Winter 2014 Anime Preview

This post was written by Dark_Sage. He is Dark_Sage.

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Winter’s too cold to be without Dark_Sage by your side~

For every series that I link to a manga, I’ve read at least the first volume (or whatever’s available) before coming to an opinion. Why? Because I love you. <3

 

~Table of Contents~

Excellent

Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga [Alt title: Recently, My Sister is Unusual]
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha
Pupa
D-Frag! [Alt title: D-Fragments!]

Good-ish

Space Dandy
Wizard Barristers – Benmashi Cecil
Sekai Seifuku – Bouryaku no Zvezda
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Sakura Trick

Mehdiocre

Noragami
Witch Craft Works
Z/X Ignition [Alt title: Zillions of Enemy X: Ignition]
Super Sonico the Animation [Alt title: SoniAni -Super Sonico the Animation-]
Nisekoi
Hamatora
Mikakunin de Shinkoukei
HappinessCharge PreCure!
Nobunagun
Mahou Sensou [Alt title: Magical Warfare]
Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta

Shit

Buddyfight
Nobunaga the Fool
Buddy Complex
Wake Up, Girls!
No-Rin
Houzuki no Reitetsu
Youkai Watch

Sequels to Recently Aired Shows

Maken-Ki! Tsuu
Gin no Saji: Silver Spoon Second Season
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren
Saki Zenkoku-hen
Seitokai Yakuindomo

Summary

 

Here’s a visual guide (click image to expand, but I’d suggest doing so in another tab or something):

Crymore-Winter_2014_Anime_Chart

 

 

Excellent (9-10/10)

Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga [Alt title: Recently, My Sister is Unusual]

My Little Sister is Unusual - Best Japanese Manga From Japan Im Seriously

Animation Production: Project No. 9 (Ro-Kyu-Bu! unfortunately, but they also worked on Shinsekai and Mirai Nikki, so it probably won’t be terribad. Probably.)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/76466/saikin-imouto-no-yousu-ga-chotto-okashii-n-da-ga_v1_ch1_by_stubbornone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLu-WZMr7lw

Oh my god. That trailer does not even touch on what you’re gonna be getting in this series. Just get two pages into the manga and you’ll see why I’m calling this the best upcoming series of 2014.

NSFW (though reading an anime blog at work is a risky decision to begin with):

Spoiler for

lesbians imoutos and chastity belts

Best part? It’s told from the perspective of the two main females, so you don’t have to deal with much “Oh my god, my life is terrible, every girl wants to have sex with me and I just want to save myself for marriage ;_;” bullshit like you see in every goddamn anime where multiple girls are interested in one guy. That alone should sell you on the fucking series.

 

 

Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha

(Un)fortunately, not actually a man.
(Un)fortunately, not actually a man.

Animation Production: Production IMS (Involved with Fantasista Doll and Mushibugyo, but this is the first show where they’re actually doing Animation Production on their own.)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/22396/inari-konkon-koi-iroha_v1_ch1_by_sense-scans/5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EykvLSF5cc

Aww man, I really wanted this to be some generibad series so I could complain about all the ridiculous shit

like this Sonic fandom pandering
like this Sonic fandom pandering

but it’s just too damn adorable to hate.

I don’t wanna give you a summary, since the first volume of the manga was a complete rollercoaster (in a good way), but it’s a sweet little romcom. And I use those words carefully; this isn’t some generic moeblob slice-of-life loli bullshit — it’s legitimate goodness. I’d say if you thought something like Kamisama Hajimemashita was fun, you’ll enjoy this. If not, plz stop killing the fandom.

Inari Konkon Koi Iroha - Desu

The only question mark here is whether or not Production IMS is good enough to not fail at the adaptation. But who am I kidding? It’s not like Japan has ever done that before. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

 

 

Pupa

This
This is the only happy panel you’ll see in the manga. Enjoy it.

Animation Production: Studio DEEN (Hakkenden, Hakuouki, Higurashi)

Manga: http://www.mangahere.com/manga/pupa/c001/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jLMp5wx9ks

For the uninitiated, this title hails from the guro genre. If you don’t know what that is, I suggest reading the manga to find out. Have fun.

It'll air this season for sure. Believe.
It’ll air this season for sure. Believe.

Edit: The show appears to only be 3 minutes long. Love is over. Fuck you, Japan.

 

 

D-Frag! [Alt title: D-Fragments!]

D-Frag!

Animation Production: Brains Base (Amnesia, Blood Lad, Brothers Conflict)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/6423/d-frag_v1_ch1_by_because-i-wanna

If you don’t like the manga by chapter 4, I don’t think you deserve life.

