January 29, 2024 by metatron13

My Best Anime of 2023

It’s that time of the early year for me to share my list of best anime for 2023. This list consists of the best of the best of what I’ve watched from last year. Again, note that these are anime that I’ve seen, and so if you have you’re favorites and they aren’t here, it simply means that they aren’t on my viewing list. Spoilers will come so be ready for them…

At number twelve, I have “The Eminence in Shadow”. Technically, there are two cours of this for 2023. One was the continuation of the first season which carried over from 2022. The other was released in the fall of last year. In any case, Cid/Shadow and his harems (yes there are two, actually) had a very entertaining year for Shadow Garden. It’s unsurprising that this is one of the more popular isekai nowadays. As per isekai trope, Cid/Shadow is totally op, and that’s fine for this genre. Me? I prefer my isekai main characters to just be moderately powerful. Nonetheless, this is entertaining enough to make the tail end of my list.

At number eleven, I have “Dr. Stone”. This was an excellent split cour season of Senkuu, and the rest of the Kingdom of Science. I dare say that the third season is just as good as the second. And, if all indications are correct, the next season (last?) might just be even better. The mystery of the petrification ray that affected the world was discovered. Now it’s time to get to the source. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. This third season was a perfect mix of what make this anime so entertaining: science, action, comedy, and mystery. I’ll keep saying it: this is an anime you can use to teach science class. Just don’t let your students do the experiments here without your guidance, if not at all.

At number ten, I have “To Your Eternity”. Ah, Fushi, this was a good season for you. After all the heartache you felt from season one, here in season two you get to fight back. Fushi also finds out that long lost friends can be brought back by his power. I told you there’d be spoilers. Fushi finally puts the Knockers in their place, and he gives his longtime perished friends the second life they deserve. It’s almost like Fushi has some form of Messiah Complex. That is completely true. The end of season two makes me wonder how they can proceed with season three. This was the perfect ending already. I hope the third season will be only better for Fushi.

At number nine, I have “Jobless Reincarnation”. This second season is basically the story of how Rudeus, and Sylphy find each other. Not a lot of action here. More of Rudeus trying to solve his erectile dysfunction. Lo and behold, the cure is Sylphy, a childhood friend, and former student. Let there be no illusion that this is an ecchi anime, but it’s also one of the best fantasy isekai around. I’m hoping that part two of the second season which comes out this year will have all the action missing from the first cour. Still, Rudeus’s challenges are entertaining enough to put him higher on my list than the three anime that came before “Jobless Reincarnation”.

At number eight, I have “Apothecary Diaries”. I have one word for you that makes this anime worth the watch: Maomao. This smart, witty, charming, and pretty main character of this series is the engine that makes this anime roll. It’s historical fiction set in Imperial China. Maomao plays the apothecary/super sleuth within the walls of the Outer Palace. The image above of her is Maomao as she got older. Right now she is in her adolescent stage…maybe? I can’t wait for her to completely bloom into that beauty. Jaws will drop. But, if you don’t have the smarts, you have no chance with her. Take note, Master Jinshi.

At number seven, I have “Pluto”. This is “Astroboy” if you added a bit more layered storytelling, and emotional hooks. You can watch “Astroboy”, and still you’d have a different experience when you watch “Pluto”. ”Astroboy” is a classic. “Pluto” adds to the lore, and makes the original even better. Don’t be mistaken though. “Pluto” can stand on its own. This is the only science fiction anime on my list, and it deserves to be here with around one hour for each of its eight episodes. The irony is transparent: robots that are more human than humans. It also has a lot of modern commentary about war, and discrimination. Heavy topics for an emotionally heavy series. Add the beautiful anime, and it all adds up to this anime’s charm.

At number six, I have “Demon Slayer”. The magnum opus of Ufotable is at the middle of my list with its beautiful animation, and action. This is a straightforward fantasy anime, and it truly lives up to the hype. When “Demon Slayer” ends, it will be a sad day for a lot of anime fans. Be glad it happened. Also, be glad Mitsuri didn’t get married. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have our beloved Love Hashira. New season is already coming this year so be ready for more of Tanjiro’s adventures.

Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

At number five, I have “Danmachi”. The fourth season was outstanding enough to be my best anime of the winter season of 2023. You can fight me on this: Bell Cranel, and Ryuu Lion belong together. Forget about Ais, Bell. Elves are pretty much in nowadays as you will see further on my list. Besides, you can’t go wrong with choosing Ryuu Lion who has the same seiyuu as Yor Forger. I mean, that has to mean something, right guys? Back me up here.You can’t go wrong with the action, and animation here as well. It really is a headscratcher that J. C. Staff took this long to figure out how to make this series great. Now I’m spoiled. I want MORE.

At number four, I have “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War“. Studio Pierrot went back to its biggest gun, and considered by many to be one of the big three of modern anime. Funny though that we don’t see a lot of Ichigo in this season. That’s alright because it allowed the other characters to shine. This just shows that “Bleach” is not a one trick pony. Or one Bankai series. Or…you get what I mean. A plus factor is that you even don’t have to review what came before “Thousand-Year Blood War”. Start with these new seasons and you’re good enough to enter Soul Society.

