Fall 2005 Anime

Mushi represent the most fundamental expressions of life, existing solely to be, entirely free from the constraints of moral concepts like good and evil. These entities manifest in myriad forms, capable of imitating elements of nature such as flora, illness, and even atmospheric events like rainbows. However, this description barely scratches the surface of the mysterious beings that populate the world of Mushishi; labeling them as life is itself a reduction. Comprehensive knowledge about Mushi is rare, as most people remain oblivious to their presence. This ignorance fuels the constant inquiries of Ginko, a Mushishi who dedicates his life to studying these creatures to comprehend their role within the natural order. He follows whispers of events potentially linked to Mushi, driven by the hope that uncovering their truth might ultimately reveal the very meaning of existence.

The world has been transformed into a hunting ground for the Crimson Denizens, enigmatic entities from a parallel dimension that feed on human life energy. These ruthless killers leave behind only faint remnants of souls known as "Torches," which are mere residues destined to be destroyed, erasing the victims' existence from the memories of the living. To halt this silent, voracious slaughter, warriors known as Flame Hazes engage in an endless battle against these monsters. One day, Yuuji Sakai’s life changes drastically when he finds himself trapped in a time distortion and attacked by a Denizen. He is saved at the last moment by a nameless hunter who appears to be an ordinary girl, save for her fiery crimson hair and intense eyes. Before Yuuji can fully understand what is happening, he realizes he has already been reduced to a Torch—a fragment of memory poised for extinction.

Saya Otonashi leads an ordinary life with her adopted family in Okinawa City, appearing to be a typical high school girl. Her only unusual traits are a tendency toward anemia and a complete lack of memories from before the past year. But Saya's forgotten history resurfaces when she is attacked at school by a blood-drinking creature. A mysterious man named Haji intervenes to drive the monster away. When he forces her to drink his blood, Saya enters a trance and uses her own blood as a weapon to easily kill the beast. Saya discovers the existence of Red Shield, an organization created specifically to combat these monstrous beings. Together with Haji, she must join forces with Red Shield to battle the terrifying creatures and uncover the truth behind her lost memories.

The saying goes that one who seeks revenge must dig two graves—and this holds especially true for visitors of the Hell Correspondence website. At midnight, this eerie web domain becomes active, and anyone who types the name of a person they resent will receive a visit from Ai Enma, the Hell Girl. Ai explains that she will condemn the target’s soul to hell, but the requester will also be sent to hell after death. For some, this cost is far too great; for others, the fate of their afterlife matters little compared to the torment they endure in their daily lives. But one thing remains certain: the Hell Girl will always be available to those in need of vengeance, as she stoically carries out her duty of transporting souls into the abyss.

Train Heartnet, a cold-blooded assassin known for his flawless execution of every mission, carries the alias "Black Cat" within the criminal underworld. He works for Chronos, a powerful secret organization. One dark night, this indifferent gunman meets Saya Minatsuki, a mysterious bounty hunter with a bright outlook on life. They form an unusual friendship, and her positive influence prompts Train to reconsider his existence. He decides to leave his role as the Black Cat behind and pursue a new path as an honest bounty hunter. But Chronos—especially Creed Diskenth, Train's possessive subordinate—is unhappy with this change of heart. Creed is determined to use extreme methods to bring back the agent of misfortune. The former assassin, now a stray cat, can only roam so far before the sound of gunfire erupts again.

While walking home from school, Yukari Hayasaka is stopped by a strange man who stares intently at her body. He has spiky blond hair, a spiked choker, and multiple ear and facial piercings. She wants to get away and runs off, only to collide with a tall, beautiful purple-haired woman who has a flower pattern around one eye. Yukari faints from the shock and later wakes up in a place called the Atelier. It turns out these strangers are fashion designers attending the famous Yazawa Art Academy, and their group wants Yukari to model for their brand at the academy's upcoming show. Yukari declines their offer and escapes the Atelier, but accidentally leaves her school ID behind. George Koizumi, the head designer, sees it and immediately knows she is the perfect model for them. He will not stop until he gets what he wants—and he wants her. Yukari had never considered something as frivolous as modeling before, but could life among these eccentric designers actually be fun? Or will Yukari lose herself in this world of art and passion?

