The Summer season starts off strong. Here is a first blush as a few of the first episodes that aired.
ReLIFE: Kaizaki Arata, 27 years old, is unemployed and facing a bleak existence when his parents cut off his allowance. A stroke of luck appears in a man working for a company called ReLIFE. The offer is to spend a year as a 17 year old, attending high school. After the year, which his living expenses will be covered by the company, he may be eligible for employment with them based on how he spent his time. Backed into a corner he takes them up and after taking their medicine has the appearance of a high school student. Can he survive a year back in the world of a teenager?
I have been looking forward to this one since it was announced. I started reading the manga earlier this year and have enjoyed this easy going comedy. I had trouble at times in the manga keeping track of who is who, but that might not be the case with the anime. All 13 episodes are currently available even though the series started broadcasting in Japan on July 1st. It was made available in Japan at all once on a regional premium website at the end of June. Worth the watch!
Available on Crunchyroll.
Berserk: Guts is a man pursued by evil, trying to make his way in a cruel and evil world. Cursed by demons, traveling the land as a mercenary his life is nothing but pain and destruction.
I am a fan of 3D CG but at times the artwork in this version of Berserk is a little clunky. Character designs are decent but some of the camera movements in relation to the characters are unnatural and jarring. Some characters mouth animation don't even fit the audio and reminded me of that trick they use in video games to show characters fake talking. At times the artwork is beautifully detailed. I tried to watch the series in the end of the 90s but wasn't interested. I will give this reboot a spin and see how far I get,
Available on Crunchyroll.
Orange: Maho is a typical high school student. Irresponsible, has trouble studying and has a handful of good friends. She receives a mysterious letter on the first day of the new school year, addressed from her self 10 years in the future. She dismisses the letter as a joke but when the things it discusses and the warnings it offers become true she starts to take it for real. Can the letters help her to save a friend?
I have already read this manga and have been waiting for the anime to drop, so this one will be sticking around. So far I like the anime adaptation, it helps to give life to the manga which is quite shojo in design and exposition.
Available on Crunchyroll.
First Love Monster: Kaho is the daughter of an influential family, due to that her life has been pampered and obligatory. In order to escape from her parents renown she moves to Tokyo to start high school, hoping that she can experience a real life with out people treating her with undue respect. Little did she know she would fall in love with a bi-shonen guy who saves her from being run over. She confesses her love and the two start dating. The bad part...her new boyfriend, who looks like he's in college, is actually 11.
This series is sillier than I anticipated, much in the spirit of The Wallflower, Ouran High School Host Club and Gintama. I think I will enjoy this one. It's silly, idiotic and full of pratfalls. Side bonus, a side character named Gin is voiced by Sugita Tomakazu.
Available on FUNimation.
Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance: Picking up where last years reboot left off, we find Arslan poised to attack his captured home city, to reclaim his country and establish his ideal version of his ancestral country.
I really started to get into the reboot for Arslan in the second half of the first TV series so this is a much welcome return to awesome. The series should wrap up as the novels are about to end as well.
Available on FUNimation.
ReLIFE: Kaizaki Arata, 27 years old, is unemployed and facing a bleak existence when his parents cut off his allowance. A stroke of luck appears in a man working for a company called ReLIFE. The offer is to spend a year as a 17 year old, attending high school. After the year, which his living expenses will be covered by the company, he may be eligible for employment with them based on how he spent his time. Backed into a corner he takes them up and after taking their medicine has the appearance of a high school student. Can he survive a year back in the world of a teenager?
I have been looking forward to this one since it was announced. I started reading the manga earlier this year and have enjoyed this easy going comedy. I had trouble at times in the manga keeping track of who is who, but that might not be the case with the anime. All 13 episodes are currently available even though the series started broadcasting in Japan on July 1st. It was made available in Japan at all once on a regional premium website at the end of June. Worth the watch!
Available on Crunchyroll.
Berserk: Guts is a man pursued by evil, trying to make his way in a cruel and evil world. Cursed by demons, traveling the land as a mercenary his life is nothing but pain and destruction.
I am a fan of 3D CG but at times the artwork in this version of Berserk is a little clunky. Character designs are decent but some of the camera movements in relation to the characters are unnatural and jarring. Some characters mouth animation don't even fit the audio and reminded me of that trick they use in video games to show characters fake talking. At times the artwork is beautifully detailed. I tried to watch the series in the end of the 90s but wasn't interested. I will give this reboot a spin and see how far I get,
Available on Crunchyroll.
Orange: Maho is a typical high school student. Irresponsible, has trouble studying and has a handful of good friends. She receives a mysterious letter on the first day of the new school year, addressed from her self 10 years in the future. She dismisses the letter as a joke but when the things it discusses and the warnings it offers become true she starts to take it for real. Can the letters help her to save a friend?
I have already read this manga and have been waiting for the anime to drop, so this one will be sticking around. So far I like the anime adaptation, it helps to give life to the manga which is quite shojo in design and exposition.
Available on Crunchyroll.
