I’m on Christmas Vacation right now, and instead of worrying about all those backlogged episodes of Gundam 00 that need to be blogged I decided I’d make a post about the upcoming anime =D

Shikabane Hime: Kuro

Airs: January 1, 2009
Episodes: 13
Website: Shikabane Hime Kuro
Genres: Horror Action
Chance of Watching: None

This is the sequel to Shikabane Hime: Aka that aired this fall. If memory serves me correctly its about a girl who’s already dead fighting other freaks that are already dead. I wouldn’t say it was a bad anime, but it didn’t hold my attention~ So I probably won’t be watching the second season.

Akikan!

Airs: January 3, 2009
Episodes: 12
Website: Akikan!
Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance
Trailer: Akikan!
Chance of Watching: Medium

The story revolves around a typical high school boy named Kakeru Daichi and the can of melon juice soda that he bought from a vending machine. The can suddenly transforms into a beautiful but standoffish girl that Kakeru nicknames “Melon,” and more “Akikan” (”empty can”) girls appear. However, Akikan girls need to be infused with carbon dioxide from kissing to survive. (ANN)

Ahhhh… Well in Fall we had a tree stump turn into a beautiful goddess that turned out to be pretty cool… so why not a can of Melon Juice Soda too? This Anime Screams Harem… But I’ll check out the first episode at least.

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season

Airs: January 3, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Maria-Sama Ga Miteru
Genres: Slice of Life, Shoujo Ai, School
Trailer: Maria Sama Ga Miteru 4th Season
Chance of Watching: None

The fourth season of Maria-Sama ga Miteru series… I actually watched the very first episode of the first season… Although I couldn’t sit through the whole thing. The story revolves around an all girl Catholic High School… and girls who may or may not be Lesbians o.o I dropped it because the pace was really slow and there wasn’t really any comedy, but I know one or two people who have enjoyed this series. Now if they make an all boys school version then maybe I’ll watch =D

White Album

Airs: January 3, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: White Album
Genres: Romance, Drama, Visual Novel Addaption
Trailer: Game Opening: White Album
Chance of Watching: Medium

Its amazing how I can’t find any real description of this series… But based on a few pictures and a few comments about it I believe its based on girl pop stars that become friends? I’m sure there’s a guy in there some where… Since I don’t really know what its about yet there’s still a chance I will check it out.

Zenical: NANA MIZUKI IS IN THIS ANIME. MUST WATCH FOR ME!!!!

Maria-Holic

Airs: January 4, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Maria Holic
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School
Chance of Watching: High

The story centers on a sophomore named Kanako who enrolls in all-girls school because she has a phobia of men and wants to find her destined yuri partner. She meets a captivating freshman named Mariya who fits her criteria — except her seemingly ideal mate happens to be a cross-dressing sadistic boy. (ANN)

Reading the first 90% of the description all that came to mind was “OMG… another all girl’s Catholic Yuri anime”… But I got to the end about sadistic cross dressing boys and it put a smile on my facexD I feel compelled to watch this now for sure.

Minami Ke: Okaeri

Airs: January 4, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Minami Ke: Okaeri
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
Chance of Watching: High

This is the third season of Minami-ke, An anime about three sisters (elementary school, middle school, and High School) Who live on their own and the random things that happen in their life. It reminded me of a weird mix of School Rumble and Ichigo Mashimaro for some reason. As long as they have more Hosaka and “Mako-chan” I will be happy, but I do hope that the series returns to how it was the first season… the second season did not live up to my expectations exactly.

Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo

Airs: January 5, 2009
Episodes: 13
Website: Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo
Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure
Trailer: Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo
Chance of Watching: Medium

The story is set in the year 311 of the Orbital Calendar, when humanity has migrated to countless colony clusters in space. A space colony girl named Akiha Shishidō encounters a malevolent artificial intelligence named Leopard that has been installed on a colony. Akiha is joined by an Inter-Colony Police officer named Itsuki Kannagi, a taciturn young girl named Honoka Kawai, and a robot named Imoko “Imo-chan” Shishidō. (ANN)

Other than the obvious title pun on the awesome movie “The Girl who leapt through time” (This is the Girl who leapt through space) I’m not particularly drawn in yet. I probably will wait and see what others say about it before I watch it.

Zoku Natsume Yujincho

Airs: January 5, 2009
Episodes: 13
Website: Zoku Natsume Yujincho
Genres: Fantasy
Trailer: Zoku Natsume Yujincho
Chance of Watching: Low

Plot of the first season: Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. Containing the names of these spirits, a binding contract was formed between the spirits and the owner of the book. Now, Natsume is determined to free the spirits and dissolve the contracts. With the help of a spirit cat, his days are filled trying to return the names to these spirits. (ANN)

A sequel of an anime I’ve never heard of… I probably won’t be watching it.

Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger

Airs: January 6, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger
Genres: Sports, Comedy, Drama, Shounen
Chance of Watching: High

A new season of Hajime no Ippo, The Rocky Balboa of all anime. About a timid little kid who trains hard and becomes an awesome boxer. I’m not really a fan of Boxing let alone sport centered anime, but the first season was very good… Apparently good enough that they’re making more 6 whole years after the original series stopped airing. Well… the manga is still going on… over 800 chapters strong… so they have ALOT of material to work with.

VIPER’S CREED

Airs: January 6, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: VIPER’S CREED
Genres: Action, Military, Science Fiction
Trailer: VIPERS’S CREED
Chance of Watching: Medium-Low

Yes… VIPER’S CREED in capslock… because only the most epic anime can have their names in all caps right?xD

The story revolves around the members of a private military company (PMC), and the uneasy tension between them and the regular military after a war that caused massive environmental destruction. (Animekon)

Not sure about this anime yet… its getting a little bit of spot light because Shinji Aramaki, the Director of Appleseed was involved in it… but its too early to make any guesses I think.

Asu no Yoichi

Airs: January 8, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Asu no Yoichi
Genres: Romance Comedy
Chance of Watching: Medium

The titular character Yoichi decides to leave his family’s mountainside home after his father tells him there is nothing more he can learn in martial arts there. The teenaged boy ends up in a martial arts dojo in the city with four girls. (ANN)

Based on the picture and the description I sense Harem… Look at his smug little face in that picture too~ He’s happy with his dojo of big breasted students xD I will watch at least the first episode to see how this goes.

Kurokami

Airs: January 8, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Kurokami
Genres: —
Trailer: Kurokami
Chance of Watching: Medium

The trailer looked pretty cool. The long summary I’ve read on wiki makes it sound interesting, I haven’t found much else about it though. A god getting attacked by other god things and the main guy becoming contracted to her o.o I’ve hear high praises of the manga, and the animation looks pretty good. Will watch at least the first episode.

The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk

Airs: January 8, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Trailer: The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk
Chance of Watching: Low

This is the second season to The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk that aired last summer. Here was the summary of the first season:

It is said that every few years, there is what’s known as the “Summer of Anu.” During that summer, thanks to the divine protection of the sky-god Anu, all of the demons in the tower lose their power. The country of Uruk has begun an invasion of the tower in order to suppress the demons. They’ve built up positions inside the tower, with their sights set on getting to the upper levels. The Uruk army knows that this is the third Summer of Anu-a perfect time to launch a mission to suppress the monster Druaga once and for all. The army soldiers aren’t the only ones in the tower, though. An enitre city called Meskia has formed inside the tower’s first floor. It plays host not just to soldiers, but also to adventurers who have heard rumors about a legendary treasure called the Blue Crystal Rod, which is said to rest at the very top of the tower. With all these different groups in the mix, each with its own agenda, one can only guess how things will play out during this unusual summer. (NewType)

Birdy the Mighty Decode: 2

Airs: January 9, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Birdy the Mighty Decode: 2
Genres: Action, Science Fiction
Chance of Watching: Low-None

The sequal to this anime that aired over the summer, I remember seeing this post about it over at Danny Choo, but I didn’t actually watch it myself. Soooo Space police agent teamed up with normal earth boy to destroy evil aliens trying to do weird experiments on earthlings? Doesn’t sound too bad… but I probably won’t watch it since I’m not motivated enough to go back and watch the first season.

Kemono no Soja Erin

Airs: January 10, 2009
Episodes: 50
Website: Kemono no Soja Erin
Genres: Fantasy
Chance of Watching: Medium

Kemono no Sōja Erin (The Beast Player Erin) will center around a girl who can control the greatest of beasts as if she was playing a musical instrument. However, she gets embroiled in a war for supremacy between kingdoms. (ANN)
There is a little bit of hype over the fact that this anime is based on the book by the same author as Seirei no Moribito which was supposedly very good and has been on my watch list for a while. It sounds interesting… But I’d like to see some of the animation first.

