Brace yourselves… winter is coming. And like tired-ass memes from creatively bankrupt bloggers, that means it’s time for another season preview. The world of sequels is still going strong, with a continuation of the wonderful medieval romance Akagami no Shirayukihime 2nd Season, the final installment of the new Durararas in Durarara!!x2 Ketsu, and a return of the ridiculous[ly awesome] octopus-flavored assassination story in Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season. Not to be outdone, there are exciting new adaptations as well, such as the multiple award-winning josei drama Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the gritty sci-fi of Dimension W, and the latest cute-boys-doing-sports-things otome game adaptation in Prince of Stride Alternative. As for originals—there are a lot of originals. I don’t even know where to start as there are so many of them, but some to look out for are studio Sanzigen’s CGI action series Bubuki Buranki, the powersuit cop action of Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei, and what might be a reprise of your favorite childhood game in Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation. All in all, there’s a wide range to look forward to for anime fans of all types. Join us once again as we tell you which ones we think will be good—this is Random Curiosity’s Winter 2016 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 days of yore, i.e. 2012, previews were done by a single writer, Divine. Since none of the current writers are as crazy awesome as he, we’ve divided them up among our staff (Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Jig, 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 sources for each series.

As always, thank you to the entire Random Curiosity staff for helping with this preview. Special thanks go to Divine and Xumbra, who encoded all the PV’s; Zephyr, who compiled the OVA/Movie list; Stilts, who organized yelled at people and edited the entire preview; Passerby, who did final checks; and Cherrie, who did just about everything else (formatting, links, pictures—the works). We couldn’t have done it without you all. As a bonus, you can find a more Enzo-flavored run-down on many of these shows at LiA’s winter preview, entirely written by the esteemed Guardian Enzo.

Finally, I’d like to thank you all for your continued support of Random Curiosity. (So I will. Thanks!) I know no one actually reads this part anymore, but we really do mean it. You’re the reason we keep doing this. You’re also what separates us from a bunch of crazy hobos shouting into a wind. You know, like Tumblr. Social media zing!

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.

Prince of Stride Alternative | プリンス・オブ・ストライド オルタナティブTop

http://pos-a.jp/ Animation: Madhouse Premiere: January 5, 2016 Genre: Sports Airtime (GMT+9): Tuesdays at 23:00 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @posa_anime or #プリスト Preview by Samu In the past few years we’ve seen a massive boom in sports anime – from the borderline-fantasy Kuroko no Basuke to the adrenaline-pumping realism of Haikyuu!!, to the zaniness of the Yowamushi Pedal. Prince of Stride: Alternative looks to be the next addition in this new hit genre. The one common thread these series share is their appeal to a female demographic, as girls love a bunch of pretty boys doing strenuous physical activities – and that’s exactly what Prince of Stride is all about! It’s a story seen through the eyes of our main character, Sakurai Nana (Hanazawa Kana), a hardworking and fearless girl who has moved alone from the Hokkaido countryside to the cityscape of Tokyo. There, Nana becomes the manager of her new school’s Stride club. “Stride” is a team sport that involves players who run various relay races in towns – like a mix between marathon and parkour – and Nana is determined to form a Stride team to bring them to the “End of Summer,” a top competition hosted alongside other competing schools across Japan. With that goal in mind, she recruits the cool and stoic Stride prodigy, Fujiwara Takeru (Okamoto Nobuhiko), and the friendly and energetic Yagami Riku (Kimura Ryouhei), along with several others, in hopes of working together to bring their club to victory. The more promotional material I read and watch, and the more Prince of Stride reminds me of Kyoto Animation’s Free! Character designs bear a striking resemblance in both titles, and the typical character archetypes are there for each respective boy. The one thing that makes this stand out is the director, Ishizuka Atsuko (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, No Game No Life, Hanayamata). Her aesthetic is distinctive: vibrant, colourful, and glitteringly bright. She is a director we can easily place confidence in, at least from a visual standpoint – all signs point to this looking sleek and polished, and likely to appeal to the aimed demographic. However, this is an adaptation of an otome game, and there are not many success stories from adaptations in that genre. But there’s enough here to look forward to, especially if you’re a fan of the recent selection of sports anime, or if you enjoyed Ishizuka Atsuko’s previous works. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Jig, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Prince of Stride Alternative Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Prince_of_Stride_Alternative_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Prince_of_Stride_Alternative_PV2.jpg 480 270] Prince of Stride Alternative Promotional Video #2 (2:07) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Prince_of_Stride_Alternative_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Prince_of_Stride_Alternative_PV1.jpg 480 270] Prince of Stride Alternative Promotional Video #1 (1:26)

Show Musaigen no Phantom World Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Musaigen_no_Phantom_World_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Musaigen_no_Phantom_World_PV2.jpg 480 270] Musaigen no Phantom World Promotional Video #2 (1:38) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Musaigen_no_Phantom_World_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Musaigen_no_Phantom_World_PV1.jpg 480 270] Musaigen no Phantom World Promotional Video #1 (1:13)

SUSHI POLICETop

http://sushi-police.com/ Animation: Premiere: January 6, 2016 Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 25:00 Episodes: Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @SushiPoliceJP or #スシポリス Preview by Stilts With the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games around the corner, a worldwide sushi boom is underway. But not all sushi is created equal. In response to the epidemic of bad sushi, the Japanese government has teamed up with other world powers to establish the WFCO (World Food-culture Conservation Organization), to protect and promote authentic local cuisines. The 9th Division, aka the Sushi Police, is tasked with overseeing Japanese cuisine abroad, and they’re notorious for their aggressive conduct against anyone who serves inauthentic Japanese food. They will, and frequently do, resort to any means necessary to eliminate bad sushi, and are despised by restaurateurs. Each episode will be five minutes long. Let’s get some details out of the way: This is a series of 3DCG shorts. I say that now to calibrate expectations, because when I first heard about this series, it sounded like all sorts of fun. And it still could be, but I wouldn’t go in expecting much of a plot. The promo videos depict a goofy, action-packed spectacle where three bespectacled anti-heroes blow up sushi restaurants for having the audacity to not be very good. This series is not trying to be, and should not be, taken seriously. The three main characters are supposed to be uncompromising but inefficient, which will supposedly make them somewhat lovable, which is great if it’s executed well. Promotional materials mention restaurants in the U.S., Russia, France, and China, which excites me—how will they portray these restaurants in other cultures? With insight or stereotypes? Though it probably doesn’t matter. This series sounds silly but fun, something that’s both goofy, creative, and endearing in premise alone. 3DCG short though it may be, I’m excited to see if it’s any good. Watching This: Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii Expectation Level: Moderate

Show SUSHI POLICE Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Sushi_Police_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Sushi_Police_PV1.jpg 480 270] SUSHI POLICE Promotional Video #1 (0:52)

Show Haruchika ~Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru~ Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/HaruChika_Haruta_to_Chika_wa_Seishun_Suru_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/HaruChika_Haruta_to_Chika_wa_Seishun_Suru_PV2.jpg 480 270] Haruchika ~Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru~ Promotional Video #2 (2:36) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/HaruChika_Haruta_to_Chika_wa_Seishun_Suru_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/HaruChika_Haruta_to_Chika_wa_Seishun_Suru_PV1.jpg 480 270] Haruchika ~Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru~ Promotional Video #1 (1:17)

NORN9: Norn + Nonette | NORN9 ノルン+ノネット Top

http://norn9-nonet.com/index.html Animation: Kinema Citrus x Orange Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 21:30 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @norn9_anime or #norn9 Preview by Takaii Based off an otome game, NORN9 has a really interesting premise that isn’t my cup of tea, but I’ll do my best here for you guys. With its story jumping everywhere, NORN9 begins with a shouta named Suzuhara Sorata (Abe Atsushi) and a girl named Koharu (Fujimura Ayumi) as they’re staring at a giant ship as it begins to descend upon them. Suddenly, two guys bust out, ask a few heated questions, and take both of them on board. Once on the ship they discover a handful of other kids who have some sort of special power, and that the ship is headed to somewhere where their powers can be used for peace instead of destruction. So, skipping past the awkward introduction and into some specifics, apparently the world has experienced World War IV and in order to “reset” things, it was decided that the world needed to be blown up and recreated. To accomplish the reset part, the higher ups decided to distribute the “powers” needed to recreate the world to psychic users until the time was right. These psychic users are NORN9’s crew and whom the story follows. From what I gathered, a lot of people seem to enjoy the source material not necessarily for its story, but for the characters and just how unique each of them are. Based off an otome game, you can expect the general idea of routes and flags as the main girl attempts to go for the various guys throughout the ship. The draw of this one though seems to fall on the vast amount of character types scattered throughout NORN9 (hikikomori, tsundere, jerk, etc), and they’re apparently all so lovable that you can’t help but wish that everyone could get their own happy ending. In terms of production, the studio handling this one is Kinema Citrus with help from Orange (remember Black Bullet, anyone?), and there are some pretty big name seiyuu like Ono Daisuke and Sugita Tomokazu, which is always a positive. Overall, I think all the ingredients for a fun date and conquering type show are there, and with such a crazy premise, I’m probably going to at least watch the first few episodes to wrap my head around everything. Watching This: Cherrie, Passerby, Takaii Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show NORN9: Norn + Nonetto Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/NORN9_Norn_Nonet_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/NORN9_Norn_Nonet_PV.jpg 480 270] NORN9: Norn + Nonetto Promotional Video #1 (1:35)

