With the end of the year near It gets me thinking about what anime I can expect to be watching soon.

So I went around and did some research about some upcoming anime titles, a few sparked my interest.

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

The first one I came across would be : Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica.

Currently the only information about the show is that Akiyuki Shinbo (Bakemonogatari) is the director, Ume Aoki (Hidamari Sketch) is the character designer, and Gen Urobuchi (Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~) is the writer.  We have the four main characters, Madoka Kaname by Aoi Yuki, Homura Akemi by Chiwa Saito, Sayaka Miki by Eri Kitamura, and Mami Tomoe by Kaori Mizuhashi. The studio SHAFT is taking up this venture and the anime is due to air on Jan. 06, 2011.

Level E

The second one I came across would be :  Level E.

This one looks to be one of the more strange anime of the season. The animation style reminds me alot of Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro. The plot follows an alien prince who crash lands on Earth and begins living with a high school student. Along with its short length and more realistic art style, the story of Level E focuses much more heavily on humor than Togashi’s more famous shōnen series YuYu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter. I’m going to be watching this one.

Here is the summary from Wikipedia.

Japan has engineered an armed powered exoskeleton called “Infinite Stratos” (IS) and it has become the mainstream of weapons. Since only women can operate an IS, the power balance between men and women have been broken and women now dominate the society over men. Orimura Ichika is a 15 year old boy and who touches an IS placed in the IS pilot training school. He is found to be the only man who can operate IS and is forced to enter the training school. Ichika’s busy school life surrounded by girls has begun.

Since it sounds so interesting I’m going to put this as my number one pick for anime in early winter 2011. I can only hope it turns out as good as I thought Chrome Shelled Regios was.

Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka?

The fourth series I’m going to watch will be, Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka?.

This is the anime adaptation of Kimura Shinichi’s light novel series, “Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka?”, which recently was recognized in Fujimi Shobo’s 20th Fantasia Awards for long-running novels as an honorable mention. The first episode is expected to be released in January 2011. The plot focuses around a high school student named Ayumu Aikawa who is murdered in a series of mass killings. Much to his surprise he is randomly brought back to life by a necromancer girl named “Yu”, who he had actually just encountered before being murdered. He awakens in a realm of magical girls and vampire ninja. Ayumu is quickly set up as the helper of one magical girl warrior named Haruna.  This series is about the escapades of the two. I always like anime where zombies and magical girls are involved so I’m really looking forward to this series.