Hi, everyone! Looks like we're well on our way through the season. After watching a couple of episodes of titles with promising plot summaries, I've been able to weed out the good shows from the bad. For Winter 2019, or anime that started airing from December 2018 to March 2019, the number stacks to around ninety shows. That's a lot!
So what new anime should YOU watch this season?
Picking only a dozen out of a hundred is pretty daunting. Agreed that there's plenty of interesting shows out there that cater to different kinds of people, but due to my other life responsibilities, I can only watch so much.
I made this list because I'm sure you're also busy with IRL stuff- better to have someone else do the grunt work, right? If our tastes match and you enjoy these shows, then great!
Without further ado, here's my Top 21 in random order:
NEW ANIME
The Rising of the Shield Hero
Japanese: 盾の勇者の成り上がり / Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
Genre: Fantasy - Isekai | Studio: Kinema Citrus
Summary: Naofumi is summoned into a parallel world along with three others to become its Heroes. Each were given their own legendary weapon and Naofumi happened to receive the Legendary Shield, the sole defensive equipment that was frowned upon. The heroes are tasked to journey separately to strengthen themselves, but no one joined his party.
His luck turns for the worst after the one companion who joined him out of pity betrays him, and leaves him devoid of all assistance and supplies from the Kingdom after she falsely accuses him of sexual assault. Shunned by everyone from the King to peasants, Naofumi is forced to train as a hero alone while working to make ends meet. Unable to trust anyone anymore, he employs a slave named Raphtalia and takes on the calamity and the world.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Japanese: かぐや様は告らせたい ～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～/ Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai - Tensai-tachi no Ren'ai Zunōsen
Genre: Comedy - School | Studio: A-1 Pictures
Summary: Student council president Miyuki (the top in his class) and vice-president Kaguya (daughter of a wealthy conglomerate family) obviously have feelings for one another, but their pride and ego prevent them from admitting it. And so they constantly play a game of "How to get the other to confess their love first." Love is War- a romantic comedy that follows a cunning warfare between two elite students in love.
Dororo
Japanese: どろろ
Genre: Action - Swordfight | Studio: MAPPA / Tezuka Productions
Summary: A samurai lord has bartered away his newborn son's organs to forty-eight demons in exchange for dominance on the battlefield. Yet, the abandoned infant survives thanks to a medicine man who equips him with prosthetics—lethal ones with which the wronged son will use to hunt down the multitude of demons to reclaim his body one piece at a time, before confronting his father. On his journeys, the young hero encounters an orphan who claims to be the greatest thief in Japan.
Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka
Japanese: 魔法少女特殊戦あすか / Mahō Shōjo Tokushusen Asuka
Genre: Action - Magical Girl, Military | Studio: Liden Films
Summary: Three years ago, beasts from the land of the dead called Disas invaded Earth. It was all but hopeless until mankind was able to form a pact with the otherworld, letting them give supernatural powers to eleven special girls. They were able to win the war, but at the cost of six of them dying. Now those remaining, called the Magical Five, went their own separate ways to try living a normal life. That is, until the Disas reappear with the help of international terrorists and the so-called Illegal Magical Girls.
Boogiepop and Others
Japanese: ブギーポップは笑わない / Bugīpoppu wa Warawanai
Genre: Supernatural | Studio: Madhouse
Summary: Rumors in the academy center around an enigmatic supernatural entity, Boogiepop- a Shinigami who is said to murder people at the height of their beauty before their allure wanes. In truth, he is actually a guardian who, between periods of dormancy, manifests as the alter ego of a high school girl to fend off "enemies of the world."
Now, a string of mysterious disappearances—presumed by the school to be merely runaways—has caused Boogiepop to awaken. But somewhere in the academy, a menacing creature hides, waiting for its opportune moment to strike. Boogiepop wa Warawanai subtly explores the intrinsic associations between human beings and their perception of time, while delving into its characters' complex relationships, emotions, memories, and pasts.
The Promised Neverland
Japanese: 約束のネバーランド / Yakusoku no Nebārando
Genre: Fantasy - Thriller | Studio: CloverWorks
Summary: Surrounded by a forest and a gated entrance, the Gracefield House is inhabited by orphans happily living together as one big family, looked after by their "Mama," Isabella. The children are free to spend their time as they see fit as long as they do not venture too far from the orphanage.
One fateful night, an orphan named Conny is sent away to be adopted, but Emma and Norman follow her after noticing that she had left her stuffed toy back at the house. Sneaking out, they find Conny dead, and it is revealed that the orphanage is actually a farm where human children are raised as livestock for demonic creatures.
