Anime UK News Winter Anime Season Preview 2013

Ah, the winter. What images spring to mind? Snow and ice, a roaring fire in a snow-bound log-cabin deep in a forest? Well the reality of winter in the UK right now is rain and darkness and temperatures hovering just above freezing (only just!). What better way to avoid all of that than by staying at home and watching anime! The winter season is mere days away and Anime UK News, with the help of ANN and MAL, have created this handy Winter Anime Season Preview which covers a lot of the major series. Get ready for some really great looking titles!

Ai Mai Mi

Synopsis

Ai, Mai, Mi and Ponoka-sempai are high school girls who would be fighting evil and doing other dramatic things if they were not drawing manga.

Choborauyopomi’s four-panel comedy manga gets the anime treatment. Itsuki Imazaki is heavily involved in this but does he have the skill to make what looks like a standard scenario become noteworthy? His filmography includes stints as episode director on Divergence Eve and Haibane Renmei, and for that last title we should keep an eye on this.

The cast includes Yuka Otsubo who was also involved in Yuru Yuri and will be heard in another of this season’s show, Vividred Operation. She is joined by Aya Uchida (Tchie Fenille in Freezing), Ai Kayano (Menma in Anohana) and Maaya Uchida (Mari in Yuru Yuri).

Staff: Itsuki Imazaki (Director/Screenplay/Character Designer), Choborauyopomi (Original Creator)

Voice Actors: Ai Kayano (Ponoka-sempai), Aya Uchida (Mai), Maaya Uchida (Mii), Yuka Otsubo (Ai)

Studio: Seven

AKB0048 Next Stage

Synopsis:

It is the 21st century and after a devastating war that has left the Earth’s environment destroyed, humanity departs for the stars and starts anew under the control of the Super Galactic Alliance. A new era has also begun with Star Calendar 0000. Unfortunately the Alliance has taken extreme measures to enforce their rule with entertainment and songs being censored, regulated and eventually banned due to their emotional impact. For one idol group this situation cannot stand and they launch secret performances, bravely risking arrest and worse. That idol group is AKB0048, a group inspired by the legacy of AKB48 that launched its activities in Star Calendar 0048. Branded as terrorists, they are idols of fortune roaming the intergalactic underground, protecting entertainment and the fans who back them.

This is the sequel to AKB0048 which turned out to be a hit amongst fans and critics, winning the hearts of even the biggest detractors of the idol industry by being quite subversive. The staff and cast remain mostly unchanged with real-life AKB48 members playing the characters. Aquarion Evol creator Shoji Kawamori is directing alongside Yoshima Hiraike (Amagami SS) while Mari Okada (Canaan, Gosick, Hanasaku Iroha) is in charge of series composition. That is a lot of talent but can it sustain the goodwill generated by the first season?

Staff:Shoji Kawamori (Chief Director/Original Concept), Yoshimasa Hiraike (Director), Mari Okada (Series Composition/Script), Risa Ebata (Character Design)

Voice Actors:Amina Sato (Yuka Ichijo), Sawako Hata (Suzuko Kanzaki), Sumire Sato (Mimori Kishida), Haruka Ishida (Kanata Shinonome), Kumi Yagami (Sonata Shinonome), Mayu Watanabe (Chieri Sono), Karen Iwata (Nagisa Motomiya), Mao Mita (Makoto Yokomizo)

Studio: Satelight

Amnesia

Synopsis

On the morning of August 1, the heroine wakes up without memories. When a boy appears before her and claims to be a “spirit” named Orion, the heroine embarks on a journey to regain her memories under his guidance.

While the synopsis and the poster full of bishounen don’t immediately grab me, the names of some of the staff do. This drama is directed by Yoshimitsu Ohashi who has a number of great anime titles under his name like Sacred Seven and Bakumatsu, and then he directed Witchblade. Still, he’s got support from Touko Machida (Amagami SS) who is in charge of series composition.

