It feels like it’s been a while since I did a compendium. So don’t mind me being rusty and all that crap.
Anyways, Summer Season is here, and I actually plan on watching it! I took the Winter Season off, I literally took the Spring Season off, but I didn’t want to take another season off this time. That means looking to see what looks great, what looks like it’ll be average, and what looks like crap. And ranking them appropriately.
Yes, ranking them.
I’ll only be ranking all the new shows this season. After all, we all know about Sailor Moon (reboot, yes, but it’s an existing franchise) and we’re either dreading or praising Sword Art Online II (because it’s a sequel), so why say much about them? This compendium also doesn’t cover any OVA, movies, or shorts. Don’t worry, I’ll direct you to guides that will. Now, without much stalling, let’s get to ranking and being extremely wrong a week or two into the season!
26) Momo Kyun Sword
Genre: Fantasy
Studio: Project No.9, Tri-Slash
Original Creator: Kibidango Project Director: Shinsuke Yanagi
Series Composition: Tsuyoshi Tamai
Air Date: July 8, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The story begins with a female re-imagining of Momotarou, a famous character in Japanese folklore. Momoko is a beautiful young sword fighter who was born inside a peach. She lives with her constant companions — the dog god Inugami, the monkey god Sarugami, and the pheasant god Kijigami — in a peaceful paradise. However, a demon army led by the devil king invades the paradise and steals the precious treasure that protects Momoko’s land. To retrieve the treasure and save the people, Momoko embarks on a great adventure with her three companions.
My Take: “The story beings with a female re-imagining of Momotarou–” that’s literally the first warning that what you’re about to see, read, and watch is going to be bad. I think anime history has told us this is true. Well, some anime history. Whatever the case, it’s usually not good when anime history is re-imagined, and from who’s working on it, to its description, to its trailer, it’s gonna be hard for me to believe this won’t be the worst anime that airs this season.
But as always, it’s welcome to prove me wrong!
25) Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance
Genre: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy
Studio: TNK
Original Creator: Yuu Shimizu Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Series Composition: Takao Yoshioka
Air Date: Jul 14, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Only a pure maiden can have the privilege to contract with a spirit. In here, Areishia Spirit Academy, trained maidens of noble families are gathered and given an elite’s education to become spirit contractors. A boy, Kamito, peeped by accident at a girl, Clair, while she was taking a bath and he ended up making a contract with the spirit she wanted. Yes, Kamito is an irregular boy spirit contractor whose existence was thought impossible until now. “You stole…my spirit…you have to take responsibility for it!” “Huh?” “You have to become my contracted spirit!” What will Kamito’s destiny lead to?
My Take: As I started reading the summary, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Look, I know LN’s manage to tap into a lot of spectrums, but how can someone not seriously just look at that and laugh the query letter out of the building? Now, whether the summary is accurate can be up for debate, but there’s no real animation trailer for the series, it looks like I’ve seen this type of anime before, the director’s claim to fame is High School DxD (which I did not like), and…not much else. It’s based off a LN. Let’s move on.
24) Invaders of the Rokujyouma!?
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural
Studio: Silver Link
Original Creator: Takehaya Director: Shin Oonuma
Series Composition: Shogo Yasukawa
Air Date: July 12, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The “apartment comedy” centers around Koutarou Satomi, a boy who started to live by himself to attend a high school. He fortunately discovered a very cheap, tiny (six-mat or rokujyouma) room for 5,000 yen a month, and began his new life there. However, when he moved into that room 106 in the Korona complex, some unexpected “roommates” began appearing one by one.
My Take: Not gonna waste much time and space here. It looks pretty bad, the story seems average, it’s directed by Shin Oonuma, and worked on by Silver Link. Out of all of Shin Oonuma’s work, only WataMote was ok. Repeat: OK.
23) Kantai Collection
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Studio: Diomedia
Based off online card game Director: Keizo Kusakawa
Series Composition: Jukki Hanada
Air Date: August?
Episode Count: ??
Summary: TV adaptation of the online browser card battle game.
My Take: I mean, there’s not much to say about Kantai Collection (KanColle).We don’t know what the story is. Don’t have a trailer. There isn’t even an air date, so who knows if it’ll air this summer. So basically, a lack of information holds it back from being ranked higher.