Power of Earth!
Power of Earth!

Brains Base may be kind of shit, but as I stated earlier Japan hasn’t had one bad manga->anime adaptation yet, so we should be fine.

 

 

 

 

Good-ish (7-8/10)

Space Dandy

Dandy Levels at Max

Animation Production: Bones (Blast of Tempest, Mars Daybreak, Soul Eater)

I’m a little concerned that this is made by the team behind Cowboy Bebop (seeing as Bebop was an overhyped piece of shit that only appeals to people who write their names on their underwear), but they seem to be hyping up all the fanservice in the show. Plus, Cartoon Network is apparently all about the series, seeing as how they made sure we Americans would get it before Japan. (USA! USA!)

I’ll throw the show a bone, just as a way to support American superiority in the anime realm, but I hope Japan actually decided to make a good anime this go-around.

(Low-tiers may think I’m trolling but I honestly believe Bebop is mediocre at best. I don’t give a shit about your nostalgia no matter how much you cry about it.)

 

 

Wizard Barristers – Benmashi Cecil

Am I watching Kite?
Am I watching Kite?

Animation Production: ARMS (Queen’s Blade, Samurai Girls, Genshiken 2)

Manga: N/A

The trailer interested me since I’m always down for some good old-fashioned violence, but ARMS is a risky ship to sail on. Oh well, fingers crossed they make this a Mnemosyne-style show or something. Anime could use more of the good stuff.

 

 

Sekai Seifuku – Bouryaku no Zvezda

Sekai_Seifuku_-_Those_fucking_outfits_hngh

Animation Production: A-1 Pictures (Shinsekai Yori, Black Butler, Galilei Donna)

Manga: N/A

Oh fuck, those outfits… goddamn. Japan, you fuckwit pieces of shit, why do you do this to me? If this show doesn’t end up as good as the witch looks, I’m gonna flip some fucking tables.

For real though, I’m gonna need an actual PV to let me know if I need to acquire some furniture insurance.

 

 

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Bishoujo_Senshi_Sailor_Moon_2014

Animation Production: Evan, in his basement.

Manga: Literature can not hold these feels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-VKaA8ruf4

I’m not even going to try pretending that the summer I decided to marathon Sailor Moon wasn’t the greatest summer of my life. I have high hopes for this brave new reboot.

 

 

Sakura Trick

sakura-trick

Animation Production: Studio DEEN (Hakkenden, Hakuouki, Higurashi)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/183857/sakura-trick_v1_by_yuri-project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHxwu_Ak5GY

I like lesbians.

 

 

 

 

Mehdiocre/Okay (5-6/10)

Noragami

Noragami -- at least it has a cute guy for the fujoshi

Animation Production: Bones (Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Gosick, Escaflowne)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/116694/noragami_v1_ch1_by_hello-scans/4

Don’t be fooled by the intriguing trailer, fujoshi-chan; this one’s as standard as they come. MC-kun is a minor god, and to rank up he does minor tasks that usually culminate in him fighting an evil spirit. Expect one fight per episode, but bring a pillow. Remember Code:Breaker? Yeah, you won’t remember this one either.

At least the animation looks decent.

 

 

Witch Craft Works

A true beauty.
A true beauty.

Animation Production: J.C. Staff (Bakuman, Golden Time, Dream Eater Merry)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/696/witch-craft-works_ch1_by_animexis/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg040KJkYN4

MC-kun is a weakling and beauty-chan is a witch who protects him. But dun dun duh, there are other witches too and they just want his body for nefarious purposes! What’s a high school-age boy to do?! Coming this season to an anime near you: Witch Craft Works! How far can an anime go on character designs alone? Let’s find out!

Far enough for me. Cat girls <3
Far enough for me. Cat girls <3

 

 

Z/X Ignition [Alt title: Zillions of Enemy X: Ignition]

Turn up the ignition
Turn up the ignition

Animation Production: This information hasn’t been released yet. Always a good sign.

Manga: N/A

The actual PV was shit, so I just grabbed the PS3 game’s OP for the video. The show’s a TCG tie-in, so I wouldn’t expect too much from it.

Best TCG ever, confirmed.
Even if it *is* the best TCG ever.

But seeing as how the target audience doesn’t appear to be 8-year-olds, I’m hoping it’ll be decent.

 

 

Super Sonico the Animation [Alt title: SoniAni -Super Sonico the Animation-]

Super_Sonico_Cute-chan

Animation Production: White Fox (Jormungand, Steins;Gate, Hataraku Maou-sama!)

