While the spring 2024 season had its expected triumphs like Sound Euphonium and Laid-Back Camp S3, there were perhaps a higher percentage of positive surprises than in recent seasons, like the Bartender reboot, WIND BREAKER, and Go! GO! Loser Ranger! While we don’t typically post a preview ahead of new anime seasons, we can help you spot seasonal surprises (both pleasant and otherwise) through our first impression pieces. Yes, once again, we’ll be giving our thoughts on all the new anime premiering as we jump into a relatively light but intriguing summer 2024 anime season!
So what’s on our plate this July? There are huge premieres, as usual, with the second season of Oshi no Ko and the “I wonder what this will be like?” Suicide Squad ISEKAI leading the way, the latter of which drops its first three episodes today. And those two nicely represent the offerings this season, with the usual sequels and a few originals sprinkled in, the latter also including Narenare -Cheer for You!- and MAYONAKA PUNCH, both from P.A. Works. With the former, I’m really intrigued to wonder if audiences are still interested (or might they be even more so, which was the case with Jujutsu Kaisen’s recent season) in some tried and true returning favorites as Tower of God S2, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, Our Last Crusade of the Rise of a News World S2, Nier:Automata Ver1.1a (second cour), Sengoku Youko: Thousand Demons Chaos Arc, and SHY S2 premiere. You should be especially excited for that last one because, spoiler alert, we’ll be conducting a giveaway for it!
Of course, there are also a ton of first-season adaptations headed our way! I’m familiar with a few of these, including two with a lot of hype: Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian (which I think could make for a better anime than LN) and Days with My Stepsister (don’t second-guess yourself with where this one is headed). The surreal trailers for My Deer Friend Nokotan also have that manga adaptation on everyone’s radar, while other offerings include Pseudo Harem, SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary, ATRI -My Dear Moments-, Makeine: Too Many Heroines, Plus-Sized Elf, and Quality Assurance in Another World.
Which of these series will be worth watching and which are worth skipping? That’s what we’re here for! Over the coming few weeks, we’ll be posting first impression pieces fast and furiously on the website. And then we’ll take quotes from those full articles and throw them down below with links, screencaps, and additional thoughts as well! Please 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!
Enjoy!
2.5 Dimensional Seduction • Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian • ATRI -My Dear Moments- • Bye Bye, Earth • Dahlia in Bloom • Days With My Stepsister • Dungeon People • The Elusive Samurai • Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything with Low-Level Spells • I Parry Everything • A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring • Kimi ni Todoke, Season 3 • Love Is Indivisible by Twins • The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies • Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! • MAYONAKA PUNCH • MONOGATARI Series OFF & MONSTER Season • Murai in Love • My Deer Friend Nokotan • My Wife Has No Emotion • Narenare -Cheer for you!- • No Longer Allowed in Another World • Nobody’s Way Up to an Exploration Hero • Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World, Season 2 • Oshi no Ko Season 2 • The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Trained to Death by the Most Powerful Party, Became Invincible • Plus-Sized Elf • Pseudo Harem • Quality Assurance in Another World • Ramen Akaneko • Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin • Senpai is an Otokonoko • SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary • SHY • The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord’s Army Was a Human • Suicide Squad Isekai • Tasuketsu -Fate of the Majority- • Terminator Zero • Tower of God S2 • True Beauty • Twilight Out of Focus • Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World? • Wistoria: Wand and Sword
2.5 Dimensional Seduction
First Impression: Josh
If this first episode is what we can expect from the rest of the series, avoid it. I can’t say that enough. Avoid it. This is not worth wasting your bandwidth at all. Please watch My Dress-Up Darling instead. It’s much better with more fleshed-out characters (no pun intended) and while the ecchi can be too much for some, the story that it tells is so, so, so much better than this foolishness here. Try harder next time, J.C. Staff…we know you can do better than this.
Streaming on HiDIVE.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
First Impression: twwk
Yep, this is going to be about the girls, and there will be harem elements involved, but episode one has so much going for it beyond the standard; so those who despise harem series may find themselves enjoying the anime for its beautiful animation, lovely opening and slightly obnoxious but also very catchy ending, and again, the cute characters. Masachika is pretty standard as a lead, but more on the “I get why the girls like him” side of that type of ordinary protagonist than the “Why do they like this bozo?” end. He’s also more handsome, I would say, than he is in the light novel illustrations. In fact, I felt that the LN could be better as an anime than a written series, and it appears that in the hands of Doga Kobo, it will be. Beware, though, that as demonstrated in the entire last scene of about five minutes, the series isn’t afraid to go down the ecchi route—and future episodes will certainly stretch what’s tenable for many viewers when it comes to romantic relationships and fanservice elements. But if you enjoy ecchi in your anime (or are able to withstand it if the story is right), this is very likely to be your rom-com of the season.
