Grab your Pumpkin Spice Latte, breathe in the cooler air, and hit the thrift stores for your Halloween costume, but don’t book that trip to see the autumnal colors in New Hampshire quite yet—instead, have a seat and tune in to the fall anime premieres! They start hitting this Sunday with the arrival (finally!) of Uzumaki and then release bit by throughout next week with a ton premiering especially on the weekend of October 6th. But guess what? We already posted our first FI post for you since Dan Da Dan released the first several episodes in theaters last week! Check it out below!
And then we’ll be adding to this as we post our first impression pieces over the next two weeks. As usual, you can read the entire review by clicking on the “Read More” links below, with this master post giving you just a brief glimpse at our impressions, as well as screencaps, streaming links, and thoughts by our other writers.
So what are you looking forward to this season? The return of huge series like Re:Zero (which is getting a movie-length opening episode), Bleach, The Seven Deadly Sins, and Danmachi? Long awaited returns of others like Natsume’s Book of Friends and SAO: Gun Gale Online? More under-the-radar sequels like those for Seirei Gensouki, Demon Lord Retry, and Arifureta? New manga adaptations like those for Blue Box, Yakuza Fiance, Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister, TsumaSho, Nina the Starry Bride, and the aforementioned Dan Da Dan? The newest classic reboot in Ranma 1/2? Light novel adaptations like those for Demon Lord 2099, I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History, and The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor? Or are you looking for an original anime (…crickets…), in which case Dragon Ball DAIMA, an original project out of the Dragon Ball universe will have to do?
Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments below! And be sure to keep returning here—we’ll be building up this post as the new series premiere and we write about them.
Happy viewing!
365 Days To The Wedding • Acro Trip • Blue Box • Dan Da Dan • Demon Lord 2099 • Demon Lord Retry! R • The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor • Dragon Ball DAIMA • Goodbye, Dragon Life • HAIGAKURA • The Healer Who Was Banished from His Party, Is, in Fact, the Strongest • How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer • I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History • Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup • Let this Grieving Soul Retire • Loner Life in Another World • Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. • Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms • The Most Notorious “Talker” Runs the World’s Greatest Clan • Negative Positive Angler • Nina the Starry Bride • Orb: On the Movements of the Earth • Puniru is a Kawaii Slime • Ranma 1/2 • Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3 • Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles, Season 2 • The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians • Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Season 2 • A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School! • Trillion Game • Tsuma, Shougakusei ni Naru (My Wife Has Become an Elementary Schooler) • Tying the Knot With An Amagami Sister • Uzumaki • Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii • You Are Ms. Servant
365 Days To The Wedding
First Impression: Michel
When I read the synopsis, I hoped this anime would be at least half-decent. After all, we don’t often get a solid anime with an adult cast, and with a silly premise like this, odds are it won’t be of high quality. Thankfully, my pessimistic assumptions were wrong. I immediately noticed the relatively tight editing/pacing, an area where I often find (romantic) comedy anime to be lacking. That and the fantastic voice acting (as expected from Saori Hayami) decidedly sold this anime to me. The art and animation are good, but nothing special. The writing, on the other hand, is surprisingly good. I found much of the inner monologue and dialogue to be very believable, which I didn’t expect given the premise.
Josh
And yet another season goes by when we don’t get an adaptation of the office romance manga Sweat and Soap that I’ve been holding out for. Ah well, we can’t all get what we want. At least this show looks amusing enough to fill the void this season, at least from the onset. I have to admit, this is an entertaining premise, even though several times throughout the show, I had to ask “What business would force their employees to move to another continent on a whim…and what’s more, what employees would go so far as to get married to avoid it?!” But then I remembered this is Japan we’re talking about, and business culture is prodigiously different. The characters are amusing enough to make this story work, even though at times they come off as being painfully boring. I’d be willing to stick this one out to see what kind of shenanigans our faux-married couple gets into…all while hoping and praying that my Sweat and Soap adaptation is a season or two away.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Acro Trip
First Impression: claire
In some ways, then, this series is laying bare some of the problematic undercurrents that have plagued mahou shoujo as a genre for decades, but it’s unclear whether it’s doing so to critique or embrace them. I’ll admit, I don’t know what to think. On the plus side, Chizuko in otaku mode is entertainingly expressive and I appreciate how oblivious and perfunctory she is when focussed on her fandom. Kuroma is not terribly engaging, and Berry is almost absent, though we get a hint that she struggles with fear. The animation is pretty run-of-the-mill, and the eye designs, rather distracting, but the OP has a few good moments, and the quality improves in the second episode. This is a first outing by new studio Voil, and all in all, it’s an odd one.
