WINTER ANIME 2015 PREVIEW

I am proud to say that I was able to take my sweet time preparing this preview, since I didn’t leave it to the last minute for an exchange OHOHOHOHOHOHO~. I wanted to try and making it into a tidier format, so I added the line breaker and personally resized all the Promo Art/Key Visuals accordingly so it’s not a bunch of different shapes and sizes. But enough of the format revamp, the Winter 2015 Season is almost here! (Can you believe it? Gosh, time sure flies fast nowadays…) With thirty-three titles added to the roaster and eleven Fall 2014 titles carrying over, will your seasonal watch list be a long one, or a short one?

Titles Continuing into Winter 2015 Season
Ai Tenchi Muyo!, Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie, Cross Ange, Gundam G, Log Horizon 2, Magic Kaito 1412, Nanatsu no Taizai, Parasyte, Sanzoku no Masume, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, Yowamushi Pedal: Grand Road, Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V

:RESOURCES:
Anichart, ANN, CR, MAL

:Titles Excluded from Feature:
Detective Opera Milky Holmes TD, Dog Days S3

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Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata

Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://www.saenai.tv/
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: The life of Tomoyo Aki, a highschool otaku working part time to support his BD hoarding. With remarkable luck, he bumps head-first into, Megumi Kato, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Naturally, the meeting twists his life into a complicated torrent of relationships. Eriri Spencer Sawamura, his half-foreigner childhood friend who’s always valued her relationship with MC. Kasumigaoka Utaha, a cold, composed renowned literary genius who shoves everyone aside from our protagonist. What is this? An eroge introduction? The tale of a small not quite doujin circle, but not quite indie studio’s journey through the tough territory of comiket and beyond.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: I know I will be watching this one this season, but something tells me that this title will wound up on my “Plan to Watch”/”On-Hold” list. It will depend on how interesting it actually is.
Vantage: I’ll try it out since it looks fun, but I won’t be carrying too many expectations. It does sound like an eroge introduction, which may or may not be a good thing.
Oki: I think Hideki might want this. . .
MidnightDevont: I just can’t find anything in this that I have any interest in. Hideki is free to have it.
Berry: It sounds like it might become a harem, and I’m not really interested in this type of stuff, so no thanks.
Hideki: So far, this is the only show I actually think looks pretty good this season. I’m definitely interested in this one, in fact, this might be my shotgun.
Savage: And Hideki’s free to have it. I don’t see anything here that strikes me as my kind of thing,

Possible Bloggers:
Hideki

 

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The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls

Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://imas-cinderella.com/
Genre: Comedy, Music, Slice of Life
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Based on the iDOLM@STER mobile game Cinderella Girls.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: YESSSSS~ I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!!!!! If Vantage has time on his hands, we will be sharing this because that’s the deal! If not, THIS IS ALL MINE~ mwahahahahaha.
Vantage: Wow, it’s been so long! I’d be happy to share this with Eva once again, so hyped for more iM@S. Apparently it’ll be a whole new set of girls!
Oki: I don’t need this, she got it down ^
MidnightDevont: I think Eva’s got this, and besides, I feel like I should see the rest of IdolM@ster first…eventually, someday.
Berry: I heard this idol series is pretty good, but I never got around to watching the original. But since these are new girls, and maybe it won’t have a connection to the previous season (?), I might watch this.
Hideki: IdolNOster! haha. get it cause…i….never mind
Savage: Once again, not particularly drawn to the premise or genre, so I’ma give it a pass.

Possible Bloggers:
Eva & Vantage

 

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Durarara!!x2 Shou (Season 2)

Animation Company:  Studio Shuka
Website: http://www.durarara.com/
Genre: Action, Mystery, Shounen, Supernatural
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: A second season of Durarara!! is in the works. The story takes place a half year after the first series at Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood. There were be three cours, Durarara!!x2 Shou, Durarara!!x2 Ten, Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (the third cour of second season of Durarara!! airing Winter 2016).
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 |
Team Impression

Eva: DURARARAAAAAA IS BACCCCKKKKKK!!!! Gosh I am SO HAPPY that the three cours are already confirmed. So much to look forward to!
Vantage: So much hype! If there’s one series that won’t fall foul to the sequel curse, Durarara is it. It’s great they’ve decided to announce multiple cours right off the bat. We’re getting DRRR up until 2016!
Oki: Looks great but I’m fairly certain someone might w-
MidnightDevont: MINE, ALL MINE, er um, right….sharing, with Savage…we agreed on this…I AM SO INTO WANTING THIS. I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS OMG. -fan girls away-
Berry: *forever angry Durarara got multiple seasons and Baccano! hasn’t gotten anything else*
Hideki: Didn’t give a crap about the first Durara….
Savage: All of the waaaaaaant! Seriously, I was insanely happy this is happening, and I’m going to be watching the crap out of it.

