Fighting Girls for Fall 2016 - Mahou Shoujo, Witches, Idols, A Hunt and… War?!

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Thank the lord! He has heard our prayers and is giving us a fantastic fall lineup boasting over seventy plus anime titles to choose from. After a rather lackluster summer, it makes sense that we are getting something to answer our prayers for more! While fall is boasting a lot of titles across almost every genre, how many will stand the test of time? Well today, let’s take a segment and introduce them to you!

Today we will be looking at the hot shows of Fall that feature the ladies. Be it magical girls, war tacticians, singers or fighters, there is sure to be at least one show on this list that will peak your interest. We here at Honey’s Anime have found the eight shows that fall under this category and ranked them for you in what we think are the ones to keep an eye on from least grabbing, but still, worth a shot, all the way down to the absolute must see shows! So, delve on in and let’s not keep you waiting any longer!


8. Vivid Strike!

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 2, 2016

Vivid strike features Fuuka and Rinne; two girls who lived together in an orphanage. They were broke beyond measure and have had to endure various forms of bullying and hardships. Fuuka is the hardened of the two girls who has accepted the sad past that they were dealt and uses it to not only power herself but to find the girl that she lost, Rinne. Fuuka is going to wrap herself in fights constantly as she lets her fists do the talking. Rinne is a tender girl who was crushed by the reality of their pasts. Gentle and kind, she only wants to be with Fuuka, with whom, she was raised like a sister.

To be honest, this show falls at the bottom of this list for a myriad of reasons. While it is clear from the character descriptions that it is going to be some sort of military, fighting anime, there is not much clear information on it that has been released as of yet. This is one of those, “watch and see” shows! However, Vivid Strike! is part of the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha ViVid series. It is a spin-off and not a direct sequel or prequel, so, fans who are into this franchise and series should keep an eye on this one for sure! Also, those who are just into watching girls fight and protect each other will love this series. Catch the main PV below and then head over to our database page to learn more!

ViVid Strike Trailer

Anime Database Page

Vivid Strike!


7. Idol Memories

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 3, 2016

With the successes of many idol anime like Love Live! and Idolm@aster, it makes sense that yet again, we will have another idol anime each season. This one is the ladies version. There is a male version as well for those who are interested. Set in a future not too far from ours, idols have taken over the world! Well, so to speak they have. What happens this time around is that idols are in such demand, that there are now academies that produce idols. The dream has fully been realized; don’t learn, just become an idol!

This takes us Vivi Lin, and the group she is a part of called StarRing. They all attend an academy that used to churn out global star after global star. However, tragically, they no longer are able to do that! Even worse, the school is in a total slump and not even able to produce any idols of notoriety. Now, idols gather here to try and become the best and stand on the top of the Idol Ring!

Idol fans gather fast because this will be your show of the season. Idol Memories has also been developed to be VR friendly since that is the way that the world is going, and they have released VR music videos for StarRing allowing you to be in the anime if you have the proper equipment! However, it does fall short a little bit. Love Live! Sunshine!! just went off the air and considering that that was one of the most popular shows this Summer in Japan, Idol Memories has a lot to accomplish.

Also, take out idol ring and a global stage and replace it with Love Live, and you literally have the exact same plot. The girls need to save the school, but can they? Idol fans unite!

Idol Memories Trailer

Anime Database Page

Idol Memories


6. Shuumatsu no Izetta (Izetta)

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 1, 2016

Awkwardly change the names of countries and you have the newest war/fictional/historical anime! Akin to the idea of Junketsu no Maria, Shuumatsu no Izetta follows Izetta who is a descendant of witches that have somehow inherited powers that have been passed down from generation to generation. She can control anything that she touches. Moving around Europe to hide this, Germania (totally not Germany in WWII) in 1940 has decided to conquer all of Europe.

Eylstadt is a tiny country that Izetta happens to be located in when Germania attacks. Judging from the PV, Izetta, can ride a gun like it is a broom in the traditional sense of a witch. She comes into contact with Fine, the heir in line to the throne of Eylstadt and a war breaks out as Germania’s invasion begins!

This already seems like what we stated in the introduction, to be somewhat similar to Junketsu no Maria and could hold promise, though. Strike Witches did very well for itself and Shuumatsu no Izetta could also do very well for itself. The difference that Izetta has is that it runs the risk of failing more. SW had multiple witches with different personalities and weapons while Izetta has only one. However, the journey of Izetta finding out who she is and clearly helping Eylstadt could be a very big draw point to the series. Regardless this is one to keep an eye on for sure. If it goes big, that would be great!

Shuumatsu no Izetta Trailer

Anime Database Page

Shuumatsu no Izetta


5. Soushin Shoujo Matoi (Matoi the Sacred Slayer)

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 4, 2016

Matoi is just another normal girl living in the countryside who goes to middle school. There she hangs out with her best friend Yuma Kusanagi. As a part-time job, she works with Yuma at Yuma’s family shrine. A fateful day comes when Yuma and Matoi arrive at the shrine and see that Yuma’s parents have been attacked by the shrine god?! Thinking quickly, Yuma performs an exorcising, purifying ritual… but it backfires. The deity does not go back into the shrine, but rather into Matoi! Suddenly Matoi’s everyday live is thrust upside down as she now has to exorcise evil spirits as a magical girl!

Hmm… Anime set in the countryside, where there is a girl who works in a shrine but becomes a magical girl? Kuma Miko meets Noragami without the bad ending? We are intrigued. This, yet again, could be similar to Noragami, where we are introduced to various deities from Shinto while getting a good show. This is also good to note that a lot of people will be watching this as it is studio WHITE FOX”s first ever original anime. They are the studio behind shows like Re:Zero, Steins;Gate, Akame ga Kill, Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?, and much more. Keep an eye out for this one. This could become a mega-hit.

