Amagami SS
Studio: AIC (Ah! My Goddess, Nyan Koi)
Director: Hiraike Yoshimasa (Working!, Solty Rei)
Air Date: July 1, 2010

Based on a very successful PS2 visual novel, Amagami SS looks to be the romantic comedy of the season that gets far and away from the traditional moe look that we've seen for a while now. The characters, looking surprisingly realistic, are already pulling on my heartstrings just from watching the trailer.

We don't have too much on it, but expect Brad Rice to be covering this. He needs to watch something to clear the K-ON!! out of his system.

Black Butler 2
Studio: A-1 Pictures (Big Windup, Kannagi)
Director: Ogura Hirofumi (Inuyasha, Gintama)
Air Date: July 1, 2010

Same themes as before in the first Black Butler, just with a different cast this time. For those of you just joining us, though, this series is about a demon butler who serves his young master -- and let me tell you, he's one hell of a butler! A shojo/black comedy series, this has been extremely popular amongst female fans.

What's interesting is that the show is being handed over to first-time director Ogura Hirofumi, who has only previously worked as an episode director on a handful of shows. How will this pan out? We'll have to see not only how the material pans out, but if fans react as well to the new characters.

Only Colette Bennett is allowed to cover this.

Highschool of the Dead
Studio: Madhouse (Death Note, Casshern Sins)
Director: Araki Tetsuro (Death Note, Blue Literature)
Air Date: July 5, 2010

Pardon the bias, but this is without a doubt the show to watch this season. The story is, quite simply, about a group of busty high school students trying to survive a zombie outbreak. We follow them from the initial encounter with the zombies, to the school being taken over, all the way through their escape plans. The manga was peppered with references to Western zombie flicks, so don't be surprised if you notice Simon Pegg in the show somewhere.

Also, with an all-star lineup of talent behind this project, from Eri Kitamura to Mamoru Miyano, with character designs by Tanaka Masayoshi (Toradora!), there's no reason not to be excited for this. Tetsurou, the director, has a good eye for high-stakes drama, so this show should have all the impact of a strong horror title -- each and every week.

Naturally, expect Brad Rice to be covering this.

The Legend of the Legendary Heroes
Studio: ZEXCS (Chu-Bra!, Rental Magica)
Director: Kawasaki Itsuro (Rental Magica, Licensed by Royalty)
Air Date: July 1, 2010

A legendary show in the making that tells the tale of a legendary war that ends up dragging in a boy from the Royal Magician's Academy, who is sent off to find the relics of the legendary heroes. Most likely, the story will end up being the tale of a boy growing up, finding out some big bad secret, and changing the tide of the war. Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Not too many high hopes for this title, so we've got to wait and see who will be covering it for Japanator.