MUST SEE ANIME | Summer 2007

+||| My MUST SEE ANIME Wish List for June - August 2007 |||+

Edit 2007-06-29: Massive update, just in time for July. There’s a fair number of anime airing next month so I cleaned up the post and compiled a list of anime that looked interesting. With the list complete, my picks for this summer’s breakout hits:

Baccano, Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi, and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Zero no Tsukaima has an absurd plot that’ll will appeal to the general audience. As for Sayonara Sensei, it’s about a classroom of students with a suicidal professor. Ah, the sweet memories of school. I got a feeling ZnT might beat out Baccano as fan favorite though.

FYI: Some images became distorted due to superficial resizing. The source is still in native resolution.

——————————————————————————————————–

BACCANO！
バッカーノ！
Other Links: WOW
Episodes: 13
Air Date: 2007-07-26
OP: “Gun’s&Roses” by Paradise Lunch
ED: “Calling” by Kaori Oda
Summary: Unrelated characters are drawn together when the “Immortal Drink” first given to Alchemists is found years later by an average boy.
Notes: THE anime I want to watch this year if I don’t get to see anything else. Dig the animation style, character designs, and setting. Looks like a big budget production, hopefully they spent some of that on developing a good story. My #1 anime pick for summer.
Preview, Youtube: mirror1, mirror2 (character collage set to “Red Fraction” [MELL], Black Lagoon’s OP)
Edit 2007-06-28: Promotional Illustration #2, character designs, research notes (1, 2) for the anime.

Source: Ecoo

Source: Baccano

Buzzer Beater 2007
Other Links: TMS
Episodes: ?
Release Date: 2007-07-03 every Tuesday
Summary: Intergalatic basketball! ‘Nuff said.
Notes: My Tenjou Tenge replacement. Can’t go wrong with sports action.

Source: Buzzer Beater

Code Geass
Episode 24 & 25
Air Date: 2007-07-28
Summary: “The Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan using giant robot weapons called Knightmare Frames. Japan is now referred to as Area 11, and its people the 11’s. A Britannian who was living in Japan at the time, Lelouch, vowed to his Japanese friend Suzaku that he’d destroy Britannia. Years later, Lelouch is in high school, but regularly skips out of school to go play chess and gamble on himself. One day, he stumbles on terrorists 11’s who’ve stolen a military secret and is caught by a member of the Britannian task force sent after them, who is Suzaku. As the rest of the squad arrives, Suzaku is shot for disobeying orders, while the military secret, a young girl, gives Lelouch the power of Geass, which makes anyone obey any order. While Suzaku is secretly made the pilot of Britannia’s brand new prototype Knightmare, Lancelot, Lelouch becomes the masked Zero to lead the rebellion to destroy Britannia once and for all.” (ANN)
Notes: Finally, the conclusion!

Source: Manga-Quebec

DEATH NOTE 特番 3時間スペシャル
Death Note Code 3 Special
Air Date: 2007-08-31

Devil May Cry
デビル メイ クライ
Other Links: WOW, Blog
Episodes: 12
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Air Date 2007-06-14
OP: “d.m.c” by rungran
ED: “I’ll be your home” by Rin Oikawa
Veoh: E1, E2, E3 raw
Summary: Based on a Playstation 2 video game about the half-human, half-demon Dante, the Demon Hunter, and his business called Devil May Cry.
Notes: New animation based off a video game, and my replacement for Hellsing.

