Conan Changing Format on TBS Late Night Show

In TV news, there may be a shake-up to TBS’ late night line-up. According to early reports by The Wrap, TBS and Conan O’Brien are mulling over a switch from nightly to weekly shows. Turner entertainment chief executive Kevin Reilly, who took over control of the TBS and sister channel TNT, explained that no choice had been made regarding the change in format and the decision rested largely with O’Brien himself. O’Brien has recently partnered with the network on several ventures outside of his talk show, including live-action comedy People of Earth and an expansion of his popular Clueless Gamer segment into yet another program. His contract with Turner runs through 2018, and the company has been quick to assure reporters that they plan to work with him long beyond that. I understand that the nature of the business sometimes calls for such changes, but Conan O’Brien has been my favorite part of the world of late night for as long as I can remember. The thought of not having him on four nights a week just kind of takes the wind out of my sails a bit.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 7)

Title: Mekakucity Actors
Release Date: April 12, 2014
Studio: Shaft
Genre: Supernatural, Sci Fi, Action/Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Premise: Based on the series of Vocaloid songs. A series of incidents on August 14th and 15th draws together a group of teenagers with eye-based powers.

Verdict: Jesus Tap dancing Christ that was pretty. It may not be clear what exactly is happening by the end of the first episode, but it's certain that Mekakucity Actors is a feast for the eyes. For the uninitiated, the show is based on a hugely popular series of music videos using the popular Vocaloid software. Each song deals with members of a group of gifted teens who call themselves Mekakushi Dan (lit: "Blindfold Gang").

It is probably due to the established fandom that the first episode dives right in with little exposition. The first character introduced is Shintaro Kisaragi, a NEET shut-in with a mysterious AI , named ENE, living on his computer. After a mishap involving an open soda bottle and a keyboard, Shintaro works up enough courage to venture into the outside world and off to the nearest hardware store. Things go smoothly for Shintaro's first day back in society...until a terrorist group attacks the same hardware store and holds everyone prisoner. Things only get more interesting for there.

As mentioned above, Shintaro's world and its wonderfully weird goings-on look absolutely amazing. Shaft is still fond of playing with colors, painting the locales with a bright, vibrant palette. Director Akiyuki Shinbo, already winning this year with the super-fun Nisekoi, seems to be having a lot of fun teasing viewers with hints of the craziness to come. And I can't wait to see more.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 5)

Title: No Game No Life
Release Date: April 9, 2014
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Fantasy, Psychological, Comedy
Premise: Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister pair of hikikomori NEETs that excel at online games, reign undefeated under the moniker "BLANK." After defeating a mysterious opponent, they are transported to an alternate reality where everything from petty disputes to national borders is decided by playing games.

Verdict: This is the latest in a line of popular "socially awkward loner gets sucked into favorite game" series that have popped up. First came Sword Art Online and Btooom! in 2012, followed by last year's Log Horizon. It's easy to see why shows like these would appeal to members of Japanese society's robust gaming otaku subculture. The protagonists of these series are usually quiet, withdrawn, unproductive members of society, gaming to escape their mundane realities.

When they wind up living their favorite pastime, they usually react with elation - here their formerly useless skills are suddenly invaluable, the countless hours spent honing odd abilities finally bearing fruit. However, at the end of the day, all of these slackers-turned-heroes try to return home. At the end of the pilot, our fearless protagonist Sora notes this trope and proceeds to do away with it completely: "Why would they try to go back to a world like that?"

This is the mentality with which Sora and his sister approach life, scorning the outside world, sunlight and other people. They play online games from sun-up to sundown, subsisting on rations and convenience store food. The pair is on the tail end of a five-day gaming bender when they receive a strange invite from an anonymous source online. After a pitched battle of computer chess, brother and sister are whisked away to Disboard - world ruled by gaming. Sora and Shiro waste no time diving into their new environment, traveling to a town where a new king is being determined via poker game.

