With another season of Japanese anime getting into full-gear, it means that we can expect to hear many more acquisition announcements from publishers based in the United States in the coming weeks. With Anime Expo 2014 happening this weekend, Sentai Filmworks have played their cards with a sizable collection of announcements spanning multiple genres and interest groups.
All of these will initially be available through digital outlets, with home video releases to be made available at an unspecified date in the future:
Blue Spring Ride
This romantic drama series is directed by Ai Yoshimura (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Daily Lives of High School Boys), with series composition by Tomoko Konparu (Kamigami no Asobi, Sunday Without God), art direction by Yuji Kaneko (Little Witch Academia, Senyū) and animation production by Production I.G (Another, Broken Blade).
Meek middle school student Yoshioka Futaba has always had a complicated relationship with boys. Considering them loud and violent, Futaba avoids them at all costs. But when the gentle Tanaka catches her eye, Futaba finds herself quickly falling in love. However, a misunderstanding causes Futaba’s first love to be quickly crushed. Before Futaba can clear the air, Tanaka disappears from school, and it seems that Futaba’s chance has slipped through her fingers for good. Now in her first year of high school, Futaba is looking to start off with a clean slate by undergoing a major personality makeover. Once cute and timid, Futaba now actively makes herself as unattractive as possible in an effort to avoid being ostracized by her female peers once again. But a run-in with a familiar face brings up old memories and the chance to right past wrongs. Second chances don’t come often, but will Futaba be able to get her feelings across once and for all?
Glasslip
This romantic comedy series is directed by Junji Nishimura (Ranma ½, Windy Tales) with music by Akito Matsuda (Dog & Scissors, The Kawai Complex to Manors and Hostel Behavior), art direction by Toshie Honda (Another, Tari, Tari) and animation production by P.A. Works (Angel Beats!, CANAAN).
Senior year is a tumultuous time in every student’s life, filled with tearful ends, and fresh beginnings. With their final year of high school underway, small-town girl Toko Fukami and her friends are about to be thrown into the real world. Where most graduates are ready to leave their lives behind and blaze their own trails, Toko has always had just one dream: to take over her family-run glassmaking business. But the arrival of unusual transfer student Kakeru Okikura shatters Toko’s formerly rose-colored life, when he begins to claim that he can hear a voice that predicts the future. And this voice has led him to none other than Toko! Kakeru’s arrival will not only change Toko’s life, but the lives of her friends as well, and something once broken, can never be perfect again.
Rail Wars
This comedy action series is directed by Yoshifumi Sueda (Knights of Sidonia, Pocket Monster XY) with series composition by Masashi Suzuki (Hayate the combat butler! Cuties, The Ambition of Oda Nobuna), art direction by Yukihiro Watanabe (Love Live! School Idol Project, A-Channel) and animation production by Passione ( Haitai Nanaha, Little Battlers eXperience W).
In a world parallel to our own, Japan’s national train system is united under the illustrious Japanese National Railways. High schooler Naoto Takayama is one of many who dreams of someday becoming a driver at the JNR. When Naoto manages to snag a job as a trainee for the Railways Security Force, he thinks he’s finally on the fast-track to success. However, Naoto’s expectations are quickly derailed when he finds that he has trouble telling who’s crazier- his coworkers or the criminals he’s supposed to catch! But when RJ, a shadowy group with sinister motives, appears to seize control of the JNR, it’s up to Naoto and his motley crew to get things back on track. Will Naoto and the rest of the Railways Security Force be able to pull the brakes on RJ’s scheme, or will it be the end of the line not only for their team, but the entire JNR as well?
Invaders of the Rokujyoma!?
This romantic comedy series is directed by Shin Oonuma (Pani Poni Dash!, Kokoro Connect) with series composition Shogo Yasukawa (Hyperdimension Neptunia, Persona – Trinity Soul), character design by Hideki Furukawa (WATAMOTE, Date A Live) and animation production by SILVER LINK (Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya, Non Non Biyori).