Voice actors attached include Kaori Nazuka (Tsukasa in Amagami SS), Hiromi Igarashi (Tamaki in Minori Scramble), Kouki Miyata (Vash the Stampede in Trigun) and Kishou Taniyama (Sharnid in Chrome Shelled Regios)

Staff:Yoshimitsu Ohashi (Director), Touko Machida (Series Composition), Maho Yoshikawa (Character Designer), Yoshiaki Dewa (Music)

Voice Actors:Kaori Nazuka (Heroine), Hiromi Igarashi (Orion), Kouki Miyata (Ukyou), Kishou Taniyama (Ikki)

Studio: Brains Base

Bakumatsu Gijen-den Roman

Synopsis

“Roman” Manjiro is seen as a helpful person but just how helpful is unknown to most as he is a get-backer, a person who can get property back for people. Usually from men of power who take things unfairly. Roman is about to get involved with a nationwide conspiracy.

TMS Entertainment are back adapting another of Monkey Punch’s ideas but this one has a very historical angle as it is set in the Genroku era (1688-1704). Bakumatsu Gijin-den Roman is directed by Hirofumi Ogura (Gintama, Kekkaishi) and it features involvement from Monkey Punch. The similarities between the characters in this anime and Lupin III have not gone unremarked upon and if this series can live up to the heights achieved by Lupin III then it should be one to watch. Other names in the project include Tatsuhito Higuchi (Toradora) who is in charge of series composition and Satoshi Hirayama (Lupin III) who is in charge of character design. The opening theme called “RanTiKi” is performed by Yukino.

The voice acting cast includes Kazuya Nakai (Zagi in Jyu Oh Sei) taking the lead as Roman. He will be supported by Eri Kitamura (Riza in Princess Resurrection) and Maaya Uchida (Rea in Sankarea) amongst others.

Staff: Hirofumi Ogura (Director), Tatsuto Higuchi (Series Composition), Monkey Punch (Original Creator), Satoshi Hirayama (Character Designer), Hiroshi Takaki (Music)

Voice Actors: Kazuya Nakai (Roman), Eri Kitamura, Maaya Uchida (Minato Namikaze), Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake), Chie Nakamura (Sakura Haruno), Nana Mizuki (Hinata Hyuga), Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke Uchiha)

Studio: TMS Entertainment

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXT

Synopsis

When Kodaka Hasegawa transferred into Saint Chronica Academy he met Yozora Mikazu, a taciturn girl who gets him to create a club designed to help members make friends and learn how to interact with others. Soon others joined the club including Sena Kashiwazaki, the principal’s daughter, a feminine boy named Yukimura who hopes that Kodaka can turn him into a man and a scientific genius named Rika who loves “boys love manga”. From there on in we watch the growth of the club and its adventures in modern relationship etiquette. The second season continues these adventures.

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXT or, to give it its English translation, I Don’t Have Many Friends NEXT, is based on a series of light novels by Yomi Hirasaka. It follows the popular 2011 harem anime.

The staff has changed with the AD for the first season, Toru Kitahata (Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate) taking the reins as director and original creator Yomi Hirasaka joining the writing department.

Season one voice actors return with Ryohei Kimura (Akira in Eden of the East and Shouma in Mawaru Penguindrum) the centre of attention as Kodaka, Marina Inoue (Rei in Highschool of the Dead) as Yozora and Kanae Itou (Ohana in Hanasaku Iroha) as Sena.

Staff: Toru Kitahata (Director), Yomi Hirasaka (Series Composition/Original Creator), Tatsuhiko Urahata, Kurasumi Sunayama (Script), Yomi Hirasaka (Original Creator), Yoshihiro Watanabe (Character Designer/Animation Director), Tom-H@ck (Music)

Voice Actors:Ryohei Kimura (Kodaka Hasegawa), Marina Inoue (Yozora Mikazuki), Kanae Itou (Sena Kashiwazaki), Kana Hanazawa (Kobato Hasegawa), Misato Fukuen (Rika Shiguma), Nozomi Yamamoto (Yukimura Kusunoki), Yuka Iguchi (Maria Takayama)

Studio:AIC Build

Chihayafuru 2

Synopsis

When exuberant school girl Chihaya Ayase’s quiet classmate Arata Wataya introduces her to competitive karuta, a card game based on Japanese poetry, she falls in love with the game and becomes friends with Arata. She also brings her childhood friend Taichi Mashima into the team. However, they soon part ways during middle school but meet up once again in high school. What is next in store for the group?

Yuki Suetsugu’s Manga Taisho award winning Chihayafuru is back and so is its original cast and crew. The first season won many hearts thanks to the strong characterisation and animation.

