The List of New Anime in the Spring 2006

[SSJVegeta]

Here is a list of new anime which will premiere in Japan in the Spring of 2006. The number of new shows will mark a record high in the history of Japanese animation.


A. TV Anime

04/01 Gakuen Heaven (http://www.gakuenheaven.com/) / AT-X / Sat.09:00 / Tokyo Kids
04/01 Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime Gyu! (http://futagohime.jp/) / TV Tokyo / Sat.10:00 / HAL Film Maker
04/01 Youkai Ningen Bem (http://www.bem-tv.com/) / Animax / Sat.19:00 / Studio Comet
04/01 Fighting Beauty Wulong REBIRTH (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/wulong/) / TV Tokyo / Sat.24:55 / TOMS Entertainment
04/01 Soul Link (http://www.soul-link.com/) / Chiba TV / Sat.25:35 / Picture Magic
04/01 Yoshinaga-sanchi no Gargoyle (http://www.garkun.com/) / Chiba TV / Sat.26:05 / Studio Hibari
04/01 BLACK LAGOON (http://www.blacklagoon.jp/) / Chiba TV / Sat.26:35 / Madhouse
04/02 KIBA (http://www.ki-ba.com/) / TV Tokyo / Sun.08:30 / Madhouse, Studio Live
04/02 Digimon Savers (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/digimon_s/) / Fuji TV / Sun.09:00 / Toei Animation
04/02 Onegai My Melody ~Kurukuru Shaffle!~ (http://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/mymelo/) / TV Tokyo / Sun.09:30 / Studio Comet
04/02 Himawari! (http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/himawari/) / Chiba TV / Sun.23:30 / ARMS
04/02 Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (http://www.haruhi.tv/) / Chiba TV / Sun.24:00 / Kyoto Animation
04/02 ARIA The NATURAL (http://www.ariacompany.net/) / TV Tokyo / Sun.25:00 / HAL Film Maker
04/02 School Rumble Nigakki (http://www.school-rumble.net/) / TV Tokyo / Sun.25:30 / Studio Comet
04/03 Bakegyamon (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/bakegyamon/) / TV Tokyo / Mon.18:00 / RADIX
04/03 Simoun (http://www.simoun.tv/) / TV Tokyo / Mon.25:30 / Studio DEEN
04/03 Joshikosei GIRL'S-HIGH (http://www.girls-high.net/) / TV Saitama / Mon.25:30 / ARMS
04/03 Utawareru Mono (http://www.utaware.net/) / Chiba TV / Mon.26:40 / OLM TEAM IWASA
04/03 Strawberry Panic (http://www.strawberrypanic.com/) / TVK / Mon.26:45 / Madhouse
04/04 capeta (chuugakusei hen) (http://www.capeta-tv.com/index.html) / TV Tokyo / Tue.17:30 / Studio Comet
04/04 Animal Yokocho (2nd season) (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/aniyoko/) / TV Tokyo / Tue.18:00 / Studio Gallop
04/04 Furakappa (http://www.office-ao.co.jp/kappa/kappa.html) / TVK / Tue.18:45 / Office AO
04/04 Gintama (http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/gintama/) / TV Tokyo / Tue.19:00 / Sunrise
04/04 Makai Senki Disgaea (http://akaitsuki.net/index.html) / Gifu Hoso / Tue.24:15 / OLM
04/04 Ouran Kouko Host Club (Ouran High School Host Club) (http://www.ntv.co.jp/host/) / NTV / Tue.24:50 / BONES
04/04 Air Gear -Ama Kakeru Tsubasa- (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/airgear/) / TV Tokyo / Tue.25:00 / Toei Animation
04/04 LavugecCHU ~Miracle Seiyuu Hakusho~ (Love-get-CHU ~Miracle White Paper on Seiyuu~) (http://galgame.jp/anime.html) / TV Tokyo / Tue.25:30 / RADIX
04/04 Renkin Sankyu Magical? Pokaan (http://www.magipoka.com/) / Chiba TV / Tue.25:30 / REMIC
04/04 Higurashi no Nakukoro ni (http://www.oyashirosama.com/web/) / Kansai TV / Tue.26:00 / Studio DEEN
04/05 Spider Riders ~Oracle no Yuusha-tachi~ (http://www.teletoon.com/unrealworld_v2/teletoon.php?language=En&user=0&init=shortcut&func=tvSpecialsVip) / TV Tokyo / Wed.17:30 / Bee Train
04/05 Shibawanko no Wa no Kokoro (http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/moe/book/com/shibawanko/anime.html) / NHK Sogo / Wed.23:00 / Three Day
04/05 NANA (http://www.ntv.co.jp/nana/) / NTV / Wed.23:25 / Madhouse
04/05 Inukami! (http://inukami.jp/) / TV Tokyo / Wed.25:00 / Seven Arcs
04/05 .hack//Roots (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/hack_roots/) / TV Tokyo / Wed.25:30 / Bee Train
04/05 Witchblade (http://www.witchblade.jp/) / Chuubu Nihon Hoso / Wed.25:45 / GONZO
04/05 RAY The Animation (http://ray.tv/) / Touhoku Hoso / Wed.26:00 / OLM
04/05 Yume Tsukai (http://www.yumetsukai.com/) / Chiba TV / Wed.26:00 / Madhouse
04/05 Princess Princess (http://www.pri-pri.jp/) / TV Asahi / Wed.27:10 / Studio DEEN
04/05 The Frogman Show (http://www.kaeruotoko.com/) / TV Asahi / Wed.late-night / Frogman
04/05 Yoshimune (http://www.yoshimune-anime.com/index_content.html) / Tokyo MX TV / Wed.late-night / AIC Spirits
04/06 ZEGAPAIN (http://www.zegapain.net/) / TV Tokyo / Thurs.18:00 / Sunrise
04/06 xxxHOLiC (http://www.tbs.co.jp/holic/) / TBS / Thurs.25:25 / Production I.G.
04/06 Ah! My Goddess ~Sorezore no Tsubasa~ (http://www.tbs.co.jp/megamisama/) / TBS / Thurs.25:55 / AIC
04/06 Ring ni Kakero 1: Nichibei Kessen Hen (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/rin-kake1_vsUSA/) / TV Asahi / Thurs.26:42 / Toei Animation
04/07 Keroro Gunso (Third Year) (http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/keroro/) / TV Tokyo / Fri.17:30 / Sunrise

(continued on the next post)

[SSJVegeta]

A. TV Anime

04/07 Kirarin Revolution (http://www.shopro.co.jp/oha/kirarin/) / TV Tokyo / Fri.18:00 / Synergy SP
04/07 Nishi no Yoki Majo -Astrea Testament- (http://www.project-westwitch.net/) / KBS Kyoto / Fri.25:30 / HAL Film Maker
04/08 Saiunkoku Monogatari (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/sp/200602-04/index.php) / NHK BS2 / Sat.09:00 / Madhouse
04/08 Shoujo Janggeum no Yume (http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/ent/janggeum/) / NHK Sogo / Sat.19:30 / HEEWON Entertainment
04/10 Shinseiki Duel Masters Flash / TV Tokyo / Mon.06:45 / Synergy SP, G&G Entertainment
04/12 Hime-sama Goyojin (http://www.himehime.jp/) / WOWOW / Wed.24:00 / Nomad
04/13 Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club (http://www.sasami-club.net/) / WOWOW / Thurs.18:00 / AIC Spirits
04/13 The Third ~Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo~ (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/fujimi/sp/thethird/) / WOWOW / Thurs.24:30 / XEBEC
04/13 Jyuohsei (http://jyu-oh-sei.com/) / Fuji TV / Thurs.24:45 / BONES
04/15 TOKKO (http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/tokko/) / WOWOW / Sat.24:30 / Group TAC
04/29 Tsubasa Chronicle (2nd season) (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/tsubasa/) / NHK.Edu / Sat.18:25 / Bee Train
04/-- Zenmai Zamurai / NHK.Edu / Mon.07:50 / ?
04/-- Garasu no Kantai (Glass Fleet) (http://www.garakan.com/) / TV Asahi / late-night / GONZO, Satelight
04/-- Poka-Poka-Mori no Rascal (http://www.nippon-animation.co.jp/pocapoca/) / UHF Local / -- / Nippon Animation
04/-- Sarugecchu (http://www.piposaru.com/) / -- / -- / ?
05/18 Kamisama Kazoku (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/kamisama/) / Animax / Thurs.22:30 / Toei Animation
05/-- Kishin Houko: Demonbane (http://www.demonbane.com/) / WOWOW / -- / View Works
05/-- POCOYO (http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/pocoyo/) / WOWOW / -- / Zinkia S.L.