Michel
Aside from the weird subtext Claire has pointed out, I found that all of this show’s elements scream “kid show.” This combination gives off a slightly jarring vibe, but personally, I had trouble with the editing/directing the most. Every interaction/joke is emphasized way too heavily, probably too much, even for a child audience. The voice acting could also use a hefty dose of subtlety. At the end of episode two, I still can’t say what direction this anime will go, but I highly doubt it will be worth my time.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Blue Box
First Impression: Gaheret
Despite the everyday nature of the story, it managed to draw me in. Taichi is extremely relatable: almost painfully so, but not quite. He made me laugh out loud by fantasizing about Chinatsu marrying him and fixing his tie, becoming ecstatic about the most insignificant interactions, and casually asking Hina, a friend who might like him, what sort of thing girls like in a man. His intentions are good, though, and his interactions with Chinatsu are wonderfully elevated by a strong artistic direction, featuring luminous visuals, powerful music, and attention to the little details, to create what (so far) is an engaging, slightly nostalgic little tale.
Streaming on Netflix.
Dan Da Dan
First Impression: claire
Studio Science Saru is definitely carving its own path in the anime industry! Rather than waiting for the official October 4 premiere date for their new series, an adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s wildly popular, genre-blending (bending?) Shounen Jump + manga, they’ve teased the planet by releasing the first four episodes (1h 23) in movie form three weeks early. And I’m glad they did, because otherwise I probably would have dropped this series after the first episode, despite the fantastic animation. Here’s where I flag up the trigger warning for attempted sexual assault and the problematic treatment of this scene as comedic. What saves the series for me though is what comes after this: the blossoming dynamic between Momo and Okarun, which is full of charm and humor.
Josh
So I did a bit of running commentary over on Twitter while watching this first episode, and I can sum up my reactions with just one sentence: “WHAT EVEN IS THIS SHOW?!” This first episode was a wild ride that started a little slow and just turned up the insanity levels higher and higher until finally the ending credits brought me back to Earth and set me on solid ground, leaving my head spinning and adrenaline pumping. I really liked this inaugural episode! This show feels like equal parts Heavenly Delusion and Mob Psycho 100, with liberal splashes of Dead Leaves and a heavy helping of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi. This actually feels a lot like old school Studio Gainax in it’s execution. It’s manic while being grounded, funny without being forced, and our two main characters are awesome dorks I can’t wait to see interact with each other. While I’m always hesitant about shows that are hyped before they’re released to the general public, I can say, at least about this first episode, that the hype is warranted. And the fact that we’re getting Same-Day dubs with a solid cast makes this a show to keep on your radar!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Demon Lord 2099
First Impression: Claire
This is studio J.C. Staff’s fourth series this season, and dare I say it, the best, at least based on this premiere. The animation is in another league compared with the others, and though not in the top tier, the direction from Ryou Andou steps it up a notch and makes this a pleasing viewing experience. This is Andou’s first directorial lead, having been assistant director on both seasons of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, and responsible for episode direction and storyboards on 86, One Punch Man, and a raft of other series. From the outset, this comes across as a mature, serious story rather than a gimmicky, “seen it a million times” fantasy. The humor is played with a light touch, and instead, the focus is on the emotions and relationships shared between the characters.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Demon Lord Retry! R
First Impression: Gaheret
The story feels dubious, going back and forth, and oddly downplaying itself. Our protagonist goes with the flow, somewhat apologizing for the silliness of it all, like a Marvel character of the post-Endgame era. This show has potentially powerful themes: the tragedy of a creator closing up his world, the fight between an artistic vision and the need to make a living, the adult salaryman lost in the fantasy he lovingly crafted as a teen, the pariah who gets treated like a human being. But the execution is fumbled and absent-minded, generic to a fault, with details that actively alienate us from what we are seeing. No eyes, jokes in the serious moments, fights that are over as soon as they have started, the redhead going to the wrong hot spring—oh man, the list goes on.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor
First Impression: Twwk
