Was the winter season a little slow for you? Well then, you’ll appreciate the spring 2023 anime season, with more than 50 anime series airing (not including shorts and children’s series)! As you can imagine, the set list of series is diverse, from cutesy shows and historical dramas, idol series to those featuring wizards and witches, and romcom to isekai.
And as usual, we’ll help parse through these many titles as we give our first impressions of new and returning series, which start premiering this Saturday. We’ll be posting frequently as anime come out and using this page as a master post to keep track of all our first impression posts, as well as an opportunity for our staff to add additional thoughts to those articles.
Keep checking back as we make updates, click on the links below as we develop this post, and let us know what you’re thinking in the comments!
A-I
The Ancient Magus’ Bride • The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far • The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses • The Dangers in My Heart • Dead Mount Death Play • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc (Season 3) • Dr. STONE NEW WORLD • EDENS ZERO S2 • A Galaxy Next Door • Hell’s Paradise • I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too • The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls U149 • In Another World With My Smartphone S2 • Insomniacs After School
J-N
KamiKatsu: Working for God in a Godless World • Kimi ni Todoke • Kizuna no Allele • Konosuba – An Explosion on This Wonderful World! • Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear -Punch! • The Legendary Hero is Dead! • Magical Destroyers • The Marginal Service • Mashle: Magic and Muscles • My Clueless First Friend • My Home Hero • My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 • My One-Hit Kill Sister
O-Z
Opus.COLORs • Oshi no Ko • Otaku Elf • Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage • Rokudo’s Bad Girls • Skip and Loafer • Summoned to Another World for a Second Time • Stella of the Theater: World Dai Star • Tengoku Daimakyo • TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You (Season 2) • Too Cute Crisis • Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion • Yuri is My Job!
The Ancient Magus’ Bride
First Impression: claire
The first few minutes clearly establish this season as a completely new phase in Chise’s story, as she articulates all that she learned from the previous season’s journey, and her aspirations for the road ahead. The sound design is somewhat experimental, with atmospheric, slightly ominous echoing birds and the discordant soughing of trees at times, orchestral swells at others, and jazzy piano riffs in between. Like the animation, there is plenty to sink your teeth into sonically, here, or equally, you can just let it set the mood and wash over you. Crucially, Junna is back with her mildly Celtic-inflected vocals on the OP. In short, this premiere manages to maintain the best elements of the first season, while setting up season two in a class of its own.
Jeskai
Excellent! This looks like more of the same mystery, drama, beauty, and wonder the first season provided. This my favorite opening episode of the season thus far. Also, until reading Claire’s post, I had no idea “sough” was a word, proving once again that anime is part of a liberal arts education.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far
First Impression: stardf29
Sometimes an “unoriginal” anime can elevate itself through excellent execution, this show has done nothing spectacular in either animation or storytelling. Indeed, The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure is all about familiarity for anime fans who will gladly eat up more isekai comfort food whenever it comes around, and if you are one of those people, this show will do just fine. As for myself, I am unlikely to follow this show any further for now, though I might revisit it later on when I just want a cookie-cutter isekai to chew on.
Jeskai
Blah. Meh. Star is right, this is Totally Generic Isekai #803. I can imagine myself watching it, maybe, if I’d never seen isekai before, and there was little else airing that I cared to follow. Maybe. Thankfully, that’s not the case. We can do better.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses
First Impression: Samuru
this episode reminded me of The Quintessential Quintuplets, in that it seems to be trying to copy some of the format of that anime—but I don’t see it going well. The girls didn’t get a proper introduction, they are just living in a café since they are broke, so I didn’t connect with them well enough to care about their situation..Hayato’s reflection on his grandmother and the meaning of the name “Familia”, which means family in Spanish, was a nice touch, and being Hispanic myself, it reminded me of the time I spent with my own grandmother (on my mother’s side) who passed away at 99. That touched my heart and I hope that Hayato can find some peace and closure on how his relationship with his grandmother ended. I won’t be following this one to its seasonal conclusion, but I did enjoy the ending and I hope they drop some of the ecchi content, but based on the preview it doesn’t seem so.
Josh
You know what? I am beyond glad that my brother Samuru got something out of this one. Heaven knows I didn’t. I gave up two minutes in when we had back-to-back-to-back-to-back fanservice shots in the scope of 30 seconds. I mean, at this point, the show is just insulting my intelligence and wasting my time. I’d rather sit through Girlfriend, Girlfriend again. At least that one waited a bit before inundating me with foolishness.
WacOtaku
I’m with Samuru in that this episode felt like Quintessential Quintuplets, only with a lot more fan-service, a less likable Futaro, and no Miku to grace the universe with her presence. The show tries to be genre savvy, but in that annoyingly cheap way where a character simply points out how a trope is logically ridiculous and then goes on their merry way. The fact that I’ve mentally classified the five girls by their “gimmick” rather than their names should be pretty telling. Equally telling should be the fact that I’d wager good Yen that there is already an outrage video on YouTube where somebody is going off on CR for censoring the scene where Hayato gets a face full of “edited for TV broadcast”. If you absolutely need what Cafe Terrace is selling, just go re-watch Quintessential Quintuplets or try the manga Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister, which both provide this same story with better casts and less gratuitous fan service.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Dangers in My Heart
First Impression: Twwk
The title is no throwaway phrase—there’s violence in Ichikawa’s mind, an obsession with death and murder. We all unfortunately know how that can turn into real violence, but I would also remark that many boys go through high school thinking similarly terrible thoughts without acting on them. But just because they don’t act, doesn’t mean they aren’t any less broken. Ichikawa needs help, and the bubbly and off-kilter Yamada might be his aid—though I love how this series doesn’t seem to point at her being a savior but rather as the machination that turns his gears and gets his heart working, and maybe overpowers the evil thoughts he has.
