January 1st, 2024
2023 Anime of the Year
Anime Relations: Tsurune: Tsunagari no Issha
Hello! Here’s my top anime from 2023. The (Season) link next to each name leads to my seasonal review so you can read my fresher, slightly longer thoughts about each show.
Top 11 Shows of 2023
1. Tsurune: Tsunagari no Issha (Winter)
I can’t lie, Tsurune is the best anime I finished this year.
2. Vinland Saga Season 2 (Winter & Spring)
Oh yeah, we had Vinland Saga at the beginning of this year. It’s real good, folks.
3. Sousou no Frieren (First half) (Fall)
Next year when Frieren is over, I expect it to place higher.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season (Summer & Fall)
I’ve gushed about JJK enough I think.
5. Tengoku Daimakyou (Spring)
animation good
6. Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo (Fall)
I really want to put 100GFs at #8 below Skip & Loafer, but I truly think 100GFs is great, in that classic sense. Nothing like this has been done before, and it’s going to go the distance. This first season is just a warmup; there is more to come.
7. Buddy Daddies (Winter)
Buddy Daddies made me cry.
8. Skip to Loafer (Spring)
I think Skip & Loafer made me cry.
9. Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu (Summer)
worldbuilding good
10. Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru (Spring)
characters good
11. Golden Kamuy 4th Season (Spring)
Golden Kamuy continues to be very good. You should watch Golden Kamuy.
Shamblers Up
12. Undead Unluck (First half) (Fall)
In first place of the zombie shows, Andy rarely shambles around! He’s rocketing all over the place with jets of blood.
13. Undead Girl Murder Farce (Summer)
In second place, Aya cannot shamble, as she is simply a head.
14. Dead Mount Death Play (Spring & Fall)
And finally in third place, Polka wiggles around as a shark plushie.
Honorable Mentions
15. Shangri-La Frontier: Kusoge Hunter, Kamige ni Idoman to su (First half) (Fall)
fun!
16. Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi (Winter)
The food looks so good.
17. Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2 (Spring & Fall)
Better than the first season! Give it a watch!
18. Overtake! (Fall)
Deserves to be higher! Watch this!
19. Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei (Winter)
Should maybe be lower, idk.
Fun Surprises
20. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (Winter & Fall)
Season 2 complements season 1 and makes them both better.
23. UniteUp! (Spring)
Good male idol/music show!
25. Boku to Roboko (Spring)
It’s a short, nobody watches shorts. Watch this one! It has subs now!
26. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo! (Spring)
Interesting in its own right, and a good warmup for more KonoSuba coming in 2024!
37. Isekai Ojisan (Winter)
Funnier than you expect!
Leftovers
21. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Season 2 (Spring)
22. Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (Summer)
24. Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu. 2 (Spring)
27. Oniichan wa Oshimai! (Winter)
28. Ousama Ranking: Yuuki no Takarabako (Spring)
29. "Oshi no Ko" (Spring)
30. Helck (Summer & Fall)
31. Lv1 Maou to One Room Yuusha (Summer)
32. Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (Winter)
33. Dr. Stone: New World (Spring)
34. Eiyuu Kyoushitsu (Summer)
35. Jigokuraku (Spring)
36. Hikari no Ou (Winter)
38. Yuusha ga Shinda! (Spring)
39. Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha: Shijou Saikyou no Maou no Shiso, Tensei shite Shison-tachi no Gakkou e Kayou II (Summer)
40. Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou (Summer)
41. Isekai One Turn Kill Neesan: Ane Douhan no Isekai Seikatsu Hajimemashita (Spring)
42. Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu (Winter)
43. Eiyuuou, Bu wo Kiwameru Tame Tenseisu: Soshite, Sekai Saikyou no Minarai Kishi♀ (Winter)
44. Seiken Gakuin no Makentsukai (Fall)
Please make it stop
45. Pokemon: Mezase Pokemon Master (Winter)
I don’t want this.
46. Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers (Spring)
You don’t want this.
47. Isekai Shoukan wa Nidome desu (Spring)
Nobody wants this.
Top 11 Shows of 2023
1. Tsurune: Tsunagari no Issha (Winter)
I can’t lie, Tsurune is the best anime I finished this year.
2. Vinland Saga Season 2 (Winter & Spring)
Oh yeah, we had Vinland Saga at the beginning of this year. It’s real good, folks.
3. Sousou no Frieren (First half) (Fall)
Next year when Frieren is over, I expect it to place higher.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season (Summer & Fall)
I’ve gushed about JJK enough I think.
5. Tengoku Daimakyou (Spring)
animation good
6. Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo (Fall)
I really want to put 100GFs at #8 below Skip & Loafer, but I truly think 100GFs is great, in that classic sense. Nothing like this has been done before, and it’s going to go the distance. This first season is just a warmup; there is more to come.
7. Buddy Daddies (Winter)
Buddy Daddies made me cry.
8. Skip to Loafer (Spring)
I think Skip & Loafer made me cry.
9. Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu (Summer)
worldbuilding good
10. Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru (Spring)
characters good
11. Golden Kamuy 4th Season (Spring)
Golden Kamuy continues to be very good. You should watch Golden Kamuy.
Shamblers Up
12. Undead Unluck (First half) (Fall)
In first place of the zombie shows, Andy rarely shambles around! He’s rocketing all over the place with jets of blood.
13. Undead Girl Murder Farce (Summer)
In second place, Aya cannot shamble, as she is simply a head.
14. Dead Mount Death Play (Spring & Fall)
And finally in third place, Polka wiggles around as a shark plushie.
Honorable Mentions
15. Shangri-La Frontier: Kusoge Hunter, Kamige ni Idoman to su (First half) (Fall)
fun!
16. Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi (Winter)
The food looks so good.
17. Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2 (Spring & Fall)
Better than the first season! Give it a watch!
18. Overtake! (Fall)
Deserves to be higher! Watch this!
19. Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei (Winter)
Should maybe be lower, idk.
Fun Surprises
20. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (Winter & Fall)
Season 2 complements season 1 and makes them both better.
23. UniteUp! (Spring)
Good male idol/music show!
25. Boku to Roboko (Spring)
It’s a short, nobody watches shorts. Watch this one! It has subs now!
26. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo! (Spring)
Interesting in its own right, and a good warmup for more KonoSuba coming in 2024!
37. Isekai Ojisan (Winter)
Funnier than you expect!
Leftovers
21. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Season 2 (Spring)
22. Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (Summer)
24. Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu. 2 (Spring)
27. Oniichan wa Oshimai! (Winter)
28. Ousama Ranking: Yuuki no Takarabako (Spring)
29. "Oshi no Ko" (Spring)
30. Helck (Summer & Fall)
31. Lv1 Maou to One Room Yuusha (Summer)
32. Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (Winter)
33. Dr. Stone: New World (Spring)
34. Eiyuu Kyoushitsu (Summer)
35. Jigokuraku (Spring)
36. Hikari no Ou (Winter)
38. Yuusha ga Shinda! (Spring)
39. Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha: Shijou Saikyou no Maou no Shiso, Tensei shite Shison-tachi no Gakkou e Kayou II (Summer)
40. Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou (Summer)
41. Isekai One Turn Kill Neesan: Ane Douhan no Isekai Seikatsu Hajimemashita (Spring)
42. Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu (Winter)
43. Eiyuuou, Bu wo Kiwameru Tame Tenseisu: Soshite, Sekai Saikyou no Minarai Kishi♀ (Winter)
44. Seiken Gakuin no Makentsukai (Fall)
Please make it stop
45. Pokemon: Mezase Pokemon Master (Winter)
I don’t want this.
46. Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers (Spring)
You don’t want this.
47. Isekai Shoukan wa Nidome desu (Spring)
Nobody wants this.
Posted by adeeda | Jan 1, 12:08 PM | 0 comments
December 30th, 2022
2022 Anime of the Year
Anime Relations: Yojouhan Time Machine Blues
Hello! Here’s my top anime from 2022. The (Season) link next to each name leads to my seasonal review so you can read my fresher, slightly longer thoughts about each show.
Top 10 Shows of 2022
1. Mob Psycho 100 III (Fall)
All three seasons of Mob Psycho are the best. Not much media can claim the same with such a complete ending.
2. Yojouhan Time Machine Blues
I binged this between seasons so it didn’t make my seasonal review. But, uh, it’s more of that Science SARU goodness. Maybe not as punchy as Galaxy or as exquisite as Walk On Girl, but definitely supremely cohesive.
3. 86 Part 2 (Winter)
The ending to this show is so stupendously strong, it would have hit #2 or 3 last year. Out of consideration for this feat I am placing this here even though only its final 2 episodes aired this year.
4. Made in Abyss: Retsujitsu no Ougonkyou (Summer)
Great show. Might not be quite as good as the first season, and might be showing signs of dementia, but still strong.
5. Machikado Mazoku: 2-choume (Spring)
The Demon Girl Next Door is a wonderful show. Fun, well-made, wholesome, and with some meat on its bones.
6. Ousama Ranking (Winter)
Ranking of Kings is a truly incredible production whose story falls off a little in the middle.
7. Bocchi the Rock! (Fall)
I think this is good based solely on its sakuga and music?
8. Lycoris Recoil (Summer)
I just love Chisato, ok?
9. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Summer)
I think when I rewatch this I’ll rate it higher. I could see it as #7.
10. Chainsaw Man (Fall)
Hey this thing’s pretty good.
Runners Up
11. Akiba Meido Sensou (Fall)
Akiba Maid War is quite fun. You will enjoy it.
12. Poputepipikku 2nd Season (Fall)
You should watch Pop Team Epic 2nd Season without having seen the first season, no joke.
13. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story (Spring)
I am so hype for the continuation of this JoJo-ass golf show.
14. Paripi Koumei (Spring)
Ya Boy Kongming! is fun, unique, and well-made.
15. Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 3rd Season (Spring)
Ascendance of a Bookworm is good! I’m not sure there will be more of the anime though.
16. Spy x Family (Fall & Spring)
The second half brings it down, man.
Honorable (?) Mentions
17. Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (Winter)
It’s pretty, and I like the beach episode a lot.
18. Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to (Winter)
I’m a fan of the manga
19. Renai Flops (Fall)
???????? Do I recommend Love Flops????
26. Sabikui Bisco (Winter)
I wish this was better.
29. Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 2nd Season (Winter)
Dumb shit what’s fun to watch.
Leftovers
20. Yofukashi no Uta (Summer)
21. Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road (Spring)
22. Do It Yourself!! (Fall)
23. Isekai Yakkyoku (Summer)
24. Shine Post (Summer)
25. Onipan! (Spring)
27. Chimimo (Summer)
28. Healer Girl (Spring)
30. Teppen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Summer)
Dishonorable Mentions
31. Engage Kiss (Summer)
Rarely looks good, is too self-indulgent, and isn’t as funny as it should be.
32. Yurei Deco (Summer)
Dai Sato.
33. Hoshi no Samidare (Summer & Fall)
Piss-poor adaptation of a good manga.
34. Summertime Render (Spring & Summer)
Get this pretentious bollocks out of my sight.
35. Platinum End (Winter)
lol
Top 10 Shows of 2022
1. Mob Psycho 100 III (Fall)
All three seasons of Mob Psycho are the best. Not much media can claim the same with such a complete ending.