…at the very center of The Do-Over Damsel is Hadis’ immense and immediate devotion to Jill, who while an adult in mind is very much a young girl in body—age ten, as I’ve mentioned, and drawn to look even younger. Right from the start, you can see the wheels turning in the creator’s head: “How can I make such a relationship acceptable?” Justifications are thrown in through dialogue, with Hadis explaining that this type of relationship is “normal” in this world, declaring that sexual relations are off the board for now, and mentioning that there are a variety of reasons that he wants to marry Jill other than her young age. There are even more justifications that are subtly placed within the episode—the medieval-style setting, in which younger betrothals would be more common; Jill’s adult age, as well as her being the one to propose the arrangement instead of the other way around; discussion of “age gap” instead of focusing purely on Jill’s young age; and the use of humor, both in referring to marriage and in Hadis’ character, making him seem innocent and incapable of abusing a minor. But what’s true is true, no matter how you disguise it. The series wants you to not only accept that the relationship between Jill and Hadis is ultimately “okay,” but that it’s also worth rooting for…
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
First Impression: Jeskai
This show seems to be written for enfranchised viewers who know the background material well. A big chunk of time is spent on summarizing the Buu storyline and showing Gomah and Degesu’s reactions to it, which is most funny on a meta level if you know the storyline well already. There are a ton of characters shown but not properly introduced, and various other references (e.g., potara) that would be pretty cryptic unless you’re a series veteran. This episode was about as ridiculous and silly as I would expect of the franchise, but other than being pretty goofy, it didn’t offer much to draw me in. I feel confident saying that if you’re huge Dragon Ball fan, you might enjoy this, but if you’re NOT a longtime fan, you’re definitely better off starting elsewhere in the franchise.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Goodbye, Dragon Life
First Impression: Michel
From the synopsis, I could guess this wouldn’t be an anime with a complex plot and impactful character arcs. Instead, the story sets itself up to be a low-conflict and simple adventure series. These can also be enjoyable, but there needs to be at least some substance, which I didn’t find in Goodbye, Dragon Life. The character design is very standard, and the animation is unimpressive. In terms of writing, the characters don’t have any depth, and the character interactions are cliche throughout. Personally, I can get over a couple of flaws if the main protagonist or maybe one or two of the main characters are at least moderately interesting. But sadly, I can’t say that’s the case here. Therefore, to this anime I’ll have to say: goodbye.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
HAIGAKURA
First Impression: twwk
Though there’s some fun to be had and creativity worth praising in the first episode of HAIGAKURA—a screamo kagura practitioner with cool transforming gods is a nice concept—the execution is awful. I’m not familiar with the source material, which could be fine (indeed, the series feels like a typical adventure shonen), so I’ll shift the blame toward Typhoon Graphics, a newer anime studio that has ruined at least one cool series already in Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion. Like with that adaptation, the direction in HAIGAKURA is awful. The transitions are non-existent, the tone and sounds shift abruptly, and the veteran voice actors in the show sound amateurish (Rie Kugimiya in her role as the fit-throwing Kaki being the lone exception). The production value is low, almost as if this were a thousand-episode children’s series, and it particularly suffers in comparison when considering that the other really cool kagura user in recent anime memory is Tanjiro, whose scenes when performing Hinokami Kagura are breathtaking, while the one we see in episode one of HAIGAKURA is simply okay.
Streaming on YouTube and Prime Video.
The Healer Who Was Banished from His Party, Is, in Fact, the Strongest
First Impression: Gaheret
I wish I could be more enthusiastic, but this show brings to mind Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, a somewhat better version of this concept: the kind healer, the despised group, the budding crush, killing monsters for a living. It had its problems (namely, the fanservice), but could also fill all these concepts with pathos. This one, not so much. I don’t think I will continue, but if you happen to love isekai-style shows and aren’t too demanding, it should be all right.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer
First Impression: claire
Could this be interesting? If the storytelling ever goes beyond the novelty of girls in drag, then sure, maybe it could. Why is Suo so aggressive? Does she use drag like armor, to boost her confidence around her crush? I have a feeling this is just a gimmicky use of drag for laughs, though, rather than something that will offer anything insightful on the subculture or gender more broadly. And since I don’t find it funny either, well, that’s it for me!
Streaming on HiDIVE.
I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History
First Impression: claire
What I appreciate most is the unique twist on the MC’s motivation: rather than seeking to avoid death or somehow steal the ML from the heroine, this villainess is focused on professionalism! Now that’s something I can get behind—especially the way she goes about it. Who doesn’t want to crush it at work or school and in the gym, while leaving a good impression everywhere you go? She is mindful, aspirational, demure. (Probably moisturized too. She is glowing, after all. See above.) So in terms of MC likability and relatability? Check! Interesting twist on the standard genre tropes? Also check! Though I’ll admit I wasn’t convinced by the king’s interest in speaking with a child. Alicia takes it as a “villainess test” but that’s not convincing. I hope this is an intentional mystery and not a plot hole. So in terms of plot? We’ll have to see!
