In a distant future, Japan is divided into feudal territories, which have been conquered and are ruled by outside countries. The flying city-ship Musashi, which holds the remnants of the Japanese, is being targeted and has no choice but to keep its people safe by going to war. With the fate of the world resting on its hands, the students of Musashi may hold the key to victory.

I couldn’t watch the first season (and I really did try) so there is no way I’m touching this continuation.

La storia della Arcana Famiglia

Website: http://www.arcanafamiglia.com/
Animation Studio: JC Staff (Zero no Tsukaima, Nodame Cantabile)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Mamiko Noto, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Tomokazu Sugita, Yuichi Nakamura
Director: Chiaki Kon (Junjou Romantica, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
Series Composition: Masanao Akahoshi (Letter Bee Reverse, Toaru Majutsu no Index)
PV:

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of HuneX & Comfort Soft’s otome game.
The story follows Arcana Famiglia, a self-appointed organization with mysterious powers that has protected a small Mediterranean island from pirates, foreign countries, and other threats. The only daughter of the family's "Papa," Felicitá, will be married to the next head of the family in two months — and the successor will be decided in a competition that Felicitá herself will take part in.

Oooh bishie fluff, haven’t really had a good bishie fluff show in a while – please let this be better than the crap that was Hiiro no Kakera! I’m really quite partial to watching utter rubbish like this, so as long as it’s pretty, has a good cast and pretends to have some sort of plot, I’ll be very happy to sit and watch this!

Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai. (So I Can’t get Perverted)

Website: http://boku-h.com/
Animation Studio: feel. (Kanamemo, Listen to me girls, I am your father!)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Aya Endo, Hiro Shimono, Arisa Nishiguichi, Kaori Ishihara
Director: Takeo Takahashi (Cosprayers, Spice & Wolf)
Series Composition: Naruhisa Arakawa (Blue Seed, Elemental Gelade)
PV: http://youtu.be/bzaGSGkKQEI

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Pan Tachibana’s light novel series.
Kaga Ryōsuke is a pervert high school boy. One day, he meets a girl standing alone in the rain. She is Lisara Restor, an elite Shinigami, who visited the human world in order to find "Singular Man".
Ryosuke makes a contract with Lisara and she sucks energy required for her activity in the human world from Ryosuke. The source of the energy is his perverted spirit. To recover his sexual desire, Ryosuke has no choice but to help Lisarah's search.

Urgh……..no, just no. In all honesty I can’t think of a single good thing to say here; even the cast is meh.

Hakuouki: Reimeiroku

Website: http://www.geneonuniversal.jp/rondorobe/anime/hakuoki/
Animation Studio: Studio DEEN (Higurashi, Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Kousuke Toriumi, Shinichiro Mik, Toru Ohkawa, Kenjiro Tsuda
Director: Osamu Yamasaki (Itazura na Kiss, Toward the Terra)
PV:

(Original post by Summary: )
Third anime adaptation of the Idea Factory otome game – prequel.
See how the Shinsengumi came to be in Reimeiroku. Everything started when a beaten up, impoverished young man Ibuki Ryunosuke met Serisawa Kamo - the first leader of the Shinsengumi.

Beginning to seriously regret ever finishing the first series of Hakuouki now as it means I have to continue watching it. Really the only thing this show has going for it is the fact it’s really, really pretty and has an excellent voice cast; otherwise it’s boring as feck.

Chitose Get You!!

Website: http://www.takeshobo.co.jp/sp/tv_chitose/
Animation Studio: Silver Link (BakaTest, Tasogare Otome × Amnesia)
Japanese Airdate: 1st July 2012
Seiyuu: Sayaka Nakaya, Kotono Mitsuishi, Shinichi Kotani, Wataru Hatano
Director: Takao Sano
PV:

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Etsuya Mashima’s 4-koma manga series.
Chitose is an 11 year old girl who is madly in love with an older guy named Hiroshi. He works at the town hall right next to the school and Chitose spends every day relentlessly pursuing him. Can Chitose ever convince Hiroshi to go out with her?

4-koma, lolicon, Silver Link……..yeah, pass.