Possible Bloggers:
Savage, MidnightDevont

 

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Seiken Tsukai no World Break

Animation Company: Diomedea
Website: http://warubure-anime.com/
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Written by Akamitsu Awamura, the series takes place in a private high school involving the concept of “saviors.” They are known as people who possess awakened memories of their past lives. The story tells of a young boy named Moroha Haimura who comes to this private school. At the school, there are two types of people: Saviors, who fight enemies with weapons and techniques gleaned from the Puraana powers from their own bodies, and Kuroma, who wipe out enemies with magic to manipulate the Maana powers that surpass physics. Moroha Haimura is the first person with past lives of both Shirogane and Kuroma.
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: Hmmm, needless to say while the summary sounds a bit bland, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to check it out. However I won’t be holding my breath for anything amazing of the sort.
Vantage: The title sounds sort of cool… but it’s one of those shows isn’t it. Well, I’ll be watching it anyway.
Oki: Eeeeehhhh.
MidnightDevont: Huh, I think this has potential but I’m not sure at all about it, I’m kind of confused about how to feel. I’ll see what other reviews say and decide if it’s worth a shot or not.
Berry: The main guy sounds “sooper speshul”. Not for me.
Hideki: Huh. It seems lame and overdone but…I maybe could possibly if nothing better is one this season?
Savage: Seems kinda interesting, maybe…I guess. If they play the past lives thing well…eh, I’ll watch the first episode.

Possible Bloggers:
Hideki

 

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Hello! Kin-iro Mosaic!

Animation Company: Studio Gokumi
Website: http://www.kinmosa.com/
Genre: Comedy, School, Slice of Life
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Second season of Kiniro Mosaic.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: Never watched the first season, nor do I think I will ever watch it.
Vantage: Holy fuck it’s back. An iyashikei like this is almost impossible to blog, but after the empty space left by Gochiusa you can be sure I’ll be watching the shit out of this. Clearly there’s uh… not much Kinmoza love here though. Anyone? No? Okay…
Oki: This looks way too moe and we know how I feel about moe.
MidnightDevont: A poem, Roses are red. Violets are blue, pedo-bear is coming for you. aka, nope!
Berry: No thanks.
Hideki: I love all the big fat nopes I have in this satchel (passes them out)
Savage: I’m getting a toothache from the picture alone. I…I’m good….

Possible Bloggers:
Vantage

 

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Aldnoah.Zero Season 2

Animation Company: A-1 Pictures
Website: http://www.aldnoahzero.com/ (JP) / http://www.aldnoahzerousa.com/ (ENG)
Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Aldnoah.Zero Continues
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: It was disappointing and sad to hear that the way the first season ended wasn’t what Urobuchi Gen had in mind (since someone else was in charge of writing it), so it makes me curious of how this changes the plan for the story. Regardless, I am still interested in watching this season, but at the same time I am not interested in blogging it. Other than that: I am fairly certain that if your favorite characters survived last season, they are probably going to die this season…. TEAM SLAINE!
Vantage: Slaine is my hero. Except not enough people died at the end of last season. Does no-one actually want this? I’ll take it if not, but be prepared for my unpopular and disparaging opinions on Princess Peach, Inaho, Rayet and everyone that’s not Slaine. His tears are delicious.
Oki: Can Urobutchi make this anime into a success after a season of mixed reviews? We’ll see.
MidnightDevont: I just hope it’s better received then the first season, hopefully Urobuchi can fix the mistakes of last season and pull it up to be a master piece.
Berry: Didn’t watch the first season, not very interested.
Hideki: Dear show, I never saw your season one. Love, Hideki
Savage: Curiouser and curiouser. We’ve seen how a Urobuchi show can be botched by his not being involved, but can he save a show that’s already not doing amazing? I don’t know.

Possible Bloggers:
Vantage

 

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Tokyo Ghoul√A

Animation Company: Studio Pierrot
Website: http://www.marv.jp/special/tokyoghoul/
Genre: Action, Mystery, Drama, Horror, Supernatural, Psychological
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Second Season of Tokyo Ghoul series.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: Didn’t watch the first season.
Vantage: Kaneki Ken did nothing wrong. No-one wants this either? Tokyo Ghoul:re is a blast so far, and this second season is a chance for the adaptation to finally put things right after the ridiculous way it ended last time. Guess I’ll blog this too.
Oki: Didn’t see first season.
MidnightDevont: Watched half of the first season, should probably finish that….when I get around to finishing season 1, i’ll watch season 2.
Berry: I didn’t like season 1. I don’t think I’m going to be watching this. And since it’s going to have an anime-only ending or something, I don’t think fans of the manga are going to like it.
Hideki: Dear Show, Once again, I did not see your season one. Please put me on your do not call list. thank you, Hideki.
Savage: Didn’t see season 1, and have no interest, really.

Possible Bloggers:
Vantage

 

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Kuroko no Basuke Season 3

Animation Company: Production I.G
Website: http://www.kurobas.com/
Genre: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Third season of Kuroko no Basuke
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: I grew tired of the long speeches during the games so I wounded up putting the second season on hold. Season 3 will have to wait until I finish the second season before I continue on to watch it. I’ll get around to it, eventually. = v =;;
Vantage: What is it with you guys and sequels? I decided to marathon Kurobas recently, and it’s actually pretty cool. It’s not really the sort of show I’d blog though, but I might do a first impression and stuff. Seirin fight!
Oki: It’s not really my thing, to be honest!
MidnightDevont: Another show in which i started watching it and dropped it before I could get too far, I liked what I saw but I honestly feel like i’d be more interested if it was dubbed. Hey, can come company pick the first season up so I can give a shit?
Berry: I LOVE THIS SHOW. But the problem with sports anime is how difficult it is to blog them every week. It’s like, stuff happens, but then stuff doesn’t happen. So it’d be too tough. But I’m totally tuning in. I can’t wait to finally see Akashi play since he’s always been shrouded in mystery compared to the other Generation of Miracles players.
Hideki: Dear Show, I am calling my lawyer as I asked you to put me on your do not call list and you continue to berate me. I did not see your season one. Sincerely, Hideki
Savage: Everybody get up, its time to Nope now!

