Schedule chart via Random Curiosity. All credit goes to Random Curiosity for the creation of this chart.
This season, the staff at SUTORAIKUanime will be taking a different approach to anime reviews - instead of individual posts for all the season's shows, DMC will be handling capsule reviews of most anime sorted by airing date, while major shows will be getting their own individual posts with joint reviews.
So, without further ado, our preview impressions.
High School DxD NEW | ハイスクールD×D NEW
Animation: TNK
DMC:
Everybody's favourite shameless supernatural fanservice show returns for a new season, featuring all the jiggling breasts one could ever hope for. Or, at least the BD release will - "censorship marketing" seems very likely to feature in this one, as has sadly become the norm for contemporary fanservice features. I'll be marathon watching the first season to prepare for this, and while it would appear to be amongst the season's least promising shows, it may prove to defy expectations!
akinari-kun:
The show full of guilty pleasures makes its return for a second season. While I have close to zero hopes of this series ever becoming anything more than a guilty pleasure with more oversized breasts and other wonderful sexual themes, the first season was honestly not too terrible of a show. With that being said, if you were a fan of the first season, this second season should be more or less of the same formula, tweaked a bit here and there with a couple new things added in. But I'm most certainly watching this show with zero expectations.
Hakkenden -Touhou Hakken Ibun- Season 2 | 八犬伝 -東方八犬異聞- 第二期
Animation: Studio DEEN
DMC:
Supernatural action fans and fujoshi alike have found a lot to like about Hakkenden, with the show's blend of drama and action managing to win the show a wider audience than shows of its type are known to attract. The BL-looking character designs might be a turn-off for some, but we'll see if the second season of this show will continue to be worth a watch for those whose tastes tend to lean away from anything packed (as this one most certainly is) with pretty boys.
akinari-kun:
Did not watch the first season, nor am I interested in watching the first season, so I will not be watching this.
Blood Lad | ブラッドラッド
Animation: Brain's Base
DMC:
Easy shoe-in for "silliest title of the season", Blood Lad is a vampire comedy that attempts to split from the pack (lacking the horror aspect that is the norm for just about every other work involving vampires) without ending up as a Rosario x Vampire-style exercise in excessive fanservice. Not amongst the most compelling titles of the season, but has the potential to be an easy sleeper hit if its offbeat premise pans out; after all, production company Brain's Base does have something of an impressive pedigree (Durarara!!, Oregairu, etc.).
akinari-kun:
Anything with vampires tends to come off as being too cliché for my tastes, but perhaps Brain's Base can colour me surprised with their interpretation of a vampire-themed comedy. While I never set my expectations high for shows I'm uncertain of, I do hope that this show does have something more to offer than just vampires and a couple laughs here and there. I will point out that I'm very picky about the animation quality and art style in shows, and from what I've seen so far I'm not too impressed.
Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist | 魔界王子 devils and realist
Animation: Dogakobo
DMC:
Like shoujo fantasy but prefer your shows to have a bit less action? Luckily for you, Makai Ouji is here to provide all your relationship drama needs! Also, what the fuck is wrong with you? Either way, the show deals with themes of heaven and hell, complete with a vaguely Victorian English setting that promises to be as exquisitely rendered as it is shockingly unrealistic. Also, the show's directed by Kon Chiaki, which might be a bonus for one or two crazy people out there. If it sounds like I'm looking forward to this show, then I apologize for not being clear enough with my sarcasm.
akinari-kun:
Contrary do what DMC wrote above, I don't see a single indication that this show will contain any relationship drama or even romance for that matter. Magic and devils in a fantasy Victorian-era setting is usually a recipe for a very overused, bland, and all-in-all lacklustre viewing experience, from my experience. With that being said, I'll have to sit out on this one.
Recorder to Randoseru Mi | リコーダーとランドセル ミ☆
Animation: Seven
DMC:
The rest of this season's shows too severely lacking in openly pedophilic overtones for your liking? Luckily for you, there's this show! Telling the heart-warming story of... oh, what am I doing, pretending like this thing's plot matters at all. If you watch this, you're doing it because little girls turn you on. Or because you made a promise to your editor that you were going to watch every anime this season no matter what. See you in jail, guys, because that's where I'm going if the police ever find out I've been watching this.
akinari-kun:
I was unable to watch more than a few episodes of the first season, mostly due to the art style not being my cup of tea, so this one's a no-go for me.
Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou | 犬とハサミは使いよう
Animation: Gonzo
DMC:
Like Inoue Marina? So do I! Luckily for us both, she's the lead role in this S&M comedy about an abusive scissor-wielding dominatrix and a poor schmuck who got himself turned into a dog. Together, the two of them fight off supernatural threats for some reason and probably inspire some of the most unfortunate doujinshi of any show this season. A must for Inoue Marina die-hards, masochists and that one creepy dude who's really looking forward to the aforementioned doujinshi. Please, creepy dude, don't identify yourself in the comments section, I'm much happier not knowing who you are.
akinari-kun
Did someone say S&M? While I'm not a fan of Inoue Marina, I think I'll add this anomaly onto my list of shows to watch for the season. This is one of those shows that will either be laugh-out-loud hilarious and greatly successful, or a what-the-hell-is-going-on show that no one appreciates and ends up dropping.
Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami Hen | 神のみぞ知るセカイ 女神篇
Animation: Manglobe
DMC:
Ever wish that your eroge-playing skills helped you out in real life? Yeah, me too. We live such pathetic lives, don't we? Never we fear, though, for KamiNomi returns with more wonderful escapist fantasy set in a world not much unlike our own, except for the part where our skill at getting 2D girls to show off their mosaic-censored genitals to us actually translates into useful skills in the real world. It's a beautiful, beautiful fantasy, and one to definitely look forward to this summer anime season.
akinari-kun
Quite surprisingly, I never watched the first season of this iconic show, and I have no intention to for some time at least, so I'll have to sit out on this one.
Watashi ga
Animation: Silver Link
DMC:
One of the more hilarious comedy manga of recent years, WataMote (as it is mercifully shortened) is, for many, the most-anticipated show of the season. The opposite of pure wish-fulfillment provided by otaku heroines like Lucky Star's Konata, 15-year-old Tomoko is just about as awkward as can possibly be. While her antics often prove to be more of the facepalm-inducing kind than the laugh-out-loud funny kind, the manga's sense of humour was refreshingly different and should it translate well to anime it'll definitely be worth a watch.
akinari-kun:
While the name may be a huge tongue twister that simply isn't worth burning any of your brain cells trying to memorize or even read, this is one of the few shows I have high hopes for this season. I for one am very excited to see WataMote animated, as the original manga is pretty darn hilarious. This show is definitely on my to-watch list.
BROTHERS CONFLICT
Animation: Brain's Base
DMC:
If it weren't for Blood Lad, this would probably take the cake for "silliest anime title of the season" easy - but, come on, Blood Lad. BROTHERS CONFLICT is basically like a gender-flipped Sister Princess, with the heroine facing the unlikely scenario of having 13 handsome step-brothers who she may or may not end up romancing. And by "romancing" I do genuinely mean romancing, because (lamentably) this doesn't seem to be one of those naughty ero-shoujo series. Will it be entertaining? Damned if I know.
akinari-kun:
Talk about reverse harem, and probably too much shoujo for my own good. Nevertheless, I'm a sucker for romance shows, and this one seems to have lots of it. While I've never actually seen anything where there's only one female heroine and many testosterone-fueled men desperate for some love, I'm sure
Senyuu. Season 2 | 戦勇。 第2期
Animation: LIDEN FILMS x Ordet
DMC:
For those who like their comedy referential, bite-sized, and based on video games, Senyuu returns with a second season sure to be full of as little effort as the producers can possibly put into it - just like the first one! Seriously, the combined intro sequence and ending themes for Senyuu episodes are longer than the actual episodes themselves. It boggles the mind how short Senyuu is, but the fact that the show effectively has time for like two jokes an episode does mean that it will be hard for the staff to run out of ideas - that, and that it's actually taken me longer to write this preview than it will to actually watch a Senyuu season 2 episode.
akinari-kun:
Not a fan of 2-minute long episodes, no thanks.
Gifuu Doudou!! Kanetsugu to Keiji | 義風堂々!! 兼続と慶次
Animation: Studio DEEN
DMC:
Do you like your anime manly? Like, really manly. If you do, then Gifuu Doudou is the show for you - packed to the brim with muscular men fighting heroic battles with honour and dignity, Gifuu Doudou is a historical anime that seems every bit as much of a product of another time as its subject matter. Set in Japan just after the end of the Sengoku era and based on a manga by Fist of the North Star artist Tetsuo Hara, this is the number one anime for those looking for an escape from moe this season. Definitely one I'm looking forward to.
akinari-kun:
No Sengoku-era historical shows, I'm sitting out of this one.