Morio Asaka (Gunslinger Girl, Cardcaptor Sakura) is directing again and series composition is handled by Ayako Katoh (Kids on the Slope) and Yuuko Kakihara (Persona 4: The Animation) with Kunihiko Hamada (NANA) acting as character design.

Asami Seto (Konatsu in Tari Tari) takes the lead role as Chihaya with Yoshimasa Hosoya (Subaru in Robotics;Notes) voicing Arata and Mamoru Miyano (Okabe in Steins;Gate) acting as Taichi.

Staff: Morio Asaka (Director), Yuki Suetsugu (Original Creator), Ayako Katoh, Yuuko Kakihara (Series Composition), Kunihiko Hamada (Character Design), Tomoyuki Shimizu (Art Director), Kousuke Yamashita (Music)

Voice Actors: Asami Seto (Chihaya Ayase), Mamoru Miyano (Taichi Mashima), Yoshimasa Hosoya (Arata Wataya), Tsubasa Yonaga (Tsutomu Komano)

Studio: Madhouse

Cuticle Detective Inaba

Synopsis

Hiroshi is an artificially created part-man, part-wolf; former “secret Doberman” who runs a detective agency which he runs with the help of his cross-dressing secretary Yuuta, and Kei, a relatively normal teenager. They face off against a criminal mastermind named Don Valentino… who is a goat.

Okay, the plot synopsis is great and the images scream wacky so it should be fun. The director is Susumu Mitsunaka who has worked on movies like Welome to the Space Show and A Letter to Momo. Series composition is orchestrated by Makoto Nakamura who wrote the screenplays for the Clannad and Air movies.

The cast includes Junichi Suwabe (Takashi in High School of the Dead) who takes the lea role of Hiroshi Inaba, Miyu Irino (Jinta in Anohana) who voices one of Inaba’s sidekicks, Kei Nozaki, Ai Fukuda (Stella), Asami Shimoda (Lin Yin Fang in Infinite Stratos) who voices Yuuta, another of Inaba’s sidekicks and Toru Ohkawa (Roy Mustang in FMA) who voices the villain Don Valentino).

Staff: Susumu Mitsunaka (Director), Makoto Nakamura (Series Composition), Mochii (Original Creator), Satoshi Koike (Character Designer/Chief Animation Director)

Voice Actors:Junichi Suwabe (Hiroshi Inaba), Miyu Irino (Kei Nozaki), Asami Shimoda (Yuuta), Ai Fukuda (Stella), Asami Seto (Natsuki), Toru Ohkawa (Don Valentino)

Studio: Zexcs

D.C. III ~Da Capo III~

Based on the dating sim visual novel, this is yet another addition to the franchise (four television series totalling 74 episodes). It is has direction and series composition overseen by Kenichi Ishikura who has worked as an episode director on prominent series like Hidamari Sketch and ef: a tale of memories. There are a wave of new voice artists like Chiyo Ousaki and Emi Nitta taking on the roles

Staff: Kenichi Ishikura (Director), Kenichi Ishikura (Series Composition), Circus (Original Creator), Kouhaku Nishio (Character Designer), Ryousuke Nakanishi (Music)

Voice Actors:Chiyo Ousaki (Sara Rukawa), Emi Nitta (Rikka Morizono), Erika Kaiho (Aoi Hinomoto), Mikoi Sasaki (Himeno Katsuragi), Ui Miyazaki (Charles Yoshino), Yuuki Ono (Kiyotaka Yoshino)

Studio: Gathering

GJ-bu

Synopsis

Follow the daily lives of four high school girls.

GJ-bu is another school/slice of life anime comedy and is the first major series job for director Yoshiyuki Fujiwara (Sword Art Online) and writer Hideyaki Koyasu. The one notable name is Miwa Oshima who has worked as character designer and animation director on major titles like C3 and Baka and Test.

The biggest name is the lead seiyuu Maaya Uchida who is in this season’s Vividred Operation and Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman as well as other school anime like Kokoro Connect and Yuru Yuri.

