Elastic potential energy [Spring 2010 anime]

[blkmage]

Because springs store elastic potential energy, get it, get it?

So a chart showed up in my feed reader the other day, so I'm sure you know what time it is.

PROLOGUE
Much like the threads before it, this is a thread I created for the discussion of new anime that will be airing on TV in Japan in the Spring 2010 season. Anime typically gets released and runs for a number of seasons. The year is divided up into four seasons: January to March is winter, April to June is spring, July to September is summer, and October to December is fall. Each season is approximately 13 weeks.

Here, we can talk about what shows look interesting, what we plan to watch, and generally get giddy and excited for things that we've been anticipating for a while. There's a handy chart of all the shows that are coming up, with a short blurb about the premise of the show and what studio will be handling it. As we get closer to the season, more information shows up, like the first airing date. Other information like staff and cast obviously won't fit, but it's not too hard to use the Google to find out.

MAIN CONTENT
So it's looking like it'll have a pretty good infusion of new and weird stuff. I don't think there are that many obvious heavy-hitters like there usually are during a spring season. Some notes of interest:

2. A bunch of sequels that you likely won't care about unless you've already seen the first ones: Ookiku Furikabatte, Hetalia Axis Powers, MAJOR, Da Capo, K-ON!, Ikkitousen, Koihime Musou.

You got some American cartoons in my Japanese cartoons. Both Madhouse and BONES have projects that are collaborations with Americans. Madhouse is working with Marvel for a year and this season they're doing Iron Man. BONES is working with Stan Lee on an original project called Heroman, which, based on my opinion of that tiny image, looks kind of like Xam'd.

The Power of Anime. TV Tokyo's Anime no Chikara timeslot is intended to push original anime (as in not adaptations). The show that's currently occupying that timeslot is So Ra No Wo To and is fairly enjoyable. The show that will replace it is Senko no Night Raid, which looks to be much more palatable to people who thought the character designs of So Ra No Wo To were a bit too K-ON!.

Animation. noitaminA is the Fuji TV timeslot for pushing anime for a wider audience (read: not otaku). Since starting in 2005 with Honey and Clover, the shows in this timeslot have usually been pretty good (Nodame Cantabile, Moyashimon, Eden of the East, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0). Starting in the spring, the timeslot has been extended to an hour, which means we'll be getting two shows: Yojo-han Shinwa Taikei (adventures in college life) and House of Five Leaves (Edo Japan!).

Scheduling problems. After a few seasons of doing two shows and under-delivering, it looks like SHAFT is back to only one show this season with Arakawa Under the Bridge. It sounds like the sort of weird thing they'd do.

Sad girls not necessarily in snow. While I'm sure Key is hard at work with their next game, Rewrite, they are also doing an original (not Little Busters!) anime project joint with PA Works (not Kyoto Animation!) called Angel Beats. From the trailer, it looks pretty good, but the visual style is a bit like Haruhi with guns. I'm expecting big things from the writers of Air, Kanon, Clannad, and Planetarian.

★. BLACK★ROCK SHOOTER is based on a popular VOCALOID song composed by ryo/supercell which itself is based on a drawing by huke. It's being directed by Yutaka Yamamoto of Haruhi and Lucky Star fame and produced by his new studio. Also, it's an OVA, not a TV series, which makes sense.

Theatrical release. It's not listed here and we probably won't get to see it for months, but the Bungaku Shoujo movie will be in theatres May 1. It's being produced by Production IG and is based on a series of light novels. Apparently, it's the light novel that's gotten the most similar kind of hype to Haruhi since Haruhi. It's about a high school kid who used to secretly be a popular teen writer and is now writing for an older student who's actually a youkai who eats stories. I've read the first volume and basically wish the others were translated.

EPILOGUE
Looks like it'll be an interesting season, especially for those of us who are more flexible and adventurous in our tastes. Plenty of wacky and weird stuff to look forward to.

[Fish and Chips]

Man, when did Stan Lee suddenly become tidy with the Japanese? Seems his name's attached to just about every Japanese-American project these days. Was he really that enamored with Japanese Spider-Man?

House of Five Leaves looks awesome. That it's being handled by Manglobe gives it a few bonus points in my book. Hakuouki also looked briefly interesting until I noticed in fine print that Studio Deen is going to be responsible for it. Nope.

Nothing else really catches my interest. Again.

[Nate]

B Gata H Kei looks like the best anime ever!

Nah just kidding.

Actually Arakawa Under the Bridge interests me, but ONLY because the blurb says that the author did Saint Young Men which was pretty hilarious.

[Falx]

Only thing's I'm definitely checking out are Senkou no Night Raid, Arakawa and K-On S2.

Angel Beats looked good until I read the premise... looks like one of those things I'm going to have to skip for reasons the world won't quite get.

