hashihime 橋姫

Yuuki Aoi in a Sailor Suit

2011-12-02T17:15:00.001-08:00

A new magazine called Voice Angel has debuted with photo series featuring Yuuki Aoi, Taketatsu Ayana, Ogura Yui, and Kayano Ai.

Despite the fact she's 19 and in college, they featured Ao-chan in a middle-school sailor-style uniform. Ao-chan says she borrowed an old uniform of her mother's.

Cover of the magazine

Oh, and if you'd like to see Ao-chan's mother, from whom she borrowed the uniform, here is a shot from Ao-chan's blog a few years ago

When Ao-chan was younger, her mother accompanied her to all her recording and filming sessions.

But she sometimes seems closer to her father, whom Ao-chan says looks like a gangster, but who is actually a department head in a game company (apparently Capcom):

And while I'm talking about her family, here is Ao-chan with her grandmother, also a few years ago. Even shorter, lol:

Sorry, I haven't yet come across the photos of the other seiyuus in Voice Angel.

Ogura Yui Proud of Her Mid-Term Marks

2011-11-24T19:22:00.001-08:00

Ogura Yui posts almost every day in her blog. Recently, she has apologized for posting a little less frequently, because of mid-term tests.

But today she posted a delighted summary of her test results: the 16-year-old Yui, who I guess is in high school, was aiming for an overall average of 80% and actually got 85%. I liked her little still-life of test results, with the names of her school and teachers carefully blocked out:

Now here is a shot of her from during the test period:

Not exactly at her best, lol. Next is a shot of her doing the splits during dance practice. This photo got a lot of positive comment from her fans, but she says it is something she has been able to do since she was little. In my opinion, she is a better dancer than either singer or seiyuu. Although her voice work is improving.

Kana in Switzerland -- Hanazawa Kana Photobook

2011-11-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

A book of photos of Hanazawa Kana will come out on 14 December in Japan.

The photoshoot was in Switzerland. Kana-chan talks about it in a radio show reported on here by Ambi: "I went to Switzerland! Yayy!!! It was a really nice place. It’s kinda rare for me to go overseas especially on a trip where the plane ride was so long. Including the return trip it was about fourteen hours!"

Here are some pages from the book, which has not yet been posted for sale on amazon.co.jp or cdjapan:

Japanese comments are predictably enthusiastic. "Kana-chan is really an angel!" "She's like Heidi Girl of the Alps."

Great Seiyuu Blog to Check Out

2011-11-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

Ambi'seiyuulog started last year, but I only found it a few months ago. Among other things, it gives us summaries of radio episodes featuring various seiyuus.

Ambi currently follows Hikasa Youko, Hanazawa Kana, Sugita Tomokazu, Yuuki Aoi, Hayami Saori, Iguchi Yuka, and Sakura Ayane. Ambi has good taste, lol.

One of the more amusing posts is about a Railgun radio episode during which wine was served and in which Itou Kanae reveals to Satou Rina that she doesn't believe reindeer really exist. "Do reindeer really exist?" then becomes a catch-phrase for Kanae-chan and keeps popping up.

As you might guess, it's the posts featuring Yuuki Aoi that interest me most. Here's part of Ambi's post about the Ben-Tou radio episode in which Ao-chan guested with hosts Shimono Hiro and Ise Mariya:

Aoi: The pacing and timing of the anime is great! The way they fight so seriously is weird but hilarious! Hmm what else… Oh.. And there’s… Butts and stuff… *trails off*
*Ise and Shimono laugh awkwardly*
Shimono: You’re going into that as well?
Aoi: But think about it! There’s tasty food! There’s laughs! And then there’s butts! It’s got all of mankind’s desires right there! It’s wonderful!
*Shimono laughs*
Ise: There’s breasts as well!
Aoi: Yeah!
Shimono: *laughs* …I see. Ben-To has mankind’s desires all in one place!
Aoi: Yep! So if you watch it you’ll be able to live a healthy life!
Shimono: *laughs* That is one AMAZING way to wrap up the anime!

For more like this, check out Ambi'seiyuulog.

Hanazawa Kana, Yuuki Aoi to Co-star in New Anime

2011-11-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Hanazawa Kana and Yuuki Aoi will co-star in a new short anime to begin December 17.

The anime is called Yakimochi Kyousoukyoku Kapurisu ("Jealousy Rhapsody Caprice"). It stars Kana-chan and Ao-chan as a puppy and a kitten who think they are human girls and are always competing to be tops.

It will be shown as the ending sequence of the anime TV show Anime Seijin -- Tokimeki Reshipii ("Anime Alien -- Exciting Recipe"). The show features two hosts (currently Ueda Kana and Shimizu Kaori), talking and cooking together. Previous hosts have included Maeno Tomoaki and KENN, Kakihara Tetsuya and Eguchi Takuya, et al.

Here are Ao-chan and Kana-chan with their characters, Ruu the kitten and Nowa the puppy:

This reunites the two seiyuus, who starred together in the hilarious short anime Yutori-chan early last year. They did a radio show together for that show, and their very different styles made it quite amusing. They have both had a lot more radio experience since, so it would be interesting to hear them together again.

I guess I should add that I am not a hundred percent sure whether they will just produce one sequence, or whether it will be a series of little episodes.

Fall 2011 Anime -- Impressions

2011-10-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

Chihayafuru

Here are my personal reactions to most of the new shows. Fate/Zero, Horizon, and Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai ("Haganai") are the most popular shows with anime watchers in Japan and overseas.

But my own favorite shows are Chihayafuru, Kimi to Boku, Ben-Tou, Guilty Crown, Haganai, and Last Exile. Mirai Nikki is pretty powerful, too.

Anyway, here's the list, in alphabetical order, with some comments:

● Ad-lib Anime Laboratory -- Katou Emiri, Fukuhara Kaori, and a guest (Sakurai Takahiro and Kobayashi Yuu, so far) ad-lib lines from which a short anime is then made. Highly enjoyable for watching the seiyuus work, but the anime produced aren't that interesting.
● Ben-Tou -- Absurdly hilarious story about supermarket battles over half-price bentos. No, really. Yuuki Aoi is terrific as the fujoshi battle-watcher. So is Kayano Ai as the vicious class president. Good work also from Ise Mariya and Shimono Hiro. Sleeper hit.
● Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai -- Friendless misfits of various kinds create a club whose aim is to make friends. Funny and well produced. One of the most popular shows of the season.

● C³ -- Oonuma Shin (ef melodies/memories, Baka to Test) brings us his smart version of a harem comedy, with real comedy, good animation, and lots of fanservice. And Tamura Yukari is terrific as the loli superbeing. But there is something missing, for me.
● Chibi Debi! -- Ten-minute episodes about a young girl who finds a demon baby in her bed. Nicely done, but not as enjoyable as I hoped.
● Chihayafuru -- Top-notch show following some well-rounded characters into the world of karuta, a Japanese card game based on classical poetry. Best of the season so far, for me.
● Fate/Zero -- Good first episode begins to wander in second ep, drifting back toward the monster show I abandoned in F/SN. Not my thing, so I can't really judge it. But this is the most popular show of the season, both in Japan and abroad.
● gdgd Fairies -- Short episodes of not much animation and a lot of talking. Not very interesting, for me, even if it is basically a seiyuu showcase.
● Guilty Crown -- Done by the same writers who did Code Geass, and it shows. But this has a sharpness and elegance of its own, and Kayano Ai as the central point of fanservice and magic continues to show she is the real thing. Much-watched, but with many negative voices. The writing seems pretty slap-dash, to me. I look forward to it every week, but can't rate it that highly.
● Hunter × Hunter -- Entertaining shounen comedy adventure. Not my thing, but excellent through two episodes. Fans of the original show are less pleased, and want the old cast back.
● Kimi to Boku -- Slice of life featuring a group of high-school boys. Some complain they are not enough like boys, more like the K-On girls in male drag, but I find the show gentle and enjoyable, and the boys seem like some boys I knew in high school.
● Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon -- One of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, with an interesting and complex background, and lots of fanservice. Ponderously slow at first, but the highly visual episode five was excellent. Probably the second most popular show, both in Japan and abroad.
● Last Exile -- Ginyoku no Fam -- The highly anticipated sequel got off to a good start, painting a broad canvas full of action and populating it with sharply drawn characters. The connections with the original show are beginning to come out as we reach episode four.
● Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! -- Fanservice and romance in a school that teaches mecha fighting. If you liked Infinite Stratos, maybe you will like this. Neither did it for me.
● Maken-Ki! -- Boobsalot and not much else.
● Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers -- Pure harem anime that works for me. Romantic feelings.
● Mirai Nikki -- Is doing a great job of adapting the manga. Looks like a good one.Yuno is in the running for top yandere shoujo of all time.
● Mobile Suit Gundam AGE -- Kiddy Gundam, but none the worse for that. I was riveted by the first two episodes, but then my attention began to wander.
● Persona 4 -- Nowhere near as smart as it thinks it is. A disappointment to me through two episodes.
● Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle -- ditto
● Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi 2 -- Another warm bath in a gay male world of shoujo publishing.
● Shakugan no Shana III (Final) -- I'm sure I'm missing something, but I wrote this franchise off long ago as "monster of the week." The first part of the first episode seemed well produced, but it wasn't for me.
● Shinryaku!? Ika Musume -- Cute, but doesn't come near my funny bone.
● Tamayura - Hitotose -- Can this be better than the OVA? Perhaps it can. Sentimental to the Nth degree.
● Un-Go -- Started slowly, looking like an episodic detective mystery. But depth and complexity are beginning to appear.
● Working'!! -- Well done, but perhaps one season was enough for me.

Fall Anime Popularity in Japan and in the West

2011-10-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick tabulation of posts that gives some idea of how popular the various fall anime are in Japan and abroad.

Fate/Zero is the clear winner in Japan -- although Shana may be a close competitor. It's not possible to tell how many of its 242 threads of posts are for earlier series.

Gundam AGE seems to be far more interesting to posters abroad than it is in Japan. Horizon and Persona 4 are a bit more popular in Japan than overseas.

Anyway, here are the figures:

2channel (thousand-post threads)

Fate/Zero	100
Horizon	56
Persona 4	50
Haganai	38
Ika Musume	36
Gundam AGE	33
HunterxHunter	24
Guilty Crown	22
Last Exile Fam	20
Ben-Tou	16
Chihayafuru	12
C3	11
Mashiro-iro Symphony	11
Majikoi	10
Tamayura Hitotose	8
Maken-ki	6
Kimi to Boku	6
Un-Go	5
gdgd Fairies	5
Phi Brain	3

AnimeSuki (posts)

Gundam AGE	3400
Fate/Zero	2300
Haganai	1515
Guilty Crown	1485
Horizon	1382
Persona 4	1053
Shana	800
Last Exile Fam	678
C3	674
Ben-Tou	673
Majikoi	506
Mirai Nikki	473
HunterxHunter	397
Working	343
Chihayafuru	304
Un-Go	262
Mashiro-iro Symphony	235
Ika Musume	214
Maken-ki	190
Phi Brain	142
Kimi to Boku	122
Tamayura Hitotose	120

This method is not infallible. Discussions of some shows -- of Guilty Crown on AnimeSuki, for example -- have as many negative posts as positive ones.

And I wasn't able to tell how many threads for some continuing shows were for the original series rather than the new one. That's true for Shana, Working, and Mirai Nikki.

By the way, Haganai is the nickname for the show Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, which is popular both in Japan and beyond -- for good reason.

Ben-Tou CD Drama

2011-10-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

A short Ben-Tou CD drama comes with the first issue of the Shueisha light novel magazine Super Dash & Go. I'm not sure if this is all of it, but here is a clip of the drama from NicNico Douga. As usual, the clip from Nico takes a long time to load.

It stars Wakamoto Norio, Shimono Hiro, Ise Mariya, and as the novel's author, Asaura, writes in his blog: "...for the first time ever, Yuuki Aoi's wonderful voice mimicking Wakamoto-san."

I actually don't think she comes all that close to Wakamoto's voice, but it's an amazing attempt anyway.

In the brief drama, Wakamoto plays Shimono's father, and they get very close in the bath....

Busiest Seiyuus of the First Half of 2011 -- Kugyu, Miyukichi, and the Rest

2011-10-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Kugimiya Rie

Here is a tabulation of the seiyuus who appeared in the most anime episodes in the first half of 2011. From 2channel. Since seiyuus are apparently paid by the episode, this might give a rough guide to income, as well -- for the more established seiyuus, at least.

It's no surprise to see Kugimiya Rie and Sawashiro Miyuki at the top of the list; but I'm a bit surprised to see Inoue Marina so high. Nor is it a surprise to see Miyano Mamoru as the busiest male seiyuu; but it is to see Okamoto Nobuhiko and Kakihara Tetsuya next.

ranking -- number of episodes -- seiyuu's name

    1　136　Kugimiya Rie
    2　122　Sawashiro Miyuki
    3　99　Inoue Marina
    4　90　Hanazawa Kana
    5　88　Miyano Mamoru
    6　85　Okamoto Nobuhiko
    7　84　Kakihara Tetsuya
    8　81　Toyosaki Aki
    9　79　Fujiwara Keiji
    9　79　Hirano Aya
    9　79　Yuuki Aoi
    9　79　Kobayashi Yuu
    9　79　Orikasa Fumiko
    14　78　Kitamura Eri
    15　77　Itou Kanae
    16　75　Namikawa Daisuke
    16　75　Konishi Katsuyuki
    16　75　Sakurai Takahiro
    19　73　Paku Romi
    19　73　Horie Yui
    21　71　Hikasa Youko
    21　71　Miyake Kenta
    23　70　Sanpei Yuuko
    23　70　Sugiyama Kishou
    25　69　Sugita Tomokazu
    25　69　Nakamura Yuuichi
    27　68　Noto Mamiko
    27　68　Suwabe Junichi
    27　68　Tomatsu Haruka
    30　67　Koyama Rikiya
    30　67　Miki Shinichirou

It's a surprise to see Hirano Aya so high, considering that she is supposed to be semi-retired from seiyuu work. But long-running shows Jewelpet and Fairy Tail keep her totals up. And she has re-emphasized recently that she is still a seiyuu and plans to take on more roles.

In looking for a pic of Kugyu, I came across these shots, probably from 2009, of her and Majima Junji on the train. Snuck by a rider who recognized her, I guess. They were possibly riding home from a recording session. No-one imagines anything more.

What Yuuki Aoi Wants for Christmas -- To Be Better At English

2011-10-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

In her blog, Yuuki Aoi says that what she wants from Santa this Christmas is better ability in English. "Higher marks would be good, too."

The line-up for volunteer English tutors forms at the left, lol.

Ao-chan has not been posting much to her blog recently. She is attending university, and appears to be taking it seriously, despite all the seiyuu work she is doing at the same time, and despite the fact that her university is known for having high entry standards and good courses, but allowing students to slack off if they want to.

Anyway, to make more of a post here, I'll include some recent photos of Ao-chan, along with Kotobuki Minako, a friend with whom she co-starred in Hyakka Ryouran and A Channel; and Toyosaki Aki, with whom she co-stars in Last Exile - Ginyoku no Fam. I'm not sure if Ao-chan is getting closer to members of Sphere, or if Sphere is so popular they are everywhere.

With Toyosaki Aki on the cover of Pick-up Voice magazine.

2channel thinks she looks like a middle-schooler in this pic.
Here's news for you, guys: she isn't.

Toyosaki Aki

With Kotobuki Minako, from a magazine feature in Seiyuu Grand Prix.
The caption says: "Friends forever." The cover pic is here.

On radio, Ao-chan refers to Mina-chan as her "bride."

Here she is with Nanjou Yoshino, seiyuu, singer with fripSide,
and my choice (and no-one else's) as most beautiful of all current seiyuus.

Sphere Agency Conference Leak?

2011-10-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

A report on a Japanese blog claims to be leaked information from a conference of Sphere's agency to discuss the group's recent publicity problems.

The supposed leak makes several points:

the meeting was long, and involved many people from both the Music Ray'n agency and its parent, Sony Entertainment.
Toyosaki Aki really is living with Tom-H@ck
the agency bought paparazzi photos of Tomatsu Haruka to keep them out of circulation
it also bought photos of Toyosaki Aki
it also bought photos of Takagaki Ayahi, but from a weekly magazine
Kotobuki Minako dealt with things very earnestly, cried in the meeting several times, and even suggested the group might break up
Toyosaki Aki took a hard line, supposedly relying on Tom H@ck's power in the industry
she was not willing to move from the apartment, and was unwilling to take any blame for the situation

I have no idea if the report is true. As proof, the blog publishes a very unclear photo of what is supposedly a business card from the meeting.

Otaku comments on the story tend to blame Toyosaki. Personally, this seems wrong to me. She deserves to have her own life, separate from either her professional life or the parts of her private life that are used as publicity material.

With their latest single debuting at #4 in the music charts, I think Sphere has a long future ahead of it, and will not be breaking up any time soon.

Having gotten a little sense of her from her radio appearances with Yuuki Aoi, it makes sense to me that Kotobuki Minako might be so emotional about this. She has long looked older than her years, and probably has been thought of as having a more adult romantic life than she actually does. So this kind of publicity for those around her makes her feel vulnerable.

Another story says that Tomatsu and other members of Sphere have said they felt "invaded" by the photos and publicity.

Sphere's New Single Hits #4 On Its First Day

2011-10-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

Sphere's new single was officially released Wednesday, and is listed at #4 in Oricon's daily sales rankings. Apparently the so-called scandals surrounding Tomatsu Haruka and Toyosaki Aki have not hurt sales.

The single, "High Powered," is the OP for this fall's second series of the anime Ika Musume. You can buy it from CD Japan. Here's YouTube audio.

For anyone who doesn't know the members of the group, here is a key to the image, they are: (clockwise from bottom left) Tomatsu Haruka, Takagaki Ayahi, Kotobuki Minako, Toyosaki Aki.

Toyosaki, Tomatsu Send Messages to Fans

2011-10-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

All the members of Sphere, and their agency, have published messages to their fans today.

