Not all anime are created equally, there’s some stinkers this year.
Perhaps this list will save you some time!
Darling in the FranXX
24 episodes
Teenagers in a post-apocalyptic world are forced to pilot giant robots to save civilization from monsters which aren’t exactly monsters. Sounds familiar right? Most of the early episodes feel like Evangelion with a Trigger-skin and the later episodes feel completely disconnected from the rest of the show. For newer anime fans Darling in the FranXX might be pretty interesting but for me it’s totally underwhelming.
Nanatsu no Tazai: Imashime no Fukkatsu
24 episodes
Following the events of the first season of Seven Deadly Sins, Meliodas and the Sins face-off against the Ten Commandments, ten super-powerful demons hell-bent on revenge. One of the growing list of anime available on Netflix and a decent enough watch.
Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku
12 episodes
Another isekai (a subgenre revolving around a normal person being transported a parallel universe). An overworked videogame developer is transported into his half finished videogame and becomes the platonic master of a harem of animal-girls. He teaches them to read, camp, cook and fight. Altogether very wholesome but begs the question, who is this show for???
Grancrest Senki
24 episodes
In a world beset by chaos demons, humans wield power in the form of Crests and strive to fulfill their own ambitions. Grancrest follows the story of a novice lord whose naive goals gain the attention of a skilled mage. They take over a nearby kingdom and fight to make their mark on the world. Moves somewhat quickly and has some ok action. Pretty middle of the road stuff but fun enough if you have the time.
Fate/Extra: Last Encore
13 episodes
The Earth is in ruins and human civilization has crumbled during a millennia long war for the Grail, the ultimate goal of a virtual world created to select the successor to the will of humanity. Last Encore occurs after the a set of events that saw the downfall of this virtual world and the protagonist fights to uncover their past and the meaning of their existence. Newcomers to the Fate series might be confused by the setting, the constant psychobabble and the jumpy storytelling but once you get stuck into it Last Encore becomes rather enjoyable.
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card-hen
22 episodes
Cardcaptors is back! This time Sakura faces an “all-new” threat, her cards have disappeared and all new “Clear” cards have started terrorizing the town. Fans of the original series can expect more of the same which is largely a good thing. Who is the mysterious new transfer student and what do they have to do with Sakura’s powers?!
Hakumei to Mikochi
12 episodes
When you’re 9cm tall, beetles are transportation, hawks are a threat and everything is way cuter. A tale of two girls who live in a forest, go to their tiny jobs, visit their tiny friends and do tiny home renovations.
Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san
12 episodes
If you really like ramen you may like this show that’s about middleschoolers who really like ramen.
Black Clover
Ongoing
Wavering between high-octane shonen action and unbearable mediocrity, Black Clover is hard to recommend to anyone other than shonen fans. It’s definitely improving as Asta becomes more of a likable protagonist.
Overlord Season 3
13 episodes
Season 3 continues as Ains advances the goals of Nazarick. The more sinister sides of his new life as an undead come into focus and the kingdoms of men struggle to deal with the appearance of Nazarick and its God-like leader.
FLCL Alternative
1 episode
Alternate universe FLCL! If you haven’t seen the original FLCL or the sequel FLCL Progressive you may be a bit lost with this one. Good news is you could watch both and it’s still only 12 episodes.
Steins;Gate 0
23 episodes
The results of a tragic world line leave Okabe Rintaro a broken man, he gives up on Steins Gate and pursues a life as a normal person. However, unseen forces conspire to seize time machine technology once again.
Tokyo Ghoul:re
24 episodes
Kaneki continues to search for his place in the world and Tokyo Ghoul continues to try to be a good anime. Do either of them succeed? You tell me.
Shokugeki no Soma Season 3
24 episodes
More Shokugeki is always a good thing.
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
12 episodes
In a virtual world you can be whatever you want. For college student Karen Kohiruimaki that means becoming a 4 foot tall mercenary with a submachine gun. The plucky twerp and her allies go all out to win the epic Victory Royale.
Hinamatsuri
12 episodes
Middle school girls from the future with psychic powers terrorize the life of an easy going Yakuza captain. Has some mildly funny moments but the concept outstays its welcome and just sort of goes nowhere. Sort of heartwarming I guess.
Megalo Box
13 episodes
An undocumented boxer from the fringes of society fights to become the World Champion of Megalo box, a sport where boxers fight with exosuit equipment that increases their speed and power. The animation and aesthetic are reminiscent of classic anime of the 80’s/90’s and the characters are great. Fans of Ashita no Joe need to watch this now. Highly recommend.
Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3
12 episodes
The AoT universe begins to unfold. There’s political intrigue, military drama and tragic backstories but the greatest revelations are yet to come.
Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu
12 episodes
Diablo, an undefeated pvp-er and socially awkward virgin is summoned to another world as his in-game avatar by an elf and a catgirl. A normal summon would be enslaved by its summoner but Diablo possesses an ultra high level ring that reflects magic and he becomes the instantaneous owner of a harem. Probably the most contrived isekai to date considering it’s just a vehicle for some of the years cringest fanservice.
Hataraku Saibou
12 episodes
Imagine if each of your cells was an anime trope, that’s “Cells at Work!”. Gets a lot of the actual science wrong and isn’t particularly well paced but some people seem to love it.
Fairy Tail: Final Series
Ongoing
The best shonen anime starts its final arc. Natsu and the rest of Fairy Tail reunite to save the world from the Dark Wizard Zeref.
Goblin Slayer
12 episodes
Traumatized by events in his past, Goblin Slayer wages an unending war against the race of vile creatures that took everything from him. Goblin Slayer is highly violent and contains confronting material that some viewers may find distressing (such as the random cuts to CGI models). I’d say it’s worthwhile looking into.
Sword Art Online: Alicization
Ongoing
Kirito is attacked by a Laughing Coffin assassin and left comatose. His consciousness is uploaded to a military funded computer simulation, ostensibly to save his life. Could there be a darker motive?
Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
24 episodes
Another “Virgin dies and is reincarnated in another world totally OP” anime but it’s actually pretty enjoyable to watch! Rimuru get’s reincarnated as a Slime, befriends the Storm Dragon Veldora and becomes the leader of a nation of monsters. The characters are fun and the animation is consistently good; “Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken” takes the best parts of every isekai and absorbs their power. Actually worth recommending!
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Ougon no Kaze
39 episodes
Turns out fleshbuds weren’t the only things DIO was sticking in people’s bodies. Giorno Giovanna is the son of Jonathan Joestar’s body while possesed by the vampire DIO’s head. He aspires to take over the criminal syndicate that controls Naples with his Stand “Gold Experience” and the world better for everyone. If any of this is confusing it’s because you haven’t watched JoJo and so I ask, why haven’t you started watching JoJo?
