Summer has returned, and like (slightly delayed) clockwork, it’s time for another season preview. There are some strong contenders for your anime watching hours this summer. There are plenty of exciting sequels, such as the perennially popular Durarara!!x2 Ten, the triumphant return (and conclusion) of the aptly named workplace comedy WORKING!!!, the slice-of-life countryside antics of Non Non Biyori Repeat, and the third summer in a row of the magical girl spin-off Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya Zwei Herz!. New adaptations include the Eastern European flavored GANGSTA, the JSDF invasion of a fantasy land in GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri, the ufotable video game adaptation of God Eater, and the apocalyptic emotional roller coaster Gakkou Gurashi!. There are even some great promising originals, such as the romantic comedy set on Mars, Classroom Crisis, and Maeda Jun’s likely tear jerker in Charlotte. There’s even a very special guest in the long-awaited fantasy of a new Dragon Ball anime, Dragon Ball Super! Some say summer is no good, but if even a few of these pan out, it could be a great season. This is Random Curiosity’s Summer 2015 season preview.

As a quick reminder, most entries are divided into two paragraphs:

This season we’ll continue using our Expectation Levels. Remember, these reflect our own subjective excitement level for each show; they do not necessarily reflect how shows will pan out. For more information, check out the Overall Impressions section at the bottom, which includes an expanded explanation of each category and a list of all shows by expectation level.

Disclaimer: Back in the Age of Myths, i.e. 2012, previews were done by a single writer, Divine. Alas, none of the current writers are as awesome as he, so we’ve divvied them up among our staff (Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zanibas, and Zephyr) in order to maintain the quality of this preview. We will try to point out what appeals to us in each series, in the hope that it will help you determine if it coincides with your tastes.

Disclaimer #2: Please note that this list does not reflect all the series airing this coming season. It is meant to be as comprehensive as possible, but omissions have been made for shows that stray from the anime norm or seem to be oriented toward young children. Please check out MOON PHASE for complete listings, syoboi for specific air times, and Fansub DB for a list of potential subbers for each series.

As always, thank you to the entire RandomC staff for helping with this preview. Special thanks go to Divine and Xumbra, who handled the promotional video encoding; Stilts, who organized yelled at people, edited, and was reliably handsome; Passerby, who did final checks; and Cherrie, who did pretty much everything else. We couldn’t have done it without you all (especially Cherrie). As a bonus, if you’d like a second opinion on any of these previews, check out LiA’s summer preview, entirely written by the irrepressible Guardian Enzo. (I’d know. I’ve tried. The guy just won’t stay repressed. Wait—that came out wrong.)

Finally, a special thanks to all of you for your continued support of Random Curiosity. I know we say this every time, but we’re not going to stop, dammit! Not until it stops being true. Which is never. So thank you, you remarkable, wonderful, kind, intelligent, and—might I say?—startlingly attractive individuals. You pretty much rock.

Technical Note: The chart below is ordered by the date and time that the shows premiere. The links in the schedule will take you to a series’ corresponding entry and the “Top” links on the right will bring you back. You can also use the back/forward buttons in your browser to jump between links you’ve clicked. All times are given in a 24-hour, relative-day format where times are extended to show which day they belong to. For instance, Friday morning at 1:30AM would become Thursday at 25:30 to show that the episode aired late Thursday night.

* Jump to OVA/Movies.

Okusama ga Seito Kaichou! | おくさまが生徒会長！Top

http://www.dreamcreation.co.jp/okusama/ Animation: Seven Premiere: July 1, 2015 Genre: Comedy, Romance, School Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 24:30 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @anime_okusama or #おくさま Preview by Stilts From the original creator of Chu-Bra!! comes a new series of ecchi shorts. My Wife is the Student Council President! stars Izumi Hayato (Okitsu Kazuyuki), who is running for student council president. But when the beautiful Wakana Ui (Taketatsu Ayana) swoops in, promising the liberalization of love and throwing condoms into the audience, Izumi loses and ends up as her vice president. If that wasn’t enough, the newly-elected president ends up inviting herself over to Izumi’s house, and announces that she’s Izumi’s wife, thanks to an agreement—facilitated by alcohol—that their parents made when they were three. Each episode will be ten minutes long. I don’t need to have seen Chu-Bra!! to recognize why Nakata Yumi keeps getting anime adaptations. I sampled the Okusama ga Seito Kaichou! manga, and I found it cute, funny, charming, and deliciously ecchi. The manga itself is fairly risqué—they’re not afraid to show a little nipple in the opening chapter—but it’s as much the situation as the naughty bits on display that are arousing. The struggle between Izumi’s tsundere common sense and Ui’s airheaded forthrightness is funny from the get-go, and I think it’ll be great for a ten minute laugh break each week. This is being produced by studio Seven, which did the excellent Danna anime, as well as Strange+, and Strange+’s director and character designer, Furukawa Hiroyuki, is attached to this project. I don’t know how ecchi they’ll take it—the sexy situations are required, though the nip slips aren’t essential—nor if they’ll be able to capture Nakata Yumi’s adorable art style. I know the source material is fairly strong, though, so if it’s done right and a little cute/ecchi fun is to your taste, it could be a home run. Watching This: Stilts Expectation Level: Moderately Low

GANGSTA.Top

http://gangsta-project.com/ Animation: Manglobe Premiere: July 1, 2015 Genre: Action, Drama Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 26:44 Episodes: 12 Station: ABC Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @GANGSTA_Project or #ギャングスタ Preview by Samu Ergastulum is a city of petty thieves and powerful mafia families, of sex workers and corrupt cops. It’s a city that casts a grimy shadow over the actions of its citizens, hiding the dirty nature that lies beneath. The streets of Ergastulum are ruled by four gangs: Paulklee, Corsica, Monroe, and Cristiano. Nicolas Brown (Tsuda Kenjirou) and Worwick Arcangelo (Suwabe Junichi) are two jacks-of-all-trades, dealing with the tasks that no one else dares to tackle in this dangerous urban jungle. But this powerful duo find themselves in trouble after they’re asked to deal with a new gang making waves in the territory of one of the top mafia families. Things are never as they seem in the dark alleys of Ergastulum, but this case may be one even they can’t handle. If you’re tired of current trends in anime, then look no further than GANGSTA. This is as far away from the anime norm as they come. GANGASTA. has a distinct southern European flavour, from the character designs, to their names, to the city of Ergastulum itself. On first glance, the easiest comparison would be BLACK LAGOON, though whether the plot is similar remains to be seen. One thing is for certain: GANGSTA. has the aesthetic and atmosphere of an anime from the late 90s or early 00s. I’ve always had my eye on the manga, so once the anime was announced I knew this was going to be an attention grabber. Murase Shukou is directing, which seems like a perfect fit when you look at some of his previous projects: Ergo Proxy, Michiko to Hatchin, and Witch Hunter Robin. One thing I’m most interested in, however, is how having a deaf main character is going to translate on-screen. It adds a new dimension to a story that already promises not to shy away from the dark side of human nature. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show GANGSTA. Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/GANGSTA._PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/GANGSTA._PV1.jpg 480 270] GANGSTA. Promotional Video #1 (3:00)

Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Sen’eku | ケイオスドラゴン 赤竜戦役Top

http://chaosdragon.red/ Animation: Connect x SILVER LINK. Premiere: July 2, 2015 Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 22:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @chaosdragon_red or #chaos_anime Preview by Passerby In the year 3015, war was beginning. Two great powers of fantasy-Asia-with-airships vie for dominance over the continent, and caught in the middle is the small island nation of Nil Kamui, its sovereignty already having been subsumed. Perhaps none too pleased with this arrangement, Nil Kamui’s guardian deity, a red dragon named Red Dragon (Ootsuka Houchuu) goes berserk. So gloom and doom looms, there’s lots of fuss about who killed whom to avenge whom, and as usual it’s up to a rag-tag team of misfits, this time centered around one Ibuki (Inoue Marina), who is somehow connected to the Red Dragon, to set things right. Original anime are often wildcards, and there definitely is more we could know about Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Sen’eku (Red Dragon War). Well, it’s not exactly original, I guess. Chaos Dragon is actually an adaptation of a game run in the Red Dragon role-playing setting. As in tabletop RPG. I presume dice are involved. One particular bit of snark about bad fantasy is that they often sound like some guy’s D&D campaign, and here we are, an anime that is basically some guy’s D&D campaign. There are some big names associated with this particular game, though, including, among other notables, Narita Ryohgo (who wrote Durarara!!, playing this very season), Nasu Kinoko (the Fate guy, most of Type-Moon) and Gen Urobuchi (the other Fate guy, Madoka Magica). The protagonists of Chaos Dragon are actually characters these luminaries designed and played. That’s different. The anime staff may also catch some attention. Matsune Masato as director may be completely untested, but the script by Aikawa Shou (Fullmetal Alchemist) should be more promising. Most notable, though, is perhaps Sakimoto Hitoshi, arguably one of the greatest videogame composers of all time, delivering the music. So there’s fair bit of star power floating around, but there’s also giant CGI dragons. Hmm. Well, that just means Chaos Dragon will either be epically good or hilariously bad. That’s something to look out for, either way. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Seneku Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_PV1.jpg 355 200] Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Sen’eku Promotional Video #1 (2:34) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_Donatia_PV.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_Donatia_PV.jpg 355 200] Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Sen’eku Donatia Promotional Video (1:30) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_Kouran_PV.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_Kouran_PV.jpg 355 200] Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Sen’eku Kouran Promotional Video (1:52) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_Nil_Kamui_PV.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Chaos_Dragon_Sekiryuu_Sen’eku_Nil_Kamui_PV.jpg 355 200] Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Sen’eku Nil Kamui Promotional Video (1:30)