Possible Bloggers:
Vantage

 

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Ansatsu Kyoushitsu

Animation Company: Lerche
Website: http://www.ansatsu-anime.com/
Genre: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Supernatural
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary:A humorous and action-packed story about a class of misfits who are trying to kill their new teacher – an alien octopus with bizarre powers and super strength! The teacher has just destroyed the moon and is threatening to destroy the earth – unless his students can destroy him first. What makes things more complicated is that he’s the best teacher they’ve ever had!
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 |
Team Impression

Eva: Not gonna lie, when I first heard of the series I thought to myself, “Eh… I don’t know how much I’d enjoy reading something called Assassination Classroom”. Well now that I’ve seen the trailer, actually READ the summary, it is certainly not all what it seems to be. Will be checking this out (not sure why I haven’t checked out the manga yet, but oh well, I’ll get there eventually).
Vantage: Yeah, the title definitely gives off the wrong sort of vibe, but it sounds pretty wacky. Maybe even a bit too wacky. Also, I’m sure the best teacher is Denpa Kyoushi.
Oki: I. . . .I. . .I kind of wanted to watch it but I just cannot promise I will be committed to covering a comedy show.
MidnightDevont: The minute Oki read the summery to me I had to stop, blink a few times and go, “Wait a second…that sounds…like it could be good.” and so yeah, i’ll check it out for sure.
Berry: WHOOOA. That’s a lot of characters. Hm…it sounds pretty interesting. But also pretty dumb. But it could be a really good type of dumb, so I’ll watch it.
Hideki: I…i don’t even know what to say about this show… i guess the closest thing i can think of is no?
Savage: Yes, very much so. I’ve heard about it, its written by the guy who did Neuro…so yeah, I’m on board

Possible Bloggers:
Savage, MidnightDevont

 

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Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!

Animation Company: Studio Pierrot
Website: http://boueibu.com/
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary:This is the story of how five high school boys affiliated with the “Binan High School Earth Defense Club” aka the “Do Nothing Club” are charged by a weird pink wombat creature with protecting the world.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 |
Team Impression

Eva: Is this a magical boy show? Oh come on, tell me it’s a magical boy show!
Vantage: Suffering confirmed.
Oki: If this is a magical boys show I might actually cover it with someone. We NEED that!
MidnightDevont: OKAY, true story. Saw a picture of this on Tumblr and told myself if I was covering NOTHING else this next season. It would be this show, because if it is a magical boys show I need it in my life! Okay, just watched PV 1. THIS SHOW IS MINE!
Berry: IT’S A MAGICAL BOY SHOW, OH MY GOD. IT LOOKS SO STUPID BUT SO FUNNY. I’M MOST LIKELY GONNA WATCH IT.
Hideki: I would rather die.
Savage: W…wtf? XD I don’t even know what I’m looking at….just…what? I might just see the first ep for kicks because this looks insane.

Possible Bloggers:
MidnightDevont

 

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Isuca

Animation Company: Arms
Website: http://isuca.net/
Genre: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School, Supernatural
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Shinichirou decides to look for a job in order to pay his rent, and his teacher suggests that he work for someone at their house,doing housekeeping. However, the person who hired him was Sakuya, a girl who is the 37th head of the Shimazu family, and her job is to exorcise and eliminate unwanted creatures. Shinichirou accidentally releases one of the creatures that Sakuya captures and they cooperate to catch it. A story of comedic creature hunting begins!
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: Not feeling it right now.
Vantage: A story of comedic creature hunting begins! Okay next.
Oki: Okay there’s two ways this show can go. Either it will be a really awesome heartfelt action adventure where people grow closer and there’s real perile. . .or it will be Vanadis 2.0 where the main character is a fucking gary stu who can anything and his love interest can do everything and he wins everything because he is the greatest and I really can’t say I like that.
MidnightDevont: The only thing that worries me about this is the Ecchi tag, otherwise it looks like it could be pretty good. The art is nice…? I think i’ll pass until I hear that it’s not gonna be Vanadis 2.0….
Berry: Nooooo
Hideki: (reads that there’s the possibility of a vanadis 2.0. dies a little inside)
Savage: Not a bad premise, but then again, so are a lot of things.
 

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JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders 2

Animation Company: David Production
Website: http://jojo-animation.com/
Genre: Action, Adventure, Shounen
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: The second season of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: Not my thing, never watched it.
Vantage: Wait, didn’t this just… oh, a second season. Right.
Oki: Not my thing, my friend might watch it but I can’t.
MidnightDevont:  I watched about three episodes of the old Jojo, not even Stardust Crusader and decided this show style wasn’t for me.
Berry: Oh come on, guys. Jojo is so good. Since the guys have FINALLY made it to Egypt, things could probably get more exciting. It was getting a little episodic with the whole “Villian of the Week” thing. It was kinda like Sailor Moon, but much cooler and more bara.
Hideki: Meh. Never really saw Jojo.
Savage: I’d need to watch season 1, but heck, could be fun.