2. Yojouhan Time Machine Blues
I binged this between seasons so it didn’t make my seasonal review. But, uh, it’s more of that Science SARU goodness. Maybe not as punchy as Galaxy or as exquisite as Walk On Girl, but definitely supremely cohesive.
3. 86 Part 2 (Winter)
The ending to this show is so stupendously strong, it would have hit #2 or 3 last year. Out of consideration for this feat I am placing this here even though only its final 2 episodes aired this year.
4. Made in Abyss: Retsujitsu no Ougonkyou (Summer)
Great show. Might not be quite as good as the first season, and might be showing signs of dementia, but still strong.
5. Machikado Mazoku: 2-choume (Spring)
The Demon Girl Next Door is a wonderful show. Fun, well-made, wholesome, and with some meat on its bones.
6. Ousama Ranking (Winter)
Ranking of Kings is a truly incredible production whose story falls off a little in the middle.
7. Bocchi the Rock! (Fall)
I think this is good based solely on its sakuga and music?
8. Lycoris Recoil (Summer)
I just love Chisato, ok?
9. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Summer)
I think when I rewatch this I’ll rate it higher. I could see it as #7.
10. Chainsaw Man (Fall)
Hey this thing’s pretty good.
Runners Up
11. Akiba Meido Sensou (Fall)
Akiba Maid War is quite fun. You will enjoy it.
12. Poputepipikku 2nd Season (Fall)
You should watch Pop Team Epic 2nd Season without having seen the first season, no joke.
13. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story (Spring)
I am so hype for the continuation of this JoJo-ass golf show.
14. Paripi Koumei (Spring)
Ya Boy Kongming! is fun, unique, and well-made.
15. Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 3rd Season (Spring)
Ascendance of a Bookworm is good! I’m not sure there will be more of the anime though.
16. Spy x Family (Fall & Spring)
The second half brings it down, man.
Honorable (?) Mentions
17. Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (Winter)
It’s pretty, and I like the beach episode a lot.
18. Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to (Winter)
I’m a fan of the manga
19. Renai Flops (Fall)
???????? Do I recommend Love Flops????
26. Sabikui Bisco (Winter)
I wish this was better.
29. Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 2nd Season (Winter)
Dumb shit what’s fun to watch.
Leftovers
20. Yofukashi no Uta (Summer)
21. Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road (Spring)
22. Do It Yourself!! (Fall)
23. Isekai Yakkyoku (Summer)
24. Shine Post (Summer)
25. Onipan! (Spring)
27. Chimimo (Summer)
28. Healer Girl (Spring)
30. Teppen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Summer)
Dishonorable Mentions
31. Engage Kiss (Summer)
Rarely looks good, is too self-indulgent, and isn’t as funny as it should be.
32. Yurei Deco (Summer)
Dai Sato.
33. Hoshi no Samidare (Summer & Fall)
Piss-poor adaptation of a good manga.
34. Summertime Render (Spring & Summer)
Get this pretentious bollocks out of my sight.
35. Platinum End (Winter)
lol
Posted by adeeda | Dec 30, 2022 8:31 AM | 0 comments
January 9th, 2022
2021 Anime of the Year
Anime Relations: Sonny Boy
Hello! Here’s my top anime from 2021. The (Season) link next to each name leads to my seasonal review so you can read my fresher, slightly longer thoughts about each show.
Top 10 Shows of 2021
1. Sonny Boy (Summer)
It’s great, easily my AOTY.
2. Odd Taxi (Spring)
Odd Taxi comes in second based on its strong characters, dialogue, storytelling, and presentation.
3. Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon S (Summer)
Maid Dragon S comes in third based solely on audiovisual merits, and possibly on feelings for Kyoto Animation.
4. Ousama Ranking (First half) (Fall)
Ranking of Kings is such a treat I need to put it here despite its unfinished status. Could really be up or down a couple pegs.
5. Jujutsu Kaisen (TV) (Winter)
Should probably have been #3 last year, but I was too chicken. This year its competition is stiffer.
6. Heike Monogatari (Fall)
Maybe I’m being too lenient to JJK, shouldn’t this be higher than #6? Bah, there were too many good shows this year.
7. Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu & Part 2 (Winter & Fall)
Mushoku Tensei comes in at #7 for everything about it but Rudeus.
8. 86 & Part 2 (Spring & Fall)
If 86 had finished, I wonder if it would have made it higher. Tough competition and all.
9. Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (Spring)
Vivy sits at #9 on the strength of its robot heart and soul.
10. Godzilla: S.P (Spring)
A tense 5-hour sci-fi monster thriller experience. Colorful and imaginative, to boot. I want more people to watch this!
Honorable Mentions
SSSS.Dynazenon (Spring)
I want to put this higher, but something about it just feels lacking. I love it but . . . something . . . !
Shiroi Suna no Aquatope (Summer & Fall)
Please watch Aquatope I beg you.
Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi (Summer)
This is so unique and fun I have to give it a shout-out.
Kageki Shoujo!! (Summer)
This was a very nice and interesting watch, plus I’m a Pine Jam stan for some reason, so here I am mentioning this show.
Mashiro no Oto (Spring)
I liked this and haven’t really seen anything else like it.
Dishonorable Mentions
Wonder Egg Priority (Winter)
It’s very pretty.
Yakusoku no Neverland 2nd Season (Winter)
lol
Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? (Winter & Spring)
Read the novel.
Ex-Arm (Winter)
Ex-Arm speaks for itself!
Top 10 Shows of 2021
1. Sonny Boy (Summer)
It’s great, easily my AOTY.
2. Odd Taxi (Spring)
Odd Taxi comes in second based on its strong characters, dialogue, storytelling, and presentation.
3. Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon S (Summer)
Maid Dragon S comes in third based solely on audiovisual merits, and possibly on feelings for Kyoto Animation.
4. Ousama Ranking (First half) (Fall)
Ranking of Kings is such a treat I need to put it here despite its unfinished status. Could really be up or down a couple pegs.
5. Jujutsu Kaisen (TV) (Winter)
Should probably have been #3 last year, but I was too chicken. This year its competition is stiffer.
6. Heike Monogatari (Fall)
Maybe I’m being too lenient to JJK, shouldn’t this be higher than #6? Bah, there were too many good shows this year.
7. Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu & Part 2 (Winter & Fall)
Mushoku Tensei comes in at #7 for everything about it but Rudeus.
8. 86 & Part 2 (Spring & Fall)
If 86 had finished, I wonder if it would have made it higher. Tough competition and all.
9. Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (Spring)
Vivy sits at #9 on the strength of its robot heart and soul.
10. Godzilla: S.P (Spring)
A tense 5-hour sci-fi monster thriller experience. Colorful and imaginative, to boot. I want more people to watch this!
Honorable Mentions
SSSS.Dynazenon (Spring)
I want to put this higher, but something about it just feels lacking. I love it but . . . something . . . !
Shiroi Suna no Aquatope (Summer & Fall)
Please watch Aquatope I beg you.
Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi (Summer)
This is so unique and fun I have to give it a shout-out.
Kageki Shoujo!! (Summer)
This was a very nice and interesting watch, plus I’m a Pine Jam stan for some reason, so here I am mentioning this show.
Mashiro no Oto (Spring)
I liked this and haven’t really seen anything else like it.
Dishonorable Mentions
Wonder Egg Priority (Winter)
It’s very pretty.
Yakusoku no Neverland 2nd Season (Winter)
lol
Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? (Winter & Spring)
Read the novel.
Ex-Arm (Winter)
Ex-Arm speaks for itself!
Posted by adeeda | Jan 9, 2022 1:23 PM | 0 comments
January 16th, 2021
2020 Anime of the Year
Anime Relations: Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!
Hello! Here’s my top anime from 2020. The (Season) link next to each name leads to my seasonal review so you can read my fresher thoughts about each show.
Top 10 Shows of 2020
1. Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na! (Winter)
This is a no-brainer if you like animation.
2. Dorohedoro (Winter)
Maybe I just really like the combo of brutal + goofy that shows like this and Golden Kamuy offer. It helps that the OP and EDs are rockin’, and all the characters are amazing, and the world is so gritty and detailed, and - I guess this show is just good.
3. Great Pretender (Summer & Fall)
I went in with high expectations, and they were generally met. It’s just a lot of fun, with a lot of heart to boot.
4. Golden Kamuy 3rd Season (Fall)
I liked Golden Kamuy’s first two seasons; season 3 is better.
5. BNA (Spring)
I’m a Trigger fanboy so I love BNA despite its shortcomings.
6. Haikyuu!!: To the Top (Winter & Fall)
The first half is a little weaker, which brings the whole thing down a little bit. It pays off, though, if you keep going.
7. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season (Summer)
I love me some Re:Zero. We just need more. This is really only the first half of what should be considered the second season, so I can’t really place it higher yet.
8. Deca-Dence (Summer)
A very good anime-original by studio Nut, I like it a lot.
9. ID:Invaded (Winter)
ID:Invaded can be sorta dumb at times, but when it’s good, it’s good.
10. Kakushigoto (TV) (Spring)
This spot was hard to pick. Feel free to pretend I put your favorite anime from 2020 here instead.
Honorable Mentions
Jujutsu Kaisen (TV) (First Half) (Fall)
It’s not over yet so I don’t feel comfortable including it in the top 10. But if it finishes as strongly as it is now, it’d be up there somewhere!
Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season (Spring)
I love Bookworm, you should watch Bookworm.
Appare-Ranman! (Summer)
A really fun anime-original by P.A. Works.
Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu. (Winter)
Fun and funny MMORPG parody.
Top 10 Shows of 2020
1. Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na! (Winter)
This is a no-brainer if you like animation.
2. Dorohedoro (Winter)
Maybe I just really like the combo of brutal + goofy that shows like this and Golden Kamuy offer. It helps that the OP and EDs are rockin’, and all the characters are amazing, and the world is so gritty and detailed, and - I guess this show is just good.
3. Great Pretender (Summer & Fall)
I went in with high expectations, and they were generally met. It’s just a lot of fun, with a lot of heart to boot.
4. Golden Kamuy 3rd Season (Fall)
I liked Golden Kamuy’s first two seasons; season 3 is better.
5. BNA (Spring)
I’m a Trigger fanboy so I love BNA despite its shortcomings.
6. Haikyuu!!: To the Top (Winter & Fall)
The first half is a little weaker, which brings the whole thing down a little bit. It pays off, though, if you keep going.
7. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season (Summer)
I love me some Re:Zero. We just need more. This is really only the first half of what should be considered the second season, so I can’t really place it higher yet.
8. Deca-Dence (Summer)
A very good anime-original by studio Nut, I like it a lot.
9. ID:Invaded (Winter)
ID:Invaded can be sorta dumb at times, but when it’s good, it’s good.
10. Kakushigoto (TV) (Spring)
This spot was hard to pick. Feel free to pretend I put your favorite anime from 2020 here instead.
Honorable Mentions
Jujutsu Kaisen (TV) (First Half) (Fall)
It’s not over yet so I don’t feel comfortable including it in the top 10. But if it finishes as strongly as it is now, it’d be up there somewhere!
Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season (Spring)
I love Bookworm, you should watch Bookworm.
