Only 11 more days till the start of the spring season! With the winter season wrapping up in the next week it’s time to look forward. Spring has a little over 45 new shows that start airing in the next three weeks which is bigger than the current winter season. Going to be a big season for Sports and Mecha it seems. Multiple BONES and I.G. production shows and even more than one Brains Base also. I’ll cover and preview each show but not covering the ovas and movies since its hit and miss when I watch those if so. Shows listed by airing date. (Edit:Posting the last 10 shows later this week)
Majin Bone
Date: April 1st
Studio: Toei (One piece, Air Gear, Sailor Moon)
Genre: Game / Episodes: TBA
Staff: Uda, Konosuke (One piece)
An anime adaptation of Bandai’s digital card game “Majin Bone”. One of the many kid focused shows for next season. First thought this be worst than Z/X Ignition but after watching the PV I have higher hopes for this. Nothing out of the norm but could be enjoyable.
Excitement Level: 3/10
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Date: April 2nd
Studio: Toei (One piece, Sailor Moon)
Genre: Kids, Action
Episodes: TBA
Staff: —-
The story will revolve around how the Avengers–Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk together with the help of Spider-Man and a group of teens–will harness their respective fighting skills and superhuman powers to foil Loki’s scheme to take over the world. A Marvel series in Japan took me off guard at first. They normally don’t use a lot of American based heroes on primetime tv. I don’t really see this series adding anything new to the Avengers and the staff doesn’t look that good to me. A mix bag of talent used to sell a product to kids, a lot like Gundam Build Fighters but way worst. If your a huge fan of Avengers I’m guessing you will be watching this, if not eh I’d skip it.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san
Date: April 4th
Genre: Comedy, Yuri
Studio: Seven (Strange+, Metal Fight Beyblade)
Episodes:12
Staff: Touyama, Nao (Chitoge-Nisekoi/ Mui- Mahou Sensou)
The story revolves around Nekoyama Suzu, a timid, shy tsundere girl loves dogs, and Inugami Yachiyo, a super masochistic, air-headed, friendly girl who loves cats. One day, after a fateful meeting, the two find themselves attracted to each other. A short yuri, nice to see more yuri nowadays to mix it up. Not sure if a 5 min yuri is going to worth watching but we do get to hear more of Chitoge’s voice which isn’t a bad thing at all. Check it out but don’t hope for much since Seven hasn’t done really anything and Strange+ wasn’t any good from the winter season.
Excitement Level: 4/10
Blade & Soul
Date: April 4th
Studio: Gonzo (Full Metal Panic, Saki, Black Cat)
Genre: Fantasy
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Tomioka, Atsuhiro , Hamasaki, Hiroshi
An anime adaptation of the Korean MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) Blade and Soul. Gonzo has made some good stuff in the past but have been hit and miss lately for me. Blade and Soul looks like it will have some great looking fight animations but I’m worried about the plot/story. Blade may get some early views but see this series overlooked by the big hyped series in the spring season once they start up.
Excitement Level: 5/10
Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou
Date: April 4th
Studio: Brains Base (Baccano!, D-Frag!, Blood Lad)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Hanazawa, Kana
Usa, a high-school student aspiring to begin a bachelor lifestyle, moves into a new apartment only to discover that he not only shares a room with a perverted roommate that has an obsession for underaged girls, but also that another girl, Ritsu, a love-at-first-sight, is living in the same building as well! Plot pretty straight forward so this going to be a so-so series or it will just fail. Lucky Brains Base have been pretty good for us in the last two years. Nothing notable in the staff really so I have a low bar for this one.
Excitement Level: 3/10
Akuma no Riddle
Date: April 4th
Studio: Diomedea (Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru)
Genre: Action, Yuri
Episodes: 13
Staff: Kusakawa, Keizo
The story is set at Myoujou Academy, a private girls’ boarding school. The 10th year’s Kurogumi class has 12 assassins with their sights on one target, Haru Ichinose. Tokaku Azuma is a recent transfer student who is also targeting Ichinose, but she gradually develops feelings for Ichinose. Not sure what I think about Akuma no Riddle. Assassin falls for the target and ends up protecting her from the others. I like the idea but not sure how its going to come off when viewing. I get a feel of future diary and Judge from the PV thinking it’s not going to be a thriller based show. Riddle of the Devil is a wildcard of the spring season which could surprise us.