Kokoro Connect

Website: http://kokoro-connect.com/
Animation Studio: Silver Link (C3 Cube×Cursed×Curious, BakaTest)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Aki Toyosaki, Miyuki Sawashiro, Takahiro Sakurai, Keiji Fujiwara, Shizuka Itou
Director: Shin Oonuma (BakaTest, Natsu no Arashi) Shinya Kawamo (Meine Liebe, .hack//Gift)
Series Composition: Fumihiko Shimo (Clannad, Infinite Stratos)
PV: http://youtu.be/IGscVHu_MVI

(Original post by Summary:)
Anime adaptation of Sadanatsu Anda’s light novel series.
The Culture Research Club of Yamahoshi Academy. The strange events that befall the five boys and girls there, causing their bodies and souls to be swapped around at random. What can be seen from the viewpoint of the others?

Aside from the K-ON! character designs making me twitch, I’m kinda interested in Kokoro Connect. On one hand the premise is ripe for the bouncy comedy that Silver Link are good at, but the PV appears to be a bit overly melodramatic, which confuses me a bit. Still this has a strong staff and a good cast so it could be a surprise hit – keeping an eye on it for now.

Aruvu Rezuru: Kikai Jikake no Yousei-tachi (Mechanized Fairies)

Website:
Animation Studio: ZEXCS (Rental Magica, Legend of the Legendary Heroes)
Japanese Airdate: July 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Eri Kitamura
Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Script & Original Creator: Yuu Yamaguchi
PV:

(Original post by Summary: )
Anime adaptation of Yuu Yamaguchi’s cyber sci-fi novel.
Aruvu Rezuru is set a decade from now in the year 2022, as humanity continues to accelerate towards the technological singularity (the advent of computers that surpass humans). Thanks to advances in nano-assembly technology and man-machine interfaces, Nerve-seller Linker Nano-machines (NLN, a super-miniaturized wireless communications device that emulates neurons) have been brought into fruition and onto the marketplace.
A NLN bypasses the bottlenecks imposed by existing display/keyboard and touch panel interfaces by connecting the human nervous system wirelessly to external networks — thus allowing the human consciousness to seamlessly link to networks. However, as the barriers fall down between man and machine, the consciousness of tens of thousands of people become lost in the network, in an crisis that becomes known as "Early Rupture." A boy named Remu goes to take back the soul of his little sister, who disappeared in net space.

I really like high concept sci-fi like this, however a newbie director & Zexcs are putting a dampner on my enthusiasm. I’ll probably reserve judgement until at least a PV comes out, but the premise really does sound like something I’d be very interested in.

OVAs

Not covering half of the random OVAs / DVD specials that are coming out as it is too much effort.

Code Geass: Nunnally in Wonderland

Website: http://www.geass.jp/nunnally/
Animation Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, Gintama)
Japanese Release Date: 27th July 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukuyama, Kaori Nazuka, Ami Koshimizu, Yukana, Takahiro Sakurai
Director: Makoto Baba
Script: Yuuichi Nomura (Rinne no Lagange, Xam’d)
PV: http://youtu.be/pqc8hv_Ibq4

(Original post by Summary:)
Comedy special.
It's another Alice in Wonderland story when, while spending time with his sister one sunny day, Nunnally requests that Lelouch tells a story, like in old times. To grant his sister's request, Lelouch uses Geass on the entire cast of the Code Geass series.

Goofy Geass special – looks dumb as feck, but I will love it anyway because I’m that big a fan of Lelouch & CC.

Code Geass Gaiden: Boukoku no Akito (Akito the Exiled)

Website: http://geass.jp/akito/
Animation Studio: Sunrise (Accel World, Tiger & Bunny)
Japanese Release Date: August 2012
Seiyuu: Maaya Sakamoto, Miyu Irino, Ai Kayano, Keiji Fujiwara, Satoshi Hino
Director & Screenplay: Kazuki Akane (Escaflowne, Noein)
PV: http://youtu.be/gK8V6ZkLrlM

(Original post by Summary:)
Four episode side story.
The story takes place in 2017 a.t.b., around the time Lelouch took on the alter-ego “Zero” and built up his “Black Knights” rebellion army. The setting is in Europe, where the Euro Universe (E.U.) allied nations are being invaded by the overwhelming forces of the Holy Britannian Empire. On the verge of defeat, the E.U. army forms a special division known as “W-O″, of which a young pilot named Akito Hyuuga is a member. Layla Malkal , a former Britannian Aristocrat comes to the E.U.'s aid, commanding the “Wyvern” Knightmare corps comprised of Japanese teenagers. They recklessly plunge into a battlefield, where the survival rate is extremely low, at about 5% only. They fight for their freedom, and for a "home" to which they can return.

