Fall 2011 Anime Preview

It's about three weeks to go until the the Fall 2011 anime season really gets going.  A couple shows have released either first episodes or pre-air versions of their first episodes, so now's a good time to post a quick introduction to the season.  What shows are you most interested in?

Title: Bakuman II
Studio: J.C. Staff
Episodes: 25
Air date: October 1, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
(Season 1 synopsis) Moritaka Mashiro, a junior high school student, content to live out a relatively normal life as any other does, is persuaded by his classmate, Akito Takagi, to become an aspiring mangaka when the latter realizes his natural talent as an artist. However, Moritaka is reluctant to pursue his dream as his uncle, once a mangaka with his own serializations, died from overwork trying to regain his lost status. With Akito's help, Takagi gets another classmate and his school crush, Azuki Miho, who is an aspiring voice actress, to voice in the anime adaptation of their future manga once it is completed. However, Mashiro also proposes to Azuki, who surprisingly accepts only on the condition she will marry him when both of them have achieved their dreams. With a goal set before him, Mashiro begins a long and struggling path to become a famous mangaka.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: I didn't watch season 1, not going to watch season 2.
Kill3st: sounds like it’s right up my alley. I’m actually going to find season 1 right now!!!


Title: Ben-To
Studio: David Production
Episodes:
Air date: October 9, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official 
The story revolves around a poor high school student named Satou You. Satou goes to the supermarket one day and discovers a bento (boxed meal) on sale at half price. Just as he reaches to grab it, he ends up on the floor unconscious. Satou has just entered the fierce, no-holds-barred supermarket survival battle for half-price bento.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Hey guys, I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper just to make the bento yourself, though if buying food was going to be that much fun, I might be inclined to eat out more often.  I'm not quite sold on the premise yet, so I'll give it a couple episodes to win me over.
Kill3st: I love when the writers take something completely ordinary (such as Bentos) and blow them waaaaaaaaay out of proportion. I’m looking for some good laughs in this show, if the preview clip is any indication!

Click to show PV's

Title: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
Studio: AIC Build
Episodes:
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
Air date: October 7, 2011
The story revolves around Kodaka Hasegawa, a half-Japanese/half-British transfer student whose delinquent-like blonde hair scares people, and a seemingly perpetually sullen girl named Yozora Mikazuki. The two decide to form Rinjinbu, a club for people with hardly any friends.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: I read a little bit of the manga, and so far, I'm not too impressed.  I'll watch an episode or two, but I don't expect much.
Kill3st: The promo hit me with flashbacks of several anime, good and bad. I felt the presence of Haruhi, the simplicity of A Channel, and many many more titles… the verdict on this show? Either colossal success, or epic flop… I’ll probably wait for a slow season in good anime to try this one out…

Click to show PV's

Title: Busou Shinki Moon Angel
Studio: Kinema Citrus/TNK
Episodes:
Air date: September 1, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
Original story based on Konami's Busou Shinki line of armed female action figures.  The story will follow the coming of age and shinki battles of Tsubasa, a boy who dreams of becoming a Shinki Master and his Shinki partner, Arnval Mk.II.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Looking at the PV, I'm having flashbacks to Angelic Layer, Infinite Stratos, and Cosmic Break.  It's also another entry in what seems to be an increasingly common genre of anime shorts (~5 minutes/episode) so it won't take much to keep up with.  I'm definitely going to be watching this.
Kill3st: as this will be a short show (like Morita-san) comprised of short episodes, I’ll probably watch it as long as it keeps me interested…

Click to show PV's

Title: C³ (Cube x Cursed x Curious)
Studio: Silver Link
Episodes:
Air date: October 1, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
A school battle action & love comedy with ecchi elements. Yachi Haruaki is a high school boy and naturally resistant to curses. His father, Honatsu, sends him cursed instruments called "Worse" to try to break this. One day, Haruaki receives a black cube from Honatsu. During the night, he encounters a naked silver haired girl stealing rice crackers. She is the human-form of the black cube, an instrument of torture called "Fear in Cube". Haruaki and the girl 'Fear' fight together against other 'Worse' instruments and their owners using Fear's 32 mechanisms of torture.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: The "girl in a box" thing is a tad overused, but hey, it gets a story going.  It seems like it'll be a fun show to watch, with a male lead who seems anything but useless, and a female lead (Yukarin!) who looks more like a Berserker class than anything.  I'm going to be watching this.
Kill3st: looked a little stereotypical, but different enough to warrant a doubletake. I’ll try it for a few eps, and then make my overall decision…