Staff:Yoshiyuki Fujiwara (Director), Hideaki Koyasu (Series Composition/Script), Shin Araki (Original Creator), Miwa Oshima (Character Designer)

Voice Actors: Maaya Uchida (Mao Amatsuka), Chika Arakawa (Kirara Bernstein), Hiro Shimono (Kyouya Shinomiya), Suzuko Mimori (Shion Sumeragi), Yume Miyamoto (Megumi Amatsuka)

Studio:Dogakobo

Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun

Miyuki Abe’s manga Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun (Hakkenden: The Strange Tale of Eight Dogs of the East) manga is another interesting title in the forthcoming season. It reimagines the classic Hakkenden samurai novel as a modern day supernatural story driven by female characters.

It is directed by Mitsue Yamazaki (Bleach) with Osamu Yamasaki (Toward the Terra) acting as chief director and Hiromi Kato (Gad Guard) is the character designer. It is animated by Studio DEEN (Get Backers, Fruits Basket).

Voice actors in the cast are Tetsuya Kakihara (Simon in Gurren Lagann) who voices Shino Inuzuka, Satoshi Hino (Akito in Bakuman) who voices Sousuke Inukawa, Ayahi Takagaki (Kuro in Ble Exorcist) who voices Hamaji, and Nobuhiko Okamoto (Accelerator in A Certain Magical Index) who voices Murasame.

Staff:Osamu Yamasaki (Chief Director), Mitsue Yamazaki (Director/Series Composition), Miyuke Abe (Original Creator), Hiromi Kato (Character Designer), Hitomi Kuroishi (Music)

Voice Actors: Ayahi Takagaki (Hamaji), Satoshi Hino (Sousuke Inukawa), Tetsuya Kakihara (Shino Inuzuka), Daisuke Namikawa (Kaname Osaki), Hiroshi Kamiya (Riou Satomi), Junichi Miyake (Keno Inusaka), Nobuhiko Okamotoa (Murasame)

Studio: Studio Deen

Kotoura-San

Synopsis
Haruka Kotoura has recently transferred to a new school which has an ESP club. It just so happens that Kotoura can read minds and so she joins the club. On top of reading minds she is also cute and so a boy named Yoshihisa Manabe has fallen for her. Brace yourself for comedy and a little romance!

Enokid’s four-panel rom-com manga Kotoura-san will be airing and it has an experienced staff including Masahiko Ohta who is familiar with school-based romance and comedy, with shows like Mitsudomoe and Yuru Yuri under his belt. He is re-uniting with veterans of school genre anime with Takashi Aoshima (Mitsudomoe, Karin, Yuru Yuri) who is in charge of series scripts and Takaharu Okuma (Yuru Yuri, School Rumble) who is acting as character designer and animation director.

Haruka will be voiced by Hisako Kanemoto (Ika Musume in Squid Girl), Yoshihisa is voiced by Jun Fukushima (Jin in Aquarion Evol). Other names attached to the anime include Kana Hanazawa (Mayuri in Steins;Gate), Hiro Shimono (Satoshi in Mitsudomoe) and Yurika Kubo (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse).

Staff: Masahiko Outa (Director), Takashi Aoshima (Series Composition), Enokids (Original Creator), Takaharu Okuma (Character Designer), Enokids (Original Creator), Yasuhiro Misawa (Music), Maho Takahashi (Art Director)

Voice Actors: Junko Takeuchi (Naruto Uzumaki), Emi Shinohara (Kushina Uzumaki), Toshiyuki Morikawa (Minato Namikaze), Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake), Chie Nakamura (Sakura Haruno), Nana Mizuki (Hinata Hyuga), Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke Uchiha)

Studio: AIC Classic

Love Live! School Idol Project

Synopsis

A school somewhere between Tokyo’s Akihabara, Jinbouchou and Kanda areas is in danger of being closed so nine of its female students become idols to attract new students and protect their school!

Sunrise make their entry this winter with a anime focussing on school girls… who decide to be idols. The director is Takahiko Kyougoku who has idol experience with work on music videos like Love Live! School Idol Project: Wonderful Rush of 2012 and Love Live! School Idol Project Snow Halation in 2010. So far so underwhelming but the involvement of Jukki Hanada (Burn Up Scamble, Steins;Gate, K-On!) in the series composition role is intriguing.

The idols will be voiced by Love Live! seiyuu stalwarts Emi Nitta, Yoshino Nanjo (Namiko in Hanasaku Iroha), Yurika Kuba (Hiyori in Kotoura-san) and Aya Uchida (Kaede in Yuru Yuri).