Possible Bloggers:
Savage, Berry

 

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Junketsu no Maria

Animation Company: Production I.G
Website: http://junketsu-maria.tv/
Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Historical, Magic, Seinen
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: The story follows Maria, the most powerful witch who lives during the Hundred Years’ War in France. She despises war, so she obstructs battles with her strong magical powers. Her meddling with her succubus Artemis and incubus Priapos has caught the attention of the heavens, and so the Archangel Michael issues an edict. When Maria loses her virginity, she will also lose her magical powers. A beautiful angel named Ezekiel is supposed to watch Maria and make sure the witch does not use magic in front of people, but Maria continues to use magic anyways.
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: The story actually sounds quite funny, and I have read in the forums that we shouldn’t be misled by the “ecchi’ tag in the genre. I will be checking this one out, but I won’t be holding any particular expectations.
Vantage: It seemed like such a righteous, plot-filled plot from the first three sentences of the summary, which is what I usually read first (sometimes it’s the only thing I read). I can now confirm that it really will be ‘full’ of ‘plot’.
Oki: It seems cute but I do worry, when people throw around the ‘virginity’ plotline they tend to have weak moments where she should be raped but don’t want to go there- I hope Maria will turn out to be a strong woman who doesn’t end up in every other episode being ‘almost raped’ to further the plot. But you know what? The PV gives me hope. I’ll give it a shot.
MidnightDevont: Wow I don’t really know how to feel about this one, it could be really good and on the flip side it could be really bad. I like the involvement of the High Angels…but in the end I can’t say this is my kind of anime. Pass.
Berry: This sounds dumb.
Hideki: I’m not dealing with a virgin story. Fushigi Yuugi made me want to murder small children. I don’t need tht again.
Savage: Could be fun, but not that drawn in by the premise.

 Possible Bloggers:

Oki

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Kantai Collection: Kan Colle

Animation Company: Diomedea
Website: http://kancolle-anime.jp/
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Military
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: TV adaptation of the online browser card battle game.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Team Impression

Eva: Definitely tuning it. Is it something I’ll be interesting in covering… maybe. Varies on what catches my interest this season.
Vantage: Mine. I’ve been waiting for this since summer (Shimakaze best girl). I won’t lie, these ship girls are probably the only reason I came back. Wait, should I have said that?
Oki: ….this says military…this is a military. . . filled with cute girls in fucking outfits NO THANK YOU YOU FUCKING ANIME INDUSTRY
MidnightDevont:  There is so much wrong here that I don’t even know where to begin to start….
Berry: This just…*sigh* I really don’t care.
Hideki: It’s like…maybe i would have done this if vantage didn’t shotgun it but…otherwise..meh not gonna watch it.
Savage: Nah…nah….nah.

Possible Blogger:
Vantage

 

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Koufuku Graffiti

Animation Company: SHAFT
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/koufuku_g/
Genre: Comedy, Seinen
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: A TV anime adaptation of the gourmet manga of the same name by Kawai Makoto.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva:  *¬* Food... Might follow, but won’t cover.
Vantage: One of the things I first learnt as a uni student was that food is precious. I don’t really care for this, but… wait, SHAFT? Okada Mari? What are you guys doing here?
Oki: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo thank you.
MidnightDevont: Uh, no. I think i’m good.
Berry: I love food, and I love watching cooking shows. So an anime cooking show? Hell yeah.
Hideki: Umm…..mayhaps? I mean…Yakitate japan was good….
Savage: I don’t wanna watch an anime that will just make me hungry, and this sounds like it will.

Possible Bloggers:
Hideki, Berry

 

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Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha

Animation Company: Production IMS
Website: http://anime-shinmaimaou.com/
Genre: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: “Hey, you said you wanted a little sister, right?” First year highschool student, Toujo Basara, was suddenly asked by his father and fell into a state of panic. On top of that, the eccentric father told him he will be getting remarried.
He then departed overseas after bringing Basara two beautiful step-sisters. But Mio and Maria’s true forms are actually the newbie Demon Lord and a succubus!? Basara was almost entered into a master and servant contract with Mio, but a “reversed” contract was formed by mistake, and Basara is now the master!? Moreover, Basara is being hit by one ecchi situation after another due to the contract, but Mio’s life is being pursued by other demon tribes and hero tribes! The most powerful contractor’s desire action drama begins!
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: I spy with my little eye… something that starts with “B”
Vantage: Hey, I’ve heard of this one. Will be watching it, but it’s not the sort of thing I’d blog.
Oki: No. I’m just not interested and not going to be able to keep up with something that looks so bland.
MidnightDevont: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NO. moving on.
Berry: NO NO NO NO, GODDAMN IT NO.
Hideki: Oh, that reminds me, I have to watch season 2 of High School DXD
Savage: Nah…nah nah nah. Just…no. So bland, so lame.