Active Raid -Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei-Top

アクティヴレイド -機動強襲室第八係-

http://activeraid.net/ Animation: Production IMS Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 22:00 Episodes: 12 (split-cour) Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @activeraid or #activeraid Preview by Passerby It’s the future! The world is corrupt! Tokyo has fallen to chaos! A more effective policing system is needed to push back the rampant crime plaguing the urban sprawl. Thus the invention and deployment of ‘Willware,’ suits of mechanical exoskeletons that are donned when enforcing the law becomes violent and dangerous—or when there’s less concern about collateral damage. Of particular note is the 8th unit of the 3rd Mobile Assault group of the 5th division of the Special Public Security Section (hurray, bureaucracy!), better known locally as ‘the Eighth.’ They are charged with policing a particularly unpleasant part of Tokyo, but aren’t exactly model citizens themselves. An altogether unruly, unorthodox and unmotivated bunch, the Eighth would, in a crime drama, all be the bad cop at once. Enter assistant inspector Kagari Asami (Ozawa Ari), freshly assigned to the Eighth and tasked with overseeing this failing unit. Will she be able to whip the Eighth into shape and turn it into a truly professional crime fighting force? Before anything else, I must mention that Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai-Hakkei (Active Raid: Special Public Security 5th Division 3rd Mobile Assault Unit 8; oh how that rolls off the tongue) is being scripted and composed by Arakawa Naruhisa, who has under this belt, among other things, Kamen Rider. That’s exactly what I’m hoping for from Active Raid: over-the-top Super Sentai-flavoured action. The sci-fi powered armour means masked heroes fighting evil, right? That’s not to say that Arakawa is going to be the only influence on this series—we have Taniguchi Gorou (CODE GEASS) and Akitaya Noriaki (Bakuman.) in the chairs of chief director and director respectively, which should add some additional oomph to the staff. The only potential worry is that Active Raid has some reliance on computer graphics, mostly to animate Willware. Your personal tolerance for it will vary, though. Otherwise, Active Raid looks to be the fun original offering of the season with a possible serious edge, and like most originals is worth checking out. Watching This: Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu | 少女たちは荒野を目指すTop

http://shokomeza.com/ Animation: Project No.9 Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Drama, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 22:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @shokomeza or #shokomeza Preview by Passerby Houjou Buntarou (Yamashita Seiichirou) is your average high school student, an aimless youth unsure of his goals for the future and without a current direction in life. What he does do, on the occassions where he’s not just bumming with his mates, is write, and it is for this that he is approached by classmate Kuroda Sayuki (Chisuga Hakura), who read a script Buntarou had written for the Drama Club. Sayuki wants to create a visual novel, and wants Buntarou’s help to do it. It’s strange; Buntarou knows nothing at all about making games, but Sayuki claims that she will be able to make the project a success. Where does her confidence come from? Will it be enough, as these youths step into this great unknown? So, an anime adaptation of a visual novel about making a visual novel. Possibly a visual novel about itself. If that sounds like Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata to you then, yeah, it did to me too. But Shoujo-tachi wa Kyouya wo Mezasu (The Girls Who Aim for the Wilderness) is of a somewhat different stock. It’s a funny cross-media thing, with the anime being based on a visual novel, but being aired prior to the release of its ‘source’. Well, the relationship between the anime and the visual novel is less important than the fact that the original author is Tanaka Romeo, who also wrote, amongst other things, the critically acclaimed Cross†Channel. From his involvement alone we can perhaps take a guess at the true nature of Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu. It’ll likely be less the self-deprecating comedy of Saekano and more skewed towards drama, worming into the heads of both its characters and the audience. I’m trusting Tanaka Romeo to have written something compelling, is what I’m saying. And hey, the PV is not unpleasant to look at, and we have Steins;Gate director Sato Takuya on board, so how bad could it be? In fact, I think it could actually be pretty good. Watching This: Cherrie, Jig, Passerby, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Shoujo-tachi_wa_Kouya_wo_Mezasu_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Shoujo-tachi_wa_Kouya_wo_Mezasu_PV1.jpg 480 270] Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu Promotional Video #1 (1:26)

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi | 僕だけがいない街Top

http://bokumachi-anime.com/ Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Drama, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 24:55 Episodes: 12 Station: Fuji TV (CX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @bokumachi_anime or #僕街 Preview by Passerby Fujinuma Satoru (Mitsushima Shinnosuke) is a struggling manga author who receives one major criticism about his work: it lacks personality. From this perhaps one can already tell what kind of person Satoru is. He’s a stiff sort, a bit awkward about expressing himself, and not too keen with getting involved with others. But Satoru occasionally experiences a strange phenomenon; right before a tragic accident or incident, Satoru would find himself sent backwards in time, and would relive that snippet of his life until he spots what causes the tragedy and averts it. This, and Satoru’s better nature, prevents him from ignoring others in distress, but he is himself haunted by a harrowing event in his past. As a child, an adult he trusted was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of multiple children, including Satoru’s then classmate Hinazuki Kayo (Yuuki Aoi). Through this hazy memory one thought gnaws at him to this day: couldn’t he have done something about it? So, an adaptation of a manga starring a flawed mangaka. This must be what they call writing what you know (*zing*). In seriousness, Sanbe Kei‘s Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (The Town Where Only I am Missing aka ERASED) is a quality work, and the various awards it has been nominated for will attest to that. From the synopsis you can probably tell that it’s got a mystery brewing, with a bit of a sci-fi edge in the time loop thing, but what Boku Dake ga Inai Machi excels at is its psychological angle, drilling deep into the minds of its characters (especially the protagonist) to show what makes them tick. Along the way it tackles many serious issues, like repression, child abuse, and social anxiety. It may be a bit tricky to adapt, but there seems to be a solid staff behind the anime; director Itou Tomohiko and screenwriter Kishimoto Taku have worked together before on the first season of Gin no Saji (and it was good), while composer Kajiura Yuki will be providing no doubt suitably dramatic music. A lot of good things have been lined up for this adaptation, and Boku Dake ga Inai Machi could well be one of the more promising shows this season. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: High

Show Boku dake ga Inai Machi Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Boku_dake_ga_Inai_Machi_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Boku_dake_ga_Inai_Machi_PV.jpg 480 270] Boku dake ga Inai Machi Promotional Video #1 (0:33)

Oji-san to Marshmallow | おじさんとマシュマロTop

http://www.dreamcreation.co.jp/ojimasyu/ Animation: Creators in Park Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:00 Episodes: 12 Station: Teletama (TVS) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @anime_ojms or #おじマシュ Preview by Zanibas Based on the popular webcomic from Pixiv and the subsequent manga, Ojisan to Marshmallow comes as a short-form anime this winter. This comedy-romance centers around Kusaka Habahiro (Inada Tetsu)—a quite large middle aged man who loves marshmallows—as well as the office lady in love with him, Wakabayashi Iori (Kitamura Eri). There will be lots of cute romance. There will be comedic misunderstandings. There will be marshmallows. Lots of marshmallows. Considering how wildly popular the webseries has been with its Japanese audience, Ojisan to Marshmallow stands out with proven comedy that’s sure to garner more than a few laughs. The plot itself is ridiculous enough to not get lost in the sea of sub-class shorts, forsaking cute girls and mascots in favor of a (silly) portrayal of common people. Though the production team is unremarkable and novice, with seiyuu such as Kitamura Eri and Hanazawa Kana in major roles, the acting will definitely be spot-on. I recommend this to anyone looking for a quick absurd comedy, with the undertones of a cute romance in an age group rarely explored in anime. Watching This: Samu Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Phantasy Star Online 2 The AnimationTop