Josh
Looks like we got another “Dark and Gloomy vs Bright and Bubbly” anime this season. Geeze, when Japan gets fixated on an anime concept, they ride it until the brakes fall off. This time around we get a guy who has his heart in the right place even though his head ain’t. Granted he is just a middle school kid, but good grief, someone please get Ishikawa some counseling ASAP. Also, isn’t it against school rules to carry a KNIFE on your person!? That should be grounds for IMMEDIATE suspension. In any case, as TWWK mentioned, it looks as though our female lead is not going to be the one to “fix” Ishikawa directly, but she will be a harbinger of change. Hopefully, that change comes quickly for our little bro.
Jeskai
I *think* this is going to be lighthearted and funny? Despite our protagonist’s dark thoughts, I kind of got the impression that he’s more chuuni than actually violent or dangerous. But I’m not completely sure of that, so I can envision this show turning out more dramatic than I expect. In any case, this episode at least convinced me to come back for the next couple before I make a decision.
Streaming on HIDIVE.
Dead Mount Death Play
First Impression: Samuru
I don’t enjoy bloody or gory media, so I was a little taken aback by the violent first minute of the anime. You’ll have to see for yourself how it went down for those poor soldiers. I did like the epic fight between the main protagonist and antagonist, however, and when the necromancer appeared in Japan, I thought it was a “reverse isekai” where the character went from a game to the real world. In a way, that’s what happened, but it’s not revealed what the world he came from is yet. I would have liked a little more background as to why this character is how he is because I’m not used to rooting for the villain, which is what’s going on. There were some 3D scenes here and there that I felt weren’t necessary, and the difficult-to-pronounce names like Polka or Shagrua didn’t help in forming an attachment to the characters. I don’t see myself watching anymore of Dead Mount Death Play…
NegativePrimes
If on-screen blood is too problematic for you, then Dead Mount Death Play is not your cup of tea. But if you can look past that, something deeper and more promising awaits. DMDP looks to be shaping up like a reverse Overlord: as if Ainz went not from our world to a fantasy, but from a fantasy world to our own. The “Grey vs. Greyer” morality of Overlord finds an echo in the “Black vs. Blacker” morality that seems to be present in DMDP. Or is it “Grey vs. Black”? There’s a hint that our protagonist villain might have some more complicated motives, which—when set against the Yakuza he’s come into conflict with—might leave room for a redemption story. Or maybe he’ll constantly straddle the moral abyss, like an anime Spawn or V. Regardless, this is one of the more creative isekai premises in recent years, and I look forward to seeing how our anti-hero performs his play on the stage he’s been given.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc (Season 3)
First Impression: Twwk
The double-sized opening episode to this arc primarily serves as a denouement to the Entertainment District Arc and sets the stage for this new season. It feels very theatrical in how it accomplishes the latter, dropping obvious hints and introducing new characters as scenes shift from setting to setting. And in doing so, it generates excitement with all the new developments.
Samuru
What an episode! The beginning started off very strong with the introduction to the rest of the Upper-Rank demons and how they interact with each other. After that though, it was a little slow for me as I prefer the action and plot progression scenes. I am still impressed by how well-drawn and brought to life the manga of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is in the anime. Even though I’ve read all the manga, I still am very interested in seeing how these episodes play out with the upcoming battles in this season.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dr. STONE NEW WORLD
First Impression: Josh
This new season looks to continue what makes Dr. Stone a standout in the trope-riddled shounen anime genre. It offers an excellent balance between action and character development. From the top down, nobody is painted black and white…with the exception of Gen Asagari. Everyone has beautiful layers of complexity that the viewers peel away with each interaction…If I’m being totally honest though, out of all the story arcs in the manga, this is probably the weakest one for me. Not because of the story—it’s awesome as always—but the number of characters that are introduced kinda left me feeling overwhelmed and confused. Hopefully seeing the story animated in bite-sized, easily reviewable chunks will strengthen this arc in my view.
Samuru
I finally caught up to watching Dr. Stone and it’s been moving along rather nicely. Unlike Josh, I haven’t read the manga (though I will soon!) and I’m not sure what’s coming next. This first episode kept everything pretty stable, nothing too exciting happened besides the beginning of making bread from wheat but the OP showed off a few new characters that I can’t wait to see who they are and their stories. So far so good, and I will be back every week for new adventures with Senku and company as they explore this new stone world!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
EDENS ZERO S2
First Impression: Thathilomgirl
…the anime has so far been both fun and faithful to the manga, and I’m glad that Season 2 is now on a more accessible site so that other viewers will have the opportunity to give it a chance to watch it and not just have to deduce it, as with Fairy Tail 2.0. Now, as for Season 2, admittedly I thought it was going a bit slow, but knowing where this current arc leads up, the anime will pick up the pace soon enough. Finally, I’ll say this as someone who’s up-to-date on the manga, I’m genuinely excited for the animating of what happens next, if only to see the reactions of everyone else watching it. Not only do we get to see how Hiro Mashima’s writing can go when it comes to darker tones of storytelling, but we also start to see the bigger picture of where the plot for EZ is heading.