Jeskai
This show is treading some extremely familiar ground. How many anime/manga/light novels have you encountered that focused on a reincarnated “villainess” who’s actually a good person who charms those around her? But hey, she charmed me too. Ali is hardworking, diligent, smart, and cute, and her misguided efforts to become a great villainess seem like a solid foundation for general hilarity. I’ll definitely come back for another episode or two.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup
First Impression: twwk
The episode skillfully uses the setting of 49th day—which culturally represents the final day of mourning, when the spirit of the deceased moves forward and the family lets go—and Hanako’s red collar, which is among the several items having belonged to the dog that Hotaru won’t let go of. Future episodes are likely to focus on Hotaru moving forward not just from his dog’s death but longer-lasting issues affecting his life, namely his parents’ passing. While I found the initial episode soporific and not quite engaging enough to push through the drowsy atmosphere, I may stick around and see where it leads—good seinen series are hard to come by, after all, especially those featuring a cute, pink mushroom pup.
claire
Twwk’s right, this one is drowsy, but in a very welcome, healing kind of way. The first episode feels like a complete arc in itself, like this could stand alone as a short. Which makes me curious to see where it will go! But the real reason I’ll be tuning in again is because the writer behind the series composition here is none other than Jin Tanaka, who helmed both Laid-Back Camp and Oshi no Ko. Imagine that! What is in store for us with the pink mushroom pup who’s not afraid to light things up in the name of bringing comfort and healing?
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Let this Grieving Soul Retire
First Impression: claire
You know, this one actually ends on a stronger note than I expected it to during the first 20 minutes! The sudden appearance of credits a third of the way through was pretty odd, and the episode was mostly predictable stuff we’ve seen a gazillion times in this genre with the usual array of “types” comprising the cast, but the end—which I haven’t spoiled here—was actually pretty intriguing! The final seconds could very well see the series take a sharp turn next episode off the course otherwise set up here, or at the very least, take the spotlight off of just Krai and his overwrought hard-done-by schtick which is rather eye-rolling.
Jeskai
This is supposed to be a comedy, and I just didn’t find it funny. I tend to dislike the kind of story that relies entirely on stupid people to drive the plot…and that’s exactly what we have here. Either the woe-is-me protagonist is right about his mediocrity and everyone around him is a moron who has misunderstood, or the protagonist is every bit as amazing as everyone else thinks and he’s the only one too dense to acknowledge the truth. If you know from experience that you enjoy stories with this kind of premise, check this one out. As for me, I don’t have the patience to spend any more time watching Krai whine.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Loner Life in Another World
First Impression: claire
You know how a good episode of anime can feel like five minutes? Well, this one felt like about 45, mainly because the protagonist and his incessant voiceover are trying to gaslight us into thinking that his ridiculously OP magic isn’t, in fact, OP and that the tremendous ease with which he levels up—he can literally flex his fingers and new abilities and stats materialize—is somehow interesting. It’s not. It could be, if he actually had to puzzle out how to leverage his strangely-named powers in creative ways to produce meaningful results, but he doesn’t.
Streaming on HiDIVE.
Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.
First Impression: twwk
Episode one of Magilumiere is a mixed bag. There are hints here that this series could be lovely and special (and indeed, volume one of the manga is excellent), but the animation and storytelling aren’t smooth. The characters don’t always look great, with strangely angular faces in some scenes. But the original material does shine through the mediocre execution in certain spots, particularly in the world-building.
claire
I didn’t realize until today that I’ve been waiting all my life for this combination of genre tags: “magical girl” and “office workplace”. I loved this opening episode! Mostly because of track-suit-wearing, slang-spouting, tanuki-tailed-wand-wielding, rough-around-the-edges, grown-up magical girl Hitomi Koshigaya, and more to the point, the cranked-to-eleven level of verve and personality that seiyuu Yumiri Hanamori injects into this dynamic lead. Color me surprised that the voice behind bubble-gum sweet Nadeshiko in Laid-Back Camp could pull off such a wild character so well! As Twwk said, the combo of magic and tech here is really cool too. Really looking forward to this one!
Streaming on Prime Video.
Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms
First Impression: Gaheret
This show was originally a Kickstarter-backed project launched by Okamoto in 2016, and you can see the passion. The character designs have a lot of personality, and Hikaru is a fun non-heroic hero, very contemporary in his attitude and concerns (Erased evidence! Friends and tools!); I feel he will benefit immensely from the company of the Trigger Arm, who calls him “young man” and has a personality somewhat resembling that of My Hero Academia‘s All Might. I’m not the biggest fan of Aki, always eating and barging into situations, but she might yet grow on me. After all, the fights look spectacular, the banter of the friends is fun, and I’m invested in the main character’s arc: the show only needs to keep it up and walk towards the concepts it depicts in its ending, and I’ll be happy to go along.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Most Notorious “Talker” Runs the World’s Greatest Clan
First Impression: Michel
With a premise like this, it’s of utmost importance to make the main characters and their backstory interesting. But Noel is not an interesting character, and I don’t think this first episode does a good job of making me care about him. The other characters in this episode aren’t anything special either, and some of the dialogue made me cringe a bit. I don’t like the art style, and the animation is very uninspired. Both the action and dialogue scenes have very boring visuals. Needless to say, I don’t think the appeal of this anime is very broad. There is one thing I liked: the ending of the first episode has a more interesting twist than I expected, so if you really like the idea of a buffer/tactician main character, then it might be worth watching a few episodes.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Negative Positive Angler
First Impression: twwk
…I like that in a series that is so obviously about second chances and how fishing can be an analogy for how to live life, this opening episode doesn’t feel heavy-handed. It was smooth and lovely. And I can’t get enough of the passionate Hana (neither can Hiro!) or the positive and kind Takaaki. The rest of the fishers seem like a fun group too. I’m glad I tried this show out—I’ll definitely be headed out to fish with them again next week!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Nina the Starry Bride
First Impression: Gaheret
Nina is a story that plays the shoujo tropes completely straight (The Princess and the Pauper, Snow White with the Red Hair, Yona of the Dawn,and My Fair Lady are all strong with this one) and still makes them quite engaging, a point Twwk made a year ago about the manga. I would say that the music is slightly above average, while the animation is a bit stiff and lacking, the character designs being the worst offenders. The backgrounds and some moments look better, though, and all in all, these shortcomings are not too distracting, as the story is elevated by conversations and narration that ring true and brilliantly convey the feelings of an extremely relatable protagonist. Do I still roll my eyes at the forceful, aloof Prince Azure and his golden eyes? You bet I do. But the show has so much heart that I’m still rooting for the Starry Bride to find her place in this world.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
First Impression: Michel
Going into this one, I knew the main characters were voiced by well-known VAs in the industry, such as Maaya Sakamoto. As expected, the voice acting is high quality, and the art and animation are also solid. Personally, though, I had some issues with the storytelling. One thing I didn’t anticipate, which I can’t say I liked, is that torture and persecution were a significant focus of the two episodes that premiered today. One of the first things we see is the aftermath of the use of a torture device. Generally, I don’t like unnecessary gore, but if it’s an accurate portrayal of the brutal past, then that’s a different story. This is not the case here though, because this device, known as the pear of anguish, has never been mentioned by any contemporary medieval sources and was likely never used. That’s only a minor issue, and I’m not one to demand 100% historical accuracy in anime, but I find that, in some cases, it interferes with the story.
Streaming on Netflix.
Puniru is a Kawaii Slime
First Impression: Gaheret
…I don’t find cuteness all that interesting, so I may not be the target audience for a show like this. That said, I thought Puniru was utterly horrifying. She stalks Kotaro at school and home, follows him through the pipes, barges into his friends while impersonating popular idols, and dissolves into ooze. She’s like a concept R. L. Stine of Goosebumps fame would have come up with, a living reminder of the embarrassing kiddie stuff you did when you were little, now following you around. Except Stine always kept things PG, and this one, well, pushes it.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Ranma 1/2
First Impression: twwk
…it’s also what MAPPA chooses not to do that makes for a strong first episode. I haven’t read the original manga nor watched the anime, but based on my reading of Inuyasha and Maison Ikkoku, this adaptation seems to stay on the straight and narrow, which I think is very smart. You see it when treating the genderbending issue—in that, it’s not an issue at all…judging from episode one, it’s largely with either slapstick comedy or from an authentic perspective of a boy who doesn’t think of himself as a girl nor is having gender dysphoria; he’s just a boy in a girl’s body, a la Your Name. The result is fun capers, and I think there will be some tender moments too, rather than any type of serious dialogue about gender issues, which is better left for a more contemplative series…So bravo, MAPPA! It looks like you’re doing this right and maybe, just maybe, we have that rare reboot or remake that turns out to be a winner.
