SUMMER ANIME 2014 PREVIEW

This is hands down the largest Summer Season I have seen in the past four years. With 40+ new shows (usually the summer average is in the thirties) boy, do we have a jammed packed summer for us! So many great titles, and of course – the one millions have been waiting for: Sailor Moon Crystal. After countless delays, SAILOR MOON IS FINALLY COMING OUT THIS SUMMER! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Okay without any further ado, lets get started!

Sources
CR, ANN, MAL, AniChart

Number of Titles: 40+

::Excluded Titles::
Pretty Rhythm Puri-Para, Ai Mai Mi: Mousou Catastrophe, Yami Shibai 2, Strange+ Season 2

Last Updated June 12th 2014

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Sailor Moon Crystal
Animation Company: Toei Animation

Website: http://sailormoon-official.com | http://sailormoon-official.com/animation/en (English Site)
Genres: Demons, Magic, Romance, Shoujo

Airing Date:
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: New Sailor Moon anime commemorating the 20th anniversary of Sailor Moon.

Usagi Tsukino is a second-year middle school girl who is a little clumsy and a crybaby, but she is full of energy. One day, she meets Luna, a black cat with a crescent moon on her forehead, and she transforms into Sailor Moon, a sailor-uniformed pretty guardian of love and justice! As a chosen guardian of justice, Usagi seems to have a mission to find the Illusionary Silver Crystal with the other guardians and to protect the princess. 
Meanwhile, the queen of the Dark Kingdom, Queen Beryl, also sends minions to the town where Usagi lives to obtain the Illusionary Silver Crystal, which has immense power. This causes strange events to unfold…. 

Can Sailor Moon really find the Illusionary Silver Crystal with the other Sailor guardians, and protect the princess…!? 

Team Impression

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Eva: KASJHDLKAJSHDSJHDHLAKJSFHLKAJSHDLKJASHDJKASHDLKJASHDKJLASHDKLASJHDKLAJSHDLKJASADHS!!!!!
IT IS COMING OUT THIS SUMMER, FOR REAL THIS TIME. NO MORE DELAYS, IT IS FINALLY HERE. *FANGIRLING ENSUES + GROSS SOBBING* EVERTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURTS, I GOT ALL EMOTIONAL WHEN I SAW THE PV, AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vantage: At last! I have to confess that I’ve never seen the original Sailor Moon, so now would be a great time to hop on the bandwagon. I’m expecting good things!
Chris: I never actually got to watch Sailor Moon as a child (probably because I never even knew it existed until I really got into anime), and so I’m eager to see how this remake portrays a story that so many have loved. From an objective viewpoint, this isn’t something I’d normally watch, magical girl shows more often than not becoming to convoluted for my liking, but I did watch (and enjoy) Puella Magi Madoka Magica when it aired due to all the praise heaped upon it, so I’m hoping for a similar experience (enjoyment wise) here…unless it’s delayed (again, again, again…)
Oki: THIS IS SO MINE. NONE OF YOU WILL EVER HAVE IT. i have waited SO FUCKING LONG FOR THIS. THIS IS MY BABY. THIS PV MADE ME CRY. THIS SHOW MAKES ME CRY. EVERY SCREENSHOT MAKES ME CRY. This show made me who I am. I would never, ever be who I am without it. And I’m just so. . . . hngnghghghghghg. I WILL BE WATCHING ASAP AND THEN A FEW MORE TIMES. This has been the saving grace of my life. When I was a kid this show aired through some of the hardest times in my life. Babysitters who let their children bully me, hating my life, trying not to cry everyday. . .this show means THE WORLD to me. And I’m going to share it all with you!
MidnightDevont: I know that Oki has already shotgunned this but will I be watching it? Without a doubt!!!! Sailor Moon was the anime that got me into anime when I was a kid. I’ll be watching this show like a hawk.
Charl Meister: I’ll watch this just for the nostalgia ;_; I loved this growing up and Sailor Moon is flawless through and through! “FIGHTING EVIL BY MOONLIGHT~!” *cough* Bring back my favorite OP.
CarmenTheNinja: AHHHH! MY ANIMU LYFE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE! Much like Oki, the PV of this show brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes. I’ve been telling everyone I know about it since it was announced and I’ll definitely be watching it religiously.

::Possible Blogger::
!!!!Oki!!!!

 

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Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 49
Animation Company: Zexcs
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/shonen-hollywood-anime/
Genres: Slice of Life
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The anime will tell an original story set 15 years after the novel’s story.
It takes place at a fictional theater called Hollywood Tokyo in Harajuku, where members of the idol group “Shonen Hollywood” develop their talents with diligent work and studying.

Team Impression

Eva: Hm… I will check it out for the sake of curiosity, but that will be it. Who knows, maybe I will like it?
Vantage: Nope, not for me.
Chris: I looked at the promo poster, saw what could easily constitute a J-Pop boy group, and backed away slowly, then breaking into a run.
Oki: Why do I feel like this animes entire plot would be like watching boys to men combined with the country bears? I’m not really interested in watching this, if I was I’d just watch the Disney Channel.
MidnightDevont: Well it’s uh…got cute guys in it? Yeah, nothing about this show appeals to me.
Charl Meister: …this isn’t particularly interesting, so this is on my No list.
Carmentheninja: This had the most uneventful PV I’ve ever seen. Don’t plan on watching. NOPE.
 

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Aldnoah.Zero
Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://www.aldnoahzero.com/
Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fic
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: “Let justice be done. Though the heavens fall.”

Team Impression

Eva: Although the character designs do look a bit bland, I AM TOTALLY PSYCHED TO SEE UROBUCHI HAS IN MIND FOR THIS ONE! 8D Although it is very unlikely that I will be covering this due to having four shows carrying over into the summer, I will put my name down- just in case. (This will also apply for the rest of the shows below)
Vantage: This is the Urobutcher one, right? Looks like it’s going to be a heavyweight for sure, especially with names like Sawano Hiroyuki and Aoki Ei alongside Urobuchi. I’m not interested in blogging it, but I’m definitely feeling the hype. Really really hoping this turns out to be epic.
Chris: Yum. Fiat justitia ruat caelum, or,  “Let justice be done though the heavens fall” – a derivative of deontological ethics (ethics based on adherence to the rules), drawing upon the idea of justice above consequences. With a tagline that holds so much philosophical promise, how can I not be excited? – especially since Urobuchi is a main driving force behind this show’s plot.
Oki: THIS LOOKS TERRIBLE BUT IT’S UROBUCHI???? I HAVE TO TRY IT NOW BECAUSE HE WROTE 4 OUT OF 5 OF MY FAVORITE ANIME SHOWS UHM OK???
MidnightDevont: Oh look a Mecha series, my answer to this will always be the same. Nope, Nope, Nope…..Wait…..Unobuchi….this could totally deconstruct the Mecha genre the way that Evangelion did. Okay, you have my attention. Maybe I’ll give it a look.
Charl Meister: Another addition to the “No” list.
CarmenTheNinja: I hate Mecha animes but the epic soundtrack and how everyone looks completely unbothered has me interested. I’ll check it out, but I probably won’t really watch it.

::Possible Blogger::
Eva, Chris, Oki

 

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Sword Art Online II
Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://www.swordart-online.net/
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance, Shounen
Airing Date: July 5th 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: 1 year after the SAO incident, Kirito is approached by Seijiro Kikuoka from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Department “VR Division” with a rather peculiar request.

That was an investigation on the “Death Gun” incident that occurred in the gun and steel filled VRMMO called Gun Gale Online (GGO). “Players who are shot by a mysterious avatar with a jet black gun lose their lives even in the real world…” Failing to turn down Kikuoka’s bizarre request, Kirito logs in to GGO even though he is not completely convinced that the virtual world could physically affect the real world.

Kirito wanders in an unfamiliar world in order to gain any clues about the “Death Gun.” Then, a female sniper named Sinon who owns a gigantic “Hecate II” rifle extends Kirito a helping hand. With Sinon’s help, Kirito decides to enter the “Bullet of Bullets,” a large tournament to choose the most powerful gunner within the realm of GGO, in hopes to become the target of the “Death Gun” and make direct contact with the mysterious avatar.