B. OVA

03/24 Kakyusei2 ~Anthology~ Vol.1 / Inugoya
03/24 Top o Nerae2! Vol.5 (http://www.top2.jp/) / GAINAX
03/24 Kyou no 5 no 2 Vol.1 (http://www.5-2.jp/) / Shinkukan
03/24 Eien no Aseria: Ugoki Dashita Shukumei (http://www.aseria-jhv.com/) / Studio Matrix
03/24 TANK S.W.A.T. 01 (http://tank-swat.jp/) / DoGA
03/24 Prince of Tennis -Zenkoku Taikai Hen- Vol.1 (http://www.mmv.co.jp/cgi-bin/img.cgi?id=ASBX-3324) / --
03/24 I"s Pure Vol.4 (http://www.liverp.co.jp/dvd_video/is_vol4.html) / Rivapool
03/24 sin in the rain Vol.1 (http://www.es-e.co.jp/products/89si1.htm) / Mook Animation
03/29 Memories Off #5 Togireta Film The Animation (http://memories-off5.jp/) / Doga Kobo
03/29 Fullmetal Alchemist Premium Collection (http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Animation/hagaren/) / BONES
04/05 Daimahou Touge Vol.1 (http://www.punie.jp/) / Studio Barcelona
04/28 Angel's Feather Vol.1 (http://www.amg-e.com/angel-f/) / VENET
04/28 Baldr Force Exe Resolution 01 Taido ~a sign~ (http://www.trinet-ent.com/baldrforce/) / Satelight
04/28 Mitsu X Mitsu Drops Vol.1 (http://cd.softgarage.com/contents/mitsu/mitsu_anime/) / --
05/26 Fullmetal Panic! The Second Raid Special OVA "Warito Himana Sentaicho no Ichinichi" (http://www.tdd-1.com/0401/166.html) / Kyoto Animation
05/-- Cream Lemon New Generation Vol.3 / Movanimation
05/-- Cream Lemon New Generation Vol.4 / Movanimation
06/-- Kyou no 5 no 2 Vol.2 (http://www.5-2.jp/) / Shinkukan
06/-- Angel's Feather Vol.2 (http://www.amg-e.com/angel-f/) / VENET
06/23 Kakyusei2 ~Anthology~ Vol.2 / Inugoya

C. Anime Movies

04/08 Tachiguishi Retsuden (http://www.tachiguishi.com/top.html) / Production I.G
04/08 Hanare Toride no Yonna ~Yonna in the solitary fortress~ (http://www.cwfilms.jp/yonna/) / Kengo Takeuchi
04/15 Detective Conan ~Tantei-tachi no Requiem~ (http://www.conan-movie.jp/index.html) / TMS
04/15 Crayon Shin-chan: Densetsu o Yobu Odore! Amigo! (http://www.shinchan-movie.com/) / Shinei Doga
--/-- Mahou Sensei Negima! Spring Version / Shaft

* Previous thread: The List of 2006 Winter's New Anime (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=110513)

[jboncha]

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/954/airgearanime6yw.jpg

I cant wait to see some more artwork from the Air Gear anime.
But I really cant wait until I can buy it on DVD.
Hopefully it will get licensed in the US sometime before the end of 2006.
For right now I'll just have to look forward to being able to buy the Air Gear manga that Del Rey has licensed in July 2006.

I cant wait to see this Witchblade anime either.



J B

[Aelo]

Oh Snap...

[MKTerra]

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/954/airgearanime6yw.jpgSheesh, for a sec there I mistook that pic for Busou Renkin.

[SSJVegeta]

We'll have a lot of new anime this spring, and there are a considerable number of remarkable shows. I'd like to introduce some of them in random order.


Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu

Synopsis: This is a story of Suzumiya Haruhi who established "SOS Dan" to seek an alien/person from the future/man having supernatural powers/etc and play with them. Suzumiya Haruhi is a good-looking high school girl who has a clear head, haughty personality and very egocentric thought. She has an unimaginably tremendous power to change the world, but she's totally unaware of her own power and so she's also unaware of the effect of her power on the outside world.

*SOS Dan = Sekai wo Ooini moriageru tameno Suzumiya Haruhi no Dan (Suzumiya Haruhi Association to bring a lot of excitement to the world)

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu is one of the most remarkable shows this spring, which is already generating a lot of attention among Japanese anime fans because it has really good animation staff, Tatsuya Ishihara and Kyoto Animation.

http://www.kyotoanimation.co.jp/data/mein/images/top_haruhi.jpg

However, many people pointed out that it would be very hard for the original novel to be adapted into anime faithfully. Probably the offical website of Haruhi TV series (http://www.haruhi.tv/) will make no sense to people who have never read the novel whatsoever, even if they can read Japanese. If Kyoto Animation carry through the very difficult task well, they will win a shining reputation.

[OverMaster]

Disgaea and Oh my Goddess Season 2... YAHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Arilou]

School Rumble Season 2 :p

And did anoyone notice the Witchblade animé?

[Paploo the Ewok]

Wow! Keep posting these links SSJVegata ^_^

This is a cool little archive. I'm looking forward to XXXholic TV, the new Pretty Sammy anime and Gunbuster 2 [which'll hopefully see release here once the OVA's finished.... I suspect it's already licensed, but whoever has it won't announce it till they can begin preparations to release it, once the 6th ep comes out. Which may take awhile....]


BTW- Spider Riders is ALREADY airing here in Canada on the Teletoon cable network, since they coproduced it. It's based on a Canadian children's scifi novel.

[NinjaJJ]

After a long interlude where there was nothing I really wanted to watch, spring comes around and my interest blossoms once more. Anyway, series I'm looking forward to watching:

- .hack//Roots
- XXXholic
- NANA
- Ah! My Goddess ~Sorezore no Tsubasa~
- Tokko
- Joshikosei GIRL'S-HIGH
- Strawberry Panic
- Nishi no Yoki Majo -Astrea Testament-

A majority of the series I'm looking forward to are adaptations of manga I've enjoyed; the last three series, however, attracted me purely based on their looks/style.

[SSJVegeta]

I found an interesting online polling on this spring's new anime. The folloing list shows an interim results of the poll at present.

Most Promising New Anime Poll - Spring 2006 (Angel Heart Club (http://home.att.ne.jp/wave/applepop/): Japanese anime/novel website)

the current number of votes: 1411

01. 245 Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (http://www.haruhi.tv/)
02. 191 Saiunkoku Monogatari (The Story of Saiunkoku) (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/sp/200602-04/index.php)
03. 158 ARIA The NATURAL (http://www.ariacompany.net/)
04. 78 Utawareru Mono (http://www.utaware.net/)
05. 73 Kishin Houko: Demonbane (http://www.demonbane7.net/web/)
06. 59 Higurashi no Nakukoro ni
07. 44 School Rumble Nigakki
08. 42 Gintama
09. 38 Gakuen Heaven
10. 37 BLACK LAGOON
11. 33 Joshikosei GIRLS-HIGH
12. 31 xxxHOLiC
13. 24 Yoshinaga-sanchi no Gargoyle
14. 22 .hack//Roots
15. 21 Makai Senki Disgaea
16. 20 NANA
17. 19 Ouran High School Host Club
17. 19 Onegai My Melody ~Kuru Kuru Shaffle!~
19. 18 Dai Mahou Touge
20. 17 Strawberry Panic
20. 17 Yume Tsukai
22. 14 Simoun
22. 14 Digimon Savers
24. 13 Princess Princess
24. 13 Garasu no Kantai (Glass Fleet)
26. 10 Inukami!
26. 10 Nishi no Yoki Majo -Astrea Testament-
26. 10 Jyu-oh-sei
29. 9 Ah! My Goddess ~Sore Zore no Tsubasa~
29. 9 Soul Link
31. 8 KIBA
31. 8 Renkin Sankyu Magical? Pokaan
33. 7 Tsubasa Chronicle (2nd season)
33. 7 ZEGAPAIN
35. 6 Witchblade
35. 6 TOKKO
35. 6 The Third
36. 5 Air Gear ~Ama Kakeru Tsubasa~
36. 5 Fushigi Boshi no Futago Hime Gyu!
36. 5 Kami-sama Kazoku
36. 5 Hime-sama Goyojin

(skip the shows with less than 5 votes)

[SSJVegeta]

I've just finished watching the first episodes of the following new anime.