Okay here’s our new Geass project – which doesn’t have Lelouch or CC in it. Still it sounds and looks pretty cool, and I really loved Code Geass so I’m more than willing to give it every chance going. However this is apparently getting a cinema release, so god only knows when we’ll actually get see it.

Tight-Rope

Website: http://www.primetime.gs/tightrope/
Animation Studio: Prime Time (Kirepapa, Maiden Rose)
Japanese Release Date: 30th May 2012
Seiyuu: Jun Fukushima, Kazuya Ichijou, Shinnosuke Tachibana, Tatsuhisa Suzuki
PV: http://youtu.be/G965qfjglno

(Original post by Summary: )
Two episode OVA based on Isaku Natsume’s BL manga.
Tightrope tells the tale of the reluctant heir of a yakuza family and his childhood friend, and follows their love relationship that started budding in their school days and keeps developing slowly but surely.

Token BL OVA of the season – will watch since I watch them all regardless of how crap they inevitably are. It is such suffering to be a BL fan.

Khronos Gear

Website: http://mingame.jp/katayoku/
Animation Studio: AIC (Ah, My Goddess, Wandering Son)
Japanese Release Date: Summer
Seiyuu: Aoi Yuki, Tomoaki Maeno, Hiroshi Naka, Yumi Hara
Director: Hiroaki Hayashi (El Hazard, Tenchi Muyo!)
PV:

(Original post by Summary:)
Mixed media launch, will also be a game by G-Mode & a manga series.
The story is set in the near future not long from now, when humanity has completed an orbital elevator and begun developing the outer planets in earnest. An enigmatic extraterrestrial enemy known as "Obliquus" has set its sights on the solar system, and humanity enters a state of war with the first aliens it has encountered.
To counter the enemy's overwhelming technological superiority, the Khronos Foundation has assembled the descendants of every country's heroes from Japan's Musashi Miyamoto and Ryōma Sakamoto to France's Napoleon and Joan of Arc. The foundation then fuses the descendants with "Gear" battle suits as special biological weapons, thus giving birth to "Khronos Gear."

Another high concept show engineered to sell other properties – sounds interesting enough, but not keen on the look of the show.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay that’s that. Definitely not the best season I’ve ever seen – thank god I’ve got a good store of older shows I need to watch!

As always all the information has been cobbled together from a mix of ANN, The Fansub Wiki, MAL, Neregate’s Chart and everyone’s friend Google.

First impressions will be posted in July when stuff starts airing. Hopefully I’ll find something I want to watch besides Moyashimon at that stage.

As ever the first post will be updated with a list of what’s available through legal streaming on Crunchyroll.

‘Til then~!

~*Caraniel*~

Simulcasts!

Crunchyroll
Chitose Get You
Campione!
So I can't Play H!
Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Kokoro Connect
La Storia Della Arcana Famigila
Tari Tari

[AngryJellyfish]

Watching:

La storia della Arcana Famiglia - Not the kind of series I'd usually go for, but the first ep was enjoyable.

Tari Tari - The safe option in a season largely composed of dodgy sounding series.

Yuruyuri ♪♪ – A great reintroduction to the characters!

Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse – Not fantastic, but it should be interesting to watch a much darker mech show alongside the bright and happy Rinne no Lagrange!

Binbougami ga! - It made me laugh, a lot, which is all I need from a comedy series!

Moyashimon Returns – Not as good as the opening episode of the first series, but it would have had to have been absolutely awful for me to NOT pick it up... which it wasn't.

Natsuyuki Rendezvous – A decent introductory episode... I like that the seemingly cowardly male lead actually confessed in the first episode for once!

Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita - Sanity is overrated.

Joshiraku - Yeah, I'm more than happy to just laugh myself through this season.

Rinne no Lagrange S2 – Best OP and ED themes of the season?

