Ask John: Which Winter 2007 Anime Series Are John Anticipating?

Question:
What premieres for the 2007 winter season are you looking forward to, if there are any at all?

Answer:
I find myself almost ashamed to admit that almost none of the upcoming Japanese winter season anime TV series premiers have me quivering with anticipation. My natural curiosity will lead me to sample as many of the upcoming new anime series as I’m able to, and I hope find one or more among them that surprises me. Unfortunately, the only upcoming show that I’m wholeheartedly eager to watch is not a new program, but rather the second half of a 2006 series. I nominated Flag as the finest anime series of 2006, so I’m looking forward to watching the second half of the series when it’s released later this month.

I have a particular fondness for cute little anime girls, so gothic lolitas with weapons should automatically pique my interest. Saint October and Venus Versus Virus both feature gunslinging little gals, but I’m a bit worried because the TV commercial for Saint October that I’ve seen revealed some discouragingly poor character rendering and jerky animation quality. On the positive side, the trailer for Venus Versus Virus that I’ve watched revealed little, but did look captivatingly atmospheric.

Manabi Straight looks cute to me, but it remains to be seen if it will be adorable like Ichigo Marshmallow or vapid like Kujibiki Unbalance.

Getsumen Toheiki Mina, I think, has the potential to be wildly imaginative and recall the exhilaration of action filled 80s anime if it chooses that path. The original clips glimpsed in the live action Densha Otoko drama seemed like an extended, modern version of Gainax’s famous Daicon IV animation. If the Mina anime has that tone, it will be very welcome. However, I’m fearful that the show may also attempt a more conventional, dramatic approach which will be safer, but less interesting.

The January and February 2007 schedule seems a bit light compared to last year, but there should be new programs to appeal to every taste. Giant robot fans can anticipate Giant Robo, Dancouga Nova, and Reideen. Shoujo fans will have the second Angelique television series and the new Pretty Cure. Fans of fan service will flock to the new Ikkitousen, or possibly Sky Girls and Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora for other types of “service.” Viewers with a taste for darker anime can choose from Venus Versus Virus and Tokyo Majin Gakuen. And viewers interested in dramatic, literate anime will be able to choose from shows like Les Miserables ~ Shoujo Cosette, Moonlight Mile, Nodame Cantible, and Flag.

Winter 2006 TV Premiers:

Dancouga Nova
Deltora Quest
Fightension Depart
Flag second season
Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight
Getsumen Toheiki Mina
GR -GIANT ROBO-
Hidamari Sketch
Himawari!! second series
Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny
Koisuru Tenshi Angelique ~Kagayaki no Ashita~
Kyoryu King D-Kids Adventure
Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette
MAJOR 3rd season
Master of Epic The Animation Age
Moonlight Mile 1st season
Nodame Cantible
Pinky Street
REIDEEN
Rocket Girl
Saint October
Shuffle! Memories
Sky Girls
Tokyo Majin Gakuen
Venus Versus Virus
Wa Wa Wa Wappi-chan second series
Yes! Precure 5

Tentative Spring 2007 Shows

Bokurano
Darker than Black
Devil May Cry
Gurren Lagan
Hitohira
Hyoman
Kaze no Stigma
Keitai Shoujo
Koutetsu Sangokushi
Love Com
Lucky Star
Nagasarete Airantou
Oh! Edo Rocket
Ookiku Furikabutte
Saint Beast ~Koin Jojishi Tenshi Tan~
Seirei no Moribito
Seto no Hanayome
Skull Man
Sola
Touka Gettan
true tears
Victorian Romance Emma Second Act
Wangan Midnight