Lounging on a terrace, going swimming and of course brand new anime series! It’s almost summer and if you’re resting in the shade for a while or headed to your vacation destination then we know a few anime series we’d recommend to occupy your time with. These are 10 titles we look forward to, keeping to the order of the series’ air dates.
Hitorijime My Hero (ひとりじめマイヒーロー)
Type: Anime
Studio: Encourage Films
Genres: Slice of Life, School, Shounen Ai
Based on the eponymous ongoing yaoi manga by Memeco Arii.
Starts airing: 2nd of July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
On several websites you’ll find the following demotivating text: ‘This story is about Kensuke’s brother, Kousuke Ooshiba and his friend, Setagawa Masahiro of the manga Hitorijime Boyfriend’. If you happen to be familiar with the manga of Hitorijime Boyfriend then you’ll understand the text better than someone who isn’t. That manga was about Kensuke and his best friend, Hasekura, which friendship Kensuke breaks off at some point. Three years later they run into one another and it seems like nothing has changed. This makes Kensuke happy, but Hasekura has a different idea about their ‘friendship’. In that story brother dearest, Kousuke and his good friend Masahiro appear as well, which creates an opportunity for the spin-off manga Hitorijime My Hero. Setagawa Masahiro is someone who doesn’t have a pleasant home life, his mother doesn’t pay attention to him and he comes into contact with thugs who use him as his help to get groceries. All of those boys get beat up by someone who is referred to as ‘The Bear Killer’. This eventually turns out to be Kousuke and he makes sure Masahiro lands on his feet. Of course, there’s something behind it, because if you’ve known each other for years something starts to grow. But Kousuke eventually becomes a teacher at the school his little brother and Masahiro attend and the age difference is not insignificant.
Recommended by Fran:
I think it’s an interesting choice to make an anime series out of this manga, because it is related to a main story that it can’t really do without. Do they bring this up briefly in the anime before they continue on with Kousuke and Setagawa’s story? Even more interesting to know is that the original story only got 6 chapters, while the spin-off is still ongoing. Where is it going? And of course, a teacher-student relationship isn’t really something to be proud of. But the most interesting part of the story is the history shared between these two. Although the manga is yaoi, the anime probably won’t focus on the sexual relationships or will just barely avoid them. And this means there’ll be more of a focus on the storyline of the two main characters and maybe it’ll be a bit sweeter, which together with the fact that it’s animated probably only makes shounen ai fans more eager to watch. If you are left wanting for the yaoi-side, then it’s really time to purchase the manga. Only bad news: there is no English licensed version available at the moment.
Koi to Uso (恋と嘘)
Type: Anime
Studio: LIDENFILMS
Genres: Drama, Romance, School
Based on the eponymous manga by Musawo Tsumugi.
Starts airing: 3rd of July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
Imagine: when you turn sixteen the government will assign you a husband or wife. That’s the situation for the characters in this anime. Most young people trust the governments matchmaking abilities and don’t put in any effort to find a partner themselves. In a world where love is forbidden Yukai “Neji” Nejima, a fifteen year old boy, falls head over heels for Misaki Takazaki. But is she his match according to the government?
Recommended by Yuki:
A little while ago I attempted to read the manga the series was based on, due to lack of time I didn’t get very far; but the story was definitely interesting. The characters’ circumstances make for an interesting drama story, because you don’t just wonder ‘will they become a couple?’, but also ‘Can they become a couple?’. This anime seems worth watching to me if you like romance and drama anime.
Made in Abyss (メイドインアビス)
Type: Anime
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Genres: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Based on the eponymous manga by Tsukushi Akihito.
Starts airing: 7th of July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
The only place in the world that has never been explored is a big cave system named the Abyss. In the cave system very dangerous monsters can be found but ancient ruins as well that have never been discovered. In the city Oosu lives a young orphan named Rico, who wants to become an explorer, just like her mom, and wants to unravel the mystery of the cave system. One day she finds a small boy in the grass, she takes him back home with her and the boy turns out to be robot… Could he have anything to do with the mystery?
Recommended by Jiro:
The first thing that stood out to me was the chibi style, which is simple but fun to watch, because they’re very cute. What stands out to me in the trailer are the backgrounds, these are beautifully animated! It looks like a fantasy world. The plot isn’t very complicated and seems easy to follow. If you like mystery, adventure and fantasy than this definitely a recommendation for you.
Kakegurui (賭ケグルイ)
Type: Anime
Studio: MAPPA
Genres: Mysterie, psychologisch, drama, school, shounen
Based on the eponymous manga by Tooru Naomura (art) and Homura Kawamoto (story).
Starts airing: 22nd of July 2017
Number of episodes: 12
The story of Kakegurui takes place on Hyakkaou Private Academy, the location where very privileged people learn with a peculiar curriculum: gambling. Imagine: you are a son or daughter from a rich family, you won’t get very far with athletic abilities or being a bookworm. Reading your opponent and the art of making a deal, that is what’s important in life. Winners live like kings, losers are put through the wringer. This is what it’s like on the academy, but then Yumeko Jabami appears.
Recommended by Fran:
Despite the fact that I’m unfamiliar with the manga – available in English through Yen Press since 2015 with the name Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler – and gambling in general the promotional video and art style in combination with the music really appealed to me. I’m curious if the anime will appeal to me enough to make me purchase the manga series! Interesting titbit: the manga has inspired three spin-off manga series.