Possible Bloggers:
…

 

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Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 50 (Season 2)

Animation Company: ZEXCS
Website: http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/shonen-hollywood-anime/
Genre: Music, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: 2nd Season of Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 49.
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: Yeah remind me, what is so great about this show? It is music, and even I didn’t watch it. Why? Never found the motivation to watch it, not that anyone cares.
Vantage: The fuck is this?
Oki: I don’t really like the concept or anything about it, so no thank you.
MidnightDevont: So I think I was making fun of season 1 not that long ago, looks like I still have some comedy material.
Berry: Didn’t see season 1, so no way.
Hideki: I didn’t want to watch season one, why the hell would I want to watch it now?
Savage: Nah..didn’t see season 1,and got no interest.
 

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Tsukimonogatari

Animation Company: SHAFT
Website: http://www.monogatari-series.com/tsukimonogatari/
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
Airing Date: December 31st 2014
Summary: “Please!—Do it, and get it over with.” Slowly but surely, Koyomi Araragi, who “has been averting his eyes from reality,” has no choice but to face it. February comes, and the college entrance exam is approaching. What is this “change” that is happening to his body that cannot be overlooked? The “Monogatari” begins to sprint towards its conclusion. This is Oddity taking place in the modern world! In a story of youth, a word of farewell is inevitable.
Trailer: PV 1 |
Team Impression

Eva: *Yodels in the distance of the first season* How many seasons am I behind now? WAIT- HOLD UP, IS THIS THE FINAL SEASON!?!?! OH MY GOD, IS IT ENDING!? ∑(;°Д°)
Vantage: This is before Hanamonogatari, isn’t it? I didn’t cover that, but because this is airing during the holidays I might do so for this. Also it’s not the final season – it’s actually not even a season at all, it’s a special. I think this is the end of Part II of how they’ve grouped these arcs, there’s still a Part III out there. Sorry!
Oki: It’s finally ending?!
MidnightDevont: Woah, i’m so far behind on the Monogatari series…how many seasons have there been now?
Berry: Is the Monogatari series really that good? God there’s so much, but I don’t like harems and SHAFT’S animation style.
Hideki: I didn’t even know this show started let alone it was ending….
Savage: All I remember from the first season was weirdness and odd sexual imagery…and so behind everything else. Pass.

Possible Bloggers:
Vantage

 

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Yoru no Yatterman

Animation Company: Tatsunoko Production
Website: http://yatterman.jp/
Genre: Adventure
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: New Yatterman series to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Tatsunoko’s Time Bokan series.
A girl is looking at a remote island on the ocean named The Yatter Kingdom, a country that is said to be ruled by the hero Yatterman. The girl wants to ask the Yattermans for some help to cure her sick mother and decides to venture to the kingdom. She gets kicked out from the kingdom though and her mother dies without receiving any help.
Under Dokurobei, the boss of the Dorombo thieves that existed, lies a beauty named Doronjo. The two men, Boyacky and Tonzura, worked under Doronjo but got kicked out from the Yatter Kingdom along with the Doronbo thieves as they lost a fight against the Yatterman. This is the new generation of Dorombo—Doronjo, Boyacky, Tonzura, and new Yatterman—a story of the birth of Gan-chan and Ai-chan.
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: This is something that will require me to watch the premiere to figure out what I think of this.
Vantage: Huh?
Oki: This just doesn’t sound like my thing to be honest?
MidnightDevont: What is even…this is what?
Berry: Same as Eva.
Hideki: You know what? You know what? The hell with it. It’s weird and random enough for me to give it a shot. (shrug) why not?
Savage: I don’t even get what this is even supposed to be.

Possible Bloggers:
Hideki

 

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Yuri Kuma Arashi

Animation Company: Silver Link
Website: http://www.yurikuma.jp/
Genre: Yuri, Seinen
Airing Date: January 5th 2015
Summary: The “intellectual fantasy” follows Kureha, a “transparent” high school girl who is plain and is barely noticed by others. Seemingly every night, she has a “dream about a bear and transparent storm.” In this dream, her mysterious classmate Ginko Yurishiro appears in the form of a bear.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: The only reason I will be checking this out is because it’s being directed by Ikuhara Kunihiko (Revolutionary Girl Utena and Mawaru Penguindrum) and he is also the author of the manga (which I haven’t read). You can always count on Ikuhara Kunihiko for complicated and interesting stories, so regardless of how strange the synopsis sounds, I think it is something that we should keep track of on our radar.
Vantage: Yuri? Really? Also yeah this sounds like one of those abstract, surreal things that end with you enthusing about how good it was, even though you had no idea what just happened.
Oki: I’m not going to lie this sounds terrible, just terrible.
MidnightDevont: Woah, if it wasn’t for what Eva typed I wouldn’t of even given this show a second look, I don’t think i’ll cover it but maybe i’ll watch it or something.
Berry: There’s cute girls and bears and characters that have bear features, and I have no idea what it’s about and it looks stupid, but for some reason I really want to watch this.
Hideki: I don’t even….. what? a bear? why?
Savage: BEARS! But yeah now…also, what’s with the hunting rifle? just…what?

