With the Winter 2015 simulcast season now getting underway, here’s a look at six of the new titles making their premiere on the Crunchyroll streaming service.
Absolute Duo: This series is based on the light novel series written by Takumi Hiiragiboshi and illustrated by Yu Asaba. The series focuses on Thor Kokonoe, a young man who has lost a loved one in a tragic accident. He enrolls in Koryo Academy, where ever student has a weapon that is their soul manifestation, but is dismayed to discover that his soul is a shield instead of a weapon. Absolute Duo streams on Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, and is available to viewers in Europe (except for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Scandinavia), the Middle East and North Africa.
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!: This parody of magical girl anime was created by Kurari Umatani, and it revolves around the members of the “Earth Defense Club” aka the “Do Nothing Club” at Binan High School. When the club members soak in a hot bath together, a mysterious pink wombat appears and asks them to lend their help to protect the Earth. After receiving magical bracelets, they transform into the Battle Lovers. Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! streams on Tuesdays at 10:40 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, and is available to viewers worldwide excluding Asia.
KanColle: This series is based on a free-to-play online card game that was developed by Kadokawa Games. It’s set in a world where humanity has lost control of the oceans to the “deep sea fleet.” The only hope to counter this threat is a group of teenage girls known as Kanmusu, who possess the spirit of Japanese warships. The story focuses on Fubuki, a destroyer who comes to the Chinjufu base to train with other Kanmusu. KanColle streams on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, and is available to viewers in the United States and its territories, Canada, Central and South America (including the Caribbean), the United Kingdom and Ireland, Europe (excluding German-speaking territories), South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa.
Saekano –How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend–: This is a series based on a light novel written by Fumiaki Maruto and illustrated by Kurehito Misaki. An otaku high school student named Tomoya Aki has a fateful encounter with a girl that inspires him to design a “gal-game” that features a heroine modeled after the girl he saw. But Tomoya is surprised when he learns the girl that inspired his project is his boring classmate, Megumi Kato. Saekano –How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend- streams on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, and is available to viewers in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The Testament of Sister New Devil: This anime is based on a light novel series written by Tetsuto Useu and illustrated by Nekosuke Okuma. High school student Basara Toujo’s father has suddenly remarried, and Basara finds himself alone with his two new beautiful step-sisters after his father suddenly departs. It turns out that Basara’s new sisters are the new Demon Lord and a succubus, and he accidentally forms a reverse contract with one of them and becomes her master. The Testament of Sister New Devil streams on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, and is available to viewers in the United States and its territories, Canada, Central and South America (including the Caribbean), the United Kingdom and Ireland, Europe (and its territories), South Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Yurikuma Arashi: This anime is directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, who is also known for directing Revolutionary Girl Utena and Mawaru Penguindrum. After a meteor shower lit up the sky over the Earth, strange yet adorable bears began to attack and devour humans. Humans fought back, and in the end, a barrier known as the Wall of Extinction was erected to separate the humans from the bears. Several years later, two of the bears disguise themselves as humans and enroll in Arashihaoka Academy. Yurikuma Arashi streams on Mondays at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time in Europe (except the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Scandinavia), the Middle East, and North Africa.
Lesley Aeschliman is a freelance writer and blogger who has spent the past seven years writing about anime and manga. She served as the Anime Editor for BellaOnline for almost six years, and was also a contributor to Blogcritics.org's "Sixty Minute Manga" feature for almost two years. She also served as the Lead News Editor for the Digital Media FX website in the early 2000s.