Winter 2008 Anime

In the small village of Pasloe, Holo, a mighty wolf god, is honored for blessing the yearly harvest. Over time, however, the townspeople grow more self-reliant, and Holo fades into nothing more than a legend. When the wandering merchant Kraft Lawrence stops in the village, Holo suggests a business arrangement: she will help him if he brings her to her northern homeland, Yoitsu. The shrewd trader realizes Holo has a special talent for reading people's true natures and agrees to her offer. Armed with keen deal-making skills and a persuasive companion, Lawrence moves closer to his dream of owning his own store. But as he journeys across the countryside with Holo, searching for profitable ventures, he starts to realize that his ambitions are gradually changing into something unforeseen.

Youkai Academy appears to be a typical boarding school, but its entire student body consists of monsters trying to coexist with humans. The students attend classes disguised as ordinary humans, studying standard subjects such as literature, physical education, foreign languages, and math. However, beneath this veneer, the school enforces a strict rule: any human discovered on the premises must be executed immediately. Tsukune Aono is an ordinary high school student whose failing grades prevent him from entering any secondary school. Desperate to secure an education, his parents accidentally enroll him at Youkai Academy as a last resort. Once inside this hidden world, he encounters Moka Akashiya, the most popular and attractive girl at the school. Eager to pursue a relationship with her, he decides to remain at the dangerous institution, unaware that her beautiful exterior conceals a terrifying vampire nature. Rosario + Vampire is a supernatural school comedy that follows Tsukune’s romantic endeavors, daily life, and various misadventures as he navigates existence among a host of beautiful yet perilous supernatural beings.

Shinichirou Nakagami lives a life that many boys his age would envy—sharing a home with the talented Hiromi Yuasa. But at home, the usually bright and lively Hiromi has become withdrawn and cold ever since her mother's death. While his classmates ignorantly envy him, rumors start circulating when Shinichirou meets Noe Isurugi, a girl known for putting curses on her classmates—curses that always come true. Noe curses Shinichirou as well, but when you curse someone, two pits are created, and her curse on him backfires, affecting her beloved chicken, Raigomaru, in the form of a raccoon. Despite this, Noe doesn't cry at all; she has had her tears stolen. For Noe to cry again, she needs someone else's tears, and Shinichirou knows a person whose tears he wants to take away.

Immortality is something many people might wish for. But would they still desire it if they knew it would subject them to endless attacks? That is the reality for Rin Asougi, an immortal private investigator—there is no shortage of individuals who want her dead. Over the centuries, she has met countless gruesome ends, only to return to life each time as if nothing happened. In 1990, while searching for a lost cat, Rin encounters Kouki Maeno, a man who believes his memories are faulty. Agreeing to assist him, Rin soon discovers that Kouki is not what he appears to be, all while moving closer to her true enemy. This foe knows Rin and her kind all too well, and if she dies by his hand, she may stay dead forever.

In the 24th century on the planet Aqua, three young women—Akari Mizunashi, Alice Carroll, and Aika S. Granzchesta—keep striving toward their shared ambition of becoming Prima Undines, professional gondolier tour guides. Fortunately, they have the mentorship of Neo-Venezia's three finest Prima Undines—Alicia Florence, Athena Glory, and Akira E. Ferrari—revered as the "Water Fairies" for their exceptional abilities. With their guidance, the apprentices train diligently and tackle whatever challenges come their way. As these three girls encounter both the joys and difficulties of life, they do their utmost to grow as tour gondoliers in Neo-Venezia, a terraformed replica of Venice.

The cycle of absurd events continues with Nozomu Itoshiki, better known as Zetsubou-sensei and the most pessimistic individual on earth, attempting to instruct class 2-F on the theme that existence is composed of hopelessness and gloom. This proves more challenging than initially apparent, as his pupils are themselves highly unconventional—featuring the most upbeat girl he has encountered, a personal stalker, a foreign exchange student with multiple personalities, and a perfectionist acting as class president because the actual class president remains invisible to everyone, among other oddities.

Family issues force Ren Uesugi and his sister Mihato to leave their home. They relocate to the city but run short on money. Eventually they manage to get jobs at the Kuonji mansion, working as servants for the three Kuonji sisters: Shinra, Miyu, and Yume. This role also brings Ren into contact with the other servants of the mansion and the sisters' circle of friends.

Takuma Hirose, a male high school student, has lost his sight due to an unknown cause. To treat his condition, he moves to a village to stay with his uncle. There, he encounters several girls, with three standing out in particular: Hayami Kohinata, Hinata Kangura, and Otoha. Otoha temporarily restores his vision, and Hirose uses his regained sight to assist others. He discovers that Hayami Kohinata is inexplicably despised by the villagers, and he does everything he can to support her. Meanwhile, numerous sorrowful secrets begin to surface in the village...