Source: WOW

Genius Party
Other Links: Blog
Episodes: Movie
Premiere Date: 2007-07-07
Summary: A colleciton of 7 animations by 7 directors. One of the animations look like Space Invader Zim… er by that Nny guy Jhonen Vasquez Vasques or something. Visit the offical site for trailers.
Notes: Its really just a bunch of self-promotional animation.
Edit 2007-06-29: Watch the trailers 1, 2


Source: Genius Party Blog

Gulf Coast MIDNIGHT
湾岸MIDNIGHT
Wangan Midnight
Air Date: 2007-06-09
An adaption of Michiharu Kusunoki’s comic Wangan Midnight by the producers of Initial D. Will show on Animax Pay-Per-View before it’s released to DVD.
OP: “Lights and Any More” by TRF
ED: “Talkin’ bout good days” by Mother Ninja
Veoh: E1, E2
Summary: “Based on a seinen manga by Kusunoki Michiharu serialised in Young Magazine.
The story gets its roots from the actual street racing that occurs on Tokyo`s Shuto Expressway, one stretch of which is known as the “Wangan”, literally meaning “bay side” (although it is generally used to refer to the freeway), the longest, straightest road in the entire country. Of course, there`s also lots of traffic to contend with, including a fair number of heavy trucks. Because of this, the action is inherently hazardous, and wrecks are common. Blown engines are also a frequent hazard, especially with the extreme-high power engines.
One day, Akio Asakura, a third year high school student, is driving his Fairlady Z (Z31) and is challenged by Tatsuya Shima, a doctor, in his black Porsche 964 Turbo (nicknamed the “BlackBird”). With a friend in the passenger seat and two girls in the back, Akio pitifully tries to win, but is defeated. Determined to become faster, he goes to the junkyard to buy parts for his car, when he sees a pristine, unscratched midnight blue Fairlady Z (S30) in the junkyard. Intrigued as to why such a machine is about to be junked, he buys it. He soon finds that the car is unnaturally fast due to a tuned L28 engine, bored and stroked to 3.1 liters combined with twin turbos, which produces 620bhp. He also finds that all of the car`s previous owners had unfortunate accidents in it, starting with the first owner`s death. The manga follows Akio`s various encounters, though the central plot revolves around his constant battle with the BlackBird for superiority.” (AniDB)

Iblard Jikan
イバラード時間
Episodes: OVA, DVD
Release Date: 2007-07-04
Notes: Thought it looked like Miyuzaki and sure enough it’s by Studio Ghibli.
Notes: The animation is base on the work of artist Naohisa INOUE. Studio Ghibli closely follows Mr. Inoue’s work as seen on Iblard’s main website. Trailers are available in large and medium formats.


Source: Iblard

Mononoke (Ayakashi Sequel)
モノノ怪
Other Links: Fuji TV, Toei
Episodes: 12
Air Date: 2007-07-12
Preview: Youtube 1 (TV spot), 2 (Live Con vid), 3!!!
Notes: Mononoke looks promising so I’ll give it a place on the wish list. I pray it’s nothing like it’s snore-fest predecessor.
Edit 2007-06-28: Concept art looks great. But then again, Yoshitaka Amano did the character designs for Ayakashi but the anime still sucked.
Edit 2007-06-30: Moved it up on the MUST SEE wishlist after watching the TV spot. They keep the tactile illustration style for the anime and the action clip looks good. It could be a win!

Source: Toei

Mushiuta
ムシウタ
Other Links: WOW
Episodes: 12
Air Date: 2007-07-05
OP: “Mushi-Uta (ムシウタ)” by Akatsuki
ED: “Sayonara” by Hiromi Sato
Veoh: Promo
Summary: People infected by the Mushi are called Mushitsuki and become living hosts for the monster insects but in return they gain supernatural powers. Feared by society, they are collected by the Tokkan (Special Environment Preservation Agency) in charge of confining them in the GARDEN, an asylum for Mushitsukis. But there’s a resistance group called the Mushibane seeking to save the Mushitsuki outcasts lead by woman called Lady Bird. The two groups come to a head over a GARDEN fugitive, Shiika who simply wants to return to a normal life.




Source: WOW

Piano no Mori
ピアノの森
Piano Forest
The Perfect World of Kai
Episode: Movie
Premiere Date: 2007-07-21
ED: “Moonshine~Tsukiakari~” by Nao Matsushita
Youtube: Promo
Summary: Amamiya Shuei, a serious boy who studys hard to become a pianist like his father, transfers to a new school becomes the target of the class bully but he’s saved by the whimsical Ichinose Kai. The story takes a mystical turn when they enter the Forest of the Piano where they discover a beautiful piano that doesn’t make a sound for Shuei but emits a rich melody for Kai who declares he can’t read or play music. A story of friendship, rivalry, and youth.

