Despite the number of anime productions almost doubling from the summer, the spread of roles is very even this time with few obvious stand-outs. Again, it’s not a great season for the guys, with only Miracle Train really catering for the young male seiyuu and most of the other shows seeing female cast members easily outnumbering them. The fact that most of the ‘new’ shows are actually sequels, spin-offs or adaptations from existing media with pre-existing casts already in place must be frustrating for the newcomers hoping to catch a break.

I shall repeat for the umpteenth time – the reason I don’t really take into account OVAs and specials (think Mahoromatic) for these guides is that they’re one-off things that take up one day’s recording and in some cases, seiyuu don’t even have to audition for their roles beforehand so they can hardly be classified as ‘busy’ if they’ve already recorded their lines for a broadcast special 2 months in advance. TV series on the other hand, are the meat and potatoes of their day job and helps pay the bills.

Onto the list.

Winners
Noto Mamiko
(Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza, Seitokai no Ichizon, Kampfer, Kimi no Todoke, Inuyasha Kenketsu-hen, Queen’s Blade Gyokuza o Tsugumono, Aoi Bungaku)

It wasn’t so long ago when it seemed impossible to escape the Mamiko no matter where you turned – every moe ojousama, every loli, every effeminate boy seemed to be voiced by the Yamato Nadesico of the seiyuu world. Then an avalanche of Kugimiyas and Tomatsus started descending upon her space and it went a bit quiet for a while.

Well hurrah then, she’s back in full force this season, reprising her lead role of closet otaku Nogizaka Haruka and potentially scaring off every suitor in sight as ‘Sadako’ in Kimi ni Todoke. Add to that a toy dog in Kampfer, the orphan girl in Inuyasha, beautiful buchou in Seitokai no Ichizon and shinto priestess in Queen’s Blade (+unknown role in Aoi Bungaku) and you’ve got a wide array of Noto characters for your consumption pleasure.

If you really want to throw other stuff into the mix then consider Mamiko’s regular role on Keroro Gunsou, her continued narration of NHK kids’ show Ukkari Penelope, the OVAs Utsurun desu., Negima and the Kanokon special. Also not forgetting radio work on her own Chikyuu Note programme as well as Queen’s Blade Radio with Kawasumi Ayako plus the gazillion of events she attends… busy times indeed.

Hirano Aya
(FAIRY TAIL, Queen’s Blade Gyokuza o Tsugumono, WHITE ALBUM 2, Kimi ni Todoke, KIDDY GiRL-AND)

It’s good to see that Hirano’s putting the focus firmly back on voice acting this season. I think most people know I’m not her greatest fan by any stretch of the imagination, but she does have better-than-average acting skills if she puts her mind to it – witness Chiko in 20-menso no Musume as a fine example.

KIDDY GiRL-AND sees a return to the show that first introduced Hirano to me – at the time she was just a mere 15-years old; little did I know that Haruhi would turn her into the phenomenon that she is now. The rest of the season throws up a fairly mixed bag of roles for her to dig into, from heroine in shonen fare FAIRY TAIL to jealous classmate in Kimi ni Todoke as well as the resumption of roles in WHITE ALBUM and Queen’s Blade. Long-running roles include Garnet in kids’ anime Jewel Pet and Dende in Dragonball Kai (and Haruhi of course).

Of course there are also the ‘extra curricular’ activities like a recently released photobook, her Hirano Aya Dake TV show and a new album coming on 18 November – you’ll definitely find it hard going to avoid her over the next few months.

Mizuki Nana
(Kampfer, WHITE ALBUM 2, DARKER THAN BLACK 2, Shugo Chara Party, Tegami Bachi)

Well here’s a rarity! With the few dozen ventures that Nana is involved in these days, it’s a wonder that she still finds the time to do any regular TV anime voice work. Although she doesn’t actually have any de facto lead roles, WA2’s Ogata Rina and DtB2’s Kirihara Misaki are still major players – the latter is arguably my favourite Nana role in recent memory and I am very much looking forward to it. Granted her voice acting is in the ‘below average’ bracket, but I doubt the fans really care.

Other offerings this season – a cat in Kampfer (alongside Yukarin’s rabbit and Mamiko’s dog), Utau in yet another iteration of Shugo Chara and Fukuyama Jun’s character’s sister in Tegami Bachi. Added to those are Nana’s long-term roles in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Naruto Shippuuden, the Saint Seiya OVAs and further on through winter – roles in the Professor Layton movie, the Nanoha movie and Bungaku Shoujo.

There’s tons of other stuff I can mention from her upcoming single Mugen to appearances at Wasedasai to weird things like a Beatmania drama CD and even more gimmicky stuff such as the Windows 7 Ultimate Edition; Nana’s just got her fingers stuck in so many puddings it’s amazing that fans can keep up with her (oh pity your poor wallets).

Tomatsu Haruka
(Asura Cryin’ 2, WHITE ALBUM 2, Tatakau Shisho: The Book of Bantorra, Nyankoi!, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun)

This is the third season in a row that Tomatsu is featuring on the list, I’m just about running out of nice things to say about her. There seems to be no end to her many activities – apart from the anime listed above and the continuing Cross Game, Tomacchan is hosting the CANAAN radio and has her first photobook, more singles and live events with her musical unit Sphere in the pipeline. Incidentally her involvement in Railgun has never been officially announced, but her presence in the afureko cast pictures suggests she’ll be at least taking on a guest role.

If you want to look even further ahead, there’s plenty of work awaiting Tomatsu on the horizon – To LoveRu OVAs, Gundam Unicorn and a whole host of games ranging from Valkyria 2 to Rune Factory 3 to Marriage Royale. And of course she’s now part of the iDOLM@STER family alongside fellow newcomers Hanazawa Kana and Sanpei Yuko so there’ll be plenty more to come out of that franchise.

Paku Romi
(Aoi Bungaku, Tatakau Shisho: The Book of Bantorra, WHITE ALBUM 2, Kuchu Buranko)

She’s one of those people who demands instant respect, and deservedly so. Ten years on from her breakthrough role in Turn A Gundam, the exceptionally talented and supremely experienced Paku-san is still winning plenty of good roles – this season in the much-anticipated Kuchu Buranko and Aoi Bungaku as well as the lead in The Book of Bantorra, while Fullmetal Alchemist continues its run.

This comes despite the fact that Paku-san has a voice that is so different from most others in the business – unlike the four girls listed above who make their living from voicing moeblobs, she has a voice that is strong, deep and mature. Great that she can still find her own place in amongst the young ones.

The best of the rest…
Other seiyuu with four roles on their schedule this season include Nabatame Hitomi (Tegami Bachi, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza, Queen’s Blade Gyokuza o Tsugumono, Natsu no Arashi! Akinaichuu) and Ohara Sayaka (Asura Cryin’ 2, Queen’s Blade Gyokuza o Tsugumono, FAIRY TAIL, Gokyodai Monogatari), though neither can lay claim to any substantial role of note. Toyosaki Aki also has four roles (Shugo Chara Party, Railgun, Seiken no Blacksmith, Asura Cryin’ 2)

Goto Mai on the other hand, has 3 new roles (11eyes, Nogizaka Haruka, Shin.Koihime Musou) with 2 being lead or sub-lead adding to her role as Mei Chan in Fullmetal Alchemist. Goto’s stock has risen in recent times, particularly since she signed up to Ken Production (home to Saiga Mitsuki & Ito Shizuka) and shifted away from mainly doing eroge voice work. Even has her own blog now. It’s kinda amusing, over 2 years ago I predicted that she could be someone worth looking out for in the future but I didn’t think it’d take so long.

Similar story for Shiraishi Ryoko, who has 2 lead roles out of 3 (Natsu no Arashi sequel, Kaidan Restaurant, Nyankoi!). Sawashiro Miyuki also has three roles (The Book of Bantorra, Kimi ni Todoke., Tegami Bachi) with one lead and the others major side characters, same goes for Kawasumi Ayako (Queen’s Blade, Battle Spirits, The Book of Bantorra) though she also has the Mahoromatic specials to add on.

Hanazawa Kana (Kobato., DtB2) and Yuki Aoi (Yumeiro Patissiere, Kiruminzu) only have two roles each, but in both cases they’re lead roles. The little I’ve heard of Hanazawa’s Kobato I like, while I still have great memories of Yuki’s Murasaki in kure-nai (let’s forget Grape Girl in Akikan!).

On the guys’ side, it’s harder to pick out obvious stars. Nakamura Yuichi (Shugo Chara Party, The Book of Bantorra, FAIRY TAIL & Kimi ni Todoke) and Ishida Akira (Shugo Chara Party, KIDDY GiRL-LAND, The Book of Bantorra, Miracle Train) both have four roles but zero leads between them.

On three roles we’ve got the likes of Okamoto Nobuhiko (Yumeiro Patissiere, Battle Spirits, Seiken no Blacksmith) with 2 being sub-leads, Ono Daisuke (11eyes, Battle Spirits, Miracle Train) with 1 as lead, while others like Fukuyuma Jun, Nakai Kazuya and Okiayu Ryotaro also sit on the same number of roles.

My personal pick is Maeno Tomoaki, who’s been charting a steadily impressive rise since breaking through as Dojo in Toshokan Sensou. He picks up two leads this season in Kobato. and WHITE ALBUM 2, though in both cases he can expect to be overshadowed by all manners of pop idols, hyper-genki girls and noisy animals.

Personally…
1.I’m happiest with Kuwashima Houko popping up in a couple of shows I’d actually watch (DtB2, Kobato.). 2009 has been a surprisingly quiet year for her with very little of note…. no I don’t think of Valkyria, ElementHunters or Umi Monogatari as being particular standouts.
2.Oh wait scratch that. I’m happiest about Tange Sakura in Kiruminzu.
3.Seki Tomokazu where?
4.If I was anime-blind I’d pick The Book of Bantorra and Kampfer based purely on its seiyuu cast list.
5.Kamiya Hiroshi where?

What I’ll do instead is cover the parts I’m interested in, namely the seiyuu and music – which are of course the only areas in which I can offer expertise. Lots of holes to be filled yet, which means another update will be made next week.

I’m starting to think my guides are getting obsolete, Gigazine’s is pretty comprehensive and covers most of the stuff I want to know. Which naturally means I’m inching closer to permanently retiring from doing these. Does the personal touch still count for much these days?

Quick Jump: 11eyes | Anyamaru Tantei Kiruminzuu | Aoi Bungaku | Asura Cryin’ 2 | Battle Spirits Shonen Gekiha Dan | Chebureshka Arere? | DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryuusei no Gemini- | FAIRY TAIL | Fuyu no Sonata | Gokyodai Monogatari | Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume Countdown | Inuyasha -Kanketsu-hen- | Kaidan Restaurant | Kämpfer | KIDDY GiRL-AND | Kimi ni Todoke | Kobato! | Kotatsu Neko | Kuchu Buranko | Miracle Train~Oedo-sen e Yokoso~ | Natsu no Arashi! ~Akinaichu~ | Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza | Nyankoi! | Queen’s Blade Gyokuza o Tsugumono | Sasameki Koto | Seiken no Blacksmith | Seitokai no Ichizon | Shin.Koihime Musou | Shin.Sanjushi | Shugo Chara Party! | Sora no Otoshimono | Stitch ~Itazura Alien no Daibouken~ | Tamagotchi! | Tatakau Shisho The Book of Bantorra | Tegami Bachi | Tentai Tenshi Sunred Second Season | Toaru Kagaku no Railgun | WHITE ALBUM 2 | Yumeiro Patissiere

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11eyes

Boy and childhood sweetheart get transported to strange world, monsters attack.
Cast: Ono Daisuke, Goto Mai, Asakawa Yuu, Ichimura Oma, Rikimaru Noriko, Morikubo Shotaro, Hagiwara Emiko, Mizuhashi Kaoru, Takahashi Chiaki
I did a double take when I saw the list – divorced (former) couple Asakawa & Morikubo are both in the show…eek. Wonder how it’ll work out – look at Morikubo’s face above, it’s like he wants to bite a crow’s head off even though he’s got a hot Chiaking next to him -_-
Music:
Opening Theme: Arrival of Tears by Ayane
Ending Theme: Sequentia by Asriel
I am rather amused at how the ‘tears’ theme is following through to the anime (Ayane’s game themes were called Lunatic Tears… and Endless Tears…)
Thoughts: Definitely giving this a miss (read: eroge adaptation sets off alarm bells)
Website

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Anyamaru Tantei Kiruminzuu [あにゃまる探偵 キルミンずぅ]

Three cute sisters stumble upon vanity compact that transforms them into animals.
Cast: Yuki Aoi, Sato Satomi, Anzai Chika, Tamura Mutsumi, Ikebe Kumiko, Tange Sakura, Nojima Kenji, Neya Michiko, Tanaka Hideyuki, Watanabe Misa
Most notable for heralding the return of a certain Tange Sakura to regular TV anime voice work. Omigod omigod must contain excitement ;_;
Music: Kawashima Kano
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: The thought of watching an anime featuring kids transforming into fluffy animal toys is pretty bizarre, but Kawamari Shoji is planning this one, there’s cute videos of rolling animals on the website and of course, Tange Sakura!!!
Website

Anime daptations of Japanese literary masterpieces.
Cast: (for Dazai Osamu’s Ningen Shikkaku) Sakai Masato, Takagi Wataru, Paku Romi, Hisakawa Aya, Noto Mamiko, Tanaka Atsuko
Music:
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: The announcement of the anime came pretty late, but it might just be the most exciting one. Animated adaptations of Japanese literary classics? I’m totally game. Granted, Natsume Soseki’s the only one amongst the writers I’ve actually read (I am a Cat, incidentally), but there is a lot of promise in this one – the hype machine is already set in overdrive.
Website

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Asura Cryin’ 2 [アスラクライン2]

Boy is ‘haunted’ by childhood friend’s ghost, obtains strange powers, fights for justice.
Cast: Irino Miyu, Tomatsu Haruka, Nonaka Ai, Tanaka Rie, Morikubo Shotaro, Nakai Kazuya, Ohara Sayaka, Ishizuka Sayori, Takagi Reiko, Toyosaki Aki, Majima Junji, Kitamura Eri, Yahagi Sayuri, Shimono Hiro, Koyama Kimiko, Sato Satomi, Kaida Yuko, Hikasa Yoko
Somewhere out there, someone is having a great big laugh at how such a great cast is wasted on a show as insipid as this.
Music: Tajiri Mitsutaka
Opening Theme: Alternative (オルタナティブ) by angela
Ending Theme: Kanata no delight (彼方のdelight) by angela
Tajiri’s music (Kin’iro no Corda) doesn’t do much for me & honestly, neither has angela’s output of late.
Thoughts: Uhhhh pass? Obviously.
Website
Radio show (hosted by Irino & Nonaka)

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Battle Spirits Shonen Gekiha Dan [バトルスピリッツ 少年激覇ダン]

Boy meets mysterious girl, gets sent to strange world to fight bad guys via card battles.
Cast: Oura Fuyuka, Sakurai Takahiro, Honda Yoko, Ono Daisuke, Kawasumi Ayako, Okamoto Nobuhiro, Horanai Ai, Yukino Statsuki, Hirakawa Daisuke, Nomura Kenji, Ueda Yuji
Your standard strong shonen anime cast…oh it’s a sequel to Shonen Toppa Bashin. What was that again?
Music: Segawa Eishi
Opening Theme: Battle No Limit! by JAM Project
Ending Theme: Kimi ga Matteru (君がまってる) by Oikawa Mitsuhiro
Website

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Chebureshka Arere? [チェブラーシカ あれれ？]

Crocodile is sent a crate with a strange animal in it, promptly gives it unpronounceable name and finds a new friend.
Cast: Ohashi Nozomi, Tsuchida Hiroshi, Chou
I think Ohashi (aka the fuwafuwa Ponyo singing girl above) is the only draw of the show… unless you have a particular interest in Russian storybooks.
Music:
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Website

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DARKER THAN BLACK -Ryuusei no Gemini- [DARKER THAN BLACK -流星の双子-]

Two years after the Tokyo Explosion, Hei moves on to Russia and presumably gets caught up in even more danger.
Cast: Kiuchi Hidenobu, Hanazawa Kana, Kuwashima Houko, Hori Katsunosuke, Matsukaze Masaya, Miyake Kenta, Saiga Mitsuki, Mizuki Nana, Yoshizumi Kozue, Honda Takako
A significant cast upgrade for the DtB sequel – although the likes of Fukuen Misato, Ikeda Masaru and Sawaki Ikuya have gone (for now), the stellar list of names that joins the core duo of Kiuchi (Hei) and Mizuki (Misaki) is very exciting indeed. Kuwashima Houko has been too quiet of late and I’m very much looking forward to her here – same goes for Miyake & Matsukaze, two distinct, strong male voices as well as Saiga and Hanazawa. And of course Misaki is one of Nana’s best roles ever. There’s loads of other characters with seiyuu unannounced, and I wonder whether we’ve heard the last of Fukuen, Kobayashi Sanae, Katou Emiri and Shimura Tomoyuki…I hope not.
Music: Ishii Yasushi
Opening Theme: Tsukiakari no Michishirube (ツキアカリのミチシルベ) by Sterepony
Ending Theme: From Dusk Till Dawn by abingdon boys school
Hellsing composer Ishii takes over the reins from Kanno Yoko, which is just as well since I abhorred the first season’s insipid, uninspired soundtrack. abs gets moved to the ending theme in favour of the vastly superior (in my book) Stereopony – I would’ve liked a ballad for the ending like Rie fu and HMC provided before.
Thoughts: Possibly the only show on my schedule this season that has a definite ‘YES, WATCHING’ written next to it. I’ve been re-watching episodes from the first season that’s showing on local Animax at the moment and it’s still as wonderful as ever. Fingers crossed it won’t disappoint.
Website
Staff Blog (to come)

Young sorceress travels to strange land hoping to join a guild, encounters a dragon slayer boy.
Cast: Kakihara Tetsuya, Hirano Aya, Kugimiya Rie, Nakamura Yuichi, Ohara Sayaka, Namikawa Daisuke, Konishi Katsuyuki, Kitamura Eri, Tsuji Shinpachi, Ono Ryoko, Kishio Daisuke, Ise Mariya
Music:
Opening Theme: Snow fairy by FUNKIST
Ending Theme: Kanpekigu~no ne (完璧ぐ～のね) by Watari Roka Hashiritai
Watari Roka Hashiritai is an AKB48 offshoot. My joy knows no bounds.
Thoughts: I like to call this Teary Fail ‘cos that’s how I think the anime will turn out… honestly, the much discussed similarities to ONE PIECE may have killed my interest. That, and I didn’t like RAVE either (same manga-ka).
Website
Alternate site

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Fuyu no Sonata [冬のソナタ]

University student becomes emo after her boyfriend dies in car accident. 10 years later she’s engaged to somebody else but then meets a guy who looks exactly like supposedly-dead-boyfriend.
Cast: Bae Yong-Joon, Choi Ji-Woo, Kang Yo-Hwan, Lee Se-Na, Ryu Seung-Su
Yon-sama, kyaaaaaaaaaaa… not really.
Music:
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: I was one of those people who never really got into K-dramas when they were blazing hot due to the fact that they were most stupidly tragic and OTT melodramas. The only reason I ever watched them was for the eye candy and honestly, I’d rather stare at Lee Se-Na all day long than hear her in this weepy rubbish. Anyhow, this seemed to get stuck in planning land for way too long so I’m at least happy to see it’s gotten off the ground at last.
Website
Alternate site

Heartwarming stories centering on a pair of twins and their lives.
Cast: Matsuoka Yuki, Kobayashi Yumiko, Ohara Sayaka
Music:
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: …I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to be laughing at the main character’s hair (or lack of).
Website

Secret society (dubbed the Eagle Talons) aim for, and mostly fail to achieve world domination.
Cast: The creator (FROGMAN) handles it all by himself
Music:
Opening Theme: Tasogare Moon (黄昏ムーン) by Ifu Sarasa
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: Sequel to a flash anime. OK I lol’ed at the website, being greeted with some stupid questions while Bach’s Air on the G string played in the background. Suntory sponsored!
Website

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Inuyasha -Kanketsu-hen- [犬夜叉-完結編-]

Final part of Inuyasha’s quest to find shards of a shattered magical jewel that once whole, can enhance powers, grant a single wish and probably conjure a tea cosy out of thin air too.
Cast: Yamaguchi Kappei, Yukino Satsuki, Hidaka Noriko, Tsujitani Koji, Kuwashima Houko, Watanabe Kumiko, Narita Ken, Chou, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Yajima Akiko, Noto Mamiko, Ogata Kenichi, Ogami Izumi, Yukana, Matsuno Taiko, Kyoda Hisako, Yanami Joji, Dodo Asako, Suzuki Katsumi, Yoshino Hiroyuki, Nakagawa Akiko, Kishi Daisuke
Nice to see all the original cast members back together again.
Music: Wada Kaoru
Opening Theme: Kimi ga Inai Mirai (君がいない未来) by Do As Infinity
Ending Theme: With you by AAA
Do As Infinity yay!!
Thoughts: I have friends who are incredibly excited by the return of Inuyasha (to the point they’re getting a cable subscription just to watch the show). Me? Never even caught the first wind, so I doubt I’ll be going anywhere near this.
Website
Alternate site

New transfer student takes an interest in a ‘haunted’ restaurant, ghostly hi-jinks ensue.
Cast: Shiraishi Ryoko, Hiro Yuuki, Asano Masumi
Music: Takagi Hiroshi
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Anyone listened to the Beet the Vandel Buster soundtrack? …thought not.
Thoughts: It’s based on a kids’ horror storybook series (flashbacks to Fear Street). It’ll probably be more Scooby Doo than anything, but I do crave a good horror/supernatural anime – haven’t seen a half-decent one since Ghost Hunt.
Website
Alternate site

