Spring 2009 Anime Releases
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Last Updated: April 25 2009 - 1:06pm PDT
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07-Ghost - 13+ eps
Groups: Shinsen-subs & Yuurisan-subs, dattebayo, Desire & Himmel & Inmeliora, Aasasubs, Darksoul-Fansubs
Summary: Set in a gothic fantasy world, this is the story of Teito Klein, an orphaned slave who became the top military academy student. However, an unexpected turn of events left him pursued by the forces of the Barsburg Empire. Now an escaping convict, Teito's sheltered by the church and it’s law of sanctuary. Here, he discovered many mysteries surrounding himself, the church, and the Empire itself. The fact that he might be connected to a dethroned king and the mystical stone of god, 'The Eye of Mikhael' made him the target of the empire more than ever. Fortunately the church is under the mythical 7 Ghost protection. But who are the Ghosts really. Will Teito be free from the military's clutch, And what of his said mission to uncover the history. And who is the military's Chief-of-Staff Ayanami exactly. Teito's future seems to have spiraled into an unexpectedly perilous path. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: I think this one definitely holds some promise. The art is pretty decent and the characters are easily established. I'm looking forward to more. (I don't know what rei was talking about with the whole shounen-ai thing, but maybe because I've watched actual shounen-ai shows before.)
Other Comments: Rei - holds a bit of promise, but definitely went too shounen-ai for comfort
Link: anidb , ANN
Asura Cryin' - 13+ eps
Groups: AnimeYoshi, Chihiro-Fansubs, Saitei-Subs, AllofThem, KyouNoSubs & Nire-Subs
Summary: This is a story of a high school boy haunted by the ghost of a childhood girl friend and receives a strange item from his genius brother who's abroad...
My First Impressions: So far, it's okay, but not great. The art is average. Some of the characters are interesting as are their intereactions, but the pacing is rather slow in the second ep which makes it seem a bit boring.
Other Comments: Rei - as cliche as it sounds, it holds promise too
Link: anidb , ANN
Basquash - 13+ eps
Groups: Umai-Fansubs, Anime-Media Fansubs, Himmel
Summary: On the planet Earthdash, its inhabitants gaze on its moon and the technologically advanced lunar city of Mooneyes with awe. Dan JD, a boy living in Rollingtown on Earthdash’s surface, gets caught up in Bigfoot Basketball — a fast-paced sport played with giant Bigfoot robots. [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Charady no Joke na Mainichi - 365 eps
Groups: Frostii
Summary: The series stars “Charady,” a 26-year-old American graduate from Kyoto University of Art and Design’s Department of Character Design. Charady loves jokes from around the world, and will present a new joke every day. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Cross Game - 13+ eps
Groups: ANBU, CentralAnime, Jade-Fansubs, Minor Ja Nai
Summary: 5th grader Koh Kitamura lives next door to the Tsukishima family, owners of a batting cage and the Clover cafe. His girlfriend, Wakaba, is the 2nd Tsukishima daughter; the 3rd daughter, the baseball prodigy Aoba, can't stand him. Wakaba dreams of Koh pitching at legendary Koshien Stadium, site of the national high school championship finals. However, tragedy strikes, and it is up to Koh, with the help of Aoba and his other teammates, to make Wakaba's dream come true. [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Eden of the East - 11 eps
Groups: Shinsen-Subs, LunarAnime, sudo, gg Fansubs, Desire, Mistwalker & Tadashi, Frostii, Jade-Fansubs, Darksoul-Fansubs
Summary: On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash. [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Examurai Samurai - 25 eps
Groups: SubsFuckingWhere
Summary: The Examurai Sengoku anime production depicts the members of the EXILE group as futuristic samurai that are transported back in time to Japan’s sengoku (warring states) period. The anime character renditions of the EXILE members were designed by manga creator Hiroshi Takahashi (Crows, Worst). [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - 52? eps
Groups: Eclipse, Shinsen-subs, BSS, sudo, Darksoul-Fansubs, Asasubs, Taka Fansubs, KyouNoSubs & Tomodachi
Summary: It's FMA all over again (ignoring the first series) but following the manga this time. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: I think this is a total money maker since the first series was so popular. It's interesting because they also take more of a manga style approach to the art. I would say, it seems comparable to the first series, but I would expect not much less nor more from it.