Streaming on Crunchyroll (Season one is streaming on Netflix).
A Galaxy Next Door
First Impression: Josh
While I realize this is just yet another “Hapless protagonist being saved by a kind otherworldly cute girl” story, dawg gone it, you can inject that stuff right into my veins on a constant IV drip because I love stories like this. In that same vein, this story does bear a striking resemblance to Sweetness and Lightning, with the exception that the female lead is older and our protag can actually pursue a relationship with her without any problems with the FBI…Also, can I please give a shoutout to Shiori? She didn’t do the now overused cliché of screaming out, “PERVERT! ECCHI!!!” and smack Ichiro like Mrs. Kamiya smacked Tai. While she did look CLOSE to doing it, she paused and listened, and when she found out it was an accident and he apologized, she apologized as well for jumping to conclusions. Can we get more of this in anime please?
Twwk
Much like the protagonists themselves, I often fall in love with anime romance series at first sight (in the first episode). And then, kind of like in real-life relationships, the ugliness of the series shows itself and you realize it’s not what you thought it would be. Well, A Galaxy Next Door is gearing up to be the opposite of that. Episode one is fine. Just kind of there. It features strong animation, potentially loveable characters, and a weird storyline. But I might have chosen to drop it if I wasn’t reading the S-tier manga for the show. I’m excited about seeing this story develop and the relationships therein. And I think it’s going to turn out to be what I should be looking for in my romance anime all along—something amazing through and through, even if it takes a little to see it.
stardf29
Man, why do anime have to pander to such unrealistic fantasies as having a super-fast hypercompetent manga assistant? Okay, in all seriousness, I absolutely loved this one. The two leads already have some good starting chemistry, and the two younger siblings are totally adorable. The romance is already shaping up well, with a quickly-cleared misunderstanding setting up a respectful relationship. Also, this might just be my bias (look at my username) but I am very curious about these “star people” and what they are like. Overall this easily looks to be one of my favorites of this season and I’m very much looking forward to more.
Jeskai
Just chiming in to agree that the manga is good, the siblings are cute, and the leads’ relationship is promising. Definitely has potential to be a highlight of the season, and you should check it.
WacOtaku
Gido Amagakure’s previous work, Sweetness and Lightning, was a highly enjoyable manga, but it received one of the most perfectly mediocre anime adaptations I’ve ever seen ( although it did have one point of excellence in casting Saori Hayami as Best Girl Kotori, but I digress). The adaptation of A Galaxy Next Door looks a bit better overall, but I think it will still be relying on the original manga’s excellent love story to do the heavy lifting. As a manga reader I’ll be sticking around, but if you’re on the fence I’d encourage you to give it a couple more episodes and hold off final judgement until the characters and story have had time to properly get rolling.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Hell’s Paradise
First Impression: claire
Let’s begin with the pluses: the art is stunning, as expected of MAPPA, which doesn’t seem capable of putting a digital brushstroke wrong these past couple of years. It is immersive, with creative layouts and interesting camera angles. Big check mark there! … Definitely giving this one the usual three episodes, and probably a couple extra on the strength of the art alone, as long as the eye-rolling over the plot and characters doesn’t ruin the view.
Josh
You know, when I first saw the overall premise behind this one, I was immediately reminded of a show I covered last year called Shine On! Bakamatsu Bad Boys. Heck, for a while, I thought this was made by the same studio. Turns out it wasn’t, and this is just Studio MAPPA contribution to the “Feudal Era Anti-Hero being recruited with a bunch of other rag-tag criminals to achieve freedom” genre. While Gabimaru is an interesting character, and while there are a few interesting tidbits in this first episode, I don’t think there’s enough for me to stick around.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too
First Impression: Twwk
Overweight kid gets revenge by becoming hot, gaining isekai powers, and saving the world! No one would blame you for assuming that’s the plot of this series. But happily enough, I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World doesn’t go the way of cheap laughs and bloody thrills. Yes, it is wish fulfillment, but the kind of wish fulfillment we can all get behind…It doesn’t look like we’re going to get anything groundbreaking here, but if the rest of the season is imbued with the same heart as the first episode, that may not matter. If filled in with other interesting characters and some humor and action, this will be a fun and heartfelt ride.
Jeskai
Charming. I think that’s how I’d summarize this. Yuuya is just such a sympathetic guy that you can’t help but root for his life to turn around and feel like he deserves some wish fulfillment. If you have room in your viewing schedule for yet another isekai, know that this one is off to a promising start.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls U149
First Impression: stardf29
First of all, while there was a previous anime for The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, you do not need to have seen it to jump into this anime. This is basically an “alternate universe” spinoff, with the same girls but a different setting and no continuity with any events in the previous anime or with any other Cinderella Girls media like the mobile rhythm game. That said, as a longtime fan of The iDOLM@STER and in particular the Cinderella Girls sub-franchise, I was very familiar with the girls and was definitely looking forward to this anime. And after watching both episodes, let me say: this anime was even better than I hoped it would be.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
In Another World With My Smartphone S2
First Impression: negativeprimes
…I’m all in favor of brainless isekai fluff. The problem with Smartphone is that it might as well have been written by a smartphone. So far this season, we’ve spent all of five seconds setting up the microscopic stakes and tension, in favor of a male power trip—and I get that that’s like 90% of isekais anyway (including season one of this same show), but there needs to be something of substance to carry the story along. When you eat cotton candy, you expect to get some in your hair; but if it all gets in your hair and you can’t eat any of it, that’s annoying. The only thing worse than a male power fantasy is a boring male power fantasy. And that, sadly, is all that Smartphone seems to be bringing to the table.
Jeskai
I vaguely remembered the first season being mildly entertaining, so I sat down to try watching this…and didn’t even finish the episode. I didn’t even make it to the egregious double bathing scenes! It was just that lame and I could think of too many things I’d rather be doing rather than forcing myself to keep watching. Touya (that’s his name, lazy NegaPrimes) is as milquetoast as they come.
stardf29
If you look up “wish-fulfillment” in the dictionary and scanned the definition with your QR reader, you would be brought to this anime. And to an extent, that is fine; after all, even I enjoy the light novels as something of a guilty pleasure, especially since when the series realizes how silly it is and leans into that aspect, it leads to an overall fun experience despite all of its flaws. As such, I wish I could come up with a defense of this anime, but alas, the adaptation makes a mess of an already messy work. Cutting out a lot of the random slice-of-life stuff is one thing, but I definitely cannot give any good reason for making the girls-talk chapter, which was a nice little flashback chapter in the novels taking place before the four all got engaged, now take place in the bath and particularly in the dressing room. Any hope I have for this adaptation being even remotely respectful is gone, and all that’s left is the morbid curiosity of just how bad it will get from here on out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Insomniacs After School
First Impression: Josh
The animation style tracks along with the style in the manga; it’s dark and gloomy when needed, but when the moment calls for it, things get just stunning! I especially love the character designs in this one. Everyone just looks so realistic without overdoing it. The facial expressions are so warm and gentle. This manga-ka focuses a lot on the eyes of a character, and as such, they are very detailed. If there is any weakness in the production, the music can be a little too…present…if that makes any sense. I was aware of it a little too much, especially during the night montage. Maybe if it were turned down a bit, it would be better. Also, maybe I’m spoiled by Call of the Night, but the night scenes when our two dorks are strolling around their downtown area don’t seem as rich or immersive as in that series…So where does that leave us? Well, I don’t know about you, but it’s going to leave me with one more anime to watch this season! OF COURSE, I’m following it! Yes, Insomniacs After School is shaping up to be another high school rom-com, but this one offers something special.
Streaming on HIDIVE.
KamiKatsu: Working for God in a Godless World
First Impression: Gaheret
I was favorably surprised by the isekai jokes and the way expectations were subverted. The pacing is good, the art is good enough (except for some dreadful CGI here and there), and the show deals with themes I find fascinating in a surprisingly wise way. Are the dead buried in a world without religion? How would such a place react to shreds of evidence of divine power? Will our dead-eyed friend retain some of the religious values of his crazy dad, but in a different way? How will the game-changer at the end of the episode play out? In other circumstances, I would be tagging along with great interest. But I have seen enough to know that the ecchi elements affecting underage characters will get more pronounced (and more annoying) in episodes to come, so it’s a no.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kimi ni Todoke
First Impression: Twwk
…is there hope for this series? I think there’s some, yes. It reminds me of Harry Potter, a franchise where the young actors needed to grow into their roles, and I can see that happening here. There were also a few lovely scenes (I confess getting emotional ib a couple of occasions near the end of the episode), though that’s the excellent source material shining through. If the two leads can’t find their way, then the show will end up as just another adaptation. And for how wonderful the manga and anime are, that would be a terrible shame.
Streaming on Netflix.
Kizuna no Allele
First Impression: claire
What did I just watch. I don’t even know. Guys, this was not what I expected from a collab between two of the most interesting, creative young studios to emerge in the industry over the past few years: Wit Studio and Signal.MD…This episode is dismal. Utterly dismal. Even setting aside the CG sequences, the 2D animation is lifeless and lacks any kind of coherent color design. The world feels empty, and the characters static. There’s no coherence to the plot either, and the worldbuilding is unimaginative.
Josh
So, yeah, I sat through this entire episode myself; mostly as a dare from Claire, but also because I was curious if the anime was as bad as presented. I’m here to say, dear readers, it IS that bad. HOO BOY, I’ve seen some rough ones in my day, but this one takes the cake, ice cream, and strawberry syrup. I just didn’t get any clue as to what kind of story it wanted to tell. Is this a story about a girl who wanted to be an idol? A V-Tuber? Is she a REAL girl? Why is their teacher a bunny? Why is Miracle doing a poor rendition of the “Hare Hare Yukai” dance from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? Did she just get isekai’d into another world? What does Kizuna Ai have to do with ANY of this? I just don’t understand what this show is or who it’s for…and by the looks of it, this show doesn’t know either.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Konosuba – An Explosion on This Wonderful World!
First Impression: Mike
In addition to the titular wizard, Megumin’s classmates look like they’re going to be a joy to learn about as well, since all of them seem to have the same type of over-the-top personality as Megumin. Actually, the idea of 11 Megumins is a rather frightening thought. The opening theme, used as the closing in this first episode, is a lot of fun from both a visual and audio standpoint and is one I’ll probably be humming for a while. Like many fans, I’ve been eagerly awaiting a new installment in the Konosuba series and, if things continue the way they’re going, this is looking to be well worth the wait.
