j1m0ne’s blog

Everyone’s doing summer anime previews! I don’t actually bother with trying to pick out ‘must-watch’ shows cos I know I’ll give absolutely everything a go regardless of how dumb the title sounds (Happy Happy Clover) or even if I know I’ll hate it to bits (Nanatsuiro Drops). Admittedly I hardly ever bother to read up on what the storyline is about since there are only a few things I’m interested in usually…

1.Genre
Harem anime? BL? Eroge conversion? All guys are bishonen? Mecha? Sports? That means I’m less likely to watch it. Anything else is game.

2.Animation Studio
I rarely finish watching anything by Toei. The first Kanon is the only one in fact (and I hated it), though Love★Com has a good chance of adding to that track record. The GONZO name doesn’t exactly fill me with joy either, nor Xebec. Madhouse, SHAFT & ufotable are the studios I look forward to; Prouction I.G & Kyoto Animation are ones I don’t mind cos I know they’ll be of reasonable quality.

3.Music
It may seem pretty trivial but I’m the sort of person who can sit through an entire anime just because the music is good. Kinda explains how I managed to survive watching Aquarian Age and .hack//sign….. Certain composers’ names make my eyes light up - Ryo Kunihiko, Kawai Kenji, Hirano Yoshihisa, Kubota Mina, Mitsumune Shinkichi & Kajiura Yuki (to a certain extent). Also who’s doing the opening/ending themes interests me. Any series sponsored by Avex usually means it’ll have shit songs ^^;

4.Seiyuu
For obvious reasons.

Unfortunately, I’m carrying over 9 shows from the spring season + occasional viewings of Bleach, Gintama & D.Gray-man so heaven knows how I’m gonna fit any of this into my schedule.

List by Airing Date & Time
24th June
Tetsuko no Tabi

It’s about a bloke travelling round Japan on trains!
Animation Studio: Group TAC (Futatsu no Spica, Gakuen Alice)
Music: SUPER BELL”Z!! Lol, I guess it’s pretty fitting that they do the music. Their ‘music’ sets train announcements/sounds to rap & hip hop beats and has already been used in the Densha de Go! games before. I’m interested to see what they come up with ^_^ Oh, and Watanabe Cheru is involved too.

L-R:Kawashima Tokuyoshi, Hiyama Nobuyuki, Tomisaka Akira, Ohta Tetsuharu
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★☆☆
It’s got Hiyama Nobuyuki & Kawashima Tokuyoshi which is good enough for me. Tomisaka Akira (Kate in RED GARDEN) & the rather flamboyant Ohta Tetsuharu (Yamazaki in Gintama) are also in it. Ohta’s always wearing something bright pink or purple or other similarly girly colours in all the pictures I’ve seen of him. Scary….
Radio Show?: Highly unlikely…..
Prospects: GOOD, it’s only 13 episodes and it’s about a subject that’s pretty unique for an anime.

2nd July
Nanatsuiro Drops

So where can I get some juice that’ll turn me into a cute fluffy teddy bear?
Animation Studio: Studio Barcelona (Dai Mahou Touge)
Music: Yamakawa Etsuko - I had to look her site up, but her CV looks impressive…. if you’re into oldie Jpop, that is. Sakai Noriko, Koizumi Kyoko, Taniyama Hiroko & Watanabe Marina are some artists she’s worked with.
Opening Theme: Shining stars bless☆ by Utatsuki Kaori
Ending Theme: mo.o! by LOVERIN TAMBURIN

L-R(top): Hino Satoshi, Inoue Kazuhiko, Itou Miki, Kubota Megumi
L-R(front): Shimizu Kaori, Nojima Hirofumi, Yuimoto Michiru, Goto Mai, Taniyama Kisho
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★☆☆
-I have no idea who Yuimoto Michiru is. The rest of the cast is pretty good.
Radio Show?: Yes, at the Mediaworks site. Hosted by Yuimoto Michiru & Goto Mai.
Prospects: BAD. Story sounds lame & I didn’t like Dai Mahou Touge.