Certain sentiments remain unspoken during one's lifetime, and for those, "shigofumi" exist—letters conveyed from the realm of the dead to the living. When someone with powerful emotions passes away, they can create a shigofumi, whether those feelings are love, yearning, or bitterness. It falls to the quiet and enigmatic Fumika to deliver these messages from the departed. Accompanied by her talking magic staff Kanaka, she ensures each shigofumi reaches its intended recipient, even if that person is reluctant to confront its contents. Fumika witnesses the sorrows of people, both deceased and alive, and uncovers their deepest secrets. Yet, what remains uncertain are the specifics of Fumika's own past. Who was she before she became a carrier of shigofumi?

In Ayanagi City, a seaside metropolis built to facilitate recovery from the "Apathy Syndrome" disaster a decade earlier, high school student Shin Kanzato and his younger brother Jun reunite with their elder brother Ryou, the chief of the Ayanagi City Police, after ten years apart. Around this time, a series of bizarre incidents plague the city: a submarine crew vanishes without a trace inside their vessel, a listless symptom resembling the Apathy Syndrome resurfaces, and a student is found gruesomely mutilated in an "inside-out corpse" case. As Ryou investigates the organization behind these events, Shin becomes entangled in the incidents and awakens his "Persona."

The calendar turns over to a fresh year, yet the Minami household remains unchanged, with Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki continuing their carefree cohabitation without any adult oversight. As the months cycle through, the trio navigates the shifting seasons by forging new friendships and discovering fresh hobbies. Regardless of their location or the company they keep, the everyday moments shared by the Minami sisters remain consistently lively and spirited.

After finishing high school, Gorou Honda sets his goal on becoming a professional baseball player. His aspirations go far beyond playing in the Japanese Baseball League, so he chooses to move to the birthplace of his beloved sport, America, to compete in the Major League. Yet Gorou quickly realizes that Major League players are far quicker, stronger, and more determined than he is. Despite this, he is determined to catch up. To achieve this, he must first overcome the challenges of the Minor League, where many talented players fiercely compete for the grueling climb to the Majors. Gorou discovers he must adjust to the stark contrasts of American culture and push himself to new limits as his race to join the Major League begins.

The Social Welfare Agency probes into the vanishing of one of its agents, a quest that directs their attention straight to the territory of their nemesis, the Five Republics. Triela, an assassin, sneaks into the enemy organization, yet her mission is abruptly halted when she ends up facing the muzzle of a firearm.

After being told to "see the world," Rahzel, the daughter of a wealthy family, is cast out of her home and forced to embark on a journey. Along the way, she encounters Heat and Alzeid, two men whose personalities differ greatly yet whose quests are surprisingly alike. Clever, stubborn, and self-assured, Rahzel uses her magical abilities and sharp mind to aid the people she meets as she travels to discover the world.

When he was young, Yuu Kusaka made a wish on a shooting star to fight for justice and protect the helpless. After one of his friends died, however, he lost the drive to honor that promise. Instead of using his mysterious ability to aid those in need, he exploits it to earn money, ignoring the suffering around him. His self-serving life continues until he is forced to fight for survival against another classmate with similar powers. He is rescued by Eimu Yoake, a mysterious girl who also possesses strange abilities. Eimu reveals that his power comes from an Ayakashi—a parasitic creature that grants the host special abilities while gradually draining their life energy. She assists him in fully awakening his own Ayakashi. Now aware of the being inside him, Yuu must live up to his childhood oath by using his Ayakashi to protect others and fight those who employ their own for evil, all while uncovering the truth behind his friend's death.

One day, Toki Mishiba gets a letter in the mail offering him a large cash reward if he takes part in a game. Initially brushing it off, he grows curious and decides to join after spotting fine print stating that participants' safety is not guaranteed. Soon afterward, he meets Nobuto Nakajou and Kazuo Saitou—the teammates assigned to him in the "Business Game," or "Biz Game." The three quickly form an uneasy partnership, calling themselves "No Name." Bound only by their mutual hunger for an enormous sum of money, they enter the perilous world of the Biz Game, where they must battle other teams for a data disk containing crucial corporate secrets in order to advance and survive.

Nozomi and her friends continue their journey as Precure, with their duties far from finished. They receive new abilities from the mysterious Flora, who waits for them in a place called the Cure Rose Garden. However, to reach this legendary garden, they must use a magical artifact known as the Rose Pact. The problem is that the heroes have no idea how to activate it, which forces them to seek guidance from the four monarchs of the neighboring countries of Palmier. To make matters more difficult, dark forces are once again stirring. An evil organization called Eternal is eager to add the Rose Pact to its ever-expanding collection of treasures. Even worse, the director of this villainous museum seems to have a personal interest in the Cure Rose Garden. Fortunately, a new chapter brings new allies. Enter Syrup, a courier boy with a surly attitude. His desire to reach the Garden is genuine, but who is he really? And for that matter, who is the new girl in town, and why does she carry the scent of roses?

