So! Fall season is nowhere near upon us, but that’s no reason not to get inordinately hyped about it! The full announced list is viewable here, but these are the ones I’m already kinda giddy about.
BlazBlue: Alter Memory
The games are a clusterfuck of timelines, but the one thing consistent to all of them is that the writing is very tongue-in-cheek and very actually funny. If this can combine the game’s humor with some compelling action and a semi-coherent story, it’ll be a very fun popcorn show.
Kill la Kill
The first full series by Gainax’s final splinter studio, Trigger. The direction and key animation are coming straight from the people who made Gurren Lagann and Panty & Stocking, so expectations are obviously and justifiably high. The early shots and character profiles display all the hot-blooded cartoony style you’d expect, and it’s already been confirmed as a 2-cour, so clearly they’re going for an ambitious story right out of the gate. This should be the fall blockbuster.
Valvrave the Liberator Part 2
If you’re watching it, you already know this show is utter lunacy. If you’re not, just imagine Code Geass on some bad acid.
Nagi no Asukara
I have mixed feelings on Mari Okada – I think her style is maybe a little too homogeneous and that her works are generally just reflective of the strengths and weaknesses of the originals. However, this show is her baby – it’s an original collaboration between her and PA Works. If there were ever a project for her to throw her passion and ideas into, it’d be this one. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Log Horizon
SAO comparisons here seem pretty misguided, since this show’s by an actual writer – the guy who wrote Maoyuu Maou Yuusha. That show’s reception was somewhat mixed, but I don’t think anyone can argue the writer lacks ideas. Personally, I loved Maoyuu, and look forward to this with great anticipation.
Golden Time
Did I say Kill la Kill was the fall blockbuster? Because holy shit, it’s the next show by the writer of Toradora. And this one takes place in college, and the original LNs are apparently well-regarded. Both Brain’s Base and KyoAni have significantly stepped up their romantic comedy game since Toradora took the crown, but I would be happy to see this writer once again show us how this shit is done.
Samurai Flamenco
Hey look, it’s a strange, stylish anime-original by Brain’s Base’s premier director. You know, the guy who directed Baccano, and the studio that made Baccano, Durarara, Penguindrum, Natsume’s Book of Friends, Spice & Wolf S2, and OreGairu? Yeah, those guys.
Those are the shows I’m already looking forward to, but there are definitely a few other interesting-looking selections. Either way, I’m very excited – this season’s potential top tier is incredibly intimidating, and there’s still plenty of time for unknowns like KyoAni or Urobuchi to throw their hats into the ring. Bring it on.
Now there’s Kyokai No Kanata! I’ve always kind of enjoyed KyoAni’s shows, they sometimes lack originality with all this moeshit, but I always count on them for good/great execution. Now they’re actually going to put their good animation to use with action scenes, I’m just so excited (though a little apprehensive as well since the source material isn’t a novel but a light novel but still)
I could not be more excited. Prior to this year’s backslide of Tamako/Free!, I’d figured they’d finally put their moe/SoL past behind them with Disappearance->Hyouka->Chuunibyou (which I thought told a sharp story despite having the usual cutesy look). Their animation is obviously fantastic and I think they’re actually really good at storytelling when they put their minds to it, so Kanata is already competing with Kill la Kill as my most-anticipated show.
Yeah, I actually really liked Chuu2Koi. It was genuinely funny, sincere, and although the first attempts at drama wasn’t the best for the series, it got better quickly and told a good story. Hyouka is my favourite Kyoani show, it’s just so graceful and beautiful to watch and experience 🙂
Also, Kill La Kill! I bloody lives TTGL, can’t wait.