[Summer 2016] Season of Key

[KazeShiki]

Wooo summer vacation. Enjoy it while you can because that doesn't exist for me anymore.

「Key 15th Anniversary」/ 「ZEN」

Much like the threads before it, this is a thread I created stole from blkmage for the discussion of new anime that will be airing on TV in Japan in the Summer 2016 season. Anime typically gets released and runs for a number of seasons. The year is divided up into four seasons: January to March is winter, April to June is spring, July to September is summer, and October to December is fall. Each season is approximately 13 weeks.

Here, we can talk about what shows look interesting, what we plan to watch, and generally get giddy and excited for things that we've been anticipating for a while.

---
91Days
http://91days.family/
Original

Two friends become enemies.


ACTIVE RAID: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei 2
http://activeraid.net/
Sequel

Season 2 of the mecha police.


Amaama to Inazuma
http://www.amaama.jp/
Manga

A father and his daughter eat lots of food.


Amanchu!
http://amanchu-anime.com/
Manga

The author of Aria creates another iyashikei masterpiece.


Ange Vierge
http://ange-vierge-anime.com/
Manga

A school for superpowered girls. How unique.


Arslan Senki: Fuujin Ranbu
http://www.arslan.jp/
Sequel

Season 2 of the heroic prince.


B-PROJECT: Kodou＊Ambitious
http://bpro-anime.com/
Other

Idols who are bad at being idols.


Bananya
http://www.bananya-anime.com/
Other

This is a story about a banana cat. Literally. A. Banana. Cat.


BATTERY
http://battery-anime.com/
Light Novel

The formation of a powerful battery begins (the baseball kind).


BERSERK (2016)
http://berserk-anime.com/
Manga

A new Berserk anime which is believed to be a sequel.


BINAN KOUKOU CHIKYUU BOUEIBU LOVE! LOVE!
http://boueibu.com/
Sequel

Season 2 of magical boys.


Cheer Danshi!!
http://www.cheer-boys.com/
Light Novel

If magical boys aren't your thing, how about cheerleader boys.


D.Gray-man HALLOW
http://dgrayman-anime.com/
Sequel

Remember when D.Gray-man was a thing and then it wasn't and people were sad? Well it's time to stop being sad.


DANGANRONPA 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Mirai-Hen
http://www.danganronpa.com/2016/
Sequel

This silly game continues.


DANGANRONPA 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Zetsubou-hen
http://www.danganronpa.com/2016/
Sequel

Yeah, it's confusing, but this is a different kind of sequel than the other one. If you didn't play the games, you'll be confused even if you weren't already confused.


DAYS
http://days-project.jp/
Manga

Two players meet and change the world of high school soccer for as long as this anime airs.


Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA 3rei!!
http://anime.prisma-illya.jp/2weihelz/
Sequel

I've honestly completely lost track of what season this has gotten to but hey look magical girls.


FUDANSHI KOUKOU SEIKATSU
http://www.dreamcreation.co.jp/fudanshi/
Manga

The life of a male fujoshi. If you don't know what that is, then ignorance is bliss.


Fukigen na Mononokean
http://mononokean.tv/
Manga

A shop owner guides youkai to the next world.


Gra-P & Rodeo 2nd Season
Sequel
**This anime is a short

Season 2 of that kid who likes Granrodeo.


handa-kun
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/handaanime/
Prequel

A prequel to Barakamon, depecting Handa's high school life.


HATSUKOI MONSTER
http://hatsukoimonster.jp/
Manga

Girl falls in love with guy who saves her but he's a 5th grader because anime aging just keeps getting better.


Kono Bijutsu-bu ni wa Mondai ga Aru!
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/konobi/
Manga

The struggles of an art club president.


Love Live! Sunshine!!
http://www.lovelive-anime.jp/uranohoshi/
Game

STONER SUNSHIIIIII-wait not that kind of Sunshine? How anime has fallen from manly men to cute girls...


Masou Gakuen HxH
http://www.masou-hh.com/
Light Novel

Some kind of sick hybrid of Infinite Stratos and Fate/Stay Night's dolphins.


Mob Psycho 100
http://mobpsycho100.com/
Manga

If he becomes too emotional, he will explode.


Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin
http://alderamin.net/
Light Novel

A lazy kid enrolls in the military due to war but he's actually an intellectual genius.


NEW GAME!
http://newgame-anime.com/
Manga

Cute girls make videogames.


Onara Gorou
Original
**This anime is a short

Some guy farts a lot. No, really.


orange
http://orange-anime.com/
Manga

A letter from the future. To erase her regrets.