Tamayura ~More Aggressive~ | たまゆら ～もあぐれっしぶ～
Animation: TYO Animations
DMC:
In the grim darkness of the nightmare future of the 41st century, there is only war. Great armies wage constant warfare against each other, leaving the universe a place without hope of ever again knowing peace and prosperity. The Imperium of Man sees its influence waning in the face of the dark gods of Chaos's blight, and other warrior races stand eternally at the ready to crush the weakened outposts and claim the Empire's land as their own - but no matter which of the armies stands in control of a territory, war remains the only constant.
Meanwhile, I have absolutely no idea what Tamayura ~More Aggressive~ is about. Some kind of slice-of-life thing I guess?
akinari-kun:
The first season was boring, the second season will be just as boring. Neeeeext.
Free!
Animation: Kyoto Animation x Animation DO
DMC:
Kyoto Animation makes a bold step outside of the realm of moe slice-of-life anime featuring cute girls with what may be the world's first moe slice-of-life anime featuring cute boys exclusively! Well, unless you count Hetalia I guess. Or any number of other shows that could probably qualify. Whatever, this is new for KyoAni and has probably driven at least one sad otaku to suicide before its first episode has had time to air. Exciting stuff!
akinari-kun:
Honestly, when I first saw the PV for the show, I will admit that it was pretty cool and somewhat refreshing to see KyoAni create a show about a bunch of guys swimming in speedos. Will I watch it? No. Is it an interesting new idea that will attract much attention? For sure. Unfortunately, I'll be sticking to shows with less of a male presence. Male fanservice is just taking things one step too far in my books.
Gin no Saji | 銀の匙
Animation: A-1 Pictures
DMC:
The subset of anime viewers that pride themselves on things like "sophistication" and "class" and "not watching shows like High School DxD" will find a lot to like about this rural slice-of-life show, about a city boy who has to adapt to life in the countryside, presumably learning all kinds of important life lessons along the way. Perfect for anyone who dislikes excitement and/or really, really wants to be a Japanese farmer for some reason.
akinari-kun:
Shounen? No thanks.
Stella Jogakuin Koutouka C3-Bu | ステラ女学院高等科C3部
Animation: Gainax
DMC:
GAINAX, at one point in time, was more than a respectable anime studio - they were the respectable anime studio. With challenging, original works that made the very most of their limited budgets to create works that have endured for decades, GAINAX was the thinking otaku's studio - until Hideaki Anno got too depressed to keep making KareKano, after which point things just kinda got really shitty, really fast. GAINAX has had brief moments of respectability in the years since (pitch-perfect '70s homage Re: Cutie Honey and the unexpected Hanamaru Kindergarten), but the majority of their recent works tend to be either numbingly over-the-top genre exercises (Gurren Lagann), actively shitting on their legacy (Rebuild of Evangelion) or whatever the hell Panty & Stocking with Garter Belt was. With a premise totally unencumbered by "promise", this season's GAINAX effort concerns high school girls playing military-themed survival games in miniskirts because it's undoubtedly somebody's fetish. Granted, last year's Girls und Panzer managed to be a brilliant show despite a similarly ludicrous and fetishistic premise, but with GAINAX's recent track record it's really best to assume that this one is going to fall flat.
akinari-kun:
You know what else contains the word "Stella?" Stella Artois. Stella Artois is good, therefore, this show must be good. I shall be watching this.
Danganronpa Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei The Animation | ダンガンロンパ 希望の学園と絶望の高校生 The Animation
Animation: Lerche
DMC:
This one's supposed to be something of a mystery, I do believe, so thus far I've actively avoided reading a single thing about the show! On the plus side, this means I've avoided spoilers, and on the minus side it means I have absolutely no idea what the hell this show even is. Should be a fun review!
akinari-kun:
Just...no.
Rozen Maiden | ローゼンメイデン
Animation: Studio DEEN
DMC:
Ball-jointed dolls are my personal sexual fetish. Just wanted to share that with you all in case any of you were in danger of actually liking me.
akinari-kun:
Rozen Maiden was one of the shows that ultimately got me into the whole world of anime. The idea itself of having dolls come to life really sparked my interest and led me to watch all three seasons of the original Rozen Maiden anime. With Studio DEEN in charge of this all-new Rozen Maiden, I'm most certainly curious as to how the show will be handled. It is to my understanding that this version will not be a continuation from the third season of the original Rozen Maiden, but it will be a brand-new series based closely on the original. Very much looking forward to covering this.
