Nodame’s featured instrument for Volume 5 is the cello. Or is it the string bass? Either way, she needs to make a weirder face while playing it.
I just got through the Kamichama Karin manga’s second volume, and I’m glad to say that it doesn’t suffer from the same QC issues as the anime version. I think.
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho 2: Electric Boogaloo
This is the second season of that one anime I only bothered watching one episode of it. Reader response seemed to indicate that it got better. But I’m so backlogged as it is that I doubt I’ll be able to catch up, let alone watch a second season.
Soukou Kihei Votoms Pailsen Files
Soukou Kihei Votoms Pailsen Files features mecha and a ton of manly men. Just check out the promotional PVs.
A little too much testosterone for my tastes. Then again, why did I complain about Sky Girls anyway?
Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan 2
A lot of people didn’t like Dokuro-chan, but I loved it. It was from the same director of Jungle wa Itsumo Hare… and it featured tons of over the top violence! And fanservice! I think people just didn’t “get” it.
Anyway, I’m really looking forward to this one. Pi-piru-piru-piru, Pi-piru-pi!
Zero no Tsukaima ~Futatsuki no Kishi~
I really liked the first season of Zero no Tsukaima. I hardly ever finish anime series. It’s like my weakness. But I finished Zero no Tsukaima, which shows you how much I liked it. Not much else to say here. I’m sure Louise will be just as tsundere, and the guy (I can’t remember his name, so I’ll just call him Yuji) will be just as… um, worthless?
Shigurui
According to Anidb, the title also means “Crazy For Death.” What!? It’s a period drama, which means I’ll end up saying I might watch it, then I won’t. I never like the art designs enough to chance these series.
Baccano!
I had enough patience to translate that Baccano! is about some kind of immortal life giving sake, and it takes place in New York. It’s based on a light novel series, and the illustrations look really sweet. Seems like the production values on this one are going to be high.
The New York of Red Garden was pretty funny, so I’m looking forward to how Baccano! does New York.
Moetan
Moetan is that series of Japanese books that teach otaku English. Or at least, crazy Engrish phrases. I’ve wanted the book for a really long time now, but I’m too lazy to get off my ass and order it. I think I could probably reverse engineer it to learn Japanese.
Anyway, now Moetan has an anime out this Summer. I believe it’ll be a laugh riot for all the wrong reasons. Subbed or unsubbed, I think this’ll be the anime to watch, at least for me, of the season.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
The English translation of the plot for Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei makes about as much sense as the original Japanese! But I really like the art I’ve seen so far. This looks like it might resemble NHK, with a guy trying to commit suicide (well, Satou tried once) and a girl trying to save him. Seems cool; I wanna see it.
Mononoke
Ooh, I remember reading about “Mono no Ke” when I was reading The Tale of Genji last Summer. According to this livejournal, Mononoke is spinoff from Ayakashi about a medicine seller who kills monsters (the mononoke) with a sword. But he has to find out about the history of the monster before killing it.
Sounds really interesting. I hope it keeps my interest, unlike the original Ayakashi.
Sky Girls
Why do loli girls always make the best mecha pilots? I never saw the original OVA. Some people might find the whole mecha musume thing to be cute, but I think it’s kinda creepy. I actually think I remember watching part of the OVA, actually. But it was creepy, as I recall.
Potemayo
At first glance, Potemayo looks like a kid’s show. But I checked the story section of the website, and there’s a ton of kanji! From what I could read, it seems to be about a middle schooler’s love triangle?
The main deal maker for me is that this anime is being done by J.C. Staff, which is my favorite studio. The designs look pretty neat and colorful. So I’ll watch this, probably even if it doesn’t get subbed.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
This is a continuation of the original Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni anime, which is licensed now. I never actually finished watching the original series, though it had me interested for a while. The resets got old.
I do give Higurashi props for making a pun for it’s second series, though.
Doujin Work
Doujin Work is based on a 4-koma about a girl who’s just discovered the wonderful world of doujin! So it’s like a cross between Comic Party and Lucky Star, I’m guessing. But Comic Party was lame, and Lucky Star is nothing without Hirano Aya and Kyoani.
I typically like anime based on 4-koma, but I don’t like doujin centered anything. Hmm…
Zombie-Loan
Zombie-Loan is about Frank the zombie. He’s trying to get an auto loan, but all the banks keep rejecting him because he’s dead. He vows to be the strongest zombie in the world, and this anime chronicles his journey.
Okay, not really. Zombie-Loan has something about a guy who has died, and so he makes a deal (let’s call it a Zombie-Loan) to live again, and repays his Zombie-Debt by killing other bad zombies. Did I mention zombie? Zombie.
Mushi-Uta
Mushi-Uta. I’m going to take a stab at translating the title at the risk of sounding dumb, and say it translates to “Bug Song.” My translations are always funny anyway.
This is an anime based on a light novel and (I think) a manga from Shounen Ace. I think the plot has something to do with killer bugs, but don’t quote me on that. Chances of me watching this: pretty slim.
Code-E
Code-E is about a transfer student that can control electromagnetic waves. The trailer contains bad CG meteors! But who cares? The main character is a cute meganekko, and that’s enough to make me watch just about anything. Bring on the meganekko!
Also, the theme song has a lot of high trumpet notes, which is a plus since I play lead trumpet.
Kenko Zenrakei Suieibu Umisho
Umisho is apparently about a transfer student (wait, didn’t I just write that?) who joins a school’s strange swimming team. She has a tendency to go skinny dipping. Enough said. Actually, I’m really digging this art, and girls in school mizugi are starting to grow on me. I have a feeling this’ll get subbed. So I’ll watch it.
School Days
School Days is another anime based on a game. It’s the one that has a bunch of fun bad endings where the girl you jilted takes revenge on your current girlfriend, as documented by jpmeyer.
That video was AWESOME, so there’s no way I’ll miss this.
The emo violin adventures continue in VS. Versus Vol. 2! Now with twice the emo!
It’s about that time again for some anime season previews! I’m doing these in small chunks, since I’m going to be out of town, and this is awesome post fodder!
Tetsuko no Tabi
Tetsuko no Tabi is apparently some kind of non-fiction anime based on a manga writer who accompanied his boss and a crazy Densha Otaku. So the plot is just them riding in trains and maybe the otaku wigging out about the train.
I’m pretty sure no one will sub this (it’s way too culture specific) but if someone does, it’d be pretty funny just to check out.
Nanatsuiro Drops
Nanatsuiro Drops is that one anime I and Hinano mispronounced in the podcast, then someone went crazy over it and bragged about totally completing 100% of the game it’s based on.
It has something to do with a guy who turns into a stuffed sheep toy and tries to find star droplets that’ll turn him back. Okayyyy… At least the character designs look interesting.
Buzzer Beater
I’m assuming this anime is about basketball because of the name, and the rotating basketball during the extremely long flash loading intro animation. Besides that I can’t really say much about this. There’s an old guy grappling two kids?
I don’t really like sports anime, well, Suzuka was pretty good. In a bad way. I think it stems back to middle school, when I was routinely chosen next to last for basketball. I usually beat out the retarded kid…
And that’s it for today! Come back tomorrow for more Summer 2007 anime previews!