Summer anime season is fast approaching with what looks to be a great line-up of shows. Some returning friends and a solid group of popular game, manga, and light novel adaptions. Studio GONZO is back for its first anime in 2 years as well as BONES and Production I.G. with highly anticipated shows. Summaries and similcast links follow on the jump.
Natsume’s Book of Friends, last seen in 2009, is back for a third season and Crunchyroll is similcasting it to go along with seasons 1 & 2 that are available on Crunchyroll. Also a “3” is the a third adaption of Blood, Blood-C coming from studio CLAMP, Production I.G. with creative talents from both previous adaptions (Blood: the last vampire, Blood+) leading this new adaption. Catch Blood-C on NicoNico.com. Another 3 is also a third adaption, Appleseed XIII, which was previously list back in Spring but is on a Summer anime release schedule (its an unique release read the details for more).
Crunchyroll will similcast 13 Summer shows (recently added Moritasan and Idolmaster), Japanese Youtube-like site NicoNico has launched an English site: NicoNico.com and announced 6 similcast shows (though 4 cross with Crunchyroll), Hulu will pickup the second season of shows they streamed season 1 (Baka and Test, Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan), and The Anime Network (TAN) has announced it will similcast 3 shows (Ikokumeiro, Kami-memo, and Ro-kyo-bu). More details and links in the show summaries that follow after the jump.
Check back for more similcast updates.
All shows summarized after the jump.
Updated 07/22/2011 – More similcast updates from Crunchyroll and TAN
Natsume’s Book of Friends (Natsume Yujin-Cho San) (Official Japanese website) 
TV Tokyo Tuesdays starting July 5th 1:30am JST
Studio: Brains Base
Episodes: 12
supernatural, spirits, humor
Opening Theme: "Boku ni Dekiru Koto" by HOW MERRY MARRY
Ending Theme: "Kimi no Kakera feat. Miyamoto Emiri" by Kōsuke Atari
Similcast: Crunchyroll Mondays starting July 4th 10:15am PDT
Summary: Along with spirit and self-proclaimed bodyguard Nyanko Sensei, Natsume Takashi continues his quest to release spirits bound by their signatures in the Book of Friends. Natsume has always had the ability to see spirits, an ability that only made life miserable for him. However, upon inheriting a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. He learned from the spirits of Reiko’s deeds, often tricking them into signing the book he become determined to free the spirits as the new owner of the book. But such a book is a source of power and many spirits wish to obtain the book at all costs.
|
Opening Theme: "Spiral" by DUSTZ Notable Cast: Nana Mizuki as Saya Kisaragi Similcast: NicoNico.com Thursdays starting July 7th Summary: Saya Kisaragi is a 2nd year student at Three-thorns (Rose) all girls high by day. By night Saya is a reluctant shrine maiden battling powerful ancient creatures school. Kaoru Kisaragi, Saya’s father, is a priest who knows its Saya’s god-given duty to defend the scenic town of Jinja. For the love of her father, alone to battle, is Saya’s fate. |
|
Opening Theme: "Spell" by LAMA Similcast: Crunchyroll Thursdays starting July 7th 10:00am PDT Summary: "No. 6” is a future model city in 2013. Sion, raised as a top-ranking elite since the age of 2, lives in an exclusive area in No. 6. On the night of his 12th birthday, he rescues a boy who calls himself "Nezumi" (Rat). Nezumi is a run away from the city’s Special Security Area and from that moment on, Sion’s life is changed forever. Adapted from No. 6 light novels by Atsuko Asano, published from 2003-2009. |
|
Opening Theme: "Sweet Drops" by PUFFY Similcast: Crunchyroll Thursdays starting July 7th 9:30am PDT Preview Video: Summary: While attending his grandfathers funeral, Daikichi Kawachi a single 30 year old salary worker, meets a sweet little girl, 6 year old Rin. Sweet as Rin may be the rest of the family isn’t please to have her around, she’s deceased grandfather’s illegitimate child. In the midst of all this negativity Daikichi decides Rin should live with him. |
|
