News

AnimeLab Announces New Titles for Spring Simulcasts

The news was announced in two parts, yesterday Gunslinger Stratos and Show by Rock!! was announced via posts on the AnimeLab Facebook page. Today the full lineup was revealed with an additional six titles, which including the previously announced Nisekoi: (Season 2) and The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan brings AnimeLab's spring simulcast season to ten titles.

The titles are as follows;

• Blood Blockade Battlefront
• The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan [News | Watch Now!]
• Gunslinger Stratos
• High School DxD BorN
• Mikagura School Suite
• My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!
• Ninja Slayer From Animation
• Nisekoi: Season 2 [News]
• Triage X
• Show By Rock!! [Watch Now!]

Only The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan and Show By Rock!! have started their simulcast on AnimeLab.com and the remainder of the titles will be rolled out as the month progresses.

Madman Entertainment's press-release for AnimeLab's Spring Simulcast Slate did state that all the titles will be available in the near future on home video formats. You can read the press-release here.

Full descriptions and information for each of the series follows;

Blood Blockade Battlefront

"When a breach between Earth and the netherworlds opened up over New York, its citizens were trapped along with creatures from other dimensions under an impenetrable bubble. They've lived together now for years, in a world of crazy crime and sci-fi sensibilities. But someone is threatening to sever the bubble, and a group of stylish superhumans have formed to keep this from happening."

Blood Blockade Battlefront was created by Yasuhiro Nightow after he finished Trigun Maximum in 2007. Nightow launched Bloodline Battlefront as a one-shot manga story in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine in May of 2008 and then turned it into a three-part mini-series called Kekkai Sensen -Mafūgai Kessha- in the same magazine in 2009. Nightow has since continued the story as a regular series in Jump Square in 2010 and Shueisha is publishing the 10th compiled book volume in April.

Nightow's Trigun and Trigun Maximum manga series inspired a television anime and an anime film. He also co-created the Gungrave game and television anime.

Rie Matsumoto (Kyousogiga, Heartcatch Precure! Hana no Miyako de Fashion Show…Desu ka!?) is directing the anime at the Studio BONES. Kazunao Furuya (live-action Liar Game, Galileo, S -Saigo no Keikan-) is the scriptwriter, and Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, Golden Boy, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory) is designing the characters. Shinji Kimura (Project A-Ko, Steamboy, Tekkonkinkreet) is the art director.

Koji Sugiura (Hajime no Ippo, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Last Blitz of Zeon, Gunsmith Cats) is handling creature designs, while Noriyuki Jinguji (Trigun, Hellsing Ultimate, Accel World) is in charge of prop design. Takashi Hashimoto (Magi - The Labyrinth of Magic, Assassination Classroom, One Piece Film Z) is serving as the effects animation director. Taisei Iwasaki("Kyoshinhei Tokyo ni Arawaru" short, Kanojo wa Uso o Ai Shisugiteru live-action film) is composing the music.

The anime premiered in Japan on April 4.

Funimation has announced they will be streaming the series in North America. You can view character designs for the series here.

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan

"From the creator of the hugely popular The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya comes a new spinoff featuring familiar faces. In an alternate universe, shy and awkward Yuki Nagato attempts to court her crush, Kyon, with the help of her best friend and neighbour, the perky and indomitable Ryoko Asakura. Together, the trio defend their high school literature club from extermination… and themselves from the pestering of their over-the-top classmates Tsuruya and her friend and minion Mikuru."

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan is an adaptation of a manga created by Puyo and based on the alternative universe featured in the forth Haruhi Suzumiya light novel which in turn was also adapted into the film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. This anime adaptation was announced back on the 18th of December 2013 via the disappearance of the SOS Dan site at Haruhi.tv and the cast and staff were unveiled a year later. Jun'ichi Wada (episode director on EUREKA SEVEN AO, Gosick) will direct and Touko Machida (Lucky Star, Inari Kon Kon) will handle series composition at Satelight (Bodacious Space Pirates, Hellsing Ultimate). Ikuko Ito (Princess Tutu, Magic User's Club) is designing the the characters for the anime and Takeshi Yasuda, producer on the original Haruhi Suzumiya anime, is in charge of series planning.