Manaria Friends
Japanese: マナリアフレンズ / Manaria Furenzu
Genre: Fantasy - Slice of Life | Studio: CygamesPictures
Summary: Mysteria Academy is a prestigious magic school that teaches magic without discrimination to the three factions (men, gods, and demons), who are usually engaged in battle with each other. The story follows the budding friendship between Ann (a princess and honor student) and Grea (a princess born from a dragon and a human) and their life as students in the academy.
The Quintessential Quintuplets
Japanese: 五等分の花嫁 / Go-Tōbun no Hanayome
Genre: Comedy - Harem | Studio: Tezuka Productions
Summary: High school student Futaro has achieved excellent grades but leads a difficult life otherwise: no mother, no friends, and a father struggling with large debts while he and his younger sister Raiha often go hungry. An opportunity presents itself when the rich Nakano family arrives in his school and Futaro is hired as a highly-paid tutor.
But he discovers his five students — charming identical quintuplet sisters of varied personalities — have abysmal grades and zero interest in studying. Some are against having an unknown male in their apartment, but Futaro's diligent tenacity gradually convinces those girls to reduce their attempts to have him poisoned or arrested, and to advance in their studies so he can lift his family from poverty.
Domestic Girlfriend
Japanese: ドメスティックな彼女 / Domesutikku na Kanojo
Genre: Romance - Love Triangle | Studio: Diomedéa
Summary: Natsuo is in love with his teacher, Hina. Attempting to forget his feelings towards her, he goes to a mixer with his classmates where he meets an odd girl named Rui. In a strange turn of events, Rui asks Natsuo to go to her house and have sex with her 'just for the experience.' Thinking that it might help him forget about Hina, Natsuo hesitantly agrees. With his father remarrying, he ends up with a new pair of stepsisters.
Unfortunately, it turns out to be both Hina and Rui. Now living with both the teacher he loves and the girl with whom he had his "first time," Natsuo finds himself in an unexpected love triangle as he climbs ever closer towards adulthood.
Girly Air Force
Japanese: ガーリー・エアフォース / Gārī Ea Fōsu
Genre: Action - Military | Studio: Satelight
Summary: Earth has come under attack by the Zai, a mysterious armed group using highly advanced weapon systems far superior to any Terran military technology. Kei and Minghua, both living in Shanghai, are evacuated to Japan when their city is attacked. During their escape, Zai fighters begin sinking the evacuation fleet when a strange aircraft saves the day. It subsequently crashes and Kei rushes to aid the pilot only to find a pretty girl at the controls.
Later on, Kei discovers that the JASDF has reverse-engineered the Zai's technology and applied it to existing fighter models, codenamed "Daughters". But to function properly, it requires an autonomous interface unit called "Anima", androids shaped like human girls made from salvaged Zai parts. The girl Kei encountered, Gripen, formed an emotional attachment to him when he came to her aid. When her supervising developer notices that effect, he invites Kei into the Anima project and act as Gripen's partner in order to boost her flight performance and prevent her from being scrapped.
The Magnificent Kotobuki
Japanese: 荒野のコトブキ飛行隊 / Kōya no Kotobuki Hikōtai
Genre: Action - Fighter Plane | Studio: GEMBA / Digital Frontier
Summary: In a desolate land, people trade goods with each other to survive. Products are transported via huge zeppelins which hire squadrons of fighter pilots to protect them from air pirates. One of these is the Kotobuki Squadron, a team of six young women who take to the air daring dogfights, letting the engine noise of their Hayabusa fighters ring out in the skies.
The Price of Smiles
Japanese: エガオノダイカ / Egao no Daika
Genre: Action - Military | Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Summary: Taking place in the future on a colonized planet far away from Earth, twelve-year-old Yuki inherits the throne at a young age due to her parents dying. Innocent and naive as she is, her vassals help her spend everyday life full of colors and smiles. While in actuality, they are hiding a terrible secret from her- their kingdom is really at war with the other country they share the planet with. Worse, they are on the losing end. The story revolves around the war between the kingdom and empire, as well as Yuki forming a unique friendship with a ruthless soldier from the empire named Stella.
My Roommate is a Cat
Japanese: 同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。 / Dōkyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue.
Genre: Slice of Life | Studio: Zero-G
Summary: The story follows Mikazuki (a shy novelist who struggles in relationships with other people) and a cat who was dumped by humans and then has lived a tough life on the streets. Through a twist of fate, the two of them end up living together. This heartwarming tale illustrates day-to-day life through the eyes of both man and cat. These moments seem trivial, but as they build upon themselves, the two become family and find happiness in their life together.
Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler XX S2
Japanese: 賭ケグルイ / Kakegurui
Genre: Gambling | Studio: MAPPA
Summary: Hyakkaou Private Academy aims to prepare its students, the children of the richest people on Earth, for the real world. By day, it's a seemingly normal school like any other. But after school hours, it becomes a gambling den, hardening students in the art of dealing with money and manipulating people. Money is power, and those who come out on top in the games stand at the top of the school. Yumeko Jabami, a seemingly naive and beautiful transfer student, is set to try her hand at Hyakkaou's special curriculum. Unlike the rest, she doesn't play to win, but for the thrill of the gamble. Her borderline insane way of gambling could just disrupt the school's ecosystem.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Japanese: 転生したらスライムだった件 / Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken
Genre: Fantasy - Isekai | Studio: 8-Bit
Summary: Corporate worker Mikami gets the short end of the stick when he is killed by a distressed criminal while on the busy streets of Japan. The next thing he knows, he is reincarnated in an alternate world as a slime. Not just your usual weak slime, but one who can devour and copy abilities of anything in that world. After a peculiar encounter with a group of weak goblins being attacked by wolves, he unknowingly set out to build his own country that welcomes all races as long as they contribute or work their due.
A Certain Magical Index S3
Japanese: とある魔術の禁書目録 / Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu
Genre: Fantasy | Studio: J.C. Staff
Summary: Set in a world where science (whose faction develops superhuman 'espers') are constantly at war with traditional magicians such as those from various Churches and kingdoms of old. Touma is a high school student of Academy City, the premier location of espers. Although not an esper himself, he possess his right hand, the Imagine Breaker, that negates all magic, psychic, or divine powers at the cost of his own luck.
One day, he finds a young girl hanging on his balcony railing who turns out to be a nun from the Church of England. Adding to that, her mind has been implanted with the Index Librorum Prohibitorum— illegal magical texts the Church has removed from circulation. Touma now finds himself tangled up in the decades war between science and magic.
Hinomaru Sumo
Japanese: 火ノ丸相撲 / Hinomaru Zumō
Genre: Sports | Studio: Gonzo
Summary: Ushio Hinomaru was a legend back in middle school sumo, earning him the moniker of a national treasure. Now in high school, he aims to further the envelope despite not being able to meet the height requirement of being a high school yokozuna. Technically there is a way, but he must go through a ton of hurdles.
He then set out to join the strongest school he can, but after a passionate encounter with the weak Oodachi High School's single sumo club member, he decides to join him. They now aim to climb to the top along with a band of peculiar sumo enthusiasts-turned-brothers in arms.
Ace Attorney S2
Japanese: 逆転裁判 ～その「真実」、異議あり！
Genre: Legal Drama | Studio: CloverWorks
Summary: Adapted from the popular video game franchise, Ace Attorney follows rookie lawyer Naruhodo Ryuuichi (Phoenix Wright) and his assistant Mayoi (Maya) as he defends his clients in a court of law. With limited evidence and logic as his only weapon, can Naruhodo turn the case around when all the odds are stacked against him?
Run with the Wind
Japanese: 風が強く吹いている / Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru
Genre: Sports | Studio: Production I.G.
Summary: Kakeru, a former elite runner at high school, is chased for stealing food. He is saved by a Kansei University student Haiji who is also a runner. Haiji persuades Kakeru to live in their old dormitory "Chikuseisou" where he plans to team up with fellow residents to enter the Hakone Ekiden relay marathon- one of the most prominent university races in Japan. But Kakeru soon finds out that all of the residents except for Haiji and himself are complete novices.
Forest of Piano S2
Japanese: ピアノの森 – The perfect world of KAI
Genre: Music Drama | Studio: Gaina
Summary: A tranquil tale about two boys from very different upbringings. On one hand you have Kai, born as the son of a prostitute, who's been playing the abandoned piano in the forest near his home ever since he was young. And on the other you have Shuhei, practically breast-fed by the piano as the son of a family of prestigious pianists. Yet it is their common bond with the piano that eventually intertwines their paths in life.
Mob Psycho 100
Japanese: モブサイコ100 / Mobu Saiko Hyaku
Genre: Supernatural | Studio: Bones
Summary: Eighth-grader Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama has tapped into his inner wellspring of psychic prowess at a young age. But the power quickly proves to be a liability when he realizes the potential danger in his skills. Choosing to suppress his power, Mob's only present use for his ability is to impress his longtime crush, Tsubomi, who soon grows bored of the same tricks.
In order to effectuate control on his skills, Mob enlists himself under the wing of Arataka Reigen, a con artist claiming to be a psychic, who exploits Mob's powers for pocket change. Now, exorcising evil spirits on command has become a part of Mob's daily, monotonous life. However, the psychic energy he exerts is barely the tip of the iceberg; if his vast potential and unrestrained emotions run berserk, a cataclysmic event that would render him completely unrecognizable will be triggered. The progression toward Mob's explosion is rising and attempting to stop it is futile.
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