Aquarion Logos | アクエリオンロゴスTop

http://aqlogos.com/ Animation: C2C x Satelight Premiere: July 2, 2015 Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 24:00 Episodes: 26 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @AQlogos or #aqlogos Preview by Zephyr Released as part of the Aquarion series’ 10th anniversary, Aquarion Logos is the series’ third and newest iteration. The brainchild of Kawamori Shoji, Aquarion Logos revolves around a world where “letters” have displaced people’s voices as the main method of communication, powered by an ability to spread across the world in an instant. As time passes, however, a gap begins to form between the words formed by these letters and the truth of the world, leading to the creation of a world called Logos. The continued growth of Logos causes the letters to go berserk, threatening the real world with its chaos and forcing a group of children into action as humanity’s remaining hope. Leading the group is a young boy named Kaibuki Akira (Shimazaki Nobunaga). With a fateful cry, Akira and his group fight back using Voice of Creation. Here were go again. After ten thousand three years, the franchise that brought you orgasmic mecha transformations is back, sporting a brand new premise and a new staff led by director Sato Hidekazu (Basquash!, Macross Frontier: Sayonara no Tsubasa, Nobunaga the Fool). The character designs are noticeably different this time, and the fact that AKINO isn’t singing the OP or ED makes Aquarion Logos seem like a series trying to start anew. Whether this is actually the case remains to be seen, and it’d be an interesting choice considering how well received and enjoyable its predecessors were. It’s a must watch for Aquarion fans regardless, and its premise makes it a potentially good watch for those who have yet to experience what the franchise offers. Just know that Logos may or may not be representative of the series’ past iterations. Watching This: Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Aquarion Logos Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Aquarion_Logos_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Aquarion_Logos_PV1.jpg 480 270] Aquarion Logos Promotional Video #1 (1:55)

Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace | 乱歩奇譚 Game of LaplaceTop

http://www.rampokitan.com/ Animation: Lerche Premiere: July 2, 2015 Genre: Horror, Mystery Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 24:55 Episodes: 11 Station: Fuji TV (CX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @rampokitan or #乱歩奇譚 Preview by Zanibas In celebration of 50 years since famed mystery writer Edogawa Ranpo passed away, Lerche adopts some of the novelist’s ideas into an original anime series, Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace. With several unsolved murders occurring at a middle school, Kobayashi (Takahashi Rie) assists boy detective Akechi (Sakurai Takahiro) with solving specific cases, while Kobayashi’s friend Hashiba (Yamashita Daiki) worries from the side as the voice of reason. Together, along with a ton of canned coffee, the trio takes a break from schoolwork to assist investigators in finding the perpetrator of these various murders. Edogawa Ranpo’s legacy in his genre certainly lends this original anime credibility. There’s an expectation for the story to be the anime’s strong point. Although not many details have come out aside from some short PVs, fans of mystery and horror should find this a suitable fit for the niche this season. With experienced director Kishi Seiji on board, alongside a fairly experienced seiyuu cast, Lerche has some pretty good staff to make this a reality. Given that their animation quality has been steadily improving as a fairly new studio, there shouldn’t be any real problems with the animation quality either. At this point, the make-or-break will rely on whether scriptwriter Uezu Makoto can properly pay homage to Edogawa’s ideas. With work that is fairly hit or miss, ranging from Jinrui all the way to the infamous School Days, anything is up in the air, but fans should give the first few episodes a shot, especially fans of Edogawa’s original works. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Samu Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Ranpo_Kitan_Game_of_Laplace_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Ranpo_Kitan_Game_of_Laplace_PV2.jpg 480 270] Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace Promotional Video #2 (0:15) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Ranpo_Kitan_Game_of_Laplace_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Ranpo_Kitan_Game_of_Laplace_PV1.jpg 355 200] Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace Promotional Video #1 (0:30) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Ranpo_Kitan_Game_of_Laplace_CM1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Ranpo_Kitan_Game_of_Laplace_CM1.jpg 355 200] Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace Commercial #1 (0:15)

Danchigai | だんちがいTop

http://www.dreamcreation.co.jp/danchigai/ Animation: Creators in Pack TOKYO Premiere: July 2, 2015 Genre: Slice-of-Life, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:00 Episodes: 12 Station: TVS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @anime_danchi or #だんちがい Preview by Takaii From the studio that’s known for its short format shows like Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken, Danchigai is another of DreamCreation’s, well, creations! Adapted from the 4-koma manga with the same name, this show is a comedic slice-of-life that focuses on the lives of four sisters and one brother all living together. Among the sisters, you have the levelheaded onee-san Mutsuki (Akesaka Satomi), the always sleepy Yayoi (Komatsu Mikako), and the two little twins Uzuki and Satsuki (Tokui Sora and Horino Sayaka). Rounding out the group is the man of the house, Haruki (Abe Atsushi), who is exactly like you’d expect him to be—a normal guy who tries to be a good brother to all of his sisters. Except when you’re the only guy in the house, you’re the one who typically ends up with the short stick! Small side note: this show is going to be a short-format one, AKA five minute run times. Plan accordingly! I’ll admit, even as the self-proclaimed slice-of-life connoisseur, Danchigai’s premise didn’t really thrill me at first. I mean, how often do we see a show try to make their punch line “guy thrown in with a bunch of girls, come see the results”? Luckily, the source material managed to get me excited pretty quickly. Focusing on the unique quirks of each character and tying them all together with some well timed jokes, the magic moment came when I realized just how connected I was with the characters after only a few pages—mind you, we’re not talking about some deep and emotional connection, but I found myself wanting to learn more about each and every one of them—something which I think bodes well for DreamCreation if they’re able to capture some of that magic in their anime adaptation. Because of the many things that separate good slice-of-life shows from the great ones, that’s the magic sauce that riles up all your senses and keeps you coming back for more. Watching This: Stilts, Takaii Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Aoharu x Kikanjuu | 青春×機関銃Top

http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/aoharu/ Animation: Brains Base Premiere: July 2, 2015 Genre: Action, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:46 Episodes: 12 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @aoharu_anime or #aoharu_anime Preview by Samu Tachibana Hotaru (Komatsu Mikako) is a young girl cross-dressing as a boy, with a passion for survival games. After moving into her new apartment, she finds a mysterious man standing nearby. The next day at school, Hotaru’s best friend, Yajima Kanae (Horie Yui) tells her about a man who swindled her out of her money. Hotaru puts her skills to the test and confronts the thief, but he turns out to be the shady stranger standing outside her apartment: Masamune Matsuoka (Maeno Tomoaki), her new next door neighbour. Along with the perverted ero-mangaka Yukimura Tooru (Matsuoka Yoshitsugu), through a strange chain of events, the trio end up forming a survival games team with the intention of becoming the best in Japan. Talk about random. The more I look into the wacky premise of Aoharu x Kikanjuu, the more intrigued I become. My first impression was how similar in design this seemed to two series from the same magazine: Kuroshitsuji and Pandora Hearts, both of which are fan favourites that did well with their anime adaptations. Some more recent examples that appeal to a similar demographic would be Karneval and Makai Ouji, which both had anime adaptations that failed to garner much acclaim. If I were to place my bets, I think the sheer obscurity of Aoharu x Kikanjuu might result in it ending up in the latter pile, though it may be random and funny enough to find an audience. Still, there aren’t many survival game anime, so this should be worth checking out. And if you’re a fan of the cross-dressing leads, you should be sold. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Samu Expectation Level: Moderate

Joukamachi no Dandelion | 城下町のダンデライオンTop

http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/dande/ Animation: Production IMS Premiere: July 2, 2015 Genre: Comedy, Slice-of-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 26:16 Episodes: 12 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @dande_anime or #dande_anime Preview by Guardian Enzo I wish I could tell you why this show stands out as a sleeper for me, but I can’t. I’ve had a strong vibe since the very first preview images that Joukamachi no Dandelion was more than met the eye. I’ve never read the source material, and the synopsis doesn’t sound especially clever or memorable. But I can’t shake the feeling that this series could be really good. The last time I had a similar experience was with Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, and that certainly worked out – though the creator had a much more established track record. Could this show be one of those “so bad it’s good” scenarios – a premise so silly it’s smart? Well, it is a very silly premise – nine siblings with superpowers share a house monitored by 200 surveillance cameras, in place because the populace will eventually vote one of the nine to be the next king (replacing their father). About the only thing I can quantify is that I do like the art and character designs, and in director Akitaya Noriaki (Bakuman) and writer Yoshida Reiko the main staff is experienced and capable. I’m going to be disappointed to an irrational degree if this doesn’t turn out to be the sleeper of the season, and I have no firm reason to believe it will – except I do believe. We shall see… Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Hetalia: The World Twinkle | ヘタリア The World TwinkleTop

http://hetalia.com/twt/ Animation: Studio DEEN Premiere: July 3, 2015 Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 12:00 Episodes: 15 Station: Docomo Anime Store Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @animehetalia Preview by Takaii Hetalia is based off of a popular webcomic by Hidekaz Himaruya that focuses on showing the world through the eyes of personified countries. Each episode typically spans for five minutes and is full of over-the-top reactions and tons of satire. The draw for the series apparently comes from watching each country tout their culture (both the positive and negative aspects) while simultaneously reliving major historical events. While the story can jump around at times, the main storyline events take place during World War II with a cast consisting of Italy, Germany, Japan, United States, England, France, Russia, and China. Other nations make appearances throughout the series, but for The World Twinkle it looks like we’ll be getting appearances from the Nordics, some of the Micronations, and even some original content not found in the comics! For the truly curious, it seems this season will be covering content from Axis Powers volume 5 and 6. Let me be honest—I’ve never watched an episode of Hetalia in my life. Not because I have anything against the series, but I’ve just never had the chance. From what I gathered from my research (AKA bugging all my friends who are totally into the series), this feels like the kind of show you could fall deep into without realizing it. However, The World Twinkle is already pretty deep into the story, and it’d probably be best if you caught up with the 100 or so episodes before diving into this one. Luckily, at only five minutes each that only adds up to about 500 minutes or 9 hours. The only thing I have left to say for this one is a quote from a friend: “[this show] is racist in a non racist way.” After hearing that, you have to at least check it out, right? Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Established

Show Hetalia: The World Twinkle Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Hetalia_The_World_Twinkle_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Hetalia_The_World_Twinkle_PV1.jpg 480 270] Hetalia: The World Twinkle Promotional Video #1 (0:20)