Toyosaki Aki and Tomatsu Haruka both apologized to fans for causing them trouble, but Toyosaki went on to say that her private life has no direct connection with her professional life.

The Music Ray'n agency threatened criminal and civil action against the people who took secret photos of their seiyuus or threatened them on line.

Sphere (l-r): Tomatsu Haruka, Kotobuki Minako, Takagaki Ayahi, Toyosaki Aki

Toyosaki spoke directly of Tom-H@ck, saying he was someone she admired professionally and went to for help with her songs, and also someone she could talk about her personal troubles with.

Music Ray'n said that they left their seiyuus to run their own personal lives, within certain guidelines.

2channel is a mixed bag of people who continue to find fault, dissecting the blog posts for things to criticize, and fans who declare their continued support.

This is all fallout from recent publication of paparazzi photos and deductions from them suggesting that Toyosaki is living with Tom-H@ck and that Tomatsu and Irino Miyu are dating. This has led to great vituperation against Tomatsu and Toyosaki, including death threats from fans who feel wronged. Some Japanese seiyuu otaku feel that it is wrong for their heroines to have boyfriends other than them.

Blog posts: Toyosaki, Tomatsu, Kotobuki, Takagaki. Statement: Music Ray'n.

Characters and Seiyuus -- Guilty Crown

2011-10-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

Here's another characters/seiyuus page. This time for Guilty Crown.

I've enjoyed the first two episodes a lot. The show is directed by Araki Tetsurou, the director of Death Note, and written by Yoshino Hiroyuki, the writer of Mai-HiME and assistant writer of Code Geass. I wondered how those two would combine, and I'm afraid I like the Araki aspects -- the sharp direction and great backgrounds and animation -- more than the writing.

The basic story is too much like Code Geass, especially for someone like me who didn't enjoy that show very much: after a virulent epidemic that caused panic and death in Japan, a consortium of outside countries has taken over government of Japan. There is an underground movement fighting them that somehow has its own heavy weapons.

For me, Kayano Ai's performance as the Net singer Inori is one of the great charms of the show. And so is the barely-clad rebel Inori herself. But she is very soft-spoken and obedient and the furthest thing imaginable from a feminist heroine, except for her courage in carrying out her commander's orders. So I can't really answer those who find her boring and backward, except to say I am enjoying her so far. For me, Kayanon is giving her soul.

Click here or on the image to go to the full page:

Characters and Seiyuus -- Chihayafuru

2011-10-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

Chihayafuru may be the best show of the fall season. It has depth of personalities and story, and is presented in a crisp and subtle way by the director of NANA, Asaka Morio.

It stars 18-year-old Seto Asami in her second major role, after Yoshino in Hourou Musuko. She is already slated for a role in January's Rinne no Lagrange. And she is outstanding here as Chihaya, the girl who discovers a passion for karuta, a Japanese game based on classical poetry. No, really.

The story follows her and her relationships with two boys: the one who turned her on to the game then moved away, and the childhood friend who lost interest in the game quickly when he went to another school and she wasn't there encourage him to play.

Anyway, click here or on the image to go to the full page, which has pics of the main characters and their seiyuus, and a bit of info about each seiyuu:

So far, I've just included the characters whose images are given on the official site. I'll add two more: Endou Aya as Chihaya's sister, and Yukino Satsuki (!) as her mother.

Hanazawa Kana -- New Images and Interview

2011-10-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

I just came across this new photo of Kana-chan today, and I like it so much I thought I'd post it. (click to enlarge).

In the interview, she talks a bit about two favorite manga: Solanin and Kocha Ouji. She says she cried at the manga Solanin, and cried at the film, which she has seen twice. She has also bought the DVD.

Asked what impelled her to go into entertainment, she said it was her mother. When she was in kindergarten, her mother asked if she wanted to try an audition, and she said yes. Kana-chan was in TV dramas as a child, and was a regular on the Sanma Dai Sensei TV show (as was Yuuki Aoi).

She said voice-acting was more worry than fun at first, as she just didn't know how to approach each character and even each line, and was always worried. But that began to change with Potemayo, where she really only made sounds and was told to make them with various emotions, to suit the situation. That was fun, and she began to be comfortable as a voice actress. But it is a very chancy occupation, and she always feels that each audition may be her last. That's something, for one of the top stars in voice acting today.

This fall, she is in two popular shows: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, and Guilty Crown.

Here are a few more photos. Click to enlarge:

Ben-Tou -- Characters/Seiyuus Pics and Info

2011-10-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Just in time for episode two, here is a characters and seiyuus page to help keep the characters and who plays them straight. Click here or on the image to go to the full page:

The voice-acting in this show is good. I was especially impressed by Yuuki Aoi, Shimono Hiro, and Kayano Ai. As Kayanon does more and more roles well, I'm beginning to think that she is the real deal.

Paku Romi (and other seiyuus') Voice Samples

2011-10-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

I just came across a nice long set of voice samples from Paku Romi on YouTube:

This is part of a collection of voice samples of various seiyuus posted by the same person. Other voices include Horie Yui, Taketatsu Ayana, Endou Aya, Kishio Daisuke, Maeno Tomoaki, Fukuyama Jun, Wakamoto Norio, etc., etc.

NewType Anime Awards -- Madoka Magika, Miyano Mamoru, Yuuki Aoi

2011-10-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Madoka Magica was the top show of 2011, and Yuuki Aoi and Miyano Mamoru the top seiyuus, according to readers of NewType magazine.

The NewType anime awards were announced over the weekend, and Madoka Magica ran away with the lion's share of the awards. The show won twelve awards, ranging from best anime and best director (Akiyuki Shinbou) through best OP, best music, best character design, and best colour, to awards for three of its seiyuus: Yuuki Aoi as best leading female, Saitou Chiwa as best supporting female, and Katou Emiri for best mascot character (is Kyuube a "mascot," lol?).

The awards were voted on by NewType readers, and through NewType's website. There was a total of over 6000 votes. NewType tends to cover shounen shows and has a readership split between male and female. Looking at the full voting results, the second-most popular anime was Tiger & Bunny. Mawaru Penguin Drum, AnoHana, and The Idolm@ster also show up several times each.

There were awards for the season's top characters, and Homura of MadoMagi (played by Saitou Chiwa) won for female character, while Okabe Rentarou of Steins;Gate (played by Mamo-chan) won for male character.

Miyano Mamoru

Yuuki Aoi

Ao-chan probably benefited from the fact that MadoMagi was the top show. People might have made Chiwa the top seiyuu, except that her role was formally a supporting role, while Ao-chan's was formally the lead role -- despite the fact that Chiwa's Homura felt more like a main character. Ao-chan expressed surprise at winning the award, and Chiwa echoed her.

Here are full results:

Leading role female:
1 Yuuki Aoi
2 Hanazawa Kana
3 Kayano Ai
4 Sawashiro Miyuki
5 Sakamoto Maaya

Saitou Chiwa

Supporting role female:
1 Saitou Chiwa
2 Hanazawa Kana
3 Kitamura Eri
4 Toyosaki Aki
5 Katou Emiri

Leading role male:
1 Miyano Mamoru
2 Kamiya Hiroshi
3 Okamoto Nobuhiko
4 Hirata Hiroaki
5 Shimono Hiro

Fujiwara Keiji

Supporting role male
1 Fujiwara Keiji
2 Okamoto Nobuhiko
3 Sakurai Takahiro
4 Fukuyama Jun
5 Seki Tomokazu
-- ballots indicate the gender of the voter, and Fujiwara Keiji apparently got a lot of female votes.

Note: results from here on are in countdown order:

Katou Emiri (Kyuube)

Mascot character
4 Kuro (Ao no Exorcist)
3 Sakamoto-san (Nichijou)
2 Penguin #2 (Mawaru Penguin Drum)
1 Kyuube (MadoMagi)

Male character
5 Kyousuke (OreImo)
4 Touma (Index)
3 Jinta (AnoHana)
2 Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Tiger + Bunny)
1 Okabe Rentarou (Steins;Gate)

Female character
5 Ika Musume
4 Menma (AnoHana)
3 Kuroneko (OreImo)
2 Madoka (MadoMagi)
1 Homura (MadoMagi)

Background music
5 Uta no Prince-sama (Elements Garden)
4 Idolmaster (Takada Ryuuichi)
3 Tiger and Bunny (Ike Yoshihiro)
2 AnoHana (Remedios)
1 MadoMagi (Kajiura Yuki)

OP
5 Ready!! (The Idolm@ster)
4 secret base (AnoHana)
3 Orion wo Nazoru (Tiger and Bunny)
2 Aoi Shiori (AnoHana)
1 Connect (MadoMagi)

Anime films
10 Soukyuu no Fafner
9 Towa no Kuon
8 Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo
7 Sengoku Basara
6 Sora no Otoshimono
5 Kokurikozaka kara
4 Gundam00 – Awakening of the Tralblazer
3 Gundam UC
2 Fullmetal Alchemist- Star of Milos
1 Macross Frontier – Sayonara no Tsubasa

Script
5 Mawaru Penguin Drum
4 Steins;Gate
3 Tiger & Bunny
2 AnoHana
1 MadoMagi

Character design
5 Hanasaku Iroha
4 Idolmaster
3 Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
2 Tiger and Bunny
1 MadoMagi
note: One of my favorite animators, Nishida Asako, not only did the character design for the #3 show, but did key animation for the #2 show.

Mecha design
3 IS – Infinite Stratos
2 Gundam UC
1 Tiger and Bunny

Photography
3 Tiger and Bunny
2 AnoHana
1 MadoMagi

Art direction
3 Mawaru Penguin Drum
2 Hanasaku Iroha
1 MadoMagi

Colour
3 AnoHana
2 Mawaru Penguin Drum
1 MadoMagi

Special effects
3 Mawaru Penguin Drum
2 Tiger and Bunny
1 MadoMagi

Commercial message
5 Fate/Zero
4 AnoHana
3 Tiger and Bunny
2 MadoMagi
1 Idolm@ster

Game OP animation
3 Sengoku Basara
2 Idolm@ster
1 Tales of Xillia

Director
5 Nishigori Atsushi (The Idolm@ster)
4 Satou Keiichi (Tiger & Bunny )
3 Ikuhara Kunihiko (Mawaru Penguin Drum)
2 Nagai Tatsuyuki (AnoHana)
1 Shinbou Akiyuki (MadoMagi)

Top anime
10 Natsume Yuujinchou
9 Gintama
8 IS – Infinite Stratos
7 OreImo
6 Mawaru Penguin Drum
5 Star Driver
4 The Idolm@ster
3 Tiger & Bunny
2 AnoHana
1 Madoka Magica

Seiyuu Revelations -- Photos Supposedly Showing Them With Boyfriends, etc.

2011-10-08T15:34:00.000-07:00

This "simple compendium of leaked photos of popular female seiyuus" has appeared on 2channel and elsewhere. It summarizes the recent stream of "revelations" about seiyuus having (or having had) boyfriends, or being involved in other peccadillos. The seiyuu-otaku world is in a tizzy over all this.

The compendium includes photos of Toyosaki Aki; Hanazawa Kana; Hirano Aya; Taketatsu Ayana; Hidaka Rina; Tomatsu Haruka and Irino Miyu; and Satou Satomi (click photo to enlarge):

Below is a key to the photos, and translations of what the compendium says:

1. Toyosaki Aki, 2. Hanazawa Kana, 3. Hirano Aya, 4.Taketatsu Ayana
5. Hidaka Rina, 6. Tomatsu Haruka & Irino Miyu, 7. Satou Satomi, 8. Hikasa Youko

1. "Ooshima comes out of Toyosaki's house and gets into a taxi. Toyosaki's house's nameplate [hashi comment: has only Ooshima's name]. From the hand of a pro stalker, the revelation that Toyosaki is living with musician Tom F@ck"

2. "Hanazawa Kana and Tatsuki's kiss photo-sticker leaks out." [This came out over a year ago. The photo dates from several years ago.]

3. "A magazine publishes photos of Hirano Aya and a member of her back-up band making out." [This came out several months ago.]

4. "Taketatsu Ayana. A sticker photo from a date with former seiyuu Ishida Yuuichi comes out." [This came out a couple of months ago, but probably dates from years earlier.]

5. "Photos of Hidaka Rina with friends from her juvenile delinquent days have come out."

6. "Paparazzi photos and movies of Tomatsu Haruka on a date with Irino Miyu." [I can't recognize Irino from just this, but I haven't seen the originals yet.]

7. "A boys' love doujin made by Satou Satomi in her fujoshi days comes out."

8. Hikasa Youko holds a sign which has been given the words: "Next Target: ~~Toyosaki Aki~~, Kotobuki Minako, Takagaki Ayahi, Yuuki Aoi, Iguchi Yuka, Asumi Kana, Ogura Yui."

None of these photos actually seems to prove anything to me. Toyosaki could just happen to live in the same building as Ooshima. The Hanazawa Kana thing was probably true, but many years ago (the ex-boyfriend posted on 2channel about their love-making). The Hirano photos are pretty graphic, but not graphic enough to quite prove anything -- although I don't believe she has exactly denied it. The Ayanyan photo could have just been a single date, or not even. The Hidaka photos don't seem like anything to me. If that is indeed Irino Miyu, he and Tomatsu could just have been out together after work. Satou Satomi drew a BL comic? So what?

The little figure in the bottom center of the page has the legend: "Matsuki Miyu...still nothing."

Anyway, I thought Western fans might be interested in this little piece of amateur yellow journalism, which appeared on 2channel yesterday.

Like many Western fans, I don't really understand what the big deal is here. An entertainer has a boyfriend? This is news? But I have to admit, I find the revelations fairly interesting in themselves, whether they actually reveal anything or not.

Kotobuki Minako and Yuuki Aoi -- Magazine Photos

2011-10-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Seiyuu Grand Prix magazine this month features Kotobuki Minako and Yuuki Aoi together on the cover and in a photo spread inside.

The two appear to be good friends. They both worked on Hyakka Ryouran, and did its radio show together. They are close to the same age, despite the fact that Mina-chan looks so mature and Ao-chan doesn't. (click images to enlarge)

On their radio show, Ao-chan and Hayami Saori refer to Mina-chan -- who has guested with them twice -- as their "wife." The three are all in the same school year, although Mina-chan left school after high school, and the other two are both in university (perhaps the same one).

In the top left photo, does Ao-chan look a bit like Mizuki Nana? I never noticed that before. Maybe it's the way the images have been retouched for publication.

Ao-chan will co-star in the new Last Exile, which begins next Friday, after an entertaining special yesterday in which Ao-chan, Toyosaki Aki and Kayano Ai spoke about the show. This fall, Ao-chan will also be in Ben-Tou and Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon.

Mina-chan did an outstanding job of playing Fuu's friend Chihiro in the first episode of the new Tamayura series last week. This fall, she is also in Guilty Crown and Horizon.

I just found these stills from the Last Exile special, on 2channel:

Ao-chan (left) with Toyosaki Aki and Kayano Ai

Toyosaki Aki Living with Tom-H@ck?

2011-10-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

2channel is frothing at the mouth over claims on a Sphere-stalker's blog that Toyosaki Aki is living with Tom-H@ck, the composer/arranger of many of Houkago Teatime's songs.

The stalker claims to have followed her to her apartment building and to have found that Ooshima Tomohiro 大嶋文博 (professional name Tom-H@ck) lives in the same building.

The stalker says there must be something special about this building, since the other members of Sphere all live close to where they work, and this building is not only far from there but also so far from its rail station that she uses a taxi to go back and forth to the station.

This seems somewhat flimsy evidence to me, as is usual in these cases, but in the interests of more romance, I thought I'd let people know.

The blogger claims that he saw Aki arrive home and then the lights go on in the apartment whose postbox said "Ooshima." In further corroboration, he says that the apartment is a "maisonette," and Aki-chan has said that she has an apartment of that type. In Japan, the word seems to refer mainly to apartments that have two floors.

I can't find very good shots of Tom-H@ck, but here are some poor ones:

He is 26 (Ainama is 25). He is from Miyagi Prefecture, the area hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami. Ainama is also from the provinces: she is from Tokushima, on Shikoku. The fact that Aki-chan has apparently related some stories about people in the quake area is a tantalizing connection.

Tom-H@ck is doing all the music, themes and BGM, for the current show Bokutachi wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai.

The blogger also includes a shot of Ainama, supposedly near her home:

By the way, that "Ainama" nickname is based on a humorous misreading of the kanji for Aki-chan's given name 愛生.

This new couple just adds to the uproar. There are already strong rumours about Tomatsu Haruka and Irino Miyu. The blogger says that copyright claims by Sony have forced him to take down videos and a blog post that supported the rumours.

In any case, some Sphere and K-On fans have taken all this at face value and have erupted into the typical lovelorn otaku rage. Here are a couple of images that demonstrate their feelings:

Taketatsu Ayana (Azusa, right) is under a similar cloud since
the discovery of a photo-sticker of her and a male friend.

Of course, my point of view is 180° (or perhaps 90°) from that of these otaku: the more romance the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Finally, it just occurred to me that two of the seiyuus who have had parts of their private life revealed recently will star together in the new Last Exile: Toyosaki Aki (whose supposed lover has been named) and Yuuki Aoi (whose university has been named).

Kayano Ai -- Big New Little Voice

2011-10-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

Kayano Ai (click images to enlarge)

Kayano Ai 茅野愛衣 is certainly the flavour of the moment: she is in four shows this season, more than any other female seiyuu.

Is she a brilliant new talent or just someone being pushed by her agency, as some anti-Kayanon posters on 2channel think?

I was lukewarm about her in her most famous role, as Menma in AnoHana. Defnitely a moe voice, but too extreme for me. However, I thought she was terrific as Ayaka in Kamisama no Memo-chou. She used a more ordinary voice, but her acting was strong.

This season, she is in Chihayafuru, Ben-tou, Last Exile, and Guilty Crown.

Before she became a seiyuu, she was working in a beauty salon, providing relaxation for clients. Kayanon can give massage, and is qualified both as an ear therapist and as a diet coach. "Ear therapy" involves stimulating the many acupuncture points on the ear.

