Article: Summer 2011 anime preview

Summer 2011 anime preview - Page 7

Sacred Seven

Sunrise's new series for the summer is Sacred Seven, a "school battle" anime series where "people's memories change the world".  That's about all we know about the series at this juncture, but expect a hefty chunk of mecha action (complete with roller skates, it seems) and drama.

Should I watch it?  Sunrise's offerings are nothing if not polished, and littered with occasional classics like Code Geass and spring's Tiger & Bunny, so this might be worth checking out if you're a fan of their usual fare.

Usagi Drop

Thanks to Yen Press' release of the original manga in the west, Usagi Drop (or Bunny Drop in English) is perhaps the most anticipated release of the summer for a lot of anime fans outside of Japan, as it finds itself an animated home as the second series within Fuji Television's noitaminA slot.  Production I.G. take on production duties for this adaptation of a story about a thirty year-old who finds himself looking after the illegitimate child of his grandfather out of the blue.

Should I watch it?  Given the love people have for the manga, provided this is a solid adaptation it seems to be an absolute must-watch.

Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 1000%

If you've been bemoaning the lack of so-called "otome" game adaptations this season, fear not, as here's an anime based upon a PSP visual novel targeted at girls courtesy of A-1 Pictures for your delectation.  At the centre of this show's story is a song writer named Haruka Nanami who ends up at a school which specialises in training pop idols.  Needless to say, she finds herself surrounding by good-looking guys as a result, although due to her circumstances she isn't allowed to date any of them.

Should I watch it?  A romance story where you aren't allowed to date anyone sounds like a one-way trip to frustration to me - if this kind of tale is your thing however, then A-1 Pictures seems like a solid choice of animation studio to deliver.

Yuru Yuri

Last but potentially not least we have Yuru Yuri, an adaptation of a comedy manga about a group of female friends who take over a former clubroom at their school to use for their own amusement.  So far, so typical, but with staff working on the show including both the director and writer of Mitsudomoe and Minami-ke's first season, there is at least some promising talent working behind the scenes.

Should I watch it?  Slice of life school anime is ten-a-penny these days, but it takes something quite special to make an outright success of one.  Whether Yuru Yuri has the pedigree to do this remains to be seen, but with any luck it won't turn out to be a complete disaster.

Away from TV anime, summer also brings a number of big-name anime movies to Japanese cinema screens, including the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood film, theatrical outings for Sora no Otoshimono, Hayate the Combat Butler, Negima and Sengoku Basara.  There are also DVD and Blu-Ray OVAs aplenty released over the coming months, with Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail coming to its climax, and Higurashi: When They Cry gets a brand-new OVA while shows such as Kore wa Zombie desu ka, Fairy Tail and Nichijou get bonus episodes.

So there you have it, another season with more new anime to look forward to than we can shake a decidedly unwieldy stick at.  What shows are you looking forward to catching this summer, and what will you be crossing your fingers to see hit the UK in streaming form for the season?  Let us know in the comments section at the bottom of this article!