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)
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:
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:
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)
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:
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)
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:
Even questionable execution can’t rob the plot of its key point: Oriana’s desperation to save Vincent’s life.― Time loops are fickle things. As any reader of the isekai subgenre can tell you, most of them only grant memories to the person doing the looping – as far as everyone else knows, they're living their lives for the first time. For Oriana, the heroine of Re-Living My Life with a Boyfriend Who...
Even if you’re not a Sanrio fan, it’s easy to get pulled into the gentle world of the game, and if you enjoy the cozy exploration experience, this is a good choice, no matter what your age.― Traveling to a tropical island resort is the dream of the winter months for many people living in colder climates, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure is very well aware of that. The story invites players to join H...
Steve and Lucas discuss what makes Zenshu stand out from the isekai herd as one of the breakout titles of the winter anime season.― Steve and Lucas discuss what makes Zenshu stand out from the isekai herd as one of the breakout titles of the winter anime season. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning f...
It doesn't look as bad as Return of the Prince—however, that is an incredibly low bar to set and damning with faint praise more than anything else.― Workshop Battle is a major step up from Return of the Prince. It is a far more focused story with an understandable core conflict. Bam is trying to keep everyone he cares about safe at his own expense. At the same time, his new friends and Khun are putt...
I think part of the reason that D.Gray-man, as a series, stood out to so many people is that it used death as an overarching aesthetic and theme.― There are plenty of things that a lot of long-running shonen series have in common, from over-the-top fights to themes of friendship and perseverance. One common complaint often thrown at some of the bigger shounen series is the lack of permanence and wei...
Chris and Coop discuss their comfort watches for those days when you just want your anime to be the equivalent of a mug of hot cocoa.― Chris and Coop discuss their comfort watches for those days when you just want your anime to be the equivalent of a mug of hot cocoa. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler War...
If you want something a little less spicy and a little bit more wholesome, there’s plenty here to make your heart flutter as a smile creeps across your face.― I've never been to Japan, so I can't comment on how its society at large views same-sex relationships. But there seems to be a consistent theme in these stories where people never seem to entertain the notion that two guys could be romanticall...
Jerome defines "gyaru" and their place in the anime landscape.― The internet asks: What are "gyaru," and why are they popular in anime again? I love talking about Japanese subcultures, and I love assessing their impact on broader global pop culture at home and overseas. I hadn't thought much about gyaru since my first encounter with a couple of “gyaru girls” back in Shibuya in 2007. It was during o...
Maja Djordjevic compares the real struggles of hikikomori with their depictions in anime and how Japan is trying to offer solutions to families.― Distorted representations are endemic to pop culture. By definition, the latter upholds the target ‘popular’ narrative and its basic purpose — instant gratification delivered by means of entertainment. When tackling complex concepts, pop culture prevalentl...
How do you adapt a seminal classic that took 14 volumes of manga and 40 episodes of TV to tell into a feature film? You make it a musical.― The Rose of Versailles is one of the seminal works of early shōjo manga. With over 23 million copies sold worldwide, it's no surprise that it still holds a place in popular culture over 50 years since its original release. This brings us to this new MAPPA-animat...
Here comes our first rankings of the Winter 2025 season, and returning favorites such as Orb and The Apothecary Diaries are hogging the spotlight!― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how pe...