At number three, I have “Oshi No Ko”. The biggest surprise for me this season, all I had going for me was that Ai Hoshino would be voiced by legendary seiyuu Rie Takahashi. That’s it. I mean, Rie couldn’t possibly choose a bad project now, could she? I was crossing my fingers with that thought. Studio Doga Kobo has only come out with one anime that I watched, and that wasn’t really top tier. ”Oshi No Ko” is top tier. The gamble paid off for me. A cross between a reincarnation, and idol anime, “Oshi No Ko” is also a social commentary of the idol/entertainment scene in Japan. The animation is gorgeous, and in spite of some funny moments this is a serious anime. It also has one of the best opening songs for an anime in 2023. Check out “Idol” on Spotify if you don’t believe me.

At number two, I have “Jujutsu Kaizen”. The best anime of studio MAPPA for the year is also a consecutive cour series. I’ve always loved double cour anime. There are fewer and fewer of these that come out lately. That is a bonus for one of the best modern supernatural anime. You get the background of Gojou. You get to see his friendship and falling out with Getou. You get the Shibuya Arc. You get to see the death of…ah-ah that would be telling too much. Watch out already for the third season. With all the action and plot hooks resolved in season two, there are already tugs for what is to come in season three. And yet, there isn’t enough supernatural power for “Jujutsu Kaizen” to be at number one. Well, my number one anime knows how to hide in plain sight…

At number one, I have “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End”. I suppose there are a lot of people by now who are sick and tired of hearing just how great “Frieren” is. I. DON’T. CARE. If you aren’t watching this master elven mage, and her laid back adventures yet, you are missing out on one of the GREATEST anime of all time. Studio Madhouse has been quiet for a couple of years now. “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” puts them back on the competitive map by leaps and bounds. This anime is at the top of my anime list by a mile from its nearest competitor. Sure there was a quiet anticipation. It wasn’t going to be bad. But, I didn’t expect it to be this seminal anime that will be talked about for years to come. And just like Frieren herself, this anime will just look like it blends in the crowd. Don’t be fooled. Behind that nonchalant demeanor is a powerhouse anime that can give you all the magic you need for over a thousand years. After you use that power, you can sleep the entire day to recharge just like Frieren.

So, that’s my list for 2023. Agree with me? Disagree with me? Let me know in the comments. Thank you.

January 14, 2024 by metatron13

Top Ten Anime of Fall 2023

This is VERY late due to the enjoyable December holiday break. Still, I have to do this list before I get to my 2023 best anime. And, this list is pretty strong. Let’s begin, shall we?

At number ten, I have “Goblin Slayer”. The second season is very much anticipated, and it took years for it to come into fruition. Thankfully, we have more pure high fantasy, dungeon crawls, and organized violence as our favorite armored silver ranked slayer has to offer. I’m a HUGE fan of purely fantasy anime. And, this won’t be the last one on my list. Read on.

At number nine, I have “The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You”. That title is a mouthful, and Rentarou has his hands full trying to keep his upcoming 100 girlfriends alive. You heard that right he WANTS to keep them alive. Because of some fated mistake, instead of having one soulmate in life, Rentarou has 100. But, it gets more complicated than that. If he doesn’t make these soulmates his girlfriends, they end up dying. That’s a morbid premise, but the anime is quite over the top hilarious with that premise. This is the only anime on my list where I get to laugh out loud several times EVERY episode. The anime is so absurd that it is so funny.

At number eight, I have “Undead Unluck”. I have a soft spot for consecutive cour anime, and ‘Undead Unlock’ is one of a couple here on my list. Regardless of episode count, this is a pretty good anime to make my list. Undead or ‘Andy’ is out to find a way to end his immortal life. In comes Fuuko with her unluck power that could possibly allow Andy to die. The catch? The more Fuuko has an emotional attachement to the individual who touches her bare skin, the worse the unluck unleashed. I’m talking literal fire and brimstone from the sky disasters. So, Andy decides that in order to ensure that he dies in spite of his insane regenerative abilities, he will make Fuuko fall in love with him. He hopes this will truly end his immortal life. It’s another morbid premise that combines with excellent action, and comedy in it. I seem to have an affinity for this kind of anime. Hmm…

At number seven, I have “Spy Family”. The Forgers are back for their second season. This masterpiece by Wit Studio, and Cloverworks deserves all the attention it’s getting. Also, I love it when mama Yor gets to show off her ‘killer instinct’. There is a lot of it in this season. There’s a lot of super spy Loid in this season too. And yet, it all looks like a set-up to the movie that should be available in some areas by now. I’m already looking forward to the third season.

At number six, I have “Dr. Stone”. Senkuu and the Nation of Science are back to restore humanity to its technological present. This third season is as good as the second season. This is the second cour of the third season, and I’m fully satisfied that Ibara got what he had coming. He tried to outsmart Senkuu, but failed. This anime has a perfect mix of action, comedy, great animation, AND scientific knowledge that you can actually use as a sample in the classroom. Imagine a science class that uses “Dr. Stone” for its lessons. I can imagine it.

At number five, I have “The Eminence in Shadow”. After a very entertaining first season, Cid/Shadow is back with Shadow Garden for the second season. The anime starts off strong at the gate, and provides everyone with more than enough isekai entertainment. By season’s end, Cid has a new challenge in a very familiar place. I suppose it was necessary considering the premise of existing alternate realities now revealed in the second season. What does this mean for Cid, and his hare—Shadow Garden moving forward? Let’s see what happens.