Possible Bloggers:
Eva, Berry

 

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Absolute Duo

Animation Company: 8bit
Website: http://absoluteduo.com/
Genre: Action, Ecchi, Romance, School, Harem, Supernatural
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: After losing a loved one, Tooru Kokonoe enrolls at Kouryou Academy so as to gain a “Blaze,” a weapon that is his soul manifestation, for the sake of revenge. He was expecting a weapon… What he got was a shield… How is he to seek revenge with something that isn’t even a weapon?!
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: The story sounds interesting so count me in to give this one a whirl!
Vantage: Wow, what beautiful art. This looks really great – it’s one of the few original (i.e. non-sequel) shows I’m actually interested in this season. Except I won’t blog it, because time.
Oki: This actually sounds pretty good? I’ll give it a shot either way, but it’s one of the few titles that seems really good.Watch, now that I’ve freaking said that it will be absolute shit.- But you know what? Fuck it, I’ll join the harem of people interested.
MidnightDevont: This sounds…actually pretty good. Not even going to lie…I love the art and for some reason I feel like I know this….like the title and the art look really familiar to me for reasons I can’t place at all. AH, WEIRD DEJA VU GO AWAY.
Berry: Dont’ wanna.
Hideki: Last time I tried one of these shows I got Ushinawareta. No thanks.
Savage: Huh..this actually sounds kind of interesting, and I’ll be checking it out.

Possible Bloggers:
Eva, Savage, MidnightDevont, Oki

 

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Kamisama Hajimemashita Season 2

Animation Company: TMS Entertainment
Website: http://mikagesha.com/index.html
Genre: Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo, Supernatural
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Second season of Kamisama Hajimemashita
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3
Team Impression

Eva: …. After the first season’s train-wreck, I don’t think I even want to get near this since the staff didn’t change. ¬_¬||| The only way I will ever watch this is if someone tells me justice has been served- and frankly, I am not holding my breath for it. But it would be nice if they did it right this time…
Vantage: I watched like… no, I downloaded the first episode and I can’t remember why I ended up deleting it without trying it. Never mind.
Oki: As someone who saw last season, I am willing to give it another shot. I’m more than happy to cover it and hope they cover some of my favorite things!
MidnightDevont: I think Oki would chop my hands off if i tried, besides, haven’t seen the first season. It’s all yours babe!
Berry: Okay, so compared to other people, I actually liked the anime, though I didn’t like the last couple episodes. I started reading the manga during the end of the anime, and I love it until recently (fuck you Akura-ou). I’m not sure if I want to cover the anime because I haven’t read the manga in awhile, but I’ll be watching this.
Hideki: This is oki’s baby. have at it oki.
Savage: Its all Oki”s, all the way.

Possible Bloggers:
Oki

 

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Juuou Mujin no Fafnir

Animation Company: Diomedea
Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/fafnir/
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, School
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: With the sudden appearance of the monsters that came to be called Dragons, the world had completely changed. Before long, within the human race supernatural girls with the power of the dragons, called “D,” were born. The secret existence of the only male “D,” the boy Mononobe Yuu, was forcefully thrown into the school where the girls of “D” gathered—Midgar, where he saw the naked body of one of the students, Iris. Furthermore, meeting his long-lost sister Mitsuki, Yuu seems to have been enrolled into this school…?! “When there’s really no other choice, Iris, I will—kill you.” “Can I really… believe you?” The curtains open as the “one and only story” about the boy who was supposed to become the strongest assassin and the incompetent girl unfolds—! Unlimited School Battle Action!
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: Wow, that sounds so interesting!

Vantage: They finally got the D! Haha, I’m quite proud of that one. Except they look like they’re 8 years old, and that’s not really my sort of loli show.
Oki: This sounds like a crazy painful version of Cross Ange mixed with Infinite Stratos so as to give the ‘super special guy in a school of women who is better than all the women’ plot. No freaking thank you.
MidnightDevont: Why is this plot so damn popular? Are people really into this kind of show? Why don’t we ever see the one special girl in a school full of boys? What’s so wrong with the girl being special!? Are girls not allowed to be the special snowflake? Why does there need to be a guy? Why can’t it just be a school of girls, or once again we could just reverse the trope. IS THERE A REASON FOR THIS? IS IT SO YOU GUYS CAN FANTASIZE ABOUT BEING THAT SPECIAL GUY? Like seriously, we see one of these shows every season. Oh, and NO, i will not watch your stupid show. Someone call me when they do a reverse version of this concept!
Berry: WHOA, THE ONLY MALE WITH THIS POWER, WHOA HE’S SO SPECIAL AND COOL AND EVERYONE WANTS HIS D AND SHIT…fuck these shows. Christ…
Hideki: Ow. I read that plot synopsis and it PHYSICALLY hurt me. No. I can’t deal with another “one boy in a girl” thing. I..i just can’t.
Savage: Same with Hideki. The amount of good shows with one main guy and a bunch of girls is few and far between. This just sounds like it’ll easily become a mess.
 

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Sengoku Musou

Animation Company: TYO Animations & Tezuka Productions
Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sengokumusou/
Genre: Action, Historical, Samurai
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: TV anime adaptation of Sengoku Musou games.
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: I will probably check this out… eventually…

Vantage: Every season we have one of these. They’re like spam emails, seriously…
Oki: Looks good but I just don’t think I have the time.
MidnightDevont: No thanks, I think the animation is super pretty but it doesn’t seem like my kind of show.
Berry: This is connected with Sengoku Basara, right? Damn, then I’m gonna have to pass on this.
Hideki: I do not like historical stuff. never really have.
Savage: Not really interested in the war and battles and all that. Never had an interest in Sengoku Basara, and not interested here.
 

