Hello everyone and welcome to our first anime season preview! In this post we will give you a short look at the upcoming shows next season, as well as the bloggers thoughts in each series. Overall, there are about 18 new shows, not including the kids shows and OVA’s.

For easier browsing, we have listed the shows in chronological order for when they air. Also, please don’t forget to check out the 2nd part of this post by clicking the link at the bottom of the page. Please feel free to comment on what shows you want to see as well as which blogger you want to blog those shows.

Note: Summaries and other information used in this preview were pulled from various sources such as [ ANN | Fansub Wiki |  chartfag's site |  Animesuki |  Wikipedia | MAL| anidb ]. So special thanks for these sites for their helpful databases.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2009)

Official Website: http://www.haruhi.tv/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): New episodes starts on June 18 1:00 AM on SUN TV
Animation Company: Kyoto Animation (Kanon 2006, Lucky Star!, K-On!, Clannad, Full Metal Panic Fumoffu!, Full Metal Panic: 2nd Raid, Munto)
Director : Tatsuya Ishihara (Clannad After Story, Kanon 2006, Air TV)

Summary:

On the first day of high school a beautiful girl named Haruhi Suzumiya introduces herself as having “no interest in ordinary humans”. She asks for any aliens, time travelers, sliders or espers to join her. Watching her weird behaviour is Kyon who sits in front of Haruhi and is the only person who talks to her. When Kyon comments about Haruhi’s joining every club in school and then quitting he unwittingly gives Haruhi an idea to start her own after school club. Thereafter Kyon and several others find themselves dragged, literally, into the Save our world by Overloading it with fun Suzumiya Haruhi’s Brigade (the S.O.S. Brigade for short).

Editor’s Thoughts:

Onibaku: My favorite anime of all time. The reason why I became addicted to anime in the first place! I’m riding this show all season long :D

Chiaki: The first new episode was epic! After 3 long years I think its worth the wait.

Goo!: This is my most anticipated series for the year! After seeing the first new episode I realized why I loved this series so much. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of it.

Sure Blogger:

Onibaku

Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~

Official Website: http://www.sea-story.tv
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on June 25 1:29 AM on CBC
Trailer: click me!
Animation Company: ZEXCS (Wagaya no Oinarisama, Da Capo, Canvas2, Chrome Shelled Regios)
Director : Junichi Sato (Aria, Kaleido Star and Princess Tutu)

Summary:

Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~’s “transforming magical girl action” story centers on Marin and Urin, two “pure” sisters who live alongside the fish in the sea, but yearn to be in the world beyond the water and above ground. One day, a beautiful ring falls in the middle of the sea, and Marin and Urin retrieve it. The two decide to leave their waterbound world for the first time to deliver the ring. After an arduous journey, they come across an isolated island where a high school girl named Kanon lives. The encounter between Marin and Kanon — the maiden of the sea and the maiden of the skies — awakens a hidden power as the world is threatened by an enveloping darkness. (ANN)

Editor’s Thoughts:

Onibaku: I’m not too sure about this show. I don’t really like the drawing

Makimakibaka: The strength of a show isn’t in the drawing, it’s in the storyline and how it progresses.

Onibaku: Judging by the synopsis, you think it will be good? Another mahou shoujo show? >.<

Chiaki: The director is ok, the animation company made a few good shows such as Oinarisama, Canvas2, and Da Capo but the synopsis isn’t very inviting.

Makimakibaka: I think it looks ok, kind of like cross players.

Onibaku: Judging by the producer’s past works this will be an artsy show.>.<

Possible Blogger:

Chiaki

Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!!

Official Website:http://mv.avex.jp/juden-chan/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on June 25 08:00AM on AT-X
Trailer: click me! (Warning: NSFW)
Animation Company: Studio Hibari (Venus Versus Virus, Sumomomo Momomo)
Director: Shinichiro Kimura (Maburaho, Venus Versus Virus)

Summary:

The story revolves around Plug, a mysterious office lady who came to our world from a parallel world to “charge” up dejected people. Plug recharges people down on their luck, spreading good cheer wherever she goes.

Editor’s Thoughts:

Onibaku: OMG breasts! T_T

Chiaki: Next! Looks so hentai… The director and producers tell me it’s so-so.

Onibaku: Looks like just another fan service show.

Makimakibaka: Fanservice?

Onibaku: Those usually don’t have good story lines T_T.

Chiaki: It’s senseless.