Soushin Shoujo Matoi Trailer

Anime Database Page

Soushin Shoujo Matoi



4. Flip Flappers

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 6, 2016

One day, two girls are swept up into another world. While trying to figure out where they are, it is explained that they now live in a world called “Pure Illusion”. In this world, they now have to search for the fragments of mimi or “Mimi no Kakera”. The strange thing about it is it is not really explained why they must search, but when danger approaches Cocona and Papika, the fragments shine and they must transform into magical girls! Now facing all sorts of trials and difficulties, they must overcome them all to make their wishes come true.

Flip Flappers... If there was a show with a strange name, it would be this one. However, the story might not be as flat mahou shoujo as it appears. While the art style is very unique and different, the fighting scenes and animation hark back to the series Birdy the Mighty. We could be looking at the next Madoka Magica. The PVs, while revealing, do indicate that something else could be potentially going on in the background and we are just getting the bright and flashy part upfront. It’s hard to categorize this series as well from the studio, 3Hz, because their only claims to fame are Dimension W, which aired Winter 2016, and Sora no method from two years ago.

Regardless, this could be adorable with the two girl’s personalities being cute and contrasting, or it could get very dark very fast since so much information has been withheld from the official website. Check it out below!

Flip Flappers Trailer

Anime Database Page

Flip Flappers


3. Brave Witches

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 6, 2016

Smack dab in the middle of seasons one and two of Strike Witches, comes Brave Witches! Yet again, we will see the adorable girls of the military, wearing nothing but underwear, shirts, and magic flying leg gear, take off into the sky to fight the enemy of humanity. Who is the enemy of humanity? The Neuroi. They appeared sometime in the 1930s in Europe and the only way to subdue their destruction is to fight back with magical girls and their weapons.

Strike Witches followed the 501st Joint Fighter Wing as they take down the Neuroi in Gallia in Western Europe. Now secure, the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing, Brave Witches, is sent out to take out the Neuroi who have set up shop in the country of Orussia. Hikari and her sister Takami work together to take out this new threat!

Somewhere in a corner, Bee-kun is crying tears of joy much like we are. Strike Witches was very well received in Japan and it is clear that this is an extension as they try to bring more people into the fandom. Set in the same time as Shuumatsu no Izetta, Brave Witches has more girls to get to know and like! Silver Link is at the helm and they will not be messing around with what could be another success on their hands. Check out the PV below and get excited!

Brave Witches Trailer

Anime Database Page

Brave Witches


2. Show By Rock!! #

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: October 2, 2016

Plasmagica is back again in the second season of Show By Rock!! #. This time, though, the girls are not messing around. They will be pushing even further now into the industry to become a top band. Cyan, ChuChu, Retoree, and Moa now have to face off against a more daring and sexy boy band. It seems too from the PV that not all is going to be easy for the girls, this time, around as they are being attacked? This is not going to be easy! Can they rise to the top?

Next up is Show By Rock!! #. The first season was a success and just had Show by Rock!! Short!!, so you inevitably knew that this one was coming. The girls are back and this time, they have no idea what their fates are. Thankfully, Show By Rock!! # is very clear cut and you know if you will like it or not. Cute girls struggling against adversity and more? This is your gig. Check out the foreboding PV below and then hop on over to the database page to watch more!

Show By Rock!! Trailer

Anime Database Page

Show by Rock!! 2nd Season


1. Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku (Magical Girl Raising Project)

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: October 2, 2016

Snow White along with her friends is playing a popular social game called “Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku”. However, it seems like some people who do play the game can actually become real magical girls! All they need to do is collect the candy! Until… there is an announcement one fateful day. It turns out that the cute mascot character announced that there are too many magical girls in real life. The numbers need to be culled. What does that mean? It means that half of the magical girls need to cease. How? Well… they have not said, but what begins next is a savage and hard race to survive as now everyone is suddenly your enemy.

Woooo, this last one's a doozy and they do admit that this is going to get dark. We love it! Anything that can take a trope and twist it promises a good story. That is why this show is number one! Of all of the shows on this list, this one is going to very much challenge us. No three episode viewing rule is necessary this time around as we all are going to be watching this show hands down. Is this Madoka meets Danganronpa? Maybe! After you watch the trailer, check out the other ones on the database page as there are an absurd amount of them for this anime!

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku Trailer

Anime Database Page

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku


Final Thoughts

After a very dry Summer with not many hits, it is refreshing to look at fall and not only see so many shows with promise but so many that we actually want to watch! One thing is definitely for sure this fall; mahou shoujo is in and it is staying in. Hopefully, these shows will deliver on the hype that they have promised!

What are you looking forward to on this list? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! Till next time!

Soushin-Shoujo-Matoi-wallpaper-1-688x500 Fighting Girls for Fall 2016 - Mahou Shoujo, Witches, Idols, A Hunt and… War?!

Editor/Translator

Author: Nagareboshi

American by birth; international by choice. I am trying to bring attention to one of my favorite causes; me. I translate by day and write by night. Aspiring polyglot. My dream would be to be the personal translator for Amuro Namie. Other than that, my hobbies include languages, weightlifting, sleeping, karaoke, GOOD coffee and music. When I’m not doing any of the above, I am most likely laughing hysterically at Willam Belli videos or EV farming. I ain’t gunna Rupologize for it neither. Waifu are Shirai Kuroko & Euaerin.

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