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Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus

Animation Company: Xebec
Website: http://fafner-exodus.jp/
Genre: Drama, Mecha, Sci-Fi
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Sequel to Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor, set two years after Heaven and Earth.
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3 | PV 4 | PV 5
Team Impression

Eva: I finally got around to watch the series, but GOD, IT HURTS LIKE A BITCH. The one thing that they don’t mention in the genre is that it’s fucking tragic. I was sobbing mess when I was watching it. But I do enjoy my occasional melodramas so…yeah I might tune in.

Vantage: For all my bitching about watching sequels, I haven’t seen this. Sorry.
Oki: Hgnghggh can’t!
MidnightDevont: Never even heard of the original, so I think i’ll pass.
Berry: I’ve never even heard of this show?
Hideki: What’s with all the laster seasons this season?!
Savage: Never saw season 1, yadda yadda

Possible Bloggers:
Eva

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Rolling☆Girls

Animation Company: Wit Studio
Website:
Genre: Slice of Life
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Rolling, falling, scrambling girls. For others. For themselves. Even if they’re destined to be a “mob.”
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: …All I can think of is Hatsune Miku’s Rolling Girl song. But in all seriousness I have no idea what to make out of this show right now. I guess I have no choice but to watch the first episode to hopefully get a hint. Loving the artistic animation though, so that’s a plus.
Vantage: Hey, didn’t Wit Studio do Shingeki?
Oki: What????
MidnightDevont: What is even…that summery hurts my brain. Hideki read it to me, I read it myself, I’d watch the PV’s but I don’t think it would help.
Berry: The animation is way nice, but I don’t even know what the hell it’s about. I might check it out though.
Hideki: I read the description…saw the trailer….i STILL don’t know what the hell this show’s about…
Savage: So much confusion I don’t even know.
 

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Death Parade

Animation Company: MADHOUSE
Website: http://www.ntv.co.jp/deathparade/
Genre: Game, Psychological
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: “Welcome to Queen Dekim” What greets two unsuspecting guests is a strange bar, Queen Dekim, and the white-haired bartender, Dekim. “From here you two shall begin a battle where your lives hang in the balance,” he says to introduce the Death Game. Before long the guests’ true natures become apparent. As a matter of course, at the game’s end Dekim is revealed to be the “arbiter.” Dekim’s judgement on the two guests is…
Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2
Team Impression

Eva: I never seen the Death Billards’ short (Anime Mirai Project in 2013), but… it looks like given that it is psychological it is probably something I am better off avoiding… Nevertheless I am really happy to see a short be turned into a series because it’s very rare for that to happen.
Vantage: Classy. Looks like there’ll be lots of unnecessary suffering involved. Will watch, won’t blog.
Oki: I have no clue of the short, but even though psychological is my thing I am just not sure I am into this?
MidnightDevont: OH YEAH, I forgot this was on the roster for this season. I think I saw this when I was looking up anime for the season and made a mental note about it. Psychological animes are totally my thing. I think I can at least check this one out.
Berry: This looks pretty cool, and I like psychological stuff. Will tune in.
Hideki: This show sounds like if Saw and Catherine had a baby. and that scares me. no thanks.
Savage: While psychological isn’t my thing per se, it seems grabbing, interesting,and there’ll at least be things to talk about.

Possible Bloggers:
Savage, MidnightDevont

 

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Go! Princess Precure

Animation Company: Toei Animation
Website: http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/princess_precure/
Genre: Magic, Shoujo
Airing Date: January 2015
Summary: Haruka Haruno is a first-year student at Noble Academy. Even now, she has cherished a dream of becoming a princess, like those from her precious picture books. Long ago, she made a promise with a boy named Kanata to never give up the dream.
Trailer: PV 1
Team Impression

Eva: Well this is certainly a releatively different approach compared to what we are used to from Precure. The character designs reminds me a bit of Puchi Puri Yuushi and Fushigiboshi no Futagohime along with of course, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pitch. But it also reminds me a bit of the earler Precure designs. As per usual, I will certainly be giving this a whirl to see whether or not it will charm me like Happiness Charge Precure.

Vantage: Too much water 7.8/10
Oki: It’s Precure so I’m assuming Eva wants it!
MidnightDevont: -walks away- couldn’t care less
Berry: Dear god how many Precures are there? I really want to watch this series, but…oh my god.
Hideki: They’re STILL MAKING THESE?!
Savage: I’m not interested, really.

Possible Bloggers:
Eva

 

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Overall Thoughts

 
Eva: Long story short: Winter 2015 is a total lackluster. It is a shame to say that there isn’t much that is catching my attention this season, but the main reason behind that is because the almost half of the titles are sequels. So unless you have seen those sequels, the number of options decreases drastically. On top of that, it certainly doesn’t help that there are very few new shows that makes me jump from my seat and shout, “ME WANT!!!”. As of right now, Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls is that one show that I am guaranteed to cover. I will probably watch most of the premieres, but right now it appears that Durarara!!x2, Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata, Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!, Ansatsu Kyoushitsu, and Aldnoah.Zero S2, Absolute Duo are the shows I will most likely stick around to watch till the very end, or add them to my Plan to Watch list. Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus is up in the air and Go! Princess Precure will ultimately depend on it’s charm and execution. However, the one show that I will be keeping a close eye on this season is Yuri Kuma Arashi, but we will have to wait and see whether or not if I will be invested enough to cover it if no one else will.