At number four, I have “The Apothecary Diaries”. I gambled on this anime because it was from OLM studios. You know, the studio responsible for”‘Summertime Rende“‘? This was worth the gamble, and it has two consecutive cours. Maomao is the main character in this historical fiction anime that is set during the Chinese Imperial Era. Maomao is a potion maker/poison tester who gets sold into the Rear Palace of the emperor. This sets her on an adventure full of intrigue, and manipulation in the politics of the Rear Palace. This is a procedural anime with there being a mystery every episode. However, there is an even bigger mystery unravelling that might just lead to the core of succession to the throne. If anything, the biggest strenght of this anime is Maomao herself who is the perfect combination of brains, and beauty. Why do the brains come before the beauty? Watch the anime to find out.

At number three, I have “Plut”‘. If you’re an Astroboy fan, then you are in for a treat. This anime adapts “The Greatest Robot in the World” storyline from the original “Astroboy” run in the 1980s. It does so with hour long eight episodes. Unlike ‘Astroboy’, ‘Pluto’ takes a more serious tone, and creates a lot of emotional hooks to keep you interested. There is a lot of human interest in this science fiction anime that even makes the robots more human, AND humane than actual humans. You might want to watch the last two episodes of “Astrobo”‘ aka “The Greatest Robot in the World” to review the basic plot. You don’t need to though. ‘Pluto’ can stand on its own merits.

At number two, I have “Jujutsu Kaize”‘. For the second straight season, ‘Jujutsu Kaizen’ lands at number two. The previous cour came out during the summer season, and this continues into the fall. This is one of studio MAPPA’s babies, and it’s a hell of a show. Not only do we get some backstory on Gojou, but we also get the much anticipated Shibuya Arc. The Shibuya Arc was so influential that the Japanese Government shut down Shibuya for a while BECAUSE of what was being shown in this anime. Talk about pop culture having influence in real life, right? The third season has already been announced, and THAT promises to be better than this one. With all that is excellent with “Jujutsu Kaize”, Gojou and company still don’t have enough magic to overcome the number one anime of the season…

At number one, I have “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End”. MADHOUSE. IS. BACK. What a way to be back on top playing with the anime big boys. This is high fantasy at its best. Would you believe me if I told you that it’s also slice of life? What if it’s also the chillest anime of the season? The animation is flawless, and very crisp from cell to cell. The storytelling is heartwarming, and heartwrenching at the same time. I knew that the anime would be good. But, I didn’t know it would be THIS GOOD. To add, it’s also a back-to-back two cour anime. That means this is spiliing over to the winter season of 2024. Is this a good thing? Well, duh? OF COURSE IT IS! ”Frieren Beyond: Journey’s End” is not just eye candy. There are deep themes here that include (but not limited to) immortality, the cycle of life, and mundane magic-using. Just like how people underestimate Frieren, you can choose to underestimate this anime at your peril. There is a lot of hidden magic in this anime still waiting to be unleashed.

So, that’s my list. Agree with me? Disagree? Let me know in the comments.

June 7, 2023 by metatron13

My Top Ten Spring Anime 2023

It’s that time of the year again for me to come up with my list of TOP SPRING ANIME of 2023. There are a couple of surprises for me on this list. I’m quite late with this posting, but that’s only because I’ve been having fun viewing a rich selection of anime this season. Let my countdown begin!

At number ten, I have ‘My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Level 999’. This is the only slice of life anime on my list, and rightfully so. This anime is a romcom with online video gaming in the background. Ever since High Score Girl, I’ve been on the lookout for new anime about video games. This story of Yamada, and Akane fits the bill perfectly. Not only is it an anime about video games, but it is also made by Madhouse studios. That one-two punch of video games, and Madhouse is enough to get me hooked on this hilariously entertaining anime.

At number nine, I have ‘Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World’. This is the prequel anime that a lot of Konosuba fans have been waiting for, and Rie Takahashi is back to reprise her seiyu role as Megumin. Of course, without Kazuma this is no longer an isekai (so far), but it is still funny as an explosion that only Megumin has to offer. The presence of Aki Toyosaki adds more funny situations to the series with the interactions between her character, Yunyun, and Megumin providing for some heartfelt moments. The combination of these two legendary seiyu make ‘Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World’ an enjoyable yet explosive ride.

At number eight, I have ‘Heavenly Delusion’. This is one of my surprise anime of the season, but it shouldn’t have been since I love Production IG’s work. This post-apocalyptic anime is reminiscent of ‘The Promised Neverland’ (which I dropped). Because of that, I was a bit skeptical on my interest in this anime even though it is Production IG’s work. Good thing I gave it a chance since I am now enjoying Kiruko, and Maru’s search for Heaven to find answers about their past in this sci-fi mystery anime.

Suletta Mercury (at center) and Her Classmates

At number seven, I have ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury’. This is the second season of this sci-fi robot anime, and it is actually a lot better than the first. The mystery of Suletta’s past is revealed along with the secrets of her unique Gundam, Aerial. This is actually the first Gundam series I am watching, and I am loving it so far. There’s a bit of the girls love trope here with the relationship between Suletta, and Miorine at the center of the conflict. In fact, their relationship causes most of the conflict in the story. Even if you’re not a Gundam fan like me, you should give this anime a try. Maybe you’ll at least be a fan of Suletta, and Aerial.

At number six, I have ‘Mashle’ which is this season’s offering by A-1 Pictures. One of the more anticipated anime of the spring season, this anime is a combination of One Punch Man, and Harry Potter. Imagine Saitama going to Hogwart’s, and you’ve got what ‘Mashle’ is essentially about. Picture it in your head. Yes, it is that kind of funny. There hasn’t been a single episode of this anime that I don’t end up laughing out loud. Thankfully, I watch this anime by myself otherwise that would be an embarassing sight to see. Magic, and muscle equals ‘Mashle’.

