With luck and a little effort on my part, you might find something to like this season.
Reminder: Any and all scores presented in this post are entirely representative of my current mindset. As I have more time to consider shows, my feelings and understanding of the final product will be more likely to change. A good way to consider it is that this is my raw personal opinion in regards to the show, more than a critical review, since my recommendations do, apparently, warrant attention every now and then. Not that I understand why.
Opening Statement:
On the whole, I feel like this was a pretty good season. We got some great retellings and the remastering of classic tales like Dororo. There were sequels that not only lived up to the hype of their predecessors but openly surpassed them like Mob Psycho II. And, of course, there were a few hidden gems that came out of nowhere and offered me just as much, if not more, entertainment than some of the top contenders this season like My Roommate is a Cat. Of course, there are also a few titles where some things went wrong or just failed to pass muster. For starters, there are always those shows that like to stir up a little controversy and end up getting a 50/50 chance of being horribly offensive or groundbreaking. Rising of the Shield Hero got to fill that spot this time and will carry on into next season. We got our standard ecchi and harem nonsense featuring personified planes in Girly Air Force and The Quintessential Quintuplets. Then last, but certainly not least, we got a couple good garbage fires in the form of Domestic Kanojo and the affront to every show that has deserved a second season but never got it that is W'z. It's unlikely that it'll go down in history as anything special since there were ultimately just as many good shows as there were derivative ones. Still, be that as it may, there were a good number of titles I enjoyed and a few that drove me mad, which only made those good shows all the better in my mind.
As usual, the titles are listed by order in which they were finished and will be reviewed in the weeks to come.
Season Wrap-up: Completed Shows
Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
And that's kinda the problem, isn't it?
I have to say I loved how AnimeNewsNetwork described what happened to this show, it peaked way too early. The beginning of this show had a lot of promise going for it and seemed to stand up there with Overlord with its nation-building and catharsis. Watching Rimuru form alliances and stumble his way to success was very enjoyable at the start. As time went on, though, that enjoyment steadily faded away as it started to feel that he was just being handed everything on a gold platter. The concept of stakes was eventually thrown out the window along with the tension of any real threat, the joy at attaining something from a hard-fought battle, or the bitter medicine of learning from a loss. When all was said and done, I just couldn't be bothered to care anymore; a feeling that was only exacerbated by the decision to turn the last two episodes into an OVA and a moronic recap episode, even though half of the final episode was already a recap of how much Rimuru had done. I'm curious to see where things go with the second season but I've lost any real interest in this show or its characters. 6/10. 2/5.
Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita!
You say that like it's a bad thing.
There's always a fine line for me when it comes to characters that express pedophilic tendencies. Last season, that line got crossed within the first few minutes UzaMaid!. While this one came close to crossing that line a couple of times, it managed to keep things a lot more tame by comparison. With the character in question being emotionally stunted and socially awkward enough to not understand her feelings of love for a child, what would normally be gross and abhorrent makes way for something I can more easily tolerate. Instead of being an ecchi that crosses that line for me, WataTen invests itself wholly in awkward and cathartic humor that openly mocks and punishes Miyako for her concerning personality. Alongside that catharsis, however, is an actually touching and understandable tale that same problematic character growing into a proper member of society under the tutelage of these kids for whom social interaction is as natural as breathing. 7/10. 5/5.
Kemurikusa
And that's just kinda the joy of this show.
Like the original Kemono Friends before it, Kemurikusa is something of an acquired taste. For those already acclimated to TATSUKI's unique brand of jank, this will feel very similar to his previous work. Anyone not used to his style, however, might have an easier time getting invested in this title more than Kemono Friends. Where that show was gauged for children, this one is much more teen and adult oriented with its dire setting and quirky characters. It's a sweet and simple apocalyptic story of a family's survival using a strange and mysterious plant technology called Kemurikusa (or literally "Smokeweed" for anyone who wants a good chuckle). With its simplicity, however, comes some fantastic character moments and a heart that speak to just how much these warped survivors care for one another. Hidden beneath that too, though, is a story brimming with supernatural intrigue that is drip-fed throughout the series, making it a delight to engage with. 7/10. 4/5.
Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru
From anyone else, that would be an obvious statement. From Prince, though, that's the sign of some stellar character development.
