Atarashii Prelude

Shin’s Summer Screening Selections

It's that time again; a brief rundown of some of the shows that'll be airing this Summer. While Spring's offerings were mostly mundane and laughable at best, there are actually quite a number of shows in the new season that I'm absolutely curious to try out:

Ikkitousen: Great Guardians

Didn't touch the first season and I watched the second one just for its gratuitous amounts of fanservice. If the first episode of the Great Guardians is anything to go by, the trend is set to remain here as well. If you don't already know, it features warriors from the great Three Kingdoms period reincarnated as scantily clad girls fighting each other to death in modern Japan. Trust me, it's not as good as it sounds, but worth a try if you're into stuff like this. Alternatively, you can go watch Ryofuko-chan instead.

Thoughts: Pursue Lu Bu at your own risk.

Chocolate Underground

If the title sounds delicious, that's because the plot is equally tantalizing as well. This is what Baccano might have been if it featured kids during the Prohibition Era, though instead of alcohol, chocolate, along with other forms of confectionery are off limits. Sounds like every kid's worse nightmare, which is why it features a bunch of them opposing the law for their right to consume candy. Sweet. Also, because it's Production I.G, you can probably expect the plot to run along the lines of Toshokan Sensou, and the thought of people getting all serious business over chocolate and probably dying over it makes it amusingly worthwhile. Now that's what I call Death By Chocolate.

Thoughts: Kids run-rumming chocolate in the 1920's(?). An offer I can't refuse.

Detroit Metal City

Detroit Metal City looks like it is going to fill that void left by Black Heaven, an anime that features a middle aged accountant reliving his past as a heavy metal superstar whose music is able to power up a massive beam cannon used to save the universe. The plot of DMC is somewhat similar, as it tells the story of some poor sap who transforms into something that came right out from KISS becoming an overnight idol, though he risks being possessed by the heavy makeup he puts on in order to do so. It's by Studio 4°C, well known for their amazing animation shorts, so you can rest assure on the quality art at least.

Thoughts: A Yoichi Hiruma lookalike dabbling in heavy metal music? I'm sold. Linking another trailer because this shit is so cash.

Blade Of The Immortal

Based on the highly acclaimed manga of the same title, this is an animated adaptation by BeeTrain in bringing the chambara themed masterpiece to life. What could go wrong? That's right. BeeTrain. I've always felt their titles were a hit and miss affair, and after that awfully disappointing El Cazador, I worry about how this is going to turn out. Still, if they just stick closely to the source material, there shouldn't be any foreseeable problems.

Thoughts: Swords and Samurais. Slick.

Batman: Gotham Knight

America can't handle Japanese adaptations properly to save their lives, but can the reverse be true? The trailer alone convinced me that it could be very much possible. Unlike the fluffy Warner Brother's rendition of yesteryears, this looks to be based on the The Dark Knight series by Frank Miller, which features a darker and grittier version of the caped superhero and will be a collaborative effort between DC Comics and three juggernauts of the anime production industry, namely Studio 4°C, Production I.G, and Madhouse. The anime also serves as a prelude to the upcoming Dark Knight movie. Viral marketing at its best.

Thoughts: IT'S THE GODDAMNED BATMAN!

Koihime Musou

Another sacrilege of the Chinese epic, this eroge turned anime is of course based will feature the entire cast of heroes moe-fied for people like me. The storyline's kinda like Kyou Kara Maou, minus the gay, as it follows a high school teenage male(as is with all eroge leads) being sucked into this genderbent Sānguó realm for some reason. The good old harem formula given an ancient twist, with a good number of the girls being lolis. Even Chris Hansen will watch this.

Strike Witches

I phail as a pedo. Despite also having a penchant for mecha musumes, I never did catch Sky Girls or the Strike Witches OVA. Hopefully, I'll be able to redeem myself through this TV series that features augmented lolis to resemble their real life World War II fighters of the Luftwaffe, RAF and Japanese Air Force, duking it out in the skies.

Thoughts: Und das heißt: Erika.

Zero no Tsukaima 3 Princess no Rondo

If I can only pick one anime to watch for Summer, there is no doubt in my mind that I would pick the third installment over the rest in a heartbeat. While the 2nd season wasn't exactly spectacular, I was content with just watching my favorite sadistic tsundere on screen, and looks like I'm going get that raging hard on every time I see Louise this Summer all over again. Fans of pig disgusting big breasts will find much to like about Tifania, the well endowed elf who saved Saito at the end of the previous season with the power of her bosoms. The new character worth noting would be Sylpheed, apparently Tabitha's dragon familiar turned human as pictured above, who reminds me of Konata for some reason. While I have no interest in the latter, Sylpheed is made of sex and moe. This show can't cum soon enough.

Thoughts: Louise, Louise, Louise, Sylpheed. Fap.

Stuff I Can't Be Bothered To Come Up With A Proper Writeup But Will Try Anyway:

Antique Bakery

Oh ho, why not cash in on the gay? With Junjou Romantica licensed by Kadokawa USA, mainstream yaoi is now more than just a fleeting dream, something worth rejoicing over. The show is about guys working at a bakery fondling with buns while keeping their homosexuality in check. Or something.

Birdy the Mighty Decode

Don't know what to make of this other than the fact it has a retarded title. Apparently not about birds.

Sekirei

Hahaha, you'd think I would have been all over this. Just no. Even the token loli isn't enough to save the manga for me, let alone this full fledged animated feature about pig disgusting big boobed mystical chicks fighting over something or another, which I can already find in Ikkitousen.

Slayers Revolution

Heard good stuff about it, as it set the bar pretty high for fantasy themed adventure anime back in the day. Thing is, judging from character designs, I fear this will end up being nothing more that just a low quality rehash of the classic with its overly moe style meant to appeal to the current generation of audience. Teatrino anyone?

School Rumble San Gakki

I hate School Rumble. Its only saving grace was Yakumo and Eri. In before hate mail.

Mahou Sensei Negima! Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba

Negi has arguably the best harem in existence. The doujins were great, the manga sucked balls.

Hidamari Sketch x365

My nutbladder's going to rupture again thanks to Yuuno's cuteness.

Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~

I liked this better when it was called Mahou Tsukai no Yoru.

As always, these are just my initial perceptions of the shows, which is subjected to change as the shows get released. Whatever I watch will be subjected to the usual 3 episode trial routine which will decide whether it ends up on the hard disk or disappearing into the dark depths of the Recycle Bin. What about you?