I am so freaking late with this one this time round. Lots of reasons contributed to the lateness of this post, largely personal or blog-related. Well, now it is here, despite two of these series already having aired their first episodes. Who gives a shit, most of it starts in January anyway. This time round too, I had to elicit the other guest writers’ opinions on the anime they want to or not want to watch, so the delay is somewhat explained too. This will be a rather long post.

Of course, my heartfelt thanks to T.H.A.T. Anime Blog’s winter anime preview, Hashihime’s winter anime preview and j1m0ne’s winter anime preview posts for the information regarding these anime series below. I will not be using summaries for any of them, only what each guest writer thinks, and what I think of the series.

Air dates are thanks to Hashihime again, in this post.
 

Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou
Airs: January 6 0100 hrs (Tokyo time; GMT +9, EST +14), Tuesday

Panther: I really liked Natsume Yuujinchou, it was the best anime of summer for me. Despite its subtle hints at gay families, Natsume Yuujinchou was something that talked about humanity through spirits and interactions with both spirits and humans in a very humane context. Definitely, I will be continuing with its second season.

Kona: I’m not watching since I haven’t seen the first season.

Littleneko: I haven’t seen the previous season so I won’t be watching this one either.

YuKi-To: I didn’t like the first season so I’m not keeping watch on this.
 

Viper’s Creed
Airs: January 6 2200 hrs, Tuesday

Panther: At first I was not planning to watch this, but seeing as how it is a military anime, I decided I would give this the 3-episode test treatment. As for seiyuu, it stars Toyoguchi Megumi, whom I only remember from one series I watched, which was Claymore (and she had a minor role), but she seems pretty famous in other series such as Gundam I think. It also has the gay Fukuyama Jun.

Kona: The picture didn’t really catch my attention at first. I might try it after I’ve tried the others.

Littleneko: The whole military stuff seems boring and the trailer wasn’t inspirational to me, so again no.

YuKi-To: Kind of hate the suit design but will watch the first episode to see how it’s like.
 

Kemono no Souja Erin
Airs: January 10 1825 hrs, Saturday

Panther: One of my most anticipated anime for this season, Kemono no Souja Erin (or Erin the Beast Controller) was done by the same female, Uehashi Nahoko, who wrote Seirei no Moribito (both in their respective manga versions), and is being animated by Production I.G. It is very likely that I will finish this entire 50-episode series. I have not heard of Hoshii Nanase, but apparently she is very famous in the J-drama and singing circles recently and now she takes the lead in an almost year-long anime series. The only name I recognize is veteran male seiyuu Ishida Akira.

Kona: Will see how it goes. Hopefully I.G. will do a good job with it and I need some fantasy!

Littleneko: There doesn’t seem a lot of fantasy related anime this winter, and I need at least 1 or 2 that will keep me warm until the snow melts, and with 50 episodes this one should do just fine. Production I.G. made some of my all-time favorite animes, like Blue. They also make beautiful animation, just look at Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles and Blood+. I also like the fact that a girl can control animals, this reminds me of a book series I like.

YuKi-To: The art doesn’t seem appealing, will watch episode 1 to check.
 

Genji Monogatari Sennenki
Airs: January 16 0045 hrs, Friday

Panther: Japanese history is not my usual style of anime, especially if it is too close to history without some supernatural element or something, like Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi, so no.

Kona: Now, I’ve forgotten why I didn’t want to watch it…maybe because I didn’t have mood for history at that time I wrote that short comment. I’ll give it a try by watching the first episode, see how it goes.

Littleneko: This was actually the first anime I picked out of all the ones coming this winter. I think the drawing I saw of it was what made me go, “Ohh, I so want to watch this!” even though I didn’t know the premise of the story. So then I found out by myself and it seems to be a pretty good one. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a favorite amongst anime fans. Now the animation studio that is producing this is Tezuka Productions. I’ve actually only watched one anime that they’ve ever helped on and that is Romeo X Juliet.

YuKi-To: Read tons of Genji manga, this looks boring so will pass.
 