Appare-Ranman! (Summer)
A really fun anime-original by P.A. Works.
Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu. (Winter)
Fun and funny MMORPG parody.
Posted by adeeda | Jan 16, 2021 11:52 PM | 0 comments
January 5th, 2020
2019 Anime of the Year
Anime Relations: Mob Psycho 100 II
Looking back at each season for this list: wow Summer sucked ass. I already wrote about each of these shows at least twice, so I’m not putting that many words here, but I’ve linked to my review of each season next to the show, so you can go find it there to read my thoughts fresh after finishing each show.
Top 10 Shows of 2019:
1. Mob Psycho 100 II (Winter)
I said it before, and it’s still true, Mob is AOTY.
2. Sarazanmai (Spring)
I want to say it’s tough picking between Sarazanmai and Vinland Saga, but no, it’s not, Ikuhara is a god.
3. Vinland Saga (Summer & Fall)
I guess Vinland Saga will have to settle for third place. Not that this is a bad spot to be in.
4. Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo. (Summer)
Here’s where it gets more dicey. Not everyone liked Savage Maidens, but I did, so nyeah.
5. High Score Girl II (Fall)
Unlike Savage Maidens, nobody’s seen High Score Girl, so I should be safe putting this here.
6. Yakusoku no Neverland (Winter)
I like the manga a lot, so I am probably over-correcting for bias by putting this so low.
7. Isekai Quartet (Spring)
Easily the best isekai anime this year, Isekai Quartet is fun. That’s all it is, really, but that’s all it needs to be.
8. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (Last year & Winter)
Second-best isekai this year, Slime is a lot of fun and has some really cool potential.
9. Shinchou Yuusha: Kono Yuusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru (Fall)
Isekai #3 is Cautious Hero for its full, complete, cartoony package.
10. Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (Winter & Spring)
Shield Hero is isekai #4 because it’s pretty bad while still being gorgeous and sometimes good.
Honorable Mentions:
Kenja no Mago (Spring)
Don’t sleep on this generic isekai: it makes fun of itself for being generic! But really, it plays with and breaks a lot of tropes, I love it a lot.
Granbelm (Summer)
Granbelm is a labor of love, and that’s why I need to mention it. It’s a special kind of show.
Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld (Fall)
A1 really makes Alicization gorgeous, so I can’t not mention it.
Beastars
Beastars is the best furry show this year. I dropped it when there was about to be a sex scene between a wolf and a rabbit but I’ve been told it’s not like that. (That was a joke, I know Legoshi is better than that. I just can’t get past the schism that exists between the realistic nature of these animals and the things that exist to make the show happen that aren’t realistic.) The production values on Beastars are in fact amazing, so I don’t begrudge anyone who likes it.
Carole & Tuesday
I haven’t gotten around to watching this yet but I’ve heard mixed things about it. I figured people would be mad if I didn’t mention it.
Top 10 Shows of 2019:
1. Mob Psycho 100 II (Winter)
I said it before, and it’s still true, Mob is AOTY.
2. Sarazanmai (Spring)
I want to say it’s tough picking between Sarazanmai and Vinland Saga, but no, it’s not, Ikuhara is a god.
3. Vinland Saga (Summer & Fall)
I guess Vinland Saga will have to settle for third place. Not that this is a bad spot to be in.
4. Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo. (Summer)
Here’s where it gets more dicey. Not everyone liked Savage Maidens, but I did, so nyeah.
5. High Score Girl II (Fall)
Unlike Savage Maidens, nobody’s seen High Score Girl, so I should be safe putting this here.
6. Yakusoku no Neverland (Winter)
I like the manga a lot, so I am probably over-correcting for bias by putting this so low.
7. Isekai Quartet (Spring)
Easily the best isekai anime this year, Isekai Quartet is fun. That’s all it is, really, but that’s all it needs to be.
8. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (Last year & Winter)
Second-best isekai this year, Slime is a lot of fun and has some really cool potential.
9. Shinchou Yuusha: Kono Yuusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru (Fall)
Isekai #3 is Cautious Hero for its full, complete, cartoony package.
10. Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (Winter & Spring)
Shield Hero is isekai #4 because it’s pretty bad while still being gorgeous and sometimes good.
Honorable Mentions:
Kenja no Mago (Spring)
Don’t sleep on this generic isekai: it makes fun of itself for being generic! But really, it plays with and breaks a lot of tropes, I love it a lot.
Granbelm (Summer)
Granbelm is a labor of love, and that’s why I need to mention it. It’s a special kind of show.
Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld (Fall)
A1 really makes Alicization gorgeous, so I can’t not mention it.
Beastars
Beastars is the best furry show this year. I dropped it when there was about to be a sex scene between a wolf and a rabbit but I’ve been told it’s not like that. (That was a joke, I know Legoshi is better than that. I just can’t get past the schism that exists between the realistic nature of these animals and the things that exist to make the show happen that aren’t realistic.) The production values on Beastars are in fact amazing, so I don’t begrudge anyone who likes it.
Carole & Tuesday
I haven’t gotten around to watching this yet but I’ve heard mixed things about it. I figured people would be mad if I didn’t mention it.
Posted by adeeda | Jan 5, 2020 7:35 PM | 0 comments
December 29th, 2018
2018 Year in Review
Anime Relations: Sora yori mo Tooi Basho
2018 Year in Review
With 2018 coming to a close, here’s some words about all the best stuff I watched from this year. I’m a fucking wuss, so I couldn’t limit my top list to 10, let alone 5, which means I’ll be going through my top 14 shows, and then all the honorable mentions. Most of these are really, really close, though, so take the exact positions with a grain of salt.
