We have 26 new series this summer, up from 21 last summer and 22 the summer before. Trends? Four shows involving vampires, and lots of moe.I'm not sure we'll get shows as good as Shiki (summer 2010) or Bakemonogatari, Aoi Hana, and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (summer 2009). But there are some good possibilities:● Blood-C -- A new entry in the Blood vampire series, written by Clamp, animated by Production IG, and starring Mizuki Nana and Fujiwara Keiji.● Dantalian no Shoka -- Bloody supernatural mysteries starring Sawashiro Miyuki as the super-tsun loli-goth key to the library of demonic wisdom. Her master/servant? Ono Daisuke.● Ikoku Meiro no Croisee -- Touyama Nao as a Japanese girl in 19th century Paris. Yuuki Aoi as her French friend. Directed by the director of Shugo Chara, written by the director of ARIA.● Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi -- A boy keeps dreaming of a mysterious girl, and finally remembers being bitten by a beautiful vampire whose poison binds him to her forever.● Kamisama no Memo-chou -- Another tsuntsun moe detective girl, this time one who stays in her room and solves mysteries using the Internet. The director of Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru, the writer of Railgun. ● Mawaru Penguin Drum -- The new mystery anime from the director of Revolutionary Girl Utena. The most anticipated show of the summer.● Mayo Chiki -- A new gender-bent comedy from Kawaguchi Keiichirou (Hayate), written by Yoshida Reiko (K-On, Marimite).● Natsume Yuujinchou 3 -- The third series of the popular show about a man freeing monsters from the bonds placed on them decades before by his grandmother.● No. 6 -- "Josei science-fiction" directed by the assistant director of Oh Edo Rocket and Gundam00, in his first independent directorial job. Adapted for anime by the writer of Railgun and Occult Academy. noitaminA.● Rou-kyuu-bu -- A high-school boy ends up as coach of an elementary school girls' basketball team made up of Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, Hikasa Youko, Hidaka Rina and Ogura Yui. K-On is clearly in the producers' minds. The seiyuus have already put out a PV of their first single. ● Usagi Drop -- Warm family comedy/drama in which a thirty-year-old bachelor takes in the illegitimate six-year-old daughter of his deceased grandfather. From a well-known manga. noitaminA.● Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% -- Bishounen reverse harem set in a high-school for the performing arts. Directed by the director of Giant Killing and written by the writer of NANA and Nodame Cantabile. Sawashiro Miyuki stars.● Yuruyuri -- Slice-of-life comedy with a yuri tinge. From the team that made Minami-ke and Mitsudomoe.All this and a new series of Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, too. Click through from the following alphabetical list to full descriptions below, which are listed chronologically:● Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2 ● Blade ● Blood-C ● Dantalian no Shoka ● Detective Opera Milky Holmes - special edition ● Ikoku Meiro no Croisee ● Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi ● Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel -- Kyunkyun Tokimeki Paradise ● Kamisama Dolls ● Kamisama no Memo-chou ● Mawaru Penguin Drum ● Mayo Chiki ● Mayuu Himitsu Ken ● MonHan Nikki Girigiri Airuu-mura G ● Morita-san wa Muguchi ● Natsume Yuujinchou 3 ● Nekogami Yaoyorozu ● No. 6 ● Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou ● Nyanpire ● R-15 ● Rou-kyuu-bu ● Sacred Seven ● The Idolm@ster ● Usagi Drop ● Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% ● YuruyuriNotes:-- info from official sites, Anime News Network, AnimeSuki forums, Anidb, 2channel, Japanese Wikipedia, MoonPhase, etc.-- I will post a weekly broadcast calendar when the season is about to start, including broadcast schedule changes that will probably occur between now and then.