Josh
As you are no doubt aware, I am a sucker for a great Rom-Com, and this one, at least judging by the first episode, looks to scratch that itch prodigiously! The gimmick behind this one is quite amusing too! I love that our male lead actually has a leg up on our female lead…no pun intended. It’ll be amusing to see how this whole thing play out…will he ever show his hand and reveal that he’s known this whole time that he knows what she says in Russian? Also, the ending theme song is just so catchy! Probably the best one of this season, if we’re being honest. It goes without saying that this one is going to be a follow for me! Heck, the last time I was this excited about Russians in anime, there were circles being drawn and history being made.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
ATRI -My Dear Moments-
First Impression: twwk
The creativity begins and ends with a vision of the world that’s undergone a very quick rise in sea level, resulting in some lovely backgrounds featuring the new landscape and a city underwater. The rest, though, is the same old fare from similar anime. Natsuki is a character with a disability, which is a nice touch, but he’s otherwise no different from a million other protagonists with traumatic pasts. And Atri, the star of the show, is kind of obnoxious. I’m sure she’ll grow on the audience and probably end up making viewers cry, but I’m not keen on tuning in until that point, particularly since the direction for the show is also poor. There’s an unusual energy to some scenes that doesn’t fit the rest of the show’s dullness; it’s as if the director wants the series to pop, but can only make the series do so once every few minutes. All in all, this opening episode isn’t very good; what it does do well is serve to remind viewers that there are better series along the exact same vein, and you’re better off watching them and skipping this one.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Bye Bye, Earth
First Impression: claire
So far, the way Belle’s quest and trials have been framed speak to me of some depth to the writing, particularly the discussion of homesickness, which really hit home, if you’ll pardon the pun. There are some intriguing details in the world-building too, like the reference to monsters as flowers. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this one develops, both in terms of the world-building and Belle’s journey. I have a good feeling about this one, folks! Count me in.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Days With My Stepsister
First Impression: Michel
Just like the other aspects of the production, the animation and art style are on the subtler side of things. The characters’ designs are clean, but they’re not easily distinguishable from one another. Overall I thought the technical side of the anime was solid. In terms of story though, an anime like this can be a little hard to judge. I know a little about it from Twwk’s review of the light novel, but not much more. After the first episode, I found myself pretty interested in how their relationship will develop, but before we get to the real ending of the story, anything could happen.
Josh
I’d be lying if I said the title of this show didn’t give me PRODIGIOUS PAUSE. History has taught me to brace for the worst when it comes to anime involving step-siblings. Part of me was expecting all the cliches—the bratty tsundere stepsister, the perverted horndog stepbrother, the whole scene where somebody walks into the bathroom or bedroom when the other is changing, prompting high pitched shouts of “PERVERT! CREEP! I HATE YOU!!” Thankfully, at least at the outset, I’m glad to say my worries were unfounded and this show subverts the tropes for the most part. This feels like a very gentle and endearing series centered around the obvious awkwardness that naturally comes with the blending of families. I like how this first episode ended. They didn’t suddenly become besties or anything, but you can tell that the initial awkwardness is just a little less awkward. I’m open to giving this a follow for a while to see where it goes.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dahlia in Bloom
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
First, I must note that I found some of the backgrounds in this episode quite pretty, as you can see from the screencaps. Now, this episode doesn’t pick up where vol. 1 of the light novel begins, instead taking material that appeared in the book via flashbacks and starting the story off there. You can expect a number of additional developments in Dahlia’s youth before we get to the “present day, present time” of the LNs, so I’m guessing it’ll be at least one more episode before the main story of the novels kicks off in earnest. As for what that story is, well, you get a taste of it here: Dahlia is gonna be a magic artificer. For further hints, the OP showcases a number of important characters who haven’t been introduced yet. So, does a (mostly) chill story about a magical inventor with a slow-burn romance sound appealing? Then check this one out. I definitely plan to tune in again.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dungeon People
First Impression: twwk
here’s some mystery here to go along with the cute, and lovers of both fantasy series and slice-of-life ones may find Dungeon People interesting. I found it a little on the soporific side, though some of the above elements (see review) did entertain me, and I really enjoyed the performance by Clay’s seiyuu, Sayaka Sembongi (Marcille, Delicious in Dungeon), who comes across very much like “Shimarin in a Dungeon,” with that same dry wit and high competence. But ultimately, it feels like there’s something missing, empty space in the series that should be filled with more animation, more characters, more life. Because right now, as unique as the approach is, I find the show to be a bit of a snoozer.
Streaming on HiDIVE.
The Elusive Samurai
First Impression: Gaheret
…what an arresting first episode! It’s funny, it’s moving, it’s tragic, it’s adventurous, and it gets me fully investing in distant historical figures I know absolutely nothing about. As I write these lines, I’m listening again to the opening: what a banger! From the very first moment, with commanding, colorful strokes, the show manages to build a world that mixes comedy and tragedy, contemporary and historical referents, samurai themes and relatable dilemmas, and deals with them in a unique visual language that is quite unlike anything else I have seen. The comparisons that come to mind are Samurai Champloo, Gintama, Trust and Betrayal and Ascendance of a Bookworm, all four extremely unique shows.
claire
WOW! Gaheret said it all, but I’ll just add that this is a stellar first episode of what promises to be the new Demon Slayer, both in terms of the quality of the production and the way it establishes what was, for the time, a countercultural definition of heroism. Where Tanjiro is a demon slayer who wields mercy with the same skill as his sword, Tokiyuki, the elusive samurai prince, is set to overcome a death-centered definition of strength and heroism (killing others or taking your own life in “honorable” suicide upon defeat) with one defined by life. And what a delightful protagonist he is too, overflowing with a joie de vivre that is positively contagious! Count me in for this one!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything with Low-Level Spells
First Impression: Gaheret
There is an interesting mixed bag here, from the art to the characters to the story. I only decided that the show wasn’t for me in the literal last seconds, when a post-credits nudity scene (be warned) convinced me that the tone going forward will probably be more ecchi than I can stomach. You could almost call it a “failure frame”! Okay, I’ll see myself out now.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
I Parry Everything
First Impression: Gaheret
I Parry Anything is perfectly on point, and captured my attention down to the last second. The story of the underdog with an underestimated yet effective skill has been told a million times, but this one feels focused, with every scene achieving something for the global story and everything coming together in the end. It reminds me a little of the effectiveness of Grimgar, though it isn’t quite as dark (or as fanservicey). I Parry Anything solidly establishes the traits of its protagonist, a Superman/Midoriya type who keeps his kindness and his enthusiasm in the face of many hardships, both as a boy and as a man.
