Seasonal

Spring 2009 Anime

Every anime that aired in the Spring 2009 season, ranked by popularity.

Hanasakeru Seishonen
Finished
7.7

In "Hanasakeru Seishonen," Kajika Louisa Kugami Burnsworth, the only daughter of powerful industrial magnate Harry Burnsworth, has lived a sheltered life since she was two years old. After an assassination attempt took her mother's life while protecting her, Harry sent Kajika to the isolated island of Giviolle to be raised by a local woman named Maria. On the island, Kajika grew up alongside a white leopard named Mustafa and received occasional visits from a boy named Li Ren Fang. At fourteen, Kajika returns to her father, who informs her that she must participate in a game to decide her future husband. To secure her cooperation, Harry explains that she must confront the harsh realities of her fate with the man she chooses. Her task is complicated by her limited knowledge of the three candidates Harry has selected, known only for their exceptional charm and brilliance, and by the fact that the candidates are unaware they are being considered as potential suitors. Kajika must also ensure that her chosen partner willingly agrees to marry her. The story explores themes of affectionate love, fervent passion, chivalrous friendship, steadfast loyalty, family relationships, and political maneuvering. The weight of Kajika's destiny is evident, as the constant danger to her life becomes intertwined with the complex selection process, which is more than just a game. Harry's goal is to find a suitable protector for Kajika before a significant secret about her is revealed—one even she herself does not know.

Hanasakeru Seishonen

TV · 39 eps · 2009

Beyond the Heavens
Finished
7.2

Souten Kouro draws its narrative from the era of the Three Kingdoms in ancient China, centering on the final Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao (155 – March 15, 220), who acts as the protagonist of the tale. While the Three Kingdoms setting has long been a staple subject in Japanese manga, Souten Kouro sets itself apart from the majority of its peers in several notable ways. Chief among these is its decidedly favorable depiction of Cao Cao, a figure typically cast as the villain not only in Japanese manga but also in most prose retellings of the period, including the original 14th-century classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. Another major divergence lies in its source material: the story leans primarily on the historical chronicle Records of Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou rather than the aforementioned novel. As a consequence, Liu Bei—the conventional hero of Romance of the Three Kingdoms—receives comparatively diminished focus and is shown in a less flattering light. Even so, the narrative still borrows certain elements from the novel, such as the inclusion of original characters like Diao Chan, along with anachronistic armaments including Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei's Viper Blade. A recurring motif throughout the series is Cao Cao's persistent ambition to sever China and its populace from outdated institutions and modes of thought, steering them toward pragmatism rather than hollow ideals. This stance frequently brings him into conflict with the entrenched customs and doctrines of Confucianism and those who uphold them.

Beyond the Heavens

TV · 26 eps · 2009