Anime News Round-up, July 2010

And here's the July round-up, hastily compiled from my last few hundreds of unread stories from ANN, as usual. So now that we're up-to-date on the anime news front, all that's left is to process a huge pile of trailers that emerged around the webs over the last month, and add them locally. Easier said than done! ...*deep inhale*...



Pokemon: Best Wishes - set as the new TV anime series' title. Begins this autumn.

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi - an anime DVD featuring a 20-minute episode will be bundled with limited editions of the boys-love manga's 5th volume - out on January 5, 2011. The upcoming TV anime series is still not dated, it seems.

Kuroshitsuji II - the anime series' second DVD volume will also include an OVA episode called "Ciel in Wonderland (Part I)". Volume 2 will be out this October 27.

Cyborg Salaryman Mecha Afro-kun - an anime DVD was announced for this September 3, based on a gag comedy manga by Yuusaku Hanakuma. The dude is writing, directing and animating the anime himself.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - the TV series' final episode revealed that a new movie is in the works. This will be the second FMA anime film, after Conqueror of Shamballa in 2005.

Kure-nai OVA - a second episode will be bundled on DVD with the manga's 6th volume - out on December 3, 2010.

Buddha - the anime film based on the late Osamu Tezuka's classic manga of the same title, will actually be a trilogy. The first movie is set to premiere in Japan on May 28, 2011.

Major OVA (2010) - a special OVA will be bundled with the baseball manga's 78th and final limited-edition volume, out in mid December 2010.

Black Rock Shooter - the anime DVD that's finally being released this week in Japan (as a bundle with various magazines, starting from July 24) will feature subtitles in 7 languages.

Karl to Fushigi na Tou (Karl and the Mysterious Tower) - a new children's fantasy TV anime series announced for an October 2010 debut.

Rita et Machin (Rita and Whatsit) - also a children's TV anime series, also set for an October 2010 debut. This one was originally announced in early 2009.

Amagami SS - 2 bonus DVDs with extra animated shorts will be offered to buyers of the first 6 Blu-ray / DVD volumes. This is one of the new anime series that began airing this month.

Senkou no Night Raid - 2 unaired episodes will be included on the anime series' 4th Blu-ray / DVD volume, releasing in Japan this September 22. These are episode 7 and a new one called "Ahenkutsu no Akuma" ("Devil of the Opium Den"), and aside from them, said volume will also include episode 6 and the special episode "Yogen" ("Prediction"). Back in May, the latter was aired in Japan instead of episode 7, which apparently was "too sensitive" for TV; politically speaking.

Kami Sen. - please, please let this be an anime adaptation! A "bonus DVD" of some kind will be bundled with the drama CD adaptation of Takeaki Momose's romantic comedy manga of the same title, out in Japan this winter (featuring two of K-ON!'s voice actresses). Momose mentioned that his "characters will move!" on the DVD, failing to point out just how insanely hot said characters are.

Super Robot Wars - another anime adaptation is in the making, allegedly. Update: Indeed.

Sengoku Basara Ni - an anime short called "Mini Sengoku Basara" will be included on this second season's DVD volume 1, out in Japan on October 6, 2010.

Dragon Crisis! - a new TV anime series, based a light novel series authored by Kaya Kizaki, about a high school boy protecting a blue-eyed dragon "girl".

Air Gear OVA - a self-explanatory original anime coming from studio Satelight, fully titled Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori - Break on the Sky (The Black Wings and the Sleeping Forest - Break on the Sky). The release is planned for this November 17, on a DVD bundled with limited editions of the Air Gear manga's 30th volume (although the OVA features the "Ikki vs. Ringo" face-off from volume 16).

Duel Masters: Honou no Kizuna XX - the third anime movie in the franchise will premiere in Japan this August 21, in a double billing with Metal Fight Beyblade the Movie.

Motto To Love-Ru: Trouble - the new To Love-Ru anime announced last month now has a title, and a TV series format. Begins in October 2010.

Bleach Movie 4 - the upcoming anime film now also has a title - Bleach: Jigoku-Hen (Bleach: Hell Chapter) - and a Japanese premiere date set for December 4, 2010.

G-Taste - an ecchi (or outright ero) anime DVD will be bundled with the "G-Best: G-Taste Best Selection" manga volume, which is a collection of erotic manga stories. The 25-minute anime is produced by studio AIC Plus+, with a release set for November 22, 2010.

Mayo elle Otokonoko - a "boys in skirts" trap'ish anime announced to be in the works at studio Actas, reuniting the director and designer of Moetan and Kowarekake no Orgel.

Kamisama Dolls - an anime adaptation of Hajime Yamamura's supernatural action manga about powerful "god" figureheads was announced.

Cardfight!! Vanguard - an upcoming TV anime series based on a trading card game created as a collaboration between Yu-Gi-Oh! R manga creator Akira Ito, the original Duel Masters technical advisor Satoshi Nakamura, and Bushiroad President Takaaki Kidani. The game will go on sale in 2011, so odds are the anime won't begin until then, either.

Battle Spirits 3 - the third anime season now has a title - Battle Spirits: Brave - and a TV premiere date set for September 12, 2010.

Kaichuu! - a web anime whose first 4-minute episode has already begun streaming last week, with a second (and final) episode set to follow this July 30. The anime is based on a high school archery / romantic comedy manga authored by Yuuki Hayashi.

Soukyuu no Fafner: Heaven and Earth - the anime film's Japanese premiere has been set for December 25, 2010.

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes - the anime series' TV debut has been set for October 2010. Beware of moe loli detectives!

Kowarekake no Orgel Side Story - this 7-minute anime short will premiere in Japan on September 11, when it will be screened together with a theatrical version of POP's omega-kawaii doujin anime Kowarekake no Orgel - featuring new footage at "Blu-ray quality".

Kyou, Koi o Hajimemasu - a second DVD for this shoujo romance OVA has been green-lit for release this fall, bundled with limited editions of the manga's 10th volume.

Occult Academy - 4 spin-off episodes will be included with this fresh anime series' upcoming Blu-ray / DVD volumes, starting with volume 2 - out on October 27, 2010.

...*deep exhale*...

On top of all these, the Anime Expo 2010 convention - which took place at the beginning of July - brought a slew of anime licensing announcements and other novelties. If you haven't followed the event, you should be able to find all the relevant news over on Anime Expo's Inside AX website, and also via ANN's "comprehensive coverage".

And finally, Crunchyroll has been streaming a few anime series from the ones that began airing this month in Japan. So far, these are Strike Witches 2, Occult Academy, Tono to Issho and Asobi ni Iku yo!. You'll find them in our episodes section, along with CR's other ongoing series.

Other streaming services also began simulcasting other fresh anime titles, but... enough is enough!