Team Impression

Eva: YEAHHHHH! Okay so I absolutely despised the ALO Arc, I am absolutely looking forward to this one. I have heard good things about this from Vantage, so I am excited to see what is in store for us (other than Genderbendered Kirito! 8D)
Vantage: Sinon, fuck yeah! As I mentioned in my review of SAO’s “Extra Edition” side-story, GGO will have a very different atmosphere to what we’ve seen so far – it’ll be interesting to see how A-1 handles the change of pace and locale, and whether this adaptation will fall foul to the sequel “curse” many shows end up suffering. Also, this summer will be a bloodbath – both Mahouka and SAO at the same time. The battle for the ultimate Gary Stu begins now!
Chris: …Why is he going back into VRMMO’s again? You’d think he’d been traumatized enough for one lifetime… Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the first season of Sword Art Online, but I can’t help but wonder if the series has evolved or if we’re going to be stuck with what seems like Kirito dumped into a different setting with more girls to fawn over him as he fails to break a sweat whilst in the face of what would be for anyone else inevitable doom… Basically, I can’t wait to see Kirito defy gaming logic once more.
MidnightDevont: I really did like Sword Art Online better when it was called .Hack…..so um, no thank you. It was never my kind of show and I don’t think this season will change my opinion.
Oki:  Okay but my boyfriend is playing .Hack right now and I can only handle so much LOG THE FUCK OFF before I go back to League of Legends sooo??
Charl Meister: I have to agree with Midnight on this one but probably this might be better? SAO really did shatter my expectations but maybe this might actually be a good second season? I’m just trying to find a reason to give it a chance.
CarmenTheNinja: I’ve been waiting on this for a LONG time and then I saw genderbent Kirito and I went, “G’wat?” I loved the first anime up until the weird, fake family, lovey dovey, crap started – I really hope they get back to the action and stay focused on being adventure based this time around.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage

 

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Bakumatsu Rock 
Animation Company: Studio DEEN
Website: http://bakumatsu.maql.co.jp/anime/
Genres: Music
Airing Date: July 2, 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story is set in the Bakumatsu era, at the end of the shoguns’ rule over Japan in the middle of the 19th century. The Tokugawa shogunate uses the brainwashing Heaven’s Songs by the top idols in Shinsengumi to subjugate the country and its people. In this Japan, writing or singing any songs besides the Heaven’s Songs is a capital offense. Sakamoto Ryouma and the other rockers rise up and change the world with rock ‘n’ roll for freedom and justice.
Team Impression

Eva: *STARES* OMFG, FOR ONCE IT’S NOT TAKING PLACE IN THE EDO ERA!!!! But in all seriousness, this sounds ridiculous.
And regardless of saying that I will probably be taking a peek as per usual.
Vantage: Japan seems to have this strange obsession with producing series about its pre-modern history. I’m not too interested – the historical genre alone would have already made me iffy about this… historical music seals the deal.
Chris: I’m with Vantage on this one – what’s up with Japan’s obsession with meshing Japan-past and Japan-present into one big clusterf*ck of weird… Also, “rock ‘n’ roll for freedom and justice“…Bob Dillon would be proud…
Oki: This looks like a Disney movie but with really hilarious character designs? Is it bad that I’m not opposed to this anime but it’s so painfully lol worthy I would just spend the entire review going ‘wow they sure used cotton candy for his hair huh’?
MidnightDevont: Huh…this sounds absolutely like nothing I would enjoy in the least. I’ll pass this one by thank you very much.
Charl Meister: I like the sound of the premise. I’ll check this out.
Carmentheninja: I can’t really do music series if there isn’t a little moe seasoning on it. I’ll pass.
 

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Jinsei
Animation Company: FEEL
Website: http://www.vap.co.jp/jinsei/
Genres: Slice of life
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story centers around Yūki Akamatsu, a boy who joins the staff of his school’s second newspaper. The editor-in-chief Ayaka Nikaidō immediately assigns him to the life (jinsei) advice column. Three girls — the science representative Rino Endō, the liberal arts representative Fumi Kujō, and the physical education representative Ikumi Suzuki — answer requests from students about whatever is troubling them.
Team Impression

Eva: This sounds too flat for me, but unless the protagonist has a strong personality, I can’t and won’t expect much of this.
Vantage: “Life”? Really? Well, at least they’re being frank about it. Episodes will quite literally be a slice of “life”! I’ll probably try an episode or two, but I won’t be getting my hopes up.
Chris: …they really are running out of ideas. That said, if done well, this could be somewhat interesting – like a teenage detective series… Then again, it’s labelled slice of life, so…
Oki: What was that? A newspaper slice of life? What was that? I’d rather die in a fire? Well, that sounds about like a no to me. Like. . . . just. . . reading this. . . the only way I’d follow this is if one of them turns out to be an alien who must kidnap the literary masters of english in order to decipher an ancient prophecy built from when earth was once a civilization of technology and they were eventually wiped out only to rebuild and now the masters of english are needed because language is based on kinetic factors of the world and each member from each society must be recruited in order to solve the universes most interesting problems. Wait even that was more interesting than the bull shit this is gonna be. Noooo thanks.
MidnightDevont: -yawn- I can’t…even express…how much I wanted to fall asleep during even reading the summary of this. I’m gonna stick with a nope.
Charl Meister: And this needs a series? Really?
CarmenTheNinja: Life, The Slice of Life about high school newspaper editors answering questions about LIFE. K. Nope.
 

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Tokyo ESP
Animation Company: Xebec
Website: http://www.tokyo-esp.org/
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Seinen
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The science fantasy story Tokyo ESP begins with Rinka, an extremely poor high school girl who lives with just her father in modern Tokyo. One day, she is going home from school when she chases a “flying penguin” to the top of New Tokyo Tower — only to have “fish swimming in the air” suddenly appear before her. One of the fish goes through Rinka and gives her extraordinary powers beyond those of normal humans, particularly the ability to slip through solid objects.
Team Impression

Eva: I have a feeling this show will be a fun one, so count me in!

Vantage: This does seem really wacky and unpredictable – almost reminds me of something like Penguindrum. I’ll try it out if people say it’s good.
Chris: This looks absolutely insane. It takes the “poor high school girl” unlikely hero and throws her into a world of ESP alongside a slew of odd characters and a sexy art design… It’s basically Haruhi Suzumiya on drugs… Hell yeah, I’m in!
Oki: This looks kind of good from the art but I’m going to be honest: I don’t care and if I ever do it will be because someone here tells me it’s actually good (cause it probably won’t be otherwise).
MidnightDevont: I sort of feel like I’m on an acid trip from reading the summery. Flying Penguins? Fish? Is this the spirit world or is it like all that stuff from the dream machine in Paprika? I think I’m with Oki on this one. I’ll watch it if i hear rumors that it’s really good, otherwise you can count me out.
Charl Meister: Huh. I’d like to slip through solid objects; does that include invisibility too? I could do so much spying. If I do watch it, I’d probably lose interest after the fifth episode. I just feel that way.
CarmenTheNinja: This sounds really awesome but I’m so distracted by that poster; it feels like waaaay too much is going on. I’m curious though, so I’ll check it out.

::Possible Blogger::
Eva, Chris,

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Himegoto
Animation Company: Asahi Production
Website: http://www.himegoto-tv.jp/
Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Genderbender, Slice of life
Airing Date: July 7, 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Himegoto follows Hime Arikawa, a second-year student at Shimoshina High School. Forced to assume a large amount of debt from by his now-absent parents, Hime is saved by the three girls of his school’s student council after he is chased down by debt collectors. In return for paying off his debt, Hime agrees to their conditions of becoming the student council’s “dog” and spending his high school life dressed as a girl.
Note: Short (3 – 5 minutes long)

Team Impression

Eva: Pass.
Vantage: This has a surprisingly detailed synopsis for a mere 5min short.
Chris: I… What kind of f*cked up student council forces a boy to become their “dog” and dress up as a girl… That’s bullying, right? Extortion? An illegal abuse of their position of power?
Oki: Are you fucking kidding me this is the worst most cliche sounding piece of garbage done in every doujin and also shoujo and everything pretty much ever, I’m surprised they had the gall to suggest this bullshit was actually good enough on it’s own. I am crying from my eye sockets.
MidnightDevont: I can’t! I just can’t! The inability to complete sentences is all that comes from this. This is causing me pain to look at! No, just no. I love cross dressing men as much as the next girl but this just sounds so very painful. I’ll pass. So much passing.
Charl Meister: This sounds like a reverse of Ouran High School Host Club…without the Host Club. I’ll watch this and see how it turns out.
CarmenTheNinja: I’m gonna watch this because ecchi. Whoops.