The voice cast from the original Haruhi Suzumiya anime returns for The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan. The series premiered the night of April 3 and will run for 16 episodes and one original video animation (OVA) as confirmed at AnimeJapan 2015.

Funimation has licensed the series for North America but streaming times have yet to be announced.

The original manga is Puyo's official spinoff based on Nagaru Tanigawa's Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series. Puyo serializes the ongoing manga in Kadokawa's Young Ace magazine, and also created The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan manga series which inspired an earlier anime. Yen Press publishes both manga in North America.

Madman Entertainment has previously released both seasons of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (in 2008 and 2010 respectively), the comedic spinoff The Melancholy Of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya & Nyoron! Churuya-san (2011) and the film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2011).

ANN's Spring Preview Guide team has viewed the first episode and you can read their thoughts here.

©2015 SQUARE ENIX/GUNS PROJECT

Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation

"A.D. 2115 - the island nation once called Japan is now known as the 17th Far East Imperial City Management District.

The citizens were promised a life of peace in exchange for some of the comfort they were used to having. People believed their lives would never change and tomorrow will be the same as today. No one suspected the impending doom which their society was about to face… ‘Degradation’- a rare disease which led to the total disintegration of the human body to a mere pile of sand was slowly but surely spreading throughout the world.

Ordinary student, Tohru Kazasumi, becomes embroiled in a multi universal battle between his world and the parallel world of Frontier S (Stratos). This means that Toru must fight himself from an alternate world. Their futures collide as their paths cross. Will both worlds ever find peace?"

Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation- is based on Square Enix's Gunslinger Stratos arcade game series. Square Enix released the first game in 2012 and a sequel was released in February 2014. Since then the game has received two animated promotional videos.

Gen Urobuchi (Suisei no Gargantia, Fate/Zero) is providing the original scenario for the anime. Shinpei Ezaki (Kimi ni Todoke - From Me to You, Attack on Titan episode director) is directing the anime at A-1 Pictures with series composition by author Norimitsu Kaihō from Nitroplus, who are also helping produce the scripts. Shin'ichi Yokota (Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecilart setting, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIGkey animation) are designing the characters and Tetsuya Kobayashi is composing the anime's soundtrack.

Mashiro Ayano will provide the opening theme for the series, titled "vanilla sky," and GARNiDELiA will perform the ending theme song "Mirai."

The voice cast from the games have reprised their roles for the anime adaptation. According to voice actor Junichi Suwabe at least one character will die in the anime. Fellow voice actor Atsushi Abe commented that he thought maybe Aaron Burroughs would die protecting someone and Kana Ueda agreed. The anime is described as one filled with drama, death, romance, and more.

The series premiered in Japan on April 4 on the Tokyo MX, BS11, Tochigi TV and Gunma TVchannels as well as live-streamed on Nico Nico Douga. Daisuki is streaming the series in the UK and Aniplex USA licensed the series for North America.

ANN's team has already had a chance to leave their thoughts for the first episode as part of the Spring Preview Guide, you can read them here.

High School DxD BorN

"The babes and boys of the Occult Research Club are back! Lovable loser (and bust buff) Issei and his clan of bewitching beauties return for a new season of supernatural tussles and sexy shenanigans - featuring old friends and new enemies.

Now that all the girls live in Issei's home, life seems like nothing but fun and scantily-clad lounging… for now.

Join Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Xenovia, Gasper, and everyone's favourite Harem King, Issei as they fight, fumble, and fondle their way through their demonic high school lives."

The original light novel series with Miyama-Zero's art centers around Issei Hyōdō, a dim-witted, lecherous second-year high school student who is killed by a girl on his first date ever. Issei is reincarnated as a devil, and from that day forward, he serves as an underling of Riasu, a high-level devil who is also the prettiest girl on Issei's campus.