OZMAFIA!!
http://anime.ozmafia.com/
Spin Off
**This anime is a short

An original story based on the ozmafia game.


planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume
http://planetarian-project.com/
Visual Novel

In a dystopian world, a lone junker stumbles upon an old planetarium. There, he meets a robot who has been waiting 30 years for her next customer.
[This is a special OVA series much like Nekomonogatari was. But it's the summer of Key, and this is a really great story.]


PUZZLE & DRAGONS X
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pad-x/
Game

I guess if unpopular mobile games get anime, then why not let the popular ones get one too.


QUALIDEA CODE
http://qualidea.jp/
Original

Children with supernatural powers fight an unknown enemy called...wait for it...unknown.


Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars
http://regalia-anime.com/
Original

Something about giant robots fighting each other.


ReLIFE
http://relife-anime.com/
Manga

Not to be confused with ReZero, here, a guy restarts his life as a high school student.


Rewrite
http://www.rewrite-anime.tv/
Visual Novel

REWRITE OF ZA LIFE. Literally my favorite story ever written now in anime form. Kotarou is a seemingly normal student but mysterious occult events begin to occur all around him...Please be good. Please be good. Please be good.


Saiki Kusuo no Ψ Nan (TV)
http://www.saikikusuo.com/
Manga

Saiki has supernatural powers, but they cause him more suffering than anything else.


Scared Rider XechS
http://scared-rider-xechs.jp/pr/
Game

Humans fight against alien invaders.


SERVAMP
http://www.servamp.jp/
Manga

A normal boy stumbles into the world of vampires.


SHOKUGEKI NO SOUMA: Ni no Sara
http://shokugekinosoma.com/
Sequel

Season 2 of delicious cooking.


SHOW BY ROCK!! Short!!
http://showbyrock-anime.com/
Spin Off
**This anime is a short

As the name suggests, a short of the SHOW BY ROCK anime.


TABOO TATTOO
http://tabootattoo-anime.com/
Manga

A tattoo grants superpowers.


Tales of Zestiria the X
http://toz-thex-anime.tales-ch.jp/
Game

Anime adaptation of the Tales of Zestiria game by ufotable.


Time Travel Shoujo: Mari Waka to 8-nin no Kagakusha-tachi
http://mariwaka.com/
Original

A time traveling girl! Please don't expect anything as good as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time


TSUKIUTA. THE ANIMATION
http://www.tsukiuta.com/
Other

You thought Japan was running out of things to anthromorphize? Next up on the list: the months of the year.

[skreyola]

So, I'm actually looking forward to a couple of these.
Amanchu, because ARIA!
orange, because I read the manga, and it was really good.
Now, if past seasons are any indication, none of the free streamers will pick up at least one of these, and I'll be very sad and spend another two or three seasons not getting my hopes up.
A couple of the others sound like they might be interesting, but I don't want to get my hopes up and then not be able to see them. When can I have Ronja, Ghibli?
Anyway, I have to say: Tsukiuta... Oh gosh! Why, Japan, why?

[MangaRocks!]

Already planning on reading the manga of Amaama to Inazuma, Fukigen na Mononokean, Handa-kun, and Servamp, so I'll pass on the anime of those for now (unless I hear that they're amazing adaptations or something ).


What I will actually be watching:

* BINAN KOUKOU CHIKYUU BOUEIBU LOVE! LOVE! - Because I shamelessly enjoyed the first season for all the laughs induced by its (purposefully) blatant OTT ridiculousness. Looking forward to laughing my way through each episode of S2 as well~

* orange - Because the manga is amazing and OH MY GOSH they had seriously better not screw this adaptation up...

* And Rewrite - Because it's Key, and I've heard that the VN is amazing (which is just as you'd usually expect from that company, of course!). I'm planning on playing it eventually regardless (as I am with most of the rest of the Key VN's, as well), but hopefully the adaptation does it justice for *everyone's* sake.


(...On the other hand, though, I will *not* be watching planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume, because I did already play its VN {or, more accurately, sat through its 'kinetic novel'-- since there are actually no choices whatsoever in that one, LOL}, and... well, let's just say that I like it the least of all the Key things I've played/seen so far... )

[Mullet Death]

Shows about cheerleading and magical dudes! Where do I sign!?

Also, really excited about Orange, FREAKING BARAKAMON PREQUEL , "Food Wars," and now that I've just heard of them, Rewrite and ReLife.