Top 14 Shows of 2018
1. Sora yori mo Tooi Basho (Winter)
Sora yori is easily my AOTY. Realistic, heartfelt, and touching, it shows us what both our dreams and ourselves are capable of. Its characters are wonderful, its art is great, and its animation is fantastic. I guess the plot is a little slow to start, and it’s not a shounen power fantasy, so some people won’t like it, but holy jeez this is a good show. AOTY.
2. Violet Evergarden (Winter)
VE is so pretty, omg. I guess that’s why it’s so high in this list, eh? But really, KyoAni did a great job making this one look positively gorgeous throughout. As an added bonus, it’s also a touching, human story about recovering from PTSD/trauma and finding oneself. And also, 10 or so additional stories that our robotic heroine touches in some way through her letters. Unfortunately, it’s that robotic personality that drove off some viewers in the beginning. I knew she’d change, though, and change she did. VE is a wonderful story, and definitely worth your time.
3. Hinamatsuri (Spring)
Oh Hinamatsuri… what do I say about Hinamatsuri? It’s certainly funny, and that’s part of why I like it, but other people disagree. I think it’s well-animated, but it takes shortcuts where it can. I think I love Hinamatsuri because it’s both irreverent and serious. Irreverent when it comes to the medium, and of course the way it tells jokes about the characters; serious when it comes to characters themselves and their struggles and desires. There’s a lot of love in Hinamatsuri to go hand-in-hand with its comedy, and I can’t help but love it back.
4. Hisone to Maso-tan (Spring)
HisoMaso is a lotta fun. I enjoyed its characters, themes, animation, and setting. It’s just so… charming? The ED in particular is very charming, for sure. Some may find it boring at first, because it’s largely about the character interaction. Others may get exasperated with the weirdly magical plotline near the end, because it’s not completely explained. I found that I could overlook the show’s few flaws because it was so entertaining.
5. Irozoku Sekai no Ashita kara (Fall)
I just finished watching this, and my eyes are still puffy from crying. I’ve rated it 10/10 on the emotional high, and I suspect that I’ll be dropping it to a 9 in the future. There’s a lot about this show that’s perfect: realistic characters, plot-hole-devoid time travel, and gorgeous visuals to name a few. However, it does suffer from robotic protagonist syndrome in the first part, because Hitomi is pretty messed up; she grows out of it and that’s the whole point of the show, but some people won’t be able to stand it, despite how temporary it is. Additionally, magic isn’t ubiquitous despite being a known part of the world, which might upset some people, and the show is really, really sappy, which might turn off other people. Overall, though, I think it’s a great show, and definitely a masterpiece in some respects.
6. Planet With (Summer)
From the author of Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer (it’s a good manga, go read that too), Planet With tells an evolving story that you theoretically shouldn’t be able to predict. When I was watching this as it aired, I had to pause and rewind episodes, or refer to previous ones, to help me understand what was going on. You don’t need to do this, because everything is explained in the end, but that should tell you what kind of show this is. If you can get past the CG psycho-mechs, you’ll enjoy a wonderful story about stepping outside your comfort zone, being true to yourself, overcoming trauma, and making friends along the way.
7. Asobi Asobase (Summer)
Asobi Asobase is zany comedy fun. That’s it, go watch it, off with you! The art style belies the show’s true, insidious, wacky nature. The best part of the show is the voice acting; the three mains really stretch their ranges in all the best ways. I laughed out loud multiple times every episode (iirc), I highly recommend this if it sounds like fun from what I’ve said.
8. SSSS.Gridman (Fall)
Gridman is definitely good, but I think it gets more mileage out of a viewer if they’ve seen the original Gridman or Ultraman, as well as Neon Genesis Evangelion. The former for all the references and nostalgia, and the latter for themes and style. The show was still a joy to watch for me, and I haven’t seen a lick of tokusatsu outside of Power Rangers on TV as a kid. Art’s good, animation’s good, characters’r good, music’s good; everything’s good. It even has some interesting themes revolving around the main villain’s headspace. The ending was a little rushed, but it also had a lotta heart, and I can give it a pass for that. I recommend if you like giant robots or Gainax/TRIGGER.
9. Golden Kamuy (Spring + Fall)
Golden Kamuy is a blast. Historical tidbits, facts about the native Ainu, good food, slapstick, drama, action, horror, and even some romance all mesh wonderfully throughout the 2 seasons of GK that currently exist. I fell in love with Immortal Fujimoto, Asirpa, and the rest of their band of misfits, and you will too. It’s not the most technically impressive work, but the voice acting is great and nothing about the show is awful, except perhaps the CG bears and wolves. So, uh, it’s a good show? And season 3 looks like it’ll continue the trend!
10. Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai (Spring)
Tada Never Falls in Love is, as you could guess from the title, a bittersweet love story. It’s rather subdued overall, with subtle character animation that’ll leave you behind if you miss it. So, it’s really not for everyone. The plot is a bit slow and meandering, but it does get where it needs to in the 13-episode runtime. The background art in particular is amazing, and the colors pop everywhere you look. I really really liked Tada-kun, but I know a lot of people who didn’t like it, so be warned.
11. Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight (Summer)
There is some very, very good animation in Revue Starlight. It also has some great performances in the revues themselves. I personally enjoyed the separate, slice-of-life segments almost as much, despite their more laid-back presentation. Honestly, this show deserves a higher ranking, but I can’t allow myself to do it; the plot is sort of a mess and the themes have a stranglehold over the characters. If you can put up with those things, the show is absolutely amazing and you should give it a watch.
