Disclaimer:
Shit has gotten real.
*
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AnimeGAF IRC channel:
irc://irc.rizon.net/#AnimeGAF
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Fate/Zero 2nd Season
Director: Ei Aoki
Studio: Ufotable
Air Date: 4/6/2012
Site:
http://www.fate-zero.jp/
Stream:
http://ch.nicovideo.jp/channel/fate-zero
Main (referred to as 'M' from here on out):
anime.nonsense.bb said:
The Holy Grail War - A death-match between 7 magi (Masters) and their summoned heroic spirits (Servants) in which the prize is the legendary Holy Grail, said to have to power to grant miracles.
This is now the 4th Holy Grail War. The 3 preceding Wars had ended without a victor. In pursuit of their individual goals and ambitions, the magi congregate at a place called Fuyuki. All the magi will do anything, rationalize away any atrocity, in pursuit of the Holy Grail.
All of them, but one...
My Take (referred to as 'MT' from here on out):
Ufotable is showing everyone else how it's done. A level above normal TV anime, with impressive production values and thoughtful planning. The second half is even better than the first. If you can only watch one show this season, make it this.
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Sakamichi no Apollon
Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
Studio: MAPPA
Air Date: 4/12/2012
Site:
http://www.noitamina-apollon.com/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/kids-on-the-slope/
M:
mangareader said:
Nishimi Kaoru has moved from city to city and school to school because of his fathers job. So the first day at his new school was just routine for him. Being intellectual and the new transfer student, he has always been seen as an outcast and all Kaoru had to do was bare it until the next time he moved. But things were slightly different this time. First, he started to get close to the class president, Mukae Ritsuko, and, secondly, unlikely as it seemed, grew closer to Kawabuchi Sentaro. Sentaro was infamous for getting into fights, skipping class and was an overall bad boy. Strangely enough, the three of them find common ground in music, namely jazz, and Kaoru finds himself actually enjoying the new town.
MT:
The warmth and love that exudes from this show, in its portrayal of both the joy of music and the joy of relationships, is something to behold. The pacing is fast, but strong visual storytelling holds it together.
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Tsuritama
Director: Kenji Nakamura
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Air Date: 4/12/2012
Site:
http://www.tsuritama.com/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/tsuritama/
M:
ANN said:
The SF (seishun/adolescent fishing) story is set on the island of Enoshima in the Shōnan area south of Tokyo, and it follows four idiosyncratic youths: the one-quarter French, uncommunicative high school student Yuki (Ryota Ohsaka), the fishing enthusiast and self-proclaimed alien Haru (Miyu Irino), the island native Natsuki (Kouki Uchiyama), and the mysterious Indian Akira (Tomokazu Sugita) with his constant duck companion Tapioca.
MT:
Nakamura is back! Well structured, with strong and steady character development mixed with a gradually growing plot of aliens, intrigue, and fish. Great, eye-catching visual style.
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Uchuu Kyoudai (SPACE BROS)
Director: Ayumu Watanabe
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Air Date: 4/1/2012
Site:
http://uchukyodai.com/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/space-brothers/
M:
mangaupdates said:
One night in 2006, when they were young, the two brothers Mutta (born 1993) and Hibito (born 1996) saw what appeared to be a UFO heading for the moon. They decided that night to both become astronauts and travel out into space.
In 2025, Hibito has become an astronaut, and he's going to go to the moon. Mutta ended up following a more traditional career path with an auto development company. However, Mutta just ruined his career through a violent altercation with his boss. Now, not only has he lost his job, he appears to be blacklisted in the entire industry. Maybe this is a rare opportunity for Mutta to once again chase his childhood dream and become an astronaut like his little brother!
MT:
So feel-good, I can't help but love it. The main character's quirks and struggles make him intensely sympathetic. The production values are average for a long-running show, but the direction is consistently effective.
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Lupin the Third: The Woman named Fujiko Mine
Director: Saya Yamamoto (Michiko to Hatchin)
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Air Date: 4/1/2012
Site:
http://lupin-3rd.net/
Stream:
http://www.funimation.com/lupin-the-third-fujiko-mine
M:
ANN said:
Sayo Yamamoto (Michiko to Hatchin) will direct the 13 episode series, making her the first female director on the Lupin III series. Redline director Takeshi Koike will serve as animation director and character designer, and AnoHana's Mari Okada will handle the series composition. Kanichi Kuritawill play Lupin, Kiyoshi Kobayashi will play Daisuke Jigen, Daisuke Namikawa will play Goemon Ishikawa, Miyuki Sawashiro will play Fujiko Mine, and Kouichi Yamadera will play Inspector Zenigata.
The series revolves around the character of Fujiko Mine, depicting her and the rest of the Lupin III cast during their younger days. The series will reportedly capture the "sensuality" present in Monkey Punch's original Lupin III manga in its "daring interpretation" of the franchise.
MT:
All over the place, with grave issues in both its production and its conception. The characters, and by extension the audience, don't have enough fun. It's had its moments though.
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Eureka Seven Ao
Director: Tomoki Kyoda
Studio: BONES
Air Date: 4/12/2012
Site:
http://eurekaao-prj.net/
Stream:
http://www.funimation.com/eureka-seven-astral-ocean
M:
wiki said:
The 13-year-old protagonist, Ao Fukai lives with an elderly doctor, Toshio, on Iwado Island in Okinawa. His father's whereabouts are unknown and his mother had disappeared 10 years ago. His childhood friend, Naru Arata is somewhat frail, physically, and requires an inhaler; however, she seems to have "yuta" power due to an accident that happened when she was very young.
A mysterious entity called "Secret" suddenly appears and launches an attack on the Scub Coral lifeform on the island. In his fervent desire to protect the island, Ao launches a certain military robot called "Nirvash" aboard a Japanese military transport.
MT:
Has Bones finally made a good show again? Reports indicate that this is a distinct possibility, but I'm waiting to see how it develops. Never bet against Bones.
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Saint Seiya Omega
Director: Morio Hatano
Studio: Toei Animation
Air date: 4/1/2012
Site:
http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/seiya/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/saint-seiya-omega/
M:
Wiki said:
is an upcoming anime series produced by Toei Animation. It is a spin-off inspired by the classic manga series Saint Seiya, which was created, written and illustrated by Japanese author Masami Kurumada.[1].The series is scheduled to begin airing on TV Asahi on April 1, 2012. It will be directed by Morio Hatano (his directorial debut), with animation character designs by illustrator and animator Yoshihiko Umakoshi, known for performing the same duties on Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation and Casshern Sins.
The storyline of Omega takes place in the future era, 25 years after the Holy Wars of the 20th century narrated in the original manga and its anime adaptation. The goddess Athena is still on Earth after reincarnating to cleanse it of the agent of evil as she has done during millennia, accompanied by her Saints, fulfilling her duty of protecting peace on Earth, after her victories over antagonistic deities. Athena and a new generation of Saints prepare to face a new menace that lurks in this new era, in which Pegasus Seiya, the protagonist of Kurumada's manga, is revered as a Saint of legend.
MT:
Toei's cheapness has dulled the impact of Umakoshi's visual style, sadly. There have been and will be good episodes, but it's not looking like the show as a whole will be worth sitting through.
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Hyouka
Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Air Date: 4/22/2012
Site:
http://www.kyotoanimation.co.jp/kotenbu/
Stream: No.
M:
Crunchyroll said:
It centers on Houtarou Oreki, a high schooler who is resistant to getting involved with anything.
This changes when he joins the koten-bu club, and is tasked with solving everyday mysteries. What's up with the classroom you can't enter? What about the mysterious book that's always checked out of the library? These puzzles and moreincluding an incident from 33 years ago involving a female club member's uncleawait in Yonezawa's tale.
MT:
KyoAni brings their magic to mundane high school life. The effort that's going into the animation and direction is almost absurd. The mysteries are simple, but logical and presented in an entertaining way; the characters shallow, but their interactions enjoyable.
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Mysterious Girlfriend X
Director: Ayumu Watanabe
Studio: Hoods Entertainment
Air Date: 4/7/2012
Site:
http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/nazokano_x/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/mysterious-girlfriend-x/
M:
One day, a strange transfer student appears before Tsubaki. Urabe Mikoto is an antisocial girl, whose hobby is just sleeping during class-breaks. One day, Tsubaki goes to wake her up and accidentally tastes her drool... And gets hooked on that!
After that, he starts going out with her and gets to know her better. Her second hobby, as it turns out, is carrying around scissors in her panties and cutting paper into flowers...
MT:
With good direction and production values, this atmospheric tale of a slightly bizarre teenage romance is a keeper.
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Ginga e Kickoff
Director: Konosuke Uda
Studio: Typ Animations
Air Date: 4/7/2012
Site:
http://www9.nhk.or.jp/anime/ginga/
Stream: No.
M:
anime.nonsense.bb said:
The story follows a boy who was in a soccer team, but it was disbanded due to not enough players. However, after the boy meets a female professional soccer player, he aims to bring his soccer team back.
MT:
Solid kids' soccer show, with good animation for the matches. The main character's energy is infectious.
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Shirokuma Cafe
Director: Mitsuyuki Masuhara
Studio: Pierrot
Air Date: 4/5/2012
Site:
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/shirokumacafe/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/polar-bear-cafe/
M:
Crunchyroll said:
A gag manga adaption about a polar bear who runs a cafe and a panda who is a regular customer.
MT:
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Zetman
Director: Osamu Nabeshima
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Air Date: 4/2/2012
Site:
http://zetman.jp/index.html
Stream:
http://www.hulu.com/zetman
M:
wiki said:
The story starts off with a face-off between two rival heroes, ZET and Alphasz, and then traces their origins - Jin Kanzaki, a young man with the ability to transform into a superhuman being known as ZET, and Kouga Amagi, a young man with a strong sense of justice who uses technology to fight as Alphasz.
