Basquash!

Release date: 04/02/2009

Director: Shin Itagaki

Itagaki directed both “Devil May Cry” and “Black Cat.” “Black Cat” was fairly mediocre and “Devil May Cry” lacked an interesting enough plot line to carry through its episodic nature.

Creator: Shoji Kawamori

Thats right, the guy who created “Macross” created this… I am torn. I can’t imagine this possible being good. Now if they replace the mecha with valkryies it would be a thousand times cooler.

Animation: Satellite

These guys did animation for “Macross F,” “Sousei no Aquarion,” and “Hellsing Ultimate” so I suspect that the animation for this will be pretty high quality. I say suspect because they also did the animation for the “Hokuto no Ken” spinoff centered around Raoh which was far from what it needed to be for “Hokuto no Ken.” That being said if the basketball matches are animated as well as “Macross F” battle scenes were this could be potentially awesome.

Seiyuu:

Dan JD: Hiro Shimono – Jin (”Kannagi”)
Coco JD: Kana Hanazawa – Zange-chan (”Kannagi”)
Sela D Miranda: Shizuka Itou – Darry (”Gurren Lagann”), Hinagiku (”Hayate no Gotoku”)

Spanky: Aya Endo – Sheryl Nome (”Macross F”
Citron: Megumi Nakajima – Ranka (”Macross F”)
Flora Skybloom: Rie Kugimiya – Taiga (”Toradora”), Shana (”Shakugan no Shana”)

I wonder if they will take the Macross approach and set the matches to music. While I doubt that, if they do not at least give a few Macross references I will be highly disappointed.

The mecha design though is horrendous, its like they decided to keep the autobots mid transformation and put ridiculous shoes on them.

Summary: “On the planet Earthdash, its inhabitants gaze on its moon and the technologically advanced lunar city of Mooneyes with awe. Dan JD, a boy living in Rollingtown on Earthdash’s surface, gets caught up in Bigfoot Basketball — a fast-paced sport played with giant Bigfoot robots.”

More Information: AniDB. ANN.
Extras: Trailers.

K-on!

Release Date: 04/02/2009

Director: Hisako Yamada

A relatively new director, not much to say except we will see.

Animation Team: Kyoto Animation

Producers of “Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuutsu” as well as “Full Metal Panic Fummoffu!” They have had quite a good run with titles like “Haruhi” and “Clannad” under their belt.

Seiyuu:
Sawako Yamanaka: Asami Sanada – Kanako (”Maria Holic”)

This is an anime with a supposed emphasis on music so the main characters are played by singers instead of seiyuu. That being said the voice work will probably be decent and we can only hope the music will be good. The intro / outro are sung by the main characters.

Summary: “The story about four high school girls that try to sustain their school’s popular music club despite being unable to read music or play instruments has been serialized in Manga Time Kirara magazine since 2007.”

More Information: AniDB. ANN.
Extras: Trailer.

Pandora Hearts

Release Date: 04/02/2009

Director: Takao Kato

Kato also directed “Busou Renkin” which was awesome, that being said I highly doubt they will have a GAR main character like Kazuki on this show.

Music Producer: Keiichi Nozaki

Nozaki was also the music producer in charge of .hack//sign, Soultaker, and Big O all of which had pretty good music overall.

Music Composer: Yuki Kajiura

Kajiura is one my favorite composers in the anime scene. She did .hack’s music, Peitie Cossette, and Elemental Gelade.

Animation Team: Xebec

Xebec is an average team, the stuff they produce is generally interesting enough to merit watching. They worked on “Busou Renkin” which was fairly well animated.

Seiyuu:
Alice: Ayako Kawasumi – Nodame (”Nodame Cantabile”)
Oz Bezarius: Junko Minagawa – Cornelia (”Code Geass”)
Vincent Nightray: Jun Fukuyama – Kazuki (”Busou Renkin”), Lelouch (”Code Geass”)

Summary: “Oz Bezarius, heir to one of the duke houses, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, however, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, he’s cast into the prison known as the “Abyss”, only to be saved by a “chain” known as Alice, the bloodstained black rabbit. Why was he cast into Abyss, how does Alice factor into it all, and what does the organization known as “Pandora” want with him…? ” (from mangaupdates)

More Information: AniDB. ANN.
Extras: Trailer.

Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen

Release Date: 04/04/2009
Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa

Imagawa directed “Tetsujin 28″ and “G-Gundam”. “G-Gundam” was not exactly the best of the Gundam series so we will have to see.

Animation Team: Bee Media

Bee Media has done a few super robot series. I have not seen any of their previous shows to comment, but hopefully it will work out well. Though from what shows are listed and what images we do have, it looks like they will attempt to keep that old animation style feel.

Seiyuu:
Shirō Kabuto: Ayumi Fujimura – Midori (”Xam’d”)

Unfortunately the seiyuu in this show do not seem to have very much experience, hopefully we get a good performance despite this.

Summary: Not much plot information out of this show, all I have heard is that this will not be a remake.

More Information: AniDB. ANN.

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