-- English titles link to the Anime News Network encyclopedia; Japanese titles link to official sites.-- click images to enlarge.Mawaru Penguin Drum (jp: 輪るピングドラム) jpWikibizarre mysteryThis may be the most anticipated show of the summer: a new offering from Ikuhara Kunihiko, the director of Revolutionary Girl Utena.Original character design by Hoshino Lily (Zakuro).We have little idea of the plot yet, but penguin plush toys and murder play roles.seiyuus: Kimura Subaru (Gian/Doraemon), Kimura Ryouhei (Akira/Eden of the East), Arakawa Miho, Miyake Marie. director: Ikuhara Kunihiko writer: Ikuhara Kunihiko. animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Nishii Terumi, Hoshino Lily (draft). music: Hashimoto Yukari. trailer. 24eps. forum. july. date and time not yet announced. Blade (jp: BLADE) jpWikivampire actionVampire-hunter "Blade" is the hero in this fourth series produced by Marvel Comics and Animax and animated by Madhouse. Follows Iron Man, Wolverine, and X-men. Fans of both Marvel and anime think this could be the best of the four.The director did Chi's Sweet Home and Kobato, strangely enough. The presence of Sakamoto Maaya and Ohtsuka Akio in the cast is a plus.seiyuus: Ohtsuka Akio, Sakamoto Maaya, Isobe Tsutomu, Saka Osamu. director: Masuhara Mitsuyuki (Kobato) writer: Fukusaku Kenta. Marv Wolfman (orig writer), Gene Colan (orig artist). animation: Madhouse/Marvel. trailer. 12eps. forum. fri 01 jul 22:00 MonHan Nikki Girigiri Airuu-mura G (jp: モンハン日記 ぎりぎりアイルー村G) jpWikigag animeA second series of mini-animes based on the wildly popular PSP game. Good cast. Unknown staff. The trailer is funny.seiyuus: Kobayashi Yuu, Seki Tomokazu, Takahashi Mikako, Miyake Kenta. director: Benpineko, Yamawaki Koutarou writer: Benpineko. animation: DLE. chara-des: Yamawaki Koutarou, Benpineko. animation supervisor: Yamawaki Koutarou. music: Noiz'n Girl, Sudou Yuuki. trailer. fri 01 jul 22:54 Rou-kyuu-bu (jp: ロウきゅーぶ！) jpWikimoe sports comedyA high-school boy ends up as coach of an elementary school girls' basketball team.Great cast includes Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka and Hikasa Youko. Plus young idols-turned-seiyuus Hidaka Rina and Ogura Yui. Plus Itou Shizuka and Kaji Yuuki.The staff is a bit more problematic, with the director of Sekirei and Dog Days and the writer of Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi. Character design based on original novel illustrations by moe illustrators Tinkle. You can see from the entertaining live-action trailer that the show is being sold partly on the good looks and stardom of its seiyuus. Basketball club? Light Music Club? The producers seem to have K-On in mind.seiyuus: Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, Hikasa Youko, Hidaka Rina, Ogura Yui, Itou Shizuka, Kaji Yuuki. director: Kusakawa Keizou (Inukami, Sekirei, Dog Days) writer: Itou Michiko (Ookami-san to Shichinin; 5 eps of KimiKiss, 7 of Suzuka). Aoyama Sagu (novel). animation: project No.9×Studio Blanc. chara-des: Noguchi Takayuki; Tinkle (orig). trailer. forum. fri 01 jul 23:30 Kamisama no Memo-chou (jp: 神様のメモ帳) jpWikishounen detective moe romanceThe story centers on hikikomori detective Alice and her assistant, a high school boy called Narumi. Alice spends her days in pyjamas with her stuffed animals, solving cases online without ever leaving her apartment. A bit like a modern-day Victorica (Gosick), but with more fanservice.Famous teen idol Ogura Yui takes on her first starring role. With fast-rising Kayano Ai (Menma in AnoHana), and Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, who did an excellent job as the sister's boyfriend in Hourou Musuko.Strong supporting cast includes Sakurai Takahiro and Nabatame Hitomi, as well as Miyata Kouki, Matsukaze Masaya, and Ono Daisuke. Can't get much better than that.Director