Well not so much upcoming as almost finished. I only realised when I went to post my initial impressions of the upcoming Fall Season that I totally forgot to hit publish on the similar post I wrote for the Summer season. So here it is. I have to say, this season looks pretty lackluster to me
So here’s the chart (my preferred way to get an overview of a season) courtesy of Neregate.
Looking at it as a whole there are a lot of manga and light novel adaptations. Which is something I’m rather ambivalent about, I generally read/watch stuff primarily for the story so if I’ve read the manga (which is basically a given these days) or the light novel, then I find it hard to work up much interest in the anime. On the other hand for some stuff, particularly middle of the road action heavy manga, the anime adaptation can be “better”. Unfortunately a lot of the manga up for adaptation this season is stuff that I dont think really works well in an animated format, or certainly not the format as presented.
Really want to watch:
Working!!! – One of my favourite slice of life comedies. Really enjoyed the previous seasons, probably the show I’m most looking forward to out of the Summer ones.
Gate: JKKT – Absolutely love the premise for this and I tried to read the manga. Unfortunately the English scanlation is crowd sourced, by what feels like non-native English speakers. Its an odd mix of barely intelligible and flat out annoying to read. I still want to know what happens though. So I’m looking forward to this.
Rokka no Yuusha – I do like mystery stuff and fantasy stuff and this sounds like an entertaining spin on both. There’s also something really appealing about the animation style theyre using.
Chu Feng:BEE – I recall enjoying the original Webcomic but the artwork was often hit or miss, too sketchy for my taste from what I recall. However the animation quality on this looks great so I’m really interested in seeing how it turns out.
Dragon Ball Super – Dragon Ball is one of those things you can never escape, like malaria or the the clap. Hopefully the take some notes from the pacing of Kai rather than Z
Himoto! Umaru-chan – The manga is a great mix of hilarious and heartwarming (with the emphasis on the hilarious). I’m really hoping it translates well.
Will be watching:
Gangsta – I enjoyed the manga this is an adaptation off. It was bleak and populated with shitty but entertaining people. Sadly the scanlations werent always the best. I think the action is well suited to being animated and I look forward to (hopefully) having readable dialogue.
Chaos Dragon:Sekiryuu Sen’eki – This was a project that I thought sounded really interesting. A bunch of writers and designers who’s works Ive enjoyed got together to create a fantasy setting and run an RPG in it. Sadly the “Replay” off it (collected accounts of RPG sessions) was Japanese only. I’m interested to see what they’ve come up with. On the other hand, RPG settings tend to make even creative people dive for the generic because it makes for easier play. So I have some foreboding about it.
Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace – I really enjoyed Edogawa Ranpo’s stuff so I’m interesting to see what a show inspired by them will be like. Going to go out on a limb (no pun intended) and suggest it will be bleak and bloody.
Aoharu X Kianjuu – Not going to lie, I disliked the look of the main protagonist and was going to dismiss this out of hand (SUCH ARE MY WHIMS). Then I started reading the brief summary of it and by the end of the two line summary I was interested in checking this out.
Joukamachi no Dandelion – This sounds pretty interesting, the setup of numerous off-spring, super-powers and social media could make for something unique and relevant.
Ushio to Tora – I read the manga in its entirety a few years ago and it quite simply is what it is. A fun, if shallow, action manga squarely representative of its time period (the 90’s). Taking that into account I’m looking forward to enjoying it both for nostalgia and because its always nice to switch the brain off and indulge in some quality mindless entertainment.
Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai – Obscenity terrorists is a novel concept. This could turn out great or skin crawlingly cringe worthy depending on how its handled. I’m hoping for the former.
God Eater – I liked the game, I love the world and to be honest I’d watch more or less any old shite as long as ufotable were animating it.
Jistu wa Watashi wa – I’m honestly not sure about this one. I enjoyed the manga, but much like Ushio to Tora it was what it was. Though in this case it was purposefully retro shonen rom-com, the characters and setting along with the unique artstyle sold it for me. This artstyle hasnt carried over to the anime and I’m not sure if the palette and format really work for it.