12. Zombieland Saga (Fall)
If you have any inkling to watch Zombieland Saga, you should do so without any prior knowledge. It’s definitely a fun ride. Down-to-earth (heh) idol show with a very broad cast of characters. Zany, heartfelt, and bursting with passion. Is that enough disparate adjectives for you? The story felt pretty complete as is, but there’s some obvious hanging plot threads that could be addressed in a potential sequel. Give it a shot, it’s not your typical idol show!
13. Release the Spyce (Fall)
It was sort of a toss up deciding which was better, this or Zombieland Saga. I think Zombieland Saga has more heart and thematic resonance, which pushes it up. Release the Spyce is otherwise a very enjoyable show, with its own feel-good moments and cool action scenes. It’s also really funny, because it embraces spy tropes wholeheartedly, and isn’t afraid to do silly things in the process. It tells a complete story, and has an excellent denouement. I recommend Release the Spyce if you want to have a silly, fun, spy-thriller time.
14. Double Decker! Doug & Kirill (Fall)
Just like Golden Kamuy, I don’t think Double Decker is the most technically impressive work. However, it’s on this list because it went above and beyond my expectations. Every episode is hilarious in often different ways, and all the characters are multifaceted and lovable. I want to say more, but this show is just so weird. And good, don’t get me wrong, I just can’t really explain why without way more words than I want to put here. If you like laughing, give Double Decker a shot.
Honorable Mentions
I don’t think these are as good as the shows above, but are still worth talking about. Here, I will do so! Like above, the best are first.
Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (Fall)
Hahaha just kidding, Slime is better than most of those shows. But it’s not over yet, so I can’t put it up there with good conscience. If it ended as good as it is now, I’d probably put it at #3, barely edging out Hinamatsuri.
Devilman: Crybaby (Winter)
I think Devilman is good, it’s just too goddamn depressing. I’m even a fan of Yuasa, I just think his other stuff is more compelling.
Darling in the FranXX (Winter)
I personally really like FranXX, but nobody else does so I put it here.
High Score Girl (Summer)
This is a really cute love story! It’s all CG, so it at least doesn’t have the jarring CG-next-to-hand-drawn-animation problem that some shows have. It feeds on the nostalgia of old arcade cabinets, of note Street Fighter, and it has a bunch of real gameplay of real arcade cabinets throughout its episodes, which span the elementary and middle school life of the MC. This show is a little too niche to put in the top list, so here it goes!
Kokkoku (Winter)
This show is too weird and sort of broken to be up there, but it does some interesting things. It also has a nice denouement, and I like that in a show.
My Hero Academia S3 (Spring)
I don’t think HeroAca is as good as a lot of people claim, but it has its sakuga moments and I like a lot of the characters, so it’s worth a mention.
I was going to put Isekai Maou here at the bottom of the honorable mentions, but I convinced myself not to. You’re welcome!
With 2018 coming to a close, here’s some words about all the best stuff I watched from this year. I’m a fucking wuss, so I couldn’t limit my top list to 10, let alone 5, which means I’ll be going through my top 14 shows, and then all the honorable mentions. Most of these are really, really close, though, so take the exact positions with a grain of salt.
Top 14 Shows of 2018
1. Sora yori mo Tooi Basho (Winter)
Sora yori is easily my AOTY. Realistic, heartfelt, and touching, it shows us what both our dreams and ourselves are capable of. Its characters are wonderful, its art is great, and its animation is fantastic. I guess the plot is a little slow to start, and it’s not a shounen power fantasy, so some people won’t like it, but holy jeez this is a good show. AOTY.
2. Violet Evergarden (Winter)
VE is so pretty, omg. I guess that’s why it’s so high in this list, eh? But really, KyoAni did a great job making this one look positively gorgeous throughout. As an added bonus, it’s also a touching, human story about recovering from PTSD/trauma and finding oneself. And also, 10 or so additional stories that our robotic heroine touches in some way through her letters. Unfortunately, it’s that robotic personality that drove off some viewers in the beginning. I knew she’d change, though, and change she did. VE is a wonderful story, and definitely worth your time.
3. Hinamatsuri (Spring)
Oh Hinamatsuri… what do I say about Hinamatsuri? It’s certainly funny, and that’s part of why I like it, but other people disagree. I think it’s well-animated, but it takes shortcuts where it can. I think I love Hinamatsuri because it’s both irreverent and serious. Irreverent when it comes to the medium, and of course the way it tells jokes about the characters; serious when it comes to characters themselves and their struggles and desires. There’s a lot of love in Hinamatsuri to go hand-in-hand with its comedy, and I can’t help but love it back.
4. Hisone to Maso-tan (Spring)
HisoMaso is a lotta fun. I enjoyed its characters, themes, animation, and setting. It’s just so… charming? The ED in particular is very charming, for sure. Some may find it boring at first, because it’s largely about the character interaction. Others may get exasperated with the weirdly magical plotline near the end, because it’s not completely explained. I found that I could overlook the show’s few flaws because it was so entertaining.
5. Irozoku Sekai no Ashita kara (Fall)
I just finished watching this, and my eyes are still puffy from crying. I’ve rated it 10/10 on the emotional high, and I suspect that I’ll be dropping it to a 9 in the future. There’s a lot about this show that’s perfect: realistic characters, plot-hole-devoid time travel, and gorgeous visuals to name a few. However, it does suffer from robotic protagonist syndrome in the first part, because Hitomi is pretty messed up; she grows out of it and that’s the whole point of the show, but some people won’t be able to stand it, despite how temporary it is. Additionally, magic isn’t ubiquitous despite being a known part of the world, which might upset some people, and the show is really, really sappy, which might turn off other people. Overall, though, I think it’s a great show, and definitely a masterpiece in some respects.