At number five, I have ‘The Ancient Magus’ Bride’. Five years after season one, and we finally get a season two of this beautiful anime. Of course, the center of the story is still Chise, and Elias’s continuing relationship which has gone beyond the romantic. Sure they are master, and student in the mystical arts. However, let there be no doubt that these two have feelings for each other. It’s this unconventional relationship that makes this anime handle mature concepts other than romance such as life, and death with a good mix of intrigue.

At number four, I have ‘Dr. Stone: New World’. Finally Senkuu, and company are near to discovering the origins of the petrification beam that turned everyone to stone thousands of years before. This is one of those anime that you can use to teach class, particularly science classes. Though a lot of these experiments shown in ‘Dr. Stone: New World’ should not be done at home. Aside from finding out the origin of the petrification beam, Senkuu will also have the chance to make unlimited revival fluid for those petrified. Will either or both of these mysteries be solved this season? I’m watching to find out.

At number three, I have “Hell’s Paradise”. Studio MAPPA appears to want a monopoly of great supernatural anime. First they got ‘Jujutsu Kaizen’. Then they handled ‘Chainsaw Man’. Now you can add “Hell’s Paradise” to the list. Granted, Gabimaru’s adventures are set in a more ancient setting. Still, the supernatural theme sticks for all three anime. Gabimaru, a convict, is in search for the elixir of immortality in order to get back to his wife to life a normal life. Making sure he does his task, Sagiri Yamada Asaemon guards him with her life. Don’t let all the action fool you. You have some deep themes tackled here including the value of life, and immortality. It also helps that Rie Takahashi is the seiyu for Yuzuriha. Also, you can’t really go wrong with MAPPA’s animation. That last comment is not an afterthought. It’s a fact.

(From Left) Muichirou, Tanjirou and Mitsuri

At number two, I have ‘Kimetsu No Yaiba: Swordsmith Village Arc’. As the flagship anime of ufotable, there isn’t really much to say about the groundbreaking, and breathtaking animation style of ‘Demon Slayer’. It is arguably the best animation out there. And yet, not since season one, I can’t seem to put it at number one on my anime season list. Primarily, the season has been again one long fight scene. I love ‘Demon Slayer’, but it’s going to take great animation, AND a great story to make my number one. So here it is…

At number one, I have ‘Oshi no Ko’. Rie Takahashi sure knows how to pick her seiyu characters. This is her third anime appearance on my list. Rie plays Ai Hoshino an up and coming idol headed to superstardom until disaster struck. Honestly, I took a gamble on this anime because of Rie Takahashi. I rarely read manga, and I had no real background on ‘Oshi no Ko’. This anime gave me such a huge sucker punch that I am very blessed to have gambled on watching it. This has an excellent story that deals with many of our current social realities including insights on the entertainment industry, and online bullying. Some of these episodes really hit the spot. If there is one anime this season that you should watch, it’s this one. Believe me when I say I am eagerly wating for Aqua to get his revenge. The animation is also top-notch, and can equal (there I said it!) that of ‘Demon Slayer’. Socially relevant story plus excellent animation equals ‘Oshi no Ko’ as my number one anime of spring 2023.

Do you agree with my list? Write me a comment to tell me what you think.

January 23, 2023 by metatron13

My Returning Anime List of 2023

The anime season of 2023 is well underway, and there are some returning anime that I am looking forward to watching. These are anime that are coming back for a new season, or anime that get the benefit of a remake. I have an interesting mix here so let’s get this list going, shall we?

I’ll get these two out of the way: “Trigun: Stampede” and “Rurouni Kenshin“. Both anime are based on legendary 90s anime. Both have some controversy coming into 2023.

With “Trigun: Stampede” it’s the updated animation style and Vash’s hair. Yeah that change in hairdo has a lot of longtime fans in an uproar. Though the new anime can be enjoyed without watching the first installment, this new version of Trigun is pretty good, and can stand on its own merits based on the small sample size I’ve seen so far. This has already started in the winter season, and I’m sticking around to see where this story goes.

The new adaptation of “Rurouni Kenshin” has its share of controversy as well. The mangaka Nobuhiro Watsuki was arrested, and admitted to having in his possession child pornography DVDs in 2017. Now the uproar to boycott Watsuki’s work goes all the way back to his new Hokkaido Arc in the manga, and extends to the promotion of the live action movies. The clamor has been revived to boycott this new adaptation. In spite of the controversy, I’m all in with this anime. Let’s see if Kenshin, and company can add new followers to its existing fandom.

Chise, and Elias are back for the second season of “Ancient Magus Bride”. It’s been six long years for this anime to return, and many (myself included) have been waiting patiently for its return. Many of the main seiyuu cast are returning though Wit Studio is no longer animating this second season. Instead we have Studio Kafka handling the reigns of the new season. Kafka handled the OVA of “Ancinet Magus Bride” that came out last year, and if that’s any indication this will be another beautiful season. It’s already slated for an April 6 release in what is looking like a very entertaining spring season. More on that next.

Adding more excitement to the spring season is “Konosuba: An Explosion of this Wondeful World”. More Konosuba is good, and this new anime based on the original Konusuba centers on Megumin. Studio Deen is replaced by Drive for the animation chores, but Rie Takahashi is returning as Megumin with a new supporting cast of characters. So far, there is no mention of Kazuma or Aqua making an appearance in this series. I’m excited to see Megumin get into trouble on her own though.