Josh
The most anticipated anime remake of the year has finally landed…on Netflix, yes, but hey you take what you can get. Originally I was going to cancel my Netflix account once again, but having sat through this first episode, I think I can let my wallet suffer a bit longer to see how this plays out! I really enjoyed this first episode, even, dare I say, more than the original series! Seeing a full-on recreation of Rumiko Takahashi’s work in the modern day is fascinating, as this show was made during a time when you could get away with a lot more on TV with regard to nudity and other sexual gags. This remake tones things down a bit, making appropriate edits as needed while still keeping the humor levels high. I find it can open the show up to more viewers who would’ve been put off by it in the original series. This is a Ranma for 2024, and to me, it’s just as funny and quirky as the original. Also, shoutout to the English dub cast in charge of this one. You can tell they’re paying homage to the original VAs while making the characters their own!
Streaming on Netflix.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
First Impression: Gaheret
Re:Zero triumphantly opens its third season with an hour-and-a-half-long episode that just flies by. Priestella is just fun to look at and explore, like Aria‘s Neo-Venezia or Tezuka‘s Metal City, and quite a few interesting characters are coming by. Now that I trust the story’s direction, I’m more than happy to go along for the ride, enjoy their banter, and pay attention to the subtle clues. What is going well, deep down? And what is going wrong?
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles, Season 2
First Impression: twwk
Seirei Gensouki returns! And it’s…confusing, at least at first. Viewers are dropped almost immediately into the action with characters who we recognize (Rio, Celia, and Aishia) and some who we don’t—namely Miharu and the other Japanese isekai’d characters. But this structure ultimately works out well; although I was expecting and hoping for a rehash of past events to start out season two, the animators decided to begin with a quick flashback into Rio’s childhood to refamiliarize ourselves with his past life (and introduce a new important character) before the power of isekai brings five school kids into the fantasy world. Later on, a little bit of rehashing is done over regular dialogue that works subtly—surprisingly since Seirei Gensouki is not a subtle series. Based on one of the older and most respected light novels in this established fantasy series type, it is as generic an isekai as you can get. And that’s just fine, because it’s such a lovely, warm show.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians
First Impression: Gaheret
This world of pastel colors and faded shadows feels like the illustrations of a fairy tale, which is perfect for this tale. The musical cues have a consistently uplifting sound and accompany the sequences in a way that reminds me of the best Disney productions. The characters are fun enough, especially Kurumi and Yuzu. I would prefer it if the teachers of Rettoran Academy didn’t look fifteen, but I can manage. The weakest aspect, though, is the fact that the plot, ahem, borroweth a bit too liberally. Specifically, as you may have deduced by now, it owes a big, big debt to both My Hero Academia and the Harry Potter series. I grew up avidly reading “The Boy Who Lived,” and my eyes brighten when I hear “Plus Ultra!,” but those are bold stories that adapt their genre to suit their needs, and so far this one is not doing that.
claire
I am surprised by how delightful this premiere was! Gaheret rightly notes the unique art direction, which was initially the reason I gave this one a try. It’s really refreshing! (And surprising, coming from J.C. Staff) Think Do It Yourself but more fantasy-tinged (more purples and pinks and dusky blues). But what really sold me on this episode—which starts out like a rip-off of the superlative Witch Hat Atelier—is the fact that it is completely woven through with threads of mystery—gently, but persistently. There’s the spaniel with the knowing look that literally digs up trouble; the preponderance of top students who have not made the cut for the magical program this year (it isn’t just Kurumi); the capybara-carrying stern teacher; the way that one girl’s hair stays in place; and of course, the magician lady from Kurumi’s childhood who has now reverted to a child herself! Also, the training manual the class receives at the end is actually Alice in Wonderland! Curiouser and curiouser! This is enough to get me tuning in next week for sure. That, and a desire to see the character design for a certain student whose name is called out but who has not yet been pictured: What is Lemon Juicy going to look like, people?! I must find out. Count me in!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Season 2
First Impression: Negativeprimes
When you want to get a busy season off to a running start, you have two options: make a really long first episode (like Re:Zero’s season three), or cram everything into a fast, normal-length one. SAOA:GGO opts for the latter. Episode one feels very much like a “get all the necessary background ASAP” installment. It’s fun, but it’s banking on the viewer knowing and loving (and remembering) the characters from season one. I recalled most of the main characters and the frequently featured teams pretty quickly, but the teams that didn’t feature as much before also didn’t ring as many bells for me. That’s okay: this is clearly setting up the rest of the season as quickly as possible, and hopefully the subsequent episodes will fulfill the series’ promise.