Opening Theme: "Cras numquam scire" by Yucca feat.Hugh Anthony Disward Ending Theme: "yes,prisoner" by maRIONnetTe Similcast: NicoNico.com & Crunchyroll Fridays starting July 15th 9:30am PDT Summary: Hugh Anthony Disward inherits an old estate and massive personal library after his grandfather’s death. Upon exploring the mansion he finds in the basement mysterious young girl, Dalian. She is a Dantalian who controls the gateway to the “Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian”, the forbidden books of demonic wisdom. |
|
Beelzebub (Official website) Opening Theme: "Hey!!!" by FLOW Similcast: Crunchyroll continuing July 2nd (Saturdays 4:00pm PDT) Summary: Oga Tatsumi is a first year student at “Ishiyama High”, the high school for delinquents. One day while sleeping next to a river he sees a man floating down it, he pulls him to shore and the man splits in half revealing a baby boy. The baby is the choose son of the demon king and Tatusmi has been chosen as the one to raise it with the baby’s demon maid Hilda. Definitely a new twist on the typical High School coming of age story. |
|
Opening Theme: "Kimi + Nazo + Watashi de JUMP!!" by Larval Stage Planning Similcast: Hulu Thursdays starting July 7th Summary: A second season with the kids of class F in the High School of advancement by challenge. Class A still has the best facilities anyone can offer while the lowly-stupid Class F gets cardboard boxes and rotten tatami mats. They’ll need to move up classes by challenging other higher classes and competing using the Examination Summons Battle system or ESB. Students summon their chibi-equivalent character, powered only with their current test scores and use them to compete with other classes. The only way to improve your strength is to take a re-test and hope you score higher. |
|
Opening Theme: "Fukanzen Nunshou" by Chiaki Ishikawa Previews: Girls Side and Story
Similcast: Crunchyroll Tuesdays starting July 5th 10:00am PDT Summary: Kyōhei Kuga is now a college student living in Tokyo, fully immersed in the city and college life. One night on his way home he comes upon the aftermath of a gruesome murder. He later learns from his younger sister Utao that a fugitive from their home town is responsible. Kyohei’s home town isn’t ordinary, folks there have deified spirits named kukuri who inhabit alien/robot like vessels.The kukuri manifest as something like a small mech that will obey its owners commands. Utao has come to Tokyo with her kukuri in part to find and stop the fugitive and his kukuri. Kyōhei realizes that he cannot escape what he tried to leave behind in the village. |
|
Opening Theme: "REDAY!!" by 765PRO ALLSTARS Preview video:
Similcast: Crunchyroll Saturdays starting July 30th 10:00am PDT Summary: The fun and crazy life of 13 young girls trying to be the next idol pop-star. Based on the long-running game franchise of the same name this new anime adaption ties into The IDOLM@STAR 2 765pro game released in February (2011). Seiyuus will be all be reprising their same rolls as in the games. |
|
Opening Theme: TBA Similcast: NicoNico.com Saturdays starting July 2nd Summary: Haruka Nanami as just started attending a prestigious performing arts high school and looks forward to devoting her efforts to being a song writer. Unfortunately she quickly becomes distracted from her goals when she finds herself surrounded by hot guys who want to become idols. The counter-part to IDOLM@STER, Uta no Prince-sama is based on dating sim game aimed at young girls. Seiyuus will be all be reprising their same rolls as in the games. |
|
Itsuka Tenma no Kuro-Usagi “Itsuten” (Official website) Opening Theme: "Once" by Hitomi Harada Similcast: NicoNico.com & Crunchyroll Fridays starting July 15th 9:00am PDT Preview Video:
Summary: Taito Kurogane has been having strange dreams lately, dreams of a vampire girl and hearing whispers of her voice. He shakes it off as just odd dreams but after surviving getting hit by a truck that should have killed him, Taito knows something isn’t right. A promise exchanged with a young girl vampire nine years ago…and then forgotten…now she’s back to collect on their promise. |