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Kämpfer [けんぷファー]

Boy wakes up to find he has turned into a girl, prepares to do battle with other Kampfers.
Cast: Inoue Marina, Horie Yui, Tamura Yukari, Mizuki Nana, Nazuka Kaori, Asumi Kana, Nakajima Megumi, Nomura Michiko, Noto Mamiko, Utsumi Kenji, Goto Yuko, Aranami Kazusa, Kobayashi Yuki, Kawahara Yoshihisa, Mikami Shiori
If ever there was going to be an anime you picked based on seiyuu idol vocal talent, Kampfer would surely be it.
Music: Kato Tatsuya
Opening Theme: Unreal Paradise (あんりある♡パラダイス) by Kuribayashi Minami
Ending Theme: One Way Ryo-omoi (ワンウェイ両想い) by Inoue Marina & Nakajima Megumi
The announcement of the pairing for the ending theme had my mouth open in wonder – OK it’s not a Nana + Hocchan + Yukarin trio, but still somewhat of a dream collab for me. Hopefully it doesn’t suck? As for Minami… well, it’s Minami. I don’t expect to expect anything mindblowing from her anymore.
Thoughts: Of course, the problem with Kampfer is that it looks like one of those shows high on gimmicks and low on substance (ponders RosaPants). Will check it out for vocal talent but am keeping expectations very low.
Website
Alternate site
Staff Blog
Radio Show (hosted by Utsumi Kenji & Nakajima Megumi)

Two centuries after the original series, two girls train to be the galaxy’s finest secret agents.
Cast: Uchida Aya, Goda Aya, Mizuhashi Kaori, Nagata Ryoko, Hirano Aya, Kuwatani Natsuko, Fukuyama Jun, Ishida Akira, Inada Tetsu, Matsuoka Yuki, Yukana, Konno Hiromi, Matsumoto Megumi, Mizuhara Kaoru, Saito Fuko, Nakai Kazuya, Tobita Nobuo, Shiraishi Minoru, Aizawa Mai, Horikawa Chika
Oh lord, look at the Kadokawa influence stretching out through the cast list. I’m sure sound director Sato Junichi (yes, that one) didn’t get much say when they hired the likes of Uchida, Matsumoto, Konno, Mizuhara, Shiraishi and Aizawa to fill the new roles. These people have all made the rounds in recent Kadokawa productions (Munto TV, Lucky Star etc)… at least my Tweedledum (FukuJun) & Tweedledee (Nacchan) have been left untouched.
Music: Agematsu Noriyasu
Opening Theme: Baby Universe Day by ?
Ending Theme:
I’m not sure what’s the purpose of keeping the opening song’s singer a secret, it’s not like anyone really cares right? Or are they planning to troll people with a Hirano Aya/Shiraishi Minoru duet? I also hope Agematsu brings all his cards to the table – the results can be very pretty when he does (Ga-Rei) but horrible if he doesn’t (Moeyo-ken).
Thoughts: Gee, the first anime seemed like two centuries ago but apparently it was only back in 2002. That was when I still thought Hirano Aya was a cute little thing… probably giving this a miss, didn’t really take to it 7 years ago and I doubt much (apart from GONZO’s absence) will have changed.
Website

Girl can’t make friends ‘cos she resembles Sadako from The Ring, until school idol guy starts getting close to her.
Cast: Noto Mamiko, Namikawa Daisuke, Sawashiro Miyuki, Sanpei Yuko, Nakamura Yuichi, Hirano Aya
As expected from an adaptation of a high-profile manga, the cast is of suitably high quality.
Music: S.E.N.S. Project
Opening Theme: Kimi ni Todoke (きみにとどけ) by Tanizawa Tomofumi
Ending Theme: Kataomoi (片想い) by Chara
S.E.N.S. were the kings of cheesy muzak back in the 90s so I expect their style will fit the anime just fine. Tanizawa peddles a brand of soft M.O.R. rock (think Hata Motohiro) that tends to bore the socks off me while Chara has largely gone off the boil in the last 3 or so years, though the recent divorce from actor Asano Tadanobu may re-energize her, who knows.
Thoughts: Lol Sadako lolololol. OK so she looks like Kitaro (Gegege no Kitaro) what’s so wrong with that?
Website
Staff blog

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Kobato! [こばと。]

Naive girl has to fill bottle with people’s sufferings so she can get her wish granted. However she cannot fall in love with anyone’s heart she heals (and I guess she does).
Cast: Hanazawa Kana, Inada Tetsu, Maeno Tomoaki, Orikasa Fumiko, Kuwashima Houko, Nakajima Megumi, Miki Shinichiro, Saito Chiwa
There really is no shortage of fantastic-on-paper seiyuu casts this season. Kobato is no exception with plenty of young, up-and-coming names (Hanazawa, Maeno) mixed in with the older crowd. And yesssss Orikasa Fumiko & Kuwashima Houko together (a leftover affection for the pairing from Chobits I think)!!!
Music: Hama Takeshi
Opening Theme: Magic Number (マジックナンバー) by Sakamoto Maaya
Ending Theme: ? by Nakajima Megumi
Honestly have no idea who Hama is. Magic Number has Maaya pairing up with Kitagawa Katsutoshi of ROUND TABLE again – incidentally both have featured in other CLAMP anime, Maaya in Card Captor Sakura (or Tsubasa) and Kitagawa’s ROUND TABLE feat. Nino in Chobits. Nakajima seems a decent choice for the ending, at least they didn’t make Hanazawa sing (phew).
Thoughts: After the DtB sequel Kobato. is my next most anticipated show – at the end of the day I am still a CLAMP fan no matter how much they annoy me with the non-completion of X.
Website
Staff blog

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Kotatsu Neko [炬燵猫]

Tales of the lives of cats that live in kotatsu.
Cast: Nogawa Sakura, Inoue Nana, Yamamura Hibiku, Karuna, Furukawa Yuta, Hirayama Maemi, Takeshita Kohei
I figured the only way the RAMS seiyuu (Saku-nyan etc) could get any work was if the company produced an anime – well here we are with one then.
Music:
Opening Theme: Eternal World by Velvet
Ending Theme: Shabon Sunnyday (しゃぼんSunnydays) by Nogawa Sakura
Thoughts: I prefer Nyankoi for my cat fix this season.
Staff blog

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Kuchu Buranko [空中ブランコ]

Eccentric psychiatrist messes up his patients with unwanted injections and useless advice.
Cast: Mitsuya Yuji, Paku Romi, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Sakurai Takahiro, Miki Shinichiro, Sugimoto Yumi
Mitsuya and Paku are sharing the lead role and they’re making a big deal out of the fact that 20-year old tarento Sugimoto plays a sexy nurse in this live-action/anime hybrid.
Music: Mori Hideharu
Opening Theme: Upside Down by Denki Groove
Ending Theme: Shangri-La (Y.Sunahara 2009 Remodel) by Denki Groove
Mori has previously worked on music for the classics Ranma 1/2 and YAWARA! as well as with S.E.N.S. Project on xxxHOLiC & Genji. Not really a fan of Denki Groove’s weirdo technopop, but they are updating their classic single Shangri-La for the ending so it’s worth checking out.
Thoughts: This one has MUST TRY written all over it. For one thing it sounds absolutely barmy (which means it’s probably right for me), it’s in the noitaminA slot and the Mononoke guys are behind it. Max HP +3.
Website

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Miracle Train~Oedo-sen e Yokoso~ [ミラクル☆トレイン～大江戸線へようこそ～]

Once upon a time there was an urban legend about this ‘Miracle Train’ thingy that was full of bishonen promising eternal happiness. Turns out the good-looking guys are actually human forms of train stations.
Cast: KENN, Sugita Tomokazu, Okiayu Ryotaro, Ono Daisuke, Kaji Yuki, Morita Masakazu, Fujiwara Keiji, Ishida Akira, Sakai Kanako
Look at all that man-meat! And one cute girl in there somewhere…
Music:
Opening Theme: montage by KENN, Okiayu Ryotaro, Kaji Yuki & Morita Masakazu
Ending Theme: STORIES by Kita Shuhei
Thoughts: Human forms of train stations what?? Can I jump off now…
Website
Alternate site

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Natsu no Arashi! ~Akinaichu~ [夏のあらし！～春夏冬中～ ]

Young boy meets older high school girl and they go time travelling.
Cast: Shiraishi Ryoko, Sanpei Yuko, Nazuka Kaori, Omigawa Chiaki, Nabatame Hitomi, Yasumoto Hiroki, Nonaka Ai, Horie Yui, Sugita Tomokazu
Music: ken sato
Opening Theme:Oyasumi Paradox (おやすみパラドックス) by Yakushimaru Etsuko
Ending Theme: Otome no Junjo (乙女の順序) by Nazuka Kaori, Nonaka Ai & Horie Yui
Can I go squeee in a corner? (*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*) OK. Yakushimaru Etsuko just happens to be vocalist for one of my fave indie bands Soutaiseiron, who’ve made one of this year’s best albums (Hi-Fi Shinsho), and this is a side project with YMO drummer/vocalist Takahashi Yukihiro and prog-rocker Chikada Haruo. The song won’t be everyone’s taste (I love it), you can watch a snippet of the PV on the special site.
Thoughts: Didn’t get past 15 minutes of the first season.
Website

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Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza [乃木坂春香の秘密 ぴゅあれっつぁ♪]

Boy discovers secret of the school idol – she’s a *gasp* otaku!
Cast: Hatano Wataru, Noto Mamiko, Goto Mai, Sato Rina, Shimizu Kaori, Ueda Kana, Matsuki Miyu, Nabatame Hitomi, Takagi Reiko, Miyashita Eiji, Osuga Jun, Yasumoto Hiroki, Tachiki Fumihiko, Hisakawa Aya
Music: Watanabe Takeshi
Opening Theme: Chohatsu Cherry Heart (挑発 Cherry Heart) by Milan Himemiya & Chocolate Rockers
Ending Theme: Himitsu Suisho! UrutoLOVE (秘密推奨！うるとLOVE) by N’s
Wooh a second round of being assaulte… I mean soothed by the lovely vocal talents of N’s. I am so looking forward to it.
Thoughts: Only watched the silly cameo bits in Season 1, so if a certain alien-looking Prime Minister turns up…
Website
Staff blog
Radio Show

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Nyankoi! [にゃんこい！]

Boy kicks can, damages cat deity and can suddenly understand cat talk. Nyaa~~~
Cast: Asanuma Shintaro, Iguchi Yuka, Shiraishi Ryoko, Tanaka Atsuko, Fukuyama Jun, Kobayashi Yu
It’s an OK cast, strong names all round but apart from the excitement of seeing Tanaka-san nyaaa-ing, nothing really stands out.
Music: Okawa Shigenobu & Miwa Manabu
Opening Theme: Nyandaful! (にゃんだふる！) by Sakakibara Yui
Ending Theme: Strawberry~Amaku Setsunai Namida~ (Strawberry～甘く切ない涙～) by Imai Asami
Okawa and Miwa are both anison & game theme veterans, the former having written for the likes of Horie Yui while the latter is involved in the Manack project (subscribe to his twitter!) and has a Facebook page. I am also particularly cheered by Mingosu getting a chance to release her first anime theme, even if a decent role remains elusive.
Thoughts: …OK I like cats so I’ll give this a go.
Website
Staff blog
Radio Show

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Queen’s Blade Gyokuza o Tsugumono [クイーンズブレイド 玉座を継ぐ者]

More battles between big-boobed beauties(?) to become the next Queen.
Cast: Kawasumi Ayako, Noto Mamiko, Hirano Aya, Tanaka Atsuko, Mizuhashi Kaori, Kaida Yuko, Kugimiya Rie, Nabatame Hitomi, Goto Yuko, Ito Kanae, Kaida Yuki, Takahashi Mikako, Kitamura Eri, Saito Ayaka, Yuzuki Ryoka, Kano Yui, Takeuchi Miyu, Ohara Sayaka
Weep with sorrow at how such a talented cast is wasted on boob-infested waters.
Music: Yokoyama Masaru
Opening Theme: Ochinai Sora (墜ちない空) by ENA
Ending Theme: buddy-body by Kugimiya Rie, Goto Yuko & Ito Kanae
So they swapped out three hideous singers for three… comparatively not so terrible ones? Well, apart from Goto I guess. The unremarkable Yokoyama Masaru (KimiKiss, Moegaku 5) also returns to write for music for boobies.
Thoughts: Is there any way we can erase this from existence? My overwhelming memory of QB is walking past a shop in Akiba screening an episode and hearing 5-6 other passers-by giggling & saying phrases like ‘Chichi’, ‘Oppai’ and ‘Dekai’.
Website
Radio show (hosted by two alternate pairings of Kawasumi/Noto & Goto/Kugimiya)

Girl is secretly in love with best friend (also girl). Said best friend amazingly turns out to be a girl-lover too.
Cast: Takagaki Ayahi, Takamoto Megumi, Katou Emiri, Shimizu Ayaka, Harada Hitomi, Saito Chiwa, Makiguchi Mayuki
….underwhelming? I guess anything with Takagaki evokes zero enthusiasm from me.
Music: Hasumi Shigeomi
Opening Theme: Kanashii hodo Aoku (悲しいほど青) by Kiyoura Natsumi
Ending Theme: Nijiiro Pocket (虹色ポケット) by Kiyoura Natsumi
Hasumi rings no bells for me. The prospect of a Kiyoura OP-ED is exciting though, totally in love with her dreamy, melodious voice.
Thoughts: Yuri haters please look away? Personally feel like I’m being beat over the head with a yuri stick lately, what with the proliferation of girl-loves-girl anime (or anime with elements of that) being made. Not that I really mind, I suppose.
Website
Staff blog
Radio show (hosted by Takagaki Ayahi & Takamoto Megumi)

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Seiken no Blacksmith [聖剣の刀鍛冶]

Girl meets blacksmith with impressive sword-using abilities, they get caught up in sword-related antics.
Cast: Fujimura Ayumi, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Toyosaki Aki, Toyoguchi Megumi, Inoue Kazuhiko, Yuimoto Michiru, Tasaka Hideki, Akimoto Yosuke, Okiayu Ryotaro
Music: Terashima Tamiya
Opening Theme: JUSTICE of LIGHT by Gojo Mayumi
Ending Theme: Miracle Happy Day (みらくるハッピーディ) by Toyosaki Aki
Never been a fan of Terashima’s works – Yume Tsukai, Jyushin Enbu… not very engaging stuff. And the less said about Toyosaki the better.
Website
Alternate site
Radio show (runs on JOQR, hosted by Toyosaki & Toyoguchi)

Boy wins popularity vote, gets into (otherwise) all-female student council.
Cast: Kondo Takashi, Honda Mariko, Saito Yuka, Togashi Misuzu, Horinaka Yuki
Well if you’re looking for fresh young female seiyuu blood this season you’ve come to the right place. Being adapted from a Kadokawa production, the conglomerate has appeared to take the opportunity to throw a bunch of girls associated with their Production A seiyuu agency into the fray. The other seiyuu who aren’t affiliated with A are instead, graduates/studying at the AMG training academy.. who so happen to be co-producing the anime. Ah, corporate incest.
Music: Kamimura Shuhei
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Kamimura comes from a classical background, plays piano, does orchestral arrangements etc etc. First time composing for an anime.
Thoughts: 1 guy + >3 girls = don’t watch unless the >3 girls are all doing the yuri with each other.
Website
Radio Show (Hosted by Honda, Togashi & Horinaka)

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Shin.Koihime Musou [真・恋姫†無双]

Liu Bei has boobs, 以上。
Cast: Goto Mai, Kurokawa Nami, Nishizawa Hiroka, Sawajiri Erika, Motoi Emi, Kobayashi Maki, Amamiya Yu
Unknown eroge seiyuu alert!
Music:
Opening Theme: Touen no Chikai (闘艶結義～トウエンノチカイ～) by Katakiri Rekka
Ending Theme: Otome Ryouran Battle PARTY (乙女繚乱☆ばとるPARTY) by Momozono no 3-shimai
…I guess we might not be getting fripSide again?Nevermind fripSide when I can have Katakiri Rekka :O
Thoughts: Never bothered with Season 1, though somebody did show me the armpit-licking episode… yeah, I don’t think I’ll invest any time in this one either.
Website
Radio show (hosted by Goto, Kurokawa & Nishizawa)

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Shin.Sanjushi [新・三銃士]

Puppet show based on Three Musketeers.
Cast: Ikematsu Sosuke, Yamadera Koichi, Ebara Masashi, Kanjiya Shihori, Toda Keiko, Takagi Wataru, Seto Catherine, Tanaka Yuji
These guys have a ridiculous amount of experience between them. Actually scratch that, Toda Keiko alone has more experience than most of the other anime’s entire cast lists put together.
Music: Spanish Connection
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
The music that plays when you load the website actually sounds pretty alright.
Thoughts: Amusingly, every time I hear the phrase ‘Jushi’ an image of Tamura Yukari saying Juushiii!! (Akazukin style) immediately pops up in my mind. I hear this New Musketeers thing is gonna go on for 40 episodes but hey, it is an NHK show. That in itself tells me it’s a no go.
Website

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Shugo Chara Party! [しゅごキャラパーティ！]

COOL! SPICY! Hontou no JIbUn! YAYYY!!!
Cast: Ito Kanae, Asumi Kana, Kato Nanae, Toyosaki Aki, Takagi Reiko, Chiba Saeko, Abe Atsushi, Nakamura Tomoko, Yahagi Sayuri, Saiga Mitsuki, Ishida Akira, Nakamura Yuichi, Mizuki Nana etc
Music: Di’LL
Opening Theme: Party Time by Guardians 4
Ending Theme: Bravo☆Bravo by Buono!
Thoughts: Eh. How many seasons of this have we had already, I’ve lost count…. I think the only reason I kinda keep track of Shugo Chara on & off is the fact that three of the most moe seiyuu (Kanae, Asumin & Aki) are all in it. Wheeeee
Website
Staff blog
Radio show (hosted by Toyosaki, Asumi, Ito & Kato)

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Sora no Otoshimono [そらのおとしもの]

Girl falls out of sky, boy’s life becomes complicated.
Cast: Hoshi Soichiro, Hayami Saori, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Takagaki Ayahi, Mina, Nomizu Iori
Music:
Opening Theme: Ring my bell by blue drops (Yoshida Hitomi & Hayami Saori)
Ending Theme: Soba ni Irareru dake de (そばにいられるだけで) by blue drops
Thoughts: SoraOto should prove relatively easy to drop, tolerance for harems remains at zero.
Website (also functions as a blog)
Radio show (hosted by Hayami & Nomizu, starts 01/10)

………It’s Stitch, the world’s most annoying alien?
Cast: Yamadera Koichi, Kumai Motoko, Iizuka Shozo, Mitsuya Yuji, Yamaguchi Kappei, Kyoda Hisako, Yanaka Hiroshi, Takeda Madoka
Music: Suzuki Yoshihisa
Opening Theme: SMILE by Kimaguren
Ending Theme: Stitch Acer (スティッチ・エイサー) by LoversSoul
Don’t like reggae-rap group Kimaguren much, but I do love the infectious pop of LoversSoul (psst the singer is quite cute too).
Thoughts: Hmmm, there’s a bunch of sliding tile puzzles on the website… oh wait, I guess I’m the only one bored enough to go play them ^^;
Website

Follow the daily lives of the Egg Blobs.
Cast:
Music:
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: I am proud to say I never owned a Tamagotchi when all the other kids went crazy over them! Instead I was errr….ummm…playing Ridge Racer, Twisted Metal, Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider orz.
Website

Human bomb guy is sent to kill a certain librarian who guards ‘Books’ where souls of the dead crystallize.
Cast: Paku Romi, Okawa Tohru, Sawashiro Miyuki, Tomatsu Haruka, Nakamura Yuichi, Ishida Akira, Miyake Kenta, Irino Miyu, Kawasumi Ayako, Okiayu Ryotaro, Nojima Hirofumi, Oki Tamio, Takeguchi Akiko, Naya Rokuro, Hirohashi Ryo, Nojima Kenji
Packed, packed, packed. It’s a finely balanced, all-star cast with a good mix of young (Tomatsu, Sawashiro, Irino), seasoned pros (Kawasumi, Paku, Okaiyu) and veterans (Oki, Naya). If nothing, expect food seiyuu performances here.
Music: Hirano Yoshihisa
Opening Theme: Datengoku Sensen (堕天國戦線) by ALI PROJECT
Ending Theme: Light of Dawn by Annabel
I tend to get the heebie-jeebies with any series that has AliPro as a theme song artist – sometimes its unwarranted (Geass, SoraKake, Rozen Maiden), sometimes it is (Kamichama Karin, Phantom). Hirano goes heavy on orchestral stuff, though he does have a wide range of sounds from the classical Ouran soundtrack to the darker tones of Meine Liebe or Loki Ragnarok. He’s always worth checking out.
Thoughts: Fail to see anything immediately appealing in Bantorra, it reminds me of Toshokan Sensou meets D.Gray-man meets Basquash or some other odd mishmash like that.
Website
Staff blog