ファンタシースターオンライン2 ジ アニメーション

http://phantasystar.sega.jp/psportal/pso15anniversary/animation/ Animation: Telecom Animation Film Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sc-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:46 Episodes: 12 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @ANIME_PSO2 or #アニメPSO2 Preview by Passerby Phantasy Star was one of the older Japanese role playing game franchises and decidedly single player, but it eventually lead to the MMORPG variant Phantasy Star Online and, surprise surprise, a Phantasy Star Online 2. In 2016, Phantasy Star Online will turn 15, and to celebrate this anniversary an anime adaptation of the second game is being made. While the MMO was thin on plot, that shouldn’t be an issue because the anime is using an original story. It is the year 2027 and war was beginning our hero Tachibana Itsuki (Aoi Shouta) is a high school student boarding at something of a military academy, an institution dedicated to nurturing both scholarly and martial skills in its students. All is well, until one day student council president Izumi Rina (Suwa Ayaka) calls Itsuki to the student council room. In a normal school this would be nothing to write home about, but this is no normal school. There must be a reason why the student president, universally admired at the academy, would ask for Itsuki personally. Could this be a call to adventure? Video game adaptations are often suspect. Despite superficial similarities, there is much in a game that simply does not translate well into anime; much of the narrative is usually communicated via mechanics. One way to bypass this is to simply strip away everything from the game except the fluff and just build something new on that, which has proven successful in the past with, for example, Shingeki no Bahamut, and that seems to be what Phantasy Star Online 2 the Animation is attempting. Phantasy Star actually had a fairly interesting world (especially for its time), a sword and sorcery setting but with a science-fiction aesthetic, something which would eventually inspire .hack. That said, the little we know of the premise sounds a tad generic, and the promotional videos perhaps betray an over-reliance on computer graphics. Your tolerance for either of those will vary. There’s no lack of action and science fiction this season, so Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation will have to impress to stand out, but it has its roots in a venerable franchise, so it may be worth checking out just for that. With only slim information available for it right now, we won’t know for sure how it will turn out, and it could surprise. Watching This: No one yet Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Phantasy_Star_Online_2_The_Animation_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Phantasy_Star_Online_2_The_Animation_PV2.jpg 480 270] Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation Promotional Video #2 (1:40) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Phantasy_Star_Online_2_The_Animation_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Phantasy_Star_Online_2_The_Animation_PV1.jpg 480 270] Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation Promotional Video #1 (1:17)

Dagashi Kashi | だがしかしTop

http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/dagashi/ Animation: feel. Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 26:16 Episodes: 12 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @anime_dagashi or #だがしかし Preview by Zanibas Small-town boy Shikada Kokonotsu (Abe Atsushi) has a natural talent for creating sweets, something his father, sweets shop owner Shikada You (Fujiwara Keiji), recognizes in him. Although Kokonotsu is egged on by his father to take over the family business, he’s more interested in becoming a mangaka. These plans are hampered with the arrival of big-city girl Shidare Hotaru (Taketatsu Ayana), who hopes to enlist Shikada’s father into her own family’s sweets making company. The father’s catch: she first must convince Shikada to take over his own family’s business. Along with family friends Endou Saya (Numakura Manami) and Endou Tou (Suzuki Tatsuhisa), Shikada and Shidare, a world of sweets, and their creation are waiting to be explored. It is where even the most rural candy shop can produce some wonderful desserts. Dagashi Kashi immediately stands out with its unique character designs. The dilated pupils are spread out across all characters, giving the show a distinct face that’s hard to look away from. The art has translated well from the manga thanks to studio feel’s efforts, and looks to be shaping up to be one of their better adaptations in recent times. The premise itself sounds interesting; though the concept of succeeding the rural family business is a heavily used trope in anime, exploring the realm of Japanese sweets should be a plus for audiences looking to immerse themselves in daily Japanese culture. The show itself is heavily reliant on episodic humor, using the concept of a specific candy to drive the current episode. Viewers who are looking for a light comedy focused on a specific part of Japanese culture, you’ve got your winner. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Dagashi Kashi Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Dagashi_Kashi_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Dagashi_Kashi_PV1.jpg 480 270] Dagashi Kashi Promotional Video #1 (0:59)

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season | 暗殺教室 第2期Top

http://www.ansatsu-anime.com/main.php Animation: Lerche Premiere: January 7, 2016 Genre: Comedy, Action, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Thursdays at 25:25 Episodes: 25 Station: Fuji TV (CX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @ansatsu_anime or #暗殺教室 Preview by Takaii When the world is facing utter destruction from a nearly indestructible octopus that can fly at Mach 20, what in the world are you supposed to do? Especially when elite assassins and the toughest in the military aren’t even able to lay a scratch on him? Obviously, you send in a group of troublesome third-year middle school students! Jokes aside, Assassination Classroom focuses on the students of classroom 3-E, a special class where the troublemakers and underperforming students of the school are sent in an effort to get them back on track. But in reality, this classroom is more of a final resting place to “encourage” students to quit, and serves as a warning to keep the rest of the student body motivated. However, after one fateful day where most of the moon was obliterated, classroom 3-E received a new teacher who would forever change their lives — a strangely dressed octopus aptly named Koro-sensei (Fukuyama Jun), whom they were told to assassinate or else the world will be destroyed. To preface, it’s probably important that you watch the first season before starting this one. After an exciting two-cour season and tons of character development, you’d be missing a ton if you leapt straight into this second season. Getting back on track, boy oh boy am I excited for this second season of Assclass (my favorite acronym for this show). With Lerche returning to hold the reins and everyone of importance reprising their roles, what more could you ask for? If you were to ask me what makes this show so fun to watch, I’d highlight the interactions between Koro-sensei and all the students of class 3-E. While the overarching mission is for Koro-sensei to eventually be taken out, there’s no way you can overlook the bonds and friendship that everyone’s made together. Overcoming obstacle after obstacle, be it a trio of trained assassins or the chairman of the academy, there’s nothing they can’t overcome together (except maybe killing Koro-sensei!). I hope to see you all for the second season, since I’ve been dying to see more and it looks like our patience is about to be rewarded. That and I would watch the show simple for Nagisa-kun (Fuchigami Mai). Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: High

Show Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Ansatsu_Kyoushitsu_2nd_Season_CM.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Ansatsu_Kyoushitsu_2nd_Season_CM.jpg 480 270] Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season Commercial #1 (0:15)

Divine Gate | ディバインゲートTop

http://www.marv.jp/special/divinegate/ Animation: Studio Pierrot Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 22:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @divine_anime or #ディバゲアニメ Preview by Zanibas From the smartphone game of the same name comes a new anime produced by Studio Pierrot. In this world, the barrier between Heaven, Hell, and Earth have been broken, allowing chaos to reign. It was only thanks to the formation of a World Council that the chaos could be contained. While they enforce the peace, the World Council has a secondary agenda—to send a human to the source of the chaos and reshape the world. To this end, they gather children possessing magical powers and send them towards the source of chaos: the Divine Gate. The one who reaches it first essentially becomes a god, but what kind of world do each of these children want to create? In the past, it would have been easy to dismiss mobile game adaptations as immediate flops. However, with the rise of shows such as The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls and Shingeki no Bahamut: GENESIS, viewers everywhere must take care not to miss a gem by dismissing it as a mobile game advertisement. With a lack of plot from the game, Divine Gate has barely any information on its story, but its flexibility may be a strong point. With Studio Pierrot and director Abe Noriyuki (Bleach, Arslan Senki) onboard, as well as a cast with credentials, including Taketatsu Ayana and Itou Kanae, anything could happen with this show. Though the character designs from the released PVs look a bit iffy, overall the show looks decent in terms of its animation. I recommend a quick peek at the first episode for fantasy action fans to see if it piques your interest. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Samu Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show Divine Gate Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Divine_Gate_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Divine_Gate_PV2.jpg 480 270] Divine Gate Promotional Video #2 (1:15) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Divine_Gate_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Divine_Gate_PV1.jpg 480 270] Divine Gate Promotional Video #1 (0:35)

Oshiete! Galko-chan | おしえて！ギャル子ちゃんTop

http://galko.jp/ Animation: feel. Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Comedy, School-Life Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 22:30 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @galko_official or #ギャル子ちゃん Preview by Jig Based on a manga which was originally published on Twitter (before subsequently moving to Kadokawa’s ComicWalker website), Oshiete! Gyaruko-chan consists of a series of comedic shorts following the everyday lives of three high school friends. Gyaruko (Waki Azumi) is a slightly rude but ultimately good-hearted popular girl, Otaki (Tomita Miyu) is the quiet loner of group who nevertheless manages to be good friends with Gyaruko, and Ojyo (Takahashi Minami) is a free-speaking but airheaded girl who talks frequently with the prior two. Each girl’s name is a play-on-words that alludes to a subculture which loosely characterizess the girls. Gyaruko is a pun on “gyaru”, which refers to a kind of street fashion where young girls bleach their hair blonde, adorn their nails with gaudy decorations, and wear loads of face make-up; Otako is a reference to Otaku culture; and Ojou is an allusion to a daughter of a high-class family. If you’re looking for deep and impactful storytelling, Oshiete! Gyaruko-chan is probably not for you. In the manga, each chapter lasts just one page, and there are no overarching plots or strong character development. This isn’t to say that it won’t be worth your time. I found each short to be quaint and subdued in humor, which proves for an amusing little read. I think it’s crucial that this tone carries over into the anime in order for it to succeed. Sure, it’s light on content and depth, but intentionally so. The series isn’t trying to be anything grand—just fun. Director Kawaguchi Keiichirou has had plenty of experience with school life comedy shows (like Minami-ke Taidama, Jinsei), so it seems to be in the right hands. It’s not hard seeing this series as a quick little watch every week, sort of like the funnies in the Sunday newspaper. Watching This: Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Koukaku no Pandora | 紅殻のパンドラTop