Other Comments: Tiger - another restart of a series, though not much of a difference so far (I blame Hollywood for this idea that you can ressurrect old series just to violate the corpse)
Link: anidb , ANN
Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou - 13+ eps
Groups: yu
Summary: The series tells the story of Mimi Kitagami, a high school girl that aims to be her school’s best student council president despite having a crush on one of the school’s three most troublesome boy students. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <coming soon?>
Link: anidb , ANN
Guin Saga - 13+ eps
Groups: AnimeYoshi, C1Anime
Summary: The ancient kingdom of Parro has been invaded by the armies of Mongaul, and its king and queen have been slain. But the "twin pearls of Parro," the princess Rinda and the prince Remus, escape using a strange device hidden in the palace. Lost in the Forest of Rood, they are rescued from Mongaul soldiers by a strange leopard-headed man named Guin, who has no memories except for the word "Aurra." [from ANN]
My First Impressions: So far, the art isn't great though it's watchable I guess. The plot is pretty much as the summary. I can't say much, but the action isn't all that great and it seems pretty dull even though there's a certain amount of fighting involved. I'll probably give it one or two more eps. Likely though, I won't continue much farther unless someone recommends it.
Link: anidb , ANN
Hatsukoi Limited - 12? eps
Groups: m.3.3.w., Yuurisan-subs, Chihiro-Fansubs & Tsukasa, Saitei-Subs
Summary: Being an adolescent girl is just one problem after another. Middle-schooler Arihara Ayumi receives a note from a high-schooler, a very large and intimidating boy, Zaitsu Misao, asking her out. Frightened and intrigued, she doesn't know what to do![from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Hanasakeru Seishounen - 13+ eps
Groups: m.3.3.w., Hell-Fansubs
Summary: Hanasakeru Seishonen is the story of a half-Japanese heiress transplanted from her ordinary high school days in Japan to a life in America filled with intrigue involving international oil and wealth distribution. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: Seems interesting in that it's definitely not typical shoujo. The pacing was a bit weird for the first ep though. It'll take another ep or two to figure out whether it's worth continuing.
Link: anidb , ANN
Higepiyo - ? eps
Groups: Yuurisan-Subs, Ronery
Summary: Higepiyo (literally "Mustache-Peep") revolves around Hiyoko, a "surreal" bird that happens to have a mustache. Hiyoko can talk with "Piroshi" — Hiroshi, the human boy who won her in a fair — and the two are tight friends. In fact, Hiyoko teaches Hiroshi how to win brawls in elementary school, and she sometimes fights a bullying girl on Hiroshi's behalf. (Hiyoko is actually an experimental test subject that escaped from a laboratory.) [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Jewel Pet - 52 eps
Groups: SubsFuckingWhere
Summary: Based on the toy franchise collaboratively produced by Sega and Sanrio. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Konnichiwa Anne - 39 eps
Groups: Underwater
Summary: Based on the novel by Budge Wilson, which is a prequel to Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb
K-ON! - 13+? eps
Groups: qq Fansubs, Saitei-Subs, Chihiro-Fansubs, CoalGuys, Aasasubs, Frostii
Summary: The story about four high school girls that try to sustain their school’s popular music club despite being unable to read music or play instruments. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Marie & Gali - ? eps
Groups: Dats, SubsFuckingWhere
Summary: Marika is an ordinary, gothic lolita middle schooler. However, with only the slightest mention of science, she begins to get sleepy. One day while riding the train, her handmade stuffed animal "Pet" begins to move on its own. To make matters worse, she ends up in a strange town she's never heard of known as Galihabara. Here, Marika encounters the astronomer Galileo, as well as a number of history's other greatest scientists. However, they're all a little different... [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Natsu no Arashi! - 13+ eps
Groups: SubsFuckingWhere, SubDESU
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Yasaka is a boy staying at his grandfather's house during his summer vacation. One day he entered a store and met Arashi, a beautiful sixteen-year old girl working there. After trying to protect her from a man who claims to have been hired by her family to take her back by force, Yasaka ran away with her and now she stays at his grandpa's place with him. It didn't take much time for Yasaka to figure out that his new friend is far from an ordinary girl, as she possesses mysterious powers. The plot thickens when he finds a sixty-year-old picture of Arashi and another girl named Kaja, and to the surprise of all Kaja suddenly appears, and just like Arashi, her appearance hasn't changed at all since then. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: The art is really ugly and it seems kind of stupid. I got bored of it really quickly and didn't even get through all of ep1, so I'm not watching this anymore nor giving it a proper review unless someone recommends it to me.
