Sekirei's magically dissipating steam

As expected, the advanced broadcast of Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~ has demonstrated that the series will feature regular nipplage. The art and animation are still pretty terrible (even the boobs don't look very good), but I don't think that will stop anyone who is interested in the show.

Preview: Amagami SS

What to expect: Amagami SS is based on a dating sim for the PS2, but the creators are taking an unusual approach for its TV adaptation. Each of the female characters that can be wooed in the game is getting her own unique "mini-adaptation." Well, if you can't please all the fans with 1 route, then why not make them all?

Studio: AIC

Expected run: 7/1/2010 - 9/23/2010 (13 episodes)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvlajwQ7LV8

Amagami SS is Copyright 2010 and owned by AIC and Enterbrain.

Princess Lover gets a hentai OVA

Princess Lover, the visual novel by Ricotta, is going to be adapted into a 2 episode hentai OVA following the success of the 12 episode TV series from 2009. The first episode is scheduled for a 9/24/2010 release.

I've always wondered why this isn't done more often. Dating sim visual novels often contain branching narratives that are well suited for TV adaptations and explicit sex scenes that are well suited for hentai OVAs, and yet it's very rare for both forms to be greenlit. A large number get adapted into TV series, and a large number get adapted into hentai OVAs, but whichever one is selected leaves a certain portion of the original audience wanting something more.

Good for you, Ricotta, in seeing the obvious gap in the delivery of sappy, romantic, character-driven hardcore pornography to its full audience.

Preview: Highschool of the Dead

What to expect: Highschool of the Dead is the marquee name for the summer season, most likely the series with the greatest amount of anticipation. Based on the manga, the story follows a group of Japanese students who survive the outbreak of a deadly virus which turns nearly everyone into zombies. The female characters are all... rather well-endowed... so anyone looking for action, and the bouncing that goes with it, should be quite satisfied.

Studio: Madhouse

Expected run: 7/5/2010 - ???

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl6cNSBg3Wg

Highschool of the Dead is Copyright 2010 and owned by Kadokawa, Fujimi Shobo and Madhouse

Evangelion 2.0 has some snazzy Angel battles

You may have already seen the recently released Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, but if you haven't I definitely recommend it. It's still a mess of nonsensical pseudo-symbolic gibberish, but it looks amazing and the action is fantastic. If you have a chance, rewatch episode 12 of the TV series first, because your jaw will hit the ground when you see the re-imagining of the Angel battle (I believe it's the 10th Angel, and it's pictured to above).

Well worth checking out for the battles alone, whether you care about the plot or not.

Nipples as a business plan

Anime studios have produced shows that feature nudity, in varying levels of realism, for decades. Nudity in anime isn't new, and nudity as fanservice isn't new. It has been used in new ways in the last few years, however. It is common practice now for a show that contains nudity to be censored in its initial broadcasting, so that it can be aired at a later date uncensored or distributed on DVD uncensored. The censorship is often garish and inconsistent with the general art direction of the show. Its purpose is simply to make the viewer aware that it is censored.

I have a few questions about this, such as

• When did it begin?
• How many shows have used this strategy over time?
• For shows that have censored and uncensored broadcasts, how are ratings affected between the censored broadcast and the uncensored broadcast?
• For shows that have censored broadcasts and uncensored DVD releases, how are the DVDs performing compared to similar shows without nudity?
• Does the amount of censorship affect ratings of uncensored broadcasts?

This type of marketing strategy seems like it's here to stay (I fully expect Sekirei: Pure Engagement, starting in July, to employ this strategy in some way), so it would be interesting to find out exactly what the trends are. As I research it, I'll post my findings.

Preview: Occult Academy

What to expect: Occult Academy is a show about exactly what you'd think: a school for studying the occult. The main character, Maya (seen above) is the daughter of a former headmaster of the school. Various mysteries and paranormal experiences will surely arise, and the series, which is scheduled for 13 episodes, will likely tackle these in a "monster of the week" format.

Studio: A-1 Pictures

Expected run: 7/5/2010 - 9/27/2010 (13 episodes)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljl-hs21PBk

Occult Academy is Copyright 2010 and owned by A-1 Pictures Inc. and Aniplex.