Manga: N/A

I admit the anime looks like cancer had a baby with stupid, but all I care about is it doing well enough so those fucking headphones finally get mass-produced. Yeah, I’d wear them in public. Hell, I’d wear them at work too, fuck you.

And maybe we’ll get to see Bass-chan in spandex.

<3
<3

I’ll give it an Okay rating based on my hopes and dreams.

 

 

Nisekoi

How'd the author ever come up with a premise so unique?
How’d the author ever come up with a premise so unique?

Animation Production: Shaft (Hidamarai Sketch, Initial D, Negima)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/46904/nisekoi_ch1_by_imperial-scans/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2efQDG9dFI

About the only thing saving this show from the Shit-tier ranking it deserves is that Shaft’s doing it. Seriously, read the manga. I dare you to find one interesting thing about it. It’s a scavenger hunt you can’t win.

 

 

Hamatora

Hamatora

Animation Production: NAZ (They helped out on Danganronpa, but that’s all they’ve done.)

Manga: N/A

This shit did not need an edgy reboot, but Japan decided to give us one anyway. Thanks, guys.

Couldn’t find a decent PV of the series, so I just included the opening from the first iteration.

 

 

Mikakunin de Shinkoukei

2kuu

Animation Production: Dogakobo (GJ-bu, Love Lab, Yuruyuri)

Manga: N/A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2MR5yEei80

It’s a Dogakobo show that looks like a Dogakobo show made by Dogakobo. I’m expecting slightly above-average antics, but nothing worth going out of the way for. So, in essence, it’s a Dogakobo show.

 

 

HappinessCharge PreCure!

happiness_charge_precure__chibi_by_puyo0702-d6w5rj0

Animation Production: Toei Animation (Kyousougiga, Toriko, One Piece)

Manga: N/A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvW99r3mtLc

Toei plz

So… tell me again why I should watch this?

 

 

Nobunagun

The machine gun is actually Nobunaga Oda. Yes.
The machine gun is actually Nobunaga Oda. Too bad the art is worse than RWBY’s.

Animation Production: Bridge (Devil Survivor 2 The Animation, Mitsudomoe, Fairy Tail)

Manga: N/A, no scanlations available but this is by the same author: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/60938/jabberwocky_v1_ch1_by_gantz-waitingroom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DS-pXa8bzE

I honestly have no fucking idea what the show’s actually going to be like, but from that other series I linked, I can tell the author at least ain’t retarded. I mean, would an idiot base an entire manga around some assassin who gains strength by drinking vodka and fights dinosaurs? I think not.

The trailer looks bad, but the backing behind it can’t be terrible, so we’ll throw it in the Tier-3 category here.

 

 

Mahou Sensou [Alt title: Magical Warfare]

Mahou Sensou - Magical Warfare

Animation Production: Madhouse (Ace of Diamond, Btooom!, Monster)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/182606/mahou-sensou_ch1_by_mangaichi-scanlation-division

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvXXJzfOdyo

I remember reading the manga, but an hour after having done so, I can’t remember much about it. Not the best sign.

 

 

Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta

Fuck yeah, fantasy. Please be as good as Last Exile.
Fuck yeah, fantasy. Please be as good as Last Exile.

Animation Production: TMS Entertainment (Bakugan, Cardfight! Vanguard, Yowamushi Pedal)

Manga: N/A

Oh, it won’t be.

 

 

 

 

One Piece-tier (0-4/10)

Buddyfight

Delicious octopus dumplings.
Delicious octopus dumplings.

Animation Production: Oriental Light and Magic (Inazuma Eleven, Pokemon XY, Shuffle!), Xebec (Hen Zemi, Kanokon, Maken-ki)

Manga: N/A

The English dub is going to be simulcast on Bushiroad’s Youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/fcbuddyfight. But while the dub looks better than Space Dandy’s, I have to say I’m not terribly impressed by the Cardfight Vanguard-tier TCG. If you’ve got time, enjoy the cringe below as people play the game. If not, skip to 5:20 and you’ll have the experience summed up quite nicely.

 

 

Nobunaga the Fool

Nobunaga-the-Sugoi-Fool

Animation Production: Satelight (AKB0048, Log Horizon, Basquash)

Manga: N/A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARFSndmskA8

Seriously, if you’re gonna do Sengoku Period robot warriors, don’t make the CG robots look like ass.

You might find something here to schlick to, but I think Dark_Sage x Dark_Sage fanfiction would be a better use of your batteries.