When high schooler Koutaro Satomi stumbles upon a suspiciously cheap apartment, he thinks he’s found quite the sweet deal. Although it’s a little small, the great location and low rent more than make up for it. But Koutaro’s bargain soon turns out to be more than he’s bargained for when he discovers that his apartment is haunted by an adorable girl ghost! This sweet-faced specter wants him out, and a battle of the wills quickly ensues. But just when Koutaro thinks he’s gained the upper hand, he’s interrupted by the arrival of even more unwanted houseguests who turn his home into a battlefield. Will Koutaro be able to take back control of his apartment, or will these strange new females stage a hostile takeover? What’s certain is Koutaro’s life is about to give a brand new meaning to the phrase “if it’s too good to be true, then it DEFINITELY is!”
Sabagebu: Survival Game Club
This action comedy series is directed by Masahiko Ohta (Yuruyuri – Happy go Lily, Love Lab) with series composition by Takashi Aoshima (Kotoura-san, Minami-ke), character design by Masashi Kudo (Maoyu, Samurai Flamenco) and animation production by Pierrot Plus (Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Beelzebub).
Life can be hard… especially when it’s your first day at a new school. Will people like you? What do you wear? It’s all up in the air and expectations are high to make the right choices. Above all, you certainly don’t want it to be boring and monotonous. And that’s exactly where we find transfer student, Momoka Sonokawa. To make matters worse, she gets harassed on the train on her way to school. So, imagine Momoka’s delight when a dashing senior from Aogiri High unexpectedly saves her from the throes of a creepy old man. Her hero has brains, brawn and a Beretta! This, at least, makes the sting of being forced to join the school’s Survival Game Club all the more easy when her hero fatefully turns out to be Miou Ootori, its President! What might sound senseless, impractical, and a little insane compared to the “normal clubs” also sounds like an exhilarating romp as these babes with bullets learn rappelling and paramilitary training in what could be called Survival of the Misses! Prep yourselves as Momoka Sonokawa must learn the beauty of battle from a bevy of beauties as action and shoujo collide as the girls of Aogiri High School come out with guns blazing in Sabagebu! – Survival Game Club -!
I Couldn’t Become a Hero So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job
This comedic action series is directed by Kinji Yoshimoto (Genshiken 2, Unbreakable Machine-Doll) with series composition by Masashi Suzuki (The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, Rail Wars!), sound direction by Yasushi Nagura (The Future Diary, Wagnaria!! Season 2) and animation production by asread (Minamni-ke: Okaeri, Shuffle!).
Raul Chaser never wanted to work in retail, but when the war against the Demons ended unexpectedly, the Hero Training Program he was in shut down. But although combat-trained Raul may feel out of place dealing with customers in a department store instead of dealing out death with hardened steel, his newest co-worker’s culture shock is even worse. Because while Fino Bloodstone is ready, eager and willing to please, she’s also the daughter of the now deceased Demon King! So not only are her social skills a little challenged, but it’s going to be up to Raul and the staff to teach her the finer points of the human concept of a “pleasant shopping experience”, as well as when it’s proper to wear what kind of clothes and whose bed you can sleep in. And they’ll have to do it quick, because there’s a sinister major retail chain moving into the area with plans for global domination. Their job isn’t to do or die, it’s to make the customers buy, buy, buy when the ultimate swords, sorcery and sales counter attack ensues in I COULDN’T BECOME A HERO SO I RELUCTANTLY DECIDED TO GET A JOB!
Argevollen
This sci-fi mecha action series is directed by Atsushi Ootsuki (Motto To Love Ru, Wagnaria!! Season 2) with series composition by Tatsuo Sato (Bodacious Space Pirates, Basquatch!), sound direction by Jin Aketagawa (AKB0048, No Game, No Life) and animation production by XEBEC (Broken Blade, Fafner).
It is said that war does not determine who is right – only who is left. The countries of Arandas and Ingelmia have been long embroiled in battle, with countless soldiers on each side falling in the line of duty. The sounds of bombs and gunfire have become background noise to day-to-day life, and it seems as if peace will never come. Adding to the terror are monstrous machines piloted by ruthless, battle-hardened soldiers. Destruction and devastation seem to be inevitable, unless, of course, Susumu Tokimune, the justice-seeking pilot of the ARGEVOLLEN, has anything to say about it. After Susumu and his comrades in arms save a girl named Jamie Hazaford from an enemy attack, they find themselves more determined than ever to turn the tides. But will determination and teamwork be enough? And even with the troops coming together to fight for a common goal, is hope still lost?