Excitement Level: 7/10
Selector Infected WIXOSS
Date: April 4th
Studio: J.C. Staff (Bakuman, Golden Time, Little Busters)
Genre: Game, Psychological
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Satou, Takuya, Mari Okada
Hope, desire, greed.
Girls with each of these feelings in their hearts are being swallowed into the vortex of a dangerous game… Takuya and Mari both working in the same series? This I’ll have to check out. Takuya has some good experience from Stains gate and you never know that will happen with Mari near a script. Should be a enjoyable thriller even if I know nothing about the plot.
Excitement Level: 8/10
Mushishi Zoku Shou
Date: April 5th
Studio: Artland (Hitman Reborn, Mushishi)
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Nagahama, Hiroshi , Umakoshi, Yoshihiko , Tanaka, Kazuya
Mushishi is really good. Most of the 2003 staff is back for this which is a huge win. This one show makes the spring lineup look much better and this is a must watch. Would be really hard to fuck this up.
Excitement Level: 9/10
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders
Date: April 5th
Studio: David Production (JoJo Bizarre Adventure)
Genre: Action, Adventure
Episodes: TBA
Staff:Tsuda, Naokatsu, Kobayashi, Yasuko
In a Japanese jail sits 17-year-old Jotaro Kujo: punk, fighter, delinquent…and possessed by a force beyond his control! Around the world, evil spirits are awakening: “Stands,” monstrous invisible creatures which give their bearers incredible powers. To save his mother’s life, Jotaro must tame his dark forces and travel around the world to Cairo, Egypt, where a hundred-year-old vampire thirsts for the blood of his family. Well JoJo has some big hype behide it after the first season did so well and got some crazy reviews from the blogging world. If you haven’t seen JoJo’s first season you will have to watch it before this or you could be a little lost. Same team working on this season as the first which is a good sign. From what I hear, Stardust Crusaders is one of the better arcs from the manga so I got high hopes.
Excitement Level: 8/10
Captain Earth
Date: April 5th
Studio: Bones (Noragami, FMA:B, Darker than Black)
Genre: Action, Mecha
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Igarashi, Takuya, Enokido, Yoji
One night right before summer vacation, Daichi Manatsu, a second-year in high school, sees a weird round rainbow floating in the sky above Seed Island (Shuushi/Tane Island) and ventures there alone. He has seen this rainbow before. With the memories of his father’s mysterious death and an encounter of a mysterious boy and girl, Daiji arrives on the island while the alarm of a building labeled “Earth Engine” is going off. Someone asks him “Are you a captain?” just as robotic intruders from Uranus called “Kiltgang” arrive. The battle around the shining stars is about to begin. Anime Original mecha, Captain Earth. Bones has been doing very good lately, though I’m not sure about Captain Earth yet. The whole story seems so plain to me. I never saw Star Driver so I don’t really know what to expect from the writing and character development. At least Captain Earth will look good and have a great opening song. (Love Ai Kayano)
Excitement Level: 7/10
Abarenbou Kishi!! Matsutarou
Date: April 5th
Studio: Toei (One Piece, Sailor Moon)
Genre: Sports
Episodes: TBA
Matsutarou Sakaguchi is a giant roughneck man with strength far beyond ordinary people. He never uttered words like “work hard,” “strive,” and “dream” like the typical shounen manga protagonist. However, he is stronger than anyone and peerless in sumo wrestling. His greatest weakness is his own carefree personality. He grows into a full-fledged sumo wrestler. Sumo anime? Hmm, think I’ll skip this one for one of the better sport animes in the spring season.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Fairy Tail (2014)
Date: April 5th
Studio: A-1 Pictures (Fairy Tail, Gin no Saji, Kuroshitsuji)
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Episodes:TBA
Continuing of Fairy Tail when they left off. I’m glad the show is back, the anime was catching up with the manga and to keep from pulling a Bleach they stopped. The coming arcs are awesome and Fairy Tail should stay in my top 30 for a while longer.