Twwk
If you’re looking for a protagonist with a lot of heart, look no further than Noor. The very first scene has him putting 1000% effort (yes, this percentage of effort exists—watch the first five minutes of this episode to see it defined) toward helping townspeople and ends with him being the humble, OP hero you want to root for. Despite the violence and action-adventure story ahead, I would say this series is pretty peaceful in tone; it’s meant more to warm the heart and have you leaping off your seat—though I will say it’ll likely stir your heart as well.
Streaming on HiDIVE.
A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring
First Impression: Michel
The soundtrack is mediocre, and I wasn’t impressed by the animation in this first episode. It makes sense that the action is not very intense, because the anime centers around lighthearted comedy. But I didn’t really find the comedy very good either. The art style is very bland as well: I wouldn’t be able to tell the main character apart from twenty other black-haired protagonists. In terms of characters, the children felt more like dogs than children. It seems like they’re only there to be cute and funny, void of any personality. So what does that leave us with? Not a very impressive product, but I will say the anime is relaxing at least. I’ve seen low-conflict anime like this pop up more often recently, and I understand the appeal. But I think that even a lighthearted show needs at least a little bit of depth to keep the viewer engaged. If you’re looking for a fun adventure show, I would say there are many better options out there. I won’t be continuing this anime.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kimi ni Todoke, Season 3
First Impression: twwk
Thankfully, in this extra-long episode (it’s about two-and-a-half episodes in length, as are all the season three episodes), it’s only the first 15 minutes or so that feel off; the rest drop right into place very quickly. The pastel backgrounds, lens flare shots, soft orchestral soundtrack, and maybe most importantly, super-deformed transformations of Kuronuma all begin to feel right as the story moves on from the flashback style opening to progressing more naturally. Once the pacing issue is resolved, boy does episode one ultimately deliver! It conveys the beautiful sentimentality that the series is known for, not only through the budding relationship between the leads but also through their meetings with the parents.
Streaming on Netflix.
Love Is Indivisible by Twins
First Impression: Gaheret
Right off the bat, we are set for heartbreak, and heartbreak we get, of the most relatable and well-conveyed variety, bringing flashbacks of the angst, the miseries, the heroism, and the foolishness of a teenage first love. Naori thought that she could wait forever, not wanting to hurt Rumi. Now, she mutters to herself “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” Rumi was afraid that she would lose her chance, but now she fears she might have put unfair pressure on Jun, and perhaps Naori. And Jun made his choice and is now hurt and confused. The result is something between the masterful capture of teenager voices in OreGairu or Your Lie in April and the confused heroism of Toradora, and the smart jokes (according to Rumi, Naori is reading either Márquez or Marx) make me laugh out loud. This was a great first salvo: if the rest is up to this standard, this story will become one of my all-time favorites.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
Meh. The premise sounded interesting (and reminded me a little of the underrated and delightful World Conquest Zvezda Plot), but the execution was disappointing. The show felt like it was trying to be cute and funny, but, well, both the “rom” and the “com” elements were missing from this romcom. I’m not sure how to put it into words, but something about the visuals also bugged me, or felt off. It seemed…washed out, maybe? In light of these factors, I can’t recommend this show. Instead of taking time to watch this, you should be watching one of the 574 anime in your backlog, or catching up on one of the 362 light novels/manga you’ve been meaning to read. You’d be more entertained. To be fair, the premise is appealing enough that I’ll concede the show still has potential; I’m just not willing to give it any more of my time to find out whether it lives up to that potential.
claire
I was hoping for more from this short form since, like Jeskai said, the premise has potential. Also, it’s pretty rare for Western anime distributors to pick up short-form anime, which is a shame since they often sound pretty interesting. In this case, though, I think the 12-minute runtime worked against this premiere because it didn’t give the opening shot of the series the chance to develop enough to really hook anyone whose curiosity was piqued by the premise, as opposed to being an established fan of the series or the genre and thus willing to put in more time with it to see it improve. I may circle back to it in a few weeks and give it a half hour to develop into something. Then again, I may not.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
First Impression: twwk
School-life anime romances are the stuff I live for, but I admit that I’ve grown picky with them over the years. The same old, same old just won’t do it for me anymore. But Makeine‘s first episode promises something different, something smarter. The central concept that Kazuhiko will be surrounded by young women who are on the losing end of their romances—like a gathering of all the losers in anime rom-com love triangles—is a fun setup, especially with all the wink and nods of this series; Kazuhiko is an otaku, so he’s very familiar with the tropes, and that meta aspect is a huge part of the fun. The humor is also on-point—Anna is hilarious (her throwing items from her bento into Kazuhiko’s to build up the value of her payments to him is such a comical little aside), and Kazuhiko’s inner thoughts are quite funny too. But there’s earnestness in Makeine as well, which is figures to be so very important for a show that could easily fall into basic harem territory.
