Anime Roundup - Winter 2023
Originally posted on my Twitter on Feb 19th 2023
Due to me moving last month this is way later than usual, but yesterday we finally got around to our usual seasonal marathon for the current anime season!
So here's a list of new series (no sequels/spinoffs) in no particular order to keep an eye out for
(but this season more than most, be aware that plenty of shows have had their latter episodes postponed until next season due to various production delays, usually covid-related ones!)
Tomo-chan is a Girl!
Romcom comedy where Tomo is such good buddies with her childhood friend that he can't even see her as a girl.
At least, that's what she thinks...
Seems fun, although your tolerance for dense characters needs to be high!
Buddy Daddies
Think kind of SpyxFamily, but two guys who work together as hitmen and share an apartment one day ends up taking care of the child of a target.
Also not as Great as SxF, but still plenty good fun.
UniteUp!
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
I'm not really the target audience for male idol shows and as such usually skip them, but this seems to have
1. Greater-than-usual production values and
2. Some goddamn emotions, at least in the first episode we watched.
A solid maybe.
High Card
Just the intro itself is worth a watch for the WTF-ness of it; someone magically manifests a ballistic missile and hundreds of charges of C4 out of thin air...
Something something magical playing cards that each provide a different power. Fun trash?
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale
Fantasy world where humans have enslaved the usually more powerful Fairies by removing and keeping one of their wings to force them to obey.
Protag-chan just wants to be friends with them though, and makes sweets for them.
Deceptively brutal.
Giant Beasts of Ars
Part Monster Hunter, part Final Fantasy, sort of? Seems like a huge world that isn't unpacked enough in its first episode. Looks great, but story has to go further to prove itself.
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement
A fun twist on an Isekai where Protag-chan can hop between the other world and ours, so she decides to use that ability to save up for retirement.
Borderline gag comedy.
Me & Roboco
Kid wants an android maid like his buddies, so his mom buys the cheapest one.
Based on a Shounen Jump gag manga. 2-minute episodes. Some of the funniest stuff this marathon.
Reborn to Master the Blade:
From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire ♀
Fantasy.
A great king is granted reincarnation after his death, and takes the opportunity to ditch all the political stuff and this time just focus on being the strongest there is.
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
One of the highlights of the marathon. A lot of yuri bait, fun main character, and good animations.
Handyman Saitou in Another World
A fun Isekai twist where a Handyman essentially fills the role of a Rouge of a DnD campaign - picking locks, disabling traps, but also repairs armor etc.
Great characters.
Episodes consists of mostly small skits that supposedly converge later.
Trigun Stampede
A reimagining based on the same source material as the older Trigun anime; not a remake or a sequel.
Studio Orange yet again showcase how great they are at 3D animation.
Adventurers Who Don't Believe in Humanity Will Save the World
Four seperately disillusioned fantasy characters bond over their misery and lack of faith in others.
First episode is a lot of exposition, but I've watched more and it's good stuff!
The Fire Hunter
Humanity has been cursed to spontaneously erupt in flames if they so much as look at natural fire, and a girl must journey to return the belongings of the man who saved her life.
This seems like it can be a true fantasy epic, and looks like a movie in quality.
Make My Day
All-3D Netflix anime about a space prison on a frozen planet, where they have dug a little too deep and unearthed something terrible..
“Ippon” again!
The only new sports anime this season, about a group of girls doing Judo. Actually seems pretty good!
Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill
27-year-old salaryman gets Isekai'd with three teenagers, but he's dismissed for having no powers. Turns out they just didn't understand what Online Shopping meant, so now he cooks great food for a powerful beast.
10/10 watch
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea
We're getting a lot of interesting pure fantasy shows this season!
This is a 3D anime from Polygon Pictures, and I can't really describe it well in a tweet. Go watch it.
Desolate. Post-apocalyptic. Fantastical.
Farming Life in Another World
Guy gets reincarnated with OP all-purpose "farming tool".
First episode is pretty chill, but then it supposedly gets more harem-y.
YMMV.
Chillin' in My 30s after Getting Fired from the Demon King's Army
Fantasy. Protag-san is forced out of the Demon Kings army for being too weak, but it turns out he's human!
A bit of fun, in a very trash "oh he's overpowered and those around him are idiots" sort of way.
"Plot."
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre
A bunch of Jinji Ito stories. First one was pretty meh. But it could get better?
Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari
He comes from a family of Tsukumogami hunters, and has a personal vendetta against their kind.
She has been raised with, and continues to be protected by, 6 Tsukumogami.
Now they must live together to share perspectives.
A lot of potential for a darn good show.
Tale of Outcasts
An immortal demon, invisible to most, can be seen by a young mortal slave girl. They bond as he tells her stories at night, as he finally finds something to still his boredom. Then, as she gets sold off, things get bad.
Dark. A bit reminiscent of Ancient Magus Bride.
And there you have it; all our first impressions. Here’s a handy shortlist for what we believe will be worth keeping up with:
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
Handyman Saitou in Another World
Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill
Tomo-chan is a Girl!
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale
Giant Beasts of Ars
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement
Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire ♀
Trigun Stampede
Adventurers Who Don't Believe in Humanity Will Save the World
The Fire Hunter
“Ippon” again!
Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari
Let me know if you decide to pick anything up, and if you think it’s worth others to pick up as well!
Until next time.