…Aside from how massively popular KanColle is in Japan. The only reason I knew about it was thanks to Twitter, so I have no idea how the anime will do. But yeah, a lack of info pretty much kills its chances from ranking any higher. At least I can’t properly criticize it for being terrible/being great/whatever.
22) Bakumatsu Rock
Genre: Music, Otome
Studio: DEEN
Original Source: Based off video game Director: Itsuro Kawasaki
Series Composition: Mitsutaka Hirota
Air Date: July 2, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: In the Bakumatsu era, at the end of the shoguns’ rule over Japan in the middle of the 19th century: the Tokugawa shogunate uses the brainwashing Heaven’s Songs by the top idols in the Shinsengumi to subjugate the country and its people. In this Japan, writing or singing any songs besides the Heaven’s Songs is a capital offence. Sakamoto Ryouma and the other rockers rise up and change the world with rock ‘n’ roll for freedom and justice.
My Take: Once again anime continues to destroy all its history by placing buff dudes who sing and are considered rockers in Bakumatsu era Japan. Those mother—
…Wait, what? This isn’t just a straight up original anime? It’s based off a video game series?
So yeah, Bakumatsu Rock is a game developed by Marvelous AQL, who has made titles like Sengan Kagura, Cat God, and Humanity Has Declined (Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita). In other words they kind of suck (Humanity is barely an exception). The premise alone is worth checking out just to see how absolutely moronic it’s gonna be, but make no mistake, this is gonna suck. At least Marvelous AQL was wise to leave the animating to DEEN, who’s been making beautiful things recently (new Rozen Maiden, Hakkenden).
21) Minarai Diva
Genre: Music
Studio: NOTTV?
First Ever Live Anime Program Director: Koutarou Ishidate
Series Composition: Koutarou Ishidate
Air Date: July 14, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: An anime series animated with the MikuMikuDance software and motion-capture technology,
My Take: I mean, this is advertised as the first ever live anime program. Why SHOULDN’T I check it out, aside from it supposedly being an hour long, having little chance of being streamed on official channels, and having no trailer or plot? Well, I’m mostly just interested in what’s gonna be shown. It’ll probably be terrible, but I mean, I can at least see what it’s about right?
…Right?
20) Futsuu no Joshikousei Ga Yatte Mita
Genre: Comedy
Studio: feel.
Original Creator: Kotaro Kosugi Director: Munenori Nawa
Series Composition: Yuniko Ayana
Air Date: July 4, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: High school girl Nanako Usami became her town Nagarekawa’s local idol at the request of her uncle. She and her upperclassman Yukari — a girl who seems perfect but ends up being air-headed — both become idols of their provincial area. They get interviewed (by the town’s shopping center), go on television (low-budget cable), and hold concerts (on the roof of the department store). The girls’ salaries come from the town’s taxes. Together, the two form the “locodol” unit Nagarekawa Girls.
My Take: So this anime series is based off a 4-panel manga serialized in Ichijinsha’s Manga 4-Kome Palette magazine. And it’s gonna be a TV anime! I sincerely hope it’s 13 minutes like Mangaka to Assistant San. Or it’s a short, though it’s not listed as one. Considering this series has still been going, I have no hopes this will be anything but mediocre. It looks mediocre, the staff behind it (*shivers*, Manyuu Hikenchou, R-15) is mediocre, the actual singing sounds mediocre…I can’t help but think this anime is going to be mediocre.
19) Shounen Hollywood
Genre: Slice of Life
Studio: Zexcs
Original Creator: Ikuyo Hashiguchi Director: Toshimasa Kuroyanagi
Series Composition: Ikuyo Hashiguchi
Air Date: July 6, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The anime will tell an original story set 15 years after the novel’s story. It takes place at a fictional theater called Hollywood Tokyo in Harajuku, where members of the idol group “Shonen Hollywood” develop their talents with diligent work and studying.
My Take: It’s probably not a good thing where the best course of action is going to sleep as soon as you turn on the trailer. This was pretty mediocre. I’m not sure about the story. It’s a first time director. There’s a lot of things against this show right now.
