Summer 2018 Anime:
Phantoms in the Twilight is a fun otome series with a super spunky heroine and some interesting romantic options that come in the form of mythical creatures brought to life by the imaginations of humans. There’s Dracula, a werewolf, a zombie (the Chinese version, not the gross rotting version), and a ghost. She also has a best friend who is a big part of the plot and has her own romantic interest (another werewolf). The series stands out in a few ways (besides there effectively being two heroines). For one, it’s set in London, with a somewhat gothic vibe to the backgrounds. For another, the main heroine is one of the least passive otome heroines I’ve ever seen, which makes her a lot of fun. There’s also some pretty good world building here, with an interesting mythology. The mythical creatures must obey all the rules of their own lore. For example, Dracula can’t enter any place unless he’s invited. Silver bullets hurt werewolves. And the ghostly Wayne doesn’t have an actual body of his own, but can possess things (like a cute male mannequin). All in all, it’s a top tier otome anime.
Holmes of Kyoto is a very pretty detective anime with a nice hook: almost all of the “mysteries” revolve around artwork or antiques, and the “detective” is a highly skilled appraiser. The protagonist is actually Aoi, a girl who works in an antique shop with the appraiser nicknamed “Holmes”. She functions as a Watson type of character, in that she tags along and is there to ask questions in place of the audience. She’s also developing a rather keen eye herself, and there’s obvious romantic implications between her and Holmes. The series has a relaxed pace and generally low stakes, so it’s usually not that exciting. It’s still enjoyable though, because the art is lovely, with some gorgeous scenery and colors, and the cases are interesting even if there are no murders (so far). The dynamic between Homes and Aoi is very sweet as well. Not my favorite show this season, but still has a solid spot on my watch list.
Angolmois is one of the better new shows this season. The character designs have an old school look to them, like something from the 80‘s, but the animation, colors, and textures all use modern techniques, giving the show a unique feel. Telling the story of how the Japanese fought off the Mongol invasion, the series is often violent and bloody. The characters, a swiftly dwindling group of survivors trying to defend Japan’s most southern island, are easy to root for as they move from one tragedy to another, never quite safe. Every small victory is dwarfed by huge losses, with only the sheer determination and skill of the protagonists keeping the show from getting too dark. High on my watch list.
Free! Season Three is, of course, one of my favorites of the season. I absolutely loved the first two seasons, and I’m definitely loving this one too, with it’s attractive character designs, smooth animation, great music, and of course, dramatic scenes between handsome male characters (most of whom are now adults in college so we adult fans can feel a little less creepy about admiring them). But even though I’m enjoying this season very VERY much, I have to admit that it’s, so far, not my favorite season. Rei and Nagisa, two very popular and beloved characters, have been reduced to supporting roles. The cast has expanded to include all the characters from the previous two seasons and the movie, plus several new characters. While it’s kinda cool to see them all interacting, it can also be a little annoying when the show is focusing on characters you have less interest in and greatly reducing the screentime of characters you love. For example, I’m not a huge fan of Ikuya (who is so ridiculously melodramatic that he puts season one Rin to shame), and he’s getting the lion’s share of the story. I think he gets more screentime than even Haru. But that’s a minor complaint for a show that consistently entertains me. Near the top of my watch list.
Banana Fish is, hands down, my favorite new show this season. I had been aware of the manga for a very long time, but for whatever reason I’d never sat down and read it. So when I heard about the anime, I was pretty excited. For once, my excitement for a new show was well deserved. Banana Fish is an instant classic. Taking place in New York, it follows Ash Lynx, a gang leader with the most heart-wrenchingly traumatic past I’ve seen in anime. Into Ash’s dark and dangerous world of drugs, mob bosses, shootouts, and assassins, enters Eiji, a young Japanese man who traveled to New York with his journalist friend. Eiji is such a pure hearted soul, and almost immediately forms a bond with Ash. This bond is at the core of why this story works so well. Of course there are romantic (and sexual) undertones to their relationship, but it’s so much more than that. The fact that two people who come from completely different worlds can come together and help and support each other is just beautiful. There’s also the complex and always interesting plot revolving around a deadly drug called Banana Fish, and Ash’s attempts to first find out where it came from and then to stop it from being used. The character designs, more modern takes on the manga designs, look amazing. The animation is generally smooth and the music is awesome, with easily the best ending theme of the season. This is a show that’s so well done, even the straight guys who run at the slightest whiff of BL are loving it. It’s sitting at the tippy top of my watch list.
Angels of Death is the only series that can even come close to Banana Fish’s status as my favorite new show. Based on a video game I very badly want (someone please let me know the next time Steam is having a sale), Angels of Death is about a young girl named Rachel who wants to die and the psychotic serial killer named Zack who has promised to murder her if she’ll help him escape the crazy, multi-level, haunted house-like building they’re stuck in. You can definitely see the video game elements as Rachel and Zack solve puzzles and unlock doors. The story itself isn’t super complex or unique, but the bizarre relationship between Rachel and Zack is compelling. They’re both great characters. Rachel’s calm, deadpan demeanor is a striking contrast to Zack’s violent insanity. The art is fantastically creepy and the music is a perfect fit. The whole show has a dark and eerie vibe, but it’s also fast-paced and exciting. It sits right below Banana Fish on my watch list.