Jeskai
Hands down, the best part of Konosuba was Megumin. That is an objective fact. So getting more of her is everything I could hope for in a spinoff. Her bonkers origin story looks like it will be hilarious.
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear -Punch!
First Impression: stardf29
All things considered, not too much of note really happens in this episode; it just continues the tone set in the last season as Yuna and her pet bears help out the kids and people around them. If you enjoyed the previous season, this season picks up right where things were left off, which is not a bad thing. The setup of some new interactions for Yuna in later episodes means the story will be moving forward as well. Overall, this is a solid start to the new season, and now I just have to bear the wait for new episodes.
Jeskai
In my experience, isekai with a more comedic tone often sacrifice character relationship depth, because the characters are just opportunities for silliness. What sets Yuna’s story apart is the attention paid to the relationships she builds up in her new world. Those interactions help ground what might otherwise be a generic OP isekai comedy.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Legendary Hero is Dead!
First Impression: Twwk
The story isn’t important: it’s all about the setup and comedic execution. And though the jokes don’t always land, and are sometimes charged with ecchi imagery and double entendres, the attempt is commendable, with its go-for-broke approach. But unfortunately, it breaks down toward the end of the episode when, you know, the plot gets in the way.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Magical Destroyers
First Impression: claire
The premise is pretty much the same as Rumble Garanndoll, and the idea of the persecution of otaku is by no means new. But everything else about this episode exudes a kind of crazed creativity—from the rocking soundtrack, to the at times abrasive linework, the snarling dialogue, and the relentless pacing—that promises to keep things interesting, even if not always comprehensible. It’s quite reminiscent of FLCL, but with an adult cast, and like that series, the humor is not always for children, so be warned. It has that same chaotic energy to it too, but ramped up a notch, what with the revolutionary war, internment camp imagery, and exploding cans of Oden noodles and all. It’s certainly not your typical magical girl/mahou shoujo, or even your typical dark mahou shoujo, and it won’t be to everyone’s taste. But for my part, I am ready to buckle in and see where this madness takes us!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Marginal Service
First Impression: Gaheret
I had been going back and forth on the episode, and at that moment I decided that The Marginal Service mostly works as a crazy, over-the-top action comedy that is just on the frontier of so-bad-it’s-good territory. So far, it has nothing groundbreaking, but the pace is agile, the visuals are effective, and it managed to make me smile quite often, and burst into laughter once or twice (costumes moment included). Well, that was quite fun. Will I continue it, though? I’m not sure. I could give this show one more episode, and see if it reveals itself as a one-trick pony (as many parody shows do) or if the jokes keep being inventive and manage to give us something along the lines of Blood Blockade Battlefront. We shall see.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles
First Impression: claire
I’ll admit, part way through I was a bit nervous that Mash was just going to be this super strong super dense one-note monotone shonen mc (the door gag stressed me out), but things took a surprising turn for the sentimental, delving into how Pops ended up adopting the abandoned unmarked boy and the bonds of family love that tie the unlikely due together by the heartstrings. I even teared up a smidge, against my better judgment. Don’t get me wrong, this episode was 95% full-on action and gags, but that little dash of human emotion really brought it all together for me, serving as the cherry on top, to use a metaphor that I’m sure Mash would appreciate.
Jeskai
I started the manga, but dropped it once it got bogged down in endless fight scenes and 87,000,000 characters I didn’t recognize and couldn’t keep track of. Ideally, this adaptation will play up the story’s strengths (heart and humor) while making the characters more distinct and breezing through the interminable fight scenes more quickly. If it pulls that off, this might turn out pretty good.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
My Clueless First Friend
First Impression: Josh
Well…that was adorable on so many levels. This show is pretty much THE perfect Sunday morning anime—it’s not too deep in the weeds, it doesn’t have an overly complicated narrative, and the characters aren’t these multi-faceted complex individuals that will take all of 13 episodes to figure out. This is just a sweet, adorable, simple anime about how one boy decides to buck the status quo and say, “Hey, I actually think it’s really cool that you’re unique and I want to get to know you more!”
Jeskai
Aww! This was cute and I am definitely on board for more. I don’t know what else to say here.
stardf29
So yes, this is absolutely adorable. Past that, I have to wonder. Sure, Taiyo seems to just be oblivious to how Akane’s “Grim Reaper” moniker is meant to be an insult… but maybe he realizes that the poor girl is being bullied hardcore and is leveraging his position as the new kid to help her out? He delivered a perfect logic bomb to those other boys, forcing them to contemplate why they are trying to ostracize a “normal” girl. Or something like that. Who knows for sure, but one thing I do know is that this is looking to be an ultra-cute anime and I want to watch more.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
My Home Hero
First Impression: Samuru
I was on the edge of my seat once the action finally started. Be aware, however: there is a lot of violence, mention of violent acts, and physical abuse; this is not a show for younger audiences or those that may be mentally triggered by these kinds of displays. I also wasn’t too impressed with the animation, as it seemed somewhat on the lower end, and I would have liked getting to know Tetsuo and his family a little more before the action shifted into gear. Some scenes certainly felt rushed. But on a positive note, the topics that this anime deals with are unique. I was a little shocked at how realistic the episode felt. This is a very tense show, so just know it’s not for the light-hearted.
claire
Will there be a Taken 4 with Liam Neeson? Well, although rumors have been flying in all sorts of contradictory directions over that one, I have some good news for fans of the franchise: it’s basically just been anime-d! Except Tetsuo isn’t quite as charismatic as Liam, being a kinda shiftless salaryman, and he lacks the conviction too, swinging from maniacal determination when wielding a rice cooker to deadly effect one moment, to outright horror at himself, what he’s done, and his wife’s nonchalant acceptance of the entire messed up situation the next. Also, the daughter is not at all a sympathetic character. It’s intense, disturbing, and may all fall apart by the end of the next episode. I’ll be watching to see, but probably not much beyond two or three episodes.
