It’s that time of the season again… Nope, I’m not talking about Christmas just yet. ;P
Before that, here’s a rough list of Winter 2007 anime that will be airing this season. A few of them sounds interesting… I’ll make a batch list of my impressions when the subs are released. I might have missed a few others, but either way, here’s the information that I’ve been able to collect (listed in alphabetical order, by month) and all of which will start airing on January 2008, except for a couple of titles airing on December 2007 and February 2008.
Without further ado, let’s proceed to the Winter 2007/2008 anime preview list, shall we?
- DECEMBER 2007
Ayakashi
More info – Official Site NOT related to the other Ayakashi titles that have been previously released.When: 12/12/2007
12/02/2007 (episode 1 special broadcast)
12/08/2007 (episode 2 special broadcast)
Preview: Watch promo 1; Watch promo 2 (w/ English subs)
Synopsis: Adapted from the 2005 adults-only superhuman battle action visual novel game Ayakashi. Ayakashi is a parasite life force that gives superpowers to its host, taking in return the host’s entire life force. Kusaka Yuu is a student that lost his will to live after the death of a dear childhood friend, until the day a mysterious girl, named Yoake Eimu, appears. From that moment on, his life would never be the same again. Hunted by Ayakashi and their hosts, the power within Yuu awakens and a never ending battle begins. (from: ANN)
- JANUARY 2008
Aria The Origination (3rd season)
More info – Official Site
When: 01/07/2007
Synopsis: On the planet Aqua lies the watery city of Neo Venezia, a tourist hub in which people travel around in gondolas. Professional gondoliers known as Undines are well-revered as they act as tour guides for the people. Akari Mizunashi is a gondolier in training and also an employee of Aria Company. She gets to meet all sorts of people as she takes them on the gondola rides, from friendly mentors to special individuals, all this admidst the beautiful scenic backdrop of the entire city. (from: ANN)
Gunslinger Girl – Il Taetrino- (2nd season)
More info – Official Site
When: 01/07/2007
Synopsis: When the Social Welfare Agency investigates the disappearance of an operative, their inquiry leads them right into the lair of their rival, the Five Republics. The assassin Triela infiltrates the hostile organization, but her search is cut short when she finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun. (from: ANN)
H2O~Footprints in the Sand~
More info – Official Site: Anime, Visual Novel
When: 01/02/2008
Synopsis: H2O’s story revolves around Takuma Hirose, a blind young male high school student, though the cause for his blindness is undetermined. After his mother died an unexpected death, it left a deep emotional scare on him, which caused him to become very lonely and reserved. Due to this, Takuma and his father moved from the city out into a rural area and Takuma is enrolled into a new high school. At his new school, he meets several new girls, though three of whom he gets to know the most out of anyone else. They are, the firm and obstinate Hayami Kohinata, the kind and obliging Hinata Kagura, and the cheerful and mysterious Otoha. As Takuma interacts with these girls, his medical condition gradually begins to heal. (from: Wikipedia)
Hakaba Kitarou
More info – Official Site
GeGeGe no Kitaro is a manga series created in 1959 (under the alternative title Hakaba Kitarō) by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. It is best known for its popularization of the folklore creatures known as yōkai, a class of spirit-monster to which all of the main characters belong. It has been adapted for the screen several times, as anime (all animated by Toei Animation), live-action, and video games.
When: 01/10/2008
(Probable) Synopsis: Kitaro is a yōkai boy born in a cemetery, and aside from his mostly-decayed father, the last living member of the Ghost tribe. He is missing his left eye, but his hair usually covers the empty socket. He fights for peace between humans and yōkai, which generally involves protecting the former from the wiles of the latter. (from: Wikipedia)
Hatenkou Yuugi
More info – Official Site
Also known as Dazzle.
When: 01/04/2008
Synopsis: A young girl named Rahzel is booted out of her house one day by her father with the instructions to ‘see the world.’ And so her journey begins, However, she won’t be doing it alone … for she befriends a stoic young man named Alzeido seeking revenge for his father’s murder. Alzeido and Rahzel are like oil and water … but even still, they feel strangely drawn to one another. This could be either the result of an underlying attraction – or their shared powers with magic. And so, the two reluctant allies travel from town to town, using their powers to help the helpless, while discovering their own respective places in the world. (from: ANN)
Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
More info – Official Site
This is also known as Kimiaru or They Are My Noble Masters.