She would often work until late in the evening, and when she got home and switched on the TV, there was anime on. She particularly loved ARIA, which was so calming. In her work, she liked to bring a sense of peace to people, and she realized that anime was another way she might be able to do that.

She saved her money to pay for weekly sessions at the Pro-Fit agency's seiyuu school. And then in April 2010, at the comparatively advanced age of 22, she became one of its seiyuus. Kayanon was born on 13 September 1987 and is 153cm tall (5' 1/4"). She is from Tokyo.

Yuuki Aoi is also represented by Pro-Fit, as are Okamoto Nobuhiko and Masu Nozomi. It's a small agency, and I doubt it's one that could push its seiyuus into a market that didn't want them, so I believe the 2channel idea that she is a talentless hack being forced on the market is wrong. I think producers and directors are just enamored with Kayanon and her voice.

I am still undecided how good I think she is, but I'm eager to hear more of her so I can judge. And this season gives plenty of opportunity.

Here is an interview with her from earlier this year:

Hard not to like. She seems calm and pleasant and mature. I believe the interviewer is Fujita Saki.

She has also acted in a TV drama, Crystal, which was on Chiba TV last summer:

Anime roles:
Here are images of some of her roles. First, here she is with Menma, from AnoHana (click images to enlarge):

Now, here are some of her other past roles:

Hibino (Kamisama Dolls)

Roman Saotome (Sket Dance)


Sasana (Nekogami Yaoyorozu)

Isana (Yumekui Merry)

Ayaka (Kamisama no Memo-chou)

And here are the roles she is currently playing:

Milia (Last Exile - Fam the Silver Wing)


Ume (Ben-tou)

Kanade (Chihayafuru)

Inori (Guilty Crown)

Finally, here are more photos of Kayanon, followed by a full list of her anime roles:

Visiting the Animate store in Shibuya and pointing out info about AnoHana

Visiting places in Saitama used as the setting for AnoHana

List of roles:
2010
Maomin (Durarara)

cat (Senkou no Night Raid)
Itsuwa (Toaru Majutsu no Index 2)
Sawawa (Princess Resurrection)

2011
Isana (Dream Eater Merry)
student (Hanasaku Iroha)
Roman Saotome (Sket Dance)
Menma (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai)
Mishouji (Rou-kyuu-bu)
Ayaka (Kami-sama no Memo-chou)
Ai (Sacred Seven)
Violet L. Bridget (Freezing)
Hibino (Kamisama Dolls)
Sasana (Nekogami Yaoyorozu)
Kanade (Chihayafuru)
Milia (Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing)
Ume (Ben-tou)
Inori (Guilty Crown)

2012
Muginami (Rinne no Lagrange: Flower declaration of your heart)

Characters and Seiyuus -- Last Exile: Fam of the Silver Wing

2011-10-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Just in time for its debut on Friday, here is a characters/seiyuus page for Last Exile: Fam of the Silver Wing.

This is not only one of the shows I have most hope for this season, but a show with such a big cast that a guide like this could be useful. Making it has been useful for me, at least.

I have made a table showing pics of 22 characters and their seiyuus, with a bit of info about both the character and the seiyuu. Click here or on the image to go to the full page:

The New Season Begins Saturday -- Fall Anime Calendar

2011-09-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Actually, we have already seen a couple of the new shows: a preview of Working'!!, and the the first episodes of the new season of Battle Spirits.

But things get going in earnest on Saturday, with shows such as Fate/Zero; and C³, the new ecchi fantasy from Oonuma Shin (ef, Baka to Test). There will also be the new season of Bakuman; the official premiere of Working'!!; the ecchi comedy Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai; and the unpredictable future fiction story Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon.

Click here or on the image to go to the full weekly calendar. For fuller descriptions, check out this blog post.

Sunday is one of the fullest days of the week, along with Thursday and Saturday. This Sunday, Hunter x Hunter and Phi Brain get started.

Monday comes the new Tamayura series and the interesting Kimi to Boku, a slice of life show following a group of boys.

Tuesday we have one of my most anticipated shows, Chihayafuru, about a girl who is a champion of the Japanese poetry card game. And two more ecchi comedies, Maken-ki and Mashiro-iro.

No new shows start on Wednesday, which is the weakest day of the new season.

Thursday we have the promising thriller Persona 4, and the animation of the popular school life novel Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai.

Friday, we have three sequels: the second series of the excellent yaoi romantic comedy Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi; the final series of Shakugan no Shana; and the new Last Exile series, which I am very much looking forward to, if only for Yuuki Aoi in a new role.

Many shows will not premiere until next week or later: Gundam AGE, Mirai Nikki, Ika Musume, Un-go, Guilty Crown, Ben-tou, Ad-lib Anime Laboratory. Lots of future goodies.

Yuuki Aoi Voice Samples From the Online Game Dragon Nest

2011-09-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Yuuki Aoi plays the new character class Academic in the MMORPG Dragon Nest. A clip of voice samples demonstrates some of the special quality of Ao-chan's voice. (Embedded Nicovideo clips take a while to appear. Click the three dots in the lower right to hide the comments.)

The bounce and flexibility are striking. Her voice sounds tight and strong to me, with smooth edges, all the sounds concentrated together. I don't know any other high voice with that tightness and power. I'm just talking about the voice as a voice, and not even considering her acting or her vocal fantasies. I think she is an excellent actress, too, but I understand that some people prefer a more naturalistic style.

Unfortunately, Academic is not yet part of the North American version of the game, which itself is not yet fully online. She doesn't appear to be in the International version, either. But she is in the Japan version, the China version, the Taiwan version, and the Korea version.

I don't know if Ao-chan's voice is limited to the Japan version or not. The game is from a Korean game company, Eyedentity Games. Here are the game's Japanese Wikipedia page and the English Wikipedia page.

Here is a photo of Ao-chan with Dragon Nest publicity material:

And here is a Japanese PV featuring Academic:

Thursday: I just found a promo message from Ao-chan for her role in the game. Clearly done at the same time as the photo above:

And finally finally, here is a little cast photo for Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere (aka, Horizon on the Borderlands), revealing that Ao-chan has a role in that, too, bringing her total of new roles this season to three: Last Exile, Ben-Tou, and Horizon:

Toyosaki Aki and Yuuki Aoi On Their Roles in Last Exile -- Fam of the Silver Wing

2011-09-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

There are interviews with Last Exile -- Fam of the Silver Wing co-stars Toyosaki Aki (Fam) and Yuuki Aoi (Fam's partner Giselle) on the show's website. The third star is Kayano Ai (Menma in AnoHana), who will play Princess Miria.

Aki-chan saw the original Last Exile when it came out, long before she was a seiyuu. She is particularly amazed by the feeling of acting here with Kitamura Eri and her character Tatiana, who reappears in this second series. KitaEri was just a voice on the screen before, but now she knows her from having worked with her on other shows.

Ao-chan has never seen the original show and decided on her own not to look at it even after she got the part. She says she didn't want her feeling for those characters to affect her performance in this show, which is set in a different time and place.

Toyosaki Aki:

-- one-word description for the show: a "romance" (in the sense of a legendary tale).
-- likes flying and aircraft. First time playing a pilot.
-- Fam is a manly character. Brought up among boys. But she doesn’t realize this and inside, she feels like a girl.
-- Giselle is her close partner. Even though not related by blood, she was brought up with Fam. If Giselle were a guy, she would feel jealous of other people around Fam, since Fam treats everyone the same. But she is so capable that without her, Fam couldn’t fly.
-- Miria is so cute. Cute when she is on her high horse as a princess. Cute when she reacts more naturally, as a young girl.

Yuuki Aoi

-- keyword: "belief." The story is told from Fam and Miria’s point of view, but everyone has their own set of beliefs. Who is right? The Federation, Miria, or Fam? It isn't clear. (The story involves the Federation attacking Princess Miria's kingdom, and the "sky clan" fliers Fam and Giselle offering to rescue the princess, in return for a ship.)
-- I really believe in using my intuition, and at the audition I just had a feeling of how the character should sound. I act the character believing in that intuition.
-- when I was little, the manager of the theatre group I was in told me to remember everything I felt during a day -- the happiness, the sadness -- and bring out those feelings in my performances. So really my “intuition” is just the collection of things I have felt -- and I can also bring those things out when my intuition fails me. In this case, I just got a sudden feeling of things I had in me that suited the character. It really felt like inspiration.
-- Giselle is more cautious than Fam and feels she has to protect her. I call her “Fam’s wife.” She smilingly restrains her husband, who is too full of life. She has a lot of skill, but there is weakness in her, too, which I think will come out in episode one.
-- the staff told me that even when Giselle gets angry, she should not become harsh. She has to maintain her “kind elder sister” image. She is highly skilled, but never feels confident, and feels she has to work hard to keep up with Fam. She is really happy when Fam praises her, even though Fam just straighforwardly praises anyone who deserves it.
-- she is distant with Princess Miria. The princess seems to be on the other side of a wall, and Giselle can't get over it as easily as Fam can. She just observes her carefully, studying how to work with her. But rather than a commoner-to-princess relationship, she can develop a wonderful girl-to-girl relationship, like learning to communicate with someone from another culture.
-- Fam is is the hero and Miria the heroine, but Giselle is the partner. In my acting, it is most important to preserve the right feeling and distance between Fam and Miria. As the third person, I think of my role as being a go-between who can help their relationship. It’s the first time I have played a character like this whom the others depend on, and it is very difficult to keep the right balance, realizing that the two main characters are who the audience should be looking at. It’s really a lot of fun thinking of how I have been supported and embodying that in my support of them.
-- I also get the feeling of really flying more and more as we do the recording, and I hope that the exaltation I feel when stepping up to the mike is communicated to the audience.
-- I’ll be getting closer to Kayano-san’s Miria as time goes by, and I really look forward to the day when the three of us fly together. How will her heart be swayed, and how will Giselle calm her?

Yuuki Aoi, Tomatsu Haruka On Shoujobyou's Latest Album

2011-09-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Yuuki Aoi and Tomatsu Haruka will be the spoken voices on the new album by the performance music group Shoujobyou 少女病("Girl Disease").

Shoujobyou produces a big sound featuring mythic stories sung by two women, with an orchestra built around twelve violins, and including narration by seiyuus. Previous seiyuus have included Sawashiro Miyuki, Ono Daisuke, Toyosaki Aki, and Hanazawa Kana.

Shoujobyou began as a doujin (self-released) group, but seems to have become Lantis's answer to one of Ao-chan's favorite groups, Sound Horizon. And in addition, it does anime and game music, such as an ED for Katanagatari.

The new album was released at Comiket last month, and is one of the group's own doujin works, rather than a Lantis album. Here are a couple of samples from tracks on the album, which is called Melophobia of the Holy Relics 聖骸メロフォビア.

The first is called "Flower Shaking in Ecstasy on High":

The second is "Rusty Red":

Yuuki Aoi's Gosick Dolls: Victorique and Kujou

2011-09-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

In a blog post last June, Yuuki Aoi showed us pictures of her new Gosick dolls, Super Dollfie versions of Victorique and Kujou.

She says she already has several Dollfie dolls: a male Super Dollfie, male and female Mini-Super Dollfies, and a male large Dollfie.

She likes the military-style outfit on Kujou, but would like a Monstre Charmant outfit for Victorique -- and more pink.

These dolls are a big deal, at $700 each. The mini versions are $400. And check out the website (USA, Japan, Japan English) for all the accessories. They aren't cheap: a wig for $40, jeans and a jean jacket for $50. As the company says, the doll is "another you."

Here is a good page for explaining Super Dollfie. I think Ao-chan's two dolls are 26 and 23 inches tall.

Fall 2011 Anime Series -- full previews with staff, cast, image, trailer, manga, etc.

2011-09-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

There are 32 new shows in this fall's list of new series, about the same number as the 30 last fall. Promising shows cover many genres, from shounen and mecha to comedy, moe, slice-of-life, yaoi and josei.

The five shows I myself am most interested in are:

Chihayafuru -- A strong teen girl who is a brilliant prodigy at the Japanese poetry card game. The director of NANA animates a manga by Suetsugu Yuki.
Un-Go -- Director Mizushima Seiji did FMA, Gundam00, and Hanamaru Kindergarten. Writer Aikawa Shou did FMA, Ayakashi Ayashi and, under an alias, Simoun. Mysteries in a near-future postwar Tokyo.
Last Exile -- Ginyoku no Fam -- Sequel to the classic, featuring Toyosaki Aki and Yuuki Aoi darting through the sky together in their tiny ~~simoun~~ vespa.
Guilty Crown -- Violent romance/adventure, directed by Araki Tetsurou, who did Death Note, Kurozuka, and Highschool of the Dead. Writer Yoshino Hiroyuki did My-Hime, Macross Frontier, and Sora no Oto. How will those two ancestries combine?
Kimi to Boku -- Slice-of-life comedy featuring a group of…high school boys! What a concept! Directed by Kanbe Mamoru, director of Elfen Lied and the underappreciated Denpateki na Kanojo. Adapted by Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, K-On, etc.) from a good manga.

But there are lots of promising shows. Here are a few more I'll be looking at, in alphabetical order:

Ad-lib Anime Laboratory -- Katou Emiri and Fukuhara Kaori and a "guest researcher" ad lib the dialogue, which then has an anime built around it.
Ben-Tou -- A comedy that is only on my list because of Yuuki Aoi, Katou Emiri, Kayano Ai, and Miyano Mamoru.
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai -- Highly awaited adaptation of a popular manga about a high-school club for people who haven't any friends.
C³ -- Oonuma Shin (ef, Baka to Test) tries an ecchi contemporary fantasy. Written by Yokote Michiko (Squid Girl, Genshiken). Starring Tamura Yukari, Chihara Minori, Kitamura Eri, and Kaji Yuuki.
Fate/Zero -- Prequel to F/SN, but made by ufotable rather than Studio DEEN. The director of Hourou Musuko. From a story by Urobuchi Gen.
Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon -- A distant-future world, from the director and writer of A Channel, with a great experienced cast including Chiwa and Jun-chan, Amisuke, Miyukichi, Minorin, Marina, the Master Painter, and Kamo-san.
Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers -- An unassuming moe ero-game conversion, starring the game seiyuus, but directed by the director of Kodomo no Jikan and Sasameki Koto.
Mirai Nikki -- The director of Shuffle and the writer of ef and Baka to Test: will they make the most of an excellent shounen manga?
Persona 4 -- Koshimizu Ami and the director of Angel Beats, with a violent mystery involving both the police and high school students.
Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle -- A high-school boy who is a great puzzle-solver joins the fight against a mysterious intelligence group. Directed by Satou Junichi (ARIA) and written by Sekijima Mayori (Pandora Hearts).
Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi 2 -- If you have any interest in understanding the appeal of boys' love (yaoi), this might be a good place to start. Enjoyable parallel romances set in the world of manga publishing.

And that list doesn't even include such highly anticipated and possibly excellent shows as Gundam AGE, Tamayura, and Working 2.

Alphabetical list, linked to full previews

● Ad-lib Anime Laboratory ● Bakuman 2 ● Battle Spirits: Heroes ● Ben-Tou ● Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai ● C³ ● Chibi Debi! ● Chihayafuru ● Cross Fight B-Daman ● Digimon Xros Wars: Toki o Kakeru Shounen Hunter-tachi ● Fate/Zero ● Fujilog Season 2 ● gdgd Fairies ● Guilty Crown ● Hunter × Hunter ● Kimi to Boku ● Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon ● Last Exile -- Ginyoku no Fam ● Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! ● Maken-Ki! ● Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers ● Mirai Nikki ● Mobile Suit Gundam AGE ● Persona 4 ● Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle ● Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi 2 ● Sengoku Paradise Kiwami ● Shakugan no Shana III (Final) ● Shinryaku!? Ika Musume ● Tamayura - Hitotose ● Un-Go ● Working'!!

Notes:
-- info from official sites, Anime News Network, AnimeSuki forums, Anidb, 2channel, Japanese Wikipedia, MoonPhase, etc.
-- I will post a weekly broadcast calendar when the season is about to start, including broadcast schedule changes that will probably occur between now and then.
-- English titles link to the Anime News Network encyclopedia; Japanese titles link to official sites.

Full previews (chronological order)
(click images to enlarge)

Battle Spirits: Heroes
(jp: バトルスピリッツ覇王（ヒーローズ）) jpWiki

young shounen battles
Yet another series of the popular Sunday-morning franchise based on the Battle Spirits trading card game.

seiyuus: Hirata Mana, Fukuyama Jun, Fujita Saki, Takagi Reiko, Hatano Wataru, Takahashi Mikako, Mizusawa Fumie.
director: Nishimori Akira writer: Tomioka Atsuhiro.
animation: Sunrise. chara-des: Hirata Ryou.
music: Segawa Eishi.
sun 18 sep 07：00

Shinryaku!? Ika Musume
(jp: 侵略！？イカ娘) jpWiki

comedy
A second season for the popular comedy in which a squid girl leaves polluted oceans to invade the land, and ends up working in a beach café.

seiyuus: Kanemoto Hisako, Tanaka Rie, Fujimura Ayumi, Ootani Miki, Nakamura Yuuichi, Nabatame Hitomi, Koyama Rikiya.
director: Yamamoto Yasutaka; Mizushima Tsutomu (chief dir) writer: Yokote Michiko.
animation: Diomedea. chara-des: Ishikawa Masakazu.
OP Sphere, ED Kanemoto Hisako.
trailer. manga. forum.
mon 26 sep 26：00

Bakuman 2
(jp: バクマン。2) jpWiki

shounen comedy drama
Second season for the story of two high-school boys working toward becoming top mangaka. Good cast, written by Yoshida Reiko, with Kasai Kenichi as supervising director. But the good manga seemed to me to move rather slowly as an anime.

seiyuus: Hino Satoshi, Abe Atsushi, Hayami Saori, Yahagi Sayuri.
director: Akitaya Noriaki, Kasai Kenichi writer: Yoshida Reiko. Ohba Tsugumi (manga).
animation: JCStaff. chara-des: Shitaya Tomoyuki, Ohata Takeshi (orig).
trailer. manga. 25eps. ED Tommy Heavenly6.
sat 01 oct 17：30

C³
(jp: C3-シーキューブ-) jpWiki

ecchi fantasy
A somewhat ecchi contemporary fantasy directed by Oonuma Shin (ef, Baka to Test), written by Yokote Michiko (Squid Girl, Genshiken) and starring Tamura Yukari, Chihara Minori, Kitamura Eri, and Kaji Yuuki.

