Summer 2011 Release Guide v2 Source: Moetron.com

(Updated 28 June 2011)

Welcome to the Summer 2011 Anime Preview. With us approaching the end of May and moving into June, it’s time to start looking at what’s coming in July/August this year.

As with the Spring 2011 preview it’s unlikely I’ll cover everything – but I’ll try and get as many of the series covered as possible. Of course, I’m more likely to be covering those series I actually want to watch – and for the purposes of this preview I’m covering mainly the anime series that will be airing – some OVAs and movies may get mention, but I’m not really planning on getting into those.

The image here on the left is Moetron’s Visual Guide to the Summer 2011, which the creator cowboybibimbop (Twitter account here) has very kindly given me permission to use – click on it for the full-size version. I’ll update as the original gets updated – in the meantime – the table below contains the anime series I’ll be covering – I’ll be updating it as I cover new series and add new information as it becomes available.

You will see a watch rating added to each show’s details – if you’re confused and wondering what that might be – you can find a quick explanation here.

Blood-C

The new Saya

Synopsis: At this point I have no idea what the story-line for this particular series is going to be. It is not a sequel, or prequel to Blood: The Last Vampire or Blood+ though – it’s an original story spin-off.
Genre: Action, Supernatural
Release Date: 7 July 2011
Official site: http://www.blood-c.jp/
Watch rating: ****

CLAMP is teaming up with the same studio that brought us Blood: The Last Vampire and Blood +, meaning this is very much made of win. Based on what I’ve read so far, it isn’t a direct sequel/prequel to the original series – although it is difficult to be sure at this particular point. The main character is Kisaragi Saya, high-school student and shrine maiden, who lives with her father. Voicing the character is Nana Mizuki. CLAMP’s art-style is going to be vastly different from anything we’ve experienced so far in the Blood universe (and it’s various spin-offs for that matter), but what I enjoy in particular when CLAMP gets involved is their level of story-telling. I’m very much looking forward to this particular series. A very short promo-video has been released – and you can have a look at it below.

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Appleseed XIII

Appleseed XIII

Synopsis: Appleseed XIII takes place in the mid-22nd Century; following in the wake of a series of World Wars that has left mankind’s population demolished and the world largely in chaos, only one shining beacon of hope exists – the city-state of Olympus. Olympus pretty much assumes control of the entire planet, and plans to recreate civilisation and turn it into a modern Utopia. Of course, various factions disagree with this ideal, mostly in the form of terrorism – and Appleseed follows two members of ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics), both mercenaries of the previous war and committed to maintaining law and order in the city.
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Release Date: Net: 13 June 2011 (13 Episodes)
Official site: http://appleseed13.jp
Watch rating: ***

I’ve covered my thoughts about Appleseed XIII previously, back when I thought it was going to be one of the Spring 2011 releases – whether it was delayed due to the Tohoku quake or for other reasons, or if I simply got the date wrong is unknown to me. The series is set to premier at theaters across Japan as well as on the net at the same time, with the first volume of the DVD being made available for sale exclusively at the movie-theaters – the regular BD/DVD release will be available in stores from the 6th of July. Appleseed is based on the work of Masamune Shirow, who is perhaps best known as the creator of Ghost in the Shell. Confirmed seiyuu at this point include Sakamoto Maaya and Yamadera Kouichi

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Natsume Youjinchou San

Natsume and his helper spirit

Synopsis: Third season of Natsume Youjinchou, a story which follows a boy by the name of Natsume, who has the ability to see spirits. Having inherited The Book of Friends from his grandmother, he spends his days dissolving the contracts with spirits that his grandmother had made using the book.
Genre: Supernatural, Drama
Release Date: 4 July 2011
Official site: http://www.nasinc.co.jp/jp/natsume-anime/
Watch rating: **

There are better things you can inherit from grandma than a bunch of pissed off spirits coming after you because she bullied them into contracts they didn’t want in the first place. Frankly, had I been Natsume, I’d have buried the book with her. By all accounts, the anime version is much more light-hearted than the manga it is based on. Sadly, I haven’t seen the first two seasons yet, so I’ve only got online reviews to go by but it seems to be fairly well received for the most part. But for me, watching it will have to wait until I’ve caught up with the rest.

