ill01-278x300Spring season is well underway with an excellent line-up of new shows, continuing shows from Winter, and popular returners. Summaries, info and similcast links follow.

Back in full parfait and mayo force after a year hiatus is prime-time comedy/action anime Gintama, it re-starts at episode 202. Winter season’s Gosick, Beezelbub, and Cardfight Vangard continue their 24 (or longer) episode runs while this past Fall’s hit, The World God Only Knows, is back for another 12 episode run. CLAMP’s Maria Holic (2009) anime is back with a long awaited second 12 episode run with Maria Holic Alive. Among the 30 new shows many look quite promising, C – Control and Blue Exorcist come with hype and high expectations, while Tiger & Bunny and Hanasaku get the nod for this season’s sleeper hits. 

Lots of similcast, thankfully, compared to last spring which had ridiculously few. Crunchyroll has 14 deadmans wonderland iconof the new shows similcast (plus the 3 continuations from Winter), Hulu/Funimation will stream 4, and TAN winds up with 1. That an awesome 19 of the 30 new shows plus 6 ongoing shows similcast within 1hr to 1week of the Japanese broadcast.

All shows summarized after the jump.

Updated 04/25/2011 – more simulcast info

C – The Money of Soul and Possibility of Control (Official Japanese website) 
C – Control (Office English website) 
FujiTV , April 14th at  (JST) C Control
Studio: Noitamina
Episodes: 11
Action, Shonen, Game, Money

Opening Theme: "Matoryoshika" by NICO Touches the Walls
Ending Theme: "RPG" by School Food Punishment

Similcast: Hulu starting April 14th

Summary: The Japanese government was near the brink of financial collapse when a mysterious group -  the Sovereign Wealth Fund – bailed out the country. For ordinary citizens though life has not improved; unemployment, crime, suicide, and despair are rampant. Kimimaro, raised by his grandmother is an economics student whose only dream is to live a normal and stable life. But one day he meets a man who offers to lend him a large sum of money using his future abilities as collateral and with the only catch that he agrees to pay it back. This draws Kimimaro into the mysterious realm known as "The Financial District" and he must battle through trading and investing to stay afloat and avoid losing everything.

Anime News Network info page

blue exorcist 
Blue Exorcist  (Aniplex USA website)
TBS, Sunday, April 17th at 12:35 a.m. JST
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Episodes: 12
Action, Bloody violence

Opening Theme: "Core Pride" by UVERworld
Ending Theme: "Take Off" by 2PM

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 20th (Wednesdays 10:00am PST)

Summary: The world is divided into two realms, Assiah the realm of humans and Gehenna the realm of demons. The realms had co-existed somewhat peacefully but now the demon realm of Gehanna is intersecting with the human realm and the demons are beginning to intrude and manifest in the human world. Who do you call? You call the Exorcists.

Rin Okumura is a boy who’s foster father sacrificed himself in order to save Rin from the demons. To avenge his foster father’s death as well as to prove himself, Rin decides to follow the path of an exorcist. Rin’s true father is Satan himself!

Anime News Network info page

astarottes toy 
Astarotte’s Toy  (Official website)
Chiba TV, Friday, April 10th at 1:30 a.m. JST
Studio: Diomedea
Episodes: 12
Magic, Harem, Comedy

Opening Theme: "Tenshi no CLOVER" by Aimi
Ending Theme: "Manatsu no Photograph" by azusa

Rie Kugimiya as Lotte
Yukari Tamura as Asuha

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 12th (Sundays 9am PST)

Summary:  While out job hunting, Naoya is taken by a strange girl to a magical land where he is forced into a harem of the succubus Queen Lotte. From a traumatic childhood, Lotte hates men and surrounds herself with lots of other women, some a bit odd. In spite of this, when Naoya learns that Lotte is really quite lonely he agrees to stay in her world…if he can bring his daughter Asuha with him.

