He’s baaack… and looking forward with anticipation to what could be a very good season of anime.
Hit the jump, and let’s run ’em down!
The shows that I’m watching are in bold, shows my wife and I are watching together are in bold italics, strikethrough marks dropped shows and (*) marks shows that are watched but not regularly reviewed.
But the “wife and I” part isn’t entirely accurate, because we haven’t sat down on gone through all the upcoming shows yet…
PART I – the sequels
MIX
I absolutely loved the first two cour back in 2019… (But sadly I can’t link to it, as y’all probably remember how 2019 went for me.) Mix is more than just a classic sports anime, there’s also strong family and coming of age elements too.
And I was absolutely over the moon when the 2nd season was announced last year.
TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You Season 2
Speaking of over the moon… OK, bad pun, bad Derek.
Tonikawa was one of the highlights of the Fall 2020 season. Though the trailer implies we’ll see a bit more of Tsukasa’s background, we’re looking forward to another season of these two lovebirds derping around.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Season 2
Rolling with the space theme I’m rocking… Gundam Witch needs no introduction and no explanation as to why I’m anticipating it…
And no, it’s not all that incredible feckin’ cliffhanger.
(Check out my Fall 2022 posts for commentary on the first season.)
The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2
Speaking of witches (and warlocks!).
The first season started strong, then faded in the final arc… But despite that, I’m looking forward to seeing more of Chise facing the world on her own. The best bits of the first season were always when she stood on her own.
The phoenix sequence has never left me…
KONOSUBA – An Explosion on This Wonderful World!
And, we’re not done with witches yet…
EXX-PLOOO-SIONNN!!
I’m not 100% certain Megumin and Yunyun can carry a series all by themselves… But I sure am interested in finding out. Konasuba’s little explosion driven gremlin is probably the best of the show’s characters.
The first season is before I started blogging, but I did cover Konasuba’s second season.
Dr. STONE New World
From witches to wizards… Well, technological wizards. No? It’s my blog and I’ll mix metaphors if I want to.
Either way, I loved the first two cour and the trailer is intriguing.
My previous coverage can be seen in Fall 2019, Winter 2021, or all of it under the Dr Stone tag.
THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: U149
OK, I have no clever zinger to connect this…
My history with the iDOLM@STER franchise is mixed to say the least… The OG series is one of the best idol series out there, and practically a masterclass in how to handle large ensemble casts. Side M (links to my coverage) was mixed, but overall I was positive and enjoyed the show. Cinderella Girls was mixed as well, but not nearly as good. It started strong, had decent(ish) characters, but the back half was mired in a pointless and incomprehensible corporate shenanigans plot.
Can’t find out much about this one though… It’s main conceit seems to be that it’s about junior idols – preetens. I don’t hold out much hope. But I gotta check it out anyways.
PART II – the new stuff
OK, this is starting to run a little long, and we’re bumping up against my usual ten show limit for anticipation posts… So, most of these will be really quick blurbs.
A Galaxy Next Door
As you may or may not know, I am a stone cold fanboy of Gido Amagakure’s Sweetness & Lightning. (More so the manga than the anime.) So, when his next project was announced I just had to check it out. In most ways, it’s pretty much a bog standard rom-com/found family plot – but I have enjoyed what I’ve read so far. (4 volumes, all my local library has.)
So, can’t help but check out the anime. The series is going to live or die based on how Goshiki is handled… The PV’s have a nice character design and it sounds like her seiyuu is nailing her character. So, crossing fingers.
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And the rest we’re just going to run down more quickly.
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Blue Orchestra
Music and romance… The first is especially catnip for me.
Otaku Elf
Umm… WTF did I just watch?
Magical Destroyers
Also firmly in the WTF did I just watch category…
Insomniacs after school
Romance… but with a twist. And the PV intrigues me.
And last but not least…
The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses
An ecchi harem comedy, and that’s not just catnip for Derek, that’s a catnip pizza.
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Well, it’s good to be back after taking a season off… Not resuming weekly coverage, but my goal this season is to post something at least monthly if not bi-weekly. I’ve got to get back in the habit of writing!
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So, what are you considering this season? What are your thoughts on this season’s shows or anything else that crosses your mind? As always, drop a comment and let’s chat!
Apprentice Mages Lounge. 
Plenty of sequels this season. I’ll be watching most of yours (also really happy Mix is back), though not Doctor Stone and Gundam, both of which I’ve dropped (Gundam shows keep being the best shows I nevertheless drop; still don’t know why). Instead, I’m going to add Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (really liked the first season), and Birdie Wing Golf. Smartphone Isekai, too, I suppose (first season was the most typical of typical power fantasy harem isekais, but presented with an enthusiasm, as if no-one had ever done that before – the result was oddly charming, despite not exactly being great).
Btw, I actually really liked Cinderella Girls, so I’m going to try this season, too. Not sure how far I’ll get; we’ll see.
As for new stuff:
Ao no Orchestra is an auto-include. If it’s a music anime, it’ll need to do something to turn me off to not get on the list.
Otaku Elf wasn’t on my radar, and to be honest the trailer does little for me. It’s best when in chibi form, I’d say. Magical Destroyers could go either way; the trailer’s inconclusive.
So Galaxy Next Door is by the Sweetness & Lightning mangaka? A little more interested now.
Terrace Goddess… I don’t know. I’m lukewarm on the character designs, and for a harem comedy that’s not a good start. We’ll see how this goes for me.
I’ve heard about After School Insomniacs for a while now, and I’m curious. Also, Skip to Loafer – which shot straight to the excitement top when I heard that Kotomi Deai’s directing it at PA Works (Rolling Girls, Silver Spoon season 2, Natsume’s Book of friends – I think the last two seasons?). I’ve been waiting for her to direct something again, and it’s an adaption of something with a good reputation.
Also, Jijou Wo Shiranai Tenkousei ga Guigui Kuru looks adorable. Looks like a manic pixie dream boy for a change.
And while it wasn’t really on my radar, Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu had a really good premiere.
Honestly, this year seems to be really good for rom coms; this season Tomo-chan and Ice Guy were pretty good, and there’s quite a bit this season, too.
All in all, this looks like a pretty fun season.
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Sorry for the late reply, busy, busy weekend… Didn’t even watch any of the premiers except Mix…
The manga isn’t great by any measure, but it is pretty good. I’m just hoping they nail Shiori. When it comes to romances, at least one character must be done just so for it work, and here that’s Shiori. Can’t say why because it’s a massive spoiler.
Agreed on Ao no Orchestra.
Jijou Wo Shiranai – probably no Tsuki ga Kirei, but if it’s a charming as One Week Friends I’ll be a keeper.
That’s on my radar, so good to know. It’s an “us” show, so can’t watch until my wife is home.
And that’s gonna be scheduling killer, lots of “us” shows… But she doesn’t tend to stick with romances, so who knows.
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