Jeskai
Just chiming in to second what NegaPrime said. The first season had some amusing characters and excellent battles, and for now, that’s enough that I’ll give this show a shot. (Get it? A shot? For Gun Gale Online? Okay I’ll leave now.)
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School!
First Impression: Gaheret
Yeah, not a big fan of this one. Anime has no shortage of fascinating teachers, whether smart, comical, inspiring, or lazy: Onizuka, Eraserhead, Koro-sensei, Sakurai, Hiratsuka, Pin, frightful Mr. Tanabe and chronically single Yuri-san come to mind. The concept was promising: for a shy teacher, leading a class of teenagers can be a rocky path: they might indeed feel as alien as these yokai. But Abe-sensei is not just shy. He is frustratingly unable to provide any semblance of discipline, or even try. He breaks down in tears, curls up in a ball, and begs his students for good behavior, telling them he hasn’t ever had a friend, or anyone who would take pity on him; that delinquents would come after him, and sometimes grade school kids made him cry (which doesn’t seem to fit with his backstory, or are these his school years he’s recalling?). The cutesy art direction and the high-pitched voice of our hero do not do any favors to this character, nor does the revelation that he is secretly OP. This is a teacher whose headmaster has to bribe him with a schoolgirl uniform catalog, a gag that gets real old real quick. As for the “oh, no, I lost my pants in front of the girls” joke, it was born old. Not cool, Abe-sensei.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Trillion Game
First Impression: claire
Madhouse is back, this time with a business cat and mouse series? A little weird, but ok! The first two episodes dropped today and I’m glad there were two, because otherwise, the inadequacy of Haru’s smarmy self-confidence and Gaku’s bumbling nervousness to carry a series would have had me dropping this pretty quickly after that first episode. That, and the rather lumpy character designs (especially during close-ups; are they all recovering from blows to the face?). The animation style feels a tad dated, as does the OP and ED music, recalling Madhouse’s heyday, perhaps? But the saving grace is Kirihime (see, I’m already her fan, using her fan name). Here’s a character who is smarter than everyone else in the room, but who doesn’t feel the need to demonstrate it at every opportunity. I respect the restraint.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tsuma, Shougakusei ni Naru (My Wife Has Become an Elementary Schooler)
First Impression: claire
How will this play out? Will her old family notice how she’s struggling? Will they step in and protect and care for her for a change? Or will they keep relying on her so much that it blinds them to who she is now and what she’s going through? And for her part, will she open up and let them help her? This series is set now to tackle not only grief and finding new hope, but also another profound question of human existence: can people change? And when and how should they? I, for one, am looking forward to this journey.
Josh
Okay, so I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief that this show is NOT what we all thought it was going to be based on the title. Thankfully, this looks like it’ll be a very thought-provoking slice-of-life series with equal parts drama and comedy–something that I can totally get behind. I admit, when I first saw the title, I was like “…so help me if this is another Usagi Drop situation I’m gonna lose my freaking mind…” Thankfully, this is a thoughtful, heartfelt show that will explore some prodigiously interesting themes. I also love the fact that, in episode 2, we actually see Takae (now known as Shiraishi) has issues to deal with regarding her “new” family and it’s…pretty freaking dark, and there are some real deep consequences with getting reacquainted with the past. It would’ve been easy to have Takae/Shiraishi simply come back and be like “Hey! I’m your wife! I’m back! Let’s have wacky shenanigans!” Thankfully, they’re giving us some substance with this one, adn I’m all for it. Lastly, while I get the fact that Keisuke is so overjoyed to have his wife back, my dude REALLY needs to read the room with a lot of situations–brother man, calling a random grade school girl your wife, having her picture as your phone lock screen, and hugging her in public is the quickest way to end up in somebody’s jail! I’ll be willing to give this one a follow for a while longer and see where it goes.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tying the Knot With An Amagami Sister
First Impression: Josh
This show, at least from this initial outset, does NOTHING to break the mold. I mean, at least last season’s hit Pseudo Harem featured the great novelty of having the entire harem be one girl playing the different roles. This time, it’s as though the creators said, “Well, we can’t have any of that creativity stuff in this show. Let’s just make a typical harem.” And that’s what this is. There is literally nothing special about it. If I can find any redeeming factor with this show, it’s that there is a great message in here about how God hears all prayers, even when there are times when we’re questioning our faith. Heaven knows there have been times when I’ve questioned my own faith and beliefs, but thank God, He still hears our prayers and loves us all. It’s a great message, but it’s unfortunately is buried in a trope-filled show with no other redeeming value.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Uzumaki
First Impression: Josh
If surreal horror is your thing, then I can honestly say you might find something to like here. However, if the first episode is anything to go by, be prepared to laugh more than be afraid. I know a lot of people put a lot of hard work into this one, and that work shows in the final product, but I just wish that it gave me a little more than just creepy visuals.
