Winter Anime Season (Part 10)

Title: Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil
Release Date: January 12, 2014
Studio: ARMS
Genre: Supernatural, Law Procedural, Action/Adventure
Synopsis: In 2018 Tokyo, humans and wizards live side-by-side; criminals who use magic are defended in special courts by public servants known as wizard barristers. At 17 years old, Cecil Sudo is the youngest wizard barrister to ever practice magical law, and her arrival at Butterfly Law Offices is sure to ruffle some feathers.

Verdict: Anime is especially good at genre-bending, usually by applying extraordinary circumstances to familiar settings (The Devil is a Part-Timer - the Lord of Evil flipping hamburgers) or vice versa (Planetes - a workplace dramedy in space). Wizard Barristers is, at its core, a criminal defense drama...but with magic. It makes for a far more action-packed legal drama than, say, Law and Order or The Good Wife when the typical case includes a defendant who killed a bank robber that arrived on a metal dragon. Studio ARMS, which usually produces fanservice-heavy series like Ikki Tousen, has outdone itself here, seamlessly blending 2D and CGI animation during magic battles. Director Yasuomi Umetsu, who also directed last year's Galilei Donna, seems to have hit Strong Female Lead pay dirt again with Cecil Sudo. An early scene with two magic-phobic police officers serves as a perfect introduction to her character; sweet and a little bit ditzy on the outside, but a formidable debater when the situation calls for it.

Don't let her size fool you.

The rest of the cast is not lacking in character development either, whether it's Cecil's quirky new cohorts at Butterfly Law or sultry, chain-smoking Inspector Quinn. Everything is adding up to one unique law procedural series. With only one episode in the books, Wizard Barristers is already gunning for the top spot this season.

Winter Anime Season (Part 9)

Title: Nisekoi (aka Fake Love)
Release Date: January 11, 2014
Studio: Shaft
Genre: Romantic Comedy, School Life, Yakuza
Synopsis: Raku Ichijou, the high school-age heir of a yakuza clan, finds his life thrown into turmoil when he buts heads with a blonde-haired, short-tempered transfer student named Chitoge Kirisaki. Matters are further complicated when he discovers that she is the heir of a rival gang and that they must pretend to be in love to prevent an all-out war.

Verdict: I can honestly count on one hand the number of anime relationships that I have actually cared about: Ashitaka and San from Princess Mononoke, Spike and Faye from Cowboy Bebop, Ai Tanabe and Hachimaki from Planetes, and Renton and Eureka from Eureka Seven (honorable mention to Makoto and Chiaki from The Girl Who Leapt Through Time). So my first inclination was to write this show off as another moeblob rom com. But. What this series lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in presentation. The combined talents of studio Shaft and director Akiyuki Shinbo (both of whom are responsible for the instant classic Puella Magi Madoka Magika) make for a series of slickly animated and beautifully arranged moments that are impossible to dislike. And it doesn't hurt that Raku's observations of and interactions with his crazy mafia world are often gut-bustingly funny. Although serious romances usually have me rolling my eyes, I don't mind keeping up with a show this pretty.

Winter Anime Season (Part 8)

Title: Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda (aka World Conquest: Zvezda Plot)
Release Date: January 11, 2014
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Synopsis: Precocious little girl Kate Hoshimiya is the leader of a mysterious secret society composed of social misfits and odd characters. Their goal: world domination.

Verdict: From the anime that started it all, Osamu Tezuka's Tetsuwan Atom (aka Astro Boy), to last year's break out hit, Attack on Titan, successful series have usually been based on popular manga, video games or light novels. However, although anime began as a means of adaptation, every once in a while a completely original work will come along and blow your mind. In the late 90s, it was Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop. In the mid-00s, it was Imaishi's Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. This year, it just may be Bouryaku no Zvezda.

Bow to your new (adorable) lord and sovereign!

Everything about the show is bursting with originality and inventiveness. Studio A-1 Pictures, which was behind 2010's Anime no Chikara (lit, "the power of anime") series, is right at home developing an original project. Director Tensai Okamura, whose given name translates to "genius," has helmed several successful series over the course of his multi-decade career (including original series Wolf's Rain and Darker Than Black). To complete the production trifecta, scriptwriters from dojin circle-turned-industry giants Type-Moon have designed a colorful cast of characters to fill out Zvezda's roster.

Gathered here for a group photo.

Apart from their chibi-sized leader, the society's ranks include a hulking skeleton with a penchant for military dress and cake; a scantily-clad scientist and her robot sidekick; and a crass, katana-wielding femme fatale. Second-year middle school student and runaway Asuta Jimon rounds out the rogues gallery after finding himself caught up in the gang's latest skirmish with the JSDF. Just how Hoshimiya and company plan to take over the world remains to be seen, but, with the personnel involved, it's sure to be an exciting romp.

Winter Anime Season (Part 7)

Title: Hoozuki no Reitetsu
Release Date: January 9, 2014
Studio: Wit Studio
Genre: Comedy, Supernatural, Workplace Comedy
Synopsis: Based on the popular manga by Natsumi Eguchi, this series follows the day-to-day adventures of Hoozuki, Chief Administrator of Hell and Personal Aide to King Yama.