Twwk
I’m fully with Claire, especially the whole “may fall apart by the end of the next episode.” I’m out, not because this series isn’t suspenseful—there’s oodles of intensity here—or because the themes aren’t interesting (more than one friend has commented how the story hits homes for fathers), but because it’s just not very good. The writing is awkward, the voice acting is amateurish, and as Samuru mentions, it jumps into the action too quickly. It’s as if the writers don’t know how to tell a tale, so they just decided to go straight to the violence. This is an easy pass for me.
Josh
First of all, shoutout to mom and dad in this one. You wanna talk about a ride-or-die couple? This man kills the guy who has been hitting his daughter and is threatening to rob her blind…and the wife just comes in and says “I got you boo, we gonna get through this.” Bonnie and Clyde in Japan for real! Also, can we please talk about how dad used the first thing available to knock the guy out? Not a frying pan or an iron…but a dawg gone RICE COOKER! Pops using appliances to get the job done. But I digress. This show is rather intriguing and it does make you think about how you would react if you were a parent…would you be able to risk the wrath of the Yakuza to ensure your child’s safety? I think I’ll give this one 5 episodes to see what happens.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999
First Impression: Laura
The anime I was most nervous about this season was definitely My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999! I read the manga earlier this year on the Mangamo app and then promptly went and reread it all over again! The opening song of the anime was a perfect fit for this wonderful story and hooked me right from the start, but even better, the rest of the episode perfectly captured all the humor and bittersweetness of the opening manga chapters.
Josh
Okay, can we all agree that Akane’s ex had some kind of nerve to ask for the in-game equipment he lent her after dumping her for another girl?! Akane should’ve just kept it and told the ex to kick rocks! But I digress. This first episode was pretty good. I am glad that this show features older college-age characters instead of going the typical middle/high school romcom route. The only real problem I had with this first episode was that the animation looked a little too BRIGHT if that makes any sense. For a second I thought I had messed up the contrast settings on my TV. Maybe it’s just me having watched more darker programs before watching this one. In any case, this looks like it has potential, so I’ll be willing to give it 5 episodes!
Jeskai
Dun dun dun! *dramatic stinger of dissenting opinion* This reminded me of Recovery of an MMO Junkie, except…less cute or funny. Don’t get me wrong, the episode was mildly entertaining, enough that I’ll give the series at least another episode before I pull the trigger, but I found it underwhelming in light of the praise my colleagues have given it. None of the characters really appealed to me, so all the episode had going for it was some funny moments, and those didn’t always land. Sometimes beats I think were supposed to be funny just left me feeling awkward.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
My One-Hit Kill Sister
First Impression: Twwk
Maya is obsessed with her brother, but that’s a character type that isn’t rare in anime. I can stand that within a series, especially comedy. But this brocon doesn’t walk the line between affection and desire, she leaps right over it. Short scenes of her licking her lips, explaining the sexual activity she wants to do with Ikuba, and physically handling him in a sexual way—along with blushing cheeks suggesting that he enjoys this intimacy, too—are inappropriate and jarring. There are 9 minutes of cuteness and then 4 seconds of crossing the line. Then another four minutes of humor and 3 more seconds of sexuality. And so on and so forth. This serious sexual content doesn’t work within the world that’s created here. And it’s gross. Too bad, since the humor in the episode hits and there are hints of character growth to come for Ikuba, as well as interesting, big battles ahead. Sigh. What a waste of an otherwise promising series.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Opus.COLORs
First Impression: claire
Guys, this is it: the boy version of Kizuna no Allele and the second most disastrous premiere of the season. I say second, because at least the plot is linear, even if the world-building repeatedly contradicts itself on a fundamental level, the writing is the very picture of lazy composition, the animation is wooden, the characters as generic as they come with flat expressions and eyes as vacant as the Abyss, and absolutely nothing even remotely interesting about it, even as a “it’s so bad that I just can’t look away” kind of thing. No rubbernecking at this crash site. What makes this one so bad is not so much the ridiculousness—it’s not even energetic enough to excite such a dynamic description—but the utter mundanity and mediocrity of every single aspect of the episode…
Josh
You know, I was curious when I heard my dear friend Claire call this the second most disastrous premiere of the season. I just had to see it for myself. I mean, it couldn’t be THAT bad, right? RIGHT?! I’m here to tell you guys…she’s on the money with this one. The concept this show is trying to sell us, the idea that Perception Art is this magical amazing thing, is laughable. They never fully explain what it is or how it works, or even what applicable use it has other than making pretty shapes. It’s a holodeck from Star Trek, but a lot less advanced. And the fact that you need an entire SCHOOL devoted to creating the pretty shapes is just crazy. Also, what was with the random AMV?! Is this really what this fancy technology is used for? Just making visuals for pop idols to sing over? I couldn’t even get invested with the story this was trying to tell. It was just so boring. For once this season, I’m glad I was at work and couldn’t grab this one. More power to to ya, Claire…Heaven knows I couldn’t do it.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Oshi no Ko
First Impression: BtT Staff
Several of our writers came together to write their first impressions on this 90-minute premiere. Hit the read more link below to check out all their thought!