Link: anidb , ANN
Pandora Hearts - 25 eps
Groups: Hatsuyuki Fansubs & Aasasubs, AoShen (2+), Phantom-Subs
Summary: Oz Bezarius, heir to one of the duke houses, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, however, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, he's cast into the prison known as the "Abyss", only to be saved by a "chain" known as Alice, the bloodstained black rabbit. Why was he cast into Abyss, how does Alice factor into it all, and what does the organization known as "Pandora" want with him. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: Well ep1+2 only cover the summary, which is kind of annoying since the pacing seems a bit slow this way, but so far it's interesting though why the Alice in Wonderland reference, I have no idea. Still, I think this holds potential. It'll take another ep or two to decide though.
Link: anidb , ANN
Phantom: Requiem for a Phantom - 13+ eps
Groups: Chibi Fansubs & Formula Subs, Ayako, Desire, Jade-Fansubs, Conclave & Mendoi Fansubs, Nekomimi Fansubs
Summary: Adaption of the Nitro+ visual novel Phantom of Inferno. In the American underworld, Mafia leaders are being killed one after another, with rumours of “Inferno” and the organisation’s top assasssin “Phantom” circulating around them. A boy, traveling alone in America becomes involved in one of these incidents and unexpectedly encounters Phantom. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: So far, it's probably what anyone would expect. The art isn't bad, and neither is action. The characters seem kind of 2D so far though. It's interesting enough so that I'll keep watching it for at least another ep or two, but if there's no more of a plot other than "these are assassins and they kill people", I'll probably give it up.
Link: anidb , ANN
Queen's Blade - 12 eps
Groups: Aasasubs, Russian-subs
Summary: In 4 years time the competition that will decide who the next Queen shall be will start. The strongest warrior will continue to rule the country according to tradition and expand it. The contestants need only be older than 12 years. They need not be human, intelligent or even of that country. The rules for the tournament are simple: murder is allowed. Any weapon can be chosen. The winner is decided when one of the participants flees or can't move anymore. Such event is broadcasted trough a crystal sphere by the court's magic teacher to all population to see and enjoy. [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Saki - 13+ eps
Groups: Underwater & Mahjong, SubDESU
Summary: Miyanaga Saki is a high school freshman who doesn’t like mahjong. Ever since she was a child, she would lose her New Year’s gift money during her family mahjong game. If she won, her parents would be upset, and if she lost, well, she lost. As a result, she’s learned to play in such a way that her score always remains plus/minus zero: not good enough to win, but not bad enough to lose. When we meet her, she’s being dragged to her school’s mahjong club by an old friend. How will a girl who hates mahjong, yet has become adept at the game as a result of her upbringing, survive in this environment? [from anidb]
My First Impressions: I got a bit loss in all the MJ terminology, but it looks interesting enough for me. I'll give it another ep or two.
Link: anidb , ANN
Sengoku Basara - 13+? eps
Groups: Shinsen-Subs, Tadashi
Summary: In the age of the Warring Countries, Japan was fragmented in semi-independent provinces, governed by feudal lords or daimyo, who confronted each other in an endless struggle for power.
Those were days of unrest and chaos. As war spread throughout the country, the map of power underwent rapid and dramatic changes.
In this never-ending conflict, one man finally seemed to be just one step from establishing total control over the country. He was the lord of Owari, the Sixth Heavenly Devil King. His name was Oda Nobunaga.
