2008 spring/summer anime preview... From me?

So it turns out that there might be a couple of interesting shows between this and the summer season. Well, only a couple. But they've caught my eye as potential stand-outs, and I'm hoping my instincts are right.

For the spring, Kaiba (April 10). I know, at first glance, it looks like a cutesy, retro for-kids show. And it may very well be. But it's another one from Kemonozume's Masaaki Yuasa, which means it's probably going to be a total sakuga-fest. Hooray for that!

The first trailer is rather minimalist:

But I really think this will be one of those "underrated gems" that I adore so much.

There's a few others on the "maybe" list if I'm bored: Golgo 13 (which has started I think), Alison to Lillia (from the same author as Kino's Journey), Crystal Blaze (film noir potential?), Himitsu Top Secret (old-skool spies ...or just a yaoi-y pile of boredom?), RD Sennou Chousashitsu (cyberscubapunk?)

...a longer list than I thought. What's up with that?

For the summer, I'm really looking forward to Michiko and Hatchin. From Manglobe, with a most of Samurai Champloo's staff -- Shinchiro Wantanabe is only directing the music, but this is the debut effort for Sayo Yamamoto. Who is actually a woman anime director, which is rare, and hopefully awesome.

The title's Michiko is a free-willed "sexy diva" who destroys a supposedly inescapable prison fortress, while Hatchin is a girl fleeing her strict foster parents. The two join forces on an improbable escape to freedom.

The trailer is full of win.


...and, of course, Blade of the Immortal -- I know I haven't seemed all that enthused by this next Bee Train release, but as I learn a little more about it (like, that it's not all violent and depressing, and the manga story is supposed to be quite good), I'm warming up to it. I mean, I do dig samurai drama; I just rarely find any anime versions that live up to my technical standards. Plus, there's another Samurai Champloo connection here as well, with Yoshimitsu Yamashita on Mashimo's team.

Makoto has posted more about it as well, including a couple of scans from the magazine announcement:




There was some buzz about a big-budget "secret project" that was going to be "better than Star Wars" (probably a tounge-in-cheek claim) from Bones. Supposedly, it's called Xamdou and it now has a homepage. Supposedly the big unvieling will happen on April 10th. I guess that'll mean it's a summer show, but it might be autumn.

...Looking waaaay ahead into the future, from some tidbits going around from TAf 2008, Satoshi Kon's next film is in production, and it's called Yume miru Kikai -- which he's said will be "family friendly". Also from Madhouse will be a movie from the director of Black Lagoon titled (maybe) Maimai atarashi to sennen no mahou -- possibly set in France?