Just in time, I think. Here’s a rough list of Summer 2008 anime that will be airing this season. Most of the titles will start airing in July, except for a couple of three titles in June. As usual, batch list of my first impressions will follow when the subs are out. 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).
Onto the Summer 2008 anime preview list!
- JUNE 2008
Chocolate Underground (ONA)
More info – Official Site
When: Early Summer 2008
It will be animated by Production IG. They will stream anime version through mobile phones and computers. (from: ANN news-1, news-2)
Synopsis: Adapted from the children’s novel “Bootleg” by the British author Alex Shearer. The story centers on two 13-year-old boys who live in a country that has banned chocolate and mandated fruits and vegetables for daily consumption. The boys discover a stash of cocoa and sugar and decide to run a bootleg chocolate factory, in complete defiance of the government run by the oppressive Good for You Party. Their misadventures eventually sparks a revolution in the country. (from: Manga Updates)
Ikkitousen: Great Guardians
More info – Official Site
When: 06/11/2008
Not much info, other than it’s the third season of the Ikkitousen series and will involve a brand-new storyline and added characters. (from: Wikipedia)
Telepathy Shoujo Ran
More info – Official Site
When: 06/21/2008
Synopsis: Ran is a bright and energetic first-grader in junior high school who possesses supernatual abilities. Together with Midori (her friend who also has supernatural powers) and Rui, the threesome are constantly embroiled in mysterious circumstances. Ran is troubled by her powers because it seems to spark off the ill intentions of people in contact with her. However, with the support of her family and peers, Ran learns to deal with her ‘other’ side and accepts who she is. The threesome also learn how to team up as a whole and solve these mysterious events. (from: ANN)
- JULY 2008
Birdy the Mighty Decode
More info – Official Site
Also known as Tetsuwan Birdy Decode
When: 07/05/2008
It is a manga by Masami Yuki, who is best known for producing the long-running series Patlabor. His initial work on the series was quickly abandoned, but it was made into an anime, which was produced and, on the last episode, scripted by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who is known for anime titles such as Vampire Hunter D, and Ninja Scroll. The character designer and animation director for the series was Kumiko Takahashi. In 2003, Masami Yuki began serializing a second, more ambitious Birdy the Mighty manga serialized in Weekly Young Sunday, which will again be made into an anime
Synopsis: Tsutomu Senkawa is an average high school kid who is busy studying for his senior entrance exams. Tsutomu goes out for some fresh air, after a hard day’s work studying for a big test, when he runs into a guy fleeing from a pretty young lady. The pursued man is actually an interplanetary criminal on the run from a Federation agent called Birdy Cephon Altera. Caught in the midst of this chase, Tsutomu gets thrown by the man at Birdy, which kills Tsutomu. Fortunately for Tsutomu, there is a way to keep him alive, although it comes at the price of discarding his body. He ends up merged into Birdy’s body. (from: Wikipedia)
Blade of the Immortal
More info – Official Site
When: 07/13/2008
Synopsis: Manji is a crass, violent samurai with a special ability: he cannot die. Cursed with immortality by the nun Yobikuni as punishment for his ruthless deeds, he has grown weary of his ageless life. The only way to lift the curse is to slay 1,000 evil men. So Manji wanders Japan, shedding the blood of the wicked on his quest to finally die. (from: ANN)
Hidamari Sketch x 365
More info – Official Site
When: 07/03/2008
Second season of Hidamari Sketch.
Synopsis: Hidamari Sketch centers around a young girl named Yuno who finally is able to get accepted into Yamabuki High School, which she has longed for. To attend the school, Yuno moves and starts to live in a small apartment building named the Hidamari Apartments located near the school. Once there, she starts making new friends like her classmate Miyako and the second year students, Hiro and Sae. There is no real plot line to the story but rather the events of the characters’ everyday lives are shown as they attend the school together and get to know each other better. (from: Wikipedia)
Koihime Musou
More info – Official Site
When: 07/2008
Synopsis: Not much info, other than it’s based on BaseSon’s adult PC adventure game “Koihime Musou”, set in the style of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Anime production by Dogakobo (Myself, Yourself), directed by Nakanishi Nobuaki (Sumomomo Momomo, Kashimashi) (from: MAL)
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora
More info – Official Site
Also known as Someday’s Dreamers: Summer’s Sora -or- Someday’s Dreamers: Summer Skies; Things that are Precious to a Mage –or- Things that are Important to Magic Users
A sequel to the 2003 anime adaptation Someday’s Dreamers (Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto).
When: 07/2008
Synopsis: Unlike the previous Someday’s Dreamers projects, this title will focus on a character named Sora, a budding mage learning to use her powers in Tokyo. (from: ANN)
Mission-E
More info – Official Site
Second season to Code-E.