http://k-pandora.com/ Animation: Studio Gokumi x AXsiZ Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 23:00 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @kpandora_anime or #kpandora Preview by Zanibas From the mind of Shirow Masamune, creator of Ghost in the Shell, comes a lighter work that continues the focus on cyborgs and their ethics. In a world where automation is dominating all aspects of life and dividing the poor and the rich even wider, Nanakorobi Nene (Fuku Sanae), a cyborg, has an exciting future waiting for her. As she travels to the island of Cenancle to live with her family, she runs into another cyborg, Clarion (Numakura Manami) and her master, Deliah Uzal (Tanaka Atsuko). Uzal then warns that if Clarion and Nene don’t work together, a terrorist threat on Cenancle will come to fruition and spell mass destruction. Thus, the two cyborgs go on a quest to defeat this menace, revealing powers within themselves they never knew they had. Although author Shirow Masamune is legendary for the GiTS series, his works after that series haven’t been as well-received. Koukaku no Pandora looks to be no exception. Although I respect Studio Gokumi as a production company, the work done so far to show off this anime has been lackluster. The premise and the character designs simply don’t mesh together, especially considering how the recent commercials have portrayed the series more as a comedy. There could be a curveball I’m not seeing here, but judging from the tepid response to the source material, I highly doubt it. Fans of the cute-girls-in-battle niche may find interest in this series, but overall, it’s going to take a lot of convincing to capture the interest of anyone else. Watching This: Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show Koukaku no Pandora Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Koukaku_no_Pandora_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Koukaku_no_Pandora_PV.jpg 480 270] Koukaku no Pandora Promotional Video #1 (1:11)

Sekkou Boys | 石膏ボーイズTop

http://sekkoboys.com/ Animation: LIDENFILMS Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Comedy, Music Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 23:00 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @sekkoboys or #いしぼ Preview by Stilts This original anime stars the Sekkou Boys, an idol unit made up of four gypsum statues. There’s the military saint and group leader Saint George (Sugita Tomokazu), the amorous but earnest in love god of war Mars (Ono Daisuke), the multi-talented idol with beautiful skin Hermes (Fukuyama Jun), and history’s original celebrity Medici (Tachibana Shinnosuke). The story follows their efforts to survive in the entertainment industry with their rookie female manager Ishimoto Miki (Kokido Shiho), who just graduated from college. They sing, they blush, they’re statues—they’re the Sekkou Boys! This anime is already utterly bizarre, and I love it. Is it an incisive takedown of the idol industry, where idols are put on literal pedestals for the worship of their adoring fans? Or did someone just think it would be funny to assemble some of the industry’s greatest male seiyuu and make them voice a bunch of statues? It’s almost certainly the latter, given the comedic tone of the promo videos. This is being helmed by newbie director Takuno Seiki at LIDENFILMS, though series composition is being done by Yokote Michiko, an experienced pro. I feel like Sekkou Boys will never be as good as it seems right now, since the absurd premise makes one imagine all sorts of crazy scenarios, when it will probably just be a goofy comedy show with a limiting premise. So temper your expectations, boys and girls. Expect something crazy, but don’t expect the world. This show will live or die by the writing and the ability of its seiyuu, and one of those at least is assured. Treat it like a chance to hear Sugita Tomokazu, Ono Daisuke, and Fukuyama Jun (and that other guy) be constantly hilarious, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a good time. Hopefully. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Sekkou Boys Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Sekkou_Boys_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Sekkou_Boys_PV2.jpg 480 270] Sekkou Boys Promotional Video #2 (1:10) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Sekkou_Boys_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Sekkou_Boys_PV1.jpg 480 270] Sekkou Boys Promotional Video #1 (0:43)

Reikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage | 霊剣山 星屑たちの宴Top

http://reikenzan.net/ Animation: Studio DEEN Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Comedy, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 24:00 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @reikenzan or #霊剣山 Preview by Zanibas Based on a popular Chinese webcomic, Reikenzan centers on a falling comet. This falling comet will bring doom to the land, unless a destined child is strong enough to stop it. Thus, the ancient Reiken clan begins its search, opening its system of entrance examinations once more to find the brightest minds. Ouriku (Yonaga Tsubasa), who possesses a special soul that is only available once in a thousand years, decides to take the exam. Helping him is his mentor Oubu (Yamaguchi Yuriko), who shares his thirst for knowledge. With Oubu’s help, Ouriku rises through the examinations, growing into the being that would eventually save them all. A few meta-details are interesting to note about this show. The source is from a Chinese webcomic, and the large Chinese internet company Tencent has joined forces with Studio DEEN to produce this show, allowing for a simulcast both in China and in Japan, both with their respective dubs. With that kind of backing, the series is sure to have some level of quality already. The premise itself is actually quite interesting as well. Drawing influences from Chinese history, it is interesting to see how the imperial examinations and Confucian influences from Imperial China have been integrated into this anime. Fans of historically influenced anime should get a kick out of this, as well as anyone looking for a comedy-fantasy combo this season. With top funding from one of the largest companies in China, Reikenzan is shaping up to be an interesting peek into contemporary Chinese fantasy writing. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu Expectation Level: Moderate

GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri 2nd SeasonTop

GATE 自衛隊 彼の地にて、斯く戦えり 炎龍編

http://www.gate-anime.com/ Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 25:05 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @gate_anime or #gate_anime Preview by Samu GATE returns this season with its second cour, after accumulating a fair amount of popularity and online debate in the summer of 2015. For those unaware, GATE is an adaptation of Yanai Takumi’s series (originally a web-novel, then novel, before finally becoming a light novel series) set in the near future when a mysterious portal opens in Tokyo, and an army of fantastical creatures pour through. Led by the proud otaku and unlikely solider, Itami Youji (Suwabe Junichi), the JSDF are tasked with invading the land beyond the portal, stepping into a fantasy war involving dragons, elves, mages, and gothloli deities. What could have been a grim outlook on colonising a foreign world managed to balance its nationalistic ideologies and questionable real-life politics with plenty of light-hearted anime tropes and clichés, resulting in an enjoyable week-by-week watch that was hard to take completely seriously. With this second cour, we’re set to return beyond ‘the Gate’ once again, and step into the wars that are about to break out. I previously described GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri is ‘undoubtedly anime.’ I can’t imagine this sort of story existing in any other medium of storytelling, for better or worse. Better, because it wasn’t as serious and controversial as I initially thought it would be, yet worse if you’ve grown tired of those typical ‘anime’ moments: badass lolis, bathhouse scenes, and celebrating the otaku culture, all included. Also, guns and military technology. Lots of it. I’ve been informed of some controversial events that are set to take place in this second cour, but I’ll refrain judgement until it’s fully aired and we have a better idea of where the story is heading. For the time being, it’s a fun watch that’s successfully captured the interest of many anime fans, and will continue to do so for another season. Watching This: Samu, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakaeri_2nd_Season_Announcement.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/GATE_Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakaeri_2nd_Season_Announcement.jpg 480 270] GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri 2nd Season Announcement (0:15)

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu | 昭和元禄落語心中Top

http://rakugo-shinju-anime.jp/ Animation: Studio DEEN Premiere: January 8, 2016 Genre: Drama, History Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 26:25 Episodes: 13 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @rakugoshinju or #落語心中 Preview by Samu Once in a blue moon, an obscure yet acclaimed manga will get an anime adaptation despite the likelihood of its commercial success looking grim. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is just that sort of title – a historical Josei manga that’s been nominated for (or won) every award going. In 2012 it came 4th place in the Manga Taisho awards, losing to the likes of Gin no Saji, Aku no Hana, and KimiUso; it was nominated for the 17th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, won the manga Excellence Award at the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards, and took the grand prize as the Best General Manga in the 38th Kodansha Manga Awards. What makes it so special? It focuses on the journeys of several characters all interconnected through the past and present, set in Japan’s Showa era (~1960s). The introductory story focuses on Yotarou (Seki Tomokazu), which translates to “anti-hero” or “dim-witted man,” after he is released from prison and prepares to re-integrate into society, seeking an apprenticeship under Yuurakutei Yakumo (Ishida Akira), the “grim reaper” of traditional comic storytelling who has lived a lonely life full of suffering. Under his tutelage, Yotarou meets his ward, Konatsu (Kobayashi Yu), a woman whose fate is deeply connected to the gifted Yakumo, after the passing of her own famed storytelling father. Her journey coincides with Yotarou’s own, as she attempts to become a performer in her own right – facing the adversities of being a woman in a man’s profession. Some may cringe at Studio DEEN handling such acclaimed material, but with Omata Shinichi (Sankarea, Rozen Maiden) directing, I think there’s little to worry about. He’s been in charge of the studio’s most-regarded works in the past few years, and this looks to be no different. There’s resemblances to Sakamichi no Apollon in the art style and execution, which likely comes from them both being set in similar time periods. Not only that, but the OST has a distinct jazzy sound to it, like you’d expect from Baccano!, as Shibue Kana is in charge of the music. This may not end up being the most popular anime of the season, but it’s likely to attract a dedicated following among anime fans who are seeking something different. With Shouwa Genroku’s many awards and nominations under its belt, a strong staff list, and a reputation for its subtle human portrayals, I think we’re in for a treat with this one. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Jig, Passerby, Samu Expectation Level: High