When: 01/04/2008
I haven’t been able to find much info about this except for this forum post at AnimeSuki: H-game it may be, but female fans may also enjoy the premise: in the game, the player’s character is a butler who must serve a demanding wealthy heiress. The Kuonji family is a very old and very rich one with three daughters, each of whom has her own wait staff. It’s a Kuonji family tradition for the wait staff to swear absolute loyalty to their masters, so when teenage runaway Ren Uesugi and his sister Mihato are desperate for the job (and the money), they agree to make the pledge. (from: AnimeSuki)
Major (4th season)
More info – Official Site: Anime, Manga
When: 01/05/2008
Synopsis: Shigeharu Honda is a Major Leauge batter on the rise. His son Goro is a Little League pitcher who one day hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps. Momoko Hoshino is Goro’s schoolteacher, and the first woman Shigeharu has been interested in since the death of Goro’s mother. The destines of these three individuals will become intertwined as father and son experience both heartbreak and triumph on the baseball diamond. But when an unspeakable tragedy visits the family, it will take everything they have to pick up the pieces and reclaim their dreams. (from: ANN)
Minami-Ke ~Okawari~
More info — Official site: Anime, Manga
When: 01/06/2008
An alternate retelling of the currently airing Minami-Ke. There are two anime adaptations of Minami-ke done by two separate animation studios. The first, under the original title Minami-ke is produced by Doumu and began airing on TV Tokyo on 10/07/2007. After the first anime ends, a second will begin in January 2008 by Asread under the title Minami-ke ~Okawari~, and will also air on TV Tokyo. (from: Wikipedia)
Moegaku ★5
More info – Official Site
Also known as Moegaku 5.
When: 01/14/2008
This was all the info I was able to find on this title: The anime version of Moegaku 5, originally an English language learning dating sim, premieres January 14th — claims to teach 5 different languages in one sitting. The show will air for 15 minutes every weekday and star Aya Hirano. (from: moetron)
Noramimi
More info – Official Site
When: 01/09/2007
Synopsis: A world where mascots aren’t just marketing tools. Families contact mascot agencies, to find a suitable one for their children. This story focuses on one such agency, which has its very own mascot: Noramimi, the syrup-stirring Kaminari Kozo (Lightning Kid). (from: ANN)
Ookami to Kishenryou
More info – Official Site
Also known as Spice and Wolf.
When: 01/08/2008
Preview: Watch trailer (low quality)
Synopsis: Ōkami to Kōshinryō’s story revolves around Craft Lawrence, a twenty-five-year-old peddler travelling from town to town selling and buying various things to make a living during a period much like Europe in the Middle Ages. His main goal in life is to gather enough money to start his own shop, and he already has been travelling for seven years while gaining experience in the trade. One night when stopped at a town, he finds in his wagon a 250-year-old pagan wolf-deity girl named Holo. She appears to be that of a fifteen-year-old girl, except for a wolf’s tail and ears. She introduces herself as the town’s goddess of harvest who has kept it blessed with good harvests of wheat for many years. Despite having the responsibility to watch over the town, she wants to go back to her homeland in the north called Yoitsu; she believes the people have already forsaken her anyway and that she has kept her promise to maintain the good harvests. Holo wants also to travel to see the world how the world has changed while she has remained in one place for years. She manages to bargain her way out of the village by making a deal with Lawrence to take her with him. As they travel, her wisdom helps increase his profits, but at the same time, her true nature draws unwanted attention from the church. (from: Wikipedia)
Persona – trinity soul –
More info – Official Site
Aniplex’s A-1 Pictures is adapting the Persona 3 PlayStation 2 role-playing game as a television anime series under the name Persona -trinity soul- for a January 2008 premiere. The anime is set a decade after the game, and will center around three brothers in a future city where the dead have risen with their skins turned inside out. The Persona games themselves are spin-offs from the long-running Shin Megami Tensei series. (from: ANN)
When: 01/05/2008
Preview: Watch trailer
Synopsis: The story takes place in Ayanagi City facing the Sea of Japan. It is a future oriented city recovered from the disaster, “Simultaneous Multiple Languish Syndrome”. A high school student, Kazato Shin (17), and his little brother, Jun (14), meet their bother Ryo, who is the chief of the police in Ayanagi City although he is young (28), after an interval of 10 years.