That probably means it’ll be the surprise of the season. So stay tuned for that or something.
18) Jinsei
Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance
Studio: feel
Original Creator: Ougyo Kawagishi Director: Keiichiro Kawaguchi
Series Composition: Naruhisa Arawaka
Air Date: July 6, 2014
Episode Count: 13
Summary: The story centers around Yuuki Akamatsu, a boy who joins the staff of his school’s second newspaper. The editor-in-chief Ayaka Nikaidou immediately assigns him to the life (Jinsei) advice column. Three girls — the science representative Rino Endou, the liberal arts representative Fumi Kujou, and the physical education representative Ikumi Suzuki — answer requests from students about whatever is troubling them.
My Take: Good luck convincing me that this will turn out to be worth my time. With a 13 episode cap for a series based off a light novel that’s still ongoing in Shogakukan’s Gagaga Bunko imprint, the fear it’s gonna suck starts there. Then reading the premise is kind of troubling. It doesn’t sound very interesting, nor something I’d stick around to watch more than two episodes tops.
Then you see the trailer. It’s…well, it’s nothing. Nothing to say it’s bad, but nothing to make it stick out. I guess the designs are ok, but I mostly think about how they look like every other anime that’s been made before. The staff behind it’s not all that inspiring. And didn’t I already talk about feel.? Let’s not talk about them again.
17) Love Stage!!
Genre: Romance, Shounen-Ai
Studio: J.C Staff
Original Creator: Eiki Eiki, Taishi Zaou Director: Kenichi Kasai
Series Composition: Michiko Yokote
Air Date: July 10, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Izumi was born in a family of celebrities. His father is a singer, his mother an artist, his older brother the lead vocalist for the popular band Crashers. Izumi himself, however, is just a nerdy college student. He loves the manga “Magical Girl Lala Lulu” and dreams of becoming a manga writer himself. One day he is roped into filming a commercial where he wears a dress. Another actor on the set, Ryoma Ichijo, mistakes him for a woman and falls in love at first sight. As it turns out, though, they met ten years in the past. And Ryoma’s feelings don’t change when he finds out Izumi is a boy.
My Take: When I first saw visual art of this series, I reacted negatively against it. Seemed so awful, seemed so lame. Then I watched the trailer. My negative reaction slowly became one of acceptance. It does look nice, but most BL look nice – they just manage to not have anything else going for them. I’m curious if Love Stage!! will deal with gender in a decent way, but I don’t have my hopes for that.
Otherwise, J.C Staff’s working on this, the staff they have has had more duds (Nourin, Red Data Girl) then hits with me, and it’s a genre I’m usually not interested in. This looks like a pass, unless the internet breaks everything and says it’s great.
16) Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen
Genre: Action, Mecha
Studio: Xebec
Original Anime Director: Atsushi Ootsuki
Series Composition: Tatsuo Sato
Air Date: July 3, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The story takes place in a world where two countries, Arandas and Ingelmia, have been warring against each other for a very long time. Tokimune, a young man belonging to the eighth autonomous unit of Arandas, saves a girl named Jamie when she is attacked by enemy forces. In order to survive, he rides the new weapon Argevollen and fights.
My Take: HEY GUYS, HAVE ANOTHER, “SHINJI, GET IN THE FU****** ROBOT” MECHA ANIME!
Ok, the main character in this show may not be as emo as Shinji, but replace Shinji with “dude gets in the fu****** robot, and you have a mecha show! And well, depending on how much you tolerate mecha shows, that’s either a good thing or a bad thing. Since I haven’t watched a ton of mecha shows, that might be a decent thing. But I’m not really impressed by the trailer, and the staff gives me zero confidence. Not even Tatsuo Sato can save it from being ranked so low!
I’ll probably have to see responses from others regarding this show. But we’ll see.
15) DRAMAtical Murder
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Yaoi
Studio: NAZ
Original Source: Based off BL Game Director: Kazuya Miura
Series Composition: Kabura Fuchii, Touko Machida
Air Date: July 7, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Aoba lives on Hekishima, a small island to the southwest of the main islands of Japan. He lives with his grandmother Tae while working part time at a junk shop. The popular pastimes on the island are the ongoing turf war called “Libstease” and an online game set in the virtual world of “Rhyme.” Aoba isn’t involved in either, preferring to live peacefully, until one day he is forced into a Rhyme battle.