A high school student named Haruaki receives a mysterious, super-heavy black cube from his father overseas. That night, Haruaki wakes up to a suspicious noise, and he discovers a naked girl stealing rice crackers from his kitchen. The girl, Fear, is the first of several surprises for him. (anidb)

From a novel. The staff and cast make me want to take a look.

seiyuus: Tamura Yukari, Chihara Minori, Kitamura Eri, Kaji Yuuki, Ogura Yui, Terashima Takuma, Asumi Kana.
director: Oonuma Shin writer: Yokote Michiko. Minase Hazuki (novel).
animation: Silver Link. chara-des: Ooshima Miwa.
music: Ichikawa Jun. OP1 Tamura Yukari, OP2 Kitamura Eri, ED1 Kitamura Eri.
trailer. forum.
sat 01 oct 23：30

Working'!!
(jp: WORKING´!!) jpWiki

ensemble comedy
A second season for the popular working-life comedy. Having seen a preview of episode one of this new season, I think they may have exhausted the subject in season one. But the director has said that this first episode was just a reintroduction, so perhaps things will speed up from here on.

seiyuus: Fukuyama Jun, Asumi Kana, Fujita Saki, Ono Daisuke, Kamiya Hiroshi, Kitamura Eri, Watanabe Kumiko, Hirohashi Ryou.
director: Ootsuki Atsushi (Kanokon, Ladies v. Butlers) writer: Yoshioka Takao (DearS, Elfen Lied, Ichiban Ushiro no Dai Maou). Takatsu Karino (manga).
animation: A-1 Pictures. chara-des: Adachi Shingo. animation supervisor: Adachi Shingo. art: Kinoshita Ryouka.
OP Asumi Kana, Kitamura Eri, Fujita Saki. ED Fukuyama Jun, Ono Daisuke, Kamiya Hiroshi..
trailer. manga. forum.
sat 01 oct 23：30

Fate/Zero
(jp: Fate/Zero) jpWiki

seinen fantasy
Adapts Urobuchi Gen's novel about the Fourth Holy Grail War. Set ten years before the events of Fate/Stay Night. Much the same cast returns, but the staff and studio are new. The studio is ufotable instead of Studio Deen. The director is Aoki Ei, who did Hourou Musuko and Ga-rei Zero. There has been lots of criticism of DEEN, so we'll see if the change raises this to a new level.

Definitely worth a look. Music by Kajiura Yuki.

seiyuus: Seki Tomokazu, Koyama Rikiya, Nakata Jouji, Kawasumi Ayako, Oohara Sayaka, Kadowaki Mai.
director: Aoki Ei (Ga-rei Zero, Hourou Musuko) writer: Urobuchi Gen (orig), Type Moon.
animation: ufotable.
music: Kajiura Yuki.
trailer. manga. 25eps. forum.
sat 01 oct 24：00

Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!!
(jp: 真剣で私に恋しなさい！！) jpWiki

fighting, comedy, romance, erogame
Motonaga Keitarou is one of my least favorite directors, for shows such as School Days, Amenaideyo, Tayutama, and Katanagatari. Writer Takayama Katsuhiko did the ef shows, which I loved, as well as Baka to Test, Natsu no Arashi, and Asobi ni Ikuyo, which were just okay. How will the two combine their approaches?

The cast is a mix of lesser names and complete unknowns (Asakawa Yuu, Sakata Kayo) with top names such as Kamiya Hiroshi, Ono Daisuke, and Itou Shizuka.

At a high school that teaches fighting, a group of friends of both sexes is joined by two newcomers, and changes follow.

seiyuus: Asakawa Yuu, Kamiya Hiroshi, Sakata Kayo, Tomonaga Akane, Hyousei, Yusa Kouji, Ono Daisuke, Itou Shizuka, Ogata Megumi, Yamaguchi Kappei, Mizuhashi Kaori, Fujita Yoshinori, Yuuko Gotou.
director: Motonaga Keitarou writer: Takayama Katsuhiko. Minato Soft (erogame).
animation: Lerche. chara-des: Watanabe Mayumi. animation supervisor: Watanabe Mayumi.
trailer. forum.OP SV Tribe, ED Asakawa Yuu, Tomonaga Akane, Hyousei, Itou Shizuka, Gotou Yuuko.
sat 01 oct 25：00

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon
(jp: 境界線上のホライゾン) jpWiki

future fiction school comedy action drama
"Horizon Above the Borderline." Set in a far future in which the law of causality has been broken and humans are returning to Earth to try to reestablish history. But the trailer combines stirring events with broad comedy, so I am not sure what to expect.

Great experienced cast featuring Chiwa and Jun-chan, with Amisuke, Miyukichi, Minorin, Marina, the Master Painter, and Kamo-san (see cast list below). The director and writer just finished doing A-Channel together.

There is enough here that I will watch a couple of episodes, at least, just to find out what's going on.

seiyuus: Saitou Chiwa, Fukuyama Jun, Koshimizu Ami, Sawashiro Miyuki, Chihara Minori, Inoue Marina, Oohashi Ayuru, Morinaga Rika, Nazuka Kaori, Kobayashi Yuu.
director: Ono Manabu (Saki, A Channel) writer: Urahata Tatsuhiko (A Channel, Strawberry Panic). Kawakami Minoru (novel).
animation: Sunrise.
OP Chihara Minori; ED Ceui, AiRI.
trailer. forum.
sat 01 oct 26:58

Digimon Xros Wars: Toki o Kakeru Shounen Hunter-tachi
(jp: デジモンクロスウォーズ時を駆ける少年ハンターたち) jpWiki

shounen fighting
Second season for the Sunday morning shounen show Digimon Xros Wars.

seiyuus: Inoue Marina, Watanabe Kumiko, Kakihara Tetsuya, Sudou Yumi, Han Megumi, Kuwashima Houko.
director: Kaizawa Yukio (Digimon Frontier, Binbo Shimai) writer: Hongo Akiyoshi (concept).
animation: Toei
forum.
sun 02 oct 06：30

Cross Fight B-Daman
(jp: クロスファイトビーダマン) jpWiki

shounen toy battle adventure
Sunday morning shounen fighting anime.

A rumor has spread among children worldwide regarding the popular B-Daman matches: a select group will be allowed to participate in an upcoming secret competition, known as "Cross Fight"! (anidb)

seiyuus: Itou Kentarou, Takeuchi Ryouta, Oohara Momoko, Kokuryuu Sachi, Okamoto Hiroshi, Aizawa Mai.
director: Odaka Yoshinori writer: Inotsume Shinichi. Fujisaki Kenji.
animation: Synergy SP.
sun 02 oct 08：45

Hunter × Hunter
(jp: HUNTER×HUNTER) jpWiki

shounen action adventure
A remake of the original series with different staff and cast.

Gon is a youth who lives on Kujira Island. His dream is to become a Hunter like his father, to search out lost treasures, artifacts, and mythical creatures.

Determined to challenge the unknown, he sets off on a journey, meeting fellow aspiring Hunters Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio along the way.

Competent core staff of the director of Grenadier and Rainbow and the writer of Prince of Tennis and Jewelpet. Excellent sub-cast includes Sawashiro Miyuki, Fujiwara Keiji, and Namikawa Daisuke.

This is a tremendously popular manga in Japan, and fans hope that the new series will do it justice.

seiyuus: Han Megumi, Ise Mariya, Sawashiro Miyuki, Fujiwara Keiji, Namikawa Daisuke.
director: Koujina Hiroshi (Grenadier, Rainbow) writer: Maekawa Atsushi (Prince of Tennis, Jewelpet, Bakugan Battle Brawlers). Togashi Yoshihiro (manga).
animation: Madhouse. chara-des: Yoshimatsu Takahiro.
OP Masatoshi Ono, ED Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
trailer. manga. forum.
sun 02 oct 10：55

Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle
(jp: ファイ・ブレイン神のパズル) jpWiki

shounen adventure
Through solving puzzles, a high-school boy joins the fight against a mysterious intelligence group.

Directed by Satou Junichi (ARIA) and written by Sekijima Mayori (Pandora Hearts). It will be interesting to see what this strangely assorted pair of top talents can come up with.

There are some good names in the cast list -- Miyano Mamoru, Fujiwara Keiji, Sakurai Takahiro -- but the name I am most pleased to see is Yukino Satsuki, who has been hard to find for the past few years.

seiyuus: Asanuma Shintarou, Shimizu Kaori, Yukino Satsuki, Miyano Mamoru, Miyata Kouki, Ishida Akira, Fujiwara Keiji, Sakurai Takahiro, Fukuyama Jun.
director: Satou Junichi (ARIA) writer: Sekijima Mayori (MoonPhase, Pandora Hearts). Sunrise (orig. story)
animation: Sunrise.
OP May'n, ED Kiyoura Natsumi.
trailer. 25eps. forum.
sun 02 oct 17：30

Tamayura - Hitotose
(jp: たまゆら～hitotose～) jpWiki

slice of life serio-comedy
The enjoyable OVA has given birth to a full series. After having done little but versions of Aria for several years, Satou Junichi did the OVA, then last season he did Ikoku Meiro no Croisee, and now this season he is doing both this show and Phi Brain.

I look forward to seeing what he can do with more episodes of this slight tale, set in a town on the Inland Sea. The cast has possibilities. But I have to admit that the second episode of the OVA didn’t do much for me.

seiyuus: Taketatsu Ayana, Asumi Kana, Iguchi Yuka, Gibu Yuuko, Miyamoto Kanako, Ogata Megumi, Matsuo Yoshiko, Oohara Sayaka, Matsuki Miyu, Kotobuki Minako.
director: Satou Junichi (ARIA) writer: Satou Junichi.
animation: TYO Animations. chara-des: Iizuka Haruko.
OP Sakamoto Maaya, ED Ohe Senri and Shimizu Nobuyuki.
trailer. manga. forum.
mon 03 oct 09：00

Kimi to Boku
(jp: 君と僕。) jpWiki

slice-of-life comedy drama
Follows a group of friends in high school: five boys, each with his different character, and each with a different love-interest. Slice of life comedy featuring a group of…boys! What a concept! Enjoyable manga should make a good anime.

Directed by Kanbe Mamoru, director of Elfen Lied and Denpateki na Kanojo. Written by Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, K-On, etc.). Interesting cast includes Kimura Ryouhei, Uchiyama Kouki, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Irino Miyu, Kaji Yuuki, and Toriume Kousuke.

This could work. Second season planned for next April.

seiyuus: Kimura Ryouhei, Uchiyama Kouki, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Irino Miyu, Ono Yuuki, Kaji Yuuki, Toriume Kousuke, Nakajima Saki.
director: Kanbe Mamoru (Elfen Lied, Denpateki na Kanojo, Sora no Oto) writer: Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, K-On, Bakuman). Hotta Kiichi (manga).
animation: JCStaff. chara-des: Onji Masayuki.
music: Elements Garden. OP 7!!, ED Sawai Miku.
trailer. manga. 13eps. forum.
mon 03 oct 25：30

Sengoku Paradise Kiwami
(jp: 戦国☆パラダイス-極-)

bishounen historical drama
Based in a cellphone game for girls, featuring manly heroes you can have fight for you.

The fact that few staff members have been announced makes me worry, but the cast looks reasonable.

Details are still thin. Episodes may or may not be only ten minutes long.

seiyuus: Kakihara Tetsuya, Kajikawa Shouhei, Namikawa Daisuke, Mochizuki Rei, Yamamoto Kanehira, Imai Asami, Kanbara Daichi, Eguchi Takuya, Kawahara Yoshihisa, Hatano Wataru.

chara-des: Haneda Kouji.
13eps. forum.
mon 03 oct 27：15

Chihayafuru
(jp: ちはやふる) jpWiki

josei
Star Asami Seto played Takatsuki in Hourou Musuko. Co-star Hosoya Yoshimasa was Nezumi in No.6. Director Asaka Morio directed NANA. This show has possibilities, especially with Mamo-chan also in the cast.

Mangaka Suetsugu Yuki lost her place in magazines after a scandal involving copying some frames from other manga. But she dropped two manga, apologized for her "immorality," and this, her return work, was voted best manga of 2009, vaulting her to the top again right away. Maybe she doesn't draw very quickly, but she is a good artist and excellent storyteller.

All her life, Chihaya's dream was to see her model sister become Japan's best…until a quiet, unassuming transfer student named Arata explains to her that a dream is something she needs to work at herself.

Arata plays a competitive version of a traditional Japanese poetry card game -- known as karuta, and based on the One Poem from 100 Poets poetry anthology -- in a way Chihaya has never seen before. After taking Arata's place in a game, Chihaya discovers she has a passion for it. Now she wants to become number one, the Queen of Karuta. (J-SiS)

seiyuus: Seto Asami, Hosoya Yoshimasa, Miyano Mamoru, Kayano Ai, Nara Tooru, Yonaga Tsubasa.
director: Asaka Morio (NANA) writer: Takayama Naoya. Suetsugu Yuki (manga).
animation: Madhouse. chara-des: Hamada Kunihiko.
OP 99RadioService, ED Seto Asami.
trailer. manga. forum.
tue 04 oct 24：59

Maken-Ki!
(jp: マケン姫っ！) jpWiki

ecchi school fighting comedy
The director of Ikkitousen, working with the writer of Big Windup, Requiem for the Phantom, and Gundam00. Odd couple or what?

Sex-obsessed Ooyama Takeru enrolls into Tenbi Gakuen, which has only just changed from all girls to co-ed. He doesn’t know that, the only students admitted are those who are able to control a source of energy found in all living things, called Element.

On the first day, he meets Amaya Haruko, his childhood friend; Kushiya Inaho, a weird big busted girl who declares she's his fiancé; and Himegami Kodama, a blonde oujo-san who wants to kill him. The three girls and he end up sharing one dorm room….

seiyuus: Shitaya Noriko, Yahagi Sayuri, Maeno Tomoaki, Nomizu Iori, Harada Hitomi, Mina, Togashi Misuzu, Tsuruoka Satoshi.
director: Oohata Kouichi writer: Kuroda Yousuke. Takeda Hiromitsu (manga).
animation: AIC Spirits. chara-des: Yuuki Nobuteru. animation supervisor: Yuuki Nobuteru, Sunagawa Masakazu, Koshiishi Satoru.
music: Watanabe Cheru.
trailer. manga. forum.
tue 04 oct 25：05

Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers
(jp: ましろ色シンフォニー) jpWiki

moe ero-game romance
Shingo's school is about to merge with a girls' school. He is temporarily transferred to the girls' school, to begin the integration process. But all the girls hate boys….

Unassuming ero-game conversion, apparently starring the game's cast. But for some reason I have a good feeling about this one. Perhaps it's because I thought the director did a good job of his previous shows, Kodomo no Jikan and Sasameki Koto.

I have seen this compared to Shukufuku no Campanella, with more romance. Sounds good to me.

seiyuus: Mizushima Takahiro, Rikimaru Njoriko, Ichimura Oma, Yoshida Mayumi, Ono Ryouko, Gotou Mai.
director: Suganuma Eiji (Kodomo no Jikan, Sasameki Koto) writer: Team RIKKA. Palette (erogame).
animation: Manglobe. chara-des: Kawamura Toshie. animation supervisor: Kawamura Toshie.
OP Choucho, ED marble.
trailer. forum.
tue 04 oct 26：00

Persona 4
(jp: persona4 the ANIMATION) jpWiki

police adventure romance school fantasy
Due to family circumstances, Narukami Yuu moves from the big city to his uncle's place in the country. On his first morning there, a woman is found dangling from a television antenna, dead. (anidb)

I will watch any show that stars Koshimizu Ami, who I think is underappreciated. Voices like Morikubou Shoutarou, Namikawa Daisuke, Horie Yui, Kugimiya Rie, Paku Romi, and Yamaguchi Kappei will also be on display here.

Director Kishi Seiji did Angel Beats and Seto no Hanayome. Writer Kakihara Yuuko did Sora no Otoshimono and Jewelpet Sunshine. What will they come up with for this very different story? I'll watch an episode to find out.

seiyuus: Koshimizu Ami, Morikubo Shoutarou, Namikawa Daisuke, Madono Mitsuaki, Horie Yui, Kanda Akemi, Ishizuka Unshou, Kugimiya Rie, Yamaguchi Kappei, Paku Romi.
director: Kishi Seiji (Angel Beats, Seto no Hanayome) writer: Kakihara Yuuko (Sora no Otoshimono, Jewelpet Sunshine).
animation: AIC ASTA. chara-des: Morita Kazuaki; Soejima Shigenori (orig).
music: Meguro Shouji. OPED Hirata Shihoko.
trailer. forum.
thu 06 oct 25：30

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
(jp: 僕は友達が少ない) jpWiki

harem comedy
This is one of the most anticipated shows of the season, with already over 500 posts about it in the AnimeSuki forum. It's basically a harem show about misfits, but maybe it will be a bit special. I mean, having two girls vomit all over the hero in the preview episode is fairly unusual.

The story revolves around Hasegawa Kodaka, a half-Japanese/half-British transfer student whose delinquent-like blonde hair scares people, and a seemingly perpetually sullen girl named Mikazuki Yozora. The two decide to form Rinjinbu, a club for people with hardly any friends. (anidb)

The character design is from originals by buriki, which explains the enjoyable echoes of the look of Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko.