Verdict: Hell hasn't been this funny since Yondemasu yo, Azazel san. Much like that show, there's something delightfully absurd about the juxtaposition of fearsome cruel demons having mundane water cooler conversations. Compound that with Hoozuki's deadpan delivery as he commits unspeakable acts, e.g., slapping the shit out of Japanese folk hero Momotaro, and you've got a winning combination.

What's not to like?

Hoozuki's most winning quality, however, is that he is not wantonly destructive, spreading violence with no endgame in mind. In a hilarious twist, the very next scene sees him offering jobs to both Momotaro and his talking animal companions in understaffed departments. The show looks to get only more bizarre from there, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Winter Anime Season (Part 6)

Title: Hamatora
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Studio: Naz
Genre: Detective, Action/Adventure, Supernatural, Comedy
Synopsis: Friends and business partners Nice and Murasaki are the joint leaders of Hamatora, a freelance detective agency operated from inside a bar. Each member of Hamatora possesses a type of Minimum, or a special ability that activates when certain conditions are met.

Verdict: This may only be the second ever project for studio Naz, but it is already making the case for being one of the most fun and exciting series of the year. The pilot serves as a nice introduction for each member of the team and his/her special power. Nice, the scatterbrained leader, has the ability to see sound waves; much like his namesake, he often takes jobs that will allow his to help others. This often puts him at odds with the more practical Murasaki, who blames Nice's predisposition for their inability to pay the bills. To drive this point home, two jobs, one well-paying and one well-intentioned, arrive simultaneously; thinks go about as well as you'd expect.

Not pictured: Two rational adults reaching a consensus.

Meanwhile, their coworkers and fellow Minimun users, Birthday (yes, that's his real name) and Ratio, leave to work a third job as bodyguards. This allows veteran director Seiji Kishi (Seto no Hanayome, Angel Beats!) to highlight each character's separate strengths and, when a lead reveals that the cases are all related, how they work well together. By the the time the loose ends have come together, Hamatora is firing on all cylinders. The team members each have their own personal charm, and, more importantly, their own set of sweet moves to bust out when they activate their Minimum. Nor is the story lacking; the solution to the cases is unexpected (and amusing), and the first hints of an overarching villain are introduced as rumors of a Minimum user serial killer begin to spread. Between the winning cast, slick visuals, jazzy score and enticing plotlines, Hamatora is looking to be a fun watch.

Winter Anime Season (Part 5)

Title: Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta (Love Song for a Certain Pilot)
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Sibling pilot trainees Kal-el (seriously) and Ariel Albus join the Aerial Division of Cadoques High, seeking love, friendship and the mythical End of the Sky. Based on the light novel series by Koroku Inumura.

Verdict: Holy shitballs, that was pretty. It's no secret that a lot of time, love and care has gone into crafting each detail of Inumura's world, and, in spite of some on-the-nose romance scenes later in the episode, a compelling story seems to be taking shape. Set in a fantasy world dominated by aviation, the story begins with "Kal" and Ariel's induction ceremony.

And you thought your first day of school was stressful.

After sharing a tearful goodbye with their sisters and father, the brother and sister jump in their plane and fly to their new home - Cadoques High, a pilot school built on the flying island of Isla. Once there, Kal sets about the arduous task of settling into his new life and getting to know his fellow trainees - including an odd but friendly girl named Claire Cruz.

Let the shipping begin.

There's plenty to like here. As anyone who knows me could tell you, I'm a huge sucker for flying islands in fiction, and this anime is no exception. The stunning visuals aren't exactly a surprise considering TMS Entertainment's storied history, but that doesn't make breathtaking realism of each scene any less awe-inspiring. The story also seems to be developing at a good clip, with plenty of interesting questions being raised by the time the credits roll. Is there class conflict between the trainees of Royal birth and the commoners? Who is Nina Viento, and why does Kal flip out at the sight of her? What is the End of the Sky and why did Kal promise his mother that he would find it? What happened to his mother anyway? Why is Ignacio Axis such a frigid asshole? Why is the main character named after Superman? All of this and more remains to be seen, and the next episode can't get here soon enough.

Winter Anime Season (Part 4)

Title: D-Frag!
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Studio: Brain's Base
Genre: Comedy, School Life, Slice of Life
Synopsis: Kenji Kazama and his band of delinquents are determined to take over their new school but hit a snag when they stumble upon the weird shenanigans of the school's Game Creation Club and its even weirder president, Roka Shibasaki. Based on the popular manga series by Tomoya Haruno.

Verdict: Don't expect any life-changing revelations or shrewd commentaries on man's complicated nature here, this is pure, wacky, escapist comedy at its finest. Not surprising considering Brain's Base has a penchant for putting out quirky comedies with bizarre characters (e.g. Princess Jellyfish, My Teenage Comedy SNAFU, and Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun). The first episode features a wide range of feats of absurdity, including the most hilariously twisted parody of Pokemon since Egoraptor's PokeAwesome series.