3rd July
Doujin Work

4-koma, about a girl called Osana Najimi (harharhar) making doujinshi.
Animation Studio: REMIC (Magical Pokahn) WHO?
Music: By two guys I’ve never heard of - Mitome Kazumi & Yoda Kazuo. Checked out Yoda’s site for some samples and I can’t say it fills me with a lot of confidence….
Opening Theme: Iijyan! Yuujou by MAKI
Ending Theme: Yume miru Otome by Mizuhashi Mai

Asano Masumi & Saitou Momoko.
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★☆☆☆
-Apart from Asano Masumi, none of the other seiyuu are particularly exciting….
Radio Show?: Yes, accessible at either Media Factory or Anista. Hosted by Asano Masumi & Saitou Momoko
Prospects: AVERAGE, I’ll give it a go but I’m keeping my expectations low.

Kenko Zenrakei Suieibu Umisho

About…. swimming. There appears to be a lot of girls in it.
Animation Studio: Artland (Mushishi, Happiness!)
Music: Satou Yasumasa - another unknown to anime music composing. Mostly arranges songs for KinKi Kids’ Domoto Koichi from what I can see.
Opening Theme: DOLPHIN☆JET by Ayane
Ending Theme: Splash Blue~ Taiyo to Lemonade~ by Murata Ayumi

(back) Eh, there’s too many of them! Guy doing the V-sign is Toyonaga Toshiyuki, shades dude is Fujiwara Keiji, cap & goatee guy is Yasumura Makoto. I can’t say I recognise the rest of them….
L-R(front):Koorogi Satomi, Shimizu Ai, Toyosaki Aki, Nabatame Hitomi, Shintani Ryoko, Murata Ayumi
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★☆☆
Well it certainly looks like a packed cast, but apart from Fujiwara & Koorogi, none really appeal. Murata Ayumi’s first role since Memories Off 3.5 a few years ago.
Radio Show?: Yes, hosted at Onsen.ag by Nabatame Hitomi.
Prospects: BAD. It’s just not my kind of thing.

School Days

I don’t think this really needs any intro…
Animation Studio: TNK (Lovedol, Kannazuki no miko, UFO Princess Valkyrie series)
Music: Okubo Kaoru. Very interesting - I’m pretty familiar with his name as he does a lot of compositions & arrangements for anime/video game themes, often working in tandem with lyricist Hata Aki. However I’ve never actually heard anything he’s done as an artist so I’m keen to hear what he can come up with.
Opening Theme: Innocent Blue by DeviceHigh (Who on earth are they)
Ending Theme: Looks likely to be multiple ending songs by Kuribayashi Minami, yozuca*, rino, Hashimoto Miyuki, YURIA & Itou Kanako

L-R(top): Matsumoto Yoshiaki, Ashiro Megu, Imoto Keiko, Nagami Haruka(?)
L-R(front): Okajima Tae, Hirakawa Daisuke, Kawaragi Shiho
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★☆☆
-None of them are household names, but I do like Hirakawa, Kawaragi and also Takahashi Chiaki. This is also the first anime for Ashiro since she changed her name from Kobayashi Megumi (Paula in RED GARDEN).
Radio Show?: Yes, over at Lantis-net. Hosted by Kawaragi Shiho & Okajima Tae.
Prospects: AVERAGE. Game-to-anime conversions rarely excite me.