The director did Sora no Otoshimono. The writer did Monster (!) and Strawberry Panic. A nice cast includes Kimura Ryouhei (Eden of the East), Itou Kanae, Inoue Marina, and Hanazawa Kana.

seiyuus: Kimura Ryouhei, Itou Kanae, Inoue Marina, Hanazawa Kana, Yamamoto Nozomi, Fukuen Misato, Iguchi Yuka.
director: Saitou Hisashi (Bamboo Blade, Sora no Otoshimono) writer: Urahata Tatsuhiko (Monster, Strawberry Panic). Hirasaka Yomi (novel).
animation: AIC Build. chara-des: Watanabe Yoshihiro, buriki (orig). animation supervisor: Watanabe Yoshihiro.
music: Tom-H@ck. OP seiyuus. ED Inoue Marina.
trailer. forum.
thu 06 oct 25：55

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi 2
(jp: 世界一初恋2) jpWiki

yaoi comedy/drama
"The Best First Love in the World." A second season for the enjoyable boys-love romantic comedy following three all-male couples. A bevy of good seiyuu and interesting relationships -- even if I do find Kondou Takashi a bit extreme in the lead role.

Even if you have never watched yaoi, try this show. It works on its own terms. And we learn something about the business side of the manga industry in Tokyo.

Directed by Kon Chiaki (Higurashi, Hanasakeru Seishounen), and written by Nakase Rika (Junjou Romantica, Kanamemo).

seiyuus: Kondou Takashi, Konishi Katsuyuki, Nakamura Yuuichi, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Midorikawa Hikaru, Kamiya Hiroshi, Horiuchi Kenyuu, Tachibana Shinnosuke, Maeno Tomoaki.
director: Kon Chiaki (Higurashi, Otome Youkai Zakuro) writer: Nakase Rika (Junjou Romantica, Kanamemo). Nakamura Shungiku (manga).
animation: Studio DEEN. chara-des: Kikuchi Youko.
music: Anze Hijiri. OP Kita Shuhei, ED Sakura Merry-men.
trailer. manga.
fri 07 oct 25：05

Shakugan no Shana III (Final)
(jp: 灼眼のシャナIII (Final)) jpWiki

supernatural adventure romance
The final season of the smash hit that made Kugimiya Rie a star. It's refreshing to see Itou Noizi's sharp original character designs again.

seiyuus: Kugimiya Rie, Hino Satoshi, Ebara Masashi, Oohara Sayaka, Noto Mamiko, Nojima Hirofumi, Iwata Mitsuo, Nabatame Hitomi, Kobayashi Yumiko, Nojima Kenji.
director: Watanabe Takashi writer: Kobayashi Yasuko. Takahashi Yashichirou (novels).
animation: JCStaff. chara-des: Ootsuka Mai, Itou Noizi (orig.) animation supervisor: Ootsuka Mai, Imoto Yuki.
music: Ootani Kou. OP Kotoko, ED Altima.
trailer. 24eps. forum
fri 07 oct 25：30

Last Exile -- Ginyoku no Fam
(jp: ラストエグザイル-銀翼のファム-) jpWiki

shounen adventure romance
The kingdom of Turan is about to fall, under attack by the great Adess Union. In the midst of battle, flier Fam and her friend Giselle offer to protect the princesses of Turan in return for their ship. Episode 1 was shown at Anime Expo in July and comments were highly positive. The settings are apparently fantastic, and the charcters likeable.

I'm not normally a fan of old-fashioned future machines, but this is one of the shows I'm most looking forward to: Gonzo's sequel to Last Exile, starring Toyosaki Aki and Yuuki Aoi, among others. But the staff gives me pause. The director did Tokyo Babylon, FMP and Tower of Druaga, which is good. But the writer did Linebarrels and Legendary Heroes, which is not so good. Personally, I am mainly watching this for Yuuki Aoi's voice-acting, and her few words in the trailer did not disappoint.

seiyuus: Toyosaki Aki, Yuuki Aoi, Kayano Ai, Sawashiro Miyuki, Matsukaze Masaya, Kuwatani Natsuko, Noda Junko, Konishi Katsuyuki, Okitsu Kazuyuki, Fukuyama Jun, Nakamura Yuuichi, Kitamura Eri.
director: Chigira Kouichi (Tokyo Babylon, FMP, Tower of Druaga) writer: Yoshimura Kiyoko (Linebarrels, Legendary Heroes).
animation: Gonzo. chara-des: Horiuchi Osamu; Murata Range (orig). animation supervisor: Takaoka Junichi.
music: Kuroishi Hitomi. OP Sakamoto Maaya (song written by School Food Punishment).
trailer. forum.
fri 07 oct 26：00

Ben-Tou
(jp: ベン・トー) jpWiki

school comedy
Penniless high-school student Satou You goes to the supermarket one day and discovers a bento on sale at half price. He reaches to grab it, and suddenly finds himself on the floor unconscious. He has just entered the fierce supermarket survival battle for half-price bento. (ann)

Katou Emiri in yet another leading role. She is truly hitting the big time, as she deserves. Ise Mariya, Taketatsu Ayana, Miyano Mamoru, Shimono Hiro, Kayano Ai, Yuuki Aoi -- a very interesting cast.

Director Itagaki Shin did Black Cat (good) and Basquash (not so good). Writer Fudeyasu Kazuyuki wrote Kamen no Maid Guy (good) and Kampfer (not so good).

seiyuus: Katou Emiri, Ise Mariya, Taketatsu Ayana, Miyano Mamoru, Yuuki Aoi, Shimono Hiro, Kayano Ai.
director: Itagaki Shin writer: Fudeyasu Kazuyuki, Itagaki Shin. Asaura (novel).
animation: David Production. chara-des: Hirata Katsuzou. animation supervisor: Hirata Katsuzou.
music: Iwasaki Taku.OP aimi, ED Ise Mariya.
trailer. forum.
sat 08 oct 26：20

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
(jp: 機動戦士ガンダムAGE) jpWiki

mecha science fiction adventure
The new series will have three generations of father, child, and descendant as the lead characters, piloting Gundams against unknown attackers to save Earth in a Hundred Year War.

Director Yamaguchi Susumu has been involved with various Gundam Seed projects, but his only directoral credits are for three Sergeant Frog movies. Writer Hino Akihiro has a short list of credits and this is his first time as lead writer. We shall see how they do.

Mixed cast sends the wildly underrated Endou Aya (Sheryl in Macross Frontier) back into space.

seiyuus: Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Endou Aya, Miyata Kouki, Ono Daisuke, Touchi Hiroki, Inoue Kazuhiko.
director: Yamaguchi Susumu writer: Hino Akihiro. Tomino Yoshiyuki/Sunrise (orig).
animation: Sunrise. chara-des: Chiba Michinoru, Nagano Takuzou (orig).
OP Jam Project, ED Kuribayashi Minami.
trailer. forum.
sun 09 oct 17：00

Mirai Nikki
(jp: 未来日記) jpWiki

shounen supernatural adventure
After a fairly successful OVA, the same staff and cast give us a full series from this top shounen manga.

In a cast of unknowns, keep an eye on Togashi Misuzu, who plays Yukiteru. She has gone from a role in Seitokai no Ichizon to roles in Nichijou, Maken-ki and this show. As well as singing with Lia's group.

Director Hosoda Naoto did Shuffle and Minamike Okawari. Writer Takayama Katsuhiko did both ef shows and Baka to Test.

This manga is so strong that whatever they do will likely be entertaining. Our hero finds that his cellphone becomes a diary of the future. And then he meets….

seiyuus: Togashi Misuzu, Murata Tomosa, Wakamoto Norio, Kawahara Yoshihisa, Domon Jin, Sanada Asami, Seki Tomokazu, Hashi Takaya, Sendai Eri, Kuwatani Natsuko.
director: Hosoda Naoto (Shuffle, Minamike Okawari) writer: Takayama Katsuhiko (ef, Baka to Test). Esunio Sakae (manga).
animation: asread. chara-des: Hirayama Hidetsugu. animation supervisor: Hirayama Hidetsugu, Okada Maiko.
music: Katou Tatsuya. OP Yousei Teikoku, ED Faylan.
trailer. manga. 26eps. forum.
sun 09 oct 24:00

Chibi Debi!
(jp: ちび☆デビ！) jpWiki

shoujo
The story follows a middle school girl who one day discovers a devil baby on her bed. From a super-cute shoujo manga.

I look forward to seeing how a sweet orphan girl looks after a devil baby, as opposed to how a tough high-school guy does (Beelzebub). So I like shoujo. So sue me.

writer: Shinozuka Hiromu (manga).

manga.
mon 10 oct 18：20

gdgd Fairies
(jp: gdgd妖精s)

fairy fantasy
Fully computer-animated series centers around three little fairies who live inside the trees in Fairy Forest.

seiyuus: Akesaka Satomi, Mimori Suzuko, Mizuhara Kaoru.
director: writer:
animation:
wed 12 oct 27:00

Un-Go
(jp: UN-GO) jpWiki

future fantasy mystery
The main staff alone makes this show worth taking a look at. Director Mizushima Seiji did FMA, Gundam00, and Hanamaru Kindergarten. Writer Aikawa Shou did FMA, Ayakashi Ayashi, and, under aliases, Love Hina and Simoun.

Names in the cast are also promising: Toyosaki Aki, Irino Miyu, Honda Takako, Miki Shinichirou.

In a near-future post-war Tokyo, the two main characters work together to solve mysteries. Based on the works of Sakaguchi Ango, the post-World War II Japanese novelist and essayist who wrote the "In the Forest Under Cherries in Bloom" part of Aoi Bungaku.

Noitamina.

seiyuus: Toyosaki Aki, Katsuji Ryou, Irino Miyu, Yamamoto Nozomi, Honda Takako, Miki Shinichirou.
director: Mizushima Seiji writer: Aikawa Shou. Sakaguchi Ango (novel).
animation: Bones. chara-des: Kouga Yun.
music: Narasaki. OP School Food Punishment, ED LAMA.
trailer. forum.
thu 13 oct 24:45

Guilty Crown
(jp: ギルティクラウン) jpWiki

violent adventure romance
Director Araki Tetsurou did Death Note, Kurozuka, and Highschool of the Dead. Writer Yoshino Hiroyuki did My-Hime, Macross Frontier, and Sora no Oto.

After the outbreak of the unidentified virus "Lost Christmas" in 2029, Japan has been under the control of a multi-national organization called GHQ. A boy with psychic powers joins an organization fighting against GHQ.

Add to all that a good looking trailer, and a cast including Kaji Yuuki, Hanazawa Kana, Taketatsu Ayana, Kayano Ai, Endou Aya, Kotobuki Minako, and Koyasu Takehito. Have to take a look at this one. Noitamina.

And music by Ryo of Supercell.

seiyuus: Kaji Yuuki, Hanazawa Kana, Taketatsu Ayana, Nakamura Yuuichi, Kayano Ai, Shimamura Yuu, Kotobuki Minako, Uchiyama Kouki, Endou Aya, Koyasu Takehito.
director: Araki Tetsurou writer: Yoshino Hiroyuki.
animation: Production IG. chara-des: Katou Hiromi. animation supervisor: Chiba Takaaki, Yahagi Toshiyuki, Kadowaki Satoshi, Asano Kyouji.
music: Ryo. OP supercell, ED Egoist.
trailer. forum.
thu 13 oct 25：15

Ad-lib Anime Laboratory
(jp: アドリブアニメ研究所)

experimental comedy
Emirin and Kaorin -- who played the Hiiragi sisters in Lucky Star -- get together with a new guest star every week to ad lib an anime. The first week's "guest researcher" will be Sakurai Takahiro.

The three start with a setting and ad lib all the lines, then animators build an anime around them. This kind of "pre-scoring" was used before in Red Garden, but this is the first time I know of that the ad-lib has become the heart of an anime. I’d expect to hear Sugita Tomokazu as a guest star at some point, since he is well known for his ad libs.

There is apparently a live-action part to each episode.

seiyuus: Katou Emiri, Fukuhara Kaori, Sakurai Takahiro.
theme: Katou Emiri, Fukuhara Kaori
sat 15 oct 24：30

Fujilog Season 2
(jp: フジログシーズン2) jpWiki

comedy
A second season of the CG comedy anime about a weird family in Saitama, in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.

seiyuus: Kusao Takeshi, Ootsuka Hiromi, Sakuma Natsumi, Shiratori Tetsu.
director: Shichiji Shigeo writer: Shichiji Shigeo.
chara-des: Shichiji Shigeo.
trailer.

october

Yuuki Aoi News and Images

2011-09-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

Some magazine images, a live event report, and evidence that Ao-chan is pretty sharp academically (click images to enlarge).

For a fall reading feature, Ao-chan says she reads everything from picture books, manga and light novels to text books. She loves picture books and is reading as many translations of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass as she can find.

At the other extreme, she was reading a psychology textbook for a report at university, but found herself engrossed in it even after she had finished the report. She used to think psychology was dull, but the analyses of human behaviour were fascinating. She used not to enjoy studying, but now that she is being exposed to so many new ideas, she is enjoying it a lot. Learning new things is so much fun.

Speaking about her character Alice in Ikoku Meiro no Croisee, she says she is someone who doesn't pay much attention to people around her, but is really a good person at heart. She begins by seeing Yune as just "something Japanese," but gradually comes to understand her as a person.

Ao-chan took part in a live event last weekend for the upcoming school comedy anime Ben-Tou. She plays a second-level character who reads and writes boys-love fiction. It came out at the event that when Ao-chan was being auditioned, someone said she was perfect for a fujoshi character. Star Shimono Hiro asked the agency people if it was all right to say something like that, and Ao-chan apparently smiled and put her finger to her lips.

But the part of the show that many 2channelers fixed on was when she whirled around the stage and her skirt lifted so some members of the audience could see what she was wearing underneath.

However, that was not as big a revelation as something else people on 2channel have finally discovered: the name of the university she goes to. It turns out to be one of the most prestigious colleges in Japan, Waseda University. 2channel is divided between people who admire her for being smart enough to get in, and others who say she got in by pull or by having one special skill, or that Waseda is a college you can slack off in if you want.

Waseda is in the heart of Tokyo, right in Shinjuku, and one comment on the school is that it is a place where you can learn a lot without turning into a geek.

Seiyuus who are also college students conceal the name of their college until they graduate, in order to avoid stalkers. The image below is how people discovered where she goes. Her picture was published in February of last year in her high school's online newsletter, with a story about her getting into Waseda. She is only identified as "Y.A. san." Her real name is Yabusaki Aoi.

The school is a top high school in Chiba, the high school affiliated with Chiba University of Economics. In her message written for the newsletter, she says that in looking at the news and coming into contact with many people, she realized how important it was to think seriously about society, and that was her stimulus to aiming at a social sciences degree. She says that she hopes to be able to look into social questions with concerned and enthusiastic companions at Waseda, and actively make use of the things she learned in high school. Here is the full page from the newsletter:

In a previous newsletter from the school, it said that Ao-chan was one of two vice-chairmen of the student council in 2008-09. The school has three main courses of study: General Studies, Commerce, and Data Processing. Ao-chan was in the data-processing stream. No wonder she once mentioned having done some programming.

I hesitated to pass on this info, but since it is all over 2channel now, I didn't think it would be much of a problem to let a few foreigners know. In any case, I buried it here at the end of the story. Largely reacting to this news, traffic in Ao-chan's 2channel thread has suddenly jumped from two posts per hour to thirteen or so.

An even more active 2channel seiyuu thread right now (94 posts an hour) is Taketatsu Ayana's: someone recently posted a sticker-photo of her with what appears to be a past boyfriend, a co-student from her seiyuu-school days.

Yuuki Aoi Draws a Bee on Her Hand

2011-09-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

As Yuuki Aoi gradually becomes more natural in public, we get to see what she's really like: a bit childish, a bit boyish, a bit otaku, a bit pushy, a bit weird.

In her latest post she shows us the bee -- she realizes it looks more like a wasp -- that she drew on her hand with a ball pen (click images to enlarge).

Wonderful drawing, isn't it? She took the photo on the subway. We also see the massive plastic watch (?) she apparently wears.

She says in her blog that she thought the drawing would just come off in the bath, but had to scrub at it for fifteen minutes to remove it.

In her last post, she went on at great length about Pokemon and various pokemons. She herself bought some Pokemon file folders (featuring Rankurusu and Shandora, she says) at Pokemon Centre, which is near the studio where she and Hayami Saori do their radio show. She calls herself a "fan" of Pokemon in all its guises: animes and games.

Here are some new images that have shown up in her 2channel thread: first, this month's "Aoi's ABC's," featuring "i is for ichigo" (ichigo means "strawberry"). She says all her favorite foods are red: tomatoes, watermelon, and strawberries.

Promoting her new character, Academic, in the game Dragonest:

With her cat Amy, in a magazine feature:

With her co-sars in A Channel (l-r) Fukuhara Kaori (Run), Uchiyama Yumi (Nagi), Kotobuki Minako (Yuuki). She and Kotobuki recently visited Tokyo Disneyland together on a "date." She now calls Kotobuki by the nickname Yome ("bride"):

On the back cover of the Ikoku Meiro no Croisée radio show CD, with Touyama Nao (Yune) :

"Autumn reading," from a magazine feature. Some fans complain that she has too much make-up on here:

Yuuki Aoi's Drawing in Madoka Staff Doujin

2011-09-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

Calling themselves Madoka-ya, numerous staff members -- animators, illustrators, seiyuus -- involved with the Madoka Magika anime released a doujin of illustrations at Comiket last month. It sold out in two hours, priced at just under $20. Within hours, however, copies were being resold in stores and over the Internet for $200-$300 each.

One of the seiyuus whose drawings are featured is Yuuki Aoi. She contributed this somewhat steamy illustration of personifications of Kyuube and the witch Charlotte:

Other contributors included director Akiyuki Shinbou (click images to enlarge):

Character designer Aoki Ume:

Seiyuus Mizuhashi Kaori (left) and Kitamura Eri:

Illustrators Chloe Mura (left) and Hanokage:

The line-up to buy the doujin was ridiculous:

source of general images and info

KAmiYU -- Kamiya Hiroshi and Irino Miyu

2011-09-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Two of the best male seiyuus around -- Kamiya Hiroshi and Irino Miyu -- have formed a singing duo called KAmiYU.