Kokoro Connect – Not a spectacular first episode, but it has potential.

Sword Art Online – Looks to be the best non-comedy series of the season.

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II - Still do not know if want, but it's too late now.

Oda Nobuna no Yabou - This may end up as a generic harem, but the first episode was fun.


Dropped:

Campione! - BAD.

Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi – Not for me, I'm afraid.

Kingdom - The animation, no other reason.

Chitose Get You!! - Not sure it was worth the time spent downloading it, TBH.

Hagure Yuusha no Estetica - Better than Campione!, but still no.

Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru! - The dictionary definition of 'meh'.

Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai - Even better than Hagure Yuusha no Estetica, but STILL no.

Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate - Why wasn't my school like this?

Tanken Driland - Cute, but no.

Dog Days' – BORING.

Hakuouki Reimei-roku - Kill it with fire.

Ebiten: Kouritsu Ebi Sugawa Koukou Tenmonbu - Its own silly fault for airing so late.

Yurumates 3D+ - Bleh.

Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! Season 2 - Gotta catch 'em all.

[The Cornerstone]

I will probably use this season to watch shows I didn't watch before as so far there's only 1 (Aruvu Rezuru: Kikai Jikake no Yousei-tachi (Mechanized Fairies)) series interests me. Plus there's the two last OVAs of Tales of Symphonia and Persona 4 OVA that are in this season.

[Carecup]

Going off pure 'instinct' this season since the only one that I know of is Yuru Yuri.

Yuru Yuri

Aside from Ore Imouto perhaps the most surprisingly good and funny shows in quite a while. Hopefully they pull off a similar performance for second season.

Sword Art Online

I'm interested it in. Will give it a 2-3 episode chance to impress me.

Love Elections and Chocolate

Going in with my expectations set very low. Did the same with 'I have few friends' and got a couple of laughs even among all the ****.

One of them is my little sister

Don't judge me ok

Joshiraku

Will give it a couple of episodes and see how it goes.

K-ON S3

Why not.

And obviously the Code Geass OVA, although expecting the same kind of disappointment as the second season of the main show.

[vin]

Not interested in almost all of these.

So Ill be having a look at Moyashimon because the first series was rather good. Muv luv.. because Id heard of it being some sort of mecha visual novel. Didnt know it was an eroge. And that last one.. Mechanised fairies.. because the concept sounds good.. not so keen on the used of fairies in the title.. is it going to be about robotic fairies. Oh and of course those code geass thingies. But other than that will wait to hear about how things turn out.

[caraniel]

(Original post by vin)
Not interested in almost all of these.

So Ill be having a look at Moyashimon because the first series was rather good. Muv luv.. because Id heard of it being some sort of mecha visual novel. Didnt know it was an eroge. And that last one.. Mechanised fairies.. because the concept sounds good.. not so keen on the used of fairies in the title.. is it going to be about robotic fairies. Oh and of course those code geass thingies. But other than that will wait to hear about how things turn out.

Muv-Luv is getting some positive hype in the comments on my blog - I know nothing about VN's so I'll yield to their superior knowledge.........still a fecking stupid name.

Mechanised Fairies I am interested in, despite the presents of fairies in the title.......rather freaked out by the ones in Humanity has Declined though

[AngryJellyfish]

The first episode of Kingdom is already out - I didn't notice the June 4th start date. Apparently its a double length episode too.

[caraniel]

(Original post by AngryJellyfish)
The first episode of Kingdom is already out - I didn't notice the June 4th start date. Apparently its a double length episode too.

Just finished downloading it~! Wanna see just how they've done the CG animation - doubt it will be as smooth as the Berserk movie

[eugenius 8]

cheers cara

well im usually not much in an anime watching mood during the summer so not gona pick up much, will be definitely watching moyashimon yuru yuri and the code geass ovas

will pick a couple from the following if i fancy watching more:

tari tari
binbou
koi to choc
imouto
ebiten
kokoro concert
mecha fairies

[QHF]

(Original post by caraniel)
Muv-Luv is getting some positive hype in the comments on my blog - I know nothing about VN's so I'll yield to their superior knowledge.........still a fecking stupid name.