Vampires are supernatural beings that have existed for centuries, feeding on the life force of unsuspecting humans at night. But high school student Karin Maaka stands out even among her own kind. Unlike the rest of her vampire family, Karin has suffered since childhood from polycythemia—a rare condition that causes her to periodically generate an excessive amount of blood. The more blood she produces, the more dizzy and anemic she becomes, often resulting in frequent nosebleeds. Her sole remedy? Force her surplus blood onto random strangers, which surprisingly makes these "victims" feel more energetic and cheerful than before. With the help of her siblings—Anju, her reserved yet loving younger sister, and Ren, her womanizing older brother—who cover up her actions by erasing the affected humans' memories, nobody suspects anything. That is, until Karin's new classmate, Kenta Usui, transfers in and begins to notice her peculiar behavior. And to complicate matters further, Karin finds that her blood reacts strangely whenever Kenta is near.

Glide gently into Neo Venezia, a metropolis on the planet Aqua—once known as Mars. By the 24th century, humanity has succeeded in colonizing the once uninhabitable world. Despite its futuristic setting, Neo Venezia is filled with rustic charm; gondolas navigating broad canals and waterways serve as the primary means of transport. The city is a meticulous recreation of Venice on Manhome (the planet formerly called Earth). To ensure both residents and visitors fully experience Neo Venezia's countless attractions, companies have been established to offer guided gondola tours, one of which is the Aria Company. This is where Akari Mizunashi works, a free-spirited teenager from Manhome who is a novice Undine—the title given to tour guides. Follow Akari as she grows close to other Undine, tourists, the locals of Neo Venezia, and the city itself, gaining valuable life lessons along the way, including the wonderful realization that manmade miracles truly exist.

Mahjong is a game often enjoyed with family and friends, but it also thrives in society's underworld. Nangou, a compulsive gambler burdened with over three million yen in debt, makes a desperate final attempt to settle his score by betting his life on a mahjong match against the mafia. As the game unfolds, however, Nangou drifts further from winning and closer to death. Just when all hope seems lost, the game parlor is suddenly invaded by Shigeru Akagi, a young boy fleeing from the police. In a last-ditch effort to turn the tide, Nangou passes the game to Akagi after teaching him a few basic rules. The mafia sneers as Akagi takes a seat to play—but they soon discover that Akagi is a born gambler. He is an imposing figure unafraid of death, one fated to become a legend.

As the story of Rozen Maiden draws to a close, a new story begins in Rozen Maiden: Träumend. Shinku and the other sentient dolls from the Rozen Maiden collection continue their daily life at Jun Sakurada's residence. Having grown accustomed to his role as Shinku's partner in the perilous Alice Game, Jun overcomes his previous anxieties and gets ready to go back to school. Even though Shinku and the other dolls spend their days leisurely in the comfort of Jun's home, dark times approach with the arrival of a new adversary: Barasuishou, the seventh Rozen Maiden. However, Barasuishou remains an enigma even to her fellow dolls, none of whom had ever seen her before. Shinku interprets this as an indication that the Alice Game is nearing its conclusion, meaning the dolls will soon be compelled to battle each other. Troubled by the impending conflict and nightmares about another doll, Shinku starts to distance herself from the others. If she hopes to achieve victory, it will demand a heavy price—the lives of her sisters.

During their final elementary school summer, four friends attempt a courage test at a local graveyard. Haruka Kaminogi tries to rescue Yuu Gotou from his overbearing mother, only to experience a bizarre vision of blue snow and a mysterious silver-haired man. A similar apparition strikes Haruka and her companions at the graveyard just as they flee from what they believe are ghosts. Unaware to the children, these figures are Dragon Soldiers, an elite force from the dimension La'cryma, who have arrived to secure the Dragon Torque, their last hope for survival. Shockingly, both the soldiers and Haruka discover that she is the Torque. As she attempts to escape the soldiers, Haruka finds solace in the silver-haired man, who claims to be an alternate version of Yuu.