Speaking of anime returning in the spring season, you can add season three of “Dr. Stone” to the list. A short film released last year sets the stage for the third season, and Senkuu will be crossing the high seas in search for answers to the stone transformation that affected the world. This is one of those anime that you can use if you’re teaching science classes. Add some action, and intrigue with the science; and you have the makings of an anime to look forward to viewing.

(From Left) Zenitsu, Inosuke, Tanjiro, and Nezuko

If the spring of 2023 isn’t stacked enough them maybe “Kimetsu No Yaiba” aka “Demonslayer” adding to the list of anime coming out in April will convince you otherwise. Now on its third season, I’m hoping that “Demonslayer” combines the storytelling of the first season with the animation of the second. Also, I hope this is a two cour season, and not one. With Tanjiro’s quest to repair his broken sword, I’m expecting this to be the cream of the crop for the spring. Of course, there is always room for surprises.

“Spy Family” is another upcoming anime that is scheduled to have not just its second season, but an anime movie in 2023. Wit Studio, and Cloveworks are still doing the animation. The same seiyuu cast is returning as well. There are no exact release dates for both the second season, and the movie though if it follows the pattern from last year, the second season should come out in the spring as well (what was I saying about the spring season being stacked?). Waku, waku.

Also on my returning list is “Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World”. This is one anime that I was watching that I didn’t expect to have a second season. I enjoyed this Rome and Juliet fantasy anime, but I wasn’t sure it was good enough to validate a return. I’m not complaining. Silver Link is returning to animate the second season. No release date yet, but this did come out in the fall of 2020. So I’ll be waiting eagerly when more news of this drops.

I love my fantasy anime, and “Goblin Slayer” season two is set to return in 2023. No release date yet. Silver Link has been replaced by Liden Films as the animation studio. It’s been five years since the first season. It’s been three years since the movie. In spite of the title, you don’t want to mess around with the slayer. True his specialty is goblins, but that doesn’t discount his skill. The anime also doesn’t hold back on the violence, and sadistic nature of goblins in the anime. I’m hoping this drops in the fall season, but we’ll see.

I only have four anime left on my returning list, and “Classroom of the Elite” season three is one of those three. It’s good to know that we don’t have to wait another five years to get a season three. Lerche will still be animating the new season, and since this has consistently come out druing the summer, I’m expecting the third season to follow suit. Follow the adventures of Ayanokouji as he unintentionally (or not) increases his harem while maintaining his low profile in an ultra-competitive high school. Yeah, I’m looking forward to more of his shenanigans.

We’re now down to my top three heavy hitters of 2023 returning anime. This brings me to “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War” second season. This was my top anime of 2022 , and with the way it ended with the first season, you can be sure that there will be more explosive episodes by Studio Pierrot. I’d expect nothing less from Ichigo’s return in the spotlight. This is coming out in July. Guess what else is coming out in July for a heavyweight fight?

Not to be outdone, MAPPA is bringing the second season of “Jujutsu Kaizen” in July of 2023. Do you smell what I smell? Yep, it’s a heavyweight fight between two popular supernatural shonen anime. The wily veteran anime vs. the new breed. This will be fun, and it will only benefit the fans. Maybe we’ll get to see Itadori and Okkotsu together in the new season? Here’s wishing. This was was top anime of 2020. So the summer season will be truly supernatural.

Finally, to complete the trifecta, I have “Mushoku Tensei” aka “Jobless Reincarnation”. Rudeus and company are my top anime of 2021. I don’t know when this is coming out. There is no fixed date yet. Wouldn’t it be fun if it came out during the summer as well? Though it most likely will come out in the fall. With this anime’s return, I have my top anime of the past three years duking it out this year. I’ll worry about rankings by this year’s end. For now, I’ll just enjoy this list of returning anime of 2023.

How about you? Which anime are you excited to see returning? Let me know in the comments.

January 16, 2023 by metatron13

My Best Anime of 2022

So here we are at the beginning of a new year, and in the middle of the first month. Still good enough time for me to come up with my top ten anime of 2022. If you’re curious about my top fall anime of 2022, you can find it here. There are a couple on that fall list that make it to my Best Anime of the Year list. Which ones exactly? Read on to find out…

At number ten, I have ‘Lycoris Recoil’. A lot of people will remember this year for A-1 pictures because of ‘Kaguya Sama’. That anime is not on my list which would probably get the ire of many slice of life fans. ‘Lycoris Recoil’ is good enough to make my top ten, and as I always say, original anime have a special place in my heart. That’s not to say Chisato, Takina, and the rest of the staff of Cafe LycoReco are not entertaining. In fact, this dramedy of an anime is quite good, and reminds me a lot of how I was surprised with ’86‘. The second season is imminent, and it’s more of a question of ‘when’ than ‘how’. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Chisato dodging bullets with her spanking new heart.

At number nine, I have ‘Kimetsu No Yaiba’ aka ‘Demonslayer’. Arguably the anime with the best fight scene of the year, Ufotable continues not to disappoint with ‘Demonslayer’. My biggest complaint with this anime is that it only has one cour as compared to the first season’s double cour. That’s probably one of the reasons why Tanjiro and the rest of the demonslayers make it only to number nine on my list. With the new year, we are getting a season three of ‘Demonslayer’, and my hope is it holds up more in storytelling to season one with the much improved animation of season two. Let’s see what happens as Tanjiro tries to reforge his broken sword.

