Summer 2020 Season Preview

Yes, there’s still anime premiering this summer. Crazy I know. With the coronavirus pandemic going on and given how Spring 2020 was affected by it, it’s hard not think this season was going to be a lost cause. Obviously, this season has been struck with delays, so much so that the lineup is frankly small and unremarkable. As a result, this preview is going to be one of, if not the shortest one I ever write on this blog. Still, there is anime and a couple do pique my curiosity so a preview is still in order.

My one hope with the entire Summer 2020 lineup is that these anime are far into production and therefore ready to air for the entire season. I can’t imagine any production committee wanting to risk a delay mid-broadcast just to air their product. However, we won’t truly know if that’s the case with anything until September or an official announcement is made on production status.

With that said, let’s take a look at Summer 2020.

Lapis Re:LiGHTs

Premieres: July 4 at 22:00 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: Yokohama Animation Lab	Source: Original

Spearheading a mixed media project, Lapis Re:LiGHTs is an idol series with magical girl and fantasy elements. The big question to ask is how integral the magic will actually be. I can see that adding some pizzazz to the idol concerts but until proven otherwise, this frankly sounds pretty gimmicky and superficial. My one hope is that the soundtrack is at least catchy but I have also come to accept that most idol series tend to have pretty forgettable soundtracks.

The God of High School

Premieres: July 6	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: MAPPA	Source: Manhwa

The next show in Crunchyroll’s Originals lineup and like Tower of God, this is based on a manhwa. The plot frankly sounds generic to me — teenage boy participating in a tournament to be best fighter there is. It’s apparently a pretty popular property however so I’ll give this a fair shake.

Umayon

Premieres: July 7 at 21:54 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: DMM.futureworks, W-Toon Studio	Source: 4-koma

A short spin-off of 2018’s Umamusume: Pretty Derby. I’m not really sure what the current deal is with Umamusume. The main series sold quite well on disc but there hasn’t been any word on a second season getting greenlit. Meanwhile, the mobile game the anime was promoting has been delayed indefinitely. Hopefully, this short series means that Cygames is checking for consumer interest and still wants to make this franchise a thing. Umamusume was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2018. I hate to see it come and go.

Deca-Dance

Premieres: July 8 at 23:30 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: NUT	Source: Original

A sci-fi series where humanity have been driven from their homes by unknown life forms and now reside in gigantic mobile fortresses. The big claim to fame Deca-Dence has is the fact that Yuzuru Tachikawa of Death Parade and Mob Psycho 100 fame is directing this series. Tachikawa is one of the best young directors out there in anime so anything new he’s working on is on the radar.

Japan Sinks: 2020
(Nihon Chinbotsu 2020)

Premieres: July 9 at 16:00 JST	Streaming: Netflix
Studio: Science SARU	Source: Novel

Based on a very famous 1973 Japanese disaster Sci-fi novel, Japan Sinks: 2020 follows a family trying to survive an earthquake hitting Japan after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A huge selling point is Masaaki Yuasa as the director though I must admit that this doesn’t personally hype me up that much as I’ve only seen one show led by him, Keep Your Hands off Eizouken! (which I didn’t like all that much).

Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang out!
(Uzaki-chan wa Asobitai)

Premieres: July 10 at 21:30 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: ENG!	Source: Manga

A romcom where the guy wants some peace and quiet and the girl loves refusing him that. Getting slight Takagi-san vibes from this though this is apparently a bit lewder than that so this may turn me away depending on how excessive it gets.

Rent a Girlfriend
(Kanojo, Okarishimasu)

Premieres: July 11 at 1:25 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: TMS Entertainment	Source: Manga

Rent a Girlfriend centers around an actual service in Japan where you can hire actors to be your friend or loved one (I’m not kidding, look it up). The main character of the show decides to rent a girlfriend after a breakup and purposefully gives her a bad review after finding her personality far too good to be true. Naturally, said girlfriend takes issue with that and hijinks ensue. It sounds pretty stupid but I can see potential with the fact that the dating isn’t technically real. Also encouraging is the positive reception of the manga source material.

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This post was last updated on July 8, 2020.

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