Koukaku no Regios

Airs: January 10, 2009
Episodes: 50
Website: Koukaku no Regios
Genres: Sci-Fi, School, Fantasy, Adventure
Trailer: Koukaku no Regios
Chance of Watching: Low

In the distant future, humanity lives in isolated mobile cities called Regios - such as Czerni, a self-contained school. Reifon Aruseifu enrolls and joins the 17th Martial Arts Studies Unit led by the third-year student Nina Anto-ku and embarks on series of adventures.(ANN)

Ride Back

Airs: January 11, 2009
Episodes: 12
Website: Ride Back
Genres: Science Fiction, School, Mecha
Trailer: Ride Back
Chance of Watching: Medium

Ride Back tells the story of a girl a her “Iron Horse” robot motorcycle in 2020, a tumultous time of anti-goverment student protests.(ANN)

Animation looks nice, story sounds interesting, will probably take a look at it. Still not enough information about it though.

Slayers Evolution-R

Airs: January 12, 2009
Episodes: 13
Website: Slayers Evolution-R
Genres: Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Chance of Watching: Medium

This is another sequal to the bijillions of Slayers series out there that started in 1995 that you can see a list of here. I’ve never watched it… despite the fact that my older brother was kind enough to give me ALL of the old slayer series last year for Christmas xD It looks like your typical fantasy adventure to me… but I already have all the old seasons… so maybe… SOMEDAY I’ll watch them all and then watch this… But I doubt it will be anytime soon.

Genji Monogatari Sennenki Genji (The Tale of Genji)

Airs: January 15, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Genji
Genres: Romance, History
Chance of Watching: Medium

This anime is based on the oldest Japanese Novel of the same name which you can read about here. I’ve yet to find any real information on the anime series, but I remember reading this a while back, that this series was origenally going to be based on this manga series, but they decided to base the anime more on the origenal story instead. It sounds like Romance/History, I hope it will be interesting.

Ichigo Mashimaro Encore (OAV)

Airs: January 23, 2009
Episodes: —
Website: Ichigo Mashimaro Encore
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life… MoexD
Chance of Watching: High

A sequel to the original Ichigo Mashimaro anime that aired in 2005; Is about 4 cute and occasionally crazy elementary school girls and their daily lives along with one of the older sisters who they worship/harass on a daily basis. I don’t know what these new episodes will be about, but this is one of the funniest series I’ve ever watched, so I will definitely look forward to it.

Hetalia Axis Powers

Airs: January 23, 2009
Episodes: 26
Website: Hetalia Axis Powers
Genres: Comedy, History
Trailer: Hetalia Axis Powers
Chance of Watching: High

I read a description of it a while back… Its based in the World War I period and each character represents a stereotype of the different countries that participatedxD It sounds so random I want to watch it… no… as a History major I’m obligated to watch itxD

But I don’t know much about the actual series… according to ann they’re only going to be 5 minutes apiece? But I believe Azumanga Daioh was aired in a similar manner, and the small episodes were later compiled into normal sized episodes.

I couldn’t find a trailer… so here’s a really rancom video of some of the characters.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni-Rei (OVA)

^Lol… 2nd season picAirs: February 25, 2009
Episodes: 5
Website: Higurashi-Rei
Genres: Horror, Psychological, Slice of life, Commedy
Trailer: Higurashi-Rei
Chance of Watching: High

For those of you who haven’t seen the original Higurashi, its about a bunch of kids that live in a creepy countryside town with a dark past… they start to become paranoid because of “Oyashiro-sama” and gruesomely murder each other… over and over again. Most of these ova’s look like they will be comedy stories rather than the serious path the series took… which is easy to imagine since the second season cleared up almost everything.

I’m a bit confused about the release dates… I was under the impression that the first one was to be released this month, and according to the trailer I found the first one was slated for December 26th… but the main site says February 25thxD So I guess its best to just go with that.

^Thats 22 series for those of you who are too lazy to count… assuming I didn’t forget any or that I can’t count… Both of which which are very likelyxD

I’m glad there will be some series to replace many of my fall anime ending soon… but there doesn’t seem to be any that standout really… I don’t want to say its a weak selectionxD~ I can’t say that till I’ve seen them… But it looks like an average season over all. Kurokami looks the most broadly appealing of the new (not sequal) anime. My current watch list for this season will be:

Definitely watching:

1. Minami ke: Okaeri
2. Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger
3. Ichigo Mashimaro
4. Higurashi

Probably watching:

1. Maria-Holic
2. Kurokami
3. Kemono no Soja Erin
4. The Tail of Genji
5. Hetalia Axis Powers

WOW… that works out perfect… 7 new *series next month, and 7 shows I’m currently watching end in the next few weeksxD I will try to watch all the series and make a winter anime impression post that hopefully will be put out faster than our Fall anime impression… (which may never be published at this point hahahaxD~ Maybe we’ll make it a “Final Impressions” post)