Kitarou is a youkai child who was born in a graveyard, and apart from his partly decomposed father, he is the final surviving member of the Ghost tribe. His left eye is absent, but his hair normally conceals the vacant eye socket. His mission is to maintain harmony between humans and youkai, typically meaning safeguarding people from the tricks of supernatural beings. This iteration of Kitarou's tale is derived from the original Hakaba Kitarou manga, the comic that gave rise to the well-known Gegege no Kitarou series in the late 1960s.

The sequel to Kodai Oja Kyoryu King sees the return of the Alpha Gang and the Ancients. While the parents are engaged in conversation, they are abducted by Gunenco, a member of the Zanjark Space Aliens. This prompts the Alpha Gang and the D-Team to join forces in opposing the Zanjark Space Aliens, who are plotting to acquire the Cosmos Stones. Seth later reappears, siding with the Zanjark space aliens. Jark, the leader of the Zanjark, supplies the dinosaur cards.

Gyrano De Borgerac, a talkative sentient tank, appears quite occupied while being doted on by attentive maids. The fairy Sherri is also relishing the luxurious lifestyle of the court. Meanwhile, Rita finds herself ready to embrace her responsibilities as the princess of Wellber. In contrast, Tina remains determined to persist in her quest to locate the Man with a tattoo of Bee the Death, the devil responsible for annihilating her family. A profound and unspoken sorrow grips the hearts of the two girls, who have shared so much and are now on the verge of parting ways. Then, on the day Tina sets off... A new adventure awaits Tina as she traverses the still-fresh wounds of the Great War that destroyed entire cities a decade ago, leading her toward the unexpected truth concerning her nemesis.

Remake of the Yatterman series.

In the rural Greek countryside, Porfy, his younger sister Mina, and their parents share a modest but content existence. Porfy is thrilled as the family begins operating a gas station, anticipating a bright future filled with good fortune. But a devastating earthquake shatters their world, stripping Porfy of his home and family. Mina vanishes amidst the chaos, leaving Porfy alone and desperate. With only the memory of his sister as a guide, he sets out on a determined quest to locate Mina and restore their happy life together.

In a city populated by anthropomorphic cat-people, Catman lives without rules or boundaries, doing whatever he pleases—which often brings him into conflict with the city's other residents. Made entirely using Flash animation, the series has no spoken dialogue; instead, Catman communicates through English and Japanese subtitles. The series is divided into three so-called "seasons," though only the third season was broadcast.

In Tokyo, schoolgirl Tukishima Moe gains the power to transform into a magical girl with the assistance of Lulue. Her mission is to defend Akihabara, the source of moe energy, from being seized by evil forces. This hybrid anime and live-action TV series builds on the Moegaku language-learning software, further expanding its language study to include English, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, and French.

Based on Kazuo Hara's comedy manga, this anime depicts mascot characters living and working alongside humans. Special agencies train these mascots to look after children and then assign them to families. Noramimi works as a mascot at the Hello Kids branch office #59. Unfortunately, because he comes from a family of oni (demons), no family wants to adopt him, leaving him stuck living at the agency.

The rabbits known as Zenryoku Usagi are diligent construction workers who live by the straightforward principle: "Zenryoku+Dai-ichi," which translates to "Give everything you've got and be #1." These short animated segments aired in Japan as part of the Chibi Ani Gekijō (Tiny Anime Theater) block on either Friday or Saturday mornings, varying by station. Ikeda along with Media Factory have produced two books and a wide range of merchandise based on the characters.

Two twin sisters, Ara and Ari, pursue careers in fashion. Ara dreams of becoming a fashion model, while Ari aims to become a fashion designer. Their path crosses with Yorang, a fashion designer from Heaven.

This children's series stars on-chan, the mascot character for the television station HTB. Since 1997, on-chan has made appearances in parades and numerous promotional activities for the station.

The third season of the Dokan-kun franchise. It aired within the "Fight Tension☆TV" variety program.

Developed as a partnership between Japan Toys"R"Us and DLE, this series features Dr. Leonardo from the Eagle Talon franchise alongside two Giraffe brothers who are relatives of the original Geoffrey the Giraffe. The television season was produced following the success of the earlier web episodes, which were broadcast as part of the variety show "Fight Tension☆Depart" that sponsored the anime.

The third season of of the Kakuza Tousan franchise.

Cinnamoroll teaches politeness and discipline in a fun way! <br><br> This OVA features lessons on sharing, cooking, keeping clean, road safety, and being kind!