::Possible Blogger::
Charl Meister

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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?
Animation Company: Silver Link
Website: http://corona106.tv/
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Supernatural
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Now that he enters his high school career, Satomi Koutaro begins his life living alone in an apartment that only costs him 5000 yen per month, an extremely cheap deal even for this small apartment. There’s a catch: the apartment is apparently haunted by a cute ghost that has driven its prior occupants away. Next thing he knows, not only is there a ghost trying to drive him out of his new home, but magical girls and other unique female characters turn this small apartment into a battleground of sorts.
Team Impression

Eva: To be honest, I have grown a bit bored of of this plotline… Some are hits, others are misses. There’s a 50/50 chance of me watching this (not necessarily now, but maybe later on in the future when I am looking for shows to marathon).
Vantage: Sounds like Nanana! Unfortunately it also sounds really clichéd and is a perfect setup for a harem. Watch how I still end up giving this a try…
Chris: Sigh… OF COURSE the ghost is cute. OF COURSE cute magical girls are battling in his apartment. Naturally, they’ll all fall in love and he’ll squirm shyly under their advances and the series will end with me having lost the will to live… I see no redeeming features here.
Oki: NO. NO I’M TIRED OF THESE FUCKING MOE MAGICAL BULLSHIT WHAT NO OKA NO OKAY NO NO NO NO
MidnightDevont: This show would be a lot funnier if the ghost was scary and hideous and the magical girls were there to drive her out and there were constant battles in his living room. You can just see the massive amounts of destruction and he has to work to get the money to pay for the damages the girls cause. None of them have any interest in him, they all just want to kill this ghost because there is some kind of monetary prize for vanquishing the ghost. Yeah, I’d watch that anime…but not this one.
Charl Meister: Well that’s a lot to keep him occupied if his live was below average or “just normal” before (which happens to be the complaint sometimes, if not most). I don’t think I’ll watch this though. Maybe the first episode. On a sidenote, that little wooden face things looks like a character out of Kirby.
CarmenTheNinja: The summary was really interesting, that 2012 PV put me to sleep and the 2014 PV tried sooo hard, but instead made this look cheesy, flat, and too predictable. I’m kinda upset about it because their costumes looked really cool ;~;
 

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Yama no Susume Season 2
Animation Company: 8-Bit
Website: http://www.yamanosusume.com/
Genres: Slice of Life
Airing Date: July 9th, 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The second season of Yama no Susume
Note: Short-ish (15 minutes long)
Team Impression

Eva: I have heard some good things about this show, but I have never quite been a shorts fan, so I’ll wait for this season to end so that I can marathon the first and second all in one go! = v =/
Vantage: I can hardly remember the first season, but I do remember that I sat through it each week and quite liked it. They’ve ended up tripling the length of each episode for this sequel, so it’s… probably good? I think?
Chris: I never got around to watching the first season… It aired during a time of extreme 5 minute anime distaste from me.
Oki: SOBS DEEPLY, OH MY GOD HOW MANY FUCKING SLICE OF LIFE SHOWS CAN THERE BE BEFORE PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH THINGS THAT ARE GOOD AGAIN
MidnightDevont: There was a first season? That’s about how much I got. So yeah, there is no chance of me even looking at it.
Charl Meister: I’ve never watched Yama no Susume so I’ll pass this one.
CarmenTheNinja: I can’t believe there was a first season because what I just watched was SO BORING. Wow. This is too much like normalcy. I refuse.
 

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Glasslip
Animation Company: P.A. Works
Website: http://glasslip.jp/
Genres: Slice of Life
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story follows six high school students who meet during the summer. The protagonist is Touko Fukami, a 17-year-old born in Fukui Prefecture. Her dream is to become a glass artisan.
Team Impression

Eva: Visuals look as stunning as ever (as per usual). I think what is really attracting me to this show (other than it’s P.A. Works) is that there is a vibe that reminds of of Hanasaku Iroha.
Vantage: This’ll be my shotgun for the season! I have a feeling that this will turn out to be really good – putting aside P.A. Works and their incredible art (I’m sure they can do beautiful things with glass), the gender-balanced cast and what looks to me like a hint of fantasy is a definite appeal to me.
Chris: P.A. Works and I have a love hate relationship. I loved Angel Beats!, Hanasaku Iroha and The Eccentric Family… I did not however like Red Data Girl or Nagi no Asukara (or, at least, the ending of the latter). This is one of the first times that Junji Nishimura has taken both director and series composition positions in an anime and so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and watch the first three episodes, but that’s all I’m promising…plus the boy at the forefront of the promo poster looks like an annoying bland apathetic type…
Oki: Wait. . . .artistic desires in a main character? Okay, I might try and watch it.
MidnightDevont: Wow the art looks gorgeous. Though I am not too sure about this one,  I might give it a chance but I won’t be covering this.
Charl Meister: The fact that this is from P.A Works is probably the single pull factor to make me watch this. It could turn out to be interesting though the description sounds pretty simple; so let’s see how it goes.
CarmenTheNinja: I’m gonna give this a chance because: P.A. Works, Angry Haru (Free!) Clone, and this actually looks like the type of Slice of Life to educe a case of the feels.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage

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Tokyo Ghoul
Animation Company: Studio Pierrot
Website: http://www.maql.co.jp/special/tokyoghoul/
Genres: Mystery, Horror, Supernatural, Psychological, Seinen
Airing Date: July 3, 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious “ghouls” who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.
Team Impression

Eva: Yeah… this one screams “STAY AWAY FROM ME”, so I will be avoiding this one. *Shudders* Horrors…
Vantage: Wow, this sounds really intense. Here’s to hoping for lots of gore and character deaths. A show which shamelessly kills off its characters always garners at least a bit of respect from me.
Chris: This is the first full anime that Shuhei Morita has directed which means that we’ve got nothing to really go on when it comes to quality… That said, Studio Pierrot worked (and is working on) Bleach, Naruto, Baby Steps and The Legend of Korra… Plus that PV looked pretty well animated… Oh! And the plot sounds pretty interesting to boot… I’ll watch it.
Oki: HORRORS. GORE. KILLING. MURDER. SUPERNATURAL. Okay I’m on board.
MidnightDevont: Yes, thank you. I love me some murder in my anime. I love me some horror anime, so I’ll be watching this more likely then not.
Charl Meister: YES! Please and thank you. I’ll take it for 200, Alex.
CarmenTheNinja: BLESS THE ANIME GODS FOR ANSWERING MY PRAYERS! This is so far the ONLY show that I am giving a definite yes, yes, YES to. It’s on my calendar, I want it. I NEED IT. The creepy music. The blood. Omfg, GIVE MEH MOAR PLZ.

::Possible Blogger::
Charl Meister, Oki, MidnightDevont, Carmentheninja

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Kantai Collection

Animation Company: Diomedea
Website: http://kancolle-anime.jp/
Genres: D
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: TV adaptation of the online browser card battle game with the voice cast from the game. The anime will have Fubuki as the main character, with the storyline based on her point of view.
Team Impression

Eva: I am only really familiar with this franchise by the fanart and the adorable nendoroids. I do look forward to watching it in order to learn more about it.
Vantage: There’s a hell of a lot of doujinshi out there for this. I don’t play the game, but I do know there’s a loli called Shimakaze. And that they’re all supposed to represent ships or something. This is oddly enticing.
Chris: I’m not really sure what this is about. All I know is that it’s about anthropomorphic manifestations of World War II warships…which, to be quite frank, sounds odd. I mean, how do you turn that into an anime plot? I suppose time will tell.
Oki: It’s. . . .just not that interesting to me man.
MidnightDevont: I have no idea what this is at all, but I saw Vantage say something about personified ships….which is something I have no interest in. Any more then the Personified soda can anime. So no thanks.
Charl Meister: I wonder if I should feel bad about being completely clueless as to what this is? No, not really. I might see what it’s all about though.
CarmenTheNinja: Meh, never heard of it and I don’t feel very compelled to seek it out.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage

 

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Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei!
Animation Company: Silver Link
Website: http://anime.prisma-illya.jp/
Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: About a month after the events of the first manga, a new mission to normalize the Earth’s pulsations come up. However, when Ilya tries to subdue the pulsations…
Team Impression

Eva: YAYYYYY MAGICAL GIRL ILLYA IS BACK!!!!
Vantage: Let the magical girl yuri begin! I really enjoyed the first season, so I’m looking forward to the sort of storyline they’ll come up with for 2wei – I’ve kept myself off the manga somehow, so I’ll be going into this fresh. Hoping for good things from this franchise as always!