Boy meets impressive guy, aspires to become a ‘Letter Bee’ (glorified name for delivery boy).
Cast: Sawashiro Miyuki, Fujimura Ayumi, Fukuyama Jun, Konishi Katsuyuki, Koshimizu Ami, Nagasawa Nao, Nakai Kazuya, Kishio Daisuke, Suganuma Hisayoshi, Mizuki Nana
Strong cast as expected of a shonen anime that used to be serialised in Shonen Jump. Not hoping for any earth-shattering performance here though.
Music: Ryo Kunihiko
Opening Theme: Hajimari no Hi (はじまりの日) by Suga Shikao feat Mummy.D
Ending Theme: ? by HIMEKA
Odd to see Ryo composing for a shonen series, but I welcome the change. Will be interesting to see what he comes up with after 3 historical/period piece anime (12 Kingdoms, Emma & Saiunkoku). And as far as I’m concerned, whatever Shikao does is pure win…. and HIMEKA on the other hand…. I’ll just keep quiet and see what they write for her here.
Thoughts: Not quite sure what to expect from this one, seems a very shonen-ish show but not quite my type of shonen (that being stuff like Hunter x Hunter, Hikaru no Go or Yakitate! Japan).
Website

The superhero is a thug and the bad guys are good-natured and friendly. Cue silly battles.
Cast: Takagi Shun, Nabei Makiko, Yamada Louis 53-sei, Higuchi-kun, Shimizu Satoshi, Ikki, Kurumi Mamiya, Ono Atsushi
If those names look strange, do keep in mind the cast is made up mainly of actual comedians
Music: Kakishima Shinji
Opening Theme: Zoku.Mizunokuchi Taiyozoku (続・溝ノ口太陽族) by Manzo
Ending Theme: Mizunokuchi Forver (溝ノ口Forever) by Morino Kumahachi
Website (also functions as a blog)

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Toaru Kagaku no Railgun [とある科学の超電磁砲]

Girls maintain peace in a city where 80% of its 230,000 citizens are students of the ‘Brain Development Program’ that develops psychic powers.
Cast: Satou Rina, Arai Satomi, Toyosaki Aki, Ito Kanae, Abe Atsushi, Tomatsu Haruka, Nanjou Yoshino
Spin-off, so naturally the original cast return with Rina (Mikoto) shifting to lead role duty.
Music: I’ve Sound/Iuchi Maiko
Opening Theme: only my railgun by fripSide
Ending Theme: Dear my friend -Mada Minu Mirai e- (Dear My Friend-まだ見ぬ未来へ-) by ELISA
I may be a huge admirer of I’ve artists but generally I find their musical compositions dull as ditchwater. I am more excited by the fripSide song, since it features the debut of its new vocalist Nanjo Yoshino (Maria in CANAAN). Don’t know if she can be anywhere near as good as nao, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt (song is pretty awsm btw).
Thoughts: I’m told that Railgun is better than Index? Can’t be any worse really, Index was so goddamn boring I swear they should package & advertise it as a surefire cure for insomnia (if reading the book of Psalms doesn’t work).
Website
Staff blog
Radio Show

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WHITE ALBUM 2 [WHITE ALBUM 後半]

Young female idol finds her boyfriend slipping away as her fame and popularity increases.
Cast: Hirano Aya, Mizuki Nana, Maeno Tomoaki, Takamoto Megumi, Masu Nozomi, Paku Romi, Tomatsu Haruka, Sakaguchi Daisuke, Hayami Sho
Sequel, so cast returns. You know, they all look so bored or pissed in the afureko pic above. Maeno seems to have had too many magic mushrooms, Paku-san wants to pick a fight, Tomacchan didn’t even bother to do her hair before she went to recording, Masu & Takamoto are falling asleep on each other’s heads. That’s what recording lines for WHITE ALBUM does to you…
Music: Elements Garden
Opening Theme: Mugen (夢幻) by Mizuki Nana
Ending Theme: Akai Ito (赤い糸) by Suara
Thoughts: The theme songs are possibly the only reason why I’m even grateful WHITE ALBUM 2 exists. Otherwise, I’d sooner beat myself over the head with a crowbar than watch this.
Website

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Yumeiro Patissiere [夢色パティシエール]

14-year old girl meets patissier, starts baking, encounters the legendary spirit of sweets.
Cast: Yuki Aoi, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Hamazoe Shinya, Yonaga Tsubasa, Taketatsu Ayana
Music:
Opening Theme:
Ending Theme:
Thoughts: They actually got Paris-based patissiere Aoki Sadaharu to supervise the pastry parts, plus the Federation of Japan Confectionery Associations is also involved so I hope to see realistic(!) and err… delicious looking cakes.
Website
Alternate site

*Pix stolen from lots and lots of different news sites.

Useless statistics
No. of shows covered in this guide: 39
No. of shows with an exclamation/question mark in the title: 5
No. of sequels, sidestories, prequels, remakes, blah: 16
No. of original shows not based on a manga, game, novels or random gimmick (& not including sequels): 0
No. of shows with a theme song by one of the seiyuu: 10

Stuff
Soooo, sequels galore and very few definite keepers at first glance. I managed to trim my watching schedule to 5 shows for the summer season and four of those have ended or will be ending soon (CANAAN, TM8.0, Saki & Aoi Hana), so I’ll be looking to build up my list again to supplement Cross Game. DtB and Kobato! are definites, Kuchu Buranko is a very high possibility as is Aoi Bungaku.

I’m really gonna miss my CANAAN and Saki fixes so hopefully there’s enough within the new season to keep me going. I’m very much open to recommendations and will try out at least 1 episode of everything even if I said I wouldn’t (yes, even the Three Musketeers puppet show if I can get hold of it)… well OK, maybe not Stitch and Tamagotchi.

Still no decent shonen anime on the horizon… and I’m starting to get bored of all the yuri shows. I used to look forward to the times when a Marimite came along as it seemed so rare and precious, but nowadays you shake a tree and half a dozen anime with yuri over/undertones fall out.

And of course you learn that genre & reputations count for nothing in the end, I was so sure Umi Monogatari was a definite must-watch last season thanks to the Sato Junichi/slice-of-life connection but it only succeeded in sending me into an almost eternal slumber. I’ll try not to get so excited about Kobato!.

Will do a short write-up on the seiyuu stuff in a bit.

The number of series in the summer season usually drops by half from that of the busy spring period, meaning half as many roles to go around an increasingly large pool of seiyuu but there are a few doing very well for themselves as usual. This isn’t really a big issue as there’s tons of 2+-cour series continuing their runs from previous seasons, but you can see that the list of most active seiyuu this summer is almost entirely different from that of the top 15 or so from spring.

The majority of the anime airing this season have a moe feel to them that is firmly reflected in the group of seiyuu who are winning the majority of the roles. A real dry season for the guys this time, with the exception of Hetalia all the series appear to be dominated by female seiyuu cast members. Also there are no real breakout stars either this time, with a select group of names popping up time and again, while the likes of Orikasa Fumiko and Saiga Mitsuki are conspicuous by their absence.

The Winners
Horie Yui
(Aoi Hana, Bakemonogatari, GA Geijutsuka, Kanamemo, Umi Monogatari, Umineko no Naku Koro ni)

Busy, busy summer ahead for Hocchan. Six regular voice roles, an album in July, a single in August and playing live at Budokan in September – it’s certainly a great time to be a fan of hers.

No secret that her range of roles is somewhat limited, but at least you know what you’re going to get – consistently moelicious, fluffy mind-numbingly sugary performances. I don’t expect anything Horie’s doing this time to be wholly different or groundbreaking compared to what she dose 95% of the time, but I’m sure a lot of people will lap it up anyway.

Sawashiro Miyuki
(Bakemonogatari, CANAAN, GA Geijutsuka, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Umi Monogatari, Zan. Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei)

Rent-a-Voice Sawashiro consistently lands roles left and right every season – no matter lead or supporting roles, she’s never lacking impact no matter what she’s thrust into.

Unlike the others on the rest of this list, she has such a wide range of voices in her repertoire that it’s always refreshing to hear what she brings to the table with each character she slips into. This season she tackles the titular role in CANAAN and supports in a mix of comedy and drama shows, so you can be assured that there’s got to be some Miyuki voice for everyone.

Toyosaki Aki
(Aoi Hana, Kanamemo, Spice & Wolf II, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Umi Monogatari)

The Toyosaki moe machine (she was Yui in K-ON!) spills over to the summer. Looking at the list Kanamemo seems the obvious highlight, giving her a role that obviously plays to her strengths and allowing her to inject more of that sweetness that she used to great effect with every shout of ‘Ui~~~’ or ‘Azu-nyan~~~’, making every moe-loving otaku go into overload.

On a personal level, of more interest would be her roles in serious fare like Aoi Hana & Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 – I have no idea what sort of characters she’s voicing in those, but I certainly hope it’s not those ‘prerequisite moe-loli sister’ roles… I really would like to hear something different from Aki-chan.

Tomatsu Haruka
(CANAAN, GA Geijutsuka, Sora no Manimani, Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou)

There appears to be no sign of Tomatsu’s hot streak ending just quite yet, another fruitful summer harvest adding to her spring haul of Cross Game, Basquash and Asura Cryin’ (which I believe are all running for another cour). All four roles were announced way in advance,

At this point, not a whole lot more I can say about her without sounding like a complete asshat, you are looking at a total 100% Tomatard after all… OK, legs! legs! legSSS11!#^#$^ Pretty fantastic voice too. Terrible singing as usual though, which we will have the unfortunate privilege of being assaulted by in the Sora no Manimani opening theme via Sphere.

Kitamura Eri
(Kanamemo, NEEDLESS, Taisho Yakyuu Musume., Tokyo Magnitude 8.0)

Most recently and best remembered as voicing Ami from Toradora!, Kitamura is possibly just as versatile and talented as Sawashiro Miyuki but unfortunately somehow manages to lands three times the amount of forgettable C-grade roles as Miyuki. Her singing talents are quite something to behold too, but little is coming from that avenue so fans will have to look to her voice and radio presenting for their fix.

This season yields just the one major role for her, as one of the three main protagonists in the shonen anime NEEDLESS and adds to another bunch of supporting roles. Radio is where KitaEri really comes to life however so be glad to know that she is hosting/co-hosting 5 of those these season, including Kanamemo’s radio show alongside Toyosaki.

Also notable: Ito Kanae and Kamiya Hiroshi both have two lead roles this season.

If you wanna pick a real winner from this season then it’s gotta be Music Ray’n – all four of their charges (Toyosaki, Tomatsu, Kotobuki Minako & Takagaki Ayahi) are scoring good roles plus they’re collectively singing the Sora no Manimani opening theme. Whether it’s really the power of SonyTM at work there – who knows? At least they’re really having a good go at it.

If I were forced to pick an anime to watch based solely on the cast it would be CANAAN. Sakamoto Maaya is a sweet enough deal already, but with Sawashiro + Tomacchan + Tanaka Rie… I’m probably sold on at least the first episode anyway.

Quick Jump: Aoi Hana | Bakemonogatari | CANAAN | Element Hunters | Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!! | GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class | Kanamemo | Needless | Princess Lover! | Sora no Manimani | Spice & Wolf II | Taisho Yakyuu Musume. | Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 | Umi Monogatari~ Anata ga ite kureta koto~ | Umineko no Naku Koro ni | Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou | Zan. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

J.C.Staff adaptation of the yuri manga that focuses on two childhood friends and their respective love lives.

Cast: Untested Takabe Aoi (actress, gravure) takes on one of the leads, with another unheralded seiyuu Gibu Yuko as the other. More familiar names fill up the rest of the roster, including Horie Yui, Ishimatsu Chiemi, Iguchi Yuka, Kawada Shinji, Oura Fuyuka, Toyosaki Aki, Yahagi Sayuri, Asanuma Shintaro, Noto Mamiko, Fukui Yukari, Nakahara Mai & Hamada Kenji
Web Radio: Aoi Hana~Sweet Blue Radio~ hosted by Takabe Ai & Gibu Yuko
Music: Haketa Takefumi
Opening theme: Aoi Hana (青い花) by Kukikodan
-First ever anime theme for the vastly underrated pop trio.
Ending theme: Centiforia (センティフォリア) by Ceui
Website
Staff blog

SHAFT-made anime about a high school boy and the weird students he meets.
Cast: Kamiya Hiroshi is the lead. Saito Chiwa, Katou Emiri, Sawashiro Miyuki, Hanazawa Kana, Horie Yui and Sakurai Takahiro are amongst the rest of the cast.
Web Radio: No
Music: Kousaki Satoru
Opening theme: Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (君の知らない物語) by supercell
-aka the Nico Nico douga creative. Song composed by ryo, vocals by nagi (formerly Gazelle).
Ending theme: ?
Website
Staff blog

Based on the Wii visual novel 428, featuring a girl with a gun who shares a name with the Promised Land as the lead character.

Cast: All-star cast featuring Sawashiro Miyuki, Sakamoto Maaya, Hamada Kenji, Tanaka Rie, Tomatsu Haruka, Nanjo Yoshino, Noto Mamiko, Hirata Hiroaki, Minagawa Junko, Ohkawa Toru and Ohtsuka Akio
Web Radio: No
Music: Nanase Hikaru
Opening theme: mind as Judgment by Faylan
-First major OP/ED gig for Faylan, who’s performing at Animelo this year.
Ending theme: My Heaven by Annabel
Website
Staff blog

NHK & Korean company collaborate to make a sci-fi anime teaching kids chemistry.

Cast: Asanuma Shintaro, Enomoto Atsuko, Kuwashima Houko, Kobayashi Sanae, Sasaki Nozomu, Suyama Akio, Yamaguchi Rie, Nakayama Sara, Mayama Ako & Koyama Rikiya
Web Radio: No
Music: Sahashi Toshihiko
Opening theme: First Pain by Ishikawa Chiaki
Ending theme: Suihei Liebe~Mahou no Juumon~ (スイヘイリーベ～魔法の呪文～) by Kakki & Ash Potato
Website
Staff blog

Wonderfully deep anime about girls in plug suits charging unlucky people up with electricity.
Cast: Fukuhara Kaori, Takagaki Ayahi, Takahashi Hiroki, Miyazaki Ui, Yahagi Sayuri, Kawasumi Ayako, Shimizu Ai, Mitsuishi Kotono and Kaneda Tomoko star.
Web Radio: No
Music: Tada Akifumi
Opening theme: CHARGE! by Fukuhara Kaori & Takagaki Ayahi
Ending theme: Onegai Sweetheart (お願いSweetheart) by Fukuhara Kaori
Website (wowzers, nipple peek)

Slice of life story about a high school art club. So far, so Hidamari SketchBook.
Cast: The main quartet are voiced by Tomatsu Haruka, Tokunaga Ai, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nazuka Kaori & Horie Yui.

Web Radio: Hosted by Tomatsu Haruka & Nazuka Kaori at Animate.tv.
Music: ?
Opening theme: ?
Ending theme: ?
Website

4-koma manga adaptation about a girl who ends up living at the newspaper delivery office after her family all passes away.
Cast: Toyosaki Aki, Mizuhara Kaoru, Kugimiya Rie, Horie Yui, Kitamura Eri (see those three? It’s like a Toradora! reunion) Hirohashi Ryo & Endo Aya.
Web Radio: Hayane Hayaoki, hosted by Toyosaki Aki & Kitamura Eri starting July 4.
Music: Hashimoto Yukari
Opening theme: Kimi e to Tsunagu Kokoro (君へとつなぐココロ) by Toyosaki Aki, Mizuhara Kaoru & Kugimiya Rie
Ending theme: Yahho!! by Horie Yui
Website

‘Bishojo x Violence’ anime, set in the aftermath of World War III in 2130.

Cast: Established cast featuring Koyasu Takehito, Endo Aya, Kitamura Eri, Utsumi Kenji, Ito Kentaro, Kato Emiri, Touchi Hiroki, Goto Saori, Makino Yui, Taniyama Kisyo, Yamaguchi Mayumi, Ise Mariya, Chihara Minori & Toyoguchi Megumi. Replaces most of the drama CD cast that had the likes of Kobayashi Yumiko, Saito Chiwa & Ueda Kana on board, with only Koyasu and Ito retained.
Web Radio: None
Music: Kato Tatsuya & Iizuka Masaaki
Opening theme: modern strange cowboy by GRANRODEO
Ending theme: Agressive zone by NEEDLESS Girls+ (Kitamura Eri, Endo Aya, Goto Saori, Makino Yui, Kato Emiri)
Website

Eroge adaptation, harem anime etc.

Cast: Terashima Takuma tackles the lucky harem lead, with Yuzuki Ryoka, Toyoguchi Megumi, Kato Emiri, Matsuoka Yuki, Miyake Kaya, Mizuhara Kaoru, Sasaki Nozomi, Wakamoto Norio, Koyasu Takehito, Akimoto Yosuke & Shiraishi Minori offering support.
Web Radio: To be hosted by Hashimoto Miyuki & yozuca* on lantis-net.
Music: ?
Opening theme: Princess Primp! by Hashimoto Miyuki
Ending theme: S.S.D. by yozuca*
Website

High-school astronomy club antics.

Cast: Maeno Tomoaki & Ito Kanae lead. A stellar support cast features Tomatsu Haruka, Hayami Saori, Koshimizu Ami, Takagi Reiko, Majima Junji, Chan Li Mei (not some exotic Chinese, her real name is Toyohara Satomi) & Matsukaze Masaya.
Web Radio: Sora no Manimani Housoushitsu hosted by Ito Kanae & Hayami Saori, to start June 30 (check website)
Music: CooRie & Okubo Kaoru
Opening theme: Super Noisy Nova by Sphere
Ending theme: Hoshikuzu no Surround (星屑のサラウンド). CooRie
Website
Staff blog

Furry economics pt.2.

Cast: Koshimizu Ami, Fukuyama Jun, Chiba Saeko, Koyama Rikiya, Sasajima Kaoru, Watanabe Akeno, Paku Romi, Uchida Yuya & Toyosaki Aki.
Web Radio: Ookamiku Radio hosted by Koshimizu Ami and Fukuyama Jun
Music: Yoshino Yuji
Opening theme: Mitsu no Yoake (蜜の夜明け) by Arai Akino
Ending theme: Perfect World by ROCKY CHACK
Website
Staff Blog

Girls playing baseball in the Taisho era (1912-1926).

Cast: Ito Kanae and Nakahara Mai lead. Rest of the cast includes Ueda Kana, Noto Mamiko, Kaida Yuko, Kitamura Eri, Hirohashi Ryo, Makino Yui, Goto Saori, Fujimura Ayumi & Arai Satomi.
Web Radio: Romantic Radio hosted by Ito Kanae & Nakahara Mai
Music: Hattori Takayuki
Opening theme: Romantic Strike (浪漫ちっくストライク) by Ito Kanae, Nakahara Mai, Ueda Kana & Noto Mamiko
Ending theme: Yume.Miru.Kokoro (ユメ・ミル・ココロ) by Ito Kanae
Website
Staff blog

Airing in the coveted noitaminA slot. Set in the aftermath of a Tokyo reeling from an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, following the lives of siblings Mirai & Yutaka.

Cast: Hanamura Satomi and Kobayashi Yumiko take on the lead roles. Supporting cast includes Kaida Yuko, Kitamura Eri, Toyosaki Aki, Hirataka Narumi, Endo Aya, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nonaka Ai, Naka Hiroshi & Inoue Kikuko. French-born news announcer Christel Takigawa also makes her seiyuu debut here.
Web Radio: No
Music: Otani Kou
Opening theme: Kimi no Uta (キミノウタ) by abingdon boys school
Ending theme: M/elody by Tsuji Shion
Website
Staff blog

‘Magical maiden fantasy’ anime based on a pachinko game, centering on a pair of ‘pure’ sisters who live in the sea with the fishes. Sounds trite, but it’s in the hands of the very capable Sato Junichi (ARIA, Kaleido Star etc) so chances are it won’t totally descend in a sea of cheesy fluff.

Cast: Asumi Kana and Horie Yui voice the sisters Marin and Urin, while the other lead is taken by Kotobuki Minako. Support comes from Fukui Yukari, Majima Junji, Naya Rokuro, Gibu Yuko, Nagai Sachiko, Toyosaki Aki & Sawashiro Miyuki.
Web Radio: UmimonoRadio hosted by Asumi Kana + guests
Music: Muramatsu Ken
Opening theme: violet by marble
Ending theme: Toumei na Inori (透明な祈り) by Itou Masumi
Website
Staff blog

You know the drill, it’s another Naku Koro ni… adaptation.

Cast: Ono Daisuke and Inoue Marina head a large cast that also includes Horie Yui, Suzumura Kenichi, Kugimiya Rie, Kobayashi Yu, Mugihito, Kosugi Juurota, Itou Miki, Hirose Masashi, Koyama Rikiya, Tanaka Atsuko, Koshimizu Ami, Funaki Masato, Bifu Hitoshi, Hatori Yasuko, Ishizumi Akihiko and Ohara Sayaka.
Web Radio: No
Music: ?
Opening theme: Katayoku no Tori (片翼の鳥) by Shikata Akiko
Ending theme: la divina tragedia~Makyoku~ (la divina tragedia～魔曲～) by Jimang [of Sound Horizon]
Website
No staff blog but you can sign up for mail magazine

Based on a light novel about a high-school freshman who meets and becomes the understudy of a mage.