ZOMBIE-LOAN

Another anime with Shinigami Eyes? Hmmmmm………
Animation Studio: XEBEC M2 - a division of XEBEC that did the recent Hitohira
Music: Sawano Hiroyuki. Average looking credits list - Soul Link, YoakeNa & Gigantic Formula.
Opening Theme: Ookami no Nodo by The Birthday (Cool)
Ending Theme: Chain Ring by MUCC (pass the sick bucket please)
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-Looks like something I’ll watch just because of the cast list; which includes a couple of faves like Kuwashima Houko, Suzumura Kenichi, Saito Chiwa, Ono Daisuke etc. They changed a few of the drama CD cast (Sanada Asami→Goto Saori, Asano Masumi→Ueda Kana, Kawakami Tomoko→Saito Chiwa, Koyasu Takehito→Morikawa Toshiyuki) but their replacements are similar anyhow.
Radio Show?: No.
Prospects: GOOD. Dunno how long I’ll stick with it though.

CODE-E

Apparently about some girl who can’t use electronic devices. Hoo boy….
Animation Studio: Studio DEEN
Music: Cano Caoli. What’s with the raft of non-anime composers this season? Silly romanization aside, Cano’s website actually looks really nice. She’s also worked with naja & Ganaha Mina, two artists who I’m quite fond of.
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★☆☆☆
-The name Momoi Halko makes me roll my eyes immediately ^^; The lead is voiced by Hashimoto Mai who I’ve never heard of. Nomura Katsuhito is someone I’m rather interested in though, & Nazuka Kaori voices a support character.
Radio Show?: No.
Prospects: BAD. The music that greets you upon entering the website is ANNOYING.

5th July
Mushiuta

Looks like some superhero style anime.
Animation Studio: Beat Frog (Who on earth?)
Music: Fujita Junpei - part of Elements Garden. He’s not actually composed any music for anime before, but he did arrange Bouken desho desho? and a few songs for Mizuki Nana.

L-R: Asanuma Shintaro, Hanazawa Kana, Nabatame Hitomi, Tamura Yukari
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-When I look at the pic above the first thing that comes to mind is: Kyo + Ryoko! Kanade + Rino! But the rest of the seiyuu list looks equally impressive - Takagi Reiko, Hirakawa Daisuke, Shiraishi Ryoko, Saiga Mitsuki, Kurokawa Nami etc. The interview with Asanuma & Hanazawa on the website bores the hell out of me though. I hope that doesn’t reflect the show itself….
Radio Show?: No.
Prospects: AVERAGE. I’ve never heard of the director or the studio, but the cast list + Fujita Junpei looks good enough for me to give it a go.

Sky Girls

Sequel to the ‘young girls fight aliens to save the earth!’ OVA.
Animation Studio: J.C. Staff
Music: Mitsumune Shinkichi. I thought his music for the OVA was boring though.
Opening Theme: Virgin’s high by MELL
Ending Theme: True Blue by Goto Saori

L-R(back): Majima Junji, Tsuji Ayumi, Horie Yui, Fujiwara Keiji
L-R(front): Goto Saori, Iwasaki Yoshiaki (director), Kawasumi Ayako
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-Looks good; Itou Shizuka, Shiraishi Ryoko, Taniyama Kisho & Higa Kumiko are also appearing.
Radio Show?: No.
Prospects: BAD. Didn’t particularly like the OVA, and this is 26 episodes so I doubt I’ll have the patience to sit through it.

6th July
Happy Happy Clover

It’s a kids’ show. That features a lot of cute animals ^_^
Music: Unknown
Opening Theme: Shiawase no Kakera by Marimomi
Ending Theme: Aiiro no Sora no Shita de by Shimokawa Mikuni (I’m very surprised she’s doing a kids’ show song)
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★☆☆
-For a kids’ show, it’s actually got a pretty good cast - Koyasu Takehito, Watanabe Akeno, Kobayashi Yumiko, Narita Sayaka & Shishido Rumi.
Radio Show?: No.
Prospects: BAD. I’ll just watch the first few episodes to humour myself.

