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More Titles Announced for AnimeLab Winter Season

posted on by Jon Hayward

Madman's streaming service AnimeLab has announced and added 11 new titles for their winter simulcast season, the new titles include;

Many of the above titles are already streaming with the remainder to start soon. These titles go alongside the previously announced series making for a total of 17 new series streaming on AnimeLab;

More details on the new series are as follows;

Fairy Tail Zero

Many years ago, Mavis Vermilion was a servant on Sirius Island, mistreated by a guild master and his daughter, Zera. But Mavis stayed positive, because her mother once told her that fairies never visit people who cry about their problems. When the guild came under attack, Mavis pulled Zera from the wreckage into the forest. Seven years went by, and the powerful wizards Warrod Sequen, Precht, and Yuri Dreyer arrived on the island, seeking a powerful jade gemstone. This journey would change the course of magical history. - From manga description

This prequel to Fairy Tail is based on the manga of the same name by Hiro Mashima and it follows the events that lead to the creation of the titular guild. The anime is being produced at A-1 Pictures with the opening theme "Ashita o Orase" being performed by Kavka Shishido and the ending theme is "Landscape" by SOLIDEMO.

Mashima launched the Fairy Tail Zero manga in the first issue of Monthly Fairy Tail in July 2014, and he ended the manga in the magazine's 13th and final issue on July 17.

Kodansha Comics released the manga as a single volume in summer 2016, they also publish the main Fairy Tail manga in North America and Crunchyroll is releasing new chapters online as they come out in Japan.

Mashima's main Fairy Tail manga has inspired two TV anime series, two video anime, an anime film, and several spinoff manga. The second TV anime series began airing in Japan in April 2014, and Crunchyroll and Funimation stream the series as it airs. Funimation is releasing both series on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in North America.

Madman Entertainment has the license to Fairy Tail in Australia and New Zealand and not only releases the series on DVD and Blu-ray but streams the series weekly on AnimeLab.

Assassination Classroom (TV 2)

Class 3E is about to begin their second semester. And while some things have changed, the class assignment is still the same: kill their teacher before the end of the year. Easier said than done since Koro Sensei's made it clear he won't go down without a fight.

The main staff from the first anime has returned for the sequel. Seiji Kishi (Persona 4 The Animation, Danganronpa The Animation, Devil Survivor 2 The Animation) is directing anime at the studio Lerche. Kazuaki Morita (Persona 4 The Animation, Danganronpa The Animation, Arpeggio of Blue Steel) is designing the characters, and Makoto Uezu (Danganronpa The Animation, Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Is This a Zombie?, School Days) is writing the scripts.

Five characters in the anime perform the opening theme song "QUESTION." Nagisa (voiced by Mai Fuchigami), Kaede (Aya Suzaki), Karma (Nobuhiko Okamoto), Yūma (Ryota Ohsaka), and Hiroto (Shintarō Asanuma) will sing as a group named 3-nen E-gumi Utatan (Class 3-E Song Representatives). Shouko Fujibayashi wrote the lyrics, and Akimitsu Honma composed and arranged the song. The same group previously performed the opening theme song of the first season.

Japanese pop singer Shion Miyawaki performs the ending theme song "Kaketa Tsuki" (Damaged Moon). Miyawaki wrote the lyrics, ArmySlick and Emyli composed the music, and ArmySlick arranged the song.

The first 22-episode season of the Assassination Classroom anime based on Yusei Matsui's manga of the same name premiered in Japan on January 9 2015. The live-action film adaptation opened in Japan on March 21, and the second film will open in spring 2016.

ANN's preview guide has already looked at the first episode, you can read their thoughts here.

Snow White with the Red Hair (TV 2)

Sorata Akiduki's original shōjo manga Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (Snow White with the Red Hair) revolves around Shirayuki (Saori Hayami), a beautiful girl working as a medicine woman who has red hair, which is very rare in her country. When she is proposed and chased after by Raji (Jun Fukuyama), the prince of her country, she runs away, only to meet Zen (Ryota Ohsaka), the prince of a neighboring country. Finding respect for the young man, she decides to serve at his side as his court doctor.

Masahiro Ando (Hanasaku Iroha - Blossoms for Tomorrow, Blast of Tempest) is directing the anime at the studio BONES. The group eyelis is also returning to provide the ending theme song "Page~Kimi to Tsuzuru Monogatari" (Page~A Story I Weave with You). The group performed the first season's ending theme song "Kizuna ni Nosete" (Placing on Bonds). Saori Hayami is performing the opening theme song "Sono Koe ga Chizu ni Naru" (Your Voice Will Become a Map).

The second season premiered on January 11 2016 and Funimation is streaming both the Japanese sub with the English dub following a couple of days behind.

