Winter anime season is upon us with a bevy (17) of new shows. Summaries and links for info and similcast follow. Overall a good quality line-up of shows for a Winter season and a pretty good number of shows too. Only 2 of the shows are 2nd seasons (Mitsudomoe and Kimi ni Todoke) compared to this past Fall season which seem to be mostly additional seasons of previous shows.

Nine of the shows will be similcast on Crunchyroll and recently announced 2 (Fractale, Freezing) will be similcast on Hulu/Funimation, and Infinite Stratos will be shown on The Anime Network. That makes 12 of the 17 being shown, legally, within 1hr to 1week of the Japanese broadcast.

All shows summarized after the jump.

Updated 04/25/2011 – more simulcast info

beelzebub

Beelzebub (Official website) 
YTV, Sunday, January 9 at 7:00 a.m. Japan Standard Time (JST)
Studio: Pierrot
Episodes: 12
Action, Shonen, Demon

Opening Theme: "Dadada" by Group Tamashii
Ending Theme: "Answer" by no3b

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 8th (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 pageBeelzebub chara01
Beelzebub Oga Tatsumi

cardfight vanguard TV 
Cardfight!! Vanguard  (Official website)
TV Tokyo, Saturday, January 8 at 8:00 a.m. JST
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Episodes: 13
Action, Card Game

Opening Theme: "Vanguard" by JAM Project
Ending Theme: "Diamond Star ☆” by Natsuko Aso

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 7th (Fridays 4:30pm PST)

Summary: Sendo Aichi (3rd year Middle School student) has met friends such as Togura Misaki and Katsuragi Kamui, along with other rivals through the card game “Vanguard”.  Aichi, however, has a goal: to battle with a Vanguard Fighter, Kai Tosihki. Toshiki is a cold-hearted high schooler who excels in the world of Vanguard. In order to get better, Aichi puts his soul into Vanguard every day and wishes he’ll someday battle Toshiki and have him recognize his worth.
Based on the card game of the same name, a collaboration between Yu-Gi-Oh! R manga creator Akira Ito, the original Duel Masters technical advisor Satoshi Nakamura, and Bushiroad.

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Dragon Crisis 
Dragon Crisis!  (Official website)
Chiba TV, Tuesday, January 11 at 1:30 a.m. JST
Studio: Studio DEEN
Episodes: 12
Magic, Harem, Shonen
 

Opening Theme: "Immoralist" by Yui Horie
Ending Theme: "Mirai Bowl" by Momoiro Clover

Episodes: 12

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 10th (Mondays 11am PST)

Summary:  A normal high school boy Kisaragi Ryuji’s peaceful life is turned into an adventure by the return to Japan of his second cousin Eriko. Ryuji and Eriko seize a relic box from a black broker. The box reveals a beautiful girl, Rose, who they later learn is a legendary Red Dragon. In typical anime fashion Rose immediately falls madly in love with Ryuji. In order to protect Rose from the black organization, Ryuji decides to fight using his power as a relic handler.

Anime News Network info page

Dragon Crisis Preview

Fractale character 
Fractale (Official website) 
Fuji TV, Friday, January 14 at 12:45 a.m. JST
Studio: A-1 Pictures Inc.
Episodes: 11
Sci-Fi, Social, Action, Noitamina

Opening Theme:
"Harinezumi" by Hitomi Azuma
Ending Theme: "Down By The Salley Gardens" by Hitomi Azuma

Preview at Official website

Similcast: Hulu starting Jan 13th (Thursdays 11:30am PST) *1/24/2011 similcast is back on and eps #2 will post Monday 1/24. Funimation is reported to have issued several cease-and-desist orders to offending websites. *1/20/2011 the similcast has been halted by the Fractale Production Committee due to other illegal sites capturing and re-broadcasting this stream. They have asked Funimation (licensee) to make efforts to have all unauthorized streams taken down. Seems to be an impossible task though an interesting move by the Fractale producers* 