Potemayo

Potatoes + Mayonnaise = Ugh.
Animation Studio: J.C. Staff
Music: Kikuya Tomoki. Another bloke who composes/arranges a ton of anime songs, though recently he’s done more anime composing for Tonagura & Hidamari Sketch.
Opening Theme: Katamichi Catchball by MOSAIC.WAV
Ending Theme: Utatane by Chata (OMFG, I am so excited by this! Chata’s first anime song!)
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-Fine looking cast - Tsuji Ayumi, KitaEri, Kawasmi Ayako, Inoue Kikuko - Hanazawa Kana is Potemayo.
Radio Show?: Yes, starts 29th June. Look at the website for details. Hosted by Hanazawa Kana & Tsuji Ayumi
Prospects: GOOD. I’m a sucker for pointlessly cute shows. Though this somewhat reminds me of Pugyuru…..

Higurashi 2kai

More face distortions. Joy!
Animation Studio: Studio DEEN
Music: Kawai Kenji. The first season’s music was rather limp though.
Opening Theme: Naraku no hana by Shimamiya Eiko
Ending Theme: Taisho.a by anNina (AnnabelXbermei.inazawa)

L-R: Tamura Yukari, Yukino Satsuki, Hoshi Soichiro, Nakahara Mai, Kanai Mika
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-Original cast returns, plus Horie Yui as Hanyuu.
Radio Show?: Yes, if you’d like to pay for Animate.tv membership (or download it off Share/Winny lol). Hosted by Yukino Satsuki & Nakahara Mai.
Prospects: BAD. I didn’t ever finish the first season so I don’t think there’s much point in watching this….

7th July
Sayonara Zetsubo-sensei

(糸＋色) + 望 = 絶望 (Ito + shiki + nozomu = Zetsubou). Er yeah, dat’s the name of the bloke in the pic above…..
Animation Studio: SHAFT
Music: Unknown. Maybe Haneoka Kei?
Opening Theme: Hito toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru by Ohtsuki Kenji feat. Nonaka Ai, Inoue Marina, Kobayashi Yu, Sawashiro Miyuki & Shintani Ryoko (should be damn interesting ^^;; Odoru Akachan Ningen + 5 seiyuu = complete chaos)
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★★
-SHAFT hires all their favourite seiyuu + a few extras. Let’s see….
Kamiya Hiroshi (PPD!,Tsukuyomi), Nonaka (PPD!, Negima!?), Shintani (PPD!, Hidamari), Kobayashi (Negima!?), Sawashiro (PPD!, Negima!?, Hidamari), Matsuki Miyu (PPD!, Tsukuyomi, Hidamari) & Goto Yuko (Hidamari). Technically there’s Mizushima Takahiro & Sanada Asami from KonoMini too but that’s really a Gainax production…Where’s Saito Chiwa though?? Should I expect Kadowaki Mai, Sakurai Takahiro, Mugihito & Ishige Sawa to turn up somewhere too?
Radio Show?: No, but they should have! Make use of the cast they’ve got heh…..
Prospects: EXCELLENT. Of all the summer anime it’s got the best cast by far.

Zero no Tsukaima 2

Another sequel, this time to a show that I didn’t like but somehow still managed to finish.
Animation Studio: Another J.C. Staff show…. I’m starting to wonder if they can keep up.
Music: Mitsumune Shinkichi. He did alright for the first season, so I hope he doesn’t just rehash the same old tunes.
Opening Theme: I SAY YES by ICHIKO
Closing Theme: Suki!?Kirai!?Suki!!! by Kugimiya Rie (I hated both the OP/ED last season so I don’t really care about these either….)

L-R(back): Katsuki Masako, Ishimatsu Chiemi(?), Neya Michiko, Hirakawa Daisuke
L-R(front): Inoue Nanako, Hino Satoshi, Kugimiya Rie, Kawasumi Ayako, Inokuchi Yuka
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-The original cast returns with a couple of additions. Horie Yui’s not in the pic above….maybe Siesta doesn’t appear in episode 1.
Radio Show?: Yes, hosted by Hino Satoshi & Kugimiya Rie at Media Factory Radio.
Prospects: BAD. I don’t even know why I watched the first one. Was the summer season last year that bad?