The rest I will wait to see what other people say.

OVA wise definitely Black Rock Shooter, and the GA OVA.

[blkmage]

B Gata H Kei looks like the best anime ever!

You meant Kiss x Sis, mirite?

I'm probably going to be checking out the first few episodes of Kaichou wa Maid-sama, Heroman, and Giant Killing. They're not what I usually go for, but I've heard bits and pieces about them that are making me give them a chance.

Things that I will be sticking with are Senko no Night Raid (an original show set in 1930s China!), House of Five Leaves (noitaminA), Yojo-han Shinwa Taikei (noitaminA and Madhouse!), Angel Beats (Key!), Working! (looks fun), and K-ON! (I liked the extra episode).

Think there's anything we can get everyone to watch together like Durarara?

[blkmage]

More information has been revealed to me.

There's a show that's not listed yet called Shoka, by Production IG, about calligraphers fighting with paper monsters.

Yojou-han Shinwa Taikei is by Madhouse, which you knew already, but more importantly, it's got Kaiba's director on it. Also casts Maaya Sakamoto and Fujiwara Keiji.

Tono to Issho is listed as an OVA and is actually based on a four-panel comic about Sengoku-era warlords. Cast includes Gackt (yes, really), Noto Mamiko, Sugita Tomokazu, Kobayashi Yuu.

[Nate]

I know Gackt is probably there to bring in fangirls and whatnot but seriously the dude is a HORRIBLE actor. I would ask why haven't studios noticed that by now but if the mention of Gackt makes people watch it I guess they don't care how bad he is.

[goldenspines]

I'll give a watch to Senko no Night Raid, just because I like the title and the promo art. (and yeah, the basis seems cool too)
Working! looks interesting, though I'll have to see what the plot line actually is as more info comes out.
Yay, Hetalia season 3.
I think I read a chapter of Kaichou wa Maid-sama once. I may follow that publishing since I can't remember it being bad. XD
And I'm not big into robots, but Heroman looks like it deserves a watch.
Can't say the art style of House of Five Leaves draws me in, but the basis seems interesting enough.

There's a show that's not listed yet called Shoka, by Production IG, about calligraphers fighting with paper monsters.

I really hope this is as awesome as it could be.

[MasterDias]

Heroman trailer is out. Awesome Bones animation is awesome. I had been interested in it before, but this increased it majorly. It looks pretty fun. OP is by Tetsuya from L'Arc~en~Ciel.

I am currently waiting for a more substantial Senko no Night Raid trailer that isn't a Making Of documentary.

Also, anyone looking forward to Madhouse's version of Iron Man will be disappointed. It has apparently been delayed to the fall.

[Lochaber Axe]

Heroman immediately brings to mind two things: Gurren Lagann and this...

+ =

[CrimsonRyu17]

Heroman trailer is out. Awesome Bones animation is awesome. I had been interested in it before, but this increased it majorly. It looks pretty fun. OP is by Tetsuya from L'Arc~en~Ciel.

I haven't been interested in this anime season cause nothing rly caught my eye. This changes my mind. Heroman looks fun as heck.

Heroman immediately brings to mind two things: Gurren Lagann and this...

LOL yeah. I'm not too crazy about the robot design cause I'm such a Gundam lover but it still looks cool. GO AMERICA?

[ChristianKitsune]

Iron Man, Heroman, and Shoka look really really interesting!

Heroman has a character named Psy- he looks like he has BIG Spike/Tai hair haha!
This animation reminds of Eureka 7- (well duh, me. Its by bones!) I look forward to fun Engrish while watching this too...

As always I ADORE Production I.G's work, so I'm hoping that Shoka will be just as awesome as the past series

[blkmage]

So I saw the preview broadcast of the first episode of Working! and it's pretty standard 4-koma stuff, except there are more guys than usual. We've got hapless main character guy, short girl, violent manager lady, graceful girl who carries a sword, girl who's afraid of men, friendly and likable guy, and apathetic guy. Your enjoyment of this show will depend on how entertained you are by typical 4-koma shenanigans.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

So I believe I'll check out Senko no Night Raid and House of Five Leaves this season. Maybe Arakawa Under the Bridge if I feel like I want my mind to be messed with.

[blkmage]

So guys, pretty huge news today. Looks like Funimation has a deal with Fuji TV for noitaminA shows and they'll be for reals simulcasting them (one hour after broadcast) for free. For this season, that means House of Five Leaves and Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei.

House of Five leaves starts today in an hour or two and Yojouhan is next week.

[Yamamaya]

Why is it that every time I see the Heroman OP I think of, "IN AMERICA!"

Haven't really been keeping up that much with the spring season however Angel Beats looks intriguing.