Gakuen Heaven
Fushigi Boshi no Futago Hime Gyu!
Soul Link
Yoshinaga-sanchi no Gargoyle
KIBA
Digimon Savers
Onegai My Melody ~Kuru Kuru Shuffle!~

Yoshinaga-sanchi no Gargoyle (http://www.garkun.com/) was the most impressive for me among the above seven shows. Episode 1 of YnG has a good animation quality and appropriate pacing of the story. Norio Wakamoto's voice acting is awesome.

Fushigi Boshi no Futago Hime Gyu! (http://futagohime.jp/) is pretty enjoyable as well as the previous series. New TV series is set in the prestigious school.

I want to see the next episode of KIBA (http://www.ki-ba.com/). Ep.1 is not bad, but I'd like to hold my judgment at this time.

Digimon Savers (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/digimon_s/) stars a hot-blooded type of boy. He exchanges blows with a digimon with naked fists. Hahaha...

Gakuen Heaven (http://www.gakuenheaven.com/) is a school/shounen-ai/boy's love show for females. Not a single female character appeared in episode 1. The story of ep.1 was a bit boring for me, maybe it's because I'm male.

I feel ep.1 of Soul Link (http://www.soul-link.com/) is average or below average in part.

Onegai My Melody ~Kuru Kuru Shuffle!~ (http://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/mymelo_kurukuru/) got off to a good start. The last three episodes of the previous series were excellent, so the second season is promising.

[SSJVegeta]

New anime I've watched today is as follows.

Yokai Ningen Bem
Akubi Girl
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu
ARIA The Natural
School Rumble Nigakki

I took part in an online chat to make play-by-play comments while watching episode 1 of Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (http://www.haruhi.tv/) in real-time. There were a great many people there. I couldn't help but laugh at their reaction toward ep.1 because most of the people who haven't read the original novel were dumbfounded at ep.1. Kyoto Animation is so mean, they did that on purpose. I dare say that I want to give a big hand to Kyoto Animatio who made the bold decision to use Asahina Mikuru no Boken (Asahina Mikuru's adventure) from the novel vol.2 as the first episode for the TV series. For better or for worse, it's producing a flood of responses in Japan's anime forums/blogs/sites. Probably I'll give you the details later.

Suzumiya Haruhi
http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/haruhi01-01.jpg


Yokai Ningen Bem (http://www.bem-tv.com/) is a contemporary version of the original TV anime series in 1968. It's better than I expected, but 1968's series is much darker and serious. They arrange some art designs/meacha designs/backgrond pictures in Shigeru Komatsuzaki style.

Akubi Girl (http://tatsunoko.co.jp/AkubiGirl/menu.html) is a cute 5 minute anime series. It's a spinoff show from an old comedy anime, Hakushon Dai Maoh. It made me feel nostalgic.

I enjoyed seeing the first episode of ARIA The Natural (http://www.ariacompany.net/). Welcome back, Akari, Ai, Aika, Alice and Alicia. I missed you. The first half of ep.1 introduces main characters to the viewers and the second half is a bit mysterious tale.

The story of School Rumble Nigakki (http://www.school-rumble.net/) episode 1 may be more amusing rather than the original manga counterpart. Studio Comet is doing a good job of adapting the manga into anime. As for the details, see dxgarten's blog :D

[SSJVegeta]

Here is new TV series I saw today. Today is Shoujo-ai/Yuri Anime Day.

Bakegyamon
Simoun
Strawberry Panic
Gintama
Joshikosei GIRL'S-HIGH

Bakegyamon (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/bakegyamon/) is shounen adventure anime for young boys. Episode 1 has all-too-common storyline in shounen battle anime. Sanshiro Tamon, an elementary school boy who is a leading male character of the show, is a really typical nekketsu-type ("fireball-type") hero. Animation quality is okay. Ep.1 is kind of fun, but this show is not my thing.

Simoun (http://www.simoun.tv/) episode 1 has high quality animation. This show seems to be considerably serious and it has a bit strong flavor of shoujo-ai. "Simoun" means a ceremonial two-seated airplane which only girls having a special talent can pilot. Every simoun requires a kiss between pilots to start an engine and also requires a kiss to activate a special power of simoun, so they hug and kiss without hesitation in the middle of an aerial battle...it lools too dangerous :p Since episode 1 is filled with coined words for this anime, I could only make out half of what they meant at the meeting scene. I'll probably follow this show fow a while.

Strawberry Panic (http://www.strawberrypanic.com/) looks like a female protagonist version of Sister Princess. This is no wonder, since Strawberry Panic comes from the reader participation project/game of Dengeki G's Magazine--such as Futakoi and Sister Princess. I found at least eight similarities between Strawberry Panic and Sister Princess in episode 1. However, it's true that StPani is different in tone of the show from SisPri because StPani focuses on shoujo-ai/yuri relationship between 12+ girls. Do you want to know how to make this show more enjoyable? The best way to do it may be the way in which yaoi fan girls do it, for example, "pairing". StPani and Simoun are aired by TV Tokyo, therefore we may not expect too explicit sexual scene.

Simoun vs Strawberry Panic, which is better? My answer is, "I'll take both, at least for brief periods of time."

Gintama (http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/gintama/) is an anime adaption of popular manga by Hideaki Sorachi, whichi is currently running in Weekly Shounen Jump. Episode 1 and 2 were enjoyable enough to me, but I'm not sure I'll see the next episode.

The ED animation of Joshikosei GIRL'S-HIGH (http://www.girls-high.net/) caught my eye. The ED is made by Yasuomi Umetsu, a skillful animator who did Angel Cop, KITE, Stop!! Hibari-kun, Akira, Wata no Kuni-hoshi and Elfen Lied. The ED animation that I like the best among recent shows is the new version of Sugar Sugar Rune, which was created by Hideaki Anno. This show's ED is also fun to look at. I received the first impression that it's "panty shot anime". The anime version has far more fanservices than the original manga. There is a considerabe difference in character design between the anime and manga. Yoshitaka Fujimoto, the director of the show, is directing it in his own way. He's good at doing this kind of anime. I didn't think they did a high school girl's hair of pubis gag in episode 1.

[SSJVegeta]

Ouran Kokou Host Club (Ouran High School Host Club) (http://www.ntv.co.jp/host/) / Director: Takuya Igarashi / Studio: Bones

Wow! I was most strongly impressed with this among new shows I've watched today. I really enjoyed episode 1. The director Takuya Igarashi and the chief writer Yoji Enokido hit their stride.

1. Igarashi's directing style is brisk and unique. Junichi Sato, a famous anime director (Kaleido Star, Keroro Gunso, Doremi, Princess Tutu and ARIA), spoke of him in the highest terms.
2. Ep.1's script by Enokido is pretty well writing.
3. The character design by Kumiko Takahashi is better than of the original manga.
4. Shihoko Nakayama is doing a good job at color design.
5. Both art design and background pictures are well drawn.
6. Appropriate pacing of the story is precisely maintained during ep.1.
7. The animation of ep.1 is crisp and high-quality.

The original shoujo manga by Bisuko Hatori is for women, but the anime version is enjoyable enough to satisfy most male viewers. Talk about a dark horse for this spring's new anime. I decided to follow this series as well as Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu.