claire
All I can say is, Thank you, Doga Kobo, for such a raw, moving piece of animation. You did a complex, multi-faceted character right, and for that, I am grateful.
twwk
There will certainly be more revealed about her background and story as the series moves along, but there’s enough here to merit the powerful emotions I felt at the climax of the episode (the first climax, at least). My heart!
Josh
I just sat down and watched episode one which was as long as a freaking movie…AND ENJOYED IT. You owe it to yourself to check this one out, but remember—this is 90 minutes long. So settle in like you’re watching a movie…an awesome, awesome movie!
Streaming on HiDIVE.
Otaku Elf
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
This is obviously a comedy. I mean, with the premise of an otaku elf living in a Shinto shrine, the jokes practically write themselves. So this episode’s humor was a given. What really surprised me was a conversation Koito has with an elderly parishioner, who mentions how comforting it is to have a deity (in this case, Elda) who doesn’t change. That point is fascinating because the Bible also emphasizes the true God’s unchanging nature as something that should bring comfort to believers. If future episodes continue to bring the silliness and combine it with such thoughtful consideration of what it means to be a god, this could turn into a really interesting show. It’s certainly piqued my interest.
Streaming on HIDIVE.
Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage
First Impression: Twwk
This new season doesn’t seem to be featuring stories necessary to fill in gaps. I think that’s why this anime may be a success; instead of a weird conglomeration of episodes meant to complete the overall tale, this “side story” could just be a nice addition with a different tone. Think of Full Metal Panic!? Fumoffu, which may be the best part of the entire FMP franchise. While I don’t think we’ll be able to say the same about this season, it does appear to be a magical addition. These shorts seem to fit well into the whole storybook feel of the series. In short, The Treasure Chest of Courage looks to be an appropriate addition to one of the best anime of the past decade.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Rokudo’s Bad Girls
First Impression: Laura
While I found the beginning rather boring, once the bad girls started noticing Rokudo and changing how they treated him, I was more interested in seeing what would happen next. Rokudo even surprised me later on, with his claim that he wanted to protect one certain young woman who everyone is afraid of! I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around his logic of manliness as being “cute,” but I had to give him credit for being willing to stand up and potentially fight those who picked on him before the young woman showed up in his life. The animation was good, but I wasn’t fully sold on the art style. The thick black lines somehow feel distracting when you’re watching, though I can’t quite explain why. I seriously doubt I will continue watching Rokudo’s Bad Girls, but I will say that my biggest takeaway from this first episode is that everyone has thighs. Not the greatest takeaway, but I’ll remember that for a while. Ha!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Skip and Loafer
First Impression: claire
I have one word for this series—ok, two words: utterly charming! This is a delightful comedy romance. The characters are all genuinely likable right off the bat, and I can’t say how nice it is to have a bit of a respite from the copious tsunderes out there. There’s no insta-love here either (phew!). Instead, the episode lays a foundation of mutual respect between the two leads, who straight away are able to appreciate one another’s strengths. Their dynamic is a remarkably mature one so far, quite surprising of a high school romance and more akin to say, an office romance or josei series, with adult protagonists. How refreshing!
Josh
Okay, this show had me from the opening titles. I’m always a sucker for “Fish out of water” style stories, and I’m even more of a sucker for cute funny RomComs, so this is gonna be a must-follow for me! Like Claire, I’m also SO GLAD that we don’t have yet another Tsundere character that seems part and parcel of shows like this. All of these characters just look totally cool and relatable. Speaking of character looks, the animation style for this one is REALLY nice. It almost puts me in the mind of last seasons hit The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten. It’s a simple yet really cute style. Lastly, shoutout to our girl Mitsumi who was so determined to make the Entrance Ceremony, she ran the last 10 minutes to school barefoot and gave her speech FROM MEMORY. I couldn’t tell you what I had for lunch last week from memory, and she remembered an entire speech! Way to go baby girl!
Jeskai
Periodically, an anime comes along that is reportedly excellent, but which I can’t stand because of the art style (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! springs to mind). This is one of those anime. And it’s not even all bad in the art department; the landscapes are quite lovely. But I can’t stand the characters’ faces. They’re just unpleasant to look at. I think I’m going to have to pass on this one, but if you don’t mind the faces, this is probably going to be pretty good.