[Mouse2010]

This is the most exciting season I can remember for awhile. (That's not as impressive as it sounds; I've only been watching simulcasts for a few years!) I am definitely watching Sweetness and Lightening. I hope to death it is a good adaptation, but I will watch it even if it's bad. I'll be curious to see what my husband makes of it: he's into gourmet cooking, including cooking international food, so even though this kind of slice-of-life isn't usually his thing, he might like this one.

I'm also interested in ReWrite and possibly Orange[/i}. I've been meaning to read the manga for [i]Orange, though, so I'll have to make some decisions there.

[skreyola]

Crunchyroll may still have the manga for Orange. You can read it in less than three days (I read it on a guest pass). It is well worth the read.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Key - one of the most successful anime and visual novel makers in Japan. Considering the anime I have watched made by Key, (Clannad and Charlotte) I have a thing to say - this is going to be interesting!

Sweetness and Lighting - going to check the manga first, before checking the anime (when it comes)
Orange - Plastic Memories is a sci-fi and romance anime and it was successful, so why would not Orange be
ReWrite - hmmmm.... interesting question. I'm in.....probably

Еdit:
Sweetness and Lighting: Yes, I would watch the anime

[TheChocolateGamer]

I'm going to start the episodic reviews, because otherwise this post is going to die. I forgot it existed, due to it being a little buried (sorry Kaze). So:

Ep. 1 ReWrite: - 40+ minutes long episodes of anime sure makes it original. About the inside: well, original and corrupted (in a moral sense) at the start of the story. SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Witches, vision ball, disrespect to God, panty commentating are present in this episode. BUT I think just like any other Key anime, the story will become A LOT better, so I'm not going to take this chance from them. I did saw SPOILER: Highlight text to read: start of romance, cuteness and starting of self seeking. SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Fantasy is part of this, but in a good way (I hope).

Ep.1 and 2 ReLife: - Fun anime. I was surprised it came with all episodes (don't know why). The ''second chance'' motive in this anime is by far effective!

Ep.1 New Game!: - Both great and terrible at the same time. Great: SPOILER: Highlight text to read: original story about game making and living your dreams. The bad: SPOILER: Highlight text to read: trying to be pointlessly sexual.....again. The bad can be ignorable, so I will continue to watch it.

[TheChocolateGamer]

I forgot to say about Bananya:

Ep.1 Bananya - Weird and cute. Pretty much another ''Japan - The Anime''

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.1 Amaama to Inazuma - This anime is proof that the image of God dwells in all people, even gentiles. It would be DEVASTATING to say that I don't respect the father's love for his daughter, because love is a Godly thing. And yes this what this anime presented in the first episode of it. Bless the Lord for His goodness and curse me that I naturally trust my sin more than God! I choose God to be my subject of my fullest love! I want to trust God in everything, because sin is a slave-driver, that makes us think that we want to sin, without our opinion. I'm sick of, even thou I'm sadly not. Yes, this is an anime review, but God is never enough.

[Mouse2010]

Ep 1 Amaama to Inzauma. Loved it. This was perfect. As some of you know, this is one of my favorite manga right now. I was worried that they'd ruin it somehow when it became an anime. But the first ep was just perfect. The characters . . . their interactions with each other . . . the food! It was all just as it should be. I still have high hopes for this series!

[Rusty Claymore]

Another encouragement to pick up sweetness and lightening. Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems this one and Barakamon used an actual kid to voice they're respective mains. They didn't have a recipe segment though! T_T I'm a little worried about the Kotori development, since adaptions seem to take liberty in changing those around, but I hope they stay true to the source.

I would be out of Rewrite if there wasn't just one thing I am curious about. Once I learn the motivation behind slobbering buckets onto someone's arm, I'll decide to stay or drop. Overall, that last sentence made more sense than the whole 47ish minutes of Episode 1. Also, and I got a little sister to support this deduction, the main character is insufferable. Friends with everyone, always plays the jokes off onto someone else, pries into other people's business, a complete jerk (imh-introverted-o) and he gets a superpower. And a harem. Too much agitation in one show. I digress. >_<

Too many shows this season have scenes that would get you arrested if you got that kind of a look IRL.

At least ReLIFE was ExCELLENT. Highly recommend.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.2 ReWrite - :/ I hope Key won't continue like this.

[KazeShiki]

Also, and I got a little sister to support this deduction, the main character is insufferable. Friends with everyone, always plays the jokes off onto someone else, pries into other people's business, a complete jerk (imh-introverted-o) and he gets a superpower. And a harem.

