Name: Akibachan

JP Name: アキバちゃん

Studio: Tsuburaya Productions

Genre: Kids

Starts: July 25

Airs: Kids Station, Fridays at Midnight

Website: http://www.akibachan.jp

Summary:

This cutesy show might be done in the same medium as Robot Chicken– dollmation –but that’s where the similarities end. Akiba-chan is a cute young girl who lives in an apartment building with her friends, and they all like watching TV and playing games. They live happy and carefree lives, and you will hate them for how trouble-free they are. If you watch the show.

Notable:

• Are you a Miku Hatsune fan? Saki Fujita, the woman whose voice Miku’s is based on, has a role in Akibachan: Milk-chan.

Name: Antique Bakery

JP Name: 西洋骨董洋菓子店 ～アンティーク～

Studio: Synergy SP

Genre: Slice of Life/Shoujo

Starts: July 4

Airs: FujiTV, Fridays at 12:45am

Website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/jp/b_hp/antique

Summary:

Four very good-looking men unite to create and promote a fancy western-style dessert cafe. Based on the phenomenal mangaka Fumi Yoshinaga’s award-winning manga, the series is frequently mistaken for yaoi due to Yoshinaga’s other popular works being the same. Antique Bakery is at most BL-light, and is really more of a slice-of-life about the men in its story– only one of whom is gay. The cafe is started by Tachibana, the son of a wealthy family who has become semi-obsessed with sweets since he was kidnapped as a child by a man who fed him delicious cakes. He is joined by Ono, an openly gay man who Tachibana rejected in high school– and an amazing patissiere. Next up comes former boxer Kanda, who asks Ono to train him in the art of making pastries, and then Tachibana’s childhood friend / servant, the slightly dim Chikage. The four deal with life, women, men, and of course, really yummy desserts.

Notable:

• Yoshinaga may be best known for her yaoi, but don’t let that stop you from trying out this well-acclaimed series. In Japan it won a Kodansha award in 2002, and in the US it took home an Eisner nomination in 2007.
• Fans of Light, Tamaki, and/or Setsuna rejoice: Mamoru Miyano, who played those roles in Death Note, Host Club, and Gundam 00 respectively, will play boxer Eiji Kanda in this adaptation.
• Director Yoshiaki Okumura may have to prove himself capable of shoujo with this series. His past series director credit is for the shounen kids’ show Bakkyuu HIT! Crash Bedaman, and his episode director credits are also shounen-oriented: Dragon Drive and Eyeshield 21 come to mind.

Name: Birdy the Mighty DECODE

JP Name: 鉄腕バーディー DECODE

Studio: A-1 Pictures

Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Starts: July 5

Airs: Teletama, Saturdays at 1am

Website: http://www.birdy-tv.com

Summary:

Patlabor creator Masami Yuki’s manga Birdy the Mighty has seen a resurgence of interest in the last few years, starting with a manga remake he started in 2003. Now Birdy the Mighty, who last saw animation in 1986 with an OVA, will finally earn itself a TV series. The plot starts with a boy named Tsutomu who is accidentally sucked into a chase scene: a female Federation agent tracks down an interplanetary criminal and in the process kills Tsutomu by mistake. Or rather, kills his body…there is a way to save his mind and soul: he is fused into the body of Birdy, the female agent. So it’s kind of like that Steve Martin/Lily Tomlin movie All Of Me, but with cyborgs.

Notable:

• Those of us who have been enjoying Shugo Chara and its heroine Amu– especially her astonishingly un-annoying, non-high-pitched voice –will be glad to know that Amu’s seiyuu, newcomer Kanae Itou, will be voicing a role…presumably Tsutomu’s love interest.
• Meanwhile, Birdy herself will be voiced by Saeko Chiba, best known for playing tablehu– I mean, Nina, in Code Geass.
• Expect the series to have a somewhat old-school feel; director Kazuki Akane’s credits are mostly classics like an episode of Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, and the Ronin Wars OVA.

Name: Blade of the Immortal

JP Name: 無限の住人

Studio: Bee Train

Genre: Action/Historical Drama

Starts: July 14

Airs: ATX, Mondays at midnight

Website: http://mugen.kc.kodansha.co.jp

Summary:

At long, glorious last, a Blade of the Immortal anime! Well, or so some fans think– others fear that the meticulous style of Hiroaki Samura’s original manga will be lost in the animation, but only time will tell. The story follows Manji, a samurai who is given the curse of immortality and must defeat 1000 evil men in order to die peacefully. Manji meets a young girl named Rin, the daughter of a samurai family that was slaughtered by a man named Anotsu. Manji agrees to act as her bodyguard and help her achieve vengeance for her parents, as part of his quest.