Ushio to Tora | うしおととらTop

http://ushitora.tv/ Animation: MAPPA Premiere: July 3, 2015 Genre: Action, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 22:30 Episodes: 26 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @Ushitora_TV or #うしおととら Preview by Zanibas You have two options. Either a) release a fearsome youkai from its prison, risking death, but obtaining a badass spear and hairdo, or b) keep the youkai imprisoned and find a way to deal with the thousands of other youkai out to get you because you have this fearsome youkai in your basement. Oh, and you don’t get the spear or the hairdo. This is Ushio to Tora. Aotsuki Ushio (Hatanaka Tasuku), true to his temple priest father and shaman mother, must ward off evil spirits. In his case, he must defeat them with the Beast Spear, along with one vicious youkai, Tora (Koyama Rikiya). Though initially at odds with one another, Ushio and Tora fight together and earn each other’s respect as they unite against a common youkai menace, the nine-tailed fox Hakumenn no Mono. This will be a split-cour show, airing 26 eps in its initial run, followed by 13 eps in the back-half. Ushio to Tora’s original material dates back to the early to mid 1990’s, and as a result, may seem a bit dated art-style wise. In terms of actual animation quality though, the show looks excellent. Perhaps all those Teekyuu seasons were just buying time for MAPPA to reveal this revival work. The premise itself looks fairly interesting: two antagonistic parties who work together, and are leery of each other. A huge plus to this show is the addition of Nishimura Satoshi, whose work on Hajime no Ippo and Trigun lends tons of credibility to this project. Considering the character-driven stories of his past works, I expect Ushio to Tora to have that same emotional impact, similar to how InuYasha played out many years ago. For those looking for an action-packed demon-slaying story with character-driven development, give this 20+ year old story a shot. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Samu Expectation Level: Moderate

Miss Monochrome The Animation Season 2 | ミス・モノクローム 第2期Top

http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/miss_monochrome_anime_2/ Animation: LIDENFILMS x SANZIGEN Premiere: July 3, 2015 Genre: Slice-of-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 23:00 Episodes: 13 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @miss_monochro or @monochro_staff Preview by Zephyr Originally a 3D virtual singer created by Horie Yui, Miss Monochrome first appeared at the Horie Yui wo Meguru Bouken III ~Secret Mission Tour~ concert in March 2012. Her popularity led to a line of character goods, the creation of an anime short with her as the main character in 2013, and appearances in games such as Girlfriend (Kari). Now almost two years after her anime debut, Miss Monochrome makes her return in yet another anime short, attempting once again to change the world into a monochrome paradise by becoming a best-selling idol. Horie Yui will reprise her role as Miss Monochrome, and Fujiwara Keiji will also return as Miss Monochrome’s manager. Iwasaki Yoshiaki (Love Hina) will return as director, and LIDENFILMS and SANZIGEN will continue their collaboration on the animation. As an animated short with slice-of-life and comedic elements, your mileage will vary when it comes to Miss Monochrome. The first season had its memorable moments—who could forget the Roomba?—but left much to be desired as a series that was short in length, and not nearly as funny as other comedies airing at the time. It’s not a must-watch in any sense of the word—especially if you didn’t watch the first season, or disliked the first—but given the low time investment, it’s not a bad series to pick up on a whim. There are certainly worse series by far, and it might just end up being something you like, especially if you’re pinning for a series with Horie Yui attached to it. Watching This: Zephyr Expectation Level: Low

Show Miss Monochrome The Animation Season 2 Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Miss_Monochrome_The_Animation_Season_2_CM.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Miss_Monochrome_The_Animation_Season_2_CM.jpg 480 270] Miss Monochrome The Animation Season 2 Commercial #1 (0:30)

GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri | GATE 自衛隊 彼の地にて、斯く戦えりTop

http://www.gate-anime.com/ Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: July 3, 2015 Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 24:30 Episodes: 24 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @gate_anime or #gate_anime Preview by Passerby In the near future of GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri, an adaptation of the light novel series by Yanai Takumi, a mysterious portal opens in urban Tokyo, from which a fantastical army of creatures and soldiers poured forth. The Japanese Self-Defense Force manages to push the marauding army back through the portal, creatively named ‘the Gate’, but still needs a strategy to contain it. To that end, the JSDF sends in special task groups to establish goodwill and diplomatic relations with the locals on the other side of the Gate. One is led by self-professed otaku Itami Youji (Suwabe Junichi). As he explores this new frontier, Youji picks up a veritable RPG party, including an elf (Kanemoto Hisako), a mage (Touyama Nao) and a… gothic lolita demigoddess thing (Taneda Risa). But it’s not all fun and games and fantasy harems. Youji has to deal with terse politics on both sides of the Gate, as world powers start eyeing the rich territory newly opened to Japan, and colonial fervour heats up again. If ever we manage to secure an entrance to Narnia, we would drive tanks through it. That’s a given. A new world filled with misunderstood peoples and dangerous fauna is basically Australia all over again, and just the idea of terra nullius makes colonialist powers start drooling heavily. So the conceit of Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (Gate: The Self-Defense Force Fights Like This in Another Land) can be explored in interesting ways. The danger, though, is that it will morph into a jingoistic piece of overt nationalism where soldiers foray into an alien world and shoot bad guys to universal adoration. Otherwise, I suspect the feel of the show will be similar to that of fish-out-of-water adventures like the extremely similar Outbreak Company (though it should be noted that the GATE novels came out before Outbreak Company‘s) and Log Horizon, except instead of superpowered adventurers, it’s gunships and modern armour. There’s potential there, and the staff has at least Urahata Tatsuhiro on series composition as an experienced hand, so if you’re looking for slightly more mature fare for your light novel adaptations, GATE is definitely one to look out for. Watching This: Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakeri_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakeri_PV2.jpg 480 270] GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri Promotional Video #2 (1:43) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakeri_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakeri_PV1.jpg 355 200] GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri Promotional Video #1 (0:27) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakeri_CM1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakeri_CM1.jpg 355 200] GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri Commercial #1 (0:15)

Classroom Crisis | Classroom☆CrisisTop

http://www.classroom-crisis.com/ Animation: Lay-duce Premiere: July 3, 2015 Genre: Comedy, Romance, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 25:55 Episodes: 12 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @clcr_project or #クラクラ Preview by Samu Channeling humanity’s interest for space exploration, Classroom Crisis is set in a future where all the planets of the solar system have already been colonised. Shirasaki Iris (Amamiya Sora) is a third year student in Fourth Tokyo, within the Japanese Martian prefecture. Sera Mizuki (Ozawa Ari) is her close friend, and skilled mechanic, and Mizuki’s brother, Sera Kaito (Morikubo Showtaro) is their homeroom teacher and the program director put in place to develop their talents. Described as ‘school and workplace romantic comedy’, Classroom Crisis is taking a familiar anime scenario, but instead of it being set in a Japanese high school, it’s set on Mars! The details of this anime original have been slowly revealed, but as we see more character designs, and have a basic understanding of the plot foundation, I feel like Classroom Crisis may be the unexpected success of the season. I immediately think of Aria, purely because it’s also a slice-of-life set on far-future Mars. If Classroom Crisis can channel an ounce of what makes Aria so beloved, I think we could be in for something exciting. My hope is that it will make use of its premise and advanced technology, so that it doesn’t feel like generic slice-of-life girls cut and pasted into this interesting setting. Nagasaki Kenji is directing (NO.6, Gundam Build Fighters), so I have fair expectation for how this could turn out. Gundam Build Fighters in particular was pure fun, so if he can channel that joy into Classroom Crisis, then we should be in for pleasant romantic slice-of-life set on future Mars. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Classroom Crisis Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Classroom_Crisis_CM.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Classroom_Crisis_CM.jpg 480 270] Classroom Crisis Commercial #1 (0:15)

Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX | 戦姫絶唱シンフォギアGXTop

http://www.symphogear-gx.com/ Animation: Satelight Premiere: July 3, 2015 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 27:10 Episodes: 13 Station: MBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @SYMPHOGEAR or #symphogear Preview by Zephyr In the years prior to the original series, humanity found itself under attack from aliens known as the Noise. Capable of turning humans into dust by contact and impervious to human weapons, the Noise drove humanity to the brink of destruction, and were stopped only by those wielding armor known as Symphogears. Having acquired a Symphogear after the sacrifice of its previous wielder, Tachibana Hibiki (Yuuki Aoi) found herself fighting to protect humanity from the Noise, ultimately joining together with other Symphogear users in Kazanari Tsubasa (Mizuki Nana) and Yukine Chris (Takagaki Ayahi) to stop their advance, along with the Frontier Incident, an attempt to use the moon’s imminent collision with the earth to selectively weed out a large portion of humanity. It is now a hundred days after the Frontier Incident. No further attacks from the Noise have been reported, so it is believed that the alien scourge has been defeated. The appearance of entities with similar signatures to the Noise mean that the fight may not be over, however, and as a new group wielding immense strength and unknown technology arrives, a battle begins that could determine the fate of the planet. When it comes to Mizuki Nana, more is always better from my standpoint, and it’s awesome seeing her in a main character role that also allows her to demonstrate her singing prowess. Mizuki Nana’s presence doesn’t change the fact that the series is plagued by issues, however, and regular viewers should know what to expect by now. Symphogear revolves around girls fighting while singing various vocals, and the draw lies in its vocal compositions, action scenes, and its over-the-top nature. Masterful writing and great character development aren’t part of the package, and Symphogear is a series that ultimately caters to those looking for entertainment more than anything else. Given the proper expectations, the series is a lot more enjoyable than it seems, and the second season’s improvement makes this worth a watch for fans of the series. Those who haven’t seen the previous seasons would do well to catch up before starting GX, however. Watching This: Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Senki_Zesshou_Symphogear_GX_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Senki_Zesshou_Symphogear_GX_PV1.jpg 480 270] Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX Promotional Video #1 (1:55)

Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na SekaiTop

下ネタという概念が存在しない退屈な世界

http://www.shimoseka.com/ Animation: J.C. Staff Premiere: July 4, 2015 Genre: School-Life, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 23:00 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @shimoseka or #shimoseka Preview by Zanibas Into the realm of over-the-top sex-based comedy comes Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai, where rebellion against strict ethics and morals is in the spotlight. In a country where ‘bad words’ are banned, Okuma Tanukichi (Kobayashi Yuusuke) joins the staff under the student council of a school renowned for its strict moral enforcement. Although recruited primarily by Kanjou Ayame (Ishigami Shizuka), his hopes are to get closer to his crush, student council president Nishikinomiya Anna (Matsuki Miyu). However, those dreams are quickly complicated as Okuma is recruited into another organization, the SOX, aimed at causing havoc toward the moral law and those who enforce it. His recruiter is none other than the same person, Kanjou Ayame, whose alternate panty-wearing persona is a renegade against the moral institutions. Locked in with the promise of opportunities to grow closer to Anna, Kajou and Okuma partner up to fight against everything morally sanitary. As with most comedies centered around sexual themes, Shimoneta is definitely over-the-top and unashamed. The humor is reminiscent of Seitokai Yakuindomo, Mitsudomoe, and Daimidaler, which just stick with the sex and run with it. It’s often a hit or miss for the audience, but fans appreciate each show’s lack of a filter, allowing for raw unabashed sex jokes to run wild. Director Suzuki Youhei has experience from HenNeko’s own quirky fanservice humor, making him qualified to take this high-energy comedy’s helm. Judging from the PVs, it’ll be a treat to hear the seiyuu say some ridiculous lines, especially with Ishigami Shizuka on board as the main—I’ve been a fan of her work so far, and it’s great that she’s getting more main roles. With the backing of J.C. Staff, Shimoneta looks great to fill the sex comedy niche of the season, though as with all shows in its genre, it might be a huge miss for some in the crowd. Watching This: Samu Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Shimoneta_to_Iu_Gainen_ga_Sonzai_Shinai_Taikutsu_na_Sekai_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Shimoneta_to_Iu_Gainen_ga_Sonzai_Shinai_Taikutsu_na_Sekai_PV1.jpg 480 270] Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai Promotional Video #1 (1:51)

Durarara!!x2 Ten | デュラララ!!×2 転Top

http://www.durarara.com/ Animation: Shuka Premiere: July 4, 2015 Genre: Action, Drama, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 23:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @drrr_anime or #drrr_anime Preview by Passerby Durarara!!x2 Ten is the second of three Durarara!! seasons this year, and picks up right from the end of Durarara!!x2 Shou. The recent gang war and incursion by Russian assassins have died down, but those were just skirmishes in the grand scheme of the chaotic Japanese district of Ikebukuro. Enigmatic kingpin Yodogiri Jinnai (Tobita Nobuo) has just taken down the previously reigning puppet-master, Orihaya Izaya (Kamiya Hiroshi), and seems to have dastardly plots of his own. Meanwhile, Normal High School Kid Ryuugamine Mikado (Toyonaga Toshiyuki) is sick of being a normal high school kid when there are superhumans like Heiwajima Shizuo (Ono Daisuke) and dullahan Celty Sturluson (Sawashiro Miyuki) running around, and agrees to take leadership of the remnants of a violent gang. With Ikebukuro embroiled in malevolent plotting, supernatural phenomena and questionable life decisions once again, there’s no doubt that this season of Durarara!! will be no less wild than before Being the second sequel of an old title, Durarara!!x2 Ten is probably the kind of series you either have already decided to keep watching or you never got into and aren’t. Despite the years and the animation studio shuffle in the middle, Durarara!! has remained, overall, quite consistent in its appeal. The show has its up and downs, but at its best it juggles a huge cast and multiple sub-plots all at once and makes them come together in a cascade of momentum that is very fun to watch. Even if you’ve followed along faithfully up ’til now it’s hard to know what to expect, and those who haven’t may still be interested in a spectacle similar in spirit, if not flair, to Spring’s Kekkai Sensen, itself a blood brother of Durarara!!‘s predecessor, Baccano! (which I must plug every time Durarara!! is mentioned, apparently). After the interlude that was Durarara!!x2 Shou, I’m hoping x2 Ten really gets the ball rolling. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: High

CharlotteTop

http://charlotte-anime.jp/ Animation: P.A. Works Premiere: July 4, 2015 Genre: Drama, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 24:00 Episodes: 13 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @Charlotte_AB_ or #charlotte Preview by Zephyr Released in celebration of Key’s 15th anniversary, Charlotte is Maeda Jun’s first original anime series since Angel Beats! five years ago. Directed by Asai Yoshiyuki and animated by P.A. Works, the series takes place in a world where children have a chance to develop special powers upon reaching puberty. Otosaka Yuu (Uchiyama Kouki) is one such child, choosing to live a relatively normal life despite possessing an ability to control others’ bodies for a short period of time. One day, Yuu is suddenly approached by Tomori Nao (Sakura Ayane), another child with special powers. Their meeting sets the stage for a story about growth, their many experiences, and a cruel fate that links the two. A routine life changes to one filled with the unexpected, a promise to return home becoming their only guide down an uncertain road. When it comes to Maeda Jun, emotional bonds are front and center. His works are designed to make you feel for the characters, and it’s a formula that’s unlikely to change with Charlotte. Knowing what he’s aiming for doesn’t change the fact that you’re going to feel something either way, and this is a series worth watching purely due to his involvement. His resume speaks for itself, and his prior work in Kanon, Clannad, Air, Little Busters, and Angel Beats! are all series with people who swear by them, being either all-time favorites or memorable experiences they will never forget. With P.A. Works at the helm, Charlotte should be a visual masterpiece to boot. The major question here shouldn’t be whether you should watch it, but whether or not you’ll shed tears by the time this series is over. The foundations are here for an amazing series, and if there’s one show to keep an eye on this summer, this would be it. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: High

Show Charlotte Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Charlotte_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Charlotte_PV2.jpg 480 270] Charlotte Promotional Video #2 (2:02)

WORKING!!!Top

http://www.wagnaria.com/ Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: July 4, 2015 Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 24:30 Episodes: 13 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @Wagnaria or #wagnaria Preview by Guardian Enzo As far as anime comedy goes, it just doesn’t get much more reliable than Working. The disc (and manga) sales are consistent (and very high), the humor endearing, and the overall package one of the best character-driven comedies in anime. About the only things that change with A-1 Pictures’ flagship comedy are the punctuation and some of the staff. Now, five years after the first anime premiered, the manga is finished and this season is set to wrap up the story in anime form. This time around we have a new director (though that was the case with Working’!! as well), but I’m honestly not expecting any significant decline in quality. In contrast with mangaka Takatsu Karino’s other series Servant x Service, I find the main pairing to be the weakest element of Working. But the overall ensemble is one of the best in anime comedy, and the writing almost always snappy and smart. I love seeing series depicting young adults in the workplace – it’s a setting that’s far too rare in anime, and having worked in restaurants at that age myself, I can tell you that the humor in Working rings eerily true an overwhelming majority of the time. I’m glad to have it back, and the only bad thing about this return is that I’ll really miss it when it’s over. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: High

Show WORKING!!! Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/WORKING_3_CM1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/WORKING_3_CM1.jpg 480 270] WORKING!!! Commercial #1 (0:30) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/WORKING_3_Character_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/WORKING_3_Character_PV1.jpg 355 200] WORKING!!! Character Promotional Video #1 (0:38) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/WORKING_3_Character_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/WORKING_3_Character_PV2.jpg 355 200] WORKING!!! Character Promotional Video #2 (0:38)

Gatchaman Crowds Insight | ガッチャマン クラウズ insightTop

http://www.ntv.co.jp/GC_insight/ Animation: Tatsunoko Production Premiere: July 4, 2015 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 25:55 Episodes: 12 Station: Nippon TV (ntv) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @GATCHAMANCrowds or #GATCHAMANCrowds Preview by Stilts Based on the venerated Gatchaman franchise, Insight is a direct sequel to 2013’s Gatchaman Crowds. The story is set in Tachikawa City, the “second metropolis” of the Tokyo area. Among the city’s 180,000 people are the Gatchaman, secret warriors who fight in reinforced suits which are powered by NOTE, which is the manifestation of spiritual powers in living beings. Individuals with latent powers are scouted to protect Earth from alien criminals, such as the mysterious entity known as MESS. The first season saw the irrepressibly optimistic Ichinose Hajime (Uchida Maaya) join the Gatchaman ranks during a conflict that involved the genius programmer Ninomiya Rui (Murase Ayumu) and the batshit crazy alien Berg-Katze (Miyano Mamoru). Now Hajime is back, along with new characters such as fresh Gatchaman recruit—and Hajime’s new partner—Misudachi Tsubasa (Ishihara Kaori); 19-year-old medical student and leader of a mysterious organization, Suzuki Rizumu (Umehara Yuuichirou); and a pacifist alien who crash lands on Earth named Gelsadora (Hanazawa Kana). Gatchaman Crowds is an odd little bug. I didn’t particularly enjoy it as it was airing, and if the first season had come out when I was busier, I probably wouldn’t have finished it at all. And yet, I find myself thinking about it more often than many more enjoyable shows. It tried to do a lot with the ideas of cooperation and groupthink and … to be honest, I’m still not entirely sure about a lot of what it was trying to say. The show suffered from Hajime’s brain dead optimism and Mary Sue (trope!) antics, but characters like Rui, Berg-Katze, O.D (Hosomi Daisuke), and Utsutsu (Koiwai Kotori) were more interesting. The same cast and crew are returning under the banner of Tatsunoko Productions, so I wouldn’t expect much of a quality shift from the first season. This one’s a hard one to suggest (or not) because I still don’t know whether I liked it (or not). What I do know is that the last-second cliffhanger from the first season insures that I’m going to watch at least a few episodes. I could drop it after that, but I have to know how Hajime is going to deal with all that. First season viewers, you know what I mean. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Rokka no Yuusha | 六花の勇者Top

