Another season of anime is here, and with that comes a plethora of new and returning series to check out. But with more than 30 anime a season airing, along with long runners like One Piece it can get somewhat overwhelming to newcomers to figure out which ones are worth watching over the rest.
The 9 Best Anime Films That Aren't From Studio Ghibli
With some massively anticipated titles in the mix along with some smaller, less focused on gems in the background, these are ten of the more interesting series that audiences should probably be keeping an eye on this season.
Spy X Family
Likely to be the most talked about series among anime fans this entire year, Spy X Family is a cute yet unique series that follows a spy that, in order to inflitrate the family of a high ranking politician and steal secrets, must create a "family" of his own. Brought to us through a collaboration of Wit Studio (Attack on Titan) and CloverWorks (The Promised Neverland), Spy X Family bolsters impressive animation across the board as it's big selling point.
'Attack on Titan' Final Season Part 3 to Premiere in 2023
But the real treat ends up being the emotional core at the center of the series with the young girl, Anya. Through her eyes we see the series unfold and what could have been a cold, dry spy thriller turns into a fun action-romantic comedy romp that's irresistible to anybody with a beating heart.
Ya Boy Kongming!
Normally Chinese history doesn't seem like the immediate go to answer for a comedy series, but there have been weirder choices in the anime world and this show's angle is too surreal to not ignore. Taking the traditional "born in another world" conceit to one of the General of the Three Kingdoms and placing him in the modern day, Chinese general Kongming must help a struggling idol find success in the music scene.
What follows might be the funniest show in years, with a delightfully fast sense of humor, great animation, and fantastic writing. For any anime fan looking for a great comedy to simply kick back to, this is a perfect choice.
The Executioner and Her Way of Life
With so many isekai anime out there nowadays, it's hard to find unique angles on the premise. The Executioner and Her Way of Life, one of our newest versions of said concept, brings a different angle to the proceedings by centering the narrative on the effects that these transported people bring to this new world.
While it's better for audiences to know less about a series before its premier - the show's first episode contains a massive plot twist that changes the game - the show is worth it. Mixing dark violence with a emotional core with it's two female leads, the show also boasts an LGBTQ+ romance front and center, a massive step forward for isekais as a genre that has traditionally lacked that sort of representation.
Shikamori's Not Just A Cutie
One of the many romance series airing this season, Shikamori's Not Just A Cutie finds a rather wholesome angle to the classic "nerdy boy meets cute girl" trope. Following the relationship of Izumi and Shikamori, the show explores how Izumi, a hopeless klutz, could end up with somebody like Shikamori, who endlessly protects her boyfriend from pretty much everything.
With very little in the way of full on drama, the show is comfort food in the best way. Likable characters and great animation courtesy of romance anime legends Doga Kobo make this a must-watch for any hopeless romantic wanting to watch a good time.
Love After World Domination
On the other end of the spectrum, Love After World Domination is equally cute as other romance shows but comes at it from a completely different angle. Taking the enemies-to-lovers trope to its ultimate extreme, the show follows a superhero falling in love with a minion of his mortal enemy and their attempts to keep it hidden.
'Love of Kill' Trailer Reveals a Romance Action Anime About a Bounty Hunter and a Hitman
While this is a premise ripe for drama, this series, thanks to director Kazuya Iwata (who created much of Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai's animation), keeps a light touch while still managing to keep you invested in the stakes. It's the rare show that manages to appeal to superhero fans and non-fans alike as well, making it a perfect show for couples viewing.
Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness
Set in Kyoto, Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness tells the story of young man who moves back to his hometown with dreams in inheriting his father's sweets store only to find that the real successor is a young 10-year old prodigy. With eyes on reclaiming the store, him and the young girl named Itsuka battle to see who wins out.
Unlike what the premise would tell you though, Deaimon is a low-key, lighthearted affair. Focused more on the day-to-day lives of the cast, the real hook is the sibling like relationship that develops between our lead and Itsuka. As great as something like Food Wars is, for those looking for a more character focused series of a similar conceit will find their tastes satisfied here.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War - Ultra Romantic
Needing very little introducing, Kaguya-sama: Love is War is one of the most successful and popular comedy shows in the past decade, and this third season finds it better than ever. As the cast expands, the show promises that this will finally be the season where our two leads (and professional idiots) Shirogane and Kaguya finally confess to each other after 24 prior episodes of mind games.
'Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War' Season 3 Trailer Is Essentially an Entire (and Hilarious) Episode
That is, of course, that does happen at all. Part of the charm of Kaguya-sama continues to be its incredible characters, and even if it doesn't fulfill that promise the antics they will inevitably get themselves into will be worth it in the end.
Dance Dance Danseur
Toxic masculinity is a prevalent problem in every society, and many anime shows have tried to tackle it in the past for mixed results. Dance Dance Danseur, MAPPA's newest show, aims to answer this question by exploring the world of ballet through the lens of a young man who wants to do it for a living.
Audiences will probably find a lot of similarities between this and Stephen Daldry's classic film Billy Elliot, though this takes a more serious, dramatic look at the material. Its incredible animation that's standard for the studio will pull in those looking for gorgeous desktop images, but most fans will surely stay for the great character work at the center here.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story
Sports anime tend to come in two forms. The first one is the hyperrealistic look into the sports similar to something like Haikyu!!, where each play is meticulously looked at, and you have a greater understanding of said sport. The second one, for lack of a better term, removes realism entirely from the equation and lies in the realm of the surreal and, well, anime.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story is a glorious example of the second, and yet manages to take its characters and story seriously enough to actually matter. It's a delicate balancing act and manages to be one of the most unexpected yet engaging shows of the year so far.
Healer Girl
While music anime is common, full-blown musicals are pretty much unheard of, which is bizarre for a medium that has been around for over 60 years. The mindblowingly good Revue Starlight is probably the closest we've come to getting one but even that is mostly in certain segments of the story.
Healer Girl, outside of fantastic animation and great vocal performances across the board, is a full-blown Broadway style musical series, and the music is stellar. Even if the story wasn't as good as it was, the music carries this show and ends up being one of the most unique shows of the year for that reason alone.