The following is a run-down of the entire new Winter anime season in Japan. So have a peek and tell us what you're interested in. What do you think will be worth watching? What's going to suck? Are any of these on your "must-watch" list?
Last Update: 12/22
First Air Date: January 1st, 2008
Japanese Title: ウエルベールの物語 第二幕
English Title: The Sisters of Wellber (Second Chapter)
Studio: Production I.G.
Genre: Fantasy
Based on: manga (BLADE comics)
Network: Tokyo MX Terebi
Other Information: Sequel to ウエルベールの物語/Sisters of Wellber
Website: click here Opening Theme:click here First Air Date: January 3rd, 2008
Japanese Title: ロザリオとバンパイア
English Title: Rosario + Vampire
Studio: GONZO
Genre: shounen, romantic comedy, harem
Based on: manga (Jump comics)
Network: Tokyo MX Terebi
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 3rd, 2008
Japanese Title: H2O ～FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND～
English Title: H20 ~FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND~
Studio: ZEXCS
Genre: romance, harem
Based on: computer game
Network: Teredama
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 4th, 2008
Japanese Title: 破天荒遊戯
English Title: Dazzle
Studio: Studio Deen
Genre: Shoujo
Based on: manga (ZERO-SUM)
Network: KBS Kyoto
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: 全力ウサギ
English Title: none (Zenryouku Usagi)
Studio: Tom's Entertainment
Genre: comedy, short
Based on: mascot character, 4 panel-comics
Network: Terebi Kanagawa
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: MAJOR 4th Season
English Title: MAJOR
Studio: Synergy SP
Genre: sports (baseball)
Based on: manga (Shonen Sunday)
Network: NHK Kyouiku Terebi
Other Information: 4th season of the ridiculously popular baseball series
Website: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: PERSONA -trinity soul-
English Title: PERSONA -trinity soul-
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: action, horror, occult
Based on: video game (Persona 3)
Network: Tokyo MX Terebi
Other Information: spin-off series set some time after the events in Persona 3
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: 俗・さよなら絶望先生
English Title: None (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei)
Studio: Shaft
Genre: black comedy
Based on: manga (Weekly Shounen Sunday)
Network: Terebi Kanagawa
Other Information: sequel to "Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei)
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: true tears
English Title: true tears
Studio: P.A. Works
Genre: drama, romance
Based on: computer game
Network: Terebi Kanagawa
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: シゴフミ
English Title: Stories of the Last Letter
Studio: J.C. Staff
Genre: dark fantasy
Based on: light novel (Media Works)
Network: Chiba Terebi
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 5th, 2008
Japanese Title: 君が主で執事が俺で
English Title: They Are My Noble Masters
Studio: A.C.G.T.
Genre: harem, romantic comedy
Based on: computer game
Network: Terebi Kanagawa
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 6th, 2008
Japanese Title: ポルフィの長い旅
English Title: The Long Journey of Porphy
Studio: Nippon Animation
Genre: drama, adventure
Based on: "The orphans of Simitra" (novel) by Paul-Jacques Bonzon
Network: BS Fuji
Other Information: An entry into the "World Masterpiece Theatre" series based on an obscure book half a dozen years out of print that nearly no one has ever read... how that makes it a "masterpiece" I have no idea... O-o;
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 6th, 2008
Japanese Title: みなみけ～おかわり～
English Title: Minami-ke ~a second helping~
Studio: Asreed
Genre: comedy
Based on: manga (Young Magazine)
Network: TV Tokyo
Other Information: sequel to "Minami-ke"
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 7th, 2008
Japanese Title: ARIA The ORIGINATION
English Title: ARIA The ORIGINATION
Studio: Haru Filmmaker
Genre: slice-of-life
Based on: manga (Comic BLADE)
Network: TV Tokyo
Other Information: 3rd sequel to "ARIA"
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 7th, 2008
Japanese Title: GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-
English Title: GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-
Studio: Artland
Genre: drama, action
Based on: manga (Media Works)
Network: Tokyo MX Terebi
Other Information: sequel to "GUNSLINGER GIRL"
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 8th, 2008
Japanese Title: 狼と香辛料
English Title: Spicy Wolf (or) Wolf and Spice
Studio: IMAGIN
Genre: slice of life, fantasy, romance
Based on: light novel (Media Works)
Network: Chiba Terebi
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 9th, 2008
Japanese Title: のらみみ
English Title: none (noramimi)
Studio: Tom's Entertainment
Genre: comedy, short
Based on: character, 4-panel comics
Network: CBC
Other Information: N/A
Website: click here First Air Date: January 10th, 2008
Japanese Title: 墓場鬼太郎
English Title: None (Hakaba Kitarou)
Studio: Toei Animation
Genre: horror, occult, adventure
Based on: classic manga series ("Hakaba Kitarou"/"GeGeGe no Kitarou")
Network: Fuji Terebi
Other Information: The original "Gegege no Kitarou" comics animated for an adult audience (whereas the "Gegege no Kitarou" title has been revived as a childrens' series).
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 13th, 2008
Japanese Title: こはるびより PartII
English Title: None (Koharubiyori)
Studio: Doumu
Genre: moe, ecchi comedy
Based on: manga (Dengeki Daioh)
Network: AT-X
Other Information: tv premiere OVA (one episode only)
Website: click here Opening Theme: click here First Air Date: January 14th, 2008
Japanese Title: もえがく★5
English Title: N/A Moegaku 5
Studio: AIC Spirits
Genre: parody, screwed up language instruction
Based on: computer game
Network: BS Fuji
Other Information: the latest in a long line of moe properties that aspire to a secondary goal of teaching "fun" nerd english, but don't actually hire any English-speaking consultants, so are full of poor grammar and idiotic mistakes. Though the website seems to imply that it will be teaching different languages with the help of a full range of gloriously offensive ethnic stereotypes. This could be bad... and by bad... I mean cult classic bad-good.
Websites: click here click here First Air Date: January 14th, 2008
Japanese Title: ヤッターマン 新シリーズ
English Title: Yatterman (new series)
Studio: Tatsunoko Pro
Genre: comedy, mecha
Based on: Yatterman (1977 anime series)
Network: Fuji Terebi
Other Information: a remake
Website: ƒ„ƒbƒ^[ƒ}ƒ“ First Air Date: January 18th, 2008
Japanese Title: onちゃん
English Title: None (on-chan)
Studio: egg
Genre: childrens', short
Based on: mascot character
Network: Hokkaido Terebi
Other Information: N/A
Website: ƒ†ƒƒ~ƒ‹AƒAƒjƒuon‚¿‚á‚ñv First Air Date: January 27th, 2008
Japanese Title: ストレイト・ジャケット 第2話
English Title: Strait Jacket (2nd Story)
Studio: feel
Genre: action, seinen
Based on: original story
Network: AT-X
Other Information: OVA (one episode only), made-to-order by the US domestic distributor "Manga Entertainment" and thus is automatically liscenced.
Website: STRAIT JACKET