The fantastical setting, and Shiro and Sora's nonchalant, devil-may-care reaction to it, is very intriguing. It also doesn't hurt when a studio as world-renowned as Madhouse is handling animation duties; even the most mundane games become suspenseful action sequences. It will be interesting to follow this series and see what shenanigans Sora and his sister get up to in their new digs.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 3)

Title: Black Bullet
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci Fi, Comedy
Premise: Based on the popular manga by Shiden Kanzaki. It has been 10 years since the Gastrea first attacked humanity. Now, mankind fights back with pairs of Initiators, girls born with Gastrea DNA, and Promoters, agents tasked with watching and handling their Initiators. A young Promoter, Rentaro Satomi, and his Initiator, Enju Aihara, face off with a mysterious man who vows to destroy the world.

Verdict: Hyperviolent prepubescent girls haven't looked this good since Gunslinger Girl. There's something to be said about Japan's obsession with cute-as-a-button moeblobs who can utterly destroy opponents several times bigger than them. That's a subject for another post, however. Despite the use of such a tired character archetype, Black Bullet is aiming to please with a heady mix of mystery and sci fi action.

Things get rolling quickly with a brief prologue segment; a young Rentaro witnesses the beginning of the Gastrea invasion, watching in terror as a hideous creature falls from the skies. The show then jumps ahead 10 years, catching up with a grown-up Rentaro who lives as a Promoter. His day-to-day consists of hunting the Gastrea, giant monsters that infect and transform any person they touch, with his overly affectionate (and jealous) Initiator partner, Enju.

Rentaro is in the middle of investigating a Gastrea attack when he encounters a strange masked man who vows to destroy the world. Although he fights valiantly, Rentaro is hardly able to put a scratch on the guy, who proceeds to jump out of window and vanish. The rest of the episode is devoted to exposition and introducing secondary characters, including Rentaro's fiery boss at the civil security agency, Kisara Tendo.

The pilot serves as a simple introduction to Rentaro's world, and leave plenty of questions to be answered. Who is the man in the mask? What is the secret behind Initiators, born with Gastrea DNA but unaffected by it? Will Enju ever stop trying to jump Rentaro's bones? Even with a short track record, fledgling studio Kinema Citrus has done a solid adaptation job so far.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 2)

Title: Soul Eater Not!
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Supernatural, Action, Comedy
Premise: This series returns to the halls of Shibusen's weapon meister academy with a new central trio of heroes: Tsugumi Harudori, Anya Hepburn and Meme Tatane.

Verdict: I have a general rule about not reviewing sequels or second seasons of established series, but spin-offs provide a nice loophole. Although set in a familiar universe, they give audiences a chance to experience a brand-new story or revisit past events from a new perspective. Set before the events of the original series, Soul Eater Not follows Tsugumi Harudori, a first-year Shibusen weapon with the ability to become a halberd.

When her weapon abilities manifest during an accident in her apartment, Tsugumi decides to hop on a plane to America, beginning studies at Shibusen. Joining her are a pair of first-year meisters: air-headed Meme Tatane and aloof rich girl Anya Hepburn. Together, the trio of female leads tackle their first day of classes - attending orientation, picking weapon/meister partners and even battling a few unruly classmates.

There are a few pleasant cameos by regulars from the original series, but it's doubtful that they will turn up again if the show plans to spin a separate narrative.

The gang's all here! ... But only for five seconds at a time!

Although the faces are new, Studio Bones' A-list production talent is instantly recognizable. Director Masakazu Hashimoto appears comfortable at the helm, deftly handling the emotional beats of the three female leads. Even after four years, Shibusen still feels like a lot of fun.

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 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.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 9)!

Title: Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru (aka Noucome)
Release Date: Oct. 9, 2013
Studio: Diomedea
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
Premise: Kanade Amakusa is just like any other high school-age boy, except for his ability (or is it a curse?) of Absolute Multiple Choice: periodically Kanade is presented with two equally absurd choices, and whichever he chooses will come to pass in the real world.

Verdict: I am pleasantly surprised. Usually romantic comedy anime cash in on gratuitous shots of bouncing boobies and underwear, but every once in a while there's a show that tips the scale more towards laughs than fan service. Noucome is just such a show. Good humor subverts the audience's expectations by introducing extraordinary elements to ordinary situations. And nothing is more extraordinary than Kanade's Absolute Multiple Choice.

Imagine having a completely innocuous conversation with a classmate and suddenly being forced to choose between 1) asking to touch her boobs and 2) asking her to touch yours. This is only the first of many difficult choices Kanade is forced to make throughout the day, and I'd really feel for the guy if I wasn't too busy laughing. Each Absolute Multiple Choice provides a one-two comedy punch of anticipation over which answer he'll choose and payoff watching his choices play out in reality. It's a unique gimmick that shouldn't get old for a while.

It's a bit early to comment on the anime's story since the catalyst for the romantic part of the show wasn't introduced until the end of the episode. After a day of dealing with particularly bizarre choices, Kanade is presented with the choice of either catching a beautiful girl who falls from the sky or catching his overweight neighbor; he elects the former and a new chapter of his life appears to begin. This girl from the sky claims she's here to rescue him, but it remains to be seen how she'll accomplish this. In the meantime, the shenanigans that are sure to follow should peak viewers' interest.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 7)!

Title: Galilei Donna
Release Date: Oct. 10, 2013
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Premise: Three estranged sisters, who happen to be descended from Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, are thrown into an adventure when a secret organization attempts to abduct them one day.

Verdict: I'll admit this one slipped under my radar, but after watching the first episode I'm glad I gave it a chance. Add in the futuristic sci-fi setting, the involvement of studio A-1 Pictures and director Yasuomi Umetsu, of Kite and Mezzo Forte fame, and I'm surprised I made it this far without hearing about it.

When the episode begins, the shock of the abductions hits you as suddenly as it hits the three protagonists. Hazuki Ferrari, 20, Kazuki Ferrari, 17, and Hozuki Ferrari, 13, are all going about their lives with little regard for one another. Hazuki, a jaded law student who is failing out of her program, skips classes to go drinking with her friends. High schooler Kazuki is also skipping class (the lesson included a group exercise and she's a serious misanthrope) to lounge in the nurse's office and fawn over a picture of her crush. Hozuki avoids school altogether, tinkering in her garage and wandering the streets on her collapsible motorized scooter. The peace of their idyllic lives is shattered as men in sunglasses attack Hazuki and Kazuki, while a UAV drone swoops down and begins pursuing Hozuki through the streets.

All three sisters manage to beat back their would-be abductors - Hazuki with her words, Kazuki with her fists, and Hozuki with her invented gadgets - and show off their different personalities and talents in the process. Each has her shortcomings, but all three sisters are brilliant in some way. We are also introduced to a colorful cast of secondary characters, including the girls' dysfunctional divorced parents,  overbearing Sylvia and easy-going academic Geshio, and a flashy sky pirate captain named Cicinho. It's never made clear what the mysterious kidnappers are after, but it's still early enough in the game to leave those answers for later.

There's already plenty to look forward to with this one. I'm eager to see how the girls' different skills, Hozuki's brains, Kazuki's brawn, and Hazuki's smart mouth, will work together. Not to mention sparks are already flying between Cicinho and the hot-headed Hazuki, whom he has affectionately nicknamed "Bambina." There are a lot interesting pieces at play already, and with A-1 Pictures' track record, this might be another home run original series.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 5)!

Title: Outbreak Company
Release Date: Oct. 3, 2013
Studio: Feel
Genre: Comedy, Harem, Supernatural, Ecchi
Premise: After acing an online pop culture quiz, bona fide otaku Kanou Shinichi is recruited by an undercover government agency to serve as an economic liaison between Japan and a newly discovered fantasy world in another dimension.

Verdict: Pretty funny for a harem. I tend to steer clear of anime that is too heavy on the fanservice, but so far OC has given some substance to a genre that is often nothing but ass n titties. As is customary for a typical harem character, Shinichi is a thoroughbred geek. He is fluent in all pop culture references and tropes, maintains a significant collection of figurines, games, and tankobon, and, most tellingly, has no love life to speak of, having long since been rejected (by his childhood friend, no less!) for his peculiar interests. Likewise, the female characters introduced so far all fit into particular moe tropes: the timid and clumsy petite maid, the busty and mature older sister, and the fussy, temperamental younger sister.