Can’t find much info about the second season, so the following is the season 1 synopsis. I suppose it continues on from where it left off.
When: 07/10/2008
Synopsis: Chinami Ebihara is girl with a strange ability to generate electromagnetic waves when her emotions run high. However, since this ‘ability’ affects anything electrical, it resulted in her having to transfer from school to school when she was younger. As Chinami, now 18 years of age, transfers to a new school, she once again affects the electronic devices in the school, but this time, when another student, Kotaro Kannagi, sees her do this, he becomes obsessed in studying her “TYPE-E” ability. (from: ANN)
Natsume Yuujinchou
More info – Official Site
Also known as Natsume’s Book of Friends
When: 07/07/2008
Synopsis: Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. Containing the names of these spirits, a binding contract was formed between the spirits and the owner of the book. Now, Natsume is determined to free the spirits and dissolve the contracts. With the help of a spirit cat, his days are filled trying to return the names to these spirits.. (from: ANN)
Ryoko’s Case File
More info – Official Site
Also known as Yakushiji Ryouko no Kaiki Jikenbo.
When: 07/2008
Synopsis: The novels and manga revolve around Ryōko Yakushiji, a 27-year-old multilingual investigator that graduated from Tokyo University’s elite Department of Law, and the bizarre cases she faces while working for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Yakushiji not only has to deal with supernatural beings in her line of work, but also her rival Yukiko Muromachi, another equally talented and beautiful police investigator. (from: Manga Updates)
Sekirei
More info – Official Site
When: 07/2008
Synopsis: Minato Sahashi is a total loser. He has failed to make it into college twice, he is unpopular with women, and he is unemployed. Despite these problems, he actually has the potential to be an Ashikabi, one of a mysterious set of “masters” leading in a battle royale of 108 cute girls, buxom women, and bishōnen called “Sekirei” (from: Wikipedia)
Slayers Revolution
More info – Official Site
When: 07/02/2008
Another sequel of the Slayers series (I think it’s the 4th season this time around). Not much info about how the story will go. I haven’t watched any of the Slayers series, but I think the story will continue on from the last season (maybe?)
Megumi Hayashibara will reprise the role of Lina Inverse. Yasunori Matsumoto (Gourry Gabriev), Hikaru Midorikawa (Zelgadiss Graywords), and Masami Suzuki (Ameria Wil Tesla Saillune) are all also returning. Noticeably absent from the current official character list is Xellos. (from: ANN)
Strike Witches (OVA)
More info – Official Site
When: 07/03/2008
An anime OVA directed by Kunihisa Sugishima and produced by Gonzo. The story revolves around teenage girls who are essentially moe anthropomorphizations of military planes. Directly inspired by Humikane Shimada’s Mecha Musume illustrations, Shimada himself acted as the character designer for the series. The first OVA episode was released on January 1, 2007. Along with a serialized light novel, a televised anime series has been announced which will premier on September 3, 2008.
Synopsis: When a mysterious force suddenly attacks the world, only the girls who have magic can fight against them. They install weapons in their own bodies and fight in the sky, the land, and the sea. The battle to protect the world begins. (from: Wikipedia)
Ultraviolet: Code 044
More info – Official Site
When: 07/01/2008
The Tokyo International Anime Fair issued a press release on February 19 that pre-announced the Ultraviolet: Code 044 anime production from Animax Broadcast Japan. Animax is tentatively planning a press conference on this project on March 27, a day reserved for business and media professionals. The Animax anime satellite television network belongs to Sony, whose Screen Gems subsidiary released Kurt Wimmer’s 2006 live-action Ultraviolet film starring Milla Jovovich. A connection between the two projects has not been confirmed. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Animax.. (From: ANN)
World Destruction
More info – Official Site
Production I.G’s anime adaptation of the Sega RPG game that will be released in Summer 2008.
When: 07/07/2008
Synopsis: The story revolves around a boy named Kirie Irunisu who secretly possesses the power to destroy the world. While one party seeks to save the world, another party aims to eradicate the world and start anew, and it forces Kirie to join – despite being unaware of his power. (from: ANN)
Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo
More info – Official Site
The third season of Zero no Tsukaima. It will feature thirteen episodes and is produced by the same team as the first two seasons. The following synopsis is just a brief overview of the series.
When: 07/2008
Synopsis: Noboru Yamaguchi and Eiji Usatsuka’s original light novels begins with Louise, a hapless, struggling student who has earned the nickname “Zero Louise” from her fellow students in the Tristein Academy of Magic in an alternate world. When she tries to summon an animal companion to be her familiar, she ends up summoning Hiraga Saito – a Japanese boy from Earth. (from: ANN)
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- It’s too early to tell which is good to see or not, but in the meantime, based purely on the synopses and the looks of it, the titles which sound interesting to me are:
Will probably check out…
- Chocolate Underground – If I can get my hands on it, I might watch it. It sounds kinda like Toshokan Sensou, but it’s chocolates getting banned rather than books! Yum. Oh, and it’s Production IG.