Show Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Shouwa_Genroku_Rakugo_Shinjuu_PV3.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Shouwa_Genroku_Rakugo_Shinjuu_PV3.jpg 480 270] Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu Promotional Video #3 (1:26) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Shouwa_Genroku_Rakugo_Shinjuu_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Shouwa_Genroku_Rakugo_Shinjuu_PV2.jpg 355 200] Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu Promotional Video #2 (2:05) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Shouwa_Genroku_Rakugo_Shinjuu_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Shouwa_Genroku_Rakugo_Shinjuu_PV1.jpg 355 200] Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu Promotional Video #1 (0:30)

FAIRY TAIL ZEROTop

http://www.fairytail-tv.com/contents/special/zero/ Animation: Premiere: January 9, 2016 Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 10:30 Episodes: Station: TV Tokyo (TX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @fairytail_PR or #フェアリーテイル Preview by Stilts FAIRY TAIL ZERO (actually a continuation of FAIRY TAIL (2014), starting with episode 91) adapts Mashima Hiro’s prequel manga to his popular FAIRY TAIL series. It tells of the founding of Fairy Tail. It starts many years ago, when Mavis Vermilion (Noto Mamiko) was a servant on Sirius Island, and was mistreated by a guild master and his daughter, Zera (Hanazawa Kana). But Mavis stayed positive, because her mother once told her that fairies never visited people who cried about their problems. When the guild came under attack, Mavis pulled Zera from the wreckage. Seven years went by, and the powerful wizards/treasure hunters Warrod Sequen (Shirokuma Hiroshi), Precht (Kawahara Yoshihisa), and Yuri Dreyer (Konishi Katsuyuki) arrived on the island, seeking a powerful jade gemstone. This journey would change the course of magical history. I’ve always respected the FAIRY TAIL anime for being one of the few shounen adaptations to have the foresight to stop when they catch up to the manga, rather than going into endless fillers. With the entire team is back to adapt the prequel manga, I’m happy. And I do mean the entire team, because all of the main players are back, from director Ishihira Shinji, series composer Sogo Masashi, studio A-1 Pictures, and any seiyuu whose character make an appearance. Normally with prequels I worry that they’ll be an unnecessary distraction, but with FAIRY TAIL I don’t feel that way. Granted, I’ve not read the prequel manga, since I’m behind on the main storyline again (my backlog ;_;), but I feel confident when it’s FAIRY TAIL, because it’s nothing if not consistent. Consistent, and increasingly epic. To paraphrase what I wrote last time: Filled with overflowing emotions, the characters continue fighting, never give in to despair, and always find a way to win, no matter the odds. Combined with unshakable faith in their friends, their tendency to recruit new nakama as the story progresses, and more potential couples than you can shake a very large shipping stick at, FAIRY TAIL has a lot to offer, as long as what you want is action… And I see no reason any of that has changed. Expect a more restrained, tighter story, but it should have all the hallmarks of the main series. But let’s be serious—if you’re a FAIRY TAIL anime watcher, you’re already planning to watch this. Feel free to expect a good time. Watching This: Cherrie, Stilts Expectation Level: Established

Bubuki Buranki | ブブキ・ブランキTop

http://bbkbrnk.com/ Animation: Sanzigen Premiere: January 9, 2016 Genre: Action Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 22:00 Episodes: Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @bbkbrnk or #ブブキ Preview by Stilts This original anime will be produced by studio Sanzigen, in commeration of the studio’s 10th anniversary. When Ikki Azuma (Kobayashi Yuusuke) returns to Japan after ten years, he gets assaulted by a group of armed men and is taken prisoner. His chidhood friend, Asabuki Kogane (Ozawa Ari), saves him with a weapon on her right hand known as Bubuki; a weapon with a mind of its own. Azuma, who is a Bubuki user himself, learns about the existence of Bubuki and goes on a journey alongside newfound companions, in an attempt to find and revive Oumai, a Buranki (titan) who sleeps underground. Information is scarce about this original series. From what I saw in the promo video, the backgrounds are gorgeous, but then again, I’ve been burned by a series with beautiful backgrounds and an average premise. Yet this is being done by Sanzigen of Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova fame, and their CGI is getting good, since I didn’t even realize it was CGI when I started watching the promo. Even the characters, the hardest part to get right with CGI, sometimes look so good you can mistake them for being traditionally animated. The plot doesn’t light a fire under my tail, nor does the staff, but great things have come from sketchy premises before. I advise you to check out the promo video for this one, because that will tell you whether this is something you want to check out. I think I will be, if only to see what anime’s supposed CGI future might look like. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Bubuki Buranki Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Bubuki_Buranki_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Bubuki_Buranki_PV.jpg 480 270] Bubuki Buranki Promotional Video #1 (2:03)

Luck and Logic | ラクエンロジックTop

http://luckandlogic-animation.com/ Animation: Dogakobo Premiere: January 9, 2016 Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 22:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @luck_and_logic or #ラクロジ Preview by Stilts In the year L.C. 922, mankind faces an unprecedented crisis. Following the conclusion of a hundred-year war on the mythical world of Tetra Heaven, the losing Majins—who are effectively gods—have invaded the human world of Seprpia in search of a safe haven. The government is forced to fight back by employing Logicalists, special police that protect the streets from the otherworldly invaders. Logicalists are given a special power that allows them to enter a trance with goddesses from the other world. One day, Tsurugi Yoshichika (Ono Kensho), a civilian who is lacking “Logic” and lives peacefully with his family, meets the beautiful goddess Athena (Uesaka Sumire) while helping people escape from a Majin attack. She possesses the “Logic” that Yoshichika lacked, leading Yoshichika to an unexpected destiny with Athena. This series has one of those premises that makes my eyes cross, and the characters look like they were attacked by a rabid illustrator. But overdone isn’t necessarily the same as bad. This is an original anime/trading card game project produced in cooperation with Bandai Visual and Bushiroad, which explains the overwrought character designs. My first instinct is to be skeptical of multimedia projects, but Shingeki no Bahamut: GENESIS would like to have a word with me. Doga Kobo’s animation looks as good as always, and director Chigira Kouichi has a few good series under his belt. This looks like an action show, where the characters fuse together to fight against monsters, which is mostly animated via CGI once the fighting gets going. No indication on what the plot will be, save for the word salad of descriptors above (“Logicalists” is especially obnoxious), but I can only hope that Bahamut GENESIS taught the industry that a good anime sells more trading cards than a bad one. I’m torn between my love for Doga Kobo’s animation and the strong crop of seiyuu, and a premise which needs to lose two-thirds of its technobabble. A lot will depend on how the first episode turns out. Watching This: Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Luck and Logic Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Luck_and_Logic_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Luck_and_Logic_PV.jpg 480 270] Luck and Logic Promotional Video #1 (1:11)

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu | デュラララ!!×2 結Top

http://www.durarara.com/ Animation: Shuka Premiere: January 9, 2016 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 After a cour in Winter 2015 and another this past summer, the final season of Durarara!!x2 is here, this time titled Ketsu. When we last left the modern Tokyo district of Ikebukuro, the chaos brewing in its underworld was about to hit critical mass, which is saying something considering that it’s a town normally inhabited by dangerous cryptids like the headless horseman Celty Sturluson (Sawashiro Miyuki), the Incredible Hulk (Ono Daisuke), and the Japanese high school student. There’s more going on than just the usual gang warfare, intersecting vendettas and schemes to trigger Ragnarok this time. Shards of a malevolent cursed katana have been running around enslaving minds, and it obviously has a sinister agenda, but nobody knows quite what. One thing’s for sure, though: with everything going crazy and everybody already crazy, and what little status quo there was turned firmly onto its head, Durarara!!x2 is set to end with a bang. With Durarara!!x2 Tetsu being the last of a trilogy in a way (a trilogy that is itself a sequel), I’m sure many of you already have a good idea of what kind of show it is and whether it appeals to you. It has a clear formula, one that original author Narita Ryohgo had been employing ever since Baccano!. I’ve written a bit previously about how Durarara!! was an anime based on momentum, making heavy use of drama as spectacle, and there’s no reason to think things are going to change now. Indeed, the previous x2 Ten hardly ended at all, leaving us on a cliffhanger, and I’d expect the snowball that is Durarara!! to immediately get back to rolling once it gets the camera back on itself. Since x2 Ketsu is more or less the finale, the momentum of the last arcs should be at a maximum, and the spectacle at its greatest. While previous iterations of Durarara!!x2 may have been a bit bumpy or slightly bogged down at times, there should be nothing stopping it now. We’ll likely have a clear trajectory to a grand payoff. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R | ナースウィッチ小麦ちゃんRTop

