Fall Anime Preview: Top 15

The Fall anime season is right around the corner, so it is now time discuss some of the upcoming series and which ones I am most excited about. Today, I will be ranking the Top 15 series that I am most excited about seeing. Admittedly, aside from the top ten, I have no idea what to expect, except that other people are interested in the series, and therefore I am going to watch it. After my brief thoughts on each series, I list the animation studio, genre, and the plot summary from Anichart.com. Please let me know in the comments which series you are most excited about, and which ones that I should watch in addition to the ones listed below.

Honorable Mention: Rakuen Tsuihou: Expelled From Paradise

Expelled from Paradise is actually a film written by Gen Urobuchi, the best writer in anime. If you want to know more about it and watch the trailer, click here to read my full post about it.

At Number 15: Garo: Honoo no Kokuin

Another instance where the animation studio is the only reason that I am interested in watching it, Garo: Honoo no Kokuin is based on a semi-popular manga, and since MAPPA's animation for Zankyou no Terror is amazing, I am want to see what they do next. 

Animation Studio: MAPPA

Genre: Action, Fantasy

Plot Summary: "?"

At Number 14: Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis

Normally, anything based on a card game is an automatic turn off, but it seems that a surprisingly large amount of people are hyped up about Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis. The series is also animated by MAPPA, and it does look kind of cool, except for the design of the protagonist.

Animation Studio: MAPPA

Genre: Shounen, Action, Fantasy, 

Plot Summary: "An anime adaptation of the Rage of Bahamut social card game."

At Number 13: Sora no Method

Sora no Method just looks pleasant. I have no other reason to be interested in the series other than it looks like we might have another Barakamon. 

Animation Studio: Studio 3Hz

Genre: ?

Plot Summary: "The story begins one winter day when the wish of a few girls was realized with a miracle, changing the landscape of a town. 'In the skies above this town, a disc is always there.'"

At Number 12: Shingeki no Kyojin Gaiden: Kuinaki Sentaku

Honestly, I do not know what to think of Attack on Titan: No Regrets, aka Shingeki no Kyojin Gaiden: Kuinaki Sentaku. For one, it is a prequel to last year's best anime, Attack on Titan, yet it is based on a spin off shoujo manga. If you are not familiar with the term, shoujo manga refers to the young female demographic, and I suppose the manga is like fanservice for the Levi fangirls. Also, unlike the rest of the series on the list, this is an OVA, hence the low ranking, with only two episodes. The director of Attack on Titan, Tetsurō Araki, is returning to direct this OVA and Studio Wit is animating it, so maybe he will take creative license and make it something more in line with the Attack on Titan series. Regardless of what it actually turns out to be, it is more Attack on Titan, and I will watch it. The OVA premieres December 9, 2014.

Animation Studio: Wit Studio

Genre: Shoujo, Action, Fantasy,

Plot Summary: "Attack on Titan Levi Side Story: A Choice with No Regrets) is a spinoff manga illustrated by Hikaru Suruga and written by Gun Snark with a story based on the A Choice With No Regrets visual novel. This manga focuses on Levi, and serves as a prequel to the main story by Hajime Isayama."

At Number 11: Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de

Despite looking fairly generic, Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de is the most recent effort from Studio Trigger, the studio behind Kill la Kill; therefore, I want to see what they do next.

Animation Studio: Trigger

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, School, Shounen

Plot Summary: "The five members of the literature club awakened with extraordinary powers half a year ago. Although the members expected to be thrown into a world of super-powered battles at their school, their normal daily routine continued. No secret organizations bent on world destruction, no super-powered wars, no brave heroes or demon kings. However, the members still look forward to the possibilities of adventure, and continued to believe that with each day, they were getting ever closer to those days of fantasy. Their days of romantic comedy and battles with extraordinary powers begin!"

At Number 10: Denki-Gai no Honya-san

Denki-Gai no Honya-san is listed as a "Seinen" series; therefore I must at least give it a watch. From what I have seen, this could be a hilarious series! And one of the characters believes she is in a zombie apocalypse, which should create some hilarious comedy. 

Animation Studio: Shin-Ei Animation

Genre: Comedy, Seinen

Plot Summary: "The "youthful bookstore comedy" revolves around the folks who work in a manga shop deep in a certain "Electric Town" neighborhood. ("Denki-Gai" or "Electric Town" is a popular name for shopping areas that specialize or used to specialize in electric and electronic items, like Tokyo's Akihabara.) The protagonist Umio works part-time at "BOOKS Umanohone" along with his senior at work (but not in age) Hiotan. As many dedicated manga fans visit the store, there is always something going on."

At Number 9: Amagi Brilliant Park

Kyoto Animation is possibly my favorite animation studio. They have animated several of my favorite series including, Clannad, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu, and Free. Despite the ho-hum plot summary, Amagi Brilliant Park should at least look freaking amazing! And there are references to Full Metal Panic, so I am definitely going to watch it.