- Blade of the Immortal – somewhat reminds me of Rurouni Kenshin and Seirei no Moribito, but it’s probably more violent and heavy on the drama. Looks like it’s worth a look though.
- Natsume Yuujinchou – sounds interesting.
- Someday’s Dreamers: Summer’s Sora – because it kinda sounds like Harry Potter… I haven’t seen the previous season though so I might check that one first and decide from there.
- Ryoko’s Case File – Hmm, sounds like a mystery, crime drama-ish kind of series with a supernatural tone. But if it’s too X-Files-ish, I probably won’t watch it.
- World Destruction – sounds a little interesting, and it’s Production IG.
— So, which titles made your list?
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As usual, thanks to Fansub Wiki where I got the Summer 2008 list. ^_^
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EDIT: (07/21/08.)
You might also want to check out:
Undercover 
Nothing looks interesting really… I wanted to check out Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora, but thanks to your listing I found that this is not a new series, but a spinoff. The original series were rated low on ANN, so my expectations decreased a little lol
I really liked Blade of the Immoral art in the early chapters, but latest art does not look very good. I didn’t really like Kenshin series, but OVAs were excellent, so I am somewhat skeptical about Blade of the Immortal TV. Based on the trailer it does look very similar to manga though.
Yeah nothing really interesting this season sadly
Somehow, I feel obligated to watch Zero no Tsukaima. Although the second season left a bad taste in my mouth.
ZnT3, Sekirei, Hidamari, and Ikkitousen are already on my watch list. As for the rest of the shows, I think one or two of them might catch my attention after the first episode. 😛
@ Kitsune: Glad you found the preview list helpful. =) Yeah, nothing stands out from the titles, no? Hopefully, at least some of the series will be pretty good and prove us wrong.
@ blissmo: Sadly, yes. The list this season does seem a bit bland.
@ rroknedaj: LOL. You probably feel obligated because you watched its two previous seasons. I never got around to watching season 2. My fingers are crossed that ZnT3 will clear some of that bad taste for you.
@ totali: I haven’t seen season 1 of Hidamari yet, so I’ll go with that first. I heard similarities between that and Sketchbook. I liked Sketchbook, though it took me a while to finish it. xD
Chocolate Underground will probably be the most epic series of this season, I’ll definitely follow that one at least. Except from that, nothing seems to catch my eye as well. And I really hoped to see Higurashi Rei during this July, were is it?
@ Kitcha: *nods* Chocolate Underground is the one I’m looking forward to amongst all the titles this season too. By Higurashi Rei, do you mean Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei? I read in Wiki that it will be released as an OVA series scheduled for Winter 2008. =)
Bootleg was brill… i hope they dont do a 4kids n mess it up, coz it wud b a shame 4 ppl 2 miss out on it… it wer a gud tv series 2 ^^
@ melon_08: I haven’t seen the “Bootleg” mini series done by BBC, but based on your positive feedback and the awards it got, it does sound like it’s really worth a look. Thanks! Here’s to hoping “Chocolate Underground” turns out to be a good adaptation. ^_^
Have to say, this season seems a little… dry, so to say. But there are a few titles that interest me:
1. Blade of the Imortal – The manga is AMAZING. I will check this out mainly to see if they can live up to the high standards of the manga.
2. Tetsuwan Birdy – Because it looks nice 😀
3. Chocolate Underground – Oh come on, they’re kids smugling chocolate. This HAS to be good.
4. Someday’s Dreamers – Even though the first series was reaaaally bad, I liked the concept. Also, the opening to the first series is awesome.
5. Strike Witches – Saw the preview some months ago, seems cute and interesting in that “shoujo-ai” way ^^
But all in all, I’m not that hyped about this summer 😦
@ Cyberborn: Yeah, the summer lineup is a bit lackluster this year. Hopefully, some of the series would turn out to be surprisingly good or at least nice. ^_^
Sekirei is a must!!! look at the manga!!! its only for guys who likes harem and such, the manga is still ongoing with about 65 chaps
@ killme460: I’ll check out most of the summer season’s first episodes (including Sekirei) as I usually do when the subs are out and then decide from there which series catches my attention. ^_^
im gonna check out several of these just purely on since im a romance fan and i like new graphics quality animes, 3 of em are notably in it indefinitely here and a few im pickin purely cause im guessing from exp its gonna be funny
do you know what kind of anime that have an academy word in it??
tnx
and by the way i really like anime!!