claire
Unlike Twwk, I’m not one for anime romances, but the concept behind this one hooked me, and then the gorgeous A-1 Pictures animation reeled me in. Added to these plus points, are the two leads so far: Anna is just the right balance of drama and comedy, and Kazuhiko reminds me of Oreki from Hyouka (always a good thing), right down to his involvement in the literature club and his desire to remain at arms length from his classmates and their antics. My one reservation is the pacing. I could see this being a stellar film, but I do wonder whether it has enough steam to keep me interested in an entire season. We’ll see!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
MAYONAKA PUNCH
First Impression: Michel
The soundtrack and animation are high quality, coming close to an anime movie experience. The voice acting was noticeably above average as well. On top of that, the plot in this first episode feels unique and refreshing; it doesn’t suffer from clichés like many other anime this season…Because the plot is so unusual, it’s hard to predict how much the anime will focus on comedy vs. drama. Personally, I hope the anime won’t go full into lighthearted comedy, because I think there is some potential here for more, especially with Masaki’s character development. I’m surprised this series hasn’t been very well received on Crunchyroll so far, because I think it’s one of the more promising first episodes of the season.
claire
I agree with Michel that the originality of this one is a real draw. In a medium dominated by adaptation, not being able to be spoiled for a series adds an element of excitement! But also, there are some really nice touches to the animation, like when Masaki is overwhelmed by all the trolling and the words swirl about her in a dark tornado that presses her down. Ultimately, though, this premiere reminds me a lot of The Vexations of a Shut-in Vampire Princess, both for obvious reasons, but also in the sense that it is hard to tell whether this will just ride the one-note joke of “make a meal of me” and all the innuendo that goes with it, or move beyond that for some quality character development. (Vexations did, so let’s hope this one does too!) P.A. Works usually delivers on the character arcs, but they’ve been going through a lot of upheaval lately so who knows what is going to happen with this original. Needless to say, I’ll be watching for a few episodes at least to find out, since this is a studio that has produced some real favorites in the past. Also, the OP and ED animations are great! Especially the ED.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
MONOGATARI Series OFF & MONSTER Season
First Impression: Michel
This new season starts off great, with some of the best animation the series has had. The voice acting is on point too, as we’ve come to expect from this series. It’s a joy to listen to Saori Hayami’s voice acting as Ononoki, despite her character being emotionless. The other voice actors in this episode do an excellent job as well. I enjoyed the music, especially toward the end of the episode. I found it pretty difficult to keep track of everything that happens on screen, but that’s part of the Monogatari experience, of course. This first episode is a complete arc by itself, and I found it to be a solid one. It doesn’t go as in-depth as some of the other arcs, and is definitely more focused on the comedy. In a sense, this arc seemed to raise more questions than it answered. But it does so in a way that Monogatari fans will probably enjoy—by giving us a glimpse into the lives of some of the girls who have changed a lot since the series began.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
2.5 Dimensional Seduction
First Impression: Josh
Heck, now that I feel this show is NOT going to go down the “Forbidden Love” path I was afraid it would, I feel safe in recommending this one…at least for a couple of episodes to see if it works for you. The characters are colorful and fun to watch, and the animation style is, if nothing else, interesting. This show seems like it’s going to be a comedic romp, and considering the current political climate, a little romp would be prodigious in my book.
Streaming on Hulu.
My Deer Friend Nokotan
First Impression: Josh
This is an easy follow for me guys. A good way to get me to watch an anime is to make me laugh and this one did multiple times over. I can’t wait to see all the weird and wonderful shenanigans this anime will throw my way, and I can only imagine how much fun the English dub production crew will have adapting this unique and hilarious series! Heck, if Episode 01 is any marker, this has the potential to be one of the best shows of the season.
Twwk
More power to Josh—I couldn’t get more than six minutes in. Too frenetic and too unfunny for me. I’ve been hearing people compare Nokotan to Nichijou for months. Besides the energy in the series, I don’t see it as a good comp: the latter is so much smarter, more creative, and better animated. Then again, I only watched the first six minutes. Maybe it got better.
claire
Looks like imma hafta break the deadlock here, folks! I’m coming down on Twwk’s side, though I did make it through the entire episode ok. Basically, this is a two-note comedy: Note 1) Yuri/Shoujo-Ai Tropes (mainly of the “Is she coming onto me or does she not realize what she’s saying?” variety); Note 2) Deer Are Actually Bad*$$ Gangstas and Will Take You Out When You Least Expect It. If those are the notes you like to find in your comedy vintage, well, drink up. But if you were hoping for something a bit more creative in its humor, like Nichijou or even Wasteful Days of High School Girls, keep on a-lookin’ my friend. That said, I expect the memes and mash-ups that will be coming out of this one to be stupendous. I’ve already seen a pretty fearsome clip of Nokotan as the Ultimate Final Boss in Demon Slayer, and gotta admit, it was funnier than anything in this premiere episode.
Streaming on Crunchyroll (sub) and Amazon Prime (dub).