Netsuzou TRap (捏造トラップ―NTR―)
Type: Anime
Studio: Creators in Pack
Genres: Drama, Shoujo Ai
Based on the eponymous manga by Naoko Kodama.
Starts airing: July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
When Yuma Okazaki gets a boyfriend she asks her best friend Hotaru Mizu, who she’s known since childhood, for advice. Hotaru’s advice doesn’t really seem much like advice though, she seems interested in a romance with Yuma herself. Both girls have a boyfriend, will they try to let each other go or are they stuck in a trap of true love and betrayel?
Recommended by Yuki:
I haven’t watched a good shoujo ai series in a while and the story seems interesting. The circumstances give a lot of opportunity for drama, but also definitely for romance. Although I have to admit the main reason I want to watch this series is because it’s a shoujo ai series.
Ballroom e Youkoso (ボールルームへようこそ)
Type: Anime
Studio: Production I.G.
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shounen, Sports
Based on the eponymous manga by Tomo Takeuchi.
Starts airing: July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
Fujita, one of the main characters, has gone through middle school unable to find friends or anything that could hold his attention. One day he got attacket by a gang, a mysterious man ended up saving him. The mysterious man ended up being a ballroom dance instructor. Reluctantly, Fijuta decides to take a few beginner’s classes. During this period he finds his inspiration, a teenage dance prodigy called Shizuku. This is Fujita’s first step into the world of competitive dance!
Recommended by Kuro:
Ballroom e Youkoso is from the same creators as Psycho-Pass, Haikyuu!!, and Ghost in the Shell, different genres that have scored high so I’ve got high expectations. Even though I personally do not enjoy sports animes I still ended up getting drawn to Ballroom e Youkoso. This show has somewhat of a mature feeling to it and the art style is something I absolutely like! I’m not sure why exactly but it feels more realistic than some of the other titles do. The colours are calm and the way the characters have been drawn is eventually different from what we’re used to when we think about anime. Beside all that ballroom isn’t a sport like football is, so even though I do not like sports I would still definitely give Ballroom e Youkoso a chance.
Gamers! (ゲーマーズ!)
Type: Anime
Studio: Pine Jam
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School
Based on the eponymous novel by Sekina Aoi and Saboten.
Starts airing: July 2017
Number of episodes: 12
As the title implies this series is about a few students who are gamers. The four characters in this story all have this in common. The story is described as a chaotic romantic comedy, without diverse characters, from a lonely boy to a female president of the video games club.
Recommended by Yuki:
Although there’s not much known about this series I think it’ll be fun to watch a series about games with a touch of romance involved. The fact that the series is described as a chaotic romantic comedy also definitely sparks my interest.
Jigoku Shoujo: Yoi No Togi (地獄少女 宵伽)
Type: Anime
Studio: Studio Deen
Genres: Mystery, Horror, Psychological, Supernatural
Starts airing: July 2017
Number of episodes: 12
This is a renewed 4th season of the well-known Hell Girl that aired in 2005-2009, it’s had two sequels since the anime series and was very popular. Hell Girl is about a website run by Enma Ai and her ‘co-workers’ who, when you put in the name of someone who’s hurting you, make sure they are appropriately punished and eventually journey to hell. This is not without consequences, of course.
Recommended by Anvica:
I thought it was interesting that the series is getting a so-called revival of 6 new episodes and 6 episodes that sum up what happened in the past. Because it’s been a while this makes it interesting to see what the new series will add to the story of Hell Girl. The series will start in July.
Konbini Kareshi (コンビニカレシ)
Type: Anime
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Genres: Slice of Life, Romance
Starts airing: July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
It’s spring, the time when new students get used to their new school lives. The story of Konbini Kareshi revolves around six boys who go to highschool and they go to, as the name implies, to a nearby conbini after school. Everyone goes there for a different reason: eating ice cream after club activities, getting a new edition of a game magazine, buying ingredients for dinner, meeting new friends or to stock up on food and drinks. The conbini is the place they meet, relax and make small memories. But eventually their reasons for coming to the conbini will change.
Recommended by Fran:
The name of the anime stood out to me immediately just like the artstyle and after looking up where the anime came from it became clear to me that it’s a media-mix project aimed at female readers, which was started by Kadokawa’s game magazine B’s Log in March 2015. The project has already produced four mooks (books in magazine style), bundeld with drama CD’s. The voice actors on the drama CD’s will be working on the anime as well. All things considered it’ll probably be a light-hearted anime with a lot of love and a broken heart every now and then, it secretly reminded me of the anime Nijiro Days. Whether KonKare will be comparable is yet to be determined.
THE REFLECTION (ザ・リフレクション)
Type: Anime
Studio: Studio Deen
Genres: Action, Super Power
Starts airing: July 2017
Number of episodes: Unknown
There isn’t much known about this upcoming anime series yet. It is known that the series is about super heroes. Some people become heroes and others villains. How did The Reflection happen? And what makes the situations happen this way? Find out in this new series.
Recommended by Anvica:
A reason to watch this anime can be that it’s a cooperation between Stan Lee (known for many superhero stories like SpiderMan and X-men) and Hiroto Nagahama (known for Musgi-shi and Flowers of Evil). It sounds like a unique concept that could make for a great series.