|
Opening Theme: NA Similcast: TAN Fridays starting July 30th (episodes will start daily Tuesday 7/26 to catch-up with episode 5 Friday) Preview video: Summary: In the late 1800’s Japanese culture has gained much popularity in the West. A young Japanese girl, Yune, travels with Oscar on his journey back to his home in France, and offers to help at the family’s ironwork shop in Paris. Oscar’s nephew and shopowner Claude reluctantly accepts to take care of Yune. As the story unfolds we learn how those, who have so little in common, get to understand each other and live together in the Paris of the 1800s. From the creator of GOSICK. |
|
Opening Theme: "Onna no Kotte♪Maji☆Chou Angel!!" by ave;new project feat. Saori Sakura and Rie Shirasawa Similcast: NicoNico.com & Crunchyroll Mondays starting July 11th 9:45am PDT Preview Video:
Summary: Haruka Minazuki and Aoi Kannazuki are students at St.Cherine |
|
Opening Theme: "Kawaru Mirai" by Choucho Similcast: TAN Wednesdays starting August 4th (episodes will start daily Sunday 7/31 to catch-up with episode 5 on 8/4) Preview video: Summary: Narumi Fujishima an ordinary but isolated high school boy is asked by fellow classmate Ayaka Shinozaki to join the gardening club. Here is meets Alice. Alice is a NEET and a shut-in but is also a detective who helps solve mysteries. Narumi joins Alice as her assistant and she quickly puts him to work solving the existence of “Angel fix” an illegal drug. Little does he know it could put him and Ayaka in serious trouble. |
|
Manyū Hiken-chō (Official website) Opening Theme: "Unmei" by AiRI Aki Toyosaki as Kaede Similcast: TBA Preview video: Summary: SamuraiXOppai Chifusa Manyu blazes around Japan’s Edo era (17th to 19th century, roughly) with her large oppai. Having large oppai means very thing, not having them is a curse. The Manyu clan holds the secret scroll for how to cultivate and grow the largest oppai. Even the URL for the official website means “I love oppai”. Expect lots of fan-service. |
|
Opening Theme: "Be Starters!" by Eri Kitamura Similcast: NA Summary: Kinjiro Sakamachi, Konoe Subaru, and, Kanade Suzutsuki are all classmates at the same high school. Kanade is very wealthy, in fact Konoe also works as her butler. Kinjiro one day discovers a big secret – Konoe has been posing as a boy and hiding the fact that she’s a girl. |
|
Opening Theme: NA Similcast: Crunchyroll Wednesdays starting July 20th (3 episodes available) 10:00am PDT Preview Video (click): Summary: single OVA episode was released Winter 2011 and this 12 episode series is more of a retelling from this first adapation of 4-panel manga. Mayu Morita is a very quiet and shy high school girl who tends to over think everything and the chance to speak her response is missed in most of her conversations. She ends up mostly communicating with facial and hand gestures. Fortunately or unfortunately Mayu has plenty of energetic and talkative friends. |
|
Opening Theme: "Kami-sama to Issho" by Haruka Tomatsu and Yui Horie
Similcast: Crunchyroll Mondays starting July 11th 5:00pm PDT Preview Video: Summary: Yuzu Koyama is trying to run a respectable antique shop. The antique shop is also home to Mayu, a cat god or nekogami. Mayu tends to play around, leach off of Yuzu and invite other gods to visit and play. Yuzu tries her best to keep the shop running and shield the customers from Mayu’s antics. |
Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyō (Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan) (Official website) Opening Theme: "Hoshi no Arika" by LM.C Aya Hirano as Kana Ienaga Similcast: Hulu.com Sundays starting July 3rd Preview video: Summary: Season 2 continues the story of Rikuo Nura who lives in a house of spirits with his grandfather, the current clan leader of the Nura youkai. Rikou is 3 parts human and 1 part demon, and set to be the next head of the clan head. He struggles with his demon side but does his best to come to terms with it. His demon blood and many other obstacles are in his path as he tries to take his position as the young master of the Nura house. congratulations |