Singer ChouCho (Heaven's Memo Pad, GLASSLIP) will perform the opening theme song. The voice actress group StylipS will sing the ending theme song, "Give Me Secret."

The series will once again be directed by Tetsuya Yanagisawa with series composition by Takao Yoshioka at animation studio TNK. Junji Goto is again designing the characters and will also serve as chief animation director.

High School DxD BorN started broadcast in Japan on the 4th of April. Funimation is streaming the series in North America.

ANN did train the Anime Spotlight on High School DxD BorN which you can read over here.

Mikagura School Suite

"From the studio behind Laughing Under the Clouds and Yuruyuri comes a high school fantasy unlike any other! Like most awkward teens, formerly reclusive gamer Eruna Ichinomiya struggles to find her place at Mikagura High School. But her experience is far from ordinary, as the mischief-making members of the school's manga, calligraphy, drama, and other cultural clubs vie for total school domination in a rather extreme way—ULTIMATE ATTACKS.

Get ready for the high-energy high school adventure you've only ever dreamed of. You'll wish that your high school was this much fun!"

Vocaloid composer Last Note began the Mikagura Gakuen Kumikyoku light novel series in July 2013, the series is inspired by his own songs and are partnered with illustrations by Akina who also provided the artwork for the original Vocaloid videos. A manga adaptation of the novels began in Comic Gene in August 2013 with art by Sayuki. Kadokawa shipped the fifth novel in December 25, and released the third compiled volume of the manga in September.

Tarou Iwasaki (One Week Friends) is directing the series at the studio Dogakobo (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun). Masahiro Yokotani (Free!, Maria Holic) is writing and supervising the series scripts, and Manamu Amazaki (Engaged to the Unidentified) is designing the characters and serving as chief animation director. The anime's opening theme "Hōkago Kakumei" (After-School Revolution) is performed by the voice actress unit Hōkago Rakuenbu.

Mikagura School Suite premiered in Japan on April 6.

Funimation has licensed the series in North America.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!

"With his unique thought processes, Hikigaya Hachiman seemed to be glorifying the life of a loner until his guidance counsellor, Hiratsuka Shizuka, talked him into joining the Service Club. Together with the other members, the breathtaking, flawless Yukinoshita Yukino and the cute, popular Yuigahama Yui, he spent his days solving all kinds of problems for his classmates, from relationship worries to running the cultural festival committee. The seasons have given way to fall, and now Hachiman, Yukino, and Yui are preparing for a field trip to Kyoto. What request has been brought to the Service Club this time?"

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO! (Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru. Zoku) is the second season adapting Wataru Watari's original light novels. Wataru Watari's original light novels also received a video game adaptation and a tie-in original video anime in 2013. The novel series with illustrations by Ponkan8 topped the annual Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel is Amazing!) rankings for 2013 and 2014.

Kei Oikawa (Outbreak Company, Minami-ke: Okaeri) has replaced Ai Yoshimura as director in the second season, and Yuichi Tanaka (A Certain Scientific Railgun, Natsu-iro Kiseki) has replaced Yuu Shindou as the anime character designer. The animation production will move from Brains Base to studio feel. but Shôtarô Suga is returning to series composition. The creator unit monaca will again be in charge of music and Satoshi Motoyama will again serve as sound director.

Saori Hayami (as the character Yukino Yukinoshita) and Nao Tōyama (as Yui Yuigahama) will return to perform the anime's ending theme song, titled "Everyday World." The pair also performed the ending theme for the first season. Nagi Yanagi's "Harumodoki" is slated for sometime in June, while Saori Hayami and Nao Tōyama's "Everyday World" is slated for June 3.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO! premiered on April 2. Sentai Filmworks picked up the rights in North America and Crunchyroll is streaming the series in U.S. and Canada.

You can view ANN's Anime Spotlight on the series here and the Spring Preview Guide has a few thoughts on the first episode, you can view them here.

