Summer 2020 Anime Preview
This is probably one of the stranger anime seasons ever. Because of the pandemic some shows from last season went on hiatus after a few episodes, and are to start airing again during this summer season. While a number of shows that were supposed to start airing this season were pushed into the fall season. Leaving this summer a strange mishmash of shows.
And so I’ve put together a small list of new shows that for one reason or another look like they are going to be at least interesting if not good. I’ll put together another list soon of the good/interesting shows I’ve watched already this year.
The Great Pretender
Description (via Netflix):
"Supposedly Japan’s greatest swindler, Makoto Edamura gets more than he bargained for when he tries to con Laurent Thirry, a real world-class crook."
I’ve been interested in this show since the first announcement trailer as I’ve been looking forward to seeing what Wit Studio can do with their immense talent now that they aren't working on Attack on Titan. They’ve shown a lot of range as of late between their work on the adaptations of After the Rain and Vinland Saga, and so now that they've effectively been given free range to make their own 24 episode original series I’m excited to see what they do. At the very least the show’s style looks amazing.
The Great Pretender is currently only streaming on Netflix in Japan. When it will be available elsewhere is to be announced.
Deca-Dence
Description (via Funimation):
Denizens of Deca-dence fall into two categories: Gears, warriors who fight the Gadoll daily, and Tankers, those without the skills to fight. One day, Natsume, a Tanker girl who dreams of becoming a Gear meets surly Kaburagi, an armor repairman of Deca-dence.
This chance meeting between the seemingly two opposites, the girl with a positive attitude who never gives up on her dreams and the realist who has given up on his, will eventually shake the future course of this world."
Deca-Dence, like The Great Pretender, was one of those show’s whose initial trailer grabbed me just based on how the world looked. That feeling was further reinforced upon learning that Yuzuru Tachikawa, the director of Death Parade and both seasons of Mob Psycho 100, was directing it and that it was being written by Hiroshi Seko, who wrote the adaptations both of those seasons of Mob Psycho 100 along with Vinland Saga and Dorohedoro.
Deca-Dence will stream on Funimation starting July 8th.
Fire Force Season 2
Description (via Crunchyroll):
"Tokyo is burning, and citizens are mysteriously suffering from spontaneous human combustion all throughout the city! Responsible for snuffing out this inferno is the Fire Force, and Shinra is ready to join their fight. Now, as part of Company 8, he’ll use his devil’s footprints to help keep the city from turning to ash! But his past and a burning secret behind the scenes could set everything ablaze."
Having read a lot of the manga for Fire Force at the time I was pretty excited for the anime adaptation as it was being done at David Production (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures, Cells at Work) under the direction of Yuki Yase who’d previously worked at SHAFT (the Monogatari series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica.) That combination seemed like the right tonal and style mix for an anime version of Fire Force, a shonen action series with cosmic and psychological undertones.
The first season however was a fine adaptation, but often seemed to overemphasis the wrong moments with dramatic angles and style that SHAFT is affectionately known for. This new season is being handled by a different director, Tatsuma Minamikawa, who just did a great job directing the wild tonal swings in Wave, Listen to Me. And so I’m interested to see how much the series changes under this new director, who might be able to closer hit what's appealing about the tone and style of the manga.
Season two of Fire Force will stream on Crunchyroll and Funimation starting July 3rd.
Gibiate
Description (via Gibiate Project):
Infected people turn into different forms of monsters based on their ages, sexes and races. The virus is named ‘Gibia’ - after being rich in variety like gibier.
Just then, a pair of samurai and ninja appeared in such a blighted wasteland of Japan.
They both travelled from the early Edo period, fighting together with help from a doctor who tries to find cure for Gibia.
Facing ceaseless attacks from Gibia, and outlaws that attack travelers for food, they start the dangerous journey with enemies all around."
Renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano is a producer on this show, which is effectively the only reason I’m super interested in it. I’m incredibly curious as to what sort of show would inspire him to get involved at that level. Plus he did the character designs, and it is always fascinating to see how people try to interpret and animate his designs.
Gibiate starts streaming July 15th on Crunchyroll.