Summary:
The story takes place in an island, where a "Fractale System" is beginning to collapse. One day, Crane finds an injured girl called Phryne under a cliff. She disappears leaving a pendant. Crane sets out for a journey with the girl-shaped avatar Nessa to look for Phryne and discovers the secret of the Fractale System.
From the director of Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya, Lucky Star, and Kannagi – Yutaka Yamamoto

Fractale 02Fractale

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Freezing Bridgette damaged 
Freezing (Official website) 
AT-X, Saturday, January 8 at 9:30 a.m. JST
Studio: A.C.G.T. 
Episodes: 12
Action, Nudity, Harem

Opening Theme: "Color" by MARiA
Ending Theme: "Protect You – Kimi wo Mamoritai” by Aika Kobayashi

Similcast: Hulu starting Jan 24th (Mondays 8:30am PST – one week after the Japanese broadcast)

Summary: 
Earth has been invaded and is at war with aliens from another dimension called the Nova. A Japanese boy named Kazuya Aoi who enrolls for training at a special school for genetically modified girls called Pandoras who battle the aliens, and their male partners, called Limiters, who use a special power called "freezing" to limit their opponent’s mobility. Kazuya meets Bridgette Satellizer, a senior and is perhaps the most powerful Pandora in her class. Bridgette has not yet chosen a male partner to be her Limiter and in spite of many warnings from his friends, Kazuya decides to be her Limiter. Directed by Takashi Watanabe (“Ikki Tousen,“ “Slayers”) {Wallpaper image below, right}

Freezing characters

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Freezing Preview

Gosick Victorique 
GOSICK (Official website) 
TV Tokyo, Saturday, January 8 at 1:23 a.m. JST
Studio: BONES 
Episodes: 24
Horror, Mystery

Opening Theme: "Destine Histoire" by risa
Ending Theme: "Resuscitated Hope" by Lisa Komine

Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 7th (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

    GOSICK Preview

    Hourou Musuko 
    Hourou Musuko “Wondering Son”  (Official website)
    Fuji TV, Friday, January 14 at 1:15 a.m. JST
    Studio: AIC
    Episodes: 12
    Yuri, Yaoi, Social, Drama

    Opening Theme: "Itsudatte" by Daisuke
    Ending Theme: "For You" by Rie Fu

    Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 13th (Thursday 10am PST)

    Summary:
    Shuichi Nitori a boy who wants to be a girl. When he transfers to a new elementary school he makes friends a tall, attractive girl named Yoshino Takatsuki who wants to be a boy. She lets Shuichi in on a secret that she cross dresses from time to time and visits places far from home. Due to the fact that they share the same secret, they become close. The two are now in middle school. In the midst of a crowd full of new people, the two search for their own paths; all the while facing the troubles and concerns that come along with puberty.

    Anime News Network info page

    Infinite Stratos 01 
    Infinite Stratos  (Official website)
    TBS, Friday, January 7 at 1:25 a.m. JST
    Studio: 8-Bit 
    Episodes: 12
    Sci-Fi, Mech, Harem

    Opening Theme: "STRAIGHT JET" by Minami Kuribayashi
    Ending Theme: "SUPER∞STREAM" by Yoko Hikasa

    Similcast: TAN starting Jan 23th (eps 1-3, with eps 1 being free, remain eps for subscribers only)

    Infinite Stratos 02Preview at Official website

    Summary:
    Infinite Stratos (IS), a weaponized exoskeleton system, has become the dominant tool of warfare and combat. Only women are able to interface with and operate the IS systems, though with a very few exceptions. One exception is Orimura Ichika, an orphan raised by his older sister, Chifuyu, who is a famous IS pilot. His compatibility with Infinite Stratos is discovered after he accidentally touches an IS at the age of 15. Ichika is given a scholarship and enrolls at a school which specializes in training IS pilots. Of course this means its an all girls school, except for Ichika…..