My Take: So…the music was kind of neat. I think. It looks gorgeous. The problem? Most BL anime look gorgeous, but everything else about them is crap.
I believe I said this already didn’t I?
So not surprisingly, I don’t think it’s gonna be good. What also adds to the discomfort is it being an online game. Because you know, it’s not like it hasn’t been done over the past couple of years. Or has it?
Looking at the history of this game, I learned that Gen Urobuchi is the director of Nitro+CHiRAL. (Nitroplus is also involved with NAZ in this anime). Does that mean any of his Urobutcher tendencies spread in the games? Well it does have the name murder, so that means there should be deaths, or at least some high tension. But I’ve been burned by enough of these types of anime to think that this will be the one to stand above everything else.
14) Hanayamata
Genre: Slice of Life
Studio: Madhouse
Original Creator: Sou Hamayumiba Director: Atsuko Ishizuka
Series Composition: Reiko Yoshida
Air Date: July 8, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Normal appearance, normal intelligence, normal in arts and sports… just normal. This is the entirely normal 14-year-old, Naru Sekiya. While she admires “Heroines” she continues to live a normal life until one moonlit night she meets a fairy. This foreign girl then guides her into the extraordinary world of the yosakoi dance.
My Take: Well…it has the director of No Game No Life working on it, and that has apparently lighted a fire in people for the most part this Spring Season (or so I hear). It has the series composer of Majestic Prince, Kaleido Star, and YowaPeda. It looks good. But man does this not sound very interesting.
In watching the trailer, it looks like it can be decent. But do I really want to watch a show where it stars 4 – that’s right, 4 new female leads (Minami Tanaka, Yuka Ootsubo, Kaya Okuno, Reina Ueda)? Maybe Madhouse took a page out of Wake up, Girls! and decided that would work out for them too. I’m not sure it’ll work out for me.
13) Rail Wars
Genre: Action
Studio: Passione
Original Creator: Takumi Toyoda Director: Yoshifumi Sueda
Series Composition: Masashi Suzuki
Air Date: July 6, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The “dream railway paradise entertainment” story is set in a parallel world where Japan did not privatize its national railways. Naohito Takayama is an ordinary high school boy who dreams of a comfortable future working for the top-rated Japanese National Railways. He is assigned as a trainee in the Railways Security Force full of odd characters such as Sakurai, a troublemaker who hates men. On top of that, an extremist group called “RJ” plots to privatize the Japanese National Railways.
My Take: Rail Wars sounds pretty by the numbers. It has a new studio working on its first lengthy TV anime (the only other work Passione did was Haitai Nanafa), a first time director, an inconsistent series composer, and it’s based of an ongoing LN published in Sohgeisha Clear Bunko’s imprint.
In other words, all the warning signs are existent in Rail Wars. It cannot escape.
The trailer is ok, but I mean, it’s about trains. Will this actually be compelling enough to watch every week? I doubt it. Someone will have to sell me hard on this one.
12) Majimoji Rurumo
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Studio: J.C Staff
Original Creator: Wataru Watanabe Director: Chikara Sakurai
Series Composition: Mariko Kunisawa
Air Date: July 9, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Shibaki is a high-school boy whose only interest is girls. Except he’s been branded as the most hentai boy at school and the girls avoid him like the plague. One day he finds a book in the library about how to summon witches. He tries it as a joke, but it turns out to be the real thing. An apprentice witch named Rurumo appears to grant him a wish. Shibaki helps Rurumo and she in return refuses to take his soul. When the story starts, Shibaki wishes he could see Rurumo again. His wish is granted immediately as Rurumo falls from the sky and crash lands in front of him. He finds out that as punishment for not taking his soul she’s been busted down to an apprentice demon. Now, she must complete the task of getting Shibaki to use up 666 magic tickets that grant wishes before she can become a witch again. However, what she doesn’t know is that each time he uses a ticket it shortens his life. When the last ticket is used up, Shibaki will die. Shibaki knows this because Rurumo’s familiar black cat Chiro tells him as part of the “contract” for giving him the tickets. Now, Shibaki has a choice: make a wish and help Rurumo become a witch again or resist the temptation and try to save his own life.
My Take: That summary sure is a mouthful.
Anyways, it’s important to know that this is based off a manga serialized in Shounen Sirius, home to stuff like Princess Resurrection and Yozakura Quartet. I don’t believe they’ve done very well. And also the author is the same as Yowapeda’s. Yowapeda is kind of average. Looking at Majimori Rurumo and what it has in store, it looks like it’ll be average. Maybe it has a chance thanks to the relatively young staff. Maybe it’ll turn out to be better than expected. It sure doesn’t look like it.
11) Ao Haru Ride
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Studio: Production I.G
Original Creator: Io Sakisaka Director: Ai Yoshimura
Series Composition: Tomoko Konparu
Air Date: July 8, 2014
Episode Count: 12
Summary: Ao Haru Ride revolves around Futaba, a girl who was in love with a boy named Kou Tanaka in middle school. However, after a misunderstanding, their relationship as friends ends when he transfers schools over summer vacation. In high school, her world is turned around once again when she meets Kou again, this time under the name of Kou Mabuchi.
My Take: There’s only two reasons one can care about this anime: One, the manga, serialized in Bessatsu Margaret, is by Io Sakisaka, who has one of her works (Strobe Edge) published by Viz Media. The other? Yuki Kaiji’s playing the main male lead! Ladies and gents, we will never escape his presence anymore! (I think we knew that already.)
Aside from that? Just looks like every other shoujo ever created. Which can be a good or bad thing for some, but I question whether it’ll maintain my interest, and worry about how the hell this is gonna end, since it’s 12 episodes and the manga’s ongoing. Production I.G working on this doesn’t help.
At least the trailer (and the music accompanying it) is nice enough.
10) Glasslip
Genre: Slice of Life
Studio: P.A Works
Original Anime Series Director: Junji Nishimura
Series Composition: Rika Satou
Air Date: July 3, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Touko Fukami’s family runs a glass-working business in a small seaside town. She hangs out with her four best friends at a cafe called “Kazemichi.” During the summer break of their senior year in high school, they meet a transfer student named Kakeru Okikura, who claims that a voice from the future talks to him, and that it’s led him to Touko. His arrival sets off a series of events that will make their final summer together one full of hope and heartache.
My Take: As you can tell, this is truly a P.A Works title. It looks beautiful. It looks vibrant. Above all else, it looks kind of boring.
Ok, I’m not being fair.
However, this is a P.A Works tradition to look like this (See just about everything except The Eccentric Family). Sometimes it works in its favor (Hanasaku Iroha, Nagi no Asukara). Sometimes it does not (Tari Tari, Red Data Girl). But this looks like a tried and true edition that won’t really fail. It’ll find its detractors, but it’ll find its fans, but at least the general agreement is that it won’t be the worst thing airing in a season.
So…that’s about where my interest in the show lies. Let’s just hope the writing is snappy.
9) Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Studio: Dogakabo
Original Creator: Izumi Tsubaki Director: Mitsue Yamazaki
Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura
Air Date: July 7, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: Sakura Chiyo confesses her feelings to her schoolmate Nozaki. Due to a misunderstanding, Nozaki thinks Sakura is just a fan. She then discovers Nozaki’s other identity: a shoujo manga artist. As she gets closer to Nozaki, she befriends Nozaki’s quirky acquaintances who assist him and serve as inspirations for his manga.
My Take: The premise of this particular anime based off a 4 panel manga (serialized in Gangan Online) is more my speed. I like manga stories. So chances are high I’ll watch it. Whether I’ll like it…well….
See, it’s good Dogakabo’s backing this show. They’ve been kinda reliable with titles recently (Love Lab, Mikakunin, GJ-Bu), but the ones on staff on this show don’t seem to have a good history with me (I see Hiiro No Kakera. That wasn’t a very good anime). The trailer looks good to me. I guess overall, the show promises two things: comedy and romance. I hope it manages to shine in both aspects, but overall, I at least hope the comedy part takes precedence over the romance part.
8) Nobunaga Concerto
Genre: Historical, Romance
Studio: Fuji TV
Original Creator: Ayumi Ishii Director: Yuusuke Fujikawa
Screenplay: Natsuko Takahashi
Air Date: July 12, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The story centers around Saburou, a high school boy who time-travels to Japan’s Sengoku Era. He must become Oda Nobunaga, the famed warlord who helps unite Japan.
My Take: Well, it won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shounen manga in 2011. The list of manga that were adapted into anime and won this award:
Magi (2013)
Silver Spoon (2012)
Sket Dance (2009)
Cross Game (2008)
Daiya No Ace (2007)
Kekkashi (2006)
Bleach (2004)
…and the list goes on. The point is, you look at the list, you’ll see some titles that have been moderately successful. So chances are high Nobunaga Concerto will actually be well received and might be worth a look. I just hope it doesn’t look crappy or anything like that—*two weeks later, it’s rotoscoped* GODDAMNIT ZEXCS LOOK WHAT YOU MADE FUJI TV DO!
7) Survival Game Club!
Genre: Action, Comedy
Studio: Pierrot Plus
Original Creator: Hidekichi Matsumoto Director: Masahiko Ohta
Series Composition: Takashi Aoshima
Air Date: July 6, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The story of the original manga, which is running in Kodansha’s Nakayoshi shoujo magazine, revolves around Momoka Sonokawa, a girl who transferred into a certain girls’ high school. The club she ended up joining at school was the “Sabagebu!,” a club that conducts survival games.
My Take: Oh hey look, another survival game anime involving lots of girls! We just got Girls und Panzer and C3-Bu. Girls und Panzer was good. C3-Bu was not. How will Sabagebu! fare?
Well, the trailer doesn’t seem like the best thing in the world, though obviously the comedy aspect was the most obvious difference from the two anime I mentioned. That I think earns it a watch. And also it has the director of Love Lab on staff. I still have my worries about it, but I’m secretly looking forward to this.
6) Barakamon
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Original Creator: Satsuki Yoshino Director: Masaki Tachibana
Series Composition: None
Air Date: July 6, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: For a certain reason, a handsome, young calligrapher by the name of Seishuu Handa uproots himself and moves to an island on the westernmost edge of Japan. “Sensei,” as he comes to be known, is a city boy through and through, and has never experienced rural life until now. And by the looks of it, he has much to learn! From navigating public roads by tractor to resigning himself to having his new digs commandeered by the local children as their new hangout, the list of Sensei’s hardships is shaping up to be long indeed! Here unfolds a heartfelt island comedy about a gruff on the outside, soft on the inside urbanite teacher and his new, unfailingly tolerant island neighbors!
My Take: As I was watching the trailer, I became intensely reminded of Silver Nina. Silver Nina is good. You should go read it. But anyways, if Barakamon is something like that, it could be a pleasant watch from week to week.
My only real issue, aside from the usual fretting over how a slice of life can be hit or miss, is Masaki Tachibana, who’s directing it. Let’s just say pacing is going to be the biggest reason this show will work for me since Tokyo Magnitude 8.0’s pacing, aside from two episodes, was disastrous. Of course, the difference between both materials is notable, so I can’t let that affect my enthusiasm for this anime. But I’m definitely gonna make note of that when I check out an episode or two…
Aside from that, while doing research for this, I learned Yen Press has the rights to the manga. Let’s hope I like the anime enough to want to support the manga!
5) Tokyo ESP
Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural
Studio: Xebec
Original Creator: Hajime Segawa Director: Shigehito Takayanagi
Series Composition: Hideyuki Kurata
Air Date: July 12, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The science fantasy story Tokyo ESP begins with Rinka, an extremely poor high school girl who lives with just her father in modern Tokyo. One day, she is going home from school when she chases a “flying penguin” to the top of New Tokyo Tower—only to have “fish swimming in the air” suddenly appear before her. One of the fish goes through Rinka and gives her extraordinary powers beyond those of normal humans, particularly the ability to slip through solid objects.
My Take: True story: when I heard about Tokyo ESP getting announced, I was planning on checking out the manga series to get a feel for what it’d be like. Well, you can guess since I’m saying that now that it didn’t happen. So yeah, that’s a bummer.