Princess Princess (http://www.pri-pri.jp/) / Director: Keitaro Motonaga / Studio: Studio DEEN

The original manga series by Mikiyo Tsuda is still ongoing in Monthly Wings magazine. Ouran High School Host Club is a story of a girl masquerading as a boy, and Princess Princess is a story of a boy masquerading as a girl. The story is set in Fujimori Academy, an all-boy high school. Every student there is drooling at "Princess", a cute boy wearing a woman's dress, especially of Gothic-lolita. Tohru Sakamoto, a protagonist of the show, is transferred to Fujimori Academy in the middle of the semester, and he's soon forced into "the job of Princess" because he's bishounen (very pretty boy). This is lighthearted shounen-ai/Goth-loli/cross-dresser anime for females. Episode 1 is enjoyable and animation quality is decent, but a considerable number of male viewers may have feelings of resistance toward a-lot-of-boys-drooling-at-a-cross-dressing-cute-boy.

NANA (http://www.ntv.co.jp/nana/index.html) / Director: Morio Asaka / Studio: Madhouse

This is an anime adaption of enormously popular shoujo manga by Ai Yazawa, one of the most successful shoujo manga creator in Japan. The original manga seires has sold more than thirty million copies since its release. The story of the TV series starts with a fateful encounter between the two Nana, and the plotline of episode 1 sticks closely to the manga vol.2. Madhouse got it off to a solid start. I'd say they made the pass mark on the animation quality, character design, music, art design and screen directing. Voice actors' performance is generally okay, but the viewers may be divided over suitability of Paku Romi and Kaori for the role of the two Nana.

The NANA TV series is one of this spring's main features of NTV, the mainstream TV network in Japan. It's targeted at not only anime fans but also common people ranging from teenage girls to mature women who don't have a custom to see anime. In fact, they're showing the hair dye commercial aimed at middle-aged people in this program.

[SSJVegeta]

Air Gear -Ama Kakeru Tsubasa- (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/airgear/) / Director: Hajime Kamegaki / Studio: Toei Animation

This TV series is an anime adaptation of popular manga by Oh! Great (aka. Ohgre Ito), who is known for his high level of drawing ability. Air Gear manga is originally for male readers, but it's very popular with female manga readers in Japan. For example, 90 percent of Air Gear fan sites are being run by women. Appealing male characters in this manga supply a great material for female yaoi fans. Japanese manga fans' reacton to episode 1 appears to be not very positive, because they expected the same animation quality as Tenjo Tenge. Objectively speaking, animation quality of ep.1 is not so much bad as fairly decent, but it's hard not to feel that it's pale against the manga's beautiful pictures in flowing handwriting. When it comes to the story, it would be promising if they animate the original faithfully.

BTW, the latest volume of the manga (vol.13 Limited Editon) created a sensation and it was a sellout from the moment it came out, because Vol.13 Limited Ed Box includes the first male figure in Pinky:st, a popular customizable figure series.

Pinky:st figures of Air Gear character
http://image.www.rakuten.co.jp/hoshinobk/img10022203651.jpeg

Inukami! (http://inukami.jp/) / Director: Keizo Kusakawa / Studio: Seven Arcs

This show is based on a comedy/romance novel by a female writer Mamizu Arisawa. The production staff consists of almost the same members as Lyrical Nanoha A's. Keizo Kusakawa, a director of the show, mentioned Inukami! TV series in the presentation party as below.

"I'm careful in making an impact on viewers to make a clear departure from the other cute girl shows. We have added a lot of new wrinkles that others don't have to the show. I'm sure you'll understand what I mean if you watch first several episodes. The keyword in this anime is moe plus hentai."

As he said, episode 1 actually gave an impact on me. I had to watch a great many boys/guys with their lower bodies hanging out :D Keita, a leading male character, is a watered-down version of Ataru Moroboshi from Urusei Yatsura. It goes without saying that Yoko, a heroine of the show, is a variant of Rum. Episode 1 is mildy funny. I want to see a more crazy spectacle if they go with the policy of "moe plus hentai".

.hack//Roots (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/hack_roots/) / Director: Koichi Mashimo / Studio: Bee Train

For the previous .hack project became a worldwide success, Bandai developed an ambitious "media mix" strategy for the new .hack project. They're scheduling a great number of new product releases--such as games, CDs, novels, cards, figures, manga, events, magazines and of course anime. The stories of each media are intricately interrelated. It seems to be tough to get the whole picture of new "The World".

.hack//Roots episode 1 is obviously inherent to Mashimo's style of directing, just like .hack//SIGN. There is no question the volume of sound track is greater than any other show in this spring's new anime. I had mixed feelings at the music by Ali Project. I wish Yuki Kajiura would have done it. I felt the story of ep.1 was a bit better than that of SIGN. Frankly, I don't know whether the show will get more interesting or not for some reason. All I can tell you is that you'll probably like the new TV series if you're a fan of SIGN or Mashimo's work.

[SSJVegeta]

Kirarin Revolution (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/kirarin/) / Director: Masaharu Okuwaki / Synergy SP

What a surprise! I never imagined that I would see more outrageous shoujo anime than Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch. I was overwhelmed with the power and verve of this show. It has a great variety of flaws. Koharu Kusumi (a member of Morning Musume) playing a role of a leading female character is really poor at voice acting. Animation quality is not so good. Every character has too big eyes. Most gags and jokes are stereotypical and old style of a decade ago. Kirari Tsukishima, a junior high school girl who is a heroine of the show, is bishoujo but a bleeding idiot. The world of this anime is ruled by extreme opportunism. However, the strong point of the show outweighs these flaws. This anime is extraordinarily energetic and filled with primitive pleasures. The story moves ahead at a quick tempo like a runaway truck. Episode 1 is ridiculous but really hilarious.

This TV series is an anime adaptation of popular shoujo manga by An Nakahara. The manga is still running in Ciao, the biggest-circulation shoujo manga magazine in Japan. It's said that Kirarin Revolution is the most popular with Ciao readers. Watching ep.1, I'm beginning to understand why Kira-Revo manga is so popular.

Ah! My Goddess ~Sorezore no Tsubasa~ (http://www.tbs.co.jp/megamisama/) / Director: Akihiro Gohda / Studio: AIC

Episode 1 has the same quality as the previous TV series. Almost all the production staff remain the same, so they'll probably keep this quality to the end of the series. Now I can't imagine Belldandy without Kikuko Inoue's voice. Animation quality is good and music is decent. The story of episode 1 is enjoyable. I have no complains about ep.1. It's just as I expected and there is nothing new.

The original manga series has been going on for 15 years and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
According to the results of the questionnaire survey conducted by some manga review magazine in Japan, 70 percent of A!MG manga/DVD buyers consist of men in their 30s and 40s. Female manga/anime fans are divided on A!MG, especially on Belldandy. Half of them likes A!MG/Belldandy, and other half dislikes it. A considerable number of female fans say, "I can't understand where Belldandy is coming from." I've heard this kind of opinion here and there many times for 15 years. Although I'm a fan of A!MG, I think this issue will remain divisive forever.

Shiba Wanko no Wa no Kokoro (http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/moe/book/com/shibawanko/index.html)

This show is an anime adaptation of Yoshie Kawarura's bestselling picture book for adults. It's a kind of how-to book on traditional Japanese customs and manners. Shiba Wanko, a Shiba (http://www.shibas.org/newstand/geninfo.html) dog who is a leading character, teaches you traditional manners and wisdom of living in a humorous way. The anime version doesn't hurt the original book's reputation, it's well done. Shiba Wanko and Nyanko (a cat) are really adorable. This is a lovely five-minute anime series.

[SSJVegeta]

Saiunkoku Monogatari (The Story of Saiun Kingdom) (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/sp/200602-04/index.php) / Director: Jun Shishido / Studio: Madhouse / official website (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/saiunkoku/)

Synopsis

Koh Shurei is a young lady of noble ancestry, but her family actually has a lean purse. She has a clear head, strong will, wide knowledge, quick wits and ravishing good looks. She supplements the family income by working part-time, but she has great ambition to become a powerful high official of Saiun Kingdom for helping the people. She goes to great lengths to make her desire a reality, and so she pursues learning, gets a variety of the skills and learns proper etiquette and manners suitable for the court. She learns even bouchu-jutsu ("a training system to acquire advanced techniques for sex and sexual activities") with no hesitation (I think this part of the novel will be cut in the TV series). One day Sho Taishi, the highest-ranking officer of the court, visits her house all of a sudden. He asks her about "a job", waving a plump reward under her nose. She give an unqualified yes to his request without asking the content of it. His request is an offer to become a special trainer to educate a no-good king and she must enter a harem for the purpose of this...