Anime News Network info page

deadmans wonderland 
Deadman Wonderland (Official website) 
Tokyo MX TV, Saturday, April 16 at 12:35 a.m. JST
Studio: Manglobe
Episodes: 12
Horror

Opening Theme:
"One Reason" by fade
Ending Theme: "Shiny Shiny" by NIRGILIS

Notable Cast:
Kana Hanazawa as Shiro
Romi Park as Ganta Igarash
Daisuke Ono as Nagi Kengamine
Jun Fukuyama as Rokuro Bundō
Miyuki Sawashiro as Toto Sakigami

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 16th (Saturdays 10:30am PST)

Summary: The aftermath of a nearly completely earthquake destroyed Tokyo as the backdrop for Deadmans Wonderland and the main character, Ganta Igarashi, has been framed for the murder of one of his classmates. He is sentenced and sent to a new, privately owned and operated prison “Deadman Wonderland”. Which is part incarceration and part entertainment where the inmates are the main attraction in a modern day twist to the gladiatorial games of the coliseum.

Anime News Network info page

   hanasaku iroha
Hanasaku Iroha (Official website) 
Tokyo MX TV, Sunday, April 3rd at 1:30 a.m. JST
Studio: P.A. Works (10th Anniversary) 
Episodes: 26
Comedy, Drama

Opening Theme: “Hana no Iro” by nano.RIPE
Ending Theme: “Hazy” by Sphere

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 3rd (Sundays 7:30am PST)

Summary: 
Sixteen year old Ohana Matsumae must move from Tokyo when her mother chooses to run off with her latest boyfriend. Ohana moves to live with the grandmother she’s never meet and help her run an onsen (Kissuiso). Her grandmother is not pleased to find Ohana on her doorstep, and sets her to work at her Taisho-era (1920s) hot springs inn. It’s not a lifestyle that Ohana would have chosen, but she decides not to be discouraged and to make the most of her difficult circumstances

Anime News Network info page

beelzebub

Beelzebub (Official website)
YTV, Sunday, April 17th at 7:00 a.m. (JST)
Studio: Pierrot
Episodes: 24/12
Action, Shonen, Demon

Opening Theme: "Dadada" by Group Tamashii
#2 "Hajimaru no wa, Sayonara" by ON/OFF
Ending Theme: "Answer" by no3b
#02: "Tsuyogari" by Shoko Nakagawa

Similcast: Crunchyroll continuing April 16th (Saturdays 4:00pm PST)

Summary: Oga Tatsumi is a first year student at “Ishiyama High”, the high school for delinquents. One day while sleeping next to a river he sees a man floating down it, he pulls him to shore and the man splits in half revealing a baby boy. The baby is the choose son of the demon king and Tatusmi has been chosen as the one to raise it with the baby’s demon maid Hilda. Definitely a new twist on the typical High School coming of age story.

Anime News Network info page

gosick 
GOSICK (Official website) 
TV Tokyo, Friday, April 15th at 1:23 a.m. JST 
Studio: BONES 
Episodes: 24/12
Horror, Mystery

Opening Theme: "Destine Histoire" by risa
Ending Theme 1-12: "Resuscitated Hope" by Lisa Komine"
Ending Theme 13-24: “unity” by Lisa Komine

Similcast: Crunchyroll continuing April 15th (Fridays 10am PST)

    Summary:
    GOSICK takes place in 1924 in a Sauville, a small fictional European city. Kazuya Kujo is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy and the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier. The Academy is ripe with urban legends and horror stories. Kazuya meets Victorique, a mysterious and beautiful girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can’t solve.