My Wife Has No Emotion
First Impression: Josh
…even when judging this show on its own merits without the knowledge of Chobits, this anime is not that interesting. Our characters as presented in this inaugural episode are boring, we don’t know enough about this world to be invested in it, our male lead has done very little for us to get behind him, and the title emotionless wife is…well…dull. While there is always the potential that this show will improve with the addition of more characters and world-building, based on this first episode, I can’t recommend this one guys. Heck, I would recommend just watching Chobits, if it were legally streaming anywhere. Tezuka Productions, you’ve disappointed me yet again. Please do better.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Narenare -Cheer for you!-
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
…is this a drama or a comedy? Is the tone realistic (e.g., Megumi in rehab) or fantastical (e.g., Suzuha going full Naruto)? I can’t tell at this point, and I’m still confused by several story beats. What exactly is Megumi’s injury/illness situation? What happened at the performance in the beginning, and/or why did Kanata step away from cheering? Why on earth was she chasing Suzuha at the end? Will she actually join a new team instead of returning to her old one? Setting aside my discombobulation, I must say that the parkour scenes were actually quite cool (no matter how unrealistic), and the choreography at the beginning was pretty nice. There was also some lovely scenery. Thanks to these strengths, this episode was fun to watch despite being confusing, enough that I think I want to give this show another chance.
claire
P.A. Works has three premieres this season and this one is my favorite! In contrast to Jeskai, I didn’t find it confusing as to tone, genre or plot. Rather, this is a classic P.A. Works set-up: prepare the soil by introducing a group of oddball girls who share some passion or context in common, plant a whole bunch of mustard seeds of mystery and intrigue, and soak the whole thing in golden hour lighting, beautiful backgrounds, and solid animation. Voila! That’s how you make a blossoming P.A. Works original, like The Aquatope on White Sand, Sakura Quest, Hanasaku Iroha or Shirobako, and indeed, many of their adaptations too. It’s been a while since we’ve had that kind of classic P.A. Works series (though I’m not complaining about Ya Boy Kongming or Skip & Loafer by any means!), so I’m all here for it! Also, another anime original this season?! Yes, thank you very much.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
No Longer Allowed in Another World
First Impression: Gaheret
I thought the best jokes were actually those about the stale nature of isekai: the truck and the everyday nature of the reality transfers made me chuckle. I doubt much will be done with them, though. The show revolves around Sensei and his plans to off himself in an artsy way, which he defends with the same level of conviction as that guy at the beginning of The Incredibles. And for the rest…dumb suicide jokes? Heavy fanservice? Overpowered and too-cool protagonist? Every girl under the sun falling for our Emo idol without rhyme or reason? Your mileage may vary, but I see all those as signs I should stop watching before the Sacred Truck starts coming for me instead.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
A Nobody’s Way Up to an Exploration Hero
First Impression: twwk
I was pretty impressed by how smart this childish series was. Oh, and on a more superficial level, we could all use a cheerleader as encouraging as Sylphy! I’m not entirely sure that most fans would particularly enjoy or even really get this show, but for those of us who like modern fantasy series and remember kids’ anime with nostalgia, A Nobody’s Way Up to an Exploration Hero is going to hit just right.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World, Season 2
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
I have conflicted feelings about this. See, I dropped season one of this show without finishing, but it left me curious enough that I checked out the light novels the anime is based on…and became a fan! Unfortunately, this episode just confirmed my prior view of the adaptation: underneath is a good story with interesting characters, but it’s adapted poorly. This episode, with its incessant scene changes, awkward exposition scenes, and simultaneous neglect of important clarifying details, doesn’t live up the story’s potential. Oh, there was also a glaring error in the subtitles, where Jhin refers to “Lork Mask,” that was pretty distracting to me. Anyway, if you enjoyed the anime’s first season, I think you’ll like this one as well. Otherwise I’d advise you to skip this and go read the light novels, which are really good. That’s probably what I’ll do, anyway.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Oshi no Ko Season 2
First Impression: Josh
If I can be honest, this premiere episode does not feel as epic as the first season’s. Heck, that first episode was so epic, it required EVERYONE to jump in and offer commentary… This time around, well, you’re stuck with me. Not to say I didn’t like this episode; I did! It just didn’t feel like I was being welcomed back into this world like so many other 2nd+ season anime do. I’m not sure if that was done intentionally or not, but I can’t help but point out that when compared to the feature-length first episode, this one doesn’t feel quite as special. This just feels like “Okay, here are the characters, let’s get into it.” And there’s the typical bombshell that gets dropped in the last 5 minutes that makes the viewing audience go to Twitter and rant about cliffhangers. I wish they had done something a little more special to welcome the viewer back. Maybe this was their intention, to make it a seamless transition between seasons, but just a little something extra would’ve been appreciated.
Streaming on HiDive.
The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Trained to Death by the Most Powerful Party, Became Invincible
First Impression: Michel
I thought the animation, music, and sound effects were all up to standard. The voice acting was decent as well. From the goofy opening I expected that the comedy wouldn’t be that good, but it wasn’t as bad as I expected. The biggest problem this anime suffers from, though, is a lack of originality. Nothing we see in this episode really sets the anime apart from other fantasy stories with overpowered protagonists. This might not have to be an issue for fans of the genre, because overall the first episode is still kind of entertaining. The question is how long this anime will stay interesting when it has a basic plot like this. If you had to ask me, I wouldn’t say there is a lot of potential for an anime like this.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Plus-Sized Elf
First Impression: Josh
Two minutes and thirty seconds into this show, our title character pulls off her shirt revealing her breasts for all to see. Why? Because that’s all this show has going for it: fanservice and fetish pandering. This show is out there for shock value and titillation and has more than earned its TV-MA rating. It comes in, flashes some boobs, gives plenty of fanservice shots, and leaves. It’s not even a full-length episode, just barely clocking over eleven minutes with the ending title sequence. And speaking of the ending title—that was a mess. An absolute MESS.
