A new anime season is upon us, and I’d like to briefly spotlight a few series airing in Japan that are based on light novels. IÂ will update this page with links to official streaming services for those who are interested in watching these series as they premiere.
- Chaika: The Coffin Princess – Avenging Battle
- Gonna Be the Twintail!
- Log Horizon
- Lord Marksman and Vanadis
- When Supernatural Battles Become Commonplace
For a general chart on fall 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.
Amagi Brilliant Park
The story centers around high school student Seiya Kanie, a self proclaimed genius with looks, intellect, and athletic ability. On a Sunday, a mysterious transfer student who carries a musket gun takes him to an old and deserted amusement park, Amagi Brilliant Park. He is told that if the park can’t attract 100,000 visitors in the next two weeks, it will be closed immediately. And thus the business comedy, Amagi Brilliant Park, begins!
Chaika: The Coffin Princess – Avenging Battle
(Season 2 of the spring 2014 anime) Toru Acura is a 20-year-old retired soldier meandering through life post-war. He encounters Chaika Trabant, a 14-year-old sorceress carrying a coffin, and follows her in hopes of finding some semblance of meaning in his life again. The two are accompanied by Toru’s adopted sister Akari, the sole employed member of the group and thereby their source of sustenance.
Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de — When Supernatural Battles Become Commonplace
Half a year ago, the four members of a literature club, as well as the elementary school niece of their faculty adviser, were bestowed with supernatural powers. The boy in the club, Ando Jurai, became able to produce black flames. The girls acquired a variety of powerful abilities: Tomoyo could slow, speed, or stop time, Hatoko could control the five elements (earth, water, fire, wind, light), little Chifuyu could create things, and Sayumi could repair objects or heal living things. However, since they gained these powers, nothing has really changed in their everyday life. Why have they been given these powers in the first place? Will the heroic fantasy life they imagined these powers would bring ever actually arrive?
Log Horizon: Second Series
(Season 2 of the fall 2013 anime) Veteran gamer Shiroe and other players have been trapped in the world of the online game Elder Tales for six months. The once chaotic city of Akiba has regained its everyday hustle and bustle following the formation of the self-governing organization Round Table Meeting. The earthlings, who are originally from the game world, have gained the trust of Shiroe by waging a defensive war against the Goblins in Zantleaf Region. This has led Princess Rayneshia of the Cowen family, the highest-ranking Earthling Aristocrats, to live in Akiba. It’s almost winter and the Adventurers are thinking about what they’re going to do and what their goals are in this other world. Will they remain in Akiba or go to the city of the West? Or will they travel to the land of the North or another faraway country? The opinions of the Adventurers begin to diverge. What adventures await the members of the Shiroe team in this second series of Log Horizon?
Madan no Ou to Vanadis — The King of the Magic Bullet and Vanadis
Set in Western Europe during times of war, Eleanor “Ellen” Vertalia, one of the Vanadis of Zhcted, leads the battle into Brune. There are, in fact, seven Vanadis, named for having each received a powerful weapon from the dragon to individually reign over seven territories. The power of the Vanadis invokes dread and fear from their enemies. An earl in the service of the country of Brune, a young archer by the name of Tigre, experienced the Vandis’s power firsthand after being defeated on the battlefield by Ellen. However, Ellen chose to spare his life after witnessing his skills, but in exchange, he is asked to serve her.
Ore, Twintails ni Narimasu — I Will Become a Twintail
Mitsuka Souji is a first-year high school student who greatly loves the “twintails” hairstyle. One day a beautiful girl, Thuearle, who comes from another world suddenly appeared in front of him and gave him the power to transform into the twintails warrior TailRed. Now Souji, with the help of his childhood friend Tsube Aika who can become the twintails warrior TailBlue, must fight in order to protect the peace on earth.
What shows do I plan to watch? Though I’m a fan of Log Horizon‘s first season, I might hold off on the second since I plan to read the light novels, which will start releasing next year from Yen Press. I will probably try to watch Chaika the Coffin Princess though, as I found that my favorite anime from spring. Well, other than Mushishi, which is also continuing this fall. I’m also looking forward to the anime adaptation of the lovely manga Akatsuki no Yona as well as Ufotable’s take on Fate/Stay Night (since I rather liked the Fate/Zero anime). Too many good shows coming up; I have to wonder if I can keep up with that many.