    Anime News Network info page

      gintama Gintama  (Official website)
    TV Tokyo, Mondays, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. JST
    Studio: Sunrise
    Episodes: 202/50
    Comedy, Action, Comedy

    Opening Theme: "Tougenkyou Alien" by serial tv drama
    Ending Theme: "Samurai Heart" by SPYAIR

    Similcast: Crunchyroll re-starting April 4th (Mondays 2:30am PDT)

    Summary:
    Gin, Kagura, Shinpachi, and their stories in historic Edo which happens to be occupied by aliens continues after a year hiatus when the anime caught up to the manga. This season starts with episode 202. Gintoki “Gin” Sakata is a former samurai freedom fighter who became known as the White Night during the long bloody battle for Edo with the invading aliens who eventually won. Gin now runs a business, Odd Jobs, doing whatever job the customer wants and is joined by his current partners, Shinpachi, who is a high-school age samurai in training, and Kagura, an alien of the Yato Clan who are the strongest warriors in the galaxy. A plethora of additional characters add to it along with great comedy and some seriously good action all of which has made Gintama a prime-time hit in Japan.

    Anime News Network info page

       tiger and bunny
    Tiger & Bunny (Official website)
    Tokyo MX TV, Saturday, April 2nd at 12:59 am JST
    Studio: Sunrise
    Episodes: 12
    Mecha, Shonen hero

    Opening Theme: "Orion wo nazoru" by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN
    Ending Theme: "hoshi no sumika" by Aobozu

    Similcast: Hulu starting April 2nd (Saturdays 4hrs after Japanese broadcast)

    Summary: Sternbild City is home to people with special abilities which they use as superheroes to protect the people of the city. These heroes, called “Next”, solve cases and save lives so they can wear sponsor logos or acquire "hero points." Their activities are followed, "Hero TV," which picks the annual "King of Heroes" based on ranking and points. The veteran hero Wild Tiger has always preferred to work alone, but now he’s been assigned the rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr., who has a different perspective on being a superhero.

    Anime News Network info page

     

    nichijou

    My Ordinary Life (nichijou) (Official website) 
    Chiba TV, Sunday, April 3rd at 1:30 a.m. JST
    Studio: Kyoto Animation
    Episodes: 13
    Slice of life, comedy

    Opening Theme: "Hyadain no Kakakata☆kataomoi-C" by Hyadain
    Ending Theme: "Zzz" by Sayaka Sasaki

    Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 2nd (Saturdays 9pm PST)

    Summary: Not exactly normal or ordinary is the school where Hakase, Mio, Yūko, Mai, Nano attend. Everyday school life is the principal wrestle a deer or a robot’s arm hidden a rollcake. However there is still plenty of normal in their lives and quirky school.

    Anime News Network info page

      we without wings oretachi
    We, Without Wings (Ore-tachi) (Official website)
    Chiba TV, Sunday, April 3rd at 1:45 a.m. JST
    Studio: Nomad
    Episodes: 12
    Comedy, romance, ecchi

    Opening Theme: "Spread Wings" by Aki Misato
    Ending Theme: "NEVERLAND" by Miyuki Hashimoto
                          “PARANoiA” by Aki Misato

    Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 8th (Firdays 10:30am PST)

    Summary: Winter in the big city of Yanagihara is the backdrop for this tail of young people and love. Stories unfold in their own unique way – romance and comedy – a diverse group of characters. Sufficient fan-service will keep your interest when the stories lag.

    Anime News Network info page

      sket dance
    Sket Dance (Official website)
    TV Tokyo, Thursday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m. JST
    Studio: Tatsunoko Production 
    Episodes: 12
    Comedy, High School club life

    Opening Theme: "I Love You" by French Kiss
    Ending Theme: "Comic Sonic" by The Pillows

    Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 7th (Thursdays 2:30am PST)

    Summary: At Kaimei High School, the Living Assistance Club (aka the Sket Brigade) was organized to help students with problems big or small. Most of the time, though, they hang out in their club room, bored, with only a few trivial problems floating in every once in a while. In spite of this, they still throw all their energy into solving these worries.