This is kind of a major point of contention in the story. I suggest you go back and reread the opening monologue and think about that in terms of how the character acts now and how the character is foreshadowed to end up as.

Rewrite is one of my favorite stories ever written, so I'll probably answer any questions people have as long as they aren't spoiler-related, at least until the anime decides to skip over plot points because it 100% will given how complex and intricate the story is.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Also, and I got a little sister to support this deduction, the main character is insufferable. Friends with everyone, always plays the jokes off onto someone else, pries into other people's business, a complete jerk (imh-introverted-o) and he gets a superpower. And a harem.

This is kind of a major point of contention in the story. I suggest you go back and reread the opening monologue and think about that in terms of how the character acts now and how the character is foreshadowed to end up as.

Rewrite is one of my favorite stories ever written, so I'll probably answer any questions people have as long as they aren't spoiler-related, at least until the anime decides to skip over plot points because it 100% will given how complex and intricate the story is.

This is a relief... Thanks, that was enough for me Kaze

[MangaRocks!]

Rewrite is one of my favorite stories ever written, so I'll probably answer any questions people have as long as they aren't spoiler-related, at least until the anime decides to skip over plot points because it 100% will given how complex and intricate the story is.

^ @KazeShiki: I was going to watch the Rewrite anime, but then I heard that it's actually not even technically a straight adaptation of the VN, rather it's (supposedly) an extra anime-original route for some reason ... is that true? Because, seeing as I do eagerly intend to play the VN once it's released over here, I don't really have an interest in watching something that's simply an anime-original add-on to it (especially beforehand, LOL)......



Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! episode 1:

...Yep. This was exactly the silliness level I expected (even more OTT than S1, that is), and this time with even (...uh, make that QUITE A LOT) more (male) fanservice. (Also, hilarious meta-reference to "Season Two." ) Shameless ridiculousness ahoy!



Orange episodes 1-2:

Hmm... for some reason the pacing felt just a little off on this (a tad too fast in ep.1, and a tad too slow in ep.2 until the end-- also, it's been a while since I read the earliest chapters of the manga, but I thought the reveal about Kakeru's SPOILER: Highlight text to read: mom was a bit later on...?); there were a few too many still shots; the art/character design is definitely not as pretty; and the 'background' music is a bit oddly overbearing/loud, LOL. Otherwise, though, I suppose these first two episodes were decent enough in terms of adaptation, and I do like the voices. We'll see how this goes~

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.2 Bananya - Love this anime...

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.3 ReLife - The story makes more sense now (not that it wasn't but know makes more). Progresses, that is all I can say.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.2 Amaama to Inazuma - Love this anime too. Thank you again God for bringing me to this anime.

[KazeShiki]

@KazeShiki: I was going to watch the Rewrite anime, but then I heard that it's actually not even technically a straight adaptation of the VN, rather it's (supposedly) an extra anime-original route for some reason ... is that true? Because, seeing as I do eagerly intend to play the VN once it's released over here, I don't really have an interest in watching something that's simply an anime-original add-on to it (especially beforehand, LOL)......

Yes and no. It's difficult to answer this because 1) spoilers and 2) I'm not 100% sure what they are doing based on their vague interviews. As you may know, VNs tend to have different heroine routes, and some of them such as Little Busters/Clannad/and Rewrite have true routes which are a sort of accumulation of all the previous routes and are kind of the essence of what the VN is actually about (and this is usually some major plot twist hence spoilers). This makes anime adaption difficult because the heroine routes contain pieces of the puzzle that makes up the true route, but you can't really put them all into an anime because they also have conflicting things like romance or other major plot developments. Clannad managed to do it surprisingly well, Little Busters just threw them all together and took out the romance which made it pretty poorly directed, and with Rewrite, because the routes go in such wildly different directions, decided to do this extra "6th" route instead of trying to fit the other routes together.

In terms of anime storyboarding, this is a theoretically good decision. In fact, I think it was the best decision they could do - to a certain extent. It lets them combine the pieces of the mysterious plot into one, coherent route then lead into the true route, which should remain unchanged (I hope...), and thus, the "real" story of Rewrite is still conveyed even though the build up to the story is changed dramatically. However, how successful it will actually end up being...I'd like to say remains to be seen, but I suspect, based on the first 2 episodes, the pacing is going to be very terrible and many important things will be glossed over. So, yes the middle 1/2 to 2/3rds of the show is going to be anime-original, but no, it's not simply an anime-original story either.

