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):

 

 

Excellent (9-10/10)

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

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):

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

 

 

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

 

 

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

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-]

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.

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

 

 

Nisekoi

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

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

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!

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

Manga: N/A

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

So… tell me again why I should watch this?

 

 

Nobunagun

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]

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

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

Manga: N/A

Oh, it won’t be.

 

 

 

 

One Piece-tier (0-4/10)

Buddyfight

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

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

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!

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

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

Manga: N/A

Oh, a pandering Gin no Saji? Pass.

 

 

Houzuki 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.

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

 

 

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.