Last season, Tsurune would have been a strong contender for my favorite sports show of the season if it weren't for the existence of Run With the Wind. This is due, in part, to the simple fact that it is far more concerned with the characters of its story than it is the sport that propels them forward. Every couple of episodes dedicates itself to juggling and working to break down each character's problems and the roadblocks that are holding back their little gang of weirdos and misfits. Though the story is mainly centered on the team's ace, Kakeru, no character is given the short stick or spared their moment of reflection and growth. I found it nearly impossible not to root for their team, even when they had to come to terms with reality and acknowledge that there was no chance that they'd be the best of the best. 10/10. 5/5.
Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue
This show is just every cat lover's dream. It's just too sweet.
Every season, I always make sure to lock in a show that I know will just be good for my soul. That spot is usually reserved for sweet, pure, and emotional titles that just give me that tingly feeling in my soul. Sweetness & Lightning, Merc Storia, Yuru Camp: these are the shows that have always given me that feeling and helped me get through the garbage I suffer through. This time, that spot was reserved for a story of a depressed and grieving writer and the stray he adopts on a whim. Rather than just being something dedicated to watching our socially inept writer get by, though, the thing that makes this show special is that it dedicates a good 3rd of every episode to the cat, Haru's, perspective. Through Haru, we're given a heart-wrenching tale of her slowly and steadily finding her place in this new home and working through her own personal problems. Yet, to make it all the better, her story helped key me into Subaru's story and his journey of growth as both a writer, pet owner, and person.
The Promised Neverland
Suspicion leads to closed-mindedness, though, Ray, and that's a big no-no in your situation.
I don't even know where to begin with this show. It's good. Go watch it. Yeah, that should cover it. OK, in all seriousness, this is probably one of the best thriller titles I've seen in a while. From the beginning, it's easy to tell that something's not right in this happy orphanage. The uniforms and tattooed numbers on the kids' necks that are reminiscent of Nazi death camps should be clue enough for that. Strange as it might sound, though, what's actually happening in this show is infinitely more insidious than something as cut and dry as "Nazis are evil." What makes the evil of this world and the suspense of it all work though is the way that the characters act and react to one another. Emma, Norman, and Ray are the show's main characters but they are limited in the way you'd expect from children who lack life experience, no matter how smart they might be. More often than not, they get tricked and outplayed and setback in their plans throughout the show but still always manage to maintain forward momentum in spite of how unfair and cruel their situation might be. 10/10. 5/5.
Quintessential Quintuplets
It's almost like they're all developing feelings or something.
There are a good number of complaints I could level against this show. So many, in fact, that it might sound like I hate this show and that's kinda the truth of the matter. But here's the thing, though, I feel like a good number of my complaints boil down to issues with the adaptation. Due to the fact that the girls are easy to tell apart by their hair color, a good number of the quint jokes just do not work in the anime. Looking past those issues, though, there are a few good points to note. For one, the cast is generally full of good and fun characters who are a delight in their own right, making for some great interpersonal chemistry and hijinx. As for the romance, though, it's about what you'd expect. Every girl embodies a particular trope and they end up towing those lines until the end for a protagonist who is significantly less interesting. 6/10. 4/5.
Boogiepop and Others
Or is it? Who even knows if Boogiepop actually exists? Definitely not Boogiepop.
A deep-thought supernatural mystery that tells a series of stories that, against all odds, manage to form a cohesive whole riddled with mysteries. Thought it takes some time to piece things together in this series, it ultimately boils down to wondering what would happen if the world of Haruhi Suzumiya--aliens, espers, Illuminati and everything--was taken a lot more seriously. Yet, rather than having a supposed god be the center of this world, the story tends to revolve around an ensemble cast of normal people and the self-labeled self-defense mechanism of the world, Boogiepop. Put plainly, there's a lot of meat to this show and lots of mysteries to chew through. The only real problem with it is that it is one that needs to be marathoned else character names, faces, and goals will be more easily lost in the jumble that is this show's timeline. 7/10. 3/5.
Hinomaru Sumo
A good old shounen sports anime at it's finest.
There isn't any shame in painting by numbers so long as you still end up with a great work of art in the end and Hinomaru Sumo is the perfect example of that. From start to finish, this show is built around a kid who wants to be the best and works toward that goal with the power of his own determination and the support of his friends. It's pretty much exactly what you might expect. Yet, in spite of that predictability, I still found myself engaged with his journey and that of those who decided to follow and support Hinomaru. 7/10. 5/5.