Goo!: Super ecchi. It looks like the Queen’s Blade of next season.

Possible Bloggers:

None

Umineko no Naku Koro ni

Official Website: http://umineko.tv/web/index.html
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July 02 1:30AM on Chiba TV
Trailer: click me!
Animation Production: Studio DEEN (Maria-sama ga Miteru, Higurashi, Fate/Stay Night, Vampire Knight)
Director: Chiaki Kon (Junjō Romantica, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)

Summary:

Based from the adaptation of the 3rd installment of murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series by 07th Expansion, the story takes place in the year 1986, during the time frame of October 4 and October 5 on a secluded island named Rokkenjima. The head of a wealthy family named Kinzo Ushiromiya, who lives on and owns Rokkenjima, is near death, and eight of his family members arrive on the island to discuss how Kinzo’s assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo’s servants, and his personal physician. After the eight family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island and shortly after people start to get mysteriously murdered. (ANN)

Editor’s Thoughts:

Chiaki: Looks interesting

Makimakibaka: I love the colors. Yui Horei >.<

Goo!: I think it will be one of the most popular shows next season. I loved Higurashi and I’m positive that I’ll love this one even more.

Chiaki: Nice it’s about murder.

Onibaku: The protagonist looks cool :P

Makimakibaka: Cool blog it! It would be so cool to cosplay the girl because she looks Victorian.

Onibaku: Lol, you will cosplay her?

Makimakibaka: Haha no, probably one of my friends.

Goo!: Woah Kugumiya Rie is here.

Makimakibaka: This show is star studded

Chiaki: Yep, the seiyuu lineup looks good.

Possible Bloggers:

Chiaki, Goo!

Aoi Hana

Official Website: http://www.aoihana.tv/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July 02 2:08 AM on Fuji TV
Trailer: click me!
Animation Company: JC Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Honey and Clover, Kimikiss pure rouge, Toradora!, Nodame Cantabile, Zero No Tsukaima, Slayers, Hayate no Gotoku!)
Director: Kenichi Kasai (Honey and Clover, Kimikiss pure rouge, Nodame Cantabile)

Summary:

Based on the Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Takako Shimura, The story starts with Fumi Manjoume, an introverted, bookish teenage girl, is beginning her first year of high school at Matsuoka Girls’ High School. She enters the school year with her heart broken by a previous relationship. At about the same time, she reconnects with her best friend from ten years ago, Akira Okudaira, who is now attending Fujigatani Girls’ Academy as a first-year high school student. As they reconnect, they both deal with their own respective romantic problems, and help each other get through them.

Editor’s Thoughts:

Makimakibaka: Looks good, and it’s the next JC staff production. Thedirector is good too.

Onibaku: Looks yuri, not really into yuri >.<

Chiaki: Dunno about this one, the producers messed up kimikiss and this looks a lot like kimikiss.

Onibaku: I rather enjoyed kimikiss, well up until the ending because the ending kinda sucked in my opinion.

Chiaki: I loved what they did in Honey & Clover and Nodame.

Goo!: This ones a sure watch, will I blog it? Maybe.

Possible Bloggers

Goo!

NEEDLESS

Official Website: http://needless.jp/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July 03 1:30AM on Tokyo MX TV
Animation Production: Madhouse (Sakura Wars, Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, Claymore, Death Note)
Director: Masayuki Sakoi (Kamen no Maid Guy, Strawberry Panic!)

Summary:

The action gag comedy with “bishōjo x violence” is set in 2130, when large swaths of Japan have been quarantined as polluted “Black Spots (BS)” in the aftermath of World War III. However, there are people who have settled behind the massive walls of the Black Spots, where they have developed mysterious powers. The city people on the outside have a label for the Black Spot people they have ostracized: “Needless.” (ANN)

Editor’s Thoughts:

Onibaku: Woah these guys are clamp addicts. I’m not so sure about the director but the producers look good.

Chiaki: Director, not so good. Studio is ok.

Onibaku: Lol you said the same thing as me.

Makimakibaka: Well all I can say is the girl is cute XD.