Following the resolution of the Jewel Seed incident, Nanoha Takamachi resumes her daily routine, which now includes morning magic training. She exchanges video messages with Fate Testarossa and the crew of the Arthra, looking forward to meeting them in person again. However, her peace is shattered when Raising Heart alerts her to an imminent attack while she is studying in her room. The assailant is Vita, a young girl identifying herself as a Belka Knight, who demonstrates her power by using an intelligent device with a mysterious cartridge system to swiftly overpower Nanoha. The Space-Time Administration Bureau intervenes just in time to prevent Nanoha from being completely defeated. Vita and her fellow knights, Shamal, Signum, and Zafila, are on a mission to steal magical power from mages to complete the Book of Darkness, one of the Lost Logia. What is the sinister purpose behind the knights' pursuit of this Book of Darkness?

In the Kingdom of Windbloom, Arika Yumemiya enters Garderobe Academy with the goal of becoming an Otome—a virgin girl capable of wielding a HiME (Highly-advanced Materializing Equipment) that grants devastating powers. She also hopes to find her mother, who served as a Meister Otome, the highest-ranking Otome tasked with acting as a nation’s personal bodyguard and super weapon. During her time at the academy, Arika befriends Nina Wáng, a standout Otome student, and Mashiro Blan de Windbloom, the kingdom’s current princess. With their support, Arika quickly adapts to the school’s routines, spending her days training with enthusiasm, managing social bonds, and honing her abilities as an Otome. Yet Arika soon discovers that the path to becoming an Otome is filled with hazards and murky political schemes. Confronted by a series of personal challenges, she must make tough sacrifices if she truly intends to fulfill her aspirations.

Tazusa Sakurano is a figure skater with a clear path to the Olympics, with her fate hanging in the balance at a single competition in Canada. During her routine, she falls and strikes her head on the ice, losing consciousness. Coincidentally, Canadian stunt pilot Pete Pumps crashes in a fiery explosion. Following her crushing defeat, Tazusa returns to Japan but begins hearing a mysterious voice in her mind. The truth is that upon reaching heaven, Pete was barred from entry due to his sins and instructed to wait for 100 days, resulting in his soul being trapped inside Tazusa’s body. Refusing to let this intrusion derail her life, even with an extra presence in her mind, Tazusa continues her skating career, hoping that her uninvited roommate might actually assist her in reaching her dreams.

Lamune focuses on Kenji and his childhood friend Nanami. Despite the widespread assumption that they are in a relationship, both hesitate to escalate their bond beyond close friendship. Through flashbacks that reveal the origins of their tight connection, the narrative demonstrates that their shared experiences do not drive them apart, but instead deepen their closeness.

Elementary school student Capeta Taira lost his mother at a very young age, forcing him to become more self-reliant so his father wouldn’t worry. His father works long hours at a paving company to support them, and while Capeta puts on a brave face, he is ultimately a lonely child with a difficult life. On top of his household chores, he also has to endure bullying from Nobu Andou, which only makes things worse, even with the support of his classmate Monami Suzuki. One day, Capeta’s father sees young go-kart drivers racing at high speeds and is inspired. He decides to collect discarded parts from the track and begins building a gift for his son. Meanwhile, Capeta and Monami sneak into his workplace, curious about what he is up to. To their surprise, they find a go-kart assembled from junk parts—with Capeta’s name on it! Though it has no engine and looks battered, the kart is mostly complete and functional. Despite the heavy rain, Capeta can’t resist trying out this new machine. As he drives the kart downhill on a wet road, what nearly becomes a dangerous accident instead sparks a thrilling obsession. No longer bored with life, the engine of Capeta’s heart ignites with a new passion as he embarks on his journey into the world of racing.

In a future city plagued by disaster and a vast divide between rich and poor, it's impossible to tell who has cybernetic enhancements. This makes life hard for Roy Revant, a renegade bounty hunter and bodyguard-for-hire. When a young girl with incredible strength saves him from a dangerous criminal, Roy realizes help can come from the most unexpected places. Teaming up with a few others, they fight to uncover the truth behind the giant corporations that claim to serve humanity and improve life. Solty, an amnesiac android, has escaped and is being pursued by the RUC Security Bureau. She meets bounty hunter Roy, who takes her in as his daughter after being hired as Miranda's bodyguard.

