Filipino-language anime channel HEROtv has announced on-air that they are set to premiere three new titles this month of September, which are Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Active Raid and the anime movie Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Blue Eyed Casval.
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
灰と幻想のグリムガル
When Haruhito awakens, he’s in the dark. He doesn’t know where he is, why is he here, and where he came from. Around him there are several men and women who have the same circumstances. Haruhito and his companions find themselves in a “game-like world” called Grimgar and must form a party, cooperate, and learn new skills to survive the harsh environment together. (Synopsis from Anime News Network)
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, also known by the title Grimgar le Monde des cendres et de fantaisie, is an anime adaptation of a light novel series, written by Ao Jumonji & illustrated by Eiri Shirai, which is serialized under Overlap Bunko since June 2013. The novel currently has seven (7) volumes.
The anime adaptation was written & directed by Ryosuke Nakamura and character designs were made by Mieko Hosoi, who both worked on the horror anime Aoi Bungaku Series, which was produced by A-1 Pictures.
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash premieres on Thursday, September 1, airing every Monday to Friday nights at 07:30pm.
Pan-regional anime channel ANIMAX Asia, which is the direct competitor of the Filipino-language channel, has previously aired the series on a simulcast basis last February, under the alternative English title “GRIMGAR, Ashes and Illusions”. The program was aired in Japanese audio with subtitles, either English or select local languages.
It is still unknown if ANIMAX Asia still has the rights to air the anime show, or the license was given-up and acquired by HEROtv.
Active Raid
アクティヴレイド
Set in a part of Tokyo that has descended into a quagmire, the story follows Unit 8 of the 5th Special Public Security Section’s 3rd Mobile Assault Division — popularly called “The Eighth” — who don powered armor “Willware” exoskeletons to counter the rise in crime. Assistant inspector Asami Kazari is assigned to The Eighth with the task of assessing the unit’s status and reporting it to her superiors. But her true goal is to rehabilitate this sloppy, haphazard, justice-less group. (Synopsis from Anime News Network)
Active Raid is a television anime series produced by Production IMS, with Code Geass series creator Goro Taniguchi as the chief director together with Noriaki Akitaya, while Naruhisa Arakawa, who handled roles in shows like D.N.Angel and Jinsei – Life Consulting, handled the series composition.
Asako Nishida, who handled character designs for Vampire Knight and Love Live! School idol project, also handled the same role on this anime series.
Active Raid premieres on Wednesday, September 7, airing every Monday to Friday nights at 10:30pm.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Blue Eyed Casval
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN – 青い瞳のキャスバル
Universal Century 0068, Side 3 – The Autonomous Republic of Munzo. Zeon Zum Deikun attempts to declare complete independence of Munzo from the Earth Federation Government, while he preaches the evolutionary potential of humans who have advanced into outer space. Deikun however suddenly falls to his death in the middle of his speech at parliament.
Upon Deikun’s death, Jimba Ral spreads word of a House of Zabi conspiracy – but despite such efforts the power and sphere of influence of House of Zabi, led by Degwin Sodo Zabi, only seem to escalate.
While we witness for the first time the untold convulsions of Universal Century history, Casval and Artesia, just bereaved of their father, must face destinies which will be just as tumultuous as the very era itself. (Synopsis from the Official Website)
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is an anime adaptation of a manga series by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, which is an alternate re-telling of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino. It was serialized by Kadokawa Shoten’s Gundam Acemagazine from June 2001 to June 2011, and has a total of 23 volumes.
The anime adaptation was directed by Yasuhiko together with Takashi Imanishi, who also directed several Mobile Suit Gundam movies, while the screenplay was handled by Mobile Suit Gundam Wing scriptwriter Katsuyuki Sumisawa.
Tsukasa Kotobuki and Yoshikazu Yasuhiko handled character designs, which was produced by anime studio Sunrise.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Blue Eyed Casval premieres on Sunday, September 18, at 12:00pm with a primetime telecast at 08:00pm.
The first episode of the series previously had theatrical screenings last year in Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, courtesy of its licensor Odex. It also the very first anime title offered by the anime streaming service Daisuki as a premium “on-demand” service.