 

 

Buddy Complex

[Ohys-Raws] Buddy Complex - 01. (MX 1280x720 x264 AAC).mp4_snapshot_15.51_[2013.12.31_12.21.26]

Animation Production: Sunrise (Cowboy Bebop, Sacred Seven, Battle Spirits)

Manga: N/A

It appears Sunrise used up all their budget on Valvrave.

Having suffered my way through the first episode, I can confirm that only mecha fans will get anything out of the series (and even then, not much). Everyone else: avoid it like a Muslim in a crowded area.

 

 

Wake Up, Girls!

Wake Up Girls
Wake me up when this shit show ends.

Animation Production: Ordet (Black Rock Shooter, Senyuu), Tatsunoko Production (Gatchaman Crowds, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Beyblade)

Manga: N/A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtSgP7M67QI

It’s some boring slice-of-life about idols doing idol things idly. The very thought that people will actually like this show fills me with pity for those poor souls.

(If the one with devil wings on her hat actually turns out to be as genki as I hope, note that this prediction is voided and to be replaced by a “best anime of the all time ever” status.)

 

 

No-Rin

Nourin
Shoulda put a Rin on it. (No, that doesn’t work as a joke, but I ganbarre’d, so give me a break,)

Animation Production: Silver Link (Non Non Biyori, Strike the Blood, Watamote)

Manga: N/A

Oh, a pandering Gin no Saji? Pass.

Sorry lady, not even your legs can get me to enjoy another show about farming.
Sorry lady, not even your legs can get me to enjoy another show about farming.

 

 

Houzuki no Reitetsu

Hozuki-no-Reitetsu

Animation Production: Wit Studio (Attack on Titan. Also did some work on Robotics;Notes.)

Manga: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/168418/hoozuki-no-reitetsu_v01_ch01_by_kingyokusa-scans/2

It’s a comedy that isn’t funny at all.

If there was a laugh track, it'd be playing right now.
If there was a laugh track, it’d be playing right now.

Great innovation, Japan. What will you think of next?

 

 

Youkai Watch

Youkai Watch

Animation Production: Oriental Light and Magic (Inazuma Eleven, Pokemon XY, Shuffle!)

Manga: N/A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVyEns3DMyw

Well, at least the Nintendo fanbase is gonna have something to watch in between special ed classes.

 

 

 

Summary

Feel free to retumble.

47 thoughts on “Winter 2014 Anime Preview”

  1. I’m still holding out for Wake Up, Girls! to be good. I really REALLY want it to be. Satoru Kosaki is doing the music, and I LOVE his music. So since it’s a show about idols, there should be a lot of chances to hear his music. Right? …right??

    Reply
      • >Watch only three episodes

        Good on you, sir. Consider the Aikatsu Police on the scene. Don’t make me call the Naughty Detectives too.

        Reply
    • Just buy the damn soundtrack and spare yourself from the utter failure that is Yamamoto Yutaka.

      One word: Fractale.

      Another 2 for good measure: Lucky Star. 3 more as corollary: AND ITS SPINOFF.

      Reply
  2. the only reason people are caring about buddyfight is because it’s a game created by the former CEO of the Card Kingdom chain of card shops here in Japan, so they’ve been all-out with the promotional stuff

    Reply
    • They’ve already pushed it back half a year and whored the series out to every brand that would “collaborate” with them, and still can’t even be bothered releasing a single piece of new promo art.
      They’re not even trying to make it any good, this is now just a demonstration of how much you can exploit nostalgic fans.

      Reply
  3. That chart told me all I ever wanted to know about this season. Since it is objective, I will be sure to follow it down to the letter.

    Reply
  4. >Bebop was an overhyped piece of shit
    Motherfu-
    >Nintendo fanbase is gonna have something to watch in between special ed classes
    I don’t even know whether to love or hate you anymore.

    Reply
  5. To be frank, my chart this season would be pretty much the same as yours, except I’d throw the Excellent and Goodish tiers down to Mehdiocre, and in that movement the Mehdiocre shows would be pushed directly into Shit tier.

    I’m heavily tempted in just watching the second season of Silver Spoon this season. And Zvezda, only because I want it to make me realize Hoshizora Meteo sucks as a writer, so I can finally be relieved that Girl’s Work is probably never going to be released.

    And for fuck’s sake Sunrise, I no longer like giant robots and it’s all your fault.