Overlord – On the one hand I am thoroughly bored of “Virtual world+twist” stuff thats springing up fucking everywhere. On the other hand at least the twist here has me interested and I really like the design of the protagonist.
May watch aka will watch when I run out of other stuff:
Wakaba * Girl – I actually think this could be pretty entertaining. But it depends entirely on how well written it is. Having being burned in the past I feel its safer to hedge my bets.
Danchigai – Normally slice of life comedies are a guaranteed watch for me. But for some reason I find one’s centered around a specific family off-putting. I suppose I find it next to impossible to suspend disbelief on idyllic family life.
Classroom Crisis – This is here because the summary gives me absolutely no idea what the show will actually be about
Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX – The first series of this was surprisingly good (and grim). I havent watched the second season yet so this will have to languish here unloved until I do.
Charlotte – I like “first contact” stuff done with super powers. Unfortunately (for me) its rarely done well (in my opinion). Japanese media at least tries to do more interesting stuff with it (check out the truly excellent Mob Psycho 100), unfortunately this means they fail more often as well. I know it seems shallow, but its more to do with experience, but based on the animation style I dont think this is going to deliver for me.
Kurayami Santa – Not a fan of the artstyle and the name sort of annoys me. On the other hand the premise does sound like it could be good.
Akagamu no Shirayuki-hime – I get the feeling I read the manga version of this or something like this but I’m too lazy to check. I like the character designs but shoujo can be pretty hit and miss so caution is required.
Wont be watching:
I got bored listing things that I absolutely wouldnt watch. So if you think I missed something it just means there is a less than zero chance of me watching it (or maybe I just missed it).
Okusama ga Seito Kaichou – The phrase “erotic comedy” is just off-putting. Because we all know that it will be 95% erotic and 5% comedy (and that comedy is unlikely to be funny). If I hear good reports on this I might pump it up, but as it is I’m not even going to bother downloading it.
Aquarion Logos – I have to say I’m not watching this because of an irrational prejudice. The original Aquariaon series, which I watched to the end because I hate myself, was so bad that I refuse to check out any of the sequels. Even if the only thing tying them together is the name.
Miss Monochrome the Animation – So uninterested I cant even properly vocalise why
Wooser no Sono Higurashi Mugen-Hen – See above
Million Doll – Just doesnt sound interesting to me at all
Durararax2 – Scandalous as it may be to say, I just really didnt like the original and nothing about this makes me feel like revising my opinion.
Gatchaman Crowds insight – No reflection on the series itself, I simply havent seen the first season.
Fate/kaleid liner Prisma*Illya 2wei Herz! – See above
The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls Second Season – I havent seen the first season so I wouldnt watch this anyway. That said the only idolm@aster anime I enjoyed was that weird mech spin-off iDOLM@STER Xenoglossia.
Kangoku Gakuen Prison School – This is sort of the Peep Show of comedy manga to me, I think both are funny but they can be hard to watch or hard to read in the case of Prison School. Of course the reasons are slightly different, Prison School is certainly cringe worthy but thats because of the very (very) detailed displays of female flesh. I think its actually meant to be odd and unsettling most of the time rather than titillating, and it achieves that goal. Or maybe I’m just getting old. Anyway, its an integral part of the series and I dont think a lot of the humour will land without it. But there’s no doubt in my mind the anime adaptation will be (will have to be) censored. So whats the point really?
Makura no Danshi – I dont want a unique “sleeping side by side experience” with “pillow boys” to “heal my tired heart”
Venus Project -Climax- – I find my opinion amazingly changeable when it comes to idol stuff, at the moment it is a hard No to this though.
To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness 2nd – The anime adaptations are always pretty weak (and the new manga series is too pronographic) GOODBYE FOREVER TO LOVE RU!
Bikini Warriors – I just cant. I dont mind cheesecake when its not the main focus, but thats not the case here. Perhaps if I was a teenage boy this would work for me, but if I want to watch porn I’ll watch porn and if I want to watch fantasy cheesecake I want the fantasy to be the focus.