Streaming on HiDIVE. Please note that this show is rated TV-MA.
Pseudo Harem
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
…I didn’t really feel like this episode did much to distinguish itself from the approximately 19,604 other high school romcom anime out there, a few hundred of which you’ve probably seen. Also, while I definitely got a laugh out of it, I’m not sure I’d enjoy another dozen episodes of the exact same gimmick. Of course, that’s how it always is with comedy series: they’ve got to stay funny and avoid growing stale. This episode was genuinely amusing, so I think I’ll give the second one a chance, but I wouldn’t be shocked if I eventually grow bored and drop this show.
Josh
Jeskai has a fair point—this is a dime-a-dozen high school romcom. I mean, you seen one, you’ve seen them all. But for me, even the run-of-the-mill can be good with some decent characters, and that’s what makes this stand out a bit more from the pack, and what makes me interested in following this one for a while longer is the fact that the characters are these two big dorks that you just can’t help but watch and see if they’ll find a way towards each other. Personally, I’m glad this is not yet another “Teasing” show as I think that trope has been beaten to death. I also must give Rin her flowers—whenever Eiji gives her a prompt, she IMMEDIATELY shifts gears—he mentions the Tsundere? She goes Tsun-Tsun mode, pigtails and all. That’s dedication to your craft, people! I gotta see how far this one goes.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Quality Assurance in Another World
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
If you just watched the first half of the episode, you might think this is a pretty generic fantasy story. But then the clues start popping up, culminating in the Sword Art Online style twist, and by the end of the episode you’re looking at a very different kind of story. I admit, I’m rather intrigued by the mysteries that are set up. How and why is Haga trapped here? What happened to the other debuggers? What’s the deal with Nikola? I also want to mention that there are some really funny facial expression shots that I enjoyed. Only time will tell if this is just Great Value Sword Art Online or if it stands on its own as an original story, but I’m certainly willing to give it a shot and come back for at least the next episode. If you’re not deathly allergic to anything remotely resembling SAO, and if the mystery piques your interest as it does mine, you may want to check this out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Ramen Akaneko
First Impression: Josh
This show is the feel-good, warm, and fluffy slice-of-life anime of the season it seems, and as such, I think I’ll be giving this one a follow. While at present this show doesn’t look to be more than cute girl in cute circumstances, for those who are looking for a respite from the shounen action torrent that we seem to find ourselves in every season, Ramen Akaneko looks to be a prodigious port in the storm. I’m just thankful that I didn’t have to brush my coworkers when I got hired on at Beneath the Tangles.
claire
It’s sweet! It’s a shame the animation style from the OP and ED doesn’t carry through to the entire episode, as they’ve got that stylish Do It Yourself watercolor paper texture aesthetic going on, but hey ho, the animation is fine for what this is: a chill series about cats and food. Also, for all you fellow Japanese-language learners out there: this one is great for watching without (looking too much at the) subs, as the vocab is pretty straightforward. That’s what I’ll be telling myself as I watch this each week, anyhow. Also, Saori Hayami as a scaredy-cat tiger and Kenjirou Tsuda (aka The Househusband) as an Orange Cat? I can get behind that.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
First Impression: claire
…this premiere sinks or swims on Sakuna and whether you, as the viewer, find her humorous or annoying. I’ll admit to being in the latter camp, though to be fair, her starting point as a self-centered, lazy loafer provides an excellent starting point for character growth, and surely that is exactly what we’ll see as she is forced not only to start putting in some gold old-fashioned hard labor in the rice paddies but also learning how to get along with others as peers (and maybe even the family she’s never had?) rather than servants. If you enjoy slice-of-life with a dash of mythology, an agricultural setting, and a lead with the potential (and desperate need) for wholesome character growth, this may be the series for you! For my part, though I do love a good character arc, Sakuna and crew didn’t catch my interest enough to warrant sticking around to see it through.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Senpai is an Otokonoko
First Impression: claire
This is the kind of premiere where it sounds like there are going to be some real, substantive issues to engage with, but it turns out to be pretty vapid. And I’m using that term quite pointedly: Merriam-Webster defines vapid as “lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit,” and this is exactly what’s going on with this episode—quite literally, in the case of the animation. Roughly half of the runtime is animated in chibi style, but rather than being cute and dynamic, it’s pretty flat with thick, crude linework and non-existent backgrounds. This lack carries over into the regular animation sequences too, so that it’s clear that studio Project 9 is cutting some corners, which is not a good sign.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary
First Impression: twwk
As expected from Production I.G., the animation is excellent (really cool that they chose to animate at least this opening episode in 2.40:1). I like the slightly dark look to the series, which adds a weight to it that some recent detective shows don’t have, even those that turn up the stakes. There’s drama here and something deep within Kobato’s past (and perhaps Osanai’s as well) that’s calling to us simply by the animation style alone. I’m eager to find out more about both and to see their journey as they apparently solve mysteries. SHOSHIMIN has me hooked.