Click to show PV's

Title:  Chihayafuru
Studio: Madhouse
Episodes:
Air date: October 5, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official  
In the story, a schoolgirl named Chihaya Ayase once only dreamed about her sister making it big as a fashion model, until she decides to forge her own path in life. After seeing a quiet transfer student named Arata Wataya play the game, Chihaya enters the competitive world of karuta. The story begins when Arata joins Chihaya's sixth-grade class, but most of the story takes place during Chihaya's high school years.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Well, I guess it's good to have goals in life... but I'm not interested in this one.
Kill3st: Card/board game themed animes tend to be either very good or very boring.  I'll at least try a few episodes.

Click to show PV's

Title: Coppelion
Studio:
Episodes:
Air date: October 2011 (Maybe.  It's still listed as Fall 2011 on ANN, but the air date has been removed on other sources.  Given the dearth of information out there, I'm inclined to think that it's been postponed)
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
The story is set in 2036, after radioactive contamination from a nuclear accident has put Tokyo under a blockade. Three high school girls have been sent to this dead city. Thanks to genetic engineering, the three girls have been impervious to radioactivity since birth. They form a special forces unit, codenamed "Coppelion," in the 3rd Division of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: I read through some of the translated manga, and this one looks like it'll be a fun watch.  What makes it really interesting is the background of the "nuclear accident" (not a spoiler): a magnitude 8.0 earthquake that damaged a nuclear reactor in Tokyo and caused so much radiation to be released that Tokyo needed to be abandoned. I think I've heard this story in the news somewhere before...  Anyway, this is another show I'm definitely going to be watching.
Kill3st: this kind of sounds like the background story for skygirls (another anime I'm currently enjoying… Could be good, or they could slaughter it with waaaaaaay too indepth scifi info… I'll give it a whirl!

Title:  Fate/Zero
Studio: ufotable
Episodes: 25
Air date: October 2, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
This is a show that really shouldn't need much of an introduction.  Fate/Zero is the prequel to Fate/Stay Night, telling the story of the Fourth Holy Grail War.  If you saw F/SN, you're already familiar with the main points of this story.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: I watched Fate/Stay Night, I played through all three routes in the game, I'm watching this.  Of additional note is that the person behind F/Z, Urobuchi Gen, is also the person who did the story for Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica.
Kill3st: gonna watch it (after I finally finish Fate/Stay Night).

Click to show PV's

Title: Guilty Crown
Studio: Prodiction I.G.
Episodes: 22
Air date: October 14 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
After the outbreak of the unidentified virus "Lost Christmas" in 2029, Japan has been under the control of a multi-nation organization called GHQ. Ohma Shu is a 17 year old boy who has a psychic power in his right hand. He can use the power "Ability of King" to extract tools or weapons from his friends. He has been avoiding making trouble for others but his life changes when he meets a girl Yuzuriha Inori, a member of a resistance guerrilla group called "Undertaker", whose members pilot mecha weapons to fight against the government.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Mecha and psychic powers?  Sounds like a similar premise to Code Geass... only the male protagonist gets weapons from his allies instead of mind controlling everyone.
Kill3st: ehhhhhh not ANOTHER mecha anime, but it's by production IG, and they do good work (when they want to) so I'll give it a chance.

Click to show PV's

Title: Hunter x Hunter II
Studio: Madhouse
Episodes:
Air date: October 2, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
An alternate retelling of the original Hunter x Hunter series.  Gon Freecs is a boy living on a small island.  He learns that his father who he doesn't remember is an extremely famous man and an amazing hunter.  Gon takes the hunter exam to seek out his father, but he soon learns that the challenges he must face will be beyond his imagination.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: I wasn't too interested in the original, I'm probably not going to watch the remake.
Kill3st: prob not.

