spring 2014 anime

Its an exciting time.  One season ends and the new one begins.  Our cycle of impressions and reviews starts anew and it’s time for us to pick our shows.  Listen in for the shows we think are the best from this season.

• Mitsugi

  • JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders    Pick #1

    • Director – Naokatsu Tsuda – Jojo 1, Inu x boku ss,

    • Producers –

      • David Production – Jojo1, Ben-to, Level E, inu x boku ss

      • Warner Brothers

  • Haikyuu   Pick #2

    • Director – Mitsunaka Susumu – No real notable credits

    • Art Director – Ichirou Tatsuta, Usagi drop,  Genshiken second season, roboics notes

    • Production -Production IG

    • Huge promotion at Anime Japan 2014 but relatively minimalistic PV

    • Manga has been running since 2011, created by Haruichi Furudate

  • Baby Steps   Pick #3

    • Director – Masahiko Murata – Corpse Princess, Ghos tin the shell arise,  part of Serial Experiments lain, Some Naruto Shippuden movies, some other stuff

    • Production – Peirrot

    • Art Director – Kunihiko Inaba – Madoka Magika, Ozma, Meganebu

    • Based on a manga that has been serialized in Shonen Jump since late 2007

  • Mushishi Zoku Shou  Pick #4

    • Director – Hiroshi Nagahama – Mushishi 1, Aku no Hana

    • Production – Artland – Mushishi 1, bunch of other stuff

    • Art Director – Takehsi Waki – Mushishi, bunch of other stuff

    • I can’t see why this isn’t just like the first Mushishi. . Fans rejoice.

  • M3 Sono Kuroki Tetsu    Pick   #5

    • Director – Junichi Sato –  TONS,  Aria the Animation,  kaleido star, phi brain, tamayura hitotose,

    • Production – satelight – tons

    • Based on??? Original?

Chiaki

• Isshuukan Friends (One Week Friends) — #1 Pick

  • Most of the staff, director, script writer, has minimal experience.  This seems to be their first jump into the primary role.

  • Based on a Manga with 4 installments that started in 2012

  • Kaori Fujimiya is always alone because all of her happy memories, including time spent with her friends, disappear every Monday. Deciding that he wants to be friends with her anyway, Yuuki Hase tries to get close to Kaori each week, wishing that she would one day call him “a friend.”

    • Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/21327/Isshuukan_Friends.#d9t1Hos9xBCJYXds.99

• Black Bullet — #3 Pick

  • Started as a Light Novel in 2011 with 7 volume, became a manga in 2012 with 3 volumes

  • Director – Masayuki Kojima – for Monster, Piano no Mori,

  • Music – Shiro Sagisu – Did the music for Bleach, Magi, Evangelion Movie Reaboots

  • A near future, where humans have been defeated by the viral parasites named Gastrea. They have been exiled into a small territory and live in despair, side-by-side in terror.
    In this world trapped in darkness—
    Rentaro, a boy living near Tokyo and member of the “Civil Security”—an organization specializing in fighting against the Gastrea—is used to accomplishing dangerous tasks. His partner is Enju, a precocious young girl. They fight thanks to their peculiar powers until one day, when they receive a special assignment from the government. This top secret mission is to prevent the destruction of Tokyo…
    Set in a near future, this thrilling heroic-action story… starts now!

    • Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/20787/Black_Bullet#T4w4CmQMDPQmXQk0.99

• No Game No Life — #4 Pick

  • Light Novel started in 2012, ongoing with 5 volumes

  • Manga started this year with only 1 volume

  • Director – Atsuko Ishizuka **A girl!!** – This is her first solo jump into directing

  • The story of No Game, No Life centers around Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister whose reputations as brilliant NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) hikikomori (shut-in) gamers have spawned urban legends all over the Internet. These two gamers even consider the real world as just another “crappy game.” One day, they are summoned by a boy named “God” to an alternate world. There, God has prohibited war and declared this to be a world where “everything is decided by games”—even national borders. Humanity has been driven back into one remaining city by the other races. Will Sora and Shiro, the good-for-nothing brother and sister, become the “Saviors of Humanity” on this alternate world? “Well, let’s start playing.”

    • Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/19815/No_Game_No_Life#jhJqrPsY6FKliYZG.99

• Akuma no Riddle (Riddle Story of the Devil) – #5 pick

  • Manga started in 2012 and currently has 1 volume

  • Director – Keizou Kusakawa – Asura Cryin’ and Dog Days

  • The story is set at Myoujou Academy, a private girls’ boarding school. The 10th year’s Kurogumi class has 12 assassins with their sights on one target, Haru Ichinose. Tokaku Azuma is a recent transfer student who is also targeting Ichinose, but she gradually develops feelings for Ichinose.

    • Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/19429/Akuma_no_Riddle#O1iGUyfWVbzwHIh2.99

• Abarenbou Kishi!!  Matsutarou – #6 pick

  • Matsutarou Sakaguchi is a giant roughneck man with strength far beyond ordinary people. He never uttered words like “work hard,” “strive,” and “dream” like the typical shounen manga protagonist. However, he is stronger than anyone and peerless in sumo wrestling. His greatest weakness is his own carefree personality. He grows into a full-fledged sumo wrestler.

    • Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/22831/Abarenbou_Kishi!!_Matsutarou#vuJC6EuLOkBmxhKZ.99