Monday, May 30, 2011

Your Guide to the Summer 2011 Anime Season!


Summer is just around the corner, believe it or not! Watermelon smashing, school swimsuits, and part-time jobs at the seaside restaurant! Well, perhaps we've already seen this in all of the harem comedies from Winter and Spring, but now the temperature actually reflects the scene!

It also means that, when July comes around the corner, a fraction of the shows we've been enjoying are replaced by temporary fixes until Autumn. Here's a listing of the new shows you'll come across for Summer 2011. Enjoy the hot weather and go visit The Cart Driver for more information on the shows!





June 13
Appleseed XIII
(Action, Science Fiction — 24 eps.)
It's taken over 25 years, but the Masamune Shirow manga from the late 80's finally gets its own television series, thanks to a collaborative effort between Jinni's Animation Studios and Production I.G. Perhaps the story of Deunan Knute and her cyborg lover Briareos might actually have a conclusion.

July 1
BLADE
(Action — 12 eps.)
The final show in the Marvel/Madhouse collaboration to bring American comics to anime steps away from the X-Men universe to bring the story of the super-bad vampire slayer. Wesley Snipes is most likely a no-show here.

July 4
Natsume's Book of Friends III (Natsume Yûjinchô San)
(Drama — 13 eps.)
The popular story about Takashi Natsume and his attempts to free the spirits bound to his lineage enters a third season. Director Takahiro Omori (Baccano!, Gakuen Alice) and Brain's Base reunite to produce the show.

Yuruyuri
(Love comedy? — ?? eps.)
Animated by Dôgakôbô and directed by Masahiko Ôta (Mitsudomoe), Yuruyuri centers on the lives of four middle-school girls and their attempts to create an "Amusements Club".

July 5
Kamisama Dolls
(Action, Drama — ?? eps.)
On a night where Kyôhei thinks he stands a chance with his college friend Hibino at a mixer, he ends up witnessing a murder and understanding from his little sister Utao that robotic "dolls" are the culprits behind the murders. Animated by Brain's Base and directed by Seiji Kishi (My Bride is a Mermaid).

Morita-san Doesn't Speak (Morita-san wa Mukuchi)
(Slice-of-life Comedy — ?? eps.)
Based on the four-panel comics written by Tae Sano. It's not that the main character, Mayu Morita, doesn't speak at all; she's just too kind and considerate to speak up.

July 7
Usagi Drop (Bunny Drop)
(Comedy-drama — 11 eps.)
Based on the popular manga series by Yumi Unita, the first noitaminA title of the season stars a bachelor and the young child he has adopted after discovering that she was the illegitimate child of his deceased grandfather. Directed by Kanta Kamei (Tales of Vesperia) and animated by Production I.G.

No. 6
(Action, Science Fiction — 11 eps.)
Based on the novels and manga written by Atsuko Asano. The second noitaminA series revolves around the sixth district of a city in the near-future and the day that an upper-class boy meets with an escapee from the restricted part of the city...

THE iDOLM@STER
(Comedy, Musical — ?? eps.)
Based on the popular Namco video games and animated by A-1 Pictures, this anime follows the lives of thirteen pop-idol princesses as they try to hit it big on the music scene.

Blood-C
(Adventure, Horror — ?? eps.)
The Blood franchise gets an unexpected revamp as Production I.G. and Aniplex collaborate with the legendary manga writers CLAMP and Blood+ director Junichi Fujisaku to produce an original story.

Mayo Chiki!
(Comedy — ?? eps.)
Subaru Konoe is employed by the Suzutsuki family as a butler for their daughter Kanade. However, when second-year student Kinjirô discovers that Subaru is actually female, both now must work to keep that secret hidden, or else Subaru will lose her job!

July 9
R-15
(Comedy — ?? eps.)
In a school of geniuses, how is Taketo Akutagawa expected to keep up? By demonstrating his own genius at writing erotica and porno novels! AIC helms the animation, while direction is led by Munenori Nawa (kissxsis, Fortune Arterial).

July 15
Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian (Dantalian no Shoka)
(Fantasy — ?? eps.)
Based on the light-novel series by Gakuto Mikumo and animated by Studio Gainax, Dantalian no Shoka covers the story of a young male who inherits a mansion from his grandfather, only to discover the "reading princess" Dalian in the basement, who protects a gateway to books of demonic wisdom.