First Impression

This is an anime adaptation of Sai Yukino's novel series for women. The TV series will be 39 episodes in total. If you see the pictures and preview in the official website, it might remind you of Fushigi Yuugi or Twelve Kingdom. But this is a very different type of story from those. Twelve Kingdom is very serious political anime, while on the other hand The Story of Saiun Kingdom has a ratio of 6 for seriousness to 4 for comedy. Twelve Kingdom focuses on politics, while Saiun focuses on human relationship. Fushigi Yuugi is many-boys-like/love-one-girl type adventure/romance in another world, but Saiun is a story of cool and appealing old guys who play an important role. A lot of good-looking young guys appear in this show, but there are not very many shounen-ai/yaoi elements in it.

Episode 1 gave me a good impression. Shurei has a dignified elegance and a lot of guts. I was intrigued by the personality of Shurei and the story setting. Animation quality is good and character design is decent. I really enjoyed episode 1. This show fully lived up to the advance reviews. It's originally for women, but it will probably entertain males as well as females.

Garasu no Kantai (Glass Fleet) (http://www.garakan.com/) / Director: Minoru Ohhara / Studio: GONZO, Satelight

This is a show that resembles a cross between Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Captain Harlock and Galaxy Warring State Chronicle Rai. Reading articles of several magazines and the official website, the settings of story/world/mecha/character are interesting. But it's hard to say the show exerted its potential at this stage. The animation quality of ep.1 is generally average (and good in part), even though it's a jointly-produced work between GONZO and Satelight. The story of ep.1 isn't quite convincing to me. The character design doesn't appeal to me very much. I guess this series has a considerable potential, but I'll probably stop watching it if the next episode is mediocre.

Edit: I put a link to the Story of Saiun Kingdom official website.

[SSJVegeta]

Black Jack 21 (http://www.ytv.co.jp/bj/index.html) / Director: Makoto Tezuka / Studio: Tezuka Production

This is the sequal to the previous TV series Black Jack. Osamu Tezuka, the most famous Manga artist called "the Manga God", created a very huge number of works for his whole life. Black Jack is his best known manga in his later works. Tezuka has an extremely large readership ranging from childern to seniors, regardless of age and sex. However, the topic of Black Jack TV series reraly comes up on anime forums in Japan. Instead, it's often taken up with more common bolgs being run by the rather older people who aren't anime/manga fans. They usually don't see any anime except for Black Jack (or Sazae-san).

Episode 1 has high-quality animation and an interesting storyline. According to the Nihon TV producer, the new TV series will be a little more serious and darker than the previous season. I welcome the decision of the production staff to change it back to the style of Black Jack, because Black Jack is a complex character, not a simple friend of justice. The new series is promising.

Keroro Gunso (third season) (http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/keroro/) / General Director: Junichi Sato / Studio: Sunrise

Every time I watch an episode of Keroro Gunso, I'm impressed by continuing the quality that always entertains me. It's just true to Junichi Sato's title. It's a matter of course that it remains highly popular with anime fans in Japan. This show is loved by both casual fans and hardcore fans who are very picky about anime. Such shows are considerably rare.

Episode 1 is also amusing. The animation, music, plot development, screen directing, pacing of the story, are all above the ordinary level. The voice actors' performance is really good. Keroro seems to become a long-running show.

Frogman Show (http://www.kaeruotoko.com/) / Director: Frogman / Studio: DLE, Kaeru Otoko Shokai

This is a flash animation TV series by DLE and Kaeru Otoko Shokai, so it's made surprisingly low-budget. Normally, to make one episode will need several hundred thousand dollars, but the cost of this anime production is less than ten thousand dollars per episode.

The show consists of two 15-minute anime, Kofun Gal Kofy ("Ancient Tomb Girl Kofy") and Taka no Tsume ("Hawk's Talons"). Both are strange nonsense comedies. There appear anthropomorphic ancient tomb characters in Kofun Gal Kofy and they have creepy and strange looks. Taka no Tsume is a parody of Sentai show and a satire on a competitive society. The jokes in both are relatively funny, but the stories aren't very hilarious.

Love-get-CHU ~Miracle Seiyuu Hakusho~ (Love-get-CHU ~Miracle White Paper on Seiyuu~) (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/get-chu/) / Director: Tohgo Mitsuhiro / Studio: RADIX

This TV series is based on a dating-sim game on a cell-phone website run by ARiKO System Co. It's a kind of inside story about the seiyuu (voice actors) industry, but it's just a fictitious story, so don't take it seriously. Nonetheless, there is one big exception. The seiyuu school scene of the first lesson that aspiring voice actors took are very realistic.

I saw the first two episodes. Episode 1 took a bashing from many people in Japan and episode 2 took a favorite turn a little. I recieved the first impression that it's not so bad. Animation quality and character design are okay. The storyline of ep.1 isn't very interesting and ep.2 is mildly funny. The voice acting by Kotono Mitsuishi and Masako Nozawa is awesome, but I felt there was a major gap in the degree of performance between them and rookie voice actors. I'll probably watch the next few episodes for some reason.

[SSJVegeta]

The Third ~Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo~ (~The Girl with Blue Eyes~) (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/fujimi/sp/thethird/) / Director: Jun Kamiya / Studio: XEBEC

This is an anime adaptation of Ryo Hoshino's novel series, which is still running in Dragon Magazine. It's going to be 24 episodes in total.

Synopsis

The story is set in a desertified planet of the future. The world is ruled by "The Third", an organization of subspecific Homosapiens who have a third eye on their forehead and a control of old-world technology. Honoka, a leading female character, is a blue-eyed girl who takes any dangerous job with the exception of a request for killing. She is called "Sword Dancer" for her prodigious swordplay. One night she comes by just in time to help a young man out in the desert. The unexpected encounter with him leads her into a dangerous adventure...

First Impression

Episode 1 is better than I expected. The animation quality is good, especially in battle scenes. Mecha design for AI tank is well done. The story setting reminds me of old anime/manga in sci-fi-adventure style of a decade ago. It's a kind of "girl with a sword" type of show. Honoka displayed great ability as a fighter in episode 1, but she's not reaching her potential at all at this stage. She has become an incredibly super-human fighter in the recent volume of novel. Her power seems to surpass even Shana from Shakugan no SHANA, for better or for worse. Honoka is one of subspecific Homosapiens, but it's not the true secret of her super-human power. I felt Megumi Toyoguchi's voice was relatively suitable for the role of Honoka.


Animal Yokocho (2nd season) (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/aniyoko/) VS. Onegai My Melody ~Kuru Kuru Shaffle!~ (http://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/mymelo_kurukuru/)

Animal Yokocho and Onegai My Melody is both shoujo/comedy anime, but there is a real contrast between the two. Ani-Yoko is a kind of absurd drama, we can only wait and see incomprehensible things happen. Almost every episode of Onegai My Melody has a very illusion-promoting storyline, however, all silly things/situations are always masterfully settled in a convincing way at the end of every episode. Both Iyo from Ani-Yoko and MyMelo from OMM is a rabbit character, but the two are definitely at the opposite end of the scale. Iyo has an enigmatic, outrageous personality and is always doing rather cruel acts. MyMelo is an unspeakably unique character I've never seen before. She has a more slow personality than Osaka from Azumanga Daioh and is a chara with genuinely good intentions but she sometimes does/mentions an extremely unexpected thing in a very logical way. Ami from Ani-Yoko and Koto from OMM are a cute little girl, but the difference between the two girls is really light and shade. Ami is essentially an adult woman having a common sense and Koto is a truely little girl in all senses.

The last three episodes of previous OMM TV series were essentially serious, cliff-hanger and tragic, but I never had a heavy feeling because I was sure that OMM should provide a reasonable solution to any difficult challenges. Ani-Yoko is contrary to it. Ani-Yoko includes something dark and violent inside it, though it's pleasant on a superficial level. Even episodes with a happy ending don't always give you a feeling of security because Ani-Yoko world is ruled by the absurd world-view.