Sakurabi Katsuchi did the under-appreciated Asatte no Houkou and Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru. Writer Minakami Seishi did Asatte, Railgun, and Birdy the Mighty Decode 2.I have hopes for this show. The first episode will be a 60-minute special.seiyuus: Ogura Yui, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Kayano Ai, Sakurai Takahiro, Nabatame Hitomi, Miyata Kouki, Matsukaze Masaya, Ono Daisuke. director: Sakurabi Katsushi (UraBoku) writer: Minakami Seishi (Railgun). Sugii Hikaru (novel). animation: JC Staff. chara-des: Sano Keiichi; Kishida Mel (orig). music: Iwasaki Taku. trailer. manga. forum. sat 02 jul 23:00 Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% (jp: うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ マジLOVE1000%) jpWikiromantic comedyHaruka succeeds in getting in to an elite high school for the performing arts. Her goal is to be a songwriter. But first she has to choose a male partner for the big audition at the end of the year. Which of the six "princes" will it be? From a game for girls.Solid staff headed by director Kou Yuu (Loveless, Giant Killing) and writer Konparu Tomoko (Nana, Nodame Cantabile). Solid cast headed by Sawashiro Miyuki, with Terashima Takuya, Suzumura Kenichi, Taniyama Kishou, Miyano Mamoru, et al. Sure this is "just" a bishounen reverse harem, but the cast and staff make me think something could be going on here.The trailer is for an upcoming version of the game.seiyuus: Sawashiro Miyuki, Terashima Takuya, Suzumura Kenichi, Taniyama Kishou, Miyano Mamoru, Yusa Kouji, Suwabe Junichi, Toriumi Kousuke, Shimono Hiro, Wakamoto Norio. director: Kou Yuu (Loveless, Giant Killing) writer: Konparu Tomoko (NANA, Les Miz, Nodame). Broccoli PSP otome game. animation: A-1 Pictures. chara-des: Mori Mitsui, Kurahana Chinatsu (orig.). animator: Mori Mitsui. OP Miyano Mamoru, ED seiyuus. trailer. forum. sat 02 jul 24:00 Sacred Seven (jp: セイクリッドセブン) jpWikischool battle actionA new school fighting anime, with protagonists who have the ability to transform matter and living things, and who fight against monsters.The director of Witchblade, who was also heavily involved in Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto. The writer of some Yu-Gi-Oh series. I believe the fanservice will be at a comparative minimum here.Interesting cast features two excellent male seiyuus: Irino Miyu and Okamoto Nobuhiko. Also featuring Nomizu Iori (Nymph in Sora no Otoshimono) and Nakajima Megumi (Ranka in Macross Frontier).seiyuus: Nomizu Iori, Irino Miyu, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Nakajima Megumi, Terashima Takuma, Nanase Ami, Konishi Katsuyuki, Ookawa Tooru, Tozuka Rie. director: Oohashi Yoshimitsu (Witchblade, BakuKikanIro chief dir) writer: Yoshida Shin (Yu-Gi-Oh series), Yatate Hajime (pseudonym for Sunrise staff). animation: Sunrise. chara-des: Chiba Yuriko, Nakata Eiji; Inomata Mutsumi (orig). OP Fiction Junction, ED Nanri Yuuka. trailer. forum. sat 02 jul 26:28 Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou (jp: ぬらりひょんの孫 千年魔京) jpWikishounen supernatural action adventure comedyA new director and writer take over for this sequel to the supernatural shounen comedy featuring a young demon lord who wants to be an ordinary human. I lost interest very quickly in the first series, which had far bigger names heading the staff, so we shall see how this starts. This series will apparently follow the Kyoto arc in the novels, which fans say is the best part of the story. Great names such as Fujiwara Keiji, Noto Mamiko, and Kusahima Houko have joined the cast.Includes one of Hirano Aya's few remaining anime roles.seiyuus: Fukuyama Jun, Hirano Aya, Horie Yui, Maeda Ai, Fujiwara Keiji, Noto Mamiko, Kitamura Eri, Kuwashima Houko, Konishi Katsuyuki, Nojima Kenji, Neya Michiko. director: Fukuda Michio writer: Koyasu Hideaki. Shibashi Hiroshi (manga). animation: Studio Deen. chara-des: Oka Mariko; Tagashira Shinobu (monsters). music: Tanaka Kouhei. OP LMC, ED Hirano Aya/Horie Yui/Maeda Ai. trailer. manga. forum. sun 03 jul 17:30 Ikoku Meiro no Croisee (jp: 異国迷路のクロワーゼ The Animation) jpWikimoe comedy dramaIn the late 19th century, Japanese culture is gaining popularity in the West. A young Japanese girl, Yune, accompanies a French merchant, Oscar, back to France to gain experience working at his family's ironwork shop in Paris. Oscar's nephew, the current shopowner, Claude, reluctantly accepts her.Stars young seiyuu Touyama Nao (19), with Yuuki Aoi (also 19) as her French friend Alice. Also starring Kondou Takashi and Yahagi Sayuri.Directed for Satelight by Yasuda Kenji (Shugo Chara), and written by Satou Junichi (Aria) and Ikeda Mamiko (Emma, Hanasakeru Seishounen). The story and Yuuki Aoi made me interested in this show, but the staff-list makes me eager for episode one.seiyuus: Kondou Takashi, Tanaka Hideyuki, Touyama Nao, Yuuki Aoi, Yahagi Sayuri. director: Yasuda Kenji (Shugo Chara) writer: Satou Junichi (Aria, Tamayura); Ikeda Mamiko (scripts; Emma, Hanasakeru Seishounen). Takeda Hinata (manga). animation: Satelight. chara-des: Inoue Hideki. music: ko-ko-ya (Ristorante Paradiso). trailer. manga. forum. sun 03 jul 24:30 Natsume Yuujinchou 3 (jp: 夏目友人帳 参) jpWikiintelligent shoujo fantasy with monstersThe third series of this successful episodic fantasy. Natsume can see spirits, as his grandmother could, and with her "book of friends" (yuujinchou) he goes around releasing spirits from the spells she bound them with.Kamiya Hiroshi, in one of his signature roles.The trailer link below connects to streamed versions of season one.seiyuus: Kamiya Hiroshi, Inoue Kazuhiko, Suganuma Hisayoshi, Suwabe Junichi, Ishida Akira, Kobayashi Sanae, Kimura Ryouhei, Horie Kazuma. director: Oomori Takahiro writer: Murai Sadayuki. Midorikawa Yuki (manga). animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Takada Akira. trailer. manga. forum. mon 04 jul 25:30 Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel -- Kyunkyun Tokimeki Paradise (jp: 快盗天使ツインエンジェル ～キュンキュン☆ときめきパラダイス！！～) jpWikimagical girl actionOriginated as a pachinko slot machine game. Stars Noto Mamiko and Tamura Yukari as high school friends by day and villain-fighters by night. Kugimiya Rie, Horie Yui, Yuzuki Ryouka, Asano Masumi -- lots of big names.Different staff from the 2008 OVA series. Directed by the director of Zero no Tsukaima and Hayate 2. Written by the writer of Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi.Excellent cast, questionable staff -- but JC Staff, so it will likely maintain a bit of quality.seiyuus: Onosaka Masaya, Noto Mamiko, Tamura Yukari, Shintani Ryouko, Yuzuki Ryouka, Horie Yui, Kugimiya Rie, Asano Masumi, Koyama Rikiya, Asakawa Yuu. director: Iwasaki Yoshiaki (Zero no Tsukaima, Hayate 2) writer: Itou Michiko (Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi). animation: JC Staff. chara-des: Ooki Ryouichi. animation supervisor: Ooki Ryouichi. trailer. mon 04 jul 25:45 Yuruyuri (jp: ゆるゆり) jpWikiyuri slice of life comedyFour middle-school girls, their daily lives and yuri romances.The director and writer did Mitsudomoe and Minami-ke. Neither of those found my funny bone, but a lot of people loved them.The four stars are relative unknowns, but Tsuda Minami was Phryne in Fractale.I have no idea how this will work out, but anything purporting to be yuri gets my attention.seiyuus: Mikami Shiori, Ootsubo Yuka, Tsuda Minami, Ookubo Rumi, Fujita Saki, Toyosaki Aki, Katou Emiri, Mimori Suzuko, Taketatsu Ayana. director: Oota Masahiko (Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe) writer: Aoshima Takashi (Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe). Namori (manga). animation: Douga Koubou. OPED seiyuus. trailer. manga. forum. mon 04 jul 26:00 Kamisama Dolls (jp: 神様ドォルズ) jpWikisupernatural