Notable:

• One might have expected a series like Blade of the Immortal to be animated by Madhouse, who recently did the Shigurui anime, among other darker and more violent series. But don’t forget that Bee Train did work on Blood: The Last Vampire, Noir, and the recent Murder Princess OVA.
• Director Koichi Mashimo is pretty irresponsible– and by that I mean he directed both the TV and OVA series of Irresponsible Captain Tylor. How does that apply to BotI? It doesn’t. But I thought it was cool. Mashimo also did another fave of mine: Sorcerer Hunters.
• Manji will be voiced by Tomokazu Seki, a.k.a. Full Metal Panic’s Sousuke, while Rin will be voiced by Rina Satou, best known as Mahou Sensei Negima’s titular teacher.

Name: Chocolate Underground

JP Name: チョコレート・アンダーグラウンド

Studio: Production I.G/TransArts

Genre: Kids/Drama

Starts: June 12

Airs: Thursdays

Website: http://www.choco-bar.jp

Summary:

Based on Alex Shearer’s novel Bootleg, in which a new political party called Good For You takes over and bans unhealthy items, including chocolate. In response, a group of kids start moonshining– chocolate, that is. They set up their own factory and create bootleg chocolate in order to undermine the new government.

Notable:

• The series is actually being developed to air on the Internet and mobile phones, not on TV– surprising given the popularity of the franchise, but it should make for an interesting step towards digital distribution for I.G.
• Takayuki Hamana, fresh off directing Sisters of Wellber and its sequel, as well as an episode or two of Toshokan Sensou, will helm.

Name: Hidamari Sketch x365

JP Name: ひだまりスケッチ×365

Studio: Shaft

Genre: Slice of Life/Comedy

Starts: July 4

Airs: TBS, Fridays at 1:25am

Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/hidamari

Summary:

The never-ending adventures of cute lolis Yuno, Miyako, Hiro, Sae, and their friends and families continue in x365. What more is there to say?

Notable:

• The whole cast and crew from previous Hidamari Sketch iterations returns. No, really, looking for differences between the original and new seasons’ lists was incredibly dull. No changes whatsoever! So expect more of the same Hidamari you know and love.
• Jpop band marble is offering up the ED theme for the show: “Ryuusei Record.”

Name: Ikki Tousen Great Guardians

JP Name: 一騎当千 Great Guardians

Studio: Arms

Genre: Action

Starts: June 11, 2008

Airs: ATX, Wednesdays at 9:30am

Website: http://www.ikkitousen.com

Summary:

You should already know the drill here: a bunch of old historical figures are reborn as buxom female martial artists, now in high school. This season will see the incorporation of new anime-only characters, including Sun Quan– Hakufu’s little sister.

Notable:

• Director Koichi Ohata, who took over for Takashi Watanabe after the first season of Ikki Tousen, returns for season 3.
• The cast all returns, but the dialogue may be different than before: season 1 and 2 screenwriter Takao Yoshioka has been replaced by Masanao Akaboshi, who has scripted episodes of The Big O and the Zone of the Enders anime, among others.

Name: Koihime Musou

JP Name: 恋姫†無双

Studio: Doga Kobo

Genre: Fantasy

Starts: July 4

Airs: KBS Kyoto, Fridays at 2am

Website: http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/koihime

Summary:

The requisite eroge-turned-anime, Koihime Musou follows the adventures of a high school boy named Kazuto who gets sucked into a Romance of the Three Kingdoms-esque fantasy world populated by hot babes.

Notable:

• It’d be easy to dismiss the show, but with Nobuaki Nakanishi– of Sumomomo Momomo and Kashimashi fame –on board to direct, this could actually be pretty fun.
• Go Zappa, the series composer and screenwriter of Chocotto Sister and Myself;Yourself is back again for this eroge adaptation.