http://www.ntv.co.jp/komugir/ Animation: Tatsunoko Production Premiere: January 9, 2016 Genre: Comedy, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays at 26:25 Episodes: 12 Station: Nippon TV (NTV) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @komugichanR or #小麦ちゃんＲ Preview by Stilts This slapstick spin-off of the Nurse Witch Komugi-chan series features all new characters, including a new Komugi-chan. Yoshia Komugi (Tomoe Kei) is a clumsy second-year middle schooler who performs as an idol like her classmates Saionji Kokona (Yamazaki Erii) and Kisaragi Tsukasa (Koichi Makoto). But while Kokona’s popularity is skyrocketing and Tsukasa is popular in male clothing, Komugi’s only gigs are low-end ones like appearing at the local shopping district. But one day, a mysterious injured creature named Usa-P (Yoshino Hiroyuki) appears before Komugi. She treats Usa-P’s injuries, and in consideration of her kindness, Usa-P asks her to become a Legendary Girl who can use magic. Soon Magical Nurse Komugi-chan is battling the strange masked figures who suddenly appear, and a Magical Maid and Magical Sister join in, making it a three-way battle. This slapstick story will follow Komugi-chan and her rivals as they balance the roles of students, idols, and magical girls. This is a spin-off of 2002-05’s Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte, which itself is a spin-off of 2001’s The SoulTaker: Tamashii-gari, and I’m already bewildered as to how a ten-year-old spin-off got a spin-off. Not that Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte isn’t entertaining. It had an amusing slapstick quality to it, a magical girl spin-off that doesn’t take itself seriously, and parodies the genre as much as it indulges in it. But while the original Komugi-chan was a 17-year-old cosplay idol, the new Komugi-chan is a middle schooler, which makes me wonder who exactly this anime is aimed at. Nurse, maid, sister, animal ears—oh, who am I kidding, it’s aimed at adult otaku. This looks to be a slapstick parody again, with a veteran director in Kawaguchi Keiichirou and a relatively new head script writer in Murakami Momoko on staff. I’m confused as to how this came to be, but it doesn’t look bad, and Watanabe Akio’s character designs, as animated by Tatsunoko Production, look appropriately cute. If the story is good, this could breathe new life into the prospect of more ten-year-old spin-offs getting spin-offs. How bizarre. Watching This: Passerby, Samu Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Luck_and_Logic_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Luck_and_Logic_PV.jpg 480 270] Luck and Logic Promotional Video #1 (1:11)

Koyomimonogatari | 暦物語Top

http://www.monogatari-series.com/ Animation: SHAFT Premiere: January 9, 2016 Genre: Drama, Supernatural Airtime (GMT+9): Saturdays Episodes: 12 Station: Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @nisioisin_anime Preview by Passerby Owarimonogatari has only just ended somewhere in the middle, and already here is another instalment of Nisio Isin‘s long-running Monogatari Series, but not as the last volume of Owarimonogatari. Rather, it will be an adaptation of Koyomimonogatari (Calendar Story, some obvious pun), which is a series of short stories starring the usual main protagonist and half-vampire Araragi Koyomi (Kamiya Hiroshi, the obvious pun). There are twelve stories in all and they take place at multiple points throughout the continuity. The most curious thing about this adaptation, though, is the distribution method. Rather than television, one short-lengthed episode of Koyomimonogatari will be available for a limited time each week as part of a smartphone app. For those of you wondering, it’s a calendar app. Of course. I don’t think there’s much need to introduce the Monogatari series again. If you were watching Owarimonogatari, you’ll likely want to watch Koyomominogatari as well. It’s interesting to note that although Koyomimonogatari is being adapted in the middle of Owarimonogatari, as a novel it was actually the precedent. That means that the events of Koyomimonogatari are presumed knowledge going into Owarimonogatari, which makes it a bit odd that they are only adapting it now. (That said, the extremely antecedent Kizumonogatari has only begun to trickle out, so we can only guess at SHAFT’s mysterious ways.) From what I gather, even though Koyomimonogatari was originally but a collection of short stories, there are events there that shape our understanding of some of Owarimonogatari, so this brief intermission is probably actually a fairly important one. This may all be moot for the Western audience though; at this point not much is known about both the anime and the app, and it’s entirely possible that it simply won’t be available to those outside Japan. It should become clearer whether there is an access issue as more information comes out. Watching This: Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Rainbow Days | 虹色デイズTop

http://rainbow-days.tv/ Animation: Production Reed Premiere: January 10, 2016 Genre: Comedy, Romance Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 22:00 Episodes: 24 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @rainbow_days_tv or #虹色デイズ Preview by Zanibas Hashiba Natsuki (Matsuoka Yoshitsugu) has a crush on Kobayakawa Anna (Tsuda Minami). A typical high school romance, except for the fact that Hashiba’s friends meddle and discuss his (and their own) personal lives any time they can. Katakura Keiichi (Shimazaki Nobunaga), Naoe Tsuyoshi (Uchiyama Kouki), and Matsunaga Tomoya (Eguchi Takuya) all love to talk romance. Slowly but surely though, each of them go beyond mere discussion and face the realities of their own potential relationship journeys. This is a story about four friends, each supporting one another as their intimate lives continue to develop and grow. Just as the title implies, Rainbow Days reflects the multi-faceted events of each main character, where each arc focuses on one specific character’s relationship issue. Although each episode is only 15 minutes in length, the series has been greenlit for two consecutive seasons. It’s an interesting experiment that might solve many of the time constraints that affect pacing, substance, and production deadlines that afflict many a romance anime. Longer arcs mean more time to dedicate to each character and fleshing out their respective stories. We’ll see if the tradeoff pays off. As for content, the concept of several pairings in one show isn’t unheard of, but it is uncommon enough to stand out as a fresher premise in the romance genre. The seiyuu lineup and staffing look impressive, with all four of the main male seiyuu leads boasting experienced profiles. Director Amino Tetsuro has just as much experience under his belt, whose latest work includes Arslan Senki. My sole concern is that initial impressions of the animation in the PV look lackluster, perhaps because of Production Reed’s lack of full-scale animation production experience. Other than that, I believe romance fans have something to look forward to this season, at least worth a three-episode evaluation. Amino’s skills will be tested in the uncommon 15 minute format, but if successful, this could mean a new compromise between number of cours and episode length that gives added flexibility and depth that romance anime desperately need. Watching This: Samu Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Rainbow Days Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Rainbow_Days_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Rainbow_Days_PV.jpg 480 270] Rainbow Days Promotional Video #1 (2:02)

Ooya-san wa Shishunki! | 大家さんは思春期！Top

http://ooyasan-anime.com/ Animation: Seven Arc Pictures Premiere: January 10, 2016 Genre: Comedy, 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 @ooyasan_anime or #ooyasan_anime Preview by Takaii Ooya-san wa Shisunki takes a tried and true formula and puts it to work bringing together two common characters — a young boy who’s recently moved out and his landlord who looks like a little kid (and surprisingly, is a little kid!). Except, she’s good at cooking, laundry, and all the other things you’d associate with an older lady. With a big mismatch in looks versus personality, the show aims to bring you the laughs with a splash of occasional feels as our characters live their lives. Seeing as how I couldn’t get a hold of the manga, I took it upon myself to dive into some of the grittier details to get a handle on it. Based off the cover art alone this will probably end up being a cutesy show, which I have no qualms about since the premise is based on the landlord’s looks being a stark contrast to how well suited she is for the position. In terms of studio we have Seven Arcs handling it (they also did Trinity Seven), and they’re no stranger to taking a male protagonist and tossing him into some pretty sticky situations. Overall, I think we’ll be in for an amusing show at the very least. On a side note, researching this show kept making me think about Mahoraba and all the antics everyone went through, since it had a somewhat similar premise. Hopefully it’ll be as good! Watching This: Jig, Stilts, Takaii Expectation Level: Moderate

