NotCliche

Winters are often best spent with hugs and love!

Fall 2009 has seen some pretty impressive animes and this probably means one thing: Winter 2010 isn’t going to be as grand as Fall 2009. And it’s pretty damn true.

While Fall has some pretty amazing animes in it’s arsenal, the season itself has some pretty weird and bad shows, and Fall generally rounds up into an average season. However, even though the amount of series being offered in Winter is significantly smaller than the list of Fall, I can safely say that a good majority of the animes being offered in Winter is actually a lot better than the ones of Fall.

Either way, on to the list!

As always though, the list is going to extremely long, so if you’re one that doesn’t like long posts, you can just read up on the summary of the specific series. Information is also presented via point forms for easier digestion, so here’s hoping that you would find these information useful!

Durarara!!

A variety of characters thrown into one single series!

Summary: From the creators of Baccano!!, the “distorted love story” is set in Tokyo’s rowdy Ikebukuro neighbourhood, and revolves around an ensemble cast of street thugs, high school students, a female radio host, an underworld doctor, a young information vendor, and a headless Irish fairy.

Information:

• 24 episodes in length.
• Airing on 7th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Action, Romance, Shounen genres.
• Highly recommended to fans of shounen genre. Seems to be highly action based.

Impressions:

Netto:

Honestly speaking, I’ve never even heard of the series called Baccano!!… but from what I gather from the synopsis, it looks it’s going to be some hell of a show, as it’s probably going to revolve around a whole bunch of characters.

Come to think of it, a headless Irish fairy? What’s up with that?

Renako:

I seriously have no idea whatever the hell this is, since I didn’t bother to check out Baccano!! at all. But if my gut feelings are correct, this is an anime with randomness to the power of randomness.

Dance In The Vampire Bund

Fancy a dance with a Vampire?

Summary: After millennium in hiding, Vampire Princess Mina Tepes users her to pay off Japan’s national debt, in return for an off-coast “special district” haven for her kind. On the even of a landmark press conference, terrorists and rival faction plot to assassinate Tepes before she can declare the existence of the Vampires.

Information:

• Airing on 7th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Action, Supernatural genres.
• Highly recommended to the audience who likes heavy action coupled with some violence.

Impressions:

Netto:

Dangerously on the lines of ecchi, or so I’ve heard. The series also seems to play host to a variety of bloody scene, so this might appeal to the… well, certain section of the anime fans.

However, beneath all those bloody action, there seems to be a love story on-going with regards to both the male and female protagonists. I ain’t too familiar with the series, so I’m definitely passing up on this one.

Renako:

First thing first, this is definitely for mature audiences.

A lot of skin, sex innuendo and blood are going to fly around here and there. If you did see the manga, you would know what I meant. Oh, and the love drama in this series kinda sucks, but that’s just me.

Sora no Woto

It has a slight Strike Witches setting to it, but I really doubt there’s any fighting.

Summary: In a future land marred by long-lasting war, a quiet decline has begun. 15 years old Kumika realises her dream to enlist in the army, and joins a unit of five in protecting a fortress. Together, they create create music that reverberates across the skies, over empty towns and empty seas.

Information:

• 13 episodes in length.
• Airing on 4th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Music, Military genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who likes Strike Witches setting coupled with music.

Impressions:

Netto:

Ah! Probably one of the more anticipated anime for the season for me! No, it’s not about the Strike Witches similarities, nor is it the K-ON like art.

It’s all about the environment and setting.

Strangely, the environment seems to remind me of ARIA a lot, and no one would give up the opportunity to watch a music anime, yes?

Renako:

Seeing this reminds me of Strike Witches, which isn’t my cup of tea XD But since I love music, especially soft music, which I trust this series would provide thus I shall give it a try. And so should you.

Hanamaru Kindgarten

Oh, what have you done, Gainax?!

Summary: Anzu goes to a preschool with her friends, the shy Koume and the eccentric Hiiragi. Together, they try to gain Anzu attention from their male carer Tsuchida, although he is clearly more interested in the pretty Yamamoto who supervises the class next door.

Information:

• 12 episodes in length.
• Airing on 10th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Comedy, Slice of Life genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who likes comedies and the occasional slice of life. Definitely not recommended for inspiring lolicons!

Impressions:

Netto:

Being a slice-of-life anime, this anime definitely warrants a watch from me. However, it’s definitely not recommended for any inspiring lolicons! Absolutely not recommended!

Renako:

Aww, aren’t they adorable? <3

I think I will catch this, just for laughs if the series in the event that the series I’ve been waiting for, well… sucks.

Keep your pedosense in check, eh?

Nodame Cantabile (Final)

The finale of Nodame Cantabile, not to be missed by fans!