[SSJVegeta]

The first things I do upon returning from my trip is to see some dozens of new episodes were recorded while I was away. I've just finished watching them now, they're really large in number this time. I've recognized anew there is a high number of this spring's new anime.

Rockman.exe BEAST PLUS (http://www.capcom.co.jp/rockmanexe/) / Director: Yoshio Kato / Studio: XEBEC

This is the Rockman (aka:Megaman) fifth TV series, which is based on the Rockman PS2 games.

1st Rockman.exe - 56 episodes
2nd Rockman.exe Axess - 51 episodes
3rd Rockman.exe Stream - 51 episodes
4th Rockman.exe Beast - 25 episodes
5th Rockman.exe Beast Plus

The Rockman TV series isn't so much talked about on anime forums/blogs, but it's pretty popular with casual fans who are younger children, just like Pocket Monster. Basic framework for the story of five Rockman series is almost same. One day mysterious invaders emerge as a great threat to humankind, and so Rockman and his group battle against them.

The main feature of this one is "the revival of the beastizing virus", which accelerates a process of a fusion between cyberspace and the real world. The first two episodes of Beast Plus are not bad, they're fairly enjoyable. But I probably won't see it any more because it's not my thing.

Ring ni Kakero 1: Nichibei Kessen Hen (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/rin-kake1_vsUSA/) / Director: Yukio Kaizawa / Toei Animation

This show is a second anime adaptation of the bestselling boxing manga series by Masami Kurumada. The title means "Stake Your Life on Fighting in the Ring! The Chapter of Japan vs. America". There are a number of outstanding works in boxing manga/anime. Ashita no Joe is a monumental work that was a big hit and had a great influence on later-generation creators in Japan. Ganbare Genki by Yuu Koyama, B.B by Osamu Ishiwatari, Rokudenashi Blues by Masanori Morita, Hajime no Ippo by George Morikawa and Ring ni Kakero are all great boxing manga. I've already read/watched all of them, and Ring ni Kakero is my most favorite boxing manga. The original manga series is really great, fantastic and exciting.

Rin-kake 1 is the sequel to the previous TV series. I saw the first three episodes. Compared with the manga, the TV series is not great but still enjoyable. The storyline and character design are fairly faithful to the original. Animation quality and music are okay. Rin-Kake is a very long running manga series, so Japan vs. America story arc covers only a small portion of it. I think Rin-Kake 2 (and 3) anime series will be probably made after the end of this, because Rin-Kake still has a large fan base who consist of rather older people who have purchasing power in Japan.

[SSJVegeta]

Inukami! (http://inukami.jp/) episode 3 is really enjoyable. It has a good animation quality, especially in the formation fighting scene like Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's. The first two episodes were filled with naked guys, but there appears many cute girls instead of nude men in the episode 3. The character design of new girls who first appeared in this episode is well done. The story is getting more interesting.

I have a mixed feelings at Simoun (http://www.simoun.tv/) episode 2 and 3. This show has a bit odd world-view and setting. Symbolism of "The Spring" event is a little hard to understand for me. Simoun has a relatively good reputation in the anime fan community in Japan, but I still don't know whether it'll become a good show or not.

Saiunkoku Monogatari (The Story of Saiun Kingdom) (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/saiunkoku/) episode 3 is good. Shurei is still vigorous and gutsy at the palace. It seems the anime version of her is more naive in sexual things than the original novel, but she's very tolerant of yaoi relationship between men :D

Princess Princess (http://www.pri-pri.jp/) episode 3: Now Tohru has been quite at home as "Princess", a cross-dressing idol for high school boys. I laughed in spite of myself when I saw the the bath scene of Princess boys.

Kirarin Revolution (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/kirarin/) episode 3: Kirari's impudence is too much to tolerate, she's ****ing idiot. Koharu Kusumi's voice acting is still very poor. Nevertheless, ep.3 is pretty amusing and energetic. Though this show doesn't have very high quality, it might be one of the most powerful shows in recent years.

Garasu no Kantai (Glass Fleet) (http://www.garakan.com/) episode 3 is neither very good nor very bad. Perhaps Gonzo and Satelight might be trying to make the space fantasy version of Rose of Versailles. That'd explain a lot.

.hack//Roots (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/hack_roots/) episode 3: The story makes rather slow progress. The true intent of each party still remains almost completely cloaked in mystery. Ep.3's sound track by Ali Project amused me.

Ah! My Goddess ~Sorezore no Tsubasa~ (http://www.tbs.co.jp/megamisama/) episode 3 is kind of boring for me. The animation quality, screen-directing and music are not bad. It has a problem in selecting the materials from the original manga. In the manga there are a lot of far more interesting chapters than ep.3's. Why they chose this one?

The Third ~Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo~ (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/fujimi/sp/thethird/) episode 2 is pretty enjoyable. Ultrahigh-speed sword fighting is worth seeing. This series gives me somewhat an uplifting feeling.

[SSJVegeta]

Yume Tsukai (http://www.yumetsukai.com/) / Director: Kazuo Yamazaki / Studio: Madhouse

This TV series is the first anime adaptation of Riichi Ueshiba's manga. I have known him since his debut manga appeared in Monthly Afternoon Magazine fourteen years ago. His style of writing has changed with times so much, but all his works always includes a special kind of strangeness. He draws a lot of strange objects, such as mythological symbols, psychological phenomenons and asian folklore items, in his every work. There is an extreme amount of detail on almost every page.

"Existence" is a reoccurring theme throughout his career. He's always pursuing the theme out to the bitter end, and so most of his works have rather complicated plot and sometimes fall into some kind of pedanticism. Animation staff aims to recreate only the manga's character design and part of story and world setting on anime. I think they made a wise decision because it's almost impossible to make his work into anime faithfully. It's better to think of Yume Tsukai manga and anime as two totally different things.

Yume Tsukai is an unusal person who has special power to put down a nightmare that is going out of control. I saw the first two episodes. They're enjoyable enough to encourage me to see more episode. Animation quality is good and character design is okay. Tohko and Rinko, the leading female characters, were so well-animated that I was satisfied.

Miracle! Mimika (http://www.nhk.or.jp/kids/program/mimika.html) / Director: Shotaro Terada, Kiyosumi Nagata / Studio: Digital Media Lab

This is an educational TV anime series to get the young people interested in foods and cooking. It's fairly better than I expected. Mimika is cute and has a likable personality. The show focuses on a basic method of cooking and practical information on foods. Mimika's growth process as a cook is also depicted in the show. It's a cute, useful 10-minute anime series.

Hime-sama Goyojin (http://www.himehime.jp/) / Director: Shigehito Takayanagi / Studio: Nomad

I was looking forward to this show because I heard it was being made by the production staff of Galaxy Angel, which is one of my favorite comedy anime. But I'm rather disappointed at the first two episodes, especially at ep.2. I was frustrated with a "mistaken identity" gag that went on and on. Himeko is a really annoying girl, she looks like the deteriorated version of Milfeulle from Galaxy Angel. She's always getting the wrong end of the stick and such her behaviors are not very funny for me at least in ep.2.

The animation quality and music are good, and the character design is okay. I was not very amused by most of ep.2's jokes/gags that was the most important thing for comedy anime.

[SSJVegeta]

Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club (Sasami Magical Girl Club) (http://www.sasami-club.net/) / Director: Nobuhiro Takamoto / AIC Spirits

This is the second spin-off series from Tenchi Muyo, it has no direct connection with the Pretty Summy TV series which is the first spin-off from Tenchi. The character design and story/world setting have completely changed from both Tenchi and Pretty Summy. The voice actors lineup have been also refreshed. Mana Ogawa (http://blog.oricon.co.jp/female/img/73/mana24.jpg), a child actor who is playing a role of Sasami, is twelve years old.

I recieved the first impression that they made cross-fertilization between AIC style of girl show and Ojamajo Doremi. I like the nearly-pastel-colored pictures coordinated by Akiko Tomono. Music is average. The animation quality of episode 1 is good and episode 2 is decent. People either like this type of character design or don't like it. Younger seiyuu's voice acting is not very good, but it didn't so bother me.

