It’s time for another round of seasonal previews! We certainly uncovered some interesting ones in the previous post, but none that I’d necessarily qualify as “gems.” What will this group have in store for us?
By the way, If any readers have opinions on how many premieres to include per post, please feel free to provide some feedback. Is 5 too many, or just the right amount? Let me know in the comments if you like, or I may post a poll at some point.
ORESUKI: Are You the Only One Who Loves Me?
Amatsuyu Kirasagi is invited out alone by the cool beauty upperclassman Cosmos and his childhood friend Himawari. Expecting to hear their confessions, he triumphantly goes to meet each of them in turn. But Cosmos and Himawari both instead confess to Amatsuyu that they like his friend. Amatsuyu fights this lonely battle, but there is another girl who is looking at him. She is a gloomy girl with glasses and braids. Amatsuyu finds that he hates her, because she’s always turning her sharp tongue only on him and finding enjoyment in his troubles. But it turns out that she’s the only one who actually does like him. – ANN
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hidive
Episodes: TBA
Source: Light Novel
Episode Summary: “Joro” Kirasagi is a perfectly average high school boy and a member of the student council. One busy weekend both the student council president and his childhood friend Himawari invite him out on dates. He suspects that one or both of them are planning to confess their feelings for him, but the reality is that both girls have the hots for Joro’s friend Taiyo instead. They see Joro as an in-road to that potential relationship. Joro sees no other option that to oblige.
Unfortunately the situation causes him to reveal his true colors; he’s not really the clueless doofus his manufactured persona may suggest, but instead a half-baked manipulator whose plans at finding love have now failed spectacularly. As he nurses his sore feelings in the school library, he’s approached by Pansy, a dreary girl who somehow seems to have insight into Joro’s true nature. As it turns out, she’s the one in love with him, and her knowledge of his wretched personality gives her the upper hand.
Impressions: This may be odd to say, but this episode absolutely put me through the wringer. As the second half of the story begins and we get a fuller picture of the type of jerk the protagonist actually is beneath the surface, one worries that his Nice Guy™ attitude might end up being glorified and justified by the narrative, even though I’d say most of us would identify him as being in the wrong. It’s a tense few minutes of waiting for the other shoe to drop before Joro’s crappy behavior is outshined by Pansy’s perception of his true nature.
Even though Joro does get his comeuppance, I’m still left wondering exactly what the end goal is here. Is the point for Joro to learn the error of his pickup artist ways and become a better person? Or will Pansy’s feelings toward him cause him to lean-in more fully to his crummy personality, thus rewarding him for being an ass? I realize that this is just a first episode and the story’s endgame really shouldn’t be front-and-center at this point, but considering all the potential pitfalls could arise from a main character who seems to believe that manipulating girls into liking him is a valid approach to romance, my personal preference would be to know more about the story sooner rather than later.
On the less controversial side, the episode has some decent comic sense. All the girls’ “confessions” are almost identical in setting, timing, and wording, which are funny in their extreme consistency. Some of Joro’s internal monologues in the second half of the episode are pretty good, too, though at times he refers to his female counterparts using derogatory words that I could have done without hearing (or reading). There’s the seed of something entertaining here, I’m just very wary of it tripping up on sexist stumbling blocks and have a difficult time assuming the best at this point.
Cosmos invites Joro out on a “date.” 
The confession didn’t go as anticipated. 
What are Himawari’s true feelings?
Pros: Some parts of the episode (namely, the repeated confession gag) are really funny.
Cons: It’s difficult to say what Joro’s end game as a character is – and that reality plays into my enthusiasm for the show.
Content Warnings: Multiple up-skirt shots throughout the episode. Use of derogatory language toward women and other incel-type relationship logic.
Grade: C–
Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly-Cautious
The goddess Lista summons a hero who excels in every area to assist her. He’s everything she expected him to be except for one, tiny thing: this anxious hero can’t do anything unless he’s absolutely sure nothing can go wrong. – ANN
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: TBA
Source: Light Novel
Episode Summary: Ristarte is a goddess-in-training who’s just received a difficult mission – a world with an S-class difficulty level is in need of a hero, and if she can summon a hero to save that world, she’ll become a full-fledged goddess. Finding the right person is difficult, but she stumbles upon someone who looks to be a good candidate – a young Japanese man with high-level base stats and tons of potential.
The issue is that this young man, a certain Seiya Ryuuguuin, is as cautious as they come. He insists on leveling himself up using exercise prior to even setting food in Gaeabrand, the world under siege, and he trusts literally no one’s intentions. He even uses his high-level attacks on the lowliest of slime enemies, just to ensure that they’re “taken care of.” But all this frustrating caution turns out to be useful when Rista and Seiya are confronted by one of the Demon King’s terrifying minions.
Impressions: I was watching a cooking video recently, hosted by a woman and “guest starring” one of the other men on the channel. They were making sourdough bread (as part of the process of making doughnuts… which sounds freaking delicious) which can be kind of a finicky process owing to the way that the dough is handled. The woman was doing her best to instruct the man (and the audience) on the proper way to turn the dough while it fermented. I don’t know if this is a chosen persona or just a personality flaw, but the man had the air of a bumbling idiot, screwing up simple tasks, speaking out of turn, and cracking jokes – generally being a nuisance and not taking things seriously. I had to stop watching about halfway through because I was about ready to punch the guy for being so contrary. That’s kind of how I feel toward Seiya Ryuuguuin at this point.
Granted, this series seems less about identifying with the male “protagonist,” and more about empathizing with Rista, the actual main character whose lack of care and insight turns around to bite her in the ass. In that sense, this episode was pretty entertaining. Honestly the most amusing element in this episode is Rista’s ever-contorting face, mangled by the constant frustration and horror of dealing with the contrarian nature of her chosen hero and the contrast between his attractive looks, overwhelming power, and inability to take on even the most minor and safest of risks. I think we’ve probably all met people whose personalities just push our buttons (whether that speaks to their issues or to our own), and sometimes sympathy is the most fertile source of laughter.
As with several other series this season, this one takes gaming and isekai story tropes and chooses to revel in them, riffing on the ubiquity and gameified nature of these types of fantasy stories and poking fun at the fact that the young Japanese man at the center of it all (typically the very sort of person whose pop-culture know-how would provide every kind of short cut) happens to be the one person who’s not that familiar with the setup. It’s a funny gag, though one I suspect might wear thin and get irritating if that’s all there is. Still, if we’re now entering the era of isekai post modernism, and the self-referential examples are at least this entertaining, I think I can be fine with that.
Ristarte has a few illusions about Seiya. 
It’s finally time to travel to Gaeabrand. 
A brand new set of armor for Seiya.
Pros: Yet another creative take on a set of familiar tropes. The heroine’s contorted face and crappy attitude is a fertile source of humor.
Cons: The male hero is difficult to tolerate in multiple ways. I feel like this joke may wear thin rather quickly.
Content Warnings: Some mild nudity/skimpy outfits.
Grade: B-
Azur Lane
Grotesque, strong enemy called Siren has suddenly appeared from the sea. In order to fight against them, a group of army Azure Lane has formed. They were successful in stopping the attack from Siren for a moment using warships, the different ideals from the people who formed it has shown. The story is about girls fight the strong enemies that they never face while dealing with the trouble in each camp. – MAL
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 12
Source: Mobile Game
Episode Summary: Many years ago, the alien force “Siren” invaded Earth, and an alliance between four human governments was eventually able to keep the threat at bay. But war never really disappears, as they say, and now that the Earthlings only have themselves to squabble with, the alliance is beginning to fracture. There are rumblings that the Sakura Empire is planning an attack soon, and the members of some of the other groups are preparing for the worst.
The conflict arises from a difference of opinion. Some believe that the Siren attackers should be opposed using only technology created by humans, but others believe that incorporating Siren tech is the only true way to defend Earth. The outcome of this new war may help to decide the fate of humanity.
Impressions: I have a difficult time determining just who the target audience might be for series like this. All of the history and war hobbyists I know in real life seem to get really worked-up any time one of these moé AUs arrives on the scene, and yet these series often contain small historical details that only a real history buff would be likely to enjoy to the fullest extent. It’s a bit perplexing. As for myself, I know only the basic details of World War II history and military hardware, so it’s usually up to me to judge on other factors. Unfortunately I don’t think that works out well to this show’s benefit.
I’ve always been amused by the prospect of personifying inanimate objects, and this series takes a (very large and obvious) cue from Kantai Collection by transforming (real!) naval vehicles into weapon-laden cute girls. I fully believe that there are ways to accomplish this without being completely creepy, but this episode really misses the mark in that regard. A lot of the characters look pretty underage, many are under dressed, and as the battle gets underway there are a few cringe-y moments where the series sexualizes injury. Up-skirt shots get to be unfortunately common, and there’s a (very) young-looking character who gets knocked over, showing her underwear and causing her clothes to get wet and cling to her body. There are a lot of really poor choices like this that really overshadow other things that are happening.
The animation during the extended battle scene in the second half is actually pretty dynamic, especially the couple of times where the featured characters are followed pretty closely. When Enterprise arrives on the scene the show does a good job of portraying her power and importance, though in the aftermath the weak attempt to inject her with some pathos falls flat. Overall this episode exists in kind of an uncomfortable space where it’s difficult to enjoy it without a lot of caveats. I feel like having to make excuses this early on doesn’t bode well for the remainder of the show.
Enterprise en route. 
The Sakura Empire has its eyes on a conflict. 
Magic and futuristic technology combine into a terrifying threat.
Pros: A bit of a different take on the “Axis versus Allies” narrative.
Cons: It’s difficult to know who this series is really for. There are some uncomfortable (and underage) fanservice moments.
Content Warnings: Mildly sexualized violence, underage fanservice.
Grade: C-
Outburst Dreamer Boys
Mizuki Hijiri is a high school girl who just transferred schools. At her new school, she has a fateful encounter with boys suffering from chūnibyō (adolescent delusions of grandeur). There is Noda who dreams of becoming a hero, the tragically handsome otaku Takashima who only likes 2D girls, Nakamura the supposedly “reincarnated” angel or devil, and the self-professed string-puller Tsukumo. – ANN
Streaming: Hidive
Episodes: 11 (+1 unaired episode)
Source: Manga
Episode Summary: Mizuki is a transfer student, and right away she draws the attention of the “wrong crowd.” The school’s “Hero Club” is a group of boys who want to help their fellow classmates, but each has his own somewhat delusional character quirk that makes Mizuki wish she’d never met them in the first place.
Over the next few weeks it becomes apparent that someone at the school is targeting Mizuki. She narrowly avoids getting hit in the face by a soccer ball, a rubber flamingo, and a badminton birdie. When a basketball net falls outside and nearly crushes her, the hero club is finally able to narrow down the culprit. But could the person responsible be one of their own?
Impressions: Adolescence is an inherently ridiculous time in many people’s lives, but until I learned the Japanese word chuunibyou I don’t think I could have easily summed up just how goofy and weird it can be. Referring to middle-school aged delusions of grandeur, the term does a great job of describing the ways in which our budding identities are sometimes drawn from the fiction that we unashamedly love. For example, when I was that age I was extremely into Star Trek, writing my own self-insert fan fiction and dressing up to attend local conventions. Some things never quite change, even after 20-something years of additional maturity.
That’s why I can’t quite fault this cast of characters for being overly-rambunctious and irritating, because at one time not that long ago I was them; insistent that the real world overlapped in logic and mechanism with my favorite fantasy concepts. Now that I’m older, I just want to pat them all on the head and tell them to never give up on their dreams, because eventually the world will do its best to wring those dreams out of them by force. On the other hand, I also find Mizuki to be an interesting foil for the other characters, since her status as a transfer student puts her in a conflicted spot. On one hand, she has the opportunity for a fresh start, which perhaps she wants if she was known as a goofball at her previous school and wants to “turn over a new leaf.” On the other hand, perhaps her new “friends” in the Hero Club are there to open up previously unknown avenues of silliness for her to escape her straight-laced personality. Or she could honestly just be the straight man in a comedy anime – it’s hard to say at this point.
The episode tries to drum up a little intrigue by painting one member of the cast as attempting to “attack” Mizuki. I suspect based on the nature and tone of the series, this bit of drama is as manufactured as the drama that exists within the characters’ minds. On the whole, though, it’s very lighthearted and funny, reminiscent of the best and most embarrassingly memorable moments during adolescence.
Gacha games are frustrating. 
Only 2D girls will do. 
An angel, or a devil? 
The hero club utilizes paper airplanes as a delivery mechanism.
Pros: A very funny look at some people’s experience of early adolescence. The characters are charmingly goofy.
Cons: Mizuki’s “straight man” act can bring things down sometimes. Depending on your tolerance level, some character behavior could come across as irritating.
Content Warnings: Slapstick material.
Grade: B-
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun
Iruma is a kind-hearted 14-year-old boy whose parents sell him to demons for their own selfish interests. However, the demon he is sold to has no grandson of his own, so he dotes on Iruma and sends him to demon school. – ANN
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 23
Source: Manga
Episode Summary: Iruma Suzuki’s parents are complete deadbeats, which is why he’s now working on board a tuna fishing boat to make ends meet. One day during a terrible storm, Iruma is whisked away by a demon named Sullivan, who owns Iruma’s soul now that Iruma’s parents have sold it. But Sullivan only wants Iruma to be his beloved grandson, and as much as he’d like to turn down the offer, once Sullivan turns on the waterworks Iruma obliges.
Of course, one of Iruma’s new tasks is to attend school, and not just any school – a school full of demons. Demons eat humans for breakfast, and Iruma is terrified for his own life at every turn. However, somehow in spite of his lack of special powers, Iruma’s life skills turn out to save him from blowing his cover time and again.
Impressions: Whether we truly believe in the concept of “hell” or not, I’m fairly certain each of us has our own version of what we’d qualify as hellish. For me it might be having to attend crowd-heavy social events every night rather than coming home after work and enjoying some quiet time. For Iruma Suzuki, a young boy who’s been abandoned by his parents and who can’t say no to any emotional request, it seems that hell is literally being made to agree to something or be brutally killed by demons… yes, this is a comedy series!
As terrifying as plot setup may seem at first glance, the reality is that things aren’t nearly as intense as they sound. The central gag of the series seems to be that Iruma, a kid who’s had a rough life, has actually developed plenty of demonic survival skills because of it. Dodging mayhem at his various odd jobs (or as the result of his parents’ bad behavior) allows him to avoid a vengeful demon’s barrage of fire balls, for example. His penchant for doing as he’s told allows him to read a taboo magical spell in front of the entire student body – if he’d known the consequence for mispronouncing the words was certain death, he might not have attempted it. The point being that Iruma always ends up on top; the fact that he’s not made into a punching bag and instead earns the respect of his peers is actually pretty refreshing.
To be honest, if I had to choose a word to describe this premier, it would probably be “wholesome.” As long as one avoids thinking too deeply about Iruma’s life circumstances (his parents, who we never actually see, seem about as bad as Hayate’s in Hayate the Combat Butler – which, of course, is also a comedy), we have a pretty accessible series about a kid living his best fish-out-of-water life.
Hell is certainly very purple. 
Sullivan just wants a grandson to dote upon. 
Asmodeus doesn’t like being overshadowed.
Pros: The protagonist is sweet and good-natured (if a bit of a pushover). The comedy relies on Iruma doing well rather than being smacked around.
Cons: Iruma’s parents sound like awful people.
Content Warnings: Parental abandonment.
Grade: B