Autumn 2014 anime preview

Written by A. H. on 22 Sep 2014

The autumn is virtually upon us, and just as this change in season will see leaves falling from the trees en masse, so October will also see new anime falling from the, err, anime making machine with the arrival of a new season bringing with it a glut of shows.

To continue this tortured analogy, allow us to be your anime equivalent of a leaf blower courtesy of our traditional new season preview, removing those troublesome shows that you want nothing to do with while picking out the gems that you may want to press and keep forever.

In short, it's time to talk about the new anime season and consider what the big hits of the coming months might be!

Ai Tenchi Muyo!

Official web site
First Japanese broadcast date: October 6th 2014, 9:55PM

No, you aren't reading that wrong - its 2014, and there's a new Tenchi Muyo anime on the way. Don't expect any of your classic Tenchi however, as this new show is a series of short OVA from AIC, a studio virtually resurrected from the dead at this point. This new series, with all-new characters, is being heavily sponsored by the city of Takahashi in Japan, in the hope of igniting otaku tourism to the location.

Should I watch it? We haven't seen enough of it to make any real judgement, but this clearly isn't going to be the Tenchi Muyo that many of us know and love, and we're expecting it to be little more than a pale imitation of that harem classic that seems ill-suited for a run of short episodes anyway.

Aikatsu! Season 3

Official web site
First Japanese broadcast date: October 2nd 2014, 6PM

Talk all you want about the stellar success of Love Live, but that isn't the only idol show that has been bringing in cash by the boatload for Sunrise of late. It may be targeted at a younger, female, demographic, but Aikatsu has managed to snag fans both male and female, young and old - such is its success that DAISUKI are now streaming the first two series to the west via their service, while this third series of the TV show - featuring a new main character - will be followed by a movie.

Should I watch it? If the prospect of genuinely good J-Pop and surprisingly impressive CG dance sequences appeal to you, then anyone who has enjoyed other recent idol shows should at least give this a cursory look, even without returning to the very start of the series.

Akatsuki no Yona

Official web site
First Japanese broadcast date: October 7th 2014, 11PM

Studio Pierrot handle this shoujo manga adaptation for the autumn, bringing us Yona of the Dawn (to use its English title), the story of a princess who sees her father killed, and is forced to flee in search of the four legendary dragons that seem to offer the key to her continuing survival.

Should I watch it? It seems like a predictable fantasy story melded with an equally predictable shoujo romance - it might be able to pull this off if its characters and story progression are sufficiently interesting, but we'd suggest that you wait and see on this one.

Amagi Brilliant Park

Official web site
First Japanese broadcast date: October 3rd 2014, 2AM

Kyoto Animation are again reunited with Shoji Gatoh for this major new anime adaptation for the autumn - the Full Metal Panic author and Hyouka screenplay writer sees another of his light novel series adapted here. This slapstick comedy-drama holds hopes of providing some of the laughs (and not to mention some visual cues to) Full Metal Panic Fumoffu with its tale of a high school boy who finds an ordinary date turning out to be anything but, leaving him the manager of an amusement park which paves the way for all sorts of unexpected encounters.

Should I watch it? Aside from looking gorgeous, this series seems like a match made in heaven given the previous collaborations between studio and author - after a few recent disappointments bolstered only by the success of Free, perhaps this is Kyoto Animation's time to shine once again?

Bonjour♪ Koiaji Pâtisserie

Official web site
First Japanese broadcast date: October 11th 2014, 7PM

Otome game adaptation Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie comes to us this autumn courtesy of Silver Link, following a girl who attends a confectionary school with dreams of opening a pastry shop (which we guess would beat working at Greggs) - a career path which somehow brings her into contact with lots of charming, good-looking young men, rather than overweight truckers as you might more logically expect.

Should I watch it? If you're a fan of this particular genre this might be worth checking out - hopefully it won't prove to be too sickly sweet for viewers.

Chaika - The Coffin Princess: Avenging Battle

Official web site
First Japanese broadcast date: October 3rd 2014, 1:05AM

Studio BONES' adaptation of Hitsugi no Chaika proved to be something of a surprising success of the spring, and this autumn brings us its second season with the subtitle of Avenging Battle. The series continues to follow the grammatically deficient, coffin-carrying Chaika as she hunts out the remains of her politically important father so that she might bury his remains.

Should I watch it? This is definitely one for viewers who enjoyed the first season, and it's poised to offer more of the same for the substantial number of people who found themselves hooked by the story and characters of this show the first time around.