At number eight, I have ‘My Dress-Up Darling’. One of my surprise anime of 2022, I took a risk on this, and it lived up to the hype. Marin and Gojo have a very loyal manga following, and I’m glad to join them in the anime. This is yet another beautiful anime by Cloverworks which continues to impress with the eclectic nature of the properties under its wings. This romcom is a cosplayer, and phtographer’s dream come true. It’s also one of those anime wherein the good guy attracts the best girl of the 2022. Gojo, and Marin are lucky to have each other in their lives. How they decide to properly express their feelings towards each other is something that many fans are looking forward to happening…while getting a ton of laughs along the way.

At number seven, I have ‘Ya Boy Kongming!’. When you combine an isekai with an idol anime, this is what you get. The mentor-mentee (father-daughter?) relationship of Kongming, and Eiko is just downright inspiring to see. Kongming uses his knowledge of battle tactics ala Sun Tzu to help Eiko realize her dream of becoming a successful performer. The road to stardom is wrought with many challenges, and Kongming has so far provided the answers to each one of them Eiko faces. Needless to say, ‘Ya Boy Kongming!’ has one of the best set of anime songs of the year. Just like ‘My Dress-Up Darling’, I’m looking forward to seeing Eiko succeed in achieving her dream.

At number six, I have ‘Summertime Render’. Now this is one anime that was on my radar, but still caught me by surprise. Composed of two consecutive cours, this masterpiece from OLM will reward you for sticking around. It’s not that it didn’t have good episodes to start. It’s that in order to get to the better episodes you had to endure the good ones. Sounds confusing, right? Well, the biggest initial concern with me was that Shinpei was a bit wimpy at the beginning. It took me time to understand that it was all part of the beautiful development of the character into manhood. Albeit, man enough to be a match for the alpha female that is Ushio. If you like time travel, and myster anime, then this is the best one of the year for me.

At number five, I have ‘Made in Abyss’. It took five years for a second season of this anime to come out. Though a movie came in between, I needed a better fix deep into the Abyss with Riko, Reg, and Nanachi. Is it possible for the second season to actually be better than the first, and yet ‘Made in Abyss’ will most likely not win as many awards in the second season? I think that’s going to be the case. There are just so many excellent anime this year. That shouldn’t discredit the excellence that you find in the best Kinema Citrus anime of the year. There is news circulating that a new season is coming up, and I’m wondering how that will happen with just a few chapters left from the source material to animate. ‘Made in Abyss’ will make you sad, and sadder some more before providing you the hope it shares by season’s end. It’s pretty standard by now for the adventures of Riko as she searchers for her mom. Here’s hoping she finds her alive with a little help from Reg, and Nanachi.

At numbe four, I have ‘Ousama Ranking’ aka ‘Ranking of Kings’. Just like Cloverworks, Wit Studio has shown with this tale of deaf-dumb Bojji that it has a wide range of animation approaches. I’ve been rooting for Bojji since 2021, and this has carried over to last year. More so, the second cour of ‘Ousama Ranking’ puts Bojji and Kage in a more favorable position than the first. Bojji is really a character to my mind that’s worth rooting for. Sure Bojji is a prince, but that just underscores how misereable, and sad his live is to begin. There is no better anime on my list to inspire you in achieving greater heights in spite of overwhelming challenges than this one. Long live Bojji!!!

At number three, I have ‘Chainsaw Man’. Highly anticipated, and highly hyped, this anime lived up to the expectations. Though there’s something about studio MAPPA and its penchance for supernatural anime. Is it a coincidence that they made both ‘Chainsaw Man’ and ‘Jujutsu Kaizen‘? I think not. The big difference between Denji, and Itadori is that Denji is a true blue antihero. I’ve said this before already, Denji’s needs are very basic: food, women, and lodging. Can you blame him though? With an upbringing like his, it’s no wonder Makima can manipulate him the way she does. This also has my vote for best music of 2022. Of all the thirteen songs there is not a one worth ignoring. It’s just a question of choosing your favorite. No word yet on season two, but that is a sure as Reze appearing soon.

At number two, I have ‘Spy Family’. The Forger family was my frontrunner to be my anime of the year for 2022 but fell a bit short. Not its own fault, but rather due to the surprise, and excellence of what is at my number one spot. For now, let’s focus on ‘Spy Family’ which is a masterpiece of both Cloverworks (My Dress-Up Darling), and Wit Studio (Ousama Ranking). It’s really unfair to have a version of Bojji in Anya, Marin in Yor to combine with the suave super spy that is Loid Forger. There is no greater family anime on my list. There’s already a new season set for this year to go along with a movie. More Spy Family is always good. Also, more Anya means more peanuts.

At numer one, I have ‘Bleach: Thousand year Blood War’. A while a go I mentioned that ‘Made in Abyss’ took five years for the second season to come out. In the case of ‘Bleach’, it took studio Pierrot over ten years to come up with the latter portion of Ichigo’s saga. I was just happy to have this anime back with little expectation of it being good. Surprise, surprise…it has gone well beyond what I expected. Cinematic animation. Excellent Storytelling. Hightened Anticipation. Whatever those creators from Pierrot ate while making ‘Bleach’, keep feeding it to them. And, it appears that the best is yet to come. This makes ‘Bleach’ my Best Anime of 2022.

Do you agree with me? Disagree with me? Tell me what you think in the comments.

January 10, 2023 by metatron13

My Best Fall Anime of 2022

Welcome to my VERY late top anime of the fall season. I usually do this in the sixth or seventh episode mark. In fact, the rankings here are based on seventh episode viewings. In spite of that, I’m sticking to my guns with this list. So let’s begin so I can start writing my best anime of 2022 soon after.