Love Lab | 恋愛ラボ
Animation: Doga Koba
DMC:
Pitched by many bloggers as a spiritual successor to light yuri slice-of-life anime Yuru Yuri, Love Lab takes us to yet another high school filled with bright, cheery young girls whose entire lives consist of being cute and facing incomprehensibly minor problems that can never be solved in a manner that could be described as anything less than adorable. Likely not the best show for the people watching Gifuu Doudou, but should probably sit just fine with the ones watching Futari wa Milky Holmes.
akinari-kun:
This has got to be good. I was personally quite a fan of Yuru Yuri, so if the spiritual successor statement is in fact true, then this will be a pleasant filler show for me to kick back and enjoy.
Senki Zesshou Symphogear G | 戦姫絶唱シンフォギアG
Animation: Satelight
DMC:
They're making more Symphogear? God DAMMIT.
akinari-kun:
I'd rather be sleeping. No really.
Kitakubu Katsudou Kiroku | 帰宅部活動記録
Animation: Nomad
DMC:
Love Lab a bit too overt with its vague yuri undertones? Have no fear, there are more low-rent K-ON! feel-alikes to satisfy all potential tastes! For example, in this one, it's about a club that has no real objective! Not at all like the club in Yuru Yuri that had no real objective, nor is it anything like that totally non-yuri-friendly Tomodachi ga Sukunai with its "friendship club" that never really adhered to a particular theme! Nope, this show is nothing if not uncompromisingly original and unique.
akinari-kun:
From reading the synopsis, this is something that would be fun to watch. However, go-home club almost sounds a little too much like what Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai had to offer, a show which I could not get myself to watch the second season of simply because it was too repetitive for my tastes. Shows without a general theme always tend to fall into a pit of, for lack of a better, word, nothingness, and ends up achieving nothing at all. One can only hope this show will fair better.
Servant x Service | サーバント×サービス
Animation: A-1 Pictures
DMC:
Nowhere near as kinky as the title would seem to suggest, this show appears to be something of an office comedy filtered through the lens of a slice-of-life anime. From the same studio that brought us the popular (Get it? It's almost a joke!) anime Working!!, this most certainly has the potential to be that one show that people on my Twitter sort of like but I just don't see the appeal of. You know, like that noitaminA show about fishing or whatever the fuck that was all about.
akinari-kun:
Too disappointed that there won't actually be servants and service to write a proper comment Not very appealing to me at the moment, I'll wait and see how the show progresses to decide if I'll watch it or not.
Ro-kyu-bu! SS | ロウきゅーぶ！SS
Animation: Project No. 9
DMC:
Recorder to Randosel and a new Ro-Kyu-Bu? I think I'm probably getting added to like 4 different kinds of FBI watch lists just for this preview post alone.
akinari-kun:
Too much loli power for me to handle, it's a no for me.
Kiniro Mosaic | きんいろモザイク
Animation: Studio Gokumi
DMC:
The slice-of-life ghetto is a harsh place, where otherwise-identical shows live or die by their tiniest nuances. One false step, and a show gets banished to the special circle of hell reserved for incredibly dull anime, while a single character catchphrase can get a show churning out doujinshi on the regular even decades after its release. In this harsh environment, a show like Kiniro Mosaic faces harsh competition, but it brings some incredibly cute character designs that may end up making it into something that isn't forgotten as soon as it began. More likely, though, this one is going to end up keeping Kitakubu Katsudou Kiroku company in the realm of "anime nobody gives a flying fuck about" by the time the season's halfway done.
akinari-kun:
I hate to put it this way, but this show looks really, really, extremely bland multiplied by about a thousand or two.
Choujigen Game Neptune The Animation | 超次元ゲイム ネプテューヌ THE ANIMATION
Animation: David Production
DMC:
Based on a popular PS3 RPG series, this travesty in the making aims to combine fanservice with video game references while simultaneously delivering that uniquely underwhelming entertainment experience that only shat-out adaptations of mediocre video games can offer. There is, of course, the vague possibility that the show might transcend its subject matter and become something exciting, but why would the producers do that when the show really only exists to help sell more Neptunia figures anyways?
akinari-kun:
Fanservice is good.