Excitement Level: 10/10
Baby Steps
Date: April 5th
Studio: Studio Pierrot (Bleach, Hikaru no Go)
Genre: Sports, Romance
Episodes: 25
Staff: Murata, Masahiko
Maruo Eiitirou (E-Chan), a first year honor student, one day decides he’s unhappy with the way things are and lacks exercise. He finds a flyer for the Tennis Club and decides to check it out. He’s instantly captivated by it.
With no prior experience and poor physical conditioning, join E-Chan as he embarks on a tennis journey using his smarts, dedication, and work ethic. Tennis and Romance! I’m surprised at the romance tag from the mal page, I’ve never read Baby Steps though I’ve heard good things about it. Its going to be compared to Prince of Tennis no matter what, it just has to stand its ground and make a place for itself. I’m really looking forward to this show a lot and betting it will be one of the top 5 shows of spring.
Excitement Level: 10/10
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo Returns
Date: April 5th
Studio: Toei (One Piece, Sailor Moon)
Genre: Mystery
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Matsuno, Taiki
Good old Mystery to round out the spring. Should get some cool cases but will never beat Conan in my heart.
Excitement Level: 5/10
Kenzen Robo Daimidaler
Date: April 5th
Studio: TNK (High School DxD)
Genre: Comedy, Mecha
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Yanagisawa, Tetsuya
The comedy centers around a high school boy named Madanbashi Kouichi who has Hi-ERo particles, the power source to operate the robotic weapon Daimidaler.
With the help of Sonan Kyouko from the mysterious Prince Beauty Parlor organization, he stands up against the Penguin Empire that troubles humanity. God this anime should be interesting if anything. A comedy mecha where they are fighting Penguins…. lol Got laughs from me and it isn’t even out yet.
Excitement Level: 6/10
Seikoku no Dragonar
Date: April 5th
Studio: C-Station
Genre: Ecchi, Fantasy
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Tada, Shunsuke
Learning to ride and tame dragons comes easy to most students at Ansarivan Dragonar Academy—except for first-year student Ash Blake, who is known by his fellow classmates as the “number one problem child.” Poor Ash is the laughing stock at school because, despite his unfashionably large star-shaped brand that marks him as a future dragon master, he has nothing to show for it. His dragon has never appeared.
Until now, that is. One fateful day, Ash’s dragon awakes in full glory, but appears different than any dragon ever seen before—in the form of a beautiful girl! What’s worse, Ash soon discovers that this new dragon has attitude to spare, as she promptly informs him that she is the master, and he, the servant. The main ecchi of the season, the dragon theme is a little different and could be interesting. Haven’t fallen for it yet but I’ll check it out and see how it goes.
Excitement Level: 6/10
Isshuukan Friends
Date: April 6th
Studio: Brains Base (Baccano!, D-Frag!, Blood Lad)
Genre: School
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Iwasaki, Tarou, Suga, Shoutarou
Kaori Fujimiya is always alone because all of her happy memories, including time spent with her friends, disappear every Monday. Deciding that he wants to be friends with her anyway, Yuuki Hase tries to get close to Kaori each week, wishing that she would one day call him “a friend.” Get the kleenex box out and ready for this anime. Just thinking about the plot makes me sad. I’m just asking to cry when I watch this. Though this very well could be the next clannad, watch this!
Excitement Level: 10/10
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
Date: April 6th
Studio: Madhouse (Hunter x Hunter)
Genre: Magic, Romance, School
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Ono, Manabu, Motoyama, Satoshi
Magic is a product of neither legends nor fairy tales, but instead has become a technology of reality since a time unknown to people. Supernatural power became a technology systematized through magic, while magic became a technical skill. A “Supernatural Power User” became a “Magic Technician.” Magic Technicians (in short, Magicians) are nurtured through Magic High Schools and Universities. Madhouse has been dropping the ball lately I feel and don’t think its going to get any better with this show. I’m not a big fan of magic school series. Also don’t think Madhouse as done very well at all with romance in its shows as of late. I’ll be skipping this one.