Where the show really gets its legs is the unique setting: the magical kingdom of Eldant. Shinichi wakes up in this fantasy world filled with dragons, elves and lizard men after coming to what he thought was a job interview for a tech company. His interviewer turns out to be a government big shot who has scouted Shinichi to manage mass media distribution for his company, Amutec's, newly formed Eldant branch, in charge of marketing anime, manga and video games to Eldant's population. The job's appeal is easy to see - I don't think there's an otaku alive who would pass up the chance to explain the merits of Street Fighter compared to Dead or Alive to a real live elf - and this should give the show some substance in between conveniently angled panty shots. All in all the pop culture references and celebration of geek culture make this one harem I can get behind. Give it a spin!

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 2)!

Title: Kyoukai no Kanata
Release Date: Oct 3, 2013
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genre: Action/Adventure, Supernatural, Slice of Life, School Life, Comedy
Premise: Easy-going high school student Akihito Kanbara's peaceful life is interrupted when he thwarts the suicide attempt of Mirai Kuriyama. When Mirai rewards Akihito's bravado by stabbing him through the heart, he, an immortal half-human half-youma, and she, a Spirit World Warrior sworn to hunt youma, find their fates irreparably intertwined.

Verdict: A surprisingly pleasant first episode. This one initially swept under my radar because of the cliche setting ( high schoolers dealing with supernatural powers? again?), but the writers have created an interesting dynamic between the lead characters. After their initial encounter, Akihito does his best to avoid Mirai's constant after school ambushes. The last scion of a special clan of Spirit World Warriors with the ability to harden their blood and shape it into weapons, Mirai is something of a pariah in the Warrior community. She has yet to kill her first youma, and has resolved to use the immortal Akihito as target practice. Akihito's childhood friend (and fellow literary club member), Mitsuki Nase, also happens to be the daughter of the most prominent local family of Spirit World Warriors. She warns Akihito not to become further involved with Mirai, although it is not clear whether this is out of concern or flirtatious jealousy (since this is an anime, it's probably both).

Studio Kyoto Animation has a significant track record of "school life with a twist" series under its belt, having previously released such classics as Full Metal Panic and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and their experience is apparent here. Lighthearted segments of everyday high school life are peppered with dazzling bits of smoothly animated supernatural fighting action, and the transitions between the two feel very natural. Writer Jukki Hanada has done a good job of whetting my interest and setting up some intriguing questions to be answered in future episodes. This remains one to watch.

Summer Premier Season (Part Nine): Gin no Saji

Title: Gin no Saji
Release Date: July 11, 2013
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: School Life, Slice of Life, Comedy
Premise: When Yugo Hachiken fails to get into his intended high school, he enrolls at Oezo Agricultural High School instead, thinking that the easy classes will leave plenty of time to study for college entrance exams. What he doesn't know is that Oezo's curriculum also requires back-breaking amounts of hard labor. Shenanigans ensue.

Verdict: Conventional wisdom would tell you to leave this anime alone. The subject matter, farm life, is quite a departure anime's usual fare. The first episode, although energetically animated, is pretty forgettable. And finally, I can't see any otaku's Top Ten List including an anime about farming. Case closed, right?

Not quite. This particular anime about farm life happens to be based on a manga by Hiromu Arakawa.

Self portrait. JK, she really looks like this

 In case that name doesn't ring a bell, she's the brilliant creative mind behind everyone's favorite anime about alchemy: Fullmetal Alchemist. As it turns out, after wrapping up production on one of the greatest anime/manga series of all time (let's just say it's on a lot of people's Top Ten Lists) in 2010, Arakawa-sensei began work on this puppy in 2011. The story hits a bit closer to home than her previous efforts, as it is inspired by her childhood growing up on a Hokkaido dairy farm.

'Nuff said, you had me at "Hiromu Arakawa." If anyone could pull off an anime about farming, it's her. Production studio A-1 Pictures seems to agree, as they've already greenlit and scheduled a second season which will premier next year. If it takes a few episodes for this one to get going, I completely understand. Based on the author's track record, your patience is sure to be rewarded.