Title: Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon
Studio: Sunrise
Episodes:
Air date: October 2, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
 In the far future, humans abandon the devastated Earth and move to the upper world "Tenjo". But Tenjo and the law of causation collapse by a war and humans returns to the Earth, which has turns into an inhabitable planet except for Shinshu area. Shinshu is too small to accommodate all the humans, so they duplicate the area and create "Juso Sekai" in a parallel world. In order to rebuild Tenjo and the law of causation, the returned humans start reproduction of the history from B.C. 10,000. When the reproduction proceeds to A.D. 1413, a war breaks out in Shinshu and Juso Sekai falls onto the original world. The humans living in Juso Sekai lose their land and invade the original world. People in Shinshu surrender and the land is divided by the invaders from Juso Sekai. They try to resume the history reproduction from A.D.1457, but the update of the history terminates in A.D.1648. A rumor of apocalypse begins to spread the world.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Based on what I've seen so far, this seems like it shares a number of concepts with the 2009 anime Chrome-Shelled Regios.  A ruined world, and battles between groups ruling the habitable areas.  I'll be watching this.
Kill3st: I'll give it a shot for a few eps, at least

Click to show PV's

Title: Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam
Studio: Gonzo
Episodes:
Air date: October 8, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
 Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing is a new original tale in the Last Exile universe. It features new characters, new mechanics and an all new story centered around the young ace vanship pilot, Fam, and her trusted navigator, Giselle, as they pilot their vanship, Vespa, through the free and peaceful skies.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Granted I never got around to finishing the first Last Exile, but from what I remember of that and what I'm seeing of the PV for this one, "free and peaceful skies" is the last phrase I'd use to describe it.  I'll watch a couple episodes to see if it's something I'd really be interested in.
Kill3st: I enjoyed the first one, so a yes on this!

Click to show PV's

Title: Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!!
Studio: LARC
Episodes:
Air date: October 2, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
 Kawakami City is famous for its strong dedication to its samurai ancestors. A healthy fighting spirit is always valued and it's even an important factor for success at school. Yamato, a second year student from Kawakami Highchool is always with his close friends (4 boys and 3 girls). They have all known each other since they were young and have done many things together. While they have many other friends, this group of seven is a close-knit, inseparable group. They even have a secret base where they meet. With the new semester, they welcome two girls into their group and shortly after things begin to change...
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Dedication to samurai ancestors... which is why there's a fencer as one of the protagonists?  Assuming that there's going to be lots of fighting in it, I'm going to be watching.
Kill3st: I liked the PV, seems like it has potential, I’ll prob watch this all the way through unless I get really bored with it.

Click to show PV's

Title: Maken-Ki!
Studio: AIC
Episodes:
Air date: October 5, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
Takeru Ohyama, a young normal yet perverted minded guy, got accepted and now goes to a school that, unknown to him, was where combat and magic is used. On the first day, he meets again after three years: Haruko Amaya, his childhood friend, Inaho Kushiya, a girl who says she's his fiance, and Kodama Himegami, a blonde who wants to kill him. Finding out that there are many girls there that just don't like him, he is told that everyone there uses a special magic ability while using an item or weapon called a Maken. Later, he finds that no Maken is acceptable for him and doesn't know what to do, since in this school the students get into duels that showcase their magic and combat power, to which he seemingly has none.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: I've been reading the manga for quite a while, and it's a pretty good series.  Unfortunately, I get the distinct feeling that at least some portion of story will be dropped in favor of excessive fanservice.  I'll probably still be watching it, though.
Kill3st: another harem anime? Could be good. The PV has nothing but ecchi shots of the girls, so I hope they aren’t relying on fanservice to keep people interested…

Click to show PV's

Title: Mashiroiro Symphony
Studio: Manglobe
Episodes:
Air Date: October, 5, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, Official 
One day, Shingo's school combines with a girls' school. As a specially selected student, Shingo temporarily joins the girls' school until they officially consolidate. He meets various unique girls there, but they all dislike male students. To improve their relationship, Shingo works hard, and...
Initial Impressions:
Shiden: Slice of life high school harem series are a dime a dozen, and whether you end up liking them or not depends a lot on whether you like the archetypes that they use.  I'll watch a little, and see if it catches my attention.
Kill3st: PV was REEEEAAAAALy booooring… I’ll at least watch the 1st ep.

