Anime Writer's Choice: 5 Noteworthy Summer 2022 Anime Films! Anime Column

According to Akiba Research Institute, there are more than 50 new anime titles for the summer of 2022. In this issue, we have picked up some of the most notable original titles and media mix projects.
Licorice Recoil," about agent girls working at a Japanese cafe; "Extreme Hearts," about hyper sports using support gear; "Butch Gire!" a period drama in which sinners become doubles for the Shinsengumi! an adventure set on an island in an information city, and "Shine Post," an idol project by Konami Digital Entertainment and Straight Edge.

⇒Click here for the list of summer 2022 anime.

Licorice Recoil

The first report foreshadowed a heartwarming story about girls working at Cafe Licorice, a Japanese-style cafe in downtown Tokyo, who solve customers' problems of any kind, but the follow-up report gave a different impression. In the PV, the girls are depicted as being on a mission with a suppressor pistol in hand, and expectations for flashy action are high.
The first key visual shows the girls dressed in Japanese kimonos, the working attire of Cafe RICORICO, and the second shows them in school uniforms, which are colorful and eye-catching. Directed by "WORKING! and "Sword Art Online. The creator of "WORKING!" and "SWORD ART ONLINE," among others, has worked with A-1 Pictures to produce an original title that depicts characters that are both lovable and strong at their core.

Extreme Hearts

The story takes place a short time in the future, when Hyper Sports, a hobby sport played with support gear, is gaining popularity. The story follows a high school student, Youkazu Hayama, who makes his debut as a singer-songwriter and meets his friends as a result of a certain incident.
The title "Extreme Hearts" refers to a hyper-sports tournament, with the unusual rule of composite competition in which each match is fought in a different ball game. The key visuals depict both playing baseball, soccer, and basketball, and performing live on stage, making this title an enjoyable combination of the two genres of sports and idols. It seems that hypersports idols are also active in the world, and we can look forward to the depiction of unique idols. The main staff consists of Maki Tsuzuki, the original writer, and Junji Nishimura, the director, the duo behind the "DOG DAYS" series, who have teamed up again.

Butch Gire!

Twin Engine Group's first original TV animation is a fantasy period drama. The Shinsengumi is annihilated by a mysterious organization, Zokumen-no-Oki. The sole survivor, Heisuke Todo, the leader of the Hachijo Gumi, chooses seven criminals to serve as doubles for the Shinsengumi and struggles to protect the security of Kyoto.
The second PV contains numerous battle scenes, and the doubles use a wide variety of weapons, from Japanese swords to tin cans, grenades, and rifles. The realistic battle scenes in which the doubles dodge their opponents' first blows and thrust their swords at each other's throats are vivid, while the sword blades are described as shining bright red with a touch of irony, so you can enjoy the action where anything is possible. The OP theme is sung by Takanori Nishikawa, an artist who has sung many theme songs for period anime. The OP anime, in which you can hear his voice as soon as possible, is being released in advance until 18:00 on June 29 (Wed.).

URAYDECO

The island of Tom Sawyer is an information management city where all things are evaluated and shared based on a numerical value called "Rabu. On the supposedly peaceful island, where no crimes occur, the "0 (zero)" phenomenon occurs, in which "rubu" disappear. A young girl, Berry, who tries to catch the culprit, the monster Zero, meets the residents called Yurei and joins the Yurei Detective Boys. She then discovers the truth hidden on the island. ......
The Tom Sawyer Island requires the wearing of AR/VR devices, and the pop visuals are a vivid mixture of the real and virtual. The attempt to write a different collaboration song for each of the 12 episodes is also unique. Despite the bright and joyful image, it will be interesting to see how the dystopian worldview will be mixed in with it. Masaaki Yuasa of "Inuoh" and "Kaiba" and Dai Sato of "Psalms of Planets Eureka seveN" are the original writers.

Shine Post.

The project was announced in October 2021, and is a media mix project that will expand into novels, games, music, and many other areas. Haru Aotenkoku, Kyoka Tamaki, and Seiburio are members of the idol unit TiNgS, which has not been able to budge. The story begins when the girls are in danger of being disbanded and are provided with the most powerful manager with special powers.
The second PV begins with the powerful line "Come on, let's shine! the second PV depicts the three girls in a state of impatience after being told by the president of the entertainment agency that they are to be dissolved. The dance rehearsal scene is realistically depicted, and the color of the innerwear seems to rise out of the white rehearsal clothes. The unexpectedness of the close-up of the man's eyes at the end of the film also foreshadows the unpredictable development of the film.

(Text by Katsunori Takahashi)

(C) Spider Lily / Aniplex, ABC Animation, BS11
(C) PROJECT ExH
(c) 2022 "Butch Gire! Production Committee
(C) URAY Tanteidan
(C) Konami Digital Entertainment,Straight Edge Inc./Shine Post Production Committee