http://rokka-anime.jp/ Animation: Premiere: July 4, 2015 Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 26:58 Episodes: 12 Station: MBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @rokka_anime or #rokka_anime Preview by Samu An ancient legend tells that when an evil awakes from the darkness to turn the world to living Hell, the God of Destiny will call forth six brave heroes, granting them the power to save the world. But when the heroes are called, seven appear, causing suspicions to rise – one of the seven is undoubtedly an enemy. Among the seven heroes, Adlet Mayer (Saito Soma) is the one they suspect to be fake, a young boy who professes to be the strongest man in the world – but is it really him? There’s also Nashetania Loei Piena Augustra (Hikasa Yoko), the wild princess of the expansive kingdom of Piena; Fremy Speeddraw (Yuuki Aoi), the reclusive Saint of Gunpowder, who uses guns and bullets in combat; Goldof Auora (Uchiyama Kouki), a spear-wielding knight devoted to Princess Nashetania; Chamo Rosso (Kakuma Ai), the Saint of Swamps, a young girl who is heralded as the most powerful warrior of the current age; Hans Humpty (Suzumura Kenichi), a cat-like man with peculiar fencing skills; and Mora Chester (Satou Rina), a serious and intelligent woman, and the leader of the Saints. Which of these seven heroes is the impostor? I’m not usually a fan of fantasy LN anime adaptations, but there’s something about Rokka no Yuusha that has my interests piqued. The aztec-inspired world is certainly a unique backdrop for a fantasy story. But even if the setting wasn’t unique, the premise itself is enough to have me interested in finding out who the real snake in the grass is. Each of the seven main characters look and sound intriguing, and I’m sure each will have moments that will paint them as the impostor. It seems only natural that Takahashi Takeo is the director of this one, having worked on Spice and Wolf and Maoyuu Maou Yuusha, so this sort of fantasy anime should be right up his alley. Count me excited to meet these characters, explore this aztec-inspired world, and rattle my brain over the identity of the impostor hero. Watching This: Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Rokka no Yuusha Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Rokka_no_Yuusha_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Rokka_no_Yuusha_PV2.jpg 480 270] Rokka no Yuusha Promotional Video #2 (0:43) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Rokka_no_Yuusha_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Rokka_no_Yuusha_PV1.jpg 355 200] Rokka no Yuusha Promotional Video #1 (0:40) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Rokka_no_Yuusha_PV0.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Rokka_no_Yuusha_PV0.jpg 355 200] Rokka no Yuusha Promotional Video #0 (1:45)

Dragon Ball Super | ドラゴンボール超(スーパー)Top

http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/dragon_s/ Animation: Toei Animation Premiere: july 5, 2015 Genre: Action, Adventure, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 9:00 Episodes: 100 Station: Fuji TV (CX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @DB_super2015 Preview by Samu After 18 years, Dragon Ball returns to our screens with a story continuing from where Dragon Ball Z ended. This new story is set to be released in manga form as well, but the anime version is coming first, and that’s what has everyone excited. For many, Dragon Ball was their gateway anime that perfectly captures the shonen battle genre. It’s a true classic, and one of the most popular anime/manga franchises of all time. Plot-wise, Dragon Ball Super takes place after the defeat of Majin Buu, when life is peaceful again. Son Goku (Nozawa Masako) is ordered by Chi-chi (Watanabe Naoko) to earn money while he continues his training. Meanwhile, Son Goten (Nozawa Masako) and Trunks (Kusao Takeshi) set out on a new adventure. Other than that, not much is known about the what’s to come, other than it will contain plot elements that tie into the two recent Dragon Ball Z movies, Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’. Dragon Ball Super is almost guaranteed to be the most-talked about anime of the upcoming summer season. With the recent films returning to the canon story, it isn’t too surprising the anime series was brought back to life. Fans of this epic battle anime will be able to relive their childhood and watch a new Dragon Ball episode every week for the foreseeable future. Even Toei Animation’s recent track record with adaptations isn’t enough to kill this beast. As I write this, I’m watching the original anime in order to catch up, so I can jump on Dragon Ball Super when it airs – though maybe not Dragon Ball GT, since it doesn’t appear to be canon anymore. I don’t want to miss this one, and I’m sure all long-time fans of the franchise feel much the same. Watching This: Cherrie, Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Established

VENUS PROJECT -CLIMAX-Top

http://vproject.jp/anime/ Animation: Nomad Premiere: July 5, 2015 Genre: Music Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 22:00 Episodes: 6 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @formula_venus or #F_VENUS Preview by Stilts The story of VENUS PROJECT is set in not-so-distant future Japan. Data devices and video technology have progressed to new heights, and people are abuzz about a new form of entertainment known as Formula Venus. In Formula Venus—abbreviated as F-V—top idols battle in live performances utilizing all of their power, techniques, and experience. This story is about the drama that unfolds as the girls in the Venus Project aim for the top. This is another multimedia project, which includes the anime, a PlayStation Vita card battle game, a web comic, real-life events, a radio show, and probably more. It reeks (to me) of another shallow cash grab, where a bunch of corporate types are trying to make the Love Live! lightning strike twice, after how popular it became with its anime, rhythm video game, and character song CDs. But that comparison feels unfair, to Love Live. While Love Live never had an innovative plot, its focus from the get-go was on keeping the story simple and making us love the characters, but everything I’ve read about VENUS PROJECT reads like marketing jargon. It’s not helped by a plot synopsis that sounds more like Pretty Rhythm than something the older otaku the character designs appear to be targeting would like (skimpy outfits are in plentiful supply). The series will be twelve episodes long, sort of—six episodes of anime, while the other six will be a live-action variety show. In case it’s not clear, I’m not terribly excited about this one. Gods know I’ve been wrong before, but add a newbie director and character designer to the other red flags, and I believe my pessimism is warranted. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Low

Wakako-zake | ワカコ酒Top

http://www.wakakozake.jp/ Animation: Office DCI Premiere: July 5, 2015 Genre: Slice-of-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 22:27 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @anime_wakakozak Preview by Cherrie Based on a manga of the same name, Wakako-zake will be a 12 episode series of 3-minute shorts airing this season. Despite its juvenile appearance, the series actually started off as a seinen manga, which involves a 26-year-old woman named Wakako (Sawashiro Miyuki). Wakako loves to drink (hence, the name of the series) and enjoys finding the best foods to accompany her meals. She also prefers eating and drinking alone without the accompaniment of others. When she finds the perfect pairings to her sake, she lets out a sigh that sounds like “pushu”. This is meant to signify when she’s in her happy place. In case there are viewers who are also live-action fans, there will be a live-action release for Wakako-zake as well. Given that the anime may or may not be successful, I am surprised at the quick adaptation to a J-drama series. However, I think it’s more well-suited to live-action, given the context for the story. For those that are foodies like myself, you’ll completely understand what it’s like to find that perfect wine pairing with your meal. Or beer, or sauce or whatever it may be – it’s that sensation you get when you’re happy with finding that right combination. Wakako is someone whom I can relate to when it comes to eating and savoring your food. It’ll be interesting to see how this series compares to others, and how it does the manga justice. The animation studio (Office DCI) has never been credited for full animation production before, but has experience working with some bigger releases. Considering that the artwork is simplistic enough, and the anime is featured as a short, I can’t imagine how this production can flop. It will fully depend on the storytelling and plot of what happens to Wakako. I’m also noticing a trend with shorts these days that feature more young adults, and that’s always a good change compared to the hundreds of stories about younglings. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Moderately Low

God Eater | ゴッドイーターTop

http://anime.godeater.jp/ Animation: ufotable Premiere: July 5, 2015 Genre: Action Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 22:30 Episodes: 13 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @god_eater_anime or #GEanime Preview by Zephyr Brought to you by ufotable, God Eater comes in as the latest in a steady stream of video game adaptations. Originally developed for the PSP in 2010, the series takes place in 2071, nearly 20 years after the arrival of life forms known as ”Oracle cells.” Impervious to conventional weapons, the Aragami—renamed in recognition of their tremendous capabilities—bring humanity to the brink of extinction. As humanity’s final hope, living weapons known as God Arcs are built from the cells of the Aragami themselves. Their wielders become known as God Eaters. Directed by Hirao Takayuki (Kara no Kyoukai: Mujun Rasen), the animated series will focus on brand new God Eater and original character, Utsugi Renka (Kijima Ryuichi). Sakamoto Maaya, Sakaguchi Daisuke, Nakai Kazuya, and Hirata Hiroaki will reprise their original game roles, along with Shiina Go, the composer behind the original God Eater game and various games from the Tales series. When it comes to video game adaptations, hit or miss tends to be the name of the game, typically averaging out as series that leave something to be desired. With this in mind, God Eater is a series I’m cautiously optimistic about. It’s supported by what should be superb animation from ufotable (always a plus with action series), a director that made one of the better Kara no Kyoukai entries, and a composer whose memorable work helped shape one of the biggest JRPG franchises. The foundations are set for a series that should be decent at worst, with room to grow depending on how the story ends up being developed. The question is if that’ll work out well given the original material, and that’s something that’ll be worth watching to find out. At the very least, we’ll see a glimpse of what made this game so popular in Japan, and that works for me. Watching This: Cherrie, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show God Eater Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/God_Eater_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/God_Eater_PV1.jpg 480 270] God Eater Promotional Video #1 (1:35) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/God_Eater_CM.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/God_Eater_CM.jpg 480 270] God Eater Commercial #1 (0:30)