July (date unannounced)
Ro-Kyu-Bu!
(Comedy — ?? eps.)
First-year high-school student Subaru loves basketball and tries out for the male team, only to leave on uncertain terms when she gets into trouble with the captain. The alternative? Subaru becomes the coach of a nearby elementary school's girls' basketball team. Directed by Keizô Kusakawa (Asura Cryin', Dog Days).

Kamisama no Memo-chô (God's Memopad)
(Mystery — ?? eps.)
Based on the light novel series by Hikari Sugii and directed by Katsushi Sakurabi (Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru). Narumi, an introverted teenager, meets up with a squad of detectives helmed by the quiet Alice, only to find that the detectives are all NEET.

Mawaru Penguin Drum
(?? — 24 eps.)
No idea what this one is about, but it has Kunihiko Ikuhara (Utena) directing the original anime and Brain's Base animating it.

Sacred Seven
(Action — ?? eps.)
Sunrise busts out a new high-school mecha-battle anime with Yoshimitsu Ôhashi directing his first show since 2006's Witchblade.

Baka to Test to Shôkanjû Ni! (Idiots, Tests, and Summoned Beasts 2!)
(Comedy — 13 eps.)
The class misfits from Class 2F of Fumizuki Academy are back to prove that they can still compete with the rest of the school and all of their summoned avatars!

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
(Drama — ?? eps.)
When a Japanese girl is brought over to late-19th-century France under the guard of a French ironworker, both are given a crash course in understanding the other's culture. Based on the popular light novels written by Hinata Takeda, the illustrator for the GOSICK series.

Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi
(Fantasy — ?? eps.)
Based on the light novel from Takaya Kagami (The Legend of the Legendary Heroes) and directed by Takashi Yamamoto (Jewelpet Twinkle). After forgetting his run-in with a pretty vampire in the past, Taito's reunion with Saitohimea leads to a mystical battle between the high-school's student council and other "Tenma" beings.

Nekogami Yaoyorozu
(Comedy — ?? eps.)
Directed by Hiroaki Sakurai (Maid-Sama!) and animated by AIC+. Yuzu is in charge of an antiques shop, but the live-in cat-god Mayu is a handful by herself. Let's see what happens when her other god-friends come by!

Manyuu Hikenchô
(Comedy, Action — ?? eps.)
It's the dawn of the Edo era in Japan, but female warriors are judged more by the size of their breasts than the skill of their swords. The bigger the chest, the better the reward, so the Manyuu clan goes all out to defend a secret scroll that guarantees their bosoms! Directed by (who else?) Hiraku Kaneko (Seikon no Qwaser).

Nura: Rise of the Yôkai Clan II (Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyô)
(Action — 26? eps.)
The supernatural Shônen Jump thriller is back for a second season, as Rikuo Nura continues to figure out how to lead a normal life while serving as the head of a house of yôkai monsters.

Kaitô Tenshi Twin Angel: Kyun Kyun Tokimeki Paradise!
(Magical girl? Pachislot — ?? eps.)
Based on the pachislot game produced by Sammy and directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki (Hayate the Combat Butler, Ôkami-san). High-school students Haruka and Aoi masquerade as magical girls after dark, punishing villains as Red and Blue Angel!

Uta no Prince-sama ~ Maji Love 1000% (The Prince of Songs ~ Serious Love 1000%)
(Romance — ?? eps.)
Based on the popular PSP love-adventure game and directed by Yû Kô (GIANT KILLING). Haruka as entered a school for songwriting and musical idol development, only to be paired(?) with three bishônen males who are aiming for the top! Of course, dating your partners is totally off-limits...

Other Summer 2011 Releases

TV Specials
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes Special!

OAD (Manga volume included)
Air Gear (Vol. 32)
Fairy Tail: Yôsei Gakuen (Vol. 27)kiss x sis (Vol. 8)
Kore wa Zombie desu ka? (Vol. 8)

OAV
Baby Princess 3D Paradise
Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail
Carnival Phantasm
Hakuôki Hekketsuroku
Hellsing Ultimate
Katte ni Kaizô
Kuttsukiboshi
Saiyuki Gaiden
Valkyria Chronicles 3
VitaminX Addiction
When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira)
Yurumates


Predictions? Interests? Doubts? Guarantees that Manyuu Hikenchô will be picked up by Crunchyroll?

1 comment:

  1. n.06 is a must watch for me.. seems real interesting
    for those who wants to see the trailer and details of these shows go here http://www.squidoo.com/anime-season-summer-2011

    ReplyDelete