Okay, folks, I’m sorry I was so late on this– real life got in the way. (WTF!)

I should note that this time, I adjusted the premiere dates/times to what actually makes sense. See, Moon Phase will generally say that a show starts at, say, “25:30 on Friday, April 4th,” which I had in the past said was “1:30am on Friday, April 4th.” That time should actually be 1:30am on Saturday, April 5th, and I’ve done it all correct this time.

Okay, so! Cheatsheet is coming a bit later, and for the full preview, hit the jump!

Title: Allison to Lillia
Japanese Name: アリソンとリリア
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Shounen/Adventure
Airs: NHK BS2, Thursdays at 1:30am, starting April 4th.
Website: http://allison-web.net
Summary: Set in a world that consists of only one large continent that is split into two nations fighting in a constant and repetitive war, a girl and boy named Allison and Will, respectively, were raised in an orphanage. The two hope to find a way to end the aimless war by going on an adventure to find a legendary treasure that will help. Some years later, the two have a daughter named Lillia who continues their adventure with her own boyfriend, Traize.
Notable:

  • The series is based on a light novel series by Keiichi Sagsawa (who also wrote Kino no Tabi) that started with three volumes called the Allison series, followed by six volumes devoted to Lillia titled Lillia and Traize. The anime will follow both generations.
  • Nana Mizuki, best known for her roles as Hinata in Naruto, Fate in the Nanoha franchise, and Kirihara in Darker than Black, will play Allison. Motoko Kumai will voice Will; she’s known for playing many other young men, including Card Captor Sakura’s Syaoran Li.
Title: Amatsuki
Japanese Name: あまつき
Studio: Studio Deen
Genre: Fantasy
Airs: KBS Kyoto, Saturdays at 2:30am, starting April 5th.
Website: http://amatsuki.com
Summary: Tokidoki is just about failing history, so he makes a last-ditch attempt to pass by entering an Edo-era simulation game called Amatsuki at a history museum. In the sim, he finds himself battling a monster and he loses an eye– and then finds that he can no longer leave the game.
Notable:

  • The lead of this series really has it tough. Not only does he suck at history, his name also means “sometimes” (although the kanji is different). Hippy parents much?
  • Tokidoki will be voiced by the now award-winning seiyuu Jun Fukuyama, best known for playing the lead Lelouch in Code Geass and Craft Lawrence in Spice and Wolf.
Title: BLASSREITER
Studio: GONZO
Genre: Sci-Fi
Airs: TV Kanagawa, Sundays at 2:30am, starting April 6th.
Website: http://www.blassreiter.com
Summary: Taking place on the streets of Germany in the near future, reanimated corpses and strange shape-shifters suddenly appear and begin to attack the city’s inhabitants. The world devolves into a battle royale between the living and the undead. The series focuses on a demon hunter known as Joseph, who fights for reasons unknown.
Notable:

  • BLASSREITER is actually a project uniting anime production company GONZO with Nitro+, a visual novel developer best known for its dark, edgy style.
  • The series is being directed by Ichiro Itano– who also directed the anime version of Gantz.
  • A favorite of mine appears! Masaya Matsukaze, who voiced Kyouya in Host Club and Mikami in Death Note, is voicing Joseph. I quiver in anticipation.
Title: Blue Dragon Tenkou no Shichi Ryuu
Japanese Name: BLUE DRAGON 天空の七竜
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Genre: Shounen/Action
Airs: TV Tokyo, Saturdays at 9am, starting April 5th.
Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/bluedragon
Summary: There haven’t been a lot of specific details about this sequel season, so I’m betting it picks up where the last season left off. For those unaware, Blue Dragon is the tale of a boy named Shu who discovers that he has the ability to pull a dragon out of his own shadow. The crew goes on an adventure to become stronger and eventually defeat the vicious Nene, who regularly wreaks havoc on Shu’s village.
Notable:

  • This Blue Dragon sequel is airing in Japan only shortly before the first season starts running on Cartoon Network in the US– it’s supposed to begin this May.
  • Blah blah blah, Akira Toriyama, character designs, blah Hironobu Sakaguchi blah blah development, scenario, etc.
Title: Code Geass ~Lelouch of the Rebellion~ R2
Japanese Name: コードギアス~反逆のルルーシュ～R2
Studio: Sunrise
Genre: Mech/Drama
Airs: MBS TBS, Sundays at 5pm, starting April 6th.
Website: http://geass.jp
Summary: Ahh, the adventures of the arrogant bishounen Lelouch Lamperouge and a colorful cast of Japanese insurgents and the Britannian empire and army continue. Look forward to more batshit insane, so-far-beyond-soap-opera-you-can’t-believe-it twists and turns in this political mech drama comedy crazyfest.
Notable:

  • If you wanted more Lamperouge, congratulations: somehow, someway, Lelouch has managed to acquire himself a little brother, Lolo, who attends Ashford Academy with Lulu and their sister Nunnally. Nunnally having competition for Lelouch’s brotherly affection is just wrong.
  • Like the first OP of Bleach? Good news: Orange Range will be doing both the OP and ED for Geass R2.
  • There’s a lot of advance information out about R2, so if you want it, I recommend checking out Random Curiosity’s R2 Primer here.
Title: Crystal Blaze
Japanese Name: クリスタルブレイズ
Studio: Studio Fantasia
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Airs: Chiba TV, Wednesdays at 1:15am, starting April 8th.
Website: http://anime.biglobe.ne.jp/crystal-blaze
Summary: A general-service detective agency in a near-future Japan is helmed by a man with a sketchy past named Shuu. One day he meets a young female amnesiac and, surprise surprise, takes on her case. “Gun action” and “sexy action” ensue.
Notable:

  • Oddly, even though the series’ name is katakana-ized English to begin with, it has a second English-language name: Glass Maiden. Watch the preview for a hint of what that’s all about.
  • Oh, and expect plenty of that “sexy action” to be fanservice-tastic. Studio Fantasia is probably best known for the recent OVA AIKa R-16.
  • For those of you who just can’t get enough of Lockon Stratos in Gundam 00 (*sniff*), Shuu will be voiced by Lockon seiyuu Miki Shinichiro.
Title: D.C.II S.S. Da Capo II Second Season
Japanese Name: D.C.II S.S. ～ダ・カーポII セカンドシーズン～
Studio: feel
Genre: Moe/Romance
Airs: TV Kanagawa, Sundays at 12:30am, starting April 5th.
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/dc2
Summary: Odds are, if you’re interested in Da Capo II Second Season, you already watched the first season. If not, I don’t doubt for a second that the second season will pick up where the first one left off, featuring more love triangles, moe fanservice, and magical wishing sakura trees.
Notable:

  • D.C.II.S.S. is based, of course, on the popular sequel to the popular eroge by the popular visual novel maker Circus.
  • The first season of D.C.II aired in Fall 2007 and finished up in December, leaving a four-month gap between the two seasons.

    • The aforementioned first season was not very well-received by fans, who were upset that the show followed the route that features Minatsu, a robot, instead of one of the more popular magician sisters, Yume or Otome.

Title: Druaga no Tou ~the Aegis of URUK~
Japanese Name: ドルアーガの塔 ～the Aegis of URUK～
Studio: GONZO
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Airs: TV Kanagawa, Saturdays at 1:15am, starting April 4th.
Website: http://www.druaga-anime.com
Summary: After an 80-year battle between humans and demons, humans were able to take over the first floor of the mighty Druaga tower. Now it’s up to a warrior named Gil and his companions to fight their way to the very top of the tower, where a legendary item is said to be located. But the obstacles he encounters won’t always be demons…Oh, and one of the original press release states that it’s a series that “never takes itself too seriously.”
Notable:

  • This is definitely one of the more creative adaptations of the year, seeing as the original Tower of Druaga game (by Namco in 1984) was a simple maze puzzle.
  • Gil will be played by seiyuu Kenn, who is probably best known in Japan for playing Yuuta Fuji in the Prince of Tennis stage musicals, as well as Judai Yuki, the lead character in YuGiOh! Duel Monster GX.
  • The show is actually an experiment on multiple levels. It will be released as both an anime and an MMORPG titled Druaga no Tou ~the Recovery of Babylim~. It will ALSO be aired simultaneously both on TV and online– with English subs, even!
Title: Fireball
Japanese Name: ファイアボール
Studio: Disney/Jinns Animation Studio
Genre: Kids/CG
Airs: Tokyo MX TV, Mondays at 6:30pm, starting April 7th.
Website: http://www.fireball.tv
Summary: Plot details haven’t really been made available, but this kiddy show is a gag comedy featuring a robot princess and her two servants.
Notable:

  • I don’t usually include little kid fare unless I really think anime fans are interested, but Fireball is my exception for this season, because it’s the first series to come out of a deal that Disney has worked out to try and create content specifically for Japan (instead of simply localizing their content for the west).
Title: Golgo 13
Japanese Name: ゴルゴ13
Studio: The Answer Studio
Genre: Action
Airs: Tokyo TV, Saturdays at 1:30am, starting April 11th.
Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/golgo
Summary: Golgo 13 follows the adventures of the “Japanese James Bond,” an assassin named Duke Togo and nicknamed– you guessed it –”Golgo 13.” A talented sharp-shooter, he has a reputation for taking any job that pays enough, though they also tend to be jobs that suit his own particular set of ethics.
Notable:

  • If you haven’t heard of The Answer Studio, don’t worry, they’re fairly new. But you have probably heard of their best-known work: Flag, a collaboration with Aniplex.
  • You may be thinking: “ANOTHER Golgo 13 anime?” And it’s easy to assume that such a long-running (142 volumes and counting!) manga as Takao Saito’s has been made into a TV anime before. But in fact, only a single movie and OVA have been developed based on Golgo 13, as well as two games.
Title: Himitsu ~Top Secret~
Japanese Name: 秘密～トップシークレット～
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Airs: Nippon TV, Wednesdays at 1:30am, starting April 9th.
Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/secret
Summary: In the world of Himitsu ~Top Secret~, five decades has passed since the present and the government has the ability to view up to five years’ worth of memories of any dead person. Investigators use these memories to solve crimes, but worry about the ethics of the invasion of the privacy of the dead.
Notable:

  • Hiroshi Aoyama, who debuted as a director with Rocket Girls in 2007, will direct this adaptation of Reiko Shimizu’s manga.
  • Like the music Ouran High School Host Club? Good news: Yoshihisa Hirano, Host Club’s composer, will be creating Top Secret’s bgm.
Title: Itazura na Kiss
Japanese Name: イタズラなKiss
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Genre: Shoujo/Romance
Airs: TBS, Saturdays at 2:30am, starting April 5th.
Website: http://itakiss-anime.jp/
Summary: A young high school girl named Kotoko confesses her feelings to a boy named Naoki. Naoki, a genius from the school’s A-class, refuses to even accept the letter from Kotoko, an F-class member. Then Kotoko’s house crumbles and, while her father rebuilds, he sends her to stay with a friend’s…Naoki’s parents. The story documents Kotoko and Naoki’s relationship from confession to college to marriage to kids.
Notable:

  • Kaoru Tada’s manga spans 23 volumes, but it’s still not complete; Tada died in 1999, before she could finish it.
  • Pulling double-duty, Nana Mizuki will be voicing Kotoko, along with Allison to Lillia’s Allison.
  • Director Osamu Yamazaki will be helming Itazura na Kiss (which, by the way, translates to “mischievous kiss.” Yamazaki is probably best known for directing Toward the Terra and Tsubasa Chronicle: Tokyo Revelations.
Title: Junjou Romantica
Japanese Name: 純情ロマンチカ
Studio: Studio Deen
Genre: Shoujo/Boys Love
Airs: Fukui TV, Fridays at 1:20am, starting April 11th.
Website: http://www.suzukisan.info/
Summary: High school student Misaki is having trouble with his college entrance exams, so when his brother’s best friend Masami offers to tutor, Misaki accepts. Masami, a prolific novelist, starts romancing Misaki, which confuses the boy, since he’d always that Masami had the hots for his older brother.
Notable:

  • Shungiku Nakamura’s original manga series Junjou Romantica (Pure-Hearted Romantica; licensed in English by BLU, TOKYOPOP’s yaoi manga line) actually features multiple story lines that all are featured at one point or another; how the anime will handle this is unknown.
  • Misaki will be voiced by none other than Takahiro Sakurai, alias Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children’s Cloud Strife, among other things. (He’s not unfamiliar with boys love and its brethren; he voices lead Yuri Shibuya in Kyou Kara Maou! and also Sakaki Shunsuke in the BL OVA Kirepapa.
  • Chiaki Kon, best known for directing the horror series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (both seasons, and the OVA as well), will direct this goofy romantic comedy. Weird.
Title: Kaiba
Japanese Name: カイバ
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Sci-Fi
Airs: WOWOW Scramble, Fridays at 12am, starting April 11th.
Website: http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/kaiba/
Summary: The plot of Kaiba is still unknown, but a bit of the setting has been revealed: it takes place in a world where memory manipulation is in the realm of scientific possibility. The word kaiba means “hippocampus” (the place in the brain where long-term memories are stored).
Notable:

  • The biggest giveaway for what this series like is its director, Masaaki Yuasa, who is best known for off-the-beaten-path shows like Kemonozume and Mind Games.
  • Like Yuasa’s previous works, Kaiba will feature a distinct art style– but it will be distinctly Tezuka-esque, with cute and simplistic character designs. But don’t write this off as a kids’ show.
  • Romi Paku, voice of Ed Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, will be playing one of the three leads, named Popo. The titular Kaiba will be voiced by Houko Kuwashima, who voiced Clare in Claymore and Tomoyo in Clannad; Mamiko Noto (Hell Girl’s Ai Enma, Negima!?’s Nodoka) will voice the third lead, Neiros.
Title: Kamen no Maid Guy
Japanese Name: 仮面のメイドガイ
Studio: Imagin
Genre: Comedy
Airs: Chiba TV, Sundays at 1:30am, starting April 5th.
Website: http://www.fujimishobo.co.jp/sp/meidoguy/
Summary: Look, the title effectively means “Masked Maid Guy.” Do you really need me to tell you anything more than that? How about the fact that the aforementioned maid guy isn’t some bishounen trap, but rather a buff fighter type? There you go.
Notable:

  • KOTOKO, performer of anime themes from Shakugan no Shana’s to Hayate the Combat Butler’s, will offer up the OP theme for Kamen no Maid Guy; it’s called “Special Life!”
  • Expect some good action sequences, since director Masayuki Sakoi (Princess Resurrection, Saint Beast) is helming.
Title: Kanokon
Japanese Name: かのこん
Studio: XEBEC
Genre: Shounen/Romance
Airs: AT-X, Saturdays at 10:30am, starting April 5th.
Website: http://www.kanokon.com/index-n.html
Summary: Kouta Oyamada is a country boy who’s moved to the big city and is starting at a new school. There, he meets a second-year student named Chizuru who, for reasons of her own, reveals to him secretly that she’s actually a fox demon.
Notable:

  • Based on Katsumi Nishino and Koin’s ongoing novel series of the same name (nine volumes to date), a manga adaptation illustrated by Rin Yamaki started running in June of 2006.
  • Mamiko Noto doubles up with her Kaiba role: she’ll play Kouta. Chizuru will be voiced by Ayako Kawasumi, the titular lead of Mahoro-matic and Nodame Cantabile’s Nodame.
  • Character design should be in tip-top shape, with Steam Detectives‘ Akio Takami in charge.
Title: Kurenai
Japanese Name: 紅
Studio: Brains Base
Genre: Comedy
Airs: Chiba TV, Fridays at 2am, starting April 4th.
Website: http://www.samidareso.com/
Summary: He may only be 16, but Shinkurou Kurenai is an expert negotiator, always able to settle disputes between those around him. One day a young girl named Murasaki Kuhouin, the scion of a wealthy and powerful family who requests that Shintarou act as her bodyguard.
Notable:

  • Kentarou Katayama and Yamato Yamamoto’s light novel series Kurenai started running in Super Dash Bunko in 2005.
  • Miyuki Sashiro, who plays Di Gi Charat’s Puchiko (both in Japanese and even in English in two of the OVAs), will voice Shinkurou.
Title: Kyou Kara Maou 3rd Season
Japanese Name: 今日からマ王！第3シリーズ
Studio: Studio Deen
Genre: Comedy
Airs: NHK BS2, Thursdays at 11:30pm, starting April 3rd.
Website: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/mao/
Summary: On the heels of an OVA series titled Kyou Kara Mou R, the new TV anime will pick up with the human-born Yuri acting as king of Shin Makoku, an alternate world somewhat like a fantasy version of our own where humans and human-like demons known as mazoku live in fear and hatred of one another. Oh, and there are lots of really pretty boys. Did I mention them?
Notable:

  • There’s not much to say here; the same cast and crew (including Cloud seiyuu Takahiro Sakurai as Yuri) returns. They were all recently reunited for the OVA, and before that the game, and before that the previous seasons of the anime…
Title: Kyouran Kazoku Nikki
Japanese Name: 狂乱家族日記
Studio: Nomad
Genre: Comedy
Airs: TV Kanagawa, Sundays at 1am, starting April 13th.
Website: http://www.kyouran.jp/
Summary: A thousand years ago a god of destruction appeared and wreaked havoc. Back in the present, it’s possible that the god has been reborn, and the military has found a number of children that are possible matches, called “children of evil.” These children are placed with families to acclimate them to normal human life. Before you go thinking that any of this is serious, our heroine is one such child, and also a crazy-ass catgirl. Wacky hijinks ensue!
Notable:

  • The name translates roughly to Frenzied Family Diary or Diary of a Crazy Family.
  • The series is based on light novel series by “x6suke.” Yeah, I don’t know who he is either.
  • There’s no way to know what to expect from director Yasuhiro Kuroda. His previous credits include the yaoi OVA Angel’s Feather, a hentai called GLORIA, the Guardian Hearts OVAs, and the recent Myself;Yourself TV anime.
Title: Macross FRONTIER
Japanese Name: マクロス FRONTIER
Studio: Satelight
Genre: Mech
Airs: MBS, Fridays at 1:30am, starting April 3rd.
Website: http://www.macrossf.com/
Summary: Set in the year 2059, the 25th Colonial Fleet (known as the Macross Frontier) is on a mission to explore an asteroid belt when a reconnaissance vehicle is destroyed by alien mechs. Cue war.
Notable:

  • Macross Frontier is the 25th anniversary series of the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross series, which ran from 1982-1983.
  • The staff is well-pedigreed; chief director Shoji Kawamori has a credits list a mile long, including mech design for the very first Macross series. Code Geass and My-HiME/My Otome scribe Hiroyuki Yoshino will write the new script, and Ergo Proxy’s Yuuichi Takahashi is doing character design.
  • Oh hey look, seiyuu! There’s a bit of a Lucky Star reunion: Konata’s Aya Hirano voices Meena Roshan and Miyuki’s Aya Endo headlines as Sheryl Nome. Gurren Lagann’s Kamina, Katsuyuki Konishi, and Code Geass’s Lelouch, Jun Fukuyama, also have roles.
Title: Monochrome Factor
Japanese Name: モノクローム・ファクター
Studio: A.C.G.T.
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Airs: TV Tokyo, Tuesdays at 2am, starting April 8th.
Website: http://www.monochro.tv/
Summary: It’s happened to all of us: a mysteriuos student calls us out to meet at night, and we do so even though we think it’s creepy, and then we get attacked by a monster. Then it turns out that we need to become a shadow creature ourselves in order to help the world balance between light and shadow. Wait, that hasn’t happened to you? Uh…I wasn’t talking about me. I was talking about the main character of Monochrome Factor, Akira Nikaido. I swear.
Notable:

  • The original manga by Kaili Sorano is being released by TOKYPOP in English these days.
  • Daisuke Ono (Haruhi’s Koizumi; AIR’s Yukito) voices Akira, and along with Hiroshi Kamiya (who voice’s Akira’s friend Kengo), sings the ED theme “Awake ~my everything~.” Kamiya is probably best known as Honey and Clover’s Yuuta or Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei’s Itoshiki-sensei; he’s also currently playing Tieria in Gundam 00.
  • Director Yuu Koh is pretty familiar with series like this, which feature a heavy bishounen and BL-friendly vibe– he also did Loveless. Other credits include some storyboarding for Princess Tutu and the directing Chrono Crusade.
Title: Nabari no Ou
Japanese Name: 隠の王
Studio: J.C. STAFF
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Airs: TV Tokyo, Mondays at 1:30am, starting April 7th.
Website: http://www.nabari.tv/
Summary: Miharu thinks he’s a perfectly normal high school student. Turns out, shocker of shockers, he’s not! He’s actually got a hidden power known as “nabari,” or omnipotence, hidden within him. Turns out that many of his acquaintances are, in fact, members of a ninja clan sworn to protect him from other ninja clans that want the power. So Miharu has to go into the world of “Nabari” and become king in order to stop the fighting.
Notable:

  • If you liked the voice of Al Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, you’ll like Miharu: he’s voiced by the same seiyuu, Rie Kugimiya (also well-liked for her tsundere turns, including Hayate no Gotoku’s Nagi, Shakugan no Shana’s Shana, and Zero no Tsukaima’s Louise).
  • Kunihisa Sugishima directs. His credit list varies widely, including directing the original Yu-Gi-Oh series, the Strike Witches OVA, and storyboarding some if Code Geass.
  • The anime is based on the manga by Yuuki Kamatani and is serialized in Gfantasy. Kamatani also created a manga called Liberamente, a collection of short stories.
Title: Nijuu Mensou no Musume
Japanese Name: 二十面相の娘
Studio: BONESxTelecom Anime
Genre: Action/Mystery
Airs: FujiTV, Sundays at 2am, starting April 13th.
Website: http://www.chico-tv.com/
Summary: Chizuko Minamo is the 11-year-old daughter of a wealthy parents who, unfortunately, died when she was young. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, and is working to become a master thief so she can get back what was lost to her.
Notable:

  • The anime is based on a manga by Shinji Ohara, but it was originally inspired by Ranpo Edagawa’s classic manga Kaijin no Nijuu Mensou, or The Fiend with 20 Faces.
  • Aya Hirano, our favorite Haruhi/Konata, will voice Chiko.
  • Nobuo Tomizawa directs, and he’s used to thieves: he’s done work on a number of Lupin III projects, including directing Lupin III: Farewall to Nostradamus.
Title: Penguin Musume ♥ Heart
Japanese Name: ペンギン娘♥はぁと
Studio: Picture Magic
Genre: Comedy/Gag
Airs: Nico Nico Channel, Saturdays at 12pm, starting April 19th.
Website: http://pen-musu.jp/
Summary: I have no clue what this is about. Since it’s a gag manga, it’s probably vaguely Azumanga or Lucky Star-esque. But unlike those shows, each of the 22 episodes will be only 7 minutes long.
Notable:

  • This short-cute ‘net show is based on the gag manga by Tetsuya Takahashi (not to be confused with either Tetsuya Takahashis that work for Square Enix).
  • Net anime for the win! Each episode will come available on Japan’s YouTube-esque Nico Nico Douga at 12pm on Saturday, rather than airing on a regular TV channel.
Title: RD Sennou Chousashitsu
Japanese Name: RD 潜脳調査室
Studio: Production I.G
Genre: Sci-Fi
Airs: Nippon TV, Wednesdays at 1am, starting April 9th.
Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/RD/
Summary: The year is 2061, and humanity is all plugged into the Network, allowing people to connect with one another at a fully conscious level. But as you might suspect, there are a few problems, giving the term “memory leak” a whole new meaning. A system known as “the Metal” is put into place to protect people, but it puts people’s emotions under a pressure which occasionally causes them to explode, and then drown in a sea of information. These abberations are investigated by “cyber divers” like our hero, Masamichi Haru.
Notable:

  • Many of I.G’s usual team are involved: Chevalier d’Eon’s Kazuhiro Furuhashi directs, Blood+’s Junichi Fujisaku writes the screenplay. Manga artist Testuro Ueyama, of Metal Guardian Faust fame, is doing the character designs.
  • Oh, and did I mention that Shirow Masamune wrote the story?
  • Oldschool voice actor Katsuji Mori– who you may know as Sailor Moon’s Nephrite or the original Speed Racer himself –voices the lead, Masamichi.
Title: S.A. ~Special A~
Japanese Name: S・A ～スペシャル・エー～
Studio: GONZO x AIC
Genre: Romance
Airs: Chiba TV, Mondays at 1:30am, starting April 7th.
Website: http://special-a.jp/
Summary: Born to wrestling-loving fathers who were friends, Hikari Hanazono and Kei Takishima had a wrestling match as kids, only for Hikari to be thoroughly defeated by Kei. She decides that she’ll beat him at anything she possibly can for the rest of their lives, only to be thwarted at every turn. Except maybe at love?…
Notable:

  • S.A. was originally created as a manga by Maki Minami (who also did Kimi wa Girlfriend), which has been licensed by VIZ.
  • Jun Fukuyama is a busy boy, voicing Kei on top of something like six billion other roles this season. Yuko Gotoh, Suzumiya Haruhi’s Mikuru, will voice Hikari.
  • Yuko Gotoh claims not to be a singer, but she is performing the OP theme, “Special Days,” for the show. Hey, she did the ED for KimiAru last season, too…
Title: Soul Eater
Japanese Name: ソウルイーター
Studio: BONES
Genre: Shounen/Fantasy
Airs: TV Tokyo, Mondays at 6pm, starting April 7th.
Website: http://www.souleater.tv/
Summary: You know that school in Bleach that shinigami go to to train? Imagine a series based on that concept and you’ll have Soul Eater, which follows a group of students on their way to reaching “death scythe” status as shinigami. The trick? Each student is paired with a weapon…a human weapon.
Notable:

  • The series is based on the manga by Atsushi Ookubo. The manga was originally three one-shots that ran in 2003, but they were developed into a regular series in 2004.

  • Seiyuu newbie Chiaki Omigawa will voice the main character, Maka Alban.
Title: To LOVEru
Japanese Name: To LOVEる
Studio: XEBEC
Genre: Shounen/Romantic Comedy
Airs: TBS, Fridays at 2am, starting April 4th.
Website: http://www.j-toloveru.com/
Summary: Meet Yuuki, a normal high school boy with normal high school problems, like confessing to his crush. Now meet Lala, an alien from another world who apears in Yuuki’s bathtub, naked. Lala is on the run from her father, who wants her to marry one of his “husband candidates.” Instead, Lala decides to marry Yuuki. Yuuki isn’t so sure he wants to marry the hot naked alien girl. Who is also a princess. Yeah, I know.
Notable:

  • The manga To LOVEru is incredibly popular, written by Hasemi Saki and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki (who, by the way, is also well-known for a little shounen manga called Black Cat).
  • Director Takao Kato is best known for his work on the Rockman.EXE franchise, which he has directed in its entirety. He also directed Bakuretsu Hunter (Sorceror Hunter), if you remember back that far. I do. I’m excited.
Title: Toshokan Sensou
Japanese Name: 図書館戦争
Studio: Production I.G
Genre: Action/Comedy
Airs: FujiTV, Fridays at 1:45am, starting April 11th.
Website: http://www.toshokan-sensou.com/
Summary: In the year 2019, the government is supressing people’s civil rights to enforce public order and morals. In order to protect the people, a military organization known as the Toshokan, or Library, is formed.
Notable:

  • Unsurprisingly, the anime is based on a manga– or rather, two manga, Toshokan Sensou: Love & War and Toshokan Sensou: Spitfire!. Both manga were created by Hiro Arikawa, designed by Sukumo Adabana, and illustrated by Kiiro Yumi.
  • The anime features Marina Inoue, Zetsubou-sensei’s Kiri Chitsu / Minamike’s Kana, as the lead character, the remarkably tall Iku.
  • The series’ music is by Yuugo Kanno. Before you go thinking that I.G just misdialed Yoko Kanno, Yuugo Kanno did music for HatarakiMan, D.C. ~Da Capo~, and Gin-Iro no Olynssis.
Title: Vampire Knight
Japanese Name: ヴァンパイア騎士
Studio: Studio Deen
Genre: Shoujo/Fantasy
Airs: TV Tokyo, Tuesdays at 1am, starting April 8th.
Website: http://www.vampire-knight.jp/
Summary: Yuki attends the Cross Academy, an elite school with a lot of smart (and attractive) students. As a school guardian, she also helps keep the Night Class separated from the Day Class, and she also knows the school’s biggest secret: the Night Class consists entirely of vampires. She and her fellow guardian Zero both have their own histories with vampires, and are dedicated to keeping the Day Class safe– though the Night Class has promised to be good…
Notable:

  • You might already know the Vampire Knight manga, which jumped up to the top manga charts as soon as VIZ released the first volume in English.
  • A star-studded cast is in place for this much-anticipated series: Mamoru Miyano, a.k.a. Death Note’s Light, Gundam 00’s Setsuna, and Host Club’s Tamaki, will voice the torn emo boy Zero.
  • Yui Horie (Fruits Basket’s Tohru, Kanon’s Ayu, Love Hina’s Naru, etc.) will voice Yuki, while Daisuke Kishio (Rosario + Vampire’s Tsukune, Happy Lesson’s Chitose) is playing the mysterious vampire Kaname Kuran.
Title: Wagaya no Oinarisama
Japanese Name: 我が家のお稲荷さま
Studio: ZEXCS
Genre: Shounen/Fantasy
Airs: Chiba TV, Tuesdays at 12am, starting April 7th.
Website: http://anime.webnt.jp/oinarisama/
Summary: Move over, Spice and Wolf: Wagaya no Oinarisama features a fox demon who has just been released from a long-standing seal in order to protect the Takagami family. The demon’s name is Kou, and s/he doesn’t remember his or her original gender, and so appears as either depending on its preference that day. Most of the series art offers up the female version, for obvious reasons.
Notable:

  • With two different forms, Kou has two different seiyuu: Yukana Nogami (Chobits‘ Kotoko) as the female form, and Yuuichi Nakamura (Clannad’s Tomoya) as the male form.
  • You can probably expect some pervy humor (or at least fanservice): director Yoshiaki Iwasaki’s best-known works are Love Hina and Zero no Tsukaima.
Title: xxxHOLiC Kei
Japanese Name: xxxHOLiC◆継
Studio: Production I.G
Genre: Fantasy
Airs: TBS, Fridays at 1:30am, starting April 4th.
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/holic/
Summary: The long-anticipated sequel to the first season (and the movie, xxxHOLiC A Midsummer Night’s Dream) will no doubt involve some sexy Yuuko action, and probably a lot of Watanuki feeling very put-upon. I know, I’m psychic, right?
Notable:

  • Everybody’s back, from seiyuu (Jun Fukuyama as Watanuki, Sayaka Ohara as Yuuko) to staff (director Tsutomo Mizushima, composer S.E.N.S.), etc.
  • It’s worth noting that sister series Tsubasa Chronicle is NOT returning for the moment. But I wouldn’t bet on it being down for the count.

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