Akiduki began the manga in LaLa in its September 2006 issue, and Hakusensha shipped the 14th compiled volume of the series on July 3. The limited edition of the manga's 15th volume will bundle a 30-minute anime on DVD on January 5.

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

When Haruhito awakens, he's in the dark. He doesn't know where he is, why is he here, and where he came from. Around him there are several men and women who have the same circumstances. Haruhito and his companions find themselves in a "game-like world" called Grimgar and must form a party, cooperate, and learn new skills to survive the harsh environment together.

Described as a "youth x fantasy" series, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash based on a light novel series of the same name by Author Ao Jūmonji and illustrator Eiri Shirai. They launched the light novel series in 2013 and Overlap Bunko published the seventh novel on December 25. Mutsumi Okubashi launched a manga adaptation in Square Enix's Gangan Joker magazine in April 2015.

The series will premiere on the Tokyo MX and AT-X channels on Sunday, followed by other stations. Toho Animation Records is forming a new project called (K)NoW_NAME to produce the opening ("Knew Day") and ending ("Harvest") theme songs, as well as songs within the anime. Funimation will stream the anime as it airs in North America.

Ryosuke Nakamura (Aiura director and scriptwriter, Mōryō no Hako director) is directing and writing the scripts at A-1 Pictures. Tomotaka Shibayama is serving as assistant director with Kazuyuki Asaga and Ken Baba as key animators, and Mieko Hosoi (Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū, Psychic School Wars) is designing the characters. Hidetoshi Kaneko is directing the art, and Takahiro Mogi is the color key artist. Shinichi Igarashi is the director of photography, and Aya Hida is editing.

The winter preview guide has gazed at the first episode and you can view their collective thoughts here.

Erased

Satoru Fujinuma is a 29 year old manga artist struggling to make a name for himself. He also has an involuntary supernatural ability that sends him back in time to prevent deaths and catastrophes… When a serial killer frames him for the murder of his own mother, Satoru throws himself back in time only to find himself as a grade-schooler just before the disappearance of his classmate, Kayo.

Based on Kei Sanbe's original manga "Boku dake ga Inai Machi", Tomohiko Ito (Sword Art Online, Silver Spoon) is directing the series and Taku Kishimoto (Silver Spoon, Haikyu!!) is handling series composition at A-1 Pictures. Keigo Sasaki (The Seven Deadly Sins, Blue Exorcist) is designing the characters for the anime and Yuki Kajiura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Sword Art Online) is composing the music.

Aniplex of America licensed the series. The series began streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation on January 7, the same day it debuted in Japan on Fuji TV's Noitamina block. Tokyo's Wald 9 theater hosted a screening of the first two episodes with a discussion by director Tomohiko Ito and voice cast members Tao Tsuchiya, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, and Chinatsu Akasaki on January 5. Bookstores and anime stores throughout Japan are distributing a free 52-page guide book to the anime.

The band Asian Kung-Fu Generation will perform the opening theme song "Re:Re" and singer-songwriter Sayuri is performing the ending theme song "Sore wa Chiisa na Hikari no yō na" (That was like a small light).

Kei Sanbe began the original manga in 2012 and it is currently serialized in Kadokawa's Young Ace magazine. The manga was nominated for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize 'Reader Award' in 2014 and this year's Manga Taisho Awards.

A live-action film adaptation starring Tatsuya Fujiwara and Kasumi Arimura will open on March 19, 2016.

The team on the winter preview guide is pretty excited about Erased, read why here and you can check out the anime spotlight here.

Divine Gate

When the Divine Gate opened, the living world, the heavens, and the underworld became connected, ushering an era of chaos where desires and conflict intersect. To restore order, the World Council is formed. As peace is restored, the Divine Gate becomes an urban legend.

In that world, boys and girls deemed fit by the World Council are gathered. They are ones who aim to reach the gate for their personal objectives. Those who reach the gate can remake the world.

What lies beyond the gate? When they reach the door, will the world change? Will it be the past that changes, or will it be the future? - from AnimeLab

Noriyuki Abe (The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Bleach, GTO) is directing the anime at Studio Pierrot, and Natsuko Takahashi (My Love Story!!, Moyashimon, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan) is in charge of series composition. Ichiro Uno (The World Is Still Beautiful) is designing the characters, and Takumi Ozawa (Aria the Scarlet Ammo, Okamikakushi - Masque of the Wolf) is composing the music. The group Hitorie is performing the opening theme song "One Meets High" while another group, vistlip (Samurai Jam -Bakumatsu Rock-, Yona of the Dawn, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's) is contributing the ending theme song "Contrust."

The series premiered on the 8th of January and Funimation is streaming the series in North America.