claire
I completely agree with Twwk: I don’t really know what’s going on, but I’m hooked. In addition to the strong Hyouka vibes, mentioned in Twwk’s full review, this one also has me thinking of Sakurada Reset, a tale of high schoolers with oddly specific powers who need to work together to solve relatively low-stakes problems—until, that is, the stakes are raised. Will we see a similar, slow-burn into epic drama here too? Osanai seems to share in Kobato’s quest to be ordinary, so it makes me wonder whether they share an unordinary past as well, and maybe even some special abilities in addition to the sleuthing and ability to consume large quantities of strawberry tart, when it doesn’t end up on the pavement, that is. Suffice it to say, I am intrigued! Count me in.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
SHY
First Impression: Jeskai Angel
Before writing this impression, I mentioned in the BtT Discord that while I’d watched the first season, my memory of it might be a little shaky. And then this episode’s opening lines were “It’s been a while. Do you remember us?” I can’t tell you how hard I laughed. I actually had to pause the episode. Aside from that brilliantly on-the-nose way to start things off, this is a pretty tame slice-of-hero-life episode, and that’s perfectly fine. It serves to smoothly refresh viewers’ memories while presenting new content, thus avoiding becoming a dreaded “recap episode.” I can’t pretend that this episode was particularly exciting, but I think it’s a solid way to open a new season of a returning series. After all, if you’re watching this episode, you’re probably already invested in these characters (if you aren’t familiar with this anime, then of course start from the beginning). I think there’s every reason to expect SHY will continue to be excellent, and I definitely plan to keep watching this heartwarming show.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord’s Army Was a Human
First Impression: twwk
There’s nothing original in the script, nothing in the writing that made me think that this opening episode, which was fine, is really worth investing in. The sound effects are pretty off the charts, strangely enough, but is that enough to make me want to keep up with the series? Nope, especially not when in addition to the mid storyline, other aspects should be criticized, particularly how the movement is drawn in a way that feels fake and automated, as if the 2-D animation is being done in 3-D, and voice acting that’s hollow and overly retrained.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Suicide Squad Isekai
First Impression: twwk
My experience with DC is mostly through movies old and new, TV shows, and animated series, so those who are deeper into the comics might think differently—they may even consider the show to be a travesty! But for someone like me who is a more moderate fan of the comic side and more heavily leaning into the anime side, I found the opening to be far better than I expected. This is a show on my radar because it is a huge, huge release, but it’s now on my watch list because it’s very, very good. This is an enthusiastic and promising start for Suicide Squad Isekai and, if it keeps it up, could perhaps be the start for even more and grander partnerships between major Western IPs (with Marvel’s earlier, less popular adaptations Star Wars’ one-season of shorts notwithstanding) and anime studios. We can only hope!
Tasuketsu -Fate of the Majority-
First Impression: twwk
I was…preparing to write that while this very average series is going to be someone’s cup of coffee, it didn’t feature anything to keep me interested…but that opinion changed when the last five minutes of episode one hit. A lot happens in that space of time, and to be honest, I haven’t processed all of it. The episode is not going to let me do that, in fact, and won’t for you either, because the twists and turns in the final minutes feel like a red herring in some way. There’s more to the story than what’s shown to us through the eyes of the final two characters who share the last few minutes of episode one’s screen time. And I’m all aboard to find out what that “something more” is, what rules we’re going to be made privy to and what surprises we’ll uncover.
Josh
I don’t know what it says about me that I am always interested in the high school death game anime (might be time to hit that therapist couch…) but this one looks like it’ll be fun! Though it felt like they tried to jam a lot into the first episode requiring a rewind to replay the “rules” portion for a complete understanding, I have to give this one props—it held my attention. I’m docking points for taking the questionable and some might call lazy approach of not fully animating the background characters; that was too distracting for my tastes. The ending with our male lead came out of nowhere! While I’m sure his status won’t remain that way throughout the series (he’s in the opening credits for crying out loud) that’s what I want out of an anime of this genre—surprise me, make me think NOBODY is safe, and above all else…don’t be bland! I would be willing to give this one a follow for a while to see where it goes. I’m just hoping and praying this does not turn into another King’s Game: The Animation…I don’t think my brain could handle that foolishness yet again.
claire
This one was on my “Don’t Even Bother” list originally, but after reading Twwk’s review, I gave it a go and WOW, intriguing! I like it. So far, two episodes in, it’s proven to be quite clever, with unexpected twists, and far less trope-tastic than I would have anticipated. It’s also been pretty brutal! So for chills and thrills, so far this one has my vote.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Terminator Zero
First Impression: twwk
…is this kind of awful, woulda-fit-in-the-90s dubbing and script purposeful? I’m not sure, but so far, it’s more distracting to me than something that places me in the headspace for The Terminator. Regardless, I’m very eager to continue with the show. James Cameron is working on his own secret Terminator project right now, and I hope that this series is a high point for the franchise and that it leads up to Cameron’s return instead of being yet another entry that does not involve him and which ultimately disappoints.
Streaming on Netflix.