Cast: Nonaka Ai and Nabatame Hitomi lead. Supporting cast includes Tomatsu Haruka, Asanuma Shintaro & Kotobuki Minako. Also the cast picture from episode one shows Hamada Kenji, Sato Satomi & Hikasa Yoko but there’s no confirmation whether they’re just guesting or are cast regulars.
Web Radio: Hosted by Nonaka & Nabatame at the site
Music: Hashimoto Yukari
Opening theme: programming for non-fiction by Asou Natsuko
Ending theme: Made in WONDER by Misato Aki
Website

Third full season of Dr. Doom and his lovely harem.
Cast: The usual suspects return, from Kamiya Hiroshi to Nonaka Ai, Inoue Marina, Shintani Ryoko, Sanada Asami, Kobayashi Yu, Sawashiro Miyuki, Tanii Asuka, Matsuki Miyu, Goto Yuko, Yajima Akiko, Sugita Tomokazu, Ueda Youji, Mizushima Takahiro & Terashima Takuma
Web Radio: Close approaching its 100th episode, the very popular Sayonara Zetsubou Housou continues to be hosted by Kamiya Hiroshi & Shintani Ryoko
Music: Presumably Hasegawa Tomoki
Opening theme: Ringo Mogire Beam! (林檎もぎれビーム！) by Ohtsuki Kenji & Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi (Nonaka Ai, Inoue Marina, Kobayashi Yu, Sawashiro Miyuki, Shintani Ryoko)
Ending theme: Zetsubou Restaurant (絶望レストラン) by Zetsubou Shoujou-tachi (Tanii Asuka, Sanada Asami, Goto Yuko, Matsuki Miyu)
Website

Useless statistics
No. of shows covered in this guide: 17
No. of shows with an exclamation mark in the title: 2
No. of sequels, sidestories, prequels, remakes, blah: 3
No. of original shows not based on a manga, game, novels or random gimmick (& not including sequels): 1
No. of shows with a theme song by one of the seiyuu: 7

Stuff
Will be looking to pick up some shows to replace the ones that are ending – with Hatsukoi Limited, K-ON!, Eden & SoraKake all ending soon, my watch list will consist of just Cross Game. Pretty much anything Sato Junichi does is a done deal, so Umi Monogatari gets top priority for me this season. Also, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 wins a few more bias points thanks to the noitaminA slot and my tendency to gravitate towards anything that doesn’t look oh-so-kewt.

That means two more available slots (I try to keep it at a limit of 5 concurrent TV series to avoid blowing my brains apart) and I’m open to anything apart from the sequels – I’ve seriously had enough of Zetsubou-sensei after two seasons, Higurashi put me to sleep by the 10th episode and I somehow never got into Spice & Wolf despite a lot of people telling me I should (just because I’m an economist doesn’t mean I want to see it in animated form). Taisho is also getting passed over because I can only deal with one baseball anime at one time.

At first glance Aoi Hana (yuri) and Bakemonogatari (a fresh version of Zetsubou-sensei?) are the most likely candidates to fill those slots but that is of course, not set in stone – I never intended to watch Cross Game at all, but it still ended up as arguably my favourite show from spring. CANAAN is a distinct possibility too, though intriguing as it is I can’t really tell from the description what the heck it’s really about. I mean, Shangri-La sounded good on paper and look where that ended up.

I think you can probably tell that I’m not a huge moe fan, but I’m willing to let GA or Kanamemo try to push my Mio and Mugi buttons. I’m also dying for a good brainless shonen series but I honestly haven’t found anything worthy since… Yakitate Japan! maybe, and nothing here indicates that it will break the trend.

Shows that can go screw itself up the butthole – Princess Lover! and Juuden-chan (worst trailer ever, wtf). Seriously, if I ever end up watching either, please take me to the mental hospital. It’s a mere 2-minute drive from my house, straight on past two roundabouts and the first turning on the right.

Seiyuu notes up next.

It’s a fairly poor season for the guys, with very few anime productions that feature lots of male characters, spreading the roles out fairly evenly amongst the male seiyuu. There’s also no real breakout stars this time, with most of the roles going to well-established people.

Winners
Irino Miyu
Spring 2009 is proving to be a particularly fruitful season for Irino. Having made a memorable debut in Spirited Away all the way back in 2001 (as a geeky 13-year old), he’s rapidly risen over the last 2-3 years to become one of the go-to guys for young male roles who don’t sound like girls. Saji Crossroad, Tsubasa’s Syaoran and Birdy’s Tsutomu are some examples of the roles Miyu typically lands, but his performance as the devious Kuon in Kurozuka showed off a different side to his voice acting and is something he hasn’t really had the chance to do. I liked him in Winter Garden (the Di-Gi Charat spin-off specials)

This season sees him tackling 6 different roles, half of them as the lead character – those shows are all opposite Music Ray’n female leads – Tomatsu Haruka for Asura Cryin’ and Cross Game, and Takagaki Ayahi in Phantom the Animation. The other roles are in 07-GHOST, Cooking Idol I! My! Mine! and Hatsukoi Limited, but I believe 07-GHOST’s Shuri is the role that will offer him a bit more meat to it, everything else is pretty much within his normal scope and range.

He’s a very solid seiyuu who has proved that he’s capable of taking on more challenging roles and characters, and he’s cute to boot – but there are plenty of others working within the same bracket (Kakihara Tetsuya, Shimono Hiro etc). I guess Miyu got lucky at the audition rounds this time, but good for him – time to step up to the plate and really deliver some great performances to distinguish himself from the rest.

Tomatsu Haruka
Tomatsu is not only the spring season winner, it’s likely she’ll be the summer season winner as well. Pretty crazy, the number of lead roles she’s landing these few months – it’s predictably led to a lot of anti-Tomacchan sentiment on that world-famous BBS, with the haters blaming the almighty, excessive corporate push to further her career. Well, it’s a plus point that Music Ray’n/Sony are focusing squarely on voice work for Tomatsu instead of bikini shoots, I suppose.

This season sees Haruka taking on 4 roles, 3 of which are as the lead. She will reprise her role as the tsundere Corti in Polyphonica Crimson S, and voice two leads opposite Irino Miyu in the anime adaptation of Adachi Mitsuru’s Cross Game as well as Asura Cryin’. The other supporting role comes in Satelight’s Basquash, where she joins other young starlets Nakajima Megumi & Hayami Saori in the seiyuu supergroup Eclipse, providing the opening theme for the anime. Haruka also gets to sing the ending theme for Polyphonica and the opening for Hatsukoi Limited. as part of Sphere.

And it only gets better throughout the rest of 2009 with roles in CANAAN, Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou, GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class & Sora no Manimani. Love her or hate her, Tomatsu will be someone whose voice you won’t be able to escape this year.

Kugimiya Rie
Another strong showing this season for Kugimiya, who’s been consistently landing at least 3-4 roles every season over the past few years. I guess it’s pretty reasonable to say that Kugyu is probably one of the top 5 seiyuu in the business at the moment, though she seems to polarise opinions with her high-pitched, easily grating on the nerves type of voice. But two (tainted) Seiyuu Awards don’t lie, people!

She’s certainly a busy bee as always, and continues to have a stranglehold on the tsundere roles – an art that she patented. Granted, Kugimiya’s two lead roles this season are both in sequels or remakes (Hayate no Gotoku!! and Fullmetal Alchemist), but she’s got a couple of other substantial parts in Saki, Basquash! and Queen’s Blade added to continuing roles in Hetalia and Gintama so there’ll be lots of different types of Kugyu voices and characters on display.

Not to mention the tons of drama CDs and video games she pops up on randomly, as well as hosting the Hagaren radio show with Paku Romi (Hayacon radio just ended, inexplicably). Like Tomatsu Haruka, she’s somebody easily unavoidable for the forseeable future.

Shiraishi Ryoko
Sunny Uryocchi has had a stellar but unspectacular couple of years since breaking through in Negima (Kaede) and Mahoraba (Ryushi) in 2005, her earlier years spent on the sidelines and in DROPS. Ryoko’s very distinct husky voice is perfect for teenage male characters like Hayate or onee-san types like Airantou’s Rin, and that tends to be the sort of role she’s been landing in recent years.

Hayate still remains Uryocchi’s most well-known role, unless you count being the Japanese dub for Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus a particularly fantastic achievement. She’s not particularly prolific, but 2008 was a pretty good year for her – a long-running role as one of the three leads in Zettai Karen Children! added to Anew Returner in Gundam 00 and Ryoko in Kemeko Deluxe! as well as supporting roles in Birdy and Gegege no Kitaro.

This season Shiraishi returns with the Hayate sequel and the lead female role (her first ever) in Shaft’s Natsu no Arashi!, plus a major supporting role in Saki as well as being one of the many girls in the Hatsukoi Limited. anime. Her so-far lacklustre solo music career (she’s on King Records) might get a boost from the Natsu no Arashi! license – 5th single Kirari Futari serves as the ending theme. It’s nice to see that Uryocchi’s getting more roles, I think she’s pretty underrated and hasn’t really had a chance to show off the best of her abilities thus far. Onwards and upwards?

Top 14 most active seiyuu in spring season
More weight is given to number of lead roles, which is why Tomatsu Haruka beats out Kugimiya Rie. I try to work it out this way = 2 points for a lead role + 1 for a support role. Hopefully I didn’t miss anybody out, but the list is only correct up to late March – there’s bound to be unannounced roles that pop up throughout the season.

lead roles in italics
01.Irino Miyu (6 roles, 3 lead) Pts:9
-Asura Cryin’, CROSS GAME, Phantom, 07-GHOST, Cooking Idol, Hatsukoi Limited.
02.Tomatsu Haruka (4 roles, 3 lead) Pts:7
-Polyphonica Crimson S, Asura Cryin‘, CROSS GAME, Basquash!
03.Kugimiya Rie (5 roles, 2 lead) Pts:7
-Hayate no Gotoku!!, Fullmetal Alchemist, Basquash!, Saki, Queen’s Blade
04.Shiraishi Ryoko (4 roles, 2 leads) Pts: 6
-Natsu no Arashi!, Hayate no Gotoku!!, Saki, Hatsukoi Limited.
05.Paku Romi (3 roles, 2 leads) Pts: 5
-Fullmetal Alchemist, Higepiyo, Sengoku BASARA
06.Nakai Kazuya (4 roles, 1 lead) Pts: 5
-Sengoku BASARA, 07-GHOST, Asura Cryin’, Senjo no Valkyria
07.Tanaka Rie (5 roles) Pts: 5
-Asura Cryin’, Hayate no Gotoku!!, Tears to Tiara, Hatsukoi Limited., Slap-Up Party-Arad Senki-
08.Ito Shizuka (5 roles) Pts: 5
-Hatsukoi Limited., Hayate no Gotoku!!, TAYUTAMA, Basquash!, Saki
09.Kawasumi Ayako (3 roles, 1 lead) Pts: 4
-Queen’s Blade, PandoraHearts, Polyphonica Crimson S
10.Toyosaki Aki (3 roles, 1 lead) Pts: 4
-K-ON!, Asura Cryin’, Hatsukoi Limited.
11.Hino Satoshi (3 roles, 1 lead) Pts: 4
-TAYUTAMA, Beyblade, Hatsukoi Limited.
12.Chiba Susumu (3 roles, 1 lead) Pts: 4
-Senjo no Valkyria, 07-GHOST, Phantom
13.Fukuyama Jun (4 roles) Pts: 4
-Saki, Shangri-la, Hanasakeru Seishonen, PandoraHearts
14.Nabatame Hitomi (4 roles) Pts: 4
-Beyblade, Queen’s Blade, Natsu no Arashi!, Hayate no Gotoku!!

There’s also tons of others on 3 points including Minagawa Junko, Saiga Mitsuki, Inoue Marina, Goto Yuko, Orikasa Fumiko, Yahagi Sayuri, Horiuchi Kenyu, Shimono Hiro, Ueda Kana, Kaida Yuko, Sakurai Takahiro, Sato Satomi, Sawashiro Miyuki, Wakamoto Norio, Shimizu Ai and so on.

Some of the sad seiyuu that you might be seeing working part-time in a kombini near you these three months include Tamura Yukari, Kadowaki Maii, Kobayashi Sanae, Shimizu Kaori, Chiba Saeko and Fukuen Misato.

I’m still pretty bummed out over Toyoguchi Megumi dropping out of Fullmetal Alchemist and Valkyria. Reaaallly bummed out.

This is a no-frills, straight-up, easy-reference guide to TV anime (+ long running OVA) that commences airing within the March-April 2009 timeframe. Which means Fight Ippatsu! Jūden-chan!! (airdate May/June) is off the list.

Format hasn’t changed much, but I’m now including links to staff blogs which seems to be a popular thing to do nowadays. They’re great to check out for the behind the scenes going-ons, and for extra bits like art concepts and goods that don’t make it to print or the official site.

More in-depth season guides can be found at:
Hashihime | Tenka Seiha | THAT Anime Blog | Random Curiosity

Quick Jump: 07-GHOST | Asura Cryin’ | Basquash! | Chi’s Sweet Home: Atarashii Ouchi | Cooking Idol!I!My!Mine! | CROSS GAME | Dragon Ball Kai | Gokujō!! Mecha Mote Iinchō | Guin Saga | Hagane no Renkinjutsushi FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST | Hanasakeru Seishōnen | Hatsukoi Limited. | Hayate no Gotoku!! | Higashi no Eden | Higepiyo | Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari | Jewel Pet | K-ON! | Konnichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables | Mainichi Kaa-san | Metal Fight Beyblade | Natsu no Arashi! | PandoraHearts | Phantom~Requiem for the Phantom | Queen’s Blade: Rurō no Senshi | Ristorante Paradiso | Saki | Sengoku BASARA | Senjō no Valkyria | Shangri-la | Shin Mazinger Shōgeki! Z-hen | Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica Crimson S | Slap-Up Party -Arad Senki- | Sōten Kōro | TAYUTAMA-Kiss on my Deity- | Tears to Tiara

07-GHOST

Nutshelled: Amnesiac kid gets sent to military school to learn magic powers and gets caught up in supernatural hijinks.
Source: Manga written by Amemiya Yuki & illustrated by Ichihara Yukino, runs in Monthly Comic Zero Sum. 7 tankoubon out so far.
Studio: Studio DEEN
Staff: Directed by Takamoto Nobuhiro (Tenchi in Tokyo), scripted by Takahashi Natsuko
Episode count: 2-cour
Music: Nakagawa Kotaro (Hayate no Gotoku!, Code Geass)
Opening Theme: Aka no Kakera by Suzuki Yuki
Ending Theme: Hitomi no Kotae by Noria
Seiyuu: Retained from the drama CDs. Saiga Mitsuki leads, with Hayami Sho as the main antagonist. Namikawa Daisuke, Saito Chiwa, Suwabe Junichi, Chiba Susumu, Hamada Kenji, Miyata Kouki, Kishio Daisuke, Hatano Wataru, Nakai Kazuya, Irino Miyu, Kirii Daisuke, Kiuchi Hidenobu, Senda Mitsuo & Takahashi Hiroki are the other cast members announced.
Radio show: 07-GHOST the world is hosted by Saiga Mitsuki & Namikawa Daisuke
Staff Blog: Event and merchandise reports so far, brought to you by production staff Goto Nami, Comic Zero Sum’s K-shima, publicity chief Mako-chan and the mysterious Enoru☆彡.

Asura Cryin’ [アスラクライン]

Nutshelled: High-school boy haunted by ghost of childhood friend.
Source: Light novel by Minama Gakuto (illustrated by Watanuki Nao). Manga adaptation by Akizuki Ryo runs in Dengeki Daioh.
Studio: Seven Arcs
Staff: Directed by Kusakawa Keizo (Nanoha, Sekirei)
Episode count: ?
Music: Tajiri Mitsutaka (Kiniro no Corda)
Opening Theme: Spiral by angela
Ending Theme: Link by angela

Seiyuu: Leads are voiced by Irino Miyu & Tomatsu Haruka. The large cast also includes Nonaka Ai, Tanaka Rie, Morikubo Showtaro, Nakai Kazuya, Ohara Sayaka, Takagi Reiko, Ishizuka Sayori, Toyosaki Aki, Majima Junji, Kaida Yuko, Sasto Satomi, Kitamura Eri, Yahagi Sayuri, Koyama Kimiko & Shimono Hiro.
Radio show: No.

Basquash! [バスカッシュ!]

Nutshelled: First we get ballet + mecha (Rideback), now we get basketball + mecha.
Source: Original creation by Thomas Romain and Kawamori Shoji (Macross, Escaflowne).
Studio: Satelight
Staff: Directed by Itagaki Shin (Devil May Cry, BLACK CAT). Nike are designing the shoes in the anime.
Episode count: 26
Music: Audio Highs & Yoshikawa Kei
Opening Theme: nO limiT by ECLIPSE
Ending Theme: free by Yamada Yu

Seiyuu: Shimono Hiro & Ito Shizuka are the leads, supported by Nakamura Yuichi, Asano Masumi, Hanazawa Kana, Kugimiya Rie, Tsuda Kenjiro, Kobayashi Yumiko, Hirose Masashi, Endo Aya and Kobayashi Yu. The idol group ECLIPSE within the anime will be voiced by rising young stars Tomatsu Haruka, Hayami Saori & Nakajima Megumi.
Radio show: No.
Comments: Let’s not get too excited about the people involved, last time we had Romain, Kawamori + Satelight we got Kiss Dum, remember?

Chi’s Sweet Home Atarashii Ouchi [チーズスイートホーム あたらしいおうち]

Nutshelled: Heartwarming tales of everybody’s favourite cat, part 2.
Source: Manga by Kanata Konami
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: The staff from season 1 returns, including director Masuhara Mitsuyuki.
Episode count: ?
Music: META boys
Opening Theme: Chi-sana Daibouken by Matsumoto Rica
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: Koorogi Satomi as Chi returns, along with Kozakura Etsuko, Hidaka Noriko, Kiuchi Hidenobu, Yamaguchi Mayumi and Shimamura Yu
Radio show: No.

Cooking Idol I! My! Mine! [クッキンアイドル アイ！マイ！まいん！]

Nutshelled: Like Moegaku, except you learn cooking instead of languages. Half the show is animated, half is live action cooking with a kid.
Source: Original.
Studio: The animated segment is by Studio Deen.
Staff: Directed by Watanabe Hiroshi (Suteki Tantei Labyrinth, tactics)
Episode count: ?
Music: Hasegawa Tomoki & Hashimoto Yukari
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?

Seiyuu: 10-year old actress Fukuhara Haruka will be the kid who does the cooking. The animated segment features the voices of Kobayashi Akiko, Irino Miyu, Seki Toshihiko and others.
Radio show: No.

CROSS GAME [クロスゲーム]

Nutshelled: A teenage boy’s family runs a sports store and he gets to know four lovely ladies from the local batting center. One of them dies suddenly, and his world gets turned upside down.
Source: Comedy baseball manga by the acclaimed Adachi Mitsuru (Miyuki, Touch) which runs in Weekly Shonen Sunday. Cross Game won Shogakukan’s Shonen Manga award in 2009, and has 14 compiled volumes so far.
Studio: Synergy SP
Staff: Directed by Sekita Osamu (Ichigo 100% + a bunch of ero-anime)
Episode count: ?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Summer Rain by Kobukuro
Ending Theme: Koi Kogarete Mita Yume by Ayaka
-First anime theme song for either Jpop superstar(s).
Seiyuu: Irino Miyu and Tomatsu Haruka voice the leads (same as in Asura Cryin’), supported by Kanda Akemi, Shitaya Noriko, Toyoguchi Megumi & Sakurai Takahiro
Radio show: No.

Dragon Ball Kai [ドラゴンボール改]

Nutshelled: A HD remaster & recut of the original Dragon Ball Z series to celebrate the 20th anniversary.
Source: 14 volumes of manga written & illustrated by Aoki Takao.
Studio: Toei Animation
Staff: It’s a recut, so I guess the staff is the same?
Episode count: ?
Music: Yamamoto Kenji
Opening Theme: Dragon Soul by Tanimoto Takayoshi
Ending Theme: Yeah! Break! Care! Break! by Tanimoto Takayoshi
Seiyuu: The same as the original – Nozawa Masako, Tsuru Hiromi, Tanaka Mayumi, Furuya Tohru etc.
Radio show: No.

Gokujō!! Mecha Mote Iinchō [極上!!めちゃモテ委員長]

Nutshelled: Girl aims to be best student council president ever!
Source: Manga by Nishimura Tomoko, 8 tankoubon in print so far.
Studio: Synergy SP
Staff: Directed by Kosaka Harume (Saint Beast), written by Takahashi Natsuko
Episode count: 13?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Mecha Mote I Love You MM Gakuen Gasshobu
Ending Theme: Kirei ni Naritai by MM Gakuen Gasshobu
Seiyuu: 15-year old idol Ogawa Mana gets the lead role with Chiba Chiemi, Enomoto Atsuko, Yonezawa Madoka, Takanohashi Tsubasa, Oshima Ryo(?), Abe Ryotaro, Watanabe Tomohiro and Yahagi Sayuri amongst the rest of the cast.
Radio show: No

Guin Saga [グイン・サーガ]

Nutshelled: Tales of the mysterious amnesiac warrior with leopard mask permanently fixed to his head.
Source: Kurimoto Kaoru’s fantasy saga, which has seen 124 volumes of novels published since 1979.
Studio: Satelight
Staff: Directed by newcomer Wakabayashi Atsushi
Episode count: 26
Music: Uematsu Nobuo
Opening Theme: Guin’s Theme by Uematsu Nobuo
Ending Theme: Saga~This is my road by Kanon

Seiyuu: Veteran Horiuchi Kennyuu tackles the lead role of Guin. Support cast includes Nakahara Mai, Yonaga Tsubasa, Asanuma Shintaro, Yahagi Sayuri, Uchida Yuya, Watanabe Akeno, Ishii Makoto, Abe Atsushi, Iwasaki Hiromi & Fujiwara Keiji
Radio show: No.
Staff Blog: In operation since last August, run by somebody called YB.
Comments: Really ambitious project, this. I look forward to yaoi moments!