Fukigen no Mononokean II
Yo dawg, I heard you like youkai so I...wait...is that joke dead? Am I old now?
Now that I'm looking at my list, I've realized that the original Mononokean was before I started this whole review thing, so I guess I'll be reviewing the whole of the series. So, from the top, The Morose Mononokean is more or less follows along similar lines to those otome series of young girls getting swept up into a world full of magic and youkai that's remained hidden in the mundane world. Only, this time, it's going more for that yaoi feel between a high schooler new to the world of youkai becoming the employee of a young man who serves as a medium between humans and youkai, sending them to the underworld when it becomes risky for them to remain in the human world. As simple as the show starts out, though, the second season ramps up into something legitimately compelling as it starts to legitimately dig into the history of the two main characters and their place in the world of spirits and demons. 6/10. 4/5.
Kaguya-Sama Love is War
Romantic comedy is chaos theory in action.
Despite its questionable premise when read without context, Kaguya-Sama is one of the silliest absurdist romance comedies I've ever seen. This entire series is functionally a battle of wits starring the war of the sexes as two prideful geniuses try to force their other to confess their feelings with the most idiotic plans possible. As obnoxious as that might sound, the characters quickly endear themselves due to the simple fact that they're all just a bunch of nerds who have no clue how to act around one another, constantly embarrassing each other in the process. Once things start to reach a pitch, however, the absurdity of it all manages to step aside for something a little more thoughtful and typical of your standard romance. 8/10. 4/5.
Endro
Ah, a classic Dragon Quest parody if ever there was one.
For a cutesy, moe, all-girls Dragon Quest parody, Endro has a weird amount of self-awareness and heart to it. As you might expect, it's full of absurdity and friendship but is generally built on a plot that offers a bit of a mystery. At the show's start, the hero defeats the Demon King by botching a magical spell that sends the hero party and the Demon King back in time. For some odd reason, though, the Demon King Mao is the only one with any memory of her defeat. So, determined to undermine the rise of the hero, she opts to become a teacher at the adventurer school in the hopes of sabotaging the would-be hero. Somewhere along the way, though, the plan doesn't go to plan, leading to some generally good slapstick as the hero and her party bungles their way through being adventurers and the tiny Demon King tries to hide her identity from the world. 7/10. 3/5.
Kouya no Kotobuki Hikoutai
Or, more accurately, I fail to see the point of your existence.
A bit of an odd duck in the almost every respect, Kotobuki is a show that seems determined to blend a lot of concepts and practices together without any real cohesion between those ideas. For starters, there's this bizarre obsession with CG that proliferates the show at weird times. Most of the time, the main cast is rendered in CG but will be standard animation in other moments. What's strange about this, though, isn't so much that the CG is bad or even poorly rendered; rather, it just doesn't work when it's constantly paired alongside standard animation, making the main cast stand out like a bunch of aliens. On another note, this tries to be something of a character drama but never actually focuses on the cast enough for me to actually care about them. Pretty much the only thing this show does well is present the glory and joy of flying in older planes and capturing the thrill of a dogfight. The camera work and audio that showcases these girls soaring through the sky is breathtaking and gave me an intense interest in what kind of planes they were showing off. But, along the way, that interest was lost in a plot that was filled with political nonsense and some out of nowhere isekai vibes. 4/10. 3/5.
Mob Psycho II
Mob is such a pure, precious boy.
I just realized that I never got to review Mob Psycho when I started this. Oh, this season of reviews is going to be a real treat. Like One Punch Man before it, this show plays to two particular feelings. One is the pure and simple catharsis of watching Mob beat down any spiritual threat that crosses his path. The other is that this is a solid story of Mob trying to find his place in the world and growing up without using his incredible powers that could easily hurt someone if he let his guard down for even a moment. Like all the psychics around him, he could easily turn his inhuman abilities, even by the standards of other psychics, against the world but, in his eyes, that just wouldn't be fair. Rather, aware of his weakness as a person, he instead endeavors to better himself and become a proper member of society without his powers. Due to his job as a fraud psychic's assistant and general magnetism for bad juju, though, Mob is often forced to protect himself with those powers he fears so much. 10/10. 5/5.
