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Greetings and Salutations! It’s Summer 2018! That means a new season of Anime! This week Anime Baba takes a look at some of the anime coming out this summer. Spring 2018 was huge. There were several majorly anticipated sequels to popular series, continuing seasons of popular running shows, a few new spin-offs, and some highly anticipated adaptations of fan-favorite properties. So it stands to reason that the Summer anime offerings look pale by comparison. That said there are several that Anime Baba is looking forward to kicking back, enjoying, and possibly even reviewing. Who is Anime Baba—Me.
For those not familiar with Anime or where to find a season chart, I like to use LiveChart.me because it gives me a better overall view of what is coming out without skewing toward one company or another. I’ll just cover some of the new original series that caught my eye going through the list. In another article, I’ll address the series continuations that have me pretty invested because there’s not enough room here to do both. I’ve tried to include where to watch these series legally in the U.S. but there are a few that don’t currently have a listing. I’d like to note that Amazon’s strong step into Anime streaming and simulcasting has me really stoked as it increases the availability of legal anime in the U.S. So let’s check out Summer 2018.
Original Anime Series Coming Summer 2018
Satsuriku no Tenshi – Angels of Death
Date: July 6th
Synopsis: “13-year old Rachel awakens to find herself trapped in the basement of an abandoned building. Without any memories, or even a clue as to where she could be, she wanders the building, lost and dizzy. In her search, she comes across a man covered in bandages. He introduces himself as Zack and he wields a grim-reaper like sickle.
A strange bond is struck between them, strengthened by strange, crazy promises…
These two, trapped in this strange building, don’t know why fate has placed them there. But they will work together desperately to find a way out…”
Anime Baba says: The first preview I saw for this started off with a blood splatter. Yeah, that got my attention and dropped this one right on my Summer 2018 watch list. I’m seeing a lot of cute mixed with creepy in the previews for this one. There’s a serious ‘Higurashi no Naku Koro ni’ vibe here that has me very interested. It makes sense give both are based on horror games. I’m seeing serious potential for bloody mayhem all the way through this series.
The title Satsuriku no Tenshi is literally translated “Angels of Slaughter” which should give you a good idea of what you are getting into with this anime. The main characters are Rachel, the blond in the preview, and Zack, the bandaged boy with the scythe. Both appear to be trapped in this building and it looks like the only way out is up, though floor after floor of insanity. While it appears both are fully prepared to die, they set out to escape this locked building. Why it is that each is settled with the thought of death is a plot point I expect to see revealed as we go.
Anime Baba Age Recommendations: I wouldn’t recommend this anime for anyone under the age of 13 and even then only a fairly well-adjusted 13 year old. This entire plot centers around violence and death. When a key plot point is the female main character saying “I have a request… Please, kill me.” and the male protagonist responding with “Help me get out of here and I will kill you.” It’s a safe bet that this anime is going to be dark. If it follows the video game there will be dark humor and swearing (Zack’s got a pretty foul mouth) at minimum. If you okay with a twisted story, dark humor, and graphic horror—this one’s for you.
Studio: J.C.Staff
Genre: Adventure, Horror, Psychological, Thriller
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll if you prefer your anime in Japanese with English subtitles or Funimation if you prefer to have the characters speaking English.
Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger
Date: Jul 12, 2018 at 11:00pm JST
Synopsis: “Imperial Capital, 1930.
A strange group of people carrying musical instrument cases landed on Tokyo station. They are called the ‘Jaegers,’ who came to hunt vampires. Amongst them, there stood a young man with striking serenity and unusual aura. His name is Yuliy, a werewolf whose home village was destroyed by vampires. Yuliy and the Jaegers engage in deadly battle over a mysterious holy arc only known as ‘The Arc of Sirius.’
What truth awaits them at the end…?
With eternal affinity and spiral of conspiracy entwine, the highly anticipated action-thriller anime begins!”
