Article: Autumn 2011 anime preview

Autumn 2011 anime preview - Page 5

Maken-ki!

AIC has a pretty solid record handling romantic comedy series of late, and this autumn sees them tackle this manga to anime adaptation of Maken-ki, the story of a normal (albeit perverted) guy who unwittingly ends up attenfing a school that deals with magic and combat based around it.  Before he knows it, he's surrounding my girls who want to either marry or kill him (or both) as he tries to get to grips with the magic-infused academy.

Should I watch it?  Its plot and characters sound horribly generic, which will probably take any sheen away from what will doubtless otherwise be a polished production.  Unless you're absolutely desperate for your panty shots, I doubt this will offer anything notable.

Mashiro-iro Symphony

Aside from winning the season's "most iros" award, Mashiro-iro Symphony is another adult visual novel adaptation, worked on here by Manglobe.  The series sees us following its male protagonist as he finds himself selected as one of the first boys to attend a previously all-girls school prior to the full merged of male and female academies - the lucky blighter.

Should I watch it?  A boy thrust into an all-girls school opens the door to all sorts of hilarity I'm sure, most of which has been covered a billion times before.  It might have some nice character designs, but that's probably the best you can hope for from this by the numbers series.

Mirai Nikki

Having heard this next series described as "the next Death Note" in terms of its potential to appeal to the masses, you probably shouldn't need any further reason for your interest in Mirai Nikki (aka Future Diary) to be roused.  Asread are tasked with adapting this manga series which finished at the end of last year (while sadly suffering from Tokyopop's demise as far as a western release is concerned) as it follows a boy named Yukiteru as a diary to his supposed imaginary friend Deus Ex Machina draws him into a life or death survival game which revolves around the diaries we can be used to record future events of the show's title.

Should I watch it?  A sharp concept and a popular manga series makes this a definite must-watch for the autumn, while the fact that the manga upon which it is based has finished will hopefully prevent it from falling into the traps exhibited recently by Deadman Wonderland.  With any luck this might even get a western streaming release too...

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

For those who are counting, AGE is the twelfth incarnation of the ever-popular Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, although judging by fan reaction to just the announcement of the series it seems unlikely to be one of the more popular.  As per usual, Sunrise head up series production, with the show promising the usual fare of humanity fighting for survival in the depths of space.

Should I watch it?  Gundam fans will at least want to give it a look - but then again, I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that.