Kemono Friends 2
Tell it like it is, Mama Duck.
Easily the biggest disappointment of the season, Kemono Friends 2 just didn't live up to the hype of its predecessor. While easier to look at and generally better animated than it's predecessor, there simply wasn't any soul to its story. Rather, it was essentially just a retelling of the first series but with a less interesting human and a group of friends that were basically just the basic character archetypes wrapped in well-designed shells. Even things like the Zoo interviews for each animal were scrapped in this iteration of the franchise, removing the educational quality that made it so quirky and endearing for older audiences. The biggest insult of all, though, is the show's use of the older characters, functionally turning them into sad cameos that insulted the previous series more than it did pay homage to it. In other words, this is pretty much the DMC: Devil May Cry of this entire ridiculous franchise.
Season Wrap-up: Ongoing Shows
Dororo
Gotta love those classics that get the modern facelift and look amazing because of it.
Evoking feelings similar to Samurai Champloo, Dororo is easily one of the best shows of this season. While it might be episodic in nature, it's fairly easy to parse together its overall story of a world plagued with demons and feuding lords whose reign causes suffering to the world around them. Little injustices and cruelties abound in this world and it's hard to tell if that's simply the work of the demons or simply that of mankind as a whole. Putting the deep thoughts aside, though, the story of Dororo and Hyakkimaru is wonderful for many reasons. The action scenes are simply gorgeous to watch. The more personal moments have a lot of personal stakes and growth put into them. No matter what the focus of each episode might be, though, it's almost always guaranteed to be absolutely amazing.
Rising of the Shield Hero
I won't lie, the good Naofumi and his party are doing for the world and
each other is the only reason I'm still watching this show.
This one's definitely a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, the sheer amount of edge and emotional manipulation present in this show is just disgusting. To make matters worse, its use of false rape charges to justify Naofumi's hatred for this world and general distrust of women after the fact is a thin line to walk for a lot of people. On the other hand, however, there is some good to be noted throughout this series. The way Naofumi picks himself up and lifts up the world around him through good deeds and his responsibility to run damage control for his fellow adventurers make him the hero this show needs. Though I could live without his juvenile companions cat fighting over him, their role in his life is, generally speaking, very emotional and well-justified. I worry how this show might come to burn me in the season to come but, so far, it hasn't been half bad.
Season Wrap-up: Dropped Shows
Domestic Kanojo (3/12)
It is my understanding that there was/is some potential to this show that I just missed. Like Scum's Wish, I've been told that it twists some tropes of romance animes and harems in general toward a more darker bend. Specifically, it supposedly plays on the "good guy" trope that I've mentioned before and turns it into an actual negative as the show's protagonist attempts to please everyone and only ends up causing them suffering in the process. Yet, to be clear, I never heard this comment leveled at the anime--that level of thought and consideration only seems to be present in the manga. As for the anime, it's basically some incel garbage full of melodrama and girls flinging themselves on a self-obsessed prick.
Girly Air Force (2/12)
Harem trash at it's worst is probably the best way I can describe Girly Air Force. Though I read up on how the show went in hopes that it might translate into something "so bad it's good," that revelation never came. Rather, what we seem to have gotten is a wet fart of a series born from twisting the niche obsession of airplanes into something worse. Where Kotobuki and Ace Combat might exhibit a weird obsession with aeronautics, this series instead appeals to those who, quite bluntly, want to fuck their jet plane waifus.
Egao no Daika (5/12)
Now here's a show I held out a lot of hope for, thinking I might get something akin to Code Geass thanks to its flamboyant character designs and use of mechs. What I got, though, was an edgy mess that just made a point to make everything shitty. Rather than actual political intrigue or characters who were even remotely engaging, I got a blanket statement that "War is bad," which isn't exactly a novel take on the matter since the Gundam franchise exists.
Meiji Tokyo Renka (2/12)
An odd entry into the mountain of otome anime out there that, for whatever reason, tries to shove supernatural elements, time travel, and the isekai genre under one umbrella. As I understand it, the story basically centers around a reclusive girl solving the problems of pretty boy historical figures with her supernatural abilities while also making her claim to fame in the world by pioneering things like brooms and electricity in the Meiji Era. While I can't say I actively disliked this show, I just wasn't in the mood for what it had to offer.