Anime Column] Anime writers' picks for the five hottest fall 2016 anime!

There are more than 70 fall anime that will close out 2016. Some of them have already started their first broadcasts, and there is a wide variety of works. In this issue, we have lined up some of the most noteworthy fall anime. March Lion," a chess comic written by Chika Umino, "Tiger Mask W," a legendary pro wrestling anime, "Hebot! Golden Mari in Udon no Kuni," which is set in Kagawa Prefecture, and "ALL OUT! based on a high school rugby manga.

March Lion

The story is about a high school professional Go player, Rei Kiriyama, who lost his family in an accident when he was young, and how he opens his heart through interaction with the three sisters of the Kawamoto family who live in downtown Tokyo and through games against strong opponents. Based on a popular comic book that has won numerous awards, including the Kodansha Manga Award, the film features a variety of appealing aspects, such as game scenes supervised by a professional Go player, food prepared by the sisters, and the nostalgic scenery of the downtown area.

The animation is produced by Shaft and directed by Akiyuki Shimbo at the request of Chika Umino, the author of the original story. Since the 22-episode series will be broadcast on NHK General, fans have high expectations for this work even before it goes on the air. The main cast includes popular voice actors Kengo Kawanishi, Ai Chino, Kana Hanazawa, and Misaki Hisano. Nobuhiko Okamoto, who plays Harunobu Nikaido, Zero's best friend and rival, is also well known as an accomplished shogi (Japanese chess) enthusiast.

Tiger Mask W

The legendary pro wrestling manga written by Kajiwara Ikki and drawn by Tsuji Naoki has been adapted into an anime for the third time. 34 years have passed since the first TV series revived, and two tigers appear. Tiger Mask and Naoto Higashi train to destroy the "Tiger's Hole," an organization behind the scenes in the pro wrestling world. Takuma Fujii/Tiger the Dark dares to become a wrestler of the "Tiger Hole" and plans to destroy the organization. What kind of encounter will this two men with the same goal in mind have?

New Japan Pro-Wrestling is providing full support for the film, and familiar wrestlers such as Okada Kazuchika, Tanahashi Hiroshi, and Nagata Hiroshi will appear in the film under their real names. Togi Makabe, who is known for his love of sweets, even acts as a voice actor himself. Veteran voice actor Hidekatsu Shibata, who played Mr. X in the original "Tiger Mask," will play the same role for the first time in 50 years. The film is sure to be a work worthy of Toei Animation's 60th anniversary.

Hebot!

is an original content project by the Bandai Namco Group and "Monthly Corocoro Comic. Bandai's toy "DX Hebot! a toy produced by Bandai, as well as manga serialization, game distribution, and multimedia development. The anime is set in a world where robots called "vocabots" exist. Nejiru, the prince of Neji Island, and his partner, Hebot, search for the Bokyanezhi, which, when inserted into the head, produces a gag.

The show is characterized by a high tension that is not unlike that of the 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning on-air time slot. The show features a parade of dirty jokes about butts, farting, toilet bowls, and boobies, and the sheer intensity is guaranteed to wake you up from your morning slumber. The "vocab battle," a nonstop gag with a unique rhythm, is also surreal and strangely addictive.

Udon no Kuni no Kinzoku Kemari (Golden Puffball in Udon Country)

Based on an everyday fantasy serialized in "Monthly Comic @ Bunch. After the death of his father, 30-year-old Sota Tawara returns home to Kagawa Prefecture, where he meets Poco, a raccoon dog who has disguised himself as a human child, and they live an unusual life together. The original comic book is very popular in the local area, with wrapped trains running and posters used for festivals, and the anime will depict the scenery and atmosphere of Kagawa in an animated format.

The main character is played by Nakamura Yuichi, a native of Kagawa Prefecture. Most of the main characters speak in Sanuki dialect, so the dialogue between the cast members will be a key point of interest. The next preview narration will be provided by Kaname Jun, who is serving as deputy governor in Kagawa Prefecture's "Udon Prefecture" PR campaign. Expect more events and screenings in Kagawa Prefecture to boost the local campaign.

ALL OUT!!!

is an anime adaptation of a high school rugby manga serialized in "Morning Two. The main character Kenji Gion, who is small but has more competitive spirit than anyone else, encounters rugby, a sport in which anyone can play a leading role, and grows up on the field. Rugby has 15 players, more than any other sport, and the variety of characters is appealing. The team includes such unique members as Ishimizu, who is 190 centimeters tall but has a timid personality, and Akayama, the captain, who has a passionate fighting spirit and an eccentric hairstyle.

The Japanese national team's big-killing performance against the powerful South African team at the 2015 World Cup is still fresh in our minds. The first-ever TV anime series based on rugby has been the focus of much attention.

(Text by Katsunori Takahashi)