Summary: At a top music academy in Japan, Shinichi Chiaki is a talent pianist. When sent to a low class after an argument with a teacher, he meets a girl, Noda, who moves in next to him. When they are given the chance to study at Paris, Noda goes with Chiaki to Europe, as he strives to fulfill his dream of being a conductor.

Information:

• Airing on January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Romance, music genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who had followed the previous seasons of Nodome Cantabile, as well as people who love romance with music in it.

Impressions:

Netto:

This show is simply a sequel for those who had watched Nodame Cantabile. Not to be missed by people fans of the series, although I’ll be giving this a pass, seeing that I’ve never ever touched this series before.

Renako:

Well, I have been following the entire Nodame Cantabile series, so I am going to finish it up with the last season.

Classical music, random crazy girl and an idiot who is scared of planes… Hell, why not? XD

It’s like a mix of jap drama and anime, much like GTO, somehow…

Seikon no Quaser / Qwaser of Stigmata

Extremely heavy fanservice series that patronizes breast milk.

Summary: In St. Mikhailov Academy, Oribe Mafuyu meets a silver haired boy called Alexander. He is a Qwaser, a being who can manipulate iron and draws his power from breast milk. A mystery surrounding an Icon transforms the academy into the setting for conflict between the various different Qwasers.

Information:

• 24 episodes in length.
• Airing on January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Ecchi, Supernatural, Superpower, Shounen, Action genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who loves fanservice, seeing that this particular series is rather heavy on the fanservice side. There’a also the occasional ecchi in the show!

Impressions:

Netto:

Ah. Every season has it’s own fair share of fanservice anime, doesn’t it? Last season was Kampfer, and this season’s Seikon no Qwaser!

Asides from the fanservice department which patronizes breast milk, Seikon no Qwaser has a semi-serious kind of plot to it. But drawing power from breast milk? Seriously?

Renako:

…Wait, what? Breast milk? What the hell is this?!

I am guessing it is some ecchi theme mixed with D.Gray Man or something. On a side note…How can those runways provide milk anyway?

Baka To Test To Shoukanjuu

Summoning of fantasy creatures to battle? Sounds like Pokemon!

Summary: Akihisa attends an academy where test results determine classes. In A class, prodigies can enjoy reclining seats and aircon, but Akihisa’s F class sports decrepit tables and broken windows. He rallies F class to take on higher classes and claim school supremacy by summoning fantasy creatures to battle.

Information:

• Airing on 6th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Comedy, Fantasy, Romance genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who loves to see the occasional idiot in the class try to take it up to the higher classes. If you’re all in for school conflicts, then this is the series for you!

Impressions:

Netto:

Setting the ridiculous plot of summoning fantasy creatures aside, the series somehow seems to remind me of Special A. Yeah, you know, that whole “we’re more superior than you, thus we have better classroom” kind of thing?

On the bright side of things though, this series might get interesting as we get to see the school idiot (somewhat) goes face to face with the school’s elites!

Renako:

This series is really just for laughs, as one can obviously tell, but meh, whatever.

I have seen the manga, and it is quite interesting and funny XD I do hope the anime is as good or better than the manga.

Hidamari Sketch x ☆☆☆

Need I say more?

Summary: Yuno has begun her new artist’s life in her new dream school — Yamabuki High School. In front of the school is an apartment complex called the Hidamari-so, where she moves in and meets classmates, senior students and other strange artists.

Information:

• Airing on 7th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Comedy, Slice of Life.
• Highly recommended to fans of the previous Hidamari Sketch seasons. Not to be missed by slice of life lovers too.

Impressions:

Netto:

Yet another sequel in the whole season’s line up. Not to be missed by fans of Hidamari Sketch, although I’m still somewhat skeptical about the whole animation thing done by SHAFT. Till now, the only series from SHAFT that I’ve completed watching is probably REC, and that’s because it’s a 9 minutes 12 episode kind of series.

Maybe I should give Hidamari Sketch another try, but I hope that the art from SHAFT doesn’t turn me off, again.

Renako:

Pretty much what Netto had mentioned! Nothing much to be said anyway, seeing that it is the third season, and everyone should be more or less familiar, right?

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3

Bishounen filled series!

Summary: Akane Motomiya is pulled by a demon into another world she becomes Priestess of the Dragon God, protected by eight men know as the Hachiyou. The people of this world tell her she is the only one who can stop the demons, who mean to claim her power, from taking over.

Information:

• Airing on 4th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Drama, Fantasy, Romance genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who likes male harems. Yes, this particular series is just choke full of bishounens! Also a must watch for fans of the previous seasons!

