"This is our first time exhibiting at the Anime Expo," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. "And we think that our lineup of titles launching over the next six months is the perfect fit for the show's attendees." Harvest Moon:

Grand Bazaar is the latest in the long-running farming and social sim series. This time around, players are tasked with bringing prosperity back to Zephyr Town. This is achieved in traditional Harvest Moon fashion by farming, raising animals, meeting pretty anime girls and marrying them. This time around, though, players have the opportunity to sell their wares at their own shop.

Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon sums itself up rather succinctly in its title. Players, in the role of a half-human, half-monster character, are tasked with uniting two communities and stopping a "growing evil force". Presumably by farming, raising animals, meeting pretty anime girls and marrying them.

Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals marks the triumphant return for a favorite RPG series from the 16-bit era, with a few twists on the original's formula. This game involves no farming or raising of animals but probably involves at least a few pretty anime girls whom players may or may not be able to marry.

Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove places players in the role of a pretty anime girl who has sneezed her soul out of her nose. Inexplicably, the only way to recover it is by dancing with monsters. It is unlikely that farming, raising animals or marriage will enter into this process.

So anime fans are into farming, saving the world, uniting humans and monsters and rescuing their souls by dancing, according to Maekawa. Actually, that's not an unreasonable assumption, given the diverse nature of anime. Add in a few minigames involving tentacles and they'll be good to go. Although that may be somewhat at odds with Natsume's self-professed "family-friendly" image, of course. The Anime Expo runs from Thursday July 1 to Sunday July 4. Natsume's booth is number 1201 in the South Hall, and both media and consumers are welcome to get hands-on with the demo games.