In the latest in a weeklong series of announcements, FUNimation Productions has revealed that it has licensed the 24-episode anime series Shuffle!; and the 2-episode OVA My Santa, which is based on a story by Ken Akamatsu (Love Hina).  Both titles aired in Japan in 2005 and will be released in the U.S. in the fall of 2007.  Interestingly, although both qualify as romantic comedies, Shuffle!, the TV anime, is racier than the OVA, My Santa.

Shuffle! is yet another variation on the harem comedy genre.  The twist this time is that in addition to the requisite childhood friend, the female suitors for the hapless hero include the daughter of the King of Gods and the daughter of the King of Demons, though frankly (aside from being better looking) they aren't all that different from ordinary mortals. 

Fans of the harem anime genre should like this series -- the hero is not a perv or a complete doofuss and though there is plenty of conventional fan service (think panty shots), the audience is spared the accidental breast grabs so common in films of this type.

My Santa is based on the Kodansha manga Itsudatte My Santa, which was written by the king of the harem genre, Ken Akamatsu (Love Hina, Negima).  In this highly romantic story a comely Claus-in-training named Mai meets a boy named Santa on Christmas Eve and promises to make him happy (for one night).

FUNimation also announced that it would release the first DVD volume of its Clamp manga-based Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles (see 'FUNimation Has Tsubasa Chronicles TV Series') on May 22nd.