2011 Screenings

Arakawa Under the Bridge- Ko Ichinomiya’s family motto is “Never be indebted to anyone,” but after losing his pants and falling into the Arakawa River, he quickly finds himself in debt to his savior, the cutely insane Nino (who happens to live under the bridge). To repay her, he vows to help her with her desire to “experience love.” Along the way he’ll meet the river’s other residents, including a hot-blooded kappa, a Sister in drag, and a literal rock star. Sorry, Ko—when you fell into that river, I guess you really got in over your head!

Angel Beats- It sucks being dead. Sucks even more to be trapped in a surreal afterlife where you’re caught between the living and the dead—where a mysterious, violent Angel is trying to pull you over to…somewhere. What do you do? Well, if you’re this group of rough-and-tumble teens, you grab every weapon you can get your hands on and give Heaven hell! High-caliber action and locked-and-loaded comedy meet on a rock and roll battleground in Angel Beats!

Needless- They’re called Needless—mutants who wield amazing powers such as super speed, the ability to change form, and some, like Blade, the power to “learn” other opponent’s powers. It’s Blade’s greatest ability. But is it powerful enough to overcome his weakness for cute young girls in revealing little skirts? Find out in the craziest action comedy anime of the year!

 

High School of the Dead- From Director Tetsuro Araki (Deathnote, Black Lagoon), and adapted from the highly successful manga of the same name by Daisuke Sato, comes one of the hottest new shows of the Summer, High School of the Dead. A deadly new disease is ravaging the world, turning the populace into mindless zombies, and the number of infected is skyrocketing by the second. As their fellow classmates and teachers succumb to the infection around them, a small group of students at Fujimi High School are fighting for their lives after surviving the initial outbreak. It is up to Takashi Komuro to unite the group of weary survivors and try to escape the horrors that surround them. In this new world of the living dead…will they escape?

Katanagatari- Yasuri Shichika, seventh successor of the Kyoto Ryu (bladeless) sword art, lives on an isolated island with his older sister, Nanami. One day Shichika is visited by a woman named Togame, who requests his aid in her quest to find and collect the final twelve swords forged by the legendary master swordsmith, Shikizaki Kiki. Shichika and Togame begin their odyssey by leaving the island he called home for over 20 years. They will face twelve individuals who possess and protect Shikizaki’s legendary swords. Join Shichika and Togame on an exciting, epic adventure that defies reality as they discover the true potential of the Kyotu Ryu sword style!

Toradora- Toradora! tells the tale of Ryuji (dragon) and Taiga (tiger) helping each other confess to their crushes. From the classroom, to the pool, to a summer vacation house and even the school’s culture festival… will Ryuji and Taiga be able to help one another conquer their emotions, or will a new bond be formed in the chaotic war of love?

 

Shin Chan (season3)- Open the door to your mind’s eye and take a mystery trip with Shin and his merry band of buds. You’ll get so high on cosmic comedy that you’ll never come down – but don’t freak out. Try to maintain, man. This ride’s not about bummers. It’s about butts. Shin’s butt, man! He’s unashamed to drop his pants and live free, at peace with the universe. Come along on Shin’s interstellar caravan of laughter. The journey will take you from the beaches of a tropical pleasure island to the depths of the toxic Ench Cave and beyond. Your fellow travelers will include slutty Young Republicans, a mutant or two, and athletic adult entertainers. Joy will bloom in your consciousness like mushrooms after a sacred rain

Working (Wagnaria)- Set in a family restaurant in Hokkaido, the northern prefecture of Japan, 16 year old high school student Sota Takanashi works part-time along with his strange co-workers: Popura Taneshima, a high school girl who’s a year older than Sota, yet easily mistaken for an elementary/middle schooler, and Kyoko Shirafuji, the 28-year old store manager who doesn’t bother to do any work at all. WAGNARIA!!’s crazy cast will have you head over heels with laughter from the first episode!

Squid Girl- With the environment ever deteriorating on a global scale, rage of those who suffer the most is about to erupt.
Take this girl, for example. She is hell-bent on annihilating the mankind before her species is wiped off the surface of the earth, or, to be precise, off the bottom of the ocean.  As she sets out on her vengeful journey, however, she becomes aware of certain limitations. She’s nothing but a squid out of water.

Usagi Drop- By force of circumstances, a 30-year-old single man with a full-time job suddenly starts raising a 6-year-old girl. While running each other ragged, the two of them gradually grow into a “family”. This is the long-awaited anime version of “Bunny Drop”, the extremely popular and finely crafted comic by Yumi Unita. It’s a heartwarming and entertaining work that naturally depicts child-raising experiences, but also the instantly relatable warmth and noise of being in a family.

Gosick- takes place in 1924 in a small, made-up European country of Sauville. It centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier, who is a transfer student at St. Marguerite Academy and Victorique, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never attends class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can’t solve. They meet at St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage.

Blue Exorcist- Assiah, the realm of humans, and Gehenna, the realm of demons. Normally, these two dimensions would never intersect, but having possessed all material substances, the demons are now intruding on the material world. But among the human race, there are those who can exorcise such demons – the Exorcists.

 

Pandora Hearts- Oz Vessalius, who just turned fifteen, leads a rich and privileged life as the heir to the Vessalius name and estate. Everything changes when, during his Coming of Age ceremony, he is drawn into an eternal prison known as the “Abyss.” There he meets and is saved by Alice, the Bloody Black Rabbit, or B-Rabbit for short. Join Oz on this fantasy adventure as he unravels the mysteries behind Alice, the Abyss, and the “Pandora” organization.

 

Sora no Woto (Sound in the Sky)- In a lonely corner of the world, on the edge of No Man’s Land, sits Clocktower Fortress. It’s home to the 1121st Platoon of the Helvetian Army, and their newest member is 15-year-old volunteer Kanata Sorami, who enlisted to learn how to play the bugle. When she was a child, Kanata was saved by a beautiful soldier and found inspiration in the clear, golden sound of her trumpet. From that day onward, Kanata decided music would be her life. As the other platoon members train her in how to be both a bugler and a soldier, Kanata’s enduring optimism will inspire them to look for happiness and beauty, even in a world haunted by war.

Utena, Revolutionary Girl-  ”Never lose that strength or nobility, even when you grow up.” When Utena was just a child and in the depths of sorrow, she found salvation in those words. They were the words of a prince, who wrapped her in his rose-scented embrace and bestowed upon her both a ring and the promise that it would lead her to him again. She never forgot the encounter. In fact, she was so impressed that she aspired to be like the prince and also help those in need. Now a spirited teenager, Utena attends the prestigious Ohtori Academy; however, her strong sense of chivalry soon places her at odds with the school’s student council and thrusts her into a series of mysterious and dangerous duels against its members.

Sgt. Frog (Season3)- Keroro is Sergeant Frog, the leader of a platoon of warriors sent to conquer planet Earth. But when the amphibious invaders discovered how much humans enjoy dissecting their comrades, the troops were scattered, the mission was aborted, and Keroro was abandoned. Now, this once proud soldier spends more time wielding a vacuum than he does the weapons of war. It’s a far cry from the glory of battle, but hey, at least he’s got his own room. And though the invasion may have slowed to a hop, Sergeant Frog still occasionally yearns to overcome his karaoke addiction and reassemble his troops. Watch out world, the frogs are taking over!

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian- Hugh inherits a musty old mansion, along with the entire book collection contained within, from his grandfather – a bibliomaniac who once traded half his lands in exchange for a copy of a rare book. The only condition was that he also inherit the “Archives of Dantalian.” Having arrived at the mansion to put his grandfather’s possessions in order, Hugh meets a girl of 12 or 13 quietly reading amongst the tall piles of books in the basement.  She is dressed in jet-black, and wears a lock around her neck. Her name is Dalian, and she controls the gateway to the Archives of Dantalian, where the forbidden mystic books of demonic wisdom are kept.

Spice & Wolf (season2)-  The journey through the wild countryside continues for the merchant Lawrence and his traveling companion, Holo the untamed harvest goddess. As their winding path takes them from village to village, Lawrence and Holo reap the bounty of an ever-strengthening bond, depending on his street smarts and her animal instincts to lead them to the feisty deity’s northern home.

 

Aria- Akari Mizunashi, at the age of 15, has left everything behind to travel to a sparkling planet covered in water, Aqua. More than anything, Akari wants to be an “undine” – a female gondolier who navigates the canals of the Aquan city of Neo-Venezia. As she begins her training with the prestigious Aria Company, will she be up to the challenges that await her on the path to achieve her dream?

 

Demon King Diamao-  From Marvelous Entertainment (Mushi-shi, Air Gear) and Artland(Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Legend of the Galactic Heroes) comes the story of young Akuto Sai, a new student at Constan Magical Academy. On the day of admittance, his aptitude test has predicted his future occupation as… Demon King. And so begins the trials and tribulations of school life as he is hounded by do-gooders, self appointed protectors, and overzealous followers. In this school, there’s no rest for the Devil King.

GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class- GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class is a Japanese seinen yonkoma manga series by Satoko Kiyuzuki. The series was serialized in Heiwa Shuppan’s moe four-panel manga magazine Comic Gyutto! from its first issue on July 23, 2004 to its last issue (the third issue).  Afterwards a one-shot manga appeared in the August 2005 issue of Houbunsha’s seinen manga magazine Manga Time Kirara Carat, and started regular serialization from the November 2005 issue. Yen Press announced at Comic Con 2008 that it had acquired a license for English-language distribution of GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class in North America.[1] A 12-episode anime adaptation aired in Japan between July and September 2009

Yuru Yuri- follows four students who decide to occupy the room of defunct tea ceremony club, dubbing it the ‘Amusment Club.’ While the Student Council does its best to eliminate this club, their endless energy, happiness and comedy will keep audiences smiling all season long!

 

 

Go Lion- begins in the year 1999, when the planet Altea is subdued and enslaved by the Galra Empire. Five space pilots return to Earth to find the planet annihilated by thermonuclear war. Eventually, the explorers are captured and enslaved, and forced to fight for their lives in Emperor Daibazaal’s arena. The young pilots escape and eventually land on the planet Altea, where they discover the secret of the mighty sentient robot Go Lion, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Emperor Daibazaal’s forces.

Galaxy Express 999- In a distant future, Tetsuro is a human boy who wants his body replaced with a robotic one. This is possible, but to do so he has to reach the Immortal Planet onboard the space train Galaxy Express 999. Maetel, a beautiful and mysterious blonde woman dressed in Russian style, joins him in the long journey through space. Every episode sees our heroes arriving in a new planet’s space train station.

 

Kamisama Dolls- follows Kyouhei, a college student who came up to Tokyo from his hometown. One night, he and Hibino discover a dead body and coincidentally Kyouhei’s sister appears with the doll called Kamisama she controls

 

Rideback- After an injury forces Rin to trade her stage career for college life, she finds new thrills as a member of the RideBack Club. When she discovers an unusual connection with one machine in particular – Fuego – she is forced into the middle of a revolution. The tyrannical new government rules with an iron fist, and Rin is reluctant to take them on. But as her dearest friends suffer and the insurgency struggles to topple the increasingly powerful regime, Rin may have no choice but to gun Fuego’s engines and speed directly into the heart of the fight for freedom.

Tsubasa- A true and noble heart holds much power, stronger than the hardest fist and mightier than the most potent magic. Four disparate travelers begin an epic journey… their goals different, their destiny the same. Along the way, the past will meet the future in the present. Of all the paths of every life, mingling in the dimension between dimensions where a foe has the face of an ally, and an ally the face of a monster. At the center of this heroic undertaking: Syaoran, a young man called upon to save his fated, the princess Sakura. Her memory has been shattered, the very essence of her soul sent adrift across the universe. Feathers float down on strange lands, torn asunder if only to prove the power of love. With fellow travelers Kurogane and Fai, a warrior and a wizard, an epic quest begins. One of danger and mystery… The possibilities are endless.

Our Home Fox Deity- The Mizuchi bloodline has long been hunted by Yokai, or monsters. Toru and Noboru Takagami are descendents of this bloodline, and under their grandmother’s discretion, are given a secret weapon to combat these monsters. It is Tenko Kugen, a fox deity who can take the shape of a man or woman at will. The mischievous deity is accompanied by a shrine maiden, Ko, who will both live with the Takagami brothers at their house. Life just got complicated.

Astro Boy- Created over 50 years ago by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, the pioneer of Japanese animation, Astro Boy became the first Japanese show imported to the U.S. and one of the country’s top-rated syndicated series.  Astro Boy tells the story of Astro, a youthful robot boy modeled after the deceased son of research scientist, Dr. Tenma. Originally intended to be kept a secret, the atomic-powered robot becomes a reluctant super-hero who fights for justice and peace for humans and robots alike!

Maria Holic-  It’s not easy to find the perfect girl, even when you’re the same sex!  Kanako thought attending an all-girls school would be the perfect way to meet the girl of her dreams, but after her hot new roommate turns out to be a guy in drag, and catching the eye of the most popular girl in school only brings down the wrath of all the OTHER similarly obsessed girls, she’s not so sure!  Complicate things with a cat-eared dorm leader, her roommate’s rude-mannered maid, an identical twin sister (who attends an all-boys school of course) and WAY too many attractive girls of questionable persuasions and the question becomes whether Kanako will die from frustrated nosebleeds!   (Life would be SO much easier if guys didn’t literally give her the hives!)  Will Kanako ever find a non-polar opposite of a compatible non-opposing polarity?  Let’s just say that the quest for true love will not run straight in Maria Holic.

One piece- It is the era of adventure as countless souls are lured along the Grand Line in pursuit of dreams far greater than any they’ve ever dared to imagine. Wealth, fame, power… it’s all available for the taking to the lucky soul who can find it: the legendary One Piece. Among those on the high seas is a youth on a quest to be king of them all – Luffy, the Straw Hat Pirate! But first he must find a ship, a crew, and some supplies. Determined to recruit those at first unwilling to his cause, the young captain remains undaunted!

My Ordinary Life- If you think this is going to be a typical story of school life, you’ll be surprised to know that the ordinary definitely doesn’t happen in My Ordinary Life.