Kamikura Hiroki is an art student at the local Nadesico Academy, which encompasses both high school and college levels, and he hopes to become an art teacher in the future. He also serves as the advisor for the high school art club, which his cousin Housen Elis attends. Elis is a painter like Hiroki, but Hiroki has seemingly abandoned his own dreams and no longer paints. There appears to be some mysterious trauma in both of their pasts that may have changed them. Meanwhile, the high school hires a new physical education teacher, Kikyo Kiri. On her first day, she runs into Hiroki and is stunned—he is the boy she once confessed her feelings to, only to be rejected.

Mountain biking fan Shou Yamato is inexplicably transported to another realm called X-Zone along with his companions Kakeru and Makoto during a race. This parallel world operates on Idaten battles, which are MTB races featuring unique courses, specific rules, and latent powers sealed within the bicycles. The trio can only return to their original world by winning matches and acquiring the MTB emblems from their defeated opponents. Although Shou is initially confused and frightened by the strange environment, he quickly becomes enthusiastic about the chance to race against other MTB enthusiasts, forge new friendships and rivalries, and uncover the X-Zone's secrets, which could drastically alter his destiny. Shou and his friends must endure a difficult path filled with conspiracies aimed at them if they wish to return home safely.

After finishing middle school, Konomi Yuzuhara enrolls in the same high school as her childhood friend, Takaaki Kono. With the start of the new academic year, the pair reunites with Tamaki Kosaka, another childhood friend, and meets numerous new people. Little do they know, these connections will soon set the stage for many unforgettable adventures.

By the year 2048, a combat racing event known as the "Immortal Grand Prix," or IGPX, has captured public excitement, surpassing all previous motor sports in speed and thrill. This phenomenon grew so immense that an entire city was constructed for the racing industry, hosting competitions on a massive track. In the IGPX, two teams each field three IG machines—advanced humanoid mecha piloted by humans—that race at speeds exceeding 400 km/h over a 60 km course, completing three laps while intercepting opponents in a battle for first place. Victory hinges on the finest machine performance, the most skilled pilots, and flawless teamwork.

Glass Heart, a Taiwanese assassin, dies by leaping from a rooftop, impaling her heart on a metal fence. Through a miraculous heart transplant, she survives, but begins having vivid dreams that drive her to Japan in search of her donor. She discovers the donor is Kaori Makimura, the former partner of City Hunter Ryo Saeba. Although Angel Heart features characters from City Hunter, the author clarifies that it is not a sequel. The story takes place in a parallel universe, making it entirely separate from the original City Hunter narrative.

The dog Weed learns by chance that he is the son of Gin, the legendary leader of the Ohu dogs who guided them to victory against the monstrous bear Akakabuto. Weed is determined to find his father at any cost. On his journey to locate his father, Weed encounters many friends and foes.

Cluster Edge Academy is no ordinary school—it is the premier institution where the children of the elite train for their future positions in a world where artificial soldiers and religious factions vie for ultimate dominance. This might explain why the new transfer student, Agate Fluorite, seems out of place. His exuberant personality stands in stark contrast to the dour, brooding atmosphere of the student body. Yet there is something about Agate that captures attention, even from cynical top students like Beryl Jasper. From the moment he arrives, he finds himself at the heart of a series of enigmas that even he cannot decipher. For Agate is not merely a student—he is part of something so monumental and perilous that the very world which created Cluster Edge may not endure its passing.

Trill, a mysterious navi believed to have come from the world of Beyondard, has been found. New beast-type enemies known as the Zoanoroids are after him for his unique power. Netto Hikari and Rockman must defend their new ally as they attempt to uncover Trill's true identity and his link to the two legendary cyber beasts, Grega and Faltzer.

In the dark century, people live under the oppression of the devil Vandel, who has the power to command monsters. Those who hunt these devils are known as Vandel Busters. The Zenon Squad is renowned as the strongest group of busters on the continent. A young boy named Beet dreams of joining the Zenon Squad. However, one day, because of Beet's mistake, the Zenon Squad is defeated by the devil Beltose. The five dying busters pour their life force into their five weapons, the Saiga. They entrust these weapons to Beet and then perish. Years later, the young Vandel Buster Beet sets out on his journey to carry out the Zenon Squad's desire to bring an end to the dark century.