To LOVE-Ru – Trouble Darkness 2nd | To LOVEる－とらぶる－ダークネス 2ndTop

http://www.j-toloveru.com/ Animation: XEBEC Premiere: July 6, 2015 Genre: Comedy, Romance, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 24:00 Episodes: 14 Station: BS11 Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @toloveru_com or #toloveru_d Preview by Stilts The To Love-Ru series stars hapless harem master Yuuki Rito (Watanabe Akeno) and the gaggle of gorgeous girls who are in love with him. After Lala Satalin Deviluke (Tomatsu Haruka), first princess of the Galaxy-ruling Deviluke family, appears naked in Rito’s bath and falls in love with him, he found it difficult to confess to his existing love, the gentle Sairenji Haruna (Yahagi Sayuri). But that was only the beginning of Rito’s love troubles. In Darkness, the female protagonists have changed to Lala’s little sister, Momo Belia Deviluke (Toyosaki Aki), and the blonde-haired assassin Konjiki no Yami (Fukuen Misato). While Momo puts her make-Rito-a-harem plan into action, Yami battles with an unknown entity pushing her to finally assassinate Rito. Then there’s Momo’s twin sister, Nana Astar Deviluke (Itou Kanae), and her new friend Kurosaki Mea (Iguchi Yuka), who is a second-generation transforming weapon like Yami. While writing this preview, I tried to remember what happened, plot-wise, during the first season of Darkness. I got nothing. So I went back and watched part of it. Still nothing. Which is probably fine, because you don’t watch To LOVE-Ru for the plot. It’s all about the ecchi antics, baby! And with Darkness, the emphasis is on the ecchi. This is a harem show so ecchi it borders on hentai. Borders hard. Yuuki Rito is the patron saint of bumbling male protagonists who always end up tripping into every girl’s chest or crotch, but he does it so often and so reliably, it’s become a running joke instead of just lazy writing. There is some plot, centering mainly around Yami, Mea, and Mea’s master, but the main draw is definitely on the Momo/harem side. The major downside is that this is classic Xebec middle-of-the-road-quality animation, and the first season was so heavily censored on TV that it was all but pointless to watch. If you’re looking for something saucy with full serving of sexy girls, then To LOVE-Ru has you covered, with a likable cast of characters to enhance the pervy fun. You just may want to wait for the DVD/BD release, if season two is as heavily censored as its predecessor. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderate

Akagami no Shirayukihime | 赤髪の白雪姫Top

http://clarines-kingdom.com/ Animation: BONES Premiere: July 6, 2015 Genre: Fantasy, Romance Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 24:00 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @akagami_anime or #akagami_anime Preview by Passerby Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a young girl named Shirayuki (Hayami Saori), who was born with rare, apple-red hair. Her singular appearance brings her to the attention of the local prince, who wishes to take Shirayuki as his concubine. Not altogether happy with this arrangement, Shirayuki decides to flee the kingdom, leaving only a lock of her hair behind. On her escape across the border, she is aided by a foreign boy named Zen (Osaka Ryota), and they strike a fast friendship. But Zen is blue-blooded and Shirayuki is a commoner; even the tersest of relationships between them is scandalous. Shirayuki decides she must conquer that social gap somehow, and she’ll do it through study and hard work. Kingdoms and their princes, a heroine named Snow White, some mention of apples—Akagami no Shirayukihime (Red-Haired Snow White) may sound like a deconstruction of fairy tales, and on some level that is true. But there are no wicked witches to speak of, no supernatural bogeys as villains. What is the purpose of bogeys in fairy tales, anyway? Any child with imagination already knows to fear witches. No, the fairy tale teaches that, with guile and courage, the witch can be defeated. In that sense, Akagami no Shirayuki is a straight fairy tale after all, except its bogey is mundane fare, things like social inequality and traditional gender roles. Outside of that, Akagami no Shirayukihime also has your standard shoujo offerings, about people, feelings and relationships, something that BONES has not animated since… Ouran High School Host Club? Director Ando Masahiro has a mixed portfolio, but I believe the source material for Akagami no Shirayukihime is solid enough that it can’t really go wrong. It’ll be much more mellow fare than that other fantasy shoujo show starring a red-haired heroine, but one can’t have enough medieval settings and strong female leads in anime. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Akagami no Shirayukihime Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Akagami_no_Shirayuki_Hime_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Akagami_no_Shirayuki_Hime_PV1.jpg 480 270] Akagami no Shirayukihime Promotional Video #1 (1:45)

Show Jitsu wa Watashi wa Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Jitsu_wa_Watashi_Wa_PV.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Jitsu_wa_Watashi_Wa_PV.jpg 480 270] Jitsu wa Watashi wa Promotional Video #1 (1:01)

Non Non Biyori Repeat | のんのんびより りぴーとTop

http://www.nonnontv.com/ Animation: SILVER LINK. Premiere: July 6, 2015 Genre: Slice-of-Life, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 26:05 Episodes: 12 Station: TV Tokyo (TX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @nonnontv or #なのん Preview by Takaii Another sequel slated for this upcoming summer season, Non Non Biyori Repeat focuses on the lives of Ichijou Hotaru (Murakawa Rie) and her friends Koshigaya Natsumi (Sakura Ayane), Koshigaya Komari (Asumi Kana), and Miyauchi Renge (Koiwai Kotori), who help her with her transition from life in the big city to living in a small village on the countryside. Along the way we get to see some of the unique things that only occur outside of the big city. From having a single classroom hold all the students to just how far some people will go to avoid being called a “country girl”, you could think of this show like a less serious but more fun Barakamon. Also, if you’ve ever seen the meme of a purple haired girl playing a recorder or heard something go “Nyan-pasu”, it comes from this show. If someone were to ask me to list my favorite slice-of-lifes, Non Non Biyori would definitely be in the top ten. The show has just the right mix of country jokes, slice-of-life goodness, and straight humor (typically delivered by the stone-cold faced Renge) that make each and every episode extremely fun to watch. It has top-notch seiyuu behind the characters, with some big names like Asumi Kana (always ends up being the short girl, am I right?), who always does great work to, Koiwai Kotori, whose unique voice as Renge is about half the reason why I watched the show in the first place. Most importantly, even though it’s a comedy, the show manages to take itself somewhat seriously every now and then, which leads to those unique and emotionally exhausting episodes that you never see coming and leave you wanting more. You won’t be missing too much if you don’t go watch the first season beforehand, but I’d highly recommend doing so. There are just so many little things you’ll miss if you don’t know what’s going on, and that’s part of what makes a show like this so much fun to watch. Now, if we’d only get a sequel for Barakamon… Watching This: Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Non Non Biyori Repeat Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Non_Non_Biyori_Repeat_PV3.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Non_Non_Biyori_Repeat_PV3.jpg 480 270] Non Non Biyori Repeat Promotional Video #3 (2:04) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Non_Non_Biyori_Repeat_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Non_Non_Biyori_Repeat_PV2.jpg 355 200] Non Non Biyori Repeat Promotional Video #2 (1:40) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Non_Non_Biyori_Repeat_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Non_Non_Biyori_Repeat_PV1.jpg 355 200] Non Non Biyori Repeat Promotional Video #1 (1:21)

Kaijuu Sakaba Kanpai! | 怪獣酒場 カンパーイ！Top

http://www.kaijusakabakanpai.com/ Animation: Premiere: July 7, 2015 Genre: Comedy, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 21:55 Episodes: 13 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation #怪獣酒場 Preview by Passerby So, three kaijuu walk into a bar and the bartender says—oh, you’ve heard this one before? Well, it’s no joke, because this season we have a show where the villains of the Ultraman franchise meet up at a bar after work, where work is presumably getting beaten up by some costumed hero. Baltan runs the place, and he is aided by his wacky assistants, Dada and Kanegon. It’ll be three minutes of comedy every week as aliens and monsters and alien monsters meet together at the Monster Bar to drown their sorrows. Now, I’m not all that invested in the Ultraman franchise, and can’t really give a fan’s impression of Kaijuu Sakaba Kanpai! (Cheers, Monster Bar!), but I do think I understand what the appeal of this kind of show is going to be. There actually is a ‘Monster Bar’ institution in Japan, and this anime may well be part promotional, but I think its hook will be villain parody. It is the way of heroes to be defined by their foes. For example, Batman would be nothing without his rogues gallery of tragic villains. But the foes of Ultraman are simply monsters, flying turtles and giant insects and the like, not exactly known for their richness of personality. That’s where a comedy spin-off like Kaijuu Sakaba Kanpai! comes in, using a comedy setting as an excuse to give these monsters character, and a story while off the set, like a version of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead comprised of bloopers. Drawing on Batman again, there was one episode of the 90’s animated series that featured the Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy and the Penguin meeting together to play cards while boasting about their exploits. Even if you haven’t watched it, that’s an amusing image in itself. It is the way of comedy to exaggerate the mundane into the absurd, or fit the absurd into the mundane, and I think that’s what Kaijuu Sakaba Kanpai! will be running on. So if you’re a fan of Ultraman, this series of shorts will give you a few giggles every week. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Low

Show Kaijuu Sakaba Kanpai! Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Kaijuu_Sakaba_Kanpai_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Kaijuu_Sakaba_Kanpai_PV1.jpg 480 270] Kaijuu Sakaba Kanpai! Promotional Video #1 (0:30)

Sore ga Seiyuu! | それが声優！Top

http://soregaseiyu.com/ Animation: Gonzo Premiere: July 7, 2015 Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 23:00 Episodes: 14 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @soresei_anime or #それが声優 Preview by Stilts From writer and veteran seiyuu Asano Masumi and veteran mangaka Hata Kenjiro (Hayate no Gotoku) comes a 4-koma adaptation about the voice acting industry. Sore ga Seiyuu! stars Ichinose Futaba (Takahashi Rie), Kohana Rin (Kouno Marika), and Moesaki Ichigo (Nagaku Yuki), three rookie voice actresses who are trying to make their way in the industry. The manga features small but humorous observations of the seiyuu industry. I blame Divine for my interest in this series. I didn’t used to care about seiyuu much—aside from obvious observations, such as realizing that Shana and Louise were voiced by the same person, I was largely oblivious—but somewhere along the way he turned me into a seiyuu connoisseur. But even if you lack a passion for seiyuu, there are plenty of other reasons to be excited about this show. Hata Kenjiro’s involvement is always a good sign, even if he’s not writing … though then again, who better to know about the foibles of the seiyuu industry than a veteran seiyuu like Asano Masumi? Speaking of seiyuu, the girls voicing the three main characters are all rookie seiyuu themselves, so we may get a Nanami from Sakurasou situation, where the seiyuu grow as actresses even as their characters (who are seiyuu) are growing as actresses. Mind blown. The promo videos look good, with Gonzo (holy heck, they’re still alive?) doing a fine job of adapting Hata Kenjiro’s famous style. This show is looking like a lighter Shirobako, with a tighter focus and more emphasis on gags. We might even see the occasional Hayate no Gotoku cameo, since this takes place in the same universe. One other interesting tidbit: Because the source material is a doujin, Asano and Hata don’t have a publisher, and have had to make all the decisions on this project themselves. I look forward to seeing what their unvarnished vision is like. Watching This: Passerby, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show Sore ga Seiyuu! Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Sore_ga_Seiyuu_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Sore_ga_Seiyuu_PV2.jpg 480 270] Sore ga Seiyuu! Promotional Video #2 (2:31) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Sore_ga_Seiyuu_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Sore_ga_Seiyuu_PV1.jpg 480 270] Sore ga Seiyuu! Promotional Video #1 (1:50)