Minami-ke Okaeri
Airs: January 5 0130 hrs, Monday (I made a mistake with the date but got the day right, wow, the date is right now)

Panther: Though the second season was disappointing compared to the first, and this season will again be animated by the same folks that did Okawari, I will still watch the third season and likely finish it since I really like the series for its potential. More Minami Haruka is always good too, and expect Hosaka to again come up with more weird stuff. Needless to say, the cast is strong once again, so there is no real need for me to touch on them.

Kona: Not watching because I have not seen Okawari. I did watch the first season though. XD

Littleneko: I’ll be watching this on the side because it seems sort of interesting.

YuKi-To: Didn’t watch the first 2 seasons, so will pass on this.
 

Kurokami the Animation
Airs: January 8 0240 hrs, Friday

Panther: The premise hardly seems interesting for me, so I will likely not be watching this at all. Not to mention this one has already been licensed before it aired, the first anime I heard of to get such a treatment.

Kona: In need of nice shounen action. XD Interesting story and the manga is quite popular among some. Looks cool too.

Littleneko: This seems quite interesting. We’ve got a damsel, we’ve got a prince, we got’ve butt kicking heroes and villains, and we got an anime that Little Neko is jumping up and down over. Though it doesn’t seem shoujo-related as I described, it still looks like a interesting plot.

YuKi-To: Read the manga and quite like it, so I will be watching the anime.
 

Asu no Yoichi!
Airs: January 8 0128 hrs, Friday

Panther: It sounds like a typical harem anime, but since I do like the series at times I am keeping watch on this one for at least 3 episodes. Further, it has a strong seiyuu cast, with the likes of Satou Rina, Nabatame Hitomi, Konishi Katsuyuki and Tamura Yukari, along with recently popular Hanazawa Kana and Tomatsu Haruka. I would be crazy if I did not give this at least a go.

Kona: Looks like Bamboo Blade which I wasn’t really fond of.

Littleneko: The plot line seems old and not aimed at girls so I don’t think I’ll be interested in watching this.

YuKi-To: Looks like another boring romantic comedy.
 

White Album
Airs: January 3 0200 hrs, Sunday

Panther: It is the kind of shoujo anime that I instantly stay off.

Kona: Haven’t really watched a full romance anime for awhile, though a picture I recently found kinda put me off with the drawings and graphics. Will try out the first episode and see how it goes. Mizuki Nana is <3

Littleneko: Like Genji this is one where I saw the picture and was like, “Ok I want to watch that!!!” Though the plot seems to be a bit plain and odd, I will watch it for the sake of Aya Hirano and Nana Mizuki, who are both talented people, especially since one of them performed as Lydia in Earl and Fairy. =D

YuKi-To: Likely watching because the artwork looks great.
 

Maria+Holic
Airs: January 5 0030 hrs, Monday

Panther: WTF no.

Kona: Yuri? Though that other girl chara is a guy, there are a lot of lesbians inside the anime… >.<

Littleneko: This is a maybe, but a big probability that will turn from a “maybe” to a “huge possibility”! Did that make sense? I don’t watch a lot of cross-dressing anime but when you have a girl and a guy, this could turn out interesting. No other comment than that.

YuKi-To: Watching because Inoue Marina is one of the seiyuu.
 

Slayers Evolution-R
Airs: January 12 0930 hrs, Monday

Panther: Another old-school anime with a long history that I never bothered watching. And this time round the season’s name is so creative.

Kona: I never watched the previous ones in the series, so I’m not watching this one.

Littleneko: I’ve watched all 3 seasons, and I’ll watch the fourth season before the 5th. I’m looking forward to it, I love Slayers and I just enjoy watching Lina and her friends.

YuKi-To: Never liked Slayers, so will pass as well.
 

Hetalia - Axis Powers
Airs: January 25 0152 hrs, Sunday

Panther: Nazism? Hell no. Not even worth a second look.

Kona: I heard it has yaoi and yuri elements, so I’m not keeping watch on this.

Littleneko: The animation looks questionable but it’s just not my cup of tea in what it’s about.

YuKi-To: Seems cute, original and interesting.
 