Name: Mission-E

Studio: Deen

Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Starts: July 4

Airs: KBS Kyoto, Fridays at 1:30am

Website: http://avexmovie.jp/lineup/mission-e

Summary:

The sequel to Code-E, which followed a girl named Chinami who, in a future full of electronics, has the unfortunate ability to disrupt them all when even slightly upset. As a result she had to move time and time again to hide her strange power, until she finally landed in a school where she met and made friends. In Mission-E, a new heroine named Maori appears,

Notable:

• Same cast and staff as last summer– you may be sensing a pattern here.
• Yuuna Inamura, best known as Galaxy Angel Rune’s Rico, will join the cast as Maori.

Name: Natsume Yuujinchou

JP Name: 夏目友人帳

Studio: Brains Base

Genre: Supernatural

Starts: July 8

Airs: TV Tokyo, Tuesdays at 1am

Website: http://www.natsume-anime.jp

Summary:

Lucky Natsume! He’s picked up his grandmother’s ability to see spirits– and her “Book of Friends,” which his less-than-kind granny used to bind the spirits to her against their will. Now Natsume has to dissolve all the contracts he’s inherited by tracking down the spirits…or being tracked down by them. And some of them are less than friendly…

Notable:

• Hiroshi Kamiya is pulling double-duty this season: in addition to reprising Code-E’s goofy transfer student/spy Adol, he’ll be playing hero Natsume in this show.
• Yaoi fangirls may hear a familiar voice: Kazuhiko Inoue, who played Yuki Eiri in Gravitation and Gunther in Kyo Kara Maoh!. Oh, and Kakashi in Naruto. And Hatori Soma in Fruits Basket. And Inspector Shiratori in Detective Conan. And– what? Get on with it? Oh, right. He plays Natsume’s feline friend Nyanko-san.

Name: Neo Angelique Abyss Second Age

JP Name: ネオアンジェリーク Abyss Second Age

Studio: Yumeta

Genre: Fantasy/Reverse Harem

Starts: July 7

Airs: TV Tokyo, Mondays at 2am

Website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/neoromance/tv/neo

Summary:

Ugh, do I have to write another Neo Angelique write-up? It’s about a Mary Sue-esque girl named Angelique who finds out she has special powers and surrounds herself with bishounen. Think Fushigi Yuugi, but with less Chinese visuals.

Notable:

• Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Name: Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

JP Name: 乃木坂春香の秘密

Studio: Barcelona

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Starts: July 11

Airs: Chiba TV, Fridays at 2am

Website: http://www.nogizaka-haruka.com

Summary:

No, it’s not some Haruhi ripoff. Haruka Nogizaka is the most beautiful, intelligent, kind, and unattainable girl at Yuuto’s school. So when he accidentally stumbles upon her one night and learns her secret, he’s stunned: she is a rabid, hardcore otaku. (Attractive female otaku? ZOMG IT’S A FANTASY SHOW!) Yuuto being the gentleman he is, he promises to keep her secret and becomes her confidante…and occasionally attendant as she heads into akiba.

Notable:

• Mamiko Noto– School Rumble’s Yakumo, Negima’s Nodoka, and Hell Girl’s Ai, among others –will voice Haruka.
• Wataru Hatano will join Noto playing Yuuto; he’s probably best known for playing Toward the Terra’s Sam and Ouran Host Club’s Kasanoda.
• You can’t deny that director Munenori Nawa knows his genre: in the past he’s helmed other moe rom-coms like OtoBoku and D.C.S.S.

Name: Ryouko’s Strange Case Files

JP Name: 薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿

Studio: Doga Kobo

Genre: Mystery

Starts: July 6

Airs: TV Kanagawa, Sundays at 12:30am

Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko

Summary:

Based on Yoshiki Tanaka’s novels (illustrated and manga-fied by Vampire Princess Miyu creator Narumi Kakinouchi), Ryouko follows the titular multilingual investigator, who at 27 might be one of the older anime heroines to date (depressingly). Ryouko investigates paranormal occurrences, and the series follows her adventures on these as well as focusing on Ryouko’s personal and professional life.

Notable:

• The titular Ryouko will be played by Hitomi Nabatame, who plays Unchou Kan’u in Ikki Tousen and Margery Daw in Shakugan no Shana.
• Seiyuu vet Hidenobu Kiuchi, Monster’s Dr. Tenma and a recent FanimeCon guest, will voice Junichirou Izumida, Ryouko’s companion.