Chris: I didn’t watch the first season.
Oki: Kinda looks too cutesy for me, to be honest.
MidnightDevont: I never watched the first season, I thought the idea of a magical girl spin off for Fate was a dumb one. Apparently, it was better then it had any right to be. I might double back and check it out when I have some free time but I’ll skip out on it for now.
Charl Meister: I’ve never watched anything Fate/Kalied, so I’ll have to pass on this one.
CarmenTheNinja: I’m very new to this (never watched the first season) but I see a rare Black girl and now I feel like I need to go and make myself acquainted.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage

 

~❀~

LOVE STAGE!!
Animation Company: J.C. Staff
Website: http://lovestage-tv.jp/
Genres: Comedy, Yaoi, Gender Bender, Shounen Ai
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story revolves around Izumi Sena, a boy born into a family of ultra-famous entertainers. However, he is the only member of the family who is not in the entertainment industry, and he is a super otaku college student, too. He has been striving hard to become a manga creator, but he ends up starring in a television commercial. He eventually cross paths again with the very famous actor Ryuuma, who becomes aware of his attraction towards Izumi. 
Team Impression

Eva: This actually looks really cute and funny, I can definitely see myself watching this despite the fact I don’t generally like watching Yaoi/Shoenen-Ai shows. In fact, I think the last one was Princess Princess and that was YEARS ago, ironically that too was a genderbender- wait wow, I actually remembered the title of the show!
Vantage: Noooope.

Chris: Yaoi, Gender Bender, Shounen Ai… Hm. And then I watched the PV and…they’re all too pretty… Hm.
Oki: Midnight will flambe my corpse if I touch the gay buttsex that is before me, and I like not being crispy.
MidnightDevont: MINE! MINE! I WANT THIS SHOW LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW! I adore this manga, I’ve been following every press release for this since the anime announcement came out! I am majorly into boy-love stories and this is one of the cutest ones I can remember in recent history. Not to mention I’m interested in what parts of it they’re going to animate and if they’re going to do a wrap up of the current manga arc, because I can’t even tell you how intense it is. -gross sobbing-  I just, can’t even express how much I want to review this show in words!
Charl Meister: Heeheehee. I haven’t watched enough yaoi to create that balance with some of the yuri I’ve been watching. I doubt this is going to be the way Junjou Romantica was (where the romance is concerned) but I’ll definitely add this to my list and I’ll be watching.
Carmentheninja: I wanna watch this because Oki said gay buttsex. Just kidding (or am I?). I never read the manga but DAMN THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY MEN. My heart jumping out of my chest basically told me this is a much see, because of reasons.

::Possible Blogger::
MidnightDevont

 

~❀~

Free! Eternal Summer
Animation Company: Kyoto Animation
Website: http://iwatobi-sc.com/
Genres: Sports, Comedy, School, Slice of Life
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Second season of Free!
Team Impression

Eva: MY HUSBUNDO IS BACK!!!! FREE IS BACK AND I AM PSYCHED!! This is hands down my most anticipated show of the summer! If I had to choose only one show of the entire season to cover, this would be it.
Vantage: Back at the start of the year, I lost a bet. And was forced to watch the first season of… this. I’m embarrassed to say that I will in fact be following this sequel. Still waiting for those risqué photos of that ex-swimsuit model teacher amidst all the manservice… I’m going to be waiting for some time, aren’t I.
Chris: I watched the first season and I’m somewhat ashamed to say I like it and will definitely be checking out this second season and someone at school mentioned the anime in a passing joke and I recognized it because – you know – and so there was an awkward moment between this small Asian girl and me which made me question my ability to continue as a man and thus lost me at least a hundred man points…
Oki: I can’t wait for hot guy screenshots. . . I mean what?
MidnightDevont: I never did finish season 1 of this show, I should do that so I can watch season 2. I won’t be covering it for sure but if I can finish watching the first season, i’ll watch this one.
Charl Meister: OuO. That expression is all. What I have to say would be endless. My first sports genre anime. I’m so happy it’s actually back. Oh gawd!
CarmenTheNinja: GOODBYE WORLD, I’M GOING TO DROWN IN THIS SECOND SEASON. Omg, I’m so excited about Free’s return. Holy moley, the laugh’s and crying and ladyboner’s of last summer are too glorious to pass up this time around! Plz don’t get me started on hot Free! cosplayers *drool* I’m really interested in seeing what the new character is going to bring to the table.

::Possible Blogger::
Eva

~❀~

Space Dandy Season 2
Animation Company: BONES
Website: http://space-dandy.com/top
Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Space
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The second season of Space☆Dandy
Team Impression

Eva: Watched the first episode, grew bored of it real quick.
Vantage: Didn’t watch the first season. Heard there were boobies though.
Chris: I didn’t watch the first season.
Oki: It got boring real fast, no thank you.
MidnightDevont: I saw the first bit of the first season but then I stopped. Really the best thing about the show is Ian’s voice on Dandy…i’ll go back and watch season 1 eventually just for the voice acting. For now, I’ll leave this behind. -walks off into the sunset, or onto the next show-
Charl Meister: I didn’t see the first season, I did hear good things about this anime but I’m not sure I’ll watch the first just so I can watch the second.
CarmenTheNinja: I watched the first season but I wasn’t drawn into the hype like everyone else. I kept tuning in every Saturday and felt nothing. I had a few laughs here and there, but it did nothing but aid in putting me to sleep at the wee hours of the morning or giving me something to talk about on Twitter. Meh.
 

~❀~

Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus
Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://www.kuroshitsuji.tv/
Genres: Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: A new Kuroshitsuji animated project.
The TV series is subtitled Book of Circus and will air July 2014 in the Animeism block. It will adapt the Noah’s Ark Circus Arc, picking the manga story back up from the point at which they diverged.  This arc immediately follows the Curry Contest Arc in the manga, which ended at  at episode 15 in the first season of the anime.
Team Impression

Eva: All I can say is, ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!! The second season was bullshit as it revolved around fanservice. They should have jumped onto this arc instead (though I can’t recall whether the Circus Arc was completed at the time). For a while this was my favourite arc until the Titantic-Zombie Arc happened, which was AWESOME. As gruesome as that was, I would love to see that animated- faithfully- in the future. All I can hope this goes well, I know how they like to stray off path to add even more  yaoi/shoenen-ai fanservice than what is already provided in the manga from time to time. All I can say is, brace yourself. There will be ugly sobbing by the end of this.
Vantage: Haven’t seen the first few (?) seasons.
Chris: Uh…what is it? I’m as confused as Vantage on this one.
Oki: I’ll be watching it with midnight but otherwise I can’t talk about Black Butler without fapping to Sebastian.
MidnightDevont: About bloody time indeed! I’ve been screaming since the first anime about how it absolutely ruined a great manga. I have wanted to see this arc animated since I read it, this should be really interesting. Like Eva this used to be my favorite arc until the Titanic/Zombie arc. I hope this time they stick a lot closer to the manga and there is none of that fan-service filler they tried to feed us in the first and second anime. I also would like 50% less Grelle! That would be awesome, thank you please anime!
Charl Meister: OoO!! LIES! Of course I have to watch this! And funny enough I was rewatching a couple scenes from the first season (like the one with the nun, huehuehue) and wishing a new season would come out. The gods have heard my cry!!
Carmentheninja: AHHHHHHHH! FINALLY!!! *end scene*

::Possible Blogger::
MidnightDevont, CarmenTheNinja

 

~❀~

DRAMAtical Murder
Animation Company: Studio NAZ
Website: http://dmmd-anime.com
Genres: Action, Sci-fi, Psychological
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story takes place many years in the future where the game “Rhyme,” a virtual fighting game, is incredibly popular and people possess “AllMates,” convenient AI computers. Aoba leads an ordinary life, working at a junk shop and living with his grandmother on the island of Midorijima. Unlike his friends, he doesn’t participate in Rhyme, nor does he belong in a gang. However, when rumors of people disappearing spread, Aoba finds himself needing to unravel the mysteries behind the island in order to protect his everyday life. 
Team Impression

Eva: I know a lot of people like this game, but I am going pass on this one because I know in advance that it’s not my cup of tea.
Vantage: Not familiar with the game, and probably not interested in the adaptation either.
Chris: I’ve never played the Visual Novel, but I’ve always been interested in doing so. The art design looks nice, the plot looks vaguely interesting, but… I’ve got a feeling that there’s going to be some boy-love right around the corner…(just Googled it…Boy’s Love was indeed right around the corner…)
Oki: I’ve heard good things…but not sure if want. .  .. kind of has virtual shit elements to it. . . .kind of dont know. . . .but also want murder mystery . . .
MidnightDevont: A lot of my friends were into the game before the anime was announced, which has peaked my interest. It’s based off a BL novel, so there is also that. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I adore my Boy Love! I don’t know about covering this show, but I’ll at least give it a watch to be sure. I may cover it, I’ll at least put my name down as a possible blogger.
Charl Meister: I’m not entirely sure I’m feeling this one, granted the premise sounds a bit interesting but I guess I’ll just click around for reviews and impressions when it gets out to decide if I really want to experience this series for myself or not.
CarmenTheNinja: I’m a little familiar with the game but I can never get into playing visual novels, so this will be a better platform for me. I think the animation looks smooth and the colorful aspect makes it much more appealing. I’m gonna check it out before I say no for sure.