Overlord | オーバーロードTop

http://overlord-anime.com/ Animation: Madhouse Premiere: July 7, 2015 Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 23:00 Episodes: 13 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @over_lord_anime or #overlord_anime Preview by Stilts Based on the light novel of the same name, Overlord takes place in the year 2138, when virtual reality gaming is booming. Yggdrasil, a popular online game, is quietly shut down one day. However, a player named Momonga (Hino Satoshi) decides not to log out. As the game shuts down, Momonga is transformed into a skeleton wizard, and becomes the most powerful magic user in the world. As the world continues to change, with non-player characters (NPCs) beginning to feel emotion, Momonga decides on his course of action: With no parents, friends, or place in society, this ordinary young man (turned skeleton wizard) decides to conquer the new world the game has become. MMORPG-based anime are obviously on the rise, so new stories have to do something to differentiate themselves. Where Log Horizon had a protagonist who sometimes acted like a villain, Overlord dispenses with the subterfuge and goes for a full-blown villain protagonist (trope!). The idea of a protagonist who is not only unapologetically evil, but a skeleton to boot, is certainly intriguing, though I’ll need to know more about his motivations for conquering the game world before I jump enthusiastically aboard the hype train. If it’s just for the evulz (trope!), well, that’s not very interesting, and there’s the fact that the NPCs apparently gain emotions to make the issue thorny. Yet the fact that I’m already thinking about it this much means the story already has its claws in me. For MMORPG anime fans, this is an easy choice—give it a shot and see how it goes. For the rest, the devil is in the details, which we’ll find out when it airs. Watching This: Cherrie, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Overlord Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Overlord_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Overlord_PV1.jpg 480 270] Overlord Promotional Video #1 (1:54)

Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou | モンスター娘のいる日常Top

http://monmusu.tv/ Animation: Lerche Premiere: July 7, 2015 Genre: Slice-of-Life, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 24:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @monmusu_tv or #モン娘 Preview by Takaii Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou takes place in a world where humans and non-humans attempt to coexist peacefully. Through something called the “Cultural Exchange Between Species Act”, creatures that were once hiding in the shadows have appeared and are attempting to understand and integrate into human society. Normally thought to appear only in legends, everything from harpies to centaurs have appeared, with even an occasional catgirl running around every now and then! In order for these creatures to thoroughly integrate into society, humans interested in hosting a creature become “volunteers” and are tasked with teaching their guests everything they need to know about the human world. And here begins our story, when Kimihito Kurusu (Majima Junji), the protagonist of our story, becomes an accidental volunteer when Miia (Amamiya Sora), a snake-like lamia, is accidentally dropped off at his house. With the cover art and promotional material full of giant breasts, I wasn’t too keen about this show when I started to research it. With no expectations, I dove straight into the manga and happily realized there’s a lot more to this show than meets the eye. Yes, there’s a lot of focus on the hyper-sexualized content, but once you (and the characters) get past that, there’s actually a cute story hiding in there. Our main character isn’t the sexual deviant he’s made out to be, but just your average joe who totally understands how to treat a girl right. Through his actions, you really get the sense he could be a girl’s knight in shining armor without all the self-righteous nonsense. In terms of the “creatures”, I only managed to meet Miia the lamia and Papi the harpie (Ozawa Ari), but both were funny characters. Literally coming from a different world, they bring with them a sense of innocence as they try to figure out the little intricacies of living among humans. The character designs aren’t doing it any favors, with its focus on certain body parts, but I will admit that overall designs are pretty appealing. Lerche is heading the reins on this one, and judging from their work on previous shows like Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita and Ansatsu Kyoushitsu, I’m hoping for the best. So even if you’re turned off by some of the promotional materials, I hope you at least give this one the three-episode treatment! Watching This: Takaii Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Monster_Musume_no_Iru_Nichijou_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Monster_Musume_no_Iru_Nichijou_PV1.jpg 480 270] Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou Promotional Video #1 (1:38)

Bikini Warriors | ビキニ・ウォリアーズTop

http://bikini-warriors.com/anime/ Animation: feel. x PRA Premiere: July 7, 2015 Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 25:35 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @bikiniwarriors Preview by Stilts A new original series created by Hobby Japan and animated by studio feel and PRA, Bikini Warriors is … well, exactly what you’d expect. The setting is an RPG-style world with swords and magic, where adventurers form parties to challenge the demon king’s right to rule. But, all the adventurers have beautiful, enormous breasts, and wear bikini armor! I could point to the trope Exactly What It Says on the Tin (trope!) and knob off for a pint, because the above synopsis tells you everything you need to know. But I’m a professional, so I’ll continue. This is an original series about boobs. Oppai. Tits. Big breasts. Giant jiggling gazongas! With character designers such as Hisasi, Tony Taka, and Saitom, many of whom are former or current ero-mangaka, each pair of breasts have been lovingly crafted for maximum impact. Er, I mean each character. Did I say breasts? I meant each character. (Keep it together, Stilts.) This is being produced in part by studio feel, which I could have told you from watching the promotional videos, what with all the bouncing and gainaxing (trope!). With a newbie director and the script writer from Momo Kyun Sword, I wouldn’t expect much from the plot. But you know what? Neither does the production team! They apparently owned up and said there’s no point in watching Bikini Warriors other than all the gargantuan oppai. I’d appreciate their honesty, if it weren’t oh so sad. Bikini Warriors is exactly what is sounds like. It’s about breasts. Boobies. Sweater puppies. Blouse bunnies. Bikini stuffers. Tatas, wahwahs, howitzers, knockers, cannon balls, twin peaks, love melons, chi-chis, double whammies, BOOBS! It’s about boobs. You’ve been informed and/or warned. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Low

Show Bikini Warriors Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Bikini_Warriors_PV.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Bikini_Warriors_PV.jpg 480 270] Bikini Warriors Promotional Video #1 (0:40)

Suzakinishi THE ANIMATION | 洲崎西 THE ANIMATIONTop

http://seaside-c.jp/program/suzakinishi/ Animation: feel. Premiere: July 8, 2015 Genre: Other Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 21:55 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @suzakinishi or #洲崎西 Preview by Stilts An expansion of their “SuzakiNishi” radio program, Suzakinishi THE ANIMATION will debut this summer. The anime will star the eponymous up-and-coming seiyuu, Suzaki Aya and Nishi Asuka. On the original radio program, the two voice actresses propose and discuss new business ideas. The first time I heard about a radio program being adapted into a TV show, I thought it was bizarre. But that was StarTalk, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson can do pretty much anything he wants, as far as I’m concerned. As for the idea of two seiyuu proposing and discussing business ideas … well, I’m not proud of this, but my first instinct was a patronizing, “Oh, that’s adorable.” But let’s say that Suzaki Aya and Nishi Asuka actually have some good business ideas, and their conversations are interesting. (And I’ve definitely listened to a few seiyuu radio shows that were excellent.) Why animate them? Aside from the promotion aspect—they got me writing about it, after all—it takes away the central advantage of radio, which is that you don’t have to watch it. But I’ll stop—this isn’t the place for rants. I have no idea how this will be animated, but the weak (assumed) premise and the inexperienced director don’t fill me with confidence. There’s so little information right now that, who knows, it could be something great. But unless you’re a big fan of Suzaki Aya or Nishi Asuka, I have a feeling that you, like me, probably won’t bother to find out. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Low

Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan | 空戦魔導士候補生の教官Top

http://ku-sen.jp/ Animation: Diomedea Premiere: July 8, 2015 Genre: Action, Fantasy, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 24:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @kusen_official Preview by Stilts Based on the light novel of the same name, Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan is set in a world where humanity is on the ropes. Driven off the land by magical armored insects, humanity now lives in floating cities. It was then that wizards—aerial combat mages who fight the insects with magical powers—came into being. Age Kanata (Matsuoka Yoshitsugu) is one such young man, who lives on the floating wizard academy city of Misutogan. He was once the celebrated Black Master Swordsman, the elite ace of the S128 special team, but he’s now despised as a traitor. One day, he’s assigned as the instructor of E601, a team that has suffered ten consecutive defeats. Three girls belong to the E601—Whitale Misora (Yamamoto Nozomi), Eisenach Lecty (Touyama Nao), and Flamel Rico (Nomizu Iori)—who each have one or two quirks. This is a magical-fantasy-action-harem anime based on a light novel with a Matsuoka Yoshitsugu main character, and I’m now taking bets on how many season previews in a row I’ll write a variation of that sentence. (This is the third in a row, by the way.) They’ve jammed in all the hallmarks of the genre: magic combat, one guy, multiple girls, senseless jargon, and a school setting just because. Which is not to say that all shows in this genre are bad—last season we had DanMachi, and it turned out quite well. But when a show is being worked on by the director (Inagaki Takayuki), writer (Yamaguchi Hiroshi), and studio (diomedea) of Seiken Tsukai no World Break, a show so messy I dropped it after one episode, you’ll have to excuse me if my skepticism is over 9,000. I peeked at the manga adaptation, and it’s a giant pile of clichés (trope, trope, trope, troooope! Need I go on?). I’m also not clear as to why Kanata is considered a traitor, though it doesn’t appear to stop certain people (girls, mainly) from thinking the world of him, nor keep him from being ridiculously good at everything he does. (And kind, and handsome, and smart, etc.) This seems like another paint-by-numbers magical-fantasy-action-harem adaptation, but it could be more. I just wouldn’t go in with high expectations, given all the facts lining up against it. Watching This: Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Kuusen_Madoushi_Kouhosei_no_Kyoukan_PV.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Kuusen_Madoushi_Kouhosei_no_Kyoukan_PV.jpg 480 270] Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan Promotional Video #1 (0:30)