GungHo Online Entertainment and Acquire's original Divine Gate game is available for free download on iOS and Android. In the "panel RPG," players explore dungeons and solve puzzles to uncover panels and reveal treasure or monsters. The game has included more than 1,000 unique characters, including Steins;Gate characters as guest bosses. The game has also included characters from Fairy Tail, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, and Danganronpa. The game currently has more than 4 million downloads.

Luck & Logic

After losing a war in their home world Tetraheaven, the Gods appeared in the human world seeking refuge. To protect the citizens from the otherworldly beings, the government began employing Logicalists — a special police force with the power to enter trances with Goddesses. In these trance forms humans and Goddesses can combine their power and fight against those looking to disturb the peace. - from AnimeLab

Luck & Logic is the anime portion of Bushiroad's new media franchise, consisting of the show and a trading card game. Both the anime and game are set in a world where a concept known as "Logic" governs all aspects of life, including emotions, talent, memories, and even gods.

Koichi Chigira (Gate Keepers, Full Metal Panic!, Ryo) and Takashi Naoya (A Certain Scientific Railgun S, Selector Infected Wixoss episode animation director) will direct the anime at Dogakobo. Yuuya Takahashi (2015 Lupin III, Laughing Under the Clouds) is in charge of series composition and is also credited with the original concept.

Mari Shimazaki (Bayonetta game) drew the original character and concept designs, while Rei Aoi (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Psychic School Wars key animation) and Katsuhiro Kumagai (Samurai Flamenco, Witch Craft Works, Selector Spread Wixoss animation director) are desigining the characters for animation. Kenji Andou (Karas, King of Thorn, Rage of Bahamut) is responsible for creature design, while Hiroshi Tani (Majestic Prince, Plastic Memories) and Makoto Kobayashi (Space Battleship Yamato 2199, Last Exile, Simoun) are handling mechanical design. You can view more of the designs on ANN's Luck & Logic anime spotlight.

Norimitsu Kaihō from Nitroplus is credited with "setting cooperation." Tatsuya Katou (Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club, Comet Lucifer, Celestial Method) will compose the music. Emi Nitta will perform the ending theme "Meiyaku no Kanata."

A one-minute anime short titled Watashi-tachi Rokuroji-bu! (We Are the Luck and Logic Club!) will air before each episode. A two-hour television special will also air on December 31. The staff will provide more details about the special at a later date.

The project is a collaboration between Bushiroad, Bandai Visual, Dogakobo Nitroplus, Lantis, and Yuhodo. Bushiroad launched a website for both the anime and the card game.

ANN's winter preview guide has already cast it's eye over Luck & Logic, see what the team thought here.

Norn9

The story takes place a little in the future. Guided by one particular song, young elementary school student Suzuhara Sorata, from the Heisei Era, is warped through a time skip to an unfamiliar place that looks much like the towns from the Meiji or Taishou period from his textbooks. In this world, he meets three young ladies and nine young men and joins them on a journey aboard the mysterious Norn ship, a giant globe that floats in midair.

Takao Abo (episode director for Eureka Seven, Macross Frontier, assistant director for Lunar Legend Tsukihime) is making his directorial debut at Kinema Citrus and Orange. Tetsuo Ichimura (Ane Log, episode director for Bleach, Penguindrum) is serving as assistant director, Natsuko Takahashi (My Love Story!!, 07-Ghost) is handling the series composition, and Yukari Takeuchi (animation director for Bleach, Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 1000%) is adapting Teita's original character designs for anime and is also serving as chief animation director. The anime's main cast are reprising their roles from the game.

Kaori Oda (Baccano! Pandora Hearts) performs the ending theme song "Zero to Kei."

Norn9 was originally an otome game created by Otomate and Idea Factory for the PSP in May 2013. The PlayStation Vita port, Norn9: Var Commons, shipped in Japan in December 2014. Otomate and Idea Factory will release a new game in the franchise titled Norn + Nonette Act Tune on the PS Vita in 2016.

Aksys Games released Norn9: Var Commons in North America and Europe on November 3.

Sentai Filmworks licensed Norn9 in December for North America and Anime Network and Hulu is streaming the series online.

You can check out more details about Norn9 on ANN's Anime Spotlight and the winter preview guide has assembled their thoughts here.

Girls Beyond the Wasteland

Buntarō is a student who wants to be something, but doesn't know what. One day his female classmate Sayuki announces she is working on a bishōjo (pretty girl) game. Sayuki scouted him because he wrote a good script for drama club, but Buntarō doesn't know anything about bishōjo games.

Girls Beyond the Boundary adapts a yet to be released visual novel game by MinatoSoft. The "youth adventure" game is slated to ship on March 25.