Dimension W | ディメンションWTop

http://dimension-w.net/ Animation: Orange x Studio 3Hz Premiere: January 10, 2016 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 22:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @dimension_w or #dimensionw Preview by Samu It’s the year 2072, and the late Nikola Tesla’s dream of a ‘World System’ of electricity is starting to take shape. Batteries and cords are long forgotten after a fourth plane of existence is found. From that dimension a seemingly infinite source of energy exists, with cross-dimensional inductors known as “coils” being used to extract it. However, some coils are modified for illegal purposes, which is where our protagonist, Mabuchi Kyouma (Ono Daisuke) comes in. Kyouma is a man with a passion for the ‘vintage’ gas-powered cars of the past, lives in the slums, and hates coils; working as a recovery man, he hunts down those misusing coils for destructive purposes. While on one of his missions in the grimy underbelly of this metropolitan future, he comes across a captive girl, Yurizaki Mira (Ueda Reina), a humanoid android made by the wife of the developer of the coil technology. With the disappearance of her renowned father, Mira and Kyouma form a reluctant partnership and end up working together to recover all the illegal coils across the city. Dimension W has an interesting history leading to this adaptation, being originally announced in Anime Expo 2015 in Los Angeles, with FUNimation as a member of the production committee. Most anime are conceived, produced, and first announced in Japan, but occasionally you get something that’s bound to appeal to a worldwide audience, and that seems to be the direction Dimension W will take. From reading over the manga, it’s clear there is a fully-realised world ready to be explored, with two unlikely but charming leads that couldn’t be any different. This marks Studio 3Hz’s second TV anime, after Sora no Method, but with Kamei Kanta (Usagi Drop, Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin, Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata) directing, this could very well be their first hit. If you’re craving a sci-fi series that focuses on the ugly side of technological advancement, deals with the relationship between humans and androids, and has plenty of polished action sequences, then Dimension W will be worth checking out. Watching This: Guardian Enzo, Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Dimension W Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Dimension_W_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Dimension_W_PV2.jpg 480 270] Dimension W Promotional Video #2 (2:10) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Dimension_W_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Dimension_W_PV1.jpg 480 270] Dimension W Promotional Video #1 (1:11)

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar | 灰と幻想のグリムガルTop

http://grimgar.com/ Animation: A-1 Pictures Premiere: January 10, 2016 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 24:30 Episodes: 12 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @grimgar_anime or #グリムガル Preview by Takaii Waking up surrounded by darkness, Haruhiro (Hosoya Yoshimasa) and a handful of others walk into a world that feels like something straight out of a video game. With everyone unable to remember more than just their name and a vast expansion of unexplored lands waiting in front of them, a guide suddenly appears and takes them to the reserve force office. Here they’re told the basics of this world — survive, form parties, and venture off to defeat the monsters that are plaguing the world. And with just that tiny bit of information, Haruhiro begins his struggle to find a party and venture off as they try to figure out just what’s going on and why they’ve been thrust into this world. If only they knew just how real things were about to get. I have some pretty conflicted feelings about this one. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar feels like the fantasy show I’ve been waiting for that just happens to have RPG elements tossed into the mix to appeal to the gamer inside of me. Characters have to pick classes and have various means of leveling up their skills aside from actually practicing time like we do in real life. In addition to that, I love how the idea of “killing” isn’t belittled here, and the fact that there’s some real weight behind it gives the story a hint of realism that I can totally get behind. However, if I had one complaint, it’d have to be Haruhiro and his personality. This is more of a gripe than a complaint, but seeing how he’s the de facto protagonist, he’s carrying some really naggy tendencies that quickly got on my nerves. Now don’t get me wrong, I love watching a rags to riches story where the main character eventually becomes a badass, but there’s just something about Haruhiro that I can’t stand. That said, if the anime adaptation can skillfully iron those tendencies out, I think we’ll have a great character that can tell a great story on our hands. I have some pretty high expectations for this show, and with A-1 Pictures handling the production, I’m sure at worst we’ll have a really pretty show. Watching This: Cherrie, Jig, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Hai_to_Gensou_no_Grimgar_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Hai_to_Gensou_no_Grimgar_PV2.jpg 480 270] Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Promotional Video #2 (1:23) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Hai_to_Gensou_no_Grimgar_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Hai_to_Gensou_no_Grimgar_PV1.jpg 480 270] Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Promotional Video #1 (0:59)

Schwarzesmarken | シュヴァルツェスマーケンTop

http://schwarzesmarken-anime.jp/ Animation: LIDENFILMS x ixtl Premiere: January 10, 2016 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airtime (GMT+9): Sundays at 25:05 Episodes: 12 Station: TV Tokyo (TX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @schwaken_anime or #シュヴァケン Preview by Zephyr Led by Ixtl and LINDENFILMS, Muv-Luv returns with the adaptation of the Alternative light novel spin-off Schwarzesmarken (“Black Marks”). Set eighteen years before the previous anime adaptation in Total Eclipse, Schwarzesmarken takes place in the earlier years of the BETA alien invasion, and focuses on the East German Army’s 666th TSF Squadron of the same name. Wielding mobile mechanical weapons known as Tactical Surface Fighters (TSF), the 666th Squadron are a special-forces unit with one mission: to eliminate the BETA’s long-range Laser and Heavy Laser Class. Led by ruthless Captain Bernhard Irisdina (Yamamoto Nozomi), the squad gains both recognition and notoriety for their accomplishments, which typically require them to ignore any allied distress calls that would distract them from their task. Watanabe Tetsuya (episode director of multiple Gundam series in Turn A, Wing, and X) will serve as Schwarzesmarken’s director. He is joined by Higuchi Tatsuto (Cross Ange, Hanasaku Iroha, Toradora) on series composition. Following in the footsteps of a successful Kickstarter that raised over a million dollars to localize the Muv-Luv trilogy, Schwarzesmarken arrives after what has been a fabulous year for fans of the series. It may not be the trilogy adaptation many were hoping for, but Schwarzesmarken was a series people did want adapted as an alternative, and the fact that it isn’t part of the Kickstarter and hasn’t been completely translated makes it an important piece of the Muv-Luv puzzle for western fans in particular. As with any adaptation though, it remains to be seen how well events will carry over from the source material, and it’s questionable whether it’ll have much appeal for those who aren’t already familiar with Muv-Luv. Watanabe Tetsuya’s lack of notable directorial experience is also a factor to be noted, as is LINDENFILM’s small (although growing) list of works. Muv-Luv fans likely already have Schwarzesmarken on their watch list, but for others, it’s ultimately a moderate expectation series with action and sci-fi elements. It’s worth keeping an eye on to get a glimpse of what the hype’s all about. Watching This: Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Schwarzesmarken Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Schwarzesmarken_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Schwarzesmarken_PV.jpg 480 270] Schwarzesmarken Promotional Video #1 (1:11)

Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle | 最弱無敗の神装機竜Top

http://saijaku.jp/ Animation: Lerche Premiere: January 11, 2016 Genre: Action, Fantasy Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 23:30 Episodes: 12 Station: AT-X Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @saijaku_anime or #saijaku Preview by Zanibas Lux Acadia (Tamura Mutsumi) bears a mark of shame as the former prince of an empire overthrown years ago. Without title or privilege, Lux roams the new kingdom as a commoner, working odd jobs such as a bar waiter to make ends meet. While chasing a thieving cat, Lux stumbled into the female baths of a nearby female dorm. The princess of the current kingdom, Lizsharte Atismata (Lynn) found herself tackled by Lux, prompting immediate retaliation. Princess Lizsharte challenges Lux to a duel using ancient dragon-like mechas called Drag-Rides. Surprisingly, Lux used to be the most talented Drag-Knight before the collapse of his kingdom. Despite this, he refused to attack the princess even once during the entire match. This prompts the kingdom to enlist Lux in an all-girls academy, intent on training him to become the strongest Drag-Knight once more. Harem hijinks ensue. If this doesn’t sound like a variation of Infinite Stratos to you, I don’t know what would. Bahamut has poised itself as the light novel harem adaptation of the season, and knows exactly what viewers it caters to. There will be fanservice. Lots of it. However, production values are high for this show, with an experienced staff to back it up. Studio Lerche has been on-point with delivering consistent animation quality, as evidenced by recent Gakkou Gurashi! and Ansatsu Kyoushitsu. Alongside some fairly generic yet sharp character designs, Bahamut is shaping up to be a visually excellent show, specifically in storyboarding and cinematography. Director Masaomi Ando is one to watch, whose excellent cinematography direction in shows like Gakkou Gurashi! and White Album 2 have caught my eye, with visually interesting scenes and smart design choices. Though I am not excited for the plot in itself, the production values still give hope for an enjoyable show. I’ll definitely be checking out the first few episodes to see how Masaomi-san adapts this light novel to the screen. Watching This: Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately Low

Show Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Undefeated_Bahamut_Chronicle_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Undefeated_Bahamut_Chronicle_PV2.jpg 480 270] Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle Promotional Video #2 (1:10) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Undefeated_Bahamut_Chronicle_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Undefeated_Bahamut_Chronicle_PV1.jpg 480 270] Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle Promotional Video #1 (0:53)

