Monday 9 June 2014

A few Sengoku Basara: Judge End rumours begin to circulate

Tomorrow is the day that the mainstream anime magazines hit the shelves in Japan, which means that eager fans are currently discussing the promised content and poring over rumours from those who managed to get their copies a few hours early.

Here's what I've seen so far (I expect the website to update soon too). None of this has been properly confirmed yet by an official source.
  • Animedia magazine is reporting that the first episode will air on 5th July 2014 on NTV/BS Nittere and additional stations.
  • The timeslot isn't confirmed yet but some people have suggested it will take over the late night slot which is currently used for The World Is Still Beautiful (Soredemo Sekai Ha Utsukushii).
  • More characters are being announced in the magazines. Judging by the seiyuu list at the above link, we can probably expect Katakura Kojuurou (Morikawa Toshiyuki), Sarutobi Sasuke (Koyasu Takehito), Takeda Shingen (Genda Tesshou), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Okiayu Ryoutarou), Takenaka Hanbee (Ishida Akira) and Ootani Yoshitsugu (Tachiki Fumihiko). None of these names should come as a big surprise for the first episode of an anime based on Sengoku Basara 3.
  • I'm guessing Honda Tadakatsu will be revealed in the same batch (of course, he doesn't have a seiyuu credit).
  • There's a completely unsubstantiated rumour that T.M.Revolution might not be performing the opening theme this time. This could be fake so please don’t panic yet.
The English-language website for the series also updated a few days ago, changing the official overseas title from Sengoku Basara -Judgement- to Sengoku Basara -End of Judgement-. I give up; it's easier to keep using the Japanese title until a western licensor formally confirms the finalised English name for the series.

Update 16:10: 

Dengeki Online has posted a news report and the website has now updated too.
  • The first broadcast has been confirmed for NTV on 5th July 2014 at 25:50 (that's 01:50 on the 6th July 2014 for those of us who don't follow broadcast calendar notation). Less than a month to go!
  • The first episode will receive a world premiere at France's Japan Expo at 15:00 on 2nd July 2014.
  • The theme song will be Hokkyokusei ~Polaris~ ("North Star ~Polaris~") by Ishikawa Chiaki. She also provided music for the previous anime, the stage play and (of course) for Sengoku Basara 3.
  • Colour artwork of Kojuurou, Sasuke and Shingen is available on the official character page. All of the characters voiced by the listed seiyuu are now confirmed (Hideyoshi, Hanbee and Yoshitsugu).
  • Kenshin is mentioned as Shingen's rival in his introduction, so perhaps we can expect the God of War to make an appearance during the series later on.
Anime Anime and Famitsu have since posted their news reports as well.

Update 14/06/2014: 

I had to post another quick update as it's now been clarified that Ishikawa Chiaki's theme song will be used as the ending for Sengoku Basara: Judge End.

An advertisement for her next album, Watashi No Kokoro Ha Sou Ittenai, has been found and posted on Twitter. The album will be released on 8th October 2014 priced at ¥2,160 with catalogue number DDCZ-1967 and is to contain five tracks "including Hokkyokusei ~Polaris~, the ending theme to the new NTV anime series Sengoku Basara Judge End".

The speculation on whether there will be a song for the opening too can now begin...

22 comments:

  1. This update basically confirms that I prefer the new anime's art style over the previous series', haha

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    1. Yes! I loved the original anime's designs too but I'm so hyped seeing Kojuurou with his proper game-style eyebrows, Sasuke with his killer glare and Shingen's face is much more expressive! Looking forward to seeing more announcements at a faster pace from now on :D

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    2. I think they look very similar, though? Almost the same, really, except for small differences around the eyes and the hair (plus Yukimura's eyebrows). So far Shingen is the only one where I see substantial difference between former and current designs.

      In any case, I like the new art, too, but I'm not a fan of how some characters' heads seem to have shrunk (most obviously Masamune's and Mitsunari's), and how everyone's feet grew larger. ^^;; (Also, what's going on with Kojuurou's right arm? o_o)

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    3. I like both styles but this new anime has proper chins on everyone (instead of the super sharp ones like on this cutie: http://www.capcom.co.jp/basara4/images/system_sousei_ss07.jpg) and a highly detailed nose on Shingen lol, which is rare in anime. I approve!

      I want to see everone now ~~~
      Especially Tenkai & Kingo hope they don't get left out...

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    4. I just want to see Keiji and Sourin (and Kenshin & Kasuga, but that's a given :D). I hope Sourin will get at least a cameo and won't get completely cut because he's not serious enough for the story. ^^;;

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    5. Sasuke has his game-style faceplate too, covering his chin! The proportions are a little strange but I'm sure they'll look ok in motion (assuming that the animation is good >_<).

      I cannot un-see the wobbly right arm now...

      The new designs seem to have given everyone a boost in the volume of their hairstyles too, perhaps they're planning a shampoo tie-in? :D

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    6. I agree, we need . Tenkai and Kingo appeared in the movie but I'm sure that anime-only viewers were pretty confused about what they were doing (as with Yoshitsugu) so they need a proper introduction, even if they don't have a huge part. Kingo has to be in a story about Sekigahara anyway since his character concept in this series practically revolves around what happens there, so Tenkai is sure to be nearby!

      I'm guessing that the next reveal will be the designs for the Toyotomi-related characters since they're all guaranteed now (I can't imagine Tadakatsu will be left out, too), then with the four leads' armies properly introduced they can start teasing the reveals we're all most worried about. The anxiety from the Keiji and Setouchi fans seems the most intense on Twitter right now.

