With temperatures heating up it’s time to take a moment to sit down, eat some ice cream and enjoy some summer anime! These are our recommendations for the upcoming anime season, if you’re missing the series you’re looking forward to the most: Why not join in next time?
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FLCL Progressive (フリクリ プログレ)
Type: Anime
Studio: Production I.G
Genres: Action, Comedy, Dementia, Mecha, Parody, Sci-fi
Starts Airing: 3rd of June 2018
Number of episodes: 6
Years have passed since the ending of the first season and the adventures the main characters had together. Haruko introduces herself as the new teacher at the school where Hidomi goes to, a young girl who thinks her average life will not expect anything interesting. However, after the arrival of Haruko the Medical Mechanica start attacking Hidomi’s town and she discovers a secret that only her new teacher can unlock.
Recommended by Kuro:
I have watched the first season of FLCL a couple of years ago as it was recommended to me by a friend. It’s been a long time ago so I can’t remember much of it but I do recall that I did enjoy the show, I will probably re watch the old show before watching this one. Personally I always enjoy watching shows that get a new season with a time skip in it as I’m always curious to see how the story, characters, and the world evolves. Also, since it’s only six episodes it’s a great anime for busy people like me. I don’t have enough time to invest in watching anime anymore so seeing new titles with less than ten episodes feels like a blessing to me.
Violet Evergarden Special (ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン)
Type: Special
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life
Based on the eponymous manga by Kana Akatsuki.
Starts airing: 4th of July 2018
An unaired episode which takes place between episode 4 and 5 from the anime Violet Evergarden, a series which is about Auto Memory Dolls, people whom process other people’s emotions and thoughts into letters and help them through such way. Violet is a “weapon” which has fought during the war and the series follows her story to intergrade into the social world and her journey to search for the meaning behind emotions and the word love.
Recommended by Hageshi:
I haven’t read the manga myself, however I have seen the anime. It’s a beautiful anime, with very beautiful art. And even though it’s not a sad anime, the emotions managed to hit me as well. Therefor I am really looking forward to the special and the story which will be told during it.
Jashin-chan Dropkick (邪神ちゃんドロップキック)
Type: Anime
Studio: Nomad
Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Supernatural
Based on the eponymous manga by Yukiwo.
Starts airing: July 10th 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
One day Yurine, a delusional gothic Lolita girl, summons a demon girl with the tail of a cobra named Jashin-Chan. Jashin-Chan is VERY unhappy about the situation and is very violent with Yurine. They’ll have to live together until Yurine manages to send Jashin-chan back to hell or until Jashin-Chan kills Yurine.
Recommended by Yuki:
The promotional images alone are funny enough for me to think it’ll be fun to watch this. This is meant to be a violent comedy and not meant to take seriously, I think it’ll be a nice light series to watch.
Mirai no Mirai (未来のミライ)
Type: Movie
Studio: Studio Chizu
Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Starts airing: July 20th 2018
This movie centres around a family that lives in a small house in an obscure corner of their city, specifically it centres around the spoiled four-year-old son Kun-chan. When Kun-chan becomes a big brother to little sister Mirai, he gets jealous of the attention and love she’s getting which he feels he is entitled to. While Kun-chan is already overwhelmed by the presence of his new sister and how much his life changes because of her, an older version of Mirai appears, having travelled back to him from the future.
Recommended by Yuki:
Although I’m afraid this story is a set up for some tearjerker scenarios, especially since one of the genres is drama, I think it has a big chance of being very heart-warming too. I’m looking forward to seeing the big sister/younger sister dynamic that future Mirai will have with Kun-chan and see his opinion about his little sister change over time.
Gintama: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen 2 (銀魂. 銀ノ魂篇)
Type: Anime
Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Genres: Comedy, Action, Science-Fiction, Shounen, Parody, Historical
Based on the Gintama manga by Hidaeki Sorachi.
Starts airing: July 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
Gintama is approaching the end, the Silver Soul arc is the adaptation of the manga’s final story arc. The adaptation started in Winter, having a break, but is now back to carry on. With the world at stake Yorozuya Gin-Chan and co. are continuing to fight with all they got for Earth’s survival. Of course, with the odd comedic and parody moment to prevent it from being too serious!
Recommended by AlexD:
The first part of this arc was great, particularly as the action is getting more intense. Sure, the comedy is taking a back seat, however knowing the world is at stake justifies it. There is still the odd funny moment, but the overall more serious tone works due to events leading up to this point. I also like how characters from throughout the show’s long history are coming back and helping with the fight at the end. It’s shaping up to be the perfect end for the show (and I should know as I’m up to date with the manga)!
