Friday, June 3, 2011

2011 Summer Anime Line-Up

A few interesting titles.

click on image to enlarge

Appleseed XIII
Jinni's Animation Studios & Production I.G.
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

I've seen only one of the movies and I remember it was about this cyborg and his girl partner. The movie featured lots of CGI, which I don't care for. I'm only putting this on the short list because of the names involved: Production I.G., Masamune Shirow, Sakamoto Maaya. We'll just have to see if it's any good.

Natsume Yuujinchou-San
Brain's Base
OFFICIAL | ANN

Jute watched the first and second seasons and seemed to enjoy them. I had no idea there was going to be a third season and if I watch it, I'll be a total newbie in the series. However, I have to follow blog tradition so here it is.

Usagi Drop
Production I.G.
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

It's another one of those helpless tool of a guy who gets a wake-up call when he finds himself having to care of a little kid. Probably some mild lolicon undertones in this one. However, it gives me hope that it's in the noitaminA time-slot, although after two or three duds, it's beginning to occur to me that the legendary time-slot is finally showing some signs of slipping. The anime is based on a josei manga, btw.

No. 6
BONES
OFFICIAL (Kodansha)

Apparently, this is based on a children's book series set in a futuristic city called No. 6 and is about a boy, Shion, who is supposed to be an elite. Well, whatever. The poster looks attractive and it's by BONES so it's probably going to come on strong before the story scatters about like a headless chicken. Or it could be good. I enjoyed Xam'd, despite the headless chicken bit.

Blood-C
Production I.G.
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

There are a bunch of vampire tropes in this line-up. There's Blade and that other vampire series. I thought if I had to pick one for this season, I'd rather go with this. The Blood franchise gets a face-lift. The designs are now by CLAMP, who are also writing the story, so it's probably going to be interesting. I don't know. Did I like CodeGeass? I know I liked Cardcaptor Sakura way back when. One thing I can say though is that I am liking the Victorian-goth frilly dresses that Saya is wearing in the promo poster.

Dantalian no Shoka
Gainax
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia

It reminds me a little of GOSICK (which I dropped by the way). I don't know if this is going to be better or worse. There are demons though and the male character is holding a gun in the promo poster, so maybe this is a lot celebral and more visceral? Not that GOSICK was very cerebral.


ADDENDUM: I liked none of the OVA, OAV, ONA and Specials this season. Well, except for Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail. As for the movies, only two titles leap off the page for me. Towa no Quon, which is a six-part theatrical movie release by BONES, and Studio Ghibli's Kokuriko-Zaka Kara





2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Usagi drop has no loli (in the manga nayway). It's a pretty straight forward story of a single guy doing his best to raise a little girl desperately in need of an adult parental figure.

Unexpectedly for me, I found I enjoyed the manga very much. But then again, I'm a parent and identify with the various odd issues that arise when raising kids.

lu said...

Thanks for the info. I am told that it's supposed to be good and that's why I'm putting it on my short list. I do gripe a lot in this blog so don't mind me. :)