Staff:Takahiko Kyougoku (Director), Jukki Hanada (Series Composition), Hajime Yatate (Original Creator), Asako Nishida, Yuuhei Murota (Character Designer)

Voice Actors: Aina Kusuda (Nozomi Tojo), Aya Uchida (Kotori Minami), Emi Nitta (Honoka Kousaka), Sora Tokui (Niko Yazawa), Suzuko Mimori (Umi Sonoda), Yoshiro Nanjoui (Eri Ayase), Yurika Kubo (Hanayo Koizumi)

Studio:Sunrise

Mangirl

Kagari Tamaoka’s four-panel comedy manga series Mangirl! Has been adapted into a TV anime by studio Dogakobo (Yuru Yuri). This slice of life comedy follows a team of girls who want to create Japan’s best manga magazine. They will be led by editor-in-chief Hana and not even inexperience will stop them. Interesting names include (and they are all seiyuu) Ayaka Ohashi (Fleur Blanc in Eureka Seven AO) and Kanako Miyamoto (Meido in Fuse: A Gun Girl’s Detective Story).

Staff: Kagari Tamaoka (Original Creator), Yasu (Original Character Designer)

Voice Actors: Moemi Otaka (Tsugumi Haraki), Ayaka Ohashi (Ringo Nishijima), Hana Sasayama (Kanako Miyamoto), Aki Torii (Yuri Komagata)

Studio: Dogakobo

Maoyuu Maou Yuusha

Synopsis
Humanity and demons have been at war for 15 years. Our hero Yuusha overcomes a long and treacherous journey to infiltrate the demons’ land and get to the castle of Maou the Demon Queen. His job is to put an end to the war but he gets separated from his three companions before he actually gets to the castle. However the queen of demons argues that through the war humanity has become united and forced to improve their lives, technology, and society and if the war were to stop then humanity would turn in on itself in a civil war. The hero is swayed by her words and agrees to work with the Dark Lady.

Maouyuu Maou Yuusha (Archenemy and Hero) is the TV anime adaptation of Mamare Touno’s fantasy-adventure novel series which started life on a 2channel forum before it was picked up by Enterbrain. There have been numerous manga adaptations but this is the first anime. This looks like it is one of the better series in the winter season with its great concept and experienced staff and cast.

Maouyuu Maou Yuusha is directed by Takeo Takahashi (Spice and Wolf), the series scripts are overseen by Naruhisa Arakawa (Spice and Wolf, Kingdom) and music comes from Takeshi Hama (Kobato). It is animated by ARMS (Queen’s Blade: Rebellion).

The seiyuu involved include Ami Koshimizu (Nodoka in Saki, Holo in Spice and Wolf) who voices the demon queen Maou, while the hero is voiced by Jun Fukuyama (Rikuo in Time of Eve, Lelouch in Code Geass). They are supported by the likes of Daisuke Hirakawa (Akari in Karneval), Yuuki Kaji (Shuu Ouma in Guilty Crown, Judeau in the Berserk movies), Eriko Matsui (Mina in Dusk Maiden of Amnesia) and Mariko Fujii.

Staff:Takeo Takahashi (Director), Naruhisa Arakawa (Series Composition), Hiroaki Karasu (Character Designer), Takeshi Hama (Music), Mamare Touno (Original Creator), Masashi Kudo (Character Design)

Voice Actors: Ami Koshimizu (Maou), Jun Fukuyama (Yuusha), Chiwa Saito (Head maid), Haruka Tomatsu (Older sister maid), Daisuke Hirakawa (Prince of Winter), Shizuka Itou (Firedrake Empress), Hiroki Touchi (King of the White Night), Mariko Fujii (Queen of Ice and Snow)

Studio: ARMS

Minami-Ke Tadaima

Synopsis

Haruka, Kana and Chiaki Minami are trying to live an ordinary life but they only have each other to depend on and so they help each other get through everything from love to cooking.

This is the fourth season in the Minami-ke franchise. It is directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi (Nyan Koi!) and has series composition from Takamitsu Kouno who worked on the Minami-ke Omatase OVA.