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST [鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST]

Nutshelled: Adventures of the bean and the tin man.
Source: Manga by Arakawa Hiromu
Studio: Bones
Staff: Original director Mizushima Seiji is replaced by Kurau director Irie Yasuhiro, who also worked on some of the opening animation for the original FMA anime.
Episode count: 4-cour
Music: Senju Akira
Opening Theme: again by YUI
Ending Theme: Uso by Sid
Seiyuu: They could never replace Paku Romi, Kugimiya Rie and Toyoguchi Megumi, could they… oh they did. Well the main two are retained, but Takamoto Megumi now replaces Toyoguchi, and there are wholesale changes in the rest of the cast as well. Saiga Mitsuki is replaced by Nazuka Kaori(!), Okiayu Ryotaro by Miyake Kenta(!!) and Neya Michiko by Orikasa Fumiko(!!!) for example. Fujiwara Keiji, Hamada Kenji and Shibata Hideyuki are the only other unchanged cast members.
Radio show: Hosted on Onsen by Paku Romi & Kugimiya Rie.
Comments: Very disappointing that most of the supporting characters have been recast. I’ll always associate Roy Mustang, Riza Hawkeye and Winry with their original voices =_=

Hanasakeru Seishōnen [花咲ける青少年]

Nutshelled: Half (Japanese/American) heiress is transplanted from ordinary school days in Japan to live an upper class life.
Source: Shojo manga by Itsuki Natsumi, which ran in the 90s. 12 tankoubon in total.
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Staff: Kon Chiaki (Higurashi, Nodame Cantabile) directs
Episode count: 39
Music: Saito Tetsuya & Sato Go
Opening Theme: CHANGE by J-MIN
Ending Theme: One by J-MIN
-Korean singer.

Seiyuu: Endo Aya is the lead girl. She’s surrounded by smexy guys such as Morikawa Toshiyuki, Kakihara Tetsuya, Goda Hozumi, Namikawa Daisuke, Ono Daisuke, Fukuyama Jun, Koyasu Takehito, Suwabe Junichi & Tsuchida Hiroshi.
Radio show: No.
Comments: This is Aya’s second reverse harem lead (after Neo Angelique).

Hatsukoi Limited. [初恋限定。]

Nutshelled: Rom-com revolving around 8 schoolgirls and their love lives.
Source: A 4-volume manga by Kawashita Mizuki (Ichigo 100%)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Staff: Directed by newcomer Yamakawa Yoshiki
Episode count: 12
Music: Nijine – often employed as a songwriter for Lantis artists. A self-professed anime and seiyuu fan, this will be her(his?) first composition work for an anime.
Opening Theme: Future Stream by Sphere
Ending Theme: Hatsukoi Limited by marble

Seiyuu: The 8 girls are Ise Mariya, Ito Shizuka, Toyosaki Aki, Fujimura Ayumi, Kotobuki Minako, Goto Saori, Tanaka Rie & Shiraishi Ryoko. The guys include Irino Miyu, Asanuma Shintaro, Sakurai Takahiro, Hino Satoshi, Yoshino Hiroyuki and Nomura Kenji.
Radio show: Shizuka to Mariya no Koiiro Limited hosted by Ito Shizuka & Ise Mariya
Comments: I really liked the Ichigo 100% manga back when and was cheesed off at the terrible anime adaptation, but Hatsukoi Limited. should be better, with its short story format. Should be, I say.

Hayate no Gotoku!! [ハヤテのごとく!!]

Nutshelled: Adding an exclamation mark make a sequel to a combat butler anime.
Source: Manga by Hata Kenjiro
Studio: JC Staff replaces Season 1’s Synergy SP. JCS also did the OVA.
Staff: Iwasaki Yoshiaki (Love Hina, Zero no Tsukaima) takes over from Kawaguchi Keiichiro
Episode count: ?
Music: Nakagawa Kotaro
Opening Theme: Wonder Wind by ELISA
Ending Theme: Honjitsu, Mankai Watashi-iro! by Ito Shizuka feat. Yahagi Sayuri, Nakao Eri & Asano Masumi
Seiyuu: Original cast returns (Shiraishi Ryoko, Kugimiya Rie etc)
Radio show: Hayacon hosted by Shiraishi Ryoko & Kugimiya Rie
Staff Blog: Covers all Hayate-related merchandise from comics to figures to CDs.

Higashi no Eden [東のエデン]

Nutshelled: Failed terrorist attacks, naked guy with memory loss, girl on a trip in the USA. Somehow, this stuff all fits together? This will be the first original story to air in the noitaminA slot.
Source: Original story by Kamiyama Kenji (GitS)
Studio: Production IG
Staff: Kamiyama is also directing, with original character designs provided by Honey & Clover’s Umino Chika.
Episode count: 11
Music: Kawai Kenji
Opening Theme: Falling Down by Oasis
Ending Theme: futuristic imagination by school food punishment
-Really interesting song choices – school food punishment’s debut anime theme sounded great in the trailer.
Seiyuu: Veteran Kimura Ryohei takes the lead male role, with Hayami Saori as the lead female. Tamagawa Sakiko supports.
Radio show: No
Staff Blog: Pretty messy blog, but provides lots of nice staff & production pictures.

Higepiyo [ヒゲぴよ]

Nutshelled: Higepiyo is a mustached bird that can talk to its human owner. Comedy presumably ensues.
Source: 4-koma manga by Ito Risa (Ebichu), serialised in Shueisha’s Chorus.
Studio: Cinema Citrus (?)
Staff: Directed by Takeyama Atsushi, Takashi Natsuko is chief writer
Episode count: 39
Music: Masuda Toshio
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: Paku Romi voices Higepiyo and is joined by Kobayashi Yu, Arai Satomi, Miyashita Eiji, Kumai Motoko & Sugita Tomokazu.
Radio show: No
Comments: What the hell is this.

Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari [異世界の聖機師物語]

Nutshelled: Kid is summoned to ancient world to fight wars with humanoid weapons.
Source: Spinoff of Tenchi Muyo!
Studio: AIC & Bestack
Staff: Ninomiya-kun director Yoshikawa Koji helms, with writer Shirane Hideki (Bottle Fairy, Potemayo, Yamibo) on board.
Episode count: 13 OVAs
Music: Tada Akifumi (Tenchi Muyo OVA, Skip Beat!)
Opening Theme: Follow Me by Kagami Seira feat.Sound Around
Ending Theme: Destino by Alchemy+

Seiyuu: Shimono Hiro is the lead. Support comes from Yonezawa Madoka, Kuwatani Natsuko, Tsunematsu Ayumi, Nakagawa Rie, Noda Junko, Goto Mai, Saito Momoko, Sonozaki Mie, Sato Takaya, Yasumoto Hiroko, Omura Kana & Suzuki Tatsuhisa
Radio show: No.

Jewel Pet [ジュエルペット]

Nutshelled: The heartwarming tale of fluffy jewel-eyed pets.
Source: A Sanrio line of plush toys.
Studio: Studio Comet
Staff: Directed by newcomer Sasaki Nanako
Episode count: 52
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Maji? Maji! Magical☆Jewel by Asaka Yui
-oh shi… she’s still alive?
Ending Theme: Egao no Loop by Horie Mitsuko

Seiyuu: Morning Musume’s Kamei Eri (above) takes on the lead role Rinko in her first voice acting role, alongside singer/idol AKINA. Pro seiyuu support comes from Saito Ayaka, Hirano Aya, Sawashiro Miyuki, Sasaki Nozomi & Miyano Mamoru
Radio show: No

K-ON! [けいおん！]

Nutshelled: 4 schoolgirls who can’t read or play music join the light music (keion) club to save it from dying out
Source: 4-koma manga by Kakifly, runs in Hobunsha’s Manga Time Kirara
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Staff: First time directing for Yamada Hisako
Episode count: 13
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Cagayake!Girls by Sakurako Keionbu
Ending Theme: Don’t Say “lazy” by Sakurako Keionbu
Seiyuu: Four leads Toyosaki Aki, Hikasa Yoko, Sato Satomi & Kotobuki Minako are joined by Sanada Asami, Yonezawa Madoka & Fujito Chika. Relatively unknown but full of potential cast.
Radio show: Rajion is hosted by the four lead girls, where they attempt to learn playing their respective character’s instruments from scratch.
Staff Blog: Loads of K-ON! staff posting on the blog, including Nishiguchi & Okamo (covering the music side) from Pony Canyon, TBS’s Fujima, Movic’s Matsuni and so on.

Konnichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables [こんにちは アン ～Before Green Gables]

Nutshelled: The early years of orphan Anne Shirley before she hit the Green Gables.
Source: Budge Wilson’s prequel novel to the Lucy Maud Montgomery series.
Studio: Nippon Animation
Staff: Directed by Yatabe Katsuyoshi. He’s done a lot of ero-anime.
Episode count: 39
Music: Takanashi Yasuharu, Mizutani Hiromi, Fujisawa Kenji (all worked on Jigoku Shojo)
Opening Theme: Hikari no Tane by Inoue Azumi
Ending Theme: Yattane♪March by Inoue Azumi

Seiyuu: 15-year old Hidaka Rina takes on the lead role of Anne. Tamura Seiko, Sato Setsuji, Wakusawa Rika, Kobayashi Yumiko, Kawata Taeko, Horie Mitsuko, Shimogama Chiaki, Koorogi Satomi & Ikeda Masako support.
Radio show: Unlikely.
Comments: Another in the series of World Masterpiece Theater, which means only kids will watch it.

Mainichi Kaa-san [毎日かあさん]

Nutshelled: Another one of those fugly heartwarming family stories.
Source: A gag strip by Nishihara Rieko that runs in Mainichi Shimbun.
Studio: AIC & Bestack
Staff: Directed by Hongo Mitsuru (Crayon Shin-chan series)
Episode count: ?
Music: Kurihara Masaki
-He of Kuricorder Quartet fame.
Opening Theme: Mainichi Kaa-san by Mori Kumiko
Ending Theme: Tadaima by Sato Hiromichi

Seiyuu: Kaa-san is voiced by singer/actress Mori Kumiko (also sings theme song), actor Taguchi Hiromasa voices Tou-san, Sonozaki Mie is son Bunji, child actress Fujii Yuna voices daughter Fumi, Okamoto Rei is grandma and Shimamoto Sumi narrates.
Radio show: No.

Metal Fight Beyblade [メタルファイト ベイブレード]

Nutshelled: Kids fight each other with spinning tops.
Source: 14 volumes of manga written & illustrated by Aoki Takao.
Studio: Nihon Animedia
Staff: Directed by Sugishima Kunihisa (Nabari no O, Yu-gi-o Duel Masters)
Episode count: ?
Music: Neil Perfitt
Opening Theme: Metal Fight Beyblade by YU+KI
Ending Theme: Hikari Kagayaku Ashita e by MASH
Seiyuu: Kanada Aki leads, with Hino Satoshi, Miyake Kenta, Koyasu Takehito, Kato Emiri & Shindo Kei supporting.
Radio show: Kids’ anime never get radio shows.

Natsu no Arashi! [夏のあらし!]

Nutshelled: Kid meets (very old but) young girl with mysterious powers, weird things happen. Comedy ensues.
Source: Manga by Kobayashi Jin (School Rumble), serialised in Squeanix’s Gangan Wing. 4 tankoubon volumes out so far.
Studio: Shaft
Staff: Shinbo Akiyuki is directing, so you know what to expect.
Episode count: 13
Music: ken sato
Opening Theme: Atashi dake ni kakete by Omokage Lucky Hole
Ending Theme: Kirari Futari by Shiraishi Ryoko

Seiyuu: Sanpei Yuko & Shiraishi Ryoko lead, with Nazuka Kaori, Omigawa Chiaki(!), Nabatame Hitomi, Yasumoto Hiroki, Nonaka Ai & Horie Yui as supports.
Radio show: No.
Comments: How much are they paying Shaft to hire Omigawa Chiaki again?

PandoraHearts

Nutshelled: Rich kid gets thrown into the Abyss and enters into a contract with a ‘chain’ called Alice.
Source: Shonen manga by Mochizuki Jun, runs in Squenix’s GFantasy. 6 tankobon have been released so far
Studio: Xebec
Staff: Directed by Kato Takao (ToLove-Ru, Busou Renkin)
Episode count: 25
Music: Kajiura Yuki
Opening Theme: Parallel Hearts by FictionJunction
Ending Theme: Maze by savage genius feat. Oumi Tomoe
-written by Aa & Okui Masami.

Seiyuu:A few changes from the drama CDs – Minagawa Junko is still the lead character (male), Fukuyama Jun & Hirohashi Ryo are retained but Kawasumi Ayako now replaces Tamura Yukari as the lead female Alice, Toriumi Kosuke is in for Konishi Katsuyuki, Hanazawa Kana in place of Horie Yui and Ishida Akira instead of Seki Toshihiko. Solid replacements all around.
Radio show: Pandora Radio hosted by Minagawa Junko & Toriumi Kosuke.
Staff Blog: Features pictures of cats.
Comments: Since I tend to average completing one mindless shonen anime per year (2008’s was Nabari no O), I wonder if PandoraHearts will fill that slot for me in 2009.

Phantom~Requiem for the Phantom~

Nutshelled: Teenager gets kidnapped and is forced to joined an evil association called Inferno.
Source: Nitroplus visual novel Phantom of Inferno. A 3-volume OVA animated by Arc Create (アークスクリエイト) was released in 2004.
Studio: Bee Train
Staff: Directed by Mashimo Koichi (Noir, Tsubasa Chronicle)
Episode count: 2-cour
Music: Nanase Hikaru
Opening Theme: KARMA by KOKIA
Ending Theme: Jigoku no Mon by Ali Project

Seiyuu: Entire cast has been changed, Irino Miyu & Takagaki Ayahi now lead instead of Okano Kosuke & Minami Omi. Sawashiro Miyuki, Inoue Kikuko, Chiba Isshin, Watanabe Akeno, Chiba Susumu & Hoshi Soichiro are also involved.
Radio show: Phantom Radio, hosted by Irino Miyu, JoyMax & Takagaki Ayahi.
Comments: Bee Train’s name on the tin is a strong warning sign that this isn’t for me. Noir is the only show of theirs I actually completed. Still, it can’t possibly be any worse than the original sucky OVAs.

Queen’s Blade: Rurō no Senshi [クイーンズブレイド 流浪の戦士]

Nutshelled: Chicks with big boobs battle to be the next beauty queen
Source: A series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan which are a spinoff from Lost Worlds, the popular 80s gamebooks.
Studio: ARMS
Staff: Directed by Yoshimoto Kinji (lots of ero-anime + Genshiken 2)
Episode count: 12
Music: Yokoyama Masaru (KimiKiss)
Opening Theme: Get the door by Ohashi Rie
Ending Theme: Omoide to Yakusoku by Kawasumi Ayako, Noto Mamiko & Hirano Aya
-Earplug alert.

Seiyuu: Kawasumi Ayako & Noto Mamiko lead (again), supported by Hirano Aya, Tanaka Atsuko, Kugimiya Rie, Mizuhashi Kaori, Nabatame Hitomi, Goto Yuko, Ito Kanae, Kaida Yuki, Yuzuki Ryoka & Saito Ayaka
Radio show: Queen’s Blade Radio, hosted by Kawasumi Ayako & Noto Mamiko
Comments: Seriously, I’m just watching to see the boob physics.

Ristorante Paradiso [リストランテ・パラディーゾ]

Nutshelled: Country girl gets abandoned by parents and ends up apprenticing in stepfather’s kitchen in Rome.
Source: Manga by Ono Natsume, ran in Manga Erotics F (yeah, really). Currently, a side story called Gente-Ristorante no Hitobito- is serialised in the same publication.
Studio: david production. No prior credit, the studio are also animating the upcoming DOGS.
Staff: Directed by Kase Mitsuko (Saikano, Crystal Blaze)
Episode count: 11
Music: ko-ko-ya, an indie bossa-nova/lounge trio
Opening Theme: Marigold by orange pekoe
Ending Theme: Suteki na Kajitsu by Komine Risa
Seiyuu: Orikasa Fumiko leads, with Yamanoi Jin, Kuroda Takaya, Tachikawa Mitsutaka (actor), Oyama Shigeo, Nishimatsu Kazuhiko, Ueda Youji, Terada Haruhi, Nomura Kenji & Watanabe Misa supporting.
Radio show: Nope.
Staff Blog: Staffed by various members of the RisPara production team.
Comments: Obscure source material studio but solid staff & cast – hard to see how it’s going to turn out. Sleeper (literally) like Bartender maybe?

Saki [咲-Saki-]

Nutshelled: Mahjong anime.
Source: Manga by Kobashi Ritz, serialized in Young Gangan
Studio: GONZO (Studio 5)
Staff: Directed by Ono Manabu (Dragonaut), written by Urahata Tatsuhiko (Monster, Vampire Hunter)
Episode count: ?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Glossy:MMM by Hashimoto Miyuki
Ending Theme: Netsuretsu Kangei Wonderland by Ueda Kana, Koshimizu Ami, Kugimiya Rie, Shiraishi Ryoko & Ito Shizuka (lol Marimite mini reunion)

Seiyuu: Cast from the drama CDs is retained, and the anime adds on a host of names to make it the biggest pre-announced spring cast. Ueda Kana, Koshimizu Ami, Kugimiya Rie, Ito Shizuka, Shiraishi Ryoko and Fukuyama Jun are joined by Chihara Minori, Fukuhara Kaori, Shimizu Ai, Nakai Erika, Kaida Yuko, Horie Yui, Kanzaki Chiro, Morinaga Rika, Matayoshi Ai, Saiga Mitsuki, Kobayashi Yu, Nanasawa Shin, Shintani Ryoko, Kuwatani Natsuko, Saito Momoko, Fujita Saki, Nakata Jouji and Onosaka Masaya.
Radio show: The first radio show (which aired on Animate.tv) ran for 6 months in mid-2007 to beginning-2008, with Ueda and Koshimizu serving as hosts. They did actually play mahjong during the shows, if my mind serves me correctly. No idea if it’ll get resurrected.
Staff blog: Run by a staff member called Ecology, contains anime info and mahjong tips.

Sengoku BASARA [戦国BASARA]

Nutshelled: Sengoku story, you know the drill.
Source: Sengoku BASARA PS2 games by Capcom.
Studio: Production IG
Staff: Directed by Kawasaki Itsuro (Rental Magica, L/R)
Episode count: 12
Music: Sawano Hiroyuki
Opening Theme: JAP by abingdon boys school
Ending Theme: Break & Peace by Dustz

Seiyuu: All return from the game, including Nakai Kazuya as Date Masamune & Hoshi Soichiro as Sanada Yukimura. Others include Morikawa Toshiyuki, Genda Tessho, Koyasu Takehito, Paku Romi, Kuwatani Natsuko, Tsujitani Koji, Noto Mamiko, Hayami Sho, Shimowada Hiroki, Hino Yukari & Wakamoto Norio.
Radio show: Two sets of radio shows launching, the Kugane side by Morita Masakazu + guest seiyuu, and the Shirogane side by Kuwatani Natsuko & Noto Mamiko

Senjō no Valkyria [戦場のヴァルキュリア -Gallian Chronicles-]

Nutshelled: Wars, guns, girls.
Source: PS3 game by Sega
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Staff: Directed by Yamamoto Yasutaka (first-time director)
Episode count: 26
Music: Sakimoto Hiroshi
Opening Theme: Ashita e no Kizuna by HIMEKA
Ending Theme: Ano Kaze ni Notte by pe’zmoku

Seiyuu: Most of the game’s very solid main cast returns, with Chiba Susumu and Inoue Marina leading alongside Kuwashima Houko, Sakurai Takahiro, Fukuyama Jun, Tanaka Atsuko, Ohtsuka Akio, Ohtsuka Chikao and Ohara Sayaka. So far, two seiyuu have been replaced – Minagawa Junko steps in for Toyoguchi Megumi and Nomura Kenji in place of Egawa Hisao.
Radio show: GBS Dai-7 Shoutai Bunkyoku, hosted on Animate.tv by Chiba Susumu & Kano Yui
Staff Blog: No, but you can sign up for a mail magazine on the website.
Comments: Uh-oh. Why are Toyoguchi Megumi’s roles going to other people this season? Wonder what sort of ’scheduling conflict’ is going on.

Shangri-la [シャングリ・ラ]

Nutshelled: Government tries to build utopia in a tropical Tokyo ravaged by global warming.
Source: Novel by Ikegami Eiichi, published by Kadokawa
Studio: Gonzo
Staff: Directed by Besshu Makoto, character designs by Murata Range
Episode count: 2-cour
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Kimi Shinita Mou Koto Nakare by May’n
Ending Theme: ? by Misawa Sachika (unconfirmed)

Seiyuu: Competing with Saki, Asura Cryin’ & Queen’s Blade for the most bloated cast of the season. Takahashi Mikako has a rare chance at leading the line, joined by an odd mix of new seiyuu (Ariga Yui, Misawa Sachika, Yamashita Yurie) with veterans and jobbers (Fukuyama Jun, Ishii Makoto, Iguchi Yuka, Horiuchi Kenyu, Watanabe Kumiko, Nakamura Yuichi, Kakihara Tetsuya, Sakurai Takahiro, Igarashi Rei, Kyoda Hisako, Hirakawa Daisuke, Kaneda Tomoko, Ishizuka Rie, Nakamura Hidetoshi).
Radio show: No.
Staff blog: The usual sort of info blog by PR guy Metal Age.