I fairly enjoyed the first two episodes. Takamoto is a veteran director who is good at doing a light-hearted cute girl show. The story of the anime is in itself nothing new, but they got the series off to a solid start. The show might be a bit too cute for some (or many) people. I had to laugh at Makoto's persistent diarrhea gag.

I wonder what kind of audience will watch this show. It suits unexpectedly popular taste. Perhaps it may be really targeted at young girls because it's airing in prime-time slot. On the other hand, it includes some moe elements for otaku. This show has a little different feel from real shoujo anime such as Pretty Cure, Fushigi Boshi no Futago Hime, Onegai My Melody and Kirarin Revolution.

Sasami
http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/sasami01-01.jpg

[SSJVegeta]

The Reaction for Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in Japan

At present the anime fan community in Japna is buffeted by the whirlwind of Suzumiya Haruhi. Every major anime forum has been flooded with thousands of messages about Haruhi a day. The show has got the greatest response from anime fans in the currently ongoing anime. Among this spring's new shows NANA has the highest visibility in the media and mainstream viewers in Japan, but Haruhi has overwhelmed all other shows (including NANA and Fate/stay night) at least at anime fandom level.

Although I've read just a little bit of these messages posted by the people (whoever can read more than 100,000 messages?), I've found there were very wide range of diverse opinions regarding this series. Some veteran anime fan said, "Suzumiya Haruhi's position in the third-generation otaku seems to correspond to the position of Kyukyoku Choujin R ("Ultimate Superhuman R") in the second-generation otaku." I think he/she got at the heart of the matter.

Almost every one of so-called second-generation otaku born in Japan in around 70s used to long for KCR's school life that is hilarious/outrangous but somewhat strangely realistic. KCR is an epoch-making work that opened up a new dimension for Japan's manga scene. The influence of this manga/anime on the second-generation otaku is immeasurable. KCR has been often taken up by subculture researchers/manga critics, and discussed/analyzed in their books or essays, because they see KCR as essential to discuss the history of otaku culture.

the school life of second-generation otaku's dreams - Kyukyoku Choujin R
the school life of third-generation otaku's dreams - Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu

If you read the first four volumes of Haruhi novel series (or watch up to the final episode of the anime series), you'll probably begin to envy their school life with a sense of realness. Haruhi is a different type of work from KCR, but the two have one important thing in common. That's the whole point.

http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/haruhi04-01.jpg

[SSJVegeta]

Nishi no Yoki Majo (The Good Witch of the West) -Astrea Testament- (http://www.project-westwitch.net/) / Katsuichi Nakayama / HAL Film Maker

This is an anime adaptation of Noriko Ogiwara's novel in eight volumes for women. Ogiwara is a good storyteller of the day, every her novel has an eventful, compelling storyline. Nishi no Yoki Majo is a fantasy/adventure/romance that takes place in European kingdom, and any female character who appears in the novel is realy lively and individual. For example, Adale is a high and noble girl like a pretty little flower but she's actually an adroit tactician and yaoi doujinshi (fan fiction) writer.

I saw the first three episodes. Episode 1-3 cover the novel vol.1 and 2, and so it's hard not to feel that the TV series is the digest version of the original novel. However, I could fairly enjoy watiching them. The backgroud pictures and art design are beautiful. The animation quality is okay. There are a lot of anime that are primarily targeted at women in the spring season, this show is also mainly for females.

Firiel and Adale
http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/nishi-no03-01.jpg

one scene of Adale's doujinshi (http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/nishi-no03-02.jpg)

[SSJVegeta]

Strawberry Panic (http://www.strawberrypanic.com/) episode 3 and 4

Ep.3 and 4 maintain the appearance of a school drama, especially ep.4 looks like the Sister Princess version of girl-meets-girl episode from Maria-sama ga Miteru. They don't need to keep save appearances because this show will never become Mari-Mite and don't have to be it. The show need more shoujo-ai moment, regardless of whether it's serious or comical.

Gintama (http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/gintama/) episode 4

The first two episodes were pretty enjoyable, but ep.4 is not very funny for me. The story of ep.4 bored me and half of jokes was unamusing.

Animal Yokocho (second season) (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/aniyoko/) episode 8 (#58)

Kuu-chan and Ami clad in a waitress costume are really killingly cute. I want to choose them as MVB (=most valuable bishoujo) of this week.

Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (http://www.haruhi.tv/) episode 4

I really enjoyed ep.4 a lot. This episode covers one chapter of the novel vol.3. Actually, the difference between Haruhi at ep.3 and her at ep.4 is really light and shade. It's going to come out later.

ARIA The NATURAL (http://www.ariacompany.net/) episode 4

This is a heartwarming episode. The old postman tries to make delivery of mail that the boy couldn't drop into a post box. The boy carries the pain inside. The ending of ep.4 is a little touching.

Fighting Beauty Wulong REBIRTH (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/wulong/) episode 4

Surprisingly, Wulong REBIRTH epsode 1 was not bad. But ep.4 is terrible. Poor animation, bad pacing and dull storyline. I'll never see this series again.

Black Jack 21 (http://www.ytv.co.jp/bj/index_set.html) episode 2 and 3

The new TV series is more dark than I thought. Black Jack gets cruel revenge against his father. Ep.2 and 3 have a cliff-hanger ending.

Bakegyamon (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/bakegyamon/) episode 4

Ep.4 is neither very good nor very bad. I didn't think the game in this episode ended in a draw.

[SSJVegeta]

Suzumiya Haruhi seems to be gathering momentum in Japan.

Now six Haruhi novels and the manga vol.1 have been ranked in the top 25 positions for the list of bestselling books (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/books/all/503-3742252-8788718) on Amazon.co.jp. Akiba Blog (http://www.akibablog.net/archives/2006/04/1_28.html), one of the most popular Akiba-kei blogs in Japan, said "At present the original novel vol.1 is out of stock at almost all the major shops and book stores in Akiharaba area and it's tough to get untill mid-May".

Internet Search Keyword Ranking (http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/kurudoka/word.html): The TV Program section (April 14-20)

1. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (anime)
2. Kurosagi (live action drama)
3. Ainori (variety show)

http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/haruhi-vol1.jpg

[SSJVegeta]

Renkin San Kyuu Magical? Pokahn (http://www.magipoka.com/) / Director: Kenichi Yatagai / Studio: REMIC

Synopsis

This is a story of four princesses who came to the human world from the another world for some reasons--a witch princess Yuma, vampire princess Pachira, werewolf princess Liru and andoroido princess Aiko. They settled into Garakuta House, their new treehouse in a giant tree, and one week has passed since then. They often kick up a storm because of an unfamiliar environment.

First Impression

The title roughly means "The Third-class Alchemy: Magical? Open-mouthed Amazement." I was pretty surprised to first see this anime because it had a very different character design from the manga counterpart drawn by Doreejyakki. I prefer the anime's character design by Yuzoh Hirata to the manga's.

After watching the first eight episodes, I liked this anime. A number of skilled animators are working on the show, sucha as Yasunori Ide (Onegai Teacher, D4 Princess), Yuzoh Hirata (Hand Maid May, G-on Riders), Kenichi Yatagai (Megazone 23, Tenchi Muyo) and Kusanagi (a background art studio). The animation and pacing of the show are good. There are a variety of episodes. They achieved a vivid expression of living together in four girls. I like Pachira the most, she's nice and sweet.

Yatagai posted his message about the OP animaton on the Magi-Poka official blog (http://magipoka.at.webry.info/). I translated his message in part below.

screen caps: the OP (http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/magi-poka-op.jpg)

About the OP #1

Hello, My name is Yatagai called 'director the liar'.

Speaking of the three great fantasy novels of the world, they're "The Road of the Rings", "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Renkin San Kyuu Magical? Pokahn". I'm adapting one of them into anime. The character designer Hirata called me "a liar", but I'm very disturbed by it because I've never told a lie before.

The OP animation depicts a story of the course of four princess moving from the another world to the human world. The original doesn't make any mention of it, and so I did it in my own image.

About the OP #2

At the beginning of the project, I planned to produce a cheerful, amusing and half-cracked OP animation. But making of the OP was going to become a dangerous operation like walking through a mine field...