    Reply
  6. Let Japan have the winter off…

    Kagerou Project anime will be out in Spring. *fangirl squeal*

    Gokukaku no Brynhildr, Hitsugi no Chaika, No Game No Life… I’ll even be tentatively excited about Baby Steps and Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei. Oh, and throw in the bunny girl cafe and the flag-breaking one and Black Bullet.

    There’s no way I’ll be disappointed by any of those shows. ^o^/

    P.S. I quite liked Cowboy Bebop, myself, but I watched it in my teens at around 3am, so I think I might have hallucinated it into being more awesome than it was, and I don’t think I’m going to test it…

    Reply
    • Haven’t read the others you mentioned (guess I’ve got time to do it now before the season hits full swing), but NGNL is hype to the max. Japan will surely come through for us in the end.

      And Bebop… I dunno if rewatching it will really mess with your memories. I just never had nostalgia for it, so I watched it as just another anime and it didn’t really hit me as amazing. It just ain’t my kind of show.

      Reply
      • Baby Steps is a tennis manga. The main character has no special abilities aside from really good focus and dedication, and the story focuses on how hard work can make up for lack of talent. Not much fanservice, minor side romance, no supernatural abilities although some skills are a bit difficult to believe. I like the personality of the main character.

        Gokukoku no Brynhildr is about some witches who have escaped from a testing facility. The main character is a boy who thinks one of the girls was a childhood friend who’d died a long time ago. The story focuses on escaping from witches sent to retrieve the runaways while stealing a certain medicine they need to take every day to stay alive. Moderate fanservice, some harem elements, minor horror elements, magic in a modern setting, some suspense/mystery. I’m interested in whether or not they can survive and how they attempt it.

        Hitsugi no Chaika is about a lazy brother and a crazy sister who meet a princess and end up protecting her. The brother(protagonist) used to work as a covert ops agent, and the princess is a mage with a sniper rifle. The story focuses on her retrieving her father’s corpse which was chopped up into pieces. Post-war fantasy setting, lots of magic/science as magic, moderate fanservice (main girl is loli…), adventure. I’m hoping the fight scenes will be good.

        Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei is about a no-good older brother and an honors student younger sister. (the main theme for this spring’s anime apparently!) They go to a magician-based high school in post-WW3 Japan. The brother (protagonist) is basically a sis-con psychopath and while he’s technically bad at magic, he’s actually very powerful! Futuristic setting, high magic, lots of fanservice, strong harem element, lots of technical terms (some made-up, some traditional magic). The magic effects could be amazing, and the main character’s personality is fascinating, but I’m mostly looking forward to your translation reviews. Oh, the typesetting this show could have! :D

        Mekaku City Actors is based on Kagerou Project, a series of vocaloid songs that became huge hits on nicovideo. All I probably really need to say about it is that it’s being made by SHAFT. I love the characters and character interactions, which is probably why my heart dies a little when I remember their backstory songs. There are manga and LN versions, but I recommend the songs, specifically Jinzou Enemy (introduces the protagonist and his AI companion/nemesis), Kagerou Days (introduces the ;o;), and Kisagari Attention (introduces the comic relief – I mean, little sister). Those aren’t the only good ones, maybe not even the best ones, but it should be good enough to get a feel for the series.

        Reply
          • >Delete or redact it after you read, please.

            Baby Steps: adapted from a manga about an underachieving yet motivated tennis player.

            Gokukoku no Brynhildr: boy meets girl who looks identical to someone he knew to have died years ago.

            Hitsugi no Chaika: NEET-turned-agent teams up with loli mage princess to retrieve the king’s chopped up corpse.

            Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: siscon brother and not-so-loli sister goes to magic school.

            Mekaku City Actors: SHAFT… ’nuff said.

            Reply
          • I’m not following the logic behind that request.

            Anyway, I read a volume of Bynhildr last night. Ain’t such a bad series, though I am a little worried it’ll end up ploddingly generic. I’ll be starting on Hitsugi later today.

            Reply
            • Hitsugi’s okay too, but

              Spoiler for
              MC-kun not killing the first bad guy of the series is bullshit and indicates to the me the series is just more of Japan’s paint-by-numbers shounen lameness. Is there something in their blood that makes all the Japanese storytellers so fucking boring? I mean, really. Goddamn.
              Reply
  7. >nostalgia
    I watched Cowboy Bebop for the first time last year. Your English skills are good but your taste is seriously lacking.

    Reply
    • Honestly, I’m just gonna watch 5 eps and drop it like every other Precure. The only reason I like Fresh is because I’ve fapped to so many Eas doujins that my dick looks like it’s training to be the Redskins’ mascot.

      Reply

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