"Defeated now, bitch?!" indeed.

D-Frag isn't here to make you think, it's here to make you laugh, and it's doing a bang-up job so far.

Winter Anime Season (Part 3) (NSFW!)

Title: Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga (aka Recently, My Sister is Unusual)
Release Date: January 4, 2014
Studio: Project No. 9
Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Supernatural
Synopsis: Yuya Kanzaki is thrown for a loop when his usually frigid stepsister, Mitsuki, suddenly becomes upbeat and affectionate. The cause: the disembodied spirit of Hiyori Kotobuki, who has possessed Mitsuki in order to earn Yuya's love.

Verdict: Oh myyyy. If this doesn't turn out to be the funniest anime of 2014, it's certainly making a case for being the steamiest. Never since the era of Seikon no Qwaser has there been such wanton display of girl-on-girl fanservice.

Seriously, I can't see the tits through all this story...wait.

The episode begins innocuously enough, with Yuya and Mitsuki joining their newlywed parents for breakfast before going through an uneventful school day. Mitsuki is cold toward her new brother at times, but there appears to be nothing out of the ordinary. That is, until Mitsuki unexpectedly collapses on a footbridge while walking home. When she comes to in the hospital ward, she does the unthinkable...and wraps Yuya in a great big hug. The move surprises everyone, including Mitsuki, and it's not long before we are introduced to the culprit, Hiyori, and her unique (very adult, often censored) way of saying hello.

Hint: They're not shaking hands right now...

...Or playing video games.

When it's not busy devolving into a steamy pile of entangled school girl limbs, the show displays some talent for evoking laughs at the bizarre situation and teases some more supporting characters. Judging from the fact that most of them are female, it's safe to say that Mitsuki and Hiyori won't be the only girls competing for Yuya's attention. Judging from the first episode, first-time director Hiroyuki Hata only has more (literally) juicy moments in store for viewers.

Anime is for children, you say? Good luck watching this with your mom.

It remains to be seen if an actual plot will develop between healthy helpings of kissing and fondling. Until then, expect plenty of opportunities to break out your best Takei face.

I'm sorry...but I'm not sorry.

Winter Anime Season (Part 2)

Title: Noragami
Release Date: January 5, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Comedy
Synopsis: Up-and-coming god Yato finds himself down on his luck when his Sacred Treasure, a type of living weapon, tenders her resignation. He resolves to fight evil by himself until a chance encounter with a high school girl changes his fortunes.

Verdict: This could be an early candidate for best anime of the Winter season, if not the year. Studio Bones has a successful track record as long as my arm, so the world of mangaka Adachitoka springs to life with vibrant colors and smoothly animated action sequences. Phantoms, supernatural ripples caused by strong emotions, come in all shapes and sizes; the first episode alone finds Yato facing down a giant red snake born from the malicious competitive spirit of exam week and a towering, gluttonous neon blue frog. Playing opposite Hiroshi Kamiya's Yato is Maaya Uchida as Hiyori Iki, a spunky, MMA-loving high school girl who finds herself caught up in the fledgling god's world after saving him from getting hit by a bus. Hiyori serves as a fitting stand-in for the audience since she often balks at the bizarre nature Yato's swashbuckling lifestyle. Although it looks like this is Kotaru Tamura's first turn as director, so far he seems to be doing a good job of balancing the fantastical with the everyday. After learning that her new companion fancies himself a god of immeasurable power, Hiyori's initial reaction is to call the police. Light moments like these sprinkled in between impressive supernatural action sequences make for an engaging viewing experience. If Noragami doesn't turn out to be one of the best series of the year, it'll still be one of the most fun to watch.

Winter Anime Season (Part 1)

Title: Witch Craft Works
Release Date: December 30, 2013
Studio: J.C. Staff
Genre: Supernatural, Magical Girlfriend, Harem, Comedy, School Life
Synopsis: Average high school student Honoka Takamiya suddenly finds his life turned upside down when a building mysteriously drops on him from the sky above. Honoka's is suddenly rescued by school idol Ayaka Kagari, who reveals herself as a witch sworn to protect him.

Verdict: Impressive production values and an intriguing premise save this from being just another harem. Based on Ryu Mizunagi's popular manga, the anime wastes no time throwing Takamiya into the over-the-top, silly and often dangerous world of witches. Facing such perils as falling buildings, armed bunny robots and Kagari's own rabidly jealous fan club, Takamiya rarely has time to process all of the weird circumstances in which he finds himself. His bumbling surprise and amusing observations are comically offset by Kagari's unflappable stoicism. Director Tsutomu Mizushima is right at home thanks to his work on gut-busters like Genshiken, Yondemasu yo Azazel san and +Tic Nee san, and the magical battles by J.C. Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun) balance a sense of absurdity and danger. Much like Takamiya himself, the audience barely has time to breath in between new revelations that raise new burning questions. How does magic work? Who are the "Tower Witches" and why are they after Takamiya in the first place? Is Kagari always an emotionless doll? This show is enticing enough to warrant a second look.