Click to show PV's

Title: Mirai Nikki
Studio: Asread
Episodes: 26
Air date: October 9, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
Middle school 2nd year, Amano Yukiteru, is a boy who has problem making friends. He thinks of himself as a bystander and will always write down everything he sees in a cell phone diary. Tormented by solitude, Yukiteru began to imagine things like a friend called Deus Ex Machina who is apparently the Lord of Time & Space. Seeing Yukiteru's miserable state, Deus gives him a new ability. His diary will now record events that will happen in the near future. Yukiteru is then forced to participate in a game which the winner will become Deus's successor
Initial impressions:
Shiden: The manga is over and done with, so there aren't any excuses for anything other than a good to perfect delivery.  The manga was good, if a bit of a psychological trip, and I'll definitely be watching this.
Kill3st: the description and PV show that this anime could be one of my favorites of the season, if they don’t ruin it…

Click to show PV's

Title: Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
Studio: Sunrise
Episodes:
Air date: October 9, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
It has been a few hundred years since humans began to live on space colonies. In A.G. 101, an unknown enemy (UE) "GAFRAN" suddenly attacks one of the colonies "Angel". A long war against UE has begun. In A.G 108, seven year old Flit Asuno lost his mother when UE attacked his colony "Ovan". His mother left him a memory unit "AGE" which had stored data of an ancient mobile suit Gundam. In A.G. 114, Flit completes the Gundam AGE and counterattacks against GAFRANs.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Surprisingly, this is a Gundam show that I'm not immediately dedicating myself to following.  It's another AU series (i.e. not part of any existing continuity), but unlike any of the others, it takes place over a 100 year period, following three generations of Gundam pilots.  From all appearances, they'll be using the Gundam AGE for the full hundred years, which makes no sense at all, unless it gets some crazy upgrades over that time.  Heck, even if it did get upgrades, could you imagine trying to upgrade a WWI (1920s) plane to be able to operate on the level of a modern F-22 or F-35 (or, since the former is grounded, and the latter isn't quite out yet, the slightly less modern F/A-18)?  I'll give it a couple episodes, but I expect to be disappointed.
Kill3st: NOOOOOOOO Not MORE MECHAS!!!

Click to show PV's

Title: Persona 4
Studio: AIC A.S.T.A.
Episodes:
Air date: October 7, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
Persona 4 takes place in the same universe as Persona 3 in a rural town named Inaba. There have been mysterious murders occurring whenever there was fog after heavy rain. There were also rumors about a channel on television airing only at midnight called Mayonaka TV, during which it is said that one can see his/her "other half" when staring at the TV screen. After hearing about a recent unsolved murder which occurred during the fog, the characters?the main character, Chie, and Y?suke?discuss how each of them had attempted to watch the mysterious TV channel and witnessed the murder victim. The protagonist later realizes that during midnight when the channel is on, his body can phase into his television set as a gateway to enter another world infested with shadows. After discovering this, they all decide to explore. When first completely entering the world, dazed and confused, the main character meets Teddie. Mayonaka TV and the town murders seem to have a connection. The murder victims may be merely victims of Mayonaka TV. Everyone decides that they will together try to solve the mysterious murders by exploring the hidden world of Mayonaka TV.
Inital impressions:
Shiden:  I'm aware, in a general sense, of the premise and storyline of the Persona/Shin Megami Tensei series, but I'm a little worried that the anime would assume that it's dealing with the fans, and not the wider anime viewing audience.  I'll watch a little, but if I start getting too lost, I'll probably drop it.
Kill3st: This is another mindtrip, and it could be good. I’ll give it a whirl…

Click to show PV's

Title: Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi 2
Studio: Studio Deen
Episodes:
Air date: October 8, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
(Season 1 synopsis) Onodera Ritsu has just transferred from his father's publishing company to Marukawa Shoten. Assigned to the shoujo manga division, he crosses path with the person he'd least expected to meet. Takano Masamune is the editor-in-chief of the division Ritsu's been assigned to, and the two seem get off on the wrong foot right from the very start when Takano unexpectedly kisses him. However, there is more to than what meets the eye: Takano is actually Saga, Ritsu's senpai and high school love, whom Ritsu had thought to have played him for a fool by taking his affections for granted when he confessed and summarily dumped him.
Inital impressions:
Shiden: Not watching it.
Kill3st: I like school life and harem comedy anime, generally, so I’ll prob watch the whole thing!