But now that the anime is approaching, I guess I gotta stay hyped for it. The trailer – or I guess the TV spot in Japan for it – isn’t very good, but it’s got my man Shigehito Takayanagi directing it. Of course, he’s the one who directed The World God Only Knows. Not much more needs to be said there. And compared to everything else so far, I’ll take my chances on thinking this show will be pretty good.
4) Akame ga KILL!
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Studio: White Fox
Original Creator: Takahiro Director: Tomoki Kobayashi
Series Composition: Makoto Uezu
Air Date: July 7, 2014
Episode Count: Unknown/2 Seasons
Summary: After meeting Akame, a girl who was bought, and raised by the Empire as an assassin, a boy named Tatsumi vows to stand up to the evil of the corrupt Empire with the secret assassin group Night Raid and special weapons known as Teigu.
My Take: So this is pretty much the manga series people have hyped up for a while now, so it makes sense that it ranks high on my list. Of course, there’s been plenty of backfires from fans hyping up certain series (Sword Art Online, Attack on Titan to a degree, etc), so there’s a good chance this will be added onto the list, but also chances are it’ll at least be better than most of the Summer anime this season, and it at least looks kind of decent. I’m slightly leery at Makoto Uezu working on this material, but after hearing good things about D-Frag, a series he worked on without my good man Seiji Kishi, maybe he’ll be fine. Also, Taku Iwasaki’s on the call for music composition. If nothing else, at least THAT will be fine, right? Right?
The big issue is censorship. Apparently from what I hear the material’s pretty brutal. So you don’t want this to turn into a series that’s weak because of TV restrictions since that can conversely affect the show. Also, it is based off a shounen manga (serialized in Gangan Joker), so let’s hope it doesn’t annoy with the typical shounen clichés.
3) Aldnoah.Zero
Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Original Creator: Gen Urobuchi Director: Ei Aoki
Series Composition: Katsuhiko Takayama
Air Date: July 6, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: In 1972, the Apollo 17 mission discovered a hypergate to Mars on the surface of the moon. Soon a war breaks out between Earth and Mars, and Martian soldiers begin to descend from the sky, riding steel giants, intent on exterminating humanity.
My Take: Pretty much gonna have to start this in my Top 5 because it has the big names. A-1 Pictures is working on it, and, say what you want about them, that studio’s been churning out stuff people talk about (Magi, Space Brothers, From The New World). Hiroyuki Sawano’s composing the music. They have the director of Fate/Zero and Wandering Son on it. Most importantly, Gen Urobuchi is on it.
…Which can either be a good or bad thing? Contrary to popular opinion, and despite the second half, I liked Psycho Pass. Then came Gargantia and that flopped like a fish. Fate/Zero has mixed reviews, and only Madoka – the TV series – is slanted towards a must see from most people. So in other words, how is this series gonna go? Will it actually go in an interesting direction? Will there be the standard shocking deaths the Urobutcher is known for? (Duh.) We’ll have to see.
But the trailer’s good and I can’t ignore the pedigree. Of course, the last time I believed in the pedigree, I got Nisekoi.
…Then again, Shaft’s been run into the ground apparently (and the material is pretty average) so…well anyways, I’ll believe in what this anime’s spewing for now.
2) Tokyo Ghoul
Genre: Action, Mystery, Supernatural
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Original Creator: Sui Ishida Director: Shuehi Morita
Series Composition: Chuji Mikasano
Air Date: July 4, 2014
Episode Count: ??
Summary: The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious “ghouls” who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.
My Take: This seems like it has a lot going for it. The trailer was pretty dark and about what I want in some anime. I know two people who recommended the manga series. It’s also a seinen series in Young Jump. So yayyyyyy!
Wait, wait, back up – a seinen series in Young Jump? CRAP!
…Because of course, the last time a Young Jump series was turned into an anime, it was changed so drastically from the manga and condensed into 13 episodes that, while in the end it turned out to be worthwhile, was reallllyyyyyy inconsistent. *looks sadly at Zetman* So the big issue is length. If it’s a 12-13 episode series, is there a good part in the manga to leave off? If it’s longer, then could there be an issue of padding? Well, whatever the case, let’s hope things don’t get drastically changed. I believe the real reason Zetman was cut off like that was because the series started in 2002. Tokyo Ghoul started serialization in 2011.