They brought out two singles late last year, and a mini-album earlier in August. A talk/live DVD will come out in November.

They might seem an odd couple, since Kamiyan is 36 and Miyu only 23. But both are excellent seiyuus, with long lists of top credits to their names.

Kamiyan started in anime in 1994, at the age of 19, Miyu started in 1995 -- at the age of nine. He had already joined the Himawari children's theatre group when he was four.

Kamiyan's big roles include Zetsubou-sensei, Araragi in Bakemonogatari, and Natsume in Natsume Yuujinchou.

Miyu was Haku in Spirited Away (at the age of 13), Sena in Eyeshield 21, Saji Crossroad in Gundam00, Kou in Cross Game, and this year alone he has been Jin-tan in AnoHana and Makoto in Denpa Onna. And he just seems to get better and better looking, as well:

Their mini-album "link-up" came out on August 3 (CDJapan). Their KAmiYU in Wonderland shows were in July and August, and a talk/live DVD based on them will come out November 26.

Here is a clip of them performing together:

They can both sing, but their stage presence, at least for this performance, seems a bit stiff.

Both have been rumored to be in relationships with female seiyuus. Kamiyan with Saitou Chiwa (quite possible) and Miyu with Sanpei Yuuko (not so sure).

Denpa Onna OP live: Oogame Asuka and Shinsei Kamatte-chan

2011-08-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

A much better video of the live performance of the Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko OP, Os Uchuujin, has turned up on YouTube.

Features Oogame Asuka (Erio) and the wild and wooly alternative rock band Shinsei Kamatte-chan, at the Shaft Matsuri earlier this year. Not for everyone:

Kame-chan seems out of place among the freaks, lol. Especially Noko, with his weird voice and penchant for writhing on the ground with his guitar.

The first comment on YouTube is: "Isn't Noko great?" Another says: "Out come the fans." Another: "The keyboard's so simple." Another: "I really love the keyboard." Another: "Terrible singing."

More of Shinsei Kamatte-chan here. And this is a good PV showing what they're like:

And for Noko in full, mad, manic flight, try this:

Seiyuu Video: Ogura Yui and Ro-kyu-bu Seiyuus

2011-08-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not actually watching the show Ro-kyu-bu, but I do like the seiyuu team: Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, Hikasa Youko, and young seiyuus Hidaka Rina and Ogura Yui.

Others seem to like them, too: an interview show on the video website Nico Nico Douga has attracted 30,000 viewers.

The highlight of the show was when a question from the audience was put to Ogura Yui 小倉唯, asking her to choose a color to represent herself. She didn't grasp the question, and wondered whether jibun ("self") meant herself or the questioner in the audience. The cute way she responded put Hikasa and the others in an uproar of delight:

Ogura may only be sixteen, but she is a seasoned pro entertainer, having acted in TV dramas from the time she was nine, and having performed as an idol and singer, particularly with Happy Style Rookies and the duo Yui-Kaori, which did the ED for the KissxSis TV series.

Her partner Kaori once said that she is cute and moe on the outside, but like an adult on the inside. Her nicknames are Yui-chan, Yui-yui, and Chairman (Kaichou).

She also did the dancing that was digitized for Hatsune Miku's dancing in Project Diva:

She lists her skills as classical ballet, jazz dance and tap, as well as swimming. I had no expectation that she would be any good as a seiyuu, but I have been surprised. In Kamisama no Memo-chou, she is doing a nice job as the feeling but somewhat expressionless soft-voiced Alice. And in Ro-kyu-bu, she is producing a strong lisping moe as Hinata.

Here is the full TV interview with the Ro-kyu-bu cast, followed by some photos of Ogura Yui (click to enlarge):

There are also some swimsuit shots of the Yui-Kaori duo, but I have not posted them, since they were done when Yui was only fifteen. You can find them by Googling her Japanese name, if you want.

Tomatsu Haruka -- Recent Photos

2011-07-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent photos of Tomacchan, publicity for her new single, "Oh My God!" which should be in stores Tuesday. Click photos to enlarge:

Tomacchan is in two of the new shows this season: she stars as a crazy cat-goddess in Nekogami Yaoyorazu, and is also in Morita-san wa Muguchi.

Seiyuu Video: Hayami Saori Hosting Takahashi Mikako's Radio Show

2011-07-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

On short notice, rising seiyuu personality Hayami Saori substituted for Takahashi Mikako on her radio show on Tuesday, with Mikako-san out due to illness.

The 20-year-old Hayamin has often been called "ugly" by posters on 2channel and elsewhere. This video, however, is eliciting a huge number of "cute" comments. I've previously thought that she looked odd in still photos, but elegant and charming in videos. Commenters keep mentioning her lovely movements.

Her intelligence (she is attending university) and poise are just part of the equation. She has a nice speaking voice, but I think she has the prettiest singing voice of all seiyuu, for sure, and maybe of anybody, anywhere.

Now she is spreading across the airwaves, with a weekly radio show of her own, a show with Yuuki Aoi, and now this.

Takahashi Mikako is one of the biggest seiyuu radio personalities, with a show that has gone on for years. To replace her is a big deal. Now some commenters are hoping Mikako will rest for a couple more weeks.

Mikako is currently hosting four shows, including her main show, Mikako no Payopayo, this show, and two others.

The video is from NicoNico. It will take up to 30 seconds for the video to appear after you click "play". And click the three dots in the lower right-hand corner to get rid of the comments superimposed on the image.

Toyosaki Aki Does the Weather on TV

2011-07-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

Toyosaki Aki (Yui in K-On, member of Sphere, etc., etc.) is doing the voice of a cartoon character on the weather part of NHK's flagship evening news program, News Watch 9.

The weather lady speaks with Haru ("Spring") as they forecast the weather.

Click here to see a brief movie of them on-screen. Here are photos of Haru-chan and Aki-chan, and a screenshot from the show:

Summer 2011 Anime Calendar -- new shows day by day

2011-06-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here we go again. The new season starts Friday.

Friday brings us one of the most anticipated shows, Rou-kyuu-bu, which appears to be a version of K-On set in a girls' basketball club, with young stars Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, and Hikasa Youko, as well as even younger idols Hidaka Rina and Ogura Yui.

Here is the weekly schedule. Click here or on the image to go to the full weekly calendar:

Friday 1 July (Happy 144th Birthday, Canada):

Blade (Marvel comic vampire hunter)
MonHan Nikki Girigiri Airuu-mura G (based on the popular PSP game)
Rou-kyuu-bu (star seiyuus in a basketball club)

Saturday 2 July:

Kamisama no Memo-chou (the director of UraBoku and the writer of Railgun give us a story about a hikikomori girl detective)

Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% (reverse harem starring Sawashiro Miyuki and several male stars; directed by Kou Yuu, written by Konparu Tomoko)

Sacred Seven (Sunrise mecha starring Nomizu Iori, Irino Miyu, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Nakajima Megumi)

Sunday July 3:

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou (a new series of the shounen youkai comedy)

Ikoku Meiro no Croisee (Touyama Nao and Yuuki Aoi as a Japanese girl and her French friend in 19th century Paris)

Monday July 4 (Happy 235th Birthday, USA):

Natsume Yuujinchou 3 (third series)

Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel -- Kyunkyun Tokimeki Paradise (Noto Mamiko and Tamura Yukari as magical girl thieves)

Yuruyuri (romantic yuri slice of life)

Tuesday July 5:

Kamisama Dolls (Okamoto Nobuhiko, Fukuen Misato, Kayano Ai, and the staff that made Seto no Hanayome)

Morita-san wa Muguchi (Hanazawa Kana, Nanjou Yoshino, Hayami Saori, Tomatsu Haruka)

Wednesday July 6:

Nyanpire (vampire cats, starring Koshimizu Ami and Fukuyama Jun)

Thursday July 7:
Usagi Drop (a 30-year-old bachelor takes in a little girl. noitaminA)

No. 6 (dystopic future science fiction. noitaminA)

The Idolm@ster (the original story comes to anime, with the original game cast)

Blood-C (Clamp and Production IG bring us a new entry in the Blood vampire series. Mizuki Nana, Asano Masumi, Fujiwara Keiji, Fukuen Misato)

Mayo Chiki (gender-bent comedy from the director of Hayate and the writer of K-On. With Hino Satoshi, Kitamura Eri, Iguchi Yuka, Asumi Kana, Hanazawa Kana, Ise Mariye)

Mawaru Penguin Drum (the mysterious new anime from the director of Revolutionary Girl Utena)

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2 (a second series)

Starts later in July include the vampire moe of Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi; and Sawashiro Miyuki and Ono Daisuke as a mysterious girl and her master/servant in Dantalian no Shoka.

Holy Land? The Park Where Yuuki Aoi Swung on the Swings

2011-06-25T22:18:00.000-07:00

In a radio program last Thursday, Ao-chan told Hayami Saori that she went out of the studio to a nearby park to sit and swing on the swings. She said there was only a salaryman around, implying that she didn't expect to be recognized.

I checked Google Street View, and there it was, swings, salaryman and all:

As a Japanese commenter said, the scene seems pretty appropriate for the youthful -- I almost said "girlish" -- Ao-chan.

The swings are in a park not far from the A&G radio studio they use, and just across the street from the building housing the Pokemon Center, which Ao-chan has visited because of her role as Iris in Pokemon Best Wishes, and possibly also because she herself is a Pokemon fan.

Here is an aerial view from Google Earth, showing the building where the Pokemon Center is (the tall building at the top center), and the A&G radio studio (the building across the railway tracks from it). The swings are in the park at the bottom. Hamamatsuchou Station is just out of the picture at the bottom.

Here is a closer look at the swings, There are two sets, one nearer the crosswalk and one to the right (the white bar):

I'm glad I don't live in Tokyo, or I'd really become a stalker. I'd like to think that this is of a piece with the fact that I like to watch anime as close to airing time in Japan as possible. Distant participation in real Japan.

Ao-chan's 2channel thread today is full of cautions against interfering in her real life. Recently, someone posted what he said was the name of her university. Another said he really did go to the same university as she, but didn't interfere in her life.

Personally, I'd find more disturbing some posters' graphic expressions of what they would like to do to her sexually. Pretty chilling, actually.

In any case, here is the radio broadcast, from NicoNico Douga:

This is Hayamin and Ao-chan's brief weekly "review meeting." They have a half-hour weekly show on A&G, and a five-minute show on Marine Entertainment, on the Internet. They started their full weekly show on Marine, but after two shows, it was picked up by the much larger broadcaster A&G. I guess the "review meeting" show is a sop to the smaller broadcaster.

Click images to enlarge.

Another interesting Ao-chan video has shown up on NicoNico. It was posted on the official site of the show A Channel, just before its final broadcast, and shows the four main seiyuus talking about the show and inviting people to watch.

Unfortunately, the nicovideo cannot be embedded in a web page, so I can only give you the link and a screencap. Left to right: Kotobuki Minako (Yuuko), Fukuhara Kaori (Run), Yuuki Aoi (Tooru, complete with baseball bat), Uchiyama Yumi (Nagi).

Finally, there is one more interesting little video from NicoNico. Like a number of other seiyuus, Ao-chan has now lent her voice to the MAPLUS GPS:

The comments discuss which of her characters she sounds most like: Madoka? Iris? I agree with the person who said Yutori-chan. If you haven't seen any episodes of Yutori-chan, try to find them. Yutori-chan was a series of twenty or so two-and-a-half minute episodes broadcast in early 2010. Ao-chan is hilarious as a selfish young part-time worker in a toy company office.

Hirano Aya To Act in Stage Musical

2011-06-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Hirano Aya will play Catherine in a musical based on Wuthering Heights, on stage in Tokyo.

Well-known director Nishikawa Nobuhiro has assembled a main cast of stars, some from other media. Aya will share the role of Catherine with singer Abe Natsumi. They will perform on alternate days.

Multi-talented actor/singer/music producer/writer/car racer Kawamura Ryuuichi will play Heathcliff. Actor/singer Yamazaki Ikusaburou will play Edgar.

The play will be at Tokyo's Akasaka Act Theatre from July 11 to July 24, then will move to the Umeda Arts Theatre in Osaka for a short run July 27-31.

Sources: Cinema Today, Famitsu, theatre home page.

Aya and Kawamura Ryuuichi resting during rehearsals.

Catherine and Heathcliff

We needn't have worried that no CDs and no new anime would leave Aya unemployed. She will host the NTV travel show Another Sky this Friday evening. We will follow her around New York City. On Wednesday, she was on a live show on NHK Osaka.

The friendship between Aya and seiyuu Sasaki Nozomi seems to be developing. They were together in Lucky Star and now in Jewelpet. They recently went shopping together and bought matching bracelets:

I believe that is Aya's arm in front, since the photo comes from her blog.

Here is a photo of the two of them from a Jewelpet Sunshine party:

Yuuki Aoi Gosick Character Song

2011-06-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

A Gosick character song and drama CD came out June 1, featuring four mini-dramas and songs by Eguchi Takuya (Kujou), Shitaya Noriko (Avril), and Yuuki Aoi (Victorique).

I have to say I am amazed at how good Ao-chan's singing is. I know it must have some technical post-production to keep it in tune, but her voice is very exposed and she gives the song some nice little touches. Who knew? She especially seems to understand the dramatic movement of the song.

The CD includes both this and an off-key version of the song, like the one Ao-chan did in episode seven.

Seiyuu Video: Omigawa Chiaki and Komatsu Mikako at the Cat Cafe

2011-06-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the first episode of a new online video program starring actress/seiyuus Omigawa Chiaki (21) and Komatsu Mikako (22).

The video will take a while to appear. To get rid of the scrolling comments, click the three dots in the lower right-hand corner of the image.

This first episode of the show is recorded on location at the Neko Jalala cat cafe. So cats are crawling on and around the pair as the show goes on.

Chiaki-chan is so weird. First, her normal voice appears to be much higher than her usual seiyuu voice. Second, she is excruciatingly boke and cute. Komatsu-san is cute herself, but so much more normal-seeming and in control. Chiaki seems to be a very emotional and physical person.

Looking at Chiaki-chan's ja.Wikipedia page, it seems she acts like a bit of a simpleton in real life. One time, she wore an exceedingly short skirt to a recording session. Someone asked if she was wearing proper opaque underwear, and she replied "of course," flipping up her skirt to reveal...one thin pair of panties.

Like Chiaki-chan, Komatsu-san is a TV actress as well as a seiyuu (Joey in Heroman, Kotori in Yugioh Zexal). Both are represented by the Hirata Office agency.

The title of the show, "Futarigoto," is a play on words: futarigoto ("double words," or "words from the two of us") as opposed to hitorigoto (literally "single word," but used to say "just a word to you").

Many Japanese otaku loathe Chiaki-chan because of the flat voice she usually uses in anime. Their opinion began with her first role, as Maka in Soul Eater. At the moment, she is playing Minko in Hanasaku Iroha.

Otaku also claim that she has been a "bad girl," smoking and drinking and so on when she was underage. I wouldn't put it past her. And I don't care.

I think she's an entertaining personality who can act a bit, especially as a comic actress. Her voice is not very refined, but it does convey a kind of honesty. In Hanasaku Iroha, for example.

She's an interesting person in many ways. She has studied ballet and martial arts; she likes to read and writes poetry; and she had had many part-time jobs, including in a fast-food restaurant, a convenience store, a bar, a department store, and making announcements in a theatre.

Summer 2011 Anime -- Full Previews of All the New Series

2011-06-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

We have 26 new series this summer, up from 21 last summer and 22 the summer before. Trends? Four shows involving vampires, and lots of moe.

I'm not sure we'll get shows as good as Shiki (summer 2010) or Bakemonogatari, Aoi Hana, and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (summer 2009). But there are some good possibilities:

● Blood-C -- A new entry in the Blood vampire series, written by Clamp, animated by Production IG, and starring Mizuki Nana and Fujiwara Keiji.
● Dantalian no Shoka -- Bloody supernatural mysteries starring Sawashiro Miyuki as the super-tsun loli-goth key to the library of demonic wisdom. Her master/servant? Ono Daisuke.
● Ikoku Meiro no Croisee -- Touyama Nao as a Japanese girl in 19th century Paris. Yuuki Aoi as her French friend. Directed by the director of Shugo Chara, written by the director of ARIA.
● Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi -- A boy keeps dreaming of a mysterious girl, and finally remembers being bitten by a beautiful vampire whose poison binds him to her forever.
● Kamisama no Memo-chou -- Another tsuntsun moe detective girl, this time one who stays in her room and solves mysteries using the Internet. The director of Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru, the writer of Railgun.
● Mawaru Penguin Drum -- The new mystery anime from the director of Revolutionary Girl Utena. The most anticipated show of the summer.
● Mayo Chiki -- A new gender-bent comedy from Kawaguchi Keiichirou (Hayate), written by Yoshida Reiko (K-On, Marimite).
● Natsume Yuujinchou 3 -- The third series of the popular show about a man freeing monsters from the bonds placed on them decades before by his grandmother.
● No. 6 -- "Josei science-fiction" directed by the assistant director of Oh Edo Rocket and Gundam00, in his first independent directorial job. Adapted for anime by the writer of Railgun and Occult Academy. noitaminA.
● Rou-kyuu-bu -- A high-school boy ends up as coach of an elementary school girls' basketball team made up of Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, Hikasa Youko, Hidaka Rina and Ogura Yui. K-On is clearly in the producers' minds. The seiyuus have already put out a PV of their first single.
● Usagi Drop -- Warm family comedy/drama in which a thirty-year-old bachelor takes in the illegitimate six-year-old daughter of his deceased grandfather. From a well-known manga. noitaminA.
● Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% -- Bishounen reverse harem set in a high-school for the performing arts. Directed by the director of Giant Killing and written by the writer of NANA and Nodame Cantabile. Sawashiro Miyuki stars.
● Yuruyuri -- Slice-of-life comedy with a yuri tinge. From the team that made Minami-ke and Mitsudomoe.