I asked Yosei Teikoku (http://www.fairithm.com/) to use a certain song from their My-Hime PS2 game soundtrack CD as a OP theme of Magi-Poka, but they flatly refused my request. "We want to create a new song!"

About the OP #3

I recieved a demo tape of the OP recorded by Yosei Teikoku. The tune was pretty serious... I prepared myself for accepting that. I drew the story-board of the OP animation, consisting of eighteen parts. Then, the meeting, meeting and meeting. After all it bogged down.

...The background pictures of the OP were finally done by SSJVegeta. After checking them, I told Obata (a color designer) about the OP. "All color settings of the OP have been completely changed due to fitting them into the color tone of the new background pictures. You can't use any color that you've already made up for the characters." I saw the color drain from his face.

http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/magi-poka01.jpg

screen caps: ep.7 and 8 (http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/magi-poka0708.jpg)

[SSJVegeta]

Utawarerumono (http://www.utaware.net/) / Tomoki Kobayashi / OLM Team IWASA

This is based on the popular adult PC game created by Leaf/Aquaplus. The original game consists of a battle simulation part and adventure part, and it's highly praised by the game fan community for high quality of the simulation part and well-constructed plotline of the adventure part. The TV series is going to be 26 episodes in total.

Watching the first four episodes, I think it should be given a passing score. There are no marked flaws in the show. The anime version is considerably faithful to the adventure part of the game so far. The original character design/pictures drawn by Tatsuki Amazuyu, one of the most famous game CG artist, are really outstanding and beautiful, however, the anime production staff are doing well within the limits of the TV series under a severe budget and time constraint.

The story starts with the scene where Hakuoro is rescued by Ainu (http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/ainu/)-style people. Although it's set in the medieval world, the later half of the series includes some sci fi elements. The ending of the game touched a lot of players, and so the anime version might also become a moving drama.

http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/utaware02-01.jpg

[Cephus]

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu

Synopsis: This is a story of Suzumiya Haruhi who established "SOS Dan" to seek an alien/person from the future/man having supernatural powers/etc and play with them. Suzumiya Haruhi is a good-looking high school girl who has a clear head, haughty personality and very egocentric thought. She has an unimaginably tremendous power to change the world, but she's totally unaware of her own power and so she's also unaware of the effect of her power on the outside world.

I've seen the first four episodes, it's very enjoyable, definitely better than I was expecting it to be. I didn't have any problems getting into the story right away, so anyone who is worried that they've never read the novel doesn't have to worry. It's got a great mix of comedy and interesting storytelling.

[MKTerra]

I've seen the first four episodes, it's very enjoyable, definitely better than I was expecting it to be. I didn't have any problems getting into the story right away, so anyone who is worried that they've never read the novel doesn't have to worry. It's got a great mix of comedy and interesting storytelling.It's got a big following on 4chan's Anime board. I found the first episode (Episode 0) pretty boring, but subsequent ones were better.

[SSJVegeta]

I have an update on Suzumiya Haruhi.

1) On April 30th the Haruhi TV series ED song CD "HareHareYukai" has finally topped the best-seller list on Amazon.co.jp and the OP song placed 4th.

http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/haruhi-ed-hare.jpg

2) Senaka OtaRoad Blog (http://www.senakablog.com/archives/2006/04/2_31.html) reported findings of Haruhi's sales in Osaka area. "I checked out the sales of Haruhi novel/goods to go around dozens of major shops in the Nihonbashi (Osaka) area. I found that Haruhi novel vol.1 was already sold out everywhere except two stores. Several store managers said the novel vol.2 would also go out of stock soon because every Haruhi novel/goods was selling like hot cakes."

3) Episode 5 has just finished airing in Japan hours before. Now anime forums in Japan are being carpet-bombed with unusually large numbers of messages about Haruhi.

[SSJVegeta]

ARIA The Natural (http://www.ariacompany.net/) episode 5

Episdoe 5 is pretty impressive. It reminds me of Kurosawa's film Yume ("Dreams"). At the first half of ep.5 Akari comes across Kitsune no Yomeiri ("a marriage procession of fox-humans") on the approach to the shrine in deep woods. She just saw visions, or it's real? At the second half Akari and Alicia follow the ruined railway in a lonesome but beautiful place. They find a discarded rail car under the full bloomed cherry blossom tree. In the twilight countless petals of the cherry blossoms are fluttering down on the ground, their bodies and in their dreams. This scene is beautiful but it put me in awe, especially of an enigmatic expression on Alicia's face. If the animation quality were better than usual, it might be the best episode in the first and second TV series so far.

Saiunkoku Monogatari (The Story of Saiun Kingdom) (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/saiunkoku/) episode 4

Shurei is very angry with the king and some old highest officials in the palace, because she has found that they deceived her by making up stories about the king's incompetence. She's going to quit her job to protest their stance on her, but they're so sly old foxes that they succeed in getting her to just wait...

Episode 4 is enjoyable as usual. I wonder why Ryuki (yes, he's a king) doesn't have sex with Shurei. The rumor that he's only interested in pretty boys might be true :p

Kirarin Revolution (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/kirarin/) episode 4

Kirari is the personification of positive thinking. She gets a prodigious energy, though she's a blinking idiot. In this season's female characters, she is an only person who can compete for the title of "Selfish Queen" against Suzumiya Haruhi.

Ring ni Karero 1 (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/rin-kake1_vsUSA/) episode 4

They spent three episodes on the match of Ishimatsu vs Monster Jail. That's going too far.

The Third ~Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo~ (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/thethird/) episode 3

XEBEC is trying to adapt the original novel into anime faithfully so far. It's wise for them to be doing so because the novel has a solid storyline. I started liking the anime version of Honoka, she's likable and subtly loli. An andoroid nurse has very big, bouncy breasts.

Hime-sama Goyojin (http://www.himehime.jp/) episode 3

Episode 2 disappointed me but, fortunately episode 3 is amusing. The animation quality and pacing of the show is both good. The jokes and gags of ep.3 are generally funny, and Himeko in Ep.3 isn't very annoying. I would stop watcing this series if ep.3 disappointed me again. I'll probably keep to see the show for a while.

Inukami! (http://inukami.jp/) episode 4

I enjoyed episode 4 a lot. Yoko finally reveals her true colors and displays her real ability. The word Inukami means a deity that looks like a dog. Yoko, Nadeshiko and the other nine girls are all inukami. Inukami is originally the formidable being. BTW, the original novel series of Inukami has two main features.

1. slapstick comedy like Urusei Yatsura, plus a bit dirty jokes and moe
2. serious story about the secret of the characters

The novel series is not just a simple comedy, so the anime version might be gradually getting more serious. Episode 4 gives a hint to viewers with showing Yoko's wolfish cruelty.

[SSJVegeta]

TOKKO (http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/tokko/) / Director: Masashi Abe / Studio: Group TAC, AIC Spirit

This is an anime adaptation of the manga by Tohru Fujisawa, who is known as an author of GTO manga series. The TV series is going to be 13 episodes in total. The original magna was running in the Monthly Afternoon magazine, but it ended abruptly halfway through the series two years ago and so it remains in the rough. It's not clear if the anime version will have a true ending.

I saw the first three episodes then it reminded me of so-called V-Cinema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-Cinema) live action films/anime. Although V-Cinema works are a jumble of wheat and tares, they're generally cheap entertainment for common people. I don't know exactly why, most of otaku rarely watch V-Cinemas. The anime version of TOKKO appears similar to some V-Cinemas in cheap atmosphere, tensionless violent scenes and plots with full of contradictions. TOKKO is badly received by many hardcore anime fans in Japan, however, some people who like some kind of movies/anime such as Fighting Beauty Wulong and Yakuza V-Cinema seems to like it as a kill-time show.

I can't help but giggle at a garish color design and geeky Jinmen-chu (caterpillars with a human face). There are some fanservices in the show, but not so many. Though it contains a lot of violent scenes, they didn't make me feel fear very much. TOKKO is a reasonable show to kill time if you don't have high expectations.

http://bolten37.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zsoko/pic/tokko03-01.jpg