Shin Mazinger Shōgeki! Z-hen [真マジンガー 衝撃！Z編]

Nutshelled: Mecha.
Source: Part of the Mazinger franchise.
Studio: BEEMEDIA/Code
Staff: Imagawa Yasuhiro (Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Giant Robo) directs.
Episode count: 26
Music: Miyagawa Akira (Shin Mazinger, Hoshi no Kirby)
Opening Theme: Kanjite Knight by ULTIMATE LAZY for MAZINGER (LAZY + Okuda Tamio, Saito Kazuyoshi & JAM PROJECT)
Ending Theme: Brand New World by Aso Natsuko

Seiyuu: The lead role is taken by Akabane Kenji, the latest KenPro (Saiga Mitsuki etc) prodigy. Support comes from Fujimura Ayumi, Suzuki Taimei, Honda Yoko, Naka Hiroshi, Ichijo Miyuki, Imaruoka Atsushi, Genda Tessho, Kato Masayuki, Tomoe Seiko, Kishino Kazuhiko, Yamagata Kaori, Ishitobi Koji & Inaba Minoru
Radio show: None announced.
Staff Blog: Infoblog written by unknown staff member.

Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica Crimson S [神曲奏界ポリフォニカ クリムゾンS]

Nutshelled: Spirits materialize in the the land of Polyphonica, and powerful musicians can contract powerful spirits to exorcise ghosts and do the dishes.
Source: Based on the Crimson set of light novels (one of five sets) which are in turn based on the kinetic novel. Sakaki Ichiro (Scrapped Princess) scripted both.
Studio: Diomedia (previously Studio Barcelona, animated Kodomo no Jikan & Nogizaka Haruka)
Staff: Change in staff from the first anime. Directed by Suzuki Toshimasa (Heroic Age)
Episode count: 12
Music: ?
Opening Theme: phosphorus by eufonius
Ending Theme: Koi no Uta by Tomatsu Haruka
-eh no Kukui?

Seiyuu: First season cast retained – this was the anime that launched Tomatsu Haruka, and she returns alongside Kamiya Hiroshi, Kawasumi Ayako, Konishi Katsuyuki, Mizuki Nana & Sato Rina and they are joined by new additions Hayami Sho, Nonaka Ai, Nabatame Hitomi & Asanuma Shintaro.
Radio show: No.
Staff Blog: Run by various Polyphonica-related staffers, from publicity guys Muuko & Norimaki to Pony Canyon staff members and anime editor K-Mura.
Comments: Frankly, I’m amazed that a second season got greenlighted since the first’s DVD sales tanked. I can’t say I’m particularly enamoured by the moe-fied character designs, I thought they looked alright the last time out.

Slap-Up Party -Arad Senki- [スラップアップパーティ −アラド戦記−]

Nutshelled: Boy gets driven out of village and embarks on epic journey.
Source: Derived from Korean MMORPG Dungeon Fighter
Studio: Gonzo
Staff: Ikezoe Takahiro (first-time director)
Episode count: 26
Music: Nakatsuka Takeshi
-Nothing else about the anime looks remotely promising, but I can least look forward to a possibly funky soundtrack courtesy of QYPTHONE’s Nakatsuka.
Opening Theme: Party Play by Nogawa Sakura
Ending Theme: ? by YMCK

Seiyuu: Kondo Takashi & Nogawa Sakura lead. Support cast includes Suzumura Kenichi, Tsuji Ayumi, Iwata Mitsuko, Okiayu Ryotaro, Kuroda Takaya, Tanaka Rie, Koshimizu Ami & Watanabe Akeno.
Radio show: No.
Staff Blog: Run by ‘Staff’ and Calimelo. There’s also an alternative blog chronicling the adventures of the character Ixia (voiced by Tsuji Ayumi).

Sōten Kōro [蒼天航路]

Nutshelled: The animated story of Cao Cao (aka more Romance of the Three Kingdoms crap, whoopee).
Source: Manga by King Gonta based on a story by Hagin Yi, serialised by Kodansha from 1994 to 2005.
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: Directed by Tominaga Tsuneo (Trouble Chocolate, Wangan Midnight, Wind: A Breath of Heart)
Episode count: ?
Music: Murai Shusei (Allison & Lillia)
Opening Theme: 909 by TRIBAL CHAIR
Ending Theme: Pinhole by OGRE YOU ASSHOLE
-Sadly not new material, but awesome opening-ending indie band pairing regardless. Terribly unsuitable for a Sengoku anime though.

Seiyuu: Miyano Mamoru leads as Cao Cao, with Terasoma Masaki, Nozawa Nachi, Seki Tomokazu, Inada Tetsu, Kusao Takeshi, Egawa Hisao, Chiba Isshin & Nakao Ryusei the other cast members announced so far.
Radio show: Nope.

TAYUTAMA-Kiss on my Deity- [タユタマ -Kiss on my Deity-]

Nutshelled: Schoolboy runs shrine, discovers magic relic and mysterious girls start popping out of the woodwork.
Source: Eroge by Lump of Sugar (Nursery Rhyme)
Studio: SILVER LINK’s first full production – the studio has also worked on Neuro, ef -a tale of melodies- and Koihime Musou
Staff: Directed by Motonaga Keitaro (LoveDol, School Days, AkaSaka)
Episode count: 12
Music: Okawa Shigenobu (anison writer) & Minobe Yutaka (Yugioh 5Ds)
Opening Theme: The fine every day by Kicco
Ending Theme: Kizuna no Uta by Miyazaki Ui
Seiyuu: Hino Satoshi takes on the formerly mute lead male, and the female harem continue on their roles from the game under their real names this time. Rikimaru Noriko, Shimoda Asami, Mizuhashi Kaori and Ito Shizuka are amongst the de-pseudonymed female seiyuu, with Okiayu Ryotaro, Wakamoto Norio, Tanzawa Teruyuki, Kishio Daisuke, Nagami Haruka, Tsunoda Harumi, Nakagara Rie & Nakase Hina the others.
Radio show: Tayutama Radio-Hirusagari no Yometachi is hosted by Shimoda Asami & Rikimaru Noriko.
Staff Blog: Run by Media Factory staffer Acchin
Comments: Pretty much everything reeks of suck for me. I’ve not ever liked anything Motonaga’s handled.

Tears to Tiara [ティアーズ トゥ ティアラ]

Nutshelled: Young girl releases 1000+ years sealed-away demon king & travels with him/it.
Source: 18+ PC tactical RPG by Leaf. The anime adaptation will incorporate extra stuff from the non-adult PS3 remake TtT: Kakan no Daichi.
Studio: WHITE FOX, who broke away from OLM TEAM IWASA (led by Iwasa Gaku) in 2007. Most of the staff worked on the Utawarerumono anime.
Staff: Directed by Kobayashi Tomoki (Utawarerumono, sola)
Episode count: 26
Music: Hattori Takayuki (Nadesico, Slayers)
Opening Theme: Free and Dream by Suara
Ending Theme: Blue sky, True sky by Yuhki Aira
Seiyuu: The game’s cast return, minus eroge pseudonyms. Includes Okawa Toru, Ishii Makoto, Goto Yuko, Asai Kiyomi & Akimoto Yosuke. Koshimizu Ami takes over the pregnant Inokuchi Yuka’s role, Shimizu Ai replaces Tanii Asuka, Nazuka Kaori swaps in for Takamori Nao and Ueda Kana is in for Asano Ruri. Tanaka Rie & Nakahara Mai round off the cast.
Radio show: Hosted on NicoDouga by Goto Yuko & Ishii Makoto.

Useless statistics:
No. of shows covered in this guide: 37
No. of shows with an exclamation mark in the title: 7
No. of sequels, sidestories, prequels, remakes, blah: 8
No. of original shows not based on a manga, game, novels or random gimmick (& not including sequels): 3
No. of shows with a theme song by one of the seiyuu: 11

Stuff:
-I honestly give up trying to work out what I want to watch before a season starts, because I almost always end up watching things I never intend to. Like how SoraKake & Rideback ended up being my biggest priorities of the winter shows despite not originally planning to watch either. And how this time last year, kure-nai wasn’t even on my radar but I had actually planned to watch shit like Special A.
-Most of the short descriptions of this season’s anime seem to go ‘(insert person) does (something) and (something else) happens’. I guess I’m running out of words to describe ‘yet another shonen show’?
-If I was gonna pick anything based on the seiyuu cast, it’d be Hatsukoi Limited. & Saki.
-Based on the wacky trailer – Higashi no Eden seems a pretty good bet too.
-I guess it’s a sad season for Mizuki Nana fans? Slim pickings this time, I somehow doubt anyone really wants to endure watching Polyphonica for their Nana fix. Guess she’s busy recording & gearing up for the release of the new album.

I’m only doing full guides for the spring and autumn anime, as winter always sucks and nobody makes good anime for the summer either. For these crappy seasons, I’m going to cover the music and seiyuu bits in a little more detail. I suggest checking out the following blogs for more in-depth coverage of the anime itself:

Hashihime | Tenka Seiha | THAT Anime Blog

On to the guide.

Quick Jump: Akikan! | Asu no Yoichi! | Birdy the Mighty DECODE:02 | Druaga no To~The Sword of URUK~ | Genji Monogatari Sennenki | Hajime no Ippo New Challenger | Hetalia Axis Powers | Kemono no Soja Erin | Kokaku no Regios | Kurokami The Animation | MAJOR 5th Season | Maria†Holic | Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season | Minami-ke Okaeri | Rideback | Shikabane Hime Kuro | Slayers EVOLUTION-R | Sora o Kakeru Shojo | Sora o Miageru Shoujo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai | VIPER’S CREED | WHITE ALBUM | Zoku Natsume Yujincho

Akikan! [アキカン！]

Episode one was just full of lol. It’s been a while since I’ve surrendered my brain to watching something as dumb as Akikan! (Inukami was the last one maybe?).

Cast: Fukuyama Jun, Narita Sayaka, Toyosaki Aki, Noto Mamiko, Yuki Aoi, Okubo Aiko, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Okiayu Ryotaro, Toyoguchi Megumi.
-Fukuyama and Okiayu are on top comedic form as usual.
Web Radio: Melon.Najimi no Sparkling☆KISS hosted by Narita Sayaka & Toyosaki Aki
Opening: Miracle Plan ga Dekichatta! by Charmmy Queen
Ending: [Untitled] by Nomico
-Charmmy Queen are Lantis’ new idol group or something, but judging by the song names and artists, I bet both songs will be irritating as hell.

Asu no Yoichi! [明日のよいち！]

Hooray token harem anime. Actually, Kurata Hideyuki (R.O.D., Kamichu!, Kannagi) is writing this so it may not turn out to be that bad.

Cast: Okamoto Nobuhiko, Sato Rina, Tomatsu Haruka, Hanazawa Kana, Tamura Yukari, Nakai Kazuya, Asanuma Shintaro, Konishi Katsuyuki, Yahagi Sayuri
-Okamoto is like Shimono Hiro Mk.II, which means he’s perfect to voice harem leads. Otherwise, there’s the usual bunch of moe-voiced seiyuu to fill the tsundere, loli etc etc roles.
Web Radio: Asu no Yoichi Radio hosted by Okamoto Nobuhiko & Sato Rina.
-Okamoto is a very entertaining person as I learnt from Persona radio. He’s so high tension and talks weird a lot of the time…
Opening: Egao no Riyuu by meg rock
Ending: Life and Proud by Misato Aki
-I was expecting a theme song by the four female seiyuu but… ah well, meg rock is not a bad substitute.

Birdy the Mighty DECODE:02 [鉄腕バーディー DECODE]

No comment on the anime, didn’t watch any of the first season.

Cast: Chiba Saeko, Irino Miyu, Ito Kanae, Fujiwara Keiji, Nazuka Kaori, Matsukaze Masaya, Kawasumi Ayako, Sugo Takayuki, Asanuma Shintaro, Ono Atsushi, Kaida Yuko, Ginga Banjo, Miyata Koki, Shiraishi Ryoko, Shimaka Yu
-I like how Asanuma (blonde dude) totally looks like a psycho killer.
Web Radio: Tetsuwan Birdy DECODE:R hosted by Irino Miyu & Chiba Saeko
-Dull as hell.
Opening: [Untitled] by Nirgilis
Ending: Tane by No Sleeves
-At least Birdy always manages to get good opening and ending themes… or so I thought. No Sleeves (no3b for short) is an offshoot of idol group AKB48.

Druaga no To~The Sword of URUK~

More MMORPG goodness? I wish they’d make the entiere anime more like the first episode of the first season, that was awesome.
Cast: KENN, Orikasa Fumiko, Sakurai Takahiro, Horie Yui, Hayamizu Risa, Goda Hozumi, Chihara Minori, Ishida Akira, Yasumoto Hiroki, Hashi Takaya, Yajima Akiko, Yukana, Terasoma Masaki, Mizuno Risa
-It’s the same cast, which means more KENN. Yum. Also, I am always terrified when an anime has both
a) Hayamizu Risa (早水 リサ) & Mizuno Risa (水野 理紗)
or
b) Kaida Yuko (甲斐田 裕子) & Kaida Yuki (甲斐田 ゆき)
in it. My brain just can’t straighten out who’s who…

Web Radio: Tocho!! Druaga hosted by KENN & Orikasa Fumiko
Opening: Questions? by Nakamura Yu
Ending: Mahou Tsukai desukedo. by Orikasa Fumiko
-Lol, Nakamura Yu. Can’t forget her original song on Sakux2 LMAO (see video below). Questions? will be her solo CD debut and I really want to buy it just because she’s so adorable on Sakux2 :3
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Genji Monogatari Sennenki [源氏物語千年紀Genji]

Genji is an anime adaptation of a book not meant for unrefined brains such as mine ie. this is supposed to be impressive and artsy but I’ll be damned if I understand a single thing! Plus it’s supposed to be all about the romance, which is a huge turn-off for me.

Cast: Sakurai Takahiro, Fujita Toshiko, Endo Aya, Tamagawa Sakiko, Horiuchi Kenyuu, Sugita Tomokazu, Hirata Eriko, Tsuru Hiromi
-Delicious cast. I can’t quite remember the last time Tsuru had a decent role. Probably Trigun’s Meryl Stryfe, and that was ten long years ago…
Opening: Hiyori Hime by PUFFY
Ending: Koi by Atari Kosuke
-Both look like winning songs to me – Hiyori Hime is written by the almighty Shiina Ringo.

Hajime no Ippo New Challenger [はじめの一歩 New Challenger]

Nearly 10 years in the boxing anime franchise now; the first Hajime no Ippo anime aired in 2000.

Cast: Kiyasu Kohei, Koyama Rikiya, Takagi Wataru, Fujiwara Keiji, Seki Tomokazu, Horiuchi Kenyu
-They’ve managed to bring back the original cast – Kiyasu is still such a shexxxy boy after all these years :3 And all the rest have turned into ossan.
Opening: HEKIREKI by LAST ALLIANCE
Ending: 8AM by coldrain
-Ippo gets +1 points for cool indie band factor.

Hetalia Axis Powers [ヘタリア Axis Powers]

Actually went to check out some of the web manga and it’s not bad, pretty amusing by my admittedly low standards.

Cast: Namikawa Daisuke, Yasumoto Hiroki, Takahashi Hiroki, Konishi Katsuyuki, Sugiyama Noriaki, Onosaka Masaya, Sasanuma Akira, Takato Yasuhiro, Takeuchi Ken, Neya Michiko, Paku Romi, Kaida Yuki, Kugimiya Rie, Inoue Go, Tanaka Kazutada, Kosaka Atsushi, Kanada Aki, Konno Jun
-The anime’s got a who’s who list of BL drama male seiyuu. And Kugimiya Rie. And oh, Onosaka… I’d at least try to watch anything he’s in. Just look at his fruity shirt (dude sitting down on the far right).
Theme song: Marukai de Chikyuu by Namikawa Daisuke
-My god. The guy can’t sing, y’know.

Kemono no Soja Erin [獣の奏者エリン]

NHK anime = mildly pleasant but often outstay their welcome. The original light novels are written by Moribito’s Uehashi Naoko, but I seriously don’t think many people would be willing to commit to a year’s worth of Erin.

Cast: Hoshii Nanase, Hirata Eriko, Tani Ikuko, Takahashi Mikako, Ishida Akira, Kusunoki Taiten, Hanawa Eiji, Kawamoto Naru
-Hahaha. Hoshii Nanase. Hahahahaha. Gosh, I hope her voice acting is better than her singing.
Opening: Shizuku by Sukimaswitch
Ending: After the rain by cossami
-No idea who cossami are, but I obviously need to check them out – some of the stuff on their myspace page sounds good. Sukimaswitch songs almost always sound the same, so expect a mid-tempo happy pop song.

Kokaku no Regios [鋼殻のレギオス]

Emo boy tries to save world! This totally sounds like something I wouldn’t want to watch…

Cast: Okamoto Nobuhiko, Takagaki Ayahi, Nakahara Mai, Taniyama Kisho, Koyasu Takehito, Sakaguchi Daisuke, Takahashi Mikako, Ohgame Asuka, Sendai Eri, Oura Fuyuka, Iijima Hajime, Koshimizu Ami, Toriumi Kosuke, Kano Yui, Suwabe Junichi, Kirii Daisuke, Watanabe Akeno
-I just want to check out Ohgame Asuka.
Web Radio: Regios no Radio’su! hosted by Okamoto Nobuhiko & Taniyama Kisho.
Opening: Brave Your Truth by Daisy X Daisy
Ending: Yasashii Uso by Chrome Shelled
-As mentioned before, Daisy X Daisy’s MiKa is Mizuki Nana’s sister. Chrome Shelled is sort of like a Visual Rock supergroup, featuring members who used to be in DASEIN, Filter Fish and Ayabie. There will also be alternate versions of the ED featuring the three main female seiyuu Takagaki Ayahi, Nakahara Mai & Takahashi Mikako.

Kurokami The Animation [黒神 The Animation]

Based on a manhwa. The last time I tried to watch something based on a manhwa (Shin Angyo Onshi) I nearly puked, so I dearly hope this one is better.

Cast: Shitaya Noriko, Namikawa Daisuke, Oura Fuyuka, Ohara Sayaka, Tamura Yukari, Nakata Joji, Hino Satoshi
-It seems ages since Norinori had a lead role. Since Kannazuki no Miko in fact…
Web Radio: Kurokami~Radio System~ hosted by Namikawa Daisuke, Shitaya Noriko & Ohara Sayaka
Opening: sympathizer by Kuribayashi Minami
Ending: Irodori no nai Sekai by Yosei Teikoku

MAJOR 5th season

Oh hey, MAJOR is still around. I’m no baseball fan at all, but I’d really rather have more Oofuri to tell the truth…

Cast: Morikubo Shotaro, Morita Masakazu, Namikawa Daisuke, Sasamoto Yuko, Noda Junko, Sakuya Shunsuke
Opening: Hey! Hey! Alright by Scha Dara Parr & Kimura Kaela
Ending: Stay with me by Shimatani Hitomi
-The collaboration between rapper Scha Dara Parr & Kimura Kaela has already generated quite a bit of attention so I do want to check that one out.

Maria†Holic [まりあ†ほりっく]

I read some of the manga way back a year ago just before the drama CD came out and quite liked it back then. That’s why the dorm leader and Yonakuni have been decorating the top level of atemonai.com… Episode 1 stuck to the manga fairly faithfully but goodness knows if that will continue, this is SHAFT after all.

Cast: Kobayashi Yu, Sanada Asami, Inoue Marina, Kanda Akemi, Shintani Ryoko, Sawashiro Miyuki, Goto Saori, Kaida Yuko, Matsuki Miyu, Toyoguchi Megumi, Sugita Tomokazu, Takada Hatsumi
-SHAFT favourites dominate the cast, with a strong Zetsubo-sensei flavour – which might explain why Hirano Aya is absent from the list, replaced by Sanada (Matoi in Zetsubo). I think Asa-nee actually does a better job of Kanako than Hirano did on the drama CD, and Yu & Marina are at their foul-mouthed best.
Web Radio: Ame no Kisaki Hosobu hosted by Kobayashi Yu and Sanada Asami
-One word. CHAOS.
Opening: HANAJI by Kobayashi Yu
Ending: Kimi ni, Mune Kyun. by Ame no Kisaki Shojo Gasshodan (Kobayashi Yu, Sanada Asami, Inoue Marina)
-I lol’ed for days upon learning that the ending was a cover of the YMO song. I wish they would produce a PV that’s similar to the original’s (see video below)! This version is actually pretty good from what I can hear of it. And HANAJI’s PV looks hideous…
Show ▼

Maria-sama ga Miteru: 4th season [マリア様がみてる 4thシーズン]

Long-time fans will shriek with joy, yuri haters will… well, continue being yuri haters.

Cast: Ueda Kana, Ito Miki, Ikezawa Haruna, Ito Shizuka, Nabatame Hitomi, Noto Mamiko, Kugimiya Rie, Shimizu Kaori, Koshimizu Ami, Sato Rina, Saito Chiwa, Shinohara Emi, Toyoguchi Megumi, Inoue Marina, Kawasumi Ayako, Koyama Rikiya
-Inoue Marina is the most significant addition to the cast as Naito Shoko. I really hope the Tsutako-Shoko arc is handled well…
Web Radio: Maria-sama ga Miteru radio hosted by Ueda Kana with regular guests.
Opening: Chizu Sanpo by kukui
Ending: Kumori Glass no Mukou by Hikita Kaori
-Gotta say I’m surprised Katakura Mikiya/AliPro have been ditched for the theme songs this season, but it’s a welcome change nevertheless. kukui have been dormant for too long!

Minami-ke: Okaeri [みなみけ おかえり]

The cast from the first season return – yes, that means the Minami brothers too \[^o^]/ But sadly the staff of the second season also return… uh, I’ll remain cautiously optimistic. Just keep Fuyuki away and things will be A-OK.