Mao Ran seems like an ordinary, cute girl, but she is actually a skilled practitioner of a martial art passed down through the Mao family. One day, her grandfather deceives her, forcing her to enter the fighting competition "Prime Mat." At first, she is unwilling to fight, but as she battles her opponents, she slowly becomes drawn to the thrill of combat.

Amano Sakogami suffers from an extraordinary amount of misfortune. One day, she stumbles into the clubroom of the Better Fortune Research Organization, a group composed of one boy and seven other girls who secretly harness the power of luck deities to battle the Magatsugami—monsters that can influence a person's luck and health. Amano soon becomes the club's manager and joins their fight against the Magatsugami and their controller, Kukitomoe.

While out at sea with his father in a small vessel, Tsuwabaki Daiya witnessed a black fire erupt from the ocean, releasing a colossal monster that caused his father and crew to vanish into the depths. As Daiya faced imminent death, a giant mechanical dragon intervened and rescued him. Five years later, now a junior high school student, Daiya encounters the creature again, this time meeting its sentient form, Daiku Maryu. The dragon’s head detaches from its body, transforming into the super robot Gaiking. Daiya pilots the machine, defeating the beast and uncovering a conspiracy by an enemy force aiming to conquer the world. To thwart their plans, he travels to another dimension known as Darius.

Centered on the 108th Guard Squad stationed in Aomori, this narrative follows a poorly equipped unit with low military prestige, often regarded as a 'reject camp' for pilots who failed to qualify for the elite Hokkaido-based forces. Despite their perceived weakness, this lack of strength offers little resistance against the encroaching enemy armies that are steadily closing in on the 108th and the rest of the empire. The young pilots of the 108th, who had hoped to return home, are forced unwillingly into a war.

The narrative follows Jang Geum, a young woman determined to become a cook. After securing a position as a palace servant, her wit and sunny disposition help her quickly form friendships. However, her time in the palace is soon marred by political intrigue and corruption. This series is a collaborative Korean and Japanese production.

On the day her family moves into a new house, five-year-old Ami-chan discovers a door in her bedroom floor that leads to Animal Yokocho, a different world. Through it, she meets three talking animals: Issa, a gentle and naive panda; Kenta, a bear who always wears a red scarf and puts on a tough-guy attitude; and Iyo, a rabbit who prioritizes personal enjoyment and safety over the well-being of others. Despite being only five, Ami-chan is the most sensible of the group and initially feels cautious, but eventually grows comfortable and spends free time with them. A typical day involves the four playing various games meant to pass the time, but in true AniYoko fashion, these seemingly innocent activities often turn out drastically different, far less logical, and much more dangerous than their ordinary versions.

Mix Masters is an anime series co-produced by Korea and Japan, also referred to as Mix Master: King of Cards. The production involves Nippon Animation from Japan, along with Sunwoo Entertainment and KBS from Korea. The plot revolves around the fantasy and adventure card game Mix Master, which shifts from being a video game into reality after a scientist's new invention goes horribly wrong. Creatures known as henches from the video game escape into the real world, and it falls to the Mix Master to stop these creatures from causing chaos. Meanwhile, an evil leader from the game, Prince Brad, stirs up trouble for them with some sinister goal.

Kotencotenco is a gag strip anime for young children that follows the antics of Kotenco, the Prince of the country of Paradice. Kotenco protects the "Angel Star" for the Queen in Paradice. He is a very well-behaved child, but when evil spirits rise, Kotenco transforms into Matenco. Unlike Kotenco, Matenco is a very naughty child who causes trouble for everyone. But don't worry! By turning the angel ring, Matenco changes back into Kotenco. Will Kotenco be able to keep the "Angel Star" safe from the ruler and the Devil of the Country of the Ground, who aim to conquer Paradice?

A pilot film for the tenth episode of <i>Wonder Beat S</i>, originally titled Wonder Beat Daisakusen, released with the DVD box of the series.

Sonic activates Chaos Control in his battle against Dark Oak, most formidable enemy he's faced thus far, to scatter the Chaos Emeralds across the galaxy. Meanwhile, Tails, Amy, and Cream encounter a spaceship that's crash-landed to their planet during a meteor shower.<br><br> <i>Note: The listed airing dates are from the original US broadcast. Due to poor ratings in Japan, the series cancelled airing after the first 52 episodes, and only received its first local airing in 2020.</i>