    Anime News Network info page

      hoshizora
    A Bridge to the Starry Skies (Hoshizora) (Official website)
    AT-X, Monday, April 11th at 1:58 a.m. JST
    Studio: Doga Kobo
    Episodes: 12
    Harem, comedy, fan-service

    Opening Theme: "Hoshikaze Horoscope" by Nomiko
    Ending Theme: "Dash do Cinderella" by Eriko Nakamura and Ai Shimizu

    Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 14th (Thursday 10:30am PST)

      Summary:

      Kazuma Hoshino needs to move out of the city to the countryside to help his little brother, Ayumu, recuperate from illness. They plan to stay at an Inn belonging to their father but get lost on the way. As they wander, Kazuma gets into a bit of mischief and runs into a girl named Ui. The first of many encounters for these city boys and their new found friends of the Japanese countryside.

      Anime News Network info page

        the world god only knows 2
      The World God Only Knows (TWGOK)  (Official website)
      (season 2)
      TV Tokyo, Monday, April 11th at 12:30 a.m. JST 
      Studio: Manglobe
      Episodes: 12
      Comedy, Romance, Game, magical girl

      Opening Theme: "Whole New World God Only Knows" by Elisa aka Oratorio The World God Only Knows
      Ending Theme: "Koi no Shirushi” by (multiple)
      "Shuuseki Kairo no Yume Tabibito by Hiro Shimono with Elisa

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 11th (Mondays 11am PST)

      Summary:

      Keima, a high school student, is always playing games, romantic simulation games. His skills to succeed in the “capture” of any 2D girl in these games has become legendary and is known on the Internet as the "Divine Capturer". But in his real school life, Keima is considered nothing but a game-addicted geek with thick glasses.

      One day Keima receives an e-mail offering him a contract to "capture" girls…taking this as a gaming challenge, he accepts. Instantly a demon from hell, a very kawaii demon, named Elsee shows up. She explains he has accepted to help her in hunting evil spirits who have hidden themselves inside the hearts of lonely girls’. If he refuses they’ll both lose their heads…

      Keima’s challenge now is to win the hearts of these 3D girls and upon doing so forcing out the evil spirits. Disinterested but wanting to keep his head he accepts – will capturing the hearts of 3D girls be any different that the 2D girls from his games…watch and see.

      Anime News Network info page

        sekai-ichi

      Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi – World’s Greatest First Love  (Official website)
      Chiba TV, Monday April 11th at 11:00 p.m. JST
      Studio: Studio DEEN
      Episodes: 12
      Boys Love, yaoi

      Opening Theme: "Sekai de Ichiban Koishiteru" by Shuhei Kita
      Ending Theme: "Ashita, Boku wa Kimi ni Ai ni Yuku" by Wakaba

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 8th (Fridays 10:30am PST)

      Summary:
      Even though Ritsu Onodera hates to rely on family connections, he winds up taking a job as an editor at his parents’ company, Marukawa Books. To his chagrin, he’s assigned to the shoujo manga department in spite of having no interest or experience in it. And on top of that, he has an awful first impression of his high-handed editor in chief, Masamune Takano. What comes after is a story of first love full of tears and laughter

      Anime News Network info page

      battle girls 
      Battle Girls – Time Paradox (Sengoku Otome) (Official website) 
      TV Tokyo April 4th, Monday at 1:55 a.m.
      Studio: TMS Entertainment 
      Episodes: 13
      Yuri, Samurai

      Opening Theme:
      "kagerou" by Tenka Tori Tai
      Ending Theme: "Atsuki Ya no Gotoku by Tenka Tori Tai

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 4th (Mondays 11:30am PST)

      Summary: Modern-day middle school girl Hideyoshi is mysteriously hurled into a world resembling the warring states period of Japanese history, only this time it’s inhabited only by women. This world’s Oda Nobunaga is gathering the legendary Crimson Armor so she can rule the world, and for some reason needs Hideyoshi’s help to do it.