action mystery with violenceSome people have superhuman "God Dolls" they can summon and control. The story involves an ex-summoner and a woman who is an old neighbour and with whom he would like to get closer; his little step-sister and her Doll; and his twisted big brother, who is going around randomly butchering people with his Doll.Popular manga and some good cast-members, including Okamoto Nobuhiko and Sawashiro Miyuki. Young Kayano Ai (Menma in AnoHana) is also here, but she is not one of my favorites. Kobayashi Yumiko (PuniPuni Poemi) however, is.seiyuus: Okamoto Nobuhiko, Fukuen Misato, Kayano Ai, Murase Katsuki, Sawashiro Miyuki, Kobayashi Yumiko, Kimura Ryouhei. director: Kishi Seiji (Seto no Hanayome, Angel Beats) writer: Uezu Makoto (School Days, Seto no Hanayome, Katanagatari, Qwaser, Zombie). Yamamura Hajime (manga). animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Morita Kazuaki. animation supervisor: Motohashi Hideyuki. music: Ishikawa Chiaki, Nishida Masara. OPED Ishikawa Chiaki. trailer. manga. 13eps. forum. tue 05 jul 25:30 Morita-san wa Muguchi (jp: 森田さんは無口) jpWikimoe comic-strip comedyFebruary's OVA spawns a series. Morita-san is a high school girl who considers everything she is about to say so thoroughly that she never ends up saying anything.The animation of the OVA was very simple, and the humor hit or miss, for me. But there were some good moments from voices like Hanazawa Kana, Hayami Saori, Tomatsu Haruka, and Nanjou Yoshino.The trailer is for the OVA.seiyuus: Hanazawa Kana, Nanjou Yoshino, Hayami Saori, Tomatsu Haruka. director: Hayashi Naotaka writer: Karasuma Ryou. Sano Tae (manga). animation: Seven. chara-des: Yamashita Toshinari. trailer. manga. forum. tue 05 jul 25:30 Nyanpire (jp: にゃんぱいあ The Animation) jpWikiA stray kitten on the brink of death is rescued by baptism with a vampire's blood, and revives to live forever, enjoying heartful days among the vampire cats.Director Yoshimatsu Takahiro is doing only his second show, following Kaitou Reinya. Writer Takahashi Natsuko, however, has done Blue Drop, Tales of Agriculture, UraBoku, Nurarihyon, etc.Koshimizu Ami stars, with Fukuyama Jun, Gotou Yuuko, Hirota Shion and others.Who knows? At least we know Amisuke and Jun-chan will be good.seiyuus: Koshimizu Ami, Sugiyama Noriaki, Fukuyama Jun, Gotou Yuuko, Maeda Nozomi, Hirota Shion, Tachibana Shinnosuke. director: Yoshimatsu Takahiro writer: Takahashi Natsuko (Blue Drop, Moyashimon, UraBoku); yukiusa (doujin). animation: Gonzo. chara-des: Yoshimatsu Takahiro. OP Asou Nyatsuko and Nyandine. trailer. wed 06 jul 22:54 Usagi Drop (jp: うさぎドロップ) jpWikicomedy drama w/family moeNoitamina. Daikichi is an awkward bachelor of thirty. His grandfather dies, leaving behind an young illegitimate daughter whom no relative knew of or wants to take in. Upset with them, Daikichi decides to take her himself, despite the fact he is single. Little Rin already seems to feel comfortable with him, because he looks like his grandfather. Rin moves in with Daikichi and they begin to learn to live with each other.A live-action movie is also coming out this summer.This is not lolicon so much a heartwarming story of family love and the troubles of being a single parent. But the little girl is definitely cute. Good supporting cast includes Ueda Kana, Sakamoto Maaya, and Ohara Sayaka. Director and writer are unknowns. Production IG.seiyuus: Tsuchida Hiroshi (Skull Man), Matsuura Ayu (The Bears' School movie), Ueda Kana, Sakamoto Maaya, Ohara Sayaka, Sudou Nanako, Sakai Noa. director: Kamei Kanta writer: Kishimoto Suguru. Unita Yumi (manga). animation: Production IG. chara-des: Yamashita Yuu. OP Puffy, ED kasarinchu. trailer. manga. forum. thu 07 jul 24:45 No. 6 (jp: NO.6) jpWikijosei science fictionSet in 2013 in a future model city called "No.6." A boy named Shion has been raised as a top-ranking elite since the age of 