Cast: Sato Rina, Inoue Marina, Chihara Minori, Mizuki Nana, Morinaga Rika, Kakihara Tetsuya, Ono Daisuke, Asanuma Shintaro, Kawada Shinji, Yoshino Hiroyuki, Hayama Tatsuya, Takagi Reiko, Ono Ryoko, Chiba Saeko, Goto Saori, Takahashi Ao, Kitamura Eri, Toyosaki Aki, Ohara Momoko
-Oh how I missed the Minami-ke cast! Love the Rina-Marina-Minorin combination… and oh, Takagi Reiko, who voices Maki, sure is short (she’s the one with the fugly short black socks and sandals combo).
Web Radio: Minami-ke Okaeri radio [tentative title] hosted by Sato Rina, Inoue Marina & Chihara Minori (to update in January).
Opening: Keikenchi Soku Jojo↑↑ by Sato Rina, Inoue Marina, Chihara Minori
Ending: Zettai Colorful Sengen by Sato Rina, Inoue Marina, Chihara Minori
-As I mentioned before, the opening title is a cross between Season 1 OP Keikenchi Joshochu and mihimaru GT’s Kibun Jojo↑↑, while the ED is possibly Colorful Days meets Zettai lovexlove Sengen!! (Zettai Karen Children ED1). The opening seems catchy enough from the bits heard in the trailer.

Rideback [ライドバック]

It has a girl and a motorbike, but I’m guessing it’s not going to turn out like Kino no Tabi. Might make a good watch if I picked anime based on vocal talent alone.
Cast: Mizuki Nana, Paku Romi, Koyama Rikiya, Matsumoto Megumi, Toyoguchi Megumi, Ueda Yuji, Suyama Akio, Miki Shinichiro, Hayamizu Risa, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Kiuchi Hidenobu, Kobayashi Sanae, Shibata Hidekatsu, Sonozaki Mie
-The cast list that most impresses me this season.
Opening: RIDEBACK by MELL
Ending: Kioku by Younha feat. GOKU
-So it seems Younha hasn’t fallen off the edge of the planet after all.

Shikabane Hime Kuro [屍姫 玄]

Apparently, people are still watching this.
Cast: Akiyama Nana, Hasome Tatsuya, Nakamura Chise, Fujiwara Keiji, Kikuchi Mika, Chiba Saeko, Kawashima Tokuyoshi etc

Web Radio: D side hosted by Fuijwara Keiji & Akiyama Nana, and S side hosted by Nakamura Chise & Kikuchi Mika.
-[deadpan]I thought Akiyama and Hasome were fantastic in the lead roles – they channeled the concept of shikabane perfectly [/deadpan].

Slayers EVOLUTION-R [スレイヤーズEVOLUTION-R]

I enjoy watching the odd episode of Slayers to remind me just how much I loved ’90s anime!

Cast: Hayashibara Megumi, Matsumoto Yasunori, Midorikawa Hikaru, Suzuki Masami, Kobayashi Yumiko
Opening: Front breaking by Hayashibara Megumi
Ending: Sunadokei by Hayashibara Megumi
-Nothing compares to KUJIKENAIKARA…

Sora o Kakeru Shojo [宇宙をかける少女]

Mai-Idol-Hime-Master-Zwei?
Cast: MAKO, Endo Aya (S.ifr), Makino Yui, Fukuyama Jun, Nonaka Ai, Kuroda Takaya, Tamura Yukari (HiME), Yukana (HiME, Otome, S.ifr), Nanri Yuuka (HiME), Saito Momoko, Nakahara Mai (HiME, Otome), Shindo Naomi (HiME, Otome), Kikuchi Mika (Otome), Koshimizu Ami (Otome, S.ifr), Yahagi Sayuri, Kitamura Eri (S.ifr), COON, Shimono Hiro, Kimura Akiko (HiME, Otome, S.ifr), Ishida Akira (HiME, Otome, S.ifr), Ono Daisuke, Ginga Banjo, Kano Yui & Sawashiro Miyuki (Otome).
-Kerrazy, bloated cast. SoraKake picks its voice talent mostly from the Mai-HiME franchise and mixes in some from IDOLM@STER XENOGLOSSIA & adding in a few new names.
Web Radio: Sora o Kakeru Radio hosted by MAKO
Opening: Rara Eve Shinseiki by ALI PROJECT
Ending: Sora wa Shojo no Tomodachi sa by MAKO, Endo Aya & Makino Yui
-The main seiyuu trio couldn’t be more different in their vocal style and it’ll be interesting (or amusing) to see how the song turns out. Hopefully not like the Sekirei OP though =_=

Sora o Miageru Shoujo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai [空を見上げる少女の瞳に映る世界]

aka New Munto, cos the name is just too damn long.
Cast from previous KyoAni shows: Aizawa Mai (Lucky Star), Ono Daisuke (Air, Haruhi), Konno Hiromi (Lucky Star), Mizuhara Kaoru (Lucky Star), Shiraishi Minoru (Lucky Star), Matsumoto Megumi (Haruhi), Hiramatsu Hirokazu (Lucky Star), Inoue Kikuko (Lucky Star, CLANNAD)
-The cast is essentially the Lucky Star jobbers or Kyoto Animation favourites plus seiyuu plucked out of Ga-Rei – the two shows share the same producer (Ito Atsushi) & sound director (Tsuruoka Yota).
Those who were in Ga-Rei: Aizawa, Mizuhara, Shiraishi, Hiramatsu, Matsumoto + Takahashi Shinya, Horikawa Chika, Wakamoto Norio, Inada Tetsu, Tsuchiya Maki, Tanaka Ryoko
The truly new names: Endo Hiroyuki (遠藤広之), Saito Fuko (斉藤楓子), Uchida Aya (内田 彩) are all unknowns signed to JTB Entertainment, whose biggest name is Ogata Megumi.
Opening: Anemoi by eufonius
Ending: Hikari to Yami to Toki no Hate by Ceui
-Ceui!!! I have to resist the urge not to read her name ‘chewy’ (it’s supposed to read Sei). And eufonius is always win no matter what anime they’re featured in.

VIPER’S CREED

Military/war anime? I’ll probably only watch it if lots of people die.

Cast: Kuroda Takaya, Toyoguchi Megumi, Kawada Shinji, Minagawa Junko, Fukuyama Jun, Kaida Yuki, Yanaka Hiroshi, Kojima Sachiko, Ohki Tamio
-The veteran’s cast of the season – quite likely the only one to feature an 80-year old seiyuu anyway. Interesting to see Kuroda in a lead role, this must be the first time he’s headlining an anime.
Opening: R.O.C.K. by iLL
Ending: Ai no Oto by moumoon
-Wow, moumoon. Not sure their mellow pop style would suit a sci-fi type show though.

WHITE ALBUM

Some anime based on a game about idol? *has LoveDol related nightmares* I know this is going to suck, zero intention of watching it.

Cast: Maeno Tomoaki, Hirano Aya, Mizuki Nana, Takamoto Megumi, Masu Nozomi, Tomatsu Haruka, Paku Romi, Sakaguchi Daisuke, Hayami Sho
-It is hilarious how poor Maeno gets shunted up to the top row of the cast pic despite supposedly voicing the lead male chara – I suppose in a harem anime with so many cute girls he was always bound to play second (or eighth) fiddle…and yeah, Paku Romi looks terribly pissed off in the pic as well, I can imagine her thinking ‘WTF! Who the hell put me in between the dekobitch and the round tomato?!?’
Opening: Shinai by Mizuki Nana
Ending: Maiochiru Yuki no Youni by Suara
-Because Mishima (Akio) is producing WHITE ALBUM, he ensured two of his King Records artists got the opening/ending theme gigs, shutting out Hirano Aya. Haha!

Zoku Nyanko Natsume Yujincho [続 夏目友人帳]

Nyan, nyan, nyan. Mmm, yeah. This and Marimite are the only winter shows I know I’m definitely going to watch.

Cast: Kamiya Hiroshi, Inoue Kazuhiko, Sawashiro Miyuki, Suganuma Hisayoshi, Horie Kazuma, Ito Miki
Web Radio: Radio Natsume Yujincho~Aki no Sho~ hosted (alternate weeks) by the pairings of Kamiya Hiroshi/Suganuma Hisayoshi and Inoue Kazuhiko/Horie Kazuma.
Opening: Ano Hi Time Machine by LONG SHOT PARTY
Ending: Aishiteru by Callin’ (高鈴)
-I’m amazed that anime theme songs are manage to drag up such obscure artists. Callin’!!! I really had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming when I saw their name come up… I’m sure their super-slow acoustic style will fit the show perfectly.

Useless statistics:
No. of shows covered in this guide: 22
No. of shows with an exclamation mark in the title: 2
No. of sequels, sidestories, prequels, remakes, blah: 10
No. of original shows not based on a manga, game, novels or random gimmick (& not including sequels): 1
No. of shows with a theme song by one of the seiyuu: 7

Other stuff I have to say:
-Sequels, sequels galore!
-As an iyashikei and yuri maniac, I am reasonably satisfied this season.
-After more than a year of doing all these guides, I have learned to identify the studio where each anime is recorded at by looking at the background of the cast pictures! Notice how Asu no Yoichi!, Birdy the Mighty DECODE and Toradora! are all recorded at PROCEN STUDIO… if that’s not sad, I don’t know what is =_=
-I did sample most of the new radio shows, and aim to cover them in a future scribblings post.

In alphabetical order this time. No OVAs, Disney shows or crappy flash anime included. Blanks mean no information is currently available & or I made a mistake (gomen). Updates will be made as information becomes available, so hopefully everything will still be accurate 6 months from now. Please point out any mistakes if you see them D;

Note: 1-cour = 3 months/12-14 episodes therefore 2-cour = 6 months/ 24-26 episodes

Quick Jump: Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka | Battle Spirits Shonen Toppa Bashin | Bihada Ichizoku | Casshern Sins | Chaos;HEAd | CLANNAD ~AFTER STORY~ | ef -tale of melodies- | GaRei-Zero- | Hakushaku to Yosei | Hokuto no Ken Raoh Gaiden – Ten no Haoh | Hyakko | Inazuma Eleven | Jigoku Shojo Mitsuganae | Junjo Romantica 2 | Kannagi | Kemeko Deluxe! | Kido Senshi Gundam 00 Second Season | Kurogane no Linebarrels | Kuroshitsuji | Kurozuka | Kyo no 5 no 2 | Live On CARDLIVER Kakeru | Macademi WAsshoi! | Michiko to Hatchin | Moryo no Hako | Negibozu no Asataro | Nodame Cantabile: Paris-hen | Noramimi 2 | One Outs | Rosario + Vampire CAPU2 | Shikabane Hime Aka | Shugo Chara!! Doki | Skip Beat! | Tales of the Abyss | Tentai Tenshi Sunred | To Aru Majutsu no Index | Toradora! | Tytania | Vampire Knight Guilty | Yozakura Quartet | Zettai Yareru Grecia Shinwa

Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka [あかね色に染まる坂]

Nutshelled: Tsundere girl transfers to new school, meets fiancee. Expect catfights, angst & tears.
Source: Adult visual novel by Feng
Studio: TNK
Staff: Directed by Murata Masahiko
Episode count: ?
Music: Suehiro Kenichiro
-First time composing for an anime, he has written songs for Ono Daisuke & Yuki Aira
Opening Theme: Hatsukoi Parachute by Hashimoto Miyuki
Ending Theme: Multiple ending themes by the female seiyuu
Seiyuu: The cast from the recent non-ero game version are retained, with Hatano Wataru & Kugimiya Rie as the leads. Others include Hirano Aya, Inoue Marina, Tanaka Rie, Tanaka Atsuko, Ishida Akira & Hazuki Erino.

Koyama Rikiya & Hirohashi Ryo

Battle Spirits Shonen Toppa Bashin [バトルスピリッツ 少年突破バシン]

Nutshelled: Kids’ show, presumably includes lots of fighting and special move-name shouting
Source: Bandai Carddas (trading card) series.
Studio: Sunrise
Staff: Directed by Hongo Mitsuru (Igpx)
Episode count: ?
Music: Otani Ko
Opening Theme: GO AHEAD!! by Oikawa Mitsuhiro
-Oikawa is better known as a pretty boy (but rather old) actor, appearing in various dorama such as Nodame Cantabile etc
Ending Theme: Boken Kiroku by Little Non
Seiyuu: Tamura Mutsumi (one of I’m Enterprise’s new recruits) and Miyake Kaya head the cast.
Radio Show: No
Comments: I tried watching the first episode on Youtube but my brain had already folded in before the 10-minute mark.

Bihada Ichizoku [美肌一族]

Nutshelled: 7-minute shots of an annual quest to find the woman with the most beautiful skin, or something inane like that
Source: Cosmetics line by Love Labo. Yes, really. Anime is actually based on the manga spawned from it
Studio: Omnibus Japan
Staff: Directed by Kato Naoya (Oden-kun)
Episode count: 12
Music: ?
Opening Theme: JET☆GIRL by Li’l B
-They sang the second to last Naruto ending theme Orange.
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: ?
Radio Show: No

Casshern Sins [キャシャーン Sins]

Nutshelled: A modern-day version of a 70s superhero/cyborg anime.
Source: A 1973 anime by Tatsunoko Productions
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: Directed by Yamauchi Shigeyasu (Mushiking), scripted by Kobayashi Yasuko
Episode count: 24
Music: Wada Kaoru
Opening Theme: Aoi Hana by Color Bottle
Ending Theme: reason by K∧N∧

Seiyuu: Cho and Yajima Akiko will also feature
Radio Show: No

CHAOS;HEAD [カオスヘッド]

Nutshelled: Mysterious gruesome murders in downtown Shibuya
Source: Recent visual novel by NITROPLUS & 5pb.
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: Directed by Ishiyama Takaaki (Maple Story, Otogi Jushi Akazukin), scripted by Inoue Toshiki (DEATH NOTE)
Episode count: 12
Music: tOkyO
Opening Theme: F.D.D. by Ito Kanako
Ending Theme: Super Special by Kagami Seira
Seiyuu: Same as the game – Yoshino Hiroyuki and Kitamura Eri lead supported by Nabatame Hitomi, Takahashi Chiaki, Tsuji Ayumi, Sakakibara Yui etc
Radio Show: There used to be one for the visual novel hosted by Yoshino Hiroyuki & Kitamura Eri but no news yet on whether it’ll be revived.
Comment: I’m actually surprised that this has gotten an anime adaptation so quickly ahead of say, Fortune Arterial. This is one of the few shows I’m vaguely interested in, mainly because it’s 1-cour and there’s likely to be blood & gore. Although the promo pic above doesn’t seem to hint as much.

CLANNAD ~AFTER STORY~

Nutshelled: Continuation of CLANNAD
Source: Visual novel by Key
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Staff: Ishihara Tatsuya is in charge again
Episode count: 24
Music: Key Sounds
Opening Theme: Toki o Kizamu Uta by Lia
Ending Theme: TORCH by Lia
-Who killed the dangos?
Seiyuu: Nakamura Yuichi and Nakahara Mai headline again, with the same supporting cast of Nonaka Ai, Kuwashima Houko, Inoue Kikuko, Hirohashi Ryo etc etc
Radio Show: Nagisa to Sanae no Omae ni Rainbow, hosted by Nakahara Mai and Inoue Kikuko although episode 50 had a special featuring Kuwashima Houko & Sakaguchi Daisuke instead

ef –tale of melodies–

Nutshelled: Sequel to a de-eroticised ’serious’ harem anime
Source: Adult visual novels by Minori
Studio: Shaft
Staff: Director Onuma Shin (Pani Poni Dash!, Negima!?) returns
Episode count: 12
Music: Tenmon
Opening Theme: ebullient future by Elisa
-The first time I’ve heard/seen the word ebullient used in a song title. Do these Japanese try to make song names sound grander by picking the most ridiculous sounding word in the dictionary?
Ending Theme: Ending Theme by various seiyuu
Seiyuu: Ito Shizuka & Furusawa Tohru are the new additions to the anime cast, which includes Nakajima Yumiko, Tochika Koichi & Goto Mai
Radio Show: A rebranded version of the earlier radio show hosted on Onsen.ag started airing in July. Yumiko & Yuna no ef-melo Radio is hosted by Nakajima Yumiko & Nekoneko Tenshi Yuna.

Garei –Zero- [喰霊 -零-]

Nutshelled: A complete reworking of a shonen manga about people seeing evil spirits
Source: Manga by Takenashi Eri (TYPE-MOON staff)
Studio: asread & AIC Spirits
Staff: Directed by Aoki Ei (Girls Bravo), scripted by Takayama Katsuhiko (ef)
Episode count: ?
Music: Agematsu Noriyasu
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: Maeno Tomoaki (Dojo from Toshokan Senso) and Kitamura Eri are the leads, supported by Kakihara Tetsuya, Koyama Rikiya & Fukuen Misato
Radio Show: No
Comments: The promo pic reminds me of Pumpkin Scissors. I wonder if the manga was really so bad that they chose to use original stories, setting and characters?

Hakushaku to Yosei [伯爵と妖精]

Nutshelled: Historical fantasy show about a Victorian-era girl obsessed with fairies.
Source: Light novels by Tani Mizue
Studio: Artland
Staff: Directed by Sohtome Koichiro
Episode count: ?
Music: Gokita Takehiko
Opening Theme: FEELING by AciD FLavoR
Ending Theme: my fairy by Midorikawa Hikaru

L-R(back) ,Okawa Toru,Yuki Hiro,Yasumura Makoto
L-R(front):Sugita Tomokza,Midorikawa Hikaru,Tani(author),Mizuki Nana,Sohtome(director)

Seiyuu: Koyasu Takehito, Kamiya Hiroshi, Ohara Sayaka, Miyano Mamoru & Chafurin not pictured.
Radio Show: Niko no Yosei Ochakai hosted by Hiro Yuki, with regular guest appearances

Hokuto no Ken Raoh Gaiden Ten no Haoh [北斗の拳 ラオウ外伝 天の覇王]

Nutshelled: Side story told from the viewpoint of antagonist Raoh
Source: Manga by Buronson & Hara Tetsuo
Studio: Satelight
Staff: Directed by Abe Masashi (Blue Gender)
Episode count: ?
Music: KAZSIN
Opening Theme: Nageki no Endless by jealkb
Ending Theme: Namida no Kawa by mina☆muse
-This will be her debut single. Sample can be heard on her official site, and I’m loving it already.
Seiyuu: Actor Ukaji Takashi is cast as Raoh, backed by established talents like Matsukaze Masaya, Nakahara Mai, Seki Toshihiko and Touchi Hiroki
Radio Show: No

Hyakko [ヒャッコ]

Nutshelled: Yet another slapstick high school comedy, this time focusing on four female misfits.
Source: Manga by Kato Haruaki
Studio: Nippon Animation
Staff: First time steering the whole ship for animator/illustrator Fukuda Michio. He has worked on things like Hachikuro, Ouran and Pani Poni Dash but we’ll see if he can make the step up
Episode count: 13
Music: Takanashi Yasuharu, Mizutani Hiromi & Fujisawa Kenji
Opening Theme: Suppin Rock by Ogawa Mana
Ending Theme: Namida NAMIDA Namida (涙 NAMIDA ナミダ) by Hirano Aya
-Both songs are produced by Tsunku♂, who’s capable of writing good and dreadful songs in equal measure.

Hirano Aya,Orikasa Fumiko,Neya Michiko,Ochiai Yurika

Inazuma Eleven [イナズマイレブン]

Nutshelled: Football (soccer) anime
Source: Nintendo DS game of the same name
Studio: OLM
Staff: Akiyama Katsuhito (Dual!, Pumpkin Scissors) directs
Episode count: ?
Music: Mitsuda Yasunori
-Yes, he of Chrono Trigger and Xenosaga fame
Opening Theme: Tachi Agari yo. T-Pistonz
Ending Theme: Seishun Oden. twe’lv
Seiyuu: Same as the ones in the game – Takeuchi Junko (Naruto), Orikasa Fumiko, Kobayashi Sanae, Nojima Hirofumi & Yoshino Hiroyuki. Kids’ anime always get good cast members…
Radio Show: No

Jigoku Shojo Mitsuganae [地獄少女 三鼎]

Nutshelled: Yay threequel. Ippen shinde miru?
Source: Original
Studio: Studio DEEN
Staff: Watanabe Hiroshi directs again
Episode count: 26
Music: Takanashi Yasuharu & Mizutani Hiromi
Opening Theme: Tsukihana by Kitade Nana
Ending Theme: Ichinuke by Noto Mamiko
-Why must they persist with making her sing?
Seiyuu: Shiina Hekiru crawls out of her cocoon to rejoin the voice acting world
Radio Show: No

Junjo Romantica 2 [純情ロマンチカ2]

Nutshelled: Buttsecks! Yaoi! Wooh!
Source: Manga by Nakamura Shungiku
Studio: Studio DEEN
Staff: Directed by a flock of seagulls Kon Chiaki
Episode count: ?
Music: MOKA☆
Opening Theme: Shodo by Pigstar
Ending Theme: Aioi by JUNED
Seiyuu: Sakurai Takahiro, Hanada Hikaru, Toriumi Kosuke etc etc etc
Radio Show: Junjo Triangle~Iza, Junjo ni Shobu!!~ hosted by Hanada, Ito Kentaro & Kishio Daisuke

Kannagi [かんなぎ]

Nutshelled: Some female deity is pissed off at a hapless teenage dude for wrecking her tree
Source: Manga by Takenashi Eri (TYPE-MOON staff)
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Staff: Directed by Yamamoto Yutaka (aka Yamakan) & scripted by Kurata Hideyuki (ROD)
Episode count: 13
Music: Kosaki Satoru (Haruhi)
Opening Theme: Motto Hade ni ne! by Tomatsu Haruka
Ending Theme: Musuhi no Toki by Tomatsu Haruka

Seiyuu: Hoshino Mitsuaki, Nakahara Mai & Hayamizu Risa are also involved.
Radio Show: Kannagi Radio hosted by Tomatsu Haruka & Hanazawa Kana
Comments: Like others, my interest in Kannagi is fueled by Yamakan’s involvement. He’s still pissed off about being fired from Lucky Star, so it’ll be interesting to see if he channels his anger productively.

