Five Anime to Look Forward to: Winter 2013

Winter 2013 is upon us, and after reading through the charts, watching various previews, and gouging my eyeballs out at some of the appalling things I’ve seen and read, I’ve finally compiled a list of the five I’m eager to watch (sans Savanna Game, since there doesn’t appear to be an airing schedule or preview, again):

 

5. Cuticle Detective Inaba

Studio: ZEXCS | Genre: action, comedy, mystery, shounen

From what I’ve read, and the previews I’ve watched, Cuticle Detective Inaba seems to incorporate various aspects of my fandom: mystery, comedy, and bishies. I admit it, I have an obsession with pretty boys (the bishies are the sole reason I watched the entirety of La storia della Arcana Famiglia, despite its lack of substance). The anime follows Detective Hiroshi Inaba on his quest to arrest Don Valentino and his less-than-savory henchmen.

 

4.  Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun

Studio: Deen | Genre: action, fantasy, shoujo, supernatural

I’m a sucker for anything supernatural/horror related; I always have been. That fact alone is why I can’t pass up Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun.  After a plague devastates the village of Ootsuka, three lone survivors take up refuge, fending for themselves peacefully. That is, until members of the imperial church discover that Shino possesses Murasame,  the blade of life. Judging from the previews, there are plenty of unsightly creatures to be slain, the question is: how graphic?

 

3. Maoyuu Maou Yuusha 

Studio: ARMS | Genre: adventure, fantasy, romance

Deemed by some as Spice and Wolf meets Dragon Quest meets Queen’s Blade, Maoyuu Maou Yuusha is based on a light novel series written by Touno Mamare. The hero, a powerful warrior, travels to the Demon World to slay the Demon Queen; however, to his surprise, she wants to speak with him and advises him against ending the war, as to do so will not bring peace, but rather another power struggle. Given my obsession with the medieval, I certainly find this anime appealing — the question is, will it live up to its expectations?

 

2.  Amnesia

Studio: Brains Base | romance, shoujo

At risk of losing self-identity, a woman who wakes with amnesia rushes to recover her memories under the guidance of Orion, the spirit responsible for her loss of memory.  The anime is based on an otame, or a romance game. Typically, the player character starts out single; however,  Amnesia is peculiar in the sense that our heroine is already in a relationship — with a man she can’t recognize. Given the preview, I can assume Amnesia will also cater to my bishie obsession.

 

1. Sasami-san@Ganbaranai

Studio: SHAFT | Genre: comedy, romance

So lazy that her brother has to take care of her, the hikikomori Sasami refuses to interact with the outside world. From the comfort of her own home, she makes use of a surveillance tool to monitor the ensuing romance between her caretaker-brother and three beautiful sisters. As a gamer, I can certainly relate to the lack of desire to go outside; however, I’m curious as to whether or not this will play out as some sort of creepy, border-line incestuous romance between Sasami and her brother, or if it’ll follow a different path, where Sasami is able to adapt to, and immerse herself in, society.

Sources: TV Tropes, My Anime List.