2, and lives in an exclusive area of the city. On the night of his 12th birthday, he rescues a boy who calls himself Nezumi (Rat). Nezumi has run away from the city's Special Security Area. From that moment on, Shion's life changes dramatically….Directed by the assistant director of Oh Edo Rocket and Gundam00, in his first independent directoral job. Adapted for anime by the writer of Railgun and Occult Academy, from a novel by the author of Telepathy Girl Ran (a show I lost interest in about halfway through the first episode). The backstory sounds great. The staff seems questionable. But anything Noitamina is interesting. And anything anidb is calling "josei science fiction" is pretty intriguing, too.seiyuus: Hosoya Yoshimasa, Kaji Yuuki, Shindou Kei, Terasoma Masaki, Yasuno Kiyono. director: Nagasaki Kenji (asst dir Gundam00, work on Oh Edo Rocket, etc.) writer: Minakami Seishi (Railgun, Occult Academy, Shigurui). Asano Atsuko (novel; Telepathy Girl Ran). animation: Bones. chara-des: Ishino Satoshi (Nogizaka Haruka); toi8 (orig). conceptual design: toi8. trailer. manga. forum. thu 07 jul 25:15 The Idolm@ster (jp: THE IDOLM@STER) jpWikiidol entertainment competitionPopular arcade and console game gets a full anime series. Idolm@ster Xenoglossia was a mecha show based on the original. This is the original brought directly to anime.Personally, I'm looking forward to hearing seiyuu Nakamura Eriko, who has become very popular as a seiyuu personality in Japan.I don't have a lot of hope for the show itself. This is the director's first directorial job. We shall see.seiyuus: Wakabayashi Naomi, Nakamura Eriko, Shimoda Asami, Numakura Manami, Hasegawa Akiko, Hirata Hiromi, Imai Asami, Kugimiya Rie, Takahashi Chiaki. director: Nishigori Atsushi (eps and boards) writer: Machida Toukou, Nishigori Atsushi. Bandai Namco Games (orig). animation: A-1 Pictures. chara-des: Nishigori Atsushi (Gurren-Lagann, Panty-Stocking); Kubooka Toshiyuki (orig. game). animation supervisor: Iizuka Haruko, Takata Akira. OP 765Pro Allstars. trailer. forum. thu 07 jul 25:25 Blood-C (jp: BLOOD-C) jpWikivampires actionAn anime original vampire tale from Production IG (Blood+) and Clamp (xxxHolic). Stars Mizuki Nana (who also does the ED) and Fujiwara Keiji. Directed by Mizushima Tsutomu (xxxHolic, Ookiku Furikabutte, Ika Musume). Written by Ohkawa Nanase of Clamp (Kobato, Cardcaptor Sakura).This could be good.A manga version will begin in the July edition of Monthly Shonen Ace.seiyuus: Mizuki Nana, Asano Masumi, Fujiwara Keiji, Fukuen Misato, Nojima Kenji, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Abe Atsushi, Miyagawa Miho. director: Mizushima Tsutomu (xxxHolic, Big Windup, Ika Musume) writer: Ohkawa Nanase (Clamp; Kobato, CCS, etc.). Clamp (orig). animation: Production IG. chara-des: Kise Kazuchika. animation supervisor: Gotou Takayuki. music: Satou Naoki. OP Dustz, ED Mizuki Nana. trailer. forum. thu 07 jul 25:40 Mayo Chiki (jp: まよチキ！) jpWikigender-bender moe school romantic comedyKinjirou accidentally discovers that the cold but beautiful boy who is butler to his wealthy classmate is actually a girl. The butler and her mistress enforce silence with physical threats. This is nothing new to Kinjirou, since his mother and sister are martial arts practitioners who already use him as their punching bag.The director of Hayate and the writer of K-On give us this gender-bender-with-violence romantic comedy. Stars Hino Satoshi (Yuuji in Shana) with Kitamura Eri as the wealthy but sadistic classmate, and Iguchi Yuka as the butler. The manga is a fairly witty mish-mash of memes. This has a chance to be a good show of its kind.seiyuus: Hino Satoshi, Kitamura Eri, Iguchi Yuka, Asumi Kana, Hanazawa Kana, Ise Mariya. director: Kawaguchi Keiichirou (Hayate, Nyan Koi, Yutori-chan) writer: Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, Saiunkoku, K-On). Asano Hajime (novel). animation: feel. chara-des: Kawamura Kousuke. animation supervisor: Kawamura Kousuke. music: Hashimoto Yukari. OP Kitamura Eri, ED KitaEri, Iguchi Yuka, Ise Mariya. trailer. manga. forum. thu 07 jul 25:55 Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2 (jp: バカとテストと召喚獣にっ！) jpWikicomedySeason two of the successful comedy from Oonuma Shin (ef memories, melodies). We follow the fortunes of the stupidest class in a high school where classes conduct strange, almost magical battles against each other for honor and the most comfortable classrooms.Excellent voice acting, characters, and imagery, but I lost interest in the first season about halfway through.The trailer link is to part of episode 2 of the first season.seiyuus: Harada Hitomi, Isomura Tomomi, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Mizuhashi Kaori, Miyata Kouki, Shimono Hiro, Katou Emiri. director: Oonuma Shin writer: Takayama Katsuhiko. Inoue Kenji (orig). animation: Silver Link. chara-des: Ooshima Miwa. animation supervisor: Ooshima Miwa. trailer. manga. forum. thu 07 jul 26:15 Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi (jp: いつか天魔の黒ウサギ) jpWikivampire action mystery w/moeAn ordinary high school boy named Taito keeps seeing a girl in his dreams. In a crisis, he finally remembers having been bitten with a magic poison by the female vampire Saitohimea, binding him to her forever.Stars Tachibana Shinnosuke (Minato in Sekirei) and Takamoto Megumi (Ushio in Sasameki Koto, Winry Rockbell in the new FMA). With Fukuyama Jun, Nakamura Yuuichi, Nomizu Iori and Mina.Directed by Yamamoto Takashi (Nanatsuiro Drops, Jewelpet Tinkle). Adapted for anime by Morita Shigeru (scripts for Qwaser, Zombie, Blood+). If the trailer is any indication, this may be a cross between Nanatsuiro Drops and Blood+, with more fanservice.seiyuus: Tachibana Shinnosuke (Minato/Sekirei), Takamoto Megumi (Ushio/Sasameki Koto), Nomizu Iori, Horikawa Chika, Nakamura Yuuichi, Fukuyama Jun, Mina. director: Yamamoto Takashi writer: Morita Shigeru (scripts for Qwaser, Zombie, Blood+). Kagami Takaya (novel). animation: Zexcs. chara-des: Isono Satoshi. animation supervisor: Sakura Masaaki, Isono Satoshi. OP Harada Hitomi, ED Shikata Akiko. trailer. manga. forum. fri 08 jul 25:05 R-15 (jp: R-15) jpWikiecchi comedyBrilliant teen Takuto has been a porn novelist since middle school. He rises to be a leader in his class in an elite high school full of elite students.Directed by Nawa Munenori, director of Nogizaka Haruka and of Otome wa Boku ni Koi wo Shiteru. That doesn’t turn me on as much as the writer does: Uetake Sumio did Kyoushiro to Towa no Sora and Kannazuki no Miko. Character designer Fujita Mariko did all the Galaxy Angel shows, as well as the visually lovely Shukufuku no Campanella.Whatever else it is, this is a vehicle for new seiyuus from the Production Ace agency, which contributes the entire named cast. Production Ace is a subsidiary of Kadokawa Shoten, publishers of the novels. The two stars are the only names with prior roles: Gouda Aya (Qfeuille in Kiddy Girl and…) and Tsukimiya Midori (Eucliwood Hellscythe in Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?).I have a feeling this may be more entertaining than it seems at first glance. I hope so.Video of Tsukimiya Midori. Video showing main seiyuus.seiyuus: Gouda Aya (Qfeuille/Kiddy Girl and), Tsukimiya Midori (Eucliwood/Zombie), Kashiyama Nanami, Komatsu Mana, Tsumita Kayoko, Murakami Madoka, Murai Risako, Tsukimiya Midori. director: Nawa Munenori (Otoboku, Nogizaka Haruka, KissxSis) writer: Uetake Sumio (Kyoushiro to Towa no Sora, Kannazuki no Miko). Fushimi Hiroyuki (novel). animation: AIC. chara-des: Fujita Mariko (Galaxy Angel, Campanella), Fujimi Takuya (orig). OPED seiyuus. forum. sat 09 jul Nekogami Yaoyorozu (jp: 猫神やおよろず) jpWikimoe supernatural comedyHorie Yui runs an antique shop. Tomatsu Haruka is a cat-goddess