::Possible Blogger::
MidnightDevont

 

~❀~

Zankyou no Terror
Animation Company: MAPPA
Website: http://terror-in-tokyo.com/
Genres: Psychological, Thriller
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: In an alternate version of the present, Tokyo has been decimated by a shocking terrorist attack, and the only hint to the identity of the culprit is a bizarre video uploaded to the internet. The police, baffled by this cryptic clue, are powerless to stop the paranoia spreading across the population.

While the world searches for a criminal mastermind to blame for this tragedy, two mysterious children—children who shouldn’t even exist—masterfully carry out their heinous plan. Cursed to walk through this world with the names Nine and Twelve, the two combine to form “Sphinx,” a clandestine entity determine to wake the people from their slumber—and pull the trigger on this world.
Team Impression
Eva: Yet another one I will be avoiding only because I know it will scare me!
Vantage: This one has Watanabe Shinichiro behind it – another strong industry brand name, and for good reason. This is gonna be intense!
Chris: Every season there’s at least one ‘serious’ anime, an anime that scrapes away the fan service (typically), tackles thought provoking and multiplex concepts, ideas and affairs, and tends to be some of the years best. Shinichirō Watanabe (Kids on the Slope, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, etc.) is directing and that’s pretty damn exciting, but, having looks at the PV, I’m worried that…well ‘Sphinx’ is going to be too immature and nonsensical for me to take them seriously as terrorists. I don’t want an anime where the two main characters are ‘crazy‘ because why the hell not, you know? That said, I’m definitely going to watch this.
Oki: It might traumatize or depress me but. . . what can I say? I WANT IN YO
MidnightDevont: Somehow…this sounds totally like something I’d be into. I love psychological thrillers. So this sounds right up my ally.
Charl Meister: VERY interesting premise, this one. While the style doesn’t seem too captivating I doubt that will take away from the story this has to tell. I’m in.
CarmenTheNinja: Excuse me, “Pull the trigger on this world”? HOLY — I need it. I need it. I want it. This looks so good. I like the fact that they’re actually riding the term terrorist in a more traditional meaning of the word because when I initially read the summary, I was thinking it might take a Future Diary turn, but this is look more like a technological warfare and I’m ALL FOR IT. I love me some badasses in glasses.

::Possible Blogger::
Oki, Midnight, Chris, CarmenTheNinja

~❀~

Ao Haru Ride
Animation Company: Production I.G.
Website: http://aoha-anime.com/
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo
Airing Date: July 7th
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Yoshioka Futaba has a few reasons why she wants to “reset” her image & life as a new high school student. Because she’s cute, she was ostracized by her female friends in junior high, and because of a misunderstanding, she couldn’t get her feeling across to the one boy she has ever liked, Tanaka-kun. Now in high school, she is determined to be as unladylike as possible so that her friends won’t be jealous of her. While living her life this way contentedly, she meets Tanaka-kun again, but he now goes under the name of Mabuchi Kou. He tells her that he felt the same way as she did when they were younger, but now things can never be the same again. Will Futaba be able to continue her love that never even started from three years ago?
Team Impression

Eva: I have a love/hate relationship with this series so I read it on and off because it gets frustrating quite often… (Still good though!) I will watch it, but I am pretty sure that I won’t be covering it. On the extra note, the OST sounds amazing! All I can say is, brace yourself because this the kind of show that likes to stomp on your heart and give you lots of feels.
Vantage: I don’t tend to enjoy angsty shoujo romance shows, primarily because I can’t stand the angst (funnily enough) but I’ll probably give this a shot. At least it’s not yaoi, right?
Chris: The plot’s nothing revolutionary, the characters come across banal and somewhat vapid, although Production I.G. is animating and therefore I’m hesitant in dismissing the series entirely.
Oki: I might cover this because I want romance, but we’ll see how it goes after the first episode.
MidnightDevont: I’m so not interested in this, at all.
Charl Meister: I haven’t had much shoujo recently, so I’ll probably watch this…maybe? Yeah, maybe.
CarmenTheNinja: I feel like I may have read the manga in the past and I wanna give this a shot but, for me Romance/Drama’s don’t really entertain me unless their drama is NANA level heart breaking lol.

::Possible Blogger::
Oki

~❀~

Barakamon
Animation Company: Kinema Citrus
Website: http://www.barakamon.jp/
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: As a punishment for punching a famous Calligrapher, young handsome Calligrapher Handa Seishu is exiled on a small island. As someone who has never lived outside of a city, Handa has to adapt to his new wacky neighbors, like people traveling on a tractor, unwanted visitors who never use the front door, annoying kids using his home as a playground, etc. Can this city guy handle all the crazy hardships? Find out in this wacky island comedy full of innocence and laughter!!!
Team Impression

Eva: Oh I’ll watch this, because why the hell not? It looks cute!
Vantage: This sounds like it could be a lot of fun!
Chris: I usually don’t care for slice of life anime, but I took a chance of Mikakunin de Shinkoukei and it payed off so I’m going to take a chance on this and…well…we’ll see. Plus, Daisuke Ono (Itsuki Koizumi, Shintarō Midorima..) is voicing the main character…
Oki: Looks cute but cute and I just don’t mess. IT’S SOO CUTE. IF IT’S CUTE ALL I DO IS STARE AND GO AW BUT THEN GO “OK IM BORED NOW WHERE YA BOOBIES AT??”
MidnightDevont: This looks super cute, if I need something to break off from all the yaoi and horror I am watching this season. I might check this out, sooner or later.
Charl Meister: For some reason the little girl in the image made me smile, I’m guessing she might be the one to make Handu’s life as miserable as possible; while mantaining her cuteness. I’ll watch this.
CarmenTheNinja: It looks adorbs and interesting, but almost too… cute?

::Possible Blogger::
Chris

~❀~

Futsuu no Joshikousei ga [Locodol] Yatte Mita
Animation Company: FEEL
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/locodol/
Genres: Comedy, Seinen
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story is about the life of a high school girl, Nanako, and her senpai, Yukari, who end up becoming the town’s local idols (locodol) upon the request of her uncle. However they would soon learn that their new idol lifestyle is less than stellar as they are only be interviewed by the town’s shopping center, appear on low-budget cable television, and perform concerts on top of the roof of department stores. The girls’ salaries come from the town’s taxes.
Team Impression

Eva: … So I guess it didn’t air in the spring? Oh well it happens. Looks bland though, so I will be passing this unless I hear good things about it.
Vantage: I bet those taxpayers are overjoyed with how their money is being spent.
Chris: ^ this
Oki: I kind of love how adorable these girls are but I just KNOW I can’t cover it. Might take a bunch of screenshots of it though, lol.
MidnightDevont: Yeah, no thank you. It looks so cute…but not the kind of cute I’d be interested in…at all.
Charl Meister: I’ll take a glimpse of it. I know I won’t sit through an entire episode; so a glimpse is all I’m taking.
CarmenTheNinja: I love idols so much, why does this have to be so, “Meh”?
 

~❀~

Majimoji Rurumo
Animation Company: J.C. Staff
Website: http://anime-rurumo.com/
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Shibaki is a high-school boy whose only interest is girls. Except he’s been branded as the most hentai boy at school and the girls avoid him like the plague. One day he finds a book in the library about how to summon witches. He tries it as a joke, but it turns out to be the real thing. An apprentice witch named Rurumo appears to grant him a wish. Shibaki helps Rurumo and she in return refuses to take his soul. (This part of this story happened before the start of chapter1) When the story starts, Shibaki wishes he could see Rurumo again. His wishes is granted immediately as Rurumo falls from the sky and crash lands in front of him. He finds out that as punishment for not taking his soul she’s been busted down to an apprentice demon. Now, she must complete the task of getting Shibaki to use up 666 magic tickets that grant wishes before she can become a witch again. However, what she doesn’t know is that each time he uses a ticket it shortens his life. When the last ticket is used up, Shibaki will die. Shibaki knows this because Rurumo’s familiar black cat Chiro tell him as part of the “contract” for giving him the tickets. Now, Shibaki has a choice, make a wish and help Rurumo become a witch again or resist the temptation and try to save his own life.
Team Impression

