So... what's next for KyoAni?

[StudioZEL]

They just finished the first Clannad season, and I know a 2nd one has been announced as "coming soon", but I know there was an announcement of a new Haruhi, which got pushed back or something, and there's supposed to be a new FMP but I can't find anything...

Anyone know what KyoAni's up to these days?

[EmperorBrandon]

Right now, I'm hoping the new season of Haruhi is next, and then Clannad After Story after it is finished.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, Haruhi was announced first. But there was an actual trailer for After Story while we've heard nothing about Haruhi 2. So it could be either one but I'm leaning towards After Story at the moment.

[Ty]

I thought the word was Summer for Haruhi. I seem to recall another project/adaptation besides either of these being mentioned, but for the life of me I can't begin to recall what it could have been. There were also whispers of another Full Metal Panic season, something I'd welcome.

[Andrew Cunningham]

There is that unnamed light novel project. Rumors of Goth or Gosick, or even Spice and Wolf, which turned out to be a filthy lie.
I thought word was Haruhi was in the fall, to line up more with the timeline for Disappearance?

[Jumbo]

In regards to CLANNAD - After Story, there was a link up on FiRSTRoN (dated before April 1st) that had it listed as airing in October. Hobby Channel link to article (http://hobby-channel.net/content/view/4436/67/).

Haven't heard anything on Haruhi myself but also haven't been paying much attention either I suppose... ^^;

[Westlo]

I wish I could say FMP 4 but sadly I can't :( If After Story is lined up for Fall than Haruhi has to be Summer because I really can't see KyoAni taking 6 months off....

[something]

I don't know, but they're in a position most studios would kill to be in, I imagine. They have a backlog of potential products that will last them years, and every single one of those projects will be a big hit. And I would kill for any of them. I want Clannad After Story, Haruhi 2, new FMP, more Lucky Star, Little Busters, whatever the light novel adaptation is, various anime original attempts - whatever they can churn out will be golden.

But I imagine it'll be Haruhi 2 in summer and After Story in fall.

The benefit to both of these is that I won't need to free up two additional spots in my top 10 list, because they'll both go under their earlier seasons which are already there... :sd: Which is good because KyoAni is really making my top 10 crowded lately.

[Ty]

There is that unnamed light novel project. Rumors of Goth or Gosick, or even Spice and Wolf, which turned out to be a filthy lie.
I thought word was Haruhi was in the fall, to line up more with the timeline for Disappearance?
I've read both, but hear summer more often. I'd normally trust your word before mine, but the announcement of After Story makes summer seem more logical for Haruhi. ;)

[rg4619]

They haven't announced a time frame for Haruhi, so anything you read is speculation.

[Ty]

True, but depending upon who is doing the speculating it is pretty trustworthy sometimes.

[Andrew Cunningham]

The copyright dates reading 2008, 2009 were pretty convincing for fall.

[Vegard Aune]

I'd think they're doing Haruhi S2 next, and then Clannad after that. It'll propably take a while before they continue Full Metal Panic, as I've heard that all of the light-novels after "End of Day by Day" (The book TSR was based on) end with cliffhangers, plus the light-novels are apparently close to the end of the story anyway, so they'll propably wait until the light-novels end, and then do everything that's left in one season. After that, they'll propably just do something new, as I get the impression that all their other shows are finished. (The only other one I've seen myself is Lucky Star, and I see no reason why they should continue that, unless the manga continues past their final year at school.)

[Ty]

The copyright dates reading 2008, 2009 were pretty convincing for fall.
Good point. So maybe After Story is coming sooner? I wouldn't mind.

[Jumbo]

The copyright dates reading 2008, 2009 were pretty convincing for fall.
Good point. So maybe After Story is coming sooner? I wouldn't mind.

It could be. I went back and double checked that link and I misread it and apologize for any confusion. There is no fixed air date for After Story as of now, in that article, or anywhere else I've checked.

I'd like to think they wouldn't sit on it too long though... If it doesn't start this spring then I'd like to say they'd get it going by summer.

[Andrew Cunningham]

While not impossible, most summer shows have been announced by now. I'd be surprised if we saw anything from them before the fall season...maybe two shows at once? About time they expanded a bit.

[Shiroi Hane]

I refuse to let there be two Kyoani series at the same time. As it is, Lucky Star and Clannad DVDs have overlapped by a few months. The potential for there to be three Kyoani DVDs released in the same month would just be unfair. I need to cut back on R2 buying to get my finances in order but I don't think I can say no to Kyoani.

[something]

While not impossible, most summer shows have been announced by now. I'd be surprised if we saw anything from them before the fall season...maybe two shows at once? About time they expanded a bit.
I like to think they could maintain the same insanely high level of quality doing two at once, but I wouldn't want to risk it being anything less than perfect. The properties they have are too important to me at this point.

But if they DID do two at once and do it all just as wonderfully... man.

Right now the only studios that are worthy of being mentioned anywhere near them are SHAFT and Sunrise. But even those two only do one at a time usually... I think?

