Article

Shoujo Anime for Fall 2016

October 5, 2016

Fall anime season has already started and we’re ready to stream some new series. Here’s what’s coming out Fall 2016 that looks promising for shoujo and fujoshi fans.

Yuri!! on Ice – MAPPA

The show’s story revolves around Yūri Katsuki, who carried all of Japan’s hopes on his shoulders to win at the Gran Prix Finale ice skating competition, but suffered a crushing defeat. He returns home to Kyushu and half feels like he wants to retire, and half feels like he wants to continue ice skating. With those mixed feelings swirling inside him, he confines himself inside his parents house. Suddenly the five-time consecutive world championship ice skater Victor Nikiforov appears before him, and along with him is Yuri Plisetsky, a young Russian figure skater who is already defeating his seniors. Victor and both Yuris take up the challenge on an unprecedented Gran Prix series.

Definitely on my watch list this season. Ice skating and bishies is a win-win combination. I’m highly anticipating the reaction from anime fans.

Yuri on Ice!!! premiers on October 6, 2016. It will be streaming on Crunchyroll.

Haikyuu!!: Karasuno Koukou VS Shiratorizawa Gakuen Koukou (Season 3) – Production I.G.

“Haikyuu!” follows the story of Shoyo Hinata, a small-statured boy who wants to compete professionally in the sport of volleyball. Height can prove to be an important aspect of playing the game, as attacks from short opponents are easily blocked by players with the right height. Hinata, however, makes up for his disability by being incredibly fast and having remarkable stamina. He’s also the highest vertical jumper in the team, so height wouldn’t be too big of a problem.

Hinata draws inspiration from his idol volleyball player, Small Giant, and he also had the desire to beat the volleyball King of Court, Tobio Kageyama. His plans, however, didn’t push through as he soon found out that Kageyama was in the same volleyball team that he was in. How could he defeat Kageyama if he had to be his teammate? Those feelings, however, were soon flushed out by the team’s newfound cooperation.

The action for season 3 will start with a match between the Karasuno High School team and their rivals from the Shirotizawa Academy, the point on which the second season was brought to the end. That’s all we know until the series premiers.

So I haven’t watched the previous 2 seasons but this is going on my watch list, as I’ve discovered I’m a fan of sports anime – go figure. I’ll be watching the previous seasons marathon style to catch up with this one.

Haikyuu!! Season 3 will premier on October 7, 2016. Simulcast is Crunchyroll.

DAYS – Pony Canyon

The series is about two boys named Tsukushi and Jin. Tsukushi is a boy with no special talent or traits while Jin is considered a soccer genius. On one stormy night, Jin meets Tsukushi, and they get dragged into the world of soccer. This series is carrying-over from last season, but I highly recommend it!

I watched DAYS last season and highly enjoyed it, so it’s on my list again. Some of these soccer guys are seriously crazy athletes. Watching Tsukushi in comparison, I can’t help but want to see him succeed.

DAYS premiered on October 1, 2016. Simulcasted on Crunchyroll.

All Out! – Studio Madhouse

Gion Kenji is short and perpetually pissed off about it. Iwashimizu Sumiaki is tall but timid. Although it’s bullies that bring this unlikely pair together on the first day of high school, it’s the rugby club that will make them friends.

After watching DAYS last season I am highly anticipating this anime. It’s rugby, and some damn fine looking rugby players at that. I’m up for seeing these guys on the field and off.

All Out! premiers on October 7, 2016. Simulcast is on Crunchyroll.

3Gatsu no Lion – Shaft

Rei Kiriyama is a 17 year old boy who recently started living alone, financed by his salary as a professional Shogi player. Despite his independence, however, he’s yet to mature emotionally, and his problems continue to haunt him in his daily life. His relationship with his adoptive family is strained, and he has difficulties interacting with his fellow high school students.

Meanwhile, his professional career in Shogi has entered a slump. Burdened with the heavy expectations placed upon him, his wins and losses are fluctuating as his record and progression into the ranks begin to stagnate.

Acquainted with Rei are the three Kawamoto sisters: Akari, Hinata, and Momo. Unlike Rei, they live happily in their modest home, which they warmly welcome Rei into as if he were one of their own. He frequently visits the family, interacting with them and receiving the kind of care and affection he never quite had while under his foster home. This is the story of Rei’s triumphs and failures, relationships new and old, and his growth as a person.

Chika Umino’s manga won several awards, so I’m expecting the animation to be just as good. This is on my watch list for this season as well.

3gatsu no Lion premiers on October 8, 2016. The series will be simulcast on both Daisuke & Crunchyroll.

Koneko no Chi: Ponponra Daibouken (3D Chi’s Sweet Home) – Marza Animation Planet

For fans of the original anime and manga, Chi’s Sweet Home comes to life in 3D computer generated animation. This is a series of shorts based on the original story.

I really would like to see this as I am very interested in the development of Japan’s 3D CG animation. Seeing Chi come to life in such an environment is so darn cute! If you like Chi, then you’ll want to check this out.

Koneko no Chi: Ponponra Daibouken premiered on October 2, 2016. The series has not been announced for simulcast.

Natsume Yuujinchou Go (Season 5) – Studio Shuka

The anime seasons revolve around Natsume, a boy who has been able to see ghosts since he was little. Unfortunately, humans shun him, and there is not much fondness between him and ghosts either. One day, he inherits a Yūjin-Chō (“Book of Friends”) from his grandmother. The book is actually full of contracts that his grandmother made to trap ghosts. As one ghost after another shows up, Natsume tries to release or help them — even while many of them seek vengeance on him.

I haven’t watched an entire season of Natsume, so this one is on my watch later list. However, it is a well-loved series and I’m sure there are many out there looking forward to its continuation.

Natsume Yuujinshou Go premiered on October 4, 2016. Simulcast is on Crunchyroll.

Magic-Kyun! Renaissance – Sunrise

A world where art becomes magic. In this world, people who can inspire passion with their Magic Arts are called Artistas, and are employed in show business. In Hoshinomori Private Magical Arts High School, where Artistas are taught, a strange new student named Ohana Aigasaki transfers into the school.

Ohana is placed on the planning committee for the school’s yearly Hoshinomori Summer Festa cultural festival. She spends her romantic school life with six other boys who aim to become entertainers in the future.

Each of the boys specializes in his own Arts, and aims to make Hoshi Fes a success. In addition, the boys also aim to be chosen alongside Ohana as the school’s Artista Prince and Princess, only chosen once a year.

A Magic-kyun for you! A new renaissance starts here! Magic-kyun! Renaissance is a multimedia project where you can create great memories with Artistas of greatly varying personalities!

This reverse harem anime includes a touch of magic. Having watched the first episode, I’m ready for more of singing prince-sama and dancing-sama. If you like reverse harem this is right up your alley.

Magic-Kyun Rennaissance! premiered on October 2, 2016. Simulcast is on Crunchyroll.

Dream Festival! – Bandai Namco Pictures

One day, second year high school student Kanade Amamiya is suddenly scouted by legendary idol Haruto Mikami. He now faces the life an idol with others in the same agency. He aims to make his CD debut in Dream Festival!, joined by the mysterious Shin Oikawa, the stoic Junya Sasaki, the kind but passionate Itsuki Katagiri, and the clumsy but smart Chizuru Sawamura. In order to receive the Dream Festival! Cards sent by fans, can Kanade and the others become the best on stage?

The next idol anime, dream festival is based on a video game. The first episode was intriguing, so I’ll be watching more of this one. It’s in the same realm of StarMyu or B-Project, with no girl.

Dream Festival! premiered on September 30, 2016. Simulcast is on Crunchyroll.

Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love Legend Star (Season 4) – A-1 Pictures

The anime’s story will start where the third season left off, at the competition for who will open the Triple S international sporting event. Raging Entertainment’s HE★VENS idol group had hijacked the competition between QUARTET NIGHT and ST☆RISH, causing chaos. However, after the QUARTET NIGHT members suggest a certain idea, the three groups aim toward a new stage, with HE★VENS swearing to get their revenge on the other two groups.

Uta-Pri fans have been waiting for this after last season’s cliffhanger ending. This is on our watch list for sure, as we’ve both become huge 2D idol fans.

Uta no Princesama Maji Love Legend Star premiered on October 2, 2016. Simulcast is on Crunchyroll and also The Anime Network.

Kiss Him, Not Me – Brains Base

Kae Serinuma is what you’d call a “fujoshi.” When she sees boys getting along with each other, she loves to indulge in wild fantasies! One day her favorite anime character dies and the shock causes her to lose a ton of weight. Then four hot guys at school ask her out, but that isn’t exciting to her at all — she’d rather see them date each other!

We’ve gotten the manga, so now it’s time to watch the award winning series come to life! This is on the top of my list this season. Hopefully it will be announced shortly before it begins airing.

Kiss Him, Not Me premiers on October 7, 2016. Simulcast is Crunchyroll.