Eva: Ahahahaha, I like this twist!
Vantage: Like everyone else, I too was about to pass this off as another ecchi comedy (not like I don’t watch those anyway) but damn, this sounds surprisingly innovative.
Chris: Wow…this actually sounds pretty good… I almost bashed and slandered the show, but then I read the description and, well, I’m definitely going to check this out. This is Chikara Sakurai’s first time in the directorial position so there’s no real way of gauging just how this series will be handled, but with J.C. Staff at the forefront of the series’s animation we know that it’ll probably maybe possibly not be sh*t.
Oki: Oh my god this sounds REALLY good actually. I’m in!
MidnightDevont: Oh wow, this has no right to sound as good as it does. Like at first I was going to brush this off as a bad show, but then the twist happened. I might want to at least try watching this.
Charl Meister: I was about to just scroll right along and not take this seriously then BAM…PLOT TWIST! I’d really like to see how this goes.Will there be a good ending to this?
CarmenTheNinja: OMFG, What did I just read?! I have to watch this because, damn. That plot twist is like a really bad joke on his end. The life of a pervert never ends wells lololol

::Possible Blogger::
Oki

~❀~

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Animation Company: Dogakobo
Website: http://nozakikun.tv/
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The romantic comedy story begins when high school student Sakura Chiyo confesses her feelings to her classmate Nozaki. Due to a misunderstanding, Nozaki thinks Sakura is just a fan of his shōjo manga work. Sakura has to convey her true feelings while her relationship with Nozaki develops.
Team Impression

Eva: This is probably the only romantic comedy that I have been looking forward to this season.
Vantage: Sounds great! Like Eva, it’s one of the very few romcoms I’m interested in watching this season.
Chris: Dogakobo have really been surprising me lately, taking excellent 4-panel manga and making them brilliant through superb animation and perfect pacing… And I’m a sucker for romance anime, so…
Oki: Looks really good and if it stays good I might give it a shot!
MidnightDevont: I’m not much into romantic comedies. This animation looks gorgeous. I’m torn, I’ll talk to Oki about it and if she likes it. I’ll give it a shot.
Charl Meister: More romance =O and though the plot sounds very simple, I feel that this may actually be good. I’m in!
CarmenTheNinja: I’m underwhelmed.

::Possible Blogger::
Eva, Chris

 

~❀~

Hanamonogatari
Animation Company: SHAFT
Website: http://www.monogatari-series.com/2ndseason/
Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Vampire
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The next part of the Monogatari Series, Hanamonogatari features Suruga Kanbaru and is set after Koyomi Araragi graduates from High School.
Team Impression

Eva: I have yet to watch the other segments along with the first season of this series, so cheers to yet another season of the Monogatari Series added to “Plan to Watch” list.
Vantage: I quite like Kanbaru. While I’m not sure why they had to cut this out from Monogatari’s “Second Season” (given all the recap episodes they had) I’m glad it’s finally airing at last. Not sure whether I’ll be blogging this though, given that I stopped after Nadeko Medusa last time.
Chris: yes.
Oki: I want to say I’m interested but the mere presence of something sport related on the cover makes me hiss and hide under my blankets.
MidnightDevont: I really need to get into this series, everything I’ve seen of it sounds so good. However, as of now I have yet to see ANY of the Monogari series.
Charl Meister: I’m currently on Monogatari. I really love this series. I can’t wait for this.
CarmenTheNinja: Couldn’t get into past installments, not even gonna try.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage 

 

~❀~

Momokyun Sword
Animation Company: N/A
Website: http://momokyun.com/
Genres: Fantasy, Ecchi, Magic
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story begins with a female re-imagining of Momotarō, a famous character in Japanese folklore. Momoko is a beautiful young sword fighter who was born inside a peach (momo in Japanese). She lives with her constant companions — the dog god Inugami, the monkey god Sarugami, and the pheasant god Kijigami — in a peaceful paradise. However, a demon army led by devil king invades the paradise and steals the precious treasure that protects Momoko’s land. To retrieve the treasure and save the people, Momoko embarks on a great adventure with her three companions. 
Team Impression

Eva: Yeah….This show sound very bland, and I am more or less expecting the “highlights” of this show to be the excessive fanservice. ¬_¬||| So it’s a pass for me.
Vantage: More historical characters in an ecchi setting, fresh from Japan!
Chris: no.
Oki: It kind of depends. . .the way the characters look is a thing for me. I don’t want to watch an anime with this kind of plot if it’s got a cutesy ditsy goody girl going “We have to protect the land, uwaaaa no my boobies!” If she can be serious then I’ll check it out. . . .otherwise. . . nope way too generic.
MidnightDevont: Wow, um…I have no idea what to say about this one other then I have no interest in it at all.
Charl Meister: Boobs and panty shots will take up most of the screen time I’m sure; I don’t want any of it this season.
CarmenTheNinja: So attractive and so boring is what I got from both the description and PV. They should’ve had a fight scene instead of breaking a rock. I’m disappointed.
 

~❀~

Nobunaga Concerto
Animation Company: Fuji TV
Website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/nobunaga-concerto-anime/
Genres: Historical, Romance, Shounen
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story centers around Saburou, a high school boy who time-travels to Japan’s Sengoku Era. He must become Nobunaga Oda, the famed warlord who helps unite Japan. 
Team Impression

Eva: I am actually looking forward to this more fresh take on featuring Nobunaga Oda since it appears there will be less fantasy-world frenzies going on aside of the time travel, which I am quite frankly, getting sick and tired of seeing.
Vantage: Yet another Nobunaga show, and yet another time travel plot. I won’t be getting my hopes up though, as I doubt it’ll be as good as Oda Nobuna was. Or maybe that was because they were all genderbendered…
Chris: Nobunaga… he get’s around, you know?
Oki: Sounds interesting but I suspect it will be way too much historical to the fiction and I’m kind of not interested in history lessons.
MidnightDevont: I’m going to pass on this…I’ve skipped out on most of the Nobunaga stuff that’s been popping up lately, I will likely continue to do so.
Charl Meister: Meh. I’m not feeling this at all.
CarmenTheNinja: NO.
 

~❀~

Persona 4: The Golden Animation
Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://www.p4ga.jp/
Genres: Adventure, Mystery, School, Sci-Fi, Super Power, Supernatural
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Spring. A rural town, far removed from the city, that spends its time peacefully. A boy arrives at Yaso Inaba Station, where the cherry blossom petals are falling. His name is Yuu Narukami. Due to his family’s situation, he moves to Inaba to live with his uncle, and attends Yasogami High School.
From there, his school life begins: The shopping mall after school. The serial murders happening in the town. The Midnight Channel that comes on late at night… What days are waiting for Yū and his friends “this time”?
Team Impression

Eva: I was quite surprised when I heard that Persona 4 was going to have another adaption considering there were a lot of mixed opinions for the first one. It would be nice to see an improvement along with seeing how different the two adaptions will compare, especially since Persona 4: Golden is a remake of Persona 4, this time featuring a new character: Marie. It is rare for shows get a second chance to make it either right or better within two years time since they have aired, so lets see how Persona 4: The Golden Animation fares!
Vantage: What exactly is this? I never got through the original Persona 4 adaptation, so I might give this a whirl if its a complete remake.
Chris: I’ll be watching it only because I love Persona and another anime can’t be bad…that said, why is another anime needed? I get that The Golden added some features and all, but do I really want to see the same plot again? Plot twists and all? Who knows – maybe this is the hentai edition?
Oki: I’m on board for this one again, luckily now I can share it with Midnight so we’re much more efficient on that. VIVA LA MARIE?
MidnightDevont: As a huge fan of Persona myself, I rather enjoyed the first anime. I was however a little shocked that they felt Golden needed an entirely new anime, rather then just an OVA. Not to say this is a bad thing, I am rather interested to see how this will compare to the first adaptation and what they’ll be adding aside from Marie’s plot line, which I’m sure is not enough to fill up an entire anime of new material. Well, let’s see how this anime compares to the last one. I’ll check it out to be sure.
Charl Meister: I’ve never seen anything “Persona”. Probably I’m missing out? I should get started on it.
CarmenTheNinja: I’m unfamiliar with Persona because I stray away from hype trains; This is the same.

