×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Anime Spotlight Fall 2012 - The List

by Bamboo Dong,

Featured Series (Click for more)

(Jump to additional shows)

AIKATSU!

Blast of Tempest

From the New World

K

Magi

ONIAI

The Pet Girl of Sakurasou

Say, "I Love You".
Coming soon: Student Council's Discretion 2nd Season

Also Premiering

Title: Aoi Sekai no Chushin de
Starts: Saturday, Oct 20 at 10:00PM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio: 5th Avenue
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa (Destiny of the Shrine Maiden)
  • Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Maki Fujii (Shattered Angels, Ultra Maniac)
Summary:

A fantasy re-imagining of the early 90s video game console wars, the series pits the Segua Kingdom against the Ninterudo Empire as they fight over the land of Consume. Segua Kingdom's last hope is a kid named Gear.
Title: Bakuman. 3
Starts:Saturday, Oct 6 at 5:30PM JST on NHK-E
Studio:J.C. Staff
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Directors: Kenichi Kasai (Bakuman, Honey and Clover) and Noriaki Akitaya (Bakuman)
  • Series composition: Reiko Yoshida (K-ON!)
Summary:

Bringing back the popular series about aspiring teen manga creators, this series will focus on the team's new PCP manga as it climbs to the top of magazine readers' popularity surveys.
Title: Busou Shinki
Starts:Friday, Oct 5 at 1:55AM JST on TBS
Studio:8bit
Genre:Slice-of-life
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi (Infinite Stratos)
  • Character Design: Takahiro Kishida (Arjuna, Koi Kaze)
  • Cast: Kana Asumi (Hidamari Sketch's Yuno), Kaori Mizuhashi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica's Mami), Megumi Nakajima (Lagrange - The Flower of Rin-ne's Gurania), Minori Chihara (Minami-ke's Chiaki Minami)
Summary:

Adapted from Konami's line of female action figures, this TV anime is set in a future where robots are part of everyday life and contribute to various facets of society. High school freshman Masato has three "Shinki" armed with weapons and armor, but things change when a fourth Shinki joins them.
Title: Dangerous Jii-san Ja
Starts:Saturday, Oct 20 at 4:47 AM on KIDS STATION
Studio:J.C. Staff
Genre:Comedy
Website: TBA 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Takashi Watanabe (Shakugan no Shana, Slayers, Ikki Tousen)
  • Character Design: Masahiro Ando (Maple Town Stories)
Summary:

A 5-minute short series based on Kazutoshi Soyama's "nonsense gag comedy" about a grandfather and his grandchild.
Title: Chiisana Oyajisan
Starts:Monday, Oct 1 at 3:00 AM on Chiba TV
Studio:Kachidoki Studio
Genre:Comedy
Website: LINK
Summary:

A short series based on Noi Asano's manga about a very tiny old man.
Title: Chou Soku Henkei Gyrozetter
Starts:Tuesday, Oct 2 at 6:00PM JST on TV Tokyo
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Genre:Action, Science Fiction
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director:Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama, School Rumble)
  • Character Design: Yoshinori Yumoto (Battle Spirits: Brave)
  • Music: Naoki Sata (Moyashimon, Eureka Seven)
Summary:

Artificial intelligence cars have revolutionized the car industry, but now there are special schools that train children to drive the AI cars. Fifth grader Kakeru Todoroki is presented with a car that will not only save humanity, but will also transform into a robot known as Gyrozetter.
Title: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
Starts:Thursday, Oct 4 at 12:30AM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Kyoto Animation
Genre:Comedy, Drama, Romance
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Tatsuya Ishihara (Air, Clannad)
  • Character Design: Kazumi Ikeda (Clannad)
  • Cast: Jun Fukuyama (Code Geass' Lelouch Lamperouge), Maaya Uchida (Sankarea's Rea Sanka)
Summary:

Yuta Togashi used to suffer from chū-2 byō, or adolescent delusions of grandeur, but now he's romantically entangled with Rikka Takanashi, who still suffers from it. When a friend from middle school comes along (who also experiences chū-2 byō), things start getting a little hectic.
Title: Code:Breaker
Starts:Sunday, Oct 7 at 2:58AM JST on MBS
Studio:Kinema Citrus
Genre:Action
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original Creator: Akimine Kamijyo (Samurai Deeper Kyo)
  • Cast: Nobuhiko Okamoto (Bakuman's Eiji Niizuma), Yoko Hikasa (K-ON!'s Mio Akiyama)
Summary:

Mysterious transfer student Ogami Rei is a Code:Breaker, an assassin with strange abilities who belongs to a secret organization that serves the government.
Title: Girls und Panzer
Starts:Tuesday, Oct 9 at 1:00AM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Actas
Genre:Military
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Tsutomu Mizushima (Squid Girl, XXXHOLiC)
  • Original Character Design: Humikane Shimada (Strike Witches, Sky Girls)
  • Series Composition: Reiko Yoshida (K-ON!)
Summary:

This series centers around high school girls who drive real-life tanks, as they compete in teams.
Title: Haitai Nanafa
Starts:Saturday, Oct 5 at 5:55PM JST on Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting
Studio:Passhone
Genre:Comedy, Drama
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original Character Design: POP (Moetan)
  • Director: Hiroshi Kimura (Recorder and Randsell)
Summary:

Ordinary middle schooler Nanafa Kyan's life changes when she sees a seal fall off a Chinese banyan tree, only to unleash three spirits who live in the tree. Soon, the peaceful lives of Nanafa and her family start to change.
Hayate the Combat Butler: Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Starts:Wednesday, Oct 3 at 11:00AM JST on TV Tokyo
Studio:Manglobe
Genre:Comedy
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Series Original Concept: Kenjirou Hata (Hayate the Combat Butler!)
  • Returning cast: Ryoko Shiraishi as Hayate Ayasaki, Rie Kugimiya as Nagi Sanzenin, Rie Tanaka as Maria
Summary:

This new series will be original to the anime, unlike the previous series which were based from Kenjirou Hata's original manga. Nagi Sanzenin receives a a phone call from Area 51, inviting her to the universe, but she's stopped by maid Maria.
Title: Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb
Starts:Friday, Oct 5 at 1:25AM JST on TBS
Studio:Shaft
Genre:Comedy, Slice-of-life
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Akiyuki Shinbo (Arakawa Under the Bridge)
  • Theme Song Performance: "Open Canvas" by Kana Asumi (Yuno), Kaori Mizuhashi (Miyako), Yuko Goto (Hiro), Ryoko Shintani (Sae), Chiaki Omigawa (Nazuna), Hitomi Harada (Nori)
Summary:

This series follows the lives of an art student named Yuno and her friends who all live together in the Hidamari Apartment Complex.
Title: Hiiro no Kakera Dai-ni-Sho
Starts:Sunday, Sep 30 at 10:00PM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Studio DEEN
Genre:Adventure, Romance, Supernatural
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Bob Shirohata (Hetalia - Axis Powers)
  • Returning Opening Theme Song Performance: "Takaharu" by Maiko Fujita
  • Returning Ending Theme Song Performance: "Kimi Dake wo" by Shuhei Kita
Summary:

Hiiro no Kakera Dai-ni-Sho will continue the anime TV series based on Idea Factory's romance game for female players.
Title: Ixion Saga DT
Starts:Monday, Oct 8 at 1:05AM JST on TV Tokyo
Studio:Brain's Base
Genre:Action, Fantasy
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama)
  • Cast: Takuya Eguchi (Eden of the East's Satoshi Osugi), Hiroshi Kamiya (Macross Frontier's Mikhail Blanc), Kazuya Nakai (Gintama's Hijikata Toshirou), Shiori Mikami (Yuruyuri's Akari Akaza)
Summary:

Based on Capcom's online fantasy action PC game, the series follows Kon Hokaze, a boy who travels to an alternate world called Mira. There, he saves Princess Ecarlate from attackers, but soon finds himself in the middle of a struggle surrounding a mysterious energy known as Alma.
Title: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: The Animation
Starts:Saturday, Oct 6 at 12:30AM JST on MBS/Tokyo MX
Studio:David Production
Genre:Action, Adventure
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Series Composition: Yasuko Kobayashi (Shakugan no Shana)
  • Chief Animation Director: Takako Shimizu (Samurai Champloo, Haibane Renmei)
Summary:

This TV anime is the latest adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's original manga. Previously, parts of the manga have been adapted into OVAs and a film.
Title: Jormungand Perfect Order
Starts:Wednesday, Oct 10 at 12:30AM JST on Tokyo MX/UHF
Studio:White Fox
Genre:Action
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Returning Director: Keitaro Motonaga (School Days)
  • Returning Series Composition: Yousuke Kuroda (Infinite Ryvius)
Summary:

This is the second season of Jormungand, which follows Koko Hekmatyar, an arms dealer who works with a team of colorful and skilled ex-military professionals, including Jonah, a somber child soldier who is determined to track down the arms dealers responsible for the death of his parents.
Title: Kyousogiga
Starts:Friday, Aug 31 at 10:00AM JST on Nico Nico
Studio:Toei Animation
Genre:Action, Comedy, Magic
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Original Creator: Izumi Todo (Toei staff pen name [Futari wa Pretty Cure, Ojamajo Doremi])
  • Music: Hiroshi Takaki (AKB0048, Beet the Vandal Buster)
Summary:

Three kids find themselves stuck in a strange city, and the only way they can get home is by finding a strange rabbit. However, one of them seems to have a connection with this mysterious place.
Title: Little Busters!
Starts:Saturday, Oct 6 at 11:30PM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:J.C. Staff
Genre:Adventure, Romance
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Cast: Hikaru Midorikawa (Fushigi Yugi's Tamahome), Tomoe Tamiyasu (Recorder and Randsell's Futami Moriyama), Yui Horie (Fruits Basket's Toru Honda)
  • Series Composition: Michiru Shimada (Shugo Chara)
Summary:

Little Busters is an adaptation of Key's romance adventure visual novel of the same name. Riki Naoe was orphaned when his parents died, but his depression is slowly lifted when he befriends a group of kids calling themselves the Little Busters. The series takes place during his second year of high school.
Title: Medaka Box Abnormal
Starts:Wednesday, Oct 10 at 1:35AM JST on TV Tokyo
Studio:GAINAX
Genre:Action, Comedy
Website: 		Returning Cast/Staff:
  • Character Design: Ikuo Kuwana (Street Fighter Alpha: Generations)
  • Director: Shouji Saeki (This Ugly Yet Beautiful World)
Summary:

Medaka started off with a program to try to help her fellow students, but now she's been exposed as being not-quite-human. And she's up against a powerful conspiracy to take her down.
Title: Psycho-Pass
Starts:Friday, Oct 12 at 12:45AM JST on Fuji TV
Studio:Production I.G
Genre:Action
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Series Composition and Story Concept: Gen Urobuchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
  • Original Character Designs: Akira Amano (Reborn!)
Summary:

The story focuses on enforcement officer Shinya Kogami who's job is to manage crime in a future world where a person's state of mind and personality can be instantly recorded; this information is measured by a standard called Psycho-Pass.
Title: Robotics;Notes
Starts:Friday, Oct 12 at 12:45AM JST on Fuji TV
Studio:Production I.G
Genre:Adventure, Science fiction
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Series Composition: Jukki Hanada (Rozen Maiden)
  • Music: Takeshi Abo (Steins;Gate)
Summary:

Adapting the Robotics;Notes visual novel, the series is set in a future world where it follows a robotics club in danger of being disbanded.
Title: Teekyu
Starts:Sunday, Oct 7 at 10:27PM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Mappa
Genre:Adventure, Science fiction
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director/Writer/Character Design: Shin Itagaki (Devil May Cry)
Summary:

Slice-of-life story about a group of four girls on the school tennis team. They rarely play tennis.
Title: To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness
Starts:Saturday, Oct 6 at 1:00AM JST on Tokyo MX
Studio:Xebec
Genre:Comedy, Romance
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Director: Atsushi Ootsuki (Motto To Love Ru)
  • Original Creator: Kentaro Yabuki (Black Cat)
Summary:

Adapting Saki Hasemi and Kentaro Yabuki's manga spinoff, the story takes place in a full Yuki residence, with one of the girls actively trying to create a harem for Rito Yuki.
Title: Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II
Starts:Sunday, Oct 7 at 5:30AM JST on TV Tokyo
Studio:GALLOP
Genre:Adventure, Action
Website: 		Notable Cast/Staff:
  • Cast: Miyu Irino (Tsunasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE's Syaoran)
Summary:

The continuing far-future adventures of Yuma Tsukumo's duals as began in the first series.
discuss this in the forum (571 posts) |
bookmark/share with: short url

this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history

Anime Spotlight homepage / archives