Animation Studio: Kyoto Animation

Genre: Comedy, School, Romance, Ecchi

Plot Summary: "The "slapstick drama" begins with Seiya Kanie, a high school boy who is invited on a date in an amusement park by a mysterious beautiful transfer student named Isuzu Sento. He is introduced to Ratifa, a "real" princess and the park's manager, and is asked to be the acting manager of this "disappointing amusement park in the Tokyo suburbs.""

At Number 8: SHIROBAKO

SHIROBAKO is a series about making anime, and it is an original series not based on a manga or light novel, which is always exciting. SHIROBAKO is also from the writer of Genshiken, one of my favorite series about Otaku, and the series is animated by studio P.A. Works, who made Glasslip, which is the most beautiful series of the year. Right now, anything from P.A. Works is something that I will watch for the animation alone.

Animation Studio: P.A. Works

Genre: ?

Plot Summary: "Five girls chase their dreams. The story revolves around the everyday troubles and hardships that occur when working in the anime industry, and the results and conflicts that happen day-to-day among the group of girls."

At Number 7: Sanzoku no Musume Ronja

If you read my post from earlier, I am skeptical about Studio Ghibli's TV series, but I am definitely excited. For more of my thoughts about Sanzoku no Musume Ronja, click here to read my original post.

Animation Studio: Studio Ghibli

Genre: Adventure. Fantasy

Plot Summary: "The story is about a girl named Ronja who is the daughter of a chief of a tribe of bandits and lives in a huge castle in the forest with the bandits. The story follows Ronja as she encounters mystical creatures, makes friends with another young child like herself, and experiences life in the forest."

At Number 6: Danna ga Nani wo Itteru ka Wakaranai Ken

Every season needs a great comedy, and Danna ga Nani wo Itteru ka Wakaranai Ken, or I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying in English, appears to be that comedy. Two aspects of the series make me very interested in it, 1: it is not set in high school, and 2: it is about an Otaku! It is also listed as Seinen, which makes me even more interested.

Animation Studio: Seven

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life, Seinen

Plot Summary: "The anime follows the daily life of an earnest, hardworking office lady named Kaoru and her otaku husband, who is totally immersed in a certain huge net bulletin board system."

At Number 5: Kiseijuu

Kiseijuu, aka Parasyte in English, is based on a popular psychological horror manga with science fiction elements. While I have not read the manga, Kiseijuu is from Madhouse (Wolf Children, Black Lagoon), and they always have top notch animation. Kiseijuu is hopefully going to be the definitive dark series of the year, and maybe it will make people forget about the overrated Tokyo Ghoul.

Animation Studio: Madhouse Studios

Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Psychological

Plot Summary: "They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade–and take control of–a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret–except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?"

At Number 4: Akatsuki no Yona

Despite original skepticism, Akatsuki no Yona is starting to build up some hype, and what I have seen of the manga, this should be an interesting fantasy series. 

Animation Studio: Studio Pierrot

Genre: Action, Romance, Fantasy

Plot Summary: "Since Yona is the only princess of a grand kingdom, she has been raised with great care by her doting father and protected by her childhood friend/guard Hak and others. However, her fate changes on her 16th birthday, when her beloved cousin Soo-won murders her father to claim the throne. She flees the castle to Hak's hometown and begins her new life."

At Number 3: Psycho-Pass 2

Season 1 of Psycho-Pass was one of my favorite series of last year, and even though Gen Urobuchi is taking a step back from main writer on the series, Psycho-Pass' concept is so interesting that I am excited to see the direction the it takes next. If you missed the first season, you can catch on Netflix.
Psycho-Pass Season 1 Review

Animation Studio: 

Genre: Cyberpunk, Action, Crime,

At Number 2: Log Horizon 2nd Series

Of the series that have completing airing in 2014, Log Horizon is, by far, my favorite series, which is evident by my review here, and it should be no surprise that I am so hyped for season two. Unlike a lot of series, Log Horizon ended with the sole intention of having a second season; therefore this 2nd series is an entirely valid and worthwhile continuation. Basically, go watch season one of Log Horizon so that you will be ready for season two. My only slight problem is that Studio Deen is attached to animate the series, whereas Statelight animated the first season.

Animation Studio: Studio Deen

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama/Comedy,

At Number 1: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works

If you remember from my post earlier in the week, I am beyond excited for Ufotable’s upcoming remake of Fate/stay night, and it is, unquestionably my most anticipated anime of not just the season, but also the entire year. To read my brief guide to the Fate franchise and Fate/stay night, please click here.

Animation Studio: Ufotable

Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, Action,

Plot Summary: "Adaptation of the 2nd route of the popular visual novel: Fate/Stay Night. In this route, Tohsaka Rin will be the major female character. Revelations about Shirou and his destiny will be made."

Which series are you watching from this upcoming season? Are there some that I should add to my Watch-List? Also, my plan is to try virtually every series that is not a sequel or a kid's show, plus anything that the Anime Addicts Anonymous podcast gives a pass will be added to my watch list. Please comment below and check back next week for my review of the series from Summer season.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.