All this and a new series of Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, too. Click through from the following alphabetical list to full descriptions below, which are listed chronologically:

● Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2 ● Blade ● Blood-C ● Dantalian no Shoka ● Detective Opera Milky Holmes - special edition ● Ikoku Meiro no Croisee ● Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi ● Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel -- Kyunkyun Tokimeki Paradise ● Kamisama Dolls ● Kamisama no Memo-chou ● Mawaru Penguin Drum ● Mayo Chiki ● Mayuu Himitsu Ken ● MonHan Nikki Girigiri Airuu-mura G ● Morita-san wa Muguchi ● Natsume Yuujinchou 3 ● Nekogami Yaoyorozu ● No. 6 ● Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou ● Nyanpire ● R-15 ● Rou-kyuu-bu ● Sacred Seven ● The Idolm@ster ● Usagi Drop ● Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% ● Yuruyuri

Notes:
-- info from official sites, Anime News Network, AnimeSuki forums, Anidb, 2channel, Japanese Wikipedia, MoonPhase, etc.
-- I will post a weekly broadcast calendar when the season is about to start, including broadcast schedule changes that will probably occur between now and then.
-- English titles link to the Anime News Network encyclopedia; Japanese titles link to official sites.
-- click images to enlarge.

Mawaru Penguin Drum
(jp: 輪るピングドラム) jpWiki

bizarre mystery
This may be the most anticipated show of the summer: a new offering from Ikuhara Kunihiko, the director of Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Original character design by Hoshino Lily (Zakuro).

We have little idea of the plot yet, but penguin plush toys and murder play roles.

seiyuus: Kimura Subaru (Gian/Doraemon), Kimura Ryouhei (Akira/Eden of the East), Arakawa Miho, Miyake Marie.
director: Ikuhara Kunihiko
writer: Ikuhara Kunihiko.
animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Nishii Terumi, Hoshino Lily (draft).
music: Hashimoto Yukari.
trailer. 24eps. forum.
july. date and time not yet announced.

Blade
(jp: BLADE) jpWiki

vampire action
Vampire-hunter "Blade" is the hero in this fourth series produced by Marvel Comics and Animax and animated by Madhouse. Follows Iron Man, Wolverine, and X-men. Fans of both Marvel and anime think this could be the best of the four.

The director did Chi's Sweet Home and Kobato, strangely enough. The presence of Sakamoto Maaya and Ohtsuka Akio in the cast is a plus.

seiyuus: Ohtsuka Akio, Sakamoto Maaya, Isobe Tsutomu, Saka Osamu.
director: Masuhara Mitsuyuki (Kobato)
writer: Fukusaku Kenta. Marv Wolfman (orig writer), Gene Colan (orig artist).
animation: Madhouse/Marvel.
trailer. 12eps. forum.
fri 01 jul 22:00

MonHan Nikki Girigiri Airuu-mura G
(jp: モンハン日記ぎりぎりアイルー村G) jpWiki

gag anime
A second series of mini-animes based on the wildly popular PSP game. Good cast. Unknown staff. The trailer is funny.

seiyuus: Kobayashi Yuu, Seki Tomokazu, Takahashi Mikako, Miyake Kenta.
director: Benpineko, Yamawaki Koutarou
writer: Benpineko.
animation: DLE. chara-des: Yamawaki Koutarou, Benpineko. animation supervisor: Yamawaki Koutarou.
music: Noiz'n Girl, Sudou Yuuki.
trailer.
fri 01 jul 22:54

Rou-kyuu-bu
(jp: ロウきゅーぶ！) jpWiki

moe sports comedy
A high-school boy ends up as coach of an elementary school girls' basketball team.

Great cast includes Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka and Hikasa Youko. Plus young idols-turned-seiyuus Hidaka Rina and Ogura Yui. Plus Itou Shizuka and Kaji Yuuki.

The staff is a bit more problematic, with the director of Sekirei and Dog Days and the writer of Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi.

Character design based on original novel illustrations by moe illustrators Tinkle. You can see from the entertaining live-action trailer that the show is being sold partly on the good looks and stardom of its seiyuus. Basketball club? Light Music Club? The producers seem to have K-On in mind.

seiyuus: Hanazawa Kana, Iguchi Yuka, Hikasa Youko, Hidaka Rina, Ogura Yui, Itou Shizuka, Kaji Yuuki.
director: Kusakawa Keizou (Inukami, Sekirei, Dog Days)
writer: Itou Michiko (Ookami-san to Shichinin; 5 eps of KimiKiss, 7 of Suzuka). Aoyama Sagu (novel).
animation: project No.9×Studio Blanc. chara-des: Noguchi Takayuki; Tinkle (orig).
trailer. forum.
fri 01 jul 23:30

Kamisama no Memo-chou
(jp: 神様のメモ帳) jpWiki

shounen detective moe romance
The story centers on hikikomori detective Alice and her assistant, a high school boy called Narumi. Alice spends her days in pyjamas with her stuffed animals, solving cases online without ever leaving her apartment. A bit like a modern-day Victorica (Gosick), but with more fanservice.

Famous teen idol Ogura Yui takes on her first starring role. With fast-rising Kayano Ai (Menma in AnoHana), and Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, who did an excellent job as the sister's boyfriend in Hourou Musuko.

Strong supporting cast includes Sakurai Takahiro and Nabatame Hitomi, as well as Miyata Kouki, Matsukaze Masaya, and Ono Daisuke. Can't get much better than that.

Director Sakurabi Katsuchi did the under-appreciated Asatte no Houkou and Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru. Writer Minakami Seishi did Asatte, Railgun, and Birdy the Mighty Decode 2.

I have hopes for this show. The first episode will be a 60-minute special.

seiyuus: Ogura Yui, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Kayano Ai, Sakurai Takahiro, Nabatame Hitomi, Miyata Kouki, Matsukaze Masaya, Ono Daisuke.
director: Sakurabi Katsushi (UraBoku)
writer: Minakami Seishi (Railgun). Sugii Hikaru (novel).
animation: JC Staff. chara-des: Sano Keiichi; Kishida Mel (orig).
music: Iwasaki Taku.
trailer. manga. forum.
sat 02 jul 23:00

Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000%
(jp: うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ マジLOVE1000%) jpWiki

romantic comedy
Haruka succeeds in getting in to an elite high school for the performing arts. Her goal is to be a songwriter. But first she has to choose a male partner for the big audition at the end of the year. Which of the six "princes" will it be? From a game for girls.

Solid staff headed by director Kou Yuu (Loveless, Giant Killing) and writer Konparu Tomoko (Nana, Nodame Cantabile). Solid cast headed by Sawashiro Miyuki, with Terashima Takuya, Suzumura Kenichi, Taniyama Kishou, Miyano Mamoru, et al.

Sure this is "just" a bishounen reverse harem, but the cast and staff make me think something could be going on here.

The trailer is for an upcoming version of the game.

seiyuus: Sawashiro Miyuki, Terashima Takuya, Suzumura Kenichi, Taniyama Kishou, Miyano Mamoru, Yusa Kouji, Suwabe Junichi, Toriumi Kousuke, Shimono Hiro, Wakamoto Norio.
director: Kou Yuu (Loveless, Giant Killing)
writer: Konparu Tomoko (NANA, Les Miz, Nodame). Broccoli PSP otome game.
animation: A-1 Pictures. chara-des: Mori Mitsui, Kurahana Chinatsu (orig.). animator: Mori Mitsui.
OP Miyano Mamoru, ED seiyuus.
trailer. forum.
sat 02 jul 24:00

Sacred Seven
(jp: セイクリッドセブン) jpWiki

school battle action
A new school fighting anime, with protagonists who have the ability to transform matter and living things, and who fight against monsters.

The director of Witchblade, who was also heavily involved in Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto. The writer of some Yu-Gi-Oh series. I believe the fanservice will be at a comparative minimum here.

Interesting cast features two excellent male seiyuus: Irino Miyu and Okamoto Nobuhiko. Also featuring Nomizu Iori (Nymph in Sora no Otoshimono) and Nakajima Megumi (Ranka in Macross Frontier).

seiyuus: Nomizu Iori, Irino Miyu, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Nakajima Megumi, Terashima Takuma, Nanase Ami, Konishi Katsuyuki, Ookawa Tooru, Tozuka Rie.
director: Oohashi Yoshimitsu (Witchblade, BakuKikanIro chief dir)
writer: Yoshida Shin (Yu-Gi-Oh series), Yatate Hajime (pseudonym for Sunrise staff).
animation: Sunrise. chara-des: Chiba Yuriko, Nakata Eiji; Inomata Mutsumi (orig).
OP Fiction Junction, ED Nanri Yuuka.
trailer. forum.
sat 02 jul 26:28

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou
(jp: ぬらりひょんの孫千年魔京) jpWiki

shounen supernatural action adventure comedy
A new director and writer take over for this sequel to the supernatural shounen comedy featuring a young demon lord who wants to be an ordinary human.

I lost interest very quickly in the first series, which had far bigger names heading the staff, so we shall see how this starts. This series will apparently follow the Kyoto arc in the novels, which fans say is the best part of the story. Great names such as Fujiwara Keiji, Noto Mamiko, and Kusahima Houko have joined the cast.

Includes one of Hirano Aya's few remaining anime roles.

seiyuus: Fukuyama Jun, Hirano Aya, Horie Yui, Maeda Ai, Fujiwara Keiji, Noto Mamiko, Kitamura Eri, Kuwashima Houko, Konishi Katsuyuki, Nojima Kenji, Neya Michiko.
director: Fukuda Michio
writer: Koyasu Hideaki. Shibashi Hiroshi (manga).
animation: Studio Deen. chara-des: Oka Mariko; Tagashira Shinobu (monsters).
music: Tanaka Kouhei. OP LMC, ED Hirano Aya/Horie Yui/Maeda Ai.
trailer. manga. forum.
sun 03 jul 17:30

Ikoku Meiro no Croisee
(jp: 異国迷路のクロワーゼ The Animation) jpWiki

moe comedy drama
In the late 19th century, Japanese culture is gaining popularity in the West. A young Japanese girl, Yune, accompanies a French merchant, Oscar, back to France to gain experience working at his family's ironwork shop in Paris. Oscar's nephew, the current shopowner, Claude, reluctantly accepts her.

Stars young seiyuu Touyama Nao (19), with Yuuki Aoi (also 19) as her French friend Alice. Also starring Kondou Takashi and Yahagi Sayuri.

Directed for Satelight by Yasuda Kenji (Shugo Chara), and written by Satou Junichi (Aria) and Ikeda Mamiko (Emma, Hanasakeru Seishounen). The story and Yuuki Aoi made me interested in this show, but the staff-list makes me eager for episode one.

seiyuus: Kondou Takashi, Tanaka Hideyuki, Touyama Nao, Yuuki Aoi, Yahagi Sayuri.
director: Yasuda Kenji (Shugo Chara)
writer: Satou Junichi (Aria, Tamayura); Ikeda Mamiko (scripts; Emma, Hanasakeru Seishounen). Takeda Hinata (manga).
animation: Satelight. chara-des: Inoue Hideki.
music: ko-ko-ya (Ristorante Paradiso).
trailer. manga. forum.
sun 03 jul 24:30

Natsume Yuujinchou 3
(jp: 夏目友人帳参) jpWiki

intelligent shoujo fantasy with monsters
The third series of this successful episodic fantasy. Natsume can see spirits, as his grandmother could, and with her "book of friends" (yuujinchou) he goes around releasing spirits from the spells she bound them with.

Kamiya Hiroshi, in one of his signature roles.

The trailer link below connects to streamed versions of season one.

seiyuus: Kamiya Hiroshi, Inoue Kazuhiko, Suganuma Hisayoshi, Suwabe Junichi, Ishida Akira, Kobayashi Sanae, Kimura Ryouhei, Horie Kazuma.
director: Oomori Takahiro
writer: Murai Sadayuki. Midorikawa Yuki (manga).
animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Takada Akira.
trailer. manga. forum.
mon 04 jul 25:30

Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel -- Kyunkyun Tokimeki Paradise
(jp: 快盗天使ツインエンジェル～キュンキュン☆ときめきパラダイス！！～) jpWiki

magical girl action
Originated as a pachinko slot machine game. Stars Noto Mamiko and Tamura Yukari as high school friends by day and villain-fighters by night. Kugimiya Rie, Horie Yui, Yuzuki Ryouka, Asano Masumi -- lots of big names.

Different staff from the 2008 OVA series. Directed by the director of Zero no Tsukaima and Hayate 2. Written by the writer of Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi.

Excellent cast, questionable staff -- but JC Staff, so it will likely maintain a bit of quality.

seiyuus: Onosaka Masaya, Noto Mamiko, Tamura Yukari, Shintani Ryouko, Yuzuki Ryouka, Horie Yui, Kugimiya Rie, Asano Masumi, Koyama Rikiya, Asakawa Yuu.
director: Iwasaki Yoshiaki (Zero no Tsukaima, Hayate 2)
writer: Itou Michiko (Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi).
animation: JC Staff. chara-des: Ooki Ryouichi. animation supervisor: Ooki Ryouichi.
trailer.
mon 04 jul 25:45

Yuruyuri
(jp: ゆるゆり) jpWiki

yuri slice of life comedy
Four middle-school girls, their daily lives and yuri romances.

The director and writer did Mitsudomoe and Minami-ke. Neither of those found my funny bone, but a lot of people loved them.

The four stars are relative unknowns, but Tsuda Minami was Phryne in Fractale.

I have no idea how this will work out, but anything purporting to be yuri gets my attention.

seiyuus: Mikami Shiori, Ootsubo Yuka, Tsuda Minami, Ookubo Rumi, Fujita Saki, Toyosaki Aki, Katou Emiri, Mimori Suzuko, Taketatsu Ayana.
director: Oota Masahiko (Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe)
writer: Aoshima Takashi (Minami-ke, Mitsudomoe). Namori (manga).
animation: Douga Koubou.
OPED seiyuus.
trailer. manga. forum.
mon 04 jul 26:00

Kamisama Dolls
(jp: 神様ドォルズ) jpWiki

supernatural action mystery with violence
Some people have superhuman "God Dolls" they can summon and control. The story involves an ex-summoner and a woman who is an old neighbour and with whom he would like to get closer; his little step-sister and her Doll; and his twisted big brother, who is going around randomly butchering people with his Doll.

Popular manga and some good cast-members, including Okamoto Nobuhiko and Sawashiro Miyuki. Young Kayano Ai (Menma in AnoHana) is also here, but she is not one of my favorites. Kobayashi Yumiko (PuniPuni Poemi) however, is.

seiyuus: Okamoto Nobuhiko, Fukuen Misato, Kayano Ai, Murase Katsuki, Sawashiro Miyuki, Kobayashi Yumiko, Kimura Ryouhei.
director: Kishi Seiji (Seto no Hanayome, Angel Beats)
writer: Uezu Makoto (School Days, Seto no Hanayome, Katanagatari, Qwaser, Zombie). Yamamura Hajime (manga).
animation: Brains Base. chara-des: Morita Kazuaki. animation supervisor: Motohashi Hideyuki.
music: Ishikawa Chiaki, Nishida Masara. OPED Ishikawa Chiaki.
trailer. manga. 13eps. forum.
tue 05 jul 25:30

Morita-san wa Muguchi
(jp: 森田さんは無口) jpWiki

moe comic-strip comedy
February's OVA spawns a series. Morita-san is a high school girl who considers everything she is about to say so thoroughly that she never ends up saying anything.

The animation of the OVA was very simple, and the humor hit or miss, for me. But there were some good moments from voices like Hanazawa Kana, Hayami Saori, Tomatsu Haruka, and Nanjou Yoshino.

The trailer is for the OVA.

seiyuus: Hanazawa Kana, Nanjou Yoshino, Hayami Saori, Tomatsu Haruka.
director: Hayashi Naotaka
writer: Karasuma Ryou. Sano Tae (manga).
animation: Seven. chara-des: Yamashita Toshinari.
trailer. manga. forum.
tue 05 jul 25:30

Nyanpire
(jp: にゃんぱいあ The Animation) jpWiki

A stray kitten on the brink of death is rescued by baptism with a vampire's blood, and revives to live forever, enjoying heartful days among the vampire cats.

Director Yoshimatsu Takahiro is doing only his second show, following Kaitou Reinya. Writer Takahashi Natsuko, however, has done Blue Drop, Tales of Agriculture, UraBoku, Nurarihyon, etc.

Koshimizu Ami stars, with Fukuyama Jun, Gotou Yuuko, Hirota Shion and others.

Who knows? At least we know Amisuke and Jun-chan will be good.

seiyuus: Koshimizu Ami, Sugiyama Noriaki, Fukuyama Jun, Gotou Yuuko, Maeda Nozomi, Hirota Shion, Tachibana Shinnosuke.
director: Yoshimatsu Takahiro
writer: Takahashi Natsuko (Blue Drop, Moyashimon, UraBoku); yukiusa (doujin).
animation: Gonzo. chara-des: Yoshimatsu Takahiro.
OP Asou Nyatsuko and Nyandine.
trailer.
wed 06 jul 22:54

Usagi Drop
(jp: うさぎドロップ) jpWiki

comedy drama w/family moe
Noitamina. Daikichi is an awkward bachelor of thirty. His grandfather dies, leaving behind an young illegitimate daughter whom no relative knew of or wants to take in. Upset with them, Daikichi decides to take her himself, despite the fact he is single. Little Rin already seems to feel comfortable with him, because he looks like his grandfather. Rin moves in with Daikichi and they begin to learn to live with each other.

A live-action movie is also coming out this summer.

This is not lolicon so much a heartwarming story of family love and the troubles of being a single parent. But the little girl is definitely cute. Good supporting cast includes Ueda Kana, Sakamoto Maaya, and Ohara Sayaka. Director and writer are unknowns. Production IG.

seiyuus: Tsuchida Hiroshi (Skull Man), Matsuura Ayu (The Bears' School movie), Ueda Kana, Sakamoto Maaya, Ohara Sayaka, Sudou Nanako, Sakai Noa.
director: Kamei Kanta
writer: Kishimoto Suguru. Unita Yumi (manga).
animation: Production IG. chara-des: Yamashita Yuu.
OP Puffy, ED kasarinchu.
trailer. manga. forum.
thu 07 jul 24:45

No. 6
(jp: NO.6) jpWiki

josei science fiction
Set in 2013 in a future model city called "No.6." A boy named Shion has been raised as a top-ranking elite since the age of 2, and lives in an exclusive area of the city. On the night of his 12th birthday, he rescues a boy who calls himself Nezumi (Rat). Nezumi has run away from the city's Special Security Area. From that moment on, Shion's life changes dramatically….