      Definitely hoping for Sourin (and Gallop) even if the Xavists do little more than leading a dance over the ED to cheer everyone up after the drama and fighting each episode >_>;

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    7. Lol, a shampoo tie-in! :D I'd love that. They could have a campaign with Keiji (duh!), Motochika and, say, Yukimura showing off their awesome, sparkly, flowing hair. (There could be a joke CM, too, with Shingen's fluffy red mane.) Ieyasu and Mitsunari could star in hair gel CMs. And Masamune would be horribly jealous of all the attention everyone is getting for their hair, while his is hidden under his iconic helmet.

      I admit I'm also worried about Keiji... Not so much about the Setouchi duo, they'll be fine even if they don't have large roles. Of course I know that fans would want more, but let's be realistic... :/

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    8. We're definitely going to need some girls in the cast at some point and Keiji's attachment to Magoichi is good for both laughs and drama, so I hope that will help him stake a claim to his fair share of screen time. I sort of want Matsu's kidnapping storyline to appear as well because it was one of my favourite Maeda family situations!

      I'm convinced that Motochika and Motonari will both appear to give Ieyasu and Gyoubu interesting relationships with people other than Mitsunari himself as character development. Ahh, I guess I'm going to have to accept that some people won't make it but so long as they don't devote every episode to the leads it must be possible to fit a bunch of these characters in...

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    9. Oops I left a comment where I typed "I agree, we need . " but I meant to say "I agree, we need all of these characters!". I might be a little overexcited.

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    10. To be honest, as much as there are a whole bunch of characters I want to see in the anime, and I do expect a number of them to get cameos, I'd much rather they kept the focus on the leads and the main supporting cast, instead of trying to shoehorn in as many characters as possible, especially if there's only 13 episodes. An overcrowded story would just alienate new or anime only viewers and hurt the plot (such as it is :D) and the lead characters' development.

      They could give the others a spotlight in a big battle scene, or in extra segments like the Mini Sengoku Basara extras in the previous anime (I loved those :D), or perhaps an OVA or something.

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    11. kuromitsu, you’re very right, too many characters means the story would become a confusing mess.
      My brain thinks so too, but my fangirl heart wants this and that and those and all these characters to appear…so those extras suggestions sound good.

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    12. By the way I think it's funny how everyone is commenting on details of the character art. Like, "yes his eyebrows are correct"
      High-five you nerds! ;)

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    13. Extra mini-episodes to cram in all of the characters who weren't directly relevant to the storyline this time would be much appreciated for sure!

      We're the coolest fans around. All of the sensible discussions are still stuck on whether this series is linked to the older ones; here, we're busily studying every single contour of Oyakata-sama's manly face to try to find imaginary clues.

      I can't wait to see how much fun we'll have analysing every single frame of the eventual PV! *_*

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    14. Clearly we know what are the really important issues! :D Now excuse me, I have an essay to write about how Yukimura's eyebrows now complement Shingen's mane, and the possible plot significance thereof. (I mean, they could do a little fanservice and have Yukimura wear the maned helmet at one point...)

      Come to think of it, where is the PV? Not even a teaser out yet...

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  2. Haha title changed again!
    This will be out in less than a month :o There really should be a trailer soon also. Weird that there hasn’t been one already.

    I was suprised to see that Hanbeeeeiii <3 will appear! In more than a flashback I assume. Oh great he will die in the first episode though won’t he.

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    1. I'm afraid so; it's probably best not to get too attached ^_^;

      There's so little hype about this show at the moment outside of the hardcore fans. They really need to get the word out with an attention-grabbing trailer soon...

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    2. Well that’s way too late I’m quite fond of Hanbei you know! Fully prepared for him dying all the damn time in the stories though.
      I thought that the anime might start after Hideyoshi was killed, not before. Wonder how that is going to play out.

      The lack of advertising (well, no trailer so far) for this is indeed strange. I wonder why it's so.

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  3. Keiji, where are you? ToT) I hope he'll get at least a small but regular role...

    And still no word on the composer? I guess it's not Sawano, then. He's sort of a hot property right now, if he did the music I think they'd be using him to drive the hype. I hope that whoever is doing the music will succeed in creating a soundtrack that's at least as memorable as Sawano's was.

    I can't say I'm very hyped for the story based on what we know, but I still hope that the anime won't take itself too seriously and we'll get some of the fun and craziness that I love about this franchise.

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    1. I find the way they're taking forever to announce things quite frustrating, especially as I'm following so many other (amazing-looking) summer shows and they've been promoting themselves much more aggressively. The series has always had amazing music in all of its incarnations so I can't believe they'll let us down this time...ヽ(;´д`)ノ

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  4. No T.M. Revolution singing. I love him so much, because I'm watching every single Sengoku Basara episodes and the movie till Judge End is coming out so I want to hear his voice again. :(

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    1. It's strange to imagine a Sengoku Basara anime without T.M.Revolution. I hope they'll include him somewhere, even if it's just by using a remix of Naked arms as an insert song during the series.

      But I'm still rather happy about Ishikawa. Perhaps they thought that her emotional songs would be a better fit for what's looking like a very dramatic series - or was Nishikawa Takanori simply too busy with his new single and busy summer schedule? At least Ishikawa has been supporting the series for a while and she's behind one of my favourite anime openings ever (Uninstall from Bokurano) so she's probably the next best thing to T.M.R./a.b.s. when it comes to consistency.

      Of course, we only have the name of one theme song. What if it's used as the ending theme and there's a fast-paced instrumental for the opening? Or will there be another song from Ishikawa's single revealed as the closing later on? I want to know more!

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