Impressions:

Netto:

Bishounen series of the season. Nothing much I can say, except that I definitely won’t place this on my list. Federal Period and bishounens doesn’t exactly work well in my books…

Renako:

Uhm….No idea what this is D;

Ookamikakushi

The latest in Ryukishi07’s works!

Summary: Hiroshi moves in Jagamachi, a serene village with a river that divides the old and new, where ancient traditions still remina. Bewildered, he settles in and befriends his classmates, but Nemuru Kushinada’s only words are a warning to stay away from the old part of the town. There, terror and mystery awaits.

Information:

• Airing on 7th January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Action, Mystery, Drama, Horror, Supernatural genre.
• Highly recommended to the audience who had previously watched or played Ryukishi07’s works. Ookamikakushi is his latest work, and those who had played the visual novel before must definitely pick this series up!

Impressions:

Netto:

Anyone who had played the visual novel before will probably be familiar with this particular series and it seems to be the successor of some sort for Umineko and Higurashi. If you’re a fan of both the previously mentioned series, you’ll definitely want to give this a try.

However, as for me, I don’t really touch these series (not to mention that I didn’t even finish half of Higurashi), so it’s definitely a no-no for me.

Renako:

For mature audiences, might contain guro based on the description.

 

For Higurashi fans who also like Umineko. Definitely contains guro, no matter how you interpret it, Afterall, who made this game? >_>

No idea how well this would go though…Still, I don’t think people who only like Higurashi would enjoy this, but that is just me.

Omamori Himari

Another neko-anime for the season!

Summary: Yuto Amakawa is an ordinary 16 years old high school boy protected by Himari, a beautiful sword-wielding cat girl spirit. He is descended from a family known for subjugating demons. With his protective charm now impotent, Himari appears before him as his new guardian.

Information:

• Airing on January 2010.
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Ecchi, Comedy, Action, Romance, Harem genre.
• Highly recommended for anyone who’s into catgirls.

Impressions:

Netto:

I’ve heard lots of views about this particular series, and most of them are generally good. Might want to give this a try, since anime are often easier to pick up than manga, right?

Renako:

I have seen the manga, and it’s quite alright XD Everything revolves around a “Sealed Good Guy”, who really should had been awarded the good guy card.

Only character I care about is Shuzuku, the green hair, red eyes loli. Try this series, and you would see why I only like that particular loli <3!

Ladies vs Butlers!

Seems to be a Tora-dora look alike…

Summary: Akiharu Hino looks like a juvenile delinquent, but he enrolls into an academy that was once a school for upper-class ladies. Placed in the school’s new servant training department, where students are raised to be maids or butlers, Akiharu finds himself stuck in the middle of it’s bickering cliques.

Information:

• Airing on 29th December 2009.
  
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Ecchi, Comedy, Senien genre.
• Highly recommended for audience who likes meido-san, even if it’s a small amount of them!

Impressions:

Netto:

For some reason or another, I find the male character in the series to closely resemble Ryuji from Toradora! Maybe I’m just over-reacting, but it’s really similar, to some extent.

Just hope that it doesn’t go into a full out emofest halfway through the series, like Toradora did. Either way, this is probably one series I’ll pick up!

Renako:

Mmhmm, Comedy plus Ecchi? Sounds a lot like “He is my master” and “They are my noble masters” mixed together XD I most definitely will catch this, just for laughs.

Chu-Bra!!

Panties, Pantsu, panties, pantsu!

Summary: Nayu shocks her schoolmates on the first day of middle school by wearing black lace panties. She aims to “spread the word on the merits of underwear”, and helps other girls concerned with their development – by opening an underwear club.

Information:

• Airing on 4th January 2010.
  
• 20 minutes per episode.
• Ecchi, Comedy, School genre.
• Highly recommended for audience who likes… panties and undergarments? *coughs*

Impressions:

Netto:

Hey look! More pantsu and bra! Isn’t that just wonderful for perverts people like us?

And come to think of it… girls in middle schools are starting to show their undergarments everywhere? What has the world become?!

Renako:

It is kind of like Amaenaideyo, just with the main character as a girl instead. Ten pence says it involve some yuri innuendo.

Whew! That was quite a list! There are also others that are coming out for Winter 2010, but aren’t listed, simply because they are either OVAs or mangas.

As usual though, all information are thanks to both ChartFag and Melative!

As you can probably see, the amount of animes being premiered in the next season has been significantly reduced from this season. However, like I’ve mentioned above, the next season is probably going to be a lot better than this season, seeing that there’s a good mix of different genres in the season.

Either way, even if the season has a pretty low amount of animes, I’m sure this will not stop anyone from enjoying the season, right?

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