Possible Bloggers:

Onibaku

Taisho Yakyuu Musume

Official Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/taisho/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July03 1:59AM on TBS
Trailer: click me!
Animation Production: JC Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Honey and Clover, Kimikiss pure rouge, Toradora!, Nodame Cantabile, Zero No Tsukaima, Slayers, Hayate no Gotoku!)
Director: Takashi Ikehata (Genshiken, Potemayo)

Summary:

Bases on Atsushi Kagurazaka’s two historical slice-of-life novels, the story is about two 14-year-old Japanese high school girls named Koume and Akiko who decide to start a baseball team in Japan in 1925. At the time, few baseball teams — male or female — exist in the country. First though, the two girls have no clue where to find nine players, how to use the equipment, and what even the rules are. (ANN)

Editor’s Thoughts:

Onibaku: Looks like Saki but not Mahjong!

Goo!: The trailer was really good and it looks fun.

Chiaki: Hmm it’s on my watch list also looks fun XD. I’m not really into sports but it’s ok. It might be interesting if it’s anything like Saki.

Goo!: This one is my pick, If you don’t blog it then maybe I will.

Possible Bloggers:

Chiaki, Goo!

Hetalia Axis Powers Second Season

Official Website: http://hetalia.com/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July 03 4:00PM on Mobile Animate webcast
Animation Production: Studio DEEN (Maria-sama ga Miteru, Higurashi, Fate/Stay Night, Vampire Knight, Ranma 1/2)
Director: Bob Shirohata

Summary:

Based from Hidekaz Himaruya’s popular online webcomic, this “cynical gag” show takes the archetypal characteristics of about 20 countries and regions, and anthropomorphize them as (mostly) bishōnen characters. The story re-imagines various historical eras including World War I and II. (ANN)

Editor’s Thoughts:

Chiaki: Do we really need to talk about this? Plus this is only like 10 minutes right?

Onibaku: Hahaha well.. Wasn’t this banned by the Koreans?

Goo!: Yup.

Makimakibaka: Why was it banned?

Onibaku: The story takes place during WWII and some Korean character was portrayed in an offending way.

Goo!: The first season was enjoyable. Loved Italy and France <3. I’ll probably watch it but I won’t blog it.

Possible Bloggers:

none

Bakemonogatari

Official Website: http://www.bakemonogatari.com/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July 03 11:00PM on Tokyo MX
Trailer: click me!
Animation Production: SHAFT (Ef – a tale of memories, Pani Poni Dash!, REC, Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, He is my Master, Maria Holic)
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo (Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, Ef – a tale of memories, Negima!?, Pani Poni Dash!)

Summary:

Bakemonogatari centers on Koyomi Araragi, a third year high school student who is almost human again after briefly becoming a vampire. One day, a classmate named Hitagi Senjōgahara, who infamously never talks to anyone, falls down the stairs into Koyomi’s arms. He discovers that Hitagi weighs next to nothing, in defiance of physics. After being threatened by her, Koyomi offers her help, and introduces her to Meme Oshino, a middle-aged homeless man who helped him stop being a vampire. As the story pregresses, he encounters a different heroine, each involved with a different “apparition”. The series primarily focuses on conversations between characters; it contains a fair number of parodies of other series, as well as Nisio Isin’s trademark wordplay and metahumor. (Wikipedia)

Editor’s Thoughts:

Makimakibaka: Ok I love the art.

Chiaki: WATCH! DIRECTOR IS LOVE.

Goo!: More Shinbo craziness ftw!

Onibaku: WTF is up with this all star line up?

Makimakibaka: Kimono Onna= LOVE.

Onibaku: Not only that, it is one of the only vampire series we’ve seen in a while.

Possible Bloggers:

Onibaku,Chiaki, Goo!

Element Hunters

Official Website: http://elementhunters.com/
Japan Air Date (GMT+9): Premieres on July 04 6:00PM on NHK Kyouiku
Trailer: click me!
Animation Production: HeeWon Entertainment , NHK Enterprises
Director: Yoshiaki Okumura & Han-Pyo Hong

Summary:

In 2029, a large scale ground sinkage occurred in Mediterranean Sea and chemical elements such as oxygen, carbon, gold, molybdenite, and cobalt suddenly disappeared from the earth’s crust. Human population was decreased by 90% in sixty years. Researchers found out that the disappeared elements were drained into a planet “Nega Earth”, which located in different dimensions. To save the Earth, a special team “Element Hunter” is organized. All the members are under 14 years old because young and flexible brains are required to access to “Nega Earth”.

Editor’s Thoughts:

Chiaki: Pass :P

Goo!: Same here

Onibaku: Anything educational is a throw away XD

Possible bloggers:

none

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 7:13 pm and is filed under Anime, Season Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.