Prince of Tennis Zenkoku Taikai hen: Semi-final
テニスの王子様 全国大会篇 Semifinal
The Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament Semifinals
Other Links: TV Tokyo
Episodes: ? OVA
Release Date: 2007-06-22
OP: “Kakaeta Kiseki” by AOZU
ED: “Thank you!!” by Cap to Bin

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
さよなら絶望先生
Episodes: 12
Air Date: 2007-07-07
OP: “Hito toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru (人として軸がぶれている)” by Kenji Ohtsuki feat. Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yu Kobayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro & Ryoko Shintani
Notes: Based on manga of same name. “The very negative comedy of a very depressed teacher who attempts suicide constantly and his 32(!!) troubled students.” (4-ch). Articulate manga review at lolicontrol.

Source: full web image 1, 2 @Starchild

Shigurui
シグルイ
Crazy for Death
Episodes: 12
Preview Special: 2007-07-01
Air Date: 2007-07-19
Preview: direct@Shiguri, Youtube
Summary: “At the beginning of the Edo Era, when people enjoyed a time of peace, Lord Tokugawa Tadanaga holds a fighting tournament. In the past, matches were fought with wooden swords. This time, real swords will be used.

One-armed Fujiki Gennosuke and blind Irako Seigen will fight each other in this match. Both are disciples of Iwamoto Kogan, who is known as Japan’s greatest swordsman. Each of them are determined to prove himself the successor of Iwamoto’s school. However, there can only be one champion.

So begins a story of intertwining fates, conflict, and strange destinies.” (AnimeNFO)
Notes: Period animation with samuari, swords and buckets-o-blood! Based on manga of same name.

Source: WOW, Imageshack

Tales of Symphonia Animation 1 & 2
テイルズ・オブ・シンフォニア
テイルズ オブ シンフォニア THE ANIMATION 第1巻
テイルズ オブ シンフォニア THE ANIMATION 第2巻
テイルズ オブ シンフォニア THE ANIMATION 第3巻
テイルズ オブ シンフォニア THE ANIMATION 第4巻
Episodes: 4 OVA
Release Date: 2007-06-08 & 2007-08-10
OP: “ALMATERIA” by Eri Kawai
ED: “Negai” by Kaori Hikita
Preview: Youtube
Watch: Veoh
Summary: “Two worlds exist, both unaware of the existance of the other. In order for one world to flourish, the other will have to perish. On the perishing world, a Choosen one is send on a journey to restore that world’s mana by awakening the Spirits and becoming an angel. Colette Brunel, the Choosen of Sylvarant, sets out on her journey accompanied by her best friends Lloyd Irving and Genis Sage. As they travel further they meet more friends and even more enemies, while they learn more and more about the truth behind the World Regeneration.” (ANN)

Tetsuko no Tabi
鉄子の旅
Other Links: Family Gekijou
Genre: Comedy
Air Date: 6-24-2007
OP: “Nanka Ari Kamo Ne (なんかアリかもね)” by SUPER BELL”Z
ED: “Ooi Naru Tabiji (大いなる旅路)” by SUPER BELL”Z
Preview: Youtube 1, OP/ED, Seiyuu interview
Summary: “This is a slightly odd sort of manga: basically the “story” is that a manga artist is asked by her boss to accompany him and a travel-writer on various train trips around Japan and draw a manga about it.” (Read the rest at Snogglethorpe)
Notes: Based on a japanense comic book. Read sample manga pages from Shogakukan. Promo released at Gekijou. Project this series to be good but a sleeper.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuchou: The Martial Fist Chapter
東京魔人學園剣風帖 龖 第弐幕
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho Tou Kenbu Hen
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho: Tou 2nd Act
Other Links: Majin
Air Date: 2007-07-27
Notes: TMG Kenpuchou Season 2. Intersting concept (was there a plot??) but the last episode was a total cop out. Don’t let me down seaon 2!