Staff: Keiichiro Kawaguchi (Director), Takamitsu Kouno (Series Composition), Cohaku Sakubara (Original Creator), Gou Suzuki (Character Designer), Masatomo Ota (Music)

Voice Actors: Marina Inoue (Kana Minami), Rina Satou (Haruka Minami), Minori Chihara (Chiaki Minami)

Studio: Feel

Mondai-Ji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?

Synopsis

Izayoi Sakamaki is a boy who is bored with the world. One day, he receives an envelope which transports him to an alternate world where he discovers two other “problem children” who were also transported by envelopes. The first is a taciturn girl named You Kasukabe who has a cat, the other is a beautiful yet haughty girl named Asuka Kudou. The reason they were transported? A girl named Kuro Usagi (Black Rabbit) wants them to help beat the devil!

Mondai-Ji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou Desu yo? (Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They?) is the anime adaptation of Tarou Tatsunoko’s fantasy light novel series. Keizou Kusakawa is serving as chief director and he has alternate world/fantasy anime titles like Campione! Under his belt. The director is Yasutaka Yamamoto who has worked on a diverse range of titles like Blue Exorcist, Blood-C and Girls und Panzer.

Shintarou Asanuma (Takumu in Accel World) voices Izayoi Sakamaki, Iori Nomizu (Haruna in Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka) is Kuro Usagi and Megumi Nakajima (Grania in Lagrange – The Flower of Rin-ne) voices You Kasukabe.

Staff:Keizou Kusakawa (Chief Director), Yasutaka Yamamoto (Director), Noboru Kimura (Series Composition), Tarou Tatsunoko (Original Creator), Naomi Ide (Character Designer)

Voice Actors: Shintarou Asanuma (Izayoi Sakamaki), Iori Nomizu (Kuro Usagi), Megumi Nakajima (You Kasukabe), Emi Sarah Bridcut (Asuka Kudou)

Studio:Diomedea

Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru

Synopsis

Eita is a romance-shunning boy. He has a friend named Chiwa who is as close as a sister to him. When a silver-haired girl from out of town named Masuzu makes Eita her “fake” boyfriend so she can avoid unwanted attention, Chiwa gets jealous and decides to fight for Eita’s affections.

Yuuji Yuuji’s school comedy light novel Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru (OreShura for short) is directed by Kanta Kamei (Usagi Drop) who will be working from series scripts written by Tatsuhiko Urahata (NAtsu-iro Kiseki, Gunslinger Girl, Master Keaton adaptations). Mai Otsuka (Shakugan no Shana) is adapted the character designs while Masatomo Ota (Carnival Phantasm) is composing the music. OreShura is animated by A-1 pictures (Sword Art Online, tsuritama).

Chiwa Harusaki is voiced by Chinatsu Akasaki (Nanami Akasaki in Sacred Seven), while the silver-haired siren Masuzu Natsukawa is played by Yukari Tamura (Mayuyu in AKB0048) and Himeka Akishina, the ex-girlfriend of the main protagonist, is voiced by Hisaka Kanemoto (Ika Musume in Squid Girl).

Staff:Kanta Kamei (Director), Tatsuhiko Urahata (Series Composition), Yuuji Yuuji (Original Creator), Mai Otsuka (Character Designer), Masatomo Ota (Music)

Voice Actors:Ryota Ohsaka (Eita Kido), Chinatsu Akasaki (Chiwa Harusaki), Yukari Tamura (Masuzu Natsukawa), Ai Kayano (Ai Fuyuumi), Hisako Kanemoto (Himeka Akishina), Kaori Nazuka (Saeko Kiryuu), Nao Toyama (Mana Natsukawa)

Studio: A-1 Pictures

Puchimas!: Petit iDOLM@ASTER

Synopsis

This anime focusses on the hyper daily lives of the 765Production idols of The Idolm@ster and kicks off when Ami and Mami reveal mysterious Puchidolls “Afuu” and “Yukipo”, who resemble the idols. They are the first wave of many who accumulate around town.