First Love Monster: Kaho is the daughter of an influential family, due to that her life has been pampered and obligatory. In order to escape from her parents renown she moves to Tokyo to start high school, hoping that she can experience a real life with out people treating her with undue respect. Little did she know she would fall in love with a bi-shonen guy who saves her from being run over. She confesses her love and the two start dating. The bad part...her new boyfriend, who looks like he's in college, is actually 11.
This series is sillier than I anticipated, much in the spirit of The Wallflower, Ouran High School Host Club and Gintama. I think I will enjoy this one. It's silly, idiotic and full of pratfalls. Side bonus, a side character named Gin is voiced by Sugita Tomakazu.
Available on FUNimation.
Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance: Picking up where last years reboot left off, we find Arslan poised to attack his captured home city, to reclaim his country and establish his ideal version of his ancestral country.
I really started to get into the reboot for Arslan in the second half of the first TV series so this is a much welcome return to awesome. The series should wrap up as the novels are about to end as well.
Available on FUNimation.
Bananya: A cute, childish short about banana cats. What else can you say? It's weird and kawaii at the same time...so very Japanese.
I didn't include this one on my list of shows to look out for because I assumed no one would pick it up commercially...color me surprised. Its 3 minutes per episode so whatever.
Available on Crunchyroll.
D.Gray-man Hallow: Picking up where the original series, which ended in 2007, left off. Allan and all of the other Exorcists are caught in a ramped up fight with the Millennium Earl. Allan's past and special abilities are beginning to make him a suspicious participant in the fight and the order begins to restrict his movements.
In an interesting move the series picks up right where it left off, even after a 9 year hiatus. I don't think I ever ended up watching the entire original series, but went through most of it and don't feel like revisiting it. While I have grown tired of shonen battle manga, D.Gray-man has some enjoyable qualities. So far now I say hello to this familiar show.
Available on FUNimation.
Sweetness & Lightening: Inuzuka Kouhei is a high school teacher, recent widower and father of a young girl. Concerned with his abilities to provide healthy and balanced meals for his daughter he cautiously accepts cooking lessons from one of his students.
This is one of the titles I have been waiting on. The manga has been in my read list for quite a while now and it always entertains me. Half of the time I end up making the recipe at the end of each chapter. This is a great series to see animated given the beautiful character designs and the emotions represented in their faces. Aside from being about food it is also about human relations and at times the manga is quite touching and emotional.
Available on Crunchyroll.
The High School Life of a Fudanshi: A normal high school student struggles with the difficulties of being a straight male fan of BL manga. The struggle is real and apparent but he can't understand why people don't recognize his normalcy. He strikes out to find more like minded people to better his immediate surroundings.
This series is short and looks to me like a silly good time. So, it will stick around.
Available on Crunchyroll.
New Game!: Suzukaze Aoba begins working for a video game company, her dream job. She has a hard time fitting in right away and has to deal with her coworkers personalities.
I'm on the fence with this one. Unlike the realism of Shirobako, this one more seems like little more than moe otaku loli fantasy land.
Available on Crunchyroll.
I didn't include this one on my list of shows to look out for because I assumed no one would pick it up commercially...color me surprised. Its 3 minutes per episode so whatever.
Available on Crunchyroll.
D.Gray-man Hallow: Picking up where the original series, which ended in 2007, left off. Allan and all of the other Exorcists are caught in a ramped up fight with the Millennium Earl. Allan's past and special abilities are beginning to make him a suspicious participant in the fight and the order begins to restrict his movements.
In an interesting move the series picks up right where it left off, even after a 9 year hiatus. I don't think I ever ended up watching the entire original series, but went through most of it and don't feel like revisiting it. While I have grown tired of shonen battle manga, D.Gray-man has some enjoyable qualities. So far now I say hello to this familiar show.
Available on FUNimation.
Sweetness & Lightening: Inuzuka Kouhei is a high school teacher, recent widower and father of a young girl. Concerned with his abilities to provide healthy and balanced meals for his daughter he cautiously accepts cooking lessons from one of his students.
This is one of the titles I have been waiting on. The manga has been in my read list for quite a while now and it always entertains me. Half of the time I end up making the recipe at the end of each chapter. This is a great series to see animated given the beautiful character designs and the emotions represented in their faces. Aside from being about food it is also about human relations and at times the manga is quite touching and emotional.
Available on Crunchyroll.
The High School Life of a Fudanshi: A normal high school student struggles with the difficulties of being a straight male fan of BL manga. The struggle is real and apparent but he can't understand why people don't recognize his normalcy. He strikes out to find more like minded people to better his immediate surroundings.
This series is short and looks to me like a silly good time. So, it will stick around.
Available on Crunchyroll.
New Game!: Suzukaze Aoba begins working for a video game company, her dream job. She has a hard time fitting in right away and has to deal with her coworkers personalities.
I'm on the fence with this one. Unlike the realism of Shirobako, this one more seems like little more than moe otaku loli fantasy land.
Available on Crunchyroll.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K: Saiki
was born with super human abilities to odd if loving parents. His
abilities has lead to a life free of want and desire, which has made him
regret his abilities. On top of that his once loving parents deeply
hate each other.