Name: Scarecrowman

JP Name: スケアクロウマン

Studio: Tokyo Movie Company

Genre: Kids/CG

Starts: July 3

Airs: Tokyo MX TV, Thursdays at 11pm

Website: http://www.vap.co.jp/scarecrowman

Summary:

A regular old scarecrow has stood in a field for twenty years when one day, after a lightning storm, he comes to life. He becomes friends with the daughter of a scarecrow shop owner. I wonder if there are a lot of scarecrow stores in rural Japan? *cough*

Notable:

• J-rocker Takako Tate will sing the show’s ED theme, “Ashita, Boku wa.” I’m mildly sad that the pillows’ recent tune “Scarecrow” won’t be used.
• Hirofumi Nojima, Wallflower’s Ranmaru and Shakugan no Shana’s Hayato, will voice the titular scarecrow.

Name: Sekirei

JP Name: セキレイ

Studio: 7arcs

Genre: Action/Comedy/Fanservice

Starts: July 6

Airs: ChibaTV, Sundays at 1:35am

Website: http://www.sekirei-tv.com

Summary:

Minato is a complete loser until the day he learns he’s an ashikabi, a battle master who can control cute girls called “sekirei” in order to do battle with other masters. This fanservice-laden series is brought to you by Sakurako Gokurakuin, best known for Juvenile Orion, as well as the red-hot yaoi Sensitive Pornograph (under the name Sakura Ashika), although my personal favorite of her works is the much-ignored Category:FREAKS from DrMaster.

Notable:

• A couple of my favorite seiyuu in this one: Marina Inoue, who voices Kasahara in Toshokan Sensou and Kana in Minamike (oh, and Chiri Kitsu in Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei), will play (I’m guessing) a sekirei, named Tsukiumi. Aya Endo, who plays Lucky Star’s Miyuki and Macross F’s Sheryl, will voice another named Matsu.
• Joining the ladies is Shinnosuke Tachibana as Minato. Tachibana is a relative newcomer, but he played Benvolio in Romeo x Juliet.
• Also a relative newcomer is director Keizou Kusakawa, whose credit list is short but impressive, including directing the Inukami! TV and movie, as well as the newest season of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha no A’s.

Name: Slayers REVOLUTION

JP Name: スレイヤーズREVOLUTION

Studio: J.C. Staff

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy

Starts: July 3

Airs: TV Tokyo, Thursdays at 1:20am

Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/slayers_revolution

Summary:

It took eleven years for this fourth season of Slayers to come about, and you can bet that fans of the classic fantasy parody/adventure series are rejoicing. Details on the plot, which is original rather than taken from Hajime Kanzaka’s novels, have been kept pretty mum, although you can expect to see the primary crew– petit sorceress Lina, intellectually-challenged knight Gourry, emo chimera Zelgadis, justice-loving Amelia, and mysteriuos priest Xellos –return. Some other familiar faces, such as Amelia’s dad Phil and the Gourry-obsessed Sylphiel, are rumored to return, as well as some characters from the novel we haven’t yet met in the anime, Rook and Mirina. A strange, slightly Pokemon-esque creature named Pokota is also set to appear.

Notable:

• The entire primary cast returns. Viva la Megumi Hayashibara! Hayashibara will also perform both the OP and ED themes.
• Also returning? Director Takashi Watanabe, who has handled every Slayers TV series– although not the movies/OVAs.

Name: Someday’s Dreamers

JP Name: 魔法遣いに大切なこと ～夏のソラ～

Studio: HAL Film Works

Genre: Fantasy

Starts: July 3

Airs: TV Asahi, Thursdays at 2:40am

Website: http://www.sora-mahou.com

Summary:

This sequel to the 2003 anime adaptation of Norie Yamada and Kumichi Yoshizuki’s fantasy manga Someday’s Dreamers seems to have mostly flown under the radar, although a live-action film based on it has already been released. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, it’s set in an alternative modern Tokyo, where the Bureau of Magic employs mages to perform the tasks that are requested of them. The mages are only permitted to use their powers for work, and are punished if they use it for anything else. In this world, Yume Kikuchi travels from a small town to Tokyo to train to become a magic user.

Notable:

• The name translates roughly to A Magic User’s Precious Things ~Summer Sky~, but you’re more likely to know this as Someday’s Dreamers.
• Thanks to manuloz for pointing out my error; there are two Osamu Kobayashis in the anime world, apparently! The Osamu Kobayashi who’s directing this anime did Beck and Paradise Kiss and also does work for Studio 4°C.
• Jpop band THYME will perform the OP theme, “fly away.”

