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Anime Spotlight Winter 2015 - The List

by Anthony Foronda,

Featured Series (Click for more)

(Jump to additional shows)

Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!

Kamisama Kiss (Kamisama Hajimemashita) (2nd Season)

Absolute Duo

Yurikuma Arashi

Gourmet Girl Graffiti

Unlimited Fafnir (Juoumujin no Fafnir)

SHONEN HOLLYWOOD - HOLLY STAGE FOR 50

KanColle – Fleet Girls Collection (Kantai Collection)

The Testament of Sister New Devil (Shinmai Maou no Testament)

ISUCA

Fafner EXODUS

Additional Shows

Title:Tantei Kageki Milky Holmes TD
Starts: January 3 at 11:00 p.m. JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:J.C. Staff

Genre: Action, Comedy
Website: http://milky-holmes-anime.com/td/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Hiroshi Nishikiori (Trinity Seven (TV) , Ghost Slayers Ayashi (TV) )
  • Character Design: Mariko Fujita (Galaxy Angel A (TV), Jewelpet Sunshine (TV) )
Summary:

In the story, the Great Era of Detectives — when detectives and thieves with a power known as "Toys" compete — has given way to the Great Era of Idols. However, someone starts stealing the idols' songs in Yokohama. When super idol Marine Amagi's hit song "Kiseki no Uta" (Miracle's Song) is stolen, she enlists the detectives of Milky Holmes.
Title: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend
Starts:January 8 at 1:50 a.m. on Fuji TV
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Website: http://www.saenai.tv/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director:Kanta Kamei(Nanana's Buried Treasure (TV), Bunny Drop (TV) )
  • Screenplay: Fumiaki Maruto (White Album 2 (TV series composition and scripts))
Summary:

Tomoya Aki, an otaku who is working part-time to earn enough money to buy anime on Blu-Ray, meets a beautiful girl on his way home during spring vacation. He eventually models the heroine of his own dojin game after her. However, he finds out a month later that the girl is in fact his classmate, and he doesn't know her name. He learns that the girl — named Megumi — actually is hardly noticed by others. Tomoya also has no artistic ability or writing skills, so he asks ace of the art club Eriri Spencer Sawamura to provide the art, as well as the honor student Utaha Kasumigaoka to write the scenario. Can they produce a decent game for Comic Market?
Title: Tokyo Ghoul √A
Starts:January 8 at 12:00 a.m JST on Tokyo MX TV
Studio: Pierrot
Genre:Horror, Suspense
Website: http://www.marv.jp/special/tokyoghoul/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director:Shuhei Morita(Tokyo Ghoul (TV), Freedom (OAV) )
  • Returning Series Composition: Chūji Mikasano (Tokyo Ghoul (TV) )
Summary:

The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious "ghouls" who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.
Title:Pankis! 2-jigen
Starts:January 8 at 11:54pm on BS 11 Digital
Studio:DLE
Genre:Comedy, Musical
Website: http://www.pankis.net/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Featuring the vocal talents of:Hiroki Takahashi (HunterXHunter's Hisoka, Kamisama Kiss's Otohiko), Nobuhiko Okamoto ( Blue Exorcist's Rin Okumura, Tiger & Bunny's Ivan Karelin/Origami Cyclone)
  • Production:DLE ((The) Frogman Show (TV), Insufficient Direction (TV))
Summary:

The anime's story takes place at the school for the "spirits of sound," St. Muse Academy. The students at the academy train to one day control and tune the sounds of the world so that humans can live comfortably with sound. Five students at the school who are failing are given a special mission.
Ketsuekigata-kun! 2
Starts:January 8 at 9:55pm JST on Tokyo MX
Studio: Assez Finaud Fabric./feel
Genre:Comedy, Slice of Life
Website: http://ketsuekigatakun.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Featuring the vocal talents of: Jun Fukuyama (Code Geass's Lelouch Lamperouge, Macross Frontier's Luca Angeloni) Akira Ishida (Evangelion's Kaworu Nagisa, Fate/Zero's Ryūnosuke Uryū
Summary:

