Anime On Demand Summer 2011 Line-up Guide

Thankfully, after a few delays, Anime On Demand has all of their line-up for the summer anime season up and I’m here to give you a quick guide on what to expect from the new offerings that Japan has to offer. Just to note before I start: Tiger & Bunny, Steins;Gate and Nichjou are still continuing on from last season, so expect more episodes from these shows.

Usagi Drop

When attending his grandfather’s funeral, Daikichi, a 31-year-old bachelor, sees a young girl named Rin in front of his grandfather’s house. It is later revealed that she is the illegitimate child of her grandfather and an unknown mother. After a family discussion as to whether Rin should be sent for adoption or not, Daikichi decides to take her into his care.

I’m not afraid to say that, even at this early stage, Usagi Drop is so far one of the best Slice-Of-Life series I’ve seen this year. The interactions between Daikichi and  Rin are both heart-warming and comical as Daikichi tries to discovers what it means to become a parent and what he has to sacrifice in doing so. Add to that the fact that Production I.G, one of the best anime studios in Japan, is producing it, and you have one of the best offerings on Anime On Demand right now.

It may not appeal to everyone, but this is a full recommendation to any anime fan looking for an engaging experience.

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian

In the early 20th century, Hugh Anthony Disward receives word that his grandfather has passed away, leaving him his old mansion and library. After arriving at the mansion, Huey meets Dalian, a young girl surrounded by library books. He and Dalian investigate mysteries of prohibited demon books that have been unleashed.

The studio behind this one is Gainax, and if you come to it expecting crazy, over-the-top fights like FLCL, then you will be sadly disappointed. However, The Mystic Archives of Dantalian does well in giving us some interesting stories, while providing a convincing post-WW1 England setting; it also has a great haunting soundtrack, something that I haven’t encountered in anime for a while.

This will appeal to viewers who enjoy a good mystery series.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan 

Note: Anime On Demand will also be airing the second season of Nura but for the moment I shall write my thoughts on the first season since these episodes are currently available.

In this world, we find out that Youkai exist secretly to serve their master. We are introduced to Rikuo Nura, who looks like your normal average middle school student, but was born with  Youkai blood which can turn him into a powerful leader of spirits. He is supposed to become the successor to his grandfather and the new master of the Nura clan but all he wants is to live a normal life.

This series has shounen written all over it. Fans of Naruto and Bleach are the main audience for this series but even so, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan does well in its action sequences and delivers interesting Youkai characters.

If you’re a fan of shounen action/supernatural anime, then this one is for you.

Twin Angel: Twinkle Paradise

Haruka Minazuki and Aoi Kannazuki are normal students at St. Cherine Academy but they are also the magical girl duo “Twin Angels” who fight evil whenever it occurs. Haruka has the energetic personality, while Aoi has a more mature one, but they always stick together as team-mates and friends.

While watching Twin Angels it’s best not to take it seriously because it’s ridiculously silly even for a magical girl show. At the start, most of the common tropes are thrown at you to try and provide some humour; maybe the appeal of it is just to have fun.

If you want some mindless entertainment then Twin Angel: Twinkle Paradise may provide it.

A Dark Rabbit Has Seven Lives

When Taito Kurogane wakes up from a dream of a vampire girl confessing her love to him and giving him her “blood”, he is just a regular high school student. It is not until he leaves school and gets hit by a truck that we find out he is not exactly normal, since he can die and survive multiple times. So who was that girl in his dreams and what awaits him?

While the premise sounds damn cool, it is unfortunately downgraded by its copious fan-service. Panty shots are common and the humour is poor, however the action does kind of make up for it and the mystery of Taito’s past is interesting enough.

Don’t take this one too seriously and you will see some promise in A Dark Rabbit Has Seven Lives – just don’t expect a deep experience from it.

R-15

In Hirameki Gakuen school only geniuses who excel may apply. Meet Akutagawa Takuto, a talented porn novelist, who can write any type of perverted story when he gets the chance; this is where he meets other geniuses with their own personalties and talents.

This is probably the hardest series to get into out of the summer selection. R-15 is heavily censored and really isn’t the most engaging series of the bunch, but some of you may like this kind of thing.

So I would only recommend it, if you want a harmless fan-service show and don’t mind the censorship.

All episode are available on Anime On Demand: http://www.anime-on-demand.com/