February New Anime

The new season started at the beginning of January, but there is a surprising number of new series and OVAs appearing now in February.

The most interesting one for me is the first episode of the three-episode Ichigo Mashimaro OVA. There is lots of manga available to create stories from, and I except more of the hilarious, yet deep and humane humor that the original series gave us in 2005. One of the best ensemble casts in all anime: Nabatame Hitomi, Orikasa Fumiko (who is a comic revelation as Miu), Chiba Saeko, Noto Mamiko, and Kawasumi Ayako. Released 23 Feb.

As for the others, I just don't know. The new series are: Kemono Soukikou Dancouga Nova, Yes! Pretty Cure 5, Naruto Shippuuden, Rocket Girl, and Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny. The OVAs are: Okane ga Nai, Fist of the North Star - The Legend of Toki, Fuyu no Semi, and To Heart 2 OVA. And ep2 of the Genshiken OVA and ep3 of Baldr Force Exe Resolution will be released. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood, is a movie.

Not being much of an expert on mecha, I can't say evaluate the Dancouga Nova designs, but they are designed, and the show is directed, by the same person who did the Gravion animes and Fatal Fury. I can say that the VA cast looks great: Kuwashima Houko, Tai Yuuki, Ikezawa Haruna (Marimite/Yoshino), Gotou Saori, Fujiwara Keiji, Wakamoto Norio. It starts on 15 Feb and airs at 10:30 pm Thursdays.







Yes! Pretty Cure 5 is a show for children, but the thing that will get me to watch one episode is the presence of the excellent voice of 20-year-old Sanpei Yuuko, who is rocketing to prominence after her role as Renton in Eureka7. She has recently taken over as Souta in Otogijushi Akazukin. It will be good to hear her do a female role. 8:30 Sundays, starting 4 Feb.



Naruto Shippuuden is the latest series in that franchise, and bills itself as showing that Naruto has changed. 7:30 Thursdays, starting 15 Feb.










Rocket Girl is about a girl who is chosen to be an astronaut because she is small and light. This is the director's first series, and the show is from a light novel published in the 90s. The presence of VAs Nabatame Hitomi and Sendai Eri means that I will definitely give it a chance. Midnight Wednesday, starting 21 Feb. Replaces Soukou no Strain, which ends the week before.





Ikkitousen - Dragon Destiny continues the story of the original Ikkitousen, apparently with even more fanservice. The story is of three high schools fighting for supremacy, literally. They are named for the Three Kingdoms of Chinese history, and there are repeated slight parallels with that story. Once again, the cast looks great: Nabatame Hitomi, Asano Masumi, Chihara Minori, Kadowaki Mai, Shindou Kei, Kaida Yuko, Hina Satoshi, Inoue Kikuko. Naba-sama and Masumin are two of the most professional VAs of all. I am thrilled to see them headlining a show together. They do the show's radio program. Show airs 7:30 Mondays, starting 26 Feb.





Okane ga Nai is a boys'-love one-ep OVA that has had its date shifted back from January to Feb 9. Fukuyama Jun is bought by Kosugi Juurota (Morcerf in Gankutsuou). This will work, lol. Released 9 Feb.











Fist of the North Star - The Legend of Toki. Great martial artist Kenshirou continues to try to bring justice to a land in chaos. Released 23 Feb.











Fuyu no Semi -- Winter Cicada -- appears to be Bakumatsu-era boys' love. Two friends are separated by being on opposite sides in the fight to overthrow the Shogunate and establish the new Imperial rule in the 1860s. Stars Miki Shinichirou and Morikawa Toshiyuki. Released 23 Feb.






ToHeart2 OVA. Released 28 Feb. A new director and a stripped-down cast make me think this could be yet another step down for a moe/harem title that wasn't that great to begin with. Released 28 Feb.










Genshiken has a lot going for it. Hopefully this second episode of the OVA will be as good as the first. It shows the lives of otaku in a college club called the "Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture." And has an excellent cast, including Kawasumi Ayako and Seki Tomokazu, the stars of Nodame Cantabile. Released 23 Feb.











Ep 3 of the four-episode OVA Baldr Force Exe - Resolution, will be released on 9 Feb. It's the story of intrigues among a terrorist group, the security forces, and the army, in a world divided into real and virtual realms, rather resembling the Matrix world.





The movie JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood will be released 17 February, covering the first arc of the classic manga, which involves intrigue, adventure, evil, and vampirism in Victorian-era Britain and Europe.

Cast, staff, and date/time details on my Winter 2007 Calendar.