::Possible Blogger::
Oki, MidnightDevont

 

~❀~

RAIL WARS!
Animation Company: Passione
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/railwars/
Genres: Action, Romance, Shounen
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The “dream railway paradise entertainment” story is set in a parallel world where Japan did not privatize its national railways. Naohito Takayama is an ordinary high school boy who dreams of a comfortable future working for the top-rated Japanese National Railways. He is assigned as a trainee in the Railways Security Force full of odd characters such as Sakurai, a troublemaker who hates men. On top of that, an extremist group called “RJ” plots to privatize the Japanese National Railways.
Team Impression

Eva: This looks quite cute, I think I will enjoy watching this.
Vantage: Oh noes! Japan will be at risk from market failure, equity issues and negative externalities! This might actually be quite entertaining.
Chris: This looks like something J.C. Staff would produce… I’m always interested in anything labelled ‘romance‘, but this definitely looks like an anime where the main character lusts after a girl he can never have and by the end of the series they end up no closer to being together… Although that’s just me making presumptions… But yeah, a train anime.
Oki: you’re fucking kidding me a train anime no just fucking no i cant im so mad i wish you could hear my voice this text is not adequate enough A FUCKING TRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN anime
MidnightDevont: I can see the romance but the action and the shounen escape me, how do you take this plot and get those? No, no thank you.
Charl Meister: No, I don’t think I’d stick to this one.
CarmenTheNinja: I’m kind of confused by this but I saw fights and heard “War”? I—No.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage

 

~❀~

Re: Hamatora
Animation Company:
Website: http://hamatorapj.com/
Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Continuation of Hamatora: The Animation
Team Impression

Eva: This is actually going straight onto “Plan to watch” list because I have to finish watching the first season. If you haven’t heard, although in the beginning it appeared pretty mild and for some people- flat, well- soon enough SHIT HITS THE FAN, so it’s definitely something to check out! I remember seeing my friends screaming, “I DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS!!!” 
Vantage: Haven’t seen the first season!
Chris: If I can finish the first season, I might sign up. Got it all ready to go. Just need one free evening.
Oki: Eh, haven’t seen the first season.
MidnightDevont: Haven’t seen the first season.
Charl Meister: I’ll have to take a look at the first season…and if I like it (and finish it, of course) then I’ll be on board for this.
CarmenTheNinja: There was a first season?!
 

~❀~

Sabagebu!
Animation Company: Studio Pierrot
Website: http://sabagebu.com/
Genres: Comedy, Shoujo, Military
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Middle school girl Momoka is dragged into joining one of the strangest associations at her school, the Survival Game Club. Its members participate in various forms of paramilitary training under the watchful eye of charming and alarming president, Miou. How on Earth will the inexperienced Momoka survive her training, let alone Miou’s company?!
Team Impression

Eva: Wait what… didn’t we watch something with a similar premise a few seasons again???? Well whatever, I might watch this, but it’s unlikely because I only watched one episode of that other show like this, that I can’t remember the title of.
Vantage: Yeah the last incarnation of this was C3-bu from a year or so ago. Might have been longer than that. I thought it’d be the kind of show I’d be into, but sadly I was mistaken.
Chris: Damn you flamboyantly colored hair females!… Wait… Is that a gun? And cake? A pastel colored balloons?
Oki: This is so cliche. . . .so cute. . . .so WHY AM I SO CONSIDERING WATCHING IT? IT SHOULDN’T BE SO CUTE? WHAT THE FUCK WHY DOES THE CAKE AND THE BALLOONS MAKE ME LOVE THE IDEA?????
MidnightDevont: I had to read this summery twice. I don’t even understand….this sounds like such a weird show with a weird plot. The poster is SOOOOO CUTE! I want to say i’ll pass on it…but i might just…give the first episode a look.
Charl Meister: I don’t..I-…no.
CarmenTheNinja: THERE ARE CUTE GIRLS WITH PASTEL COLORED HAIR AND HEAVY DUTY FIREARMS!
 

~❀~

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance
Animation Company: TNK
Website: http://www.bladedance.tv/
Genres: Seinen, Supernatural, Harem, School, Comedy
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Only a pure maiden can have the privilege to contract with a spirit. In here, Areishia Spirit Academy, trained maidens of noble families are gathered and given an elite’s education to become spirit contractors. A boy, Kamito, peeped by accident at a girl, Clair, while she was taking a bath and he ended up making a contract with the spirit she wanted. Yes, Kamito is an irregular boy spirit contractor whose existence was thought impossible until now. “You stole…my spirit…you have to take responsibility for it!” “Huh?” “You have to become my contracted spirit!” What will Kamito’s destiny lead to?
Team Impression

Eva: Ehhhh… I’m not too sure about this one, but what the hell- it won’t hurt to check out a few episodes. I will probably drop it though.
Vantage: I’ve tried the light novels a few years ago, and stopped reading them for a reason I’ve long forgotten. Maybe if I try this out, I can remember why!
Chris: This looks too…anime.
Oki: Oh great a harem anime taking designs from much better shows and being nothing but cliche garbage. YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE THAT? No, this is what’s fucking wrong with anime okay? This! This bullshit of the one super spechful irregular boy who is also better than all the girls and conveniently forced to be important right away. NO. NO OKAY? THIS IS CLICHE, STUPID, HAS SHITTY DESIGNS AND A SHITTY PLOT. I WONT WATCH THIS SHOW. I WON’T.
MidnightDevont: I saw the word Harem in the genre’s….I think I’ve only liked one harem anime ever, and it was mostly for the side characters. I will skip right past this one, i doubt even the side characters could save this.
Charl Meister: I won’t be watching this one.
CarmenTheNinja: Their faces remind me of School Days. Take it back.

::Possible Blogger::
Vantage

 

~❀~

Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen
Animation Company: Xebec
Website: http://www.argevollen.com/
Genres: Mecha, Action
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: A new original anime announced to air Summer 2014.

Team Impression

Eva: MMM MECHA!!! Though it’s in CG, all I can say it is WAYYYYYY better than Satelight’s. So far Sunrise has the best I’ve seen yet, so lets see how Xebecs does it! Considering there is little to no information other than the preview, I can’t say whether I am in or out, but hey it’s mecha, so you can count on me to check it out.
Vantage: So uh… what is this about?
Chris: I don’t feel like signing up for an anime that I don’t know a lot about – I mean, there’s not even a plot summary. I have a feeling it’ll be generic…but I’ll check out the first episode.
Oki: Looks good. . . looks good. But. . . .a little too bland for me.
MidnightDevont: -glances at poster, glances at the lack of plot summery, glances at genre- NOPE! -skips away-
Charl Meister: More mecha =| I just can’t get into the genre man. I’ve got a block that I must get over. Soon…I’ll try a mecha anime soon.
CarmenTheNinja: Boo.

::Possible Blogger::
Eva

~❀~

Akame ga Kill!
Animation Company: WHITE FOX
Website: http://akame.tv/
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Airing Date: July 6th 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Tatsumi is a fighter who just got robbed by a pretty girl, but his luck seems to be looking up, as another pretty girl has taken him in. What he doesn’t know is that this girl is about to be visited by a family of assassins (including the girl who robbed him) and they might be the good guys, and be recruiting… 
Team Impression

Eva: It is really sad to say that I have lowered my expectations when it comes down to White Fox productions significantly. HOWEVER, this is definitely a strong contender that could hopefully renew my faith in them! I have checked out the manga, and unfortunately it told me right away that this is probably going to be another one of their shows I will avoid as it is expected to be quite gruesome and violent, even more so once it’s animated. On the more positive note, WHITE FOX usually excels when it comes to executing dark action shows!
Vantage: I’m loving White Fox’s GochiUsa, so I’ve forgiven them for any past transgressions. And either way, they do wonderfully with violence and murder in dark setting, so this’ll be great! Won’t be blogging it though.
Chris: A lot of people are hyped about this and I don’t understand why. The main character looks likes a poor shounen cut-out, the plot looks like it was devised over night by an eight year old (okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh)… Huh? What’s this? The manga’s amazing…? Gosh, I’m in.
Oki: Actually looks good but I won’t be covering it. To be honest, there is no ‘good guy’ among assassins, and shows like this are only interesting when they focus on the grey morality of the show and not everything else around it.
MidnightDevont: I think the poster looks cool, but there is something about the plot that has me on edge. I’m not really sure how to feel about this. I might check it out, no real urge to cover it.
Charl Meister: This is a “maybe” for me. The first episode will help me decide if I stick with it or drop it.
CarmenTheNinja: I wanna thank Eva for saying “Gruesome and Violent” since the PV didn’t provide much insight. This is something I will DEFINITELY watch. Assassins? Sweet Baby Jesus. I think I was born for this. The character design is so intriguing and just, wow. I’m in love.