Muv-Luv Alternative is by reputation a great VN (which is like being the best striker on the second youth reserve team, but still); I'm planning to read it, after its predecessors, this summer. But I would be very surprised if the anime is good, though if we're very lucky the might get the CG robots right.

And yeah, it's a stupid name.

[Aiko]

I'll keep this relatively succinct by saying that as usual I'm intending to watch the first episode of practically everything that's airing, barring the second season of Horizon as I haven't finished the first.


Good work, Cara.

[Tabris]

(Original post by QHF)
Muv-Luv Alternative is by reputation a great VN (which is like being the best striker on the second youth reserve team, but still); I'm planning to read it, after its predecessors, this summer. But I would be very surprised if the anime is good, though if we're very lucky the might get the CG robots right.

And yeah, it's a stupid name.

It's about as good as a VN series can get. As much as I like the Fate series, Muv-Luv and its side materials are a cut above. A lot of people are put off by the thick layer of moe, harem and slice of life stereotypes in the first half of the main trilogy, but things like the world building and references throughout âge's VNs are always a treat. That said, most Muv-Luv fans don't tend to recommend it anyone who hasn't read a few dozen VNs first in order to properly appreciate it, otherwise it's a waste. I assume you do, if you know how bad VN writing generally is. If you do plan on reading it, I suggest you (re)watch KgNE and Akane Maniax too.

Spoiler:

Show

I also can't wait for secondary fans from places like MAL ruining decent discussion where possible, like they do for Fate (hipstermode)

Other than Yuru Yuri, Moyashimon and possibly Kokoro Connect, nothing else has really piqued my interest. Hopefully it'll be like the Winter just gone, initially uninteresting and ending up with a fair number of shows that ended up being pretty enjoyable..

Total Eclipse is still prime for me; I've been waiting for this since it was announced. A lot of the fanbase wants this to sell well in order for a glimmer of hope that the main trilogy gets animated, myself included. I doubt it will meet those expectations though.

Edit: Oh yeah, the K-On movie when the BDs are released and misc OVAs.

[QHF]

(Original post by Tabris)
A lot of people are put off by the thick layer of moe, harem and slice of life stereotypes in the first half of the main trilogy, but things like the world building and references throughout âge's VNs are always a treat. That said, most Muv-Luv fans don't tend to recommend it anyone who hasn't read a few dozen VNs first in order to properly appreciate it, otherwise it's a waste. I assume you do, if you know how bad VN writing generally is. If you do plan on reading it, I suggest you (re)watch KgNE and Akane Maniax too.

Among /m/en Muv-Luv has a reputation as being something of a trial for mech-heads, i.e. 'can you read through this much harem VN to appreciate the delicious love, courage and, most importantly, robots?', which I'm sure will be enough motivation to carry me onwards. At some point in my life I'll probably have to read Lydgate's Fall of Princes (36,000 lines of dullness!) for professional reasons, and I'm sure it'll be good preparation.

I'm familiar with Akane Maniax (because robots and hotblood) but not with KgNE beyond its outline. I guess I'll clear some space.

[vin]

Just noticed the thread title. Very appropriate.

[Tabris]

(Original post by QHF)
x

Honestly, the harem elements aren't as bad as people make it out to be. But people who end up reading Muv-Luv solely for the mechs end up being vastly disappointed by how little they actual feature in the main trilogy. Though there is a lot of it in side-materials.

The only reason I suggest KgNE is that there are references to it throughout Muv-Luv, being a sequel and all that. Not necessarily essential, but with most other things, it will help deepen your enjoyment out of ML.

[AngryJellyfish]

Mecha Fairies is going to be an OVA. And I'm going to be replacing it with Hagure Yuusha no Estetica on my list as a result. But whether I'll actually pick up 14 series this season, or write them all off after 1-2 episodes remains to be seen.

[QHF]

Aaaaaa I worked my way all the way through from Extra to the end of Muv Luv Alternative & Alternative was amazing -- for a VN.

Total Eclipse will probably still be pretty bad though.

[AngryJellyfish]

'Cruchyroll' has YuruYuri (no surprise), Oda Nobuna and Muv Luv Alternative.

[Truered]

So is there any reason why genderbent Sengoku era stuff has suddenly become a must have for over a year now?

Still uncertain about what I might try