Title: Shakugan no Shana III (Final)
Studio: J.C. Staff
Episodes: 24
Air date: October 8, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
(Light novel synopsis) Sakai Yuuji, a high school student who expected his normal life to last forever, is dead. When he was on his way home he witnessed a shocking view as the world suddenly froze: people were engulfed by blue flames and a monster resembling a large doll swallowed them. Just as the monster prepared to consume Yuuji, a sword-wielding girl in black attire with flaming red eyes and hair that burns like embers saved him from the monster. The girl called herself a "Flame Haze" who hunts the "Guze no Tomogara", creatures from another world. As Yuuji noticed a blue flame in his chest, she called him a "Torch", a temporary replacement, saying that the "real" Yuuji's existence had already ended. Unfazed, Yuuji befriended the strange girl, named her "Shana", and joined her fight against Tomogara and other Flame Hazes.
Inital impressions:
Shiden: This will be my #1 priority this (and next) season.  I've been waiting for the conclusion of Shakugan no Shana for a long, long time.  I don't trust myself not to spoil anything else, so all I'm going to say is that I expect this to be awesome.
Kill3st: It’s been a loooooong time since I’ve seen Shana 1 & 2, so I’ll have to catch up on those before watching 3.

Click to show PV's

Title: Shinrakyu!? Ika Musume
Studio: Diomedea
Episodes
Air date: September 27, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
(Season 1 synopsis)
Pollution of the world's oceans forces Ika Musume, a squid girl, to leave the now unpleasant sea to exact revenge on humanity for throwing trash into the sea. Clueless about the surface, she seeks to invade humanity alone, trying to rule over the world, only to find herself slaving away at one of the nearest beach houses for breaking a side of its wall.
Initial impressions:
Shiden: Season 1 wasn't bad for a 4koma anime...I'll probably watch this one too.
Kill3st: kinda got stuck in the middle of season 1, I might try to finish it, but this show will be on the back burner…

Title: Working!! 2
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Episodes:
Air date: Sep 3, 2011 (Pre-air webcast of episode 1), October 1, 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
(Season 1 synopsis)  Set in a family restaurant in Hokkaido, the northern prefecture of Japan, 16 year old high school student Takanashi Souta works part-time along with his strange co-workers: Taneshima Popura, a high school girl who's a year older than Souta who's easily mistaken for a elementary/middle schooler, and Shirafuji Kyoko the 28-year old store manager who doesn't bother to do any work at all.
Inital impressions:
Shiden: I enjoyed the first season of Working!, so I'll watch the second.  Simple as that.
PV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweDrEoeLSY

Title: Zero no Tsukaima Kessakusen
Studio: J.C. Staff
Episodes:
Air date:  October 2011
Links: ANN, MAL, AniDB, official
(Season 1 synopsis) Louise is a magician at the Tristein Academy, dubbed with the nickname "Zero Louise" due to her inability to effectively use her magic properly, resulting in zero successes. An upcoming test at her academy requires her to summon a familiar, a servant and partner to support her as a magician. Despite desiring a familiar that would be superior to her constantly mocking classmates, Louise ends up summoning Hiraga Saito, your average Japanese boy. Even with Louise and Saito both unwilling to accept each other, they have no choice. Louise cannot attempt another summoning and Saito cannot return to Japan, and so their life together begins. Based on the novel by Noboru Yamaguchi.
Note: This isn't a real fourth season, instead they're showing selected episodes from seasons 1-3, with a fourth season coming sometime in the future.
Inital impressions:
Shiden: Like hell I'll watch this.  I saw the first three seasons already, so J.C. Staff... hurry up with season 4.