Excitement Level: 3/10
Kamigami no Asobi
Date: April 6th
Studio: Brains Base (Baccano!, D-Frag!, Blood Lad)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Harem
Episodes:12
Staff: Irino, Miyu, Ono, Daisuke, Morikawa, Toshiyuki, Kamiya, Hiroshi
The story revolves around Kusanagi Yui, who is ordered by Zeus, a god and the headmaster of a school he created, to teach the meaning of love to young and handsome gods. The reason he has for doing this is to cancel the negative effects of the weakening bond between the world of the divine and the world of the humans. Brain Base has a secret winner here, a cast of great actors for the mains. Story is a normal Harem with a twist, its not all girls but guys. Surprised this series didn’t get the comedy tag since most harem style anime have a good focus on that.
Excitement Level: 8/10
La Corda D’Oro Blue Sky
Date: April 6th
Studio: TYO Animations (Tamayura: Hitotose)
Genre: Music, Romance
Episodes:TBA
Twelve handsome boys and one girl spend a summer giving everything they’ve got to win a music competition. This is a story of youth and music. And dare we say, love? Eh a music anime. Not my thing but I’ll try not to drop it.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
Date: April 6th
Studio: Studio Pierrot (Bleach, Hikaru no Go)
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Kamegaki, Hajime, Yamashita, Kousuke
Nike, the fourth princess of the Rain Dukedom and one who holds the power to call forth the rain, travels to the Sun Kingdom to marry Sun King Livius for her country, despite her own reluctance. She soon discovers that the King, who conquered the world in only three years after his ascendance to the throne, is still a child! Furthermore, for trivial reasons, he has demanded that Nike call forth the rain…? Could be the best plot of spring season imo. Thinking we’ll see some good character development. Sadly most people saying they passing on this for other shows in the lineup. I’m looking forward to the music used in the series.
Excitement Level: 7/10
Dragon Ball Kai (2014)
Date: April 6th
Studio: Toei (One Piece, Sailor Moon)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Dragon ball is Dragon ball, nice if you haven’t seen it yet.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Haikyuu!!
Date: April 6th
Studio: Production I.G (Blue Seed, Ghost in the Shell, Cage of Eden)
Genre: Sports, Shounen
Episodes: TBA
Staff: Mitsunaka, Susumu, Kishimoto, Taku, Kikuta, Hiromi
A chance event triggered Shouyou Hinata’s love for volleyball. His club had no members, but somehow persevered and finally made it into its very first and final regular match of middle school, where it was steamrolled by Tobio Kageyama, a superstar player known as “King of the Court.” Vowing revenge, Hinata applied to the Karasuno High School volleyball club… only to come face-to-face with his hated rival, Kageyama! This and Baby Steps should be the top 2 sports anime for the season. Baby may be more realistic while Haikyuu covers the shounen side. Not sure if Volleyball can be as exciting compared to Basketball or Tennis but we’ll see together.
Excitement Level: 10/10
Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V
Date: April 6th
Studio: Gallop (Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan)
Genre: Game, Action, Fantasy
Episodes:TBA
5th Series in the Yugioh arcs.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Gokukoku no Brynhildr
Date: April 6th
Studio: ARMS(Elfen Lied)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Episodes:TBA
Staff: Imaizumi, Kenichi, Kitajima, Yukinori
When he was a child, Murakami was infatuated with a girl he called Kuroneko. She insisted on knowing about aliens and having met them, but no one believed her, even young Murakami was skeptical. One day, she decides to show him the aliens, but an accident occurs and Kuroneko dies while Murakami is left seriously wounded in the hospital.
Years go by and Murakami obsesses on finding proof of the existence of aliens because of a promise he had made with Kuroneko. Then, one day, a new transfer student comes to his class, who not only looks a lot like Kuroneko, but is named Kurohaneko!
And even though she insists on never having met Murakami before, the girl has superhuman strength and seems to even be able to predict the future! At first I was thinking this was going to be good drama. After both of the PVs I’m not sure now. That and the script writer is the same one from Hamatora which I didn’t like the layout of the plot in that show. The cast isn’t bad but we going to see the lack of experience in the director and script I fear.
Excitement Level: 5/10
Love Live! School Idol Project 2
Date: April 6th
Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, Love Live)
Genre: Music, School
Episodes:13
Second season of Love Live, about becoming a Idol.