©Ninj@ Entertainment/Ninj@ Conspiracy

Ninja Slayer From Animation

"The dystopian cyber underworld of Neo-Saitama is ruled from the shadows by an intricate web of drugs, yakuza gangs, and evil syndicate ninjas wielding fearsome ‘karate’. In a sea of the blood of his enemies, a lone maverick stands.

Ninja Slayer is a ninja who kills other ninjas in the name of ninja vengeance. A former salaryman whose family was killed by evil ninjas, Ninja Slayer cheats death and casts away his past to embrace the dark, mystical ‘Ninja Soul’, a mysterious spirit that grants him great power in his quest for revenge. But will this bloodthirsty spirit consume Ninja Slayer before his enemies are all “dead on departure”? Domo. I'm Ninja Slayer."

Ninja Slayer's story was originally posted piecemeal on Twitter by Japanese "translators" Yu Honda and Leika Sugi, allegedly translating the work of American authors "Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez." After the story grew in popularity, Enterbrain published the first Japanese-translated volume in print, Ninja Slayer: Neo Saitama in Flames, in September 2012. The story then inspired comic adaptations from Enterbrain and Kodansha (including Kōtarō Sekine's Ninja Slayer Kills in Shōnen Sirius), as well as an audio drama with Toshiyuki Morikawa as the title character.

Tokyo Otaku Mode is publishing both the original novels and Yogo Yuki's Ninja Slayer: Machine of Vengeance manga adaptation online for free. Vertical Comics will also be publishing the manga in print. AltPlus is developing a free-to-play smartphone 'Ninja Battle RPG' game for Ninja Slayer in Japan.

Akira Amemiya (Inferno Cop) will serve as Ninja Slayer's series director while Studio Trigger will animate the series. Boom Boom Satellites is performing the main theme song "Back in Black." The rock band Boris will perform the first episode's ending theme song "Kilmister."

Ninja Slayer was announced to be streaming in over 21 countries after the April 16 premiere on Niconico. Funimation has acquired the rights to Ninja Slayer for North America and will announce the simulcast start date later.

You can view ANN's Anime Spotlight on the series here.

Nisekoi: (Season 2)

Raku Ichijō (Kouki Uchiyama) is an average high school student, well apart from being the sole heir to a Yakuza family known as the Shuei-gumi. Ten years ago Raku symbolised his love for a particular girl by giving her a key to a special locket that he keeps with him. But when the attractive yet violent Chitoge Kirisaku (Nao Tōyama) transfers to his school, Raku suddenly discovers that Chitoge is the heir to a rival family and and the only way to prevent a war between the two gangs is to pretend to be engaged to Chitoge.

Now in Nisekoi: (season two) Raku returns to his hunt for the key to his heart (locket) with the girls in tow, but with a new girl entering the equation will Raku's search be even more complicated?

The 14th and 16th manga volumes of Nisekoi each bundled an original video anime (OVA) on DVD and the 17th volume will bundle an OVA as well. Chief director Akiyuki Shinbo, director Naoyuki Tatsuwa, character designer Nobuhiro Sugiyama, the anime studio SHAFT and the main cast are all returning for the OVAs after working on the television anime.

New cast members include Kotori Koiwai (Joshiraku, Mekaku City Actors) as Fū alongside Ayane Sakura and Manami Numakura (The IDOLM@STER, Shirobako) as Haru Onodera and Paula McCoy respectively.

The opening theme for Nisekoi: will be LiSA's eighth's single "Rally Go Round", the pop tune's lyrics were co-written between LiSA and Shin Furuya alongside music composition by JIN.

The new season will premiere in Japan on Friday the 10th of April followed by broadcast on Tokyo MX channel. BS11 and MBS will then broadcast the episode on April 14. The series has already been licensed in North America by Aniplex of America and will be streaming on the Aniplex Channel, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Daisuki services. Crunchyroll has clarified that Nisekoi: will be streamed in North America, Central America, and South America and premium members will be able to access the first episode on April the 10th, free users will follow a week later.