Kemeko Deluxe! [ケメコデラックス！]

Nutshelled: A high-school boy is perpetually bothered by a green-haired robot thing that sprouts a beautiful pink-haired girl
Source: Manga by Iwasaki Masakazu
Studio: HAL Film Maker
Staff: Directed by Mizushima Tsutomu (Hale+Guu, Dokuro), scripted by Narita Yoshimi (Precure)
Episode count: ?
Music: Takagi Ryuji
-who is one half of INVOICE, who did the El-Hazard song ILLUSION many moons ago
Opening Theme: Kemeko Deluxe! by Saito Chiwa, Tomatsu Haruka, Takahashi Mikako, Kugimiya Rie, Shiraishi Ryoko, Kawasumi Ayako & Goto Mai
-The full version has already been played on radio shows and I hate it. Sounds like the Baccano! theme mashed together with Motteke! Sailor Fuku. As you can imagine, having 7 people (most of whom can’t hold a tune) singing on a song does not produce pretty results – no wonder the staff had a difficult time recording it.
Ending Theme: Purippurin Taiso by Saito Chiwa

Seiyuu: Kitamura Eri is the high-school kid, Saito Chiwa is the green weirdo & Tomatsu Haruka is the pink beauty. Others not pictured include Endo Aya & Mitsuishi Kotono.
Radio Show: The Kemeko staff blog has promised one, but no news yet on who, when and where.
Comments: I’m counting on Kemeko to fill the comedy slot soon to be vacated by Kyoran in my schedule.

Kido Senshi Gundam 00 Season 2 [機動戦士ガンダム00 セカンドシーズン]

Nutshelled: Manly mecha fights interspersed with yaoireflective moments
Source: Gundam, the visual anime bible
Studio: Sunrise
Staff: Directed by Mizushima Seiji, scripted by Kuroda Yosuke
Episode count: 25
Music: Kawai Kenji
Opening Theme: Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi by UVERWorld
Ending Theme: Prototype by Ishikawa Chiaki
Seiyuu: Tomatsu Haruka, Kawashima Tokuyoshi, Yao Kazuki, Shiratori Tetsu, Paku Romi, Saiga Mitsuki, Okiayu Ryotaro, Egawa Hisao, Inada Tetsu, Hayamizu Risa, Shiraishi Ryoko & Ohtomo Ryuzaburo join an already oversaturated cast.
Radio Show: Celestial Station 00 has been on Radio Osaka since 2007, hosted by Miyano Mamoru & Irino Miyu, assisted by Sato Arise & Takagaki Ayahi and featuring a variety of guests.

Kurogane no Linebarrels [鉄のラインバレル]

Nutshelled: Kid wakes up with superpowers, uses mecha to save the world.
Source: Manga by Shimizu Eiichi & Shimoguchi Tomohiro
Studio: GONZO
Staff: Directed by Hidaka Masamitsu, produced by Taniguchi Goro, designs by Hirai Hisashi
Episode count: 24
Music: Corniche
Opening Theme: Kitei no Tsurugi by Ali Project
Ending Theme: Ame ga Furu by Sakamoto Maaya
Seiyuu: All star cast featuring the likes of Kakihara Tetsuya, Noto Mamiko, Fukuyama Jun, Nakamura Yuichi, Sawashiro Miyuki, Ueda Kana, Kugimiya Rie… the list goes on & on.
Radio Show: Kurogane no Linebarrels~Countdown no Hoso hosted by Kakihara Tetsuya & Noto Mamiko
Comments: Hisashi Hirai’s designs are terrible as always. Everyone looks like Kira Yamato.

Kuroshitsuji [黒執事]

Nutshelled: Butler anime featuring a perfect being serving a noble English family. With the surname Phantomhive…
Source: Manga by Toboso Yana
Studio: A-1 Pictures Inc.
Staff: Directed by Shinohara Toshiya (Inuyasha movies, Gunparade Orchestra), scripted by Okada Mari (true tears, Simoun)
Episode count: ?
Music: Iwasaki Taku
Opening Theme: Monochrome Kiss by Sid
Ending Theme: I’m Alive by Becca

Seiyuu: Not pictured: Paku Romi, Suwabe Junichi, Touchi Hiroki & Tamura Yukari.
Radio Show: Phantom Midnight Radio hosted by Kaji Yuki & Ono Daisuke.
Comments: How come I never met any Phantomhives during my years in the UK? It was always Joneses and Smiths and Robinsons…

KUROZUKA [黒塚-KUROZUKA-]

Nutshelled: A 12th century shogun wannabe meets woman, falls in love with woman and somehow ends up being immortal.
Source: Manga by Noguchi Takashi
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: Directed by Araki Tetsuro (Death Note)
Episode count: 12
Music: ?
Opening Theme: SYSTEMATIC PEOPLE by WAGDUG FUTURISTIC UNITY feat. Maximum Ryo-kun
-WFU is the side project of Mad Capsule Markets frontman Kyono and this song is a collaboration with Max Ryo-kun from MAXIMUM THE HORMONE.
Ending Theme: Hanarebanare by Shigi

Kuwashima Houko & Paku Romi

Kyo no 5 no 2 [今日の5の2]

Nutshelled: A TV version of the popular toilet humour filled OVA
Source: Manga by Sakuraba Coharu (Minami-ke)
Studio: XEBEC replaces Doumu
Staff: Nagasawa Tsuyoshi (長澤 剛) is a first time director
Episode count: 13
Music: Haneoka Kei (Negima!?)
Opening Theme: Nisemono by Friends
Ending Theme: ? by Friends
-Friends is a temp seiyuu unit featuring 6 of the cast members.

Seiyuu: Entire OVA cast has been replaced – no Mamiko, Kana or Minorin. Instead we get a bunch of promising young seiyuu (Shimoda, Akesaka, Takagaki Ayahi), an unknown (Yamato Megumi) and a gorilla (Kobayashi). I’m not as pissed off as others about the changes because I like Shimoda, Akesaka and Kobayashi.
Radio Show: No
Comments: Most retarded character designs of the season.

Live On CARDLIVER Kakeru [ライブオン CARDLIVER 翔]

Nutshelled: Looks like another kids’ show featuring card battles
Source: Manga by Aiyah Ball
Studio:
Staff: Directed by Tsuji Hatsuki (Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Masters GX)
Episode count: ?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: Ishikawa Shizuka, Suzuki Masami, Orikasa Fumiko, Kawada Shinji & Matsuno Taiki have been confirmed.
Radio Show: No

Macademi WAsshoi! [まかでみWAっしょい！]

Nutshelled: Kid attends magic academy, accidentally summons mega powerful goddess
Source: Light novels by Sakaki Ichiro (Scrapped Princess)
Studio: ZEXCS
Staff: Directed by Kanesaki Takaomi
Episode count: ?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: M☆O☆S☆O Ranbu by MAchuRI (Ise Mariya, Miyazaki Ui & Fukui Yukari)
Ending Theme: Pastel by Murata Ayumi

Seiyuu: Not pictured – Kawasumi Ayako, Hiyama Nobuyuki, Sato Rina, Suwabe Junichi & Matsuki Miyu
Radio Show: Ui to Yukari no Macademi Radio, hosted at Anista.tv or Media Factory by Miyazaki & Fukui.

Michiko to Hatchin [ミチコとハッチン]

Nutshelled: Travelogues of a ’sexy prison escapee’ and a runaway teenage girl
Source: Original
Studio: manglobe (Samurai Champloo, ergo proxy)
Staff: Directed by Yamamoto Sayo, who has previously only done storyboards etc for Kemonozume & Samurai Champloo
Episode count: ?
Music: Kassin
Opening Theme: ? by SOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS
-OMG, hardcore jazz – can’t wait to hear what song they’ll be coming up with.
Ending Theme: ? by Karutetto
Seiyuu: Mostly drama/theatre actors, including Maki Yoko & Ohgo Suzuka, who was in the just ended Shibatora dorama with Koike Teppei.
Radio Show: No

Moryo no Hako [魍魎の匣]

Nutshelled: Private investigator attempts to unravel a series of grisly murders of schoolgirls who end up dismembered and boxed.
Source: Novel by Kyogoku Natsuhiko
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: Designs by CLAMP, directed by Nakamura Ryosuke (Death Note)
Episode count: 13
Music:
Opening Theme: Lost in Blue by Nightmare
Ending Theme: NAKED LOVE by Nightmare

Seiyuu: Hirata Hiroaki’s first lead role in ages, and a huge support cast including Morikawa Toshiyuki, Kiuchi Hidenobu, Namikawa Daisuke, Kuwashima Houko, Hisakawa Aya and the list stretches on for a mile
Radio Show: No
Comments: Will be interesting to see how this compares to the movie version starring Tsutsumi Shinichi.

Negibozu no Asataro [ねぎぼうずのあさたろう]

Nutshelled: Travel tales of an onion-headed hero
Source: Picture books by Iino Kazuyoshi
Studio: Toei
Staff: Directed by Ikeda Yoko
Episode count: ?
Music: Maruyama Kazunori
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?

Radio Show: No
Comments: There have already been 7 volumes of the books published, so I guess someone out there must be reading them.

Nodame Cantabile: Paris-hen [のだめカンタービレ 巴里編]

Nutshelled: Chiaki-senpai goes to France in a sequel to the popular anime that aired last year
Source: Manga by Ninomiya Tomoko
Studio: J.C.Staff
Staff: Same staff as the first – Kon Chiaki directs.
Episode count: 11
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Sky High by Gospellers
-I hate Gospellers. Their a capella singing is fine, but their songs are awful.
Ending Theme: Tokyo et Paris by Miyamoto Emiri x solita
Seiyuu: Ohara Sayaka, Ito Shizuka, Asanuma Shintaro, Hino Satoshi, Morikawa Toshiyuki & Kiyokawa join Seki Tomokazu and Kawasumi Ayako.
Radio Show: No

Noramimi 2 [のらみみ2]

Nutshelled: Yet another sequel, to some kids’ show that nobody watched
Source: Manga by Hara Kazuo
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Staff: Directed by Koyama Yoshitaka (Louie the Rune Soldier)
Episode count: ?
Music: Nakagawa Ko
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?

Radio Show: No

One Outs [ワンナウツ]

Nutshelled: Baseball anime, with a gambling twist
Source: Manga by Kaitani Shinobu
Studio: Madhouse
Staff: Directed by Sato Yuzo (Kaiji, Akagi)
Episode count: ?
Music: Matsumoto Akihiko (Bayside Shakedown OST, Resident Evil Outbreak)
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: Hagiwara Masato (Kaiji, Akagi) is in the lead role again.
Radio Show: No

Rosario to Vampire CAPU2 [ロザリオとバンパイア CAPU2]

Nutshelled: There were pants and nosebleeds in the first season. What are the chances of the pattern being repeated this time round?
Source: Manga by Ikeda Akihisa
Studio: GONZO
Staff: Space aliens Directed by Inagaki Takayuki once again.
Episode count: 1-cour
Music: Tanaka Kohei
Opening Theme: DISCOTHEQUE by Mizuki Nana
Ending Theme: Trinity Cross by Mizuki Nana
Seiyuu: Same cast – Kishio Daisuke, Mizuki Nana, Kugimiya Rie & Koyama Kimiko joined by Saito Chiwa.
Radio Show: The first season had one hosted by Fukuen Misato & Koyama Kimiko at Onsen.ag, no news on a second one

Shikabane-hime Aka [屍姫 赫]

Nutshelled: Undead girl bids to reach heaven by killing people.
Source: Manga by Akahito Yoshiichi
Studio: GAINAX & feel.
Staff: Directed by Murata Masahiko (Gilgamesh)
Episode count: 13
Music: Sumitomo Norihito
-First time composing for anime, mainly works on dorama and film soundtracks
Opening Theme: Beautiful fighter by angela
Ending Theme: My story by angela
Seiyuu: Gravure idol/talent Akiyama Nana has been cast as lead character Hoshimura Makina… let’s hope she’s gotten some intense voice acting lessons. She does have more experienced seiyuu like Chiba Saeko, Suwabe Junichi & Fujiwara Keiji backing her though.
Radio Show: No
Comments: Aka is only the first part of the Shikabane Hime tale and will be followed by Kuro in 2009.

Shugo Chara!! Dokki [しゅごキャラ！！どきっ]

Nutshelled: Magical girls, eggs, crazy fangirls…
Source: Manga by Peach Pit
Studio: Satelight
Staff: Directed by Yasuda Kenji
Episode count: ?
Music: Di’LL
Opening Theme: Minna no Tamago by Shugo Chara Egg
-New unit featuring members of Hello! Pro Egg.
Ending Theme: ?

Toyosaki Aki,Asumi Kana,Ito Kanae,Kato Nanae

Skip Beat! [スキップ・ビート!,]

Nutshelled: A typical shojo tale featuring lots of angst, pop idols and daikon peeling.
Source: Manga by Nakamura Yoshiki
Studio: Hal Film Maker
Staff: Directed by Sayama Kiyoko (Vampire Knight)
Episode count: ?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Dream Star by the generous
-the generous have been generating quite a bit of buzz in the Jpop scene, being rocker Yazawa Eikichi’s daughter Yoko’s project with musician Ohnishi Katsumi (who has worked with Hotei Tomoyasu). A demo song has been posted on their official site, and it’s all sounding good so far.
Ending Theme: Namida by 2BACKKA
-Rap trio who have collaborated with the likes of Bennie K. Namida is produced by GReeeeN producer Jin

Miyano Mamoru, Inoue Marina, Konishi Katsuyuki

Tales of the Abyss [テイルズ オブ ジ アビス]

Nutshelled: Game to anime adaptation. Does that format ever work?
Source: PS2 game of the same name
Studio: Sunrise
Staff: Directed by Kodama Kenji (Conan, City Hunter, Kekkaishi)
Episode count: 26
Music: Sakuraba Motoi
-Also composed for the game, has extensive list of credits including most Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile games.
Opening Theme: Karma by BUMP OF CHICKEN
-Boo, old song. Karma was also the theme for the game – BoC frontman Fujiwara Motoo also composed some songs for the soundtrack.
Ending Theme: Boken Suisei by Enomoto Kurumi
-Talented singer-songwriter who has had very little mainstream success. Boken Suisei is written by Fujiwara Motoo, and the Tales association may bring her a little more attention.
Seiyuu: The game cast is retained, which means more Suzuki Chihiro, Yukana, Koyasu Takehito, Momoi Halko etc etc
Radio Show: No

Tentai Tenshi Sunred [天体戦士サンレッド]

Nutshelled: Superhero spoof.
Source: Manga by Kubota Makoto which runs in Young Gangan
Studio: AIC Asta
Staff: Seto no Hanayome staff members, including director Kishi Seiji.
Episode count: 26
Music: Kakijima Shinji
Opening Theme: Mizonoguchi Taiyozoku by Manzo
-This is the same Manzo that sang opening themes for Genshiken.
Ending Theme: Tori Tango Nabe by Morino Kumahachi
Seiyuu: Lesser known people like Takagi Shun [one half of SMILY☆SPIKY with Miyano Mamoru] & Nabei Makiko, as well as manzai combis Hige Danshaku & Tokyo Tights.
Radio Show: No

To Aru Majutsu no Index [とある魔術の禁書目録]

Nutshelled: Heavenly mix of nuns and the supernatural
Source: Light novel series by Kamachi Kazuma
Studio: J.C.Staff
Staff: Directed by Nishikori Hiroshi (Azumanga Daioh)
Episode count: ?
Music: I’ve sound
Opening Theme: PSI-missing by Kawada Mami
Ending Theme: Rimless~Fuchinashi no Sekai~ by IKU
-WTF is up with those weird song titles.

Seiyuu: What is that crappy small picture *mumble* Anyway, others who will feature include Okamoto Nobuhiko, Koyami Kimiko & Katsu Anri.
Radio Show: To Aru Radio no Index is hosted by Iguchi Yuka & Sato Rina

Toradora! [とらドラ！]

Nutshelled: Two bad-tempered twits find joy in abusing each other
Source: Manga by Takemiya Yuyuko
Studio: J.C.Staff
Staff: Directed by Nishikori Hiroshi (Azumanga Daioh)
Episode count: ?
Music: Hashimoto Yukari
-First time composing an anime soundtrack but is a very prolific anison writer
Opening Theme: Preparade by Kugimiya Rie, Horie Yui & Kitamura Eri
Ending Theme: Vanilla Salt by Horie Yui

Seiyuu: Kitamura Eri & Tanaka Rie not in picture
Radio Show: Toradoradio! hosted by Majima Junji & Kitamura Eri

Tytania [タイタニア]

Nutshelled: Epic space opera
Source: Novels by Tanaka Yoshiki (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)
Studio: Artland
Staff: Directed by the legendary (and very old) Ishiguro Noboru, though he’s probably just going to sit back in his armchair and bark orders at chief director Ito Koji
Episode count: 26
Music: ?
Opening Theme: Ano sora o, Yuke by Nishikiori Ken
-Oh god, opera to go with a space opera. I’m having Akikawa Masafumi-related nightmares already.
Ending Theme: LOST IN SPACE by Psychic Lover
-And opera is being countered by… Psychic Lover? A real WTF OP-ED combination if I ever saw one.

Seiyuu: Strong cast also features Hoshi Soichiro, Ono Atsushi, Kamiya Hiroshi, Yahagi Sayuri & Kusao Takeshi.
Radio Show: No

Vampire Knight Guilty [ヴァンパイア騎士 Guilty]

Nutshelled: Unlike the other vampire anime, this will feature less blood coming out from the nose and more from other body orifices. I think.
Source: Manga by Hino Matsuri
Studio: Studio Deen
Staff: Sayama Kiyoko takes the reins again.
Episode count: 13?
Music: Haketa Takefumi
Opening Theme: Rondo by ON/OFF
Ending Theme: Suna no Oshiro by Wakeshima Kanon

Seiyuu: Lol Fukuyama sexy legs
Radio Show: Cross Gakuen Hosobu is hosted by a selection of male cast members

Yozakura Quartet [夜桜四重奏]

Nutshelled: Superhero teens protect the city from supernatural threats
Source: Manga by Yasuda Suzuhito
Studio: Nomad
Staff: Directed by Matsuo Ko (Rozen Maiden, RED GARDEN, kure-nai)
Episode count: 12
Music: Dobashi Akio & Ivan Kral
Opening Theme: JUST TUNE by savage genius
Ending Theme: Nagareboshi by ROUND TABLE feat. Nino

Seiyuu: Ono Daisuke also features. Director Matsuo favours pre-scoring (recording voice actors’ lines before any animation has been done), which isn’t something that happens very often & can produce interesting results (refer to kure-nai). Half of the ‘quartet’ have worked with Matsuo before – Sawashiro Miyuki has in fact been in every anime that he’s been the chief director of, whilst Fukuen was in RED GARDEN. The other two had never done puresuko prior to this. Hopefully Fujita can prove there’s more to her than being Hatsune Miku.
Radio Show: Sakurashin-cho Chonai Hoso hosted by Kaji Yuki & Fukuen Misato
Comments: I’m following this mainly because of director Matsuo’s track record – I wonder how he’ll do with a more conventional (for anime) plot & setting than he usually does.

Zettai Yareru Grecia Shinwa [絶対やれるギリシャ神話]

Nutshelled: Live-action/animation hybrid exploring male-female relationships via Greek mythology, ecchi style
Source: Original
Studio: Hoichoi Productions
Staff: ?
Episode count: ?
Music: ?
Opening Theme: ?
Ending Theme: ?
Seiyuu: The live-action portion features actor Watanabe Ikkei and gravure idol Iwasa Mayuko
Radio Show: No chance in hell
Comments: This has got to be the show with the best description this season. Really.

Useless statistics:
No. of shows covered in this guide: 41
No. of shows with an exclamation mark in the title: 5
No. of sequels, sidestories, prequels, remakes, blah: 13
No. of original shows not based on a manga, game, novels or random gimmick (& not including sequels): 2
No. of shows with a theme song by one of the seiyuu: 10

Stuff I have to say:
-I see Madhouse are adopting J.C.Staff’s ‘I like to stick my fingers into too many puddings’ mentality
-Kemeko DX!, Chaos;HEAd & Yozakura Quartet are my current picks but I’m sure at least one of them will turn out to suck, and I know there’ll be the one or two hidden gems in the rough a la true tears & kure-nai
-In fact I am already looking ahead to the winter season where Marimite & Natsume Yujincho 2 await
-Where’s my iyashikei anime
-My seiyuu face recognition skills are deteriorating
-Once again, the theme songs are offering up a surprising selection of artists & bands I’d never have pegged as doing anime songs (Color Bottle, Enomoto Kurumi,SOIL&PIMP)
-I am starting to hate fluid width layouts, I had a hard time fixing everything so it wouldn’t look too stupid in 1280x**** screen resolutions
-It seems everyone and his monkey are doing season guides/previews these days – I will gracefully retire from the scene after this

There is a separate post focusing on the seiyuu side coming up very soon.