Ride Back
Airs: January 12 0000 hrs, Monday

Panther: At first I was not interested, especially because of the premise, but then finding out more about the “ride” actually being a bike, I decided to give this series a test. Moreover, the cast is star-studded, with Toyoguchi Megumi, Mizuki Nana (as the main girl Ogata Rin), Koyama Rikiya, Paku Romi, Miki Shinichiro, veteran Morikawa Toshiyuki and the lesser-known Kobayashi Sanae. Madhouse is doing this too. At least a 3-episode test to see how the story goes for me, but my interest is picking up.

Kona: Mecha + Current Graphics level + Madhouse = A must watch. It’ll be interesting to see what Madhouse can tweak with the detailed action and mecha.

Littleneko: I’ll watch this on the side but that’s probably about it. It gives me a bit of curiosity but not to the point where I want to sit down and review it, summarize it and put my thoughts about it.

YuKi-To: Don’t really like the art, will check again in episode 1.
 

Tower of Druaga - The Sword of Uruk
Airs: January 9 1330 hrs, Friday

Panther: Obviously, since I watched the first season, I will watch this. Druaga was not too bad and not too good either, but it was interesting in that it brought MMO elements into the anime. Still, the story does have a little potential, so I will likely finish this as well.

Kona: I didn’t like the first season, AT ALL. The action wasn’t nice and it isn’t really serious on some important plots, which makes serious scenes loose that feel.

Littleneko: No…no…..no….And one question, why is in one picture he’s holding a blonde girl and in another he’s holding a brunette?

YuKi-To: Liked the first season, so of course I am going to watch this.
 

Chrome Shelled Regios
Airs: January 11 0100 hrs, Sunday

Panther: The story seems to be the generic type that interests me, so I will be following this for a while, at least 3 episodes again, but it is quite likely I will keep going. Seiyuu-wise, Koshimizu Ami, Kirii Daisuke, Suwabe Junichi and Watanabe Akeno catch my attention.

Kona: ZEXCS = NOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo! I didn’t like Zombie Loan at all…

Littleneko: At first I said I didn’t want to watch this to myself but now I’m changing my mind. It seems fun, adventurous, and interesting so you could see me reviewing this one on my own site. =D

YuKi-To: Story seems interesting, will watch a few episodes to check.
 

Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo
Airs: January 6 0130 hrs, Tuesday

Panther: Literally the “Girl Who Leapt Through Space”, one cannot help but think that Sunrise has ripped of Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (the Girl Who Leapt Through Time). Supposedly an original creation, the premise seems like my type of anime but with Sunrise, it is something that should be held in doubt unless proven. The cast at least promises to deliver, with Koshimizu Ami, Yukana, Tamura Yukari, the gay Fukuyama Jun, and lesser-known Mako, Endou Aya, as well as recent favorite Kitamura Eri.

Kona: Looks like a fanservice harem anime… >.>

Littleneko: Again not my cup of tea in the areas of space and stuff. So another no.

YuKi-To: Space-themed anime usually don’t appeal to me, well I will check episode 1 first.
 

Queen’s Blade
Airs: Unknown

Panther: I have been interested in the series for a long time now, but Queen’s Blade finally gets an anime adaptation, which will assist me in knowing more about the story behind the gamebooks. Obviously the story is going to be rather one-sided, but meh. The star-studded cast is astounding in terms of female seiyuu - Noto Mamiko, Kugimiya Rie (I do not like her but I admit lots do), Nabatame Hitomi, Goto Yuko, Kawasumi Ayako and gimmicky Hirano Aya. Likely to be slated for 12 episodes, which means I will finish it.

Kona: I don’t think it’ll be my type of anime. I have a feeling it’ll be a fanservice/ecchi-filled anime with some light action. >.>

Littleneko: At first I wanted to watch it but it seems pretty boring and the same, I also don’t think I’ll enjoy it as much as others would.

YuKi-To: Interested as the Queen’s Blade figures seem to be very popular.
 

And that is it for our winter 2008 anime preview lineup folks. I will probably post on first impressions for those I am watching when I get to see them, and I am not sure if Kona and YuKi-To are doing any anime episodics on any of the series they are watching. I sure as hell likely will not be.