Name: Strike Witches

JP Name: ストライクウィッチーズ

Studio: Gonzo

Genre: Sci-Fi/Moe

Starts: July 4

Airs: Teletama, Fridays at 1:30am

Website: http://s-witch.cute.or.jp

Summary:

A retelling of Gonzo’s 2006 OVA of the same name, Strike Witches follows a cast of girls that are moe humanizations of military planes. Yes, you read that right…it’s sort of like Plane-tan: the Anime! The original OVA was inspired by the Mecha Musume series of illustrations by Humikane Shimada, who also acted as character designer on the anime. Oh yeah, the plot? Something to the effect of aliens are invading and only this one set of girls with special powers can fight ‘em.

Notable:

• Although it’s a retelling, don’t expect a clone of the OVA. The OVA’s director Kunihisa Sugishima has been replaced by Kazuhiro Takamura, in his directorial debut.
• The original cast is in place, including Misato Fukuen (Darker than Black’s Yin) as Yoshika, Ami Koshimizu (Code Geass’s Kallen) as Charlotte, and Rie Tanaka (Chobits’s Chii) as Minna-Dietlende.

Name: Takane’s Bicycle

JP Name: タカネの自転車

Studio: A-1 Pictures

Genre: Fantasy

Starts: July 6

Airs: Animax, Saturdays at 11pm

Website: http://www.animax.co.jp/feature/index.php?program=NN10000680

Summary:

I can’t quite find a description of the plot of this show, but it appears to revolve around a boy named Takane who lies to his mother about how he placed in a bicycle race, and then goes on some magical adventures. On his bike.

Notable:

• This is actually a special showing of the anime created based on Hayato Takamaga’s script, which won the opportunity to become an anime in the Animax Awards this year.

Name: Telepathy Shoujo Ran

JP Name: テレパシー少女 蘭

Studio: TMS

Genre: Adventure

Starts: June 21

Airs: NHK Educational, Saturdays at 6:25pm

Website: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/ran

Summary:

Ran Isozaki is a bright and cheerful middle school student who, like so many students in Japan it seems, happens to have supernatural abilities. Along with her friends Midori– also a psychic –and Rui– a “normie,” if you will –have to grow up and deal with all the same things that preteens deal with. Plus supernatural mysteries.

Notable:

• Emiri Katou (Lucky Star’s Kagami) returns as the titular Ran. Kana Ueda (MariMite’s Yumi) joins her as Midori.
• Jpop singer Chara is set to perform the series’ OP, “Aoi Kakera.”
• The series is based on the manga by The Comedy Team creator Atsuko Asano.

Name: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Parallel Works

JP Name: グレンラガン パラレルワークス

Studio: Gainax

Genre: AMV

Starts: June 16

Airs: Internet

Website: http://www.gurren-lagann-movie.net/gurrepala/main.html

Summary:

Okay, technically not a TV show, but I thought there might be a TTGL fan or two here, so I figured I’d mention it…basically, a bunch of Gainax employees drew up new videos based on BGM from the original show. Should be good fun, no? ♥

Notable:

• The creators involved are: Akira Amemiya, Shin Itagaki, Hirokazu Kojima, SUEZEN, Ryouji Masuyama, Hiroyuki Yamaga (yay!), Yoh Yoshinari, and Keisuke Watanabe.

Name: Ultraviolet: Code 044

JP Name: ウルトラヴァイオレット:Code044

Studio: Madhouse

Genre: Action

Starts: July 1

Airs: Animax, Tuesdays at 10pm

Website: http://uvcode044.jp

Summary:

An anime based loosely on a recent and much-panned movie based on a cult classic ’80s film, Ultraviolet is set in a dystopian future where vampires– people suffering from a highly contagious disease known as hemoglophagia –are used by the government to strike terror in the hearts of citizens and to keep them in check. The heroine, Violet, is a hemophage who has lost her husband and child and fights the government as part of an organization of hemophages. In her battles she finds herself taking care of one of the government’s “weapons,” a mysterious child named Six.

Notable:

• Seiyuu superstar Romi Paku– Fullmetal Alchemist’s Ed, Bleach’s Hitsugaya, Naruto’s Temari, and many others –will voice 044.
• Osamu Dezaki is known for classics like Ashita no Joe, Rose of Versailles, the Black Jack OVA, and a number of Lupin III movies– but he also did the recent film versions of both Clannad and Air.