Nisekoi: adapts Naoshi Komi's romantic comedy manga that has been serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump since November 2012. The series has since been collected into 13 volumes and published in English by Viz Media in both digital and print formats. Madman Entertainment licensed Nisekoi - False Love (season one) for AnimeLab in November 2014.

Triage X

"Mochizuki General Hospital boasts some of the most well-trained (and well-endowed) nurses in town. Although these ladies spend much of their day battling sickness, their after-hours are spent fighting a very different sort of disease… Under the leadership of the hospital chairman, a handful of staff members and local teenagers form a group of mercenary assassins, targeting the ‘cancers’ of society and excising those individuals before their wickedness spreads."

Triage X will be produced at XEBEC under direction from Akio Takami (Ladies versus Butlers!, Buso Renkin) and Takao Kato (To Love-Ru) with Katsuhiko Takayama (Aldnoah.Zero, Cat Planet Cuties) handling series composition. The character designs are also being adapted by Akio Takami with art direction from Yoshio Tanioka (Night Raid 1931, Valkyria Chronicles).

Saeko Zōgō (Isuca, Maken-Ki! Battling Venus, Chaika the Coffin Princess, Dai - Shogun - Great Revolution ending themes) featuring Nagareda Project (Dragon Collection, Saint Seiya Omega) will provide the show's opening theme, titled "triage." Kazutomi Yamamoto (Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! opening theme) will perform the show's ending theme, titled "Soleil More."

The series premiered on April 8th and will run for 10 episodes. Crunchyroll is streaming the series in North, Central and South America, Canada, parts of Europe, the middle east and Africa.

Triage X is based on Shoji Sato's manga of the same name. Sato launched the manga in Kadokawa's Monthly Dragon Age magazine in 2009, and Kadokawa's Fujimi Shobo imprint will publish the 10th compiled volume on Friday, March 6. Yen Press published the seventh volume on August 26 2014. Sato also drew the art for Highschool of the Dead, another manga that inspired an anime.

©2012,2014 SANRIO CO.,LTD.
SHOWBYROCK!! PRODUCTION COMMITTEE

Show by Rock!!

"Set in the glamorous metropolis Tokyo Midi City, where music and the dream of superstardom is everything. Here, the ‘battle of the bands’ is more than just a bit of teen rivalry, where dozens of ensembles compete for the honour of playing atop the city's highest tower.

When a Gothic Lolita-clad ‘catgirl’ cutie named Cyan stumbles into the music world, she too is swept up by the dream of fame. After joining forces with three other colourful characters – ‘bunnygirl’ honour student Chuchu, shy ‘doggirl’ Retoree, and adorable ‘sheepgirl’ Moa—the quartet becomes Plasmagica, the freshest band on the scene. Armed with special instruments, the girls face off with other bands striving for stardom, like the cool and passionate Visual Kei band Shingan Crimsonz, and the handsome pop idols, Trichronika. Will the band find celebrity? Or are they doomed to be one-hit-wonders…"

Show by Rock!! is based on the rhythm video game of the same name created by Geechs for Sanrio. The original game was released in 2013 and is a departure for Sanrio as Show by Rock!! is the first character project not aimed at females and children.

Takahiro Ikezoe (Slap Up Party: Arad Senki, Ozma) is directing the project at animation studio BONES (Soul Eater Not!, Fullmetal Alchemist), while Touko Machida is handling series composition. Masaru Oshiro (Ie Naki Ko Remi, Major) is designing the characters, while Ryō Hirata (Appleseed XIII, Chaika the Coffin Princess) will provide supporting character design and prop design. Fumihiro Katagai (Chaika the Coffin Princess, Shangri-La) is credited with concept and mecha design.

Show by Rock!! premiered on April 5 on Tokyo MX and broadcasts every Sunday. The anime will be Sanrio's very first anime that will air in a late-night timeslot. Plans for a manga series are also underway.

You can view the character designs here and view ANN's crack team of Spring Preview reviewers thoughts on the first episode here.