The anime adapted from the Japanese remake version of the Korean webtoon "A Simple Thinking about Bloodtype" which discusses about typical blood type-related stereotypes in Japan and Korea using the faceless characters each representing different bloodtypes..
Title:Military!
Starts: January 7 at 11:25pm JST on AT-X
Studio:Creators in Pack TOKYO
Genre:Comedy, Action
Website: http://dreamcreation.co.jp/militari/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Hiroshi Kimura (Recorder and Randsell)
  • Featuring the vocal talents of: Yoshitaka Yamaya (One Week Friends Yūki Hase, Assassination Classroom's Tomohito Sugino ), Nao Tōyama ( GLASSLIP's Hina Fukami, Nisekoi's Chitoge Kirisaki)
Summary:

High School student Sohei Yano's life is about to be turned upside down. When two tank driving Lieutenants and an assassin show up at his door step the Krakozhia/Grania conflict literally hits home. Keep your head down Sohei san and stay frosty!
Title:Q Transformers: Kaettekita Convoy no Nazo
Starts:January 6 at 9:55pm JST on Tokyo MX
Studio: DLE Inc.
Genre:Comedy, Science Fiction
Website: http://www.qtransformers.com/animation/index.html
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Kōtarō Ishidate (Straight Title Robot Anime )
  • Theme Song Performance (Opening): OLDCODEX (Kuroko's Basketball, Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club)
Summary:

The TV anime is inspired by the 1986 Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System) game The Transformers: Mystery of Convoy. The game also inspired a smartphone app earlier this year.
Title: Doamaiger D
Starts:January 5 at 7:55pm JST on KBS
Studio: ILCA
Genre:Comedy, Science Fiction
Website: http://www.tvk-yokohama.com/doamai/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Featuring the vocal talents of: Ryota Murai (Kamen Rider Decade's Yuusuke Onodera/Kamen Rider Kuuga )
Summary:

One day, Daijirō discovers a giant robot named Doamaiger D in his store's basement. At the same time, enemies called "Mekaijū" (a combination of the words mecha and kaijū or monster) appear in Kyoto and begin wreaking havoc.
Title:Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen SC (TV)
Starts:January 4 at 10:27pm JST on Tokyo MX
Studio: Dax Production
Genre:Comedy, Fantasy
Website: http://www.fal-gaku.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Pippuya (Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen )
  • Script: Kenichi Yamashita (Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen)
Summary:

The warriors who have been warped by the rampaging power of "justice" have been summoned into the world of Xanadu. It's up to Dark Fakt, a former villain, and principal Lappi to reeducate these students.
Title: Sengoku Musou
Starts:January 11 at 12:00am JST on TV Tokyo
Studio: NAS
Genre:Action, Drama
Website: target="_blank">http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sengokumusou/index2.html/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Featuring the vocal talents of Daisuke Ono (Black Butler's Sebastian Michaelis, Durarara!!'s Shizuo Heiwajima), Takeshi Kusao (Dragon Ball Z's Trunks, Slam Dunk's Hanamichi Sakuragi)
Summary:

"What are you fighting for?" The story takes place in Japan's tumultuous Sengoku era, where violent battles are being raged across the country. The "passionate and painful" story follows the "troubled fate" of the Sanada brothers, who have sworn an oath that no matter what, they will fight to the bitter end together.
Title:Seiken Tsukai no World Break
Starts: January 11 at 1:05AM JST on AT-X
Studio: Diomedea
Genre:Action, Fantasy
Website: http://warubure-anime.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Takayuki Inagaki (Desert Punk, Rosario + Vampire)
  • Series Composition: Hiroshi Yamaguchi (Comic Party, Gate Keepers)
Summary:

The "campus sword & sorcery" story is set in a private high school that brings together "saviors," youths with awakened memories from past lives. Some of them are Shirogane who fight enemies with weapons and techniques gleaned from the Puraana powers from their own bodies. Others are Kuroma who wipe out enemies, with magic to manipulate the Maana powers that surpass physics. A boy named Moroha Haimura enrolls in this school. He is the first person in history with past lives of both Shirogane and Kuroma.
Title:Yoru no Yatterman
Starts:January 11 at 10:00pm JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Tatsunoko Production
Genre: Science Fiction
Website: http://yatterman.jp/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara (Muromi-san)
  • Series Composition: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu(Denki-Gai, Hetalia The Beautiful World)
Summary:

The Yatterman took control of the Dorombo Gang after a long fight, but the Yatterman Kingdom they created is not at peace. The kingdom is impoverished, and the people lament their tyrannical government. Standing against them is Leopard, a descendent of Yatterman's defeated rivals. She inherits the name Doronjo and becomes her successor, entering the Yatterman Kingdom with the intent of taken on the despised Yatterman.
Title: Durarara!!×2 Shō
Starts:January 10 at 11:30pm JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Studio Shuka
Genre:Action, Drama
Website: http://www.durarara.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Takahiro Omori (Durarara!!, Baccano!)
  • Returning Series Composition: Noboru Takagi (Koi Kaze, Durarara!! )
Summary:

A half a year after the events of the first season, Ikebukuro has begun to return to normal. High school is in session, Izaya is back to scheming, and Celty, the legendary headless rider, is still chased by the police as she rides through the town. But a few unusual things have slipped into the mix. Gradually, thanks to outside elements, Ikebukuro will be thrown back into chaos
Title: Dog Days
Starts: January 10 at 1230am JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Seven Arcs
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Website: http://www.dogdays.tv/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Junji Nishimura (Dog Days', GLASSLIP)
  • Series Composition/Original creator: Masaki Tsuzuki( Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha)
Summary:

The third season of the series takes place three months after the end of the second season during the fall vacation.
Title: The Rolling Girls
Starts:January 11 at 11:30pm JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Wit Studio
Genre: action
Website: http://rollinggirls.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Kotomi Deai (Silver Spoon 2 )
  • Screenplay: Yasuyuki Muto (Afro Samurai, Persona -trinity soul-)
Summary:

10 years after the Great Tokyo War, each prefectures in Japan had split up into independent nations. Each nations are ruled by a prophet called "Mosa" and an army called "Mob" as they start to compete to take over other countries. Four "Mob" girls from the Saitama clan, Nozomi, Yukina, Ai, Chiaya are ordered by their “Mosa” to travel around Japan riding their motor cycles to mediate multiple battles between nations and clans as they emerge.
Title: Aldnoah.Zero Season 2
Starts:JAnuary 11 at 12:00am JST on Tokyo MX
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Science Fiction, Action
Website: http://www.aldnoahzero.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original creator: Gen Urobuchi(Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass)
  • Director: Ei Aoki (Ga-Rei-Zero, (The) Garden of Sinners (movie series))
Summary:

The war between Earth and Mars continues! After the shocking events that closed out the first season the crew of the UFE Deucalion prepare for the next phase in this desperate battle to save earth.
Title:Kuroko's Basketball Season 3
Starts:January 11 at 2:58am JST on MBS
Studio:Production I.G
Genre: Sports
Website: http://www.kurobas.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Shunsuke Tada ( Dragonar Academy, Sands of Destruction)
  • Returning Character Design: Yoko Kikuchi (Junjō Romantica, El Cazador de la Bruja)
Summary:

Seirin High has made it to the Winter Cup semi finals. Do they have what it takes to win it all?
Title: Assassination Classroom
Starts: January 10 at 1:20am JST on Fuji TV
Studio: Lerche
Genre:Action, Science Fiction
Website: http://www.ansatsu-anime.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, Persona 4: The Animation)
  • Character Design: Kazuaki Morita(Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Danganronpa The Animation)
Summary:

One day, the moon exploded, leaving it in a perpetual crescent-moon shape. The creature who claims responsibility for the destruction also claims it will destroy the world in March of next year. With powers beyond human comprehension, no military can stand against it. Yet, for some reason, it chooses to take up occupancy as a teacher in the worst class of Kunugigaoka Middle School. The fate of the world rests in the hands of its students, as they have until graduation to figure out how to murder their teacher and collect ten billion yen for saving the world.
Title:JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc
Starts: January 10 at 12:00am JST on Tokyo MX1
Studio:David Production
Genre:Action, Adventure
Website: http://jojo-animation.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original creator: Hirohiko Araki (BAOH )
  • Returning Director: Naokatsu Tsuda (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc)
Summary:

After 30 grueling days of fighting off wave after wave of assassins sent by the megalomaniacal vampire DIO (all the while traveling by plane, train, and automobile from Japan, through Southeast Asia, and across the Middle East), Jotaro and his allies have made it at last to Egypt where DIO lies in wait. DIO, striving to end the Joestar line that has stood in his way for 100 years, sends his final and most fervent team of Stand-user followers, the 9 Egyptian Gods, to eliminate Jotaro and his allies. Jotaro and his party now have only two weeks to make their way to DIO's hideout in Cairo and eliminate him before Jotaro's mother succumbs to DIO's curse.
Title:The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls
Starts: January 10 at 12:00am JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Genre:Drama, Comedy, Musical
Website: http://imas-cinderella.com/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Noriko Takao (Saint Young Men (movie) )
  • Character Design: Yuusuke Matsuo (Black Rock Shooter (OAV), Yama no Susume)
Summary:

There are many idols with long-established talent agency 346 Production.. And now the company is starting a new program, the Cinderella Project! Girls leading normal lives... They are chosen to be aspiring idols and see another world for the first time in this Cinderella story. Can they all climb the stairs that lead to the palace? The magic begins now...
Title: Death Parade
Starts: January 10 at 1:58am JST on NTV
Studio: MADHOUSE
Genre: Drama, Supernatural, Suspense
Website: http://www.deathparade.jp/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original Creator/ Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa(Arata-naru Sekai (OAV))
  • Character Design: Shinichi Kurita((The) Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior )
Summary:

After death, humans go to either heaven or hell. But for some, at the instant of their death, they arrive at the Quindecim, a bar attended by the mysterious white-haired Decim. He challenges them to the Death Game, wherein they wager their lives and reveal their true natures. Decim himself is the ultimate arbitrator of who wins and who loses, who lives and who dies.
Title:Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season 2
Starts: January 17 at 7:00pm JST on Nico Nico
Studio: Toei Animation
Genre:Comedy, Romance, Action
Website: http://sailormoon-official.com/animation/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Manabu Ono (Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Saki )
  • Character Design: Kana Ishida (Aquarion Evol)
Summary:

Usagi Tsukino was a normal second-year middle school girl whose own life changes one day when she encounters a black cat. The cat's name is Luna who can talk and bears a cresent moon on her forehead. Luna tells Usagi that she is the chosen guardian of justice with the power to transform into Sailor Moon. Usagi now has a new responsiblity which is a mission to find the Illusionary Silver Crystal as well as the other chosen guardians to protect the Moon Princess. During her mission, she must deal with various enemies sent by Queen Beryl who is also after the Illusionary Silver Crystal.
Title: Go! Princess Precure
Starts: February 1 at 8:35am on ABC
Studio: Toei Animation
Genre:Comedy, Fantasy
Website: http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/princess_precure/
Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original creator: Izumi Todo (Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi, Yes! Precure 5)
  • Director: Yūta Tanaka (Episode director for the Precure Franchise)
Summary:

The story is set in Noble Academy, the first boarding junior high school in the Precure franchise. The anime depicts the excitement of dorm life, coming of age while living with friends, and the anticipation and anxiety of a new life among roommates, separated from family.

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