Yang, Reinhard and Their Supporting Cast

At number ten I have ‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ from Production IG. This is a remake of one of the best space opera anime of all time. Personally, I prefer ‘Space Battleship Yamato’ over this. But, this doesn’t discount the fact that this is a pretty good anime. Good enough to make my top ten list for the fall season. I’ve always liked how General Yang and Emperor Reinhard do everything that they can to outwit each other in the galactic combat arena. Each is an excellent strategist in his own right. There will be more of this coming in the future. So if you like space operas without the mecha, you should look into this anime.

At number nine I have ‘Reincarnated as a Sword’. This is my father-daughter anime of the season with Shisou the intelligent teacher sword playing protective doting father to Fran, the black cat with a dream of evolving. This is a stereotypical isekai with Shishou being the overpowered reincarnated character. This anime is fun to watch, and Fran is just such a cute character to root for. Second season is already in the works. More of Fran, and Shishou is good.

At number eight I have ‘Urusei Yatsura’. I have a hidden agenda for supporting this anime. Sure it’s a Rumiko Takahashi classic. Sure it’s a remake. Because of this, I’m hoping that this will open the door for a remake of Ranma 1/2. This is no discredit to ‘Urusei Yatsura’. This is the root of all the wackiness that all other Takahashi works have to offer. Seriously though Ataru should open his eyes. Lum is easily the most attractive character in the series. That’s partly what makes this anime so funny. It’s got a full year cour as well so expect this anime to be around for a while. There’s only one other anime on my list that will be around as long. I’ll get to that much later.

At number seven I have ‘The Eminence in Shadow’. Shadow/Cid reminds me of what would happen if you combined Batman with the Venom Symbiote. The result is a VERY overpowered isekai character who creates two sets of harems for himself. One comes from the organization he helped create: Shadow Garden. The other harem comes from the group of fangirls who fall for poor ‘weakling’ Cid. This is an anime worth watching if only to hear the line: ‘I am atomic’. I also watch this anime all the way to the end because of the puzzle images of the female characters in the story. This anime shouldn’t be in the shadow of your anime list.

At number six I have ‘Mob Psycho’. This is the last season of this anime, and it is a fitting end to the adventures of Shigeo Kagayama aka Mob. I’m wondering who will take the banner of representing Studio Bones with ‘Mob Psycho’ ending. There’s a lot of drama here, and confessions from many characters. It’s hard to see such a great anime end, but it couldn’t have ended any better. Still, it wasn’t enough for ‘Mob Psycho’ to break into my top five. Primarily because of the anime at number five…

At number five I have ‘Bocchi the Rock’. When I first heard about this anime from Cloverworks, it radiated so much ‘K-On!’ vibes. True to form, ‘Bocchi the Rock’ is the second coming of ‘K-On!’ This might be sacrilege, and I do love ‘K-On!’, but it even does so many things a lot better. I ended up cheering for Bocchi aka Hitori Gotou to overcome her social anxiety. And she overcomes her difficulty a lot earlier than Komi. ‘Bocchi the Rock’ also has an excellent set of anime music that I love to listen to again, and again. This is one of the surprise anime of the fall season for me. I didn’t expect it to make my top ten yet here it is.

At number four I have ‘Golden Kamuy’. This is also the last season of ‘Golden Kamuy’, and it joins ‘Mob Psycho’ in waving goodbye. I’m not a big fan of historical fiction, but ‘Golden Kamuy’ is an exception to that. Never underrated but sorely underappreciated, the factual elements mixed with the quest of Asirpa, and Sugimoto to find the lost gold make this anime rank high on my list. Note that this is a mature viewer anime with some adult themes. Regardless, this is one of my favorite anime to watch whenever it’s around. Sadly, the anime got delayed mid-season because of the death of one of the production staff members. The silver (golden?) lining there is that I get to enjoy this anime a bit longer before it ends.

At number three I have ‘Spy Family’. My pick for anime of the year when it came out falls short of number one for the fall season. The entertainment value of ‘Spy Family’ has plateaued, and the reason why I could not put it at number one for the fall season. It’s still pretty good, and funny nonetheless. How could you not adore the Forger Family? This is a masterpiece by Wit Studio and Cloverworks. There’s already news of a new season coming in 2023, and a movie. If you aren’t watching this anime yet, it’s high time you join the peanut gallery. Anya would even join you.

At number two I have ‘Chainsaw Man’. This was a much heralded, and anticipated anime of the fall season. It didn’t disappoint. Studio MAPPA has another winner here on the heels of ‘Jujutsu Kaizen‘. There are a lot of similarities between ‘Chainsaw Man’ and ‘Jujutsu Kaizen’. The big difference is the mature content, and dark comedy that you find in ‘Chainsaw Man’. MAPPA pulled out all stops with ‘Chainsaw Man’ providing it with a different ending song for each of its episodes. That’s not to say the opening song is nothing to crow about. I keep saying this…Denji reminds me of Pepe Samson from the novel, ‘Mass’ by F. Sionil Jose. His needs are very basic. He’s your heroic anti-hero if that makes any sense. This would’ve been my number one anime of the fall season if not for a surprising returning anime…

At number one I have ‘Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War’. I was happy to see the return of ‘Bleach’ after a loooong hiatus. Whatever it looked like, I was going to watch it. Imagine my surprise when studioe Pierrot apparently pulled out all the stops to provide us a cinematic masterpiece for EACH of the episodes that have come out. WOW. If you’re worried that there are too many episodes to jump into this anime, don’t worry. You can start watching form the first episode of ‘Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War’, and not worry about what came before. It’s also going to be sticking around a while with a set year cour episode list. Ichigo and the rest of Soul Society are back; and back with a vengeance.