Akagami no Shirayukihime 2nd Season | 赤髪の白雪姫 2ndシーズンTop

http://clarines-kingdom.com/ Animation: BONES Premiere: January 11, 2016 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 #赤髪の白雪姫 Preview by Passerby Once upon a time, or rather in Summer 2015, there lived a girl named Shirayuki (Hayami Saori), who was born with rare, apple-red hair. When the local prince starts desiring her hand for her unique appearance, Shirayuki flees her homeland for neighbouring Clarines, where she is aided by the second prince of that kingdom, Zen (Osaka Ryota). Over the course of twelve episodes of anime the two strike a fast friendship, grow a mutual attraction, and as of this second season, Zen has begun to properly court Shirayuki. But that fact remains that Zen is royalty, while Shirayuki is only a common herbalist at his castle; the social rift between them is great. But Zen is more than just an aloof prince, and Shirayuki is more than just a damsel in distress. If there are obstacles, they will just have to work to overcome them. Fairy tales are a funny thing, and not just because Akagami no Shirayuki, based on a manga by Akizuki Sorata, sounds more like the story of Cinderella than Snow White. When people think of fairy tales, it’s usually one of two varieties: darker, Brothers Grimm cautionary tales or sanitised, uncomplicated bedtime stories. Akagami no Shirayuki, as a metaphorical fairy tale, draws on both traditions. Yes, the world is not all good, and struggles exist, but good prevails and struggling pays off. Yes, princes are glamorous, but they also have a country to run. Akagami no Shirayuki manages to tell a positive, feel-good story without coming off as trivial or asinine. And of course, pure romance anime are a relative rarity these days, so even with a medieval flavour it is still a treat. I think the team at Bones did a very competent job at the adaptation for the first season, suitably expanding or rearranging the manga to pleasant audiovisuals, and I don’t doubt they’ll be able to reprise a performance of similar quality. This second season can easily build on the good things of the first. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Zephyr Expectation Level: High

Show Akagami no Shirayukihime 2nd Season Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Akagami_no_Shirayukihime_2nd_Season_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Akagami_no_Shirayukihime_2nd_Season_PV.jpg 480 270] Akagami no Shirayukihime 2nd Season Promotional Video #1 (1:37)

Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm | 蒼の彼方のフォーリズムTop

http://aokana-anime.com/ Animation: Gonzo Premiere: January 11, 2016 Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Sports Airtime (GMT+9): Mondays at 26:05 Episodes: 12 Station: TV Tokyo (TX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @aokana_TVanime or #あおかなアニメ Preview by Passerby In a time that’s not quite the future, in a land that’s not quite Japan, the discovery of anti-gravitons has allowed for easy and widespread flight technology for the masses, no fairy dust required. A culture-shaping advancement like this naturally enables and inspires its own sport, hence the ‘Flying Circus,’ a sort of acrobatic air race. Hinata Masaya (Osaka Ryota) is an average high school student who once aspired to the professional circuit of the Flying Circus, but after a major defeat has withdrawn from the sport for various personal reasons. But along comes transfer student Kurashina Asuka (Fukuen Misato), who needs someone to teach her how to fly, and Masaya is the guy for the job. As he plays the coach, Masaya begins to rediscover the joy of flight. Will he be able to find his wings again? Visual novel adaptations, as Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm (Four Rhythm Beyond the Blue) is, are usually a bit of a mystery meat each season. They can range from insipid high school harems to haute tragédie, and all the flavours of mediocrity in between. For what it’s worth, though, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm was a fairly acclaimed title, and a 2014 fan favourite. For this adaptation, the recently reanimated studio Gonzo has assembled a solid staff that includes veteran writer Yoshida Reiko. And, of course, let us not discount that the premise has a bit more spice to it than the usual troubled boy meets manic pixie dream girl, with its sci-fi sports angle. Nothing captures the human imagination quite like flight, and no medium has been more in love with flight than anime ever since Castle in the Sky Laputa. If Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm manages to capture that spirit, we’ll have a compelling show ahead of us. Watching This: Cherrie, Guardian Enzo, Passerby, Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High

Show Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Ao_no_Kanata_no_Four_Rhythm_PV.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Ao_no_Kanata_no_Four_Rhythm_PV.jpg 480 270] Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm Promotional Video #1 (1:33)

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku Wo! | この素晴らしい世界に祝福を！Top

http://konosuba.com/ Animation: Studio DEEN Premiere: January 13, 2016 Genre: Fantasy, Comedy Airtime (GMT+9): Wednesdays at 25:05 Episodes: 10 Station: Tokyo MX (MX) Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @konosubaanime or #このすば Preview by Takaii After meeting an untimely demise after selflessly saving a stranger from being mowed down by a slow moving tractor, our protagonist Kazuma Satou (Fukushima Jun) ends up in a strange situation. Having died but not completely passed on, he’s stuck in-between existences, where he meets the goddess Aqua (Amamiya Sora) who proclaims she has the deal of a lifetime (sort of ironic seeing how he’s dead, right?). In exchange for dying at such a young age, he has the choice to revived in another world that vastly differs from ours. A world full of swords and magic — kind of like something straight from a video game! But with all seemingly great ideas, it comes with a catch — within that world exists the Demon King which has been causing problems, and it’s Kazuma’s job to take care of it. However, just like a video game, he also gets to bring any one thing he’d like as a bonus, since who would start a game late without something to help them out? With no restrictions in place, he quickly decides to bring the goddess herself, and the two are swept off into the new world. Except Kazuma is a hikikomori (a shut-in), and Aqua has no idea what she’s doing outside of guiding people in-between lives. With a lot of shows jumping onto the whole RPG-style bandwagon of storytelling, it’s going to take a lot to stand out in the crowd. In Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku Wo!’s case, its redeeming point has to be its characters. Its colorful cast of characters is what brings the whole thing together. And by colorful cast, I mean how atrociously bad everyone is at what they’re trying to do. Besides Kazuma being a hikikomori and Aqua having a rather strange perspective on the world, you have other characters like Megumin (Takahashi Rie), the wizard who can only use explosion magic because she decided explosions were the best, and a tank named Raratina (Kayano Ai), who is horrible at tanking except she’s conditioned herself to take a ton of hits because she just loves getting hit. Sounds like the absolute worst combination for a party in an RPG, right? Except it’s this ragtag team that makes the source material so enjoyable. Studio DEEN is in charge of this one, and you can never have enough of that in your life. There are also some stellar seiyuu, with the likes of Kayano Ai and Horie Yui lending their vocal talents to the characters. All in all I expect this show to give us a pretty good showing, and maybe with some luck it’ll end up hitting things out of the park! Watching This: Samu, Stilts, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderate

Show Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku Wo! Promotional Videos ▼ [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Kono_Subarashii_Sekai_ni_Shukufuku_Wo_PV2.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Kono_Subarashii_Sekai_ni_Shukufuku_Wo_PV2.jpg 480 270] Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm Promotional Video #2 (2:02) [flv:Winter%202016%20Preview/Kono_Subarashii_Sekai_ni_Shukufuku_Wo_PV1.mp4 Winter%202016%20Preview/Kono_Subarashii_Sekai_ni_Shukufuku_Wo_PV1.jpg 480 270] Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm Promotional Video #1 (1:55)

Ajin | 亜人Top

http://www.ajin.net/ Animation: Polygon Pictures Premiere: January 15, 2016 Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery Airtime (GMT+9): Fridays at 25:55 Episodes: 13 Station: TBS Information Links: AniDB, ANN Encyclopedia, MyAnimeList, syoboi, Wikipedia Join the conversation @anime_ajin or #亜人計画 Preview by Takaii In a world just like ours exists a newly discovered creature known as Ajin. Ajins are essentially humans who have gained the uncanny ability to not die. Be it losing a limb or getting their insides torn to shreds, they’ll eventually regenerate whatever was damaged, and that includes their own life. However, the only way to figure out if you’re an Ajin or not is by dying and, well, not actually dying. The story revolves around Kei Nagai (Miyano Mamoru) and his struggles after getting fatally hit by a truck, only to stand up and realize that something was terribly wrong when he was totally okay. I’m not sure how to feel about Ajin — and that’s probably a good thing. It has this supernatural theme that dives deep as it pushes the boundaries of what it really means to be “immortal.” It doesn’t waste any time getting you into the thick of things. From highlighting just how despicable the human race can become when its curiosity is unleashed to navigating the mental perspective of someone who can’t die and how they view those who can, the story never failed to engage me with its constantly evolving approach at telling a story. However, as entertaining as the story was, there was something about the characters that brushed me the wrong way. We learn pretty early on some dark things about our protagonist, except the way it’s presented feels like it comes out of left field. There’s also the protagonist’s friend Kaito (Hosoya Yoshimasa) who just disappears part way through, even though he’s painted as someone just as important as Kei. Even with those minor gripes, I think this adaptation could become a fun and thrilling story if they manage to capture the essence of the source material. Luckily Polygon Pictures is heading this one up and I’ve heard some great things about their other works (like Sidonia no Kishi), so let’s all cross our fingers for a successful adaptation. Watching This: Cherrie, Jig, Guardian Enzo, Takaii, Zephyr Expectation Level: Moderately High