      Anime News Network info page

      steins gate
      STEINS;GATE (Official website)

      TV Tokyo April 5th, Tuesdays at 1:55 a.m.
      Studio: White Fox
      Episodes: 12
      SciFi

      Opening Theme:
      "Hacking to the Gate" by Kanako Ito
      Ending Theme: "Tokitsukasadoru Jūni no Meiyaku" by Yui Sakakibara

      Kana Hanazawa as Mayuri Shiina
      Yu Kobayashi as Ruka Urushibara

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 5th (Tuesdays 11:30am PST)

      Summary: Steins; Gate follows an eclectic group of individuals who have the ability to send text messages to the past. However throughout their experimentation process, an organization named SERN who has been doing their own research on time travel tracks them down. Now it’s a careful game of cat and mouse to not get caught and moreover, try to survive.

      Anime News Network info page

      aria scarlet ammo

      Aria the Scarlet Ammo (Hidan no Aria) (Official website) 
      TBS April 14th, Thursday at 1:55 a.m.
      Studio:
      Episodes: 13
      action, comedy

      Opening Theme: "Scarlet Ballet" by May’n
      Ending Theme: "Camellia no Hitomi” by Aiko Nakano

      Similcast: Hulu starting April 26th (Tuesdays 11:00am PST)

      Summary: The Tokyo Butei High School for Armed Detectives trains "Butei" in the use of weapons and tactics. Kinji Tooyama is a second-year-student who has a special ability, but he keeps it a secret to maintain an ordinary, peaceful life. However, when he gets caught in a bombing on the way to school, he encounters H. Aria Kanzaki, the most powerful S-Rank Butei student in Assault Studies.

      Anime News Network info page

      toriko
      Toriko (Official website)

      Fuji TV April 3rd, Sunday at 9:00pm
      Studio: Toei Animation
      Episodes: 13
      action, comedy, samurai

      Opening Theme:
      "Guts Guts!!" by Kushida Akira
      Ending Theme: "Satisfaction” by Ftisland

      Romi Park as Komatsu
      Nana Mizuki as Tina

      Similcast: Hulu starting April 10th (Sundays 11:30am PST)

      Summary: The world is full of deliciously deadly ingredients that the wealthiest appetites around can’t wait to devour. Toriko, the legendary Gourmet Hunter, is ready and willing to track down the newest ingredients and  rarest animals on the planet and put them on a plate! He is accompanied by Komatsu a new and timid chef who’s inspired by Toriko’s ambition and travels with him to improve his culinary skills.

      Anime News Network info page

      maria holic alive
      Maria Holic Alive (Official website)

      Season 2 of Maria Holic (2009)
      TV Tokyo April 7th, Thursday at 1:55 a.m.
      Studio: SHAFT
      Episodes: 12
      Yuri, harem, comedy

      Opening Theme:
      "Mousou Senshi Miyamae Kanako by Tomokazu Sugita (ep 1-2)
      "Runrunriru Ranranrara” by Yu Kobayashi (2-12)
      Ending Theme: "Dou ni Mou Tomaranai” by Amano Kisaki GasshouDan

      Asami Sanada as Kanako Miyamae
      Marina Inoue as Matsurika Shinouji
      Yu Kobayashi as Mariya Shidō
      Aya Hirano as Shizu Shidō

      Similcast: Anime Network starting April 10th (Sundays 9:00pm PST)

      Summary: Kanako a highschool sophmore enrolls in an all-girls school because she has a phobia of boys and wants to find her destined partner – female partner. She meets a captivating freshman named Mariya who fits her criteria — except that her seemingly ideal mate happens to be a cross-dressing sadistic boy.

      Anime News Network info page

      tono to issho 2
      Tono to Issho Gantai no Yabō
      (Official website)

      sequal to Tono to Issho
      Tokyo MX TV April 4th, Monday at 11:55 p.m.
      Studio: Gathering
      Episodes: 12 
      comedy, historical, samurai

      Daisuke Ono as Kagetsuna Katakura
      Gackt as Kenshin Uesugi

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting April 4th (Mondays 11:00am PST)

      Summary: Gag shorts anime that follows the humorous exploits of generals during Japan’s tumultuous sengoku (Era of the Warring States) period. Each episode is 1:30min and full of historical parody and word-play jokes.

      Anime News Network info page

      Shows not currently similcast follow on next page….