Agree with my list? Disagree? Let me know in the comments.

January 9, 2022 by metatron13

My Top Ten Japanese Anime Series of 2021

With the beginning of the Winter Anime Season of 2021, It’s time for me to come up with the top anime of the recent year. My list contains anime that continued from 2020, and continues into 2022. More points go to anime that finished their seasons in the same year. Also, since this includes anime that I’ve finished, the rankings might be a lot different as compared to how they appear in my seasonal rankings. That’s just the way it is. Some anime faired better than others in closing their cours. With all my disclaimers done, on to my actual list.

At number ten, we have ‘Zombieland Saga: Revenge’. This anime holds a special place in my heart for being an idol anime that got me sucked in BECAUSE of its zombie story approach. If it weren’t for the zombies that are Franchouchou, I probably wouldn’t be even watching this anime. Also, this anime just makes me laugh out loud, and hum to the beat of the songs.This is my funny, and heartwarming anime of the year.

At number nine, we have ‘The Case Study of Vanitas’. This is the vampire anime of the year, and it has the traditional humor that you find from any Studio Bones anime. The Book of Vanitas thought to corrupt vampires is actually used to cure them of corruption. I love the character designs here, and the relationship building in the series is quite endearing. There is also enough vampire new vampire lore here to keep the series intriguing. Lucky for us, the series continues in the winter of 2022.

At number eight, we have ‘Takt Op. Destiny’. What happens when you combine the powers of studio MAPPA and MADHOUSE? You have a beautiful anime about the power of music to save the world. Some complain about the pedestrian plot of the series. I on the other hand see it as a simple plot enriched with great visuals, and a focus on music. That’s enough to put it on my list of one of the best anime of the year.

At number seven, we have ‘Re: Zero’. Yes, this anime continued during winter, and that’s enough to put it on my list fro 2021. What else can be said about this series from studio White Fox? It’s a beautiful isekai about second chances. We seem to have a lot of those on this list. I can’t wait for Rem to finally wake up (no spoilers!). Even though Subaru has the backbone of an amoeba most times, he just keeps on going learning from his past mistakes, albeit brutally. Even with Subaru’s faults, the anime itself just can’t be denied its place on my list.

At number six, we have ‘The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat’. This anime turned out to be better than expected, and jumped over the spot of higher ranked fall anime ‘Takt Op. Destiny’. This is another isekai (and not the last one on my list). with the protagonist dying and remembering his former life as an assassin to kill the existing hero of the world he gets reincarnated. I like Lugh’s calm and calculating mind. I like his realization that he needs a lot of savvy to beat the overpowered hero. It helps that the animation is also top notch.

At number five, we have ‘Jujutsu Kaizen’. This most likely won’t win anime of the year because of my top four on the list (which all have a chance of winning many awards). That’s fine since it has won already multiple awards the previous year. The series does continue into the winter of this year, and the reason why it’s on my list just like ‘Re: Zero’ is. I’m eagerly waiting for Itadori’s next adventures as this anime continues.

At number four, we have ‘Ranking of Kings’. One of two anime on this list that caught me off guard (the other is higher on this list), and is also made by Wit Studio. Known for its earlier work on ‘Attack on Titan’, Wit Studio has expanded its reach to stories such as that of Prince Bojji. Though this anime is at number four, I wouldn’t be surprised that it wins awards for 2021 just like the other three that come above it. This is a beautiful hero’s journey to become a king in spite of his disabilities. How could you not root for Bojji to succeed with all that he’s been through? That is truly the magic of this anime.

At number three, we have ’86’. This would be a lot higher on my list if not for the delays. In fact, had its last two episodes not been delayed, it would have a chance at number one. As it stands, this is as far as I can rank it. This year, there has been a resurgence of mecha anime, and ’86’ is a prime example of it. It’s so frustrating how this series gives you hope only to dash it away as fast as it came. However, this is also what drags you into the series, hoping that there is a happy ending. The struggle for acceptance, and survival is real as seen in through the eyes of Shin, and his compatriots.

At number two, we have ‘‘Vivy: Flourite Eye’s Song’. My dark horse to win anime of the year in many anime awarding bodies, this series was made by Wit Studio just like ‘Ranking of Kings’. Similarly, this anime got me blindsided, and I wasn’t expecting to love this anime when I first watched it. Vivy being the reluctant savior of both human and robot kind is reminiscent of a Philip K. Dick story. One years in the making, Vivy learns that there are more important things than her android life, and her song is part of it. What do I mean exactly? Watch this anime to find out.

At number one, we have ‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’. What happens when you create a new anime studio to create ONE and ONL Y ONE specific anime? Well, this is what you get: my vote for anime of the year. Your time is not wasted on this anime. The opening sequence is imbedded into the story. The opening song changes depending on the setting of the current story. This is the isekai of the year as well as the anime of the year for me. Also, with the way the story ended for 2021, the stage is set for an even better story to continue. The animation is beautiful from the backdrops to the character design. It’s a perfect balance of story, world building, and action. There’s enough drama that focuses also on family relationships. Granted, Rudius is a lech, but that’s also part of his charm. It’s part of the charm of this anime. Put it all together, and you have the best anime for 2021.

Do you agree with me? Let me know in the comments.

Obskura And Then Some

Where I write my thoughts on mostly geeky pop culture stuff that interests me…and then some.

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