I started watching Another last night, a dark horror-themed anime which caught my eye because the characters were created by Noizi Ito, who did the Haruhi character designs. It’s called Another because it’s yet “another” damn anime series that I positively have to watch this season — I can’t remember when there have been so many must-see shows on at the same time. In a scene in the first episode, the main character Kouichi Sakakibara is visited in the hospital by some classmates who have questions about why he’s come to the secretive town of Yomiyama. They address him as “Sakakibara-kun,” the neutral/slightly polite way to address a male classmate, until the bold class leader Izumi says, “No, it’s Kouichi-kun, right? Can I call you Kouichi-kun?” By using his first name, usually only done between established friends, she broke down a social barrier of politeness which would allow them to become closer…though I imagine this might not always be clear to us gaijin when watching. If you want to follow all the newest anime from Japan, we recommend a subscription to the excellent anime magazine we offer, like Megami Magazine, Nyantype, or Newtype. You’ll find out about anime being broadcast in Japan right now, and the free posters and other stuff the magazines shower fans with are really great. The month-to-month revolving subscriptions can be cancelled or changed at any time, too.
“Another” new anime series to watch.
