Fall 2020 Season Preview

I’m sure we all want 2020 to end on the miserable note befitting of it. Still, there’s a couple months and seeing as this is an anime blog, let’s preview some of the shows that’ll hopefully make these last few months a little more bearable.

Purely by default, Fall 2020 looks to be the most exciting season in months. Make no mistake, some stuff originally slated for the season did get delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest bummers for me are The Quintessential Quintuplets ff and The Promise Neverland Season 2 (though I suppose they are now part of what looks to be an amazing Winter 2021 season). Even so, we still have a respectably sizable lineup, especially compared to the past two seasons. I suppose production delays are still a possibility though considering how smoothly Summer 2020 has gone, I think we can cross our fingers that the same will largely for the Fall.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at Fall 2020.

Higurashi: When They Cry – New
(Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (2020))

Premieres: October 1 at 23:30	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: Passione	Source: Visual Novel

I’ve heard of Higurashi before, it’s arguably one of the most famous horror anime franchises out there, though I’ve neither played the original visual novel nor have I seen its original anime adaptation. Perhaps this new reboot series will act as a good gateway into the franchise. I’m kind of curious why it’s being rebooted though. Hopefully, this isn’t some cash grab.

The Journey of Elaina
(Majo no Tabitabi)

Premieres: October 2 at 21:00 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: C2C	Source: Light Novel

I’ve actually heard positive things about The Journey of Elaina though its inclusion in my preview is admittedly a bit out of spite. Basically, it’s a fantasy anime centered around a traveling witch name Elaina. That sounds rather basic but considering the glut of generic fantasy light novel adaptations we’ve gotten, I’ll take it. All the merrier if the show really does meet the reputation of its source material.

Is it Wrong to Try Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? III
(Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka III)

Premieres: October 3 at 0:30 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
Studio: J.C. Staff	Source: Light Novel

DanMachi may not be the most mind blowing anime out there but damn is it a good one. I really enjoyed the first two seasons, the first season for being a fun adventure with an underdog angle and the second for expanding the mythos and character development. Season 3 might be a bit different too as it teases a new character as well as some renewed focus on Ais. Whatever the case may be, more of DanMachi is good as far as I’m concerned and at this point, the series kind of needs to try to drop the ball.

Tonikawa: Over the Moon For You
(Tonikaku Kawaii)

Premieres: October 3 at 1:05 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: Seven Arcs	Source: Manga

Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You is the latest brainchild of Kenjiro Hata, best known as the creator of Hayate the Combat Butler. I’ve only seen a couple of episodes of Hayate back in high school so I don’t have much an opinion over Hata’s work. Still, it doesn’t surprise me that this is one of the more anticipated anime of the season. The premise does pique my curiosity too – a boy meeting a girl after the latter saves the former during a car accident and the two of them marrying shortly after.

With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun
(Inu to Neko Docchi mo Katteru to Mainichi Tanoshii)

Premieres: October 3 at 1:50 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: Team Till Dawn	Source: Manga

A slice of life anime about a pet dog and a pet cat living together in the same household. I’m not expecting much from this but it sounds cute enough and one and a half minutes seems like the perfect running time for each episode.

Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
(Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Dokokai)

Premieres: October 3 at 22:30 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: Sunrise	Source: Multimedia Project

My familiarity with Love Live! comes more from the mobile game than the anime adaptations. I haven’t finished the original Love Live! and I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Sunshine!!. Since this new installment is a self-contained story however, I feel comfortable enough to include here and watch it when premieres. Unlike the past two generations, Nijigasaki High School Idol Club has its school idols competing against each other as opposed to working within the same team.

Iwa Kakeru! Sport Climbing Girls

Premieres: October 4 at 2:00 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: BLADE	Source: Manga

A sports anime involving a former pro gamer who finds herself interested in sports climbing due to how well her skills in puzzle games translates into the sport. Fanservice is undoubtedly going to be aplenty though as Harukana Receive and How Heavy are the Dumbbels You Lift? has taught me, the show has a reasonable excuse for it.

One Room (Season 3)

Premieres: October 6 at 1:05 JST	Streaming: Crunchyroll
Studio: Zero-G	Source: Original

Awkward staring strikes again. One Room is a guilty pleasure of mine. It’s just so strange both in concept and in execution that it piques my curiosity and every once in a while, it actually does present a character I like. That said, I never pined to see more of it. Of all the anime to come back, why this one? Still, I’m two seasons in this show; might as well watch the third.

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle
(Maoujou de Oyasumi)

Premieres: October 6 at 2:00 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: Doga Kobo	Source: Manga

A comedic spin on the damsel in the distress trope where said damsel is just plain bored with her prison and just wants to go to sleep. Animated by Doga Kobo and led by some of the same people who adapted Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, this is a solid bet for a fun time.

Adachi and Shimamura
(Adachi to Shimamura)

Premieres: October 9	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: Tezuka Productions	Source: Light Novel

I’ve heard good things about the Adachi and Shimamura light novels and that it’s a more grounded and earnest yuri series. By those alone, the anime adaptation has my attention. What really piqued my interest however is that the series was originally written by Hitoma Iruma, the same writer who wrote Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl. It’s been almost decade since I saw Ground Control but I remember liking it quite a bit. I’m curious to see what else its creator has made.

Is the Order a Rabbit? BLOOM
(Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? BLOOM)

Premieres: October 10 at 12:30	Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
Studio: Encourage Films	Source: 4-koma Manga

I very recently watched all of Is the Order a Rabbit?, one of the most glaring entries in my backlog of CGDCT. It’s hardly my favorite show of the like but I do enjoy it, well enough to watch the third season. The studio has apparently been changed though the staff and cast largely remain the same so this will likely remain the same show fans know and love.

The Day I Became a God
(Kamisama ni Natta hi)

Premieres: October 11 at 0:00 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: P.A. Works	Source: Original

P.A. Works and Key have been longtime collaborates, starting with 2010’s Angel Beats! and later with 2015’s Charlotte. This year, they’re teaming up again for The Day I Became a God. To be frank, I’m not too sold on the show. The show is apparently about a boy meeting a girl claims that she’s a god and that the world will end in thirty days. I don’t know, it just sounds too typical for writer Jun Maeda to write about. Still, I’m fond of both P.A. Works and Key and their team ups are, if nothing else, interesting (I’m personally fond of Angel Beats!) so I’ll definitely be watching this.

Moriarty the Patriot
(Yuukoku no Moriarty)

Premieres: October 11 at 22:30	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: Production I.G.	Source: Manga

Sherlock Holmes is obviously no stranger to adaptation and reinterpretation and that includes anime. But a prequel anime about Moriarty? That’s certainly different. Some parts of the synopsis do sound strange to me such as there being three brothers who bear the Moriarty surname and the inclusion of Sherlock Holmes (like, is he the antagonist or something?). Still, I want to give the show a chance if only for being a more atypical piece of Holmes media which is rare these days.

Dropout Idol Fruit Tart
(Ochikobore Fruit Tart)

Premieres: October 12 at 21:30 JST	Streaming: Funimation
Studio: feel.	Source: 4-koma Manga

An inspiring idol teams up with her dorm mates, all with former ties to various facets of the entertainment industry, to become idols. Why? To avoid getting evicted and save their dorm from getting demolished. It sounds really stupid but stupid is kind of what I look for in an idol anime (that and being removed from the real life profession) so I’ll give this one a try.

Reviewing This Season

1. Adachi and Shimamura
2. The Day I Became a God
3. TBD

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Thanks for reading!

This post was last updated on October 4, 2020.

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