GATCHAMAN Crowds | ガッチャマン クラウズ
Animation: Tatsunoko Production
DMC:
My most-anticipated title of the season (and nobody else's), this mysterious series is a remake of early the early 1970s anime Gatchaman, with the maddeningly low amount of information available on the show only making the possibility of actually viewing it that much more exciting. Seemingly casting aside all but the superhero team dynamic from the original show, this liberal remake could easily go one of two ways; either it succeeds as a compelling, stylish revitalization of a once-beloved property (as fellow Tatsunoko hero was granted with the brilliant Casshern Sins anime series), or a distressingly bad, overwrought mess of horrid writing that misses the point of all that made the original interesting (such as the live-action Casshern movie). Only time will tell which category this one fits in, but I'm definitely more than hyped to see how it all pans out. GATCHAMAN!
akinari-kun:
Although I was not born when the original Gatchaman aired, nor have I ever watched the original Gatchaman, I'll be giving this show a go. Adventure and sci-fi always go well with me, and if this classic Gatchman is in fact revived and given new life, I'm sure this will definitely garner some attention.
Futari wa Milky Holmes | ふたりはミルキィホームズ
Animation: J.C. Staff
DMC:
More hardcore detective work from the baddest motherfuckers on the streets of anime-land, the Milky Holmes crew. This season, everything is at stake - mysteries are matters of life and death, and things will never be the same once the secrets of an ancient conspiracy are revealed. It's Milky Holmes fighting an evil as old as time to save the very future of our world - and only sarcasm like this could possibly make this show sound like anything other than the silliest thing on television.
akinari-kun:
Milky Holmes, 'nuff said.
Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou | 幻影ヲ駆ケル太陽
Animation: AIC
DMC:
Slice-of-life not your bag, more into action? Well, luckily for you, there's like 8 shows this season that cater to your interest! While perhaps not the most notable, Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou looks to be bringing the supernatural flair with gusto, and if that sounds really vague and non-descript that's probably because it's hard to find any real info on this thing! It involves girls, fighting and tarot cards, so if any of those things appeal to you, you might like this one.
akinari-kun:
I don't even.
Fate/
Animation: Silver Link
DMC:
Remember Magical Girl Pretty Sammy? Of course you don't. Point is, it was a really bad show made as an all-ages magical girl show spun off from a rather risque harem anime, and now the Fate series sees the same with an all-ages magical girl show spun off from a hentai game. Will it entertain? Probably. Is it high art? No, but it's not pretending to be. Will it satisfy TYPE-MOON fans? Of course not, those guys are like never satisfied ever!
akinari-kun:
Fate/nobody cares anymore.
Kimi no Iru Machi | 君のいる町
Animation: Gonzo
DMC:
I have literally nothing to say about this one.
akinari-kun:
As much as I'd like to write a lengthy rant about how there should be more lovey-dovey romance shows in each anime season, this show doesn't seem worthy enough of a rant. From what information's available at the moment, a corrupted love triangle of sorts is present, which can either go fantastically well or horribly fail. Again, I'll wait until I watch the first episode or two and decide if it's worth watching.
Monogatari Series: Second Season | 物語シリーズ セカンドシーズン
Animation: SHAFT
DMC:
Akiyuki Shinbo is a God.
akinari-kun:
Nadeko is my wife.
Genshiken Nidaime | げんしけん 二代目
Animation: Production I.G.
DMC:
Anyone familiar with the law of diminishing returns should know that the odds of once-venerable series Genshiken having any life, humour or entertainment value in it at this point are close to nil. The original manga was brilliant, heartwarming and often funny and the first anime series was a bit less so but still good, but as Genshiken went on in its various incarnations it just kind of stopped being very good. Now that we're at this point, well... at least some of us still have fond memories of how much Genshiken didn't suck before Kuchiki joined the club.
akinari-kun:
The show looks like it could be interesting, sadly, not interesting enough for me to want to pick it up.
Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi | 神さまのいない日曜日
Animation: Madhouse
DMC:
Post-apocalyptica with a religious twist, this series revolves around a world where God existed, but abandoned the Earth for whatever reason and people are still picking up the metaphorical pieces 15 years later. A strange setting, and one with interesting implications from a theological perspective, with a lot of promise as the director of last year's brilliant Nobuna Oda no Yabou is behind it. It may not ultimately live up to its lofty premise, but Yuuji Kumazawa sure knows his way around a good action show.
akinari-kun:
A very promising show with a storyline full of depth and realism, this is definitely a show you'll not want to miss this season.
Fantasista Doll | ファンタジスタドール
Animation: Hoods Entertainment
DMC:
Fantasista Doll is about a girl who finds herself in the possession of mysterious cards that let her summon dolls - magical dolls. It's totally different from Rozen Maiden, though, because it's a chick instead of a dude summoning them. Obviously.
akinari-kun:
Cute dolls doing cute things, what else is there to comment on?
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