Transformers Live-Action Movie
トランスフォーマー
Genre: Mecha, Sci-Fi
Premiere Date 7-4-2007
Distribution/License: Dreamworks and Paramount Pictures
Production: Angry Films, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Hasbro, Platinum Dunes
Preview: Youtube 1, 2!!, 3 (Nippon trailer)
Spoof: Transformers Junkyard

Source: Transformers

Vexille - 2077 Nippon Sakoku
ベクシル 2077日本鎖国
Vexille - 2077 Japan National Isolation
Premiere Date: 2007-08-18
OP: “Together Again” by mink
Summary: “In an alternate 21st century, Japan’s scientists has perfected the art of biotechnology and robotics, its benefits extending the lifespans of all humans. However, the United Nations deemed the advanced technology a dangerous threat and started strict surveillance on Japan. The government of Japan refused to abide by UN’s demands to halt research, in the year 2067 left the UN and isolated itself visually and communically. Ten years later, an American special forces unit by the name of SWORD, led by its female commander named Vexille, are sent to uncover the current status of the isolated Japan, after the country begins its plan to move. The shocking secrets they find will shock the rest of the world.” (ANN)
Notes: The soundtrack is good but seems odd coupled with a sci-fi. The offical site plays clips from the soundtrack.
Preview: 1, mirror2, 3!! (trailer), 4

Others of Interest:

Doujin Work
ドージンワーク
Episodes: ?
Air Date: 2007-07-04
Preview: Youtube 1 (TV spot), 2
Summary: “Doujin Work follows the life of a young girl named Najimi Osana and her exposure into the doujin world. She was first tempted into becoming a doujin artist after seeing how much one of her friends can make at a convention. Najimi loves to draw, though soon learns contrary to what she expected that this new world is anything but easy. As she attends more conventions and meets more people, Najimi eventually manages to find a group of very interesting friends. These friends already have some experience in the field and help her out along the way so that she can someday make a name for herself creating doujinshi.” (ANN)

Source: Amazon.jp

Higurashi no Naku Koroni Kai
ひぐらしのなく頃に解’
Episodes: 24
Air Date: 2007-07-05
OP: “Naraku no Hana (奈落の花)” by Eiko Shimamiya
ED: “Taishō.a (対象.a)” by anNina
Preview: Youtube 1, 2!!
Summary: “The village of Hinamizawa has a population of 2000. Here, the sounds of cicadas can be heard in the late evening. Though at a first glance the village seems normal, however, here is where lies a horrible secret which the villagers try to keep secret from newcomers. The curse of Oyashiro-sama. Unusual murders have been occuring ever since the dam construction plan. Is it a coincidence or part of a plot” (ANN)

Kiddy Grade: Maelstrom
キディ・グレイド －トゥルースドーン－ 黎明篇
Other Links: The Klock Worx
Episode: Movie
Premiere Date: 2007-06-23

Source: The Klock Worx
Edit 2007-06-30: What the heck was I thinking writing this up??? Sleep deprevation does wierd $#!T to the brain I tell you.

Miyori no Mori
ミヨリの森
Air Date: 2007-08-25
Note: Looks like another Miyuzaki clone.

Gekijouban Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai
ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド＆パール ディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ
Episodes: Movie
Premiere Date: 2007-07-14
OP: “Be with You: Itsumo Soba ni (Always by your side)” by Sarah Brightman
Summary: “Dialga rules time, and Palkia rules space, they lived in an alternate dimension so they decided to fight within their own reality, which would make it bad for the real world too. Dialga and Palkia appear before Ash and his friends and drag the city into their own world. If they destroy this city, they`ll also destroy the whole world.” (AniDB)
Notes: Cant… help… it… Must… catch ‘em them all!
Movie 10 trailer @offical website, @Youtube: 1, 2, 3, 4
Theme song @Youtube