[Andrew Cunningham]

I don't think I can remember the last time Sunrise had only one show on...
Usually more like three or four, right?
I'd still take Production IG over either of them, but that might be more about my taste in shows than the actual production quality.

[hinode85]

Sunrise has Gintama, Sgt. Frog, and Dinosaur King as ongoing TV shows, plus Freedom and Mai Otome S.ifr as OVA projects. Geass R2 is starting up next season while Gundam 00 and Kekkaishi finished, so this will actually be a step down for their workload.

It's tough to compare them for quality to a studio like Kyoto Animation or even Gainax because their output rate is so much higher, much of which consists of shows that either get little discussion on anime blogs and forums for some reason (i.e. Gintama, Sgt. Frog) or that pretty much no one in the English speaking fandom has ever heard of - I had no idea stuff like Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto or Shutsugeki! Machine Robo Rescue or Onmyou Taisenki even existed until I looked up Sunrise's wikipedia entry.

[Splitter]

I wonder when KyoAni's going to do something that isn't a sequel or work from someone they previously adapted for again...

[Ty]

About time they expanded a bit.
I'd rather they didn't personally. Not because I don't think they can manage it, but having two shows from them at once would probably take a bit of the magic away from both. Kyani shows are always the north stars of their season and having two makes them less special.

[Jumbo]

I wonder when KyoAni's going to do something that isn't a sequel or work from someone they previously adapted for again...

Considering how sub-par fan reaction was to Munto, I'm sure they'd have a hard time pressing the board of directors to push for a new original concept project. Especially when I'm sure they have companies begging at their feet to adapt their material and that kind of stuff always seems to be where the money is at anyways.

[Lego]

Don't forget that Haruhi blindsided a lot of people in how awesome it was. Now with a sequel coming it's going to have extremely high expectations.

[Westlo]

I wonder when KyoAni's going to do something that isn't a sequel or work from someone they previously adapted for again...

I would like to see KyoAni prove themselves with an original production or two. It might make the "KyoAni are the best" posts a lot more tolerable. Just me personally but I'll always rate studios like Bones, Production I.G, Madhouse and Sunrise above them since they have produced amazing original shows. I really like how Bones are at about a 50/50 split between adaptations and original work but that's just me personally.

[Westlo]

^ And with that being said I cannot fucking wait to see KyoAni do the latest Key game in Rewrite which just got announced.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7494/rewritenw1.jpg

Direction: Hinoue Itaru

Scenario:
Tanaka Romeo (Cross Channel, Kazoku Keikaku, Yume Miru Kusuri),
Ryukishi07 (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Umineko no Naku Koro ni),
Tonogawa Yuuto (Little Busters!: Komari's and Yuiko's scenario)

Key + Ryukishi07 = must see.

[stfram]

Don't forget that Haruhi blindsided a lot of people in how awesome it was. Now with a sequel coming it's going to have extremely high expectations.


And it's going to be very easy to meet expectations, at least with Haruhi.

The hard part, the story, is written. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end for the novel (novels?) they're going to adapt for this coming season.

People here have already raved about how good the next story is going to be.

All they have to do is the animation side, and I think they've got that down pat. :)

[something]

I don't think I can remember the last time Sunrise had only one show on...
Usually more like three or four, right?
I have no idea, what are they doing now besides Geass R2? What were they doing alongside Gundam 00?

I don't follow them much so I don't know what kind of lesser shows they do alongside their bigger titles.

[something]

Sunrise has Gintama, Sgt. Frog, and Dinosaur King as ongoing TV shows
Oh, that would explain it, all things I have not only not watched, but never even paid the slightest attention to. :sd:

I guess I wasn't counting OVAs either, since they come out so slowly and with so little content each time.

[Sean_Connolly]

Oh, that would explain it, all things I have not only not watched, but never even paid the slightest attention to. :sd:

Gintama is a jewel.

I would like to see KyoAni prove themselves with an original production or two. It might make the "KyoAni are the best" posts a lot more tolerable.

I'm waiting for this as well. They do wonderful work based on other people's work, but I'm really curious to see how they would do with an original work and I don't think they want me judging them on that with Munto (and if they do, then ouch).

[Draneor]

They do wonderful work based on other people's work, but I'm really curious to see how they would do with an original work


Not very many anime studios do original shows these days. Even of the ones that do exist, many times they are conceived as multi-platform projects from the onset (Sola, Galaxy Angel, the Mai-series). Still, it would be interesting to see what they would come up with.

[Suwako Moriya]

^ And with that being said I cannot fucking wait to see KyoAni do the latest Key game in Rewrite which just got announced.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7494/rewritenw1.jpg

Okay then the title "Rewrite" makes me think time travel and second chances. Also the girl is cute, but she has this out of it look.

[Ryuuroden]

I am getting tired of waiting for a new haruhi and FMP. I am starting to tire of the Key animes.

