October marks the beginning of the 2012 Fall kūru, or TV programming season, in Japan.  In Japan, TV scheduling is divided into four three-month blocks called kūru rather than the yearly seasons of American television.

But like America’s seasons, the beginning is a chance for new shows to make it or break it with the viewers.  In the case of anime, an online survey was held to ask “What new show are you most excited about this kūru?”

The survey was conducted by ISP BIGLOBE (I think that’s supposed to mean “BIG GLOBE” not “BIG LOBE”) on their anime portal site AnimeWan. The survey asked viewers for their most anticipated anime starting Oct. 10 and received 12,167 votes in total.

Here’s the top ten:

*Some titles are interpretations and may change on eventual English release

10 – Hidimari Suketchi X Hanikamu
Sunshine Sketch x Honeycomb

 The fourth season in a series centering on a group of artistic girls who live together. This series can also be available for members of the UK’s Anime on Demand at the same time.

9 – Sakura-sō no Pet na Kanojo
The Pet Girl of Sakura Hall

Based on a series of light novels, the story follows Sorata Kanda’s experiences in an art school dormitory filled with eccentrics, one of which he must reluctantly watch over.

8 – Gintama (Dai-San Ki)
Silver Soul (Third Phase)

Based on a quirky manga of the same name, this story takes place in a fictional Edo period where aliens had fought and defeated the samurai for control of the country.

7 – Zetsuen no Tenpesuto
Tempest of Zetsuen

Young Mahiro Fuwa is a teenager hell-bent on getting revenge for his family’s murder, but is also charged with the task of protecting the “Tree of Zetsuen,” and ultimately, the world.

6 – To LOVE-RU-Toraburu-da-kunesu
To Love-RU -Trouble- Darkness

The latest adaptation of the manga series about a teenage boy whose misfortunes with love somehow get him tangled up in an inter-galactic power struggle.

5 – Hayate no Gotoku! CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU
Hayate the Combat Butler! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Another tale of an unlucky teen, this time Hayate Ayasaki, who landed himself a job as a butler/bodyguard for an heiress prone to fall victim to various mishaps unless he can help it.

4 – K

Not much is known about this series except what can get seen in their amibiguous trailers.  It appears to be about a futuristic school in Tokyo that trains superhuman soldiers a la X-Men.

3 – Shin Sekai Yori
From the New World

Based on the novel by Yusuke Kishi, it centers on five children who live in a seemingly perfect world in the distant future, until it all starts crashing down around them.

2 – Ritoru Basutāzu!
Little Busters!

This anime adaptation of a popular visual novel follows a clique of long-time friends in high school who decide to branch out into letting more girls into their circle.

1 – Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai!
She Has Adolescent Delusions, But I Want to Love Her!

Based on an award winning light novel series, it’s the story of Yuta Togashi who while trying to grow out of his adolescent “psychic” phase finds himself getting sucked back in after crossing paths with Rikka who is still going through hers.

It’s important to note that these are only the most anticipated animes of this kuru.  We will have to see in the coming weeks which ones live up to the hype.  There might just be the next classic on that list.

If anything, we can take away the fact that putting an exclamation point in your title seems to help build excitement.  That’s why I did it!!!

Source: BIGLOBE via NariNari (Japanese)