Otherwise, this has Kana Hanazawa in it. Get hype or something.
1) Terror in Resonance
Genre: Psychological, Terror
Studio: MAPPA
Original Anime Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
Series Composition: ??
Air Date: July 11, 2014
Episode Count: 11
Summary: Legendary director Shinichiro Watanabe and famed composer Yoko Kanno are back with a suspense-filled intellectual thriller!
In an alternate version of the present, Tokyo has been decimated by a shocking terrorist attack, and the only hint to the identity of the culprit is a bizarre video uploaded to the internet. The police, baffled by this cryptic clue, are powerless to stop the paranoia spreading across the population.
While the world searches for a criminal mastermind to blame for this tragedy, two mysterious children – children who shouldn’t even exist – masterfully carry out their heinous plan. Cursed to walk through this world with the names Nine and Twelve, the two combine to form “Sphinx,” a clandestine entity determine to wake the people from their slumber – and pull the trigger on this world.
My Take: Well. That trailer was kind of trippy.
Well, not Space Dandy level Episode 9 kind of trippy, or maybe some dumb episode in Samurai Champloo many many years ago, but…it’s definitely something. It’s also something I bet people have been wondering if Watanabe would do: something pretty serious.
“Justin, Kids on The Slope was pretty serious man.”
Not THAT type of serious! (Besides, the Jazz and them playing music was the only thing that got me hooked. I kid for the most part) This type of serious involves high school kids apparently involved in a terrorist plot for what will probably turn out to be for a dumb reas–
“Justin, Cowboy Bebop was pretty serious man.”
….*Is silent since he has yet to watch it*…Anwyways, you know I have to find out if it’ll be dumb or not! And most importantly, MAPPA, the studio that worked on Kids on The Slope and Teekyu, is on the call here. Hard not to be hyped and to see where this is going.
Anyways, the big compendium is all but finished. What shows are you looking forward to this season, new or sequel? Your pre-season ranking? Feel free to share in the comments!
Further Reading Because…This is a Compendium:
The Cart Driver: Summer 2014 Anime Season Preview
Lost in Anime: Summer 2014 Season Preview
Random Curiosity: Summer 2014 Preview!
RocketNews24: The top 20 most eagerly anticipated anime of summer 2014, as chosen by fans!
Wrong Every Time: Summer 2014 Season Preview
Moe Sucks: Summer 2014 Anime Preview
Star Crossed Anime Blog: Summer Season Preview
Moonlit Saki: Summer 2014 Anime Preview
Otaku Spirit: Animecast: Summer 2014 Anime Preview
RABUJOI: Summer 2014 Season Preview
Caraniel’s Ramblings: Summer 2014 Anime Preview
Angry Anime Bitches: SUMMER ANIME 2014 PREVIEW
Anivision: Summer 2014 Anime Preview
Anime Anthology: Summer Anime 2014 Preview
Ganbare Anime: Summer 2014 Anime Season Pre-Air Impressions
Shinsei’s Anime Blog: SUMMER 2014 SEASON PREVIEW – GAY SWIMMERS, BOAT GIRLS, AND DUAL WIELDING
Shiizumi’s Anime Blog: My Summer 2014 Anime Menu
ZakuAbumi’s Anime Blog: Summer Season 2014 Preview
Subdued Fangirling: Summer 2014 Preview
- Bio
- Latest Posts
Justin
Justin is the founder of Organization Anti-Social Geniuses. Anime & manga fan that likes to blog about anime and manga, is addicted to sports, and weak to crossovers. You can follow Justin on Twitter @Kami_nomi.
Latest posts by Justin (see all)
- Summer Anime 2014: Anti-Social Genius Compendium - June 25, 2014
- Why Do You Like Anime? - June 24, 2014
- Spring Anime 2014: A List of All Who Made Their Anime Industry Debuts - June 24, 2014
- K: Missing Kings is Getting Screened in 45 US Theaters, Prepare For More Filters - June 23, 2014
- Shonen Jump Manga Competition’s Nick Kanoza On The Golden Rabbit, Creating Rules, & Hunter x Hunter - June 23, 2014