This is a goofy comedy series about a guy who can do anything he wants and receives no joy from that fact. Think Saitama from One Punch Man in regards to his lack of interest in anything. This should be entertaining, especially given its length.
Available on FUNimation.
Regalia - The Three Sacred Stars: You know what, I am so tired of moe female pedo fantasy characters. Can the industry really move on already? This show seems like someone made that characters first then built some half ass concept around it. Plot: I don't know, some bullshit mysterious mech's of which the powerful good ones are piloted by the characters of any generic galge. Kudo's to the art staff for the dramatic action sequences. The mech designs are decent but the character designs are generic and negatively affect any worth this series would have had.
Available on FUNimation.
This Art Club Has A Problem: Usami is a 2nd year high school student and part of the art club. Unfortunately for her the club president sleeps, one member never shows up and the only other active member is an otaku obsessed with the perfect 2d waifu.
While nothing new in the world of off kilter otaku school life comedies, this one might be worth keeping around, if for nothing more than the characters sharp tongued dialogue. Not the best, but not the worst, just another passing series in the long running list of mediocre creations.
Available on Crunchyroll.
91 Days: A young boy is the sole survivor of a mafia murder. As an adult his desire for revenge brings him back to the world of the Italian mafia.
This looks like its going to be a fun, blood soaked historical piece.
Available on Crunchyroll.
Handa-kun: This is a follow up to the slice of life series Barakamon. This prequel follows Handa as a high school student, already a respected calligraphy artist. As in the original series, he is a person who hates interaction with other people and does everything he can to keep them at bay, especially given his complete inability to understand their actions and motives.
This looks to be way sillier and funny than I anticipated, he really is a bit of an idiot and his small group of 'friends' are just as dumb. Should be a good time filled with oddities.
Available on FUNimation.
Mob Psycho 100: Mob is bad a school, horrible and sports and generally low tier in the hierarchy of middle school life. However, he retains incredible psychic powers. These powers lead him to 'working' for a psychic detective, who is really more of a con man. The detective uses Mob for his abilities so he can really rake in the cash. Mob has a power meter and is his meter his 100 his powers go all Akira like.
The next series from the creator of One Punch Man. The show is silly, comical and serious all at the same time, much in the same manner as OPM. The artwork stays faithful to One's style, which aids in the lunacy of the show. This ones going to be fun...perhaps it is One's mockery of super natural battle anime, like OPM was his mockery of shonen battle anime. Bring it on!
Available on Crunchyroll.
This is a goofy comedy series about a guy who can do anything he wants and receives no joy from that fact. Think Saitama from One Punch Man in regards to his lack of interest in anything. This should be entertaining, especially given its length.
Available on FUNimation.
Regalia - The Three Sacred Stars: You know what, I am so tired of moe female pedo fantasy characters. Can the industry really move on already? This show seems like someone made that characters first then built some half ass concept around it. Plot: I don't know, some bullshit mysterious mech's of which the powerful good ones are piloted by the characters of any generic galge. Kudo's to the art staff for the dramatic action sequences. The mech designs are decent but the character designs are generic and negatively affect any worth this series would have had.
Available on FUNimation.
This Art Club Has A Problem: Usami is a 2nd year high school student and part of the art club. Unfortunately for her the club president sleeps, one member never shows up and the only other active member is an otaku obsessed with the perfect 2d waifu.
While nothing new in the world of off kilter otaku school life comedies, this one might be worth keeping around, if for nothing more than the characters sharp tongued dialogue. Not the best, but not the worst, just another passing series in the long running list of mediocre creations.
Available on Crunchyroll.
91 Days: A young boy is the sole survivor of a mafia murder. As an adult his desire for revenge brings him back to the world of the Italian mafia.
This looks like its going to be a fun, blood soaked historical piece.
Available on Crunchyroll.
Handa-kun: This is a follow up to the slice of life series Barakamon. This prequel follows Handa as a high school student, already a respected calligraphy artist. As in the original series, he is a person who hates interaction with other people and does everything he can to keep them at bay, especially given his complete inability to understand their actions and motives.
This looks to be way sillier and funny than I anticipated, he really is a bit of an idiot and his small group of 'friends' are just as dumb. Should be a good time filled with oddities.
Available on FUNimation.
Mob Psycho 100: Mob is bad a school, horrible and sports and generally low tier in the hierarchy of middle school life. However, he retains incredible psychic powers. These powers lead him to 'working' for a psychic detective, who is really more of a con man. The detective uses Mob for his abilities so he can really rake in the cash. Mob has a power meter and is his meter his 100 his powers go all Akira like.
The next series from the creator of One Punch Man. The show is silly, comical and serious all at the same time, much in the same manner as OPM. The artwork stays faithful to One's style, which aids in the lunacy of the show. This ones going to be fun...perhaps it is One's mockery of super natural battle anime, like OPM was his mockery of shonen battle anime. Bring it on!
Available on Crunchyroll.
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