Hanebado! is a new sports anime, this time about a female badminton team (there are a couple of boys in the club but the show is really about the girls). The only other female sports anime I’ve watched is Princess Nine, which I enjoyed very much, so I had high hopes for this series. So far, it’s not a total disappointment but it hasn’t exactly lived up to my expectations either. There are only around three characters I feel invested in, despite a fairly large cast. The animation and character designs are nice and varied, though it’s a little disappointing that the show sometimes relies on fanservice (I’m guessing they thought it was the only way to draw in male viewers). Not enough to be obnoxious, but it’s still irritating when it pops up. The matches are well done, but so far the series is a little too dramatic and serious, especially during the games. I like some light hearted fun in my sports anime.
Shingeki no Kyojin Season Three is great so far. This is the arc I skipped when I read ahead in the manga, so I know the basics of what happened, but none of the details. It’s been nice to have those details filled in. The animation is fantastic as usual (the fight sequence in the streets between Levi and Kenny’s group was jaw-dropping). Also as usual, the story is tightly plotted. Watching this arc, after having read what comes later, makes me realize just how much work went into the plotting to make everything line up so well. The only weak spot is the opening theme. When I saw it, my first thought was, “Finally, an SnK opening I can skip”. I get that they were going for something different but I feel like it’s TOO different. On the plus side, the ending theme is great. SnK is a series that has earned its hype and its popularity, so I can’t help side-eyeing anyone who says they dislike it because it’s “too mainstream”. It’s a solid show that sits pretty high up on my watch list.
Cells at Work is a series I have to admit that I don’t watch every week. I watch it sporadically, and there’s a good reason for that. Despite the show being adorable and charming and funny, following the various cells in the human body imagined as cute characters going about their daily tasks, I end up having bizarre nightmares every single time I watch the show before going to bed. And I tend to watch anime before bed, so... yeah. I really don’t understand why, because I’ve certainly watched some gruesome and disturbing anime before and have rarely been affected in any way. But along comes this sweet and educational little anime and for some reason it creeps me out on a subconscious level. Yes, it’s surprisingly bloody and violent (which a lot of teachers have cited as the only reason they won’t show it in class), but the violence is most often silly and cartoonish. I do enjoy the show when I watch it (particularly the badass White Blood Cell, this season’s favorite new husbando), and I’ve learned more about biology from a few episodes of this than I did from four years of high school. So there’s that. When I can think to watch it early in the day, it doesn’t cause the nightmares, so I’ll keep watching.
Carry-Over Shows From Previous Seasons:
Kakuriyo
Black Clover
My Hero Academia
Persona 5
Major 2nd
Gintama
Best of Season:
Best New Show: Banana Fish
Best Opening Theme: Black Clover
Best Ending Theme: Banana Fish
Best Male Character: Ash Lynx (Banana Fish)
Best Female Character: Rachel Gardner (Angels of Death)
Holmes of Kyoto is a very pretty detective anime with a nice hook: almost all of the “mysteries” revolve around artwork or antiques, and the “detective” is a highly skilled appraiser. The protagonist is actually Aoi, a girl who works in an antique shop with the appraiser nicknamed “Holmes”. She functions as a Watson type of character, in that she tags along and is there to ask questions in place of the audience. She’s also developing a rather keen eye herself, and there’s obvious romantic implications between her and Holmes. The series has a relaxed pace and generally low stakes, so it’s usually not that exciting. It’s still enjoyable though, because the art is lovely, with some gorgeous scenery and colors, and the cases are interesting even if there are no murders (so far). The dynamic between Homes and Aoi is very sweet as well. Not my favorite show this season, but still has a solid spot on my watch list.
Angolmois is one of the better new shows this season. The character designs have an old school look to them, like something from the 80‘s, but the animation, colors, and textures all use modern techniques, giving the show a unique feel. Telling the story of how the Japanese fought off the Mongol invasion, the series is often violent and bloody. The characters, a swiftly dwindling group of survivors trying to defend Japan’s most southern island, are easy to root for as they move from one tragedy to another, never quite safe. Every small victory is dwarfed by huge losses, with only the sheer determination and skill of the protagonists keeping the show from getting too dark. High on my watch list.
Free! Season Three is, of course, one of my favorites of the season. I absolutely loved the first two seasons, and I’m definitely loving this one too, with it’s attractive character designs, smooth animation, great music, and of course, dramatic scenes between handsome male characters (most of whom are now adults in college so we adult fans can feel a little less creepy about admiring them). But even though I’m enjoying this season very VERY much, I have to admit that it’s, so far, not my favorite season. Rei and Nagisa, two very popular and beloved characters, have been reduced to supporting roles. The cast has expanded to include all the characters from the previous two seasons and the movie, plus several new characters. While it’s kinda cool to see them all interacting, it can also be a little annoying when the show is focusing on characters you have less interest in and greatly reducing the screentime of characters you love. For example, I’m not a huge fan of Ikuya (who is so ridiculously melodramatic that he puts season one Rin to shame), and he’s getting the lion’s share of the story. I think he gets more screentime than even Haru. But that’s a minor complaint for a show that consistently entertains me. Near the top of my watch list.