Happy Sugar Life (ハッピーシュガーライフ)
Type: Anime
Studio: Ezo’la
Genres: Drama, Horror, Shounen
Based on the eponymous manga by Tomiyaki Kagisora.
Starts airing: July 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
In contrast to the sweet title, this psychological horror is getting ready to be the talk of the town. High school girl Satō Matsuzaka befriends Shio, a young innocent girl who stays in Satō’s apartment. She cares for Satō deeply but often remains unaware of what she is involved in as she is not allowed outside of the apartment. Satō will resort to any way possible to protect Shio, even murder.
Recommended by Natsumi:
This cold blooded obsessive girl will do anything to protect the one she loves. The innocent art style and controversial topic mixed so beautifully that I could not get my eyes off of the trailer the first time I saw it, but it is certainly not for the weak hearted. A lot of readers have stumbled upon this ongoing manga and leave very positive reviews on the trailer of the anime adaption too. Prepare to watch this late at night for the maximum Yandere effect.
Back Street Girls (バック ストリート ガールズ)
Type: Anime
Studio: J.C. Staff
Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Seinen
Based on the eponymous manga by Jasmine Gyuh.
Starts airing: July 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
After failing their boss one too many times, three yakuza men are given a choice: either honourably commit suicide or go to Thailand and get sex reassignment surgery so they can become ‘female’ idols. After a year of training to become an idol group, the three ‘girls’ successfully debut and gain popularity instantly. This is where their tragedy truly begins as they struggle to hide their true selves from their fans.
Recommended by Yuki:
This anime sounds super funny, the entire story makes very little sense, but I think it’ll be very easy to get a few laughs out of it. The story does disregard the fact that you don’t just get a sex change operation that easily, or restore from it that easily, but it’s a comedy anime so I can see how they’d ignore that for the purpose of creating a comedy. The title parodying ‘Back Street Boys’ also adds to the comedy of this show.
Shinya! Tensai Bakabon (深夜! 天才バカボン)
Type: Anime
Studio: Pierrot
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
Based on the eponymous manga by Fujio Akatsuka.
Starts airing: July 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
This will be the fifth adaptation of “Shinya! Tensai Bakabon”, a gag manga by the legendary Fujio Akatsuka (who also wrote the original Osomatsu-kun). The show follows Bakabon, a boy known for being foolish, and his weird family. To be honest the poster gives you a strong idea what kind of gags you are in for with this show.
Recommended by AlexD:
As a fan of the recent Osomastu-san adaption, I know this is going to be a bizarre and wonderful show. There is quite a market for the surreal humour at the moment, and I think this will fill the hole Pop Team Epic has left. Particularly as I personally have started to like series that are different, and Akatsuka’s art and writing style are just that. So if you are looking for a series that goes against convention and is strange, this show is for you!
High Score Girl (ハイスコアガール)
Type: Anime
Studio: J.C. Staff
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Seinen
Based on the eponymous manga by Rensuke Oshikiri.
Starts airing: July 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
It’s 1991 and Yaguchi Haruo, a 6th grader, lives for video games. It’s the only thing he’s got going for him, until one day at a local arcade he plays Oono Akira and she completely destroys him at Street Fighter II. Oono is one of Yaguchi’s classmates, but she is nothing like him as she is popular, smart and pretty. After losing to her 30 times in a row and being unable to beat her at any game, she starts following him to the arcade every day and continues to beat him. Strangely enough, over time, the two start to develop a bond and friendship.
Recommended by Yuki:
This sounds like a cute, but very funny, love story. It definitely doesn’t hurt, for me, that this anime has a female gamer in it. The character design looks cute and I think the age of the characters will help in making this a sweet story, rather than a very dramatic story which you often see with teenagers.
Phantom in the Twilight
Type: Anime
Studio: LIDEN FILMS
Genres: Fantasy, Slice of Life
Starts airing: July 2018
Number of episodes: Unknown
An action-packed anime about London being infested by shadow monsters while an unsuspecting transfer student is getting thrown in the mid of it all. She enters “Café Forbidden” and finds a purpose to fight against the shadow-realm with the other employees who work there. Can they keep everyone safe or will this be the beginning of the end.
Recommended by Natsumi:
If you are a fan of the Persona franchise just like me you will find this anime to be a gem to look forward to. What will this girl go through once she encounters the horrors and set foot in Café Forbidden? This anime will also be casting talented voice actors like Takahiro Sakurai ready to get you on the edge of your seat. A manga adaptation launched in March 2018 for those who really cannot wait!
Which serie(s) are you going to watch?
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