::Possible Blogger::
Chris, CarmenTheNinja

~❀~

Hanayamata
Animation Company: MADHOUSE
Website: http://hanayamata.com/
Genres: Seinen, Slice of Life
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Normal appearance, normal intelligence, normal in arts and sports… just normal. This is the entirely normal 14-year-old, Naru Sekiya. While she admires “Heroines” she continues to live a normal life until one moonlit night she meets a fairy. This foreign girl then guides her into the extraordinary world of the yosakoi dance.
Team Impression

Eva: Not sure what to think… She meets a fairy…Okay what the heck I’ll watch it.
Vantage: Madhouse are honestly a bit hit-and-miss these days… although I’ll still try it because why not 😀
Chris: no. take your two year old face and meet Kyubey.
Oki: no fuck you
MidnightDevont: This looks a little to moe-blob for me.
Charl Meister: And even after meeting the fairy you know what? Her life is still NORMAL because’s she’s not the one doing anything extraordinary. No.
CarmenTheNinja: Why?

~❀~

Sengoku Basara: Judge End
Animation Company: Telecom Animation Film
Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/basara_je/
Genres: Action, Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai, Super Power
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: Based on CAPCOM’s 2010 game Sengoku Basara 3 (Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes), and it will depict the epic Battle of Sekigahara.
Team Impression

Eva: Never followed the Sengoku Basara Series, never played the game (though I’d like to hahaha), so this will be a pass for me unless I hear it’s good.
Vantage: Pass!
Chris: I tried watching the first season. I didn’t like it very much.
Oki: I haven’t seen any of the other seasons bra.
MidnightDevont: I’ve heard of the series but I’ve never seen it. So nope.
Charl Meister: I’ve heard of this…I think. I don’t think I’ll watch it though.
CarmenTheNinja: Goodbye.
 

~❀~

Minarai Diva
Animation Company: N/A
Website: http://minaraidiva.jp/
Genres: Music
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The story follows two aspiring divas who hope to become famous through a unique brand of music.
Team Impression

Eva: This is definitely worth checking out because I am curious to see since it will  be animated with motion-capture technology, and it’s supposedly going to be airing LIVE.
Vantage: This seems… sort of eccentric. It’s probably catered to a niche fanbase though – which I’m definitely not part of.
Chris: I’ll watch it. I don’t think it’ll be all that good, though. It’s experimental, like Aku no Hana, but at least Aku no Hana had a decent plot. This plot is the stuff of nightmares (for me).
Oki: I SAW THE ART ALONE AND KNEW IT WAS A NOPE.
MidnightDevont: Can’t…even. This looks SO bad that I can’t put it into words. The art is disgusting, the plot sounds generic. No, just No. Not a thing I will be checking out.
Charl Meister: If the music is good…sure, why not.
CarmenTheNinja: May..be? I’m not entirely sure of what I’m looking at? Is that XJ-9?
 

~❀~

Psycho-Pass New Edit Version

Animation Company: Production I.G
Website: http://psycho-pass.com/
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Police
Airing Date: July 2014
Trailers: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Summary: The “new edit version” will take the first series and re-cut it into 11 one-hour episodes with new cuts of footage.
Team Impression

Eva: At first I wasn’t quite sure whether I should add this to the pre-impresions given that Vantage have already covered the first season. However the same would have to apply to Persona 4 who is also getting a remake as well, so I figured I might as well throw it in. I however, haven’t watched the first season except for the traumatizing first episode that is scarred in my brain, so it is a default pass for me because it’s too much for me.
Vantage: I’ll be handing the reins to Oki for this new version – I won’t be around for Fall 2014, so she’ll be taking over coverage of Season 2.
Chris: I thought the first season was great. Therefore, this will be great. Logic.
Oki: I am totally in for this. I can’t express enough how much I love this anime- it is my second favorite if only because the character I relate to the most is crazy and that makes me sad. I will be covering in order to have a straight flow into season 2 of Psycho Pass and so you can all learn of my Makishima Lovin. Also because let’s face it this season is kind of slow for my shit.
MidnightDevont: I’ll be the first to say that I adore everything about this series, from it’s characters, to it’s plot, to it’s animation and soundtrack. Though I spent 100 dollars on the Blu-Ray’s at Anime Boston, so I’m not so sure how much this re-telling is going to do for me. Though I hear rumors of new footage, and I’m wondering how that might tie into the second season. (which omg, I am so pumped for!) It might also lead for a tie into the movie. (Which I am also psyched for!) I’ll talk it out with Oki and see if this is worth giving a once over for new content. As for covering it, I’ll pass but you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be the first or second one squeeing all over new footage.
Charl Meister: I’ve never seen anything “Psycho-Pass” so I don’t think it will make much sense for me to watch this…at least not until I see the season(s?) before this.
CarmenTheNinja: Didn’t complete the first season but I do wanna check this out afterward. I was really digging the story but time got away from me and I just stored it away on my “On Hold” list.

::Possible Blogger::
Oki

~❀~

Overall Thoughts

Eva: Since I will be carrying over four shows from the Spring 2014 Season (omfg, that’s a new record for me), I am pretty sure that I will end up only covering one show this season (two if I am desperate enough), and out of the entire bunch, it is most likely going to be Free! Eternal Summer. As for my watch list, there aren’t too many shows but there are a few I will be following this summer! Sailor Moon Crystal is a must, Sword Art Online II, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei!, Glasslip and of course- Urobuchi Gen’s Aldnoah. Zero (which I probably would end up covering if I fall in love with it and no one picks it up ahahahaha)! I will probably watch Ao Haru Ride, but that manga can be painful to read at times because THE DRAMA OF THE LOVE TRIANGLE!!!!!!! And the rest will be Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen, RAIL WARS!, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus, LOVE STAGE!! and Tokyo ESP.
Vantage: Summer 2014 will be my last season before I go on an indefinite hiatus – on the whole, it seems like a pretty average batch of shows, although that may just be because of my aversion to all things yaoi and shounen-ai. And there’s a lot of that this time round, alongside all the sub-par stuff. Even so, there’s still much to look forward to – Sailor Moon Crystal, Aldnoah.Zero, Akame ga Kill, RAIL WARS, Hanamonogatari are some examples, as are Free! Eternal Summer and Kantai Collection, oddly enough. I’ll be blogging SAO II, Glasslip and Prisma Illya 2wei for sure, with a couple others if they catch my fancy. I can’t tell how this season will turn out, but as a first impression there seems to be something for everybody.
Chris: I’m not actually all that excited about this season. Aldnoah.Zero, Hanamonogatari and Zankyou no Terror are the three series I’m most interested in, Tokyo ESP, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun and Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal being the three that have piqued my interest. Otherwise, I only intend on checking out the first episode of each show so as not to miss out on any hidden gems (which I seem to do every season, resulting in me having to watch 9+ episodes in order to catch up with a show that a nice group of individuals with similar tastes to me are hyped about). That said, it’s summer and I’m going to have quite a lot of free time, so here’s to discovering a slew of hidden gems!
Oki: This season has some good and bad. I’d say it’s pretty even compared to some of the seasons we’ve had before but that doesn’t mean the bad doesn’t keep on getting worse. Some of these shows are just unapologetic about their sheer level of bullshit. I can’t get over how companies would buy these plots nonetheless flaunt them as their entire premise, giving nothing interesting whatsoever t talk about? I can’t with this season, but you know what? What’s important here is Sailor Moon. My entire focus is on that show. Nothing this season will compare to my love interest and excitement for the new Sailor Moon series, so keep up with me and I’ll be watching it with all of you <3!
MidnightDevont: This season has a lot I’m excited for. It also has a lot that I look at and stuck my nose up at. I can’t understand how some people can put monies into these shows they know aren’t going to sell. On the other side of the coin, there is a LOT of yaoi for me to be watching this upcoming season. There is also some decent horror, there is also Sailor Moon Crystal! I am so pumped for Love Stage!! and Book of Circus, my childhood is getting reanimated WITH NO MORE DELAYS! I am so pumped for the summer, I’ll be sad that Mekakucity is over, that’s the only bummer about spring being over.
Charl Meister: Though I’m not down to cover much this season, the line-up is still very decent. The one show I’m really down for is Tokyo Ghoul; I’m a hardcore fan of everything horror and anime has a decent way of taking care of the genre so I doubt that will disappoint me. THEN THERE IS FREE!! Of course. Otherwise, while I’m not particular to watch much of anything else, I’ll still take a glimpse of the other series to see what they have to offer. I don’t think this season will be too disappointing.
CarmenTheNinja: This season is huge but I’m a little disappointed because there isn’t very many shows that grab my attention. Maybe that’s a good thing, so I can actually focus on what I’m watching. I do appreciate the variety in this line up, though. The well-known series with a lot of international hype seem to be my main focus and the Horror/Psychological/Drama genre seems to be dominating outside of that. I’m really excited to check out Tokyo Ghoul and Akame ga Kill. Pretty excited for my lesbians to be lesbians and NOT cousins in Sailor Moon as well!