Like every season, I’m watching way too much anime. All of these are on Crunchyroll.
Love Live! Sunshine!!: Yo, I’m deep in idol hell. I love the characters, I love the songs, and I love the story, as sappy as it can be.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride: This was one of my highly anticipated shows this season. I watched the OVAs and fell in love with the art and character and was so happy to hear it was getting an anime adaptation. I really like how they really get straight to the point of things and give enough background and context for the world without wasting time on too much exposition.
Konohana Kitan: It’s a slice of life show about fox girls working at a bathhouse. I knew off the bat this would be my moe cute show for the season, and it definitely is that. But the interactions between the characters are really sweet and knowing the original manga was published in a yuri publication pushes all of the subtext into text. Also the third episode is devoted entirely to the relationship between two of the girls and how they met and how they feel about each other, so yeah. This said, I doubt there’ll be an outright love deceleration. I imagine it’ll stay around hand holding as the characters fall asleep or forehead kisses. But maybe this one will surprise me, who knows.
Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond: I didn’t watch B3 when it initially aired, but after binge watching the entire show in one sitting a few months ago, this was my other highly anticipated show and it does not disappoint. In some ways it’s a slice of life in a supernatural hellscape and that’s great on so many levels. But it’s also a great character story and the balance of comedy and action is really great to watch.
Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~: I didn’t have any expectations going into this show. It’s a steampunk London otome romp with cute guys fawning over the main girl, but dammit if I don’t like it. Cardia is lovely and deserves a happy life, and sometimes you need a show that’s just entertaining more than anything.
Blend-S: This is the light, anime-as-fuck comedy that’s a nice balance to all the serious stuff I’m watching. It’s the moe, trope-based comedy of the season and that’s perfectly fine. Maika’s unintentional sadism is hilarious and I’m always fond of shows with girls being friends and supporting each other.
Kino’s Journey -The Beautiful World-: I never saw the original series when it first came out and I’ve never read the light novel. I know there were lots of mixed opinions on the second episode since it adapts a story also adapted in the first anime and didn’t do as great a job. Having read on the differences, I definitely agree. But I still think the show is interesting and I want it to be able to stand on its own.
Recovery of a MMO Junkie: I’m so in love with this show. I love the fact the main character is a 30-year-old woman, I love the fact most of the rest of the cast (as we know) are also adults, and I love the mix of humor and gentle, emotional moments. As a 30-year-old currently burning out in an office job, I relate to Moriko so much.
Anime-Gataris: Last season, there was Gamers!, an anime about a group of high school students who become friends over their love of video games. It also became a pretty entertaining romance farce. Anime-Gataris is that, but with a meta look at anime, and less signs of a farcical plotline.
Juni Taisen: Zodiac War: Twelve people each representing a different animal from the Chinese zodiac gather in a battle royale where the winner gets a wish granted. It’s the ultraviolent death game of the season and it’s not a great show, but I find it oddly interesting. Each episode focuses on a different character and (for the most part) you get to see their motivations and reasons for participating. They’re not great people at all, but they’re interesting characters.
RWBY: Not really anime, but I’m watching it. It’s the fifth season, the animation looks great, and things are dire.
Bungo Stray Dogs: It’s not from this season, but I’m watching it right now so it goes on the list. It’s an interesting counterpoint to Blood Blockade because it’s another character-driven story with supernatural elements and awesome abilities.
This is long enough so I’ll end soon, but I’ll mention I started and dropped Black Clover, Sengoku Night Blood, Urahara, King’s Game, Dies irae, and TwoCar. Urahara and TwoCar might get picked up post-season depending on how overall reviews of the series go.