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Mayo Chiki!

Synopsis: The story revolves around 17-year old Sobaru Konoe, who works as a butler for one of his classmates, Suzutsuki Kanade. This is all well and good, but things take a nasty turn when another classmate, Sakamachi Kinjiro discovers a secret that Konoe has been hiding for a while – he, is actually a she.
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Release Date: 8 July 2011
Official site: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/mayochiki/
Watch rating: **

Mayo Chiki! doesn’t seem like it’s going to have a lot going for it in the originality department – in the end it looks very much like a formulaic creation that’s being put out there to please the fans. A lot of the usual fanservice elements seem to be making their way into the show, and there’s a lot of potential for eye-candy. So – nothing revolutionary, but it looks like it may be fairly fun to watch if you’re in the mood to let your brain take a holiday. This is a series for when there’s nothing much better available; a may watch but there’s nothing really pulling me at the moment.

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The IDOLM@STER

Synopsis: Based on the game by the same name, one of the characters (I’m not sure which one at this stage) is placed in charge of a group of young idols and sets about the task of leading them to their time in the spotlight.
Genre: Music
Release Date: 8 July 2011
Official site: http://www.idolmaster-anime.jp/
Watch rating: ***

First off, this has little relation to the previous anime series that had more or less the same name – Idolm@ster: Xenoglosia – which was set in an alternate universe and had no relation to the game itself – as a matter of fact, this particular series is actually based on the game. While I haven’t been able to track down a proper synopsis for this particular series just yet, I’m assuming the story’s going to follow a track pretty similar to the original game, where the player assumes the role of a producer of a group of young idols. One thing I have noticed in the past regarding anime series with music as the central theme, is that you tend to get some pretty decent tracks to listen to in the meantime (think Full Moon wo Sagashite, Macross Frontier, to mention a few), so I’ll probably be watching this series.

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Baka to Test Shoukanjuu Ni!

Synopsis: In a school where class placement is determined strictly by performance scores, students in classes A to F compete for better perks for each of their classes (A is best equipped, and F is worst equipped) – in this second season Akihisa Yoshii and his classmates continue their battle to dominate the upper classes and earn themselves better facilities.
Genre: Comedy, fantasy, action
Release Date: 8 July 2011 (13 Episodes)
Official site: http://www.bakatest.com/
Watch rating: ***

I haven’t seen the first season of Baka to Test, so I only really have hearsay to go on here, but while this may sound like some form of fighting anime, Baka to Test is apparently enormously funny. And a bit of good comedy is always nice to relax with. I’m looking forward to watching this, although with a penchant for sequels dominating the scene lately, it may be a while before I get around to it, since I need to watch the first season before I get onto this one.

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Usagi Drop

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NO. 6

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Ikoku Meiro no Croisee

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Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi

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Nekogami Yaoyorozu

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R-15

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Dantalian no Shoka

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Nurarihyon no Mago Second

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Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel (TV)

Synopsis: Minazuki Haruka and Kannazuki Aoi are best friends, and relatively normal first-year high-school students during the day. But come night-time, they go out as the Twin Angel team to fight evil and protect justice in the city.
Genre: Action, Mahou-shoujo
Release Date: 5 July 2011
Official site: http://www.twin-angel.tv/
Watch rating: ****

Ordinarily the synopsis wouldn’t be enough to get me entirely excited about this series – it sounds like a pretty typical magical girl series after all. The one reason I definitely do want to watch it though is because it will be featuring a guest appearance of Culture Japan’s mascot character, Mirai Suenaga. I’m not entirely sure what her part in the series will be – but from what I see we may see her around a lot more often in the future. I’m sure Danny himself must be tremendously happy about this, and I share his excitement. Of course, I’m a little jealous too :p (Update: According to this post – she’ll appear as a waitress in a family restaurant)

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Blade

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Kamisama Dolls

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Sacred Seven

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