A Preview of the Winter 2010 Anime Season

Even though it still feels like the Fall 2009 season has just started, the next season of anime is almost upon us. New animes will start airing as early as next month. Here's a quick overview of some of the shows that are coming soon:

Baka to Test to Shōkanjū:

Literally translated as "Idiot and Test and Summoned Beast", this comedy anime takes place in a school where students are rigidly divided up by test scores. Students at the school can summon creatures, and the students of the lowest class, F, decide to use their creatures to fight back and steal perks from the other classes. You can watch a trailer for the anime here.

Chu-Bra!!:


Based on the manga of the same name, Chu-Bra!! is about a young girl who decides that she will teach other girls about the merits of underwear by starting an underwear club. Seriously. Minako Kotobuki (Tsumugi Kotobuki from K-ON!) will be voicing the main character.

Dance in the Vampire Bund:

Dance in the Vampire Bund is an action anime about a vampire princess who wants her people to come out of hiding and have a special district for vampires off the coast of Japan. Unfortunately, many terrorists and extremist vampire factions are trying their hardest to keep her wish from coming true. You can see a trailer for this anime here.

 









Durarara!!:

From the creator of Baccano! comes a new series about a boy who transfers to a new school in search of a more exciting life. From urban legends come true to supernatural mysteries to strange gangs, he receives excitement in spades. You can see a preview for this anime here.

Hanamaru Kindergarten:


Hanamaru Kindergarten is a slice-of-life comedy anime based on the manga of the same name. It takes place in a preschool and features the exploits of the children who attend as well as the budding romance between some of the teachers at the school.

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3:

The newest season in the popular fantasy anime series Harukanaru Toki no Naka de will be part of this anime season. The show stars a female character and features a harem of attractive male characters. You can check out this anime's official website here.

Hidamari Sketch × ☆☆☆:

Hidamari Sketch is also getting a third season. This slice-of-life anime is about a young girl who gets accepted to Yamabuki Art High School and moves in an apartment building that is shared by her fellow art students. The show focuses on the lives of the characters as they become closer and better friends and continue to study art.

Katanagatari:

Katanagatari is a 12 episode series that centers on the head of a martial arts school who is tasked with finding 12 swords created by a legendary swordsmith. He is accompanied by his older sister Nanami. You can watch several previews for this anime here.

Ladies versus Butlers!:

Based on a light novel series, Ladies versus Butlers follows a young male student named Akiharu Hino who enrolls at a servant training academy. Everyone there is training to either be a maid or a butler, and Akiharu finds himself caught in the middle of the school's bickering cliques.

Nodame Cantabile: Finale:

Nodame Cantabile is another show receiving its third season in Winter 2010, and this one is slated to be its last. This romance anime will be set in Paris, and will continue to follow music students Shinichi Chiaki and Nodame.

Ōkamikakushi:

Ōkamikakushi is a horror anime based on a visual novel. Ryukishi07 of Higurashi and Umineko fame worked on the game, along with Rozen Maiden, Shugo Chara!, and DearS character design team Peach-Pit. The story takes place in a serene village that has a mysterious side during the summer of 1983.

Omamori Himari:

Omamori Himari is a harem anime about a high school boy named Yūto Amakawa who is protected by the spirit of a beautiful cat girl named Himari. His family has controlled demons for generations, and now that a charm that protects him no longer works, Himari will serve as his guardian.

Seikon no Qwaser:

Seikon no Qwaser is a mature supernatural action anime about the students at a private school called St. Mikhailov Academy. One of the students there is a Qwaser, which means he can manipulate iron. The manga this show is based on is infamous for using breast milk as a major plot device.

So-Ra-No-Wo-To:

So-Ra-No-Wo-To is set in the future in a land that has finally seen a decline in fighting after a long series of wars. The show follows a 15 year old girl named Kanata Kumika who achieves her dream of enlisting in the army and joins a unit of 5 other girls in protecting a fortress. You can watch promo videos for the anime here.


I'll definitely be watching  Durarara!! and Ōkamikakushi. If any other shows sound interesting to you, let me know in a comment. I'll be happy to check them out when they debut.