Anime Baba says: I’m excited for this one. Sirius the Jaeger looks so good on many levels from the action, to the art, to the music to the concept. This is going to at the top of my Summer 2018 watch list. The basic premise is there are two factions at war in the Imperial Capital during the 1930s. These factions are Vampires and the Jaeger who hunt them. The main protagonist is a Werewolf who is the sole survivor of a village slaughtered by Vampires. That would leave anyone with a few anger issues. The thing that has me intrigued is that based on the two different released previews—one from the Vampire Side and one from the Jaeger Side—there is a lot of room to question who real is the villain. First, I’m a huge fan of action anime and if the series has as much action as the preview then I am already sold. But what sets this one apart is that it looks like an anime that dig deep and explore the motivations of the characters on both sides. I’m also sensing this will come with a side of political intrigue ala Hellsing Manga. Add to that an art style that I love and a quality opening them and I’m all on board.
Anime Baba Age Recommendations: Mature teens to adults. I’d say no for any one under about 15 due to the nature of the story as much as the graphic violence. This is going to deal with some pretty heavy stuff based on the previews. Please keep in mind these are just general guidelines. If you are good with your kid watching Attack on Titan—then go for it.
Studio: P.A. Works
Genre: Adventure, Horror, Psychological, Thriller
Where to Watch: TBA (will update as soon as I confirm who has it)
Island
Date: Jul 1, 2018 at 10:00pm JST
Synopsis: “The island of Urashima sits on the ocean far, far away from the mainland. The island is so lush and beautiful that one might mistake it for paradise, but the people there are trapped by a complex past and long-established traditions. Long since abandoned and all but forgotten by the mainland, the people of the island are ready to give up hope. But then, a young man named Setsuna who calls himself a ‘time traveler’ washes up on the island. Setsuna has lost all of his memories except for a certain mission that he must fulfill. On Urashima he meets three girls, Rinne, Karen, and Sara, and begins to work toward changing the island’s future. The story of a young man and the three girls he meets on an island full of mysteries and exclusive customs is about to be unraveled…”
Anime Baba says: I’ve already watched the first episode of this and I have to say it’s going to be a fun run. Less than two minutes, they’ve already turned the standard anime “boobfall” on its head with a hard gender reverse and a location swap. I’m just amazed it didn’t wake the poor guy up—maybe he was wearing a cup? An invisible one… ?
So begins what looks to be a pretty intriguing dramatic anime with a lot of harem-esque humor throw in. This anime starts strong, weaving solid mystery elements with plenty of the over the top silly characters interactions that make harem anime so great.
Within the first episode, we meet Setuna a drifter with no memory and less filter, who casually tells the police he is from the future and has no memory except that he is supposed to save a girl… and the world… oh, yeah, and kill someone.
We meet the three main heroines: Karen, a fierce redhead with overbearing father; Rinne, way too rich and a voice like an angel; and Sara, a cute and clumsy shrine maiden intent on assassinating Setuna. All the makings of a classic harem, and yet—the flashbacks Setsuna keeps having imply that he is both a hunter and the hunted. We get the sense that something terrible has happened in his past and that he is supposed to prevent it from happening in the future. We also learn there is a possible connection between Rinne’s disappearance years ago and his lack of memory.
This will be a nice lightweight addition to my Summer 2018 list—note I said lightweight but not fluffy. There is really good plot potential here. We’ll see how that goes.
Anime Baba Age Recommendations: For now I’m going to say 13 and up on this one but I may adjust it later. While there’s no violence and I’ll be surprised if we hear a swear word, there’s enough allusion to what could be more adult themes in this one. Also, Setsuna’s got just enough creeper in it that I wouldn’t let my kid watch before 13.
Studio: feel.
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, (I would add Harem)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll if you prefer your anime in Japanese with English subtitles or Funimation if you prefer to have the characters speaking English.
Banana Fish
Date: Jul 6, 2018 at 12:55am JST
Synopsis: “Nature made Ash Lynx beautiful; nurture made him a cold ruthless killer. A runaway brought up as the adopted heir and sex toy of ‘Papa’ Dino Golzine, Ash, now at the rebellious age of seventeen, forsakes the kingdom held out by the devil who raised him. But the hideous secret that drove Ash’s older brother mad in Vietnam has suddenly fallen into Papa’s insatiably ambitious hands—and it’s exactly the wrong time for Eiji Okamura, a pure-hearted young photographer from Japan, to make Ash Lynx’s acquaintance…”
Anime Baba says: This is one of if not the most highly anticipated series for Summer 2018. It’s based on a manga series written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida. If you are getting a bit of an ’80s vibe, well, that’s to be expected—the story was originally serialized in Shōjo Comic from 1985 to 1994.