6. Planet With (Summer)
From the author of Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer (it’s a good manga, go read that too), Planet With tells an evolving story that you theoretically shouldn’t be able to predict. When I was watching this as it aired, I had to pause and rewind episodes, or refer to previous ones, to help me understand what was going on. You don’t need to do this, because everything is explained in the end, but that should tell you what kind of show this is. If you can get past the CG psycho-mechs, you’ll enjoy a wonderful story about stepping outside your comfort zone, being true to yourself, overcoming trauma, and making friends along the way.
7. Asobi Asobase (Summer)
Asobi Asobase is zany comedy fun. That’s it, go watch it, off with you! The art style belies the show’s true, insidious, wacky nature. The best part of the show is the voice acting; the three mains really stretch their ranges in all the best ways. I laughed out loud multiple times every episode (iirc), I highly recommend this if it sounds like fun from what I’ve said.
8. SSSS.Gridman (Fall)
Gridman is definitely good, but I think it gets more mileage out of a viewer if they’ve seen the original Gridman or Ultraman, as well as Neon Genesis Evangelion. The former for all the references and nostalgia, and the latter for themes and style. The show was still a joy to watch for me, and I haven’t seen a lick of tokusatsu outside of Power Rangers on TV as a kid. Art’s good, animation’s good, characters’r good, music’s good; everything’s good. It even has some interesting themes revolving around the main villain’s headspace. The ending was a little rushed, but it also had a lotta heart, and I can give it a pass for that. I recommend if you like giant robots or Gainax/TRIGGER.
9. Golden Kamuy (Spring + Fall)
Golden Kamuy is a blast. Historical tidbits, facts about the native Ainu, good food, slapstick, drama, action, horror, and even some romance all mesh wonderfully throughout the 2 seasons of GK that currently exist. I fell in love with Immortal Fujimoto, Asirpa, and the rest of their band of misfits, and you will too. It’s not the most technically impressive work, but the voice acting is great and nothing about the show is awful, except perhaps the CG bears and wolves. So, uh, it’s a good show? And season 3 looks like it’ll continue the trend!
10. Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai (Spring)
Tada Never Falls in Love is, as you could guess from the title, a bittersweet love story. It’s rather subdued overall, with subtle character animation that’ll leave you behind if you miss it. So, it’s really not for everyone. The plot is a bit slow and meandering, but it does get where it needs to in the 13-episode runtime. The background art in particular is amazing, and the colors pop everywhere you look. I really really liked Tada-kun, but I know a lot of people who didn’t like it, so be warned.
11. Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight (Summer)
There is some very, very good animation in Revue Starlight. It also has some great performances in the revues themselves. I personally enjoyed the separate, slice-of-life segments almost as much, despite their more laid-back presentation. Honestly, this show deserves a higher ranking, but I can’t allow myself to do it; the plot is sort of a mess and the themes have a stranglehold over the characters. If you can put up with those things, the show is absolutely amazing and you should give it a watch.
12. Zombieland Saga (Fall)
If you have any inkling to watch Zombieland Saga, you should do so without any prior knowledge. It’s definitely a fun ride. Down-to-earth (heh) idol show with a very broad cast of characters. Zany, heartfelt, and bursting with passion. Is that enough disparate adjectives for you? The story felt pretty complete as is, but there’s some obvious hanging plot threads that could be addressed in a potential sequel. Give it a shot, it’s not your typical idol show!
13. Release the Spyce (Fall)
It was sort of a toss up deciding which was better, this or Zombieland Saga. I think Zombieland Saga has more heart and thematic resonance, which pushes it up. Release the Spyce is otherwise a very enjoyable show, with its own feel-good moments and cool action scenes. It’s also really funny, because it embraces spy tropes wholeheartedly, and isn’t afraid to do silly things in the process. It tells a complete story, and has an excellent denouement. I recommend Release the Spyce if you want to have a silly, fun, spy-thriller time.
14. Double Decker! Doug & Kirill (Fall)
Just like Golden Kamuy, I don’t think Double Decker is the most technically impressive work. However, it’s on this list because it went above and beyond my expectations. Every episode is hilarious in often different ways, and all the characters are multifaceted and lovable. I want to say more, but this show is just so weird. And good, don’t get me wrong, I just can’t really explain why without way more words than I want to put here. If you like laughing, give Double Decker a shot.
Honorable Mentions
I don’t think these are as good as the shows above, but are still worth talking about. Here, I will do so! Like above, the best are first.
Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (Fall)
Hahaha just kidding, Slime is better than most of those shows. But it’s not over yet, so I can’t put it up there with good conscience. If it ended as good as it is now, I’d probably put it at #3, barely edging out Hinamatsuri.
Devilman: Crybaby (Winter)
I think Devilman is good, it’s just too goddamn depressing. I’m even a fan of Yuasa, I just think his other stuff is more compelling.
Darling in the FranXX (Winter)
I personally really like FranXX, but nobody else does so I put it here.
High Score Girl (Summer)
This is a really cute love story! It’s all CG, so it at least doesn’t have the jarring CG-next-to-hand-drawn-animation problem that some shows have. It feeds on the nostalgia of old arcade cabinets, of note Street Fighter, and it has a bunch of real gameplay of real arcade cabinets throughout its episodes, which span the elementary and middle school life of the MC. This show is a little too niche to put in the top list, so here it goes!
Kokkoku (Winter)
This show is too weird and sort of broken to be up there, but it does some interesting things. It also has a nice denouement, and I like that in a show.
My Hero Academia S3 (Spring)
I don’t think HeroAca is as good as a lot of people claim, but it has its sakuga moments and I like a lot of the characters, so it’s worth a mention.
I was going to put Isekai Maou here at the bottom of the honorable mentions, but I convinced myself not to. You’re welcome!
Posted by adeeda | Dec 29, 2018 9:04 PM | 0 comments