Moetan

I’m gearing up for this by listening to the CDs & reading the books again. They’re a fantastic cure for the blues:-
He transplanted an evil eye to his forehead to look for his missing sister. Take responsibility for having killed me!! The ability required to handle a patrol-robot is not to be carsick. If you don’t get out of the way my dear brother, I can’t kill her! Whenever I don’t take a bath, there is a shake-hands party of voice actresses. I really want to eat people because I feel so itchy! He is so noble that he gives his head to feed the people yelling for help. Yeap, that’s English Moetan style.
Music: Watanabe Takeshi - composer for Ichigo Mashimaro
Opening Theme: Mahou Shoujo Magical-tan! by Tamura Yukari, Nazuka Kaori & Tomatsu Haruka

L-R: Nazuka Kaori, Tamura Yukari, Tomatsu Haruka
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-As long as they retained Yukarin, Onosaka Masaya & Ueda Yuji I’m happy. But they added Nazuka Kaori & newcomer Tomatsu Haruka (Corti in Polyphonica) to the mix, so it makes me even happier.
Radio Show?: No, or should I say; not yet. Surely it’s gotta have one….
Prospects: EXCELLENT. Though I have to say I’m just a wee bit apprehensive, fingers crossed it doesn’t disappoint.

19th July
Shigurui

Samurais + violence.
Animation Studio: Madhouse
Music: Yoshida Kiyoshi (Toki o Kakeru Shojo). Never heard of him.

clockwise from top left: Shinohara Emi, Katou Seizo, Kuwashima Houko, Namikawa Daisuke, Sasaki Nozomu
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-A lot of talented veterans in the cast, including Yara Yuusaku, Koyama Rikiya & Shimada Bin.
Radio Show?: Highly unlikely.
Prospects: BAD. Definitely not my kind of show. I don’t like violence ^^;

26th July
Baccano!

Animation Studio: Brains-Base
Music: Yoshimori Makoto - Only know him from Koi Kaze & Gakuen Alice
Opening Theme: Gun’s&Roses by Paradise Lunch
Ending Theme: Calling by Oda Kaori (the KAORI half of FictionJunction KAORI)

L-R(back): (?),(?),Itou Miki,Furuya Tohru,Fujiwara Keiji,Sonobe Yoshinori(?),Kobayashi Yu, Obayashi Ryusuke,Yasui Eri,Nakata Kazuhiro/Miyamoto Mitsuru(?),(?),Densaka Tsutomu, Goto Saori
L-R(front):Morita Masakazu, Yoshino Hiroyuki, Onosaka Masaya, Aoki Sayaka, Kobayashi Sanae, Sakaguchi Daisuke.
I think I’m going blind trying to peer at such a small picture…..
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★★
-Massive cast, which means the series should be more than 13 episodes. Plenty of my faves are involved; Saito Chiwa, Inoue Marina, Itou Shizuka, Miyake Kenta, Yamaguchi Kappei etc
Radio Show?: Not likely.
Prospects: GOOD. I’m just wondering how they’ll fit so many characters in.

11th August
Dokuro-chan 2

I might backtrack on the I hate violence statement.
Music: I expect it should be Akizuki Kaoru again.
Opening Theme: Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan 2007 by Chiba Saeko (most likely, as she was talking about recording songs for Dokuro in her online diary)
Ending Theme: Bokusatsu Ondo de Dokuro-chan by Chiba Saeko (likely)

L-R: Chiba Saeko & Dokuro-chan.
Seiyuu Power Rating: ★★★★☆
-Same cast (Takagi Reiko, Kugimiya Rie, Kawasumi Ayako etc), though I’ve never liked the nasal high-pitched whine that Sae employs as Dokuro.
Radio Show?: Yes, hosted by Chiba Saeko at i-revo.
Prospects: AVERAGE. I’m not sure I can stand all that mindless brain & gut busting for a second time.

Posted on June 20th, 2007 under anime, seiyuu • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback