Spring means we get rain, flowers, warmer weather and, more importantly, a new anime season. But with 60 new anime in the pipeline, how do you know which ones to watch? Check out the trailers and brief blurbs about each to see which of them catches your interest.
[*Note: Series are grouped loosely by genre.]
Jojo's Bizzare Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
Genre: Action, Modern Fantasy
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A superpowered delinquent quests to kill an immortal vampire that has haunted his family for three generations.
Riddle Story of Devil (Akuma no Riddle)
Genre: Action, Romance
Premier Date: April 4, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation (US), Madman (AU)
What It’s About in One Sentence: Twelve female assassins infiltrate an all-girls school to take out one of the students, but one of them falls in love with their target and decides to protect her instead.
Black Bullet
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Premier Date: April 8, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: In a world where mankind is nearly wiped out by a parasitic virus that takes over people's bodies and turns them into monsters, a boy and his partner—an infected girl with special powers—begin a secret mission to prevent the destruction of Tokyo.
Blade and Soul
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Premier Date: April 4, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: An assassin searches for the woman who killed her master while trying to decide if she should quit the assassin's life as her master wished.
The Irregular at Magic High School (Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei)
Genre: Fantasy, Action
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Daisuki, Hulu
What It’s About in One Sentence: The story of a brother and sister who begin attending a magical-technology school.
Brynhildr in the Darkness (Gokukoku no Brynhildr)
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: One day a high school boy meets a girl who looks like his dead friend—but it gets even weirder: She is a witch who has escaped from a research lab!
Selector Infected WIXOSS
Genre: Card Battle, Sci-fi
Premier Date: April 4, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation (US), Crunchyroll (EU)
What It’s About in One Sentence: One day, while playing a popular card game, a young girl finds she can hear the voice of one of the cards—marking her as a contestant in a tournament whose winner gets her greatest wish granted.
Daimidaler: Prince vs. Penguin Empire (Kenzen Robo Daimidaler)
Genre: Mecha, Comedy, Ecchi
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation (US), Crunchyroll (EU)
What It’s About in One Sentence: A boy discovers that his perverted nature can power a giant robot.
Captain Earth
Genre: Mecha, Sci-fi
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: When robot invaders from Uranus come to Earth, a normal high school boy becomes the pilot of a giant robot.
Broken Blade
Genre: Mecha, Action
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A recut with new footage of the Broken Blade film series which is about a man who, while unable to use magic, finds he can pilot an ancient mecha.
Dai-Shogun - Great Revolution (Fuuun Ishin Dai Shogun)
Genre: Action, Mecha
Premier Date: April 10, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll (US), Madman (AU)
What It’s About in One Sentence: In a world where Japan never opened to foreign trade thanks to their ancient giant robot (and has thus remained isolated from the rest of the world), a young man laments his virginity.
Knights of Sidonia (Sidonia no Kishi )
Genre: Mecha, Sci-Fi
Premier Date: April 11, 2014
Where to Watch: Netflix (US) [Coming Summer 2014]
What It’s About in One Sentence: After the destruction of Earth, humanity flees their alien enemy on colony ships created from fragments of the planet.
M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane
Genre: Mecha, Sci-fi
Premier Date: April 22, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: Eight boys and eight girls are gathered together to fight the monstrous creatures inside a city swallowed by darkness.
Dragon Ball Z Kai
Genre: Fighting, Adventure
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: After a several-year break, Dragon Ball Z Kai returns with the remaster/re-edit of the Majin Buu arc of Dragon Ball Z.
Fairy Tail
Genre: Fantasy
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation, Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The continuation of the popular anime Fairy Tail about the adventures of a young wizard who leaves her home to join an infamous wizards' guild.
The World is Still Beautiful (Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The princess of the Rain Dukedom, who has the power to call the rain, goes to the Sun Kingdom to marry the Sun King—only to discover that he is still a child.
Chaika - The Coffin Princess (Hitsugi no Chaika)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Premier Date: April 10, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: Having lost his way in the world after the war ends, a young ex-soldier meets a girl with a large coffin on her back and follows her, hoping to find new meaning in his life.
Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky
Genre: Fantasy
Premier Date: April 10, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: Based on the RPG of the same name from the Atelier series, this anime follows two young alchemists who are attempting to solve the mysteries of some nearby ruins.
Hanamonogatari
Genre: Japanese Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
Premier Date: May 31, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Daisuki
What It’s About in One Sentence: The final story of last year's Monogatari Second Season which follows a girl (that was once possessed by a demon) who begins to hear rumors of a demon sighted around town and—fearing she may be the demon in question—investigates the rumors herself.
Mushi-shi (Season 2)
Genre: Modern Fantasy, Mystery
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Daisuki
What It’s About in One Sentence: The second season of an anime about a man who helps people that are being troubled by supernatural beings.
KutsuDaru
Genre: Supernatural, Comedy
Premier Date: April 2, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime about traditional Japanese monsters.
Dragonar Academy (Seikoku no Dragonar)
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation
What It’s About in One Sentence: A boy at a dragon-taming school finally gets his dragon—only to discover that it’s a beautiful human-looking girl with attitude.
Soul Eater Not!
Genre: Action, Comedy
Premier Date: April 9, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation
What It’s About in One Sentence: This is a side story to Soul Eater which follows a living weapon and two super powered girls learning to control their powers and live a normal life.
Magica Wars (Mahou Shoujo Taisen)
Genre: Magical Girl
Premier Date: April 8, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime where each of Japan's 47 prefectures are represented by its own magical girl.
No Game No Life
Genre: Action, Comedy
Premier Date: April 9, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A brother and sister pair who are undefeated at 280 different types of online games are pulled into a fantasy world where God has forbidden war—forcing conflicts to be decided by games instead.
Date A Live II
Genre:Comedy, Harem, Romance
Premier Date: April 12, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation (US), Madman (AU)
What It’s About in One Sentence: The second season of an anime about a boy who has to make girls fall in love with him and subsequently kiss him before they explode and cause massive destruction.
Mekaku City Actors
Genre:Comedy, Romance, Sci-fi
Premier Date: April 12, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Daisuki, Hulu
What It’s About in One Sentence: A boy that has been content hiding away in his room is forced to go outside for the first time in two years after a cyber-girl messes up his computer.
Nanana’s Buried Treasure (Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin)
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural
Premier Date: April 11, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Daisuki
What It’s About in One Sentence: After seven genius students create their own island nation for students, a young boy moves there only to find his apartment haunted by the ghost of one of the founders who died ten years before.
Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara (If Her Flag Breaks)
Genre: Comedy, Harem
Premier Date: April 7, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A high school boy has the ability to see flags above people's heads that mark their emotions/important crossroads in their lives; and so he chooses to avoid most people—but that doesn't stop a group of girls from trying to get to know him.
Insufficient Direction (Kantoku Fuyuki Todoki)
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Premier Date: April 4, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime based on the day-to-day home life of Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno.
Meshimase Lodoss-tou Senki: Sorette Oishii no?
Genre: Comedy
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime about two middle schoolers obsessed with Record of Lodoss War who meet a girl who knows nothing about the series but looks somewhat like one of the characters.
The Comic Artist and Assistants The Animation (Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation)
Genre: Ecchi, Comedy
Premier Date: April 8, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A perverted manga artist under pressure from his editor convinces his assistant to act as a reference for his manga.
The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior (Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou)
Genre: Comedy
Premier Date: April 4, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: Moving out of his home and into an apartment for the first time, a high school boy discovers his crush is living in the same building—and that his roommate is a pedophile.
The File of Young Kindaichi Returns (Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo Returns)
Genre: Mystery
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The second season of an anime about a young man who appears to be a fool on the surface but is actually a detective genius.
One Week Friends. (Isshuukan Friends.)
Genre: Comedy, Coming of Age
Premier Date: April 7, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A boy wants to become friends with a girl in his class, but as she loses all memories of friendship each week, it’s up to him to befriend her again and again.
Is the Order a Rabbit? (Gochuumon wa Usagi Desuka?)
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Premier Date: April 10, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The story of a girl who frequents the same cafe every day and the various other girls she meets there.
Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life
Premier Date: April 11, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime about two girls—one who is cat-like and one who is dog-like—that find themselves attracted to one another.
Kamigami no Asobi
Genre: Romance
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A young girl is ordered by Zeus, the headmaster of the school of the gods, to teach the handsome young gods about love.
La corda d'oro -Blue Sky- (Kiniro no Chord Blue Sky)
Genre: Romance
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The story of a female violin student attending a music school with her childhood best friends, a pair of brothers.
Haikyu!!
Genre: Sports
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: After losing to the championship volleyball team in his final year of middle school, a boy looks forward to beating his rival in high school—only to discover his rival is now his teammate.
Baby Steps
Genre: Sports
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A high school honor student becomes frustrated with his life, and so he decides to join the tennis team.
Ping Pong the Animation
Genre: Sports
Premier Date: April 11, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation
What It’s About in One Sentence: The story of two friends in a high school ping pong club.
Rowdy Sumo Wrestler Matsutaro (Abarenbou Rikishi!! Matsutarou)
Genre: Sports
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: An unusually strong man starts down the path to becoming a sumo wrestler.
Love Live! School Idol Project (Season 2)
Genre: Idol, School Life
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The second season of an anime about a group of high school girls who become an idol group in a ploy to keep their school from closing.
Pretty Rhythm All-Star Selection
Genre: Idol
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: This, the fourth Pretty Rhythm anime series, follows a student on the road to debut as an idol.
Puchimas!! Petit Petit Idolmaster (Season 2)
Genre: Comedy, Idol
Premier Date: April 1, 2014
Where to Watch: Funimation
What It’s About in One Sentence: The second season of a short-form spin-off of popular game and anime series The Idolm@ster.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V
Genre: Card Game, Adventure
Premier Date: April 6, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: The fifth anime of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise that once again centers around a group of people that take children's card games way too seriously.
Cardfight!! Vanguard: Legion Mate (Season 4)
Genre: Card Battle, Action
Premier Date: March 9, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: The fourth season of an anime about a world where card games have become so popular, they are a necessity in everyday life.
Chou Bakuretsu Ijigen Menco Battle Gigant Shooter Tsukasa
Genre: Card Battle
Premier Date: April 1, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: This is the story of a boy who wants to be the best card game player in the world.
Duel Masters Versus
Genre: Card Battle
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: The tenth season of an anime about kids who save the world with card games.
Oreca Battle
Genre: Card Battle, Monster Battle
Premier Date: April 7, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime about a monster summoning treasure chest and a kid who summons monsters to battle other monsters.
Dragon Collection
Genre: Card Battle, Monster Battle
Premier Date: April 7, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime about a kid who falls into a fantasy world and then uses cards to summon monsters and battle other monsters.
Herobank
Genre: Children's, Fighting
Premier Date: April 7, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A kid who finds himself $100,000,000 in debt must master the new cyber-sport Herobattle to pay it off.
Majin Bone
Genre: Superhero
Premier Date: April 1, 2014
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
What It’s About in One Sentence: A normal boy stumbles across a card that turns him into a superhero—leaving him no choice but to save the world.
Tenkai Knight
Genre: Superhero
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A group of kids get magical Lego blocks which transform them into Power Ranger-style heroes and lets them battle block-based foes.
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Genre: Superhero, Action
Premier Date: April 2, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: Thanks to Loki, the world's heroes and villains alike have been sealed within “DISKs” and now it’s up to a group of teens to unlock their disks to release the Avengers and battle evil.
Washimo
Genre: Children's, Comedy
Premier Date: March 10, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime where, after a young girl's grandmother dies, her father builds her a robotic grandmother as a substitute.
Nandaka Veronica
Genre: Children's, Comedy
Premier Date: March 10, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A short-form anime about an alien named Veronica who comes to Earth to sell a galactic satellite service but ends up making friends with a human boy.
Lady Jewelpet
Genre: Children’s
Premier Date: April 5, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: This, the sixth anime of the Jewelpet franchise, follows a girl who has been whisked away to a magical kingdom and finds herself in the running to be the new queen.
Keroro
Genre: Children's, Comedy
Premier Date: March 22, 2014
Where to Watch: No Western Simulcast Announced
What It’s About in One Sentence: A spin-off of long-running anime Sargent Frog that deals with frog-like aliens who have come to earth.
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