For those who haven’t read the manga and because the PV isn’t subtitled let me give you the gist of what is behind the synopsis assuming they stay fairly close to the source material.
Ash Lynx, is a teenage gang leader in New York City and heir apparent to “Papa” Dino Golzine’s criminal empire. His older brother, Griffin Callenreese, was a soldier when ash was very young. Griffin had a breakdown and fired on his own squadron in a dazed frenzy forcing his buddy, Max Glenreed, to shoots him in the legs to stop him. As Griffin collapsed he spoke the words “banana fish.”
Now, 12 years after that incident, Ash, 17, is caring for a severely mentally handicapped Griffin. One night, Ash encounters a mortally wounded man who gives him a vial of an unknown substance and an address in California; the man utters the words “banana fish” before dying. Ash begins to investigate “banana fish.” During his investigation, Ash acquires several allies: Eiji Okumura and Shunichi Ibe, who have traveled from Japan to report on street gangs; Shorter Wong, a gang leader who controls Chinatown; and Max Glenreed, who Ash encounters in prison while detained on a false murder charge. When Griffin is shot and killed in a fight with Golzine’s men, the group sets out to solve the mystery of “banana fish” together.
I’m intrigued by this. If they follow the source material this is going to be a solid anime. The look of the art really works with the gritty nature of the story so this is near the top of my watch list.
Anime Baba Age Recommendations: Mature teens to adults. I’d say 17+ if you are looking for a number. Again this is due to the nature of the story as much as the graphic violence. This is going to deal with everything from the impact of drugs, to child/teen sex slavery, to organized crime. For parents inclined to watch it with their teen—there’s a world of deep conversations awaiting you. Frankly, whoever you watch it with, expect to talk about it. This is going to be engaging and deal with a lot of real $*%#.
Studio: MAPPA
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Shoujo
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video will have this one in their NoitaminA block so high-five yourself if you already have Amazon Prime.
Hataraku Saibou – Cells At Work!
Date: Jul 8, 2018 at 12:00am JST
Synopsis: “Strep throat! Hay fever! Influenza! The world is a dangerous place for a red blood cell just trying to get her deliveries finished. Fortunately, she’s not alone… She’s got a whole human body’s worth of cells ready to help out! The mysterious white blood cell, the buff and brash killer T cell, the nerdy neuron, even the cute little platelets—everyone’s got to come together if they want to keep you healthy!”
Anime Baba says: A workplace action comedy that might even cause you to learn something. Yeah, I’m all for that! While, I have heard more than a few comparisons to Osmosis Jones, I’m not really getting that vibe. Yeah, the premise is the same but I have a feeling this will have a different feel entirely. The art is looking great. Those bacteria look as nasty as they make you feel. The red blood cells are super cute and hardworking. I’ll have trouble not shipping that white blood cell and the red blood cell from the preview, I’m sure. Overall this looks like pure unadulterated fun and therefore it’s hit my Summer 2018 “watch with the family list.” Assuming they avoid getting too preachy, I can see myself plopped on the couch with my kids and a big bowl of popcorn for every episode.
Anime Baba Age Recommendations: Everyone over the age of 5. Unless you feel the bacteria might be too scary for your young one, this is a great family anime. Enough action to keep the parents entertained and clean fun for most any age child. Add the learning aspect and you’ve got a great summertime escape from the heat.
Studio: David Production
Genre: Comedy, Shounen
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll appears to be the only place for this one. So plan to read the subtitles aloud or rewind at times for those younger readers.
Is That All?
Not even close. Unfortunately, that’s all that I have time for in this article. Next time we will look at some of the continuing series that are keeping their fans heavily invested. I’ll probably do a review of a few new series that didn’t make this list. In the meantime, Keep Cool and Watch Anime.
Click through to read all of “Anime Baba: A Peek at Anime for Summer 2018” at GeekMom.If you value content from GeekMom, please support us via Patreon or use this link to shop at Amazon. Thanks!