|
Opening Theme: "Yuriyurarararayuruyuri Daijiken" by Minami Tsuda, Rumi Ookubo, Shiori Mikami and Yuka Ootsubo Similcast: Crunchyroll Mondays starting July 4th 10:30am PDT Summary: A high school slice of life story with a yuri angle revolving around four girls, all close friends, as they take over the tea ceremony club room to form their new "Gokuraku-Bu" or "Paradise Club" with the goal of just having fun. |
|
Opening Theme: "SHOOT!" by Ro-Kyu-Bu! Preview Video: Ro-Kyu-Bu! Seiyuu Music group formed for the OP/ED featuring Yoko Hikasa and Kana Hanazawa and 3 other seiyuus from the show. Music Video PV: Similcast: TAN Saturdays starting July 30th (episodes start Wednesday 7/27 daily to catch-up with episode 4 on 7/30) Summary: Just entering high school Subaru Hasegawa loves basketball and has looked forward to joining the team. But he learns the team is now inactive because the captain is being suspected as a lolicon. With extra time after high school he then becomes entangled coaching a group of serious elementary school girls and their basketball team. With these girls and their love for basketball Subaru will have a hard time. |
|
Opening Theme: "Maji Yaba Mousou LOVE♥" by R-15 Similcast: NicoNico.com & Crunchyroll Saturdays starting July 16th 9:30am PDT Preview Video: Summary: High school student Taketo Akutagawa has enrolled in a school for geniuses and unique talents. As he struggles to keep up with the other students they learn he was accepted into the school for his talents as a published novelist. Great – except for the fact he writes hentai (pornographic) novels. Lots of fresh and new talent many debuting in this show. R-15 also represents a new 8 girl idol group for the OP/ED (similar with Ru-Kyu-Bu except with no veteran seiyuu talents). Topping the casting oddities is recently announced side male character of Meguru Tentsubou will be voiced by Yuichiro "Jienotsu" NAGASHIMA who is the cosplaying champion K-1 fighter in his regular job. |
|
Opening Theme: "Nyanpaia Taisou" by Nyatsuko Asou and Nyandine Ami Koshimizu as Nyanpire
Similcast: TBA Preview Video: Summary: Starving and near death a little black kitty is saved by a vampire and is transformed into Nyanpire. Now this cute vampire kitten and his companions, angel neko Nyantenshi, Masamunya (historical figure Date Masamune), and a normal cat Chachamaru go off on many comic adventures. |
|
Preview Video 01: Similcast: TBA Summary: A retelling of the Appleseed story (manga,OVA,CG movies). After a worldwide non-nuclear war, the city Olympus became the control center of the world. Bioroids (cloned humans made from only the best DNA) manage and run the city (and the world) and its defense is handled by a special military force. Among the special force are former LAPD SWAT member Deunan Knotts and cyborg partner Brialeos. They face a challenge from the Human Liberation Front and its terrorist underbelly the Argonauts. The leader of this group, Al Ceides, supposedly died 20 years ago in an attack on Poseidon, but now his shadow emerges once again |
|
Opening Theme: "Stone Cold" by FictionJunction Similcast: Crunchyroll Fridays starting July 8th 12:00am PDT Summary: Alma Nidoshi has lived with others for most of his life due to an incident from his past. His classmate Wakana Itou asks him to join their school’s club devoted to minerals and crystals. During his activites with the club is finds a very interesting crystal. Later Alma is approached by Ruri, she is the very young CEO of a wealthy foundation, who tells Alma he holds the power of the "Sacred Seven". To Alma’s surprise she then summons a monster to battle him. |
|
Opening Theme: NA Similcast: NA Summary: The last of the Marvel x Madhouse anime projects. Blade is a ‘daywalker’ – born of a human mother and vampire father. He hunts vampires to protect humans after he saw a vampire kill his mother as a young boy. His goal is the kill Deacon Frost – the vampire who killed his mother – but Deacon has become a very powerful vampire with a vast organization under his command called Existence. |