Directed by the assistant director of Oh Edo Rocket and Gundam00, in his first independent directoral job. Adapted for anime by the writer of Railgun and Occult Academy, from a novel by the author of Telepathy Girl Ran (a show I lost interest in about halfway through the first episode).

The backstory sounds great. The staff seems questionable. But anything Noitamina is interesting. And anything anidb is calling "josei science fiction" is pretty intriguing, too.

seiyuus: Hosoya Yoshimasa, Kaji Yuuki, Shindou Kei, Terasoma Masaki, Yasuno Kiyono.
director: Nagasaki Kenji (asst dir Gundam00, work on Oh Edo Rocket, etc.)
writer: Minakami Seishi (Railgun, Occult Academy, Shigurui). Asano Atsuko (novel; Telepathy Girl Ran).
animation: Bones. chara-des: Ishino Satoshi (Nogizaka Haruka); toi8 (orig). conceptual design: toi8.
trailer. manga. forum.
thu 07 jul 25:15

The Idolm@ster
(jp: THE IDOLM@STER) jpWiki

idol entertainment competition
Popular arcade and console game gets a full anime series. Idolm@ster Xenoglossia was a mecha show based on the original. This is the original brought directly to anime.

Personally, I'm looking forward to hearing seiyuu Nakamura Eriko, who has become very popular as a seiyuu personality in Japan.

I don't have a lot of hope for the show itself. This is the director's first directorial job. We shall see.

seiyuus: Wakabayashi Naomi, Nakamura Eriko, Shimoda Asami, Numakura Manami, Hasegawa Akiko, Hirata Hiromi, Imai Asami, Kugimiya Rie, Takahashi Chiaki.
director: Nishigori Atsushi (eps and boards)
writer: Machida Toukou, Nishigori Atsushi. Bandai Namco Games (orig).
animation: A-1 Pictures. chara-des: Nishigori Atsushi (Gurren-Lagann, Panty-Stocking); Kubooka Toshiyuki (orig. game). animation supervisor: Iizuka Haruko, Takata Akira.
OP 765Pro Allstars.
trailer. forum.
thu 07 jul 25:25

Blood-C
(jp: BLOOD-C) jpWiki

vampires action
An anime original vampire tale from Production IG (Blood+) and Clamp (xxxHolic). Stars Mizuki Nana (who also does the ED) and Fujiwara Keiji. Directed by Mizushima Tsutomu (xxxHolic, Ookiku Furikabutte, Ika Musume). Written by Ohkawa Nanase of Clamp (Kobato, Cardcaptor Sakura).

This could be good.

A manga version will begin in the July edition of Monthly Shonen Ace.

seiyuus: Mizuki Nana, Asano Masumi, Fujiwara Keiji, Fukuen Misato, Nojima Kenji, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Abe Atsushi, Miyagawa Miho.
director: Mizushima Tsutomu (xxxHolic, Big Windup, Ika Musume)
writer: Ohkawa Nanase (Clamp; Kobato, CCS, etc.). Clamp (orig).
animation: Production IG. chara-des: Kise Kazuchika. animation supervisor: Gotou Takayuki.
music: Satou Naoki. OP Dustz, ED Mizuki Nana.
trailer. forum.
thu 07 jul 25:40

Mayo Chiki
(jp: まよチキ！) jpWiki

gender-bender moe school romantic comedy
Kinjirou accidentally discovers that the cold but beautiful boy who is butler to his wealthy classmate is actually a girl. The butler and her mistress enforce silence with physical threats. This is nothing new to Kinjirou, since his mother and sister are martial arts practitioners who already use him as their punching bag.

The director of Hayate and the writer of K-On give us this gender-bender-with-violence romantic comedy. Stars Hino Satoshi (Yuuji in Shana) with Kitamura Eri as the wealthy but sadistic classmate, and Iguchi Yuka as the butler. The manga is a fairly witty mish-mash of memes. This has a chance to be a good show of its kind.

seiyuus: Hino Satoshi, Kitamura Eri, Iguchi Yuka, Asumi Kana, Hanazawa Kana, Ise Mariya.
director: Kawaguchi Keiichirou (Hayate, Nyan Koi, Yutori-chan)
writer: Yoshida Reiko (Marimite, Saiunkoku, K-On). Asano Hajime (novel).
animation: feel. chara-des: Kawamura Kousuke. animation supervisor: Kawamura Kousuke.
music: Hashimoto Yukari. OP Kitamura Eri, ED KitaEri, Iguchi Yuka, Ise Mariya.
trailer. manga. forum.
thu 07 jul 25:55

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 2
(jp: バカとテストと召喚獣にっ！) jpWiki

comedy
Season two of the successful comedy from Oonuma Shin (ef memories, melodies). We follow the fortunes of the stupidest class in a high school where classes conduct strange, almost magical battles against each other for honor and the most comfortable classrooms.

Excellent voice acting, characters, and imagery, but I lost interest in the first season about halfway through.

The trailer link is to part of episode 2 of the first season.

seiyuus: Harada Hitomi, Isomura Tomomi, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Mizuhashi Kaori, Miyata Kouki, Shimono Hiro, Katou Emiri.
director: Oonuma Shin
writer: Takayama Katsuhiko. Inoue Kenji (orig).
animation: Silver Link. chara-des: Ooshima Miwa. animation supervisor: Ooshima Miwa.
trailer. manga. forum.
thu 07 jul 26:15

Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi
(jp: いつか天魔の黒ウサギ) jpWiki

vampire action mystery w/moe
An ordinary high school boy named Taito keeps seeing a girl in his dreams. In a crisis, he finally remembers having been bitten with a magic poison by the female vampire Saitohimea, binding him to her forever.

Stars Tachibana Shinnosuke (Minato in Sekirei) and Takamoto Megumi (Ushio in Sasameki Koto, Winry Rockbell in the new FMA). With Fukuyama Jun, Nakamura Yuuichi, Nomizu Iori and Mina.

Directed by Yamamoto Takashi (Nanatsuiro Drops, Jewelpet Tinkle). Adapted for anime by Morita Shigeru (scripts for Qwaser, Zombie, Blood+). If the trailer is any indication, this may be a cross between Nanatsuiro Drops and Blood+, with more fanservice.

seiyuus: Tachibana Shinnosuke (Minato/Sekirei), Takamoto Megumi (Ushio/Sasameki Koto), Nomizu Iori, Horikawa Chika, Nakamura Yuuichi, Fukuyama Jun, Mina.
director: Yamamoto Takashi
writer: Morita Shigeru (scripts for Qwaser, Zombie, Blood+). Kagami Takaya (novel).
animation: Zexcs. chara-des: Isono Satoshi. animation supervisor: Sakura Masaaki, Isono Satoshi.
OP Harada Hitomi, ED Shikata Akiko.
trailer. manga. forum.
fri 08 jul 25:05

R-15
(jp: R-15) jpWiki

ecchi comedy

Brilliant teen Takuto has been a porn novelist since middle school. He rises to be a leader in his class in an elite high school full of elite students.

Directed by Nawa Munenori, director of Nogizaka Haruka and of Otome wa Boku ni Koi wo Shiteru. That doesn’t turn me on as much as the writer does: Uetake Sumio did Kyoushiro to Towa no Sora and Kannazuki no Miko. Character designer Fujita Mariko did all the Galaxy Angel shows, as well as the visually lovely Shukufuku no Campanella.

Whatever else it is, this is a vehicle for new seiyuus from the Production Ace agency, which contributes the entire named cast. Production Ace is a subsidiary of Kadokawa Shoten, publishers of the novels. The two stars are the only names with prior roles: Gouda Aya (Qfeuille in Kiddy Girl and…) and Tsukimiya Midori (Eucliwood Hellscythe in Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?).

I have a feeling this may be more entertaining than it seems at first glance. I hope so.

Video of Tsukimiya Midori. Video showing main seiyuus.

seiyuus: Gouda Aya (Qfeuille/Kiddy Girl and), Tsukimiya Midori (Eucliwood/Zombie), Kashiyama Nanami, Komatsu Mana, Tsumita Kayoko, Murakami Madoka, Murai Risako, Tsukimiya Midori.
director: Nawa Munenori (Otoboku, Nogizaka Haruka, KissxSis)
writer: Uetake Sumio (Kyoushiro to Towa no Sora, Kannazuki no Miko). Fushimi Hiroyuki (novel).
animation: AIC. chara-des: Fujita Mariko (Galaxy Angel, Campanella), Fujimi Takuya (orig).
OPED seiyuus.
forum.
sat 09 jul

Nekogami Yaoyorozu
(jp: 猫神やおよろず) jpWiki

moe supernatural comedy
Horie Yui runs an antique shop. Tomatsu Haruka is a cat-goddess who looks like a moe young girl. She lives with Hocchan's character and invites other gods over to have fun. Unsurprisingly, the other gods also look like moe young girls. Sanpei Yuuko, Taketatsu Ayana, Kayano Ai, Toyosaki Aki, MAKO….

Director Sakurai Hiroaki did Di Gi Charat, Les Miserables Shoujo Cossette, and Kaichou wa Maid-sama. Lead writer Machida Touko and scriptwriter Konparu Tomoko are both well-known anime writers. Good cast. Good staff. Not so sure about the story.

The manga link is to raws. The manga is marginally amusing.

seiyuus: Tomatsu Haruka, Horie Yui, Sanpei Yuuko, Taketatsu Ayana, Kayano Ai, Toyosaki Aki, Mako.
director: Sakurai Hiroaki (DG Charat, Les Miz)
writer: Machida Touko, Konparu Tomoko (scripts). FlipFlops (manga).
animation: AIC Plus+. chara-des: Watanabe Atsuko. animation supervisor: Watanabe Atsuko.
OP Horie Yui and Tomatsu Haruka, ED Tomatsu Haruka.
trailer. manga. forum.
sat 09 jul 08:30

Mayuu Himitsu Ken
(jp: 魔乳秘剣帖) jpWiki

mammary fighting comedy
From the director of Seikon no Qwaser comes another fighting comedy fixated on breasts. In this fantasy samurai world, the bigger the breasts, the more prestige you have.

Expect this to be a competent anime of its kind, with a director who understands the genre and a writer who has some skill, having done Railgun and Occult Academy.

The seiyuus, too, are experienced in the genre: Kotobuki Minako and Mizuhara Kaoru in Hyakka Ryouran, Toyosaki Aki in both that and Qwaser, and Noto Mamiko in Queen's Blade.

seiyuus: Kotobuki Minako, Mizuhara Kaoru, Noto Mamiko, Toyosaki Aki.
director: Kaneko Hiraku (Seikon no Qwaser)
writer: Minakami Seishi (Asatte no Houkou, Railgun, Occult Academy). Yamada Hideki (manga).
animation: Hoods Entertainment. chara-des: Takagi Jun. animation supervisor: Takagi Jun.
trailer. manga.
sun 10 jul 25:00

Dantalian no Shoka
(jp: ダンタリアンの書架) jpWiki

mystery horror supernatural tsundere
A young man named Huey inherits his grandfather's old estate. In the basement, among stacks and stacks of books, sits a girl dressed in black, with a large lock around her neck, quietly reading. She is Dariane, the gateway to the Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian, the library of forbidden books of demonic wisdom.

Sawashiro Miyuki plays Dariane, the super-tsuntsun heroine. Her master/tool Huey is played by Ono Daisuke. I'm hoping the bloody supernatural mysteries are as good as the seiyuus perfroming them.

Clothing design by gothic lolita designers Baby the Stars Shine Bright. EDIT: Actually "sweet lolita" designers. Thanks, Caitlyn. For the difference, check here.

seiyuus: Sawashiro Miyuki, Ono Daisuke.
director: Uemura Yutaka (new)
writer: Mikumo Gakuto (novel).
animation: Gainax. chara-des: Kinoshita Sumie; Yusuke G- (orig).
music: Tsuji You.
trailer. manga. 13eps. forum.
fri 15 jul 25:23

Detective Opera Milky Holmes - special edition
(jp: 探偵オペラミルキィホームズ特別編) jpWiki

moe detective adventure
A special episode of the surprisingly successful moe mystery franchise, which spans games and anime. Directed by the director of Onegai My Melody and Lilpri. Written by the writer of Kamen no Maid Guy and Kaempfer.

The couple of episodes I watched of season one bored me, but the show is popular enough that there have been various well-attended live events featuring the four seiyuu stars singing and dancing.

Trailer link is for season one.

seiyuus: Mimori Suzuko, Kitta Izumi, Sasaki Mikoi, Tokui Sora, Morishima Shuuta, Akesaka Satomi, Kishio Daisuke, Shimono Hiro, Terashima Takuma, Sawashiro Miyuki, Nanjou Yoshino, Shintani Ryouko, Tamura Yukari.
director: Moriwaki Makoto (Onegai My Melody, Lilpri)
writer: Fudeyasu Kazuyuki (Kamen no Maid Guy, Kaempfer).
animation: JC Staff.
trailer. forum.
25 August

The new Last Exile anime, which will premiere at Anime Expo in Los Angeles next month, could still slide in to the summer season, but is more likely to begin in October.

Yuuki Aoi -- Recent Images

2011-06-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

There has been a little rush of new images of Yuuki Aoi over the past few days (click to enlarge):

Fans on 2channel are excited at the slight "cleavage" she shows here. I haven't
seen anyone mention the zettai ryouiki in the next photo, though:

Ao-chan says she is really bad at English. Soon at college they will be doing video-conferencing
in English with Korean students and she just hates the thought of how awkward she will look.

With Touyama Nao in the studio doing the radio show for
the summer anime "Ikoku Meiro no Croisee."

This month's letter in the magazine feature "Aoi's ABC's" is yo as in yousei (fairy).

This is a Gosick cast photo, taken after recording the final episode last week. I'm not sure why Ao-chan seems so full of life here. Is it the male presence of co-star Eguchi Takuya looming over her? Is it the presence of her hero, Sawashiro Miyuki, sitting next to her ? Is it the fact that she feels well-dressed? Is it the feeling of relief that a job is finished?

Or is it just the natural Oi-chan ebullience that we are coming to know through her radio shows? ("Oi-chan" is her nickname on her radio show with Hayami Saori, every Thursday night at half-past midnight.)

By the way, one poster in Ao-chan's 2channel thread says that Miyukichi looks like "a blue wolf" in this photo.

Photo back row, left to right: Ohkawa Tohru (Brian Roscoe), Eguchi Takuya (Kujou), Kiuchi Hidenobu (Greville).
Front row: Sawashiro Miyuki (Cordelia), Yuuki Aoi (Victorica), Shitaya Noriko (Avril).

Pop-Up Book Version of the Denpa Onna OP

2011-06-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

A few hours ago, Nishida Asako tweeted that she really liked the paper-cut version of the Denpa Onna OP she had recently seen on NicoNico Douga.

The video and the paper-cut art are by a paper-cut hobbyist known as kurumigi. He posted the video on NicoNico about a week ago.

Nishida-san is the famous animator who is the animation character designer and co-animation director of Shinbou Akiyuki's current show Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko. She was also character designer/animation director of Simoun. That she has no objection to someone taking her designs and re-using them in this way is refreshing.

The video will take a few seconds to appear. To get rid of the comments, click the three dots in the speech-balloon at the lower right.

The first bit of audio is the first few seconds of episode one, as Erio emerges from the sea and walks home.

Seiyuu Video: Tomatsu Haruka at 17

2011-06-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

This video of Tomatsu Haruka has just been posted on YouTube. It was made when her first starring role, as Corticarte in Polyphonica, was about to go on air. She was 17 at the time, and still in high school.

The video was made for the seiyuu magazine Voicha!

She says she feels nervous -- as if she had to tell us. I'm not sure whether to just enjoy the pictures or to feel sorry for her, surrounded there by all those guys -- photographers, designers, producers, etc. -- using her for their own purposes.

I personally did not enjoy her voice in Polyphonica, and have only liked some of her roles since (Nagi in Kannagi, Mana in White Album, Sakana in Star Driver, and others). But she is doing an excellent job in the quite dramatic role of Naruko in the current AnoHana.

"Aya Museum" Hits Charts at #4

2011-05-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

On its first day on the charts, Hirano Aya's compilation album, "Aya Museum," stands at #4 on the Oricon album chart.

It is behind albums from Lady Gaga, Unicorn, and capsule. And it is just ahead of an album from Bigbang, and Kugimiya Rie and Shimoda Asami's "Idolm@ster Master Artist 2" album.

Some otaku may hate her, but she continues to make money as an entertainer and personality.

"Leaving home this morning"

"Album released today. To the stores, go!"

I like the first photo, lol.

Hirano Aya Live Streamed Broadcast Tomorrow

2011-05-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

To publicize the release of her new album, "Aya Museum," Hirano Aya will appear in a live streamed broadcast about 16 hours from now.

The broadcast will be on Wednesday evening at 7pm, Tokyo time. That's 6am New York time, and 11am London time. The stream should be available here, or from here. Aya says the time may vary a bit. "Aya Museum" will include all her singles, and selections from her albums.

In a recent interview, Aya says she plans to tell all in a four-volume autobiography issued over five years -- starting when she is thirty, six years from now. She continues to appear on various TV shows, mainly as a personality, but also as a singer.

Here are some fairly recent images. First, the covers of the premium, special, and standard editions of the new album, then some gravure shots and pics from her blog. Is it my imagination, or has she gained a bit of weight? I hope so, since it might indicate that her health is better. (Click photos to enlarge.)

After "Liberty Leading the People," Eugene Delacroix.

After "Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners," Alexandre Cabanel.

After "Mona Lisa," Leonardo da Vinci.

Finally, just for old times' sake.