Excitement Level:1/10
Break Blade
Date: April 6th
Studio: Production I.G (Blue Seed, Ghost in the Shell, Cage of Eden)
Genre: Mecha, Action, Fantasy
Staff: Amino, Tetsuro, Habara, Nobuyoshi, Sogo, Masashi
In the continent of Cruzon, an impending war between the Kingdom of Krisna and the nation of Athens is brimming. The people of this land are able to use quartz for whatever purpose they desire. Yet one person, Rygart Arrow, is not. He is an “un-sorcerer,” a person unable to use quartz. But this characteristic will enable him to pilot an ancient Golem, one strong enough to put up a fight against the invading army of Athens. This is a tv version of the movies that were made a while back. We should get a ending with less plot holes compared to the movies. Though I did enjoy the movies a lot.
Excitement Level: 6/10
Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara
Date: April 7th
Studio: Hoods Entertainment (BlazBlue, Fantasista Doll)
Genre: Comedy, Harem
Episodes:13
Hatate Sota is a high school boy, who has an ability to visualize “flags” for future events such as “death flag,” “friendship flag,” and “romance flag.” Despite the flag-viewing ability, he avoids making friends with others due to a trauma he experienced in a ship submergence accident. Four beautiful girls get interested in his strange way of living, and they begin to live with him at the school dorm by force. The flag idea is the only cool thing about this series to me. If the Harem isn’t to overpowering I’ll stay around.
Excitement Level: 2/10
Dragon Collection
Date: April 7th
Studio: TBA
Genre: Game, Kids
Episodes:TBA
Anime based on a social media game for kids.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to
Date: April 8th
Studio: Zexcs (Chrome Shelled Regios)
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Episodes:TBA
A life description about the mangaka Aito Yuuki and his assistant Ashisu Sahoto. Aito doesn’t understand the feelings of the characters in his stories so he asks Ashisu to help him. Ashisu would do anything for the work—she will even let him touch her breast so he will know how it feels like?! The Habit?! The Pervert?! Can we understand them? That’s the comedy of a mangaka life. The only true slide of life in the spring lineup. Its a short too. Could be entertaining, watching the pervert.
Excitement Level: 3/10
Mahou Shoujo Taisen
Date: April 8th
Studio: Gainax (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Genre: Magic
This will be bad, very bad. Don’t watch.
Excitement Level: 1/10
Black Bullet
Date: April 9th
Studio: Kinema Citrus (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0)
Genre: Action, Mystery
Episodes:TBA
A near future, where humans have been defeated by the viral parasites named Gastrea. They have been exiled into a small territory and live in despair, side-by-side in terror.
In this world trapped in darkness—
Rentaro, a boy living near Tokyo and member of the “Civil Security”—an organization specializing in fighting against the Gastrea—is used to accomplishing dangerous tasks. His partner is Enju, a precocious young girl. They fight thanks to their peculiar powers until one day, when they receive a special assignment from the government. This top secret mission is to prevent the destruction of Tokyo… A pure action story and looks good too. Citrus really hasn’t done much since Tokyo 8.0 but that series was good so I know they can make a enjoyable show. Keep a eye on this one.
Excitement Level: 8/10
Soul Eater Not!
Date: April 9th
Studio: Bones (FMA, Noragami)
Genre: Action, Comedy
Episodes: TBA
Side story to Soul Eater. Liked Soul eater but I dislike Soul Eater Not Manga. You will have to watch for yourself since the fan split on like/dislike.
Excitement Level: 5/10
No Game No Life
Date: April 9th
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Episodes:TBA
The story of No Game, No Life centers around Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister whose reputations as brilliant NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) hikikomori (shut-in) gamers have spawned urban legends all over the Internet. These two gamers even consider the real world as just another “crappy game.” One day, they are summoned by a boy named “God” to an alternate world. There, God has prohibited war and declared this to be a world where “everything is decided by games”—even national borders. Humanity has been driven back into one remaining city by the other races. Will Sora and Shiro, the good-for-nothing brother and sister, become the “Saviors of Humanity” on this alternate world? “Well, let’s start playing. This is Madhouse’s second show of the season and I like the looks of this one a lot more. Guessing its only going to be one cour though.
Excitement Level: 7/10
The Blindwolf Vision on Anime 