Twwk
Junji Ito’s works aren’t going to cause jump scares (for the most part)—they are instead atmospheric, menacing, macabre, and very, very odd. I wonder if those new to his works will find the anime adaptation of Uzumaki to be confusing or, as Josh sometimes did, humorous. I just found it to be captivating, not only because it features Ito’s mesmerizing work brought to the screen, but because Production I.G. has employed animation that’s meant to look like manga. It helps the story move along in a stilted sort of way that fits with the strange world of spirals. All in all, a strong adaptation so far!
Streaming on MAX in the US and Channel 4 in the UK.
Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii
First Impression: Michel
I have mixed feelings about the art style. I appreciate how recognizable the main characters are, but I’m not a big fan of the thick lines. The animation is a bit rough because there is too little in-between animation. The voice acting was solid, especially for Yoshino, who speaks in Osaka dialect. The story is tough to judge from one episode, but the pacing and dialogue were solid. Personally, though, I find Kirishima a bit too unlikeable. I know there is a big market for “I can fix him” type stories, but I don’t see any redeeming quality in Kirishima. My problem is not with him being a criminal per se but rather that his callousness feels a bit over the top. Overall, I enjoyed watching this first episode, but I didn’t see enough reason to continue watching. However, if the synopsis sounds interesting to you, I think it’s worth giving a shot.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
You Are Ms. Servant
First Impression: Michel
I usually appreciate it when the first episode of an anime only features two characters, giving us time to get to know the main characters. The problem is that there is little to learn from these characters because they don’t have much of a personality. It seems like the story writers consciously decided to make the characters one-dimensional, because the main character calls himself average while the maid is quite literally nameless. There is definitely a market for anime about characters like Ms. Maid, who have to learn basic things and grow to see the joy in them, but I think other series go about it in a much more interesting way. I find it difficult to recommend the series to anyone, because the elements other than the writing are not special either. I had no problems with the art, animation, and voice acting, but they can’t carry weak writing. I won’t be tuning in for episode two.
Jeskai
Ooh, time for a bitter, acrimonious disagreement! I actually though this episode was pretty fun. Shallow, absolutely, but also silly in a way that made me laugh repeatedly. My favorite was this line, explaining Maid-san’s connection to Hitoyoshi: “You are the grandson of a woman who used to freeload off of my master’s legitimate child’s wife’s cousin’s second son.” I also have to mention that the OP was super trippy, a bizarre kaleidoscope of shifting art styles; I’m not sure if I should read anything into that, or if it just means some art major went wild, but it certainly stood out. I can’t pretend this is a great anime, but this ridiculous premiere made me laugh enough that I’ll definitely give it a chance, at least for another episode or two.
Josh
Welp, that’s one vote for it and one vote against. Time for your old friend the Cajun Samurai to be the tie-breaker. I found this one to be funny and charming! Is it a story that we’ve seen before? Yes. Is it full of prodigious plot conveniences? Oh, absolutely! But dang it, this show has a heart to it that puts it on the “Follow” list for me, even if for a little while. Our characters seem to be kindred spirits, each trying to find some semblance of a home and family. On the one hand, you have our Maid who is trying to find a place to live and someone to work for, and on the other, you have Hitoyoshi who has a place to live, but nobody currently to share it with, and there are hints dropped of some issues with his folks. Speaking of our hapless male lead, I love the fact that he is not this outrageous pervy horndog that tends to be the norm for this type of show. He’s actually (at least in this first episode) a decent human being. Our title Servant character (who is as yet unnamed) is quite precious to watch and thank the stars above they didn’t turn her into fanservice fodder. Also, can I shout out the OP? The song is nice, but the animation really steals the show. I love the use of different styles and the metaphor of our Maid character being played like a puppet on a string and Hitoyoshi running off with her. I highly suggest you give this one a shot!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
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