The fates of these two men and those around them intertwine as they fight to protect mankind and destroy monstrous abominations known as Players, who ironically are the creations of the Amagi Corporation, the company founded by Kouga's grandfather, Mitsugai Amagi
MT:
Way too rushed for its own good.
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Jormungand
Director: Keitaro Motonaga
Studio: White Fox
Air Date: 4/10/2012
Site:
http://www.jormungand.tv/
Stream:
http://www.funimation.com/jormungand
M:
mangaupdates said:
Revolves around an underground weapon seller and her accomplices. The story starts when they add a new member to her team, a quiet young and strange boy. He hates weapons. An intense action-packed series with bullets, knives, words, and blood flying everywhere!
MT:
If you're going to make an intense action-packed series, it helps to have directors and animators who know how to make intense and packed action. Unfortunately, White Fox does not have those people.
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Medaka Box
Director: Shouji Saeki
Studio: GAINAX
Air Date: 4/4/2012
Site:
http://medakabox.jp/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/medaka-box/
M:
wiki said:
Medaka Kurokami, the recently elected Student Council President of Hakoniwa Academy, has instituted a suggestion box in order to collect suggestions and improvements from fellow academy students. Together with Zenkichi Hitoyoshi, she solves problems, from finding lost dogs to cleaning up club buildings and even fixing personalities. During the course of the series, Kouki Akune and Mogana Kikaijima are recruited to the Student Council to help improve the school
MT:
By the time the much paraded genre shift happens, the show will already be over.
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Accel World
Director:
Studio: Sunrise
Air Date: 4/6/2012
Site:
http://www.accel-world.net/
Stream:
http://www.hulu.com/accel-world
M:
wiki said:
In the year 2040, Neuro-synchronization, a technology system that allows humans to manipulate their five senses has become widespread where people can access the internet and enter virtual worlds. Haruyuki "Haru" Arita is a short, fat boy who is constantly bullied, causing him to have a low-self esteem. To escape the torments of real life, he logins in the school's virtual world network where he plays squash alone where he always gets the highest score. One day, Haru attract the attention of the Student Council Vice-President, Kuroyukihime, who offers him to join a secret program called Brain Burst which allows a person to make time appear to stand still in their surroundings by "accelerating" their brainwaves in the real world.
MT:
In the future, restroom design is at an all-time low.
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Sankarea
Director:
Studio: Studio DEEN
Air Date: 4/5/2012
Site:
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/sankarea/
Stream:
http://www.funimation.com/sankarea
M:
wiki said:
The protagonist, Chihiro Furuya, is a male highschool student with a keen interest in zombies, collecting zombie-related videogames, film and manga, and even to the point of desiring to "kiss a zombie girl". Following the death of his pet cat, he attempts to revive it using an old manuscript, which describes the process of creating a potion for resurrection. At this time he encounters a girl named Rea Sanka, who has run away from home. In an attempt to commit suicide, she drinks a sample of the "resurrection" potion which is created from a poisonous herb known as Hydrangea macrophylla, however this fails to kill her. Following an argument with her father, she falls from a cliff by accident and dies; however as a result of the potion, she returns as a zombie. Though she becomes undead, she chooses not to consume human flesh, and rather survives on eating the hydrangea herbs.
MT:
The first three episodes were good, but then the director stopped storyboarding and it regressed to the poor quality you'd expect from DEEN.
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AKB0048
Director: Shoji Kawamori
Studio: Satelight
Air Date: 4/29(?)/2012 (exact date unknown)
Site:
http://akb0048.jp/
Stream: No.
M:
In an era when entertainment is outlawed, there is an idol group that offers underground guerilla concerts despite the danger. The name of that female group is AKB0048.
Until just before the annihilation of Earth, AKB48 shined as legendary idols.
This is the story of the super galactic idol team that inherited that name.
MT:
If you're a diehard fan of Kawamori, like Hitokage, you're already watching this.
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Yurumates 3D
Director: Yoshihide Yuuzumi
Studio: C2C
Air Date: 4/2/2012
Site:
http://www.takeshobo.co.jp/sp/tv_yuru/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/yurumate3dei
M:
anime.nonsensebb.com said:
Aida Yurume is a ronin student who came to Tokyo to prepare for university entrance exam. But the place was a back district, where the address Tokyo is so ill-fitting. The residents of the apartment are Kawano Sae, a veteran ronin with straight-man character, Tanaka Kumi, an innocent-looking girl and Matsukishi, a young man looking twice as his age. The story depicts their slow and comfortable life of preparing for university.
MT:
Not bad, as far as these kind of simple comedy shorts go.
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Kimi to Boku 2
Director: Mamoru Kanbe
Studio: J.C Staff
Air Date: 4/2/2012
Site:
http://www.kimiboku.tv/
Stream:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/you-and-me-2
M:
ANN said:
About 4 friends, twins Yuta and Yuki Asaba, the cute and girly Shun Matsuoka, and the class head Kaname Tsukahara, who have known each other since kindergarden. When a half-Japanese transfer student named Chizuru Tachibana joins their group, he brings a new dynamic to their friendship.
MT:
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I'm out of the top ten clique.