Rounding out our GLORIO Winter Anime Guide is the return of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, as well as a mixed bag of manga adaptations and anime original series that we’ll be checking out. Take a look at our second helping of previews and let us know what you think looks good. Also, don’t forget to check out Part 1 our guide if you haven’t done so already. To the trailers!

[1/5/2013 updated with extended trailer for Mikakunin de Shinkoukei]
[12/22/2013 updated with new trailer for Sakura Trick]
[12/22/2013 updated with extended trailer for Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions Season 2]
[12/23/2013 updated with new trailer for Nisekoi]
[12/22/2013 updated with new trailer for Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions Season 2]
[12/22/2013 updated with new trailer for Mikakunin de Shinkoukei]

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions 2

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitaii!! Ren
Light Novel Adaptation
Air Date: 1/8/2014
Studio: Kyoto Animation
GLORIO Coverage: Jel

The Black Magic Napping Society (or whatever they were called) return for more delusional antics, and the appearance of the girl that made Yuuta go chuunibyou in the first place is bound to shake up his relationship with Rikka. I am still of the opinion that more Chunibyo is entirely unnecessary, but I cannot deny the Christmas special OVA reminded me how fun the show can be. Whether or not it stays light hearted or dips back into heavy dramatic territory remains to be seen, but I’ll be resuming my coverage to find out.

Mikakunin de Shinkoukei

Manga Adaptation
Air Date: 1/8/2014
Studio: Dogakobo
Glorio Coverage: Jel

You can blame Love Lab for piquing my interest here, as injecting even half the charm of Dogakobo’s last outing into this premise could make it a really fun series to watch. The story centers on a teenage girl who meets the boy she’s betrothed to, who inevitably moves in with her along with his little sister. Given the trailer and the studio pedigree I’m expecting something lighthearted with perhaps a dash of “I will marry the person I want to marry!” type of drama. I am OK with that, so I’ll be giving it a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_rb_npNQE

Sakura Trick

Manga Adaptation
Air Date: 1/9/2014
Studio: Studio DEEN
Glorio Coverage: Timmy

Two girls begin high school in a building scheduled to be shut down when their class graduates. Wanting to create some memories, they naturally start making out. Will this be a nuanced story of self discovery or pure exploitation? Maybe a bit of both? Judging by the trailer it looks more cute and silly than anything, but either way we will be sending in Timmy to investigate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsUfCeQB2o

Pupa

Manga Adaptation
Air Date: 1/9/2014
Studio: Studio DEEN
Glorio Coverage: Jel

After several delays it’s finally time… Pupa is the story of an uncomfortably close brother and sister with a bit of a problem – she is apparently some kind of monster that needs to eat human flesh to survive while he is conveniently able to regenerate his body. You do the math. Not going to lie, the trailer made me pretty queasy and I can’t help but think this is going to be pure shock value. As captain of the Glorio Crew it’s my duty to go down with the ship, so I’ll see how much of this potential train wreck I can take.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTg8bgMga5U

Magical Warfare

Mahou Sensou
Light Novel Adaptation
Air Date: 1/9/2014
Studio: Madhouse
Glorio Coverage: Lifesong

OK, just one more modern urban fantasy, last one I promise! An ordinary high school dude has a chance encounter with a pretty girl from another school who happens to be… wait for it… a POWERFUL MAGICIAN. Naturally, he has no choice but to get tangled up in her magical world. I try to give shows the benefit of the doubt, but the trailer is not doing anything to convince me this has any fresh ideas to bring to the table. Our intrepid Lifesong is on the job though, and he’ll let us know what’s up.

Hozuki no reitetsu

Manga Adaptation
Air Date: 1/9/2014
Studio: Wit
Glorio Coverage: Aquagaze

This one looks… weird. Billed as a dark comedy, it follows the Great King Yama as he problem solves in hell. The trailer looks a little sillier than I was expecting, but the unique setting could make things interesting. Aqua, you like weird things right? Maybe I can convince him to cover this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLG4HRDfiFM

Z/X Ignition

Card Game Adaptation
Air Date: 1/9/2014
Studio: TBA
Glorio Coverage: Zigg

IN A WORLD that is split into five different timelines, armies from each time battle each other to be the one true timeline. I’m assuming they do so with cards? Considering the source material and the fact we’re not even sure what studio is animating it, I probably wouldn’t get your hopes too high for this one. On the off chance that this ends up with some redeeming qualities, Zigg will be here to let us know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kfXqKMWcw

Wake Up Girls

Anime Original
Air Date: 1/10/2014
Studio: Ordet
Glorio Coverage: Jel

From the “brilliant” minds that brought you Fractale and the original Black Rock Shooter OVA, a new series about a failing talent agent assembling an idol group! Putting the return of infamous director Yamakan aside, there are a few interesting, possibly gimmicky things happening here. For one the series is set in the Tohoku region of Japan, which was devastated by earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Perhaps that will factor in to the tone? The trailer certainly has a more realistic vibe than the Idolm@sters and Love Lives of the world, so maybe this will be different. I also find it interesting that all the lead actresses/singers were selected through open audition, but I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. Despite my ambivalence toward idol stories, I’ll be giving it a look to see where it goes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twf3MM8aWEA

World Conquest – Zvezda Plot

Sekai seifuku ~ Bouryaku no Zvezda
Air Date: 1/11/2014
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Glorio Coverage: Gee-Man

Not to much info on this one aside from a loli leads an “evil” organization called Zvezda and is bent on, you guessed it, WORLD CONQUEST. The trailer looks pretty light hearted and not evil at all, and A-1 pictures usually does quality technical work, so if you can get past the pretty risqué outfit of the very young looking main character this might be fun? Gee made the mistake of mentioning the character designs were kind of cool and that alone was enough to pass this along to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MImaD8AbGUE

Nisekoi

Manga Adaptation
Air Date: 1/11/2014
Studio: Shaft
Glorio Coverage: Jel

The popular Nisekoi manga is getting the Shaft treatment, as notorious director Akiyuki Shinbo is set to take this one on. The story is a romantic comedy about two high school age heirs to rival Yakuza groups who are forced to date to keep the peace. Despite my slight Shinbo fatigue after covering two seasons of Monogatari, I feel strangely destined to watch (and possibly enjoy) this. [No trailer yet, sorry! We’ll put one up as soon as something is available]

Wizard Barristers

Anime Original
Air Date: 1/12/2014
Studio: Arms
Glorio Coverage: Lifesong

As a new series from the creator of Kite and Mezzo (and most recently Galelei Donna of all things), Wizard Barristers looks to be another action packed entry in his dangerous little world. The story is set in a near future Tokyo where magic use is possible but heavily regulated. Naturally this means magic users need some kind of legal representation, and thus you have your “Wizard Barristers”. Apparently the best legal defense is MAGICAL EXPLOSIONS as that seems to be the running theme in the trailer. While it does appear to be a bit more light hearted than its predecessors, it will be up to Lifesong to let us know if Wizard Barristers is more than just mindless violence.

Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha

Manga Adaptation
Air Date: 1/15/2014
Studio: Production IMS
Glorio Coverage: Aquagaze

A young girl helps a fox pup and as reward receives divine powers from the gods. Her new powers come into play as she tries to get closer to the boy she likes but has not been able to express her feelings to. The trailer gives off a pretty mellow, sweet atmosphere, so I could see this being a cute series. Aqua has actually read the manga, so he’ll be heading up our impressions.