Vantage: Even though it feels like I didn’t really leave, I’m back! Looking at it objectively, this season feels quite mediocre. And that’s because most of its potential seems to lie in sequels, which are too dependent on people already being familiar with the series; if they’re not then they won’t express any interest. Happily enough, sequels are actually what I’m most interested in – bar God Eater, Absolute Duo and the gloriously shameless Kantai Collection, I don’t think there are any other original shows I’m genuinely looking forward to. More room for surprises and sleeper hits I suppose, but it’s not too appealing an idea to wade through ten shit shows to find one good one. Anyway, I’m also up for watching Durarara!!x2, Kiniro Mosaic and Kuroko no Basuke S3, and will be blogging Kancolle as well as the second seasons to Aldnoah.Zero and Tokyo Ghoul, both of which have had their prequels covered by former writers here. And of course, I’ll be sharing Cinderella Girls with Eva! Your mileage will vary with Winter 2015.
Oki: This season is filled with ‘Maybe this will be good’. I have hopes for God Eater and other things but honestly? I think the best parts will be the roll overs. Cross Ange and Sailor Moon will continue, and I will continue reviewing them. If nothing pans out this season what you can expect is for me to pick up the shows on hiatus like Gundam and Cardfight Vanguard!!! G. I have actually high hopes for Kamisama because the territory they are in now is foreshadowing season, they actually have the means to live up to it now I think. Maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised? Other than the few gems I’m not sure.
MidnightDevont: This season is like a box of mixed candies, there are some candies you love and you’re really excited to eat. Durararax2, There are some candies you’re trying for the first time and you’re pretty sure you’re going to like. Death Parade, and then there are some candies that are just so strange and weird that you can’t understand them even after you’ve eaten them, Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!  and lastly, there is the vomit flavored birdie bots every flavored jelly beans. Juuou Mujin no Fafnir. I can’t say I see this shaping up to be a great season but there are some things that are pending to hold my interest, and who knows, perhaps there is a series that will crash in and take us all by surprise. It’s happened before to be sure, with the two shows I have carrying over from Fall i’m set to have another good season!
Berry: I don’t know what it is about the Winter season, but it always sucks. Two years ago, I only watched two shows (Robotics;Notes and Psycho Pass, and I only liked Psycho Pass). Last winter, I watched ten shows, but half of them were leftovers from Fall 2013, and some of the winter shows I watched were mediocre. And this winter season just doesn’t look any better. There’s only a couple shows that I’m really looking forward to (Kuroko no Basket 3, and Jojo’s). The others I displayed interest for, it’s not like I’m excited for them (maybe except the cooking show and magical boy one). It’s just me showing slight interest and hoping that they show good first impressions. I don’t know…a lot of these shows are so dumb looking and I don’t care. I’ll have a couple shows from Fall I’m still gonna cover (which I’m enjoying right now), so if these winter shows are going to suck, then I’ll be content with Akatsuki no Yona and Log Horizon. Also, I can focus on school more. But man, I’m just losing faith in the winter season. It’s so disappointing and dumb. Hm…
Hideki: Wow. What to say about this season. Well let’s put it this way. Last season I was covering EIGHT shows and I had to cut myself back. This season, I’m STRUGGLING to find FOUR. A huge amount of the shows are later seasons of already pre-established shows Pretty Cure, Jojo, Durarara (Etc) and I wasn’t a fan of any of the first seasons of these. I am not really excited for this season at all. There doesn’t seem to really be anything interesting other than a scant few. The only one that looks mildly interesting to me is the Yuri Otaku show. Other than that. pff… um… I guess the cooking show could be interesting? Honestly, 2 of the shows (Yatterman and Seiken) I’m really just doing as a shot in the dark. They might be terrible, but who knows. Sometimes you try shows on a whim and they’re awesome like Gokudo or they’re terrible like Golden Boy. You never know until you try. So um…Not excited but… (shrug) it’ll be hard to beat Vanadis in terms of terribleness.
Savage: Honestly, there seems to be less that strike out to me this season. There’s a lot of boring premises flung out that we’ve all seen before. The faces and names change, but the cliches stay the same. There’s a lot that simply does not interest me but there’s at least a few here I like. For instance, Durarara! is my top, my absolute top. Narita-san is one of my favorite writers, and getting to see characters animated that before were stuck in the light novels (which no one will ever translate ever) is something I’m dying to see. After that, Ansatsu Kyoushitsu is really the other big eye-catcher. Like I said, was written by the guy who did Neuro, and the premise and plot are all its own and likely good for a laugh. The rest of the series, I’ll work by a first episode basis. If I’m hooked in by the first episode, then I might take on the series to review. These maybes include God Eater, World Break, Absolute Duo, and Death Parade. If all of these fall flat and I still need a show to solo on, I’ll pick up Jojo season 2 (though I’ll of course need to catch up on season 1.)