stardf29
This looks to be a really nice shoujo romcom that I will be following. I don’t really have much else to say here, other that I’m curious how the secondary cast shown in the OP will fill out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Stella of the Theater: World Dai Star
First Impression: claire
…before you skip past this one as too derivative to bother with, or too short on idol choreographies to excite interest, let me present two things for your consideration: first, there are some wonderful moments of performance here from studio Lerche, initially when Shizuka presents her Romeo, and again with the German girl’s audition. Not only is the voice acting really strong in these moments (and with Kokona’s final performance as well), but the character acting—that is, the animation—is so vivid, almost as if there are more frames per second, with attention to small gestures and micromovements. Reminds me of The Glass Mask and its attention to the craft of acting. Second, and this one is the kicker, the final shot of the episode turns everything—and I mean everything—on its head!!! I don’t want to spoil it, but trust me, give the episode a try, look out for that final shot, and then tell me you’re not intrigued and you didn’t exclaim aloud at your television or computer screen.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Summoned to Another World for a Second Time
First Impression: Twwk
While there’s practically no ecchiness to this episode, that scene, which takes a character who up until then was presented as a pretty awesome female knight and turns her into a Konosuba character, also supports the idea that this series will soon veer toward ecchi and harem content. That’s unfortunate, because I think Summoned to Another World could do better than that. I recall, for example, the solo journey for Rio and the rich world-building that happens in Seirei Gensouki. The start here is better than in that series. And who knows? A good story could still continue alongside ecchi content—but I find it unlikely that this series will be able to handle both. The first episode wasn’t that well-written.
Jeskai
This seems to be yet another generic isekai. I mean, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be terrible, but this episode failed to pique my interest enough for me to bother coming back.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tengoku Daimakyo (Heavenly Delusion)
First Impression: Josh
I love the juxtaposition we’re introduced to from the jump—the cushy, sterile, techy world on the “Inside,” and the post-apocalyptic, survival-of-the-fittest world “Outside.” While this does have the potential to be confusing (I personally hate having two sets of characters to keep up with as I have the memory of a goldfish), I hope this show will do a great job of letting us get to know the characters in each individual area before getting too deep into the weeds.
claire
This is a character-driven post-apocalypse, rather than a “frights and fights” one, although there are some good moments of the former and one outstanding bit of animation along the lines of the latter too. But at its heart, I get the feeling this is going to be an epic work of character development and relationships. Why do I say this? Well, first off, the hints of connections between the two groups of young people are so subtle as to be almost invisible, but if you pick them up, you can’t help but be intrigued. And second, there’s a really fascinating setup unfolding here pitting generation against generation, in a way that I expect may prove to be a powerful allegorical commentary on today’s society. In short, this is going to be one to watch!
*Please note: a BtT reader has flagged up that there is sexual violence in the manga, so viewer discretion is advised.
Streaming on Disney+ in AU/NZ/UK/IE/CA, and Hulu in the US
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You (Season 2)
First Impression: Josh
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another go around with one of anime’s cutest couples! In a year that looks to be crowded with different romcoms with more on the horizon, TONIKAWA still finds a way to stay relevant and stick with the formula that got it a second season: character development with drips and drops of mystery scattered about. One thing that I noticed this time around is that, even though not that much time has passed, Nasa and Tsukasa seem a good bit more comfortable with each other. While they’re still discovering things about each other and still sometimes get flustered when certain topics come up, they’re a little more grounded. They can now share a drink without being all blushy, and they can even cuddle in a futon together with no problems! The supporting cast is still a joy to watch as they in turn watch over these newlyweds and guide them toward happiness…
Jeskai
Adorable and hilarious. This looks like more of the same—and with such a charming series, that’s exactly what I want!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Too Cute Crisis
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
I feel like I have to commend the show’s creators for doing something so…out there. Where is the story supposed to go from here? Beats me. If the OP is any indication, Liza is due to meet even more cute critters. And I’ll be there to watch it because you better believe this episode entertained me. And you will be entertained, too, if the cute animals + comedy combo has any appeal at all for you! This one is definitely worth checking out, unless you’re a horrible human and/or extraterrestrial who doesn’t appreciate kitties and doggos. 😛
Streaming on HIDIVE.
Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
Ooh, yeah! The manhwa on which this anime is based is delightful, and this episode lives up to my expectations. It was a little weird changing the protagonist to be Japanese instead of Korean, but it’s not a big deal as far as I’m concerned. The art has a pretty, storybook vibe, and with anime, we can hear the smug confidence of Noah’s voice, Brooks’s desperate anger, and Raeliana’s determination. We also get a taste of the story’s humor through Raeliana’s efforts to force Brooks to break up. I am totally on board with this anime. Definitely recommend trying it.
Laura
Also a fan of the manhwa, I second much of what Jeskaiangel voices! Seeing Brooks’s desperation and frustration was deeply satisfying. Hearing Noah’s smugness was giddy-inducing and very much looking forward to seeing more of him on screen. Watching Raeliana be able to plan out one step ahead of Brook (and yield a rifle in the process no less!) to avoid dying a second time left me physically nodding and clapping because she is not to be underestimated and this first episode reflects that! While I did think this episode was a tad slow (which I think matches my original feelings reading the manhwa), I am definitely looking forward to watching more because this first episode captured everything I was hoping it would! Now if we could just hurry up and see Adam, I’ll have a feeling I’ll be in even more of a state of happiness!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Yuri is My Job!
First Impression: Twwk
Intriguing and funny, though a little obnoxious, episode one of Yuri is My Job definitely has my attention. What the show so cleverly does is combine a number of different settings into one series: a maid cafe, a fine arts performance setting, and a boarding school—the latter two typically being featured in yuri stories. The boarding school is part of an act, which itself creates an interesting perspective as we get to watch these girls play at being schoolmates in a yuri romance.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
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