Takuya Satō (Selector Infected Wixoss, Steins;Gate, Mission-E) is directing the anime at Project No.9, with scripts by Yuniko Ayana (Bakuman., Hori-san to Miyamura-kun, Kinmoza! Kiniro + Mosaic), based on the game's original scenario by Romeo Tanaka. Takayuki Noguchi (Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye, Ro-Kyu-Bu!, Papillon Rose) is adapting the character design for animation, based on Matsuryū's original character designs for the game. Takahiro (Akame ga KILL!, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero) is planning the project. Sayaka Sasaki is performing the opening theme song "Wastelanders" and the voice actresses for Sayuki (Haruka Chisuga), Yūka (Kana Hanazawa), Teruha (Satomi Akesaka), and Uguisu (Satomi Satou) are performing the ending theme song "Sekai wa Kyō mo Atarashii" (The World is New Again Today).

MinatoSoft first announced the game collaboration in 2013, then unveiled details in 2014 as the first of four titles in its "Takahiro IV" project. The other titles were the Akame ga KILL! anime based on Takahiro's manga, the Washio Sumi wa Yūsha de Aru. novel written by Takahiro and illustrated by BUNBUN, and the Yuki Yuna Is a Hero (Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru.) anime planned by Takahiro. MinatoSoft opened a teaser site for Shōjo-tachi wa Kōya o Mezasu in August.

Sentai Filmworks licensed Girls Beyond the Wasteland for North America and Anime Network / Hulu are streaming the series.

The winter preview guide has already watched the first episode here.

Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle

Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle revolves around Lux, a former prince of an empire named Arcadia that was overthrown via a rebellion five years earlier. Lux accidentally trespasses in a female dormitory's bathing area, sees the kingdom's new princess Lisesharte naked, and incurs her wrath. Lisesharte then challenges Lux to a Drag-Ride duel. Drag-Rides are ancient armored mechanical weapons that have been excavated from ruins all around the world. Lux used to be called the strongest Drag-Knight, but now he's known as the "undefeated weakest" Drag-Knight because he will absolutely not attack in battle. After his duel with Lisesharte, Lux ends up attending the female-only academy that trains royals to be Drag-Knights.

Masaomi Ando (Gakkō Gurashi!, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, White Album 2) is directing the series at Lerche (Assassination Classroom, Monster Musume, Danganronpa The Animation). Yuuko Kakihara (Heaven's Lost Property, Unbreakable Machine-Doll) is handling the series composition, Keiko Kurosawa (Assassination Classroom, Re:_Hamatora) is designing the characters for animation, and Orange (Accel World, Terror in Resonance, Tiger & Bunny) is producing the 3D CG animation.

TRUE is performing the opening theme "Hiryū no Kishi" and nano.RIPE (Hana-Saku Iroha, Humanity Has Declined) is performing the ending theme "Lime Tree."

The anime premiered on January 11 in Japan, Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for North America and the series is being streamed on Hulu.

The original light novel series that Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle is adapted from is written by Senri Akatsuki and illustrated by Ayumu Kasuga. SB Creative has published the series under the GA Bunko imprint since August 2014 and to date has published 7 volumes as of October 15 2015. Fumi Tadauri launched a manga adaptation in Square Enix and GA Bunko's collaborative Gangan GA online magazine last year, and Square Enix published the third compiled volume on October 14. Itsuki Watanabe handles the manga's composition.

You can view ANN's anime spotlight on the series here.

Dimension W

In the year 2071, the world's energy problems seem solved by a network of cross-dimensional electric-field inductors- “coils” -that extract energy from a seemingly infinite source. That source is the W dimension, a fourth plane that exists beyond the X, Y, and Z dimensions.

In this world, unofficial “illegal” coils harness powers that the police can't hope to counter. Dealing with these coils is the job of coil-hating repo man Kyoma, whose run-in with the unique coil android Mira leads the two to form a reluctant partnership.

Kanta Kamei (Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike; Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, Bunny Drop, Oreshura) is directing the series at Studio 3Hz and Orange. Tokuyuki Matsutake (Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, Tales of Phantasia) is designing the characters, and Shôtarô Suga (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Darker than Black) is serving as story editor.

STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION (Gangsta., Beyond the Boundary) will perform the opening theme song "Genesis" and Fo'xTails (Junjō Romantica 3, Kuroko's Basketball) will perform the ending theme song "Contrast." STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION's single with the opening theme will ship on January 27, and Fo'xTails' single with the ending theme will ship on February 3.

The adaptation was partially announced by Funimation who is also on the production committee for the series. They also have the rights for North America and will soon be streaming a English dub of Dimension W.

Iwahara (Darker than Black character designer and King of Thorn manga creator) launched the "near-future science fiction action" manga series in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine in 2011, although it will move to Monthly Big Gangan on December 25. Square Enix published the eighth compiled book volume on July 10. Yen Press will start publishing the manga in North America this year.


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