The spring anime season recently hit its halfway point, meaning that many enjoyable anime series are quickly approaching their conclusions. And while we’ll be sad to see many of them go, we’re already anticipating many of the new shows that will be airing in the summer season. If you’ve got room in your queue, consider adding these titles to your plan-to-watch list.
Gintama: Silver Soul Arc 2
Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Genre: Action/Comedy
Airing: July 2018
This is it. The anime adaptation of Gintama has been airing since 2003 and has been consistent in both its comedy and well-choreographed action sequences. The upcoming season of Gintama will adapt the second half of the Silver Soul Arc, which is currently wrapping up in the manga. This will be the final season of Gintama, and it’s bittersweet. The last few seasons have been especially emotional and it is likely that this season will continue that trend. We are going to miss Gintama.
Grand Blue
Studio: Zero-G
Genre: Comedy/Slice of Life
Airing: July 2018
Grand Blue is supposed to be a diving series. Instead, it focuses on a group of college students that do nothing but drink alcohol and strip. The manga is hilarious and is loved by its readers. The story does not have much going for it, but that should not be an issue for a series that is only there to make us laugh. We are concerned with the studio behind the anime, which is fairly new and has not had a lot of success yet. Still, the source material alone should be enough to make Grand Blue a decent adaptation with enough care.
Middle Manager Tonegawa
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Comedy
Airing: July 2018
Madhouse is giving us yet another Kaiji series, and while it might not be the season 3 we’re all still holding out hope for it does look like an enjoyable watch. Based on the spin-off manga, Middle Manager Tonegawa follows familiar face Tonegawa as he works for the nefarious president of the Teiai Corporation Kazutaka Hyoudou. The plot follows that Tonegawa is forced by Hyoudou to organize a so-called “game of death” to alleviate the president’s boredom. The story is supposed to be more of a humorous one than Kaiji’s survivor’s story, but old faces from the original Kaiji series are said to make an appearance.
Back Street Girls
Studio: J.C.Staff
Genre: Comedy
Airing: July 2018
Based on the manga series by Jasmine Gyuh, Back Street Girls tells the story of three yakuza members who after failing their boss spectacularly are given an ultimatum: die and have all their usable organs sold off, or travel to Thailand for sex reassignment surgery and become Japanese idols. The premise is incredibly ridiculous but undeniably intriguing, and after reading a couple chapters of the manga we certainly find the humor enjoyable. We’re interested to see if the series will be able to succeed without the need of overtly perverted gags that would be a cheap and easy way to gain views from certain demographics.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan OVA 2
Studio: David Production
Genre: Action/Mystery
Airing: July 18, 2018 (direct to home release, bundled with second volume of Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan)
David Production has consistently created great adaptations of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure parts, and they’ve even already animated a Kishibe Rohan OVA before this one. While the first OVA followed chapter 5 of Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan, the second OVA covers chapter 2. This second OVA will follow Rohan as he again investigates the truth behind another strange legend. The first OVA was pretty enjoyable, and it’s always nice to see David Production change their animation style along with JoJo mangaka Hirohiko Araki’s art style. This OVA probably won’t be available to viewers outside of Japan for a month or two due to translations and subtitles needing to be created but we can’t wait to get access to it. And if you’re reading this, David Production, please give us the Vento Aureo anime!