    Anime News Network info page

    kiminitodoke 2nd season 
    Kimi ni Todoke 2nd Season 
    NTV, Wednesday, January 5 at 12:59 am JST
    Studio: Production I.G 
    Episodes: 13
    Comedy, Romance, Season 2

    Opening Theme: "Sayaka" by Tomofumi Tanizawa
    Ending Theme: "Kimi ni Todoke…" by MAY’S

    Summary:
    Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from "The Ring", which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose "100% refreshing" personality earns great admiration from Sawako.

    Anime News Network info page

    Koreha Zombie Desuka 
    Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? (Koreha Zombie Desuka?)
    Tele-Tama, Tuesday, January 11 at 1:30 a.m. JST
    Studio: Studio DEEN 
    Episodes: 12
    Action, Magic, Zombie, Magical Girl 

    Opening Theme: "Ma・Ka・Se・Te Tonight" by Iori Nomizu
    Ending Theme: "Kizuite Zombie-sama, Watashi wa Classmate desu" by Rie Yamaguchi with manzo

    Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 10th (Mondays 10am PST)

    Summary:
    Aikawa Ayumu is just a normal high school boy who by chance one day is killed by a serial killer. End of story…not quite…Aikawa is revived as a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood “Eu” Hellscythe. He begins to serve Eu as her guard but he happens, inadvertently to deprive magical girl Haruna of her magic power. Haruna orders Ayumu to fight against the anti-mahou shoujo system "Megalo" in her place.

    Anime News Network info page

    LevelE 
    Level E (Official website)
    TV Tokyo, Tuesday, January 11 at 1:45 a.m. JST
    Studio: David Production / Pierrot
    Episodes: 12
    Sci-Fi, Aliens, Shonen

    Opening Theme: "Cold Finger Girl" by Pontiacs
    Ending Theme: "Yume~Mugen no Kanata~" by ViViD

    Preview at Official website

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 10th (Mondays 10am PST)

      Summary:
      Tsutsui Yukitaka is a first year high school student who has convinced his parents that he is ready to live on his own. When he arrives at his new apartment, he is surprised to find that someone has arrived before him: a young man who claims that he is an alien and that he is suffering from amnesia. Based on manga of same name.

      Anime News Network info page

      Maho Shojo Madoka Magica 
      Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magica (Official website)
      Alternate title: Puella Magi Madoka Magica 
      MBS, Friday, January 7 at 1:25 a.m. JST
      Studio: SHAFT 
      Episodes: 12
      Drama, Magical girl

      Opening Theme: "Connect" by ClariS
      Ending Theme: "Magia" by Kalafina

      Previews at Official website

      Summary:
      Madoka is a kind, friendly, but ordinary second-year middle school girl. She wonders aloud what she should do if she can grant whatever you may wish through magic.

      Anime News Network info page

      Mitsudomoe2 
      Mitsudomoe Zōryōchū! (Official website)
      MBS, Sunday, January 9 at 2:58 a.m. JST
      Studio: Bridge
      Episodes: 8
      Comedy, Season 2

      Opening Theme: "Honki Sentai Gachiranger" by Masaki Endoh (ep 1)
      "Waga Na wa Shougakusei" by Ayahi Takagaki, Satomi Akesaka and Haruka Tomatsu

      Ending Theme: "Mata Ashita" by Masaki Endoh (ep 1)
      "Randoseling☆" by Nomiko

      Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 8th (Saturdays 11:30am PST)

        Summary:
        A sequel to the series Mitsudomoe, the adventures of teacher Satoshi Yabe (Yabe-cchi) and the troublesome Marui triplets: Futaba, Mitsuba, and Hitoha continues. Episode #1 of the second season is an OVA’ish premier of a fictitious Gachi Rangers show. Not quit the same 3 or 4 story arch that’s the usual formula for a Mitsudomoe episode and the Marui triplets only appear briefly as they watch this episode too. Season is a short 8 episodes. While popular and critically well received its rumored that poor DVD sales of season #1 forced a scaled back season #2.