TL;DR The VN tells the story like this: intro -> girl 1, girl 2, girl 3, girl 4, girl 5 -> epic plot twist finale
but the anime is probably going to go like this: intro -> girl 6 -> epic plot twist finale

Orange episodes 1-2:

Hmm... for some reason the pacing felt just a little off on this (a tad too fast in ep.1, and a tad too slow in ep.2 until the end-- also, it's been a while since I read the earliest chapters of the manga, but I thought the reveal about Kakeru's SPOILER: Highlight text to read: mom was a bit later on...?); there were a few too many still shots; the art/character design is definitely not as pretty; and the 'background' music is a bit oddly overbearing/loud, LOL. Otherwise, though, I suppose these first two episodes were decent enough in terms of adaptation, and I do like the voices. We'll see how this goes~

I haven't gotten to ep2 yet, but yes, that spoiler was revealed like halfway or so. Disappointed to hear it revealed so early.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Yes and no. It's difficult to answer this because 1) spoilers and 2) I'm not 100% sure what they are doing based on their vague interviews. As you may know, VNs tend to have different heroine routes, and some of them such as Little Busters/Clannad/and Rewrite have true routes which are a sort of accumulation of all the previous routes and are kind of the essence of what the VN is actually about (and this is usually some major plot twist hence spoilers). This makes anime adaption difficult because the heroine routes contain pieces of the puzzle that makes up the true route, but you can't really put them all into an anime because they also have conflicting things like romance or other major plot developments. Clannad managed to do it surprisingly well, Little Busters just threw them all together and took out the romance which made it pretty poorly directed, and with Rewrite, because the routes go in such wildly different directions, decided to do this extra "6th" route instead of trying to fit the other routes together.

In terms of anime storyboarding, this is a theoretically good decision. In fact, I think it was the best decision they could do - to a certain extent. It lets them combine the pieces of the mysterious plot into one, coherent route then lead into the true route, which should remain unchanged (I hope...), and thus, the "real" story of Rewrite is still conveyed even though the build up to the story is changed dramatically. However, how successful it will actually end up being...I'd like to say remains to be seen, but I suspect, based on the first 2 episodes, the pacing is going to be very terrible and many important things will be glossed over. So, yes the middle 1/2 to 2/3rds of the show is going to be anime-original, but no, it's not simply an anime-original story either.

TL;DR The VN tells the story like this: intro -> girl 1, girl 2, girl 3, girl 4, girl 5 -> epic plot twist finale
but the anime is probably going to go like this: intro -> girl 6 -> epic plot twist finale

Interesting... I have played Clannad VN before and I think they did the best out of it, indeed. I'm eager now to see all of this anime to the end and (hopefully) it will be as great as it's ancestors. If it is bad, well... we will give it what it deserves.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.2 New Game! - OK. That is all I can say, honestly.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.3 ReWrite! - Ummm... a bit confused, but still waiting.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.3 Bananya - Hahaha, funny episode

Ep.3 Amaama to Inazuma - I love this anime...

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.3 New Game! - This episode was good to be honest. Nothing more to say.

[Sundown]

Posted in the wrong thread. D:

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.4 ReWrite - It begins...

[Mouse2010]

Orange Eps 1-3. Just started this one today. I haven't read the manga, so will try to avoid spoilers. The show seems to have a lot of promise. At this point I have lots of guesses and conjectures, because it's not all that clear yet where the series will go.

I do have suspicions that it's going to be the sort of show that breaks your heart. For example, I keep comparing it to Ano Hana, although this show is much more focused on the past, whereas Ano Hana spent much more time in the after years, with less emphasis on the past.

There are some other ways in which Orange is thought-provoking, too. After watching it, my husband and I started talking about what we'd do differently if we could go back in time with our present personalities and awareness. I don't have the same regrets that Naho seems to have, but there are definitely things that I would do differently if I could.

[TheChocolateGamer]

Ep.4 Bananya - Well this episode went SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Tom and Jerry I guess cat instincts are... cat instincts after all. Still love this anime. I also love the ending. I haven't mentioned that before, so...

[MangaRocks!]

@KazeShiki: Thanks for the explanation! I think I'll still skip the anime in favor of just playing the VN, but I appreciate the answer.


Also, sorry for kinda disappearing from this discussion these past few weeks; nothing happened, I just felt like catching up on some of my videogame and book/manga backlogs instead. (Will be putting the two simulcasts I was watching this season on hold for a bit-- Orange because I don't want to be worried about its adaptation, and Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! because even though I was obviously 100% expecting its shameless OTT ridiculousness {as that's the entire point of the show, LOL }, I just wasn't in the mood ATM. )