But now, a young general clad in azure makes his unexpected appearance in this confused scenario, heading a huge army of cavalrymen from the Northern provinces. He is known as Date Masamune, the One-Eyed Dragon. And he is coming for Oda Nobunaga's head, and for ultimate supremacy! [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Shangri-La - 12? eps
Groups: Desire, AllofThem, Jade-Fansubs, ?!huh Fansubs, Otaku-Legends, SubDESU, Nekomimi Fansubs
Summary: The story of a young woman fighting for her survival in a real "urban jungle." Only 18 years old, Kuniko Hojo finds herself at the heart of the battle for humanity's future when she discovers that the government which rules Atlas intends to continue marginalising the less-privileged masses outside the tower - by force, if necessary. [from ANN]
My First Impressions: This is definitely a product of the 21st century with concerns that the Internet becomes the way to get information, books become obselete, and carbon emissions is one of the foremost concerns. The art is not very good still, so far, it seems to hold potential and looks interesting by it's interesting characters and world. I'll give it at least another couple of eps.
Other Comments: Rei - Its a Range Murata production!
Link: anidb , ANN
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen - 26 eps
Groups: Shinsen-Subs, Gattai
Summary: [none available, would be helpful if someone supplied one]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Slap Up Party: Arad Senki - 26 eps
Groups: Ronery
Summary: Swordsman Baron travels the world of Arad to find a way to heal his demonic left arm. Accompanying him is Roxy, the ghost of a woman who unwillingly unleashed the evil that also caused Barons transformation. On their travel they get to know other fighters who accompany them and soon they call their group the "Party". [from ANN]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Souten Kouro - 13+ eps
Groups: LunarAnime, Kesenai Fansubs, Animanda
Summary: China 2A.D.: the corrupting Han Dynasty has thrown the entire country into chaos. Peasants revolt against the government. Into such an age, the ruthless and infamous hero, Cao Cao Mengde is born. Destroying old customs and values, he tries to unite China, with a band of promising and intellectual followers, handpicked for their individual talents and potential. Generally thought a villain, Cao Cao Mengde is portrayed as a hero in this story, which focuses on what kind of person he actually was. There are two other protagonists: Liu Bei Xuande and Sun Quan Zhongmou. Liu is a man of high morals and infinite potential. His servant, Zhuge Kongming is a mysterious man, who helps Liu to become a king who is loved by millions. Sun is the third descendant of the Sun family. A young and immature king also comes into the picture, creating more chaos. This is a Tale of the Three Kingdoms ("Sanguozhi") in which these three men rage war throughout China. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Ristorante Paradiso - 11 eps
Groups: Frostii
Summary: RisPara illustrates the life of Nicoletta, a young woman that becomes an apprentice in a restaurant in Rome (owned by her father-in-law). [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <coming soon?>
Link: anidb , ANN
Tayutama: Kiss on my Deity - 13+? eps
Groups: Ayako
Summary: This show revolves around schoolboy Yuri Mito, who discovers a mysterious religious relic shortly before equally mysterious girls (who are actually the area’s forgotten gods) begin turning up. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: <not watching unless recommended>
Link: anidb , ANN
Tears to Tiara - 11 eps
Groups: Kesenai Fansubs, CoalGuys
Summary: After a Demon King named Arawn who was sealed away for 1,000 years is being relaesed by girl named Rhiannon (who is made for sacrifice for his ressurection) releases him, they start to travel together and she becomes emotionally attached to him. [from anidb]
My First Impressions: This kind of reminds of me Utawarerumono in the style, art and characterization. So, I like it so far. I think this one holds promise.
Link: anidb , ANN
Valkyria Chronicles - 13+ eps
Groups: Doremi-Fansubs, AnimeYuki & Conclave, Ayako
Summary: Set in an alternate timeline of Europe in 1930s, the country of Gallia has come under attack by East European Imperial Alliance who value the country's abundance of ragnite ore—which can be refined into a powerful fuel. Welkin Gunther, son of Gallian war hero General Belgen Gunther, leads a team of soldiers in a desperate bid reclaim their war-torn neutral nation from enemy control. [from anidbN]
My First Impressions: The first two eps only seem to be an intro. I'm not particularly fond of the characters so far, but the story seems somewhat interesting. I'll give it another couple of eps to build the story, but if it doesn't get more interesting, I'll probably drop it.
Link: anidb , ANN
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