Junjou Romantica 3 | 純情ロマンチカ3Top

http://suzukisan.info/ Animation: Studio DEEN Premiere: July 8, 2015 Genre: Romance, Comedy, Yaoi Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 25:05 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @marukawashoten Preview by Zanibas Coming back for its third iteration is the Shounen-Ai favorite Junjou Romantica. The story’s unique twist comes from focusing on three couples simultaneously, each addressing romance and societal issues in their own way. The entire cast will be reprising their roles, with Takahashi Misaki (Sakurai Takahiro) and Usami Akihiko (Hanada Hikaru), Kamijou Hiroki (Itou Kentarou) and Kusama Nowaki (Canna Nobutoshi), and Miyagi You (Inoue Kazuhiko) and Takatsuki Shinobu (Kishio Daisuke) leading the charge as the three couples. Undoubtedly full of the hot saucy Shounen-Ai that the series is popularly known for (bed pushing for instance), returning fans also await the engaging drama and plot that made the show popular in the first place. Although my foray into Shounen-Ai has been limited to covering shows like Love Stage!!, I’ve heard good things about Junjou Romantica. Though it can get pretty hardcore while staying softcore, the show does an excellent job exploring issues such as questioning one’s sexuality and navigating some serious misunderstandings and expectations. With Kon Chiaki as director and the same Studio Deen coming back with most of the same staff, I expect that fans will not be disappointed after their six-or-so year wait. The concept of exploring three simultaneous romances is risky, but evidently has worked in the show’s favor, delivering triple the action for the price of one. Interested fans should check out the first two seasons from 2008—although it can suffer at times from the ‘forcing oneself’ trope of Shounen-Ai, males and females looking for a good romance can find it here. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Junjou Romantica 3 Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Junjou_Romantica_3_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Junjou_Romantica_3_PV1.jpg 480 270] Junjou Romantica 3 Promotional Video #1 (1:58)

Himouto! Umaru-chan | 干物妹！うまるちゃんTop

http://umaru-ani.me/ Animation: Dogakobo Premiere: July 8, 2015 Genre: Slice-of-Life, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 26:14 Episodes: 12 Station: ABC Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @umaru_anime or #umaru_anime Preview by Takaii Himouto! Umaru-chan focuses on the interesting life of Doma Umaru (Tanaka Aimi), the girl everyone at school aspires to be. She has the looks, the smarts, and the personality that would put any popular girl to shame—and she knows it. Except, that’d all be over if anyone found out about her one dark secret: she’s a complete and total otaku at home. As soon as she closes that front door, Umaru transforms from the definition of society’s perfect girl into the perfect shut-in. Donning a super cute hood poncho thing, you can typically find her either lying on the floor, stuck on the computer, or shoving a ton of snacks into her face. And if she’s not doing some combination of those things, she’s typically abusing her older brother, Taihei (Nojima Kenji). Either with her childish behavior or using her outside persona, she’ll do whatever necessary to make his life as difficult as possible—all the while not even feeling a drop of guilt. Himouto! Umaru-chan caught me completely off guard. If you’re like me, just reading the premise probably won’t do much for you. But once you’ve seen the promotional video or read some of the manga, you’ll quickly understand what a mistake you’ve made. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but something special happens the first time you see Umaru transform into her otaku self. It might have something to do with how she’s able to completely contradict every single thing that makes her perfect in the eyes of society within a mere few seconds. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a show jump from “I’m not watching” to “I’m totally watching” as fast as this one did. As an added bonus, the source material has some pretty good content (especially whenever older brother Taihei winds up with the short end of the stick), which leads me to believe the transition from 4-koma into anime should be a pretty smooth one. In terms of studio, I doubt there’s any reason to be concerned. A quick glance at Dogakobo’s recent works will lead you to awesome series like Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun and last season’s Plastic Memories. All in all, I think this show has everything going for it, and unless something horrible happens, I can already see it being one of my favorites for the upcoming season! Watching This: Samu, Takaii Expectation Level: Moderate

Gakkou Gurashi! | がっこうぐらし！Top

http://gakkougurashi.com/ Animation: Lerche Premiere: July 9, 2015 Genre: Drama, Horror Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 21:30 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @gakkou_gurashi or #がっこうぐらし Preview by Takaii Is your heart ready for an emotional roller coaster? Because if you haven’t fortified yourself for the feels coming your way, I’d recommend adequately preparing yourself as soon as possible. Gakkou Gurashi is a story based around the lives of high school kids Ebisuzawa Kurumi (Ozawa Ari), Takeya Yuki (Minase Inori), Wakasa Yuuri (Ichimichi Mao), and their sensei Sakura Megumi (Kayano Ai), as they try to keep themselves alive and functioning throughout a zombie apocalypse. Lucking out by being on the roof during the outbreak, the group end up as the sole survivors and use the school as their base of operations. Forming the School Life Club, the four try their best to utilize what limited resources they have as they attempt to figure out just what to do. But as with any large-scale disaster, danger lurks in every corner, and sometimes you can’t even trust your own eyes. Let me be straight with you: if the anime captures at least a tenth of what made the manga so good, we’ll be in for an epic adventure full of tears and more tears on top of those tears. With an intricate story that places the focus on just how emotionally difficult it is to live in world ravaged by an unknown virus or disease, you quickly get invested not only in the story or the world, but with the characters who you feel connected to. Characters who quickly become more than just faces on a screen, but people who your heart would break in half for, should something happen to them. Along the way you learn just how difficult it is to handle the loss of loved ones, how crazy the human psyche is (and the insane lengths it’ll go through to protect itself), and just how important it is to cherish the here and now when there’s no guarantee of a future. Watching This: Cherrie, Passerby, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Prison School | 監獄学園 プリズンスクールTop

http://prison-anime.com/ Animation: J.C. Staff Premiere: July 10, 2015 Genre: Comedy, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 25:05 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @prison_anime or #プリズン Preview by Samu Hachimitsu Private Academy was once a revered all-girls’ boarding school for the elite, built on the outskirts of Tokyo. But the current school year is changing everything, as a new revision to the school policy has been put in place: boys can now be admitted into the school for the first time. On his very first day, Fujino Kitoshi (Kamiya Hiroshi) discovers that he’s one of only five boys in the entire school. The ratio of male to female is 1:200, so the odds are stacked against him and the other four boys. But Prison School is not like your typical anime, when a boy surrounded by a harem of woman is a blessing. At Hachimitsu Private Academy, that may as well be a curse. I’ve been hearing about Prison School since the manga started in early 2011. Some claimed it was pure garbage, others said it was a perfect parody manga, others just revel in the fanservice. One thing is for certain, you’re either going to love or hate it – there’s no room for neutral opinions with something so crass, in your face, and unapologetic in its ecchiness. It’s not even cute or endearing with it’s gross, borderline-hentai antics. As someone who has no interest in watching ecchi anime, Prison School seems like something I should avoid like the plague. However, many interpret the series as a parody of the genre, so I feel like I should at least give it a shot before I judge it. There are many who love the manga, and I’ve seen a great deal of hype for the anime since Mizushima Tsutomu (Genshiken Nidaime, Girls und Panzer, BLOOD-C, SHIROBAKO) was announced as director. J.C. Staff consistently delivers solid adaptations that seem to ‘get’ the source material, so I’m confident that, whatever it is that fans love from the manga, it will be reflected in this adaptation. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Samu, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Prison School Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Prison_School_PV2.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Prison_School_PV2.jpg 480 270] Prison School Promotional Video #2 (1:40) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Prison_School_PV1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Prison_School_PV1.jpg 355 200] Prison School Promotional Video #1 (1:00) [flv:Summer%202015%20Preview/Prison_School_CM1.mp4 Summer%202015%20Preview/Prison_School_CM1.jpg 355 200] Prison School Commercial #1 (0:15)

Makura no Danshi | 枕男子Top

http://makuranodanshi.com/ Animation: Assez Finaud Fabric x feel. Premiere: July 13, 2015 Genre: Romance, Drama Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation Preview by Passerby So you’ve had a long day at work, your boss is an ass, your colleagues are incompetent, and there’s nothing to do but to drink your sorrows away, all alone. Your room is dark, the silence gets cold. You know what you need? A night under the stars, with a handsome beau to lie beside you and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Thankfully, Summer 2015 has your uncomfortably specific fantasy covered. Makura no Danshi is directed in the first person, so that the audience may fully immerse themselves in sensual voices tickling their cochlea. Each week will feature a different boy to titillate, and all shall, no doubt, be charming in their own way. It’s a short and simple sort of show, and there’s definitely strength in simplicity. Even with all the ecchi this season, the strangest show you’re not going to admit to watching is still Makura no Danshi (Pillow Boys. I know, I know). That said, Japan does already have a dakimakura industry, so Makura no Danshi is not really that off-beat, all things considered. It’s simply harder to define, since it abandons all semblance of plot and instead focuses on conveying a very specific experience to the viewer. Sure, Makura no Danshi is not exactly high art even for escapist fantasies, but it’s certainly different even as it is straightforward. It was apparently intended as a soul-healing anime, and that’s certainly what you should say if anyone asks you questions. Well, none of that is really that important. Makura no Danshi has a clear niche, and it should be easy enough to judge whether you fall within it. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Niche

THE IDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls 2Top

アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ 2nd SEASON

http://imas-cinderella.com/ Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: July 17, 2015 Genre: Music, Slice-of-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 24:00 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @imas_anime or #imas_cg Preview by Passerby After a short break following its first cour earlier this year, the second half of the anime adaptation of the popular social network game The iDOLM@ASTER: Cinderella Girls is here. Join the stoic producer (Takeuchi Shunsuke) of 346 Productions once again as he shepherds the girls of the ambitious Cinderella Project, a collection of newbie pop music idols, on the path to stardom. As of the first season all of the Cinderellas have debuted and performed in their first major stage event, but this is but their first step. Shibuya Rin (Fukuhara Ayaka), Shimamura Uzuk