In those days, strange events occur in Ayanagi City; sudden disappearance of all the crews of a submarine, “Languish Syndrome” after 10 years interval, “Inside out dead bodies case” – students are killed and turned into miserable figures. Ryo chases the organization lurks in a series of the events. On the other hand, because Shin is involved in the events, he materializes a grotesque featured “Persona”. Now that, the fate of the brothers begins to change. (from: anime forums)
Porfy no Tagai Tabi
More info – Official Site
Also known as The Long Journey of Porphy.
When: 01/06/2008
Nippon Animation will premiere Porufi no Nagai Tabi (The Long Journey of Porphy or Porphyras), an adaptation of the French novel Les Orphelins de Simitra (The Orphans of Simitra) by Paul-Jacques Bonzon and the 25th entry in the company’s World Masterpiece Theater franchise. In the original novel, Porphyras (Yuki Kaida) is a Greek boy who was orphaned with his sister Mina (Ayumi Fujimura) by an earthquake. The two siblings decide to embark on a journey across Europe instead of staying in their foster home in an unfamiliar country. (from: ANN)
Rosario to Vampire
More info – Official Site: Anime, Manga
When: 01/03/2008
Synopsis: Due to poor grades, Tsukune Aono, an average high school student, has been unable to get accepted into any private academy of his choice. By exceptional accident, the only school to accept him turns out to be anything but ordinary; the school is attended by youkai disguised as humans. Fearing for his life, he attempts to escape only to meet Moka Akashiya, a beautiful girl who just happens to be a vampire. Despite this, Tsukune decides to stay at the academy, hiding his human nature from students and teachers. Tsukune also discovers that when the rosary around Moka’s neck is removed, her true nature emerges. (from: ANN)
Shigofumi
More info – Official Site
Also known as Shigofumi ~Stories of Last Letter~
When: 01/05/2008
Preview: Watch trailer
Synopsis: A story about a miracle, involving Fumika, a quiet but hardworking girl who wears a uniform that of a mail carrier, and her talkative staff and partner Mayama. The Shigofumi is a posthumous letter, the last resort of relaying a deceased person’s last message to his/her loved ones: family, friends, and significant other. (from: ANN)
True Tears
More info – Official Site
Preview: Promo 1 trailer; Promo 2 trailer (w/ English subs)
Synopsis: Dreams, hopes, and aspirations … are things that all people draw their visions of what the “future” may hold for them. Some are pastel-coloured; others are darker in hue; still others shine radiant and unblemished like the hands of the rain. What are my dreams? What are my hopes? What do I aspire to become? These are questions that the characters of this story ask themselves. But must all of them turn at last to weeping? Must they all harbour such darkness under the shadow of the wings of their hearts? Some of them carry the wounds of the past with them still, the burden causing them to lose sight of their dreams. Others see insurmountable walls between them and the things they dream of, causing them to walk away and give up. And still others – worst of all – have forgotten what it is to dream altogether. And so they smile, smile warmly and widely, in order to hide away the darkness and pain in their hearts … in order to shut out the future itself. But the moment a girl should step forth and say “no more” – that is the beginning and the end. (from: anime forums)
Wellber no Monogatari Zwei
More info – Official Site
This is also known as Sisters of Wellber Zwei.
After a first season of 13 episodes, Takayuki Hamana’s road movie-style fantasy TV series Sisters of Wellber is back with a brand new season, Sisters of Wellber Zwei, to premiere in Japan in January 2008. All the staff from the previous season is confirmed.
The show is jointly created and developed by Production I.G and Avex Entertainment.
When: 01/01/2008
Synopsis: The loquacious sentient tank, Gyrano De Borgerac seems very busy being pampered by solicitous maids. The fairy Sherri, too, is enjoying the luxury of the court’s life. And for Rita, time has come to face her duties as princess of Wellber. But Tina is resolute: she wants to continue her search for the Man with a tattoo of Bee the Death, the devil who exterminated her family. An unspeakable feeling of sadness fills the hearts of the two girls, who shared so much and are now about to say farewell to each other. And then, on the day of Tina’s departure… A new journey that will take Tina walking across the still sore scars of the Great War that wiped out entire cities ten years before, until the most unsuspected truth about her nemesis! (from: Production IG site)
Yatterman
More info – Official Site
A remake of the 1977 anime of the same title, with the voices of the villains from the original returning to reprise their roles. A live-action movie is also in production.
Synopsis: A mysterious gem called the “Skull Stone” is said to be able to reveal the location of the largest vein of gold in the world. This legend has entranced many people who wanted to get their hands on fame, power and wealth, including the trio of villains in this show: the “Dorombo Gang”. However, their hunt for the Skull Stone is not as easy as they imagined, mainly due to the faulty information they receive from their leader; and most of all, by a justical duo of pursuers called the “Yatterman”! (from: Wikipedia)
Zoku Sayonara Setsubo Sensei
More info – Official Site: Anime, Manga
Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei‘s 2nd season.
When: 01/05/2008
Synopsis: Itoshiki Nozomu is the world’s most negative person. To his way of thinking, there is no hope or meaning in this existence. Even the three kanji of his name become the two-kanji word zetsubou, “despair”, when compressed. What an ironic twist of fate, then, that he becomes teacher to a class containing his precise opposite, the invincibly positive-minded Fuura Kafuka. (from: ANN)
- FEBRUARY 2008
Yes! Precure 5 Go Go!
More info – Official Site
When: 02/2008
The Japanese website of Asahi TV has confirmed on November 28 that Yes! Precure 5 Go Go!, the fifth television series in the Precure magical girl franchise, will premiere next spring. The title is an apparent wordplay on the seminal anime series Mach Go Go Go! (Speed Racer). [The Japanese words for “series number” and “5,” and the English term “go,” can be pronounced almost exactly the same way.] An earlier, tentative title (“Yes! Precure Go Go Go!”) for the fifth series had been inadvertently revealed when pre-orders for official accessories were posted online. Toei Animation (Sailor Moon, Ojamajo Doremi) has been producing the Precure franchise since 2004. (from: ANN)
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- The following is my temporary Winter anime list (which could get jumbled up when I actually see the episodes :D). For the meantime, based purely on the synopses and the looks of it, the titles which sound interesting to me are these:
Will probably check out…
- Hatenkou Yuugi – sounds interesting, it’s a romantic comedy, plus it’s Studio DEEN.
- Ookami to Kishenryou – sounds interesting.
- Wellber no Monogatari Zwei – mainly because it’s by Production IG. I loved their work with Seirei no Moribito and I’m finding Ghost Hound quite interesting, so I’m beginning to think that any of their work is worth checking out. I wasn’t familiar with the 1st season of Wellber, but I might have a look at it sometime.
- True Tears – after reading the synopsis, it somehow reminded me of ef – a tale of memories (which I’m currently watching). We’ll see if this will be justified. 😛
- Shigofumi – the posthumous letter to relay the deceased person’s last message caught my attention. It reminded me of a book that I read (“PS I Love You” by Cecilia Ahern) that had a similar idea (without the wings and mail-carrier uniform of course :D). It also helps that it’s a JC staff production.
Will definitely watch…
- Zoku Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei
- Minami-ke ~Okawari~
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As usual, thanks to Fansub Wiki where I got the Winter 2007/2008 titles for the list. ^_^
The Winter season is looking even thinner than this season first appeared. Well, I say that now, but I’ll probably still end up picking up 10+ shows xD
Along with what carries over from this season, I’ll definitely be checking out SZS 2 and the new season of Aria. Anything else I pick up will basically have to be a love comedy. 😛
I know what you mean! ~Lol. I’ll be looking forward to reading your posts.
I’ve been wondering about Aria, but I haven’t seen the past 2 seasons. So I would have to do much catching up on that one. xD
Love comedies rule! I couldn’t really tell which is which based only on the synopsis and genre, so I guess we’ll get to decide better which to see when the episodes finally come. ^_^
Great List, animes that I’m looking forward to most are Sayonara S2, Minami-ke, and Persona. Persona 3 is one of the best rpgs in 2007; I would recommend playing it before watching the anime tho.
Thanks! It looks like there are also a few interesting stuff premiering.
Sayonara and Minami-Ke fans represent! ^_^
Haven’t tried playing Persona, though, so I’m not so sure. Thanks for that info! Maybe I’ll take a peek at the game. Is it like Silent Hill or Resident Evil kind of stuff? or perhaps more CSI-ish, like solving a mystery?
Persona’s a japanese rpg, so think along the lines of Final Fantasy, in the game you have to balance your daily life/social life/school/your health kinda like The Sim while at night you would explore and do some dungeon crawling, but the best part of the game is the characters and the story.