From the Idolm@aster franchise comes a spinoff based on Akane’s original manga. It is directed by Mankyuu who has directed some low-impact anime like the historical comedy Tono to Issho and it features music by Yasuhiro Misawa who has worked on some bigger projects like Kokoro Connect, and Yuru Yuri. Misawa’s music will also be heard in another anime airing this season, Kotoura-san.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this title is the chance to hear voice actresses voice multiple roles. Seiyuu involved include Azumi Asakura (Asia Argento in Highschool DxD), Akiko Hasegawa (Rosetta in Robotics;Notes) and Naoimi Wakabayashi (Sugiyama in Gintama).

Staff:Mankyuu (Director), Sao Tamado (Series Composition), Yuka Miyata (Script), Tetsuya Nishio (Animation Director), Akane (Original Manga)

Voice Actors:Asami Imai (Chihaya Kisaragi/Chihyaa), Azumi Asakura (Yukiho Hagiwara/Yukipo), Chiaki Takahashi (Azusa Miura/Miura-san), Eriko Nakamura (Haruka Amami/Hauka-san), Mayako Nigo (Yayo/Yayoi Takatsuki), Naomi Wakabayashi (Chicchan/Ritsuko Akizuki), Akiko Hasegawa (Miki Hoshii/Afuu)

Studio: Gathering

Sasami-san@Ganbaranai

Synopsis

Sasami is a hikikomori who is looked after by her brother Kamiomi. She despises his slave-like nature but likes to view the outside world through a brother surveillance tool on her computer. It is through this that she sees Kamiomi in a bit of a complicated relationship with the three Yagami sisters.

Yet another anime with a scenario that fails to impress but a staff list that could make something special. Direction is orchestrated by Akiyuki Shinbo who worked on the hilarious Arakawa Under the Bridge and the sexy Bakemonogatari. Katsuhiko Takayama (Ga-Rei: Zero and Mirai Nikki) is in charge of series composition.

Seiyuu known to be involved include Kana Asumi (Nyaruko in Haiyore! Nyaruko-san), Chiwa Saito (Hitagi in Bakemonogatari) and Kana Hanazawa (Anri in Durarara!!).

Staff: Akiyuki Shinbo (Director), Katsuhiko Takayama (Series Composition), Akira (Original Creator), Hiroki Harada (Character Designer)

Voice Actors: Kana Asumi (Sasami), Houchuu Otsuka (Kamiomi), Chiwa Saito (Tsurugi Yagami), Kana Hanazawa (Kagami Yagami)

Studio: Shaft

Senran Kagura

Synopsis
The Hanzo Academy is a secret school which has been created by the government to train ninjas who are considered “good” so they can battle “bad” ninjas hired by corrupt politicians and evil corporations. Asuka, Katsuragi, Hibari, Ikaruga, and Yagyuu are ninjas in training and each have a secret technique scroll that they must protect and so we follow them through their training, epic battles and their tumultuous school life as they aim to become ninja!

Senran Kagura is the TV anime adaptation of Marvelous AQL’s 3DS game where players controlled and customised five different female ninja characters who lost their clothes during battles allowing the body parts of the ninja girl to pop out of the screen during epic “Flying Out Enormous Breast Drama Hyper Battles”.

The anime is directed by Takashi Watanabe (Starship Operator, Boogiepop Phantom, Shakugan no Shana) with series scripts written by Takao Yoshioka (Elfen Lied). Helping make the characters taking part in Flying Out Enormous Breast Drama Hyper Battles really hyper is Takashi Torii who has worked as animation director on titles like Tantei Opera Milky Holmes and Sacred Seven.

The seiyuu portraying these busty ninjas are Asami Imai (Kurisu in Steins;Gate) and Kaori Mizuhashi (Integra in Hellsing Ultimate and Mami in Madoka).

Staff: Takashi Watanabe (Director), Takao Yoshioka (Series Composition/Screenplay), Kenichirou Takaki (Original Creator), Takashi Torii (Character Designer/Chief Animation Director)

Voice Actors: Asami Imai (Ikaruga), Hitomi Harada (Asuka), Kaori Mizuhashi (Yagyuu), Yu Kobayashi (Katsuragi), Yuka Iguchi (Hibari), Ai Kayano (Yomi), Eri Kitamura (Homura)

Studio:Gathering

Senyuu

Synopsis

When a gigantic hole opens up in the world and demons pour out, a king thinks that it signals the return of the demon king Rukimedesu, who was sealed away a millennium ago by a hero named Kureashion. The king summons the descendants of Kureashion and seventy-five people show up including Aruba who teams up with a sadistic palace warrior named Rosu to embark on an adventure.