Tower of God S2
First Impression: Gaheret
I’m happy to report that it has come back in full form. We’re back to the colorful, distinct art style, to the myriad of interesting characters, to the deep themes and emotions, and to the intriguing fairytale logic of this story. As the protagonist ascends to the top yet again, new characters with fascinating viewpoints and motivations keep appearing and surprising us. Bam is back, with a demeanor both heartbreaking and convincing. Ja Wangnan is both a new Bam, with an innocent streak, but also sort of an opposite—a likable, down-on-his-luck young adult with surprisingly contemporary problems and worries. Everything is on point, and I’m so happy I get to inhabit this world again. Highly recommended.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
True Beauty
First Impression: Negativeprimes
The animated version does a good job of capturing the spirit of Yaongyi’s illustrations, and this first episode succeeds in laying out the main themes the series will focus on. Also, both the opening and the ending so much fun! Korean animation conventions may take a little getting used to if you’re not familiar with them: Korean audio instead of Japanese or English (of course), a fast pace through scenes and scene transitions, the upbeat pop music that pops up (he he) regularly throughout the episode, and the 20-minute runtime, to name a few. There are also a few (fortunately rare) infelicities in the subtitles. But that’s not enough to detract from the setup for the modern epic story that is about to begin.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Twilight Out of Focus
First Impression: Josh
This is a compelling story with very realistic circumstances that guys find themselves in all the time: what happens when the status quo gets turned on its head and you have to meet what you’re feeling head-on? What happens when your heart says “Ready to roll!,” but your head says, “Wait, let’s have another rehearsal!”? Twilight Out of Focus, it’s time to report to the stage—lights…camera…action?
claire
Neenaw neenaw! That’s the sound of alarm bells going off for this one, folks. Gotta say, I’m not a fan of these so-called romance series where the central conflict is over whether the leads will be able to technically avoid infidelity or not depending on the precise timing of when they ultimately get together. Whether it’s “but she’s already married” in a hetero romance, or “but he’s already got a boyfriend” in a BL one, using this kind of “dramatic tension” as the backbone of the storytelling is deeply problematic: it’s lazy and it’s not a healthy foundation upon which to build a relationship. This one gets no more of my time.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World?
First Impression: Gaheret
This is an odd one. With its blue pyramids, inhuman armies, global forces, alternate worlds and warrior prophets, it should feel like something between Warhammer 40,000 and Edge of Tomorrow. Instead, it looks like every isekai ever. The inhuman armies are commanded by bishōnen and bishōjo types you’ve seen everywhere else. The city of Vishal looks like a standard Japanese city with holographic traffic lights. Even in the reality in which humanity lost, New Vishal looks more or less the same, and the personalities and uniforms of Ashran and Saki haven’t changed much. Really, now?
Jeskai
I can’t really disagree with anything Gaheret has said…but I still enjoyed the episode enough that I’ll come back at least once more. His first impression’s mention of a character inspired by St. Jeanne was what really piqued my interest. That character, plus some decent action scenes and a mystery that isn’t original but somehow still kind of interesting, is enough that I want to give this show a chance.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
First Impression: Michel
The art style of this anime grabbed my interest right away. I think it has a charm to it, which is also true for the animation, even though I felt it was a bit sloppy at the beginning of the episode. It definitely gets a lot better as the episode goes on, so if you’re interested in this anime, I recommend sticking around for the second half. The action gets really good and is accompanied by a great soundtrack. In terms of the story, my expectations weren’t very high because I anticipated it would be like any other “stronk mc” anime. And at least in this first episode, the plot itself is not necessarily very special, but the great execution makes up for it. Generally, I’m not an action shounen fan, but I found myself rooting for the main character—he’s pretty likable. For me, the overall experience of the first episode was very positive, and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this anime.
Twwk
Is it even worth commenting to say that I agree completely with Michel’s review? From the initially choppy animation and heavily tropey storyline to the good aspects—really strong animation by the episode’s climax and a protagonist that you’ll want to cheer for—episode one convinced me that this show could be excellent. It certainly had me excited as much as any up to this point in the summer season, but there’s a caveat: some of these tropes are so overtired that they could ruin the experience for me, namely the spoiled brat of rival (couldn’t he have transformed into the MC’s first friend instead?) and the over-critical professor. That kind of stuff will drag the series down. Here’s hoping there are some surprises in the writing to accompany the excitement and beautiful character designs.
Jeskai
Ditto Twwk dittoing Michel. Despite its uninspired magical school premise and weak beginning, this episode proves to be quite entertaining thanks to the visuals, action, and likeable protag. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
- Reader’s Corner: Oshi no Ko (Vol. 12), Dandadan (Vol. 16), and Maid to Skate - 12.16.2025
- 12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 3 x Kissing Frieren Figure Giveaway! - 12.16.2025
- Reader’s Corner: Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale (Vol. 3), Secrets of the Silent Witch (Vol. 7), and Kaiju No. 8: Relax - 12.09.2025
I’ve heard of My Deer Friend Nokotan, because some people love trying to say the Japanese title: “Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan.” This season looks pretty lackluster to me. Sengoku Youko counts as an anime I enjoy, and I might give Alya Sometimes Hides her Feelings in Russian a shot. A fried might succeed in sucking me into Suicide Squad Isekai. Otherwise, I intend to be watching a lot of older anime and revisiting some favorites.
I saw your tweet on this! Your approach is basically what I did during the spring. And…I might end up doing the same this summer. I feel like there are a dozen or two “wild cards,” series that I don’t know much about and that I consider to have some potential. If I end up watching a bunch of series, they’re likely to mostly be those currently off my radar, and really, Oshi no Ko is the only series I feel very confident about going into the season.