As is often the case, many anime airing this season in Japan are based on light novels. I will update this page with links to official streaming services for those who are interested in watching these series as they premiere.
- Bladedance of Elementalers (Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance)
- Free! Eternal Summer
- Invaders of the Rokujyoma!? (Rokujyouma no Shinryakusha!?)
- Momo Kyun Sword
- Rail Wars!
- Sword Art Online
For a general chart on summer anime, visit AniChart.net.
Below I've included some pictures of the first (or most pertinent) volume for each series, as well as some synopses from MyAnimeList.net.
Free! – Eternal Summer
The story revolves around Haruka Nanase, a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. Before graduating from elementary school, he participated in a swimming tournament along with his fellow swimming club members, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rin Matsuoka. After achieving victory, each of the boys went their separate ways. Time passed, and in the middle of their uneventful high school lives Rin appears and challenges Haruka to a match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka, gathers together Makoto and Nagisa once again and brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki to create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club in order to defeat Rin.
Hanamonogatari
The next part of the Monogatari Series, Hanamonogatari features Suruga Kanbaru and is set after Koyomi Araragi graduates from High School. All five episodes will premiere in a marathon on August 16th.
Jinsei
Yuuki Akamatsu, who is in the Kyuumon Gakuen Second News Club, is asked to become the counselor of the club immediately after joining the club by Ayaka Nikaidou, the club leader. Three girls currently give advice to issues sent in by the students: Rino Endou from the science stream, Fumi Kujou from the literary stream, and Ikumi Suzuki from the sports stream. However, the three always have different opinions and cannot get their views to agree, so they just try things out anyway…
Momo Kyun Sword
Momoko is a beautiful young sword fighter who was born inside a peach (momo in Japanese). She lives with her constant companions--the dog god Inugami, the monkey god Sarugami, and the pheasant god Kijigami--in a peaceful paradise. However, a demon army led by devil king invades the paradise and steals the precious treasure that protects Momoko’s land. To retrieve the treasure and save the people, Momoko embarks on a great adventure with her three companions.
Rail Wars!
The “dream railway paradise entertainment” story is set in a parallel world where Japan did not privatize its national railways. Naohito Takayama is an ordinary high school boy who dreams of a comfortable future working for the top-rated Japanese National Railways. He is assigned as a trainee in the Railways Security Force full of odd characters such as Sakurai, a troublemaker who hates men. On top of that, an extremist group called “RJ” plots to privatize the Japanese National Railways.
Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?
Due to young Koutarou’s financial circumstances, he is forced to live in a small rokujouma (6-tatami apartment) on a budget of 5000 yen a month. On the plus side, he lives rent-free, but on the minus side, that’s because room 106 of Corona Apartments is cursed. The ghost is a cute young girl, and hijinks ensue when she tries to drive him out. Between the haunting, Koutarou’s nosy neighbors, and a self-styled magical girl flying to the unneeded rescue, there’s way too much for the impoverished young man to handle.
Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance
Only a pure maiden can have the privilege to contract with a spirit. In here, Areishia Spirit Academy, trained maidens of noble families are gathered and given an elite’s education to become spirit contractors. A boy, Kamito, peeped by accident at a girl, Clair, while she was taking a bath and he ended up making a contract with the spirit she wanted. Yes, Kamito is an irregular boy spirit contractor whose existence was thought impossible until now. “You stole…my spirit…you have to take responsibility for it!” “Huh?” “You have to become my contracted spirit!” What will Kamito’s destiny lead to?
Sword Art Online (second season)
1 year after the SAO incident, Kirito is approached by Seijiro Kikuoka from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Department “VR Division†with a rather peculiar request. That was an investigation on the “Death Gun†incident that occurred in the gun and steel filled VRMMO called Gun Gale Online (GGO). “Players who are shot by a mysterious avatar with a jet black gun lose their lives even in the real world…†Failing to turn down Kikuoka's bizarre request, Kirito logs in to GGO even though he is not completely convinced that the virtual world could physically affect the real world. Kirito wanders in an unfamiliar world in order to gain any clues about the “Death Gun.†Then, a female sniper named Sinon who owns a gigantic “Hecate II†rifle extends Kirito a helping hand. With Sinon's help, Kirito decides to enter the “Bullet of Bullets,†a large tournament to choose the most powerful gunner within the realm of GGO, in hopes to become the target of the “Death Gun†and make direct contact with the mysterious avatar.