Senyuu is based on Robinson Haruhara’s fantasy comedy manga. The anime is directed by Yutaka Yamamoto (Fractale), and adapted for television by Michiko Yokote (XXXHOLiC, Squid Girl) and it features character designs by Ushio Tazawa (The Place Promised in Our Early Days). It is animated by Ordet studio (Black Rock Shooter).
Aruba is voiced by Hiro Shimono (Momoo Inugami in Binbogami ga!) and Rosu has Yuuichi Nakamura (Nobutaka Oda in Btooom!) using his vocals.

Staff:Yutaka Yamamoto (Director), Michiko Yokote (Series Composition), Robinson Haruhara (Original Creator), Ushio Tazawa (Character Designer/Chief Animation Director), Daisuke Sakabe (Music)

Voice Actors: Hiro Shimono (Aruba), Yuuichi Nakamura (Rosu)

Studio: Ordet

Vividred Operation

Vividred Operation is an original sci-fi action anime which takes place on an exotic island full of technology and follows the adventures of a 14-year-old girl named Akane.

The anime is directed by Kazuhiro Takamura (Strike Witches) who also works on series composition with Hiroyuki Yoshino (Guilty Crown). Scripts come from Tensai Okamura who worked on great shows like Wolf’s Rain and Darker than Black. Concept designs come from Redjuice of the group supercell and Hidari (Natsu-iro Kiseki).

The cast includes Ayane Sakura (Marii in Joshiraku) who takes the lead role of Akane, Aya Uchida (Shizuka in the movie adaptation of Strike Witches), Rie Murakawa (Coco in Fairy Tail) and Maaya Uchida (Rea Sanka in Sankarea)

Staff: Kazuhiro Takamura (Director/Character Designer), Hiroyuki Yoshino, Kazuhiro Takamura (Series Composition), Tensai Okamura (Script)

Voice Actors: Ayane Sakura (Akane Isshiki), Aya Uchida (Himawari Shinomiya), Maaya Uchida (Rei Kuroki), Rie Murakawa (Aoi Futaba), Haruka Yamazaki (Mizuha Amagi)

Studio:A-1 Pictures

Yama no Susume

Synopsis

Aoi and Hinata promised to see the sunrise they had seen at the top of a mountain as children but as time passes Aoi becomes acrophobic. The two now have completely different personalities. Hinata loves mountaineering and shows off her passion while Aoi prefers more mundane hobbies and is afraid of heights. In order to get to the top of the mountain again they take up training like climbing hills in the neighbourhood, getting to know other mountaineers and having cooking battles with mountaineering gear. The race is on to get to the top of the mountain!

Yama no Susume (Encouragement of Climb) is a 13 episode slice of life with an interesting concept. The director for this is Yuusuke Yamamoto who has covered a range of genres in different anime like Sgt. Frog, Sakura Wars, Night Wizard and Welcome to the NHK. He has some support from veterans of cute slice of life anime like Tatsuhiko Urahata who has worked on notable titles like A-Channel, Haganai and Natsuiro Kiseki. He has also worked on adapting Master Keaton and Monster into TV anime.

There are veteran voice actresses attached to this title with Kana Asumi Nyaruko in Haiyore! Nyaruko-san) taking the lead role of Hinata and she will be opposite Yuka Iguchi (Tsukihi in Nisemonogatari) who takes the role of Aoi.

Staff: Yuusuke Yamamoto (Director), Tatsuhiko Urahata (Series Composition), Shiro (Original Creator), Yuusuke Matsuou (Character Designer), Masatomo Ota (Music)

Voice Actors: Kana Asumi (Hinata), Yuka Iguchi (Aoi Yukimura), Youko Hikasa (Kaede Saitou), Yui Ogura (Kokona)

Studio: 8-Bit

Youkai Watch

Synopsis

When a young boy named Keita discovers an old capsule toy vending machine in a forest he gets a mysterious watch and meets a ghost butler named Whisper who tells him that the watch will allow him to see supernatural creatures.

Game publisher Level-5 are bringing another franchise to the anime world with the horror comedy Youkai Watch.

Staff:N/A

Voice Actors: N/A

Studio: N/A