        Anime News Network info page

        Oniichan 
        Oniichan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne—!!
        (Because For Some Reason My Big Brother Doesn’t Like Me At All—!!)
        TV Yokohama, Sunday, January 9 at 12:30 a.m. JST 
        Studio: ZEXCS
        Episodes: 12
        Comedy, Romance, Shonen, Ecchi

        Opening Theme: "Taste of Paradise" by Eri Kitamura
        Ending Theme: Ari Ari Mirai by Eri Kitamura, Marina Inoue, and Kazusa Aranami

        Summary:
        Junior high school student Nao is determined to make her brother, high School student Shuusuke, see her as a woman. So determined is she that goes to his room to throw away all his non-incest related porn. But as she’s looking for his porno stash, she finds a photo album…and she’s not in any of his childhood pictures.

        Initial premise sounds seems to have many elements similar to Oreimo (My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute). Though a bit more blunt about actual incest. Further into the plot of her missing from the childhood photo albums might make this a bit more interesting (and remove the incest part).

        Marina Inoue’s second cast and OP/ED performance of the Winter Season (she’s the lead in Rio Rainbow).

        Anime News Network info page

        Rio Rainbow 
        Rio – Rainbow Gate! (Official website) 
        Tokyo MX, Tuesday January 4 at 11:00 p.m. JST
        Studio: Xebec
        Episodes: 12
        Ecchi, Pachinko, Fan Service

        Opening Theme: Sekai to Issho ni Mawarou yo! by Love Roulettes
        Ending Theme: Miracle☆Chance by ULTRA-PRISM

        Similcast: Crunchyroll starting Jan 4th (Tuesdays 7:30am PST)

        Summary:
        Based on Tecmo’s Rio Super Carnival pachinko slot machine games (“Moe” pachinko machines started around 2003). Now the Rio character gets her own anime.  Rio is a popular casino dealer at the Howard Resort, an entertainment resort hotel where people from all over the world gather. She competes for the greatest honor among dealers — "Most Valuable Casino Dealer" (MVCD) — by collecting 13 legendary cards known as "Gates."

        Anime and pachinko – sounds like a bad match. A strong cast (OP performance also) seems about the only interesting thing with this new show: Marina Inoue as Rio, Ayana Taketatsu as Mint, Yōko Hikasa as Linda.

        Rio RainbowGate! Preview

        Anime News Network info page

        Wolverine 
        Wolverine (Official site at Animax)
        Animax, Friday, January 7 at 10:00 p.m.
        Studio: Madhouse
        Episodes: 12
        Action, Marvel

        Video:
        Preview 1 

        Summary:

        Second in the four-part Marvel Anime project, the first being Iron Man. Wolverine is a mutant a healing factor that allows him to recover from virtually any wound, disease or toxin at a accelerated rate. Because of this healing ability his body has been joined with a nearly indestructible steal throughout and via 3 retractable claws.

        Anime News Network info page

        Yumekui Merry 
        Yumekui Merry (Official website) 
        TBS, Friday, January 7 at 1:55 a.m. (TBS website)
        Studio: J.C. Staff
        Episodes: 12
        Action, Harem, Magic

        Opening Theme: "Daydream Syndrome" by Marina Fujiwara
        Ending Theme: "Yume to Kibou to Ashita no Atashi by Ayane Sakura

        Video:
         Cast Interview
         Preview 2
         Preview 3

        Summary: Fujiwara has a power to see others dreams and nightmares. Ever since he discovered this power he’s been having a weird dream about a war with cats. Then one day a mysterious girl from his dreams falls on top of him, Merry…Merry Nightmare. Magic, Shonen, Harem. Adapted from manga of same name

        Yumekuo Merry Merry Nightmare   Yumekuo Merry Yumeji Fujiwara   Yumekuo Merry Isana Tachibana

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