Banana Fish is, hands down, my favorite new show this season. I had been aware of the manga for a very long time, but for whatever reason I’d never sat down and read it. So when I heard about the anime, I was pretty excited. For once, my excitement for a new show was well deserved. Banana Fish is an instant classic. Taking place in New York, it follows Ash Lynx, a gang leader with the most heart-wrenchingly traumatic past I’ve seen in anime. Into Ash’s dark and dangerous world of drugs, mob bosses, shootouts, and assassins, enters Eiji, a young Japanese man who traveled to New York with his journalist friend. Eiji is such a pure hearted soul, and almost immediately forms a bond with Ash. This bond is at the core of why this story works so well. Of course there are romantic (and sexual) undertones to their relationship, but it’s so much more than that. The fact that two people who come from completely different worlds can come together and help and support each other is just beautiful. There’s also the complex and always interesting plot revolving around a deadly drug called Banana Fish, and Ash’s attempts to first find out where it came from and then to stop it from being used. The character designs, more modern takes on the manga designs, look amazing. The animation is generally smooth and the music is awesome, with easily the best ending theme of the season. This is a show that’s so well done, even the straight guys who run at the slightest whiff of BL are loving it. It’s sitting at the tippy top of my watch list.
Angels of Death is the only series that can even come close to Banana Fish’s status as my favorite new show. Based on a video game I very badly want (someone please let me know the next time Steam is having a sale), Angels of Death is about a young girl named Rachel who wants to die and the psychotic serial killer named Zack who has promised to murder her if she’ll help him escape the crazy, multi-level, haunted house-like building they’re stuck in. You can definitely see the video game elements as Rachel and Zack solve puzzles and unlock doors. The story itself isn’t super complex or unique, but the bizarre relationship between Rachel and Zack is compelling. They’re both great characters. Rachel’s calm, deadpan demeanor is a striking contrast to Zack’s violent insanity. The art is fantastically creepy and the music is a perfect fit. The whole show has a dark and eerie vibe, but it’s also fast-paced and exciting. It sits right below Banana Fish on my watch list.
Hanebado! is a new sports anime, this time about a female badminton team (there are a couple of boys in the club but the show is really about the girls). The only other female sports anime I’ve watched is Princess Nine, which I enjoyed very much, so I had high hopes for this series. So far, it’s not a total disappointment but it hasn’t exactly lived up to my expectations either. There are only around three characters I feel invested in, despite a fairly large cast. The animation and character designs are nice and varied, though it’s a little disappointing that the show sometimes relies on fanservice (I’m guessing they thought it was the only way to draw in male viewers). Not enough to be obnoxious, but it’s still irritating when it pops up. The matches are well done, but so far the series is a little too dramatic and serious, especially during the games. I like some light hearted fun in my sports anime.
Shingeki no Kyojin Season Three is great so far. This is the arc I skipped when I read ahead in the manga, so I know the basics of what happened, but none of the details. It’s been nice to have those details filled in. The animation is fantastic as usual (the fight sequence in the streets between Levi and Kenny’s group was jaw-dropping). Also as usual, the story is tightly plotted. Watching this arc, after having read what comes later, makes me realize just how much work went into the plotting to make everything line up so well. The only weak spot is the opening theme. When I saw it, my first thought was, “Finally, an SnK opening I can skip”. I get that they were going for something different but I feel like it’s TOO different. On the plus side, the ending theme is great. SnK is a series that has earned its hype and its popularity, so I can’t help side-eyeing anyone who says they dislike it because it’s “too mainstream”. It’s a solid show that sits pretty high up on my watch list.
Cells at Work is a series I have to admit that I don’t watch every week. I watch it sporadically, and there’s a good reason for that. Despite the show being adorable and charming and funny, following the various cells in the human body imagined as cute characters going about their daily tasks, I end up having bizarre nightmares every single time I watch the show before going to bed. And I tend to watch anime before bed, so... yeah. I really don’t understand why, because I’ve certainly watched some gruesome and disturbing anime before and have rarely been affected in any way. But along comes this sweet and educational little anime and for some reason it creeps me out on a subconscious level. Yes, it’s surprisingly bloody and violent (which a lot of teachers have cited as the only reason they won’t show it in class), but the violence is most often silly and cartoonish. I do enjoy the show when I watch it (particularly the badass White Blood Cell, this season’s favorite new husbando), and I’ve learned more about biology from a few episodes of this than I did from four years of high school. So there’s that. When I can think to watch it early in the day, it doesn’t cause the nightmares, so I’ll keep watching.
Carry-Over Shows From Previous Seasons:
Kakuriyo
Black Clover
My Hero Academia
Persona 5
Major 2nd
Gintama
Best of Season:
Best New Show: Banana Fish
Best Opening Theme: Black Clover
Best Ending Theme: Banana Fish
Best Male Character: Ash Lynx (Banana Fish)
Best Female Character: Rachel Gardner (Angels of Death)