who looks like a moe young girl. She lives with Hocchan's character and invites other gods over to have fun. Unsurprisingly, the other gods also look like moe young girls. Sanpei Yuuko, Taketatsu Ayana, Kayano Ai, Toyosaki Aki, MAKO…. Director Sakurai Hiroaki did Di Gi Charat, Les Miserables Shoujo Cossette, and Kaichou wa Maid-sama. Lead writer Machida Touko and scriptwriter Kaneda Tomoko are both well-known anime writers. Good cast. Good staff. Not so sure about the story.The manga link is to raws. The manga is marginally amusing.seiyuus: Tomatsu Haruka, Horie Yui, Sanpei Yuuko, Taketatsu Ayana, Kayano Ai, Toyosaki Aki, Mako. director: Sakurai Hiroaki (DG Charat, Les Miz) writer: Machida Touko, Kaneda Tomoko (scripts). FlipFlops (manga). animation: AIC Plus+. chara-des: Watanabe Atsuko. animation supervisor: Watanabe Atsuko. OP Horie Yui and Tomatsu Haruka, ED Tomatsu Haruka. trailer. manga. forum. sat 09 jul 08:30 Mayuu Himitsu Ken (jp: 魔乳秘剣帖) jpWikimammary fighting comedyFrom the director of Seikon no Qwaser comes another fighting comedy fixated on breasts. In this fantasy samurai world, the bigger the breasts, the more prestige you have.Expect this to be a competent anime of its kind, with a director who understands the genre and a writer who has some skill, having done Railgun and Occult Academy.The seiyuus, too, are experienced in the genre: Kotobuki Minako and Mizuhara Kaoru in Hyakka Ryouran, Toyosaki Aki in both that and Qwaser, and Noto Mamiko in Queen's Blade.seiyuus: Kotobuki Minako, Mizuhara Kaoru, Noto Mamiko, Toyosaki Aki. director: Kaneko Hiraku (Seikon no Qwaser) writer: Minakami Seishi (Asatte no Houkou, Railgun, Occult Academy). Yamada Hideki (manga). animation: Hoods Entertainment. chara-des: Takagi Jun. animation supervisor: Takagi Jun. trailer. manga. sun 10 jul 25:00 Dantalian no Shoka (jp: ダンタリアンの書架) jpWikimystery horror supernatural tsundereA young man named Huey inherits his grandfather's old estate. In the basement, among stacks and stacks of books, sits a girl dressed in black, with a large lock around her neck, quietly reading. She is Dariane, the gateway to the Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian, the library of forbidden books of demonic wisdom.Sawashiro Miyuki plays Dariane, the super-tsuntsun heroine. Her master/tool Huey is played by Ono Daisuke. I'm hoping the bloody supernatural mysteries are as good as the seiyuus perfroming them.Clothing design by gothic lolita designers Baby the Stars Shine Bright.seiyuus: Sawashiro Miyuki, Ono Daisuke. director: Uemura Yutaka (new) writer: Mikumo Gakuto (novel). animation: Gainax. chara-des: Kinoshita Sumie; Yusuke G- (orig). music: Tsuji You. trailer. manga. 13eps. forum. fri 15 jul 25:23 Detective Opera Milky Holmes - special edition (jp: 探偵オペラ ミルキィホームズ 特別編) jpWikimoe detective adventureA special episode of the surprisingly successful moe mystery franchise, which spans games and anime. Directed by the director of Onegai My Melody and Lilpri. Written by the writer of Kamen no Maid Guy and Kaempfer.The couple of episodes I watched of season one bored me, but the show is popular enough that there have been various well-attended live events featuring the four seiyuu stars singing and dancing.Trailer link is for season one.seiyuus: Mimori Suzuko, Kitta Izumi, Sasaki Mikoi, Tokui Sora, Morishima Shuuta, Akesaka Satomi, Kishio Daisuke, Shimono Hiro, Terashima Takuma, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nanjou Yoshino, Shintani Ryouko, Tamura Yukari. director: Moriwaki Makoto (Onegai My Melody, Lilpri) writer: Fudeyasu Kazuyuki (Kamen no Maid Guy, Kaempfer). animation: JC Staff. trailer. forum. 25 AugustThe new Last Exile anime, which will premiere at Anime Expo in Los Angeles next month, could still slide in to the summer season, but is more likely to begin in October.
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