[something]

I would like to see KyoAni prove themselves with an original production or two. It might make the "KyoAni are the best" posts a lot more tolerable.I'm waiting for this as well. They do wonderful work based on other people's work, but I'm really curious to see how they would do with an original work and I don't think they want me judging them on that with Munto (and if they do, then ouch).
I like Munto, even if it's pretty shallow by nature of being an OVA, a format I am decidedly not a fan of. It's their first ever work and a short, short ass OVA at that, so as you imply it's really not useful at all as a way to gauge their 'original' work. And KyoAni doesn't need to do original work to "prove" themselves to me. They've already proven just about everything that matters - animation, music, voice work, comedic timing, designs, emotional impact, attention to detail, etc., etc., etc.

The real test for an animation production studio for me is if they bring a story to life in an enjoyable way, whether it's an original story they got someone to write, or an existing story someone else wrote. And KyoAni brings stories to life like nobody else ever has, or at least not so consistently. And of course there are both advantages and disadvantages to adapting existing work, so it's not like it's just uniformly "easier" or anything.

I do want to see them do original work eventually, but given the huge backlog of things I want to see them animate already, it's hard to complain too much about it. And as Draenor said, there's just not a heck of a lot anime original stuff out there nowadays, which (usually) is a source of considerable lamentation for me, given how spoiler-happy people are.

[Gatts]

I am getting tired of waiting for a new haruhi and FMP.

The Berserk fans shed not a tear for you. :D

Honestly, I think the only problem is Haruhi is that they announced a sequel too soon. There were other commitments that needed to be completed first and they are completing them. Besides, it's not like they are clumping all of the Key series together.

FMP: TSR
Air
Haruhi
Kanon
Lucky Star
Clannad

So next could likely be another non-Key followed by a Key.

[Ty]

^ And with that being said I cannot fucking wait to see KyoAni do the latest Key game in Rewrite which just got announced.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7494/rewritenw1.jpg

Direction: Hinoue Itaru

Scenario:
Tanaka Romeo (Cross Channel, Kazoku Keikaku, Yume Miru Kusuri),
Ryukishi07 (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Umineko no Naku Koro ni),
Tonogawa Yuuto (Little Busters!: Komari's and Yuiko's scenario)

Key + Ryukishi07 = must see.
Nice. Forget Little Busters, this'll be something to look forward to.

[Suwako Moriya]

The idea of Kyo-ani doing an original work would be interesting, but one thing I keep in mind is this. While a lot of anime I watch are adaptations in many cases I haven't exactly experienced the original. Especially when it's a Japanese game. So the fact it's an adaptation becomes a moot point. As the adaptation is the first experience for me anyway.

[Draneor]

Especially when it's a Japanese game. So the fact it's an adaptation becomes a moot point. As the adaptation is the first experience for me anyway.

I admit I normally do things backwards. After I watch an anime, I get interested in the manga/game/light novels/pachinko machine/trading card game/parody fan disc it is based on. However, sometimes I am familiar with the original work. I think that's when I either enjoy or hate a show the most. Nothing beats watching a show and being able to see how they chose to adapt it (plus, getting the in-jokes).

[Andrew Cunningham]

This is why I'm hoping they expand enough to handle two shows, or at least never take a break. I am just not interested in their Key stuff, and if they're going to be doing that every other show, it would be nice if they were doing other projects alongside that. By this point they should have enough money to get their pick of staff, and I don't see that it would be all that hard to expand.

[Suwako Moriya]

I admit I normally do things backwards.

Come to think of it several manga I've been interested in are a result of watching the anime first. Shrine of the Morning Mist, Azumanga Daioh, Strawberry Marshmallow, Sunshine Sketch, and I guess if counts "Aqua" since it's connected to Aria.

[HitokiriShadow]

Key + Ryukishi07 = must see.

Agreed. That sounds like a winning combination. I expect an awesome adaption from Key sometime in the 2010-12 range.

[Splitter]

I wonder when KyoAni's going to do something that isn't a sequel or work from someone they previously adapted for again...

I would like to see KyoAni prove themselves with an original production or two. It might make the "KyoAni are the best" posts a lot more tolerable. Just me personally but I'll always rate studios like Bones, Production I.G, Madhouse and Sunrise above them since they have produced amazing original shows. I really like how Bones are at about a 50/50 split between adaptations and original work but that's just me personally.


An excellent point, but I was referring more to how KyoAni is turning into a sequel machine. I seriously wonder if they'll ever adapt something completely unrelated to any of their current properties ever again.

[AdrianWerner]

I don't know, but they're in a position most studios would kill to be in, I imagine. They have a backlog of potential products that will last them years, and every single one of those projects will be a big hit. And I would kill for any of them. I want Clannad After Story, Haruhi 2, new FMP, more Lucky Star, Little Busters, whatever the light novel adaptation is, various anime original attempts - whatever they can churn out will be golden.


Personaly I'm hoping the next visual novel adaptation they handle will be Tomoyo After, not Little Busters

[angelx03]

Though it would be interesting for KyoAni to adapt a shoujo manga. Man, it's hard to imagine what that would look like! o_o