Source: bulbagarden

Kappa no Coo to Natsuyasumi
河童のクゥと夏休み
Episodes: Movie
Premiere Date: 2007-07-28
Preview: Youtube 1, 2, 3!!
Summary: “Koichi Uehara is a fourth grade student living in the suburb of Tokyo. One day, he picks up a large stone which turns out to be a fossil of a baby “Kappa” sleeping underground for the past 300 years, and names it “Coo”. (AniDB)

Potemayo
ぽてまよ
Air Date: 2007-07-06
OP: “Katamichi Catchball (片道きゃっちぼーる)” by MOSAIC.WAV
ED: “Utatane (うたたね)” by Chata
Preveiw: Youtube
Notes: The actual animation is sadly nothing like the illustration. Not watching this one.

Source: Imageshack
Update 2007-06-30: Post Ninja strikes again!

Gekijouban Naruto Shippuuden
ナルト 疾風伝
Episodes: Movie
Premiere Date: 2007-08-04
ED: “Lie-Lie-Lie” by DJ OZMA
Preview: Youtube, direct@TV-Tokyo
Notes: I think all the Naruto movies suck massive donkey balls and yet I keep going back for moar…

Source: TV-Tokyo, Imageshack

Sky Girls 2007
スカイガールズ
Other Links: Konami
Air Date: 2007-07-05
OP: “Virgin’s high” by MELL
ED: “True Blue” by Saori Goto
Preview: Youtube
Notes: I don’t know why, but it reminds me of Himawari…
View images from 2006 Sky Girls at Altervista and VeryCD

Source: Konami
Update 2007-06-30: BLAAARGH!

Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi
ゼロの使い魔 ～双月の騎士～
Episodes: 12
Air Date: 2007-07-08 then 2007-07-10
OP: “I SAY YES” by ICHIKO
ED: “Suki!?Kirai!?Suki!!! (スキ!? キライ!? スキ!!!)” by Rie Kugimiya
Preview: Youtube 1 (TV spot), 2 (TV size OP & ED)
Summary: “In the world of Zero no Tsukaima, everyone who can use magic is a mage or noble. Everyone else is a commoner and is treated less equally. Louise can never use her magic the way she wants to and every time she uses it there always seems to be an explosion (but there might be something hidden inside of her). Louise attends an academy for mages and is always getting into trouble and has been dubbed the name “Louise the Zero”, because she cannot use any of the four elements, which are fire, water, earth, air/wind. There also is a fifth element called Void that has become nothing but a legend. On the day of summoning their familiars (a special day where a mage summons their eternal protector/partner, which usually is some sort of creature) Louise summons a human from planet Earth. Louise is totally humiliated. She treats “Saito” her human familiar as any other creature, making him sleep on the floor and eat leftovers (upon other actions). One day Saito challenges a noble who thinks he is better than commoners to a duel. Saito is beaten bad at the beginning, but once a sword was put in Saito’s hands he gains amazing powers and wields the sword with great ability.” (Wiki)
Notes: Find screencaps at Moetron.

Zombie-Loan
ゾンビローン
Air Date: 2007-07-04
OP: “OOKAMI no NODO” by The Birthday
ED: “Chain Ring” by MUCC
Preview: Youtube
Notes: Adapted from the manga of the same name. Visit the offical site for character designs and story gallery. Preview an illustrated page (Source: haraiso, Imageshack) from the manga.

Source: Zombie-Loan

Checkout MoonPhase for the big list.

Other anime that popped up on radar:

Futatsu no Kurumi
Two Walnuts
ふたつの胡桃
Air Date: 2007-08-15
Episodes: ?
Summary: “Ayaka Nakanishi “time-slips” from 2007 to March 7, 1945 — three days before World War II’s first major firebombing of Tokyo. She crosses paths with Yuko, a girl growing up in wartime Japan.” - Kouji @AnimeSuki
Notes: War fairy tale.

Copyright 2007 (DoA)nimation. Images copyright to their respective owners.